Preparation and characterization of methacrylate hydrogels for zeta potential control

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gregonis, D. E.; Ma, S. M.; Vanwagenen, R.; Andrade, J. D.

1976-01-01

A technique based on the measurement of streaming potentials has been developed to evaluate the effects of hydrophilic coatings on electroosmotic flow. The apparatus and procedure are described as well as some results concerning the electrokinetic potential of glass capillaries as a function of ionic strength, pH, and temperature. The effect that turbulence and entrance flow conditions have on accurate streaming potential measurements is discussed. Various silane adhesion promoters exhibited only a slight decrease in streaming potential. A coating utilizing a glycidoxy silane base upon which methylcellulose is applied affords a six-fold decrease over uncoated tubes. Hydrophilic methacrylate gels show similar streaming potential behavior, independent of the water content of the gel. By introduction of positive or negative groups into the hydrophilic methacrylate gels, a range of streaming potential values are obtained having absolute positive or negative signs.

Jellyfish Lake, Palau: Regeneration of C, N, Si, and P in anoxic marine lake sediments

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lyons, W.B.; Lent, R.M.; Burnett, W.C.; Chin, P.; Landing, W.M.; Orem, W.H.; McArthur, J.M.

1996-01-01

Sediment cores from Jellyfish Lake were processed under an inert atmosphere and the pore waters extracted and analyzed for the following parameters: pH, titration alkalinity (TA), Cl-, H4SiO4, PO43-, NH4+, Ca2-, Mg2+, SO42-, and H2S. Additionally, in one set of pore-water samples (core 10), the ??13C of the ??CO2 was also determined. The TA, H4SiO4, PO43-, NH4+, and H2S increased with depth in the pore waters above anoxic bottom-water values. H2S values increased to 3.8 ??M. In one case, both H4SiO4 and PO43- concentrations increased to a maximum value and then decreased with depth, suggesting removal into solid phases. The H4SiO4 concentrations are equal to or greater than pore-water values observed in sediments underlying upwelling areas. PO43- concentrations are, in general, lower than pore-water values from terrigenous nearshore areas but higher than nearshore carbonate pore-water values from Florida Bay or Bermuda. The Ca2+, Cl-, and Mg2+: Cl- ratios show slight decreases in the top 15-20 cm, suggesting that authigenic carbonate may be forming. This suggestion is supported by the fact that the pore waters are saturated with respect to CaCO3 due to the very high TAs. The ??13C measurements of the pore-water ??CO2 are from a shorter core. These measurements reach their most negative concentration at 72 cm and then become slightly heavier. This change is accompanied by a decrease in TA, suggesting the onset of methanogenesis at this location in this core.

Performance of an HRP-2 Rapid Diagnostic Test in Nigerian Children Less Than 5 Years of Age

PubMed Central

Ajumobi, Olufemi; Sabitu, Kabir; Nguku, Patrick; Kwaga, Jacob; Ntadom, Godwin; Gitta, Sheba; Elizeus, Rutebemberwa; Oyibo, Wellington; Nsubuga, Peter; Maire, Mark; Poggensee, Gabriele

2015-01-01

The diagnostic performance of histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP-2)–based malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT) was evaluated in a mesoendemic area for malaria, Kaduna, Nigeria. We compared RDT results with expert microscopy results of blood samples from 295 febrile children under 5 years. Overall, 11.9% (35/295) tested positive with RDT compared with 10.5% (31/295) by microscopy: sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were 100%, 98.5%, 88.6%, and 100%, respectively. The RDT sensitivity was not affected by transmission season, parasite density, and age. Specificity and positive PV decreased slightly during the high-transmission season (97.5% and 83.3%). The RDT test positivity rates in the low- and high-transmission seasons were 9.4% and 13.5%, respectively. Overall, the test performance of this RDT was satisfactory. The findings of a low proportion of RDT false positives, no invalid and no false-negative results should validate the performance of RDTs in this context. PMID:25711608

Effects of soil moisture on dust emission from 2011 to 2015 observed over the Horqin Sandy Land area, China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ju, Tingting; Li, Xiaolan; Zhang, Hongsheng; Cai, Xuhui; Song, Yu

2018-06-01

Using the observational data of dust concentrations and meteorological parameters from 2011 to 2015, the effects of soil moisture and air humidity on dust emission were studied at long (monthly) and short (several days or hours) time scales over the Horqin Sandy Land area, Inner Mongolia of China. The results show that the monthly mean dust concentrations and dust fluxes within the near-surface layer had no obvious relationship with the monthly mean soil moisture content but had a slightly negative correlation with monthly mean air relative humidity from 2011 to 2015. The daily mean soil moisture exhibited a significantly negative correlation with the daily mean dust concentrations and dust fluxes, as soil moisture changed obviously. However, such negative correlation between soil moisture and dust emission disappeared on dust blowing days. Additionally, the effect of soil moisture on an important parameter for dust emission, the threshold friction velocity (u∗t), was investigated during several saltation-bombardment and/or aggregation-disintegration dust emission (SADE) events. Under dry soil conditions, the values of u∗t were not influenced by soil moisture content; however, when the soil moisture content was high, the values of u∗t increased with increasing soil moisture content.

A Novel Mechanism for the Pathogenesis of Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Resulting from Early Exposure to Ultraviolet Light

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-09-01

hybrid mice show a large population of cells that fluoresce with Tomato Red and few cells that fluoresce with GFP only or GFP/ Tomato Red double positive...percent of total cells Double Negative GFP Tomato Red Double Positive 15 Figure 3. Fluorescent activated cell sorting (FACS) shows slight...Negative Tomato Red Double Positive 17 Figure 5. Fluorescent activated cell sorting (FACS) shows no K14-GFP expressing cells and slight expression of

Neoarchean crustal growth and Paleoproterozoic reworking in the Borborema Province, NE Brazil: Insights from geochemical and isotopic data of TTG and metagranitic rocks of the Alto Moxotó Terrane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Montefalco de Lira Santos, Lauro Cézar; Dantas, Elton Luiz; Cawood, Peter A.; José dos Santos, Edilton; Fuck, Reinhardt A.

2017-11-01

Pre-Brasiliano rocks in the Borborema Province (NE Brazil) are concentrated in basement blocks, such as the Alto Moxotó Terrane. Petrographic, geochemical, and U-Pb and Sm-Nd isotopic data from two basement metagranitic suites within the terrane provide evidence for Neoarchean (2.6 Ga) and Paleoproterozoic (2.1 Ga) subduction-related events. The Riacho das Lajes Suite is made of medium to coarse-grained hornblende and biotite-bearing metatonalites and metamonzogranites. Whole-rock geochemical data indicate that these rocks represent calcic, magnesian and meta-to peraluminous magmas, and have unequivocal affinities with high-Al low-REE tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorites (TTG). Zircon U-Pb data from two samples of this suite indicate that they were emplaced at 2.6 Ga, which is the first discovered Archean crust in the central portion of the province. The suite has Neoarchean depleted mantle model ages (TDM) and slightly negative to positive εNd(t), indicating slight crustal contamination. The overall geochemical and isotopic data indicate a Neoarchean intraoceanic setting for genesis of the Riacho das Lajes magma via melting of basaltic oceanic crust submitted to high-pressure eclogite facies conditions. On the other hand, the Floresta Suite comprise metaigneous rocks, which are mostly tonalitic and granodioritic in composition. Geochemical data indicate that this suite shares similarities with calcic to calc-alkalic magmas with magnesian and metaluminous to slightly peraluminous characteristics. Other geochemical features include anomolous Ni, V and Cr contents, as well as high large-ion litophile elements (LILE) values. The suite yields U-Pb zircon ages of approximately 2.1 Ga, Archean to Paleoproterozoic TDM ages, and negative to positive εNd(t) values, suggesting both new crust formation and reworking of Archean crust, in addition to mantle metasomatism, reflecting mixed sources. The most likely tectonic setting for the Floresta Suite magmas involved crustal thickening by terrane accretion, coeval to slab break off. Our results provide new insights on proto-Western Gondwana crustal evolution.

Intraoperative clinical assessment and pressure measurements of sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer.

PubMed

Nathanson, S David; Shah, Rupen; Chitale, Dhananjay A; Mahan, Meredith

2014-01-01

Clinicians have long regarded firm enlarged axillary nodes as suspicious for metastasis, and this has been confirmed to represent increased pressure in sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) in vivo in breast cancer. We hypothesized that measuring intranodal pressure (INP) in the operating room would correlate with metastasis size and be more sensitive than clinical observation. Intranodal pressure mmHg was measured in SLNs #1 and #2 (N = 134 and 32) in 122 patients with T1/2 cN0 and 6 controls (T0) (8 bilateral). Clinical "Level of Suspicion" (LOS) was: 0 = benign; 1 = slightly suspicious; 2 = obvious metastasis. Statistical analysis was performed to compare INP, LOS, and SLN metastasis size mm. Sentinel lymph nodes met size correlated with INP (r = 0.65; p < 0.001). INP was 22.0 ± 1.3 mmHg in 35 SLNs with metastases compared with 9.3 ± 0.7 mmHg in 132 without (p < 0.001). Six groups created by combining LOS 0, 1, and 2 with INP >17 or ≤17 mmHg showed a significant (p < 0.001) correlation with SLN histology; sensitivity and specificity for LOS = 2/INP >17 mmHg = 100 % at predicting metastases; LOS = 0/INP ≤17 mmHg most often correct at predicting negative nodes (sensitivity 50 %, specificity 92.9 %, positive predictive value 55 %, negative predictive value 90.7 %). INP was better than LOS at predicting positive nodes in eight patients where INP was >17 mmHg. INP and LOS correlated significantly (p < 0.001). Clinical suspicion of metastasis correlated well with INP particularly at predicting macrometastases. INP was slightly better at predicting micrometastases. Measurement of INP may be valuable adjunct when performing SLN biopsy when further axillary surgery is contemplated.

Evaluation of the Xpert MTB/RIF assay for the diagnosis of smear-negative pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis in Madagascar.

PubMed

Rakotoarivelo, R; Ambrosioni, J; Rasolofo, V; Raberahona, M; Rakotosamimanana, N; Andrianasolo, R; Ramanampamonjy, R; Tiaray, M; Razafimahefa, J; Rakotoson, J; Randria, M; Bonnet, F; Calmy, A

2018-04-01

To evaluate the feasibility of the implementation of a commercial rapid molecular diagnostic test (Xpert MTB/RIF) for the routine diagnosis of smear-negative or extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and its diagnostic accuracy, and to assess HIV prevalence in a real-life setting in Madagascar. This study was set in a tertiary care hospital in Madagascar. A prospective cohort study was conducted of all consecutive cases with suspected smear-negative and/or extrapulmonary TB over a 2-year period. Cases were classified as proven, probable, or possible TB cases, or as having an alternative diagnosis. Of the 363 patients included, 183 (50.4%) had suspected smear-negative pulmonary TB and 180 (49.6%) had suspected extrapulmonary TB. For proven cases, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of Xpert MTB/RIF were 82.4%, 98.8%, 98.3%, and 86.6%, respectively; for proven and probable cases grouped together, these values were 65%, 98.8%, 98.5%, and 64%, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy was slightly lower for extrapulmonary TB compared to smear-negative pulmonary TB. The prevalence of HIV infection was 12.1%, but almost half of these cases did not have TB (alternative diagnosis group). The implementation of a rapid diagnosis programme for TB in a resource-poor setting is feasible. The performance of the Xpert-MTB/RIF was remarkable in this difficult-to-diagnose population. HIV prevalence in this study was much higher than the prevalence reported in the general population in Madagascar, in patients with TB and patients with conditions other than TB. Copyright © 2018 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Genetic parameters of mid-infrared methane predictions and their relationships with milk production traits in Holstein cattle.

PubMed

Kandel, P B; Vanrobays, M-L; Vanlierde, A; Dehareng, F; Froidmont, E; Gengler, N; Soyeurt, H

2017-07-01

Many countries have pledged to reduce greenhouse gases. In this context, the dairy sector is one of the identified sectors to adapt production circumstances to address socio-environmental constraints due to its large carbon footprint related to CH 4 emission. This study aimed mainly to estimate (1) the genetic parameters of 2 milk mid-infrared-based CH 4 proxies [predicted daily CH 4 emission (PME, g/d), and log-transformed predicted CH 4 intensity (LMI)] and (2) their genetic correlations with milk production traits [milk (MY), fat (FY), and protein (PY) yields] from first- and second-parity Holstein cows. A total of 336,126 and 231,400 mid-infrared CH 4 phenotypes were collected from 56,957 and 34,992 first- and second-parity cows, respectively. The PME increased from the first to the second lactation (433 vs. 453 g/d) and the LMI decreased (2.93 vs. 2.86). We used 20 bivariate random regression test-day models to estimate the variance components. Moderate heritability values were observed for both CH 4 traits, and those values decreased slightly from the first to the second lactation (0.25 ± 0.01 and 0.22 ± 0.01 for PME; 0.18 ± 0.01 and 0.17 ± 0.02 for LMI). Lactation phenotypic and genetic correlations were negative between PME and MY in both first and second lactations (-0.07 vs. -0.07 and -0.19 vs. -0.24, respectively). More close scrutiny revealed that relative increase of PME was lower with high MY levels even reverting to decrease, and therefore explaining the negative correlations, indicating that higher producing cows could be a mitigation option for CH 4 emission. The PME phenotypic correlations were almost equal to 0 with FY and PY for both lactations. However, the genetic correlations between PME and FY were slightly positive (0.11 and 0.12), whereas with PY the correlations were slightly negative (-0.05 and -0.04). Both phenotypic and genetic correlations between LMI and MY or PY or FY were always relatively highly negative (from -0.21 to -0.88). As the genetic correlations between PME and LMI were strong (0.71 and 0.72 in first and second lactation), the selection of one trait would also strongly influence the other trait. However, in animal breeding context, PME, as a direct quantity CH 4 proxy, would be preferred to LMI, which is a ratio trait of PME with a trait already in the index. The range of PME sire estimated breeding values were 22.1 and 29.41 kg per lactation in first and second parity, respectively. Further studies must be conducted to evaluate the effect of the introduction of PME in a selection index on the other traits already included in this index, such as, for instance, fertility or longevity. The Authors. Published by the Federation of Animal Science Societies and Elsevier Inc. on behalf of the American Dairy Science Association®. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/).

Thermodynamics of Host–Guest Interactions between Fullerenes and a Buckycatcher

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

1H NMR and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) experiments were employed to obtain reliable thermodynamic data for the formation of the 1:1 inclusion complexes of fullerenes C60 and C70 with the buckycatcher (C60H28). NMR measurements were done in toluene-d8 and chlorobenzene-d5 at 288, 298, and 308 K, while the ITC titrations were performed in toluene, chlorobenzene, o-dichlorobenzene, anisole, and 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane at temperatures from 278 to 323 K. The association constants, Ka, obtained with both techniques are in very good agreement. The thermodynamic data obtained by ITC indicate that generally the host–guest association is enthalpy-driven. Interestingly, the entropy contributions are, with rare exceptions, slightly stabilizing or close to zero. Neither ΔH nor ΔS is constant over the temperature range studied, and these thermodynamic functions exhibit classical enthalpy/entropy compensation. The ΔCp values calculated from the temperature dependence of the calorimetric ΔH values are negative for the association of both fullerenes with the buckycatcher in toluene. The negative ΔCp values are consistent with some desolvation of the host-cavity and the guest in the inclusion complexes, C60@C60H28 and C70@C60H28. PMID:25248285

The relative utility of the autologous control and the antiglobulin test phase of the crossmatch.

PubMed

Perkins, J T; Arruza, M; Fong, K; Sosler, S D; Saporito, C

1990-01-01

A retrospective study of pretransfusion testing records compared the utility of the antiglobulin test (AGT) phase of the crossmatch and the autologous control (autocontrol) for detecting clinically significant alloimmunization to red cells (RBCs). Of 110,780 consecutive crossmatches, 141 were positive after a negative antibody screening test; only 4 of these were due to alloantibodies of potential clinical significance, for a predictive value of a positive AGT crossmatch, after a negative antibody screen, of 2.8 percent (4/141). The frequency of potentially shortened RBC survival was 1 in 27,685 units crossmatched. During a similar period, 56,090 autocontrols were performed with the antibody screen. The autocontrol was positive on 902 samples in which the antibody screen was negative. Antibody identification performed in 684 cases generally yielded only cold or warm autoagglutinins. In 96 cases, some form of alloantibody was detected, but only 25 had potential clinical significance by our criteria. Eight of these alloantibodies had concurrently caused in vivo sensitization of RBCs and were classified as delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions. The predictive value of the autocontrol, calculated as the number of significant alloantibodies detected in autocontrol-positive, antibody-screen-negative samples, was 3.6 percent (25/684). Inspection of these cases revealed 11 in which shortened RBC survival might have resulted if the serologic abnormality had not been detected. Thus, the autocontrol had a slightly greater yield of clinically significant findings than the AGT crossmatch.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Automated reading of MIC microdilution trays containing fluorogenic enzyme substrates with the Sensititre Autoreader.

PubMed Central

Staneck, J L; Allen, S D; Harris, E E; Tilton, R C

1985-01-01

The Sensititre Autoreader is a microcomputer-driven instrument capable of automatically reading antimicrobial susceptibility microdilution trays. The instrument measures the fluorescence liberated by bacterial enzymatic activity on fluorogenic substrates as an indicator of growth in each well. A mathematical algorithm converts the fluorescent signals from an antimicrobial dilution series to an MIC endpoint. A three-center study evaluated the performance of the Autoreader in comparison with MIC determined visually in a duplicate set of control plates lacking fluorogenic substrate. Among 828 isolates of gram-negative bacilli tested against 17 antimicrobial agents, Autoreader 18-h MIC were within +/- 1 twofold dilution of control MIC values (agreement) in 95.3% of instances. In 3.5% of the instances, Autoreader values occurred +/- 2 half-step dilutions from control values (minor discrepancy), and in only 1.2% of instances did Autoreader values deviate from control values by greater than +/- 2 dilution steps (major discrepancy). Agreement, minor discrepancies, and major discrepancies were noted among 148 gram-positive cocci tested against 11 antimicrobial agents in 93.5, 4.8, and 1.7% of the instances, respectively. Over half of the major discrepancies noted with gram-negative bacilli occurred with Proteus mirabilis-beta-lactam combinations, a problem that was resolved when a lower initial inoculum was used. Inter-and intralaboratory reproducibility was excellent. Standard Sensititre susceptibility trays may be instrument read at 18 h reproducibly and accurately with only slight modification of conventional procedures to include fluorogenic enzyme substrates in the incubation broth. PMID:4031033

Geochemical constraints on the origin of Doushantuo cap carbonates in the Yangtze Gorges area, South China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Qinxian; Lin, Zhijia; Chen, Duofu

2014-05-01

Marinoan cap carbonates have been suggested to be primarily deposited in glacial meltwater and upwelled seawater. However, elemental geochemistry evidence for this depositional model is lacking. Here, we report high-spatial-resolution measurements of major, trace and rare earth elements of the Doushantuo cap carbonates from the Jiulongwan section in the Yangtze Gorges area, South China. Our results show that: 1) the basal cap carbonates display slight MREE enrichment, weak positive La anomalies, near-chondritic Y/Ho ratios, and slight negative Ce anomalies; 2) the lower-middle cap carbonates show slight LREE depletion or MREE enrichment, weak positive La and Eu anomalies, supra-chondritic Y/Ho ratios, and slight negative Ce anomalies; 3) the upper-middle cap carbonates have consistent enrichment of P, Fe, and trace metals, slight LREE depletion, and weak positive Ce, La and Eu anomalies; and 4) the upper cap carbonates exhibit LREE enrichment, weak positive La and Eu anomalies, supra-chondritic Y/Ho ratios, and mild negative Ce anomalies. These findings indicate that the Doushantuo cap carbonates did not precipitate from normal contemporaneous seawater, rather, the basal cap carbonates were deposited in oxygenated, relatively pure deglacial meltwater; the lower-middle cap carbonates in oxygenated brackish water; the upper-middle cap carbonates in upwelled anoxic brine water; and the upper cap carbonates in oxygenated brackish water. Our depositional model is consistent with the proposed sequence of events after the meltdown of Marinoan glaciation by Shields (2005).

Negative ion source

DOEpatents

Delmore, James E.

1987-01-01

A method and apparatus for providing a negative ion source accelerates electrons away from a hot filament electron emitter into a region of crossed electric and magnetic fields arranged in a magnetron configuration. During a portion of the resulting cycloidal path, the electron velocity is reduced below its initial value. The electron accelerates as it leaves the surface at a rate of only slightly less than if there were no magnetic field, thereby preventing a charge buildup at the surface of the emitter. As the electron traverses the cycloid, it is decelerated during the second, third, and fourth quadrants, then reeccelerated as it approaches the end of the fourth quadrant to regain its original velocity. The minimum velocity occurs during the fourth quadrant, and corresponds to an electron temperature of 200.degree. to 500.degree. for the electric and magnetic fields commonly encountered in the ion sources of magnetic sector mass spectrometers. An ion source using the above-described thermalized electrons is also disclosed.

Gram staining of protected pulmonary specimens in the early diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia.

PubMed

Mimoz, O; Karim, A; Mazoit, J X; Edouard, A; Leprince, S; Nordmann, P

2000-11-01

We evaluated prospectively the use of Gram staining of protected pulmonary specimens to allow the early diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), compared with the use of 60 bronchoscopic protected specimen brushes (PSB) and 126 blinded plugged telescopic catheters (PTC) obtained from 134 patients. Gram stains were from Cytospin slides; they were studied for the presence of microorganisms in 10 and 50 fields by two independent observers and classified according to their Gram stain morphology. Quantitative cultures were performed after serial dilution and plating on appropriate culture medium. A final diagnosis of VAP, based on a culture of > or = 10(3) c.f.u. ml-1, was established after 81 (44%) samplings. When 10 fields were analysed, a strong relationship was found between the presence of bacteria on Gram staining and the final diagnosis of VAP (for PSB and PTC respectively: sensitivity 74 and 81%, specificity 94 and 100%, positive predictive value 91 and 100%, negative predictive value 82 and 88%). The correlation was less when we compared the morphology of microorganisms observed on Gram staining with those of bacteria obtained from quantitative cultures (for PSB and PTC respectively: sensitivity 54 and 69%, specificity 86 and 89%, positive predictive value 72 and 78%, negative predictive value 74 and 84%). Increasing the number of fields read to 50 was associated with a slight decrease in specificity and positive predictive value of Gram staining, but with a small increase in its sensitivity and negative predictive value. The results obtained by the two observers were similar to each other for both numbers of fields analysed. Gram staining of protected pulmonary specimens performed on 10 fields predicted the presence of VAP and partially identified (using Gram stain morphology) the microorganisms growing at significant concentrations, and could help in the early choice of the treatment of VAP. Increasing the number of fields read or having the Gram stain analysed by two independent individuals did not improve the results.

Adsorption and spectroscopic characterization of lactoferrin on hydroxyapatite nanocrystals.

PubMed

Iafisco, Michele; Di Foggia, Michele; Bonora, Sergio; Prat, Maria; Roveri, Norberto

2011-01-28

Lactoferrin (LF), a well-characterized protein of blood plasma and milk with antioxidant, cariostatic, anticarcinogenic and anti-inflammatory properties, has been adsorbed onto biomimetic hydroxyapatite (HA) nanocrystals at two different pH values (7.4 and 9.0). The interaction was herein investigated by spectroscopic, thermal and microscopic techniques. The positive electrostatic surface potential of LF at pH 7.4 allows a strong surface interaction with the slightly negative HA nanocrystals and avoids the protein-protein interaction, leading to the formation of a coating protein monolayer. In contrast, at pH 9.0 the surface potential of LF is a mix of negative and positive zones favouring the protein-protein interaction and reducing the interaction with HA nanocrystals; as a result a double layer of coating protein was formed. These experimental findings are supported by the good fittings of the adsorption isotherms by different theoretical models according to Langmuir, Freundlich and Langmuir-Freundlich models. The nanosized HA does not appreciably affect the conformation of the adsorbed protein. In fact, using FT-Raman and FT-IR, we found that after adsorption the protein was only slightly unfolded with a small fraction of the α-helix structure being converted into turn, while the β-sheet content remained almost unchanged. The bioactive surface of HA functionalized with LF could be utilized to improve the material performance towards the biological environment for biomedical applications.

Beyond Generalized Sexual Prejudice: Need for Closure Predicts Negative Attitudes Toward Bisexual People Relative to Gay/Lesbian People.

PubMed

Burke, Sara E; Dovidio, John F; LaFrance, Marianne; Przedworski, Julia M; Perry, Sylvia P; Phelan, Sean M; Burgess, Diana J; Hardeman, Rachel R; Yeazel, Mark W; van Ryn, Michelle

2017-07-01

Increasing evidence suggests that bisexual people are sometimes evaluated more negatively than heterosexual and gay/lesbian people. A common theoretical account for this discrepancy argues that bisexuality is perceived by some as introducing ambiguity into a binary model of sexuality. The present brief report tests a single key prediction of this theory, that evaluations of bisexual people have a unique relationship with Need for Closure (NFC), a dispositional preference for simple ways of structuring information. Participants ( n =3406) were heterosexual medical students from a stratified random sample of 49 U.S. medical schools. As in prior research, bisexual targets were evaluated slightly more negatively than gay/lesbian targets overall. More importantly for the present investigation, higher levels of NFC predicted negative evaluations of bisexual people after accounting for negative evaluations of gay/lesbian people, and higher levels of NFC also predicted an explicit evaluative preference for gay/lesbian people over bisexual people. These results suggest that differences in evaluations of sexual minority groups partially reflect different psychological processes, and that NFC may have a special relevance for bisexual targets even beyond its general association with prejudice. The practical value of testing this theory on new physicians is also discussed.

[Procalcitonin as a diagnostic marker in systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and sepsis].

PubMed

Hryckiewicz, Katarzyna; Juszczyk, Jacek; Samet, Alfred; Arłukowicz, Elzbieta; Sledzińska, Anna; Bolewska, Beata

2006-01-01

Evaluation the value of procalcitonin as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in septic patients and patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). 126 patients were included into the study. The patients were divided into four groups: 1--septic patients with positive blood cultures, 2--septic patients with negative blood cultures, 3--patients with SIRS, 4--patients without sepsis and SIRS. PCT level was measured by imunoluminometric assay (LUMItest) and immunochromatographic assay (PCT-Q). PCT level is higher in patients with sepsis than in patients with SIRS. PCT level is only slightly elevated in patients without sepsis and SIRS. The highest PCT level is found in patients with septic shock. In patients with the clinical improvement the frequency of PCT level increase is approximately twice lower than in patients who died. Measurement of PCT level on the first, second and third day of hospitalization has no prognostic value. There is no significant difference in PCT level in sepsis caused by Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. PCT is a useful marker in diagnosis of sepsis but its role in monitoring the severity of sepsis requires more clinical studies.

Photoelectric return-stroke velocity and peak current estimates in natural and triggered lightning

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mach, Douglas M.; Rust, W. David

1989-01-01

Two-dimensional photoelectric return stroke velocities from 130 strokes are presented, including 86 negative natural, 41 negative triggered, one positive triggered, and two positive natural return strokes. For strokes starting near the ground and exceeding 500 m in length, the average velocity is 1.3 + or - 0.3 X 10 to the 8th m/s for natural return strokes and 1.2 + or - 0.3 X 10 to the 8th m/s for triggered return strokes. For strokes with lengths less than 500 m, the average velocities are slightly higher. Using the transmission line model (TLM), the shortest segment one-dimensional return stroke velocity, and either the maximum or plateau electric field, it is shown that natural strokes have a peak current distribution that is lognormal with a median value of 16 kA (maximum E) or 12 kA (plateau E). Triggered lightning has a medium peak current value of 21 kA (maximum E) or 15 kA (plateau E). Correlations are found between TLM peak currents and velocities for triggered and natural subsequent return strokes, but not between TLM peak currents and natural first return stroke velocities.

Effects of imperfect test sensitivity and specificity on observational studies of influenza vaccine effectiveness.

PubMed

Jackson, Michael L; Rothman, Kenneth J

2015-03-10

The recently developed test-negative design is now standard for observational studies of influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE). It is unclear how influenza test misclassification biases test-negative VE estimates relative to VE estimates from traditional cohort or case-control studies. We simulated populations whose members may develop acute respiratory illness (ARI) due to influenza and to non-influenza pathogens. In these simulations, vaccination reduces the risk of influenza but not of non-influenza ARI. Influenza test sensitivity and specificity, risks of influenza and non-influenza ARI, and VE were varied across the simulations. In each simulation, we estimated influenza VE using a cohort design, a case-control design, and a test-negative design. In the absence of influenza test misclassification, all three designs accurately estimated influenza VE. In the presence of misclassification, all three designs underestimated VE. Bias in VE estimates was slightly greater in the test-negative design than in cohort or case-control designs. Assuming the use of highly sensitive and specific reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction tests for influenza, bias in the test-negative studies was trivial across a wide range of realistic values for VE. Although influenza test misclassification causes more bias in test-negative studies than in traditional cohort or case-control studies, the difference is trivial for realistic combinations of attack rates, test sensitivity/specificity, and VE. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of a Turbidimetric β-d-Glucan Test for Detection of Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia.

PubMed

Dichtl, Karl; Seybold, Ulrich; Wagener, Johannes

2018-07-01

Currently, diagnosis of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) relies on analysis of lower respiratory specimens, either by microscopy or quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Thus, bronchoscopy is required, which is associated with increased risk of respiratory failure. We assessed the value of noninvasive serologic β-d-glucan (BDG) testing for laboratory diagnosis of PJP using a newly available turbidimetric assay. We identified 73 cases of PJP with positive qPCR results from lower respiratory specimens for Pneumocystis and serology samples dating from 1 week before to 4 weeks after qPCR. In addition, 25 sera from controls with suspected PJP but specimens negative for Pneumocystis by qPCR were identified. Sera were tested with a turbidimetric BDG assay (Fujifilm Wako Chemicals Europe GmbH, Neuss, Germany), using an 11-pg/ml cutoff. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated based on qPCR test results as a reference. The turbidimetric BDG assay identified 63/73 patients with positive or slightly positive qPCR tests for an overall sensitivity of 86%; after exclusion of cases with only slightly positive qPCR results, sensitivity was 91%. No correlation between serum BDG levels and respiratory specimen DNA levels was found. Serologic BDG testing was negative in 25/25 controls with negative qPCR for a specificity of 100% using the predefined cutoff. In 22/25 samples (88%), no BDG was detected. Serologic BDG testing using the turbidimetric assay showed high sensitivity and specificity compared to qPCR of lower respiratory specimens for the diagnosis of PJP. Both turnover time and test performance will allow clinicians to delay or in some cases forego bronchoscopy. Copyright © 2018 American Society for Microbiology.

Effect of postural changes on aldosterone to plasma renin ratio in patients with suspected secondary hypertension.

PubMed

Barigou, M; Ah-Kang, F; Orloff, E; Amar, J; Chamontin, B; Bouhanick, B

2015-06-01

To study the influence of postural changes on aldosterone to renin ratio (ARR) in patients with suspected secondary hypertension and to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the recommended seated ARR compared to supine and upright ARR for primary aldosteronism screening. Fifty-three hypertensive patients were prospectively hospitalized for secondary hypertension exploration (age: 51 ± 12, 66% males). After withdrawal of drugs interfering with renin angiotensin system, plasma aldosterone and direct renin concentration were measured in the morning, at bed after an overnight supine position, then out of bed after 1 hour of upright position and finally 2 hours later after 15 minutes of seating. Minimal renin value was set at 5 μUI/mL. Referring to ARR cut-off of 23 pg/μUI, the sensitivity of seated ARR was 57.1% and specificity was 92.3%. The negative and positive predictive values were 95.1% and 45.2% respectively. Compared to these results, a cut-off of 19 improved sensitivity to 85.7% with a specificity of 89.7%. Negative and positive predictive values were 98.3% and 41.1% respectively. Seated ARR mean value was lower than supine and upright ARR mean values, due to an overall increase in renin at seating compared to the supine position by factor 1.9 while aldosterone just slightly increased by factor 1.2. Seated ARR correlated to supine and upright ARR: correlation coefficients (r) 0.90 and 0.93 respectively (P<0.001). Current recommended measurement of ARR in the seating position is fairly correlated to supine and upright ARR. A suggested cut-off value of 19 instead of 23 pg/μUI increased the discriminating power of this test. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Radar stage uncertainty

USGS Publications Warehouse

Fulford, J.M.; Davies, W.J.

2005-01-01

The U.S. Geological Survey is investigating the performance of radars used for stage (or water-level) measurement. This paper presents a comparison of estimated uncertainties and data for radar water-level measurements with float, bubbler, and wire weight water-level measurements. The radar sensor was also temperature-tested in a laboratory. The uncertainty estimates indicate that radar measurements are more accurate than uncorrected pressure sensors at higher water stages, but are less accurate than pressure sensors at low stages. Field data at two sites indicate that radar sensors may have a small negative bias. Comparison of field radar measurements with wire weight measurements found that the radar tends to measure slightly lower values as stage increases. Copyright ASCE 2005.

Cloud-to-ground lightning activity in Colombia: A 14-year study using lightning location system data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Herrera, J.; Younes, C.; Porras, L.

2018-05-01

This paper presents the analysis of 14 years of cloud-to-ground lightning activity observation in Colombia using lightning location systems (LLS) data. The first Colombian LLS operated from 1997 to 2001. After a few years, this system was upgraded and a new LLS has been operating since 2007. Data obtained from these two systems was analyzed in order to obtain lightning parameters used in designing lightning protection systems. The flash detection efficiency was estimated using average peak current maps and some theoretical results previously published. Lightning flash multiplicity was evaluated using a stroke grouping algorithm resulting in average values of about 1.0 and 1.6 for positive and negative flashes respectively and for both LLS. The time variation of this parameter changes slightly for the years considered in this study. The first stroke peak current for negative and positive flashes shows median values close to 29 kA and 17 kA respectively for both networks showing a great dependence on the flash detection efficiency. The average percentage of negative and positive flashes shows a 74.04% and 25.95% of occurrence respectively. The daily variation shows a peak between 23 and 02 h. The monthly variation of this parameter exhibits a bimodal behavior typical of the regions located near The Equator. The lightning flash density was obtained dividing the study area in 3 × 3 km cells and resulting in maximum average values of 25 and 35 flashes km- 2 year- 1 for each network respectively. A comparison of these results with global lightning activity hotspots was performed showing good correlation. Besides, the lightning flash density variation with altitude shows an inverse relation between these two variables.

Molecular dynamics and a spectroscopic study of sulfur dioxide absorption by an ionic liquid and its mixtures with PEO.

PubMed

Hoher, Karina; Cardoso, Piercarlo F; Lepre, Luiz F; Ando, Rômulo A; Siqueira, Leonardo J A

2016-10-19

An investigation comprising experimental techniques (absorption capacity of SO 2 and vibrational spectroscopy) and molecular simulations (thermodynamics, structure, and dynamics) has been performed for the polymer poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), the ionic liquid butyltrimethylammonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([N 4111 ][Tf 2 N]) and their mixtures as sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) absorbing materials. The polymer PEO has higher capacity to absorb SO 2 than the neat ionic liquid, whereas the mixtures presented intermediary absorption capacities. The band assigned to the symmetric stretching band of SO 2 at ca. 1140 cm -1 , which is considered a spectroscopic probe for the strength of SO 2 interactions with its neighborhood, shifts to lower wavenumbers as more negative total interaction energy values of SO 2 were evaluated from the simulations. The solvation free energy of SO 2 , ΔG sol , correlates linearly with the absorption capacity of SO 2 . The negative values of ΔG sol are due to negative and positive values of enthalpy and entropy, respectively. In the ionic liquid, SO 2 weakens the cation-anion interactions, whereas in the mixture with a high content of PEO these interactions are slightly increased. Such effects were correlated with the relative population of cisoid and transoid conformers of Tf 2 N anions as revealed by Raman spectroscopy. Moreover, the presence of SO 2 in the systems provokes the increase of diffusion coefficients of the absorbing species in comparison with the systems without the gas. Proper to the slow dynamics of the polymer, the diffusion coefficient of ions and SO 2 diminishes with the increase of the PEO content.

The Role of Natural Support Systems in the Post-deployment Adjustment of Active Duty Military Personnel.

PubMed

Welsh, Janet A; Olson, Jonathan; Perkins, Daniel F; Travis, Wendy J; Ormsby, LaJuana

2015-09-01

This study examined the relations among three different types of naturally occurring social support (from romantic partners, friends and neighbors, and unit leaders) and three indices of service member well-being (self reports of depressive symptoms, satisfaction with military life, and perceptions of unit readiness) for service members who did and did not report negative experiences associated with military deployment. Data were drawn from the 2011 Community Assessment completed anonymously by more than 63,000 USAF personnel. Regression analyses revealed that higher levels of social support was associated with better outcomes regardless of negative deployment experiences. Evidence of moderation was also noted, with all forms of social support moderating the impact of negative deployment experiences on depressive symptoms and support from unit leaders moderating the impact of negative deployment experience on satisfaction with military life. No moderation was found for perceptions of unit readiness. Subgroup analyses revealed slightly different patterns for male and female service members, with support providing fewer moderation effects for women. These findings may have value for military leaders and mental health professionals working to harness the power of naturally occurring relationships to maximize the positive adjustment of service members and their families. Implications for practices related to re-integration of post-deployment military personnel are discussed.

Entanglement with negative Wigner function of three thousand atoms heralded by one photon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McConnell, Robert; Zhang, Hao; Hu, Jiazhong; Ćuk, Senka; Vuletić, Vladan

2016-06-01

Quantum-mechanically correlated (entangled) states of many particles are of interest in quantum information, quantum computing and quantum metrology. Metrologically useful entangled states of large atomic ensembles have been experimentally realized [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10], but these states display Gaussian spin distribution functions with a non-negative Wigner function. Non-Gaussian entangled states have been produced in small ensembles of ions [11, 12], and very recently in large atomic ensembles [13, 14, 15]. Here, we generate entanglement in a large atomic ensemble via the interaction with a very weak laser pulse; remarkably, the detection of a single photon prepares several thousand atoms in an entangled state. We reconstruct a negative-valued Wigner function, an important hallmark of nonclassicality, and verify an entanglement depth (minimum number of mutually entangled atoms) of 2910 ± 190 out of 3100 atoms. Attaining such a negative Wigner function and the mutual entanglement of virtually all atoms is unprecedented for an ensemble containing more than a few particles. While the achieved purity of the state is slightly below the threshold for entanglement-induced metrological gain, further technical improvement should allow the generation of states that surpass this threshold, and of more complex Schrödinger cat states for quantum metrology and information processing.

Valence of physical stimuli, not housing conditions, affects behaviour and frontal cortical brain activity in sheep.

PubMed

Vögeli, Sabine; Lutz, Janika; Wolf, Martin; Wechsler, Beat; Gygax, Lorenz

2014-07-01

Modulation of short-term emotions by long-term mood is little understood but relevant to understand the affective system and of importance in respect to animal welfare: a negative mood might taint experiences, whilst a positive mood might alleviate single negative events. To induce different mood states in sheep housing conditions were varied. Fourteen ewes were group-housed in an unpredictable, stimulus-poor and 15 ewes in a predictable, stimulus-rich environment. Sheep were tested individually for mood in a behavioural cognitive bias paradigm. Also, their reactions to three physical stimuli thought to differ in their perceived valence were observed (negative: pricking, intermediate: slight pressure, positive: kneading). General behaviour, activity, ear movements and positions, and haemodynamic changes in the cortical brain were recorded during stimulations. Generalised mixed-effects models and model probabilities based on the BIC (Bayesian information criterion) were used. Only weak evidence for mood difference was found. Sheep from the unpredictable, stimulus-poor housing condition had a somewhat more negative cognitive bias, showed slightly more aversive behaviour, were slightly more active and moved their ears somewhat more. Sheep most clearly differentiated the negative from the intermediate and positive stimulus in that they exhibited more aversive behaviour, less nibbling, were more active, showed more ear movements, more forward ear postures, fewer backward ear postures, and a stronger decrease in deoxyhaemoglobin when subjected to the negative stimulus. In conclusion, sheep reacted towards stimuli according to their presumed valence but their mood was not strongly influenced by housing conditions. Therefore, behavioural reactions and cortical brain activity towards the stimuli were hardly modulated by housing conditions. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Space structures concepts and materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nowitzky, A. M.; Supan, E. C.

1988-01-01

An extension is preseted of the evaluation of graphite/aluminum metal matrix composites (MMC) for space structures application. A tubular DWG graphite/aluminum truss assembly was fabricated having the structural integrity and thermal stability needed for space application. DWG is a proprietary thin ply continuous graphite reinforced aluminum composite. The truss end fittings were constructed using the discontinuous ceramic particulate reinforced MMC DWAl 20 (trademark). Thermal stability was incorporated in the truss by utilizing high stiffness, negative coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) P100 graphite fibers in a 6061 aluminum matrix, crossplied to provide minimized CTE in the assembled truss. Tube CTE was designed to be slightly negative to offset the effects of the end fitting and sleeve, CTE values of which are approx. 1/2 that of aluminum. In the design of the truss configuration, the CTE contribution of each component was evaluated to establish the component dimension and layup configuration required to provide a net zero CTE in the subassemblies which would then translate to a zero CTE for the entire truss bay produced.

Studying Sex: A Content Analysis of Sexuality Research in Counseling Psychology

PubMed Central

Crowell, Candice; Mosley, Della V.; Stevens-Watkins, Danelle

2016-01-01

Using a sex positive framework, the authors conducted a 61-year (1954–2015) content analysis of sexuality research in the flagship counseling psychology journals, the Journal of Counseling Psychology and The Counseling Psychologist. Given counseling psychology’s core strengths- and multiculturalism-related values, this study aimed to uncover which human sexuality topics were published most, whether publications aligned with a sex positive, neutral, or negative discourse, what methodologies were used, and differences in how populations were investigated across race. Researchers used an integrative approach to content analysis and human coding (Neuendorf, 2011). Results highlighted that out of 188 articles meeting criteria, a slight majority (38.05%) focused on sexual orientation, identity, and minorities topics. Only 4.78% utilized a sex-positive perspective. Quantitative and conceptual pieces were most published, and publications disproportionately focused on primarily White populations. When people of color were included, the discourse was sex negative. Implications for research and practice are discussed. PMID:28867823

Improved negative ion source

DOEpatents

Delmore, J.E.

1984-05-01

A method and apparatus for providing a negative ion source accelerates electrons away from a hot filament electron emitter into a region of crossed electric and magnetic fields arranged in a magnetron configuration. During a portion of the resulting cycloidal path, the electron velocity is reduced below its initial value. The electron accelerates as it leaves the surface at a rate of only slightly less than if there were no magnetic field, thereby preventing a charge buildup at the surface of the emitter. As the electron traverses the cycloid, it is decelerated during the second, third, and fourth quadrants, then reaccelerated as it approaches the end of the fourth quadrant to regain its original velocity. The minimum velocity occurs during the fourth quadrant, and corresponds to an electron temperature of 200 to 500/sup 0/C for the electric and magnetic fields commonly encountered in the ion sources of magnetic sector mass spectrometers. An ion source using the above-described thermalized electrons is also disclosed.

Early Spring in Europe: A Result of More Dominant North-Atlantic Southwesterlies?

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Otterman, J.; Atlas, R.; Chase, T. N.; Chou, S.-H.; Jusem, J. C.; Pielke, R. A., Sr.; Rogers, J.; Russell, G. L.; Schubert, S. D.; Sud, Y. C.;

Comparative activity of carbapenem testing (the COMPACT study) in Turkey

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Recent evidence indicates that Gram-negative bacterial pathogens, the most common of which are Pseudomonas spp., Enterobacteriaceae, and Acinetobacter baumannii, are frequent causes of hospital-acquired infections. This study aims to evaluate the in vitro activity of doripenem and comparator carbapenem antibiotics against Gram-negative clinical isolates collected from COMParative Activity of Carbapenem Testing (COMPACT) study centres in Turkey. Methods Ten centres in Turkey were invited to submit Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacteriaceae, and other Gram-negative isolates from intensive care unit (ICU)/non-ICU patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections, bloodstream infections, or nosocomial pneumonia, including ventilator-associated pneumonia, between May and October 2008. Susceptibility was determined by each centre using E-test. A central laboratory performed species confirmation as well as limited susceptibility and quality-control testing. Results Five hundred and ninety six isolates were collected. MIC90 values for doripenem, meropenem, and imipenem, respectively, were 32, ≥ 64, and ≥ 64 mg/L against Pseudomonas spp.; 0.12, 0.12, and 0.5 mg/L against Enterobacteriaceae; and ≥ 64 mg/L for each against other Gram-negative isolates. In determining the susceptibility of hospital isolates of selected Gram-negative pathogens to doripenem, imipenem, and meropenem, we found that against all pathogens combined, the MIC90 for ICU compared with non-ICU isolates was higher. Conclusions Doripenem showed similar or slightly better activity than meropenem and better activity than imipenem against the Gram-negative pathogens collected in Turkey. PMID:22340940

Predicting out-of-office blood pressure level using repeated measurements in the clinic: an observational cohort study

PubMed Central

Sheppard, James P.; Holder, Roger; Nichols, Linda; Bray, Emma; Hobbs, F.D. Richard; Mant, Jonathan; Little, Paul; Williams, Bryan; Greenfield, Sheila; McManus, Richard J.

2014-01-01

Objectives: Identification of people with lower (white-coat effect) or higher (masked effect) blood pressure at home compared to the clinic usually requires ambulatory or home monitoring. This study assessed whether changes in SBP with repeated measurement at a single clinic predict subsequent differences between clinic and home measurements. Methods: This study used an observational cohort design and included 220 individuals aged 35–84 years, receiving treatment for hypertension, but whose SBP was not controlled. The characteristics of change in SBP over six clinic readings were defined as the SBP drop, the slope and the quadratic coefficient using polynomial regression modelling. The predictive abilities of these characteristics for lower or higher home SBP readings were investigated with logistic regression and repeated operating characteristic analysis. Results: The single clinic SBP drop was predictive of the white-coat effect with a sensitivity of 90%, specificity of 50%, positive predictive value of 56% and negative predictive value of 88%. Predictive values for the masked effect and those of the slope and quadratic coefficient were slightly lower, but when the slope and quadratic variables were combined, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for the masked effect were improved to 91, 48, 24 and 97%, respectively. Conclusion: Characteristics obtainable from multiple SBP measurements in a single clinic in patients with treated hypertension appear to reasonably predict those unlikely to have a large white-coat or masked effect, potentially allowing better targeting of out-of-office monitoring in routine clinical practice. PMID:25144295

Modification by protons of frog skeletal muscle KATP channels: effects on ion conduction and nucleotide inhibition.

PubMed Central

Vivaudou, M; Forestier, C

1995-01-01

1. The molecular mechanisms underlying pH regulation of skeletal muscle ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channels were studied using the patch clamp technique in the inside-out configuration. Two effects of intracellular protons were studied in detail: the decrease in magnitude of single-channel currents and the increase in open probability (Po) of nucleotide-inhibited channels. 2. The pH dependence of inward unit currents under different ionic conditions was in poor agreement with either a direct block of the pore by protons or an indirect proton-induced conformational change, but was compatible with the protonation of surface charges located near the cytoplasmic entrance of the pore. This latter electrostatic mechanism was modelled using Gouy-Chapman-Stern theory, which predicted the data accurately with a surface charge density of about 0.1 negative elementary charges per square nanometre and a pK (pH value for 50% effect) value for protonation of these charges of 6.25. The same mechanism, i.e. neutralization of negative surface charges by cation binding, could also account for the previously reported reduction of inward unit currents by Mg2+. 3. Intracellular alkalization did not affect Po of the KATP channels. Acidification increased Po. In the presence of 0.1 mM ATP (no Mg2+), the channel activation vs. pH relationship could be fitted with a sigmoid curve with a Hill coefficient slightly above 2 and a pK value of 6. This latter value was dependent on the ATP concentration, decreasing from 6.3 in 30 microM ATP to 5.3 in 1 microM ATP. 4. Conversely, the channel inhibition vs. ATP concentration curve was shifted to the right when the pH was lowered. At pH 7.1, the ATP concentration causing half-maximal inhibition was about 10 microM. At pH 5.4, it was about 400 microM. The Hill coefficient values remained slightly below 2. Similar effects were observed when ADP was used as the inhibitory nucleotide. 5. These results confirm that a reciprocal competitive link exists between proton and nucleotide binding sites. Quantitatively, they are in full agreement with a steady-state model of a KATP channel possessing four identical protonation sites (microscopic pK, 6) allosterically connected to the channel open state and two identical nucleotide sites (microscopic ATP dissociation constant, approximately 30 microM) connected to the closed state. Images Figure 13 PMID:7473225

Comparing ImmunoCard with two EIA assays for Clostridium difficile toxins.

PubMed

Chan, Edward L; Seales, Diane; Drum, Hong

2009-01-01

To compare three Clostridium difficile EIA kits for the detection of C. difficile toxins from clinical specimens. A total of 287 fresh and stored stool specimens were tested using all three assays. Stools with discrepant results were sent to a reference laboratory for tissue cytotoxin assay. Trinity Medical Center, a community hospital with network hospitals. Patients with diarrhea submitted stools for detection of C. difficile toxins. Of the 287 stool specimens, 116 were positive and 171 negative for C. difficile toxins. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of Meridian EIA assay were 99.1, 97.7, 96.6, and 99.4%; ImmunoCard were 100, 98.2, 97.5, and 100%; BioStar OIA assay were 94, 98.8, 98.2, and 96% respectively. ImmunoCardprovides the best sensitivity (100%) for C. difficile toxins A and B detection. The BioStar OIA rapid test missed seven positive stool specimens possibly due to failure to detect toxin B. ImmunoCard has slightly higher predictive values, shorter turnaround time and greater convenience compared to the Meridian EIA Assay. ImmunoCard may be cost effective not only in smaller laboratories, but also in high volume laboratories, when used on a STAT basis or single request.

Velocity distribution of women's 30-km cross-country skiing during Olympic Games from 2002-2014.

PubMed

Erdmann, Wlodzimierz S; Dancewicz-Nosko, Dorota; Giovanis, Vasilios

2017-12-01

Within several investigated endurance sport disciplines the distribution of load of the best competitors has a manner of evenly or slightly rising velocity values. Unfortunately many other competitors have usually diminishing values or when they are very poor they have evenly values. The aim of this study was to investigate distribution of velocity within 30-km cross-country female skiers. Cross-country skiing runs were investigated of Olympic Games 2002-2014 (Salt Lake City, Turin, Vancouver, Sochi). At every race two 15 km or three 10 km loops of the same vertical profile were taken into account. The competitors were divided onto: A - winners, B - medallists, C - competitors who obtained places 4 to 10 at the finish line (medium runners), D - competitors who obtained places 11 to 30 at the finish line (poor runners). Velocity data presented on the web pages of several institutions were utilized. The competitors had their velocity distributed in a manner with usually diminishing values. While comparing velocity of sequential loops with the mean velocity the difference for the poor runners reached the value of almost 6 %, which was too high. There was significant (usually negative) correlation coefficient between values of velocity deviation for the first and second loops and the mean value of velocity for the entire distance for the better runners and mixed, i.e. positive and negative values for the poorer runners. It was postulated investigations of velocity distribution should be introduced in coaching in order to inform competitors about their running. This advise is especially important for the poorer runners. Up to now cross country skiers run for themselves. It should be discussed whether the tactics used by road and track runners, i.e. running with pace makers, can be introduced in cross country skiing. Also the use of a drone during training can be used in order to maintain proper pace.

Scattering of Light and Surface Plasmon Polaritons from Rough Surfaces

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-06-14

Scattering of an electromagnetic wave from a slightly random dielectric surface: Yoneda peak and Brewster angle in incoherent scattering.” Waves...device applications. Thus, the negative refraction of a surface plasmon polariton was studied in two papers. In the first [1], all- angle negative... angle of incidence, measured counterclockwise from the negative x1 axis, is . The surface plasmon polariton of frequency transmitted through the

Childhood obesity, gender, actual-ideal body image discrepancies, and physical self-concept in Hong Kong children: cultural differences in the value of moderation.

PubMed

Marsh, Herbert W; Hau, K T; Sung, R Y T; Yu, C W

2007-05-01

Childhood obesity is increasingly prevalent in Western and non-Western societies. The authors related multiple dimensions of physical self-concept to body composition for 763 Chinese children aged 8 to 15 and compared the results with Western research. Compared with Western research, gender differences favoring boys were generally much smaller for physical self-concept and body image. Objective and subjective indexes of body fat were negatively related to many components of physical self-concept, but--in contrast to Western research--were unrelated to global self-esteem and slightly positively related to health self-concept. In support of discrepancy theory, actual-ideal discrepancies in body image were related to physical self-concept. However, consistent with the Chinese cultural value of moderation, and in contrast to Western results, being too thin relative to personal ideals was almost as detrimental as being too fat. The results reflect stronger Chinese cultural values of moderation and acceptance of obesity than in Western culture and have implications for social and educational policy in China. Copyright (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved.

Stable isotope ratios of marijuana. I. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes describe growth conditions.

PubMed

West, Jason B; Hurley, Janet M; Ehleringer, James R

2009-01-01

There remains significant uncertainty in illicit marijuana cultivation. We analyzed the delta(13)C and delta(15)N of 508 domestic samples from known U.S.A. counties, 31 seized from a single location, 5 samples grown in Mexico and Colombia, and 10 northwest border seizures. For a subset, inflorescences and leaves were analyzed separately. These data revealed a strong correspondence, with inflorescences having slightly higher delta(13)C and delta(15)N values than leaves. A framework for interpreting these results is introduced and evaluated. Samples identified as outdoor-grown by delta(13)C were generally recorded as such by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). DEA-classified indoor-grown samples had the most negative delta(13)C values, consistent with indoor cultivation, although many were also in the outdoor-grown domain. Delta(15)N indicated a wide range of fertilizers across the dataset. Samples seized at the single location suggested multiple sources. Northwest border delta(13)C values suggested indoor growth, whereas for the Mexican and Colombian samples they indicated outdoor growth.

Health impacts of large releases of radionuclides. Mental health, stress and risk perception: insights from psychological research.

PubMed

Renn, O

1997-01-01

Risk perceptions are only slightly correlated with the expected values of a probability distribution for negative health impacts. Psychometric studies have documented that context variables such as dread or personal control are important predictors for the perceived seriousness of risk. Studies about cultural patterns of risk perceptions emphasize different response sets to risk information, depending on cultural priorities such as social justice versus personal freedom. This chapter reports the major psychological research results pertaining to the factors that govern individual risk perception and discusses the psychometric effects due to people's risk perception and the experience of severe stress. The relative importance of the psychometric context variables, the signals pertaining to each health risks and symbolic beliefs are explained.

Accuracy of parent-reported measles-containing vaccination status of children with measles.

PubMed

Liu, G; Liao, Z; Xu, X; Liang, Y; Xiong, Y; Ni, J

2017-03-01

The validity of parent-reported measles-containing vaccination history in children with measles has not been assessed. This study evaluated the accuracy of parental recall of measles-containing vaccination histories in Shenzhen, China. A retrospective study was performed to compare the data from the electronic records with parental recall. The electronic records were regarded as accurate data about the children's measles-containing vaccination status. We collected data from the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System and the Immunization Program Information Management System in Shenzhen city, China. Between 2009 and 2014, there were 163 children with measles who had electronic vaccination records; the vaccination status of these cases was reported by the parents in the field epidemiological investigation. We validated parental recall with electronic records. The agreement between parental recall and electronic records was 78.7%. The kappa value was 0.57. The parent-reported measles-containing vaccination rate was higher than the electronic record (48.5% vs 41.7%, χ 2  = 53.64, P < 0.001). The true positive rate for parental recall was 82.4%, and the true negative rate was 75.8%. The positive predictive value was 70.9%, and the negative predictive value was 76.6%. In children with measles, parental recall slightly overestimated the measles vaccination rate, and the vaccination status recalled by parents was in moderate agreement with the electronic record. Copyright © 2016 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language mapping with navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation in pediatric and adult patients undergoing epilepsy surgery: Comparison with extraoperative direct cortical stimulation.

PubMed

Lehtinen, Henri; Mäkelä, Jyrki P; Mäkelä, Teemu; Lioumis, Pantelis; Metsähonkala, Liisa; Hokkanen, Laura; Wilenius, Juha; Gaily, Eija

2018-06-01

Navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS) is becoming increasingly popular in noninvasive preoperative language mapping, as its results correlate well enough with those obtained by direct cortical stimulation (DCS) during awake surgery in adult patients with tumor. Reports in the context of epilepsy surgery or extraoperative DCS in adults are, however, sparse, and validation of nTMS with DCS in children is lacking. Furthermore, little is known about the risk of inducing epileptic seizures with nTMS in pediatric epilepsy patients. We provide the largest validation study to date in an epilepsy surgery population. We compared language mapping with nTMS and extraoperative DCS in 20 epilepsy surgery patients (age range 9-32 years; 14 children and adolescents). In comparison with DCS, sensitivity of nTMS was 68%, specificity 76%, positive predictive value 27%, and negative predictive value 95%. Age, location of ictal-onset zone near or within DCS-mapped language areas or severity of cognitive deficits had no significant effect on these values. None of our patients had seizures during nTMS. Our study suggests that nTMS language mapping is clinically useful and safe in epilepsy surgery patients, including school-aged children and patients with extensive cognitive dysfunction. Similar to in tumor surgery, mapping results in the frontal region are most reliable. False negative findings may be slightly more likely in epilepsy than in tumor surgery patients. Mapping results should always be verified by other methods in individual patients.

Middle-Upper Permian carbon isotope stratigraphy at Chaotian, South China: Pre-extinction multiple upwelling of oxygen-depleted water onto continental shelf

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saitoh, Masafumi; Isozaki, Yukio; Ueno, Yuichiro; Yoshida, Naohiro; Yao, Jianxin; Ji, Zhansheng

2013-05-01

In order to examine the causal relationships between the carbon cycle in a shallow euphotic zone and the environmental changes in a relatively deep disphotic zone at the end-Guadalupian (Middle Permian), isotopic compositions of carbonate carbon (δ13Ccarb) of the Guadalupian-Lopingian (Upper Permian) rocks were analyzed in the Chaotian section in northern Sichuan, South China. By analyzing exceptionally fresh drill core samples, a continuous chemostratigraphic record was newly obtained. The ca. 65 m-thick analyzed carbonate rocks at Chaotian comprise three stratigraphic units, i.e., the Limestone Unit of the Guadalupian Maokou Formation, the Mudstone Unit of the Maokou Formation, and the lower part of the Wuchiapingian (Lower Lopingian) Wujiaping Formation, in ascending order. The Limestone Unit of the Maokou Formation is characterized by almost constant δ13Ccarb values of ca. +4‰ followed by an abrupt drop for 7‰ to -3‰ in the topmost part of the unit. In the Mudstone Unit of the Maokou Formation, the δ13Ccarb values are rather constant around +2‰, although distinct three isotopic negative excursions for 3‰ from ca. +2 to -1‰ occurred in the upper part of the unit. In the lower part of the Wujiaping Formation, the δ13Ccarb values monotonously increase for 5‰ from ca. 0 to +5‰. The present data newly demonstrated four isotopic negative excursions in the topmost part of the Maokou Formation in the Capitanian (Late Guadalupian) at Chaotian. It is noteworthy that these negative excursions are in accordance with the emergence of an oxygen-depleted condition on the relatively deep disphotic slope/basin on the basis of litho- and bio-facies characteristics. They suggest multiple upwelling of oxygen-depleted waters with dissolved inorganic carbon of relatively low carbon isotope values along the continental margin, from the deeper disphotic slope/basin to the shallower euphotic shelf, slightly before the end-Guadalupian extinction. Although the negative excursions at Chaotian are apparently correlated with the previously proposed large negative excursion in the middle Capitanian in South China, the age difference according to the biostratigraphic constraints clearly exclude this interpretation. The isotopic negative excursions at Chaotian are unique and no similar isotopic signal in the same period has been reported elsewhere. The multiple upwelling of oxygen-depleted waters onto the euphotic shelf may have represented local phenomena that occurred solely around northwestern South China.

Sensitivity of some nitrogen fixers and the target pest Fusarium oxysporum to fungicide thiram.

PubMed

Osman, Awad G; Sherif, Ashraf M; Elhussein, Adil A; Mohamed, Afrah T

2012-03-01

This study was carried out to investigate the toxic effects of the fungicide thiram (TMTD) against five nitrogen fixers and the thiram target pest Fusarium oxysporum under laboratory conditions. Nitrogen fixing bacteria Falvobacterium showed the highest values of LD(50) and proved to be the most resistant to the fungicide followed by Fusarium oxysporum, while Pseudomonas aurentiaca was the most affected microorganism. LD(50) values for these microorganisms were in 2-5 orders of magnitude lower in comparison with LD(50) value for Fusarium oxysporum. Thiram was most toxic to Pseudomonas aurentiaca followed by Azospirillum. The lowest toxicity index was recorded for Fusarium oxysporum and Flavobacterium. The slope of the curve for Azomonas, Fusarium oxysporum and Flavobacterium is more steep than that of the other curves, suggesting that even a slight increase of the dose of the fungicide can cause a very strong negative effect. Thiram was more selective to Pseudomonas aurentiaca followed by Azospirillum, Rhizobium meliloti and Azomonas. The lowest selectivity index of the fungicide was recorded for Falvobacterium followed by Fusarium oxysporum. The highest safety coefficient of the fungicide was assigned for Flavobacterium, while Pseudomonas aurentiaca showed the lowest value.

Measurement of the Static Stability and Control and the Damping Derivatives of a 0.13-Scale Model of the Convair XFY-1 Airplane, TED No. NACA DE 368

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, Joseph L.

1954-01-01

An investigation has been conducted to determine the static stability and control and damping in roll and yaw of a 0.13-scale model of the Convair XFY-1 airplane with propellers off from 0 deg to 90 deg angle of attack. The tests showed that a slightly unstable pitch-up tendency occurred simultaneously with a break in the normal-force curve in the angle-of-attack range from about 27 deg to 36 deg. The top vertical tail contributed positive values of static directional stability and effective dihedral up to an angle of attack of about 35 deg. The bottom tail contributed positive values of static directional stability but negative values of effective dihedral throughout the angle-of-attack range. Effectiveness of the control surfaces decreased to very low values at the high angles of attack, The model had positive damping in yaw and damping in roll about the body axes over the angle-of-attack range but the damping in yaw decreased to about zero at 90 deg angle of attack.

[Histopathological and immunohistochemical studies on mucous cysts].

PubMed

Kuroda, N

1989-01-01

The present study investigated the histopathology, histochemistry of mucopolysaccharides, and immunohistochemistry of oral mucous cysts. The materials were obtained from ninety cases that were histopathologically diagnosed as oral mucous cysts at the Department of Oral Pathology, Meikai University School of Dentistry. Mucopolysaccharide staining was done with PAS, alcian blue (AB, pH 2.5) and high iron diamine (HID). Immunohistochemical studies were focused on secretory component (SC), lactoferrin (Lf), alpha-amylase (Am), IgA, lysozyme (Ly), and keratin (Kr). The following results were obtained: 1. Histopathological findings. (1) Retention and/or retention-like type cysts occurred in was twenty-six cases and the extravasation type in sixty-four cases. (2) Cases showing epithelial lining of the cystic wall were only eight in number, and many cystic walls were contained granulation tissue (fifty cases). (3) As for inflammation of the cystic wall, the degree was slight, and infiltrated cells were mainly macrophages (so-called mucinophages) and lymphocytes. (4) Regarding adjoining salivary glands, acinar cells showed atrophic changes, and hypertrophy of mucous acinar cells was evident. Many ducts showed dilatation, and stromal connective tissue showed fibrosis and hyalinization. 2. Histochemical findings on mucopolysaccharides. (1) Mucous materials in cystic cavity, mucous acinar cells, and secretory materials in ductal lumens were intensely stained by PAS and AB. But stainability with AB was less than that with PAS staining. Serous acinar cells and ductal epithelium were negative to PAS and AB staining. (2) Stainability of the above with HID was less than at with PAS or AB. Cystic walls were not stained by HID. Mucous acinar cells reactive with HID were intensely stained, but the number of the positive cells was limited when compared with the numbers of PAS-and AB-positive cells. 3. Immunohistochemical findings. (1) As for mucous materials in the cystic cavity, reactions for Sc, Am, IgA, and Ly were all positive, whereas those for Lf and Kr were negative. (2) Staining of cystic walls was generally weak: the walls were negative for IgA, Ly and Kr showed and borderline or slightly positive for Sc, Lf, and Am. (3) Mucous acinar cells were negative for all markers examined in this study, but serous acinar cells and/or demilunes were markedly positive for Sc, Ly, and Am. (4) In ductal epithelial cells, Ly and Kr were negative, but IgA was borderline or slightly positive. Sc and Am gave intensely positive staining. (5) Secretory materials in ductal lumens, Sc were intensely positive for Lf, and Ly; slightly or moderately positive for IgA; and slightly positive or negative for Am.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Ventilation/perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography: a service evaluation.

PubMed

Parekh, Amit; Graham, Richard; Redman, Stewart

2017-08-01

To identify the positive rate and negative predictive value (NPV) of our ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) service as respective markers of overcalling (false positives) and undercalling (false negatives). We also identified the indeterminate rate as an indicator of the technical quality of the scans and reporter confidence. V/Q SPECT studies carried out over 5 years were classified into positive, negative and indeterminate results. Patients who had died or had pulmonary emboli on imaging within 3 months of a negative V/Q SPECT were identified as false negatives, from which the NPV was calculated. The total number of positive and indeterminate studies as a proportion of all studies was calculated as the positive and indeterminate rates. The positive rate, NPV and indeterminate rates in nonpregnant patients were 24, 98.7-100 and 3.6%, respectively. The positive rate, NPV and indeterminate rates in pregnant patients were 6.8, 100 and 2.3%, respectively. The positive rate and NPV for nonpregnant patients were similar to the published literature. This suggests that we provide a safe service. The indeterminate rate was slightly higher than the stated guidelines. The study shows that the positive rate and NPV are achievable indicators of potential overcalling and undercalling in a V/Q SPECT service.This is also one of the first studies to report a positive rate in pregnant patients undergoing V/Q SPECT that other institutions can use as a standard when evaluating their services.

Geochronology and geochemistry of the Niujuanzi ophiolitic mélange, Gansu Province, NW China: implications for tectonic evolution of the Beishan Orogenic Collage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Shengdong; Zhang, Kexin; Song, Bowen; Li, Shucai; Li, Ming; Zhou, Jie

2018-01-01

The Niujuanzi ophiolitic mélange (NOM), located in the Beishan Orogenic Collage, marks the termination between the Huaniushan arc and Mingshui-Hanshan Massifs. The NOM is mainly composed of gabbros, diabases, plagiogranites, basalts, and greywacke. Two gabbros have ages of 433.8 ± 3.1 and 354.0 ± 3.3 Ma, two plagiogranites have ages of 429.8 ± 2 and 448.7 ± 2.0 Ma, and a diabase has an age of 433.4 ± 3.2 Ma. The gabbros and diabases are calc-alkaline and tholeiitic, with high Al2O3, CaO, and TiO2 contents and low FeOT contents. The gabbros have high Mg# values (49-82), while the diabases have relatively low Mg# values (46-61). The plagiogranites are calc-alkaline and metaluminous, with high SiO2 and Na2O contents and low Al2O3 and K2O contents. The gabbros and diabases are enriched in large iron lithophile elements and slightly depleted in high field strength elements relative to N-MORB and their trace element characteristics are similar to E-MORB. With respect to rare earth element (REE), they have slightly enriched LREEs relative to HREEs. The majority of the plagiogranite trace elements approximate those of the volcanic arc granite. The plagiogranites have obviously enriched LREEs relative to HREEs, with a slightly to strongly negative Eu anomaly, which is similar to ORG but distinct from volcanic arc and within plate granite. The NOM was formed from the Ordovician to the Carboniferous, representing the expansion period of the Niujuanzi Ocean. The gabbros, diabases, and plagiogranites were formed in a mid-ocean ridge environment. The gabbros and diabases were generated by different degrees of partial melting of the mantle, and the plagiogranites derived from both the crystallization differentiation of basaltic magma and the partial melting of amphibolites in the crust.

Chemical composition and structural characteristics of Arabian camel (Camelus dromedarius) m. longissimus thoracis.

PubMed

Al-Owaimer, A N; Suliman, G M; Sami, A S; Picard, B; Hocquette, J F

2014-03-01

Saudi Arabian camels of four breeds (6 animals per breed) were used to evaluate characteristics and quality of their meat. Chemical composition, fibre cross sectional area, collagen content, muscle metabolism, cooking loss, pH at 24 h post mortem, colour values (except redness) and shear force of Longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle did not differ between the breeds. Elevated pH values and short sarcomeres reduced overall tenderisation, with a difference between myofibril fragmentation index (P<0.001) and sarcomere length (P<0.05) between breeds. A positive correlation was observed between the activities of the mitochondrial enzymes (r>0.49), between the glycolytic activities (PFK and LDH) (r=0.61) and between Myosin Heavy Chain IIa and LDH activity. The intramuscular fat content was positively associated with redness and muscle oxidative metabolism, whereas shear force had a slight positive association with collagen content and muscle glycolytic metabolism and a negative association with muscle oxidative metabolism and muscle fibre area. © 2013.

Universal behaviour of interoccurrence times between losses in financial markets: An analytical description

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ludescher, J.; Tsallis, C.; Bunde, A.

2011-09-01

We consider 16 representative financial records (stocks, indices, commodities, and exchange rates) and study the distribution PQ(r) of the interoccurrence times r between daily losses below negative thresholds -Q, for fixed mean interoccurrence time RQ. We find that in all cases, PQ(r) follows the form PQ(r)~1/[(1+(q- 1)βr]1/(q-1), where β and q are universal constants that depend only on RQ, but not on a specific asset. While β depends only slightly on RQ, the q-value increases logarithmically with RQ, q=1+q0 ln(RQ/2), such that for RQ→2, PQ(r) approaches a simple exponential, PQ(r)cong2-r. The fact that PQ does not scale with RQ is due to the multifractality of the financial markets. The analytic form of PQ allows also to estimate both the risk function and the Value-at-Risk, and thus to improve the estimation of the financial risk.

Anticancer Activity of Ferulic Acid-Inorganic Nanohybrids Synthesized via Two Different Hybridization Routes, Reconstruction and Exfoliation-Reassembly

PubMed Central

Choi, Ae-Jin; Oh, Jae-Min

2013-01-01

We have successfully prepared nanohybrids of biofunctional ferulic acid and layered double hydroxide nanomaterials through reconstruction and exfoliation-reassembly routes. From X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy, both nanohybrids were determined to incorporate ferulic acid molecules in anionic form. Micrsocopic results showed that the nanohybrids had average particle size of 150 nm with plate-like morphology. As the two nanohybridization routes involved crystal disorder and random stacking of layers, the nanohybrids showed slight alteration in z-axis crystallinity and particle size. The zeta potential values of pristine and nanohybrids in deionized water were determined to be positive, while those in cell culture media shifted to negative values. According to the in vitro anticancer activity test on human cervical cancer HeLa cells, it was revealed that nanohybrids showed twice anticancer activity compared with ferulic acid itself. Therefore we could conclude that the nanohybrids of ferulic acid and layered double hydroxide had cellular delivery property of intercalated molecules on cancer cell lines. PMID:24453848

Relationship between sweat chloride, sodium, and age in clinically obtained samples.

PubMed

Traeger, Nadav; Shi, Qiuhu; Dozor, Allen J

2014-01-01

The relationship between sweat electrolytes and age is uncertain, as is the value of measuring sodium or the chloride:sodium ratio. 13,785 sweat tests performed over 23 years at one center through the Macroduct collection in clinically obtained samples were analyzed. Sweat chloride tended to decrease over the first year of life, slowly increase until the fourth decade, then either level off or slightly decrease. In children, sweat sodium overlapped between those with positive and negative sweat tests, but not in adults. If the sweat test was positive, there was a higher likelihood of having a chloride:sodium ratio >1, but most subjects with a ratio >1 did not have CF. Sweat chloride and sodium vary with age. Measurement of sweat sodium did not add discriminatory value. The proportion of subjects with a chloride:sodium ratio >1, with or without CF, varied greatly between age ranges. © 2013. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of European Cystic Fibrosis Society. All rights reserved.

Anticancer activity of ferulic acid-inorganic nanohybrids synthesized via two different hybridization routes, reconstruction and exfoliation-reassembly.

PubMed

Kim, Hyoung-Jun; Ryu, Kitae; Kang, Joo-Hee; Choi, Ae-Jin; Kim, Tae-il; Oh, Jae-Min

2013-01-01

We have successfully prepared nanohybrids of biofunctional ferulic acid and layered double hydroxide nanomaterials through reconstruction and exfoliation-reassembly routes. From X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy, both nanohybrids were determined to incorporate ferulic acid molecules in anionic form. Microscopic results showed that the nanohybrids had average particle size of 150 nm with plate-like morphology. As the two nanohybridization routes involved crystal disorder and random stacking of layers, the nanohybrids showed slight alteration in z-axis crystallinity and particle size. The zeta potential values of pristine and nanohybrids in deionized water were determined to be positive, while those in cell culture media shifted to negative values. According to the in vitro anticancer activity test on human cervical cancer HeLa cells, it was revealed that nanohybrids showed twice anticancer activity compared with ferulic acid itself. Therefore we could conclude that the nanohybrids of ferulic acid and layered double hydroxide had cellular delivery property of intercalated molecules on cancer cell lines.

Considering ionic state in modeling sorption of pharmaceuticals to sewage sludge.

PubMed

Rybacka, Aleksandra; Andersson, Patrik L

2016-12-01

Information on the partitioning of chemicals between particulate matter and water in sewage treatment plants (STPs) can be used to predict their subsequent environmental fate. However, this information can be challenging to acquire, especially for pharmaceuticals that are frequently present in ionized forms. This study investigated the relationship between the ionization state of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and their partitioning between water and sludge in STPs. We also investigated the underlying mechanisms of sludge sorption by using chemical descriptors based on ionized structures, and evaluated the usefulness of these descriptors in quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) modeling. K D values were collected for 110 APIs, which were classified as neutral, positive, or negative at pH 7. The models with the highest performance had the R 2 Y and Q 2 values of above 0.75 and 0.65, respectively. We found that the dominant intermolecular forces governing the interactions of neutral and positively charged APIs with sludge are hydrophobic, pi-pi, and dipole-dipole interactions, whereas the interactions of negatively charged APIs with sludge were mainly governed by covalent bonding as well as ion-ion, ion-dipole, and dipole-dipole interactions; hydrophobicity-driven interactions were rather unimportant. Including charge-related descriptors improved the models' performance by 5-10%, underlining the importance of electrostatic interactions. The use of descriptors calculated for ionized structures did not improve the model statistics for positive and negative APIs, but slightly increased model performance for neutral APIs. We attribute this to a better description of neutral zwitterions. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Reusability of EMR Data for Applying Cubbin and Jackson Pressure Ulcer Risk Assessment Scale in Critical Care Patients

PubMed Central

Kim, Eunkyung; Lee, JuHee; Kim, Young Ah

2013-01-01

Objectives The purposes of this study were to examine the predictive validity of the Cubbin and Jackson pressure ulcer risk assessment scale for the development of pressure ulcers in intensive care unit (ICU) patients retrospectively and to evaluate the reusability of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) data. Methods A retrospective design was used to examine 829 cases admitted to four ICUs in a tertiary care hospital from May 2010 to April 2011. Patients who were without pressure ulcers at admission to ICU, 18 years or older, and had stayed in ICU for 24 hours or longer were included. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and area under the curve (AUC) were calculated. Results The reported incidence rate of pressure ulcers among the study subjects was 14.2%. At the cut-off score of 24 of the Cubbin and Jackson scale, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and AUC were 72.0%, 68.8%, 27.7%, 93.7%, and 0.76, respectively. Eight items out 10 of the Cubbin and Jackson scale were readily available in the EMR data. Conclusions The Cubbin and Jackson scale performed slightly better than the Braden scale to predict pressure ulcer development. Eight items of the Cubbin and Jackson scale except mobility and hygiene can be extracted from the EMR, which initially demonstrated the reusability of EMR data for pressure ulcer risk assessment. If the Cubbin and Jackson scale is a part of the EMR assessment form, it would help nurses perform tasks to effectively prevent pressure ulcers with an EMR alert for high-risk patients. PMID:24523990

Echo-Doppler estimation of left ventricular filling pressure: results of the multicentre EACVI Euro-Filling study.

PubMed

Lancellotti, Patrizio; Galderisi, Maurizio; Edvardsen, Thor; Donal, Erwan; Goliasch, Georg; Cardim, Nuno; Magne, Julien; Laginha, Sara; Hagendorff, Andreas; Haland, Trine F; Aaberge, Lars; Martinez, Christophe; Rapacciuolo, Antonio; Santoro, Ciro; Ilardi, Federica; Postolache, Adriana; Dulgheru, Raluca; Mateescu, Anca D; Beladan, Carmen C; Deleanu, Dan; Marchetta, Stella; Auffret, Vincent; Schwammenthal, Ehud; Habib, Gilbert; Popescu, Bogdan A

2017-09-01

The present Euro-Filling report aimed at comparing the diagnostic accuracy of the 2009 and 2016 echocardiographic grading algorithms for predicting invasively measured left ventricular filling pressure (LVFP). A total of 159 patients who underwent simultaneous evaluation of echo estimates of LVFP and invasive measurements of LV end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) were enrolled at nine EACVI centres. Thirty-nine (25%) patients had a reduced LV ejection fraction (<50%), 77 (64%) were in NYHA ≥ II, and 85 (53%) had coronary artery disease. Sixty-four (40%) patients had elevated LVEDP (≥15 mmHg). Taken individually, all echocardiographic Doppler estimates of LVFP (E/A, E/e', left atrial volume, tricuspid regurgitation jet velocity) were marginally correlated with LVEDP. By using the 2016 recommendations, 65% of patients with normal non-invasive estimate of LVFP had normal LVEDP, while 79% of those with elevated non-invasive LVFP had elevated invasive LVEDP. By using 2009 recommendations, 68% of the patients with normal non-invasive LVFP had normal LVEDP, while 55% of those with elevated non-invasive LVFP had elevated LVEDP. The 2016 recommendations (sensitivity 75%, specificity 74%, positive predictive value 39%, negative predictive value 93%, AUC 0.78) identified slightly better patients with elevated invasive LVEDP (≥ 15 mmHg) as compared with the 2009 recommendations (sensitivity 43%, specificity 75%, positive predictive value 49%, negative predictive value 71%, AUC 0.68). The present Euro-Filling study demonstrates that the new 2016 recommendations for assessing LVFP non-invasively are fairly reliable and clinically useful, as well as superior to the 2009 recommendations in estimating invasive LVEDP. Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2017. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Comparison of Cytomegalovirus Loads in Plasma and Leukocytes of Patients with Cytomegalovirus Retinitis

PubMed Central

Jabs, Douglas A.; Forman, Michael; Enger, Cheryl; Jackson, J. Brooks

1999-01-01

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA loads in paired leukocyte and plasma samples from 199 patient visits by 66 patients with CMV retinitis were determined. Leukocyte CMV load determinations had a greater range of values (mean, 24,587 copies/106 leukocytes; maximum, 539,000) than did plasma CMV load determinations (mean, 10,302 copies/ml; maximum, 386,000), and leukocyte viral loads were detectable in a greater proportion of patients at the time of diagnosis of CMV retinitis prior to initiation of anti-CMV therapy (82%) than were plasma viral loads (64%) (P = 0.0078). Agreement with CMV blood cultures was slightly better for plasma (κ = 0.68) than for leukocytes (κ = 0.53), due to a greater proportion of patients with detectable viral loads in leukocytes having negative blood cultures. PMID:10203500

Composition Dependence of the Na(+) Ion Conductivity in 0.5Na2S + 0.5[xGeS2 + (1 - x)PS5/2] Mixed Glass Former Glasses: A Structural Interpretation of a Negative Mixed Glass Former Effect.

PubMed

Martin, Steve W; Bischoff, Christian; Schuller, Katherine

2015-12-24

A negative mixed glass former effect (MGFE) in the Na(+) ion conductivity of glass has been found in 0.5Na2S + 0.5[xGeS2 + (1 - x)PS5/2] glasses where the Na(+) ion conductivity is significantly smaller for all of the ternary glasses than either of the binary end-member glasses. The minimum conductivity of ∼0.4 × 10(-6) (Ω cm)(-1) at 25 °C occurs for the x = 0.7 glass. Prior to this observation, the alkali ion conductivity of sulfide glasses at constant alkali concentration, but variable ratio of one glass former for another (x) ternary mixed glass former (MGF) glasses, has always produced a positive MGFE in the alkali ion conductivity; that is, the ternary glasses have always had higher ion conductivities that either of the end-member binary glasses. While the Na(+) ion conductivity exhibits a single global minimum value, the conductivity activation energy exhibits a bimodal double maximum at x ≈ 0.4 and x ≈ 0.7. The modified Christensen-Martin-Anderson-Stuart (CMAS) model of the activation energies reveals the origin of the negative MGFE to be due to an increase in the dielectric stiffness (a decrease in relative dielectric permittivity) of these glasses. When coupled with an increase in the average Na(+) ion jump distance and a slight increase in the mechanical stiffness of the glass, this causes the activation energy to go through maximum values and thereby produce the negative MGFE. The double maximum in the conductivity activation energy is coincident with double maximums in CMAS calculated strain, ΔES, and Coulombic, ΔEC, activation energies. In these ternary glasses, the increase in the dielectric stiffness of the glass arises from a negative deviation of the limiting high frequency dielectric permittivity as compared to the binary end-member glasses. While the CMAS calculated total activation energies ΔEact = ΔES + ΔEC are found to reproduce the overall shape of the composition dependence of the measured ΔEact values, they are consistently smaller than the measured values for all compositions x. The new concept of an effective Madelung constant for the Na(+) ions in glass is introduced, MD(Na(+)), to account for the difference. Calculated MD(Na(+)) values necessary to bring the CMAS and experimental ΔEact values into agreement are in excellent agreement with nominal values for typical oxide crystals containing Na(+). New MD simulations of oxide glasses were performed and were used to calculate MD(Na(+)) values for Na2O + SiO2 glasses for the first time and were found to agree quite well with the values for the sulfide glasses studied here. Insights from the current study have been used to predict and design new MGF systems that may lead to a positive MGFE in the ionic conductivity.

