Contribution of biotic and abiotic factors in the natural attenuation of sulfamethoxazole: A path analysis approach.

PubMed

Li, Yan; Rashid, Azhar; Wang, Hongjie; Hu, Anyi; Lin, Lifeng; Yu, Chang-Ping; Chen, Meng; Sun, Qian

2018-08-15

Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) is a sulfonamide antibiotic, widely used as curative and preventive drug for human, animal, and aquaculture bacterial infections. Its residues have been ubiquitously detected in the surface waters and sediments. In the present study, SMX dissipation and kinetics was studied in the natural water samples from Jiulong River under simulated complex natural conditions as well as conditions to mimic various biotic and abiotic environmental conditions in isolation. Structural equation modeling (SEM) by employing partial least square technique in path coefficient analysis was used to investigate the direct and indirect contributions of different environmental factors in the natural attenuation of SMX. The model explained 81% of the variability in natural attenuation as a dependent variable under the influence of sole effects of direct photo-degradation, indirect photo-degradation, hydrolysis, microbial degradation and bacterial degradation. The results of SEM suggested that the direct and indirect photo-degradation were the major pathways in the SMX natural attenuation. However, other biotic and abiotic factors also play a mediatory role during the natural attenuation and other processes. Furthermore, the potential transformation products of SMX were identified and their toxicity was evaluated. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Occurrence, distribution and prey items of juvenile marbled sole Pseudopleuronectes yokohamae around a submarine groundwater seepage on a tidal flat in southwestern Japan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hata, Masaki; Sugimoto, Ryo; Hori, Masakazu; Tomiyama, Takeshi; Shoji, Jun

2016-05-01

Occurrence, distribution and prey items of juvenile marbled sole Pseudopleuronectes yokohamae were investigated around a submarine groundwater seepage on a tidal flat in southwestern Japan. Spatial distribution of radon-222 (222Rn) concentration in water showed more submarine groundwater seepage in the offshore area. The lower salinities at offshore sampling stations corresponded with the highest 222Rn concentrations. Juvenile marbled sole were collected from March through June with seasonal peak in April in 2013 and 2014. Mean abundance of juvenile marbled sole was highest at the second most offshore station where high submarine groundwater seepage was indicated. Major prey items in the stomachs of the marbled sole at the post-settlement stage (10-40 mm) were small crustaceans such as cumaceans and gammarids, which were partially replaced with polychaetes in larger juveniles (40-50 mm). Abundance of these major prey items was also higher at offshore stations. A negative correlation between gammarid abundance and salinity indicated a higher concentration of gammarids around the area of high submarine groundwater seepage, a pattern not observed for the other major prey organisms. Stable isotope analysis showed greater dependence of post-settlement stage marbled sole on the small crustaceans with low δ13C indicating that nutrients of terrestrial origin contribute to production of the juvenile marbled sole on the tidal flat.

Measuring Ocean Literacy: What teens understand about the ocean using the Survey of Ocean Literacy and Engagement (SOLE)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Greely, T. M.; Lodge, A.

2009-12-01

Ocean issues with conceptual ties to science and global society have captured the attention, imagination, and concern of an international audience. Climate change, over fishing, marine pollution, freshwater shortages and alternative energy sources are a few ocean issues highlighted in our media and casual conversations. The ocean plays a role in our life in some way everyday, however, disconnect exists between what scientists know and the public understands about the ocean as revealed by numerous ocean and coastal literacy surveys. While the public exhibits emotive responses through care, concern and connection with the ocean, there remains a critical need for a baseline of ocean knowledge. However, knowledge about the ocean must be balanced with understanding about how to apply ocean information to daily decisions and actions. The present study analyzed underlying factors and patterns contributing to ocean literacy and reasoning within the context of an ocean education program, the Oceanography Camp for Girls. The OCG is designed to advance ocean conceptual understanding and decision making by engagement in a series of experiential learning and stewardship activities from authentic research settings in the field and lab. The present study measured a) what understanding teens currently hold about the ocean (content), b) how teens feel toward the ocean environment (environmental attitudes and morality), and c) how understanding and feelings are organized when reasoning about ocean socioscientific issues (e.g. climate change, over fishing, energy). The Survey of Ocean Literacy and Engagement (SOLE), was used to measure teens understanding about the ocean. SOLE is a 57-item survey instrument aligned with the Essential Principles and Fundamental Concepts of Ocean Literacy (NGS, 2007). Rasch analysis was used to refine and validate SOLE as a reasonable measure of ocean content knowledge (reliability, 0.91). Results revealed that content knowledge and environmental attitudes significantly contributed to ocean literacy. Teens demonstrated a 2-32% increase in content knowledge following the OCG learning experience. The most significant content gains correlated with ocean literacy Essential Principles 1, 2 and 5. Analysis of environmental reasoning patterns revealed that biocentric reasoning (71%) was most important to teens in solving ocean dilemmas. Further, teens reasoning about challenging ocean dilemmas were capable of supporting a position, counter-argument, rebuttal, and accurately use scientific information. Findings provide empirical evidence that connects field studies with ocean literacy. Current guidelines for ocean literacy address cognitive understanding but lack multimodality. The need for ocean literacy that goes beyond content to include reasoning and actions is relevant towards preparing students, teachers and citizens to regularly contribute to decisions about ocean issues and undertake actions as consumer, citizen or steward. This research supports the use of socioscientific issues and stewardship to advance ‘functional’ ocean literacy.

Quantifying Extrinsic Noise in Gene Expression Using the Maximum Entropy Framework

PubMed Central

Dixit, Purushottam D.

2013-01-01

We present a maximum entropy framework to separate intrinsic and extrinsic contributions to noisy gene expression solely from the profile of expression. We express the experimentally accessible probability distribution of the copy number of the gene product (mRNA or protein) by accounting for possible variations in extrinsic factors. The distribution of extrinsic factors is estimated using the maximum entropy principle. Our results show that extrinsic factors qualitatively and quantitatively affect the probability distribution of the gene product. We work out, in detail, the transcription of mRNA from a constitutively expressed promoter in Escherichia coli. We suggest that the variation in extrinsic factors may account for the observed wider-than-Poisson distribution of mRNA copy numbers. We successfully test our framework on a numerical simulation of a simple gene expression scheme that accounts for the variation in extrinsic factors. We also make falsifiable predictions, some of which are tested on previous experiments in E. coli whereas others need verification. Application of the presented framework to more complex situations is also discussed. PMID:23790383

Quantifying extrinsic noise in gene expression using the maximum entropy framework.

PubMed

Dixit, Purushottam D

2013-06-18

We present a maximum entropy framework to separate intrinsic and extrinsic contributions to noisy gene expression solely from the profile of expression. We express the experimentally accessible probability distribution of the copy number of the gene product (mRNA or protein) by accounting for possible variations in extrinsic factors. The distribution of extrinsic factors is estimated using the maximum entropy principle. Our results show that extrinsic factors qualitatively and quantitatively affect the probability distribution of the gene product. We work out, in detail, the transcription of mRNA from a constitutively expressed promoter in Escherichia coli. We suggest that the variation in extrinsic factors may account for the observed wider-than-Poisson distribution of mRNA copy numbers. We successfully test our framework on a numerical simulation of a simple gene expression scheme that accounts for the variation in extrinsic factors. We also make falsifiable predictions, some of which are tested on previous experiments in E. coli whereas others need verification. Application of the presented framework to more complex situations is also discussed. Copyright © 2013 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Pilot Testing of a Sampling Methodology for Assessing Seed Attachment Propensity and Transport Rate in a Soil Matrix Carried on Boot Soles and Bike Tires.

PubMed

Hardiman, Nigel; Dietz, Kristina Charlotte; Bride, Ian; Passfield, Louis

2017-01-01

Land managers of natural areas are under pressure to balance demands for increased recreation access with protection of the natural resource. Unintended dispersal of seeds by visitors to natural areas has high potential for weedy plant invasions, with initial seed attachment an important step in the dispersal process. Although walking and mountain biking are popular nature-based recreation activities, there are few studies quantifying propensity for seed attachment and transport rate on boot soles and none for bike tires. Attachment and transport rate can potentially be affected by a wide range of factors for which field testing can be time-consuming and expensive. We pilot tested a sampling methodology for measuring seed attachment and transport rate in a soil matrix carried on boot soles and bike tires traversing a known quantity and density of a seed analog (beads) over different distances and soil conditions. We found % attachment rate on boot soles was much lower overall than previously reported, but that boot soles had a higher propensity for seed attachment than bike tires in almost all conditions. We believe our methodology offers a cost-effective option for researchers seeking to manipulate and test effects of different influencing factors on these two dispersal vectors.

Pilot Testing of a Sampling Methodology for Assessing Seed Attachment Propensity and Transport Rate in a Soil Matrix Carried on Boot Soles and Bike Tires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hardiman, Nigel; Dietz, Kristina Charlotte; Bride, Ian; Passfield, Louis

2017-01-01

Land managers of natural areas are under pressure to balance demands for increased recreation access with protection of the natural resource. Unintended dispersal of seeds by visitors to natural areas has high potential for weedy plant invasions, with initial seed attachment an important step in the dispersal process. Although walking and mountain biking are popular nature-based recreation activities, there are few studies quantifying propensity for seed attachment and transport rate on boot soles and none for bike tires. Attachment and transport rate can potentially be affected by a wide range of factors for which field testing can be time-consuming and expensive. We pilot tested a sampling methodology for measuring seed attachment and transport rate in a soil matrix carried on boot soles and bike tires traversing a known quantity and density of a seed analog (beads) over different distances and soil conditions. We found % attachment rate on boot soles was much lower overall than previously reported, but that boot soles had a higher propensity for seed attachment than bike tires in almost all conditions. We believe our methodology offers a cost-effective option for researchers seeking to manipulate and test effects of different influencing factors on these two dispersal vectors.

Crisis phenomena among African adolescents.

PubMed

Pretorius, J W; Ferreira, G V; Edwards, D N

1999-01-01

This study investigated inadequate parent-child relationships, problems with regard to sexuality, and substance abuse among African university students. They reported experiencing positive aspects of the parent-child relationship, such as acceptance, love, understanding, encouragement, and guidance, as well as negative aspects, including inadequate communication and parents' authoritarian attitudes. Numerous sexual issues and the abuse of alcohol and other drugs were perceived as serious problems among teenagers in general. Although an inadequate parent-child relationship appears to contribute to substance abuse and sexuality problems, it cannot be regarded as solely responsible, as a multitude of factors also play a role. The results indicate the need for life-skills training for both adolescents and parents, particularly regarding communication.

Factors influencing the attitudes of cattle veterinarians, farmers, and claw trimmers towards the pain associated with the treatment of sole ulcers and the sensitivity to pain of dairy cows.

PubMed

Becker, Johanna; Reist, Martin; Steiner, Adrian

2014-04-01

This study assessed the attitudes of personnel involved in therapeutic claw trimming of dairy cattle in Switzerland towards pain associated with sole ulcers and their treatment. Data from 77 farmers, 32 claw trimmers, and 137 cattle veterinarians were used. A large range of factors were associated with whether the respondents thought that anaesthesia during the treatment of sole ulcers was beneficial; these included year of graduation, work experience, attitude to costs of analgesia, perception of competition between veterinarians and claw trimmers, estimation of pain level associated with treatment, estimated sensitivity of dairy cows to pain, knowledge of the obligation to provide analgesia, and whether the respondent thought lesion size and occurrence of defensive behaviour by the cow were important. Respondents' estimation of the pain level associated with sole ulcer treatment was linked to frequency of therapeutic claw trimming, age, farmers' income, estimated knowledge of the benefits of analgesia, and estimated sensitivity of dairy cows to pain. The latter factor was associated with profession, frequency of therapeutic claw trimming, capability of pain recognition, opinion on the benefits of analgesia, knowledge of the obligation to provide analgesia, and self-estimation of the ability to recognise pain. Improving the knowledge of personnel involved in therapeutic claw trimming with regard to pain in dairy cows and how to alleviate it is crucial if management of pain associated with treatment of sole ulcer and the welfare of lame cows are to be optimised. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Role of extrahepatic UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1: Advances in understanding breast milk-induced neonatal hyperbilirubinemia

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

Fujiwara, Ryoichi, E-mail: fujiwarar@pharm.kitasato-u.ac.jp; Maruo, Yoshihiro; Chen, Shujuan

Newborns commonly develop physiological hyperbilirubinemia (also known as jaundice). With increased bilirubin levels being observed in breast-fed infants, breast-feeding has been recognized as a contributing factor for the development of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Bilirubin undergoes selective metabolism by UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 1A1 and becomes a water soluble glucuronide. Although several factors such as gestational age, dehydration and weight loss, and increased enterohepatic circulation have been associated with breast milk-induced jaundice (BMJ), deficiency in UGT1A1 expression is a known cause of BMJ. It is currently believed that unconjugated bilirubin is metabolized mainly in the liver. However, recent findings support the concept that extrahepaticmore » tissues, such as small intestine and skin, contribute to bilirubin glucuronidation during the neonatal period. We will review the recent advances made towards understanding biological and molecular events impacting BMJ, especially regarding the role of extrahepatic UGT1A1 expression. - Highlights: • Breast-feeding can be a factor for the development of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. • UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 1A1 is the sole bilirubin-metabolizing enzyme. • Extrahepatic UGT1A1 plays an important role in bilirubin metabolism. • We discuss the potential mechanism of breast milk-induced neonatal jaundice.« less

Numerical modeling of polymorphic transformation of oleic acid via near-infrared spectroscopy and factor analysis.

PubMed

Liu, Ling; Cheng, Yuliang; Sun, Xiulan; Pi, Fuwei

2018-05-15

Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy as a tool for direct and quantitatively screening the minute polymorphic transitions of bioactive fatty acids was assessed basing on a thermal heating process of oleic acid. Temperature-dependent NIR spectral profiles indicate that dynamical variances of COOH group dominate its γ → α phase transition, while the transition from active α to β phase mainly relates to the conformational transfer of acyl chain. Through operating multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares with factor analysis, instantaneous contribution of each active polymorph during the transition process was illustrated for displaying the progressive evolutions of functional groups. Calculated contributions reveal that the α phase of oleic acid initially is present at around -18 °C, but sharply grows up around -2.2 °C from the transformation of γ phase and finally disappears at the melting point. On the other hand, the β phase of oleic acid is sole self-generation after melt even it embryonically appears at -2.2 °C. Such mathematical approach based on NIR spectroscopy and factor analysis calculation provides a volatile strategy in quantitatively exploring the transition processes of bioactive fatty acids; meanwhile, it maintains promising possibility for instantaneous quantifying each active polymorph of lipid materials. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Intergenerational continuity in oral health: a review

PubMed Central

Shearer, Dara M.; Thomson, W. Murray

2010-01-01

Life course research considers not only the influences on health which act during the lifespan but it is also concerned with factors that act across generations. Rarely are genetics or environment solely responsible for producing individual variation; virtually all characteristics are the result of gene–environment interaction. An increasing interest in life course research and gene–environment interactions is reflected in greater awareness of the role of family history and intergenerational continuity in oral health as a practical, inexpensive approach to categorizing genetic risk for many common, preventable disorders of adulthood (including oral disease). Does the health status of one generation have an effect on that of the next? While researchers in recent years have begun to investigate the inter-generational associations between exposures and disease, little research has been carried out (to date) on the long-term biological, behavioural, psychological, social and environmental mechanisms that link oral health and oral disease risk to exposures acting across generations. This narrative review identifies studies which have contributed to highlighting some of the intergenerational factors influencing oral health. However, there is a need for a wider perspective on intergenerational continuity in oral health, along with a careful evaluation of the factors which contribute to the effect. A comprehensive investigation into the nature and extent of intergenerational transmission of oral health is required. PMID:20636414

Numerical modeling of polymorphic transformation of oleic acid via near-infrared spectroscopy and factor analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Ling; Cheng, Yuliang; Sun, Xiulan; Pi, Fuwei

2018-05-01

Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy as a tool for direct and quantitatively screening the minute polymorphic transitions of bioactive fatty acids was assessed basing on a thermal heating process of oleic acid. Temperature-dependent NIR spectral profiles indicate that dynamical variances of COOH group dominate its γ → α phase transition, while the transition from active α to β phase mainly relates to the conformational transfer of acyl chain. Through operating multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares with factor analysis, instantaneous contribution of each active polymorph during the transition process was illustrated for displaying the progressive evolutions of functional groups. Calculated contributions reveal that the α phase of oleic acid initially is present at around -18 °C, but sharply grows up around -2.2 °C from the transformation of γ phase and finally disappears at the melting point. On the other hand, the β phase of oleic acid is sole self-generation after melt even it embryonically appears at -2.2 °C. Such mathematical approach based on NIR spectroscopy and factor analysis calculation provides a volatile strategy in quantitatively exploring the transition processes of bioactive fatty acids; meanwhile, it maintains promising possibility for instantaneous quantifying each active polymorph of lipid materials.

26 CFR 1.482-8T - Examples of the best method rule (temporary).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... capabilities are its workforce and its sole patent, which is associated with Compound X, a promising molecular compound derived from a rare plant, which USP reasonably anticipates will contribute to developing Oncol... contribute to developing Oncol as well. The rights in the Compound X and the commitment of Company X's...

Spatial factors and muscle spindle input influence the generation of neuromuscular responses to stimulation of the human foot

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Layne, Charles S.; Forth, Katharine E.; Abercromby, Andrew F. J.

2005-05-01

Removal of the mechanical pressure gradient on the soles leads to physiological adaptations that ultimately result in neuromotor degradation during spaceflight. We propose that mechanical stimulation of the soles serves to partially restore the afference associated with bipedal loading and assists in attenuating the negative neuromotor consequences of spaceflight. A dynamic foot stimulus device was used to stimulate the soles in a variety of conditions with different stimulation locations, stimulation patterns and muscle spindle input. Surface electromyography revealed the lateral side of the sole elicited the greatest neuromuscular response in ankle musculature, followed by the medial side, then the heel. These responses were modified by preceding stimulation. Neuromuscular responses were also influenced by the level of muscle spindle input. These results provide important information that can be used to guide the development of a "passive" countermeasure that relies on sole stimulation and can supplement existing exercise protocols during spaceflight.

Program factors related to women's substance abuse treatment retention and other outcomes: a review and critique.

PubMed

Sun, An-Pyng

2006-01-01

This study examined program factors related to women's substance abuse treatment outcomes. Although substance abuse research is traditionally focused on men, some more recent studies target women. A systematic review of 35 empirical studies that included solely women subjects or that analyzed female subjects separately from male subjects revealed five elements related to women's substance abuse treatment effectiveness; these are (1) single- versus mixed-sex programs, (2) treatment intensity, (3) provision for child care, (4) case management and the "one-stop shopping" model, and (5) supportive staff plus the offering of individual counseling. Although all 35 studies contribute to the knowledge base, critiques of six areas of design weakness in the studies were included to provide directions for future studies; these are (1) lack of a randomized controlled design, (2) nondisentanglement of multiple conditions, (3) lack of a consistent definition for treatment factors and outcomes, (4) small sample size, (5) lack of thorough program description, and (6) lack of thorough statistical analyses.

Interpretation of HCMM images: A regional study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1982-01-01

Potential users of HCMM data, especially those with only a cursory background in thermal remote sensing are familiarized with the kinds of information contained in the images that can be extracted with some reliability solely from inspection of such standard products as those generated at NASA/GSFC and now achieved in the National Space Science Data Center. Visual analysis of photoimagery is prone to various misimpressions and outright errors brought on by unawareness of the influence of physical factors as well as by sometimes misleading tonal patterns introduced during photoprocessing. The quantitative approach, which relies on computer processing of digital HCMM data, field measurements, and integration of rigorous mathematical models, can usually be used to identify, compensate for, or correct the contributions from at least some of the natural factors and those associated with photoprocessing. Color composite, day-IR, night-IR and visible images of California and Nevada are examined.

Cardiovascular Disease and Primary Ovarian Insufficiency

PubMed Central

Wellons, Melissa

2012-01-01

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number-one killer of women. Women with primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) may be more burdened by cardiovascular disease, such as myocardial infarction and stroke, as compared with women with normal menopause. The increased burden may be mediated by a worsening of cardiovascular risk factors, such as lipids, corresponding with the loss of ovarian function. In contrast, the increased burden may be caused by factors that precede and potentially contribute to both CVD events and ovarian decline, such as X-chromosome abnormalities and smoking. Regardless of the cause, women with POI may serve as an important population to target for CVD screening and prevention strategies. These strategies should include the use of CVD risk stratification tools to identify women that may benefit from lifestyle modification and pharmacological therapy to prevent CVD. Sex steroid therapy for the sole purpose of CVD prevention in women with POI cannot be recommended, based on a lack of evidence. PMID:21969267

Stiffness Effects in Rocker-Soled Shoes: Biomechanical Implications

PubMed Central

Su, Pei-Fang; Chung, Chia-Hua; Hsia, Chi-Chun; Chang, Chih-Han

2017-01-01

Rocker-soled shoes provide a way to reduce the possible concentration of stress, as well as change movement patterns, during gait. This study attempts to examine how plantar force and spatio-temporal variables are affected by two rocker designs, one with softer and one with denser sole materials, by comparing them with the barefoot condition and with flat-soled shoes. Eleven subjects’ gait parameters during walking and jogging were recorded. Our results showed that compared with barefoot walking, plantar forces were higher for flat shoes while lower for both types of rocker shoes, the softer-material rocker being the lowest. The plantar force of flat shoes is greater than the vertical ground reaction force, while that of both rocker shoes is much less, 13.87–30.55% body weight. However, as locomotion speed increased to jogging, for all shoe types, except at the second peak plantar force of the denser sole material rocker shoes, plantar forces were greater than for bare feet. More interestingly, because the transmission of force was faster while jogging, greater plantar force was seen in the rocker-soled shoes with softer material than with denser material; results for higher-speed shock absorption in rocker-soled shoes with softer material were thus not as good. In general, the rolling phenomena along the bottom surface of the rocker shoes, as well as an increase in the duration of simultaneous curve rolling and ankle rotation, could contribute to the reduction of plantar force for both rocker designs. The possible mechanism is the conversion of vertical kinetic energy into rotational kinetic energy. To conclude, since plantar force is related to foot-ground interface and deceleration methods, rocker-design shoes could achieve desired plantar force reduction through certain rolling phenomena, shoe-sole stiffness levels, and locomotion speeds. PMID:28046009

Stiffness Effects in Rocker-Soled Shoes: Biomechanical Implications.

PubMed

Lin, Shih-Yun; Su, Pei-Fang; Chung, Chia-Hua; Hsia, Chi-Chun; Chang, Chih-Han

2017-01-01

Rocker-soled shoes provide a way to reduce the possible concentration of stress, as well as change movement patterns, during gait. This study attempts to examine how plantar force and spatio-temporal variables are affected by two rocker designs, one with softer and one with denser sole materials, by comparing them with the barefoot condition and with flat-soled shoes. Eleven subjects' gait parameters during walking and jogging were recorded. Our results showed that compared with barefoot walking, plantar forces were higher for flat shoes while lower for both types of rocker shoes, the softer-material rocker being the lowest. The plantar force of flat shoes is greater than the vertical ground reaction force, while that of both rocker shoes is much less, 13.87-30.55% body weight. However, as locomotion speed increased to jogging, for all shoe types, except at the second peak plantar force of the denser sole material rocker shoes, plantar forces were greater than for bare feet. More interestingly, because the transmission of force was faster while jogging, greater plantar force was seen in the rocker-soled shoes with softer material than with denser material; results for higher-speed shock absorption in rocker-soled shoes with softer material were thus not as good. In general, the rolling phenomena along the bottom surface of the rocker shoes, as well as an increase in the duration of simultaneous curve rolling and ankle rotation, could contribute to the reduction of plantar force for both rocker designs. The possible mechanism is the conversion of vertical kinetic energy into rotational kinetic energy. To conclude, since plantar force is related to foot-ground interface and deceleration methods, rocker-design shoes could achieve desired plantar force reduction through certain rolling phenomena, shoe-sole stiffness levels, and locomotion speeds.

Pathophysiology of obesity on knee joint homeostasis: contributions of the infrapatellar fat pad.

PubMed

Santangelo, Kelly S; Radakovich, Lauren B; Fouts, Josie; Foster, Michelle T

2016-05-01

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating condition characterized by inflammation, breakdown, and consequent loss of cartilage of the joints. Epidemiological studies indicate obesity is an important risk factor involved in OA initiation and progression. Traditional views propose OA to be a biomechanical consequence of excess weight on weight-bearing joints; however, emerging data demonstrates that systemic and local factors released from white adipose depots play a role. Hence, current views characterize OA as a condition exacerbated by a metabolic link related to adipose tissue, and not solely related to redistributed/altered weight load. Factors demonstrated to influence cartilage and bone homeostasis include adipocyte-derived hormones ("adipokines") and adipose depot released cytokines. Epidemiological studies demonstrate a positive relation between systemic circulating cytokines, leptin, and resistin with OA types, while the association with adiponectin is controversial. Local factors in joints have also been shown to play a role in OA. In particular, this includes the knee, a weight-bearing joint that encloses a relatively large adipose depot, the infrapatellar fat pad (IFP), which serves as a source of local inflammatory factors. This review summarizes the relation of obesity and OA as it specifically relates to the IFP and other integral supporting structures. Overall, studies support the concept that metabolic effects associated with systemic obesity also extend to the IFP, which promotes inflammation, pain, and cartilage destruction within the local knee joint environment, thus contributing to development and progression of OA.

The transcription elongation factor ELL2 is specifically upregulated in HTLV-1-infected T-cells and is dependent on the viral oncoprotein Tax.

PubMed

Mann, Melanie C; Strobel, Sarah; Fleckenstein, Bernhard; Kress, Andrea K

2014-09-01

The oncoprotein Tax of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a potent transactivator of viral and cellular transcription. Here, we identified ELL2 as the sole transcription elongation factor to be specifically upregulated in HTLV-1-/Tax-transformed T-cells. Tax contributes to regulation of ELL2, since transient transfection of Tax increases ELL2 mRNA, Tax transactivates the ELL2 promoter, and repression of Tax results in decrease of ELL2 in transformed T-lymphocytes. However, we also measured upregulation of ELL2 in HTLV-1-transformed cells exhibiting undetectable amounts of Tax, suggesting that ELL2 can still be maintained independent of continuous Tax expression. We further show that Tax and ELL2 synergistically activate the HTLV-1 promoter, indicating that ELL2 cooperates with Tax in viral transactivation. This is supported by our findings that Tax and ELL2 accumulate in nuclear fractions and that they co-precipitate upon co-expression in transiently-transfected cells. Thus, upregulation of ELL2 could contribute to HTLV-1 gene regulation. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Target fragmentation in radiobiology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilson, John W.; Cucinotta, Francis A.; Shinn, Judy L.; Townsend, Lawrence W.

1993-01-01

Nuclear reactions in biological systems produce low-energy fragments of the target nuclei seen as local high events of linear energy transfer (LET). A nuclear-reaction formalism is used to evaluate the nuclear-induced fields within biosystems and their effects within several biological models. On the basis of direct ionization interaction, one anticipates high-energy protons to have a quality factor and relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of unity. Target fragmentation contributions raise the effective quality factor of 10 GeV protons to 3.3 in reasonable agreement with RBE values for induced micronuclei in bean sprouts. Application of the Katz model indicates that the relative increase in RBE with decreasing exposure observed in cell survival experiments with 160 MeV protons is related solely to target fragmentation events. Target fragment contributions to lens opacity given an RBE of 1.4 for 2 GeV protons in agreement with the work of Lett and Cox. Predictions are made for the effective RBE for Harderian gland tumors induced by high-energy protons. An exposure model for lifetime cancer risk is derived from NCRP 98 risk tables, and protraction effects are examined for proton and helium ion exposures. The implications of dose rate enhancement effects on space radiation protection are considered.

Live Imaging of Axolotl Digit Regeneration Reveals Spatiotemporal Choreography of Diverse Connective Tissue Progenitor Pools.

PubMed

Currie, Joshua D; Kawaguchi, Akane; Traspas, Ricardo Moreno; Schuez, Maritta; Chara, Osvaldo; Tanaka, Elly M

2016-11-21

Connective tissues-skeleton, dermis, pericytes, fascia-are a key cell source for regenerating the patterned skeleton during axolotl appendage regeneration. This complexity has made it difficult to identify the cells that regenerate skeletal tissue. Inability to identify these cells has impeded a mechanistic understanding of blastema formation. By tracing cells during digit tip regeneration using brainbow transgenic axolotls, we show that cells from each connective tissue compartment have distinct spatial and temporal profiles of proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Chondrocytes proliferate but do not migrate into the regenerate. In contrast, pericytes proliferate, then migrate into the blastema and give rise solely to pericytes. Periskeletal cells and fibroblasts contribute the bulk of digit blastema cells and acquire diverse fates according to successive waves of migration that choreograph their proximal-distal and tissue contributions. We further show that platelet-derived growth factor signaling is a potent inducer of fibroblast migration, which is required to form the blastema. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

11 CFR 9003.3 - Allowable contributions; General election legal and accounting compliance fund.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... cost of legal and accounting services provided solely to ensure compliance with 2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.... 9012; (D) To make repayments under 11 CFR 9007.2, 9038.2, or 9038.3; (E) To defray the cost of soliciting contributions to the GELAC; (F) To defray the cost of producing, delivering and explaining the...

11 CFR 9003.3 - Allowable contributions; General election legal and accounting compliance fund.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... cost of legal and accounting services provided solely to ensure compliance with 2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.... 9012; (D) To make repayments under 11 CFR 9007.2, 9038.2, or 9038.3; (E) To defray the cost of soliciting contributions to the GELAC; (F) To defray the cost of producing, delivering and explaining the...

11 CFR 9003.3 - Allowable contributions; General election legal and accounting compliance fund.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... cost of legal and accounting services provided solely to ensure compliance with 2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.... 9012; (D) To make repayments under 11 CFR 9007.2, 9038.2, or 9038.3; (E) To defray the cost of soliciting contributions to the GELAC; (F) To defray the cost of producing, delivering and explaining the...

11 CFR 9003.3 - Allowable contributions; General election legal and accounting compliance fund.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... cost of legal and accounting services provided solely to ensure compliance with 2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.... 9012; (D) To make repayments under 11 CFR 9007.2, 9038.2, or 9038.3; (E) To defray the cost of soliciting contributions to the GELAC; (F) To defray the cost of producing, delivering and explaining the...

11 CFR 9003.3 - Allowable contributions; General election legal and accounting compliance fund.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... cost of legal and accounting services provided solely to ensure compliance with 2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.... 9012; (D) To make repayments under 11 CFR 9007.2, 9038.2, or 9038.3; (E) To defray the cost of soliciting contributions to the GELAC; (F) To defray the cost of producing, delivering and explaining the...

Oxytocin receptor and vasopressin receptor 1a genes are respectively associated with emotional and cognitive empathy.

PubMed

Uzefovsky, F; Shalev, I; Israel, S; Edelman, S; Raz, Y; Mankuta, D; Knafo-Noam, A; Ebstein, R P

2015-01-01

Empathy is the ability to recognize and share in the emotions of others. It can be considered a multifaceted concept with cognitive and emotional aspects. Little is known regarding the underlying neurochemistry of empathy and in the current study we used a neurogenetic approach to explore possible brain neurotransmitter pathways contributing to cognitive and emotional empathy. Both the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) and the arginine vasopressin receptor 1a (AVPR1a) genes contribute to social cognition in both animals and humans and hence are prominent candidates for contributing to empathy. The following research examined the associations between polymorphisms in these two genes and individual differences in emotional and cognitive empathy in a sample of 367 young adults. Intriguingly, we found that emotional empathy was associated solely with OXTR, whereas cognitive empathy was associated solely with AVPR1a. Moreover, no interaction was observed between the two genes and measures of empathy. The current findings contribute to our understanding of the distinct neurogenetic pathways involved in cognitive and emotional empathy and underscore the pervasive role of both oxytocin and vasopressin in modulating human emotions. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A prospective cohort study of digital cushion and corium thickness. Part 1: Associations with body condition, lesion incidence, and proximity to calving.

PubMed

Newsome, R F; Green, M J; Bell, N J; Bollard, N J; Mason, C S; Whay, H R; Huxley, J N

2017-06-01

Claw horn disruption lesions (CHDL) are a major cause of lameness in dairy cattle and are likely a result of excessive forces being applied to the germinal epithelium that produces the claw horn. The digital cushion is a connective tissue structure, containing depots of adipose tissue, that sits beneath the distal phalanx and has been shown to be thicker in fatter cows. Body condition score (BCS) loss is a risk factor for CHDL, and one possible explanation is that fat is mobilized from the digital cushion during negative energy balance, causing the digital cushion to thin and lose force-dissipating capacity, leading to disruption of claw horn growth. This prospective cohort study investigated the association between measures of body fat and sole soft tissue (SST) thickness (a combined measure of the corium and digital cushion beneath the distal phalanx) in a longitudinal manner. The SST of 179 cows in 2 high-yielding dairy herds were measured at 5 assessment points between 8 wk before and 35 wk postcalving. The BCS, back fat thickness (BFT), and lesion incidence were recorded. Data were analyzed in a 4-level mixed effects regression model, with the outcome being SST thickness beneath the flexor tuberosity of the distal phalanx. Data from 827 assessment points were available for analysis. The overall mean of SST was 4.99 mm (standard deviation: 0.95). The SST was thickest 8 wk before calving (5.22 mm, standard deviation: 0.91) and thinnest 1 wk postcalving (4.68 mm, standard deviation: 0.87), suggesting an effect of calving on SST. The BFT was positively correlated with SST in the model with a small effect size (a 10 mm decrease in BFT corresponded with a 0.13 mm decrease in SST), yet the nadir of BFT was 11.0 mm at 9 to 17 wk postcalving (when SST was ∼4.95 mm), rather than occurring with the nadir of SST immediately after calving. The SST also varied with other variables [e.g., cows that developed a sole ulcer or severe sole hemorrhage during the study had thinner SST (-0.24 mm)], except when a sole ulcer was present, when it was thicker (+0.53 mm). Cows that developed lesions had a thinner digital cushion before the lesion occurrence, which became thickened with sole ulcer presence, perhaps representing inflammation. Furthermore, although BFT was correlated with SST over time, SST may also have been influenced by other factors such as integrity of the suspensory apparatus, which could have a major effect on CHDL. Measures of body fat likely contributed to having thin SST, but other factors including calving, herd, and lesion presence also had an effect. 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/).

The transcription elongation factor ELL2 is specifically upregulated in HTLV-1-infected T-cells and is dependent on the viral oncoprotein Tax

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

Mann, Melanie C., E-mail: melanie.mann@viro.med.uni-erlangen.de; Strobel, Sarah, E-mail: sarah.strobel@viro.med.uni-erlangen.de; Fleckenstein, Bernhard, E-mail: bernhard.fleckenstein@viro.med.uni-erlangen.de

The oncoprotein Tax of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a potent transactivator of viral and cellular transcription. Here, we identified ELL2 as the sole transcription elongation factor to be specifically upregulated in HTLV-1-/Tax-transformed T-cells. Tax contributes to regulation of ELL2, since transient transfection of Tax increases ELL2 mRNA, Tax transactivates the ELL2 promoter, and repression of Tax results in decrease of ELL2 in transformed T-lymphocytes. However, we also measured upregulation of ELL2 in HTLV-1-transformed cells exhibiting undetectable amounts of Tax, suggesting that ELL2 can still be maintained independent of continuous Tax expression. We further show that Taxmore » and ELL2 synergistically activate the HTLV-1 promoter, indicating that ELL2 cooperates with Tax in viral transactivation. This is supported by our findings that Tax and ELL2 accumulate in nuclear fractions and that they co-precipitate upon co-expression in transiently-transfected cells. Thus, upregulation of ELL2 could contribute to HTLV-1 gene regulation. - Highlights: • ELL2, a transcription elongation factor, is upregulated in HTLV-1-positive T-cells. • Tax transactivates the ELL2 promoter. • Tax and ELL2 synergistically activate the HTLV-1 promoter. • Tax and ELL2 interact in vivo.« less

NEWS - SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCE

EPA Science Inventory

A series of papers contributed by a diversified collection of researchers endeavor to depict sustainability science as an incomplete but necessary global endeavor. Their concern rests on the perceived inability of science and technology to solely lead the development of sustain...

Digenean metacercariae parasites as natural tags of habitat use by 0-group common sole Solea solea in nearshore coastal areas: A case study in the embayed system of the Pertuis Charentais (Bay of Biscay, France)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Durieux, Eric D. H.; Bégout, Marie-Laure; Pinet, Patrick; Sasal, Pierre

2010-07-01

This study focused on the spatio-temporal variation in the host-parasite system, 0-group sole-digenean metacercariae, in nearshore coastal areas at relatively small spatial scale. 0-group soles were sampled using a standard beam trawl in April, May, June, August and October 2005 at nine different sites in the Pertuis Charentais area (Bay of Biscay, France). Sole density, size, Fulton's condition factor K and digenean metacercariae communities were analysed. 0-group sole concentrated in shallow and muddy areas where they accumulated digenean metacercariae. Parasite communities displayed strong spatial patterns tightly linked to the distribution of the first intermediate mollusc hosts. These parasitological data suggest that 0-group sole during their first period of growth are mainly sedentary with limited movements between the different parts of the habitat. Size and density data revealed spatial heterogeneity in terms of habitat quality so that a limited zone (Aiguillon Bay) within the study area could be identified as sensu stricto nursery habitat for 0-group sole. The use of digenean metacercariae as natural tags appears as a novel powerful tool to evaluate habitat use and movements of juvenile flatfish, which could find applications in fisheries and coastal zone management programs.

31 CFR 355.5 - What warranties does a presenting bank make?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... limit any warranty by a presenter or other party arising under State law. (b) We are not barred from recovering on a breach of warranty solely because: (1) Our negligence contributed to a fraudulent endorsement...

Marine chemistry of the permian phosphoria formation and basin, Southeast Idaho

USGS Publications Warehouse

Piper, D.Z.

2001-01-01

Major components in the Meade Peak Member of the Phosphoria Formation are apatite, dolomite, calcite, organic matter, and biogenic silica-a marine fraction; and aluminosilicate quartz debris-a terrigenous fraction. Samples from Enoch Valley, in southeast Idaho, have major element oxide abundances of Al2O3, Fe2O3, K2O, and TiO2 that closely approach the composition of the world shale average. Factor analysis further identifies the partitioning of several trace elements-Ba, Ga, Li, Sc, and Th and, at other sites in southeast Idaho and western Wyoming, B, Co, Cs, Hf, Rb, and Ta-totally into this fraction. Trace elements that fail to show such correlations or factor loadings include Ag, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Se, the rare earth elements (REE), U, V, and Zn. Their terrigenous contribution is determined from minimum values of trace elements versus the terrigenous fraction. These minima too define trace element concentrations in the terrigenous fraction that approximately equal their concentrations in the world shale average. The marine fraction of trace elements represents the difference between the bulk trace element content of a sample and the terrigenous contribution. Of the trace elements enriched above a terrigenous contribution, Ag, Cr, Cu, Mo, and Se show strong loadings on the factor with an organic matter loading and U and the REE on the factor with a strong apatite loading. Cd, Ni, V, and Zn do not show a strong correlation with any of the marine components but are, nonetheless, strongly enriched above a terrigenous contribution. Interelement relationships between the trace elements identify two seawater sources-planktonic debris and basinal bottom water. Relationships between Cd, Cu, Mo, Zn, and possibly Ni and Se suggest a solely biogenic source. Their accumulation rates, and that of PO3-4, further identify the level of primary productivity as having been moderate and the residence time of water in the basin at 4.5 yr. Enrichments of Cr, U, V, and the REE, above both terrigenous and biogenic contributions, define bottom-water redox conditions as having been oxygen depleted, that is, denitrifying but not sulfate reducing.

75 FR 5317 - Exposure Factors Handbook: 2009 Update

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-02-02

... chemicals. These factors include: Drinking water consumption; mouthing behavior; soil ingestion rates... document solely for the purpose of pre- dissemination peer review under applicable information quality... various factors used in assessing human exposure. This Handbook is aimed at exposure assessors inside the...

Comparative evaluation of the impact of GRAPES and MM5 meteorology on CMAQ prediction over Pearl River Delta, China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deng, T.; Chen, Y.; Wan, Q.

2017-12-01

The Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model was utilized for forecasting air quality over the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region from December 2013 to January 2014. The pollution forecasting performance of CMAQ coupled with the two different meteorological models, the Global/Regional Assimilation and Prediction System (GRAPES) and the 5th-generation Mesoscale Model (MM5), was assessed by combining observational data. The effect of meteorological factors and physical-chemical processes on forecast results was discussed through process analysis. The results showed that both models have similar good performance with better performance by GRAPES-CMAQ. GRAPES was superior in predicting the overall meteorological element variation tendencies but showed large deviations in atmospheric pressure and wind speed. It contributed to higher correlation coefficients of the pollutants with GRAPES-CMAQ, but with greater deviation. The underestimations of nitrate and ammonium salt contributed to the underestimations of Particle Matter (PM) and extinction coefficients. Surface layer SO2, CO and NO source emissions made the sole positive contribution. O3 originated mainly from horizontal and vertical transport and chemical processes were the main consumption item. On the contrary, NO2 derived mainly from chemical production.

Creep crack growth by grain boundary cavitation under monotonic and cyclic loading

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wen, Jian-Feng; Srivastava, Ankit; Benzerga, Amine; Tu, Shan-Tung; Needleman, Alan

2017-11-01

Plane strain finite deformation finite element calculations of mode I crack growth under small scale creep conditions are carried out. Attention is confined to isothermal conditions and two time histories of the applied stress intensity factor: (i) a monononic increase to a plateau value subsequently held fixed; and (ii) a cyclic time variation. The crack growth calculations are based on a micromechanics constitutive relation that couples creep deformation and damage due to grain boundary cavitation. Grain boundary cavitation, with cavity growth due to both creep and diffusion, is taken as the sole failure mechanism contributing to crack growth. The influence on the crack growth rate of loading history parameters, such as the magnitude of the applied stress intensity factor, the ratio of the applied minimum to maximum stress intensity factors, the loading rate, the hold time and the cyclic loading frequency, are explored. The crack growth rate under cyclic loading conditions is found to be greater than under monotonic creep loading with the plateau applied stress intensity factor equal to its maximum value under cyclic loading conditions. Several features of the crack growth behavior observed in creep-fatigue tests naturally emerge, for example, a Paris law type relation is obtained for cyclic loading.

Water and dust production rates in comet P/Halley derived from ultraviolet and optical observations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Festou, Michel C.

1992-01-01

We evaluate whether the activity of comet P/Halley is due solely to the presence of discrete active areas. We preliminarily conclude that the dark areas of the nucleus contribute to the formation of the coma.

Predictors of response to prefabricated foot orthoses or rocker-sole footwear in individuals with first metatarsophalangeal joint osteoarthritis.

PubMed

Menz, Hylton B; Auhl, Maria; Tan, Jade M; Levinger, Pazit; Roddy, Edward; Munteanu, Shannon E

2017-05-12

Osteoarthritis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint (1st MTPJ OA) is a common and disabling condition commonly managed with footwear and orthotic interventions. The objective of this study was to identify factors associated with a successful treatment response in people with 1st MTPJ OA provided with prefabricated orthoses or rocker-sole footwear as part of a randomised clinical trial. People with 1st MTPJ OA (n = 88) who participated in a randomised trial were allocated to receive prefabricated foot orthoses (n = 47) or rocker-sole footwear (n = 41) and completed a baseline questionnaire including information on demographics, anthropometrics, general health, pain characteristics (including the Foot Health Status Questionnaire [FHSQ] and Foot Function Index [FFI]) and perceptions of the interventions, and a clinical assessment of foot posture, range of motion, radiographic severity and in-shoe plantar pressures. Adherence was documented using diaries. At 12 weeks, participants documented their perception of improvement on a 15-point scale. Those reporting at least moderate improvement on this scale were classified as 'responders'. There were 29 responders (62%) in the orthoses group and 16 responders (39%) in the rocker-sole group. In the orthoses group, responders had greater baseline pain severity while walking, a higher FFI difficulty score, and wore their orthoses more frequently. In the rocker-sole group, responders had a higher FFI stiffness score and greater radiographic severity. However, the accuracy of these variables in identifying responders in each group was modest (62 and 53%, respectively). The response to prefabricated orthoses or rocker-sole footwear in people with 1st MTPJ OA is related to measures of increased pain and disease severity. However, the overall classification accuracy associated with these factors is not sufficient for identifying individuals who are most likely to benefit from these interventions. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12613001245785.

Intake of water and different beverages in adults across 13 countries.

PubMed

Guelinckx, I; Ferreira-Pêgo, C; Moreno, L A; Kavouras, S A; Gandy, J; Martinez, H; Bardosono, S; Abdollahi, M; Nasseri, E; Jarosz, A; Ma, G; Carmuega, E; Babio, N; Salas-Salvadó, J

2015-06-01

To describe the intake of water and all other fluids and to evaluate the proportion of adults exceeding the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations on energy intake from free sugar, solely from fluids. A total of 16,276 adults (46 % men, mean age 39.8 years) were recruited in 13 countries from 3 continents. A 24-h fluid-specific record over 7 days was used for fluid assessment. In Spain, France, Turkey, Iran, Indonesia and China, fluid intake was characterised by a high contribution of water (47-78 %) to total fluid intake (TFI), with a mean water intake between 0.76 and 1.78 L/day, and a mean energy intake from fluids from 182 to 428 kcal/day. Between 11 and 49 % of adults exceeded the free sugar WHO recommendations, considering solely fluids. In Germany, UK, Poland and Japan, the largest contributors to TFI were hot beverages (28-50 %) and water (18-32 %). Mean energy intake from fluids ranged from 415 to 817 kcal/day, and 48-62 % of adults exceeded free sugar WHO recommendations. In Mexico, Brazil and Argentina, the contribution of juices and regular sugar beverages (28-41 %) was as important as the water contribution to TFI (17-39 %). Mean energy intake from fluids ranged 565-694 kcal/day, and 60-66 % of the adults exceeded the free sugar WHO recommendation. The highest volumes recorded in most of the countries were for water, mean energy intake from fluids was up to 694 kcal/day, and 66 % of adults exceeded the free sugar WHO recommendation solely by fluids. Actions to create an environment in favour of water consumption and reduce sugar intake from fluids therefore are warranted.

Elucidating the sole contribution from electromagnetic near-fields in plasmon-enhanced Cu 2O photocathodes

DOE PAGES

DuChene, Joseph S.; Williams, Benjamin P.; Johnston-Peck, Aaron C.; ...

2015-11-05

Despite many promising reports of plasmon-enhanced photocatalysis, the inability to identify the individual contributions from multiple enhancement mechanisms has delayed the development of general design rules for engineering efficient plasmonic photocatalysts. Herein, we construct a plasmonic photocathode comprised of Au@SiO 2 (core@shell) nanoparticles embedded within a Cu 2O nanowire network to exclusively examine the contribution from one such mechanism: electromagnetic near-field enhancement. The influence of the local electromagnetic field intensity is correlated with the overall light-harvesting efficiency of the device through variation of the SiO 2 shell thickness (5—22 nm) to systematically tailor the distance between the plasmonic Au nanoparticlesmore » and the Cu 2O nanowires. A three-fold increase in device photocurrent is achieved upon integrating the Au@SiO 2 nanoparticles into the Cu 2O nanowire network, further enabling a ~40% reduction in semiconductor film thickness while maintaining photocathode performance. Photoelectrochemical results are further correlated with photoluminescence studies and optical simulations to confirm that the near-field enhancement is the sole mechanism responsible for increased light absorption in the plasmonic photocathode.« less

Exploration of Factors Affecting Success of Undergraduate Engineering Majors at a Historically Black University

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Igbinoba, Egheosa P.

Blacks are underrepresented amongst persons who earn college degrees in the United States and Black males attend and complete college at a lower rate than Black females (Toldson, Fry Brown, & Sutton, 2009). According to Toldson et al. (2009), this quandary may be attributed to Black males' apathy toward education in general, waning support and ideological challenges toward Pell Grants and affirmative action, cultural incompetency on the part of the 90% White, ethnic makeup of the U.S. teaching force, and the relatively high numbers of Black males who are held back in school. In spite of the dismal statistics regarding Black male academic achievement and matriculation, there are those Black males who do participate in postsecondary education. While many studies have highlighted reasons that Black males do not achieve success in attending and persisting through college, few have adopted the anti-deficit research framework suggested by Harper (2010), identifying reasons Black males do persist in higher education. Although science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers are identified as those most imperative to the economic competitiveness of the United States, few studies have concentrated solely on engineering majors and fewer, if any, solely on Black male engineering majors at an historically Black college and university. The aim of this study was to address an apparent gap in the literature and invoke theories for recruitment, retention, and success of Black males in engineering degree programs by employing an anti-deficit achievement framework for research of students of color in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Data garnered from the study included insight into participants' definitions of success, precollege experiences, factors contributing to the persistence during undergraduate study, and perceptions of attending a historically Black college and university versus a primarily White institution.

Thermodynamics of crystallization stresses in DEF

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

Flatt, Robert J.; Scherer, George W.

2008-03-15

The thermo-mechanics of damage during delayed ettringite formation have been examined. A thermodynamic approach is used to evaluate the supersaturation under which ettringite may form and the crystallization pressures that may result. From these stresses at the pore scale and with the amount of ettringite forming, an average hydrostatic tensile stress in the solid is calculated and compared to the tensile strength of tested samples. Results indicate that, when the loading rate dependence of tensile strength is taken into account, it is possible to rationalize factors that do or do not contribute to damage, such as ettringite content, temperature andmore » fly-ash content. Although a number of important assumptions are made and clearly indicated in the paper, the results do open a new perspective onto durability studies which goes beyond the sole case of delayed ettringite formation.« less

Learning with Calculators: Doing More with Less

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kissane, Barry

2017-01-01

It seems that calculators continue to be misunderstood as devices solely for calculation, although the likely contributions to learning mathematics with modern calculators arise from other characteristics. A four-part model to understand the educational significance of calculators underpins this paper. Each of the four components (representation,…

Analysis of human locomotion by recording sole-floor reaction forces from anatomically discrete points.

PubMed

Warabi, Tateo; Kato, Masamichi; Kiriyama, Kiichi; Yoshida, Toshikazu; Kobayashi, Nobuyoshi

2004-12-01

Sole-floor reaction forces were recorded from five anatomically discrete points to analyze characteristics of human locomotion. Strain gauge of 14 mm diameter were firmly attached to the sole of bare-foot for recording force changes from the following five points: (1) medial process of calcaneus, (2) head of 1st metatarsal, (3) head of 3rd metatarsal, (4) head of 5th metatarsal and (5) great toe. Fifteen healthy adults were asked to walk at 2, 4, 6 and 8 km/h and to run at 8 km/h on the treadmill. Sole-floor reaction forces from 1st to 5th metatarsals show reciprocal changes during stance phase, while force from 1st metatarsal is strong 5th metatarsal shows weak reaction and vice versa. This phenomenon may be an expression of locomotor program to maintain vertical stability of the body during stance phase. There was a linear relation between walking speeds and sum of force from the five points, although sum of forces from three metatarsals did not change significantly during the walking speeds, indicating mainly calcaneus and great toe contribute to increasing walking speed. During running the sum of force from the three metatarsals increased sharply, joining the other two points to increase thrust.

Ertapenem-associated neurotoxicity in the Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) population: a case series.

PubMed

Patel, Ursula C; Fowler, Mallory A

2017-09-06

Context Ertapenem, a broad spectrum carbapenem antibiotic, is used often in Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) patients due to increased risk factors for multi-drug resistant (MDR) infections in this population. Neurotoxicity, specifically seizures, due to ertapenem is a known adverse effect and has been described previously. Other manifestations such as delirium and visual hallucinations have rarely been reported, and no literature, to the best of our knowledge, specifically describes these effects solely in the SCI population. Findings Four cases of mental status changes and hallucinations in SCI patients attributed to ertapenem therapy are described. Onset of symptoms began between one and six days following initiation of ertapenem and resolved between two to 42 days following discontinuation. Based on the Naranjo probability scale, a probable relationship exists between the adverse events and ertapenem for three out of the four cases. Possible overestimation of renal function and hypoalbuminemia may be contributing factors to the noted adverse reactions. Conclusion/Clinical Relevance The cases described highlight the importance of recognizing ertapenem-associated hallucinations in SCI patients. The population is particularly vulnerable due to risk factors for MDR infections necessitating ertapenem use, possible overestimation of renal function, and a high prevalence of hypoalbuminemia.

Beat the Bourgeoisie: A Social Class Inequality and Mobility Simulation Game

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Norris, Dawn R.

2013-01-01

Simulation games can help overcome student resistance to thinking structurally about social class inequality, meritocracy, and mobility. Most inequality simulations focus solely on economic inequality and omit social and cultural capital, both of which contribute to social class reproduction. Using a pretest/posttest design, the current study…

On Dragon and Turkeys: Physics for Future Citizens

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Colletti, Leonardo

2010-01-01

Too often teachers describe physics solely as a technical discipline, which contributes concretely to changing our material world. In a society where prejudices and superstitions still play an important, sometimes tragic, role, there is much more to emphasise about physics. A physics teacher should introduce high school students to physics by…

FY 89 Faculty Salary Review.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ott, Mary Diederich

The University of Maryland at College Park is committed to ensuring that faculty salaries are based solely upon the contributions and accomplishments of the individual faculty members. The relationship between male and female faculty salaries is carefully monitored. The 1989 female faculty salary reviews (done in relation to the salaries of…

34 CFR 675.27 - Nature and source of institutional share.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... employment agreement to do so. (Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 1840..., board, and books. (2) The institution shall document all amounts claimed as non-cash contributions. (3) Non-cash compensation may not include forgiveness of a charge assessed solely because of a student's...

Forefoot plantar pressure reduction of off-the-shelf rocker bottom provisional footwear.

PubMed

Kavros, Steven J; Van Straaten, Meegan G; Coleman Wood, Krista A; Kaufman, Kenton R

2011-08-01

Increased plantar pressures have been shown to be a risk factor in ulceration of the neuropathic foot. Prescriptive footwear is a common medical treatment, yet evidence regarding the efficacy of these prescriptions is underdeveloped. The purpose of this study is to determine the off-loading properties of four provisional shoes; a rocker sole compared to a flat sole shoe with and without the addition of a 1.25 cm plastizote insert. Fifteen subjects with peripheral neuropathy and a normal longitudinal arch were recruited to compare four types of provisional (post-operative) footwear. Plantar surface foot pressures were measured while wearing a rocker sole shoe or a flat stiff sole shoe. Both shoes were worn with and without a 1.25 cm plastizote insert. Peak plantar pressures were recorded for the hallux, metatarsal heads (1-5), midfoot, and heel. The rocker sole shoe with plastizote had the best off-loading properties. While wearing this footwear, mean peak plantar pressure was 2.8 kg/cm(2) (range: 1.7 to 4.5 kg/cm(2), 50% mean reduction from flat sole shoe without plastizote) and 1.9 kg/cm(2) (range: 0.7 to 3.6 kg/cm(2), 35% mean reduction) at the five metatarsal heads and hallux, respectively. For patients with a normal longitudinal arch and forefeet, either at risk of developing an ulcer or are healing a forefoot ulcer, a provisional shoe with a rocker sole and plastizote insole provides plantar pressure reduction of the forefoot. However, when results were analyzed for the subjects individually the amount of off-loading varied. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Leukoproliferative response of splenocytes from English sole (Pleuronectes vetulus) exposed to chemical contaminants

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

Arkoosh, M.R.; Clemons, E.; Huffman, P.

The leukoproliferative (LP) response of splenic leukocytes from the marine benthic fish English sole (Pleuronectes vetulus) stimulated with the mitogens lipopolysaccharide (LPS), convanavalin A (Con A), and pokeweed mitogen (PWM) was examined as a biomarker of immunotoxic effects. English sole were exposed to contaminants, either by injection of an organic-solvent extract of a sediment containing polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) or placed for up to 5 weeks on a reference sediment containing 0.15 to 1.5% (v/v) of the PAC-contaminated sediment. English sole either injected with the contaminated extract or held on PAC-contaminated sediment had an augmented response to Con A. Themore » LP response to LPS showed no relationship to PAC exposure in laboratory-exposed fish, while PWM showed no consistent relationship to exposure to PACs. In a field study, English sole captured from an urban area in Puget Sound, Washington, USA, contaminated with PACs and other chemical contaminants had a significantly augmented LP response to Con A and PWM in comparison to the LP response in fish from a nonurban reference site. Fish from another nonurban site also had an augmented LP response to Con A, indicating that the elevation of the Con A LP response can also result from factors other than chemical contaminant exposure. In addition, English sole from this site also had an augmented LP response to LPS, whereas fish from urban sites did not exhibit an augmented LP response to LPS. Overall, the results demonstrated that although the LP response in splenic leukocytes of English sole to Con A was linked to contaminant exposure, the LP response to Con A did not exhibit high specificity as an indicator of chemical contaminant exposure. However, the concerted use of Con A, LPS, and PWM allowed for identification of apparent chemical contaminant-induced alterations of the LP response in English sole from an urban area of Puget Sound.« less

[Effect of acupuncture combined with massage of sole on sleeping quality of the patient with insomnia].

PubMed

Zhong, Zhi-Guo; Cai, Heng; Li, Xiao-Long; Lü, Dong

2008-06-01

To assess effect of acupuncture combined with massage of sole on sleeping quality of the patient with insomnia. Fifty-eight cases of insomnia were randomly divided into an observation group (n = 32) and a control group (n = 26). The observation group were treated with oral administration of Alprazolam, massage of sole, and acupuncture at Zhongwan (CV 12), Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6), etc. on the abdomen as main points; the control group were treated with Alprazolam. Clinical therapeutic effects, and scores for Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) were assessed before and after treatment in the two groups. The effective rate was 93.75 in the observation group and 88.46% in the control group with no significant difference between the two groups; after treatment, there were significant or very significant differences in scores for various factors in the PSQI, SAS and SDS (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Abdominal acupuncture as main combined with massage of sole can obviously improve sleeping quality of the patient with insomnia.

Differential involvement of knowledge representation and executive control in episodic memory performance in young and older adults.

PubMed

Bouazzaoui, Badiâa; Fay, Séverine; Taconnat, Laurence; Angel, Lucie; Vanneste, Sandrine; Isingrini, Michel

2013-06-01

Craik and Bialystok (2006, 2008) postulated that examining the evolution of knowledge representation and control processes across the life span could help in understanding age-related cognitive changes. The present study explored the hypothesis that knowledge representation and control processes are differentially involved in the episodic memory performance of young and older adults. Young and older adults were administered a cued-recall task and tests of crystallized knowledge and executive functioning to measure representation and control processes, respectively. Results replicate the classic finding that executive and cued-recall performance decline with age, but crystallized-knowledge performance does not. Factor analysis confirmed the independence of representation and control. Correlation analyses showed that the memory performance of younger adults was correlated with representation but not with control measures, whereas the memory performance of older adults was correlated with both representation and control measures. Regression analyses indicated that the control factor was the main predictor of episodic-memory performance for older adults, with the representation factor adding an independent contribution, but the representation factor was the sole predictor for young adults. This finding supports the view that factors sustaining episodic memory vary from young adulthood to old age; representation was shown to be important throughout adulthood, and control was also important for older adults. The results also indicated that control and representation modulate age-group-related variance in episodic memory.

5 CFR 295.202 - Factors OPM will consider.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... TESTIMONY BY OPM EMPLOYEES RELATING TO OFFICIAL INFORMATION AND PRODUCTION OF OFFICIAL RECORDS IN LEGAL... General Counsel, in his or her sole discretion, may grant an employee permission to testify on matters... appropriate demand or request. Among the relevant factors that the General Counsel may consider in making this...

A Study of the Factors and Conditions Associated with Graduate Enrollment Management Practitioners' Participation in Professional Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Balayan, Ariana

2016-01-01

This investigation was designed to determine the factors and conditions associated with graduate enrollment management practitioners' participation in professional development (PD) activities. The sample consisted of members of a professional association, the National Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals (NAGAP), focused solely on…

Integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect in massive bigravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Enander, Jonas; Akrami, Yashar; Mörtsell, Edvard; Renneby, Malin; Solomon, Adam R.

2015-04-01

We study the integrated Sachs-Wolfe (ISW) effect in ghost-free, massive bigravity. We focus on the infinite-branch bigravity (IBB) model which exhibits viable cosmic expansion histories and stable linear perturbations, while the cosmological constant is set to zero and the late-time accelerated expansion of the Universe is due solely to the gravitational interaction terms. The ISW contribution to the CMB auto-correlation power spectrum is predicted, as well as the cross-correlation between the CMB temperature anisotropies and large-scale structure. We use ISW amplitudes as inferred from the WMAP 9-year temperature data together with galaxy and AGN data provided by the WISE mission in order to compare the theoretical predictions to the observations. The ISW amplitudes in IBB are found to be larger than the corresponding ones in the standard Λ CDM model by roughly a factor of 1.5, but are still consistent with the observations.

Genetic variation in melatonin pathway enzymes in children with autism spectrum disorder and comorbid sleep onset delay.

PubMed

Veatch, Olivia J; Pendergast, Julie S; Allen, Melissa J; Leu, Roberta M; Johnson, Carl Hirschie; Elsea, Sarah H; Malow, Beth A

2015-01-01

Sleep disruption is common in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Genes whose products regulate endogenous melatonin modify sleep patterns and have been implicated in ASD. Genetic factors likely contribute to comorbid expression of sleep disorders in ASD. We studied a clinically unique ASD subgroup, consisting solely of children with comorbid expression of sleep onset delay. We evaluated variation in two melatonin pathway genes, acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase (ASMT) and cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2). We observed higher frequencies than currently reported (p < 0.04) for variants evidenced to decrease ASMT expression and related to decreased CYP1A2 enzyme activity (p ≤ 0.0007). We detected a relationship between genotypes in ASMT and CYP1A2 (r(2) = 0.63). Our results indicate that expression of sleep onset delay relates to melatonin pathway genes.

Test anxiety and a high-stakes standardized reading comprehension test: A behavioral genetics perspective.

PubMed

Wood, Sarah G; Hart, Sara A; Little, Callie W; Phillips, Beth M

2016-07-01

Past research suggests that reading comprehension test performance does not rely solely on targeted cognitive processes such as word reading, but also on other non-target aspects such as test anxiety. Using a genetically sensitive design, we sought to understand the genetic and environmental etiology of the association between test anxiety and reading comprehension as measured by a high-stakes test. Mirroring the behavioral literature of test anxiety, three different dimensions of test anxiety were examined in relation to reading comprehension, namely intrusive thoughts, autonomic reactions, and off-task behaviors. Participants included 426 sets of twins from the Florida Twin Project on Reading. The results indicated test anxiety was negatively associated with reading comprehension test performance, specifically through common shared environmental influences. The significant contribution of test anxiety to reading comprehension on a high-stakes test supports the notion that non-targeted factors may be interfering with accurately assessing students' reading abilities.

Effects of Acoustic Perception of Gender on Nonsampling Errors in Telephone Surveys

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kenney McCulloch, Susan

2012-01-01

Many telephone surveys require interviewers to observe and record respondents' gender based solely on respondents' voice. Researchers may rely on these observations to: (1) screen for study eligibility; (2) determine skip patterns; (3) foster interviewer tailoring strategies; (4) contribute to nonresponse assessment and adjustments; (5)…

Visual Landmarks Facilitate Rodent Spatial Navigation in Virtual Reality Environments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Youngstrom, Isaac A.; Strowbridge, Ben W.

2012-01-01

Because many different sensory modalities contribute to spatial learning in rodents, it has been difficult to determine whether spatial navigation can be guided solely by visual cues. Rodents moving within physical environments with visual cues engage a variety of nonvisual sensory systems that cannot be easily inhibited without lesioning brain…

Introduction to special section – Supporting ecosystem services with conservation agricultural approaches

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Ecosystem services are the properties and processes of the natural world that contribute to the well-being of plants, animals, and humans in a holistic and global context. For too long, members of the agricultural community have been solely focused on the provision of food, feed, and fiber. Of cou...

Background PM2.5 source apportionment in the remote Northwestern United States

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hadley, Odelle L.

