Sample records for testing effecten van

  1. Job Oriented Training: Onderwijskundige Grondslag en Onderbouwing (Job Oriented Training: Foundation and Empirical Support)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-07-01

    die binmen defensie tot aanzien van de effecten van JOT onderwijs met het nieuwe leren terug te dan toe in gebruik waren bij het theorie - voeren is op...problemen in de uitvoerings- onderwijs; toepassing van JOT impliceerde Grondslag praktijk van datzeltde regulier onderwijs. dat er geen theorie meer...het rechte eind Opdrachtnummer Datum PROGRAMMA PROJECT juli 2008 Program mabegeleider Projectbegeleider Auteur (s) IkolP.M.. Bonen,dr. A.H. van der

  2. Militaire Toepassingen Van Adaptieve Optiek (Military Applications of Adaptive Optics)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-09-01

    dat op dit moment met de beschikbare theorie mogelijk is. Een ander interessant aspect is de mate waarin de turbulentie effecten het jam patroon...systemen In WEAG studie JP8. 11 is aangetoond dat in theorie adaptieve technieken een verbetering van de prestaties van een DIRCM systeem kunnen...Molenaar; Theorie van de laserscintillometer; TNO repot PHL 1978-16 (1978). TNO-rapport I TNO-DV 2006 A336 35/35 6 Ondertekening Den Haag, september 2006

  3. Proceedings of the Second European Conference on Cognitive Modelling

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1998-04-04

    student record contains a field for the student’s Social Security Number (SSN), which is displayed on the screen. To retrieve information about this...Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press. Chandler, M. J., & Boyes, M. (1982). Social -Cogni- tive Development. In B. B. Wolman (Ed.), Hand- book of...Effecten van vermoeidheid als functie van soort taak en sociale omgeving. TNO-rapport TM 1994 A-9, TNO Technische Menskunde, Postbus 23, 3769 ZG

  4. Inventory of Materials to be Used in Explosive Effects Mitigating Structures (Inventarisatie van materialen te gebruiken in constructies ter afscherming van explosie-effecten)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-11-01

    F +31 15 284 39 91 info-DenV@tno.nl TNO-rapportnummer TNO-DV 2008 A357 Opdrachtnummer Datum november 2008 Auteur (s) ir. O.C. van der Jagt...een keramisch materiaal (ZrSiO.*). TNO-rapport | TNO-DV 2008 A357 32/44 K, 04 035 0.3 0 25 02 0 15 01 005 0 O a 0 X A • • Theory ...47] Molinari. A., et al., Modeling plastic shocks in periodic laminates with gradient plasticity theories . Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of

  5. Analysing Operational Effects (Het analyseren van operationele effecten)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2007-09-01

    Programmanummer Projectnummer Datum V215 032.10 177 september 2007 Program maplanning Projectplanning Auteur (s)drs. M. Duistermaat Start 1 maart 2003 Start 1...called an effect, and when do we call it a task. In theory , an effect is formulated as ’to have accomplished a change in the situation’. and a task is...determining strategies for the mission. In the current chapter, we look at the different ways of utilization of the framework: in theory (the operational

  6. Experimental Testing of a Van De Graaff Generator as an Electromagnetic Pulse Generator

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-07-01

    EXPERIMENTAL TESTING OF A VAN DE GRAAFF GENERATOR AS AN ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSE GENERATOR THESIS...protection in the United States AFIT-ENP-MS-16-S-075 EXPERIMENTAL TESTING OF A VAN DE GRAAFF GENERATOR AS AN ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSE GENERATOR...RELEASE; DISTRIBUTION UNLIMITED. AFIT-ENP-MS-16-S-075 EXPERIMENTAL TESTING OF A VAN DE GRAAFF GENERATOR AS AN ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSE GENERATOR

  7. Vancomycin-resistance phenotypes, vancomycin-resistance genes, and resistance to antibiotics of enterococci isolated from food of animal origin.

    PubMed

    Gousia, Panagiota; Economou, Vangelis; Bozidis, Petros; Papadopoulou, Chrissanthy

    2015-03-01

    In the present study, 500 raw beef, pork, and chicken meat samples and 100 pooled egg samples were analyzed for the presence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci, vancomycin-resistance phenotypes, and resistance genes. Of 141 isolates of enterococci, 88 strains of Enterococcus faecium and 53 strains of E. faecalis were identified. The most prevalent species was E. faecium. Resistance to ampicillin (n = 93, 66%), ciprofloxacin (n = 74, 52.5%), erythromycin (n = 73, 51.8%), penicillin (n = 59, 41.8%) and tetracycline (n = 52, 36.9%) was observed, while 53.2% (n = 75) of the isolates were multiresistant and 15.6% (n = 22) were susceptible to all antibiotics. Resistance to vancomycin was exhibited in 34.1% (n = 30) of the E. faecium isolates (n = 88) and 1.9% (n = 1) of the E. faecalis isolates (n = 53) using the disc-diffusion test and the E-test. All isolates were tested for vanA and vanB using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and multiplex PCR, and for vanC, vanD, vanE, vanG genes using multiplex PCR only. Among E. faecalis isolates, no resistance genes were identified. Among the E. faecium isolates, 28 carried the vanA gene when tested by multiplex PCR and 29 when tested with real-time PCR. No isolate carrying the vanC, vanD, vanE, or vanG genes was identified. Melting-curve analysis of the positive real-time PCR E. faecium isolates showed that 22 isolates carried the vanA gene only, 2 isolates the vanB2,3 genes only, and seven isolates carried both the vanA and vanB2,3 genes. Enterococci should be considered a significant zoonotic pathogen and a possible reservoir of genes encoding resistance potentially transferred to other bacterial species.

  8. Investigating the Effect of van Hiele Phase-Based Instruction on Pre-Service Teachers' Geometric Thinking

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Armah, Robert Benjamin; Cofie, Primrose Otokonor; Okpoti, Christopher Adjei

    2018-01-01

    This study investigated the effect of van Hiele Phase-based Instruction (VHPI) on Ghanaian Pre-service Teachers' (PTs') geometric thinking in terms of the van Hiele Levels. A pre-test post-test quasi-experimental design was employed. There were 75 PTs each in the experimental group and the control group. Van Hiele Geometry Test (VHGT) was…

  9. Vehicle test report: Jet Industries Electra Van 600

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Price, T. W.; Wirth, V. A., Jr.

    1982-01-01

    The Electra Van 600, an electric vehicle, was tested. Tests were performed to characterize parameters of the Electra Van 600 and to provide baseline data to be used for comparison of improved batteries and to which will be incorporated into the vehicle. The vehicle tests concentrated on the electrical drive subsystem, the batteries, controller, and motor; coastdowns to characterize the road load and range evaluation for cyclic and constant speed conditions; and qualitative performance was evaluated. It is found that the Electra Van 600 range performance is approximately equal to the majority of the vehicles tested previously.

  10. Accuracy of the VITEK 2 System To Detect Glycopeptide Resistance in Enterococci

    PubMed Central

    van den Braak, Nicole; Goessens, Wil; van Belkum, Alex; Verbrugh, Henri A.; Endtz, Hubert P.

    2001-01-01

    We evaluated the accuracy of the VITEK 2 fully automated system to detect and identify glycopeptide-resistant enterococci (GRE) compared to a reference agar dilution method. The sensitivity of vancomycin susceptibility testing with VITEK 2 for the detection of vanA, vanB, and vanC1 strains was 100%. The sensitivity of vancomycin susceptibility testing of vanC2 strains was 77%. The sensitivity of teicoplanin susceptibility testing of vanA strains was 90%. Of 80 vanC enterococci, 78 (98%) were correctly identified by VITEK 2 as Enterococcus gallinarum/Enterococcus casseliflavus. Since the identification and susceptibility data are produced within 3 and 8 h, respectively, VITEK 2 appears a fast and reliable method for detection of GRE in microbiology laboratories. PMID:11136798

  11. Results of baseline tests of the EVA metro sedan, citi-car, jet industries electra-van, CDA town car, and OTIS P-500 van

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

    Stenger, F.J.; Bozek, J.M.; Soltis, R.F.

    1976-10-01

    Five electric vehicles were tested at vehicle test tracks using the SAE. The tests provide range data at steady speeds and for several driving cycles. Most tests were conducted with lead-acid traction batteries. The Otis Van and the Copper Electric Town Car were also tested with lead-acid and nickel-zinc batteries. The tests showed a range increase of from 82 to 101 percent depending on vehicle, speed, and test cycle.

  12. Results of baseline tests of the EVA Metro sedan, Citi-car, Jet Industries Electra-van, CDA town car, and Otis P-500 van

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Stenger, F. J.; Bozek, J. M.; Soltis, R. F.

    1976-01-01

    Five electric vehicles were tested at vehicle test tracks using the SAE. The tests provide range data at steady speeds and for several driving cycles. Most tests were conducted with lead-acid traction batteries. The Otis Van and the Copper Electric Town Car were also tested with lead-acid and nickel-zinc batteries. The tests showed a range increase of from 82 to 101 percent depending on vehicle, speed, and test cycle.

  13. Do apolipoprotein E genotype and educational attainment predict the rate of cognitive decline in normal aging? A 12-year follow-up of the Maastricht Aging Study.

    PubMed

    Van Gerven, Pascal W M; Van Boxtel, Martin P J; Ausems, Eleonora E B; Bekers, Otto; Jolles, Jelle

    2012-07-01

    We investigated suspected longitudinal interaction effects of apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype and educational attainment on cognitive decline in normal aging. Our sample consisted of 571 healthy, nondemented adults aged between 49 and 82 years. Linear mixed-models analyses were performed with four measurement time points: baseline, 3-year, 6-year, and 12-year follow-up. Covariates included age at baseline, sex, and self-perceived physical and mental health. Dependent measures were global cognitive functioning (Mini-Mental State Examination; Folstein, Folstein, & McHugh, 1975), Stroop performance (Stroop Color-Word Test; Van der Elst, Van Boxtel, Van Breukelen, & Jolles, 2006a), set-shifting performance (Concept Shifting Test; Van der Elst, Van Boxtel, Van Breukelen, & Jolles, 2006b), cognitive speed (Letter-Digit Substitution Test; Van der Elst, Van Boxtel, Van Breukelen, & Jolles, 2006c), verbal learning (Verbal Learning Test: Sum of five trials; Van der Elst, Van Boxtel, Van Breukelen, & Jolles, 2005), and long-term memory (Verbal Learning Test: Delayed recall). We found only faint evidence that older, high-educated carriers of the APOE-ε4 allele (irrespective of zygosity) show a more pronounced decline than younger, low-educated carriers and noncarriers (irrespective of educational attainment). Moreover, this outcome was confined to concept-shifting performance and was especially observable between 6- and 12-year follow-ups. No protective effects of higher education were found on any of the six cognitive measures. We conclude that the combination of APOE-ε4 allele and high educational attainment may be a risk factor for accelerated cognitive decline in older age, as has been reported before, but only to a very limited extent. Moreover, we conclude that, within the cognitive reserve framework, education does not have significant protective power against age-related cognitive decline.

  14. Sleep and Alertness Management II: Effects on Sleep Pattern and Sleep Quality in Marmosets (slaap- en alertheidsmanagement II: effecten op slaapritme en slaapkwaliteit in marmosetapen)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-10-01

    beleidsondersteuning Commando Luchtstrijdkrachten/Hoofd Auteur (s) Afdeling Gezondheidszorg operaties dr. I.H.C.H.M. Philippens, R.A.P. Vanwersob, ing. M.J... Theory .......................................................................................................................... 9 2.1 Sleep as an...2 Theory 2.1 Sleep as an active and rhythmical process Till the 50s the research on sleep was dominated by a passive theory of sleep. This theory

  15. Faster and economical screening for vancomycin-resistant enterococci by sequential use of chromogenic agar and real-time polymerase chain reaction.

    PubMed

    Tan, Thean Yen; Jiang, Boran; Ng, Lily Siew Yong

    2017-08-01

    Screening for vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) by culture takes days to generate results, while polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing directly from clinical specimens lacks specificity. The aims of this study were to develop a real-time PCR to detect and identify Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus faecalis, and vanA and vanB genes, and to evaluate the impact of this PCR on test-reporting times when performing it directly from suspect VRE isolates present on screening chromogenic media. The tetraplex PCR primers were designed to amplify E. faecium, E. faecalis, and vanA and vanB genes, with melt-curve analysis of PCR products. Following analytical and clinical validation of the molecular assay, PCR testing was performed for target colonies present on VRE chromogenic media. PCR results were evaluated against conventional phenotypic identification and susceptibility testing, with the time to result being monitored for both modalities. A total of 519 colonies from clinical specimens were tested concurrently by real-time PCR and phenotypic methods. In all, 223 isolates were identified with phenotypic vancomycin resistance (vanA, n = 108; vanB, n = 105; non-vanA/vanB = 10), with complete agreement between PCR and phenotypic testing for vancomycin-resistant E. faecium and E. faecalis. The majority (88.6%) of PCR results were reported, on average, 24.8 hours earlier than those of phenotypic testing, with 68% reduction in total costs. The use of culture on selective media, followed by direct colony PCR confirmation allows faster and economical VRE screening. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  16. Tweede Serie Ergonomietests Lichtgewicht Bommenpakken (Second Series of Ergonomic Tests on Lightweight Bomb Disposal Suits)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2007-12-01

    warmtebelastingtests vast te stellen en (sit-and-reach, stand-and-reach. abductie referentiewaarden te bepalen door het van de arnen, anteflexie van de armen ...volgende, bewegingbeperkingtests: sit-and-reach, stand-and-reach. abductie van de armen , anteflexie van de armen en beperking van zicht. Bij de sit-and...gebogen op de rand van een tafel en houdt de armen zo ver mogeijk gestrekt naar voren op tafel. Daarbij wordt de afstand vanaf de rand van de tafel tot

  17. Results from tests, with van-mounted sensor, of magnetic leader cable for aircraft guidance during roll-out and turnoff

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Young, J. C.; Bundick, W. T.; Irwin, S. H.

    1983-01-01

    Tests were conducted with a van mounted experimental magnetic leader cable sensor to evaluate its potential for measuring aircraft displacement and heading with respect to the leader cable during roll out and turnoff. Test results show that the system may be usable in measuring displacement but the heading measurement contains errors introduced by distortion of the magnetic field by the metal van or aircraft.

  18. Molecular epidemiology of vancomycin resistant enterococci in a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia.

    PubMed

    Somily, Ali M; Al-Mohizea, Maha M; Absar, Muhammed M; Fatani, Amal J; Ridha, Afaaf M; Al-Ahdal, Mohammed N; Senok, Abiola C; Al-Qahtani, Ahmed A

    2016-08-01

    Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are a major cause of nosocomial infections with high mortality and morbidity. There is limited data on the molecular characterization of VRE in Saudi Arabia. This study was carried out to investigate the premise that a shift in VRE epidemiology is occurring in our setting. Enterococcus species identification and susceptibility testing plus VRE phenotypic confirmation by vancomycin and teicoplanin E-test were carried out. Vancomycin resistance genes were detected by PCR. Strain typing was conducted using PFGE. Among the strains of Enterococcus spp. investigated in this study, 17 (4.5%) were VRE. With the exception of one isolate from rectal swab, all others were clinical specimens with blood being the commonest source (n = 11; 64.7%), followed by urine (n = 3; 17.6%). The 17 VRE isolates were Enterococcus faecium (n/N = 13/17) and Enterococcus gallinarum (n/N = 4/17). Among E. faecium isolates, vanA(+)/vanB(+) (n/N = 8/13; 62%) exhibiting VanB phenotype were predominant. One of the five vanA(+)E. faecium isolates exhibited a VanB phenotype indicative of vanA genotype-VanB phenotype incongruence. E. gallinarum isolates exhibited a Van C phenotype although two were vanA(+)/vanC1(+). PFGE revealed a polyclonal distribution with eight pulsotypes. These findings indicate an evolving VRE epidemiology with vanA(+)/vanB(+) isolates and vanA genotype-VanB phenotype incongruence isolates, which were previously described as colonizers, are now causing clinical infection. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  19. Wind and Current Forces Acting on Canadian Forces Ships During Tug Operations

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2002-11-01

    McTaggart and Sav- age [1] describe model tests conducted on a generic frigate model to determine wind forces influencing ship capsize. Van Manen and van ...Fn will be 0.06. Based on data presented by van Manen and van Oossanen [2], the fric- tional resistance coefficient will be approximately 0.002 and...Conference on Stability of Ships and Ocean Vehicles (Melbourne, Florida, 1994). 2. J.D. van Manen and P. van Oossanen, Principles of Naval Architecture, Volume

  20. Bepaling Referentiewaarden voor Ergonomie en Warmtebelasting van Lichtgewicht Bommenpakken (Determination of Ergonomic and Thermal Load Tests and Assessment of Reference Values With Light Weight Bomb Disposal Suits)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-05-01

    bommenpakken kunnen geven bij bewegingen worden gemeten met de volgende bewegingbeperkingtests: sit-and-reach, stand-and-reach, abductie van de armen ...anteflexie van de armen en beperking van zicht. Bij de sit-and-reach test komt een eventuele belernmering bij het voorover buigen naar voren. De...proefpersoon zit op de grond met de benen en armen gestrekt naar voren. Daarbij wordt de afstand tussen de tenen en de vingers gemeten (figuur 4). Als het pak

  1. Mobile Telemetry Van Remote Control Upgrade

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-05-17

    Advantages of Remote Control System Upgrade • Summary Overview • Remote control of Telemetry Mobile Ground Support ( TMGS ) Van proposed to allow...NWC) personnel provided valuable data for full-function remote control of telemetry tracking vans Background • TMGS Vans support Flight Test...control capability from main TM site at Building 5790 currently allows support via TMGS Van at nearby C- 15 Site, Plant 42 in Palmdale, and as far

  2. UPS Hybrid Electric Delivery Van Testing | Transportation Research | NREL

    Science.gov Websites

    conventional diesel vans. Publications The following documents provide detailed information about the study the conventional vans during the on-road portion of the study. The two vehicle groups switched route assignments during the study period to provide a balanced review of the vans on the same routes. During

  3. Measurements of Propeller-Induced Unsteady Surface Force and Pressures

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1986-12-01

    investigations using foreshortened hull models in the determination of cavitating propeller-induced pressure pulses include van Manen , 46 Huse,47 van Oossanen...Nov 1974). 46. van Manen , J.D., "The Effect of Cavitation on the Interaction Between Propeller and Ship’s Hull, "International Shipbuilding Progress...and van der Kooij,48 and van der Kooij and Jonk. 49 Examples of more recent publications that have either made use of results from dummy model tests or

  4. A rapid quantification of binocular misalignment without recording eye movements: Vertical and torsional alignment nulling.

    PubMed

    Beaton, Kara H; Shelhamer, Mark J; Roberts, Dale C; Schubert, Michael C

    2017-05-01

    Small, innate asymmetries between the left and right otolith organs can cause ocular misalignment with symptoms that include double vision and motion sickness. Additionally, ocular misalignment affects nearly 5% of the US population. We have developed a portable, non-invasive technology that uses subjective perception of binocular visual signals to estimate relative binocular alignment. The Vertical Alignment Nulling (VAN) and Torsional Alignment Nulling (TAN) tests ask subjects to view one red and one blue line on a tablet computer while looking through color-matched red and blue filters so that each eye sees only one of the lines. Subjects align the red and blue lines, which are initially vertically offset from one another during VAN or rotated relative to one another during TAN, until they perceive a single continuous line. Ocular misalignments are inferred from actual offsets in the final line positions. During testing, all binocular visual cues are eliminated by employing active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) technology and testing in darkness. VAN and TAN can accurately account for visual offsets induced by prisms, and test-retest reliability is excellent, with resolution better than many current standard clinical tests. VAN and TAN tests are similar to the clinical Lancaster red-green test. However, VAN and TAN employ inexpensive, hand-held hardware that can be self-administered with results that are quickly quantifiable. VAN and TAN provide simple, sensitive, and quantitative measures of binocular positioning alignment that may be useful for detecting subtle abnormalities in ocular positioning. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  5. [Expression patterns of non-viral transfection with GFP in the organ of Corti in vitro and in vivo. Gene therapy of the inner ear with non-viral vectors].

