ETV REPORT - PHYSICAL REMOVAL OF CRYPTOSPORIDIUM OOCYSTS AND GIARDIA CYSTS IN DRINKING WATER, LEOPOLD MEMBRANE SYSTEMS ULTRABAR ULTRAFILTRATION SYSTEM WITH 60 INCH MARK III ELEMENT AT PITTSBURG, PA - NSF/00/10/EPADW395

EPA Science Inventory

Verification testing of the Leopold Ultrabar Mark III Ultrafiltration Systems was conducted from February 3-March9, 1999. The performance claim evaluated during field testing of the Leopold Ultrabar Mark III Ultrafiltration system was that the system is capable of a minimum 3 log...

Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in people of Asian Indian origin: outcomes by definitions.

PubMed

Das, M; Pal, S; Ghosh, A

2011-01-01

The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MS) is high among south Asian Indians. In order to better comprehend the MS, its definition and modifications require region-specific cut-off values and common minimum criteria for people of Indian origin. To define the MS, the criteria as defined in the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP): expert panel on detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood cholesterol in adults (Adult Treatment Panel III) (ATP III 2001), followed by the modified ATP III of 2005 were used, along with a modified version specific to the people of south Asian origin (ATP III SAS, 2009). The three definitions showed differences in prevalence of the MS among the adult Asian Indians. According to the criteria of NCEP ATP III 2001, the prevalence was found to be 32.3%. Using the modified ATP III 2005, the prevalence was 48.3%, and for south Asian-specific (SAS) ATP III, it was 31.4%. For all three definitions, females had a considerably higher prevalence of the MS than males. It was also observed that that a large number of individuals were misclassified due to lack of common minimum criteria. In order to curb the growing threat of the MS, and to aid clinical management among people of Indian origin, a more comprehensive definition of the MS is urgently required.

Quantification of functional abilities in Rett syndrome: a comparison between stages III and IV

PubMed Central

Monteiro, Carlos BM; Savelsbergh, Geert JP; Smorenburg, Ana RP; Graciani, Zodja; Torriani-Pasin, Camila; de Abreu, Luiz Carlos; Valenti, Vitor E; Kok, Fernando

2014-01-01

We aimed to evaluate the functional abilities of persons with Rett syndrome (RTT) in stages III and IV. The group consisted of 60 females who had been diagnosed with RTT: 38 in stage III, mean age (years) of 9.14, with a standard deviation of 5.84 (minimum 2.2/maximum 26.4); and 22 in stage IV, mean age of 12.45, with a standard deviation of 6.17 (minimum 5.3/maximum 26.9). The evaluation was made using the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory, which has 197 items in the areas of self-care, mobility, and social function. The results showed that in the area of self-care, stage III and stage IV RTT persons had a level of 24.12 and 18.36 (P=0.002), respectively. In the area of mobility, stage III had 37.22 and stage IV had 14.64 (P<0.001), while in the area of social function, stage III had 17.72 and stage IV had 12.14 (P=0.016). In conclusion, although persons with stage III RTT have better functional abilities when compared with stage IV, the areas of mobility, self-care, and social function are quite affected, which shows a great functional dependency and need for help in basic activities of daily life. PMID:25061307

40 CFR 600.010-86 - Vehicle test requirements and minimum data requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... base level, and (iii) For additional model types established under § 600.207(a)(2), data from each... data requirements. 600.010-86 Section 600.010-86 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION... Provisions § 600.010-86 Vehicle test requirements and minimum data requirements. (a) For each certification...

14 CFR 27.49 - Performance at minimum operating speed.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... minimum operating speed. (a) For helicopters— (1) The hovering ceiling must be determined over the ranges...; (ii) The landing gear extended; and (iii) The helicopter in-ground effect at a height consistent with... must be at least— (i) For reciprocating engine powered helicopters, 4,000 feet at maximum weight with a...

14 CFR 27.49 - Performance at minimum operating speed.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... minimum operating speed. (a) For helicopters— (1) The hovering ceiling must be determined over the ranges...; (ii) The landing gear extended; and (iii) The helicopter in-ground effect at a height consistent with... must be at least— (i) For reciprocating engine powered helicopters, 4,000 feet at maximum weight with a...

14 CFR 27.49 - Performance at minimum operating speed.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... minimum operating speed. (a) For helicopters— (1) The hovering ceiling must be determined over the ranges...; (ii) The landing gear extended; and (iii) The helicopter in-ground effect at a height consistent with... must be at least— (i) For reciprocating engine powered helicopters, 4,000 feet at maximum weight with a...

Pain Elimination during Injection with Newer Electronic Devices: A Comparative Evaluation in Children.

PubMed

Bansal, Neha; Saha, Sonali; Jaiswal, Jn; Samadi, Firoza

2014-05-01

The present study was taken up to clinically evaluate and compare effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS) and comfort control syringe (CCS) in various pediatric dental procedures as an alternative to the conventional method of local anesthesia (LA) administration. Ninety healthy children having at least one deciduous molar tooth indicated for extraction in either maxillary right or left quadrant in age group of 6 to 10 years were randomly divided into three equal groups having 30 subjects each. Group I: LA administration using conventional syringe, group II: LA administration using TENS along with the conventional syringe, group III: LA administration using CCS. After LA by the three techniques, pain, anxiety and heart rate were measured. The observations, thus, obtained were subjected to statistical analysis using analysis of variance (ANOVA), student t-test and paired t-test. The mean pain score was maximum in group I followed by group II, while group III revealed the minimum pain, where LA was administered using CCS. Mean anxiety score was maximum in group I followed by group II, while group III revealed the minimum score. Mean heart rate was maximum in group I followed in descending order by groups II and III. The study supports the belief that CCS could be a viable alternative in comparison to the other two methods of LA delivery in children. How to cite this article: Bansal N, Saha S, Jaiswal JN, Samadi F. Pain Elimination during Injection with Newer Electronic Devices: A Comparative Evaluation in Children. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2014;7(2):71-76.

40 CFR 141.131 - Analytical requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... chromatography 300.1 D 6581-00 Ion chromatography & post column reaction 317.0 Rev 2.0 6, 326.0 6 IC/ICP-MS 321.8... sample collection. 6 Ion chromatography & post column reaction or IC/ICP-MS must be used for monitoring... study between a maximum and minimum acceptance limit of ±50% and ±15% of the study mean. (iii) Beginning...

Synthesis, spectroscopic, and antibacterial activity of tetraazamacrocyclic complexes of trivalent chromium, manganese, and iron.

PubMed

Singh, D P; Malik, Vandna; Kumar, Ramesh; Singh, Jitender

2009-10-01

A new series of macrocyclic complexes of type [M(TML)X]X(2), where M = Cr(III), Mn(III), or Fe(III), TML is tetradentate macrocyclic ligand, and X = Cl(-), NO(3)(-), CH(3)COO(-) for Cr(III), Fe(III) and X = CH(3)COO(-) for Mn (III), has been synthesized by condensation of benzil and succinyldihydrazide in the presence of metal salt. The complexes have been so formulated due to the 1:2 electrolytic nature of these complexes as shown by conductivity measurements. The complexes have been characterized with the help of various physicochemical techniques such as elemental analysis, molar conductance, electronic and infrared spectral studies, and magnetic susceptibility. On the basis of these studies, a five-coordinate distorted square pyramidal geometry, in which two nitrogens and two carbonyl oxygen atoms are suitably placed for coordination toward the metal ion, has been proposed for all the complexes. The complexes have been tested for their in vitro antibacterial activity. Some of the complexes show remarkable antibacterial activities against some selected bacterial strains. The minimum inhibitory concentrations shown by these complexes have been compared with those shown by some standard antibiotics such as linezolid and cefaclor.

Metal complexes of diisopropylthiourea: synthesis, characterization and antibacterial studies.

PubMed

Ajibade, Peter A; Zulu, Nonkululeko H

2011-01-01

Co(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Fe(III) complexes of diisopropylthiourea have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, molar conductivity, magnetic susceptibility, FTIR and electronic spectroscopy. The compounds are non-electrolytes in solution and spectroscopic data of the complexes are consistent with 4-coordinate geometry for the metal(II) complexes and six coordinate octahedral for Fe(III) complex. The complexes were screened for their antibacterial activities against six bacteria: Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas auriginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus pumilus. The complexes showed varied antibacterial activities and their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined.

40 CFR Table 1 to Subpart III of... - Emission Limitations

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... determining compliance using this method Cadmium 0.004 milligrams per dry standard cubic meter 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample time per run) Performance test (Method 29 of appendix A of part 60). Carbon monoxide 157 parts per million by dry volume 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample time per run) Performance...

40 CFR Table 1 to Subpart III of... - Emission Limitations

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... determining compliance using this method Cadmium 0.004 milligrams per dry standard cubic meter 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample time per run) Performance test (Method 29 of appendix A of part 60). Carbon monoxide 157 parts per million by dry volume 3-run average (1 hour minimum sample time per run) Performance...

77 FR 66535 - Standard Instrument Approach Procedures, and Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-06

... RWY 34L, ILS RWY 34L (CAT II), ILS RWY 34L (CAT III), ILS RWY 34L (SA CAT I), Amdt 2 Denver, CO, Denver Intl, ILS OR LOC RWY 34R, ILS RWY 34R (CAT II), ILS RWY 34R (CAT III), ILS RWY 34 (SA CAT I), Amdt...

46 CFR 12.15-3 - General requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... years the minimum standards of competence for the following 4 areas of basic safety: (1) Personal... first aid as set out in table A-VI/1-3 of the STCW Code. (4) Personal safety and social responsibilities... of competence set out in STCW Regulation III/4 and Section A-III/4 of the STCW Code (incorporated by...

Pain Elimination during Injection with Newer Electronic Devices: A Comparative Evaluation in Children

PubMed Central

Saha, Sonali; Jaiswal, JN; Samadi, Firoza

2014-01-01

ABSTRACT Aim: The present study was taken up to clinically evaluate and compare effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS) and comfort control syringe (CCS) in various pediatric dental procedures as an alternative to the conventional method of local anesthesia (LA) administration. Materials and methods: Ninety healthy children having at least one deciduous molar tooth indicated for extraction in either maxillary right or left quadrant in age group of 6 to 10 years were randomly divided into three equal groups having 30 subjects each. Group I: LA administration using conventional syringe, group II: LA administration using TENS along with the conventional syringe, group III: LA administration using CCS. After LA by the three techniques, pain, anxiety and heart rate were measured. Statistical analysis: The observations, thus, obtained were subjected to statistical analysis using analysis of variance (ANOVA), student t-test and paired t-test. Results: The mean pain score was maximum in group I followed by group II, while group III revealed the minimum pain, where LA was administered using CCS. Mean anxiety score was maximum in group I followed by group II, while group III revealed the minimum score. Mean heart rate was maximum in group I followed in descending order by groups II and III. Conclusion: The study supports the belief that CCS could be a viable alternative in comparison to the other two methods of LA delivery in children. How to cite this article: Bansal N, Saha S, Jaiswal JN, Samadi F. Pain Elimination during Injection with Newer Electronic Devices: A Comparative Evaluation in Children. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2014;7(2):71-76. PMID:25356003

External High School Diploma Program Evaluation Project. Final Report, October 1, 1979-June 30, 1980. Part III: Competency Comparison.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hole, Wanda Clements; Seggerson, Sharon Corcoran

The purpose of this portion of a project was to compare External High School Diploma (EHSDP) competencies at Waukesha County (Wisconsin) Technical Institute with minimum high school competency requirements in (1) local school districts and (2) selected states. Testing focused on basic skills of mathematics, reading, and writing. Minimum competency…

75 FR 54766 - Standard Instrument Approach Procedures, and Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-09

... (RNP) Z RWY 35R, Orig Denver, CO, Denver Intl, ILS OR LOC RWY 34L, ILS RWY 34L (CAT II), ILS RWY 34L (CAT III), Amdt 1 Denver, CO, Denver Intl, ILS OR LOC RWY 34R, ILS RWY 34R (CAT II), ILS RWY 34R (CAT III), Amdt 2 Denver, CO, Denver Intl, ILS OR LOC RWY 35L, ILS RWY 35L (CAT II), ILS RWY 35L (CAT III...

Effect of Class III bone anchor treatment on airway.

PubMed

Nguyen, Tung; De Clerck, Hugo; Wilson, Michael; Golden, Brent

2015-07-01

To compare airway volumes and minimum cross-section area changes of Class III patients treated with bone-anchored maxillary protraction (BAMP) versus untreated Class III controls. Twenty-eight consecutive skeletal Class III patients between the ages of 10 and 14 years (mean age, 11.9 years) were treated using Class III intermaxillary elastics and bilateral miniplates (two in the infra-zygomatic crests of the maxilla and two in the anterior mandible). The subjects had cone beam computed tomographs (CBCTs) taken before initial loading (T1) and 1 year out (T2). Twenty-eight untreated Class III patients (mean age, 12.4 years) had CBCTs taken and cephalograms generated. The airway volumes and minimum cross-sectional area measurements were performed using Dolphin Imaging 11.7 3D software. The superior border of the airway was defined by a plane that passes through the posterior nasal spine and basion, while the inferior border included the base of the epiglottis to the lower border of C3. From T1 to T2, airway volume from BAMP-treated subjects showed a statistically significant increase (1499.64 mm(3)). The area in the most constricted section of the airway (choke point) increased slightly (15.44 mm(2)). The airway volume of BAMP patients at T2 was 14136.61 mm(3), compared with 14432.98 mm(3) in untreated Class III subjects. Intraexaminer correlation coefficients values and 95% confidence interval values were all greater than .90, showing a high degree of reliability of the measurements. BAMP treatment did not hinder the development of the oropharynx.

Predictors of employment status of treated patients with DSM-III-R diagnosis. Can logistic regression model find a solution?

PubMed

Daradkeh, T K; Karim, L

1994-01-01

To investigate the predictors of employment status of patients with DSM-III-R diagnosis, 55 patients were selected by a simple random technique from the main psychiatric clinic in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. Structured and formal assessments were carried out to extract the potential predictors of outcome of schizophrenia. Logistic regression model revealed that being married, absence of schizoid personality, free or with minimum symptoms of the illness, later age of onset, and higher educational attainment were the most significant predictors of employment outcome. The implications of the results of this study are discussed in the text.

Photovoltaic Properties of Selenized CuGa/In Films with Varied Compositions

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

Muzzillo, Christopher P.; Mansfield, Lorelle M.; Ramanathan, Kannan

2016-11-21

Thin CuGa/In films with varied compositions were deposited by co-evaporation and then selenized in situ with evaporated selenium. The selenized Cu(In, Ga)Se2 absorbers were used to fabricate 390 solar cells. Cu/(Ga+In) and Ga/(Ga+In) (Cu/III and Ga/III) were independently varied, and photovoltaic performance was optimal at Cu/III of 77-92% for all Ga/III compositions studied (Ga/III ~ 30, 50, and 70%). The best absorbers at each Ga/III composition were characterized with time-resolved photoluminescence, scanning electron microscopy, and secondary ion mass spectrometry, and devices were studied with temperature-dependent current density-voltage, light and electrical biased quantum efficiency, and capacitance-voltage. The best cells with Ga/IIImore » ~ 30, 50, and 70% had efficiencies of 14.5, 14.4, and 12.2% and maximum power temperature coefficients of -0.496, -0.452, and -0.413%/degrees C, respectively. This resulted in the Ga/III ~ 50% champion having the highest efficiency at temperatures greater than 40 degrees C, making it the optimal composition for practical purposes. This optimum is understood as a result of the absorber's band gap grading- where minimum band gap dominates short-circuit current density, maximum space charge region band gap dominates open-circuit voltage, and average absorber band gap dominates maximum power temperature coefficient.« less

Modeling As(III) oxidation and removal with iron electrocoagulation in groundwater.

PubMed

Li, Lei; van Genuchten, Case M; Addy, Susan E A; Yao, Juanjuan; Gao, Naiyun; Gadgil, Ashok J

2012-11-06

Understanding the chemical kinetics of arsenic during electrocoagulation (EC) treatment is essential for a deeper understanding of arsenic removal using EC under a variety of operating conditions and solution compositions. We describe a highly constrained, simple chemical dynamic model of As(III) oxidation and As(III,V), Si, and P sorption for the EC system using model parameters extracted from some of our experimental results and previous studies. Our model predictions agree well with both data extracted from previous studies and our observed experimental data over a broad range of operating conditions (charge dosage rate) and solution chemistry (pH, co-occurring ions) without free model parameters. Our model provides insights into why higher pH and lower charge dosage rate (Coulombs/L/min) facilitate As(III) removal by EC and sheds light on the debate in the recent published literature regarding the mechanism of As(III) oxidation during EC. Our model also provides practically useful estimates of the minimum amount of iron required to remove 500 μg/L As(III) to <50 μg/L. Parameters measured in this work include the ratio of rate constants for Fe(II) and As(III) reactions with Fe(IV) in synthetic groundwater (k(1)/k(2) = 1.07) and the apparent rate constant of Fe(II) oxidation with dissolved oxygen at pH 7 (k(app) = 10(0.22) M(-1)s(-1)).

Accelerated Stability Studies on Dried Extracts of Centella asiatica Through Chemical, HPLC, HPTLC, and Biological Activity Analyses.

PubMed

Kaur, Ishtdeep; Suthar, Nancy; Kaur, Jasmeen; Bansal, Yogita; Bansal, Gulshan

2016-10-01

Regulatory guidelines recommend systematic stability studies on a herbal product to establish its shelf life. In the present study, commercial extracts (Types I and II) and freshly prepared extract (Type III) of Centella asiatica were subjected to accelerated stability testing for 6 months. Control and stability samples were evaluated for organoleptics, pH, moisture, total phenolic content (TPC), asiatic acid, kaempherol, and high-performance thin layer chromatography fingerprints, and for antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities. Markers and TPC and both the activities of each extract decreased in stability samples with respect to control. These losses were maximum in Type I extract and minimum in Type III extract. Higher stability of Type III extract than others might be attributed to the additional phytoconstituents and/or preservatives in it. Pearson correlation analysis of the results suggested that TPC, asiatic acid, and kaempferol can be taken as chemical markers to assess chemical and therapeutic shelf lives of herbal products containing Centella asiatica. © The Author(s) 2016.

Maximizing return on socioeconomic investment in phase II proof-of-concept trials.

PubMed

Chen, Cong; Beckman, Robert A

2014-04-01

Phase II proof-of-concept (POC) trials play a key role in oncology drug development, determining which therapeutic hypotheses will undergo definitive phase III testing according to predefined Go-No Go (GNG) criteria. The number of possible POC hypotheses likely far exceeds available public or private resources. We propose a design strategy for maximizing return on socioeconomic investment in phase II trials that obtains the greatest knowledge with the minimum patient exposure. We compare efficiency using the benefit-cost ratio, defined to be the risk-adjusted number of truly active drugs correctly identified for phase III development divided by the risk-adjusted total sample size in phase II and III development, for different POC trial sizes, powering schemes, and associated GNG criteria. It is most cost-effective to conduct small POC trials and set the corresponding GNG bars high, so that more POC trials can be conducted under socioeconomic constraints. If δ is the minimum treatment effect size of clinical interest in phase II, the study design with the highest benefit-cost ratio has approximately 5% type I error rate and approximately 20% type II error rate (80% power) for detecting an effect size of approximately 1.5δ. A Go decision to phase III is made when the observed effect size is close to δ. With the phenomenal expansion of our knowledge in molecular biology leading to an unprecedented number of new oncology drug targets, conducting more small POC trials and setting high GNG bars maximize the return on socioeconomic investment in phase II POC trials. ©2014 AACR.

A computational study of open-chain epothilone analogue

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamel, Karol; Rusinska-Roszak, Danuta

Molecular mechanics (MM/Ambers) calculations were applied to probe the conformational profile of open-chain epothilone analogue [Org Lett 2006, 8, 685], cytotoxic against some cell lines. Geometries of the most stable conformers were optimized at DFT level using the B3LYP functional and then compared to known both experimental and virtual conformers of epothilone. One of the most stable structures is III (1.47 kcal/mol above global minimum) which represents high similarity to the appropriate fragment of the Taylor's model of epothilone A, but two other conformers: XIV and XX, although they have almost the same conformation as the mother structure, are very unstable (6.7 and 12.4 kcal/mol above the global minimum).0

History of the Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-06-01

reflect executed Voluntary Enrollment Contracts (VEC) for VISA Stages I, II, and III to include basic activation procedures; DOD annual minimums for...provisions; and on-the-shelf basic agreements (such as VISA Intermodal Contingency Contracts (VICC) for Stages I, II, and III). The anticipated...insufficient Program incentives are revised annually, but the basic tenets remain in place. Activation, capacity required to commit and carrier risk clauses

Detection of light-induced changes of intracellular ionized calcium concentration in Limulus ventral photoreceptors using arsenazo III

PubMed Central

Brown, J. E.; Brown, P. K.; Pinto, L. H.

1977-01-01

1. The metallochromic indicator dye, arsenazo III, was injected intracellularly into Limulus ventral photoreceptor cells to concentrations greater than 1 mM. 2. The absorption spectrum (450-750 nm) of the dye in single dark-adapted cells was measured by a scanning microspectrophotometer. When a cell was light-adapted, the absorption of the dye changed; the difference spectrum had two maxima at about 610 and 660 nm, a broad minimum at about 540 nm and an isosbestic point at about 585 nm. 3. When intracellular calcium concentration was raised in dark-adapted cells previously injected with arsenazo III, the difference spectum had two maxima at about 610 and 660 nm, a broad minimum at about 530 nm and an isosbestic point at about 585 nm. The injection of Mg2+ into dark-adapted cells previously injected with the dye induced a difference spectrum that had a single maximum at about 620 nm. Also, decreasing the intracellular pH of cells previously injected with the dye induced a difference spectrum that had a minimum at about 620 nm. The evidence suggests that there is a rise of intracellular ionized calcium when a Limulus ventral photoreceptor is light-adapted. 4. The intracellular calcium concentration, [Ca2+]1, in light-adapted photoreceptors was estimated to reach at least 10-4 M by compaing the light-induced difference spectra measured in ventral photoreceptors with a standard curve determined in microcuvettes containing 2mM arsenazo III in 400 mM-KCl, 1 mM-MgCl2 and 25 mM MOPS at pH 7·0. 5. In cells injected to less than 3 mM arsenazo III, light induced a transient decrease in optical transmission at 660 nm (T660). This decrease in T660 indicates that illumination of a ventral photoreceptor normally causes a transient increase of [Ca2+]1. 6. Arsenazo III was found to be sensitive, selective and rapid enough to measure light-induced changes of intracellular ionized calcium in Limulus ventral photoreceptor cells. PMID:17732

Cost Study of Educational Media Systems and Their Equipment Components. Volume III, A Supplementary Report: Computer Assisted Instruction. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

General Learning Corp., Washington, DC.

The COST-ED model (Costs of Schools, Training, and Education) of the instructional process encourages the recognition of management alternatives and potential cost-savings. It is used to calculate the minimum cost of performing specified instructional tasks. COST-ED components are presented as cost modules in a flowchart format for manpower,…

Explaining direct care resource use of nursing home residents: findings from time studies in four states.

PubMed

Arling, Greg; Kane, Robert L; Mueller, Christine; Lewis, Teresa

2007-04-01

To explain variation in direct care resource use (RU) of nursing home residents based on the Resource Utilization Groups III (RUG-III) classification system and other resident- and unit-level explanatory variables. Primary data were collected on 5,314 nursing home residents in 156 nursing units in 105 facilities from four states (CO, IN, MN, MS) from 1998 to 2004. Study Design. Nurses and other direct care staff recorded resident-specific and other time caring for all residents on sampled nursing units. Care time was linked to resident data from the Minimum Data Set assessment instrument. Major variables were: RUG-III group (34-group), other health and functional conditions, licensed and other professional minutes per day, unlicensed minutes per day, and direct care RU (wage-weighted minutes). Resident- and unit-level relationships were examined through hierarchical linear modeling. Time study data were recorded with hand-held computers, verified for accuracy by project staff at the data collection sites and then merged into resident and unit-level data sets. Resident care time and RU varied between and within nursing units. RUG-III group was related to RU; variables such as length of stay and unit percentage of high acuity residents also were significantly related. Case-mix indices (CMIs) constructed from study data displayed much less variation across RUG-III groups than CMIs from earlier time studies. Results from earlier time studies may not be representative of care patterns of Medicaid and private pay residents. New RUG-III CMIs should be developed to better reflect the relative costs of caring for these residents.

26 CFR 1.1275-1 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... of the death of any individual (including distributions triggered by or increased by terminal or chronic illness, as defined in section 101(g)(1) (A) and (B)). (iii) Exceptions for certain minimum...

26 CFR 1.1275-1 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... of the death of any individual (including distributions triggered by or increased by terminal or chronic illness, as defined in section 101(g)(1) (A) and (B)). (iii) Exceptions for certain minimum...

26 CFR 1.1275-1 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... of the death of any individual (including distributions triggered by or increased by terminal or chronic illness, as defined in section 101(g)(1) (A) and (B)). (iii) Exceptions for certain minimum...

46 CFR Table 151.05 to Subpart 151... - Summary of Minimum Requirements

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

...% or more Phenol, see Phenol Cresylate spent caustic Atmos. Amb. III 1 i i 2 i Integral Gravity Open... spent caustic Crotonaldehyde Atmos. Amb. II 1 i i 2 i i Integral Gravity PV Restr. II G-1 NR Vent F Yes.... II G-2 NR Vent N Yes .50-73 NA NA G Caustic potash solution Atmos. Amb.Elev. III 1 i 2 i Integral...

46 CFR Table 151.05 to Subpart 151... - Summary of Minimum Requirements

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

...% or more Phenol, see Phenol Cresylate spent caustic Atmos. Amb. III 1 i i 2 i Integral Gravity Open... spent caustic Crotonaldehyde Atmos. Amb. II 1 i i 2 i i Integral Gravity PV Restr. II G-1 NR Vent F Yes.... II G-2 NR Vent N Yes .50-73 NA NA G Caustic potash solution Atmos. Amb.Elev. III 1 i 2 i Integral...

46 CFR Table 151.05 to Subpart 151... - Summary of Minimum Requirements

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

...% or more Phenol, see Phenol Cresylate spent caustic Atmos. Amb. III 1 i i 2 i Integral Gravity Open... spent caustic Crotonaldehyde Atmos. Amb. II 1 i i 2 i i Integral Gravity PV Restr. II G-1 NR Vent F Yes.... II G-2 NR Vent N Yes .50-73 NA NA G Caustic potash solution Atmos. Amb.Elev. III 1 i 2 i Integral...

46 CFR Table 151.05 to Subpart 151... - Summary of Minimum Requirements

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

..., see Phenol Cresylate spent caustic Atmos. Amb. III 1 i i 2 i Integral Gravity Open Open II G-1 NR Vent N No .50-73.55-1(b) NA NA G Cresylic acid, sodium salt solution, see Cresylate spent caustic.... II G-2 NR Vent N Yes .50-73 NA NA G Caustic potash solution Atmos. Amb.Elev. III 1 i 2 i Integral...

46 CFR Table 151.05 to Subpart 151... - Summary of Minimum Requirements

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

...% or more Phenol, see Phenol Cresylate spent caustic Atmos. Amb. III 1 i i 2 i Integral Gravity Open... spent caustic Crotonaldehyde Atmos. Amb. II 1 i i 2 i i Integral Gravity PV Restr. II G-1 NR Vent F Yes... G-2 NR Vent N Yes .50-73 NA NA G Caustic potash solution Atmos. Amb.Elev. III 1 i 2 i Integral...

The little-studied cluster Berkeley 90. I. LS III +46 11: a very massive O3.5 If* + O3.5 If* binary

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maíz Apellániz, J.; Negueruela, I.; Barbá, R. H.; Walborn, N. R.; Pellerin, A.; Simón-Díaz, S.; Sota, A.; Marco, A.; Alonso-Santiago, J.; Sanchez Bermudez, J.; Gamen, R. C.; Lorenzo, J.

2015-07-01

Context. It appears that most (if not all) massive stars are born in multiple systems. At the same time, the most massive binaries are hard to find owing to their low numbers throughout the Galaxy and the implied large distances and extinctions. Aims: We want to study LS III +46 11, identified in this paper as a very massive binary; another nearby massive system, LS III +46 12; and the surrounding stellar cluster, Berkeley 90. Methods: Most of the data used in this paper are multi-epoch high S/N optical spectra, although we also use Lucky Imaging and archival photometry. The spectra are reduced with dedicated pipelines and processed with our own software, such as a spectroscopic-orbit code, CHORIZOS, and MGB. Results: LS III +46 11 is identified as a new very early O-type spectroscopic binary [O3.5 If* + O3.5 If*] and LS III +46 12 as another early O-type system [O4.5 V((f))]. We measure a 97.2-day period for LS III +46 11 and derive minimum masses of 38.80 ± 0.83 M⊙ and 35.60 ± 0.77 M⊙ for its two stars. We measure the extinction to both stars, estimate the distance, search for optical companions, and study the surrounding cluster. In doing so, a variable extinction is found as well as discrepant results for the distance. We discuss possible explanations and suggest that LS III +46 12 may be a hidden binary system where the companion is currently undetected.

Quantitation of heparosan with heparin lyase III and spectrophotometry.

PubMed

Huang, Haichan; Zhao, Yingying; Lv, Shencong; Zhong, Weihong; Zhang, Fuming; Linhardt, Robert J

2014-02-15

Heparosan is Escherichia coli K5 capsule polysaccharide, which is the key precursor for preparing bioengineered heparin. A rapid and effective quantitative method for detecting heparosan is important in the large-scale production of heparosan. Heparin lyase III (Hep III) effectively catalyzes the heparosan depolymerization, forming unsaturated disaccharides that are measurable using a spectrophotometer at 232 nm. We report a new method for the quantitative detection of heparosan with heparin lyase III and spectrophotometry that is safer and more specific than the traditional carbazole assay. In an optimized detection system, heparosan at a minimum concentration of 0.60 g/L in fermentation broth can be detected. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

42 CFR 600.420 - Enhanced availability of standard health plans.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... minimum statutory requirements and available BHP funding: and (iii) Whether potential bidders have... variations that may occur as a result of regional differences between the participating states with respect...

21 CFR 145.120 - Canned berries.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... occidentalis L. (ii) Blackberries. (iii) Blueberries. (iv) Boysenberries. (v) Dewberries. (vi) Gooseberries... less than (d) Minimum Maximum not more than Blackberries 14 14 19 19 24 24 35 Blueberries 15 15 20 20...

21 CFR 145.120 - Canned berries.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... occidentalis L. (ii) Blackberries. (iii) Blueberries. (iv) Boysenberries. (v) Dewberries. (vi) Gooseberries... less than (d) Minimum Maximum not more than Blackberries 14 14 19 19 24 24 35 Blueberries 15 15 20 20...

21 CFR 145.120 - Canned berries.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... occidentalis L. (ii) Blackberries. (iii) Blueberries. (iv) Boysenberries. (v) Dewberries. (vi) Gooseberries... less than (d) Minimum Maximum not more than Blackberries 14 14 19 19 24 24 35 Blueberries 15 15 20 20...

21 CFR 145.120 - Canned berries.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... occidentalis L. (ii) Blackberries. (iii) Blueberries. (iv) Boysenberries. (v) Dewberries. (vi) Gooseberries... less than (d) Minimum Maximum not more than Blackberries 14 14 19 19 24 24 35 Blueberries 15 15 20 20...

Explaining Direct Care Resource Use of Nursing Home Residents: Findings from Time Studies in Four States

PubMed Central

Arling, Greg; Kane, Robert L; Mueller, Christine; Lewis, Teresa

2007-01-01

Objective To explain variation in direct care resource use (RU) of nursing home residents based on the Resource Utilization Groups III (RUG-III) classification system and other resident- and unit-level explanatory variables. Data Sources/Study Setting Primary data were collected on 5,314 nursing home residents in 156 nursing units in 105 facilities from four states (CO, IN, MN, MS) from 1998 to 2004. Study Design Nurses and other direct care staff recorded resident-specific and other time caring for all residents on sampled nursing units. Care time was linked to resident data from the Minimum Data Set assessment instrument. Major variables were: RUG-III group (34-group), other health and functional conditions, licensed and other professional minutes per day, unlicensed minutes per day, and direct care RU (wage-weighted minutes). Resident- and unit-level relationships were examined through hierarchical linear modeling. Data Collection/Extraction Methods Time study data were recorded with hand-held computers, verified for accuracy by project staff at the data collection sites and then merged into resident and unit-level data sets. Principal Findings Resident care time and RU varied between and within nursing units. RUG-III group was related to RU; variables such as length of stay and unit percentage of high acuity residents also were significantly related. Case-mix indices (CMIs) constructed from study data displayed much less variation across RUG-III groups than CMIs from earlier time studies. Conclusions Results from earlier time studies may not be representative of care patterns of Medicaid and private pay residents. New RUG-III CMIs should be developed to better reflect the relative costs of caring for these residents. PMID:17362220

Applications of Displacement Transfer Functions to Deformed Shape Predictions of the G-III Swept-Wing Structure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lung, Shun-Fat; Ko, William L.

2016-01-01

In support of the Adaptive Compliant Trailing Edge [ACTE] project at the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center, displacement transfer functions were applied to the swept wing of a Gulfstream G-III airplane (Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Savannah, Georgia) to obtain deformed shape predictions. Four strainsensing lines (two on the lower surface, two on the upper surface) were used to calculate the deformed shape of the G III wing under bending and torsion. There being an insufficient number of surface strain sensors, the existing G III wing box finite element model was used to generate simulated surface strains for input to the displacement transfer functions. The resulting predicted deflections have good correlation with the finite-element generated deflections as well as the measured deflections from the ground load calibration test. The convergence study showed that the displacement prediction error at the G III wing tip can be reduced by increasing the number of strain stations (for each strain-sensing line) down to a minimum error of l.6 percent at 17 strain stations; using more than 17 strain stations yielded no benefit because the error slightly increased to 1.9% when 32 strain stations were used.

Evaluation of an active humidification system for inspired gas.

PubMed

Roux, Nicolás G; Plotnikow, Gustavo A; Villalba, Darío S; Gogniat, Emiliano; Feld, Vivivana; Ribero Vairo, Noelia; Sartore, Marisa; Bosso, Mauro; Scapellato, José L; Intile, Dante; Planells, Fernando; Noval, Diego; Buñirigo, Pablo; Jofré, Ricardo; Díaz Nielsen, Ernesto

2015-03-01

The effectiveness of the active humidification systems (AHS) in patients already weaned from mechanical ventilation and with an artificial airway has not been very well described. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of an AHS in chronically tracheostomized and spontaneously breathing patients. Measurements were quantified at three levels of temperature (T°) of the AHS: level I, low; level II, middle; and level III, high and at different flow levels (20 to 60 L/minute). Statistical analysis of repeated measurements was performed using analysis of variance and significance was set at a P<0.05. While the lowest temperature setting (level I) did not condition gas to the minimum recommended values for any of the flows that were used, the medium temperature setting (level II) only conditioned gas with flows of 20 and 30 L/minute. Finally, at the highest temperature setting (level III), every flow reached the minimum absolute humidity (AH) recommended of 30 mg/L. According to our results, to obtain appropiate relative humidity, AH and T° of gas one should have a device that maintains water T° at least at 53℃ for flows between 20 and 30 L/m, or at T° of 61℃ at any flow rate.

Universal inverse power-law distribution for temperature and rainfall in the UK region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Selvam, A. M.

2014-06-01

Meteorological parameters, such as temperature, rainfall, pressure, etc., exhibit selfsimilar space-time fractal fluctuations generic to dynamical systems in nature such as fluid flows, spread of forest fires, earthquakes, etc. The power spectra of fractal fluctuations display inverse power-law form signifying long-range correlations. A general systems theory model predicts universal inverse power-law form incorporating the golden mean for the fractal fluctuations. The model predicted distribution was compared with observed distribution of fractal fluctuations of all size scales (small, large and extreme values) in the historic month-wise temperature (maximum and minimum) and total rainfall for the four stations Oxford, Armagh, Durham and Stornoway in the UK region, for data periods ranging from 92 years to 160 years. For each parameter, the two cumulative probability distributions, namely cmax and cmin starting from respectively maximum and minimum data value were used. The results of the study show that (i) temperature distributions (maximum and minimum) follow model predicted distribution except for Stornowy, minimum temperature cmin. (ii) Rainfall distribution for cmin follow model predicted distribution for all the four stations. (iii) Rainfall distribution for cmax follows model predicted distribution for the two stations Armagh and Stornoway. The present study suggests that fractal fluctuations result from the superimposition of eddy continuum fluctuations.

Biochemical methane potential (BMP) tests: Reducing test time by early parameter estimation.

PubMed

Da Silva, C; Astals, S; Peces, M; Campos, J L; Guerrero, L

2018-01-01

Biochemical methane potential (BMP) test is a key analytical technique to assess the implementation and optimisation of anaerobic biotechnologies. However, this technique is characterised by long testing times (from 20 to >100days), which is not suitable for waste utilities, consulting companies or plants operators whose decision-making processes cannot be held for such a long time. This study develops a statistically robust mathematical strategy using sensitivity functions for early prediction of BMP first-order model parameters, i.e. methane yield (B 0 ) and kinetic constant rate (k). The minimum testing time for early parameter estimation showed a potential correlation with the k value, where (i) slowly biodegradable substrates (k≤0.1d -1 ) have a minimum testing times of ≥15days, (ii) moderately biodegradable substrates (0.1

42 CFR 84.205 - Facepiece test; minimum requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

...; (ii) Two minutes, calisthenic arm movements; (iii) Two minutes, running in place; and (iv) Two minutes, pumping with a tire pump into a 28-liter (1 cubic-foot) container. (4) Each wearer shall not detect the...

75 FR 76628 - Standard Instrument Approach Procedures, and Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-12-09

..., Amdt 1. 13-Jan-11 NY Syracuse Syracuse Hancock 0/6891 11/17/10 ILS RWY 28, ILS RWY 28 (CAT II), Amdt... RWY 1R (CAT II), ILS RWY 1R (CAT III), Amdt 3. 13-Jan-11 MO Kansas City......... Kansas City Intl.... 0/6952 11/15/10 ILS OR LOC RWY 19R, ILS RWY 19R (CAT II), ILS RWY 19R (CAT III), Amdt 10. 13-Jan-11...

77 FR 24371 - Standard Instrument Approach Procedures, and Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-04-24

...-May-12 NC Charlotte Charlotte/Douglas 2/0925 4/10/12 ILS OR LOC RWY 18R, ILS RWY 18R (CAT II), Intl. ILS RWY 18R (CAT III), Orig-A. 31-May-12 NC Charlotte Charlotte/Douglas 2/0926 4/10/12 ILS OR LOC RWY 36L, ILS RWY 36L (CAT II), Intl. ILS RWY 36L (CAT III), Orig-A. 31-May-12 TX Dallas-Fort Worth...

40 CFR Figure C-4 to Subpart C of... - Illustration of the Minimum Limits for Correlation Coefficient for PM 2.5 and PM 10-2,5 Class II...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 6 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Illustration of the Minimum Limits for Correlation Coefficient for PM 2.5 and PM 10-2,5 Class II and III Methods C Figure C-4 to Subpart C of Part 53... Methods and Reference Methods Pt. 53, Subpt. C, Fig. C-4 Figure C-4 to Subpart C of Part 53—Illustration...

40 CFR Figure C-4 to Subpart C of... - Illustration of the Minimum Limits for Correlation Coefficient for PM 2.5 and PM 10-2.5 Class II...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 6 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Illustration of the Minimum Limits for Correlation Coefficient for PM 2.5 and PM 10-2.5 Class II and III Methods C Figure C-4 to Subpart C of Part 53... Methods and Reference Methods Pt. 53, Subpt. C, Fig. C-4 Figure C-4 to Subpart C of Part 53—Illustration...

78 FR 48696 - Draft Revisions to the Marine Safety Manual, Volume III, Chapters 20-26

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-09

...) Updated provisions for vessel manning, including guidance for the issuing of safe manning documents; (2... Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), and the Principles of Minimum Safe Manning (IMO Resolution A.1047(27...

78 FR 44399 - Semiannual Regulatory Flexibility Agenda

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-23

... of Basel III, Minimum Regulatory Capital Ratios, Capital Adequacy, and Transition Provisions. (Docket... Further Action........ 12/00/13 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes. Agency Contact: Dena... Regulatory Capital Ratios, Capital Adequacy, and Transition Provisions. (Docket No. R-1442) Legal Authority...

A Ni(iii) complex stabilized by silica nanoparticles as an efficient nanoheterogeneous catalyst for oxidative C-H fluoroalkylation.

PubMed

Khrizanforov, Mikhail N; Fedorenko, Svetlana V; Strekalova, Sofia O; Kholin, Kirill V; Mustafina, Asiya R; Zhilkin, Mikhail Ye; Khrizanforova, Vera V; Osin, Yuri N; Salnikov, Vadim V; Gryaznova, Tatyana V; Budnikova, Yulia H

2016-07-26

We have developed Ni(III)-doped silica nanoparticles ([(bpy)xNi(III)]@SiO2) as a recyclable, low-leaching, and efficient oxidative functionalization nanocatalyst for aromatic C-H bonds. The catalyst is obtained by doping the complex [(bpy)3Ni(II)] on silica nanoparticles along with its subsequent electrooxidation to [(bpy)xNi(III)] without an additional oxidant. The coupling reaction of arenes with perfluoroheptanoic acid occurs with 100% conversion of reactants in a single step at room temperature under nanoheterogeneous conditions. The catalyst content is only 1% with respect to the substrates under electrochemical regeneration conditions. The catalyst can be easily separated from the reaction mixture and reused a minimum of five times. The results emphasize immobilization on the silica support and the electrochemical regeneration of Ni(III) complexes as a facile route for developing an efficient nanocatalyst for oxidative functionalization.

Influence of two-electrode montages on the level-specific (LS) CE-Chirp auditory brainstem response (ABR) at multiple intensity levels.

PubMed

Dzulkarnain, Ahmad Aidil Arafat; Noor Ibrahim, Siti Hajra Mu'minah; Anuar, Nur Farah Aida; Abdullah, Siti Aisyah; Tengku Zam Zam, Tengku Zulaila Hasma; Rahmat, Sarah; Mohd Ruzai, Muhammad Amar

2017-10-01

To investigate the influence of two different electrode montages (ipsilateral: reference to mastoid and vertical: reference to nape of neck) to the ABR results recorded using a level-specific (LS)-CE-Chirp® in normally hearing subjects at multiple intensities levels. Quasi-experimental and repeated measure study designs were applied in this study. Two different stopping criteria were used, (1) a fixed-signal averaging 4000 sweeps and, (2) a minimum quality indicator of Fmp = 3.1 with a minimum of 800 sweeps. Twenty-nine normally hearing adults (18 females, 11 male) participated. Wave V amplitudes were significantly larger in the LS CE-Chirp® recorded from the vertical montage than the ipsilateral montage. Waves I and III amplitudes were significantly larger from the ipsilateral LS CE-Chirp® than from the other montages and stimulus combinations. The differences in the quality of the ABR recording between the vertical and ipsilateral montages were marginal. Overall, the result suggested that the vertical LS CE-Chirp® ABR had a high potential for a threshold-seeking application, because it produced a higher wave V amplitude. The Ipsilateral LS CE-Chirp® ABR, on the other hand, might also have a high potential for the site of lesion application, because it produced larger waves I and III amplitudes.

77 FR 71499 - Standard Instrument Approach Procedures, and Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-03

... F Kennedy Intl.. 2/4677 11/02/12 ILS RWY 4R, ILS RWY 4R (CAT II), ILS RWY 4R (CAT III), Amdt 29B. 13... (SA CAT I), ILS RWY 29 (SA CAT II), Amdt 3. 13-Dec-12 MS Jackson Jackson-Evers Intl... 2/4888 11/02/12 ILS RWY 16L, ILS RWY 16L (CAT II), ILS RWY 16L (CAT III), Amdt 7D. 13-Dec-12 ME Portland Portland Intl...

77 FR 41666 - Standard Instrument Approach Procedures, and Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-16

... Angeles..... Los Angeles 2/4270 6/18/12 ILS OR LOC RWY Intl. 25L, Amdt 12, ILS RWY 25L (CAT II), Amdt 12, ILS RWY 25L (CAT III), Amdt 12 26-Jul-12 CA Los Angeles..... Los Angeles 2/4271 6/18/12 ILS OR LOC RWY Intl. 24R, Amdt 24, ILS RWY 24R (CAT II), Amdt 24, ILS RWY 24R (CAT III), Amdt 24 26-Jul-12 IA Des...

Biological regeneration of manganese (IV) and iron (III) for anaerobic metal oxide-mediated removal of pharmaceuticals from water.

PubMed

Liu, Wenbo; Langenhoff, Alette A M; Sutton, Nora B; Rijnaarts, Huub H M

2018-05-18

Applying manganese(IV)- or iron(III)-(hydr)oxides to remove pharmaceuticals from water could be attractive, due to the capacity of these metal oxides to remove pharmaceuticals and be regenerated. As pharmaceutical removal under anaerobic conditions is foreseen, Mn(IV) or Fe(III) regeneration under anaerobic conditions, or with minimum oxygen dosage, is preferred. In this study, batch experiments are performed to investigate (1) Mn(IV) and Fe(III) regeneration from Mn(II) and Fe(II); (2) the pharmaceutical removal during biological Mn(IV) and Fe(III) regeneration; and (3) anaerobic abiotic pharmaceutical removal with different Mn(IV) or Fe(III) species. Results show that biological re-oxidation of reduced Mn(II) to Mn(IV) occurs under oxygen-limiting conditions. Biological re-oxidation of Fe(II) to Fe(III) is obtained with nitrate under anaerobic conditions. Both bio-regenerated Mn(IV)-oxides and Fe(III)-hydroxides are amorphous. The pharmaceutical removal is insignificant by Mn(II)- or Fe(II)-oxidizing bacteria during regeneration. Finally, pharmaceutical removal is investigated with various Mn(IV) and Fe(III) sources. Anaerobic abiotic removal using Mn(IV) produced from drinking water treatment plants results in 23% metoprolol and 44% propranolol removal, similar to chemically synthesized Mn(IV). In contrast, Fe(III) from drinking water treatment plants outperformed chemically or biologically synthesized Fe(III); Fe (III) from drinking water treatment can remove 31-43% of propranolol via anaerobic abiotic process. In addition, one of the Fe(III)-based sorbents tested, FerroSorp ® RW, can also remove propranolol (20-25%). Biological regeneration of Mn(IV) and Fe(III) from the reduced species Mn(II) and Fe(II) could be more effective in terms of cost and treatment efficiency. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

A theoretical study on the mechanistic highlights behind the Brønsted-acid dependent mer-fac isomerization of homoleptic carbenic iridium complexes for PhOLEDs.

PubMed

Setzer, Tobias; Lennartz, Christian; Dreuw, Andreas

2017-06-06

Recently, a successful Brønsted-acid mediated geometric isomerization of the meridional homoleptic carbenic iridium(iii) complexes tris-(N-phenyl,N-methyl-benzimidazol-2-yl)iridium(iii) (1) and tris-(N-phenyl,N-benzyl-benzimidazol-2-yl)iridium(iii) (2) into their facial form has been reported. In the present work the pronounced acid-dependency of this particular isomerization procedure is revisited and additional mechanistic pathways are taken into account. Moreover, the acid-induced material decomposition is addressed. All calculations are carried out using density functional theory (DFT) while the environmental effects in solution are accounted for by the COSMO-RS model. The simulated results clearly reveal the outstanding importance of the complex interplay between acid strength, coordinating power of the corresponding base and the steric influence of the ligand system in contrast to the plain calculation of minimum energy pathways for selected complexes. Eventually, general rules to enhance the material-specific reaction yields are provided.

25 CFR 542.8 - What are the minimum internal control standards for pull tabs?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... microchip reader, the reader shall be tested periodically to determine that it is correctly reading the bar code or microchip. (iii) If the electronic equipment returns a voucher or a payment slip to the player...

14 CFR 25.1557 - Miscellaneous markings and placards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... TRANSPORTATION AIRCRAFT AIRWORTHINESS STANDARDS: TRANSPORT CATEGORY AIRPLANES Operating Limitations and... requirements. However, underseat compartments designed for the storage of carry-on articles weighing not more... “fuel”; (ii) For reciprocating engine powered airplanes, the minimum fuel grade; (iii) For turbine...

Evaluation of an Active Humidification System for Inspired Gas

PubMed Central

Roux, Nicolás G.; Villalba, Darío S.; Gogniat, Emiliano; Feld, Vivivana; Ribero Vairo, Noelia; Sartore, Marisa; Bosso, Mauro; Scapellato, José L.; Intile, Dante; Planells, Fernando; Noval, Diego; Buñirigo, Pablo; Jofré, Ricardo; Díaz Nielsen, Ernesto

2015-01-01

Objectives The effectiveness of the active humidification systems (AHS) in patients already weaned from mechanical ventilation and with an artificial airway has not been very well described. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of an AHS in chronically tracheostomized and spontaneously breathing patients. Methods Measurements were quantified at three levels of temperature (T°) of the AHS: level I, low; level II, middle; and level III, high and at different flow levels (20 to 60 L/minute). Statistical analysis of repeated measurements was performed using analysis of variance and significance was set at a P<0.05. Results While the lowest temperature setting (level I) did not condition gas to the minimum recommended values for any of the flows that were used, the medium temperature setting (level II) only conditioned gas with flows of 20 and 30 L/minute. Finally, at the highest temperature setting (level III), every flow reached the minimum absolute humidity (AH) recommended of 30 mg/L. Conclusion According to our results, to obtain appropiate relative humidity, AH and T° of gas one should have a device that maintains water T° at least at 53℃ for flows between 20 and 30 L/m, or at T° of 61℃ at any flow rate. PMID:25729499

40 CFR Figure C-4 to Subpart C of... - Illustration of the Minimum Limits for Correlation Coefficient for PM2.5 and PM10−2.5 Class II...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 6 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Illustration of the Minimum Limits for Correlation Coefficient for PM2.5 and PM10â2.5 Class II and III Methods C Figure C-4 to Subpart C of Part 53... Methods and Reference Methods Pt. 53, Subpt. C, Fig. C-4 Figure C-4 to Subpart C of Part 53—Illustration...

40 CFR Figure C-4 to Subpart C of... - Illustration of the Minimum Limits for Correlation Coefficient for PM2.5 and PM10−2.5 Class II...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 5 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Illustration of the Minimum Limits for Correlation Coefficient for PM2.5 and PM10â2.5 Class II and III Methods C Figure C-4 to Subpart C of Part 53... Methods and Reference Methods Pt. 53, Subpt. C, Fig. C-4 Figure C-4 to Subpart C of Part 53—Illustration...

40 CFR Figure C-4 to Subpart C of... - Illustration of the Minimum Limits for Correlation Coefficient for PM2.5 and PM10−2.5 Class II...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 5 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Illustration of the Minimum Limits for Correlation Coefficient for PM2.5 and PM10â2.5 Class II and III Methods C Figure C-4 to Subpart C of Part 53... Methods and Reference Methods Pt. 53, Subpt. C, Fig. C-4 Figure C-4 to Subpart C of Part 53—Illustration...

42 CFR 422.503 - General provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... oversight and control over the MA organization's policies and personnel to ensure that management actions... management aspects of the organization. (iii) At a minimum, an executive manager whose appointment and... effectiveness of the compliance programs. (C)(1) Each MA organization must establish and implement effective...

42 CFR 422.503 - General provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... oversight and control over the MA organization's policies and personnel to ensure that management actions... management aspects of the organization. (iii) At a minimum, an executive manager whose appointment and... effectiveness of the compliance programs. (C)(1) Each MA organization must establish and implement effective...

14 CFR 1300.17 - Application evaluation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 1300.17 Aeronautics and Space AIR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM STABILIZATION OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET AVIATION DISASTER RELIEF-AIR CARRIER GUARANTEE LOAN PROGRAM Minimum Requirements and Application Procedures... the ability to administer the loan, including its experience with loans to air carriers; and (iii) Any...

7 CFR 4284.638 - Application processing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... Agriculture Regulations of the Department of Agriculture (Continued) RURAL BUSINESS-COOPERATIVE SERVICE AND RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE GRANTS Rural Business Opportunity Grants § 4284.638...; (iii) A written narrative which includes, at a minimum, the following items: (A) An explanation of why...

Stellar model chromospheres. III - Arcturus /K2 III/

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ayres, T. R.; Linsky, J. L.

1975-01-01

Models are constructed for the upper photosphere and chromosphere of Arcturus based on the H, K, and IR triplet lines of Ca II and the h and k lines of Mg II. The chromosphere model is derived from complete redistribution solutions for a five-level Ca II ion and a two-level Mg II ion. A photospheric model is derived from the Ca II wings using first the 'traditional' complete-redistribution limit and then the more realistic partial-redistribution approximation. The temperature and mass column densities for the temperature-minimum region and the chromosphere-transition region boundary are computed, and the pressure in the transition region and corona are estimated. It is found that the ratio of minimum temperature to effective temperature is approximately 0.77 for Arcturus, Procyon, and the sun, and that mass tends to increase at the temperature minimum with decreasing gravity. The pressure is found to be about 1 percent of the solar value, and the surface brightness of the Arcturus transition region and coronal spectrum is estimated to be much less than for the sun. The partial-redistribution calculation for the Ca II K line indicates that the emission width is at least partially determined by damping rather than Doppler broadening, suggesting a reexamination of previous explanations for the Wilson-Bappu effect.

25 CFR 547.11 - What are the minimum technical standards for money and credit handling?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... interface is: (i) Involved in the play of a game; (ii) In audit mode, recall mode or any test mode; (iii... specifically designed to prevent repetition of validation numbers; and (B) Has some form of checkcode or other...

25 CFR 547.11 - What are the minimum technical standards for money and credit handling?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... interface is: (i) Involved in the play of a game; (ii) In audit mode, recall mode or any test mode; (iii... specifically designed to prevent repetition of validation numbers; and (B) Has some form of checkcode or other...

12 CFR 326.3 - Security program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 12 Banks and Banking 4 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Security program. 326.3 Section 326.3 Banks and Banking FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION REGULATIONS AND STATEMENTS OF GENERAL POLICY MINIMUM... banking office; and (iii) Using identification devices, such as prerecorded serial-numbered bills, or...

Creative Classroom Assignment Through Database Management.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shah, Vivek; Bryant, Milton

1987-01-01

The Faculty Scheduling System (FSS), a database management system designed to give administrators the ability to schedule faculty in a fast and efficient manner is described. The FSS, developed using dBASE III, requires an IBM compatible microcomputer with a minimum of 256K memory. (MLW)

36 CFR Appendix A to Part 1234 - Minimum Security Standards for Level III Federal Facilities

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... technology and blast standards. Immediate review of ongoing projects may generate savings in the... critical systems (alarm systems, radio communications, computer facilities, etc.) Required. Occupant... all exterior windows (shatter protection) Recommended. Review current projects for blast standards...

36 CFR Appendix A to Part 1234 - Minimum Security Standards for Level III Federal Facilities

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... construction projects should be reviewed if possible, to incorporate current technology and blast standards... critical systems (alarm systems, radio communications, computer facilities, etc.) Required. Occupant... all exterior windows (shatter protection) Recommended. Review current projects for blast standards...

36 CFR Appendix A to Part 1234 - Minimum Security Standards for Level III Federal Facilities

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... technology and blast standards. Immediate review of ongoing projects may generate savings in the... critical systems (alarm systems, radio communications, computer facilities, etc.) Required. Occupant... all exterior windows (shatter protection) Recommended. Review current projects for blast standards...

Are the results of multiple drilling and alendronate for osteonecrosis of the femoral head better than those of multiple drilling? A pilot study.

PubMed

Kang, Pengde; Pei, Fuxing; Shen, Bin; Zhou, Zongke; Yang, Jing

2012-01-01

The treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) remains controversial. A recently proposed treatment is multiple drilling core decompression combined with systemic alendronate as a femoral head-preserving procedure for ONFH. However, it is not known whether alendronate enhances the risk of collapse. We wondered whether the combined procedure could delay or prevent progression of ONFH compared to multiple drilling alone. Patients with early-stage ONFH were randomly assigned to be treated with either multiple drilling combined with alendronate (47 patients, 67 hips) or multiple drilling alone (46 patients, 60 hips). We defined failure as the need for THA or a Harris score less than 70. The minimum follow-up was 48 months for the 77 patients completing the protocol. After a minimum 4-year follow-up, 91% (40/44) of patients with Stage II disease and 62% (8/13) of patients with Stage III disease had not required THA in alendronate group, compared to 79% (31/39) of patients with Stage II disease and 46% (6/13) of patients with Stage III disease had not required THA in control group (P=0.12, P=0.047, respectively). Small or medium and central lesions had a better successful rate in both groups. Risk factors did not seem to affect the clinical successful rate of this procedure. Multiple small-diameter drilling core decompression combined with systemic alendronate administration can reduce pain and delay progression of early-stage ONFH. Even in Ficat IIA and III hips, some benefit was obtained from this approach at least delay in the need for THA. Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier SAS.

48 CFR 232.503-15 - Application of Government title terms.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... title terms. 232.503-15 Section 232.503-15 Federal Acquisition Regulations System DEFENSE ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE GENERAL CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS CONTRACT FINANCING Progress... took place in the prior month; and (iii) The summary report includes as a minimum, the total number and...

48 CFR 232.503-15 - Application of Government title terms.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... title terms. 232.503-15 Section 232.503-15 Federal Acquisition Regulations System DEFENSE ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE GENERAL CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS CONTRACT FINANCING Progress... took place in the prior month; and (iii) The summary report includes as a minimum, the total number and...

48 CFR 232.503-15 - Application of Government title terms.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... title terms. 232.503-15 Section 232.503-15 Federal Acquisition Regulations System DEFENSE ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE GENERAL CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS CONTRACT FINANCING Progress... took place in the prior month; and (iii) The summary report includes as a minimum, the total number and...

48 CFR 232.503-15 - Application of Government title terms.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... title terms. 232.503-15 Section 232.503-15 Federal Acquisition Regulations System DEFENSE ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE GENERAL CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS CONTRACT FINANCING Progress... place in the prior month; and (iii) The summary report includes as a minimum, the total number and...

48 CFR 232.503-15 - Application of Government title terms.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... title terms. 232.503-15 Section 232.503-15 Federal Acquisition Regulations System DEFENSE ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE GENERAL CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS CONTRACT FINANCING Progress... place in the prior month; and (iii) The summary report includes as a minimum, the total number and...

10 CFR 37.43 - General security program requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... overall security strategy to ensure the integrated and effective functioning of the security program required by this subpart. The security plan must, at a minimum: (i) Describe the measures and strategies... lessons learned; (iii) Relevant results of NRC inspections; and (iv) Relevant results of the licensee's...

The unusual carbon star HD 59643 - Alternative models

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, H. R.; Eaton, J. A.; Querci, F. R.; Querci, M.; Baumert, J. H.

1988-01-01

A binary model for the carbon star HD 59643 is discussed in which the secondary spectrum is formed in an accretion disk. If this hot, ultraviolet-emitting disk radiates like a 20,000 K black-body, it must be 0.03 solar radii or less across at minimum emission. Large widths of C IV multiplet UV1 on high-resolution spectra indicate its formation in the inner parts of a disk. The semiforbidden C III and Si III lines, however, are much narrower and could be formed in the outer parts of a disk or in the carbon star's chromosphere. The electron density in the region of formation of C III is about 10 to the 10th/cu cm.

Using the RUG-III classification system for understanding the resource intensity of persons with intellectual disability residing in nursing homes.

PubMed

Martin, Lynn; Fries, Brant E; Hirdes, John P; James, Mary

2011-06-01

Since 1991, the Minimum Data Set 2.0 (MDS 2.0) has been the mandated assessment in US nursing homes. The Resource Utilization Groups III (RUG-III) case-mix system provides person-specific means of allocating resources based on the variable costs of caring for persons with different needs. Retrospective analyses of data collected on a sample of 9707 nursing home residents (2.4% had an intellectual disability) were used to examine the fit of the RUG-III case-mix system for determining the cost of supporting persons with intellectual disability (intellectual disability). The RUG-III system explained 33.3% of the variance in age-weighted nursing time among persons with intellectual disability compared to 29.6% among other residents, making it a good fit among persons with intellectual disability in nursing homes. The RUG-III may also serve as the basis for the development of a classification system that describes the resource intensity of persons with intellectual disability in other settings that provide similar types of support.

Modification and benchmarking of SKYSHINE-III for use with ISFSI cask arrays

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

Hertel, N.E.; Napolitano, D.G.

1997-12-01

Dry cask storage arrays are becoming more and more common at nuclear power plants in the United States. Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 72, limits doses at the controlled area boundary of these independent spent-fuel storage installations (ISFSI) to 0.25 mSv (25 mrem)/yr. The minimum controlled area boundaries of such a facility are determined by cask array dose calculations, which include direct radiation and radiation scattered by the atmosphere, also known as skyshine. NAC International (NAC) uses SKYSHINE-III to calculate the gamma-ray and neutron dose rates as a function of distance from ISFSI arrays. In thismore » paper, we present modifications to the SKYSHINE-III that more explicitly model cask arrays. In addition, we have benchmarked the radiation transport methods used in SKYSHINE-III against {sup 60}Co gamma-ray experiments and MCNP neutron calculations.« less

Laboratory and epidemiologic evaluation of an enzyme immunoassay for antibodies to HTLV-III

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

Ward, J.W.; Grindon, A.J.; Feorino, P.M.

1986-07-18

The enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) for antibody to human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) were rapidly adopted for screening donated blood and plasma. To evaluate the significance of a positive EIA reaction, test performance was examined in a blood bank screening program. Specimens were tested by EIA, Western blot assay, and HTLV-III/lymphadenopathy-associated virus (LAV) culture. The EIA was positive in 0.25% of 67 190 blood donations. Specimens were categorized and 57.3% had low (weak) reactivity, 12.7% had moderate reactivity, and 30.0% had high reactivity. Highly reactive specimens were strongly associated with a positive Western blot or culture (86.7%) in contrastmore » to moderately and weekly reactive specimens (1.9%). Twenty-five of 29 donors interviewed with a highly reactive EIA had risk factors for HTLV-III/LAV infection. Risk factors were not identified for 74 of 75 interviewed donors with specimens of lower reactivity. The minimum calculated specificity was 99.82%. The use of the HTLV-III EIA has virtually eliminated the use of blood and plasma for HTLV-III/LAV infected donors.« less

Effects of crystalloid on lung fluid balance after smoke inhalation.