2017-10-01

This study used the Environmental Protection Agency's positive matrix factorization model (EPA PMF5.0) to identify five primary source factors contributing to the ambient PM2.5 concentrations at Cheeka Peak Atmospheric Observatory (CPO), Neah Bay WA between January 2011 and December 2014. CPO is home to both an IMPROVE (Interagency Monitoring for Protected Visual Environments) and a NCore multi-pollutant monitoring site. Chemically resolved particulate data from the IMPROVE site was the input data to EPA PMF5.0 and the resulting source factors were derived solely from these data. Solutions from the model were analyzed in context with trace gas and meteorological data collected at the NCore site located roughly 10 m away. Seasonal and long-term trends were analyzed for all five factors and provide the first complete source apportionment analysis of PM2.5 at this remote location. The first factor, identified as marine-traffic residual fuel oil (RFO), was the highest contributor to PM2.5 during late summer. Over the 4-year analysis, the RFO percent contribution to total PM2.5 declined. This is consistent with previous studies and may be attributed to regulations restricting the sulfur content of ship fuel. Biomass combustion emissions (BMC) and sea salt were the largest PM2.5 sources observed at CPO in winter, accounting for over 80% of the fine particulate. BMC accounted for a large percent of the fine particulate pollution when winds were easterly, or continental. Sea salt was the dominant winter factor when winds blew from the west. Measured trace carbon monoxide (CO) and reactive nitrogen species (NOy) were most strongly correlated with the BMC factor and continental winds. The fourth factor was identified as aged crustal material, or dust. In all three years, dust peaked in the spring and was associated exclusively with north-easterly winds. The last factor was identified as aged sea salt mixed with nitrate, sulfate, and other components common to RFO and BMC source factors. It did not exhibit a strong seasonal cycle or dependence on wind direction.

Neutral processes contribute to patterns of spatial variation for flower colour in the Mediterranean Iris lutescens (Iridaceae)

PubMed Central

Wang, Hui; Talavera, María; Min, Ya; Flaven, Elodie; Imbert, Eric

2016-01-01

Background and Aims Flower colour polymorphism in plants has been used as a classic model for understanding the importance of neutral processes vs. natural selection in population differentiation. However, current explanations for the maintenance of flower colour polymorphism mainly rely on balancing selection, while neutral processes have seldom been championed. Iris lutescens (Iridaceae) is a widespread species in the northern Mediterranean basin, which shows a stable and striking purple–yellow flower colour polymorphism. To evaluate the roles of neutral processes in the spatial variation for flower colour in this species, patterns of neutral genetic variation across its distribution range were quantified, and phenotypic differentiation was compared with neutral genetic differentiation. Methods Genetic diversity levels and population genetic structure were investigated through the genotyping of a collection of 1120 individuals in 41 populations ranging from Spain to France, using a set of eight newly developed microsatellite markers. In addition, phenotypic differentiation for flower colour was also quantified by counting colour morph frequency in each population, and measuring the reflectance spectra of sampled individuals. Key Results Populations in Spain present a sharp colour transition from solely purple to solely yellow. The results provide evidence that genetic drift through limited gene flow is important in the evolution of monomorphic populations. In contrast, most populations in France are polymorphic with both phenotypes, and the colour frequencies vary geographically without any spatial gradients observed. A pattern of isolation by distance is detected in France, and gene flow between adjacent populations seems to be an important factor maintaining populations polymorphic. Conclusions Overall, neutral processes contribute to patterns of spatial variation for flower colour in I. lutescens, but it cannot be excluded that natural selection is also operating. An interaction between neutral processes and natural selection is suggested to explain the spatial variation for flower colour in I. lutescens. PMID:27084922

Computer-aided tissue engineering: benefiting from the control over scaffold micro-architecture.

PubMed

Tarawneh, Ahmad M; Wettergreen, Matthew; Liebschner, Michael A K

2012-01-01

Minimization schema in nature affects the material arrangements of most objects, independent of scale. The field of cellular solids has focused on the generalization of these natural architectures (bone, wood, coral, cork, honeycombs) for material improvement and elucidation into natural growth mechanisms. We applied this approach for the comparison of a set of complex three-dimensional (3D) architectures containing the same material volume but dissimilar architectural arrangements. Ball and stick representations of these architectures at varied material volumes were characterized according to geometric properties, such as beam length, beam diameter, surface area, space filling efficiency, and pore volume. Modulus, deformation properties, and stress distributions as contributed solely by architectural arrangements was revealed through finite element simulations. We demonstrated that while density is the greatest factor in controlling modulus, optimal material arrangement could result in equal modulus values even with volumetric discrepancies of up to 10%. We showed that at low porosities, loss of architectural complexity allows these architectures to be modeled as closed celled solids. At these lower porosities, the smaller pores do not greatly contribute to the overall modulus of the architectures and that a stress backbone is responsible for the modulus. Our results further indicated that when considering a deposition-based growth pattern, such as occurs in nature, surface area plays a large role in the resulting strength of these architectures, specifically for systems like bone. This completed study represents the first step towards the development of mathematical algorithms to describe the mechanical properties of regular and symmetric architectures used for tissue regenerative applications. The eventual goal is to create logical set of rules that can explain the structural properties of an architecture based solely upon its geometry. The information could then be used in an automatic fashion to generate patient-specific scaffolds for the treatment of tissue defects.

Assessing Potential Additional PFAS Retention Processes in the Subsurface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brusseau, M. L.

2017-12-01

Understanding the transport and fate of per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) in the subsurface is critical for accurate risk assessments and design of effective remedial actions. Current conceptual and mathematical models are based on an assumption that solid-phase adsorption is the sole source of retention for PFASs. However, additional retention processes may be relevant for PFAS compounds in vadose-zone systems and in source zones that contain trapped immiscible organic liquids. These include adsorption at the air-water interface, partitioning to the soil atmosphere, adsorption at the NAPL-water interface, and absorption by NAPL. A multi-process retention model is proposed to account for these potential additional sources of PFAS retardation. An initial assessment of the relative magnitudes and significance of these retention processes was conducted for three representative PFASs, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), and 8:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (FTOH). Data collected from the literature were used to determine measured or estimated values for the relevant distribution coefficients, which were in turn used to calculate retardation factors for a representative porous medium. Adsorption at the air-water interface was shown to be a primary source of retention for PFOA and PFOS, contributing approximately 80% of total retardation. Adsorption to NAPL-water interfaces and absorption by bulk NAPL were also shown to be significant sources of retention for PFOS and PFOA. The latter process was the predominant source of retention for 8:2 FTOH, contributing 98% of total retardation. These results indicate that we may anticipate significant retention of PFASs by these additional processes. In such cases, retardation of PFASs in source areas may be significantly greater than what is typically estimated based on the standard assumption of solid-phase adsorption as the sole retention mechanism. This has significant ramifications for accurate determination of the migration potential and magnitude of mass flux to groundwater, as well as for calculations of contaminant mass residing in source zones.

Neutral processes contribute to patterns of spatial variation for flower colour in the Mediterranean Iris lutescens (Iridaceae).

PubMed

Wang, Hui; Talavera, María; Min, Ya; Flaven, Elodie; Imbert, Eric

2016-05-01

Flower colour polymorphism in plants has been used as a classic model for understanding the importance of neutral processes vs. natural selection in population differentiation. However, current explanations for the maintenance of flower colour polymorphism mainly rely on balancing selection, while neutral processes have seldom been championed. Iris lutescens (Iridaceae) is a widespread species in the northern Mediterranean basin, which shows a stable and striking purple-yellow flower colour polymorphism. To evaluate the roles of neutral processes in the spatial variation for flower colour in this species, patterns of neutral genetic variation across its distribution range were quantified, and phenotypic differentiation was compared with neutral genetic differentiation. Genetic diversity levels and population genetic structure were investigated through the genotyping of a collection of 1120 individuals in 41 populations ranging from Spain to France, using a set of eight newly developed microsatellite markers. In addition, phenotypic differentiation for flower colour was also quantified by counting colour morph frequency in each population, and measuring the reflectance spectra of sampled individuals. Populations in Spain present a sharp colour transition from solely purple to solely yellow. The results provide evidence that genetic drift through limited gene flow is important in the evolution of monomorphic populations. In contrast, most populations in France are polymorphic with both phenotypes, and the colour frequencies vary geographically without any spatial gradients observed. A pattern of isolation by distance is detected in France, and gene flow between adjacent populations seems to be an important factor maintaining populations polymorphic. Overall, neutral processes contribute to patterns of spatial variation for flower colour in I. lutescens, but it cannot be excluded that natural selection is also operating. An interaction between neutral processes and natural selection is suggested to explain the spatial variation for flower colour in I. lutescens. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Pattern and process in the evolution of the sole dioecious member of Brassicaceae.

PubMed

Soza, Valerie L; Le Huynh, Vietnam; Di Stilio, Verónica S

2014-01-01

Lepidium sisymbrioides, a polyploid New Zealand endemic, is the sole dioecious species in Brassicaceae and therefore the closest dioecious relative of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. The attractiveness of developing this system for future studies on the genetics of sex determination prompted us to investigate historical and developmental factors surrounding the evolution of its unisexual flowers. Our goal was to determine the evolutionary pattern of polyploidization of L. sisymbrioides and the timing and process of flower reproductive organ abortion. To that end, we used a combination of phylogenetics to place this species within the complex history of polyploidization events in Lepidium and histology to compare its floral ontogeny to that of its closest hermaphroditic relatives and to A. thaliana. Using a nuclear locus (PISTILLATA), we reconstructed the gene tree among Lepidium taxa and applied a phylogenetic network analysis to identify ancestral genomes that contributed to the evolution of L. sisymbrioides. Combining this phylogenetic framework with cytological and genome size data, we estimated L. sisymbrioides as an allo-octoploid resulting from three hybridization events. Our investigations of flower development showed that unisexual flowers appear to abort reproductive organs by programmed cell death in female flowers and by developmental arrest in male flowers. This selective abortion occurs at the same floral developmental stage in both males and females, corresponding to Arabidopsis stage nine. Dioecy in Brassicaceae evolved once in L. sisymbrioides following several allopolyploidization events, by a process of selective abortion of reproductive organs at intermediate stages of flower development. Different developmental processes, but similar timing of abortions, affect male versus female flower development. An increased understanding of how and when reproductive organs abort in this species, combined with our estimates of ancestral genome contributions, ploidy and genome size, lay the foundation for future efforts to examine the genetic mechanisms involved in the evolution of unisexual flowers in the closest dioecious relative of the best studied model plant.

[The factors related to job satisfaction and professional burnout in the primary care physicians of Asturias].

PubMed

Olivar Castrillón, C; González Morán, S; Martínez Suárez, M M

1999-10-15

To determine the level of work satisfaction and professional wear and tear among primary care doctors, and related factors. Crossover descriptive study. Asturias PC. General doctors (GD), family doctors (FD), residents, and PC paediatricians (n = 810). A survey for self-administration with social and demographic variables and suggestions. The Font Roja-PC questionnaire (FR). The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). 497 (55.6% male) responded (61.35%). Mean age was 41 (SD = 7.18) 57.3% worked in an urban environment. 42% were FD, 35% GD, 15% paediatricians, 7% residents. The PC model was: 84% PC teams, 9% traditional model, 7% normal emergency service (NES). Mean seniority was 14 years (SD = 7.5). 89% worked solely in PC. 59% had a permanent contract, 31% provisional contracts, 7% were residents and 3% temporary. Overall mean satisfaction (OMS): 73.73 points. 43% had high professional wear and tear, 23% moderate and 32% low. Statistically significant associations: OMS/social and demographic variables: greater in men, the rural environment, paediatrics, NES, without stand-by, with less bureaucracy and less case pressure. Satisfaction/FR: greater NES, without stand-by, without sole dedication. Case pressure/FR: greater in men, rural environment, paediatrics, without sole dedication, NES, without stand-by and with less demand. Control/FR: greater in permanent and provisional posts. Relationship/FR: greater in men, FD, without stand-by. Suitability/FR: greater in men, paediatricians, permanent doctors, without stand-by. Relaxation/FR: greater in residents, young people, without sole dedication, NES. Variety/FR: greater in young people, those without children, residents, with sole dedication, those with stand-by. MBI/social and demographic variables: greater level of low emotional tiredness in workers in a rural environment and those with children. Greater low level of alienation in women. The older the doctor, the less the professional burnout. 1. High level of work satisfaction. 2. High-moderate professional wear and tear.

On the contribution of unconscious processes to recognition memory.

PubMed

Cleary, Anne M

2012-01-01

Abstract Voss et al. review work showing unconscious contributions to recognition memory. An electrophysiological effect, the N300, appears to signify an unconscious recognition process. Whether such unconscious recognition requires highly specific experimental circumstances or can occur in typical types of recognition testing situations has remained a question. The fact that the N300 has also been shown to be the sole electrophysiological correlate of the recognition-without-identification effect that occurs with visual word fragments suggests that unconscious processes may contribute to a wider range of recognition testing situations than those originally investigated by Voss and colleagues. Some implications of this possibility are discussed.

Wind deployment in the United States: states, resources, policy, and discourse.

PubMed

Wilson, Elizabeth J; Stephens, Jennie C

2009-12-15

A transformation in the way the United States produces and uses energy is needed to achieve greenhouse gas reduction targets for climate change mitigation. Wind power is an important low-carbon technology and the most rapidly growing renewable energy technology in the U.S. Despite recent advances in wind deployment, significant state-by-state variation in wind power distribution cannot be explained solely by wind resource patterns nor by state policy. Other factors embedded within the state-level socio-political context also contribute to wind deployment patterns. We explore this socio-political context in four U.S. states by integrating multiple research methods. Through comparative state-level analysis of the energy system, energy policy, and public discourse as represented in the media, we examine variation in the context for wind deployment in Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, and Texas. Our results demonstrate that these states have different patterns of wind deployment, are engaged in different debates about wind power, and appear to frame the risks and benefits of wind power in different ways. This comparative assessment highlights the complex variation of the state-level socio-political context and contributes depth to our understanding of energy technology deployment processes, decision-making, and outcomes.

Mass drug administration and the global control of schistosomiasis: successes, limitations and clinical outcomes.

PubMed

Olveda, David U; McManus, Donald P; Ross, Allen G P

2016-12-01

Preventive chemotherapy is advocated for the global control and elimination of schistosomiasis. Despite the well known short-term benefits of treating patients for schistosomiasis, the impact of mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns to control the disease in the long term remains unresolved. Many studies have advocated the success of MDA programs in order to attract donor funds for elimination efforts but such successes are often short-lived given the drug does not alter the life cycle of the organism or prevent reinfection. Within a matter of months to years after halting treatment, the prevalence, intensity of infection and morbidity of disease return to baseline levels. Other mitigating factors contribute to the failings of MDA campaigns namely: poverty, poor drug coverage, poor drug compliance, and, in the case of Asiatic schistosomiasis, zoonotic transmission. Genetic and innate and acquired immunologic mechanisms complicate the epidemiologic picture of schistosomiasis globally, and may contribute indirectly to MDA shortcomings. The possibility of drug resistance is an ever present concern because of the sole reliance on one drug, praziquantel. Preventive chemotherapy is advocated for the global control and elimination of schistosomiasis. The short-term benefits of MDA campaigns are well documented but the long-term benefits are questionable.

Plantar Sole Unweighting Alters the Sensory Transmission to the Cortical Areas

PubMed Central

Mouchnino, Laurence; Lhomond, Olivia; Morant, Clément; Chavet, Pascale

2017-01-01

It is well established that somatosensory inputs to the cortex undergo an early and a later stage of processing. The later has been shown to be enhanced when the earlier transmission decreased. In this framework, mechanical factors such as the mechanical stress to which sensors are subjected when wearing a loaded vest are associated with a decrease in sensory transmission. This decrease is in turn associated with an increase in the late sensory processes originating from cortical areas. We hypothesized that unweighting the plantar sole should lead to a facilitation of the sensory transmission. To test this hypothesis, we recorded cortical somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) of individuals following cutaneous stimulation (by mean of an electrical stimulation of the foot sole) in different conditions of unweighting when standing still with eyes closed. To this end, the effective bodyweight (BW) was reduced from 100% BW to 40% BW. Contrary to what was expected, we found an attenuation of sensory information when the BW was unweighted to 41% which was not compensated by an increase of the late SEP component. Overall these results suggested that the attenuation of sensory transmission observed in 40 BW condition was not solely due to the absence of forces acting on the sole of the feet but rather to the current relevance of the afferent signals related to the balance constraints of the task. PMID:28539876

Modulations of Foot and Ankle Frontal Kinematics for Breaking and Propulsive Movement Characteristics during Side-Step Cutting with Varying Midsole Thicknesses

PubMed Central

Lin, Yi-Jia; Lee, Shih-Chi; Chang, Chao-Chin; Liu, Tsung-Han

2018-01-01

This study is aimed at determining the effects of midsole thickness on movement characteristic during side cutting movement. Fifteen athletes performed side-step cutting while wearing shoes with varying midsole thicknesses. Temporal-spatial and ground reaction force variables as well as foot and ankle frontal kinematics were used to describe breaking and propulsive movement characteristics and modulation strategies. Regardless of midsole thickness, temporal-spatial variables and breaking and propulsive force during side cutting were statistically unchanged. Significantly greater peaks of ankle inversion and plantarflexion with a thicker sole and greater midtarsal pronation with a thinner sole were observed. Current results demonstrated that hypotheses formed solely based on material testing were insufficient to understand the adaptations in human movement because of the redundancy of the neuromusculoskeletal system. Participants were able to maintain temporal-spatial performance during side cutting while wearing shoes with midsoles of varying thicknesses. Increased pronation for a thinner sole might help reduce the force of impact but might be associated with an increased risk of excessive stress on soft tissue. Increased peak of ankle inversion and plantarflexion for a thicker sole may be unfavorable for the stability of ankle joint. Information provided in human movement testing is crucial for understanding factors associated with movement characteristics and injury and should be considered in the future development of shoe design. PMID:29854000

Bond additive modeling 10. Upper and lower bounds of bond incident degree indices of catacondensed fluoranthenes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vukičević, Damir; Đurđević, Jelena

2011-10-01

Bond incident degree index is a descriptor that is calculated as the sum of the bond contributions such that each bond contribution depends solely on the degrees of its incident vertices (e.g. Randić index, Zagreb index, modified Zagreb index, variable Randić index, atom-bond connectivity index, augmented Zagreb index, sum-connectivity index, many Adriatic indices, and many variable Adriatic indices). In this Letter we find tight upper and lower bounds for bond incident degree index for catacondensed fluoranthenes with given number of hexagons.

The new radiology workforce: changing expectations.

PubMed

Cronan, John J

2004-05-01

The zeitgeist of the new radiology workforce can best be described by a Bob Dylan song title: "The Times They Are A-Changin'." The new generation of physicians, although embracing the same foundations of medical practice as previous generations, places greater emphasis on personal satisfaction than its predecessors. Gone are the days when physicians operated as sole practitioners; today's workforce member is content to function in the role of "employee" in a trade-off for more lifestyle flexibility. This change has occurred not because of one specific factor but because of a change in the profession of medicine coupled with a combination of factors; familial responsibilities, avocational activities, and personal satisfaction have surfaced as motivating factors in choosing a profession. Today's workforce has a personal perception of success that may not be fulfilled solely by the contemporary practice of medicine. With the radiologist shortages that are now occurring and anticipated increased demand for staff radiologists, today's radiology workforce has helped shape the specialty into one that is altering its structure to attract and retain its workforce.

Putting the Idea of the Research-Driven or Research-Intensive University in Europe in Its Context

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Livesey, David

2008-01-01

Research intensive universities have important roles in society and cannot be valued solely on the basis of their contribution to economic growth. Their activities are only part of the diverse spectrum of the higher education system which advanced societies need. League tables of universities discourage diversity, distort the goals of higher…

Teacher's PAT? Multiple-Role Principal-Agent Theory, Education Politics, and Bureaucrat Power

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vanhuysse, Pieter; Sulitzeanu-Kenan, Raanan

2009-01-01

This article aims to contribute to current debates about political power and agency relationships in education and other public sectors. In a recent clarion call for a major redirection of political principal-agent theories (PAT), Terry Moe has argued that standard information asymmetries ought no longer to be regarded as the sole foundation of…

75 FR 1676 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-01-12

... contribution to the costs of regulating their NYSE Amex equities trading activities. \\6\\ See e-mail from John... of the costs of NYSE Amex's regulation of those member organizations' NYSE Amex equities trading... organizations that acquired their memberships solely by operation of NYSE Amex Equities Rule 2 in connection...

Contribution of Physical Education and Sport to Health-Related Fitness in High School Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Beets, Michael W.; Pitetti, Kenneth H.

2005-01-01

This study compared health-related fitness variables of high school students (14 to 19-years-old; 120 males, 67 females) participating in physical education (PE) and school-sponsored sports (SSS) to students participating solely in PE. Cardiovascular fitness, the primary variable of interest, was measured using the 20-Meter Shuttle Ran (number of…

The Economic Value of Mangroves: A Meta-Analysis

Treesearch

Marwa Salem; D. Evan Mercer

2012-01-01

This paper presents a synthesis of the mangrove ecosystem valuation literature through a meta-regression analysis. The main contribution of this study is that it is the first meta-analysis focusing solely on mangrove forests, whereas previous studies have included different types of wetlands. The number of studies included in the regression analysis is 44 for a total...

Soil organic matter as sole indicator of soil degradation

Treesearch

S.E. Obalum; G.U. Chibuike; S. Peth; Ying Ouyang

2017-01-01

Soil organic matter (SOM) is known to play vital roles in the maintenance and improvement of many soil properties and processes. These roles, which largely influence soil functions, are a pool of specific contributions of different components of SOM. The soil functions, in turn, normally define the level of soil degradation, viewed as quantifiable temporal changes in a...

Beyond Psychometric Evaluation of the Student--Task Determinants of Accommodation: Why Students with Learning Disabilities May Not Need to Be Accommodated

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roberts, Barbara L.

2012-01-01

Students with learning disabilities obtain a wide range of recommended accommodations in secondary school, which they anticipate will continue into postsecondary education. Although the student's specific learning disability (SLD) contributes to the accommodation planning process, it is not the sole determinant of appropriate accommodation.…

Motion Pictures and Real-Life Violence; What the Research Says.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schramm, Wilbur

There is evidence that violence in motion pictures viewed by children on screen or television can contribute to violence in real life, although the movies can rarely be blamed as the sole cause of anti-social conduct. Clinical reports cite instances of the effect on "susceptible" youngsters; e.g., emotionally disturbed individuals. Long-term…

Home Away from Home: International Students and Their Identity-Based Social Networks in Australia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gomes, Catherine; Berry, Marsha; Alzougool, Basil; Chang, Shanton

2014-01-01

This paper explores the role of identity in helping international students form social networks at an Australian institution and how these networks contribute to creating a sense of home away. The findings suggest that international students form distinct social networks that are not necessarily solely made up of fellow students from their home…

Advocacy Week: A Model to Prepare Clinical Social Workers for Lobby Day

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kilbane, Teresa; Pryce, Julia; Hong, Philip Young P.

2013-01-01

Legislative advocacy is an important and long-standing skill in social work. However, this role cannot be left solely to social workers who specialize in macro and policy practice. Rather, clinical social workers who assist clients as they face "private" troubles (Mills, 1959) also need to face the structural barriers that contribute to…

Influence of Parenting Factors on Childhood Social Anxiety: Direct Observation of Parental Warmth and Control

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rork, Kristine E.; Morris, Tracy L.

2009-01-01

The purpose of the present study is to determine the association of parenting behaviors and social anxiety in children. Three parental factors--including parental socialization, control, and warmth--were investigated in a sample of 31 two-parent families. Rather than solely relying upon retrospective questionnaires, this study incorporated direct…

Mate Choice and Domestic Life in the Nineteenth Century Marriage Manual

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gordon, Michael; Berstein, M. Charles

1970-01-01

A considerable amount of diversity was discovered in the views expressed in the 63 books reviewed. Religious, physical, and social considerations were the factors most heavily stressed with regard to mate choce; romantic love was not an important factor. Sex is discussed almost solely in terms of its procreative function, although some change is…

A Note on Anxiety, Depression, and Religiousness in American College Students.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Richek, Herbert G.

This paper presents a study in which Welsh's A and R scale scores have been related to religiousness. The A factor has been defined as "anxiety proneness versus ego resiliency" while the R factor is defined as "impulsivity versus control." Subjects were 150 college students, 91 females and 59 males. The sole statistical…

Inventorship and Authorship

PubMed Central

Konski, Antoinette F.; Wu, Linda X.

2015-01-01

Ownership of a U.S. patent is based on inventorship. In the United States, an inventor is the owner of the claimed invention unless it is assigned to another entity. The correct naming of inventors is important, and the improper naming of inventors in a patent can be grounds for rendering the patent unenforceable. Each inventor must make an intellectual contribution, solely or jointly, to at least one element of a claim in the patent. This is in contrast to authorship of a research article, where authors may be named to acknowledge contribution to the reported research rather than an intellectual contribution. Thus, identifying inventors for a patent is not the same as identifying authors for a publication. PMID:26253091

Ascorbate attenuates pulmonary emphysema by inhibiting tobacco smoke and Rtp801-triggered lung protein modification and proteolysis.

PubMed

Gupta, Indranil; Ganguly, Souradipta; Rozanas, Christine R; Stuehr, Dennis J; Panda, Koustubh

2016-07-19

Cigarette smoking causes emphysema, a fatal disease involving extensive structural and functional damage of the lung. Using a guinea pig model and human lung cells, we show that oxidant(s) present in tobacco smoke not only cause direct oxidative damage of lung proteins, contributing to the major share of lung injury, but also activate Rtp801, a key proinflammatory cellular factor involved in tobacco smoke-induced lung damage. Rtp801 triggers nuclear factor κB and consequent inducible NOS (iNOS)-mediated overproduction of NO, which in combination with excess superoxide produced during Rtp801 activation, contribute to increased oxido-nitrosative stress and lung protein nitration. However, lung-specific inhibition of iNOS with a iNOS-specific inhibitor, N6-(1-iminoethyl)-L-lysine, dihydrochloride (L-NIL) solely restricts lung protein nitration but fails to prevent or reverse the major tobacco smoke-induced oxidative lung injury. In comparison, the dietary antioxidant, ascorbate or vitamin C, can substantially prevent such damage by inhibiting both tobacco smoke-induced lung protein oxidation as well as activation of pulmonary Rtp801 and consequent iNOS/NO-induced nitration of lung proteins, that otherwise lead to increased proteolysis of such oxidized or nitrated proteins by endogenous lung proteases, resulting in emphysematous lung damage. Vitamin C also restricts the up-regulation of matrix-metalloproteinase-9, the major lung protease involved in the proteolysis of such modified lung proteins during tobacco smoke-induced emphysema. Overall, our findings implicate tobacco-smoke oxidant(s) as the primary etiopathogenic factor behind both the noncellular and cellular damage mechanisms governing emphysematous lung injury and demonstrate the potential of vitamin C to accomplish holistic prevention of such damage.

Ascorbate attenuates pulmonary emphysema by inhibiting tobacco smoke and Rtp801-triggered lung protein modification and proteolysis

PubMed Central

Gupta, Indranil; Ganguly, Souradipta; Rozanas, Christine R.; Stuehr, Dennis J.

2016-01-01

Cigarette smoking causes emphysema, a fatal disease involving extensive structural and functional damage of the lung. Using a guinea pig model and human lung cells, we show that oxidant(s) present in tobacco smoke not only cause direct oxidative damage of lung proteins, contributing to the major share of lung injury, but also activate Rtp801, a key proinflammatory cellular factor involved in tobacco smoke-induced lung damage. Rtp801 triggers nuclear factor κB and consequent inducible NOS (iNOS)-mediated overproduction of NO, which in combination with excess superoxide produced during Rtp801 activation, contribute to increased oxido-nitrosative stress and lung protein nitration. However, lung-specific inhibition of iNOS with a iNOS-specific inhibitor, N6-(1-iminoethyl)-L-lysine, dihydrochloride (L-NIL) solely restricts lung protein nitration but fails to prevent or reverse the major tobacco smoke-induced oxidative lung injury. In comparison, the dietary antioxidant, ascorbate or vitamin C, can substantially prevent such damage by inhibiting both tobacco smoke-induced lung protein oxidation as well as activation of pulmonary Rtp801 and consequent iNOS/NO-induced nitration of lung proteins, that otherwise lead to increased proteolysis of such oxidized or nitrated proteins by endogenous lung proteases, resulting in emphysematous lung damage. Vitamin C also restricts the up-regulation of matrix-metalloproteinase-9, the major lung protease involved in the proteolysis of such modified lung proteins during tobacco smoke-induced emphysema. Overall, our findings implicate tobacco-smoke oxidant(s) as the primary etiopathogenic factor behind both the noncellular and cellular damage mechanisms governing emphysematous lung injury and demonstrate the potential of vitamin C to accomplish holistic prevention of such damage. PMID:27382160

Prediction of Balance Compensation After Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery.

PubMed

Parietti-Winkler, Cécile; Lion, Alexis; Frère, Julien; Perrin, Philippe P; Beurton, Renaud; Gauchard, Gérome C

2016-06-01

Background Balance compensation after vestibular schwannoma (VS) surgery is under the influence of specific preoperative patient and tumor characteristics. Objective To prospectively identify potential prognostic factors for balance recovery, we compared the respective influence of these preoperative characteristics on balance compensation after VS surgery. Methods In 50 patients scheduled for VS surgical ablation, we measured postural control before surgery (BS), 8 (AS8) days after, and 90 (AS90) days after surgery. Based on factors found previously in the literature, we evaluated age, body mass index and preoperative physical activity (PA), tumor grade, vestibular status, and preference for visual cues to control balance as potential prognostic factors using stepwise multiple regression models. Results An asymmetric vestibular function was the sole significant explanatory factor for impaired balance performance BS, whereas the preoperative PA alone significantly contributed to higher performance at AS8. An evaluation of patients' balance recovery over time showed that PA and vestibular status were the 2 significant predictive factors for short-term postural compensation (BS to AS8), whereas none of these preoperative factors was significantly predictive for medium-term postoperative postural recovery (AS8 to AS90). Conclusions We identified specific preoperative patient and vestibular function characteristics that may predict postoperative balance recovery after VS surgery. Better preoperative characterization of these factors in each patient could inform more personalized presurgical and postsurgical management, leading to a better, more rapid balance recovery, earlier return to normal daily activities and work, improved quality of life, and reduced medical and societal costs. © The Author(s) 2015.

Ultrastructure and Glycoconjugate Pattern of the Foot Epithelium of the Abalone Haliotis tuberculata (Linnaeus, 1758) (Gastropoda, Haliotidae)

PubMed Central

Bravo Portela, I.; Martinez-Zorzano, V. S.; Molist- Perez, I.; Molist García, P.

2012-01-01

The foot epithelium of the gastropod Haliotis tuberculata is studied by light and electron microscopy in order to contribute to the understanding of the anatomy and functional morphology of the mollusks integument. Study of the external surface by scanning electron microscopy reveals that the side foot epithelium is characterized by a microvillus border with a very scant presence of small ciliary tufts, but the sole foot epithelium bears a dense field of long cilia. Ultrastructural examination by transmission electron microscopy of the side epithelial cells shows deeply pigmented cells with high electron-dense granular content which are not observed in the epithelial sole cells. Along the pedal epithelium, seven types of secretory cells are present; furthermore, two types of subepithelial glands are located just in the sole foot. The presence and composition of glycoconjugates in the secretory cells and subepithelial glands are analyzed by conventional and lectin histochemistry. Subepithelial glands contain mainly N-glycoproteins rich in fucose and mannose whereas secretory cells present mostly acidic sulphated glycoconjugates such as glycosaminoglycans and mucins, which are rich in galactose, N-acetyl-galactosamine, and N-acetyl-glucosamine. No sialic acid is present in the foot epithelium. PMID:22645482

Are There Shared Environmental Influences on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder? Reply to Wood, Buitelaar, Rijsdijk, Asherson, and Kunsti (2010)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burt, S. Alexandra

2010-01-01

A recent large-scale meta-analysis of twin and adoption studies indicated that shared environmental influences make important contributions to most forms of child and adolescent psychopathology (Burt, 2009b). The sole exception to this robust pattern of results was observed for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which appeared to be…

Effect of sole or co-administration of the methane-inhibitors, nitrate and 3-nitro-1-propionate, on ruminal fermentation

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Rumen methane production results in the loss of up to 12% of the host’s energy intake and contributes to global emissions of this greenhouse gas. Nitrate is being investigated as a feed supplement to reduce rumen methane production, but risks of methemoglobinemia due to accumulation of nitrite are ...

Influences of Marital Status and Parental Status on the Professional Choices of Physicians about to Enter Practice.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dennis, Terry; And Others

1990-01-01

A survey of 173 medical residency and fellowship graduates found women expecting spouses to contribute half the family income; men anticipated sole responsibility. Married women with children planned on working fewer hours than others. It is concluded that family structure may be important in income and working hours patterns. (Author/MSE)

Effect of sole or combined administration of nitrate and 3-nitro-1-propionic acid on fermentation and Salmonella survivability in alfalfa-fed rumen cultures in vitro

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Ruminal methanogenesis is a digestive inefficiency resulting in the loss of dietary energy consumed by the host and contributing to environmental methane emission. Nitrate is being investigated as a feed supplement to reduce rumen methane emissions, but safety and efficacy concerns persist. To ass...

Revitalizing Quality Using Guidance Counseling in Ethiopian Higher Education Institutions: Exploring Students' Views and Attitudes at Haramaya University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Seyoum, Yilfashewa

2011-01-01

This study attempts to scrutinize how guidance counseling is implemented and its impact in enhancing quality in higher education institutions. The sole purpose of the investigation is to explore students' views and attitudes and how the current practices of guidance counseling contribute to foster excellence of the various university academic…

Federal Contributions to High-Income School Districts: The Use of Tax Deductions for Funding K-12 Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Loeb, Susannna; Socias, Miguel

2004-01-01

The federal role in education finance is commonly seen as compensatory. The federal government gives large sums of money to low-income schools and school districts through programs such as Title 1. Yet, this view of federal aid is based solely on direct educational expenditures. The federal government and state governments also support schools…

Negotiation of Meaning as a Tool for Evaluating Conversational Skills in the OPI

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kitajima, Ryu

2009-01-01

Though the oral proficiency interview (OPI) rates the examinee's overall language proficiency in face-to-face interaction, the rating is based solely upon the evaluation of the examinee's contribution in isolation. No attempt is made to evaluate conversational skills in interaction. A criticism that has been made of the OPI is that the format is…

Evaluating the Costs of IPM in Schools

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Long-term costs of IPM may be less than a conventional pest control program that relies solely on the use of pesticides. Learn about factors that affect costs and how IPM can be set up within school budgets.

Strategies for Evaluating Complex Environmental Education Programs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Williams, V.

2011-12-01

Evidence for the effectiveness of environmental education programs has been difficult to establish for many reasons. Chief among them are the lack of clear program objectives and an inability to conceptualize how environmental education programs work. Both can lead to evaluations that make claims that are difficult to substantiate, such as significant changes in student achievement levels or behavioral changes based on acquisition of knowledge. Many of these challenges can be addressed by establishing the program theory and developing a logic model. However, claims of impact on larger societal outcomes are difficult to attribute solely to program activities. Contribution analysis may offer a promising method for addressing this challenge. Rather than attempt to definitively and causally link a program's activities to desired results, contribution analysis seeks to provide plausible evidence that can reduce uncertainty regarding the 'difference' a program is making to observed outcomes. It sets out to verify the theory of change behind a program and, at the same time, takes into consideration other influencing factors. Contribution analysis is useful in situations where the program is not experimental-there is little or no scope for varying how the program is implemented-and the program has been funded on the basis of a theory of change. In this paper, the author reviews the feasibility of using contribution analysis as a way of evaluating the impact of the GLOBE program, an environmental science and education program. Initially conceptualized by Al Gore in 1995, the program's implementation model is based on worldwide environmental monitoring by students and scientists around the globe. This paper will make a significant and timely contribution to the field of evaluation, and specifically environmental education evaluation by examining the usefulness of this analysis for developing evidence to assess the impact of environmental education programs.

Environmental influences on major waterfowl diseases

USGS Publications Warehouse

Friend, M.

1992-01-01

The decline of North American waterfowl resources since the 1960s is well-known to this audience and need not be detailed to establish that population numbers for several key waterfowl species are at or near their lowest levels since records have been kept. Loss of habitat is an accepted major cause for the decline of waterfowl numbers and the wildlife conservation community is responding with initiatives to prevent further loss of existing wetland acreage, restoration for degraded wetlands and creation of new wetlands. Numerous joint ventures focusing on key waterfowl habitat requirements are being developed under the North American Waterfowl Plan. The importance of habitat loss also is reflected in many of the presentations at this conference on wetland conservation, including one special session devoted solely to that topic. A basic premise of the focus on wetlands is that restoration of waterfowl populations is habitat dependent. This is a tenable thesis if other factors suppressing waterfowl numbers are dealt with and the habitat base being enhanced sustains waterfowl rather than contributes to their death. My presentation addresses disease as a factor suppressing waterfowl numbers and the relation of habitat quantity and quality with waterfowl disease.

Beta-fibrinogen allele frequencies in Peruvian Quechua, a high-altitude native population.

PubMed

Rupert, J L; Devine, D V; Monsalve, M V; Hochachka, P W

1999-06-01

Elevated hematocrits, which are found in many high-altitude populations, increase the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood and may represent an adaptation to hypoxic environments. However, as high hematocrit increases blood viscosity, which in turn is associated with hypertension and heart disease, it may be advantageous for high-altitude populations to limit other factors that contribute to increased blood viscosity. One such factor is the plasma concentration of the coagulation protein fibrinogen. Several common polymorphisms in the beta-fibrinogen gene have been identified that affect fibrinogen concentrations. We determined the allele frequencies of three of these polymorphisms (G/A-455(HaeIII), C/T-148(HindIII), and G/A+448(MnlI)) in sample groups drawn from three populations: Quechua-speaking natives living at over 3,200 m in the Peruvian Andes, North American natives (Na-Dene) from coastal British Columbia, and Caucasian North Americans. The frequencies of the alleles previously shown to be associated with increased fibrinogen levels were so low in the Quechuas that their presence could be accounted for solely by genetic admixture with Caucasians. Frequencies in the Na-Dene, a Native American group unrelated to the Quechua, were not significantly different from those in Caucasians.

Evaluating contribution of ionic, osmotic and oxidative stress components towards salinity tolerance in barley

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Salinity tolerance is a physiologically multi-faceted trait attributed to multiple mechanisms. Three barley (Hordeum vulgare) varieties contrasting in their salinity tolerance were used to assess the relative contribution of ionic, osmotic and oxidative stress components towards overall salinity stress tolerance in this species, both at the whole-plant and cellular levels. In addition, transcriptional changes in the gene expression profile were studied for key genes mediating plant ionic and oxidative homeostasis (NHX; RBOH; SOD; AHA and GORK), to compare a contribution of transcriptional and post-translational factors towards the specific components of salinity tolerance. Results Our major findings are two-fold. First, plant tissue tolerance was a dominating component that has determined the overall plant responses to salinity, with root K+ retention ability and reduced sensitivity to stress-induced hydroxyl radical production being the main contributing tolerance mechanisms. Second, it was not possible to infer which cultivars were salinity tolerant based solely on expression profiling of candidate genes at one specific time point. For the genes studied and the time point selected that transcriptional changes in the expression of these specific genes had a small role for barley’s adaptive responses to salinity. Conclusions For better tissue tolerance, sodium sequestration, K+ retention and resistance to oxidative stress all appeared to be crucial. Because these traits are highly interrelated, it is suggested that a major progress in crop breeding for salinity tolerance can be achieved only if these complementary traits are targeted at the same time. This study also highlights the essentiality of post translational modifications in plant adaptive responses to salinity. PMID:24774965

Parents' work patterns and adolescent mental health.

PubMed

Dockery, Alfred; Li, Jianghong; Kendall, Garth

2009-02-01

Previous research demonstrates that non-standard work schedules undermine the stability of marriage and reduce family cohesiveness. Limited research has investigated the effects of parents working non-standard schedules on children's health and wellbeing and no published Australian studies have addressed this important issue. This paper contributes to bridging this knowledge gap by focusing on adolescents aged 15-20 years and by including sole parent families which have been omitted in previous research, using panel data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey. Multilevel linear regression models are estimated to analyse the association between parental work schedules and hours of work and measures of adolescents' mental health derived from the SF-36 Health Survey. Evidence of negative impacts of parents working non-standard hours upon adolescent wellbeing is found to exist primarily within sole parent families.

Hematological malignancies with t(9;11)(p21-22;q23)--a laboratory and clinical study of 125 cases. European 11q23 Workshop participants.

PubMed

Swansbury, G J; Slater, R; Bain, B J; Moorman, A V; Secker-Walker, L M

1998-05-01

This paper reports clinical and cytogenetic data from 125 cases with t(9;11)(p21-22;q32) which were accepted for a European Union Concerted Action Workshop on 11q23. This chromosome abnormality is known to occur predominantly in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) FAB type M5a and less often in AML M4; in this series it was also found to occur, uncommonly, in other AML FAB types, in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) (nine cases), in relatively young patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) (five cases), acute biphenotypic leukemia (two cases), and acute undifferentiated leukemia (one case). All age groups were represented but 50% of the patients were aged less than 15 years. The t(9;11) was the sole abnormality in 57 cases with AML; trisomy 8 was the most common additional abnormality (23 cases, including seven with further abnormalities), and 28 cases had other additional abnormalities. Among the t(9;11)+ve patients with AML, the white cell count (WBC) and age group were significant predictors of event-free survival; central nervous system (CNS) involvement or karyotype class (sole, with trisomy 8, or with other), also contributed to prognosis although our data could not show these to be independent factors. The best outcome was for patients aged 1-9 years, with low WBC, and with absence of CNS disease or presence of trisomy 8. For patients aged less than 15 years, the event-free survival for ALL patients was not significantly worse than that of AML patients.

Latent Class Detection and Class Assignment: A Comparison of the MAXEIG Taxometric Procedure and Factor Mixture Modeling Approaches

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lubke, Gitta; Tueller, Stephen

2010-01-01

Taxometric procedures such as MAXEIG and factor mixture modeling (FMM) are used in latent class clustering, but they have very different sets of strengths and weaknesses. Taxometric procedures, popular in psychiatric and psychopathology applications, do not rely on distributional assumptions. Their sole purpose is to detect the presence of latent…

42 CFR 57.2003 - Determinations of increased enrollment solely for the program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

...) Other Federal programs, such as those set forth in title VII and VIII of the Public Health Service Act... unusual factors, such as: (1) An institution having been newly established or (2) an institution...

Factors informing fear of reinjury after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

PubMed

Ross, Cheryl A; Clifford, Amanda; Louw, Quinette A

2017-02-01

Fear of reinjury is associated with cessation of sport after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction despite normal postoperative knee function. The objective of this study is to describe factors informing athletes' experience of fear of reinjury post ACL reconstruction, in athletes who cited fear as the sole reason for not returning to their pre-injury level of sport. Mixed-methods study design of qualitative and a preliminary quantitative component. A conveniently selected private hospital. Ten male and two female athletes, aged between 19 and 45 years, were eligible for the interview from 68 male and 32 female potential participants (age range 17-50) who underwent an ACL reconstruction using any graft type, excluding revision or multi-ligament surgery. To explore factors informing fear of reinjury in participants citing fear of reinjury as the sole reason for not returning to sport, albeit normal knee function. From the participant interview, four themes emerged: undergoing the surgery and recovery again, nature of the pre-injury sport imposing risk of reinjury, personality traits, and social priorities. Clinicians should be aware of factors informing fear of reinjury post ACL reconstruction. Modifiable fears including pain, mode and length of rehabilitation and psychological factors should be considered during rehabilitation to potentially improve the return to sport rate.

Psychosocial correlates of adolescent marijuana use: variations by status of marijuana use.

PubMed

Farhat, Tilda; Simons-Morton, Bruce; Luk, Jeremy W

2011-04-01

This study examined the associations between psychosocial factors and status of marijuana use: former experimentation, current occasional, and current frequent use. Data were collected from a nationally-representative sample of U.S. tenth-graders who participated in the 2005/6 Health Behavior in School-aged Children Study (n=1465). Multinomial regressions, run separately by gender, examined the association of risk and protective factors from the individual (life satisfaction; academic achievement; aggression, bullying) and contextual (mothers and fathers' knowledge of adolescents' activities, school climate) domains with status of marijuana use (former experimentation, current occasional use, current frequent use). Former experimental and current marijuana uses were negatively associated with protective factors such as academic achievement, mothers' and fathers' knowledge of adolescents' activities, and life satisfaction, but not with positive school climate. Former experimental and current marijuana uses were positively associated with aggression and bullying perpetration. Most associations varied by gender and status of marijuana use. In adjusted analyses, aggression emerged as the sole risk factor and fathers' knowledge as the sole protective factor associated with most statuses of marijuana use, across gender. Fathers may be particularly important in preventing adolescent marijuana use, and interventions promoting fathers' knowledge of adolescents' activities are warranted. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

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

Diner, Rachel E.; Schwenck, Sarah M.; McCrow, John P.

Diatoms are a dominant group of eukaryotic phytoplankton that contribute substantially to global primary production and the cycling of important elements such as carbon and nitrogen. Heterotrophic bacteria, including members of the gammaproteobacteria, are commonly associated with diatom populations and may rely on them for organic carbon while potentially competing with them for other essential nutrients. Considering that bacterioplankton drive oceanic release of CO 2 (i.e., bacterial respiration) while diatoms drive ocean carbon sequestration vial the biological pump, the outcome of such competition could influence the direction and magnitude of carbon flux in the upper ocean. Nitrate availability is commonlymore » a determining factor for the growth of diatom populations, particularly in coastal and upwelling regions. Diatoms as well as many bacterial species can utilize nitrate, however the ability of bacteria to compete for nitrate may be hindered by carbon limitation. Here we have developed a genetically tractable model system using the pennate diatom Phaeodactylurn tricomuturn and the widespread heterotrophic bacteria Alterornonas macleodii to examine carbon-nitrogen dynamics. While subsisting solely on P. tricomutum derived carbon. A. macleodii does not appear to be an effective competitor for nitrate, and may in fact benefit the diatom; particularly in stationary phase. However, allochthonous dissolved organic carbon addition in the form of pyruvate triggers A. macleodii proliferation and nitrate uptake, leading to reduced P. tricornutum growth. Nitrate reductase deficient mutants of A. macleodii ( ΔnasA) do not exhibit such explosive growth and associated competitive ability in response to allochthonous carbon when nitrate is the sole nitrogen source, but could survive by utilizing solely P. tricomutum-derived nitrogen. Furthermore, allocthonous carbon addition enables wild-type A. macleodii to rescue nitrate reductase deficient P. tricomutum populations from nitrogen starvation, and RNA-seq transcriptomic evidence supports nitrogen-based interactions between diatoms and bacteria at the molecular level. As a result, this study provides key insights into the roles of carbon and nitrogen in phytoplankton-bacteria dynamics and lays the foundation for developing a mechanistic understanding of these interactions using co-culturing and genetic manipulation.« less

Genetic manipulation of competition for nitrate between heterotrophic bacteria and diatoms

DOE PAGES

Diner, Rachel E.; Schwenck, Sarah M.; McCrow, John P.; ...

2016-06-09

Diatoms are a dominant group of eukaryotic phytoplankton that contribute substantially to global primary production and the cycling of important elements such as carbon and nitrogen. Heterotrophic bacteria, including members of the gammaproteobacteria, are commonly associated with diatom populations and may rely on them for organic carbon while potentially competing with them for other essential nutrients. Considering that bacterioplankton drive oceanic release of CO 2 (i.e., bacterial respiration) while diatoms drive ocean carbon sequestration vial the biological pump, the outcome of such competition could influence the direction and magnitude of carbon flux in the upper ocean. Nitrate availability is commonlymore » a determining factor for the growth of diatom populations, particularly in coastal and upwelling regions. Diatoms as well as many bacterial species can utilize nitrate, however the ability of bacteria to compete for nitrate may be hindered by carbon limitation. Here we have developed a genetically tractable model system using the pennate diatom Phaeodactylurn tricomuturn and the widespread heterotrophic bacteria Alterornonas macleodii to examine carbon-nitrogen dynamics. While subsisting solely on P. tricomutum derived carbon. A. macleodii does not appear to be an effective competitor for nitrate, and may in fact benefit the diatom; particularly in stationary phase. However, allochthonous dissolved organic carbon addition in the form of pyruvate triggers A. macleodii proliferation and nitrate uptake, leading to reduced P. tricornutum growth. Nitrate reductase deficient mutants of A. macleodii ( ΔnasA) do not exhibit such explosive growth and associated competitive ability in response to allochthonous carbon when nitrate is the sole nitrogen source, but could survive by utilizing solely P. tricomutum-derived nitrogen. Furthermore, allocthonous carbon addition enables wild-type A. macleodii to rescue nitrate reductase deficient P. tricomutum populations from nitrogen starvation, and RNA-seq transcriptomic evidence supports nitrogen-based interactions between diatoms and bacteria at the molecular level. As a result, this study provides key insights into the roles of carbon and nitrogen in phytoplankton-bacteria dynamics and lays the foundation for developing a mechanistic understanding of these interactions using co-culturing and genetic manipulation.« less

Precipitating factors of porphyria cutanea tarda in Brazil with emphasis on hemochromatosis gene (HFE) mutations. Study of 60 patients.

PubMed

Vieira, Fatima Mendonça Jorge; Nakhle, Maria Cristina; Abrantes-Lemos, Clarice Pires; Cançado, Eduardo Luiz Rachid; Reis, Vitor Manoel Silva dos

2013-01-01

Porphyria cutanea tarda is the most common form of porphyria, characterized by the decreased activity of the uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase enzyme. Several reports associated HFE gene mutations of hereditary hemochromatosis with porphyria cutanea tarda worldwide, although up to date only one study has been conducted in Brazil. Investigation of porphyria cutanea tarda association with C282Y and H63D mutations in the HFE gene. Identification of precipitating factors (hepatitis C, HIV, alcoholism and estrogen) and their link with HFE mutations. An ambispective study of 60 patients with PCT was conducted during the period from 2003 to 2012. Serological tests for hepatitis C and HIV were performed and histories of alcohol abuse and estrogen intake were investigated. HFE mutations were identified with real-time PCR. Porphyria cutanea tarda predominated in males and alcohol abuse was the main precipitating factor. Estrogen intake was the sole precipitating factor present in 25% of female patients. Hepatitis C was present in 41.7%. All HIV-positive patients (15.3%) had a history of alcohol abuse. Allele frequency for HFE mutations, i.e., C282Y (p = 0.0001) and H63D (p = 0.0004), were significantly higher in porphyria cutanea tarda patients, compared to control group. HFE mutations had no association with the other precipitating factors. Alcohol abuse, hepatitis C and estrogen intake are prevalent precipitating factors in our porphyria cutanea tarda population; however, hemochromatosis in itself can also contribute to the outbreak of porphyria cutanea tarda, which makes the research for HFE mutations necessary in these patients.

Improving Quality of Shoe Soles Product using Six Sigma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jesslyn Wijaya, Athalia; Trusaji, Wildan; Akbar, Muhammad; Ma’ruf, Anas; Irianto, Dradjad

2018-03-01

A manufacture in Bandung produce kind of rubber-based product i.e. trim, rice rollers, shoe soles, etc. After penetrating the shoe soles market, the manufacture has met customer with tight quality control. Based on the past data, defect level of this product was 18.08% that caused the manufacture’s loss of time and money. Quality improvement effort was done using six sigma method that included phases of define, measure, analyse, improve, and control (DMAIC). In the design phase, the object’s problem and definition were defined. Delphi method was also used in this phase to identify critical factors. In the measure phase, the existing process stability and sigma quality level were measured. Fishbone diagram and failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) were used in the next phase to analyse the root cause and determine the priority issues. Improve phase was done by designing alternative improvement strategy using 5W1H method. Some improvement efforts were identified, i.e. (i) modifying design of the hanging rack, (ii) create pantone colour book and check sheet, (iii) provide pedestrian line at compound department, (iv) buying stop watch, and (v) modifying shoe soles dies. Some control strategies for continuous improvement were proposed such as SOP or reward and punishment system.

Functional and mechanistic diversity of distal transcription enhancers

PubMed Central

Bulger, Michael; Groudine, Mark

2013-01-01

Biological differences among metazoans, and between cell types in a given organism, arise in large part due to differences in gene expression patterns. The sequencing of multiple metazoan genomes, coupled with recent advances in genome-wide analysis of histone modifications and transcription factor binding, has revealed that among regulatory DNA sequences, gene-distal enhancers appear to exhibit the greatest diversity and cell-type specificity. Moreover, such elements are emerging as important targets for mutations that can give rise to disease and to genetic variability that underlies evolutionary change. Studies of long-range interactions between distal genomic sequences in the nucleus indicate that enhancers are often important determinants of nuclear organization, contributing to a general model for enhancer function that involves direct enhancer-promoter contact. In a number of systems, however, mechanisms for enhancer function are emerging that do not fit solely within such a model, suggesting that enhancers as a class of DNA regulatory element may be functionally and mechanistically diverse. PMID:21295696

CFCI3 (CFC-11): UV Absorption Spectrum Temperature Dependence Measurements and the Impact on Atmospheric Lifetime and Uncertainty

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mcgillen, Max R.; Fleming, Eric L.; Jackman, Charles H.; Burkholder, James B.

2014-01-01

CFCl3 (CFC-11) is both an atmospheric ozone-depleting and potent greenhouse gas that is removed primarily via stratospheric UV photolysis. Uncertainty in the temperature dependence of its UV absorption spectrum is a significant contributing factor to the overall uncertainty in its global lifetime and, thus, model calculations of stratospheric ozone recovery and climate change. In this work, the CFC-11 UV absorption spectrum was measured over a range of wavelength (184.95 - 230 nm) and temperature (216 - 296 K). We report a spectrum temperature dependence that is less than currently recommended for use in atmospheric models. The impact on its atmospheric lifetime was quantified using a 2-D model and the spectrum parameterization developed in this work. The obtained global annually averaged lifetime was 58.1 +- 0.7 years (2 sigma uncertainty due solely to the spectrum uncertainty). The lifetime is slightly reduced and the uncertainty significantly reduced from that obtained using current spectrum recommendations

From creatures of habit to goal-directed learners: Tracking the developmental emergence of model-based reinforcement learning

PubMed Central

Decker, Johannes H.; Otto, A. Ross; Daw, Nathaniel D.; Hartley, Catherine A.

2016-01-01

Theoretical models distinguish two decision-making strategies that have been formalized in reinforcement-learning theory. A model-based strategy leverages a cognitive model of potential actions and their consequences to make goal-directed choices, whereas a model-free strategy evaluates actions based solely on their reward history. Research in adults has begun to elucidate the psychological mechanisms and neural substrates underlying these learning processes and factors that influence their relative recruitment. However, the developmental trajectory of these evaluative strategies has not been well characterized. In this study, children, adolescents, and adults, performed a sequential reinforcement-learning task that enables estimation of model-based and model-free contributions to choice. Whereas a model-free strategy was evident in choice behavior across all age groups, evidence of a model-based strategy only emerged during adolescence and continued to increase into adulthood. These results suggest that recruitment of model-based valuation systems represents a critical cognitive component underlying the gradual maturation of goal-directed behavior. PMID:27084852

Virtual and biomolecular screening converge on a selective agonist for GPR30.

PubMed

Bologa, Cristian G; Revankar, Chetana M; Young, Susan M; Edwards, Bruce S; Arterburn, Jeffrey B; Kiselyov, Alexander S; Parker, Matthew A; Tkachenko, Sergey E; Savchuck, Nikolay P; Sklar, Larry A; Oprea, Tudor I; Prossnitz, Eric R

2006-04-01

Estrogen is a hormone critical in the development, normal physiology and pathophysiology of numerous human tissues. The effects of estrogen have traditionally been solely ascribed to estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) and more recently ERbeta, members of the soluble, nuclear ligand-activated family of transcription factors. We have recently shown that the seven-transmembrane G protein-coupled receptor GPR30 binds estrogen with high affinity and resides in the endoplasmic reticulum, where it activates multiple intracellular signaling pathways. To differentiate between the functions of ERalpha or ERbeta and GPR30, we used a combination of virtual and biomolecular screening to isolate compounds that selectively bind to GPR30. Here we describe the identification of the first GPR30-specific agonist, G-1 (1), capable of activating GPR30 in a complex environment of classical and new estrogen receptors. The development of compounds specific to estrogen receptor family members provides the opportunity to increase our understanding of these receptors and their contribution to estrogen biology.

Relationship Between the Number of Clinical Sites in Radiography Programs and Job Placement Rates of Graduates.

PubMed

Harrell, Angela; Matthews, Eric

2016-07-01

To determine whether a relationship exists between the number of clinical sites available in radiography programs accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology and the job placement rates of graduates. We performed a secondary analysis of data on job placement rates and the number of clinical sites available in 438 degree-granting radiography programs from January 2015 to March 2015. A weak, negative, nonsignificant correlation existed between the number of clinical sites and the job placement rate (Spearman's rho = -.113, n = 438, P = .018). The coefficient of determination was 1.28%.Discussion Research evaluating factors contributing to graduate employability is limited but indicates no need for radiography program administrators to adjust clinical site numbers solely on the basis of improving graduate employability. The number of clinical sites available in a radiography program is not related to the job placement rate of its graduates. ©2016 American Society of Radiologic Technologists.

Imparting regenerative capacity to limbs by progenitor cell transplantation

PubMed Central

Lin, Gufa; Chen, Ying; Slack, Jonathan M.W.

2012-01-01

Summary The frog Xenopus can normally regenerate its limbs at early developmental stages but loses the ability during metamorphosis. This behavior provides a potential gain-of-function model for measures that can enhance limb regeneration. Here we show that frog limbs can be caused to form multidigit regenerates after receiving transplants of larval limb progenitor cells. It is necessary to activate Wnt/β -catenin signaling in the cells, and to add Sonic hedgehog, FGF10 and thymosin β4. These factors promote survival and growth of the grafted cells and also provide pattern information. The eventual regenerates are not composed solely of donor tissue; the host cells also make a substantial contribution despite their lack of regeneration-competence. Cells from adult frog legs or from regenerating tadpole tails do not promote limb regeneration, demonstrating the necessity for limb progenitor cells. These findings have obvious implications for the development of a technology to promote limb regeneration in mammals. PMID:23273877

Recollections of Emotional Abuse and Neglect in Childhood as Risk Factors for Depressive Disorders and the Need for Psychotherapy in Adult Life.

PubMed

Neumann, Eva

2017-11-01

Theoretical and empirical works have pointed out that depression comes along with adverse interpersonal experiences in childhood and adult life. The purpose of this study was to explore whether past and current experiences differ in their relevance for depression. A clinical group of 80 psychotherapy patients diagnosed with a depressive disorder was contrasted with a control group of 111 nondepressed patients from somatic facilities. Child abuse, neglect, and adult attachment dimensions were measured with self-report scales. Depression was correlated with emotional abuse, neglect, and attachment anxiety. However, solely emotional abuse and neglect significantly predicted the probability to be in the group of depressed patients, whereas attachment anxiety did not contribute to this prediction. The findings reveal that childhood variables, namely, recollections of emotional traumas, are more closely associated with depression than representations of adult attachment bonds and therefore need special attention in the psychotherapeutic treatment of depressive disorders.

Observation of the quantum Hall effect in δ-doped SrTiO3

PubMed Central

Matsubara, Y.; Takahashi, K. S.; Bahramy, M. S.; Kozuka, Y.; Maryenko, D.; Falson, J.; Tsukazaki, A.; Tokura, Y.; Kawasaki, M.

2016-01-01

The quantum Hall effect is a macroscopic quantum phenomenon in a two-dimensional electron system. The two-dimensional electron system in SrTiO3 has sparked a great deal of interest, mainly because of the strong electron correlation effects expected from the 3d orbitals. Here we report the observation of the quantum Hall effect in a dilute La-doped SrTiO3-two-dimensional electron system, fabricated by metal organic molecular-beam epitaxy. The quantized Hall plateaus are found to be solely stemming from the low Landau levels with even integer-filling factors, ν=4 and 6 without any contribution from odd ν's. For ν=4, the corresponding plateau disappears on decreasing the carrier density. Such peculiar behaviours are proposed to be due to the crossing between the Landau levels originating from the two subbands composed of d orbitals with different effective masses. Our findings pave a way to explore unprecedented quantum phenomena in d-electron systems. PMID:27228903

Adiposopathy and epigenetics: an introduction to obesity as a transgenerational disease.

PubMed

Bays, Harold; Scinta, Wendy

2015-11-01

To examine the contribution of generational epigenetic dysregulation to the inception of obesity and its adiposopathic consequences. Sources for this review included searches of PubMed, Google Scholar, and international government/major association websites using terms including adiposity, adiposopathy, epigenetics, genetics, and obesity. Excessive energy storage in adipose tissue often results in fat cell and fat organ dysfunction, which may cause metabolic and fat mass disorders. The adverse clinical manifestations of obesity are not solely due to the amount of body fat (adiposity), but are also dependent on anatomical and functional perturbations (adiposopathy or 'sick fat'). This review describes extragenetic factors and genetic conditions that promote obesity. It also serves as an introduction to epigenetic dysregulation (i.e., abnormalities in gene expression that occur without alteration in the genetic code itself), which may contribute to obesity and adiposopathic metabolic health outcomes in offspring. Within the epigenetic paradigm, obesity is a transgenerational disease, with weight lost or gained by either parent potentially impacting generational risk for obesity and its complications. Epigenetics may be an important contributor to the emergence of obesity and its complications as global epidemics. Although transgenerational epigenetic influences present challenges, they may also present interventional opportunities, via justifying weight management for individuals before, during, and after pregnancy and for future generations.

5 CFR 9901.515 - Competitive examining procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

....515 Section 9901.515 Administrative Personnel DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AND LABOR RELATIONS SYSTEMS (DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE-OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT) DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE... status, or other prohibited criteria, and will be based solely on job-related factors. These policies...

Parent-of-origin and trans-generational germline influences on behavioral development: the interacting roles of mothers, fathers, and grandparents.

PubMed

Curley, J P; Mashoodh, R

2010-05-01

Mothers and fathers do not contribute equally to the development of their offspring. In addition to the differential investment of mothers versus fathers in the rearing of offspring, there are also a number of germline factors that are transmitted unequally from one parent or the other that contribute significantly to offspring development. This article shall review four major sources of such parent-of-origin effects. Firstly, there is increasing evidence that genes inherited on the sex chromosomes including the nonpseudoautosomal part of the Y chromosome that is only inherited from fathers to sons, contribute to brain development and behavior independently of the organizing effects of sex hormones. Secondly, recent work has demonstrated that mitochondrial DNA that is primarily inherited only from mothers may play a much greater than anticipated role in neurobehavioral development. Thirdly, there exists a class of genes known as imprinted genes that are epigenetically silenced when passed on in a parent-of-origin specific manner and have been shown to regulate brain development and a variety of behaviors. Finally, there is converging evidence from several disciplines that environmental variations experienced by mothers and fathers may lead to plasticity in the development and behavior of offspring and that this phenotypic inheritance can be solely transmitted through the germline. Mechanistically, this may be achieved through altered programming within germ cells of the epigenetic status of particular genes such as retrotransposons and imprinted genes or potentially through altered expression of RNAs within gametes.

Maternal, not paternal PTSD, is related to increased risk for PTSD in offspring of Holocaust survivors

PubMed Central

Yehuda, Rachel; Bell, Amanda; Bierer, Linda M.; Schmeidler, James

2008-01-01

Background A significant association between parental PTSD and the occurrence of PTSD in offspring has been noted, consistent with the idea that risk for PTSD is transmitted from parent to child. Two recent reports linking maternal PTSD and low cortisol in offspring prompted us to examine the relative contributions of maternal vs. paternal PTSD in the prediction of PTSD and other psychiatric diagnoses. Methods 117 men and 167 women, recruited from the community, were evaluated using a comprehensive psychiatric battery designed to identify traumatic life experiences and lifetime psychiatric diagnoses. 211 of the subjects were the adult offspring of Holocaust survivors and 73 were demographically comparable Jewish controls. Participants were further subdivided based on whether their mother, father, neither, or both parents met the diagnostic criteria for lifetime PTSD. Results A higher prevalence of lifetime PTSD, mood, anxiety disorders, and to a lesser extent, substance abuse disorders, was observed in offspring of Holocaust than controls. The presence of maternal PTSD was specifically associated with PTSD in adult offspring. However, the other diagnoses did not show specific effects associated with maternal PTSD. Conclusion The tendency for maternal PTSD to make a greater contribution to PTSD risk suggests that classic genetic mechanisms are not the sole model of transmission, and pave way for the speculation that epigenetic factors may be involved. In contrast, PTSD in any parent contributes to risk for depression, and parental traumatization is associated with increased anxiety disorders in offspring. PMID:18281061

Temporal estimation of threatening stimuli in social anxiety disorder: investigation of the effects of state anxiety and fearfulness.