    PubMed

    Praetorius, M; Pfannenstiel, S; Klingmann, C; Baumann, I; Plinkert, P K; Staecker, H

    2008-05-01

    Diseases of the inner ear such as presbycusis, tinnitus, sudden hearing loss, and vertigo affect many patients, but so far there are no specific therapy options. Gene therapy might become a potential modality of treatment. Viral vectors are standard in animal models to date. Future considerations, however, call for a further evaluation of non-viral transfection methods. The non-viral transfection agents Metafectene, Superfect, Effectene, and Mirus TransIT were incubated with a plasmid coding for GFP. In vivo, the plasmid-agent mix was injected via the membrane of the round window, and 48 h later the inner ear was perfused, harvested, decalcified, and histologically evaluated for GFP expression. Cationic lipids (Metafectene) and dendrimers (Superfect) were able to transfect cells in the area of the organ of Corti and lead to GFP expression. The polyamine (Mirus TransIT) did show expression of GFP in the area of Rosenthal's canal and in the area of the inner hair cell. The combination of a non-liposomal lipid with a DNA condensing component (Effectene) did not show transfection of the organ of Corti. In the area of the spiral ganglia cells, GFP expression was seen with all the transfection agents. Non-viral transfection agents are able to introduce a reporter gene in cells of the inner ear in vitro and in vivo. There are, however, differences in the efficiency of the transfection. They might be an alternative in gene therapy of the inner ear. Further investigations to elucidate their potential are needed.

  6. A Reassessment of Heavy-Duty Truck Aerodynamic Design Features and Priorities

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Saltzman, Edwin J.; Meyer, Robert R., Jr.

    1999-01-01

    Between 1973 and 1982, the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center conducted "coast-down" tests demonstrating means for reducing the drag of trucks, buses, and motor homes. Numerous configurations were evaluated using a box-shaped test van, a two-axle truck, and a tractor-semitrailer combination. Results from three configurations of the test van are of interest now in view of a trucking industry goal of a 0.25 drag coefficient for tractor-semitrailer combinations. Two test van configurations with blunt-base geometry, similar to present day trucks (one configuration has square front comers and the other has rounded front comers), quantify the base drag increase associated with reduced forebody drag. Hoemer's equations predict this trend; however, test van results, reinforced by large-scale air vehicle data, indicate that Hoemer's formula greatly underestimates this dependence of base drag on forebody efficiency. The demonstrated increase in base drag associated with forebody refinement indicates that the goal of a 0.25 drag coefficient will not be achieved without also reducing afterbody drag. A third configuration of the test van had a truncated boattail to reduce afterbody drag and achieved a drag coefficient of 0.242. These results are included here and references are identified for other means of reducing afterbody drag.

  7. Spacecraft-level verification of the Van Allen Probes' RF communication system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Crowne, M. J.; Srinivasan, D.; Royster, D.; Weaver, G.; Matlin, D.; Mosavi, N.

    This paper presents the verification process, lessons learned, and selected test results of the radio frequency (RF) communication system of the Van Allen Probes, formerly known as the Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP). The Van Allen Probes mission is investigating the doughnut-shaped regions of space known as the Van Allen radiation belts where the Sun interacts with charged particles trapped in Earth's magnetic field. Understanding this dynamic area that surrounds our planet is important to improving our ability to design spacecraft and missions for reliability and astronaut safety. The Van Allen Probes mission features two nearly identical spacecraft designed, built, and operated by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The RF communication system features the JHU/APL Frontier Radio. The Frontier Radio is a software-defined radio (SDR) designed for spaceborne communications, navigation, radio science, and sensor applications. This mission marks the first spaceflight usage of the Frontier Radio. RF ground support equipment (RF GSE) was developed using a ground station receiver similar to what will be used in flight and whose capabilities provided clarity into RF system performance that was previously not obtained until compatibility testing with the ground segments. The Van Allen Probes underwent EMC, acoustic, vibration, and thermal vacuum testing at the environmental test facilities at APL. During this time the RF communication system was rigorously tested to ensure optimal performance, including system-level testing down to threshold power levels. Compatibility tests were performed with the JHU/APL Satellite Communication Facility (SCF), the Universal Space Network (USN), and the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS). Successful completion of this program as described in this paper validated the design of the system and demonstrated that it will be able to me- t all of the Van Allen Probes's communications requirements with its intended ground segments.

  8. Multi-Million Atom Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Shocked Materials

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-11-01

    chose this system for two reasons: First, accurate and widely tested atomistic models are available (van Beest et. al., 1990; Yuan and Cormack...Surface (PES) We have identified a model of silica (van Beest et. al., 1990) that has been extensively tested and that predicts several polymorphic...states (Saika-Voivod et. al., 2004). This model, hereafter denoted as the BKS model after its authors (van Beest et. al., 1990), assumes that the

  9. 77 FR 39561 - Recommendations from Airman Testing Standards and Training Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC)

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-07-03

    ... development of aeronautical knowledge testing and training materials. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Van L... Aeronautical Center, P.O. Box 25082, Oklahoma City, OK 73125; telephone (405) 954-4431, email van.l[email protected

  10. Ex ante Implementatietoetsing van Beleid, Een Methodiek Gebaseerd op Synergie Tussen Risicomanagement en Verandermanagement (Ex Ante Test for Policy Implementation - A Method Based Upon Synergy Between Risk Management an Change Management)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-12-01

    ante implementatietoetsing van beleid Een methodiek gebaseerd op synergie tussen risicomnanagemnent en verandermanagemnent Datuni december 2006 Auteur (s...te analyseren. Het de resultaten van de interviews gebruikct bij de theorie van risicomanagement en project Verandermanagernent bij de de ontwikkehing...Opdrachtnummer Hoewel expliciet is gekeken naar voorbeelden van risico’s bij Datum december 2006 Auteur (s) PROGRAMMA PR03ECT drs. R.C.T. de Haas drs

  11. Testing the dynamic rollover resistance of two 15-passenger vans with multiple load configurations

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2004-06-01

    As a consequence of NTSB Safety Recommendations H-02-26 and H-02-28, NHTSA performed a study to investigate the effects different load conditions may have on the dynamic rollover resistance of 15-passenger vans. The two vans used in this study, a 200...

  12. Baseline tests of the Volkswagen transporter electric delivery van

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Soltis, R. F.; Mcbrien, E. F.; Bozek, J. M.; Gourash, F.

    1978-01-01

    The Volkswagen Transporter, an electric delivery van, was tested as part of an Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA) project to characterize the state of the art of electric vehicles. The Volkswagen Transporter is a standard Volkswagen van that has been converted to an electric vehicle. It is powered by a 144-volt traction battery. A direct current (dc) chopper controller, actuated by a conventional accelerator pedal, regulates the voltage or power applied to the 16-kilowatt (21-hp) motor. The braking system uses conventional hydraulic braking in combination with an electric regenerative braking system. The Volkswagen vehicle performance test results are presented.

  13. Validation of VITEK 2 Version 4.01 Software for Detection, Identification, and Classification of Glycopeptide-Resistant Enterococci

    PubMed Central

    Abele-Horn, Marianne; Hommers, Leif; Trabold, René; Frosch, Matthias

    2006-01-01

    We evaluated the ability of the new VITEK 2 version 4.01 software to identify and detect glycopeptide-resistant enterococci compared to that of the reference broth microdilution method and to classify them into the vanA, vanB, vanC1, and vanC2 genotypes. Moreover, the accuracy of antimicrobial susceptibility testing with agents with improved potencies against glycopeptide-resistant enterococci was determined. A total of 121 enterococci were investigated. The new VITEK 2 software was able to identify 114 (94.2%) enterococcal strains correctly to the species level and to classify 119 (98.3%) enterococci correctly to the glycopeptide resistance genotype level. One Enterococcus casseliflavus strain and six Enterococcus faecium vanA strains with low-level resistance to vancomycin were identified with low discrimination, requiring additional tests. One of the vanA strains was misclassified as the vanB type, and one glycopeptide-susceptible E. facium wild type was misclassified as the vanA type. The overall essential agreements for antimicrobial susceptibility testing results were 94.2% for vancomycin, 95.9% for teicoplanin, 100% for quinupristin-dalfopristin and moxifloxacin, and 97.5% for linezolid. The rates of minor errors were 9% for teicoplanin and 5% for the other antibiotic agents. The identification and susceptibility data were produced within 4 h to 6 h 30 min and 8 h 15 min to 12 h 15 min. In conclusion, use of VITEK 2 version 4.01 software appears to be a reliable method for the identification and detection of glycopeptide-resistant enterococci as well as an improvement over the use of the former VITEK 2 database. However, a significant reduction in the detection time would be desirable. PMID:16390951

  14. Kwalificate/Classificatie van Explosieve Stoffen en Munitie. Rapport 2. Testontwikkeling (Qualification/Classification Explosive Materials and Munition. 2. Test Development)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1992-11-01

    beschermkap van het apparaat af te halen , waardoor bij een eventuele ontsteking het energetisch materiaal (al dan niet brandend) weg kan springen. Tevens...TNO-DefensieonderzoekPr TN TNO-rapport Kwalificatielclassificatie van explosieve stoffen ~ PML 1992-68 en munitief Rapport ]I: Testontwikkeling...rapport Kwalificatielclassificatie van explosieve stoffen PML 1992-68 en munitie Rapport f1: Testontwikkeling november 1992 ~~- ExorrIaar no:- 1ýMI

  15. Submaximal Exercise Testing Treadmill and Floor Walking.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1978-05-01

    Amputations," Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 56:67-71, 1975. 36. van der Walt, W. H., and Wyndham, C. H,, "An Equation for...C. H., van Renaburg, A. J., Rogr, G. G., Greyson, J. S.. and van der Walt, V. H., "Walk or Jog for Health: I, The Energy Cost of Walking or Running at...G., Greyson, J. S., and van der Walt, V. H., "Walk or Jog for Health: II, Iatimating the Maximi Aerobic Capacity for Exercise,* South &frIca Kedical

  16. Integrated Bow Waterjet for Amphibious Vehicles.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1983-01-01

    8217 Davidson Laboratory Report 2276, October 1982. 3. J. D. van Manen , "Open-Water Test Series with Propellers in Nozzles," International Shipbuilding Progress...Volume 1, No. 2, 1954, pg. 99. 4. W.P.A. van Lammeren, J. D. van Manen and M.W.C. Oosterveld, "The Wageningen B-Screw Series," Trans. SNAME 1969, pg

  17. Should We Stop Developing Heuristics and Only Rely on Mixed Integer Programming Solvers in Automated Test Assembly? A Rejoinder to van der Linden and Li (2016).

    PubMed

    Chen, Pei-Hua

    2017-05-01

    This rejoinder responds to the commentary by van der Linden and Li entiled "Comment on Three-Element Item Selection Procedures for Multiple Forms Assembly: An Item Matching Approach" on the article "Three-Element Item Selection Procedures for Multiple Forms Assembly: An Item Matching Approach" by Chen. Van der Linden and Li made a strong statement calling for the cessation of test assembly heuristics development, and instead encouraged embracing mixed integer programming (MIP). This article points out the nondeterministic polynomial (NP)-hard nature of MIP problems and how solutions found using heuristics could be useful in an MIP context. Although van der Linden and Li provided several practical examples of test assembly supporting their view, the examples ignore the cases in which a slight change of constraints or item pool data might mean it would not be possible to obtain solutions as quickly as before. The article illustrates the use of heuristic solutions to improve both the performance of MIP solvers and the quality of solutions. Additional responses to the commentary by van der Linden and Li are included.

  18. Optimal Item Pool Design for a Highly Constrained Computerized Adaptive Test

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    He, Wei

    2010-01-01

    Item pool quality has been regarded as one important factor to help realize enhanced measurement quality for the computerized adaptive test (CAT) (e.g., Flaugher, 2000; Jensema, 1977; McBride & Wise, 1976; Reckase, 1976; 2003; van der Linden, Ariel, & Veldkamp, 2006; Veldkamp & van der Linden, 2000; Xing & Hambleton, 2004). However, studies are…

  19. AUC/MIC Pharmacodynamic Target Is Not a Good Predictor of Vancomycin Efficacy in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Experimental Endocarditis

    PubMed Central

    Castañeda, Ximena; García-de-la-Mària, Cristina; Gasch, Oriol; Pericas, Juan M.; Armero, Yolanda; Soy, Dolors; García-González, Javier; Falces, Carlos; Ninot, Salvador; Almela, Manel; Ambrosioni, Juan; Quintana, Eduardo; Vidal, Barbara; Fuster, David; Llopis, Jaume; Soto, Sara; Moreno, Asuncion; Marco, Francesc

    2017-01-01

    ABSTRACT The aim of this in vivo study was to compare the efficacy of vancomycin at standard doses (VAN-SD) to that of VAN at adjusted doses (VAN-AD) in achieving a VAN area under the curve/MIC ratio (AUC/MIC) of ≥400 against three methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains with different microdilution VAN MICs in an experimental endocarditis model. The valve vegetation bacterial counts after 48 h of VAN therapy were compared, and no differences were observed between the two treatment groups for any of the three strains tested. Overall, for VAN-SD and VAN-AD, the rates of sterile vegetations were 15/45 (33.3%) and 21/49 (42.8%) (P = 0.343), while the medians (interquartile ranges [IQRs]) for log10 CFU/g of vegetation were 2 (0 to 6.9) and 2 (0 to 4.5) (P = 0.384), respectively. In conclusion, this VAN AUC/MIC pharmacodynamic target was not a good predictor of vancomycin efficacy in MRSA experimental endocarditis. PMID:28373187

  20. AUC/MIC Pharmacodynamic Target Is Not a Good Predictor of Vancomycin Efficacy in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Experimental Endocarditis.

    PubMed

    Castañeda, Ximena; García-de-la-Mària, Cristina; Gasch, Oriol; Pericas, Juan M; Armero, Yolanda; Soy, Dolors; García-González, Javier; Falces, Carlos; Ninot, Salvador; Almela, Manel; Ambrosioni, Juan; Quintana, Eduardo; Vidal, Barbara; Fuster, David; Llopis, Jaume; Soto, Sara; Moreno, Asuncion; Marco, Francesc; Miró, Jose M

    2017-06-01

    The aim of this in vivo study was to compare the efficacy of vancomycin at standard doses (VAN-SD) to that of VAN at adjusted doses (VAN-AD) in achieving a VAN area under the curve/MIC ratio (AUC/MIC) of ≥400 against three methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains with different microdilution VAN MICs in an experimental endocarditis model. The valve vegetation bacterial counts after 48 h of VAN therapy were compared, and no differences were observed between the two treatment groups for any of the three strains tested. Overall, for VAN-SD and VAN-AD, the rates of sterile vegetations were 15/45 (33.3%) and 21/49 (42.8%) ( P = 0.343), while the medians (interquartile ranges [IQRs]) for log 10 CFU/g of vegetation were 2 (0 to 6.9) and 2 (0 to 4.5) ( P = 0.384), respectively. In conclusion, this VAN AUC/MIC pharmacodynamic target was not a good predictor of vancomycin efficacy in MRSA experimental endocarditis. Copyright © 2017 American Society for Microbiology.

  1. The Effect of Designed Geometry Teaching Lesson to the Candidate Teachers' Van Hiele Geometric Thinking Level

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Yilmaz, Gül Kaleli; Koparan, Timur

    2016-01-01

    The aim of this study is to find out how designed Geometry Teaching Lesson affects candidate teachers' Van Hiele Geometric Thinking Levels. For that purpose, 14 weeks long study was performed with 44 candidate teachers who were university students in Turkey. Van Hiele Geometric Thinking Test was applied to candidate teachers before and after…

  2. Synergistic Interactions of Vancomycin with Different Antibiotics against Escherichia coli: Trimethoprim and Nitrofurantoin Display Strong Synergies with Vancomycin against Wild-Type E. coli

    PubMed Central

    Zhou, Alice; Kang, Tina Manzhu; Yuan, Jessica; Beppler, Casey; Nguyen, Caroline; Mao, Zhiyuan; Nguyen, Minh Quan

    2014-01-01

    Gram-negative bacteria are normally resistant to the antibiotic vancomycin (VAN), which cannot significantly penetrate the outer membrane. We used Escherichia coli mutants that are partially sensitive to VAN to study synergies between VAN and 10 other antibiotics representing six different functional categories. We detected strong synergies with VAN and nitrofurantoin (NTR) and with VAN and trimethoprim (TMP) and moderate synergies with other drugs, such as aminoglycosides. These synergies are powerful enough to show the activity of VAN against wild-type E. coli at concentrations of VAN as low as 6.25 μg/ml. This suggests that a very small percentage of exogenous VAN does enter E. coli but normally has insignificant effects on growth inhibition or cell killing. We used the results of pairwise interactions with VAN and the other 10 antibiotics tested to place VAN into a functional category of its own, as previously defined by Yeh et al. (P. Yeh, A. I. Tschumi, and R. Kishony, Nat Genet 28:489–494, 2006, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ng1755). PMID:25348521

  3. The Testing Effect Is Alive and Well with Complex Materials

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Karpicke, Jeffrey D.; Aue, William R.

    2015-01-01

    Van Gog and Sweller (2015) claim that there is no testing effect--no benefit of practicing retrieval--for complex materials. We show that this claim is incorrect on several grounds. First, Van Gog and Sweller's idea of "element interactivity" is not defined in a quantitative, measurable way. As a consequence, the idea is applied…

  4. A comparison of rural high school students in Germany with rural Tennessee high school students' mathematics and science achievement

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Harding, R. Fredrick

    This descriptive study compared the science and mathematics aptitudes and achievement test scores for the final school year students in rural White County and Van Buren County, Tennessee with rural county students in Germany. In accordance with the previous research literature (Stevenson, 2002), German students outperformed U.S. students on The International Trends in Math and Science test (TIMSS). As reform in the U.S. education system has been underway, this study intended to compare German county student final school year performance with White County and Van Buren County (Grade 12) performance in science and mathematics. The entire populations of 176 White and Van Buren Counties senior high final school year students were compared with 120 school final year students from two rural German county high schools. The student responses to identical test and questionnaire items were compared using the t-test statistical analysis. In conclusion after t-test analyses, there was no significant difference (p>.05 level) in student attitudes on the 27 problem achievement and the 35 TIMSS questionnaire items between the sampled population of 120 German students compared with the population of 176 White and Van Buren students. Also, there was no statistically significant difference (p>.05 level) between the German, White, and Van Buren County rural science and math achievement in the TIMSS problem section of the final year test. Based on the research, recommendations to improve U.S. student scores to number one in the world include making changes in teaching methodology in mathematics and science; incorporating pamphlet lessons rather than heavily reliance on textbooks; focusing on problem solving; establishing an online clearinghouse for effective lessons; creating national standards in mathematics and science; matching students' course choices to job aspirations; tracking misbehaving students rather than mainstreaming them into the regular classroom; and designing individual educational plans for every student. Further study and future investigations are recommended from this study to compare White County and Van Buren County Students with other rural county schools in Tennessee, as well as other states. In addition, the Tennessee students' state mandated science and mathematics could be correlated to the TIMMS to identify trends and relationships. Future comparisons of White County and Van Buren County with higher scoring rural Asian students could be done in search of more effective methods of teaching science and mathematics.