Petrography and Geochemistry of the Zamora Batholith in the south of the sub-Andean zone (Ecuador)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Villares, F. M.

2013-05-01

The Zamora Batholith is an intrusive complex that is located in the extreme south-east of Ecuador. It has dimensions of 200 x 50 km approximately. It is mainly located in the Zamora Chinchipe province from which it takes its name. This study consisted in the petrographic and geochemical characterization of the Zamora Batholith in the area covered by 1: 50,000 geological maps of Centro Shaime, Guayzimi, Paquisha, Los Encuentros and El Pangui. Fieldwork was done by the "Proyecto Mapeo Geológico escala 1:50.000 (zonas prospectivas mineras)" of the Instituto Nacional de Investigación Geológico, Minero, Metalúrgico of Ecuador. This research was performed with 59 thin sections and 10 whole - rock chemical analysis done in the C.I.C of the Granada University. The Zamora Batholith intrudes Triassic to Jurassic volcanic rocks. It is overlaid by sandstones of the Hollin Formation of the Upper Aptian age and shale and limestone from the Napo Formation. Post-cretaceous deposits of ash and lava flows of andesitic to rhyolitic compositions cover the batholith. The petrography of the Zamora Batholith ranges from tonalite to monzogranite with the same qualitative mineralogy. The rocks are composed by different proportions of plagioclase, amphibole, feldspar K, quartz, biotite, opaque, pyroxene and epidote, as accessory minerals has zircon, sphene and apatite. To the south of the Conguime and Guayzimi towns, the dominant petrography is medium to coarse grained amphibole granodiorite with tonalitic and monzogranitic subordinates. To the north monzogranites are dominant rocks and subordinate granodiorites. To the East of Santa Elena the sienogranites are associated with El Hito porphyritic granite that intrudes to Zamora Batholith. Frequently the batholith has propylitic alteration; which produces a primary association of chlorite, epidote, calcite and pyrite. The granitoids have dioritic to granitic compositions (60.09 to 73.6 wt.% SiO2) and are I - type, medium to high-K calc-alkaline. They have affinities slightly peraluminous (ASI = 1,00 to 1,16). CaO is moderate to high (CaO ≈ 3.58), the alkalis have averaged of Na2O≈3,09 and K2O≈3,28. The concentrations of Na2O/K2O are moderate ranging between 0.7 and 1.7, with an average value of 1.04. The contents of Ba and Sr are moderate. The content of Zr is low (61 to 161 ppm). The multi-element diagrams normalized to chondritic values and to primitive mantle show Nb and Ta negative anomaly. Considering the multi-element diagrams, the rocks are slightly enriched in LILE (Large Ion-Lithophile-elements) mainly in Rb, Cs and Ba and slight positive anomalies in K and Sr, other incompatible elements have negative anomalies such as HFSE ( High Field Strength Elements) Ti, Nb, Ta. The values of (Eu/Eu*)N are in the range of 0.54 to 1.03. (Eu* = (SmN*GdN)1/2). Correlations between major element and silica, and relationships between trace elements indicate that fractional crystallization is a dominant process in the magma evolution. Most granitoids are also slightly peraluminous; but we believe this characteristic is due to rock alteration. The Zamora Batolith is a plutonic complex generated within a magmatic arc in normal conditions of maturity.

Specificity of a whole blood IGRA in German nursing students

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA) are used for tuberculosis (TB) screening in healthcare workers (HCWs). However, data on specificity of IGRA in serial testing of HCWs is sparse. Therefore the specificity and the negative predictive value of the IGRA - QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT) - in German nursing students was investigated. Methods 194 nursing students at the start of their professional career were tested with the QFT. 14 nursing students were excluded from the specificity analysis, due to exposure to mycobacterium tuberculosis. Two of these subjects were QFT- positive. None of them developed disease during the year of follow-up. A study group of 180 students, all with very low risk of prior TB infection, remained in the specificity analysis. Subjects were monitored for at least two years with respect to the development of active TB disease. IGRA was performed at the start of the training and after one year. Results The mean age of the study group (n = 180) was 23 years (range 18-53) with 70.9% female and 99.4% German born. The specificity of QFT was 98.9% (178/180; 95% CI 0.96-0.99); lowering the cut-off from 0.35 IU/ml to 0.1 IU/ml would have decreased specificity only slightly to 97.8% (176/180; 95% CI 0.94-0.99). Of the 154 nursing students available for re-testing, one student who initially scored positive reverted to negative, and one student initially negative converted to positive. None of the monitored group with initially negative QFT results developed TB disease, indicating a high negative predictive value of the IGRA in this population. Conclusions Following our data, QFT can serve as an effective tool in pre-employment TB screenings for HCWs. As its negative results were stable over time, specificity of the QFT in serial testing of HCWs is high. As the risk of acquiring TB infection in the German healthcare system appears to be low, our data supports the recommendation of performing TB screening only in those HCWs with known contact to TB patients or infectious materials. PMID:21929799

Physiological and psychological factors associated with onset of high-altitude headache in Chinese men upon acute high-altitude exposure at 3700 m.

PubMed

Guo, Wen-Yun; Bian, Shi-Zhu; Zhang, Ji-Hang; Li, Qian-Ning; Yu, Jie; Chen, Jian-Fei; Tang, Cai-Fa; Rao, Rong-Sheng; Yu, Shi-Yong; Jin, Jun; Huang, Lan

2017-04-01

Aim We aimed to identify clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with onset of high-altitude headache (HAH) after acute exposure at 3700 m. Method In two hours, 163 individuals ascended by plane to 3700 m. Demographic information, physiological and psychological measurements, cognitive function, physical work capacity tests and profile of mood states within one week prior to the departure and within 24 hours after arrival were examined. Results HAH patients featured significantly higher vertebral artery diastolic velocity (V d ), heart rate (HR) and pulmonary artery diameter. HAH was also associated with a more negative mood state, including scores for tension anxiety, depression, hostility, fatigue and confusion, as well as lower vigor (all p values <0.05). Furthermore, negative emotions were positively related to HAH severity. HAH slightly decreased cognitive functioning. HR, V d , lack of vigor, confusion and self-reported anxiety (all p values <0.05) were independent risk factors for HAH. We have identified three independent baseline predictors for HAH including internal diameter of the left ventricle (LVD), Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) and confusion score. Conclusions Higher HR, V d , confusion and self-reported anxiety and insufficient vigor were independent risk factors for HAH. Furthermore, higher baseline LVD, AIS and confusion score are independent predictors of HAH.

The impact of urea-induced unfolding on the redox process of immobilised cytochrome c.

PubMed

Monari, Stefano; Millo, Diego; Ranieri, Antonio; Di Rocco, Giulia; van der Zwan, Gert; Gooijer, Cees; Peressini, Silvia; Tavagnacco, Claudio; Hildebrandt, Peter; Borsari, Marco

2010-11-01

We have studied the effect of urea-induced unfolding on the electron transfer process of yeast iso-1-cytochrome c and its mutant K72AK73AK79A adsorbed on electrodes coated by mixed 11-mercapto-1-undecanoic acid/11-mercapto-1-undecanol self-assembled monolayers. Electrochemical measurements, complemented by surface enhanced resonance Raman studies, indicate two distinct states of the adsorbed proteins that mainly differ with respect to the ligation pattern of the haem. The native state, in which the haem is axially coordinated by Met80 and His18, displays a reduction potential that slightly shifts to negative values with increasing urea concentration. At urea concentrations higher than 6 M, a second state prevails in which the Met80 ligand is replaced by an additional histidine residue. This structural change in the haem pocket is associated with an approximately 0.4 V shift of the reduction potential to negative values. These two states were found for both the wild-type protein and the mutant in which lysine residues 72, 73 and 79 had been substituted by alanines. The analysis of the reduction potentials, the reaction enthalpies and entropies as well as the rate constants indicates that these three lysine residues have an important effect on stabilising the protein structure in the adsorbed state and facilitating the electron transfer dynamics.

Comparison between breast MRI and contrast-enhanced spectral mammography.

PubMed

Łuczyńska, Elżbieta; Heinze-Paluchowska, Sylwia; Hendrick, Edward; Dyczek, Sonia; Ryś, Janusz; Herman, Krzysztof; Blecharz, Paweł; Jakubowicz, Jerzy

2015-05-12

The main goal of this study was to compare contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with histopathological results and to compare the sensitivity, accuracy, and positive and negative predictive values for both imaging modalities. After ethics approval, CESM and MRI examinations were performed in 102 patients who had suspicious lesions described in conventional mammography. All visible lesions were evaluated independently by 2 experienced radiologists using BI-RADS classifications (scale 1-5). Dimensions of lesions measured with each modality were compared to postoperative histopathology results. There were 102 patients entered into CESM/MRI studies and 118 lesions were identified by the combination of CESM and breast MRI. Histopathology confirmed that 81 of 118 lesions were malignant and 37 were benign. Of the 81 malignant lesions, 72 were invasive cancers and 9 were in situ cancers. Sensitivity was 100% with CESM and 93% with breast MRI. Accuracy was 79% with CESM and 73% with breast MRI. ROC curve areas based on BI-RADS were 0.83 for CESM and 0.84 for breast MRI. Lesion size estimates on CESM and breast MRI were similar, both slightly larger than those from histopathology. Our results indicate that CESM has the potential to be a valuable diagnostic method that enables accurate detection of malignant breast lesions, has high negative predictive value, and a false-positive rate similar to that of breast MRI.

ELECTROPHORESIS EXPERIMENTS WITH THE VIRUS AND PROTECTIVE BODIES OF YELLOW FEVER

PubMed Central

Frobisher, Martin

1931-01-01

1. When suspended in slightly alkaline (pH 7.4 to 7.8) saline dilutions of clear, hemoglobin-free normal monkey serum, the virus of yellow fever from infected monkeys and from infected, but blood-free, mosquitoes, usually acts as if it were possessed of a positive electrical charge. 2. The virus tends to assume a negative charge in fluids having a slightly acid reaction. 3. The isoelectric point of the virus seems to be in the neighborhood of pH 7.0, possibly ranging from pH 7.3 to pH 6.9. 4. Exposure to fluid having a reaction of pH 5.0 for 3 hours appeared to inactivate the virus. 5. In experiments in which the suspending fluid was prepared with normal serum diluted with distilled water and containing a good quantity of partly hemolyzed erythrocytes, the virus tended to migrate to the anode. 6. The protective bodies in yellow fever immune serum appear to carry a negative charge in slightly alkaline saline dilutions of serum. PMID:19869954

Simulated East-west differences in F-region peak electron density at Far East mid-latitude region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ren, Zhipeng; Zhao, Biqiang; Wan, Weixing; Liu, Libo

2017-04-01

In the present work, using Three-Dimensional Theoretical Ionospheric Model of the Earth in Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (TIME3D-IGGCAS), we simulated the east-west differences in Fregion peak electron density (NmF2) at Far East mid-latitude region.We found that, after removing the longitudinal variations of neutral parameters, TIME3D-IGGCAS can better represent the observed relative east-west difference (Rew) features. Rew is mainly negative (West NmF2 > East NmF2) at noon and positive (East NmF2 >West NmF2) at evening-night. The magnitude of daytime negative Rew is weak at local winter and strong at local summer, and the daytime Rew show two negative peaks around two equinoxes. With the increasing of solar flux level, the magnitude of Rew mainly become larger, and two daytime negative peaks slight shifts to June Solstice. With the decreasing of geographical latitude, Rew mainly become positive, and two daytime negative peaks slight shifts to June Solstice. Our simulation also suggested that the thermospheric zonal wind combined with the geomagnetic field configuration play a pivotal role in the formation of the ionospheric east-west differences at Far East midlatitude region.

Simulated East-west differences in F-region peak electron density at Far East mid-latitude region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ren, Z.; Wan, W.

2017-12-01

In the present work, using Three-Dimensional Theoretical Ionospheric Model of the Earth in Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (TIME3D-IGGCAS), we simulated the east-west differences in Fregion peak electron density (NmF2) at Far East mid-latitude region.We found that, after removing the longitudinal variations of neutral parameters, TIME3D-IGGCAS can better represent the observed relative east-west difference (Rew) features. Rew is mainly negative (West NmF2 > East NmF2) at noon and positive (East NmF2 >West NmF2) at evening-night. The magnitude of daytime negative Rew is weak at local winter and strong at local summer, and the daytime Rew show two negative peaks around two equinoxes. With the increasing of solar flux level, the magnitude of Rew mainly become larger, and two daytime negative peaks slight shifts to June Solstice. With the decreasing of geographical latitude, Rew mainly become positive, and two daytime negative peaks slight shifts to June Solstice. Our simulation also suggested that the thermospheric zonal wind combined with the geomagnetic field configuration play a pivotal role in the formation of the ionospheric east-west differences at Far East midlatitude region.

Human papillomavirus DNA testing as an adjunct to cytology in cervical screening programs.

PubMed

Lörincz, Attila T; Richart, Ralph M

2003-08-01

Our objective was to review current large studies of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing as an adjunct to the Papanicolaou test for cervical cancer screening programs. We analyzed 10 large screening studies that used the Hybrid Capture 2 test and 3 studies that used the polymerase chain reaction test in a manner that enabled reliable estimates of accuracy for detecting or predicting high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Most studies allowed comparison of HPV DNA and Papanicolaou testing and estimates of the performance of Papanicolaou and HPV DNA as combined tests. The studies were selected on the basis of a sufficient number of cases of high-grade CIN and cancer to provide meaningful statistical values. Investigators had to demonstrate the ability to generate reasonably reliable Hybrid Capture 2 or polymerase chain reaction data that were either minimally biased by nature of study design or that permitted analytical techniques for addressing issues of study bias to be applied. Studies had to provide data for the calculation of test sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, odds ratios, relative risks, confidence intervals, and other relevant measures. Final data were abstracted directly from published articles or estimated from descriptive statistics presented in the articles. In some studies, new analyses were performed from raw data supplied by the principal investigators. We concluded that HPV DNA testing was a more sensitive indicator for prevalent high-grade CIN than either conventional or liquid cytology. A combination of HPV DNA and Papanicolaou testing had almost 100% sensitivity and negative predictive value. The specificity of the combined tests was slightly lower than the specificity of the Papanicolaou test alone, but this decrease could potentially be offset by greater protection from neoplastic progression and cost savings available from extended screening intervals. One "double-negative" HPV DNA and Papanicolaou test indicated better prognostic assurance against risk of future CIN 3 than 3 subsequent negative conventional Papanicolaou tests and may safely allow 3-year screening intervals for such low-risk women.

Nitrogen stable isotope composition (δ15N) of vehicle-emitted NOx.

PubMed

Walters, Wendell W; Goodwin, Stanford R; Michalski, Greg

2015-02-17

The nitrogen stable isotope ratio of NOx (δ(15)N-NOx) has been proposed as a regional indicator for NOx source partitioning; however, knowledge of δ(15)N values from various NOx emission sources is limited. This study presents a detailed analysis of δ(15)N-NOx emitted from vehicle exhaust, the largest source of anthropogenic NOx. To accomplish this, NOx was collected from 26 different vehicles, including gasoline and diesel-powered engines, using a modification of a NOx collection method used by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and δ(15)N-NOx was analyzed. The vehicles sampled in this study emitted δ(15)N-NOx values ranging from -19.1 to 9.8‰ that negatively correlated with the emitted NOx concentrations (8.5 to 286 ppm) and vehicle run time because of kinetic isotope fractionation effects associated with the catalytic reduction of NOx. A model for determining the mass-weighted δ(15)N-NOx from vehicle exhaust was constructed on the basis of average commute times, and the model estimates an average value of -2.5 ± 1.5‰, with slight regional variations. As technology improvements in catalytic converters reduce cold-start emissions in the future, it is likely to increase current δ(15)N-NOx values emitted from vehicles.

Chemical composition of precipitation in a Mexican Maya region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bravo, H. A.; Saavedra, M. I. R.; Sánchez, P. A.; Torres, R. J.; Granada, L. M. M.

The chemical characteristics of wet precipitation in Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo State, Mexico, were measured from April 1994 to December 1995. Puerto Morelos is located in the Caribbean Mayan coastal region of the Peninsula of Yucatan, and is normally exposed to winds from the Caribbean region. Wetfall was analyzed for pH, conductivity and Cl -, NO 3-, SO 42-, Na +, NH 4+, K +, Mg 2+ and Ca 2+ ion concentrations. Volume-weighted mean pH for the whole sampling period was 5.35, although values as low as 4.6 were measured in several rain samples. Concentrations of all species correlated negatively with rain volume. Sea-salt aerosols contributed with most of the Na +, Cl -, Mg 2+, K + and SO 42- found in wet precipitation. The mean [SO 42-excess] was 9.7 μEq l -1, which agrees with the background hemispheric values of ≈10 μEq l -1 reported elsewhere. The mean [NO 3-] was 11.4 μEq l -1, almost four times higher than the background hemispheric value of ≈2.5 μEq l -1 reported elsewhere. However, a major component causing the slight acidity character of rain in Puerto Morelos seems to be H 2SO 4.

Large Decadal Decline of the Arctic Multiyear Ice Cover

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Comiso, Josefino C.

2012-01-01

The perennial ice area was drastically reduced to 38% of its climatological average in 2007 but recovered slightly in 2008, 2009, and 2010 with the areas being 10%, 24%, and 11% higher than in 2007, respectively. However, trends in extent and area remained strongly negative at -12.2% and -13.5% decade (sup -1), respectively. The thick component of the perennial ice, called multiyear ice, as detected by satellite data during the winters of 1979-2011 was studied, and results reveal that the multiyear ice extent and area are declining at an even more rapid rate of -15.1% and -17.2% decade(sup -1), respectively, with a record low value in 2008 followed by higher values in 2009, 2010, and 2011. Such a high rate in the decline of the thick component of the Arctic ice cover means a reduction in the average ice thickness and an even more vulnerable perennial ice cover. The decline of the multiyear ice area from 2007 to 2008 was not as strong as that of the perennial ice area from 2006 to 2007, suggesting a strong role of second-year ice melt in the latter. The sea ice cover is shown to be strongly correlated with surface temperature, which is increasing at about 3 times the global average in the Arctic but appears weakly correlated with the Arctic Oscillation (AO), which controls the atmospheric circulation in the region. An 8-9-yr cycle is apparent in the multiyear ice record, which could explain, in part, the slight recovery in the last 3 yr.

PET/CT detectability and classification of simulated pulmonary lesions using an SUV correction scheme

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morrow, Andrew N.; Matthews, Kenneth L., II; Bujenovic, Steven

2008-03-01

Positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) together are a powerful diagnostic tool, but imperfect image quality allows false positive and false negative diagnoses to be made by any observer despite experience and training. This work investigates PET acquisition mode, reconstruction method and a standard uptake value (SUV) correction scheme on the classification of lesions as benign or malignant in PET/CT images, in an anthropomorphic phantom. The scheme accounts for partial volume effect (PVE) and PET resolution. The observer draws a region of interest (ROI) around the lesion using the CT dataset. A simulated homogenous PET lesion of the same shape as the drawn ROI is blurred with the point spread function (PSF) of the PET scanner to estimate the PVE, providing a scaling factor to produce a corrected SUV. Computer simulations showed that the accuracy of the corrected PET values depends on variations in the CT-drawn boundary and the position of the lesion with respect to the PET image matrix, especially for smaller lesions. Correction accuracy was affected slightly by mismatch of the simulation PSF and the actual scanner PSF. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) study resulted in several observations. Using observer drawn ROIs, scaled tumor-background ratios (TBRs) more accurately represented actual TBRs than unscaled TBRs. For the PET images, 3D OSEM outperformed 2D OSEM, 3D OSEM outperformed 3D FBP, and 2D OSEM outperformed 2D FBP. The correction scheme significantly increased sensitivity and slightly increased accuracy for all acquisition and reconstruction modes at the cost of a small decrease in specificity.

Accommodation and age-dependent eye model based on in vivo measurements.

PubMed

Zapata-Díaz, Juan F; Radhakrishnan, Hema; Charman, W Neil; López-Gil, Norberto

2018-03-21

To develop a flexible model of the average eye that incorporates changes with age and accommodation in all optical parameters, including entrance pupil diameter, under photopic, natural, environmental conditions. We collated retrospective in vivo measurements of all optical parameters, including entrance pupil diameter. Ray-tracing was used to calculate the wavefront aberrations of the eye model as a function of age, stimulus vergence and pupil diameter. These aberrations were used to calculate objective refraction using paraxial curvature matching. This was also done for several stimulus positions to calculate the accommodation response/stimulus curve. The model predicts a hyperopic change in distance refraction as the eye ages (+0.22D every 10 years) between 20 and 65 years. The slope of the accommodation response/stimulus curve was 0.72 for a 25 years-old subject, with little change between 20 and 45 years. A trend to a more negative value of primary spherical aberration as the eye accommodates is predicted for all ages (20-50 years). When accommodation is relaxed, a slight increase in primary spherical aberration (0.008μm every 10 years) between 20 and 65 years is predicted, for an age-dependent entrance pupil diameter ranging between 3.58mm (20 years) and 3.05mm (65 years). Results match reasonably well with studies performed in real eyes, except that spherical aberration is systematically slightly negative as compared with the practical data. The proposed eye model is able to predict changes in objective refraction and accommodation response. It has the potential to be a useful design and testing tool for devices (e.g. intraocular lenses or contact lenses) designed to correct the eye's optical errors. Copyright © 2018 Spanish General Council of Optometry. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Characterization of color fade during frozen storage of red grapefruit juice concentrates.

PubMed

Lee, Hyoung S; Coates, Gary A

2002-07-03

Color changes in red grapefruit juice concentrates during storage at -23 degrees C for 12 months were studied. Concentrate (38 degrees Brix) was packed in both plastic (16 oz) and metal (6 oz) cans. Decrease in red intensity (CIE a) in juice color and slight increases in CIE L*, b*, and hue values from analysis of reconstituted juices were the characteristic color changes in concentrate during frozen storage. With respect to fresh concentrate, juice color in stored concentrate shifted toward the direction between negative DeltaC* and positive DeltaL*, indicating the color became slightly paler. A color difference seems to exist between the two containers, especially for the magnitude of DeltaE*; color changes were more pronounced in concentrates packed in plastic. There are significant changes (P < 0.05) in major carotenoid pigments (beta-carotene and lycopene) in the concentrates. More than 20% loss of lycopene and about 7% loss of beta-carotene occurred with plastic containers after a 12-month period. Regression analysis showed that the rate of decline was about 0.291 ppm per month (r = 0.990) for lycopene compared to 0.045 ppm (r = 0.817) for beta-carotene in concentrate stored in plastic. In the metal can, the same trends were observed but pigment losses were slightly smaller than those with plastic. An estimated shelf life for lycopene was 26.1 months in the metal can compared to 18 months in plastic. Shelf life for beta-carotene was more than 39 months, more than twice that of lycopene in plastic container.

A screening system for smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis using artificial neural networks.

PubMed

de O Souza Filho, João B; de Seixas, José Manoel; Galliez, Rafael; de Bragança Pereira, Basilio; de Q Mello, Fernanda C; Dos Santos, Alcione Miranda; Kritski, Afranio Lineu

2016-08-01

Molecular tests show low sensitivity for smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). A screening and risk assessment system for smear-negative PTB using artificial neural networks (ANNs) based on patient signs and symptoms is proposed. The prognostic and risk assessment models exploit a multilayer perceptron (MLP) and inspired adaptive resonance theory (iART) network. Model development considered data from 136 patients with suspected smear-negative PTB in a general hospital. MLP showed higher sensitivity (100%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 78-100%) than the other techniques, such as support vector machine (SVM) linear (86%; 95% CI 60-96%), multivariate logistic regression (MLR) (79%; 95% CI 53-93%), and classification and regression tree (CART) (71%; 95% CI 45-88%). MLR showed a slightly higher specificity (85%; 95% CI 59-96%) than MLP (80%; 95% CI 54-93%), SVM linear (75%, 95% CI 49-90%), and CART (65%; 95% CI 39-84%). In terms of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), the MLP model exhibited a higher value (0.918, 95% CI 0.824-1.000) than the SVM linear (0.796, 95% CI 0.651-0.970) and MLR (0.782, 95% CI 0.663-0.960) models. The significant signs and symptoms identified in risk groups are coherent with clinical practice. In settings with a high prevalence of smear-negative PTB, the system can be useful for screening and also to aid clinical practice in expediting complementary tests for higher risk patients. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

The Nation's top 25 construction aggregates producers

USGS Publications Warehouse

Willett, Jason Christopher

2013-01-01

U.S. production of construction aggregates in 2011 was 2.17 billion short tons, valued at $17.2 billion, free on board (f.o.b.) at plant. Construction aggregates production decreased by 37 percent, and the associated value decreased by 25 percent, compared with the record highs reported in 2006. In 2011, construction aggregates production increased for the first time since 2006, owing to a very slight increase in the production of both construction sand and gravel and crushed stone. The average unit value, which is the f.o.b. at plant price of a ton of material, increased slightly, but is still less than the average unit value of two years prior.

Evaluation of the in vitro activity of levornidazole, its metabolites and comparators against clinical anaerobic bacteria.

PubMed

Hu, Jiali; Zhang, Jing; Wu, Shi; Zhu, Demei; Huang, Haihui; Chen, Yuancheng; Yang, Yang; Zhang, Yingyuan

2014-12-01

This study evaluated the in vitro anti-anaerobic activity and spectrum of levornidazole, its metabolites and comparators against 375 clinical isolates of anaerobic bacteria, including Gram-negative bacilli (181 strains), Gram-negative cocci (11 strains), Gram-positive bacilli (139 strains) and Gram-positive cocci (44 strains), covering 34 species. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of levornidazole, its five metabolites and three comparators against these anaerobic isolates were determined by the agar dilution method. Minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of levornidazole and metronidazole were measured against 22 strains of Bacteroides fragilis. Levornidazole showed good activity against B. fragilis, other Bacteroides spp., Clostridium difficile, Clostridium perfringens and Peptostreptococcus magnus, evidenced by MIC90 values of 0.5, 1, 0.25, 2 and 1mg/L, respectively. The activity of levornidazole and the comparators was poor for Veillonella spp. Generally, levornidazole displayed activity similar to or slightly higher than that of metronidazole, ornidazole and dextrornidazole against anaerobic Gram-negative bacilli, Gram-positive bacilli and Gram-positive cocci, especially B. fragilis. Favourable anti-anaerobic activity was also seen with levornidazole metabolites M1 and M4 but not M2, M3 or M5. For the 22 clinical B. fragilis strains, MBC50 and MBC90 values of levornidazole were 2mg/L and 4mg/L, respectively. Both MBC50/MIC50 and MBC90/MIC90 ratios of levornidazole were 4, similar to those of metronidazole. Levornidazole is an important anti-anaerobic option in clinical settings in terms of its potent and broad-spectrum in vitro activity, bactericidal property, and the anti-anaerobic activity of its metabolites M1 and M4. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. and the International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.

Novel formulation of abiraterone acetate might allow significant dose reduction and eliminates substantial positive food effect.

PubMed

Solymosi, Tamás; Ötvös, Zsolt; Angi, Réka; Ordasi, Betti; Jordán, Tamás; Molnár, László; McDermott, John; Zann, Vanessa; Church, Ann; Mair, Stuart; Filipcsei, Genovéva; Heltovics, Gábor; Glavinas, Hristos

2017-10-01

Zytiga (abiraterone acetate, AA) is known to exhibit very low bioavailability and a significant positive food effect in men. The unfavorable pharmacokinetic properties are attributed to the inadequate and variable dissolution of the compound. Using a continuous flow precipitation technology, a novel AA formulation has been developed with improved solubility and dissolution characteristics. The current study was performed to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and safety of this novel formulation in healthy volunteers. The study was conducted in 11 healthy men aged 47-57 years. All subjects received 3 consecutive single doses of the novel formulation of AA (100 and 200 mg in the fasted state and 200 mg in the fed state). Data were compared with pharmacokinetic and safety data reported for 1000 mg Zytiga, the marketed drug. The novel formulation of AA allows rapid absorption of the compound with t max values within 1 hour. Based on AUC values, a ~250 mg dose of the novel formulation is predicted to give the same exposure as 1000 mg Zytiga in the fasted state. The significant positive food effect was also eliminated; actually, a slight, but statistically significant negative food effect was observed. Variability of exposure was significantly reduced when compared to Zytiga. AA administered in the novel formulation was well tolerated with no IMP-related safety AEs reported. The novel formulation might allow a 75% dose reduction with significant reduction of inter-individual variability. The negative food effect observed requires further investigations; however, elimination of the significant positive food effect could be adequate to negate the restriction of a food label.

Balanced conditions or slight mass gain of glaciers in the Lahaul and Spiti region (northern India, Himalaya) during the nineties preceded recent mass loss

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vincent, C.; Ramanathan, Al.; Wagnon, P.; Dobhal, D. P.; Linda, A.; Berthier, E.; Sharma, P.; Arnaud, Y.; Azam, M. F.; Jose, P. G.; Gardelle, J.

2013-04-01

The volume change of the Chhota Shigri Glacier (India, 32° 20 N, 77° 30' E) between 1988 and 2010 has been determined using in situ geodetic measurements. This glacier has experienced only a slight mass loss between 1988 and 2010 (-3.8 ± 2.0 m w.e. (water equivalent) corresponding to -0.17 ± 0.09 m w.e. yr-1). Using satellite digital elevation models (DEM) differencing and field measurements, we measure a negative mass balance (MB) between 1999 and 2010 (-4.8 ± 1.8 m w.e. corresponding to -0.44 ± 0.16 m w.e. yr-1). Thus, we deduce a slightly positive or near-zero MB between 1988 and 1999 (+1.0 ± 2.7 m w.e. corresponding to +0.09 ± 0.24 m w.e. yr-1). Furthermore, satellite DEM differencing reveals that the MB of the Chhota Shigri Glacier (-0.39 ± 0.15 m w.e. yr-1) has been only slightly less negative than the MB of a 2110 km2 glaciarized area in the Lahaul and Spiti region (-0.44 ± 0.09 m w.e. yr-1) during 1999-2011. Hence, we conclude that the ice wastage is probably moderate in this region over the last 22 yr, with near equilibrium conditions during the nineties, and an ice mass loss after. The turning point from balanced to negative mass budget is not known but lies probably in the late nineties and at the latest in 1999. This positive or near-zero MB for Chhota Shigri Glacier (and probably for the surrounding glaciers of the Lahaul and Spiti region) during at least part of the 1990s contrasts with a recent compilation of MB data in the Himalayan range that indicated ice wastage since 1975. However, in agreement with this compilation, we confirm more negative balances since the beginning of the 21st century.

Origin of the subduction-related Carboniferous intrusions associated with the Yandong porphyry Cu deposit in eastern Tianshan, NW China: constraints from geology, geochronology, geochemistry, and Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf-O isotopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yin-Hong; Xue, Chun-Ji; Liu, Jia-Jun; Zhang, Fang-Fang

2017-10-01

The Yandong porphyry Cu deposit is located at the south margin of the Dananhu-Tousuquan arc belt in eastern Tianshan, northwest China. The Cu ores comprise mainly disseminations and vein zones in the potassic and phyllic alteration zones, and are predominantly hosted in diorite porphyry, tonalite, and quartz porphyry, which intruded into Carboniferous Qi'eshan Group volcanic rocks. The U-Pb ages indicate that four intrusions were emplaced between 338.6 ± 2.9 and 326.1 ± 2.6 Ma. Five molybdenite samples yield Re-Os model ages of 333.8-329.5 Ma with a weighted average age of 331.8 ± 2.1 Ma. Fourteen pyrite samples have 206Pb/204Pb of 17.776-18.959, 207Pb/204Pb of 15.410-15.534, and 208Pb/204Pb of 37.323-38.127, similar to the age-corrected data of the Yandong tonalite. The tonalite shows adakite-like characteristics (e.g., high Sr/Y ratios and low Y contents), and has positive ɛNd(t) and ɛHf(t) values, and low zircon O isotopes (3.7-4.6 ‰), suggesting that the melt was derived from partial melting of a subducted oceanic slab followed by mantle peridotite interaction. The diorite porphyry exhibits high Mg# and low Sr/Y values, slightly negative Eu anomalies, and positive ɛHf(t) values, indicating a lithospheric mantle source. The quartz porphyry, with stronger negative Eu anomalies, less evolved ɛHf(t) values, and low δ18O values (4.7-5.5 ‰), was probably derived from mantle melts that experienced mixing with lower crustal materials (melts or assimilation). The new data suggest that the Yandong intrusions formed in an arc setting. As the tonalite is genetically linked to the Cu mineralization, subduction-related slab melts must have played a key role in the formation of the Yandong deposit.

Origin of the subduction-related Carboniferous intrusions associated with the Yandong porphyry Cu deposit in eastern Tianshan, NW China: constraints from geology, geochronology, geochemistry, and Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf-O isotopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yin-Hong; Xue, Chun-Ji; Liu, Jia-Jun; Zhang, Fang-Fang

2018-06-01

The Yandong porphyry Cu deposit is located at the south margin of the Dananhu-Tousuquan arc belt in eastern Tianshan, northwest China. The Cu ores comprise mainly disseminations and vein zones in the potassic and phyllic alteration zones, and are predominantly hosted in diorite porphyry, tonalite, and quartz porphyry, which intruded into Carboniferous Qi'eshan Group volcanic rocks. The U-Pb ages indicate that four intrusions were emplaced between 338.6 ± 2.9 and 326.1 ± 2.6 Ma. Five molybdenite samples yield Re-Os model ages of 333.8-329.5 Ma with a weighted average age of 331.8 ± 2.1 Ma. Fourteen pyrite samples have 206Pb/204Pb of 17.776-18.959, 207Pb/204Pb of 15.410-15.534, and 208Pb/204Pb of 37.323-38.127, similar to the age-corrected data of the Yandong tonalite. The tonalite shows adakite-like characteristics (e.g., high Sr/Y ratios and low Y contents), and has positive ɛNd(t) and ɛHf(t) values, and low zircon O isotopes (3.7-4.6 ‰), suggesting that the melt was derived from partial melting of a subducted oceanic slab followed by mantle peridotite interaction. The diorite porphyry exhibits high Mg# and low Sr/Y values, slightly negative Eu anomalies, and positive ɛHf(t) values, indicating a lithospheric mantle source. The quartz porphyry, with stronger negative Eu anomalies, less evolved ɛHf(t) values, and low δ18O values (4.7-5.5 ‰), was probably derived from mantle melts that experienced mixing with lower crustal materials (melts or assimilation). The new data suggest that the Yandong intrusions formed in an arc setting. As the tonalite is genetically linked to the Cu mineralization, subduction-related slab melts must have played a key role in the formation of the Yandong deposit.

Entanglement with negative Wigner function of almost 3,000 atoms heralded by one photon.

PubMed

McConnell, Robert; Zhang, Hao; Hu, Jiazhong; Ćuk, Senka; Vuletić, Vladan

2015-03-26

Quantum-mechanically correlated (entangled) states of many particles are of interest in quantum information, quantum computing and quantum metrology. Metrologically useful entangled states of large atomic ensembles have been experimentally realized, but these states display Gaussian spin distribution functions with a non-negative Wigner quasiprobability distribution function. Non-Gaussian entangled states have been produced in small ensembles of ions, and very recently in large atomic ensembles. Here we generate entanglement in a large atomic ensemble via an interaction with a very weak laser pulse; remarkably, the detection of a single photon prepares several thousand atoms in an entangled state. We reconstruct a negative-valued Wigner function--an important hallmark of non-classicality--and verify an entanglement depth (the minimum number of mutually entangled atoms) of 2,910 ± 190 out of 3,100 atoms. Attaining such a negative Wigner function and the mutual entanglement of virtually all atoms is unprecedented for an ensemble containing more than a few particles. Although the achieved purity of the state is slightly below the threshold for entanglement-induced metrological gain, further technical improvement should allow the generation of states that surpass this threshold, and of more complex Schrödinger cat states for quantum metrology and information processing. More generally, our results demonstrate the power of heralded methods for entanglement generation, and illustrate how the information contained in a single photon can drastically alter the quantum state of a large system.

The role of ridge subduction in determining the geochemistry and Nd–Sr–Pb isotopic evolution of the Kodiak batholith in southern Alaska

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ayuso, Robert A.; Haeussler, Peter J.; Bradley, Dwight C.; Farris, David W.; Foley, Nora K.; Wandless, Gregory A.

2009-01-01

The Paleocene Kodiak batholith, part of the Sanak–Baranof belt of Tertiary near-trench intrusive rocks, forms an elongate body (~ 150 km long) that transects Kodiak Island from SW to NE. The batholith consists of three zones (Southern, Central, and Northern) of kyanite-, muscovite-, and garnet-bearing biotite tonalite and granodiorite and less abundant granite that intruded an accretionary prism (Kodiak Formation, and Ghost Rocks Formation). Small and likely coeval bodies (Northern, Western, and Eastern satellite groups) of quartz gabbro, diorite, tonalite, granodiorite, and leucogranite flank the batholith. The batholith is calc-alkalic, has an aluminum saturation index of > 1.1, FeOt/(FeOt + MgO) ~ 0.65 (at SiO2 = 65 wt.%), and increases in SiO2 (~ 61 wt.%–73 wt.%) and decreases in TiO2 (~ 0.9 wt.%–0.3 wt.%) from SW to NE. As a group, the granitic rocks have light REE-enriched chondrite-normalized patterns with small or no negative Eu anomalies, primitive mantle-normalized negative anomalies for Nb and Ti, and positive anomalies for Pb. Small to large negative anomalies for Th are also distinctive. The quartz gabbros and diorites are generally characterized by generally flat to light REE chondrite-normalized patterns (no Eu anomalies), and mantle-normalized negative anomalies for Nb, Ti, and P. Pb isotopic compositions (206Pb/204Pb = 18.850–18.960; 207Pb/204Pb = 15.575–15.694; 208Pb/204Pb = 38.350–39.039) are intermediate between depleted mantle and average continental crust. The Southern zone and a portion of the Central zone are characterized by negative εNd values of − 3.7 to − 0.3 and TDM ages ranging from ~ 838 Ma to 1011 Ma. Other granitic rocks from the Central and Northern zones have higher εNd values of − 0.4 to + 4.7 and younger TDM ages of ~ 450 to 797 Ma. Granitic and mafic plutons from the Eastern satellites show a wide range of εNdvalues of − 2.7 to + 6.4, and TDM ages from 204 Ma to 2124 Ma. 87Sr/86Sr values of the Southern and Central zones overlap and tend to be slightly more radiogenic (87Sr/86Sr > 0.70426) than the Northern zone (87Sr/86Sr < 0.70472). 206Pb/204Pb values increase slightly from the Southern and Central zones toward the Northern zone. There is no clear correlation of the major or trace elements with εNd, Pb or Sr isotopic values. Kodiak Formation and the Ghost Rocks Formation overlap the isotopic compositions (e.g., 206Pb/204Pb = 18.978 to 19.165, 87Sr/86Sr of 0.705715 to 0.707118, and εNd of − 6.7 to − 1.5 at 59 Ma) and TDM values (959 to 1489 Ma) of the batholith. Production of large volumes of granitic rocks in the Sanak–Baranof belt, and particularly on Kodiak Island, reflects a sequence of processes that includes underplating of mantle-derived mafic (possibly from the mantle wedge) and intermediate rocks under the accretionary flysch, interlayering of mantle-derived and flyschoid rocks, and partial melting of the mixed lithologic assemblages. Limited degrees of fractional crystallization or assimilation and fractional crystallization influenced compositions of the granitic rocks. The contribution of mantle-derived rocks that resided in the accretionary prism for only a short period of time prior to partial melting likely exceeds 40% (up to 80%). The balance (60 to 20%) is from a recently recycled crustal component represented by the Kodiak Formation. This type of progressive intracrustal melting from mixed sources controlled the geochemical character of the batholith and is most consistent with the hypothesis that the granitic rocks are associated with a slab-window produced by collision of a spreading oceanic center and a subduction zone and migration beneath the accretionary prism.

Mineralization and optical characterization of copper oxide nanoparticles using a high aspect ratio bio-template

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zaman, Mohammed Shahriar; Haberer, Elaine D.

2014-10-01

Organized chains of copper oxide nanoparticles were synthesized, without palladium (Pd) activation, using the M13 filamentous virus as a biological template. The interaction of Cu precursor ions with the negatively charged viral coat proteins were studied with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. Discrete nanoparticles with an average diameter of 4.5 nm and narrow size distribution were closely spaced along the length of the high aspect ratio templates. The synthesized material was identified as a mixture of cubic Cu2O and monoclinic CuO. UV/Vis absorption measurements were completed and a direct optical band gap of 2.87 eV was determined using Tauc's method. This value was slightly larger than bulk, signaling quantum confinement effects within the templated materials.

Mineralization and optical characterization of copper oxide nanoparticles using a high aspect ratio bio-template

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

Zaman, Mohammed Shahriar; Haberer, Elaine D., E-mail: haberer@ucr.edu; Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California, Riverside, California 92521

Organized chains of copper oxide nanoparticles were synthesized, without palladium (Pd) activation, using the M13 filamentous virus as a biological template. The interaction of Cu precursor ions with the negatively charged viral coat proteins were studied with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. Discrete nanoparticles with an average diameter of 4.5 nm and narrow size distribution were closely spaced along the length of the high aspect ratio templates. The synthesized material was identified as a mixture of cubic Cu₂O and monoclinic CuO. UV/Vis absorption measurements were completed and a direct optical band gap ofmore » 2.87 eV was determined using Tauc's method. This value was slightly larger than bulk, signaling quantum confinement effects within the templated materials.« less

Dispersal capacity and diet breadth modify the response of wild bees to habitat loss.

PubMed

Bommarco, Riccardo; Biesmeijer, Jacobus C; Meyer, Birgit; Potts, Simon G; Pöyry, Juha; Roberts, Stuart P M; Steffan-Dewenter, Ingolf; Ockinger, Erik

2010-07-07

Habitat loss poses a major threat to biodiversity, and species-specific extinction risks are inextricably linked to life-history characteristics. This relationship is still poorly documented for many functionally important taxa, and at larger continental scales. With data from five replicated field studies from three countries, we examined how species richness of wild bees varies with habitat patch size. We hypothesized that the form of this relationship is affected by body size, degree of host plant specialization and sociality. Across all species, we found a positive species-area slope (z = 0.19), and species traits modified this relationship. Large-bodied generalists had a lower z value than small generalists. Contrary to predictions, small specialists had similar or slightly lower z value compared with large specialists, and small generalists also tended to be more strongly affected by habitat loss as compared with small specialists. Social bees were negatively affected by habitat loss (z = 0.11) irrespective of body size. We conclude that habitat loss leads to clear shifts in the species composition of wild bee communities.

Influence of CoO Nanoparticles on Properties of Barium Zirconium Titanate Ceramics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jarupoom, Parkpoom; Jaita, Pharatree; Boothrawong, Narongdetch; Phatungthane, Thanatep; Sanjoom, Ratabongkot; Rujijanagul, Gobwute; Cann, David P.

2017-07-01

Composites of Ba(Zr0.07Ti0.93)O3 ceramic and CoO nanoparticles (at 1.0 vol.% to 3.0 vol.%) have been fabricated to investigate the effects of the CoO nanoparticles on the properties of the composites. X-ray diffraction data revealed that the modified samples contained Ba(Zr0.07Ti0.93)O3 and CoO phases. Addition of CoO nanoparticles improved the magnetic behavior and resulted in slight changes in ferroelectric properties. The composites showed a magnetoelectric effect in which the negative value of the magnetocapacitance increased with increasing CoO concentration. Examination of the dielectric spectra showed that the two phase-transition temperatures as observed for unmodified Ba(Zr0.07Ti0.93)O3 merged into a single phase-transition temperature for the composite samples. The composite samples also showed broad relative permittivity versus temperature ( ɛ r - T) curves with frequency dispersion. This dielectric behavior can be explained in terms of the Maxwell-Wagner mechanism. In addition, the Vickers hardness ( H v) value of the samples increased with increasing CoO content.

Lung function in retired coke oven plant workers.

PubMed Central

Chau, N; Bertrand, J P; Guenzi, M; Mayer, L; Téculescu, D; Mur, J M; Patris, A; Moulin, J J; Pham, Q T

1992-01-01

Lung function was studied in 354 coke oven plant workers in the Lorraine collieries (Houillères du Bassin de Lorraine, France) who retired between 1963 and 1982 and were still alive on 1 January 1988. A spirometric examination was performed on 68.4% of them in the occupational health service. Occupational exposure to respiratory hazards throughout their career was retraced for each subject. No adverse effect of occupational exposure on ventilatory function was found. Ventilatory function was, however negatively linked with smoking and with the presence of a respiratory symptom or discrete abnormalities visible on pulmonary x ray films. The functional values were mostly slightly lower than predicted values and the most reduced index was the mean expiratory flow, FEF25-75%. The decrease in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was often parallel to that in forced vital capacity (FVC), but it was more pronounced for subjects who had worked underground, for smokers of more than 30 pack-years, and for subjects having a respiratory symptom. Pulmonary function indices were probably overestimated because of the exclusion of deceased subjects and the bias of the participants. PMID:1599869

Impact of sodium lactate and vinegar derivatives on the quality of fresh Italian pork sausage links.

PubMed

Crist, C A; Williams, J B; Schilling, M W; Hood, A F; Smith, B S; Campano, S G

2014-04-01

Sodium lactate and acetic acid derivatives were evaluated for their impact on fresh Italian pork sausage using commercial trimmings. Analysis over storage included total plate count (TPC), TBARS, sensory analysis, cooking loss, pH, and color. Treatments included: (a) vinegar and sodium lactate mixture (V), (b) sodium lactate (S), (c) positive control with BHA/BHT (B) and (d) negative control, seasoning only (C). Treatments S and V had lower TPC (P<0.05) from days 5 to 14 when compared to B and C. TBARS values increased (P<0.05) for C, S, and V while B did not change (P>0.05) over time. While CIE a* surface values for redness generally decreased over storage time for all treatments, B maintained more redness. There were few major differences in descriptive sensory evaluation over time, but S and V precluded early onset of rancidity, oxidation and other off-flavors contrary to some of the analytical results. Of consumers tested, 85.6% rated all treatments between like slightly and like very much. Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Dispersal capacity and diet breadth modify the response of wild bees to habitat loss

PubMed Central

Bommarco, Riccardo; Biesmeijer, Jacobus C.; Meyer, Birgit; Potts, Simon G.; Pöyry, Juha; Roberts, Stuart P. M.; Steffan-Dewenter, Ingolf; Öckinger, Erik

2010-01-01

Habitat loss poses a major threat to biodiversity, and species-specific extinction risks are inextricably linked to life-history characteristics. This relationship is still poorly documented for many functionally important taxa, and at larger continental scales. With data from five replicated field studies from three countries, we examined how species richness of wild bees varies with habitat patch size. We hypothesized that the form of this relationship is affected by body size, degree of host plant specialization and sociality. Across all species, we found a positive species–area slope (z = 0.19), and species traits modified this relationship. Large-bodied generalists had a lower z value than small generalists. Contrary to predictions, small specialists had similar or slightly lower z value compared with large specialists, and small generalists also tended to be more strongly affected by habitat loss as compared with small specialists. Social bees were negatively affected by habitat loss (z = 0.11) irrespective of body size. We conclude that habitat loss leads to clear shifts in the species composition of wild bee communities. PMID:20219735

Magical food and health beliefs: a portrait of believers and functions of the beliefs.

PubMed

Aarnio, Kia; Lindeman, Marjaana

2004-08-01

The aims of the present two studies were to delineate a portrait of people who are attracted to magical beliefs about food and health and to study the self-reported functions for the beliefs. Participants were Finnish men and women ranging in age from 15 to 66 years (N=3261 in study 1 and N=189 in study 2), and they filled in either an Internet-based or a paper questionnaire. The believers were more often women than men, vegetarians than omnivores, and they relied more on alternative medicine, thought in a more intuitive way, and demonstrated more eating-disordered thinking than the nonbelievers. Additionally, the believers had experienced slightly more negative life events than the nonbelievers in study 1 but contrary to our hypothesis, they did not differ in their desire for control. The believers reported value-expressive function as the most important one served by their beliefs, followed by the control and utilitarian functions. The emotional, intuitive nature of food beliefs and their connection to values and identity are discussed.

Deglacial Meltwater Pulse Recorded in Last Interglacial Mollusk Shells from Bermuda

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Winkelstern, I. Z.; Rowe, M. P.; Lohmann, K. C.; Defliese, W.; Petersen, S. V.; Brewer, A. W.

2016-12-01

Iceberg scours as far south as the Florida Strait and the presence of ice rafted debris in sediments from the Bermuda Rise indicate that during the last glacial phase icebergs traveled quite far south during episodes of excessive iceberg discharge from the Laurentide Ice Sheet (Heinrich Events). We present evidence that the effects of these events extended southward into the subtropics during the previous deglaciation (Termination-II), potentially aligned with Heinrich Event 11, and that meltwater reached Bermuda. Temperatures 10° C colder and seawater δ18O values 2 ‰ more negative than modern are derived from Last Interglacial Cittarium pica shells from Grape Bay, Bermuda using the clumped isotope paleothermometer. In contrast, Last Interglacial shells from Rocky Bay record temperatures only slightly colder and seawater δ18O values similar to modern, potentially representing more typical Last Interglacial conditions in Bermuda outside of a meltwater event. The cold ocean conditions observed illustrate extreme sensitivity of Bermudian climate to rapid climate and ocean circulation changes. They also provide further evidence for routine meltwater transport in the North Atlantic to near-equatorial latitudes during deglaciation.

The nation’s top 25 construction aggregates producers

USGS Publications Warehouse

Willett, Jason C.

2014-01-01

U.S. production of construction aggregates in 2012 was 2.18 billion short tons valued at $17.6 billion, free on board (f.o.b.) at plant. In 2012, construction aggregates production remained virtually unchanged from the levels of the last two years because of a very slight increase compared with that of 2011 in the production of both construction sand and gravel and crushed stone. The average unit value, which is the f.o.b. at the plant price of a metric ton of material, increased slightly. Construction aggregates production was 36 percent less than and the associated value was 23 percent less than the record highs reported in 2006.

Biological mechanisms of premature ovarian failure caused by psychological stress based on support vector regression

PubMed Central

Wang, Xiu-Feng; Zhang, Lei; Wu, Qing-Hua; Min, Jian-Xin; Ma, Na; Luo, Lai-Cheng

2015-01-01

Psychological stress has become a common and important cause of premature ovarian failure (POF). Therefore, it is very important to explore the mechanisms of POF resulting from psychological stress. Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into control and model groups. Biomolecules associated with POF (β-EP, IL-1, NOS, NO, GnRH, CRH, FSH, LH, E2, P, ACTH, and CORT) were measured in the control and psychologically stressed rats. The regulation relationships of the biomolecules were explored in the psychologically stressed state using support vector regression (SVR). The values of β-EP, IL-1, NOS, and GnRH in the hypothalamus decreased significantly, and the value of NO changed slightly, when the values of 3 biomolecules in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis decreased. The values of E2 and P in the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis decreased significantly, while the values of FSH and LH changed slightly, when the values of the biomolecules in the hypothalamus decreased. The values of FSH and LH in the pituitary layer of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis changed slightly when the values of E2 and P in the target gland layer of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis decreased. An Imbalance in the neuroendocrine-immune bimolecular network, particularly the failure of the feedback action of the target gland layer to pituitary layer in the pituitary-ovarian axis, is possibly one of the pathogenic mechanisms of POF. PMID:26885082

Geohydrologic data from test hole USW UZ-7, Yucca Mountain area, Nye County, Nevada

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kume, Jack; Hammermeister, D.P.

1990-01-01

This report contains a description of the methods used in drilling and coring of the test-hole USW UZ-7, a description of the methods used in collecting, handling, and testing of test-hole samples; Lithologic information from the test hole; and water-content, water-potential, bulk-density, grain-density, porosity, and tritium data for the test hole. Test-hole USW UZ-7 was drilled and cored to a total depth of 62.94 m. The drilling was done using air as a drilling fluid to minimize disturbance to the water content of cores, drill-bit cuttings, and borehole wall-rock. Beginning at the land surface, the unsaturated-zone rock that was penetrated consisted of alluvium; welded and partially to nonwelded ash-flow tuff; bedded and reworked ash-fall tuff; nonwelded ash-flow tuff; and welded ash-flow tuff. Values of gravimetric water content and water potential of alluvium were intermediate between the extreme values in welded and nonwelded units of tuff. Gravimetric water content was largest in bedded and nonwelded ash-fall tuffs and was smallest in welded ash-flow tuff. Values of water potential were more negative in densely welded ash-flow tuffs and were less negative in bedded and nonwelded ash-fall tuffs. Bulk density was largest in densely welded ash-flow tuffs and smallest in nonwelded and bedded ash-fall tuffs. Grain density was uniform but was slightly larger in nonwelded and bedded ash-fall tuffs than in welded ash-flow tuffs. Porosity trends were opposite to bulk-density trends. Tritium content in alluvium was smallest near the alluvium-bedrock contact, markedly increased in the middle of the deposit, and decreased in the near-surface zone of the deposit. (Author 's abstract)

The role of SISCOM in preoperative evaluation for patients with epilepsy surgery: A meta-analysis.

PubMed

Chen, Tong; Guo, Liang

2016-10-01

To assess the specific value of subtraction ictal and inter-ictal SPECT co-registered to MRI (SISCOM) in identifying the epileptogenic zone (EZ) and predicting postoperative outcomes in epileptic surgical patients. A meta-analysis of studies published from January 1995 to June 2015 was conducted through a comprehensive literature search, and 11 studies were included. R software was first used to calculate a pooled positive rate, concordant rate and positive predictive value (PPV) for good outcomes. Stata software was then used to explore the relationship between SISCOM localization and surgical outcomes, including a subgroup analysis for extra-temporal lobe epilepsy. The unweighted positive and concordant rates of SISCOM were 85.9% and 65.3%, respectively. In 142 MRI-negative patients, the SISCOM positive rate was 83.8%. The pooled PPV of 178 surgical patients with concordant SISCOM was 56%. In the meta-analysis of 275 surgical patients, the seizure-free odds ratio was 3.28-times higher in concordant than in non-concordant SISCOM patients [95%CI (1.90, 5.67)]. For extra-temporal lobe epilepsy, the seizure-free odds ratio was 2.44-times higher in concordant than in non-concordant SISCOM patients [95%CI (1.34, 4.43)]. Our data indicate that SISCOM has moderate sensitivity in localizing the epileptogenic zone and can provide complementary information when MRI is negative. Furthermore, SISCOM localization concordant with the gold standard demonstrates slightly higher predictive value for good surgical outcomes. Further research is required to explore the influence of SISCOM localization results in temporal lobe versus extra-temporal lobe epilepsy. Copyright © 2016 British Epilepsy Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of inter-observer agreement when using a clinical respiratory scoring system in pre-weaned dairy calves.

PubMed

Buczinski, S; Faure, C; Jolivet, S; Abdallah, A

2016-07-01

To determine inter-observer agreement for a clinical scoring system for the detection of bovine respiratory disease complex in calves, and the impact of classification of calves as sick or healthy based on different cut-off values. Two third-year veterinary students (Observer 1 and 2) and one post-graduate student (Observer 3) received 4 hours of training on scoring dairy calves for signs of respiratory disease, including rectal temperature, cough, eye and nasal discharge, and ear position. Observers 1 and 2 scored 40 pre-weaning dairy calves 24 hours apart (80 observations) over three visits to a calf-rearing facility, and Observers 1, 2 and 3 scored 20 calves on one visit. Inter-observer agreement was assessed using percentage of agreement (PA) and Kappa statistics for individual clinical signs, comparing Observers 1 and 2. Agreement between the three observers for total clinical score was assessed using cut-off values of ≥4, ≥5 and ≥6 to indicate unhealthy calves. Inter-observer PA for rectal temperature was 0.68, for cough 0.78, for nasal discharge 0.62, for eye discharge 0.63, and for ear position 0.85. Kappa values for all clinical signs indicated slight to fair agreement (<0.4), except temperature that had moderate agreement (0.6). The Fleiss' Kappa for total score, using cut-offs of ≥4, ≥5 and ≥6 to indicate unhealthy calves, was 0.35, 0.06 and 0.13, respectively, indicating slight to fair agreement. There was important inter-observer discrepancies in scoring clinical signs of respiratory disease, using relatively inexperienced observers. These disagreements may ultimately mean increased false negative or false positive diagnoses and incorrect treatment of cases. Visual assessment of clinical signs associated with bovine respiratory disease needs to be thoroughly validated when disease monitoring is based on the use of a clinical scoring system.

Diagnosis of pyogenic pelvic inflammatory diseases by 99mTc-HMPAO leucocyte scintigraphy.

PubMed

Rachinsky, I; Boguslavsky, L; Goldstein, D; Golan, H; Pak, I; Katz, M; Lantsberg, S

2000-12-01

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is one of the major health problems of women of child-bearing age. Among the most serious complications of PID is the formation of a tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA). Early diagnosis of this condition may prevent serious surgical complications such as peritonitis and sepsis, which may be fatal. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (HMPAO) leucocyte scintigraphy in the diagnosis of TOA. Twenty women with high clinical suspicion of TOA underwent 99mTc-HMPAO leucocyte scintigraphy. The labelling of leucocytes with 99mTc-HMPAO was performed according to a standard protocol. Scans were obtained at 1, 3 and 24 h following the injection of the labelled leucocytes. In eight cases the early and/or late scan was positive, in 11 cases it was negative, and in one case of ovarian cyst torsion, confirmed by laparoscopy, it showed slight uptake in the capsule of the cyst (false-positive). The sensitivity of 99mTc-HMPAO leucocyte scintigraphy was 100%, specificity 91.6%, positive predictive value 89%, negative predictive value 100% and overall accuracy 95%. It is concluded that leucocyte scintigraphy is a non-invasive, safe, physiological and accurate procedure for the diagnosis of TOA. The 24-h scan is crucial, since in some cases the abscess was not clearly visualized on the early scan. Leucocyte scintigraphy may reduce the need for CT, diagnostic laparoscopy and unnecessary invasive surgical procedures.

Comparison between Breast MRI and Contrast-Enhanced Spectral Mammography

PubMed Central

Łuczyńska, Elżbieta; Heinze-Paluchowska, Sylwia; Hendrick, Edward; Dyczek, Sonia; Ryś, Janusz; Herman, Krzysztof; Blecharz, Paweł; Jakubowicz, Jerzy

2015-01-01

Background The main goal of this study was to compare contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with histopathological results and to compare the sensitivity, accuracy, and positive and negative predictive values for both imaging modalities. Material/Methods After ethics approval, CESM and MRI examinations were performed in 102 patients who had suspicious lesions described in conventional mammography. All visible lesions were evaluated independently by 2 experienced radiologists using BI-RADS classifications (scale 1–5). Dimensions of lesions measured with each modality were compared to postoperative histopathology results. Results There were 102 patients entered into CESM/MRI studies and 118 lesions were identified by the combination of CESM and breast MRI. Histopathology confirmed that 81 of 118 lesions were malignant and 37 were benign. Of the 81 malignant lesions, 72 were invasive cancers and 9 were in situ cancers. Sensitivity was 100% with CESM and 93% with breast MRI. Accuracy was 79% with CESM and 73% with breast MRI. ROC curve areas based on BI-RADS were 0.83 for CESM and 0.84 for breast MRI. Lesion size estimates on CESM and breast MRI were similar, both slightly larger than those from histopathology. Conclusions Our results indicate that CESM has the potential to be a valuable diagnostic method that enables accurate detection of malignant breast lesions, has high negative predictive value, and a false-positive rate similar to that of breast MRI. PMID:25963880

Agreement in cardiovascular risk rating based on anthropometric parameters

PubMed Central

Dantas, Endilly Maria da Silva; Pinto, Cristiane Jordânia; Freitas, Rodrigo Pegado de Abreu; de Medeiros, Anna Cecília Queiroz

2015-01-01

Objective To investigate the agreement in evaluation of risk of developing cardiovascular diseases based on anthropometric parameters in young adults. Methods The study included 406 students, measuring weight, height, and waist and neck circumferences. Waist-to-height ratio and the conicity index. The kappa coefficient was used to assess agreement in risk classification for cardiovascular diseases. The positive and negative specific agreement values were calculated as well. The Pearson chi-square (χ2) test was used to assess associations between categorical variables (p<0.05). Results The majority of the parameters assessed (44%) showed slight (k=0.21 to 0.40) and/or poor agreement (k<0.20), with low values of negative specific agreement. The best agreement was observed between waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio both for the general population (k=0.88) and between sexes (k=0.93 to 0.86). There was a significant association (p<0.001) between the risk of cardiovascular diseases and females when using waist circumference and conicity index, and with males when using neck circumference. This resulted in a wide variation in the prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk (5.5%-36.5%), depending on the parameter and the sex that was assessed. Conclusion The results indicate variability in agreement in assessing risk for cardiovascular diseases, based on anthropometric parameters, and which also seems to be influenced by sex. Further studies in the Brazilian population are required to better understand this issue. PMID:26466060

Biocompatibility and in vivo degradation of chitosan based hydrogels as potential drug carrier.

PubMed

Su, Feng; Wang, Yuandou; Liu, Xue; Shen, Xin; Zhang, Xingjian; Xing, Quansheng; Wang, Lihong; Chen, Yangsheng

2018-06-07

Carboxymethyl chitosan-graft-polylactide (CMCS-PLA) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) hydrogels were prepared by using 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride/N-hydroxysuccinimide (EDC/NHS) as crosslinking agent and catalyst at room temperature. The biocompatibility of the hydrogels was evaluated with the aim of assessing their potential as drug carrier. Various aspects of biocompatibility were considered, including MTT assay, agar diffusion test, release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), hemolytic test, plasma recalcification time (PRT), and dynamic clotting time. MTT assay showed that the cytotoxicity level of both hydrogels to L-929 cells was 0 or 1. The LDH release of CMCS and CMCS-PLA was 26 and 29%, respectively, which is slightly higher than that of the negative control (21%) and much lower than that of the negative control (87%). The hemolysis ratio of CMCS and CMCS-PLA was 1.4 and 1.7%, respectively, suggesting outstanding anti-hemolysis properties of both materials. The PRT value of CMCS and CMCS-PLA was higher by 77 and 99% than the value of the positive control. All the results revealed that the hydrogels present good cytocompatibility and hemocompatibility in vitro. In vivo degradation and tissue compatibility were evaluated by subcutaneous injection in the dorsal area of rats. CMCS and CMCS-PLA hydrogels were completely degraded and the inflammatory response also completely disappeared around hydrogels after 19 days in vivo. It is thus concluded that hydrogels formed of CMCS and CMCS-PLA with outstanding biocompatibility are promising as potential drug carrier.

Rolled-up nanotechnology for the fabrication of three-dimensional fishnet-type GaAs-metal metamaterials with negative refractive index at near-infrared frequencies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rottler, Andreas; Harland, Malte; Bröll, Markus; Schwaiger, Stephan; Stickler, Daniel; Stemmann, Andrea; Heyn, Christian; Heitmann, Detlef; Mendach, Stefan

2012-04-01

We propose and demonstrate the fabrication of a three-dimensional fishnet metamaterial by utilizing rolled-up nanotechnology. It consists of 6 alternating layers of silver and (In)GaAs with an array of subwavelength holes "drilled" by focused ion beams. By means of finite-integration technique simulations, we show that the fabricated structure is a single-negative material possessing a negative real part of the refractive index in the near-infrared regime. We show that the fabricated material can be made double negative by slightly changing the size of the holes.

Trends in the Sea Ice Cover Using Enhanced and Compatible AMSR-E, SSM/I and SMMR Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Comiso, Josefino C.; Nishio, Fumihiko

2007-01-01

Arguably, the most remarkable manifestation of change in the polar regions is the rapid decline (of about -10 %/decade) in the Arctic perennial ice cover. Changes in the global sea ice cover, however, are more modest, being slightly positive in the Southern Hemisphere and slightly negative in the Northern Hemisphere, the significance of which has not been adequately assessed because of unknown errors in the satellite historical data. We take advantage of the recent and more accurate AMSR-E data to evaluate the true seasonal and interannual variability of the sea ice cover, assess the accuracy of historical data, and determine the real trend. Consistently derived ice concentrations from AMSR-E, SSM/I, and SMMR data were analyzed and a slight bias is observed between AMSR-E and SSM/I data mainly because of differences in resolution. Analysis of the combine SMMR, SSM/I and AMSR-E data set, with the bias corrected, shows that the trends in extent and area of sea ice in the Arctic region is -3.4 +/- 0.2 and -4.0 +/- 0.2 % per decade, respectively, while the corresponding values for the Antarctic region is 0.9 +/- 0.2 and 1.7 .+/- 0.3 % per decade. The higher resolution of the AMSR-E provides an improved determination of the location of the ice edge while the SSM/I data show an ice edge about 6 to 12 km further away from the ice pack. Although the current record of AMSR-E is less than 5 years, the data can be utilized in combination with historical data for more accurate determination of the variability and trends in the ice cover.

Combined detection of depression and anxiety in epilepsy patients using the Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory for Epilepsy and the World Health Organization well-being index.

PubMed

Hansen, Christian Pilebæk; Amiri, Moshgan

2015-12-01

To validate the Danish version of the Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory for Epilepsy (NDDI-E), and compare it with the World Health Organization index for psychological well-being (WHO-5) as screening tests for depression and anxiety in epilepsy patients. Epilepsy outpatients filled out NDDI-E and WHO-5. A Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) as gold standard for psychiatric diagnoses was carried out with every patient. We included 124 epilepsy patients. According to MINI, 5% had depression without anxiety, 6% anxiety without depression, and 6% had both. For the detection of depression, NDDI-E was slightly better than WHO-5. With a score of more than 13, NDDI-E as a screening tool for depression had a sensitivity of 0.92, a specificity of 0.84, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 0.40, and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 0.99. In the detection of anxiety WHO-5 was better than NDDI-E. With a score below 50, WHO-5 as screening for anxiety had a sensitivity of 0.80, a specificity of 0.92, PPV 0.57, and NPV 0.97. When combining NDDI-E>13 and WHO-5<50, 95% of patients with depression and/or anxiety are identified, and in addition there are 17% false positives. NDDI-E in Danish is valid and slightly better than WHO-5 in the detection of depression in epilepsy patients. WHO-5 is valid for the detection of anxiety disorders. Combined use of NDDI-E and WHO-5 is recommended, since 95% of all epilepsy patients with depression and/or anxiety disorder are identified with only a modest number of false positives. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

A pilot study evaluating 99mTc-anti-TNF-alpha scintigraphy in graves' ophtalmopathy patients with different clinical activity score.

PubMed

Rebelo Pinto, E dos S; Lopes, F P P L; de Souza, S A L; da Fonseca, L M B; Vaisman, M; Gutfilen, B; dos Santos Teixeira, P de F

2013-09-01

The present study describes the preliminary results of the use of 99mTc-anti-TNF-α scintigraphy as a new diagnostic approach to evaluate patients presenting with Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO). Patients (n=25) presenting at different inflammatory stages of GO and 10 healthy volunteers underwent 99mTc-anti-TNF-α scintigraphy. Images were obtained 15 min after the intravenous injection of 370 MBq (10 mCi) 99mTc-anti-TNF-α. Planar images were obtained in a 256×256 matrix (each lasting 5 min) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scan lasting 13 min. Regions of interest (ROI) were drawn on the orbit and cerebral hemispheres. The uptake of 99m Tc-anti-TNF-α in these regions was compared and positive scintigraphy established when the ROI was >2.5. In addition, uptake for each positive exam was scored as either slight (2.6-5.1), moderate (5.2-7.6), or high (>7.6). In this pilot study, 69 orbits were evaluated (1 patient had only 1 eye), and 27 had a positive CAS (≥3/7). Scintigraphies were positive in 38 orbits. Comparing the results of the exams with CAS, a high sensitivity and negative predictive values were determined for scintigraphy (96.3% and 96.7%, respectively). However, the specificity and the positive predictive values were 71.4% and 68.4%, respectively, with an accuracy of 81.2%. The exclusion of examinations that were slightly positive from the analysis resulted in an improvement in test accuracy (95.5%). The preliminary results suggest that 99mTc-anti-TNF-α scintigraphy is a promising procedure for the evaluation of active orbital inflammation in GO. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Effect of a central redistribution of fluid volume on response to lower-body negative pressure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tomaselli, Clare M.; Frey, Mary A. B.; Kenney, Richard A.; Hoffler, G. Wyckliffe

1990-01-01

Cardiovascular responses to lower-body negative pressure (LBNP) were studied following 1 hour of 6-deg head-down tilt to determine whether a redistribution of blood volume toward the central circulation modifies the subsequent response to orthostatic stress. Responses of 12 men, ages 30-39 years, were evaluated by electrocardiography, impedance cardiography, sphygmomanometry, and measurement of calf circumference. During the LBNP that followed head-down tilt, as compared with control LBNP (no preceding head-down tilt) subjects, had smaller stroke volume and cardiac output, greater total peripheral resistance, and less calf enlargement. These differences reflect differences in the variables immediately preceding LBNP. Magnitudes of the responses from pre-LBNP to each pressure stage of the LBNP procedure did not differ between protocols. Mean and diastolic arterial pressures were slightly elevated after LBNP-control, but they fell slightly during LBNP post-tilt.

Spatial patterns of bee captures in North American bowl trapping surveys

USGS Publications Warehouse

Droege, Sam; Tepedino, Vincent J.; Lebuhn, Gretchen; Link, William; Minckley, Robert L.; Chen, Qian; Conrad, Casey

2010-01-01

1. Bowl and pan traps are now commonly used to capture bees (Hymenoptera: Apiformes) for research and surveys. 2. Studies of how arrangement and spacing of bowl traps affect captures of bees are needed to increase the efficiency of this capture technique. 3. We present results from seven studies of bowl traps placed in trapping webs, grids, and transects in four North American ecoregions (Mid-Atlantic, Coastal California, Chihuahuan Desert, and Columbia Plateau). 4. Over 6000 specimens from 31 bee genera were captured and analysed across the studies. 5. Based on the results from trapping webs and distance tests, the per bowl capture rate of bees does not plateau until bowls are spaced 3–5 m apart. 6. Minor clumping of bee captures within transects was detected, with 26 of 56 transects having index of dispersion values that conform to a clumped distribution and 39 transects having positive Green's index values, 13 with zero, and only four negative. However, degree of clumping was slight with an average value of only 0.06 (the index ranges from -1 to 1) with only five values >0.15. Similarly, runs tests were significant for only 5.9% of the transects. 7. Results indicate that (i) capture rates are unaffected by short distances between bowls within transects and (ii) that bowls and transects should be dispersed throughout a study site.

Validity of Three-Dimensional Photonic Scanning Technique for Estimating Percent Body Fat.

PubMed

Shitara, K; Kanehisa, H; Fukunaga, T; Yanai, T; Kawakami, Y

2013-01-01

Three-dimensional photonic scanning (3DPS) was recently developed to measure dimensions of a human body surface. The purpose of this study was to explore the validity of body volume measured by 3DPS for estimating the percent body fat (%fat). Design, setting, participants, and measurement: The body volumes were determined by 3DPS in 52 women. The body volume was corrected for residual lung volume. The %fat was estimated from body density and compared with the corresponding reference value determined by the dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). No significant difference was found for the mean values of %fat obtained by 3DPS (22.2 ± 7.6%) and DXA (23.5 ± 4.9%). The root mean square error of %fat between 3DPS and reference technique was 6.0%. For each body segment, there was a significant positive correlation between 3DPS- and DXA-values, although the corresponding value for the head was slightly larger in 3DPS than in DXA. Residual lung volume was negatively correlated with the estimated error in %fat. The body volume determined with 3DPS is potentially useful for estimating %fat. A possible strategy for enhancing the measurement accuracy of %fat might be to refine the protocol for preparing the subject's hair prior to scanning and to improve the accuracy in the measurement of residual lung volume.

Acute Oral Toxicity of Trimethylolethane Trinitrate (TMETN) in Sprague- Dawley Rats

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-07-01

classification scheme of Hodge and Steiner, these results indicate that TMETN is a slightly toxic compound.1 20. ON-RIBUTION /AVAILABILITY OF ABSTRACT 21. ABSTRACT...the classification scheme of Hodge and Sterner, these results indcate that TMETN is a slightly toxic compound. KEY WORDS: Acute Oral Toxicit-y...Dawley rats and 1027.4 63.7 mg/kg in female Sprague-Dawley rats. These MLD values place TMETN in the "slightly toxic" range by the system of Hodge and

Protein C

MedlinePlus

... Normal Results Normal values are 60% to 150% inhibition. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different ... Health Solutions. About MedlinePlus Site Map FAQs Customer Support Get email updates Subscribe to RSS Follow us ...

Protein S

MedlinePlus

... Normal Results Normal values are 60% to 150% inhibition. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different ... Health Solutions. About MedlinePlus Site Map FAQs Customer Support Get email updates Subscribe to RSS Follow us ...

Hematologic, cytochemical, ultrastructural, and molecular findings of Hepatozoon-infected flat-headed cats (Prionailurus planiceps).

PubMed

Salakij, Chaleow; Salakij, Jarernsak; Narkkong, Nual-Anong; Sirinarumitr, Theerapol; Pattanarangsan, Rattapan

2008-03-01

The flat-headed cat (Prionailurus planiceps) is a small wild cat of Southeast Asia and is considered extremely endangered. Little is known about the hematologic values, blood cell morphology, or hemoparasites of this species in relation to other Felidae. The objective of this study was to report basic hematologic values and describe the light microscopic, cytochemical, and ultrastructural characteristics of blood cells in 2 wild-caught flat-headed cats. In addition, molecular analysis was done of a Hepatozoon organism found in the neutrophils of both cats. Blood samples were collected into EDTA from the cephalic vein. A CBC, manual differential count, manual reticulocyte count, cytochemical stains (Sudan black B [SBB], alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase [ANAE], and beta-glucuronidase), and scanning and transmission electron microscopy were done using standard methods. HCT was slightly lower and reticulocyte counts and red cell distribution width were higher than the expected values for other species of cats. Hepatozoon organisms were found in the cytoplasm of neutrophils in both cats, but the number of infected neutrophils was very low (1%-2%). Neutrophils stained strongly positive for SBB, but were negative for ANAE and beta-glucuronidase. Hepatozoon-infected neutrophils were negative for SBB, but focally positive for ANAE and beta-glucuronidase. By transmission electron microscopy, gamonts of Hepatozoon sp were observed in neutrophils, and rarely free in plasma. Infected neutrophils had fewer specific granules and more mitochondria compared with noninfected neutrophils. PCR products of partial 18S rRNA revealed that the isolate of Hepatozoon in the flat-headed cats was closely related to that of the frog Hepatozoon sp. These results add to our understanding of hematologic values and blood cell morphology in Hepatozoon-infected flat-headed cats as well as the molecular analysis of the Hepatozoon organism, and may be useful for the health management and evaluation of hemoparasitic disease in this species.

Case-finding for cognitive impairment among people with Type 2 diabetes in primary care using the Test Your Memory and Self-Administered Gerocognitive Examination questionnaires: the Cog-ID study.

PubMed

Koekkoek, P S; Janssen, J; Kooistra, M; Biesbroek, J M; Groeneveld, O; van den Berg, E; Kappelle, L J; Biessels, G J; Rutten, G E H M

2016-06-01

To evaluate two cognitive tests for case-finding for cognitive impairment in older patients with Type 2 diabetes. Of 1243 invited patients with Type 2 diabetes, aged ≥70 years, 228 participated in a prospective cohort study. Exclusion criteria were: diagnosis of dementia; previous investigation at a memory clinic; and inability to write or read. Patients first filled out two self-administered cognitive tests (Test Your Memory and Self-Administered Gerocognitive Examination). Secondly, a general practitioner, blinded to Test Your Memory and Self-Administered Gerocognitive Examination scores, performed a structured evaluation using the Mini-Mental State Examination. Subsequently, patients suspected of cognitive impairment (on either the cognitive tests or general practitioner evaluation) and a random sample of 30% of patients not suspected of cognitive impairment were evaluated at a memory clinic. Diagnostic accuracy and area under the curve were determined for the Test Your Memory, Self-Administered Gerocognitive Examination and general practitioner evaluation compared with a memory clinic evaluation to detect cognitive impairment (mild cognitive impairment or dementia). A total of 44 participants were diagnosed with cognitive impairment. The Test Your Memory and Self-Administered Gerocognitive Examination questionnaires had negative predictive values of 81 and 85%, respectively. Positive predictive values were 39 and 40%, respectively. The general practitioner evaluation had a negative predictive value of 83% and positive predictive value of 64%. The area under the curve was ~0.70 for all tests. Both the tests evaluated in the present study can easily be used in case-finding strategies for cognitive impairment in patients with Type 2 diabetes in primary care. The Self-Administered Gerocognitive Examination had the best diagnostic accuracy and therefore we would have a slight preference for this test. Applying the Self-Administered Gerocognitive Examination would considerably reduce the number of patients in whom the general practitioner needs to evaluate cognitive functioning to tailor diabetes treatment. © 2015 Diabetes UK.

[Effects of tourism disturbance on plant diversity in Qingshan Lake scenic area of Zhejiang Province].

PubMed

Lu, Qing-Bin; You, Wei-Yun; Zhao, Chang-Jie; Wang, Xiang-Wei; Meng-Xiang, Xiu

2011-02-01

From May 2007 to June 2008, an investigation was made on the changes of plant community in Qingshan Lake scenic area of Zhejiang Province under the effects of tourism disturbance. With the increase of tourism disturbance, the importance value of the plants was mainly fastened on a few species such as Pinus hwangshanensis, apt to decrease for tree and shrub species and to increase for herb species, and the individuals of the plants increased. The values of richness index (D) and diversity index (H) were in the order of medium disturbance > slight disturbance > severe disturbance, while the evenness index (J) value was in the order of medium disturbance > severe disturbance > slight disturbance. At the same vegetation layers, only a few species such as Cinnamomum camphora existed under different disturbances, and thereby, the similarity index values were smaller than 0.500. Slight disturbance affected coniferous forest most, with the average values of D, H, and J being the lowest (1.188, 1.056, and 0.697, respectively); severe disturbance affected broadleaf forest and shrub-herbage most, with the D value (2.013) of shrub-herbage and the H value (1.286) and J value (0.807) of broadleaf forest being the lowest; while medium disturbance was favorable to the increase of plant diversity and to the normal exertion of ecosystem function. The eco-safety of the structural elements of plant community in the scenic area was threatened to some extent, resulting in the reduction of indigenous species such as Sinocalycanthus chinensis and the incursion of exotic species as Setaria viridis.

Mode Selection Rules for a Two-Delay System with Positive and Negative Feedback Loops

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takahashi, Kin'ya; Kobayashi, Taizo

2018-04-01

The mode selection rules for a two-delay system, which has negative feedback with a short delay time t1 and positive feedback with a long delay time t2, are studied numerically and theoretically. We find two types of mode selection rules depending on the strength of the negative feedback. When the strength of the negative feedback |α1| (α1 < 0) is sufficiently small compared with that of the positive feedback α2 (> 0), 2m + 1-th harmonic oscillation is well sustained in a neighborhood of t1/t2 = even/odd, i.e., relevant condition. In a neighborhood of the irrelevant condition given by t1/t2 = odd/even or t1/t2 = odd/odd, higher harmonic oscillations are observed. However, if |α1| is slightly less than α2, a different mode selection rule works, where the condition t1/t2 = odd/even is relevant and the conditions t1/t2 = odd/odd and t1/t2 = even/odd are irrelevant. These mode selection rules are different from the mode selection rule of the normal two-delay system with two positive feedback loops, where t1/t2 = odd/odd is relevant and the others are irrelevant. The two types of mode selection rules are induced by individually different mechanisms controlling the Hopf bifurcation, i.e., the Hopf bifurcation controlled by the "boosted bifurcation process" and by the "anomalous bifurcation process", which occur for |α1| below and above the threshold value αth, respectively.

Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography of anthranilic acid-labelled oligosaccharides with a 4-aminobenzoic acid ethyl ester-labelled dextran hydrolysate internal standard.

PubMed

Neville, David C A; Alonzi, Dominic S; Butters, Terry D

2012-04-13

Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) of fluorescently labelled oligosaccharides is used in many laboratories to analyse complex oligosaccharide mixtures. Separations are routinely performed using a TSK gel-Amide 80 HPLC column, and retention times of different oligosaccharide species are converted to glucose unit (GU) values that are determined with reference to an external standard. However, if retention times were to be compared with an internal standard, consistent and more accurate GU values would be obtained. We present a method to perform internal standard-calibrated HILIC of fluorescently labelled oligosaccharides. The method relies on co-injection of 4-aminobenzoic acid ethyl ester (4-ABEE)-labelled internal standard and detection by UV absorption, with 2-AA (2-aminobenzoic acid)-labelled oligosaccharides. 4-ABEE is a UV chromophore and a fluorophore, but there is no overlap of the fluorescent spectrum of 4-ABEE with the commonly used fluorescent reagents. The dual nature of 4-ABEE allows for accurate calculation of the delay between UV and fluorescent signals when determining the GU values of individual oligosaccharides. The GU values obtained are inherently more accurate as slight differences in gradients that can influence retention are negated by use of an internal standard. Therefore, this paper provides the first method for determination of HPLC-derived GU values of fluorescently labelled oligosaccharides using an internal calibrant. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

alpha-(Phenylazo)-4-nitrobenzyl cyanide, a new acid-base indicator.

PubMed

Légrádi, L

1970-02-01

A new acid-base indicator, alpha-(phenylazo)-4-nitrobenzyl cyanide, is proposed. The indicator changes colour from yellow to violet in the presence of alkali owing to the formation of a nitronic acid structure. This indicator is applicable for the titration of weak acids in acetone and ethanol media or in a mixture of these organic solvents and water, with 0.1M aqueous sodium hydroxide as titrant. The absorption spectra have been recorded for the indicator in 25%, 50% and 75% aqueous ethanol and acetone. By means of the spectra the dissociation constants in these media have been determined. The pK value of alpha-(phenylazo)-4-nitrobenzyl cyanide is 12.10 in water, and is decreased considerably in acetone but only slightly in ethanol. This behaviour is similar to that of positively charged weak acids and irregular for a weak acid carrying no charge or a negative charge.

Evaluation of the electromechanical properties of the cardiovascular system after prolonged weightlessness

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bergman, S. A., Jr.; Johnson, R. L.; Hoffler, G. W.