PubMed

Jusyte, Aiste; Schneidt, Alexander; Schönenberg, Michael

2015-06-01

Prior studies suggest that particularly negative emotional events tend to be experienced as temporally dilated. Perceptual characteristics of the threat cue (averted or directed angry face), state as well as individual anxiety levels have been shown to contribute to the temporal distortions, but the interplay between these factors is not well understood. The present study investigated the relative contributions of these factors in a first study using clinical sample with social anxiety disorder (SAD) and healthy controls (HC). Participants performed a temporal bisection task (TBT) before and after a stress provocation phase, which served to induce state anxiety. During the TBT task, angry and neutral faces with averted vs. direct gaze were presented for the length of 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 1400, 1600 ms, and judged regarding their similarity to the standard durations. A temporal overestimation effect for angry vs. neutral facial expressions was evident in both the HC and the SAD groups. An effect of experimentally induced state anxiety was evident solely in the SAD group, reflected in an overall increased temporal overestimation of angry vs. neutral expressions following the mood manipulation. The clinical sample may represent a high-functioning group, as the study was conducted on college students. Replication in more heterogeneous SAD samples is needed in order to draw further conclusions. These results may be relevant for the understanding of the etiology and maintenance of SAD and potentially for the development of novel intervention methods. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Media representation of gender patterns of suicide in Taiwan.

PubMed

Chen, Ying-Yeh; Yip, Paul S F; Tsai, Chi-Wei; Fan, Hsiang-Fang

2012-01-01

Extensive media reporting of suicide events has been indicated as a contributing factor to the upsurge in suicide rates in Taiwan in the past decade. The study compares gender differences in sociodemographic profiles and method of suicide selectively reported in the newspapers and all suicide cases registered in official death records. It also identifies gender differences in media reports of suicides. Articles reporting suicide news from four major newspapers in Taiwan (China Times, United Daily, Liberty Times, and Apple Daily) in 2009 were retrieved and analyzed. Gender differences in sociodemographic profiles of suicides reported in the newspapers and official records of all suicide deaths were compared. Any gender differences in newspaper depictions of contributing factors of suicide and situations surrounding the suicidal acts were compared. Newspapers in Taiwan tended to overreport unusual methods of suicide among men and extended suicide among women. The reasons for suicide in men were more frequently portrayed as work-related or after legal problems, whereas in women suicide was more frequently framed as due to mental illness or relationship problems. The news media tended to underreport mental illness as a reason for suicide in men. The analysis was based solely on news reporting in the four major newspapers during the year 2009. Media representation of suicide generally follow societal-gendered assumptions of acceptable/unacceptable behaviors. Media professionals should be more careful and responsible in reporting suicide news and avoid any gender bias in their framing of suicide stories. Sensitive rather than sensational reporting should be promoted in order not to reinforce the myths of suicides in the community.

Do Alloreactivity and Prolonged Cold Ischemia Cause Different Elementary Lesions in Chronic Allograft Nephropathy?

PubMed Central

Herrero-Fresneda, Immaculada; Torras, Joan; Cruzado, Josep M.; Condom, Enric; Vidal, August; Riera, Marta; Lloberas, Nuria; Alsina, Jeroni; Grinyo, Josep M.

2003-01-01

This study assesses the individual contributions of the nonalloreactive factor, cold ischemia (CI), and alloreactivity to late functional and structural renal graft changes, and examines the effect of the association of both factors on the progression of chronic allograft nephropathy. Lewis rats acted as receptors of kidneys from either Lewis or Fischer rats. For CI, kidneys were preserved for 5 hours. The rats were divided into four groups: Syn, syngeneic graft; SynI, syngeneic graft and CI; Allo, allogeneic graft; AlloI, allogeneic graft and CI. Renal function was assessed every 4 weeks for 24 weeks. Grafts were evaluated for acute inflammatory response at 1 week and for chronic histological damage at 24 weeks. Only when CI and allogenicity were combined did immediate posttransplant mortality occur, while survivors showed accelerated renal insufficiency that induced further mortality at 12 weeks after transplant. Solely ischemic rats developed renal insufficiency. Renal structural damage in ischemic rats was clearly tubulointerstitial, while significant vasculopathy and glomerulosclerosis appeared only in the allogeneic groups. There was increased infiltration of macrophages and expression of mRNA-transforming growth factor-β1 in the ischemic groups, irrespective of the allogeneic background. The joint association of CI plus allogenicity significantly increased cellular infiltration at both early and late stages, aggravating tubulointerstitial and vascular damage considerably. In summary, CI is mainly responsible for tubulointerstitial damage, whereas allogenicity leads to vascular lesion. The association of both factors accelerates and aggravates the progression of experimental chronic allograft nephropathy. PMID:12507896

Making sense of landscape change: Long-term perceptions among local residents following river restoration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Westling, Emma L.; Surridge, Ben W. J.; Sharp, Liz; Lerner, David N.

2014-11-01

Efforts to restore rivers are increasingly concerned with the social implications of landscape change. However, the fundamental issue of how people make sense of local riverine environments in the context of restoration remains poorly understood. Our research examined influences on perception among local residents 14 years after a restoration scheme on the River Dearne in the north of England. Human-landscape relationships emerging from semi-structured interviews with 16 local residents were analysed using an interpretive research framework. Nine recurring factors influenced perception among local residents: scenic beauty; the condition of riparian vegetation and of river channel morphology; opportunities to observe flora and fauna; cleanliness of the riverine environment; access available to the river; connections between the river and the surrounding landscape; disturbance and change in the familiarity of the landscape following restoration. These factors were not solely related to tangible outcomes of the restoration scheme, but were also influenced by history, memories, traditions and practices associated with the river. Critically, these factors also interacted rather than operating in isolation and two idealised perceptual frameworks were developed to map these interactions. Our research contributes to theoretical understanding of the relationships between humans and landscape change, whilst also considering how restoration practice may better reflect these relationships. The importance of a social dimension to the template of possibilities for restoring any given river emerges, underpinning place-based design and implementation of river restoration schemes.

Egg-hatching synchrony and larval cannibalism in the dock leaf beetle Gastrophysa viridula (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).

PubMed

Kutcherov, Dmitry

2015-12-01

Females of leaf beetles and many other herbivorous insects lay eggs in coherent batches. Hatchlings emerge more or less simultaneously and often prey on their late-hatching clutchmates. It is not certain, however, whether this synchrony of hatching is a mere by-product of cannibalism or whether an additional synchronizing factor exists. The following simple experiment was aimed at determining the causal relationship between cannibalism and simultaneous larval emergence. Egg clutches of the dock leaf beetle Gastrophysa viridula were split into two halves. These halves were either kept as coherent groups in two separate dishes or, alternatively, only one half remained whole, whereas the other one was divided into single eggs, each of which was incubated in a separate dish. Halving of a clutch into coherent groups only slightly disrupted the synchrony of emergence. The consequence of individual isolation was more dramatic. Half-clutches consisting of disconnected solitary eggs required almost twice as much time for complete emergence of all larvae, which was significantly more than cannibalism as a sole synchronizing factor might explain. Moreover, survival rates were the same in coherent half-clutches (in the presence of cannibalism) and among isolated individuals. This group effect and the small contribution of cannibalism suggest the existence of an additional synchronizing factor. Possible mechanisms underpinning this phenomenon are discussed. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Metamorphic sole genesis at the base of ophiolite nappes: Insights from numerical models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamato, Philippe; Agard, Philippe; Duretz, Thibault

2015-04-01

Obduction emplaces oceanic lithosphere on top of continental lithosphere. Although a number of studies have focused on this enigmatic process, the initial stages of obduction remain poorly understood. Field, petrological, and geochronological data reveal that during the first stages of the obduction (i.e., during the first 1-2 Myrs) a HT-LP metamorphic sole (~700-800 ° C and ~1 GPa) is systematically welded at the base of ophiolite nappes. However, the reason why such welding of the ophiolite soles occurs at these particular P-T conditions, and only at the onset of obduction, is still an open issue. The aim of this study is to explore the conditions required to explain the genesis of metamorphic soles. For this, we employ two-dimensional numerical modelling, constrained by the wealth of available data from the Oman ophiolite. We first present a thermo-kinematic model in which the velocity field is prescribed in order to simulate obduction initiation. The heat advection-diffusion equation is solved at each time step. The model is intentionally kept simple in order to control each parameter (e.g., convergence rate, dip angle, thermal age) and to test its influence on the resulting P-T conditions obtained through time along the obduction interface. Results show that the key factor allowing the formation of metamorphic soles is the age of the oceanic lithosphere involved. Moreover, we speculate that the reason why metamorphic soles are always welded at the same P-T conditions is due to the fact that, at these particular conditions, strength jumps occur within the oceanic lithosphere. These jumps lead to changes in strain localisation and allow the spalling of oceanic crust and its juxtaposition to the ophiolite nappe. This hypothesis is further tested using thermo-mechanical models in which the obduction initiates dynamically (only initial and boundary conditions are prescribed). The interplay between the temperature evolution and the mechanical behaviour is then discussed.

Experimental and model-based analysis of differences in perception of cutaneous electrical stimulation across the sole of the foot.

PubMed

Frahm, Ken Steffen; Mørch, Carsten Dahl; Grill, Warren M; Andersen, Ole Kæseler

2013-09-01

During electrocutaneous stimulations, variation in skin properties across locations can lead to differences in neural activation. However, little focus has been given to the effect of different skin thicknesses on neural activation. Electrical stimulation was applied to six sites across the sole of the foot. The intensities used were two and four times perception threshold. The subjects (n = 8) rated the perception quality and intensity using the McGill Pain Questionnaire and a visual analog scale (VAS). A finite element model was developed and combined with the activation function (AF) to estimate neural activation. Electrical stimulation was perceived as significantly less sharp at the heel compared to all other sites, except one site in the forefoot (logistic regression, p < 0.05). The VAS scores were significantly higher in the arch than at the heel (RM ANOVA, p < 0.05). The model showed that the AF was between 91 and 231 % higher at the five other sites than at the heel. The differences in perception across the sole of the foot indicated that the CNS received different inputs depending on the stimulus site. The lower AF at the heel indicated that the skin thicknesses could contribute to the perceived differences.

Social, Personal and Educational Constraints on Access to Employment among Groups at Risk of Social Exclusion: Contributions from an Employment Observatory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anuncibay, Raquel de la Fuente

2007-01-01

One of the challenges raised by proactive employment policies centres on redressing inequalities that are not solely of an economic nature, as others may also be added of a social and ethnic nature as well as personal, cultural and educational aspects. This article analyses the situation in which groups at risk of social exclusion find themselves…

Leadership for the 1970s. A Matrix of Organizational Leadership Dimensions

DTIC Science & Technology

1976-10-01

be carriud out. AN Drucker (1974) stated, the management 8cience intended to "substitute certainty for guesswork, knowledge for judgment, ’hard facts...requirements. But, as Drucker (1974) emphasized, besides determin- .ing goals and objectives, the effective manager decides what is needed to achieve these...is a functional one contributing significantly to effective management . Drucker (1974), however, offered a caveat to relying solely upon the

The role of dead wood in maintaining arthropod diversity on the forest floor

Treesearch

James L. Hanula; Scott Horn; Dale D. Wade

2006-01-01

Dead wood is a major component of forests and contributes to overall diversity, primarily by supporting insects that feed directly on or in it. Further, a variety of organisms benefit by feeding on those insects. What is not well known is how or whether dead wood influences the composition of the arthropod community that is not solely dependent on it as a food...

Carcinoma-associated fibroblasts: orchestrating the composition of malignancy

PubMed Central

Gascard, Philippe; Tlsty, Thea D.

2016-01-01

The tumor stroma is no longer seen solely as physical support for mutated epithelial cells but as an important modulator and even a driver of tumorigenicity. Within the tumor stromal milieu, heterogeneous populations of fibroblast-like cells, collectively termed carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), are key players in the multicellular, stromal-dependent alterations that contribute to malignant initiation and progression. This review focuses on novel insights into the contributions of CAFs to disease progression, emergent events leading to the generation of CAFs, identification of CAF-specific biomarkers predictive of disease outcome, and recent therapeutic approaches aimed at blunting or reverting detrimental protumorigenic phenotypes associated with CAFs. PMID:27151975

32 CFR 156.3 - Policy.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

.... (d) No negative inference may be raised solely on the basis of mental health counseling. Such counseling may be a positive factor that, by itself, shall not jeopardize the rendering of eligibility... counseling, where relevant to adjudication for a national security position, may justify further inquiry to...

Test Anxiety and the Validity of Cognitive Tests: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis Perspective and Some Empirical Findings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wicherts, Jelte M.; Scholten, Annemarie Zand

2010-01-01

The validity of cognitive ability tests is often interpreted solely as a function of the cognitive abilities that these tests are supposed to measure, but other factors may be at play. The effects of test anxiety on the criterion related validity (CRV) of tests was the topic of a recent study by Reeve, Heggestad, and Lievens (2009) (Reeve, C. L.,…

Study on Walking Training System using High-Performance Shoes constructed with Rubber Elements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hayakawa, Y.; Kawanaka, S.; Kanezaki, K.; Doi, S.

2016-09-01

The number of accidental falls has been increasing among the elderly as society has aged. The main factor is a deteriorating center of balance due to declining physical performance. Another major factor is that the elderly tend to have bowlegged walking and their center of gravity position of the body tend to swing from side to side during walking. To find ways to counteract falls among the elderly, we developed walking training system to treat the gap in the center of balance. We also designed High-Performance Shoes that showed the status of a person's balance while walking. We also produced walk assistance from the insole in which insole stiffness corresponded to human sole distribution could be changed to correct the person's walking status. We constructed our High- Performances Shoes to detect pressure distribution during walking. Comparing normal sole distribution patterns and corrected ones, we confirmed that our assistance system helped change the user's posture, thereby reducing falls among the elderly.

Distribution and abundance of juvenile demersal fishes in relation to summer hypoxia and other environmental variables in coastal Oregon, USA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sobocinski, Kathryn L.; Ciannelli, Lorenzo; Wakefield, W. Waldo; Yergey, Matthew E.; Johnson-Colegrove, Angela

2018-05-01

The juvenile demersal fish assemblage along the Pacific Northwest coast has received little attention relative to adult life history stages since pioneering work in the 1970s. Increasing severity of hypoxia along the Oregon coast in recent years has prompted investigations into the response of biota in this region. We used summer data (2008-2013) from a beam trawl survey targeting juvenile demersal fishes in soft-bottom habitats along the Oregon coast to describe patterns of distribution and abundance at fixed sampling stations (from 30 m to 100 m depth). We relate the assemblage and abundance of the common species to environmental variables and analyze condition of recently settled fish (<50 mm SL). Most of the captured fishes were young-of-the-year flatfishes, dominated by Butter Sole (Isopsetta isolepis), English Sole (Parophrys vetulus), Speckled Sanddab (Citharichthys stigmaeus), and Pacific Sanddab (Citharichthys sordidus). Community analysis of the full dataset showed some variation in species richness among years and high evenness across all sampling sites and years. Depth was a structuring variable for the community, indicated by multivariate nonmetric multidimensional scaling analysis. Generalized additive models for common flatfish species abundances during the summer months indicated depth preferences, with Butter Sole, English Sole, and Speckled Sanddab at shallower locations and Pacific Sanddab occurring at deeper locations farther offshore. Additionally, while most common species were collected in high abundances in hypoxic conditions, dissolved oxygen was a significant factor in determining flatfish abundance. Condition factor was weakly negatively impacted by low dissolved oxygen for the species assessed, but the strength of the relationship varied by species. Increased sampling frequency and spatial coverage would improve our understanding of this community, especially in light of changing environmental drivers such as decreasing pH, warming water, and episodic periods of low dissolved oxygen coinciding with settlement for many species.

Digestive selection underlies differential utilization of phytoplankton and sedimentary organics by infaunal bivalves: Experiments with cockles (Cerastoderma edule) using cross-labelled mixed diets.

PubMed

Navarro, Enrique; Méndez, Soco; Urrutia, Miren Begoñe; Arambalza, Udane; Ibarrola, Irrintzi

2016-09-01

Differential utilization of phytoplankton and detrital particles present in natural sediments of mud-flats was studied in a series of experiments performed on the infaunal bivalve Cerastoderma edule. In order to assess digestive selection, parameters of food processing (organic ingestion rate: OIR, gross absorption efficiency: GAE and gut passage time: GPT) were recorded for each organic component in different combinations of food particles radio-labelled with (14)C. Experimental design included the use of both labelled diets of a sole organic component and cross-labelled diets; i.e., mixed suspensions presenting alternatively labelled one of the various components tested: phytoplankton cells, sedimentary organic particles and particulate detritus from vascular salt-marsh plants. Preferential absorption of phytoplankton was accounted for by absorption efficiency values that were two-fold those for sedimentary detritus when recorded with mixed diets of both organic components. Two factors contributed to this difference: a) higher digestibility of microalgae, measured as the ratio of GAE to GPT, and b) faster gut passage of detrital particles that results from digestive selection likely involving the preferential incorporation of phytoplankton into the digestive gland. However, when diets based on a sole organic component (either phytoplankton or detritus) were compared, larger GPT were recorded for detrital particles that enabled improving GAE of this rather refractory food. Overall results of these experiments are consistent with most studies in trophic ecology based on stable isotopes enrichment, concerning both the diversity of trophic sources used by marine bivalves and its preferential utilization of phytoplankton over phyto-detritus. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Nail gun injuries in residential carpentry: lessons from active injury surveillance.

PubMed

Lipscomb, H J; Dement, J M; Nolan, J; Patterson, D; Li, L

2003-03-01

To describe circumstances surrounding injuries involving nail guns among carpenters, calculate injury rates, identify high risk groups and preventive measures. and setting: Active injury surveillance was used to identify causes of injury among a large cohort of union residential and drywall carpenters. Injured carpenters were interviewed by experienced journeymen; enumeration of workers and hourworked were provided by the union. The combined data allowed definition of a cohort of carpenters, their hours worked, detailed information on the circumstances surrounding injuries, and identification of preventive measures from the perspectives of the injured worker and an experienced investigator. Nail guns were involved in 14% of injuries investigated. Ninety percent of these injuries were the result of the carpenter being struck, most commonly by a nail puncturing a hand or fingers. The injury rate among apprentices was 3.7 per 200 000 hours worked (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.7 to 4.9) compared with a rate of 1.2 among journeymen (95% CI 0.80 to 1.7). While not always the sole contributing factor, a sequential trigger would have likely prevented 65% of the injuries from tools with contact trip triggers. Training, engineering, and policy changes in the workplace and manufacturing arena are all appropriate targets for prevention of these injuries. Use of sequential triggers would likely decrease acute injury rates markedly. Over 70% of injuries among residential carpenters were associated with through nailing tasks (such as nailing studs or blocks, trusses or joists) or toe nailing (angled, corner nailing) as opposed to flat nailing used for sheathing activities; this provides some indication that contact trip tools could be used solely for flat nailing.

Nail gun injuries in residential carpentry: lessons from active injury surveillance

PubMed Central

Lipscomb, H; Dement, J; Nolan, J; Patterson, D; Li, L

2003-01-01

Objective: To describe circumstances surrounding injuries involving nail guns among carpenters, calculate injury rates, identify high risk groups and preventive measures. Methods and setting: Active injury surveillance was used to identify causes of injury among a large cohort of union residential and drywall carpenters. Injured carpenters were interviewed by experienced journeymen; enumeration of workers and hourworked were provided by the union. The combined data allowed definition of a cohort of carpenters, their hours worked, detailed information on the circumstances surrounding injuries, and identification of preventive measures from the perspectives of the injured worker and an experienced investigator. Results: Nail guns were involved in 14% of injuries investigated. Ninety percent of these injuries were the result of the carpenter being struck, most commonly by a nail puncturing a hand or fingers. The injury rate among apprentices was 3.7 per 200 000 hours worked (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.7 to 4.9) compared with a rate of 1.2 among journeymen (95% CI 0.80 to 1.7). While not always the sole contributing factor, a sequential trigger would have likely prevented 65% of the injuries from tools with contact trip triggers. Conclusions: Training, engineering, and policy changes in the workplace and manufacturing arena are all appropriate targets for prevention of these injuries. Use of sequential triggers would likely decrease acute injury rates markedly. Over 70% of injuries among residential carpenters were associated with through nailing tasks (such as nailing studs or blocks, trusses or joists) or toe nailing (angled, corner nailing) as opposed to flat nailing used for sheathing activities; this provides some indication that contact trip tools could be used solely for flat nailing. PMID:12642553

High-throughput sequencing reveals key genes and immune homeostatic pathways activated in myeloid dendritic cells by Porphyromonas gingivalis 381 and its fimbrial mutants.

PubMed

Arjunan, P; El-Awady, A; Dannebaum, R O; Kunde-Ramamoorthy, G; Cutler, C W

2016-02-01

The human microbiome consists of highly diverse microbial communities that colonize our skin and mucosal surfaces, aiding in maintenance of immune homeostasis. The keystone pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis induces a dysbiosis and disrupts immune homeostasis through as yet unclear mechanisms. The fimbrial adhesins of P. gingivalis facilitate biofilm formation, invasion of and dissemination by blood dendritic cells; hence, fimbriae may be key factors in disruption of immune homeostasis. In this study we employed RNA-sequencing transcriptome profiling to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDCs) in response to in vitro infection/exposure by Pg381 or its isogenic mutant strains that solely express minor-Mfa1 fimbriae (DPG3), major-FimA fimbriae (MFI) or are deficient in both fimbriae (MFB) relative to uninfected control. Our results yielded a total of 479 DEGs that were at least two-fold upregulated and downregulated in MoDCs significantly (P ≤ 0.05) by all four strains and certain DEGs that were strain-specific. Interestingly, the gene ontology biological and functional analysis shows that the upregulated genes in DPG3-induced MoDCs were more significant than other strains and associated with inflammation, immune response, anti-apoptosis, cell proliferation, and other homeostatic functions. Both transcriptome and quantitative polymerase chain reaction results show that DPG3, which solely expresses Mfa1, increased ZNF366, CD209, LOX1, IDO1, IL-10, CCL2, SOCS3, STAT3 and FOXO1 gene expression. In conclusion, we have identified key DC-mediated immune homeostatic pathways that could contribute to dysbiosis in periodontal infection with P. gingivalis. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The seasonal use of small-scale space by benthic species in a transiently hypoxic area

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doya, Carolina; Aguzzi, Jacopo; Chatzievangelou, Damianos; Costa, Corrado; Company, Joan Baptista; Tunnicliffe, Verena

2016-02-01

The use of small-scale space by benthos and its variation over the seasons in transiently hypoxic zones is poorly known. In this study, we examined the reciprocal spatial dispersion of the squat lobster (Munida quadrispina) and the slender sole (Lyopsetta exilis) according to oxygen concentrations at a VENUS platform of Ocean Networks Canada (ONC). This platform is located in a seasonally hypoxic zone at 96 m depth in the fjord of Saanich Inlet (British Columbia, Canada). We counted and located small as well as large squat lobsters and slender soles in digital still images during 1 year (2012-2013) also concomitantly obtained oxygen data. Images were subdivided in a squared grid to obtain relative density maps as a proxy for surface occupation and spatial autocorrelation. Pearson's chi-squared tests at a yearly scale, along with Dixon's spatial segregation index (S) for each possible pair among the studied groups, showed a significant absence of overlap. The same analyses by month and cross-correlation between oxygen and S showed that while the dispersion patterns of the large squat lobsters seemed to be driven mainly by the morphology of the seafloor, an effect of hypoxia was found in the small squat lobsters and the slender soles levels of aggregation. Small squat lobster sought seabed protrusions, such as sponges, to reach more oxygenated water. The slender sole's space occupation decreased significantly, being forced to retreat when the squat lobsters' abundance peaked as a result of what appeared to be a seasonal reproduction event in early summer. Our results contribute to the understanding of the ways in which oxygen levels modulate substrate use by benthic species in the framework of a global expansion of hypoxia in coastal and ocean areas.

Telephone counselling by nurses in Norwegian primary care out-of-hours services: a cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Midtbø, Vivian; Raknes, Guttorm; Hunskaar, Steinar

2017-09-06

The primary care out-of-hours (OOH) services in Norway are characterized by high contact rates by telephone. The telephone contacts are handled by local emergency medical communication centres (LEMCs), mainly staffed by registered nurses. When assessment by a medical doctor is not required, the nurse often handles the contact solely by nurse telephone counselling. Little is known about this group of contacts. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate characteristics of encounters with the OOH services that are handled solely by nurse telephone counselling. Nurses recorded ICPC-2 reason for encounter (RFE) codes and patient characteristics of all patients who contacted six primary care OOH services in Norway during 2014. Descriptive statistics and frequency analyses were applied. Of all telephone contacts (n = 61,441), 23% were handled solely by nurse counselling. Fever was the RFE most frequently handled (7.3% of all nurse advice), followed by abdominal pain, cough, ear pain and general symptoms. Among the youngest patients, 32% of the total telephone contacts were resolved by nurse advice compared with 17% in the oldest age group. At night, 31% of the total telephone contacts were resolved solely by nurse advice compared with 21% during the day shift and 23% in the evening. The share of nurse advice was higher on weekdays compared to weekends (mean share 25% versus 20% respectively). This study shows that nurses make a significant contribution to patient management in the Norwegian OOH services. The findings indicate which conditions nurses should be able to handle by telephone, which has implications for training and routines in the LEMCs. There is the potential for more nurse involvement in several of the RFEs with a currently low share of nurse counselling.

Precipitating factors of porphyria cutanea tarda in Brazil with emphasis on hemochromatosis gene (HFE) mutations. Study of 60 patients*

PubMed Central

Vieira, Fatima Mendonça Jorge; Nakhle, Maria Cristina; Abrantes-Lemos, Clarice Pires; Cançado, Eduardo Luiz Rachid; dos Reis, Vitor Manoel Silva

2013-01-01

BACKGROUND Porphyria cutanea tarda is the most common form of porphyria, characterized by the decreased activity of the uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase enzyme. Several reports associated HFE gene mutations of hereditary hemochromatosis with porphyria cutanea tarda worldwide, although up to date only one study has been conducted in Brazil. OBJECTIVES Investigation of porphyria cutanea tarda association with C282Y and H63D mutations in the HFE gene. Identification of precipitating factors (hepatitis C, HIV, alcoholism and estrogen) and their link with HFE mutations. METHODS An ambispective study of 60 patients with PCT was conducted during the period from 2003 to 2012. Serological tests for hepatitis C and HIV were performed and histories of alcohol abuse and estrogen intake were investigated. HFE mutations were identified with real-time PCR. RESULTS Porphyria cutanea tarda predominated in males and alcohol abuse was the main precipitating factor. Estrogen intake was the sole precipitating factor present in 25% of female patients. Hepatitis C was present in 41.7%. All HIV-positive patients (15.3%) had a history of alcohol abuse. Allele frequency for HFE mutations, i.e., C282Y (p = 0.0001) and H63D (p = 0.0004), were significantly higher in porphyria cutanea tarda patients, compared to control group. HFE mutations had no association with the other precipitating factors. CONCLUSIONS Alcohol abuse, hepatitis C and estrogen intake are prevalent precipitating factors in our porphyria cutanea tarda population; however, hemochromatosis in itself can also contribute to the outbreak of porphyria cutanea tarda, which makes the research for HFE mutations necessary in these patients PMID:24068123

A Causal Analysis of Observed Declines in Managed Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)

PubMed Central

Staveley, Jane P.; Law, Sheryl A.; Fairbrother, Anne; Menzie, Charles A.

2013-01-01

The European honey bee (Apis mellifera) is a highly valuable, semi-free-ranging managed agricultural species. While the number of managed hives has been increasing, declines in overwinter survival, and the onset of colony collapse disorder in 2006, precipitated a large amount of research on bees' health in an effort to isolate the causative factors. A workshop was convened during which bee experts were introduced to a formal causal analysis approach to compare 39 candidate causes against specified criteria to evaluate their relationship to the reduced overwinter survivability observed since 2006 of commercial bees used in the California almond industry. Candidate causes were categorized as probable, possible, or unlikely; several candidate causes were categorized as indeterminate due to lack of information. Due to time limitations, a full causal analysis was not completed at the workshop. In this article, examples are provided to illustrate the process and provide preliminary findings, using three candidate causes. Varroa mites plus viruses were judged to be a “probable cause” of the reduced survival, while nutrient deficiency was judged to be a “possible cause.” Neonicotinoid pesticides were judged to be “unlikely” as the sole cause of this reduced survival, although they could possibly be a contributing factor. PMID:24363549

Road traffic accidents prediction modelling: An analysis of Anambra State, Nigeria.

PubMed

Ihueze, Chukwutoo C; Onwurah, Uchendu O

2018-03-01

One of the major problems in the world today is the rate of road traffic crashes and deaths on our roads. Majority of these deaths occur in low-and-middle income countries including Nigeria. This study analyzed road traffic crashes in Anambra State, Nigeria with the intention of developing accurate predictive models for forecasting crash frequency in the State using autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) and autoregressive integrated moving average with explanatory variables (ARIMAX) modelling techniques. The result showed that ARIMAX model outperformed the ARIMA (1,1,1) model generated when their performances were compared using the lower Bayesian information criterion, mean absolute percentage error, root mean square error; and higher coefficient of determination (R-Squared) as accuracy measures. The findings of this study reveal that incorporating human, vehicle and environmental related factors in time series analysis of crash dataset produces a more robust predictive model than solely using aggregated crash count. This study contributes to the body of knowledge on road traffic safety and provides an approach to forecasting using many human, vehicle and environmental factors. The recommendations made in this study if applied will help in reducing the number of road traffic crashes in Nigeria. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

How aromatic compounds block DNA binding of HcaR catabolite regulator

DOE PAGES

Kim, Youngchang; Joachimiak, Grazyna; Bigelow, Lance; ...

2016-04-25

Bacterial catabolism of aromatic compounds from various sources including phenylpropanoids and flavonoids that are abundant in soil plays an important role in the recycling of carbon in the ecosystem. We have determined the crystal structures of apo-HcaR from Acinetobacter sp. ADP1, a MarR/SlyA transcription factor, in complexes with hydroxycinnamates and a specific DNA operator. The protein regulates the expression of the hca catabolic operon in Acinetobacter and related bacterial strains, allowing utilization of hydroxycinnamates as sole sources of carbon. HcaR binds multiple ligands, and as a result the transcription of genes encoding several catabolic enzymes is increased. The 1.9-2.4 Åmore » resolution structures presented here explain how HcaR recognizes four ligands (ferulate, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate, p-coumarate, and vanillin) using the same binding site. The ligand promiscuity appears to be an adaptation to match a broad specificity of hydroxycinnamate catabolic enzymes while responding to toxic thioester intermediates. Structures of apo-HcaR and in complex with a specific DNA hca operator when combined with binding studies of hydroxycinnamates show how aromatic ligands render HcaR unproductive in recognizing a specific DNA target. Furthermore, the current study contributes to a better understanding of the hca catabolic operon regulation mechanism by the transcription factor HcaR.« less

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

Kim, Youngchang; Joachimiak, Grazyna; Bigelow, Lance

Bacterial catabolism of aromatic compounds from various sources including phenylpropanoids and flavonoids that are abundant in soil plays an important role in the recycling of carbon in the ecosystem. We have determined the crystal structures of apo-HcaR from Acinetobacter sp. ADP1, a MarR/SlyA transcription factor, in complexes with hydroxycinnamates and a specific DNA operator. The protein regulates the expression of the hca catabolic operon in Acinetobacter and related bacterial strains, allowing utilization of hydroxycinnamates as sole sources of carbon. HcaR binds multiple ligands, and as a result the transcription of genes encoding several catabolic enzymes is increased. The 1.9-2.4 Åmore » resolution structures presented here explain how HcaR recognizes four ligands (ferulate, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate, p-coumarate, and vanillin) using the same binding site. The ligand promiscuity appears to be an adaptation to match a broad specificity of hydroxycinnamate catabolic enzymes while responding to toxic thioester intermediates. Structures of apo-HcaR and in complex with a specific DNA hca operator when combined with binding studies of hydroxycinnamates show how aromatic ligands render HcaR unproductive in recognizing a specific DNA target. Furthermore, the current study contributes to a better understanding of the hca catabolic operon regulation mechanism by the transcription factor HcaR.« less

Study of Factors Related to Army Delayed-Entry Program Attrition

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-11-01

level, gender , and tenure in DEP. Military classification and assignment are determined almost solely on cognitive factors, physical examinations...Between Gender and Responses to Question 13 for Voluntary DEP Losses . . . . . , . . . , . . . . o , o . ° . 99 P-2. Chi-square Tests for Independence...Between Gender and Responses to Question 13 for DHP Aooession/ Voluntary Active Duty Losses . . 9 0 4 . 0 0 0 0 a a 0 106 B-9. Chi-square Tests for

Professional Development Programs That Work.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shawl, William F.

The professional development program at Golden West College has successfully maximized instructional change and innvovation for several years. The success of the program is due to factors such as support from the president; the appointment of a dean of educational development whose sole responsibility is to work with faculty on new developmental…

Examining Autism Spectrum Disorders by Biomarkers: Example from the Oxytocin and Serotonin Systems

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hammock, Elizabeth; Veenstra-VanderWeele, Jeremy; Yan, Zhongyu; Kerr, Travis M.; Morris, Marianna; Anderson, George M.; Carter, C. Sue; Cook, Edwin H.; Jacob, Suma

2012-01-01

Objective: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heritable but highly heterogeneous neuropsychiatric syndrome, which poses challenges for research relying solely on behavioral symptoms or diagnosis. Examining biomarkers may give us ways to identify individuals who demonstrate specific developmental trajectories and etiological factors related to…

Using a Mindfulness-Based Procedure in the Community: Translating Research to Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Adkins, Angela D.; Singh, Ashvind N.; Winton, Alan S. W.; McKeegan, Gerald F.; Singh, Judy

2010-01-01

Maladaptive behaviors, such as aggressive and disruptive behaviors, are a significant risk factor for maintaining community placement by individuals with intellectual disabilities. When experienced researchers provide training to individuals with intellectual disabilities on a mindfulness-based strategy, "Meditation on the Soles of the Feet," the…

Identifying Indicators of Behavior Change: Insights from Wildfire Education Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Monroe, Martha C.; Agrawal, Shruti; Jakes, Pamela J.; Kruger, Linda E.; Nelson, Kristen C.; Sturtevant, Victoria

2013-01-01

Environmental educators are challenged to document behavior changes, because change rarely depends solely on outcomes of education programs, but on many factors. An analysis of 15 communities in the United States that have increased their preparedness for wildfire allowed us to explore how education programs encouraged individual and community…

Reconceptualizing Environmental Education: Taking Account of Reality.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dillon, Justin; Teamey, Kelly

2002-01-01

Investigates the pros and cons of integrating environmental education into the school curriculum. Focusing solely on environmental education's role in the school curriculum ignores a range of factors that affect its efficacy in the majority of the world. Suggests a conceptualization of environmental education that takes into account a range of…

Feasibility of a School-Based Parenting Intervention for Adolescent Parents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rispoli, Kristin M.; Sheridan, Susan M.

2017-01-01

Associated with complex developmental, personal, and environmental risk factors, adolescent parents have been found to display higher rates of unfavorable parenting practices than adult parents, placing their children at high risk for social, emotional and behavioral concerns. Nevertheless, interventions targeting this group often focus solely on…

24 CFR 984.203 - FSS family selection procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... Action Plan. (c) Motivation as a selection factor—(1) General. a PHA may screen families for interest, and motivation to participate in the FSS program, provided that the factors utilized by the PHA are those which solely measure the family's interest, and motivation to participate in the FSS program. (2...

24 CFR 984.203 - FSS family selection procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... Action Plan. (c) Motivation as a selection factor—(1) General. a PHA may screen families for interest, and motivation to participate in the FSS program, provided that the factors utilized by the PHA are those which solely measure the family's interest, and motivation to participate in the FSS program. (2...

24 CFR 984.203 - FSS family selection procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... Action Plan. (c) Motivation as a selection factor—(1) General. a PHA may screen families for interest, and motivation to participate in the FSS program, provided that the factors utilized by the PHA are those which solely measure the family's interest, and motivation to participate in the FSS program. (2...

24 CFR 984.203 - FSS family selection procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... Action Plan. (c) Motivation as a selection factor—(1) General. a PHA may screen families for interest, and motivation to participate in the FSS program, provided that the factors utilized by the PHA are those which solely measure the family's interest, and motivation to participate in the FSS program. (2...

24 CFR 984.203 - FSS family selection procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... Action Plan. (c) Motivation as a selection factor—(1) General. a PHA may screen families for interest, and motivation to participate in the FSS program, provided that the factors utilized by the PHA are those which solely measure the family's interest, and motivation to participate in the FSS program. (2...

Genetic and Environmental Influences on the Co-development between Borderline Personality Disorder Traits, Major Depression Symptoms, and Substance Use Disorder Symptoms from Adolescence to Young Adulthood

PubMed Central

Bornovalova, Marina A.; Verhulst, Brad; Webber, Troy; McGue, Matt; Iacono, William G.; Hicks, Brian M.

2017-01-01

Although borderline personality disorder (BPD) traits decline from adolescence to adulthood, comorbid psychopathology such as symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD), alcohol use disorder (AUD), and drug use disorders (DUDs) likely disrupt this normative decline. Using a longitudinal sample of female twins (N = 1,763), we examined if levels of BPD traits were correlated with changes in MDD, AUD, and DUD symptoms from ages 14–24. A parallel process biometric latent growth model examined the contributions of genetic and environmental factors to the relationships between developmental components of these phenotypes. Higher BPD trait-levels predicted a greater rate of increase in AUD and DUD symptoms, and higher AUD and DUD symptoms predicted a slower rate of decline of BPD traits from ages 14–24. Common genetic influences accounted for the associations between BPD traits and each disorder, as well as the interrelationships of AUD and DUD symptoms. Both genetic and nonshared environmental influences accounted for the correlated levels between BPD traits and MDD symptoms, but solely environmental influences accounted for the correlated changes between the two over time. Results indicate that higher levels of BPD traits may contribute to an earlier onset and faster escalation of AUD and DUD symptoms, and substance use problems slow the normative decline in BPD traits. Overall, our data suggests that primarily genetic influences contribute to the comorbidity between BPD features and substance use disorder symptoms. We discuss our data in the context of two major theories of developmental psychopathology and comorbidity. PMID:28420454

Genetic and environmental influences on the codevelopment among borderline personality disorder traits, major depression symptoms, and substance use disorder symptoms from adolescence to young adulthood.

PubMed

Bornovalova, Marina A; Verhulst, Brad; Webber, Troy; McGue, Matt; Iacono, William G; Hicks, Brian M

2018-02-01

Although borderline personality disorder (BPD) traits decline from adolescence to adulthood, comorbid psychopathology such as symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD), alcohol use disorder (AUD), and drug use disorders (DUDs) likely disrupt this normative decline. Using a longitudinal sample of female twins (N = 1,763), we examined if levels of BPD traits were correlated with changes in MDD, AUD, and DUD symptoms from ages 14 to 24. A parallel process biometric latent growth model examined the contributions of genetic and environmental factors to the relationships between developmental components of these phenotypes. Higher BPD trait levels predicted a greater rate of increase in AUD and DUD symptoms, and higher AUD and DUD symptoms predicted a slower rate of decline of BPD traits from ages 14 to 24. Common genetic influences accounted for the associations between BPD traits and each disorder, as well as the interrelationships of AUD and DUD symptoms. Both genetic and nonshared environmental influences accounted for the correlated levels between BPD traits and MDD symptoms, but solely environmental influences accounted for the correlated changes between the two over time. Results indicate that higher levels of BPD traits may contribute to an earlier onset and faster escalation of AUD and DUD symptoms, and substance use problems slow the normative decline in BPD traits. Overall, our data suggests that primarily genetic influences contribute to the comorbidity between BPD features and substance use disorder symptoms. We discuss our data in the context of two major theories of developmental psychopathology and comorbidity.

Characterization of Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Torch and the Surface Interaction for Material Removal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McWilliams, Anthony Joseph

An atmospheric pressure plasma torch has been developed and characterized for removal of organic based coatings. The focus of the Strategic Environmental Research & Development Program (SERDP) project WP-1762, that funded the bulk of this dissertation work, is removal of paint from US Navy vessels. The goal is to develop a novel technology for coating removal that is capable of reducing the amount of environmental waste produced during the commonly used grit blasting process. The atmospheric pressure air plasma torch was identified as having the capacity to remove the paint systems while using only compressed air and electricity as a media-less removal system with drastically reduced waste generation. Any improvements to the existing technology need to be based on scientific knowledge and thus the plasma removal mechanisms or material warranted investigation. The removal of material does not show a strong relation to the plasma parameters of power, frequency, and gas flow, nor is there a strong relation to the presences of inorganic fillers impeding or altering the removal rates. The underlying removal mechanisms also do not show a strong correlation to the rotational temperature of the plasma but do show a strong correlation to the optical emission intensity. Primarily, the emission from atomic oxygen and molecular nitrogen were identified significant contributors and were investigated further. The plasma feed gas was then varied from the nitrogen and oxygen ratio present in ambient air to pure nitrogen to identify the effect of oxygen on the removal mechanism. From these experiments it was concluded that the oxygen present in air does contribute to the overall removal mechanism; however, it is not the sole contributing factor with the other major factor being nitrogen.

STUDIES ON THE CONSERVATION OF EPIDERMAL SPECIFICITIES OF SKIN AND CERTAIN MUCOSAS IN ADULT MAMMALS

PubMed Central

Billingham, R. E.; Silvers, Willys K.

1967-01-01

To determine whether the factor(s) responsible for the conservation of epidermal specificities in adult guinea pigs and hamsters resides in the germinal layer of the epidermis or in the dermis, thin grafts of skin, possessing qualitatively distinct regional characteristics, were separated into their superficial epidermal and dermal components with the aid of trypsin. Dermis of one type was combined with epidermis of another to produce "recombinant" grafts which were then transplanted to small, full thickness cutaneous sites on the thorax of geneticaily compatible hosts. A variant of this procedure involved transplanting sheets of superficial epidermis of various types to shallow split thickness recipient areas in the skin of the thorax. All grafts were maintained for 100 days before they were excised and examined histologically. The results indicate that, whereas the dermis determines the kind of epidermis produced in recombinant grafts involving the ear, the sole of the foot, and the trunk, this is not the case in recombinants which include tongue, esophageal, or cheek pouch epithelia. The one exception to this occurred when tongue or esophagus epithelia were transplanted to split thickness beds in trunk skin. Here they appeared to produce an epidermis characteristic of their new location. It is believed that this exception is probably due to the fact that the native follicular epidermis present in trunk dermis made such a substantial contribution to the new superficial epidermis that it behaved overtly as body skin epidermis. Taken together, these results suggest that basal layer cells of the superficial epidermis of sole of foot skin, ear skin, and the hair-bearing skin of the general integument behave as if they are equipotential, and that in adult life maintenance of these particular epidermal specificities is the outcome of persistent specific inductive stimuli from the underlying dermis. The results of subsidiary experiments are reported which indicate that the epithelial component of mammary gland tissue is also pluripotential, being capable of producing, under appropriate conditions, a normal-looking, fully stratified superficial epidermis. PMID:5334545

Contribution of liver alcohol dehydrogenase to metabolism of alcohols in rats.

PubMed

Plapp, Bryce V; Leidal, Kevin G; Murch, Bruce P; Green, David W

2015-06-05

The kinetics of oxidation of various alcohols by purified rat liver alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) were compared with the kinetics of elimination of the alcohols in rats in order to investigate the roles of ADH and other factors that contribute to the rates of metabolism of alcohols. Primary alcohols (ethanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-methyl-1-propanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol) and diols (1,3-propanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol) were eliminated in rats with zero-order kinetics at doses of 5-20 mmol/kg. Ethanol was eliminated most rapidly, at 7.9 mmol/kgh. Secondary alcohols (2-propanol-d7, 2-propanol, 2-butanol, 3-pentanol, cyclopentanol, cyclohexanol) were eliminated with first order kinetics at doses of 5-10 mmol/kg, and the corresponding ketones were formed and slowly eliminated with zero or first order kinetics. The rates of elimination of various alcohols were inhibited on average 73% (55% for 2-propanol to 90% for ethanol) by 1 mmol/kg of 4-methylpyrazole, a good inhibitor of ADH, indicating a major role for ADH in the metabolism of the alcohols. The Michaelis kinetic constants from in vitro studies (pH 7.3, 37 °C) with isolated rat liver enzyme were used to calculate the expected relative rates of metabolism in rats. The rates of elimination generally increased with increased activity of ADH, but a maximum rate of 6±1 mmol/kg h was observed for the best substrates, suggesting that ADH activity is not solely rate-limiting. Because secondary alcohols only require one NAD(+) for the conversion to ketones whereas primary alcohols require two equivalents of NAD(+) for oxidation to the carboxylic acids, it appears that the rate of oxidation of NADH to NAD(+) is not a major limiting factor for metabolism of these alcohols, but the rate-limiting factors are yet to be identified. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Contribution of Liver Alcohol Dehydrogenase to Metabolism of Alcohols in Rats

PubMed Central

Plapp, Bryce V.; Leidal, Kevin G.; Murch, Bruce P.; Green, David W.

2015-01-01

The kinetics of oxidation of various alcohols by purified rat liver alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) were compared with the kinetics of elimination of the alcohols in rats in order to investigate the roles of ADH and other factors that contribute to the rates of metabolism of alcohols. Primary alcohols (ethanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-methyl-1-propanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol) and diols (1,3-propanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol) were eliminated in rats with zero-order kinetics at doses of 5–20 mmole/kg. Ethanol was eliminated most rapidly, at 7.9 mmole/kg•h. Secondary alcohols (2-propanol-d7, 2-propanol, 2-butanol, 3-pentanol, cyclopentanol, cyclohexanol) were eliminated with first order kinetics at doses of 5–10 mmole/kg, and the corresponding ketones were formed and slowly eliminated with zero or first order kinetics. The rates of elimination of various alcohols were inhibited on average 73% (55% for 2-propanol to 90% for ethanol) by 1 mmole/kg of 4-methylpyrazole, a good inhibitor of ADH, indicating a major role for ADH in the metabolism of the alcohols. The Michaelis kinetic constants from in vitro studies (pH 7.3, 37 °C) with isolated rat liver enzyme were used to calculate the expected relative rates of metabolism in rats. The rates of elimination generally increased with increased activity of ADH, but a maximum rate of 6 ± 1 mmole/kg•h was observed for the best substrates, suggesting that ADH activity is not solely rate-limiting. Because secondary alcohols only require one NAD+ for the conversion to ketones whereas primary alcohols require two equivalents of NAD+ for oxidation to the carboxylic acids, it appears that the rate of oxidation of NADH to NAD+ is not a major limiting factor for metabolism of these alcohols, but the rate-limiting factors are yet to be identified. PMID:25641189

Low-gravity Orbiting Research Laboratory Environment Potential Impact on Space Biology Research

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jules, Kenol

2006-01-01

One of the major objectives of any orbital space research platform is to provide a quiescent low gravity, preferably a zero gravity environment, to perform fundamental as well as applied research. However, small disturbances exist onboard any low earth orbital research platform. The impact of these disturbances must be taken into account by space research scientists during their research planning, design and data analysis in order to avoid confounding factors in their science results. The reduced gravity environment of an orbiting research platform in low earth orbit is a complex phenomenon. Many factors, among others, such as experiment operations, equipment operation, life support systems and crew activity (if it is a crewed platform), aerodynamic drag, gravity gradient, rotational effects as well as the vehicle structural resonance frequencies (structural modes) contribute to form the overall reduced gravity environment in which space research is performed. The contribution of these small disturbances or accelerations is precisely why the environment is NOT a zero gravity environment, but a reduced acceleration environment. This paper does not discuss other factors such as radiation, electromagnetic interference, thermal and pressure gradient changes, acoustic and CO2 build-up to name a few that affect the space research environment as well, but it focuses solely on the magnitude of the acceleration level found on orbiting research laboratory used by research scientists to conduct space research. For ease of analysis this paper divides the frequency spectrum relevant to most of the space research disciplines into three regimes: a) quasi-steady, b) vibratory and c) transient. The International Space Station is used as an example to illustrate the point. The paper discusses the impact of these three regimes on space biology research and results from space flown experiments are used to illustrate the potential negative impact of these disturbances (accelerations) on space biology research.

Dynamics Govern Specificity of a Protein-Protein Interface: Substrate Recognition by Thrombin.

PubMed

Fuchs, Julian E; Huber, Roland G; Waldner, Birgit J; Kahler, Ursula; von Grafenstein, Susanne; Kramer, Christian; Liedl, Klaus R

2015-01-01

Biomolecular recognition is crucial in cellular signal transduction. Signaling is mediated through molecular interactions at protein-protein interfaces. Still, specificity and promiscuity of protein-protein interfaces cannot be explained using simplistic static binding models. Our study rationalizes specificity of the prototypic protein-protein interface between thrombin and its peptide substrates relying solely on binding site dynamics derived from molecular dynamics simulations. We find conformational selection and thus dynamic contributions to be a key player in biomolecular recognition. Arising entropic contributions complement chemical intuition primarily reflecting enthalpic interaction patterns. The paradigm "dynamics govern specificity" might provide direct guidance for the identification of specific anchor points in biomolecular recognition processes and structure-based drug design.

Entropy driven key-lock assembly.

PubMed

Odriozola, G; Jiménez-Angeles, F; Lozada-Cassou, M

2008-09-21

The effective interaction between a sphere with an open cavity (lock) and a spherical macroparticle (key), both immersed in a hard sphere fluid, is studied by means of Monte Carlo simulations. As a result, a two-dimensional map of the key-lock effective interaction potential is constructed, which leads to the proposal of a self-assembling mechanism: There exists trajectories through which the key-lock pair could assemble avoiding trespassing potential barriers. Hence, solely the entropic contribution can induce their self-assembling even in the absence of attractive forces. This study points out the solvent contribution within the underlying mechanisms of substrate-protein assemblydisassembly processes, which are important steps of the enzyme catalysis and protein mediated transport.

Entropy driven key-lock assembly

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Odriozola, G.; Jiménez-Ángeles, F.; Lozada-Cassou, M.

2008-09-01

The effective interaction between a sphere with an open cavity (lock) and a spherical macroparticle (key), both immersed in a hard sphere fluid, is studied by means of Monte Carlo simulations. As a result, a two-dimensional map of the key-lock effective interaction potential is constructed, which leads to the proposal of a self-assembling mechanism: There exists trajectories through which the key-lock pair could assemble avoiding trespassing potential barriers. Hence, solely the entropic contribution can induce their self-assembling even in the absence of attractive forces. This study points out the solvent contribution within the underlying mechanisms of substrate-protein assembly/disassembly processes, which are important steps of the enzyme catalysis and protein mediated transport.

The Magnitude and Kinetics of the Mucosal HIV-Specific CD8+ T Lymphocyte Response and Virus RNA Load in Breast Milk

PubMed Central

Mahlokozera, Tatenda; Kang, Helen H.; Goonetilleke, Nilu; Stacey, Andrea R.; Lovingood, Rachel V.; Denny, Thomas N.; Kalilani, Linda; Bunn, James E. G.; Meshnick, Steve R.; Borrow, Persephone; Letvin, Norman L.; Permar, Sallie R.

2011-01-01

Background The risk of postnatal HIV transmission is associated with the magnitude of the milk virus load. While HIV-specific cellular immune responses control systemic virus load and are detectable in milk, the contribution of these responses to the control of virus load in milk is unknown. Methods We assessed the magnitude of the immunodominant GagRY11 and subdominant EnvKY9-specific CD8+ T lymphocyte response in blood and milk of 10 A*3002+, HIV-infected Malawian women throughout the period of lactation and correlated this response to milk virus RNA load and markers of breast inflammation. Results The magnitude and kinetics of the HIV-specific CD8+ T lymphocyte responses were discordant in blood and milk of the right and left breast, indicating independent regulation of these responses in each breast. However, there was no correlation between the magnitude of the HIV-specific CD8+ T lymphocyte response and the milk virus RNA load. Further, there was no correlation between the magnitude of this response and markers of breast inflammation. Conclusions The magnitude of the HIV-specific CD8+ T lymphocyte response in milk does not appear to be solely determined by the milk virus RNA load and is likely only one of the factors contributing to maintenance of low virus load in milk. PMID:21886819

Biological Ageing, Inflammation and Nutrition: How Might They Impact on Systemic Sclerosis?

PubMed

Shiels, Paul G; Ritzau-Reid, Kaja

2015-01-01

The number of aged individuals within the global population is increasing, which foreshadows a major societal and global health challenge. By 2050 those over 65 years old will outnumber children under 15 years of age. This situation will bring with it multifarious variations in health and functional status, occurring with increasing age and which remain incompletely understood. Ageing, however, is not solely a passive degenerative process but one that is actively regulated by distinct molecular pathways. Understanding this molecular basis of ageing is an essential step for therapeutic manipulation to combat age-related disease. Diseases such as SSc, RA and SLE may share common age related pathways of early dysregulation with other diseases of ageing, such that the biomarkers and interventions applied to prevent late stage disease will also tackle common fundamental pathways of ageing processes. This chapter will seek to explore and discuss the possible influence of these factors and their impact on disease processes, with specific reference to SSc in the context of it being a disease of ageing. It will address the contribution of socioeconomic, psychosocial and nutritional confounders of health span through the life course. In particular, it will seek to contextualize the development of inflammatory burden and allostatic overload and their contribution to morbidity and mortality. Importantly, this chapter will provide a context for transgenerational and other epigenetic effects, which are emerging as contributory components in disease susceptibility and progression.

THE PSYCHOANALYTIC CONTRIBUTIONS OF MELITTA SCHMIDEBERG KLEIN. MORE THAN MELANIE KLEIN'S REBEL DAUGHTER.

PubMed

Cassullo, Gabriele

2016-03-01

Compared to the impact of the work of Melanie Klein on the history of psychoanalysis, the contributions of her daughter, Melitta Schmideberg, passed almost unnoticed. At present, Schmideberg is solely remembered for having harshly attacked her mother at the start of the Controversial Discussions of the British Psycho-Analytical Society and for having coined the fitting expression "stable instability" in order to describe borderline and asocial personality disorders. However, the author discusses how the early groundbreaking discoveries of Klein with regards to primitive anxieties were the result of the joint work and thinking of Melanie and Melitta. Moreover, he argues that the conflict between the two, along with the subsequent polarization of their views, did not facilitate the development of psychoanalysis, neither did it help the analytic community to recognize the value of Melitta's contributions to psychoanalysis.

Predictors of neuropsychological outcome after pediatric concussion.

PubMed

Beauchamp, Miriam H; Aglipay, Mary; Yeates, Keith Owen; Désiré, Naddley; Keightley, Michelle; Anderson, Peter; Brooks, Brian L; Barrowman, Nick; Gravel, Jocelyn; Boutis, Kathy; Gagnon, Isabelle; Dubrovsky, Alexander Sasha; Zemek, Roger

2018-05-01

Previous research suggests that neuropsychological outcome after pediatric concussion is determined by unmodifiable, preexisting factors. This study aimed to predict neuropsychological outcome after pediatric concussion by using a sufficiently large sample to explore a vast array of predictors. A total of 311 children and adolescents (6-18 years old) with concussion were assessed in the emergency department to document acute symptomatology and to screen for cognitive functioning. At 4 and 12 weeks postinjury, they completed tests of intellectual functioning, attention/working memory, executive functions, verbal memory, processing speed, and fine motor abilities. Multiple hierarchical logistic and linear regressions were performed to assess the contribution of premorbid factors, acute symptoms, and acute cognitive screening (Standardized Assessment of Concussion-Child) to aspects of neuropsychological outcome: (a) cognitive inefficiency (defined using a modified Neuropsychological Impairment Rule; Beauchamp et al., 2015) and (b) neuropsychological performance (defined using principal component analysis). Neuropsychological impairment was present in 10.3% and 4.5% of participants at 4 and 12 weeks postinjury, respectively. At 4 weeks postinjury, cognitive inefficiency was predicted by premorbid factors and acute cognitive screening, whereas at 12 weeks it was predicted by acute symptoms. Neuropsychological performance at 4 weeks was predicted by a combination of premorbid factors, acute symptoms, and acute cognitive screening, whereas as at 12 weeks, only acute cognitive screening predicted performance. Neuropsychological outcome after pediatric concussion is not attributable solely to preexisting problems but is instead associated with a combination of preexisting and injury-related variables. Acute cognitive screening appears to be particularly useful in predicting neuropsychological status after concussion. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Choline catabolism to glycine betaine contributes to Pseudomonas aeruginosa survival during murine lung infection.

PubMed

Wargo, Matthew J

2013-01-01

Pseudomonas aeruginosa can acquire and metabolize a variety of molecules including choline, an abundant host-derived molecule. In P. aeruginosa, choline is oxidized to glycine betaine which can be used as an osmoprotectant, a sole source of carbon and nitrogen, and as an inducer of the virulence factor, hemolytic phospholipase C (PlcH) via the transcriptional regulator GbdR. The primary objective was to determine the contribution of choline conversion to glycine betaine to P. aeruginosa survival during mouse lung infection. A secondary objective was to gain insight into the relative contributions of the different roles of glycine betaine to P. aeruginosa survival during infection. Using a model of acute murine pneumonia, we determined that deletion of the choline oxidase system (encoded by betBA) decreased P. aeruginosa survival in the mouse lung. Deletion of the glycine betaine demethylase genes (gbcA-B), required for glycine betaine catabolism, did not impact P. aeruginosa survival in the lung. Thus, the defect of the betBA mutant was not due to a requirement for glycine betaine catabolism or dependence on a downstream metabolite. Deletion of betBA decreased the abundance of plcH transcript during infection, which suggested a role for PlcH in the betBA survival defect. To test the contribution of plcH to the betBA mutant phenotype a betBAplcHR double deletion mutant was generated. The betBA and betBAplcHR double mutant had a small but significant survival defect compared to the plcHR single mutant, suggesting that regulation of plcH expression is not the only role for glycine betaine during infection. The conclusion was that choline acquisition and its oxidation to glycine betaine contribute to P. aeruginosa survival in the mouse lung. While defective plcH induction can explain a portion of the betBA mutant phenotype, the exact mechanisms driving the betBA mutant survival defect remain unknown.

Choline Catabolism to Glycine Betaine Contributes to Pseudomonas aeruginosa Survival during Murine Lung Infection

PubMed Central

Wargo, Matthew J.

2013-01-01

Pseudomonas aeruginosa can acquire and metabolize a variety of molecules including choline, an abundant host-derived molecule. In P. aeruginosa, choline is oxidized to glycine betaine which can be used as an osmoprotectant, a sole source of carbon and nitrogen, and as an inducer of the virulence factor, hemolytic phospholipase C (PlcH) via the transcriptional regulator GbdR. The primary objective was to determine the contribution of choline conversion to glycine betaine to P. aeruginosa survival during mouse lung infection. A secondary objective was to gain insight into the relative contributions of the different roles of glycine betaine to P. aeruginosa survival during infection. Using a model of acute murine pneumonia, we determined that deletion of the choline oxidase system (encoded by betBA) decreased P. aeruginosa survival in the mouse lung. Deletion of the glycine betaine demethylase genes (gbcA-B), required for glycine betaine catabolism, did not impact P. aeruginosa survival in the lung. Thus, the defect of the betBA mutant was not due to a requirement for glycine betaine catabolism or dependence on a downstream metabolite. Deletion of betBA decreased the abundance of plcH transcript during infection, which suggested a role for PlcH in the betBA survival defect. To test the contribution of plcH to the betBA mutant phenotype a betBAplcHR double deletion mutant was generated. The betBA and betBAplcHR double mutant had a small but significant survival defect compared to the plcHR single mutant, suggesting that regulation of plcH expression is not the only role for glycine betaine during infection. The conclusion was that choline acquisition and its oxidation to glycine betaine contribute to P. aeruginosa survival in the mouse lung. While defective plcH induction can explain a portion of the betBA mutant phenotype, the exact mechanisms driving the betBA mutant survival defect remain unknown. PMID:23457628

Sources of suspended sediment in the Lower Roanoke River, NC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jalowska, A. M.; McKee, B. A.; Rodriguez, A. B.; Laceby, J. P.

2015-12-01

The Lower Roanoke River, NC, extends 220 km from the fall line to the bayhead delta front in the Albemarle Sound. The Lower Roanoke is almost completely disconnected from the upper reaches by a series of dams, with the furthest downstream dam located at the fall line. The dams effectively restrict the suspended sediment delivery from headwaters, making soils and sediments from the Lower Roanoke River basin, the sole source of suspended sediment. In flow-regulated rivers, bank erosion, especially mass wasting, is the major contributor to the suspended matter. Additional sources of the suspended sediment considered in this study are river channel, surface soils, floodplain surface sediments, and erosion of the delta front and prodelta. Here, we examine spatial and temporal variations in those sources. This study combined the use of flow and grain size data with a sediment fingerprinting method, to examine the contribution of surface and subsurface sediments to the observed suspended sediment load along the Lower Roanoke River. The fingerprinting method utilized radionuclide tracers 210Pb (natural atmospheric fallout), and 137Cs (produced by thermonuclear bomb testing). The contributions of surface and subsurface sources to the suspended sediment were calculated with 95% confidence intervals using a Monte-Carlo numerical mixing model. Our results show that with decreasing river slope and changing hydrography along the river, the contribution of surface sediments increases and becomes a main source of sediments in the Roanoke bayhead delta. At the river mouth, the surface sediment contribution decreases and is replaced by sediments eroded from the delta front and prodelta. The area of high surface sediment contribution is within the middle and upper parts of the delta, which are considered net depositional. Our study demonstrates that floodplains, often regarded to be a sediment sink, are also a sediment source, and they should be factored into sediment, carbon and nutrient budgets.

Rule-Based Models of the Interplay between Genetic and Environmental Factors in Childhood Allergy

PubMed Central

Melén, Erik; Bergström, Anna; Torabi Moghadam, Behrooz; Pulkkinen, Ville; Acevedo, Nathalie; Orsmark Pietras, Christina; Ege, Markus; Braun-Fahrländer, Charlotte; Riedler, Josef; Doekes, Gert; Kabesch, Michael; van Hage, Marianne; Kere, Juha; Scheynius, Annika; Söderhäll, Cilla; Pershagen, Göran; Komorowski, Jan

2013-01-01

Both genetic and environmental factors are important for the development of allergic diseases. However, a detailed understanding of how such factors act together is lacking. To elucidate the interplay between genetic and environmental factors in allergic diseases, we used a novel bioinformatics approach that combines feature selection and machine learning. In two materials, PARSIFAL (a European cross-sectional study of 3113 children) and BAMSE (a Swedish birth-cohort including 2033 children), genetic variants as well as environmental and lifestyle factors were evaluated for their contribution to allergic phenotypes. Monte Carlo feature selection and rule based models were used to identify and rank rules describing how combinations of genetic and environmental factors affect the risk of allergic diseases. Novel interactions between genes were suggested and replicated, such as between ORMDL3 and RORA, where certain genotype combinations gave odds ratios for current asthma of 2.1 (95% CI 1.2-3.6) and 3.2 (95% CI 2.0-5.0) in the BAMSE and PARSIFAL children, respectively. Several combinations of environmental factors appeared to be important for the development of allergic disease in children. For example, use of baby formula and antibiotics early in life was associated with an odds ratio of 7.4 (95% CI 4.5-12.0) of developing asthma. Furthermore, genetic variants together with environmental factors seemed to play a role for allergic diseases, such as the use of antibiotics early in life and COL29A1 variants for asthma, and farm living and NPSR1 variants for allergic eczema. Overall, combinations of environmental and life style factors appeared more frequently in the models than combinations solely involving genes. In conclusion, a new bioinformatics approach is described for analyzing complex data, including extensive genetic and environmental information. Interactions identified with this approach could provide useful hints for further in-depth studies of etiological mechanisms and may also strengthen the basis for risk assessment and prevention. PMID:24260339

Addressing Human Factors Gaps in Cyber Defense

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-09-23

Factors Gaps in Cyber Defense 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER FA8650-14-D-6501-0009 5b. GRANT NUMBER 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6. AUTHOR(S) Alex... Cyber security is a high-ranking national priority that is only likely to grow as we become more dependent on cyber systems. From a research perspective...currently available work often focuses solely on technological aspects of cyber , acknowledging the human in passing, if at all. In recent years, the

Anticoagulation by factor Xa inhibitors.