  5. Solving Geometric Problems by Using Algebraic Representation for Junior High School Level 3 in Van Hiele at Geometric Thinking Level

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Suwito, Abi; Yuwono, Ipung; Parta, I. Nengah; Irawati, Santi; Oktavianingtyas, Ervin

    2016-01-01

    This study aims to determine the ability of algebra students who have 3 levels van Hiele levels. Follow its framework Dindyal framework (2007). Students are required to do 10 algebra shaped multiple choice, then students work 15 about the geometry of the van Hiele level in the form of multiple choice questions. The question has been tested levels…

  6. MTR BASEMENT. WORKERS (DON ALVORD AND CYRIL VAN ORDEN OF ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    MTR BASEMENT. WORKERS (DON ALVORD AND CYRIL VAN ORDEN OF PHILLIPS PETROLEUM CO.) POSE FOR GAMMA IRRADIATION EXPERIMENT IN MTR CANAL. CANS OF FOOD WILL BE LOWERED TO CANAL BOTTOM, WHERE SPENT MTR FUEL ELEMENTS EMIT GAMMA RADIATION. INL NEGATIVE NO. 11746. Unknown Photographer, 8/20/1954 - Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Test Reactor Area, Materials & Engineering Test Reactors, Scoville, Butte County, ID

  7. Ambient noise levels in mobile audiometric testing facilities: compliance with industry standards.

    PubMed

    Lankford, J E; Perrone, D C; Thunder, T D

    1999-04-01

    Excessive ambient noise levels in audiometric test booths may elevate and therefore invalidate hearing thresholds of employees included in a hearing conservation program. This study was conducted to determine if a sample of mobile test vans and trailers operating in the Midwest met the 1983 Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) maximum permissible ambient noise levels (MPANLs), the MPANLs in the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) S3.1-1991, and the suggested National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA) values. Ambient noise levels were measured in 13 audiometric test booths contained in 12 different industrial mobile test vans and trailers operating in the Midwest. Results indicated that all 13 (100%) of the industrial mobile test vans and trailers evaluated complied with 1983 OSHA permissible levels and the NHCA 1996 recommended levels. With regard to the 1991 ANSI MPANLs, 5 (38%) of the 13 booths were in compliance at all frequencies. Those that failed did so at 125, 250, and 500 Hz. It appears that the NHCA levels need to be used for all hearing conservation programs with respect to compliance for noise levels in mobile audiometric test booths.

  8. Relationship of the Van Herick Grading System with Peripheral Iris Configuration and Level of Iris Insertion.

    PubMed

    Khan, Faisal Aziz; Niazi, Shafaq Pervez Khan; Khan, Assad Zaman

    2017-09-01

    To determine the relationship of the van Herick angle grading system with the level of iris insertion and peripheral iris configuration. Observational study. Eye department, Combined Military Hospital, Malir Cantt., Karachi, from May to October 2015. Sixty-five eyes of 65 patients were recruited. Anterior chamber depth at the temporal limbus was measured as a fraction of corneal section thickness using van Herick technique and graded on the standard 4-point scale of the van Herick grading system. Gonioscopy of the temporal quadrant was performed with a Posner 4 mirror goniolens and both the true level of iris insertion and peripheral iris configuration were recorded on a 4-point scale so as to equate with the van Herick 4-point grading system. Spearman's rho test was applied to determine the relationship of the van Herick grading system with level of iris root insertion and peripheral iris configuration. Amoderate positive correlation between van Herick grade and peripheral iris configuration was found which was statistically significant (rs=0.42, p < 0.001). Astatistically significant and moderate positive correlation was also detected between van Herick grade and the level of iris insertion (rs=0.45, p < 0.001). The van Herick grade has a moderately positive relationship with the peripheral iris configuration and true level of iris insertion.

  9. A Statistical Test Suite for Random and Pseudorandom Number Generators for Cryptographic Applications

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2001-05-15

    is based on a calculated test statistic value, which is a function of the data. If the test statistic value is S and the critical value is t, then...5 Defined in The Handbook of Applied Cryptography ; A. Menezes, P. Van Oorschot and S . Vanstone; CRC Press, 1997. The first 4...3rd ed. Reading: Addison-Wesley, Inc., pp. 61-80. [4] A. J. Menezes, P. C. van Oorschot, and S . A. Vanstone (1997), Handbook of Applied Cryptography

  10. Glucagon-like peptide-1 regulates brown adipose tissue thermogenesis via the gut-brain axis in rats.

    PubMed

    Krieger, Jean-Philippe; Santos da Conceição, Ellen Paula; Sanchez-Watts, Graciela; Arnold, Myrtha; Pettersen, Klaus G; Mohammed, Mazher; Modica, Salvatore; Lossel, Pius; Morrison, Shaun F; Madden, Christopher J; Watts, Alan G; Langhans, Wolfgang; Lee, Shin J

    2018-05-30

    Endogenous intestinal glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) controls satiation and glucose metabolism via vagal afferent neurons (VAN). Recently, VAN have received increasing attention for their role in brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis. It is however unclear whether VAN GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) signaling affects BAT thermogenesis and energy expenditure (EE), and whether this VAN mechanism contributes to energy balance. First, we tested the effect of the GLP-1R agonist Exendin-4 (Ex4, 0.3 μg/kg IP) on EE and BAT thermogenesis, and whether these effects require VAN GLP-1R signaling, using a rat model with a selective Glp1r knockdown (kd) in VAN. Second, we examined the role of VAN GLP-1R in energy balance during chronic high-fat diet (HFD) feeding in VAN Glp1r kd rats. Lastly, we used viral transsynaptic tracers to identify the possible neuronal substrates of such a gut-BAT interaction. VAN Glp1r kd attenuated the acute suppressive effects of Ex4 on EE and BAT thermogenesis. Consistent with this finding, the VAN Glp1r kd increased EE and BAT activity, diminished body weight gain, and improved insulin sensitivity compared to HFD-fed controls. Anterograde transsynaptic viral tracing of VAN infected major hypothalamic and hindbrain areas involved in BAT sympathetic regulation. Moreover, retrograde tracing from BAT combined with laser capture microdissection revealed that a population of VAN expressing Glp1r is synaptically connected to the BAT. Our findings reveal a novel role of VAN GLP-1R signaling in the regulation of EE and BAT thermogenesis, and imply that through this gut-brain-BAT connection intestinal GLP-1 plays a role in HFD-induced metabolic syndrome.

  11. Emergence of vanA Enterococcus faecium in Denmark, 2005-15.

    PubMed

    Hammerum, Anette M; Baig, Sharmin; Kamel, Yasmin; Roer, Louise; Pinholt, Mette; Gumpert, Heidi; Holzknecht, Barbara; Røder, Bent; Justesen, Ulrik S; Samulioniené, Jurgita; Kjærsgaard, Mona; Østergaard, Claus; Holm, Anette; Dzajic, Esad; Søndergaard, Turid Snekloth; Gaini, Shahin; Edquist, Petra; Alm, Erik; Lilje, Berit; Westh, Henrik; Stegger, Marc; Hasman, Henrik

    2017-08-01

    To describe the changing epidemiology of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis in clinical samples in Denmark 2005-15 according to species and van type, and, furthermore, to investigate the genetic relatedness of the clinical E. faecium isolates from 2015. During 2005-14, all clinical VRE isolates were tested for the presence of vanA/B/C genes by PCR. In 2015, all clinical VRE isolates were whole-genome sequenced. From the WGS data, the presence of van genes and MLST STs were extracted in silico . Core-genome MLST (cgMLST) analysis was performed for the vancomycin-resistant E. faecium isolates. During 2005-15, 1043 vanA E. faecium , 25 vanB E. faecium , 4 vanA E. faecalis and 28 vanB E. faecalis were detected. The number of VRE was <50 isolates/year until 2012 to > 200 isolates/year in 2013-15. In 2015, 368 vanA E. faecium and 1 vanB E. faecium were detected along with 1 vanA E. faecalis and 1 vanB E. faecalis . cgMLST subdivided the 368 vanA E. faecium isolates into 33 cluster types (CTs), whereas the vanB E. faecium isolate belonged to a different CT. ST203-CT859 was most prevalent (51%), followed by ST80-CT14 (22%), ST117-CT24 (6%), ST80-CT866 (4%) and ST80-CT860 (2%). Comparison with the cgMLST.org database, previous studies and personal communications with neighbouring countries revealed that the novel cluster ST203-CT859 emerged in December 2014 and spread to the south of Sweden and the Faroe Islands during 2015. VRE increased in Denmark during 2005-15 due to the emergence of several vanA E. faecium clones. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  12. Bio-Aerosol Testkamer: Ontwikkeling van Protocollen (Bio Aerosol Test Chamber: Development of Protocols)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2007-07-01

    testfaciliteit detector met de drie simulanten getest beschikbaar gekomen voor het testen van Beschrijving van de worden volgens gangbare internationale bio...2005 werd de Bio-Adrosol Testkamer (BAT-kamer) geplaatst door de firma Dycor Technologies Ltd., Canada. In de BAT-kamner kan een bio-ai5rosol...bestaande ruimte past. In beide gevallen bleek de firma Dycor Technologies Ltd in Canada (http://www.dycor.com) de beste leverancier te zijn, en voor beide

  13. Gas Testing at the NBC-Filter of the M-Frigates of the Royal Dutch Navy According to the NATO Standard (Gastesten aan het NBC-Filter voor het M-Fregat van de oninklijke Marine volgens NAVO-eisen)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1992-06-01

    man de eisen van bet NAVO.-document voldsan word.. Het AstroCarb-filter bleek voor alle geteste gassen gemakkelijk de vereiste doorbroaktijden te halen ...hill ?NO famwtyn J-3r d~mf tI~nq"M#-rI~ m t~w)-im TNO RCl1 U W2 AM " TNO-por PML1 32490333 Pagins 2 Samenvatting De gasbescherniende eigenschappen van ...De schoktest tastte de prestaties van bet filter niet man. Summary The gas protective properties of an AstroCarb 200 NBC filter which is usid in the

  14. PCDD/F emissions from light-duty diesel vehicles operated under highway conditions and a diesel-engine based power generator.

    PubMed

    Rey, M D; Font, R; Aracil, I

    2014-08-15

    PCDD/F emissions from three light-duty diesel vehicles--two vans and a passenger car--have been measured in on-road conditions. We propose a new methodology for small vehicles: a sample of exhaust gas is collected by means of equipment based on United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) method 23 A for stationary stack emissions. The concentrations of O2, CO, CO2, NO, NO2 and SO2 have also been measured. Six tests were carried out at 90-100 km/h on a route 100 km long. Two additional tests were done during the first 10 min and the following 60 min of the run to assess the effect of the engine temperature on PCDD/F emissions. The emission factors obtained for the vans varied from 1800 to 8400 pg I-TEQ/Nm(3) for a 2004 model year van and 490-580 pg I-TEQ/Nm(3) for a 2006 model year van. Regarding the passenger car, one run was done in the presence of a catalyst and another without, obtaining emission factors (330-880 pg I-TEQ/Nm(3)) comparable to those of the modern van. Two other tests were carried out on a power generator leading to emission factors ranging from 31 to 78 pg I-TEQ/Nm(3). All the results are discussed and compared with literature. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  15. A novel method for simultaneous Enterococcus species identification/typing and van genotyping by high resolution melt analysis.

    PubMed

    Gurtler, Volker; Grando, Danilla; Mayall, Barrie C; Wang, Jenny; Ghaly-Derias, Shahbano

    2012-09-01

    In order to develop a typing and identification method for van gene containing Enterococcus faecium, two multiplex PCR reactions were developed for use in HRM-PCR (High Resolution Melt-PCR): (i) vanA, vanB, vanC, vanC23 to detect van genes from different Enterococcus species; (ii) ISR (intergenic spacer region between the 16S and 23S rRNA genes) to detect all Enterococcus species and obtain species and isolate specific HRM curves. To test and validate the method three groups of isolates were tested: (i) 1672 Enterococcus species isolates from January 2009 to December 2009; (ii) 71 isolates previously identified and typed by PFGE (pulsed-field gel electrophoresis) and MLST (multi-locus sequence typing); and (iii) 18 of the isolates from (i) for which ISR sequencing was done. As well as successfully identifying 2 common genotypes by HRM from the Austin Hospital clinical isolates, this study analysed the sequences of all the vanB genes deposited in GenBank and developed a numerical classification scheme for the standardised naming of these vanB genotypes. The identification of Enterococcus faecalis from E. faecium was reliable and stable using ISR PCR. The typing of E. faecium by ISR PCR: (i) detected two variable peaks corresponding to different copy numbers of insertion sequences I and II corresponding to peak I and II respectively; (ii) produced 7 melt profiles for E. faecium with variable copy numbers of sequences I and II; (iii) demonstrated stability and instability of peak heights with equal frequency within the patient sample (36.4±4.5 days and 38.6±5.8 days respectively for 192 patients); (iv) detected ISR-HRM types with as much discrimination as PFGE and more than MLST; and (v) detected ISR-HRM types that differentiated some isolates that were identical by PFGE and MLST. In conjunction with the rapid and accurate van genotyping method described here, this ISR-HRM typing and identification method can be used as a stable identification and typing method with predictable instability based on recombination and concerted evolution of the rrn operon that will complement existing typing methods. Crown Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  16. A General Class of Test Statistics for Van Valen’s Red Queen Hypothesis

    PubMed Central

    Wiltshire, Jelani; Huffer, Fred W.; Parker, William C.

    2014-01-01

    Van Valen’s Red Queen hypothesis states that within a homogeneous taxonomic group the age is statistically independent of the rate of extinction. The case of the Red Queen hypothesis being addressed here is when the homogeneous taxonomic group is a group of similar species. Since Van Valen’s work, various statistical approaches have been used to address the relationship between taxon age and the rate of extinction. We propose a general class of test statistics that can be used to test for the effect of age on the rate of extinction. These test statistics allow for a varying background rate of extinction and attempt to remove the effects of other covariates when assessing the effect of age on extinction. No model is assumed for the covariate effects. Instead we control for covariate effects by pairing or grouping together similar species. Simulations are used to compare the power of the statistics. We apply the test statistics to data on Foram extinctions and find that age has a positive effect on the rate of extinction. A derivation of the null distribution of one of the test statistics is provided in the supplementary material. PMID:24910489

  17. A General Class of Test Statistics for Van Valen's Red Queen Hypothesis.

    PubMed

    Wiltshire, Jelani; Huffer, Fred W; Parker, William C

    2014-09-01

    Van Valen's Red Queen hypothesis states that within a homogeneous taxonomic group the age is statistically independent of the rate of extinction. The case of the Red Queen hypothesis being addressed here is when the homogeneous taxonomic group is a group of similar species. Since Van Valen's work, various statistical approaches have been used to address the relationship between taxon age and the rate of extinction. We propose a general class of test statistics that can be used to test for the effect of age on the rate of extinction. These test statistics allow for a varying background rate of extinction and attempt to remove the effects of other covariates when assessing the effect of age on extinction. No model is assumed for the covariate effects. Instead we control for covariate effects by pairing or grouping together similar species. Simulations are used to compare the power of the statistics. We apply the test statistics to data on Foram extinctions and find that age has a positive effect on the rate of extinction. A derivation of the null distribution of one of the test statistics is provided in the supplementary material.

  18. Evaluation of a New System, VITEK 2, for Identification and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing of Enterococci

    PubMed Central

    Garcia-Garrote, Fernando; Cercenado, Emilia; Bouza, Emilio

    2000-01-01

    We evaluated the new automated VITEK 2 system (bioMérieux) for the identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of enterococci. The results obtained with the VITEK 2 system were compared to those obtained by reference methods: standard identification by the scheme of Facklam and Sahm [R. R. Facklam and D. F. Sahm, p. 308–314, in P. R. Murray et al., ed., Manual of Clinical Microbiology, 6th ed., 1995] and with the API 20 STREP system and, for antimicrobial susceptibility testing, broth microdilution and agar dilution methods by the procedures of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. The presence of vanA and vanB genes was determined by PCR. A total of 150 clinical isolates were studied, corresponding to 60 Enterococcus faecalis, 55 Enterococcus faecium, 26 Enterococcus gallinarum, 5 Enterococcus avium, 2 Enterococcus durans, and 2 Enterococcus raffinosus isolates. Among those isolates, 131 (87%) were correctly identified to the species level with the VITEK 2 system. Approximately half of the misidentifications were for E. faecium with low-level resistance to vancomycin, identified as E. gallinarum or E. casseliflavus; however, a motility test solved the discrepancies and increased the agreement to 94%. Among the strains studied, 66% were vancomycin resistant (57 VanA, 16 VanB, and 26 VanC strains), 23% were ampicillin resistant (MICs, ≥16 μg/ml), 31% were high-level gentamicin resistant, and 45% were high-level streptomycin resistant. Percentages of agreement for susceptibility and resistance to ampicillin, vancomycin, and teicoplanin and for high-level gentamicin resistance and high-level streptomycin resistance were 93, 95, 97, 97, and 96%, respectively. The accuracy of identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of enterococci with the VITEK 2 system, together with the significant reduction in handling time, will have a positive impact on the work flow of the clinical microbiology laboratory. PMID:10834961

  19. Round 1 Emissions Results from Compressed Natural Gas Vans and Gasoline Controls Operating in the U.S. Federal Fleet

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1996-05-01

    The first round of emissions testing of light-duty alternative fuel vehicles : placed in the U.S. federal fleet under the provisions of the Alternative Motor : Fuels Act was recently completed. This undertaking included 75 Dodge B250 vans, : of which...

  20. Being Mimicked Increases Prosocial Behavior in 18-Month-Old Infants

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Carpenter, Malinda; Uebel, Johanna; Tomasello, Michael

    2013-01-01

    Most previous research on imitation in infancy has focused on infants' learning of instrumental actions on objects. This study focused instead on the more social side of imitation, testing whether being mimicked increases prosocial behavior in infants, as it does in adults (van Baaren, Holland, Kawakami, & van Knippenberg, 2004).…

  1. Fostering Students' Creativity through Van Hiele's 5 Phase-Based Tangram Activities

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Siew, Nyet Moi; Chong, Chin Lu

    2014-01-01

    The aim of this study was to determine whether Van Hiele's 5 phase-based tangrams activities could help to foster creativity among Grade Three primary school students. Students' creativity was investigated in terms of Torrance's Figural Test of creative thinking: Fluency, Originality, Elaboration, Abstractness of title, and Resistance to a…

  2. SUNREL Applications | Buildings | NREL

    Science.gov Websites

    used by the building design team for energy analysis. Zion National Park Visitor's Center Grand Canyon National Park Bookstore NREL Thermal Test Facility NREL Wind Site Entrance Building DPD Office Building Performance Analysis of a High-Mass Residential Building Van Geet residence The Van Geet Off-Grid Home: An

  3. Application of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry in the screening of vanA-positive Enterococcus faecium.

    PubMed

    Wang, Li-jun; Lu, Xin-xin; Wu, Wei; Sui, Wen-jun; Zhang, Gui

    2014-01-01

    In order to evaluate a rapid matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MAIDI-TOF MS) assay in screening vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium, a total of 150 E. faecium clinical strains were studied, including 60 vancomycin-resistant E. faecium (VREF) isolates and 90 vancomycin-susceptible (VSEF) strains. Vancomycin resistance genes were detected by sequencing. E. faecium were identified by MALDI-TOF MS. A genetic algorithm model with ClinProTools software was generated using spectra of 30 VREF isolates and 30 VSEF isolates. Using this model, 90 test isolates were discriminated between VREF and VSEF. The results showed that all sixty VREF isolates carried the vanA gene. The performance of VREF detection by the genetic algorithm model of MALDI-TOF MS compared to the sequencing method was sensitivity = 80%, specificity = 90%, false positive rate =10%, false negative rate =10%, positive predictive value = 80%, negative predictive value= 90%. MALDI-TOF MS can be used as a screening test for discrimination between vanA-positive E. faecium and vanA-negative E. faecium.

  4. Baseline tests of the power-train electric delivery van

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lumannick, S.; Dustin, M. O.; Bozek, J. M.