1977-01-01

Devices and techniques for measuring and analyzing systolic time intervals and quantitative phonocardiograms were initiated during Apollo 17. The data show that the systolic time interval from Apollo 17 crewmen remained elevated longer postflight than the response criteria of heart rate, blood pressure, and percent change in leg volume all of which had returned to preflight levels by the second day postflight. Although the systolic time interval values were only slightly outside the preflight fiducial limits, this finding suggested that: the analysis of systolic time intervals may help to identify the mechanisms of postflight orthostatic intolerance by virtue of measuring ventricular function more directly and, the noninvasive technique may prove useful in determining the extent and duration of cardiovascular instability after long duration space flight. The systolic time intervals obtained on the Apollo 17 crewmen during lower body negative pressure were similar to those noted in patients with significant heart disease.

Experimental Investigation of A Twin Shaft Micro Gas-Turbine System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sadig, Hussain; Sulaiman, Shaharin Anwar; Ibrahim, Idris

2013-06-01

Due to the fast depletion of fossil fuels and its negative impact on the environment, more attention has been concentrated to find new resources, policies and technologies, which meet the global needs with regard to fuel sustainability and emissions. In this paper, as a step to study the effect of burning low calorific value fuels on gas-turbine performance; a 50 kW slightly pressurized non-premixed tubular combustor along with turbocharger based twin shaft micro gas-turbine was designed and fabricated. A series of tests were conducted to characterize the system using LPG fuel. The tests include the analysis of the temperature profile, pressure and combustor efficiency as well as air fuel ratio and speed of the second turbine. The tests showed a stable operation with acceptable efficiency, air fuel ratio, and temperature gradient for the single and twin shaft turbines.

Thermodynamic study on competitive solubilization of cholesterol and beta-sitosterol in bile salt micelles.

PubMed

Matsuoka, Keisuke; Hirosawa, Takashi; Honda, Chikako; Endo, Kazutoyo; Moroi, Yoshikiyo; Shibata, Osamu

2007-07-01

Differences in the preferential solubilization of cholesterol and competitive solubilizates (beta-sitosterol and aromatic compounds) in bile salt micelles was systematically studied by changing the molar ratio of cholesterol to competitive solubilizates. The cholesterol solubility in a mixed binary system (cholesterol and beta-sitosterol) was almost half that of the cholesterol alone system, regardless of the excess beta-sitosterol quantity added. On the other hand, the mutual solubilities of cholesterol and pyrene were not inhibited by their presence in binary mixed crystals. Finally, the cholesterol solubility was measured by changing the alkyl chain length of n-alkylbenzenes. When tetradecylbenzene was added to the bile solution, the cholesterol solubility decreased slightly and was below the original cholesterol solubility. Based on Gibbs energy change (DeltaG degrees ) for solubilization, chemicals that inhibit cholesterol solubility in their combined crystal systems showed a larger negative DeltaG degrees value than cholesterol alone.

[Value of positive auto controls in the gel centrifugation method].

PubMed

Eichler, H; Kretschmer, V

1994-01-01

We studied 97 samples of patients being positive in the autocontrol of the indirect antiglobulin test (IAT) in the gel system (DiaMed). In 83.2%, retesting with monospecific anti-IgG serum gave also positive results, due to a specific phenomenon caused, for example, by drug-specific antibodies (AB), warm auto-AB or allo-AB. In contrast, only 52.9% of the samples retested by the standard tube technique with polyspecific antiglobulin serum reacted positive. Only in 6 patients slightly increased cold agglutinins could be detected. None of the investigated patients showed any clinical or laboratory signs of hemolysis except one with pernicious anemia. We conclude that positive results of the autocontrol in the gel IAT should be confirmed by an additional DAT in the tube technique. If this second test shows a negative result, transfusions can take place without any restrictions.

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

Marengo, Barbara; Bottini, Consuelo; La Porta, C.A.M.

Phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PEMT) is the enzyme that converts phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) into phosphatidylcholine. We have previously shown that PEMT suppressed hepatoma growth by triggering apoptosis. We investigate whether PEMT controlled cell death and cell proliferation triggered by fasting/refeeding and whether it is a marker of early preneoplastic lesions. The induction of programmed cell death and suppression of cell proliferation by fasting were associated with enhanced PEMT expression and activity, and with a decrease in CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase expression. Refeeding returned the liver growth and expression of CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase to control levels, while the expression of PEMT decreased to below control values. Aftermore » DENA administration, PEMT protein, evaluated by Western blotting, slightly increased, but it remained below control levels. The treatment with 20 mg/kg DENA to refed rats induced the appearance of initiated hepatocytes that were negative for PEMT expression. Present findings indicate that PEMT is a novel tumour marker for early liver preneoplastic lesions.« less

Chromium Isotopes in Carbonates - a Tracer for Climate Change and for Reconstructing the Redox state of Ancient Seawater

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frei, R.; Gaucher, C.; Dossing, L. N.; Sial, A. N.

2011-12-01

Strontium and carbon isotopes of marine carbonates are routinely applied for chemostratigraphic cross correlations of time-equivalent sedimentary sequences and for calibration of the compositional evolution of seawater throughout Earth's history, mainly for the purpose of reconstructing ancient climatic changes. We here present results of a new isotopic tracer system - stable chromium isotopes - applied to a late Ediacaran (Vendian) marine carbonate sequence exposed in the Calera de Recalde syncline, Arroyo del Soldado Group, Uruguay. The aim was to compare Cr isotope signatures directly to δ13C, 87Sr/86Sr and 143Nd/144Nd fluctuations in a well defined stratigraphic profile comprising sediments that were deposited during cold-warm periods accompanied by sea-level changes in response to glaciation-deglaciation at higher latitudes. The studied section is characterized by a pronounced negative (down to -3.3%) δ13C excursion in carbonates paralleled by a decrease of 87Sr/86Sr values. Chromium isotope signatures over this section also show a correlated decrease in δ53Cr (δ53Cr = [(53Cr/52Cr)sample/(53Cr/52Cr)SRM979)-1] x 1000) values from ~+0.29to -0.17% which mirrors a decrease in positively fractioned seawater signatures to slightly negative values characteristic of high-temperature magmatic sources. Linear correlations between δ53Cr and ɛNd(T=570 Ma), 87Sr/86Sr and Cr concentrations can be explained by mixing between two major input sources of Cr, Nd and Sr into the shallow seawater: 1) a source characterized by negative δ53Cr values of ~-0.2% , low 87Sr/86Sr values of ~0.707, and elevated 147Sm/144Nd values of ~0.13, recognized as a subaqueous hydrothermal dominated input source, and 2) a source characterized by positively fractionated δ53Cr values of ~+0.2%, higher 87Sr/86Sr values of ~0.708, and lower 147Sm/144Nd values of ~0.11, a source which is strongly affected by continentally derived input. Chromium isotopes provide a powerful tool for reconstructing the redox state of ancient seawater since positive values indicate that, at least locally, Neoproterozoic shallow ocean waters were sufficiently oxidized to fractionate chromium and/or that oxygen levels of the atmosphere were sufficient to transform Cr(III) into the more mobile hexavalent Cr(VI) formed during weathering processes on land. The fact that 87Sr/86Sr values, despite δ13C fluctuations, remain low (indicative of a strong hydrothermal input into the basin at his time) implies that CO2 limitation was the cause of negative δ13C and δ53Cr excursions in otherwise nutrient rich late Vendian basins, and that glaciation is only one more consequence of a tectonically driven, biologically mediated system. In such a scenario, glaciation acts as an amplifier of δ53Cr signals. These signals in marine carbonates are a sensitive tracer for redox processes in the ocean and/or on land and have the potential to contribute significantly to the reconstruction of climatic changes, particularly those that are associated with major glaciation periods in Earth's history.

THE INFLUENCE OF THE CHEMICAL NATURE OF SOLID PARTICLES ON THEIR CATAPHORETIC P.D. IN AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS

PubMed Central

Loeb, Jacques

1923-01-01

1. The effect of eight salts, NaCl, Na2SO4, Na4Fe(CN)6, CaCl2, LaCl3, ThCl4, and basic and acid fuchsin on the cataphoretic P.D. between solid particles and aqueous solutions was measured near the point of neutrality of water (pH 5.8). It was found that without the addition of electrolyte the cataphoretic P.D. between particles and water is very minute near the point of neutrality (pH 5.8), often less than 10 millivolts, if care is taken that the solutions are free from impurities. Particles which in the absence of salts have a positive charge in water near the point of neutrality (pH 5.8) are termed positive colloids and particles which have a negative charge under these conditions are termed negative colloids. 2. If care is taken that the addition of the salt does not change the hydrogen ion concentration of the solution (which in these experiments was generally pH 5.8) it can be said in general, that as long as the concentration of salts is not too high, the anions of the salt have the tendency to make the particles more negative (or less positive) and that cations have the opposite effect; and that both effects increase with the increasing valency of the ions. As soon as a maximal P.D. is reached, which varies for each salt and for each type of particles, a further addition of salt depresses the P.D. again. Aside from this general tendency the effects of salts on the P.D. are typically different for positive and negative colloids. 3. Negative colloids (collodion, mastic, Acheson's graphite, gold, and metal proteinates) are rendered more negative by low concentrations of salts with monovalent cation (e.g. Na) the higher the valency of the anion, though the difference in the maximal P.D. is slight for the monovalent Cl and the tetravalent Fe(CN)6 ions. Low concentrations of CaCl2 also make negative colloids more negative but the maximal P.D. is less than for NaCl; even LaCl3 increases the P.D. of negative particles slightly in low concentrations. ThCl4 and basic fuchsin, however, seem to make the negative particles positive even in very low concentrations. 4. Positive colloids (ferric hydroxide, calcium oxalate, casein chloride—the latter at pH 4.0) are practically not affected by NaCl, are rendered slightly negative by high concentrations of Na2SO4, and are rendered more negative by Na4Fe(CN)6 and acid dyes. Low concentrations of CaCl2 and LaCl3 increase the positive charge of the particles until a maximum is reached after which the addition of more salt depresses the P.D. again. 5. It is shown that alkalies (NaOH) act on the cataphoretic P.D. of both negative and positive particles as Na4Fe(CN)6 does at the point of neutrality. 6. Low concentrations of HCl raise the cataphoretic P.D. of particles of collodion, mastic, graphite, and gold until a maximum is reached, after which the P.D. is depressed by a further increase in the concentration of the acid. No reversal in the sign of charge of the particle occurs in the case of collodion, while if a reversal occurs in the case of mastic, gold, and graphite, the P.D. is never more than a few millivolts. When HCl changes the chemical nature of the colloid, e.g. when HCl is added to particles of amphoteric electrolytes like sodium gelatinate, a marked reversal will occur, on account of the transformation of the metal proteinate into a protein-acid salt. 7. A real reversal in the sign of charge of positive particles occurs, however, at neutrality if Na4Fe(CN)6 or an acid dye is added; and in the case of negative colloids when low concentrations of basic dyes or minute traces of ThCl4 are added. 8. Flocculation of the suspensions by salts occurs when the cataphoretic P.D. reaches a critical value which is about 14 millivolts for particles of graphite, gold, or mastic or denatured egg albumin; while for collodion particles it was about 16 millivolts. A critical P.D. of about 15 millivolts was also observed by Northrop and De Kruif for the flocculation of certain bacteria. PMID:19872064

Association between fluid intake and mortality in critically ill patients with negative fluid balance: a retrospective cohort study.

PubMed

Shen, Yanfei; Huang, Xinmei; Zhang, Weimin

2017-05-12

Compared to positive fluid balance (FB), negative FB is associated with improved clinical outcomes in critically ill patients. However, as to whether achieving more negative FB can further improve outcomes has not been investigated. This study aimed to investigate whether more negative FB and restricted fluid intake were associated with improved outcomes in critically ill patients. Data were extracted from the Multi-parameter Intelligent Monitoring in Intensive Care III Database. Patients achieving negative FB at 48 hours after intensive care unit (ICU) admission were screened. The primary outcome was hospital mortality. Logistic models were built to explore the association between FB, fluid intake and mortality, using FB and fluid intake (both four levels) as design variables and using the linear spline function method. There were 2068 patients meeting the inclusion criteria. Compared to slight negative FB (level 1), there was a decreased tendency towards mortality with FB level 2 (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.69-1.11) and level 3 (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0. 65-1.11); however, only extreme negative FB (level 4) was significant (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0. 33-0.95). Fluid intake and urine output were evenly distributed over the first 48 hours after ICU admission. Fluid intake was inversely associated with hospital mortality, with the OR decreased stepwise from level 2 (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.56-0.96) to level 4 (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.30-0.74), referred to level 1. Urine output also showed a similar pattern. Diuretic use was associated with higher mortality in both models. In critically ill patients with negative FB, both increased fluid intake and urine output were associated with decreased hospital mortality. However, compared to slight FB, achieving more negative FB was not associated with reduced mortality.

Lactate dehydrogenase test

MedlinePlus

Normal value range is 105 to 333 international units per liter (IU/L). Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your provider about ...

Department of Defense Data Model, Version 1, Fy 1998, Volume 7.

DTIC Science & Technology

1998-05-31

POSITIVE/NEGATIVE SIGN: A POSITIVE (+) VALUE IS TO THE RIGHT OF THE CENTERLINE FACING FORWARD; A NEGATIVE (-) VALUE IS TO THE LEFT OF THE CENT...TIVE (+) VALUE IS TO THE RIGHT OF THE CENTERLINE FACING FORWARD; A NEGATIVE (-) V ALUE IS TO THE LEFT OF THE CENTERLINE. Attribute Name: AIRCRAFT...POSITIVE/NEGATIVE SIGN: A POSITIV E (+) VALUE IS TO THE RIGHT OF THE CENTERLINE FACING FORWARD; A NEGATIVE (-) VALU E IS TO THE LEFT OF THE

Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy and Ultrastructural Study of VGLUT2 Thalamic Input to Striatal Projection Neurons in Rats

PubMed Central

Lei, Wanlong; Deng, Yunping; Liu, Bingbing; Mu, Shuhua; Guley, Natalie M.; Wong, Ting; Reiner, Anton

2014-01-01

We examined thalamic input to striatum in rats using immunolabeling for the vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT2). Double immunofluorescence viewed with confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) revealed that VGLUT2+ terminals are distinct from VGLUT1+ terminals. CLSM of Phaseolus vulgaris-leucoagglutinin (PHAL)-labeled cortical or thalamic terminals revealed that VGLUT2 is rare in corticostriatal terminals but nearly always present in thalamostriatal terminals. Electron microscopy revealed that VGLUT2+ terminals made up 39.4% of excitatory terminals in striatum (with VGLUT1+ corticostriatal terminals constituting the rest), and 66.8% of VGLUT2+ terminals synapsed on spines and the remainder on dendrites. VGLUT2+ axo-spinous terminals had a mean diameter of 0.624 lm, while VGLUT2+ axodendritic terminals a mean diameter of 0.698 µm. In tissue in which we simultaneously immunolabeled thalamostriatal terminals for VGLUT2 and striatal neurons for D1 (with about half of spines immunolabeled for D1), 54.6% of VGLUT2+ terminals targeted D1+ spines (i.e., direct pathway striatal neurons), and 37.3% of D1+ spines received VGLUT2+ synaptic contacts. By contrast, 45.4% of VGLUT2+ terminals targeted D1-negative spines (i.e., indirect pathway striatal neurons), and only 25.8% of D1-negative spines received VGLUT2+ synaptic contacts. Similarly, among VGLUT2+ axodendritic synaptic terminals, 59.1% contacted D1+ dendrites, and 40.9% contacted D1-negative dendrites. VGLUT2+ terminals on D1+ spines and dendrites tended to be slightly smaller than those on D1-negative spines and dendrites. Thus, thala-mostriatal terminals contact both direct and indirect pathway striatal neurons, with a slight preference for direct. These results are consistent with physiological studies indicating slightly different effects of thalamic input on the two types of striatal projection neurons. PMID:23047588

Confocal laser scanning microscopy and ultrastructural study of VGLUT2 thalamic input to striatal projection neurons in rats.

PubMed

Lei, Wanlong; Deng, Yunping; Liu, Bingbing; Mu, Shuhua; Guley, Natalie M; Wong, Ting; Reiner, Anton

2013-04-15

We examined thalamic input to striatum in rats using immunolabeling for the vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT2). Double immunofluorescence viewed with confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) revealed that VGLUT2+ terminals are distinct from VGLUT1+ terminals. CLSM of Phaseolus vulgaris-leucoagglutinin (PHAL)-labeled cortical or thalamic terminals revealed that VGLUT2 is rare in corticostriatal terminals but nearly always present in thalamostriatal terminals. Electron microscopy revealed that VGLUT2+ terminals made up 39.4% of excitatory terminals in striatum (with VGLUT1+ corticostriatal terminals constituting the rest), and 66.8% of VGLUT2+ terminals synapsed on spines and the remainder on dendrites. VGLUT2+ axospinous terminals had a mean diameter of 0.624 μm, while VGLUT2+ axodendritic terminals a mean diameter of 0.698 μm. In tissue in which we simultaneously immunolabeled thalamostriatal terminals for VGLUT2 and striatal neurons for D1 (with about half of spines immunolabeled for D1), 54.6% of VGLUT2+ terminals targeted D1+ spines (i.e., direct pathway striatal neurons), and 37.3% of D1+ spines received VGLUT2+ synaptic contacts. By contrast, 45.4% of VGLUT2+ terminals targeted D1-negative spines (i.e., indirect pathway striatal neurons), and only 25.8% of D1-negative spines received VGLUT2+ synaptic contacts. Similarly, among VGLUT2+ axodendritic synaptic terminals, 59.1% contacted D1+ dendrites, and 40.9% contacted D1-negative dendrites. VGLUT2+ terminals on D1+ spines and dendrites tended to be slightly smaller than those on D1-negative spines and dendrites. Thus, thalamostriatal terminals contact both direct and indirect pathway striatal neurons, with a slight preference for direct. These results are consistent with physiological studies indicating slightly different effects of thalamic input on the two types of striatal projection neurons. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Comparison of size modulation and conventional standard automated perimetry with the 24-2 test protocol in glaucoma patients

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hirasawa, Kazunori; Shoji, Nobuyuki; Kasahara, Masayuki; Matsumura, Kazuhiro; Shimizu, Kimiya

2016-05-01

This prospective randomized study compared test results of size modulation standard automated perimetry (SM-SAP) performed with the Octopus 600 and conventional SAP (C-SAP) performed with the Humphrey Field Analyzer (HFA) in glaucoma patients. Eighty-eight eyes of 88 glaucoma patients underwent SM-SAP and C-SAP tests with the Octopus 600 24-2 Dynamic and HFA 24-2 SITA-Standard, respectively. Fovea threshold, mean defect, and square loss variance of SM-SAP were significantly correlated with the corresponding C-SAP indices (P < 0.001). The false-positive rate was slightly lower, and false-negative rate slightly higher, with SM-SAP than C-SAP (P = 0.002). Point-wise threshold values obtained with SM-SAP were moderately to strongly correlated with those obtained with C-SAP (P < 0.001). The correlation coefficients of the central zone were significantly lower than those of the middle to peripheral zone (P = 0.031). The size and depth of the visual field (VF) defect were smaller (P = 0.039) and greater (P = 0.043), respectively, on SM-SAP than on C-SAP. Although small differences were observed in VF sensitivity in the central zone, the defect size and depth and the reliability indices between SM-SAP and C-SAP, global indices of the two testing modalities were well correlated.

Preparation and characterization of bio-nanocomposite films of agar and silver nanoparticles: laser ablation method.

PubMed

Rhim, Jong-Whan; Wang, Long-Feng; Lee, Yonghoon; Hong, Seok-In

2014-03-15

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were prepared by a laser ablation method and composite films with the AgNPs and agar were prepared by solvent casting method. UV-vis absorbance test and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis results revealed that non-agglomerated spherical AgNPs were formed by the laser ablation method. The surface color of the resulting agar/AgNPs films exhibited the characteristic plasmonic effect of the AgNPs with the maximum absorption peaks of 400-407 nm. X-ray diffraction (XRD) test results also exhibited characteristic AgNPs crystals with diffraction peaks observed at 2θ values of 38.39°, 44.49°, and 64.45°, which were corresponding to (111), (200), and (220) crystallographic planes of face-centered cubic (fcc) silver crystals, respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results showed that thermal stability of the agar/AgNPs composite films was increased by the inclusion of metallic silver. Water vapor barrier properties and surface hydrophobicity of the agar/AgNPs films increased slightly with the increase in AgNPs content but they were not statistically significant (p>0.05), while mechanical strength and stiffness of the composite films decreased slightly (p<0.05). The agar/AgNPs films exhibited distinctive antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive (Listeria monocytogenes) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli O157:H7) bacterial pathogens. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Toenail selenium as an indicator of environmental exposure: A cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Filippini, Tommaso; Ferrari, Angela; Michalke, Bernhard; Grill, Peter; Vescovi, Luciano; Salvia, Chiara; Malagoli, Carlotta; Malavolti, Marcella; Sieri, Sabina; Krogh, Vittorio; Bargellini, Annalisa; Martino, Antonio; Ferrante, Margherita; Vinceti, Marco

2017-05-01

The relation between toxicity and essentiality of selenium (Se) is of growing interest in human health, as the effects may widely differ depending of its different chemical species and the exposure levels. Toenail Se has been proposed as a reliable biomarker of long-term Se exposure, but few studies investigated the correlation between its toenail content and environmental determinants (i.e., dietary food intake). We aimed to determine the relation of toenail Se levels with serum Se species as well as food items. We recruited a random sample of Modena (Northern Italy) municipal residents, from whom we collected detailed personal information, dietary habits, toenail specimen for Se determination and a blood sample for serum Se speciation analysis. Toenail Se mean value was 0.96 µg/g (range, 0.47‑1.60), with slightly higher levels in females, in non-obese subjects and in Se supplements users, while it was lower in current smokers. Toenail Se positively correlated with organic Se forms, mainly selenoprotein P and selenocysteine, and inversely with the inorganic forms (selenite and selenate). Toenail Se was not associated with meat, cereals and dairy products consumption, positively correlated with fruit and slightly with vegetable intake, and negatively with fish and seafood consumption. Finally, no clear association emerged with estimated air Se exposure.

Distributions and Sources of Bulk Organic Matter in Sediments of Five Estuaries in Todos os Santos Bay, Brazil.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leonel, J.; Hatje, V.

2016-02-01

Total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN) and their δ13C and δ15N values were determined in cores and surficial sediments to evaluate organic matter contents and sources. Samples were collected along the salinity gradient of five estuaries (Paraguaçu, Subaé, Jaguaribe, São Paulo and Mataripe) of the Todos os Santos Bay (BTS), the second largest bay in Brazil. TOC values ranged from 0.7 to 2.7% and TOC/TN ranged between 1.8 and 8.3. Overall, a slight seaward decrease in %TOC as well as C/N is observed. Values of TOC/TN lower than the Redfield ratios were found in most samples from São Paulo and Mataripe estuaries. This is possibly the result of the anthropogenic impacts caused by oil related activities developed in the region. However, natural causes, such as preferential sorption of inorganic N or bacterially derived organic matters in the sediment, should not be dismissed. Indeed, the influence of inorganic N was also indicated by the low correlation found between TOC and TN values in some estuaries and the positive intercept observed in others, the suggesting that they come from different sources. In general, δ13C values ranged from -26.9 to -20.3‰ and enrichment was observed seaward. Consequently, δ13C has a negatively correlation with the TOC /TN values, except for Subaé River. In all estuaries the δ13Cvalues suggest a mixed marine/terrestrial source of the organic matter with an increase of marine influence towards the river mouth.

Coexistence of enriched and modern-like 142Nd signatures in Archean igneous rocks of the eastern Kaapvaal Craton, southern Africa

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schneider, Kathrin P.; Hoffmann, J. Elis; Boyet, Maud; Münker, Carsten; Kröner, Alfred

2018-04-01

The short-lived 146Sm-142Nd isotope system is an important tool for tracing Hadean crust-mantle differentiation processes and constraining their imprint on much younger rocks from Archean cratons. We report the first comprehensive set of high-precision 142Nd analyses for granitoids and amphibolites of the Ancient Gneiss Complex (AGC; Swaziland) and the oldest metavolcanic units of the Barberton Greenstone Belt (BGB; South Africa). The investigated samples span an age range from 3.66 Ga to 3.22 Ga and are representative of major geological units of the AGC and the lower Onverwacht Group of the BGB. Measured samples yielded μ142Nd values in the range from -8 ppm to +3 ppm relative to the JNdi-1 terrestrial standard, with typical errors smaller than 4.4 ppm. The distribution of the μ142Nd values for these 17 measured samples is bimodal with ten samples showing a tendency towards slightly negative μ142Nd anomalies, whereas seven samples have 142Nd similar to the terrestrial reference. The only confidently resolvable μ142Nd anomalies were found in a 3.44 Ga Ngwane Gneiss sample and in amphibolites of the ca. 3.45 Ga Dwalile Greenstone Remnant, revealing μ142Nd values ranging from - 7.9 ± 4.4 to - 6.1 ± 4.3 ppm. The μ142Nd deficits do not correlate with age, lithological unit, or sample locality. Instead, our results reveal that two distinct mantle domains were involved in the formation of the AGC crust. The two reservoirs can be distinguished by their μ142Nd signatures. Mantle-derived rocks tapped the enriched reservoir with negative μ142Nd at least until 3.46 Ga, whereas the granitoids preserved a negative μ142Nd signature that formed by incorporation of older AGC crust at least until 3.22 Ga. The oldest gneisses with no μ142Nd anomaly are up to 3.64 Ga in age, indicating that a modern terrestrial 142Nd reservoir was already present by early Archean times.

HIV-Associated Urogenital Malignancies.

PubMed

Hentrich, Marcus; Pfister, David

2017-01-01

Non-AIDS-defining malignancies (NADM) are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality for HIV-infected subjects. The risk of testicular germ cell cancer (GCC) and renal cell cancer is slightly increased in the setting of HIV, whereas there is a slightly decreased risk of prostate cancer and bladder cancer. As in industrialized countries the majority of people living with HIV are men, and people aged 55 and older now account for more than a quarter of persons living with HIV, both testis and prostate cancer are assumed to occur with increased frequency in HIV-infected subjects. Overall, treatments should be the same as in HIV-negative patients with urogenital malignancies. Since the introduction of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) the outcome appears to have improved due to a decrease in HIV-related deaths. HIV-infected men who are treated with standard therapies for GCC now have a similar cancer-free survival compared with their HIV-negative counterparts. Screening and treatment for prostate cancer should follow recommendations established for HIV-negative men. During radio- or chemotherapy patients should receive concurrent cART but the drug-drug interaction potential must be taken into account. © 2017 S. Karger GmbH, Freiburg.

Neutral beamline with ion energy recovery based on magnetic blocking of electrons

DOEpatents

Stirling, W.L.

1980-07-01

A neutral beamline generator with energy recovery of the full-energy ion component of the beam based on magnetic blocking of electrons is provided. Ions from a positive ion source are accelerated to the desired beam energy from a slightly positive potential level with respect to ground through a neutralizer cell by means of a negative acceleration voltage. The unneutralized full-energy ion component of the beam exiting the neutralizer are retarded and slightly deflected and the elecrons in the neutralizer are blocked by a magnetic field generated transverse to the beamline. An electron collector in the form of a coaxial cylinder surrounding and protruding axial a few centimeters beyond the neutralizer exit terminates the electrons which exit the neutralizer in an E x B drift to the collector when the collector is biased a few hundred volts positive with respect to the neutralizer voltage. The neutralizer is operated at the negative acceleration voltage. The neutralizer is operated at the negative acceleration voltage, and the deflected full energy ions are decelerated and the charge collected at ground potential thereby expending none of their energy received from the acceleration power supply.

Analysis of composite/difference field scattering properties between a slightly rough optical surface and multi-body defects.

PubMed

Gong, Lei; Wu, Zhensen; Gao, Ming; Qu, Tan

2018-03-20

The effective extraction of optical surface roughness and defect characteristic provide important realistic values to improve optical system efficiency. Based on finite difference time domain/multi-resolution time domain (FDTD/MRTD) mixed approach, composite scattering between a slightly rough optical surface and multi-body defect particles with different positions is investigated. The scattering contribution of defect particles or the slightly rough optical surface is presented. Our study provides a theoretical and technological basis for the nondestructive examination and optical performance design of nanometer structures.

The Effects of Groundwater Samplers on Water Quality. A Literature Review

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-10-01

Nacht 1983): borehole and sampler di- devices operate by applying negative pressure, ameter, sampling depth, ease of cleaning, initial or vacuum, at...come in contact with any atmospheric gases al. 1974, Barcelona et al. 1985) have shown that and are subject to only a slight negative pressure...and selenium. They felt the degassing was due to 20% for the three most volatile compounds at the partial vacuum exerted by the pump for lift, highest

Comparison of survival of diarrhoeagenic agents in two local weaning foods (ogi and koko).

PubMed

Bakare, S; Smith, S I; Olukoya, D K; Akpan, E

1998-12-01

The pH values of both cooked and uncooked ogi and koko samples were determined and the survival rate of four diarrhoeagenic agents, enteroinvasive Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Shigella flexneri, and Vibrio cholerae were studied after they were seeded into cooked ogi and koko. Analysis of the pH of the cooked inoculated samples showed that there was a slight increase in pH (decrease in acidity) during storage for 48 h and 37 degrees C (from 3.5 to 3.7 for ogi and from 3.7 to 4.1 for koko). The study also showed that ogi had a slightly lower pH value than koko both before and after cooking. In both cases, the cooked samples had a slightly lower pH value than the uncooked samples. The pH value of ogi ranged from 3.0 to 3.6 and that of koko from 3.5 to 3.9. The survival experiment showed that the inoculated enteric pathogens were inhibited in cooked ogi and koko during storage for 24-48 h. The antibacterial effect of cooked koko was more pronounced, on the four enteric pathogens studied, than that of cooked ogi. Except for Shigella flexneri and E. coli in ogi, non of the other bacteria studied was recovered after 24 h.

Phosphohistone-H3 (PHH3) is prognostic relevant in Merkel cell carcinomas but Merkel cell polyomavirus is a more powerful prognostic factor than AJCC clinical stage, PHH3, Ki-67 or mitotic indices.

PubMed

Iwasaki, Takeshi; Matsushita, Michiko; Nonaka, Daisuke; Kato, Masako; Nagata, Keiko; Murakami, Ichiro; Hayashi, Kazuhiko

2015-08-01

Merkel cell carcinomas (MCCs) associated with Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) have better prognosis than those without MCPyV. The relationship between mitotic index (MI) and MCC outcome has remained elusive because of the difficulty in differentiating mitotic cells from apoptotic ones. We evaluated the role of phosphohistone-H3 (PHH3) (Ser10), a new mitotic count biomarker, in MCPyV-positive or -negative MCC patients, and assessed its prognostic value in comparison to Ki-67 labeling index or MI using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. We compared the prognostic value of PHH3 mitotic index with that of MI by HE in 19 MCPyV-positive and 9 MCPyV-negative MCC patients. PHH3-positive immunoreactivity was mostly observed in mitotic figures. Multivariate analysis significantly showed that MCPyV status (HR, 0.004; 95% CI 0.0003-0.058) and the American Joint Committee of Cancer (AJCC) stage (HR, 5.02; 95% CI 1.23-20.51) were observed as significantly independent prognostic factors for OS. PHH3-positive cell counts/10 HPF was a slightly significant independent prognostic factor for OS (HR, 4.96; 95% CI 0.93-26.55). PHH3-positive MI and MCPyV status in MCC patients are useful in prognostication, although MCPyV-infection is a more powerful prognostic factor in MCCs than the AJCC scheme on proliferation or mitotic indices. © 2015 Japanese Society of Pathology and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Chromium isotope heterogeneity in the mantle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xia, Jiuxing; Qin, Liping; Shen, Ji; Carlson, Richard W.; Ionov, Dmitri A.; Mock, Timothy D.

2017-04-01

To better constrain the Cr isotopic composition of the silicate Earth and to investigate potential Cr isotopic fractionation during high temperature geological processes, we analyzed the Cr isotopic composition of different types of mantle xenoliths from diverse geologic settings: fertile to refractory off-craton spinel and garnet peridotites, pyroxenite veins, metasomatised spinel lherzolites and associated basalts from central Mongolia, spinel lherzolites and harzburgites from North China, as well as cratonic spinel and garnet peridotites from Siberia and southern Africa. The δ53CrNIST 979 values of the peridotites range from - 0.51 ± 0.04 ‰ (2SD) to + 0.75 ± 0.05 ‰ (2SD). The results show a slight negative correlation between δ53Cr and Al2O3 and CaO contents for most mantle peridotites, which may imply Cr isotopic fractionation during partial melting of mantle peridotites. However, highly variable Cr isotopic compositions measured in Mongolian peridotites cannot be caused by partial melting alone. Instead, the wide range in Cr isotopic composition of these samples most likely reflects kinetic fractionation during melt percolation. Chemical diffusion during melt percolation resulted in light Cr isotopes preferably entering into the melt. Two spinel websterite veins from Mongolia have extremely light δ53Cr values of - 1.36 ± 0.04 ‰ and - 0.77 ± 0.06 ‰, respectively, which are the most negative Cr isotopic compositions yet reported for mantle-derived rocks. These two websterite veins may represent crystallization products from the isotopically light melt that may also metasomatize some peridotites in the area. The δ53Cr values of highly altered garnet peridotites from southern Africa vary from - 0.35 ± 0.04 ‰ (2SD) to + 0.12 ± 0.04 ‰ (2SD) and increase with increasing LOI (Loss on Ignition), reflecting a shift of δ53Cr to more positive values by secondary alteration. The Cr isotopic composition of the pristine, fertile upper mantle is estimated as δ53Cr = - 0.14 ± 0.12 ‰, after corrections for the effects of partial melting and metasomatism. This value is in line with that estimated for the BSE (- 0.12 ± 0.10 ‰) previously.

Trace Elements and Oxygen Isotope Zoning of the Sidewinder Skarn

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Draper, C.; Gevedon, M. L.; Barnes, J.; Lackey, J. S.; Jiang, H.; Lee, C. T.

2016-12-01

Skarns of the Verde Antique Quarry and White Horse Mountain areas of the Sidewinder Range give insight into the paleohydrothermal systems operating in the California's Jurassic arc in the Southwestern Mojave Desert. Garnet from these skarns is iron rich: Xand= 55-100. Laser fluorination measurements show oxygen isotope (δ18O) compositions of garnet crystals and crystals domains have large ranges: -3.1‰ to +4.4‰ and -8.9‰ to +3.4‰, respectively. In general, the garnet cores have more negative δ18O values than rims, although oscillations are present. Negative values have been interpreted as influx of meteoric fluid and positive values as increased magmatic input. Here we report major and trace element concentrations for 17 core to rim Sidewinder garnet transects. REEs concentrations are low in all crystals, with total REE concentrations ranging from 0.710 ppm to 33.7 ppm, values that are lower than Cretaceous skarn garnets in the Sierra Nevada in the White Chief and Empire Mt skarns. Such low concentrations are likely due to the higher fraction of meteoric fluids during formation of the Sidewinder skarns. REE concentrations decrease from core to rim (REE core average=12.2ppm, REE rim average=7.21ppm). This is slightly more pronounced in the LREEs than in the HREEs (LaN/YbN core average= 10.9; rim average= 9.73, normalized to Chondrite). X­and tends to decrease core to rim in the Verde Antique skarn, whereas, Xand of the White Horse skarn does not correlate with distance from core. A large positive Eu anomaly (Eu/Eu* = 3­-30) in garnet from both skarns suggests oxidizing fluid conditions. Oxygen isotope data from garnet in these same skarns show periods of time with increased proportion of magmatic derived fluids in the total fluid budget. However, there is no corresponding widespread increase in total REE concentrations. Other studies of skarns from the western Sierra Nevadan arc (White Chief and Empire Mountain) observe complete decoupling of d18O values and trace element compositions. Future modeling should consider modal abundance of fluid soluble minerals in cooling and altering plutons to probe the REE budget.

Geochemical fractions of rare earth elements in soil around a mine tailing in Baotou, China

PubMed Central

Wang, Lingqing; Liang, Tao

2015-01-01

Rare earth mine tailing dumps are environmental hazards because tailing easily leaches and erodes by water and wind. To assess the influence of mine tailing on the geochemical behavior of rare earth elements (REEs) in soil, sixty-seven surface soil samples and three soil profile samples were collected from different locations near China’s largest rare earth mine tailing. The total concentration of REEs in surface soils ranged from 156 to 5.65 × 104 mg·kg−1 with an average value of 4.67 × 103 mg·kg−1, which was significantly higher than the average value in China (181 mg·kg−1). We found obvious fractionation of both light and heavy REEs, which was supported by the North American Shale Composite (NASC) and the Post-Archean Average Australian Shale (PAAS) normalized concentration ratios calculated for selected elements (LaN/YbN, LaN/SmN and GdN/YbN). A slightly positive Ce anomaly and a negative Eu anomaly were also found. For all 14 REEs in soils, enrichment was intensified by the mine tailing sources and influenced by the prevailing wind. PMID:26198417

Spin-Polarization in Quasi-Magnetic Tunnel Junctions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Zheng-Wei; Li, Ling

2017-05-01

Spin polarization in ferromagnetic metal/insulator/spin-filter barrier/nonmagnetic metal, referred to as quasi-magnetic tunnel junctions, is studied within the free-electron model. Our results show that large positive or negative spin-polarization can be obtained at high bias in quasi-magnetic tunnel junctions, and within large bias variation regions, the degree of spin-polarization can be linearly tuned by bias. These linear variation regions of spin-polarization with bias are influenced by the barrier thicknesses, barrier heights and molecular fields in the spin-filter (SF) layer. Among them, the variations of thickness and heights of the insulating and SF barrier layers have influence on the value of spin-polarization and the linear variation regions of spin-polarization with bias. However, the variations of molecular field in the SF layer only have influence on the values of the spin-polarization and the influences on the linear variation regions of spin-polarization with bias are slight. Supported by the Key Natural Science Fund of Sichuan Province Education Department under Grant Nos 13ZA0149 and 16ZA0047, and the Construction Plan for Scientific Research Innovation Team of Universities in Sichuan Province under Grant No 12TD008.

Geochemical fractions of rare earth elements in soil around a mine tailing in Baotou, China.

PubMed

Wang, Lingqing; Liang, Tao

2015-07-22

Rare earth mine tailing dumps are environmental hazards because tailing easily leaches and erodes by water and wind. To assess the influence of mine tailing on the geochemical behavior of rare earth elements (REEs) in soil, sixty-seven surface soil samples and three soil profile samples were collected from different locations near China's largest rare earth mine tailing. The total concentration of REEs in surface soils ranged from 156 to 5.65 × 10(4) mg·kg(-1) with an average value of 4.67 × 10(3) mg·kg(-1), which was significantly higher than the average value in China (181 mg·kg(-1)). We found obvious fractionation of both light and heavy REEs, which was supported by the North American Shale Composite (NASC) and the Post-Archean Average Australian Shale (PAAS) normalized concentration ratios calculated for selected elements (La(N)/Yb(N), La(N)/Sm(N) and Gd(N)/Yb(N)). A slightly positive Ce anomaly and a negative Eu anomaly were also found. For all 14 REEs in soils, enrichment was intensified by the mine tailing sources and influenced by the prevailing wind.

Effect of pressure on the Raman-active modes of zircon (ZrSiO4): a first-principles study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sheremetyeva, Natalya; Cherniak, Daniele J.; Watson, E. Bruce; Meunier, Vincent

2018-02-01

Density-functional theory (DFT) was employed in a first-principles study of the effects of pressure on the Raman-active modes of zircon (ZrSiO4), using both the generalized gradient and local density approximations (GGA and LDA, respectively). Beginning with the equilibrium structure at zero pressure, we conducted a calibration of the effect of pressure in a manner procedurally similar to an experimental calibration. For pressures between 0 and 7 GPa, we find excellent qualitative agreement of frequency-pressure slopes partial ω /partial P calculated from GGA DFT with results of previous experimental studies. In addition, we were able to rationalize the ω vs. P behavior based on details of the vibrational modes and their atomic displacements. Most of the partial ω /partial P slopes are positive as expected, but the symmetry of the zircon lattice also results in two negative slopes for modes that involve slight shearing and rigid rotation of SiO4 tetrahedra. Overall, LDA yields absolute values of the frequencies of the Raman-active modes in good agreement with experimental values, while GGA reproduces the shift in frequency with pressure especially well.

SDSS-IV MaNGA: environmental dependence of stellar age and metallicity gradients in nearby galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Zheng; Wang, Huiyuan; Ge, Junqiang; Mao, Shude; Li, Cheng; Li, Ran; Mo, Houjun; Goddard, Daniel; Bundy, Kevin; Li, Hongyu; Nair, Preethi; Lin, Lihwai; Long, R. J.; Riffel, Rogério; Thomas, Daniel; Masters, Karen; Bizyaev, Dmitry; Brownstein, Joel R.; Zhang, Kai; Law, David R.; Drory, Niv; Roman Lopes, Alexandre; Malanushenko, Olena

2017-03-01

We present a study on the stellar age and metallicity distributions for 1105 galaxies using the STARLIGHT software on MaNGA (Mapping Nearby Galaxies at APO) integral field spectra. We derive age and metallicity gradients by fitting straight lines to the radial profiles, and explore their correlations with total stellar mass M*, NUV - r colour and environments, as identified by both the large-scale structure (LSS) type and the local density. We find that the mean age and metallicity gradients are close to zero but slightly negative, which is consistent with the inside-out formation scenario. Within our sample, we find that both the age and metallicity gradients show weak or no correlation with either the LSS type or local density environment. In addition, we also study the environmental dependence of age and metallicity values at the effective radii. The age and metallicity values are highly correlated with M* and NUV - r and are also dependent on LSS type as well as local density. Low-mass galaxies tend to be younger and have lower metallicity in low-density environments while high-mass galaxies are less affected by environment.

Flexible thin-layer plasma inactivation of bacteria and mold survival in beef jerky packaging and its effects on the meat's physicochemical properties.

PubMed

Yong, Hae In; Lee, Haelim; Park, Sanghoo; Park, Jooyoung; Choe, Wonho; Jung, Samooel; Jo, Cheorun

2017-01-01

The aims of the present study were to examine the use of a flexible thin-layer plasma system in inactivating bacteria and mold on beef jerky in a commercial package and to evaluate the physicochemical changes of the jerky. After plasma treatment for 10min, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Aspergillus flavus populations on the beef jerky were reduced by approximately 2 to 3Log CFU/g. No significant changes in metmyoglobin content, shear force, and myofibrillar fragmentation index were found in the plasma-treated beef jerky. On the other hand, the peroxide content and L ⁎ value were decreased whereas the a ⁎ and ΔE value were increased in the plasma-treated sample. Sensory evaluation indicated negative effects of plasma treatment on flavor, off-odor, and overall acceptability of the beef jerky. In conclusion, the flexible thin-layer plasma system could be employed as a means for decontamination of beef jerky, with slight changes to the physicochemical quality of the product. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Classification of focal liver lesions on ultrasound images by extracting hybrid textural features and using an artificial neural network.

PubMed

Hwang, Yoo Na; Lee, Ju Hwan; Kim, Ga Young; Jiang, Yuan Yuan; Kim, Sung Min

2015-01-01

This paper focuses on the improvement of the diagnostic accuracy of focal liver lesions by quantifying the key features of cysts, hemangiomas, and malignant lesions on ultrasound images. The focal liver lesions were divided into 29 cysts, 37 hemangiomas, and 33 malignancies. A total of 42 hybrid textural features that composed of 5 first order statistics, 18 gray level co-occurrence matrices, 18 Law's, and echogenicity were extracted. A total of 29 key features that were selected by principal component analysis were used as a set of inputs for a feed-forward neural network. For each lesion, the performance of the diagnosis was evaluated by using the positive predictive value, negative predictive value, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. The results of the experiment indicate that the proposed method exhibits great performance, a high diagnosis accuracy of over 96% among all focal liver lesion groups (cyst vs. hemangioma, cyst vs. malignant, and hemangioma vs. malignant) on ultrasound images. The accuracy was slightly increased when echogenicity was included in the optimal feature set. These results indicate that it is possible for the proposed method to be applied clinically.

Speciation studies of nickel and chromium in wastewater from an electroplating plant.

PubMed

Kiptoo, Jackson K; Ngila, J Catherine; Sawula, Gerald M

2004-09-08

A speciation scheme involving the use of flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) and differential pulse adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry (DPAdCSV) techniques was applied to studies of nickel and chromium in wastewater from a nickel-chrome electroplating plant. Dimethylglyoxime (DMG) and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) were employed as complexing agents for adsorptive voltammetric determination of Ni and Cr, respectively. Cr(III) and Cr(VI) were determined by exploiting differences in their reactivity towards DTPA at HMDE. Total dissolved metal content was in the range 2906-3141 and 30.7-31.2mgl(-1) for Ni and Cr, respectively. A higher percentage of the metal was present as labile species (mean value of 67.9% for Ni and 79.8% for Cr) suggesting that strongly binding ligands are not ubiquitous in the sample. About 77.8% of Cr was found to exist in the higher oxidization state, Cr(IV). Results on effect of dilution on lability of the metal forms in the sample using DPAdCSV showed slight peak shifts to a more negative (cathodic) value by -0.036V for Ni and -0.180V for Cr with a dilution factor of 100, while peak intensity (cathodic current) remained fairly constant.

Paleohydrology and paleochemistry of Lake Manitoba, Canada: the isotope and ostracode records

USGS Publications Warehouse

Last, W.M.; Teller, J.T.; Forester, R.M.

1994-01-01

Lake Manitoba, the largest lake in the Prairie region of North America, contains a fine-grained sequence of late Pleistocene and Holocene sediment that documents a complex postglacial history. This record indicates that differential isostatic rebound and changing climate have interacted with varying drainage basin size and hydrologic budget to create significant variations in lake level and limnological conditions. During the initial depositional period in the basin, the Lake Agassiz phase (???12-9 ka), ??18O of ostracodes ranged from -16??? to -5??? (PDB), implying the lake was variously dominated by cold, dilute glacial meltwater and warm to cold, slightly saline water. Candona subtriangulata, which prefers cold, dilute water, dominates the most negative ??18O intervals, when the basin was part of proglacial Lake Agassiz. At times during this early phase, the ??18O of the lake abruptly shifted to higher values; euryhaline taxa such as C. rawsoni or Limnocythere ceriotuberosa, and halobiont taxa such as L. staplini or L. sappaensis are dominant in these intervals. This positive covariance of isotope and ostracode records implies that the lake level episodically fell, isolating the Lake Manitoba basin from the main glacial lake. ??18O values from inorganic endogenic Mg-calcite in the post-Agassiz phase of Lake Manitoba trend from -4??? at 8 ka to -11??? at 4.5 ka. We interpret that this trend indicates a gradually increasing influence of isotopically low (-20??? SMOW) Paleozoic groundwater inflow, although periods of increased evaporation during this time may account for zones of less negative isotopic values. The ??18O of this inorganic calcite abruptly shifts to higher values (-6???) after ???4.5 ka due to the combined effects of increased evaporative enrichment in a closed basin lake and the increased contribution of isotopically high surface water inflow on the hydrologic budget. After ???2 ka, the ??18O of the Mg-calcite fluctuates between -13??? and -7???, implying short-term variability in the lake's hydrologic budget, with values indicating the lake varied from outflow-dominated to evaporation-dominated. The ??13C values of Mg-calcite remain nearly constant from 8 to 4.5 ka and then trend to higher values upward in the section. This pattern suggests primary productivity in the lake was initially constant but gradually increased after 4.5 ka. ?? 1994 Kluwer Academic Publishers.

16 CFR 1500.41 - Method of testing primary irritant substances.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... example: Skin reaction Exposure time (hours) Evaluation value Erythema and eschar formation: Intact skin... patches are removed and the resulting reactions are evaluated on the basis of the designated values in the following table: Skin reaction Value 1 Erythema and eschar formation: No erythema 0 Very slight erythema...

Oxygenation of the shallow ocean after the Great Oxidation Event: Geochemistry and Carbon isotopes of the Paleoproterozoic Hutuo Group in North China Craton

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

She, Z.; Yang, F.; Papineau, D.

2013-12-01

The Paleoproterozoic was known as a period of profound perturbations in marine environments and biogeochemical cycles due to the Great Oxidation Event (GOE), but the interconnections and consequences of these events remain poorly understood. We investigated the geochemistry and C isotopes of the 2.09-1.96 Ga Hutuo Group in the North China Craton (NCC) which provide evidence for the oxygenation of shallow oceans. The Hutuo Group is a >10-km-thick clastic and carbonate sequence with intercalated basalts and has undergone lower greenschist facies metamorphism. Diverse stromatolite morphotypes, ranging from small domical, conical, and columnar forms to bioherms with diameters up to 4 meters, as well as giant oncoids, are developed in the Hutuo carbonates. C isotopes of the Hutuo carbonates are characterized by a general decrease in δ13Ccarb values upsection. It consists of a lower part with δ13Ccarb ranging from 1.3 ‰ to 3.4 ‰, a middle part showing alternating positive and negative excursions of δ13Ccarb from -3.6 ‰ to 2.7 ‰, and a upper part of exclusively negative excursions with δ13Ccarb as light as -5.6 ‰. Most samples have δ18Ocarb greater than -10 ‰ and show no correlation between δ18Ocarb and δ13Ccarb. This, along with relatively low Mn/Sr ratios (mostly < 10), exclude significant diagenetic modification of the C isotopes. δ13Corg of acid-insoluble residues of stromatolitic carbonates range between -30.9 ‰ and -22.3 ‰, consistent with C-fixation with the cyanobacterial RuBisCO enzymes. Therefore, the positive excursions are probably related to burial of organic matter produced by primary producers, consistent with the ending of the 2.22-2.06 Ga Lomagundi-Jatuli event. Similar positive C isotope excursions have also been reported from contemporaneous successions elsewhere in the NCC, including the Songshan Group in Henan and Liaohe Group in Liaoning. The following negative excursions, which is consistent with the excursions reported from the 2.1-2.0 Ga Zaonega Fm in the Fennoscandian Shield, thus correspond to pulsed oxidation of biomass in an oxygenated shallow ocean. The geochemical signatures of the carbonates which show minimal contamination by terrigenous materials provides constrains on the chemistry of the Paleoproterozoic ocean. PAAS-normalized REE patterns are flat or slightly LREE-depleted with variable but slightly negative to positive shale-normalized Ce anomaly and evident Eu anomaly. The carbonates have low concentrations of U, Mo, Co and Ni, and show upsection decrease in Mo, Co and Ni abundances, consistent with increasing redox states. Metapelites from the Hutuo Group show slightly positive Eu anomaly and low Mo concentrations and U/Th ratios (0.33 - 0.10), consistent with deposition in an oxygenated environment. Collectively, the data document the fluctuations of ocean redox states and final oxygenation of the Hutuo Basin in the aftermath of the GOE. Blooms of stromatolite-building cyanobacteria caused by high nutrient availability following the GOE might have played key roles in the final oxygenation of the atmosphere and shallow oceans.

Feature genes predicting the FLT3/ITD mutation in acute myeloid leukemia

PubMed Central

LI, CHENGLONG; ZHU, BIAO; CHEN, JIAO; HUANG, XIAOBING

2016-01-01

In the present study, gene expression profiles of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) samples were analyzed to identify feature genes with the capacity to predict the mutation status of FLT3/ITD. Two machine learning models, namely the support vector machine (SVM) and random forest (RF) methods, were used for classification. Four datasets were downloaded from the European Bioinformatics Institute, two of which (containing 371 samples, including 281 FLT3/ITD mutation-negative and 90 mutation-positive samples) were randomly defined as the training group, while the other two datasets (containing 488 samples, including 350 FLT3/ITD mutation-negative and 138 mutation-positive samples) were defined as the test group. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by significance analysis of the micro-array data by using the training samples. The classification efficiency of the SCM and RF methods was evaluated using the following parameters: Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Functional enrichment analysis was performed for the feature genes with DAVID. A total of 585 DEGs were identified in the training group, of which 580 were upregulated and five were downregulated. The classification accuracy rates of the two methods for the training group, the test group and the combined group using the 585 feature genes were >90%. For the SVM and RF methods, the rates of correct determination, specificity and PPV were >90%, while the sensitivity and NPV were >80%. The SVM method produced a slightly better classification effect than the RF method. A total of 13 biological pathways were overrepresented by the feature genes, mainly involving energy metabolism, chromatin organization and translation. The feature genes identified in the present study may be used to predict the mutation status of FLT3/ITD in patients with AML. PMID:27177049

Feature genes predicting the FLT3/ITD mutation in acute myeloid leukemia.

PubMed

Li, Chenglong; Zhu, Biao; Chen, Jiao; Huang, Xiaobing

2016-07-01

In the present study, gene expression profiles of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) samples were analyzed to identify feature genes with the capacity to predict the mutation status of FLT3/ITD. Two machine learning models, namely the support vector machine (SVM) and random forest (RF) methods, were used for classification. Four datasets were downloaded from the European Bioinformatics Institute, two of which (containing 371 samples, including 281 FLT3/ITD mutation-negative and 90 mutation‑positive samples) were randomly defined as the training group, while the other two datasets (containing 488 samples, including 350 FLT3/ITD mutation-negative and 138 mutation-positive samples) were defined as the test group. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by significance analysis of the microarray data by using the training samples. The classification efficiency of the SCM and RF methods was evaluated using the following parameters: Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Functional enrichment analysis was performed for the feature genes with DAVID. A total of 585 DEGs were identified in the training group, of which 580 were upregulated and five were downregulated. The classification accuracy rates of the two methods for the training group, the test group and the combined group using the 585 feature genes were >90%. For the SVM and RF methods, the rates of correct determination, specificity and PPV were >90%, while the sensitivity and NPV were >80%. The SVM method produced a slightly better classification effect than the RF method. A total of 13 biological pathways were overrepresented by the feature genes, mainly involving energy metabolism, chromatin organization and translation. The feature genes identified in the present study may be used to predict the mutation status of FLT3/ITD in patients with AML.

Comparison of Medium Power Hall Effect Thruster Ion Acceleration for Krypton and Xenon Propellants

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-09-14

Concentration ppb 87 1000 Stable Isotopes 9 6 Odd Isotopes 2 1 Critical Pressure MPa 5.84 5.50 Critical Temperature K 290 209 Boiling Point (1 atm) K 161 120...The velocity profile in Fig. 6 shows the velocities slightly negative, nearest the anode (at approximately - 9 mm). This negative velocity near the...Krypton and Xenon Propellants 5b. GRANT NUMBER 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6 . AUTHOR(S) William A. Hargus, Jr.; Gregory M. Azarnia; Michael R

Age differences in the Big Five across the life span: evidence from two national samples.

PubMed

Donnellan, M Brent; Lucas, Richard E

2008-09-01

Cross-sectional age differences in the Big Five personality traits were investigated using 2 large datasets from Great Britain and Germany: the British Household Panel Study (BHPS; N > or = 14,039) and the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (GSEOP; N > or = 20,852). Participants, who ranged in age from 16 to the mid-80s, completed a 15-item version of the Big Five Inventory (e.g., John & Srivastava, 1999) in either 2005 or 2006. The observed age trends were generally consistent across both datasets. Extraversion and Openness were negatively associated with age, whereas Agreeableness was positively associated with age. Average levels of Conscientiousness were highest for participants in middle age. The only exception was Neuroticism, which was slightly negatively associated with age in the BHPS and slightly positively associated with age in the GSEOP. Neither gender nor education level were consistent moderators of age differences in the Big Five. (c) 2008 APA, all rights reserved

Cardiovascular responses of men and women to lower body negative pressure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Montgomery, L. D.; Kirk, P. J.; Payne, P. A.; Gerber, R. L.; Newton, S. D.; Williams, B. A.

1977-01-01

Changes in blood flow and blood redistribution were measured by impedance plethysmography in the pelvic and leg regions of six male and four female subjects during three 5-min exposures to -20, -40, and -60 mm Hg lower body negative pressure (LBNP). Female subjects demonstrated significantly higher mean heart rate and lower leg blood flow indices than the male subjects during the recumbent control periods. Men had slightly higher mean resting systolic and diastolic blood pressures and higher mean control pelvic blood indices. Women demonstrated significantly less blood pooling in the legs and slightly less in the pelvic region than the men. All of the 18 tests with male subjects at -60 mm Hg were completed without initial signs of syncope, while only two of the tests with women were completed successfully without the subject exhibiting presyncopal conditions. Results indicate that impedance plethysmography can be used to measure segmental cardiovascular responses during LBNP and that females may be less tolerant to -60 mm Hg LBNP than males.

When Slights Beget Slights: Attachment Anxiety, Subjective Time, and Intrusion of the Relational Past in the Present.

PubMed

Cortes, Kassandra; Wilson, Anne E

2016-12-01

Every close relationship has a history, but how people manage their relational past varies and can have important implications in the present. The current research investigated the role of subjective representation of time: How feeling subjectively close (vs. distant) to a past relational transgression (vs. kind act) predicted "kitchen thinking"-the tendency to bring to mind relational past memories in new, unrelated contexts. We explored the role of attachment anxiety as a predictor of subjective time perception and kitchen thinking. We found support for our hypothesis that when negative memories felt subjectively closer relative to positive memories, people were more likely to kitchen think (Studies 1-3). Kitchen thinking, in turn, predicted negative relationship outcomes (Study 4). Furthermore, people high (vs. low) in attachment anxiety were less likely to perceive the timing of their relational memories adaptively, accounting for more kitchen thinking and in turn, maladaptive relational outcomes. © 2016 by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc.

The incidence and role of negative citations in science.

PubMed

Catalini, Christian; Lacetera, Nicola; Oettl, Alexander

2015-11-10

Citations to previous literature are extensively used to measure the quality and diffusion of knowledge. However, we know little about the different ways in which a study can be cited; in particular, are papers cited to point out their merits or their flaws? We elaborated a methodology to characterize "negative" citations using bibliometric data and natural language processing. We found that negative citations concerned higher-quality papers, were focused on a study's findings rather than theories or methods, and originated from scholars who were closer to the authors of the focal paper in terms of discipline and social distance, but not geographically. Receiving a negative citation was also associated with a slightly faster decline in citations to the paper in the long run.

Gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) Scaling on Polybenzimidazole and Cellulose Acetate Hollow Fiber Membranes under Forward Osmosis

PubMed Central

Chen, Si Cong; Su, Jincai; Fu, Feng-Jiang; Mi, Baoxia; Chung, Tai-Shung

2013-01-01

We have examined the gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) scaling phenomena on membranes with different physicochemical properties in forward osmosis (FO) processes. Three hollow fiber membranes made of (1) cellulose acetate (CA), (2) polybenzimidazole (PBI)/polyethersulfone (PES) and (3) PBI-polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) were studied. For the first time in FO processes, we have found that surface ionic interactions dominate gypsum scaling on the membrane surface. A 70% flux reduction was observed on negatively charged CA and PBI membrane surfaces, due to strong attractive forces. The PBI membrane surface also showed a slightly positive charge at a low pH value of 3 and exhibited a 30% flux reduction. The atomic force microscopy (AFM) force measurements confirmed a strong repulsive force between gypsum and PBI at a pH value of 3. The newly developed PBI-POSS/PAN membrane had ridge morphology and a contact angle of 51.42° ± 14.85° after the addition of hydrophilic POSS nanoparticles and 3 min thermal treatment at 95 °C. Minimal scaling and an only 1.3% flux reduction were observed at a pH value of 3. Such a ridge structure may reduce scaling by not providing a locally flat surface to the crystallite at a pH value of 3; thus, gypsum would be easily washed away from the surface. PMID:24957062

Seasonal variation in the biochemical composition of red seaweed ( Catenella repens) from Gangetic delta, northeast coast of India

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Banerjee, Kakoli; Ghosh, Rajrupa; Homechaudhuri, Sumit; Mitra, Abhijit

2009-10-01

The biochemical composition of red seaweeds, Catenella repens was investigated in this present study along with subsequent analysis of relevant physico-chemical variables. In this study, the relationship between the nutritive components of this species and the ambient environmental parameters was established. Protein content varied from 2.78 ± 0.30% of dry weight (stn.3) to 16.03 ± 0.96% of dry weight (stn.1) with highest values during monsoon. The protein levels were positively correlated with dissolved nitrate content and negatively correlated with water temperature (except stn.3) and salinity. Carbohydrate content of this species varied significantly ( p < 0.05) during pre-monsoon between stations and the values showed positive relationship with salinity and surface water temperature. In contrast to carbohydrate, lipid concentration was lowest in values and varied very slightly between seasons and stations. Astaxanthin content of the seaweed species was greater in pre-monsoon than monsoon and post-monsoon in all the selected stations. Compared with the three seasons, samples of red seaweed collected in pre-monsoon has high carbohydrate-astaxanthin in contrast to protein-lipid which showed high values during monsoon. Statistical analysis computed among the environmental and biochemical parameters suggests the potential role played by the abiotic parameters on biosynthetic pathways of seaweed. This paper also highlights the influence of the nutritional quality of water that can be used for mass cultivation of Catenella repens.

An inverse gas chromatographic methodology for studying gas-liquid mass transfer.

PubMed

Paloglou, A; Martakidis, K; Gavril, D

2017-01-13

A novel methodology of reversed flow inverse gas chromatography (RF-IGC) is presented. It permits the simultaneous determination of mass transfer coefficients across the gas liquid interface as well as the respective solubility parameters and thermodynamic functions of dissolution of gases into liquids. The standard deviation of the experimentally determined parameters is estimated for first time, which combined with the successful comparison of the values of the present parameters with other literature ones ascertain the reliability of the methodology. Another novelty of the present work is that the chromatographic sampling of the physicochemical phenomena is done without performing the usual flow reversals procedure. Vinyl chloride monomer's (VCM) interaction with various composition liquid foods: orange juice, milk and olive oil was used as model system. The present transfer rates are controlled by the gas film at lower temperatures, but at higher temperatures the resistances in both films tend to become equal. The found liquid diffusivity values express the total mass transfer from the gas phase into the liquid's bulk and they decrease with rising temperature, as the solubilities of gases in liquids do. Solubility, expressed by Henry's law constant and the mean values of interfacial thickness are of the same order of magnitude to literature ones. From the thermodynamic point of view, VCM dissolution in all liquids is accompanied by significant heat release and it is a slightly non-spontaneous process, near equilibrium, while the entropy change values are negative. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Non-linear properties of metallic cellular materials with a negative Poisson's ratio

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Choi, J. B.; Lakes, R. S.

1992-01-01

Negative Poisson's ratio copper foam was prepared and characterized experimentally. The transformation into re-entrant foam was accomplished by applying sequential permanent compressions above the yield point to achieve a triaxial compression. The Poisson's ratio of the re-entrant foam depended on strain and attained a relative minimum at strains near zero. Poisson's ratio as small as -0.8 was achieved. The strain dependence of properties occurred over a narrower range of strain than in the polymer foams studied earlier. Annealing of the foam resulted in a slightly greater magnitude of negative Poisson's ratio and greater toughness at the expense of a decrease in the Young's modulus.

Comparison of diagnostic validity of mannitol and methacholine challenges and relationship to clinical status and airway inflammation in steroid-naïve asthmatic patients.

PubMed

Porpodis, Konstantinos; Domvri, Kalliopi; Kontakiotis, Theodoros; Fouka, Evangelia; Kontakioti, Eirini; Zarogoulidis, Konstantinos; Papakosta, Despina

2017-06-01

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate and compare the diagnostic validity of two bronchial challenges and to investigate their correlation with patient clinical status, atopy and inflammation markers. Eighty-eight patients, 47 women and 41 men, mean age 38.56 ± 16.73 years who presented with asthma related symptoms and were not on any anti-asthma medication, were challenged with mannitol and methacholine on separate days. Medical history regarding asthmatic symptoms, physical examination, skin prick tests and FeNO levels were also assessed. The clinical diagnosis of asthma was based on bronchodilator reversibility test. Sixty-seven patients were diagnosed with asthma and 21 without asthma. Both methacholine (P < 0.014) and mannitol (P < 0.000) challenges were significant in diagnosing asthma. The positive/negative predictive value was 93.33%/41.86% for methacholine, 97.72%/45.45% for mannitol and 97.05%/45.45%. for both methods assessed together. Worthy of note that 22% of asthmatics had both tests negative. There was a negative correlation between PC20 of methacholine and the FeNO level P < 0.001, and positive with the PD15 of mannitol P < 0.001 and the pre-test FEV 1 % pred P < 0.005, whereas PD15 of mannitol was negatively correlated with the FeNO level P < 0.001. Furthermore, dyspnea was the only asthmatic symptom associated with FeNO level P < 0.035 and the positivity of mannitol P < 0.014 and methacholine P < 0.04. Both challenge tests were equivalent in diagnosing asthma. Nevertheless, specificity appeared to be slightly higher in mannitol challenge.

Study on negative incident photon-to-electron conversion efficiency of quantum dot-sensitized solar cells

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

Li, Chunhui; Wu, Huijue; Zhu, Lifeng

2014-02-15

Recently, negative signals are frequently observed during the measuring process of monochromatic incident photon-to-electron conversion efficiency (IPCE) for sensitized solar cells by DC method. This phenomenon is confusing and hindering the reasonable evaluation of solar cells. Here, cause of negative IPCE values is studied by taking quantum dot-sensitized solar cell (QDSC) as an example, and the accurate measurement method to avoid the negative value is suggested. The negative background signals of QDSC without illumination are found the direct cause of the negative IPCE values by DC method. Ambient noise, significant capacitance characteristics, and uncontrolled electrochemical reaction all can lead tomore » the negative background signals. When the photocurrent response of device under monochromatic light illumination is relatively weak, the actual photocurrent signals will be covered by the negative background signals and the resulting IPCE values will appear negative. To improve the signal-to-noise ratio, quasi-AC method is proposed for IPCE measurement of solar cells with weak photocurrent response based on the idea of replacing the absolute values by the relative values.« less

Identification of sources and behavior of agricultural contaminants in groundwater using nitorgen and sulfur isootope in Haean basin, Korea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaown, Dugin; Kim, Heejung; Mayer, Bernard; Hyun, Yunjung; Lee, Jin-Yong; Lee, Kang-Kun

2013-04-01

The Haean basin shows a bowl-shaped topographic feature and the drainage system shows a dendritic pattern. The study area is consisted of forests (58.0%), vegetable fields (27.6%), rice paddy fields (11.4%) and fruit fields (0.5%). Most of residents in the study area practice agriculture and paddy rice and vegetables (Chinese radish) are the typical crops grown. The concentration of nitrate in groundwater showed 0.8 ~ 67.3 mg/L in June, 2012 and 2.0 ~ 65.7 mg/L in September, 2012. Hydrogeochemical values and stable isotope ratios of dissolved nitrate and sulfate in groundwater were used to identify contamination sources and transformation processes in shallow groundwater. The δ15N-NO3- values in the study area ranged between +5.2 and +16.9‰ in June and between +4.4 and +13.0‰ in September. The sulfate concentration in groundwater samples obtained from the study area varied from 0.8 to 16.5 mg/L in June and 0 to 19.7 mg/L in September. δ34S-SO42- values ranged from +2.9 to +11.7‰ in June and +1.6 to +8.2‰ in September. The values of δ15N-NO3- and δ34S-SO42- in September were slightly decreased than those of values in June. The chemical composition of groundwater in vegetable and fruit fields showed slightly lower values of δ34S-SO42- and δ15N-NO3- indicated that a mixture of synthetic and organic fertilizers is responsible for groundwater contamination with agro-chemicals. Most groundwater from forests and paddy fields showed slightly higher values of δ15N-NO3- suggested that organic fertilizer is introduced into subsurface.

Comparative study of the fungicide Benomyl toxicity on some plant growth promoting bacteria and some fungi in pure cultures.

PubMed

Elslahi, Randa H; Osman, Awad G; Sherif, Ashraf M; Elhussein, Adil A

2014-03-01

Six laboratory experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of the fungicide Benomyl on pure cultures of some plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) and some fungi. The highest LD50 was recorded for Bacillus circulans and proved to be the most resistant to the fungicide, followed by Azospirillum braziliense, while Penicillium sp. was the most affected microorganism. LD50 values for the affected microorganisms were in 21-240 orders of magnitude lower in comparison with the LD50 value for Azospirillum braziliense. The results indicate a strong selectivity for Benomyl against Rhizobium meliloti and Penicillium sp. when compared to other microorganisms tested. The highest safety coefficient was recorded for Bacillus circulans followed by Azospirillum braziliense, while Rhizobium meliloti, showed the lowest safety coefficient value compared to other bacteria. The lowest toxicity index was recorded for Bacillus circulans and Azospirillum braziliense. The slope of the curves for Bacillus sp. and Rhizobium meliloti was steeper than that of the other curves, suggesting that even a slight increase of the dose of the fungicide can cause a very strong negative effect. In conclusion, Benomyl could be applied without restriction when using inocula based on growth promoting bacteria such as symbiotic nitrogen fixers (Rhizobium meliloti), non-symbiotic nitrogen fixers (Azospirillum braziliense) or potassium solibilizers (Bacillus circulans), given that the fungicide is applied within the range of the recommended field dose.

Diagnostic accuracy of high-risk HPV genotyping in women with high-grade cervical lesions: evidence for improving the cervical cancer screening strategy in China.

PubMed

Xu, Huihui; Lin, Aifen; Shao, Xiujuan; Shi, Weiwu; Zhang, Yang; Yan, Weihua

2016-12-13

Currently, clinical data for primary HPV screening alone are lacking in China. Here, we evaluate cervical cancer screening with primary HPV genotyping, as well as possible future screening strategy. Overall, high-risk HPV (hrHPV) prevalence was 18.2% among hospital-based population in Taizhou area. For cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 or worse (CIN2+), the sensitivity of primary hrHPV genotyping strategy and current cervical cancer screening strategy were 93.5%, and 71.1%, respectively; whereas the specificity was 17.5%, and 62.4%, respectively. Current cervical screening strategy had slightly higher positive predictive values (28.4%) for CIN2+ than hrHPV genotyping strategy (21.9%), whereas primary hrHPV genotyping strategy demonstrated higher negative predictive values (94.7%) than current cervical screening strategy (91.1%). Compared to HPV35/39/45/51/56/59/66/68 genotypes, the odds ratios (OR) for CIN2+ in HPV16/18/31/33/52/58 infection women were 3.2 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.3-4.1). Primary hrHPV genotyping strategy provides a better predictive value than HPV16/18 genotyping alone in guiding the clinical management of the current cervical cancer screening. HPV testing without adjunctive cytology may be sufficiently sensitive for primary cervical cancer screening.

Age and diagnostic performance of Alzheimer disease CSF biomarkers.

PubMed

Mattsson, N; Rosén, E; Hansson, O; Andreasen, N; Parnetti, L; Jonsson, M; Herukka, S-K; van der Flier, W M; Blankenstein, M A; Ewers, M; Rich, K; Kaiser, E; Verbeek, M M; Olde Rikkert, M; Tsolaki, M; Mulugeta, E; Aarsland, D; Visser, P J; Schröder, J; Marcusson, J; de Leon, M; Hampel, H; Scheltens, P; Wallin, A; Eriksdotter-Jönhagen, M; Minthon, L; Winblad, B; Blennow, K; Zetterberg, H

2012-02-14

Core CSF changes in Alzheimer disease (AD) are decreased amyloid β(1-42), increased total tau, and increased phospho-tau, probably indicating amyloid plaque accumulation, axonal degeneration, and tangle pathology, respectively. These biomarkers identify AD already at the predementia stage, but their diagnostic performance might be affected by age-dependent increase of AD-type brain pathology in cognitively unaffected elderly. We investigated effects of age on the diagnostic performance of CSF biomarkers in a uniquely large multicenter study population, including a cross-sectional cohort of 529 patients with AD dementia (median age 71, range 43-89 years) and 304 controls (67, 44-91 years), and a longitudinal cohort of 750 subjects without dementia with mild cognitive impairment (69, 43-89 years) followed for at least 2 years, or until dementia diagnosis. The specificities for subjects without AD and the areas under the receiver operating characteristics curves decreased with age. However, the positive predictive value for a combination of biomarkers remained stable, while the negative predictive value decreased only slightly in old subjects, as an effect of the high AD prevalence in older ages. Although the diagnostic accuracies for AD decreased with age, the predictive values for a combination of biomarkers remained essentially stable. The findings highlight biomarker variability across ages, but support the use of CSF biomarkers for AD even in older populations.

Age and diagnostic performance of Alzheimer disease CSF biomarkers

PubMed Central

Rosén, E.; Hansson, O.; Andreasen, N.; Parnetti, L.; Jonsson, M.; Herukka, S.-K.; van der Flier, W.M.; Blankenstein, M.A.; Ewers, M.; Rich, K.; Kaiser, E.; Verbeek, M.M.; Olde Rikkert, M.; Tsolaki, M.; Mulugeta, E.; Aarsland, D.; Visser, P.J.; Schröder, J.; Marcusson, J.; de Leon, M.; Hampel, H.; Scheltens, P.; Wallin, A.; Eriksdotter-Jönhagen, M.; Minthon, L.; Winblad, B.; Blennow, K.; Zetterberg, H.

2012-01-01

Objectives: Core CSF changes in Alzheimer disease (AD) are decreased amyloid β1–42, increased total tau, and increased phospho-tau, probably indicating amyloid plaque accumulation, axonal degeneration, and tangle pathology, respectively. These biomarkers identify AD already at the predementia stage, but their diagnostic performance might be affected by age-dependent increase of AD-type brain pathology in cognitively unaffected elderly. Methods: We investigated effects of age on the diagnostic performance of CSF biomarkers in a uniquely large multicenter study population, including a cross-sectional cohort of 529 patients with AD dementia (median age 71, range 43–89 years) and 304 controls (67, 44–91 years), and a longitudinal cohort of 750 subjects without dementia with mild cognitive impairment (69, 43–89 years) followed for at least 2 years, or until dementia diagnosis. Results: The specificities for subjects without AD and the areas under the receiver operating characteristics curves decreased with age. However, the positive predictive value for a combination of biomarkers remained stable, while the negative predictive value decreased only slightly in old subjects, as an effect of the high AD prevalence in older ages. Conclusion: Although the diagnostic accuracies for AD decreased with age, the predictive values for a combination of biomarkers remained essentially stable. The findings highlight biomarker variability across ages, but support the use of CSF biomarkers for AD even in older populations. PMID:22302554

Event-related potentials reveal task-dependence and inter-individual differences in negation processing during silent listening and explicit truth-value evaluation.

PubMed

Herbert, C; Kissler, J

2014-09-26

In sentences such as dogs cannot fly/bark, evaluation of the truth-value of the sentence is assumed to appear after the negation has been integrated into the sentence structure. Moreover negation processing and truth-value processing are considered effortful processes, whereas processing of the semantic relatedness of the words within sentences is thought to occur automatically. In the present study, modulation of event-related brain potentials (N400 and late positive potential, LPP) was investigated during an implicit task (silent listening) and active truth-value evaluation to test these theoretical assumptions and determine if truth-value evaluation will be modulated by the way participants processed the negated information implicitly prior to truth-value verification. Participants first listened to negated sentences and then evaluated these sentences for their truth-value in an active evaluation task. During passive listening, the LPP was generally more pronounced for targets in false negative (FN) than true negative (TN) sentences, indicating enhanced attention allocation to semantically-related but false targets. N400 modulation by truth-value (FN>TN) was observed in 11 out of 24 participants. However, during active evaluation, processing of semantically-unrelated but true targets (TN) elicited larger N400 and LPP amplitudes as well as a pronounced frontal negativity. This pattern was particularly prominent in those 11 individuals, whose N400 modulation during silent listening indicated that they were more sensitive to violations of the truth-value than to semantic priming effects. The results provide evidence for implicit truth-value processing during silent listening of negated sentences and for task dependence related to inter-individual differences in implicit negation processing. Copyright © 2014 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluating alternate models to estimate genetic parameters of calving traits in United Kingdom Holstein-Friesian dairy cattle.

PubMed

Eaglen, Sophie A E; Coffey, Mike P; Woolliams, John A; Wall, Eileen

2012-07-28

The focus in dairy cattle breeding is gradually shifting from production to functional traits and genetic parameters of calving traits are estimated more frequently. However, across countries, various statistical models are used to estimate these parameters. This study evaluates different models for calving ease and stillbirth in United Kingdom Holstein-Friesian cattle. Data from first and later parity records were used. Genetic parameters for calving ease, stillbirth and gestation length were estimated using the restricted maximum likelihood method, considering different models i.e. sire (-maternal grandsire), animal, univariate and bivariate models. Gestation length was fitted as a correlated indicator trait and, for all three traits, genetic correlations between first and later parities were estimated. Potential bias in estimates was avoided by acknowledging a possible environmental direct-maternal covariance. The total heritable variance was estimated for each trait to discuss its theoretical importance and practical value. Prediction error variances and accuracies were calculated to compare the models. On average, direct and maternal heritabilities for calving traits were low, except for direct gestation length. Calving ease in first parity had a significant and negative direct-maternal genetic correlation. Gestation length was maternally correlated to stillbirth in first parity and directly correlated to calving ease in later parities. Multi-trait models had a slightly greater predictive ability than univariate models, especially for the lowly heritable traits. The computation time needed for sire (-maternal grandsire) models was much smaller than for animal models with only small differences in accuracy. The sire (-maternal grandsire) model was robust when additional genetic components were estimated, while the equivalent animal model had difficulties reaching convergence. For the evaluation of calving traits, multi-trait models show a slight advantage over univariate models. Extended sire models (-maternal grandsire) are more practical and robust than animal models. Estimated genetic parameters for calving traits of UK Holstein cattle are consistent with literature. Calculating an aggregate estimated breeding value including direct and maternal values should encourage breeders to consider both direct and maternal effects in selection decisions.

Evaluating alternate models to estimate genetic parameters of calving traits in United Kingdom Holstein-Friesian dairy cattle

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background The focus in dairy cattle breeding is gradually shifting from production to functional traits and genetic parameters of calving traits are estimated more frequently. However, across countries, various statistical models are used to estimate these parameters. This study evaluates different models for calving ease and stillbirth in United Kingdom Holstein-Friesian cattle. Methods Data from first and later parity records were used. Genetic parameters for calving ease, stillbirth and gestation length were estimated using the restricted maximum likelihood method, considering different models i.e. sire (−maternal grandsire), animal, univariate and bivariate models. Gestation length was fitted as a correlated indicator trait and, for all three traits, genetic correlations between first and later parities were estimated. Potential bias in estimates was avoided by acknowledging a possible environmental direct-maternal covariance. The total heritable variance was estimated for each trait to discuss its theoretical importance and practical value. Prediction error variances and accuracies were calculated to compare the models. Results and discussion On average, direct and maternal heritabilities for calving traits were low, except for direct gestation length. Calving ease in first parity had a significant and negative direct-maternal genetic correlation. Gestation length was maternally correlated to stillbirth in first parity and directly correlated to calving ease in later parities. Multi-trait models had a slightly greater predictive ability than univariate models, especially for the lowly heritable traits. The computation time needed for sire (−maternal grandsire) models was much smaller than for animal models with only small differences in accuracy. The sire (−maternal grandsire) model was robust when additional genetic components were estimated, while the equivalent animal model had difficulties reaching convergence. Conclusions For the evaluation of calving traits, multi-trait models show a slight advantage over univariate models. Extended sire models (−maternal grandsire) are more practical and robust than animal models. Estimated genetic parameters for calving traits of UK Holstein cattle are consistent with literature. Calculating an aggregate estimated breeding value including direct and maternal values should encourage breeders to consider both direct and maternal effects in selection decisions. PMID:22839757

Characterization and modelling of magneto-auxeticity, the magnetically induced auxetic behavior, in Galfenol

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raghunath, Ganesh

Iron-Gallium alloy (Galfenol) is a magnetostrictive smart material (lambdasat ˜400 ppm) with potential for robust transduction owing to good magneto-mechanical coupling and useful mechanical properties. In addition, Galfenol exhibits a highly negative Poisson's ratio (denoted by nu) along the crystallographic directions on {100} planes with nu values of as low as -0.7 under tensile loads. Consequently, their samples become wider when elongated and narrower when compressed (aka auxeticity). This is an anisotropic, in-plane and volume conserving phenomenon with compensating contractions and expansions in the third (out of plane) direction. Since there is good magneto-elastic coupling in Galfenol, a negative Poisson's ratio is expected to be observed under application of magnetic fields even under zero stress conditions. This work deals with systematically studying the magneto-elastic contributions in Galfenol samples between 12 and 33 atomic percent Ga as a non-synthetic (no artificial linkages, unlike foams) 'structural auxetic' material, capable of bearing loads. This investigation addresses the profound gap in understanding this atypical behavior using empirical data supported by analytical modeling from first principles to predict the Poisson's ratio at magnetic saturation, multi-physics finite element simulations to determine the trends in the strains along the {100} directions and magnetic domain imaging to explain the mechanical response from a magnetic domain perspective. The outcome of this effort will help comprehend the association between anisotropic magnetic and mechanical energies and hence the magnetic contributions to the atomic level interactions that are the origins of this magneto-auxetic characteristic. Also, it is well established that a number of mechanical properties such as shear resistance and toughness depend on the value of Poisson's ratio. There is a slight increase in these mechanical properties with non-zero nu values, but as we enter the highly auxetic regime (nu<-0.5), these values increase by magnitudes. Hence, the possibility of nu values approaching -1.0 under applied magnetic fields at zero stress is extremely intriguing, as these properties can be much larger than is possible in conventional materials. This has potential for several novel applications where the value of Poisson's ratio can be magnetically tuned to keep it near -1 under applied stresses.

High-resolution multi-model projections of onshore wind resources over Portugal under a changing climate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nogueira, Miguel; Soares, Pedro M. M.; Tomé, Ricardo; Cardoso, Rita M.

2018-05-01

We present a detailed evaluation of wind energy density (WED) over Portugal, based on the EURO-CORDEX database of high-resolution regional climate model (RCM) simulations. Most RCMs showed reasonable accuracy in reproducing the observed near-surface wind speed. The climatological patterns of WED displayed large sub-regional heterogeneity, with higher values over coastal regions and steep orography. Subsequently, we investigated the future changes of WED throughout the twenty-first century, considering mid- and end-century periods, and two emission scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). On the yearly average, the multi-model ensemble WED changes were below 10% (15%) under RCP4.5 (RCP8.5). However, the projected WED anomalies displayed strong seasonality, dominated by low positive values in summer (< 10% for both scenarios), negative values in winter and spring (up to - 10% (- 20%) under RCP4.5 (RCP8.5)), and stronger negative anomalies in autumn (up to - 25% (- 35%) under RCP4.5 (RCP8.5)). These projected WED anomalies displayed large sub-regional variability. The largest reductions (and lowest increases) are linked to the northern and central-eastern elevated terrain, and the southwestern coast. In contrast, the largest increases (and lowest reductions) are linked to the central-western orographic features of moderate elevation. The projections also showed changes in inter-annual variability of WED, with small increases for annual averages, but with distinct behavior when considering year-to-year variability over a specific season: small increases in winter, larger increases in summer, slight decrease in autumn, and no relevant change in spring. The changes in inter-annual variability also displayed strong dependence on the underlying terrain. Finally, we found significant model spread in the magnitude of projected WED anomalies and inter-annual variability, affecting even the signal of the changes.