PubMed

Orfeo, T; Butenas, S; Brummel-Ziedins, K E; Gissel, M; Mann, K G

2010-08-01

Therapeutic agents that regulate blood coagulation are critical to the management of thrombotic disorders, with the selective targeting of factor (F) Xa emerging as a promising approach. To assess anticoagulant strategies targeting FXa. A deterministic computational model of tissue factor (Tf)-initiated thrombin generation and two empirical experimental systems (a synthetic coagulation proteome reconstruction using purified proteins and a whole blood model) were used to evaluate clinically relevant examples of the two available types of FXa-directed anticoagulants [an antithrombin (AT)-dependent agent, fondaparinux, and an AT-independent inhibitor, Rivaroxaban] in experimental regimens relevant to long-term (suppression of new Tf-initiated events) and acute (suppression of ongoing coagulation processes) clinical applications. Computational representations of each anticoagulant's efficacy in suppressing thrombin generation over a range of anticoagulant concentrations in both anticoagulation regimens were validated by results from corresponding empirical reconstructions and were consistent with those recommended for long-term and acute clinical applications, respectively. All three model systems suggested that Rivaroxaban would prove more effective in the suppression of an ongoing coagulation process than fondaparinux, reflecting its much higher reactivity toward the prothrombinase complex. The success of fondaparinux in acute settings in vivo is not explained solely by its properties as an FXa inhibitor. We have reported that FIXa contributes to the long-term capacity of clot-associated catalysts to restart a coagulation process, suggesting that the enhanced anti-FIXa activity of fondaparinux-AT may be critical to its success in acute settings in vivo. © 2010 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

The Effect of Economic Growth, Urbanization, and Industrialization on Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Concentrations in China.

PubMed

Li, Guangdong; Fang, Chuanglin; Wang, Shaojian; Sun, Siao

2016-11-01

Rapid economic growth, industrialization, and urbanization in China have led to extremely severe air pollution that causes increasing negative effects on human health, visibility, and climate change. However, the influence mechanisms of these anthropogenic factors on fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) concentrations are poorly understood. In this study, we combined panel data and econometric methods to investigate the main anthropogenic factors that contribute to increasing PM 2.5 concentrations in China at the prefecture level from 1999 to 2011. The results showed that PM 2.5 concentrations and three anthropogenic factors were cointegrated. The panel Fully Modified Least Squares and panel Granger causality test results indicated that economic growth, industrialization, and urbanization increased PM 2.5 concentrations in the long run. The results implied that if China persists in its current development pattern, economic growth, industrialization and urbanization will inevitably lead to increased PM 2.5 emissions in the long term. Industrialization was the principal factor that affected PM 2.5 concentrations for the total panel, the industry-oriented panel and the service-oriented panel. PM 2.5 concentrations can be reduced at the cost of short-term economic growth and industrialization. However, reducing the urbanization level is not an efficient way to decrease PM 2.5 pollutions in the short term. The findings also suggest that a rapid reduction of PM 2.5 concentrations relying solely on adjusting these anthropogenic factors is difficult in a short-term for the heavily PM 2.5 -polluted panel. Moreover, the Chinese government will have to seek much broader policies that favor a decoupling of these coupling relationships.

The toric SO(10) F-theory landscape

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buchmüller, W.; Dierigl, M.; Oehlmann, P.-K.; Rühle, F.

2017-12-01

Supergravity theories in more than four dimensions with grand unified gauge symmetries are an important intermediate step towards the ultraviolet completion of the Standard Model in string theory. Using toric geometry, we classify and analyze six-dimensional F-theory vacua with gauge group SO(10) taking into account Mordell-Weil U(1) and discrete gauge factors. We determine the full matter spectrum of these models, including charged and neutral SO(10) singlets. Based solely on the geometry, we compute all matter multiplicities and confirm the cancellation of gauge and gravitational anomalies independent of the base space. Particular emphasis is put on symmetry enhancements at the loci of matter fields and to the frequent appearance of superconformal points. They are linked to non-toric Kähler deformations which contribute to the counting of degrees of freedom. We compute the anomaly coefficients for these theories as well by using a base-independent blow-up procedure and superconformal matter transitions. Finally, we identify six-dimensional supergravity models which can yield the Standard Model with high-scale supersymmetry by further compactification to four dimensions in an Abelian flux background.

The Galactic Isotropic γ-ray Background and Implications for Dark Matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Campbell, Sheldon S.; Kwa, Anna; Kaplinghat, Manoj

2018-06-01

We present an analysis of the radial angular profile of the galacto-isotropic (GI) γ-ray flux-the statistically uniform flux in angular annuli centred on the Galactic centre. Two different approaches are used to measure the GI flux profile in 85 months of Fermi-LAT data: the BDS statistical method which identifies spatial correlations, and a new Poisson ordered-pixel method which identifies non-Poisson contributions. Both methods produce similar GI flux profiles. The GI flux profile is well-described by an existing model of bremsstrahlung, π0 production, inverse Compton scattering, and the isotropic background. Discrepancies with data in our full-sky model are not present in the GI component, and are therefore due to mis-modelling of the non-GI emission. Dark matter annihilation constraints based solely on the observed GI profile are close to the thermal WIMP cross section below 100 GeV, for fixed models of the dark matter density profile and astrophysical γ-ray foregrounds. Refined measurements of the GI profile are expected to improve these constraints by a factor of a few.

Role of associated mineral fibres in chrysotile asbestos health effects: the case of balangeroite.

PubMed

Turci, Francesco; Tomatis, Maura; Compagnoni, Roberto; Fubini, Bice

2009-07-01

To evaluate the biodurability of balangeroite, present as contaminant of chrysotile asbestos in the Balangero mine, in order to have indication whether it might have been a confounding factor in the association of the mesothelioma cases reported among mine workers and employees. The modifications taking place following incubation of the fibres in simulated phagolysosomal fluids have been measured on balangeroite, on one pure chrysotile sample (Val Malenco), on one chrysotile from Balangero with some associated balangeroite, and on two tremolite samples. The incubation modifies both chrysotile and balangeroite with substantial release in the medium of the metal ions which occupy the octahedral site in the mineral structure of the fibre while tremolite is virtually unaffected. Considering the profound differences between the structure of balangeroite and amphiboles, previous results and observations on the poor ecopersistence of balangeroite, and the present data, we conclude that balangeroite traces may contribute to the overall toxicity of the airborne fibres in Balangero, but may not be compared to tremolite nor considered the sole responsible for the excess of mesothelioma found in Balangero.

Global Gene Expression Differences in Joints of Mice with Divergent Post Traumatic Osteoarthritis Phenotypes

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

Kibui, J.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating joint disease characterized by cartilage degradation which prompts pain, stiffness and swelling. Contributing factors include age, genetics, obesity, injury and overuse of joints. OA is defined by an acute phase and a chronic phase whereby inflammation and degeneration of articular cartilage and other tissues is followed by joint pain and limited mobility. Patients remain asymptomatic until substantial joint damage has occurred and therefore rely on long term surgical joint replacement and pain management as their sole treatment options. For this reason, there is an increasing need to identify early stage osteoarthritis biomarkers. Our study aimedmore » to identify and characterize gene expression variances in 3 different mouse strains (STR/ort, C57BL/6 and MRL/MpJ) with different susceptibility to post traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). Through RNA sequence analysis of whole knee joint RNA, we identified differentially expressed genes associated with the initial stages of PTOA in relation to mice with divergent phenotypes. These results will help elucidate potential mechanisms responsible for PTOA outcomes.« less

From Creatures of Habit to Goal-Directed Learners: Tracking the Developmental Emergence of Model-Based Reinforcement Learning.

PubMed

Decker, Johannes H; Otto, A Ross; Daw, Nathaniel D; Hartley, Catherine A

2016-06-01

Theoretical models distinguish two decision-making strategies that have been formalized in reinforcement-learning theory. A model-based strategy leverages a cognitive model of potential actions and their consequences to make goal-directed choices, whereas a model-free strategy evaluates actions based solely on their reward history. Research in adults has begun to elucidate the psychological mechanisms and neural substrates underlying these learning processes and factors that influence their relative recruitment. However, the developmental trajectory of these evaluative strategies has not been well characterized. In this study, children, adolescents, and adults performed a sequential reinforcement-learning task that enabled estimation of model-based and model-free contributions to choice. Whereas a model-free strategy was apparent in choice behavior across all age groups, a model-based strategy was absent in children, became evident in adolescents, and strengthened in adults. These results suggest that recruitment of model-based valuation systems represents a critical cognitive component underlying the gradual maturation of goal-directed behavior. © The Author(s) 2016.

Extra virgin olive oil: a key functional food for prevention of immune-inflammatory diseases.

PubMed

Aparicio-Soto, Marina; Sánchez-Hidalgo, Marina; Rosillo, Ma Ángeles; Castejón, Ma Luisa; Alarcón-de-la-Lastra, Catalina

2016-11-09

Nowadays, it is clear that an unhealthy diet is one of the prime factors that contributes to the rise of inflammatory diseases and autoimmunity in the populations of both developed and developing countries. The Mediterranean diet has been associated with a reduced incidence of certain pathologies related to chronic inflammation and the immune system. Olive oil, the principal source of dietary lipids of the Mediterranean diet, possesses a high nutritional quality and a particular composition, which is especially relevant in the case of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO). EVOO is obtained from olives solely by mechanical or other physical preparation methods, under conditions that do not alter the natural composition. EVOO is described as a key bioactive food with multiple beneficial properties and it may be effective in the management of some immune-inflammatory diseases. In this review, the key research is summarised which provides evidence of the beneficial effects of EVOO and its minor components focusing on their mechanisms on immune-inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, inflammatory bowel disease and sclerosis.

Identifying indicators of behavior change: insights from wildfire education programs

Treesearch

Martha C. Monroe; Shruti Agrawal; Pamela J. Jakes; Linda E. Kruger; Kristen C. Nelson; Victoria Sturtevant

2013-01-01

Environmental educators are challenged to document behavior changes, because change rarely depends solely on outcomes of education programs, but on many factors. An analysis of 15 communities in the United States that have increased their preparedness for wildfire allowed us to explore how education programs encouraged individual and community change. Agency-sponsored...

An Investigation of the Impact of International Branch Campuses on Organizational Culture

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tierney, William G.; Lanford, Michael

2015-01-01

The authors first survey the factors related to globalization that have stimulated the creation of international branch campuses. They then contend that the viability of an international branch campus should not be solely evaluated from a rational choice perspective oriented toward economic self-interest. Rather, the organizational culture of the…

Maximizing purchase decision factors other than price.

PubMed

Berkowitz, D A; Diamond, J F; Montagnolo, A J

1992-05-01

Assessing and acquiring technology does not have to be chaotic, driven solely by price, clinical preference, and emotion. With the tools available, it can be distilled to a process of organized common sense, which results in maximum flexibility for the user and allows materiel managers to procure the best, most cost-effective equipment for the hospital.

Contact sensitivities in palmar plantar pustulosis (acropustulosis).

PubMed

Yiannias, J A; Winkelmann, R K; Connolly, S M

1998-09-01

Acropustulosis, or chronic palmar plantar pustulosis (PPP), is a phenomenon of recurrent sterile pustules, erythema, and scaling affecting the palms and soles. Its pathogenesis is unclear, and it is difficult to treat. The purpose of this study was to elucidate further the factors involved in causing PPP, thereby enhancing the ability to manage this disease. All cases of PPP seen at Mayo Clinic Scottsdale from 1987 to 1993 were reviewed. 21 patients with PPP were identified, 15 of whom had been patch tested. 9 of the 15 patients (60%) showed positive patch test results. Fragrance was the most common sensitivity, but nickel, formaldehyde, para-phenylenediamine, thiuram, neomycin, mercury, balsam of Peru, and cinnamic aldehyde sensitivities were demonstrated. Less important factors included atopy, fungal and bacterial infections, and irritation. Although the mechanism of this sterile pustulosis response does not depend solely on delayed hypersensitivity mechanisms, we believe that we have demonstrated such a large number of positive patch tests in this chronic pustular dermatosis that patch testing should be considered in the routine work-up of these patients.

77 FR 41332 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Arrowtooth Flounder, Flathead Sole, Rex Sole...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-13

...NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole, rex sole, deep-water flatfish, and shallow-water flatfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to limit incidental catch of Pacific ocean perch by vessels fishing for arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole, rex sole, deep-water flatfish, and shallow-water flatfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.

A critique of age estimation using attrition as the sole indicator.

PubMed

Ball, J

2002-12-01

The age determination of skeletal remains has been carried out using anthropological examination of the remaining bones and dentition. The aging of the dentition is based on attrition which, if physiological will correlate with age. Occasionally the only material available is a single tooth or a few teeth, or in the case of a living person, teeth in situ. In certain cases microscopic examination of the teeth may not be possible and the age estimation is then often determined by the degree of attrition associated with the tooth. In more recent times the causes of attrition have involved other factors such as bruxism, diet, environment and medication. The weaknesses and limitations of age estimation by examination of dental attrition as the sole indicator of age are highlighted.

CD94 of tongue sole Cynoglossus semilaevis binds a wide arrange of bacteria and possesses antibacterial activity.

PubMed

Li, Xue-Peng; Hu, Yong-Hua

2016-11-01

In this study, we examined the expression patterns and the functions of the tongue sole Cynoglossus semilaevis CD94, CsCD94. CsCD94 is composed of 209 amino acid residues and shares 43.0-50.2% overall identities with known teleost CD94 sequence. CsCD94 has a C-type lectin-like domain. Expression of CsCD94 occurred in multiple tissues and was upregulated during bacterial infection. Recombinant CsCD94 (rCsCD94) exhibited apparent binding and agglutinating activities against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in a Ca 2+ -dependent manner. Treatment of bacteria with rCsCD94 enhanced phagocytosis of the bacteria by peripheral blood leukocytes. Furthermore, incubation of rCsCD94 with bacteria reduced the survival of the bacteria in vitro. Taken together, these results indicate that rCsCD94 is a key factor in the bactericidal and phagocytic effects of tongue sole, and reveal for the first time an essential role of fish CD94 in antibacterial immunity, thereby adding insight into the function of CD94. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

ω→π0γ* and ϕ→π0γ* transition form factors in dispersion theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schneider, Sebastian P.; Kubis, Bastian; Niecknig, Franz

2012-09-01

We calculate the ω→π0γ* and ϕ→π0γ* electromagnetic transition form factors based on dispersion theory, relying solely on a previous dispersive analysis of the corresponding three-pion decays and the pion vector form factor. We compare our findings to recent measurements of the ω→π0μ+μ- decay spectrum by the NA60 collaboration, and strongly encourage experimental investigation of the Okubo-Zweig-Iizuka forbidden ϕ→π0ℓ+ℓ- decays in order to understand the strong deviations from vector-meson dominance found in these transition form factors.

75 FR 31321 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Rock Sole, Flathead Sole, and “Other...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-06-03

.... 0910131363-0087-02] RIN 0648-XW74 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Rock Sole, Flathead... participating in the Amendment 80 limited access fishery in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area... the trawl rock sole, flathead sole, and ``other flatfish'' fishery category by vessels participating...

Sole: Online Analysis of Southern FIA Data

Treesearch

Michael P. Spinney; Paul C. Van Deusen; Francis A. Roesch

2006-01-01

The Southern On Line Estimator (SOLE) is a flexible modular software program for analyzing U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis data. SOLE produces statistical tables, figures, maps, and portable document format reports based on user selected area and variables. SOLE?s Java-based graphical user interface is easy to use, and its R-...

Data Sources for Biosurveillance

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

Walters, Ronald A.; Harlan, MS, Pete A.; Nelson, Noele P.

2010-03-01

Biosurveillance analyzes timely data, often fusing time series of many different types of data, to infer the status of public health rather than solely exploiting data having diagnostic specificity. Integrated biosurveillance requires a synthesis of analytic approaches derived from the natural disaster, public health, medical, meteorological, and social science communities, among others, and it is the cornerstone of early disease detection. This paper summarizes major systems dedicated to such an endeavor and emphasizes system capabilities that if creatively exploited could contribute to creation of an effective global biosurveillance enterprise.

Cell-derived microparticles in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease: friend or foe?

PubMed

Tushuizen, Maarten E; Diamant, Michaela; Sturk, Augueste; Nieuwland, Rienk

2011-01-01

Microparticles are ascribed important roles in coagulation, inflammation, and endothelial function. These processes are mandatory to safeguard the integrity of the organism, and their derangements contribute to the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. More recently, the presumed solely harmful role of microparticles has been challenged because microparticles may also be involved in the maintenance and preservation of cellular homeostasis and in promoting defense mechanisms. Here, we summarize recent studies revealing these 2 faces of microparticles in cardiovascular disease.

Targeting FASN for Breast Cancer Treatment by Repositioning PPIs

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-01-01

the sole cytosolic enzyme responsible for de novo synthesis of palmitate. Recently, it was found that FASN up-regulation contributes to drug and...increased whereas Flag-p65 (NF-κB) over-expression significantly reduced PARP-1 protein and mRNA levels. Knocking down p65 using shRNA significantly...increased PARP-1 protein and mRNA levels (Fig. 2C), whereas activation of p65 with TNF-α had contrary effect (Fig. 2D). Taken together, these results

Idealization of the analyst by the young adult.

PubMed

Chused, J F

1987-01-01

Idealization is an intrapsychic process that serves many functions. In addition to its use defensively and for gratification of libidinal and aggressive drive derivatives, it can contribute to developmental progression, particularly during late adolescence and young adulthood. During an analysis, it is important to recognize all the determinants of idealization, including those related to the reworking of developmental conflicts. If an analyst understands idealization solely as a manifestation of pathology, he may interfere with his patient's use of it for the development of autonomous functioning.

Egas Moniz: 90 Years (1927-2017) from Cerebral Angiography.

PubMed

Artico, Marco; Spoletini, Marialuisa; Fumagalli, Lorenzo; Biagioni, Francesca; Ryskalin, Larisa; Fornai, Francesco; Salvati, Maurizio; Frati, Alessandro; Pastore, Francesco Saverio; Taurone, Samanta

2017-01-01

In June 2017 we celebrate the 90th anniversary of the pioneer discovery of cerebral angiography, the seminal imaging technique used for visualizing cerebral blood vessels and vascular alterations as well as other intracranial disorders. Egas Moniz (1874-1955) was the first to describe the use of this revolutionary technique which, until 1975 (when computed tomography, CT, scan was introduced in the clinical practice), was the sole diagnostic tool to provide an imaging of cerebral vessels and therefore alterations due to intracranial pathology. Moniz introduced in the clinical practice this fundamental and important diagnostic tool. The present contribution wishes to pay a tribute to the Portuguese neurosurgeon, who was also a distinguished neurologist and statesman. Despite his tremendous contribution in modern brain imaging, Egas Moniz was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1949 for prefrontal leucotomy, the neurosurgical intervention nowadays unacceptable, but should rather be remembered for his key contribution to modern brain imaging.

Nuclear factor 45 of tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis): evidence for functional differentiation between two isoforms in immune defense against viral and bacterial pathogens.

PubMed

Chi, Heng; Hu, Yong-hua; Xiao, Zhi-zhong; Sun, Li

2014-02-01

Nuclear factor 45 (NF45) is known to play an important role in regulating interleukin-2 expression in mammals. The function of fish NF45 is largely unknown. In a previous study, we reported the identification of a NF45 (named CsNF45) from half smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis). In the present study, we identified an isoform of CsNF45 (named CsNF45i) from half smooth tongue sole and examined its biological properties in comparison with CsNF45. We found that CsNF45i is a truncated version of CsNF45 and lacks the N-terminal 38 residues of CsNF45. Genetic analysis showed that the CsNF45 gene consists of 14 exons and 13 introns, and that CsNF45 and CsNF45i are the products of alternative splicing. Constitutive expression of CsNF45 and CsNF45i occurred in multiple tissues but differed in patterns. Experimental infection with viral and bacterial pathogens upregulated the expression of both isoforms but to different degrees, with potent induction of CsNF45 being induced by bacterial pathogen, while dramatic induction of CsNF45i being induced by viral pathogen. Transient transfection analysis showed that both isoforms were localized in the nucleus and able to stimulate the activity of IL-2 promoter to comparable extents. To examine their in vivo effects, the two isoforms were overexpressed in tongue sole. Subsequent analysis showed that following viral and bacterial infection, the viral loads in CsNF45i-overexpressing fish were significantly lower than those in CsNF45-overexpressing fish, whereas the bacterial loads in CsNF45-overexpressing fish were significantly lower than those in CsNF45i-overexpressing fish. These results indicate that both CsNF45 and CsNF45i possess immunoregulatory properties, however, the two isoforms most likely participate in different aspects of host immune defense that target different pathogens. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of rocker-soled shoes on parameters of knee joint load in knee osteoarthritis.

PubMed

Madden, Elizabeth G; Kean, Crystal O; Wrigley, Tim V; Bennell, Kim L; Hinman, Rana S

2015-01-01

This study evaluated the immediate effects of rocker-soled shoes on parameters of the knee adduction moment (KAM) and pain in individuals with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Three-dimensional gait analysis was performed on 30 individuals (mean (SD): age, 61 (7) yr; 15 (50%) male) with radiographic and symptomatic knee OA under three walking conditions in a randomized order: i) wearing rocker-soled shoes (Skechers Shape-ups), ii) wearing non-rocker-soled shoes (ASICS walking shoes), and iii) barefoot. Peak KAM and KAM angular impulse were measured as primary indicators of knee load distribution. Secondary measures included the knee flexion moment (KFM) and knee pain during walking. Peak KAM was significantly lower when wearing the rocker-soled shoes compared with that when wearing the non-rocker-soled shoes (mean difference (95% confidence interval), -0.27 (-0.42 to -0.12) N·m/BW × Ht%; P < 0.001). Post hoc tests revealed no significant difference in KAM impulse between rocker-soled and non-rocker-soled shoe conditions (P = 0.13). Both peak KAM and KAM impulse were significantly higher during both shoe conditions compared with those during the barefoot condition (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in KFM (P = 0.36) or knee pain (P = 0.89) between conditions. Rocker-soled shoes significantly reduced peak KAM when compared with non-rocker-soled shoes, without a concomitant change in KFM, and thus may potentially reduce medial knee joint loading. However, KAM parameters in the rocker-soled shoes remained significantly higher than those during barefoot walking. Wearing rocker-soled shoes did not have a significant immediate effect on walking pain. Further research is required to evaluate whether rocker-soled shoes can influence symptoms and progression of knee OA with prolonged wear.

Emotional processing during experiential treatment of depression.

PubMed

Pos, Alberta E; Greenberg, Leslie S; Goldman, Rhonda N; Korman, Lorne M

2003-12-01

This study explored the importance of early and late emotional processing to change in depressive and general symptomology, self-esteem, and interpersonal problems for 34 clients who received 16-20 sessions of experiential treatment for depression. The independent contribution to outcome of the early working alliance was also explored. Early and late emotional processing predicted reductions in reported symptoms and gains in self-esteem. More important, emotional-processing skill significantly improved during treatment. Hierarchical regression models demonstrated that late emotional processing both mediated the relationship between clients' early emotional processing capacity and outcome and was the sole emotional-processing variable that independently predicted improvement. After controlling for emotional processing, the working alliance added an independent contribution to explaining improvement in reported symptomology only. (c) 2003 APA

Dynamics Govern Specificity of a Protein-Protein Interface: Substrate Recognition by Thrombin

PubMed Central

Fuchs, Julian E.; Huber, Roland G.; Waldner, Birgit J.; Kahler, Ursula; von Grafenstein, Susanne; Kramer, Christian; Liedl, Klaus R.

2015-01-01

Biomolecular recognition is crucial in cellular signal transduction. Signaling is mediated through molecular interactions at protein-protein interfaces. Still, specificity and promiscuity of protein-protein interfaces cannot be explained using simplistic static binding models. Our study rationalizes specificity of the prototypic protein-protein interface between thrombin and its peptide substrates relying solely on binding site dynamics derived from molecular dynamics simulations. We find conformational selection and thus dynamic contributions to be a key player in biomolecular recognition. Arising entropic contributions complement chemical intuition primarily reflecting enthalpic interaction patterns. The paradigm “dynamics govern specificity” might provide direct guidance for the identification of specific anchor points in biomolecular recognition processes and structure-based drug design. PMID:26496636

Relationship between foot sensation and standing balance in patients with multiple sclerosis.

PubMed

Citaker, Seyit; Gunduz, Arzu Guclu; Guclu, Meral Bosnak; Nazliel, Bijen; Irkec, Ceyla; Kaya, Defne

2011-06-01

The aims of the present study were to investigate the relationship between the foot sensations and standing balance in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and find out the sensation, which best predicts balance. Twenty-seven patients with MS (Expanded Disability Status Scale 1-3.5) and 10 healthy volunteers were included. Threshold of light touch-pressure, duration of vibration, and distance of two-point discrimination of the foot sole were assessed. Duration of static one-leg standing balance was measured. Light touch-pressure, vibration, two-point discrimination sensations of the foot sole, and duration of one-leg standing balance were decreased in patients with MS compared with controls (p<0.05). Sensation of the foot sole was related with duration of one-leg standing balance in patients with MS. In the multiple regression analysis conducted in the 27 MS patients, 47.6% of the variance in the duration of one-leg standing balance was explained by two-point discrimination sensation of the heel (R(2)=0.359, p=0.001) and vibration sensation of the first metatarsal head (R(2)=0.118, p=0.029). As the cutaneous receptors sensitivity decreases in the foot sole the standing balance impairs in patients with MS. Two-point discrimination sensation of the heel and vibration sensation of the first metatarsal head region are the best predictors of the static standing balance in patients with MS. Other factors which could be possible to predict balance and effects of sensorial training of foot on balance should be investigated. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms Predict Symptom Severity of Autism Spectrum Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jiao, Yun; Chen, Rong; Ke, Xiaoyan; Cheng, Lu; Chu, Kangkang; Lu, Zuhong; Herskovits, Edward H.

2012-01-01

Autism is widely believed to be a heterogeneous disorder; diagnosis is currently based solely on clinical criteria, although genetic, as well as environmental, influences are thought to be prominent factors in the etiology of most forms of autism. Our goal is to determine whether a predictive model based on single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)…

A comparison of periodic versus permanent surveys

Treesearch

Michael Kohl; Charles T. Scott

2000-01-01

Extensive forest surveys can be periodic or permanent, regional or national, can include midcycle updates or not, or use partial replacement of plots or not. Fifty-two combinations of these and other factors were evaluated, not solely on a statistical basis, but also on their perceived ability to meet various design and customer objectives. These criteria include...

The Measurement of Economic, Social and Environmental Performance of Countries: A Novel Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cracolici, Maria Francesca; Cuffaro, Miranda; Nijkamp, Peter

2010-01-01

This paper presents a new analytical framework for assessing spatial disparities among countries. It takes for granted that the analysis of a country's performance cannot be limited solely to either economic or social factors. The aim of the paper is to combine relevant economic and "non-economic" (mainly social) aspects of a country's performance…

Bridging the Gaps between Learning and Teaching through Recognition of Students' Learning Approaches: A Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Malie, Senian; Akir, Oriah

2012-01-01

Learning approaches, learning methods and learning environments have different effects on students? academic performance. However, they are not the sole factors that impact students? academic achievement. The aims of this research are three-fold: to determine the learning approaches preferred by most students and the impact of the learning…

Investigating the Effect of Academic Procrastination on the Frequency and Variety of Academic Misconduct: A Panel Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Patrzek, Justine; Sattler, Sebastian; van Veen, Floris; Grunschel, Carola; Fries, Stefan

2015-01-01

In prior studies, academic procrastination has been discussed as an influencing factor of academic misconduct. However, empirical studies were conducted solely cross-sectionally and investigated only a few forms of academic misconduct. This large scale web-based study examined the responses of between 1359 and 2207 participants from different…

13 CFR 124.503 - How does SBA accept a procurement for award through the 8(a) BD program?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... market research, the contracting officer shall first consider a set-aside or sole source award (if the... market research conducted. In addition, the contracting officer must document the contract file showing... factors such as the results of market research, programmatic needs specific to the procuring agency...

Whiter Shade of Pale: Making the Case for Jewish Presence in the Multicultural Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rubin, Daniel Ian

2017-01-01

Despite over 4,000 years of persecution, American Jews and antisemitism continue to be overlooked in university multicultural and social justice classroom discussions. This is due to many factors, such as the misconceptions that Jews are solely a religious group, are White and have completely assimilated into American culture, and are economically…

[Walking problems and falls in patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease].

PubMed

Hermabessière, Sophie; Barro-Belaygues, Nadège; Rolland, Yves; Vellas, Bruno

2010-01-01

Walking problems and falls are a daily concern for healthcare professionals working with patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease. These problems and their complications often have consequences in terms of functional prognosis. The disease is not solely responsible and several aggravating factors need to be identified and investigated as some of them can be effectively prevented.

Indirect Reciprocity, Resource Sharing, and Environmental Risk: Evidence from Field Experiments in Siberia

PubMed Central

Howe, E. Lance; Murphy, James J.; Gerkey, Drew; West, Colin Thor

2016-01-01

Integrating information from existing research, qualitative ethnographic interviews, and participant observation, we designed a field experiment that introduces idiosyncratic environmental risk and a voluntary sharing decision into a standard public goods game. Conducted with subsistence resource users in rural villages on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Northeast Siberia, we find evidence consistent with a model of indirect reciprocity and local social norms of helping the needy. When participants are allowed to develop reputations in the experiments, as is the case in most small-scale societies, we find that sharing is increasingly directed toward individuals experiencing hardship, good reputations increase aid, and the pooling of resources through voluntary sharing becomes more effective. We also find high levels of voluntary sharing without a strong commitment device; however, this form of cooperation does not increase contributions to the public good. Our results are consistent with previous experiments and theoretical models, suggesting strategic risks tied to rewards, punishments, and reputations are important. However, unlike studies that focus solely on strategic risks, we find the effects of rewards, punishments, and reputations are altered by the presence of environmental factors. Unexpected changes in resource abundance increase interdependence and may alter the costs and benefits of cooperation, relative to defection. We suggest environmental factors that increase interdependence are critically important to consider when developing and testing theories of cooperation PMID:27442434

Implications of PSR J0737-3039B for the Galactic NS-NS binary merger rate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Chunglee; Perera, Benetge Bhakthi Pranama; McLaughlin, Maura A.

2015-03-01

The Double Pulsar (PSR J0737-3039) is the only neutron star-neutron star (NS-NS) binary in which both NSs have been detectable as radio pulsars. The Double Pulsar has been assumed to dominate the Galactic NS-NS binary merger rate R_g among all known systems, solely based on the properties of the first-born, recycled pulsar (PSR J0737-3039A, or A) with an assumption for the beaming correction factor of 6. In this work, we carefully correct observational biases for the second-born, non-recycled pulsar (PSR J0737-0737B, or B) and estimate the contribution from the Double Pulsar on R_g using constraints available from both A and B. Observational constraints from the B pulsar favour a small beaming correction factor for A (˜2), which is consistent with a bipolar model. Considering known NS-NS binaries with the best observational constraints, including both A and B, we obtain R_g=21_{-14}^{+28} Myr-1 at 95 per cent confidence from our reference model. We expect the detection rate of gravitational waves from NS-NS inspirals for the advanced ground-based gravitational-wave detectors is to be 8^{+10}_{-5} yr-1 at 95 per cent confidence. Within several years, gravitational-wave detections relevant to NS-NS inspirals will provide us useful information to improve pulsar population models.

Contribution of Innate Cortical Mechanisms to the Maturation of Orientation Selectivity in Parvalbumin Interneurons

PubMed Central

Figueroa Velez, Dario X.; Ellefsen, Kyle L.; Hathaway, Ethan R.; Carathedathu, Mathew C.

2017-01-01

The maturation of cortical parvalbumin-positive (PV) interneurons depends on the interaction of innate and experience-dependent factors. Dark-rearing experiments suggest that visual experience determines when broad orientation selectivity emerges in visual cortical PV interneurons. Here, using neural transplantation and in vivo calcium imaging of mouse visual cortex, we investigated whether innate mechanisms contribute to the maturation of orientation selectivity in PV interneurons. First, we confirmed earlier findings showing that broad orientation selectivity emerges in PV interneurons by 2 weeks after vision onset, ∼35 d after these cells are born. Next, we assessed the functional development of transplanted PV (tPV) interneurons. Surprisingly, 25 d after transplantation (DAT) and >2 weeks after vision onset, we found that tPV interneurons have not developed broad orientation selectivity. By 35 DAT, however, broad orientation selectivity emerges in tPV interneurons. Transplantation does not alter orientation selectivity in host interneurons, suggesting that the maturation of tPV interneurons occurs independently from their endogenous counterparts. Together, these results challenge the notion that the onset of vision solely determines when PV interneurons become broadly tuned. Our results reveal that an innate cortical mechanism contributes to the emergence of broad orientation selectivity in PV interneurons. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Early visual experience and innate developmental programs interact to shape cortical circuits. Visual-deprivation experiments have suggested that the onset of visual experience determines when interneurons mature in the visual cortex. Here we used neuronal transplantation and cellular imaging of visual responses to investigate the maturation of parvalbumin-positive (PV) interneurons. Our results suggest that the emergence of broad orientation selectivity in PV interneurons is innately timed. PMID:28123018

Combined effect of demagnetizing field and induced magnetic anisotropy on the magnetic properties of manganese-zinc ferrite composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Babayan, V.; Kazantseva, N. E.; Moučka, R.; Sapurina, I.; Spivak, Yu. M.; Moshnikov, V. A.

2012-01-01

This work is devoted to the analysis of factors responsible for the high-frequency shift of the complex permeability (μ*) dispersion region in polymer composites of manganese-zinc (MnZn) ferrite, as well as to the increase in their thermomagnetic stability. The magnetic spectra of the ferrite and its composites with polyurethane (MnZn-PU) and polyaniline (MnZn-PANI) are measured in the frequency range from 1 MHz to 3 GHz in a longitudinal magnetization field of up to 700 Ое and in the temperature interval from -20 °С to +150 °С. The approximation of the magnetic spectra by a model, which takes into account the role of domain wall motion and magnetization rotation, allows one to determine the specific contribution of resonance processes associated with domain wall motion and the natural ferromagnetic resonance to the μ*. It is established that, at high frequencies, the μ* of the MnZn ferrite is determined solely by magnetization rotation, which occurs in the region of natural ferromagnetic resonance when the ferrite is in the “single domain” state. In the polymer composites of the MnZn ferrite, the high-frequency permeability is also determined mainly by the magnetization rotation; however, up to high values of magnetizing fields, there is a contribution of domain wall motion, thus the “single domain” state in ferrite is not reached. The frequency and temperature dependence of μ* in polymer composites are governed by demagnetizing field and the induced magnetic anisotropy. The contribution of the induced magnetic anisotropy is crucial for MnZn-PANI. It is attributed to the elastic stresses that arise due to the domain wall pinning by a polyaniline film adsorbed on the surface of the ferrite during in-situ polymerization.

Constraining the Active Galactic Nucleus Contribution in a Multiwavelength Study of Seyfert Galaxies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Melendez, M.; Kraemer, S.B.; Schmitt, H.R.; Crenshaw, D.M.; Deo, R.P.; Mushotzky, R.F.; Bruhweiler, F.C.

2008-01-01

We have studied the relationship between the high- and low-ionization [O IV] (lambda)25.89 microns, [Ne III] (lambda)15.56 microns, and [Ne II] (lambda)12.81 microns emission lines with the aim of constraining the active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and star formation contributions for a sample of 103 Seyfert galaxies.We use the [O IV] and [Ne II] emission as tracers for the AGN power and star formation to investigate the ionization state of the emission-line gas.We find that Seyfert 2 galaxies have, on average, lower [O IV]/[Ne II] ratios than Seyfert 1 galaxies. This result suggests two possible scenarios: (1) Seyfert 2 galaxies have intrinsically weaker AGNs, or (2) Seyfert 2 galaxies have relatively higher star formation rates than Seyfert 1 galaxies. We estimate the fraction of [Ne II] directly associated with the AGNs and find that Seyfert 2 galaxies have a larger contribution from star formation, by a factor of approx.1.5 on average, than what is found in Seyfert 1 galaxies. Using the stellar component of [Ne II] as a tracer of the current star formation, we found similar star formation rates in Seyfert 1 and Seyfert 2 galaxies.We examined the mid- and far-infrared continua and found that [Ne II] is well correlated with the continuum luminosity at 60 microns and that both [Ne III] and [O IV] are better correlated with the 25 micron luminosities than with the continuum at longer wavelengths, suggesting that the mid-infrared continuum luminosity is dominated by the AGN, while the far-infrared luminosity is dominated by star formation. Overall, these results test the unified model of AGNs and suggest that the differences between Seyfert galaxies cannot be solely due to viewing angle dependence.

Comparative sequence analysis of the complete set of 40S ribosomal proteins in the Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis Kaup) and Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.) (Teleostei: Pleuronectiformes): phylogeny and tissue- and development-specific expression.

PubMed

Manchado, Manuel; Infante, Carlos; Asensio, Esther; Cañavate, Jose Pedro; Douglas, Susan E

2007-07-03

Ribosomal proteins (RPs) are key components of ribosomes, the cellular organelle responsible for protein biosynthesis in cells. Their levels can vary as a function of organism growth and development; however, some RPs have been associated with other cellular processes or extraribosomal functions. Their high representation in cDNA libraries has resulted in the increase of RP sequences available from different organisms and their proposal as appropriate molecular markers for phylogenetic analysis. The development of large-scale genomics of Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) and Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus), two commercially important flatfish species, has made possible the identification and systematic analysis of the complete set of RP sequences for the small (40S) ribosome subunit. Amino acid sequence comparisons showed a high similarity both between these two flatfish species and with respect to other fish and human. EST analysis revealed the existence of two and four RPS27 genes in Senegalese sole and Atlantic halibut, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis clustered RPS27 in two separate clades with their fish and mammalian counterparts. Steady-state transcript levels for eight RPs (RPS2, RPS3a, RPS15, RPS27-1, RPS27-2, RPS27a, RPS28, and RPS29) in sole were quantitated during larval development and in tissues, using a real-time PCR approach. All eight RPs exhibited different expression patterns in tissues with the lowest levels in brain. On the contrary, RP transcripts increased co-ordinately after first larval feeding reducing progressively during the metamorphic process. The genomic resources and knowledge developed in this survey will provide new insights into the evolution of Pleuronectiformes. Expression data will contribute to a better understanding of RP functions in fish, especially the mechanisms that govern growth and development in larvae, with implications in aquaculture.

Depth and substrate as determinants of distribution of juvenile flathead sole (Hippoglossoides elassodon) and rock sole (Pleuronectes bilineatus), in Kachemak Bay, Alaska

USGS Publications Warehouse

Abookire, Alisa A.; Norcross, Brenda L.

1998-01-01

Three transects in Kachemak Bay, Alaska, were sampled in September 1994, May and August 1995, and February, May, and August 1996. Juvenile flathead sole, Hippoglossoides elassodon, and rock sole, Pleuronectes bilineatus, were the most abundant flatfishes, comprising 65-85% of all fiatfishes captured at any period. Collections of fish and sediments were made at regular depth contour intervals of l0 m. Habitat distribution was described by depth at 10 m increments and sediment percent weights of gravel, sand, and mud. Year-round habitat of flathead sole age-0 was primarily from 40 to 60 m, and age-1 habitat was primarily from 40 to 80 m. Summer habitat of rock sole age-0 and -1 was from 10 to 30 m, and in winter they moved offshore to depths of up to 150 m. Both age classes of flathead sole were most abundant on mixed mud sediments, while age-1 were also in high abundance on muddy sand sediments. Rock sole age-0 and -1 were most abundant on sand, though age-1 were also found on a variety of sediments both finer and coarser grained than sand. Flathead sole and rock sole had distinctive depth and sediment habitats. When habitat overlap occurred between the species, it was most often due to rock sole moving offshore in the winter. Abundances were not significantly different among seasons for age-1 flatfishes.

The Impact of Western Diet and Nutrients on the Microbiota and Immune Response at Mucosal Interfaces

PubMed Central

Statovci, Donjete; Aguilera, Mònica; MacSharry, John; Melgar, Silvia

2017-01-01

Recent findings point toward diet having a major impact on human health. Diets can either affect the gut microbiota resulting in alterations in the host’s physiological responses or by directly targeting the host response. The microbial community in the mammalian gut is a complex and dynamic system crucial for the development and maturation of both systemic and mucosal immune responses. Therefore, the complex interaction between available nutrients, the microbiota, and the immune system are central regulators in maintaining homeostasis and fighting against invading pathogens at mucosal sites. Westernized diet, defined as high dietary intake of saturated fats and sucrose and low intake of fiber, represent a growing health risk contributing to the increased occurrence of metabolic diseases, e.g., diabetes and obesity in countries adapting a westernized lifestyle. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and asthma are chronic mucosal inflammatory conditions of unknown etiology with increasing prevalence worldwide. These conditions have a multifactorial etiology including genetic factors, environmental factors, and dysregulated immune responses. Their increased prevalence cannot solely be attributed to genetic considerations implying that other factors such as diet can be a major contributor. Recent reports indicate that the gut microbiota and modifications thereof, due to a consumption of a diet high in saturated fats and low in fibers, can trigger factors regulating the development and/or progression of both conditions. While asthma is a disease of the airways, increasing evidence indicates a link between the gut and airways in disease development. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review on the impact of westernized diet and associated nutrients on immune cell responses and the microbiota and how these can influence the pathology of IBD and asthma. PMID:28804483

Genetic regulation of the variation of circulating insulin-like growth factors and leptin in human pedigrees.

PubMed

Pantsulaia, Ia; Pantsulaia, I; Trofimov, Svetlana; Kobyliansky, Eugene; Livshits, Gregory

2005-07-01

Recent literature has shown that circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and/or IGF binding proteins (IGF-BPs) may be of importance in the risk assessment of several chronic diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and so on. The present study examined the extent of genetic and environmental influences on the populational variation of circulating IGF-I and IGF-BP-1 in apparently healthy and ethnically homogeneous white families. The plasma levels of each of the studied biochemical indices were determined by enzyme-linked immunoassay in 563 individuals aged 18 to 80 years. Quantitative genetic analysis showed that the IGF-I variation was appreciably attributable to genetic effects (47.1% +/- 9.0%), whereas for IGF-BP-1, only 23.3% +/- 7.8% of the interindividual variation was explained by genetic determinants. Common familial environment factors contributed significantly only to IGF-BP-1 variation (23.3% +/- 7.8%). In addition, we examined the covariations between these molecules and between them and IGF-BP-3 and leptin that were previously studied in the same sample. The analysis revealed that the pleiotropic genetic effects were significant for 2 pairs of traits, namely for IGF-I and IGF-BP-3, and for IGF-BP-1 and leptin. The bivariate heritability estimates were 0.21 +/- 0.04 and 0.15 +/- 0.05. The common environmental factors were consistently a significant source of correlation between all pairs (barring IGF-I and leptin) of the studied molecules; they were the sole predictors of correlation between IGF-I and IGF-BP-1, and between IGF-BP-1 and IGF-BP-3. Our results affirm the existence of specific and common genetic pathways that in combination determine a substantial proportion of the circulating variation of these molecules.

Determining the torus covering factors for a sample of type 1 AGN in the local Universe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ezhikode, Savithri H.; Gandhi, Poshak; Done, Chris; Ward, Martin; Dewangan, Gulab C.; Misra, Ranjeev; Philip, Ninan Sajeeth

2017-12-01

In the unified scheme of active galactic nuclei, a dusty torus absorbs and then reprocesses a fraction of the intrinsic luminosity which is emitted at longer wavelengths. Thus, subject to radiative transfer corrections, the fraction of the sky covered by the torus as seen from the central source (known as the covering factor fc) can be estimated from the ratio of the infrared to the bolometric luminosities of the source as fc = Ltorus/LBol. However, the uncertainty in determining LBol has made the estimation of covering factors by this technique difficult, especially for AGN in the local Universe where the peak of the observed spectral energy distributions lies in the UV (ultraviolet). Here, we determine the covering factors of an X-ray/optically selected sample of 51 type 1 AGN. The bolometric luminosities of these sources are derived using a self-consistent, energy-conserving model that estimates the contribution in the unobservable far-UV region, using multifrequency data obtained from SDSS, XMM-Newton, WISE, 2MASS and UKIDSS. We derive a mean value of fc ∼ 0.30 with a dispersion of 0.17. Sample correlations, combined with simulations, show that fc is more strongly anticorrelated with λEdd than with LBol. This points to large-scale torus geometry changes associated with the Eddington-dependent accretion flow, rather than a receding torus, with its inner sublimation radius determined solely by heating from the central source. Furthermore, we do not see any significant change in the distribution of fc for sub-samples of radio-loud sources or Narrow Line Seyfert 1 galaxies (NLS1s), though these sub-samples are small.

Gambling, disordered gambling and their association with major depression and substance use: a web-based cohort and twin-sibling study.

PubMed

Blanco, C; Myers, J; Kendler, K S

2012-03-01

Relatively little is known about the environmental and genetic contributions to gambling frequency and disordered gambling (DG), the full continuum of gambling-related problems that includes pathological gambling (PG). A web-based sample (n=43,799 including both members of 609 twin and 303 sibling pairs) completed assessments of number of lifetime gambling episodes, DSM-IV criteria for PG, alcohol, nicotine and caffeine intake, and nicotine dependence (ND) and DSM-III-R criteria for lifetime major depression (MD). Twin modeling was performed using Mx. In the entire cohort, symptoms of DG indexed a single dimension of liability. Symptoms of DG were weakly related to caffeine intake and moderately related to MD, consumption of cigarettes and alcohol, and ND. In twin and sibling pairs, familial resemblance for number of times gambled resulted from both familial-environmental (c²=42%) and genetic factors (a²=32%). For symptoms of DG, resemblance resulted solely from genetic factors (a²=83%). Bivariate analyses indicated a low genetic correlation between symptoms of DG and MD (r(a)=+0.14) whereas genetic correlations with DG symptoms were substantially higher with use of alcohol, caffeine and nicotine, and ND (ranging from +0.29 to +0.80). The results were invariant across genders. Whereas gambling participation is determined by shared environmental and genetic factors, DG constitutes a single latent dimension that is largely genetically determined and more closely related to externalizing than internalizing behaviors. Because these findings are invariant across genders, they suggest that the etiological factors of DG are likely to be similar in men and women.

Contributions of metabolic and temporal costs to human gait selection.

PubMed

Summerside, Erik M; Kram, Rodger; Ahmed, Alaa A

2018-06-01

Humans naturally select several parameters within a gait that correspond with minimizing metabolic cost. Much less is understood about the role of metabolic cost in selecting between gaits. Here, we asked participants to decide between walking or running out and back to different gait specific markers. The distance of the walking marker was adjusted after each decision to identify relative distances where individuals switched gait preferences. We found that neither minimizing solely metabolic energy nor minimizing solely movement time could predict how the group decided between gaits. Of our twenty participants, six behaved in a way that tended towards minimizing metabolic energy, while eight favoured strategies that tended more towards minimizing movement time. The remaining six participants could not be explained by minimizing a single cost. We provide evidence that humans consider not just a single movement cost, but instead a weighted combination of these conflicting costs with their relative contributions varying across participants. Individuals who placed a higher relative value on time ran faster than individuals who placed a higher relative value on metabolic energy. Sensitivity to temporal costs also explained variability in an individual's preferred velocity as a function of increasing running distance. Interestingly, these differences in velocity both within and across participants were absent in walking, possibly due to a steeper metabolic cost of transport curve. We conclude that metabolic cost plays an essential, but not exclusive role in gait decisions. © 2018 The Author(s).

Two pectin lyase genes, pnl-1 and pnl-2, from Colletotrichum gloeosporioides f. sp. malvae differ in a cellulose-binding domain and in their expression during infection of Malva pusilla.

PubMed

Wei, Yangdou; Shih, Jenny; Li, Jieran; Goodwin, Paul H

2002-07-01

Two pectin lyase genes, designated pnl-1 and pnl-2, were cloned from Colletotrichum gloeosporioides f. sp. malvae, a pathogen of round-leaved mallow (Malva pusilla). pnl-1 was isolated using cDNA from infected plant material; pnl-2 was isolated using cDNA from 3-day-old mycelia grown in mallow-cell-wall extract (MCWE) broth. pnl-1 is the first pectinase gene described thus far to encode a cellulose-binding domain (CBD), which is common in cellulases and xylanases, whereas pnl-2 encodes a pectin lyase that lacks a CBD. In pure culture, pnl-1 expression could be detected when purified pectin or glucose was the sole carbon source, but not when MCWE was the sole carbon source. The lack of pnl-1 expression appeared to be due to gene repression by some unknown factor(s) in the cell-wall extract. In contrast, expression of pnl-2 was detected in cultures when MCWE, but not when purified pectin or glucose, was the sole carbon source. In infected tissue, detection of pnl-1 expression by Northern-blot hybridization and by RT-PCR began with the onset of the necrotrophic phase of infection. Expression ofpnl-2 was not detectable by Northern-blot hybridization, but was observed byRT-PCR in both the biotrophic and necrotrophic phases of infection. The differences between pnl-1 and pnl-2 (i.e. pnl-1 encoding a CBD and differences in the expression patterns of both genes) may be related to the requirements of C. gloeosporioides f. sp. malvae to be able to grow in host tissue under the different conditions present during the biotrophic and necrotrophic phases of infection.

Identification of hemostatic genes expressed in human and rat leg muscles and a novel gene (LPP1/PAP2A) suppressed during prolonged physical inactivity (sitting)

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Partly because of functional genomics, there has been a major paradigm shift from solely thinking of skeletal muscle as contractile machinery to an understanding that it can have roles in paracrine and endocrine functions. Physical inactivity is an established risk factor for some blood clotting disorders. The effects of inactivity during sitting are most alarming when a person develops the enigmatic condition in the legs called deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or “coach syndrome,” caused in part by muscular inactivity. The goal of this study was to determine if skeletal muscle expresses genes with roles in hemostasis and if their expression level was responsive to muscular inactivity such as occurs in prolonged sitting. Methods Microarray analyses were performed on skeletal muscle samples from rats and humans to identify genes associated with hemostatic function that were significantly expressed above background based on multiple probe sets with perfect and mismatch sequences. Furthermore, we determined if any of these genes were responsive to models of physical inactivity. Multiple criteria were used to determine differential expression including significant expression above background, fold change, and non-parametric statistical tests. Results These studies demonstrate skeletal muscle tissue expresses at least 17 genes involved in hemostasis. These include the fibrinolytic factors tetranectin, annexin A2, and tPA; the anti-coagulant factors TFPI, protein C receptor, PAF acetylhydrolase; coagulation factors, and genes necessary for the posttranslational modification of these coagulation factors such as vitamin K epoxide reductase. Of special interest, lipid phosphate phosphatase-1 (LPP1/PAP2A), a key gene for degrading prothrombotic and proinflammatory lysophospholipids, was suppressed locally in muscle tissue within hours after sitting in humans; this was also observed after acute and chronic physical inactivity conditions in rats, and exercise was relatively ineffective at counteracting this effect in both species. Conclusions These findings suggest that skeletal muscle may play an important role in hemostasis and that muscular inactivity may contribute to hemostatic disorders not only because of the slowing of blood flow per se, but also potentially because of the contribution from genes expressed locally in muscles, such as LPP1. PMID:23061662

Even One Is Too Much: Sole Presence of One of the Risk Factors Overweight, Lack of Exercise, and Smoking Reduces Physical Fitness of Young Soldiers.

PubMed

Leyk, Dieter; Witzki, Alexander; Willi, Gorges; Rohde, Ulrich; Rüther, Thomas

2015-11-01

Health and physical fitness are key factors for soldiers. Increased sedentary military work, significant sitting periods during commuting and leisure time, and unhealthy dietary habits have caused a considerable increase in the number of physically unfit soldiers. Even worse, the adoption of harmful lifestyle habits occurs increasingly earlier in life. The aim of this cross-sectional study was (a) to determine the physical fitness of young male soldiers and (b) to investigate the association between physical fitness and both the presence and frequency of the health risk factors overweight, smoking, and lack of exercise. A total of 4,553 volunteers aged 18-25 years performed the Basis Fitness Test consisting of the 3 disciplines agility (11 × 10 m shuttle sprint), strength (flexed-arm hang), and endurance (1,000-m run). The presence and frequency of risk factors were determined by means of anthropometric measures (body mass index, waist circumference) and questionnaire data. The portion of soldiers without risk factors decreased from 49.4% (18-year-olds) to 16.4% for 25-year-olds. Persons without risk factors completed the agility test in 41.1 ± 3.7 seconds, flexed-arm hang in 60.1 ± 19.7 seconds, and 1,000-m run in 235 ± 32 seconds. Physical performance in all dimensions tested (agility, strength, endurance) notably deteriorated with the sole presence of one of the risk factors overweight, smoking, and lack of exercise. Any further risk factor led to further fitness decreases (p < 0.001). Mean performances of soldiers with 3 risk factors were 46.7 ± 4.1 seconds (11 × 10 m shuttle sprint), 27.6 ± 6.4 seconds (flexed-arm hang), and 298 ± 45 seconds (1,000-m run). Impacts of unhealthy lifestyles and significant losses in physical fitness are already visible in young male soldiers. Armed Forces must intensify their efforts to maintain health and performance of their soldiers.

Reassessment of NRC`s dollar per person-rem conversion factor policy

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

NONE

1995-12-01

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has completed a review and analysis of its dollar per person-rem conversion factor policy. As a result of this review, the NRC has decided to adopt a $2000 per person-rem conversion factor, subject it to present worth considerations, and limit its scope solely to health effects. This is in contrast to the previous policy and staff practice of using an undiscounted $1000 per person-rem conversion factor that served as a surrogate for all offsite consequences (health and offsite property). The policy shift has been incorporated in ``Regulatory Analysis Guidelines of the US Nuclear Regulatorymore » Commission,`` NUREG/BR-0058, Revision 2, November 1995.« less

Metamorphic sole formation reveals plate interface rheology during early subduction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mathieu, S.; Agard, P.; Dubacq, B.; Plunder, A.; Prigent, C.

2015-12-01

Metamorphic soles are m to ~500m thick tectonic slices welded beneath most large ophiolites. They correspond to highly to mildly deformed portions of oceanic lithosphere metamorphosed at amphibolite to granulite facies peak conditions. Metamorphic soles are interpreted as formed ≤1-2Ma after intraoceanic subduction initiation by heat transfer from the hot, incipient mantle wegde to the underthrusting lower plate. Their early accretion and exhumation together with the future ophiolite implies at least one jump of the subduction plate interface from above to below the metamorphic sole. Metamorphic soles thus represent one of the few remnants of the very early evolution of the subduction plate interface and provide major constraints on the thermal structure and the effective rheology of the crust and mantle along the nascent slab interface.We herein present a structural and petrological detailed description of the Oman and Turkey metamorphic soles. Both soles present a steep inverted metamorphic structure, with isograds subparallel to the peridotite contact, in which the proportion of mafic rocks, pressure and temperature conditions increase upward. They comprise, as most metamorphic soles worldwide, two main units: (1) a high-grade unit adjacent to the overlying peridotite composed of granulitized to amphibolized metabasalts, with rare metasedimentary interlayers (~800±100ºC at 10±2kbar) and (2) a low-grade greenschist facies unit composed of metasedimentary rocks with rare metatuffs (~500±100ºC at 5±2kbar). We provide for the first time refined P-T peak condition estimations by means of pseudosection modelling and maximum temperature constraints for the Oman low-grade sole by RAMAN thermometry. In order to quantify micro-scale deformations trough the sole, we also present EBSD data on the Oman garnet-bearing and garnet-free high-grade sole.With these new constraints, we finally propose a new conceptual mechanical model for metamorphic sole formation. This model excludes the presence of a continuous inverted metamorphic gradient through the sole but implies the stacking of several homogeneous slivers to constitute the present structure of the sole. These successive thrusts are the result of rheological changes as the plate interface progressively cools.

Shifting Landscapes: The Impact of Centralized and Decentralized Nursing Station Models on the Efficiency of Care.

PubMed

Fay, Lindsey; Carll-White, Allison; Schadler, Aric; Isaacs, Kathy B; Real, Kevin

2017-10-01

The focus of this research was to analyze the impact of decentralized and centralized hospital design layouts on the delivery of efficient care and the resultant level of caregiver satisfaction. An interdisciplinary team conducted a multiphased pre- and postoccupancy evaluation of a cardiovascular service line in an academic hospital that moved from a centralized to decentralized model. This study examined the impact of walkability, room usage, allocation of time, and visibility to better understand efficiency in the care environment. A mixed-methods data collection approach was utilized, which included pedometer measurements of staff walking distances, room usage data, time studies in patient rooms and nurses' stations, visibility counts, and staff questionnaires yielding qualitative and quantitative results. Overall, the data comparing the centralized and decentralized models yielded mixed results. This study's centralized design was rated significantly higher in its ability to support teamwork and efficient patient care with decreased staff walking distances. The decentralized unit design was found to positively influence proximity to patients in a larger design footprint and contribute to increased visits to and time spent in patient rooms. Among the factors contributing to caregiver efficiency and satisfaction are nursing station design, an integrated team approach, and the overall physical layout of the space on walkability, allocation of caregiver time, and visibility. However, unit design alone does not solely impact efficiency, suggesting that designers must consider the broader implications of a culture of care and processes.

Estimation of decrease in cancer risk by biodegradation of PAHs content from an urban traffic soil.

PubMed

Tarafdar, Abhrajyoti; Sinha, Alok

2017-04-01

The role of preferential biodegradation in the reduction of cancer risk caused by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has been studied. A consortium of microorganisms isolated from aged oil refinery exposed soil was used to degrade 13 PAHs content extracted from an urban traffic site soil. The biodegradation arranged in a batch process with a mineral salt broth, where PAHs were the sole carbon source. 70.46% biodegradation of the total PAHs occurred in an incubation period of 25 days. Sequential or preferential biodegradation took place as the lower molecular weight (LMW) PAHs were more prone to biodegradation than that of the higher molecular weight (HMW) PAHs. Microorganisms from the isolated consortia preferred the simpler carbon sources first. The relatively higher carcinogenicity of the HMW PAHs than that of the LMW PAHs leads to only 40.26% decrement in cancer risk. Initial cancer risk for children was 1.60E-05, which was decreased to 9.47E-06, whereas, for the adults, the risk decreased to 1.01E-05 from an initial value of 1.71E-05. The relative skin adherence factor for soil (AF) turned out to be the most influential parameter with 54.2% contributions to variance in total cancer risk followed by the exposure duration (ED) for children. For the adults, most contributions to the variance in total cancer risk were 58.5% by ED and followed by AF.

A deep auto-encoder model for gene expression prediction.

PubMed

Xie, Rui; Wen, Jia; Quitadamo, Andrew; Cheng, Jianlin; Shi, Xinghua

2017-11-17

Gene expression is a key intermediate level that genotypes lead to a particular trait. Gene expression is affected by various factors including genotypes of genetic variants. With an aim of delineating the genetic impact on gene expression, we build a deep auto-encoder model to assess how good genetic variants will contribute to gene expression changes. This new deep learning model is a regression-based predictive model based on the MultiLayer Perceptron and Stacked Denoising Auto-encoder (MLP-SAE). The model is trained using a stacked denoising auto-encoder for feature selection and a multilayer perceptron framework for backpropagation. We further improve the model by introducing dropout to prevent overfitting and improve performance. To demonstrate the usage of this model, we apply MLP-SAE to a real genomic datasets with genotypes and gene expression profiles measured in yeast. Our results show that the MLP-SAE model with dropout outperforms other models including Lasso, Random Forests and the MLP-SAE model without dropout. Using the MLP-SAE model with dropout, we show that gene expression quantifications predicted by the model solely based on genotypes, align well with true gene expression patterns. We provide a deep auto-encoder model for predicting gene expression from SNP genotypes. This study demonstrates that deep learning is appropriate for tackling another genomic problem, i.e., building predictive models to understand genotypes' contribution to gene expression. With the emerging availability of richer genomic data, we anticipate that deep learning models play a bigger role in modeling and interpreting genomics.

Quantitative evaluation of the relationship between dorsal wall length, sole thickness, and rotation of the distal phalanx in the bovine claw using computed tomography.

PubMed

Tsuka, T; Murahata, Y; Azuma, K; Osaki, T; Ito, N; Okamoto, Y; Imagawa, T

2014-10-01

Computed tomography (CT) was performed on 800 untrimmed claws (400 inner claws and 400 outer claws) of 200 pairs of bovine hindlimbs to investigate the relationships between dorsal wall length and sole thickness, and between dorsal wall length and the relative rotation angle of distal phalanx-to-sole surface (S-D angle). Sole thickness was 3.8 and 4.0 mm at the apex of the inner claws and outer claws, respectively, with dorsal wall lengths <70 mm. These sole thickness values were less than the critical limit of 5 mm, which is associated with a softer surface following thinning of the soles. A sole thickness of 5 mm at the apex was estimated to correlate with dorsal wall lengths of 72.1 and 72.7 mm for the inner and outer claws, respectively. Sole thickness was 6.1 and 6.4 mm at the apex of the inner and outer claws, respectively, with dorsal wall lengths of 75 mm. These sole thickness values were less than the recommended sole thickness of 7 mm based on the protective function of the soles. A sole thickness >7 mm at the apex was estimated to correlate with a dorsal wall length of 79.8 and 78.4mm for the inner and outer claws, respectively. The S-D angles were recorded as anteversions of 2.9° and 4.7° for the inner and outer claws, respectively, with a dorsal wall length of 75 mm. These values indicate that the distal phalanx is likely to have rotated naturally forward toward the sole surface. The distal phalanx rotated backward to the sole surface at 3.2° and 7.6° for inner claws with dorsal wall lengths of 90-99 and ≥100 mm, respectively; and at 3.5° for outer claws with a dorsal wall length ≥100 mm. Dorsal wall lengths of 85.7 and 97.2 mm were estimated to correlate with a parallel positional relationship of the distal phalanx to the sole surface in the inner and outer claws, respectively. Copyright © 2014 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

77 FR 12930 - Federal Acquisition Regulation: Socioeconomic Program Parity

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-02

... on May 6, 2011, reinstating the Rule of Two. C. Sole Source Dollar Thresholds Vary Among the... all socioeconomic programs had the same sole source dollar threshold. Response: The sole source dollar... business socioeconomic contracting program to utilize. D. Sole Source Authority Under the SDVOSB Program...

Linking land use changes to surface water quality variability in Lake Victoria: some insights from remote sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mugo, R. M.; Limaye, A. S.; Nyaga, J. W.; Farah, H.; Wahome, A.; Flores, A.

2016-12-01

The water quality of inland lakes is largely influenced by land use and land cover changes within the lake's catchment. In Africa, some of the major land use changes are driven by a number of factors, which include urbanization, intensification of agricultural practices, unsustainable farm management practices, deforestation, land fragmentation and degradation. Often, the impacts of these factors are observable on changes in the land cover, and eventually in the hydrological systems. When the natural vegetation cover is reduced or changed, the surface water flow patterns, water and nutrient retention capacities are also changed. This can lead to high nutrient inputs into lakes, leading to eutrophication, siltation and infestation of floating aquatic vegetation. To assess the relationship between land use and land cover changes in part of the Lake Victoria Basin, a series of land cover maps were derived from Landsat imagery. Changes in land cover were identified through change maps and statistics. Further, the surface water chlorophyll-a concentration and turbidity were derived from MODIS-Aqua data for Lake Victoria. Chlrophyll-a and turbidity are good proxy indicators of nutrient inputs and siltation respectively. The trends in chlorophyll-a and turbidity concentrations were analyzed and compared to the land cover changes over time. Certain land cover changes related to agriculture and urban development were clearly identifiable. While these changes might not be solely responsible for variability in chlrophyll-a and turbidity concentrations in the lake, they are potentially contributing factors to this problem. This work illustrates the importance of addressing watershed degradation while seeking to solve water quality related problems.