    1977-01-01

    Vehicle maximum speed, range at constant speed, range over stop-and-go driving schedules, maximum acceleration, gradeability, gradeability limit, road energy consumption, road power, indicated energy consumption, braking capability, battery charger efficiency, and battery characteristics were determined for a modified utility van powered by sixteen 6-volt batteries connected in series. A chopper controller actuated by a foot accelerator pedal changes the voltage applied to the 22-kilowatt (30-hp) series-wound drive motor. In addition to the conventional hydraulic braking system, the vehicle has hydraulic regenerative braking. Cycle tests and acceleration tests were conducted with and without hydraulic regeneration.

  5. EPRI-SCE testing and evaluation of electric vehicles: Lucas van and Jet 007, 750, and 1400. Annual report

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

    Not Available

    1981-02-01

    This report describes the second phase of the EPRI-SCE Electric Vehicle Project, in which four additional electric vehicles (EVs) were tested and evaluated: the Jet Industries Model 007 passenger car, Model 750 pickup truck, and Model 1400 passenger van; and the Lucas-Bedford Model CFE cargo van. During the first phase of this project, four EVs were also tested: Jet 500, Volkswagen Type 2, DAUG Type GM2, and Battronic Minivan. The project emphasizes road-testing of vehicles to acquire data on their useful driving range, performance, reliability, and driver acceptance in utility-fleet use. Each vehicle was driven more than 100 miles alongmore » SCE-selected test routes to determine the effects of different terrains (level, slight grades, and steep grades), traffic conditions (one-, two-, three-, and four-stops/mile and freeway), and payload. The vehicle component failures that occurred during testing are itemized and described briefly, and assessments are made of expected field reliability. Other vehicle characteristics and measurements of interest are presented. The data base on these test vehicles is intended to provide the reader an overview of the real world performance that can be expected from present-day state-of-the-art EVs.« less

  6. Confirming the appearance of excess success: Reply to van Boxtel and Koch (2016).

    PubMed

    Francis, Gregory

    2016-12-01

    van Boxtel and Koch (Psychonomic Bulletin & Review. doi: 10.3758/s13423-016-1010-0 , 2016) reported finding problems in the Test for Excess Success (TES) analysis in Francis (Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 21, 1180-1187, 2014). They argued that their findings undermined the general analysis and the conclusions of the specific TES analysis for their article (van Boxtel & Koch in Psychological Science, 23(4), 410-418, 2012). As shown in this paper, their reported problems reflect misunderstandings about both the general properties of a TES analysis and how it was applied to their specific set of findings. Another look at the findings and theoretical claims in van Boxtel and Koch (Psychological Science, 23(4), 410-418, 2012) confirms the appearance of excess success.

  7. Socialization Tactics and Newcomer Adjustment: A Meta-Analytic Review and Test of a Model

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Saks, Alan M.; Uggerslev, Krista L.; Fassina, Neil E.

    2007-01-01

    One of the most popular and often studied topics in the organizational socialization literature is Van Maanen and Schein's [Van Maanen, J., & Schein, E. H. (1979). Toward a theory of organizational socialization. In B. M. Staw (Ed.), "Research in organizational behavior" (Vol. 1), pp. 209-264. Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.] theory of organizational…

  8. A New Statistic for Detection of Aberrant Answer Changes

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Sinharay, Sandip; Duong, Minh Q.; Wood, Scott W.

    2017-01-01

    As noted by Fremer and Olson, analysis of answer changes is often used to investigate testing irregularities because the analysis is readily performed and has proven its value in practice. Researchers such as Belov, Sinharay and Johnson, van der Linden and Jeon, van der Linden and Lewis, and Wollack, Cohen, and Eckerly have suggested several…

  9. Electric and hybrid vehicle site operators program: Thinking of the future

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kansas State University, with support from federal, state, public, and private companies, is participating in the Department of Energy's Electric Vehicle Site Operator Program. Through participation in this program, Kansas State is displaying, testing, and evaluating electric or hybrid vehicle technology. This participation will provide organizations the opportunity to examine the latest EHV prototypes under actual operating conditions. KSU proposes to purchase one electric or hybrid van and two electric cars during the first two years of this five-year program. KSU has purchased one G-Van built by Conceptor Industries, Toronto, Canada and has initiated a procurement order to purchase two Soleq 1993 Ford EVcort station wagons. The G-Van has been signed in order for the public to be aware that this is an electric drive vehicle. Financial participants' names have been stenciled on the back door of the van. This vehicle is available for short term loan to interested utilities and companies. When other vehicles are obtained, the G-Van will be maintained on K-State's campus.

  10. [Implementation of vanA and vanB genes by PCR technique research interest in system (Xpert vanA/vanB CepheidR) closed in a laboratory of microbiology in managing an outbreak to Enterococcus faecium resistant glycopeptide (EfRG)].

    PubMed

    Dekeyser, S; Beclin, E; Descamps, D

    2011-04-01

    The closed system PCR for the rapid detection of vanA and vanB genes (Xpert vanA/vanB Cepheid(®)) was evaluated in our laboratory, to improve the rapidity of the response and thus the management of patients and isolation measures during two GRE outbreaks. From March to December2009, 565 samples were analysed by PCR associated to bacterial culture initially for all samples for 2months (n = 75), and thereafter for PCR-positive samples only. In this study, sensitivity and negative predictive values of the PCR were 100%. Specificity was evaluated in the presence and absence of outbreak: 69.3 and 76.8% respectively. The variability of false positive rates between units were lower in nonepidemic than during epidemic phase. The global false positive rate was 23.9%. This easy-to-use technology provides rapid results… four samples are tested in 1h versus 72h for culture. Despite its reagent cost, it represents an important hospital diagnostic tool: improvement of the management of cohorting areas and patient transfer between units, adaptation of isolation measures and treatments. However, culture remains necessary to confirm any positive result obtained by PCR and for epidemiological surveillance. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  11. Stability of selected volatile contact allergens in different patch test chambers under different storage conditions.

    PubMed

    Mose, Kristian F; Andersen, Klaus E; Christensen, Lars Porskjaer

    2012-04-01

    Patch test preparations of volatile substances may evaporate during storage, thereby giving rise to reduced patch test concentrations. To investigate the stability of selected acrylates/methacrylates and fragrance allergens in three different test chambers under different storage conditions. Petrolatum samples of methyl methacrylate (MMA), 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (2-HEMA), 2-hydroxypropyl acrylate (2-HPA), cinnamal and eugenol in patch test concentrations were stored in three different test chambers (IQ chamber™, IQ Ultimate™, and Van der Bend® transport container) at room temperature and in a refrigerator. The samples were analysed in triplicate with high-performance liquid chromatography. The decrease in concentration was substantial for all five allergens under both storage conditions in IQ chamber™ and IQ Ultimate™, with the exception of 2-HEMA during storage in the refrigerator. For these two chamber systems, the contact allergen concentration dropped below the stability limit in the following order: MMA, cinnamal, 2-HPA, eugenol, and 2-HEMA. In the Van der Bend® transport container, the contact allergens exhibited acceptable stability under both storage conditions, whereas MMA and 2-HPA required cool storage for maintenance of the limit. The Van der Bend® transport container was the best device for storage of samples of volatile contact allergens. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

  12. Report of the Secretary of Defense Task Force on DoD Nuclear Weapons Management. Phase 1. The Air Force’s Nuclear Mission

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-09-01

    under- resourced. • Missile transfer vans /warhead transfer vans require upgrades. • ICBM weapon system test sets under-funded; the coding system...Air Force’s Nuclear Mission D-1 Appendix D. Current B-52 Basing Status Barksdale AFB, LA 64 B-52Hs Minot AFB, ND 27 B-52Hs Edwards AFB, CA 3...Barksdale – 64 B-52s 2 BW (ACC) 15 TF; 24 CC; 7 BAI 53 WG (ACC) 2 Test Coded 917 WG (AFRC) 8 CC; 1 BAI 7 Unfunded AR Edwards - 3 B-52s 412 TW 2 Test

  13. Elementary school students visual spatial comprehension based on van Hiele Theory: the case in Madiun, East Java, Indonesia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Andini, S.; Fitriana, L.; Budiyono

    2018-03-01

    This study presents partial result from the project “Geometry in Flipbook Multimedia: A Technology Role in Improving Mathematical Learning Quality in Madiun”, which was undertaken to explore the skill of geometry and passing rate of van Hiele’s geometric thinking level, especially for the first three level. The material focus of the study is a two-dimensional figure and reviewed from basic skill aspect of geometry (visual, verbal, drawing, logic, and application). The participants were 30 students in the 6 grade of elementary school in Madiun, East Java. The data collecting technique for this study there are a test instrument of van Hiele geometry (VHG) and an interview’s instrument about characteristics geometry basic skill. After the test, twelve students from participants were randomly selected interviewed to determine their geometry basic skill. This study found that (1) most of the students of 6 grade can only reach the first level is about 69%, the passing rate at the second level test is about 49%, and at the third level, the average of students' achievement is 35%, (2) if viewed from five basic skills of geometry, most of the students have a low mastery, and (3) the achievement of grade six students are inclined high in first level and low in third level based on van Hiele’s Geometric Thinking Level.

  14. Detection of seasonal asymptomatic dermatophytes in Van cats.

    PubMed

    Ilhan, Ziya; Karaca, Mehmet; Ekin, Ismail Hakki; Solmaz, Hasan; Akkan, Hasan Altan; Tutuncu, Mehmet

    2016-01-01

    The Van cat is a domestic landrace found in the Van province of eastern Turkey. In this study, we aimed to determine the seasonal carriage of dermatophytes in Van cats without clinical lesions. A total of 264 hair specimens were collected from clinically healthy cats in and around the Van Province. Of these samples, 30.3% were obtained in spring, 30.6% in summer, 16.6% in autumn, and 22.3% in winter; 45.1% of samples were from male cats and the rest from female ones. Of the studied cats, 118 were younger than 1 year, 78 were 1-3 years old, and 68 were older than 3 years. The specimens were subjected to direct microscopic examination with 15% potassium hydroxide and cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar and dermatophyte test medium supplemented with cycloheximide and chloramphenicol. Dermatophyte identification was carried out based on macroscopic and microscopic colony morphology, urease activities, in vitro hair perforation test, growth at 37°C, and pigmentation on corn meal agar. Dermatophytes were isolated from 19 (7.1%) of the 264 specimens examined. The most frequently isolated fungi were Trichophyton terrestre (4.1%), followed by Microsporum gypseum (1.1%), M. nanum (1.1%), and T. mentagrophytes (0.7%), and these fungi may represent a health risk for humans in contact with clinically healthy Van cats. M. canis was not isolated from any of the specimens. Our results show no significant (p>0.05) association between carriage of dermatophytes and the gender of cats. The carriage rate of dermatophytes was high in spring and winter, and the only possible risk factor for infection was age of the animal. Copyright © 2015 Sociedade Brasileira de Microbiologia. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.

  15. Human Cognition and a Pile of Sand: A Discussion on Serial Correlations and Self-Organized Criticality

    PubMed Central

    Wagenmakers, Eric-Jan; Farrell, Simon; Ratcliff, Roger

    2005-01-01

    Recently, G. C. Van Orden, J. G. Holden, and M. T. Turvey (2003) proposed to abandon the conventional framework of cognitive psychology in favor of the framework of nonlinear dynamical systems theory. Van Orden et al. presented evidence that “purposive behavior originates in self-organized criticality” (p. 333). Here, the authors show that Van Orden et al.’s analyses do not test their hypotheses. Further, the authors argue that a confirmation of Van Orden et al.’s hypotheses would not have constituted firm evidence in support of their framework. Finally, the absence of a specific model for how self-organized criticality produces the observed behavior makes it very difficult to derive testable predictions. The authors conclude that the proposed paradigm shift is presently unwarranted. PMID:15702966

  16. Performance Characteristics of the Cepheid Xpert vanA Assay for Rapid Identification of Patients at High Risk for Carriage of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci

    PubMed Central

    Gilhuley, Kathleen; Cianciminio-Bordelon, Diane; Tang, Yi-Wei

    2012-01-01

    We compared the performance characteristics of culture and the Cepheid Xpert vanA assay for routine surveillance of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) from rectal swabs in patients at high risk for VRE carriage. The Cepheid Xpert vanA assay had a limit of detection of 100 CFU/ml and correctly detected 101 well-characterized clinical VRE isolates with no cross-reactivity in 27 non-VRE and related culture isolates. The clinical sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the Xpert vanA PCR assay were 100%, 96.9%, 91.3%, and 100%, respectively, when tested on 300 consecutively collected rectal swabs. This assay provides excellent predictive values for prompt identification of VRE-colonized patients in hospitals with relatively high rates of VRE carriage. PMID:22972822

  17. An Instrument for Measuring Performance in Geometry Based on the Van Hiele Model

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Sánchez-García, Ana B.; Cabello, Ana Belén

    2016-01-01

    In this paper we present the process of constructing a test for assessing student performance in geometry corresponding to the first year of Secondary Education. The main goal was to detect student errors in the understanding of geometry in order to develop a proposal according to the Van Hiele teaching model, explained in this paper. Our research…

  18. Rapportage POEMA-2 (Functie Faalanalyse, Database, Elektronica en Afdichtingen) (Report of POEMA-2 (Function Failure Analysis, Database, Electronics and Sealings))

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-12-01

    schokversterker/overdrachtslading materiaal onbekend onbekende springstof Aanvuurlading/vlamversterker -Zwartbuskruit Nabijheidselectronica electronica ...onbelkend - Batterij chroomzuur- Sign aalve rwrki ngseenheid electronica - Mechanisohe kortsluitschakelaar onbelkend metaal - Wapeningssamenstel onbelkend...weergave van de electronica in de Medea nabijheidsbuis ~ Omdat de buis is uitgerust met een test-adapter kan de werking van de elektronica

  19. Combination Vancomycin/Cefazolin (VAN/CFZ) for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Bloodstream Infections (BSI)

    PubMed Central

    Trinh, Trang D; Zasowski, Evan J; Lagnf, Abdalhamid M; Bhatia, Sahil; Dhar, Sorabh; Mynatt, Ryan; Pogue, Jason M; Rybak, Michael J

    2017-01-01

    Abstract Background VAN remains the standard for MRSA BSI but has been associated with treatment failures and resulted in prolonged BSI durations and recurrences. In vitro studies of VAN/CFZ against MRSA demonstrated synergy and prevention of VAN resistance. However, clinical use of VAN/CFZ has not been reported. The objective of this study was to compare patient outcomes treated with VAN/CFZ vs. VAN for MRSA BSI. Methods This was a retrospective, cohort, comparative-effectiveness study of hospitalized adults ≥18y with ≥1 MRSA blood culture and received VAN/CFZ combination for ≥24h or VAN alone initiated within 72h of index infection between 1/1/08 and 5/1/17. Patients who received >24h β-lactams other than CFZ, MRSA-active antibiotics other than VAN, with polymicrobial BSI, or had a second MRSA BSI episode during the study period were excluded. The primary composite failure outcome included: 30d mortality, MRSA BSI ≥7d, and 60d recurrence. Demographics were compared by Χ2, Fisher’s exact, Student’s t, or Mann–Whitney U tests. Multivariable regression models compared outcomes between the two treatment groups. Covariates with p-values ≤0.2 in bivariate analyses were included in the model. Results A total of 101 patients were included (CFZ/VAN = 41, VAN = 60). Demographics were similar except VAN patients were older (mean (±SD) age 58 (±14) v. 51 (±18) y, P = 0.04), had higher median (IQR) Charlson Comorbidity Index (3 (2-5) v. 1 (0–4), P < 0.01), APACHE II scores (13 (8-18) v. 11 (8-18), P = 0.2), and more endocarditis BSI source (37% v. 20%, P = 0.06). After accounting for BSI source, VAN/CFZ (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 95% confidence intervals [CI], 0.33, 0.13-0.83) and low APACHE II scores (aOR 1.07, 95% CI 1–1.15) were independently associated with fewer failures. Bivariate outcomes are in table below: Variable, n (%) VAN/CFZ VAN P value Composite failure 10 (24) 31 (52) 0.006 30d mortality 3 (7.3) 5 (8.3) 1 BSI ≥7d 6 (15) 21 (35) 0.023 60d recurrence 3 (7.3) 9 (15) 0.351 Failure switch 1 (2.4) 10 (17) 0.026 Conclusion In this cohort of MRSA BSI, patients treated with VAN/CFZ experienced fewer failures than with VAN alone, with shorter BSI durations. Additional studies are needed to confirm the role of VAN/CFZ combination treatment for MRSA BSI. Disclosures J. M. Pogue, Achaogen, Inc.: Consultant, Consulting fee. M. J. Rybak, Allergen: Scientific Advisor, Consulting fee.

  20. The Average IQ of Sub-Saharan Africans: Comments on Wicherts, Dolan, and van der Maas

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Lynn, Richard; Meisenberg, Gerhard

    2010-01-01

    Wicherts, Dolan, and van der Maas (2009) contend that the average IQ of sub-Saharan Africans is about 80. A critical evaluation of the studies presented by WDM shows that many of these are based on unrepresentative elite samples. We show that studies of 29 acceptably representative samples on tests other than the Progressive Matrices give a…

  1. Automated Identification and Shape Analysis of Chorus Elements in the Van Allen Radiation Belts

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sen Gupta, Ananya; Kletzing, Craig; Howk, Robin; Kurth, William; Matheny, Morgan

    2017-12-01

    An important goal of the Van Allen Probes mission is to understand wave-particle interaction by chorus emissions in terrestrial Van Allen radiation belts. To test models, statistical characterization of chorus properties, such as amplitude variation and sweep rates, is an important scientific goal. The Electric and Magnetic Field Instrument Suite and Integrated Science (EMFISIS) instrumentation suite provides measurements of wave electric and magnetic fields as well as DC magnetic fields for the Van Allen Probes mission. However, manual inspection across terabytes of EMFISIS data is not feasible and as such introduces human confirmation bias. We present signal processing techniques for automated identification, shape analysis, and sweep rate characterization of high-amplitude whistler-mode chorus elements in the Van Allen radiation belts. Specifically, we develop signal processing techniques based on the radon transform that disambiguate chorus elements with a dominant sweep rate against hiss-like chorus. We present representative results validating our techniques and also provide statistical characterization of detected chorus elements across a case study of a 6 s epoch.

  2. Two-probe versus van der Pauw method in studying the piezoresistivity of single-wall carbon nanotube thin films

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yao, Yanbo; Duan, Xiaoshuang; Luo, Jiangjiang; Liu, Tao

    2017-11-01

    The use of the van der Pauw (VDP) method for characterizing and evaluating the piezoresistive behavior of carbon nanomaterial enabled piezoresistive sensors have not been systematically studied. By using single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) thin films as a model system, herein we report a coupled electrical-mechanical experimental study in conjunction with a multiphysics finite element simulation as well as an analytic analysis to compare the two-probe and VDP testing configuration in evaluating the piezoresistive behavior of carbon nanomaterial enabled piezoresistive sensors. The key features regarding the sample aspect ratio dependent piezoresistive sensitivity or gauge factor were identified for the VDP testing configuration. It was found that the VDP test configuration offers consistently higher piezoresistive sensitivity than the two-probe testing method.

  3. Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Late-Onset BK Virus Nephropathy in Kidney and Kidney-Pancreas Transplant Recipients.