Suboptimal performance of simple noninvasive tests for advanced fibrosis in Chinese patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

PubMed

Xun, Yun Hao; Fan, Jian Gao; Zang, Guo Qing; Liu, Hong; Jiang, Yan Ming; Xiang, Jing; Huang, Qian; Shi, Jun Ping

2012-11-01

To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of some noninvasive fibrosis models in Chinese patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Consecutive biopsy-proven NAFLD patients were recruited from a single center from January 2005 to December 2010. Advanced fibrosis (stage 3 and 4) was defined using Kleiner criteria. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was used to compare the diagnostic accuracy of the NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS), FIB-4 index, aspartate transaminase (AST)/platelet ratio index (APRI), AST/alanine transaminase (ALT) ratio (AAR) and body mass index (BMI)-AAR-Diabetes (BARD) score. Of the patients with NAFLD, 79.6% were males with a mean age of 37.1 years, mean BMI of 26.1 kg/m(2) and 41.4% of them had nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and 24 (15.8%) had advanced fibrosis. The AUROC of the FIB-4 index, APRI, AAR, NFS and BARD score for advanced fibrosis were 0.756, 0.742, 0.670, 0.653 and 0.642 (P < 0.05 for all), respectively. A concordant negative predictive value of approximately 90% was indicated whereas the positive predictive values were modest for all tests, and only the FIB-4 index yielded a higher positive likelihood ratio of 7.65. Using these cut-off values of tests for excluding advanced fibrosis could reduce the use of liver biopsy in 56.6-74.3% of the patients, with a minor false negative rate of 5.3-9.9%. Although slightly less accurate than liver biopsy, simple noninvasive tests can reliably exclude advanced fibrosis in Chinese NAFLD patients in our center. FIB-4 index performs better than the other tests under examination. © 2012 The Authors. Journal of Digestive Diseases © 2012 Chinese Medical Association Shanghai Branch, Chinese Society of Gastroenterology, Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Effect of the Cerium Oxide (CeO2) on the Structural and Electrochemical Properties of the LaNi5Ce Metal Hydride Anode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Utami Hapsari, Ade; Zulfia, Anne; Raharjo, Jarot; Agustanhakri

2017-07-01

One of negative electrode, AB5-type alloy electrodes, have been extensively studied and applied in rechargeable Ni-MH batteries due to their excellent electrochemical characteristics. Some researchers have found that addition of rare earth oxides (La, Ce, Pr, Er, Tm, Yb) to AB5-type alloy (MH) electrode improves battery performance significantly. Cerium Oxide (CeO2) is a light rare earth oxide is widely obtained from the processing of tailings in mining activities. During this time, there is still little data for research applications of cerium oxide for electrode materials. In this paper, the effects of adding CeO2 on the performance metal hydride electrode were investigated. In order to study the effects of CeO2 on the performance of anode material, 1%, 2%, and 3% of weight ratio CeO2 was mixed to LaNi5 as an negative electrode. The powder mixtures were mechanically milled at a speed of rpm 240 for 2 hours using ball mill. The powder mixtures were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Electrochemical characteristics were measured using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The powder mixing showed the presence of Ce atom substitution into LaNi5 structures that affect the electrochemical properties of the material. The addition of cerium oxide at LaNi5 increase of the value of impedance. However, the addition of the value of impedance at 1% CeO2 is not significant when compared with the addition of 2% and 3% CeO2 that actually make the electrochemical properties of LaNi5 worst. Although the addition of 1% CeO2 also slightly increases the impedance value of LaNi5, but the addition of 1% CeO2 showed increase the corrosion resistance than without the addition of CeO2 and the addition of 2% and 3% CeO2.

First reported chikungunya fever outbreak in the republic of Congo, 2011.

PubMed

Moyen, Nanikaly; Thiberville, Simon-Djamel; Pastorino, Boris; Nougairede, Antoine; Thirion, Laurence; Mombouli, Jean-Vivien; Dimi, Yannick; Leparc-Goffart, Isabelle; Capobianchi, Maria Rosaria; Lepfoundzou, Amelia Dzia; de Lamballerie, Xavier

2014-01-01

Chikungunya is an Aedes -borne disease characterised by febrile arthralgia and responsible for massive outbreaks. We present a prospective clinical cohort study and a retrospective serological study relating to a CHIK outbreak, in the Republic of Congo in 2011. We analysed 317 suspected cases, of which 308 (97.2%) lived in the city of Brazzaville (66.6% in the South area). Amongst them, 37 (11.7%) were CHIKV+ve patients (i.e., biologically confirmed by a real-time RT-PCR assay), of whom 36 (97.3%) had fever, 22 (66.7%) myalgia and 32 (86.5%) arthralgia. All tested negative for dengue. The distribution of incident cases within Brazzaville districts was compared with CHIKV seroprevalence before the outbreak (34.4% in 517 blood donors), providing evidence for previous circulation of CHIKV. We applied a CHIK clinical score to 126 patients recruited within the two first day of illness (including 28 CHIKV+ves (22.2%)) with sensitivity (78.6%) and specificity (72.4%) values comparing with those of the referent study in Reunion Island. The negative predictive value was high (92%), but the positive predictive value (45%) indicate poor potential contribution to medical practice to identify CHIKV+ve patients in low prevalence outbreaks. However, the score allowed a slightly more accurate follow-up of the evolution of the outbreak than the criterion "fever+arthralgia". The complete sequencing of a Congolase isolate (Brazza_MRS1) demonstrated belonging to the East/Central/South African lineage and was further used for producing a robust genome-scale CHIKV phylogenetic analysis. We describe the first Chikungunya outbreak declared in the Republic of Congo. The seroprevalence study conducted amongst blood donors before outbreak provided evidence for previous CHIKV circulation. We suggest that a more systematic survey of the entomological situation and of arbovirus circulation is necessary in Central Africa for better understanding the environmental, microbiological and sociological determinants of emergence.

First Reported Chikungunya Fever Outbreak in the Republic of Congo, 2011

PubMed Central

Pastorino, Boris; Nougairede, Antoine; Thirion, Laurence; Mombouli, Jean-Vivien; Dimi, Yannick; Leparc-Goffart, Isabelle; Capobianchi, Maria Rosaria; Lepfoundzou, Amelia Dzia; de Lamballerie, Xavier

2014-01-01

Background Chikungunya is an Aedes -borne disease characterised by febrile arthralgia and responsible for massive outbreaks. We present a prospective clinical cohort study and a retrospective serological study relating to a CHIK outbreak, in the Republic of Congo in 2011. Methodology and Findings We analysed 317 suspected cases, of which 308 (97.2%) lived in the city of Brazzaville (66.6% in the South area). Amongst them, 37 (11.7%) were CHIKV+ve patients (i.e., biologically confirmed by a real-time RT-PCR assay), of whom 36 (97.3%) had fever, 22 (66.7%) myalgia and 32 (86.5%) arthralgia. All tested negative for dengue. The distribution of incident cases within Brazzaville districts was compared with CHIKV seroprevalence before the outbreak (34.4% in 517 blood donors), providing evidence for previous circulation of CHIKV. We applied a CHIK clinical score to 126 patients recruited within the two first day of illness (including 28 CHIKV+ves (22.2%)) with sensitivity (78.6%) and specificity (72.4%) values comparing with those of the referent study in Reunion Island. The negative predictive value was high (92%), but the positive predictive value (45%) indicate poor potential contribution to medical practice to identify CHIKV+ve patients in low prevalence outbreaks. However, the score allowed a slightly more accurate follow-up of the evolution of the outbreak than the criterion "fever+arthralgia". The complete sequencing of a Congolase isolate (Brazza_MRS1) demonstrated belonging to the East/Central/South African lineage and was further used for producing a robust genome-scale CHIKV phylogenetic analysis. Conclusions/Significance We describe the first Chikungunya outbreak declared in the Republic of Congo. The seroprevalence study conducted amongst blood donors before outbreak provided evidence for previous CHIKV circulation. We suggest that a more systematic survey of the entomological situation and of arbovirus circulation is necessary in Central Africa for better understanding the environmental, microbiological and sociological determinants of emergence. PMID:25541718

Effects of Intergenerational Interaction on Aging

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hernandez, Carmen Requena; Gonzalez, Marta Zubiaur

2008-01-01

The world population pyramid has changed shape. However, this does not mean that societies have changed their negative concept of old age. Our study proposes an intergenerational service-learning program with 179 university students and 101 slightly depressed elderly people. The results show that the elderly people who interacted improved in…

The presence and prognostic significance of human papillomavirus in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.

PubMed

Erkul, Evren; Yilmaz, Ismail; Narli, Gizem; Babayigit, Mustafa Alparslan; Gungor, Atila; Demirel, Dilaver

2017-07-01

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of HPV in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and correlate it with patients' clinicopathological data. In total, 78 laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients enrolled in this study. The presence of genotype-specific HPV DNA was evaluated using Genotyping Assay in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue which was diagnosed between 2005 and 2015. All samples were also evaluated for p16 immunohistochemical staining. HPV DNA and p16 status were assessed in terms of location, smoking, alcohol consumption, lymph node status, tumor stage, overall survival, disease-free survival, perineural invasion, and vascular invasion retrospectively. Five test samples were excluded from the study due to inadequate deoxyribonucleic acid purity. HPV DNA was detected in 19 of 73 (26.02%) in patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Human papilloma virus genotyping revealed double human papilloma virus in one case (types 16 and 59) and HPV 16 in the remaining cases. Although HPV-positive cases showed slightly better 3 years survival than HPV-negative ones, this finding was not statistically significant (overall survival p = 0.417, HPV positive: 92.3%, HPV negative: 81.4%, and disease-free survival p = 0.526, HPV positive: 93.8%, HPV negative: 80.9%). The presence of HPV DNA was not significantly associated with any clinicopathological features (p > 0.05). Among 73 patients, only 4 had an immunohistochemical staining of p16 and these patients were also HPV DNA 16 positive. Although our study results revealed a slightly better survival in patients with HPV DNA positivity for HPV 16 compared to the negative ones, the difference was not statistically significant. However, an increasing rate in especially high-risk-type HPV-16 prevalence in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma by RT-PCR method was observed compared to our previous study. Although the presence of HPV in laryngeal SCCs seems to be associated with slightly better prognosis, additional studies may be needed, since our results were not statistically significant. We believed that HPV is not an adequate biomarker for diagnostic and prognostic purposes in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Relations of spanking and other parenting characteristics to self-esteem and perceived fairness of parental discipline.

PubMed

Larzelere, R E; Klein, M; Schumm, W R; Alibrando, S A

1989-06-01

Punishment has long been a controversial topic in psychology, perhaps partly because its effects are different under different circumstances. This study used retrospective reports from college students to examine the effects of spanking, a common aversive punishment, on self-esteem and perceived fairness of parental discipline, while taking the effects of other parental characteristics into account. No parental characteristic interacted with the slightly negative effect of spanking on self-esteem and fairness. However, controlling for positive communication or for a parent-oriented motivation for spanking eliminated the negative effects of spanking, suggesting that the negative effects reflected use of spanking as a replacement for positive communication with the child.

The influence of nano-oxide layer on magnetostriction of sensing layer in bottom spin valves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qiu, J. J.; Han, G. C.; Li, K. B.; Liu, Z. Y.; Zong, B. Y.; Wu, Y. H.

2006-05-01

The magnetostriction coefficient (λs) of ultrathin sputtered polycrystalline as-deposited and annealed Ta/Ni81Fe19(t)/Ta films was studied as a function of the thickness. λs and magnetoresistance (MR) of bottom-type spin valves (SVs) with nano-oxide layer (NOL) added in the pinned layer were investigated by using NiFe, Co90Fe10, and CoFe/NiFe/CoFe layers as free layer (FL), respectively. λs of SV with NOL increased slightly except that of CoFe FL. NOLs were added at different positions to study the effects of NOL on λs of CoFe FL. All λs of CoFe FL change from negative to positive and its absolute value also increases significantly with CoFeOx related NOL added below. Our λs and surface roughness results indicated that the structure of the film not the roughness dominates λs of ultrathin FL in SVs.

Investigation on the Interaction of Norgestrel with Human Serum Albumin Using Spectroscopy and Molecular-Docking Method.

PubMed

Ma, Xiangling; Wang, Qing; Wang, Lili; Huang, Yanmei; Liao, Xiaoxiang; Li, Hui

2016-06-01

The interaction of norgestrel with human serum albumin (HSA) was investigated by spectroscopy and molecular-docking methods. Results of spectroscopy methods suggested that the quenching mechanism of norgestrel on HSA was static quenching and that the quenching process was spontaneous. Negative values of thermodynamic parameters (ΔG, ΔH, and ΔS) indicated that hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces dominated the binding between norgestrel and HSA. Three-dimensional fluorescence spectrum and circular dichroism spectrum showed that the HSA structure was slightly changed by norgestrel. Norgestrel mainly bound with Sudlow site I based on a probe study, as confirmed by molecular-docking results. Competition among similar structures indicated that ethisterone and norethisterone affected the binding of norgestrel with HSA. CH3 in R1 had little effect on norgestrel binding with HSA. The surface hydrophobicity properties of HSA, investigated using 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid, was changed with norgestrel addition. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Functional Ginger Extracts from Supercritical Fluid Carbon Dioxide Extraction via In Vitro and In Vivo Assays: Antioxidation, Antimicroorganism, and Mice Xenografts Models

PubMed Central

Lee, Chih-Chen; Chiou, Li-Yu; Wang, Jheng-Yang; Chou, Sin-You; Lan, John Chi-Wei; Huang, Tsi-Shu; Huang, Kuo-Chuan

2013-01-01

Supercritical fluid carbon dioxide extraction technology was developed to gain the active components from a Taiwan native plant, Zingiber officinale (ginger). We studied the biological effects of ginger extracts via multiple assays and demonstrated the biofunctions in each platform. Investigations of ginger extracts indicated antioxidative properties in dose-dependant manners on radical scavenging activities, reducing powers and metal chelating powers. We found that ginger extracts processed moderate scavenging values, middle metal chelating levels, and slight ferric reducing powers. The antibacterial susceptibility of ginger extracts on Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus sobrinus, S. mutans, and Escherichia coli was determined with the broth microdilution method technique. The ginger extracts had operative antimicroorganism potentials against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. We further discovered the strong inhibitions of ginger extracts on lethal carcinogenic melanoma through in vivo xenograft model. To sum up, the data confirmed the possible applications as medical cosmetology agents, pharmaceutical antibiotics, and food supplements. PMID:23983624

Choosing organics: a path analysis of factors underlying the selection of organic food among Australian consumers.

PubMed

Lockie, Stewart; Lyons, Kristen; Lawrence, Geoffrey; Grice, Janet

2004-10-01

Path analysis of attitudinal, motivational, demographic and behavioural factors influencing food choice among Australian consumers who had consumed at least some organic food in the preceding 12 months showed that concern with the naturalness of food and the sensory and emotional experience of eating were the major determinants of increasing levels of organic consumption. Increasing consumption was also related to other 'green consumption' behaviours such as recycling and to lower levels of concern with convenience in the purchase and preparation of food. Most of these factors were, in turn, strongly affected by gender and the level of responsibility taken by respondents for food provisioning within their households, a responsibility dominated by women. Education had a slightly negative effect on the levels of concern for sensory and emotional appeal due to lower levels of education among women. Income, age, political and ecological values and willingness to pay a premium for safe and environmentally friendly foods all had extremely minor effects.

[Self-perception in obese patients].

PubMed

Ríos-Martínez, Blanca P; Rangel-Rodríguez, Gabriela Alejandra

2011-01-01

The perception of obese people has about themselves is often paradoxical, seeing themselves with several virtues and flaws that take them to have an ambiguous attitude about themselves. The aim was to evaluate the perception that the obese people has about their body and relationships. Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire was applied; obtaining a descriptive analysis (mean and standard deviation) of each item and contrasting by gender (male and female) and proposal treatment (surgical and nonsurgical). Significant differences were found (p value<.05) between genders and type of treatment in some phrases of the applied questionnaire. Self-perception in the obese patient seems to be strongly related to the perception that society has of them, which is usually negative in relation to their appearance. Patients tend to perceive themselves as unappealing, although this perception is greater in patients canalized to surgical treatment; likewise, tendency to think about their appearance is greater in non-surgical patients. About personal care, it was found that participants pay less attention to improving their personal appearance, women having a slightly greater concern.

Decline in economic returns from new drugs raises questions about sustaining innovations.

PubMed

Berndt, Ernst R; Nass, Deanna; Kleinrock, Michael; Aitken, Murray

2015-02-01

The sales and financial returns realized by pharmaceutical companies are a frequent topic of discussion and debate. In this study we analyzed the economic returns for four cohorts of new prescription drugs launched in the United States (in 1991-94, 1995-99, 2000-04, and 2005-09) and compared fluctuations in revenues with changing average research and development (R&D) and other costs to determine patterns in rewards for pharmaceutical innovation. We found that the average present values of lifetime net economic returns were positive and reached a peak with the 1995-99 and 2000-04 new drug cohorts. However, returns have fallen sharply since then, with those for the 2005-09 cohort being very slightly negative and, on average, failing to recoup research and development and other costs. If this level of diminished returns persists, we believe that the rewards for innovation will not be sufficient for pharmaceutical manufacturers to maintain the historical rates of investments needed to sustain biomedical innovation. Project HOPE—The People-to-People Health Foundation, Inc.

Impregnation with antimicrobials has an impact on degree of conversion and colour stability of acrylic liner.

PubMed

Salim, Nesreen; Satterthwaite, Julian; Rautemaa, Riina; Silikas, Nick

2012-01-01

This study investigated the impact of impregnation of a poly(ethyl methacrylate) /tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate (PEM/THFM) polymer with chlorhexidine or fluconazole on the degree of conversion (DC) and colour stability (ΔE). The DC of uncured (0 h) and cured (24 h) samples was analysed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and colour stability was analysed colorimetrically. The DC percentage of the control samples was significantly greater than those containing chlorhexidine and fluconazole (p≤0.05). The control discs exhibited only slight colour change compared to the impregnated discs which showed marked colour change (p≤0.05). A strong negative correlation between the extent of colour change and the degree of conversion was detected (r=0.97). The DC and colour stability were influenced by the addition of chlorhexidine or fluconazole. However, the final values were comparable to other commonly used acrylic liners and within acceptable ranges. PEM/THFM can be considered as a biocompatible drug delivery system.

Obtaining electrostatically bound CdS-SiO2 aggregates from electrophoretic concentrates of CdS nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bulavchenko, A. I.; Sap'yanik, A. A.; Demidova, M. G.; Rakhmanova, M. I.; Popovetskii, P. S.

2015-05-01

Nonaqueous electrophoresis reveals that the electrokinetic potential of CdS nanoparticles increases slightly (85-120 mV) along with the concentration (0-5 × 10-3 M) of sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) in n-decane, while negatively charged SiO2 particles acquire positive charge (switching from -75 up to +135 mV). The energies of interparticle interactions in CdS-CdS and CdS-SiO2 systems are calculated from these parameters and the literature values of the Hamaker constants according to the Deryaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory. It is concluded that the presence of a minimum (2.5 k B T) on the potential dependences of the CdS-SiO2 system indicates the formation of CdS-SiO2 aggregates electrostatically bound by heterocoagulation at low concentrations of AOT. The luminescent properties of the obtained ultrafine CdS-SiO2 powders depend on the CdS content.

Comparison between esophagography and chest computed tomography for evaluation of leaks after esophagectomy and gastric pull-through.

PubMed

Lantos, Joshua E; Levine, Marc S; Rubesin, Stephen E; Lau, Charles T; Torigian, Drew A

2013-03-01

To assess the diagnostic performance of esophagography and chest computed tomography (CT) for detecting leaks after esophagectomy and gastric pull-through. Our database revealed 29 patients who had undergone esophagography and chest CT after esophagectomy. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) for postoperative leaks were determined for esophagography and CT, separately and combined, on the basis of a retrospective image review. Patients were also stratified for esophagograms with water-soluble contrast alone versus water-soluble contrast and high-density barium and for CT with and without oral contrast. Our findings were retrospectively compared with those reported at initial image interpretation. Clinically relevant leaks were present in 14 (48%) of 29 patients after esophagectomy. Esophagography had a sensitivity of 79%, specificity of 73%, PPV of 73%, and NPV of 79% for detecting leaks, whereas CT had a sensitivity of 86%, specificity of 33%, PPV of 55%, and NPV of 71% and esophagography and CT combined had a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 27%, PPV of 56%, and NPV of 100%. The sensitivity of esophagography increased with high-density barium, whereas the sensitivity of CT was the same with and without oral contrast agent. Finally, esophagography and CT were seen to have a higher sensitivity and lower specificity on retrospective review compared with the results reported at initial image interpretation. Esophagography had a slightly lower sensitivity and substantially higher specificity compared with CT for detecting leaks after esophagectomy, whereas esophagography and CT combined had a sensitivity of 100% for detecting leaks. Therefore, postoperative leaks can be excluded with confidence after esophagectomy when both tests are negative.

Spectroscopic interaction study of human serum albumin and human hemoglobin with Mersilea quadrifolia leaves extract mediated silver nanoparticles having antibacterial and anticancer activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maji, Anukul; Beg, Maidul; Mandal, Amit Kumar; Das, Somnath; Jha, Pradeep K.; Kumar, Anoop; Sarwar, Shamila; Hossain, Maidul; Chakrabarti, Pinak

2017-08-01

This study looks into a safe, proficient and low-cost way for the preparation of novel silver nanoparticles by using 5% aqueous leaves extract of a medicinal plant, Marsilea quadrifolia (family: Marsileaceae) without using any external reducing and stabilizing agents. The synthesized AgNPs showed maximum UV-Vis absorbance at 435 nm due to surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The average diameter (∼22.5 nm) of AgNPs was measured from TEM analysis and was also supported by FE-SEM. The existence of a silver signal in EDX spectra supported the AgNPs formation and negative zeta potential value (-18.7 mV) which suggested its stability. FT-IR spectroscopic analysis showed that the functional groups like sbnd Osbnd H, sbnd Nsbnd H and sbnd Cdbnd O were responsible for the synthesis of AgNPs. The antibacterial activity of the AgNPs was tested against E. coli ATCC 25922. The anticancer potential of AgNPs was also assessed using two different cell lines, such as MCF-7 and HeLa. The interaction study of AgNPs with human serum albumin (HSA) and human hemoglobin (Hb) was performed by means of UV-Vis, fluorescence spectroscopy, Circular dichroism (CD) and zeta potential measurement. More negative zeta potential values of AgNPs-HSA/Hb (-21.1/-19.5 mV) complexes than AgNPs (-18.7 mV) indicated corresponding stability of bio-conjugates. The basic structure of HSA/Hb remained unchanged and its secondary structure was slightly changed upon interaction with the AgNPs concluded from Circular dichroism. So, it can be predicted that this AgNPs may be applied in the medical field.

Clinical evaluation of the Abbott RealTime MTB Assay for direct detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-complex from respiratory and non-respiratory samples.

PubMed

Hinić, Vladimira; Feuz, Kinga; Turan, Selda; Berini, Andrea; Frei, Reno; Pfeifer, Karin; Goldenberger, Daniel

2017-05-01

Rapid and reliable diagnosis is crucial for correct management of tuberculosis. The Abbott RealTime MTB Assay represents a novel qualitative real-time PCR assay for direct detection of M. tuberculosis-complex (MTB) DNA from respiratory samples. The test targets two highly conserved sequences, the multi-copy insertion element IS6110 and the protein antigen B (PAB) gene of MTB, allowing even the detection of IS6610-deficient strains. We evaluated this commercial diagnostic test by analyzing 200 respiratory and, for the first time, 87 non-respiratory clinical specimens from our tertiary care institution and compared its results to our IS6110-based in-house real-time PCR for MTB as well as MTB culture. Overall sensitivity for Abbott RealTime MTB was 100% (19/19) in smear positive and 87.5% (7/8) in smear negative specimens, while the specificity of the assay was 100% (260/260). For both non-respiratory smear positive and smear negative specimens Abbott RealTime MTB tests showed 100% (8/8) sensitivity and 100% (8/8) specificity. Cycle threshold (Ct) value analysis of 16 MTB positive samples showed a slightly higher Ct value of the Abbott RealTime MTB test compared to our in-house MTB assay (mean delta Ct = 2.55). In conclusion, the performance of the new Abbott RealTime MTB Assay was highly similar to culture and in-house MTB PCR. We document successful analysis of 87 non-respiratory samples with the highly automated Abbott RealTime MTB test with no inhibition observed. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[Fluoroquinolones and Gram-negative bacteria: antimicrobial activity and mechanisms of resistance].

PubMed

Luzzaro, F

2008-04-01

Fluoroquinolones acts by interacting with type II topoisomerases (DNA gyrase and topoisomerases IV). Related to this mechanism of action, bacteria have developed resistance mechanisms consisting in some target mutations (GyrA/GyrB for DNA gyrase and ParC/ParE for topoisomerase IV) or in a reduced access to the target itself, by either decreased permeability or augmented expression of efflux pumps, such as AcrAB and MexAB. Along with these classical mechanisms of chromosomal resistance, the presence of fluoroquinolones resistant proteins (Qnr) has been recently evidenced, codified by transmissible genes by means of plasmids, especially in Enterobacter spp., Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, whereas Proteus mirabilis and non fermenter Gram-negative, like Acinetobacter spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, are not involved in such a kind of resistance. Qnr proteins determine a slight increase in MIC values, which often remains below the susceptibility breakpoint. More relevant is their impact on MPC values. Additionally, new specific resistance mechanisms have been described. AAC(6')-Ib-cr represents the first enzyme able to inactivate, by acetylation, antimicrobials of two different classes, aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones. However, ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin, but not levofloxacin, are susceptible to this enzyme action. Finally, the presence of another resistance mechanism has been reported, an efflux-pump plasmid-mediated, codified by the QepA gene, which acts by a selective mechanism. Only hydrophilic fluoroquinolones, i.e. norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin, but not all the other ones, i.e. levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, etc, are affected by this mechanism. In the light of these new information, it is clear that, in terms of bacterial resistance, it is not any more possible to assimilate one fluoroquinolones to another, since different molecules can be diversely active, due to the specific resistance mechanism.

Validation and optimisation of an ICD-10-coded case definition for sepsis using administrative health data

PubMed Central

Jolley, Rachel J; Jetté, Nathalie; Sawka, Keri Jo; Diep, Lucy; Goliath, Jade; Roberts, Derek J; Yipp, Bryan G; Doig, Christopher J

2015-01-01

Objective Administrative health data are important for health services and outcomes research. We optimised and validated in intensive care unit (ICU) patients an International Classification of Disease (ICD)-coded case definition for sepsis, and compared this with an existing definition. We also assessed the definition's performance in non-ICU (ward) patients. Setting and participants All adults (aged ≥18 years) admitted to a multisystem ICU with general medicosurgical ICU care from one of three tertiary care centres in the Calgary region in Alberta, Canada, between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2012 were included. Research design Patient medical records were randomly selected and linked to the discharge abstract database. In ICU patients, we validated the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) ICD-10-CA (Canadian Revision)-coded definition for sepsis and severe sepsis against a reference standard medical chart review, and optimised this algorithm through examination of other conditions apparent in sepsis. Measures Sensitivity (Sn), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated. Results Sepsis was present in 604 of 1001 ICU patients (60.4%). The CIHI ICD-10-CA-coded definition for sepsis had Sn (46.4%), Sp (98.7%), PPV (98.2%) and NPV (54.7%); and for severe sepsis had Sn (47.2%), Sp (97.5%), PPV (95.3%) and NPV (63.2%). The optimised ICD-coded algorithm for sepsis increased Sn by 25.5% and NPV by 11.9% with slightly lowered Sp (85.4%) and PPV (88.2%). For severe sepsis both Sn (65.1%) and NPV (70.1%) increased, while Sp (88.2%) and PPV (85.6%) decreased slightly. Conclusions This study demonstrates that sepsis is highly undercoded in administrative data, thus under-ascertaining the true incidence of sepsis. The optimised ICD-coded definition has a higher validity with higher Sn and should be preferentially considered if used for surveillance purposes. PMID:26700284

The Validity of the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale in an Inpatient Sample with Alcohol Dependence

PubMed Central

Hobden, Breanne; Schwandt, Melanie L.; Carey, Mariko; Lee, Mary R.; Farokhnia, Mehdi; Bouhlal, Sofia; Oldmeadow, Christopher; Leggio, Lorenzo

2017-01-01

Background The Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) is commonly used to examine depressive symptoms in clinical settings, including facilities treating patients for alcohol addiction. No studies have examined the validity of the MADRS compared to an established clinical diagnostic tool of depression in this population. This study aimed to examine: 1) the validity of the MADRS compared to a clinical diagnosis of a depressive disorder (using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID)) in patients seeking treatment for alcohol dependence (AD); 2) whether the validity of the MADRS differs by type of SCID-based diagnosis of depression; and 3) which items contribute to the optimal predictive model of the MADRS compared to a SCID diagnosis of a depressive disorder. Methods Individuals seeking treatment for AD and admitted to an inpatient unit were administered the MADRS at day 2 of their detoxification program. Clinical diagnoses of AD and depression were made via the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV at the beginning of treatment. Results In total, 803 participants were included in the study. The MADRS demonstrated low overall accuracy relative to the clinical diagnosis of depression with an area under the curve of 0.68. The optimal threshold for balancing sensitivity and specificity identified by the Euclidean distance was >14. This cut-point demonstrated a sensitivity of 66%, a specificity of 60%, a positive predictive value of 50% and a negative predictive value of 75%. The MADRS performed slightly better for major depressive disorders compared to alcohol-induced depression. Items related to lassitude, concentration and appetite slightly decreased the accuracy of the MADRS. Conclusion The MADRS does not appear to be an appropriate substitute for a diagnostic tool among alcohol-dependent patients. The MADRS may, however, still be a useful screening tool assuming careful consideration of cut-off scores. PMID:28421616

The Validity of the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale in an Inpatient Sample with Alcohol Dependence.

PubMed

Hobden, Breanne; Schwandt, Melanie L; Carey, Mariko; Lee, Mary R; Farokhnia, Mehdi; Bouhlal, Sofia; Oldmeadow, Christopher; Leggio, Lorenzo

2017-06-01

The Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) is commonly used to examine depressive symptoms in clinical settings, including facilities treating patients for alcohol addiction. No studies have examined the validity of the MADRS compared to an established clinical diagnostic tool of depression in this population. This study aimed to examine the following: (i) the validity of the MADRS compared to a clinical diagnosis of a depressive disorder (using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR [SCID-IV-TR]) in patients seeking treatment for alcohol dependence (AD); (ii) whether the validity of the MADRS differs by type of SCID-IV-TR-based diagnosis of depression; and (iii) which items contribute to the optimal predictive model of the MADRS compared to a SCID-IV-TR diagnosis of a depressive disorder. Individuals seeking treatment for AD and admitted to an inpatient unit were administered the MADRS at day 2 of their detoxification program. Clinical diagnoses of AD and depression were made via the SCID-IV-TR at the beginning of treatment. In total, 803 participants were included in the study. The MADRS demonstrated low overall accuracy relative to the clinical diagnosis of depression with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.68. The optimal threshold for balancing sensitivity and specificity identified by the Euclidean distance was >14. This cut-point demonstrated a sensitivity of 66%, a specificity of 60%, a positive predictive value of 50%, and a negative predictive value of 75%. The MADRS performed slightly better for major depressive disorders compared to alcohol-induced depression. Items related to lassitude, concentration, and appetite slightly decreased the accuracy of the MADRS. The MADRS does not appear to be an appropriate substitute for a diagnostic tool among alcohol-dependent patients. The MADRS may, however, still be a useful screening tool assuming careful consideration of cut-points. Copyright © 2017 by the Research Society on Alcoholism.

Evaluation of in silico tools to predict the skin sensitization potential of chemicals.

PubMed

Verheyen, G R; Braeken, E; Van Deun, K; Van Miert, S

2017-01-01

Public domain and commercial in silico tools were compared for their performance in predicting the skin sensitization potential of chemicals. The packages were either statistical based (Vega, CASE Ultra) or rule based (OECD Toolbox, Toxtree, Derek Nexus). In practice, several of these in silico tools are used in gap filling and read-across, but here their use was limited to make predictions based on presence/absence of structural features associated to sensitization. The top 400 ranking substances of the ATSDR 2011 Priority List of Hazardous Substances were selected as a starting point. Experimental information was identified for 160 chemically diverse substances (82 positive and 78 negative). The prediction for skin sensitization potential was compared with the experimental data. Rule-based tools perform slightly better, with accuracies ranging from 0.6 (OECD Toolbox) to 0.78 (Derek Nexus), compared with statistical tools that had accuracies ranging from 0.48 (Vega) to 0.73 (CASE Ultra - LLNA weak model). Combining models increased the performance, with positive and negative predictive values up to 80% and 84%, respectively. However, the number of substances that were predicted positive or negative for skin sensitization in both models was low. Adding more substances to the dataset will increase the confidence in the conclusions reached. The insights obtained in this evaluation are incorporated in a web database www.asopus.weebly.com that provides a potential end user context for the scope and performance of different in silico tools with respect to a common dataset of curated skin sensitization data.

Dispersion stability of a ceramic glaze achieved through ionic surfactant adsorption.

PubMed

Panya, Preecha; Arquero, Orn-anong; Franks, George V; Wanless, Erica J

2004-11-01

The adsorption of cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) onto a ceramic glaze mixture composed of limestone, feldspar, quartz, and kaolin has been investigated. Both adsorption isotherms and the average particle zeta potential have been studied in order to understand the suspension stability as a function of pH, ionic strength, and surfactant concentration. The adsorption of small amounts of cationic CPC onto the primarily negatively charged surfaces of the particles at pH 7 and 9 results in strong attraction and flocculation due to hydrophobic interactions. At higher surfactant concentrations a zeta potential of more than +60 mV results from the bilayered adsorbed surfactant, providing stability at salt concentrations < or = 0.01 M. At 0.1 M salt poor stability results despite substantial zeta potential values. Three mechanisms for SDBS adsorption have been identified. When anionic SDBS monomers either adsorb by electrostatic interactions with the few positive surface sites at high pH or adsorb onto like charged negative surface sites due to dispersion or hydrophobic interactions, the magnitude of the negative zeta potential increases slightly. At pH 9 this increase is enough to promote stability with an average zeta potential of more than -55 mV, whereas at pH 7 the zeta potential is lower at about -45 mV. The stability of suspensions at pH 7 is additionally due to steric repulsion caused by the adsorption of thick layers of neutrally charged Ca(DBS)2 complexes created when the surfactant interacts with dissolved calcium ions from the calcium carbonate component.

Liquid chromatography/negative electrospray ionization ion trap MS(2) mass spectrometry application for the determination of microcystins occurrence in Southern Portugal water reservoirs.

PubMed

Rodrigues, M A; Reis, M P; Mateus, M C

2013-11-01

Microcystins (MCs) are toxins produced by cyanobacteria which are common organisms in the phytoplankton of eutrophic lakes, rivers and freshwater reservoirs. In the present work, a novel method of liquid chromatography-electrospray ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI/Ion trap-MS/MS), operated in the negative ionization mode, was developed for the analysis of these cyanotoxins. The method was applied to determine the amounts of total microcystins-LR, -YR and -RR in two water reservoirs in Southern Portugal, namely Alqueva and Beliche. A total of 30 water samples were analysed along 2011. Solid phase extraction (SPE) was used for sample cleaning-up and analyte enrichment. The extracted toxins were separated on a C18 column with a gradient of acetonitrile/water with 0.1% formic acid. Detection of microcystins was carried out using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) in the negative polarity mode, as this method gave a higher selectivity. The MC-RR, YR and LR quantification limits were 17.9, 31.7 and 15.8 ng/L, respectively; quite below the limits recommended by WHO guidelines for drinking water (1 μg/L). Total MC highest concentrations were found in the warm months of June, July and September in Alqueva sampling sites, with concentrations of MC LR and RR ranging 17-344 and 25-212 ng/L, respectively, showing comparable results for MC-RR and LR and slightly lower concentration of MC-YR. Detected values for Beliche reservoir were below quantification limits. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Additional Value of Transluminal Attenuation Gradient in CT Angiography to Predict Hemodynamic Significance of Coronary Artery Stenosis

PubMed Central

Stuijfzand, Wynand J.; Danad, Ibrahim; Raijmakers, Pieter G.; Marcu, C. Bogdan; Heymans, Martijn W.; van Kuijk, Cornelis C.; van Rossum, Albert C.; Nieman, Koen; Min, James K.; Leipsic, Jonathon; van Royen, Niels; Knaapen, Paul

2015-01-01

OBJECTIVES The current study evaluates the incremental value of transluminal attenuation gradient (TAG), TAG with corrected contrast opacification (CCO), and TAG with exclusion of calcified coronary segments (ExC) over coronary computed tomography angiogram (CTA) alone using fractional flow reserve (FFR) as the gold standard. BACKGROUND TAG is defined as the contrast opacification gradient along the length of a coronary artery on a coronary CTA. Preliminary data suggest that TAG provides additional functional information. Interpretation of TAG is hampered by multiple heartbeat acquisition algorithms and coronary calcifications. Two correction models have been proposed based on either dephasing of contrast delivery by relating coronary density to corresponding descending aortic opacification (TAG-CCO) or excluding calcified coronary segments (TAG-ExC). METHODS Eighty-five patients with intermediate probability of coronary artery disease were prospectively included. All patients underwent step-and-shoot 256-slice coronary CTA. TAG, TAG-CCO, and TAG-ExC analyses were performed followed by invasive coronary angiography in conjunction with FFR measurements of all major coronary branches. RESULTS Thirty-four patients (40%) were diagnosed with hemodynamically-significant coronary artery disease (i.e., FFR ≤0.80). On a per-vessel basis (n = 253), 59 lesions (23%) were graded as hemodynamically significant, and the diagnostic accuracy of coronary CTA (diameter stenosis ≥50%) was 95%, 75%, 98%, and 54% for sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value, respectively. TAG and TAG-ExC did not discriminate between vessels with or without hemodynamically significant lesions (−13.5 ± 17.1 HU [Hounsfield units] × 10 mm−1 vs. −11.6 ± 13.3 HU × 10 mm−1, p = 0.36; and 13.1 ± 15.9 HU × 10 mm−1 vs. −11.4 ± 11.7 HU × 10 mm−1, p = 0.77, respectively). TAG-CCO was lower in vessels with a hemodynamically-significant lesion (−0.050 ± 0.051 10 mm−1 vs. −0.036 ± 0.034 10 mm−1, p = 0.03) and TAG-ExC resulted in a slight improvement of the net reclassification index (0.021, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS TAG did not provide incremental diagnostic value over 256-slice coronary CTA alone in assessing the hemodynamic consequences of a coronary stenosis. Correction for temporal nonuniformity of contrast delivery or exclusion of calcified coronary segments slightly enhanced the results. PMID:24631509

The luminosity function of star clusters in 20 star-forming galaxies based on Hubble legacy archive photometry

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

Whitmore, Bradley C.; Bowers, Ariel S.; Lindsay, Kevin

2014-04-01

Luminosity functions (LFs) have been determined for star cluster populations in 20 nearby (4-30 Mpc), star-forming galaxies based on Advanced Camera for Surveys source lists generated by the Hubble Legacy Archive (HLA). These cluster catalogs provide one of the largest sets of uniform, automatically generated cluster candidates available in the literature at present. Comparisons are made with other recently generated cluster catalogs demonstrating that the HLA-generated catalogs are of similar quality, but in general do not go as deep. A typical cluster LF can be approximated by a power law, dN/dL∝L {sup α}, with an average value for α ofmore » –2.37 and rms scatter = 0.18 when using the F814W ('I') band. A comparison of fitting results based on methods that use binned and unbinned data shows good agreement, although there may be a systematic tendency for the unbinned (maximum likelihood) method to give slightly more negative values of α for galaxies with steeper LFs. We find that galaxies with high rates of star formation (or equivalently, with the brightest or largest numbers of clusters) have a slight tendency to have shallower values of α. In particular, the Antennae galaxy (NGC 4038/39), a merging system with a relatively high star formation rate (SFR), has the second flattest LF in the sample. A tentative correlation may also be present between Hubble type and values of α, in the sense that later type galaxies (i.e., Sd and Sm) appear to have flatter LFs. Hence, while there do appear to be some weak correlations, the relative similarity in the values of α for a large number of star-forming galaxies suggests that, to first order, the LFs are fairly universal. We examine the bright end of the LFs and find evidence for a downturn, although it only pertains to about 1% of the clusters. Our uniform database results in a small scatter (≈0.4 to 0.5 mag) in the correlation between the magnitude of the brightest cluster (M {sub brightest}) and log of the number of clusters brighter than M{sub I} = –9 (log N). We also examine the magnitude of the brightest cluster versus log SFR for a sample including both dwarf galaxies and ULIRGs. This shows that the correlation extends over roughly six orders of magnitude but with scatter that is larger than for our spiral sample, probably because of the high levels of extinction in many of the LIRGs.« less

Unusual transformation from strong negative to positive thermal expansion in PbTiO3-BiFeO3 perovskite.

PubMed

Chen, Jun; Fan, Longlong; Ren, Yang; Pan, Zhao; Deng, Jinxia; Yu, Ranbo; Xing, Xianran

2013-03-15

Tetragonal PbTiO(3)-BiFeO(3) exhibits a strong negative thermal expansion in the PbTiO(3)-based ferroelectrics that consist of one branch in the family of negative thermal expansion materials. Its strong negative thermal expansion is much weakened, and then unusually transforms into positive thermal expansion as the particle size is slightly reduced. This transformation is a new phenomenon in the negative termal expansion materials. The detailed structure, temperature dependence of unit cell volume, and lattice dynamics of PbTiO(3)-BiFeO(3) samples were studied by means of high-energy synchrotron powder diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Such unusual transformation from strong negative to positive thermal expansion is highly associated with ferroelectricity weakening. An interesting zero thermal expansion is achieved in a wide temperature range (30-500 °C) by adjusting particle size due to the negative-to-positive transformation character. The present study provides a useful method to control the negative thermal expansion not only for ferroelectrics but also for those functional materials such as magnetics and superconductors.

Phosphorene/rhenium disulfide heterojunction-based negative differential resistance device for multi-valued logic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shim, Jaewoo; Oh, Seyong; Kang, Dong-Ho; Jo, Seo-Hyeon; Ali, Muhammad Hasnain; Choi, Woo-Young; Heo, Keun; Jeon, Jaeho; Lee, Sungjoo; Kim, Minwoo; Song, Young Jae; Park, Jin-Hong

2016-11-01

Recently, negative differential resistance devices have attracted considerable attention due to their folded current-voltage characteristic, which presents multiple threshold voltage values. Because of this remarkable property, studies associated with the negative differential resistance devices have been explored for realizing multi-valued logic applications. Here we demonstrate a negative differential resistance device based on a phosphorene/rhenium disulfide (BP/ReS2) heterojunction that is formed by type-III broken-gap band alignment, showing high peak-to-valley current ratio values of 4.2 and 6.9 at room temperature and 180 K, respectively. Also, the carrier transport mechanism of the BP/ReS2 negative differential resistance device is investigated in detail by analysing the tunnelling and diffusion currents at various temperatures with the proposed analytic negative differential resistance device model. Finally, we demonstrate a ternary inverter as a multi-valued logic application. This study of a two-dimensional material heterojunction is a step forward toward future multi-valued logic device research.

Phosphorene/rhenium disulfide heterojunction-based negative differential resistance device for multi-valued logic

PubMed Central

Shim, Jaewoo; Oh, Seyong; Kang, Dong-Ho; Jo, Seo-Hyeon; Ali, Muhammad Hasnain; Choi, Woo-Young; Heo, Keun; Jeon, Jaeho; Lee, Sungjoo; Kim, Minwoo; Song, Young Jae; Park, Jin-Hong

2016-01-01

Recently, negative differential resistance devices have attracted considerable attention due to their folded current–voltage characteristic, which presents multiple threshold voltage values. Because of this remarkable property, studies associated with the negative differential resistance devices have been explored for realizing multi-valued logic applications. Here we demonstrate a negative differential resistance device based on a phosphorene/rhenium disulfide (BP/ReS2) heterojunction that is formed by type-III broken-gap band alignment, showing high peak-to-valley current ratio values of 4.2 and 6.9 at room temperature and 180 K, respectively. Also, the carrier transport mechanism of the BP/ReS2 negative differential resistance device is investigated in detail by analysing the tunnelling and diffusion currents at various temperatures with the proposed analytic negative differential resistance device model. Finally, we demonstrate a ternary inverter as a multi-valued logic application. This study of a two-dimensional material heterojunction is a step forward toward future multi-valued logic device research. PMID:27819264

Spatial correlation in precipitation trends in the Brazilian Amazon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buarque, Diogo Costa; Clarke, Robin T.; Mendes, Carlos Andre Bulhoes

2010-06-01

A geostatistical analysis of variables derived from Amazon daily precipitation records (trends in annual precipitation totals, trends in annual maximum precipitation accumulated over 1-5 days, trend in length of dry spell, trend in number of wet days per year) gave results that are consistent with those previously reported. Averaged over the Brazilian Amazon region as a whole, trends in annual maximum precipitations were slightly negative, the trend in the length of dry spell was slightly positive, and the trend in the number of wet days in the year was slightly negative. For trends in annual maximum precipitation accumulated over 1-5 days, spatial correlation between trends was found to extend up to a distance equivalent to at least half a degree of latitude or longitude, with some evidence of anisotropic correlation. Time trends in annual precipitation were found to be spatially correlated up to at least ten degrees of separation, in both W-E and S-N directions. Anisotropic spatial correlation was strongly evident in time trends in length of dry spell with much stronger evidence of spatial correlation in the W-E direction, extending up to at least five degrees of separation, than in the S-N. Because the time trends analyzed are shown to be spatially correlated, it is argued that methods at present widely used to test the statistical significance of climate trends over time lead to erroneous conclusions if spatial correlation is ignored, because records from different sites are assumed to be statistically independent.

Neutral beamline with ion energy recovery based on magnetic blocking of electrons

DOEpatents

Stirling, William L.

1982-01-01

A neutral beamline generator with energy recovery of the full-energy ion ponent of the beam based on magnetic blocking of electrons is provided. Ions from a positive ion source are accelerated to the desired beam energy from a slightly positive potential level with respect to ground through a neutralizer cell by means of a negative acceleration voltage. The unneutralized full-energy ion component of the beam exiting the neutralizer are retarded and slightly deflected and the electrons in the neutralizer are blocked by a magnetic field generated transverse to the beamline. An electron collector in the form of a coaxial cylinder surrounding and protruding axial a few centimeters beyond the neutralizer exit terminates the electrons which exit the neutralizer in an E x B drift to the collector when the collector is biased a few hundred volts positive with respect to the neutralizer voltage. The neutralizer is operated at the negative acceleration voltage, and the deflected full energy ions are decelerated and the charge collected at ground potential thereby expending none of their energy received from the acceleration power supply.

Estimation of osmotic parameters accompanying zeatin-induced growth of detached cucumber cotyledons.

PubMed

Rayle, D L; Ross, C W; Robinson, N

1982-12-01

Water potential (psi), the osmotic potential (psi(pi)), and the pressure potential (psi(p)) of detached cotyledons isolated from Cucumis sativus L. cv Marketer seedlings after 0, 1.5, and 3 days growth with and without zeatin were determined. From zero time to 3 days, cotyledons incubated without exogenous zeatin exhibited a slight decrease in psi (from -0.4 to -1.0 bars), while those grown with zeatin developed even more negative values (about -4 bars). Both groups showed rising psi(pi) values (decreases in solutes per unit volume), but this rise was more dramatic in those treated with zeatin. These data indicate that the capacity of zeatin-treated cotyledons to take up water more rapidly than controls and thus expand faster must be due to wall loosening, as reflected in psi(p) values which declined during 3 days from about +11 bars to about +1.4 bars.It was also found that freshly detached cotyledons or those grown without exogenous zeatin exhibited osmoregulation in polyethylene glycol (PEG) solutions. That is, while cotyledons initially lost H(2)O into certain PEG solutions, their psi values decreased over time and they began absorbing water after 1 to 4 hours. After 3 days growth, zeatin-treated cotyledons had lost most of this capacity of osmoregulate. It seems likely that osmoregulation in cotyledons not treated with zeatin is due to wall loosening rather than changes in psi(pi). Zeatin-treated cotyledons with already loosened walls may not have this option to deal with water stress and thus simply come to equilibrium with external PEG solutions.

Assessment of forest fragmentation in southern New England using remote sensing and geographic information systems technology

USGS Publications Warehouse

Vogelmann, James E.

1995-01-01

Spatial patterns and rates of forest fragmentation were assessed using digital remote sensing data for a region in southern New England that included 157 townships in southern New Hampshire and northeastern Massachusetts. The study area has undergone marked population increases over the last several decades. Following classification of 1973 and 1988 Landsat Multispectral Scanner data into forest and nonforest classes, data were incorporated into a geographic information system. The natural logarithms of forest area to perimeter ratios, referred to as the forest continuity index, were used to assess patterns and trends of forest fragmentation across the region Forest continuity index values were extracted from each township for both data sets and compared with population data. Forest continuity index values were found to decrease with increasing population density until about 200 persons per square kilometer, after which the relationship stabilized. With slight population increases at low densities forest continuity index values declined sharply, implying abrupt increases in forest fragmentation. Results from the study indicated good negative correlations (r2 values of 0.81 and 0.77) between the Multispectral Scanner-derived forest continuity index and natural logs of township population density. Socioeconomic indicators such as affluence and commuting patterns did not appear to correlate well with forest fragmentation estimates. Decreases in forest continuity index values occurred throughout much of the study region between 1973 and 1988, suggesting that forest fragmentation is occurring over large regions within the eastern United States. It is technologically feasible to assess patterns and rates of forest fragmentation across much larger areas than analyzed in this study; such analyses would provide useful overviews enabling objective assessment of the magnitude of forest fragmentation.

Anti-Muellerian hormone concentration in bitches with histopathologically diagnosed ovarian tumours and cysts.

PubMed

Walter, B; Coelfen, A; Jäger, K; Reese, S; Meyer-Lindenberg, A; Aupperle-Lellbach, H

2018-06-01

Increased concentrations of Anti-Muellerian hormone (AMH) can indicate a granulosa cell tumour as shown in women, mares and cows. To investigate AMH to differentiate canine granulosa cell tumour from other ovarian pathologies, we evaluated the ovaries of 63 bitches. Blood serum samples were collected before surgery for AMH analysis. Ovaries were submitted for histopathological examination. Fourteen bitches showed normal ovaries. These bitches had AMH values between 0.12 and 0.99 ng/ml. In 20 bitches ovarian cysts i.e., follicular cysts (n = 8), corpora lutea cysts (n = 7), subsurface cysts (n = 5) were diagnosed. These dogs had AMH values of 0.11-2.09 ng/ml. Bitches with small luteinized follicular cysts had slightly higher AMH values than those without ovarian alteration. In 29 cases ovarian neoplasms i.e., granulosa cell tumour (n = 9), epithelial tumours (n = 16), dysgerminomas (n = 3) and one sarcoma were identified. Anti-Muellerian hormone values of bitches with an ovarian neoplasm except granulosa cell tumour ranged from 0.18 to 1.18 ng/ml. The AMH values of bitches with granulosa cell tumour ranged from 1.12 to ≤23 ng/ml and were significantly higher (p < .05) than in all of the other bitches. The cut-off of 0.99 ng/ml gave a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 94.44% to diagnose granulosa cell tumour. In conclusion, markedly elevated AMH concentrations in bitches are indicative for a granulosa cell tumour. However, negative testing does not rule out the existence of small one. Differentiation of GCT from luteinized follicular cysts may especially be difficult. © 2018 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Effects of pH values of hydrogen peroxide bleaching agents on enamel surface properties.

PubMed

Xu, B; Li, Q; Wang, Y

2011-01-01

This study investigated the influence of pH values of bleaching agents on the properties of the enamel surface. Sixty freshly extracted premolars were embedded in epoxy resin and mesiodistally sectioned through the buccal aspect into two parts. The sectioned slabs were distributed among six groups (n=10) and treated using different solutions. Group HCl was treated with HCl solution (pH=3.0) and served as a positive control. Group DW, stored in distilled water (pH=7.0), served as a negative control. Four treatment groups were treated using 30% hydrogen peroxide solutions with different pH values: group HP3 (pH=3.0), group HP5 (pH=5.0), group HP7 (pH=7.0), and group HP8 (pH=8.0). The buccal slabs were subjected to spectrophotometric evaluations. Scanning electron microscopy investigation and Micro-Raman spectroscopy were used to evaluate enamel surface morphological and chemical composition alterations. pH value has a significant influence on the color changes after bleaching (p<0.001). Tukey's multiple comparisons revealed that the order of color changes was HP8, HP7>HP5, HP3>HCl>DW. No obvious morphological alterations were detected on the enamel surface in groups DW, HP7, and HP8. The enamel surface of groups HCl and HP3 showed significant alterations with an erosion appearance. No obvious chemical composition changes were detected with respect to Micro-Raman analysis. Within the limitations of this study, it was concluded that no obvious morphological or chemical composition alterations of enamel surface were detected in the neutral or alkaline bleaching solutions. Bleaching solutions with lower pH values could result in more significant erosion of enamel, which represented a slight whitening effect.

Ultrasound guided FNA of thyroid performed by cytopathologists enhances Bethesda diagnostic value.

PubMed

Wu, Maoxin; Choi, YoonSun; Zhang, Zesong; Si, Quisheng; Salem, Fadi; Szporn, Arnold; Zhang, David; Burstein, David; Teng, Marita; Miles, Brett A; Genden, Eric

2016-10-01

Ultrasound (US) guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy of thyroid are examined and reported by cytopathologists based usually on The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (BTC) regardless of the procedure's performers. This study is designed to determine whether there is any performer-dependent difference. Six hundred and fifty-one thyroid US-FNAs in correlation with surgical follow-up (SFU) were studied. The statistical analysis was performed using the surgical pathology diagnosis as the gold standard. Among the 283 cases performed by cytopathologists, there were 8 (2.8%) nondiagnostic (BTC I), 197 (69.6%) benign (BTC II), 31 (11%) atypical (BTC III), 14 (5%) suspicious for follicular neoplasm (BTC IV), 12 (4.2%) suspicious for malignancy (BTC V), and 21 (7.4%) positive for malignancy (BTC VI), and there were 55 (19.4%) cases with SFU. The 368 cases performed by others showed 76 (21%) BTC I, 238 (65%) BTC II, 26 (7%) BTC III, 10 (3%) BTC IV, 9 (2.5%) BTC V 5, and 9 (2.5%) BTC VI, and there were 26 (7%) cases with SFU. The cytopathologist group achieved better sensitivity (91.3 vs.78%); slightly better specificity (83.3 vs. 82%); better positive predictive value (87.5 vs. 70%); similar negative predictive value (88.2 vs. 88%); and better overall accuracy (87.8 vs. 81%) compared with the non-cytopathologist group. Overall the difference for all statistical values is significant different (P = 0.041). US-FNA performed by cytopathologists showed a lower unsatisfactory rate and significantly better overall statistical values. Cytopathologists may play an important role in thyroid patient care. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2016;44:787-791. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Efficacy of carbosilane dendrimers with an antiretroviral combination against HIV-1 in the presence of semen-derived enhancer of viral infection.

PubMed

García-Broncano, Pilar; Ceña-Diez, Rafael; de la Mata, Francisco J; Gómez, Rafael; Resino, Salvador; Muñoz-Fernández, M Ángeles

2017-09-15

Amyloid fibrils, which are present in semen, were considered to be a cause of topical vaginal gel ineffectiveness in vivo after microbicides failed as HIV-1 prophylaxis. Therefore, it was necessary to determine whether a dendrimer was suitable for further evaluation in an in vitro model of semen-enhanced viral infection (SEVI). We demonstrated that SEVI in TZM.bl cell cultures increased the infectivity of R5-HIV-1 NL(AD8) , pTHRO.c and pCH058.c isolates, causing higher IC 50 values for two polyanionic carbosilane dendrimers, G2-STE16 and G3-S16. However, both dendrimers maintained protection rates of 90% at non-toxic concentrations. When dendrimers were combined with Tenofovir/Maraviroc (TDF/MVC), the anti-HIV-1 effect remained at a minimum IC 50 increase between 1- and 7-fold in the presence of amyloid fibrils. In peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), IC 50 values were slightly influenced by the presence of semen. In brief, dendrimers combined with antiretrovirals showed a synergistic effect. This result plays a crucial role in new microbicide formulations, as it overcomes the negative effects of amyloid fibrils. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The Luminosity Function of Star Clusters in 20 Star-Forming Galaxies Based on Hubble Legacy Archive Photometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bowers, Ariel; Whitmore, B. C.; Chandar, R.; Larsen, S. S.

2014-01-01

Luminosity functions have been determined for star cluster populations in 20 nearby (4 - 30 Mpc), star-forming galaxies based on ACS source lists generated by the Hubble Legacy Archive (http://hla.stsci.edu). These cluster catalogs provide one of the largest sets of uniform, automatically-generated cluster candidates available in the literature at present. Comparisons are made with other recently generated cluster catalogs demonstrating that the HLA-generated catalogs are of similar quality, but in general do not go as deep. A typical cluster luminosity function can be approximated by a power-law, dN/dL ∝ Lα, with an average value for α of -2.37 and rms scatter = 0.18. A comparison of fitting results based on methods which use binned and unbinned data shows good agreement, although there may be a systematic tendency for the unbinned (maximum-likelihood) method to give slightly more negative values of α for galaxies with steper luminosity functions. Our uniform database results in a small scatter (0.5 magnitude) in the correlation between the magnitude of the brightest cluster (Mbrightest) and Log of the number of clusters brighter than MI = -9 (Log N). We also examine the magnitude of the brightest cluster vs. Log SFR for a sample including LIRGS and ULIRGS.

Do pyrotechnics contain radium?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Steinhauser, Georg; Musilek, Andreas

2009-07-01

Many pyrotechnic devices contain barium nitrate which is used as an oxidizer and colouring agent primarily for green-coloured fireworks. Similarly, strontium nitrate is used for red-coloured pyrotechnic effects. Due to their chemical similarities to radium, barium and strontium ores can accumulate radium, causing a remarkable activity in these minerals. Radium in such contaminated raw materials can be processed together with the barium or strontium, unless extensive purification of the ores was undertaken. For example, the utilization of 'radiobarite' for the production of pyrotechnic ingredients can therefore cause atmospheric pollution with radium aerosols when the firework is displayed, resulting in negative health effects upon inhalation of these aerosols. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of gamma-photon-emitting radionuclides in several pyrotechnic devices. The highest specific activities were due to K-40 (up to 20 Bq g-1, average value 14 Bq g-1). Radium-226 activities were in the range of 16-260 mBq g-1 (average value 81 mBq g-1). Since no uranium was found in any of the samples, indeed, a slight enrichment of Ra-226 in coloured pyrotechnics can be observed. Radioactive impurities stemming from the Th-232 decay chain were found in many samples as well. In the course of novel developments aiming at the 'greening' of pyrotechnics, the potential radioactive hazard should be considered as well.

Petrogenesis and tectonic implications of gabbro and plagiogranite intrusions in mantle peridotites of the Myitkyina ophiolite, Myanmar

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Yang; Liu, Chuan-Zhou; Chen, Yi; Guo, Shun; Wang, Jian-Gang; Sein, Kyaing

2017-07-01

Centimeter-size intrusions of gabbros and plagiogranites occur in mantle peridotites of the Myitkyina ophiolite, Myanmar. The gabbros mainly consist of plagioclase and clinopyroxene, whereas orthopyroxene occasionally occurs. The plagiogranites are mainly composed of plagioclase, quartz and amphibole, with small amount of accessory minerals, such as zircon, apatite and rutile. Plagioclase in the gabbros varies from andesine to anorthite (An37-91), whereas plagioclase in the plagiogranites is less calcic (An1-40). Clinopyroxene in the gabbros is pervasively altered to hornblende. The gabbros contain 42.97-52.88 wt% SiO2, which show negative correlations with Al2O3, CaO and MgO, but positive correlations with Na2O, P2O5 and TiO2. Microtextural relations reveal the crystallization of clinopyroxene prior to plagioclase in the Myitkyina gabbros. This suggests that the gabbros were crystallized from hydrous melts, which is also supported by the occurrence of orthopyroxene and anorthitic plagioclase in some gabbros. The gabbros have slightly enriched Sr-Nd isotopes, with initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios of 0.703938-0.706609 and εNd(t) values of + 2.4-+7.2, and relatively variable Hf isotopes, with εHf(t) values of + 13.4-+24.9. A subduction component is required to explain the decoupled Nd-Hf isotopes of the gabbros. Binary mixing suggests that addition of ca 2% subducted sediments to a depleted mantle can account for the Nd-Hf decoupling. Therefore, both petrological and geochemical data of the gabbros support that the Myitkyina ophiolite was originated in a supra-subduction zone setting. The plagiogranites have compositions of tonalites and trondhjemites, containing 56.93-77.93 wt% SiO2, 1.27-10.79 wt% Na2O and 0.05-0.71 wt% K2O. They are slightly enriched in LREE over HREE and display positive anomalies in Eu, Zr, Hf but negative Nb anomalies. Very low TiO2 contents (0.03-0.2 wt%) of the plagiogranites suggest that they were not products of fractional crystallization of MORB but were generated by hydrous melting of gabbros. This process is also supported by the nearly constant contents of both La and Yb with increasing SiO2 of the plagiogranites. The Sr-Nd-Hf isotopes of the plagiogranites indicate the involvement of crustal component in their genesis. We proposed that the Myitkyina plagiogranites were generated by partial melting of the mafic protoliths in the subducted slab.

RBC count

MedlinePlus

... common measurements for results of these tests. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your health ...

Refertilization process in the Patagonian subcontinental lithospheric mantle of Estancia Sol de Mayo (Argentina)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Melchiorre, Massimiliano; Coltorti, Massimo; Gregoire, Michel; Benoit, Mathieu

2015-05-01

Anhydrous mantle xenoliths equilibrated at 1003-1040 °C from Estancia Sol de Mayo (ESM, Central Patagonia, Argentina) and entrained in post-plateau alkaline lavas belonging to Meseta Lago Buenos Aires have been investigated aiming at reconstructing the depletion and enrichment processes that affected this portion of the Patagonia lithospheric mantle. Xenoliths are characterized by a coarse-grained protogranular texture and are devoid of evident modal metasomatism. They show two texturally different clinopyroxenes: protogranular (cpx1) and texturally related to spinel (cpx2). Three different types of orthopyroxenes are also recognized: large protogranular crystals with exsolution lamellae (opx1); small clean and undeformed grains without exsolution lamellae (opx2) and small grains arranged in a vein (opx3). Major element composition of clinopyroxenes and orthopyroxenes highlights two different trends characterized by i) a high Al2O3 content at almost constant mg# and ii) a slight increase in Al2O3 content with decreasing mg#. Clinopyroxenes are enriched in LREE and are characterized by prominent to slightly negative Nb, Zr and Ti anomalies. No geochemical differences are observed between cpx1 and cpx2, while a discrimination can be observed between opx1 and opx2 (LREE-depleted; prominent to slightly negative Ti and Zr anomalies) and opx3 (prominent positive Zr anomaly). Partial melting modeling using both major and trace elements indicates a melting degree between ~ 5% and ~ 13% (up to ~ 23% according to major element modeling) for lherzolites and between ~ 20% and ~ 30% for harzburgites (down to ~ 5% according to trace element modeling). La/Yb and Al2O3, as well as Sr and Al2O3 negative correlations in clinopyroxenes point to a refertilization event affecting this lithospheric mantle. The agent was most probably a transitional alkaline/subalkaline melt, as indicated by the presence of orthopyroxene in the vein and the similar geochemical features of ESM clinopyroxenes and those from Northern Patagonia pyroxenites which are derived from transitional alkaline/subalkaline lavas.

Negative ?Nd in Anorthositic Clasts in Yamato 86032 and MAC88105: Evidence for the LMO?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nyquist, L. E.; Bogard, D. D.; Shih, C. Y.; Wiesmann, H.

2002-03-01

The LMO model predicts flotation cumulates with negative epsilon Nd values, but Apollo 16 FANs have positive epsilon Nd values. Ar-Ar ages plus bulk-rock Sm-Nd data for two FAN breccias from two lunar meteorites give negative epsilon Nd values.

Is 3-Tesla Gd-EOB-DTPA-Enhanced MRI with Diffusion-Weighted Imaging Superior to 64-Slice Contrast-Enhanced CT for the Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma?

PubMed Central

Maiwald, Bettina; Lobsien, Donald; Kahn, Thomas; Stumpp, Patrick

2014-01-01

Objectives To compare 64-slice contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) with 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using Gd-EOB-DTPA for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and evaluate the utility of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in this setting. Methods 3-phase-liver-CT was performed in fifty patients (42 male, 8 female) with suspected or proven HCC. The patients were subjected to a 3-Tesla-MRI-examination with Gd-EOB-DTPA and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) at b-values of 0, 50 and 400 s/mm2. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC)-value was determined for each lesion detected in DWI. The histopathological report after resection or biopsy of a lesion served as the gold standard, and a surrogate of follow-up or complementary imaging techniques in combination with clinical and paraclinical parameters was used in unresected lesions. Diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were evaluated for each technique. Results MRI detected slightly more lesions that were considered suspicious for HCC per patient compared to CT (2.7 versus 2.3, respectively). ADC-measurements in HCC showed notably heterogeneous values with a median of 1.2±0.5×10−3 mm2/s (range from 0.07±0.1 to 3.0±0.1×10−3 mm2/s). MRI showed similar diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and positive and negative predictive values compared to CT (AUC 0.837, sensitivity 92%, PPV 80% and NPV 90% for MRI vs. AUC 0.798, sensitivity 85%, PPV 79% and NPV 82% for CT; not significant). Specificity was 75% for both techniques. Conclusions Our study did not show a statistically significant difference in detection in detection of HCC between MRI and CT. Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI tended to detect more lesions per patient compared to contrast-enhanced CT; therefore, we would recommend this modality as the first-choice imaging method for the detection of HCC and therapeutic decisions. However, contrast-enhanced CT was not inferior in our study, so that it can be a useful image modality for follow-up examinations. PMID:25375778

RBC urine test

MedlinePlus

... measurement for a result of this test. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your provider ...

State summaries: Utah

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bon, R.L.; Krahulec, K.A.

2006-01-01

The value of Utah's mineral production in 2005 was estimated to be a record $3.58 billion. This was $1.26 billion higher than the revised value of $2.32 billion for 2004. All major industry segments gained in value in 2005. In the value of nonfuel mineral production, Utah ranked fourth. The outlook for 2006 is cautiously optimistic. The value of mineral production is projected to increase slightly in 2006 due to increased production of most base and precious metals, coal and most major industrial minerals.

Provisional hourly values of equatorial Dst for 1971

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sugiura, M.; Poros, D. J.

1972-01-01

Tables and plots of provisional hourly values of the equatorial Dst index for 1971 are given, a table of daily mean Dst values for 1971 is also provided. The base line values for the four observatories, Hermanus, Kakioka, Honolulu, and San Juan, were obtained from extrapolations using the coefficients for the secular variations determined for the previous years. Examining the Dst values for quiet days, the base lines so determined appear to be slightly low, so that the Dst index for quiet periods tends to be high.

Societal cost-benefit analysis for soil remediation in The Netherlands.

PubMed

van Wezel, Annemarie P; Franken, Ron O G; Drissen, Eric; Versluijs, Kees C W; van den Berg, Reinier

2008-01-01

There is a political demand on the efficiency of environmental policy. Cost-benefit analyses (CBAs) can play a role in answering that demand. This societal CBA for nationwide soil remediation operations in The Netherlands distinguishes 4 alternatives for future investments. In the zero alternative government funding will be terminated. Besides this, 3 policy alternatives are distinguished that are government financed. Soil remediation benefits human health, the drinking water supply, housing, perceptions, and the ecosystem. Soil remediation also answers the concerns of the Dutch population. The benefits to health (exposure to cadmium, lead, and carcinogens), drinking water supply, and housing are expressed in monetary terms. The extent that benefits equal the money spent depends partly on the value-loaded choice for the discount rate. Use of the current discount rate of 4% will mean a slightly negative balance whichever policy alternative is chosen. Focusing on nonmoneterized benefits, such as ecology, can cause the scales to tip in another direction. Using a lower discount rate will make future benefits, such as health and drinking water supply, more important. If the discount rate drops to 2% or less, all policy alternatives lead to a positive balance. Predominantly, the health benefits that are veiled in uncertainty can become a reason for applying a surcharge and, in turn, a higher discount rate. In that case, each of the alternatives will result in a net negative balance.

Negative values of quasidistributions and quantum wave and number statistics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peřina, J.; Křepelka, J.

2018-04-01

We consider nonclassical wave and number quantum statistics, and perform a decomposition of quasidistributions for nonlinear optical down-conversion processes using Bessel functions. We show that negative values of the quasidistribution do not directly represent probabilities; however, they directly influence measurable number statistics. Negative terms in the decomposition related to the nonclassical behavior with negative amplitudes of probability can be interpreted as positive amplitudes of probability in the negative orthogonal Bessel basis, whereas positive amplitudes of probability in the positive basis describe classical cases. However, probabilities are positive in all cases, including negative values of quasidistributions. Negative and positive contributions of decompositions to quasidistributions are estimated. The approach can be adapted to quantum coherence functions.

Low Cloud Type over the Ocean from Surface Observations. Part III: Relationship to Vertical Motion and the Regional Surface Synoptic Environment.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Norris, Joel R.; Klein, Stephen A.

2000-01-01

Composite large-scale dynamical fields contemporaneous with low cloud types observed at midlatitude Ocean Weather Station (OWS) C and eastern subtropical OWS N are used to establish representative relationships between low cloud type and the synoptic environment. The composites are constructed by averaging meteorological observations of surface wind and sea level pressure from volunteering observing ships (VOS) and analyses of sea level pressure, 1000-mb wind, and 700-mb pressure vertical velocity from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction-National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP-NCAR) reanalysis project on those dates and times of day when a particular low cloud type was reported at the OWS.VOS and NCEP results for OWS C during summer show that bad-weather stratus occurs with strong convergence and ascent slightly ahead of a surface low center and trough. Cumulus-under-stratocumulus and moderate and large cumulus occur with divergence and subsidence in the cold sector of an extratropical cyclone. Both sky-obscuring fog and no-low-cloud typically occur with southwesterly flow from regions of warmer sea surface temperature and differ primarily according to slight surface convergence and stronger warm advection in the case of sky-obscuring fog or surface divergence and weaker warm advection in the case of no-low-cloud. Fair-weather stratus and ordinary stratocumulus are associated with a mixture of meteorological conditions, but differ with respect to vertical motion in the environment. Fair-weather stratus occurs most commonly in the presence of slight convergence and ascent, while stratocumulus often occurs in the presence of divergence and subsidence.Surface divergence and estimated subsidence at the top of the boundary layer are calculated from VOS observations. At both OWS C and OWS N during summer and winter these values are large for ordinary stratocumulus, less for cumulus-under-stratocumulus, and least (and sometimes slightly negative) for moderate and large cumulus. Subsidence interpolated from NCEP analyses to the top of the boundary layer does not exhibit such variation, but the discrepancy may be due to deficiencies in the analysis procedure or the boundary layer parameterization of the NCEP model. The VOS results suggest that decreasing divergence and subsidence in addition to increasing sea surface temperature may promote the transition from stratocumulus to trade cumulus observed over low-latitude oceans.

Expanding space-time and variable vacuum energy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parmeggiani, Claudio

2017-08-01

The paper describes a cosmological model which contemplates the presence of a vacuum energy varying, very slightly (now), with time. The constant part of the vacuum energy generated, some 6 Gyr ago, a deceleration/acceleration transition of the metric expansion; so now, in an aged Universe, the expansion is inexorably accelerating. The vacuum energy varying part is instead assumed to be eventually responsible of an acceleration/deceleration transition, which occurred about 14 Gyr ago; this transition has a dynamic origin: it is a consequence of the general relativistic Einstein-Friedmann equations. Moreover, the vacuum energy (constant and variable) is here related to the zero-point energy of some quantum fields (scalar, vector, or spinor); these fields are necessarily described in a general relativistic way: their structure depends on the space-time metric, typically non-flat. More precisely, the commutators of the (quantum field) creation/annihilation operators are here assumed to depend on the local value of the space-time metric tensor (and eventually of its curvature); furthermore, these commutators rapidly decrease for high momentum values and they reduce to the standard ones for a flat metric. In this way, the theory is ”gravitationally” regularized; in particular, the zero-point (vacuum) energy density has a well defined value and, for a non static metric, depends on the (cosmic) time. Note that this varying vacuum energy can be negative (Fermi fields) and that a change of its sign typically leads to a minimum for the metric expansion factor (a ”bounce”).

Presepsin as a novel diagnostic biomarker for differentiating active pulmonary tuberculosis from bacterial community acquired pneumonia.

PubMed

Qi, Zhi-Jiang; Yu, Han; Zhang, Jing; Li, Chun-Sheng

2018-03-01

The expression of presepsin in active pulmonary tuberculosis (APTB) is unknown. We observed the expression of presepsin in APTB, and to evaluate the value for discriminating between APTB and bacterial community acquired pneumonia (BCAP). Consecutive APTB patients who were accurately diagnosed by sputum culture and BCAP patients were enrolled from August 2013 to July 2015. Clinical data were collected, and plasma presepsin concentrations were tested. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were performed for diagnostic analysis. In all, 133 healthy individuals, 103 APTB and 202 BCAP patients were enrolled. Presepsin concentrations in APTB group (218.0 [146.0, 368.0] pg/ml) were higher than those in the healthy control group (128.0 [101.5, 176.5] pg/ml, P<0.001), and lower than the concentrations measured in the BCAP group (532.0 [364.0, 852.3] pg/ml, P<0.001). Simple APTB and miliary tuberculosis patients showed no significant differences in presepsin concentrations. Compared with both Gram-positive and negative bacteria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis caused a limited increase of presepsin. With the cut-off value set at 401pg/ml, presepsin demonstrated high positive predictive value, allowing initial discriminating between APTB and BCAP. Presepsin combined with CURB-65 score could significantly improve the discrimination ability. Presepsin concentrations in APTB patients were slightly increased, and may be helpful for initial discrimination between APTB and BCAP. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Pollution characteristics and influencing factors of atmospheric particulate matter (PM2.5) in Chang-Zhu-Tan area

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yong; Jiang, Wulin

2018-01-01

Using the same time data of PM2.5 concentration and meteorology from May 1st to May 31st in 2013 in Chang-Zhu-Tan area. This paper analyses the variation characteristics of PM2.5 concentration and the correlations between the variation characteristics and meteorological factors. In view of time, the results showed that the 24-h PM2.5 concentration varied with the two peaks and two valleys styles in Chang-Zhu-Tan area. And the daily PM2.5 concentration tends to the instability and great variation characteristics with the multi-peaks and multi-valleys style. In view of space, PM2.5 concentration values of the three cities from high to low are Zhuzhou>Xiangtan>Changsha. For cities and suburbs, PM2.5 concentration values of central towns are greater than that of the suburbs in Changsha and Xiangtan; however, the PM2.5 concentration values of the central town in Zhuzhou are slightly lower than the suburbs. At the same time, the correlation analysis between PM2.5 concentration and meteorological factors showed that the correlation from high to low was the relative air humidity>soil temperature>air temperature>soil humidity> wind velocity>rainfall. Among the above meteorological factors, wind velocity, rainfall, air temperature, soil temperature and soil humidity are negatively correlated with PM2.5 concentration, but the relationship between relative air humidity and PM2.5 concentration is a positive correlation.

Genetic Relatedness of Low Solitary Nests of Apis dorsata from Marang, Terengganu, Malaysia

PubMed Central

Ali, Abdul Manaf; Tan, Soon Guan; Adam, Nur Azura; Lau, Wei Hong

2012-01-01

Knowledge on the population of genetic structure and ecological behaviour of Apis dorsata from Peninsular Malaysia is needed for effective management and conservation of this species since unsustainable whole solitary low nest cutting for product harvesting is the current common practice here. The analysis of 15 single locus DNA microsatellite markers on samples from 20 solitary nests of A. dorsata showed that while these markers were polymorphic, high intracolonial relatedness existed. Furthermore, in general, slightly negative values of intercolony relatedness (R) among the nests of A. dorsata were found. However, positive values of mean intercolony relatedness were observed between 54 pairs of nests out of 190 possible combinations. The R values among nest pairs 3–4 and 3–5 was higher than 0.50 showing that their queens were half siblings, whereas nest pair 19–20 showed relatedness of 0.95 indicating that the same queen was sampled. The results that we obtained could not conclusively support the hypothesis of this study that the honey hunters in Marang district of Malaysia repeatedly harvest the same nest located at a different site and at a different time during the same honey harvesting season. However, our finding of an appreciable level of intercolonial relatedness between several pairs of nests in this pioneer study indicated that a comprehensive study with a larger sample size of solitary nests found throughout the region would be necessary to provide concrete proof for this novel idea. PMID:22911733

Prediction of future asset prices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seong, Ng Yew; Hin, Pooi Ah; Ching, Soo Huei

2014-12-01

This paper attempts to incorporate trading volumes as an additional predictor for predicting asset prices. Denoting r(t) as the vector consisting of the time-t values of the trading volume and price of a given asset, we model the time-(t+1) asset price to be dependent on the present and l-1 past values r(t), r(t-1), ....., r(t-1+1) via a conditional distribution which is derived from a (2l+1)-dimensional power-normal distribution. A prediction interval based on the 100(α/2)% and 100(1-α/2)% points of the conditional distribution is then obtained. By examining the average lengths of the prediction intervals found by using the composite indices of the Malaysia stock market for the period 2008 to 2013, we found that the value 2 appears to be a good choice for l. With the omission of the trading volume in the vector r(t), the corresponding prediction interval exhibits a slightly longer average length, showing that it might be desirable to keep trading volume as a predictor. From the above conditional distribution, the probability that the time-(t+1) asset price will be larger than the time-t asset price is next computed. When the probability differs from 0 (or 1) by less than 0.03, the observed time-(t+1) increase in price tends to be negative (or positive). Thus the above probability has a good potential of being used as a market indicator in technical analysis.

[APHAB scores for individual assessment of the benefit of hearing aid fitting].

PubMed

Löhler, J; Wollenberg, B; Schönweiler, R

2017-11-01

The Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) questionnaire measures subjective hearing impairment on four different subscales pertaining to different listening situations. Using a very large patient cohort, this study aims to show how answers are distributed within the four subscales before and after hearing aid fitting, and what benefit the patients experience. The results are discussed on the basis of the available literature. Between April 2013 and March 2016, 35,000 APHAB questionnaires from nine German statutory health insurance providers were evaluated. The average values before and after hearing aid fitting, as well as the benefit, were determined for all four APHAB subscales and analyzed graphically. The results of the subjective evaluation of hearing impairment before and after hearing aid fitting and the resultant benefit were plotted by percentile distribution graphs and boxplots. The data were analyzed statistically. There was no overlap of the interquartile ranges before and after hearing aid fitting in any of the APHAB subscales. In three scales (EC, BN and RV), the median improvement after hearing aid fitting was nearly 30 percentage points. In the AV subscale, this value was slightly negative. The percentile distribution graphs used in this study allow individual evaluation of subjective hearing impairment before and after hearing aid fitting, as well as of the resultant benefit, on the background of a huge database. Additionally, it is demonstrated why presentation as boxplots and the average benefit values calculated from these is problematic.

Production and characterization of a functional Iranian white brined cheese by replacement of dairy fat with vegetable oils.

PubMed

Achachlouei, B Fathi; Hesari, J; Damirchi, S Azadmard; Peighambardoust, Sh; Esmaiili, M; Alijani, S

2013-10-01

Full-fat cheese usually contains high amounts of saturated fatty acids and cholesterol, which may have negative health effects. In this study, full-fat white brined cheese, as a control sample, and experimental cheeses with olive and canola oils (T1, white brined cheese containing 50% canola oil, T2, white brined cheese containing 50% olive oil, T3, white brined cheese containing 100% canola oil and T4, white brined cheese containing 100% olive oil) were prepared from bovine milk. Physicochemical properties, lipolysis, proteolysis patterns and sensorial properties in the prepared samples were determined during 80 days of storage at 20-day intervals. Cheese incorporating vegetable oils showed lower amounts of saturated fatty acids and higher amounts of unsaturated fatty acids compared with the full-fat cheese (control) samples. Moisture, pH, lipolysis value, as assessed by the acid-degree value, and proteolysis values (pH 4.6 SN/TN% and NPN/TN%) significantly (p < 0.05) were increased in all samples, whereas total titrable acidity decreased during 40 days of ripening but then increased slightly. Sensory properties of white brined cheese incorporating with vegetable oils were different from those of full-fat cheese samples. White brined cheese containing olive and canola oils (100% fat substitution) received better sensory scores compared to other samples. The results showed that it is possible to replace dairy fat with olive and canola oils, which can lead to produce a new healthy and functional white brined cheese.

Carbon and nitrogen isotope systematics in diamond: Different sensitivities to isotopic fractionation or a decoupled origin?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hogberg, K.; Stachel, T.; Stern, R. A.