Nanostructured calcium phosphate coatings on magnesium alloys: characterization and cytocompatibility with mesenchymal stem cells

PubMed Central

Iskandar, Maria Emil; Aslani, Arash; Tian, Qiaomu

2016-01-01

This article reports the deposition and characterization of nanostructured calcium phosphate (nCaP) on magnesium–yttrium alloy substrates and their cytocompatibility with bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). The nCaP coatings were deposited on magnesium and magnesium–yttrium alloy substrates using proprietary transonic particle acceleration process for the dual purposes of modulating substrate degradation and BMSC adhesion. Surface morphology and feature size were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and quantitative image analysis tools. Surface elemental compositions and phases were analyzed using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, respectively. The deposited nCaP coatings showed a homogeneous particulate surface with the dominant feature size of 200–500 nm in the long axis and 100–300 nm in the short axis, and a Ca/P atomic ratio of 1.5–1.6. Hydroxyapatite was the major phase identified in the nCaP coatings. The modulatory effects of nCaP coatings on the sample degradation and BMSC behaviors were dependent on the substrate composition and surface conditions. The direct culture of BMSCs in vitro indicated that multiple factors, including surface composition and topography, and the degradation-induced changes in media composition, influenced cell adhesion directly on the sample surface, and indirect adhesion surrounding the sample in the same culture. The alkaline pH, the indicator of Mg degradation, played a role in BMSC adhesion and morphology, but not the sole factor. Additional studies are necessary to elucidate BMSC responses to each contributing factor. PMID:25917827

Nanostructured calcium phosphate coatings on magnesium alloys: characterization and cytocompatibility with mesenchymal stem cells.

PubMed

Iskandar, Maria Emil; Aslani, Arash; Tian, Qiaomu; Liu, Huinan

2015-05-01

This article reports the deposition and characterization of nanostructured calcium phosphate (nCaP) on magnesium-yttrium alloy substrates and their cytocompatibility with bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). The nCaP coatings were deposited on magnesium and magnesium-yttrium alloy substrates using proprietary transonic particle acceleration process for the dual purposes of modulating substrate degradation and BMSC adhesion. Surface morphology and feature size were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and quantitative image analysis tools. Surface elemental compositions and phases were analyzed using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, respectively. The deposited nCaP coatings showed a homogeneous particulate surface with the dominant feature size of 200-500 nm in the long axis and 100-300 nm in the short axis, and a Ca/P atomic ratio of 1.5-1.6. Hydroxyapatite was the major phase identified in the nCaP coatings. The modulatory effects of nCaP coatings on the sample degradation and BMSC behaviors were dependent on the substrate composition and surface conditions. The direct culture of BMSCs in vitro indicated that multiple factors, including surface composition and topography, and the degradation-induced changes in media composition, influenced cell adhesion directly on the sample surface, and indirect adhesion surrounding the sample in the same culture. The alkaline pH, the indicator of Mg degradation, played a role in BMSC adhesion and morphology, but not the sole factor. Additional studies are necessary to elucidate BMSC responses to each contributing factor.

The effects of outsourcing on occupational health and safety: a comparative study of factory-based workers and outworkers in the Australian clothing industry.

PubMed

Mayhew, C; Quinlan, M

1999-01-01

Outsourcing has become increasingly widespread throughout industrialized societies over the past 20 years. Accompanying this has been a renewed growth in home-based work, sometimes using new technologies (telework) but also entailing a re-emergence of old forms, such as clothing outwork, used extensively 100 years ago. A growing body of research indicates that changes to work organization associated with outsourcing adversely affect occupational health and safety (OHS), both for outsourced workers and for those working alongside them. This study assessed the OHS implications of the shift to home-based workers in the Australian clothing industry by systematically comparing the OHS experiences of 100 factory-based workers and 100 outworkers. The level of self-reported injury was over three times higher among outworkers than factory-based workers undertaking similar tasks. The most significant factor explaining this difference was the payment system. All outworkers were paid solely by the piece, whereas factory workers were paid either under a time plus production bonus system or solely on a time basis. While the incidence of injury was far higher among outworkers, factory-based workers paid under an incentive system reported more injuries than those paid solely on a time basis. Increasing injury was correlated with piecework payment systems.

Breastfeeding and Mental and Motor Development at 5 ½ Years

PubMed Central

Clark, Katy M.; Castillo, Marcela; Calatroni, Agustin; Walter, Tomas; Cayazzo, Marisol; Pino, Paulina; Lozoff, Betsy

2006-01-01

Objective Breastfeeding is associated with better child development outcomes, but uncertainty remains primarily due to the close relationship between breastfeeding and socioeconomic status. This study assesses the issue in a low socioeconomic status sample where breastfeeding was close to universal. Methods 784 Chilean children were followed longitudinally from infancy. All but 4 were initially breastfed, 40% nursed beyond 12 months, and infant growth was normal. Child development was assessed at 5 ½ years by a cognitive, language, and motor test battery. The duration of breastfeeding as the sole milk source was analyzed as a continuous variable, adjusting for a comprehensive set of background factors. Results The relationship between breastfeeding and most 5 ½ -year developmental outcomes was non-linear, with poorer outcome for periods of breastfeeding as the sole milk source for < 2 months or > 8 months – statistically significant for language, motor, and one comprehensive cognitive test, with a suggestive trend for IQ. Conclusions The observed non-linear relationships showed that breastfeeding as the sole milk source for < 2 months or > 8 months, compared to 2–8 months, was associated with poorer development in this sample. The latter finding requires replication in other samples where long breastfeeding is common and socioeconomic status is relatively homogeneous. PMID:16530141

Engineering specification and system design for CAD/CAM of custom shoes: UMC project effort

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bao, Han P.

1990-01-01

Further experimentations were made to improve the design and fabrication techniques of the integrated sole. The sole design is shown to be related to the foot position requirements and the actual shape of the foot including presence of neurotropic ulcers or other infections. Factors for consideration were: heel pitch, balance line, and rigidity conditions of the foot. Machining considerations were also part of the design problem. Among these considerations, widths of each contour, tool motion, tool feed rate, depths of cut, and slopes of cut at the boundary were the key elements. The essential fabrication techniques evolved around the idea of machining a mold then, using quick-firm latex material, casting the sole through the mold. Two main mold materials were experimented with: plaster and wood. Plaster was very easy to machine and shape but could barely support the pressure in the hydraulic press required by the casting process. Wood was found to be quite effective in terms of relative cost, strength, and surface smoothness except for the problem of cutting against the fibers which could generate ragged surfaces. The programming efforts to convert the original dBase programs into C programs so that they could be executed on the SUN Computer at North Carolina State University are discussed.

Visibility, Immobility and Stigma: Young People's Use of Sexual Health Services in Rural Areas

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Craig, Gary; Stanley, Nicky

2006-01-01

Teenage pregnancy has become a major policy issue, for which young people are often publicly held solely responsible. However, a combination of factors substantially increases the risks of conception faced by young people engaging in early sexual activity. This article reports the main findings of a study of teenage pregnancy in linked seaside and…

A Commentary on the Use of Cut-Scores to Increase the Emphasis of Non-Cognitive Variables in Medical School Admissions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kreiter, Clarence D.

2007-01-01

The academic performance consequences of relying solely on non-cognitive factors for selecting applicants above a GPA and MCAT threshold have not been fully considered in the literature. This commentary considers the impact of using a "threshold approach" on academic performance as assessed with the USMLE Step 1.

An Examination of Individual Level Factors in Stress and Coping Processes: Perspectives of Chinese International Students in the United States

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yan, Kun; Berliner, David C.

2011-01-01

No empirical research has focused solely upon understanding the stress and coping processes of Chinese international students in the United States. This qualitative inquiry examines the individual-level variables that affect the stress-coping process of Chinese international students and how they conceptualize and adapt to their stress at an…

A Descriptive Study of the Factors Influencing Middle School Choice in a Diverse Magnet School District in Northern New Jersey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anemone, Alex

2008-01-01

Since their creation over two centuries ago, public schools have been coupled with students via geographical zones. Bolstered by compulsory attendance laws, public schools have a very consistent clientele. Based solely on where they resided, students were required to attend specific schools between Kindergarten and Grade 12. Schools have, in…

78 FR 67004 - Removal of References to Credit Ratings in Certain Regulations Governing the Federal Home Loan Banks

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-11-08

... not the sole or principal factor underlying a decision. FHFA also does not believe that the proposed... Bank Act (Bank Act).\\1\\ The Banks are cooperatives; only members of a Bank may purchase the capital... if it satisfies certain criteria and purchases a specified amount of the Bank's capital stock.\\4\\ \\1...

The Virtue of Culture in Understanding Motivation at School: Commentary on the Special Issue on Culture and Motivation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Guay, Frédéric

2016-01-01

Students' higher level of motivation is not based solely on intrapersonal factors as innate characteristics, but also on contexts in which students are supposed to develop their competencies. Thus, the cultural context is expected to shape motivation. Values and beliefs shared by a cultural group will affect students' motivation to learn and…

Effect of sole or combined administration of nitrate and 3-nitro-1-propionic acid on fermentation and Salmonella survivability in alfalfa-fed rumen cultures in vitro.

PubMed

Correa, Alejandro Castañeda; Trachsel, Julian; Allen, Heather K; Corral-Luna, Agustin; Gutierrez-Bañuelos, Hector; Ochoa-Garcia, Pedro Antonia; Ruiz-Barrera, Oscar; Hume, Michael E; Callaway, Todd R; Harvey, Roger B; Beier, Ross C; Anderson, Robin C; Nisbet, David J

2017-04-01

Ruminal methanogenesis is a digestive inefficiency resulting in the loss of dietary energy consumed by the host and contributing to environmental methane emission. Nitrate is being investigated as a feed supplement to reduce rumen methane emissions but safety and efficacy concerns persist. To assess potential synergies of co-administering sub-toxic amounts of nitrate and 3-nitro-1-propionate (NPA) on fermentation and Salmonella survivability with an alfalfa-based diet, ruminal microbes were cultured with additions of 8 or 16mM nitrate, 4 or 12mM NPA or their combinations. All treatments decreased methanogenesis compared to untreated controls but volatile fatty acid production and fermentation of hexose were also decreased. Nitrate was converted to nitrite, which accumulated to levels inhibitory to digestion. Salmonella populations were enriched in nitrate only-treated cultures but not in cultures co- or solely treated with NPA. These results reveal a need for dose optimization to safely reduce methane production with forage-based diets. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Food Insecurity, Dietary Diversity, and Body Mass Index of HIV-Infected Individuals on Antiretroviral Therapy in Rural Haiti.

PubMed

Rebick, Gabriel W; Franke, Molly F; Teng, Jessica E; Gregory Jerome, J; Ivers, Louise C

2016-05-01

Food rations are increasingly offered as part of HIV programs in resource-poor settings, often targeted solely to those with under-nutrition by low body mass index (BMI). This practice does not consider food insecurity, another important risk factor for poor outcomes in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH). We analyzed factors associated with low BMI and severe food insecurity in 523 PLWH receiving antiretroviral therapy in rural Haiti using logistic regression. Food insecurity was present in 89 % of individuals. Among those with severe food insecurity, 86 % had a BMI ≥ 18.5 kg/m(2). Severe food insecurity was associated with illiteracy [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.79, p = 0.005], having no income (AOR 1.58, p = 0.04), and poverty (p < 0.001). Compared with those with little to no food insecurity, individuals with severe food insecurity had a less diverse diet. We found that food insecurity was highly prevalent in PLWH receiving antiretroviral therapy in rural Haiti. Using BMI as a sole criterion for food supplementation in HIV programs can exclude highly vulnerable individuals who may benefit from such support.

The transcription factor p53: Not a repressor, solely an activator

PubMed Central

Fischer, Martin; Steiner, Lydia; Engeland, Kurt

2014-01-01

The predominant function of the tumor suppressor p53 is transcriptional regulation. It is generally accepted that p53-dependent transcriptional activation occurs by binding to a specific recognition site in promoters of target genes. Additionally, several models for p53-dependent transcriptional repression have been postulated. Here, we evaluate these models based on a computational meta-analysis of genome-wide data. Surprisingly, several major models of p53-dependent gene regulation are implausible. Meta-analysis of large-scale data is unable to confirm reports on directly repressed p53 target genes and falsifies models of direct repression. This notion is supported by experimental re-analysis of representative genes reported as directly repressed by p53. Therefore, p53 is not a direct repressor of transcription, but solely activates its target genes. Moreover, models based on interference of p53 with activating transcription factors as well as models based on the function of ncRNAs are also not supported by the meta-analysis. As an alternative to models of direct repression, the meta-analysis leads to the conclusion that p53 represses transcription indirectly by activation of the p53-p21-DREAM/RB pathway. PMID:25486564

The interrelationship of metabolic syndrome and neurodegenerative diseases with focus on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF): Kill two birds with one stone.

PubMed

Motamedi, Shima; Karimi, Isaac; Jafari, Fariba

2017-06-01

The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is involved in metabolic syndrome (MetS) and neurodegenerative diseases (NDD) like Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease and depression. If one factor plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of two diseases, it can be concluded that there might be a common root in these two diseases, as well. This review was aimed to highlight the crucial roles of BDNF in the pathogenesis of MetS and NDD and to introduce sole prophylactic or therapeutic applications, BDNF gene therapy and BDFN administration, in controlling MetS and NDD.

Conflicts of Interest at Medical Journals: The Influence of Industry-Supported Randomised Trials on Journal Impact Factors and Revenue – Cohort Study

PubMed Central

Lundh, Andreas; Barbateskovic, Marija; Hróbjartsson, Asbjørn; Gøtzsche, Peter C.

2010-01-01

Background Transparency in reporting of conflict of interest is an increasingly important aspect of publication in medical journals. Publication of large industry-supported trials may generate many citations and journal income through reprint sales and thereby be a source of conflicts of interest for journals. We investigated industry-supported trials' influence on journal impact factors and revenue. Methods and Findings We sampled six major medical journals (Annals of Internal Medicine, Archives of Internal Medicine, BMJ, JAMA, The Lancet, and New England Journal of Medicine [NEJM]). For each journal, we identified randomised trials published in 1996–1997 and 2005–2006 using PubMed, and categorized the type of financial support. Using Web of Science, we investigated citations of industry-supported trials and the influence on journal impact factors over a ten-year period. We contacted journal editors and retrieved tax information on income from industry sources. The proportion of trials with sole industry support varied between journals, from 7% in BMJ to 32% in NEJM in 2005–2006. Industry-supported trials were more frequently cited than trials with other types of support, and omitting them from the impact factor calculation decreased journal impact factors. The decrease varied considerably between journals, with 1% for BMJ to 15% for NEJM in 2007. For the two journals disclosing data, income from the sales of reprints contributed to 3% and 41% of the total income for BMJ and The Lancet in 2005–2006. Conclusions Publication of industry-supported trials was associated with an increase in journal impact factors. Sales of reprints may provide a substantial income. We suggest that journals disclose financial information in the same way that they require them from their authors, so that readers can assess the potential effect of different types of papers on journals' revenue and impact. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary PMID:21048986

Conflicts of interest at medical journals: the influence of industry-supported randomised trials on journal impact factors and revenue - cohort study.

PubMed

Lundh, Andreas; Barbateskovic, Marija; Hróbjartsson, Asbjørn; Gøtzsche, Peter C

2010-10-26

transparency in reporting of conflict of interest is an increasingly important aspect of publication in medical journals. Publication of large industry-supported trials may generate many citations and journal income through reprint sales and thereby be a source of conflicts of interest for journals. We investigated industry-supported trials' influence on journal impact factors and revenue. we sampled six major medical journals (Annals of Internal Medicine, Archives of Internal Medicine, BMJ, JAMA, The Lancet, and New England Journal of Medicine [NEJM]). For each journal, we identified randomised trials published in 1996-1997 and 2005-2006 using PubMed, and categorized the type of financial support. Using Web of Science, we investigated citations of industry-supported trials and the influence on journal impact factors over a ten-year period. We contacted journal editors and retrieved tax information on income from industry sources. The proportion of trials with sole industry support varied between journals, from 7% in BMJ to 32% in NEJM in 2005-2006. Industry-supported trials were more frequently cited than trials with other types of support, and omitting them from the impact factor calculation decreased journal impact factors. The decrease varied considerably between journals, with 1% for BMJ to 15% for NEJM in 2007. For the two journals disclosing data, income from the sales of reprints contributed to 3% and 41% of the total income for BMJ and The Lancet in 2005-2006. publication of industry-supported trials was associated with an increase in journal impact factors. Sales of reprints may provide a substantial income. We suggest that journals disclose financial information in the same way that they require them from their authors, so that readers can assess the potential effect of different types of papers on journals' revenue and impact.

Skeletal muscle fatigue precedes the slow component of oxygen uptake kinetics during exercise in humans.

PubMed

Cannon, Daniel T; White, Ailish C; Andriano, Melina F; Kolkhorst, Fred W; Rossiter, Harry B

2011-02-01

The mechanisms determining exercise intolerance are poorly understood. A reduction in work efficiency in the form of an additional energy cost and oxygen requirement occurs during high-intensity exercise and contributes to exercise limitation. Muscle fatigue and subsequent recruitment of poorly efficient muscle fibres has been proposed to mediate this decline. These data demonstrate in humans, that muscle fatigue, generated in the initial minutes of exercise, is correlated with the increasing energy demands of high-intensity exercise. Surprisingly, however, while muscle fatigue reached a plateau, oxygen uptake continued to increase throughout 8 min of exercise. This suggests that additional recruitment of inefficient muscle fibres may not be the sole mechanism contributing to the decline in work efficiency during high-intensity exercise.

31 CFR 800.223 - Solely for the purpose of passive investment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance:Treasury 3 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Solely for the purpose of passive..., ACQUISITIONS, AND TAKEOVERS BY FOREIGN PERSONS Definitions § 800.223 Solely for the purpose of passive investment. Ownership interests are held or acquired solely for the purpose of passive investment if the...

Thermal Preference of Juvenile Dover Sole (Solea solea) in Relation to Thermal Acclimation and Optimal Growth Temperature

PubMed Central

Schram, Edward; Bierman, Stijn; Teal, Lorna R.; Haenen, Olga; van de Vis, Hans; Rijnsdorp, Adriaan D.

2013-01-01

Dover sole (Solea solea) is an obligate ectotherm with a natural thermal habitat ranging from approximately 5 to 27°C. Thermal optima for growth lie in the range of 20 to 25°C. More precise information on thermal optima for growth is needed for cost-effective Dover sole aquaculture. The main objective of this study was to determine the optimal growth temperature of juvenile Dover sole (Solea solea) and in addition to test the hypothesis that the final preferendum equals the optimal growth temperature. Temperature preference was measured in a circular preference chamber for Dover sole acclimated to 18, 22 and 28°C. Optimal growth temperature was measured by rearing Dover sole at 19, 22, 25 and 28°C. The optimal growth temperature resulting from this growth experiment was 22.7°C for Dover sole with a size between 30 to 50 g. The temperature preferred by juvenile Dover sole increases with acclimation temperature and exceeds the optimal temperature for growth. A final preferendum could not be detected. Although a confounding effect of behavioural fever on temperature preference could not be entirely excluded, thermal preference and thermal optima for physiological processes seem to be unrelated in Dover sole. PMID:23613837

Thermal preference of juvenile Dover sole (Solea solea) in relation to thermal acclimation and optimal growth temperature.

PubMed

Schram, Edward; Bierman, Stijn; Teal, Lorna R; Haenen, Olga; van de Vis, Hans; Rijnsdorp, Adriaan D

2013-01-01

Dover sole (Solea solea) is an obligate ectotherm with a natural thermal habitat ranging from approximately 5 to 27°C. Thermal optima for growth lie in the range of 20 to 25°C. More precise information on thermal optima for growth is needed for cost-effective Dover sole aquaculture. The main objective of this study was to determine the optimal growth temperature of juvenile Dover sole (Solea solea) and in addition to test the hypothesis that the final preferendum equals the optimal growth temperature. Temperature preference was measured in a circular preference chamber for Dover sole acclimated to 18, 22 and 28°C. Optimal growth temperature was measured by rearing Dover sole at 19, 22, 25 and 28°C. The optimal growth temperature resulting from this growth experiment was 22.7°C for Dover sole with a size between 30 to 50 g. The temperature preferred by juvenile Dover sole increases with acclimation temperature and exceeds the optimal temperature for growth. A final preferendum could not be detected. Although a confounding effect of behavioural fever on temperature preference could not be entirely excluded, thermal preference and thermal optima for physiological processes seem to be unrelated in Dover sole.

Psychological complaints among children in joint physical custody and other family types: Considering parental factors

PubMed Central

Fransson, Emma; Turunen, Jani; Hjern, Anders; Östberg, Viveca; Bergström, Malin

2016-01-01

Aims: Increasing proportions of Scandinavian children and children in other Western countries live in joint physical custody, moving between parents’ homes when parents live apart. Children and parents in non-intact families are at risk of worse mental health. The potential influence of parental ill-health on child well-being in the context of differing living arrangements has not been studied thoroughly. This study investigates the psychological complaints of children in joint physical custody in comparison to children in sole parental care and nuclear families, while controlling for socioeconomic differences and parental ill-health. Methods: Data were obtained from Statistics Sweden’s yearly Survey of Living Conditions 2007–2011 and child supplements with children 10–18 years, living in households of adult participants. Children in joint physical custody (n=391) were compared with children in sole parental care (n=654) and children in nuclear families (n=3,639), using a scale of psychological complaints as the outcome measure. Results: Multiple regression modelling showed that children in joint physical custody did not report higher levels of psychological complaints than those in nuclear families, while children in sole parental care reported elevated levels of complaints compared with those in joint physical custody. Adding socioeconomic variables and parental ill-health only marginally attenuated the coefficients for the living arrangement groups. Low parental education and parental worry/anxiety were however associated with higher levels of psychological complaints. Conclusions: Psychological complaints were lower among adolescents in joint physical custody than in adolescents in sole parental care. The difference was not explained by parental ill-health or socioeconomic variables. PMID:26553250

Social networks and family violence in cross-cultural perspective.

PubMed

Korbin, J E

1995-01-01

The purpose of this chapter was twofold. First, the chapter put forward a brief cross-cultural perspective indicating that multiple types of intrafamilial violence occur cross-culturally. Second, the chapter placed social networks at the core of a complex etiology of intrafamilial violence. The purpose of giving centrality to social networks is not to suggest that social networks are the sole or primary agent contributing to family violence but to broaden the context in which family violence is viewed beyond that of the perpetrator, the victim/survivor, or the violent dyad.

Mechanisms of metabolic dysfunction in cancer-associated cachexia

PubMed Central

Petruzzelli, Michele; Wagner, Erwin F.

2016-01-01

Metabolic dysfunction contributes to the clinical deterioration observed in advanced cancer patients and is characterized by weight loss, skeletal muscle wasting, and atrophy of the adipose tissue. This systemic syndrome, termed cancer-associated cachexia (CAC), is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. While once attributed solely to decreased food intake, the present description of cancer cachexia is a disorder of multiorgan energy imbalance. Here we review the molecules and pathways responsible for metabolic dysfunction in CAC and the ideas that led to the current understanding. PMID:26944676

De novo acute leukemia with a sole 5q-: morphological, immunological, and clinical correlations.

PubMed

Duchayne, E; Dastugue, N; Kuhlein, E; Huguet, F; Pris, J

1993-11-01

The 5 q deletion is frequently found in myelodysplastic syndromes and acute non lymphoid leukemia, but this anomaly is usually found in secondary diseases and associated with many other chromosomal aberrations. This report describes four cases of "de novo" acute leukemia with a sole 5q- anomaly. They had no cytological, genetic or clinical characteristics of secondary disorders. It is important to note that of the four patients studied, three had proliferation of immature blast cells. One case was classified as a MO AML and two as "undifferentiated" acute leukemia. Furthermore, these four cases of acute leukemia showed a deletion of the same portion of the long arm of chromosome 5: q22q33. On the same part of this chromosome many hematopoietic growth factor genes have been located, like IL3 and GM-CSF which have early undifferentiated hematopoietic stem cells as a their target.

Whole-body multislice computed tomography as the primary and sole diagnostic tool in patients with blunt trauma: searching for its appropriate indication.

PubMed

Wurmb, Thomas Erik; Frühwald, Peter; Hopfner, Wittiko; Roewer, Norbert; Brederlau, Jörg

2007-11-01

In our hospital, whole-body multislice computed tomography is used as the primary diagnostic tool in patients with suspected multiple trauma. A triage rule is used for its indication. We have retrospectively analyzed data of sedated, intubated and ventilated patients consecutively admitted to our trauma center to assess whether the triage rule can help identify patients with severe trauma (injury severity score > or = 16). We have found that overtriage (injury severity score < 16) occurs in 30%, and undertriage occurs in 6% of patients. Although we have found the triage rule to be highly sensitive, this results in a high rate of overtriage. Until we know more about the most relevant and independent predictive factors, sole reliance upon multislice computed tomography in triaging suspected polytrauma victims will imply the risk to overscan many patients.

Establishment and characterization of a new fish cell line from head kidney of half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis).

PubMed

Zheng, Yuan; Wang, Na; Xie, Ming-Shu; Sha, Zhen-Xia; Chen, Song-Lin

2012-12-01

A new cell line (TSHKC) derived from half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis) head kidney was developed. The cell line was subcultured for 40 passages over a period of 360 days. The cell line was optimally maintained in minimum essential medium supplemented with HEPES, antibiotics, fetal bovine serum, 2-Mercaptoethanol (2-Me), sodium pyruvate and basic fibroblast growth factor. The suitable growth temperature for TSHKC cells was 24 °C, and microscopically, TSHKC cells were composed of fibroblast-like cells. Chromosome analysis revealed that the TSHKC cell line had a normal diploid karyotype with 2n = 42, contained the heterogametic W chromosome. The TSHKC cell line was found to be susceptible to lymphocystis disease virus. The fluorescent signals were observed in TSHKC when the cells were transfected with green fluorescent protein and red fluorescent protein reporter plasmids.

Feeding selectivity of Calanus finmarchicus in the Trondheimsfjord

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leiknes, Øystein; Striberny, Anja; Tokle, Nils Egil; Olsen, Yngvar; Vadstein, Olav; Sommer, Ulrich

2014-01-01

The feeding selectivity of Calanus finmarchicus was studied by carrying out three incubation experiments; two experiments with natural seawater sampled during spring bloom (Exp. 1) and post-bloom conditions (Exp. 2) and a third experiment with cultured dinoflagellates and ciliates (Exp. 3). In the first two experiments a gradient in ciliate concentration was created to investigate the potential for prey density dependent selective feeding of C. finmarchicus. Results of microplankton counts indicated C. finmarchicus to be omnivorous. Diatoms contributed chiefly to the diet during spring bloom conditions. Despite the high microphytoplankton biomass during the spring bloom (Exp. 1), ciliates were selected positively by C. finmarchicus when the ciliate biomass exceeded 6.5 μg C L- 1. A selection in favor of large conic ciliates such as Laboea sp. and Strombidium conicum was indicated by positive selectivity indices. Ciliates were throughout positively selected by C. finmarchicus during Exp. 2, and selectivity indices indicated a negative selection of diatoms. The results from Exp. 3 showed that C. finmarchicus has the ability to switch from dinoflagellates to ciliates as sole food source, even if the dinoflagellate was offered in surplus. This suggests that other factors, such as nutrition may be of significance for the feeding selectivity of C. finmarchicus.

Quantum efficiency harmonic analysis of exciton annihilation in organic light emitting diodes

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

Price, J. S.; Giebink, N. C., E-mail: ncg2@psu.edu

2015-06-29

Various exciton annihilation processes are known to impact the efficiency roll-off of organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs); however, isolating and quantifying their contribution in the presence of other factors such as changing charge balance continue to be a challenge for routine device characterization. Here, we analyze OLED electroluminescence resulting from a sinusoidal dither superimposed on the device bias and show that nonlinearity between recombination current and light output arising from annihilation mixes the quantum efficiency measured at different dither harmonics in a manner that depends uniquely on the type and magnitude of the annihilation process. We derive a series ofmore » analytical relations involving the DC and first harmonic external quantum efficiency that enable annihilation rates to be quantified through linear regression independent of changing charge balance and evaluate them for prototypical fluorescent and phosphorescent OLEDs based on the emitters 4-(dicyanomethylene)-2-methyl-6-(4-dimethylaminostyryl)-4H-pyran and platinum octaethylporphyrin, respectively. We go on to show that, in most cases, it is sufficient to calculate the needed quantum efficiency harmonics directly from derivatives of the DC light versus current curve, thus enabling this analysis to be conducted solely from standard light-current-voltage measurement data.« less

A distribution-free multi-factorial profiler for harvesting information from high-density screenings.

PubMed

Besseris, George J

2013-01-01

Data screening is an indispensable phase in initiating the scientific discovery process. Fractional factorial designs offer quick and economical options for engineering highly-dense structured datasets. Maximum information content is harvested when a selected fractional factorial scheme is driven to saturation while data gathering is suppressed to no replication. A novel multi-factorial profiler is presented that allows screening of saturated-unreplicated designs by decomposing the examined response to its constituent contributions. Partial effects are sliced off systematically from the investigated response to form individual contrasts using simple robust measures. By isolating each time the disturbance attributed solely to a single controlling factor, the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney rank stochastics are employed to assign significance. We demonstrate that the proposed profiler possesses its own self-checking mechanism for detecting a potential influence due to fluctuations attributed to the remaining unexplainable error. Main benefits of the method are: 1) easy to grasp, 2) well-explained test-power properties, 3) distribution-free, 4) sparsity-free, 5) calibration-free, 6) simulation-free, 7) easy to implement, and 8) expanded usability to any type and size of multi-factorial screening designs. The method is elucidated with a benchmarked profiling effort for a water filtration process.

A Distribution-Free Multi-Factorial Profiler for Harvesting Information from High-Density Screenings

PubMed Central

Besseris, George J.

2013-01-01

Data screening is an indispensable phase in initiating the scientific discovery process. Fractional factorial designs offer quick and economical options for engineering highly-dense structured datasets. Maximum information content is harvested when a selected fractional factorial scheme is driven to saturation while data gathering is suppressed to no replication. A novel multi-factorial profiler is presented that allows screening of saturated-unreplicated designs by decomposing the examined response to its constituent contributions. Partial effects are sliced off systematically from the investigated response to form individual contrasts using simple robust measures. By isolating each time the disturbance attributed solely to a single controlling factor, the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney rank stochastics are employed to assign significance. We demonstrate that the proposed profiler possesses its own self-checking mechanism for detecting a potential influence due to fluctuations attributed to the remaining unexplainable error. Main benefits of the method are: 1) easy to grasp, 2) well-explained test-power properties, 3) distribution-free, 4) sparsity-free, 5) calibration-free, 6) simulation-free, 7) easy to implement, and 8) expanded usability to any type and size of multi-factorial screening designs. The method is elucidated with a benchmarked profiling effort for a water filtration process. PMID:24009744

An Overview of the NASA Aviation Safety Program Propulsion Health Monitoring Element

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Simon, Donald L.

2000-01-01

The NASA Aviation Safety Program (AvSP) has been initiated with aggressive goals to reduce the civil aviation accident rate, To meet these goals, several technology investment areas have been identified including a sub-element in propulsion health monitoring (PHM). Specific AvSP PHM objectives are to develop and validate propulsion system health monitoring technologies designed to prevent engine malfunctions from occurring in flight, and to mitigate detrimental effects in the event an in-flight malfunction does occur. A review of available propulsion system safety information was conducted to help prioritize PHM areas to focus on under the AvSP. It is noted that when a propulsion malfunction is involved in an aviation accident or incident, it is often a contributing factor rather than the sole cause for the event. Challenging aspects of the development and implementation of PHM technology such as cost, weight, robustness, and reliability are discussed. Specific technology plans are overviewed including vibration diagnostics, model-based controls and diagnostics, advanced instrumentation, and general aviation propulsion system health monitoring technology. Propulsion system health monitoring, in addition to engine design, inspection, maintenance, and pilot training and awareness, is intrinsic to enhancing aviation propulsion system safety.

Determinants of Usual Source of Care Disparities among African American and Caribbean Black Men: Findings from the national Survey of american life

PubMed Central

Hammond, Wizdom Powell; Mohottige, Dinushika; Chantala, Kim; Hastings, Julia F.; Neighbors, Harold W.; Snowden, Lonnie

2011-01-01

Purpose The Aday-Andersen model was used as a framework for investigating the contribution of immigration status (i.e., nativity and acculturation), socioeconomic factors, health care access, health status, and health insurance to usual source of health care (USOC) in a nationally representative sample of African American (n5551) and Caribbean Black men (n51,217). Methods We used the 2001–2003 National Survey of American Life, a nationally representative household survey of non-institutionalized U.S. Blacks to conduct descriptive and logistic regression analyses. Results Older age, more health conditions, neighborhood medical clinic access, and health insurance were associated with higher odds of reporting a USOC. Odds were lower for men with lower-middle incomes and poorer mental health status. Having health insurance was associated with higher odds of reporting a USOC for African American men but lower odds among Caribbean Black men. Odds were higher in the presence of more health conditions for African American men than for Caribbean Black men. Conclusions Health care reform policies aimed solely at increasing health insurance may not uniformly eliminate USOC disparities disfavoring U.S. and foreign-born non-Hispanic Black men. PMID:21317513

How are parent–child conflict and childhood externalizing symptoms related over time? Results from a genetically informative cross-lagged study

PubMed Central

BURT, S. ALEXANDRA; McGUE, MATT; KRUEGER, ROBERT F.; IACONO, WILLIAM G.

2008-01-01

The present study attempted to determine the direction and etiology of the robust relationship between childhood externalizing (EXT) symptoms and parent–child conflict using a genetically informative longitudinal model and data from the ongoing Minnesota Twin Family Study. Participants consisted of 1,506 same-sex twins assessed at ages 11 and 14, and their parents. The relationship between EXT and parent–child conflict from ages 11 to 14 was examined within a biometrical cross-lagged design. The results revealed three primary findings: first, the stability of conflict and externalizing over time is largely, although not solely, a result of genetic factors. Second, there appears to be a bidirectional relationship between conflict and EXT over time, such that both conflict and EXT at 11 independently predict the other 3 years later. Finally, the results are consistent with the notion that parent–child conflict partially results from parental responses to their child’s heritable externalizing behavior, while simultaneously contributing to child externalizing via environmental mechanisms. These results suggest a “downward spiral” of interplay between parent–child conflict and EXT, and offer confirmation of a (partially) environmentally mediated effect of parenting on child behavior. PMID:15971764

Online surveillance of media health event reporting in Nepal: digital disease detection from a One Health perspective.

PubMed

Schwind, Jessica S; Norman, Stephanie A; Karmacharya, Dibesh; Wolking, David J; Dixit, Sameer M; Rajbhandari, Rajesh M; Mekaru, Sumiko R; Brownstein, John S

2017-09-21

Traditional media and the internet are crucial sources of health information. Media can significantly shape public opinion, knowledge and understanding of emerging and endemic health threats. As digital communication rapidly progresses, local access and dissemination of health information contribute significantly to global disease detection and reporting. Health event reports in Nepal (October 2013-December 2014) were used to characterize Nepal's media environment from a One Health perspective using HealthMap - a global online disease surveillance and mapping tool. Event variables (location, media source type, disease or risk factor of interest, and affected species) were extracted from HealthMap. A total of 179 health reports were captured from various sources including newspapers, inter-government agency bulletins, individual reports, and trade websites, yielding 108 (60%) unique articles. Human health events were reported most often (n = 85; 79%), followed by animal health events (n = 23; 21%), with no reports focused solely on environmental health. By expanding event coverage across all of the health sectors, media in developing countries could play a crucial role in national risk communication efforts and could enhance early warning systems for disasters and disease outbreaks.

Systemic violence against Syrian refugee women and the myth of effective intrapersonal interventions.

PubMed

Yasmine, Rola; Moughalian, Catherine

2016-05-01

Since the uprising in Syria in March 2011, over 4.3 million Syrians have fled to neighboring countries. Over a million have sought refuge in Lebanon, constituting almost a quarter of the Lebanese population and becoming the largest refugee population per capita in the world. With inequitable health coverage being a longstanding problem in Lebanon, Syrian refugee women's health, and specifically their sexual and reproductive health, is disproportionately affected. An increase in gender-based violence and early marriage, a lack of access to emergency obstetric care, limited access to contraception, forced cesarean sections, and high cost of healthcare services, all contribute to poor sexual and reproductive health. In this commentary, we conceptualize violence against Syrian refugee women using the ecological model, exploring the intersections of discrimination based on ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status, while critiquing interventions that focus solely on the intrapersonal level and ignore the role of microsystemic, exosystemic, and macrosystemic factors of negative influence. These social determinants of health supersede the individual realm of health behavior, and hinder women in taking decisions about their sexual and reproductive health. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The influence of familiar characters and other appealing images on young children's preference for low-quality objects.

PubMed

Danovitch, Judith H; Mills, Candice M

2017-09-01

This study examines the factors underlying young children's preference for products bearing a familiar character's image. Three-year-olds (N = 92) chose between low-quality objects with images on or near the objects and high-quality objects without images. Children showed stronger preferences for damaged objects bearing images of a preferred familiar character than for objects bearing images of a preferred colour star, and they showed weak preferences for damaged objects with the character near, but not on, the object. The results suggest that children's preference for low-quality products bearing character images is driven by prior exposure to characters, and not only by the act of identifying a favourite. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? Children are exposed to characters in the media and on products such as clothing and school supplies. Products featuring familiar characters appeal to preschool children, even if they are of low quality. What does this study add? Three-year-olds prefer damaged objects with an image of a favourite character over plain undamaged objects. Children's preference is not solely a function of having identified a favourite image or of attentional cues. © 2017 The British Psychological Society.

Symmetry blockade and its breakdown in energy equipartition of square graphene resonators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yisen; Zhu, Zhigang; Zhang, Yong; Huang, Liang

2018-03-01

The interaction between flexural modes due to nonlinear potentials is critical to heat conductivity and mechanical vibration of two dimensional materials such as graphene. Much effort has been devoted to understanding the underlying mechanism. In this paper, we examine solely the out-of-plane flexural modes and identify their energy flow pathway during the equipartition process. In particular, the modes are grouped into four classes by their distinct symmetries. The couplings are significantly larger within a class than between classes, forming symmetry blockades. As a result, the energy first flows to the modes in the same symmetry class. Breakdown of the symmetry blockade, i.e., inter-class energy flow, starts when the displacement profile becomes complex and the inter-class couplings bear nonneglectable values. The equipartition time follows the stretched exponential law and survives in the thermodynamic limit. These results bring fundamental understandings to the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam problem in two dimensional systems with complex potentials and reveal clearly the physical picture of dynamical interactions between the flexural modes, which will be crucial to the understanding of their contribution in high thermal conductivity and mechanism of energy dissipation that may intrinsically limit the quality factor of the resonator.

The high resolution melting analysis (HRM) as a molecular tool for monitoring parasites of the wildlife.

PubMed

Héritier, Laurent; Verneau, Olivier; Breuil, Gregory; Meistertzheim, Anne-Leila

2017-04-01

In an interconnected world, the international pet trade on wild animals is becoming increasingly important. As a consequence, non-native parasite species are introduced, which affect the health of wildlife and contribute to the loss of biodiversity. Because the investigation of parasite diversity within vulnerable host species implies the molecular identification of large samples of parasite eggs, the sequencing of DNA barcodes is time-consuming and costly. Thereby, the objectives of our study were to apply the high resolution melting (HRM) approach for species determination from pools of parasite eggs. Molecular assays were validated on flatworm parasites (polystomes) infecting the Mediterranean pond turtle Mauremys leprosa and the invasive red-eared slider Trachemys scripta elegans in French natural environments. HRM analysis results indicated that double or multiple parasitic infections could be detected from wild animal populations. They also showed that the cycle of parasite eggs production was not regular over time and may depend on several factors, among which the ecological niche and the target species. Thereby, monitoring parasites from wild endangered animals implies periodic parasitological surveys to avoid false negative diagnostics, based solely on eggs production.

The expediency of peritoneal lavage for blunt trauma in children.

PubMed

Drew, R; Perry, J F; Fischer, R P

1977-12-01

Two hundred and thirty children, ten years of age or younger, suspected of having blunt abdominal injuries underwent diagnostic peritoneal lavage. Peritoneal lavage was 99.1 per cent accurate in determining the presence or absence of abdominal injuries. One patient had a false-positive peritoneal lavage. Sixty-nine of the 70 patients with blunt abdominal injuries, who underwent peritoneal lavage, had a positive peritoneal lavage; one patient had a false-negative peritoneal levage. Ninety-one per cent of the positive peritoneal lavages were grossly positive for hemoperitoneum. All 11 children with extraperitoneal abdominal injuries had positive peritoneal lavages from associated intraperitoneal injeries. The mortality for children with blunt abdominal injuries was 19.4 per cent. Intra-abdominal injuries were solely responsible for 29 per cent of the deaths and were a major contributing factor in an additional 21 per cent of the deaths. The routine use of diagnostic peritoneal lavage during the initial evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma was, in large part, responsible for the rapid, definitive treatment which -he children with abdominal injuries received. Sixty-five per cent of the children underwent exploratory laparotomy within one hour of admission to the hospital.

Foot roll-over evaluation based on 3D dynamic foot scan.

PubMed

Samson, William; Van Hamme, Angèle; Sanchez, Stéphane; Chèze, Laurence; Van Sint Jan, Serge; Feipel, Véronique

2014-01-01

Foot roll-over is commonly analyzed to evaluate gait pathologies. The current study utilized a dynamic foot scanner (DFS) to analyze foot roll-over. The right feet of ten healthy subjects were assessed during gait trials with a DFS system integrated into a walkway. A foot sole picture was computed by vertically projecting points from the 3D foot shape which were lower than a threshold height of 15 mm. A 'height' value of these projected points was determined; corresponding to the initial vertical coordinates prior to projection. Similar to pedobarographic analysis, the foot sole picture was segmented into anatomical regions of interest (ROIs) to process mean height (average of height data by ROI) and projected surface (area of the projected foot sole by ROI). Results showed that these variables evolved differently to plantar pressure data previously reported in the literature, mainly due to the specificity of each physical quantity (millimeters vs Pascals). Compared to plantar pressure data arising from surface contact by the foot, the current method takes into account the whole plantar aspect of the foot, including the parts that do not make contact with the support surface. The current approach using height data could contribute to a better understanding of specific aspects of foot motion during walking, such as plantar arch height and the windlass mechanism. Results of this study show the underlying method is reliable. Further investigation is required to validate the DFS measurements within a clinical context, prior to implementation into clinical practice. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Comparison of major depressive disorder and subthreshold depression among older adults in community long-term care.

PubMed

Lee, Mi Jin; Hasche, Leslie K; Choi, Sunha; Proctor, Enola K; Morrow-Howell, Nancy

2013-01-01

This study extends existing knowledge regarding the continuum between major depression (MD) and subthreshold depression (SD) by examining differences in symptomology and associative factors for a subpopulation of older adults with functional disability. Our sample consisted of clients age 60 and above entering public community long term care derived from the baseline survey of a longitudinal study (315 non-depressed, 74 MD, and 221 SD). We used the Diagnostic Interview Schedule to establish diagnoses of MD, the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) to assess SD, and other self-report measures to explore potential associative factors of demographics, comorbidity, social support, and stressors. No differences in CES-D identified symptoms occurred between the two groups. MD and SD were both associated with lower education, poorer social support, more severe medical conditions, and higher stress when compared to non-depressed older adults. Younger age and being female were associated solely with MD; whereas, worse perceived health and more trouble affording food were associated solely with SD. The only associative factor significantly different between MD and SD was age. Those with MD were more likely to be younger than those with SD. Our findings of symptom profiles and associative factors lend support to the continuum notion of depression. Identification of only older adults within the community long-term care service system who meet criteria for MD would leave many older adults, who also face multiple comorbidities, high levels of stress and social isolation, and substantial depressive symptoms undiagnosed and untreated.

Breastfeeding as the sole source of milk for 6 months and adolescent bone mineral density.

PubMed

Blanco, E; Burrows, R; Reyes, M; Lozoff, B; Gahagan, S; Albala, C

2017-10-01

Little is known regarding the relationship between early life factors and bone mineral density (BMD). We found a positive association between breastfeeding for at least 6 months, without formula supplementation, and whole body adolescent BMD z-score. The aim of the study is to assess the role of breastfeeding BF on adolescent bone mineral density (BMD) in a cohort prospectively followed since infancy. We studied 679 participants from an infancy iron deficiency anemia preventive trial in Santiago, Chile, followed to adolescence. Breast and bottle feeding were ascertained weekly from 4 to 12 months. At 16 years, whole body BMD was assessed by DEXA. Using linear regression, we evaluated associations between BF duration and BF as the sole source of milk and adolescent BMD z-score, adjusting for possible infancy, adolescent, and background confounders. Mean birth weight and length were 3.5 (0.3) kg and 50.7 (1.6) cm. For at least 6 months, BF was the sole source of milk for 26.3% and with supplementation for 36.7%. For 37%, BF was provided for less than 6 months. Mean 16-year BMD z-score was 0.25 (1.0). Covariates included male sex, birth length, and gestational age. BF as the sole source of milk ≥6 months, compared to BF < 6 months, was associated with higher adolescent BMD z-score adjusting for covariates (β = 0.29, p < 0.05). Mixed BF was not significantly related to adolescent BMD z-score (β = 0.06, p = 0.47). For every 30 days of BF as the sole source of milk, adolescent BMD z-score increased by 0.03 (p = 0.01). BF without formula supplementation for at least 6 months was associated with higher adolescent BMD z-score and a suggestive trend in the same direction for BMD suggests that exclusivity and duration of BF may play a role in adolescent bone health.

Developing relations between soil erodibilty factors in two different soil erosion prediction models (USLE/RUSLE and wWEPP) and fludization bed technique for mechanical soil cohesion

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Soil erosion models are valuable analysis tools that scientists and engineers use to examine observed data sets and predict the effects of possible future soil loss. In the area of water erosion, a variety of modeling technologies are available, ranging from solely qualitative models, to merely quan...

Language Policy in the U.S.: Questions Addressing a Sea Change in Language in the U.S.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brecht, Richard D.; Rivers, William P.

1999-01-01

Language is important in the public life of the United States because of four factors: globalization; the global diffusion of democracy and self-determination; the wave of immigration to the United States from all corners of the world; and the unique role America plays as the sole military and economic superpower. These conditions make it…

Egas Moniz: 90 Years (1927–2017) from Cerebral Angiography

PubMed Central

Artico, Marco; Spoletini, Marialuisa; Fumagalli, Lorenzo; Biagioni, Francesca; Ryskalin, Larisa; Fornai, Francesco; Salvati, Maurizio; Frati, Alessandro; Pastore, Francesco Saverio; Taurone, Samanta

2017-01-01

In June 2017 we celebrate the 90th anniversary of the pioneer discovery of cerebral angiography, the seminal imaging technique used for visualizing cerebral blood vessels and vascular alterations as well as other intracranial disorders. Egas Moniz (1874–1955) was the first to describe the use of this revolutionary technique which, until 1975 (when computed tomography, CT, scan was introduced in the clinical practice), was the sole diagnostic tool to provide an imaging of cerebral vessels and therefore alterations due to intracranial pathology. Moniz introduced in the clinical practice this fundamental and important diagnostic tool. The present contribution wishes to pay a tribute to the Portuguese neurosurgeon, who was also a distinguished neurologist and statesman. Despite his tremendous contribution in modern brain imaging, Egas Moniz was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1949 for prefrontal leucotomy, the neurosurgical intervention nowadays unacceptable, but should rather be remembered for his key contribution to modern brain imaging. PMID:28974927

Electrostatic contribution to the persistence length of a semiflexible dipolar chain.

PubMed

Podgornik, Rudi

2004-09-01

We investigate the electrostatic contribution to the persistence length of a semiflexible polymer chain whose segments interact via a screened Debye-Hückel dipolar interaction potential. We derive the expressions for the renormalized persistence length on the level of a 1/D-expansion method already successfully used in other contexts of polyelectrolye physics. We investigate different limiting forms of the renormalized persistence length of the dipolar chain and show that, in, general, it depends less strongly on the screening length than in the context of a monopolar chain. We show that for a dipolar chain the electrostatic persistence length in the same regime of the parameter phase space as the original Odijk-Skolnick-Fixman (OSF) form for a monopolar chain depends logarithmically on the screening length rather than quadratically. This can be understood solely on the basis of a swifter decay of the dipolar interactions with separation compared to the monopolar electrostatic interactions. We comment also on the general contribution of higher multipoles to the electrostatic renormalization of the bending rigidity.

Who's Missing the Point? A Commentary on Claims that Autistic Persons Have a Specific Deficit in Figurative Language Comprehension.

PubMed

Gernsbacher, Morton Ann; Pripas-Kapit, Sarah R

2012-01-01

It's become a caricature of autistic persons that they don't understand figurative language. Despite empirical evidence to the contrary, three of the four contributions to this special issue endorse this stereotype without question. And all four contributions attribute this supposed deficit to even shakier fallacies, such as the controversial claim that autistic people lack empathy or a 'theory of mind.' In this commentary, we begin by reviewing the literature more exhaustively than the other contributions, and we highlight a point that they missed: Autistic persons are likely to have difficulty comprehending figurative language if they also have difficulty comprehending language in general. There doesn't seem to be a specific deficit in figurative language unique to autism. We also tackle the claim that autistic people lack empathy. And we question the existence of a 'theory of mind area,' while demonstrating the pitfalls that ensnarl researchers when they strain to interpret differences between autistic and non-autistic brain activity as solely autistic deficits.

Contributions of phenolics and added vitamin C to the antioxidant capacity of pomegranate and grape juices: synergism and antagonism among constituents†

PubMed Central

Bolling, Bradley W.; Chen, Ya-Yen; Chen, C-Y. Oliver

2013-01-01

The aim of this study was to examine the contribution of sugar, organic acid, neutral phenol, and anthocyanin fractions and added ascorbic acid to grape and pomegranate-nectarine juice total phenol, ORAC, FRAP, and DPPH values. Neutral phenol and anthocyanin fractions contributed ≥75% of the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) for both juices. Intrinsic synergy and antagonism among the fractionated constituents occurred inconsistently in each assay. Sugars and organic acids antagonized pomegranate juice neutral phenols and anthocyanins in the DPPH assay by 50% and the grape juice ORAC value by 21%, but were synergistic to the grape juice FRAP value. The added ascorbic acid was dose-dependently synergistic with pomegranate and grape juice total phenol, DPPH, and FRAP assays, but less so in the ORAC assay. Thus, the interactions between grape and pomegranate juice constituents determine TAC and total phenol values, and synergy in these assays could not be attributed solely to polyphenols. PMID:24187439

Singlet Molecular Oxygen Generation by Light-Activated DHN-Melanin of the Fungal Pathogen Mycosphaerella fijiensis in Black Sigatoka Disease of Bananas

PubMed Central

Beltrán-García, Miguel J.; Prado, Fernanda M.; Oliveira, Marilene S.; Ortiz-Mendoza, David; Scalfo, Alexsandra C.; Pessoa, Adalberto; Medeiros, Marisa H. G.; White, James F.; Di Mascio, Paolo

2014-01-01

In pathogenic fungi, melanin contributes to virulence, allowing tissue invasion and inactivation of the plant defence system, but has never been implicated as a factor for host cell death, or as a light-activated phytotoxin. Our research shows that melanin synthesized by the fungal banana pathogen Mycosphaerella fijiensis acts as a virulence factor through the photogeneration of singlet molecular oxygen O2 (1Δg). Using analytical tools, including elemental analysis, ultraviolet/infrared absorption spectrophometry and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry analysis, we characterized both pigment content in mycelia and secreted to the culture media as 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN)-melanin type compound. This is sole melanin-type in M. fijiensis. Isolated melanins irradiated with a Nd:YAG laser at 532 nm produced monomol light emission at 1270 nm, confirming generation of O2 (1Δg), a highly reactive oxygen specie (ROS) that causes cellular death by reacting with all cellular macromolecules. Intermediary polyketides accumulated in culture media by using tricyclazole and pyroquilon (two inhibitors of DHN-melanin synthesis) were identified by ESI-HPLC-MS/MS. Additionally, irradiation at 532 nm of that mixture of compounds and whole melanized mycelium also generated O2 (1Δg). A pigmented-strain generated more O2 (1Δg) than a strain with low melanin content. Banana leaves of cultivar Cavendish, naturally infected with different stages of black Sigatoka disease, were collected from field. Direct staining of the naturally infected leaf tissues showed the presence of melanin that was positively correlated to the disease stage. We also found hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) but we cannot distinguish the source. Our results suggest that O2 (1Δg) photogenerated by DHN-melanin may be involved in the destructive effects of Mycosphaerella fijiensis on banana leaf tissues. Further studies are needed to fully evaluate contributions of melanin-mediated ROS to microbial pathogenesis. PMID:24646830

Within-family environmental transmission of drug abuse: a Swedish national study.

PubMed

Kendler, Kenneth S; Ohlsson, Henrik; Sundquist, Kristina; Sundquist, Jan

2013-02-01

CONTEXT Drug abuse (DA) strongly runs in families. Does this result solely from genetic factors or does the family environment contribute? OBJECTIVE To determine the familial environmental contribution to the risk for DA. DESIGN Follow-up in 9 public databases (1961-2009) in siblings and spouses. SETTING Sweden. PARTICIPANTS A total of 137 199 sibling pairs and 7561 spousal pairs containing a proband with DA and matched control probands. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Drug abuse recorded in medical, legal, or pharmacy registry records. RESULTS In the best-fit model, which contained significant linear, quadratic, and cubic effects, among full sibling pairs containing a proband with DA, the relative risk for DA in the sibling declined from more than 6.0 for siblings born within 2 years of each other to less than 4.5 when born 10 years apart. Controlling for age differences in full sibling pairs, the hazard rate for DA in a sibling when the affected proband was older vs younger was 1.42 (95% CI, 1.31-1.54). In the best-fit model, which contained significant linear, quadratic, and cubic effects, among spousal pairs containing a proband with DA, the relative risk for DA in the spouse declined from more than 25.0 within 1 year of proband DA registration to 6.0 after 5 years. CONCLUSIONS Controlling for genetic effects by examining only full siblings, sibling resemblance for the risk for DA was significantly greater in pairs closer vs more distant in age. Older siblings more strongly transmitted the risk for DA to their younger siblings than vice versa. After one spouse is registered for DA, the other spouse has a large short-lived increase in DA risk. These results support strong familial environmental influences on DA at various life stages. A complete understanding of the familial transmission of DA will require knowledge of how genetic and familial environmental risk factors act and interact over development.

Oman metamorphic sole formation reveals early subduction dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soret, Mathieu; Agard, Philippe; Dubacq, Benoît; Plunder, Alexis; Ildefonse, Benoît; Yamato, Philippe; Prigent, Cécile

2016-04-01

Metamorphic soles correspond to m to ~500m thick tectonic slices welded beneath most of the large-scale ophiolites. They typically show a steep inverted metamorphic structure where the pressure and temperature conditions of crystallization increase upward (from 500±100°C at 0.5±0.2 GPa to 800±100°C at 1.0±0.2 GPa), with isograds subparallel to the contact with the overlying ophiolitic peridotite. The proportion of mafic rocks in metamorphic soles also increases from the bottom (meta-sediments rich) to the top (approaching the ophiolite peridotites). These soles are interpreted as the result of heat transfer from the incipient mantle wedge toward the nascent slab (associated with large-scale fluid transfer and possible shear heating) during the first My of intra-oceanic subduction (as indicated by radiometric ages). Metamorphic soles provide therefore major constraints on early subduction dynamics (i.e., thermal structure, fluid migration and rheology along the nascent slab interface). We present a detailed structural and petrological study of the metamorphic sole from 4 major cross-sections along the Oman ophiolite. We show precise pressure-temperature estimates obtained by pseudosection modelling and EBSD measurements performed on both the garnet-bearing and garnet-free high-grade sole. Results allow quantification of the micro-scale deformation and highlight differences in pressure-temperature-deformation conditions between the 4 different locations, showing that the inverted metamorphic gradient through the sole is not continuous in all locations. Based on these new constraints, we suggest a new tectonic-petrological model for the formation of metamorphic soles below ophiolites. This model involves the stacking of several homogeneous slivers of oceanic crust leading to the present-day structure of the sole. In this view, these thrusts are the result of rheological contrasts between the sole and the peridotite as the plate interface progressively cools down. These slivers later underwent several stages of retrogression (partly mediated by ascending fluids from the slab) from amphibolite- to prehnite/pumpellite-facies conditions.

Quantification of an atmospheric nucleation and growth process as a single source of aerosol particles in a city

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salma, Imre; Varga, Veronika; Németh, Zoltán

2017-12-01

Effects of a new aerosol particle formation (NPF) and particle diameter growth process as a single source of atmospheric particle number concentrations were evaluated and quantified on the basis of experimental data sets obtained from particle number size distribution measurements in the city centre and near-city background of Budapest for 5 years. Nucleation strength factors for a nucleation day (NSFNUC) and for a general day (NSFGEN) were derived separately for seasons and full years. The former characteristic represents the concentration increment of ultrafine (UF) particles specifically on nucleation days with respect to accumulation-mode (regional background) concentrations (particles with equivalent diameters of 100-1000 nm; N100-1000) due solely to the nucleation process. The latter factor expresses the contribution of nucleation to particle numbers on general days; thus, it represents a longer time interval such as season or year. The nucleation source had the largest effect on the concentrations around noon and early afternoon, as expected. During this time interval, it became the major source of particles in the near-city background. Nucleation increased the daily mean concentrations on nucleation days by mean factors of 2.3 and 1.58 in the near-city background and city centre, respectively. Its effect was largest in winter, which was explained by the substantially lower N100-1000 levels on nucleation days than those on non-nucleation days. On an annual timescale, 37 % of the UF particles were generated by nucleation in the near-city background, while NPF produced 13 % of UF particles in the city centre. The differences among the annual mean values, and among the corresponding seasonal mean values, were likely caused by the variability in controlling factors from year to year. The values obtained represent the lower limits of the contributions. The shares determined imply that NPF is a non-negligible or substantial source of particles in near-city background environments and even in city centres, where the vehicular road emissions usually prevail. Atmospheric residence time of nucleation-mode particles was assessed by a decay curve analysis, and a mean of 02:30 was obtained. The present study suggests that the health-related consequences of the atmospheric NPF and growth process in cities should also be considered in addition to its urban climate implications.

Good practices for common sole assessment in the Adriatic Sea: Genetic and morphological differentiation of Solea solea (Linnaeus, 1758) from S. aegyptiaca (Chabanaud, 1927) and stock identification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sabatini, Laura; Bullo, Marianna; Cariani, Alessia; Celić, Igor; Ferrari, Alice; Guarniero, Ilaria; Leoni, Simone; Marčeta, Bojan; Marcone, Alessandro; Polidori, Piero; Raicevich, Saša; Tinti, Fausto; Vrgoč, Nedo; Scarcella, Giuseppe

2018-07-01

In the Adriatic Sea two cryptic species of sole coexist, the common and Egyptian sole. Soles are one of the most valuable demersal fishery resources in the Adriatic Sea, so a correct species identification is crucial in order to perform stock assessment and implement effective management measures based on reliable and accurate data. In this study specimens collected during fishery-independent and fishery-dependent activities in the Adriatic were analyzed and identified coupling morphological and genetic approaches. A comparison of these two methods for the sole species identification was carried out to assess the most effective, accurate and practical diagnostic morphological key-character(s). Results showed that external characters, in particular features of the posterior dorsal and anal fins, are valid and accurate morphological markers. Based on these traits, a practical identification key of the two sibling species was proposed. Moreover, it was possible to estimate the extent of the error due to species misidentification introduced in the common sole stock assessment carried out in the Northern-central Adriatic Sea (GSA17). A 5% bias in the correct identification of common sole specimens was detected. However, this bias was shown not to affect the common sole stock assessment. Moreover, the genetic profiling of the Adriatic common sole allowed estimating genetic diversity and assessing population structure. Significant divergence between common soles inhabiting the eastern part of the Southern Adriatic Sea and those collected from the other areas of the basin was confirmed. Therefore, the occurrence of genetically differentiated subpopulations supports the need to implement independent stock assessments and management measures.

PROPER I: frequency and appropriateness of psychotropic drugs use in nursing home patients and its associations: a study protocol

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Nursing home patients with dementia use psychotropic drugs longer and more frequently than recommended by guidelines implying psychotropic drugs are not always prescribed appropriately. These drugs can have many side effects and effectiveness is limited. Psychotropic drug use between nursing home units varies and is not solely related to the severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms. There is growing evidence indicating that psychotropic drug use is associated with environmental factors, suggesting that the prescription of psychotropic drugs is not only related to (objective) patient factors. However, other factors related to the patient, elderly care physician, nurse and the physical environment are only partially identified. Using a mixed method of qualitative and quantitative research, this study aims to understand the nature of psychotropic drug use and its underlying factors by identifying: 1) frequency and appropriateness of psychotropic drug use for neuropsychiatric symptoms in nursing home patients with dementia, 2) factors associated with (appropriateness of) psychotropic drug use. Methods A cross-sectional mixed methods study. For the quantitative study, patients with dementia (n = 540), nursing staff and elderly care physicians of 36 Dementia Special Care Units of 12 nursing homes throughout the Netherlands will be recruited. Six nursing homes with high average rates and six with low average rates of psychotropic drug use, based on a national survey about frequency of psychotropic drug use on units, will be included. Psychotropic drugs include antipsychotics, anxiolytics, hypnotics, antidepressants, anticonvulsants and anti-dementia drugs. Appropriateness will be measured by an instrument based on the Medication Appropriateness Index and current guidelines for treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms. Factors associated to psychotropic drug use, related to the patient, elderly care physician, nurse and physical environment, will be explored using multilevel regression analyses. For the qualitative study, in depth interviews with staff will be held and analyzed to identify and explore other unknown factors. Discussion This study will provide insight into factors that are associated with the frequency and appropriateness of psychotropic drug use for neuropsychiatric symptoms. Understanding psychotropic drug use and its associations may contribute to better dementia care. PMID:24238392

Prevalence and Predictors of Persistent Speech Sound Disorder at Eight Years Old: Findings From a Population Cohort Study

PubMed Central

Miller, Laura L.; Peters, Tim J.; Emond, Alan; Roulstone, Sue

2016-01-01

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine prevalence and predictors of persistent speech sound disorder (SSD) in children aged 8 years after disregarding children presenting solely with common clinical distortions (i.e., residual errors). Method Data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (Boyd et al., 2012) were used. Children were classified as having persistent SSD on the basis of percentage of consonants correct measures from connected speech samples. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify predictors. Results The estimated prevalence of persistent SSD was 3.6%. Children with persistent SSD were more likely to be boys and from families who were not homeowners. Early childhood predictors identified as important were weak sucking at 4 weeks, not often combining words at 24 months, limited use of word morphology at 38 months, and being unintelligible to strangers at age 38 months. School-age predictors identified as important were maternal report of difficulty pronouncing certain sounds and hearing impairment at age 7 years, tympanostomy tube insertion at any age up to 8 years, and a history of suspected coordination problems. The contribution of these findings to our understanding of risk factors for persistent SSD and the nature of the condition is considered. Conclusion Variables identified as predictive of persistent SSD suggest that factors across motor, cognitive, and linguistic processes may place a child at risk. PMID:27367606

Changes at the nuclear lamina alter binding of pioneer factor Foxa2 in aged liver.