    PubMed

    Imlay, Hannah; Whitaker, Kathryn; Fisher, Cynthia E; Limaye, Ajit P

    2018-05-29

    BK virus nephropathy (BKPyVAN) is a major complication in kidney transplant recipients (KTR) and typically occurs within 1 year of transplant. Guidelines vary in recommendations for BKPyV screening beyond 1 year. A systematic characterization of risk factors and outcomes of late-onset (>1 year) BKPyVAN has not previously been reported. We retrospectively compared characteristics and outcomes of early- (<1 year) and late-onset BKPyVAN (definitive [biopsy-confirmed] or presumptive [plasma BKPyV >10,000 copies/mL]) in a cohort of 671 KTR and simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplant (SPK) recipients between 2008 and 2013 at a single US transplant center. Proportions were compared using Chi square or Fisher's exact test with p < 0.05 considered significant. BKPyVAN was diagnosed in 96 (14.3%) patients (proven 16.7%, presumptive 83.3%): 79 (82.3%) early- and 17 (17.7%) late-onset. The proportion with late-onset BKPyVAN was significantly higher among SPK than KTR (4 of 7 [57.1%] vs 13 of 89 [14.6%], p=0.017). Late-onset represented "de novo" infection (no BKPyV detection within the first year) in 14 (82.4%) and progression of earlier lower-grade BKPyV reactivation in 3 (17.6%). Clinical outcomes were similar for early- and late-onset BKPyVAN (p>0.05 all comparisons). In a pooled analysis of prior studies of BKPyVAN in SPK recipients, 62.9% (17 of 27) were late-onset. A significant proportion of BKPyVAN is late-onset, especially among SPK recipients, and supports a longer duration of BKPyV monitoring for SPK recipients than recommended in some guidelines. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

  4. The Air Force Fitness Test: Creating New Fitness Assessment Charts Using Waist to Height Ratios

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2017-03-23

    concurrence with their schedule, and the memo gave more direction to physical training leaders (PTLs). The memorandum provided training expectations for...van Leer, Seidell, and Lean (1995) concluded an increased cardiovascular disease risk is positively associated with waist circumference (Han, van...Air Force Institute of Technology Air University Air Education and Training Command In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of

  5. Temporal Effects of Diversity Faultlines and Social Categories in Training Groups

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-12-05

    Temporal effects of diversity faultlines and social categories in training groups Marinus van Driel, Van Driel Consulting, Inc. Bertolt Meyer...mobility (ethnicity) • Gender equality A test case for the impact of diversity • Background – DEOMI’s flagship course entails weeks spent in highly...interactions brought about by group diversity – Assessments of students‟ behaviors associated with course objectives: Ratings (0-100) at three equally spaced

  6. Eighteen-Month Final Evaluation of UPS Second Generation Diesel Hybrid-Electric Delivery Vans

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

    Lammert, M.; Walkowicz, K.

    2012-09-01

    A parallel hybrid-electric diesel delivery van propulsion system was evaluated at a UPS facility in Minneapolis using on-vehicle data logging, fueling, and maintenance records. Route and drive cycle analysis showed different duty cycles for hybrid vs. conventional delivery vans; routes were switched between the study groups to provide a valid comparison. The hybrids demonstrated greater advantage on the more urban routes; the initial conventional vans' routes had less dense delivery zones. The fuel economy of the hybrids on the original conventional group?s routes was 10.4 mpg vs. 9.2 mpg for the conventional group on those routes a year earlier. Themore » hybrid group's fuel economy on the original hybrid route assignments was 9.4 mpg vs. 7.9 mpg for the conventional group on those routes a year later. There was no statistically significant difference in total maintenance cost per mile or for the vehicle total cost of operation per mile. Propulsion-related maintenance cost per mile was 77% higher for the hybrids, but only 52% more on a cost-per-delivery-day basis. Laboratory dynamometer testing demonstrated 13%-36% hybrid fuel economy improvement, depending on duty cycle, and up to a 45% improvement in ton-mi/gal. NOx emissions increased 21%-49% for the hybrids in laboratory testing.« less

  7. Design of a command, communications, and control van (surrogate)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Holder, J. Darryl; Fishback, Jerome

    1989-03-01

    This report describes the design, construction, and checkout of a radio and telephone multi-mode communications hub. This unit is to serve as a surrogate for a command, control, and communications van which is to be used in support of a special series of testing at a remote site. This unit is assembled in a military four-wheel van and has a crew of a commander and three operators. Radio communications monitoring can be performed in all popular modes of transmission from 50 KHz to 2 GHz and transmission can be performed on selected frequencies in the 40-meter, 6-meter, and 2-meter bands. Both voice and digital (teletype, packet, facsimile, etc.) communications are supported.

  8. Cost-effectiveness of finding new HIV diagnoses using rapid HIV testing in community-based organizations.

    PubMed

    Shrestha, Ram K; Clark, Hollie A; Sansom, Stephanie L; Song, Binwei; Buckendahl, Holly; Calhoun, Cindy B; Hutchinson, Angela B; Heffelfinger, James D

    2008-01-01

    We assessed the cost-effectiveness of determining new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnoses using rapid HIV testing performed by community-based organizations (CBOs) in Kansas City, Missouri, and Detroit, Michigan. The CBOs performed rapid HIV testing during April 2004 through March 2006. In Kansas City, testing was performed in a clinic and in outreach settings. In Detroit, testing was performed in outreach settings only. Both CBOs used mobile testing vans. Measures of effectiveness were the number of HIV tests performed and the number of people notified of new HIV diagnoses, based on rapid tests. We retrospectively collected program costs, including those for personnel, test kits, mobile vans, and facility space. The CBO in Kansas City tested a mean of 855 people a year in its clinic and 703 people a year in outreach settings. The number of people notified of new HIV diagnoses was 19 (2.2%) in the clinic and five (0.7%) in outreach settings. The CBO in Detroit tested 976 people a year in outreach settings, and the number notified of new HIV diagnoses was 15 (1.5%). In Kansas City, the cost per person notified of a new HIV diagnosis was $3,637 in the clinic and $16,985 in outreach settings. In the Detroit outreach settings, the cost per notification was $13,448. The cost of providing a new HIV diagnosis was considerably higher in the outreach settings than in the clinic. The variation can be largely explained by differences in the number of undiagnosed infections among the people tested and by the costs of purchasing and operating a mobile van.

  9. Response latencies are alive and well for identifying fakers on a self-report personality inventory: A reconsideration of van Hooft and Born (2012).

    PubMed

    Holden, Ronald R; Lambert, Christine E

    2015-12-01

    Van Hooft and Born (Journal of Applied Psychology 97:301-316, 2012) presented data challenging both the correctness of a congruence model of faking on personality test items and the relative merit (i.e., effect size) of response latencies for identifying fakers. We suggest that their analysis of response times was suboptimal, and that it followed neither from a congruence model of faking nor from published protocols on appropriately filtering the noise in personality test item answering times. Using new data and following recommended analytic procedures, we confirmed the relative utility of response times for identifying personality test fakers, and our obtained results, again, reinforce a congruence model of faking.

  10. Mammograms on-the-go-predictors of repeat visits to mobile mammography vans in St Louis, Missouri, USA: a case-control study.

    PubMed

    Drake, Bettina F; Abadin, Salmafatima S; Lyons, Sarah; Chang, Su-Hsin; Steward, Lauren T; Kraenzle, Susan; Goodman, Melody S

    2015-03-20

    Among women, breast cancer is the most common non-cutaneous cancer and second most common cause of cancer-related death. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which women use mobile mammography vans for breast cancer screening and what factors are associated with repeat visits to these vans. A case-control study. Cases are women who had a repeat visit to the mammography van. (n=2134). Women who received a mammogram as part of Siteman Cancer Center's Breast Health Outreach Program responded to surveys and provided access to their clinical records (N=8450). Only visits from 2006 to 2014 to the mammography van were included. The main outcome is having a repeat visit to the mammography van. Among the participants, 25.3% (N=2134) had multiple visits to the mobile mammography van. Data were analysed using χ(2) tests, logistic regression and negative binomial regression. Women who were aged 50-65, uninsured, or African-American had higher odds of a repeat visit to the mobile mammography van compared with women who were aged 40-50, insured, or Caucasian (OR=1.135, 95% CI 1.013 to 1.271; OR=1.302, 95% CI 1.146 to 1.479; OR=1.281, 95% CI 1.125 to 1.457), respectively. However, the odds of having a repeat visit to the van were lower among women who reported a rural ZIP code or were unemployed compared with women who provided a suburban ZIP code or were employed (OR=0.503, 95% CI 0.411 to 0.616; OR=.868, 95% CI 0.774 to 0.972), respectively. This study has identified key characteristics of women who are either more or less likely to use mobile mammography vans as their primary source of medical care for breast cancer screening and have repeat visits. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

  11. [Electric and hybrid vehicle site operators program]: Thinking of the future. Second year third quarter report, January 1--March 31, 1993

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

    Not Available

    Kansas State University, with funding support from federal, state, public, and private companies, is participating in the Department of Energy`s Electric Vehicle Site Operator Program. Through participation in this program, Kansas State is displaying, testing, and evaluating electric or hybrid vehicle technology. This participation will provide organizations the opportunity to examine the latest EHV prototypes under actual operating conditions. KSU proposes to purchase one (1) electric or hybrid vans and two (2) electric cars during the first two years of this five-year program. KSU has purchased one G-Van built by Conceptor Industries, Toronto, Canada and has initiated a procurement ordermore » to purchase two (2) Soleq 1993 Ford EVcort station wagons. The G-Van has been signed in order for the public to be aware that this is an electric drive vehicle. Financial participants` names have been stenciled on the back door of the van. This vehicle is available for short term loan to interested utilities and companies. When other vehicles are obtained, the G-Van will be maintained on K-State`s campus.« less

  12. Involuntary human hand movements due to FM radio waves in a moving van.

    PubMed

    Huttunen, P; Savinainen, A; Hänninen, Osmo; Myllylä, R

    2011-06-01

    Finland TRACT Involuntary movements of hands in a moving van on a public road were studied to clarify the possible role of frequency modulated radio waves on driving. The signals were measured in a direct 2 km test segment of an international road during repeated drives to both directions. Test subjects (n=4) had an ability to sense radio frequency field intensity variations of the environment. They were sitting in a minivan with arm movement detectors in their hands. A potentiometer was used to register the hand movements to a computer which simultaneously collected data on the amplitude of the RF signal of the local FM tower 30 km distance at a frequency of about 100 MHz. Involuntary hand movements of the test subjects correlated with electromagnetic field, i.e. FM radio wave intensity measured. They reacted also on the place of a geomagnetic anomaly crossing the road, which was found on the basis of these recordings and confirmed by the public geological maps of the area.In conclusion, RF irradiation seems to affect the human hand reflexes of sensitive persons in a moving van along a normal public road which may have significance in traffic safety.

  13. Registered Replication Report: Dijksterhuis and van Knippenberg (1998).

    PubMed

    O'Donnell, Michael; Nelson, Leif D; Ackermann, Evi; Aczel, Balazs; Akhtar, Athfah; Aldrovandi, Silvio; Alshaif, Nasseem; Andringa, Ronald; Aveyard, Mark; Babincak, Peter; Balatekin, Nursena; Baldwin, Scott A; Banik, Gabriel; Baskin, Ernest; Bell, Raoul; Białobrzeska, Olga; Birt, Angie R; Boot, Walter R; Braithwaite, Scott R; Briggs, Jessie C; Buchner, Axel; Budd, Desiree; Budzik, Kathryn; Bullens, Lottie; Bulley, Richard L; Cannon, Peter R; Cantarero, Katarzyna; Cesario, Joseph; Chambers, Stephanie; Chartier, Christopher R; Chekroun, Peggy; Chong, Clara; Cleeremans, Axel; Coary, Sean P; Coulthard, Jacob; Cramwinckel, Florien M; Denson, Thomas F; Díaz-Lago, Marcos; DiDonato, Theresa E; Drummond, Aaron; Eberlen, Julia; Ebersbach, Titus; Edlund, John E; Finnigan, Katherine M; Fisher, Justin; Frankowska, Natalia; García-Sánchez, Efraín; Golom, Frank D; Graves, Andrew J; Greenberg, Kevin; Hanioti, Mando; Hansen, Heather A; Harder, Jenna A; Harrell, Erin R; Hartanto, Andree; Inzlicht, Michael; Johnson, David J; Karpinski, Andrew; Keller, Victor N; Klein, Olivier; Koppel, Lina; Krahmer, Emiel; Lantian, Anthony; Larson, Michael J; Légal, Jean-Baptiste; Lucas, Richard E; Lynott, Dermot; Magaldino, Corey M; Massar, Karlijn; McBee, Matthew T; McLatchie, Neil; Melia, Nadhilla; Mensink, Michael C; Mieth, Laura; Moore-Berg, Samantha; Neeser, Geraldine; Newell, Ben R; Noordewier, Marret K; Ali Özdoğru, Asil; Pantazi, Myrto; Parzuchowski, Michał; Peters, Kim; Philipp, Michael C; Pollmann, Monique M H; Rentzelas, Panagiotis; Rodríguez-Bailón, Rosa; Philipp Röer, Jan; Ropovik, Ivan; Roque, Nelson A; Rueda, Carolina; Rutjens, Bastiaan T; Sackett, Katey; Salamon, Janos; Sánchez-Rodríguez, Ángel; Saunders, Blair; Schaafsma, Juliette; Schulte-Mecklenbeck, Michael; Shanks, David R; Sherman, Martin F; Steele, Kenneth M; Steffens, Niklas K; Sun, Jessie; Susa, Kyle J; Szaszi, Barnabas; Szollosi, Aba; Tamayo, Ricardo M; Tinghög, Gustav; Tong, Yuk-Yue; Tweten, Carol; Vadillo, Miguel A; Valcarcel, Deisy; Van der Linden, Nicolas; van Elk, Michiel; van Harreveld, Frenk; Västfjäll, Daniel; Vazire, Simine; Verduyn, Philippe; Williams, Matt N; Willis, Guillermo B; Wood, Sarah E; Yang, Chunliang; Zerhouni, Oulmann; Zheng, Robert; Zrubka, Mark

    2018-03-01

    Dijksterhuis and van Knippenberg (1998) reported that participants primed with a category associated with intelligence ("professor") subsequently performed 13% better on a trivia test than participants primed with a category associated with a lack of intelligence ("soccer hooligans"). In two unpublished replications of this study designed to verify the appropriate testing procedures, Dijksterhuis, van Knippenberg, and Holland observed a smaller difference between conditions (2%-3%) as well as a gender difference: Men showed the effect (9.3% and 7.6%), but women did not (0.3% and -0.3%). The procedure used in those replications served as the basis for this multilab Registered Replication Report. A total of 40 laboratories collected data for this project, and 23 of these laboratories met all inclusion criteria. Here we report the meta-analytic results for those 23 direct replications (total N = 4,493), which tested whether performance on a 30-item general-knowledge trivia task differed between these two priming conditions (results of supplementary analyses of the data from all 40 labs, N = 6,454, are also reported). We observed no overall difference in trivia performance between participants primed with the "professor" category and those primed with the "hooligan" category (0.14%) and no moderation by gender.

  14. Generation of EMIC Waves Observed by Van Allen Probes at Low L-shells of Earth's Magnetosphere

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gamayunov, K. V.; Zhang, J.; Saikin, A.; Rassoul, H.

    2017-12-01

    In a multi-ion magnetospheric plasma, where the major species are H+, He+, and O+, the He-band of electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves is the dominant band observed in the inner magnetosphere, and waves are generally quasi-field-aligned inside the geostationary orbit. Almost all the satellite-based studies of EMIC waves before Van Allen Probes, however, have not reported waves below L 3.5. There is probably only one exception from the Akebono satellite where both the H-band and He-band EMIC waves were observed at L 2. The situation has changed dramatically after two Van Allen Probes spacecraft were launched on 30 August, 2012, and many EMIC wave events have been observed below L=4. The Van Allen Probes observations confirm that the He-band of EMIC waves is a dominant band in the inner magnetosphere, but the observation of the He-band waves below L=4 is a new and quite unexpected result compared to our knowledge about EMIC waves before the Van Allen Probes era. In addition, observations show that almost all the He-band EMIC waves are linearly polarized in the region L < 4. This result is also new and unexpected. Here we will present an observational test of the generation mechanism for the He-band EMIC waves observed by Van Allen Probes at L 2.8 on 18 March, 2013. All the plasma parameters, DC magnetic field, and energetic ion distribution functions will be taken from the Van Allen Probes observations during the EMIC wave event to calculate growth rates of EMIC waves. We will then identify the energetic ions responsible for instability, frequencies and normals generated, and physical mechanism of instability.

  15. Modeling sand wave characteristics on the Belgian Continental Shelf and in the Calais-Dover Strait

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cherlet, J.; Besio, G.; Blondeaux, P.; van Lancker, V.; Verfaillie, E.; Vittori, G.

    2007-06-01

    The capability of the model of Besio et al. (2006) to predict the main geometrical characteristics (crest orientation, wavelength,…) of tidal sand waves is tested by comparing the theoretical predictions with field data. In particular the field observations carried out by Mouchet (1990) and Van Lancker et al. (2005) along the continental shelf of Belgium are used. Additional comparisons are carried out against the field measurements described by Le Bot (2001) and Le Bot and Trenteseaux (2004) which were carried out in an adjacent region. Attention is focused on the prediction of the wavelength of the bottom forms. Indeed, the capability of a linear stability analysis to predict the occurrence of sand waves has been already tested by Hulscher and van den Brink (2001) and more recently by van der Veen et al. (2006). The obtained results show that the theoretical predictions fairly agree with field observations even though some of the comparisons suggest that the accuracy of the predictions depends on the accurate evaluation of the local current and sediment characteristics.

  16. The Van Hiele geometry thinking levels of mild mental retardation students

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shomad, Z. A.; Kusmayadi, T. A.; Riyadi

    2017-12-01

    This research is to investigate the level of mild mental retardation geometry students thinking. This research focuses on the geometry thinking level based on Van Hiele theory. This study uses qualitative methods with case study strategy. Data obtained from observation and tests result. The subjects are 12 mental retardation students. The result show that ability of mild mental retardation students with each other is different but have same level of level thinking geometry. The geometry thinking level of mental retardation students was identified in level 1 of the Van Hiele theory. Based on the level thinking geometry of mental retardation students simplify geometry thinking teachers in selecting appropriate learning methods, choose the materials in accordance with ability, and can modify the material following the geometry thinking level of mental retardation students.

  17. Approximating the Basset force by optimizing the method of van Hinsberg et al.

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Casas, G.; Ferrer, A.; Oñate, E.

    2018-01-01

    In this work we put the method proposed by van Hinsberg et al. [29] to the test, highlighting its accuracy and efficiency in a sequence of benchmarks of increasing complexity. Furthermore, we explore the possibility of systematizing the way in which the method's free parameters are determined by generalizing the optimization problem that was considered originally. Finally, we provide a list of worked-out values, ready for implementation in large-scale particle-laden flow simulations.

  18. Verification Test of Jet Industries Electra-Van 1000P,

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1980-10-01

    Assistant Secretary for Conservation and Solar Ene ion of Electric Unclassified and Hybrid Vehicles 15 I Ia. DEL S FCATIOt OWNGRADING 16. DISTRIBUTION...Propulsion Batteries Charger 24. AUSTRACT (C m ern.. Fev neeey aid Idenify by block nmtbe) - The Je 4nfduis&ieElectra-Van IOOOP is a Chrysler Corp. pickup...Electric EV -1 SCR Controller (Figure 5). The propulsion motor is a General Electric d.c. motor, 37-hp, series-wound, rated at 2039 r/min. The 1000P has a

  19. Wernher von Braun

    NASA Image and Video Library

    1958-01-31

    Jet Propulsion Laboratory Director Dr. James Pickering, Dr. James van Allen of the State University of Iowa, and Army Ballistic missionile Agency Technical Director Dr. Wernher von Braun triumphantly display a model of the Explorer I, America's first satellite, shortly after the satellite's launch on January 31, 1958. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory packed and tested the payload, a radiation detection experiment designed by Dr. van Allen. Dr. von Braun's rocket team at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, developed the Juno I launch vehicle, a modified Jupiter-C.

  20. Isolation and Biochemical Fingerprinting of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecium From Meat, Chicken and Cheese.