2016-11-01

Using stable isotope data obtained on multiple aliquots of diamonds from worldwide sources, it has been argued that carbon and nitrogen in diamond are decoupled. Here we re-investigate the carbon-nitrogen relationship based on the most comprehensive microbeam data set to date of stable isotopes and nitrogen concentrations in diamonds (n = 94) from a single locality. Our diamond samples, derived from two kimberlites in the Chidliak Field (NE Canada), show large variability in δ13C (- 28.4 ‰ to - 1.1‰, mode at - 5.8‰), δ15N (- 5.8 to + 18.8‰, mode at - 3.0‰) and nitrogen contents ([N]; 3800 to less than 1 at.ppm). In combination, cathodoluminescence imaging and microbeam analyses reveal that the diamonds grew from multiple fluid pulses, with at least one major hiatus documented in some samples that was associated with a resorption event and an abrupt change from low δ13C and [N] to mantle-like δ13C and high [N]. Overall, δ13C appears to be uncorrelated to δ15N and [N] on both the inter- and intra-diamond levels. Co-variations of δ15N-log[N], however, result in at least two parallel, negatively correlated linear arrays, which are also present on the level of the individual diamonds falling on these two trends. These arrays emerge from the two principal data clusters, are characterized by slightly negative and slightly positive δ15N (about - 3 and + 2‰, respectively) and variable but overall high [N]. Using published values for the diamond-fluid nitrogen isotope fractionation factor and nitrogen partition coefficient, these trends are perfectly reproduced by a Rayleigh fractionation model. Overall, three key elements are identified in the formation of the diamond suite studied: (1.) a low δ13C and low [N] component that possibly is directly associated with an eclogitic diamond substrate or introduced during an early stage fluid event. (2.) Repeated influx of a variably nitrogen-rich mantle fluid (mildly negative δ13C and δ15N). (3.) In waning stages of influx, availability of the mantle-type fluid at the site of diamond growth became limited, leading to Rayleigh fractionation. These fractionation trends are clearly depicted by δ15N-[N] but are not detected when examining co-variation diagrams involving δ13C. Also on the level of individual diamonds, large (≥ 5‰) variations in δ15N are associated with δ13C values that typically are constant within analytical uncertainty. The much smaller isotope fractionation factor for carbon (considering carbonate- or methane-rich fluids as possible carbon sources) compared to nitrogen leads to an approximately one order of magnitude lower sensitivity of δ13C values to Rayleigh fractionation processes (i.e. during fractionation, a 1‰ change in δ13C is associated with a 10‰ change in δ15N). As a consequence, even minor heterogeneity in the primary isotopic composition of diamond forming carbon (e.g., due to addition of minor subducted carbon) will completely blur any possible co-variations with δ15N or [N]. We suggest this strong difference in isotope effects for C and N to be the likely cause of observations of an apparently decoupled behaviour of carbon and nitrogen isotopes in diamond.

Paediatric blunt abdominal trauma - are we doing too many computed tomography scans?

PubMed

Arnold, M; Moore, S W

2013-02-14

Blunt abdominal trauma in childhood contributes significantly to both morbidity and mortality. Selective non-operative management of blunt abdominal trauma in children depends on both diagnostic and clinical factors. Computed tomography (CT) scanning is widely used to facilitate better management. Increased availability of CT may, however, result in its overuse in the management of blunt abdominal trauma in children, which carries significant radiation exposure risks. To evaluate the use and value of CT scanning in the overall management and outcome of blunt abdominal trauma in children in the Tygerberg Academic Hospital trauma unit, Parow, Cape Town, South Africa, before and after improved access to CT as a result of installation of a new rapid CT scanner in the trauma management area (previously the scanner had been 4 floors away). Patients aged 0 - 13 years who were referred with blunt abdominal trauma due to vehicle-related accidents before the introduction of the new CT scanner (group 1, n=66, November 2003 - March 2009) were compared with those seen in the 1-year period after the scanner was installed (group 2, n=37, April 2009 - April 2010). Details of clinical presentation, imaging results and their influence on management were retrospectively reviewed. A follow-up group was evaluated after stricter criteria for abdominal CT scanning (viz. prior evaluation by paediatric surgical personnel) were introduced (group 3, n=14, November 2011 - May 2012) to evaluate the impact of this clinical screening on the rate of negative scans. There were 66 patients in group 1 and 37 in group 2. An apparent increase in CT use with increased availability was accompanied by a marked increase in negative CT scans (38.9% compared with 6.2%; p<0.006). Despite a slightly higher prevalence of associated injuries in group 2, as well as a slightly longer length of hospital stay, there was a similar prevalence of intra-abdominal injuries detected in positive scans in the two groups. In addition, rates of small-bowel perforation in the two groups were similar. The rate of negative scans in group 3 was 46.2% (6/13), but all except one of these patients had a severe brain injury preventing adequate clinical evaluation of intra-abdominal injury. CT scanning for blunt abdominal trauma in children is essential in the presence of appropriate clinical indications. Ease of access probably increases availability, but the rate of negative scans may increase. Management guidelines should be in place to direct CT scanning to cases in which clinical examination and/or other modalities indicate a likelihood of intra-abdominal injury. The principle of 'as low (radiation) dose as reasonably achievable' (ALARA) should be adhered to because of the increased radiation exposure risks in children.

‘Fire hardening’ spear wood does slightly harden it, but makes it much weaker and more brittle

PubMed Central

Chan, Tak Lok

2016-01-01

It is usually assumed that ‘fire hardening’ the tips of spears, as practised by hunter–gatherers and early Homo spp., makes them harder and better suited for hunting. This suggestion was tested by subjecting coppiced poles of hazel to a fire-hardening process and comparing their mechanical properties to those of naturally seasoned poles. A Shore D hardness test showed that fire treatment slightly increased the hardness of the wood, but flexural and impact tests showed that it reduced the strength and work of fracture by 30% and 36%, respectively. These results suggest that though potentially slightly sharper and more durable, fire-hardened tips would actually be more likely to break off when used, as may have been the case with the earliest known wooden tool, the Clacton spear. Fire might first have been used to help sharpen the tips of spears, and fire-hardening would have been a mostly negative side effect, not its primary purpose. PMID:27194289

Drought until death do us part: a case study of the desiccation-tolerance of a tropical moist forest seedling-tree, Licania platypus (Hemsl.) Fritsch.

PubMed

Tyree, Melvin T; Vargas, Gustavo; Engelbrecht, Bettina M J; Kursar, Thomas A

2002-11-01

Studies of the desiccation tolerance of 15-month-old Licania platypus (Hemsl.) Fritsch seedlings were performed on potted plants. Pots were watered to field capacity and then dehydrated for 23-46 d to reach various visible wilting stages from slightly-wilted to dead. Root hydraulic conductance, k(r), was measured with a high-pressure flow meter and whole-stem hydraulic conductance, k(ws), was measured by a vacuum chamber method. Leaf punches were harvested for measurement of leaf water potential by a thermocouple psychrometer and for measurement of fresh- and dry-weight. L. platypus was surprisingly desiccation-tolerant, suggesting that most species of central Panama may be well adapted to the seasonality of rainfall in the region. The slightly-wilted stage corresponded to leaf water potentials and relative water contents of -2.7 MPa and 0.85, respectively, but plants did not die until these values fell to -7.5 MPa and 0.14, respectively. As desiccation proceeded k(r) and k(ws) declined relative to irrigated controls, but k(ws) was more sensitive to desiccation than k(r). Values of k(ws) declined by 70-85% in slightly-wilted to dead plants, respectively. By comparison, k(r) showed no significant change in slightly-wilted plants and fell by about 50% in plants having severely-wilted to dead shoots.

The Impact of Leisure-Time Television on School Learning: A Research Synthesis.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Williams, Patricia A.; And Others

1982-01-01

To integrate empirical findings concerning the impact of leisure time television viewing on student achievement in grades K-12, 274 correlations were assembled from 23 studies. The effects were slightly positive for up to 10 hours of viewing a week, but beyond 10 hours the effects are negative and increasingly more deleterious. (Author/BW)

Micropepsia pineolensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a mildly acidophilic alphaproteobacterium isolated from a poor fen, and proposal of Micropepsiaceae fam. nov. within Micropepsiales ord. nov.

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

A novel, obligately anaerobic, acid-tolerant, fermentative alphaproteobacterium, designated strain CS4T, was isolated from an acidic, oligotrophic (nutrient-poor) poor fen located near Pineola, NC, USA. Cultures contained Gram-negative, slightly curved, non-motile, non-spore forming, non-prosthecat...

"Juntos Pero No Revueltos": Microaggressions and Language in the Mathematics Education of Non-Dominant Latinas/os

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

LópezLeiva, Carlos A.; Khisty, Lena Licón

2014-01-01

In this paper, we discuss the characteristics of microaggressions based on minority language(s) as a form of discriminatory practice against non-dominant students in the mathematics context. Microaggressions are subtle, brief, and commonplace verbal, behavioral, or visual negative slights or insults toward people of color. We extend the concept of…

Correlation of deglutition in subacute ischemic stroke patients with peripheral blood adaptive immunity: Essential amino acid improvement.

PubMed

Aquilani, Roberto; Emilio, Benevolo; Dossena, Maurizia; Baiardi, Paola; Testa, Amidio; Boschi, Federica; Viglio, Simona; Iadarola, Paolo; Pasini, Evasio; Verri, Manuela

2015-12-01

We aimed to document in stroke patients peripheral blood immune cell profiles, their relations with neuro-functional tests, and any possible influence of supplemented essential amino acids (EAAs) may have on both the immune system and the relationship of the latter with neuro-function.Forty-two dysphagic stroke patients (27 men; 71±9 years) underwent bio-humoral measurements, neuro-functional tests, including Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale (DOSS), and were randomized to receive EAAs 8 g/d (EAA group) or isocaloric maltodextrin (placebo group).At discharge all measurements were repeated 38±1 days after randomization.At admission, total white cell (TWC), neutrophil (N), and lymphocyte (Lymph) counts were normal and the N/Lymph ratio was higher than normal values (<3.0). At discharge, both TWC and N decreased while Lymph increased significantly. As a result, the N/Lymph ratio significantly decreased (P <0.001) returning to normal levels. Absolute Lymph counts and Lymph % TWC correlated positively with DOSS (r = +0.235, P = 0.04 and r = +0.224, P = 0.05, respectively), negatively with C-reactive protein natural logarithm (ln CRP) (P = 0.02 and P = 0.0001, respectively), which is an inflammation marker. N correlated positively with ln CRP (P = 0.001) and had a slight negative association with FIM (P = 0.07). The N/Lymph ratio was inversely related to FIM (r = -0.262, P = 0.02) and DOSS (r = -0.279, P = 0.01). Finally, FIM correlated with DOSS (r = +0.35, P = 0.05).For the regression analysis, the overtime changes of Lymph % TWC correlated significantly with DOSS (P = 0.01). There was a positive correlation between Lymph % TWC and DOSS for the entire stroke population (P = 0.015). While this correlation was not important for the placebo group (P = 0.27), it was significant in the EAA subgroup (P = 0.018).In the sub-acute stroke stage, there may be slight alterations of peripheral blood immune cells. Lymph cells are associated with improved neuro-function tests with evidence that this association is enhanced by supplementing EAAs. © The Author(s) 2015.

Idiopathic Acquired Osteosclerosis In A Middle-aged Woman With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

PubMed Central

Guañabens, Núria; Mumm, Steven; Gifre, Laia; Gaspà, Silvia Ruiz; Demertzis, Jennifer L.; Stolina, Marina; Novack, Deborah V.; Whyte, Michael P

2016-01-01

Widely distributed osteosclerosis is an unusual radiographic finding with multiple causes. A 42-year-old pre-menopausal Spanish woman gradually acquired dense bone diffusely affecting her axial skeleton and focally affecting her proximal long bones. Systemic lupus erythematosus diagnosed in adolescence had been well controlled. She had not fractured or received antiresorptive therapy, and was hepatitis C virus antibody negative. Family members had low bone mass. Lumbar spine BMD measured by dual-photon absorptiometry at age 17 years, while receiving glucocorticoids, was 79% the average value of age-matched controls. From ages 30 to 37 years, DXA BMD z-scores steadily increased in her lumbar spine from +3.8 to +7.9, and femoral neck from −1.4 to −0.7. Serum calcium and phosphorus levels were consistently normal, 25OHD <20 ng/mL, and PTH sometimes slightly increased. Her reduced eGFR was 38–55 mls/min. Hypocalciuria likely reflected positive mineral balance. During increasing BMD, turnover markers (serum bone-ALP, PINP, osteocalcin, and CTX, and urinary NTX) were 1.6- to 2.8-fold above the reference limits. Those of bone formation seemed increased more than those of resorption. FGF-23 was slightly elevated, perhaps from kidney disease. Serum OPG and TGFβ1 levels were normal, but sclerostin (SOST) and RANKL were elevated. Serum multiplex biomarker profiling confirmed a high level of SOST and RANKL, whereas DKK-1 seemed low. Matrix metalloproteinases-3 and −7 were elevated. Iliac crest biopsy revealed tetracycline labels, no distinction between thick trabeculae and cortical bone, absence of peritrabecular fibrosis, few osteoclasts, and no mastocytosis. Then, for the past three years, BMD z-scores steadily decreased. Skeletal fluorosis, mastocytosis, myelofibrosis, hepatitis C-associated osteosclerosis, multiple myeloma, and aberrant phosphate homeostasis did not explain her osteosclerosis. Mutation analysis of the LRP5, LRP4, SOST, and osteopetrosis genes was negative. Microarray showed no notable copy number variation. Perhaps her osteosclerosis reflected an interval of autoimmune-mediated resistance to SOST and/or RANKL. PMID:27005479

Two Isoforms of Yersinia pestis Plasminogen Activator Pla: Intraspecies Distribution, Intrinsic Disorder Propensity, and Contribution to Virulence.

PubMed

Dentovskaya, Svetlana V; Platonov, Mikhail E; Svetoch, Tat'yana E; Kopylov, Pavel Kh; Kombarova, Tat'yana I; Ivanov, Sergey A; Shaikhutdinova, Rima Z; Kolombet, Lyubov' V; Chauhan, Sadhana; Ablamunits, Vitaly G; Motin, Vladimir L; Uversky, Vladimir N; Anisimov, Andrey P

2016-01-01

It has been shown previously that several endemic Y. pestis isolates with limited virulence contained the I259 isoform of the outer membrane protease Pla, while the epidemic highly virulent strains possessed only the T259 Pla isoform. Our sequence analysis of the pla gene from 118 Y. pestis subsp. microtus strains revealed that the I259 isoform was present exclusively in the endemic strains providing a convictive evidence of more ancestral origin of this isoform. Analysis of the effects of the I259T polymorphism on the intrinsic disorder propensity of Pla revealed that the I259T mutation slightly increases the intrinsic disorder propensity of the C-terminal tail of Pla and makes this protein slightly more prone for disorder-based protein-protein interactions, suggesting that the T259 Pla could be functionally more active than the I259 Pla. This assumption was proven experimentally by assessing the coagulase and fibrinolytic activities of the two Pla isoforms in human plasma, as well as in a direct fluorometric assay with the Pla peptide substrate. The virulence testing of Pla-negative or expressing the I259 and T259 Pla isoforms Y. pestis subsp. microtus and subsp. pestis strains did not reveal any significant difference in LD50 values and dose-dependent survival assays between them by using a subcutaneous route of challenge of mice and guinea pigs or intradermal challenge of mice. However, a significant decrease in time-to-death was observed in animals infected with the epidemic T259 Pla-producing strains as compared to the parent Pla-negative variants. Survival curves of the endemic I259 Pla+ strains fit between them, but significant difference in mean time to death post infection between the Pla-strains and their I259 Pla+ variants could be seen only in the isogenic set of subsp. pestis strains. These findings suggest an essential role for the outer membrane protease Pla evolution in Y. pestis bubonic infection exacerbation that is necessary for intensification of epidemic process from endemic natural focality with sporadic cases in men to rapidly expanding epizootics followed by human epidemic outbreaks, local epidemics or even pandemics.

Two Isoforms of Yersinia pestis Plasminogen Activator Pla: Intraspecies Distribution, Intrinsic Disorder Propensity, and Contribution to Virulence

PubMed Central

Dentovskaya, Svetlana V.; Platonov, Mikhail E.; Svetoch, Tat’yana E.; Kopylov, Pavel Kh.; Kombarova, Tat’yana I.; Ivanov, Sergey A.; Shaikhutdinova, Rima Z.; Kolombet, Lyubov’ V.; Chauhan, Sadhana; Ablamunits, Vitaly G.; Motin, Vladimir L.; Uversky, Vladimir N.

2016-01-01

It has been shown previously that several endemic Y. pestis isolates with limited virulence contained the I259 isoform of the outer membrane protease Pla, while the epidemic highly virulent strains possessed only the T259 Pla isoform. Our sequence analysis of the pla gene from 118 Y. pestis subsp. microtus strains revealed that the I259 isoform was present exclusively in the endemic strains providing a convictive evidence of more ancestral origin of this isoform. Analysis of the effects of the I259T polymorphism on the intrinsic disorder propensity of Pla revealed that the I259T mutation slightly increases the intrinsic disorder propensity of the C-terminal tail of Pla and makes this protein slightly more prone for disorder-based protein-protein interactions, suggesting that the T259 Pla could be functionally more active than the I259 Pla. This assumption was proven experimentally by assessing the coagulase and fibrinolytic activities of the two Pla isoforms in human plasma, as well as in a direct fluorometric assay with the Pla peptide substrate. The virulence testing of Pla-negative or expressing the I259 and T259 Pla isoforms Y. pestis subsp. microtus and subsp. pestis strains did not reveal any significant difference in LD50 values and dose-dependent survival assays between them by using a subcutaneous route of challenge of mice and guinea pigs or intradermal challenge of mice. However, a significant decrease in time-to-death was observed in animals infected with the epidemic T259 Pla-producing strains as compared to the parent Pla-negative variants. Survival curves of the endemic I259 Pla+ strains fit between them, but significant difference in mean time to death post infection between the Pla−strains and their I259 Pla+ variants could be seen only in the isogenic set of subsp. pestis strains. These findings suggest an essential role for the outer membrane protease Pla evolution in Y. pestis bubonic infection exacerbation that is necessary for intensification of epidemic process from endemic natural focality with sporadic cases in men to rapidly expanding epizootics followed by human epidemic outbreaks, local epidemics or even pandemics. PMID:27936190

Early Proterozoic crustal evolution: Geochemical and NdPb isotopic evidence from metasedimentary rocks, southwestern North America

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McLennan, S. M.; Hemming, S. R.; Taylor, S. R.; Eriksson, K. A.

1995-03-01

Early Proterozoic (1.8-1.7 Ga) metasedimentary rocks in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado, USA, can be divided into turbidite successions (commonly volcanogenic) associated with mafic/felsic metavolcanic successions (e.g., Irving Fm.) and stable shelf quartzite-pelite successions of shallow marine origin (e.g., Hondo Gp.). Metapelites from the turbidite successions reported here have low K2O/Na2O, low Th/U (<3.0), low to moderate Th/Sc (0.1-0.6), and slight negative Eu-anomalies, although regionally, negative Eu-anomalies in such rocks are common. At the time of sedimentation (ca. 1.7-1.8 Ga), ɛNd values were in the range +3 to +7, indistinguishable from associated metavolcanic and plutonic rocks. Similarly, lead isotopic data scatter about a 1.7 Ga reference isochron. Low κ (232Th/238U) values for the Irving Formation are consistent with derivation from crustal sources similar to the southern Colorado/northern New Mexico lead isotope crustal province. These data are further consistent with a volcanic arc related origin. In contrast, stable shelf metapelites have high K2O/Na2O, variable but commonly high Th/U (2.0-7.0), moderate to high Th/Sc (0.5-1.4), and substantial negative Eu-anomalies. Although compositions are rather variable, they are typical of post-Archean shales. Neodymium isotopes are surprisingly radiogenic with ɛNd(1.7 Ga) in the range -0.2 to +4. Lead isotopic data for the least radiogenic samples also are consistent with a dominantly juvenile source and on a 207Pb/204Pb vs. 206Pb/204Pb diagram, data scatter slightly above the 1.7 Ga reference isochron, suggesting minor components of significantly older material. Lead isotopic systematics suggest that a major component of the provenance was derived from the immediately associated metavolcanic-plutonic terranes, consistent with suggestions of a first-cycle origin, but with an Archean component. Isotopic data restrict the Archean component to about 10%, on average, and no more than 25% in any sample. This older crustal component may be derived either by direct erosion of Archean rocks, such as the Wyoming Province, or indirectly through assimilation into Early Proterozoic igneous rocks. Although the stable shelf sedimentary rocks are derived from a provenance with similar ages as the volcanogenic turbidites, the geochemical characteristics of the provenance are significantly different. Accordingly, these data are consistent with especially rapid and widespread crustal growth and evolution in southwestern North America during the period 1.9-1.7 Ga. Several samples from the Hondo Group and Uncompahgre Formation have REE patterns that are rotated to LREE depletion and perhaps HREE enrichment. The change in REEs correlate with Mo, U, and V abundances and Pb isotopic characteristics suggesting sedimentary processes similar to those operating in black shales affected these REE patterns. REE patterns and Th/U ratios of Early Proterozoic volcanogenic turbidites examined in this and other studies differ on average from turbidites found in Archean greenstone belts. Negative Eu-anomalies are common, HREE-depletion is seen but comparatively rare, and Th/U ratios are commonly below 3.0. Accordingly, these data are consistent with models suggesting that the upper crust had a different composition in the Archean.

Performance of the dipstick screening test as a predictor of negative urine culture

PubMed Central

Marques, Alexandre Gimenes; Doi, André Mario; Pasternak, Jacyr; Damascena, Márcio dos Santos; França, Carolina Nunes; Martino, Marinês Dalla Valle

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT Objective To investigate whether the urine dipstick screening test can be used to predict urine culture results. Methods A retrospective study conducted between January and December 2014 based on data from 8,587 patients with a medical order for urine dipstick test, urine sediment analysis and urine culture. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were determined and ROC curve analysis was performed. Results The percentage of positive cultures was 17.5%. Nitrite had 28% sensitivity and 99% specificity, with positive and negative predictive values of 89% and 87%, respectively. Leukocyte esterase had 79% sensitivity and 84% specificity, with positive and negative predictive values of 51% and 95%, respectively. The combination of positive nitrite or positive leukocyte esterase tests had 85% sensitivity and 84% specificity, with positive and negative predictive values of 53% and 96%, respectively. Positive urinary sediment (more than ten leukocytes per microliter) had 92% sensitivity and 71% specificity, with positive and negative predictive values of 40% and 98%, respectively. The combination of nitrite positive test and positive urinary sediment had 82% sensitivity and 99% specificity, with positive and negative predictive values of 91% and 98%, respectively. The combination of nitrite or leukocyte esterase positive tests and positive urinary sediment had the highest sensitivity (94%) and specificity (84%), with positive and negative predictive values of 58% and 99%, respectively. Based on ROC curve analysis, the best indicator of positive urine culture was the combination of positives leukocyte esterase or nitrite tests and positive urinary sediment, followed by positives leukocyte and nitrite tests, positive urinary sediment alone, positive leukocyte esterase test alone, positive nitrite test alone and finally association of positives nitrite and urinary sediment (AUC: 0.845, 0.844, 0.817, 0.814, 0.635 and 0.626, respectively). Conclusion A negative urine culture can be predicted by negative dipstick test results. Therefore, this test may be a reliable predictor of negative urine culture. PMID:28444086

Altered prefrontal correlates of monetary anticipation and outcome in chronic pain.

PubMed

Martucci, Katherine T; Borg, Nicholas; MacNiven, Kelly H; Knutson, Brian; Mackey, Sean C

2018-04-04

Chronic pain may alter both affect- and value-related behaviors, which represents a potentially treatable aspect of chronic pain experience. Current understanding of how chronic pain influences the function of brain reward systems, however, is limited. Using a monetary incentive delay task and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we measured neural correlates of reward anticipation and outcomes in female participants with the chronic pain condition of fibromyalgia (N = 17) and age-matched, pain-free, female controls (N = 15). We hypothesized that patients would demonstrate lower positive arousal, as well as altered reward anticipation and outcome activity within corticostriatal circuits implicated in reward processing. Patients demonstrated lower arousal ratings as compared with controls, but no group differences were observed for valence, positive arousal, or negative arousal ratings. Group fMRI analyses were conducted to determine predetermined region of interest, nucleus accumbens (NAcc) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), responses to potential gains, potential losses, reward outcomes, and punishment outcomes. Compared with controls, patients demonstrated similar, although slightly reduced, NAcc activity during gain anticipation. Conversely, patients demonstrated dramatically reduced mPFC activity during gain anticipation-possibly related to lower estimated reward probabilities. Further, patients demonstrated normal mPFC activity to reward outcomes, but dramatically heightened mPFC activity to no-loss (nonpunishment) outcomes. In parallel to NAcc and mPFC responses, patients demonstrated slightly reduced activity during reward anticipation in other brain regions, which included the ventral tegmental area, anterior cingulate cortex, and anterior insular cortex. Together, these results implicate altered corticostriatal processing of monetary rewards in chronic pain.

Sperm DNA fragmentation induced by cryopreservation: new insights and effect of a natural extract from Opuntia ficus-indica.

PubMed

Meamar, Mehrdad; Zribi, Nassira; Cambi, Marta; Tamburrino, Lara; Marchiani, Sara; Filimberti, Erminio; Fino, Maria Grazia; Biggeri, Annibale; Menezo, Yves; Forti, Gianni; Baldi, Elisabetta; Muratori, Monica

2012-08-01

To analyze the effect of cryopreservation on sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) in two cytometric sperm populations, PI(brighter) and PI(dimmer), and to test the effects of Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) extracts, which contain antioxidants and flavanoids, and of resveratrol on cryopreservation of human semen. In vitro prospective study. Institutional study. Twenty-one normozoospermic men undergoing semen analysis for couple infertility. Cryopreservation using the routine method in the presence of OFI extracts or resveratrol. Measurement of SDF by TUNEL/PI flow cytometric method to evaluate sperm motility (by automated motion analysis, CASA system) and viability (by eosin/nigrosin staining) in the two populations of sperm PI(br) and PI(dim). Cryopreservation induced an increase of SDF only in the PI(br) sperm population. The increase was negatively dependent on the basal values of SDF in the same population. Addition of OFI extracts and resveratrol to the cryopreservation medium slightly but statistically significantly reduced SDF in the PI(br) population without affecting the deleterious effect of cryopreservation on sperm motion parameters or viability. The increase of SDF in the PI(br) population, which is unrelated to semen quality, suggests that caution must be taken in using cryopreserved semen, as morphologically normal and motile sperm may be damaged. The addition of substances with multifunctional properties such as OFI extracts to cryopreservation medium is only slightly effective in preventing the dramatic effects on SDF. Copyright © 2012 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Dethiosulfovibrio salsuginis sp. nov., an anaerobic, slightly halophilic bacterium isolated from a saline spring.

PubMed

Díaz-Cárdenas, C; López, G; Patel, B K C; Baena, S

2010-04-01

A mesophilic, strictly anaerobic, slightly halophilic bacterium, designated strain USBA 82(T), was isolated from a terrestrial saline spring in the Colombian Andes. The non-spore-forming curved rods (5-7 x 1.3 microm) with pointed or rounded ends, stained Gram-negative and were motile by means of laterally inserted flagella. The strain grew optimally at 30 degrees C (growth range 20-40 degrees C), pH 7.3 (growth range pH 5.5-8.5) and 2 % (w/v) NaCl (growth range 0.1-7 % NaCl). The strain fermented peptides, amino acids and a few organic acids, but growth was not observed on carbohydrates, alcohols or fatty acids. The strain reduced thiosulfate and sulfur to sulfide. Sulfate, sulfite, nitrate and nitrite were not used as electron acceptors. On peptone alone, acetate, succinate, propionate and traces of ethanol were formed, but in the presence of thiosulfate, acetate and succinate were formed. The G+C content of the chromosomal DNA was 52 mol% (T(m)). 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain USBA 82(T) was affiliated to Dethiosulfovibrio peptidovorans within the phylum Synergistetes with a similarity value of approximately 93 %. Based on the differences between the new strain and the type species of the genus Dethiosulfovibrio, we suggest that strain USBA 82(T) represents a novel species of the genus for which the name Dethiosulfovibrio salsuginis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is USBA 82(T) (=DSM 21565(T)=KCTC 5659(T)).

Sensitivity and specificity of western blot testing of cerebrospinal fluid and serum for diagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis in horses with and without neurologic abnormalities.

PubMed

Daft, Barbara M; Barr, Bradd C; Gardner, Ian A; Read, Deryck; Bell, William; Peyser, Karen G; Ardans, Alex; Kinde, Hailu; Morrow, Jennifer K

2002-10-01

To determine sensitivity and specificity of western blot testing (WBT) of CSF and serum for diagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) in horses with and without neurologic abnormalities. Prospective investigation. 65 horses with and 169 horses without neurologic abnormalities. CSF and serum from horses submitted for necropsy were tested for Sarcocystis neurona-specific antibody with a WBT. Results of postmortem examination were used as the gold standard against which results of the WBT were compared. Sensitivity of WBT of CSF was 87% for horses with and 88% for horses without neurologic abnormalities. Specificity of WBT of CSF was 44% for horses with and 60% for horses without neurologic abnormalities. Regardless of whether horses did or did not have neurologic abnormalities, sensitivity and specificity of WBT of serum were not significantly different from values for WBT of CSF. Ninety-four horses without EPM had histologic evidence of slight CNS inflammation. The low specificity of WBT of CSF indicated that it is inappropriate to diagnose EPM on the basis of a positive test result alone because of the possibility of false-positive test results. The high sensitivity, however, means that a negative result is useful in ruling out EPM. There was no advantage in testing CSF versus serum in horses without neurologic abnormalities. Slight CNS inflammation was common in horses with and without S neurona-specific antibodies in the CSF and should not be considered an indication of CNS infection with S neurona.

Hematological variations at rest and during maximal and submaximal exercise in a cold (0°C) environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vogelaere, P.; Brasseur, M.; Quirion, A.; Leclercq, R.; Laurencelle, L.; Bekaert, S.

1990-03-01

The affect of negative thermal stress on hematological variables at rest, and during submaximal (sub ex) and maximal exercise (max ex) were observed for young males who volunteered in two experimental sessions, performed in cold (0°C) and in normal room temperature (20°C). At rest, hematological variables such as RBC and derivates Hb and Hct were significantly increased ( P<0.05) during cold stress exposure, while plasma volume decreased. The findings of this study suggest that the major factor inducing hypovolemia during low thermal stress can be imputed to local plasma water-shift mechanisms and especially to a transient shift of plasma water from intrato extravascular compartments. Rest values for WBC and platelets (Pla) were also slightly increased during cold stress exposure. However this increase can partly be related to hemoconcentration but also to the cold induced hyperventilation activating the lung circulation. Maximal exhaustive exercise induced, in both experimental temperatures, significant ( P<0.05) increments of RBC, Hb, Hct, and WBC while plasma volume decreased. However, Pla increase was less marked. On the other hand, cold stress raised slightly the observed variations of the different hematological variables. Submaximal exercise induced a similar, though non-significant, pattern for the different hematological variables in both experimental conditions. Observed plasma volume (Δ PV%) reduction appears during exercise. However cold stress induced resting plasma volume variations that are transferred at every exercise level. Neither exercise nor cold inducement significantly modified the hematological indices (MCH, MCV, MCHC). In conclusion hematological variables are affected by cold stress exposure, even when subjects perform a physical activity.

Reducing the H0 and σ8 tensions with dark matter-neutrino interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Di Valentino, Eleonora; Bœhm, Céline; Hivon, Eric; Bouchet, François R.

2018-02-01

The introduction of dark matter-neutrino interactions modifies the cosmic microwave background (CMB) angular power spectrum at all scales, thus affecting the reconstruction of the cosmological parameters. Such interactions can lead to a slight increase of the value of H0 and a slight decrease of S8≡σ8√{Ωm/0.3 } , which can help reduce somewhat the tension between the CMB and weak lensing or Cepheids data sets. Here we show that it is impossible to solve both tensions simultaneously. While the 2015 Planck temperature and low multipole polarization data combined with the Cepheids data sets prefer large values of the Hubble rate (up to H0=72.1-1.7+1.5 km /s /Mpc , when Neff is free to vary), the σ8 parameter remains too large to reduce the σ8 tension. Adding high multipole Planck polarization data does not help since this data shows a strong preference for low values of H0, thus worsening current tensions, even though they also prefer smaller value of σ8.

Structural, morphological and optical investigations on electron-beam irradiated PbF2-TeO2-B2O3-Eu2O3 glasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wagh, Akshatha; Petwal, Vikash; Dwivedi, Jishnu; Upadhyaya, V.; Raviprakash, Y.; Kamath, Sudha D.

2016-09-01

Combined structural, optical and morphological studies were carried out on Eu2O3 doped PbF2-TeO2-B2O3 glass samples, before and after being subjected to electron beam of energy 7.5 MeV. XRD confirmed the amorphous nature of the glasses even after 150 kGy electron beam irradiation. Densities of the irradiated samples showed slightly greater values when compared to their respective values before irradiation, which proved the increase in the compaction of the network. The intensities of the three prominent bands; B-O-B linkages, BO4 units and BO3 units of FT-IR spectra, of the titled glasses, showed slight decrease after electron beam irradiation. The decrement in the values of energy band gap and shift in cut-off wavelength towards red edge, proved the formation of color centers in the glass network after irradiation. The change in Hunter L values, through color measurement was a proof for the Farbe/color/absorption centers created in the glass sites after irradiation.

How good is good? Students and assessors' perceptions of qualitative markers of performance.

PubMed

Ma, Heung Kan; Min, Cynthia; Neville, Alan; Eva, Kevin

2013-01-01

Qualitative markers of performance are routinely used for medical student assessment, though the extent to which such markers can be readily translated to actionable pieces of information remains uncertain. To explore (a) the perceived value to be indicated by descriptor phrases commonly used for describing student performance, (b) the perceived weight of the different performance domains (e.g. communication skills, work ethic, knowledge base, etc), and (c) whether or not the perceived value of the descriptors changes as a function of the performance domains. Five domains of performance were identified from the thematic coding of past medical student transcripts (N = 156). From the transcripts, 91 distinct descriptors indicating the language commonly used by assessors were also identified. From the list of 91 descriptors, Thurstone's method of equal-appearing intervals was used to extract 10 descriptors that were representative of the continuum of student performance. A modified paired comparisons method was then used to enable the relative ranking of each of 10 descriptors combined with each of 5 different domains of performance. A web-based survey was used to collect responses from participants (N = 209), which consisted of medical students and faculty members who were previously involved in student assessment. Results demonstrated that respondents did not simply sum positive and negative descriptors in a uniform manner. Rather, comments on some domains (e.g., "ability to apply patient centred medicine") were seen as particularly positive when associated with positive descriptors but not particularly negative when associated with negative descriptors. For others (e.g., "receptivity and responsiveness to feedback") the reverse was true. Comments on "knowledge-base" elicited a relatively muted perception at both ends of the scale. Finally, the results also revealed moderate misalignment in the perceptions of assessors and students. The findings from this study suggest that the use of any given descriptor conveys slightly different meaning dependent on the context in which it is used. This helps to address some key issues surrounding the application of qualitative markers to performance assessment in medical education.

Specialized Color Function for Display of Signed Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kalb, Virginia

2008-01-01

This Mathematica script defines a color function to be used with Mathematica's plotting modules for differentiating data attaining both positive and negative values. Positive values are shown as shades of blue, and negative values are shown in red. The intensity of the color reflects the absolute value of the data value.

Evolution of sensitivity to fosfomycin in bacteria isolated in 1973, 1974 and 1975 in the Servicio de Microbiologia y Epidemiologia of the 'Clinica Puerta de Hierro', Madrid.

PubMed

Dámaso, D; Moreno-López, M; Martínez-Beltrán, J

1977-01-01

The bacteriostatic activity of fosfomycin was studied in vitro against 1,243 clinical isolations of gram-positive cocci and 4,086 isolations of gram-negative bacilli that were obtained in 1973, 1974 and in the period from January to May of 1975. MIC was determined by the agar diffusion method, quantifying it by means of the standard curve that was worked out with the strain of E. coli NCTC 10,418. A slight increase in resistance was observed in the gram-positive cocci: 64 mug/ml were inhibitory for 63% of the 249 isolations obtained in 1973, 59.1% of the 716 isolations obtained in 1974, and 57.5% of the 278 isolations from 1975. A slight loss of sensitivity was also observed in the gram-negative bacilli: the aforementioned concentration of fosfomycin inhibited 36% of the 742 isolations from 1973, 33.6% of the 2,387 isolations from 1974 and 32.6% of the 957 isolations from 1975. 933 g of this antibiotic were consumed in our hospital in 1973, 4,203 g in 1974 and 957 g in 1975. The consumption rate per patient per year was 0.15, 0.72 and 0.20 g, respectively. In conclusion, although no change was observed in the sensitivity of some bacterial strains to fosfomycin, the overall study indicates a slight decrease in the sensitivity, although it does not apparently have any relationship to the consumption of fosfomycin in our hospital.

Agreement between allergen-specific IgE assays and ensuing immunotherapy recommendations from four commercial laboratories in the USA

PubMed Central

Plant, Jon D; Neradelik, Moni B; Polissar, Nayak L; Fadok, Valerie A; Scott, Brian A

2014-01-01

Background Canine allergen-specific IgE assays in the USA are not subjected to an independent laboratory reliability monitoring programme. Hypothesis/Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the agreement of diagnostic results and treatment recommendations of four serum IgE assays commercially available in the USA. Methods Replicate serum samples from 10 atopic dogs were submitted to each of four laboratories for allergen-specific IgE assays (ACTT®, VARL Liquid Gold, ALLERCEPT® and Greer® Aller-g-complete®). The interlaboratory agreement of standard, regional panels and ensuing treatment recommendations were analysed with the kappa statistic (κ) to account for agreement that might occur merely by chance. Six comparisons of pairs of laboratories and overall agreement among laboratories were analysed for ungrouped allergens (as tested) and also with allergens grouped according to reported cross-reactivity and taxonomy. Results The overall chance-corrected agreement of the positive/negative test results for ungrouped and grouped allergens was slight (κ = 0.14 and 0.13, respectively). Subset analysis of the laboratory pair with the highest level of diagnostic agreement (κ = 0.36) found slight agreement (κ = 0.13) for ungrouped plants and fungi, but substantial agreement (κ = 0.71) for ungrouped mites. The overall agreement of the treatment recommendations was slight (κ = 0.11). Altogether, 85.1% of ungrouped allergen treatment recommendations were unique to one laboratory or another. Conclusions and clinical importance Our study indicated that the choice of IgE assay may have a major influence on the positive/negative results and ensuing treatment recommendations. PMID:24461034

Does individualism bring happiness? Negative effects of individualism on interpersonal relationships and happiness.

PubMed

Ogihara, Yuji; Uchida, Yukiko

2014-01-01

We examined the negative effects of individualism in an East Asian culture. Although individualistic systems decrease interpersonal relationships through competition, individualistic values have prevailed in European American cultures. One reason is because individuals could overcome negativity by actively constructing interpersonal relationships. In contrast, people in East Asian cultures do not have such strategies to overcome the negative impact of individualistic systems, leading to decreased well-being. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the relationship between individualistic values, number of close friends, and subjective well-being (SWB). Study 1 indicated that individualistic values were negatively related with the number of close friends and SWB for Japanese college students but not for American college students. Moreover, Study 2 showed that even in an individualistic workplace in Japan, individualistic values were negatively related with the number of close friends and SWB. We discuss how cultural change toward increasing individualism might affect interpersonal relationships and well-being.

Antibody levels correlate with detection of Trypanosoma cruzi DNA by sensitive PCR assays in seropositive blood donors and possible resolution of infection over time

PubMed Central

Sabino, E.C.; Lee, T.H.; Montalvo, L.; Nguyen, M.L.; Leiby, D.A.; Carrick, D.M.; Otani, M.M.; Vinelli, E.; Wright, D.; Stramer, S.L.; Busch, M.

2013-01-01

Background The clinical significance of anti-T. cruzi low-level reactive samples is incompletely understood. PCR-positive rates and antibody levels among seropositive blood donors in three countries are described. Methods Follow-up whole blood and plasma samples were collected from T. cruzi-seropositive donors from 2008-2010 in the US (n=195) and Honduras (n=58). Also 143 samples from Brazil in 1996-2002, originally positive by three serological assays, were available and paired with contemporary follow-up samples from these donors. All samples were retested with the FDA-approved Ortho ELISA. PCR assays were performed on coded sample panels by two laboratories (BSRI and ARC) that amplified kinetoplast minicircle DNA sequences of T. cruzi. Results PCR testing at BSRI yielded slightly higher overall sensitivity and specificity (33% and 98%) compared with the ARC lab (28% and 94%). Among seropositive donors, PCR-positive rates varied by country (p<0.0001) for the BSRI laboratory: Brazil (57%), Honduras (32%) and the US (14%). ELISA signal/cutoff (S/CO) ratios were significantly higher for PCR-positive compared to PCR-negative donors (p<0.05 for all comparisons). Additionally, PCR-negative Brazilian donors exhibited greater frequencies of antibody decline over time versus PCR-positive donors (p=0.003). Conclusion For all three countries, persistent DNA positivity correlated with higher ELISA S/CO values, suggesting that high-level seroreactivity reflects chronic parasitemia. The higher rate of PCR positivity for Brazilian donors was likely attributable to required reactivity on three assays available a decade ago. Significant S/CO declines in 10% of the PCR-negative Brazilian donors may indicate seroreversion following parasite clearance in the absence of treatment. PMID:23002996

Dust Grain Charge in the Lunar Environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vaverka, Jakub; Richterova, Ivana; Vysinka, Marek; Pavlu, Jiri; Safrankova, Jana; Nemecek, Zdenek

2014-05-01

Interaction of a lunar surface with solar wind and magnetosphere plasmas leads to it charging by several processes as photoemission, a collection of primary particles and secondary electron emission. Nevertheless, charging of the lunar surface is complicated by a presence of crustal magnetic anomalies with can generate a "mini-magnetosphere" capable for more or less complete shielding the surface. On the other hand, shielding of solar light and plasma particles by rocks and craters can also locally influence the surface potential as well as a presence of a plasma wake strongly changes this potential at the night side of the Moon. A typical surface potential varies from slightly positive (dayside) to negative values of the order of several hundred of volts (night side). At the night side, negative potentials can reach -4 kV during solar energetic particle (SEP) events. Recent measurements of the surface potential by Lunar Prospector and Artemis spacecraft have shown surprisingly high negative dayside surface potentials (-500 V) during the magnetotail crossings as well as the positive surface potential higher than 100 V. One possible explanation is its non-monotonic profile above a surface where the potential minimum is formed by the space charge. Dust grains presented in this complicated environment are also charged by similar processes as the lunar surface. A strong dependence of the secondary electron yield on the grain size can significantly influence dust charging mainly in the Earth's plasma sheet where an equilibrium grain potential can by different than the surface potential and can reach even the opposite sign. This process can lead to levitation of dust above a surface observed by the Surveyor spacecraft.

Asparagine, valine, and threonine in the third extracellular loop of muscarinic receptor have essential roles in the positive cooperativity of strychnine-like allosteric modulators.

PubMed

Jakubík, J; Krejcí, A; Dolezal, V

2005-05-01

We have investigated allosteric interactions of four closely related strychnine-like substances: Wieland-Gumlich aldehyde (WGA), propargyl Wieland-Gumlich aldehyde, strychnine, and brucine with N-methylscopolamine (NMS) on M(3) subtype of muscarinic receptor genetically modified in the second or the third extracellular loop to corresponding loops of M(2) subtype (M(3)o2 and M(3)o3 chimera). The M(3)o2 chimeric receptor The exhibited no change in either affinity of strychnine, brucine, and WGA or in cooperativity of brucine or WGA, whereas both parameters for propargyl-WGA changed. In contrast, there was a change in affinity of all tested modulators (except for brucine) and in their cooperativity in the M(3)o3 chimera. Directions of affinity changes in both chimeras were always toward values of the donor M(2) subtype, but changes in cooperativity were variable. Compared with the native M(3) receptor, strychnine displayed a slight increase in positive cooperativity and propargyl-WGA a robust decrease in negative cooperativity at M(3)o2 chimera. Similar changes were found in the M(3)o3 chimera. Interestingly, cooperativity of brucine and WGA at the M(3)o3 chimera changed from negative to positive. This is the first evidence of constitution of positive cooperativity of WGA by switching sequences of two parental receptors, both exhibiting negative cooperativity. Gradual replacement of individual amino acids revealed that only three residues (NVT of the o3 loop of the M(2) receptor) are involved in this effect. Data suggest that these amino acids are essential for propagation of a conformation change resulting in positive cooperativity induced by these modulators.

Lunar Surface Charging during Solar Energetic Particle Events

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halekas, Jasper S.; Delory, G. T.; Mewaldt, R. A.; Lin, R. P.; Fillingim, M. O.; Brain, D. A.; Lee, C. O.; Stubbs, T. J.; Farrell, W. M.; Hudson, M. K.

2006-09-01

The surface of the Moon, not protected by any substantial atmosphere, is directly exposed to the impact of both solar UV and solar wind plasma and energetic particles. This creates a complex lunar electrostatic environment, with the surface typically charging slightly positive in sunlight, and negative in shadow. Observations from the Apollo era and theoretical considerations strongly suggest that surface charging leads to dust electrification and transport, posing a potentially significant hazard for exploration. The most significant charging effects should occur when the Moon is exposed to high-temperature plasmas like those encountered in the terrestrial plasmasheet or in solar storms. We now present evidence for kilovolt-scale negative charging of the shadowed lunar surface during solar energetic particle (SEP) events, utilizing data from the Lunar Prospector Electron Reflectometer (LP ER). We find that SEP events are associated with the most extreme lunar surface charging observed during the LP mission - rivaled only by previously reported charging during traversals of the terrestrial plasmasheet. The largest charging event observed by LP is a 4 kV negative surface potential (as compared to typical values of V) during a SEP event in May 1998. We characterize lunar surface charging during several SEP events, and compare to energetic particle measurements from ACE, Wind, and SOHO in order to determine the relationship between SEP events and extreme lunar surface charging. Space weather events are already considered by NASA to be a significant hazard to lunar exploration, due to high-energy ionizing radiation. Our observations demonstrate that plasma interactions with the lunar surface during SEP events, causing extreme surface charging and potentially significant dust electrification and transport, represent an additional hazard associated with space weather.

1990-2016 surface solar radiation variability and trend over the Piedmont region (northwest Italy)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manara, Veronica; Bassi, Manuela; Brunetti, Michele; Cagnazzi, Barbara; Maugeri, Maurizio

2018-05-01

A new surface solar radiation database of 74 daily series is set up for the Piedmont region (northwest Italy) for the 1990-2016 period. All the series are subjected to a detailed quality control, homogenization and gap-filling procedure and are transformed into relative annual/seasonal anomaly series. Finally, a gridded version (0.5°×0.5°) of the database is generated. The resulting series show an increasing tendency of about + 2.5% per decade at annual scale, with strongest trend in autumn (+ 4% per decade). The only exception is winter, showing a negative but not significant trend. Considering the plain and mountain mean series, the trends are more intense for low than for high elevations with a negative vertical gradient of about - 0.03% per decade per 100 m at annual scale and values up to - 0.07% per decade per 100 m in spring. Focusing on clear days only (selected by CM SAF ClOud fractional cover dataset from METeosat first and second generation—Edition 1 satellite data over the 1991-2015 period), trend significance strongly increases and both low and high elevation records exhibit a positive trend in all seasons. However, the trends result slightly lower than for all-sky days (with the only exception of winter). The differences observed under clear-sky conditions between low and high elevations are more pronounced in winter, where the trend shows a negative vertical gradient of about - 0.1% per decade every 100 m. Overall, this paper shows how a high station density allows performing a more detailed quality control thanks to the higher performances in detecting the inhomogeneities with higher data availability and capturing regional peculiarities otherwise impossible to observe.

Effects of poultry manure on soil biochemical properties in phthalic acid esters contaminated soil.

PubMed

Gao, Jun; Qin, Xiaojian; Ren, Xuqin; Zhou, Haifeng

2015-12-01

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of poultry manure (PM) on soil biological properties in DBP- and DEHP-contaminated soils. An indoor incubation experiment was conducted. Soil microbial biomass C (Cmic), soil enzymatic activities, and microbial phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) concentrations were measured during incubation period. The results indicated that except alkaline phosphatase activity, DBP and DEHP had negative effects on Cmic, dehydrogenase, urease, protease activities, and contents of total PLFA. However, 5 % PM treatment alleviated the negative effects of PAEs on the above biochemical parameters. In DBP-contaminated soil, 5 % PM amendment even resulted in dehydroenase activity and Cmic content increasing by 17.8 and 11.8 % on the day 15 of incubation, respectively. During the incubation periods, the total PLFA contents decreased maximumly by 17.2 and 11.6 % in DBP- and DEHP-contaminated soils without PM amendments, respectively. Compared with those in uncontaminated soil, the total PLFA contents increased slightly and the value of bacPLFA/fugalPLFA increased significantly in PAE-contaminated soils with 5 % PM amendment. Nevertheless, in both contaminated soils, the effects of 5 % PM amendment on the biochemical parameters were not observed with 10 % PM amendment. In 10 % PM-amended soils, DBP and DEHP had little effect on Cmic, soil enzymatic activities, and microbial community composition. At the end of incubation, the effects of PAEs on these parameters disappeared, irrespective of PM amendment. The application of PM ameliorated the negative effect of PAEs on soil biological environment. However, further work is needed to study the effect of PM on soil microbial gene expression in order to explain the change mechanisms of soil biological properties.

Crustally derived granites in Dali, SW China: new constraints on silicic magmatism of the Central Emeishan Large Igneous Province

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Bei; Peate, David W.; Guo, Zhaojie; Liu, Runchao; Du, Wei

2017-10-01

We have identified a new crustally derived granite pluton that is related to the Emeishan Large Igneous Province (ELIP). This pluton (the Wase pluton, near Dali) shows two distinct SHRIMP zircon U-Pb age groups ( 768 and 253 Ma). As it has an intrusive relationship with Devonian limestone, the younger age is interpreted as its formation, which is related to the ELIP event, whereas the 768 Ma Neoproterozoic-aged zircons were inherited from Precambrian crustal component of the Yangtze Block, implying the pluton has a crustally derived origin. This is consistent with its peraluminous nature, negative Nb-Ta anomaly, enrichment in light rare earth elements, high 87Sr/86Sr(i) ratio (0.7159-0.7183) and extremely negative ɛ(Nd)(i) values (-12.15 to -13.70), indicative of melts derived from upper crust materials. The Wase pluton-intruded Devonian strata lie stratigraphically below the Shangcang ELIP sequence, which is the thickest volcanic sequence ( 5400 m) in the whole ELIP. The uppermost level of the Shangcang sequence contains laterally restricted rhyolite. Although the rhyolite has the same age as the Wase pluton, its geochemical features demonstrate a different magma origin. The rhyolite displays moderate 87Sr/86Sr(i) (0.7053), slightly negative ɛ(Nd)(i) (-0.18) and depletions in Ba, Cs, Eu and Sr, implying derivation from differentiation of a mantle-derived mafic magma source. The coexistence of crustally and mantle-derived felsic systems, along with the robust development of dike swarms, vent proximal volcanics and thickest flood basalts piles in Dali, shows that the Dali area was probably where the most active Emeishan magmatism had once existed.

Tracing anthropogenic impacts on nitrate deposition at Summit, Greenland from 1760 to 2002

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chellman, N.; Hastings, M. G.; McConnell, J. R.

2012-12-01

Nitrogen and oxygen isotopes of nitrate (NO3-) can be used to examine changes in nitrogen sources over time, as NO3- is the primary sink of nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions from the atmosphere. This study presents a high-resolution, seasonal analysis of δ15N and δ18O of NO3- from an ice core collected at Summit, Greenland in 2010. The relationship between the δ15N record and major sources of NOx (fossil fuel combustion, biomass burning, and soil emission) was investigated using emissions data as well as isotopic, elemental, and molecular tracers, including tracers for oil and coal combustion (lead, sulfur, thallium, and cadmium) and biomass burning (black carbon and ammonium). The results show a marked negative trend in δ15N-NO3-, dropping 10‰ (vs. air N2) since pre-Industrial times from an average of 12.9‰ (1760-1810) to 2.9‰ (1952-2002), with the most rapid change occurring between 1960 and 1980. This overall trend can be attributed to significant changes in NOx sources since the Industrial Revolution. The relationships between the δ15N-NO3- signal and the tracers suggest that fossil fuel and soil NOx emissions have negative δ15N signatures, while biomass burning has a positive δ15N signature. The δ18O of NO3-, on the other hand, is not representative of source signals, but of the oxidation pathways in the atmosphere. The δ18O-NO3- ice core record displayed little change between pre- and post-Industrial eras, with only a slight increase of 2.6‰ from a pre-Industrial average of 73.2‰ (vs. VSMOW) to a post-Industrial average of 75.8‰. Importantly, the seasonality of the δ18O-NO3- signal, with higher values found in wintertime snow and lower values in summer, did not change throughout the record. The lack of any trend in the δ18O-NO3- signal is expected because seasonal photochemistry, the driving force of the seasonal δ18O signal, has not changed markedly during the past 250 years. In summary, the data from this study show that investigation of the isotopes of nitrate can help in understanding anthropogenic influence on NOx emissions in modern times. δ15N of nitrate vs. time. Summer (red) and winter (blue) δ15N values overlaid on complete record (grey). The record has a distinct negative trend, dropping 10‰ since pre-Industrial times. This negative trend is attributed to rapidly changing NOx emissions from fossil fuel combustion, soil emissions, and biomass burning.

Changes in coping and social motives for drinking and alcohol consumption across the menstrual cycle.

PubMed

Joyce, Kayla M; Hudson, Amanda; O'Connor, Roisin; Thompson, Kara; Hodgin, Megan; Perrot, Tara; Stewart, Sherry H

2018-04-01

Alcohol use has been reported to fluctuate over women's menstrual cycles (MCs), with increased intake occurring premenstrually/menstrually (phases characterized by heightened negative affect) and during the ovulatory phase (a phase characterized by positive affect). This suggests women may drink for particular emotion-focused reasons at specific points in their cycles. However, no research had yet examined MC variability in drinking motives, or links between cycle-related changes in drinking motives and alcohol consumption. Ninety-four normally cycling women (M age  = 22.9 years old, SD age  = 4.7) completed daily diary measures (via Smartphone surveys), with questions pertaining to state drinking motives and quantity of alcohol consumed for the course of a full MC. Drinking motives differed by cycle phase. Women reported a slight increase in drinking to self-medicate for negative affect premenstrually, with drinking to cope peaking in the menstrual phase and declining mid-cycle. Women reported a slight increasing trend across the cycle in social motives for drinking, while enhancement motives remained relatively stable across the cycle. Cycle-related changes in drinking motives predicted increases in the quantity of alcohol consumed. Drinking to cope with negative affect predicted a greater number of drinks menstrually (days 1-5). While social motives predicted a greater number of drinks during the follicular and ovulatory phases (days 5-16), enhancement motives were unrelated to drinking quantity across cycle phase. Clinicians should be attentive to cycle phase when treating reproductive-aged women with alcohol disorders (e.g., encouraging the use of healthier means of coping with negative affect during menses). © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The shape of oxygen abundance profiles explored with MUSE

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sánchez, S. F.; Sánchez-Menguiano, L.; Pérez, I.

2017-11-01

We characterise the oxygen abundance radial distribution of a sample of 102 spiral galaxies observed with VLT/MUSE using the O3N2 calibrator. The high spatial resolution of the data allows us to detect 14345 HII regions with the same image quality as with photometric data, avoiding any dilution effect. We develop a new methodology to automatically fit the abundance radial profiles, finding that 55 galaxies of the sample exhibit a single negative gradient. The remaining 47 galaxies also display, as well as this negative trend, either an inner drop in the abundances (21), an outer flattening (10) or both (16), which suggests that these features are a common property of disc galaxies. The presence and depth of the inner drop depends on the stellar mass of the galaxies with the most massive systems presenting the deepest abundance drops, while there is no such dependence for the outer flattening. We find that the inner drop appears always around 0.5 r_e, while the position of the outer flattening varies over a wide range of galactocentric distances. Regarding the main negative gradient, we find a characteristic slope of α_{O/H} = - 0.10±0.03 dex/r_e. This slope is independent of the presence of bars and the density of the environment. However, when inner drops or outer flattenings are detected, slightly steeper gradients are observed. This suggests that radial motions might play an important role in shaping the abundance profiles. We define a new normalisation scale (r_{O/H}) for the radial profiles based on the characteristic abundance gradient, with which all the galaxies show a similar position for the inner drop (˜0.5 r_{O/H}) and the outer flattening (˜1.5 r_{O/H}).Finally, we find no significant dependence of the dispersion around the negative gradient with any galaxy property, with values compatible with the uncertainties of the derived abundances.

Insight into global trends in aerosol composition from 2005 to 2015 inferred from the OMI Ultraviolet Aerosol Index

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hammer, Melanie S.; Martin, Randall V.; Li, Chi; Torres, Omar; Manning, Max; Boys, Brian L.

2018-06-01

Observations of aerosol scattering and absorption offer valuable information about aerosol composition. We apply a simulation of the Ultraviolet Aerosol Index (UVAI), a method of detecting aerosol absorption from satellite observations, to interpret UVAI values observed by the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) from 2005 to 2015 to understand global trends in aerosol composition. We conduct our simulation using the vector radiative transfer model VLIDORT with aerosol fields from the global chemical transport model GEOS-Chem. We examine the 2005-2015 trends in individual aerosol species from GEOS-Chem and apply these trends to the UVAI simulation to calculate the change in simulated UVAI due to the trends in individual aerosol species. We find that global trends in the UVAI are largely explained by trends in absorption by mineral dust, absorption by brown carbon, and scattering by secondary inorganic aerosol. Trends in absorption by mineral dust dominate the simulated UVAI trends over North Africa, the Middle East, East Asia, and Australia. The UVAI simulation resolves observed negative UVAI trends well over Australia, but underestimates positive UVAI trends over North Africa and Central Asia near the Aral Sea and underestimates negative UVAI trends over East Asia. We find evidence of an increasing dust source from the desiccating Aral Sea that may not be well represented by the current generation of models. Trends in absorption by brown carbon dominate the simulated UVAI trends over biomass burning regions. The UVAI simulation reproduces observed negative trends over central South America and West Africa, but underestimates observed UVAI trends over boreal forests. Trends in scattering by secondary inorganic aerosol dominate the simulated UVAI trends over the eastern United States and eastern India. The UVAI simulation slightly overestimates the observed positive UVAI trends over the eastern United States and underestimates the observed negative UVAI trends over India. Quantitative simulation of the OMI UVAI offers new insight into global trends in aerosol composition.

Semiempirical Theories of the Affinities of Negative Atomic Ions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Edie, John W.

1961-01-01

The determination of the electron affinities of negative atomic ions by means of direct experimental investigation is limited. To supplement the meager experimental results, several semiempirical theories have been advanced. One commonly used technique involves extrapolating the electron affinities along the isoelectronic sequences, The most recent of these extrapolations Is studied by extending the method to Include one more member of the isoelectronic sequence, When the results show that this extension does not increase the accuracy of the calculations, several possible explanations for this situation are explored. A different approach to the problem is suggested by the regularities appearing in the electron affinities. Noting that the regular linear pattern that exists for the ionization potentials of the p electrons as a function of Z, repeats itself for different degrees of ionization q, the slopes and intercepts of these curves are extrapolated to the case of the negative Ion. The method is placed on a theoretical basis by calculating the Slater parameters as functions of q and n, the number of equivalent p-electrons. These functions are no more than quadratic in q and n. The electron affinities are calculated by extending the linear relations that exist for the neutral atoms and positive ions to the negative ions. The extrapolated. slopes are apparently correct, but the intercepts must be slightly altered to agree with experiment. For this purpose one or two experimental affinities (depending on the extrapolation method) are used in each of the two short periods. The two extrapolation methods used are: (A) an isoelectronic sequence extrapolation of the linear pattern as such; (B) the same extrapolation of a linearization of this pattern (configuration centers) combined with an extrapolation of the other terms of the ground configurations. The latter method Is preferable, since it requires only experimental point for each period. The results agree within experimental error with all data, except with the most recent value of C, which lies 10% lower.

Evapotranspiration and microclimate at a low-level radioactive-waste disposal site in northwestern Illinois

USGS Publications Warehouse

Healy, R.W.; DeVries, M.P.; Sturrock, A.M.

1987-01-01

From July 1982 through June 1984, a study was made of the microclimate and evapotranspiration at a low-level radioactive-waste disposal site near Sheffield, Bureau County, Illinois. Vegetation at the site consists of mixed pasture grasses, primarily brome (Bromus inermis) and red clover (Trifoleum pratense). Three methods were used to estimate evapotranspiration: (1) an energy-budget with the Bowen ratio, (2) an aerodynamic-profile, and (3) a soil-based water-budget. For the aerodynamic-profile method, sensible-heat flux was estimated by a profile equation and evapotranspiration was then calculated as the residual in the energy-balance equation. Estimates by the energy-budget and aerodynamic-profile methods were computed from hourly data, then summed by days and months. Yearly estimates for March through November, by these methods, were quite close--648 and 626 millimeters, respectively. Daily estimates range up to a maximum of about 6 millimeters. The water-budget method produced only monthly estimates based on weekly or biweekly soil-moisture content measurements. The yearly evapotranspiration estimated by this method (which actually included only the months of April through October) was 655 millimeters. The March-through-November average for the three methods of 657 millimeters was equivalent to 70 percent of precipitation. Continuous measurements were made of incoming and reflected shortwave radiation, incoming and emitted longwave radiation, net radiation, soil-heat flux, soil temperature, horizontal windspeed, and wet- and dry-bulb air temperature. Windspeed and air temperature were measured at heights of 0.5 and 2.0 meters (and also at 1.0 meter after September 1983). Soil-moisture content of the soil zone was measured with a gamma-attenuation gage. Annual precipitation (938 millimeters) and average temperature (10.8 degrees Celsius) were virtually identical to long-term averages from nearby National Weather Service stations. Solar radiation averaged 65 percent of that normally expected under clear skies. Net radiation averaged 70.1 watts per square meter and was highest in July and negative during some winter months. Wind direction varied but was predominately out of the south-southeast. Wind speed at the 2-meter height averaged 3.5 meters per second and was slightly higher in winter months than the rest of the year. The amount of water stored within the soil zone was greatest in early spring and least in late summer. Seasonal and diurnal trends in evapotranspiration rates mirrored those in net radiation; July was usually the month with the highest rate. The ratio of sensible- to latent-heat fluxes (commonly called the Bowen ratio) for the 2-year period was 0.38, as averaged from the three methods. Monthly Bowen ratios fluctuated somewhat but averaged about 0.35 for late spring through summer. In fall, the ratio declined to zero or to slightly negative values. When the ratio was negative, the latent-heat flux was slightly greater than the net radiation because of additional energy supplied by the cooling soil and air. Evapotranspiration calculated by the three methods averaged 75 percent of potential evapotranspiration, as estimated by the Penman equation. There was no apparent seasonal trend in the relation between actual and potential evapotranspiration rates.

Microstructure of a-C:H films prepared on a microtrench and analysis of ions and radicals behavior

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

Hirata, Yuki; Choi, Junho, E-mail: choi@mech.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp

2015-08-28

Amorphous carbon films (a-C:H) were prepared on a microtrench (4-μm pitch and 4-μm depth), and the uniformity of film thickness and microstructure of the films on the top, sidewall, and bottom surfaces of the microtrench were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The a-C:H films were prepared by bipolar-type plasma based ion implantation and deposition (bipolar PBII&D), and the negative pulse voltage, which is the main parameter dominating the film structure, was changed from −1.0 to −15 kV. Moreover, the behavior of ions and radicals was analyzed simultaneously by combining the calculation methods of Particle-In-Cell/Monte Carlo Collision (PIC-MCC) andmore » Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) to investigate the coating mechanism for the microtrench. The results reveal that the thickness uniformity of a-C:H films improves with decreasing negative pulse voltage due to the decreasing inertia of incoming ions from the trench mouth, although the film thickness on the sidewall tends to be much smaller than that on the top and bottom surfaces of the trench. The normalized flux and the film thickness show similar behavior, i.e., the normalized flux or thickness at the bottom surface increases at low negative pulse voltages and then saturates at a certain value, whereas at the sidewall it monotonically decreases with increasing negative voltage. The microstructure of a-C:H films on the sidewall surface is very different from that on the top and bottom surfaces. The film structure at a low negative pulse voltage shifts to more of a polymer-like carbon (PLC) structure due to the lower incident energy of ions. Although the radical flux on the sidewall increases slightly, the overall film structure is not significantly changed because this film formation at a low negative voltage is originally dominated by radicals. On the other hand, the flux of radicals is dominant on the sidewall in the case of high negative pulse voltage, resulting in a deviation from the Raman behavior of a-C:H films deposited by bipolar PBII&D. This tendency intensifies as the negative voltage becomes greater. Also, the energy of incident ions on the sidewall of the trench increases with increasing negative voltage, which causes a shift in the Raman data of the sidewall to the bottom right corner on the figure depicting the relationship of the FWHM(G) and the G-peak position, indicating increased graphitization of a-C:H film.« less

Microstructure of a-C:H films prepared on a microtrench and analysis of ions and radicals behavior

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hirata, Yuki; Choi, Junho

2015-08-01

Amorphous carbon films (a-C:H) were prepared on a microtrench (4-μm pitch and 4-μm depth), and the uniformity of film thickness and microstructure of the films on the top, sidewall, and bottom surfaces of the microtrench were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The a-C:H films were prepared by bipolar-type plasma based ion implantation and deposition (bipolar PBII&D), and the negative pulse voltage, which is the main parameter dominating the film structure, was changed from -1.0 to -15 kV. Moreover, the behavior of ions and radicals was analyzed simultaneously by combining the calculation methods of Particle-In-Cell/Monte Carlo Collision (PIC-MCC) and Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) to investigate the coating mechanism for the microtrench. The results reveal that the thickness uniformity of a-C:H films improves with decreasing negative pulse voltage due to the decreasing inertia of incoming ions from the trench mouth, although the film thickness on the sidewall tends to be much smaller than that on the top and bottom surfaces of the trench. The normalized flux and the film thickness show similar behavior, i.e., the normalized flux or thickness at the bottom surface increases at low negative pulse voltages and then saturates at a certain value, whereas at the sidewall it monotonically decreases with increasing negative voltage. The microstructure of a-C:H films on the sidewall surface is very different from that on the top and bottom surfaces. The film structure at a low negative pulse voltage shifts to more of a polymer-like carbon (PLC) structure due to the lower incident energy of ions. Although the radical flux on the sidewall increases slightly, the overall film structure is not significantly changed because this film formation at a low negative voltage is originally dominated by radicals. On the other hand, the flux of radicals is dominant on the sidewall in the case of high negative pulse voltage, resulting in a deviation from the Raman behavior of a-C:H films deposited by bipolar PBII&D. This tendency intensifies as the negative voltage becomes greater. Also, the energy of incident ions on the sidewall of the trench increases with increasing negative voltage, which causes a shift in the Raman data of the sidewall to the bottom right corner on the figure depicting the relationship of the FWHM(G) and the G-peak position, indicating increased graphitization of a-C:H film.

Positive And Negative Feedback Loops Coupled By Common Transcription Activator And Repressor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sielewiesiuk, Jan; Łopaciuk, Agata

2015-03-01

Dynamical systems consisting of two interlocked loops with negative and positive feedback have been studied using the linear analysis of stability and numerical solutions. Conditions for saddle-node bifurcation were formulated in a general form. Conditions for Hopf bifurcations were found in a few symmetrical cases. Auto-oscillations, when they exist, are generated by the negative feedback repressive loop. This loop determines the frequency and amplitude of oscillations. The positive feedback loop of activation slightly modifies the oscillations. Oscillations are possible when the difference between Hilll's coefficients of the repression and activation is sufficiently high. The highly cooperative activation loop with a fast turnover slows down or even makes the oscillations impossible. The system under consideration can constitute a component of epigenetic or enzymatic regulation network.

The incidence and role of negative citations in science

PubMed Central

Catalini, Christian; Lacetera, Nicola; Oettl, Alexander

2015-01-01

Citations to previous literature are extensively used to measure the quality and diffusion of knowledge. However, we know little about the different ways in which a study can be cited; in particular, are papers cited to point out their merits or their flaws? We elaborated a methodology to characterize “negative” citations using bibliometric data and natural language processing. We found that negative citations concerned higher-quality papers, were focused on a study’s findings rather than theories or methods, and originated from scholars who were closer to the authors of the focal paper in terms of discipline and social distance, but not geographically. Receiving a negative citation was also associated with a slightly faster decline in citations to the paper in the long run. PMID:26504239

Human attitudes towards herpetofauna: The influence of folklore and negative values on the conservation of amphibians and reptiles in Portugal

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Human values and folklore of wildlife strongly influence the effectiveness of conservation efforts. These values and folklore may also vary with certain demographic characteristics such as gender, age, or education. Reptiles and amphibians are among the least appreciated of vertebrates and are victims of many negative values and wrong ideas resulting from the direct interpretation of folklore. We try to demonstrate how these values and folklore can affect the way people relate to them and also the possible conservation impacts on these animals. Methods A questionnaire survey distributed to 514 people in the district of Évora, Portugal, was used to obtain data regarding the hypothesis that the existence of wrong ideas and negative values contributes to the phenomenon of human-associated persecution of these animals. A structural equation model was specified in order to confirm the hypothesis about the possible relationships between the presence of perceptions and negative values about amphibians and reptiles and persecution and anti-conservation attitudes. Sociodemographic variables were also added. Results The results of the model suggest that the presence of folklore and negative values clearly predicts persecution and anti-conservation attitudes towards amphibians and reptiles. Also, the existence of folklore varies sociodemographically, but negative values concerning these animals are widespread in the population. Conclusions With the use of structural equation models, this work is a contribution to the study of how certain ideas and values can directly influence human attitudes towards herpetofauna and how they can be a serious conservation issue. PMID:22316318

Human attitudes towards herpetofauna: the influence of folklore and negative values on the conservation of amphibians and reptiles in Portugal.

PubMed

Ceríaco, Luis Mp

2012-02-08

Human values and folklore of wildlife strongly influence the effectiveness of conservation efforts. These values and folklore may also vary with certain demographic characteristics such as gender, age, or education. Reptiles and amphibians are among the least appreciated of vertebrates and are victims of many negative values and wrong ideas resulting from the direct interpretation of folklore. We try to demonstrate how these values and folklore can affect the way people relate to them and also the possible conservation impacts on these animals. A questionnaire survey distributed to 514 people in the district of Évora, Portugal, was used to obtain data regarding the hypothesis that the existence of wrong ideas and negative values contributes to the phenomenon of human-associated persecution of these animals. A structural equation model was specified in order to confirm the hypothesis about the possible relationships between the presence of perceptions and negative values about amphibians and reptiles and persecution and anti-conservation attitudes. Sociodemographic variables were also added. The results of the model suggest that the presence of folklore and negative values clearly predicts persecution and anti-conservation attitudes towards amphibians and reptiles. Also, the existence of folklore varies sociodemographically, but negative values concerning these animals are widespread in the population. With the use of structural equation models, this work is a contribution to the study of how certain ideas and values can directly influence human attitudes towards herpetofauna and how they can be a serious conservation issue.

Impacts of Effective Temperature on Sectional View Drawing Ability and Implications for Engineering and Technology Education Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Katsioloudis, Petros J.

2017-01-01

Temperature can influence thermal comfort, working performance, and social behavior. In a classroom that is slightly cool, an assumption can be made that learning could be affected in a negative way. Considering this, a quasi-experimental study was done to determine if a significant difference of effective temperature have an effect on students':…

Parent Attitudes Toward the Virginia Beach Year-Round School Pilot Project. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schlechty, Phillip C.

Part of the Virginia Beach year-round school program evaluation, this final report contains a detailed analysis of parental attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions. The data leads to the following conclusions: a majority (53.3 percent) of parents are dubious or negative toward the 45-15 pilot project; a slight majority of parents in the pilot schools…

Prevalence of Mycoplasma haemolamae infection in Peruvian and Chilean llamas and alpacas.

PubMed

Tornquist, Susan J; Boeder, Lisa; Rios-Phillips, Carolina; Alarcon, Virgilio

2010-09-01

Mycoplasma haemolamae is a hemotropic mycoplasma that affects red blood cells of llamas (Lama glama) and alpacas (Lama pacos). It is variably associated with anemia, and most infections are subclinical. Development of a polymerase chain reaction assay has facilitated detection of this infection in llamas and alpacas in the United States and other countries. Whether the infection occurs in camelids in South America has previously been unknown. The current study documents a 15.8% infection rate among 76 Peruvian llamas, a 19.3% infection rate among Peruvian alpacas at one site, and a 9.26% infection rate in 108 Chilean alpacas from selected herds. All of the camelids tested appeared to be clinically healthy. No gender or species predilection was found. Only 1 positive camelid younger than 18 months was found. Infection is not associated with anemia, and the mean packed cell volume (PCV) in positive Peruvian camelids was slightly higher than the mean PCV in negative Peruvian camelids. In the Chilean alpacas, the positive alpacas had a slightly lower PCV than the negative alpacas, although the mean PCV was not in the anemic range in any of the groups.

Lexical and phonological variability in preschool children with speech sound disorder.

PubMed

Macrae, Toby; Tyler, Ann A; Lewis, Kerry E

2014-02-01

The authors of this study examined relationships between measures of word and speech error variability and between these and other speech and language measures in preschool children with speech sound disorder (SSD). In this correlational study, 18 preschool children with SSD, age-appropriate receptive vocabulary, and normal oral motor functioning and hearing were assessed across 2 sessions. Experimental measures included word and speech error variability, receptive vocabulary, nonword repetition (NWR), and expressive language. Pearson product–moment correlation coefficients were calculated among the experimental measures. The correlation between word and speech error variability was slight and nonsignificant. The correlation between word variability and receptive vocabulary was moderate and negative, although nonsignificant. High word variability was associated with small receptive vocabularies. The correlations between speech error variability and NWR and between speech error variability and the mean length of children's utterances were moderate and negative, although both were nonsignificant. High speech error variability was associated with poor NWR and language scores. High word variability may reflect unstable lexical representations, whereas high speech error variability may reflect indistinct phonological representations. Preschool children with SSD who show abnormally high levels of different types of speech variability may require slightly different approaches to intervention.

Genomic Model with Correlation Between Additive and Dominance Effects.

PubMed

Xiang, Tao; Christensen, Ole Fredslund; Vitezica, Zulma Gladis; Legarra, Andres

2018-05-09

Dominance genetic effects are rarely included in pedigree-based genetic evaluation. With the availability of single nucleotide polymorphism markers and the development of genomic evaluation, estimates of dominance genetic effects have become feasible using genomic best linear unbiased prediction (GBLUP). Usually, studies involving additive and dominance genetic effects ignore possible relationships between them. It has been often suggested that the magnitude of functional additive and dominance effects at the quantitative trait loci are related, but there is no existing GBLUP-like approach accounting for such correlation. Wellmann and Bennewitz showed two ways of considering directional relationships between additive and dominance effects, which they estimated in a Bayesian framework. However, these relationships cannot be fitted at the level of individuals instead of loci in a mixed model and are not compatible with standard animal or plant breeding software. This comes from a fundamental ambiguity in assigning the reference allele at a given locus. We show that, if there has been selection, assigning the most frequent as the reference allele orients the correlation between functional additive and dominance effects. As a consequence, the most frequent reference allele is expected to have a positive value. We also demonstrate that selection creates negative covariance between genotypic additive and dominance genetic values. For parameter estimation, it is possible to use a combined additive and dominance relationship matrix computed from marker genotypes, and to use standard restricted maximum likelihood (REML) algorithms based on an equivalent model. Through a simulation study, we show that such correlations can easily be estimated by mixed model software and accuracy of prediction for genetic values is slightly improved if such correlations are used in GBLUP. However, a model assuming uncorrelated effects and fitting orthogonal breeding values and dominant deviations performed similarly for prediction. Copyright © 2018, Genetics.

Synthesis, crystal structures and theoretical calculations of new 1-[2-(5-chloro-2-benzoxazolinone-3-yl)acetyl]-3,5-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-(1H)-pyrazoles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gökşen, Umut Salgın; Alpaslan, Yelda Bingöl; Kelekçi, Nesrin Gökhan; Işık, Şamil; Ekizoğlu, Melike

2013-05-01

1-[2-(5-Chloro-2-benzoxazolinone-3-yl)acetyl]-3-phenyl-5-(3-methoxyphenyl)-4,5-dihydro-(1H)-pyrazole (5a), 1-[2-(5-chloro-2-benzoxazolinone-3-yl)acetyl]-3-phenyl-5-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-4,5-dihydro-(1H)-pyrazole (5b) and 1-[2-(5-chloro-2-benzoxazolinone-3-yl)acetyl]-3-(4-methylphenyl)-5-(2,3-dimethoxyphenyl)-4,5-dihydro-(1H)-pyrazole (5c) were synthesized. The crystal and molecular structures of the compounds 5a, 5b and 5c were determined by elemental analyses, IR, 1H NMR, ESI-MS and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. DFT method with 6-31G(d,p) basis set was used to calculate the optimized geometrical parameters, vibrational frequencies and chemical shift values. The calculated vibrational frequencies and chemical shift values were compared with experimental IR and 1H NMR values. The results represented that there was a good agreement between experimental and calculated values of the compounds 5a-5c. In addition, DFT calculations of the compounds, molecular electrostatic potentials (MEPs) and frontier molecular orbitals were performed at B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level of theory. Furthermore, compounds were tested against three Gram-positive bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 (American Type Culture Collection), methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) ATCC 43300 and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212; two Gram negative bacteria: Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853; and three fungi: Candida albicans ATCC 90028, Candida krusei ATCC 6258 and Candida parapsilosis ATCC 90018. In general, all of the compounds were found to be slightly active against tested microorganisms.

Estimation of Osmotic Parameters Accompanying Zeatin-Induced Growth of Detached Cucumber Cotyledons 1

PubMed Central

Rayle, David L.; Ross, Cleon W.; Robinson, Nina

1982-01-01

Water potential (ψ), the osmotic potential (ψπ), and the pressure potential (ψp) of detached cotyledons isolated from Cucumis sativus L. cv Marketer seedlings after 0, 1.5, and 3 days growth with and without zeatin were determined. From zero time to 3 days, cotyledons incubated without exogenous zeatin exhibited a slight decrease in ψ (from −0.4 to −1.0 bars), while those grown with zeatin developed even more negative values (about −4 bars). Both groups showed rising ψπ values (decreases in solutes per unit volume), but this rise was more dramatic in those treated with zeatin. These data indicate that the capacity of zeatin-treated cotyledons to take up water more rapidly than controls and thus expand faster must be due to wall loosening, as reflected in ψp values which declined during 3 days from about +11 bars to about +1.4 bars. It was also found that freshly detached cotyledons or those grown without exogenous zeatin exhibited osmoregulation in polyethylene glycol (PEG) solutions. That is, while cotyledons initially lost H2O into certain PEG solutions, their ψ values decreased over time and they began absorbing water after 1 to 4 hours. After 3 days growth, zeatin-treated cotyledons had lost most of this capacity of osmoregulate. It seems likely that osmoregulation in cotyledons not treated with zeatin is due to wall loosening rather than changes in ψπ. Zeatin-treated cotyledons with already loosened walls may not have this option to deal with water stress and thus simply come to equilibrium with external PEG solutions. PMID:16662734

Gene Expression Profiling of Nonhuman Primates Exposed to Aerosolized Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-12-01

endogenous pyrogens occur slightly earlier in s.c. infections, but are more pro- longed by aerosol. Lymphopenia also seems to be more aggressive in...brain) Brain P-value (lung) Lung P-value (spleen) Spleen Antigen processing, endogenous antigen via MHC class I (BP) HLA-A 213932_x_at 8.58E-05 2.40

Differential regulation of IL-23 production in M1 macrophages by TIR8/SIGIRR through TLR4- or TLR7/8-mediated signaling.

PubMed

Yamaguchi, Rui; Sakamoto, Arisa; Yamamoto, Takatoshi; Narahara, Shinji; Sugiuchi, Hiroyuki; Yamaguchi, Yasuo

2017-11-01

Cross-talks between toll-like receptors (TLRs) including various negative regulatory mechanisms are many unknown. We investigated the differential mechanism of IL-23 production in M1 macrophages by single immunoglobulin interleukin-1 receptor-related (SIGIRR) molecule through TLR4 or TLR7/8. IL-12p40 production by M1 macrophages pretreated with human neutrophil elastase (HNE) was synergistically enhanced IL-12p40, but not IL-23 production, after exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). LPS (a TLR4 agonist) induced a slight increase of IL-23 production, while Resiquimod (a TLR7/8 agonist) significantly enhanced IL-23 production. Expression of SIGIRR protein, a negative regulator of TLR4, was higher in M1 macrophages than in monocytes. Interestingly, SIGIRR siRNA induced a slight increment of IL-23 production after exposure of macrophages to LPS, while IL-23 production in response to Resiquimod was significantly upregulated by SIGIRR siRNA. Silencing SIGIRR enhanced IRF4 protein level determined by western blotting or ELISA. IRF4 siRNA dramatically restored IL-23 production after exposure to Resiquimod in macrophages transfected with SIGIRR siRNA. In conclusion, production of IL-23 is differentially regulated in M1 macrophages by SIGIRR through TLR4- or TLR7/8-mediated signaling. SIGIRR is both a negative regulator of TLR4 and a positive regulator of TLR7/8. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Correlation of Respiratory Activity of Contralateral Diaphragm Muscles for Evaluation of Recovery Following Hemiparesis

PubMed Central

Dow, Douglas E.; Zhan, Wen-Zhi; Sieck, Gary C.; Mantilla, Carlos B.

2014-01-01

Respiration is impaired by disruption of the central drive for inspiration to the diaphragm muscle (DIAm). Some function may recover involving nerve regeneration, reinnervation or neuroplasticity. A research animal model involves inducing hemiparesis of the DIAm and monitoring any recovery under different conditions. Methods to accurately track the level of functional recovery are needed. In this study, an algorithm was developed and tested to quantify the relative amount of electromyogram (EMG) activity that temporally correlated for an experimental (EXP) hemi-DIAm with its intact contralateral hemi-DIAm. An average rectified value (ARV) trace was calculated. A template was formed of the ARV trace of the intact hemi-DIAm, with higher positive values corresponding with periods of inspirations and lower negative values corresponding with quiet periods. This template was multiplied by the EXP ARV trace to reward (more positive) periods of correlating activity, and punish (more negative) periods of high activity on the EXP side that corresponded with quiet periods on the intact side. The average integrated value was the index of correlating contralateral activity (ICCA). A negative ICCA value indicated no net correlation of activity, and a positive value indicated a net correlation of activity. The algorithm was tested on rats having the conditions of control or hemi-paresis induced by denervatation (DNV), tetrodotoxin administration (TTX) or cervical spinal hemi-section (SH). Control had high positive ICCA values, and DNV had negative values. TTX maintained negative ICCA values at 3, 7 and 14 days, indicating a lack of functional recovery. SH maintained negative values at 3 and 7 days, but a subset had positive values at 14 days indicating some functional recovery. PMID:19965125

Lymph node culture

MedlinePlus

A normal result means there was no growth of microorganisms on the lab dish. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

Antithrombin III blood test

MedlinePlus

... thinning medicine does not work. Normal Results Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk ... to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch). The information provided herein ...