PubMed

Whitton, Holly; Singh, Larry N; Patrick, Marissa A; Price, Andrew J; Osorio, Fernando G; López-Otín, Carlos; Bochkis, Irina M

2018-06-01

Increasing evidence suggests that regulation of heterochromatin at the nuclear envelope underlies metabolic disease susceptibility and age-dependent metabolic changes, but the mechanism is unknown. Here, we profile lamina-associated domains (LADs) using lamin B1 ChIP-Seq in young and old hepatocytes and find that, although lamin B1 resides at a large fraction of domains at both ages, a third of lamin B1-associated regions are bound exclusively at each age in vivo. Regions occupied by lamin B1 solely in young livers are enriched for the forkhead motif, bound by Foxa pioneer factors. We also show that Foxa2 binds more sites in Zmpste24 mutant mice, a progeroid laminopathy model, similar to increased Foxa2 occupancy in old livers. Aged and Zmpste24-deficient livers share several features, including nuclear lamina abnormalities, increased Foxa2 binding, de-repression of PPAR- and LXR-dependent gene expression, and fatty liver. In old livers, additional Foxa2 binding is correlated to loss of lamin B1 and heterochromatin (H3K9me3 occupancy) at these loci. Our observations suggest that changes at the nuclear lamina are linked to altered Foxa2 binding, enabling opening of chromatin and de-repression of genes encoding lipid synthesis and storage targets that contribute to etiology of hepatic steatosis. © 2018 The Authors. Aging Cell published by the Anatomical Society and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Understanding the Role of the Master Regulator XYR1 in Trichoderma reesei by Global Transcriptional Analysis.

PubMed

Dos Santos Castro, Lilian; de Paula, Renato G; Antoniêto, Amanda C C; Persinoti, Gabriela F; Silva-Rocha, Rafael; Silva, Roberto N

2016-01-01

We defined the role of the transcriptional factor-XYR1-in the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei during cellulosic material degradation. In this regard, we performed a global transcriptome analysis using RNA-Seq of the Δxyr1 mutant strain of T. reesei compared with the parental strain QM9414 grown in the presence of cellulose, sophorose, and glucose as sole carbon sources. We found that 5885 genes were expressed differentially under the three tested carbon sources. Of these, 322 genes were upregulated in the presence of cellulose, while 367 and 188 were upregulated in sophorose and glucose, respectively. With respect to genes under the direct regulation of XYR1, 30 and 33 are exclusive to cellulose and sophorose, respectively. The most modulated genes in the Δxyr1 belong to Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes (CAZymes), transcription factors, and transporters families. Moreover, we highlight the downregulation of transporters belonging to the MFS and ABC transporter families. Of these, MFS members were mostly downregulated in the presence of cellulose. In sophorose and glucose, the expression of these transporters was mainly upregulated. Our results revealed that MFS and ABC transporters could be new players in cellulose degradation and their role was shown to be carbon source-dependent. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of XYR1 to control cellulase gene expression in T. reesei in the presence of cellulosic material, thereby potentially enhancing its application in several biotechnology fields.

Bone Marrow Adipocyte Developmental Origin and Biology.

PubMed

Bukowska, Joanna; Frazier, Trivia; Smith, Stanley; Brown, Theodore; Bender, Robert; McCarthy, Michelle; Wu, Xiying; Bunnell, Bruce A; Gimble, Jeffrey M

2018-06-01

This review explores how the relationships between bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) adipogenesis with advancing age, obesity, and/or bone diseases (osteopenia or osteoporosis) contribute to mechanisms underlying musculoskeletal pathophysiology. Recent studies have re-defined adipose tissue as a dynamic, vital organ with functions extending beyond its historic identity restricted solely to that of an energy reservoir or sink. "State of the art" methodologies provide novel insights into the developmental origin, physiology, and function of different adipose tissue depots. These include genetic tracking of adipose progenitors, viral vectors application, and sophisticated non-invasive imaging modalities. While constricted within the rigid bone cavity, BMAT vigorously contributes to local and systemic metabolic processes including hematopoiesis, osteogenesis, and energy metabolism and undergoes dynamic changes as a function of age, diet, bone topography, or sex. These insights will impact future research and therapies relating to osteoporosis.

Insulin and insulin-like growth factor I exert different effects on plasminogen activator production or cell growth in the ovine thyroid cell line OVNIS.

PubMed

Degryse, B; Maisonobe, F; Hovsépian, S; Fayet, G

1991-11-01

Insulin and Insulin-like Growth Factor I (IGF-I) are evaluated for their capacity to affect cell proliferation and plasminogen activator (PA) activity production in an ovine thyroid cell line OVNIS. Insulin at physiological and supraphysiological doses induces cell proliferation and increases PA activity. IGF-I, which is also clearly mitogenic for these cells, surprisingly does not modulate PA activity. The results indicate that the growth promoting effect is mediated through the insulin and IGF-I receptors whereas PA activity is solely regulated via the insulin receptors.

Successful Treatment of Plantar Hyperkeratosis in the Form of Recurrent Corns With Split-Thickness Sole Skin Graft.

PubMed

Wang, Chi-Yu; Chang, Chun-Kai; Chou, Chang-Yi; Wu, Chien-Ju; Chu, Tzi-Shiang; Chiao, Hao-Yu; Chen, Chun-Yu; Chen, Tim-Mo; Tzeng, Yuan-Sheng

2018-02-01

Plantar hyperkeratosis, such as corns and calluses, is common in older people and associated with pain, mobility impairment, and functional limitations. It usually develops on the palms, knees, or soles of feet, especially under the heels or balls. There are several treatment methods for plantar hyperkeratosis, such as salicylic acid plaster and scalpel debridement, and conservative modalities, such as using a shoe insert and properly fitting shoes. We present an effective method of reconstructing the wound after corn excision using a split-thickness sole skin graft (STSSG). We harvested the skin graft from the arch of the sole using the dermatome with a skin thickness of 14/1000th inches. Because the split-thickness skin graft, harvested from the sole arch near the distal sole, is much thicker than the split-thickness skin graft from the thigh, it is more resistant to weight and friction. The healed wound with STSSG coverage over the distal sole was intact, and the donor site over the sole arch had healed without complication during the outpatient follow-up, 3 months after surgery. The recovery time of STSSG for corn excision is shorter than that with traditional treatment. Therefore, STSSG can be a reliable alternative treatment for recurrent palmoplantar hyperkeratosis.

Molecular characterization of kiss2 and differential regulation of reproduction-related genes by sex steroids in the hypothalamus of half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis).

PubMed

Wang, Bin; Liu, Quan; Liu, Xuezhou; Xu, Yongjiang; Song, Xuesong; Shi, Bao

2017-11-01

Kisspeptin (Kiss) plays a critical role in mediating gonadal steroid feedback to the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons in mammals. However, little information regarding the regulation of kisspeptin gene by sex steroids is available in teleosts. In this study, we examined the direct actions of estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) on hypothalamic expression of kisspeptin and other key factors involved in reproductive function of half-smooth tongue sole. As a first step, a partial-length cDNA of kiss2 was identified from the brain of tongue sole and kiss2 transcript levels were shown to be widely expressed in various tissues, notably in the ovary. Then, the actions of sex steroids on kiss2 and other reproduction-related genes were evaluated using a primary hypothalamus culture system. Our results showed that neither kiss2 nor its receptor kiss2r mRNA levels were significantly altered by sex steroids. Moreover, sex steroids did not modify hypothalamic expression of gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (gnih) and its receptor gnihr mRNAs, either. However, E2 markedly stimulated both gnrh2 and gnrh3 mRNAs levels. Overall, this study provides insights into the role of sex steroids in the reproductive function of Pleuronectiform teleosts. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Malignant melanoma in Chile: different site distribution between private and state patients.

PubMed

Zemelman, Viviana B; Valenzuela, Carlos Y; Sazunic, Ivo; Araya, Irene

2014-01-01

The body site location of primary Malignant Melanoma (MM) has been correlated with prognosis and survival. Ethnic, genetics, sun exposure factors are related to the anatomical distribution of MM. Low and high socioeconomic strata in Chile differ in ethnic, genetic and cultural conditions. The purpose of this study was to analyze the anatomical MM distribution in the Chilean population in both strata searching for differences due to their ethno-genetic-cultural differences. Records of 1148 MM, 575 cases from state hospitals (Low Socioeconomic Strata, LSS) and 573 cases from private clinics (High Socioeconomic Strata, HSS) were analyzed by body site. Females from LSS showed a higher number of MM in soles, cheeks, and around the eye area. Females from the HSS showed a higher number of MM in dorsal feet and dorsal hands. Males from LSS showed a higher number of MM in soles, around the eye area, and cheeks. However, males from HSS showed a higher number of MM in the trunk, and in the arms. Acral MM was significantly higher in LSS than in the HSS in both sexes. The Chilean population from the HSS and LSS showed differences in the distribution of MM by site. Furthermore, gender differences in the proportion of MM analyzed by anatomical site are observed in both strata. Results show evidence that differential genetics factors, sun exposure, or other environmental or cultural factors of both strata may account for these differences.

A novel approach identifying hybrid sterility QTL on the autosomes of Drosophila simulans and D. mauritiana.

PubMed

Dickman, Christopher T D; Moehring, Amanda J

2013-01-01

When species interbreed, the hybrid offspring that are produced are often sterile. If only one hybrid sex is sterile, it is almost always the heterogametic (XY or ZW) sex. Taking this trend into account, the predominant model used to explain the genetic basis of F1 sterility involves a deleterious interaction between recessive sex-linked loci from one species and dominant autosomal loci from the other species. This model is difficult to evaluate, however, as only a handful of loci influencing interspecies hybrid sterility have been identified, and their autosomal genetic interactors have remained elusive. One hindrance to their identification has been the overwhelming effect of the sex chromosome in mapping studies, which could 'mask' the ability to accurately map autosomal factors. Here, we use a novel approach employing attached-X chromosomes to create reciprocal backcross interspecies hybrid males that have a non-recombinant sex chromosome and recombinant autosomes. The heritable variation in phenotype is thus solely caused by differences in the autosomes, thereby allowing us to accurately identify the number and location of autosomal sterility loci. In one direction of backcross, all males were sterile, indicating that sterility could be entirely induced by the sex chromosome complement in these males. In the other direction, we identified nine quantitative trait loci that account for a surprisingly large amount (56%) of the autosome-induced phenotypic variance in sterility, with a large contribution of autosome-autosome epistatic interactions. These loci are capable of acting dominantly, and thus could contribute to F1 hybrid sterility.

The Influence of Literacy on Patient-Reported Experiences of Diabetes Self-Management Support

PubMed Central

Wallace, Andrea S.; Carlson, John R.; Malone, Robb M.; Joyner, James; DeWalt, Darren A.

2010-01-01

Background Variability in disease-related outcomes may relate to how patients experience self-management support in clinical settings. Objectives To identify factors associated with experiences of self-management support during primary care encounters. Method A cross-sectional survey was conducted of 208 patients seen in a multidisciplinary diabetes program in an academic medicine clinic. Multiple regression analysis was used to test associations between patient-rated experiences of self-management support (Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care [PACIC]) and race, gender, insurance status, literacy, duration of diabetes, and intensity of care management. Results The PACIC ratings decreased with age (r = −0.235, p = .001), were higher for women than for men (3.95 vs. 3.65, t = 2.612, p = .010), and were greater for those with more education (F = 3.927, p = .009) and greater literacy skills (t = 3.839, p < .001). The ratings did not vary between racial (t = −1.108, p = .269) or insurance (F = 1.045, p = .374) groups and were unaffected by duration of diabetes (r = 0.052, p = .466) and the intensity of care management (F = 1.028, p = .360). In multivariate models, literacy was the only variable contributing significantly to variation in self-management support ratings. Discussion Even when considering the objective intensity of health services delivered, literacy was the sole variable contributing to differences in patient ratings of self-management support. Although conclusions are limited by the cross-sectional nature of this study, the results emphasize the need to consider literacy when developing and communicating treatment plans requiring self-management skills. PMID:20808193

Operational Energy Capability Portfolio Analysis for Protection of Maritime Forces Against Small Boat Swarms

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-09-01

asymmetric threat’s attack? C. SURVEY OF RECENT STUDIES A survey of extensive studies on countering small boat attacks from different perspectives... studies capability factors that were important in enhancing coastal defense for the Campeche Sound and Israeli coast, respectively. On better...countering small boat swarm attacks utilizing ASCMs. Previous studies focus solely on force protection effectiveness. This thesis addresses this gap. D

Motivational and Productivity Factors that Influence the Naval Construction Force

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-08-01

rework, unavailability of tools and equipment, disrespectful treatment, lack of recognition, little participation in decision-making, M 0 T I V A M(l...can be used by management as a motivating tool for workers. Herzberg recommends the following guidelines to for an effective job enrichment program...misconception is to focus solely on labor. One must consider all resources available within the work environment, including tools , equipment, materials

Pulsed DC Electric Field–Induced Differentiation of Cortical Neural Precursor Cells

PubMed Central

Chang, Hui-Fang; Lee, Ying-Shan; Tang, Tang K.; Cheng, Ji-Yen

2016-01-01

We report the differentiation of neural stem and progenitor cells solely induced by direct current (DC) pulses stimulation. Neural stem and progenitor cells in the adult mammalian brain are promising candidates for the development of therapeutic neuroregeneration strategies. The differentiation of neural stem and progenitor cells depends on various in vivo environmental factors, such as nerve growth factor and endogenous EF. In this study, we demonstrated that the morphologic and phenotypic changes of mouse neural stem and progenitor cells (mNPCs) could be induced solely by exposure to square-wave DC pulses (magnitude 300 mV/mm at frequency of 100-Hz). The DC pulse stimulation was conducted for 48 h, and the morphologic changes of mNPCs were monitored continuously. The length of primary processes and the amount of branching significantly increased after stimulation by DC pulses for 48 h. After DC pulse treatment, the mNPCs differentiated into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes simultaneously in stem cell maintenance medium. Our results suggest that simple DC pulse treatment could control the fate of NPCs. With further studies, DC pulses may be applied to manipulate NPC differentiation and may be used for the development of therapeutic strategies that employ NPCs to treat nervous system disorders. PMID:27352251

Th17 master transcription factors RORα and RORγ regulate the expression of IL-17C, IL-17D and IL-17F in Cynoglossus semilaevis.

PubMed

Chi, Heng; Bøgwald, Jarl; Dalmo, Roy Ambli; Zhang, Wenjie; Hu, Yong-hua

2016-02-01

The RAR-related orphan receptors (RORs) are members of the nuclear receptor family of intracellular transcription factors. In this study, we examined the regulatory properties of RORα (CsRORα) and RORγ (CsRORγ) in tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis). CsRORα and CsRORγ expression was detected in major lymphoid organs and altered to significant extents after bacterial and viral infection. CsRORα enhanced the activities of CsIL-17C, CsIL-17D, and CsIL-17F promoters, which contain CsRORα and CsRORγ binding sites. CsRORγ also upregulated the promoter activities of CsIL-17D and CsIL-17F but not CsIL-17C. CsRORα and CsRORγ proteins were detected in the nucleus, and overexpression of CsRORα in tongue sole significantly increased the expression of CsIL-17C, CsIL-17D, and CsIL-17F, whereas overexpression of CsRORγ significantly increased the expression of CsIL-17C and CsIL-17F but no CsIL-17D. These results indicate that RORα and RORγ in teleost regulate the expression of IL-17 members in different manners. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Environmental Factors Support the Formation of Specific Bacterial Assemblages on Microplastics

PubMed Central

Oberbeckmann, Sonja; Kreikemeyer, Bernd; Labrenz, Matthias

2018-01-01

While the global distribution of microplastics (MP) in the marine environment is currently being critically evaluated, the potential role of MP as a vector for distinct microbial assemblages or even pathogenic bacteria is hardly understood. To gain a deeper understanding, we investigated how different in situ conditions contribute to the composition and specificity of MP-associated bacterial communities in relation to communities on natural particles. Polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), and wooden pellets were incubated for 2 weeks along an environmental gradient, ranging from marine (coastal Baltic Sea) to freshwater (waste water treatment plant, WWTP) conditions. The associated assemblages as well as the water communities were investigated applying high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Our setup allowed for the first time to determine MP-dependent and -independent assemblage factors as subject to different environmental conditions in one system. Most importantly, plastic-specific assemblages were found to develop solely under certain conditions, such as lower nutrient concentration and higher salinity, while the bacterial genus Erythrobacter, known for the ability to utilize polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), was found specifically on MP across a broader section of the gradient. We discovered no enrichment of potential pathogens on PE or PS; however, the abundant colonization of MP in a WWTP by certain bacteria commonly associated with antibiotic resistance suggests MP as a possible hotspot for horizontal gene transfer. Taken together, our study clarifies that the surrounding environment prevailingly shapes the biofilm communities, but that MP-specific assemblage factors exist. These findings point to the ecological significance of specific MP-promoted bacterial populations in aquatic environments and particularly in plastic accumulation zones. PMID:29403454

Empowering self-defense training.

PubMed

Thompson, Martha E

2014-03-01

The purpose of self-defense training is to expand people's options, yet it is often framed as a solely physical, and limiting, response to violence. I draw on my own experience as a self-defense instructor and that of others in the self-defense movement to argue that an empowerment approach to self-defense training contributes to the anti-violence movement in multiple ways: providing a pathway to increase women's and girls' safety and their potential for becoming powerful and effective social change agents right now, providing an informed and embodied understanding of violence, and offering comprehensive options to recognize, prevent, and interrupt violence.

Opportunities and Challenges of Electric Vehicles Development in Mitigating Climate Change in China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, R.; Li, M. H.; Zhang, H. N.

2017-10-01

As a developing country, China has also undergone a noticeable climate change due to the increasing consumption of fossil fuels. The automotive market in China is estimated to be the world’s second largest new automotive growth market. China is now capable of manufacturing cars totally independently, which makes car prices more attractive to middle- income families. As one of the energy solutions, Electric Vehicles Technologies cannot be considered solely in environmental aspects. One energy system should not only contribute to sustainable development, but also to the environmental, social and economic aspects.

Honor Killing: Where Pride Defeats Reason.

PubMed

Kanchan, Tanuj; Tandon, Abhishek; Krishan, Kewal

2016-12-01

Honor killings are graceless and ferocious murders by chauvinists with an antediluvian mind. These are categorized separately because these killings are committed for the prime reason of satisfying the ego of the people whom the victim trusts and always looks up to for support and protection. It is for this sole reason that honor killings demand strict and stern punishment, not only for the person who committed the murder but also for any person who contributed or was party to the act. A positive change can occur with stricter legislation and changes in the ethos of the society we live in today.

The response of an assertive community treatment program following a natural disaster.

PubMed

Lachance, K R; Santos, A B; Burns, B J

1994-10-01

A newly forming model treatment program for seriously mentally ill adults was dramatically affected by a natural disaster in September 1989. Hurricane Hugo rendered the offices of the Assertive Community Treatment Program uninhabitable, its vehicles marginally driveable, and its resources virtually nonexistent. In the three months following the storm, however, not a single psychiatric rehospitalization took place. Although the authors cannot claim that the program model was solely responsible for this outcome, this paper illustrates the service system elements that contributed to the program's effectiveness in the wake of one of the nation's most severe natural disasters.

The effect of roughness, floor polish, water, oil and ice on underfoot friction: current safety footwear solings are less slip resistant than microcellular polyurethane.

PubMed

Manning, D P; Jones, C

2001-04-01

Research over a period of about 18 years has shown that a microcellular polyurethane known as AP66033 is the most slip-resistant safety footwear soling material on oily and wet surfaces. In recent years it has been replaced in commercially available footwear by a dual density polyurethane (DDP) which has a dense outer layer and a soft microcellular backing. This research programme has compared the slip resistance of AP66033 with DDP and some rubber solings. In addition, data were obtained on the effects of soling and floor roughness, and floor polish on slip resistance. Some data were also obtained for walking on ice. The coefficient of friction (CoF) of the solings was measured on 19 water wet surfaces in three conditions: (I) when the solings were new, (II) following abrasion to create maximum roughness and (III) after polishing. The CoF was measured on four oily surfaces after each of 11 abrasion or polishing treatments. The profound effects of the roughening of all soles and of floor roughness on the CoF were demonstrated for both wet and oily surfaces. The superior slip resistance of AP66033 was confirmed for oily and wet conditions; however, some rubbers not suitable for safety footwear achieved higher CoF values on wet floors. All of the floor polishes reduced the CoF of all floors when contaminated with water. The mean CoF of DDP solings was lower than the mean for AP66033 on wet and oily surfaces. No safety footwear soling provided adequate grip on dry ice and the CoF was reduced by water on the ice. A rubber used for rock climbing footwear was one of the most slip-resistant solings on wet surfaces in the laboratory but recorded the lowest CoF on ice. It is concluded that the incidence of occupational injuries caused by slipping could be reduced by the following: (A) returning to safety footwear soled with the microcellular polyurethane AP66033; (B) abrading all new and smooth footwear solings with a belt sanding machine coated with P100 grit; (C) avoiding the use of floor polish; (D) informing the general public about the poor slip resistance of ordinary footwear on ice and the lowering of slip resistance in cold weather.

EPA Region 1 Sole Source Aquifers

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This coverage contains boundaries of EPA-approved sole source aquifers. Sole source aquifers are defined as an aquifer designated as the sole or principal source of drinking water for a given aquifer service area; that is, an aquifer which is needed to supply 50% or more of the drinking water for the area and for which there are no reasonable alternative sources should the aquifer become contaminated.The aquifers were defined by a EPA hydrogeologist. Aquifer boundaries were then drafted by EPA onto 1:24000 USGS quadrangles. For the coastal sole source aquifers the shoreline as it appeared on the quadrangle was used as a boundary. Delineated boundaries were then digitized into ARC/INFO.

Widespread Nanoparticle-Assay Interference: Implications for Nanotoxicity Testing

PubMed Central

Ong, Kimberly J.; MacCormack, Tyson J.; Clark, Rhett J.; Ede, James D.; Ortega, Van A.; Felix, Lindsey C.; Dang, Michael K. M.; Ma, Guibin; Fenniri, Hicham; Veinot, Jonathan G. C.; Goss, Greg G.

2014-01-01

The evaluation of engineered nanomaterial safety has been hindered by conflicting reports demonstrating differential degrees of toxicity with the same nanoparticles. The unique properties of these materials increase the likelihood that they will interfere with analytical techniques, which may contribute to this phenomenon. We tested the potential for: 1) nanoparticle intrinsic fluorescence/absorbance, 2) interactions between nanoparticles and assay components, and 3) the effects of adding both nanoparticles and analytes to an assay, to interfere with the accurate assessment of toxicity. Silicon, cadmium selenide, titanium dioxide, and helical rosette nanotubes each affected at least one of the six assays tested, resulting in either substantial over- or under-estimations of toxicity. Simulation of realistic assay conditions revealed that interference could not be predicted solely by interactions between nanoparticles and assay components. Moreover, the nature and degree of interference cannot be predicted solely based on our current understanding of nanomaterial behaviour. A literature survey indicated that ca. 95% of papers from 2010 using biochemical techniques to assess nanotoxicity did not account for potential interference of nanoparticles, and this number had not substantially improved in 2012. We provide guidance on avoiding and/or controlling for such interference to improve the accuracy of nanotoxicity assessments. PMID:24618833

Contract management in USA hospitals: service duplication and access within local markets.

PubMed

Carey, Kathleen; Dor, Avi

2008-08-01

This paper examines the extent to which hospitals that are under external contract management engage in service duplication, as well as the degree to which the various services they offer contribute to or detract from community access. The study incorporates all USA hospitals using data from the American Hospital Association Annual Survey Database, supplemented by county level measures obtained from the area resource file (ARF). Using data on the 3794 hospitals classified as acute care facilities in 2002, we performed a set of logistic regressions that analyzed whether a hospital offered each of 74 distinct services. For each service (regression), key independent variables measured the number of other hospitals in the local market area that also offered the service. Local area market definitions are the areas circumscribed by the hospital within distances of 10 and 20 miles. Results suggest that contract-managed (CM) hospitals display a more competitive pattern (service duplication) than hospitals in general, but CM hospitals that are the sole provider of services locally are less likely to offer services than traditionally managed sole hospital providers. Contract management does not appear to offer any particular advantages in improving access to hospital services.

Nonholonomic stability aspects of piecewise holonomic systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ruina, Andy

1998-10-01

We consider mechanical systems with intermittent contact that are smooth and holonomic except at the instants of transition. Overall such systems can be nonholonomic in that the accessible configuration space can have larger dimension than the instantaneous motions allowed by the constraints. The known examples of such mechanical systems are also dissipative. By virtue of their nonholonomy and of their dissipation such systems are not Hamiltonian. Thus there is no reason to expect them to adhere to the Hamiltonian property that exponential stability of steady motions is impossible. Since nonholonomy and energy dissipation are simultaneously present in these systems, it is usually not clear whether their sometimes-observed exponential stability should be attributed solely to dissipation, to nonholonomy, or to both. However, it is shown here on the basis of one simple example, that the observed exponential stability of such systems can follow solely from the nonholonomic nature of intermittent contact and not from dissipation. In particular, it is shown that a discrete sister model of the Chaplygin sleigh, a rigid body on the plane constrained by one skate, inherits the stability eigenvalues of the smooth system even as the dissipation tends to zero. Thus it seems that discrete nonholonomy can contribute to exponential stability of mechanical systems.

Sole Community Hospitals: Are They Different? A Statistical Analysis of the Hospitals and Their Treatment under TEFRA and PPS. Hospital Studies Program. Hospital Cost and Utilization Project. Research Note 5.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Farley, Dean E.

A study examined the treatment of sole community hospitals under the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 (TEFRA) and the Prospective Payment System (PPS) for Medicare as compared to the treatment of hospitals not designated as sole community hospitals under these same two policy guidelines. (A sole community hospital is defined as a…

The distribution of life cycle stages of two deep-water pleuronectids, Dover sole ( Microstomus pacificus) and rex sole ( Glyptocephalus zachirus), at the northern extent of their range in the Gulf of Alaska

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abookire, Alisa A.; Bailey, Kevin M.

2007-02-01

Dover sole ( Microstomus pacificus) and rex sole ( Glyptocephalus zachirus) are both commercially valuable, long-lived pleuronectids that are distributed widely throughout the North Pacific. While their ecology and life cycle have been described for southern stocks, few investigations have focused on these species at higher latitudes. We synthesized historical research survey data among critical developmental stages to determine the distribution of life cycle stages for both species in the northern Gulf of Alaska (GOA). Bottom trawl survey data from 1953 to 2004 (25 519 trawls) were used to characterize adult distribution during the non-spawning and spawning seasons, ichthyoplankton data from 1972 to 2003 (10 776 tows) were used to determine the spatial and vertical distribution of eggs and larvae, and small-meshed shrimp trawl survey data from 1972 to 2004 (6536 trawls) were used to characterize areas utilized by immature stages. During the non-spawning season, adult Dover sole and rex sole were widely distributed from the inner shelf to outer slope. While both species concentrated on the continental slope to spawn, Dover sole spawning areas were more geographically specific than rex sole. Although spawned in deep water, eggs of both species were found in surface waters near spawning areas. Dover sole larvae did not appear to have an organized migration from offshore spawning grounds toward coastal nursery areas, and our data indicated facultative settling to their juvenile habitat in winter. Rex sole larvae progressively moved cross-shelf toward shore as they grew from April to September, and larvae presumably settled in coastal nursery areas in the autumn. In contrast with studies in the southern end of their range, we found no evidence in the GOA that Dover or rex sole have pelagic larval stages longer than nine months; however, more sampling for large larvae is needed in winter offshore of the continental shelf as well as sampling for newly settled larvae over the shelf to verify an abbreviated pelagic larval stage for both species at the northern end of their range.

The great melting pot. Common sole population connectivity assessed by otolith and water fingerprints.

PubMed

Morat, Fabien; Letourneur, Yves; Dierking, Jan; Pécheyran, Christophe; Bareille, Gilles; Blamart, Dominique; Harmelin-Vivien, Mireille

2014-01-01

Quantifying the scale and importance of individual dispersion between populations and life stages is a key challenge in marine ecology. The common sole (Solea solea), an important commercial flatfish in the North Sea, Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, has a marine pelagic larval stage, a benthic juvenile stage in coastal nurseries (lagoons, estuaries or shallow marine areas) and a benthic adult stage in deeper marine waters on the continental shelf. To date, the ecological connectivity among these life stages has been little assessed in the Mediterranean. Here, such an assessment is provided for the first time for the Gulf of Lions, NW Mediterranean, based on a dataset on otolith microchemistry and stable isotopic composition as indicators of the water masses inhabited by individual fish. Specifically, otolith Ba/Ca and Sr/Ca profiles, and δ(13)C and δ(18)O values of adults collected in four areas of the Gulf of Lions were compared with those of young-of-the-year collected in different coastal nurseries. Results showed that a high proportion of adults (>46%) were influenced by river inputs during their larval stage. Furthermore Sr/Ca ratios and the otolith length at one year of age revealed that most adults (∼70%) spent their juvenile stage in nurseries with high salinity, whereas the remainder used brackish environments. In total, data were consistent with the use of six nursery types, three with high salinity (marine areas and two types of highly saline lagoons) and three brackish (coastal areas near river mouths, and two types of brackish environments), all of which contributed to the replenishment of adult populations. These finding implicated panmixia in sole population in the Gulf of Lions and claimed for a habitat integrated management of fisheries.

The Great Melting Pot. Common Sole Population Connectivity Assessed by Otolith and Water Fingerprints

PubMed Central

Morat, Fabien; Letourneur, Yves; Dierking, Jan; Pécheyran, Christophe; Bareille, Gilles; Blamart, Dominique; Harmelin-Vivien, Mireille

2014-01-01

Quantifying the scale and importance of individual dispersion between populations and life stages is a key challenge in marine ecology. The common sole (Solea solea), an important commercial flatfish in the North Sea, Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, has a marine pelagic larval stage, a benthic juvenile stage in coastal nurseries (lagoons, estuaries or shallow marine areas) and a benthic adult stage in deeper marine waters on the continental shelf. To date, the ecological connectivity among these life stages has been little assessed in the Mediterranean. Here, such an assessment is provided for the first time for the Gulf of Lions, NW Mediterranean, based on a dataset on otolith microchemistry and stable isotopic composition as indicators of the water masses inhabited by individual fish. Specifically, otolith Ba/Ca and Sr/Ca profiles, and δ13C and δ18O values of adults collected in four areas of the Gulf of Lions were compared with those of young-of-the-year collected in different coastal nurseries. Results showed that a high proportion of adults (>46%) were influenced by river inputs during their larval stage. Furthermore Sr/Ca ratios and the otolith length at one year of age revealed that most adults (∼70%) spent their juvenile stage in nurseries with high salinity, whereas the remainder used brackish environments. In total, data were consistent with the use of six nursery types, three with high salinity (marine areas and two types of highly saline lagoons) and three brackish (coastal areas near river mouths, and two types of brackish environments), all of which contributed to the replenishment of adult populations. These finding implicated panmixia in sole population in the Gulf of Lions and claimed for a habitat integrated management of fisheries. PMID:24475151

Synchronous formation of the metamorphic sole and igneous crust of the Semail ophiolite: New constraints on the tectonic evolution during ophiolite formation from high-precision U-Pb zircon geochronology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rioux, Matthew; Garber, Joshua; Bauer, Ann; Bowring, Samuel; Searle, Michael; Kelemen, Peter; Hacker, Bradley

2016-10-01

The Semail (Oman-United Arab Emirates) and other Tethyan-type ophiolites are underlain by a sole consisting of greenschist- to granulite-facies metamorphic rocks. As preserved remnants of the underthrust plate, sole exposures can be used to better understand the formation and obduction of ophiolites. Early models envisioned that the metamorphic sole of the Semail ophiolite formed as a result of thrusting of the hot ophiolite lithosphere over adjacent oceanic crust during initial emplacement; however, calculated pressures from granulite-facies mineral assemblages in the sole suggest the metamorphic rocks formed at >35 km depth, and are too high to be explained by the currently preserved thickness of ophiolite crust and mantle (up to 15-20 km). We have used high-precision U-Pb zircon dating to study the formation and evolution of the metamorphic sole at two well-studied localities. Our previous research and new results show that the ophiolite crust formed from 96.12-95.50 Ma. Our new dates from the Sumeini and Wadi Tayin sole localities indicate peak metamorphism at 96.16 and 94.82 Ma (±0.022 to 0.035 Ma), respectively. The dates from the Sumeini sole locality show for the first time that the metamorphic rocks formed either prior to or during formation of the ophiolite crust, and were later juxtaposed with the base of the ophiolite. These data, combined with existing geochemical constraints, are best explained by formation of the ophiolite in a supra-subduction zone setting, with metamorphism of the sole rocks occurring in a subducted slab. The 1.3 Ma difference between the Wadi Tayin and Sumeini dates indicates that, in contrast to current models, the highest-grade rocks at different sole localities underwent metamorphism, and may have returned up the subduction channel, at different times.

Intracellular Enzymes Contribution to the Biocatalytic Removal of Pharmaceuticals by Trametes hirsuta.

PubMed

Haroune, Lounès; Saibi, Sabrina; Cabana, Hubert; Bellenger, Jean-Philippe

2017-01-17

The use of white rot fungi (WRF) for bioremediation of recalcitrant trace organic contaminants (TrOCs) is becoming greatly popular. Biosorption and lignin modifying enzymes (LMEs) are the most often reported mechanisms of action. Intracellular enzymes, such as cytochrome P450 (CYP450), have also been suggested to contribute. However, direct evidence of TrOCs uptake and intracellular transformation is lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relative contribution of biosorption, extracellular LMEs activity, TrOCs uptake, and intracellular CYP450 on the removal of six nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIs) by Trametes hirsuta. Results show that for most tested NSAIs, LMEs activity and biosorption failed to explain the observed removal. Most tested TrOCs are quickly taken up and intracellularly transformed. Fine characterization of intracellular transformation using ketoprofen showed that CYP450 is not the sole intracellular enzyme responsible for intracellular transformation. The contribution of CYP450 in further transformation of ketoprofen byproducts is also reported. These results illustrate that TrOCs transformation by WRF is a more complex process than previously reported. Rapid uptake of TrOCs and intracellular transformation through diverse enzymatic systems appears to be important components of WRF efficiency toward TrOCs.

21 CFR 558.62 - Arsanilic acid.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... efficiency; improving pigmentation Withdraw 5 days before slaughter; as sole source of organic arsenic 015565... pigmentation. As erythromycin thiocyanate; withdraw 5 days before slaughter; as sole source of organic arsenic... pigmentation As erythromycin thiocyanate; withdraw 5 days before slaughter; as sole source of organic arsenic...

Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) Pressure Sensor for Footwear

DOEpatents

Kholwadwala, Deepesh K.; Rohrer, Brandon R.; Spletzer, Barry L.; Galambos, Paul C.; Wheeler, Jason W.; Hobart, Clinton G.; Givler, Richard C.

2008-09-23

Footwear comprises a sole and a plurality of sealed cavities contained within the sole. The sealed cavities can be incorporated as deformable containers within an elastic medium, comprising the sole. A plurality of micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) pressure sensors are respectively contained within the sealed cavity plurality, and can be adapted to measure static and dynamic pressure within each of the sealed cavities. The pressure measurements can provide information relating to the contact pressure distribution between the sole of the footwear and the wearer's environment.

Habitat Suitability Index Models: Juvenile English sole

USGS Publications Warehouse

Toole, Christopher L.; Barnhart, Roger A.; Onuf, Christopher P.

1987-01-01

English sole (Parophrys vetulus) is one of the major commercial groundfish species caught along the Pacific coast. Landings in the United States and Canada averaged 4,947 t/yr between 1975 and 1984, placing it third in importance among flatfish caught by Pacific coast trawlers (Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission 1985). Juvenile English sole are also among the most abundant fishes in many bays and estuaries along the Pacific (Westrheim 1955; Sopher 1974; Ambrose 1976; Rogers 1985). The English sole is not an important recreational species.

/sup 32/P-postlabeling analysis of DNA adducts in liver of wild English sole (Parophrys vetulus) and winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus)

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

Varanasi, U.; Reichert, W.L.; Stein, J.E.

The 1-butanol adduct enhancement version of the 32P-postlabeling assay was used to measure the levels of hepatic DNA adducts in the marine flatfish, English sole (Parophrys vetulus), sampled from the Duwamish Waterway and Eagle Harbor, Puget Sound, WA, where they are exposed to high concentrations of sediment-associated chemical contaminants and exhibit an elevated prevalence of hepatic neoplasms. Hepatic DNA was also analyzed from English sole from a reference area (Useless Bay, WA) and from reference English sole treated with organic-solvent extracts of sediments from the two contaminated sites. Autoradiograms of thin-layer chromatograms of 32P-labeled hepatic DNA digests from English solemore » from the contaminated sites exhibited up to three diagonal radioactive zones, which were not present in autoradiograms of thin-layer chromatogram maps of 32P-labeled DNA digests from English sole from the reference site. These diagonal radioactive zones contained several distinct spots as well as what appeared to be multiple overlapping adduct spots. The levels (nmol of adducts/mol of nucleotides) of total DNA adducts for English sole from Duwamish Waterway and Eagle Harbor were 26 +/- 28 (DS) and 17 +/- 9.6, respectively. All autoradiograms of DNA from fish from the contaminated sites exhibited a diagonal radioactive zone where DNA adducts of chrysene, benzo(a)pyrene, and dibenz(a,h)anthracene, formed in vitro using English sole hepatic microsomes, were shown to chromatograph. English sole treated with extracts of the contaminated sediments had adduct profiles generally similar to those for English sole from the respective contaminated sites.« less

Structural evolution of the Semail Ophiolite metamorphic sole, Wadi Hawasina and Northern Jebel Nakhl Culmination, Oman

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hurtado, C.; Bailey, C.; Visokay, L.; Scharf, A.

2017-12-01

The Semail ophiolite is the world's largest and best-exposed ophiolite sequence, however the processes associated with both oceanic detachment and later emplacement onto the Arabian continental margin remain enigmatic. This study examines the upper mantle section of the ophiolite, its associated metamorphic sole, and the autochthonous strata beneath the ophiolite at two locations in northern Oman. Our purpose is to understand the structural history of ophiolite emplacement and evaluate the deformation kinematics of faulted and sheared rocks in the metamorphic sole. At Wadi Hawasina, the base of the ophiolite is defined by a 5- to 15-m thick zone of penetratively-serpentinized mylonitic peridotite. Kinematic indicators record top-to-the SW (reverse) sense-of-shear with a triclinic deformation asymmetry. An inverted metamorphic grade is preserved in the 300- to 500-m thick metamorphic sole that is thrust over deep-water sedimentary rocks of the Hawasina Group. The study site near Buwah, in the northern Jebel Nakhl culmination, contains a N-to-S progression of mantle peridotite, metamorphic sole, and underlying Jurassic carbonates. Liswanite crops out in NW-SE trending linear ridges in the peridotite. The metamorphic sole includes well-foliated quartzite, metachert, and amphibolite. Kinematic evidence indicates that the liswanite and a serpentinized mélange experienced top to-the north (normal) sense-of-shear. Two generations of E-W striking, N-dipping normal faults separate the autochthonous sequence from the metamorphic sole, and also cut out significant sections of the metamorphic sole. Fabric analysis reveals that the metamorphic sole experienced flattening strain (K<0.2) that accumulated during pure shear-dominated general shear (Wk<0.4). Normal faulting and extension at the Buwah site indicates that post-ophiolite deformation is significant in the Jebel Akhdar and Jebel Nakhl culminations.

The effect of shoe soling tread groove width on the coefficient of friction with different sole materials, floors, and contaminants.

PubMed

Li, Kai Way; Chen, Chin Jung

2004-11-01

Tread groove design is very common in footwear. However, coefficient of friction (COF) measurements between the footwear material and floor using a slipmeter were commonly performed using flat footwear pads. Such measurements might underestimate the actual slip resistance of the footwear pad. This research investigates the effects of the tread groove width on the measured COF using four footwear materials, three floors, and four liquid-contamination conditions using a Brungraber Mark II slipmeter. The analysis of variance results indicated that the footwear material, floor, contamination conditions, and groove width were all significant (p < 0.0001) factors affecting the measured COF. The hypothesis that wider tread grooves result in higher COF values was true with some exceptions especially on oil contaminated floors. A regression model, with an R2 of 0.91, was established to describe and predict the relationship between the COF and the tread groove width under footwear material/floor/contamination conditions.

Habitat selection of juvenile sole (Solea solea L.): Consequences for shoreface nourishment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Post, Marjolein H. M.; Blom, Ewout; Chen, Chun; Bolle, Loes J.; Baptist, Martin J.

2017-04-01

The shallow coastal zone is an essential nursery habitat for juvenile flatfish species such as sole (Solea solea L.). The increased frequency of shoreface nourishments along the coast is likely to affect this nursery function by altering important habitat conditions, including sediment grain size. Sediment preference of juvenile sole (41-91 mm) was studied in a circular preference chamber in order to understand the relationship between grain size and sole distribution. The preference tests were carried out at 11 °C and 20 °C to reflect seasonal influences. The juveniles showed a significant preference for finer sediments. This preference was not length dependent (within the length range tested) nor affected by either temperatures. Juvenile sole have a small home range and are not expected to move in response to unfavourable conditions. As a result, habitat alterations may have consequences for juvenile survival and subsequently for recruitment to adult populations. It is therefore important to carefully consider nourishment grain size characteristics to safeguard suitable nursery habitats for juvenile sole.

Deformation behavior of human dentin in liquid nitrogen: a diametral compression test.

PubMed

Zaytsev, Dmitry; Panfilov, Peter

2014-09-01

Contribution of the collagen fibers into the plasticity of human dentin is considered. Mechanical testing of dentin at low temperature allows excluding the plastic response of its organic matrix. Therefore, deformation and fracture behavior of the dentin samples under diametral compression at room temperature and liquid nitrogen temperature are compared. At 77K dentin behaves like almost brittle material: it is deformed exclusively in the elastic regime and it fails due to growth of the sole crack. On the contrary, dentin demonstrates the ductile response at 300K. There are both elastic and plastic contributions in the deformation of dentin samples. Multiple cracking and crack tip blunting precede the failure of samples. Organic phase plays an important role in fracture of dentin: plasticity of the collagen fibers could inhibit the crack growth. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Plasticity of preferred body temperatures as means of coping with climate change?

PubMed Central

Gvoždík, Lumír

2012-01-01

Thermoregulatory behaviour represents an important component of ectotherm non-genetic adaptive capacity that mitigates the impact of ongoing climate change. The buffering role of behavioural thermoregulation has been attributed solely to the ability to maintain near optimal body temperature for sufficiently extended periods under altered thermal conditions. The widespread occurrence of plastic modification of target temperatures that an ectotherm aims to achieve (preferred body temperatures) has been largely overlooked. I argue that plasticity of target temperatures may significantly contribute to an ectotherm's adaptive capacity. Its contribution to population persistence depends on both the effectiveness of acute thermoregulatory adjustments (reactivity) in buffering selection pressures in a changing thermal environment, and the total costs of thermoregulation (i.e. reactivity and plasticity) in a given environment. The direction and magnitude of plastic shifts in preferred body temperatures can be incorporated into mechanistic models, to improve predictions of the impact of global climate change on ectotherm populations. PMID:22072284

Medicare financing and redistribution in british columbia, 1992 and 2002.

PubMed

McGrail, Kimberlyn

2007-05-01

Equity in healthcare in British Columbia is defined as the provision of services based on need rather than ability to pay and a separation of contributions to financing from the use of services. Physician and hospital services in Canada are financed mainly through general tax revenues, and there is a perception that this financing is progressive. This paper uses Gini coefficients, concentration indexes and Kakwani indexes of progressivity to assess the progressivity of medicare financing in British Columbia in 1992 and 2002. It also measures the overall redistributive effect of medicare services, considering both contributions to financing and use of hospital and physician services. The conclusion is that medicare does redistribute across income groups, but this redistribution is the result solely of the positive correlation between health status and income; financing is nearly proportionate across income groups, but use is higher among lower-income groups. Informed public debate requires a better understanding of these concepts of equity.

Some Lessons From a Symposium on Cultural Psychological Science.

PubMed

Sternberg, Robert J

2017-09-01

In this concluding essay, I summarize some of the main points of each of the contributors and attempt to highlight their importance for psychological science and for everyday life. I bring in some examples of research from my own research group over the years that reinforce many of the conclusions reached by the contributors. The purpose of this symposium on cultural psychological science is, we hope, to teach some lessons that could not easily be learned except through cultural research. My goal in this final essay is to consider what I believe to be a primary lesson of each contribution. I attempt to illustrate the considerable relevance of each of these contributions to contemporary society. The views expressed here are solely my own, and of course readers may find much to disagree with; hopefully, they will find some things to agree with as well!

Plasticity of preferred body temperatures as means of coping with climate change?

PubMed

Gvozdík, Lumír

2012-04-23

Thermoregulatory behaviour represents an important component of ectotherm non-genetic adaptive capacity that mitigates the impact of ongoing climate change. The buffering role of behavioural thermoregulation has been attributed solely to the ability to maintain near optimal body temperature for sufficiently extended periods under altered thermal conditions. The widespread occurrence of plastic modification of target temperatures that an ectotherm aims to achieve (preferred body temperatures) has been largely overlooked. I argue that plasticity of target temperatures may significantly contribute to an ectotherm's adaptive capacity. Its contribution to population persistence depends on both the effectiveness of acute thermoregulatory adjustments (reactivity) in buffering selection pressures in a changing thermal environment, and the total costs of thermoregulation (i.e. reactivity and plasticity) in a given environment. The direction and magnitude of plastic shifts in preferred body temperatures can be incorporated into mechanistic models, to improve predictions of the impact of global climate change on ectotherm populations.

Cystatin C-based glomerular filtration rate associates more closely with mortality than creatinine-based or combined glomerular filtration rate equations in unselected patients.

PubMed

Helmersson-Karlqvist, Johanna; Ärnlöv, Johan; Larsson, Anders

2016-10-01

Decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is an important cardiovascular risk factor, but estimated GFR (eGFR) may differ depending on whether it is based on creatinine or cystatin C. A combined creatinine/cystatin C equation has recently been shown to best estimate GFR; however, the benefits of using the combined equation for risk prediction in routine clinical care have been less studied. This study compares mortality risk prediction by eGFR using the combined creatinine/cystatin C equation (CKD-EPI), a sole creatinine equation (CKD-EPI) and a sole cystatin C equation (CAPA), respectively, using assays that are traceable to international calibrators. All patients analysed for both creatinine and cystatin C from the same blood sample tube (n = 13,054) during 2005-2007 in Uppsala University Hospital Laboratory were divided into eGFR risk categories>60, 30-60 and <30 mL/min/1.73 m(2) by each eGFR equation. During follow-up (median 4.6 years), 4398 participants died, of which 1396 deaths were due to cardiovascular causes. Reduced eGFR was significantly associated with death as assessed by all eGFR equations. The net reclassification improvement (NRI) for the combination equation compared with the sole creatinine equation was 0.10 (p < 0.001) for all-cause mortality and 0.08 (p < 0.001) for cardiovascular mortality, indicating improved reclassification. In contrast, NRI for the combination equation, compared with the sole cystatin C equation, was -0.06 (p < 0.001) for all-cause mortality and -0.02 (p = 0.032) for cardiovascular mortality, indicating a worsened reclassification. In routine clinical care, cystatin C-based eGFR was more closely associated with mortality compared with both creatinine-based eGFR and creatinine/cystatin C-based eGFR. © The European Society of Cardiology 2016.

Methanol Expression Regulator 1 (Mxr1p) Is Essential for the Utilization of Amino Acids as the Sole Source of Carbon by the Methylotrophic Yeast, Pichia pastoris.

PubMed

Sahu, Umakant; Rangarajan, Pundi N

2016-09-23

Unlike Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris can assimilate amino acids as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen. It can grow in media containing yeast extract and peptone (YP), yeast nitrogen base (YNB) + glutamate (YNB + Glu), or YNB + aspartate (YNB + Asp). Methanol expression regulator 1 (Mxr1p), a zinc finger transcription factor, is essential for growth in these media. Mxr1p regulates the expression of several genes involved in the utilization of amino acids as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen. These include the following: (i) GDH2 encoding NAD-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase; (ii) AAT1 and AAT2 encoding mitochondrial and cytosolic aspartate aminotransferases, respectively; (iii) MDH1 and MDH2 encoding mitochondrial and cytosolic malate dehydrogenases, respectively; and (iv) GLN1 encoding glutamine synthetase. Synthesis of all these enzymes is regulated by Mxr1p at the level of transcription except GDH2, whose synthesis is regulated at the level of translation. Mxr1p activates the transcription of AAT1, AAT2, and GLN1 in cells cultured in YP as well as in YNB + Glu media, whereas transcription of MDH1 and MDH2 is activated in cells cultured in YNB + Glu but not in YP. A truncated Mxr1p composed of 400 N-terminal amino acids activates transcription of target genes in cells cultured in YP but not in YNB + Glu. Mxr1p binds to Mxr1p response elements present in the promoters of AAT2, MDH2, and GLN1 We conclude that Mxr1p is essential for utilization of amino acids as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen, and it is a global regulator of multiple metabolic pathways in P. pastoris. © 2016 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

A method for separation of heavy metal sources in urban groundwater using multiple lines of evidence.

PubMed

Hepburn, Emily; Northway, Anne; Bekele, Dawit; Liu, Gang-Jun; Currell, Matthew

2018-06-11

Determining sources of heavy metals in soils, sediments and groundwater is important for understanding their fate and transport and mitigating human and environmental exposures. Artificially imported fill, natural sediments and groundwater from 240 ha of reclaimed land at Fishermans Bend in Australia, were analysed for heavy metals and other parameters to determine the relative contributions from different possible sources. Fishermans Bend is Australia's largest urban re-development project, however, complicated land-use history, geology, and multiple contamination sources pose challenges to successful re-development. We developed a method for heavy metal source separation in groundwater using statistical categorisation of the data, analysis of soil leaching values and fill/sediment XRF profiling. The method identified two major sources of heavy metals in groundwater: 1. Point sources from local or up-gradient groundwater contaminated by industrial activities and/or legacy landfills; and 2. contaminated fill, where leaching of Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn was observed. Across the precinct, metals were most commonly sourced from a combination of these sources; however, eight locations indicated at least one metal sourced solely from fill leaching, and 23 locations indicated at least one metal sourced solely from impacted groundwater. Concentrations of heavy metals in groundwater ranged from 0.0001 to 0.003 mg/L (Cd), 0.001-0.1 mg/L (Cr), 0.001-0.2 mg/L (Cu), 0.001-0.5 mg/L (Ni), 0.001-0.01 mg/L (Pb), and 0.005-1.2 mg/L (Zn). Our method can determine the likely contribution of different metal sources to groundwater, helping inform more detailed contamination assessments and precinct-wide management and remediation strategies. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Sole Source Aquifers for NY and NJ

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This layer is the designated sole source aquifers of New York and New Jersey. A Sole Source Aquifer, is an aquifer that supplies 50% or more of the drinking water for a given area where there are no reasonably available alternative sources should the aquifer become contaminated.

21 CFR 520.2088 - Roxarsone tablets.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... period. Withdraw 5 days before slaughter. Use as sole source of organic arsenic. (ii) Growing chickens—(a.... Withdraw 5 days before slaughter. Use as sole source of organic arsenic. (b)(1) Specifications. Each tablet... slaughter. Use as sole source of organic arsenic. (ii) [Reserved] (c)(1) Specifications. Each tablet...

Kinetic Assessment of Golf Shoe Outer Sole Design Features

PubMed Central

Smith, Neal A.; Dyson, Rosemary J.

2009-01-01

This study assessed human kinetics in relation to golf shoe outer sole design features during the golf swing using a driver club by measuring both within the shoe, and beneath the shoe at the natural grass interface. Three different shoes were assessed: metal 7- spike shoe, alternative 7-spike shoe, and a flat soled shoe. In-shoe plantar pressure data were recorded using Footscan RS International pressure insoles and sampling at 500 Hz. Simultaneously ground reaction force at the shoe outer sole was measured using 2 natural grass covered Kistler force platforms and 1000 Hz data acquisition. Video recording of the 18 right-handed golfers at 200 Hz was undertaken while the golfer performed 5 golf shots with his own driver in each type of shoe. Front foot (nearest to shot direction) maximum vertical force and torque were greater than at the back foot, and there was no significant difference related to the shoe type. Wearing the metal spike shoe when using a driver was associated with more torque generation at the back foot (p < 0. 05) than when the flat soled shoe was worn. Within shoe regional pressures differed significantly with golf shoe outer sole design features (p < 0.05). Comparison of the metal spike and alternative spike shoe results provided indications of the quality of regional traction on the outer sole. Potential golf shoe outer sole design features and traction were presented in relation to phases of the golf swing movement. Application of two kinetic measurement methods identified that moderated (adapted) muscular control of foot and body movement may be induced by golf shoe outer sole design features. Ground reaction force measures inform comparisons of overall shoe functional performance, and insole pressure measurements inform comparisons of the underfoot conditions induced by specific regions of the golf shoe outer sole. Key points Assessments of within golf shoe pressures and beneath shoe forces at the natural grass interface were conducted during golf shots with a driver. Application of two kinetic measurement methods simultaneously identified that moderated (adapted) muscular control of the foot and body movement may be induced by golf shoe outer sole localised design features. Ground force measures inform overall shoe kinetic functional performance. Insole pressure measurement informs of underfoot conditions induced by localised specific regions of the golf outer sole. Significant differences in ground-shoe torque generation and insole regional pressures were identified when different golf shoes were worn. PMID:24149603

Management of Preconditioned Calves and Impacts of Preconditioning.

PubMed

Hilton, W Mark

2015-07-01

When studying the practice of preconditioning (PC) calves, many factors need to be examined to determine if cow-calf producers should make this investment. Factors such as average daily gain, feed efficiency, available labor, length of the PC period, genetics, and marketing options must be analyzed. The health sales price advantage is an additional benefit in producing and selling PC calves but not the sole determinant of PC's financially feasibility. Studies show that a substantial advantage of PC is the selling of additional pounds at a cost of gain well below the marginal return of producing those additional pounds. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Interpersonal Factors in Understanding and Treating Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

PubMed Central

Markowitz, John C.; Milrod, Barbara; Bleiberg, Kathryn; Marshall, Randall D.

2010-01-01

Exposure to reminders of trauma underlies the theory and practice of most treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), yet exposure may not be the sole important treatment mechanism. Interpersonal features of PTSD influence its onset, chronicity, and possibly its treatment. The authors review interpersonal factors in PTSD, including the critical but underrecognized role of social support as both protective posttrauma and as a mechanism of recovery. They discuss interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) as an alternative treatment for PTSD and present encouraging findings from two initial studies. Highlighting the potential importance of attachment and interpersonal relationships, the authors propose a mechanism to explain why improving relationships may ameliorate PTSD symptoms. PMID:19339847

Evaluation of Yoga for Preventing Adolescent Substance Use Risk Factors in a Middle School Setting: A Preliminary Group-Randomized Controlled Trial

PubMed Central

LoRusso, Amanda; Shin, Sunny H.; Khalsa, Sat Bir S.

2016-01-01

Adolescence is a key developmental period for preventing substance use initiation, however prevention programs solely providing educational information about the dangers of substance use rarely change adolescent substance use behaviors. Recent research suggests that mind–body practices such as yoga may have beneficial effects on several substance use risk factors, and that these practices may serve as promising interventions for preventing adolescent substance use. The primary aim of the present study was to test the efficacy of yoga for reducing substance use risk factors during early adolescence. Seventh-grade students in a public school were randomly assigned by classroom to receive either a 32-session yoga intervention (n = 117) in place of their regular physical education classes or to continue with physical-education-as-usual (n = 94). Participants (63.2 % female; 53.6 % White) completed pre- and post-intervention questionnaires assessing emotional self-regulation, perceived stress, mood impairment, impulsivity, substance use willingness, and actual substance use. Participants also completed questionnaires at 6-months and 1-year post-intervention. Results revealed that participants in the control condition were significantly more willing to try smoking cigarettes immediately post-intervention than participants in the yoga condition. Immediate pre- to post-intervention differences did not emerge for the remaining outcomes. However, long-term follow-up analyses revealed a pattern of delayed effects in which females in the yoga condition, and males in the control condition, demonstrated improvements in emotional self-control. The findings suggest that school-based yoga may have beneficial effects with regard to preventing males' and females' willingness to smoke cigarettes, as well as improving emotional self-control in females. However additional research is required, particularly with regard to the potential long-term effects of mind–body interventions in school settings. The present study contributes to the literature on adolescence by examining school-based yoga as a novel prevention program for substance use risk factors. PMID:27246653

Evaluation of Yoga for Preventing Adolescent Substance Use Risk Factors in a Middle School Setting: A Preliminary Group-Randomized Controlled Trial.

PubMed

Butzer, Bethany; LoRusso, Amanda; Shin, Sunny H; Khalsa, Sat Bir S

2017-03-01

Adolescence is a key developmental period for preventing substance use initiation, however prevention programs solely providing educational information about the dangers of substance use rarely change adolescent substance use behaviors. Recent research suggests that mind-body practices such as yoga may have beneficial effects on several substance use risk factors, and that these practices may serve as promising interventions for preventing adolescent substance use. The primary aim of the present study was to test the efficacy of yoga for reducing substance use risk factors during early adolescence. Seventh-grade students in a public school were randomly assigned by classroom to receive either a 32-session yoga intervention (n = 117) in place of their regular physical education classes or to continue with physical-education-as-usual (n = 94). Participants (63.2 % female; 53.6 % White) completed pre- and post-intervention questionnaires assessing emotional self-regulation, perceived stress, mood impairment, impulsivity, substance use willingness, and actual substance use. Participants also completed questionnaires at 6-months and 1-year post-intervention. Results revealed that participants in the control condition were significantly more willing to try smoking cigarettes immediately post-intervention than participants in the yoga condition. Immediate pre- to post-intervention differences did not emerge for the remaining outcomes. However, long-term follow-up analyses revealed a pattern of delayed effects in which females in the yoga condition, and males in the control condition, demonstrated improvements in emotional self-control. The findings suggest that school-based yoga may have beneficial effects with regard to preventing males' and females' willingness to smoke cigarettes, as well as improving emotional self-control in females. However additional research is required, particularly with regard to the potential long-term effects of mind-body interventions in school settings. The present study contributes to the literature on adolescence by examining school-based yoga as a novel prevention program for substance use risk factors.

Early-Life Events, Including Mode of Delivery and Type of Feeding, Siblings and Gender, Shape the Developing Gut Microbiota.

PubMed

Martin, Rocio; Makino, Hiroshi; Cetinyurek Yavuz, Aysun; Ben-Amor, Kaouther; Roelofs, Mieke; Ishikawa, Eiji; Kubota, Hiroyuki; Swinkels, Sophie; Sakai, Takafumi; Oishi, Kenji; Kushiro, Akira; Knol, Jan

2016-01-01

Colonization of the infant gut is believed to be critically important for a healthy growth as it influences gut maturation, metabolic, immune and brain development in early life. Understanding factors that influence this process is important, since an altered colonization has been associated with a higher risk of diseases later in life. Fecal samples were collected from 108 healthy neonates in the first half year of life. The composition and functionality of the microbiota was characterized by measuring 33 different bacterial taxa by qPCR/RT qPCR, and 8 bacterial metabolites. Information regarding gender, place and mode of birth, presence of siblings or pets; feeding pattern and antibiotic use was collected by using questionnaires. Regression analysis techniques were used to study associations between microbiota parameters and confounding factors over time. Bacterial DNA was detected in most meconium samples, suggesting bacterial exposure occurs in utero. After birth, colonization by species of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Bacteroides was influenced by mode of delivery, type of feeding and presence of siblings, with differences found at species level and over time. Interestingly, infant-type bifidobacterial species such as B. breve or B. longum subsp infantis were confirmed as early colonizers apparently independent of the factors studied here, while B. animalis subsp. lactis presence was found to be dependent solely on the type of feeding, indicating that it might not be a common infant gut inhabitant. One interesting and rather unexpected confounding factor was gender. This study contributes to our understanding of the composition of the microbiota in early life and the succession process and the evolution of the microbial community as a function of time and events occurring during the first 6 months of life. Our results provide new insights that could be taken into consideration when selecting nutritional supplementation strategies to support the developing infant gut microbiome.

Early-Life Events, Including Mode of Delivery and Type of Feeding, Siblings and Gender, Shape the Developing Gut Microbiota

PubMed Central

Cetinyurek Yavuz, Aysun; Ben-Amor, Kaouther; Roelofs, Mieke; Ishikawa, Eiji; Kubota, Hiroyuki; Swinkels, Sophie; Sakai, Takafumi; Oishi, Kenji; Kushiro, Akira; Knol, Jan

2016-01-01

Colonization of the infant gut is believed to be critically important for a healthy growth as it influences gut maturation, metabolic, immune and brain development in early life. Understanding factors that influence this process is important, since an altered colonization has been associated with a higher risk of diseases later in life. Fecal samples were collected from 108 healthy neonates in the first half year of life. The composition and functionality of the microbiota was characterized by measuring 33 different bacterial taxa by qPCR/RT qPCR, and 8 bacterial metabolites. Information regarding gender, place and mode of birth, presence of siblings or pets; feeding pattern and antibiotic use was collected by using questionnaires. Regression analysis techniques were used to study associations between microbiota parameters and confounding factors over time. Bacterial DNA was detected in most meconium samples, suggesting bacterial exposure occurs in utero. After birth, colonization by species of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Bacteroides was influenced by mode of delivery, type of feeding and presence of siblings, with differences found at species level and over time. Interestingly, infant-type bifidobacterial species such as B. breve or B. longum subsp infantis were confirmed as early colonizers apparently independent of the factors studied here, while B. animalis subsp. lactis presence was found to be dependent solely on the type of feeding, indicating that it might not be a common infant gut inhabitant. One interesting and rather unexpected confounding factor was gender. This study contributes to our understanding of the composition of the microbiota in early life and the succession process and the evolution of the microbial community as a function of time and events occurring during the first 6 months of life. Our results provide new insights that could be taken into consideration when selecting nutritional supplementation strategies to support the developing infant gut microbiome. PMID:27362264

What caused the recent reduction in heroin supply in Australia?

PubMed

Wodak, Alex

2008-08-01

Heroin availability and purity decreased and prices increased in Australia suddenly in early 2001. The heroin market in Australia has still not returned to the status quo ante after more than six years. Benefits of the heroin shortage, including a substantial reduction in drug overdose deaths and property crime, are generally considered to have outweighed adverse effects which included increased use of other drugs, especially stimulants, with a subsequent increase in aggression, violence and mental illness. Some commentators attributed the heroin shortage to a combination of factors, while an influential study highlighted the importance of supply control asserting that increased funding and improved effectiveness of domestic drug law enforcement produced critical heroin seizures which disrupted major syndicates, thereby producing the heroin shortage. Evidence to support a critical role for drug law enforcement in the heroin shortage is weak with some recent evidence contradicting key assertions used to support the supply control hypothesis. Although the most likely interpretation is still a combination of multiple factors, the most important factors appear to have been a substantial recent reduction in source opium cultivation and heroin production in Burma, but probably also increased heroin consumption en route through China and a switch from heroin to amphetamine production in Burma. This interpretation is consistent with the international experience of several recent decades in numerous countries where national heroin shortages have occurred rarely and generally only briefly, notwithstanding vigorous and very well resourced supply control efforts. The recent reduction in heroin supply in Australia, the most severe, longest lasting and best-documented heroin shortage in the world, cannot be confidently attributed, solely or largely, to improved domestic drug law enforcement. At best, domestic law enforcement may have made a small contribution compared to several other factors. Evaluation of supply, demand and harm reduction should be held to the same standards.

31 CFR 543.301 - Arms or any related materiel.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... solely for humanitarian or protective use, and related technical assistance and training; (c) Supplies of... of arms and related materiel and technical training and assistance intended solely for support of or... technical assistance intended solely for the support of or use by the United Nations Operation in Côte d...

75 FR 38687 - Federal Acquisition Regulation; FAR Case 2008-023, Clarification of Criteria for Sole Source...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-07-02

... a sole source SDVOSB concern acquisition. The final rule contains language that more closely mirrors...-AL29 Federal Acquisition Regulation; FAR Case 2008-023, Clarification of Criteria for Sole Source...: Final rule. SUMMARY: The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations...

31 CFR 515.546 - Accounts of Cuban sole proprietorships.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance:Treasury 3 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Accounts of Cuban sole proprietorships. 515.546 Section 515.546 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance... proprietorships. Specific licenses are issued unblocking sole proprietorships established under the laws of Cuba...

31 CFR 515.546 - Accounts of Cuban sole proprietorships.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance: Treasury 3 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Accounts of Cuban sole proprietorships. 515.546 Section 515.546 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance... proprietorships. Specific licenses are issued unblocking sole proprietorships established under the laws of Cuba...