    PubMed

    Talebi, Malihe; Sadeghi, Javad; Rahimi, Fateh; Pourshafie, Mohammad Reza

    2015-04-01

    Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are important nosocomial pathogens and food chain has been considered as an assumed source for dissemination of VRE to human. The presence of VRE isolates from food samples and typing of these isolates with Phene plate, a biochemical fingerprinting method, were investigated. Thirty samples of meat, chicken and cheese were analyzed for VRE during 2010. Antibiotic susceptibility tests and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) were also examined. VRE isolates were typed with the Phene plate system (PhPlate), a biochemical fingerprinting method. A total of 70 VRE isolates were obtained and identified as Enterococcus faecium by species-specific PCR. All the isolates carried vanA, while none of them harbored vanB. The VRE isolates included 35, 27, and 8 isolates from meat, chicken and cheese, respectively. Typing with the PhPlate revealed a diversity index of 0.78 for E. faecium, containing 10 common and four single types. The results of antibiotic susceptibility and MIC tests showed an increased resistance to ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, ampicillin and gentamicin, to which, 100%, 100%, 100%, and 95% of VRE isolates were resistant, respectively. Only 5% of the isolates were resistant to chloramphenicol and the MIC of the isolates for vancomycin and teicoplanin was ≥ 256 µg/mL and for gentamicin-resistant isolates it was 1024 µg/mL. Conventional and molecular identification tests exhibited that all the isolates were E. faecium carrying vanA. None of the isolates harbored vanB. The results showed that enterococci are common contaminants in food. Indeed, this study indicates a high prevalence of multidrug-resistant enterococci in food of animal origin in Iran. Isolating some persisting enterococcal isolates revealed that continuous surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in enterococci from food is essential.

  1. Performance of conventionally powered vehicles tested to an electric vehicle test procedure

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Slavik, R. J.; Dustin, M. O.; Lumannick, S.

    1977-01-01

    A conventional Volkswagen transporter, a Renault 5, a Pacer, and a U. S. Postal Service general DJ-5 delivery van were treated to an electric vehicle test procedure in order to allow direct comparison of conventional and electric vehicles. Performance test results for the four vehicles are presented.

  2. Corresponding-states laws for protein solutions.

    PubMed

    Katsonis, Panagiotis; Brandon, Simon; Vekilov, Peter G

    2006-09-07

    The solvent around protein molecules in solutions is structured and this structuring introduces a repulsion in the intermolecular interaction potential at intermediate separations. We use Monte Carlo simulations with isotropic, pair-additive systems interacting with such potentials. We test if the liquid-liquid and liquid-solid phase lines in model protein solutions can be predicted from universal curves and a pair of experimentally determined parameters, as done for atomic and colloid materials using several laws of corresponding states. As predictors, we test three properties at the critical point for liquid-liquid separation: temperature, as in the original van der Waals law, the second virial coefficient, and a modified second virial coefficient, all paired with the critical volume fraction. We find that the van der Waals law is best obeyed and appears more general than its original formulation: A single universal curve describes all tested nonconformal isotropic pair-additive systems. Published experimental data for the liquid-liquid equilibrium for several proteins at various conditions follow a single van der Waals curve. For the solid-liquid equilibrium, we find that no single system property serves as its predictor. We go beyond corresponding-states correlations and put forth semiempirical laws, which allow prediction of the critical temperature and volume fraction solely based on the range of attraction of the intermolecular interaction potential.

  3. Test and evaluation of 23 electric vehicles for state-of-the-art assessment

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Dustin, M. O.; Denington, R. J.

    1978-01-01

    Eleven of the electric vehicles were passenger cars and 12 were commercial vans. Tests were conducted in accordance with an ERDS test procedure which is based on the SAE J227a Test Procedure. Tests included range, acceleration, coast-down, and braking. The results of the tests are presented, and comments on reliability are made.

  4. vanC Cluster of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus gallinarum BM4174

    PubMed Central

    Arias, Cesar A.; Courvalin, Patrice; Reynolds, Peter E.

    2000-01-01

    Glycopeptide-resistant enterococci of the VanC type synthesize UDP-muramyl-pentapeptide[d-Ser] for cell wall assembly and prevent synthesis of peptidoglycan precursors ending in d-Ala. The vanC cluster of Enterococcus gallinarum BM4174 consists of five genes: vanC-1, vanXYC, vanT, vanRC, and vanSC. Three genes are sufficient for resistance: vanC-1 encodes a ligase that synthesizes the dipeptide d-Ala-d-Ser for addition to UDP-MurNAc-tripeptide, vanXYC encodes a d,d-dipeptidase–carboxypeptidase that hydrolyzes d-Ala-d-Ala and removes d-Ala from UDP-MurNAc-pentapeptide[d-Ala], and vanT encodes a membrane-bound serine racemase that provides d-Ser for the synthetic pathway. The three genes are clustered: the start codons of vanXYC and vanT overlap the termination codons of vanC-1 and vanXYC, respectively. Two genes which encode proteins with homology to the VanS-VanR two-component regulatory system were present downstream from the resistance genes. The predicted amino acid sequence of VanRC exhibited 50% identity to VanR and 33% identity to VanRB. VanSC had 40% identity to VanS over a region of 308 amino acids and 24% identity to VanSB over a region of 285 amino acids. All residues with important functions in response regulators and histidine kinases were conserved in VanRC and VanSC, respectively. Induction experiments based on the determination of d,d-carboxypeptidase activity in cytoplasmic extracts confirmed that the genes were expressed constitutively. Using a promoter-probing vector, regions upstream from the resistance and regulatory genes were identified that have promoter activity. PMID:10817725

  5. Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity: Dodge Ram Wagon Van - Hydrogen/CNG Operations Summary - January 2003

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

    Karner, D.; Francfort, J.E.

    2003-01-16

    Over the past two years, Arizona Public Service, a subsidiary of Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity, tested four gaseous fuel vehicles as part of its alternative fueled vehicle fleet. One vehicle, a Dodge Ram Wagon Van, operated initially using compressed natural gas (CNG) and later a blend of CNG and hydrogen. Of the other three vehicles, one was fueled with pure hydrogen and two were fueled with a blend of CNG and hydrogen. The three blended-fuel vehicles were originally equipped with either factory CNG engines or factory gasoline enginesmore » that were converted to run CNG fuel. The vehicles were variously modified to operate on blended fuel and were tested using 15 to 50% blends of hydrogen (by volume). The pure-hydrogen-fueled vehicle was converted from gasoline fuel to operate on 100% hydrogen. All vehicles were fueled from the Arizona Public Service's Fuel Pilot Plant, which was developed to dispense gaseous fuels, including CNG, blends of CNG and hydrogen, and pure hydrogen with up to 99.9999% purity. The primary objective of the test was to evaluate the safety and reliability of operating vehicles on hydrogen and blended hydrogen fuel, and the interface between the vehicles and the hydrogen fueling infrastructure. A secondary objective was to quantify vehicle emissions, cost, and performance. Over a total of 40,000 fleet test miles, no safety issues were found. Also, significant reductions in emissions were achieved by adding hydrogen to the fuel. This report presents results of 22,816 miles of testing for the Dodge Ram Wagon Van, operating on CNG fuel, and a blended fuel of 15% hydrogen-85% CNG.« less

  6. Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity: Dodge Ram Wagon Van -- Hydrogen/CNG Operations Summary

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

    Don Karner; Francfort, James Edward

    2003-01-01

    Over the past two years, Arizona Public Service, a subsidiary of Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity, tested four gaseous fuel vehicles as part of its alternative fueled vehicle fleet. One vehicle, a Dodge Ram Wagon Van, operated initially using compressed natural gas (CNG) and later a blend of CNG and hydrogen. Of the other three vehicles, one was fueled with pure hydrogen and two were fueled with a blend of CNG and hydrogen. The three blended-fuel vehicles were originally equipped with either factory CNG engines or factory gasoline enginesmore » that were converted to run CNG fuel. The vehicles were variously modified to operate on blended fuel and were tested using 15 to 50% blends of hydrogen (by volume). The pure-hydrogen-fueled vehicle was converted from gasoline fuel to operate on 100% hydrogen. All vehicles were fueled from the Arizona Public Service’s Alternative Fuel Pilot Plant, which was developed to dispense gaseous fuels, including CNG, blends of CNG and hydrogen, and pure hydrogen with up to 99.9999% purity. The primary objective of the test was to evaluate the safety and reliability of operating vehicles on hydrogen and blended hydrogen fuel, and the interface between the vehicles and the hydrogen fueling infrastructure. A secondary objective was to quantify vehicle emissions, cost, and performance. Over a total of 40,000 fleet test miles, no safety issues were found. Also, significant reductions in emissions were achieved by adding hydrogen to the fuel. This report presents results of 22,816 miles of testing for the Dodge Ram Wagon Van, operating on CNG fuel, and a blended fuel of 15% hydrogen–85% CNG.« less

  7. Development and evaluation of a Quadruplex Taq Man real-time PCR assay for simultaneous detection of clinical isolates of Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium and their vanA and vanB genotypes.

    PubMed

    Naserpour Farivar, Taghi; Najafipour, Reza; Johari, Pouran; Aslanimehr, Masoumeh; Peymani, Amir; Jahani Hashemi, Hoasan; Mirzaui, Baman

    2014-10-01

    We developed and evaluated the utility of a quadruplex Taqman real-time PCR assay that allows simultaneous identification of vancomycin-resistant genotypes and clinically relevant enterococci. The specificity of the assay was tested using reference strains of vancomycin-resistant and susceptible enterococci. In total, 193 clinical isolates were identified and subsequently genotyped using a Quadruplex Taqman real-time PCR assay and melting curve analysis. Representative Quadruplex Taqman real-time PCR amplification curve were obtained for Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus faecalis, vanA-containing E. faecium, vanB-containing E. faecalis. Phenotypic and genotypic analysis of the isolates gave same results for 82 enterococcal isolates, while in 5 isolates, they were inconsistent. We had three mixed strains, which were detected by the TaqMan real-time PCR assay and could not be identified correctly using phenotypic methods. Vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) genotyping and identification of clinically relevant enterococci were rapidly and correctly performed using TaqMan real-time multiplex real-time PCR assay.

  8. Space Geoengineering: James A. Van Allen's Role in Detecting and Disrupting the Magnetosphere, 1958-1962 (Invited)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fleming, J. R.

    2010-12-01

    James A. Van Allen’s celebrated discovery of Earth’s radiation belts in 1958 using Explorer 1 and 3 satellites was immediately followed by his agreement to monitor tests of nuclear weapons in space aimed at disrupting the magnetosphere. This is “space geoengineering” on a planetary scale. “Space is radioactive,” noted Van Allen’s colleague Eric Ray, and the military wanted to make it even more radioactive by nuclear detonations that, in time of war might disrupt enemy radio communications from half a world away and damage or destroy enemy intercontinental ballistic missiles. This study of Van Allen’s participation in Project Argus (1958) and Project Starfish (1962) is based on new posthumous accessions to the Van Allen Papers. At the time radio astronomers protested that, “No government has the right to change the environment in any significant way without prior international study and agreement.” Van Allen later regretted his participation in experiments that disrupted the natural magnetosphere. In a larger policy framework, the history of these space interventions and the protests they generated serve as a cautionary tale for today’s geoengineers who are proposing heavy-handed manipulation of the planetary environment as a response to future climate warming. Anyone claiming that geoengineering has not yet been attempted should be reminded of the planetary-scale engineering of these nukes in space. N. Christofilos describing the intended effect of the Argus nuclear explosions on the magnetosphere, which would direct a stream of radioactive particles along magnetic lines of force half a world away.

  9. Flexible ferroelectric element based on van der Waals heteroepitaxy.

    PubMed

    Jiang, Jie; Bitla, Yugandhar; Huang, Chun-Wei; Do, Thi Hien; Liu, Heng-Jui; Hsieh, Ying-Hui; Ma, Chun-Hao; Jang, Chi-Yuan; Lai, Yu-Hong; Chiu, Po-Wen; Wu, Wen-Wei; Chen, Yi-Chun; Zhou, Yi-Chun; Chu, Ying-Hao

    2017-06-01

    We present a promising technology for nonvolatile flexible electronic devices: A direct fabrication of epitaxial lead zirconium titanate (PZT) on flexible mica substrate via van der Waals epitaxy. These single-crystalline flexible ferroelectric PZT films not only retain their performance, reliability, and thermal stability comparable to those on rigid counterparts in tests of nonvolatile memory elements but also exhibit remarkable mechanical properties with robust operation in bent states (bending radii down to 2.5 mm) and cycling tests (1000 times). This study marks the technological advancement toward realizing much-awaited flexible yet single-crystalline nonvolatile electronic devices for the design and development of flexible, lightweight, and next-generation smart devices with potential applications in electronics, robotics, automotive, health care, industrial, and military systems.

  10. Flexible ferroelectric element based on van der Waals heteroepitaxy

    PubMed Central

    Jiang, Jie; Bitla, Yugandhar; Huang, Chun-Wei; Do, Thi Hien; Liu, Heng-Jui; Hsieh, Ying-Hui; Ma, Chun-Hao; Jang, Chi-Yuan; Lai, Yu-Hong; Chiu, Po-Wen; Wu, Wen-Wei; Chen, Yi-Chun; Zhou, Yi-Chun; Chu, Ying-Hao

    2017-01-01

    We present a promising technology for nonvolatile flexible electronic devices: A direct fabrication of epitaxial lead zirconium titanate (PZT) on flexible mica substrate via van der Waals epitaxy. These single-crystalline flexible ferroelectric PZT films not only retain their performance, reliability, and thermal stability comparable to those on rigid counterparts in tests of nonvolatile memory elements but also exhibit remarkable mechanical properties with robust operation in bent states (bending radii down to 2.5 mm) and cycling tests (1000 times). This study marks the technological advancement toward realizing much-awaited flexible yet single-crystalline nonvolatile electronic devices for the design and development of flexible, lightweight, and next-generation smart devices with potential applications in electronics, robotics, automotive, health care, industrial, and military systems. PMID:28630922

  11. Genetics Home Reference: achromatopsia

    MedlinePlus

    ... NW, Roosing S, van Schooneveld MJ, van Lith-Verhoeven JJ, van Moll-Ramirez N, van den Born LI, ... van Schooneveld MJ, Strom TM, van Lith-Verhoeven JJ, Lotery AJ, van Moll-Ramirez N, Leroy BP, ...

  12. Glycopeptide Resistance vanA Operons in Paenibacillus Strains Isolated from Soil

    PubMed Central

    Guardabassi, Luca; Perichon, Bruno; van Heijenoort, Jean; Blanot, Didier; Courvalin, Patrice

    2005-01-01

    The sequence and gene organization of the van operons in vancomycin (MIC of >256 μg/ml)- and teicoplanin (MIC of ≥32 μg/ml)-resistant Paenibacillus thiaminolyticus PT-2B1 and Paenibacillus apiarius PA-B2B isolated from soil were determined. Both operons had regulatory (vanR and vanS), resistance (vanH, vanA, and vanX), and accessory (vanY, vanZ, and vanW) genes homologous to the corresponding genes in enterococcal vanA and vanB operons. The vanAPT operon in P. thiaminolyticus PT-2B1 had the same gene organization as that of vanA operons whereas vanAPA in P. apiarius PA-B2B resembled vanB operons due to the presence of vanW upstream from the vanHAX cluster but was closer to vanA operons in sequence. Reference P. apiarius strains NRRL B-4299 and NRRL B-4188 were found to harbor operons indistinguishable from vanAPA by PCR mapping, restriction fragment length polymorphism, and partial sequencing, suggesting that this operon was species specific. As in enterococci, resistance was inducible by glycopeptides and associated with the synthesis of pentadepsipeptide peptidoglycan precursors ending in d-Ala-d-Lac, as demonstrated by d,d-dipeptidase activities, high-pressure liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry. The precursors differed from those in enterococci by the presence of diaminopimelic acid instead of lysine in the peptide chain. Altogether, the results are compatible with the notion that van operons in soil Paenibacillus strains and in enterococci have evolved from a common ancestor. PMID:16189102

  13. Glycopeptide resistance vanA operons in Paenibacillus strains isolated from soil.

    PubMed

    Guardabassi, Luca; Perichon, Bruno; van Heijenoort, Jean; Blanot, Didier; Courvalin, Patrice

    2005-10-01

    The sequence and gene organization of the van operons in vancomycin (MIC of >256 microg/ml)- and teicoplanin (MIC of > or =32 microg/ml)-resistant Paenibacillus thiaminolyticus PT-2B1 and Paenibacillus apiarius PA-B2B isolated from soil were determined. Both operons had regulatory (vanR and vanS), resistance (vanH, vanA, and vanX), and accessory (vanY, vanZ, and vanW) genes homologous to the corresponding genes in enterococcal vanA and vanB operons. The vanA(PT) operon in P. thiaminolyticus PT-2B1 had the same gene organization as that of vanA operons whereas vanA(PA) in P. apiarius PA-B2B resembled vanB operons due to the presence of vanW upstream from the vanHAX cluster but was closer to vanA operons in sequence. Reference P. apiarius strains NRRL B-4299 and NRRL B-4188 were found to harbor operons indistinguishable from vanA(PA) by PCR mapping, restriction fragment length polymorphism, and partial sequencing, suggesting that this operon was species specific. As in enterococci, resistance was inducible by glycopeptides and associated with the synthesis of pentadepsipeptide peptidoglycan precursors ending in D-Ala-D-Lac, as demonstrated by D,D-dipeptidase activities, high-pressure liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry. The precursors differed from those in enterococci by the presence of diaminopimelic acid instead of lysine in the peptide chain. Altogether, the results are compatible with the notion that van operons in soil Paenibacillus strains and in enterococci have evolved from a common ancestor.

  14. Development of test scenarios for off-roadway crash countermeasures based on crash statistics

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2002-09-01

    This report presents the results from an analysis of off-roadway crashes and proposes a set of crash-imminent scenarios to objectively test countermeasure systems for light vehicles (passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, vans, and pickup trucks) ba...

  15. Detection of Item Preknowledge Using Likelihood Ratio Test and Score Test

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Sinharay, Sandip

    2017-01-01

    An increasing concern of producers of educational assessments is fraudulent behavior during the assessment (van der Linden, 2009). Benefiting from item preknowledge (e.g., Eckerly, 2017; McLeod, Lewis, & Thissen, 2003) is one type of fraudulent behavior. This article suggests two new test statistics for detecting individuals who may have…

  16. Diversity of Tn1546 in vanA-positive Enterococcus faecium clinical isolates with VanA, VanB, and VanD phenotypes and susceptibility to vancomycin.

    PubMed

    Cha, J O; Yoo, J I; Kim, H K; Kim, H S; Yoo, J S; Lee, Y S; Jung, Y H

    2013-10-01

    To investigate diversity in the vanA cluster in Enterococcus faecium isolates from nontertiary hospitals. We identified 43 vanA-positive Ent. faecium isolates, including two vancomycin-susceptible isolates, from hospitals between 2003 and 2006. Of these isolates, >85% were resistant to ampicillin, erythromycin and ciprofloxacin. The vanA cluster was classified into six types using overlapping PCR, but the prototype transposon Tn1546 was not found. Most vanA-positive vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) carried IS1216V and belonged to Type III (58·1%) or Type II (20·9%). vanY, vanZ and IS1216V were observed in the left and right ends of Type III with long-range PCR. IS1216V was also observed within vanS and vanX in the two vancomycin-susceptible isolates and in two vancomycin-resistant isolates. No VRE isolates with VanB and VanD phenotypes contained point mutations in vanS, unlike in previous reports. Sequence types (STs) of all isolates belonged to clonal complex 17, and ST78 was predominant. Insertion sequences, especially IS1216V, cause structural variation in the vanA cluster. We report the first observation of vanY and vanZ at the left end of Tn1546 in clinical isolates. This is the first report of the frequency of vancomycin resistance and diversity of Tn1546 in vanA-positive Ent. faecium isolates from nontertiary hospitals. © 2013 The Society for Applied Microbiology.