Trypsinogen test

MedlinePlus

... is also used to screen newborn babies for cystic fibrosis. Normal Results Normal value ranges may vary slightly ... to: Abnormal production of pancreatic enzymes Acute pancreatitis Cystic fibrosis Pancreatic cancer Low or normal levels may be ...

Evaluation of statistical models for forecast errors from the HBV model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Engeland, Kolbjørn; Renard, Benjamin; Steinsland, Ingelin; Kolberg, Sjur

2010-04-01

SummaryThree statistical models for the forecast errors for inflow into the Langvatn reservoir in Northern Norway have been constructed and tested according to the agreement between (i) the forecast distribution and the observations and (ii) median values of the forecast distribution and the observations. For the first model observed and forecasted inflows were transformed by the Box-Cox transformation before a first order auto-regressive model was constructed for the forecast errors. The parameters were conditioned on weather classes. In the second model the Normal Quantile Transformation (NQT) was applied on observed and forecasted inflows before a similar first order auto-regressive model was constructed for the forecast errors. For the third model positive and negative errors were modeled separately. The errors were first NQT-transformed before conditioning the mean error values on climate, forecasted inflow and yesterday's error. To test the three models we applied three criterions: we wanted (a) the forecast distribution to be reliable; (b) the forecast intervals to be narrow; (c) the median values of the forecast distribution to be close to the observed values. Models 1 and 2 gave almost identical results. The median values improved the forecast with Nash-Sutcliffe R eff increasing from 0.77 for the original forecast to 0.87 for the corrected forecasts. Models 1 and 2 over-estimated the forecast intervals but gave the narrowest intervals. Their main drawback was that the distributions are less reliable than Model 3. For Model 3 the median values did not fit well since the auto-correlation was not accounted for. Since Model 3 did not benefit from the potential variance reduction that lies in bias estimation and removal it gave on average wider forecasts intervals than the two other models. At the same time Model 3 on average slightly under-estimated the forecast intervals, probably explained by the use of average measures to evaluate the fit.

CA-125 blood test

MedlinePlus

... above 35 U/mL is considered abnormal. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some ... 125 usually does not mean ovarian cancer is present. Most healthy women with an elevated CA-125 ...

77 FR 217 - Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment; Ambulatory Surgical...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-01-04

... Donald Howard, (410) 786-6764, Hospital Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program Issues. SUPPLEMENTARY... analyses performed by Brandeis University and Mathematica Policy Research together despite their slightly...

Bias-induced conformational switching of supramolecular networks of trimesic acid at the solid-liquid interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ubink, J.; Enache, M.; Stöhr, M.

2018-05-01

Using the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope, an electric field-induced reversible phase transition between two planar porous structures ("chickenwire" and "flower") of trimesic acid was accomplished at the nonanoic acid/highly oriented pyrolytic graphite interface. The chickenwire structure was exclusively observed for negative sample bias, while for positive sample bias only the more densely packed flower structure was found. We suggest that the slightly negatively charged carboxyl groups of the trimesic acid molecule are the determining factor for this observation: their adsorption behavior varies with the sample bias and is thus responsible for the switching behavior.

Local and global stability for Lotka-Volterra systems with distributed delays and instantaneous negative feedbacks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Faria, Teresa; Oliveira, José J.

This paper addresses the local and global stability of n-dimensional Lotka-Volterra systems with distributed delays and instantaneous negative feedbacks. Necessary and sufficient conditions for local stability independent of the choice of the delay functions are given, by imposing a weak nondelayed diagonal dominance which cancels the delayed competition effect. The global asymptotic stability of positive equilibria is established under conditions slightly stronger than the ones required for the linear stability. For the case of monotone interactions, however, sharper conditions are presented. This paper generalizes known results for discrete delays to systems with distributed delays. Several applications illustrate the results.

Long-term trend of foE in European higher middle latitudes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laštovička, Jan

2016-04-01

Long-term changes and trends have been observed in the whole ionosphere below its maximum. As concerns the E region, historical global data (Bremer, 2008) provide predominantly slightly positive trend, even though some stations provide a negative trend. Here we use data of two European stations with the best long data series of parameters of the ionospheric E layer, Slough/Chilton and Juliusruh over 1975-2014 (40 years). Noon-time medians (10-14 LT) are analyzed. The trend pattern after removing solar influence is complex. For yearly average values for Chilton first foE is decreasing in 1975-1990 by about 0.1 MHz, then the trend levels off or a little increase occurs in 1990-2004, and finally in 2004-2014 again a decrease is observed (again by about 0.1 MHz but over shorter period). Juliusruh yields a similar pattern. Similar analysis is also done for some months to check seasonal dependence of trends. The stability of relation between solar activity and foE is tested to clarify potential role of this factor in apparent trend of foE.

Investigation of the flatband voltage (V(FB)) shift of Al2O3 on N2 plasma treated Si substrate.

PubMed

Kim, Hyungchul; Lee, Jaesang; Jeon, Heeyoung; Park, Jingyu; Jeon, Hyeongtag

2013-09-01

The relationships between the physical and electrical characteristics of films treated with N2 plasma followed by forming gas annealing (FGA) were investigated. The Si substrates were treated with various radio frequency (RF) power levels under a N2 ambient. Al2O3 films were then deposited on Si substrates via remote plasma atomic-layer deposition. The plasma characteristics, such as the radical and ion density, were investigated using optical emission spectroscopy. Through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the chemical-bonding configurations of the samples treated with N2 plasma and FGA were examined. The quantity of Si-N bonds increased as the RF power was increased, and Si--O--N bonds were generated after FGA. The flatband voltage (VFB) was shifted in the negative direction with increasing RF power, but the VFB values of the samples after FGA shifted in the positive direction due to the formation of Si--O--N bonds. N2 plasma treatment with various RF power levels slightly increased the leakage current due to the generation of defect sites.

Linear solvation energy relationship (LSER) characterization of the normal phase retention mechanism on hypercrosslinked polystyrenes.

PubMed

Wu, Di; Jiang, Ping; Lucy, Charles A

2018-03-30

Linear solvation energy relationships (LSERs) were applied to retention on hypercrosslinked polystyrene on silica (HC-Tol) to elucidate the type and relative importance of molecular interactions between model solutes and the HC-Tol stationary phase. Classical amino phase and another hypercrosslinked phase (5-HGN) were used as reference columns. On both the HC-Tol and amino, polar interactions predominate and contribute to retention. Solute volume V has no impact on retention on the amino column, while V has a slightly negative influence on retention for the HC-Tol column. The differences in coefficient v between the amino and the HC-Tol columns might explain why the HC-Tol is capable of group-type separations. 5-HGN phase has smaller a and b values compared to HC-Tol, which means that 5-HGN is not as basic or acidic in terms of hydrogen bonds as is HC-Tol. This suggests that the hydrogen bonding character of the HC-Tol phase arises from its silica substrate. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The differences in crown formation during the splash on the thin water layers formed on the saturated soil surface and model surface

PubMed Central

Mazur, Rafał; Polakowski, Cezary; Bieganowski, Andrzej

2017-01-01

Splash is the first stage of a negative phenomenon–soil erosion. The aim of this work was to describe the crown formation quantitatively (as part of the splash erosion) and compare the course of this phenomenon on the thin water film formed on a smooth glass surface and on the surface of saturated soil. The height of the falling water drop was 1.5 m. The observation of the crowns was carried out by high-speed cameras. The static and dynamic parameters of crown formation were analysed. It was found that the crowns formed on the water film covering the saturated soil surface were smaller and the time intervals of their existence were shorter. In addition, the shapes of the crowns were different from those created on the water layer covering the glass surface. These differences can be explained by the slightly different values of surface tension and viscosity of the soil solution, the greater roughness of the soil surface and the lower thickness of the water film on the soil surface. PMID:28750072

Dose-dependent heart rate reducing effect of nizatidine, a histamine H2-receptor antagonist.

PubMed Central

Hinrichsen, H; Halabi, A; Fuhrmann, G; Kirch, W

1993-01-01

1. Twelve healthy subjects were treated in a randomised placebo-controlled crossover study with placebo, 150 mg, 300 mg, and 600 mg nizatidine, 100 mg pirenzepine, and 300 mg nizatidine plus 100 mg pirenzepine for 1 week each. 2. On the seventh treatment day, heart rate, blood pressure, systolic time intervals, impedance cardiographic and Doppler ultrasound variables were measured. 3. Stroke volume and blood pressure were not altered by nizatidine and/or pirenzepine. By contrast, heart rate and cardiac output significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in a dose-dependent manner 1.5 and 3 h after administration of 300 and 600 mg nizatidine. Treatment with 150 mg nizatidine led to similar though non-significant trends. 4. While a slightly insignificant rise in heart rate was detected with pirenzepine alone, heart rate and cardiac output remained unchanged upon combined nizatidine and pirenzepine treatment as compared with placebo and baseline values. 5. In conclusion, nizatidine reduced heart rate and cardiac output in a dose-dependent manner, whereas this negative chronotropic effect was counteracted by concurrent administration of the anti-cholinergic drug pirenzepine. PMID:8099802

Measurements of historical total ozone from the Chalonge-Divan stellar spectrum program: A reanalysis of the 1953-1972 data and a comparison with simultaneous Dobson Arosa measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Griffin, R. E. M.; Fioletov, V.; McConnell, J. C.

2006-06-01

We report new determinations of total ozone obtained by reanalyzing a unique set of astronomical observations that were made in the mid-20th century at observatories in France (Haute-Provence) and Switzerland (Jungfraujoch) for the purpose of calculating nightly atmospheric extinction coefficients in the UV (Rayleigh scattering and total ozone) as part of a program to measure absolute stellar fluxes. Only a small fraction of the original ozone results, corresponding to data obtained during 1958-1959, are in the public domain at the World Ozone and Ultraviolet Data Centre; the rest were on handwritten sheets and were stored at Haute-Provence. Both astronomical sites are close enough geographically to Arosa (Switzerland) that the respective ozone values can be compared directly. The comparison reveals a generally very close resemblance, even down to the pattern of daily variations, with a correlation coefficient of 0.78, but an overall negative bias of 6-7% in the stellar results. The bias appears to be slightly larger prior to 1958.

Thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of methane hydrate formed from compacted granular ice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Jie; Sun, Shicai; Liu, Changling; Meng, Qingguo

2018-05-01

Thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of pure methane hydrate samples, formed from compacted granular ice (0-75 μm), and were measured simultaneously by the transient plane source (TPS) technique. The temperature dependence was measured between 263.15 and 283.05 K, and the gas-phase pressure dependence was measured between 2 and 10 MPa. It is revealed that the thermal conductivity of pure methane hydrate exhibits a positive trend with temperature and increases from 0.4877 to 0.5467 W·m-1·K-1. The thermal diffusivity of methane hydrate has inverse dependence on temperature and the values in the temperature range from 0.2940 to 0.3754 mm2·s-1, which is more than twice that of water. The experimental results show that the effects of gas-phase pressure on the thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity are very small. Thermal conductivity of methane hydrate is found to have weakly positive gas-phase pressure dependence, whereas the thermal diffusivity has slightly negative trend with gas-phase pressure.

Cathode fall model and current-voltage characteristics of field emission driven direct current microplasmas

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

Venkattraman, Ayyaswamy

2013-11-15

The post-breakdown characteristics of field emission driven microplasma are studied theoretically and numerically. A cathode fall model assuming a linearly varying electric field is used to obtain equations governing the operation of steady state field emission driven microplasmas. The results obtained from the model by solving these equations are compared with particle-in-cell with Monte Carlo collisions simulation results for parameters including the plasma potential, cathode fall thickness, ion number density in the cathode fall, and current density vs voltage curves. The model shows good overall agreement with the simulations but results in slightly overpredicted values for the plasma potential andmore » the cathode fall thickness attributed to the assumed electric field profile. The current density vs voltage curves obtained show an arc region characterized by negative slope as well as an abnormal glow discharge characterized by a positive slope in gaps as small as 10 μm operating at atmospheric pressure. The model also retrieves the traditional macroscale current vs voltage theory in the absence of field emission.« less

Impact of Smoking on Nutrition and the Food Poverty Level in Tanzania.

PubMed

Kidane, Asmerom; Mduma, John; Naho, Alexis; Hu, Teh Wei

2015-06-01

This study considers the effect of household cigarette expenditure on food poverty indicators in Tanzania. We first compare expenditure patterns as well as the household size of non-smokers and smokers. We find that the majority of non-smokers and smokers have low incomes, and that the mean total per capita expenditure (proxy for income) of non-smokers is slightly higher than those of smokers. On the other hand, the mean household size of non-smokers was smaller compared to that of smokers suggesting that smokers should have spent more on food. Next, we estimate and compare daily calorie intake between both groups. Almost 19 percent of non-smokers were found to be below the poverty line. The corresponding value for smokers was almost 24 percent. Estimates from a multiple linear regression on the determinants of per capita daily calorie intake reveal that per capita cigarette consumption appears to negatively affect daily calorie intake significantly. Given that the majority of all respondents belong to a low income group, this suggests that expenditure on cigarettes may be at the expense of calorie intake.

Crystallization and melting properties of mixtures of milk fat stearin and omega-3 rich oils.

PubMed

Li, Bing-Zheng; Truong, Tuyen; Bhandari, Bhesh

2017-03-01

Solid milk fat stearin (S 25 ) can be a promising oxidation retarder due to its capacity to entrap liquid oils, especially for incorporating omega-3 (ω-3) rich oils into dairy products. Thermal properties of S 25 /ω-3 rich oil mixtures are necessary for such application. The effects of S 25 on the crystallization and melting behaviours of ω-3 rich oils, namely fish oil (FO), linseed oil (LO) and krill oil (KO), were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Thermograms showed that with S 25 concentration increasing, transitions of FO and LO shifted to lower and largely to higher temperatures, respectively, while crystallization temperature of KO slightly decreased. Negative, positive and low values of interaction enthalpy (ΔH int ) suggested the adverse, beneficial and limited effect of S 25 on the crystallization of S 25 /FO, S 25 /LO and S 25 /KO mixtures, respectively. LO could have the best oxidative stability upon the addition of S 25 since their interactions facilitated earlier and stronger crystallization. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Binding interaction of atorvastatin with bovine serum albumin: Spectroscopic methods and molecular docking

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Qi; Huang, Chuan-ren; Jiang, Min; Zhu, Ying-yao; Wang, Jing; Chen, Jun; Shi, Jie-hua

2016-03-01

The interaction of atorvastatin with bovine serum albumin (BSA) was investigated using multi-spectroscopic methods and molecular docking technique for providing important insight into further elucidating the store and transport process of atorvastatin in the body and the mechanism of action and pharmacokinetics. The experimental results revealed that the fluorescence quenching mechanism of BSA induced atorvastatin was a combined dynamic and static quenching. The binding constant and number of binding site of atorvastatin with BSA under simulated physiological conditions (pH = 7.4) were 1.41 × 105 M- 1 and about 1 at 310 K, respectively. The values of the enthalpic change (ΔH0), entropic change (ΔS0) and Gibbs free energy (ΔG0) in the binding process of atorvastatin with BSA at 310 K were negative, suggesting that the binding process of atorvastatin and BSA was spontaneous and the main interaction forces were van der Waals force and hydrogen bonding interaction. Moreover, atorvastatin was bound into the subdomain IIA (site I) of BSA, resulting in a slight change of the conformation of BSA.

Recovery, statistical validation and analysis of a historical meteorological dataset collected at the Hanbury Botanical Gardens (Liguria, northwestern Italy) from 1900 to 1940

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vagge, Greta; Cutroneo, Laura; Gandolfi, Daniela; Ferretti, Gabriele; Scafidi, Davide; Capello, Marco

2018-05-01

A historical set of daily meteorological data collected at the Hanbury Botanical Gardens (Liguria, northwestern Italy) from 1900 to 1940 was recovered from five manually entered registers. They were digitised and statistically analysed to check their reliability and study their trends and variations. In particular, air temperature, precipitation and their extreme values were considered, together with wind direction, sea state, sky conditions and relative humidity. The results show a decreasing trend in mean annual temperature of approximately 0.2 °C/decade due to a decrease in maximum air temperature. Annual cumulative precipitation increased by 65.2 mm/decade over the study period. The data analysis showed a summer temperature decrease in 1912 and a severe drought in 1921. Moreover, the years with most days with extreme temperatures were associated to the negative phases of the North Atlantic oscillation (NAO). During the study period, SW winds were prevailing. Sky conditions followed seasonal trends, while slight sea was the most frequent sea state.

Effects of CaCO3 treatment on the morphology, crystallinity, rheology and hydrolysis of gelatinized maize starch dispersions.

PubMed

Garcia-Diaz, S; Hernandez-Jaimes, C; Escalona-Buendia, H B; Bello-Perez, L A; Vernon-Carter, E J; Alvarez-Ramirez, J

2016-09-15

Using calcium salts instead of lime allows for an ecological nixtamalization of maize grains, where the negative contamination impact of the traditional lime nixtamalization is reduced. This work assessed the effects of calcium carbonate (0.0-2.0%w/w CaCO3) on the morphology, crystallinity, rheology and hydrolysis of gelatinized maize starch dispersions (GMSD). Microscopy analysis showed that CaCO3 changed the morphology of insoluble remnants (ghosts) and decreased the degree of syneresis. Analysis of particle size distribution showed a slight shift to smaller sizes as the CaCO3 was increased. Also, X-ray patterns indicated that crystallinity achieved a minimum value at CaCO3 concentration in the range of 1%w/w. GMSD with higher CaCO3 concentrations exhibited higher thixotropy area and complex viscoelastic behavior that was frequency dependent. A possible mechanism involved in the starch chain modification by CaCO3 is that starch may act as a weak acid ion exchanger capable of exchanging alcoholic group protons for cations (Ca(+2)). Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The differences in crown formation during the splash on the thin water layers formed on the saturated soil surface and model surface.

PubMed

Beczek, Michał; Ryżak, Magdalena; Sochan, Agata; Mazur, Rafał; Polakowski, Cezary; Bieganowski, Andrzej

2017-01-01

Splash is the first stage of a negative phenomenon-soil erosion. The aim of this work was to describe the crown formation quantitatively (as part of the splash erosion) and compare the course of this phenomenon on the thin water film formed on a smooth glass surface and on the surface of saturated soil. The height of the falling water drop was 1.5 m. The observation of the crowns was carried out by high-speed cameras. The static and dynamic parameters of crown formation were analysed. It was found that the crowns formed on the water film covering the saturated soil surface were smaller and the time intervals of their existence were shorter. In addition, the shapes of the crowns were different from those created on the water layer covering the glass surface. These differences can be explained by the slightly different values of surface tension and viscosity of the soil solution, the greater roughness of the soil surface and the lower thickness of the water film on the soil surface.

Enhanced photochemical conversion of NO2 to HONO on humic acids in the presence of benzophenone.

PubMed

Han, Chong; Yang, Wangjin; Yang, He; Xue, Xiangxin

2017-12-01

The photochemical conversion of NO 2 to HONO on humic acids (HA) in the presence of benzophenone (BP) was investigated using a flow tube reactor coupled to a NO x analyzer at ambient pressure. BP significantly enhanced the reduction of NO 2 to HONO on HA under simulated sunlight, as shown by the increase of NO 2 uptake coefficient (γ) and HONO yield with the mass ratio of BP to HA. The γ and HONO yield on the mixtures of HA and BP obviously depended on the environmental conditions. Both γ and HONO yield increased with the increase of irradiation intensity and temperature, whereas they decreased with pH. The γ exhibited a negative dependence on the NO 2 concentration, which had slight influences on the HONO yield. There were maximum values for the γ and HONO yield at relative humidity (RH) of 22%. Finally, atmospheric implications about the photochemical reaction of NO 2 and HA in the presence of photosensitive species were discussed. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Assessment of real-time PCR cycle threshold values in Microsporum canis culture-positive and culture-negative cats in an animal shelter: a field study.

PubMed

Jacobson, Linda S; McIntyre, Lauren; Mykusz, Jenny

2018-02-01

Objectives Real-time PCR provides quantitative information, recorded as the cycle threshold (Ct) value, about the number of organisms detected in a diagnostic sample. The Ct value correlates with the number of copies of the target organism in an inversely proportional and exponential relationship. The aim of the study was to determine whether Ct values could be used to distinguish between culture-positive and culture-negative samples. Methods This was a retrospective analysis of Ct values from dermatophyte PCR results in cats with suspicious skin lesions or suspected exposure to dermatophytosis. Results One hundred and thirty-two samples were included. Using culture as the gold standard, 28 were true positives, 12 were false positives and 92 were true negatives. The area under the curve for the pretreatment time point was 96.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 94.2-99.5) compared with 74.3% (95% CI 52.6-96.0) for pooled data during treatment. Before treatment, a Ct cut-off of <35.7 (approximate DNA count 300) provided a sensitivity of 92.3% and specificity of 95.2%. There was no reliable cut-off Ct value between culture-positive and culture-negative samples during treatment. Ct values prior to treatment differed significantly between the true-positive and false-positive groups ( P = 0.0056). There was a significant difference between the pretreatment and first and second negative culture time points ( P = 0.0002 and P <0.0001, respectively). However, there was substantial overlap between Ct values for true positives and true negatives, and for pre- and intra-treatment time points. Conclusions and relevance Ct values had limited usefulness for distinguishing between culture-positive and culture-negative cases when field study samples were analyzed. In addition, Ct values were less reliable than fungal culture for determining mycological cure.

Preliminary study of the distribution of gaseous mercury species in the air of Guiyang city, China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shang, L.; Feng, X.; Zheng, W.; Yan, H.

2003-05-01

Total gaseous mercury (TGM) in ambient air consists of Hg^0 and reactive gaseous mercury (RGM) in general. Although RGM only constitutes a small portion of TGM in the air, it contributes the most to both dry and wet deposition of mercury from the atmosphere. TGM and RGM concentrations in ambient air at one site of Guiyang City were determined in March 2002. TGM concentrations were monitored using an automated mercury vapor analyzer Tekran2537A, and RGM in ambient air was sampled using KCI coated tubular denuders. The sampled RGM denuders were analyzed using thermal desorption coupled with CVAFS detection. The average concentrations of TGM and RGM are 7.09 ng m^{-3} and 37.5pg m^{-3} respectively during the sampling period. The primary anthropogenic source for both Hg^0 and RGM is coal combustion in the study area. TGM concentrations are significantly elevated comparing to the global background values, whereas RGM concentrations are only slightly higher than the reported values in remote areas in Europe and US. RGM only constitutes 0.5% ofTGM in the air at the sampling period. There is a significant negative correlation between RGM concentration and relative humidity (RH), with a coefficient correlation of 0.39 (α<0.01). High relative humidity during the sampling is responsible for the relatively low RGM concentrations observed.

People Like Logical Truth: Testing the Intuitive Detection of Logical Value in Basic Propositions.

PubMed

Nakamura, Hiroko; Kawaguchi, Jun

2016-01-01

Recent studies on logical reasoning have suggested that people are intuitively aware of the logical validity of syllogisms or that they intuitively detect conflict between heuristic responses and logical norms via slight changes in their feelings. According to logical intuition studies, logically valid or heuristic logic no-conflict reasoning is fluently processed and induces positive feelings without conscious awareness. One criticism states that such effects of logicality disappear when confounding factors such as the content of syllogisms are controlled. The present study used abstract propositions and tested whether people intuitively detect logical value. Experiment 1 presented four logical propositions (conjunctive, biconditional, conditional, and material implications) regarding a target case and asked the participants to rate the extent to which they liked the statement. Experiment 2 tested the effects of matching bias, as well as intuitive logic, on the reasoners' feelings by manipulating whether the antecedent or consequent (or both) of the conditional was affirmed or negated. The results showed that both logicality and matching bias affected the reasoners' feelings, and people preferred logically true targets over logically false ones for all forms of propositions. These results suggest that people intuitively detect what is true from what is false during abstract reasoning. Additionally, a Bayesian mixed model meta-analysis of conditionals indicated that people's intuitive interpretation of the conditional "if p then q" fits better with the conditional probability, q given p.

Energy content of municipal solid waste bales.

PubMed

Ozbay, Ismail; Durmusoglu, Ertan

2013-07-01

Baling technology is a preferred method for temporary storage of municipal solid waste (MSW) prior to final disposal. If incineration is intended for final disposal of the bales, the energy content of the baled MSW gains importance. In this study, nine cylindrical bales containing a mix of different waste materials were constructed and several parameters, including total carbon (TC), total organic carbon (TOC), total Kjeldahl nitrogen, moisture content, loss on ignition, gross calorific value and net calorific value (NCV) were determined before the baling and at the end of 10 months of storage. In addition, the relationships between the waste materials and the energy contents of the bales were investigated by the bivariate correlation analyses. At the end, linear regression models were developed in order to forecast the decrease of energy content during storage. While the NCVs of the waste materials before the baling ranged between 6.2 and 23.7 MJ kg(-1) dry basis, they ranged from 1.0 to 16.4 MJ kg(-1) dry basis at the end of the storage period. Moreover, food wastes exhibited the highest negative correlation with NCVs, whereas plastics have significant positive correlation with both NCVs and TCs. Similarly, TOCs and carbon/nitrogen ratios decreased with the increase in food amounts inside the bales. In addition, textile, wood and yard wastes increase the energy content of the bales slightly over the storage period.

Amino acid cycling in the Mississippi River Plume and effects from the passage of Hurricanes Isadore and Lili

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bianchi, Thomas S.; Grace, Bryan L.; Carman, Kevin R.; Maulana, Ivan

2014-08-01

We present data on the effects of Hurricanes Isadore and Lili on the spatial and temporal variations in concentrations of amino acids, and other bulk dissolved and particulate constituents in surface waters of the Mississippi River Plume (MRP) collected during 3 survey cruises (March 2002, October 2002, and April 2004). Abiotic factors (e.g., particle sorption and sediment resuspension) had the largest contribution in describing DAA and PAA dynamics in the MRP. The range of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) (88.61 to 699.90 μM) and particulate organic carbon (POC) (0.08 to 32.72 μM) values was slightly higher than the range observed for a broader region of the Louisiana shelf, but in general agreed with peak values at the mid-salinity range of the plume. The positive and negative correlations between acidic (e.g., aspartic acid and glutamic acid) and basic (e.g., histidine and arginine) DAA and salinity, respectively, in the MRP, were largely controlled by differential partitioning of amino acids with suspended sediments. Concentrations of β-alanine, γ-aminobutyric acid, and δ-aminovaleric acid were significantly higher during October 2002 compared to spring sampling events, due to resuspension of shelf sediments caused by the recent passage of Hurricane Isadore and the approach of Hurricane Lili, as it entered the Gulf of Mexico during our sampling.

Fluoroscopic and radiographic evaluation of tracheal collapse in dogs: 62 cases (2001-2006).

PubMed

Macready, Dawn M; Johnson, Lynelle R; Pollard, Rachel E

2007-06-15

To compare the use of radiography and fluoroscopy for detection and grading of tracheal collapse in dogs. Retrospective case series. Animals-62 dogs with tracheal collapse. For each dog, tracheal collapse was confirmed fluoroscopically and lateral cervical and thoracic radiographic views were reviewed. A board-certified radiologist (who was unaware of the dogs' clinical history) evaluated the cervical, thoracic inlet, thoracic, carinal, and main stem bronchial regions in all fluoroscopic videos and radiographic images for evidence of collapse. Cervical, thoracic inlet, thoracic, and carinal regions in both radio-graphic and fluoroscopic studies were graded for collapse (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% decrease in diameter). Lateral cervical and thoracic radiographic images were available for 54 dogs, and inspiratory and expiratory lateral cervical and thoracic radiographic images were available for 8 dogs. For detection of tracheal collapse, assessment of radiographic views was sensitive and had the best negative predictive value in the cervical and thoracic inlet regions. Assessment of radiographic views was most specific and had the best positive predictive value in the thoracic inlet, thoracic, carina, and main stem bronchial regions. Radiography underestimated the degree of collapse in all areas. Review of inspiratory and expiratory views improved the accuracy of radiography for tracheal collapse diagnosis only slightly. Compared with fluoroscopy, radiography underestimated the frequency and degree of tracheal collapse. However, radiography appears to be useful for screening dogs with potential tracheal collapse.

Does individualism bring happiness? Negative effects of individualism on interpersonal relationships and happiness

PubMed Central

Ogihara, Yuji; Uchida, Yukiko

2014-01-01

We examined the negative effects of individualism in an East Asian culture. Although individualistic systems decrease interpersonal relationships through competition, individualistic values have prevailed in European American cultures. One reason is because individuals could overcome negativity by actively constructing interpersonal relationships. In contrast, people in East Asian cultures do not have such strategies to overcome the negative impact of individualistic systems, leading to decreased well-being. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the relationship between individualistic values, number of close friends, and subjective well-being (SWB). Study 1 indicated that individualistic values were negatively related with the number of close friends and SWB for Japanese college students but not for American college students. Moreover, Study 2 showed that even in an individualistic workplace in Japan, individualistic values were negatively related with the number of close friends and SWB. We discuss how cultural change toward increasing individualism might affect interpersonal relationships and well-being. PMID:24634663

Nitroblue tetrazolium test

MedlinePlus

... infections. Normal value ranges may vary slightly from one lab to another. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your test results. What Abnormal Results Mean If the sample does not change color when NBT is added, ...

PET Index of Bone Glucose Metabolism (PIBGM) Classification of PET/CT Data for Fever of Unknown Origin Diagnosis

PubMed Central

Yang, Jian; Liu, Xinxin; Ai, Danni; Fan, Jingfan; Zheng, Youjing; Li, Fang; Huo, Li; Wang, Yongtian

2015-01-01

Objectives Fever of unknown origin (FUO) remains a challenge in clinical practice. Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is helpful in diagnosing the etiology of FUO. This paper aims to develop a completely automatic classification method based on PET/CT data for the computer-assisted diagnosis of FUO. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the FDG PET/CT scan of 175 FUO patients, 79 males and 96 females. The final diagnosis of all FUO patients was achieved through pathology or clinical evaluation, including 108 normal patients and 67 FUO patients. CT anatomic information was used to acquire bone functional information from PET images. The skeletal system of FUO patients was classified by analyzing the standardized uptake value (SUV) and the PET index of bone glucose metabolism (PIBGM). The SUV distributions in the bone marrow and the bone cortex were also studied in detail. Results The SUV and PIBGM of the bone marrow only slightly differed between the FUO patients and normal people, whereas the SUV of whole bone structures and the PIBGM of the bone cortex significantly differed between the normal people and FUO patients. The method detected 43 patients from 67 FUO patients, with sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of 64.18%, 95%, 93.48%, 72.73%, and 83.33%, respectively. Conclusion The experimental results demonstrate that the study can achieve automatic classification of FUO patients by the proposed novel biomarker of PIBGM, which has the potential to be utilized in clinical practice. PMID:26076139

The effects of a whole-watershed calcium addition on the chemistry of stream storm events at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in NH, USA.

PubMed

Cho, Youngil; Driscoll, Charles T; Blum, Joel D

2009-10-01

Patterns of storm runoff chemistry from a wollastonite (calcium-silicate mineral, CaSiO(3)) treated watershed (W1) were compared with a reference watershed (W6) at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest (HBEF) in New Hampshire (NH), USA to investigate the role of Ca(2+) supply in the acid-base status of stream chemistry. In the summer of 2003, six storm events were studied in W1 and W6 to evaluate the effects of the wollastonite treatment on the episodic acidification of stream waters. Although mean values of Ca(2+) concentrations decreased slightly from 33.8 to 31.7 mumol/L with increasing stream discharge in W1 during the events, the mean value of acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) was positive (1.2 mueq/L) during storm events, compared to negative values (-0.2 mueq/L) in W6. This pattern is presumably due to enhanced Ca(2+) supply in W1 (20.7 to 29.0% of dissolved Ca(2+) derived from the added wollastonite) to stream water as a result of interflow along shallow flowpaths. In addition, the application of wollastonite increased pH and dissolved silica (H(4)SiO(4)) concentrations, and decreased the concentration of inorganic monomeric Al (Al(i)) in W1 in comparison with W6 during storm events. Despite an increase in SO(4)(2-) concentration, likely due to desorption of sulfate from soil after the treatment, the watershed showed an increase in ANC compared to the reference watershed, serving to mitigate episodic acidification.

Non-invasive coronary angiography: the clinical value of multi-slice computed tomography in the assessment of patients with prior coronary bypass surgery. Evaluating grafts and native vessels.

PubMed

von Kiedrowski, Helge; Wiemer, Marcus; Franzke, Krista; Preuss, Rainer; Vaske, Bernhard; Butz, Thomas; Oldenburg, Olaf; Bitter, Thomas; Mahmood, Khalid; Burchert, Wolfram; Horstkotte, Dieter; Langer, Christoph

2009-02-01

Contrast enhanced multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) is the leading modality in non-invasive coronary angiography (CTA) today. We investigated MSCT based assessment of coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG) by analyzing assets and drawbacks of CTA in order to define demands on latest technology. In a clinical setting 39 CABG patients (69.2 +/- 1.4 years; male n = 36) underwent CTA (collimation 16 x 0.75 mm, contrast medium 100 ml; 320 mAs, 120 KV). Ninety-seven CABG (61 venous, 36 arterial grafts) were evaluated. A subgroup of 18 patients underwent additional invasive coronary angiography (CA). CTA for CABG assessment resulted in an overall sensitivity (sens.) of 100%, specificity (spec.) of 92.4% and positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV) of 60% and 100%, respectively. CABG anastomoses showed slightly inferior diagnostic accuracy than other CABG segments. Limitations in imaging quality caused 21% unevaluable segments of the CABG anastomoses. Evaluation of native vessel segments proximal and distal to the anastomoses resulted in a sens, spec, PPV and NPV of 57.5, 94.6, 92 and 67.3%, respectively. With 28.5% unevaluable segments, the native vessel segments showed serious limitations in imaging quality. Radiation exposure was 9.88 +/- 3.20 mSv (9.69 +/- 3.25 mSv male; 12.08 +/- 1.35 mSv female). 16-slice MSCT based CABG assessment offers sufficient diagnostic accuracy. However, focussing on the bypass anastomoses and the native revascularized coronary arteries, clinical value is limited.

Combined ultrasound-guided cutting-needle biopsy and standard pleural biopsy for diagnosis of malignant pleural effusions.

PubMed

Wang, Jinlin; Zhou, Xinghua; Xie, Xiaohong; Tang, Qing; Shen, Panxiao; Zeng, Yunxiang

2016-11-17

The most efficient approach to diagnose malignant pleural effusions (MPEs) is still controversial and uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of a combined approach using ultrasound (US)-guided cutting-needle biopsy (CNB) and standard pleural biopsy (SPB) for diagnosing MPE. Pleural effusions were collected from 172 patients for biochemical and microbiological analyses. US-guided CNB and SPB were performed in the same operation sequentially to obtain specimens for histological analysis. US-guided CNB and SPB procedures provided adequate material for histological analysis in 90.7 and 93.0% of cases, respectively, while a combination of the 2 techniques was in 96.5% of cases. The sensitivity, specificity, positive-predictive value (PPV), negative-predictive value (NPV) and diagnostic accuracy of US-guided CNB versus SPB were: 51.2 vs 63.4%, 100 vs 100%, 100 vs 100%, 64.9 vs 72.2% and 74.4 vs 81.3%, respectively. When CNB was combined with SPB, the corresponding values were 88.6, 100, 100, 88.6 and 93.9%, respectively. Whereas sensitivity, NPV and diagnostic accuracy were not significantly different between CNB and SPB, the combination of CNB and SPB significantly improved the sensitivity, NPV and diagnostic accuracy versus each technique alone (p < 0.05). Significant pain (eight patients), moderate haemoptysis (two patients) and chest wall haematomas (two patients) were observed following CNB, while syncope (four patients) and a slight pneumothorax (four patients) were observed following SPB. Use of a combination of US-guided CNB and SPB afforded a high sensitivity to diagnose MPEs, it is a convenient and safe approach.

Magnetic moment enhancement and spin polarization switch of the manganese phthalocyanine molecule on an IrMn(100) surface

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

Sun, X.; National Institute for Materials Science, 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba 305-0047; Wang, B.

2014-07-21

The geometric, electronic, and magnetic structures of a manganese phthalocyanine (MnPc) molecule on an antiferromagnetic IrMn(100) surface are studied by density functional theory calculations. Two kinds of orientation of the adsorbed MnPc molecule are predicted to coexist due to molecular self-assembly on the surface—a top-site geometry with the Mn–N bonds aligned along the 〈100〉 direction, and a hollow-site orientation in which the Mn–N bonds are parallel to the 〈110〉 direction. The MnPc molecule is antiferromagnetically coupled to the substrate at the top site with a slight reduction in the magnetic moment of the Mn atom of the MnPc molecule (Mn{submore » mol}). In contrast, the magnetic moment of the Mn{sub mol} is enhanced to 4.28 μB at the hollow site, a value larger than that in the free MnPc molecule (3.51 μB). Molecular distortion induced by adsorption is revealed to be responsible for the enhancement of the magnetic moment. Furthermore, the spin polarization of the Mn{sub mol} atom at around the Fermi level is found to change from negative to positive through an elongation of the Mn–N bonds of the MnPc. We propose that a reversible switch of the low/high magnetic moment and negative/positive spin polarization might be realized through some mechanical engineering methods.« less

Individualized correction of insulin measurement in hemolyzed serum samples.

PubMed

Wu, Zhi-Qi; Lu, Ju; Chen, Huanhuan; Chen, Wensen; Xu, Hua-Guo

2017-06-01

Insulin measurement plays a key role in the investigation of patients with hypoglycemia, subtype classification of diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance, and impaired beta cell function. However, even slight hemolysis can negatively affect insulin measurement due to RBC insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE). Here, we derived and validated an individualized correction equation in an attempt to eliminate the effects of hemolysis on insulin measurement. The effects of hemolysis on insulin measurement were studied by adding lysed self-RBCs to serum. A correction equation was derived, accounting for both percentage and exposure time of hemolysis. The performance of this individualized correction was evaluated in intentionally hemolyzed samples. Insulin concentration decreased with increasing percentage and exposure time of hemolysis. Based on the effects of hemolysis on insulin measurement of 17 donors (baseline insulin concentrations ranged from 156 to 2119 pmol/L), the individualized hemolysis correction equation was derived: INS corr  = INS meas /(0.705lgHb plasma /Hb serum  - 0.001Time - 0.612). This equation can revert insulin concentrations of the intentionally hemolyzed samples to values that were statistically not different from the corresponding insulin baseline concentrations (p = 0.1564). Hemolysis could lead to a negative interference on insulin measurement; by individualized hemolysis correction equation for insulin measurement, we can correct and report reliable serum insulin results for a wide range of degrees of sample hemolysis. This correction would increase diagnostic accuracy, reduce inappropriate therapeutic decisions, and improve patient satisfaction with care.

Critical Elements in Fly Ash from the Combustion of Bituminous Coal in Major Polish Power Plants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bielowicz, Barbara; Botor, Dariusz; Misiak, Jacek; Wagner, Marian

2018-03-01

The concentration of critical elements, including such REE as Fe, Co, W, Zn, Cr, Ni, V, Mn, Ti, Ag, Ga, Ta, Sr, Li, and Cu, in the so-called fly ash obtained from the 9 Polish power plants and 1 thermal power station has been determined. The obtained values, compared with the global average concentration in bituminous coal ash and sedimentary rocks (Clarke values), have shown that the enrichment of fly ash in the specified elements takes place in only a few bituminous coal processing sites in Poland. The enrichment factor (EF) is only slightly higher (the same order of magnitude) than the Clarke values. The enrichment factor in relation to the Clarke value in the Earth's crust reached values above 10 in all of the examined ashes for the following elements: Cr, Ni, V, W, and, in some ash samples, also Cu and Zn. The obtained values are low, only slightly higher than the global average concentrations in sedimentary rocks and bituminous coal ashes. The ferromagnetic grains (microspheres) found in bituminous coal fly ashes seem to be the most economically prospective in recovery of selected critical elements. The microanalysis has shown that iron cenospheres and plerospheres in fly ash contain, in addition to enamel and iron oxides (magnetite and hematite), iron spinels enriched in Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, W, and Zn.

Lung function parameters of healthy Sri Lankan Tamil young adults.

PubMed

Balasubramaniam, M; Sivapalan, K; Thuvarathipan, R

2014-06-01

To establish reference norms of lung function parameters for healthy Sri Lankan Tamil young adults. Cross sectional study of Tamil students at the Faculty of Medicine, Jaffna. Healthy non smoking students of Sri Lankan Tamil ethnic group were enrolled. Age, height, weight, BMI and spirometric measurements (Micro Quark) were recorded in 267 participants (137 females and 130 males). Height was significantly correlated with (p<0.05) all the lung function parameters except FEV1%, PEFR and MEF75 in males. Prediction equations were derived by regression analysis based on the height as an independent variable. Predicted lung function values for a particular age and height were lower than values predicted for Pakistanis, Kelatanese Malaysians and eastern Indians. The values were comparable to south Indians in Madras. Our FVC values of males and VC of females were closer to Sri Lankan Sinhalese. FEV1 and FEF25-75 in males were slightly higher and FVC, FEV1 and FEF25-75 in females were slightly lower in Tamils. When mean values were compared, these parameters were significantly higher in Tamil males (p<0.001) and significantly lower in Tamil females (p<0.001). These values will be useful in interpreting lung function parameters of the particular age group as there are no published norms for Sri Lankan Tamils. However, our study sample was confined to medical students of 20-28 years which may explain the differences with Sinhalese.

The complex impact of risk and protective factors on suicide mortality: a study of the Ukrainian general population.

PubMed

Yur'yev, Andriy; Yur'yeva, Lyudmyla; Värnik, Peeter; Lumiste, Kaur; Värnik, Airi

2015-01-01

This study assesses the complex impact of risk and protective factors on suicide mortality in the Ukrainian general population. Data on suicide rates and socioeconomic and medical factors were obtained from the Ukrainian State Statistical Office, WHO, and the European Social Survey. Structural equation modeling was used for data analysis. Religion and education were negatively associated with suicide. The relationship between drug addiction/alcoholism and suicide was positive. The association between urbanization and suicide mortality was negative. The relationship between gross regional product (GRP) and female suicide was slightly negative. Religiosity was the protective factor most strongly linked with suicide mortality followed by urbanization. The harmful role of drug addiction and alcoholism was confirmed. The role of education and GRP is controversial. No striking gender differences were found.

Agreement between allergen-specific IgE assays and ensuing immunotherapy recommendations from four commercial laboratories in the USA.

PubMed

Plant, Jon D; Neradelik, Moni B; Polissar, Nayak L; Fadok, Valerie A; Scott, Brian A

2014-02-01

Canine allergen-specific IgE assays in the USA are not subjected to an independent laboratory reliability monitoring programme. The aim of this study was to evaluate the agreement of diagnostic results and treatment recommendations of four serum IgE assays commercially available in the USA. Replicate serum samples from 10 atopic dogs were submitted to each of four laboratories for allergen-specific IgE assays (ACTT(®) , VARL Liquid Gold, ALLERCEPT(®) and Greer(®) Aller-g-complete(®) ). The interlaboratory agreement of standard, regional panels and ensuing treatment recommendations were analysed with the kappa statistic (κ) to account for agreement that might occur merely by chance. Six comparisons of pairs of laboratories and overall agreement among laboratories were analysed for ungrouped allergens (as tested) and also with allergens grouped according to reported cross-reactivity and taxonomy. The overall chance-corrected agreement of the positive/negative test results for ungrouped and grouped allergens was slight (κ = 0.14 and 0.13, respectively). Subset analysis of the laboratory pair with the highest level of diagnostic agreement (κ = 0.36) found slight agreement (κ = 0.13) for ungrouped plants and fungi, but substantial agreement (κ = 0.71) for ungrouped mites. The overall agreement of the treatment recommendations was slight (κ = 0.11). Altogether, 85.1% of ungrouped allergen treatment recommendations were unique to one laboratory or another. Our study indicated that the choice of IgE assay may have a major influence on the positive/negative results and ensuing treatment recommendations. © 2014 The Authors. Veterinary Dermatology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of the ESVD and the ACVD.

[Photosynthetic physiological adaptabilities of Pinus tabulaeformis and Robinia pseudoacacia in the Loess Plateau].

PubMed

Zheng, Shu-xia; Shangguan, Zhou-ping

2007-01-01

With Yangling, Yongshou, Fuxian, Ansai, Mizhi and Shenmu, the s ix counties from the south to the north in the Loess Plateau as study sites, this paper studied thoe photosynthetic charac teristics and leaf traits of Pinus tabulaeformis and Robinia pseudoacacia. The results showed that among the six sites, there were significant differences in the photosynthetic rate (Pn), photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE), water use efficiency (WUE), leaf mass per area (LMA), nitrogen content (Nmass), and chlorophyll content (Chl) of P. tabulaeformis and R. pseudoacacia, suggesting that the photosynthetic capacity and leaf traits of the two species differed with sites. From the south to the north, the Pn, PNUE and WUE of P. tabulaeformis increased slightly while those of R. pseudoacacia decreased significantly, indicating that in drought habitat, P. tabulaef6rmis could still maintain high photosynthetic capacity, hut the photosynthetic capacity of R. pseudoacacia was greatly restrained. Also from the south to the north, the LMA of P. tabulaeformis and R. pseudoacacia had a slight increasing trend, while Nmass and Chl decreased slightly. The variation ranges of the three parameters were greater for R. pseudoacacia than for P. tabulaeformis, indicating that P. tabulaeformis had stronger drought-tolerant capability than R. pseudoacacia, which was not only exhibited in physiological metabolism, but also in leaf morphological acclimation. The correlation analysis between photosynthetic parameters and leaf traits of P. tabulaeformis and R. pseudoacacia in the six sites showed that there was a significant negative correlation between LMA and Nmass. The Pn and PNUE of both test species had no correlations with LMA and Nmass, but had significant positive correlation with Chl. The WUE of the species was negatively correlated with LMA, but positively correlated with Nmass.

Validation and optimisation of an ICD-10-coded case definition for sepsis using administrative health data.

PubMed

Jolley, Rachel J; Quan, Hude; Jetté, Nathalie; Sawka, Keri Jo; Diep, Lucy; Goliath, Jade; Roberts, Derek J; Yipp, Bryan G; Doig, Christopher J

2015-12-23

Administrative health data are important for health services and outcomes research. We optimised and validated in intensive care unit (ICU) patients an International Classification of Disease (ICD)-coded case definition for sepsis, and compared this with an existing definition. We also assessed the definition's performance in non-ICU (ward) patients. All adults (aged ≥ 18 years) admitted to a multisystem ICU with general medicosurgical ICU care from one of three tertiary care centres in the Calgary region in Alberta, Canada, between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2012 were included. Patient medical records were randomly selected and linked to the discharge abstract database. In ICU patients, we validated the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) ICD-10-CA (Canadian Revision)-coded definition for sepsis and severe sepsis against a reference standard medical chart review, and optimised this algorithm through examination of other conditions apparent in sepsis. Sensitivity (Sn), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated. Sepsis was present in 604 of 1001 ICU patients (60.4%). The CIHI ICD-10-CA-coded definition for sepsis had Sn (46.4%), Sp (98.7%), PPV (98.2%) and NPV (54.7%); and for severe sepsis had Sn (47.2%), Sp (97.5%), PPV (95.3%) and NPV (63.2%). The optimised ICD-coded algorithm for sepsis increased Sn by 25.5% and NPV by 11.9% with slightly lowered Sp (85.4%) and PPV (88.2%). For severe sepsis both Sn (65.1%) and NPV (70.1%) increased, while Sp (88.2%) and PPV (85.6%) decreased slightly. This study demonstrates that sepsis is highly undercoded in administrative data, thus under-ascertaining the true incidence of sepsis. The optimised ICD-coded definition has a higher validity with higher Sn and should be preferentially considered if used for surveillance purposes. 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/

Noncontrast MR angiography (MRA) of infragenual arteries using flow-sensitive dephasing (FSD)-prepared steady-state free precession (SSFP) at 3.0 Tesla: Comparison with contrast-enhanced MRA.

PubMed

Zhang, Nan; Fan, Zhaoyang; Luo, Nan; Bi, Xiaoming; Zhao, Yike; An, Jing; Liu, Jiayi; Chen, Zhong; Fan, Zhanming; Li, Debiao

2016-02-01

To evaluate the feasibility and diagnostic performance of flow-sensitive dephasing (FSD)-prepared steady-state free precession (SSFP) MR angiography (MRA) for imaging infragenual arteries at 3.0T, with contrast enhanced MR angiography (CE MRA) as reference. Twenty consecutive patients with suspicion of lower extremity arterial disease undergoing routine CE MRA were recruited. FSD MRA was performed at calf before CE MRA. Image quality and stenosis degree of infragenual arteries from both techniques were independently evaluated and compared. Six patients in this study underwent DSA examination. Three undiagnostic segments were excluded with severe venous contamination in CE MRA. A total of 197 calf arterial segments images were analyzed. No significant difference existed in the relative signal intensity (rSI) of arterial segments between FSD MRA and CE MRA techniques (0.92 ± 0.09 versus 0.93 ± 0.05; P = 0.207). However, the subjective image quality score was slightly higher in FSD MRA (3.66 ± 0.81 versus 3.49 ± 0.87; P = 0.050). With CE MRA images as reference standard, slight overestimation existed in FSD MRA (2.19 ± 1.24 versus 2.09 ± 1.18; P = 0.019), with total agreement of 84.3% on the basis of all arterial segments. The sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value of FSD MRA was 96.4%, 93.0%, 98.5%, and 84.1%. No significant difference in the stenosis degree score was detected between MRA (FSD MRA and CE MRA) and DSA (P > 0.05). FSD MRA performed on at 3.0T without the use of contrast medium provides diagnostic images allowing for arterial stenosis assessment of calf arteries that was highly comparable with CE MRA. Moreover, venous contamination was less problematic with FSD MRA. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The primate amygdala represents the positive and negative value of visual stimuli during learning

PubMed Central

Paton, Joseph J.; Belova, Marina A.; Morrison, Sara E.; Salzman, C. Daniel

2008-01-01

Visual stimuli can acquire positive or negative value through their association with rewards and punishments, a process called reinforcement learning. Although we now know a great deal about how the brain analyses visual information, we know little about how visual representations become linked with values. To study this process, we turned to the amygdala, a brain structure implicated in reinforcement learning1–5. We recorded the activity of individual amygdala neurons in monkeys while abstract images acquired either positive or negative value through conditioning. After monkeys had learned the initial associations, we reversed image value assignments. We examined neural responses in relation to these reversals in order to estimate the relative contribution to neural activity of the sensory properties of images and their conditioned values. Here we show that changes in the values of images modulate neural activity, and that this modulation occurs rapidly enough to account for, and correlates with, monkeys’ learning. Furthermore, distinct populations of neurons encode the positive and negative values of visual stimuli. Behavioural and physiological responses to visual stimuli may therefore be based in part on the plastic representation of value provided by the amygdala. PMID:16482160

Coccidioides complement fixation

MedlinePlus

... antibodies are detected in the blood sample. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your health care provider about the meaning of your specific test results.

Albumin - blood (serum)

MedlinePlus

The normal range is 3.4 to 5.4 g/dL (34 to 54 g/L). Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your provider about ...

Impacts of human activity and extreme weather events on sedimentary organic matter in the Andong salt marsh, Hangzhou Bay, China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Loh, Pei Sun; Cheng, Long-Xiu; Yuan, Hong-Wei; Yang, Lin; Lou, Zhang-Hua; Jin, Ai-Min; Chen, Xue-Gang; Lin, Yu-Shih; Chen, Chen-Tung Arthur

2018-02-01

In this study, lignin-derived phenols, stable carbon isotopes and bulk elemental compositions were determined along the length of two sediment cores (C1 and C2) from the Andong salt marsh, which is located southwest of Hangzhou Bay, China. The purpose of this study was to determine the short-term changes and their implications along sediment profiles. The 1997 high tide had caused an increase in the terrestrial organic matter (OM) signal from 1996/1997 to 2000 in both cores, which was indicated by a high Λ (total lignin in mg/100 mg OC), TOC, C/N and more negative δ13C values. The slight increases in terrestrial OM along the length of the cores between 2003 and 2006 were most likely attributable to the construction of the Hangzhou Bay Bridge. Both events have likely caused an increase in erosion, and thus, these events have increased the input of terrestrial OM to nearby areas. The effects of the distinctively dry year of 2006 can be observed along C2 between 2006 and 2008 in the steadily declining terrestrial OM signal. The overall slight decrease in terrestrial OM and the distinct increase in TOC along the length of both cores toward the present were most likely because of the overall reduced sediment caused by the trapping of materials within reservoirs. These results show that the reduction in terrestrial OM in the Andong salt marsh for the past 30 years was due to reservoirs and the 2006 drought, but this was counterbalanced by the 1997 high tide event and construction of the Hangzhou Bay Bridge, which resulted in increased erosion and terrestrial OM input.

Serum ionized calcium, intact PTH and novel markers of bone turnover in bedridden elderly patients.

PubMed

Sorva, A; Välimäki, M; Risteli, J; Risteli, L; Elfving, S; Takkunen, H; Tilvis, R

1994-12-01

Chronic immobilization could markedly affect calcium and bone metabolism in elderly people. To investigate this, and to test the theory of 'type II' osteoporosis in bedridden elderly patients with low vitamin D status, 55 such subjects were examined. Serum concentrations of ionized calcium (Ca++), intact parathyrin (PTH) and two novel markers of bone collagen formation (carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen; PICP) and resorption (carboxyterminal crosslinked telopeptide of type I collagen; ICTP) were measured. The effects on these parameters after 40 weeks of supplementation with vitamin D (1000 IU d-1) and/or calcium (1 g d-1) were subsequently prospectively evaluated. Despite low (mean 11.6 nmoll-1) serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels (25-OHD), those of 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D (1,25-(OH)2D) were mostly normal. Neither correlated with Ca++ or PTH. PTH correlated negatively not only with Ca++ (r = -0.328, P < 0.05) but also with ICTP (r = -0.306, P < 0.05). Mean PICP was normal but ICTP was elevated and tended to correlate positively with Ca++ (r = 0.268, P = 0.06). Vitamin D supplementation did not change PICP or ICTP considerably, despite slightly increased 1,25-(OH)2D and slightly decreased PTH. Ca++ values were normal and remained stable. In conclusion, Ca++ and PTH are poor indicators of vitamin D status in chronically immobilized elderly subjects. Furthermore, the results suggest that the increased bone resorption is not due to 'type II' secondary hyperparathyroidism; rather the resorption is primarily increased. Correction of vitamin D deficiency does not seem to benefit ageing bones unless adequate mechanical loading is provided.

Direct comparison of PI-RADS version 2 and version 1 regarding interreader agreement and diagnostic accuracy for the detection of clinically significant prostate cancer.

PubMed

Becker, Anton S; Cornelius, Alexander; Reiner, Cäcilia S; Stocker, Daniel; Ulbrich, Erika J; Barth, Borna K; Mortezavi, Ashkan; Eberli, Daniel; Donati, Olivio F

2017-09-01

to simultaneously evaluate interreader agreement and diagnostic accuracy in the of PI-RADS v2 and compare it to v1. A total of 67 patients (median age 65.3 y, range 51.2-78.2 y; PSA 6.8μg/L, 0.2-33μg/L) undergoing MRI of the prostate and subsequent transperineal template biopsy within ≤6 months from MRI were included. Four readers from two institutions evaluated the likelihood of prostate cancer using PI-RADS v1 and v2 in two separate reading sessions ≥3 months apart. Interreader agreement was assessed for each pulse-sequence and for total PI-RADS scores using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Differences were considered significant for non-overlapping 95%-confidence intervals. Diagnostic accuracy was assessed with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (A Z ). A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Interreader agreement for DCE-scores was good in v2 (ICC 2 =0.70; 95% CI: 0.66-0.74) and slightly lower in v1 (ICC 1 =0.64, 0.59-0.69). Agreement for DWI scores (ICC 1 =0.77, ICC 2 =0.76) as well as final PI-RADS scores per quadrant were nearly identical (ICC 1 =ICC 2 =0.71). Diagnostic accuracy showed no significant differences (p=0.09-0.93) between v1 and v2 in any of the readers (range: A Z =0.78-0.88). PI-RADS scores show similar interreader agreement in v2 and v1 at comparable diagnostic performance. The simplification of the DCE interpretation in v2 might slightly improve agreement while not negatively affecting diagnostic performance. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Examining the effect of gardening on vegetable consumption among youth in kindergarten through fifth grade.

PubMed

Wright, William; Rowell, Laura

2010-06-01

Funded by a grant from the makers of Hidden Valley Salad Dressings the objective of this study was to determine if the introduction of a school-wide gardening program would affect overall vegetable consumption among elementary school youth. The study's setting was Elmore Elementary, Green Bay, Wisconsin, 1 of 27 elementary schools in the Green Bay Area Public School District. The school's salad bar was used to measure changes in vegetable consumption during school lunch. School food service staff recorded the weight of vegetables selected from the salad bar. The daily total weight of vegetables selected from the salad bar was divided by the number of students purchasing lunch that day. The resulting factor (average grams per child) was charted to monitor changes in consumption. After approximately 10 weeks of data collection, a gardening program was introduced. Food service staff continued to record weights, allowing for a quantitative analysis of the group's consumption prior to, during, and postintervention. Selection of vegetables from the salad bar decreased (r = -.403) during the first 2 1/2 months of the study. During the intervention period, selection increased (r = .3940) and continued to show a slight rise postintervention (r = .2037). The negative trend in daily salad bar selection before intervention was reversed, and a steady increase per day was seen during the intervention period. This suggests that intervention helped increase consumption rates per student. Consumption continued to increase postintervention, although at a lesser rate than during intervention. The average daily value also showed a slight increase between intervention and postintervention. This suggests that gardening intervention lessons and activities were retained by the students after the lessons and activities were completed.

Severity assessment criteria recommended by the British Thoracic Society (BTS) for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and older patients. Should SOAR (systolic blood pressure, oxygenation, age and respiratory rate) criteria be used in older people? A compilation study of two prospective cohorts.

PubMed

Myint, Phyo K; Kamath, Ajay V; Vowler, Sarah L; Maisey, David N; Harrison, Brian D W

2006-05-01

To assess the usefulness of the British Thoracic Society guidelines for severity assessment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in predicting mortality and to explore alternative criteria which could be more useful in older patients. Compilation study of two prospective observational cohorts. A University hospital in Norfolk, UK with a catchment population of 568,000. Subjects were 195 patients (median age = 77 years) who were included in two prospective studies of CAP. All-cause mortality occurring within the 6 week follow-up. sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for study outcome using CURB and CURB-65 were assessed in 189 patients, and CRB-65 in 192 patients out of a total of 195 patients. Our results were comparable with the original study by Lim et al. Although CURB-65 and CRB-65 included age criteria, in effect they did not materially improve the specificity in predicting high-risk patients in both studies. We found that oxygenation measured by ventilation perfusion mismatch (PaO2:FiO2) was the best predictor of outcome in this slightly older cohort [odds ratio (OR) = 0.99 (0.98-0.99), P = 0.0001]. We derived a new set of criteria; SOAR (systolic blood pressure, oxygenation, age and respiratory rate) based on our findings. Their sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were 81.0% (58.1-94.6), 59.3% (49.6-68.4), 27.0% (16.6-39.7) and 94.4% (86.2-98.4), respectively, confirming their comparability with existing criteria. Our Study confirms the usefulness of currently recommended severity rules for CAP in this older cohort. SOAR criteria may be useful as alternative criteria for a better identification of severe CAP in advanced age where both raised urea level above 7 mmol/l and confusion are common.

Utility of STIR MRI in pediatric cervical spine clearance after trauma.

PubMed

Henry, Mark; Scarlata, Katherine; Riesenburger, Ron I; Kryzanski, James; Rideout, Leslie; Samdani, Amer; Jea, Andrew; Hwang, Steven W

2013-07-01

Although MRI with short-term T1 inversion recovery (STIR) sequencing has been widely adopted in the clearance of cervical spine in adults who have sustained trauma, its applicability for cervical spine clearance in pediatric trauma patients remains unclear. The authors sought to review a Level 1 trauma center's experience using MRI for posttraumatic evaluation of the cervical spine in pediatric patients. A pediatric trauma database was retrospectively queried for patients who received an injury warranting radiographic imaging of the cervical spine and had a STIR-MRI sequence of the cervical spine performed within 48 hours of injury between 2002 and 2011. Demographic, radiographic, and outcome data were retrospectively collected through medical records. Seventy-three cases were included in the analysis. The mean duration of follow-up was 10 months (range 4 days-7 years). The mean age of the patients at the time of trauma evaluation was 8.3 ± 5.8 years, and 65% were male. The majority of patients were involved in a motor vehicle accident. In 70 cases, the results of MRI studies were negative, and the patients were cleared prior to discharge with no clinical suggestion of instability on follow-up. In 3 cases, the MRI studies had abnormal findings; 2 of these 3 patients were cleared with dynamic radiographs during the same admission. Only 1 patient had an unstable injury and required surgical stabilization. The sensitivity of STIR MRI to detect cervical instability was 100% with a specificity of 97%. The positive predictive value was 33% and the negative predictive value was 100%. Although interpretation of our results are diminished by limitations of the study, in our series, STIR MRI in routine screening for pediatric cervical trauma had a high sensitivity and slightly lower specificity, but may have utility in future practices and should be considered for implementation into protocols.

A Global Assessment of Circulating Prolysyl Oxidase in Nonischemic Patients With Garden-variety Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

PubMed

Muñoz Calvo, Benjamín; Villa Martínez, Ana; López Orgil, Susana; López Andrés, Natalia; Román García, Feliciano; Víctor Palomares, Virginia; de la Calle de la Villa, Esther; Nadador Patiño, Verónica; Arribas-Gómez, Ignacio

2018-05-25

Lysyl oxidase is overexpressed in the myocardium of patients with hypertensive cardiomyopathy. We aimed to explore whether patients with hypertensive-metabolic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HM-HFpEF) also have increased concentrations of circulating prolysyl oxidase (cpLOX) and its possible consequences. We quantified cpLOX concentrations in 85 nonischemic patients with stage C, HM-HFpEF, and compared them with those of 51 healthy controls. We also assessed the correlations of cpLOX with myocardial stiffness parameters, collagen turnover products and fibrogenic cytokines, as well as the predictive value of plasma proenzyme levels at 1-year of follow-up. We detected raised cpLOX values and found that they correlated with calculated E/E' ratios and stiffness constants. The subgroup of patients with type I diastolic dysfunction showed a single negative correlation between cpLOX and B-type natriuretic peptide whereas patients with a restrictive diastolic pattern showed a strong correlation between cpLOX and galectin-3. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that cpLOX > 52.20 ng/mL slightly increased the risk of a fatal outcome (log-rank = 4.45; P = .034). When Cox regression was used, cpLOX was found to be a significant independent predictor of cardiovascular death or hospitalization due to the decompensation of HM-HFpEF (HR, 1.360; 95%CI, 1.126-1.638; P = .046). Patients with symptomatic HM-HFpEF show high cpLOX serum levels associated with restrictive diastolic filling indices. These levels represent a moderate risk factor for poor clinical outcome. Throughout the natural history of HM-HFpEF, we observed that cpLOX concentrations were initially negatively correlated with B-type natriuretic peptide but positively correlated with galectin-3 as advanced diastolic dysfunction developed. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U.

Development of a Water Clarity Index for the Southeastern U.S. As a Climate Indicator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sheridan, S. C.; Hu, C.; Lee, C. C.; Barnes, B.; Pirhalla, D.; Ransi, V.; Shein, K. A.

2014-12-01

A common index of water quality is water clarity, which can be estimated by measuring the diffuse attenuation coefficient for downwelling irradiance (Kd). Kd estimates the availability of light to marine organisms at various depths. Marine habitats, including such species as coral and seagrass, can be negatively affected by extreme episodes of sediment suspension, where water clarity is reduced and little light penetrates. Evidence of increased stress on coastal ecosystems exists, partially due to climate change, yet a systematic analysis of extreme events and trends is difficult due to limited data. To address this concern, we have developed as a potential climate indicator a Kd-Index for nine regions along the US coast of the Gulf of Mexico, in which Kd values have been standardized over time and space to allow for a more holistic assessment of climate drivers and their trends. Variability in the Kd-Index is then assessed with regard to occurrences of surface weather types (using the Spatial Synoptic Classification), a synoptic climatology of mean sea-level-pressure patterns across the region, along with heavy precipitation events. Kd can be estimated from MODIS and SeaWiFS observations from 1997 to date; an earlier period of satellite observations from 1978-86 is also available. A non-linear autoregressive neural network model with external input (NARX) is used to develop the historical relationship between Kd-Index and atmospheric conditions, and then this model is used to simulate a full time series from 1948 to 2013. The modeled data set is strongly correlated with observations, with correlations above 0.8 for many regions. Hit rates of extreme Kd-Index values - those which would most likely be associated with a negative environmental impact - exceed 70% in some regions. Across the full data set, long term trends vary slightly across regions but are generally small. Trends in extreme events appear to be more consistently increasing across the domain.

Experimental benchmark of the NINJA code for application to the Linac4 H- ion source plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Briefi, S.; Mattei, S.; Rauner, D.; Lettry, J.; Tran, M. Q.; Fantz, U.

2017-10-01

For a dedicated performance optimization of negative hydrogen ion sources applied at particle accelerators, a detailed assessment of the plasma processes is required. Due to the compact design of these sources, diagnostic access is typically limited to optical emission spectroscopy yielding only line-of-sight integrated results. In order to allow for a spatially resolved investigation, the electromagnetic particle-in-cell Monte Carlo collision code NINJA has been developed for the Linac4 ion source at CERN. This code considers the RF field generated by the ICP coil as well as the external static magnetic fields and calculates self-consistently the resulting discharge properties. NINJA is benchmarked at the diagnostically well accessible lab experiment CHARLIE (Concept studies for Helicon Assisted RF Low pressure Ion sourcEs) at varying RF power and gas pressure. A good general agreement is observed between experiment and simulation although the simulated electron density trends for varying pressure and power as well as the absolute electron temperature values deviate slightly from the measured ones. This can be explained by the assumption of strong inductive coupling in NINJA, whereas the CHARLIE discharges show the characteristics of loosely coupled plasmas. For the Linac4 plasma, this assumption is valid. Accordingly, both the absolute values of the accessible plasma parameters and their trends for varying RF power agree well in measurement and simulation. At varying RF power, the H- current extracted from the Linac4 source peaks at 40 kW. For volume operation, this is perfectly reflected by assessing the processes in front of the extraction aperture based on the simulation results where the highest H- density is obtained for the same power level. In surface operation, the production of negative hydrogen ions at the converter surface can only be considered by specialized beam formation codes, which require plasma parameters as input. It has been demonstrated that this input can be provided reliably by the NINJA code.

Biomonitors of atmospheric nitrogen deposition: potential uses and limitations.

PubMed

Díaz-Álvarez, Edison A; Lindig-Cisneros, Roberto; de la Barrera, Erick

2018-01-01

Atmospheric nitrogen deposition is the third largest cause of global biodiversity loss, with rates that have more than doubled over the past century. This is especially threatening for tropical regions where the deposition may soon exceed 25 kg of N ha -1 year -1 , well above the threshold for physiological damage of 12-20 kg of N ha -1 year -1 , depending on plant species and nitrogenous compound. It is thus urgent to monitor these regions where the most diverse biotas occur. However, most studies have been conducted in Europe, the USA and recently in China. This review presents the case for the potential use of biological organisms to monitor nitrogen deposition, with emphasis on tropical plants. We first present an overview of atmospheric chemistry and the nitrogen metabolism of potential biomonitors, followed by a framework for monitoring nitrogen deposition based on the simultaneous use of various functional groups. In particular, the tissue nitrogen content responds to the rate of deposition, especially for mosses, whose nitrogen content increases by 1‰ per kilogram of N ha -1 year -1 . The isotopic signature, δ 15 N, is a useful indicator of the nitrogen source, as the slightly negative values (e.g. 5‰) of plants from natural environments can become very negative (-11.2‰) in sites with agricultural and husbandry activities, but very positive (13.3‰) in urban environments with high vehicular activity. Mosses are good biomonitors for wet deposition and atmospheric epiphytes for dry deposition. In turn, the nitrogen saturation of ecosystems can be monitored with trees whose isotopic values increase with saturation. Although given ecophysiological limitations of different organisms, particular studies should be conducted in each area of interest to determine the most suitable biomonitors. Overall, biomonitors can provide an integrative approach for characterizing nitrogen deposition in regions where the deployment of automated instruments or passive monitoring is not feasible or can be complementary.

Biomonitors of atmospheric nitrogen deposition: potential uses and limitations

PubMed Central

Díaz-Álvarez, Edison A; Lindig-Cisneros, Roberto

2018-01-01

Abstract Atmospheric nitrogen deposition is the third largest cause of global biodiversity loss, with rates that have more than doubled over the past century. This is especially threatening for tropical regions where the deposition may soon exceed 25 kg of N ha−1 year−1, well above the threshold for physiological damage of 12–20 kg of N ha−1 year−1, depending on plant species and nitrogenous compound. It is thus urgent to monitor these regions where the most diverse biotas occur. However, most studies have been conducted in Europe, the USA and recently in China. This review presents the case for the potential use of biological organisms to monitor nitrogen deposition, with emphasis on tropical plants. We first present an overview of atmospheric chemistry and the nitrogen metabolism of potential biomonitors, followed by a framework for monitoring nitrogen deposition based on the simultaneous use of various functional groups. In particular, the tissue nitrogen content responds to the rate of deposition, especially for mosses, whose nitrogen content increases by 1‰ per kilogram of N ha−1 year−1. The isotopic signature, δ15N, is a useful indicator of the nitrogen source, as the slightly negative values (e.g. 5‰) of plants from natural environments can become very negative (−11.2‰) in sites with agricultural and husbandry activities, but very positive (13.3‰) in urban environments with high vehicular activity. Mosses are good biomonitors for wet deposition and atmospheric epiphytes for dry deposition. In turn, the nitrogen saturation of ecosystems can be monitored with trees whose isotopic values increase with saturation. Although given ecophysiological limitations of different organisms, particular studies should be conducted in each area of interest to determine the most suitable biomonitors. Overall, biomonitors can provide an integrative approach for characterizing nitrogen deposition in regions where the deployment of automated instruments or passive monitoring is not feasible or can be complementary. PMID:29564134

Autodisplay of the La/SSB protein on LPS-free E. coli for the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome.

PubMed

Yoo, Gu; Dilkaute, Carina; Bong, Ji-Hong; Song, Hyun-Woo; Lee, Misu; Kang, Min-Jung; Jose, Joachim; Pyun, Jae-Chul

2017-05-01

The objective of this study was to present an immunoassay for the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome based on the autodisplayed La/SSB protein on the outer membrane of intact E. coli (strain UT-5600) and LPS-free E. coli (ClearColi™). As the first step, an autodisplay vector (pCK002) was transfected into intact E. coli and LPS-free E. coli for comparison of efficiency of autdisplay of La/SSB. The maximal level of La/SSB expression was estimated to be similar for LPS-free E. coli and intact E. coli at different optimal induction periods. Intact E. coli was found to grow twofold faster than LPS-free E. coli, and the maximal level of expression for LPS-free E. coli was obtained with a longer induction period. When the zeta potential was measured, both intact E. coli and LPS-free E. coli showed negative values, and the autodisplay of negatively charged La/SSB protein (pI<7) on the outer membrane of intact E. coli and LPS-free E. coli resulted in a slight change in zeta potential values. E. coli with autodisplayed La/SSB protein was used for an immunoassay of anti-La/SSB antibodies for the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome. The surface of E. coli with the autodisplayed antigen was modified with rabbit serum and papain to prevent false positive signals because of nonspecific binding of unrelated antibodies from human serum. LPS-free E. coli with autodisplayed La/SSB protein yielded sensitivity and selectivity of 81.6% and 78.6%, respectively. The Bland-Altman test showed that the immunoassays based on LPS-free E. coli and intact E. coli with autodisplayed La/SSB protein were statistically equivalent to a clinical immunoassay for detection of anti-La/SSB antibodies (confidence coefficient 95%). Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Nickel(111)/Alkaline Electrolyte Interface

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, Kuilong; Chottiner, G. S.; Scherson, D. A.; Reid, Margaret A.

1991-01-01

The electrochemical properties of Ni (111) prepared and characterized in ultra high vacuum, UHV, by surface analytical techniques have been examined in alkaline media by cyclic voltammetry using an UHV-electrochemical cell transfer system designed and built in this laboratory. Prior to the transfer, the Ni(111) surfaces were exposed to saturation coverages of CO in UHV in an attempt to protect the surface from possible contamination with other gases during the transfer. Temperature Programmed Desorption, TPD, of CO-dosed Ni (111) surfaces displaying sharp c(4x2), LEED patterns, subsequently exposed to water-saturated Ar at atmospheric pressure in an auxiliary UHV compatible chamber and finally transferred back to the main UHV chamber, yielded CO2 and water as the only detectable products. This indicates that the CO-dosed surfaces react with water and/or bicarbonate and hydroxide as the most likely products. Based on the integration of the TPD peaks, the combined amounts of H2O and CO2 were found to be on the order of a single monolayer. The reacted c(4x2)CO/Ni(111) layer seems to protect the surface from undergoing spontaneous oxidation in strongly alkaline solutions. This was evidenced by the fact that the open circuit potential observed immediately after contact with deaerated 0.1 M KOH was about 0.38 V vs. DHE, drifting slightly towards more negative values prior to initiating the voltametric scans. The average ratio of the integrated charge obtained in the first positive linear scan in the range of 0.35 to 1.5 V vs. DHE (initiated at the open circuit potential) and the first (and subsequent) linear negative scans in the same solution yielded for various independent runs a value of 3.5 +/- 0.3. Coulometric analysis of the cyclic voltammetry curves indicate that the electrochemically formed oxyhydroxide layer involves a charge equivalent to 3.2 +/- 0.4 layers of Ni metal.

Context-sensitivity of the feedback-related negativity for zero-value feedback outcomes.

PubMed

Pfabigan, Daniela M; Seidel, Eva-Maria; Paul, Katharina; Grahl, Arvina; Sailer, Uta; Lanzenberger, Rupert; Windischberger, Christian; Lamm, Claus

2015-01-01

The present study investigated whether the same visual stimulus indicating zero-value feedback (€0) elicits feedback-related negativity (FRN) variation, depending on whether the outcomes correspond with expectations or not. Thirty-one volunteers performed a monetary incentive delay (MID) task while EEG was recorded. FRN amplitudes were comparable and more negative when zero-value outcome deviated from expectations than with expected gain or loss, supporting theories emphasising the impact of unexpectedness and salience on FRN amplitudes. Surprisingly, expected zero-value outcomes elicited the most negative FRNs. However, source localisation showed that such outcomes evoked less activation in cingulate areas than unexpected zero-value outcomes. Our study illustrates the context dependency of identical zero-value feedback stimuli. Moreover, the results indicate that the incentive cues in the MID task evoke different reward prediction error signals. These prediction signals differ in FRN amplitude and neuronal sources, and have to be considered in the design and interpretation of future studies. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The habenula encodes negative motivational value associated with primary punishment in humans.

PubMed

Lawson, Rebecca P; Seymour, Ben; Loh, Eleanor; Lutti, Antoine; Dolan, Raymond J; Dayan, Peter; Weiskopf, Nikolaus; Roiser, Jonathan P

2014-08-12

Learning what to approach, and what to avoid, involves assigning value to environmental cues that predict positive and negative events. Studies in animals indicate that the lateral habenula encodes the previously learned negative motivational value of stimuli. However, involvement of the habenula in dynamic trial-by-trial aversive learning has not been assessed, and the functional role of this structure in humans remains poorly characterized, in part, due to its small size. Using high-resolution functional neuroimaging and computational modeling of reinforcement learning, we demonstrate positive habenula responses to the dynamically changing values of cues signaling painful electric shocks, which predict behavioral suppression of responses to those cues across individuals. By contrast, negative habenula responses to monetary reward cue values predict behavioral invigoration. Our findings show that the habenula plays a key role in an online aversive learning system and in generating associated motivated behavior in humans.

F-18 choline PET does not detect increased metabolism in F-18 fluoroethyltyrosine-negative low-grade gliomas.

PubMed

Roelcke, Ulrich; Bruehlmeier, Matthias; Hefti, Martin; Hundsberger, Thomas; Nitzsche, Egbert U

2012-01-01

Positron emission tomography (PET) with radiolabeled amino acids provides information on biopsy target and chemotherapy response in patients with low-grade gliomas (LGG). In this article, we addressed whether PET with F-18 choline (CHO) detects increased metabolism in F-18 fluoroethyltyrosine (FET)-negative LGG patients. Six LGG patients with nongadolinium-enhancing (magnetic resonance) FET-negative LGG were imaged with CHO PET. Regions of interest were positioned over tumor and contralateral brain. Uptake of FET and CHO was quantified as count ratio of tumor to contralateral brain. The mean FET uptake ratio for FET-negative LGG was 0.95 ± 0.03 (mean ± standard deviation). Five tumors did not show increased uptake ratios for CHO (0.96 ± 0.12). Slightly increased CHO uptake was found in 1 patient (1.24), which, however, was not associated with tumor visualization. Amino acid and choline uptake appear to behave similar in nongadolinium-enhancing LGG. For clinical purposes, CHO PET is not superior to FET PET.

Emotions in word and face processing: early and late cortical responses.

PubMed

Schacht, Annekathrin; Sommer, Werner

2009-04-01

Recent research suggests that emotion effects in word processing resemble those in other stimulus domains such as pictures or faces. The present study aims to provide more direct evidence for this notion by comparing emotion effects in word and face processing in a within-subject design. Event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were recorded as participants made decisions on the lexicality of emotionally positive, negative, and neutral German verbs or pseudowords, and on the integrity of intact happy, angry, and neutral faces or slightly distorted faces. Relative to neutral and negative stimuli both positive verbs and happy faces elicited posterior ERP negativities that were indistinguishable in scalp distribution and resembled the early posterior negativities reported by others. Importantly, these ERP modulations appeared at very different latencies. Therefore, it appears that similar brain systems reflect the decoding of both biological and symbolic emotional signals of positive valence, differing mainly in the speed of meaning access, which is more direct and faster for facial expressions than for words.

[Formula: see text]-convergence, complete convergence, and weak laws of large numbers for asymptotically negatively associated random vectors with values in [Formula: see text].

PubMed

Ko, Mi-Hwa

2018-01-01

In this paper, based on the Rosenthal-type inequality for asymptotically negatively associated random vectors with values in [Formula: see text], we establish results on [Formula: see text]-convergence and complete convergence of the maximums of partial sums are established. We also obtain weak laws of large numbers for coordinatewise asymptotically negatively associated random vectors with values in [Formula: see text].

Selecting a distributional assumption for modelling relative densities of benthic macroinvertebrates

USGS Publications Warehouse

Gray, B.R.

2005-01-01

The selection of a distributional assumption suitable for modelling macroinvertebrate density data is typically challenging. Macroinvertebrate data often exhibit substantially larger variances than expected under a standard count assumption, that of the Poisson distribution. Such overdispersion may derive from multiple sources, including heterogeneity of habitat (historically and spatially), differing life histories for organisms collected within a single collection in space and time, and autocorrelation. Taken to extreme, heterogeneity of habitat may be argued to explain the frequent large proportions of zero observations in macroinvertebrate data. Sampling locations may consist of habitats defined qualitatively as either suitable or unsuitable. The former category may yield random or stochastic zeroes and the latter structural zeroes. Heterogeneity among counts may be accommodated by treating the count mean itself as a random variable, while extra zeroes may be accommodated using zero-modified count assumptions, including zero-inflated and two-stage (or hurdle) approaches. These and linear assumptions (following log- and square root-transformations) were evaluated using 9 years of mayfly density data from a 52 km, ninth-order reach of the Upper Mississippi River (n = 959). The data exhibited substantial overdispersion relative to that expected under a Poisson assumption (i.e. variance:mean ratio = 23 ??? 1), and 43% of the sampling locations yielded zero mayflies. Based on the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), count models were improved most by treating the count mean as a random variable (via a Poisson-gamma distributional assumption) and secondarily by zero modification (i.e. improvements in AIC values = 9184 units and 47-48 units, respectively). Zeroes were underestimated by the Poisson, log-transform and square root-transform models, slightly by the standard negative binomial model but not by the zero-modified models (61%, 24%, 32%, 7%, and 0%, respectively). However, the zero-modified Poisson models underestimated small counts (1 ??? y ??? 4) and overestimated intermediate counts (7 ??? y ??? 23). Counts greater than zero were estimated well by zero-modified negative binomial models, while counts greater than one were also estimated well by the standard negative binomial model. Based on AIC and percent zero estimation criteria, the two-stage and zero-inflated models performed similarly. The above inferences were largely confirmed when the models were used to predict values from a separate, evaluation data set (n = 110). An exception was that, using the evaluation data set, the standard negative binomial model appeared superior to its zero-modified counterparts using the AIC (but not percent zero criteria). This and other evidence suggest that a negative binomial distributional assumption should be routinely considered when modelling benthic macroinvertebrate data from low flow environments. Whether negative binomial models should themselves be routinely examined for extra zeroes requires, from a statistical perspective, more investigation. However, this question may best be answered by ecological arguments that may be specific to the sampled species and locations. ?? 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A Universal Graph Plotting Routine.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bogart, Theodore F., Jr.