31 CFR 515.546 - Accounts of Cuban sole proprietorships.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance:Treasury 3 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Accounts of Cuban sole proprietorships. 515.546 Section 515.546 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance... proprietorships. Specific licenses are issued unblocking sole proprietorships established under the laws of Cuba...

31 CFR 515.546 - Accounts of Cuban sole proprietorships.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance:Treasury 3 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Accounts of Cuban sole proprietorships. 515.546 Section 515.546 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance... proprietorships. Specific licenses are issued unblocking sole proprietorships established under the laws of Cuba...

31 CFR 800.223 - Solely for the purpose of passive investment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... (Continued) OFFICE OF INVESTMENT SECURITY, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO MERGERS, ACQUISITIONS, AND TAKEOVERS BY FOREIGN PERSONS Definitions § 800.223 Solely for the purpose of passive... Board of Directors. The acquisition by Corporation A of a voting interest in Corporation B is not solely...

Performatively Queer: Sole Parent Postgraduates in the Australian Academy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hook, Genine A.

2015-01-01

This paper draws on research that considers how gender and agency influence the engagement of sole parent postgraduates within the Australian academy. I argue that parental care responsibilities critically influence participation in higher education for sole parents. I suggest that the gendered construct of caring for children is a feminine…

78 FR 51061 - TRICARE; Reimbursement of Sole Community Hospitals and Adjustment to Reimbursement of Critical...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-20

... DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 32 CFR Part 199 [DoD-2010-HA-0072] RIN 0720-AB41 TRICARE; Reimbursement of Sole Community Hospitals and Adjustment to Reimbursement of Critical Access Hospitals; Correction... TRICARE; Reimbursement of Sole Community Hospitals and Adjustment to Reimbursement of Critical Access...

Puget Sound Dredged Disposal Analysis (PSDDA). Final Environmental Impact Statement Unconfined Open-Water Disposal for Dredged Material, Phase 2. (North and South Puget Sound)

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-09-01

flathead sole, rex sole, and rock sole all showed indications of blood worm infestations. One liver tumor was found in a rex sole during spring in the ZSF...concentrations Hainly in invertebrates; some trations (.01 ppb) in waters (from lOx to 42Ox reference) in fish livers ; rarely in fish of Puget Sound central...Eagle Harbor, and Sinclair fish livers , and birds in Inlet. Highest elevation industrialized ’-ban areas. along Ruston-Point Defiance Copper is a natural

Personal equipment for low seam coal miners. 8. Improved traction rubber boot soles. Report for 1978-82

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

Sanders, M.S.; Downing, J.V.

1982-10-01

Based on laboratory and preliminary field tests of off-the-shelf steel-toed rubber boots, a molded sole design was developed to provide increased traction over conventional calendared sole miners boots. The pattern provided sharp edges perpendicular to both lateral and fore-aft slip vectors. The sole was designed to reduce mud caking. An instep lace-up capability was added to better secure the foot inside the boot. A 5-month field evaluation compared the prototype boots to the boots the participants usually wear.

The detailed measurement of foot clearance by young adults during stair descent.

PubMed

Telonio, A; Blanchet, S; Maganaris, C N; Baltzopoulos, V; McFadyen, B J

2013-04-26

Foot clearance is an important variable for understanding safe stair negotiation, but few studies have provided detailed measures of it. This paper presents a new method to calculate minimal shoe clearance during stair descent and compares it to previous literature. Seventeen healthy young subjects descended a five step staircase with step treads of 300 mm and step heights of 188 mm. Kinematic data were collected with an Optotrak system (model 3020) and three non-colinear infrared markers on the feet. Ninety points were digitized on the foot sole prior to data collection using a 6 marker probe and related to the triad of markers on the foot. The foot sole was reconstructed using the Matlab (version 7.0) "meshgrid" function and minimal distance to each step edge was calculated for the heel, toe and foot sole. Results showed significant differences in minimum clearance between sole, heel and toe, with the shoe sole being the closest and the toe the furthest. While the hind foot sole was closest for 69% of the time, the actual minimum clearance point on the sole did vary across subjects and staircase steps. This new method, and the findings on healthy young subjects, can be applied to future studies of other populations and staircase dimensions. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ultrasonographic measurement of the mechanical properties of the sole under the metatarsal heads.

PubMed

Wang, C L; Hsu, T C; Shau, Y W; Shieh, J Y; Hsu, K H

1999-09-01

The sole under the metatarsal heads functions as a shock absorber during walking and running. The mechanical properties of the sole provide the primary defense against the development of metatarsalgia and foot ulceration. However, limited information about these properties has been documented. In this study, we used ultrasonography to evaluate the mechanical properties, including unloaded thickness, compressibility index, elastic modulus, and energy dissipation ratio, of the sole in 20 healthy subjects. The unloaded thickness decreased progressively from the first to the fifth metatarsal heads, with values of 1.50, 1.36, 1.25, 1.14, and 1.04 cm. The sole under the first metatarsal head had the greatest values for the compressibility index and elastic modulus (55.9% and 1.39 kg/cm2), and the sole under the third metatarsal head had the smallest values (50.8% and 1.23 kg/cm2). The sole under the fifth metatarsal head had the greatest energy dissipation ratio (33.7%), followed by that under the third, second, first, and fourth metatarsal heads. Multivariate adjusted linear regression showed that the unloaded thickness, compressibility index, and elastic modulus values increased significantly with age and body weight (p < 0.05) and that the energy dissipation ratio increased significantly with body weight (p < 0.05)

Branchial versus intestinal silver toxicity and uptake in the marine teleost Parophrys vetulus.

PubMed

Grosell, M; Wood, C M

2001-10-01

Exposure to elevated waterborne silver as AgNO3 (4.07 microM=448 microg l(-1)) in seawater resulted in osmoregulatory disturbance in the lemon sole (Parophrys vetulus). The main effects were increased plasma Na+ and Cl- concentrations which translated into increased plasma osmolality. Plasma Mg2+ levels were also slightly increased after 96 h exposure. Using radioisotopic flux measurements, a 50% reduction in branchial unidirectional Na+ extrusion was observed after 48 h silver exposure. By applying an intestinal perfusion approach, we were able to separate and thus quantify the intestinal contribution to the observed silver-induced physiological disturbance and internal silver accumulation. This analysis revealed that the intestinal contribution to silver-induced ionoregulatory toxicity was as high as 50-60%. In marked contrast, internal silver accumulation (in liver and kidney) was found to be derived exclusively from uptake across the gills. Drinking of silver-contaminated seawater resulted in substantial silver accumulation in the intestinal tissue (but apparently not silver uptake across the intestine), which probably explains the intestinal contribution to silver-induced physiological disturbance.

Facilitating engagement through strong relationships between primary healthcare and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

PubMed

Davy, Carol; Cass, Alan; Brady, John; DeVries, Joanne; Fewquandie, Barry; Ingram, Suzzane; Mentha, Ricky; Simon, Pamela; Rickards, Bernadette; Togni, Samantha; Liu, Hueming; Peiris, David; Askew, Deborah; Kite, Elaine; Sivak, Leda; Hackett, Maree; Lavoie, Josée; Brown, Alex

2016-12-01

Given the high prevalence of chronic disease, it is of concern that access to and sustained engagement with primary healthcare services by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians is often far lower than would be expected. This study sought to explore ways in which relationships can support sustained engagement with healthcare services. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 126 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants with and without chronic disease and 97 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous healthcare providers, healthcare service managers or administrative staff. Our findings indicate that when faced with acute health issues, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants did prioritise care, provided that the service was both physically and emotionally welcoming. Trustworthiness of healthcare providers and strong relationships with patients were the most important factors for encouraging sustained engagement overtime. Responsibility for sustaining relationships does not rest solely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. Rather, healthcare providers need to commit to the process of building and maintaining relationships. First and foremost healthcare providers should take time to establish and then maintain relationships. Healthcare services can also contribute by ensuring facilities are welcoming for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. © 2016 Public Health Association of Australia.

A Hybrid Probabilistic Model for Unified Collaborative and Content-Based Image Tagging.

PubMed

Zhou, Ning; Cheung, William K; Qiu, Guoping; Xue, Xiangyang

2011-07-01

The increasing availability of large quantities of user contributed images with labels has provided opportunities to develop automatic tools to tag images to facilitate image search and retrieval. In this paper, we present a novel hybrid probabilistic model (HPM) which integrates low-level image features and high-level user provided tags to automatically tag images. For images without any tags, HPM predicts new tags based solely on the low-level image features. For images with user provided tags, HPM jointly exploits both the image features and the tags in a unified probabilistic framework to recommend additional tags to label the images. The HPM framework makes use of the tag-image association matrix (TIAM). However, since the number of images is usually very large and user-provided tags are diverse, TIAM is very sparse, thus making it difficult to reliably estimate tag-to-tag co-occurrence probabilities. We developed a collaborative filtering method based on nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) for tackling this data sparsity issue. Also, an L1 norm kernel method is used to estimate the correlations between image features and semantic concepts. The effectiveness of the proposed approach has been evaluated using three databases containing 5,000 images with 371 tags, 31,695 images with 5,587 tags, and 269,648 images with 5,018 tags, respectively.

A two-metric proposal to specify the color-rendering properties of light sources for retail lighting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Freyssinier, Jean Paul; Rea, Mark

2010-08-01

Lighting plays an important role in supporting retail operations, from attracting customers, to enabling the evaluation of merchandise, to facilitating the completion of the sale. Lighting also contributes to the identity, comfort, and visual quality of a retail store. With the increasing availability and quality of white LEDs, retail lighting specifiers are now considering LED lighting in stores. The color rendering of light sources is a key factor in supporting retail lighting goals and thus influences a light source's acceptance by users and specifiers. However, there is limited information on what consumers' color preferences are, and metrics used to describe the color properties of light sources often are equivocal and fail to predict preference. The color rendering of light sources is described in the industry solely by the color rendering index (CRI), which is only indirectly related to human perception. CRI is intended to characterize the appearance of objects illuminated by the source and is increasingly being challenged because new sources are being developed with increasingly exotic spectral power distributions. This paper discusses how CRI might be augmented to better use it in support of the design objectives for retail merchandising. The proposed guidelines include the use of gamut area index as a complementary metric to CRI for assuring good color rendering.

‘Captivity bias’ in animal tool use and its implications for the evolution of hominin technology

PubMed Central

Haslam, Michael

2013-01-01

Animals in captive or laboratory settings may outperform wild animals of the same species in both frequency and diversity of tool use, a phenomenon here termed ‘captivity bias’. Although speculative at this stage, a logical conclusion from this concept is that animals whose tool-use behaviour is observed solely under natural conditions may be judged cognitively or physically inferior than if they had also been tested or observed under controlled captive conditions. In turn, this situation creates a potential problem for studies of the behaviour of extinct members of the human family tree—the hominins—as hominin cognitive abilities are often judged on material evidence of tool-use behaviour left in the archaeological record. In this review, potential factors contributing to captivity bias in primates (including increased contact between individuals engaged in tool use, guidance or shaping of tool-use behaviour by other tool-users and increased free time and energy) are identified and assessed for their possible effects on the behaviour of the Late Pleistocene hominin Homo floresiensis. The captivity bias concept provides one way to uncouple hominin tool use from cognition, by considering hominins as subject to the same adaptive influences as other tool-using animals. PMID:24101629

Directed Research in Bone Discipline: Refining Previous Research Observations for Space Medicine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sibonga, Jean D.

2015-01-01

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry bone mass density, as a sole index, is an insufficient surrogate for fracture; Clinical Practice Guidelines using bone mass density (both World Health Organization and FRAX) are not specific for complicated subjects such as young, healthy persons following prolonged exposure to skeletal unloading (i.e. an attribute of spaceflight); Research data suggest that spaceflight induces changes to astronaut bones that could be profound, possibly irreversible and unlike age-related bone loss on Earth.; There is a need to objectively assess factors across human physiology that are also influenced by spaceflight (e.g., muscle) that contribute to fracture risk. Some of these objective assessments may require innovative technologies, analyses and modeling.; Astronauts are also exposed to novel situations that may overload their bones highlighting a need integrate biomechanics of physical activities into risk assessments.; As we accumulate data, which reflects the biomechanical competence of bone under specific mechanically-loaded scenarios (even activities of daily living), BONE expects Bone Fracture Module to be more sensitive and/or have less uncertainty in its assessments of fracture probability.; Fracture probability drives the requirement for countermeasures. Level of evidence will unlikely be obtained; hence, the Bone Research and Clinical Advisory Panel (like a Data Safety Monitoring Board) will provide the recommendations.

Evaluating predisposition and training in shaping the musician's brain: the need for a developmental perspective.

PubMed

Zuk, Jennifer; Gaab, Nadine

2018-05-24

The study of music training as a model for structural plasticity has evolved significantly over the past 15 years. Neuroimaging studies have identified characteristic structural brain alterations in musicians compared to nonmusicians in school-age children and adults, using primarily cross-sectional designs. Despite this emerging evidence and advances in pediatric neuroimaging techniques, hardly any studies have examined brain development in early childhood (before age 8) in association with musical training, and longitudinal studies starting in infancy or preschool are particularly scarce. Consequently, it remains unclear whether the characteristic "musician brain" is solely the result of musical training, or whether certain predispositions may have an impact on its development. Moving toward a developmental perspective, the present review considers various factors that may contribute to early brain structure prior to the onset of formal musical training. This review introduces a model for potential neurobiological pathways leading to the characteristic "musician brain," which involves a developmental interaction between predisposition and its temporal dynamics, environmental experience, and training-induced plasticity. This perspective illuminates the importance of studying the brain structure associated with musical training through a developmental lens, and the need for longitudinal studies in early childhood to advance our understanding of music training-induced structural plasticity. © 2018 New York Academy of Sciences.

Red states, blue states, and divorce: understanding the impact of conservative Protestantism on regional variation in divorce rates.

PubMed

Glass, Jennifer; Levchak, Philip

2014-01-01

Why do states with larger proportions of religious conservatives have higher divorce rates than states with lower proportions of religious conservatives? This project examines whether earlier transitions to marriage and parenthood among conservative Protestants (known risk factors for divorce) contribute to this paradox while attending to other plausible explanations. County-level demographic information from all 50 states is combined from a variety of public data sources and merged with individual records from the National Surveys of Family Growth to estimate both aggregated county and multilevel individual models of divorce. Results show that individual religious conservatism is positively related to individual divorce risk, solely through the earlier transitions to adulthood and lower incomes of conservative Protestants. However, the proportion of conservative Protestants in a county is also independently and positively associated with both the divorce rate in that county and an individual's likelihood of divorcing. The earlier family formation and lower levels of educational attainment and income in counties with a higher proportion of conservative Protestants can explain a substantial portion of this association. Little support is found for alternative explanations of the association between religious conservatism and divorce rates, including the relative popularity of marriage versus cohabitation across counties.

Recombination in Avian Gamma-Coronavirus Infectious Bronchitis Virus

PubMed Central

Thor, Sharmi W.; Hilt, Deborah A.; Kissinger, Jessica C.; Paterson, Andrew H.; Jackwood, Mark W.

2011-01-01

Recombination in the family Coronaviridae has been well documented and is thought to be a contributing factor in the emergence and evolution of different coronaviral genotypes as well as different species of coronavirus. However, there are limited data available on the frequency and extent of recombination in coronaviruses in nature and particularly for the avian gamma-coronaviruses where only recently the emergence of a turkey coronavirus has been attributed solely to recombination. In this study, the full-length genomes of eight avian gamma-coronavirus infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) isolates were sequenced and along with other full-length IBV genomes available from GenBank were analyzed for recombination. Evidence of recombination was found in every sequence analyzed and was distributed throughout the entire genome. Areas that have the highest occurrence of recombination are located in regions of the genome that code for nonstructural proteins 2, 3 and 16, and the structural spike glycoprotein. The extent of the recombination observed, suggests that this may be one of the principal mechanisms for generating genetic and antigenic diversity within IBV. These data indicate that reticulate evolutionary change due to recombination in IBV, likely plays a major role in the origin and adaptation of the virus leading to new genetic types and strains of the virus. PMID:21994806

Cardiovascular disease treatment among patients with severe mental illness: a data linkage study between primary and secondary care.

PubMed

Woodhead, Charlotte; Ashworth, Mark; Broadbent, Matthew; Callard, Felicity; Hotopf, Matthew; Schofield, Peter; Soncul, Murat; Stewart, Robert J; Henderson, Max J

2016-06-01

Suboptimal treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) among patients with severe mental illness (SMI) may contribute to physical health disparities. To identify SMI characteristics associated with meeting CVD treatment and prevention guidelines. Population-based electronic health record database linkage between primary care and the sole provider of secondary mental health care services in south east London, UK. Cardiovascular disease prevalence, risk factor recording, and Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) clinical target achievement were compared among 4056 primary care patients with SMI whose records were linked to secondary healthcare records and 270 669 patients without SMI who were not known to secondary care psychiatric services, using multivariate logistic regression modelling. Data available from secondary care records were then used to identify SMI characteristics associated with QOF clinical target achievement. Patients with SMI and with coronary heart disease and heart failure experienced reduced prescribing of beta blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blockers (ACEI/ARB). A diagnosis of schizophrenia, being identified with any indicator of risk or illness severity, and being prescribed with depot injectable antipsychotic medication was associated with the lowest likelihood of prescribing. Linking primary and secondary care data allows the identification of patients with SMI most at risk of undertreatment for physical health problems. © British Journal of General Practice 2016.

Differential growth factor control of bone formation through osteoprogenitor differentiation.

PubMed

Chaudhary, L R; Hofmeister, A M; Hruska, K A

2004-03-01

The osteogenic factors bone morphogenetic protein (BMP-7), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB, and fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) regulate the recruitment of osteoprogenitor cells and their proliferation and differentiation into mature osteoblasts. However, their mechanisms of action on osteoprogenitor cell growth, differentiation, and bone mineralization remain unclear. Here, we tested the hypothesis that these osteogenic agents were capable of regulating osteoblast differentiation and bone formation in vitro. Normal human bone marrow stromal (HBMS) cells were treated with BMP-7 (40 ng ml(-1)), PDGF-BB (20 ng ml(-1)), FGF-2 (20 ng ml(-1)), or FGF-2 plus BMP-7 for 28 days in a serum-containing medium with 10 mM beta-glycerophosphate and 50 microg ml(-1) ascorbic acid. BMP-7 stimulated a morphological change to cuboidal-shaped cells, increased alkaline phosphatase (ALKP) activity, bone sialoprotein (BSP) gene expression, and alizarin red S positive nodule formation. Hydroxyapatite (HA) crystal deposition in the nodules was demonstrated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy only in BMP-7- and dexamethasone (DEX)-treated cells. DEX-treated cells appeared elongated and fibroblast-like compared to BMP-7-treated cells. FGF-2 did not stimulate ALKP, and cell morphology was dystrophic. PDGF-BB had little or no effect on ALKP activity and biomineralization. Alizarin Red S staining of cells and calcium assay indicated that BMP-7, DEX, and FGF-2 enhanced calcium mineral deposition, but FTIR spectroscopic analysis demonstrated no formation of HA similar to human bone in control, PDGF-BB-, and FGF-2-treated samples. Thus, FGF-2 stimulated amorphous octacalcium phosphate mineral deposition that failed to mature into HA. Interestingly, FGF-2 abrogated BMP-7-induced ALKP activity and HA formation. Results demonstrate that BMP-7 was competent as a sole factor in the differentiation of human bone marrow stromal cells to bone-forming osteoblasts confirmed by FTIR examination of mineralized matrix. Other growth factors, PDGF, and FGF-2 were incompetent as sole factors, and FGF-2 inhibited BMP-7-stimulated osteoblast differentiation.

Fluence correction factors for graphite calorimetry in a low-energy clinical proton beam: I. Analytical and Monte Carlo simulations.

PubMed

Palmans, H; Al-Sulaiti, L; Andreo, P; Shipley, D; Lühr, A; Bassler, N; Martinkovič, J; Dobrovodský, J; Rossomme, S; Thomas, R A S; Kacperek, A

2013-05-21

The conversion of absorbed dose-to-graphite in a graphite phantom to absorbed dose-to-water in a water phantom is performed by water to graphite stopping power ratios. If, however, the charged particle fluence is not equal at equivalent depths in graphite and water, a fluence correction factor, kfl, is required as well. This is particularly relevant to the derivation of absorbed dose-to-water, the quantity of interest in radiotherapy, from a measurement of absorbed dose-to-graphite obtained with a graphite calorimeter. In this work, fluence correction factors for the conversion from dose-to-graphite in a graphite phantom to dose-to-water in a water phantom for 60 MeV mono-energetic protons were calculated using an analytical model and five different Monte Carlo codes (Geant4, FLUKA, MCNPX, SHIELD-HIT and McPTRAN.MEDIA). In general the fluence correction factors are found to be close to unity and the analytical and Monte Carlo codes give consistent values when considering the differences in secondary particle transport. When considering only protons the fluence correction factors are unity at the surface and increase with depth by 0.5% to 1.5% depending on the code. When the fluence of all charged particles is considered, the fluence correction factor is about 0.5% lower than unity at shallow depths predominantly due to the contributions from alpha particles and increases to values above unity near the Bragg peak. Fluence correction factors directly derived from the fluence distributions differential in energy at equivalent depths in water and graphite can be described by kfl = 0.9964 + 0.0024·zw-eq with a relative standard uncertainty of 0.2%. Fluence correction factors derived from a ratio of calculated doses at equivalent depths in water and graphite can be described by kfl = 0.9947 + 0.0024·zw-eq with a relative standard uncertainty of 0.3%. These results are of direct relevance to graphite calorimetry in low-energy protons but given that the fluence correction factor is almost solely influenced by non-elastic nuclear interactions the results are also relevant for plastic phantoms that consist of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen atoms as well as for soft tissues.

31 CFR 360.36 - Payment during life of sole owner.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance:Treasury 2 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Payment during life of sole owner. 360.36 Section 360.36 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued... UNITED STATES SAVINGS BONDS, SERIES I General Provisions for Payment § 360.36 Payment during life of sole...

78 FR 54652 - Sole Source Cooperative Agreement Award to the Association for State and Territorial Health...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-05

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Sole Source Cooperative Agreement Award to the Association...: Notification of a Sole Source Cooperative Agreement Award to the Association for State and Territorial Health... management systems. One of the overarching goals of both the National Health Security Strategy (2009) and the...

78 FR 54651 - Sole Source Cooperative Agreement Award to the National Association of County and City Health...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-05

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Sole Source Cooperative Agreement Award to the National...: Notification of a Sole Source Cooperative Agreement Award to the National Association of County and City Health... resilience, and strengthen health care, public health, and emergency management systems. One of the...

SOLE: enhanced FIA data analysis capabilities

Treesearch

Michael Spinney; Paul Van Deusen

2009-01-01

The Southern On Line Estimator (SOLE), is an Internet-based annual forest inventory and analysis (FIA) data analysis tool developed cooperatively by the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement and the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Inventory and Analysis program at the Southern Research Station. Recent development of SOLE has...

SigB is a dominant regulator of virulence in Staphylococcus aureus small-colony variants.

PubMed

Mitchell, Gabriel; Fugère, Alexandre; Pépin Gaudreau, Karine; Brouillette, Eric; Frost, Eric H; Cantin, André M; Malouin, François

2013-01-01

Staphylococcus aureus small-colony variants (SCVs) are persistent pathogenic bacteria characterized by slow growth and, for many of these strains, an increased ability to form biofilms and to persist within host cells. The virulence-associated gene expression profile of SCVs clearly differs from that of prototypical strains and is often influenced by SigB rather than by the agr system. One objective of this work was to confirm the role of SigB in the control of the expression of virulence factors involved in biofilm formation and intracellular persistence of SCVs. This study shows that extracellular proteins are involved in the formation of biofilm by three SCV strains, which, additionally, have a low biofilm-dispersing activity. It was determined that SigB activity modulates biofilm formation by strain SCV CF07-S and is dominant over that of the agr system without being solely responsible for the repression of proteolytic activity. On the other hand, the expression of fnbA and the control of nuclease activity contributed to the SigB-dependent formation of biofilm of this SCV strain. SigB was also required for the replication of CF07-S within epithelial cells and may be involved in the colonization of lungs by SCVs in a mouse infection model. This study methodically investigated SigB activity and associated mechanisms in the various aspects of SCV pathogenesis. Results confirm that SigB activity importantly influences the production of virulence factors, biofilm formation and intracellular persistence for some clinical SCV strains.

The Transcription Factors Islet and Lim3 Combinatorially Regulate Ion Channel Gene Expression

PubMed Central

Wolfram, Verena; Southall, Tony D.; Günay, Cengiz; Prinz, Astrid A.; Brand, Andrea H.

2014-01-01

Expression of appropriate ion channels is essential to allow developing neurons to form functional networks. Our previous studies have identified LIM-homeodomain (HD) transcription factors (TFs), expressed by developing neurons, that are specifically able to regulate ion channel gene expression. In this study, we use the technique of DNA adenine methyltransferase identification (DamID) to identify putative gene targets of four such TFs that are differentially expressed in Drosophila motoneurons. Analysis of targets for Islet (Isl), Lim3, Hb9, and Even-skipped (Eve) identifies both ion channel genes and genes predicted to regulate aspects of dendritic and axonal morphology. Significantly, some ion channel genes are bound by more than one TF, consistent with the possibility of combinatorial regulation. One such gene is Shaker (Sh), which encodes a voltage-dependent fast K+ channel (Kv1.1). DamID reveals that Sh is bound by both Isl and Lim3. We used body wall muscle as a test tissue because in conditions of low Ca2+, the fast K+ current is carried solely by Sh channels (unlike neurons in which a second fast K+ current, Shal, also contributes). Ectopic expression of isl, but not Lim3, is sufficient to reduce both Sh transcript and Sh current level. By contrast, coexpression of both TFs is additive, resulting in a significantly greater reduction in both Sh transcript and current compared with isl expression alone. These observations provide evidence for combinatorial activity of Isl and Lim3 in regulating ion channel gene expression. PMID:24523544

Misidentification of sex for Lampsilis teres, Yellow Sandshell, and its implications for mussel conservation and wildlife management.

PubMed

Hess, Megan C; Inoue, Kentaro; Tsakiris, Eric T; Hart, Michael; Morton, Jennifer; Dudding, Jack; Robertson, Clinton R; Randklev, Charles R

2018-01-01

Correct identification of sex is an important component of wildlife management because changes in sex ratios can affect population viability. Identification of sex often relies on external morphology, which can be biased by intermediate or nondistinctive morphotypes and observer experience. For unionid mussels, research has demonstrated that species misidentification is common but less attention has been given to the reliability of sex identification. To evaluate whether this is an issue, we surveyed 117 researchers on their ability to correctly identify sex of Lampsilis teres (Yellow Sandshell), a wide ranging, sexually dimorphic species. Personal background information of each observer was analyzed to identify factors that may contribute to misidentification of sex. We found that median misidentification rates were ~20% across males and females and that observers falsely identified the number of female specimens more often (~23%) than males (~10%). Misidentification rates were partially explained by geographic region of prior mussel experience and where observers learned how to identify mussels, but there remained substantial variation among observers after controlling for these factors. We also used three morphometric methods (traditional, geometric, and Fourier) to investigate whether sex could be more correctly identified statistically and found that misidentification rates for the geometric and Fourier methods (which characterize shape) were less than 5% (on average 7% and 2% for females and males, respectively). Our results show that misidentification of sex is likely common for mussels if based solely on external morphology, which raises general questions, regardless of taxonomic group, about its reliability for conservation efforts.

Cancer through black eyes - The views of UK based black men towards cancer: A constructivist grounded theory study.

PubMed

Mulugeta, Betselot; Williamson, Susan; Monks, Rob; Hack, Thomas; Beaver, Kinta

2017-08-01

Little is known about black African (BA) and black African-Caribbean (BAC) men's views towards cancer; yet culture and acculturation can contribute to the way in which people understand, explain and develop their attitudes towards cancer. Hence, cancer prevention and early detection strategies may not be sensitive to United Kingdom (UK)-based black men's views, affecting their awareness of risk factors and early detection services. This study explored the views of UK-based BA and BAC men towards cancer. In collaboration with black community organisations based in four major cities in the UK, 25 participants were recruited using convenience and theoretical sampling methods. Data were collected using 33 semi-structured interviews, and analysed using grounded theory analytic procedures. One core category (cancer through black eyes) and seven sub-categories emerged; 'cultural views', 'religious beliefs', 'avoiding Babylon', 'alienation', 'suspicious mind', 'advertisements and information influence very little', and 'gap in service provision (bridging the gap)'. Participants' views towards cancer were linked to socially constructed perspectives, linked with cultural and religious beliefs, and shaped by what being a black male means in society. Risk factors such as smoking and obesity had different meanings and symbolisation through black eyes. There were macro- and micro-level similarities and differences between BA and BAC men. Cancer services and related public-health campaigns aimed at black men need to understand cancer through black eyes. Public health campaigns based solely on the clinical meaning of cancer are incongruent with black men's understandings of cancer, and therefore ineffective at reducing health inequality. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Sex-biased chromatin and regulatory cross-talk between sex chromosomes, autosomes, and mitochondria

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Several autoimmune and neurological diseases exhibit a sex bias, but discerning the causes and mechanisms of these biases has been challenging. Sex differences begin to manifest themselves in early embryonic development, and gonadal differentiation further bifurcates the male and female phenotypes. Even at this early stage, however, there is evidence that males and females respond to environmental stimuli differently, and the divergent phenotypic responses may have consequences later in life. The effect of prenatal nutrient restriction illustrates this point, as adult women exposed to prenatal restrictions exhibited increased risk factors of cardiovascular disease, while men exposed to the same condition did not. Recent research has examined the roles of sex-specific genes, hormones, chromosomes, and the interactions among them in mediating sex-biased phenotypes. Such research has identified testosterone, for example, as a possible protective agent against autoimmune disorders and an XX chromosome complement as a susceptibility factor in murine models of lupus and multiple sclerosis. Sex-biased chromatin is an additional and likely important component. Research suggesting a role for X and Y chromosome heterochromatin in regulating epigenetic states of autosomes has highlighted unorthodox mechanisms of gene regulation. The crosstalk between the Y chromosomes and autosomes may be further mediated by the mitochondria. The organelles have solely maternal transmission and exert differential effects on males and females. Altogether, research supports the notion that the interaction between sex-biased elements might exert novel regulatory functions in the genome and contribute to sex-specific susceptibilities to autoimmune and neurological diseases. PMID:24422881

Factors Associated with Bleeding and Thrombosis in Children Receiving Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

PubMed

Dalton, Heidi J; Reeder, Ron; Garcia-Filion, Pamela; Holubkov, Richard; Berg, Robert A; Zuppa, Athena; Moler, Frank W; Shanley, Thomas; Pollack, Murray M; Newth, Christopher; Berger, John; Wessel, David; Carcillo, Joseph; Bell, Michael; Heidemann, Sabrina; Meert, Kathleen L; Harrison, Richard; Doctor, Allan; Tamburro, Robert F; Dean, J Michael; Jenkins, Tammara; Nicholson, Carol

2017-09-15

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is used for respiratory and cardiac failure in children but is complicated by bleeding and thrombosis. (1) To measure the incidence of bleeding (blood loss requiring transfusion or intracranial hemorrhage) and thrombosis during ECMO support; (2) to identify factors associated with these complications; and (3) to determine the impact of these complications on patient outcome. This was a prospective, observational cohort study in pediatric, cardiac, and neonatal intensive care units in eight hospitals, carried out from December 2012 to September 2014. ECMO was used on 514 consecutive patients under age 19 years. Demographics, anticoagulation practices, severity of illness, circuitry components, bleeding, thrombotic events, and outcome were recorded. Survival was 54.9%. Bleeding occurred in 70.2%, including intracranial hemorrhage in 16%, and was independently associated with higher daily risk of mortality. Circuit component changes were required in 31.1%, and patient-related clots occurred in 12.8%. Laboratory sampling contributed to transfusion requirement in 56.6%, and was the sole reason for at least one transfusion in 42.2% of patients. Pump type was not associated with bleeding, thrombosis, hemolysis, or mortality. Hemolysis was predictive of subsequent thrombotic events. Neither hemolysis nor thrombotic events increased the risk of mortality. The incidences of bleeding and thrombosis are high during ECMO support. Laboratory sampling is a major contributor to transfusion during ECMO. Strategies to reduce the daily risk of bleeding and thrombosis, and different thresholds for transfusion, may be appropriate subjects of future trials to improve outcomes of children requiring this supportive therapy.

Preferences for Pink and Blue: The Development of Color Preferences as a Distinct Gender-Typed Behavior in Toddlers.

PubMed

Wong, Wang I; Hines, Melissa

2015-07-01

Many gender differences are thought to result from interactions between inborn factors and sociocognitive processes that occur after birth. There is controversy, however, over the causes of gender-typed preferences for the colors pink and blue, with some viewing these preferences as arising solely from sociocognitive processes of gender development. We evaluated preferences for gender-typed colors, and compared them to gender-typed toy and activity preferences in 126 toddlers on two occasions separated by 6-8 months (at Time 1, M = 29 months; range 20-40). Color preferences were assessed using color cards and neutral toys in gender-typed colors. Gender-typed toy and activity preferences were assessed using a parent-report questionnaire, the Preschool Activities Inventory. Color preferences were also assessed for the toddlers' parents using color cards. A gender difference in color preferences was present between 2 and 3 years of age and strengthened near the third birthday, at which time it was large (d > 1). In contrast to their parents, toddlers' gender-typed color preferences were stronger and unstable. Gender-typed color preferences also appeared to establish later and were less stable than gender-typed toy and activity preferences. Gender-typed color preferences were largely uncorrelated with gender-typed toy and activity preferences. These results suggest that the factors influencing gender-typed color preferences and gender-typed toy and activity preferences differ in some respects. Our findings suggest that sociocognitive influences and play with gender-typed toys that happen to be made in gender-typed colors contribute to toddlers' gender-typed color preferences.

Effects of range-wide variation in climate and isolation on floral traits and reproductive output of Clarkia pulchella.

PubMed

Bontrager, Megan; Angert, Amy L

2016-01-01

Plant mating systems and geographic range limits are conceptually linked by shared underlying drivers, including landscape-level heterogeneity in climate and in species' abundance. Studies of how geography and climate interact to affect plant traits that influence mating system and population dynamics can lend insight to ecological and evolutionary processes shaping ranges. Here, we examined how spatiotemporal variation in climate affects reproductive output of a mixed-mating annual, Clarkia pulchella. We also tested the effects of population isolation and climate on mating-system-related floral traits across the range. We measured reproductive output and floral traits on herbarium specimens collected across the range of C. pulchella. We extracted climate data associated with specimens and derived a population isolation metric from a species distribution model. We then examined how predictors of reproductive output and floral traits vary among populations of increasing distance from the range center. Finally, we tested whether reproductive output and floral traits vary with increasing distance from the center of the range. Reproductive output decreased as summer precipitation decreased, and low precipitation may contribute to limiting the southern and western range edges of C. pulchella. High spring and summer temperatures are correlated with low herkogamy, but these climatic factors show contrasting spatial patterns in different quadrants of the range. Limiting factors differ among different parts of the range. Due to the partial decoupling of geography and environment, examining relationships between climate, reproductive output, and mating-system-related floral traits reveals spatial patterns that might be missed when focusing solely on geographic position. © 2016 Botanical Society of America.

Value Focused Thinking Analysis of the Pacific Theater’s Future Air Mobility En Route System

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-06-01

pairing) alone does not establish a comparative advantage of an en route and should not be a sole basis for selection. Factors such as runway... advantage of it 8. Where possible, attempt to maximize transportation opportunities with intermodal capability 9. CONUS locations and end of the...Voigt, J. Optimization of Strategic Airlift En Route Throughput to Support the Global War on Terrorism. MS Graduate Research Paper, AFIT/ GMO /ENS/05E

Reversible blindness associated with alcoholic ketoacidosis.

PubMed

Yanagawa, Youichi; Kiyozumi, Teturou; Hatanaka, Kousuke; Itoh, Toshitaka; Sakamoto, Toshihisa; Okada, Yoshiaki

2004-04-01

To report a case of reversible blindness associated with severe alcoholic ketoacidosis. Observational case report. A 44-year-old male presented with gradual bilateral blindness that developed within a 24-hour period. He suffered from ethanol-induced severe ketoacidosis and shock and was resuscitated with epinephrine and sodium bicarbonate. The treatment of acidosis led to a rapid resolution of the patient's blindness. It is important to understand the role of severe acidosis as the sole causative factor of reversible bilateral blindness.

QUASAR: A Method for the Quality Assessment of Software-Intensive System Architectures

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-07-01

subsystem, the sole purpose of which is to achieve that quality. Thus, all of the requirements for a fire detec- tion and suppression subsystem are... monorail , or train tracks) along which an APM travels. 26 CMU/SEI-2006-HB-001 1. Safety Goal Claims a. Safety Factor Goals − System Is Safe...of 80 kilometers per hour.” c. Safety Subsystem Requirements − Smoke Detector Sensitivity The architecture of the automated taxi fire detection and

The Long War and the Forgotten Families: Dual-Military Couples

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-03-22

volunteer just as men had been allowed to. This opportunity also led to marriages of actively serving women and men. One of the significant current...families (military member married to civilian spouse) in which the husband is the sole breadwinner and the wife is the homemaker.3 The all-volunteer...Army has learned that one key factor to military retention is supporting the family, not just by words but through its actions. Numerous programs

Probiotics as control agents in aquaculture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geovanny D, Gómez R.; Balcázar, José Luis; Ma, Shen

2007-01-01

Infectious diseases constitute a limiting factor in the development of the aquaculture production, and control has solely concentrated on the use of antibiotics. However, the massive use of antibiotics for the control of diseases has been questioned by acquisition of antibiotic resistance and the need of alternative is of prime importance. Probiotics, live microorganisms administered in adequate amounts that confer a healthy effect on the host, are emerging as significant microbial food supplements in the field of prophylaxis.

Injury Prevention Survey: Army Awareness Assessment and Needs Analysis, 9 July - 26 August 2014

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-04-01

thinner people are healthier.  Footwear. The risks of using cotton socks, minimalist shoes, and older running shoes should be addressed in fact...blister” injuries. 6.5.2.3 Factors that do not Increase or Decrease Risk The use of minimalist shoes (shoes with limited sole and “zero drop...of injury) (Rixe et al. 2012). However, the majority of respondents (58%) indicated they believe that minimalist shoes increase the risk of

Do Gaokao Scores Predict Chinese Business Students' Academic Success in Higher Education? An Investigation of the Factors Affecting Graduation and Cumulative GPA of Chinese Students in a Dual-Country Business Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Parrish, Erin

2013-01-01

Each year, millions of high school seniors in China take the National College Entrance Examination (or gaokao). The score the students receive on the gaokao is the sole determinant of whether they will be admitted to college and which college they may attend. Because the demand for college exceeds the availability of admission seats, the…

Insolvency and contagion in the Brazilian interbank market

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Souza, Sergio R. S.; Tabak, Benjamin M.; Silva, Thiago C.; Guerra, Solange M.

2015-08-01

This paper proposes a new way to model and analyze contagion in interbank networks. We use a unique dataset from the Brazilian financial system and include all active financial intermediaries. We show that the contagion chain has a short propagation path. We find that first-round contagion is generated only by banks and that medium-sized banks can generate contagion, which implies that size is not the sole determinant of importance within networks. Most vulnerable financial institutions are not banks. Finally, we compute a lower bound for the financial system expected losses in a 1-year horizon. The results contribute to the development of a financial stability-monitoring toolkit.

Neutral naturalness from the brother-Higgs model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Serra, Javi; Torre, Riccardo

2018-02-01

We present a version of the twin Higgs mechanism with minimal symmetry structure and particle content. The model is built upon a composite Higgs theory with global S O (6 )/S O (5 ) symmetry breaking. The leading contribution to the Higgs potential, from the top sector, is solely canceled via the introduction of a standard model neutral top partner. We show that the inherent Z2 breaking of this construction is under control and of the right size to achieve electroweak symmetry breaking, with a fine-tuning at the level of 5%-10%, compatibly with the observed Higgs mass. We briefly discuss the particular phenomenological features of this scenario.

Usefulness of Analytical Research: Rethinking Analytical R&D&T Strategies.

PubMed

Valcárcel, Miguel

2017-11-07

This Perspective is intended to help foster true innovation in Research & Development & Transfer (R&D&T) in Analytical Chemistry in the form of advances that are primarily useful for analytical purposes rather than solely for publishing. Devising effective means to strengthen the crucial contribution of Analytical Chemistry to progress in Chemistry, Science & Technology, and Society requires carefully examining the present status of our discipline and also identifying internal and external driving forces with a potential adverse impact on its development. The diagnostic process should be followed by administration of an effective therapy and supported by adoption of a theragnostic strategy if Analytical Chemistry is to enjoy a better future.

Effect of step-synchronized vibration stimulation of soles on gait in Parkinson's disease: a pilot study.

PubMed

Novak, Peter; Novak, Vera

2006-05-04

Previous studies have suggested that impaired proprioceptive processing in the striatum may contribute to abnormal gait in Parkinson's disease (PD). This pilot study assessed the effects of enhanced proprioceptive feedback using step-synchronized vibration stimulation of the soles (S-VS) on gait in PD. S-VS was used in 8 PD subjects (3 women and 5 men, age range 44-79 years, on medication) and 8 age-matched healthy subjects (5 women and 3 men). PD subjects had mild or moderate gait impairment associated with abnormal balance, but they did not have gait freezing. Three vibratory devices (VDs) were embedded in elastic insoles (one below the heel and two below the forefoot areas) inserted into the shoes. Each VD operates independently and has a pressure switch that activates the underlying vibratory actuator. The VD delivered the 70-Hz suprathreshold vibration pulse upon touch by the heel or forefoot, and the vibration pulse was deactivated upon respective push-offs. Six-minute hallway walking was studied with and without S-VS. Gait characteristics were measured using the force-sensitive foot switches. The primary outcome was the stride variability expressed as a coefficient of variation (CV), a measure of gait steadiness. Secondary outcome measures were walking distance and speed, stride length and duration, cadence, stance, swing and double support duration, and respective CVs (if applicable). The walking speed (p < 0.04) and the CV of the stride interval (p < 0.02) differed between the groups and S-VS conditions. In the PD group, S-VS decreased stride variability (p < 0.002), increased walking speed (p < 0.0001), stride duration (p < 0.01), stride length (p < 0.0002), and cadence (p < 0.03). In the control group, S-VS decreased stride variability (p < 0.006) and increased gait speed (p < 0.03), but other locomotion parameters were not significantly altered. Augmented sensory feedback improves parkinsonian gait steadiness in the short-term setting. Because the suprathreshold stimulation prevented blinding of subjects, the learning effect and increased attention can be a confounding factor underlying results. Long-term studies are needed to establish the clinical value of the S-VS.

Favorable impact of a vegan diet with exercise on hemorheology: implications for control of diabetic neuropathy.

PubMed

McCarty, Mark F

2002-06-01

A little-noticed clinical report indicates that a low-fat, whole-food vegan diet, coupled with daily walking exercise, leads to rapid remission of neuropathic pain in the majority of type 2 diabetics expressing this complication. Concurrent marked improvements in glycemic control presumably contribute to this benefit, but are unlikely to be solely responsible. Consideration should be given to the possibility that improved blood rheology - decreased blood viscosity and increased blood filterability - plays a prominent role in mediating this effect. There is considerable evidence that neural hypoxia, secondary to impaired endoneurial microcirculatory perfusion, is a crucial etiologic factor in diabetic neuropathy; the unfavorable impact of diabetes on hemorheology would be expected to exacerbate endoneurial ischemia. Conversely, measures which improve blood fluidity would likely have a beneficial impact on diabetic neuropathy. There is indeed evidence that vegan diets, as well as exercise training, tend to decrease the viscosity of both whole blood and plasma; reductions in hematocrit and in fibrinogen may contribute to this effect. The fact that vegan diets decrease the white cell count is suggestive of an improvement in blood filterability as well; filterability improves with exercise training owing to an increase in erythrocyte deformability. Whether these measures influence the activation of leukocytes in diabetics - an important determinant of blood filterability - remains to be determined. There are various reasons for suspecting that a vegan diet can reduce risk for other major complications of diabetes - retinopathy, nephropathy, and macrovascular disease - independent of its tendency to improve glycemic control in type 2 patients. The vegan diet/exercise strategy represents a safe, 'low-tech' approach to managing diabetes that deserves far greater attention from medical researchers and practitioners.

Line-of-sight extrapolation noise in dust polarization

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

Poh, Jason; Dodelson, Scott

The B-modes of polarization at frequencies ranging from 50-1000 GHz are produced by Galactic dust, lensing of primordial E-modes in the cosmic microwave background (CMB) by intervening large scale structure, and possibly by primordial B-modes in the CMB imprinted by gravitational waves produced during inflation. The conventional method used to separate the dust component of the signal is to assume that the signal at high frequencies (e.g., 350 GHz) is due solely to dust and then extrapolate the signal down to lower frequency (e.g., 150 GHz) using the measured scaling of the polarized dust signal amplitude with frequency. For typicalmore » Galactic thermal dust temperatures of about 20K, these frequencies are not fully in the Rayleigh-Jeans limit. Therefore, deviations in the dust cloud temperatures from cloud to cloud will lead to different scaling factors for clouds of different temperatures. Hence, when multiple clouds of different temperatures and polarization angles contribute to the integrated line-of-sight polarization signal, the relative contribution of individual clouds to the integrated signal can change between frequencies. This can cause the integrated signal to be decorrelated in both amplitude and direction when extrapolating in frequency. Here we carry out a Monte Carlo analysis on the impact of this line-of-sight extrapolation noise, enabling us to quantify its effect. Using results from the Planck experiment, we find that this effect is small, more than an order of magnitude smaller than the current uncertainties. However, line-of-sight extrapolation noise may be a significant source of uncertainty in future low-noise primordial B-mode experiments. Scaling from Planck results, we find that accounting for this uncertainty becomes potentially important when experiments are sensitive to primordial B-mode signals with amplitude r < 0.0015 .« less

Effect of cryopreservation on the pre-hatching behavior in the Mexican fruit fly Anastrepha ludens Loew (Diptera, Tephritidae).

PubMed

Rajamohan, Arun; Rinehart, Joseph P; Leopold, Roger A

2018-02-01

In a sampling of untreated embryos of the economically important fruit pest species, Anastrepha ludens, the cumulative hatch percentage in the lab was noted to be ∼85%. Approximately 70% of the larvae had eclosed through the posterior pole of the egg. This process is effected by the act of Pole Reversal (PR) of the fully developed pre-hatch larva from the wider anterior to the narrower posterior pole of the egg. Investigation of the effects of cryopreservation and various pretreatments prior to cryostorage on the PR behavior was prompted by the observation of significantly lower proportion of cryopreserved embryos exhibiting the PR behavior. Pretreatments (dechorionation and permeabilization) followed by vitrification resulted in delayed hatching, reflecting a slower embryonic development rate of ∼10 h. A smaller proportion of the treated embryos either eclosed from the anterior end of the egg or did not eclose at all despite complete development and prehatch gnawing activity. In the untreated controls, 24.0% of the embryos eclosed from the anterior pole. After permeabilization and cryopreservation, 83% and 55% (adjusted hatch) of the embryos were noted to hatch this way, respectively. An analysis of the hatch count after the treatments shows that factors contributing to the embryos' inability to properly invert polarity is not solely due to cryopreservation but also due to the pretreatment procedures including dechorionation and permeabilization. In fact, the permeabilization pre-treatment contributed the highest to this phenomenon lending support to the view that chemical toxicity rather than physical effects of cryopreservation play a major role in post-cryopreservation effects. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Starting or changing therapy - a prospective study exploring antiretroviral decision-making.

PubMed

Fehr, J S; Nicca, D; Sendi, P; Wolf, E; Wagels, T; Kiss, A; Bregenzer, T; Vernazza, P; Jäger, H; Spirig, R; Battegay, M

2005-08-01

When to start or change antiretroviral treatment against HIV infection is of major importance. Patients' readiness is considered a major factor influencing such treatment decisions, in particular because no objective, absolute time point when to start antiretroviral therapy exists. We aimed at evaluating patients' readiness to start or change antiretroviral therapy (ART). HIV-infected patients starting or changing ART between July 2002 and February 2003, treating physicians and nurses participated in this prospective, observational multicenter study. We assessed shared decision-making including qualitative aspects, expected treatment decisions and treatment status after 3 months. 75 patients were included. Of 34 patients for whom starting ART was considered, 27 (79%) indicated that they were willing to start treatment. After 3 months, 21 of 27 (78%) actually started therapy, six did not. Patients with depression were less likely to be ready for ART (p < 0.05). Of 41 patients for whom changing ART was considered, 35 (85%) indicated that they were willing to change treatment. Of the latter 35 patients, 33 (94%) finally changed ART within 3 months. Physicians and nurses were too optimistic in predicting the start or change of ART. The main reason to start or change ART was the sole recommendation of the physician (52% in those starting, 61% in those changing ART). Patients mainly judged the decision as shared and were very satisfied (71%) with the process. Qualitative findings revealed the importance of a dialectic decisionmaking, described with two categories: "dealing with oneself and others"' and "understanding and being understood." Patients mainly shared the decision made during consultation. Although physicians have an essential role concerning ART, patients, physicians, and nurses all contribute to the decision. Qualitative findings indicate the importance for health-care providers to include patients' expertise and contributions.

31 CFR 315.36 - Payment during life of sole owner.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance:Treasury 2 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Payment during life of sole owner. 315.36 Section 315.36 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued... § 315.36 Payment during life of sole owner. A savings bond registered in single ownership form (i.e...

75 FR 76352 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of Alaska; Proposed 2011 and 2012...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-12-08

... for 2011 and 2012 that are equal to proposed ABCs for pollock, deep-water flatfish, rex sole... certain species: Pacific cod, flathead sole, shallow-water flatfish, arrowtooth flounder, and other... that the ABC is not exceeded. The flathead sole, shallow-water flatfish, and arrowtooth flounder TACs...

"Newstart" or "Stop-Start"? the Implications of Recent Welfare Reforms on Undergraduate Students Who Are Sole Parents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lenette, Caroline; McDonald, Donna; Fowler, Jane L.

2014-01-01

This article discusses the implications of recent income support payment changes for sole-parented families in Australia, and in particular, their capacity to access tertiary education. The government's program to reduce welfare benefit payments to sole-parented families already at high risk of economic disadvantage and social marginalization…

Challenges of working with FIADB17 data: the SOLE experience

Treesearch

Michael Spinney; Paul Van Deusen

2007-01-01

The Southern On Line Estimator (SOLE) is an Internet-based Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) data analysis tool. SOLE is based on data downloaded from the publicly available FIA database (FIADB) and summarized by plot condition. The tasks of downloading, processing, and summarizing FIADB data require specialized expertise in inventory theory and data manipulation....

75 FR 76372 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands; Proposed...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-12-08

... intends to have the information available for the assessment cycle in the fall of 2011. At the October... sole, rock sole, Kamchatka flounder, sharks, squid, sculpins, and octopus to be included in the final... flounder, Greenland turbot, rock sole, Alaska plaice, other flatfish, and rougheye rockfish. The biomass...

Biomechanical Effects of Prefabricated Foot Orthoses and Rocker‐Sole Footwear in Individuals With First Metatarsophalangeal Joint Osteoarthritis

PubMed Central

Auhl, Maria; Tan, Jade M.; Levinger, Pazit; Roddy, Edward; Munteanu, Shannon E.

2016-01-01

Objective To evaluate the effects of prefabricated foot orthoses and rocker‐sole footwear on spatiotemporal parameters, hip and knee kinematics, and plantar pressures in people with first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint osteoarthritis (OA). Methods. A total of 102 people with first MTP joint OA were randomly allocated to receive prefabricated foot orthoses or rocker‐sole footwear. The immediate biomechanical effects of the interventions (compared to usual footwear) were examined using a wearable sensor motion analysis system and an in‐shoe plantar pressure measurement system. Results Spatiotemporal/kinematic and plantar pressure data were available from 88 and 87 participants, respectively. The orthoses had minimal effect on spatiotemporal or kinematic parameters, while the rocker‐sole footwear resulted in reduced cadence, percentage of the gait cycle spent in stance phase, and sagittal plane hip range of motion. The orthoses increased peak pressure under the midfoot and lesser toes. Both interventions significantly reduced peak pressure under the first MTP joint, and the rocker‐sole shoes also reduced peak pressure under the second through fifth MTP joints and heel. When the effects of the orthoses and rocker‐sole shoes were directly compared, there was no difference in peak pressure under the hallux, first MTP joint, or heel; however, the rocker‐sole shoes exhibited lower peak pressure under the lesser toes, second through fifth MTP joints, and midfoot. Conclusion Prefabricated foot orthoses and rocker‐sole footwear are effective at reducing peak pressure under the first MTP joint in people with first MTP joint OA, but achieve this through different mechanisms. Further research is required to determine whether these biomechanical changes result in improvements in symptoms. PMID:26640157

Rocker-soled shoes and walking distance in patients with calf claudication.

PubMed

Richardson, J K

1991-07-01

Calf claudication is the major clinical manifestation of peripheral vascular occlusive disease in a significant number of patients. Although claudication causes substantial patient disability, most patients are treated conservatively because of the risks of surgical therapy and the uncertain efficacy of drug therapy. It was hypothesized that rocker-soled shoes would decrease the work of the plantar flexors and therefore increase walking distance in patients with calf claudication. To test this hypothesis, walking distances in patients with calf claudication using rocker-soled shoes and a placebo shoe insert were compared. Rocker-soled shoes significantly increased both the total distance walked and the distance at which patients were initially bothered by symptoms by 77m (37%, p less than .0005) and 89m (91%, p = .003), respectively. It was concluded that rocker-soled shoes may reduce disability in patients with calf claudication by increasing walking distance.

Coral calcifying fluid pH is modulated by seawater carbonate chemistry not solely seawater pH

PubMed Central

Tambutté, E.; Carpenter, R. C.; Edmunds, P. J.; Evensen, N. R.; Allemand, D.; Ferrier-Pagès, C.; Tambutté, S.; Venn, A. A.

2017-01-01

Reef coral calcification depends on regulation of pH in the internal calcifying fluid (CF) in which the coral skeleton forms. However, little is known about calcifying fluid pH (pHCF) regulation, despite its importance in determining the response of corals to ocean acidification. Here, we investigate pHCF in the coral Stylophora pistillata in seawater maintained at constant pH with manipulated carbonate chemistry to alter dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentration, and therefore total alkalinity (AT). We also investigate the intracellular pH of calcifying cells, photosynthesis, respiration and calcification rates under the same conditions. Our results show that despite constant pH in the surrounding seawater, pHCF is sensitive to shifts in carbonate chemistry associated with changes in [DIC] and [AT], revealing that seawater pH is not the sole driver of pHCF. Notably, when we synthesize our results with published data, we identify linear relationships of pHCF with the seawater [DIC]/[H+] ratio, [AT]/ [H+] ratio and []. Our findings contribute new insights into the mechanisms determining the sensitivity of coral calcification to changes in seawater carbonate chemistry, which are needed for predicting effects of environmental change on coral reefs and for robust interpretations of isotopic palaeoenvironmental records in coral skeletons. PMID:28100813

Exposure Factors Handbook - 2009 Update (External Review ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The mission of National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) of EPA's Office of Research and Development is to provide guidance and risk assessments aimed at protecting human health and the environment. To accomplish this mission, NCEA works to develop and improve the models, databases, tools, assumptions, and extrapolations used in risk assessments. This handbook is a tool developed by NCEA aimed at refining the assumptions used in exposure assessments and reducing uncertainty. This handbook was first published in 1989 and updated in 1997 to provide statistical data on the various human factors used in assessing exposure. This revised version of the handbook provides the up-to-date data on these exposure factors. The recommended values are based solely on our interpretations of the available data. In many situations different values may be appropriate to use in consideration of policy, precedent or other factors. External Review Draft

75 FR 51185 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Rock Sole in the Bering Sea...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-19

.... 0910131363-0087-02] RIN 0648-XY29 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Rock...; reallocation. SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of the 2010 rock sole total allowable... necessary to allow the 2010 total allowable catch of rock sole to be fully harvested. DATES: Effective...

26 CFR 1.1033(e)-1 - Sale or exchange of livestock solely on account of drought.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... of drought. 1.1033(e)-1 Section 1.1033(e)-1 Internal Revenue INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF... Sale or exchange of livestock solely on account of drought. (a) The sale or exchange of livestock... if the sale or exchange of such livestock by the taxpayer is solely on account of drought. Section...

26 CFR 1.1081-3 - Exchanges of stock or securities solely for stock or securities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 11 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 true Exchanges of stock or securities solely for stock or securities. 1.1081-3 Section 1.1081-3 Internal Revenue INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF... § 1.1081-3 Exchanges of stock or securities solely for stock or securities. The exchange, without the...

Feeding behavior improves prediction of dairy cow voluntary feed intake but cannot serve as the sole indicator.

PubMed

Halachmi, I; Ben Meir, Y; Miron, J; Maltz, E

2016-09-01

Low-cost feeding-behavior sensors will soon be available for commercial use in dairy farms. The aim of this study was to develop a feed intake model for the individual dairy cow that includes feeding behavior. In a research farm, the individual cows' voluntary feed intake and feeding behavior were monitored at every meal. A feed intake model was developed based on data that exist in commercial modern farms: 'BW,' 'milk yield' and 'days in milking' parameters were applied in this study. At the individual cow level, eating velocity seemed to be correlated with feed intake (R 2=0.93 to 0.94). The eating velocity coefficient varied among individuals, ranging from 150 to 230 g/min per cow. The contribution of feeding behavior (0.28) to the dry matter intake (DMI) model was higher than the contribution of BW (0.20), similar to the contribution of fat-corrected milk (FCM)/BW (0.29) and not as large as the contribution of FCM (0.49). Incorporating feeding behavior into the DMI model improved its accuracy by 1.3 (38%) kg/cow per day. The model is ready to be implemented in commercial farms as soon as companies introduce low-cost feeding-behavior sensors on commercial level.

Nonparametric probability density estimation by optimization theoretic techniques

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Scott, D. W.

1976-01-01

Two nonparametric probability density estimators are considered. The first is the kernel estimator. The problem of choosing the kernel scaling factor based solely on a random sample is addressed. An interactive mode is discussed and an algorithm proposed to choose the scaling factor automatically. The second nonparametric probability estimate uses penalty function techniques with the maximum likelihood criterion. A discrete maximum penalized likelihood estimator is proposed and is shown to be consistent in the mean square error. A numerical implementation technique for the discrete solution is discussed and examples displayed. An extensive simulation study compares the integrated mean square error of the discrete and kernel estimators. The robustness of the discrete estimator is demonstrated graphically.

Suicidality among College and University Students: Contributing Factors and Preventive Response.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jones, Joan Wickham

This paper surveys and evaluates the research since 1975 on college and university student suicidality in the United States. It focuses on factors which contribute to suicidality, preventive responses to suicide and how well the preventive responses address the contributing factors. Contributing factors examined include various feeling states…

Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) Switch Technology and Vendor Survey

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Berry, Noemi

1995-01-01

Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) switch and software features are described and compared in order to make switch comparisons meaningful. An ATM switch's performance cannot be measured solely based on its claimed switching capacity; traffic management and congestion control are emerging as the determining factors in an ATM network's ultimate throughput. Non-switch ATM products and experiences with actual installations of ATM networks are described. A compilation of select vendor offerings as of October 1994 is provided in chart form.

Nurses' Perceived Skills and Attitudes About Updated Safety Concepts: Impact on Medication Administration Errors and Practices.

PubMed

Armstrong, Gail E; Dietrich, Mary; Norman, Linda; Barnsteiner, Jane; Mion, Lorraine

Approximately a quarter of medication errors in the hospital occur at the administration phase, which is solely under the purview of the bedside nurse. The purpose of this study was to assess bedside nurses' perceived skills and attitudes about updated safety concepts and examine their impact on medication administration errors and adherence to safe medication administration practices. Findings support the premise that medication administration errors result from an interplay among system-, unit-, and nurse-level factors.

System and method for key generation in security tokens

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

Evans, Philip G.; Humble, Travis S.; Paul, Nathanael R.

Functional randomness in security tokens (FRIST) may achieve improved security in two-factor authentication hardware tokens by improving on the algorithms used to securely generate random data. A system and method in one embodiment according to the present invention may allow for security of a token based on storage cost and computational security. This approach may enable communication where security is no longer based solely on onetime pads (OTPs) generated from a single cryptographic function (e.g., SHA-256).

Aberrant AR Signaling as a Function of Declining Androgen

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-03-01

The first was represented as PSA or hAIAK/GAPD1t1 mRNA ratios, sense, 5’-AUG UCA ACU CCA GGA UGC UTT-3’ and antisense, 5’-AGC AUC Transient... advertisement in accordance indirect effects are general transcription factors like SP1 or with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact. We thank...Targeting the androgen receptor: improvi 1989,17:71-7. growth vs . expression of prostate specific differentiation comes for castration-resistant

Common Factors and Outcome in Late Upper Extremity Amputations After Military Injury

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-04-01

documentation, if this pain was solely phan- tom limb pain or a different type of neuropathic pain. Only 1 (14%) had a chronic infection . Table 1... Infection 1 14% Malunion 1 14% Nonunion 1 14% Krueger et al J Orthop Trauma Volume 28, Number 4, April 2014 228 | www.jorthotrauma.com 2013... infections to be the most common reasons why those with lower extrem- ities underwent late amputations. Tintle et al5 also found infec- tion and wound

Sodium butyrate attenuates soybean oil-based lipid emulsion-induced increase in intestinal permeability of lipopolysaccharide by modulation of P-glycoprotein in Caco-2 cells

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

Yan, Jun-Kai; Gong, Zi-Zhen; Zhang, Tian

Down-regulation of intestinal P-glycoprotein (P-gp) by soybean oil-based lipid emulsion (SOLE) may cause elevated intestinal permeability of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in patients with total parenteral nutrition, but the appropriate preventative treatment is currently limited. Recently, sodium butyrate (NaBut) has been demonstrated to regulate the expression of P-gp. Therefore, this study aimed to address whether treatment with NaBut could attenuate SOLE-induced increase in intestinal permeability of LPS by modulation of P-gp in vitro. Caco-2 cells were exposed to SOLE with or without NaBut. SOLE-induced down-regulation of P-gp was significantly attenuated by co-incubation with NaBut. Nuclear recruitment of FOXO 3a in response to NaButmore » was involved in P-gp regulation. Transport studies revealed that SOLE-induced increase in permeability of LPS was significantly attenuated by co-incubation with NaBut. Collectively, our results suggested that NaBut may be a potentially useful medication to prevent SOLE-induced increase in intestinal permeability of LPS. - Highlights: • Caco-2 cells were used as models for studying parenteral nutrition in vitro. • NaBut restored SOLE-induced down-regulation of P-gp in Caco-2 cells. • Regulation of P-gp by NaBut was mediated via nuclear recruitment of FOXO 3a. • NaBut modulated the permeability of LPS by P-gp function, not barrier function.« less

Effects of shoe sole hardness on plantar pressure and comfort in older people with forefoot pain.