PubMed Central

Clark, W R; Nieman, G F; Goyette, D; Gryzboski, D

1988-01-01

Inhalation injury occurs in 21% of flame burn victims who require large fluid volumes for resuscitation and have a mortality rate greater than 30%. This study was done to determine how vulnerable the smoke-injured lung is to fluid accumulation when crystalloids are infused rapidly. Mongrel dogs were exposed to smoke and 10% body-weight Ringer's lactate in three groups: (I) fluid only, (II) smoke only, and (III) smoke and fluid. The increase in wet-dry lung weight ratio was 2% in Group I, 28% in Group II, and 42% in Group III, consistent with pulmonary edema present only in Group III. The decrease in colloid oncotic pressure was similar in both of the groups that were given fluid, and the rise in the surface tension minimum of lung extracts was similar in both of the groups that were exposed to smoke. The smoke-injured lung loses the ability to protect itself when challenged with fluid. Reduced oncotic pressure is not responsible. Changes in microvascular pressure, endothelial and epithelial damage, and surfactant inactivation interact to cause this increase in extravascular lung water. PMID:3389945

10 CFR 420.15 - Minimum criteria for required program activities for plans.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

.../vanpool matching and promotion campaign; (ii) Park-and-ride lots; (iii) Preferential traffic control for... employees; (x) Urban area traffic restrictions; (xi) Geographical or time restrictions on automobile use; or... efficiency standards for renovated buildings. (e) A traffic law or regulation which permits the operator of a...

10 CFR 420.15 - Minimum criteria for required program activities for plans.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

.../vanpool matching and promotion campaign; (ii) Park-and-ride lots; (iii) Preferential traffic control for... employees; (x) Urban area traffic restrictions; (xi) Geographical or time restrictions on automobile use; or... efficiency standards for renovated buildings. (e) A traffic law or regulation which permits the operator of a...

10 CFR 420.15 - Minimum criteria for required program activities for plans.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

.../vanpool matching and promotion campaign; (ii) Park-and-ride lots; (iii) Preferential traffic control for... employees; (x) Urban area traffic restrictions; (xi) Geographical or time restrictions on automobile use; or... efficiency standards for renovated buildings. (e) A traffic law or regulation which permits the operator of a...

26 CFR 1.414(r)-0 - Table of contents.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... its lines of business. (1) In general. (2) Property and services provided to customers. (i) In general... illustrating property and services provided to customers. § 1.414(r)-3Separate line of business. (a) General... required. (i) Applicability. (ii) Requirement. (iii) Defined benefit minimum. (A) In general. (B) Normal...

42 CFR 423.2430 - Activities that improve health care quality.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 42 Public Health 3 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Activities that improve health care quality. 423... Requirements for a Minimum Medical Loss Ratio § 423.2430 Activities that improve health care quality. (a... discharge planning, and post-discharge reinforcement by an appropriate health care professional. (iii) To...

42 CFR 423.2430 - Activities that improve health care quality.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 42 Public Health 3 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Activities that improve health care quality. 423... Requirements for a Minimum Medical Loss Ratio § 423.2430 Activities that improve health care quality. (a... discharge planning, and post-discharge reinforcement by an appropriate health care professional. (iii) To...

42 CFR 422.2430 - Activities that improve health care quality.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 42 Public Health 3 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Activities that improve health care quality. 422... Minimum Medical Loss Ratio § 422.2430 Activities that improve health care quality. (a) Activity... discharge planning, and post-discharge reinforcement by an appropriate health care professional. (iii) To...

42 CFR 422.2430 - Activities that improve health care quality.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 42 Public Health 3 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Activities that improve health care quality. 422... Minimum Medical Loss Ratio § 422.2430 Activities that improve health care quality. (a) Activity... discharge planning, and post-discharge reinforcement by an appropriate health care professional. (iii) To...

30 CFR 715.18 - Dams constructed of or impounding waste material.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... overtopping by wind and wave action. (iii) Dams shall have minimum safety factors as follows: Case Loading... abutments shall be controlled to prevent excessive uplift pressures, internal erosion, sloughing, removal of... before construction begins. (8) All dams shall be removed and the disturbed areas regraded, revegetated...

30 CFR 715.18 - Dams constructed of or impounding waste material.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... overtopping by wind and wave action. (iii) Dams shall have minimum safety factors as follows: Case Loading... abutments shall be controlled to prevent excessive uplift pressures, internal erosion, sloughing, removal of... before construction begins. (8) All dams shall be removed and the disturbed areas regraded, revegetated...

30 CFR 715.18 - Dams constructed of or impounding waste material.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... overtopping by wind and wave action. (iii) Dams shall have minimum safety factors as follows: Case Loading... abutments shall be controlled to prevent excessive uplift pressures, internal erosion, sloughing, removal of... before construction begins. (8) All dams shall be removed and the disturbed areas regraded, revegetated...

49 CFR 538.7 - Petitions for reduction of minimum driving range.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... type treated as an electric dual fueled automobile. (3) Be written in the English language. (4) State... range is sought. (iii) A description of the model type, including car line designation, engine displacement and type, electric storage capacity, transmission type, and average fuel economy when operating on...

49 CFR 538.7 - Petitions for reduction of minimum driving range.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... type treated as an electric dual fueled automobile. (3) Be written in the English language. (4) State... range is sought. (iii) A description of the model type, including car line designation, engine displacement and type, electric storage capacity, transmission type, and average fuel economy when operating on...

49 CFR 538.7 - Petitions for reduction of minimum driving range.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... type treated as an electric dual fueled automobile. (3) Be written in the English language. (4) State... range is sought. (iii) A description of the model type, including car line designation, engine displacement and type, electric storage capacity, transmission type, and average fuel economy when operating on...

40 CFR 63.8688 - What are my monitoring installation, operation, and maintenance requirements?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... following: (1) Locate the temperature sensor in a position that provides a representative temperature. (2) For a noncryogenic temperature range, use a temperature sensor with a minimum measurement sensitivity... output; or (iii) By comparing the sensor output to the output from a calibrated temperature measurement...

40 CFR 63.8688 - What are my monitoring installation, operation, and maintenance requirements?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... following: (1) Locate the temperature sensor in a position that provides a representative temperature. (2) For a noncryogenic temperature range, use a temperature sensor with a minimum measurement sensitivity... output; or (iii) By comparing the sensor output to the output from a calibrated temperature measurement...

40 CFR 63.8688 - What are my monitoring installation, operation, and maintenance requirements?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... following: (1) Locate the temperature sensor in a position that provides a representative temperature. (2) For a noncryogenic temperature range, use a temperature sensor with a minimum measurement sensitivity... output; or (iii) By comparing the sensor output to the output from a calibrated temperature measurement...

40 CFR 63.8688 - What are my monitoring installation, operation, and maintenance requirements?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... following: (1) Locate the temperature sensor in a position that provides a representative temperature. (2) For a noncryogenic temperature range, use a temperature sensor with a minimum measurement sensitivity... output; or (iii) By comparing the sensor output to the output from a calibrated temperature measurement...

40 CFR 63.8688 - What are my monitoring installation, operation, and maintenance requirements?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... following: (1) Locate the temperature sensor in a position that provides a representative temperature. (2) For a noncryogenic temperature range, use a temperature sensor with a minimum measurement sensitivity... output; or (iii) By comparing the sensor output to the output from a calibrated temperature measurement...

40 CFR 91.607 - Test procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... weekends or holidays. (iii) If the manufacturer's service or target is less than the minimum rate specified... target. (3) Service accumulation must be completed on a sufficient number of test engines during... nonroad engine sales for the United States market for the applicable year of 7,500 or greater must...

40 CFR 89.109 - Maintenance instructions and minimum allowable maintenance intervals.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

...) Turbocharger. (iii) Electronic engine control unit and its associated sensors and actuators. (iv) Particulate... emission control and whose function is not integral to the design and performance of the engine). (d... once before the low-hour emission test point. Any other engine, emission control system, or fuel system...

40 CFR 89.109 - Maintenance instructions and minimum allowable maintenance intervals.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

...) Turbocharger. (iii) Electronic engine control unit and its associated sensors and actuators. (iv) Particulate... emission control and whose function is not integral to the design and performance of the engine). (d... once before the low-hour emission test point. Any other engine, emission control system, or fuel system...

40 CFR 89.109 - Maintenance instructions and minimum allowable maintenance intervals.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

...) Turbocharger. (iii) Electronic engine control unit and its associated sensors and actuators. (iv) Particulate... emission control and whose function is not integral to the design and performance of the engine). (d... once before the low-hour emission test point. Any other engine, emission control system, or fuel system...

40 CFR 257.28 - Implementation of the corrective action program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

...-Hazardous Waste Disposal Units Ground-Water Monitoring and Corrective Action § 257.28 Implementation of the... ground-water monitoring program that: (i) At a minimum, meets the requirements of an assessment monitoring program under § 257.25; (ii) Indicates the effectiveness of the corrective action remedy; and (iii...

7 CFR 246.18 - Administrative review of State agency actions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... actions: (A) Denial of authorization based on the application of the vendor selection criteria for minimum...) Denial of authorization based on the vendor selection criteria for business integrity or for a current...)(iii)); (B) Denial of authorization based on the application of the vendor selection criteria for...

12 CFR Appendix A to Part 1720 - Policy Guidance; Minimum Safety and Soundness Requirements

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... maintains an effective risk management framework, including review of such framework to monitor its... credit quality. II. Balance sheet growth and management. III. Market risk. IV. Information technology. V..., measurement, monitoring, and management of market risk. The Enterprise should: i. Establish and implement...

12 CFR Appendix A to Part 1720 - Policy Guidance; Minimum Safety and Soundness Requirements

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... maintains an effective risk management framework, including review of such framework to monitor its... credit quality. II. Balance sheet growth and management. III. Market risk. IV. Information technology. V..., measurement, monitoring, and management of market risk. The Enterprise should: i. Establish and implement...

12 CFR Appendix A to Part 1720 - Policy Guidance; Minimum Safety and Soundness Requirements

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... maintains an effective risk management framework, including review of such framework to monitor its... credit quality. II. Balance sheet growth and management. III. Market risk. IV. Information technology. V..., measurement, monitoring, and management of market risk. The Enterprise should: i. Establish and implement...

The mass distribution of Population III stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fraser, M.; Casey, A. R.; Gilmore, G.; Heger, A.; Chan, C.

2017-06-01

Extremely metal-poor (EMP) stars are uniquely informative on the nature of massive Population III stars. Modulo a few elements that vary with stellar evolution, the present-day photospheric abundances observed in EMP stars are representative of their natal gas cloud composition. For this reason, the chemistry of EMP stars closely reflects the nucleosynthetic yields of supernovae from massive Population III stars. Here we collate detailed abundances of 53 EMP stars from the literature and infer the masses of their Population III progenitors. We fit a simple initial mass function (IMF) to a subset of 29 of the inferred Population III star masses, and find that the mass distribution is well represented by a power-law IMF with exponent α = 2.35^{+0.29}_{-0.24}. The inferred maximum progenitor mass for supernovae from massive Population III stars is M_{max} = 87^{+13}_{-33} M⊙, and we find no evidence in our sample for a contribution from stars with masses above ˜120 M⊙. The minimum mass is strongly consistent with the theoretical lower mass limit for Population III supernovae. We conclude that the IMF for massive Population III stars is consistent with the IMF of present-day massive stars and there may well have formed stars much below the supernova mass limit that could have survived to the present day.

Dynamic fracture toughness of ASME SA508 Class 2a ASME SA533 grade A Class 2 base and heat affected zone material and applicable weld metals

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

Logsdon, W.A.; Begley, J.A.; Gottshall, C.L.

1978-03-01

The ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section III, Article G-2000, requires that dynamic fracture toughness data be developed for materials with specified minimum yield strengths greater than 50 ksi to provide verification and utilization of the ASME specified minimum reference toughness K/sub IR/ curve. In order to qualify ASME SA508 Class 2a and ASME SA533 Grade A Class 2 pressure vessel steels (minimum yield strengths equal 65 kip/in./sup 2/ and 70 kip/in./sup 2/, respectively) per this requirement, dynamic fracture toughness tests were performed on these materials. All dynamic fracture toughness values of SA508 Class 2a base and HAZ material,more » SA533 Grade A Class 2 base and HAZ material, and applicable weld metals exceeded the ASME specified minimum reference toughness K/sub IR/ curve.« less

A New Hard X-ray Wiggler for DORIS III

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

Tischer, M.; Gumprecht, L.; Pflueger, J.

2007-01-19

A 4 m long hard X-ray wiggler has been built and installed in the DORIS III storage ring at DESY. The device replaces an old wiggler especially designed for angiography studies. Future use of this beamline at the HARWI straight section has been dedicated to hard X-ray scattering and diffraction experiments for material science and geological investigations. The required energy range is from 30 keV to about 200 keV with emphasis on the {approx}100 keV spectral range. The magnet configuration corresponds to a hybrid structure with additional side magnets to achieve a 2 T peak field for the specified periodmore » length of 110 mm. The wiggler position in the storage ring has been moved 8 m upstream into the next cell which allowed for reduction of the minimum magnetic wiggler gap to 14 mm.« less

Transformation of Nitrate and Toluene in Groundwater by Sulfur Modified Iron(SMI-III)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, W.; Park, S.; Lim, J.; Hong, U.; Kwon, S.; Kim, Y.

2009-12-01

In Korea, nitrate and benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene isomers (BTEX) are frequently detected together as ground water contaminants. Therefore, a system simultaneously treating both nitrate (inorganic compound) and BTEX (organic compounds) is required to utilize groundwater as a water resource. In this study, we investigated the efficiency of Sulfur Modified Iron (SMI-III) in treating both nitrate and BTEX contaminated groundwater. Based on XRD (X-Ray Diffraction) analysis, the SMI-III is mainly composed of Fe3O4, S, and Fe. A series of column tests were conducted at three different empty bed contact times (EBCTs) for each compound. During the experiments, removal efficiency for both nitrate and toluene were linearly correlated with EBCT, suggesting that SMI-III have an ability to transform both nitrate and toluene. The concentration of SO42- and oxidation/reduction potential (ORP) were also measured. After exposed to nitrate contaminated groundwater, the composition of SMI-III was changed to Fe2O3, Fe3O4, Fe, and Fe0.95S1.05. The trends of effluent sulfate concentrations were inversely correlated with effluent nitrate concentrations, while the trends of ORP values, having the minimum values of -480 mV, were highly correlated with effluent nitrate concentrations. XRD analysis before and after exposed to nitrate contaminated groundwater, sulfate production, and nitrite detection as a reductive transformation by-product of nitrate suggest that nitrate is reductively transformed by SMI-III. Interestingly, in the toluene experiments, the trends of ORP values were inversely correlated with effluent toluene concentrations, suggesting that probably degrade through oxidation reaction. Consequently, nitrate and toluene probably degrade through reduction and oxidation reaction, respectively and SMI-III could serve as both electron donor and acceptor.

14 CFR 93.307 - Minimum flight altitudes.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

...) Marble Canyon Sector. Lees Ferry to Boundary Ridge: 6,000 feet MSL. (ii) Supai Sector. Boundary Ridge to... general aviation operations—(i) Marble Canyon Sector. Lees Ferry to Boundary Ridge: 8,000 feet MSL. (ii) Supai Sector. Boundary Ridge to Supai Point: 10,000 feet MSL. (iii) Diamond Creek Sector. Supai Point to...

21 CFR 520.1196 - Ivermectin and pyrantel pamoate chewable tablets.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... this chapter. (c) Conditions of use—(1) Dogs—(i) Amount. A minimum of 6 µg of ivermectin and 5 mg of... for use. To prevent canine heartworm disease by eliminating the tissue larval stages of Dirofilaria... stenocephala. (iii) Limitations. Use monthly. Recommended for dogs 6 weeks of age and older. Federal law...

21 CFR 520.1196 - Ivermectin and pyrantel pamoate chewable tablets.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... this chapter. (c) Conditions of use—(1) Dogs—(i) Amount. A minimum of 6 µg of ivermectin and 5 mg of... for use. To prevent canine heartworm disease by eliminating the tissue larval stages of Dirofilaria... stenocephala. (iii) Limitations. Use monthly. Recommended for dogs 6 weeks of age and older. Federal law...

21 CFR 520.1196 - Ivermectin and pyrantel pamoate chewable tablets.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... this chapter. (c) Conditions of use—(1) Dogs—(i) Amount. A minimum of 6 µg of ivermectin and 5 mg of... for use. To prevent canine heartworm disease by eliminating the tissue larval stages of Dirofilaria... stenocephala. (iii) Limitations. Use monthly. Recommended for dogs 6 weeks of age and older. Federal law...

38 CFR 36.4362 - Rights and restrictions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... parking areas or facilities. (ii) Any contract or lease, including franchises and licenses, to which a declarant is a party. (iii) The requirements of paragraphs (a)(2)(i) and (ii) of this section do not apply... restrictions are acceptable: (i) A requirement that leases have a minimum initial term of up to 1 year; or (ii...

30 CFR 717.18 - Dams constructed of or impounding waste material.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... at least 3 feet to avoid overtopping by wind and wave action. (iii) Dams shall have minimum safety... pressures, internal erosion, sloughing, removal of material by solution, or erosion of material by loss into... regulatory authority before construction begins. (8) All dams shall be removed and the disturbed areas...

30 CFR 717.18 - Dams constructed of or impounding waste material.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... at least 3 feet to avoid overtopping by wind and wave action. (iii) Dams shall have minimum safety... pressures, internal erosion, sloughing, removal of material by solution, or erosion of material by loss into... regulatory authority before construction begins. (8) All dams shall be removed and the disturbed areas...

30 CFR 717.18 - Dams constructed of or impounding waste material.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... at least 3 feet to avoid overtopping by wind and wave action. (iii) Dams shall have minimum safety... pressures, internal erosion, sloughing, removal of material by solution, or erosion of material by loss into... regulatory authority before construction begins. (8) All dams shall be removed and the disturbed areas...

40 CFR 63.5725 - What are the requirements for monitoring and demonstrating continuous compliance?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... temperature monitoring device. (i) Locate the temperature sensor in a position that provides a representative temperature. (ii) Use a temperature sensor with a minimum tolerance of 2.2 °C or 0.75 percent of the temperature value, whichever is larger. (iii) Shield the temperature sensor system from electromagnetic...

14 CFR 105.45 - Use of tandem parachute systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

...) Has completed a minimum of 500 freefall parachute jumps using a ram-air parachute, and (iii) Holds a... parachute jump with a tandem parachute system unless— (1) The main parachute has been packed by a certificated parachute rigger, the parachutist in command making the next jump with that parachute, or a person...

24 CFR 3280.610 - Drainage systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... individually vented. (iii) A 3-inch minimum diameter piping shall be required for water closets. (f) Wet-vented... water seal trap (§ 3280.606(a)). (2) The drainage system shall be designed to provide an adequate... equipped with a water-tight cap or plug matching the drain outlet. The cap or plug shall be permanently...

24 CFR 3280.610 - Drainage systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... individually vented. (iii) A 3-inch minimum diameter piping shall be required for water closets. (f) Wet-vented... water seal trap (§ 3280.606(a)). (2) The drainage system shall be designed to provide an adequate... equipped with a water-tight cap or plug matching the drain outlet. The cap or plug shall be permanently...

40 CFR 63.5725 - What are the requirements for monitoring and demonstrating continuous compliance?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... temperature monitoring device. (i) Locate the temperature sensor in a position that provides a representative temperature. (ii) Use a temperature sensor with a minimum tolerance of 2.2 °C or 0.75 percent of the temperature value, whichever is larger. (iii) Shield the temperature sensor system from electromagnetic...

40 CFR 63.5725 - What are the requirements for monitoring and demonstrating continuous compliance?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... temperature monitoring device. (i) Locate the temperature sensor in a position that provides a representative temperature. (ii) Use a temperature sensor with a minimum tolerance of 2.2 °C or 0.75 percent of the temperature value, whichever is larger. (iii) Shield the temperature sensor system from electromagnetic...

29 CFR 1910.423 - Post-dive procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... human occupancy; (ii) A built-in-breathing-system with a minimum of one mask per occupant; (iii) A two-way voice communication system between occupants and a dive team member at the dive location; (iv) A... location. (6) A dive team member shall be available at the dive location during and for at least one hour...

29 CFR 1910.423 - Post-dive procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... human occupancy; (ii) A built-in-breathing-system with a minimum of one mask per occupant; (iii) A two-way voice communication system between occupants and a dive team member at the dive location; (iv) A... location. (6) A dive team member shall be available at the dive location during and for at least one hour...

29 CFR 1910.423 - Post-dive procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... human occupancy; (ii) A built-in-breathing-system with a minimum of one mask per occupant; (iii) A two-way voice communication system between occupants and a dive team member at the dive location; (iv) A... location. (6) A dive team member shall be available at the dive location during and for at least one hour...

29 CFR 1910.423 - Post-dive procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... human occupancy; (ii) A built-in-breathing-system with a minimum of one mask per occupant; (iii) A two-way voice communication system between occupants and a dive team member at the dive location; (iv) A... location. (6) A dive team member shall be available at the dive location during and for at least one hour...

29 CFR 1910.423 - Post-dive procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... human occupancy; (ii) A built-in-breathing-system with a minimum of one mask per occupant; (iii) A two-way voice communication system between occupants and a dive team member at the dive location; (iv) A... location. (6) A dive team member shall be available at the dive location during and for at least one hour...

42 CFR 447.52 - Minimum and maximum income-related charges.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... agency imposes cost sharing under § 447.54, the process by which hospital emergency room services are... option, cost sharing imposed for any service (other than for drugs and non-emergency services furnished... group under § 447.56(a), and (iii) For cost sharing imposed for non-emergency services furnished in an...

36 CFR 222.54 - Grazing fees in the East-competitive bidding.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... permit to be issued, as well as document existing improvements and their condition. The prospectus shall...; (ii) The minimum bid price the agency will accept; (iii) Any required range improvements; and (iv) The... improvements. This hay price index shall be based on 3-year average hay prices and annually reflect the percent...

36 CFR 222.54 - Grazing fees in the East-competitive bidding.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... permit to be issued, as well as document existing improvements and their condition. The prospectus shall...; (ii) The minimum bid price the agency will accept; (iii) Any required range improvements; and (iv) The... improvements. This hay price index shall be based on 3-year average hay prices and annually reflect the percent...

21 CFR 172.864 - Synthetic fatty alcohols.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... into a 1-liter glass-stoppered volumetric flask and adjust to volume with hexane, with mixing. n... specifications prescribed in paragraph (a)(1) (i) and (iii) of this section. (3) n-Octyl; manufactured by the... produce n-octyl alcohol with a minimum purity of 99 percent. The analytical method for n-octyl alcohol...

21 CFR 172.864 - Synthetic fatty alcohols.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... into a 1-liter glass-stoppered volumetric flask and adjust to volume with hexane, with mixing. n... specifications prescribed in paragraph (a)(1) (i) and (iii) of this section. (3) n-Octyl; manufactured by the... produce n-octyl alcohol with a minimum purity of 99 percent. The analytical method for n-octyl alcohol...

21 CFR 172.864 - Synthetic fatty alcohols.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... into a 1-liter glass-stoppered volumetric flask and adjust to volume with hexane, with mixing. n... specifications prescribed in paragraph (a)(1) (i) and (iii) of this section. (3) n-Octyl; manufactured by the... produce n-octyl alcohol with a minimum purity of 99 percent. The analytical method for n-octyl alcohol...

21 CFR 205.5 - Minimum required information for licensure.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... name of the partnership; (iii) If a corporation, the name and title of each corporate officer and director, the corporate names, and the name of the State of incorporation; and (iv) If a sole... as part of any renewal of such license: (1) The name, full business address, and telephone number of...

21 CFR 205.5 - Minimum required information for licensure.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... name of the partnership; (iii) If a corporation, the name and title of each corporate officer and director, the corporate names, and the name of the State of incorporation; and (iv) If a sole... as part of any renewal of such license: (1) The name, full business address, and telephone number of...

21 CFR 205.5 - Minimum required information for licensure.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... name of the partnership; (iii) If a corporation, the name and title of each corporate officer and director, the corporate names, and the name of the State of incorporation; and (iv) If a sole... as part of any renewal of such license: (1) The name, full business address, and telephone number of...

21 CFR 205.5 - Minimum required information for licensure.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... name of the partnership; (iii) If a corporation, the name and title of each corporate officer and director, the corporate names, and the name of the State of incorporation; and (iv) If a sole... as part of any renewal of such license: (1) The name, full business address, and telephone number of...

21 CFR 205.5 - Minimum required information for licensure.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... name of the partnership; (iii) If a corporation, the name and title of each corporate officer and director, the corporate names, and the name of the State of incorporation; and (iv) If a sole... as part of any renewal of such license: (1) The name, full business address, and telephone number of...

25 CFR 542.11 - What are the minimum internal control standards for pari-mutuel wagering?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

...; (ii) Gaming operation name (or identification number) and station number; (iii) Race track, race number, horse identification or event identification, as applicable; (iv) Type of bet(s), each bet amount... wagering on race events while on duty, including during break periods. (g) Computer reports standards. (1...

40 CFR Table 2 to Subpart III of... - Operating Limits for Wet Scrubbers

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 8 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Operating Limits for Wet Scrubbers 2... Part 62—Operating Limits for Wet Scrubbers For these operating parameters You must establish these... and intermittent units) a Pressure drop across the wet scrubber or amperage to wet scrubber Minimum...

40 CFR Table 2 to Subpart III of... - Operating Limits for Wet Scrubbers

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 8 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Operating Limits for Wet Scrubbers 2... Part 62—Operating Limits for Wet Scrubbers For these operating parameters You must establish these... and intermittent units) a Pressure drop across the wet scrubber or amperage to wet scrubber Minimum...

A hydrogen-oxidizing, Fe(III)-reducing microorganism from the Great Bay estuary, New Hampshire

USGS Publications Warehouse

Caccavo, F.; Blakemore, R.P.; Lovley, D.R.

1992-01-01

A dissimilatory Fe(III)- and Mn(IV)-reducing bacterium was isolated from bottom sediments of the Great Bay estuary, New Hampshire. The isolate was a facultatively anaerobic gram-negative rod which did not appear to fit into any previously described genus. It was temporarily designated strain BrY. BrY grew anaerobically in a defined medium with hydrogen or lactate as the electron donor and Fe(III) as the electron acceptor. BrY required citrate, fumarate, or malate as a carbon source for growth on H2 and Fe(III). With Fe(III) as the sole electron acceptor, BrY metabolized hydrogen to a minimum threshold at least 60-fold lower than the threshold reported for pure cultures of sulfate reducers. This finding supports the hypothesis that when Fe(III) is available, Fe(III) reducers can outcompete sulfate reducers for electron donors. Lactate was incompletely oxidized to acetate and carbon dioxide with Fe(III) as the electron acceptor. Lactate oxidation was also coupled to the reduction of Mn(IV), U(VI), fumarate, thiosulfate, or trimethylamine n-oxide under anaerobic conditions. BrY provides a model for how enzymatic metal reduction by respiratory metal-reducing microorganisms has the potential to contribute to the mobilization of iron and trace metals and to the immobilization of uranium in sediments of Great Bay Estuary.

Unbiased estimation in seamless phase II/III trials with unequal treatment effect variances and hypothesis-driven selection rules.

PubMed

Robertson, David S; Prevost, A Toby; Bowden, Jack

2016-09-30

Seamless phase II/III clinical trials offer an efficient way to select an experimental treatment and perform confirmatory analysis within a single trial. However, combining the data from both stages in the final analysis can induce bias into the estimates of treatment effects. Methods for bias adjustment developed thus far have made restrictive assumptions about the design and selection rules followed. In order to address these shortcomings, we apply recent methodological advances to derive the uniformly minimum variance conditionally unbiased estimator for two-stage seamless phase II/III trials. Our framework allows for the precision of the treatment arm estimates to take arbitrary values, can be utilised for all treatments that are taken forward to phase III and is applicable when the decision to select or drop treatment arms is driven by a multiplicity-adjusted hypothesis testing procedure. © 2016 The Authors. Statistics in Medicine Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. © 2016 The Authors. Statistics in Medicine Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Position Between Trunk and Pelvis During Gait Depending on the Gross Motor Function Classification System.

PubMed

Sanz-Mengibar, Jose Manuel; Altschuck, Natalie; Sanchez-de-Muniain, Paloma; Bauer, Christian; Santonja-Medina, Fernando

2017-04-01

To understand whether there is a trunk postural control threshold in the sagittal plane for the transition between the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels measured with 3-dimensional gait analysis. Kinematics from 97 children with spastic bilateral cerebral palsy from spine angles according to Plug-In Gait model (Vicon) were plotted relative to their GMFCS level. Only average and minimum values of the lumbar spine segment correlated with GMFCS levels. Maximal values at loading response correlated independently with age at all functional levels. Average and minimum values were significant when analyzing age in combination with GMFCS level. There are specific postural control patterns in the average and minimum values for the position between trunk and pelvis in the sagittal plane during gait, for the transition among GMFCS I-III levels. Higher classifications of gross motor skills correlate with more extended spine angles.

25 CFR 542.11 - What are the minimum internal control standards for pari-mutuel wagering?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... written. (2) Whenever a betting station is opened for wagering or turned over to a new writer/cashier, the... number), station number, the writer/cashier identifier, and the date and time. (3) A betting ticket shall...; (ii) Gaming operation name (or identification number) and station number; (iii) Race track, race...

21 CFR 133.190 - Spiced cheeses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... contains spices, in a minimum amount of 0.015 ounce per pound of cheese, and may contain spice oils. If the..., spices are added so as to be evenly distributed throughout the finished cheese. One or more of the other..., used as a coagulation aid. (iii) Salt. (iv) Spice oils which do not, alone or in combination with other...

78 FR 47471 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-05

... Permit the Nullification of Trades Involving Catastrophic Errors July 30, 2013 Pursuant to Section 19(b.... Specifically, BX proposes to amend Section 6(f)(iii) to permit the nullification of trades involving... of the proposed adjusted price to accept it or else the trade will be nullified: Minimum Theoretical...

12 CFR Appendix A to Subpart A of... - Minimum Capital Components for Interest Rate and Foreign Exchange Rate Contracts

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... sheet interest rate and foreign exchange rate contracts: a. Interest Rate Contracts i. Single currency... Contracts i. Cross-currency interest rate swaps. ii. Forward foreign exchange rate contracts. iii. Currency... exposure is zero. Mark-to-market values are measured in United States dollars, regardless of the currency...

17 CFR Appendix B to Part 255 - Enhanced Minimum Standards for Compliance Programs

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... documentation for market making-related activities conducted in reliance on § 255.4(b) and for hedging activity... activities; iii. The mission (i.e., the type of trading activity, such as market-making, trading in sovereign... arrangements for traders engaged in underwriting or market making-related activities under § 255.4 or risk...

25 CFR 547.12 - What are the minimum technical standards for downloading on a Class II gaming system?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... limited to software, files, data, and prize schedules. (2) Downloads must use secure methodologies that... date of the completion of the download; (iii) The Class II gaming system components to which software was downloaded; (iv) The version(s) of download package and any software downloaded. Logging of the...

25 CFR 547.12 - What are the minimum technical standards for downloading on a Class II gaming system?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... limited to software, files, data, and prize schedules. (2) Downloads must use secure methodologies that... date of the completion of the download; (iii) The Class II gaming system components to which software was downloaded; (iv) The version(s) of download package and any software downloaded. Logging of the...

12 CFR 327.10 - Assessment rate schedules.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

...) The risk factors and other factors taken into account pursuant to 12 U.S.C. 1817(b)(1); and (v) Any... prescribed in the following schedule: Initial Base Assessment Rate Schedule Risk category I * Minimum Maximum II III IV Annual rates (in basis points) 12 16 22 32 45 * All amounts for all risk categories are in...

12 CFR 327.10 - Assessment rate schedules.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

...) The risk factors and other factors taken into account pursuant to 12 U.S.C. 1817(b)(1); and (v) Any... prescribed in the following schedule: Initial Base Assessment Rate Schedule Risk category I * Minimum Maximum II III IV Annual rates (in basis points) 12 16 22 32 45 * All amounts for all risk categories are in...

50 CFR 648.147 - Framework adjustments to management measures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

...)(2)(i) through (iv). (3) Regional Administrator action. See § 648.108(a)(i) through (iii). (4... western Atlantic Ocean from 35°15.3′ N. Lat., the latitude of Cape Hatteras Light, North Carolina.... The minimum fish size for black sea bass is 12.5 inches (31.75 cm) TL for all vessels that do not...

34 CFR 366.63 - What evidence must a center present to demonstrate that it is in minimum compliance with the...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

...) Provides IL services to eligible individuals or groups of individuals without restrictions based on the particular type or types of significant disability of an individual or group of individuals, unless the... skills training. (ii) Peer counseling (including cross-disability peer counseling). (iii) Individual and...

INFORMATION, STANDARDS, AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR EQUIPMENT, MATERIALS, AND MINOR REMODELING FOR MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES (REVISED).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Illinois State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Springfield.

THE INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS VERY DETAILED DOCUMENT IS INTENDED FOR TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE FOREIGN LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION. THE SPECIFICATIONS PRESENTED ARE MINIMUM, BUT THEY MEET THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE III, NDEA. THE FIRST PART OUTLINES PROCEDURES FOR THE SELECTION AND…

40 CFR 60.334 - Monitoring of operations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... continuous monitoring system to monitor and record the fuel consumption and the ratio of water or steam to...) On a ppm basis (for NOX) and a percent O2 basis for oxygen; or (ii) On a ppm at 15 percent O2 basis... temperature (Ta), and minimum combustor inlet absolute pressure (Po) into the ISO correction equation. (iii...

40 CFR 60.334 - Monitoring of operations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... continuous monitoring system to monitor and record the fuel consumption and the ratio of water or steam to...) On a ppm basis (for NOX) and a percent O2 basis for oxygen; or (ii) On a ppm at 15 percent O2 basis... temperature (Ta), and minimum combustor inlet absolute pressure (Po) into the ISO correction equation. (iii...

40 CFR 60.334 - Monitoring of operations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... continuous monitoring system to monitor and record the fuel consumption and the ratio of water or steam to...) On a ppm basis (for NOX) and a percent O2 basis for oxygen; or (ii) On a ppm at 15 percent O2 basis... temperature (Ta), and minimum combustor inlet absolute pressure (Po) into the ISO correction equation. (iii...

40 CFR 60.334 - Monitoring of operations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... continuous monitoring system to monitor and record the fuel consumption and the ratio of water or steam to...) On a ppm basis (for NOX) and a percent O2 basis for oxygen; or (ii) On a ppm at 15 percent O2 basis... temperature (Ta), and minimum combustor inlet absolute pressure (Po) into the ISO correction equation. (iii...

40 CFR 60.334 - Monitoring of operations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... continuous monitoring system to monitor and record the fuel consumption and the ratio of water or steam to...) On a ppm basis (for NOX) and a percent O2 basis for oxygen; or (ii) On a ppm at 15 percent O2 basis... temperature (Ta), and minimum combustor inlet absolute pressure (Po) into the ISO correction equation. (iii...

75 FR 55963 - Standard Instrument Approach Procedures, and Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-15

... World, RNAV (RNP) Y RWY 17L, Amdt 1A Oklahoma City, OK, Will Rogers World, RNAV (RNP) Z RWY 35R, Orig-B... PRM RWY 8L (CAT III), Orig-B (Simultaneous Close Parallel) Atlanta, GA, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Intl, ILS PRM RWY 8R, (Simultaneous Close Parallel), Orig-A [[Page 55965

Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) for lineage assignment and high resolution diversity studies in Trypanosoma cruzi.

PubMed

Yeo, Matthew; Mauricio, Isabel L; Messenger, Louisa A; Lewis, Michael D; Llewellyn, Martin S; Acosta, Nidia; Bhattacharyya, Tapan; Diosque, Patricio; Carrasco, Hernan J; Miles, Michael A

2011-06-01

Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) is a powerful and highly discriminatory method for analysing pathogen population structure and epidemiology. Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan agent of American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease), has remarkable genetic and ecological diversity. A standardised MLST protocol that is suitable for assignment of T. cruzi isolates to genetic lineage and for higher resolution diversity studies has not been developed. We have sequenced and diplotyped nine single copy housekeeping genes and assessed their value as part of a systematic MLST scheme for T. cruzi. A minimum panel of four MLST targets (Met-III, RB19, TcGPXII, and DHFR-TS) was shown to provide unambiguous assignment of isolates to the six known T. cruzi lineages (Discrete Typing Units, DTUs TcI-TcVI). In addition, we recommend six MLST targets (Met-II, Met-III, RB19, TcMPX, DHFR-TS, and TR) for more in depth diversity studies on the basis that diploid sequence typing (DST) with this expanded panel distinguished 38 out of 39 reference isolates. Phylogenetic analysis implies a subdivision between North and South American TcIV isolates. Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) data revealed high levels of heterozygosity among DTUs TcI, TcIII, TcIV and, for three targets, putative corresponding homozygous and heterozygous loci within DTUs TcI and TcIII. Furthermore, individual gene trees gave incongruent topologies at inter- and intra-DTU levels, inconsistent with a model of strict clonality. We demonstrate the value of systematic MLST diplotyping for describing inter-DTU relationships and for higher resolution diversity studies of T. cruzi, including presence of recombination events. The high levels of heterozygosity will facilitate future population genetics analysis based on MLST haplotypes.

Synthesis, characterization, cytotoxic and antitubercular activities of new gold(I) and gold(III) complexes containing ligands derived from carbohydrates.

PubMed

Chaves, Joana Darc Souza; Damasceno, Jaqueline Lopes; Paula, Marcela Cristina Ferreira; de Oliveira, Pollyanna Francielli; Azevedo, Gustavo Chevitarese; Matos, Renato Camargo; Lourenço, Maria Cristina S; Tavares, Denise Crispim; Silva, Heveline; Fontes, Ana Paula Soares; de Almeida, Mauro Vieira

2015-10-01

Novel gold(I) and gold(III) complexes containing derivatives of D-galactose, D-ribose and D-glucono-1,5-lactone as ligands were synthesized and characterized by IR, (1)H, and (13)C NMR, high resolution mass spectra and cyclic voltammetry. The compounds were evaluated in vitro for their cytotoxicity against three types of tumor cells: cervical carcinoma (HeLa) breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) and glioblastoma (MO59J) and one non-tumor cell line: human lung fibroblasts (GM07492A). Their antitubercular activity was evaluated as well expressed as the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC90) in μg/mL. In general, the gold(I) complexes were more active than gold(III) complexes, for example, the gold(I) complex (1) was about 8.8 times and 7.6 times more cytotoxic than gold(III) complex (8) in MO59J and MCF-7 cells, respectively. Ribose and alkyl phosphine derivative complexes were more active than galactose and aryl phosphine complexes. The presence of a thiazolidine ring did not improve the cytotoxicity. The study of the cytotoxic activity revealed effective antitumor activities for the gold(I) complexes, being more active than cisplatin in all the tested tumor cell lines. Gold(I) compounds (1), (2), (3), (4) and (6) exhibited relevant antitubercular activity even when compared with first line drugs such as rifampicin.

Unique Signatures of Population III Stars in the Global 21-cm Signal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mirocha, Jordan; Mebane, Richard H.; Furlanetto, Steven R.; Singal, Krishma; Trinh, Donald

2018-05-01

We investigate the effects of Population III stars on the sky-averaged 21-cm background radiation, which traces the collective emission from all sources of ultraviolet and X-ray photons before reionization is complete. While UV photons from Pop III stars can in principle shift the onset of radiative coupling of the 21-cm transition - and potentially reionization - to early times, we find that the remnants of Pop III stars are likely to have a more discernible impact on the 21-cm signal than Pop III stars themselves. The X-rays from such sources preferentially heat the IGM at early times, which elongates the epoch of reheating and results in a more gradual transition from an absorption signal to emission. This gradual heating gives rise to broad, asymmetric wings in the absorption signal, which stand in contrast to the relatively sharp, symmetric signals that arise in models treating Pop II sources only. A stronger signature of Pop III, in which the position of the absorption minimum becomes inconsistent with Pop II-only models, requires extreme star-forming events that may not be physically plausible, lending further credence to predictions of relatively high frequency absorption troughs, νmin ˜ 100 MHz. As a result, though the trough location alone may not be enough to indicate the presence of Pop III, the asymmetric wings should arise even if only a few Pop III stars form in each halo before the transition to Pop II star formation occurs, provided that the Pop III IMF is sufficiently top-heavy and at least some Pop III stars form in binaries.

Surface Exposure Dating of the Huancané III Moraines in Peru: A Record of Quelccaya Ice Cap's Maximum Extent during the Last Glacial Period

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baranes, H. E.; Kelly, M. A.; Stroup, J. S.; Howley, J. A.; Lowell, T. V.

2012-12-01

The climatic conditions that influenced the tropics during the height of the last glacial period are not well defined and controversial. There are disparities in estimates of temperature anomalies (e.g., MARGO, 2009; Rind and Peteet, 1985; CLIMAP, 1976), and critical terrestrial paleotemperature proxy records in tropical regions are poorly dated (e.g., Porter, 2001). Defining these conditions is important for understanding the mechanisms that cause major shifts in climate, as the tropics are a primary driver of atmospheric and oceanic circulation. This study aims to constrain the timing of maximum glacier extents in the Cordillera Oriental in southern Peru during the last glacial period by applying surface exposure (beryllium-10) dating to the Huancané III (Hu-III) moraines. The Hu-III moraines mark the maximum extent of Quelccaya Ice Cap (QIC) (13.93°S, 70.83°W), the largest tropical ice cap, during the last ice age. The eight beryllium-10 ages presented here yield 17,056 ± 520 yrs ago as a minimum age for the onset of recession from the ice cap advance marked by the Hu-III moraines. Comparing this age to other paleoclimate records indicates that the ice cap advance marked by the Hu-III moraines is more likely associated with a North Atlantic climate event known as Heinrich I (H1; 16,800 yrs ago, Bond et al., 1992, 1993) than with global cooling at the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; ~21,000 yrs ago, Denton and Hughes, 1981). This result suggests that climate processes in the North Atlantic region are linked to climatic conditions in the tropical Andes. A mesoscale climate model and an ice-flow model are currently being developed for QIC. The moraine data presented in this study will be used with these two models to test response of QIC to North Atlantic and global climate events.

Comprehensive Understanding for Vegetated Scene Radiance Relationships

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kimes, D. S.; Deering, D. W.

1984-01-01

The improvement of our fundamental understanding of the dynamics of directional scattering properties of vegetation canopies through analysis of field data and model simulation data is discussed. Directional reflectance distributions spanning the entire existance hemisphere were measured in two field studies; one using a Mark III 3-band radiometer and one using rapid scanning bidirectional field instrument called PARABOLA. Surfaces measured included corn, soybeans, bare soils, grass lawn, orchard grass, alfalfa, cotton row crops, plowed field, annual grassland, stipa grass, hard wheat, salt plain shrubland, and irrigated wheat. Some structural and optical measurements were taken. Field data show unique reflectance distributions ranging from bare soil to complete vegetation canopies. Physical mechanisms causing these trends are proposed based on scattering properties of soil and vegetation. Soil exhibited a strong backscattering peak toward the Sun. Complete vegetation exhibited a bowl distribution with the minimum reflectance near nadir. Incomplete vegetation canopies show shifting of the minimum reflectance off of nadir in the forward scattering direction because both the scattering properties or the vegetation and soil are observed.

Memory performance in abstinent 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy") users.

PubMed

Groth-Marnat, Gary; Howchar, Hennedy; Marsh, Ali

2007-02-01

Research with animals and humans has suggested that acute and subacute use of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA "ecstasy") may lead to memory impairment. However, research is limited by (1) low power due to small sample sizes, (2) the possible confound of polydrug use, and (3) the failure to consider intelligence as a covariate. The present study compared the memory performance on the Wechsler Memory Scale-III of 26 abstinent (2-wk. minimum) recreational MDMA users with 26 abstinent (2-wk. minimum) recreational polydrug users. Despite significantly greater polydrug use amongst these MDMA users, no significant group differences in memory were observed. Regression of total lifetime amount of MDMA use also did not predict memory performance after accounting for intelligence. In addition, the length of time since abstinence (at least 2 wk.) was not associated with an increase in memory performance. Greater total lifetime cocaine use, rather than total lifetime MDMA use, was significantly associated with greater decrements in General Memory and Delayed Verbal Memory performance.

Synthetic wastewaters treatment by electrocoagulation to remove silver nanoparticles produced by different routes.

PubMed

Matias, M S; Melegari, S P; Vicentini, D S; Matias, W G; Ricordel, C; Hauchard, D

2015-08-15

Nanoscience is a field that has stood out in recent years. The accurate long-term health and environmental risks associated with these emerging materials are unknown. Therefore, this work investigated how to eliminate silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from synthetic effluents by electrocoagulation (EC) due to the widespread use of this type of nanoparticle (NP) in industry and its potential inhibition power over microorganisms responsible for biological treatment in effluent treatment plants. Synthesized AgNPs were studied via four different routes by chemical reduction in aqueous solutions to simulate the chemical variations of a hypothetical industrial effluent, and efficiency conditions of the EC treatment were determined. All routes used silver nitrate as the source of silver ions, and two synthesis routes were studied with sodium citrate as a stabilizer. In route I, sodium citrate functioned simultaneously as the reducing agent and stabilizing agent, whereas route II used sodium borohydride as a reducing agent. Route III used D-glucose as the reducing agent and sodium pyrophosphate as the stabilizer; route IV used sodium pyrophosphate as the stabilizing agent and sodium borohydride as the reducing agent. The efficiency of the EC process of the different synthesized solutions was studied. For route I, after 85 min of treatment, a significant decrease in the plasmon resonance peak of the sample was observed, which reflects the efficiency in the mass reduction of AgNPs in the solution by 98.6%. In route II, after 12 min of EC, the absorbance results reached the detection limit of the measurement instrument, which indicates a minimum reduction of 99.9% of AgNPs in the solution. During the 4 min of treatment in route III, the absorbance intensities again reached the detection limit, which indicates a minimum reduction of 99.8%. In route IV, after 10 min of treatment, a minimum AgNP reduction of 99.9% was observed. Based on these results, it was possible to verify that the solutions containing citrate considerably increased the necessary times required to eliminate AgNPs from the synthesized effluent, whereas solutions free of this reagent showed better results on floc formation and, therefore, are best for the treatment. The elimination of AgNPs from effluents by EC proved effective for the studied routes. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Refining a case-mix measure for nursing homes: Resource Utilization Groups (RUG-III).

PubMed

Fries, B E; Schneider, D P; Foley, W J; Gavazzi, M; Burke, R; Cornelius, E

1994-07-01

A case-mix classification system for nursing home residents is developed, based on a sample of 7,658 residents in seven states. Data included a broad assessment of resident characteristics, corresponding to items of the Minimum Data Set, and detailed measurement of nursing staff care time over a 24-hour period and therapy staff time over a 1-week period. The Resource Utilization Groups, Version III (RUG-III) system, with 44 distinct groups, achieves 55.5% variance explanation of total (nursing and therapy) per diem cost and meets goals of clinical validity and payment incentives. The mean resource use (case-mix index) of groups spans a nine-fold range. The RUG-III system improves on an earlier version not only by increasing the variance explanation (from 43%), but, more importantly, by identifying residents with "high tech" procedures (e.g., ventilators, respirators, and parenteral feeding) and those with cognitive impairments; by using better multiple activities of daily living; and by providing explicit qualifications for the Medicare nursing home benefit. RUG-III is being implemented for nursing home payment in 11 states (six as part of a federal multistate demonstration) and can be used in management, staffing level determination, and quality assurance.

40 CFR 89.422 - Dilute sampling procedures-CVS calibration.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... Pressure depression at CVS pump inlet PPI kPa ±.055 kPa Pressure head at CVS pump outlet PPO kPa ±.055 kPa... restricted condition in an increment of pump inlet depression that will yield a minimum of six data points... depression, (kPa). (iii) The correlation function at each test point is then calculated from the calibration...

40 CFR 89.422 - Dilute sampling procedures-CVS calibration.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... Pressure depression at CVS pump inlet PPI kPa ±.055 kPa Pressure head at CVS pump outlet PPO kPa ±.055 kPa... restricted condition in an increment of pump inlet depression that will yield a minimum of six data points... depression, (kPa). (iii) The correlation function at each test point is then calculated from the calibration...

40 CFR 90.424 - Dilute sampling procedures-CVS calibration.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

.... Air temperature at CVS pump inlet PTI °C ±1.11 °C. Pressure depression at CVS pump inlet PPI kPa ±0... pump inlet depression that will yield a minimum of six data points for the total calibration. Allow the...: PB = barometric pressure, kPa PPI = Pump inlet depression, kPa. (iii) The correlation function at...

40 CFR 90.424 - Dilute sampling procedures-CVS calibration.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

.... Air temperature at CVS pump inlet PTI °C ±1.11 °C. Pressure depression at CVS pump inlet PPI kPa ±0... pump inlet depression that will yield a minimum of six data points for the total calibration. Allow the...: PB = barometric pressure, kPa PPI = Pump inlet depression, kPa. (iii) The correlation function at...

40 CFR 90.424 - Dilute sampling procedures-CVS calibration.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

.... Air temperature at CVS pump inlet PTI °C ±1.11 °C. Pressure depression at CVS pump inlet PPI kPa ±0... pump inlet depression that will yield a minimum of six data points for the total calibration. Allow the...: PB = barometric pressure, kPa PPI = Pump inlet depression, kPa. (iii) The correlation function at...

40 CFR 90.424 - Dilute sampling procedures-CVS calibration.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

.... Air temperature at CVS pump inlet PTI °C ±1.11 °C. Pressure depression at CVS pump inlet PPI kPa ±0... pump inlet depression that will yield a minimum of six data points for the total calibration. Allow the...: PB = barometric pressure, kPa PPI = Pump inlet depression, kPa. (iii) The correlation function at...

40 CFR 90.424 - Dilute sampling procedures-CVS calibration.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

.... Air temperature at CVS pump inlet PTI °C ±1.11 °C. Pressure depression at CVS pump inlet PPI kPa ±0... pump inlet depression that will yield a minimum of six data points for the total calibration. Allow the...: PB = barometric pressure, kPa PPI = Pump inlet depression, kPa. (iii) The correlation function at...

40 CFR 89.422 - Dilute sampling procedures-CVS calibration.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... Pressure depression at CVS pump inlet PPI kPa ±.055 kPa Pressure head at CVS pump outlet PPO kPa ±.055 kPa... restricted condition in an increment of pump inlet depression that will yield a minimum of six data points... depression, (kPa). (iii) The correlation function at each test point is then calculated from the calibration...

40 CFR 89.422 - Dilute sampling procedures-CVS calibration.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... Pressure depression at CVS pump inlet PPI kPa ±.055 kPa Pressure head at CVS pump outlet PPO kPa ±.055 kPa... restricted condition in an increment of pump inlet depression that will yield a minimum of six data points... depression, (kPa). (iii) The correlation function at each test point is then calculated from the calibration...

40 CFR 89.422 - Dilute sampling procedures-CVS calibration.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... Pressure depression at CVS pump inlet PPI kPa ±.055 kPa Pressure head at CVS pump outlet PPO kPa ±.055 kPa... restricted condition in an increment of pump inlet depression that will yield a minimum of six data points... depression, (kPa). (iii) The correlation function at each test point is then calculated from the calibration...

49 CFR 178.51 - Specification 4BA welded or brazed steel cylinders.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... cylindrical in shape, with a water capacity of 1,000 pounds or less and a service pressure of at least 225 and... inch. In any case the minimum wall thickness must be such that the calculated wall stress at the...; (iii) 35,000 psi; or (iv) Further provided that wall stress for cylinders having copper brazed...

49 CFR 178.51 - Specification 4BA welded or brazed steel cylinders.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... cylindrical in shape, with a water capacity of 1,000 pounds or less and a service pressure of at least 225 and... inch. In any case the minimum wall thickness must be such that the calculated wall stress at the...; (iii) 35,000 psi; or (iv) Further provided that wall stress for cylinders having copper brazed...

40 CFR 63.7741 - What are the installation, operation, and maintenance requirements for my monitors?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... paragraphs (a)(1)(i) through (iv) of this section. (i) Locate the flow sensor and other necessary equipment... sensor with a minimum measurement sensitivity of 2 percent of the flow rate. (iii) Conduct a flow sensor... paragraphs (a)(2)(i) through (vi) of this section. (i) Locate the pressure sensor(s) in or as close as...

21 CFR 800.20 - Patient examination gloves and surgeons' gloves; sample plans and test method for leakage defects...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... examination and by a water leak test method, using 1,000 milliliters (ml) of water. (i) Units examined. Each... inches up the fill tube.) (iii) Leak test examination. Immediately after adding the water, examine the glove for water leaks. Do not squeeze the glove; use only minimum manipulation to spread the fingers to...

40 CFR 63.7741 - What are the installation, operation, and maintenance requirements for my monitors?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... paragraphs (a)(1)(i) through (iv) of this section. (i) Locate the flow sensor and other necessary equipment... sensor with a minimum measurement sensitivity of 2 percent of the flow rate. (iii) Conduct a flow sensor... paragraphs (a)(2)(i) through (vi) of this section. (i) Locate the pressure sensor(s) in or as close as...

40 CFR 63.7741 - What are the installation, operation, and maintenance requirements for my monitors?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... paragraphs (a)(1)(i) through (iv) of this section. (i) Locate the flow sensor and other necessary equipment... sensor with a minimum measurement sensitivity of 2 percent of the flow rate. (iii) Conduct a flow sensor... paragraphs (a)(2)(i) through (vi) of this section. (i) Locate the pressure sensor(s) in or as close as...

17 CFR Appendix B to Part 75 - Enhanced Minimum Standards for Compliance Programs

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... documentation for market making-related activities conducted in reliance on § 75.4(b) and for hedging activity... activities; iii. The mission (i.e., the type of trading activity, such as market-making, trading in sovereign... market making-related activities under § 75.4 or risk-mitigating hedging activities under § 75.5 so that...

Characteristics of Type I PSCs Derived from POAM Observations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Strawa, Anthony W.; Drdla, Katja; Bokarius, Konstantin; Fromm, Michael D.; Alfred, Jerome M.

2004-01-01

The characteristics of Polar Ozone and Aerosol Measurement III (POAM 3) observations of Type I Arctic Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSCs) from 1998 to 2003 are studied using a scheme that discriminates Type la from Ib PSCs. The PSCs observed in these years are studied simultaneously by aligning the day in each year when the temperature associated with a POAM observation first reaches T(sub NAT). It is observed that PSC formation occurs within days of the minimum observation temperature reaching T(sub NAT) and that the majority of these first PSCs are Type Ia. Our observations support the hypothesis that heterogeneous freezing contributes at least in part to the freezing of solid phase PSCs.

Corrective shoes and inserts as treatment for flexible flatfoot in infants and children.

PubMed

Wenger, D R; Mauldin, D; Speck, G; Morgan, D; Lieber, R L

1989-07-01

We performed a prospective study to determine whether flexible flatfoot in children can be influenced by treatment. One hundred and twenty-nine children who had been referred by pediatricians, and for whom the radiographic findings met the criteria for flatfoot, were randomly assigned to one of four groups: Group I, controls; Group II, treatment with corrective orthopaedic shoes; Group III, treatment with a Helfet heel-cup; or Group IV, treatment with a custom-molded plastic insert. All of the patients in Groups II, III, and IV had a minimum of three years of treatment, and ninety-eight patients whose compliance with the protocol was documented completed the study. Analysis of radiographs before treatment and at the most recent follow-up demonstrated a significant improvement in all groups (p less than 0.01), including the controls, and no significant difference between the controls and the treated patients (p greater than 0.4). We concluded that wearing corrective shoes or inserts for three years does not influence the course of flexible flatfoot in children.

ILP-based co-optimization of cut mask layout, dummy fill, and timing for sub-14nm BEOL technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Kwangsoo; Kahng, Andrew B.; Lee, Hyein; Wang, Lutong

2015-10-01

Self-aligned multiple patterning (SAMP), due to its low overlay error, has emerged as the leading option for 1D gridded back-end-of-line (BEOL) in sub-14nm nodes. To form actual routing patterns from a uniform "sea of wires", a cut mask is needed for line-end cutting or realization of space between routing segments. Constraints on cut shapes and minimum cut spacing result in end-of-line (EOL) extensions and non-functional (i.e. dummy fill) patterns; the resulting capacitance and timing changes must be consistent with signoff performance analyses and their impacts should be minimized. In this work, we address the co-optimization of cut mask layout, dummy fill, and design timing for sub-14nm BEOL design. Our central contribution is an optimizer based on integer linear programming (ILP) to minimize the timing impact due to EOL extensions, considering (i) minimum cut spacing arising in sub-14nm nodes; (ii) cut assignment to different cut masks (color assignment); and (iii) the eligibility to merge two unit-size cuts into a bigger cut. We also propose a heuristic approach to remove dummy fills after the ILP-based optimization by extending the usage of cut masks. Our heuristic can improve critical path performance under minimum metal density and mask density constraints. In our experiments, we study the impact of number of cut masks, minimum cut spacing and metal density under various constraints. Our studies of optimized cut mask solutions in these varying contexts give new insight into the tradeoff of performance and cost that is afforded by cut mask patterning technology options.

Guidelines for Good Epidemiology Practices for Occupational and Environmental Epidemiologic Research. The Chemical Manufacturers Association's Epidemiology Task Group.

PubMed

1991-12-01

The Guidelines for Good Epidemiology Practices (GEPs) for Occupational and Environmental Epidemiologic Research address the conduct of studies generally undertaken to answer questions about human health in relationship to the work place or the environment. The GEPs propose minimum practices and procedures that should be considered to help ensure the quality and integrity of data used in epidemiologic research and to provide adequate documentation of the research methods. The GEPs address the process of conducting individual epidemiologic studies and do not prescribe specific research methods. The Guidelines for Good Epidemiology Practices propose minimum practices and procedures in the following areas: I. Organization and Personnel II. Facilities, Resource Commitment, and Contractors III. Protocol IV. Review and Approval V. Study Conduct VI. Communication VII. Archiving VIII. Quality Assurance Although the Guidelines for Good Epidemiology Practices will not guarantee good epidemiology, they do provide a useful framework for ensuring that all research issues are adequately addressed. This framework is proposed as a first step in improving epidemiologic research practices through adherence to sound scientific research principles. Appendices provide an overview of standard operating procedures, a glossary of terms used in the Guidelines, and suggested references on occupational epidemiology methods.

The minimum activation peptide from ilvH can activate the catalytic subunit of AHAS from different species.

PubMed

Zhao, Yuefang; Niu, Congwei; Wen, Xin; Xi, Zhen

2013-04-15

Acetohydroxyacid synthases (AHASs), which catalyze the first step in the biosynthesis of branched-chain amino acids, are composed of a catalytic subunit (CSU) and a regulatory subunit (RSU). The CSU harbors the catalytic site, and the RSU is responsible for the activation and feedback regulation of the CSU. Previous results from Chipman and co-workers and our lab have shown that heterologous activation can be achieved among isozymes of Escherichia coli AHAS. It would be interesting to find the minimum peptide of ilvH (the RSU of E. coli AHAS III) that could activate other E. coli CSUs, or even those of ## species. In this paper, C-terminal, N-terminal, and C- and N-terminal truncation mutants of ilvH were constructed. The minimum peptide to activate ilvI (the CSU of E. coli AHAS III) was found to be ΔN 14-ΔC 89. Moreover, this peptide could not only activate its homologous ilvI and heterologous ilvB (CSU of E. coli AHAS I), but also heterologously activate the CSUs of AHAS from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Arabidopsis thaliana, and Nicotiana plumbaginifolia. However, this peptide totally lost its ability for feedback regulation by valine, thus suggesting different elements for enzymatic activation and feedback regulation. Additionally, the apparent dissociation constant (Kd ) of ΔN 14-ΔC 89 when binding CSUs of different species was found to be 9.3-66.5 μM by using microscale thermophoresis. The ability of this peptide to activate different CSUs does not correlate well with its binding ability (Kd ) to these CSUs, thus implying that key interactions by specific residues is more important than binding ability in promoting enzymatic reactions. The high sequence similarity of the peptide ΔN 14-ΔC 89 to RSUs across species hints that this peptide represents the minimum activation motif in RSU and that it regulates all AHASs. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Electron affinities and ionization energies of Cu and Ag delafossite compounds: A hybrid functional study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miao, Mao-Sheng; Yarbro, Sam; Barton, Phillip T.; Seshadri, Ram

2014-01-01

Using density functional theory with a hybrid functional, we calculate the ionization energies and electron affinities of a series of delafossite compounds (AMO2: A =Cu, Ag; M =B, Al, Ga, In, Sc). The alignments of the valence band maximum and the conduction band minimum, which directly relate to the ionization energies and electron affinities, were obtained by calculations of supercell slab models constructed in a nonpolar orientation. Our calculations reveal that the ionization energy decreases with an increasing atomic number of group-III elements, and thus suggest an improved p-type doping propensity for heavier compounds. For keeping both a low ionization energy and a band gap of sufficient size, CuScO2 is superior to the Cu-based group-III delafossites. By analyzing the electronic structures, we demonstrate that the compositional trend of the ionization energies and electron affinities is the result of a combined effect of d-band broadening due to Cu(Ag)-Cu(Ag) coupling and a repositioning of the d-band center.

Urinary chromium concentrations in humans following ingestion of safe doses of hexavalent and trivalent chromium: Implications for biomonitoring

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

Finley, B.L.; Scott, P.K.; Norton, R.L.

1996-08-09

This study evaluates the significance of increased urinary chromium concentrations as a marker of chromium exposure and potential health risk. Six human volunteers ingested trivalent chromium [Cr(III)] and hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] at doses that are known to be safe but higher than typical levels. The following dosing regimen was used: d 1-7, 200 {mu}g/d chromium picolinate; d 8-10, Cr(VI) ingestion at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reference dose (RfD) of 0.005 mg/kg/d; d 11-13, no dose; d 14-16, Cr(III) ingestion at the U.S. EPA RfD of 1.0 mg/kg/d; and 17-18, postdose. Findings are as follows: (1) ingestion of 200more » {mu}g/d of chromium picolinate yielded significantly elevated urine concentrations such that each participant routinely exceeded background, (2) ingestion of the Cr(VI) RfD (0.005 mg/kg/d) yielded individual mean urinary chromium levels (1.2-2.3 {mu}g/L) and a pooled mean urinary chromium level (2.4 {mu}g/L) that significantly exceeded background, and (3) ingestion of the Cr(III) RfD yielded no significantly exceeded background, and (3) ingestion of the Cr(III) RfD yielded no significant increase in urinary chromium concentrations, indicating that little, if any, absorption occurred. Our work identified three critical issues that need to be accounted for in any future studies that will use urinary chromium as a marker of exposure. First, a minimum urinary chromium concentration of approximately 2 {mu}g/L should be used as a screening level to critically identify individuals who may have experienced elevated exposures to chromium. Second, if Cr(III) levels in soils are known to be less than 80,000 ppm and the Cr(III) is insoluble, urinary chromium concentrations are not an appropriate marker of exposure. Third, newer forms of chromium supplements that contain organic forms of Cr(III) must be considered potential confounders and their contribution to residential chromium uptake must be carefully evaluated. 19 refs., 7 figs., 3 tabs.« less

Superfund: Funding for the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

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

Not Available

Neither the Environmental Protection Agency nor the Office of Management and Budget is violating the law by reviewing or revising the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's budget request before the President submits it to Congress. The review also does not violate section III (n) of the superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 which secures minimum funding for ATSDR that can only be changed by Congress. However, GAO believes that this provision prohibits EPA from specifying how ATSDR should spend superfund money. It is therefore recommending that EPA not place any restrictions on the use of funds earmarkedmore » for ATSDR under section III(n) of SARA.« less

Triple innominate osteotomy for Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease in children: does the lateral coverage change with time?