1984-01-01

Presents a programing subroutine which will create a graphical plot that occupies any number of columns specified by user and will run with versions of BASIC programming language. Illustrations of the subroutine's ability to operate successfully for three possibilities (negative values, positive values, and both positive and negative values) are…

Effect of gamma irradiation on physicochemical properties of stored pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) flour

PubMed Central

Bamidele, Oluwaseun P; Akanbi, Charles T

2013-01-01

The effect of gamma irradiation at various doses (5, 10, 15, 20 kGy) was observed on pigeon pea flour stored for 3 months on proximate composition, functional properties, and peroxide value. Sensory evaluation was also carried out on bean cake (moinmoin) made from nonirradiated and irradiated pigeon pea flour. The results showed that stored gamma-irradiated samples had significantly lower (P < 0.05) value of protein and little or no effect on moisture content. There were slight decreases in crude fiber and ash content of the irradiated samples compared with the control sample. The result of functional properties of the irradiated flours showed slight increase in water absorption capacity, swelling capacity and bulk density. The peroxide value of crude oil increased significantly with dose increases for the period of storage. The sensory evaluation of moinmoin samples prepared from irradiated pigeon pea flour showed no significant difference from the moinmoin sample prepared from nonirradiated flour. It can be concluded that gamma irradiation can extend the shelf life of pigeon pea flour. PMID:24804044

Effect of gamma irradiation on physicochemical properties of stored pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) flour.

PubMed

Bamidele, Oluwaseun P; Akanbi, Charles T

2013-09-01

The effect of gamma irradiation at various doses (5, 10, 15, 20 kGy) was observed on pigeon pea flour stored for 3 months on proximate composition, functional properties, and peroxide value. Sensory evaluation was also carried out on bean cake (moinmoin) made from nonirradiated and irradiated pigeon pea flour. The results showed that stored gamma-irradiated samples had significantly lower (P < 0.05) value of protein and little or no effect on moisture content. There were slight decreases in crude fiber and ash content of the irradiated samples compared with the control sample. The result of functional properties of the irradiated flours showed slight increase in water absorption capacity, swelling capacity and bulk density. The peroxide value of crude oil increased significantly with dose increases for the period of storage. The sensory evaluation of moinmoin samples prepared from irradiated pigeon pea flour showed no significant difference from the moinmoin sample prepared from nonirradiated flour. It can be concluded that gamma irradiation can extend the shelf life of pigeon pea flour.

Ecotoxicity evaluation of a liquid detergent using the automatic biotest ECOTOX.

PubMed

Azizullah, Azizullah; Richter, Peter; Ullah, Waheed; Ali, Imran; Häder, Donat-Peter

2013-08-01

Synthetic detergents are common pollutants reaching aquatic environments in different ways after usage at homes, institutions and industries. In this study a liquid detergent, used for dish washing, was evaluated for its toxicity during long- and short-term tests using the automatic biotest ECOTOX. Different parameters of Euglena gracilis like motility, swimming velocity, gravitactic orientation, cell compactness and cell growth were used as end points. In short-term experiments, the maximum adverse effects on motility, velocity, cell shape and gravitaxis were observed after 1 h of exposure. With further increase in exposure time to the detergent a slight recovery of these parameters was observed. In long-term experiments, the detergent caused severe disturbances to E. gracilis. Motility, cell growth and cell compactness (shape) with EC50 values of 0.064, 0.18 and 2.05 %, respectively, were found as the most sensitive parameters to detergent stress. There was a slight positive effect on gravitactic orientation at the lowest two concentrations; at higher concentrations of the detergent cells orientation was highly impaired giving EC50 values of 1.75 and 2.52 % for upward swimming and r-value, respectively.

Exact quantum scattering calculation of transport properties for free radicals: OH(X2Π)-helium.

PubMed

Dagdigian, Paul J; Alexander, Millard H

2012-09-07

Transport properties for OH-He are computed through quantum scattering calculations using the ab initio potential energy surfaces determined by Lee et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 113, 5736 (2000)]. To gauge the importance of the open-shell character of OH and the anisotropy of the potential on the transport properties, including the collision integrals Ω((1,1)) and Ω((2,2)), as well as the diffusion coefficient, calculations were performed with the full potential, with the difference potential V(dif) set to zero, and with only the spherical average of the potential. Slight differences (3%-5%) in the computed diffusion coefficient were found between the values obtained using the full potential and the truncated potentials. The computed diffusion coefficients were compared to recent experimental measurements and those computed with a Lennard-Jones (LJ) 12-6 potential. The values obtained with the full potential were slightly higher than the experimental values. The LJ 12-6 potential was found to underestimate the variation in temperature as compared to that obtained using the full OH-He ab initio potential.

Continuous glucose monitoring and HbA1c in the evaluation of glucose metabolism in children at high risk for type 1 diabetes mellitus.

PubMed

Helminen, Olli; Pokka, Tytti; Tossavainen, Päivi; Ilonen, Jorma; Knip, Mikael; Veijola, Riitta

2016-10-01

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) parameters, self-monitored blood glucose (SMBG), HbA1c and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) were studied during preclinical type 1 diabetes mellitus. Ten asymptomatic children with multiple (⩾2) islet autoantibodies (cases) and 10 age and sex-matched autoantibody-negative controls from the Type 1 Diabetes Prediction and Prevention (DIPP) Study were invited to 7-day CGM with Dexcom G4 Platinum Sensor. HbA1c and two daily SMBG values (morning and evening) were analyzed. Five-point OGTTs were performed and carbohydrate intake was assessed by food records. The matched pairs were compared with the paired sample t-test. The cases showed higher mean values and higher variation in glucose levels during CGM compared to the controls. The time spent ⩾7.8mmol/l was 5.8% in the cases compared to 0.4% in the controls (p=0.040). Postprandial CGM values were similar except after the dinner (6.6mmol/l in cases vs. 6.1mmol/l in controls; p=0.023). When analyzing the SMBG values higher mean level, higher evening levels, as well as higher variation were observed in the cases when compared to the controls. HbA1c was significantly higher in the cases [5.7% (39mmol/mol) vs. 5.3% (34mmol/mol); p=0.045]. No differences were observed in glucose or C-peptide levels during OGTT. Daily carbohydrate intake was slightly higher in the cases (254.2g vs. 217.7g; p=0.034). Glucose levels measured by CGM and SMBG are useful indicators of dysglycemia during preclinical type 1 diabetes mellitus. Increased evening glucose values seem to be common in children with preclinical type 1 diabetes mellitus. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Sclerochronology and geochemical variation in limpet shells (Patella vulgata): A new archive to reconstruct coastal sea surface temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fenger, Tracy; Surge, Donna; SchöNe, Bernd; Milner, Nicky

2007-07-01

Climate archives contained in shells of the European limpet, Patella vulgata, accumulated in archaeological deposits can potentially provide much needed information about Holocene environmental change in midlatitude coastal areas. Before reconstructing climate information preserved in these zooarchaeological records, we studied the controls on oxygen and carbon isotope ratios (δ18O and δ13C, respectively) in modern specimens. We tested the hypothesis that P. vulgata precipitates its shell in isotopic equilibrium with the ambient water by comparing δ18OSHELL with predicted values. Predicted δ18OSHELL was constructed using observed sea surface temperature (SST) records and the equilibrium fractionation equation for calcite and water. We assumed a constant δ18OWATER value of +0.10‰ (VSMOW) based on published regional measurements. Comparison of δ18OSHELL with predicted values revealed that δ18OSHELL values were higher than expected by +1.01 ± 0.21‰. Consequently, estimated SST calculated from δ18OSHELL was 4.2 ± 2.3°C lower than observed SST. However, because of the relatively uniform offset between observed and expected δ18O, an adjustment can be made to account for this predictable vital effect. Thus past climate can be reliably reconstructed using this temperature proxy once the offset is taken into account. δ13C values have a similar cyclicity to the δ18O variation and therefore vary seasonally. However, δ13C is slightly out of phase relative to δ18O. An overall negative shift in δ13CSHELL over the lifetime of the individual indicates a vital effect associated with ontogeny. Further study of environmental and ecological factors that influence shell δ13C is required to evaluate fully the potential of carbon isotope ratios as a useful environmental proxy.

Speciation and isotopic composition of sulfur in sediments from Jellyfish Lake, Palau

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bates, A.L.; Spiker, E. C.; Orem, W.H.; Burnett, W.C.

1993-01-01

Jellyfish Lake, Palau, is a meromictic marine lake with high organic productivity, low reactive Fe content, and anoxic bottom waters. Sediment samples from Jellyfish Lake were examined for the distribution of sulfur species and their isotopic signatures in order to gain a better understanding of sedimentary sulfur incorporation in Fe-poor environments. Surface samples were taken along a transect from a near-shore site to the center of the lake, and include a sample below oxic water, a sample below the chemocline layer, and samples below anoxic waters. Three additional samples were taken from a core, 2 m long, collected near the lake center. Sulfur to organic carbon weight ratios in all samples were lower than the expected value of 0.36 for normal marine sediment, probably because the lake water is deficient in reactive Fe to form iron sulfides. Total sulfur contents in the surface sediments indicated no changes with distance from shore; however, the sulfur content of the surface sample at the chemocline layer may be slightly higher. Total sulfur content increased with depth in the core and is inversely related to organic carbon content. Organic sulfur is the major sulfur species in the samples, followed in descending order by sulfate, disulfides and monosulfides. Sulfate sulfur isotope ??34S-values are positive (from +20.56 to +12.04???), reflecting the marine source of sulfate in Jellyfish Lake. Disulfide and monosulfide ??34S-values are negative (from -25.07 to -7.60???), because of fractionation during bacterial reduction of sulfate. Monosulfide ??34S-values are somewhat higher than those of disulfides, and they are close to the ??34S-values of organic sulfur. These results indicate that most of the organic sulfur is formed by reaction of bacteriogenic monosulfides, or possibly monosulfide-derived polysulfides, with organic matter in the sediment. ?? 1993.

Value Conflicts between Civil Society and Military Institutions.

DTIC Science & Technology

1972-02-01

to inaividuality and personal freedom in the military service (30 percent of the sample indi- cated they were unemployed ). Potential for Reenlistment...percent were unemployed as contrasted with 15 percent of "would not have entered" they have a lower socioeconomic background and include a larger...they .ere unemployed .) With respect to importance attached to value ouestions, some slight, statistically significant, differences appear (.3

Modulating the Voltage-sensitivity of a Genetically Encoded Voltage Indicator

PubMed Central

Jung, Arong; Rajakumar, Dhanarajan; Yoon, Bong-June

2017-01-01

Saturation mutagenesis was performed on a single position in the voltage-sensing domain (VSD) of a genetically encoded voltage indicator (GEVI). The VSD consists of four transmembrane helixes designated S1-S4. The V220 position located near the plasma membrane/extracellular interface had previously been shown to affect the voltage range of the optical signal. Introduction of polar amino acids at this position reduced the voltage-dependent optical signal of the GEVI. Negatively charged amino acids slightly reduced the optical signal by 33 percent while positively charge amino acids at this position reduced the optical signal by 80%. Surprisingly, the range of V220D was similar to that of V220K with shifted optical responses towards negative potentials. In contrast, the V220E mutant mirrored the responses of the V220R mutation suggesting that the length of the side chain plays in role in determining the voltage range of the GEVI. Charged mutations at the 219 position all behaved similarly slightly shifting the optical response to more negative potentials. Charged mutations to the 221 position behaved erratically suggesting interactions with the plasma membrane and/or other amino acids in the VSD. Introduction of bulky amino acids at the V220 position increased the range of the optical response to include hyperpolarizing signals. Combining The V220W mutant with the R217Q mutation resulted in a probe that reduced the depolarizing signal and enhanced the hyperpolarizing signal which may lead to GEVIs that only report neuronal inhibition. PMID:29093633

Modulating the Voltage-sensitivity of a Genetically Encoded Voltage Indicator.

PubMed

Jung, Arong; Rajakumar, Dhanarajan; Yoon, Bong-June; Baker, Bradley J

2017-10-01

Saturation mutagenesis was performed on a single position in the voltage-sensing domain (VSD) of a genetically encoded voltage indicator (GEVI). The VSD consists of four transmembrane helixes designated S1-S4. The V220 position located near the plasma membrane/extracellular interface had previously been shown to affect the voltage range of the optical signal. Introduction of polar amino acids at this position reduced the voltage-dependent optical signal of the GEVI. Negatively charged amino acids slightly reduced the optical signal by 33 percent while positively charge amino acids at this position reduced the optical signal by 80%. Surprisingly, the range of V220D was similar to that of V220K with shifted optical responses towards negative potentials. In contrast, the V220E mutant mirrored the responses of the V220R mutation suggesting that the length of the side chain plays in role in determining the voltage range of the GEVI. Charged mutations at the 219 position all behaved similarly slightly shifting the optical response to more negative potentials. Charged mutations to the 221 position behaved erratically suggesting interactions with the plasma membrane and/or other amino acids in the VSD. Introduction of bulky amino acids at the V220 position increased the range of the optical response to include hyperpolarizing signals. Combining The V220W mutant with the R217Q mutation resulted in a probe that reduced the depolarizing signal and enhanced the hyperpolarizing signal which may lead to GEVIs that only report neuronal inhibition.

Comparison of basophil activation tests using CD63 or CD203c expression in patients with insect venom allergy.

PubMed

Eberlein-König, B; Varga, R; Mempel, M; Darsow, U; Behrendt, H; Ring, J

2006-09-01

Flow cytometric basophil activation tests have been developed as cellular tests for in vitro diagnosis of IgE-mediated reactions. Different activation markers (CD63 or CD203c) with distinct ways of regulation have been used after stimulation with various allergens. It was the aim of the present study to compare basophil activation tests by measuring both CD63 and CD203c upregulation in patients with insect venom allergy. 43 patients with a history of insect venom anaphylaxis were examined. A careful allergy history was taken, and skin tests and determination of specific IgE-antibodies were performed. Basophil activation tests (BAT) using CD63 or CD203c expression were done after stimulation with different concentrations of bee and wasp venom extracts. 25 healthy subjects with negative history of insect venom allergy were studied as controls. The CD203c protocol showed a slightly higher sensitivity than the CD63 protocol (97% vs. 89%) with regard to patients' history. The magnitude of basophil response was higher with CD203c in comparison to CD63 for both insect venoms. Specificity was 100% for the CD63 protocol and 89% for the CD203c protocol with regard to controls with negative history and negative RAST. These results support the reliability of basophil activation tests using either CD63 or CD203c as cellular tests in the in vitro diagnosis of patients with bee or wasp venom allergy with a slightly higher sensitivity for the CD203c protocol.

Fearing Colleges Slight "Traditional Values," Conservatives Back "Free Enterprise" Chairs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Evangelauf, Jean

1987-01-01

In the last 25 years, 80 to 100 chairs or institutes focusing on the study of capitalism have been established on college campuses, sometimes facing criticism because of potential conflict with the institution's mission. (MSE)

CMV blood test

MedlinePlus

CMV antibody tests ... never been infected with CMV have no detectable antibodies to CMV. Normal value ranges may vary slightly ... The presence of antibodies to CMV indicates a current or past ... CMV. If the number of antibodies (called the antibody titer) ...

Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) blood test

MedlinePlus

The normal range is 10 to 34 U/L (0.17 to 0.57 µkat/L). Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or may test different samples. Talk to your health ...

PRNP genetic variability and molecular typing of natural goat scrapie isolates in a high number of infected flocks

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

One hundred and four scrapie positive and 77 negative goats from 34 Greek mixed flocks were analysed by prion protein gene sequencing and 17 caprine scrapie isolates from 11 flocks were submitted to molecular isolate typing. For the first time, the protective S146 variant was reported in Greece, while the protective K222 variant was detected in negative but also in five scrapie positive goats from heavily infected flocks. By immunoblotting six isolates, including two goat flockmates carrying the K222 variant, showed molecular features slightly different from all other Greek and Italian isolates co-analysed, possibly suggesting the presence of different scrapie strains in Greece. PMID:21961834

PRNP genetic variability and molecular typing of natural goat scrapie isolates in a high number of infected flocks.

PubMed

Fragkiadaki, Eirini G; Vaccari, Gabriele; Ekateriniadou, Loukia V; Agrimi, Umberto; Giadinis, Nektarios D; Chiappini, Barbara; Esposito, Elena; Conte, Michela; Nonno, Romolo

2011-09-30

One hundred and four scrapie positive and 77 negative goats from 34 Greek mixed flocks were analysed by prion protein gene sequencing and 17 caprine scrapie isolates from 11 flocks were submitted to molecular isolate typing. For the first time, the protective S146 variant was reported in Greece, while the protective K222 variant was detected in negative but also in five scrapie positive goats from heavily infected flocks. By immunoblotting six isolates, including two goat flockmates carrying the K222 variant, showed molecular features slightly different from all other Greek and Italian isolates co-analysed, possibly suggesting the presence of different scrapie strains in Greece.

Rejection elicits emotional reactions but neither causes immediate distress nor lowers self-esteem: a meta-analytic review of 192 studies on social exclusion.

PubMed

Blackhart, Ginette C; Nelson, Brian C; Knowles, Megan L; Baumeister, Roy F

2009-11-01

Competing predictions about the effect of social exclusion were tested by meta-analyzing findings from studies of interpersonal rejection, ostracism, and similar procedures. Rejection appears to cause a significant shift toward a more negative emotional state. Typically, however, the result was an emotionally neutral state marked by low levels of both positive and negative affect. Acceptance caused a slight increase in positive mood and a moderate increase in self-esteem. Self-esteem among rejected persons was no different from neutral controls. These findings are discussed in terms of belongingness motivation, sociometer theory, affective numbing, and self-esteem defenses.

Spectral and Spatial UV Sky Radiance Measurements at a Seaside Resort Under Clear Sky and Slightly Overcast Conditions.

PubMed

Sandmann, Henner; Stick, Carsten

2014-01-01

Spatial measurements of the diffusely scattered sky radiance at a seaside resort under clear sky and slightly overcast conditions have been used to calculate the sky radiance distribution across the upper hemisphere. The measurements were done in the summer season when solar UV radiation is highest. The selected wavelengths were 307, 350 and 550 nm representing the UVB, UVA and VIS band. Absolute values of radiance differ considerably between the wavelengths. Normalizing the measured values by use of direct solar radiance made the spatial distributions of unequal sky radiance comparable. The results convey a spatial impression of the different distributions of the radiance at the three wavelengths. Relative scattered radiance intensity is one order of magnitude greater in UVB than in VIS, whereas in UVA lies roughly in between. Under slightly overcast conditions scattered radiance is increased at all three wavelengths by about one order of magnitude. These measurements taken at the seaside underline the importance of diffuse scattered radiance. The effect of shading parts of the sky can be estimated from the distribution of sky radiance. This knowledge might be useful for sun seekers and in the treatment of people staying at the seaside for therapeutic purposes. © 2013 The American Society of Photobiology.

Primary properties of MDF using thermomechanical pulp made from oxalic acid pretreated rice straw particles

Treesearch

Xianjun Li; Yiqiang Wu; Zhiyong Cai; Jerrold E. Winandy

2013-01-01

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effect the oxalic acid (OA) and steam pretreatment on the primary properties of rice straw medium-density fiberboard (MDF). The results show the IB strength increased about 9.6% and 13.4% for steam-treated MDF (PC) and OA-treated MDF compared with raw control panels, while OA pretreatment has a slight negative effect...

Draft Genome Sequence of Nafulsella turpanensis ZLM-10T, a Novel Member of the Family Flammeovirgaceae

PubMed Central

Zhang, Lei; Si, Meiru; Zhu, Lingfang; Li, Changfu; Wei, Yahong

2014-01-01

Nafulsella turpanensis ZLM-10T is a slightly halophilic, Gram-negative, rod-shaped, gliding, pale-pink-pigmented bacterium in the family Flammeovirgaceae, and it shows resistance to gentamicin, kanamycin, neomycin, and streptomycin. Here, we report the genome sequence of N. turpanensis strain ZLM-10T, which has a 4.8-Mb genome and a G+C content of 45.67%. PMID:24699960

Climate Analysis of Evaporation Ducts in the South China Sea

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-12-01

variations that involve anomalies in extratropical and tropical atmospheric longwave patterns. Figure 43 shows the 200 mb GPH anomalies for the extreme...where the two figures overlap, especially in the extratropics (but with the 200 mb anomalies being slightly further to the west than those at 850 mb...barotropic structure. The global anomalies (Figure 43) show clear anomalous extratropical wave trains (e.g., the alternating positive and negative anomalies

ENGINEERING TEST REACTOR (ETR) BUILDING, TRA642. CONTEXTUAL VIEW, CAMERA FACING ...

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

ENGINEERING TEST REACTOR (ETR) BUILDING, TRA-642. CONTEXTUAL VIEW, CAMERA FACING EAST. VERTICAL METAL SIDING. ROOF IS SLIGHTLY ELEVATED AT CENTER LINE FOR DRAINAGE. WEST SIDE OF ETR COMPRESSOR BUILDING, TRA-643, PROJECTS TOWARD LEFT AT FAR END OF ETR BUILDING. INL NEGATIVE NO. HD46-37-1. Mike Crane, Photographer, 4/2005 - Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Test Reactor Area, Materials & Engineering Test Reactors, Scoville, Butte County, ID

Systems-Level Analysis of EGFR Inhibition-DNA Damage Combination Treatment in Breast Cancer

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-09-01

optimal when erlotinib was given 24 hours before doxorubicin. Conversely, erlotinib given after doxorubicin slightly desensitized the cells to...status of BT-20, and potentially other triple negative breast cancer cells. Although the driving oncogenes for this subtype are not currently known...agents. In fact (for reasons that are currently unclear), these cells were typically desensitized to DNA damage when pre-treated with erlotinib

Draft Genome Sequence of Nafulsella turpanensis ZLM-10T, a Novel Member of the Family Flammeovirgaceae.

PubMed

Zhang, Lei; Si, Meiru; Zhu, Lingfang; Li, Changfu; Wei, Yahong; Shen, Xihui

2014-04-03

Nafulsella turpanensis ZLM-10(T) is a slightly halophilic, Gram-negative, rod-shaped, gliding, pale-pink-pigmented bacterium in the family Flammeovirgaceae, and it shows resistance to gentamicin, kanamycin, neomycin, and streptomycin. Here, we report the genome sequence of N. turpanensis strain ZLM-10(T), which has a 4.8-Mb genome and a G+C content of 45.67%.

Big fish in a big pond: a study of academic self concept in first year medical students.

PubMed

Jackman, Kirsty; Wilson, Ian G; Seaton, Marjorie; Craven, Rhonda G

2011-07-27

Big-fish-little-pond effect (BFLPE) research has demonstrated that students in high-ability environments have lower academic self-concepts than equally able students in low-ability settings. Research has shown low academic self-concepts to be associated with negative educational outcomes. Social comparison processes have been implicated as fundamental to the BFLPE. Twenty first-year students in an Australian medical school completed a survey that included academic self-concept and social comparison measures, before and after their first written assessments. Focus groups were also conducted with a separate group of students to explore students' perceptions of competence, the medical school environment, and social comparison processes. The quantitative study did not reveal any changes in academic self-concept or self-evaluation. The qualitative study suggested that the attributions that students used when discussing performance were those that have been demonstrated to negatively affect self-concept. Students reported that the environment was slightly competitive and they used social comparison to evaluate their performance. Although the BFLPE was not evident in the quantitative study, results from the qualitative study suggest that the BFLPE might be operating In that students were using attributions that are associated with lower self-concepts, the environment was slightly competitive, and social comparisons were used for evaluation.

Effect of chelators and nisin produced in situ on inhibition and inactivation of gram negatives.

PubMed

Boziaris, I S; Adams, M R

1999-12-15

The ability of chelators and nisin generated in situ to inhibit and inactivate E. coli and other gram negatives in a model substrate was investigated. The effect of various chelators and different concentrations of exogenous nisin on inhibition of E. coli in broth medium showed that only EDTA and pyrophosphates were able to cause appreciable inhibition of E. coli by nisin. In a broth where L. lactis NCFB 497 produced nisin in a concentration of 250-300 IU/ml, pyrophosphates were unable to inactivate E. coli. Under the same conditions, addition of EDTA led to inactivation of E. coli at neutral and slightly acidic pH only. A cocktail of strains of E. coli was less sensitive than E. coli ATCC 25922 alone. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was more sensitive and salmonellae more resistant. EDTA also caused a slight reduction in the L. lactis population and its biochemical activity as regards pH drop and acid production. Some of the inhibition of E. coli could be ascribed to the physical presence of Lactococcus cells rather than their metabolites excreted into the medium. Failure to observe any inhibition in fermented broths at their natural pH (4.0) was ascribed to the poor chelating power of EDTA under acid conditions.

Outcomes of Laryngeal Reinnervation for Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis in Children: Associations With Age and Time Since Injury.

PubMed

Smith, Marshall E; Houtz, Daniel R

2016-05-01

Outcomes of laryngeal reinnervation with ansa-cervicalis for unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) may be influenced by age of the patient and time interval between laryngeal nerve injury and reinnervation, suggesting less favorable outcomes in older patients and greater than 2-year time interval after injury. This study examines these issues in the pediatric population. Review of prospectively collected data set of 35 children and adolescents (1-21 years) that underwent ansa-recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) laryngeal reinnervation for UVFP. The time from RLN injury to reinnervation averaged 5.0 years (range, 0.8-15.2 years). No correlation was found between age at reinnervation (r = 0.15) and patient- or parent-reported global percentage voice outcome or perceptual ratings. There was slight negative correlation in duration between RLN injury and reinnervation and voice outcomes (r = -0.31). Postoperative voice self/surrogate global percentage rating average was 80.5% (range, 50%-100%), and perceptual rating GRBAS sum score average was 2.9 (range, 0-7). In pediatric ansa-RLN reinnervation for UVFP, no correlation between age at surgery and postoperative outcome was found. Denervation duration showed slight negative correlation, similar to what has been reported in adults, though voice improvement was seen in all patients. © The Author(s) 2015.

Uniaxial ratchetting of 316FR steel at room temperature -- Part 2. Constitutive modeling and simulation

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

Ohno, N.; Abdel-Karim, M.

2000-01-01

Uniaxial ratchetting experiments of 316FR steel at room temperature reported in Part 1 are simulated using a new kinematic hardening model which has two kinds of dynamic recovery terms. The model, which features the capability of simulating slight opening of stress-strain hysteresis loops robustly, is formulated by furnishing the Armstrong and Frederick model with the critical state of dynamic recovery introduced by Ohno and Wang (1993). The model is then combined with a viscoplastic equation, and the resulting constitutive model is applied successfully to simulating the experiments. It is shown that for ratchetting under stress cycling with negative stress ratio,more » viscoplasticity and slight opening of hysteresis loops are effective mainly in early and subsequent cycles, respectively, whereas for ratchetting under zero-to-tension only viscoplasticity is effective.« less

Characterization of charge separation in the Array of Micromachined UltraSonic Electrospray (AMUSE) ion source for mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Forbes, Thomas P; Dixon, R Brent; Muddiman, David C; Degertekin, F Levent; Fedorov, Andrei G

2009-09-01

An initial investigation into the effects of charge separation in the Array of Micromachined UltraSonic Electrospray (AMUSE) ion source is reported to gain understanding of ionization mechanisms and to improve analyte ionization efficiency and operation stability. In RF-only mode, AMUSE ejects, on average, an equal number of slightly positive and slightly negative charged droplets due to random charge fluctuations, providing inefficient analyte ionization. Charge separation at the nozzle orifice is achieved by the application of an external electric field. By bringing the counter electrode close to the nozzle array, strong electric fields can be applied at relatively low DC potentials. It has been demonstrated, through a number of electrode/electrical potential configurations, that increasing charge separation leads to improvement in signal abundance, signal-to-noise ratio, and signal stability.

Moderately virulent African swine fever virus infection: blood cell changes and infective virus distribution among blood components.

PubMed

Genovesi, E V; Knudsen, R C; Whyard, T C; Mebus, C A

1988-03-01

Blood samples of pigs infected with a moderately virulent African swine fever virus (ASFV) isolate, obtained from the Dominican Republic (DR-II), were monitored temporally for viremia, infective ASFV association with major blood components, differential changes in blood cell composition, and plasma antibodies to ASFV. After intranasal/oral virus inoculation, pigs underwent acute infection and illness that resolved. Acute illness began on postinoculation day (PID) 4 and continued to PID 11, and pigs were febrile, with maximal infective ASFV titers detected in blood. By PID 11, initial antibody titers to ASFV antigens were detected in plasma. The WBC numbers were maintained near preinoculation counts; however, lymphocyte counts decreased slightly with a compensatory increment in neutrophil and monocyte numbers. From PID 11 to PID 25, rectal temperatures gradually returned to preinoculation values, titers of viremia began to decrease, plasma antibody to ASFV antigens increased to peak titers, and WBC numbers increased slightly. Percentages of lymphocytes returned to preinoculation values, neutrophil percentages decreased to slightly below preinoculation values, monocyte percentages were mildly increased, and eosinophil percentages were unaffected. From PID 25 to PID 46, titers of viremia further decreased, and plasma titers of antibodies to ASFV antigens remained high. In pigs with DR-II viremia (PID 4 to PID 46), most viral infectivity (greater than 95%) was RBC associated. Plasma contained less than 1% infectivity, and less than 0.1% of virus was in the WBC fraction (monocytes, lymphocytes, and granulocytes). After PID 46, viremia was no longer detectable.

MIPAS IMK/IAA CFC-11 (CCl3F) and CFC-12 (CCl2F2) measurements: accuracy, precision and long-term stability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eckert, E.; Laeng, A.; Lossow, S.; Kellmann, S.; Stiller, G.; von Clarmann, T.; Glatthor, N.; Höpfner, M.; Kiefer, M.; Oelhaf, H.; Orphal, J.; Funke, B.; Grabowski, U.; Haenel, F.; Linden, A.; Wetzel, G.; Woiwode, W.; Bernath, P. F.; Boone, C.; Dutton, G. S.; Elkins, J. W.; Engel, A.; Gille, J. C.; Kolonjari, F.; Sugita, T.; Toon, G. C.; Walker, K. A.

2015-07-01

Profiles of CFC-11 (CCl3F) and CFC-12 (CCl2F2) of the Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS) abord the European satellite Envisat have been retrieved from versions MIPAS/4.61-MIPAS/4.62 and MIPAS/5.02-MIPAS/5.06 level-1b data using the scientific level-2 processor run by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research (IMK) and Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (IAA). These profiles have been compared to measurements taken by the balloon borne Cryosampler, Mark IV (MkIV) and MIPAS-Balloon (MIPAS-B), the airborne MIPAS stratospheric aircraft (MIPAS-STR), the satellite borne Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment Fourier transform spectrometer (ACE-FTS) and the High Resolution Dynamic Limb Sounder (HIRDLS) as well as the ground based Halocarbon and other Atmospheric Trace Species (HATS) network for the reduced spectral resolution period (RR: January 2005-April 2012) of MIPAS Envisat. ACE-FTS, MkIV and HATS also provide measurements during the high spectral resolution period (FR: July 2002-March 2004) and were used to validate MIPAS Envisat CFC-11 and CFC-12 products during that time, as well as ILAS-II profiles. In general, we find that MIPAS Envisat shows slightly higher values for CFC-11 at the lower end of the profiles (below ~ 15 km) and in a comparison of HATS ground-based data and MIPAS Envisat measurements at 3 km below the tropopause. Differences range from approximately 10-50 pptv (~ 5-20 %) during the RR period. In general, differences are slightly smaller for the FR period. An indication of a slight high-bias at the lower end of the profile exists for CFC-12 as well, but this bias is far less pronounced than for CFC-11, so that differences at the lower end of the profile (below ~ 15 km) and in the comparison of HATS and MIPAS Envisat measurements taken at 3 km below the tropopause mainly stay within 10-50 pptv (~ 2-10 %) for the RR and the FR period. Above approximately 15 km, most comparisons are close to excellent, apart from ILAS-II, which shows large differences above ~ 17 km. Overall, percentage differences are usually smaller for CFC-12 than for CFC-11. For both species - CFC-11 and CFC-12 - we find that differences at the lower end of the profile tend to be larger at higher latitudes than in tropical and subtropical regions. In addition, MIPAS Envisat profiles have a maximum in the mixing ratio around the tropopause, which is most obvious in tropical mean profiles. Estimated measurement noise alone can, in most cases, not explain the standard deviation of the differences. This is attributed to error components not considered in the error estimate and also to natural variability which always plays a role when the compared instruments do not measure exactly the same air mass. Investigations concerning the temporal stability show very small negative drifts in MIPAS Envisat CFC-11 measurements. These drifts vary between ~ 1-3 % decade-1. For CFC-12, the drifts are also negative and close to zero up to ~ 30 km. Above that altitude larger drifts of up to ~ 50 % decade-1 appear which are negative up to ~ 35 km and positive, but of a similar magnitude, above.

Evapotranspiration and microclimate at a low-level radioactive-waste disposal site in northwestern Illinois

USGS Publications Warehouse

Healy, R.W.; DeVries, M.P.; Sturrock, Alex M.

1989-01-01

From July 1982 through June 1984, a study was made of the evapotranspiration and microclimate at a low-level radioactive-waste disposal site near Sheffield, Bureau County, Illinois. Vegetation at the site consists of mixed pasture grasses, primarily awnless brome (Bromus inermis) and red clover (Trifoleum pratense). Three methods were used to estimate evapotranspiration: (1) an energy budget with the Bowen ratio, (2) an aerodynamic profile, and (3) a soil-based water budget. For the aerodynamic-profile method, sensible-heat flux was estimated by a profile equation and evapotranspiration was then calculated as the residual in the energy-balance equation. Estimates by the energy-budget and aerodynamic-profile methods were computed from hourly data and then summed by days and months. Yearly estimates (for March through November) by these methods were in close agreement: 648 and 626 millimeters, respectively. Daily estimates reach a maximum of about 6 millimeters. The water-budget method produced only monthly estimates based on weekly or biweekly soil-moisture content measurements. The yearly evapotranspiration estimated by this method (which actually included only the months of April through October) was 655 millimeters. The March-through-November average for the three methods of 657 millimeters was equivalent to 70 percent of total precipitation. Continuous measurements were made of incoming and reflected shortwave radiation, incoming and emitted longwave radiation, net radiation, soil-heat flux, soil temperature, horizontal windspeed, and wet- and dry-bulb air temperature. Windspeed and air temperature were measured at heights of 0.5 and 2.0 meters (and also at 1.0 meter after September 1983). Soilmoisture content of the soil zone was measured with a gamma-attenuation gage. Annual precipitation (938 millimeters) and average temperature (10.8 degrees Celsius) at the Sheffield site were virtually identical to long-term averages from nearby National Weather Service stations. Solar radiation averaged 65 percent of that normally expected under clear skies. Net radiation averaged 70.1 watts per square meter and was highest in July and negative during some winter months. Wind direction varied but was predominately south-southeasterly. Wind speed at the 2-meter height averaged 3.5 meters per second and was slightly higher in winter months than the rest of the year. The amount of water stored within the soil zone was greatest in early spring and least in late summer. Seasonal and diurnal trends of evapotranspiration rates mirrored those of net radiation; July was usually the month with the highest evapotranspiration rate. The ratio of sensible- to latentheat fluxes (commonly called the Bowen ratio) for the 2-year study period was 0.38, as averaged from the three methods. Monthly Bowen ratios fluctuated somewhat but averaged about 0.35 for late spring through summer. In fall, the ratio declined to zero or to slightly negative values. When the ratio was negative, the latent-heat flux was slightly greater than the net radiation because of additional energy supplied by' the cooling soil and air. Evapotranspiration calculated by the three methods averaged 75 percent of potential evapotranspiration, as estimated by the Penman equation. There was no apparent seasonal trend in the relation between actual and potential evapotranspiration rates.

Evaluating the formulae for integrated lethality in ethylene oxide sterilization using six different endospore forming strains of bacteria, and comparisons of integrated lethality for ethylene oxide and steam systems.

PubMed

Mosley, Gregg A; Gillis, John R; Krushefski, Garrett

2005-01-01

Bacterial endospores from six different species of bacteria were exposed to a spectrum of ethylene oxide (EtO) sterilizing conditions. Temperature was varied from 40 to 60 degrees C and the ethylene oxide concentration was varied from 300 to 750 mg/L. Relative humidity was maintained at 60+/-10% RH. The fraction negative procedure was used to determine the D value for each of the test conditions. Bacterial species tested included Bacillus atrophaeus ATCC # 9372, Bacillus smithii ATCC # 51232, Bacillus subtilis "5230" ATCC # 35021, Bacillus subtilis, DSM # 4181, Bacillus pumilus ATCC # 27142, and Geobacillus stearothermophilus ATCC # 7953. All spore preparations were inoculated on filter paper strips packaged in blue, sterilizable glassine pouches. G. stearothermophilus was the least resistant organism tested. The most resistant organisms tested were B. atrophaeus and B. subtilis "5230". The B. subtilis "5230" strain was slightly more resistant than B. atrophaeus at conditions of 54C and EtO concentrations of 400, 600, and 750 mg/L, as well as at 60C/750mg/L EtO. The other species were between these extremes. This empirical data allowed the application of the recently published formula for converting D values from one set of conditions to another and evaluations of accuracy. The measured D values also allowed the determination of Z values based on temperature variations. These formulae, when applied to process temperatures independent of gas concentration, result in a Z value of approximately 32 degrees C that appears to be similar for all species tested. These data support the application of the previously published formulae 1-6 and allow the same approach to integrated lethality for ethylene oxide processes as is commonly applied to steam sterilization. A review of steam sterilization and related principles was conducted for comparison of integrated lethality for these two methods of sterilization. Errors associated with D values, Z values, extrapolation, and integrated lethality for both methods of sterilization are discussed.

The effects of MWNT on thermal conductivity and thermal mechanical properties of epoxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ismadi, A. I.; Othman, R. N.

2017-12-01

Multiwall nanotube (MWNT) was used as filler in various studies to improve thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of epoxy. Present study varied different weight loading (0, 0.1 %, 0.5 %, 1 %, 1.5 %, 3 % and 5 %) of MWNT in order to observe the effects on the epoxy. Nanocomposite was analyzed by dynamic-mechanical thermal analyser (DMTA) and KD2 pro analyzer. DMTA measured storage modulus (E') and glass transition temperature (Tg) of the nanocomposite. Result showed that Tg value of neat epoxy is higher than all MWNT epoxy nanocomposite. Tg values drop from 81.55 °C (neat epoxy) to 65.03 °C (at 0.1 wt%). This may happen due to the agglomeration of MWNT in the epoxy. However, Tg values increases with the increase of MWNT wt%. Tg values increased from 65.03 °C to 78.53 °C at 1 wt%. Increment of storage modulus (E') at 3 °C (glassy region) was observed as the MWNT loading increases. Maximum value of E' during glassy region was observed to be at 5 wt% with (7.26±0.7) E+08 Pa compared to neat epoxy. On the contrary, there is slight increased and slight decreased with E' values at 100 °C (rubbery region) for all nanocomposite. Since epoxy exhibits low thermal conductivity properties, addition of MWNT has enhanced the properties. Optimum value of thermal conductivity was observed at 3 wt%. The values increased up to 9.03 % compared to neat epoxy. As expected, the result showed decrease value in thermal conductivity at 5 wt% as a result of agglomeration of MWNT in the epoxy.

Overwintered Bullfrog tadpoles negatively affect Salamanders and Anurans in native amphibian communities

USGS Publications Warehouse

Boone, M.D.; Little, E.E.; Semlitsch, R.D.

2004-01-01

We examined the interactive effects of overwintered Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) tadpoles and pond hydroperiod on a community of larval amphibians in outdoor mesocosms including American Toads (Bufo americanus), Southern Leopard Frogs (Rana sphenocephala), and Spotted Salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) - species within the native range of Bullfrogs. Spotted Salamanders and Southern Leopard Frogs were negatively influenced by the presence of overwintered Bullfrogs. Spotted Salamanders had shorter larval periods and slightly smaller masses at metamorphosis, and Southern Leopard Frogs had smaller masses at metamorphosis when reared with Bullfrogs than without. Presence of overwintered Bullfrogs, however, did not significantly affect American Toads. Longer pond hydroperiods resulted in greater survival, greater size at metamorphosis, longer larval periods, and later time until emergence of the first metamorphs for Southern Leopard Frog tadpoles and Spotted Salamander larvae. Our study demonstrated that overwintered Bullfrog tadpoles can respond to changing pond hydroperiods and can negatively impact metamorphosis of native amphibians.

Longitudinal and Incremental Relation of Cybervictimization to Negative Self-Cognitions and Depressive Symptoms in Young Adolescents.

PubMed

Cole, David A; Zelkowitz, Rachel L; Nick, Elizabeth; Martin, Nina C; Roeder, Kathryn M; Sinclair-McBride, Keneisha; Spinelli, Tawny

2016-10-01

Adolescents are among the most frequent users of social media websites, raising concern about the dangers of cyber bullying or cybervictimization (CV). A 12-month longitudinal study examined the unique, prospective relation of CV to the development of negative self-cognitions and depressive symptoms in a community sample of 827 children and young adolescents (ages 8-13; 55.1 % female) from the southeastern United States. Over and above conventional types of peer victimization, CV significantly predicted changes in self-referential negative cognitions, victimization-related cognitive reactions, and depressive symptoms, even after controlling for baseline levels of the dependent variables. Results also showed that CV was significantly less stable than other forms of victimization and tended to increase slightly with time. The study highlights the unique effects of CV and has implications for research and practice.

Bone metastases from breast cancer at the time or radical mastectomy as detected by bone scan. Eight-year follow-up.

PubMed

Sklaroff, R B; Sklaroff, D M

1976-07-01

Sixty-four women with Stage II breast cancer who had Sr85 bone scans at the time of radical mastectomy were followed for 8 years in a prospective study. Those women with positive scans had a slight, but statistically significant, increased incidence of metastic disease, particularly for metastases to bone.However, 40% of those women with positive bone scans and negative roentgenograms survived 8 years without evidence of any metastatic disease. Therefore, it has not been shown at this time that bone scans should be obtained in order to exclude bone metastasis before regional therapy for breast cancer is instituted. Also, a significant percentage of women with negative bone scans developed both bone and soft tissue metastases. As many as 30% of asymptomatic women with a history of breast cancer and positive bone scans and negative bone roentgenograms may still harbor disease in bone after 8 years.

Angular decay coefficients of J /ψ mesons at forward rapidity from p +p collisions at √{s }=510 GeV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adare, A.; Aidala, C.; Ajitanand, N. N.; Akiba, Y.; Akimoto, R.; Alfred, M.; Andrieux, V.; Aoki, K.; Apadula, N.; Aramaki, Y.; Asano, H.; Atomssa, E. T.; Awes, T. C.; Ayuso, C.; Azmoun, B.; Babintsev, V.; Bai, M.; Bandara, N. S.; Bannier, B.; Barish, K. N.; Bathe, S.; Bazilevsky, A.; Beaumier, M.; Beckman, S.; Belmont, R.; Berdnikov, A.; Berdnikov, Y.; Black, D.; Blau, D. S.; Boer, M.; Bok, J. S.; Bownes, E. K.; Boyle, K.; Brooks, M. L.; Bryslawskyj, J.; Buesching, H.; Bumazhnov, V.; Butler, C.; Campbell, S.; Canoa Roman, V.; Cervantes, R.; Chen, C.-H.; Chi, C. Y.; Chiu, M.; Choi, I. J.; Choi, J. B.; Chujo, T.; Citron, Z.; Connors, M.; Cronin, N.; Csanád, M.; Csörgő, T.; Danley, T. W.; Datta, A.; Daugherity, M. S.; David, G.; Deblasio, K.; Dehmelt, K.; Denisov, A.; Deshpande, A.; Desmond, E. J.; Ding, L.; Dion, A.; Dixit, D.; Do, J. H.; Drees, A.; Drees, K. A.; Dumancic, M.; Durham, J. M.; Durum, A.; Dusing, J. P.; Elder, T.; Enokizono, A.; En'yo, H.; Esumi, S.; Fadem, B.; Fan, W.; Feege, N.; Fields, D. E.; Finger, M.; Finger, M.; Fokin, S. L.; Frantz, J. E.; Franz, A.; Frawley, A. D.; Fukuda, Y.; Gal, C.; Gallus, P.; Garg, P.; Ge, H.; Giordano, F.; Glenn, A.; Goto, Y.; Grau, N.; Greene, S. V.; Grosse Perdekamp, M.; Gu, Y.; Gunji, T.; Guragain, H.; Hachiya, T.; Haggerty, J. S.; Hahn, K. I.; Hamagaki, H.; Hamilton, H. F.; Han, S. Y.; Hanks, J.; Hasegawa, S.; Haseler, T. O. S.; He, X.; Hemmick, T. K.; Hill, J. C.; Hill, K.; Hollis, R. S.; Homma, K.; Hong, B.; Hoshino, T.; Hotvedt, N.; Huang, J.; Huang, S.; Ikeda, Y.; Imai, K.; Imazu, Y.; Imrek, J.; Inaba, M.; Iordanova, A.; Isenhower, D.; Ito, Y.; Ivanishchev, D.; Jacak, B. V.; Jeon, S. J.; Jezghani, M.; Ji, Z.; Jia, J.; Jiang, X.; Johnson, B. M.; Joo, E.; Joo, K. S.; Jorjadze, V.; Jouan, D.; Jumper, D. S.; Kang, J. H.; Kang, J. S.; Kapukchyan, D.; Karthas, S.; Kawall, D.; Kazantsev, A. V.; Kempel, T.; Key, J. A.; Khachatryan, V.; Khanzadeev, A.; Kihara, K.; Kim, C.; Kim, D. H.; Kim, D. J.; Kim, E.-J.; Kim, H.-J.; Kim, M.; Kim, M. H.; Kim, Y. K.; Kimball, M. L.; Kincses, D.; Kistenev, E.; Klatsky, J.; Kleinjan, D.; Kline, P.; Koblesky, T.; Kofarago, M.; Koster, J.; Kotler, J. R.; Kotov, D.; Kudo, S.; Kurita, K.; Kurosawa, M.; Kwon, Y.; Lacey, R.; Lajoie, J. G.; Lallow, E. O.; Lebedev, A.; Lee, K. B.; Lee, S.; Lee, S. H.; Leitch, M. J.; Leitgab, M.; Leung, Y. H.; Lewis, N. A.; Li, X.; Lim, S. H.; Liu, L. D.; Liu, M. X.; Loggins, V.-R.; Loggins, V.-R.; Lovasz, K.; Lynch, D.; Majoros, T.; Makdisi, Y. I.; Makek, M.; Malaev, M.; Manion, A.; Manko, V. I.; Mannel, E.; Masuda, H.; McCumber, M.; McGaughey, P. L.; McGlinchey, D.; McKinney, C.; Meles, A.; Mendez, A. R.; Mendoza, M.; Meredith, B.; Miake, Y.; Mignerey, A. C.; Mihalik, D. E.; Miller, A. J.; Milov, A.; Mishra, D. K.; Mitchell, J. T.; Mitsuka, G.; Miyasaka, S.; Mizuno, S.; Montuenga, P.; Moon, T.; Morrison, D. P.; Morrow, S. I. M.; Moukhanova, T. V.; Murakami, T.; Murata, J.; Mwai, A.; Nagai, K.; Nagamiya, S.; Nagashima, K.; Nagashima, T.; Nagle, J. L.; Nagy, M. I.; Nakagawa, I.; Nakagomi, H.; Nakano, K.; Nattrass, C.; Netrakanti, P. K.; Nihashi, M.; Niida, T.; Nouicer, R.; Novák, T.; Novitzky, N.; Novotny, R.; Nyanin, A. S.; O'Brien, E.; Ogilvie, C. A.; Orjuela Koop, J. D.; Osborn, J. D.; Oskarsson, A.; Ottino, G. J.; Ozawa, K.; Pak, R.; Pantuev, V.; Papavassiliou, V.; Park, J. S.; Park, S.; Pate, S. F.; Patel, L.; Patel, M.; Peng, J.-C.; Peng, W.; Perepelitsa, D. V.; Perera, G. D. N.; Peressounko, D. Yu.; Perezlara, C. E.; Perry, J.; Petti, R.; Phipps, M.; Pinkenburg, C.; Pinson, R.; Pisani, R. P.; Press, C. J.; Pun, A.; Purschke, M. L.; Rak, J.; Ravinovich, I.; Read, K. F.; Reynolds, D.; Riabov, V.; Riabov, Y.; Richford, D.; Rinn, T.; Riveli, N.; Roach, D.; Rolnick, S. D.; Rosati, M.; Rowan, Z.; Rubin, J. G.; Runchey, J.; Safonov, A. S.; Saito, N.; Sakaguchi, T.; Sako, H.; Samsonov, V.; Sarsour, M.; Sato, K.; Sato, S.; Sawada, S.; Schaefer, B.; Schmoll, B. K.; Sedgwick, K.; Seele, J.; Seidl, R.; Sen, A.; Seto, R.; Sett, P.; Sexton, A.; Sharma, D.; Shein, I.; Shibata, T.-A.; Shigaki, K.; Shimomura, M.; Shioya, T.; Shukla, P.; Sickles, A.; Silva, C. L.; Silva, J. A.; Silvermyr, D.; Singh, B. K.; Singh, C. P.; Singh, V.; Slunečka, M.; Smith, K. L.; Snowball, M.; Soltz, R. A.; Sondheim, W. E.; Sorensen, S. P.; Sourikova, I. V.; Stankus, P. W.; Stepanov, M.; Stien, H.; Stoll, S. P.; Sugitate, T.; Sukhanov, A.; Sumita, T.; Sun, J.; Syed, S.; Sziklai, J.; Takahara, A.; Takeda, A.; Taketani, A.; Tanida, K.; Tannenbaum, M. J.; Tarafdar, S.; Taranenko, A.; Tarnai, G.; Tieulent, R.; Timilsina, A.; Todoroki, T.; Tomášek, M.; Torii, H.; Towell, C. L.; Towell, M.; Towell, R.; Towell, R. S.; Tserruya, I.; Ueda, Y.; Ujvari, B.; van Hecke, H. W.; Vargyas, M.; Vazquez-Carson, S.; Velkovska, J.; Virius, M.; Vrba, V.; Vukman, N.; Vznuzdaev, E.; Wang, X. R.; Wang, Z.; Watanabe, D.; Watanabe, Y.; Watanabe, Y. S.; Wei, F.; Whitaker, S.; Wolin, S.; Wong, C. P.; Woody, C. L.; Wysocki, M.; Xia, B.; Xu, C.; Xu, Q.; Xue, L.; Yalcin, S.; Yamaguchi, Y. L.; Yamamoto, H.; Yanovich, A.; Yin, P.; Yoo, J. H.; Yoon, I.; Younus, I.; Yu, H.; Yushmanov, I. E.; Zajc, W. A.; Zelenski, A.; Zharko, S.; Zou, L.; Phenix Collaboration

2017-05-01

We report the first measurement of the full angular distribution for inclusive J /ψ →μ+μ- decays in p +p collisions at √{s }=510 GeV . The measurements are made for J /ψ transverse momentum 2

Algorithm 699 - A new representation of Patterson's quadrature formulae

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Krogh, Fred T.; Van Snyder, W.

1991-01-01

A method is presented to reduce the number of coefficients necessary to represent Patterson's quadrature formulae. It also reduces the amount of storage necessary for storing function values, and produces slightly smaller error in evaluating the formulae.

Emotion regulation and culture: are the social consequences of emotion suppression culture-specific?

PubMed

Butler, Emily A; Lee, Tiane L; Gross, James J

2007-02-01

Emotional suppression has been associated with generally negative social consequences (Butler et al., 2003; Gross & John, 2003). A cultural perspective suggests, however, that these consequences may be moderated by cultural values. We tested this hypothesis in a two-part study, and found that, for Americans holding Western-European values, habitual suppression was associated with self-protective goals and negative emotion. In addition, experimentally elicited suppression resulted in reduced interpersonal responsiveness during face-to-face interaction, along with negative partner-perceptions and hostile behavior. These deleterious effects were reduced when individuals with more Asian values suppressed, and these reductions were mediated by cultural differences in the responsiveness of the suppressors. These findings suggest that many of suppression's negative social impacts may be moderated by cultural values. (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved.

Impact of sleep quality on amygdala reactivity, negative affect, and perceived stress.

PubMed

Prather, Aric A; Bogdan, Ryan; Hariri, Ahmad R

2013-05-01

Research demonstrates a negative impact of sleep disturbance on mood and affect; however, the biological mechanisms mediating these links are poorly understood. Amygdala reactivity to negative stimuli has emerged as one potential pathway. Here, we investigate the influence of self-reported sleep quality on associations between threat-related amygdala reactivity and measures of negative affect and perceived stress. Analyses on data from 299 participants (125 men, 50.5% white, mean [standard deviation] age = 19.6 [1.3] years) who completed the Duke Neurogenetics Study were conducted. Participants completed several self-report measures of negative affect and perceived stress. Threat-related (i.e., angry and fearful facial expressions) amygdala reactivity was assayed using blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging. Global sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Amygdala reactivity to fearful facial expressions predicted greater depressive symptoms and higher perceived stress in poor (β values = 0.18-1.86, p values < .05) but not good sleepers (β values = -0.13 to -0.01, p values > .05). In sex-specific analyses, men reporting poorer global sleep quality showed a significant association between amygdala reactivity and levels of depression and perceived stress (β values = 0.29-0.44, p values < .05). In contrast, no significant associations were observed in men reporting good global sleep quality or in women, irrespective of sleep quality. This study provides novel evidence that self-reported sleep quality moderates the relationships between amygdala reactivity, negative affect, and perceived stress, particularly among men.

Is psychotherapy for functional somatic syndromes harmful? A mixed methods study on negative effects.

PubMed

Holsting, A F; Pedersen, H F; Rask, M T; Frostholm, L; Schröder, A

2017-07-01

Concern for negative effects of psychotherapy for functional somatic syndromes (FSS) has been expressed by clinicians and some patient associations, which may prevent patients from seeking treatment. Therefore, we sought to explore the occurrence and characteristics of negative effects from group-based psychotherapy as experienced by patients with severe or multiple FSS. An adapted version of the explanatory sequential mixed methods design was applied. We used data from an on-going pilot study on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. Negative effects were measured by Inventory for the assessment of Negative Effects of Psychotherapy (INEP). In addition, telephone interviews were conducted with randomly chosen patients and patients who reported negative effects. The latter were asked to elaborate on their INEP response. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively while interview transcripts were explored by thematic analysis. Eighty patients responded to the questionnaire (89%). Negative effects to different extent (from 'slightly agree' to 'fully agree') were reported by 25 (31%). The most frequent negative effects were dependence on the therapist (12%), feeling down after therapy (6%) and insurance problems (7%). By exploring 27 participants' experiences of negative effects 3 main themes were identified: relations in therapy, outcome and transition from therapy to everyday life. Patients with FSS reported a few specific negative effects, all with low frequency. Generally, therapy was well-received. Some patients did however express negative effects both within and outside the therapeutic context. It is important to inform patients about potential negative effects prior to psychotherapy. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Contralateral metachronous hernia following negative laparoscopic evaluation for contralateral patent processus vaginalis: a meta-analysis.

PubMed

Zhong, Hongji; Wang, Furan

2014-02-01

To conduct a meta-analysis of contralateral metachronous inguinal hernia (CMIH) that originated from negative laparoscopic evaluation for contralateral patent processus vaginalis (CPPV) in children who presented with a unilateral inguinal hernia and to determine the incidence of and factors associated with such a CMIH. A PubMed search was performed for all studies concerning laparoscopic repair or evaluation of inguinal hernia in children. The search strategy was as follows: (laparoscop* OR coelioscop* OR peritoneoscop* OR laparoendoscop* OR minilaparoscop*) AND ("inguinal hernia" OR "metachronous hernia") AND child*. Inclusion criteria included unilateral inguinal hernia in children, negative laparoscopic evaluation of CPPV, without history of contralateral inguinal surgery previously, and clearly reporting CMIH development or not. Editorials, letters, review articles, case reports, animal studies, and duplicate patient series were excluded. Twenty-three studies comprising 6091 children with negative CPPV fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis, of whom 80 (1.31%) subsequently presented with a CMIH. Subgroup analysis showed that CMIH incidence was lower through an umbilical approach than via an inguinal one (0.85% versus 1.78%, P=.009). As for the transinguinal approach, there was a CMIH incidence of 0.78% and 2.05%, respectively, for laparoscopy with a small angle (30° and 70°), whereas there was no CMIH development for that with a large angle (110°, 120°, and flexible). A high pneumoperitoneum pressure (>10 mm Hg, >12 mm Hg, and >14 mm Hg) was usually associated with a slightly higher CMIH incidence than a low one (≤10 mm Hg, ≤12 mm Hg, and ≤14 mm Hg), all without significant difference. CMIH incidence was slightly lower for using a broad CPPV definition than for using a narrow one (0.64% versus 1.35%, P=.183). CMIH following negative laparoscopic evaluation for CPPV was a rare but possible phenomenon. Choosing the transumbilical approach, transinguinal laparoscopy with a large angle, low-pressure pneumoperitoneum, and broad CPPV definition would probably reduce the occurrence of such CMIHs.

Biochemical Profiles of Submariners: A Longitudinal Health Study

DTIC Science & Technology

1975-05-15

probability curves . A slight skewing was demonstrated for total calcium, lactic dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, and total protein. Blood urea...values for fasting blood sugar reported by Cutler and as- sociates4 and Craig and Bartholomew2 are essentially identical to our average values of...Longitudinal Health Study examina- tion. Upon reporting for study at 0700, a 7.5-ml vacuum tube without anticoagu- lant was used to obtain blood without

Comparison of Water Vapor Measurements from Ground-based and Space-based GPS Atmospheric Remote Sensing Techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Colon-Pagan, Ian; Kuo, Ying-Hwa

2008-10-01

In this study, we compare precipitable water vapor (PWV) values from ground-based GPS water vapor sensing and COSMIC radio occultation (RO) measurements over the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and United States regions as well as global analyses from NCEP and ECMWF models. The results show good overall agreement; however, the PWV values estimated by ground-based GPS receivers tend to have a slight dry bias for low PWV values and a slight wet bias for higher PWV values, when compared with GPS RO measurements and global analyses. An application of a student T-test indicates that there is a significant difference between both ground- and space-based GPS measured datasets. The dry bias associated with space-based GPS is attributed to the missing low altitude data, where the concentration of water vapor is large. The close agreements between space-based and global analyses are due to the fact that these global analyses assimilate space-based GPS RO data from COSMIC, and the retrieval of water vapor profiles from space-based technique requires the use of global analyses as the first guess. This work is supported by UCAR SOARS and a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Educational Partnership Program under the cooperative agreement NA06OAR4810187.

Variability of 14C reservoir age and air-sea flux of CO2 in the Peru-Chile upwelling region during the past 12,000 years

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carré, Matthieu; Jackson, Donald; Maldonado, Antonio; Chase, Brian M.; Sachs, Julian P.

2016-01-01

The variability of radiocarbon marine reservoir age through time and space limits the accuracy of chronologies in marine paleo-environmental archives. We report here new radiocarbon reservoir ages (ΔR) from the central coast of Chile ( 32°S) for the Holocene period and compare these values to existing reservoir age reconstructions from southern Peru and northern Chile. Late Holocene ΔR values show little variability from central Chile to Peru. Prior to 6000 cal yr BP, however, ΔR values were markedly increased in southern Peru and northern Chile, while similar or slightly lower-than-modern ΔR values were observed in central Chile. This extended dataset suggests that the early Holocene was characterized by a substantial increase in the latitudinal gradient of marine reservoir age between central and northern Chile. This change in the marine reservoir ages indicates that the early Holocene air-sea flux of CO2 could have been up to five times more intense than in the late Holocene in the Peruvian upwelling, while slightly reduced in central Chile. Our results show that oceanic circulation changes in the Humboldt system during the Holocene have substantially modified the air-sea carbon flux in this region.

Bioindication of human-induced soil degradation in enclosed karst depressions (dolines) using Ellenberg indicator values (Classical Karst, Slovenia).

PubMed

Breg Valjavec, Mateja; Zorn, Matija; Čarni, Andraž

2018-05-29

One of the frequently used bioindication methods is Ellenberg indicator values (EIVs), which are commonly applied in Central Europe as bioindicators of ecological characteristics. However, very few studies have tested EIVs as a bioindication of human-induced soil degradation. We tested the ability of EIVs to distinguish between localities of degraded karst depressions (dolines) and localities of semi-natural (agricultural) soils in preserved dolines on the Kras Plateau (Classical Karst, SW Slovenia). We compared the results of bioindications of soil nutrient content (N), soil reaction (R) and soil moisture (M) with measured soil parameters. Low values of organic carbon, a slightly alkaline soil reaction and low organic sulphur content are chemical indicators of soil degradation in dolines, in comparison with preserved reference dolines (high organic carbon, slightly acid reaction, higher S). EIV reaction is the most reliable plant indicator value that can distinguish between degraded and non-degraded soil plots. According to a regression tree, sulphur (S) and C/N are the most important factors for division on the basis of EIV reaction. By applying the EIV reaction of diagnostic plant species, we significantly improved bioindication of soil degradation, although in the case of EIV nutrients, bioindication was not improved. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Fixation of slightly beneficial mutations: effects of life history.

PubMed

Vindenes, Yngvild; Lee, Aline Magdalena; Engen, Steinar; Saether, Bernt-Erik

2010-04-01

Recent studies of rates of evolution have revealed large systematic differences among organisms with different life histories, both within and among taxa. Here, we consider how life history may affect the rate of evolution via its influence on the fixation probability of slightly beneficial mutations. Our approach is based on diffusion modeling for a finite, stage-structured population with stochastic population dynamics. The results, which are verified by computer simulations, demonstrate that even with complex population structure just two demographic parameters are sufficient to give an accurate approximation of the fixation probability of a slightly beneficial mutation. These are the reproductive value of the stage in which the mutation first occurs and the demographic variance of the population. The demographic variance also determines what influence population size has on the fixation probability. This model represents a substantial generalization of earlier models, covering a large range of life histories.

Intermediate added salt levels as sodium reduction strategy: Effects on chemical, microbial, textural and sensory quality of polony.

PubMed

Cluff, M; Kobane, I A; Bothma, C; Hugo, C J; Hugo, A

2017-11-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of intermediate added salt levels (1.33% w/w and 1.84% w/w) as a strategy for reducing the total sodium content of polony, an emulsified, heat-treated meat product, which is reliant on the various functions of salt normally included at a 2.5% (w/w) level. Chemical, microbial, and textural stability over 180days as well as sensory quality were evaluated. At 1.84% (w/w) added salt content, the product was indistinguishable from the positive control except for a slightly wetter cutting surface. A level of 1.33% (w/w) added salt showed similar results, except for a slight variation in initial moisture content and a much wetter cutting surface. The hardest texture was achieved at 1.33% (w/w) added salt up to 90days of shelf-life. Consumers had a slight preference for a lower salt content. From this research it can be recommended that salt reduction as sole approach in sodium reduction should be evaluated for meat products in limiting the possibly costly and negatively perceived use of sodium replacers. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Gemstones

USGS Publications Warehouse

Olson, D.W.

2013-01-01

The estimated value of natural gemstones produced from U.S. deposits during 2012 was $11.1 million, a slight increase from 2011. U.S. gemstone production included agate, amber, beryl, coral, garnet, jade, jasper, opal, pearl, quartz, sapphire, shell, topaz, tourmaline, turquoise and many other gem materials.

Gemstones

USGS Publications Warehouse

Olson, D.W.

2011-01-01

The estimated value of natural gemstones produced from U.S. deposits during 2010 was $8.5 million, a slight increase from 2009. U.S. gemstone production included agate, amber, beryl, coral, garnet, jade, jasper, opal, pearl, quartz, sapphire, shell, topaz, tourmaline, turquoise and many other gem materials.

Delta-ALA urine test

MedlinePlus

... hours. Normal value ranges may vary slightly from one lab to another. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results. What Abnormal Results Mean An increased level of urinary delta-ALA may ...

Chromium - blood test

MedlinePlus

Serum chromium level normally is less than or equal to 1.4 micrograms/milliliter (µg/mL) or 26924.80 nanomoles/L (nmol/L). Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test result.

Amylase - blood

MedlinePlus

The normal range is 40 to 140 units per liter (U/L) or 0.38 to 1.42 microkat/L (µkat/L). Note: Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results. The examples ...

More about the moment of inertia of Mars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kaula, William M.; Sleep, Norman H.; Phillips, Roger J.

1989-01-01

Differences between Mars and other terrestrial planets are discussed. Unlike other terrestrial planets, Mars has two nonhydrostatic components of moments of inertia that are nearly equal. The most probable value of I/MR-squared is slightly less than 0.3650.

Diagnostic value and cost utility analysis for urine Gram stain and urine microscopic examination as screening tests for urinary tract infection.

PubMed

Wiwanitkit, Viroj; Udomsantisuk, Nibhond; Boonchalermvichian, Chaiyaporn

2005-06-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic properties of urine Gram stain and urine microscopic examination for screening for urinary tract infection (UTI), and to perform an additional cost utility analysis. This descriptive study was performed on 95 urine samples sent for urine culture to the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University. The first part of the study was to determine the diagnostic properties of two screening tests (urine Gram stain and urine microscopic examination). Urine culture was set as the gold standard and the results from both methods were compared to this. The second part of this study was to perform a cost utility analysis. The sensitivity of urine Gram stain was 96.2%, the specificity 93.0%, the positive predictive value 94.3% and the negative predictive value 95.2%. False positives occurred with a frequency of 7.0% and false negatives 3.8%. For the microscopic examination, the sensitivity was 65.4%, specificity 74.4%, positive predictive value 75.6% and negative predictive value 64.0%. False positives occurred with a frequency of 25.6% and false negatives 34.6%. Combining urine Gram stain and urine microscopic examination, the sensitivity was 98.1%, specificity 74.4%, positive predictive value 82.3% and negative predictive value 97.0%. False positives occurred with a frequency of 25.6% and false negatives 1.9%. However, the cost per utility of the combined method was higher than either urine microscopic examination or urine Gram stain alone. Urine Gram stain provided the lowest cost per utility. Economically, urine Gram stain is the proper screening tool for presumptive diagnosis of UTI.

On Pulsating and Cellular Forms of Hydrodynamic Instability in Liquid-Propellant Combustion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Margolis, Stephen B.; Sacksteder, Kurt (Technical Monitor)

1998-01-01

An extended Landau-Levich model of liquid-propellant combustion, one that allows for a local dependence of the burning rate on the (gas) pressure at the liquid-gas interface, exhibits not only the classical hydrodynamic cellular instability attributed to Landau but also a pulsating hydrodynamic instability associated with sufficiently negative pressure sensitivities. Exploiting the realistic limit of small values of the gas-to-liquid density ratio p, analytical formulas for both neutral stability boundaries may be obtained by expanding all quantities in appropriate powers of p in each of three distinguished wave-number regimes. In particular, composite analytical expressions are derived for the neutral stability boundaries A(sub p)(k), where A, is the pressure sensitivity of the burning rate and k is the wave number of the disturbance. For the cellular boundary, the results demonstrate explicitly the stabilizing effect of gravity on long-wave disturbances, the stabilizing effect of viscosity (both liquid and gas) and surface tension on short-wave perturbations, and the instability associated with intermediate wave numbers for negative values of A(sub p), which is characteristic of many hydroxylammonium nitrate-based liquid propellants over certain pressure ranges. In contrast, the pulsating hydrodynamic stability boundary is insensitive to gravitational and surface-tension effects but is more sensitive to the effects of liquid viscosity because, for typical nonzero values of the latter, the pulsating boundary decreases to larger negative values of A(sub p) as k increases through O(l) values. Thus, liquid-propellant combustion is predicted to be stable (that is, steady and planar) only for a range of negative pressure sensitivities that lie below the cellular boundary that exists for sufficiently small negative values of A(sub p) and above the pulsating boundary that exists for larger negative values of this parameter.

Origins of terrestrial organic matter in surface sediments of the East China Sea shelf

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Hailong; Xing, Lei; Zhao, Meixun

2017-10-01

Terrestrial organic matter (TOM) is an important component of marine sedimentary OM, and revealing the origins and transport mechanisms of TOM to the East China Sea (ECS) is important for understanding regional carbon cycle. A novel approach combining molecular proxies and compound-specific carbon isotopes is used to quantitatively constrain the origins and transport mechanisms of TOM in surface sediments from the ECS shelf. The content of terrestrial biomarkers of (C27+C29+C31) n-alkanes (52 to 580 ng g-1) revealed a seaward decreasing trend, the δ13CTOC values (-20.6‰ to -22.7‰) were more negative near the coast, and the TMBR (terrestrial and marine biomarker ratio) values (0.06 to 0.40) also revealed a seaward decreasing trend. These proxies all indicated more TOM (up to 48%) deposition in the coastal areas. The Alkane Index, the ratio of C29/(C29+C31) n-alkanes indicated a higher proportion of grass vegetation in the coastal area; While the δ13C values of C29 n-alkane (-29.3‰ to -33.8‰) indicated that terrestrial plant in the sediments of the ECS shelf were mainly derived from C3 plants. Cluster analysis afforded detailed estimates of different-sourced TOM contributions and transport mechanisms. TOM in the Zhejiang-Fujian coastal area was mostly delivered by the Changjiang River, and characterized by higher %TOM (up to 48%), higher %C3 plant OM (68%-85%) and higher grass plant OM (56%-61%); TOM in the mid-shelf area was mostly transported by aerosols, and characterized by low %TOM (less than 17%), slightly lower C3 plant OM (56%-72%) and lower grass plant OM (49%-55%).

ATP-induced current in isolated outer hair cells of guinea pig cochlea.

PubMed

Nakagawa, T; Akaike, N; Kimitsuki, T; Komune, S; Arima, T

1990-05-01

1. Electrical and pharmacologic properties of ATP-induced current in outer hair cells isolated from guinea pig cochlea were investigated in the whole-cell recording mode by the use of a conventional patch-clamp technique. 2. Under current-clamp conditions, rapid application of ATP depolarized the outer hair cells resulting in an increase in conductance. The ATP-induced response did not show any desensitization during a continuous application. 3. At a holding potential of -70 mV, the ATP-induced inward current increased in a sigmoidal fashion over the concentration range between 3 microM and 1 mM. The half-maximum concentration (EC50) was 12 microM and the Hill coefficient was 0.93. 4. The ATP-induced current had a reversal potential near 6 mV, which was close to the theoretical value (1 mV) calculated from the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation for permeable intra- and extracellular cations. 5. In the current-voltage (I-V) relationship for the ATP response, a slight inward-going rectification was observed at more positive potentials than the reversal potential. 6. The substitution of extracellular Na+ by equimolar choline+ shifted the reversal potential of the ATP-induced current to more negative values. The substitution of Cs+ in the internal solution by N-methyl-D-glucamine+ (NMG+) shifted it in the positive direction. The reversal potential of ATP-induced current was also shifted to positive values with increasing extracellular Ca2+ concentration. A decrease of intracellular Cl- by gluconate- did not affect the reversal potential, thereby indicating that the ATP-induced current is carried through a large cation channel.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Plasma esterases in the tegu lizard Tupinambis merianae (Reptilia, Teiidae): impact of developmental stage, sex, and organophosphorus in vitro exposure.

PubMed

Basso, Agustín; Attademo, Andrés M; Lajmanovich, Rafael C; Peltzer, Paola M; Junges, Celina; Cabagna, Mariana C; Fiorenza, Gabriela S; Sanchez-Hernandez, Juan Carlos

2012-01-01

In this study, we determined normal serum butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and carboxylesterase (CbE) activities in Tupinambis merianae in order to obtain reference values for organophosphorus pesticide monitoring. Forty-two T. merianae individuals were grouped by sex and size to identify potential differences in their enzyme levels to allow for proper representation of normal values for females, males, juveniles, and hatchlings. Mean CbE was determined using two model substrates: alpha-naphtylacetate (α-NA) and p-nitrophenyl valerate (4-NPV). BChE and CbE sensitivity to malaoxon (Mx) was also evaluated as well as the possibility of BChE reactivation with pyridine-2-aldoxime methochloride (2-PAM). Mean adult females' BChE was significantly higher than adult males, juveniles, and hatchlings. No significant differences were found between groups regarding CbE. CbE (4-NPV) activity showed slightly negative correlation with lizard snout-vent length, while BChE and CbE (α-NA) showed no correlation with body size. Apparent IC(50) values for BChE and CbE (α-NA) suggested different sensitivities among groups. CbE (4-NPV) could not be inhibited. All Mx-inhibited groups treated with 2-PAM in a final concentration of 2.8 mM showed clear signs of reactivation. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that (1) plasma esterase activity did not vary with age and sex, except for BChE activity, and (2) because biological and environmental variables could be confounding factors in the response of plasma cholinesterases, complementary biomarkers like CbE inhibition and oxime-induced reactivation of esterases are strongly recommended.

Carcass and meat quality in double-muscled Belgian Blue bulls and cows.

PubMed

Fiems, L O; De Campeneere, S; Van Caelenbergh, W; De Boever, J L; Vanacker, J M

2003-03-01

Carcass and meat quality of 37 bulls and 91 cows of the Belgian Blue breed (double-muscled type) were compared. Age at slaughter averaged 648±73 and 1820±689 days, respectively. Both groups of cattle were finished on maize silage supplemented with concentrate, and were slaughtered at about 750 kg live weight. Females had a lower (P=0.004) cold carcass weight (469.7 kg) in comparison with bulls (500.8 kg), due to a reduced dressing percentage (63.8 vs. 66.6; P <0.001). SEUROP conformation was better for bulls. SEUROP fat covering (P=0.007) and fat content in the carcass (16.4 vs. 12.9%; P <0.001) and in the M. longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle (2.3 vs. 1.1%; P <0.001) were higher for females than for males. The LT of cows was darker (lower L* and higher a*-value; P <0.001), had a better waterholding capacity (P⩽0.063) and was slightly more tender (P=0.120) than the LT of bulls. Increasing parity reduced dressing percentage and increased LT lightness (L*-value) in cows. Several carcass (SEUROP-grading, composition, LT-area) and meat quality traits (protein and fat contents, drip and cooking losses, a*-value) were better correlated with carcass weight than parity. It is concluded that meat quality of the aged LT of cows is not negatively affected by age, while some carcass quality traits decreased with advancing age. Carcass quality traits adjusted for age at slaughter were better for bulls, but LT meat quality characteristics were at least as good for females as for males.

Mineralogical influences on porosity-depth trends of shelf deposits (Miocene-Pleistocene) along the northwest shelf of Australia (IODP Expedition 356)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Knierzinger, Wolfgang; Lee, Eun Young; Wagreich, Michael

2017-04-01

Porosity in sediments is influenced by various factors such as mineralogical composition, burial depth, connate fluids, and stratigraphic layering. This work focuses on processes underlying porosity anomalies in carbonate shelf deposits along the northwest shelf of Australia by using different techniques (polarization microscopy, electron microscopy, XRD, XRF). IODP expedition 356 recovered cored seven sites (U1458-U1464), covering a latitudinal range of 29°S-18°S on the northwest shelf. Strong negative deviations from general porosity-depth trends for these carbonate rich sediments are clear for samples with higher contents of dolomite, calcium sulfates, and non-skeletal calcite. No significant influence of aragonite on porosity values has yet been detected. However, it is likely that the occurrence of high amounts of aragonite is a crucial element with regard to porosity values in these carbonate rich deposits, since elongated aragonite needles commonly enhance interparticle porosity. Further insight might be gained through the application of electron microscopy. In general, sediments in the northern part of the study area (Sites U1462, U1463, U1464) tend to show slightly higher porosity values compared to sediments form the south (Sites U1459, U1460). This may reflect the influence of calcium sulfate, because mineralogical analyses show, calcium sulfate is relatively rare at the southern sites, whereas higher amounts of calcium sulfates occur in the north. The lack of detrital particles in calcium sulfate components indicates an evaporitic origin. Deposits at Site U 1461 differ from other analyzed sediments insofar as higher amounts of feldspars and micas are apparent. *This research is conducted within the frame of the 'International Ocean Discovery Program', funded by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Korea.

Cost effective solution using inverse lithography OPC for DRAM random contact layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jun, Jinhyuck; Hwang, Jaehee; Choi, Jaeseung; Oh, Seyoung; Park, Chanha; Yang, Hyunjo; Dam, Thuc; Do, Munhoe; Lee, Dong Chan; Xiao, Guangming; Choi, Jung-Hoe; Lucas, Kevin

2017-04-01

Many different advanced devices and design layers currently employ double patterning technology (DPT) as a means to overcome lithographic and OPC limitations at low k1 values. Certainly device layers with k1 value below 0.25 require DPT or other pitch splitting methodologies. DPT has also been used to improve patterning of certain device layers with k1 values slightly above 0.25, due to the difficulty of achieving sufficient pattern fidelity with only a single exposure. Unfortunately, this broad adoption of DPT also came with a significant increase in patterning process cost. In this paper, we discuss the development of a single patterning technology process using an integrated Inverse Lithography Technology (ILT) flow for mask synthesis. A single pattering technology flow will reduce the manufacturing cost for a k1 > 0.25 full chip random contact layer in a memory device by replacing the more expensive DPT process with ILT flow, while also maintaining good lithographic production quality and manufacturable OPC/RET production metrics. This new integrated flow consists of applying ILT to the difficult core region and traditional rule-based assist features (RBAFs) with OPC to the peripheral region of a DRAM contact layer. Comparisons of wafer results between the ILT process and the non-ILT process showed the lithographic benefits of ILT and its ability to enable a robust single patterning process for this low-k1 device layer. Advanced modeling with a negative tone develop (NTD) process achieved the accuracy levels needed for ILT to control feature shapes through dose and focus. Details of these afore mentioned results will be described in the paper.

Application of Fluorescence Emission for Characterization of Albendazole and Ricobendazole Micellar Systems: Elucidation of the Molecular Mechanism of Drug Solubilization Process.

PubMed

Priotti, Josefina; Leonardi, Darío; Pico, Guillermo; Lamas, María C

2018-04-01

Albendazole (ABZ) and ricobendazole (RBZ) are referred to as class II compounds in the Biopharmaceutical Classification System. These drugs exhibit poor solubility, which profoundly affects their oral bioavailability. Micellar systems are excellent pharmaceutical tools to enhance solubilization and absorption of poorly soluble compounds. Polysorbate 80 (P80), poloxamer 407 (P407), sodium cholate (Na-C), and sodium deoxycholate (Na-DC) have been selected as surfactants to study the solubilization process of these drugs. Fluorescence emission was applied in order to obtain surfactant/fluorophore (S/F) ratio, critical micellar concentration, protection efficiency of micelles, and thermodynamic parameters. Systems were characterized by their size and zeta potential. A blue shift from 350 to 345 nm was observed when ABZ was included in P80, Na-DC, and Na-C micelles, while RBZ showed a slight change in the fluorescence band. P80 showed a significant solubilization capacity: S/F values were 688 for ABZ at pH 4 and 656 for RBZ at pH 6. Additionally, P80 micellar systems presented the smallest size (10 nm) and their size was not affected by pH change. S/F ratio for bile salts was tenfold higher than for the other surfactants. Quenching plots were linear and their constant values (2.17/M for ABZ and 2.29/M for RBZ) decreased with the addition of the surfactants, indicating a protective effect of the micelles. Na-DC showed better protective efficacy for ABZ and RBZ than the other surfactants (constant values 0.54 and 1.57/M, respectively), showing the drug inclusion into the micelles. Entropic parameters were negative in agreement with micelle formation.

Modified sulfur isotopic compositions of sulfides in the nakhlites and Chassigny

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

Greenwood, J.P.; Riciputi, L.R.; McSween, H.Y. Jr.

Variable sulfur isotopic ratios of sulfide minerals in the nakhlites and Chassigny have been measured by ion microprobe. The ranges and means of {delta}{sup 34}S values of pyrrhotite and pyrite in nakhlites become more negative in the sequence Nakhla > Governador Valadares > Lafayette. This is also the sequence of increasing degrees of subsolidus re-equilibration, suggesting that {sup 32}S enrichment may be related to the subsolidus thermal history. A chalcopyrite vein cross cutting a pyrrhotite in Nakhla, coupled with chalcopyrite having slightly lighter {delta}{sup 34}S values, suggests that subsolidus fluids may have become isotopically lighter (with respect to sulfur) inmore » Nakhla with time. Pyrite has replaced pyrrhotite in Lafayette, suggesting that {line_integral}O{sub 2} and/or {line_integral}S{sub 2} increased after pyrrhotite crystallization. A model involving subsolidus hydrothermal modification of igneous sulfide minerals (with {delta}{sup 34}S {approximately} 0{degree}) due to late-stage oxidation of fluids provides a reasonable explanation for the sulfur isotopic systematics of the nakhlites and Chassigny. Sulfur isotopic alteration is believed to have occurred during the waning stages of nakhlite magmatism, rather than during a much later low-temperature (<100 C) iddingsite formation event, based on the ineffectiveness of abiogenic sulfur isotopic fractionation below 200 C. Variable mixing of two isotopically different fluids also could have produced the observed fractionations, although an isotopically light reservoir of sulfur is problematic. Other possible mechanisms evaluated to explain the sulfur isotopic values of the sulfide minerals include martial mantle heterogeneity, possible influence of martial biological processes, and magmatic degassing of SO{sub 2}.« less

Studies on optimum harvest time for hybrid rice seed.

PubMed

Fu, Hong; Cao, Dong-Dong; Hu, Wei-Min; Guan, Ya-Jing; Fu, Yu-Ying; Fang, Yong-Feng; Hu, Jin

2017-03-01

Timely harvest is critical for hybrid rice to achieve maximum seed viability, vigor and yield. However, how to predict the optimum harvest time has been rarely reported so far. The seed vigor of Zhuliangyou 06 (ZLY06) increased and reached the highest level at 20 days after pollination (DAP), when seed moisture content had a lower value, which was maintained until final seed maturation. For Chunyou 84 (CY84), seed vigor, fresh and dry weight had relatively high values at 25 DAP, when seed moisture content reached the lowest value and changed slightly from 25 to 55 DAP. In both hybrid rice varieties, seed glume chlorophyll content declined rapidly from 10 to 30 DAP and remained at a very low level after 35 DAP. Starch content exhibited an increasing trend during seed maturation, while both soluble sugar content and amylase activity decreased significantly at the early stages of seed development. Moreover, correlation analyses showed that seed dry weight, starch content and superoxide dismutase activity were significantly positively correlated with seed vigor. In contrast, chlorophyll content, moisture content, soluble sugar, soluble protein, abscisic acid, gibberellin content, electrical conductivity, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase activities were significantly negatively correlated with seed vigor. Physiological and biochemical parameters were obviously more closely related with seed vigor than with seed germinability during seed development. Seed vigor could be better used as a comprehensive factor to predict the optimum seed harvest time. It is suggested that for ZLY06 seeds could be harvested as early as 20 DAP, whereas for CY84 the earliest optimum harvest time was 25 DAP. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Reference Values for Weight, Height, Head Circumference, and Body Mass Index in Turkish Children.