  17. OMEGACAM and Gravitational Lensing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Christen, Fabrice Frédéric Thiébaut

    2007-04-01

    Het proefschrift van Fabrice Christen gaat over de ontwikkeling van nieuwe methoden voor het corrigeren van (digitale) foto's van melkwegstelsels. Met deze methoden kunnen de beelden uit het heelal beter worden geanalyseerd. Het eerste gedeelte is gewijd aan het werk dat bij ESO is uitgevoerd aan de CCD's van de OmegaCAM camera, het enige instrument van de VST. OmegaCAM is een optische groothoekcamera met een beeldveld van een vierkante graad, opgebouwd uit een mozaiek van 8 bij 4 CCD's. Van elk onderdeel moeten alle kenmerken volledig bekend zijn voordat het in het CCD mozaiek geplaatst kan worden. In het tweede deel van dit proefschrift wordt de ontwikkeling van een nieuwe methode voor het corrigeren van de ``point-spread function'' (PSF) en schatten van de ellipticiteit van de melkwegstelsels besproken. De nieuwe techniek wordt getest en vergeleken met een door sterrenkundigen algemeen gebruikte methode in het veld van zwaartekrachtslenzen, de Kaiser, Squire en Broadhurst (KSB) methode. De nieuwe methode, gebaseerd op shapelet ontleding (vergelijkbaar met wavelet ontleding), gaat verder, en is sneller en theoretisch preciezer dan de KSB methode. Door gebruik te maken van de gecorrigeerde ellipticiteit, kunnen we een statistische analyse uitvoeren om er een kosmisch vervormingssignaal uit te halen. De licht vervormde beelden van de melkwegstelsels bewij zen dat de niet-homogene massaverdeling op megaparsec-schaal voornamelijk bestaat uit grote hoeveelheden donkere materie. Verder vergelijken we de schattingen van de ellipticiteit van de shapelet en KSB methode. Bovendien voeren we ook nog een melkwegstelsel-melkwegstelsel lens analyse uit op de 50 VLT Fors1 afbeeldingen en slagen we erin de belangrijkste eigenschappen van de halo's van de stelsels, die zich op een afstand van een- tot tweeduizend megaparsec (1 parsec = 3,26 lichtjaar = 3,085 x 10^16 meter) bevinden, te bepalen door gebruik te maken van twee modellen van melkwegstelselhalo's. Vergeleken met andere overzichtsmetingen vinden we vergelijkbare resultaten.

  18. Beslisbevoegdheden en Verantwoordelijkheden van de Uitgestegen Soldaat. Deel A: Verplaatsen van Beslisbevoegdheden (Authority and Responsibility of the Dismounted Soldier. Part A. Empowering the Dismounted Soldier)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2007-04-01

    en verantwoordelijkheden van de uitgestegen soldaat Deel A: verplaatsen van beslisbevoegdheden Datumn april 2007 Auteur (s) R. de Bruin ITE. van Bernmel...Admiraal, Bureau SMP Auteur (s) R. de Bruin Program maleider Projectleider I.E. van Bemnmel dr. W.A. Lotens, A.J. van Vliet, A.J. van Vijet TNO Defensie en...Leadership Theory en wordt relevant geacht voor de ontvangers van aanvullende beslisbevoegdheden. 2.1.3 Het oogmerk van de hogere commandant Een ander

  19. pSK41-Like Plasmid Is Necessary for Inc18-Like vanA Plasmid Transfer from Enterococcus faecalis to Staphylococcus aureus In Vitro

    PubMed Central

    Clark, Nancye; Patel, Jean B.

    2013-01-01

    Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) is thought to result from the in vivo conjugative transfer of a vanA plasmid from an Enterococcus sp. to S. aureus. We studied bacterial isolates from VRSA cases that occurred in the United States to identify microbiological factors which may contribute to this plasmid transfer. First, vancomycin-susceptible, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates from five VRSA cases were tested for their ability to accept foreign DNA by conjugation in mating experiments with Enterococcus faecalis JH2-2 containing pAM378, a pheromone-response conjugative plasmid. All of the MRSA isolates accepted the plasmid DNA with similar transfer efficiencies (∼10−7/donor CFU) except for one isolate, MRSA8, for which conjugation was not successful. The MRSA isolates were also tested as recipients in mating experiments between an E. faecalis isolate with an Inc18-like vanA plasmid that was isolated from a VRSA case patient. Conjugative transfer was successful for 3/5 MRSA isolates. Successful MRSA recipients carried a pSK41-like plasmid, a staphylococcal conjugative plasmid, whereas the two unsuccessful MRSA recipients did not carry pSK41. The transfer of a pSK41-like plasmid from a successful MRSA recipient to the two unsuccessful recipients resulted in conjugal transfer of the Inc18-like vanA plasmid from E. faecalis at a frequency of 10−7/recipient CFU. In addition, conjugal transfer could be achieved for pSK41-negative MRSA in the presence of a cell-free culture filtrate from S. aureus carrying a pSK41-like plasmid at a frequency of 10−8/recipient CFU. These results indicated that a pSK41-like plasmid can facilitate the transfer of an Inc18-like vanA plasmid from E. faecalis to S. aureus, possibly via an extracellular factor produced by pSK41-carrying isolates. PMID:23089754

  20. Heat-Transfer and Pressure Measurements from a Flight Test of the Third 1/18-Scale Model of the Titan Intercontinental Ballistic Missile up to a Mach Number of 3.86 and Reynolds Number per Foot of 23.5 x 10(exp 6) and a Comparison with Heat Transfer

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Graham, John B., Jr.

    1958-01-01

    Heat-transfer and pressure measurements were obtained from a flight test of a 1/18-scale model of the Titan intercontinental ballistic missile up to a Mach number of 3.86 and Reynolds number per foot of 23.5 x 10(exp 6) and are compared with the data of two previously tested 1/18-scale models. Boundary-layer transition was observed on the nose of the model. Van Driest's theory predicted heat-transfer coefficients reasonably well for the fully laminar flow but predictions made by Van Driest's theory for turbulent flow were considerably higher than the measurements when the skin was being heated. Comparison with the flight test of two similar models shows fair repeatability of the measurements for fully laminar or turbulent flow.

  1. A distinctive dual-channel quorum-sensing system operates in Vibrio anguillarum.

    PubMed

    Croxatto, Antony; Pride, John; Hardman, Andrea; Williams, Paul; Cámara, Miguel; Milton, Debra L

    2004-06-01

    Many bacterial cells communicate using diffusible signal molecules to monitor cell population density via a process termed quorum sensing. In marine Vibrio species, the Vibrio harveyi-type LuxR protein is a key player in a quorum-sensing phosphorelay cascade, which controls the expression of virulence, symbiotic and survival genes. Previously, we characterized Vibrio anguillarum homologues of LuxR (VanT) and LuxMN (VanMN) and, in this study, we have identified homologues of LuxPQ (VanPQ) and LuxOU (VanOU). In contrast to other Vibrio species, vanT was expressed at low cell density and showed no significant induction as the cell number increased. In addition, although the loss of VanO increased vanT expression, the loss of VanU, unexpectedly, decreased it. Both VanN and VanQ were required for repression of vanT even in a vanU mutant, suggesting an alternative route for VanNQ signal transduction other than via VanU. VanT negatively regulated its own expression by binding and repressing the vanT promoter and by binding and activating the vanOU promoter. The signal relay results in a cellular response as expression of the metalloprotease, empA, was altered similar to that of vanT in all the mutants. Consequently, the V. anguillarum quorum-sensing phosphorelay systems work differently from those of V. harveyi and may be used to limit rather than induce vanT expression.

  2. Cross-scale observations of the 2015 St. Patrick's day storm: THEMIS, Van Allen Probes, and TWINS

    DOE PAGES

    Goldstein, J.; Angelopoulos, V.; De Pascuale, S.; ...

    2016-12-10

    In this paper, we present cross-scale magnetospheric observations of the 17 March 2015 (St. Patrick's Day) storm, by Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS), Van Allen Probes (Radiation Belt Storm Probes), and Two Wide-angle Imaging Neutral-atom Spectrometers (TWINS), plus upstream ACE/Wind solar wind data. THEMIS crossed the bow shock or magnetopause 22 times and observed the magnetospheric compression that initiated the storm. Empirical models reproduce these boundary locations within 0.7 R E. Van Allen Probes crossed the plasmapause 13 times; test particle simulations reproduce these encounters within 0.5 R E. Before the storm, Van Allen Probesmore » measured quiet double-nose proton spectra in the region of corotating cold plasma. About 15 min after a 0605 UT dayside southward turning, Van Allen Probes captured the onset of inner magnetospheric convection, as a density decrease at the moving corotation-convection boundary (CCB) and a steep increase in ring current (RC) proton flux. During the first several hours of the storm, Van Allen Probes measured highly dynamic ion signatures (numerous injections and multiple spectral peaks). Sustained convection after ~1200 UT initiated a major buildup of the midnight-sector ring current (measured by RBSP A), with much weaker duskside fluxes (measured by RBSP B, THEMIS a and THEMIS d). A close conjunction of THEMIS d, RBSP A, and TWINS 1 at 1631 UT shows good three-way agreement in the shapes of two-peak spectra from the center of the partial RC. A midstorm injection, observed by Van Allen Probes and TWINS at 1740 UT, brought in fresh ions with lower average energies (leading to globally less energetic spectra in precipitating ions) but increased the total pressure. Finally, the cross-scale measurements of 17 March 2015 contain significant spatial, spectral, and temporal structure.« less

  3. Cross-scale observations of the 2015 St. Patrick's day storm: THEMIS, Van Allen Probes, and TWINS

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

    Goldstein, J.; Angelopoulos, V.; De Pascuale, S.

    In this paper, we present cross-scale magnetospheric observations of the 17 March 2015 (St. Patrick's Day) storm, by Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS), Van Allen Probes (Radiation Belt Storm Probes), and Two Wide-angle Imaging Neutral-atom Spectrometers (TWINS), plus upstream ACE/Wind solar wind data. THEMIS crossed the bow shock or magnetopause 22 times and observed the magnetospheric compression that initiated the storm. Empirical models reproduce these boundary locations within 0.7 R E. Van Allen Probes crossed the plasmapause 13 times; test particle simulations reproduce these encounters within 0.5 R E. Before the storm, Van Allen Probesmore » measured quiet double-nose proton spectra in the region of corotating cold plasma. About 15 min after a 0605 UT dayside southward turning, Van Allen Probes captured the onset of inner magnetospheric convection, as a density decrease at the moving corotation-convection boundary (CCB) and a steep increase in ring current (RC) proton flux. During the first several hours of the storm, Van Allen Probes measured highly dynamic ion signatures (numerous injections and multiple spectral peaks). Sustained convection after ~1200 UT initiated a major buildup of the midnight-sector ring current (measured by RBSP A), with much weaker duskside fluxes (measured by RBSP B, THEMIS a and THEMIS d). A close conjunction of THEMIS d, RBSP A, and TWINS 1 at 1631 UT shows good three-way agreement in the shapes of two-peak spectra from the center of the partial RC. A midstorm injection, observed by Van Allen Probes and TWINS at 1740 UT, brought in fresh ions with lower average energies (leading to globally less energetic spectra in precipitating ions) but increased the total pressure. Finally, the cross-scale measurements of 17 March 2015 contain significant spatial, spectral, and temporal structure.« less

  4. Dutch Anthropometry for Vehicle Design and Evaluation

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-10-01

    middelen Beschrijving van de werkzaamheden Uitgaande van afmetingen van Nederlanders zijn grenswaarden voor negen paspoppen. met vanSrende...vastgesteld voor het jaar 2015 Hierbij is uitgegaan van een Nederlands antropometrisch bestand (NedScan) Resultaten en conclusies Het resultaat is een kort... Nederlands antropometrisch bestand (NedScan) en van lichaamsafmetingen van goedgekeurde K.L rekruten. De grenswaarden omvatten 95% van dat Nederlandse

  5. 19 CFR 10.41a - Lift vans, cargo vans, shipping tanks, skids, pallets, and similar instruments of international...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... 19 Customs Duties 1 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Lift vans, cargo vans, shipping tanks, skids... Traffic § 10.41a Lift vans, cargo vans, shipping tanks, skids, pallets, and similar instruments of international traffic; repair components. (a)(1) Lift vans, cargo vans, shipping tanks, skids, pallets, caul...

  6. 19 CFR 10.41a - Lift vans, cargo vans, shipping tanks, skids, pallets, and similar instruments of international...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... 19 Customs Duties 1 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Lift vans, cargo vans, shipping tanks, skids... Traffic § 10.41a Lift vans, cargo vans, shipping tanks, skids, pallets, and similar instruments of international traffic; repair components. (a)(1) Lift vans, cargo vans, shipping tanks, skids, pallets, caul...

  7. Person Fit Analysis in Computerized Adaptive Testing Using Tests for a Change Point

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Sinharay, Sandip

    2016-01-01

    Meijer and van Krimpen-Stoop noted that the number of person-fit statistics (PFSs) that have been designed for computerized adaptive tests (CATs) is relatively modest. This article partially addresses that concern by suggesting three new PFSs for CATs. The statistics are based on tests for a change point and can be used to detect an abrupt change…

  8. Fast Determination of the Element Excitation of an Active Phased Array Antenna

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1991-03-01

    elementenexcitatie te, bepalen: de amplitude en fase van het elektrische ven-e veld moeten gemeten warden in slechts I richting in het verre veld van de ...Page 3 rapport no FEL-91-BO38 titel Een snelle bepaling van de excitatie van de elenienten van cen actieve phased array antenne auteur(s) I. J.G. van...van der Spek Onderzoek uItgevoerd door Ir. J.G. van Hezewijk SAMENVATIING (ONGERUBRICEERD) Het verre veld stralingsdiagram van een actieve phased array

  9. Charge carrier mobility in thin films of organic semiconductors by the gated van der Pauw method

    PubMed Central

    Rolin, Cedric; Kang, Enpu; Lee, Jeong-Hwan; Borghs, Gustaaf; Heremans, Paul; Genoe, Jan

    2017-01-01

    Thin film transistors based on high-mobility organic semiconductors are prone to contact problems that complicate the interpretation of their electrical characteristics and the extraction of important material parameters such as the charge carrier mobility. Here we report on the gated van der Pauw method for the simple and accurate determination of the electrical characteristics of thin semiconducting films, independently from contact effects. We test our method on thin films of seven high-mobility organic semiconductors of both polarities: device fabrication is fully compatible with common transistor process flows and device measurements deliver consistent and precise values for the charge carrier mobility and threshold voltage in the high-charge carrier density regime that is representative of transistor operation. The gated van der Pauw method is broadly applicable to thin films of semiconductors and enables a simple and clean parameter extraction independent from contact effects. PMID:28397852

  10. Impact of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors on the incidence of polyomavirus-associated nephropathy in renal transplant recipients with human BK polyomavirus viremia.

    PubMed

    Gabardi, S; Ramasamy, S; Kim, M; Klasek, R; Carter, D; Mackenzie, M R; Chandraker, A; Tan, C S

    2015-08-01

    Up to 20% of renal transplant recipients (RTR) will develop human BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) viremia. BKPyV viremia is a pre-requisite of polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (PyVAN). Risk of BKPyV infections increases with immunosuppression. Currently, the only effective therapy against PyVAN is reductions in immunosuppression, but this may increase the risk of rejection. In vitro data have shown that pravastatin dramatically decreased caveolin-1 expression in human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (HRPTEC) and suppressed BKPyV infection in these cells. Based on these data, we postulated that statin therapy may prevent the progression of BKPyV viremia to PyVAN. A multicenter, retrospective study was conducted in adult RTR transplanted between July 2005 and March 2012. All patients with documented BKPyV viremia (viral load >500 copies/mL on 2 consecutive tests) were included. Group I consisted of patients taking a statin before the BKPyV viremia diagnosis (n = 32), and Group II had no statin exposure before or after the BKPyV viremia diagnosis (n = 36). The primary endpoint was the incidence of PyVAN. Demographic data, transplant characteristics, and the degree of immunosuppression (i.e., induction/maintenance therapies, rejection treatment) were similar between the groups, with the exception of more diabetics in Group I. The incidence of PyVAN was comparable between the 2 groups (Group I = 28.1% vs. Group II = 41.7%; P = 0.312). Despite the proven in vitro effectiveness of pravastatin preventing BKPyV infection in HRPTEC, statins at doses maximized for cholesterol lowering, in RTR with BKPyV viremia, did not prevent progression to PyVAN. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  11. Impact of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors on the incidence of polyomavirus-associated nephropathy in renal transplant recipients with human BK polyomavirus viremia

    PubMed Central

    Gabardi, S.; Ramasamy, S.; Kim, M.; Klasek, R.; Carter, D.; Mackenzie, M.R.; Chandraker, A.; Tan, C.S.

    2015-01-01

    Introduction Up to 20% of renal transplant recipients (RTR) will develop human BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) viremia. BKPyV viremia is a pre-requisite of polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (PyVAN). Risk of BKPyV infections increases with immunosuppression. Currently, the only effective therapy against PyVAN is reductions in immunosuppression; but this may increase the risk of rejection. In vitro data have shown that pravastatin dramatically decreased caveolin-1 expression in human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (HRPTEC) and suppressed BKPyV infection in these cells. Based on these data, we postulated that statin therapy may prevent the progression of BKPyV viremia to PyVAN. Patients and methods A multicenter, retrospective study was conducted in adult RTR transplanted between July 2005 and March 2012. All patients with documented BKPyV viremia (viral load >500 copies/mL on 2 consecutive tests) were included. Group I consisted of patients taking a statin before the BKPyV viremia diagnosis (n = 32), and Group II had no statin exposure before or after the BKPyV viremia diagnosis (n = 36). The primary endpoint was the incidence of PyVAN. Results Demographic data, transplant characteristics, and the degree of immunosuppression (i.e., induction/maintenance therapies, rejection treatment) were similar between the groups, with the exception of more diabetics in Group I. The incidence of PyVAN was comparable between the 2 groups (Group I = 28.1% vs. Group II = 41.7%; P = 0.312). Conclusions Despite the proven in vitro effectiveness of pravastatin preventing BKPyV infection in HRPTEC, statins at doses maximized for cholesterol lowering, in RTR with BKPyV viremia, did not prevent progression to PyVAN. PMID:25989423

  12. Comparison of SPT and V s-based liquefaction analyses: a case study in Erciş (Van, Turkey)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Akkaya, İsmail; Özvan, Ali; Akin, Mutluhan; Akin, Müge K.; Övün, Uğur

    2017-12-01

    Liquefaction which is one of the most destructive ground deformations occurs during an earthquake in saturated or partially saturated silty and sandy soils, which may cause serious damages such as settlement and tilting of structures due to shear strength loss of soils. Standard (SPT) and cone (CPT) penetration tests as well as the shear wave velocity (V s)-based methods are commonly used for the determination of liquefaction potential. In this research, it was aimed to compare the SPT and V s-based liquefaction analysis methods by generating different earthquake scenarios. Accordingly, the Erciş residential area, which was mostly affected by the 2011 Van earthquake (M w = 7.1), was chosen as the model site. Erciş (Van, Turkey) and its surroundings settle on an alluvial plain which consists of silty and sandy layers with shallow groundwater level. Moreover, Çaldıran, Erciş-Kocapınar and Van Fault Zones are the major seismic sources of the region which have a significant potential of producing large magnitude earthquakes. After liquefaction assessments, the liquefaction potential in the western part of the region and in the coastal regions nearby the Lake Van is found to be higher than the other locations. Thus, it can be stated that the soil tightness and groundwater level dominantly control the liquefaction potential. In addition, the lateral spreading and sand boiling spots observed after the 23rd October 2011 Van earthquake overlap the scenario boundaries predicted in this study. Eventually, the use of V s-based liquefaction analysis in collaboration with the SPT results is quite advantageous to assess the rate of liquefaction in a specific area.

  13. Telavancin in the Treatment of Concurrent Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia: A Retrospective Analysis of ATLAS and ATTAIN Studies.