PubMed

Hosalkar, Harish; Munhoz da Cunha, Ana Laura; Baldwin, Keith; Ziebarth, Kai; Wenger, Dennis R

2012-09-01

Triple innominate osteotomy (TIO) is one of the modalities of surgical containment in Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD). However, overcoverage with TIO can lead to pincer impingement. We therefore asked (1) whether TIO contained the femoral head in Catterall Stages III and IV of LCPD; (2) whether the center-edge (CE) angle, acetabular roof arc angle (ARA), and Sharp's angle changed during the growing years; and (3) what percentage of patients had radiographic evidence of pincer impingement beyond a minimum followup of 3 years. We identified 19 children who had 20 TIOs performed for Catterall Stages III and IV LCPD. Two blinded observers assessed sequential radiographs. Each observer made two sets of readings more than 2 weeks apart. Femoral head extrusion index, CE angle of Wiberg, ARA, and Sharp's angle were measured. Minimum followup was 3 years to document continued acetabular growth (mean, 3.8 years; range, 3-7 years). All patients exhibited femoral head containment at last followup. Eleven of 20 hips demonstrated no radiographic evidence of pincer morphology beyond a minimum followup of 3 years (mean, 3.8 years). Patients with CE angle corrected to 44° or less and an ARA of greater than -6° after TIO did not demonstrate a pincer morphology at last followup. TIO resulted in femoral head containment in all cases. Lateral acetabular coverage changed during the growing years in all patients. Surgical correction beyond 44° of CE angle and -6° of ARA should be avoided to prevent pincer morphology later.

Dysprosium sorption by polymeric composite bead: robust parametric optimization using Taguchi method.

PubMed

Yadav, Kartikey K; Dasgupta, Kinshuk; Singh, Dhruva K; Varshney, Lalit; Singh, Harvinderpal

2015-03-06

Polyethersulfone-based beads encapsulating di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid have been synthesized and evaluated for the recovery of rare earth values from the aqueous media. Percentage recovery and the sorption behavior of Dy(III) have been investigated under wide range of experimental parameters using these beads. Taguchi method utilizing L-18 orthogonal array has been adopted to identify the most influential process parameters responsible for higher degree of recovery with enhanced sorption of Dy(III) from chloride medium. Analysis of variance indicated that the feed concentration of Dy(III) is the most influential factor for equilibrium sorption capacity, whereas aqueous phase acidity influences the percentage recovery most. The presence of polyvinyl alcohol and multiwalled carbon nanotube modified the internal structure of the composite beads and resulted in uniform distribution of organic extractant inside polymeric matrix. The experiment performed under optimum process conditions as predicted by Taguchi method resulted in enhanced Dy(III) recovery and sorption capacity by polymeric beads with minimum standard deviation. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Abundance and phylogenetic identity of archaeoplankton in the permanent oxygen minimum zone of the eastern tropical South Pacific.

PubMed

Belmar, Lucy; Molina, Verónica; Ulloa, Osvaldo

2011-11-01

We assessed the abundance and molecular phylogeny of archaeoplankton in the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) of the eastern tropical South Pacific, using specific-probe hybridization and phylogenetic analysis of the SSU-rRNA gene. Euryarchaea from Marine Group-II (MG-II) were most abundant in the surface oxic layer, representing 4.0±2.0% of the total picoplankton, while crenarchaea from Group I.1a (G-I.1a) peaked at the oxyclines, with a relative abundance of 8.1±4.3% (upper oxycline). In most of the stations, the abundance of both the groups decreased at the core of the OMZ, where a secondary maximum in cell density is commonly observed. The majority of the phylotypes affiliated with one of three groups: MG-II, euryarchaeal Marine Group-III (MG-III) and G-I.1a (75.9%, 12.8% and 10.3%, respectively). While MG-II phylotypes were found throughout the water column and G-I.1a ones were predominantly found within the oxyclines, MG-III phylotypes came almost exclusively from the OMZ core. Higher archaeal richness was found within the OMZ, with some of the exclusive lineages grouping with sequences from the deep ocean and hydrothermal vents. Moreover, G-I.1a sequences from the OMZ grouped into a different subcluster from the aerobic ammonium-oxidizer Nitrosopumilus maritimus. Thus, the community structure of archaeoplankton in OMZs is rich and distinct, with G-I.1a members particularly prominent at the oxyclines. © 2011 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.

Influence of humic acid imposed changes of ferrihydrite aggregation on microbial Fe(III) reduction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amstaetter, Katja; Borch, Thomas; Kappler, Andreas

2012-05-01

Microbial reduction of Fe(III) minerals at neutral pH is faced by the problem of electron transfer from the cells to the solid-phase electron acceptor and is thought to require either direct cell-mineral contact, the presence of Fe(III)-chelators or the presence of electron shuttles, e.g. dissolved or solid-phase humic substances (HS). In this study we investigated to which extent the ratio of Pahokee Peat Humic Acids (HA) to ferrihydrite in the presence and absence of phosphate influences rates of Fe(III) reduction by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 and the identity of the minerals formed. We found that phosphate generally decreased reduction rates by sorption to the ferrihydrite and surface site blocking. In the presence of low ferrihydrite concentrations (5 mM), the addition of HA helped to overcome this inhibiting effect by functioning as electron shuttle between cells and the ferrihydrite. In contrast, at high ferrihydrite concentrations (30 mM), the addition of HA did not lead to an increase but rather to a decrease in reduction rates. Confocal laser scanning microscopy images and ferrihydrite sedimentation behaviour suggest that the extent of ferrihydrite surface coating by HA influences the aggregation of the ferrihydrite particles and thereby their accessibility for Fe(III)-reducing bacteria. We further conclude that in presence of dissolved HA, iron reduction is stimulated through electron shuttling while in the presence of only sorbed HA, no stimulation by electron shuttling takes place. In presence of phosphate the stimulation effect did not occur until a minimum concentration of 10 mg/l of dissolved HA was reached followed by increasing Fe(III) reduction rates up to dissolved HA concentrations of approximately 240 mg/l above which the electron shuttling effect ceased. Not only Fe(III) reduction rates but also the mineral products changed in the presence of HA. Sequential extraction, XRD and 57Fe-Mössbauer spectroscopy showed that crystallinity and grain size of the magnetite produced by Fe(III) reduction in the presence of HA is lower than the magnetite produced in the absence of HA. In summary, this study shows that both the concentration of HA and Fe(III) minerals strongly influence microbial Fe(III) reduction rates and the mineralogy of the reduction products. Thus, deviations in iron (hydr)oxide reactivity with changes in aggregation state, such as HA induced ferrihydrite aggregation, need to be considered within natural environments.

25 CFR 547.8 - What are the minimum technical software standards applicable to Class II gaming systems?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... display the following: (i) The purchase or wager amount; (ii) Game results; and (iii) Any player credit balance. (2) Between plays of any game and until the start of the next play, or until the player selects a new game option such as purchase or wager amount or card selection, whichever is earlier, if not...

25 CFR 547.8 - What are the minimum technical software standards applicable to Class II gaming systems?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... display the following: (i) The purchase or wager amount; (ii) Game results; and (iii) Any player credit balance. (2) Between plays of any game and until the start of the next play, or until the player selects a new game option such as purchase or wager amount or card selection, whichever is earlier, if not...

47 CFR 73.207 - Minimum distance separation between stations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... kW ERP and 100 meters antenna HAAT (or equivalent lower ERP and higher antenna HAAT based on a class... which have been notified internationally as Class A are limited to a maximum of 3.0 kW ERP at 100 meters... internationally as Class AA are limited to a maximum of 6.0 kW ERP at 100 meters HAAT, or the equivalent; (iii) U...

34 CFR 379.53 - What are the minimum performance levels for each compliance indicator?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... employment as follows: (i) No less than 50 percent during fiscal year (FY) 2001. (ii) No less than 51 percent during FY 2002. (iii) No less than 52 percent during FY 2003. (iv) No less than 54 percent during FY 2004. (v) No less than 55 percent during FY 2005 and any year thereafter. (2) Change in earnings. (i...

Progress Report on Alloy 617 Time Dependent Allowables

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

Wright, Julie Knibloe

2015-06-01

Time dependent allowable stresses are required in the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code for design of components in the temperature range where time dependent deformation (i.e., creep) is expected to become significant. There are time dependent allowable stresses in Section IID of the Code for use in the non-nuclear construction codes, however, there are additional criteria that must be considered in developing time dependent allowables for nuclear components. These criteria are specified in Section III NH. St is defined as the lesser of three quantities: 100% of the average stress required to obtain a total (elastic, plastic, primary andmore » secondary creep) strain of 1%; 67% of the minimum stress to cause rupture; and 80% of the minimum stress to cause the initiation of tertiary creep. The values are reported for a range of temperatures and for time increments up to 100,000 hours. These values are determined from uniaxial creep tests, which involve the elevated temperature application of a constant load which is relatively small, resulting in deformation over a long time period prior to rupture. The stress which is the minimum resulting from these criteria is the time dependent allowable stress St. In this report data from a large number of creep and creep-rupture tests on Alloy 617 are analyzed using the ASME Section III NH criteria. Data which are used in the analysis are from the ongoing DOE sponsored high temperature materials program, form Korea Atomic Energy Institute through the Generation IV VHTR Materials Program and historical data from previous HTR research and vendor data generated in developing the alloy. It is found that the tertiary creep criterion determines St at highest temperatures, while the stress to cause 1% total strain controls at low temperatures. The ASME Section III Working Group on Allowable Stress Criteria has recommended that the uncertainties associated with determining the onset of tertiary creep and the lack of significant cavitation associated with early tertiary creep strain suggest that the tertiary creep criteria is not appropriate for this material. If the tertiary creep criterion is dropped from consideration, the stress to rupture criteria determines St at all but the lowest temperatures.« less

Mobile Romberg test assessment (mRomberg).

PubMed

Galán-Mercant, Alejandro; Cuesta-Vargas, Antonio I

2014-09-12

The diagnosis of frailty is based on physical impairments and clinicians have indicated that early detection is one of the most effective methods for reducing the severity of physical frailty. Maybe, an alternative to the classical diagnosis could be the instrumentalization of classical functional testing, as Romberg test or Timed Get Up and Go Test. The aim of this study was (I) to measure and describe the magnitude of accelerometry values in the Romberg test in two groups of frail and non-frail elderly people through instrumentation with the iPhone 4®, (II) to analyse the performances and differences between the study groups, and (III) to analyse the performances and differences within study groups to characterise accelerometer responses to increasingly difficult challenges to balance. This is a cross-sectional study of 18 subjects over 70 years old, 9 frail subjects and 9 non-frail subjects. The non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test was used for between-group comparisons in means values derived from different tasks. The Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test was used to analyse differences between different variants of the test in both independent study groups. The highest difference between groups was found in the accelerometer values with eyes closed and feet parallel: maximum peak acceleration in the lateral axis (p < 0.01), minimum peak acceleration in the lateral axis (p < 0.01) and minimum peak acceleration from the resultant vector (p < 0.01). Subjects with eyes open and feet parallel, greatest differences found between the groups were in the maximum peak acceleration in the lateral axis (p < 0.01), minimum peak acceleration in the lateral axis (p < 0.01) and minimum peak acceleration from the resultant vector (p < 0.001). With eyes closed and feet in tandem, the greatest differences found between the groups were in the minimum peak acceleration in the lateral axis (p < 0.01). The accelerometer fitted in the iPhone 4® is able to study and analyse the kinematics of the Romberg test between frail and non-frail elderly people. In addition, the results indicate that the accelerometry values also were significantly different between the frail and non-frail groups, and that values from the accelerometer accelerometer increased as the test was made more complicated.

NUV Spectroscopic Studies of Eta Car's Weigelt D across the 2003.5 Minimum

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ivarsson, S.; Nielsen, K. E.; Gull, T. R.; Hillier, J. D.

2006-01-01

HST/STIS high dispersion, high spatial resolution spectra in the near UV (2424-2705A) were recorded of Weigelt D, located 0.25" from Eta Carinae, before, during and after the star's 2003.5 minimum. Most nebular emission, including Lyman-alpha pumped Fe II and [Fe III] lines show phase dependent variations with disappearance at the minimum and reappearance a few months later. Circumstellar absorptions increase at minimum, especially in the Fe II resonance lines originating not only from ground levels but also meta stable levels well above the ground levels. These ionization/excitation effects can be explained by a sudden change in UV flux reaching the blobs, likely due to a line-of-sight obscuration of the hotter companion star, Eta Car B, recently discovered by Iping et al. (poster, this meeting). The scattered starlight seen towards Weigelt D display noticeable different line profiles than the direct starlight from Eta Carinae. P-Cygni absorption profiles in Fe II stellar lines observed directly towards Eta Carinae, show terminal velocities up to -550 km/s. However, scattered starlight of Weigelt D display significant lower velocities ranging from -40 to -150 km/s.We interpret this result to be indicative that no absorbing Fe II wind structure exists between the Central source and Weigelt D. The lower velocity absorption appears to be connected to the outer Fe II wind structure of Eta Car A extending beyond Weigelt D intersecting the observer's line of sight. This result is consistent with the highly extended wind of Eta Car A.

Point defect reduction in MOCVD (Al)GaN by chemical potential control and a comprehensive model of C incorporation in GaN

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reddy, Pramod; Washiyama, Shun; Kaess, Felix; Kirste, Ronny; Mita, Seiji; Collazo, Ramon; Sitar, Zlatko

2017-12-01

A theoretical framework that provides a quantitative relationship between point defect formation energies and growth process parameters is presented. It enables systematic point defect reduction by chemical potential control in metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) of III-nitrides. Experimental corroboration is provided by a case study of C incorporation in GaN. The theoretical model is shown to be successful in providing quantitative predictions of CN defect incorporation in GaN as a function of growth parameters and provides valuable insights into boundary phases and other impurity chemical reactions. The metal supersaturation is found to be the primary factor in determining the chemical potential of III/N and consequently incorporation or formation of point defects which involves exchange of III or N atoms with the reservoir. The framework is general and may be extended to other defect systems in (Al)GaN. The utility of equilibrium formalism typically employed in density functional theory in predicting defect incorporation in non-equilibrium and high temperature MOCVD growth is confirmed. Furthermore, the proposed theoretical framework may be used to determine optimal growth conditions to achieve minimum compensation within any given constraints such as growth rate, crystal quality, and other practical system limitations.

A minimum data set of water quality parameters to assess and compare treatment efficiency of stormwater facilities.

PubMed

Ingvertsen, Simon Toft; Jensen, Marina Bergen; Magid, Jakob

2011-01-01

Urban stormwater runoff is often of poor quality, impacting aquatic ecosystems and limiting the use of stormwater runoff for recreational purposes. Several stormwater treatment facilities (STFs) are in operation or at the pilot testing stage, but their efficiencies are neither well documented nor easily compared due to the complex contaminant profile of stormwater and the highly variable runoff hydrograph. On the basis of a review of available data sets on urban stormwater quality and environmental contaminant behavior, we suggest a few carefully selected contaminant parameters (the minimum data set) to be obligatory when assessing and comparing the efficiency of STFs. Consistent use of the minimum data set in all future monitoring schemes for STFs will ensure broad-spectrum testing at low costs and strengthen comparability among facilities. The proposed minimum data set includes: (i) fine fraction of suspended solids (<63 μm), (ii) total concentrations of zinc and copper, (iii) total concentrations of phenanthrene, fluoranthene, and benzo(b,k)fluoranthene, and (iv) total concentrations of phosphorus and nitrogen. Indicator pathogens and other specific contaminants (i.e., chromium, pesticides, phenols) may be added if recreational or certain catchment-scale objectives are to be met. Issues that need further investigation have been identified during the iterative process of developing the minimum data set. by the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America, Inc.

Evaluation of recovery in lip closing pressure and occlusal force and contact area after orthognathic surgery.

PubMed

Ueki, Koichiro; Moroi, Akinori; Sotobori, Megumi; Ishihara, Yuri; Marukawa, Kohei; Iguchi, Ran; Kosaka, Akihiko; Ikawa, Hiroumi; Nakazawa, Ryuichi; Higuchi, Masatoshi

2014-10-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between lip closing force, occlusal contact area and occlusal force after orthognathic surgery in skeletal Class III patients. The subjects consisted of 54 patients (28 female and 26 male) diagnosed with mandibular prognathism who underwent sagittal split ramus osteotomy with and without Le Fort I osteotomy. Maximum and minimum lip closing forces, occlusal contact area and occlusal force were measured pre-operatively, 6 months and 1 year post-operative. Maximum and minimum lip closing forces, occlusal contact area and occlusal force increased with time after surgery, however a significant increase was not found in the occlusal contact area in women. In increased ratio (6 months/pre-operative and 1 year/pre-operative), the maximum lip closing force was significantly correlated with the occlusal contact area (P < 0.0001). This study suggested that orthognathic surgery could improve the occlusal force, contact area and lip closing force, and an increase ratio in maximum lip closing force was associated with an increased ratio in occlusal contact area. Copyright © 2014 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A seismic refraction and reflection study across the central San Jacinto Basin, Southern California

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lee, T.-C.; Biehler, S.; Park, S.K.; Stephenson, W.J.

1996-01-01

The San Jacinto Basin is a northwest-trending, pullapart basin in the San Jacinto fault zone of the San Andreas fault system in southern California. About 24 km long and 2 to 4 km wide, the basin sits on a graben bounded by two strands of the San Jacinto fault zone: the Claremont Fault on the northeast and the Casa Loma Fault on the southwest. We present a case study of shallow structure (less than 1 km) in the central basin. A 2.75-km refraction line running from the northeast to southwest across the regional structural trend reveals a groundwater barrier (Offset I). Another line, bent southward and continued for 1.65-km, shows a crystalline basement offset (Offset III) near an inferred trace of the Casa Loma Fault. Although a basement refractor was not observed along the 2.75-km line, a mismatch between the estimate of its minimum depth and the basement depth determined for the 1.65-km line suggests that an offset in the basement (greater than 260 m) exists around the junction of the two refraction lines (Offset II). By revealing more faults and subtle sedimentary structures, the reflection stack sections confirm the two refraction offsets as faults. Offsets I and III each separate sediments of contrasting structures and, in addition. Offset III disrupts an unconformity. However, the sense and amount of the offset across Offset III contradict what may be expected across the Casa Loma Fault, which has its basinward basement down-thrown to about 2.5 km in the better defined southeastern part of the graben. The Casa Loma Fault trace has been mislinked in the existing geological maps and the trace should be remapped to Offset II where the reflector disruptions spread over a 400-m wide zone. Our Offset III is an unnamed, concealed fault.

Model of Transition from Laminar to Turbulent Flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kanda, Hidesada

2001-11-01

For circular pipe flows, a model of transition from laminar to turbulent flow has already been proposed and the minimum critical Reynolds number of approximately 2040 was obtained (Kanda, 1999). In order to prove the validity of the model, another verification is required. Thus, for plane Poiseuille flow, results of previous investigations were studied, focusing on experimental data on the critical Reynolds number Rc, the entrance length, and the transition length. Consequently, concerning the natural transition, it was confirmed from the experimental data that (i) the transition occurs in the entrance region, (ii) Rc increases as the contraction ratio in the inlet section increases, and (iii) the minimum Rc is obtained when the contraction ratio is the smallest or one, and there is no-bellshaped entrance or straight parallel plates. Its value exists in the neighborhood of 1300, based on the channel height and the average velocity. Although, for Hagen-Poiseuille flow, the minimum Rc is approximately 2000, based on the pipe diameter and the average velocity, there seems to be no significant difference in the transition from laminar to turbulent flow between Hagen-Poiseuille flow and plane Poiseuille flow (Kanda, 2001). Rc is determined by the shape of the inlet. Kanda, H., 1999, Proc. of ASME Fluids Engineering Division - 1999, FED-Vol. 250, pp. 197-204. Kanda, H., 2001, Proc. of ASME Fluids Engineering Division - 2001.

7 CFR 52.3755 - Minimum drained weights.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... PROCESSED FOOD PRODUCTS 1 United States Standards for Grades of Canned Ripe Olives 1 Product Description....5 64.0 1814.4 Super colossal 4.0 113.4 7.25 205.5 64.0 1814.4 Table II—Acceptance Values for Drained... 3.25 92.1 5.75 163.0 49.0 1389.1 Super colossal 3.25 92.1 5.75 163.0 49.0 1389.1 Table III...

7 CFR 52.3755 - Minimum drained weights.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... PROCESSED FOOD PRODUCTS 1 United States Standards for Grades of Canned Ripe Olives 1 Product Description....5 64.0 1814.4 Super colossal 4.0 113.4 7.25 205.5 64.0 1814.4 Table II—Acceptance Values for Drained... 3.25 92.1 5.75 163.0 49.0 1389.1 Super colossal 3.25 92.1 5.75 163.0 49.0 1389.1 Table III...

7 CFR 52.3755 - Minimum drained weights.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... PROCESSED FOOD PRODUCTS 1 United States Standards for Grades of Canned Ripe Olives 1 Product Description....5 64.0 1814.4 Super colossal 4.0 113.4 7.25 205.5 64.0 1814.4 Table II—Acceptance Values for Drained... 3.25 92.1 5.75 163.0 49.0 1389.1 Super colossal 3.25 92.1 5.75 163.0 49.0 1389.1 Table III...

Computation-based virtual screening for designing novel antimalarial drugs by targeting falcipain-III: a structure-based drug designing approach.

PubMed

Kesharwani, Rajesh Kumar; Singh, Durg Vijay; Misra, Krishna

2013-01-01

Cysteine proteases (falcipains), a papain-family of enzymes of Plasmodium falciparum, are responsible for haemoglobin degradation and thus necessary for its survival during asexual life cycle phase inside the human red blood cells while remaining non-functional for the human body. Therefore, these can act as potential targets for designing antimalarial drugs. The P. falciparum cysteine proteases, falcipain-II and falcipain- III are the enzymes which initiate the haemoglobin degradation, therefore, have been selected as targets. In the present study, we have designed new leupeptin analogues and subjected to virtual screening using Glide at the active site cavity of falcipain-II and falcipain-III to select the best docked analogues on the basis of Glide score and also compare with the result of AutoDock. The proposed analogues can be synthesized and tested in vivo as future potent antimalarial drugs. Protein falcipain-II and falcipain-III together with bounds inhibitors epoxysuccinate E64 (E64) and leupeptin respectively were retrieved from protein data bank (PDB) and latter leupeptin was used as lead molecule to design new analogues by using Ligbuilder software and refined the molecules on the basis of Lipinski rule of five and fitness score parameters. All the designed leupeptin analogues were screened via docking simulation at the active site cavity of falcipain-II and falcipain-III by using Glide software and AutoDock. The 104 new leupeptin-based antimalarial ligands were designed using structure-based drug designing approach with the help of Ligbuilder and subjected for virtual screening via docking simulation method against falcipain-II and falcipain-III receptor proteins. The Glide docking results suggest that the ligands namely result_037 shows good binding and other two, result_044 and result_042 show nearly similar binding than naturally occurring PDB bound ligand E64 against falcipain-II and in case of falcipain-III, 15 designed leupeptin analogues having better binding affinity compared to the PDB bound inhibitor of falcipain-III. The docking simulation results of falcipain-III with designed leupeptin analogues using Glide compared with AutoDock and find 80% similarity as better binder than leupeptin. These results further highlight new leupeptin analogues as promising future inhibitors for chemotherapeutic prevention of malaria. The result of Glide for falcipain-III has been compared with the result of AutoDock and finds very less differences in their order of binding affinity. Although there are no extra hydrogen bonds, however, equal number of hydrogen bonds with variable strength as compared to leupeptin along with the enhanced hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions in case of analogues supports our study that it holds the ligand molecules strongly within the receptor. The comparative e-pharmacophoric study also suggests and supports our predictions regarding the minimum features required in ligand molecule to behave as falcipain- III inhibitors and is also helpful in screening the large database as future antimalarial inhibitors.

Dioxygen activation by non-adiabatic oxidative addition to a single metal center [O 2 activation by non-adiabatic oxidative addition to a single metal center

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

Akturk, Eser S.; Yap, Glenn P. A.; Theopold, Klaus H.

2015-10-16

A chromium(I) dinitrogen complex reacts rapidly with O 2 to form the mononuclear dioxo complex [Tp tBu,MeCr V(O) 2] (Tp tBu,Me=hydrotris(3- tert-butyl-5-methylpyrazolyl)borate), whereas the analogous reaction with sulfur stops at the persulfido complex [Tp tBu,MeCr III(S 2)]. The transformation of the putative peroxo intermediate [Tp tBu,MeCr III(O 2)] (S= 3/ 2) into [Tp tBu,MeCr V(O) 2] (S= 1/ 2) is spin-forbidden. The minimum-energy crossing point for the two potential energy surfaces has been identified. Finally, although the dinuclear complex [(Tp tBu,MeCr) 2(μ-O) 2] exists, mechanistic experiments suggest that O 2 activation occurs on a single metal center, by an oxidativemore » addition on the quartet surface followed by crossover to the doublet surface.« less

Construct Validity of the Chinese Version of the Activities of Daily Living Rating Scale III in Patients with Schizophrenia

PubMed Central

Chiu, En-Chi; Lee, Yen; Lai, Kuan-Yu; Kuo, Chian-Jue; Lee, Shu-Chun; Hsieh, Ching-Lin

2015-01-01

Background The Chinese version of the Activities of Daily Living Rating Scale III (ADLRS-III), which has 10 domains, is commonly used for assessing activities of daily living (ADL) in patients with schizophrenia. However, construct validity (i.e., unidimensionality) for each domain of the ADLRS-III is unknown, limiting the explanations of the test results. Purpose This main purpose of this study was to examine unidimensionality of each domain in the ADLRS-III. We also examined internal consistency and ceiling/floor effects in patients with schizophrenia. Methods From occupational therapy records, we obtained 304 self-report data of the ADLRS-III. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to examine the 10 one-factor structures. If a domain showed an insufficient model fit, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed to investigate the factor structure and choose one factor representing the original construct. Internal consistency was examined using Cronbach’s alpha (α). Ceiling and floor effects were determined by the percentage of patients with the maximum and minimum scores in each domain, respectively. Results CFA analyses showed that 4 domains (i.e., leisure, picture recognition, literacy ability, communication tools use) had sufficient model fits. These 4 domains had acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.79-0.87) and no ceiling/floor effects, except the leisure domain which had a ceiling effect. The other 6 domains showed insufficient model fits. The EFA results showed that these 6 domains were two-factor structures. Conclusion The results supported unidimensional constructs of the leisure, picture recognition, literacy ability, and communication tool uses domains. The sum scores of these 4 domains can be used to represent their respective domain-specific functions. Regarding the 6 domains with insufficient model fits, we have explained the two factors of each domain and chosen one factor to represent its original construct. Future users may use the items from the chosen factors to assess domain-specific functions in patients with schizophrenia. PMID:26121246

The dependence of C IV broad absorption line properties on accompanying Si IV and Al III absorption: relating quasar-wind ionization levels, kinematics, and column densities

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

Filiz Ak, N.; Brandt, W. N.; Schneider, D. P.

2014-08-20

We consider how the profile and multi-year variability properties of a large sample of C IV Broad Absorption Line (BAL) troughs change when BALs from Si IV and/or Al III are present at corresponding velocities, indicating that the line of sight intercepts at least some lower ionization gas. We derive a number of observational results for C IV BALs separated according to the presence or absence of accompanying lower ionization transitions, including measurements of composite profile shapes, equivalent width (EW), characteristic velocities, composite variation profiles, and EW variability. We also measure the correlations between EW and fractional-EW variability for Cmore » IV, Si IV, and Al III. Our measurements reveal the basic correlated changes between ionization level, kinematics, and column density expected in accretion-disk wind models; e.g., lines of sight including lower ionization material generally show deeper and broader C IV troughs that have smaller minimum velocities and that are less variable. Many C IV BALs with no accompanying Si IV or Al III BALs may have only mild or no saturation.« less

Short apsidal period of three eccentric eclipsing binaries discovered in the Large Magellanic Cloud

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

Hong, Kyeongsoo; Lee, Chung-Uk; Kim, Seung-Lee

2014-06-01

We present new elements of apsidal motion in three eccentric eclipsing binaries located in the Large Magellanic Cloud. The apsidal motions of the systems were analyzed using both light curves and eclipse timings. The OGLE-III data obtained during the long period of 8 yr (2002-2009) allowed us to determine the apsidal motion period from their analyses. The existence of third light in all selected systems was investigated by light curve analysis. The O – C diagrams of EROS 1018, EROS 1041, and EROS 1054 were analyzed using the 30, 44, and 26 new times of minimum light, respectively, determined frommore » full light curves constructed from EROS, MACHO, OGLE-II, OGLE-III, and our own observations. This enabled a detailed study of the apsidal motion in these systems for the first time. All of the systems have a significant apsidal motion below 100 yr. In particular, EROS 1018 shows a very fast apsidal period of 19.9 ± 2.2 yr in a detached system.« less

Environmental effects of energy production and utilization in the U. S. Volume I. Sources, trends, and costs of control

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

Newkirk, H.W.

1976-05-01

Volume I deals with sources (what the emissions are and where they come from), trends (quantities of emissions and their dispersion with time), and costs of control (what it takes in time, energy, and money to meet minimum standards). Volume II concerns itself with the public health effects of energy production and utilization. Volume III summarizes the various techniques for controlling emissions, technological as well as economic, social, and political. (For abstracts of Vols. II and III, see ERDA Energy Research Abstracts, Vol. 2, Absts. 5764 and 5670, respectively) Each volume is divided into sections dealing with the atmosphere, water,more » land, and social activities--each division indicating a particular sphere of man's environment affected by energy production and use. The sources of information that were used in this study included textbooks, journal articles, technical reports, memoranda, letters, and personal communications. These are cited in the text at the end of each subsection and on the applicable tables and figures.« less

Fracture toughness and fracture behavior of SA508-III steel at different temperatures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Jia-hua; Wang, Lei; Liu, Yang; Song, Xiu; Luo, Jiong; Yuan, Dan

2014-12-01

The fracture toughness of SA508-III steel was studied in the temperature range from room temperature to 320°C using the J-integral method. The fracture behavior of the steel was also investigated. It was found that the conditional fracture toughness ( J Q) of the steel first decreased and then increased with increasing test temperature. The maximum and minimum values of J Q were 517.4 kJ/m2 at 25°C and 304.5 kJ/m2 at 180°C, respectively. Dynamic strain aging (DSA) was also observed to occur when the temperature exceeded 260°C with a certain strain rate. Both the dislocation density and the number of small dislocation cells effectively increased because of the occurrence of DSA; as a consequence, crack propagation was more strongly inhibited in the steel. Simultaneously, an increasing number of fine carbides precipitated under high stress at temperatures greater than 260°C. Thus, the deformation resistance of the steel was improved and the J Q was enhanced.

Three-Dimensional Host Bone Coverage in Total Hip Arthroplasty for Crowe Types II and III Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip.

PubMed

Xu, Jiawei; Qu, Xinhua; Li, Huiwu; Mao, Yuanqing; Yu, Degang; Zhu, Zhenan

2017-04-01

Recommendations for minimum cup coverage based on anteroposterior radiographs are widely used as an intraoperative guide in total hip arthroplasty for patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip. The purpose of this study was to examine the validity of two-dimensional (2D) measurement of coverage with three-dimensional (3D) coverage and to identify parameters for determining the 3D coverage during surgery. We developed a technique to accurately reproduce the intraoperative anatomic geometry of the dysplastic acetabulum and measure the 3D cup coverage postoperatively. With this technique, we retrospectively analyzed the difference and correlation between 2D and 3D measurements of native bone coverage in 35 patients (45 hips) with Crowe II or III DDH. Linear regression analysis was performed to examine the intraoperative parameters related to coverage. The mean follow-up period was 7.64 years (range, 6.1-9.5 years). There was a significant difference and a fair correlation between 2D and 3D measurements. The 2D measurement underestimated the 3D cup coverage by approximately 13%. An excellent linear relationship was noted between the 3D coverage/uncoverage and the height of the uncovered portion (R 2  = 0.8440, P < .0001). There was no case of loosening or revision during the follow-up. Current minimum cup coverage recommendations based on 2D radiograph measurements should not be used as a direct intraoperative guide. The height of the uncovered portion is a useful parameter to determine the 3D coverage during surgery. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

46 CFR Table 1 to Part 153 - Summary of Minimum Requirements

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... Acetochlor A P II NR Open Open A .409 NA Acetone cyanohydrin A S/P II B/3 PV Closed A .238(a), .316, .336... Restr A .409, .525, .526, .1020 I-D Acrylamide solution (50% or less) D S II NR Open Closed NSR .409... .526 I-D Alachlor B S/P III NR Open Open A, C .238(a), .409, .440, .488, .908(a), (b) NA Alcohol (C6...

The Annual Report of the National Shipbuilding Research Program (The Naval Shipbuilding Research Program)

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-08-29

Abrasives Work Planning for Shipyard SP&C Training Overcoating of Zinc Primers Citric Acid Cleaning - Phase II - Waterborne Coatings Economics of...members workout organizational problems with minimum government involvement a set of strong, committed, and sometimes fiercely independent panels and...01 Manual of Welding Planning and Design Guidelines - Phase III PANEL SP-3 Ship Design Considerations: Adaptation of Japanese Pre - 7 9 79 81 82 83 83

77 FR 9170 - Standard Instrument Approach Procedures, and Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-16

...-NOTAM), and is incorporated by reference in the amendment under 5 U.S.C. 552(a), 1 CFR part 51, and Sec... citation for part 97 continues to read as follows: Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40103, 40106, 40113, 40114... LOC RWY 9L, ILS RWY 9L (CAT II), ILS RWY 9L (CAT III), Orig-C 8-Mar-12 IL Chicago Chicago O'Hare Intl...

46 CFR Table 1 to Part 153 - Summary of Minimum Requirements

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... Acetochlor A P II NR Open Open A .409 NA Acetone cyanohydrin A S/P II B/3 PV Closed A .238(a), .316, .336, .408, .525, .526, .527, .912(a)(2), .933, .1002, .1004, .1020, .1035 I-D Acetonitrile III S II B/3 PV...), .409, .526, .912(a)(1), .933, .1002(a), .1004 I-D Acrylonitrile B S/P II B/3 PV Closed A .236(a), (c...

46 CFR Table 1 to Part 153 - Summary of Minimum Requirements

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... Acetochlor A P II NR Open Open A .409 NA Acetone cyanohydrin A S/P II B/3 PV Closed A .238(a), .316, .336, .408, .525, .526, .527, .912(a)(2), .933, .1002, .1004, .1020, .1035 I-D Acetonitrile III S II B/3 PV...), .409, .526, .912(a)(1), .933, .1002(a), .1004 I-D Acrylonitrile B S/P II B/3 PV Closed A .236(a), (c...

46 CFR Table 1 to Part 153 - Summary of Minimum Requirements

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... Acetochlor A P II NR Open Open A .409 NA Acetone cyanohydrin A S/P II B/3 PV Closed A .238(a), .316, .336, .408, .525, .526, .527, .912(a)(2), .933, .1002, .1004, .1020, .1035 I-D Acetonitrile III S II B/3 PV...), .409, .526, .912(a)(1), .933, .1002(a), .1004 I-D Acrylonitrile B S/P II B/3 PV Closed A .236(a), (c...

76 FR 61038 - Standard Instrument Approach Procedures, and Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-03

... Memphis, AR, West Memphis Muni, ILS OR LOC RWY 17, Amdt 5 Windsor Locks, CT, Bradley Intl, ILS OR LOC RWY 6, ILS RWY 6 (SA CAT I), ILS RWY 6 (CAT II), ILS RWY 6 (CAT III), Amdt 37 Windsor Locks, CT, Bradley Intl, ILS OR LOC RWY 24, ILS RWY 24 (SA CAT I), ILS RWY 24 (SA CAT II), Amdt 12 Windsor Locks, CT...

BK Virus-Hemorrhagic Cystitis Following Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation: Clinical Characteristics and Utility of Leflunomide Treatment

PubMed Central

Park, Young Hoon; Lim, Joo Han; Yi, Hyeon Gyu; Lee, Moon Hee; Kim, Chul Soo

2016-01-01

Objective: BK virus-hemorrhagic cystitis (BKV-HC) is a potential cause of morbidity and mortality in patients having undergone allogeneic stem cell transplantation (Allo-SCT). We analyzed the clinical features of BKV-HC following Allo-SCT and reported the utility of leflunomide therapy for BKV-HC. Materials and Methods: From January 2005 to June 2014, among the 69 patients that underwent Allo-SCT in our institution, the patients who experienced BKV-HC were investigated retrospectively. Results: HC was observed in 30 patients (43.5%), and among them, 18 of the cases (26.1%) were identified as BKV-HC. The median age of the patients (12 males and 6 females) was 45 years (minimum-maximum: 13-63). Patients received Allo-SCT for acute myeloid leukemia (n=11), aplastic anemia (n=4), myelodysplastic syndrome (n=2), and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (n=1). The donor types were human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched sibling donor for six patients, HLA-matched unrelated donor for nine, and haploidentical familial donor for two. The median onset and duration of BKV-HC was on day 21 after transplantation (minimum-maximum: 7-97) and 22 days (minimum-maximum: 6-107). Eleven patients (62.1%) had grade I-II HC and seven patients (38.9%) had grade III-IV (high-grade) HC. Among the seven patients who had high-grade HC, one had complete response, one had partial response, and five had no response. Among the five nonresponders, one died of BKV-HC associated complications. The remaining four patients were treated with leflunomide, achieving complete response (n=2) and partial response (n=2). The median duration from the start of leflunomide therapy to response was 13 days (minimum-maximum: 8-17 days). All patients tolerated the leflunomide treatment well, with three patients having mild gastrointestinal symptoms, including anorexia and abdominal bloating. Conclusion: BKV-HC was commonly observed in patients with HC following Allo-SCT. In high-grade BKV-HC patients who do not respond to supportive care, leflunomide may be a feasible option without significant toxicity. PMID:27094950

Remediation of soils combining soil vapor extraction and bioremediation: benzene.

PubMed

Soares, António Alves; Albergaria, José Tomás; Domingues, Valentina Fernandes; Alvim-Ferraz, Maria da Conceição M; Delerue-Matos, Cristina

2010-08-01

This work reports the study of the combination of soil vapor extraction (SVE) with bioremediation (BR) to remediate soils contaminated with benzene. Soils contaminated with benzene with different water and natural organic matter contents were studied. The main goals were: (i) evaluate the performance of SVE regarding the remediation time and the process efficiency; (ii) study the combination of both technologies in order to identify the best option capable to achieve the legal clean up goals; and (iii) evaluate the influence of soil water content (SWC) and natural organic matter (NOM) on SVE and BR. The remediation experiments performed in soils contaminated with benzene allowed concluding that: (i) SVE presented (a) efficiencies above 92% for sandy soils and above 78% for humic soils; (b) and remediation times from 2 to 45 h, depending on the soil; (ii) BR showed to be an efficient technology to complement SVE; (iii) (a) SWC showed minimum impact on SVE when high airflow rates were used and led to higher remediation times for lower flow rates; (b) NOM as source of microorganisms and nutrients enhanced BR but hindered the SVE due the limitation on the mass transfer of benzene from the soil to the gas phase. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Crystal structure, DNA binding, cleavage, antioxidant and antibacterial studies of Cu(II), Ni(II) and Co(III) complexes with 2-((furan-2-yl)methylimino)methyl)-6-ethoxyphenol Schiff base

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Venkateswarlu, Kadtala; Kumar, Marri Pradeep; Rambabu, Aveli; Vamsikrishna, Narendrula; Daravath, Sreenu; Rangan, Krishnan; Shivaraj

2018-05-01

Three novel binary metal complexes; 1 [Cu(L)2], 2 [Ni(L)2] and 3 [Co(L)3] where, L (2-(((furan-2-yl) methylimino)methyl)-6-ethoxyphenol, C14H15NO3), were synthesized and characterized by various spectral techniques. Based on spectral studies square planar geometry is assigned for Cu(II) and Ni(II) complexes, whereas Co(III) owned octahedral geometry. Ligand, [Cu(L)2] and [Ni(L)2] are crystallized and found to be monoclinic crystal systems. CT-DNA absorption binding studies revealed that the complexes show good binding propensity (Kb = 5.02 × 103 M-1, 2.77 × 103 M-1, 1.63 × 104 M-1 for 1, 2 and 3 respectively). The role of these complexes in the oxidative and photolytic cleavage of supercoiled pBR322 DNA was studied and found that the complexes cleave the pBR322 DNA effectively. The catalytic ability of 1, 2 and 3 follows the order: 3 > 1 >2. Antioxidant studies of the new complexes revealed that they exhibit significant antioxidant activity against DPPH radical. The Schiff base and its metal complexes have been screened for antibacterial studies by Minimum Inhibitory Concentration method. It is observed that all metal complexes showed more activity than free ligand.

77 FR 3098 - Standard Instrument Approach Procedures, and Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-01-23

... ILS OR LOC RWY 5L, ILS RWY 5L (CAT II), ILS RWY 5L (CAT III), Orig 9-Feb-12 NC Greensboro Piedmont... RWY 27R, ILS RWY 27R (CAT II), Amdt 10C 9-Feb-12 NC Greensboro Piedmont Triad Intl. 1/4677 1/3/12 ILS OR LOC RWY 5R, ILS RWY 5R (CAT II), Amdt 7 9-Feb-12 FL Jacksonville......... Jacksonville Intl... 1...

40 CFR Appendix III to Part 86 - Constant Volume Sampler Flow Calibration

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... ETI °F ±.1°F. Pressure depression upstream of LFE EPI “H20 ±.1“H20. Pressure drop across the LFE matrix EDP “H20 ±.005“H20. Air temperature at CVS pump inlet PTI °F ±.5°F. Pressure depression at CVS... condition in an increment of pump inlet depression (about 4″ H2O) that will yield a minimum of six data...

40 CFR Appendix III to Part 86 - Constant Volume Sampler Flow Calibration

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... ETI °F ±.1 °F. Pressure depression upstream of LFE EPI “H20 ±.1“H20. Pressure drop across the LFE matrix EDP “H20 ±.005“H20. Air temperature at CVS pump inlet PTI °F ±.5 °F. Pressure depression at CVS... condition in an increment of pump inlet depression (about 4″ H2O) that will yield a minimum of six data...

40 CFR Appendix III to Part 86 - Constant Volume Sampler Flow Calibration

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... ETI °F ±.1 °F. Pressure depression upstream of LFE EPI “H20 ±.1“H20. Pressure drop across the LFE matrix EDP “H20 ±.005“H20. Air temperature at CVS pump inlet PTI °F ±.5 °F. Pressure depression at CVS... condition in an increment of pump inlet depression (about 4″ H2O) that will yield a minimum of six data...

40 CFR Appendix III to Part 86 - Constant Volume Sampler Flow Calibration

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... ETI °F ±.1 °F. Pressure depression upstream of LFE EPI “H20 ±.1“H20. Pressure drop across the LFE matrix EDP “H20 ±.005“H20. Air temperature at CVS pump inlet PTI °F ±.5 °F. Pressure depression at CVS... condition in an increment of pump inlet depression (about 4″ H2O) that will yield a minimum of six data...

40 CFR Appendix III to Part 86 - Constant Volume Sampler Flow Calibration

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... ETI °F ±.1 °F. Pressure depression upstream of LFE EPI “H20 ±.1“H20. Pressure drop across the LFE matrix EDP “H20 ±.005“H20. Air temperature at CVS pump inlet PTI °F ±.5 °F. Pressure depression at CVS... condition in an increment of pump inlet depression (about 4″ H2O) that will yield a minimum of six data...

Pi meson radiotherapy for advanced head and neck neoplasms: preliminary results.

PubMed

Khan, K M; Bush, S; Herzon, F; Klingerman, M M

1981-01-01

Under the auspices of the University of New Mexico Cancer Research and Treatment Center, trials are under way at the Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility to evaluate the effects of pi meson irradiation on locally advanced human tumors. This paper summarizes the preliminary results in patients with locally advanced head and neck tumors treated under Phase 1 and Phase II studies. A total of 26 patients were treated between June 1977 and May 1979 with a minimum follow-up of 9 months and a maximum follow-up of 33 months. Sites of disease included the oropharynx in 10 cases (base of tongue in 7, tonsil in 2, and pharyngoepiglottic fold in 1), the supraglottic larynx in 4, the nasopharynx in 5, the oral cavity in 4, the hypopharynx in 2, and the sublingual salivary gland in 1. Twelve of the 26 patients are alive, and 10 survive with no evidence of disease. Doses employed ranged from a minimum of 1,000 peak pion rad in 7 fractions over 9 days to a maximum of 5,4000 peak pion rad in 51 fractions of 89 days. The minimum dose employed for any patients treated with peak pions alone was 3,000 rad. These data are analyzed according to dose, sit, histology, tumor response, local control, and survival. Results from these cases form the basis of the Phase III randomized trials for advanced squamous-cell carcinomas of the head and neck, which are currently in progress.

Effect of volatile fatty acids in anaerobic conditions on viability of helminth ova (Ascaris suum) in sanitization of municipal sludge.

PubMed

Rojas-Oropeza, Marcelo; Hernández-Uresti, Alejandro S; Ortega-Charleston, Luis S; Cabirol, Nathalie

2017-09-01

The present work aimed at evaluating the effect of four different mixtures of diverse volatile fatty acids (VFAs) on the viability of helminth ova (Ascaris suum), under mesophilic (35°C) anaerobic conditions and at different incubation times, in order to reproduce the process of two-phase anaerobic digestion. The mixtures of VFAs contained acetic, propionic, butyric, valeric, and isovaleric acids, used at concentrations normally found in acidogenic anaerobic digesters. The four treatments all showed a reduction in Ascaris suum ova viability, among which Treatment III (4.2 g-acetic acid L -1  +  2.2 g-propionic acid L -1  + 0.6 g-valeric acid L -1  + 0.6 g-isovaleric acid L -1 ) resulted the most efficient. We found that the full effect of VFAs on the viability loss of Ascaris suum ova in mesophilic conditions requires a minimum incubation time of 3 days. The highest efficiency in the loss of viability was observed with Treatment III and 4-day incubation. Interestingly, the proportion of acetic acid was three times as much in this treatment than in the other ones and resulted in an effect in a minimum time of 3 days. The mesophilic condition, however, was not sufficient to induce a complete loss of viability.

Combustion Limits and Efficiency of Turbojet Engines

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barnett, H. C.; Jonash, E. R.

1956-01-01

Combustion must be maintained in the turbojet-engine combustor over a wide range of operating conditions resulting from variations in required engine thrust, flight altitude, and flight speed. Furthermore, combustion must be efficient in order to provide the maximum aircraft range. Thus, two major performance criteria of the turbojet-engine combustor are (1) operatable range, or combustion limits, and (2) combustion efficiency. Several fundamental requirements for efficient, high-speed combustion are evident from the discussions presented in chapters III to V. The fuel-air ratio and pressure in the burning zone must lie within specific limits of flammability (fig. 111-16(b)) in order to have the mixture ignite and burn satisfactorily. Increases in mixture temperature will favor the flammability characteristics (ch. III). A second requirement in maintaining a stable flame -is that low local flow velocities exist in the combustion zone (ch. VI). Finally, even with these requirements satisfied, a flame needs a certain minimum space in which to release a desired amount of heat, the necessary space increasing with a decrease in pressure (ref. 1). It is apparent, then, that combustor design and operation must provide for (1) proper control of vapor fuel-air ratios in the combustion zone at or near stoichiometric, (2) mixture pressures above the minimum flammability pressures, (3) low flow velocities in the combustion zone, and (4) adequate space for the flame.

Single peak parameters technique for simultaneous measurements: Spectrophotometric sequential injection determination of Fe(II) and Fe(III).

PubMed

Kozak, J; Paluch, J; Węgrzecka, A; Kozak, M; Wieczorek, M; Kochana, J; Kościelniak, P

2016-02-01

Spectrophotometric sequential injection system (SI) is proposed to automate the method of simultaneous determination of Fe(II) and Fe(III) on the basis of parameters of a single peak. In the developed SI system, sample and mixture of reagents (1,10-phenanthroline and sulfosalicylic acid) are introduced into a vessel, where in an acid environment (pH≅3) appropriate compounds of Fe(II) and Fe(III) with 1,10-phenanthroline and sulfosalicylic acid are formed, respectively. Then, in turn, air, sample, EDTA and sample again, are introduced into a holding coil. After the flow reversal, a segment of air is removed from the system by an additional valve and as EDTA replaces sulfosalicylic acid forming a more stable colorless compound with Fe(III), a complex signal is registered. Measurements are performed at wavelength 530 nm. The absorbance measured at minimum of the negative peak and the area or the absorbance measured at maximum of the signal can be used as measures corresponding to Fe(II) and Fe(III) concentrations, respectively. The time of the peak registration is about 2 min. Two-component calibration has been applied to analysis. Fe(II) and Fe(III) can be determined within the concentration ranges of 0.04-4.00 and 0.1-5.00 mg L(-1), with precision less than 2.8% and 1.7% (RSD), respectively and accuracy better than 7% (RE). The detection limit is 0.04 and 0.09 mg L(-1) for Fe(II) and Fe(III), respectively. The method was applied to analysis of artesian water samples. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Retear rate in the late postoperative period after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

PubMed

Kim, Jae Hwa; Hong, In Tae; Ryu, Keun Jung; Bong, Sun Tae; Lee, Yoon Seok; Kim, Jang Hwan

2014-11-01

Few clinical studies have evaluated the integrity of repaired tendons and identified the timing of retears through the use of serial imaging. Retears after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair are uncommon in the late postoperative period (after 3 months). Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Among 221 arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs that were performed at a single hospital between May 2010 and February 2012, 61 were involved in this study. Rotator cuff tears consisted of 12 small, 31 medium, 8 large, and 6 massive rotator cuff tears. Additionally, 4 isolated subscapularis tears were included. For clinical evaluation, all patients were assessed both preoperatively and postoperatively by use of the University of California-Los Angeles Shoulder Rating Scale, absolute and relative Constant scores, and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score; active range of motion was assessed as well. For radiological evaluation, all 61 patients had a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation at 3 months postoperatively. Among them, 23 patients were evaluated for repaired tendon integrity on postoperative MRI at a minimum of 1 year after surgery (mean, 14.1 months; range, 12-19 months), and results were classified according to the Sugaya classification: type I, sufficient thickness with homogeneously low intensity on each image; type II, sufficient thickness, partial high-intensity area; type III, less than half the thickness without discontinuity; type IV, minor discontinuity; and type V, major discontinuity. The remaining 38 patients, who refused to undergo MRI again for financial reasons, were evaluated through ultrasound. Statistically significant clinical improvements were observed after surgery. The MRI conducted at 3 months postoperatively identified 9 patients with Sugaya type I, 28 patients with type II, and 24 patients with type III repairs. No patients showed Sugaya type IV or V repairs at postoperative 3 months. Thirty-seven patients who had shown Sugaya type I or II repairs on 3-month postoperative MRI had no retear on imaging study at a minimum of 1 year. Of 24 patients who had shown type III repairs on 3-month postoperative MRI, 1 patient exhibited retear (Sugaya type IV) on 1-year postoperative MRI and 3 patients showed full-thickness retear on 1-year postoperative ultrasonography. All 4 of these patients had had large to massive tears preoperatively. Retears occurred infrequently in the late postoperative period (after 3 months) in well-healed tendons that had shown intact cuff repair integrity with sufficient mechanical and biological healing within the first 3 postoperative months. © 2014 The Author(s).

Rates of arsenopyrite oxidation by oxygen and Fe(III) at pH 1.8-12.6 and 15-45 degrees C.

PubMed

Yu, Yunmei; Zhu, Yongxuan; Gao, Zhenmin; Gammons, Christopher H; Li, Denxian

2007-09-15

The oxidation rate of arsenopyrite by dissolved oxygen was measured using a mixed flow reactor at dissolved O2 concentrations of 0.007-0.77 mM, pH 1.8-12.6, and temperatures of 15-45 degrees C. As(III) was the dominant redox species (>75%) in the experimental system, and the As(III)/As(V) ratio of effluent waters did not change with pH. The results were used to derive the following rate law expression (valid between pH 1.8 and 6.4): r = 10((-2211 +/- 57)T) (mO2)(0.45 +/- 0.05), where r is the rate of release of dissolved As in mol m(-2) s(-1) and T is in Kelvin. Activation energies (Ea) for oxidation of arsenopyrite by 02 at pH 1.8 and 5.9 are 43 and 57 kJ/mol, respectively, and they compare to an Ea value of 16 kJ/mol for oxidation by Fe(III) at pH 1.8. Apparent As release rates passed through a minimum in the pH range 7-8, which may have been due to oxidation of Fe2+ to hydrous ferric oxide (HFO) with attenuation of dissolved As onto the freshly precipitated HFO.

Analysis of A Drug Target-based Classification System using Molecular Descriptors.

PubMed

Lu, Jing; Zhang, Pin; Bi, Yi; Luo, Xiaomin

2016-01-01

Drug-target interaction is an important topic in drug discovery and drug repositioning. KEGG database offers a drug annotation and classification using a target-based classification system. In this study, we gave an investigation on five target-based classes: (I) G protein-coupled receptors; (II) Nuclear receptors; (III) Ion channels; (IV) Enzymes; (V) Pathogens, using molecular descriptors to represent each drug compound. Two popular feature selection methods, maximum relevance minimum redundancy and incremental feature selection, were adopted to extract the important descriptors. Meanwhile, an optimal prediction model based on nearest neighbor algorithm was constructed, which got the best result in identifying drug target-based classes. Finally, some key descriptors were discussed to uncover their important roles in the identification of drug-target classes.

High mobility and high concentration Type-III heterojunction FET

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsu, R.; Fiddy, M. A.; Her, T.

2018-02-01

The PN junction was introduced in transistors by doping, resulting in high losses due to Coulomb scattering from the dopants. The MOSFET introduced carriers in the form of electrons and holes with an applied bias to the oxide barrier, resulting in carrier transfer without doping. This avoids high scattering losses and dominates the IC industries. With heterojunctions having valence-band maxima near and even above the conduction-band minimum in the formation of Type-III superlattices, very useful devices, introduced by Tsu, Sai-Halacz, and Esaki, soon followed. If the layer thicknesses are more than the carrier mean-free-path, incoherent scattering results in the formation of carrier transfer via diffusion instead of opening up new energy gaps. The exploitation of carriers without scattering represents a new and significant opportunity in what we call a Broken Gap Heterojunction FET.

Abiotic Nitrous Oxide Production in Natural and Artificial Seawater

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ochoa, H.; Stanton, C. L.; Cavazos, A. R.; Ostrom, N. E.; Glass, J. B.

2014-12-01

The ocean contributes approximately one third of global sources of nitrous oxide (N2O) to the atmosphere. While nitrification is thought to be the dominant pathway for marine N2O production, mechanisms remain unresolved. Previous studies have carried the implicit assumption that marine N2O originates directly from enzymatic sources. However, abiotic production of N2O is possible via chemical reactions between nitrogenous intermediates and redox active trace metals in seawater. In this study, we investigated N2O production and isotopic composition in treatments with and without added hydroxylamine (NH2OH) and nitric oxide (NO), intermediates in microbial oxidation of ammonia to nitrite, and Fe(III). Addition of substrates to sterile artificial seawater was compared with filtered and unfiltered seawater from Sapelo Island, coastal Georgia, USA. N2O production was observed immediately after addition of Fe(III) in the presence of NH2OH at pH 8 in sterile artificial seawater. Highest N2O production was observed in the presence of Fe(III), NO, and NH2OH. The isotopomer site preference of abiotically produced N2O was consistent with previous studies (31 ± 2 ‰). Higher abiotic N2O production was observed in sterile artificial seawater (salinity: 35 ppt) than filtered Sapelo Island seawater (salinity: 25 ppt) whereas diluted sterile artificial seawater (18 ppt) showed lowest N2O production, suggesting that higher salinity promotes enhanced abiotic N2O production. Addition of Fe(III) to unfiltered Sapelo Island seawater stimulated N2O production. The presence of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA), which lack known N2O producing enzymes, in Sapelo Island seawater was confirmed by successful amplification of the archaeal amoA gene, whereas ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), which contain N2O-producing enzymes were undetected. Given the few Fe-containing proteins present in AOA, it is likely that Fe(III) addition promoted N2O production via an abiotic vs. enzymatic N2O mechanism. Overall, this study suggests that abiotic N2O production may be occurring in marine environments where microbial ammonia oxidation occurs in the presence of elevated Fe and/or other redox-active metals, such as coastal areas, oxygen minimum zones, and near the sediment-water interface.

Minimum Distance Estimation of Mixture Proportions.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-12-01

35 iii Page Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 iv List of Tables Table Page I. Simulation Results for Mixtures of Two Exponen- 33...extended this research to the mixed Weibull, Falls(14) and Rider( 35 ) using the method of moments and Kao(26) using a graphical method, for example. In...samp(750),true(3),temp,min(3),mse,a,b,c real sammom(3),meanl,mean2,estip,x,y,z,msemom,tempt( 3 ) real xl,yl,zl integer nr,n,m,d,ier complex zsm ,zlg

Energy Security Requires Diversity: An Argument for The Defense Production Act Title III Biofuel Initiative

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-06-19

restriction. At that time, Congress also amended the “Declaration of Policy” to include renewable energy sources “ biomass ” and “more efficient energy...minimum mandates for advanced biofuels are one billion gallons for biomass -based diesel, 16 billion gallons for cellulosic fuels, and four billion...biofuels-and- the-u-s-military-has-it-wrong/ 162 BARTIS, supra note 159. 163 United to Purchase Biofuels from AltAir Fuels, BIOMASS MAGAZINE (July 1

Torsional shear flow of granular materials: shear localization and minimum energy principle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Artoni, Riccardo; Richard, Patrick

2018-01-01

The rheological properties of granular matter submitted to torsional shear are investigated numerically by means of discrete element method. The shear cell is made of a cylinder filled by grains which are sheared by a bumpy bottom and submitted to a vertical pressure which is applied at the top. Regimes differing by their strain localization features are observed. They originate from the competition between dissipation at the sidewalls and dissipation in the bulk of the system. The effects of the (i) the applied pressure, (ii) sidewall friction, and (iii) angular velocity are investigated. A model, based on the purely local μ (I)-rheology and a minimum energy principle is able to capture the effect of the two former quantities but unable to account the effect of the latter. Although, an ad hoc modification of the model allows to reproduce all the numerical results, our results point out the need for an alternative rheology.

Continuum Mean-Field Theories for Molecular Fluids, and Their Validity at the Nanoscale

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hanna, C. B.; Peyronel, F.; MacDougall, C.; Marangoni, A.; Pink, D. A.; AFMNet-NCE Collaboration

2011-03-01

We present a calculation of the physical properties of solid triglyceride particles dispersed in an oil phase, using atomic- scale molecular dynamics. Significant equilibrium density oscillations in the oil appear when the interparticle distance, d , becomes sufficiently small, with a global minimum in the free energy found at d ~ 1.4 nm. We compare the simulation values of the Hamaker coefficient with those of models which assume that the oil is a homogeneous continuum: (i) Lifshitz theory, (ii) the Fractal Model, and (iii) a Lennard-Jones 6-12 potential model. The last-named yields a minimum in the free energy at d ~ 0.26 nm. We conclude that, at the nanoscale, continuum Lifshitz theory and other continuum mean-field theories based on the assumption of homogeneous fluid density can lead to erroneous conclusions. CBH supported by NSF DMR-0906618. DAP supported by NSERC. This work supported by AFMNet-NCE.

Industrial wastewater minimization using water pinch analysis: a case study on an old textile plant.

PubMed

Ujang, Z; Wong, C L; Manan, Z A

2002-01-01

Industrial wastewater minimization can be conducted using four main strategies: (i) reuse; (ii) regeneration-reuse; (iii) regeneration-recycling; and (iv) process changes. This study is concerned with (i) and (ii) to investigate the most suitable approach to wastewater minimization for an old textile industry plant. A systematic water networks design using water pinch analysis (WPA) was developed to minimize the water usage and wastewater generation for the textile plant. COD was chosen as the main parameter. An integrated design method has been applied, which brings the engineering insight using WPA that can determine the minimum flowrate of the water usage and then minimize the water consumption and wastewater generation as well. The overall result of this study shows that WPA has been effectively applied using both reuse and regeneration-reuse strategies for the old textile industry plant, and reduced the operating cost by 16% and 50% respectively.

SU-E-J-269: Tracking of Tumor Regression for Stage III Lung Cancer Using CBCT

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

Kang, K; Biswas, T; Podder, T

2015-06-15

Purpose: This study is to evaluate the tumor regression over the course of EBRT treatment and to determine the difference of tumor reduction for stage III lung squamous cell cancer (SCC) and adenocarcinoma using CBCT. Methods: Twenty three stage III lung cancer patients treated in our clinic who had daily cone beam CT (CBCT) were selected for this study (16 adenocarcinoma and 7 SCC cases). Patients received prescription dose in the range of 50Gy–71.4Gy (mean =60.3Gy, median =50Gy) at 1.8Gy or 2Gy per fraction. Treatments spanned over a minimum of five weeks. Initial mean volume of the gross tumor volumemore » (GTV) was 123cc (range = 14.7cc–353.3cc). For this study, we choose six sets of CBCTs at an interval of one week, starting from the first fraction of treatment. Daily CBCTs from treatment linac computer were transferred to MIM Software version 6.0. An experienced physician contoured the primary GTV on each slices of the CBCT for these patients. Results: A consistent regression of the GTVs was observed in all patients, except in one patient (adeno case) where GTV did not change. Weekly volumetric reduction was in the range of 11.2%–16.6%. Maximum reductions were noticed in the first two weeks of the treatment cycle; mean overall (for adeno+SCC) reductions were 16.6%, 14.2% in week-1 and week-2, respectively. Mean reduction over five weeks of treatment was 49.8% (range = 0.1%–75.5%). Higher reduction was observed in SCC patients as compare to adenocarcinoma cases (54.9% vs. 47.6%); however, the difference was not statistically significant (p-value > 0.05). Conclusion: Large regression of tumors over the course of EBRT for stage III lung cancer patients was observed. Both SCC and adenocarcinoma responded well; overall reduction for SCC cases was higher. A future study is warranted for determining the co-relation between tumor volume reduction and treatment outcome.« less

The Effectiveness of Problem-Based Learning Approach Based on Multiple Intelligences in Terms of Student’s Achievement, Mathematical Connection Ability, and Self-Esteem

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kartikasari, A.; Widjajanti, D. B.