PubMed

Lane, Tamara J; Landorf, Karl B; Bonanno, Daniel R; Raspovic, Anita; Menz, Hylton B

2014-01-01

Plantar forefoot pain is common in older people and is related to increased peak pressures under the foot during gait. Variations in the hardness of the shoe sole may therefore influence both the magnitude of loading under the foot and the perceived comfort of the shoe in this population. The aim of this investigation was to determine the effect of varying shoe sole hardness on plantar pressures and comfort in older people with forefoot pain. In-shoe plantar pressures under the forefoot, midfoot and rearfoot were recorded from 35 older people (mean age 73.2, SD 4.5 years) with current or previous forefoot pain using the pedar-X(®) system. Participants walked at their normal comfortable speed along an 8m walkway in shoes with three different levels of sole hardness: soft (Shore A25), medium (Shore A40) and hard (Shore A58). Shoe comfort was measured on a 100mm visual analogue scale. There were statistically significant differences in peak pressure of between 5% and 23% across the forefoot, midfoot and rearfoot (p<0.01). The hard-soled shoe registered the highest peak pressures and the soft-soled shoe the lowest peak pressures. However, no differences in comfort scores across the three shoe conditions were observed. These findings demonstrate that as shoe sole hardness increases, plantar pressure increases, however this does not appear to have a significant effect on shoe comfort. Crown Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Nck-2, a Novel Src Homology2/3-containing Adaptor Protein That Interacts with the LIM-only Protein PINCH and Components of Growth Factor Receptor Kinase-signaling Pathways

PubMed Central

Tu, Yizeng; Li, Fugang; Wu, Chuanyue

1998-01-01

Many of the protein–protein interactions that are essential for eukaryotic intracellular signal transduction are mediated by protein binding modules including SH2, SH3, and LIM domains. Nck is a SH3- and SH2-containing adaptor protein implicated in coordinating various signaling pathways, including those of growth factor receptors and cell adhesion receptors. We report here the identification, cloning, and characterization of a widely expressed, Nck-related adaptor protein termed Nck-2. Nck-2 comprises primarily three N-terminal SH3 domains and one C-terminal SH2 domain. We show that Nck-2 interacts with PINCH, a LIM-only protein implicated in integrin-linked kinase signaling. The PINCH-Nck-2 interaction is mediated by the fourth LIM domain of PINCH and the third SH3 domain of Nck-2. Furthermore, we show that Nck-2 is capable of recognizing several key components of growth factor receptor kinase-signaling pathways including EGF receptors, PDGF receptor-β, and IRS-1. The association of Nck-2 with EGF receptors was regulated by EGF stimulation and involved largely the SH2 domain of Nck-2, although the SH3 domains of Nck-2 also contributed to the complex formation. The association of Nck-2 with PDGF receptor-β was dependent on PDGF activation and was mediated solely by the SH2 domain of Nck-2. Additionally, we have detected a stable association between Nck-2 and IRS-1 that was mediated primarily via the second and third SH3 domain of Nck-2. Thus, Nck-2 associates with PINCH and components of different growth factor receptor-signaling pathways via distinct mechanisms. Finally, we provide evidence indicating that a fraction of the Nck-2 and/or Nck-1 proteins are associated with the cytoskeleton. These results identify a novel Nck-related SH2- and SH3-domain–containing protein and suggest that it may function as an adaptor protein connecting the growth factor receptor-signaling pathways with the integrin-signaling pathways. PMID:9843575

Isolation of Acetogenic Bacteria That Induce Biocorrosion by Utilizing Metallic Iron as the Sole Electron Donor

PubMed Central

Yumoto, Isao; Kamagata, Yoichi

2014-01-01

Corrosion of iron occurring under anoxic conditions, which is termed microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) or biocorrosion, is mostly caused by microbial activities. Microbial activity that enhances corrosion via uptake of electrons from metallic iron [Fe(0)] has been regarded as one of the major causative factors. In addition to sulfate-reducing bacteria and methanogenic archaea in marine environments, acetogenic bacteria in freshwater environments have recently been suggested to cause MIC under anoxic conditions. However, no microorganisms that perform acetogenesis-dependent MIC have been isolated or had their MIC-inducing mechanisms characterized. Here, we enriched and isolated acetogenic bacteria that induce iron corrosion by utilizing Fe(0) as the sole electron donor under freshwater, sulfate-free, and anoxic conditions. The enriched communities produced significantly larger amounts of Fe(II) than the abiotic controls and produced acetate coupled with Fe(0) oxidation prior to CH4 production. Microbial community analysis revealed that Sporomusa sp. and Desulfovibrio sp. dominated in the enrichments. Strain GT1, which is closely related to the acetogen Sporomusa sphaeroides, was eventually isolated from the enrichment. Strain GT1 grew acetogenetically with Fe(0) as the sole electron donor and enhanced iron corrosion, which is the first demonstration of MIC mediated by a pure culture of an acetogen. Other well-known acetogenic bacteria, including Sporomusa ovata and Acetobacterium spp., did not grow well on Fe(0). These results indicate that very few species of acetogens have specific mechanisms to efficiently utilize cathodic electrons derived from Fe(0) oxidation and induce iron corrosion. PMID:25304512

Isolation of acetogenic bacteria that induce biocorrosion by utilizing metallic iron as the sole electron donor.

PubMed

Kato, Souichiro; Yumoto, Isao; Kamagata, Yoichi

2015-01-01

Corrosion of iron occurring under anoxic conditions, which is termed microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) or biocorrosion, is mostly caused by microbial activities. Microbial activity that enhances corrosion via uptake of electrons from metallic iron [Fe(0)] has been regarded as one of the major causative factors. In addition to sulfate-reducing bacteria and methanogenic archaea in marine environments, acetogenic bacteria in freshwater environments have recently been suggested to cause MIC under anoxic conditions. However, no microorganisms that perform acetogenesis-dependent MIC have been isolated or had their MIC-inducing mechanisms characterized. Here, we enriched and isolated acetogenic bacteria that induce iron corrosion by utilizing Fe(0) as the sole electron donor under freshwater, sulfate-free, and anoxic conditions. The enriched communities produced significantly larger amounts of Fe(II) than the abiotic controls and produced acetate coupled with Fe(0) oxidation prior to CH4 production. Microbial community analysis revealed that Sporomusa sp. and Desulfovibrio sp. dominated in the enrichments. Strain GT1, which is closely related to the acetogen Sporomusa sphaeroides, was eventually isolated from the enrichment. Strain GT1 grew acetogenetically with Fe(0) as the sole electron donor and enhanced iron corrosion, which is the first demonstration of MIC mediated by a pure culture of an acetogen. Other well-known acetogenic bacteria, including Sporomusa ovata and Acetobacterium spp., did not grow well on Fe(0). These results indicate that very few species of acetogens have specific mechanisms to efficiently utilize cathodic electrons derived from Fe(0) oxidation and induce iron corrosion. Copyright © 2015, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Climate mediates hypoxic stress on fish diversity and nursery function at the land-sea interface.

PubMed

Hughes, Brent B; Levey, Matthew D; Fountain, Monique C; Carlisle, Aaron B; Chavez, Francisco P; Gleason, Mary G

2015-06-30

Coastal ecosystems provide numerous important ecological services, including maintenance of biodiversity and nursery grounds for many fish species of ecological and economic importance. However, human population growth has led to increased pollution, ocean warming, hypoxia, and habitat alteration that threaten ecosystem services. In this study, we used long-term datasets of fish abundance, water quality, and climatic factors to assess the threat of hypoxia and the regulating effects of climate on fish diversity and nursery conditions in Elkhorn Slough, a highly eutrophic estuary in central California (United States), which also serves as a biodiversity hot spot and critical nursery grounds for offshore fisheries in a broader region. We found that hypoxic conditions had strong negative effects on extent of suitable fish habitat, fish species richness, and abundance of the two most common flatfish species, English sole (Parophrys vetulus) and speckled sanddab (Citharichthys stigmaeus). The estuary serves as an important nursery ground for English sole, making this species vulnerable to anthropogenic threats. We determined that estuarine hypoxia was associated with significant declines in English sole nursery habitat, with cascading effects on recruitment to the offshore adult population and fishery, indicating that human land use activities can indirectly affect offshore fisheries. Estuarine hypoxic conditions varied spatially and temporally and were alleviated by strengthening of El Niño conditions through indirect pathways, a consistent result in most estuaries across the northeast Pacific. These results demonstrate that changes to coastal land use and climate can fundamentally alter the diversity and functioning of coastal nurseries and their adjacent ocean ecosystems.

Climate mediates hypoxic stress on fish diversity and nursery function at the land–sea interface

PubMed Central

Hughes, Brent B.; Levey, Matthew D.; Fountain, Monique C.; Carlisle, Aaron B.; Chavez, Francisco P.; Gleason, Mary G.

2015-01-01

Coastal ecosystems provide numerous important ecological services, including maintenance of biodiversity and nursery grounds for many fish species of ecological and economic importance. However, human population growth has led to increased pollution, ocean warming, hypoxia, and habitat alteration that threaten ecosystem services. In this study, we used long-term datasets of fish abundance, water quality, and climatic factors to assess the threat of hypoxia and the regulating effects of climate on fish diversity and nursery conditions in Elkhorn Slough, a highly eutrophic estuary in central California (United States), which also serves as a biodiversity hot spot and critical nursery grounds for offshore fisheries in a broader region. We found that hypoxic conditions had strong negative effects on extent of suitable fish habitat, fish species richness, and abundance of the two most common flatfish species, English sole (Parophrys vetulus) and speckled sanddab (Citharichthys stigmaeus). The estuary serves as an important nursery ground for English sole, making this species vulnerable to anthropogenic threats. We determined that estuarine hypoxia was associated with significant declines in English sole nursery habitat, with cascading effects on recruitment to the offshore adult population and fishery, indicating that human land use activities can indirectly affect offshore fisheries. Estuarine hypoxic conditions varied spatially and temporally and were alleviated by strengthening of El Niño conditions through indirect pathways, a consistent result in most estuaries across the northeast Pacific. These results demonstrate that changes to coastal land use and climate can fundamentally alter the diversity and functioning of coastal nurseries and their adjacent ocean ecosystems. PMID:26056293

Effects of shoe sole geometry on toe clearance and walking stability in older adults.

PubMed

Thies, S B; Price, C; Kenney, L P J; Baker, R

2015-07-01

Thirty-five percent of people above age 65 fall each year, and half of their falls are associated with tripping: tripping, an apparently 'mundane' everyday problem, therefore, significantly impacts on older people's health and associated medical costs. To avoid tripping and subsequent falling, sufficient toe clearance during the swing phase is crucial. We previously found that a rocker-shaped shoe sole enhances toe clearance in young adults, thereby decreasing their trip-risk. This study investigates whether such sole design also enhances older adults' toe clearance, without inadvertently affecting their walking stability. Toe clearance and its variability are reported together with measures of walking stability for twelve older adults, walking in shoes with rocker angles of 10°, 15°, and 20°. Surface inclinations (flat, incline, decline) were chosen to reflect a potential real-world environment. Toe clearance increased substantially from the 10° to the 15° rocker angle (p=0.003) without compromising measures of walking stability (p>0.05). A further increase in rocker angle to 20° resulted in less substantial enhancement of toe clearance and came at the cost of a decrease in gait speed on the decline. The novelty of this investigation lies in the exploration of the trade-off between reduction of trip-risk through footwear design and adverse effects on walking stability on real-life relevant surfaces. Our two studies suggest that the current focus on slip-resistance in footwear design may need to be generalised to include other factors that affect trip-risk. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Biologically active LIL proteins built with minimal chemical diversity

PubMed Central

Heim, Erin N.; Marston, Jez L.; Federman, Ross S.; Edwards, Anne P. B.; Karabadzhak, Alexander G.; Petti, Lisa M.; Engelman, Donald M.; DiMaio, Daniel

2015-01-01

We have constructed 26-amino acid transmembrane proteins that specifically transform cells but consist of only two different amino acids. Most proteins are long polymers of amino acids with 20 or more chemically distinct side-chains. The artificial transmembrane proteins reported here are the simplest known proteins with specific biological activity, consisting solely of an initiating methionine followed by specific sequences of leucines and isoleucines, two hydrophobic amino acids that differ only by the position of a methyl group. We designate these proteins containing leucine (L) and isoleucine (I) as LIL proteins. These proteins functionally interact with the transmembrane domain of the platelet-derived growth factor β-receptor and specifically activate the receptor to transform cells. Complete mutagenesis of these proteins identified individual amino acids required for activity, and a protein consisting solely of leucines, except for a single isoleucine at a particular position, transformed cells. These surprisingly simple proteins define the minimal chemical diversity sufficient to construct proteins with specific biological activity and change our view of what can constitute an active protein in a cellular context. PMID:26261320

Utilization of Dimethyl Sulfide as a Sulfur Source with the Aid of Light by Marinobacterium sp. Strain DMS-S1

PubMed Central

Fuse, Hiroyuki; Takimura, Osamu; Murakami, Katsuji; Yamaoka, Yukiho; Omori, Toshio

2000-01-01

Strain DMS-S1 isolated from seawater was able to utilize dimethyl sulfide (DMS) as a sulfur source only in the presence of light in a sulfur-lacking medium. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S ribosomal DNA genes indicated that the strain was closely related to Marinobacterium georgiense. The strain produced dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), which was a main metabolite, and small amounts of formate and formaldehyde when grown on DMS as the sole sulfur source. The cells of the strain grown with succinate as a carbon source were able to use methyl mercaptan or methanesulfonate besides DMS but not DMSO or dimethyl sulfone as a sole sulfur source. DMS was transformed to DMSO primarily at wavelengths between 380 and 480 nm by heat-stable photosensitizers released by the strain. DMS was also degraded to formaldehyde in the presence of light by unidentified heat-stable factors released by the strain, and it appeared that strain DMS-S1 used the degradation products, which should be sulfite, sulfate, or methanesulfonate, as sulfur sources. PMID:11097944

ROS evaluation for a series of CNTs and their derivatives using an ESR method with DMPO.

PubMed

Tsuruoka, S; Takeuchi, K; Koyama, K; Noguchi, T; Endo, M; Tristan, F; Terrones, M; Matsumoto, H; Saito, N; Usui, Y; Porter, D W; Castranova, V

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are important materials in advanced industries. It is a concern that pulmonary exposure to CNTs may induce carcinogenic responses. It has been recently reported that CNTs scavenge ROS though non-carbon fibers generate ROS. A comprehensive evaluation of ROS scavenging using various kinds of CNTs has not been demonstrated well. The present work specifically investigates ROS scavenging capabilities with a series of CNTs and their derivatives that were physically treated, and with the number of commercially available CNTs. CNT concentrations were controlled at 0.2 through 0.6 wt%. The ROS scavenging rate was measured by ESR with DMPO. Interestingly, the ROS scavenging rate was not only influenced by physical treatments, but was also dependent on individual manufacturing methods. Ratio of CNTs to DMPO/ hydrogen peroxide is a key parameter to obtain appropriate ROS quenching results for comparison of CNTs. The present results suggest that dangling bonds are not a sole factor for scavenging, and electron transfer on the CNT surface is not clearly determined to be the sole mechanism to explain ROS scavenging.

Risk factors for positive resection margins of breast cancer tumorectomy specimen following breast-conserving surgery.

PubMed

Heiss, Niko; Rousson, Valentin; Ifticene-Treboux, Assia; Lehr, Hans-Anton; Delaloye, Jean-François

2017-12-09

Background The aim of the study was to identify risk factors for positive surgical margins in breast-conserving surgery for breast cancer and to evaluate the influence of surgical experience in obtaining complete resection. Methods All lumpectomies for invasive breast carcinoma and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) between April 2008 and March 2010 were selected from the database of a single institution. Re-excision rates for positive margins as well as patient and histopathologic tumor characteristics were analyzed. Surgical experience was staged by pairs made of Resident plus Specialist or Consultant. Two periods were defined. During period A, the majority of operations were performed by Residents under supervision of Specialist or Consultant. During period B, only palpable tumors were operated by Residents. Results The global re-excision rate was 27% (50 of 183 patients). The presence of DCIS increased the risk for positive margins: 60% (nine of 15 patients) in the case of sole DCIS compared to 26% (41 of 160 patients) for invasive cancer (p = 0.005) and 35% (42 of 120 patients) in the case of peritumoral DCIS compared to 11% (seven of 62 patients) in the case of sole invasive cancer (p = 0.001). Re-excision rate decreased from 36% (23 of 64 patients) during period A to 23% (27 of 119 patients) during period B (p = 0.055). There was no significant difference between the surgical pairs. Conclusion In our study, DCIS was the only risk factor for positive surgical margins. Breast-conserving surgery for non-palpable tumors should be performed by Specialists, however, palpable tumors can be safely operated by Residents under supervision.

26 CFR 1.1033(e)-1 - Sale or exchange of livestock solely on account of drought.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... of drought. 1.1033(e)-1 Section 1.1033(e)-1 Internal Revenue INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF... § 1.1033(e)-1 Sale or exchange of livestock solely on account of drought. (a) The sale or exchange of... applicable if the sale or exchange of such livestock by the taxpayer is solely on account of drought. Section...

26 CFR 1.1033(e)-1 - Sale or exchange of livestock solely on account of drought.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... of drought. 1.1033(e)-1 Section 1.1033(e)-1 Internal Revenue INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF... § 1.1033(e)-1 Sale or exchange of livestock solely on account of drought. (a) The sale or exchange of... applicable if the sale or exchange of such livestock by the taxpayer is solely on account of drought. Section...

26 CFR 1.1033(e)-1 - Sale or exchange of livestock solely on account of drought.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... of drought. 1.1033(e)-1 Section 1.1033(e)-1 Internal Revenue INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF... § 1.1033(e)-1 Sale or exchange of livestock solely on account of drought. (a) The sale or exchange of... applicable if the sale or exchange of such livestock by the taxpayer is solely on account of drought. Section...

26 CFR 1.1033(e)-1 - Sale or exchange of livestock solely on account of drought.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... of drought. 1.1033(e)-1 Section 1.1033(e)-1 Internal Revenue INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF... § 1.1033(e)-1 Sale or exchange of livestock solely on account of drought. (a) The sale or exchange of... applicable if the sale or exchange of such livestock by the taxpayer is solely on account of drought. Section...

Subduction starts by stripping slabs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soret, Mathieu; Agard, Philippe; Dubacq, Benoît; Prigent, Cécile; Plunder, Alexis; Yamato, Philippe; Guillot, Stéphane

2017-04-01

Metamorphic soles correspond to tectonic slices welded beneath most large-scale ophiolites. These slivers of oceanic crust metamorphosed up to granulite facies conditions are interpreted as having formed during the first My of intra-oceanic subduction from heat transfer from the incipient mantle wedge towards the top of the subducting plate. Our study reappraises the formation of metamorphic sole through detailed field and petrological work on three classical key sections across the Semail ophiolite (Oman and United Arab Emirates). Geothermobarometry and thermodynamic modelling show that metamorphic soles do not record a continuous temperature gradient, as expected from simple heating by the upper plate or by shear heating and proposed by previous studies. The upper, high-temperature metamorphic sole is subdivided in at least two units, testifying to the stepwise formation, detachment and accretion of successive slices from the downgoing slab to the mylonitic base of the ophiolite. Estimated peak pressure-temperature conditions through the metamorphic sole are, from top to bottom, 850˚C - 1GPa, 725°C - 0.8 GPa and 530°C - 0.5 GPa. These estimates appear constant within each unit but separated by a gap of 100 to 200˚C and 0.2 GPa. Despite being separated by hundreds of kilometres below the Semail ophiolite and having contrasting locations with respect to the ophiolite ridge axis, metamorphic soles show no evidence for significant petrological variations along strike. These constraints allow to refine the tectonic-petrological model for the genesis of metamorphic soles, formed through the stepwise stacking of several homogeneous slivers of oceanic crust and its sedimentary cover. Metamorphic soles do not so much result from downward heat transfer (ironing effect) but rather from progressive metamorphism during strain localization and cooling of the plate interface. The successive thrusts are the result of rheological contrasts between the sole (initially at the subducting slab) and the peridotite above as the plate interface progressively cools down. These findings have implications for the thickness, the scale and the coupling state at the plate interface during the early history of subduction/obduction systems.

Identification of arsenobetaine in sole, lemon sole, flounder, dab, crab and shrimps by field desorption and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry

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

Luten, J.B.; Riekwel-Booy, G.; Greef, M.C.

1983-01-01

Organo-arsenic has been isolated from sole, lemon sole, flounder, dab, crab and shrimps by extraction or ion-exchange in combination with thin-layer chromatography. An alkaline digestion of the samples, followed by a reduction with sodiumborohydride leads to the formation of trimethylarsine. Field desorption mass spectrometry (FDMS) can be used to identify arsenobetaine in the isolates. Sufficient purification by thin-layer chromatography is found to be a prerequisite for the detection of a protonated molecular ion of arsenobetaine. If this situation is not met acid enchanced FDMS or Fast Atom Bombardment mass spectrometry in high resolution can be used successfully.

The C. elegans SoxC protein SEM-2 opposes differentiation factors to promote a proliferative blast cell fate in the postembryonic mesoderm

PubMed Central

Tian, Chenxi; Shi, Herong; Colledge, Clark; Stern, Michael; Waterston, Robert; Liu, Jun

2011-01-01

The proper development of multicellular organisms requires precise regulation and coordination of cell fate specification, cell proliferation and differentiation. Abnormal regulation and coordination of these processes could lead to disease, including cancer. We have examined the function of the sole C. elegans SoxC protein, SEM-2, in the M lineage, which produces the postembryonic mesoderm. We found that SEM-2/SoxC is both necessary and sufficient to promote a proliferating blast cell fate, the sex myoblast fate, over a differentiated striated bodywall muscle fate. A number of factors control the specific expression of sem-2 in the sex myoblast precursors and their descendants. This includes direct control of sem-2 expression by a Hox-PBC complex. The crucial nature of the HOX/PBC factors in directly enhancing expression of this proliferative factor in the C. elegans M lineage suggests a possible more general link between Hox-PBC factors and SoxC proteins in regulating cell proliferation. PMID:21307099

Dispersion of the electron g factor anisotropy in InAs/InP self-assembled quantum dots

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

Belykh, V. V., E-mail: vasilii.belykh@tu-dortmund.de; P.N. Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119991; Yakovlev, D. R.

The electron g factor in an ensemble of InAs/InP quantum dots with emission wavelengths around 1.4 μm is measured using time-resolved pump-probe Faraday rotation spectroscopy in different magnetic field orientations. Thereby, we can extend recent single dot photoluminescence measurements significantly towards lower optical transition energies through 0.86 eV. This allows us to obtain detailed insight into the dispersion of the recently discovered g factor anisotropy in these infrared emitting quantum dots. We find with decreasing transition energy over a range of 50 meV a strong enhancement of the g factor difference between magnetic field normal and along the dot growth axis, namely, frommore » 1 to 1.7. We argue that the g factor cannot be solely determined by the confinement energy, but the dot asymmetry underlying this anisotropy therefore has to increase with increasing dot size.« less

When love hurts: assessing the intersectionality of ethnicity, socio-economic status, parental connectedness, child abuse, and gender attitudes in juvenile violent delinquency.

PubMed

Lahlah, Esmah; Lens, Kim M E; Bogaerts, Stefan; van der Knaap, Leontien M

2013-11-01

Researchers have not yet reached agreement about the validity of several competing explanations that seek to explain ethnic differences in juvenile violent offending. Ethnicity cannot solely explain why boys with an ethnic minority background commit more (violent) crimes. By assessing the intersectionality of structural, cultural and individual considerations, both the independent effects as well as the interplay between different factors can be examined. This study shows that aforementioned factors cumulatively play a role in severe violent offending, with parental connectedness and child abuse having the strongest associations. However, since most variables interact and ethnicity is associated with those specific factors, a conclusion to be drawn is that ethnicity may be relevant as an additional variable predicting severe violent offending although indirectly. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Building communities that promote successful aging.

PubMed Central

Fried, L P; Freedman, M; Endres, T E; Wasik, B

1997-01-01

Despite the fact that, in a few years, a fifth of the US population will be older than 65 years and people will be living a third of their lives after retirement, we have developed few avenues that would permit older adults to play meaningful roles as they age and few institutions to harness the experience that older adults could contribute to society. In fact, older adults constitute this country's only increasing natural resource--and the least used one. In this article we consider the rationale for developing institutions that harness the abilities and time of older adults, rather than focusing solely on their needs. Such an approach would decrease the structural lag between a social concept of retirement as unproductive leisure and an aging population that is larger, healthier, and with a need for more productive opportunities. Gerontologically designed opportunities for contribution on a large social scale could well provide a national approach to primary prevention to maintain health and function in older adults. PMID:9348750

A developmental roadmap for learning by imitation in robots.

PubMed

Lopes, Manuel; Santos-Victor, José

2007-04-01

In this paper, we present a strategy whereby a robot acquires the capability to learn by imitation following a developmental pathway consisting on three levels: 1) sensory-motor coordination; 2) world interaction; and 3) imitation. With these stages, the system is able to learn tasks by imitating human demonstrators. We describe results of the different developmental stages, involving perceptual and motor skills, implemented in our humanoid robot, Baltazar. At each stage, the system's attention is drawn toward different entities: its own body and, later on, objects and people. Our main contributions are the general architecture and the implementation of all the necessary modules until imitation capabilities are eventually acquired by the robot. Also, several other contributions are made at each level: learning of sensory-motor maps for redundant robots, a novel method for learning how to grasp objects, and a framework for learning task description from observation for program-level imitation. Finally, vision is used extensively as the sole sensing modality (sometimes in a simplified setting) avoiding the need for special data-acquisition hardware.

Coordination Between the Sexes Constrains the Optimization of Reproductive Timing in Honey Bee Colonies.

PubMed

Lemanski, Natalie J; Fefferman, Nina H

2017-06-01

Honeybees are an excellent model system for examining how trade-offs shape reproductive timing in organisms with seasonal environments. Honeybee colonies reproduce two ways: producing swarms comprising a queen and thousands of workers or producing males (drones). There is an energetic trade-off between producing workers, which contribute to colony growth, and drones, which contribute only to reproduction. The timing of drone production therefore determines both the drones' likelihood of mating and when colonies reach sufficient size to swarm. Using a linear programming model, we ask when a colony should produce drones and swarms to maximize reproductive success. We find the optimal behavior for each colony is to produce all drones prior to swarming, an impossible solution on a population scale because queens and drones would never co-occur. Reproductive timing is therefore not solely determined by energetic trade-offs but by the game theoretic problem of coordinating the production of reproductives among colonies.

Global climate change and local land subsidence exacerbate inundation risk to the San Francisco Bay Area

PubMed Central

Shirzaei, Manoochehr; Bürgmann, Roland

2018-01-01

The current global projections of future sea level rise are the basis for developing inundation hazard maps. However, contributions from spatially variable coastal subsidence have generally not been considered in these projections. We use synthetic aperture radar interferometric measurements and global navigation satellite system data to show subsidence rates of less than 2 mm/year along most of the coastal areas along San Francisco Bay. However, rates exceed 10 mm/year in some areas underlain by compacting artificial landfill and Holocene mud deposits. The maps estimating 100-year inundation hazards solely based on the projection of sea level rise from various emission scenarios underestimate the area at risk of flooding by 3.7 to 90.9%, compared with revised maps that account for the contribution of local land subsidence. Given ongoing land subsidence, we project that an area of 125 to 429 km2 will be vulnerable to inundation, as opposed to 51 to 413 km2 considering sea level rise alone. PMID:29536042

Common sole in the northern and central Adriatic Sea: Spatial management scenarios to rebuild the stock

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scarcella, Giuseppe; Grati, Fabio; Raicevich, Saša; Russo, Tommaso; Gramolini, Roberto; Scott, Robert D.; Polidori, Piero; Domenichetti, Filippo; Bolognini, Luca; Giovanardi, Otello; Celić, Igor; Sabatini, Laura; Vrgoč, Nedo; Isajlović, Igor; Marčeta, Bojan; Fabi, Gianna

2014-05-01

The northern and central Adriatic Sea represents an important spawning and aggregation area for common sole (Solea solea) and provides for around 20% of the Mediterranean landings. In this area, this resource is mainly exploited with rapido trawl and set nets. The stock is not yet depleted and faces a situation of growth overfishing. The comparison between the spatial distribution by age of S. solea and the geographic patterns of the rapido trawl fishing effort evidenced an overlapping of this fishing activity with the area where juveniles concentrate (age groups 0-2). The majority of spawners inhabits specific offshore areas, here defined as ‘sole sanctuaries', where high concentrations of debris and benthic communities make difficult trawling with rapido. The aim of this study was to evaluate existing spatial management regimes and potential new spatial and temporal closures in the northern and central Adriatic Sea using a simple modelling tool. Two spatial simulations were carried out in order to verify the effectiveness of complementary methods for the management of fisheries: the ban of rapido trawling from October to December within 6 nautical miles and 9 nautical miles of the Italian coast. The focus of the simulation is that the effort of the rapido trawl is moved far from the coast during key sole recruitment periods, when the juveniles are moving from the inshore nursery area toward the offshore feeding grounds. The management scenarios showed that a change in selectivity would lead to a clear increase in the spawning stock biomass and an increase in landings of S. solea in the medium-term. The rapido trawl activity could be managed by using a different logic, bearing in mind that catches and incomes would increase with small changes in the spatial pattern of the fishing effort. The present study highlights the importance of taking into account spatial dimensions of fishing fleets and the possible interactions that can occur between fleets and target species, facilitating the development of control measures to achieve a healthy balance between stock exploitation and socio-economic factors.

Dispersive analysis of ω→3 π and ϕ→3 π decays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niecknig, Franz; Kubis, Bastian; Schneider, Sebastian P.

2012-05-01

We study the three-pion decays of the lightest isoscalar vector mesons, ω and ϕ, in a dispersive framework that allows for a consistent description of final-state interactions between all three pions. Our results are solely dependent on the phenomenological input for the pion-pion P-wave scattering phase shift. We predict the Dalitz plot distributions for both decays and compare our findings to recent measurements of the ϕ→3 π Dalitz plot by the KLOE and CMD-2 collaborations. Dalitz plot parameters for future precision measurements of ω→3 π are predicted. We also calculate the ππ P-wave inelasticity contribution from ωπ intermediate states.

Microwave focusing with uniaxially symmetric gradient index metamaterials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wheeland, Sara; Sternberg, Oren; Perez, Israel; Rockway, John D.

2016-09-01

Previous efforts to create a metamaterial lens in the microwave X band frequency range focused on the development of a device with biaxial symmetry. This allows for focusing solely along the central axis of propagation. For applications involving wave direction or energy diversion, focusing may be required off the central axis. This work explores a metamaterial device with uniaxial symmetry, namely in the direction of propagation. Ray-trace optimization and full-wave finite element simulations contribute to the design of the lens. By changing the placement of the focus, we achieve further control of the focus parameters. While the present work uses coils, the unit cell can consist of any structure or material.

Sustainability versus yield in agricultural soils under various crop production practices - a microbial perspective

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pereg, Lily; Aldorri, Sind; McMillan, Mary

2017-04-01

Wheat and cotton are important food and cash crops often grown in rotation on black, grey and red clay soil, in Australia. The common practice of nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers have been solely in the form of agrochemicals, however, a few growers have incorporated manure or composted plant material into the soil before planting. While the cotton yield in studied farms was comparable, we found that the use of such organic amendments significantly enhanced the pool of nitrogen cycling genes, suggesting increased potential of soil microbial function as well as increased microbial metabolic diversity and abundance. Therefore, the regular use of organic amendments contributed to improved soil sustainability.

Implicit measurement of the latent heat in a magnetocaloric NiMnIn Heusler alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghahremani, Mohammadreza; ElBidweihy, Hatem; Bennett, Lawrence H.; Della Torre, Edward; Zou, Min; Johnson, Francis

2013-05-01

The latent heat linked with the first-order transformation of a NiMnIn Heusler alloy has been studied through direct measurements of the adiabatic temperature change, ΔTad, during magnetization process. The experimental procedure used guarantees independent data points and negates any contribution of hysteretic losses to the magnetocaloric effect. Thus, the differences between the magnitudes of ΔTad measurements during the magnetization with the initial temperature change directions from low-to-high and high-to-low are solely attributed to the latent heat exchange, which accompanies the irreversible structural first-order transformation. An estimate of the latent heat inducing such differences is about 0.292 J/g.

Low-angle faulting in strike-slip dominated settings: Seismic evidence from the Maritimes Basin, Canada

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pinet, Nicolas; Dietrich, Jim; Duchesne, Mathieu J.; Hinds, Steve J.; Brake, Virginia

2018-07-01

The Maritimes Basin is an upper Paleozoic sedimentary basin centered in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (Canada). Early phases of basin formation included the development of partly connected sub-basins bounded by high-angle faults, in an overall strike-slip setting. Interpretation of reprocessed seismic reflection data indicates that a low-angle detachment contributed to the formation of a highly asymmetric sub-basin. This detachment was rotated toward a lower angle and succeeded by high-angle faults that sole into the detachment or cut it. This model bears similarities to other highly extended terranes and appears to be applicable to strike-slip and/or transtensional settings.

Keratins K2 and K10 are essential for the epidermal integrity of plantar skin.

PubMed

Fischer, Heinz; Langbein, Lutz; Reichelt, Julia; Buchberger, Maria; Tschachler, Erwin; Eckhart, Leopold

2016-01-01

K1 and K2 are the main type II keratins in the suprabasal epidermis where each of them heterodimerizes with the type I keratin K10 to form intermediate filaments. In regions of the ears, tail, and soles of the mouse, only K2 is co-expressed with K10, suggesting that these keratins suffice to form a mechanically resilient cytoskeleton. To determine the effects of the suppression of both main keratins, K2 and K10, in the suprabasal plantar epidermis of the mouse. Krt2(-/-) Krt10(-/-) mice were generated by crossing Krt2(-/-) and Krt10(-/-) mice. Epidermal morphology of soles of hind-paws was examined macroscopically and histologically. Immunofluorescence analysis and quantitative PCR analysis were performed to analyze the expression of keratins in sole skin of wildtype and Krt2(-/-) Krt10(-/-) mice. Highly abundant proteins of the sole stratum corneum were determined by electrophoretic and chromatographic separation and subsequent mass spectrometry. K2 and K10 are the most prominent suprabasal keratins in normal mouse soles with the exception of the footpads where K1, K9 and K10 predominate. Mice lacking both K2 and K10 were viable and developed epidermal acanthosis and hyperkeratosis in inter-footpad epidermis of the soles. The expression of keratins K1, K9 and K16 was massively increased at the RNA and protein levels in the soles of Krt2(-/-) Krt10(-/-) mice. This study demonstrates that the loss of the main cytoskeletal components of plantar epidermis, i.e. K2 and K10, can be only partly compensated by the upregulation of other keratins. The thickening of the epidermis in the soles of Krt2(-/-) Krt10(-/-) mice may serve as a model for pathomechanistic aspects of palmoplantar keratoderma. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Percentage-based Author Contribution Index: a universal measure of author contribution to scientific articles.

PubMed

Boyer, Stéphane; Ikeda, Takayoshi; Lefort, Marie-Caroline; Malumbres-Olarte, Jagoba; Schmidt, Jason M

2017-01-01

Deciphering the amount of work provided by different co-authors of a scientific paper has been a recurrent problem in science. Despite the myriad of metrics available, the scientific community still largely relies on the position in the list of authors to evaluate contributions, a metric that attributes subjective and unfounded credit to co-authors. We propose an easy to apply, universally comparable and fair metric to measure and report co-authors contribution in the scientific literature. The proposed Author Contribution Index (ACI) is based on contribution percentages provided by the authors, preferably at the time of submission. Researchers can use ACI to compare the contributions of different authors, describe the contribution profile of a particular researcher or analyse how contribution changes through time. We provide such an analysis based on contribution percentages provided by 97 scientists from the field of ecology who voluntarily responded to an online anonymous survey. ACI is simple to understand and to implement because it is based solely on percentage contributions and the number of co-authors. It provides a continuous score that reflects the contribution of one author as compared to the average contribution of all other authors. For example, ACI(i) = 3, means that author i contributed three times more than what the other authors contributed on average. Our analysis comprised 836 papers published in 2014-2016 and revealed patterns of ACI values that relate to career advancement. There are many examples of author contribution indices that have been proposed but none has really been adopted by scientific journals. Many of the proposed solutions are either too complicated, not accurate enough or not comparable across articles, authors and disciplines. The author contribution index presented here addresses these three major issues and has the potential to contribute to more transparency in the science literature. If adopted by scientific journals, it could provide job seekers, recruiters and evaluating bodies with a tool to gather information that is essential to them and cannot be easily and accurately obtained otherwise. We also suggest that scientists use the index regardless of whether it is implemented by journals or not.

Contribution factor of wood properties of three poplar clones to strength of laminated veneer lumber

Treesearch

Fucheng Bao; Feng Fu; Elvin Choong; Chung-Yun Hse

2001-01-01

The term "Contribution Factor" (c.) was introduced in this paper to indicate the contribution ratio of solid wood properties to laminated veneer lumber (LVL) strength. Three poplar (Populus sp.) clones were studied, and the results showed that poplar with good solid wood properties has high Contribution Factor. The average Contribution...

Association of digital cushion thickness with sole temperature measured with the use of infrared thermography.

PubMed

Oikonomou, G; Trojacanec, P; Ganda, E K; Bicalho, M L S; Bicalho, R C

2014-07-01

The main objective of this study was to investigate the association between digital cushion thickness and sole temperature measured by infrared thermography. Data were collected from 216 lactating Holstein cows at 4 to 10d in milk (DIM). Cows were locomotion scored and sole temperature was measured after claw trimming (a minimum delay of 3 min was allowed for the hoof to cool) using an infrared thermography camera. Temperature was measured at the typical ulcer site of the lateral digit of the left hind foot. Immediately after the thermographic image was obtained, the thickness of the digital cushion was measured by ultrasonography. Rumen fluid samples were collected with a stomach tube and sample pH was measured immediately after collection. Additionally, a blood sample was obtained and used for measurements of serum concentrations of β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), and haptoglobin. To evaluate the associations of digital cushion thickness with sole temperature, a linear regression model was built using the GLIMMIX procedure in SAS software (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). Sole temperature was the response variable, and digital cushion thickness quartiles, locomotion score group, rumen fluid pH, rumen fluid sample volume, environmental temperature, age in days, and serum levels of NEFA, BHBA, and haptoglobin were fitted in the model. Only significant variables were retained in the final model. Simple linear regression scatter plots were used to illustrate associations between sole temperature (measured by infrared thermography at the typical ulcer site) and environmental temperature and between NEFA and BHBA serum levels and haptoglobin. One-way ANOVA was used to compare rumen fluid pH for different locomotion score groups and for different digital cushion quartiles. Results from the multivariable linear regression model showed that sole temperature increased as locomotion scores increased and decreased as digital cushion thickness increased. These results were adjusted for environmental temperature, which was significantly associated with sole temperature. Serum levels of NEFA, BHBA, and haptoglobin were not associated with sole temperature. However, significant correlations existed between serum levels of NEFA and haptoglobin and between serum levels of BHBA and haptoglobin. Rumen fluid pH was not associated with either locomotion score or digital cushion thickness. In conclusion, we show here that digital cushion thickness was associated with sole temperature in cows at 4 to 10 DIM. Copyright © 2014 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A fungal transcription factor essential for starch degradation affects integration of carbon and nitrogen metabolism

DOE PAGES

Xiong, Yi; Wu, Vincent W.; Lubbe, Andrea; ...

2017-05-03

In Neurospora crassa, the transcription factor COL-26 functions as a regulator of glucose signaling and metabolism. Its loss leads to resistance to carbon catabolite repression. Here, we report that COL-26 is necessary for the expression of amylolytic genes in N. crassa and is required for the utilization of maltose and starch. Additionally, the Δcol-26 mutant shows growth defects on preferred carbon sources, such as glucose, an effect that was alleviated if glutamine replaced ammonium as the primary nitrogen source. This rescue did not occur when maltose was used as a sole carbon source. Transcriptome and metabolic analyses of the Δcol-26more » mutant relative to its wild type parental strain revealed that amino acid and nitrogen metabolism, the TCA cycle and GABA shunt were adversely affected. Phylogenetic analysis showed a single col-26 homolog in Sordariales, Ophilostomatales, and the Magnaporthales, but an expanded number of col-26 homologs in other filamentous fungal species. Deletion of the closest homolog of col-26 in Trichoderma reesei, bglR, resulted in a mutant with similar preferred carbon source growth deficiency, and which was alleviated if glutamine was the sole nitrogen source, suggesting conservation of COL-26 and BglR function. Our finding provides novel insight into the role of COL-26 for utilization of starch and in integrating carbon and nitrogen metabolism for balanced metabolic activities for optimal carbon and nitrogen distribution.« less

A fungal transcription factor essential for starch degradation affects integration of carbon and nitrogen metabolism

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

Xiong, Yi; Wu, Vincent W.; Lubbe, Andrea

In Neurospora crassa, the transcription factor COL-26 functions as a regulator of glucose signaling and metabolism. Its loss leads to resistance to carbon catabolite repression. Here, we report that COL-26 is necessary for the expression of amylolytic genes in N. crassa and is required for the utilization of maltose and starch. Additionally, the Δcol-26 mutant shows growth defects on preferred carbon sources, such as glucose, an effect that was alleviated if glutamine replaced ammonium as the primary nitrogen source. This rescue did not occur when maltose was used as a sole carbon source. Transcriptome and metabolic analyses of the Δcol-26more » mutant relative to its wild type parental strain revealed that amino acid and nitrogen metabolism, the TCA cycle and GABA shunt were adversely affected. Phylogenetic analysis showed a single col-26 homolog in Sordariales, Ophilostomatales, and the Magnaporthales, but an expanded number of col-26 homologs in other filamentous fungal species. Deletion of the closest homolog of col-26 in Trichoderma reesei, bglR, resulted in a mutant with similar preferred carbon source growth deficiency, and which was alleviated if glutamine was the sole nitrogen source, suggesting conservation of COL-26 and BglR function. Our finding provides novel insight into the role of COL-26 for utilization of starch and in integrating carbon and nitrogen metabolism for balanced metabolic activities for optimal carbon and nitrogen distribution.« less

A fungal transcription factor essential for starch degradation affects integration of carbon and nitrogen metabolism

PubMed Central

Xiong, Yi; Qin, Lina; Kennedy, Megan; Bauer, Diane; Barry, Kerrie; Northen, Trent R.; Grigoriev, Igor V.

2017-01-01

In Neurospora crassa, the transcription factor COL-26 functions as a regulator of glucose signaling and metabolism. Its loss leads to resistance to carbon catabolite repression. Here, we report that COL-26 is necessary for the expression of amylolytic genes in N. crassa and is required for the utilization of maltose and starch. Additionally, the Δcol-26 mutant shows growth defects on preferred carbon sources, such as glucose, an effect that was alleviated if glutamine replaced ammonium as the primary nitrogen source. This rescue did not occur when maltose was used as a sole carbon source. Transcriptome and metabolic analyses of the Δcol-26 mutant relative to its wild type parental strain revealed that amino acid and nitrogen metabolism, the TCA cycle and GABA shunt were adversely affected. Phylogenetic analysis showed a single col-26 homolog in Sordariales, Ophilostomatales, and the Magnaporthales, but an expanded number of col-26 homologs in other filamentous fungal species. Deletion of the closest homolog of col-26 in Trichoderma reesei, bglR, resulted in a mutant with similar preferred carbon source growth deficiency, and which was alleviated if glutamine was the sole nitrogen source, suggesting conservation of COL-26 and BglR function. Our finding provides novel insight into the role of COL-26 for utilization of starch and in integrating carbon and nitrogen metabolism for balanced metabolic activities for optimal carbon and nitrogen distribution. PMID:28467421

Dissecting the role of NtrC and RpoN in the expression of assimilatory nitrate and nitrite reductases in Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens.

PubMed

López, María F; Cabrera, Juan J; Salas, Ana; Delgado, María J; López-García, Silvina L

2017-04-01

Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens, a nitrogen-fixing endosymbiont of soybeans, is a model strain for studying rhizobial denitrification. This bacterium can also use nitrate as the sole nitrogen (N) source during aerobic growth by inducing an assimilatory nitrate reductase encoded by nasC located within the narK-bjgb-flp-nasC operon along with a nitrite reductase encoded by nirA at a different chromosomal locus. The global nitrogen two-component regulatory system NtrBC has been reported to coordinate the expression of key enzymes in nitrogen metabolism in several bacteria. In this study, we demonstrate that disruption of ntrC caused a growth defect in B. diazoefficiens cells in the presence of nitrate or nitrite as the sole N source and a decreased activity of the nitrate and nitrite reductase enzymes. Furthermore, the expression of narK-lacZ or nirA-lacZ transcriptional fusions was significantly reduced in the ntrC mutant after incubation under nitrate assimilation conditions. A B. diazoefficiens rpoN 1/2 mutant, lacking both copies of the gene encoding the alternative sigma factor σ 54 , was also defective in aerobic growth with nitrate as the N source as well as in nitrate and nitrite reductase expression. These results demonstrate that the NtrC regulator is required for expression of the B. diazoefficiens nasC and nirA genes and that the sigma factor RpoN is also involved in this regulation.

Ectotherm thermal stress and specialization across altitude and latitude.

PubMed

Buckley, Lauren B; Miller, Ethan F; Kingsolver, Joel G

2013-10-01

Gradients of air temperature, radiation, and other climatic factors change systematically but differently with altitude and latitude. We explore how these factors combine to produce altitudinal and latitudinal patterns of body temperature, thermal stress, and seasonal overlap that differ markedly from patterns based solely on air temperature. We use biophysical models to estimate body temperature as a function of an organism's phenotype and environmental conditions (air and surface temperatures and radiation). Using grasshoppers as a case study, we compare mean body temperatures and the incidence of thermal extremes along altitudinal gradients both under past and current climates. Organisms at high elevation can experience frequent thermal stress despite generally cooler air temperatures due to high levels of solar radiation. Incidences of thermal stress have increased more rapidly than have increases in mean conditions due to recent climate change. Increases in air temperature have coincided with shifts in cloudiness and solar radiation, which can exacerbate shifts in body temperature. We compare altitudinal thermal gradients and their seasonality between tropical and temperate mountains to ask whether mountain passes pose a greater physiological barrier in the tropics (Janzen's hypothesis). We find that considering body temperature rather than air temperature generally increases the amount of overlap in thermal conditions along gradients in elevation and thus decreases the physiological barrier posed by tropical mountains. Our analysis highlights the limitations of predicting thermal stress based solely on air temperatures, and the importance of considering how phenotypes influence body temperatures.

Gene expression profiles associated with lymphocystis disease virus (LCDV) in experimentally infected Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis).

PubMed

Carballo, Carlos; Castro, Dolores; Borrego, Juan J; Manchado, Manuel

2017-07-01

In the present study, the pathogenesis of lymphocystis disease virus (LCDV) and the immune gene expression patterns associated with this viral infection were determined in the flatfish Senegalese sole. The results indicate that LCDV spreads rapidly from the peritoneal cavity through the bloodstream to reach target organs such as kidney, gut, liver, and skin/fin. The viral load was highest in kidney and reduced progressively thorough the experiment in spite of the viral major capsid protein gene was transcribed. The LCDV injection activated a similar set of differentially expressed transcripts in kidney and intestine although with some differences in the intensity and time-course response. This set included antiviral-related transcripts (including the mx and interferon-related factors irf1, irf2, irf3, irf7, irf8, irf9, irf10), cytokines (il1b, il6, il8, il12 and tnfa) and their receptors (il1r, il8r, il10r, il15ra, il17r), chemokines (CXC-type, CC-type and IL-8), prostaglandins (cox-2), g-type lysozymes, hepcidin, complement fractions (c2, c4-1 and c4-2) and the antigen differentiation factors cd4, cd8a, and cd8b. The expression profile observed indicated that the host triggered a systemic defensive response including inflammation able to cope with the viral challenge. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Work ability of health care shift workers: What matters?

PubMed

Fischer, Frida Marina; Borges, Flavio Notarnicola da Silva; Rotenberg, Lucia; Latorre, Maria do Rosario Dias de Oliveira; Soares, Nilson Santos; Rosa, Patricia Lima Ferreira Santa; Teixeira, Liliane Reis; Nagai, Roberta; Steluti, Josiane; Landsbergis, Paul

2006-01-01

This paper aims at identifying variables associated with inadequate work ability among nursing personnel at a public hospital, considering factors related to socio-demographic, lifestyles, working conditions, and health outcomes. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a university hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, as part of a larger research study on tolerance to 12 h night work. Nursing staff included registered nurses, nurse technicians, and nurse aides; in total, there were 996 healthcare workers (878 female; 118 male) at the time of the study. Some 696 workers (69.9%) of the population agreed to participate. Data collection (October 2004-July 2005) was based on a comprehensive questionnaire about living and working conditions (including incivility at work, work demands, work control, and support), mental and physical health symptoms (fatigue and sleep problems), and work ability. This report presents analyses of the adapted Brazilian version of the Work Ability Index (WAI) and associated variables. The study population worked one of the following shift schedules at this hospital: 12 h nights followed by 36 h off or 9 h or 6 h day (morning or afternoon) shifts. The mean age of the respondents was 34.9 (S.D.+/-10.4) years of age; 31.5% of the participants held two jobs. Statistical analyses using a hierarchical multiple logistic regression model were performed to evaluate the factors associated with inadequate (moderate and low scores) of the WAI. The significantly associated factors were socio-demographic (income responsibility, sole breadwinner, raising kids, age group), working conditions (thermal discomfort, organization of the workplace, and verbal abuse), and health outcomes (high body mass index, obesity, sleep problems, and fatigue). In spite of limitations of the study design, results indicate that the nursing profession is associated with stressful working conditions, contributing to inadequate WAI. This is in addition to bad living conditions and precarious work. Intervention measures, either at the workplace or at individual levels, are necessary to prevent a decrease in work ability, even in this quite young working population.

Triple dissociation of duration perception regulating mechanisms: Top-down attention is inherent.

PubMed

Lin, Yong-Jun; Shimojo, Shinsuke

2017-01-01

The brain constantly adjusts perceived duration based on the recent event history. One such lab phenomenon is subjective time expansion induced in an oddball paradigm ("oddball chronostasis"), where the duration of a distinct item (oddball) appears subjectively longer when embedded in a series of other repeated items (standards). Three hypotheses have been separately proposed but it remains unresolved which or all of them are true: 1) attention prolongs oddball duration, 2) repetition suppression reduces standards duration, and 3) accumulative temporal preparation (anticipation) expedites the perceived item onset so as to lengthen its duration. We thus conducted critical systematic experiments to dissociate the relative contribution of all hypotheses, by orthogonally manipulating sequences types (repeated, ordered, or random) and target serial positions. Participants' task was to judge whether a target lasts shorter or longer than its reference. The main finding was that a random item sequence still elicited significant chronostasis even though each item was odd. That is, simply being a target draws top-down attention and induces chronostasis. In Experiments 1 (digits) and 2 (orientations), top-down attention explained about half of the effect while saliency/adaptation explained the other half. Additionally, for non-repeated (ordered and random) sequence types, a target with later serial position still elicited stronger chronostasis, favoring a temporal preparation over a repetition suppression account. By contrast, in Experiment 3 (colors), top-down attention was likely the sole factor. Consequently, top-down attention is necessary and sometimes sufficient to explain oddball chronostasis; saliency/adaptation and temporal preparation are contingent factors. These critical boundary conditions revealed in our study serve as quantitative constraints for neural models of duration perception.

Postdischarge Cause-of-Death Analysis of Combat-Related Burn Patients

PubMed Central

Escolas, Sandra M.; Orman, Jean A.; Chung, Kevin K.; Renz, Evan M.

2017-01-01

Combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have resulted in up to 8.8% of combat-related casualties suffering burns. From World War I through Desert Storm, burns have been associated with approximately 4% of the combat-related deaths. Experiencing a blast injury and exposure to killing and death while deployed has been shown to increase suicide risk. Although several studies of military populations have investigated risk factors for death among burn patients during the acute phase, no studies have reported mortality rates, cause-of-death, or the prevalence of suicide after hospital discharge. This study examined the case fatality rate, causes of death, and the prevalence of suicide among 830 combat burn patients discharged from the sole burn center in the U.S. Department of Defense, between March 7, 2003 and March 6, 2013. Cause-of-death was determined through the Armed Forces Medical Examiner’s Office and the Office of the Secretary of Defense’s National Death Index. A total of 11 deaths occurred among the 830 burn survivors, for an overall case fatality rate of 1.3%. Of the 11 who died, five deaths were related to accidental poisoning by exposure to drugs; three were related to operations of war (two after returning to the war zone), and the remaining three died from other accidental causes (one explosion and two vehicle crashes). There was no indication of suicide or suspicion of suicide as a cause-of-death for the former patients included in this study, suggesting that combat burn injury did not appear to increase the risk of death by suicide in our study population. Further research is needed to understand the factors that contribute to the apparent resilience of combat burn survivors. PMID:26629656

A district-based audit of the causes and circumstances of maternal deaths in South Kalimantan, Indonesia.

PubMed Central

Supratikto, Gunawan; Wirth, Meg E.; Achadi, Endang; Cohen, Surekha; Ronsmans, Carine

2002-01-01

A district-based audit of maternal and perinatal mortality began during 1994 in three provinces of South Kalimantan, Indonesia. Both medical and non-medical factors were documented and an effort was made to progress from merely assessing substandard care to recommending improvements in access to care and the quality of care. Extensive discussions of cases of maternal death were held during regular meetings with providers, policy-makers and community members. The sources of information included verbal autopsies with family members and medical records. Between 1995 and 1999 the audit reviewed 130 maternal deaths. The leading causes of death were haemorrhage (41%) and hypertensive diseases (32%). Delays in decision-making and poor quality of care in health facilities were seen as contributory factors in 77% and 60% of the deaths, respectively. Economic constraints were believed to have contributed to 37% of the deaths. The distance between a patient's home and a health provider or facility did not appear to have a significant influence, nor did transport problems. The audit led to changes in the quality of obstetric care in the district. Its success was particularly attributable to the process of accountability of both health providers and policy-makers and to improved working relationships between health providers at different levels and between providers and the community. With a view to the continuation and further expansion of the audit it may be necessary to reconsider the role of the provincial team, the need of health providers for confidentiality, the added benefit of facility-based audits, the need to incorporate scientific evidence into the review process, and the possible consideration of severe complications as well as deaths. It may also be necessary to recognize that village midwives are not solely responsible for maternal deaths. PMID:11984609

To pair or not to pair: Sources of social variability with white-faced saki monkeys (Pithecia pithecia) as a case study.

PubMed

Thompson, Cynthia L

2016-05-01

Intraspecific variability in social systems is gaining increased recognition in primatology. Many primate species display variability in pair-living social organizations through incorporating extra adults into the group. While numerous models exist to explain primate pair-living, our tools to assess how and why variation in this trait occurs are currently limited. Here I outline an approach which: (i) utilizes conceptual models to identify the selective forces driving pair-living; (ii) outlines novel possible causes for variability in social organization; and (iii) conducts a holistic species-level analysis of social behavior to determine the factors contributing to variation in pair-living. A case study on white-faced sakis (Pithecia pithecia) is used to exemplify this approach. This species lives in either male-female pairs or groups incorporating "extra" adult males and/or females. Various conceptual models of pair-living suggest that high same-sex aggression toward extra-group individuals is a key component of the white-faced saki social system. Variable pair-living in white-faced sakis likely represents alternative strategies to achieve competency in this competition, in which animals experience conflicting selection pressures between achieving successful group defense and maintaining sole reproductive access to mates. Additionally, independent decisions by individuals may generate social variation by preventing other animals from adopting a social organization that maximizes fitness. White-faced saki inter-individual relationships and demographic patterns also lend conciliatory support to this conclusion. By utilizing both model-level and species-level approaches, with a consideration for potential sources of variation, researchers can gain insight into the factors generating variation in pair-living social organizations. © 2014 The Authors. American Journal of Primatology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Brain Insulin Resistance and Deficiency as Therapeutic Targets in Alzheimer's Disease

PubMed Central

de la Monte, Suzanne M

2012-01-01

Alzheimer's disease [AD] is the most common cause of dementia in North America. Despite 30+ years of intense investigation, the field lacks consensus regarding the etiology and pathogenesis of sporadic AD, and therefore we still do not know the best strategies for treating and preventing this debilitating and costly disease. However, growing evidence supports the concept that AD is fundamentally a metabolic disease with substantial and progressive derangements in brain glucose utilization and responsiveness to insulin and insulin-like growth factor [IGF] stimulation. Moreover, AD is now recognized to be heterogeneous in nature, and not solely the end-product of aberrantly processed, misfolded, and aggregated oligomeric amyloid-beta peptides and hyperphosphorylated tau. Other factors, including impairments in energy metabolism, increased oxidative stress, inflammation, insulin and IGF resistance, and insulin/IGF deficiency in the brain should be incorporated into all equations used to develop diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to AD. Herein, the contributions of impaired insulin and IGF signaling to AD-associated neuronal loss, synaptic disconnection, tau hyperphosphorylation, amyloid-beta accumulation, and impaired energy metabolism are reviewed. In addition, we discuss current therapeutic strategies and suggest additional approaches based on the hypothesis that AD is principally a metabolic disease similar to diabetes mellitus. Ultimately, our ability to effectively detect, monitor, treat, and prevent AD will require more efficient, accurate and integrative diagnostic tools that utilize clinical, neuroimaging, biochemical, and molecular biomarker data. Finally, it is imperative that future therapeutic strategies for AD abandon the concept of uni-modal therapy in favor of multi-modal treatments that target distinct impairments at different levels within the brain insulin/IGF signaling cascades. PMID:22329651

Nitrobenzodiazepines: Postmortem brain and blood reference concentrations.

PubMed

Skov, Louise; Holm, Karen Marie Dollerup; Linnet, Kristian

2016-11-01

Reference concentrations are needed to evaluate postmortem toxicology results and usually femoral blood is the specimen of choice. However, brain tissue has been suggested as a viable alternative specimen, since postmortem blood concentrations can be difficult to interpret due to postmortem redistribution, among other factors. Here we present reference concentrations of postmortem brain and femoral blood of the nitrobenzodiazepines clonazepam, flunitrazepam, and nitrazepam that are of particular interest since they commonly are converted to their corresponding 7-aminometabolites in the postmortem situation. The drugs and metabolites were quantified in both matrices using LC-MS-MS in 69 cases. In 63 cases the compounds were judged not to have been of significance for the death (C cases), whereas they were considered to have been a contributing factor in 6 cases (B cases). No cases were observed with a nitrobenzodiazepine being the sole cause of death (A cases). The brain-blood ratios for clonazepam and nitrazepam were 5.5 and 4.7, respectively, while the brain-blood ratios for the 7-aminometabolites ranged from 0.4 to 0.5. Flunitrazepam only occurred as the 7-aminometabolite. A positive correlation between brain and blood concentrations was found with Spearman's rank correlation coefficients (r s ) ranging from 0.77 to 0.96. The measured femoral blood concentrations agree with literature values, but only few brain concentrations were available for comparison. The drug-metabolite ratios for clonazepam and nitrazepam were 10-12 times higher in brain than in blood. The pre-analytical variation in brain of 5.9% was fairly low, suggesting that brain tissue is a useful alternative to blood. The reported brain and femoral blood concentrations serve as reference values in postmortem investigations. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Changes in Cirrus Cloudiness and their Relationship to Contrails

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Minnis, Patrick; Ayers, J. Kirk; Palikonda, Rabindra; Doelling, David R.; Schumann, Ulrich; Gierens, Klaus

2001-01-01

Condensation trails, or contrails, formed in the wake of high-altitude aircraft have long been suspected of causing the formation of additional cirrus cloud cover. More cirrus is possible because 10 - 20% of the atmosphere at typical commercial flight altitudes is clear but ice-saturated. Since they can affect the radiation budget like natural cirrus clouds of equivalent optical depth and microphysical properties, contrail -generated cirrus clouds are another potential source of anthropogenic influence on climate. Initial estimates of contrail radiative forcing (CRF) were based on linear contrail coverage and optical depths derived from a limited number of satellite observations. Assuming that such estimates are accurate, they can be considered as the minimum possible CRF because contrails often develop into cirrus clouds unrecognizable as contrails. These anthropogenic cirrus are not likely to be identified as contrails from satellites and would, therefore, not contribute to estimates of contrail coverage. The mean lifetime and coverage of spreading contrails relative to linear contrails are needed to fully assess the climatic effect of contrails, but are difficult to measure directly. However, the maximum possible impact can be estimated using the relative trends in cirrus coverage over regions with and without air traffic. In this paper, the upper bound of CRF is derived by first computing the change in cirrus coverage over areas with heavy air traffic relative to that over the remainder of the globe assuming that the difference between the two trends is due solely to contrails. This difference is normalized to the corresponding linear contrail coverage for the same regions to obtain an average spreading factor. The maximum contrail-cirrus coverage, estimated as the product of the spreading factor and the linear contrail coverage, is then used in the radiative model to estimate the maximum potential CRF for current air traffic.

A district-based audit of the causes and circumstances of maternal deaths in South Kalimantan, Indonesia.

PubMed

Supratikto, Gunawan; Wirth, Meg E; Achadi, Endang; Cohen, Surekha; Ronsmans, Carine

2002-01-01

A district-based audit of maternal and perinatal mortality began during 1994 in three provinces of South Kalimantan, Indonesia. Both medical and non-medical factors were documented and an effort was made to progress from merely assessing substandard care to recommending improvements in access to care and the quality of care. Extensive discussions of cases of maternal death were held during regular meetings with providers, policy-makers and community members. The sources of information included verbal autopsies with family members and medical records. Between 1995 and 1999 the audit reviewed 130 maternal deaths. The leading causes of death were haemorrhage (41%) and hypertensive diseases (32%). Delays in decision-making and poor quality of care in health facilities were seen as contributory factors in 77% and 60% of the deaths, respectively. Economic constraints were believed to have contributed to 37% of the deaths. The distance between a patient's home and a health provider or facility did not appear to have a significant influence, nor did transport problems. The audit led to changes in the quality of obstetric care in the district. Its success was particularly attributable to the process of accountability of both health providers and policy-makers and to improved working relationships between health providers at different levels and between providers and the community. With a view to the continuation and further expansion of the audit it may be necessary to reconsider the role of the provincial team, the need of health providers for confidentiality, the added benefit of facility-based audits, the need to incorporate scientific evidence into the review process, and the possible consideration of severe complications as well as deaths. It may also be necessary to recognize that village midwives are not solely responsible for maternal deaths.

COPD and squamous cell lung cancer: aberrant inflammation and immunity is the common link.

PubMed

Bozinovski, Steven; Vlahos, Ross; Anthony, Desiree; McQualter, Jonathan; Anderson, Gary; Irving, Louis; Steinfort, Daniel

2016-02-01

Cigarette smoking has reached epidemic proportions within many regions of the world and remains the highest risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. Squamous cell lung cancer is commonly detected in heavy smokers, where the risk of developing lung cancer is not solely defined by tobacco consumption. Although therapies that target common driver mutations in adenocarcinomas are showing some promise, they are proving ineffective in smoking-related squamous cell lung cancer. Since COPD is characterized by an excessive inflammatory and oxidative stress response, this review details how aberrant innate, adaptive and systemic inflammatory processes can contribute to lung cancer susceptibility in COPD. Activated leukocytes release increasing levels of proteases and free radicals as COPD progresses and tertiary lymphoid aggregates accumulate with increasing severity. Reactive oxygen species promote formation of reactive carbonyls that are not only tumourigenic through initiating DNA damage, but can directly alter the function of regulatory proteins involved in host immunity and tumour suppressor functions. Systemic inflammation is also markedly increased during infective exacerbations in COPD and the interplay between tumour-promoting serum amyloid A (SAA) and IL-17A is discussed. SAA is also an endogenous allosteric modifier of FPR2 expressed on immune and epithelial cells, and the therapeutic potential of targeting this receptor is proposed as a novel strategy for COPD-lung cancer overlap. © 2015 The British Pharmacological Society.

Ethics and fraud in science: a review of scientific misconduct and applications to craniofacial research.

PubMed

Eliades, Theodore; Athanasiou, Athanasios E; Papadopulos, Jannis S

2005-01-01

The purpose of this article is to review and discuss the occurrence of fraud in biomedical research and analyze the definition, origin, and various forms of scientific misconduct. Fraud in research most often involves reporting data for which no records of experiment or population are present; manipulating research materials, equipment, or procedures to arrive at the desirable result; adding, changing, or omitting results, which positively or negatively relate to the hypothesis that the research intends to test; and incorporating ideas, statements, procedures of others' work without permission and appropriate credit to the source. The etiologic factors contributing to this deviant behavior, and measures taken by relevant bodies to eliminate this phenomenon are discussed. Ethical and integrity aspects of craniofacial research are explored and a set of criteria to facilitate rigorous assessment of the integrity of clinical and basic research protocols is proposed. These include (1) an integrity-focused training of researchers to adhere to specific laboratory procedure and tactics which discourage fraud; (2) appointment of external reviewers to detect unusual and suspicious experimental process or data patterns; and (3) encouragement of multicenter trials. Although it is widely recognized that the sole determinant of scientific misconduct is the individual investigator's integrity, a number of precautions may effectively reduce the prevalence of this event, which may affect the status and trends of biomedical research in general.