PubMed

Neyzi, Olcay; Bundak, Rüveyde; Gökçay, Gülbin; Günöz, Hülya; Furman, Andrzej; Darendeliler, Feyza; Baş, Firdevs

2015-12-01

This study aimed to integrate the existing updated reference standards for the growth of Turkish infants and children and to compare these values with World Health Organization (WHO) reference data, data from some European countries, and also with previous local data. Weight, height, and head circumference measurements were obtained on 2,391 boys and 2,102 girls who were regular attenders of a well child clinic and on 1,100 boys and 1,020 girls attending schools in relatively well-off districts in İstanbul. Mean number of measurements per child was 8.2±3.6 in the age group 0-5 years and 5.5±3.3 in the age group 6-18 years. All children were from well-to-do families and all were healthy. All measurements with the exception of measurements at birth, which were based on reported values, were done by trained personnel. The LMS method was used in the analyses and in the construction of the percentile charts. There is an increase in weight for age and body mass index values for age starting in prepubertal ages, indicating an increasing trend for obesity. Compared to WHO reference data, weight and height values in Turkish children were slightly higher in infants and in children younger than 5 years, while they showed similarity to those reported for children from Norway and Belgium. Head circumference values, which were slightly higher than the WHO references in the first 5 years, were comparable to the data on Belgian and Norwegian children in the first 9 years of life. At older ages, Turkish children showed higher values for head circumference. The relatively larger head circumference values were interpreted to reflect a genetic characteristic.

Brain aging: Evaluation of pH using phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

PubMed

Cichocka, Monika; Kozub, Justyna; Urbanik, Andrzej

2018-02-02

Very important aspects of aging include age-related changes occurring in the brain. The aim of the present study was to identify the standard pH value in the entire brain volume using phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy in healthy individuals of both sexes in different age groups, and then to determine whether there are differences in these values. A total of 65 individuals aged 20-32 years (mean age 24.5 ± 2.1 years, 31 women and 34 men) and 31 individuals aged 60-81 years (mean age 64.9 ± 5.5 years, 17 women and 14 men) were studied. The phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy examination was carried out using a 1.5-T magnetic resonance system. The signal was acquired from the volume of interest that covered the whole brain. A vast majority of the examined individuals had slightly alkaline brain pH regardless of age. In the ≥20 years group, pH was 7.09 ± 0.11, and in the ≥60 years group, the average pH was 7.03 ± 0.05. This comparison of the pH identified in all the tested individuals shows a negative correlation of pH with age. The present findings might provide a valuable basis for further research into "healthy aging" as well as pathology in older adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; ••: ••-••. © 2018 Japan Geriatrics Society.

Software-assisted post-interventional assessment of radiofrequency ablation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rieder, Christian; Geisler, Benjamin; Bruners, Philipp; Isfort, Peter; Na, Hong-Sik; Mahnken, Andreas H.; Hahn, Horst K.

2014-03-01

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is becoming a standard procedure for minimally invasive tumor treatment in clinical practice. Due to its common technical procedure, low complication rate, and low cost, RFA has become an alternative to surgical resection in the liver. To evaluate the therapy success of RFA, thorough follow-up imaging is essential. Conventionally, shape, size, and position of tumor and coagulation are visually compared in a side-by-side manner using pre- and post-interventional images. To objectify the verification of the treatment success, a novel software assistant allowing for fast and accurate comparison of tumor and coagulation is proposed. In this work, the clinical value of the proposed assessment software is evaluated. In a retrospective clinical study, 39 cases of hepatic tumor ablation are evaluated using the prototype software and conventional image comparison by four radiologists with different levels of experience. The cases are randomized and evaluated in two sessions to avoid any recall-bias. Self-confidence of correct diagnosis (local recurrence vs. no local recurrence) on a six-point scale is given for each case by the radiologists. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values as well as receiver operating curves are calculated for both methods. It is shown that the software-assisted method allows physicians to correctly identify local tumor recurrence with a higher percentage than the conventional method (sensitivity: 0.6 vs. 0.35), whereas the percentage of correctly identified successful ablations is slightly reduced (specificity: 0.83 vs. 0.89).

The Co-60 gamma-ray irradiation effects on the Al/HfSiO4/p-Si/Al MOS capacitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lok, R.; Kaya, S.; Karacali, H.; Yilmaz, E.

2017-12-01

In this work, the initial interface trap density (Nit) to examine device compability for microelectronics and then the Co-60 gamma irradiation responses of Al/HfSiO4/p-Si/Al (MOS) capacitors were investigated in various dose ranges up to 70 Gy. Pre-irradiation response of the devices was evaluated from high frequency (HF) and low frequency (LF) capacitance method and the Nit was calculated as 9.91 × 1011 cm-2 which shows that the HfSiO4/p-Si interface quality is convenient for microelectronics applications. The irradiation responses of the devices were carried out from flat-band and mid-gap voltage shifts obtained from stretch of capacitance characteristics prior to and after irradiation. The results show that the flat band voltages very slightly shifted to positive voltage values demonstrating the enhancement of negative charge trapping in device structure. The sensitivity of the Al/HfSiO4/p-Si/Al MOS capacitors was found to be 4.41 mV/Gy for 300 nm-thick HfSiO4 gate dielectrics. This value approximately 6.5 times smaller compared to the same thickness conventional SiO2 based MOS devices. Therefore, HfSiO4 exhibits crucial irradiation tolerance in gamma irradiation environment. Consequently, HfSiO4 dielectrics may have significant usage for microelectronic technology as a radiation hard material where radiation field exists such as in space applications.

CHIRALITY AND MAGNETIC CONFIGURATIONS OF SOLAR FILAMENTS

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

Ouyang, Y.; Zhou, Y. H.; Chen, P. F.

It has been revealed that the magnetic topology in the solar atmosphere displays hemispheric preference, i.e., helicity is mainly negative/positive in the northern/southern hemispheres, respectively. However, the strength of the hemispheric rule and its cyclic variation are controversial. In this paper, we apply a new method based on the filament drainage to 571 erupting filaments from 2010 May to 2015 December in order to determine the filament chirality and its hemispheric preference. It is found that 91.6% of our sample of erupting filaments follows the hemispheric rule of helicity sign. It is also found that the strength of the hemisphericmore » preference of the quiescent filaments decreases slightly from ∼97% in the rising phase to ∼85% in the declining phase of solar cycle 24, whereas the strength of the intermediate filaments keeps a high value around 96 ± 4% at all times. Only the active-region filaments show significant variations. Their strength of the hemispheric rule rises from ∼63% to ∼95% in the rising phase, and keeps a high value of 82% ± 5% during the declining phase. Furthermore, during a half-year period around the solar maximum, their hemispheric preference totally vanishes. Additionally, we also diagnose the magnetic configurations of the filaments based on our indirect method and find that in our sample of erupting events, 89% are inverse-polarity filaments with a flux rope magnetic configuration, whereas 11% are normal-polarity filaments with a sheared arcade configuration.« less

Spectrophotometric Measurements of the Carbonate Ion Concentration: Aragonite Saturation States in the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.

PubMed

Fajar, Noelia M; García-Ibáñez, Maribel I; SanLeón-Bartolomé, Henar; Álvarez, Marta; Pérez, Fiz F

2015-10-06

Measurements of ocean pH, alkalinity, and carbonate ion concentrations ([CO3(2-)]) during three cruises in the Atlantic Ocean and one in the Mediterranean Sea were used to assess the reliability of the recent spectrophotometric [CO3(2-)] methodology and to determine aragonite saturation states. Measurements of [CO3(2-)] along the Atlantic Ocean showed high consistency with the [CO3(2-)] values calculated from pH and alkalinity, with negligible biases (0.4 ± 3.4 μmol·kg(-1)). In the warm, salty, high alkalinity and high pH Mediterranean waters, the spectrophotometric [CO3(2-)] methodology underestimates the measured [CO3(2-)] (4.0 ± 5.0 μmol·kg(-1)), with anomalies positively correlated to salinity. These waters also exhibited high in situ [CO3(2-)] compared to the expected aragonite saturation. The very high buffering capacity allows the Mediterranean Sea waters to remain over the saturation level of aragonite for long periods of time. Conversely, the relatively thick layer of undersaturated waters between 500 and 1000 m depths in the Tropical Atlantic is expected to progress to even more negative undersaturation values. Moreover, the northern North Atlantic presents [CO3(2-)] slightly above the level of aragonite saturation, and the expected anthropogenic acidification could result in reductions of the aragonite saturation levels during future decades, acting as a stressor for the large population of cold-water-coral communities.

Transverse anisotropic magnetoresistance effects in pseudo-single-crystal γ'-Fe4N thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kabara, Kazuki; Tsunoda, Masakiyo; Kokado, Satoshi

2016-05-01

Transverse anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) effects, for which magnetization is rotated in an orthogonal plane to the current direction, were investigated at various temperatures, in order to clarify the structural transformation from a cubic to a tetragonal symmetry in a pseudo-single-crystal Fe4N film, which is predicted from the usual in-plane AMR measurements by the theory taking into account the spin-orbit interaction and crystal field splitting of 3d bands. According to a phenomenological theory of AMR, which derives only from the crystal symmetry, a cos 2θ component ( C2 tr ) exists in transverse AMR curves for a tetragonal system but does not for a cubic system. In the Fe4N film, the C2 tr shows a positive small value (0.12%) from 300 K to 50 K. However, the C2 t r increases to negative value below 50 K and reaches to -2% at 5 K. The drastic increasing of the C2 tr demonstrates the structural transformation from a cubic to a tetragonal symmetry below 50 K in the Fe4N film. In addition, the out-of-plane and in-plane lattice constants (c and a) were precisely determined with X-ray diffraction at room temperature using the Nelson-Riely function. As a result, the positive small C2 t r above 50 K is attributed to a slightly distorted Fe4N lattice (c/a = 1.002).

Large Decadal Decline of the Arctic Multiyear Ice Cover

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Comiso, Josefino C.

2011-01-01

The perennial ice area was drastically reduced to 38% of its climatological average in 2007 but recovered somewhat in 2008, 2009 and 2010 with the areas being 10%, 24%, and 11% higher than in 2007, respectively. However, the trends in the extent and area remain strongly negative at -12.2% and -13.5 %/decade, respectively. The thick component of the perennial ice, called multiyear ice, as detected by satellite data in the winters of 1979 to 2011 was studied and results reveal that the multiyear ice extent and area are declining at an even more rapid rate of -15.1% and -17.2 % per decade, respectively, with record low value in 2008 followed by higher values in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Such high rate in the decline of the thick component of the Arctic ice cover means a reduction in average ice thickness and an even more vulnerable perennial ice cover. The decline of the multiyear ice area from 2007 to 2008 was not as strong as that of the perennial ice area from 2006 to 2007 suggesting a strong role of second year ice melt in the latter. The sea ice cover is shown to be strongly correlated with surface temperature which is increasing at about three times global average in the Arctic but appears weakly correlated with the AO which controls the dynamics of the region. An 8 to 9-year cycle is apparent in the multiyear ice record which could explain in part the slight recovery in the last three years.

The electronic structure and effective excitonic g factors of GaAs/GaMnAs core-shell nanowires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Dong-Xiao; Xiong, Wen

2017-12-01

We calculate the electronic structures of cylindrical GaAs/GaMnAs core-shell nanowires in the magnetic field based on the eight-band effective-mass kṡp theory, and it is found that the hole states can present strong band-crossings. The probability densities of several lowest electron states and highest hole states at the Γ point are analyzed, and strangely, the distribution of the electron states are more complex than that of the hole states. Furthermore, the components of the electron states will change substantially as the increase of the radius R, which are almost unchanged for the hole states. A very interesting phenomenon is that the effective excitonic g factors gex can be tuned from a large positive value for GaMnAs nanowires to a small negative value for GaAs nanowires, and gex of GaAs nanowires and GaMnAs nanowires will vary slightly and greatly, respectively as the increase of the magnetic field. Meanwhile, we can obtain large gex in cylindrical GaAs/GaMnAs core-shell nanowires when the small magnetic field, the large concentration of manganese ions, the small core radius and the small radius are chosen. Another important result is also found that the radiative intensities of two σ polarized lights can be separated gradually by decreasing the core radius Rc , which can be used to detect two σ polarized lights in the experiment.

People Like Logical Truth: Testing the Intuitive Detection of Logical Value in Basic Propositions

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Recent studies on logical reasoning have suggested that people are intuitively aware of the logical validity of syllogisms or that they intuitively detect conflict between heuristic responses and logical norms via slight changes in their feelings. According to logical intuition studies, logically valid or heuristic logic no-conflict reasoning is fluently processed and induces positive feelings without conscious awareness. One criticism states that such effects of logicality disappear when confounding factors such as the content of syllogisms are controlled. The present study used abstract propositions and tested whether people intuitively detect logical value. Experiment 1 presented four logical propositions (conjunctive, biconditional, conditional, and material implications) regarding a target case and asked the participants to rate the extent to which they liked the statement. Experiment 2 tested the effects of matching bias, as well as intuitive logic, on the reasoners’ feelings by manipulating whether the antecedent or consequent (or both) of the conditional was affirmed or negated. The results showed that both logicality and matching bias affected the reasoners’ feelings, and people preferred logically true targets over logically false ones for all forms of propositions. These results suggest that people intuitively detect what is true from what is false during abstract reasoning. Additionally, a Bayesian mixed model meta-analysis of conditionals indicated that people’s intuitive interpretation of the conditional “if p then q” fits better with the conditional probability, q given p. PMID:28036402

Can Mathematical Models Predict the Outcomes of Prostate Cancer Patients Undergoing Intermittent Androgen Deprivation Therapy?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Everett, R. A.; Packer, A. M.; Kuang, Y.

Androgen deprivation therapy is a common treatment for advanced or metastatic prostate cancer. Like the normal prostate, most tumors depend on androgens for proliferation and survival but often develop treatment resistance. Hormonal treatment causes many undesirable side effects which significantly decrease the quality of life for patients. Intermittently applying androgen deprivation in cycles reduces the total duration with these negative effects and may reduce selective pressure for resistance. We extend an existing model which used measurements of patient testosterone levels to accurately fit measured serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels. We test the model's predictive accuracy, using only a subset of the data to find parameter values. The results are compared with those of an existing piecewise linear model which does not use testosterone as an input. Since actual treatment protocol is to re-apply therapy when PSA levels recover beyond some threshold value, we develop a second method for predicting the PSA levels. Based on a small set of data from seven patients, our results showed that the piecewise linear model produced slightly more accurate results while the two predictive methods are comparable. This suggests that a simpler model may be more beneficial for a predictive use compared to a more biologically insightful model, although further research is needed in this field prior to implementing mathematical models as a predictive method in a clinical setting. Nevertheless, both models are an important step in this direction.

Can Mathematical Models Predict the Outcomes of Prostate Cancer Patients Undergoing Intermittent Androgen Deprivation Therapy?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Everett, R. A.; Packer, A. M.; Kuang, Y.

2014-04-01

Androgen deprivation therapy is a common treatment for advanced or metastatic prostate cancer. Like the normal prostate, most tumors depend on androgens for proliferation and survival but often develop treatment resistance. Hormonal treatment causes many undesirable side effects which significantly decrease the quality of life for patients. Intermittently applying androgen deprivation in cycles reduces the total duration with these negative effects and may reduce selective pressure for resistance. We extend an existing model which used measurements of patient testosterone levels to accurately fit measured serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels. We test the model's predictive accuracy, using only a subset of the data to find parameter values. The results are compared with those of an existing piecewise linear model which does not use testosterone as an input. Since actual treatment protocol is to re-apply therapy when PSA levels recover beyond some threshold value, we develop a second method for predicting the PSA levels. Based on a small set of data from seven patients, our results showed that the piecewise linear model produced slightly more accurate results while the two predictive methods are comparable. This suggests that a simpler model may be more beneficial for a predictive use compared to a more biologically insightful model, although further research is needed in this field prior to implementing mathematical models as a predictive method in a clinical setting. Nevertheless, both models are an important step in this direction.

Clinical Application of the UK Working Party's Criteria for the Diagnosis of Atopic Dermatitis in the Chinese Population by Age Group.

PubMed

Wang, Li; Li, Lin-Feng

2016-12-05

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disease with an increasingly significant prevalence. The prevalence of AD depends greatly on how its diagnosis is done. The UK Working Party's diagnostic criteria for AD are simple and easy to apply without invasive laboratory tests. This study assessed the clinical utility of these criteria in China. Data were collected from 6208 patients at 31 tertiary hospitals in 13 Chinese provinces/municipalities from March 2014 to May 2014. . The agreement between the UK diagnostic criteria and the clinical records for AD was assessed by Cohen's kappa. The overall agreement between the UK diagnostic criteria and clinical diagnosis was fair (kappa = 0.40). A slightly better agreement was found in patients aged between 4 and 9 years (kappa = 0.48), while fair agreement was found in the group <4 years and the group ≥10 years (kappa = 0.27 and 0.39, respectively). Using the UK party's criteria as the standard, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the clinical diagnosis of AD were 62.3%, 89.2%, 38.0%, and 95.7%, respectively. Our study indicates a modest ability among Chinese dermatologists to apply the UK Working Party's diagnostic criteria for AD, especially in patients aged <4 years and ≥10 years. Since there is no gold standard for AD diagnosis, it is important to determine how AD is identified when evaluating a diagnostic tool.

Chirality and Magnetic Configurations of Solar Filaments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ouyang, Y.; Zhou, Y. H.; Chen, P. F.; Fang, C.

2017-01-01

It has been revealed that the magnetic topology in the solar atmosphere displays hemispheric preference, I.e., helicity is mainly negative/positive in the northern/southern hemispheres, respectively. However, the strength of the hemispheric rule and its cyclic variation are controversial. In this paper, we apply a new method based on the filament drainage to 571 erupting filaments from 2010 May to 2015 December in order to determine the filament chirality and its hemispheric preference. It is found that 91.6% of our sample of erupting filaments follows the hemispheric rule of helicity sign. It is also found that the strength of the hemispheric preference of the quiescent filaments decreases slightly from ˜97% in the rising phase to ˜85% in the declining phase of solar cycle 24, whereas the strength of the intermediate filaments keeps a high value around 96 ± 4% at all times. Only the active-region filaments show significant variations. Their strength of the hemispheric rule rises from ˜63% to ˜95% in the rising phase, and keeps a high value of 82% ± 5% during the declining phase. Furthermore, during a half-year period around the solar maximum, their hemispheric preference totally vanishes. Additionally, we also diagnose the magnetic configurations of the filaments based on our indirect method and find that in our sample of erupting events, 89% are inverse-polarity filaments with a flux rope magnetic configuration, whereas 11% are normal-polarity filaments with a sheared arcade configuration.

HPV16/18 genotyping for the triage of HPV positive women in primary cervical cancer screening in Chile.

PubMed

Lagos, Marcela; Van De Wyngard, Vanessa; Poggi, Helena; Cook, Paz; Viviani, Paola; Barriga, María Isabel; Pruyas, Martha; Ferreccio, Catterina

2015-01-01

We previously conducted a population-based screening trial of high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) testing and conventional cytology, demonstrating higher sensitivity (92.7 % vs 22.1 % for CIN2+) but lower positive predictive value (10.5 % vs 23.9 %) of hrHPV testing. Here we report the performance of HPV16/18 genotyping to triage the hrHPV positive participants. Women aged 25 years and older received hrHPV (Hybrid Capture 2) and Papanicolaou testing; positives by either test underwent colposcopy and directed biopsy, as did a sample of double-negatives. hrHPV positive women were reflex-tested with HPV16/18 genotyping (Digene HPV Genotyping PS Test). Among the 8,265 participants, 10.7 % were hrHPV positive, 1.7 % had ASCUS+ cytology, 1.2 % had CIN2+; 776 (88 %) hrHPV positive women had complete results, of whom 38.8 % were positive for HPV16 (24.0 %), HPV18 (9.7 %) or both (5.1 %). CIN2+ prevalence in HPV16/18 positive women (16.3 %, 95 % CI 12.3-20.9) was twice that of HPV16/18 negative women (8.0 %, 95 % CI 5.7-10.8). HPV16/18 genotyping identified 40.5 % of CIN2, 66.7 % of CIN3 and 75.0 % of cancers. Compared to hrHPV screening alone, HPV16/18 triage significantly reduced the referral rate (10.7 % vs 3.7 %) and the number of colposcopies required to detect one CIN2+ (9 vs 6). When HPV16/18 negative women with baseline ASCUS+ cytology were also colposcopied, an additional 14 % of CIN2+ was identified; referral increased slightly to 4.2 %. HPV16/18 triage effectively stratified hrHPV positive women by their risk of high-grade lesions. HPV16/18 positive women must be referred immediately; referral could be deferred in HPV16/18 negative women given the slower progression of non-HPV16/18 lesions, however, they will require active follow-up.

The shape of oxygen abundance profiles explored with MUSE: evidence for widespread deviations from single gradients

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sánchez-Menguiano, L.; Sánchez, S. F.; Pérez, I.; Ruiz-Lara, T.; Galbany, L.; Anderson, J. P.; Krühler, T.; Kuncarayakti, H.; Lyman, J. D.

2018-02-01

We characterised the oxygen abundance radial distribution of a sample of 102 spiral galaxies observed with VLT/MUSE using the O3N2 calibrator. The high spatial resolution of the data allowed us to detect 14345 H II regions with the same image quality as with photometric data, avoiding any dilution effect. We developed a new methodology to automatically fit the abundance radial profiles, finding that 55 galaxies of the sample exhibit a single negative gradient. The remaining 47 galaxies also display, as well as this negative trend, either an inner drop in the abundances (21), an outer flattening (10), or both (16), which suggests that these features are a common property of disc galaxies. The presence and depth of the inner drop depends on the stellar mass of the galaxies with the most massive systems presenting the deepest abundance drops, while there is no such dependence in the case of the outer flattening. We find that the inner drop appears always around 0.5 re, while the position of the outer flattening varies over a wide range of galactocentric distances. Regarding the main negative gradient, we find a characteristic slope in the sample of αO/H =-0.10 ± 0.03 dex /re. This slope is independent of the presence of bars and the density of the environment. However, when inner drops or outer flattenings are detected, slightly steeper gradients are observed. This suggests that radial motions might play an important role in shaping the abundance profiles. We define a new normalisation scale ("the abundance scale length", rO/H) for the radial profiles based on the characteristic abundance gradient, with which all the galaxies show a similar position for the inner drop ( 0.5 rO/H) and the outer flattening ( 1.5 rO/H). Finally, we find no significant dependence of the dispersion around the negative gradient with any property of the galaxies, with values compatible with the uncertainties associated with the derivation of the abundances.

Dilute stuffing in the pyrochlore iridate Eu2Ir2O7

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Telang, Prachi; Mishra, Kshiti; Sood, A. K.; Singh, Surjeet

2018-06-01

The pyrochlore Eu2Ir2O7 has recently attracted significant attention as a candidate Weyl semimetal. The previous reports on this compound unanimously show a thermally induced metal-to-insulator (MI) transition, concomitant with antiferromagnetic long-range ordering of the Ir moments below TN˜120 K. However, there are contradictory reports concerning the slope d ρ /d T of the resistivity plots (ρ ) in the "metallic" state above the MI transition, and the value of ρ in the insulating state, both of which show significant sample dependence. Here, we explore this issue by investigating six different Eu2Ir2O7 samples with slightly varying Eu:Ir ratio. High-resolution synchrotron powder diffraction is done to probe minor variations in the cell parameters of the various Eu2Ir2O7 samples investigated here. Specific heat (Cp) and magnetic susceptibility of all the samples showed long-range antiferromagnetic ordering upon cooling below TN˜120 K. The transitions are, however, found to be smeared out for the off-stoichiometric samples. We show that the sign of d ρ /d T above the MI transition is highly sensitive to the unit-cell length, which, in turn, depends on the level of Eu stuffing at the Ir site. Samples with composition close to the ideal stoichiometry (Eu:Ir =1 ) showed a change of sign of d ρ /d T from negative to positive upon cooling below a certain temperature T*>TMI . With increasing Eu stuffing, T* decreased until a negative d ρ /d T persisted without any sign change down to TMI.

Direct estimation of land surface albedo from VIIRS data: Algorithm improvement and preliminary validation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Dongdong; Liang, Shunlin; He, Tao; Yu, Yunyue

2013-11-01

surface albedo (LSA), part of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) surface albedo environmental data record (EDR), is an essential variable regulating shortwave energy exchange between the land surface and the atmosphere. Two sub-algorithms, the dark pixel sub-algorithm (DPSA) and the bright pixel sub-algorithm (BPSA), were proposed for retrieving LSA from VIIRS data. The BPSA estimates LSA directly from VIIRS top-of-atmosphere (TOA) reflectance through simulation of atmospheric radiative transfer. Several changes have been made to improve the BPSA since the deployment of VIIRS. A database of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) is collected and converted to bidirectional reflectance at VIIRS bands. The converted reflectance is then used as input to the atmospheric radiative transfer model to generate a look-up table (LUT) of regression coefficients with consideration of surface BRDF. Before its implementation in the operational system, the new BPSA is tested on the local infrastructure. The incorporation of the surface BRDF improves the accuracy of LSA estimation and reduces the temporal variation of LSA over stable surfaces. VIIRS LSA retrievals agree well with the MODIS albedo products. Comparison with field measurements at seven Surface Radiation (SURFRAD) Network sites shows that VIIRS LSA retrieved from the LUT with surface BRDF has an R2 value of 0.80 and root mean square error of 0.049, better than MODIS albedo products. The VIIRS results have a slight negative bias of 0.004, whereas the MODIS albedo is underestimated with a larger negative bias of 0.026.

Natural stable isotopic compositions of mercury in aerosols and wet precipitations around a coal-fired power plant in Xiamen, southeast China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Shuyuan; Sun, Lumin; Zhou, Tingjin; Yuan, Dongxing; Du, Bing; Sun, Xiuwu

2018-01-01

In this study, samples of 18 wet precipitations (WPs) and 38 aerosols were collected around a coal-fired power plant (CFPP) located in Xiamen, southeast China, which was equipped with a seawater flue gas desulfurization system. Total particulate mercury (TPM) in aerosol samples, and total mercury (WP-TM), dissolved mercury (WP-DM) and particulate mercury (WP-PM) in WP samples were analyzed for the natural isotopic compositions of mercury. For the first time, both mass dependent fractionation (MDF) and mass independent fractionation of odd (odd-MIF) and even (even-MIF) isotopes of WP-DM and WP-PM were reported and discussed. Both WP-TM and TPM displayed negative MDF and slightly positive even-MIF. Negative odd-MIF was observed in TPM and WP-PM, whereas positive odd-MIF was observed in WP-TM and WP-DM. It was found that the mercury budget in WP-PM samples was mainly controlled by atmospheric particles. Potential sources of mercury in samples were identified via analysis of mercury isotopic signatures and meteorological data with the NOAA HYSPLIT model. The results showed that TPM and WP-PM in solid samples were homologous and the isotopic compositions of WP-TM depended on those of WP-DM. The ratios of Δ199Hg/Δ201Hg resulting from photochemical reactions and positive Δ200Hg values (from -0.06‰ to 0.27‰) in all samples indicated that the mercury coming from local emission of the CFPP together with long-distance transportation were the two main contributing sources.

Temporal and spatial analysis of vegetation coverage changes in Ordos area based on time series GIMMS-NDVI data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Ruimei; Zou, Youfeng; Ma, Chao; Liu, Pei

2014-11-01

Ordos area is the desert-wind erosion desertification steppe transition zone and the complex ecological zone. As the research area, Ordos City has the similar natural geographic environment to ShenDong coalfield. To research its ecological patterns and natural evolution law, it has instructive to reveal temporal and spatial changes of ecological environment with artificial disturbance in western mining. In this paper, a time series of AVHRR-NDVI(Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) data was used to monitor the change of vegetation temporal and spatial dynamics from 1981 to 2006 in Ordos City and ShenDong coalfield, where were as the research area. The MVC (Maximum Value Composites) method, average operation, linear regression, and gradation for NDVI change trend were used to obtained some results, as follows: ¬vegetation coverage had obvious characteristics with periodic change in research area for 26 years, and vegetation growth peak appeared on August, while the lowest appeared on January. The extreme values in Ordos City were 0.2351 and 0.1176, while they were 0.2657 and 0.1272 in ShenDong coalfield. The NDVI value fluctuation was a modest rise trend overall in research area. The extreme values were 0.3071 and 0.1861 in Ordos City, while they were 0.3454 and 0.1904 in ShenDong coalfield. In spatial distribution, slight improvement area and slight degradation area were accounting for 42.49% and 8.37% in Ordos City, while slight improvement area moderate improvement area were accounting for 70.59% and 29.41% in ShenDong coalfield. Above of results indicated there was less vegetation coverage in research area, which reflected the characteristics of fragile natural geographical environment. In addition, vegetation coverage was with a modest rise on the whole, which reflected the natural environment change.

Latent profile analysis of regression-based norms demonstrates relationship of compounding MS symptom burden and negative work events.

PubMed

Frndak, Seth E; Smerbeck, Audrey M; Irwin, Lauren N; Drake, Allison S; Kordovski, Victoria M; Kunker, Katrina A; Khan, Anjum L; Benedict, Ralph H B

2016-10-01

We endeavored to clarify how distinct co-occurring symptoms relate to the presence of negative work events in employed multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was utilized to elucidate common disability patterns by isolating patient subpopulations. Samples of 272 employed MS patients and 209 healthy controls (HC) were administered neuroperformance tests of ambulation, hand dexterity, processing speed, and memory. Regression-based norms were created from the HC sample. LPA identified latent profiles using the regression-based z-scores. Finally, multinomial logistic regression tested for negative work event differences among the latent profiles. Four profiles were identified via LPA: a common profile (55%) characterized by slightly below average performance in all domains, a broadly low-performing profile (18%), a poor motor abilities profile with average cognition (17%), and a generally high-functioning profile (9%). Multinomial regression analysis revealed that the uniformly low-performing profile demonstrated a higher likelihood of reported negative work events. Employed MS patients with co-occurring motor, memory and processing speed impairments were most likely to report a negative work event, classifying them as uniquely at risk for job loss.

What Drives Hydrogen Isotopic Variability Recorded by Biomarkers in Sediments of Lake Karakul, Pamir?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aichner, B.; Mischke, S.; Pausata, F. S. R.; Werner, M.; Zhang, Q.; Heinecke, L.; Feakins, S. J.; Sachse, D.; Mahmoudov, Z.; Rajabov, I.

2017-12-01

Central Asia is a climate sensitive region located at the boundary of large scale atmospheric circulation systems. To examine glacial to interglacial hydrological changes in the region, we analysed the hydrogen isotopic composition (δD values) of n-alkanes in a 30-ka record from Lake Karakul, eastern Pamir (altitude: 3,915m, MAT: -3.9 °C, MAP: 82 mm). δD values of both aquatic and terrestrial compounds showed distinct trends throughout the studied time interval, with generally higher values during the glacial and lower values during the Holocene, and variability of up to 60‰. In particular shifts towards higher δD values were observed for aquatic biomarkers at ca. 30, 27, and 15 ka BP. Temperature and precipitation effects alone cannot explain the higher δD values during the glacial and the large isotopic amplitudes. To explain these observations we conducted a set of experiments using atmospheric models with embedded isotope modules (CAM3iso- and ECHAM5-wiso). We assume that terrestrial n-alkanes mainly record the isotopic signature of summer precipitation within the lower elevated parts of the Karakul Basin. Based on the model output we hypothesize that shifts between local and more distant vapour sources are the reason behind the trends within isotopic data. Data derived from aquatic biomarkers are more difficult to explain due to multiple influencing factors on δD of the lake water. Assuming that the lake water integrates an annual isotopic signal from the whole lake catchment, we suggest that a change in precipitation seasonality drives the large variability of hydrogen isotopic values. This is in agreement with the models, which suggest reduced winter (more negative δD) and slightly higher summer precipitation (more positive δD) during the glacial compared to the Holocene. Consequently, a net-increase of isotopically enriched inflow into the lake could explain the three distinct shifts towards higher δD values. Expansion of terrestrial vegetation, indicated by increasing biomarker concentrations, during these periods is another indicator for wetter summers in an arid environment. We conclude that δD values of terrestrial compounds reflect major shifts of vapour sources which are driven by insolation, while aquatic biomarkers are additionally influenced by changes of precipitation seasonality.

Theoretical Probing of Weak Anion-Cation Interactions in Certain Pyridinium-Based Ionic Liquid Ion Pairs and the Application of Molecular Electrostatic Potential in Their Ionic Crystal Density Determination: A Comparative Study Using Density Functional Approach.

PubMed

Joseph, Aswathy; Thomas, Vibin Ipe; Żyła, Gaweł; Padmanabhan, A S; Mathew, Suresh

2018-01-11

A comprehensive study on the structure, nature of interaction, and properties of six ionic pairs of 1-butylpyridinium and 1-butyl-4-methylpyridinium cations in combination with tetrafluoroborate (BF 4 - ), chloride (Cl - ), and bromide (Br - ) anions have been carried out using density functional theory (DFT). The anion-cation interaction energy (ΔE int ), thermochemistry values, theoretical band gap, molecular orbital energy order, DFT-based chemical activity descriptors [chemical potential (μ), chemical hardness (η), and electrophilicity index (ω)], and distribution of density of states (DOS) of these ion pairs were investigated. The ascendancy of the -CH 3 substituent at the fourth position of the 1-butylpyridinium cation ring on the values of ΔE int , theoretical band gap and chemical activity descriptors was evaluated. The ΔE int values were negative for all six ion pairs and were highest for Cl - containing ion pairs. The theoretical band gap value after -CH 3 substitution increased from 3.78 to 3.96 eV (for Cl - ) and from 2.74 to 2.88 eV (for Br - ) and decreased from 4.9 to 4.89 eV (for BF 4 - ). Ion pairs of BF 4 - were more susceptible to charge transfer processes as inferred from their significantly high η values and comparatively small difference in ω value after -CH 3 substitution. The change in η and μ values due to the -CH 3 substituent is negligibly small in all cases except for the ion pairs of Cl - . Critical-point (CP) analyses were carried out to investigate the AIM topological parameters at the interionic bond critical points (BCPs). The RDG isosurface analysis indicated that the anion-cation interaction was dominated by strong H cat ···X ani and C cat ···X ani interactions in ion pairs of Cl - and Br - whereas a weak van der Waal's effect dominated in ion pairs of BF 4 - . The molecular electrostatic potential (MESP)-based parameter ΔΔV min measuring the anion-cation interaction strength showed a good linear correlation with ΔE int for all 1-butylpyridinium ion pairs (R 2 = 0.9918). The ionic crystal density values calculated by using DFT-based MESP showed only slight variations from experimentally reported values.

Vitamin D status, body composition and hypertensive target organ damage in primary hypertension.

PubMed

Pludowski, Pawel; Jaworski, Maciej; Niemirska, Anna; Litwin, Mieczyslaw; Szalecki, Mieczyslaw; Karczmarewicz, Elżbieta; Michalkiewicz, Jacek

2014-10-01

Overweight/obesity and high blood pressure during growth period are important risk factors of cardiovascular disease later in life. Cardiovascular system, fat and muscles are among target tissues for vitamin D and low 25(OH)D levels are likely to attenuate potential benefits of its action. The study was aimed to evaluate vitamin D status and body composition in children and adolescents with primary hypertension (PH). The study population comprised 78 patients aged 15.4±2.3yrs (9-18yrs; 15 girls) with diagnosed PH. Total 25(OH)D and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were assayed by Cobas e411 machine (Roche Diagnostics). DXA (Prodigy, GE Lunar) was used to assess total body bone mineral content (TBBMC; g), total body bone mineral density (TBBMD; g/cm(2)), lean body mass (LBM; g), % lean body mass (%LBM), fat mass (FM; g), % fat mass (% FM), Android %Fat, Gynoid %Fat and Trunk fat mass (Trunk FM; g). Hypertensive cases (BMI=25.6±4.2kg/m(2)), compared to reference, had slightly increased TBBMD and TBBMC Z-scores (+0.40±0.91 and +0.59±0.96; both p<0.001), and had markedly increased FM and FM/body weight ratio Z-scores of ±1.83±1.63 (p<0.0001) and +1.43±1.05 (p<0.0001). LBM Z-scores were slightly increased as well (+0.34±1.08, p<0.001). In contrast, markedly reduced LBM/body weight ratio Z-scores of -1.47±0.90 (p<0.0001) and disturbed relationship between FM and LBM as assessed by FM/LBM ratio Z-score of +1.53±1.29 (p<0.0001) were noted. The average serum levels of 25(OH)D of 17.8±6.9ng/mL and PTH of 34.8±16.8pg/mL were noted in PH group. 91% PH cases showed 25(OH)D levels lower than 30ng/mL. 71% of PH subjects revealed vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D<20ng/ml). 10% of PH cases showed 25(OH)D levels lower than 10ng/mL. 25(OH)D levels negatively correlated with PTH showing r=-0.24 (p=0.03). Absolute LBM/body weight ratio values positively correlated with 25(OH)D levels (r=0.31; p=0.01). In contrast, absolute FM/body weight ratio values correlated negatively with 25(OH)D levels (r=-0.32; p<0.01). Moreover, 25(OH)D levels negatively correlated with absolute Trunk FM (r=-0.29; p<0.05), Android %Fat (r=-0.32; p<0.01) and with Gynoid %Fat (r=-0.28; p<0.05). PTH and 25(OH)D concentrations did not differ when severity of hypertension, left ventricular mass and carotid intima-media thickness were controlled for. Concluding, higher muscle mass stores in body weight coincided with higher 25(OH)D levels. Higher fat mass stores coincided with lower 25(OH)D levels in PH group. Whether vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency in PH group should be considered as a cause of disease or epiphenomenon remains unknown. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled '16th Vitamin D Workshop'. Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

The Spin-Orbit Resonances of the Solar System: A Mathematical Treatment Matching Physical Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Antognini, Francesco; Biasco, Luca; Chierchia, Luigi

2014-06-01

In the mathematical framework of a restricted, slightly dissipative spin-orbit model, we prove the existence of periodic orbits for astronomical parameter values corresponding to all satellites of the Solar System observed in exact spin-orbit resonance.

Existence domains of dust-acoustic solitons and supersolitons

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

Maharaj, S. K.; Bharuthram, R.; Singh, S. V.

2013-08-15

Using the Sagdeev potential method, the existence of large amplitude dust-acoustic solitons and supersolitons is investigated in a plasma comprising cold negative dust, adiabatic positive dust, Boltzmann electrons, and non-thermal ions. This model supports the existence of positive potential supersolitons in a certain region in parameter space in addition to regular solitons having negative and positive potentials. The lower Mach number limit for supersolitons coincides with the occurrence of double layers whereas the upper limit is imposed by the constraint that the adiabatic positive dust number density must remain real valued. The upper Mach number limits for negative potential (positivemore » potential) solitons coincide with limiting values of the negative (positive) potential for which the negative (positive) dust number density is real valued. Alternatively, the existence of positive potential solitons can terminate when positive potential double layers occur.« less

Suspended sediment in the St. Francis River at St. Francis, Arkansas, 1986-95

USGS Publications Warehouse

Green, W. Reed; Barks, C. Shane; Hall, Alan P.

2000-01-01

Daily suspended-sediment concentrations were analyzed from the St. Francis River at St. Francis, Arkansas during 1986 through 1995. Suspended-sediment particle size distribution was measured in selected samples from 1978 through 1998. These data are used to assess changes in suspended-sediment concentrations and loads through time. Suspended-sediment concentrations were positively related to discharge. At higher flows, percent silt-clay was negatively related to discharge. Nonparametric trend analysis (Mann-Kendall test) of suspended-sediment concentration over the period of record indicated a slight decrease in concentration. Flow-adjusted residuals of suspended-sediment concentration also decreased slightly through the same period. No change was identified in annual suspended-sediment load or annual flow-weighted concentration. Continued monitorig of daily-suspended-sediment concentrations at this site and others, and similar data analysis at other sites where data are available will provide a better understanding of sediment transport withint the St. Francis River.

Characterization of anemia induced by avian osteopetrosis virus.

PubMed Central

Paterson, R W; Smith, R E

1978-01-01

Chickens infected intravenously at 8 days after hatching with an avian osteopetrosis virus developed a severe, progressive anemia in the absence of osteopetrosis. The anemia was characterized as a pancytopenia, in which erythrocytes, granulocytes, and thrombocytes decreased concomitantly. Serum bilirubin levels were normal, whereas erythrocytes from infected chickens demonstrated a slightly elevated osmotic fragility. A negative Coombs test indicated that there was no evidence for erythrocyte-bound antibody. Erythrocytes from infected animals had slightly decreased 51Cr-labeled erythrocyte survival time when compared with normal. Examination of marrow histological preparations, together with ferrokinetic studies with 59Fe, indicated that marrow failure occurred during the acute phase of the anemia. Circulating virus was present during the development and acute phases of the anemia, but disappeared during the recovery phase of the disease. Neutralizing antibody appeared after the disappearance of circulating virus. It is concluded that virus infection induced both marrow failure (aplastic crisis) and decreased erythrocyte survival. Images PMID:215554

Agrometeorological drought in the Romanian plain within the sector delimited by the valleys of the Olt and Buzău Rivers.

PubMed

Murărescu, Ovidiu; Murătoreanu, George; Frînculeasa, Mădălina

2014-01-01

The last few decades have recorded a high frequency of the meteorological drought phenomenon. Southern and south-eastern Romania make no exception, with such phenomena often occurring from July to November 2011, which brought about an agrometerological drought that lasted from the third decade of July to early December, with a slight improvement in October. This situation led to a decrease in soil water reserves, mainly in the first 20 cm, with a negative impact on agricultural crops and the following agricultural year as well. The methodology was based on a correlative analysis between the decadal rainfall quantities and the existing soil water reserve, during the interval between June and November 2011, for eight weather stations. The statistico-mathematical data analysis showed an intensification of the pedological drought phenomenon in September, with a slight improvement in October and an increase in November.

Characterization of Charge Separation in the Array of Micromachined UltraSonic Electrospray (AMUSE) Ion Source for Mass Spectrometry

PubMed Central

Forbes, Thomas P.; Dixon, R. Brent; Muddiman, David C.; Degertekin, F. Levent; Fedorov, Andrei G.

2009-01-01

An initial investigation into the effects of charge separation in the Array of Micromachined UltraSonic Electrospray (AMUSE) ion source is reported in order to gain understanding of ionization mechanisms and to improve analyte ionization efficiency and operation stability. In RF-only mode, AMUSE ejects on average, an equal number of slightly positive and slightly negative charged droplets due to random charge fluctuations, providing inefficient analyte ionization. Charge separation at the nozzle orifice is achieved by the application of an external electric field. By bringing the counter electrode close to the nozzle array, strong electric fields can be applied at relatively low DC potentials. It has been demonstrated, through a number of electrode/electrical potential configurations that increasing charge separation leads to improvement in signal abundance, signal-to-noise ratio, and signal stability. PMID:19525123

Direct dark matter search by annual modulation in XMASS-I

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abe, K.; Hiraide, K.; Ichimura, K.; Kishimoto, Y.; Kobayashi, K.; Kobayashi, M.; Moriyama, S.; Nakahata, M.; Norita, T.; Ogawa, H.; Sekiya, H.; Takachio, O.; Takeda, A.; Yamashita, M.; Yang, B. S.; Kim, N. Y.; Kim, Y. D.; Tasaka, S.; Fushimi, K.; Liu, J.; Martens, K.; Suzuki, Y.; Xu, B. D.; Fujita, R.; Hosokawa, K.; Miuchi, K.; Onishi, Y.; Oka, N.; Takeuchi, Y.; Kim, Y. H.; Lee, J. S.; Lee, K. B.; Lee, M. K.; Fukuda, Y.; Itow, Y.; Kegasa, R.; Kobayashi, K.; Masuda, K.; Takiya, H.; Nishijima, K.; Nakamura, S.; Xmass Collaboration

2016-08-01

A search for dark matter was conducted by looking for an annual modulation signal due to the Earth's rotation around the Sun using XMASS, a single phase liquid xenon detector. The data used for this analysis was 359.2 live days times 832 kg of exposure accumulated between November 2013 and March 2015. When we assume Weakly Interacting Massive Particle (WIMP) dark matter elastically scattering on the target nuclei, the exclusion upper limit of the WIMP-nucleon cross section 4.3 ×10-41 cm2 at 8 GeV/c2 was obtained and we exclude almost all the DAMA/LIBRA allowed region in the 6 to 16 GeV/c2 range at ∼10-40 cm2. The result of a simple modulation analysis, without assuming any specific dark matter model but including electron/γ events, showed a slight negative amplitude. The p-values obtained with two independent analyses are 0.014 and 0.068 for null hypothesis, respectively. We obtained 90% C.L. upper bounds that can be used to test various models. This is the first extensive annual modulation search probing this region with an exposure comparable to DAMA/LIBRA.

Retrieving air humidity, global solar radiation, and reference evapotranspiration from daily temperatures: development and validation of new methods for Mexico. Part I: humidity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lobit, P.; López Pérez, L.; Lhomme, J. P.; Gómez Tagle, A.

2017-07-01

This study evaluates the dew point method (Allen et al. 1998) to estimate atmospheric vapor pressure from minimum temperature, and proposes an improved model to estimate it from maximum and minimum temperature. Both methods were evaluated on 786 weather stations in Mexico. The dew point method induced positive bias in dry areas but also negative bias in coastal areas, and its average root mean square error for all evaluated stations was 0.38 kPa. The improved model assumed a bi-linear relation between estimated vapor pressure deficit (difference between saturated vapor pressure at minimum and average temperature) and measured vapor pressure deficit. The parameters of these relations were estimated from historical annual median values of relative humidity. This model removed bias and allowed for a root mean square error of 0.31 kPa. When no historical measurements of relative humidity were available, empirical relations were proposed to estimate it from latitude and altitude, with only a slight degradation on the model accuracy (RMSE = 0.33 kPa, bias = -0.07 kPa). The applicability of the method to other environments is discussed.

Dynamics of Total Microcystin LR Concentration in Three Subtropical Hydroelectric Generation Reservoirs in Uruguay, South America.

PubMed

González-Piana, Mauricio; Fabián, Daniel; Piccardo, Andrea; Chalar, Guillermo

2017-10-01

This study analyzed the temporal dynamics of total microcystin LR concentrations between the years of 2012 and 2015 in the Bonete, Baygorria and Palmar hydroelectric generation reservoirs in the central region of the Negro River, Uruguay. The three reservoirs showed differents total microcystin LR concentration, with no significant differences among them. Over 20 sampling dates, the three reservoirs exhibited total microcystin LR concentrations on eight occasions that corresponded to a slight to moderate human health risk according to WHO guideline values for recreational waters. By determining the concentration of microcystin LR in cyanobacterial biomass, we identified cyanobacterial populations that occurred over time with varying degrees of toxin production (maximal 85.4 µg/mm 3 ). The microcystin LR concentration in Bonete was positively correlated with temperature (r = 0.587) and cyanobacterial biomass (r = 0.736), in Baygorria with cyanobacterial biomass (r = 0.521), and in Palmar with temperature (r = 0.500) and negatively correlated with ammonia (r = -0.492). Action is needed to reduce the presence of toxic cyanobacteria in these systems. A decrease in the use of agrochemicals and management changes in the reservoir basins could be successful long-term measures.

Comparison of acridine orange and Gram stains for detection of microorganisms in cerebrospinal fluid and other clinical specimens.

PubMed Central

Lauer, B A; Reller, L B; Mirrett, S

1981-01-01

Acridine orange, a fluorochrome strain, is potentially superior to the Gram stain in the direct microscopic examination of clinical specimens because it gives striking differential staining between bacteria and background cells and debris. Its value in clinical laboratories was evaluated by testing 209 cerebrospinal fluids and 288 other body fluids, tissues, and exudates by both techniques. Smears were made in duplicate, fixed with methanol, stained, and examined without knowledge of the result of the companion smear or culture. Overall, acridine orange was slightly more sensitive than the Gram stain (acridine orange, 59.9%; Gram stain, 55.8%) and equally specific in detecting microorganisms. One smear was falsely positive by the Gram stain; none was falsely positive by the acridine orange stain. We conclude that acridine orange staining is a sensitive method for screening clinical specimens and reviewing selected specimens that are purulent, but negative by the Gram stain. Bloody fluids, thick exudates, and other normally difficult-to-read specimens were easily and quickly examined. We recommend, however, that positive smears be reexamined with the Gram stain to confirm the result and determine the Gram reaction of the microorganisms. PMID:6168652

Quantum chemistry and TST study of the mechanism and kinetics of the butadiene and isoprene reactions with mercapto radicals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Francisco-Márquez, Misaela; Alvarez-Idaboy, J. Raul; Galano, Annia; Vivier-Bunge, Annik

2008-03-01

The reactions of isoprene and butadiene with SH rad radicals have been investigated by density functional theory and ab initio molecular orbital theories. We report the thermodynamics and kinetics of four different pathways, involving addition of SH rad radicals to all double-bonded carbon atoms. Calculations have been performed on all stationary points using BHandHLYP functional, Moller-Plesset perturbation theory to second-order (MP2) and the composite CBS-QB3 method at the MP2 optimized geometries and frequencies. Pre-reactive complexes have been identified. The apparent activation energies are negative for SH rad addition at the terminal carbon atoms and are slightly smaller than those for OH rad addition at the same positions. The calculated overall rate coefficient for butadiene + SH rad reaction at 298 K is in excellent agreement with the only available experimentally measured value. Activation energies and overall rate coefficients at different temperatures are predicted for the first time for butadiene + SH rad and isoprene + SH rad reactions. The reactions of butadiene and isoprene with SH rad radicals were found to be about four times faster than with OH rad radicals.

Stellar equilibrium configurations of white dwarfs in the f( R, T) gravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carvalho, G. A.; Lobato, R. V.; Moraes, P. H. R. S.; Arbañil, José D. V.; Otoniel, E.; Marinho, R. M.; Malheiro, M.

2017-12-01

In this work we investigate the equilibrium configurations of white dwarfs in a modified gravity theory, namely, f( R, T) gravity, for which R and T stand for the Ricci scalar and trace of the energy-momentum tensor, respectively. Considering the functional form f(R,T)=R+2λ T, with λ being a constant, we obtain the hydrostatic equilibrium equation for the theory. Some physical properties of white dwarfs, such as: mass, radius, pressure and energy density, as well as their dependence on the parameter λ are derived. More massive and larger white dwarfs are found for negative values of λ when it decreases. The equilibrium configurations predict a maximum mass limit for white dwarfs slightly above the Chandrasekhar limit, with larger radii and lower central densities when compared to standard gravity outcomes. The most important effect of f( R, T) theory for massive white dwarfs is the increase of the radius in comparison with GR and also f( R) results. By comparing our results with some observational data of massive white dwarfs we also find a lower limit for λ , namely, λ >- 3× 10^{-4}.

The zone of comfort: Predicting visual discomfort with stereo displays

PubMed Central

Shibata, Takashi; Kim, Joohwan; Hoffman, David M.; Banks, Martin S.

2012-01-01

Recent increased usage of stereo displays has been accompanied by public concern about potential adverse effects associated with prolonged viewing of stereo imagery. There are numerous potential sources of adverse effects, but we focused on how vergence–accommodation conflicts in stereo displays affect visual discomfort and fatigue. In one experiment, we examined the effect of viewing distance on discomfort and fatigue. We found that conflicts of a given dioptric value were slightly less comfortable at far than at near distance. In a second experiment, we examined the effect of the sign of the vergence–accommodation conflict on discomfort and fatigue. We found that negative conflicts (stereo content behind the screen) are less comfortable at far distances and that positive conflicts (content in front of screen) are less comfortable at near distances. In a third experiment, we measured phoria and the zone of clear single binocular vision, which are clinical measurements commonly associated with correcting refractive error. Those measurements predicted susceptibility to discomfort in the first two experiments. We discuss the relevance of these findings for a wide variety of situations including the viewing of mobile devices, desktop displays, television, and cinema. PMID:21778252

Comparison of different fungal enzymes for bleaching high-quality paper pulps.

PubMed

Sigoillot, Cécile; Camarero, Susana; Vidal, Teresa; Record, Eric; Asther, Michèle; Pérez-Boada, Marta; Martínez, María Jesús; Sigoillot, Jean-Claude; Asther, Marcel; Colom, José F; Martínez, Angel T

2005-02-23

Wild and recombinant hydrolases and oxidoreductases with a potential interest for environmentally sound bleaching of high-quality paper pulp (from flax) were incorporated into a totally chlorine free (TCF) sequence that also included a peroxide stage. The ability of feruloyl esterase (from Aspergillus niger) and Mn2+-oxidizing peroxidases (from Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Pleurotus eryngii) to decrease the final lignin content of flax pulp was shown. Laccase from Pycnoporus cinnabarinus (without mediator) also caused a slight improvement of pulp brightness that was increased in the presence of aryl-alcohol oxidase. However, the best results were obtained when the laccase treatment was performed in the presence of a mediator, 1-hydroxybenzotriazol (HBT), enabling strong delignification of pulps. The enzymatic removal of lignin resulted in high-final brightness values that are difficult to attain by chemical bleaching of this type of pulp. A partial inactivation of laccase by HBT was observed but this negative effect was strongly reduced in the presence of pulp. The good results obtained with the same laccase expressed in A. niger at bioreactor scale, revealed the feasibility of using recombinant laccase for bleaching high-quality non-wood pulps in the presence of a mediator.

The zone of comfort: Predicting visual discomfort with stereo displays.

PubMed

Shibata, Takashi; Kim, Joohwan; Hoffman, David M; Banks, Martin S

2011-07-21

Recent increased usage of stereo displays has been accompanied by public concern about potential adverse effects associated with prolonged viewing of stereo imagery. There are numerous potential sources of adverse effects, but we focused on how vergence-accommodation conflicts in stereo displays affect visual discomfort and fatigue. In one experiment, we examined the effect of viewing distance on discomfort and fatigue. We found that conflicts of a given dioptric value were slightly less comfortable at far than at near distance. In a second experiment, we examined the effect of the sign of the vergence-accommodation conflict on discomfort and fatigue. We found that negative conflicts (stereo content behind the screen) are less comfortable at far distances and that positive conflicts (content in front of screen) are less comfortable at near distances. In a third experiment, we measured phoria and the zone of clear single binocular vision, which are clinical measurements commonly associated with correcting refractive error. Those measurements predicted susceptibility to discomfort in the first two experiments. We discuss the relevance of these findings for a wide variety of situations including the viewing of mobile devices, desktop displays, television, and cinema.

Two cases of dengue meningitis: a rare first presentation.

PubMed

Goswami, Rudra Prosad; Mukherjee, Arindam; Biswas, Tapan; Karmakar, Partha Sarathi; Ghosh, Alakendu

2012-02-13

Dengue, a mosquito-borne disease caused by a flavivirus, is recognized in over 120 countries with 3.6 billion people living in areas at risk. Neurological manifestations are infrequently reported as clinical consequences of dengue infection. Though severe dengue may be associated with meningoencephalitis, meningitis is a rare initial presentation of otherwise uncomplicated dengue fever. We report two adult patients who presented with fever, headache, and nuchal rigidity without the typical symptoms of dengue infection. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis showed lymphocytic pleocytosis in one and slight neutrophilic pleocytosis in the other with a normal glucose value and negative bacterial cultures. Dengue was suspected because thrombocytopenia was symptomatic in one patient and documented during the hospital course, and was confirmed by demonstration of IgM antibody in the cerebrospinal fluid samples specific for dengue in both cases. Our report demonstrates that meningitis with or without encephalitis can be the first manifestation of dengue infection. In endemic areas, dengue infection should be considered as a probable etiological agent of meningitis. Regular monitoring of platelet count can be an invaluable diagnostic screening tool. In appropriate clinical settings detection of anti-dengue IgM both in serum and in CSF may lead to correct diagnosis.

Among nonagenarians, congruence between self-rated and proxy-rated health was low but both predicted mortality.

PubMed

Vuorisalmi, Merja; Sarkeala, Tytti; Hervonen, Antti; Jylhä, Marja

2012-05-01

The congruence between self-rated global health (SRH) and proxy-rated global health (PRH), the factors associated with congruence between SRH and PRH, and their associations with mortality are examined using data from the Vitality 90+ study. The data consist of 213 pairs of subjects--aged 90 years and older--and proxies. The relationship between SRH and PRH was analyzed by chi-square test and Cohen's kappa. Logistic regression analysis was used to find out the factors that are associated with the congruence between health ratings. The association between SRH and PRH with mortality was studied using Cox proportional hazard models. The subjects rated their health more negatively than the proxies. Kappa value indicated only slight congruence between SRH and PRH, and they also predicted mortality differently. Good self-reported functional ability was associated with congruence between SRH and PRH. The results imply that the evaluation processes of SRH and PRH differ, and the measures are not directly interchangeable. Both measures are useful health indicators in very old age but SRH cannot be replaced by PRH in analyses. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Drove roads: Keystone structures that promote ant diversity in Mediterranean forest landscapes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Azcárate, Francisco M.; Seoane, Javier; Castro, Sara; Peco, Begoña

2013-05-01

Drove roads are the traditional corridors used by pastoralists for seasonal movements of livestock (transhumance). They cover a considerable land area in Mediterranean countries and, although they are an obvious source of landscape diversity, their influence on the diversity and composition of animal assemblages has not been documented. Ant communities were studied on four active drove roads, two in forests (submediterranean and conifer) and two in open environments (croplands and rangelands). They were compared with the respective matrix communities and their contribution to local species richness was evaluated. The effects were heavily dependent on the open or closed nature of the matrix. In forest environments, drove roads increased ant species richness at the local scale, acting as clear keystone structures. Their species richness and functional diversity were highest on the fine scale, species composition was different, and a slight edge effect in the matrix was detected. In contrast, drove roads had little or even a negative effect in open environment locations. We conclude that drove roads have a high conservation value for ants in Mediterranean forest environments, in addition to their importance as reservoirs of plant biodiversity and generators of ecological goods and services.

In vitro assessment of genotoxic effects of electric arc furnace dust on human lymphocytes using the alkaline comet assay.

PubMed

Garaj-Vrhovac, Vera; Orescanin, Visnja; Ruk, Damir; Gajski, Goran

2009-02-15

In vitro genotoxic effects of leachates of electric arc furnace dust (EAFD) on human peripheral lymphocytes, assessed prior and following the treatment with a strong alkaline solution were investigated using the alkaline comet assay. Prior and following the treatment, lymphocytes were incubated with leachate of EAFD for 6 and 24 hours at 37 degrees C. Negative controls were also included. Mean values of the tail lengths established in the samples treated with the leachate stemming from the original dust for 6 and 24 hours, were 15.70 microm and 16.78 microm, respectively, as compared to 12.33 microm found in the control sample. Slight, but significant increase in the tail length was also found with the dust treated with a strong alkaline solution (13.37 microm and 13.60 microm). In case of high heavy metal concentrations (the extract of the original furnace dust), the incubation period was revealed to be of significance as well. The obtained results lead to the conclusion that alkaline comet assay could be used as a rapid, sensitive and low-cost tool when assessing genotoxicity of various waste materials, such as leachates of the electric arc furnace dust.

Nonlinear optical properties of rhenium(I) complexes: Influence of the extended π-conjugated connectors and proton abstraction.

PubMed

Yu, Hai-Ling; Hong, Bo; Yang, Ning; Zhao, Hong-Yan

2015-09-01

The photoinduced proton-coupled electron transfer chemistry is very crucial to the development of nonlinear optical (NLO) materials with large first hyperpolarizability contrast. We have performed a systematic investigation on the geometric structures, NLO switching, and simulated absorption spectra of rhenium(I) complexes via density functional theory (DFT). The results show that the first hyperpolarizabilities (βvec) increase remarkably with further extending of the organic connectors. In addition, the solvent leads to a slight enhancement of the hyperpolarizability and frequency dependent hyperpolarizability. Furthermore, the proton abstraction plays an important role in tuning the second-order NLO response. It is found that deprotonation not only increases the absolute value of βvec but also changes the sign of βvec from positive to negative. This different sign can be explained by the opposite dipole moments. The efficient enhancement of first hyperpolarizability is attributed to the better delocalization of the π-electron system and the more obvious degree of charge transfer. Therefore, these kinds of complexes might be promising candidates for designed as proton driven molecular second-order NLO switching. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Perceived leader integrity and employee job satisfaction: A quantitative study of U.S. aerospace engineers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harper, Kay E.

The goal of this quantitative study was to determine if there is a significant relationship between perceived leader integrity and employee job satisfaction. The population selected to be analyzed was U.S. Aerospace engineers. Two existing valid and reliable survey instruments were used to collect data. One of the surveys was the Perceived Leader Integrity Scale developed by Craig and Gustafson. The second survey was the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire created by Weiss, Dawis, England, and Lofquist. The public professional networking site LinkedIn was used to invite U.S. Aerospace engineers to participate. The survey results were monitored by Survey Monkey and the sample data was analyzed using SPSS software. 184 responses were collected and of those, 96 were incomplete. 91 usable survey responses were left to be analyzed. When the results were plotted on an x-y plot, the data line had a slight negative slope. The plotted data showed a very small negative relationship between perceived leader integrity and employee job satisfaction. This relationship could be interpreted to mean that as perceived leader integrity improved, employee job satisfaction decreased only slightly. One explanation for this result could be that employees focused on their negative feelings about their current job assignment when they did not have to be concerned about the level of integrity with which their leader acted. The findings of this study reinforce the importance of employee's perception of a critical leader quality - integrity. For future research, a longitudinal study utilizing another sampling method other than convenience sampling may better statistically capture the relationship between perceived leader integrity and employee job satisfaction for U.S. aerospace engineers.

Both lavender fleur oil and unscented oil aromatherapy reduce preoperative anxiety in breast surgery patients: a randomized trial.

PubMed

Franco, Lola; Blanck, Thomas J J; Dugan, Kimberly; Kline, Richard; Shanmugam, Geetha; Galotti, Angela; von Bergen Granell, Annelise; Wajda, Michael

2016-09-01

The objective of this study was to determine whether lavender fleur oil (LFO) aromatherapy would reduce anxiety when administered to women before undergoing breast surgery. This was a single-site, randomized study comparing the effect of LFO to unscented oil (UO). The study was conducted in the preoperative holding area of the ambulatory surgery department of NYU Langone Medical Center. Ninety three women, 18 years and older, scheduled for breast surgery. Women meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria were randomized to either LFO or UO aromatherapy and were blind to their assigned treatment. Subjects completed a Speilberger State Anxiety Inventory for Adults (STAI) before and after aromatherapy. Vital signs were recorded before and after aromatherapy. STAI-State questions were divided into positive and negative emotions for analysis. Before aromatherapy, there was no significant difference between groups by individual questions or overall average answer of either positive or negative questions. The use of both LFO and UO increased the positive STAI score totals, with the LFO group having a slightly, but statistically significant, greater increase. Both resulted in a statistically significant decrease in the negative score totals after treatment. There were no differences in vital signs between groups for either treatment. Following the conclusion of the trial LFO was analyzed and found to contain a very low content of the 2 major Lavandula angustifolia constituents. Both LFO and UO aromatherapy treatments lowered anxiety before surgery despite no significant changes in vital signs. LFO treatment generated a slight but statistically significant increase in positive feelings compared with UO treatment. It is probable that the beneficial effect observed was due to both aromatherapy with LFO and a placebo effect related to the added attention given to the patients. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Beliefs and Attitudes about Science and Mathematics in Pre-Service Elementary Teachers, STEM, and Non-STEM Majors in Undergraduate Physics Courses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Michaluk, Lynnette; Stoiko, Rachel; Stewart, Gay; Stewart, John

2018-04-01

Elementary teachers often hold inaccurate beliefs about the Nature of Science (NoS) and have negative attitudes toward science and mathematics. Using a pre-post design, the current study examined beliefs about the NoS, attitudes toward science and mathematics, and beliefs about the teaching of mathematics and science in a large sample study ( N = 343) of pre-service teachers receiving a curriculum-wide intervention to improve these factors in comparison with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and non-STEM majors in other physics courses ( N = 6697) who did not receive the intervention, over a 10-year period. Pre-service teachers evidenced initially more negative attitudes about mathematics and science than STEM majors and slightly more positive attitudes than non-STEM majors. Their attitudes toward mathematics and science and beliefs about the NoS were more similar to non-STEM than STEM majors. Pre-service teachers initially evidenced more positive beliefs about the teaching of mathematics and science, and their beliefs even increased slightly over the course of the semester, while these beliefs in other groups remained the same. Beliefs about the NoS and the teaching of mathematics and science were significantly negatively correlated for STEM and non-STEM majors, but were not significantly correlated for pre-service teachers. Beliefs about the NoS and attitudes toward mathematics and science were significantly positively correlated for both pre-service teachers and STEM students pursing the most mathematically demanding STEM majors. Attitudes toward science and mathematics were significantly positively correlated with accurate beliefs about the teaching of mathematics and science for all student groups.

Near Real-Time Event Detection & Prediction Using Intelligent Software Agents

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-03-01

value was 0.06743. Multiple autoregressive integrated moving average ( ARIMA ) models were then build to see if the raw data, differenced data, or...slight improvement. The best adjusted r^2 value was found to be 0.1814. Successful results were not expected from linear or ARIMA -based modelling ...appear, 2005. [63] Mora-Lopez, L., Mora, J., Morales-Bueno, R., et al. Modelling time series of climatic parameters with probabilistic finite

National Defense Budget Estimates for FY 1999

DTIC Science & Technology

1998-03-01

National Product (GNP) to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Both GNP and GDP measure output at market prices, but in a slightly different manner. GNP...measures the market value of all goods and services produced during a particular time period by U.S. individuals, businesses and government; it...residents of the rest of the world. GDP measures the market value of all goods and services produced during a particular time period by individuals

Forced expirations and maximum expiratory flow-volume curves during sustained microgravity on SLS-1.

PubMed

Elliott, A R; Prisk, G K; Guy, H J; Kosonen, J M; West, J B

1996-07-01

Gravity is known to influence the mechanical behavior of the lung and chest wall. However, the effect of sustained microgravity (microG) on forced expirations has not previously been reported. Tests were carried out by four subjects in both the standing and supine postures during each of seven preflight and four postflight data-collection sessions and four times during the 9 days of microG exposure on Spacelab Life Sciences-1. Compared with preflight standing values, peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) was significantly reduced by 12.5% on flight day 2 (FD2), 11.6% on FD4, and 5.0% on FD5 but returned to standing values by FD9. The supine posture caused a 9% reduction in PEFR. Forced vital capacity and forced expired volume in 1 s were slightly reduced (approximately 3-4%) on FD2 but returned to preflight standing values on FD4 and FD5, and by FD9 both values were slightly but significantly greater than standing values. Forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 s were both reduced in the supine posture (approximately 8-10%). Forced expiratory flows at 50% and between 25 and 75% of vital capacity did not change during microG but were reduced in the supine posture. Analysis of the maximum expiratory flow-volume curve showed that microG caused no consistent change in the curve configuration when individual in-flight days were compared with preflight standing curves, although two subjects did show a slight reduction in flows at low lung volumes from FD2 to FD9. The interpretation of the lack of change in curve configuration must be made cautiously because the lung volumes varied from day to day in flight. Therefore, the flows at absolute lung volumes in microG and preflight standing are not being compared. The supine curves showed a subtle but consistent reduction in flows at low lung volumes. The mechanism responsible for the reduction in PEFR is not clear. It could be due to a lack of physical stabilization when performing the maneuver in the absence of gravity or a transient reduction in respiratory muscle strength.

Changes in soil parameters under continuous plastic mulching in strawberry cultivation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muñoz, Katherine; Diehl, Dörte; Scopchanova, Sirma; Schaumann, Gabriele E.

2016-04-01

Plastic mulching (PM) is a widely used practice in modern agriculture because they generate conditions for optimal yield rates and quality. However, information about long-term effects of PC on soil quality parameters is scarce. The aim of this study is to compare the effect of three different mulching managements on soil quality parameters. Sampling and methodology: Three different managements were studied: Organic mulching (OM), 2-years PM and 4-years PM. Soil samples were collected from irrigated fields in 0-5, 5-10 and 10-30 cm depths and analyzed for water content (WC), pH, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total soil carbon (Ctot) and cation exchange capacity (CECeff). Results and discussion: Mulching management has an influence on soil parameters. The magnitude of the effects is influenced by the type (organic agriculture practice vs. plastic mulching practice) and duration of the mulching. PM modified the water distribution through the soil column. WC values at the root zone were in average 10% higher compared to those measured at the topsoil. Under OM, the WC was lower than under PM. The pH was mainly influenced by the duration of the managements with slightly higher values after 4 than after 2-years PM. Under PM, aqueous extracts of the topsoil (0-5 cm depth) contained in average with 8.5±1.8 mg/L higher DOC than in 10-30 cm depth with 5.6±0.5 mg/L, which may indicate a mobilization of organic components in the upper layers. After 4-years PM, Ctot values were slightly higher than after 2-years PM and after OM. Surprisingly, after 4-years PM, CECeff values were with 138 - 157 mmolc/kg almost 2-fold higher than after 2-years PM and OM which had with 74 - 102 mmolc/kg comparable CECeff values. Long-term PM resulted in changes of soil pH and slightly increased Ctot which probably enhanced the CECeff of the soil. However, further investigations of the effect of PM on stability of soil organic matter and microbial community structure are needed.

Translation, adaptation, and validation of the Sunderland Scale and the Cubbin & Jackson Revised Scale in Portuguese

PubMed Central

Sousa, Bruno

2013-01-01

Objective To translate into Portuguese and evaluate the measuring properties of the Sunderland Scale and the Cubbin & Jackson Revised Scale, which are instruments for evaluating the risk of developing pressure ulcers during intensive care. Methods This study included the process of translation and adaptation of the scales to the Portuguese language, as well as the validation of these tools. To assess the reliability, Cronbach alpha values of 0.702 to 0.708 were identified for the Sunderland Scale and the Cubbin & Jackson Revised Scale, respectively. The validation criteria (predictive) were performed comparatively with the Braden Scale (gold standard), and the main measurements evaluated were sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and area under the curve, which were calculated based on cutoff points. Results The Sunderland Scale exhibited 60% sensitivity, 86.7% specificity, 47.4% positive predictive value, 91.5% negative predictive value, and 0.86 for the area under the curve. The Cubbin & Jackson Revised Scale exhibited 73.3% sensitivity, 86.7% specificity, 52.4% positive predictive value, 94.2% negative predictive value, and 0.91 for the area under the curve. The Braden scale exhibited 100% sensitivity, 5.3% specificity, 17.4% positive predictive value, 100% negative predictive value, and 0.72 for the area under the curve. Conclusions Both tools demonstrated reliability and validity for this sample. The Cubbin & Jackson Revised Scale yielded better predictive values for the development of pressure ulcers during intensive care. PMID:23917975

Geochemistry and tectonic setting of the Paleoproterozoic metavolcanic rocks from the Chirano Gold District, Sefwi belt, Ghana

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Senyah, Gloria A.; Dampare, Samuel B.; Asiedu, Daniel K.

2016-10-01

Major and trace elements, including rare earth elements (REEs) data are presented for metavolcanic rocks of the Paleoproterozoic Birimian Sefwi belt to determine the geochemical characteristics as well as the possible tectonic setting of emplacement of these rocks. In order to accomplish the aim of the study, the petrographical characteristics of the rocks were examined coupled with analysis of the rocks for their whole-rock major and trace elements contents by ICP-AES and ICP-MS methods respectively. The rocks have been classified as basalt/basaltic andesites and dolerites based on their textural and mineralogical compositions. It is observed that the rocks have suffered various degrees of alteration evident in the overprinting of primary minerals such as pyroxenes and plagioclase by chlorite, epidote, sericite and others. Generally, the rocks are moderately deformed and may have experienced at least greenschist metamorphism. The basalt/basaltic andesites are derivative magmas [Mg# (20-51), Cr (10-220 ppm) and Ni (5-137 ppm)], and show flat REE to fractionated REE patterns with (La/Sm)N = 1.36-3.90, (La/Yb)N = 1.17-5.32 and strong negative to non-existent Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.51-1.03). N-MORB-normalised multi-element diagrams show that the rocks have geochemical patterns characterised by enrichment in LILE relative to HFSE and in LREE relative to HREE. The basalt/basaltic andesites exhibit characteristics of subduction zone-related magmas, such as pronounced negative Nb-Ta anomalies, slightly negative Hf and variable negative Ti anomalies. The dolerites do not vary much from the basalts and basaltic andesites. The MgO and Fe2O3 values of the dolerite range from 2.97 to 6.93 and 5.98 to 14.35 wt.% respectively, corresponding to Mg#s of 38-62. LREEs enrichment over HREEs with (La/Sm)N ranging from 0.61 to 4.61 and (Gd/Yb)N ranging from 0.99 to 2.91 is also typical of these rocks. The dolerites also exhibit quite invariable Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.81-1.00) and display a pronounced Nb-Ta trough and a minor negative Ti anomaly, suggesting arc characteristics. The metavolcanic rocks from the study area generally exhibit subduction-related setting characteristics with evidence of a sub-lithospheric contamination.

Understanding Patient Preference in Female Pelvic Imaging: Transvaginal Ultrasound and MRI.

PubMed

Sakala, Michelle D; Carlos, Ruth C; Mendiratta-Lala, Mishal; Quint, Elisabeth H; Maturen, Katherine E

2018-04-01

Women with pelvic pain or abnormal uterine bleeding may undergo diagnostic imaging. This study evaluates patient experience in transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and explores correlations between preference and symptom severity. Institutional review board approval was obtained for this Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant prospective study. Fifty premenopausal women with pelvic symptoms evaluated by recent TVUS and MRI and without history of gynecologic cancer or hysterectomy were included. A phone questionnaire used validated survey instruments including Uterine Fibroid Symptoms Quality of Life index, Testing Morbidities Index, and Wait Trade Off for TVUS and MRI examinations. Using Wait Trade Off, patients preferred TVUS over MRI (3.58 vs 2.80 weeks, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.63, 0.12; P = .08). Summary test utility of Testing Morbidities Index for MRI was worse than for TVUS (81.64 vs 87.42, 95%CI 0.41, 11.15; P = .03). Patients reported greater embarrassment during TVUS than during MRI (P <.0001), but greater fear and anxiety both before (P <.0001) and during (P <.001) MRI, and greater mental (P = .02) and physical (P = .02) problems after MRI versus TVUS. Subscale correlations showed physically inactive women rated TVUS more negatively (R = -0.32, P = .03), whereas women with more severe symptoms of loss of control of health (R = -0.28, P = .04) and sexual dysfunction (R = -0.30, P = .03) rated MRI more negatively. Women with pelvic symptoms had a slight but significant preference for TVUS over MRI. Identifying specific distressing aspects of each test and patient factors contributing to negative perceptions can direct improvement in both test environment and patient preparation. Improved patient experience may increase imaging value. Copyright © 2018 The Association of University Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Bulk Viscosity of Bubbly Magmas and the Amplification of Pressure Waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Navon, O.; Lensky, N. G.; Neuberg, J. W.; Lyakhovsky, V.

2001-12-01

The bulk viscosity of magma is needed in order to describe the dynamics of a compressible bubbly magma flowing in conduits and to follow the attenuation of pressure waves travelling through a compressible magma. We developed a model for the bulk viscosity of a suspension of gas bubbles in an incompressible Newtonian liquid that exsolves volatiles (e.g. magma). The suspension is modeled as a close pack of spherical cells, consisting of gas bubbles centered in spherical shells of a volatile-bearing liquid. Following a drop in the ambient pressure the resulting dilatational motion and driving pressure are obtained in terms of the two-phase cell parameters, i.e. bubble radius and gas pressure. By definition, the bulk viscosity of a fluid is the relation between changes of the driving pressure with respect to changes in the resulted expansion strain-rate. Thus, we can use the two-phase solution to define the bulk viscosity of a hypothetical cell, composed of a homogeneously compressible, one-phase, continuous fluid. The resulted bulk viscosity is highly non-linear. At the beginning of the expansion process, when gas exsolution is efficient, the expansion rate grows exponentially while the driving pressure decreases slightly. That means that bulk viscosity is formally negative. The negative value reflects the release of the energy stored in the supersaturated liquid (melt) and its conversion to mechanical work during exsolution. Later, when bubbles are large enough and the gas influx decreases significantly, the strain rate decelerates and the bulk viscosity becomes positive as expected in a dissipative system. We demonstrate that amplification of seismic wave travelling through a volcanic conduit filled with a volatile saturated magma may be attributed to the negative bulk viscosity of the compressible magma. Amplification of an expansion wave may, at some level in the conduit, damage the conduit walls and initiate opening of new pathways for magma to erupt.

Platelet Function Analyzer 100 and Brain Natriuretic Peptide as Biomarkers in Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

PubMed

Blackshear, Joseph L; Safford, Robert E; Thomas, Colleen S; Bos, J Martijn; Ackerman, Michael J; Geske, Jeffrey B; Ommen, Steve R; Shapiro, Brian P; Johns, Gretchen S

2018-03-15

To test dual blood biomarkers compared with electrocardiogram (ECG) for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC) screening, we performed 3 analyses and cut-point assessments. First, we measured platelet function analyzer (PFA)-100 (n = 99) and normalized B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) or NT-proBNP (BNP/upper limit of normal [ULN], n = 92) in 64 patients with HC and 29 normal controls (NCs). Second, from the regression equation between PFA and gradient (r = 0.77), we derived estimated PFA in a population of 189 patients with functional class I HC in whom measured BNP/ULN and ECG were available, and calculated single and dual biomarker sensitivity and specificity compared with ECG. Finally, we compared BNP/ULN in class I patients based on mutation and familial history status. In 42 patients with obstructive HC versus NCs, there was a slight overlap of PFA and BNP/ULN, but for the product of PFA × BNP/ULN, there was near-complete separation of values. Among patients with class I obstructive HC, estimated PFA × BNP/ULN had a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 100%; in latent and nonobstructive HC, sensitivity dropped to 61% and 72%; for ECG in obstructive, latent, and nonobstructive HC, sensitivity was 71%, 34%, and 67%. Functional class I patients with positive (n = 28) and negative (n = 36) sarcomere mutations and a positive (n = 71) or a negative (n = 109) family history had significant elevations of BNP/ULN versus NC, with no between-group differences. In conclusion, PFA and BNP were highly associated with obstructive HC and could potentially be used for screening; BNP was not uniquely elevated in patients with familial versus nonfamilial or mutation-positive versus mutation-negative HC. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A pharmacokinetic study of etravirine (TMC125) co-administered with ranitidine and omeprazole in HIV–negative volunteers

PubMed Central

Schöller-Gyüre, Monika; Kakuda, Thomas N; De Smedt, Goedele; Vanaken, Hilde; Bouche, Marie-Paule; Peeters, Monika; Woodfall, Brian; Hoetelmans, Richard M W

2008-01-01

Aims Etravirine is a next-generation non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) with activity against wild-type and NNRTI-resistant HIV. Proton pump inhibitors and H2-antagonists are frequently used in the HIV-negative-infected population, and drug–drug interactions have been described with other antiretrovirals. This study evaluated the effect of steady-state omeprazole and ranitidine on the pharmacokinetics of a single dose of etravirine. Methods In an open-label, randomized, one-way, three-period crossover trial, HIV-negative volunteers randomly received a single dose of 100 mg etravirine alone (treatment A); 11 days of 150 mg ranitidine b.i.d. (treatment B); and 11 days of 40 mg omeprazole q.d. (treatment C). A single dose of 100 mg etravirine was co-administered on day 8 of sessions 2 and 3. Each session was separated by a 14-day wash-out. Results Nineteen volunteers (seven female) participated. When a single dose of etravirine was administered in the presence of steady-state ranitidine, etravirine least squares means ratios (90% confidence interval) for AUClast and Cmax were 0.86 (0.76, 0.97) and 0.94 (0.75, 1.17), respectively, compared with administration of etravirine alone. When administered with steady-state omeprazole, these values were 1.41 (1.22, 1.62) and 1.17 (0.96, 1.43), respectively. Co-administration of a single dose of etravirine and ranitidine or omeprazole was generally safe and well tolerated. Conclusions Ranitidine slightly decreased etravirine exposure, whereas omeprazole increased it by approximately 41%. The increased exposure of etravirine when co-administered with omeprazole is attributed to CYP2C19 inhibition. Considering the favourable safety profile of etravirine, these changes are not clinically relevant. Etravirine can be co-administered with proton pump inhibitors and H2 antagonists without dose adjustments. PMID:18492125

A comparison of different statistical methods analyzing hypoglycemia data using bootstrap simulations.

PubMed

Jiang, Honghua; Ni, Xiao; Huster, William; Heilmann, Cory

2015-01-01

Hypoglycemia has long been recognized as a major barrier to achieving normoglycemia with intensive diabetic therapies. It is a common safety concern for the diabetes patients. Therefore, it is important to apply appropriate statistical methods when analyzing hypoglycemia data. Here, we carried out bootstrap simulations to investigate the performance of the four commonly used statistical models (Poisson, negative binomial, analysis of covariance [ANCOVA], and rank ANCOVA) based on the data from a diabetes clinical trial. Zero-inflated Poisson (ZIP) model and zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) model were also evaluated. Simulation results showed that Poisson model inflated type I error, while negative binomial model was overly conservative. However, after adjusting for dispersion, both Poisson and negative binomial models yielded slightly inflated type I errors, which were close to the nominal level and reasonable power. Reasonable control of type I error was associated with ANCOVA model. Rank ANCOVA model was associated with the greatest power and with reasonable control of type I error. Inflated type I error was observed with ZIP and ZINB models.

Real-valued composite filters for correlation-based optical pattern recognition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rajan, P. K.; Balendra, Anushia

1992-01-01

Advances in the technology of optical devices such as spatial light modulators (SLMs) have influenced the research and growth of optical pattern recognition. In the research leading to this report, the design of real-valued composite filters that can be implemented using currently available SLMs for optical pattern recognition and classification was investigated. The design of real-valued minimum average correlation energy (RMACE) filter was investigated. Proper selection of the phase of the output response was shown to reduce the correlation energy. The performance of the filter was evaluated using computer simulations and compared with the complex filters. It was found that the performance degraded only slightly. Continuing the above investigation, the design of a real filter that minimizes the output correlation energy and the output variance due to noise was developed. Simulation studies showed that this filter had better tolerance to distortion and noise compared to that of the RMACE filter. Finally, the space domain design of RMACE filter was developed and implemented on the computer. It was found that the sharpness of the correlation peak was slightly reduced but the filter design was more computationally efficient than the complex filter.