2017-02-01

The aim of this study is to explore the effectiveness of learning approach using problem-based learning based on multiple intelligences in developing student’s achievement, mathematical connection ability, and self-esteem. This study is experimental research with research sample was 30 of Grade X students of MIA III MAN Yogyakarta III. Learning materials that were implemented consisting of trigonometry and geometry. For the purpose of this study, researchers designed an achievement test made up of 44 multiple choice questions with respectively 24 questions on the concept of trigonometry and 20 questions for geometry. The researcher also designed a connection mathematical test and self-esteem questionnaire that consisted of 7 essay questions on mathematical connection test and 30 items of self-esteem questionnaire. The learning approach said that to be effective if the proportion of students who achieved KKM on achievement test, the proportion of students who achieved a minimum score of high category on the results of both mathematical connection test and self-esteem questionnaire were greater than or equal to 70%. Based on the hypothesis testing at the significance level of 5%, it can be concluded that the learning approach using problem-based learning based on multiple intelligences was effective in terms of student’s achievement, mathematical connection ability, and self-esteem.

Reduction of aqueous transition metal species on the surfaces of Fe(II)-containing oxides

USGS Publications Warehouse

White, A.F.; Peterson, M.L.

1996-01-01

Experimental studies demonstrate that structural Fe(II) in magnetite and ilmenite heterogeneously reduce aqueous ferric, cupric, vanadate, and chromate ions at the oxide surfaces over a pH range of 1-7 at 25??C. For an aqueous transition metal m, such reactions are 3[Fe2+Fe3+2]O4(magnetite) + 2/nmz ??? 4[Fe3+2]O3(maghemite) + Fe2+ + 2/nmz-n and 3[Fe2+Ti]O3(ilmenite) + 2/nmz ??? Fe3+2Ti3O9(pseudorutile) + Fe2+ + 2/nmz-n, where z is the valance state and n is the charge transfer number. The half cell potential range for solid state oxidation [Fe(II)] ??? [Fe(III)] is -0.34 to -0.65 V, making structural Fe(II) a stronger reducing agent than aqueous Fe2+ (-0.77 V). Reduction rates for aqueous metal species are linear with time (up to 36 h), decrease with pH, and have rate constants between 0.1 and 3.3 ?? 10-10 mol m-2 s-1. Iron is released to solution both from the above reactions and from dissolution of the oxide surface. In the presence of chromate, Fe2+ is oxidized homogeneously in solution to Fe3+. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) denotes a Fe(III) oxide surface containing reduced Cr(III) and V(IV) species. Magnetite and ilmenite electrode potentials are insensitive to increases in divalent transition metals including Zn(II), Co(II), Mn(II), and Ni(II) and reduced V(IV) and Cr(III) but exhibit a log-linear concentration-potential response to Fe(III) and Cu(II). Complex positive electrode responses occur with increasing Cr(VI) and V(V) concentrations. Potential dynamic scans indicate that the high oxidation potential of dichromate is capable of suppressing the cathodic reductive dissolution of magnetite. Oxide electrode potentials are determined by the Fe(II)/Fe(III) composition of the oxide surface and respond to aqueous ion potentials which accelerate this oxidation process. Natural magnetite sands weathered under anoxic conditions are electrochemically reactive as demonstrated by rapid chromate reduction and the release of aqueous Fe(III) to experimental solution. In contrast, magnetite weathered under oxidizing vadose conditions show minimum reactivity toward chromate ions. The ability of Fe(II) oxides to reduce transition metals in soils and groundwaters will be strongly dependent on the redox environment.

Determination of As(III) and total inorganic As in water samples using an on-line solid phase extraction and flow injection hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry.

PubMed

Sigrist, Mirna; Albertengo, Antonela; Beldoménico, Horacio; Tudino, Mabel

2011-04-15

A simple and robust on-line sequential injection system based on solid phase extraction (SPE) coupled to a flow injection hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometer (FI-HGAAS) with a heated quartz tube atomizer (QTA) was developed and optimized for the determination of As(III) in groundwater without any kind of sample pretreatment. The method was based on the selective retention of inorganic As(V) that was carried out by passing the filtered original sample through a cartridge containing a chloride-form strong anion exchanger. Thus the most toxic form, inorganic As(III), was determined fast and directly by AsH(3) generation using 3.5 mol L(-1) HCl as carrier solution and 0.35% (m/v) NaBH(4) in 0.025% NaOH as the reductant. Since the uptake of As(V) should be interfered by several anions of natural occurrence in waters, the effect of Cl(-), SO(4)(2-), NO(3)(-), HPO(4)(2-), HCO(3)(-) on retention was evaluated and discussed. The total soluble inorganic arsenic concentration was determined on aliquots of filtered samples acidified with concentrated HCl and pre-reduced with 5% KI-5% C(6)H(8)O(6) solution. The concentration of As(V) was calculated by difference between the total soluble inorganic arsenic and As(III) concentrations. Detection limits (LODs) of 0.5 μg L(-1) and 0.6 μg L(-1) for As(III) and inorganic total As, respectively, were obtained for a 500 μL sample volume. The obtained limits of detection allowed testing the water quality according to the national and international regulations. The analytical recovery for water samples spiked with As(III) ranged between 98% and 106%. The sampling throughput for As(III) determination was 60 samplesh(-1). The device for groundwater sampling was especially designed for the authors. Metallic components were avoided and the contact between the sample and the atmospheric oxygen was carried to a minimum. On-field arsenic species separation was performed through the employ of a serial connection of membrane filters and anion-exchange cartridges. Advantages derived from this approach were evaluated. HPLC-ICPMS was employed to study the consistency of the analytical results. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Reduction of aqueous transition metal species on the surfaces of Fe(II) -containing oxides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

White, Art F.; Peterson, Maria L.

1996-10-01

Experimental studies demonstrate that structural Fe(II) in magnetite and ilmenite heterogeneously reduce aqueous ferric, cupric, vanadate, and chromate ions at the oxide surfaces over a pH range of 1-7 at 25°C. For an aqueous transition metal m, such reactions are 3[FeFe23+]O+2/nm→4[Fe23+]O+Fe+2/nm and 3[FeTi]O+→Fe23+TiO+Fe+2/nm, where z is the valance state and n is the charge transfer number. The half cell potential range for solid state oxidation [Fe(II)] → [Fe(III)] is -0.34 to -0.65 V, making structural Fe(II) a stronger reducing agent than aqueous Fe 2+ (-0.77 V). Reduction rates for aqueous metal species are linear with time (up to 36 h), decrease with pH, and have rate constants between 0.1 and 3.3 × 10 -10 mol m -2 s -1. Iron is released to solution both from the above reactions and from dissolution of the oxide surface. In the presence of chromate, Fe 2+ is oxidized homogeneously in solution to Fe 3+. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) denotes a Fe(III) oxide surface containing reduced Cr(III) and V(IV) species. Magnetite and ilmenite electrode potentials are insensitive to increases in divalent transition metals including Zn(II), Co(II), Mn(II), and Ni(II) and reduced V(IV) and Cr(III) but exhibit a log-linear concentration-potential response to Fe(III) and Cu(II). Complex positive electrode responses occur with increasing Cr(VI) and V(V) concentrations. Potential dynamic scans indicate that the high oxidation potential of dichromate is capable of suppressing the cathodic reductive dissolution of magnetite. Oxide electrode potentials are determined by the Fe(II)/Fe(III) composition of the oxide surface and respond to aqueous ion potentials which accelerate this oxidation process. Natural magnetite sands weathered under anoxic conditions are electrochemically reactive as demonstrated by rapid chromate reduction and the release of aqueous Fe(III) to experimental solution. In contrast, magnetite weathered under oxidizing vadose conditions show minimum reactivity toward chromate ions. The ability of Fe(II) oxides to reduce transition metals in soils and groundwaters will be strongly dependent on the redox environment.

Cassini UVIS Observations of the Io Plasma Torus. 3; Observations of Temporal and Azimuthal Variability

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Steffl, A. J.; Delamere, P. A.; Bagenal, F.

2006-01-01

In this third paper in a series presenting observations by the Cassini Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer (UVIS) of the Io plasma torus, we show remarkable, though subtle, spatio-temporal variations in torus properties. The Io torus is found to exhibit significant, near sinusoidal variations in ion composition as a functions of azimuthal position. The azimuthal variation in composition is such that the mixing ratio of S II us strongly correlated with the mixing ratio of S III and the equatorial electron density and strongly anti-correlated with the mixing ratios of both S IV and O II and the equatorial electron temperature. Surprisingly, the azimuthal variation in ion composition is observed to have a period of 10.07 h -- 1.5% longer than the System III rotation period of Jupiter, yet 1.3% shorter than the System UV period defined by [Brown, M. E., 1995. J. Geophys. Res. 100, 21683-21696]. Although the amplitude of the azimuthal variation of S III and O II remained in the range of 2-5%, the amplitude of the S II and S IV compositional variation ranged between 5 and 25% during the UVIS observations. Furthermore, the amplitude of the azimuthal variations of S II and S IV appears to be modulated by its location in System III longitude, such that when the region of maximum S II mixing ration (minimum S IV mixing ratio) is aligned with a System III longitude of 200 deg +/-, the amplitude is a factor of 4 greater than when the variation is anti-aligned. This behavior can explain numerous, often apparently contradictory, observations of variations in the properties of the Io plasma torus with the System III and System IV coordinate systems.

[Au(pyb-H)(mnt)]: A novel gold(III) 1,2-dithiolene cyclometalated complex with antimicrobial activity (pyb-H=C-deprotonated 2-benzylpyridine; mnt=1,2-dicyanoethene-1,2-dithiolate).

PubMed

Pintus, Anna; Aragoni, M Carla; Cinellu, Maria A; Maiore, Laura; Isaia, Francesco; Lippolis, Vito; Orrù, Germano; Tuveri, Enrica; Zucca, Antonio; Arca, Massimiliano

2017-05-01

The novel heteroleptic cyclometalated complex [Au III (py b -H)(mnt)] (1; py b -H=C-deprotonated 2-benzylpyridine; mnt =1,2-dicyanoethene-1,2-dithiolate) was tested against a panel of ten Gram positive (belonging to the Staphylococcus, Streptococcus spp. and Bacillus clausii), Gram negative (E. coli, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa) bacteria and three yeasts belonging to the Candida spp. Complex 1 showed a remarkable bacteriostatic antimicrobial activity against staphylococci, with Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values of 1.56 and 3.13μg/mL for S. haemoliticus and S. aureus, respectively. Spectroscopic and electrochemical measurements, supported by Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations, were exploited to fully investigate the electronic structure of complex 1 and its relationship with the antimicrobial activity. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Compliance with WHO IYCF Indicators and Dietary Intake Adequacy in a Sample of Malaysian Infants Aged 6–23 Months

PubMed Central

Khor, Geok Lin; Tan, Sue Yee; Tan, Kok Leong; Chan, Pauline S.; Amarra, Maria Sofia V.

2016-01-01

Background: The 2010 World Health Organisation (WHO) Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) indicators are useful for monitoring feeding practices. Methods: A total sample of 300 subjects aged 6 to 23 months was recruited from urban suburbs of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. Compliance with each IYCF indicator was computed according to WHO recommendations. Dietary intake based on two-day weighed food records was obtained from a sub-group (N = 119) of the total sample. The mean adequacy ratio (MAR) value was computed as an overall measure of dietary intake adequacy. Contributions of core IYCF indicators to MAR were determined by multinomial logistic regression. Results: Generally, the subjects showed high compliance for (i) timely introduction of complementary foods at 6 to 8 months (97.9%); (ii) minimum meal frequency among non-breastfed children aged 6 to 23 months (95.2%); (iii) consumption of iron-rich foods at 6 to 23 months (92.3%); and minimum dietary diversity (78.0%). While relatively high proportions achieved the recommended intake levels for protein (87.4%) and iron (71.4%), lower proportions attained the recommendations for calcium (56.3%) and energy (56.3%). The intake of micronutrients was generally poor. The minimum dietary diversity had the greatest contribution to MAR (95% CI: 3.09, 39.87) (p = 0.000) among the core IYCF indicators. Conclusion: Malaysian urban infants and toddlers showed moderate to high compliance with WHO IYCF indicators. The robustness of the analytical approach in this study in quantifying contributions of IYCF indicators to MAR should be further investigated. PMID:27916932

Compliance with WHO IYCF Indicators and Dietary Intake Adequacy in a Sample of Malaysian Infants Aged 6-23 Months.

PubMed

Khor, Geok Lin; Tan, Sue Yee; Tan, Kok Leong; Chan, Pauline S; Amarra, Maria Sofia V

2016-12-01

The 2010 World Health Organisation (WHO) Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) indicators are useful for monitoring feeding practices. A total sample of 300 subjects aged 6 to 23 months was recruited from urban suburbs of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. Compliance with each IYCF indicator was computed according to WHO recommendations. Dietary intake based on two-day weighed food records was obtained from a sub-group ( N = 119) of the total sample. The mean adequacy ratio (MAR) value was computed as an overall measure of dietary intake adequacy. Contributions of core IYCF indicators to MAR were determined by multinomial logistic regression. Generally, the subjects showed high compliance for (i) timely introduction of complementary foods at 6 to 8 months (97.9%); (ii) minimum meal frequency among non-breastfed children aged 6 to 23 months (95.2%); (iii) consumption of iron-rich foods at 6 to 23 months (92.3%); and minimum dietary diversity (78.0%). While relatively high proportions achieved the recommended intake levels for protein (87.4%) and iron (71.4%), lower proportions attained the recommendations for calcium (56.3%) and energy (56.3%). The intake of micronutrients was generally poor. The minimum dietary diversity had the greatest contribution to MAR (95% CI: 3.09, 39.87) ( p = 0.000) among the core IYCF indicators. Malaysian urban infants and toddlers showed moderate to high compliance with WHO IYCF indicators. The robustness of the analytical approach in this study in quantifying contributions of IYCF indicators to MAR should be further investigated.

Clonidine versus nitroglycerin infusion in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

PubMed

Mishra, Manjaree; Mishra, Shashi Prakash; Mathur, Sharad Kumar

2014-01-01

Laparoscopic surgery offers the advantages of minimally invasive surgery; however, pneumoperitoneum and the patient's position induce pathophysiological changes that may complicate anesthetic management. We studied the effect of clonidine and nitroglycerin on heart rate and blood pressure, if any, in association with these drugs or the procedure, as well as the effect of these drugs, if any, on end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure and intraocular pressure. Sixty patients (minimum age of 20 years and maximum age of 65 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists class I or II) undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized into 3 groups and given an infusion of clonidine (group I), nitroglycerin (group II), or normal saline solution (group III) after induction and before creation of pneumoperitoneum. We observed and recorded the following parameters: heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure, and intraocular pressure. The mean and standard deviation of the parameters studied during the observation period were calculated for the 3 treatment groups and compared by use of analysis of variance tests. Intragroup comparison was performed with the paired t test. The critical value of P, indicating the probability of a significant difference, was taken as < .05 for comparisons. Statistically significant differences in heart rate were observed among the various groups, whereas comparisons of mean arterial pressure, intraocular pressure, and end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure showed statistically significant differences only between groups I and III and between groups II and III. We found clonidine to be more effective than nitroglycerin at preventing changes in hemodynamic parameters and intraocular pressure induced by carbon dioxide insufflation during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. It was also found not to cause hypotension severe enough to stop the infusion and warrant treatment.

Clonidine Versus Nitroglycerin Infusion in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

PubMed Central

Mishra, Manjaree; Mishra, Shashi Prakash

2014-01-01

Background and Objectives: Laparoscopic surgery offers the advantages of minimally invasive surgery; however, pneumoperitoneum and the patient's position induce pathophysiological changes that may complicate anesthetic management. We studied the effect of clonidine and nitroglycerin on heart rate and blood pressure, if any, in association with these drugs or the procedure, as well as the effect of these drugs, if any, on end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure and intraocular pressure. Methods: Sixty patients (minimum age of 20 years and maximum age of 65 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists class I or II) undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized into 3 groups and given an infusion of clonidine (group I), nitroglycerin (group II), or normal saline solution (group III) after induction and before creation of pneumoperitoneum. We observed and recorded the following parameters: heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure, and intraocular pressure. The mean and standard deviation of the parameters studied during the observation period were calculated for the 3 treatment groups and compared by use of analysis of variance tests. Intragroup comparison was performed with the paired t test. The critical value of P, indicating the probability of a significant difference, was taken as < .05 for comparisons. Results: Statistically significant differences in heart rate were observed among the various groups, whereas comparisons of mean arterial pressure, intraocular pressure, and end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure showed statistically significant differences only between groups I and III and between groups II and III. Conclusion: We found clonidine to be more effective than nitroglycerin at preventing changes in hemodynamic parameters and intraocular pressure induced by carbon dioxide insufflation during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. It was also found not to cause hypotension severe enough to stop the infusion and warrant treatment. PMID:25392635

Critical design criteria for minimal antibiotic-free plasmid vectors necessary to combine robust RNA Pol II and Pol III-mediated eukaryotic expression with high bacterial production yields

PubMed Central

Carnes, Aaron E.; Luke, Jeremy M.; Vincent, Justin M.; Anderson, Sheryl; Schukar, Angela; Hodgson, Clague P.; Williams, James A.

2010-01-01

Background For safety considerations, regulatory agencies recommend elimination of antibiotic resistance markers and nonessential sequences from plasmid DNA-based gene medicines. In the present study we analyzed antibiotic-free (AF) vector design criteria impacting bacterial production and mammalian transgene expression. Methods Both CMV-HTLV-I R RNA Pol II promoter (protein transgene) and murine U6 RNA Pol III promoter (RNA transgene) vector designs were studied. Plasmid production yield was assessed through inducible fed-batch fermentation. RNA Pol II-directed EGFP and RNA Pol III-directed RNA expression were quantified by fluorometry and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively, after transfection of human HEK293 cells. Results Sucrose-selectable minimalized protein and therapeutic RNA expression vector designs that combined an RNA-based AF selection with highly productive fermentation manufacturing (>1,000 mg/L plasmid DNA) and high level in vivo expression of encoded products were identified. The AF selectable marker was also successfully applied to convert existing kanamycin-resistant DNA vaccine plasmids gWIZ and pVAX1 into AF vectors, demonstrating a general utility for retrofitting existing vectors. A minimum vector size for high yield plasmid fermentation was identified. A strategy for stable fermentation of plasmid dimers with improved vector potency and fermentation yields up to 1,740 mg/L was developed. Conclusions We report the development of potent high yield AF gene medicine expression vectors for protein or RNA (e.g. short hairpin RNA or microRNA) products. These AF expression vectors were optimized to exceed a newly identified size threshold for high copy plasmid replication and direct higher transgene expression levels than alternative vectors. PMID:20806425

Accumulation of Fe oxyhydroxides in the Peruvian oxygen deficient zone implies non-oxygen dependent Fe oxidation

DOE PAGES

Heller, Maija I.; Lam, Phoebe J.; Moffett, James W.; ...

2017-05-19

Oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) have been proposed to be an important source of dissolved iron (Fe) into the interior ocean. However, previous studies in OMZs have shown a sharp decrease in total dissolved Fe (dFe) and/or dissolved Fe(II) (dFe(II)) concentrations at the shelf-break, despite constant temperature, salinity and continued lack of oxygen across the shelf-break. The loss of both total dFe and dFe(II) suggests a conversion of the dFe to particulate form, but studies that have coupled the reduction-oxidation (redox) speciation of both dissolved and particulate phases have not previously been done. Here in this work, we have measured themore » redox speciation and concentrations of both dissolved and particulate forms of Fe in samples collected during the U.S. GEOTRACES Eastern tropical Pacific Zonal Transect (EPZT) cruise in 2013 (GP16). This complete data set allows us to assess possible mechanisms for loss of dFe. We observed an offshore loss of dFe(II) within the oxygen deficient zone (ODZ), where dissolved oxygen is undetectable, accompanied by an increase in total particulate Fe (pFe). Total pFe concentrations were highest in the upper ODZ. X-ray absorption spectroscopy revealed that the pFe maximum was primarily in the Fe(III) form as Fe(III) oxyhydroxides. The remarkable similarity in the distributions of total particulate iron and nitrite suggests a role for nitrite in the oxidation of dFe(II) to pFe(III). Lastly, we present a conceptual model for the rapid redox cycling of Fe that occurs in ODZs, despite the absence of oxygen.« less

Accumulation of Fe oxyhydroxides in the Peruvian oxygen deficient zone implies non-oxygen dependent Fe oxidation

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

Heller, Maija I.; Lam, Phoebe J.; Moffett, James W.

Oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) have been proposed to be an important source of dissolved iron (Fe) into the interior ocean. However, previous studies in OMZs have shown a sharp decrease in total dissolved Fe (dFe) and/or dissolved Fe(II) (dFe(II)) concentrations at the shelf-break, despite constant temperature, salinity and continued lack of oxygen across the shelf-break. The loss of both total dFe and dFe(II) suggests a conversion of the dFe to particulate form, but studies that have coupled the reduction-oxidation (redox) speciation of both dissolved and particulate phases have not previously been done. Here in this work, we have measured themore » redox speciation and concentrations of both dissolved and particulate forms of Fe in samples collected during the U.S. GEOTRACES Eastern tropical Pacific Zonal Transect (EPZT) cruise in 2013 (GP16). This complete data set allows us to assess possible mechanisms for loss of dFe. We observed an offshore loss of dFe(II) within the oxygen deficient zone (ODZ), where dissolved oxygen is undetectable, accompanied by an increase in total particulate Fe (pFe). Total pFe concentrations were highest in the upper ODZ. X-ray absorption spectroscopy revealed that the pFe maximum was primarily in the Fe(III) form as Fe(III) oxyhydroxides. The remarkable similarity in the distributions of total particulate iron and nitrite suggests a role for nitrite in the oxidation of dFe(II) to pFe(III). Lastly, we present a conceptual model for the rapid redox cycling of Fe that occurs in ODZs, despite the absence of oxygen.« less

Accumulation of Fe oxyhydroxides in the Peruvian oxygen deficient zone implies non-oxygen dependent Fe oxidation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heller, Maija I.; Lam, Phoebe J.; Moffett, James W.; Till, Claire P.; Lee, Jong-Mi; Toner, Brandy M.; Marcus, Matthew A.

2017-08-01

Oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) have been proposed to be an important source of dissolved iron (Fe) into the interior ocean. However, previous studies in OMZs have shown a sharp decrease in total dissolved Fe (dFe) and/or dissolved Fe(II) (dFe(II)) concentrations at the shelf-break, despite constant temperature, salinity and continued lack of oxygen across the shelf-break. The loss of both total dFe and dFe(II) suggests a conversion of the dFe to particulate form, but studies that have coupled the reduction-oxidation (redox) speciation of both dissolved and particulate phases have not previously been done. Here we have measured the redox speciation and concentrations of both dissolved and particulate forms of Fe in samples collected during the U.S. GEOTRACES Eastern tropical Pacific Zonal Transect (EPZT) cruise in 2013 (GP16). This complete data set allows us to assess possible mechanisms for loss of dFe. We observed an offshore loss of dFe(II) within the oxygen deficient zone (ODZ), where dissolved oxygen is undetectable, accompanied by an increase in total particulate Fe (pFe). Total pFe concentrations were highest in the upper ODZ. X-ray absorption spectroscopy revealed that the pFe maximum was primarily in the Fe(III) form as Fe(III) oxyhydroxides. The remarkable similarity in the distributions of total particulate iron and nitrite suggests a role for nitrite in the oxidation of dFe(II) to pFe(III). We present a conceptual model for the rapid redox cycling of Fe that occurs in ODZs, despite the absence of oxygen.

Fast converging minimum probability of error neural network receivers for DS-CDMA communications.

PubMed

Matyjas, John D; Psaromiligkos, Ioannis N; Batalama, Stella N; Medley, Michael J

2004-03-01

We consider a multilayer perceptron neural network (NN) receiver architecture for the recovery of the information bits of a direct-sequence code-division-multiple-access (DS-CDMA) user. We develop a fast converging adaptive training algorithm that minimizes the bit-error rate (BER) at the output of the receiver. The adaptive algorithm has three key features: i) it incorporates the BER, i.e., the ultimate performance evaluation measure, directly into the learning process, ii) it utilizes constraints that are derived from the properties of the optimum single-user decision boundary for additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) multiple-access channels, and iii) it embeds importance sampling (IS) principles directly into the receiver optimization process. Simulation studies illustrate the BER performance of the proposed scheme.

Non-uniform breaking of molecular bonds, peripheral morphology and releasable adhesion by elastic anisotropy in bio-adhesive contacts

PubMed Central

Liu, Yan; Gao, Yanfei

2015-01-01

Biological adhesive contacts are usually of hierarchical structures, such as the clustering of hundreds of sub-micrometre spatulae on keratinous hairs of gecko feet, or the clustering of molecular bonds into focal contacts in cell adhesion. When separating these interfaces, releasable adhesion can be accomplished by asymmetric alignment of the lowest scale discrete bonds (such as the inclined spatula that leads to different peeling force when loading in different directions) or by elastic anisotropy. However, only two-dimensional contact has been analysed for the latter method (Chen & Gao 2007 J. Mech. Phys. Solids 55, 1001–1015 (doi:10.1016/j.jmps.2006.10.008)). Important questions such as the three-dimensional contact morphology, the maximum to minimum pull-off force ratio and the tunability of releasable adhesion cannot be answered. In this work, we developed a three-dimensional cohesive interface model with fictitious viscosity that is capable of simulating the de-adhesion instability and the peripheral morphology before and after the onset of instability. The two-dimensional prediction is found to significantly overestimate the maximum to minimum pull-off force ratio. Based on an interface fracture mechanics analysis, we conclude that (i) the maximum and minimum pull-off forces correspond to the largest and smallest contact stiffness, i.e. ‘stiff-adhere and compliant-release’, (ii) the fracture toughness is sensitive to the crack morphology and the initial contact shape can be designed to attain a significantly higher maximum-to-minimum pull-off force ratio than a circular contact, and (iii) since the adhesion is accomplished by clustering of discrete bonds or called bridged crack in terms of fracture mechanics terminology, the above conclusions can only be achieved when the bridging zone is significantly smaller than the contact size. This adhesion-fracture analogy study leads to mechanistic predictions that can be readily used to design biomimetics and releasable adhesives. PMID:25392403

SU-E-T-578: On Definition of Minimum and Maximum Dose for Target Volume

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

Gong, Y; Yu, J; Xiao, Y

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the impact of different minimum and maximum dose definitions in radiotherapy treatment plan quality evaluation criteria by using tumor control probability (TCP) models. Methods: Dosimetric criteria used in RTOG 1308 protocol are used in the investigation. RTOG 1308 is a phase III randomized trial comparing overall survival after photon versus proton chemoradiotherapy for inoperable stage II-IIIB NSCLC. The prescription dose for planning target volume (PTV) is 70Gy. Maximum dose (Dmax) should not exceed 84Gy and minimum dose (Dmin) should not go below 59.5Gy in order for the plan to be “per protocol” (satisfactory).A mathematicalmore » model that simulates the characteristics of PTV dose volume histogram (DVH) curve with normalized volume is built. The Dmax and Dmin are noted as percentage volumes Dη% and D(100-δ)%, with η and d ranging from 0 to 3.5. The model includes three straight line sections and goes through four points: D95%= 70Gy, Dη%= 84Gy, D(100-δ)%= 59.5 Gy, and D100%= 0Gy. For each set of η and δ, the TCP value is calculated using the inhomogeneously irradiated tumor logistic model with D50= 74.5Gy and γ50=3.52. Results: TCP varies within 0.9% with η; and δ values between 0 and 1. With η and η varies between 0 and 2, TCP change was up to 2.4%. With η and δ variations from 0 to 3.5, maximum of 8.3% TCP difference is seen. Conclusion: When defined maximum and minimum volume varied more than 2%, significant TCP variations were seen. It is recommended less than 2% volume used in definition of Dmax or Dmin for target dosimetric evaluation criteria. This project was supported by NIH grants U10CA180868, U10CA180822, U24CA180803, U24CA12014 and PA CURE Grant.« less

Non-compliance with ACS-COT recommended criteria for full trauma team activation is associated with undertriage deaths.

PubMed

Tignanelli, Christopher J; Vander Kolk, Wayne E; Mikhail, Judy N; Delano, Matthew J; Hemmila, Mark R

2017-11-21

The appropriate triage of acutely injured patients within a trauma system is associated with improved rates of mortality and optimal resource utilization. The American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS-COT) put forward six minimum criteria (ACS-6) for full trauma team activation (TTA). We hypothesized that ACS-COT verified trauma center compliance with these criteria is associated with low under-triage rates and improved overall mortality. Data from a state-wide collaborative quality initiative was utilized. We used data collected from 2014 through 2016 at 29 ACS verified level 1 and 2 trauma centers. Inclusion criteria were: adult patients (≥16 years) and ISS ≥5. Quantitative data existed to analyze four of the ACS-6 criteria (ED SBP≤90 mmHg, respiratory compromise/intubation, central GSW, and GCS<9). Patients were considered to be under-triaged if they had major trauma (ISS>15) and did not receive a full TTA. 51,792 patients were included in the study. Compliance with ACS-6 minimum criteria for full TTA varied from 51% to 82%. Presence of any ACS-6 criteria was associated with a high intervention rate and significant risk of mortality (OR 16.7, 95% CI 15.2-18.3, p<0.001). Of the 1004 deaths that were not a full activation, 433 (43%) were classified as under-triaged, and 301 (30%) had at least one ACS-6 criteria present. Under-triaged patients with any ACS-6 criteria were more likely to die than those who were not under-triaged (30% vs 21%, p=0.001). GCS<9 and need for emergent intubation were the ACS-6 criteria most frequently associated with under-triage mortality. Compliance with ACS-COT minimum criteria for full TTA remains sub-optimal and undertriage is associated with increased mortality. This data suggests that the most efficient quality improvement measure around triage should be ensuring compliance with the ACS-6 criteria. This study suggests that practice pattern modification to more strictly adhere to the minimum ACS-COT criteria for full TTA will save lives. Diagnostic Tests or Criteria, Level III.

Surgical débridement and parenteral antibiotics in infected revision total knee arthroplasty.

PubMed

Chiu, Fang-Yao; Chen, Chuan-Mu

2007-08-01

Whether surgical débridement and parenteral antibiotics with prosthesis retention for infected revision TKA eradicates infection is not well established. We sought to determine the prevalence of reinfection. Between 1992 and 2003, we prospectively followed 40 consecutive patients with deep infection after revision TKA. These patients had no prosthesis loosening or malalignment. Using the classification of Tsukayama et al, 10, 20, and 10 patients had Types I (acute postoperative), II (late chronic), and III (acute hematogenous) infections, respectively. All had surgical débridement and parenteral antibiotics with retention of their existing prostheses. The patients were followed for a minimum of 3 years (range, 36-143 months). Successful implant salvage was achieved in 12 of the 40 patients (30%). However, likelihood of success depended on the type of infection: patients with Type I infections (seven of 10) and patients with Type III infections (five of 10) retained their prostheses more often than patients with Type II infections (zero of 20). We recommend early débridement and retention of the prosthesis with Type I or Type III infections in revised TKAs, but primary removal for Type II infections.

Current status of trochanteric reattachment in complex total hip arthroplasty.

PubMed

Barrack, Robert L; Butler, R Allen

2005-12-01

A study was done to determine if cable fixation devices of more recent design were associated with a higher success rate and lower incidence of complications compared with early cable devices. Beginning in 1997 a cable plate device was used in an attempt to restore abductor function more consistently in complex total hip arthroplasties. Cobalt-chrome cables through holes in a trochanteric cable plate with two or more transversely oriented cables at or below the lesser trochanter were used in order to resist migration of the trochanteric fragment better. Other component features included instrumentation that allowed provisional fixation and measurement of the tension in the cables so that cables could be tightened and retightened sequentially to insure a minimum of 80 inch-pounds of tension in all cables before final crimping. Minimum 2-year followup was obtained in 42 patients who had complex arthroplasties (trochanteric nonunions and reattachment to structural grafts) in which such a device was used. Clinical and radiographic results were compared with a series of patients with similar indications in whom wire or and earlier-generation trochanteric cable fixation devices were used. The cable plate of a more recent design was associated with a possible trend for a lower incidence of limp, use of assistive walking devices, dislocation, and abductor weakness and significant decrease in the incidence of breakage and trochanteric nonunion. Therapeutic study, Level III-1 (retrospective comparative study). See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Data Centric Sensor Stream Reduction for Real-Time Applications in Wireless Sensor Networks

PubMed Central

Aquino, Andre Luiz Lins; Nakamura, Eduardo Freire

2009-01-01

This work presents a data-centric strategy to meet deadlines in soft real-time applications in wireless sensor networks. This strategy considers three main aspects: (i) The design of real-time application to obtain the minimum deadlines; (ii) An analytic model to estimate the ideal sample size used by data-reduction algorithms; and (iii) Two data-centric stream-based sampling algorithms to perform data reduction whenever necessary. Simulation results show that our data-centric strategies meet deadlines without loosing data representativeness. PMID:22303145

A Systematic Review of the Outcomes of Posterolateral Corner Knee Injuries, Part 1: Surgical Treatment of Acute Injuries.

PubMed

Geeslin, Andrew G; Moulton, Samuel G; LaPrade, Robert F

2016-05-01

There is a paucity of outcome data to guide the surgical treatment of acute grade III posterolateral corner (PLC) knee injuries. To systematically review the literature to compare clinical outcomes of the treatment for acute grade III PLC injuries. Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4. A systematic review of the literature including Cochrane, PubMed, Medline, and Embase was performed. The following search terms were used: posterolateral corner knee, posterolateral knee, posterolateral instability, multiligament knee, and knee dislocation. Inclusion criteria were outcome studies of surgically treated acute PLC injuries with a minimum 2-year follow-up, subjective outcomes, objective outcomes including varus stability, and subgroup data on PLC injuries. Two investigators independently reviewed all abstracts. Accepted definitions of varus stability on examination or stress radiographs and the need for revision surgery were used to categorically define success and failure. Eight studies with a total of 134 patients were included. The mean patient age was reported in 7 studies (range, 21-31.5 years). The mean time to surgery was reported in 5 studies (range, 15-24.3 days); surgery was performed within 3 weeks in the other 3 studies. Four studies reported International Knee Documentation Committee scores (range, 78.1-91.3); 5 studies reported Lysholm scores (range, 87.5-90.3). Only 3 studies obtained bilateral varus stress radiographs. Based on an objective evaluation with varus stress examinations or radiographs, there was an overall success rate of 81% and failure rate of 19%. In 2 studies, the fibular collateral ligament and popliteus tendon were repaired and staged cruciate reconstruction performed in most patients; there were 17 failures of 45 patients (38%). In the remainder of the studies, patients were treated with local tissue transfer, hybrid repair for amenable structures or reconstruction for midsubstance tears, or reconstruction of all torn structures; the failure rate was 9%. The repair of acute grade III PLC injuries and staged treatment of combined cruciate injuries were associated with a substantially higher postoperative PLC failure rate. Further research is required to identify the reconstruction technique that provides optimal subjective and objective outcomes. © 2015 The Author(s).

Minimum average 7-day, 10-year flows in the Hudson River basin, New York, with release-flow data on Rondout and Ashokan reservoirs

USGS Publications Warehouse

Archer, Roger J.

1978-01-01

Minimum average 7-day, 10-year flow at 67 gaging stations and 173 partial-record stations in the Hudson River basin are given in tabular form. Variation of the 7-day, 10-year low flow from point to point in selected reaches, and the corresponding times of travel, are shown graphically for Wawayanda Creek, Wallkill River, Woodbury-Moodna Creek, and the Fishkill Creek basins. The 7-day, 10-year low flow for the Saw Kill basin, and estimates of the 7-day, 10-year low flow of the Roeliff Jansen Kill at Ancram and of Birch Creek at Pine Hill, are given. Summaries of discharge from Rondout and Ashokan Reservoirs, in Ulster County, are also included. Minimum average 7-day, 10-year flow for gaging stations with 10 years or more of record were determined by log-Pearson Type III computation; those for partial-record stations were developed by correlation of discharge measurements made at the partial-record stations with discharge data from appropriate long-term gaging stations. The variation in low flows from point to point within the selected subbasins were estimated from available data and regional regression formula. Time of travel at these flows in the four subbasins was estimated from available data and Boning's equations.

Evidence for Fluorescent Fe II Emission from Extended Low Ionization Outflows in Obscured Quasars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Tinggui; Ferland, Gary J.; Yang, Chenwei; Wang, Huiyuan; Zhang, Shaohua

2016-06-01

Recent studies have shown that outflows in at least some broad absorption line (BAL) quasars are extended well beyond the putative dusty torus. Such outflows should be detectable in obscured quasars. We present four WISE selected infrared red quasars with very strong and peculiar ultraviolet Fe II emission lines: strong UV Fe II UV arising from transitions to ground/low excitation levels, and very weak Fe II at wavelengths longer than 2800 Å. The spectra of these quasars display strong resonant emission lines, such as C IV, Al III and Mg II but sometimes, a lack of non-resonant lines such as C III], S III and He II. We interpret the Fe II lines as resonantly scattered light from the extended outflows that are viewed nearly edge-on, so that the accretion disk and broad line region are obscured by the dusty torus, while the extended outflows are not. We show that dust free gas exposed to strong radiation longward of 912 Å produces Fe II emission very similar to that observed. The gas is too cool to collisionally excite Fe II lines, accounting for the lack of optical emission. The spectral energy distribution from the UV to the mid-infrared can be modeled as emission from a clumpy dusty torus, with UV emission being reflected/scattered light either by the dusty torus or the outflow. Within this scenario, we estimate a minimum covering factor of the outflows from a few to 20% for the Fe II scattering region, suggesting that Fe II BAL quasars are at a special stage of quasar evolution.

An opening criterion for dust gaps in protoplanetary discs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dipierro, Giovanni; Laibe, Guillaume

2017-08-01

We aim to understand under which conditions a low-mass planet can open a gap in viscous dusty protoplanetary discs. For this purpose, we extend the theory of dust radial drift to include the contribution from the tides of an embedded planet and from the gas viscous forces. From this formalism, we derive (I) a grain-size-dependent criterion for dust gap opening in discs, (II) an estimate of the location of the outer edge of the dust gap and (III) an estimate of the minimum Stokes number above which low-mass planets are able to carve gaps that appear only in the dust disc. These analytical estimates are particularly helpful to appraise the minimum mass of a hypothetical planet carving gaps in discs observed at long wavelengths and high resolution. We validate the theory against 3D smoothed particle hydrodynamics simulations of planet-disc interaction in a broad range of dusty protoplanetary discs. We find a remarkable agreement between the theoretical model and the numerical experiments.

The in vivo behaviour of a sol-gel glass and a glass-ceramic during critical diaphyseal bone defects healing.

PubMed

Gil-Albarova, Jorge; Salinas, Antonio J; Bueno-Lozano, Antonio L; Román, Jesus; Aldini-Nicolo, Nicolo; García-Barea, Agustina; Giavaresi, Gianluca; Fini, Milena; Giardino, Roberto; Vallet-Regí, Maria

2005-07-01

The in vivo evaluation, in New Zealand rabbits, of a sol-gel glass 70% CaO-30% SiO2 (in mol%) and a glass-ceramic obtained from thermal treatment of the glass, both bioactive in Kokubo's simulated body fluid (SBF), is presented. Femoral bone diaphyseal critical defects were filled with: (i) sol-gel glass cylinders, (ii) glass-ceramic cylinders, or (iii) no material (control group). Osteosynthesis was done by means of anterior screwed plates with an associate intramedullar Kirschner wire. Each group included 10 mature rabbits, 9 months old. Follow-up was 6 months. After sacrifice, macroscopic study showed healing of bone defects, with bone coating over the cylinders, but without evidence of satisfactory repair in control group. Radiographic study showed good implant stability and periosteal growth and bone remodelling around and over the filled bone defect. The morphometric study showed minimum evidences of degradation or resorption in glass-ceramic cylinders, maintaining its original shape, but sol-gel glass cylinders showed abundant fragmentation and surface resorption. An intimate union of the new-formed bone to both materials was observed. Mechanical study showed the higher results in the glass-ceramic group, whereas sol-gel glass and control group showed no differences. The minimum degradation of glass-ceramic cylinders suggests their application in critical bone defects locations of transmission forces or load bearing. The performance of sol-gel glass cylinders suggests their usefulness in locations where a quick resorption should be preferable, considering the possibility of serving as drug or cells vehicle for both of them.

Pressure ulcer and patient characteristics--A point prevalence study in a tertiary hospital of India based on the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel minimum data set.

PubMed

Mehta, Chitra; George, Joby V; Mehta, Yatin; Wangmo, Namgyal

2015-08-01

Pressure ulcers is a frequent problem in hospitalized patients. Several prevalence studies have been conducted across the globe. Little information is available regarding prevalence of pressure ulcers in India. The aim was to identify the prevalence of pressure ulcers in one of the tertiary hospital in northern India and the factors associated with its development. A cross sectional point prevalence study. European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (EPUAP) data collection form. Ethics approval was obtained prior to start of the study. Total of 358 patients were enrolled in the study. All patients above 18 years of age admitted in intensive care units and wards were included in the study. Patients admitted in emergency, day care, coronary care unit were excluded because of their short duration of hospital stay (varies from 24 to 72 h usually). All patients admitted before midnight on the predetermined day were included. The Braden scale was used to identify the risk of developing pressure ulcers. European Pressure ulcer advisory panel (EPUAP) minimum data set was used to collect prevalence data. The overall prevalence rate was 7.8%.The sacrum and heel were more commonly affected. Grade III pressure ulcers were the most common (42.8%). The pressure ulcer prevalence rate in our hospital was lower than that published in international studies. Severe forms of pressure ulcers were commonly encountered This data provides background information that may help us in developing protocols for applying effective practices for prevention of pressure ulcers. Copyright © 2015 Tissue Viability Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Changes in the Far UV Spectrum of Eta Carinae Near the 2003 Minimum

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Iping, R. C.; Gull, T. R.; Sonneborn, G.; Massa, D.; Vieira, G. L.; Nielsen, K. E.

2004-01-01

High resolution 905-1180 spectra of \\eta Carinae have been obtained with the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) satellite at nine epochs between February 2000 and June 2003 . This period of time extends from the broad maximum up to the very beginning of the minimum of the 5.52-year period initially discovered by A. Damineli. The flux levels were unchanged between February 2000 through February 2003 with minor spectral differences. The X-Ray minimum started on June 29, 2003 . Three observations were accomplished on June 10, June 17 and June 27 leading up to the minimum. Substantial changes were present in the June 10 and June 17 spectra, but a very significant change occurred by June 27, 2003. Longward of 1100A, the overall flux dropped 10 to 30 %. Shortward of 1100A, there are spectral intervals with NO decrease in flux even down to the shortest wavelengths (920--950 ). This indicates that dust absorption has a negligible role in the observed spectral changes and that line absorptions play a major role. Throughout the spectrum there are intervals ranging in width of 3-10A with strong increased absorption. Significant absorptions may be associated with the red portion of the following stellar wind lines: C III 977, O VI 1031,1037, P V 1117, while other absorption features are much broader, more extended and not clearly associated with well-known spectral transitions. Given the complexity of the STIS echelle spectra taken in this period of time, many of these absorption features are likely due to multiple absorption lines

Outer-disk reddening and gas-phase metallicities: The CALIFA connection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marino, R. A.; Gil de Paz, A.; Sánchez, S. F.; Sánchez-Blázquez, P.; Cardiel, N.; Castillo-Morales, A.; Pascual, S.; Vílchez, J.; Kehrig, C.; Mollá, M.; Mendez-Abreu, J.; Catalán-Torrecilla, C.; Florido, E.; Perez, I.; Ruiz-Lara, T.; Ellis, S.; López-Sánchez, A. R.; González Delgado, R. M.; de Lorenzo-Cáceres, A.; García-Benito, R.; Galbany, L.; Zibetti, S.; Cortijo, C.; Kalinova, V.; Mast, D.; Iglesias-Páramo, J.; Papaderos, P.; Walcher, C. J.; Bland-Hawthorn, J.

2016-01-01

We study, for the first time in a statistically significant and well-defined sample, the relation between the outer-disk ionized-gas metallicity gradients and the presence of breaks in the surface brightness profiles of disk galaxies. Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) g'- and r'-band surface brightness, (g' - r') color, and ionized-gasoxygen abundance profiles for 324 galaxies within the Calar Alto Legacy Integral Field Area (CALIFA) survey are used for this purpose. We perform a detailed light-profile classification, finding that 84% of our disks show down- or up-bending profiles (Type II and Type III, respectively), while the remaining 16% are well fitted by one single exponential (Type I). The analysis of the color gradients at both sides of this break shows a U-shaped profile for most Type II galaxies with an average minimum (g' - r') color of ~0.5 mag and an ionized-gas metallicity flattening associated with it only in the case of low-mass galaxies. Comparatively, more massive systems show a rather uniform negative metallicity gradient. The correlation between metallicity flattening and stellar mass for these systems results in p-values as low as 0.01. Independent of the mechanism having shaped the outer light profiles of these galaxies, stellar migration or a previous episode of star formation in a shrinking star-forming disk, it is clear that the imprint in their ionized-gas metallicity was different for low- and high-mass Type II galaxies. In the case of Type III disks, a positive correlation between the change in color and abundance gradient is found (the null hypothesis is ruled out with a p-value of 0.02), with the outer disks of Type III galaxies with masses ≤1010 M⊙ showing a weak color reddening or even a bluing. This is interpreted as primarily due to a mass downsizing effect on the population of Type III galaxies that recently experienced an enhanced inside-out growth.

Assessing the Eligibility Criteria in Phase III Randomized Controlled Trials of Drug Therapy in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: The Critical Play-Off Between a "Pure" Patient Phenotype and the Generalizability of Trial Findings.

PubMed

Patel, Hitesh C; Hayward, Carl; Dungu, Jason N; Papadopoulou, Sofia; Saidmeerasah, Abdel; Ray, Robin; Di Mario, Carlo; Shanmugam, Nesan; Cowie, Martin R; Anderson, Lisa J

2017-07-01

To investigate the effect of the different eligibility criteria used by phase III clinical studies in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) on patient selection, phenotype, and survival. We applied the key eligibility criteria of 7 phase III HFpEF studies (Digitalis Investigation Group Ancillary, Candesartan in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure and Preserved Left-Ventricular Ejection Fraction, Perindopril in Elderly People With Chronic Heart Failure, Irbesartan in Heart Failure With Preserved Systolic Function, Japanese Diastolic Heart Failure, Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure With an Aldosterone Antagonist, and Efficacy and Safety of LCZ696 Compared to Valsartan, on Morbidity and Mortality in Heart Failure Patients With Preserved Ejection Fraction [PARAGON-HF; ongoing]) to a typical and well-characterized HFpEF population (n = 557) seen in modern European cardiological practice. Follow-up was available for a minimum of 24 months in each patient. Increasing the number of study eligibility criteria identifies a progressively smaller group of patients from real-life practice suitable for recruitment into clinical trials; using the J-DHF criteria, 81% of our clinic patients would have been eligible, whereas the PARAGON-HF criteria significantly reduced this proportion to 32%. The patients identified from our clinical population had similar mortality rates using the different criteria, which were consistently higher than those reported in the actual clinic trials. Trial eligibility criteria have become stricter with time, which reduces the number of eligible patients, affecting both generalizability of any findings and feasibility of completing an adequately powered trial. We could not find evidence that the additional criteria used in more recent randomized trials in HFpEF have identified patients at higher risk of all-cause mortality. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Surface Mn(II) oxidation actuated by a multicopper oxidase in a soil bacterium leads to the formation of manganese oxide minerals

PubMed Central

Zhang, Zhen; Zhang, Zhongming; Chen, Hong; Liu, Jin; Liu, Chang; Ni, Hong; Zhao, Changsong; Ali, Muhammad; Liu, Fan; Li, Lin

2015-01-01

In this manuscript, we report that a bacterial multicopper oxidase (MCO266) catalyzes Mn(II) oxidation on the cell surface, resulting in the surface deposition of Mn(III) and Mn(IV) oxides and the gradual formation of bulky oxide aggregates. These aggregates serve as nucleation centers for the formation of Mn oxide micronodules and Mn-rich sediments. A soil-borne Escherichia coli with high Mn(II)-oxidizing activity formed Mn(III)/Mn(IV) oxide deposit layers and aggregates under laboratory culture conditions. We engineered MCO266 onto the cell surfaces of both an activity-negative recipient and wild-type strains. The results confirmed that MCO266 governs Mn(II) oxidation and initiates the formation of deposits and aggregates. By contrast, a cell-free substrate, heat-killed strains, and intracellularly expressed or purified MCO266 failed to catalyze Mn(II) oxidation. However, purified MCO266 exhibited Mn(II)-oxidizing activity when combined with cell outer membrane component (COMC) fractions in vitro. We demonstrated that Mn(II) oxidation and aggregate formation occurred through an oxygen-dependent biotic transformation process that requires a certain minimum Mn(II) concentration. We propose an approximate electron transfer pathway in which MCO266 transfers only one electron to convert Mn(II) to Mn(III) and then cooperates with other COMC electron transporters to transfer the other electron required to oxidize Mn(III) to Mn(IV). PMID:26039669

Hermes III

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

Hasti, D.E.; Ramirez, J.J.; Prestwich, K.R.

1985-01-01

Hermes III is a major new gamma-ray simulator that is part of the Simulation Technology Laboratory Project. This accelerator will significantly improve the capability of Sandia National Laboratories and the Department of Energy to evaluate the effects of gamma-ray radiation from nuclear weapons on weapons subsystems. This accelerator will be designed to produce 10/sup 5/R, 5 x 10/sup 12/ R/S and 2 x 10/sup 20/ R/S/sup 2/ over a 500 cm/sup 2/ area. The radiation dose will vary less than a factor of two over this area and less than a factor of four throughout a volume found by extendingmore » this surface 15 cm further from the gamma-ray converter. The minimum dose in this volume will be greater than or equal to5 x 10/sup 4/ R. The accelerator will be designed with sufficient reliability and short enough turn-around time to produce more than 600 radiation pulses per year. In Hermes III we are increasing the peak power in the beam from 1.2 TW of Hermes II to 16 TW. Two techniques for achieving these high powers have been successfully developed. The first technique is a high current linear induction accelerator with several parallel beams. Experiments to evaluate this concept were done on the MABE accelerator. The second concept uses induction cavities and a magnetically insulated transmission line (MITL) to form a multi-terawatt voltage adder. This report gives a detailed description of Hermes III and its components.« less

Surface Mn(II) oxidation actuated by a multicopper oxidase in a soil bacterium leads to the formation of manganese oxide minerals.

PubMed

Zhang, Zhen; Zhang, Zhongming; Chen, Hong; Liu, Jin; Liu, Chang; Ni, Hong; Zhao, Changsong; Ali, Muhammad; Liu, Fan; Li, Lin

2015-06-03

In this manuscript, we report that a bacterial multicopper oxidase (MCO266) catalyzes Mn(II) oxidation on the cell surface, resulting in the surface deposition of Mn(III) and Mn(IV) oxides and the gradual formation of bulky oxide aggregates. These aggregates serve as nucleation centers for the formation of Mn oxide micronodules and Mn-rich sediments. A soil-borne Escherichia coli with high Mn(II)-oxidizing activity formed Mn(III)/Mn(IV) oxide deposit layers and aggregates under laboratory culture conditions. We engineered MCO266 onto the cell surfaces of both an activity-negative recipient and wild-type strains. The results confirmed that MCO266 governs Mn(II) oxidation and initiates the formation of deposits and aggregates. By contrast, a cell-free substrate, heat-killed strains, and intracellularly expressed or purified MCO266 failed to catalyze Mn(II) oxidation. However, purified MCO266 exhibited Mn(II)-oxidizing activity when combined with cell outer membrane component (COMC) fractions in vitro. We demonstrated that Mn(II) oxidation and aggregate formation occurred through an oxygen-dependent biotic transformation process that requires a certain minimum Mn(II) concentration. We propose an approximate electron transfer pathway in which MCO266 transfers only one electron to convert Mn(II) to Mn(III) and then cooperates with other COMC electron transporters to transfer the other electron required to oxidize Mn(III) to Mn(IV).

Study on Cr(VI) Leaching from Cement and Cement Composites

PubMed Central

Palascakova, Lenka; Kanuchova, Maria

2018-01-01

This paper reports an experimental study on hexavalent chromium leaching from cement samples and cement composites containing silica fume and zeolite additions that were subjected to various leaching agents. The water-soluble Cr(VI) concentrations in cements ranged from 0.2 to 3.2 mg/kg and represented only 1.8% of the total chromium content. The presence of chromium compounds with both chromium oxidation states of III and VI was detected in the cement samples by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Leaching tests were performed in a Britton-Robinson buffer to simulate natural conditions and showed increased dissolution of Cr(VI) up to 6 mg/kg. The highest amount of leached hexavalent chromium was detected after leaching in HCl. The findings revealed that the leaching of chromium from cements was higher by 55–80% than that from the cement composites. A minimum concentration was observed for all cement samples when studying the relationship between the soluble Cr(VI) and the cement storage time. PMID:29690550

Study on Cr(VI) Leaching from Cement and Cement Composites.

PubMed

Estokova, Adriana; Palascakova, Lenka; Kanuchova, Maria

2018-04-22

This paper reports an experimental study on hexavalent chromium leaching from cement samples and cement composites containing silica fume and zeolite additions that were subjected to various leaching agents. The water-soluble Cr(VI) concentrations in cements ranged from 0.2 to 3.2 mg/kg and represented only 1.8% of the total chromium content. The presence of chromium compounds with both chromium oxidation states of III and VI was detected in the cement samples by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Leaching tests were performed in a Britton-Robinson buffer to simulate natural conditions and showed increased dissolution of Cr(VI) up to 6 mg/kg. The highest amount of leached hexavalent chromium was detected after leaching in HCl. The findings revealed that the leaching of chromium from cements was higher by 55⁻80% than that from the cement composites. A minimum concentration was observed for all cement samples when studying the relationship between the soluble Cr(VI) and the cement storage time.

Assessing the potential hydrological impact of the Gibe III Dam on Lake Turkana water level using multi-source satellite data

USGS Publications Warehouse

Velpuri, Naga Manohar; Senay, Gabriel B.

2012-01-01

Lake Turkana, the largest desert lake in the world, is fed by ungauged or poorly gauged river systems. To meet the demand of electricity in the East African region, Ethiopia is currently building the Gibe III hydroelectric dam on the Omo River, which supplies more than 80% of the inflows to Lake Turkana. On completion, the Gibe III dam will be the tallest dam in Africa with a height of 241 m. However, the nature of interactions and potential impacts of regulated inflows to Lake Turkana are not well understood due to its remote location and unavailability of reliable in-situ datasets. In this study, we used 12 years (1998–2009) of existing multi-source satellite and model-assimilated global weather data. We use calibrated multi-source satellite data-driven water balance model for Lake Turkana that takes into account model routed runoff, lake/reservoir evapotranspiration, direct rain on lakes/reservoirs and releases from the dam to compute lake water levels. The model evaluates the impact of Gibe III dam using three different approaches such as (a historical approach, a knowledge-based approach, and a nonparametric bootstrap resampling approach) to generate rainfall-runoff scenarios. All the approaches provided comparable and consistent results. Model results indicated that the hydrological impact of the dam on Lake Turkana would vary with the magnitude and distribution of rainfall post-dam commencement. On average, the reservoir would take up to 8–10 months, after commencement, to reach a minimum operation level of 201 m depth of water. During the dam filling period, the lake level would drop up to 2 m (95% confidence) compared to the lake level modelled without the dam. The lake level variability caused by regulated inflows after the dam commissioning were found to be within the natural variability of the lake of 4.8 m. Moreover, modelling results indicated that the hydrological impact of the Gibe III dam would depend on the initial lake level at the time of dam commencement. Areas along the Lake Turkana shoreline that are vulnerable to fluctuations in lake levels were also identified. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of using existing multi-source satellite data in a basic modeling framework to assess the potential hydrological impact of an upstream dam on a terminal downstream lake. The results obtained from this study could also be used to evaluate alternate dam-filling scenarios and assess the potential impact of the dam on Lake Turkana under different operational strategies.

Contrast in the Photoelectric Effect of Organic and Biochemical Surfaces

PubMed Central

Birrell, G. B.; Burke, C.; Dehlinger, P.; Griffith, O. H.

1973-01-01

The photoelectric effect can provide the physical basis for a new method of mapping organic and biological surfaces. The technique, photoelectron microscopy, is similar to fluorescence microscopy using incident ultraviolet light except that photoejected electrons form the image of the specimen surface. In this work the minimum wavelengths of incident light required to produce an image were determined for the molecules 3,6-bis(dimethylamino)acridine (acridine orange) (I), benzo[a]pyrene (II), N,N,N′,N′-tetraphenylbenzidine (III), and copper phthalocyanine (IV). The photoelectron image thresholds for these compounds are 220 (I), 215 (II), 220 (III), and 240 nm (IV), all ±5 nm. Contrast of I-IV with respect to typical protein, lipid, nucleic acid, and polysaccharide surfaces was examined over the wavelength range 240-180 nm. The low magnification micrographs exhibited bright areas corresponding to I-IV but dark regions for the biochemical surfaces. The high contrast suggests the feasibility of performing extrinsic photoelectron microscopy experiments through selective labeling of sites on biological surfaces. ImagesFIGURE 3 PMID:4704486

Cystic Dilation of Extrahepatic Bile Ducts in Adulthood: Diagnosis, Surgical Treatment and Long. Term Results

PubMed Central

Rotondano, G.; D'Agostino, A.; Iannelli, A.; Marano, I.; Santangelo, M. L.

1998-01-01

To evaluate the long-term results of surgery for choledohal cyst in adulthood, a series of 13 patients over the age of 16 operated on for choledochal cyst during a period of six years and followed-up for a minimum of 3 years was analyzed. Patients with type I and IVa cysts underwent extrahepatic cyst resection and Roux-en-Y hepatico-jejunostomy. Choledochoceles (type III) were managed endoscopically. No operative mortality or morbidity occurred. Type I and III cysts showed almost ideal follow-up with no sign of stricture on HIDA scan. One type IVa cyst patients developed recurrent cholangitis due to anastomotic stricture, managed percutaneously. Whenever possible, complete cyst resection and Roux-en-Y reconstruction is the treatment of choice for all extrahepatic biliary cysts. Intra- and extrahepatic dilatations are adequately treated by extrahepatic resection and careful endoscopic or radiologic surveillance. Small choledochoceles can be safely managed by endoscopic sphincterotomy. PMID:9515236

CARE3MENU- A CARE III USER FRIENDLY INTERFACE

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pierce, J. L.

1994-01-01

CARE3MENU generates an input file for the CARE III program. CARE III is used for reliability prediction of complex, redundant, fault-tolerant systems including digital computers, aircraft, nuclear and chemical control systems. The CARE III input file often becomes complicated and is not easily formatted with a text editor. CARE3MENU provides an easy, interactive method of creating an input file by automatically formatting a set of user-supplied inputs for the CARE III system. CARE3MENU provides detailed on-line help for most of its screen formats. The reliability model input process is divided into sections using menu-driven screen displays. Each stage, or set of identical modules comprising the model, must be identified and described in terms of number of modules, minimum number of modules for stage operation, and critical fault threshold. The fault handling and fault occurence models are detailed in several screens by parameters such as transition rates, propagation and detection densities, Weibull or exponential characteristics, and model accuracy. The system fault tree and critical pairs fault tree screens are used to define the governing logic and to identify modules affected by component failures. Additional CARE3MENU screens prompt the user for output options and run time control values such as mission time and truncation values. There are fourteen major screens, many with default values and HELP options. The documentation includes: 1) a users guide with several examples of CARE III models, the dialog required to input them to CARE3MENU, and the output files created; and 2) a maintenance manual for assistance in changing the HELP files and modifying any of the menu formats or contents. CARE3MENU is written in FORTRAN 77 for interactive execution and has been implemented on a DEC VAX series computer operating under VMS. This program was developed in 1985.

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

Bahrdt, J.; Baecker, H.-J.; Frentrup, W.

Helmholtzzentrum Berlin has built an APPLE II undulator for the storage ring PETRA III. The device has a total length of 5m and a minimum gap of 11mm. The high magnetic forces in particular in the inclined mode have been analyzed by means of finite element methods (FEM). Specific mechanic components such as flexible joints have been optimized to cope with the gap- and shift-dependent 3D-forces and a sophisticated control and drive system has been implemented. After completion of the device, detailed laser interferometer measurements for all operation modes have been performed. The data are compared to the FEM simulations.

Aerodynamic design of the Cal Poly Da Vinci Human-Powered Helicopter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Larwood, Scott; Saiki, Neal

1990-01-01

This paper will discuss the methodology used in designing the rotor and drive propellers for the third generation Cal Poly Da Vinci Human-Powered Helicopter. The rotor was designed using a lifting surface, uniform inflow hover analysis code and the propeller was designed using a minimum induced-loss method. Construction, geometry, and operating considerations are discussed as they impact the designs. Optimization of the design performance is also explained. The propellers were tested in a wind tunnel and results are compared with theoretical data. Successful flight tests of the Da Vinci III are discussed.

On ozone trend detection: using coupled chemistry-climate simulations to investigate early signs of total column ozone recovery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Keeble, James; Brown, Hannah; Abraham, N. Luke; Harris, Neil R. P.; Pyle, John A.

2018-06-01

Total column ozone values from an ensemble of UM-UKCA model simulations are examined to investigate different definitions of progress on the road to ozone recovery. The impacts of modelled internal atmospheric variability are accounted for by applying a multiple linear regression model to modelled total column ozone values, and ozone trend analysis is performed on the resulting ozone residuals. Three definitions of recovery are investigated: (i) a slowed rate of decline and the date of minimum column ozone, (ii) the identification of significant positive trends and (iii) a return to historic values. A return to past thresholds is the last state to be achieved. Minimum column ozone values, averaged from 60° S to 60° N, occur between 1990 and 1995 for each ensemble member, driven in part by the solar minimum conditions during the 1990s. When natural cycles are accounted for, identification of the year of minimum ozone in the resulting ozone residuals is uncertain, with minimum values for each ensemble member occurring at different times between 1992 and 2000. As a result of this large variability, identification of the date of minimum ozone constitutes a poor measure of ozone recovery. Trends for the 2000-2017 period are positive at most latitudes and are statistically significant in the mid-latitudes in both hemispheres when natural cycles are accounted for. This significance results largely from the large sample size of the multi-member ensemble. Significant trends cannot be identified by 2017 at the highest latitudes, due to the large interannual variability in the data, nor in the tropics, due to the small trend magnitude, although it is projected that significant trends may be identified in these regions soon thereafter. While significant positive trends in total column ozone could be identified at all latitudes by ˜ 2030, column ozone values which are lower than the 1980 annual mean can occur in the mid-latitudes until ˜ 2050, and in the tropics and high latitudes deep into the second half of the 21st century.

Effect of loading modes and hydrogen on fracture toughness of a low activation ferritic/martensitic stainless steel

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

Li, H.; Jones, R.H.; Gelles, D.S.

1995-12-31

Various mixed-mode I/III critical J-integrals (J{sub TQ}) were examined for a low activation ferritic/martensitic stainless steel (F-82H) at ambient temperature. A determination of J{sub TQ} was made using modified compact-tension specimens. Different ratios of tension/shear stress were achieved by varying the principal axis of the crack plane between 0 and 55 degrees from the load line. A specimen with 0 degree crack angle was the same as a standard mode 1 compact tension specimen. J{sub IIIQ} was determined using triple-pantleg like specimens. The results showed that F-82H steel was a tough steel. Both J{sub IQ} and J{sub IIIQ} were aboutmore » 500 kJ/m{sup 2}, and the mode 1 tearing modulus (dJ{sub I}/da) was about (360 mJ/m{sup 3}). However, J{sub TQ} and mixed-mode tearing modulus (dJ{sub T}/da) values varied with the crack angles and were lower than their mode I and mode III counterparts. Both the minimum J{sub TQ} and dJ{sub T}/da values occurred at a crack angle between 35 and 55 degrees [P{sub iii}/(P{sub iii} + P{sub i}) = 0.4 and 0.6]. Effects of hydrogen (H) on the J{sub TQ} values were also examined at ambient temperature. The specimens were charged with H at a H{sub 2} gas pressure of 138 MPa at 300 C for two weeks, which resulted in a H content of 4 ppm(wt). Results showed that H decreased overall J{sub TQ} and dJ{sub T}/da values from those without H. However, the presence of H did not change the dependence of J{sub TQ} and dJ{sub T}/da values on the crack angles. Both J{sub IQ} and dJ{sub I}/da exhibited the highest relative values. The minimum values of both J{sub TQ} and dJ{sub T}/da occurred at a crack angle between 35 and 55{degree}. The J{sub min} with H was 100 kJ/m{sup 2}, only 25% of J{sub IQ} without H. The morphology of fracture surfaces was consistent with the change of J{sub TQ} and dJ{sub T}/da values. A mechanism of the combined effect of H and mixed-mode on J{sub TQ} and dJ{sub T}/da is discussed.« less

New Precision Orbits of Bright Double-Lined Spectroscopic Binaries. III. HD 82191, ω Draconis, and 108 Herculis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fekel, Francis C.; Tomkin, Jocelyn; Williamson, Michael H.

2009-04-01

We have determined improved spectroscopic orbits for three double-lined binaries, HD 82191 (Am), ω Dra (F5 V), and 108 Her (Am), using radial velocities from the 2.1 m telescope at McDonald Observatory, the coudé feed telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory, and 2 m telescope at Fairborn Observatory. The orbital periods range from 5.28 to 9.01 days, and all three systems have circular orbits. The new orbital dimensions (a 1 sin i and a 2 sin i) and minimum masses (m 1 sin3 i and m 2 sin3 i) have accuracies of 0.2% or better. Our improved results confirm the large minimum masses of HD 82191 and also agree with the values previously found for ω Dra. However, for the components of 108 Her our minimum masses are about 20% larger than the previous best values. We conclude that both components of HD 82191 as well as the primary of 108 Her are Am stars. However, the A9 secondary of 108 Her has normal abundances. We estimate spectral types of F4 dwarf and G0 dwarf for the components of ω Dra. The primaries of the three binaries are synchronously rotating as is the secondary of 108 Her. The secondaries of HD 82191 and ω Dra are possibly synchronously rotating.

[Effects of PASP-KT-NAA on the grain-filling of maize in different accumulated temperature zones of Hilongjiang Province, Norheast China].

PubMed

Xu, Tian-Jun; Dong, Zhi-Qiang; Gao, Jiao; Chen, Chuan-Xiao; Jiao, Liu; Xie, Zhen-Xing

2013-02-01

Taking the two maize varieties Zhengdan 958 and Fengdan 3 grown on the three accumulated temperature zones (I, II and III) in Heilongjiang Provice as test materials, a field investigation was made in 2010 and 2011 to study the effects of PASP-KT-NAA (PKN), a compound of exogenous plant growth regulators, on the grain filling and yield of the varieties under different environmental temperatures. From zone I to III, the air temperature at the grain filling stage had a decreasing trend, with the average minimum temperature being 12.16, 11.40, and 9.56, respectively. The effective accumulated temperature at the mid-ate amt sae stage of grain filling was too low to be sufficient for grain filling, which severely affected the grain filling process. Applying N, P and K promoted the dry matter accumulation of maize grain and the grain filling rate in the three zones, delayed the peak time (Tmax) of the grain filling rate of Fengdan 3 but advanced that of Zhengdan 958, promoted the growth capacity at peak time of grain filling rate and the maximum grain filling rate of the two varieties, and shortened their active grain filling period. Applying N, P, and K increased the grain yield of the two varieties in the three zones obviously, and, as compared with those in zones I and II , the grain yields of Zhengdan 958 and Fengdan 3 in zone III were increased by 8.2% and 5.1% , and 3.4% and 0.8% , respectively. Therefore, applying N, P and K could help maize utilizing the limited accumulation temperature, improve the grain filling rate, decrease the grain water content, and ultimately, increase the maize yield.

Prevalence of macrolide-non-susceptible isolates among β-lactamase-negative ampicillin-resistant Haemophilus influenzae in a tertiary care hospital in Japan.

PubMed

Wajima, Takeaki; Seyama, Shoji; Nakamura, Yuka; Kashima, Chihiro; Nakaminami, Hidemasa; Ushio, Masanobu; Fujii, Takeshi; Noguchi, Norihisa

2016-09-01

β-Lactamase-negative ampicillin-resistant (BLNAR) Haemophilus influenzae account for a large portion of H. influenzae clinical isolates in Japan. The aim of this study was to clarify the antimicrobial susceptibility of BLNAR H. influenzae clinical isolates as well as the annual changes in susceptibility. BLNAR H. influenzae isolates were collected from a tertiary care hospital from 2007 to 2012. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed and resistance mechanisms were analysed. All of the isolates (n=304) had amino acid substitutions in penicillin-binding protein 3 (PBP3) and isolates were classified by these amino acid substitutions: R517H or N526K (class I); S385T and R517H (class II); and S385T and N526K (class III). Classes I, II and III represented 8.2% (n=25), 9.5% (n=29) and 81.6% (n=248) of the isolates, respectively; 2 isolates could not be classified because they had a PBP3 with a substantially mutated FtsI transpeptidase domain. All of the isolates were highly susceptible to fluoroquinolones and carbapenems. The number of clarithromycin (CAM)-non-susceptible [minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ≥16μg/mL] H. influenzae isolates increased significantly between 2010 and 2012. Moreover, CAM-non-susceptible H. influenzae isolates were prevalent among class II and class III BLNAR H. influenzae. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of the CAM-resistant (MIC ≥32μg/mL) H. influenzae isolates showed that they were not specific sequence types, suggesting that CAM resistance may occur in any isolates. These results raise concern regarding the occurrence of multidrug-resistant BLNAR H. influenzae. Copyright © 2016 International Society for Chemotherapy of Infection and Cancer. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Defining functional biomes and monitoring their change globally.

PubMed

Higgins, Steven I; Buitenwerf, Robert; Moncrieff, Glenn R

2016-11-01

Biomes are important constructs for organizing understanding of how the worlds' major terrestrial ecosystems differ from one another and for monitoring change in these ecosystems. Yet existing biome classification schemes have been criticized for being overly subjective and for explicitly or implicitly invoking climate. We propose a new biome map and classification scheme that uses information on (i) an index of vegetation productivity, (ii) whether the minimum of vegetation activity is in the driest or coldest part of the year, and (iii) vegetation height. Although biomes produced on the basis of this classification show a strong spatial coherence, they show little congruence with existing biome classification schemes. Our biome map provides an alternative classification scheme for comparing the biogeochemical rates of terrestrial ecosystems. We use this new biome classification scheme to analyse the patterns of biome change observed over recent decades. Overall, 13% to 14% of analysed pixels shifted in biome state over the 30-year study period. A wide range of biome transitions were observed. For example, biomes with tall vegetation and minimum vegetation activity in the cold season shifted to higher productivity biome states. Biomes with short vegetation and low seasonality shifted to seasonally moisture-limited biome states. Our findings and method provide a new source of data for rigorously monitoring global vegetation change, analysing drivers of vegetation change and for benchmarking models of terrestrial ecosystem function. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Highly cited German research contributions to the fields of radiation oncology, biology, and physics: focus on collaboration and diversity.

PubMed

Nieder, C

2012-10-01

Tight budgets and increasing competition for research funding pose challenges for highly specialized medical disciplines such as radiation oncology. Therefore, a systematic review was performed of successfully completed research that had a high impact on clinical practice. These data might be helpful when preparing new projects. Different measures of impact, visibility, and quality of published research are available, each with its own pros and cons. For this study, the article citation rate was chosen (minimum 15 citations per year on average). Highly cited German contributions to the fields of radiation oncology, biology, and physics (published between 1990 and 2010) were identified from the Scopus database. Between 1990 and 2010, 106 articles published in 44 scientific journals met the citation requirement. The median average of yearly citations was 21 (maximum 167, minimum 15). All articles with ≥ 40 citations per year were published between 2003 and 2009, consistent with the assumption that the citation rate gradually increases for up to 2 years after publication. Most citations per year were recorded for meta-analyses and randomized phase III trials, which typically were performed by collaborative groups. A large variety of clinical radiotherapy, biology, and physics topics achieved high numbers of citations. However, areas such as quality of life and side effects, palliative radiotherapy, and radiotherapy for nonmalignant disorders were underrepresented. Efforts to increase their visibility might be warranted.

Energies of the X- and L-valleys in In{sub 0.53}Ga{sub 0.47}As from electronic structure calculations

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

Greene-Diniz, Gabriel; Greer, J. C.; Fischetti, M. V.

2016-02-07

Several theoretical electronic structure methods are applied to study the relative energies of the minima of the X- and L-conduction-band satellite valleys of In{sub x}Ga{sub 1−x}As with x = 0.53. This III-V semiconductor is a contender as a replacement for silicon in high-performance n-type metal-oxide-semiconductor transistors. The energy of the low-lying valleys relative to the conduction-band edge governs the population of channel carriers as the transistor is brought into inversion, hence determining current drive and switching properties at gate voltages above threshold. The calculations indicate that the position of the L- and X-valley minima are ∼1 eV and ∼1.2 eV, respectively, higher in energymore » with respect to the conduction-band minimum at the Γ-point.« less

Charge transfer at organic-inorganic interfaces—Indoline layers on semiconductor substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meyenburg, I.; Falgenhauer, J.; Rosemann, N. W.; Chatterjee, S.; Schlettwein, D.; Heimbrodt, W.

2016-12-01

We studied the electron transfer from excitons in adsorbed indoline dye layers across the organic-inorganic interface. The hybrids consist of indoline derivatives on the one hand and different inorganic substrates (TiO2, ZnO, SiO2(0001), fused silica) on the other. We reveal the electron transfer times from excitons in dye layers to the organic-inorganic interface by analyzing the photoluminescence transients of the dye layers after femtosecond excitation and applying kinetic model calculations. A correlation between the transfer times and four parameters have been found: (i) the number of anchoring groups, (ii) the distance between the dye and the organic-inorganic interface, which was varied by the alkyl-chain lengths between the carboxylate anchoring group and the dye, (iii) the thickness of the adsorbed dye layer, and (iv) the level alignment between the excited dye ( π* -level) and the conduction band minimum of the inorganic semiconductor.

Experimental Monitoring of Cr(VI) Bio-reduction Using Electrochemical Geophysics

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

Birsen Canan; Gary R. Olhoeft; William A. Smith

2007-09-01

Many Department of Energy (DOE) sites are contaminated with highly carcinogenic hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)). In this research, we explore the feasibility of applying complex resistivity to the detection and monitoring of microbially-induced reduction of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) to a less toxic form (Cr(III)). We hope to measure the change in ionic concentration that occurs during this reduction reaction. This form of reduction promises to be an attractive alternative to more expensive remedial treatment methods. The specific goal of this research is to define the minimum and maximum concentration of the chemical and biological compounds in contaminated samples for which themore » Cr(VI) - Cr(III) reduction processes could be detected via complex resistivity. There are three sets of experiments, each comprised of three sample columns. The first experiment compares three concentrations of Cr(VI) at the same bacterial cell concentration. The second experiment establishes background samples with, and without, Cr(VI) and bacterial cells. The third experiment examines the influence of three different bacterial cell counts on the same concentration of Cr(VI). A polarization relaxation mechanism was observed between 10 and 50 Hz. The polarization mechanism, unfortunately, was not unique to bio-chemically active samples. Spectral analysis of complex resistivity data, however, showed that the frequency where the phase minimum occurred was not constant for bio-chemically active samples throughout the experiment. A significant shifts in phase minima occurred between 10 to 20 Hz from the initiation to completion of Cr(VI) reduction. This phenomena was quantified using the Cole-Cole model and the Marquardt-Levenberg nonlinear least square minimization method. The data suggests that the relaxation time and the time constant of this relaxation are the Cole-Cole parameters most sensitive to changes in biologically-induced reduction of Cr(VI).« less

The Ukrainian-American Study of Leukemia and Related Disorders Among Chornobyl Cleanup Workers from Ukraine: I. STUDY METHODS

PubMed Central

Romanenko, A.; Bebeshko, V; Hatch, M; Bazyka, D; Finch, S.; Dyagil, I; Reiss, R.; Chumak, V; Bouville, A; Gudzenko, N; Zablotska, L; Pilinskaya, M.; Lyubarets, T.; Bakhanova, E.; Babkina, N.; Trotsiuk, N.; Ledoschuk, B.; Belayev, Y.; Dybsky, S.S.; Ron, E.; Howe, G.

2010-01-01

Thus far there are relatively few data on the risk of leukemia among those who were exposed to external radiation during cleanup operations following the Chornobyl nuclear accident, and results have not been consistent. To investigate this issue further, we assembled a cohort of 110,645 male cleanup workers from Ukraine and identified cases of leukemia occurring during the period 1986 to 2000. Detailed interviews were conducted and individual bone marrow doses were estimated using a new time-and-motion method known as RADRUE (Realistic Analytical Dose Reconstruction with Uncertainty Estimate). See companion paper II for a detailed description of the dosimetry. For the initial analyses we used a nested case-control approach with a minimum of five controls per case, matched for year of birth, oblast (region) of registration and residence. All identified cases were reviewed by an international panel of experts. The dose-response analysis and results are given in companion paper III. PMID:19138036

Osprey distribution, abundance, and status in western North America: III. The Baja California and Gulf of California population

USGS Publications Warehouse

Henny, C.J.; Anderson, D.W.

1979-01-01

-An estimated 810 ? 55 pairs (minimum estimate) of ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) were nesting in the study area during our survey (24 March-l April 1977). Approximately 174 pairs nested along the Pacific side of Baja California, 255 pairs along the gulf side, 187 pairs on the Midriff Islands, and 194 pairs in coastal Sonora and Sinaloa. Most nested on cliffs adjacent to the sea (59%); some nested on cactus in flat terrain (26%). Seven per cent nested on the ground, three percent nested in mangroves and other trees in the southern portion of the study area,.and four percent nested on man-made structures. The extreme northwestern Baja California population that was extirpated early in this century has not recovered. However, several populations immediately to the south along the Pacific Coast now appear stationary. Pesticide residues in osprey eggs from Mexico were among the lowest reported for the species in North America.

Exposure to high-fluoride drinking water and risk of dental caries and dental fluorosis in Haryana, India.

PubMed

Marya, Charu Mohan; Ashokkumar, B R; Dhingra, Sonal; Dahiya, Vandana; Gupta, Anil

2014-05-01

The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of and relationship between dental caries and dental fluorosis at varying levels of fluoride in drinking water. The study was conducted among 3007 school children in the age group of 12 to 16 years in 2 districts of Haryana having varying fluoride levels in drinking water. Type III examination for dental caries according to the WHO index and dental fluorosis estimation according to Dean's index was done. The prevalence of dental caries decreased from 48.02% to 28.07% as fluoride levels increased from 0.5 to 1.13 ppm, but as the fluoride level increased further to 1.51 ppm, there was no further reduction in caries prevalence, but there was a substantial increase in fluorosis prevalence. The optimum level of fluoride in drinking water was found to be 1.13 ppm, at which there was maximum caries reduction with minimum amount of esthetically objectionable fluorosis. © 2012 APJPH.

Scaling laws for oxygen transport across the space-filling system of respiratory membranes in the human lung

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hou, Chen

Space-filling fractal surfaces play a fundamental role in how organisms function at various levels and in how structure determines function at different levels. In this thesis, we develop a quantitative theory of oxygen transport to and across the surface of the highly branched, space-filling system of alveoli, the fundamental gas exchange unit (acinar airways), in the human lung. Oxygen transport in the acinar airways is by diffusion, and we treat the two steps---diffusion through the branched airways, and transfer across the alveolar membranes---as a stationary diffusion-reaction problem, taking into account that there may be steep concentration gradients between the entrance and remote alveoli (screening). We develop a renormalization treatment of this screening effect and derive an analytic formula for the oxygen current across the cumulative alveolar membrane surface, modeled as a fractal, space-filling surface. The formula predicts the current from a minimum of morphological data of the acinus and appropriate values of the transport parameters, through a number of power laws (scaling laws). We find that the lung at rest operates near the borderline between partial screening and no screening; that it switches to no screening under exercise; and that the computed currents agree with measured values within experimental uncertainties. From an analysis of the computed current as a function of membrane permeability, we find that the space-filling structure of the gas exchanger is simultaneously optimal with respect to five criteria. The exchanger (i) generates a maximum oxygen current at minimum permeability; (ii) 'wastes' a minimum of surface area; (iii) maintains a minimum residence time of oxygen in the acinar airways; (iv) has a maximum fault tolerance to loss of permeability; and (v) generates a maximum current increase when switching from rest to exercise.

Three-Dimensional Distribution of Larval Fish Habitats in the Shallow Oxygen Minimum Zone in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean off Mexico

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davies, S.; Sanchez Velasco, L.; Beier, E.; Godinez, V. M.; Barton, E. D.; Tamayo, A.

2016-02-01

Three-dimensional distribution of larval fish habitats was analyzed, from the upper limit of the shallow oxygen minimum zone ( 0.2 mL/L) to the sea surface, in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean off Mexico in February 2010.The upper limit rises from 250 m depth in the entrance of the Gulf of California to 80 m depth off Cabo Corrientes. Three larval fish habitats were defined statistically: (i) a Gulf of California habitat dominated by Anchoa spp. larvae (epipelagic species), constrained to the oxygenated surface layer (>3.5 mL/L) in and above the thermocline ( 60 m depth), and separated by a salinity front from the Tropical Pacific habitat; (ii) a Tropical Pacific habitat, dominated by Vinciguerria lucetia larvae (mesopelagic species), located throughout the sampled water column, but with the highest abundance in the oxygenated upper layer above the thermocline; (iii) an Oxygen Minimum habitat defined mostly below the thermocline in hypoxic (<1 mL/L; 70 m depth) and anoxic (<0.2 mL/L; 80 m depth) water off Cabo Corrientes. This subsurface hypoxic habitat had the highest species richness and larval abundance, with dominance of Bregmaceros bathymaster, an endemic neritic pelagic species; which was an unexpected result. This maybe associated with the shoaling of the upper limit of the shallow oxygen minimum zone near the coast, a result of the strong costal upwelling detected by the Bakun Index. In this region of strong and semi-continuous coastal upwelling in the eastern tropical Pacific off Mexico, the shallow hypoxic water does not have dramatic effects on the total larval fish abundance but appears to affect species composition.

Three lateral divergent or parallel pin fixations for the treatment of displaced supracondylar humerus fractures in children.

PubMed

Lee, Young Ho; Lee, Sang Ki; Kim, Byung Sung; Chung, Moon Sang; Baek, Goo Hyun; Gong, Hyun Sik; Lee, Joon Kyu

2008-06-01

To evaluate the efficacy of lateral or parallel pin fixation using 3 smooth Kirschner wires (K-wires) or smooth Steinmann pins for the operative management of displaced supracondylar humeral fracture in a consecutive series of children. Sixty-one consecutive displaced or angled supracondylar humeral fractures (Gartland type II or III) in children (mean age, 5 years 6 months) treated by 2 orthopaedic surgeons between 2001 and 2004 according to the following protocol: close reduction under general anesthesia with fluoroscopic guidance and only lateral percutaneous pinning using 3 divergent or parallel Kirschner wires or Steinmann pins. Minimum 2 years' follow-up was done in all 61 patients (range, 2.0-3.3 years). Clinical assessment was obtained at final follow-up using Flynn criteria, and radiologic assessment was obtained using the Baumann and lateral humerocapitellar angles of both arms. Statistical analysis was performed by means of the Student t test (P < 0.05). The study group consisted of 61 patients, of whom 24 (39%) presented with Gartland type II fractures, and the remaining 37 (61%) presented with a type III fracture. A comparison of perioperative and final radiographs shows no loss of reduction of any fracture. There was also no clinically evident cubitus varus, hyperextension, or loss of motion. Eight patients had preoperative nerve palsy. Five of these nerve injuries resolved immediately after surgery, and the other 3 resolved completely within 12 weeks of surgery. After an average of 28 months postoperation, 56 (91.8%) patients had achieved an excellent clinical result, and 5 (8.2%) achieved a good result. There were no iatrogenic nerve palsies, and no patient required additional surgery. One patient had a minor pin-track infection. Our series demonstrates that only 3 lateral divergent or parallel pin fixations are effective and safe for avoiding iatrogenic ulnar nerve injury and are appropriate treatment options for displaced or angled supracondylar humeral fractures in children. Therapeutic study, level III.

Long-term follow-up of HIV-1-infected adults who received the F4/AS01B HIV-1 vaccine candidate in two randomised controlled trials.

PubMed

Harrer, Thomas; Dinges, Warren; Roman, François

2018-05-03

This Phase I/II, open, long-term follow-up study was conducted in antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve (N = 212) and ART-treated (N = 19) human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1)-infected adults, who received an HIV-1 investigational vaccine (F4/AS01 B ) or placebo in two previous studies (NCT00814762 and NCT01218113). After a minimum of two years and a maximum of four years of follow-up post-vaccination per patient, no significant differences were observed between F4/AS01 B and placebo groups in terms of viral load, CD4 + T-cell count and incidence of specific clinical events. Vaccine-induced polyfunctional CD4 + T-cells persisted up to study end and no relevant vaccine-related safety events were reported in F4/AS01 B groups. This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01092611). Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Arthroscopic Repair of Massive Cuff Tears With Large Subscapularis Tendon Ruptures (Lafosse III/IV): A Prospective Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Controlled Case Series of 26 Cases With a Minimum Follow-up of 1 Year.

PubMed

Grueninger, Patrick; Nikolic, Nikola; Schneider, Joerg; Lattmann, Thomas; Platz, Andreas; Chmiel, Corinne; Meier, Christoph

2015-11-01

To prospectively assess arthroscopic repair of massive cuff tears (MCT) in a highly selective patient group with large subscapularis (SSC) tendon tears by means of clinical results and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies. Between April 2009 and December 2010, 26 patients with MCT were treated with arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Only lesions involving a large tear of the SSC tendon (Lafosse III or IV) in combination with a complete tear of the supraspinatus (SSP) tendon and a tear of at least the anterior third of the infraspinatus (ISP) tendon were included. Minimum follow-up was 1 year. Pre- and postoperative assessment included a standardized clinical examination, subjective patient outcome, and MRI (structural integrity, fatty muscle infiltration, and muscular mass). Mean follow-up was 17 months (range, 12 to 34 months). MRI was performed in 25 patients. In 21 (84%) the cuff repair was intact. A partial retear of the SSC was found in 2 patients (8%). In 2 patients (8%) a full-thickness retear of the posterosuperior cuff was observed (1 SSP, 1 SSP/ISP). A significant increase of the muscle mass and decrease of fatty infiltration was observed for the SSC and SSP but not for the ISP. The mean Constant-Murley score improved from 36 to 86 points (P < .001) with all its subscores as well (P < .001). Muscular strength improved for the SSC (4.9 v 3.0, P < .001), SSP (4.6 v 2.9, P < .001), and ISP (4.8 v 3.4, P < .001). Overall patient satisfaction was high (3.6 ± 0.8). Arthroscopic repair of MCT involving the ISP, SSP, and large tears of the SSC provides a reliable tendon healing, in particular for the SSC tendon, combined with good functional results. Level IV, therapeutic case series. Copyright © 2015 Arthroscopy Association of North America. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

AUTOCLASS III - AUTOMATIC CLASS DISCOVERY FROM DATA

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cheeseman, P. C.

1994-01-01

The program AUTOCLASS III, Automatic Class Discovery from Data, uses Bayesian probability theory to provide a simple and extensible approach to problems such as classification and general mixture separation. Its theoretical basis is free from ad hoc quantities, and in particular free of any measures which alter the data to suit the needs of the program. As a result, the elementary classification model used lends itself easily to extensions. The standard approach to classification in much of artificial intelligence and statistical pattern recognition research involves partitioning of the data into separate subsets, known as classes. AUTOCLASS III uses the Bayesian approach in which classes are described by probability distributions over the attributes of the objects, specified by a model function and its parameters. The calculation of the probability of each object's membership in each class provides a more intuitive classification than absolute partitioning techniques. AUTOCLASS III is applicable to most data sets consisting of independent instances, each described by a fixed length vector of attribute values. An attribute value may be a number, one of a set of attribute specific symbols, or omitted. The user specifies a class probability distribution function by associating attribute sets with supplied likelihood function terms. AUTOCLASS then searches in the space of class numbers and parameters for the maximally probable combination. It returns the set of class probability function parameters, and the class membership probabilities for each data instance. AUTOCLASS III is written in Common Lisp, and is designed to be platform independent. This program has been successfully run on Symbolics and Explorer Lisp machines. It has been successfully used with the following implementations of Common LISP on the Sun: Franz Allegro CL, Lucid Common Lisp, and Austin Kyoto Common Lisp and similar UNIX platforms; under the Lucid Common Lisp implementations on VAX/VMS v5.4, VAX/Ultrix v4.1, and MIPS/Ultrix v4, rev. 179; and on the Macintosh personal computer. The minimum Macintosh required is the IIci. This program will not run under CMU Common Lisp or VAX/VMS DEC Common Lisp. A minimum of 8Mb of RAM is required for Macintosh platforms and 16Mb for workstations. The standard distribution medium for this program is a .25 inch streaming magnetic tape cartridge in UNIX tar format. It is also available on a 3.5 inch diskette in UNIX tar format and a 3.5 inch diskette in Macintosh format. An electronic copy of the documentation is included on the distribution medium. AUTOCLASS was developed between March 1988 and March 1992. It was initially released in May 1991. Sun is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark of AT&T Bell Laboratories. DEC, VAX, VMS, and ULTRIX are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation. Macintosh is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. Allegro CL is a registered trademark of Franz, Inc.

A new photocatalytic reactor for trace contaminant control: a water polishing system.

PubMed

Gonzalez-Martin, A; Kim, J; Van Hyfte, J; Rutherford, L A; Andrews, C

2001-01-01

In spacecraft water recovery systems there is a need to develop a postprocessor water polishing system to remove organic impurities to levels below 250 micrograms/L (ppb) with a minimum use of expendables. This article addresses the development of a photocatalytic process as a postprocessor water polishing system that is microgravity compatible, operates at room temperature, and requires only a minimal use of both oxygen gas (or air) and electrical power for low energy UV-A (315-400 nm) lamps. In the photocatalytic process, organic contaminants are degraded to benign end products on semiconductor surfaces, usually TiO2. Some challenging issues related to the use of TiO2 for the degradation of organic contaminants have been addressed. These include: i) efficient and stable catalytic material; ii) immobilization of the catalyst to produce a high surface area material that can be used in packed-bed reactors, iii) effective light penetration, iv) effective, microgravity-compatible, oxidant delivery; v) reduced pressure drop, and vi) minimum retention time. The research and development performed on this photocatalytic process is presented in detail. Grant numbers: NAS9-97182.

Biological nitrogen fixation in the oxygen-minimum region of the eastern tropical North Pacific ocean.

PubMed

Jayakumar, Amal; Chang, Bonnie X; Widner, Brittany; Bernhardt, Peter; Mulholland, Margaret R; Ward, Bess B

2017-10-01

Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) was investigated above and within the oxygen-depleted waters of the oxygen-minimum zone of the Eastern Tropical North Pacific Ocean. BNF rates were estimated using an isotope tracer method that overcame the uncertainty of the conventional bubble method by directly measuring the tracer enrichment during the incubations. Highest rates of BNF (~4 nM day -1 ) occurred in coastal surface waters and lowest detectable rates (~0.2 nM day -1 ) were found in the anoxic region of offshore stations. BNF was not detectable in most samples from oxygen-depleted waters. The composition of the N 2 -fixing assemblage was investigated by sequencing of nifH genes. The diazotrophic assemblage in surface waters contained mainly Proteobacterial sequences (Cluster I nifH), while both Proteobacterial sequences and sequences with high identities to those of anaerobic microbes characterized as Clusters III and IV type nifH sequences were found in the anoxic waters. Our results indicate modest input of N through BNF in oxygen-depleted zones mainly due to the activity of proteobacterial diazotrophs.

New polymorphs of 9-nitro-camptothecin prepared using a supercritical anti-solvent process.

PubMed

Huang, Yinxia; Wang, Hongdi; Liu, Guijin; Jiang, Yanbin

2015-12-30

Recrystallization and micronization of 9-nitro-camptothecin (9-NC) has been investigated using the supercritical anti-solvent (SAS) technology in this study. Five operating factors, i.e., the type of organic solvent, the concentration of 9-NC in the solution, the flow rate of 9-NC solution, the precipitation pressure and the temperature, were optimized using a selected OA16 (4(5)) orthogonal array design and a series of characterizations were performed for all samples. The results showed that the processed 9-NC particles exhibited smaller particle size and narrower particle size distribution as compared with 9-NC raw material (Form I), and the optimum micronization conditions for preparing 9-NC with minimum particle size were determined by variance analysis, where the solvent plays the most important role in the formation and transformation of polymorphs. Three new polymorphic forms (Form II, III and IV) of 9-NC, which present different physicochemical properties, were generated after the SAS process. The predicted structures of the 9-NC crystals, which were consistent with the experiments, were performed from their experimental XRD data by the direct space approach using the Reflex module of Materials Studio. Meanwhile, the optimal sample (Form III) was proved to have higher cytotoxicity against the cancer cells, which suggested the therapeutic efficacy of 9-NC is polymorph-dependent. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Design of a phase III multicenter trial to evaluate the efficacy of the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine in children across diverse transmission settings in Africa

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals and the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative are working in partnership to develop a malaria vaccine to protect infants and children living in malaria endemic regions of sub-Saharan Africa, which can be delivered through the Expanded Programme on Immunization. The RTS,S/AS candidate vaccine has been evaluated in multiple phase I/II studies and shown to have a favourable safety profile and to be well-tolerated in both adults and children. This paper details the design of the phase III multicentre efficacy trial of the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine candidate, which is pivotal for licensure and policy decision-making. Methods The phase III trial is a randomized, controlled, multicentre, participant- and observer-blind study on-going in 11 centres associated with different malaria transmission settings in seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa. A minimum of 6,000 children in each of two age categories (6-12 weeks, 5-17 months) have been enrolled. Children were randomized 1:1:1 to one of three study groups: (1) primary vaccination with RTS,S/AS01 and booster dose of RTS,S/AS01; (2) primary vaccination with RTS,S/AS01 and a control vaccine at time of booster; (3) primary vaccination with control vaccine and a control vaccine at time of booster. Primary vaccination comprises three doses at monthly intervals; the booster dose is administered at 18 months post-primary course. Subjects will be followed to study month 32. The co-primary objectives are the evaluation of efficacy over one year post-dose 3 against clinical malaria when primary immunization is delivered at: (1) 6-12 weeks of age, with co-administration of DTPwHepB/Hib antigens and OPV; (2) 5-17 months of age. Secondary objectives include evaluation of vaccine efficacy against severe malaria, anaemia, malaria hospitalization, fatal malaria, all-cause mortality and other serious illnesses including sepsis and pneumonia. Efficacy of the vaccine against clinical malaria under different transmission settings, the evolution of efficacy over time and the potential benefit of a booster will be evaluated. In addition, the effect of RTS,S/AS01 vaccination on growth, and the safety and immunogenicity in HIV-infected and malnourished children will be assessed. Safety of the primary course of immunization and the booster dose will be documented in both age categories. Conclusions This pivotal phase III study of the RTS,S/AS01 candidate malaria vaccine in African children was designed and implemented by the Clinical Trials Partnership Committee. The study will provide efficacy and safety data to fulfil regulatory requirements, together with data on a broad range of endpoints that will facilitate the evaluation of the public health impact of the vaccine and will aid policy and implementation decisions. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT00866619 PMID:21816029

Process for making ceramic insulation

DOEpatents

Akash, Akash [Salt Lake City, UT; Balakrishnan, G Nair [Sandy, UT

2009-12-08

A method is provided for producing insulation materials and insulation for high temperature applications using novel castable and powder-based ceramics. The ceramic components produced using the proposed process offers (i) a fine porosity (from nano-to micro scale); (ii) a superior strength-to-weight ratio; and (iii) flexibility in designing multilayered features offering multifunctionality which will increase the service lifetime of insulation and refractory components used in the solid oxide fuel cell, direct carbon fuel cell, furnace, metal melting, glass, chemical, paper/pulp, automobile, industrial heating, coal, and power generation industries. Further, the ceramic components made using this method may have net-shape and/or net-size advantages with minimum post machining requirements.

FASTER 3: A generalized-geometry Monte Carlo computer program for the transport of neutrons and gamma rays. Volume 2: Users manual

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jordan, T. M.

1970-01-01

A description of the FASTER-III program for Monte Carlo Carlo calculation of photon and neutron transport in complex geometries is presented. Major revisions include the capability of calculating minimum weight shield configurations for primary and secondary radiation and optimal importance sampling parameters. The program description includes a users manual describing the preparation of input data cards, the printout from a sample problem including the data card images, definitions of Fortran variables, the program logic, and the control cards required to run on the IBM 7094, IBM 360, UNIVAC 1108 and CDC 6600 computers.

Electronic modification of Cu-based chalcopyrite semiconductors induced by lattice deformation and composition alchemy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, F. D.; Feng, J. Y.

2008-02-01

Using first principles calculation, we systematically investigate the electronic modification of Cu-based chalcopyrite semiconductors induced by lattice deformation and composition alchemy. It is shown that the optical band gap Eg is remarkably sensitive to the anion displacement μ, resulting from the opposite shifts of conduction band minimum and valence band maximum. Meanwhile, the dependence of structural parameters of alloyed compounds on alloy composition x is demonstrated for both cation and anion alloying. The d orbitals of group-III cations are found to be of great importance in the calculation. Abnormal changes in the optical band gap Eg induced by anion alloying are addressed.

Discrete change in volatile anesthetic sensitivity in mice with inactivated tandem pore potassium ion channel TRESK.

PubMed

Chae, Yun Jeong; Zhang, Jianan; Au, Paul; Sabbadini, Marta; Xie, Guo-Xi; Yost, C Spencer

2010-12-01

We investigated the role of tandem pore potassium ion channel (K2P) TRESK in neurobehavioral function and volatile anesthetic sensitivity in genetically modified mice. Exon III of the mouse TRESK gene locus was deleted by homologous recombination using a targeting vector. The genotype of bred mice (wild type, knockout, or heterozygote) was determined using polymerase chain reaction. Morphologic and behavioral evaluations of TRESK knockout mice were compared with wild-type littermates. Sensitivity of bred mice to isoflurane, halothane, sevoflurane, and desflurane were studied by determining the minimum alveolar concentration preventing movement to tail clamping in 50% of each genotype. With the exception of decreased number of inactive periods and increased thermal pain sensitivity (20% decrease in latency with hot plate test), TRESK knockout mice had healthy development and behavior. TRESK knockout mice showed a statistically significant 8% increase in isoflurane minimum alveolar concentration compared with wild-type littermates. Sensitivity to other volatile anesthetics was not significantly different. Spontaneous mortality of TRESK knockout mice after initial anesthesia testing was nearly threefold higher than that of wild-type littermates. TRESK alone is not critical for baseline central nervous system function but may contribute to the action of volatile anesthetics. The inhomogeneous change in anesthetic sensitivity corroborates findings in other K2P knockout mice and supports the theory that the mechanism of volatile anesthetic action involves multiple targets. Although it was not shown in this study, a compensatory effect by other K2P channels may also contribute to these observations.

Combined carboplatin plus ifosfamide and cisplatin in patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma. A phase I-II study. GOCS (Gynecological Oncology Cooperative Study).

PubMed

Lorusso, V; Leone, B; Di Vagno, G; Manzione, L; Palmeri, S; Vallejo, C; Machiavelli, M; Nacci, G; Bilancia, D; Leonardi, V; Catino, A; Gargano, G; Loverro, G; Selvaggi, L; De Lena, M

1998-02-01

Because of the relative lack of overlapping toxicity, carboplatin (PPL) and cisplatin (CDDP) can be easily combined for treatment of ovarian cancer to increase total platinum dose intensity. Ifosfamide (IFO), one of the most effective single agents in ovarian cancer, has a low hematological toxicity when administered in continuous infusion. From January 1991 to December 1993, 34 patients with advanced ovarian cancer, previously untreated with chemo- or radiotherapy, were enrolled in a phase I-II study with the aim of determining the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of CDDP (on day 8 of a 28-day cycle) in combination with PPL (300 mg/m2 on day 1) and IFO (4,000 mg/m2/24 h by continuous infusion on day 1). The initial dose level of CDDP was 40 mg/m2, which was continuously increased by 10 mg/m2 up to the MTD defined as one dose level below that inducing dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) in at least two-thirds of treated patients; no dose escalation was allowed in the same patient. Grade 3-4 leukopenia and thrombocytopenia were observed in 54 and 49% of patients, respectively. The DLT was reached at 70 mg/m2 and therefore the dose recommended for the phase II study was 60 mg/m2. Complete (CR) plus partial response was observed in 88% of patients with a 21% pathological CR. With a minimum follow-up of 32 months (median 40 months), median progression-free survival and overall survival were 21 and 39 months, respectively. In conclusion, the combination of CDDP, PPL, and IFO provides an effective regimen for ovarian cancer with an acceptable toxicity profile.

Type II odontoid fractures in the elderly: an evidence-based narrative review of management.

PubMed

Pal, D; Sell, P; Grevitt, M

2011-02-01

Considerable controversy exists regarding the optimal management of elderly patients with type II odontoid fractures. There is uncertainty regarding the consequences of non-union. The best treatment remains unclear because of the morbidity associated with prolonged cervical immobilisation versus the risks of surgical intervention. The objective of the study was to evaluate the published literature and determine the current evidence for the management of type II odontoid fractures in elderly. A search of the English language literature from January 1970 to date was performed using Medline and the following keywords: odontoid, fractures, cervical spine and elderly. The search was supplemented by cross-referencing between articles. Case reports and review articles were excluded although some were referred to in the discussion. Studies in patients aged 65 years with a minimum follow-up of 12 months were selected. One-hundred twenty-six articles were reviewed. No class I study was identified. There were two class II studies and the remaining were class III. Significant variability was found in the literature regarding mortality and morbidity rates in patients treated with and without halo vest immobilisation. In recent years several authors have claimed satisfactory results with anterior odontoid screw fixation while others have argued that this may lead to increased complications in this age group. Lately, the posterior cervical (Goel-Harms) construct has also gained popularity amongst surgeons. There is insufficient evidence to establish a standard or guideline for odontoid fracture management in elderly. While most authors agree that cervical immobilisation yields satisfactory results for type I and III fractures in the elderly, the optimal management for type II fractures remain unsolved. A prospective randomised controlled trial is recommended.

Antimicrobial resistant coliform bacteria in the Gomti river water and determination of their tolerance level.

PubMed

Akhter, Asma; Imran, Mohd; Akhter, Firoz

2014-01-01

The distribution of resistance to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, sulfonamides, tetracycline, and streptomycin among coliform in the Gomti river water samples was investigated. The coliform populations were isolated on Mac Conky and eosin methylene blue (EMB) agar plates supplemented with antibiotics. The incidence of resistance among the coliform population varied considerably in different drug and water sampling sites. Coliform bacteria showed lower drug resistant viable count in sampling site-III (receiving treated wastewater) as compared to more polluted site-I and site-II. Viable count of coliform population obtained on both medium was recorded higher against erythromycin from sampling site-III. Lower viable count of coliforms was recorded against tetracycline in site-II and III. Similar resistance pattern was obtained in the frequency of E. coli and Enterobacter species from all the three sampling sites. Percentage of antibiotic resistant E. coli was observed higher than Enterobacter spp among the total coliforms against all antibiotics tested without Erythromycin and penicillin in site-I and II respectively. Isolates of E. coli and Enterobacter spp. showed their tolerance level (MIC) in the range of 2-100 against the antibiotics tested. Maximum number of isolates of both genus exhibited their MICs at lower concentration range 2-5µg/ml against ciprofloxacin, tetracyclin and amoxycillin. EMB - Eosin methylene blue, IMViC tests - Indole, Methyl Red, Voges Proskauer and Citrate Utilization Tests, MIC - Minimum inhibitory concentration.

Antimicrobial resistant coliform bacteria in the Gomti river water and determination of their tolerance level

PubMed Central

Akhter, Asma; Imran, Mohd; Akhter, Firoz

2014-01-01

The distribution of resistance to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, sulfonamides, tetracycline, and streptomycin among coliform in the Gomti river water samples was investigated. The coliform populations were isolated on Mac Conky and eosin methylene blue (EMB) agar plates supplemented with antibiotics. The incidence of resistance among the coliform population varied considerably in different drug and water sampling sites. Coliform bacteria showed lower drug resistant viable count in sampling site-III (receiving treated wastewater) as compared to more polluted site-I and site-II. Viable count of coliform population obtained on both medium was recorded higher against erythromycin from sampling site-III. Lower viable count of coliforms was recorded against tetracycline in site-II and III. Similar resistance pattern was obtained in the frequency of E. coli and Enterobacter species from all the three sampling sites. Percentage of antibiotic resistant E. coli was observed higher than Enterobacter spp among the total coliforms against all antibiotics tested without Erythromycin and penicillin in site-I and II respectively. Isolates of E. coli and Enterobacter spp. showed their tolerance level (MIC) in the range of 2-100 against the antibiotics tested. Maximum number of isolates of both genus exhibited their MICs at lower concentration range 2-5µg/ml against ciprofloxacin, tetracyclin and amoxycillin. Abbreviations EMB - Eosin methylene blue, IMViC tests - Indole, Methyl Red, Voges Proskauer and Citrate Utilization Tests, MIC - Minimum inhibitory concentration. PMID:24966515

Single InAs/GaSb nanowire low-power CMOS inverter.

PubMed

Dey, Anil W; Svensson, Johannes; Borg, B Mattias; Ek, Martin; Wernersson, Lars-Erik

2012-11-14

III-V semiconductors have so far predominately been employed for n-type transistors in high-frequency applications. This development is based on the advantageous transport properties and the large variety of heterostructure combinations in the family of III-V semiconductors. In contrast, reports on p-type devices with high hole mobility suitable for complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) circuits for low-power operation are scarce. In addition, the difficulty to integrate both n- and p-type devices on the same substrate without the use of complex buffer layers has hampered the development of III-V based digital logic. Here, inverters fabricated from single n-InAs/p-GaSb heterostructure nanowires are demonstrated in a simple processing scheme. Using undoped segments and aggressively scaled high-κ dielectric, enhancement mode operation suitable for digital logic is obtained for both types of transistors. State-of-the-art on- and off-state characteristics are obtained and the individual long-channel n- and p-type transistors exhibit minimum subthreshold swings of SS = 98 mV/dec and SS = 400 mV/dec, respectively, at V(ds) = 0.5 V. Inverter characteristics display a full signal swing and maximum gain of 10.5 with a small device-to-device variability. Complete inversion is measured at low frequencies although large parasitic capacitances deform the waveform at higher frequencies.

Resolving the Massive Binary Wind Interaction Of Eta Carinae with HST/STIS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gull, Theodore; Nielsen, K.; Corcoran, M.; Hillier, J.; Madura, T.; Hamaguchi, K.; Kober, G.; Owocki, S.; Russell, C.; Okazaki, A.;

Impact of biexcitons on the relaxation mechanisms of polaritons in III-nitride based multiple quantum well microcavities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Corfdir, P.; Levrat, J.; Rossbach, G.; Butté, R.; Feltin, E.; Carlin, J.-F.; Christmann, G.; Lefebvre, P.; Ganière, J.-D.; Grandjean, N.; Deveaud-Plédran, B.

2012-06-01

We report on the direct observation of biexcitons in a III-nitride based multiple quantum well microcavity operating in the strong light-matter coupling regime by means of nonresonant continuous wave and time-resolved photoluminescence at low temperature. First, the biexciton dynamics is investigated for the bare active medium (multiple quantum wells alone) evidencing localization on potential fluctuations due to alloy disorder and thermalization between both localized and free excitonic and biexcitonic populations. Then, the role of biexcitons is considered for the full microcavity: in particular, we observe that for specific detunings the bottom of the lower polariton branch is directly fed by the radiative dissociation of either cavity biexcitons or excitons mediated by one LO-phonon. Accordingly, minimum polariton lasing thresholds are observed, when the bottom of the lower polariton branch corresponds in energy to the exciton or cavity biexciton first LO-phonon replica. This singular observation highlights the role of excitonic molecules in the polariton condensate formation process as being a more efficient relaxation channel when compared to the usually assumed acoustical phonon emission one.

Interplay between heritability, genetic correlation and economic weighting in a selection index with and without genomic information.

PubMed

Haberland, A M; Pimentel, E C G; Ytournel, F; Erbe, M; Simianer, H

2013-12-01

The availability of genomic information demands proper evaluation on how the kind (phenotypic versus genomic) and the amount of information influences the interplay of heritability (h(2)), genetic correlation (r(GiGj)) and economic weighting of traits with regard to the standard deviation of the index (σI). As σI is directly proportional to response to selection, it was the chosen parameter for comparing the indices. Three selection indices incorporating conventional and genomic information for a two trait (i and j) breeding goal were compared. Information sources were chosen corresponding to pig breeding applications. Index I incorporating an own performance in trait j served as reference scenario. In index II, additional information in both traits was contributed by a varying number of full-sibs (2, 7, 50). In index III, the conventional own performance in trait j was combined with genomic information for both traits. The number of animals in the reference population (NP = 1000, 5000, 10,000) and thus the accuracy of GBVs were varied. With more information included in the index, σI became more independent of r(GiGj), h(j)(2) and relative economic weighting. This applied for index II (more full-sibs) and for index III (more accurate GBVs). Standard deviations of index II with seven full-sibs and index III with NP = 1000 were similar when both traits had the same heritability. If the heritability of trait j was reduced (h(j)(2) = 0.1), σI of index III with NP = 1000 was clearly higher than for index II with seven full-sibs. When enhancing the relative economic weight of trait j, the decrease in σI of the conventional full-sib index was much stronger than for index III. Our results imply that NP = 1000 can be considered a minimum size for a reference population in pig breeding. These conclusions also hold for comparing the accuracies of the indices. © 2013 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Retrieving air humidity, global solar radiation, and reference evapotranspiration from daily temperatures: development and validation of new methods for Mexico. Part III: reference evapotranspiration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lobit, P.; Gómez Tagle, A.; Bautista, F.; Lhomme, J. P.

2017-07-01

We evaluated two methods to estimate evapotranspiration (ETo) from minimal weather records (daily maximum and minimum temperatures) in Mexico: a modified reduced set FAO-Penman-Monteith method (Allen et al. 1998, Rome, Italy) and the Hargreaves and Samani (Appl Eng Agric 1(2): 96-99, 1985) method. In the reduced set method, the FAO-Penman-Monteith equation was applied with vapor pressure and radiation estimated from temperature data using two new models (see first and second articles in this series): mean temperature as the average of maximum and minimum temperature corrected for a constant bias and constant wind speed. The Hargreaves-Samani method combines two empirical relationships: one between diurnal temperature range ΔT and shortwave radiation Rs, and another one between average temperature and the ratio ETo/Rs: both relationships were evaluated and calibrated for Mexico. After performing a sensitivity analysis to evaluate the impact of different approximations on the estimation of Rs and ETo, several model combinations were tested to predict ETo from daily maximum and minimum temperature alone. The quality of fit of these models was evaluated on 786 weather stations covering most of the territory of Mexico. The best method was found to be a combination of the FAO-Penman-Monteith reduced set equation with the new radiation estimation and vapor pressure model. As an alternative, a recalibration of the Hargreaves-Samani equation is proposed.

Evaluation and improvement of micro-surfacing mix design method and modelling of asphalt emulsion mastic in terms of filler-emulsion interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Robati, Masoud

This Doctorate program focuses on the evaluation and improving the rutting resistance of micro-surfacing mixtures. There are many research problems related to the rutting resistance of micro-surfacing mixtures that still require further research to be solved. The main objective of this Ph.D. program is to experimentally and analytically study and improve rutting resistance of micro-surfacing mixtures. During this Ph.D. program major aspects related to the rutting resistance of micro-surfacing mixtures are investigated and presented as follow: 1) evaluation of a modification of current micro-surfacing mix design procedures: On the basis of this effort, a new mix design procedure is proposed for type III micro-surfacing mixtures as rut-fill materials on the road surface. Unlike the current mix design guidelines and specification, the new mix design is capable of selecting the optimum mix proportions for micro-surfacing mixtures; 2) evaluation of test methods and selection of aggregate grading for type III application of micro-surfacing: Within the term of this study, a new specification for selection of aggregate grading for type III application of micro-surfacing is proposed; 3) evaluation of repeatability and reproducibility of micro-surfacing mixture design tests: In this study, limits for repeatability and reproducibility of micro-surfacing mix design tests are presented; 4) a new conceptual model for filler stiffening effect on asphalt mastic of micro-surfacing: A new model is proposed, which is able to establish limits for minimum and maximum filler concentrations in the micro-surfacing mixture base on only the filler important physical and chemical properties; 5) incorporation of reclaimed asphalt pavement and post-fabrication asphalt shingles in micro-surfacing mixture: The effectiveness of newly developed mix design procedure for micro-surfacing mixtures is further validated using recycled materials. The results present the limits for the use of RAP and RAS amount in micro-surfacing mixtures; 6) new colored micro-surfacing formulations with improved durability and performance: The significant improvement of around 45% in rutting resistance of colored and conventional micro-surfacing mixtures is achieved through employing low penetration grade bitumen polymer modified asphalt emulsion stabilized using nanoparticles.

Common pediatric cerebellar tumors: correlation between cell densities and apparent diffusion coefficient metrics.

PubMed

Koral, Korgün; Mathis, Derek; Gimi, Barjor; Gargan, Lynn; Weprin, Bradley; Bowers, Daniel C; Margraf, Linda

2013-08-01

To test whether there is correlation between cell densities and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) metrics of common pediatric cerebellar tumors. This study was reviewed for issues of patient safety and confidentiality and was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and was compliant with HIPAA. The need for informed consent was waived. Ninety-five patients who had preoperative magnetic resonance imaging and surgical pathologic findings available between January 2003 and June 2011 were included. There were 37 pilocytic astrocytomas, 34 medulloblastomas (23 classic, eight desmoplastic-nodular, two large cell, one anaplastic), 17 ependymomas (13 World Health Organization [WHO] grade II, four WHO grade III), and seven atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors. ADCs of solid tumor components and normal cerebellum were measured. Tumor-to-normal brain ADC ratios (hereafter, ADC ratio) were calculated. The medulloblastomas and ependymomas were subcategorized according to the latest WHO classification, and tumor cellularity was calculated. Correlation was sought between cell densities and mean tumor ADCs, minimum tumor ADCs, and ADC ratio. When all tumors were considered together, negative correlation was found between cellularity and mean tumor ADCs (ρ = -0.737, P < .05) and minimum tumor ADCs (ρ = -0.736, P < .05) of common pediatric cerebellar tumors. There was no correlation between cellularity and ADC ratio. Negative correlation was found between cellularity and minimum tumor ADC in atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors (ρ = -0.786, P < .05). In atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors, no correlation was found between cellularity and mean tumor ADC and ADC ratio. There was no correlation between the ADC metrics and cellularity of the pilocytic astrocytomas, medulloblastomas, and ependymomas. Negative correlation was found between cellularity and ADC metrics of common pediatric cerebellar tumors. Although ADC metrics are useful in the preoperative diagnosis of common pediatric cerebellar tumors and this utility is generally attributed to differences in cellularity of tumors, tumor cellularity may not be the sole determinant of the differences in diffusivity.

Choice of Stimulus Range and Size Can Reduce Test-Retest Variability in Glaucomatous Visual Field Defects

PubMed Central

Swanson, William H.; Horner, Douglas G.; Dul, Mitchell W.; Malinovsky, Victor E.

2014-01-01

Purpose To develop guidelines for engineering perimetric stimuli to reduce test-retest variability in glaucomatous defects. Methods Perimetric testing was performed on one eye for 62 patients with glaucoma and 41 age-similar controls on size III and frequency-doubling perimetry and three custom tests with Gaussian blob and Gabor sinusoid stimuli. Stimulus range was controlled by values for ceiling (maximum sensitivity) and floor (minimum sensitivity). Bland-Altman analysis was used to derive 95% limits of agreement on test and retest, and bootstrap analysis was used to test the hypotheses about peak variability. Results Limits of agreement for the three custom stimuli were similar in width (0.72 to 0.79 log units) and peak variability (0.22 to 0.29 log units) for a stimulus range of 1.7 log units. The width of the limits of agreement for size III decreased from 1.78 to 1.37 to 0.99 log units for stimulus ranges of 3.9, 2.7, and 1.7 log units, respectively (F = 3.23, P < 0.001); peak variability was 0.99, 0.54, and 0.34 log units, respectively (P < 0.01). For a stimulus range of 1.3 log units, limits of agreement were narrowest with Gabor and widest with size III stimuli, and peak variability was lower (P < 0.01) with Gabor (0.18 log units) and frequency-doubling perimetry (0.24 log units) than with size III stimuli (0.38 log units). Conclusions Test-retest variability in glaucomatous visual field defects was substantially reduced by engineering the stimuli. Translational Relevance The guidelines should allow developers to choose from a wide range of stimuli. PMID:25371855

Choice of Stimulus Range and Size Can Reduce Test-Retest Variability in Glaucomatous Visual Field Defects.

PubMed

Swanson, William H; Horner, Douglas G; Dul, Mitchell W; Malinovsky, Victor E

2014-09-01

To develop guidelines for engineering perimetric stimuli to reduce test-retest variability in glaucomatous defects. Perimetric testing was performed on one eye for 62 patients with glaucoma and 41 age-similar controls on size III and frequency-doubling perimetry and three custom tests with Gaussian blob and Gabor sinusoid stimuli. Stimulus range was controlled by values for ceiling (maximum sensitivity) and floor (minimum sensitivity). Bland-Altman analysis was used to derive 95% limits of agreement on test and retest, and bootstrap analysis was used to test the hypotheses about peak variability. Limits of agreement for the three custom stimuli were similar in width (0.72 to 0.79 log units) and peak variability (0.22 to 0.29 log units) for a stimulus range of 1.7 log units. The width of the limits of agreement for size III decreased from 1.78 to 1.37 to 0.99 log units for stimulus ranges of 3.9, 2.7, and 1.7 log units, respectively ( F = 3.23, P < 0.001); peak variability was 0.99, 0.54, and 0.34 log units, respectively ( P < 0.01). For a stimulus range of 1.3 log units, limits of agreement were narrowest with Gabor and widest with size III stimuli, and peak variability was lower ( P < 0.01) with Gabor (0.18 log units) and frequency-doubling perimetry (0.24 log units) than with size III stimuli (0.38 log units). Test-retest variability in glaucomatous visual field defects was substantially reduced by engineering the stimuli. The guidelines should allow developers to choose from a wide range of stimuli.

Tracing the first stars and galaxies of the Milky Way

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Griffen, Brendan F.; Dooley, Gregory A.; Ji, Alexander P.; O'Shea, Brian W.; Gómez, Facundo A.; Frebel, Anna

2018-02-01

We use 30 high-resolution dark matter haloes of the Caterpillar simulation suite to probe the first stars and galaxies of Milky Way-mass systems. We quantify the environment of the high-z progenitors of the Milky Way and connect them to the properties of the host and satellites today. We identify the formation sites of the first generation of Population III (Pop III) stars (z ˜ 25) and first galaxies (z ˜ 22) with several different models based on a minimum halo mass. This includes a simple model for radiative feedback, the primary limitation of the model. Through this method we find approximately 23 000 ± 5000 Pop III potentially star-forming sites per Milky Way-mass host, though this number is drastically reduced to ˜550 star-forming sites if feedback is included. The majority of these haloes identified form in isolation (96 per cent at z = 15) and are not subject to external enrichment by neighbouring haloes (median separation ˜1 kpc at z = 15), though half merge with a system larger than themselves within 1.5 Gyr. Using particle tagging, we additionally trace the Pop III remnant population to z = 0 and find an order of magnitude scatter in their number density at small (i.e. r < 5 kpc) and large (i.e. r > 50 kpc) galactocentric radii. We provide fitting functions for determining the number of progenitor minihalo and atomic cooling halo systems that present-day satellite galaxies might have accreted since their formation. We determine that observed dwarf galaxies with stellar masses below 104.6 M⊙ are unlikely to have merged with any other star-forming systems.

Correlation of root dentin thickness and length of roots in mesial roots of mandibular molars.

PubMed

Dwivedi, Shweta; Dwivedi, Chandra Dhar; Mittal, Neelam

2014-09-01

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relation of tooth length and distal wall thickness of mesial roots in mandibular molars at different locations (ie, 2 mm below the furcation and at the junction between the middle and apical third). Forty-five mandibular first molars were taken, and the length of each tooth was measured. Then, specimens were divided into three groups according to their length: group I-long (24.2 mm ± 1.8), group II-medium (21 mm ± 1.5) and group III-short (16.8 mm ± 1.8). mesial root of each marked at two levels - at 2 mm below the furcation as well as at junction of apical and middle third of roots. The minimum thickness of the distal root dentine associated with the buccal and lingual canals of the mesial roots was measured, The distance between the buccal and lingual canals and the depth of concavity in the distal surface of the mesial roots were also measured. Statistical analysis was performed by using analysis of variance and the Student-Newman-Keuls test. The minimum thickness of the distal wall of the mesiobuccal canal was significantly different (P < .001) between groups 1 (long) and 3 (short). Distal wall thickness of the mesiobuccal root and distal concavity of the mesial root of mandibular first molars were found to be thinner in longer teeth compared with shorter teeth. Copyright © 2014 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Nanoscale Mo- MoO3 Entrapped in Engineering Thermoplastic: Inorganic Pathway to Bactericidal and Fungicidal Action.

PubMed

Qureshi, Nilam; Chaudhari, Ravindra; Mane, Pramod; Shinde, Manish; Jadakar, Sandesh; Rane, Sunit; Kale, Bharat; Bhalerao, Anand; Amalnerkar, Dinesh

2016-04-01

In our contemporary endeavor, metallic molybdenum (Mo) and semiconducting molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) nanostructures have been simultaneously generated via solid state reaction between molybdenum (III) chloride (MoCl3) and polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) at 285 (°)C in unimolar ratio for different time durations, namely, 6 h, 24 h, and 48 h. The resultant nanocomposites (NCs) revealed formation of predominantly metallic Mo for all the samples. However, MoO3 gradually gained prominent position as secondary phase with rise in reaction time. The present study was intended to investigate the antibacterial potential of metal-metal oxide-polymer NCs, i.e., Mo- MoO3-PPS against microorganisms, viz., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Aspergillus fumigatus. The antibacterial activity of the NCs was evaluated by agar well diffusion investigation. Maximum sensitivity concentrations of NCs were determined by finding out minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentration (MBC/MFC). Moreover, the NCs prepared at reaction time of 48 h exhibited best MBC values and were tested with time kill assay which revealed that the growth of S. aureus was substantially inhibited by Mo- MoO3-PPS NCs. This synchronized formation of Mo- MoO3 nanostructures in an engineering thermoplastic may have potential antimicrobial applications in biomedical devices and components. Prima facie results on antifungal activity are indicative of the fact that these materials can show anti-cancer behavior.

Reliability and convergent validity of the five-step test in people with chronic stroke.

PubMed

Ng, Shamay S M; Tse, Mimi M Y; Tam, Eric W C; Lai, Cynthia Y Y

2018-01-10

(i) To estimate the intra-rater, inter-rater and test-retest reliabilities of the Five-Step Test (FST), as well as the minimum detectable change in FST completion times in people with stroke. (ii) To estimate the convergent validity of the FST with other measures of stroke-specific impairments. (iii) To identify the best cut-off times for distinguishing FST performance in people with stroke from that of healthy older adults. A cross-sectional study. University-based rehabilitation centre. Forty-eight people with stroke and 39 healthy controls. None. The FST, along with (for the stroke survivors only) scores on the Fugl-Meyer Lower Extremity Assessment (FMA-LE), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Limits of Stability (LOS) tests, and Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale were tested. The FST showed excellent intra-rater (intra-class correlation coefficient; ICC = 0.866-0.905), inter-rater (ICC = 0.998), and test-retest (ICC = 0.838-0.842) reliabilities. A minimum detectable change of 9.16 s was found for the FST in people with stroke. The FST correlated significantly with the FMA-LE, BBS, and LOS results in the forward and sideways directions (r = -0.411 to -0.716, p < 0.004). The FST completion time of 13.35 s was shown to discriminate reliably between people with stroke and healthy older adults. The FST is a reliable, easy-to-administer clinical test for assessing stroke survivors' ability to negotiate steps and stairs.

Minimum pickup velocity ( U pu) of nanoparticles in gas-solid pneumatic conveying

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anantharaman, Aditya; van Ommen, J. Ruud; Chew, Jia Wei

2015-12-01

This paper is the first systematic study of the pneumatic conveying of nanoparticles. The minimum pickup velocity, U pu, of six nanoparticle species of different materials [i.e., silicon dioxide (SiO2), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), and titanium dioxide (TiO2)] and surfaces (i.e., apolar and polar) was determined by the weight loss method. Results show that (1) due to relative lack of hydrogen bonding, apolar nanoparticles had higher mass loss values at the same velocities, mass loss curves with accentuated S-shaped profiles, and lower U pu values, (2) among the three species, SiO2, which has the lowest Hamaker coefficient, exhibited the greatest discrepancy between apolar and polar surfaces with respect to both mass loss curves and U pu values, (3) U mf,polar/ U mf,apolar was between 1 and 3.5 times that of U pu,polar/ U pu,apolar due to greater extents of hydrogen bonding associated with U mf, (4) U pu values were at least an order-of-magnitude lower than that expected from the well-acknowledged U pu correlation (Kalman et al., Powder Technol 160:103-113, 2005) due to agglomeration, (5) although nanoparticles should be categorized as Zone III (Kalman et al. 2005) (or Geldart group C, Powder Technol 7:285-292, 1973), the nanoparticles, and primary and complex agglomerates agreed more with the Zone I (or Geldart group B) correlation.

On the interpretation of Langmuir probe data inside a spacecraft sheath

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olson, J.; Brenning, N.; Wahlund, J.-E.; Gunell, H.

2010-10-01

If a Langmuir probe is located inside the sheath of a negatively charged spacecraft, there is a risk that the probe characteristic is modified compared to that of a free probe in the ambient plasma. We have studied this probe-in-spacecraft-sheath problem in the parameter range of a small Langmuir probe (with radius rLP<<λD) using a modified version of the orbit motion limited (OML) probe theory. We find that the ambient electron contribution Ie(ULP) to the probe characteristic is suitably analyzed in terms of three regions of applied probe potential ULP. In region I, where the probe is negatively charged (i.e., ULPU1, there is first a transition region II in applied potential, U1

A Systematic Review of the Outcomes of Posterolateral Corner Knee Injuries, Part 2: Surgical Treatment of Chronic Injuries.

PubMed

Moulton, Samuel G; Geeslin, Andrew G; LaPrade, Robert F

2016-06-01

There are a variety of reported surgical techniques outcomes of chronic grade III posterolateral corner (PLC) knee injuries. It is unknown if outcomes differ among the various surgical treatments. To systematically review the literature and report subjective and objective outcomes for surgical treatment strategies for chronic grade III PLC injuries to determine the optimal surgical technique. Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4. A systematic review of the literature including Cochrane, PubMed, Medline, and Embase was performed. The following search terms were used: posterolateral corner knee, posterolateral knee, posterolateral instability, multiligament knee, and knee dislocation. Inclusion criteria were outcome studies of surgical treatment for chronic PLC knee injuries with a minimum 2-year follow-up, subjective outcomes, objective outcomes including varus stability, and subgroup data on PLC injuries. Two investigators independently reviewed all abstracts. Accepted definitions of varus stability on examination or stress radiographs, and the need for revision surgery, were used to categorically define success and failure. Fifteen studies with a total of 456 patients were included in this study. The 15 studies included 5 with level 3 evidence and 10 with level 4 evidence. The mean age of the patients in each study ranged from 25.2 to 40 years, the reported mean time to surgery ranged from 5.5 to 52.8 months, and the mean follow-up duration ranged from 2 to 16.3 years. Mean postoperative Lysholm scores ranged from 65.5 to 91.8; mean postoperative International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scores ranged from 62.6 to 86.0. Based on objective stability, there was an overall success rate of 90% and a 10% failure rate of PLC reconstruction. A variety of surgical techniques were reported. Chronic PLC injuries were reconstructed in all studies, and while techniques varied, the surgical management of chronic PLC injuries had a 90% success rate and a 10% failure rate according to the individual investigators' examination or stress radiographic assessment of objective outcomes. More than half of the 456 patients had a combined posterior cruciate ligament-PLC injury. Surgical techniques included variations of fibular slings, capsular shifts, and anatomic-based techniques (fibular tunnel and tibial tunnel). Further research is needed to determine the optimal surgical technique for treating chronic grade III PLC injuries. © 2015 The Author(s).

Validation of the UNC OCT Index for the Diagnosis of Early Glaucoma

PubMed Central

Lee, Gary; Budenz, Donald L.; Warren, Joshua L.; Wall, Michael; Artes, Paul H.; Callan, Thomas M.; Flanagan, John G.

2018-01-01

Purpose To independently validate the performance of the University of North Carolina Optical Coherence Tomography (UNC OCT) Index in diagnosing and predicting early glaucoma. Methods Data of 118 normal subjects (118 eyes) and 96 subjects (96 eyes) with early glaucoma defined as visual field mean deviation (MD) greater than −4 decibels (dB), aged 40 to 80 years, and who were enrolled in the Full-Threshold Testing Size III, V, VI comparison study were used in this study. CIRRUS OCT average and quadrants' retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL); optic disc vertical cup-to-disc ratio (VCDR), cup-to-disc area ratio, and rim area; and average, minimum, and six sectoral ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) measurements were run through the UNC OCT Index algorithm. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and sensitivities at 95% and 99% specificity were calculated and compared between single parameters and the UNC OCT Index. Results Mean age was 60.1 ± 11.0 years for normal subjects and 66.5 ± 8.1 years for glaucoma patients (P < 0.001). MD was 0.29 ± 1.04 dB and −1.30 ± 1.35 dB in normal and glaucomatous eyes (P < 0.001), respectively. The AUC of the UNC OCT Index was 0.96. The best single metrics when compared to the UNC OCT Index were VCDR (0.93, P = 0.054), average RNFL (0.92, P = 0.014), and minimum GCIPL (0.91, P = 0.009). The sensitivities at 95% and 99% specificity were 85.4% and 76.0% (UNC OCT Index), 71.9% and 62.5% (VCDR, all P < 0.001), 64.6% and 53.1% (average RNFL, all P < 0.001), and 66.7% and 58.3% (minimum GCIPL, all P < 0.001), respectively. Conclusions The findings confirm that the UNC OCT Index may provide improved diagnostic perforce over that of single OCT parameters and may be a good tool for detection of early glaucoma. Translational Relevance The UNC OCT Index algorithm may be incorporated easily into routine clinical practice and be useful for detecting early glaucoma. PMID:29629238

Validation of the UNC OCT Index for the Diagnosis of Early Glaucoma.

PubMed

Mwanza, Jean-Claude; Lee, Gary; Budenz, Donald L; Warren, Joshua L; Wall, Michael; Artes, Paul H; Callan, Thomas M; Flanagan, John G

2018-04-01

To independently validate the performance of the University of North Carolina Optical Coherence Tomography (UNC OCT) Index in diagnosing and predicting early glaucoma. Data of 118 normal subjects (118 eyes) and 96 subjects (96 eyes) with early glaucoma defined as visual field mean deviation (MD) greater than -4 decibels (dB), aged 40 to 80 years, and who were enrolled in the Full-Threshold Testing Size III, V, VI comparison study were used in this study. CIRRUS OCT average and quadrants' retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL); optic disc vertical cup-to-disc ratio (VCDR), cup-to-disc area ratio, and rim area; and average, minimum, and six sectoral ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) measurements were run through the UNC OCT Index algorithm. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and sensitivities at 95% and 99% specificity were calculated and compared between single parameters and the UNC OCT Index. Mean age was 60.1 ± 11.0 years for normal subjects and 66.5 ± 8.1 years for glaucoma patients ( P < 0.001). MD was 0.29 ± 1.04 dB and -1.30 ± 1.35 dB in normal and glaucomatous eyes ( P < 0.001), respectively. The AUC of the UNC OCT Index was 0.96. The best single metrics when compared to the UNC OCT Index were VCDR (0.93, P = 0.054), average RNFL (0.92, P = 0.014), and minimum GCIPL (0.91, P = 0.009). The sensitivities at 95% and 99% specificity were 85.4% and 76.0% (UNC OCT Index), 71.9% and 62.5% (VCDR, all P < 0.001), 64.6% and 53.1% (average RNFL, all P < 0.001), and 66.7% and 58.3% (minimum GCIPL, all P < 0.001), respectively. The findings confirm that the UNC OCT Index may provide improved diagnostic perforce over that of single OCT parameters and may be a good tool for detection of early glaucoma. The UNC OCT Index algorithm may be incorporated easily into routine clinical practice and be useful for detecting early glaucoma.

[3-Tesla MRI vs. arthroscopy for diagnostics of degenerative knee cartilage diseases: preliminary clinical results].

PubMed

von Engelhardt, L V; Schmitz, A; Burian, B; Pennekamp, P H; Schild, H H; Kraft, C N; von Falkenhausen, M

2008-09-01

The literature contains only a few studies investigating the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diagnostics of degenerative cartilage diseases. Studies on MRI diagnostics of the cartilage using field strengths of 3-Tesla demonstrate promising results. To assess the value of 3-Tesla MRI for decision making regarding conservative or operative treatment possibilities, this study focused on patients with degenerative cartilage diseases. Thirty-two patients with chronic knee pain, a minimum age of 40 years, a negative history of trauma, and at least grade II degenerative cartilage disease were included. Cartilage abnormalities detected at preoperative 3-Tesla MRI (axial/koronar/sagittal PD-TSE-SPAIR, axial/sagittal 3D-T1-FFE, axial T2-FFE; Intera 3.0T, Philips Medical Systems) were classified (grades I-IV) and compared with arthroscopic findings. Thirty-six percent (70/192) of the examined cartilage surfaces demonstrated no agreement between MRI and arthroscopic grading. In most of these cases, grades II and III cartilage lesions were confounded with each other. Regarding the positive predictive values, the probability that a positive finding in MRI would be exactly confirmed by arthroscopy was 39-72%. In contrast, specificities and negative predictive values of different grades of cartilage diseases were 85-95%. Regarding the high specificities and negative predictive values, 3-Tesla MRI is a reliable method for excluding even slight cartilage degeneration. In summary, in degenerative cartilage diseases, 3-Tesla MRI is a supportive, noninvasive method for clinical decision making regarding conservative or operative treatment possibilities. However, the value of diagnostic arthroscopy for a definitive assessment of the articular surfaces and for therapeutic planning currently cannot be replaced by 3-Tesla MRI. This applies especially to treatment options in which a differentiation between grade II and III cartilage lesions is of interest.

Impact of minimum contrast media volumes during elective percutaneous coronary intervention for prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

PubMed

Ebisawa, Soichiro; Kurita, Tairo; Tanaka, Nobuyoshi; Nasu, Kenya; Kimura, Masashi; Ito, Tatsuya; Kinoshita, Yoshihisa; Tsuchikane, Etsuo; Terashima, Mitsuyasu; Suzuki, Takahiko

2016-01-01

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is an important complication following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The clinical importance of a minimum contrast media volume (CMV) for PCI to prevent CIN has not been well evaluated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of minimum CMV to prevent CIN after PCI. In this study, 2052 consecutive patients who underwent elective PCI in our institute were analyzed. We divided patients into two groups according to CMV: a minimum CMV PCI group [CMV ≤50 ml (n = 94)] and a non-minimum CMV PCI group [CMV >50 ml (n = 1958)]. CIN occurred in 160 (7.8 %) patients. The incidence of CIN was significantly lower in the minimum CMV PCI group than in the non-minimum CMV PCI group (2.1 vs. 8.1 %; P = 0.03). According to multivariate analysis, elderly patients and diabetes mellitus patients were at high risk of developing CIN in this study population. When analyzing only high-risk patients, the incidence of CIN was also significantly lower in the minimum CMV group than in the non-minimum CMV group (2.6 vs. 10.3 %; P = 0.03). Minimum CMV PCI could reduce the incidence of CIN, particularly in high-risk patients; as such, defining the minimum CMV clinical cut-off values may be useful for the prevention of CIN.

FASTER 3: A generalized-geometry Monte Carlo computer program for the transport of neutrons and gamma rays. Volume 1: Summary report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jordan, T. M.

1970-01-01

The theory used in FASTER-III, a Monte Carlo computer program for the transport of neutrons and gamma rays in complex geometries, is outlined. The program includes the treatment of geometric regions bounded by quadratic and quadric surfaces with multiple radiation sources which have specified space, angle, and energy dependence. The program calculates, using importance sampling, the resulting number and energy fluxes at specified point, surface, and volume detectors. It can also calculate minimum weight shield configuration meeting a specified dose rate constraint. Results are presented for sample problems involving primary neutron, and primary and secondary photon, transport in a spherical reactor shield configuration.

Bird's-eye view on noise-based logic.

PubMed

Kish, Laszlo B; Granqvist, Claes G; Horvath, Tamas; Klappenecker, Andreas; Wen, He; Bezrukov, Sergey M

2014-01-01

Noise-based logic is a practically deterministic logic scheme inspired by the randomness of neural spikes and uses a system of uncorrelated stochastic processes and their superposition to represent the logic state. We briefly discuss various questions such as ( i ) What does practical determinism mean? ( ii ) Is noise-based logic a Turing machine? ( iii ) Is there hope to beat (the dreams of) quantum computation by a classical physical noise-based processor, and what are the minimum hardware requirements for that? Finally, ( iv ) we address the problem of random number generators and show that the common belief that quantum number generators are superior to classical (thermal) noise-based generators is nothing but a myth.

Bird's-eye view on noise-based logic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kish, Laszlo B.; Granqvist, Claes G.; Horvath, Tamas; Klappenecker, Andreas; Wen, He; Bezrukov, Sergey M.

2014-09-01

Noise-based logic is a practically deterministic logic scheme inspired by the randomness of neural spikes and uses a system of uncorrelated stochastic processes and their superposition to represent the logic state. We briefly discuss various questions such as (i) What does practical determinism mean? (ii) Is noise-based logic a Turing machine? (iii) Is there hope to beat (the dreams of) quantum computation by a classical physical noise-based processor, and what are the minimum hardware requirements for that? Finally, (iv) we address the problem of random number generators and show that the common belief that quantum number generators are superior to classical (thermal) noise-based generators is nothing but a myth.

Migration of 75Se(IV) in crushed Beishan granite: Effects of the iron content.

PubMed

He, Jiangang; Ma, Bin; Kang, Mingliang; Wang, Chunli; Nie, Zhe; Liu, Chunli

2017-02-15

The diffusion of selenite (labeled with 75 Se) in compacted Beishan granite (BsG) was investigated using the in-diffusion capillary method at pH values from ∼2.0 to ∼11.0 under oxic and anoxic conditions. The results indicate that the apparent diffusion coefficient (D a ) values of selenite in BsG always reached the minimum at approximately pH 5. Unexpectedly, the D a values under oxic conditions are nearly one order of magnitude lower than those under the anoxic conditions. Further characterization reveals the existence of redox-sensitive Fe(II)-containing components, which can be responsible for the great difference in D a values. Fe(2p) X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results show that more Fe(III)-oxyhydroxide coating is formed on the granite's surface under aerobic conditions than is formed under anaerobic conditions. Correspondingly, Se(3d) spectra indicate that more selenium is sorbed under oxic conditions, and the sorbed amount always reached the maximum at pH values from ∼4 to ∼5. A linear combination fit of X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy data revealed that Se(0) was formed under anoxic condition and that selenite preferred to form inner-sphere complexes with Fe(III)-oxyhydroxide. Overall, this study indicates that natural Fe-bearing minerals can greatly attenuate selenite diffusion and the retardation would be enhanced under aerobic conditions. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Equilibrium unfolding studies of the rat liver methionine adenosyltransferase III, a dimeric enzyme with intersubunit active sites.

PubMed Central

Gasset, María; Alfonso, Carlos; Neira, José L; Rivas, Germán; Pajares, María A

2002-01-01

The reversible unfolding of rat liver methionine adenosyltransferase dimer by urea under equilibrium conditions has been monitored by fluorescence spectroscopy, CD, size-exclusion chromatography, analytical ultracentrifugation and enzyme activity measurements. The results obtained indicate that unfolding takes place through a three-state mechanism, involving an inactive monomeric intermediate. This intermediate has a 70% native secondary structure, binds less 8-anilinonaphthalene-1-sulphonic acid than the native dimer and has a sedimentation coefficient of 4.24+/-0.15. The variations of free energy in the absence of denaturant [DeltaG(H(2)O)] and its coefficients of urea dependence (m), calculated by the linear extrapolation model, were 36.15+/-2.3 kJ.mol(-1) and 19.87+/-0.71 kJ.mol(-1).M(-1) for the dissociation of the native dimer and 14.77+/-1.63 kJ.mol(-1) and 5.23+/-0.21 kJ.mol(-1).M(-1) for the unfolding of the monomeric intermediate respectively. Thus the global free energy change in the absence of denaturant and the m coefficient were calculated to be 65.69 kJ.mol(-1) and 30.33 kJ.mol(-1).M(-1) respectively. Analysis of the calculated thermodynamical parameters indicate the instability of the dimer in the presence of denaturant, and that the major exposure to the solvent is due to dimer dissociation. Finally, a minimum-folding mechanism for methionine adenosyltransferase III is established. PMID:11772402

Size-Constrained Region Merging: A New Tool to Derive Basic Landcover Units from Remote Sensing Imagery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Castilla, G.

2004-09-01

Landcover maps typically represent the territory as a mosaic of contiguous units "polygons- that are assumed to correspond to geographic entities" like e.g. lakes, forests or villages-. They may also be viewed as representing a particular level of a landscape hierarchy where each polygon is a holon - an object made of subobjects and part of a superobject. The focal level portrayed in the map is distinguished from other levels by the average size of objects compounding it. Moreover, the focal level is bounded by the minimum size that objects of this level are supposed to have. Based on this framework, we have developed a segmentation method that defines a partition on a multiband image such that i) the mean size of segments is close to the one specified; ii) each segment exceeds the required minimum size; and iii) the internal homogeneity of segments is maximal given the size constraints. This paper briefly describes the method, focusing on its region merging stage. The most distinctive feature of the latter is that while the merging sequence is ordered by increasing dissimilarity as in conventional methods, there is no need to define a threshold on the dissimilarity measure between adjacent segments.

In vitro corrosion study by EIS of a nickel-free stainless steel for orthopaedic applications.

PubMed

Rondelli, G; Torricelli, P; Fini, M; Giardino, R

2005-03-01

The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique was used for the study of the electrochemical behaviour of Ni-free austenitic stainless steel for orthopaedic applications. Experiments were carried out using four different test solutions: (i) phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), (ii) minimum essential medium (MEM), (iii) MEM + 10% fetal calf serum (FCS), (iv) MEM + 10% fetal calf serum + L929 fibroblast cell line (Cell). Bode-phase spectra showed the presence of two maxima and were fitted with an equivalent circuit characterized by two parallel combinations (Resistance, Constant Phase Element). The (R(1), CPE(1)) branch was assigned to the inner compact passive film and the (R(2), CPE(2)) branch to the external porous film. The resistance of the inner film R(1), here directly related to the material's uniform corrosion resistance, raised with the immersion time and increased in the following order: PBS

Enhanced Antibacterial Activity of Ent-Labdane Derivatives of Salvic Acid (7α-Hydroxy-8(17)-ent-Labden-15-Oic Acid): Effect of Lipophilicity and the Hydrogen Bonding Role in Bacterial Membrane Interaction.

PubMed

Echeverría, Javier; Urzúa, Alejandro; Sanhueza, Loreto; Wilkens, Marcela

2017-06-23

In the present study, the antibacterial activity of several ent -labdane derivatives of salvic acid (7α-hydroxy-8(17)- ent -labden-15-oic acid) was evaluated in vitro against the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli and the Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus . For all of the compounds, the antibacterial activity was expressed as the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in liquid media and minimum inhibitory amount (MIA) in solid media. Structure activity relationships (SAR) were employed to correlate the effect of the calculated lipophilicity parameters (logP ow ) on the inhibitory activity. Employing a phospholipidic bilayer (POPG) as a bacterial membrane model, ent -labdane-membrane interactions were simulated utilizing docking studies. The results indicate that (i) the presence of a carboxylic acid in the C-15 position, which acted as a hydrogen-bond donor (HBD), was essential for the antibacterial activity of the ent -labdanes; (ii) an increase in the length of the acylated chain at the C-7 position improved the antibacterial activity until an optimum length of five carbon atoms was reached; (iii) an increase in the length of the acylated chain by more than five carbon atoms resulted in a dramatic decrease in activity, which completely disappeared in acyl chains of more than nine carbon atoms; and (iv) the structural factors described above, including one HBD at C-15 and a hexanoyloxi moiety at C-7, had a good fit to a specific lipophilic range and antibacterial activity. The lipophilicity parameter has a predictive characteristic feature on the antibacterial activity of this class of compounds, to be considered in the design of new biologically active molecules.

Cervical arthroplasty for moderate to severe disc degeneration: clinical and radiological assessments after a minimum follow-up of 18 months--Pfirrmann grade and cervical arthroplasty.

PubMed

Oh, Chang Hyun; Kim, Do Yeon; Ji, Gyu Yeul; Kim, Yeo Ju; Yoon, Seung Hwan; Hyun, Dongkeun; Kim, Eun Young; Park, Hyeonseon; Park, Hyeong-Chun

2014-07-01

Clinical outcomes and radiologic results after cervical arthroplasty have been reported in many articles, yet relatively few studies after cervical arthroplasty have been conducted in severe degenerative cervical disc disease. Sixty patients who underwent cervical arthroplasty (Mobi-C®) between April 2006 and November 2011 with a minimum follow-up of 18 months were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into two groups according to Pfirrmann classification on preoperative cervical MR images: group A (Pfirrmann disc grade III, n=38) and group B (Pfirrmann disc grades IV or V, n=22). Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores of neck and arm pain, modified Oswestry Disability Index (mODI) score, and radiological results including cervical range of motion (ROM) were assessed before and after surgery. VAS and mean mODI scores decreased after surgery from 5.1 and 57.6 to 2.7 and 31.5 in group A and from 6.1 and 59.9 to 3.7 and 38.4 in group B, respectively. In both groups, VAS and mODI scores significantly improved postoperatively (p<0.001), although no significant intergroup differences were found. Also, cervical dynamic ROM was preserved or gradually improved up to 18 months after cervical arthroplasty in both groups. Global, segmental and adjacent ROM was similar for both groups during follow-up. No cases of device subsidence or extrusion were recorded. Clinical and radiological results following cervical arthroplasty in patients with severe degenerative cervical disc disease were no different from those in patients with mild degenerative cervical disc disease after 18 months of follow-up.

Analysis of C-shaped canal systems in mandibular second molars using surgical operating microscope and cone beam computed tomography: A clinical approach.

PubMed

Chhabra, Sanjay; Yadav, Seema; Talwar, Sangeeta

2014-05-01

The study was aimed to acquire better understanding of C-shaped canal systems in mandibular second molar teeth through a clinical approach using sophisticated techniques such as surgical operating microscope and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). A total of 42 extracted mandibular second molar teeth with fused roots and longitudinal grooves were collected randomly from native Indian population. Pulp chamber floors of all specimens were examined under surgical operating microscope and classified into four types (Min's method). Subsequently, samples were subjected to CBCT scan after insertion of K-files size #10 or 15 into each canal orifice and evaluated using the cross-sectional and 3-dimensional images in consultation with dental radiologist so as to obtain more accurate results. Minimum distance between the external root surface on the groove and initial file placed in the canal was also measured at different levels and statistically analyzed. Out of 42 teeth, maximum number of samples (15) belonged to Type-II category. A total of 100 files were inserted in 86 orifices of various types of specimens. Evaluation of the CBCT scan images of the teeth revealed that a total of 21 canals were missing completely or partially at different levels. The mean values for the minimum thickness were highest at coronal followed by middle and apical third levels in all the categories. Lowest values were obtained for teeth with Type-III category at all three levels. The present study revealed anatomical variations of C-shaped canal system in mandibular second molars. The prognosis of such complex canal anatomies can be improved by simultaneous employment of modern techniques such as surgical operating microscope and CBCT.

Analysis of stress on mucosa and basal bone underlying complete dentures with different reliner material thicknesses: a three-dimensional finite element study.

PubMed

Lima, J B G; Orsi, I A; Borie, E; Lima, J H F; Noritomi, P Y

2013-10-01

The aim of this study was to determine the optimal thickness of reliner material that provides the least amount of stress on thin mucosa and supporting bone in patients with complete removable dentures using a three-dimensional finite element analyses. The model was obtained from two CT scans of edentulous mandibles with dentures supported by the alveolar ridge. After virtual reconstruction, the three-dimensional models were exported to the solidworks cad software and divided into six groups based on the thickness of the reliner material as follows: (i) without material, (ii) 0·5 mm, (iii) 1 mm, (iv) 1·5 mm, (v) 2 mm and (vi) 2·5 mm. The applied load was 60 N and perpendicular to the long axis of the alveolar ridge of all the prosthetic teeth, and the mucosal thickness used was 1 mm. The analyses were based on the maximum principal stress in the fibromucosa and the minimum principal stress in the basal bone. Stress concentration was observed in the anterior zone of the mandible in the mucosa and in the bone. The maximum and minimum principal stress in the mucosa and bone, respectively, decreased, whereas the thickness of the reliner material increased until 2 mm, which transmitted the lowest stress, compared with the control. Reliner materials with a thickness of 2·5 mm showed higher stress values than those with a thickness of 2 mm. In conclusion, reliner material with a thickness of 2 mm transmitted the lowest amount of stress to the mucosa and bone in 1 mm of mucosa thickness. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Constraining external reverse shock physics of gamma-ray bursts from ROTSE-III limits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cui, Xiao-Hong; Zou, Yuan-Chuan; Wei, Jun-Jie; Zheng, Wei-Kang; Wu, Xue-Feng

2018-02-01

Assuming that early optical emission is dominated by external reverse shock (RS) in the standard model of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), we intend to constrain RS models with an initial Lorentz factor Γ0 of the outflows based on the ROTSE-III observations. We consider two cases of RS behaviour: relativistic shock and non-relativistic shock. For a homogeneous interstellar medium (ISM) and the wind circum-burst environment, constraints can be achieved by the fact that the peak flux Fν at the RS crossing time should be lower than the observed upper limit Fν, limit. We consider the different spectral regimes in which the observed optical frequency νopt may locate, which are divided by the orders for the minimum synchrotron frequency νm and the cooling frequency νc. Considering the homogeneous and wind environments around GRBs, we find that the relativistic RS case can be constrained by the (upper and lower) limits of Γ0 in a large range from about hundreds to thousands for 36 GRBs reported by ROTSE-III. Constraints on the non-relativistic RS case are achieved with limits of Γ0 ranging from ∼30 to ∼350 for 26 bursts. The lower limits of Γ0 achieved for the relativistic RS model are disfavored based on the previously discovered correlation between the initial Lorentz factor Γ0 and the isotropic gamma-ray energy Eγ, iso released in the prompt phase.

The relationship between seasonal mood change and personality: more apparent than real?

PubMed

Jang, K L; Lam, R W; Livesley, W J; Vernon, P A

1997-06-01

A number of recent research reports have reported significant relationships between seasonal mood change (seasonality) and personality. However, some of the results are difficult to interpret because of inherent methodological problems, the most important of which is the use of samples drawn from the southern as opposed to the northern hemisphere, where the phenomenon of seasonality may be quite different. The present study examined the relationship between personality and seasonality in a sample from the northern hemisphere (minimum latitude = 49 degrees N). A total of 297 adults drawn from the general population (112 male and 185 female subjects) completed the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire, and the results obtained confirmed most of the previously reported relationships and showed that these are reliable across (i) different hemispheres, (ii) different measures of personality and (iii) clinical and general population samples. However, the impact of the relationship seems to be more apparent than real, with personality accounting for just under 15% of the total variance.

Orbital period study of the Algol-type eclipsing binary system TW Draconis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qian, S. B.; Boonrucksar, S.

2002-10-01

The century-long times of light minimum of the Algol-type eclipsing binary star, TW Dra (BD +64°1077, Sp A5V+K2III), are investigated by considering a new pattern of period change. Two sudden period increases and two successive period decreases are discovered to superimpose on a rapid secular increase (d P/d t=+4.43×10 -6 days/year). The secular increase may be caused by a dynamical mass transfer from the secondary to the primary component (d m/d t=6.81×10 -7 M ⊙/year) that is in agreement with the semi-detached configuration of the system and with the existence of a hot spot and a gaseous stream in the binary system. The irregular period jumps superimposed on the secular increase can be explained by the structure variation of the K2-type giant via instabilities of the outer convective layer or via magnetic activity cycles.

Rising above the Minimum Wage.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Even, William; Macpherson, David

An in-depth analysis was made of how quickly most people move up the wage scale from minimum wage, what factors influence their progress, and how minimum wage increases affect wage growth above the minimum. Very few workers remain at the minimum wage over the long run, according to this study of data drawn from the 1977-78 May Current Population…

[The changes of alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor, and notably urokinase activities in blood measured by synthetic chromogenic substrates S-2444 after urokinase administration].

PubMed

Itoh, Y; Tsuji, K; Tanaka, N; Yamada, M; Nakanishi, M; Ishihara, M; Kobayashi, M

1983-01-01

Thrombolytic therapy with Urokinase (UK) has often been successful but it is very difficult to determine the effective dosage of UK. It is reported that after UK administration, plasmin fibrinolytic activity was immediately inhibited by alpha 2-Plasmin inhibitor (alpha 2-PI). In this study, we used UK on patients with myoma to prevent the occurrence of thrombosis after operation and the initial decrease in alpha 2-PI activities following UK administration was investigated to determine the minimum effective dosage of UK required to suppress alpha 2-PI. An attempt was also made to measure UK activity in blood by means of chromogenic substrate S-2444, and in some cases by administering 60,000 I.U. UK, alpha 1-Antitrypsin (alpha 1-AT), alpha 2-Macroglobulin (alpha 2-M), Antithrombin III (AT III) and Plasminogen (Plg) were measured at the same time. The results were as follows: 1) By the drip infusion method. In all doses, alpha 2-PI and UK activity showed no remarkable change. 2) By the one shot method. a) A decrease in alpha 2-PI was observed following both 48,000 and 60,000 I.U. UK administration. It was noted that in the case of 48,000 I.U. UK, alpha 2-PI showed the lowest level, 60% of the pre-administration level. b) UK activity showed a gradual increase in the case of 60,000 I.U. UK only and large changes in the other cases. c) alpha 1-AT, alpha 2-M, AT III and Plg produced no remarkable changes. This indicated that the effective dosage of UK for suppressing alpha 2-PI was at least 48,000 I.U. UK with the one shot method, and alpha 2-PI is a reliable indicator of the effectiveness of UK therapy.

Planets around the evolved stars 24 Boötis and γ Libra: A 30 d-period planet and a double giant-planet system in possible 7:3 MMR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takarada, Takuya; Sato, Bun'ei; Omiya, Masashi; Harakawa, Hiroki; Nagasawa, Makiko; Izumiura, Hideyuki; Kambe, Eiji; Takeda, Yoichi; Yoshida, Michitoshi; Itoh, Yoichi; Ando, Hiroyasu; Kokubo, Eiichiro; Ida, Shigeru

2018-05-01

We report the detection of planets around two evolved giant stars from radial velocity measurements at Okayama Astrophysical observatory. 24 Boo (G3 IV) has a mass of 0.99 M_{⊙}, a radius of 10.64 R_{⊙}, and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.77. The star hosts one planet with a minimum mass of 0.91 MJup and an orbital period of 30.35 d. The planet has one of the shortest orbital periods among those ever found around evolved stars using radial-velocity methods. The stellar radial velocities show additional periodicity with 150 d, which can probably be attributed to stellar activity. The star is one of the lowest-metallicity stars orbited by planets currently known. γ Lib (K0 III) is also a metal-poor giant with a mass of 1.47 M_{⊙}, a radius of 11.1 R_{⊙}, and [Fe/H] = -0.30. The star hosts two planets with minimum masses of 1.02 MJup and 4.58 MJup, and periods of 415 d and 964 d, respectively. The star has the second-lowest metallicity among the giant stars hosting more than two planets. Dynamical stability analysis for the γ Lib system sets the minimum orbital inclination angle to be about 70° and suggests that the planets are in 7:3 mean-motion resonance, though the current best-fitting orbits for the radial-velocity data are not totally regular.

Preoperative grading of supratentorial gliomas using high or standard b-value diffusion-weighted MR imaging at 3T.

PubMed

Cihangiroglu, M M; Ozturk-Isik, E; Firat, Z; Kilickesmez, O; Ulug, A M; Ture, U

2017-03-01

The goal of this study was to compare diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) using high b-value (b=3000s/mm 2 ) to DW-MRI using standard b-value (b=1000s/mm 2 ) in the preoperative grading of supratentorial gliomas. Fifty-three patients with glioma had brain DW-MRI at 3T using two different b-values (b=1000s/mm 2 and b=3000s/mm 2 ). There were 35 men and 18 women with a mean age of 40.5±17.1 years (range: 18-79 years). Mean, minimum, maximum, and range of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values for solid tumor ROIs (ADC mean , ADC min , ADC max , and ADC diff ), and the normalized ADC (ADC ratio ) were calculated. A Kruskal-Wallis statistic with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons was applied to detect significant ADC parameter differences between tumor grades by including or excluding 19 patients with an oligodendroglioma. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was conducted to define appropriate cutoff values for grading gliomas. No differences in ADC derived parameters were found between grade II and grade III gliomas. Mean ADC values using standard b-value were 1.17±0.27×10 -3 mm 2 /s [range: 0.63-1.61], 1.05±0.22×10 -3 mm 2 /s [range: 0.73-1.33], and 0.86±0.23×10 -3 mm 2 /s [range: 0.52-1.46] for grades II, III and IV gliomas, respectively. Using high b-value, mean ADC values were 0.89±0.24×10 -3 mm 2 /s [range: 0.42-1.25], 0.82±0.20×10 -3 mm 2 /s [range: 0.56-1.10], and 0.59±0.17×10 -3 mm 2 /s [range: 0.40-1.01] for grades II, III and IV gliomas, respectively. ADC mean , ADC ratio , ADC max , and ADC min were different between grade II and grade IV gliomas at both standard and high b-values. Differences in ADC mean , ADC max , and ADC diff were found between grade III and grade IV only using high b-value. ADC parameters derived from DW-MRI using a high b-value allows a better differential diagnosis of gliomas, especially for differentiating grades III and IV, than those derived from DW-MRI using a standard b-value. Copyright © 2016 Éditions françaises de radiologie. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Treatment of high-energy pilon fractures using the ILIZAROV treatment.

PubMed

Osman, Walid; Alaya, Zeineb; Kaziz, Hamdi; Hassini, Lassad; Braiki, Meriem; Naouar, Nader; Ben Ayeche, Mohamed Laaziz

2017-01-01

The management of high-energy pilon fractures is still controversial. Open reduction and internal fixation are often associated with serious complications. Various methods have been used to treat these injuries, with variable results. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the clinical and radiographic outcome of the ILIZAROV technique in patients with high-energy pilon fractures. Thirty cases of distal tibia epiphysis fractures (pilon fractures) were managed from 1999 to 2012. The study group included 5 cases of open fractures. The mean age was 47 years. According to Rüedi and Algower classification; 11 fractures were type II, and 19 type III. All fractures were a consequence of high-energy trauma. Fractures of the lower fibula were present in 28 of the patients. An external Fixator was applied for open fractures. Closed injuries were operated on 3 to 13 days after injury, with an average of 8 days. The mean follow-up was 48 months. All fractures united. The external fixator was removed after a mean of 22 weeks (10 - 28 weeks). Two patients with a type III fracture had a delayed union and were treated with corticotomy and dynamisation of the ILIZAROV fixator. Only one secondary displacement of a type III fracture was noted after two months and was treated by adjuction of 2 olive wires. There were no cases of osteomyelitis or deep infections. Pin-tract infections occurred in ten patients. We had not any case of nervous injury due to introduction of the pins. Using radiological criteria for assessement of reduction of the articular fragments, there was excellent and good restoration of articular structure in 24 cases. The average American Orthopeadic Foot and Ankle Society ankle-hind foot score was excellent in 16, good in 6, fair in 6 and poor in 2. Soft tissue healing occurred without need for plastic surgery in all cases. The movements of the ankle ranged from 0 to 20° of dorsiflexion and 5° to 40° of plantar flexion. Twenty patients had gone back to their preinjury profession. The ILIZAROV technique is a safe and a very effective treatment for severe pilon fractures with minimum complications and good healing results.

Treatment of high-energy pilon fractures using the ILIZAROV treatment

PubMed Central

Osman, Walid; Alaya, Zeineb; Kaziz, Hamdi; Hassini, Lassad; Braiki, Meriem; Naouar, Nader; Ben Ayeche, Mohamed Laaziz

2017-01-01

The management of high-energy pilon fractures is still controversial. Open reduction and internal fixation are often associated with serious complications. Various methods have been used to treat these injuries, with variable results. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the clinical and radiographic outcome of the ILIZAROV technique in patients with high-energy pilon fractures. Thirty cases of distal tibia epiphysis fractures (pilon fractures) were managed from 1999 to 2012. The study group included 5 cases of open fractures. The mean age was 47 years. According to Rüedi and Algower classification; 11 fractures were type II, and 19 type III. All fractures were a consequence of high-energy trauma. Fractures of the lower fibula were present in 28 of the patients. An external Fixator was applied for open fractures. Closed injuries were operated on 3 to 13 days after injury, with an average of 8 days. The mean follow-up was 48 months. All fractures united. The external fixator was removed after a mean of 22 weeks (10 - 28 weeks). Two patients with a type III fracture had a delayed union and were treated with corticotomy and dynamisation of the ILIZAROV fixator. Only one secondary displacement of a type III fracture was noted after two months and was treated by adjuction of 2 olive wires. There were no cases of osteomyelitis or deep infections. Pin-tract infections occurred in ten patients. We had not any case of nervous injury due to introduction of the pins. Using radiological criteria for assessement of reduction of the articular fragments, there was excellent and good restoration of articular structure in 24 cases. The average American Orthopeadic Foot and Ankle Society ankle-hind foot score was excellent in 16, good in 6, fair in 6 and poor in 2. Soft tissue healing occurred without need for plastic surgery in all cases. The movements of the ankle ranged from 0 to 20° of dorsiflexion and 5° to 40° of plantar flexion. Twenty patients had gone back to their preinjury profession. The ILIZAROV technique is a safe and a very effective treatment for severe pilon fractures with minimum complications and good healing results. PMID:28904724

Plantar Pressure Anomalies After Open Reduction With Internal Fixation of High-Grade Calcaneal Fractures.

PubMed

Hetsroni, Iftach; Ben-Sira, David; Nyska, Meir; Ayalon, Moshe

2014-07-01

Plantar pressure abnormalities after open reduction with internal fixation (ORIF) of intra-articular calcaneal fractures have been observed previously, but high-grade fractures were not selectively investigated and follow-up times were shorter than 2 years. The purpose of this study was to characterize plantar pressure anomalies in patients with exclusively high-grade calcaneal fractures after ORIF with a minimum 2 years of follow-up, and to test the association between plantar pressure distribution and the clinical outcome. The orthopaedic registry was reviewed to identify patients with isolated high-grade calcaneal fractures (Sanders types III-IV) who were operated on and had a minimum 2 years of follow-up. Sixteen patients were evaluated. Mean age was 47 years and follow-up was between 2 and 6 years. The Pedar-Mobile system was used to measure 3 loading and 3 temporal variables and compare these between the operated and the uninjured limbs. Mean American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score was 76 ± 7 at latest follow-up. Bohler's angle was 5 ± 8 degrees before surgery and 25 ± 7 degrees at latest follow-up. Stance was shorter in operated limbs (P = .001). Timing of the peak of pressure was delayed in operated limbs under the hallux and the second toe (P ≤ .03). Peak pressure, force time integral, and pressure time integral were increased under the lateral midfoot (P ≤ .03) and decreased under the second metatarsal (P ≤ .03). Force time integral was decreased under the first metatarsal (P = .02) and under the hallux and the lateral toes (P ≤ .05). Increased loading under the lateral midfoot and decreased loading under the lateral toes were correlated with poorer clinical outcome (r = -.53, P < .05, and r = .63, P < .01, respectively). Side-to-side plantar pressure mismatch persisted at more than 2 years after ORIF of high-grade calcaneal fractures performed via lateral approach, despite improvement of Bohler's angle. This was characterized by shortened stance phase, delayed timing of peak of pressure under the hallux and second toe, lateral load shift at the midfoot, and decreased toe pressures in operated limbs. Since loading abnormalities were correlated with the clinical outcome, modifications in treatment strategy that can improve foot loading may be desirable in these cases. Level III, case control. © The Author(s) 2014.

Outcomes in Thoracolumbar Burst Fractures With a Thoracolumbar Injury Classification Score (TLICS) of 4 Treated With Surgery Versus Initial Conservative Management.

PubMed

Nataraj, Andrew; Jack, Andrew S; Ihsanullah, Ihsan; Nomani, Shawn; Kortbeek, Frank; Fox, Richard

2018-05-25

This is a single-center, retrospective, observational cohort study. To determine whether surgery or nonoperative treatment has better clinical outcomes in neurologically intact patients with an intermediate severity thoracolumbar burst fracture. Optimal management, whether initial operative or nonoperative treatment, for thoracolumbar injury classification score (TLICS) 4 burst fractures remains controversial. Better insight into the treatment which affords patients a better clinical outcome could significantly affect patient care. This retrospective study included consecutive cases of TLICS 4 burst fracture patients from 2007 to 2013 and minimum 6-month follow-up. Potential confounders examined included age, sex, injury severity score, initial kyphotic angle, injured facets, and interspinous widening. Outcomes were determined by standardized questionnaires [Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), 12-item Short Form Physical Component Score (SF-12 PCS), and back pain Visual Analog Scale (VAS)] and analyzed using regression analysis. A total of 230 patients with burst fractures were identified, of which 67/230 (29%) were TLICS 4 and 47/67 (70%) had completed follow-up. No difference on univariate analysis was found between nonsurgical and surgical groups in mean ODI scores (P=0.27, t test), nor mean time to return to work (P=0.10, t test).Regarding outcomes, linear regression analysis revealed no association between having surgery and ODI (P=0.29), SF-12 PCS (P=0.59), or VAS (P=0.33). Furthermore, no difference was found between groups for employed patients working versus not working (P=0.09, the Fisher test), nor in mean time to return to work (P=0.30, Cox regression). This is one of the largest studies examining TLICS 4 burst fracture patients, adjusting for both clinical and radiologic confounders and reporting patient outcomes with minimum 6-month follow-up. No differences were found in outcomes between patients treated either surgically or nonsurgically. Studies focusing on early postoperative differences or cost-effectiveness might help in decision making. Level III.

Probabilistic divergence time estimation without branch lengths: dating the origins of dinosaurs, avian flight and crown birds.

PubMed

Lloyd, G T; Bapst, D W; Friedman, M; Davis, K E

2016-11-01

Branch lengths-measured in character changes-are an essential requirement of clock-based divergence estimation, regardless of whether the fossil calibrations used represent nodes or tips. However, a separate set of divergence time approaches are typically used to date palaeontological trees, which may lack such branch lengths. Among these methods, sophisticated probabilistic approaches have recently emerged, in contrast with simpler algorithms relying on minimum node ages. Here, using a novel phylogenetic hypothesis for Mesozoic dinosaurs, we apply two such approaches to estimate divergence times for: (i) Dinosauria, (ii) Avialae (the earliest birds) and (iii) Neornithes (crown birds). We find: (i) the plausibility of a Permian origin for dinosaurs to be dependent on whether Nyasasaurus is the oldest dinosaur, (ii) a Middle to Late Jurassic origin of avian flight regardless of whether Archaeopteryx or Aurornis is considered the first bird and (iii) a Late Cretaceous origin for Neornithes that is broadly congruent with other node- and tip-dating estimates. Demonstrating the feasibility of probabilistic time-scaling further opens up divergence estimation to the rich histories of extinct biodiversity in the fossil record, even in the absence of detailed character data. © 2016 The Authors.

A recursive Bayesian approach for fatigue damage prognosis: An experimental validation at the reliability component level

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gobbato, Maurizio; Kosmatka, John B.; Conte, Joel P.

2014-04-01

Fatigue-induced damage is one of the most uncertain and highly unpredictable failure mechanisms for a large variety of mechanical and structural systems subjected to cyclic and random loads during their service life. A health monitoring system capable of (i) monitoring the critical components of these systems through non-destructive evaluation (NDE) techniques, (ii) assessing their structural integrity, (iii) recursively predicting their remaining fatigue life (RFL), and (iv) providing a cost-efficient reliability-based inspection and maintenance plan (RBIM) is therefore ultimately needed. In contribution to these objectives, the first part of the paper provides an overview and extension of a comprehensive reliability-based fatigue damage prognosis methodology — previously developed by the authors — for recursively predicting and updating the RFL of critical structural components and/or sub-components in aerospace structures. In the second part of the paper, a set of experimental fatigue test data, available in the literature, is used to provide a numerical verification and an experimental validation of the proposed framework at the reliability component level (i.e., single damage mechanism evolving at a single damage location). The results obtained from this study demonstrate (i) the importance and the benefits of a nearly continuous NDE monitoring system, (ii) the efficiency of the recursive Bayesian updating scheme, and (iii) the robustness of the proposed framework in recursively updating and improving the RFL estimations. This study also demonstrates that the proposed methodology can lead to either an extent of the RFL (with a consequent economical gain without compromising the minimum safety requirements) or an increase of safety by detecting a premature fault and therefore avoiding a very costly catastrophic failure.

New water soluble heterometallic complex showing unpredicted coordination modes of EDTA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mudsainiyan, R. K.; Jassal, A. K.; Chawla, S. K.

2015-10-01

A mesoporous 3D polymeric complex (I) having formula {[Zr(IV)O-μ3-(EDTA)Fe(III)OH]·H2O}n has been crystallized and characterized by various techniques. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that complex (I) crystallized in chiral monoclinic space group Cc (space group no. 9) with unexpected coordination modes of EDTA and mixture of two transition metal ions. In this complex, the coordination number of Zr(IV) ion is seven where four carboxylate oxygen atoms, two nitrogen atoms, one oxide atom are coordinating with Zr(IV). Fe(III) is four coordinated and its coordination environment is composed of three different carboxylic oxygen atoms from three different EDTA and one oxygen atom of -OH group. The structure consists of 4-c and 16-c (2-nodal) net with new topology and point symbol for net is (336·454·530)·(36). TGA study and XRPD pattern showed that the coordination polymer is quite stable even after losing water molecule and -OH ion. Quenching behavior in fluorescence of ligand is observed by complexation with transition metal ions is due to n-π* transition. The SEM micrograph shows the morphology of complex (I) exhibits spherical shape with size ranging from 50 to 280 nm. The minimum N2 (SBET=8.7693 m2/g) and a maximum amount of H2 (high surface area=1044.86 m2/g (STP)) could be adsorbed at 77 K. From DLS study, zeta potential is calculated i.e. -7.94 shows the negative charges on the surface of complex. Hirshfeld surface analysis and fingerprint plots revealed influence of weak or non bonding interactions in crystal packing of complex.

[Medial versus lateral plating in distal tibial fractures: a prospective study of 40 fractures].

PubMed

Encinas-Ullán, C A; Fernandez-Fernandez, R; Rubio-Suárez, J C; Gil-Garay, E

2013-01-01

Tibial plafond fractures are one of the most challenging injuries in orthopaedic surgery. Their results could be improved by following the new guidelines for the management, and modern plating techniques. The results and complication rate between anteromedial and anterolateral approach for open reduction and internal fixation of these fractures were compared. A study was conducted on 40 patients treated by open reduction an internal fixation between 2007 and 2008. The surgical approach was selected by the surgeon in charge, depending on fracture pattern and skin situation. Patients were evaluated clinically and radiographically by an independent orthopaedic surgeon, not involved in the surgical procedure, using clinical (American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score) and radiological criteria at a minimum of two years. The appearance of complications after both approaches was recorded. Forty patients were included. The mean age was 53 years, with 24 males and 16 females. Seventeen of the injuries were of high energy, and there were 8 open fractures (3 of type i, 4 type ii and one type iii), and 12 of the closed injuries were grade ii or iii in the Tscherne classification. Six patients (15%) had associated injuries. At final follow-up there were 33 (82%) excellent or good results. No statistical differences were found between either surgical approach regarding time to bone union, rate of delayed union and infection rate. Three plates of the anteromedial group and none of the anterolateral group needed to be removed. Open reduction and internal fixation of distal tibia fractures produced reliable results, with no statistical differences found between anteromedial and anterolateral surgical approaches. Clinical and radiological results and complication rate were mainly related to the fracture type. Copyright © 2012 SECOT. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

The Thrombin Receptor Antagonist for Clinical Event Reduction in Acute Coronary Syndrome (TRA*CER) trial: study design and rationale.

PubMed

2009-09-01

The protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR-1), the main platelet receptor for thrombin, represents a novel target for treatment of arterial thrombosis, and SCH 530348 is an orally active, selective, competitive PAR-1 antagonist. We designed TRA*CER to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SCH 530348 compared with placebo in addition to standard of care in patients with non-ST-segment elevation (NSTE) acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and high-risk features. TRA*CER is a prospective, randomized, double-blind, multicenter, phase III trial with an original estimated sample size of 10,000 subjects. Our primary objective is to demonstrate that SCH 530348 in addition to standard of care will reduce the incidence of the composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, recurrent ischemia with rehospitalization, and urgent coronary revascularization compared with standard of care alone. Our key secondary objective is to determine whether SCH 530348 will reduce the composite of cardiovascular death, MI, or stroke compared with standard of care alone. Secondary objectives related to safety are the composite of moderate and severe GUSTO bleeding and clinically significant TIMI bleeding. The trial will continue until a predetermined minimum number of centrally adjudicated primary and key secondary end point events have occurred and all subjects have participated in the study for at least 1 year. The TRA*CER trial is part of the large phase III SCH 530348 development program that includes a concomitant evaluation in secondary prevention. TRA*CER will define efficacy and safety of the novel platelet PAR-1 inhibitor SCH 530348 in the treatment of high-risk patients with NSTE ACS in the setting of current treatment strategies.

Safety of Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs in Major Gastrointestinal Surgery: A Prospective, Multicenter Cohort Study.

PubMed

2017-01-01

Significant safety concerns remain surrounding the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) following gastrointestinal surgery, leading to wide variation in their use. This study aimed to determine the safety profile of NSAIDs after major gastrointestinal surgery. Consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency abdominal surgery with a minimum one-night stay during a 3-month study period were eligible for inclusion. The administration of any NSAID within 3 days following surgery was the main independent variable. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day postoperative major complication rate, as defined by the Clavien-Dindo classification (Clavien-Dindo III-V). Propensity matching with multivariable logistic regression was used to produce odds ratios (OR) and 95 % confidence intervals. From 9264 patients, 23.9 % (n = 2212) received postoperative NSAIDs. The overall major complication rate was 11.5 % (n = 1067). Following propensity matching and adjustment, use of NSAIDs were not significantly associated with any increase in major complications (OR 0.90, 0.60-1.34, p = 0.560). Early use of postoperative NSAIDs was not associated with an increase in major complications following gastrointestinal surgery.

Analysis of Skylab IV fluid mechanic science demonstration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Klett, M. G.; Bourgeois, S. V.

1975-01-01

Several science demonstrations performed on Skylab III and IV were concerned with the behavior of fluid drops free floating in microgravity. These demonstrations, with large liquid drops, included the oscillation, rotation, impact and coalescence, and air injection into the drops. Rayleigh's analysis of the oscillation of spherical drops of a liquid predicts accurately the effect of size and surface tension on the frequency of vibrated water globules in the Skylab demonstration. However, damping occurred much faster than predicted by Lamb's or Scriven's analyses of the damping time for spherical drops. The impact demonstrations indicated that a minimum velocity is necessary to overcome surface forces and effect a coalescence, but a precise criterion for the coalescence of liquids in low g could not be determined.

A compact multichannel spectrometer for Thomson scatteringa)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schoenbeck, N. L.; Schlossberg, D. J.; Dowd, A. S.; Fonck, R. J.; Winz, G. R.

2012-10-01

The availability of high-efficiency volume phase holographic (VPH) gratings and intensified CCD (ICCD) cameras have motivated a simplified, compact spectrometer for Thomson scattering detection. Measurements of Te < 100 eV are achieved by a 2971 l/mm VPH grating and measurements Te > 100 eV by a 2072 l/mm VPH grating. The spectrometer uses a fast-gated (˜2 ns) ICCD camera for detection. A Gen III image intensifier provides ˜45% quantum efficiency in the visible region. The total read noise of the image is reduced by on-chip binning of the CCD to match the 8 spatial channels and the 10 spectral bins on the camera. Three spectrometers provide a minimum of 12 spatial channels and 12 channels for background subtraction.

A compact multichannel spectrometer for Thomson scattering.

PubMed

Schoenbeck, N L; Schlossberg, D J; Dowd, A S; Fonck, R J; Winz, G R

2012-10-01

The availability of high-efficiency volume phase holographic (VPH) gratings and intensified CCD (ICCD) cameras have motivated a simplified, compact spectrometer for Thomson scattering detection. Measurements of T(e) < 100 eV are achieved by a 2971 l∕mm VPH grating and measurements T(e) > 100 eV by a 2072 l∕mm VPH grating. The spectrometer uses a fast-gated (~2 ns) ICCD camera for detection. A Gen III image intensifier provides ~45% quantum efficiency in the visible region. The total read noise of the image is reduced by on-chip binning of the CCD to match the 8 spatial channels and the 10 spectral bins on the camera. Three spectrometers provide a minimum of 12 spatial channels and 12 channels for background subtraction.

Origin of band gap bowing in dilute GaAs1-xNx and GaP1-xNx alloys: A real-space view

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Virkkala, Ville; Havu, Ville; Tuomisto, Filip; Puska, Martti J.

2013-07-01

The origin of the band gap bowing in dilute nitrogen doped gallium based III-V semiconductors is largely debated. In this paper we show the dilute GaAs1-xNx and GaP1-xNx as representative examples that the nitrogen-induced states close to the conduction band minimum propagate along the zigzag chains on the {110} planes. Thereby states originating from different N atoms interact with each other resulting in broadening of the nitrogen-induced states which narrows the band gap. Our modeling based on ab initio theoretical calculations explains the experimentally observed N concentration dependent band gap narrowing both qualitatively and quantitatively.

Minimum reporting standards for clinical research on groin pain in athletes

PubMed Central

Delahunt, Eamonn; Thorborg, Kristian; Khan, Karim M; Robinson, Philip; Hölmich, Per; Weir, Adam

2015-01-01

Groin pain in athletes is a priority area for sports physiotherapy and sports medicine research. Heterogeneous studies with low methodological quality dominate research related to groin pain in athletes. Low-quality studies undermine the external validity of research findings and limit the ability to generalise findings to the target patient population. Minimum reporting standards for research on groin pain in athletes are overdue. We propose a set of minimum reporting standards based on best available evidence to be utilised in future research on groin pain in athletes. Minimum reporting standards are provided in relation to: (1) study methodology, (2) study participants and injury history, (3) clinical examination, (4) clinical assessment and (5) radiology. Adherence to these minimum reporting standards will strengthen the quality and transparency of research conducted on groin pain in athletes. This will allow an easier comparison of outcomes across studies in the future. PMID:26031644

Magnetic Nature of the CrIII-LnIII Interactions in [CrIII2LnIII3] Clusters with Slow Magnetic Relaxation.

PubMed

Zhao, Xiao-Qing; Xiang, Shuo; Wang, Jin; Bao, Dong-Xu; Li, Yun-Chun

2018-02-01

Two 3 d -4 f hetero-metal pentanuclear complexes with the formula {[Cr III 2 Ln III 3 L 10 (OH) 6 (H 2 O) 2 ]Et 3 NH} [Ln=Tb ( 1 ), Dy ( 2 ); HL=pivalic acid, Et 3 N=triethylamine] have been produced. The metal core of each cluster is made up of a trigonal bipyramid with three Ln III ions (plane) and two Cr III ions (above and below) held together by six μ 3 -OH bridges. Also reported with this series is the diamagnetic Cr III -Y III analogue ( 3 ). Fortunately, we successfully prepared Al III -Ln III analogues with the formula {[Al III 2 Ln III 3 L 10 (OH) 6 (H 2 O) 2 ]Et 3 NH⋅H 2 O} [Ln=Tb ( 4 ), Dy ( 5 )], containing diamagnetic Al III ions, which can be used to evaluate the Cr III -Ln III magnetic nature through a diamagnetic substitution method. Subsequently, static (dc) magnetic susceptibility studies reveal dominant ferromagnetic interactions between Cr III and Ln III ions. Dynamic (ac) magnetic susceptibility studies show frequency-dependent out-of-phase ( χ '') signals for [Cr III 2 Tb III 3 ] ( 1 ), [Cr III 2 Dy III 3 ] ( 2 ), and [Al III 2 Dy III 3 ] ( 5 ), which are derived from the single-ion behavior of Ln III ions and/or the Cr III -Ln III ferromagnetic interactions.

Minimum dietary diversity and associated factors among children aged 6-23 months in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

PubMed

Solomon, Dagmawit; Aderaw, Zewdie; Tegegne, Teketo Kassaw

2017-10-12

Dietary diversity has long been recognized as a key element of high quality diets. Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD) is the consumption of four or more food groups from the seven food groups. Globally, only few children are receiving nutritionally adequate and diversified foods. More than two-thirds of malnutrition related child deaths are associated with inappropriate feeding practice during the first two years of life. In Ethiopia, only 7 % of children age 6-23 months had received the minimum acceptable diet. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to determine the level of minimum dietary diversity practice and identify the associated factors among children aged 6-23 months in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A health facility based cross sectional study was undertaken in the three sub-cities of Addis Ababa from 26th February to 28th April, 2016. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to sample the 352 study participants or mothers who had children aged 6-23 months. Data were collected by using a structured and pretested questionnaire, cleaned and entered into Epi info 7 and analyzed using SPSS 24 software. Logistic regression was fitted and odds ratio with 95% confidence interval (CI) with p-value less than 0.05 was used to identify factors associated with minimum dietary diversity. In this study, the overall children with minimum dietary diversity score were found to be 59.9%. Mother's educational attainment and a higher household monthly income were positively associated with the minimum dietary diversity practice. Similarly, mothers' knowledge on dietary diversity and child feeding was positively associated with minimum dietary diversity child feeding practice, with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.98 (95% CI: 1.11-3.53). In this study, the consumption of minimum dietary diversity was found to be high. In spite of this, more efforts need to be done to achieve the recommended minimum dietary diversity intake for all children aged between 6 and 23 months.

Minimum time and fuel flight profiles for an F-15 airplane with a Highly Integrated Digital Electronic Control (HIDEC) system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haering, E. A., Jr.; Burcham, F. W., Jr.

1984-01-01

A simulation study was conducted to optimize minimum time and fuel consumption paths for an F-15 airplane powered by two F100 Engine Model Derivative (EMD) engines. The benefits of using variable stall margin (uptrim) to increase performance were also determined. This study supports the NASA Highly Integrated Digital Electronic Control (HIDEC) program. The basis for this comparison was minimum time and fuel used to reach Mach 2 at 13,716 m (45,000 ft) from the initial conditions of Mach 0.15 at 1524 m (5000 ft). Results were also compared to a pilot's estimated minimum time and fuel trajectory determined from the F-15 flight manual and previous experience. The minimum time trajectory took 15 percent less time than the pilot's estimate for the standard EMD engines, while the minimum fuel trajectory used 1 percent less fuel than the pilot's estimate for the minimum fuel trajectory. The F-15 airplane with EMD engines and uptrim, was 23 percent faster than the pilot's estimate. The minimum fuel used was 5 percent less than the estimate.

Protocol for the isotoxic intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): a feasibility study.

PubMed

Haslett, Kate; Franks, Kevin; Hanna, Gerard G; Harden, Susan; Hatton, Matthew; Harrow, Stephen; McDonald, Fiona; Ashcroft, Linda; Falk, Sally; Groom, Nicki; Harris, Catherine; McCloskey, Paula; Whitehurst, Philip; Bayman, Neil; Faivre-Finn, Corinne

2016-04-15

The majority of stage III patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are unsuitable for concurrent chemoradiotherapy, the non-surgical gold standard of care. As the alternative treatment options of sequential chemoradiotherapy and radiotherapy alone are associated with high local failure rates, various intensification strategies have been employed. There is evidence to suggest that altered fractionation using hyperfractionation, acceleration, dose escalation, and individualisation may be of benefit. The MAASTRO group have pioneered the concept of 'isotoxic' radiotherapy allowing for individualised dose escalation using hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy based on predefined normal tissue constraints. This study aims to evaluate whether delivering isotoxic radiotherapy using intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is achievable. Isotoxic IMRT is a multicentre feasibility study. From June 2014, a total of 35 patients from 7 UK centres, with a proven histological or cytological diagnosis of inoperable NSCLC, unsuitable for concurrent chemoradiotherapy will be recruited. A minimum of 2 cycles of induction chemotherapy is mandated before starting isotoxic radiotherapy. The dose of radiation will be increased until one or more of the organs at risk tolerance or the maximum dose of 79.2 Gy is reached. The primary end point is feasibility, with accrual rates, local control and overall survival our secondary end points. Patients will be followed up for 5 years. The study has received ethical approval (REC reference: 13/NW/0480) from the National Research Ethics Service (NRES) Committee North West-Greater Manchester South. The trial is conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and Good Clinical Practice (GCP). The trial results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented internationally. NCT01836692; Pre-results. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/

Comparative serum albumin interactions and antitumor effects of Au(III) and Ga(III) ions.

PubMed

Sarioglu, Omer Faruk; Ozdemir, Ayse; Karaboduk, Kuddusi; Tekinay, Turgay

2015-01-01

In the present study, interactions of Au(III) and Ga(III) ions on human serum albumin (HSA) were studied comparatively via spectroscopic and thermal analysis methods: UV-vis absorbance spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). The potential antitumor effects of these ions were studied on MCF-7 cells via Alamar blue assay. It was found that both Au(III) and Ga(III) ions can interact with HSA, however; Au(III) ions interact with HSA more favorably and with a higher affinity. FT-IR second derivative analysis results demonstrated that, high concentrations of both metal ions led to a considerable decrease in the α-helix content of HSA; while Au(III) led to around 5% of decrease in the α-helix content at 200μM, it was around 1% for Ga(III) at the same concentration. Calorimetric analysis gave the binding kinetics of metal-HSA interactions; while the binding affinity (Ka) of Au(III)-HSA binding was around 3.87×10(5)M(-1), it was around 9.68×10(3)M(-1) for Ga(III)-HSA binding. Spectroscopy studies overall suggest that both metal ions have significant effects on the chemical structure of HSA, including the secondary structure alterations. Antitumor activity studies on MCF7 tumor cell line with both metal ions revealed that, Au(III) ions have a higher antiproliferative activity compared to Ga(III) ions. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

An In-Vitro Evaluation and Comparison of Apical Sealing Ability of Three Different Obturation Technique - Lateral Condensation, Obtura II, and Thermafil.

PubMed

Emmanuel, Samson; Shantaram, Kulkarni; Sushil, Kumar C; Manoj, Likhitkar

2013-04-01

Success of non-surgical root canal treatment is predicted by meticulous cleaning and shaping of the root canal system, three-dimensional obturation and a well-fitting "leakage-free" coronal restoration. The techniques of obturation that are available have their own relative position in the historical development of filling techniques. Over the years, pitfalls with one technique have often led to the development of newer methods of obturation, along with the recognition that no one method of obturation may satisfy all clinical cases. A total of 120 extracted human permanent anterior maxillary and mandibular single rooted teeth were selected for the present study and divided into 3 groups based on the method of obturation technique. Following the preparation the patency at the apical foramen was confirmed by passing a file #15. After obturation of all three groups, teeth were immersed in 1% of aqueous methylene blue dye for a period of two weeks and then samples were subjected to spectrophotometric analysis. The present study was conducted to evaluate in vitro the spectrophotometric analysis to quantitatively analyze relative amount of dye penetration using lateral condensation (Group I), Obtura II (Group II ), Thermafil obturating technique (Group III) with ZOE sealer used in all groups. Teeth obturated with lateral condensation (Group I) shows mean value of 0.0243 and standard deviation of 0.0056. The Group II thermoplasticized injectable moulded Guttapercha (Obtura II) showed 0.0239 mean and standard deviation value of 0.0045 and Group III Thermafil obturation technique shows 0.0189 as mean value and 0.0035 standard deviation values. Following conclusion was drawn from the present study. Group III i.e., Thermafil obturating technique shows minimum mean apical dye penetration compared to Group II (ObturaII) and Group I (lateral condensation).Lateral condensation shows maximum mean apical dye penetration in all three groups.There is no significant difference between the apical dye penetration of lateral condensation and Obtura II. Obturation, lateral condensation, Obtura II, Thermafil, Spectrophotometer, dye penetration. How to cite this article: Samson E, Kulkarni S, Sushil K C, Likhitkar M. An In-Vitro Evaluation and Comparison of Apical Sealing Ability of Three Different Obturation Technique - Lateral Condensation, Obtura II, and Thermafil. J Int Oral Health 2013; 5(2):35-43.

Treatment of Glioma Using neuroArm Surgical System

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

The use of robotic technology in the surgical treatment of brain tumour promises increased precision and accuracy in the performance of surgery. Robotic manipulators may allow superior access to narrow surgical corridors compared to freehand or conventional neurosurgery. This paper reports values and ranges of tool-tissue interaction forces during the performance of glioma surgery using an MR compatible, image-guided neurosurgical robot called neuroArm. The system, capable of microsurgery and stereotaxy, was used in the surgical resection of glioma in seven cases. neuroArm is equipped with force sensors at the end-effector allowing quantification of tool-tissue interaction forces and transmits force of dissection to the surgeon sited at a remote workstation that includes a haptic interface. Interaction forces between the tool tips and the brain tissue were measured for each procedure, and the peak forces were quantified. Results showed maximum and minimum peak force values of 2.89 N (anaplastic astrocytoma, WHO grade III) and 0.50 N (anaplastic oligodendroglioma, WHO grade III), respectively, with the mean of peak forces varying from case to case, depending on type of the glioma. Mean values of the peak forces varied in range of 1.27 N (anaplastic astrocytoma, WHO grade III) to 1.89 N (glioblastoma with oligodendroglial component, WHO grade IV). In some cases, ANOVA test failed to reject the null hypothesis of equality in means of the peak forces measured. However, we could not find a relationship between forces exerted to the pathological tissue and its size, type, or location. PMID:27314044

Comparative adsorption of Eu(III) and Am(III) on TPD.

PubMed

Fan, Q H; Zhao, X L; Ma, X X; Yang, Y B; Wu, W S; Zheng, G D; Wang, D L

2015-09-01

Comparative adsorption behaviors of Eu(III) and Am(III) on thorium phosphate diphosphate (TPD), i.e., Th4(PO4)4P2O7, have been studied using a batch approach and surface complexation model (SCM) in this study. The results showed that Eu(III) and Am(III) adsorption increased to a large extent with the increase in TPD dose. Strong pH-dependence was observed in both Eu(III) and Am(III) adsorption processes, suggesting that inner-sphere complexes (ISCs) were possibly responsible for the adsorption of Eu(III) and Am(III). Meanwhile, the adsorption of Eu(III) and Am(III) decreased to a different extent with the increase in ion strength, which was possibly related to outer-sphere complexes and/or ion exchange. In the presence of fulvic acid (FA), the adsorption of Eu(III) and Am(III) showed high enhancement mainly due to the ternary surface complexes of TPD-FA-Eu(3+) and TPD-FA-Am(3+). The SCM showed that one ion exchange (≡S3Am/Eu) and two ISCs (≡(XO)2Am/EuNO3 and ≡(YO)2Am/EuNO3) seemed more reasonable to quantitatively describe the adsorption edges of both Eu(III) and Am(III). Our findings obviously showed that Eu(III) could be a good analogue to study actinide behaviors in practical terms. However, it should be kept in mind that there are still obvious differences between the characteristics of Eu(III) and Am(III) in some special cases, for instance, the complex ability with organic matter and adsorption affinity to a solid surface.

Estimation of in-situ bioremediation system cost using a hybrid Extreme Learning Machine (ELM)-particle swarm optimization approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yadav, Basant; Ch, Sudheer; Mathur, Shashi; Adamowski, Jan

2016-12-01

In-situ bioremediation is the most common groundwater remediation procedure used for treating organically contaminated sites. A simulation-optimization approach, which incorporates a simulation model for groundwaterflow and transport processes within an optimization program, could help engineers in designing a remediation system that best satisfies management objectives as well as regulatory constraints. In-situ bioremediation is a highly complex, non-linear process and the modelling of such a complex system requires significant computational exertion. Soft computing techniques have a flexible mathematical structure which can generalize complex nonlinear processes. In in-situ bioremediation management, a physically-based model is used for the simulation and the simulated data is utilized by the optimization model to optimize the remediation cost. The recalling of simulator to satisfy the constraints is an extremely tedious and time consuming process and thus there is need for a simulator which can reduce the computational burden. This study presents a simulation-optimization approach to achieve an accurate and cost effective in-situ bioremediation system design for groundwater contaminated with BTEX (Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylenes) compounds. In this study, the Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) is used as a proxy simulator to replace BIOPLUME III for the simulation. The selection of ELM is done by a comparative analysis with Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) as they were successfully used in previous studies of in-situ bioremediation system design. Further, a single-objective optimization problem is solved by a coupled Extreme Learning Machine (ELM)-Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) technique to achieve the minimum cost for the in-situ bioremediation system design. The results indicate that ELM is a faster and more accurate proxy simulator than ANN and SVM. The total cost obtained by the ELM-PSO approach is held to a minimum while successfully satisfying all the regulatory constraints of the contaminated site.

Combination of Alpha-Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone with Conventional Antibiotics against Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

PubMed Central

Singh, Madhuri; Gadepalli, Ravisekhar; Dhawan, Benu; Mukhopadhyay, Kasturi

2013-01-01

Our previous studies revealed that alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) is strongly active against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) including methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Killing due to α-MSH occurred by perturbation of the bacterial membrane. In the present study, we investigated the in vitro synergistic potential of α-MSH with five selected conventional antibiotics viz., oxacillin (OX), ciprofloxacin (CF), tetracycline (TC), gentamicin (GM) and rifampicin (RF) against a clinical MRSA strain which carried a type III staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) element and belonged to the sequence type (ST) 239. The strain was found to be highly resistant to OX (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) = 1024 µg/ml) as well as to other selected antimicrobial agents including α-MSH. The possibility of the existence of intracellular target sites of α-MSH was evaluated by examining the DNA, RNA and protein synthesis pathways. We observed a synergistic potential of α-MSH with GM, CF and TC. Remarkably, the supplementation of α-MSH with GM, CF and TC resulted in ≥64-, 8- and 4-fold reductions in their minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs), respectively. Apart from membrane perturbation, in this study we found that α-MSH inhibited ∼53% and ∼47% DNA and protein synthesis, respectively, but not RNA synthesis. Thus, the mechanistic analogy between α-MSH and CF or GM or TC appears to be the reason for the observed synergy between them. In contrast, α-MSH did not act synergistically with RF which may be due to its inability to inhibit RNA synthesis (<10%). Nevertheless, the combination of α-MSH with RF and OX showed an enhanced killing by ∼45% and ∼70%, respectively, perhaps due to the membrane disrupting properties of α-MSH. The synergistic activity of α-MSH with antibiotics is encouraging, and promises to restore the lost potency of discarded antibiotics. PMID:24040081

Analysis of factors affecting baseline SF-36 Mental Component Summary in Adult Spinal Deformity and its impact on surgical outcomes.

PubMed

Mmopelwa, Tiro; Ayhan, Selim; Yuksel, Selcen; Nabiyev, Vugar; Niyazi, Asli; Pellise, Ferran; Alanay, Ahmet; Sanchez Perez Grueso, Francisco Javier; Kleinstuck, Frank; Obeid, Ibrahim; Acaroglu, Emre

2018-03-01

To identify the factors that affect SF-36 mental component summary (MCS) in patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD) at the time of presentation, and to analyse the effect of SF-36 MCS on clinical outcomes in surgically treated patients. Prospectively collected data from a multicentric ASD database was analysed for baseline parameters. Then, the same database for surgically treated patients with a minimum of 1-year follow-up was analysed to see the effect of baseline SF-36 MCS on treatment results. A clinically useful SF-36 MCS was determined by ROC Curve analysis. A total of 229 patients with the baseline parameters were analysed. A strong correlation between SF-36 MCS and SRS-22, ODI, gender, and diagnosis were found (p < 0.05). For the second part of the study, a total of 186 surgically treated patients were analysed. Only for SF-36 PCS, the un-improved cohort based on minimum clinically important differences had significantly lower mean baseline SF-36 MCS (p < 0.001). SF-36 MCS was found to have an odds ratio of 0.914 in improving SF-36 PCS score (unit by unit) (p < 0.001). A cut-off point of 43.97 for SF-36 MCS was found to be predictive of SF-36 PCS (AUC = 0.631; p < 0.001). The factors effective on the baseline SF-36 MCS in an ASD population are other HRQOL parameters such as SRS-22 and ODI as well as the baseline thoracic kyphosis and gender. This study has also demonstrated that baseline SF-36 MCS does not necessarily have any effect on the treatment results by surgery as assessed by SRS-22 or ODI. Level III, prognostic study. Copyright © 2018 Turkish Association of Orthopaedics and Traumatology. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Mechanisms for Fe(III) oxide reduction in sedimentary environments

USGS Publications Warehouse

Nevin, Kelly P.; Lovely, Derek R.

2002-01-01

Although it was previously considered that Fe(III)-reducing microorganisms must come into direct contact with Fe(III) oxides in order to reduce them, recent studies have suggested that electron-shuttling compounds and/or Fe(III) chelators, either naturally present or produced by the Fe(III)-reducing microorganisms themselves, may alleviate the need for the Fe(III) reducers to establish direct contact with Fe(III) oxides. Studies with Shewanella alga strain BrY and Fe(III) oxides sequestered within microporous beads demonstrated for the first time that this organism releases a compound(s) that permits electron transfer to Fe(III) oxides which the organism cannot directly contact. Furthermore, as much as 450 w M dissolved Fe(III) was detected in cultures of S. alga growing in Fe(III) oxide medium, suggesting that this organism releases compounds that can solublize Fe(III) from Fe(III) oxide. These results contrast with previous studies, which demonstrated that Geobacter metallireducens does not produce electron-shuttles or Fe(III) chelators. Some freshwater aquatic sediments and groundwaters contained compounds, which could act as electron shuttles by accepting electrons from G. metallireducens and then transferring the electrons to Fe(III). However, other samples lacked significant electron-shuttling capacity. Spectroscopic studies indicated that the electron-shuttling capacity of the waters was not only associated with the presence of humic substances, but water extracts of walnut, oak, and maple leaves contained electron-shuttling compounds did not appear to be humic substances. Porewater from a freshwater aquatic sediment and groundwater from a petroleum-contaminated aquifer contained dissolved Fe(III) (4-16 w M), suggesting that soluble Fe(III) may be available as an electron acceptor in some sedimentary environments. These results demonstrate that in order to accurately model the mechanisms for Fe(III) reduction in sedimentary environments it will be necessary to have information on the concentrations of electron-shuttling compounds and possibly Fe(III) ligands. Furthermore, as it is now apparent that different genera of Fe(III)-reducing microorganisms may reduce Fe(III) via different mechanisms, knowledge of which Fe(III)-reducing microorganisms predominate in the environment of interest is essential in order to model this process appropriately.

Does the Minimum Wage Affect Welfare Caseloads?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Page, Marianne E.; Spetz, Joanne; Millar, Jane

2005-01-01

Although minimum wages are advocated as a policy that will help the poor, few studies have examined their effect on poor families. This paper uses variation in minimum wages across states and over time to estimate the impact of minimum wage legislation on welfare caseloads. We find that the elasticity of the welfare caseload with respect to the…

[Description of the clinical complexity of patients admitted to long term care hospitals in Catalonia during 2003-2009].

PubMed

Salvà, Antoni; Roqué, Marta; Vallès, Elisabeth; Bustins, Montse; Rodó, Montse; Sanchez, Pau

2014-01-01

This work describes the clinical complexity of patients admitted to long term care hospitals between 2003 and 2009. Cross-sectional analysis of Minimum Basic Dataset for Social and Healthcare Units information system data for 47,855 admissions. Outcomes assessed were functional and cognitive status, Resource Utilization Groups III (RUG-III), resource use categories, coverage and intensity of therapies, diagnosis, comorbidities, and medical procedures. Descriptive analyses were performed by year of admission. Dementia and acute cerebrovascular disease were the most frequent primary diagnoses, and showed a steady decline over time (8.8% and 2.3% decline), while family respite admissions and fractures increased (7.7% and 1.9%, respectively). The average functional and cognitive status of the treated population was similar across all years, although individuals with dependence in each Activity of Daily Living increased. The most frequent resource use categories were rehabilitation, reduced physical function, clinically complex care, and special care. A sharp increase in rehabilitation was observed during the study period (20.3%), while the other categories decreased. Increasingly more patients received rehabilitation therapy during their hospital stay (20.8%). Coverage increased particularly for physiotherapy (25.4%) and occupational therapy (17.4%). The clinical complexity faced by long term care hospitals increased during 2003- 2009. The use of resources and provision of therapies show an increasing rehabilitation effort, possibly as a response to changes in the clinical complexity of the treated population, the standards of care, or the established information reporting practices. Copyright © 2013 SEGG. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

Comparison of colorimetry and electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy for the quantification of non-transferrin bound iron in human sera.

PubMed

Jittangprasert, Piyada; Wilairat, Prapin; Pootrakul, Pensri

2004-12-01

This paper describes a comparison of two analytical techniques, one employing bathophenanthrolinedisulfonate (BPT), a most commonly-used reagent for Fe (II) determination, as chromogen and an electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy (ETAAS) for the quantification of non-transferrin bound iron (NTBI) in sera from thalassemic patients. Nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) was employed as the ligand for binding iron from low molecular weight iron complexes present in the serum but without removing iron from the transferrin protein. After ultrafiltration the Fe (III)-NTA complex was then quantified by both methods. Kinetic study of the rate of the Fe (II)-BPT complex formation for various excess amounts of NTA ligand was also carried out. The kinetic data show that a minimum time duration (> 60 minutes) is necessary for complete complex formation when large excess of NTA is used. Calibration curves given by colorimetric and ETAAS methods were linear over the range of 0.15-20 microM iron (III). The colorimetric and ETAAS methods exhibited detection limit (3sigma) of 0.13 and 0.14 microM, respectively. The NTBI concentrations from 55 thalassemic serum samples measured employing BPT as chromogen were statistically compared with the results determined by ETAAS. No significant disagreement at 95% confidence level was observed. It is, therefore, possible to select any one of these two techniques for determination of NTBI in serum samples of thalassemic patients. However, the colorimetric procedure requires a longer analysis time because of a slow rate of exchange of NTA ligand with BPT, leading to the slow rate of formation of the colored complex.

3 Tesla MRI-negative focal epilepsies: Presurgical evaluation, postoperative outcome and predictive factors.

PubMed

Kogias, Evangelos; Klingler, Jan-Helge; Urbach, Horst; Scheiwe, Christian; Schmeiser, Barbara; Doostkam, Soroush; Zentner, Josef; Altenmüller, Dirk-Matthias

2017-12-01

To investigate presurgical diagnostic modalities, clinical and seizure outcome as well as predictive factors after resective epilepsy surgery in 3 Tesla MRI-negative focal epilepsies. This retrospective study comprises 26 patients (11 males/15 females, mean age 34±12years, range 13-50 years) with 3 Tesla MRI-negative focal epilepsies who underwent resective epilepsy surgery. Non-invasive and invasive presurgical diagnostic modalities, type and localization of resection, clinical and epileptological outcome with a minimum follow-up of 1year (range 1-11 years, mean 2.5±2.3years) after surgery as well as outcome predictors were evaluated. All patients underwent invasive video-EEG monitoring after implantation of intracerebral depth and/or subdural electrodes. Ten patients received temporal and 16 extratemporal or multilobar (n=4) resections. There was no perioperative death or permanent morbidity. Overall, 12 of 26 patients (46%) were completely seizure-free (Engel IA) and 65% had a favorable outcome (Engel I-II). In particular, seizure-free ratio was 40% in the temporal and 50% in the extratemporal group. In the temporal group, long duration of epilepsy correlated with poor seizure outcome, whereas congruent unilateral FDG-PET hypometabolism correlated with a favorable outcome. In almost two thirds of temporal and extratemporal epilepsies defined as "non-lesional" by 3 Tesla MRI criteria, a favorable postoperative seizure outcome (Engel I-II) can be achieved with accurate multimodal presurgical evaluation including intracranial EEG recordings. In the temporal group, most favorable results were obtained when FDG-PET displayed congruent unilateral hypometabolism. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

III-V Ultra-Thin-Body InGaAs/InAs MOSFETs for Low Standby Power Logic Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Cheng-Ying

As device scaling continues to sub-10-nm regime, III-V InGaAs/InAs metal- oxide-semiconductor ?eld-e?ect transistors (MOSFETs) are promising candidates for replacing Si-based MOSFETs for future very-large-scale integration (VLSI) logic applications. III-V InGaAs materials have low electron effective mass and high electron velocity, allowing higher on-state current at lower VDD and reducing the switching power consumption. However, III-V InGaAs materials have a narrower band gap and higher permittivity, leading to large band-to-band tunneling (BTBT) leakage or gate-induced drain leakage (GIDL) at the drain end of the channel, and large subthreshold leakage due to worse electrostatic integrity. To utilize III-V MOSFETs in future logic circuits, III-V MOSFETs must have high on-state performance over Si MOSFETs as well as very low leakage current and low standby power consumption. In this dissertation, we will report InGaAs/InAs ultra-thin-body MOSFETs. Three techniques for reducing the leakage currents in InGaAs/InAs MOSFETs are reported as described below. 1) Wide band-gap barriers: We developed AlAs0.44Sb0.56 barriers lattice-match to InP by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), and studied the electron transport in In0.53Ga0.47As/AlAs 0.44Sb0.56 heterostructures. The InGaAs channel MOSFETs using AlAs0.44Sb0.56 bottom barriers or p-doped In0.52 Al0.48As barriers were demonstrated, showing significant suppression on the back barrier leakage. 2) Ultra-thin channels: We investigated the electron transport in InGaAs and InAs ultra-thin quantum wells and ultra-thin body MOSFETs (t ch ~ 2-4 nm). For high performance logic, InAs channels enable higher on-state current, while for low power logic, InGaAs channels allow lower BTBT leakage current. 3) Source/Drain engineering: We developed raised InGaAs and recessed InP source/drain spacers. The raised InGaAs source/drain spacers improve electrostatics, reducing subthreshold leakage, and smooth the electric field near drain, reducing BTBT leakage. With further replacement of raised InGaAs spacers by recessed, doping-graded InP spacers at high field regions, BTBT leakage can be reduced ~100:1. Using the above-mentioned techniques, record high performance InAs MOSFETs with a 2.7 nm InAs channel and a ZrO2 gate dielectric were demonstrated with Ion = 500 microA/microm at Ioff = 100 nA/microm and VDS =0.5 V, showing the highest on-state performance among all the III-V MOSFETs and comparable performance to 22 nm Si FinFETs. Record low leakage InGaAs MOSFETs with recessed InP source/drain spacers were also demonstrated with minimum I off = 60 pA/microm at 30 nm-Lg , and Ion = 150 microA/microm at I off = 1 nA/microm and VDS =0.5 V. This recessed InP source/drain spacer technique improves device scalability and enables III-V MOSFETs for low standby power logic applications. Furthermore, ultra-thin InAs channel MOSFETs were fabricated on Si substrates, exhibiting high yield and high transconductance gm ~2.0 mS/microm at 20 nm- Lg and VDS =0.5 V. With further scaling of gate lengths, a 12 nm-Lg III-V MOSFET has shown maximum Ion/Ioff ratio ~8.3x105 , confirming that III-V MOSFETs are scalable to sub-10-nm technology nodes.

Efficacy and safety of rifaximin in Japanese patients with hepatic encephalopathy: A phase II/III, multicenter, randomized, evaluator-blinded, active-controlled trial and a phase III, multicenter, open trial.

PubMed

Suzuki, Kazuyuki; Endo, Ryujin; Takikawa, Yasuhiro; Moriyasu, Fuminori; Aoyagi, Yutaka; Moriwaki, Hisataka; Terai, Shuji; Sakaida, Isao; Sakai, Yoshiyuki; Nishiguchi, Shuhei; Ishikawa, Toru; Takagi, Hitoshi; Naganuma, Atsushi; Genda, Takuya; Ichida, Takafumi; Takaguchi, Koichi; Miyazawa, Katsuhiko; Okita, Kiwamu

2018-05-01

The efficacy and safety of rifaximin in the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) are widely known, but they have not been confirmed in Japanese patients with HE. Thus, two prospective, randomized studies (a phase II/III study and a phase III study) were carried out. Subjects with grade I or II HE and hyperammonemia were enrolled. The phase II/III study, which was a randomized, evaluator-blinded, active-comparator, parallel-group study, was undertaken at 37 institutions in Japan. Treatment periods were 14 days. Eligible patients were randomized to the rifaximin group (1200 mg/day) or the lactitol group (18-36 g/day). The phase III study was carried out in the same patients previously enrolled in the phase II/III study, and they were all treated with rifaximin (1200 mg/day) for 10 weeks. In the phase II/III study, 172 patients were enrolled. Blood ammonia (B-NH 3 ) concentration was significantly improved in the rifaximin group, but the difference between the two groups was not significant. The portal systemic encephalopathy index (PSE index), including HE grade, was significantly improved in both groups. In the phase III study, 87.3% of enrolled patients completed the treatment. The improved B-NH 3 concentration and PSE index were well maintained from the phase II/III study during the treatment period of the phase III study. Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were seen in 13.4% of patients who received rifaximin, but there were no severe ADRs leading to death. The efficacy of rifaximin is sufficient and treatment is well tolerated in Japanese patients with HE and hyperammonemia. © 2017 The Japan Society of Hepatology.

Rawlsian maximin rule operates as a common cognitive anchor in distributive justice and risky decisions

PubMed Central

Kameda, Tatsuya; Inukai, Keigo; Higuchi, Satomi; Ogawa, Akitoshi; Kim, Hackjin; Matsuda, Tetsuya; Sakagami, Masamichi

2016-01-01

Distributive justice concerns the moral principles by which we seek to allocate resources fairly among diverse members of a society. Although the concept of fair allocation is one of the fundamental building blocks for societies, there is no clear consensus on how to achieve “socially just” allocations. Here, we examine neurocognitive commonalities of distributive judgments and risky decisions. We explore the hypothesis that people’s allocation decisions for others are closely related to economic decisions for oneself at behavioral, cognitive, and neural levels, via a concern about the minimum, worst-off position. In a series of experiments using attention-monitoring and brain-imaging techniques, we investigated this “maximin” concern (maximizing the minimum possible payoff) via responses in two seemingly disparate tasks: third-party distribution of rewards for others, and choosing gambles for self. The experiments revealed three robust results: (i) participants’ distributive choices closely matched their risk preferences—“Rawlsians,” who maximized the worst-off position in distributions for others, avoided riskier gambles for themselves, whereas “utilitarians,” who favored the largest-total distributions, preferred riskier but more profitable gambles; (ii) across such individual choice preferences, however, participants generally showed the greatest spontaneous attention to information about the worst possible outcomes in both tasks; and (iii) this robust concern about the minimum outcomes was correlated with activation of the right temporoparietal junction (RTPJ), the region associated with perspective taking. The results provide convergent evidence that social distribution for others is psychologically linked to risky decision making for self, drawing on common cognitive–neural processes with spontaneous perspective taking of the worst-off position. PMID:27688764

Performance evaluation of power transmission coils for powering endoscopic wireless capsules.

PubMed

Basar, Md Rubel; Ahmad, Mohd Yazed; Cho, Jongman; Ibrahim, Fatimah

2015-01-01

This paper presents an analysis of H-field generated by a simple solenoid, pair of solenoids, pair of double-layer solenoids, segmented-solenoid, and Helmholtz power transmission coils (PTCs) to power an endoscopic wireless capsule (WC). The H-fields were computed using finite element analysis based on partial differential equations. Three parameters were considered in the analysis: i) the maximum level of H-field (Hmax) to which the patient's body would be exposed, ii) the minimum level of H-field (Hmin) effective for power transmission, and iii) uniformity of H-field. We validated our analysis by comparing the computed data with data measured from a fabricated Helmholtz PTC. This analysis disclosed that at the same excitation power, all the PTCs are able to transfer same amount of minimum usable power since they generated almost equal value of Hmin. The level of electromagnetic exposure and power transfer stability across all the PTCs would vary significantly which is mainly due to the different level of Hmax and H-field uniformity. The segmented solenoid PTC would cause the lowest exposure and this PTC can transfer the maximum amount of power. The Helmholtz PTC would be able to transfer the most stable power with a moderate level of exposure.

Evidence for ultrafast outflows in radio-quiet AGNs - III. Location and energetics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tombesi, F.; Cappi, M.; Reeves, J. N.; Braito, V.

2012-05-01

Using the results of a previous X-ray photoionization modelling of blueshifted Fe K absorption lines on a sample of 42 local radio-quiet AGNs observed with XMM-Newton, in this Letter we estimate the location and energetics of the associated ultrafast outflows (UFOs). Due to significant uncertainties, we are essentially able to place only lower/upper limits. On average, their location is in the interval ˜0.0003-0.03 pc (˜ 102-104rs) from the central black hole, consistent with what is expected for accretion disc winds/outflows. The mass outflow rates are constrained between ˜0.01 and 1 M⊙ yr-1, corresponding to >rsim5-10 per cent of the accretion rates. The average lower/upper limits on the mechanical power are log? 42.6-44.6 erg s-1. However, the minimum possible value of the ratio between the mechanical power and bolometric luminosity is constrained to be comparable or higher than the minimum required by simulations of feedback induced by winds/outflows. Therefore, this work demonstrates that UFOs are indeed capable to provide a significant contribution to the AGN cosmological feedback, in agreement with theoretical expectations and the recent observation of interactions between AGN outflows and the interstellar medium in several Seyfert galaxies.

Predictors of outcomes after arthroscopic transosseous equivalent rotator cuff repair in 155 cases: a propensity score weighted analysis of knotted and knotless self-reinforcing repair techniques at a minimum of 2 years.

PubMed

Millett, Peter J; Espinoza, Chris; Horan, Marilee P; Ho, Charles P; Warth, Ryan J; Dornan, Grant J; Christoph Katthagen, J

2017-10-01

To evaluate the outcomes of two commonly used transosseous-equivalent (TOE) arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (RCR) techniques for full-thickness supraspinatus tendon tears (FTST) using a robust multi-predictor model. 155 shoulders in 151 patients (109 men, 42 women; mean age 59 ± 10 years) who underwent arthroscopic RCR of FTST, using either a knotted suture bridging (KSB) or a knotless tape bridging (KTB) TOE technique were included. ASES and SF-12 PCS scores assessed at a minimum of 2 years postoperatively were modeled using propensity score weighting in a multiple linear regression model. Patients able to return to the study center underwent a follow-up MRI for evaluation of rotator cuff integrity. The outcome data were available for 137 shoulders (88%; n = 35/41 KSB; n = 102/114 KTB). Seven patients (5.1%) that underwent revision rotator cuff surgery were considered failures. The median postoperative ASES score of the remaining 130 shoulders was 98 at a mean follow-up of 2.9 years (range 2.0-5.4 years). A higher preoperative baseline outcome score and a longer follow-up had a positive effect, whereas a previous RCR and workers' compensation claims (WCC) had a negative effect on final ASES or SF 12 PCS scores. The repair technique, age, gender and the number of anchors used for the RCR had no significant influence. Fifty-two patients returned for a follow-up MRI at a mean of 4.4 years postoperatively. Patients with a KSB RCR were significantly more likely to have an MRI-diagnosed full-thickness rotator cuff re-tear (p < 0.05). Excellent outcomes can be achieved at a minimum of 2 years following arthroscopic KSB or KTB TOE RCR of FTST. The preoperative baseline outcome score, a prior RCR, WCC and the length of follow-up significantly influenced the outcome scores. The repair technique did not affect the final functional outcomes, but patients with KTB TOE RCR were less likely to have a full-thickness rotator cuff re-tear. Level III, Retrospective Comparative Study.

Forcing of stratospheric chemistry and dynamics during the Dalton Minimum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anet, J. G.; Muthers, S.; Rozanov, E.; Raible, C. C.; Peter, T.; Stenke, A.; Shapiro, A. I.; Beer, J.; Steinhilber, F.; Brönnimann, S.; Arfeuille, F.; Brugnara, Y.; Schmutz, W.

2013-11-01

The response of atmospheric chemistry and dynamics to volcanic eruptions and to a decrease in solar activity during the Dalton Minimum is investigated with the fully coupled atmosphere-ocean chemistry general circulation model SOCOL-MPIOM (modeling tools for studies of SOlar Climate Ozone Links-Max Planck Institute Ocean Model) covering the time period 1780 to 1840 AD. We carried out several sensitivity ensemble experiments to separate the effects of (i) reduced solar ultra-violet (UV) irradiance, (ii) reduced solar visible and near infrared irradiance, (iii) enhanced galactic cosmic ray intensity as well as less intensive solar energetic proton events and auroral electron precipitation, and (iv) volcanic aerosols. The introduced changes of UV irradiance and volcanic aerosols significantly influence stratospheric dynamics in the early 19th century, whereas changes in the visible part of the spectrum and energetic particles have smaller effects. A reduction of UV irradiance by 15%, which represents the presently discussed highest estimate of UV irradiance change caused by solar activity changes, causes global ozone decrease below the stratopause reaching as much as 8% in the midlatitudes at 5 hPa and a significant stratospheric cooling of up to 2 °C in the mid-stratosphere and to 6 °C in the lower mesosphere. Changes in energetic particle precipitation lead only to minor changes in the yearly averaged temperature fields in the stratosphere. Volcanic aerosols heat the tropical lower stratosphere, allowing more water vapour to enter the tropical stratosphere, which, via HOx reactions, decreases upper stratospheric and mesospheric ozone by roughly 4%. Conversely, heterogeneous chemistry on aerosols reduces stratospheric NOx, leading to a 12% ozone increase in the tropics, whereas a decrease in ozone of up to 5% is found over Antarctica in boreal winter. The linear superposition of the different contributions is not equivalent to the response obtained in a simulation when all forcing factors are applied during the Dalton Minimum (DM) - this effect is especially well visible for NOx/NOy. Thus, this study also shows the non-linear behaviour of the coupled chemistry-climate system. Finally, we conclude that especially UV and volcanic eruptions dominate the changes in the ozone, temperature and dynamics while the NOx field is dominated by the energetic particle precipitation. Visible radiation changes have only very minor effects on both stratospheric dynamics and chemistry.

Economic policy and the double burden of malnutrition: cross-national longitudinal analysis of minimum wage and women's underweight and obesity.

PubMed

Conklin, Annalijn I; Ponce, Ninez A; Crespi, Catherine M; Frank, John; Nandi, Arijit; Heymann, Jody

2018-04-01

To examine changes in minimum wage associated with changes in women's weight status. Longitudinal study of legislated minimum wage levels (per month, purchasing power parity-adjusted, 2011 constant US dollar values) linked to anthropometric and sociodemographic data from multiple Demographic and Health Surveys (2000-2014). Separate multilevel models estimated associations of a $10 increase in monthly minimum wage with the rate of change in underweight and obesity, conditioning on individual and country confounders. Post-estimation analysis computed predicted mean probabilities of being underweight or obese associated with higher levels of minimum wage at study start and end. Twenty-four low-income countries. Adult non-pregnant women (n 150 796). Higher minimum wages were associated (OR; 95 % CI) with reduced underweight in women (0·986; 0·977, 0·995); a decrease that accelerated over time (P-interaction=0·025). Increasing minimum wage was associated with higher obesity (1·019; 1·008, 1·030), but did not alter the rate of increase in obesity prevalence (P-interaction=0·8). A $10 rise in monthly minimum wage was associated (prevalence difference; 95 % CI) with an average decrease of about 0·14 percentage points (-0·14; -0·23, -0·05) for underweight and an increase of about 0·1 percentage points (0·12; 0·04, 0·20) for obesity. The present longitudinal multi-country study showed that a $10 rise in monthly minimum wage significantly accelerated the decline in women's underweight prevalence, but had no association with the pace of growth in obesity prevalence. Thus, modest rises in minimum wage may be beneficial for addressing the protracted underweight problem in poor countries, especially South Asia and parts of Africa.

Periacetabular osteotomy and combined femoral head-neck junction osteochondroplasty: a minimum two-year follow-up cohort study.

PubMed

Nassif, Nader A; Schoenecker, Perry L; Thorsness, Robert; Clohisy, John C

2012-11-07

Proximal femoral deformities and overcorrection of the acetabulum both can result in secondary femoroacetabular impingement and suboptimal clinical results after periacetabular osteotomy. The purpose of the present study was to determine the rate of complications, the need for reoperations, radiographic correction, and hip function among patients who underwent periacetabular osteotomy and combined femoral head-neck osteochondroplasty as compared with those who underwent periacetabular osteotomy alone. Patients who underwent periacetabular osteotomy with or without osteochondroplasty of the femoral head-neck junction were evaluated retrospectively after a minimum duration of follow-up of two years. We compared the two groups with regard to the modified Harris hip score, radiographic correction, complications, and reoperations. Forty patients (forty hips) who underwent periacetabular osteotomy in conjunction with a femoral head-neck osteochondroplasty were compared with forty-eight patients (forty-eight hips) who underwent an isolated periacetabular osteotomy. Patients were evaluated after a mean duration of follow-up of 3.4 years (range, 2.0 to 9.7 years). Preoperatively, the modified Harris hip score (and standard deviation) was 64.3 ± 13.2 for the study group and 63.2 ± 13.4 for the comparison group. At the time of the latest follow-up, the modified Harris hip score was not significantly different between the study group and the comparison group (p = 0.17). Patients demonstrated equivalent preoperative deformities and postoperative acetabular radiographic parameters. There was a significant decrease in the alpha angle and improvement in head-neck offset in the study group. There was one reoperation for secondary impingement and/or labral pathology in the study group, compared with four reoperations in the comparison group. There were no adhesions requiring surgery, femoral neck fractures, instances of osteonecrosis, or increases in heterotopic ossification in the study group. Femoral head-neck junction osteochondroplasty performed concurrently with a periacetabular osteotomy for the treatment of symptomatic acetabular dysplasia and associated femoral head-neck junction deformities is not associated with an increased complication rate. This combined procedure provides effective correction of associated femoral head-neck deformities and produces similar early functional outcomes when compared with isolated periacetabular osteotomy. Therapeutic Level III.

Analysis of phase II studies on targeted agents and subsequent phase III trials: what are the predictors for success?

PubMed

Chan, John K; Ueda, Stefanie M; Sugiyama, Valerie E; Stave, Christopher D; Shin, Jacob Y; Monk, Bradley J; Sikic, Branimir I; Osann, Kathryn; Kapp, Daniel S

2008-03-20

To identify the characteristics of phase II studies that predict for subsequent "positive" phase III trials (those that reached the proposed primary end points of study or those wherein the study drug was superior to the standard regimen investigating targeted agents in advanced tumors. We identified all phase III clinical trials of targeted therapies against advanced cancers published from 1985 to 2005. Characteristics of the preceding phase II studies were reviewed to identify predictive factors for success of the subsequent phase III trial. Data were analyzed using the chi(2) test and logistic regression models. Of 351 phase II studies, 167 (47.6%) subsequent phase III trials were positive and 184 (52.4%) negative. Phase II studies from multiple rather than single institutions were more likely to precede a successful trial (60.4% v 39.4%; P < .001). Positive phase II results were more likely to lead to a successful phase III trial (50.8% v 22.5%; P = .003). The percentage of successful trials from pharmaceutical companies was significantly higher compared with academic, cooperative groups, and research institutes (89.5% v 44.2%, 45.2%, and 46.3%, respectively; P = .002). On multivariate analysis, these factors and shorter time interval between publication of phase II results and III study publication were independent predictive factors for a positive phase III trial. In phase II studies of targeted agents, multiple- versus single-institution participation, positive phase II trial, pharmaceutical company-based trials, and shorter time period between publication of phase II to phase III trial were independent predictive factors of success in a phase III trial. Investigators should be cognizant of these factors in phase II studies before designing phase III trials.

Improving the quality of cognitive screening assessments: ACEmobile, an iPad-based version of the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-III.

PubMed

Newman, Craig G J; Bevins, Adam D; Zajicek, John P; Hodges, John R; Vuillermoz, Emil; Dickenson, Jennifer M; Kelly, Denise S; Brown, Simona; Noad, Rupert F

2018-01-01

Ensuring reliable administration and reporting of cognitive screening tests are fundamental in establishing good clinical practice and research. This study captured the rate and type of errors in clinical practice, using the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-III (ACE-III), and then the reduction in error rate using a computerized alternative, the ACEmobile app. In study 1, we evaluated ACE-III assessments completed in National Health Service (NHS) clinics ( n  = 87) for administrator error. In study 2, ACEmobile and ACE-III were then evaluated for their ability to capture accurate measurement. In study 1, 78% of clinically administered ACE-IIIs were either scored incorrectly or had arithmetical errors. In study 2, error rates seen in the ACE-III were reduced by 85%-93% using ACEmobile. Error rates are ubiquitous in routine clinical use of cognitive screening tests and the ACE-III. ACEmobile provides a framework for supporting reduced administration, scoring, and arithmetical error during cognitive screening.

Magnetic Nature of the CrIII–LnIII Interactions in [CrIII 2LnIII 3] Clusters with Slow Magnetic Relaxation

PubMed Central

Xiang, Shuo; Wang, Jin; Bao, Dong‐Xu; Li, Yun‐Chun

2018-01-01

Abstract Two 3d‐4f hetero‐metal pentanuclear complexes with the formula {[CrIII 2LnIII 3L10(OH)6(H2O)2]Et3NH} [Ln=Tb (1), Dy (2); HL=pivalic acid, Et3N=triethylamine] have been produced. The metal core of each cluster is made up of a trigonal bipyramid with three LnIII ions (plane) and two CrIII ions (above and below) held together by six μ 3‐OH bridges. Also reported with this series is the diamagnetic CrIII–YIII analogue (3). Fortunately, we successfully prepared AlIII–LnIII analogues with the formula {[AlIII 2LnIII 3L10(OH)6(H2O)2]Et3NH⋅H2O} [Ln=Tb (4), Dy (5)], containing diamagnetic AlIII ions, which can be used to evaluate the CrIII–LnIII magnetic nature through a diamagnetic substitution method. Subsequently, static (dc) magnetic susceptibility studies reveal dominant ferromagnetic interactions between CrIII and LnIII ions. Dynamic (ac) magnetic susceptibility studies show frequency‐dependent out‐of‐phase (χ′′) signals for [CrIII 2TbIII 3] (1), [CrIII 2DyIII 3] (2), and [AlIII 2DyIII 3] (5), which are derived from the single‐ion behavior of LnIII ions and/or the CrIII–LnIII ferromagnetic interactions. PMID:29435404

How do minimum cigarette price laws affect cigarette prices at the retail level?

PubMed Central

Feighery, E; Ribisl, K; Schleicher, N; Zellers, L; Wellington, N

2005-01-01

Objectives: Half of US states have minimum cigarette price laws that were originally passed to protect small independent retailers from unfair price competition with larger retailers. These laws prohibit cigarettes from being sold below a minimum price that is set by a formula. Many of these laws allow cigarette company promotional incentives offered to retailers, such as buydowns and master-type programmes, to be calculated into the formula. Allowing this provision has the potential to lower the allowable minimum price. This study assesses whether stores in states with minimum price laws have higher cigarette prices and lower rates of retailer participation in cigarette company promotional incentive programmes. Design: Retail cigarette prices and retailer participation in cigarette company incentive programmes in 2001 were compared in eight states with minimum price laws and seven states without them. New York State had the most stringent minimum price law at the time of the study because it excluded promotional incentive programmes in its price setting formula; cigarette prices in New York were compared to all other states included in the study. Results: Cigarette prices were not significantly different in our sample of US states with and without cigarette minimum price laws. Cigarette prices were significantly higher in New York stores than in the 14 other states combined. Conclusions: Most existing minimum cigarette price laws appear to have little impact on the retail price of cigarettes. This may be because they allow the use of promotional programmes, which are used by manufacturers to reduce cigarette prices. New York's strategy to disallow these types of incentive programmes may result in higher minimum cigarette prices, and should also be explored as a potential policy strategy to control cigarette company marketing practices in stores. Strict cigarette minimum price laws may have the potential to reduce cigarette consumption by decreasing demand through increased cigarette prices and reduced promotional activities at retail outlets. PMID:15791016

How do minimum cigarette price laws affect cigarette prices at the retail level?

PubMed

Feighery, E C; Ribisl, K M; Schleicher, N C; Zellers, L; Wellington, N

2005-04-01

Half of US states have minimum cigarette price laws that were originally passed to protect small independent retailers from unfair price competition with larger retailers. These laws prohibit cigarettes from being sold below a minimum price that is set by a formula. Many of these laws allow cigarette company promotional incentives offered to retailers, such as buydowns and master-type programmes, to be calculated into the formula. Allowing this provision has the potential to lower the allowable minimum price. This study assesses whether stores in states with minimum price laws have higher cigarette prices and lower rates of retailer participation in cigarette company promotional incentive programmes. Retail cigarette prices and retailer participation in cigarette company incentive programmes in 2001 were compared in eight states with minimum price laws and seven states without them. New York State had the most stringent minimum price law at the time of the study because it excluded promotional incentive programmes in its price setting formula; cigarette prices in New York were compared to all other states included in the study. Cigarette prices were not significantly different in our sample of US states with and without cigarette minimum price laws. Cigarette prices were significantly higher in New York stores than in the 14 other states combined. Most existing minimum cigarette price laws appear to have little impact on the retail price of cigarettes. This may be because they allow the use of promotional programmes, which are used by manufacturers to reduce cigarette prices. New York's strategy to disallow these types of incentive programmes may result in higher minimum cigarette prices, and should also be explored as a potential policy strategy to control cigarette company marketing practices in stores. Strict cigarette minimum price laws may have the potential to reduce cigarette consumption by decreasing demand through increased cigarette prices and reduced promotional activities at retail outlets.

New U-series dates at the Caune de l'Arago, France

USGS Publications Warehouse

Falgueres, Christophe; Yokoyama, Y.; Shen, G.; Bischoff, J.L.; Ku, T.-L.; de Lumley, Henry

2004-01-01

In the beginning of the 1980s, the Caune de l'Arago was the focus of an interdisciplinary effort to establish the chronology of the Homo heidelbergensis (Preneandertals) fossils using a variety of techniques on bones and on speleothems. The result was a very large spread of dates particularly on bone samples. Amid the large spread of results, some radiometric data on speleothems showed a convergence in agreement with inferences from faunal studies. We present new U-series results on the stalagmitic formation located at the bottom of Unit IV (at the base of the Upper Stratigraphic Complex). Samples and splits were collaboratively analyzed in the four different laboratories with excellent interlaboratory agreement. Results show the complex sequence of this stalagmitic formation. The most ancient part is systematically at internal isotopic equilibrium (>350 ka) suggesting growth during or before isotopic stage 9, representing a minimum age for the human remains found in Unit III of the Middle Stratigraphical Complex which is stratigraphically under the basis of the studied stalagmitic formation. Overlaying parts of the speleothem date to the beginning of marine isotope stages 7 and 5. ?? 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Wavelet analysis of stellar differential rotation. III. The Sun in white light

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hempelmann, A.

2003-02-01

Future space projects like KEPLER will deliver a vast quantity of high precision light curves of stars. This paper describes a test concerning the observability of rotation and even differential rotation of slowly rotating stars from such data. Two published light curves of solar total irradiance measures are investigated: the Nimbus-7 Earth Radiation Budget (ERB) observations between 1978 and 1993 and the Active Cavity Radiometer Irradiance Monitor I (ACRIM I) measurements between 1980 and 1989. Light curve analysis show that oscillations on time-scales comparable to solar rotation but of a complex pattern are visible. Neither Fourier analysis nor time-frequency Wavelet analysis yield the true rotation period during the more active phases of the solar cycle. The true rotation period dominates only for a short time during solar minimum. In the light of this study even space-born broad band photometry may turn out an inappropriate instrument to study stellar butterfly diagrams of stars rotating as slow as the Sun. However, it was shown in Papers I and II of this series that chromospheric tracers like Lyman alpha , Mg II h+k and CaII H+K are appropriate instruments to perform this task.

New U-series dates at the Caune de l'Arago, France

USGS Publications Warehouse

Falgueres, Christophe; Yokoyama, Y.; Shen, G.; Bischoff, J.L.; Ku, T.-L.; de Lumley, Henry

2004-01-01

In the beginning of the 1980s, the Caune de l'Arago was the focus of an interdisciplinary effort to establish the chronology of the Homo heidelbergensis (Preneandertals) fossils using a variety of techniques on bones and on speleothems. The result was a very large spread of dates particularly on bone samples. Amid the large spread of results, some radiometric data on speleothems showed a convergence in agreement with inferences from faunal studies. We present new U-series results on the stalagmitic formation located at the bottom of Unit IV (at the base of the Upper Stratigraphic Complex). Samples and splits were collaboratively analyzed in the four different laboratories with excellent interlaboratory agreement. Results show the complex sequence of this stalagmitic formation. The most ancient part is systematically at internal isotopic equilibrium (>350 ka) suggesting growth during or before isotopic stage 9, representing a minimum age for the human remains found in Unit III of the Middle Stratigraphical Complex which is stratigraphically under the basis of the studied stalagmitic formation. Overlaying parts of the speleothem date to the beginning of marine isotope stages 7 and 5. ?? 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

An Analysis of the Autorotative Performance of a Helicopter Powered by Rotor-Tip Jet Units

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gessow, Alfred

1950-01-01

The autorotative performance of an assumed helicopter was studied to determine the effect of inoperative jet units located at the rotor-blade tip on the helicopter rate of descent. For a representative ramjet design, the effect of the jet drag is to increase the minimum rate of descent of the helicopter from about 1,OO feet per minute to 3,700 feet per minute when the rotor is operating at a tip speed of approximately 600 feet per second. The effect is less if the rotor operates at lower tip speeds, but the rotor kinetic energy and the stall margin available for the landing maneuver are then reduced. Power-off rates of descent of pulse-jet helicopters would be expected to be less than those of ramjet. helicopters because pulse jets of current design appear to have greater ratios of net power-on thrust to power-off, drag than currently designed rain jets. Iii order to obtain greater accuracy in studies of autorotative performance, calculations in'volving high power-off rates of descent should include the weight-supporting effect of the fuselage parasite-drag force and the fact that the rotor thrust does not equal the weight of the helicopter.

The Minimum Wage and the Employment of Teenagers. Recent Research.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fallick, Bruce; Currie, Janet

A study used individual-level data from the National Longitudinal Study of Youth to examine the effects of changes in the federal minimum wage on teenage employment. Individuals in the sample were classified as either likely or unlikely to be affected by these increases in the federal minimum wage on the basis of their wage rates and industry of…

Quantum chemical study of arsenic (III, V) adsorption on Mn-oxides: implications for arsenic(III) oxidation.

PubMed

Zhu, Mengqiang; Paul, Kristian W; Kubicki, James D; Sparks, Donald L

2009-09-01

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were used to investigate As(V) and As(III) surface complex structures and reaction energies on both Mn(III) and Mn(IV) sites in an attempt to better understand As(III) oxidation bybirnessite, a layered Mn-dioxide mineral. Edge-sharing dioctahedral Mn(III) and Mn(IV) clusters with different combinations of surface functional groups (>MnOH and >MnOH2) were employed to mimic pH variability. Results show that As(V) adsorption was more thermodynamically favorable than As(III) adsorption on both Mn(III) and Mn(IV) surface sites under simulated acidic pH conditions. Therefore, we propose that As(V) adsorption inhibits As(III) oxidation by blocking adsorption sites. Under simulated acidic pH conditions, Mn(IV) sites exhibited stronger adsorption affinity than Mn(III) sites for both As(III) and As(V). Overall, we hypothesize that Mn(III) sites are less reactive in terms of As(III) oxidation due to their lower affinity for As(III) adsorption, higher potential to be blocked by As(V) complexes, and slower electron transfer rates with adsorbed As(III). Results from this study offer an explanation regarding the experimental observations of Mn(III) accumulation on birnessite and the long residence time of As(III) adsorption complexes on manganite (r-MnOOH) during As(III) oxidation.

Design and principle of operation of the HeartMate PHP (percutaneous heart pump).

PubMed

Van Mieghem, Nicolas M; Daemen, Joost; den Uil, Corstiaan; Dur, Onur; Joziasse, Linda; Maugenest, Anne-Marie; Fitzgerald, Keif; Parker, Chris; Muller, Paul; van Geuns, Robert-Jan

2018-02-20

The HeartMate PHP (percutaneous heart pump) is a second-generation transcatheter axial flow circulatory support system. The collapsible catheter pump is inserted through a 14 Fr sheath, deployed across the aortic valve expanding to 24 Fr and able to deliver up to 5 L/min blood flow at minimum haemolytic risk. As such, this device may be a valuable adjunct to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of challenging lesions in high-risk patients or treatment of cardiogenic shock. This technical report discusses: (i) the HeartMate PHP concept, (ii) the implantation technique, (iii) the haemodynamic performance in an in vitro cardiovascular flow testing set-up, and (iv) preliminary clinical experience. An update on the device, produced by St. Jude Medical/Abbott Laboratories, can be found in the Appendix.

Policy Developments: Debate.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ottersten, Eugenia Kazamaki; Steedman, Hilary; Schneeberger, Arthur; Carneiro, Roberto

2000-01-01

Three articles debate the findings of a study: "Low-Skilled People on the European Labor Market: Towards a Minimum Learning Platform?" (Ottersen, Steedman); "The Concept of a Minimum Learning Platform Educational Contents and Methods for Improving the Low-Skilled" (Schneeberger); and "Achieving a Minimum Learning Platform…

Dissolved Rare Earth Elements in the US GEOTRACES North Atlantic Section

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shiller, A. M.

2016-12-01

The rare earth elements (REEs) are a unique chemical set wherein there are systematic changes in geochemical behavior across the series. Furthermore, while most REEs are in the +III oxidation state, Ce and Eu can be in other oxidation states leading to distinct characteristics of those elements. Thus, the geochemical properties of the REEs make them particularly useful tools for inquiring into various geochemical processes. As part of the US GEOTRACES effort, we determined dissolved REEs and Y at 32 stations across the North Atlantic during US cruises GT10 and GT11 along a meridional transect from Lisbon to the Cape Verde Islands and a zonal transect from Cape Cod to the Mauritanian coast. While profiles are similar to previous reports, the high spatial resolution of the section allows for better elucidation of processes. Light rare earths (LREEs) show removal in the upper water column with a minimum at the chlorophyll maximum. LREE concentrations then increase into the oxygen minimum followed by a slight decrease and fairly constant concentrations in the mid-water column followed by an increase into the deep and bottom waters. Heavy rare earths (HREEs) show a more monotonic increase with depth. We also take advantage of a previously published water mass analysis for the section to estimate that most of the deep water changes can be explained by conservative mixing of waters with different pre-formed REE concentrations. Nonetheless, the pattern of LREE shallow water removal followed by regeneration, possible re-scavenging, and then deep water input is still preserved. Other features of note include an increase in LREEs in the strong oxygen minimum zone off Mauritania, consistent with an association of REE cycling with the redox cycles of Fe and Mn. Also along the eastern margin, but below the oxygen minimum, a small but distinct increase in the cerium and europium anomalies is observed, consistent with terrigenous input. In hydrothermally influenced waters along the mid-Atlantic Ridge, there are increases in Ce/Ce*, Eu/Eu*, and Y/Ho but a decrease in Nd/Yb and in REE concentrations. Surface water distributions are more consistent with elements influenced by margin inputs than with atmospheric input.

C-14 and temperature variation around and after AD 775 - after the Dark Age Grand Minimum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Neuhäuser, Ralph; Neuhäuser, Dagmar L.

2016-04-01

We have compiled an extensive catalog of aurora observations from the Far and Near East as well as Europe for the time from AD 550 to 845. From historic observations of aurorae and sunspots as well as the C-14 and Be-10 data, we can date the end of the Dark Age grand minimum to about AD 690; we see strong activity after this period. We can fix the solar activity Schwabe cycle maxima and minima in the 7th and 8th centuries.. The strong 14-C increase in data with 1-yr time resolution in the AD 770s (e.g. Miyake et al. 2012) is still a matter of debate, e.g. a solar super-flare. In the last three millennia, there were two more strong rapid rises in 14-C - around BC 671 and AD 1795. All three 14-C variations are embedded in similar evolution of solar activity, as we can show with various solar activity proxies; secular evolution of solar wind plays an important role. The rises of 14-C - within a few years each - can be explained by a sudden strong decrease in solar modulation potential leading to increased radioisotope production. The strong rises around AD 775 and 1795 are due to three effects: (i) very strong activity in the previous cycles (i.e. very low 14-C level), (ii) the declining phase of a very strong Schwabe cycle, and (iii) a phase of very weak activity after the strong 14-C rise - very short and/or weak cycle(s) like the suddenly starting Dalton minimum. In addition to arXiv:1503.01581 and arXiv:1508.06745, we also discuss the temperature depression and new quasi-annual 10-Be data. If a temperature depression right after AD 775 for a few decades can be confirmed, this would be fully consistent with our suggestion: reduced solar activity since AD 775 (for a few decades like in the Dalton minimum). Otherwise, one would not expect such a temperature depression after a solar super-flare.

Design and fabrication of a boron reinforced intertank skirt

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Henshaw, J.; Roy, P. A.; Pylypetz, P.

1974-01-01

Analytical and experimental studies were performed to evaluate the structural efficiency of a boron reinforced shell, where the medium of reinforcement consists of hollow aluminum extrusions infiltrated with boron epoxy. Studies were completed for the design of a one-half scale minimum weight shell using boron reinforced stringers and boron reinforced rings. Parametric and iterative studies were completed for the design of minimum weight stringers, rings, shells without rings and shells with rings. Computer studies were completed for the final evaluation of a minimum weight shell using highly buckled minimum gage skin. The detail design is described of a practical minimum weight test shell which demonstrates a weight savings of 30% as compared to an all aluminum longitudinal stiffened shell. Sub-element tests were conducted on representative segments of the compression surface at maximum stress and also on segments of the load transfer joint. A 10 foot long, 77 inch diameter shell was fabricated from the design and delivered for further testing.

Analyzing climate change impacts on water resources under uncertainty using an integrated simulation-optimization approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhuang, X. W.; Li, Y. P.; Nie, S.; Fan, Y. R.; Huang, G. H.

2018-01-01

An integrated simulation-optimization (ISO) approach is developed for assessing climate change impacts on water resources. In the ISO, uncertainties presented as both interval numbers and probability distributions can be reflected. Moreover, ISO permits in-depth analyses of various policy scenarios that are associated with different levels of economic consequences when the promised water-allocation targets are violated. A snowmelt-precipitation-driven watershed (Kaidu watershed) in northwest China is selected as the study case for demonstrating the applicability of the proposed method. Results of meteorological projections disclose that the incremental trend of temperature (e.g., minimum and maximum values) and precipitation exist. Results also reveal that (i) the system uncertainties would significantly affect water resources allocation pattern (including target and shortage); (ii) water shortage would be enhanced from 2016 to 2070; and (iii) the more the inflow amount decreases, the higher estimated water shortage rates are. The ISO method is useful for evaluating climate change impacts within a watershed system with complicated uncertainties and helping identify appropriate water resources management strategies hedging against drought.

Neuroprotection and mechanisms of atractylenolide III in preventing learning and memory impairment induced by chronic high-dose homocysteine administration in rats.

PubMed

Zhao, H; Ji, Z-H; Liu, C; Yu, X-Y

2015-04-02

Studies demonstrated that chronic high-dose homocysteine administration induced learning and memory impairment in animals. Atractylenolide III (Aen-III), a neuroprotective constituent of Atractylodis macrocephalae Koidz, was isolated in our previous study. In this study, we investigated potential benefits of Aen-III in preventing learning and memory impairment following chronic high-dose homocysteine administration in rats. Results showed that administration of Aen-III significantly ameliorated learning and memory impairment induced by chronic high-dose homocysteine administration in rats, decreased homocysteine-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and restored homocysteine-induced decrease of phosphorylated protein kinase C expression level. Moreover, Aen-III protected primary cultured neurons from apoptotic death induced by homocysteine treatment. This study provides the first evidence for the neuroprotective effect of Aen-III in preventing learning and impairment induced by chronic administration of homocysteine. Aen-III may have therapeutic potential in treating homocysteine-mediated cognitive impairment and neuronal injury. Copyright © 2015 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

High resolution and sensitivity infrared tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fillard, J. P.; Montgomery, P. C.; Gall, P.; Castagné, M.; Bonnafé, J.

1990-06-01

Laser scanning tomography was proposed some years ago by Ogawa and coworkers as a qualification test for semiconductor materials. From that time on, this technique has been used profitably to obtain images of internal defect distributions in III-V compounds as well as in II-VI compounds or even in silicon. These images especially reveal micro precipitates (e.g. decorated dislocations) distributed in the volume of the bulk material. Previously images sale were adapted to wafer examination (centimeter scale) but it appeared later that a major interest was to improve the resolution down to the microscopical range in order to investigate smaller zones and, above all, thinner sections. Nevertheless there is a limitation in the range of 10 μm for the minimum thickness of LST planes and this drawback prevents the using of this technique in the analysis of thin epilayers or structures. In this paper the emphasis is put on the fundamental and practical limits of the resolution, contrast and detectivity. Special optical arrangements will be suggested to reach the best specifications. Other possible dark field scattering tomographical microscopy methods have been evaluated and will be comparatively discussed in the light of preliminary results. Typical results relative to III-V compounds as well as silicon will be presented and quantitative specifications of the methods will be compared.

[Application of niche theory in evaluation of main tourism scenic areas in Zhangjiajie City].

PubMed

Xiang, Yan-ping; Xiang, Chang-guo; Chen, You-lian

2010-05-01

Five tourism scenic areas in Zhangjiajie City were selected as research objects, and fifty kinds of resource conditions affecting the development of tourism scenic area were taken as evaluation indices. Through disposing and consolidating the indices level by level, an analysis was made on the niche breadth and niche overlap of the five tourism scenic areas at three levels (I, II, and III). In the five scenic areas, index level had significant effects on the niche breadth (F = 10.278, P = 0.006), but less effects on the relative niche breadth, suggesting that in the evaluation of the development potential of tourism scenic area, relative niche breadth was more reasonable than absolute niche breadth. From level III to level I, the niche overlap of the five scenic areas was increasing, indicating that level choice would affect the evaluation of the actual niche overlap of the scenic areas. With the progressive refinement of the indices to certain level, and when the difference between observed and Monte Carlo-simulated Pianka indices achieved to significant level, this index level could be used as the minimum standard of the refinement, and the simulated niche overlap could be taken as an important reference in the competition evaluation of tourism scenic area.

The Impact of Age on Quality Measure Adherence in Colon Cancer

PubMed Central

Steele, Scott R.; Chen, Steven L.; Stojadinovic, Alexander; Nissan, Aviram; Zhu, Kangmin; Peoples, George E.; Bilchik, Anton

2012-01-01

BACKGROUND Recently lymph node yield (LNY) has been endorsed as a quality measure of CC resection adequacy. It is unclear whether this measure is relevant to all ages. We hypothesized that total lymph node yield (LNY) is negatively correlated with increasing age and overall survival (OS). STUDY DESIGN The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database was queried for all non-metastatic CC patients diagnosed from 1992–2004 (n=101,767), grouped by age (<40, 41–45, 46–50, and in 5-year increments until 86+ years). Proportions of patients meeting the 12 LNY minimum criterion were determined in each age group, and analyzed with multivariate linear regression adjusting for demographics and AJCC 6th Edition stage. Overall survival (OS) comparisons in each age category were based on the guideline of 12 LNY. RESULTS Mean LNY decreased with increasing age (18.7 vs. 11.4 nodes/patient, youngest vs. oldest group, P<0.001). The proportion of patients meeting the 12 LNY criterion also declined with each incremental age group (61.9% vs. 35.2% compliance, youngest vs. oldest, P<0.001). Multivariate regression demonstrated a negative effect of each additional year in age and log (LNY) with coefficient of −0.003 (95% CI −0.003 to −0.002). When stratified by age and nodal yield using the 12 LNY criterion, OS was lower for all age groups in Stage II CC with <12LNY, and each age group over 60 years with <12LNY for Stage III CC (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Every attempt to adhere to proper oncological principles should be made at time of CC resection regardless of age. The prognostic significance of the 12 LN minimum criterion should be applied even to elderly CC patients. PMID:21601492

Long-term cognitive function, neuroimaging, and quality of life in primary CNS lymphoma.

PubMed

Doolittle, Nancy D; Korfel, Agnieszka; Lubow, Meredith A; Schorb, Elisabeth; Schlegel, Uwe; Rogowski, Sabine; Fu, Rongwei; Dósa, Edit; Illerhaus, Gerald; Kraemer, Dale F; Muldoon, Leslie L; Calabrese, Pasquale; Hedrick, Nancy; Tyson, Rose Marie; Jahnke, Kristoph; Maron, Leeza M; Butler, Robert W; Neuwelt, Edward A

2013-07-02

To describe and correlate neurotoxicity indicators in long-term primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) survivors who were treated with high-dose methotrexate-based regimens with or without whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT). Eighty PCNSL survivors from 4 treatment groups (1 with WBRT and 3 without WBRT) who were a minimum of 2 years after diagnosis and in complete remission underwent prospective neuropsychological, quality-of-life (QOL), and brain MRI evaluation. Clinical characteristics were compared among treatments by using the χ(2) test and analysis of variance. The association among neuroimaging, neuropsychological, and QOL outcomes was assessed by using the Pearson correlation coefficient. The median interval from diagnosis to evaluation was 5.5 years (minimum, 2 years; maximum, 26 years). Survivors treated with WBRT had lower mean scores in attention/executive function (p = 0.0011), motor skills (p = 0.0023), and neuropsychological composite score (p = 0.0051) compared with those treated without WBRT. Verbal memory was better in survivors with longer intervals from diagnosis to evaluation (p = 0.0045). On brain imaging, mean areas of total T2 abnormalities were different among treatments (p = 0.0006). Total T2 abnormalities after WBRT were more than twice the mean of any non-WBRT group and were associated with poorer neuropsychological and QOL outcomes. Our results suggest that in patients treated for PCNSL achieving complete remission and surviving at least 2 years, the addition of WBRT to methotrexate-based chemotherapy increases the risk of treatment-related neurotoxicity. Verbal memory may improve over time. This study provides Class III evidence that in patients treated for PCNSL achieving complete remission and surviving at least 2 years, the addition of WBRT to methotrexate-based chemotherapy increases the risk of treatment-related neurotoxicity.

Comparison of metabolic syndrome with growing epidemic syndrome Z in terms of risk factors and gender differences.

PubMed

Uyar, Meral; Davutoğlu, Vedat; Aydın, Neriman; Filiz, Ayten

2013-05-01

The aim of this study is to compare metabolic syndrome with syndrome Z growing epidemic in terms of risk factors, demographic variables, and gender differences in our large cohort at southeastern area in Turkey. Data of patients admitted to sleep clinic in University of Gaziantep from January 2006 to January 2011 were retrospectively evaluated. ATP III and JNC 7 were used for defining metabolic syndrome and hypertension. Data of 761 patients were evaluated. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, pulmonary hypertension, and left ventricular hypertrophy were more common in patients with syndrome Z than in patients without metabolic syndrome. Age, waist/neck circumferences, BMI, triglyceride, glucose, and Epworth sleepiness scale score were detected higher, whereas the minimum oxygen saturation during sleep was lower in patients with syndrome Z. Metabolic syndrome was more common in sleep apneic subjects than in controls (58 versus 30 %). Female sleep apneics showed higher rate of metabolic syndrome than those of males (74 versus 52 %). Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and left ventricular hypertrophy were detected higher in males with syndrome Z than in males without metabolic syndrome. Snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness were detected higher in females with syndrome Z than in females without metabolic syndrome. Systemic/pulmonary hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and left ventricular hypertrophy were more common in females with syndrome Z than in females without metabolic syndrome. Complaints of headache and systemic/pulmonary hypertension were more common among females than males with syndrome Z. Female syndrome Z patients had lower minimum oxygen saturation than male patients with syndrome Z. Metabolic syndrome in sleep apneic patients is more prevalent than in controls. All metabolic syndrome parameters were significantly different among obstructive sleep apneic patients with respect to gender with more severe coronary risk factors in males.

Exploiting the potential of free software to evaluate root canal biomechanical preparation outcomes through micro-CT images.

PubMed

Neves, A A; Silva, E J; Roter, J M; Belladona, F G; Alves, H D; Lopes, R T; Paciornik, S; De-Deus, G A

2015-11-01

To propose an automated image processing routine based on free software to quantify root canal preparation outcomes in pairs of sound and instrumented roots after micro-CT scanning procedures. Seven mesial roots of human mandibular molars with different canal configuration systems were studied: (i) Vertucci's type 1, (ii) Vertucci's type 2, (iii) two individual canals, (iv) Vertucci's type 6, canals (v) with and (vi) without debris, and (vii) canal with visible pulp calcification. All teeth were instrumented with the BioRaCe system and scanned in a Skyscan 1173 micro-CT before and after canal preparation. After reconstruction, the instrumented stack of images (IS) was registered against the preoperative sound stack of images (SS). Image processing included contrast equalization and noise filtering. Sound canal volumes were obtained by a minimum threshold. For the IS, a fixed conservative threshold was chosen as the best compromise between instrumented canal and dentine whilst avoiding debris, resulting in instrumented canal plus empty spaces. Arithmetic and logical operations between sound and instrumented stacks were used to identify debris. Noninstrumented dentine was calculated using a minimum threshold in the IS and subtracting from the SS and total debris. Removed dentine volume was obtained by subtracting SS from IS. Quantitative data on total debris present in the root canal space after instrumentation, noninstrumented areas and removed dentine volume were obtained for each test case, as well as three-dimensional volume renderings. After standardization of acquisition, reconstruction and image processing micro-CT images, a quantitative approach for calculation of root canal biomechanical outcomes was achieved using free software. © 2014 International Endodontic Journal. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Post-Newtonian evolution of massive black hole triplets in galactic nuclei - III. A robust lower limit to the nHz stochastic background of gravitational waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bonetti, Matteo; Sesana, Alberto; Barausse, Enrico; Haardt, Francesco

2018-06-01

Inspiraling massive black hole binaries (MBHBs) forming in the aftermath of galaxy mergers are expected to be the loudest gravitational-wave (GW) sources relevant for pulsar-timing arrays (PTAs) at nHz frequencies. The incoherent overlap of signals from a cosmic population of MBHBs gives rise to a stochastic GW background (GWB) with characteristic strain around hc ˜ 10-15 at a reference frequency of 1 yr-1, although uncertainties around this value are large. Current PTAs are piercing into the GW amplitude range predicted by MBHB-population models, but no detection has been reported so far. To assess the future success prospects of PTA experiments, it is therefore important to estimate the minimum GWB level consistent with our current understanding of the formation and evolution of galaxies and massive black holes (MBHs). To this purpose, we couple a semi-analytic model of galaxy evolution and an extensive study of the statistical outcome of triple MBH interactions. We show that even in the most pessimistic scenario where all MBHBs stall before entering the GW-dominated regime, triple interactions resulting from subsequent galaxy mergers inevitably drive a considerable fraction of the MBHB population to coalescence. At frequencies relevant for PTA, the resulting GWB is only a factor of 2-3 suppressed compared to a fiducial model where binaries are allowed to merge over Gyr time-scales . Coupled with current estimates of the expected GWB amplitude range, our findings suggest that the minimum GWB from cosmic MBHBs is unlikely to be lower than hc ˜ 10-16 (at f = 1 yr-1), well within the expected sensitivity of projected PTAs based on future observations with FAST, MeerKAT, and SKA.

Effects of briakinumab treatment for moderate to severe psoriasis on health-related quality of life and work productivity and activity impairment: results from a randomized phase III study.

PubMed

Papp, K A; Sundaram, M; Bao, Y; Williams, D A; Gu, Y; Signorovitch, J E; Wang, Y; Valdes, J M; Mulani, P M

2014-06-01

Psoriasis is known to have a significant negative impact on a patient's health-related quality of life, including social, recreational and work activities. To evaluate the effects of briakinumab on quality of life and work productivity measures in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis. Patients received either briakinumab (n = 981) or placebo (n = 484) during the 12-week induction phase of trial M06-890. At week 12, patients with a Physician's Global Assessment score of 'Clear' or 'Minimal' entered the 40-week maintenance phase and were to receive briakinumab every 4 weeks, briakinumab every 12 weeks, or placebo. At weeks 12 and 52, treatment groups were compared using mean change from baseline in health-related quality of life and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire scores and the percentage of patients with minimum clinically important differences. At week 12, more than half of the briakinumab-treated patients achieved improvements meeting or exceeding minimum clinically important differences for Dermatology Life Quality Index (75.9%), and psoriasis- (64.8%), and psoriatic arthritis-related (54.1%) pain scores; 48.4% achieved improvements for activity impairment. Although improvements in quality of life and work productivity measures were maintained at week 52 for both briakinumab regimens, responder rates were consistently greater in the every-4-week group than in the every-12-week group. Briakinumab treatment resulted in clinically significant improvements in quality of life and work productivity in adults with moderate to severe psoriasis. Maintenance therapy was associated with a more pronounced benefit for the every-4-week briakinumab regimen. © 2013 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.

Two K Giants with Supermeteoritic Lithium Abundances: HDE 233517 and HD 9746

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balachandran, Suchitra C.; Fekel, Francis C.; Henry, Gregory W.; Uitenbroek, Han

2000-10-01

Two unusual Li-rich K giants, HDE 233517 and HD 9746, have been studied. Optical spectroscopy and photometry have been obtained to determine the fundamental parameters of HDE 233517, a single K2 III with an extremely large infrared excess. The spectra yield Teff=4475 K, logg=2.25, [Fe/H]=-0.37, vsini=17.6 km s-1, and a non-LTE logɛ(7Li)=4.22. Photometric observations reveal low-amplitude light variability with a period of 47.9 days. Combined with other parameters, this results in a minimum radius of 16.7 Rsolar and minimum distance of 617 pc. Comparison of spectra obtained in 1994 and 1996 show profile variations in Hα and the Na D lines indicative of changing mass loss. Optical spectra of HD 9746, a chromospherically active giant, were analyzed. The Teff=4400 K and revised Hipparcos-based gravity of logg=2.30 lead to a non-LTE logɛ(7Li)=3.75. The Li abundances in both stars are supermeteoritic. By the inclusion and exclusion of 6Li in the syntheses, we show that consistent 7Li abundances are obtained only when 6Li is absent in the synthetic fit. This provides evidence for fresh 7Li production and excludes both preservation of primordial Li and planetary accretion as viable scenarios for the formation of Li-rich giants. Both stars lie in close proximity to the red giant luminosity bump supporting the hypothesis that 7Li production is caused by the same mixing mechanism that later results in CN processing and lowers the 12C/13C ratio to nonstandard values.

Nitrogen isotope effects induced by anammox bacteria

PubMed Central

Brunner, Benjamin; Contreras, Sergio; Lehmann, Moritz F.; Matantseva, Olga; Rollog, Mark; Kalvelage, Tim; Klockgether, Gabriele; Lavik, Gaute; Jetten, Mike S. M.; Kartal, Boran; Kuypers, Marcel M. M.

2013-01-01

Nitrogen (N) isotope ratios (15N/14N) provide integrative constraints on the N inventory of the modern ocean. Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox), which converts ammonium and nitrite to dinitrogen gas (N2) and nitrate, is an important fixed N sink in marine ecosystems. We studied the so far unknown N isotope effects of anammox in batch culture experiments. Anammox preferentially removes 14N from the ammonium pool with an isotope effect of +23.5‰ to +29.1‰, depending on factors controlling reversibility. The N isotope effects during the conversion of nitrite to N2 and nitrate are (i) inverse kinetic N isotope fractionation associated with the oxidation of nitrite to nitrate (−31.1 ± 3.9‰), (ii) normal kinetic N isotope fractionation during the reduction of nitrite to N2 (+16.0 ± 4.5‰), and (iii) an equilibrium N isotope effect between nitrate and nitrite (−60.5 ± 1.0‰), induced when anammox is exposed to environmental stress, leading to the superposition of N isotope exchange effects upon kinetic N isotope fractionation. Our findings indicate that anammox may be responsible for the unresolved large N isotope offsets between nitrate and nitrite in oceanic oxygen minimum zones. Irrespective of the extent of N isotope exchange between nitrate and nitrite, N removed from the combined nitrite and nitrate (NOx) pool is depleted in 15N relative to NOx. This net N isotope effect by anammox is superimposed on the N isotope fractionation by the co-occurring reduction of nitrate to nitrite in suboxic waters, possibly enhancing the overall N isotope effect for N loss from oxygen minimum zones. PMID:24191043

Extremes in Otolaryngology Resident Surgical Case Numbers: An Update.

PubMed

Baugh, Tiffany P; Franzese, Christine B

2017-06-01

Objectives The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of minimum case numbers on otolaryngology resident case log data and understand differences in minimum, mean, and maximum among certain procedures as a follow-up to a prior study. Study Design Cross-sectional survey using a national database. Setting Academic otolaryngology residency programs. Subjects and Methods Review of otolaryngology resident national data reports from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) resident case log system performed from 2004 to 2015. Minimum, mean, standard deviation, and maximum values for total number of supervisor and resident surgeon cases and for specific surgical procedures were compared. Results The mean total number of resident surgeon cases for residents graduating from 2011 to 2015 ranged from 1833.3 ± 484 in 2011 to 2072.3 ± 548 in 2014. The minimum total number of cases ranged from 826 in 2014 to 1004 in 2015. The maximum total number of cases increased from 3545 in 2011 to 4580 in 2015. Multiple key indicator procedures had less than the required minimum reported in 2015. Conclusion Despite the ACGME instituting required minimum numbers for key indicator procedures, residents have graduated without meeting these minimums. Furthermore, there continues to be large variations in the minimum, mean, and maximum numbers for many procedures. Variation among resident case numbers is likely multifactorial. Ensuring proper instruction on coding and case role as well as emphasizing frequent logging by residents will ensure programs have the most accurate data to evaluate their case volume.

Associations between respiratory health and ambient air quality in Canakkale, Turkey: a long-term cohort study.

PubMed

Mentese, Sibel; Bakar, Coskun; Mirici, Nihal Arzu; Oymak, Sibel; Otkun, Muserref Tatman

2018-05-01

Few epidemiological studies investigating the association between air pollution and health are available in Turkey. The aim of this cohort-type study is to examine the relationships between ambient air quality, respiratory diseases, and decreases in pulmonary function over a year in three different towns in Canakkale: Canakkale Central town (region I), Lapseki town center (region II), and Can town (region III). Region III had four different sub-regions, which were Can town center (region III-A), and the villages located around Can town, namely Durali (region III-B), Kulfal (region III-C), and Yuvalar (region III-D). In the first stage of the study, a detailed questionnaire was completed by the participants (n = 1152) in face-to-face interviews and pulmonary function test (PFT) was performed. In the second stage of the study, PFT measurements were repeated 1 year after the first stage. Particulate matter, SO 2 , NO 2 , and ozone were gathered from air quality monitoring stations located in the centers of the three regions. The most polluted area was region III, while region I and region II were the least polluted areas. The risk of pulmonary function decline throughout a year was 2.1 times higher in region III, 2.4 times higher both in regions III-B and III-C, and 1.6 times higher for smokers in all regions. In the present study, ambient air quality was worse in region III (industrialized region), which influenced PFT scores and the prognostics for chronic respiratory diseases. The findings of this study should be considered for future investment plans in this region related to human and environmental health needs.

"PowerUp"!: A Tool for Calculating Minimum Detectable Effect Sizes and Minimum Required Sample Sizes for Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Design Studies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dong, Nianbo; Maynard, Rebecca

2013-01-01

This paper and the accompanying tool are intended to complement existing supports for conducting power analysis tools by offering a tool based on the framework of Minimum Detectable Effect Sizes (MDES) formulae that can be used in determining sample size requirements and in estimating minimum detectable effect sizes for a range of individual- and…

An exploration of complementary feeding of infants and young children in the rural area of Muhoroni, Nyanza province, Kenya: a descriptive study.

PubMed

Harvey, Sophie; Callaby, Jo; Roberts, Lesley

2017-08-01

Inappropriate infant and young child feeding practices contribute to malnutrition, infection and long-term development limitation. To explore complementary feeding and food safety in Muhoroni District, Nyanza Province in rural Kenya. To compare practices with the Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) guidelines, and identify associations with inappropriate practices. Between January and April 2014, a questionnaire completed by primary caregivers of children aged 6-23 months asked about foods the child had received in the previous 24 hours, the introduction of complementary foods, and the food hygiene practices undertaken by the caregiver. The most recent World Health Organization IYCF core indicators (continued breastfeeding at 1 year; minimum dietary diversity; minimum meal frequency; minimum acceptable diet) were determined for 400 children. These indicators were compared with demographic indicators in multivariate analyses to identify associations with appropriate complementary feeding practices. A total of 55.2% of children aged 12-15 months continued to be breastfed at the time of questioning. Of the study population, 61.5% achieved minimum dietary diversity, 70.8% achieved minimum meal frequency and 43.0% achieved minimum acceptable diet. Older children were more likely to achieve minimum dietary diversity and minimum acceptable diet; however, they were also less likely to achieve minimum meal frequency. High levels of hygiene practices were reported in all areas of food safety. Complementary feeding indicators were higher than nationally, although less than half of children (43.0%) were receiving a minimum acceptable diet. Further work should explore the potential relationship between age and adequate infant feeding.

Catering Gluten-Free When Simultaneously Using Wheat Flour.

PubMed

Miller, Kathryn; McGough, Norma; Urwin, Heidi

2016-02-01

A European law on gluten-free (GF) labeling came into force in 2012, covering foods sold prepacked and in food service establishments, and a similar U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation covers GF labeling from August 2014. Gluten is found in the grains wheat, rye, and barley. A common source of gluten in the kitchen is wheat flour. This research aimed to determine variables that have a significant effect on gluten contamination in commercial kitchens when wheat flour is in use and to establish controls necessary to assure GF production. A pilot study was used to test the following hypotheses: (i) increasing duration of exposure to wheat flour would increase gluten contamination, (ii) increasing distance between the site of preparation and the site of wheat flour would reduce gluten contamination, (iii) the use of a ventilation hood would decrease gluten contamination, and (iv) the use of a barrier segregating the site of preparation of a GF meal and the use of wheat flour would decrease gluten contamination. Petri dishes containing GF rice pudding were placed in three directions at increasing distances (0.5 to 2 m) from a site of wheat flour use. A barrier was in place between a third of samples and the site of wheat flour. After wheat flour was handled for 0.5 and 4.0 h, petri dishes were sealed and the contents were analyzed for gluten. The experiment was duplicated with the ventilation hood on and off. The pilot study revealed that a distance of 2 m from the use of wheat flour was required to control gluten contamination at ≤20 ppm if wheat flour had been in use for 4.0 h. The identified control of distance was tested in five different study sites. In each of the study sites, a test meal was prepared a minimum of 2 m away from the site of wheat flour use. Although kitchens vary and must be considered individually, the established control of a minimum 2 m distance, along with good hygiene practices, was found to be effective in preparing GF meals at all five study sites.

Do TSH, FT3, and FT4 Impact BAT Visualization of Clinical FDG-PET/CT Images?

PubMed

Nishii, Ryuichi; Nagamachi, Shigeki; Mizutani, Youichi; Terada, Tamasa; Kiyohara, Syogo; Wakamatsu, Hideyuki; Fujita, Seigo; Higashi, Tatsuya; Yoshinaga, Keiichiro; Saga, Tsuneo; Hirai, Toshinori

2018-01-01

We retrospectively analyzed activated BAT visualization on FDG-PET/CT in patients with various conditions and TH levels to clarify the relationships between visualization of BAT on FDG-PET/CT and the effect of TH. Patients who underwent clinical FDG-PET/CT were reviewed and we categorized patients into 5 groups: (i) thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) group; (ii) recombinant human thyrotropin (rhTSH) group; (iii) hypothyroidism group; (iv) hyperthyroidism group; and (v) BAT group. A total of sixty-two FDG-PET/CT imaging studies in fifty-nine patients were performed. To compare each group, gender; age; body weight; serum TSH, FT3, and FT4 levels; and outside temperature were evaluated. No significant visualization of BAT was noted in any of the images in the THW, rhTSH, hypothyroidism, and hyperthyroidism groups. All patients in the BAT group were in a euthyroid state. When the BAT-negative and BAT-positive patient groups were compared, it was noted that the minimum and maximum temperature on the day of the PET study and maximum temperature of the one day before the PET study were significantly lower in BAT-positive group than in all those of other groups. Elevated TSH condition before RIT, hyperthyroidism, or hypothyroidism did not significantly impact BAT visualization of clinical FDG-PET/CT images.

Full-scale simulation of seawater reverse osmosis desalination processes for boron removal: Effect of membrane fouling.

PubMed

Park, Pyung-Kyu; Lee, Sangho; Cho, Jae-Seok; Kim, Jae-Hong

2012-08-01

The objective of this study is to further develop previously reported mechanistic predictive model that simulates boron removal in full-scale seawater reverse osmosis (RO) desalination processes to take into account the effect of membrane fouling. Decrease of boron removal and reduction in water production rate by membrane fouling due to enhanced concentration polarization were simulated as a decrease in solute mass transfer coefficient in boundary layer on membrane surface. Various design and operating options under fouling condition were examined including single- versus double-pass configurations, different number of RO elements per vessel, use of RO membranes with enhanced boron rejection, and pH adjustment. These options were quantitatively compared by normalizing the performance of the system in terms of E(min), the minimum energy costs per product water. Simulation results suggested that most viable options to enhance boron rejection among those tested in this study include: i) minimizing fouling, ii) exchanging the existing SWRO elements to boron-specific ones, and iii) increasing pH in the second pass. The model developed in this study is expected to help design and optimization of the RO processes to achieve the target boron removal at target water recovery under realistic conditions where membrane fouling occurs during operation. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Pressure-induced topological insulator-to-metal transition and superconductivity in Sn-doped B i1.1S b0.9T e2S

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

An, Chao; Chen, Xuliang; Wu, Bin; Zhou, Yonghui; Zhou, Ying; Zhang, Ranran; Park, Changyong; Song, Fengqi; Yang, Zhaorong

2018-05-01

Tetradymite-type topological insulator Sn-doped B i1.1S b0.9T e2S (Sn-BSTS), with a surface state Dirac point energy well isolated from the bulk valence and conduction bands, is an ideal platform for studying the topological transport phenomena. Here, we present high-pressure transport studies on single-crystal Sn-BSTS, combined with Raman scattering and synchrotron x-ray diffraction measurements. Over the studied pressure range of 0.7-37.2 GPa, three critical pressure points can be observed: (i) At ˜9 GPa, a pressure-induced topological insulator-to-metal transition is revealed due to closure of the bulk band gap, which is accompanied by changes in slope of the Raman frequencies and a minimum in c /a within the pristine rhombohedral structure (R -3 m ); (ii) at ˜13 GPa, superconductivity is observed to emerge, along with the R -3 m to a C 2 /c (monoclinic) structural transition; (iii) at ˜24 GPa, the superconducting transition onset temperature TC reaches a maximum of ˜12 K , accompanied by a second structural transition from the C 2 /c to a body-centered cubic I m -3 m phase.

An exploration of the perspectives of elite Irish rowers on the role of the sports physiotherapist.

PubMed

Woods, Aidan; Woods, Catherine B

2012-02-01

The purpose of this study was to (i) explore the perceptions of elite Irish rowers on the role of sports physiotherapy during their sports career, (ii) to compare their information to the International Federation of Sports Physiotherapists (IFSP) competencies and standards and (iii) to use the information gathered to highlight issues regarding quality of sports physiotherapy services, and how these services could be enhanced. Participants completed a short open-ended questionnaire that evaluated the service provided by sports physiotherapists. Participant anonymity was protected and they were encouraged to be honest and critical of their experiences. Thirteen Irish rowers preparing for the 2008 world championships or the 2008 Olympic Games, with a minimum of nine years rowing experience and participation in international competitions within the 12 months prior to the study beginning participated in the study. Against the competencies and standards of the IFSP this elite group of athletes had a clear understanding of the role of the sports physiotherapist. They identified nine of the eleven competencies recommended by the IFSP for auditing a sports physiotherapist, and advocated the use of sports physiotherapists in all areas that could improve their performance. Reasons as to why the athletes missed two of the competencies are discussed. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Uranium (III)-Plutonium (III) co-precipitation in molten chloride

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vigier, Jean-François; Laplace, Annabelle; Renard, Catherine; Miguirditchian, Manuel; Abraham, Francis

2018-02-01

Co-management of the actinides in an integrated closed fuel cycle by a pyrochemical process is studied at the laboratory scale in France in the CEA-ATALANTE facility. In this context the co-precipitation of U(III) and Pu(III) by wet argon sparging in LiCl-CaCl2 (30-70 mol%) molten salt at 705 °C is studied. Pu(III) is prepared in situ in the molten salt by carbochlorination of PuO2 and U(III) is then introduced as UCl3 after chlorine purge by argon to avoid any oxidation of uranium up to U(VI) by Cl2. The oxide conversion yield through wet argon sparging is quantitative. However, the preferential oxidation of U(III) in comparison to Pu(III) is responsible for a successive conversion of the two actinides, giving a mixture of UO2 and PuO2 oxides. Surprisingly, the conversion of sole Pu(III) in the same conditions leads to a mixture of PuO2 and PuOCl, characteristic of a partial oxidation of Pu(III) to Pu(IV). This is in contrast with coconversion of U(III)-Pu(III) mixtures but in agreement with the conversion of Ce(III).

Occupational Exposure to Chromium of Assembly Workers in Aviation Industries.

PubMed

Genovese, G; Castiglia, L; Pieri, M; Novi, C; d'Angelo, R; Sannolo, N; Lamberti, M; Miraglia, N

2015-01-01

Aircraft are constructed by modules that are covered by a "primer" layer, which can often contain hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)], known carcinogen to humans. While the occupational exposure to Cr(VI) during aircraft painting is ascertained, the exposure assessment of assembly workers (assemblers) requires investigations. Three biological monitoring campaigns (BM-I,II,III) were performed in an aviation industry, on homogeneous groups of assemblers (N = 43) and controls (N = 23), by measuring chromium concentrations in end-shift urine collected at the end of the working week and the chromium concentration difference between end- and before-shift urines. BM-I was conducted on full-time workers, BM-II was performed on workers after a 3-4 day absence from work, BM-III on workers using ecoprimers with lower Cr(VI) content. Samples were analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy and mean values were compared by T-test. Even if Cr concentrations measured during BM-I were lower than Biological Exposure Indices by ACGIH, statistically significant differences were found between urinary Cr concentrations of workers and controls. Despite 3-4 days of absence from work, urinary chromium concentrations measured during BM-II were still higher than references from nonoccupationally exposed populations. In the BM-III campaign, the obtained preliminary results suggested the efficacy of using ecoprimers. The healthcare of workers exposed to carcinogenic agents follows the principle of limiting the exposure to "the minimum technically possible". The obtained results evidence that assemblers of aviation industries, whose task does not involve the direct use of primers containing Cr(VI), show an albeit slight occupational exposure to Cr(VI), that must be carefully taken into consideration in planning suitable prevention measures during risk assessment and management processes.

Effects of high source flow and high pumping speed on gas source molecular beam epitaxy / chemical beam epitaxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McCollum, M. J.; Jackson, S. L.; Szafranek, I.; Stillman, G. E.

1990-10-01

We report the growth of GaAs by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), gas source molecular beam epitaxy (GSMBE), and chemical beam epitaxy (CBE) in an epitaxial III-V reactor which features high pumping speed. The system is comprised of a modified Perkin-Elmer 430P molecular beam epitaxy system and a custom gas source panel from Emcore. The growth chamber is pumped with a 7000 1/s (He) diffusion pump (Varian VHS-10 with Monsanto Santovac 5 oil). The gas source panel includes pressure based flow controllers (MKS 1150) allowing triethylaluminum (TEA), triethylgallium (TEG), and trimethylindium (TMI) to be supplied without the use of hydrogen. All source lines, including arsine and phosphine, are maintained below atmospheric pressure. The high pumping speed allows total system flow rates as high as 100 SCCM and V/III ratios as high as 100. The purity of GaAs grown by MBE in this system increases with pumping speed. GaAs layers grown by GSMBE with arsine flows of 10 and 20 SCCM have electron concentrations of 1 × 10 15 cm -3 (μ 77=48,000 cm 2/V·) and 2 × 10 14 cm -3 (μ 77=78,000 cm 2/V·s) respectively. El ectron concentration varies with hydride injector temperature such that the minimum in electron concentration occurs for less than complete cracking. The effect of V/III ratio and the use of a metal eutectic bubbler on residual carrier concentration in GaAs grown by CBE is presented. Intentional Si and Be doping of CBE grown GaAs is demonstrated at a high growth rate of 5.4 μm/h.

Early Results of Rheumatic Mitral Valve Repair.

PubMed

Petrone, Giuseppe; Theodoropoulos, Panagiotis; Punjabi, Prakash P

2016-11-01

Mitral valve repair (MVr) in rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remains challenging. The present authors' surgical experience of MVr in 56 patients with RHD operated in between January 2011 and September 2014 is reported. Among the patients (mean age 32 ± 11 years), 11 were in NYHA functional class II, 32 in class III, and seven in class IV. An adequate or oversized autologous pericardial patch was sutured to extend the coaptating edge of both the anterior leaflet (in 18 patients) and the posterior leaflet (in 30 patients). Neochordae were implanted as needed (n = 43), and leaflet thinning (n = 13), commissurotomy (n = 15) and chordal splitting (n = 9) were also performed. A rigid annuloplasty ring was implanted in 32 patients, and in 24 patients a complete flexible annuloplasty ring made from pericardium, 4 mm Gore-Tex tube graft or a Dacron patch was constructed. Repair was not attempted in 16 patients, with replacement using a mechanical bileaflet prosthesis being considered the only option. Intraoperative post-repair transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated competency, with trivial mitral regurgitation (MR) up to grade I in all patients and a minimum coaptation depth ≥5 mm. There were no intraoperative or in-hospital deaths. Clinical and echocardiographic evaluations were performed up to six weeks after surgery, at which time 51 patients were in NYHA classes I-II and five were in class III. Residual mild MR up to grade I was identified in six patients. No recurrence of MR was observed in any of the patients, and no patients were reoperated on. The lack of adequate access to anticoagulation medication and monitoring, in addition to religious/cultural bias to the type of prosthetic valve used in low-income countries, necessitates an increase in the numbers of rheumatic MVr.

DAMe: a toolkit for the initial processing of datasets with PCR replicates of double-tagged amplicons for DNA metabarcoding analyses.

PubMed

Zepeda-Mendoza, Marie Lisandra; Bohmann, Kristine; Carmona Baez, Aldo; Gilbert, M Thomas P

2016-05-03

DNA metabarcoding is an approach for identifying multiple taxa in an environmental sample using specific genetic loci and taxa-specific primers. When combined with high-throughput sequencing it enables the taxonomic characterization of large numbers of samples in a relatively time- and cost-efficient manner. One recent laboratory development is the addition of 5'-nucleotide tags to both primers producing double-tagged amplicons and the use of multiple PCR replicates to filter erroneous sequences. However, there is currently no available toolkit for the straightforward analysis of datasets produced in this way. We present DAMe, a toolkit for the processing of datasets generated by double-tagged amplicons from multiple PCR replicates derived from an unlimited number of samples. Specifically, DAMe can be used to (i) sort amplicons by tag combination, (ii) evaluate PCR replicates dissimilarity, and (iii) filter sequences derived from sequencing/PCR errors, chimeras, and contamination. This is attained by calculating the following parameters: (i) sequence content similarity between the PCR replicates from each sample, (ii) reproducibility of each unique sequence across the PCR replicates, and (iii) copy number of the unique sequences in each PCR replicate. We showcase the insights that can be obtained using DAMe prior to taxonomic assignment, by applying it to two real datasets that vary in their complexity regarding number of samples, sequencing libraries, PCR replicates, and used tag combinations. Finally, we use a third mock dataset to demonstrate the impact and importance of filtering the sequences with DAMe. DAMe allows the user-friendly manipulation of amplicons derived from multiple samples with PCR replicates built in a single or multiple sequencing libraries. It allows the user to: (i) collapse amplicons into unique sequences and sort them by tag combination while retaining the sample identifier and copy number information, (ii) identify sequences carrying unused tag combinations, (iii) evaluate the comparability of PCR replicates of the same sample, and (iv) filter tagged amplicons from a number of PCR replicates using parameters of minimum length, copy number, and reproducibility across the PCR replicates. This enables an efficient analysis of complex datasets, and ultimately increases the ease of handling datasets from large-scale studies.

Two-level total lumbar disc replacement.

PubMed

Di Silvestre, Mario; Bakaloudis, Georgios; Lolli, Francesco; Vommaro, Francesco; Parisini, Patrizio

2009-06-01

Total lumbar disc replacement (TDR) has been widely used as a treatment option for 2-level symptomatic degenerative disc disease. However, recent studies have presented conflicting results and some authors concluded that outcome deteriorated when disc replacement was performed bisegmentally, with an increase of complications for bisegmental replacements in comparison with monosegmental disc arthroplasty. The goal of the present retrospective study is to investigate results in a group of patients who have received bisegmental TDR with SB Charitè III artificial disc for degenerative disc disease with a minimum follow-up of 3 years, and to compare the results of 2-level disc replacement versus 1-level patients treated with the same prosthesis. A total of 32 patients had at least 3-years follow-up and were reviewed. The average age of the patients was 38.5 years. There were 11 males and 21 females. About 16 patients received 2-level TDR (SB Charitè III) and 16 received 1-level TDR (SB Charitè III). Both radiographic and functional outcome analysis, including patient's satisfaction, was performed. There were no signs of degenerative changes of the adjacent segments in any case of the 2- or 1-level TDR. There was no statistically significant difference between 2- and 1-level TDR both at 12 months and at 3-years follow-up on functional outcome scores. There was a statistically insignificant difference concerning the patients satisfaction between 1- and 2-level surgeries at the last follow-up (P = 0.46). In the 2-level TDR patients, there were 5 minor complications (31.25%), whereas major complications occurred in 4 more patients (25%) and required a new surgery in 2 cases (12.5%). In the 1-level cases there were 2 minor complications (12.5%) and 2 major complications (12.5%) and a new revision surgery was required in 1 patient (6.25%). In conclusion, the use of 2-level disc replacement at last follow-up presented a higher incidence of complications than in cases with 1-level replacement. At the same time it was impossible to delineate a clear difference in evaluating the questionnaires between the follow-up results of patients receiving 2- and 1-level TDR: the 2-level group presented slightly lower scores at follow-up, but none was statistically significant.

Establishing the pharmaceutical quality of Chinese herbal medicine: a provisional BCS classification.

PubMed

Fong, Sophia Y K; Liu, Mary; Wei, Hai; Löbenberg, Raimar; Kanfer, Isadore; Lee, Vincent H L; Amidon, Gordon L; Zuo, Zhong

2013-05-06

The Biopharmaceutical Classification System (BCS), which is a scientific approach to categorize active drug ingredient based on its solubility and intestinal permeability into one of the four classes, has been used to set the pharmaceutical quality standards for drug products in western society. However, it has received little attention in the area of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM). This is likely, in part, due to the presence of multiple active components as well as lack of standardization of CHM. In this report, we apply BCS classification to CHMs provisionally as a basis for establishing improved in vitro quality standards. Based on a top-200 drugs selling list in China, a total of 31 CHM products comprising 50 official active marker compounds (AMCs) were provisionally classified according to BCS. Information on AMC content and doses of these CHM products were retrieved from the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. BCS parameters including solubility and permeability of the AMCs were predicted in silico (ACD/Laboratories). A BCS classification of CHMs according to biopharmaceutical properties of their AMCs is demonstrated to be feasible in the current study and can be used to provide a minimum set of quality standards. Our provisional results showed that 44% of the included AMCs were classified as Class III (high solubility, low permeability), followed by Class II (26%), Class I (18%), and Class IV (12%). A similar trend was observed when CHMs were classified in accordance with the BCS class of AMCs. Most (45%) of the included CHMs were classified as Class III, followed by Class II (16%), Class I (10%), and Class IV (6%); whereas 23% of the CHMs were of mixed class due to the presence of multiple individual AMCs with different BCS classifications. Moreover, about 60% of the AMCs were classified as high-solubility compounds (Class I and Class III), suggesting an important role for an in vitro dissolution test in setting quality control standards ensuring consistent biopharmaceutical quality for the commercially available CHM products. That is, provisionally, more than half of the AMCs of the top-selling CHMs included in this study would be candidates for a bioequivalence (BE) biowaiver, based on WHO recommendations and EMEA guidelines. Thus a dissolution requirement on these AMCs would represent a significant advance in the pharmaceutical quality of CHM today.

Optimization of self-study room open problem based on green and low-carbon campus construction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Baoyou

2017-04-01

The optimization of self-study room open arrangement problem in colleges and universities is conducive to accelerate the fine management of the campus and promote green and low-carbon campus construction. Firstly, combined with the actual survey data, the self-study area and living area were divided into different blocks, and the electricity consumption in each self-study room and distance between different living and studying areas were normalized. Secondly, the minimum of total satisfaction index and the minimum of the total electricity consumption were selected as the optimization targets respectively. The mathematical models of linear programming were established and resolved by LINGO software. The results showed that the minimum of total satisfaction index was 4055.533 and the total minimum electricity consumption was 137216 W. Finally, some advice had been put forward on how to realize the high efficient administration of the study room.

Preparation, spectroscopic and high field NMR relaxometry studies of gadolinium(III) complexes with the asymmetric tetraamine 1,4,7,11-tetraazaundecane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hatzipanayioti, Despina; Veneris, Antonis

2009-10-01

The reaction of Gd(III) with asymmetric tetramine 1,4,7,11-tetraazaundecane (2,2,3-tet, L1) ligand has been studied via NMR spectroscopy. The ligand proton longitudinal relaxation rates ( R1) have been used to estimate the distances of these protons from the Gd(III) center, in Gd(III)- L1 reaction solutions, in H 2O/D 2O 5/1 mixtures. Two Gd(III) complexes [Gd(III)( L1)(NH 3)(H 2O) 4](CH 3COO) 3·2H 2O ( 1) and [Gd(III)( L1)(NH 3)(H 2O) 2]Cl 3·EtOH ( 2) have been isolated and characterized by elemental analyses, TGA, IR, NMR and relaxometry measurements. The NMR relaxation measurements of 2 in aqueous solutions have been performed, under various temperature or concentration conditions, and compared with those of the commercial contrast agents Gd(III)-DTPA and Gd(III)-DTPA-BMA. It has also been studied the influence of (i) the Gd(III) inner-sphere water molecule number ( q) alteration and (ii) the steric constraint enhancement on the metal site, over the relaxation rate values of the parent aqueous solution of Gd(III)-2,2,3-tet, and of the aqueous solutions of 2.

Large Hexadecametallic {Mn(III) -Ln(III) } Wheels: Synthesis, Structural, Magnetic, and Theoretical Characterization.

PubMed

Vignesh, Kuduva R; Langley, Stuart K; Moubaraki, Boujemaa; Murray, Keith S; Rajaraman, Gopalan

2015-11-09

The synthesis, gas sorption studies, magnetic properties, and theoretical studies of new molecular wheels of core type {Mn(III) 8 Ln(III) 8 } (Ln=Dy, Ho, Er, Y and Yb), using the ligand mdeaH2 , in the presence of ortho-toluic or benzoic acid are reported. From the seven wheels studied the {Mn8 Dy8 } and {Mn8 Y8 } analogues exhibit SMM behavior as determined from ac susceptibility experiments in a zero static magnetic field. From DFT calculations a S=16 ground state was determined for the {Mn8 Y8 } complex due to weak ferromagnetic Mn(III) -Mn(III) interactions. Ab initio CASSCF+RASSI-SO calculations on the {Mn8 Dy8 } wheel estimated the Mn(III) -Dy(III) exchange interaction as -0.1 cm(-1) . This weak exchange along with unfavorable single-ion anisotropy of Dy(III) /Mn(III) ions, however, led to the observation of SMM behavior with fast magnetic relaxation. The orientation of the g-anisotropy of the Dy(III) ions is found to be perpendicular to the plane of the wheel and this suggests the possibility of toroidal magnetic moments in the cluster. The {Mn8 Ln8 } clusters reported here are the largest heterometallic Mn(III) Ln(III) wheels and the largest {3d-4f} wheels to exhibit SMM behavior reported to date. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Key differences between apoC-III regulation and expression in intestine and liver.

PubMed

West, Gabrielle; Rodia, Cayla; Li, Diana; Johnson, Zania; Dong, Hongli; Kohan, Alison B

2017-09-23

ApoC-III is a critical cardiovascular risk factor, and humans expressing null mutations in apoC-III are robustly protected from cardiovascular disease. Because of its critical role in elevating plasma lipids and CVD risk, hepatic apoC-III regulation has been studied at length. Considerably less is known about the factors that regulate intestinal apoC-III. In this work, we use primary murine enteroids, Caco-2 cells, and dietary studies in wild-type mice to show that intestinal apoC-III expression does not change in response to fatty acids, glucose, or insulin administration, in contrast to hepatic apoC-III. Intestinal apoC-III is not sensitive to changes in FoxO1 expression (which is itself very low in the intestine, as is FoxO1 target IGFBP-1), nor is intestinal apoC-III responsive to western diet, a significant contrast to hepatic apoC-III stimulation during western diet. These data strongly suggest that intestinal apoC-III is not a FoxO1 target and support the idea that apoC-III is not regulated coordinately with hepatic apoC-III, and establishes another key aspect of apoC-III that is unique in the intestine from the liver. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The providers' profile of the disability support workforce in New Zealand.

PubMed

Jorgensen, Diane; Parsons, Matthew; Reid, Michelle Gundersen; Weidenbohm, Kate; Parsons, John; Jacobs, Stephen

2009-07-01

To understand one of the predominant groups supporting people with disabilities and illness, this study examined the profile of New Zealand paid caregivers, including their training needs. Paid caregivers, also known as healthcare assistants, caregivers and home health aides, work across several long-term care settings, such as residential homes, continuing-care hospitals and also private homes. Their roles include assisting with personal care and household management. New Zealand, similar to other countries, is facing a health workforce shortage. A three-phased design was used: phase I, a survey of all home-based and residential care providers (N = 942, response rate = 45%); phase II, a targeted survey of training needs (n = 107, response = 100%); phase III, four focus groups and 14 interviews with 36 providers, exploring themes arising from phases I and II. Findings on 17,910 paid caregivers revealed a workforce predominantly female (94%), aged between 40 and 50, with 6% over the age of 60. Mean hourly pay NZ$10.90 (minimum wage NZ$10.00 approx. UK3.00 at time of study) and 24 hours per week. The national paid caregiver turnover was 29% residential care and 39% community. Most providers recognised the importance of training, but felt their paid caregivers were not adequately trained. Training was poorly attended; reasons cited were funding, family, secondary employment, staff turnover, low pay and few incentives. The paid caregiver profile described reflects trends also observed in other countries. There is a clear policy direction in New Zealand and other countries to support people with a disability at home, and yet the workforce which is facilitating this vision is itself highly vulnerable. Paid caregivers have minimum pay, are female, work part-time and although it is recognised that training is important for them, they do not attend, so consequently remain untrained.

Time-dependent rheological behavior of natural polysaccharide xanthan gum solutions in interrupted shear and step-incremental/reductional shear flow fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Ji-Seok; Song, Ki-Won

2015-11-01

The objective of the present study is to systematically elucidate the time-dependent rheological behavior of concentrated xanthan gum systems in complicated step-shear flow fields. Using a strain-controlled rheometer (ARES), step-shear flow behaviors of a concentrated xanthan gum model solution have been experimentally investigated in interrupted shear flow fields with a various combination of different shear rates, shearing times and rest times, and step-incremental and step-reductional shear flow fields with various shearing times. The main findings obtained from this study are summarized as follows. (i) In interrupted shear flow fields, the shear stress is sharply increased until reaching the maximum stress at an initial stage of shearing times, and then a stress decay towards a steady state is observed as the shearing time is increased in both start-up shear flow fields. The shear stress is suddenly decreased immediately after the imposed shear rate is stopped, and then slowly decayed during the period of a rest time. (ii) As an increase in rest time, the difference in the maximum stress values between the two start-up shear flow fields is decreased whereas the shearing time exerts a slight influence on this behavior. (iii) In step-incremental shear flow fields, after passing through the maximum stress, structural destruction causes a stress decay behavior towards a steady state as an increase in shearing time in each step shear flow region. The time needed to reach the maximum stress value is shortened as an increase in step-increased shear rate. (iv) In step-reductional shear flow fields, after passing through the minimum stress, structural recovery induces a stress growth behavior towards an equilibrium state as an increase in shearing time in each step shear flow region. The time needed to reach the minimum stress value is lengthened as a decrease in step-decreased shear rate.

Analysis of Voyager spectra of the beta Cephei star nu Eridani

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Porri, A.; Stalio, R.; Ali, B.; Polidan, R. S.; Morossi, C.

1994-01-01

Voyager 500-1700 A spectrophotometric observations of the beta Cephei star nu Eri are presented and discussed. The Voyager observations were obtained in 1981 and cover six pulsation cycles of the star. These data are supplemented with a set of nine International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) SWP high-resolution observations covering one, earlier epoch, pulsation cycle. Light curves are derived from the Voyager data at 1055 and 1425 A. These light curves are found to be consistent in both shape and period with published optical curves. The 1055 A light curve also exhibits a phenomenon not seen in the optical curves: a small but highly significant systematic increase in the flux of the maximum light phases while maintaining a constant minimum light level over the interval of observation. Substantially larger errors in the longer wavelength data preclude discussion of this phenomenon in the 1425 A light curve. Examination of the far-UV continuum in nu Eri during this period shows that the color temperature is lower for the brighter maxima. Analysis of the far-UV continuum at maximum and minimum light yields an effective temperature difference between these two phases of 2200 + or - 750 K. Spectroscopically, three prominent features are seen in the Voyager data: a feature at 985 A mostly due to a blend of C III 977 A, H I Ly gamma 972 A, and N III 990 A; a feature at 1030 A due to H I Ly beta 1026 A and C II 1037 A; and the Si IV resonance doublet near 1400 A. A comparison of the 912-1700 A spectral region in nu Eri with a set of standard, i.e., nonpulsating stars, shows that nu Eri closely resembles the standard both in continuum shape and spectral line strengths with the possible exception of a slight flux excess between 912 and 975 A. The equivalent width of the 985 A feature is shown to vary in strength over the pulsation cycle in antiphase with the light curve and variations seen in the C IV 1548-1551 lines from the IUE data. This behavior of the 985 A feature is most likely caused by variations in the strength of the Ly gamma component of the blend. Comparisons are also made between nu Eri and the only other beta Cephei star studied in the far-UV, BW Vul, with the most notable differences between the two stars being the much larger delta(T(sub eff)) for BW Vul and the almost total absence of abnormalities in observed spectrum of nu Eri.

The minimum follow-up required for radial head arthroplasty: a meta-analysis.

PubMed

Laumonerie, P; Reina, N; Kerezoudis, P; Declaux, S; Tibbo, M E; Bonnevialle, N; Mansat, P

2017-12-01

The primary aim of this study was to define the standard minimum follow-up required to produce a reliable estimate of the rate of re-operation after radial head arthroplasty (RHA). The secondary objective was to define the leading reasons for re-operation. Four electronic databases, between January 2000 and March 2017 were searched. Articles reporting reasons for re-operation (Group I) and results (Group II) after RHA were included. In Group I, a meta-analysis was performed to obtain the standard minimum follow-up, the mean time to re-operation and the reason for failure. In Group II, the minimum follow-up for each study was compared with the standard minimum follow-up. A total of 40 studies were analysed: three were Group I and included 80 implants and 37 were Group II and included 1192 implants. In Group I, the mean time to re-operation was 1.37 years (0 to 11.25), the standard minimum follow-up was 3.25 years; painful loosening was the main indication for re-operation. In Group II, 33 Group II articles (89.2%) reported a minimum follow-up of < 3.25 years. The literature does not provide a reliable estimate of the rate of re-operation after RHA. The reproducibility of results would be improved by using a minimum follow-up of three years combined with a consensus of the definition of the reasons for failure after RHA. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:1561-70. ©2017 The British Editorial Society of Bone & Joint Surgery.

Heterogeneity in Positive Predictive Value of RAS Mutations in Cytologically Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules.

PubMed

Nabhan, Fadi; Porter, Kyle; Lupo, Mark A; Randolph, Gregory W; Patel, Kepal N; Kloos, Richard T

2018-06-01

RAS mutations are common in the available mutational analysis of cytologically indeterminate (Cyto-I) thyroid nodules. However, their reported positive predictive value (PPV) for cancer is widely variable. The reason for this variability is unknown, and it causes clinical management uncertainty. A systematic review was performed, evaluating the PPV for cancer in RAS mutation positive Cyto-I nodules, and variables that might affect residual heterogeneity across the different studies were considered. PubMed was searched through February 22, 2017, including studies that evaluated at least one type of RAS mutation in Cyto-I nodules, including any (or all) of the Bethesda III/IV/V categories or their equivalents and where the histological diagnosis was available. The PPV residual heterogeneity was investigated after accounting for Bethesda classification, blindedness of the histopathologist to the RAS mutational status, Bethesda category-specific cancer prevalence for each study, and which RAS genes and codons were tested. This was studied using five meta-regression models fit to different sets of Bethesda classification categories: Bethesda III, IV, or V (III/IV/V); Bethesda III or IV (III/IV); Bethesda III only; Bethesda IV only; and Bethesda V only. Of 1831 studies, 23 were eligible for data inclusion. Wide ranges of PPV were found at 0-100%, 28-100%, and 0-100% in Bethesda III, IV, and V, respectively. Residual heterogeneity remained moderately high for PPV after accounting for the above moderators for Bethesda III/IV/V (21 studies; I 2  = 59.5%) and Bethesda III/IV (19 studies; I 2  = 66.0%), with significant Cochran's Q-test for residual heterogeneity (p < 0.001). Among individual Bethesda categories, residual heterogeneity was: Bethesda III (eight studies; I 2  = 89.0%), IV (12 studies; I 2  = 53.5%), and V (10 studies; I 2  = 34.4%), with significant Cochran's Q-test for Bethesda III (p < 0.001) and IV (p = 0.04). The PPV of RAS mutations in Bethesda III and IV categories is quite heterogeneous across different studies, creating low confidence in the accuracy of a single estimate of PPV. Clinicians must appreciate this wide variability when managing a RAS-mutated Cyto-I nodule. Future studies should seek to resolve this unexplained variability.

Clinical outcomes of patient mobility in a neuroscience intensive care unit.

PubMed

Mulkey, Malissa; Bena, James F; Albert, Nancy M

2014-06-01

Patients treated in a neuroscience intensive care unit (NICU) are often viewed as too sick to tolerate physical activity. In this study, mobility status in NICU was assessed, and factors and outcomes associated with mobility were examined. Using a prospective design, daily mobility status, medical history, demographics, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) III score, and clinical outcomes were collected by medical records and database review. Depression, anxiety, and hostility were assessed before NICU discharge. Analyses included comparative statistics and multivariable modeling. In 228 unique patients, median (minimum, maximum) age was 64.0 (20, 95) years, 66.4% were Caucasian, and 53.6% were men. Of 246 admissions, median NICU stay was 4 (1, 61) days; APACHE III score was 56 (16, 145). Turning, range of motion, and head of bed of >30° were uniformly applied (n = 241), but 94 patients (39%) never progressed; 94 (39%) progressed to head of bed of >45° or dangling legs, 29 (12%) progressed to standing or pivoting to chair, and 24 (10%) progressed to walking. Female gender (p = .019), mechanical ventilation (p < .001), higher APACHE score (p = .004), and 30-day mortality (p = .001) were associated with less mobility. In multivariable modeling, greater mobility was associated with longer unit stay (p < .001) and discharge to home (p < .001). Psychological profile characteristics were not associated with mobility level. Nearly 40% of patients never progressed beyond bed movement, and only 10% walked. Although limited mobility progression was not associated with many patient factors, it was associated with poorer clinical outcomes. Implementation and evaluation of a progressive mobility protocol are needed in NICU patients. For more insights from the authors, see Supplemental Digital Content 1, at http://link.lww.com/JNN/A10.

High nasopharyngeal carriage of beta-lactamase-negative ampicillin-resistant Haemophilus influenzae in north Indian school-going children.

PubMed

Jain, Amita; Kumar, Pradeep; Agarwal, Sudhir K

2008-02-01

Development of ampicillin resistance in Haemophilus influenzae is a cause of serious concern. Ampicillin resistance in H influenzae is beta-lactamase mediated except in some isolates. Two important issues related to beta-lactamase-negative ampicillin-resistant (BLNAR) strains while choosing therapy for infections caused by H. influenzae are (i) whether BLNAR H. influenzae isolates are sufficiently pathogenic to cause respiratory tract infection, and (ii) variability in the magnitude of ampicillin minimum inhibitory concentrations obtained for the isolates. The aim of the present study was to determine the carriage of BLNAR H. influenzae in the nasopharynx of normal healthy children, to test the level of ampicillin resistance and the correlation of ampicillin resistance with resistance to other antimicrobials and to evaluate the frequency of serotype b and biotypes I, II, and III among BLNAR H. influenzae. Of 1001 H. influenzae isolates, 229 (22.9%) strains were ampicillin resistant. A total of 33/229 isolates were BLNAR. beta-Lactamase-positive strains show higher level of resistance to ampicillin as well as to chloramphenicol, erythromycin, and co-trimoxazole. Of the 196 beta-lactamase-producing H. influenzae isolates, 112 (57%) were H. influenzae type b, while of the 33 BLNAR isolates, 27 (81.8%) were H. influenzae type b. One hundred and eighty-four of 196 (93.9%) beta-lactamase-producing H. influenzae isolates and 30/33 (91.0%) BLNAR strains belonged to biotypes I, II, and III. BLNAR H. influenzae are no less pathogenic than beta-lactamase-positive H. influenzae. Higher level of drug resistance was found in beta-lactamase-producing H. influenzae in comparison to BLNAR isolates.

Classification and Analysis of Regulatory Pathways Using Graph Property, Biochemical and Physicochemical Property, and Functional Property

PubMed Central

Cai, Yu-Dong; Chou, Kuo-Chen

2011-01-01

Given a regulatory pathway system consisting of a set of proteins, can we predict which pathway class it belongs to? Such a problem is closely related to the biological function of the pathway in cells and hence is quite fundamental and essential in systems biology and proteomics. This is also an extremely difficult and challenging problem due to its complexity. To address this problem, a novel approach was developed that can be used to predict query pathways among the following six functional categories: (i) “Metabolism”, (ii) “Genetic Information Processing”, (iii) “Environmental Information Processing”, (iv) “Cellular Processes”, (v) “Organismal Systems”, and (vi) “Human Diseases”. The prediction method was established trough the following procedures: (i) according to the general form of pseudo amino acid composition (PseAAC), each of the pathways concerned is formulated as a 5570-D (dimensional) vector; (ii) each of components in the 5570-D vector was derived by a series of feature extractions from the pathway system according to its graphic property, biochemical and physicochemical property, as well as functional property; (iii) the minimum redundancy maximum relevance (mRMR) method was adopted to operate the prediction. A cross-validation by the jackknife test on a benchmark dataset consisting of 146 regulatory pathways indicated that an overall success rate of 78.8% was achieved by our method in identifying query pathways among the above six classes, indicating the outcome is quite promising and encouraging. To the best of our knowledge, the current study represents the first effort in attempting to identity the type of a pathway system or its biological function. It is anticipated that our report may stimulate a series of follow-up investigations in this new and challenging area. PMID:21980418

Genetic relatedness, antimicrobial and biocide susceptibility comparative analysis of methicillin-resistant and -susceptible Staphylococcus pseudintermedius from Portugal.

PubMed

Couto, Natacha; Belas, Adriana; Couto, Isabel; Perreten, Vincent; Pomba, Constança

2014-08-01

Forty methicillin-resistant and -susceptible Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP and MSSP, respectively) from colonization and infection in dogs and cats were characterized for clonality, antimicrobial, and biocide susceptibility. MSSP were genetically more diverse than MRSP by multi-locus sequence typing and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Three different spa types (t06, t02, t05) and two SCCmec types (II-III and V) were detected in the MRSP isolates. All MRSP and two MSSP strains were multidrug-resistant. Several antibiotic resistance genes (mecA, blaZ, tet(M), tet(K), aac(6')-Ie-aph(2')-Ia, aph(3')-III, ant(6)-Ia, sat4, erm(B), lnu(A), dfr(G), and catp(C221)) were identified by microarray and double mutations in the gyrA and grlA genes and a single mutation in the rpoB gene were detected by sequence analysis. No differences were detected between MSSP and MRSP in the chlorhexidine acetate (CHA) minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). However, two MSSP had elevated MIC to triclosan (TCL) and one to benzalkonium chloride and ethidium bromide. One MSSP isolate harboured a qacA gene, while in another a qacB gene was detected. None of the isolates harboured the sh-fabI gene. Three of the biocide products studied had high bactericidal activity (Otodine(®), Clorexyderm Spot Gel(®), Dermocanis Piocure-M(®)), while Skingel(®) failed to achieve a five log reduction in the bacterial counting. S. pseudintermedius have become a serious therapeutic challenge in particular if methicillin- resistance and/or multidrug-resistance are involved. Biocides, like CHA and TCL, seem to be clinically effective and safe topical therapeutic options.

Dorsal or Volar Plate Fixation of the Distal Radius: Does the Complication Rate Help Us to Choose?

PubMed

Disseldorp, D J G; Hannemann, P F W; Poeze, M; Brink, P R G

2016-08-01

Internal fixation with plates is a reliable fixation technique for the treatment of distal radius fractures. An ongoing discussion exists whether volar or dorsal plating is the appropriate technique. In clinical practice, volar plate fixation is usually preferred because of the assumed lower complication frequency. However, recent studies with the newer generation low-profile dorsal plates reported lower complication rates. The aim of our study was to evaluate the differences in complication rates between volar and dorsal plate for the treatment of distal radius fractures in adult patients. A total of 214 patients with acute distal radius fractures were included in this retrospective study with a minimum 2 years of follow-up. In total, 123 patients were treated with dorsal plate fixation and 91 patients with volar plate fixation. Our primary study outcome was complication rate. The overall risk for complications was 15.4% in the dorsal group and 14.3% in the volar group (p = 0.81). A total of 19 patients had implant removal due to complications: 11 patients in the dorsal group and 8 patients in the volar group (p = 0.97). There is no preferred plate fixation technique based on these study results. In our opinion, decision for type of plate fixation should be based on fracture type and surgeon's experience with the specific approach and plate types. Therapeutic level III.

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

Wu, T.; Griffin, A. M.; Gorski, C. A.

Dissimilatory microbial reduction of solid-phase Fe(III)-oxides and Fe(III)-bearing phyllosilicates (Fe(III)-phyllosilicates) is an important process in anoxic soils, sediments, and subsurface materials. Although various studies have documented the relative extent of microbial reduction of single-phase Fe(III)-oxides and Fe(III)-phyllosilicates, detailed information is not available on interaction between these two processes in situations where both phases are available for microbial reduction. The goal of this research was to use the model dissimilatory iron-reducing bacterium (DIRB) Geobacter sulfurreducens to study Fe(III)-oxide vs. Fe(III)-phyllosilicate reduction in a range of subsurface materials and Fe(III)-oxide stripped versions of the materials. Low temperature (12K) Mossbauer spectroscopy was usedmore » to infer changes in the relative abundances of Fe(III)-oxide, Fe(III)-phyllosilicate, and phyllosilicate-associated Fe(II) (Fe(II)-phyllosilicate). A Fe partitioning model was employed to analyze the fate of Fe(II) and assess the potential for abiotic Fe(II)-catalyzed reduction of Fe(III)-phyllosilicates. The results showed that in most cases Fe(III)- oxide utilization dominated (70-100 %) bulk Fe(III) reduction activity, and that electron transfer from oxide-derived Fe(II) played only a minor role (ca. 10-20 %) in Fe partitioning. In addition, the extent of Fe(III)-oxide reduction was positively correlated to surface area-normalized cation exchange capacity and the phyllosilicate-Fe(III)/total Fe(III) ratio, which suggests that the phyllosilicates in the natural sediments promoted Fe(III)-oxide reduction by binding of oxide-derived Fe(II), thereby enhancing Fe(III)-oxide reduction by reducing or delaying the inhibitory effect that Fe(II) accumulation on oxide and DIRB cell surfaces has on Fe(III)-oxide reduction. In general our results suggest that although Fe(III)-oxide reduction is likely to dominate bulk Fe(III) reduction in most subsurface sediments, Fe(II) binding by phyllosilicates is likely to play a key role in controlling the long-term kinetics of Fe(III)-oxide reduction.« less

Apolipoprotein C-III Levels and Incident Coronary Artery Disease Risk: The EPIC-Norfolk Prospective Population Study.

PubMed

van Capelleveen, Julian C; Bernelot Moens, Sophie J; Yang, Xiaohong; Kastelein, John J P; Wareham, Nicholas J; Zwinderman, Aeilko H; Stroes, Erik S G; Witztum, Joseph L; Hovingh, G Kees; Khaw, Kay-Tee; Boekholdt, S Matthijs; Tsimikas, Sotirios

2017-06-01

Apolipoprotein C-III (apoC-III) is a key regulator of triglyceride metabolism. Elevated triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and apoC-III levels are causally linked to coronary artery disease (CAD) risk. The mechanism(s) through which apoC-III increases CAD risk remains largely unknown. The aim was to confirm the association between apoC-III plasma levels and CAD risk and to explore which lipoprotein subfractions contribute to this relationship between apoC-III and CAD risk. Plasma apoC-III levels were measured in baseline samples from a nested case-control study in the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer (EPIC)-Norfolk study. The study comprised 2711 apparently healthy study participants, of whom 832 subsequently developed CAD. We studied the association of baseline apoC-III levels with incident CAD risk, lipoprotein subfractions measured by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and inflammatory biomarkers. ApoC-III levels were significantly associated with CAD risk (odds ratio, 1.91; 95% confidence interval, 1.48-2.48 for highest compared with lowest quintile), retaining significance after adjustment for traditional CAD risk factors (odds ratio, 1.47; 95% confidence interval, 1.11-1.94). ApoC-III levels were positively correlated with triglyceride levels, ( r =0.39), particle numbers of very-low-density lipoprotein ( r =0.25), intermediate-density lipoprotein ( r =0.23), small dense low-density lipoprotein ( r =0.26), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein ( r =0.15), whereas an inverse correlation was observed with large low-density lipoprotein particle number ( r =-0.11), P <0.001 for each. Mediation analysis indicated that the association between apoC-III and CAD risk could be explained by triglyceride elevation (triglyceride, very-low-density lipoprotein, and intermediate-density lipoprotein particles), small low-density lipoprotein particle size, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. ApoC-III levels are significantly associated with incident CAD risk. Elevated levels of remnant lipoproteins, small dense low-density lipoprotein, and low-grade inflammation may explain this association. © 2017 American Heart Association, Inc.

Targeted replacement: systematic studies of dodecanuclear {MLn} coordination clusters (M = Cr, Co; Ln = Dy, Y).

PubMed

Chen, Sihuai; Mereacre, Valeriu; Zhao, Zhiying; Zhang, Wanwan; Zhang, Mengsi; He, Zhangzhen

2018-06-05

Three dodecanuclear 3d-4f coordination clusters, [CrIII6LnIII6(μ3-OH)8(tbdea)6(C6H5COO)16]·2H2O (Ln = Dy (1), Y (2)) and [CoIII6DyIII6(μ3-OH)8(nbdea)6(m-CH3C6H4COO)16]·2H2O·2CH3CN (3), have been synthesized under solvothermal conditions and characterized. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that all three compounds possess an analogous {MIII6LnIII6} core (M = Cr, Co; Ln = Dy, Y) and dc magnetic susceptibility studies indicated that the magnetic exchange couplings between DyIII ions are dominant antiferromagnetic, while the CrIII-DyIII interactions are weakly ferromagnetic. Furthermore, the ac magnetic susceptibility measurements showed that both CrIII6DyIII6 compound 1 and CoIIi6DyIII6 compound 3 containing highly anisotropic DyIII ions displayed single-molecule magnetic (SMM) behavior with the energy barrier Ueff increasing from 12.8 K (for 1) to 20.8 K (for 3), indicating that weak 3d-4f exchange couplings enhance the QTM and reduce the energy barrier.