    PubMed

    Wilson, Samuel E; Graham, Donald R; Wang, Whedy; Bruss, Jon B; Castaneda-Ruiz, Bibiana

    2017-09-01

    Concurrent Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) worsens outcomes and increases mortality in patients with complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSI), hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia, and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (HABP/VABP). These challenges highlight the need for alternative treatments. Telavancin (TLV), a bactericidal lipoglycopeptide with high in vitro potency, effectively treats patients with cSSSI and HABP/VABP caused by Gram-positive pathogens, particularly S. aureus. This retrospective analysis evaluated patients from the Assessment of Telavancin in Complicated Skin and Skin Structure Infections and Assessment of Telavancin for Treatment of Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia studies with baseline, concurrent SAB. Differences in the clinical cure rates at test-of-cure and safety outcomes were compared for TLV vs vancomycin (VAN) treatment groups. A total of 105 patients, 32 cSSSI and 73 HABP/VABP, had baseline, concurrent SAB. The clinical cure rates for all-treated SAB patients in the cSSSI (TLV 57.1% and VAN 54.5%) and HABP/VABP (TLV 54.3% and VAN 47.2%) groups were comparable. For both types of infections, the safety profile of TLV and VAN showed similar incidences of adverse events (AEs), serious AEs, or AEs leading to discontinuation. One VAN-treated patient died in the cSSSI group, and there were 13 deaths in each treatment arm of the HABP/VABP group. This retrospective analysis demonstrated that TLV is clinically comparable in both efficacy and safety to VAN, and, therefore, may be an appropriate therapeutic option for the treatment of patients with HABP/VABP or cSSSI and concurrent SAB. Given the limited sample size in this subgroup, the interpretation of these results is limited. Theravance Biopharma Antibiotics, Inc.

  14. Comparison of SPT and V s-based liquefaction analyses: a case study in Erciş (Van, Turkey)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Akkaya, İsmail; Özvan, Ali; Akin, Mutluhan; Akin, Müge K.; Övün, Uğur

    2018-02-01

    Liquefaction which is one of the most destructive ground deformations occurs during an earthquake in saturated or partially saturated silty and sandy soils, which may cause serious damages such as settlement and tilting of structures due to shear strength loss of soils. Standard (SPT) and cone (CPT) penetration tests as well as the shear wave velocity ( V s)-based methods are commonly used for the determination of liquefaction potential. In this research, it was aimed to compare the SPT and V s-based liquefaction analysis methods by generating different earthquake scenarios. Accordingly, the Erciş residential area, which was mostly affected by the 2011 Van earthquake ( M w = 7.1), was chosen as the model site. Erciş (Van, Turkey) and its surroundings settle on an alluvial plain which consists of silty and sandy layers with shallow groundwater level. Moreover, Çaldıran, Erciş-Kocapınar and Van Fault Zones are the major seismic sources of the region which have a significant potential of producing large magnitude earthquakes. After liquefaction assessments, the liquefaction potential in the western part of the region and in the coastal regions nearby the Lake Van is found to be higher than the other locations. Thus, it can be stated that the soil tightness and groundwater level dominantly control the liquefaction potential. In addition, the lateral spreading and sand boiling spots observed after the 23rd October 2011 Van earthquake overlap the scenario boundaries predicted in this study. Eventually, the use of V s-based liquefaction analysis in collaboration with the SPT results is quite advantageous to assess the rate of liquefaction in a specific area.

  15. Amino acid substitutions in the VanS sensor of the VanA-type vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus strains result in high-level vancomycin resistance and low-level teicoplanin resistance.

    PubMed

    Hashimoto, Y; Tanimoto, K; Ozawa, Y; Murata, T; Ike, Y

    2000-04-15

    The vancomycin-resistant enterococci GV1, GV2 and GV3, which were isolated from droppings from broiler farms in Japan have been characterized as VanA-type VRE, which express high-level vancomycin resistance (256 or 512 microg ml(-1), MIC) and low-level teicoplanin resistance (1 or 2 microg ml(-1), MIC). The vancomycin resistances were encoded on plasmids. The vancomycin resistance conjugative plasmid pMG2 was isolated from the GV2 strain. The VanA determinant of pMG2 showed the same genetic organization as that of the VanA genes encoded on the representative transposon Tn1546, which comprises vanRSHAXYZ. The nucleotide sequences of all the genes, except the gene related to the vanS gene on Tn1546, were completely identical to the genes encoded on Tn1546. Three amino acid substitutions in the N-terminal region of the deduced VanS were detected in the nucleotide sequence of vanS encoded on pMG2. There were also three amino acid substitutions in the vanS gene of the GV1 and GV3 strains in the same positions as in the vanS gene of pMG2. Vancomycin induced the increased teicoplanin resistance in these strains.

  16. Presence of the vancomycin resistance gene cluster vanC1, vanXYc, and vanT in Enterococcus casseliflavus.

    PubMed

    Hölzel, Christina; Bauer, Johann; Stegherr, Eva-Maria; Schwaiger, Karin

    2014-04-01

    The three chromosomally located clustered genes vanC1, vanXYc, and vanT confer intrinsic resistance to vancomycin and are used for species identification of Enterococcus gallinarum. In this study, 28 strains belonging to the E. gallinarum/casseliflavus group isolated from cloacal swabs from laying hens were screened for the presence of vanC1. As confirmed by species-specific multiplex PCR, 11 vanC1-positive strains were identified as E. gallinarum. Surprisingly, one yellow pigmented strain, verified as E. casseliflavus by species-specific multiplex PCR, was also vanC1 positive; vanXYc and vanT were additionally detectable in this strain. To our knowledge, this is the first report of vanC1, vanXYc, and vanT in E. casseliflavus. The minimum inhibitory concentration of vancomycin was 4 mg/L. Real-time reverse transcription-PCR revealed that none of the clustered genes was expressed in this strain. Even if the genes seem not to be active, there is a certain risk that they will be transferred to other bacteria where they might be functionally expressed. Therefore, it may be advisable to expand the search for vanC1, vanXYc, and vanT from E. gallinarum to other (enterococcal) species. This study confirms that enterococci live up to their name as being reservoir bacteria and should therefore always be closely monitored.

  17. The Local Group in LCDM - Shapes and masses of dark halos

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vera-Ciro, Carlos Andrés

    2013-01-01

    In dit proefschrift bestuderen we de eigenschappen van donkere materie halo's in het LCDM paradigma. Het eerste deel richt zich op de vorm van de massadistributie van dergelijke objecten. We hebben gevonden dat de vorm van ge"isoleerde Melkweg-achtige donkere materie halo's significant afwijkt van bolsymmetrie. De lokale omgeving heeft invloed op de halo's en deze worden daarbij sterk be"invloed door de manier waarop massa aangroeit. We hebben ook de structuur en de baanstructuur van de satellieten van dergelijke halo's in detail onderzocht. In het algemeen zijn deze objecten sferischer dan de halo's zelf. Ze vertonen ook duidelijke afdrukken van getijdenwerking in zowel hun geometrische vorm als in de baanstructuur. Daarna gebruiken we het aantal massieve objecten rond de Melkweg om limieten te zetten op de totale massa van de donkere materie halo van de Melkweg. De eigenschappen van de massaverdeling van de Melkweg worden verder onderzocht in het laatste hoofdstuk. Daar maken we gebruik van de Sagittarius sterstroom om de vorm van de galactische potentiaal beter te bepalen. We komen met een nieuw model dat rekening houdt met de galactische schijf en de invloed van satellietstelsels en die bovendien consistent is met het LCDM paradigma.

  18. Theory of coherent van der Waals matter.

    PubMed

    Kulić, Igor M; Kulić, Miodrag L

    2014-12-01

    We explain in depth the previously proposed theory of the coherent van der Waals (cvdW) interaction, the counterpart of van der Waals (vdW) force, emerging in spatially coherently fluctuating electromagnetic fields. We show that cvdW driven matter is dominated by many-body interactions, which are significantly stronger than those found in standard van der Waals (vdW) systems. Remarkably, the leading two- and three-body interactions are of the same order with respect to the distance (∝R(-6)), in contrast to the usually weak vdW three-body effects (∝R(-9)). From a microscopic theory we show that the anisotropic cvdW many-body interactions drive the formation of low-dimensional structures such as chains, membranes, and vesicles with very unusual, nonlocal properties. In particular, cvdW chains display a logarithmically growing stiffness with the chain length, while cvdW membranes have a bending modulus growing linearly with their size. We argue that the cvdW anisotropic many-body forces cause local cohesion but also a negative effective "surface tension." We conclude by deriving the equation of state for cvdW materials and propose experiments to test the theory, in particular the unusual three-body nature of cvdW.

  19. Theory of coherent van der Waals matter

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kulić, Igor M.; Kulić, Miodrag L.

    2014-12-01

    We explain in depth the previously proposed theory of the coherent van der Waals (cvdW) interaction, the counterpart of van der Waals (vdW) force, emerging in spatially coherently fluctuating electromagnetic fields. We show that cvdW driven matter is dominated by many-body interactions, which are significantly stronger than those found in standard van der Waals (vdW) systems. Remarkably, the leading two- and three-body interactions are of the same order with respect to the distance (∝R-6) , in contrast to the usually weak vdW three-body effects (∝R-9 ). From a microscopic theory we show that the anisotropic cvdW many-body interactions drive the formation of low-dimensional structures such as chains, membranes, and vesicles with very unusual, nonlocal properties. In particular, cvdW chains display a logarithmically growing stiffness with the chain length, while cvdW membranes have a bending modulus growing linearly with their size. We argue that the cvdW anisotropic many-body forces cause local cohesion but also a negative effective "surface tension." We conclude by deriving the equation of state for cvdW materials and propose experiments to test the theory, in particular the unusual three-body nature of cvdW.

  20. [C.P. Thunberg and his voyage to Japan (4). Mercury water therapy for syphilis introduced into Japan by Thunberg].

    PubMed

    Takahashi, F

    1994-01-01

    During his 16-month stay in Japan from August 1775 to December 1776, Thunberg taught mercury water therapy to Japanese medical doctors and interpreters in order to help them treat syphilis, which was prevalent in Japan at that time. Kohgyu Yoshio, a Japanese-Dutch interpreter who was taught this therapy by Thunberg, recorded Thunberg's teaching in his "Kohmoh Hijiki." According to this book, the mercury water therapy that Thunberg introduced to Japan had been tested successfully by van Swieten, a Dutch doctor, about 20 years previously in Europe and used corrosive sublimate (mercuric chloride), the active ingredient, dissolved in distilled water with honey. The formula is described, in measurement units used in Europe at that time, in a letter addressed by van Swieten to a doctor in Rotterdam in 1755. The formula recorded in "Kohmoh Hijiki" in measurement units used in Japan at that time gives a content of the active ingredient equivalent to that mentioned in van Swieten's letter. This fact indicates that van Swieten's formula introduced by Thunberg was correctly accepted by Japanese doctors and interpreters, who had acquired basic medical knowledge since the publication of "Kaitai Shinsho" in 1774.

  1. Renewable Fuels and Lubricants Laboratory | Transportation Research | NREL

    Science.gov Websites

    delivery vans to full-size buses and Class 8 tractors. Heavy-Duty and Light-Duty Engine Dynamometer Test Cells The ReFUEL Laboratory features two engine dynamometer test cells-one for heavy-duty (up to 600 hp the Heavy-Duty Federal Test Procedures (HD-FTP), are highly standardized, and results can be readily

  2. Military Testing Association 1981: Some Manpower Presentations.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1982-03-01

    van If UM of toome Jelv4kmw IM). lksm eM .mmae ys estam mm ers liheme. ’ Smm am f mess me) w ro mi ma. Table 5 Composition of National Youth Population...the profile sample. Testing was generally conducted in groups of five to ten per- sons. More than 400 test sites, including hotels , community centers

  3. Failover Switching Tests Between Two RF Communications Links

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Brooks, David; Frantz, Brian; Hoder, Doug; Wilkins, Ryan

    2003-01-01

    This work presents a short report on the routing tests of the Ku band satcom and VHF line-of-sight communications systems on the Advanced Air Transportation Technologies (AATT) Aero/Mobile van. The first section is a description of the equipment used, followed by descriptions of the tests, the theoretical results, and finally, conclusions and the actual data.

  4. Co-colonization of vanA and vanB Enterococcus faecium of clonal complex 17 in a patient with bacteremia due to vanA E. faecium.

    PubMed

    Seol, Chang Ahn; Park, Jeong Su; Sung, Heungsup; Kim, Mi-Na

    2014-06-01

    A 53-year-old Vietnamese man with liver cirrhosis was transferred from a Vietnamese hospital to our tertiary care hospital in Korea in order to undergo a liver transplantation. Bacteremia due to vanA Enterococcus faecium was diagnosed, and stool surveillance cultures for vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) were positive for both vanA and vanB E. faecium. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis revealed that the 2 vanA VRE isolates from the blood and stool were clonal, but the vanB VRE was unrelated to the vanA VRE. vanA and vanB VRE were ST64 and ST18, single-allele variations of clonal complex 17, respectively. This is the first case report of vanA VRE bacteremia in a Vietnamese patient and demonstrates the reemergence of vanB VRE since a single outbreak occurred 15years ago in Korea. The reemergence of vanB VRE emphasizes the importance of VRE genotyping to prevent the spread of new VRE strains. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  5. Biochemical and Genetic Characterization of the vanC-2 Vancomycin Resistance Gene Cluster of Enterococcus casseliflavus ATCC 25788

    PubMed Central

    Dutta, Ireena; Reynolds, Peter E.

    2002-01-01

    The vanC-2 cluster of Enterococcus casseliflavus ATCC 25788 consisted of five genes (vanC-2, vanXYC-2, vanTC-2, vanRC-2, and vanSC-2) and shared the same organization as the vanC cluster of E. gallinarum BM4174. The proteins encoded by these genes displayed a high degree of amino acid identity to the proteins encoded within the vanC gene cluster. The putative d,d-dipeptidase-d,d-carboxypeptidase, VanXYC-2, exhibited 81% amino acid identity to VanXYC, and VanTC-2 displayed 65% amino acid identity to the serine racemase, VanT. VanRC-2 and VanSC-2 displayed high degrees of identity to VanRC and VanSC, respectively, and contained the conserved residues identified as important to their function as a response regulator and histidine kinase, respectively. Resistance to vancomycin was expressed inducibly in E. casseliflavus ATCC 25788 and required an extended period of induction. Analysis of peptidoglycan precursors revealed that UDP-N-acetylmuramyl-l-Ala-δ-d-Glu-l-Lys-d-Ala-d-Ser could not be detected until several hours after the addition of vancomycin, and its appearance coincided with the resumption of growth. The introduction of additional copies of the vanTC-2 gene, encoding a putative serine racemase, and the presence of supplementary d-serine in the growth medium both significantly reduced the period before growth resumed after addition of vancomycin. This suggested that the availability of d-serine plays an important role in the induction process. PMID:12234834

  6. Evaluation of the Verigene Gram-Positive Blood Culture Nucleic Acid Test for Rapid Detection of Bacteria and Resistance Determinants

    PubMed Central

    Wojewoda, Christina M.; Sercia, Linda; Navas, Maria; Tuohy, Marion; Wilson, Deborah; Hall, Geraldine S.; Procop, Gary W.

    2013-01-01

    Rapid identification of pathogens from blood cultures can decrease lengths of stay and improve patient outcomes. We evaluated the accuracy of the Verigene Gram-positive blood culture (BC-GP) nucleic acid test for investigational use only (Nanosphere, Inc., Northbrook, IL) for the identification of Gram-positive bacteria from blood cultures. The detection of resistance genes (mecA in Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis and vanA or vanB in Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis) by the BC-GP assay also was assessed. A total of 186 positive blood cultures (in BacT/Alert FA bottles) with Gram-positive cocci observed with Gram staining were analyzed using the BC-GP assay. The BC-GP results were compared with the identification and susceptibility profiles obtained with routine methods in the clinical laboratory. Discordant results were arbitrated with additional biochemical, cefoxitin disk, and repeat BC-GP testing. The initial BC-GP organism identification was concordant with routine method results for 94.6% of the blood cultures. Only 40% of the Streptococcus pneumoniae identifications were correct. The detection of the mecA gene for 69 blood cultures with only S. aureus or S. epidermidis was concordant with susceptibility testing results. For 3 of 6 cultures with multiple Staphylococcus spp., mecA detection was reported but was correlated with oxacillin resistance in a species other than S. aureus or S. epidermidis. The detection of vanA agreed with susceptibility testing results for 45 of 46 cultures with E. faecalis or E. faecium. Comparison of the mean times to results for each organism group showed that BC-GP results were available 31 to 42 h earlier than phenotypic identifications and 41 to 50 h earlier than susceptibility results. PMID:23596240

  7. Evaluation of the Verigene Gram-positive blood culture nucleic acid test for rapid detection of bacteria and resistance determinants.

    PubMed

    Wojewoda, Christina M; Sercia, Linda; Navas, Maria; Tuohy, Marion; Wilson, Deborah; Hall, Geraldine S; Procop, Gary W; Richter, Sandra S

    2013-07-01

    Rapid identification of pathogens from blood cultures can decrease lengths of stay and improve patient outcomes. We evaluated the accuracy of the Verigene Gram-positive blood culture (BC-GP) nucleic acid test for investigational use only (Nanosphere, Inc., Northbrook, IL) for the identification of Gram-positive bacteria from blood cultures. The detection of resistance genes (mecA in Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis and vanA or vanB in Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis) by the BC-GP assay also was assessed. A total of 186 positive blood cultures (in BacT/Alert FA bottles) with Gram-positive cocci observed with Gram staining were analyzed using the BC-GP assay. The BC-GP results were compared with the identification and susceptibility profiles obtained with routine methods in the clinical laboratory. Discordant results were arbitrated with additional biochemical, cefoxitin disk, and repeat BC-GP testing. The initial BC-GP organism identification was concordant with routine method results for 94.6% of the blood cultures. Only 40% of the Streptococcus pneumoniae identifications were correct. The detection of the mecA gene for 69 blood cultures with only S. aureus or S. epidermidis was concordant with susceptibility testing results. For 3 of 6 cultures with multiple Staphylococcus spp., mecA detection was reported but was correlated with oxacillin resistance in a species other than S. aureus or S. epidermidis. The detection of vanA agreed with susceptibility testing results for 45 of 46 cultures with E. faecalis or E. faecium. Comparison of the mean times to results for each organism group showed that BC-GP results were available 31 to 42 h earlier than phenotypic identifications and 41 to 50 h earlier than susceptibility results.

  8. Characterisation of the selective binding of antibiotics vancomycin and teicoplanin by the VanS receptor regulating type A vancomycin resistance in the enterococci.

    PubMed

    Hughes, C S; Longo, E; Phillips-Jones, M K; Hussain, R

    2017-08-01

    A-type resistance towards "last-line" glycopeptide antibiotic vancomycin in the leading hospital acquired infectious agent, the enterococci, is the most common in the UK. Resistance is regulated by the VanR A S A two-component system, comprising the histidine sensor kinase VanS A and the partner response regulator VanR A . The nature of the activating ligand for VanS A has not been identified, therefore this work sought to identify and characterise ligand(s) for VanS A . In vitro approaches were used to screen the structural and activity effects of a range of potential ligands with purified VanS A protein. Of the screened ligands (glycopeptide antibiotics vancomycin and teicoplanin, and peptidoglycan components N-acetylmuramic acid, D-Ala-D-Ala and Ala-D-y-Glu-Lys-D-Ala-D-Ala) only glycopeptide antibiotics vancomycin and teicoplanin were found to bind VanS A with different affinities (vancomycin 70μM; teicoplanin 30 and 170μM), and were proposed to bind via exposed aromatic residues tryptophan and tyrosine. Furthermore, binding of the antibiotics induced quicker, longer-lived phosphorylation states for VanS A , proposing them as activators of type A vancomycin resistance in the enterococci. Copyright © 2017 Diamond Light Source Ltd. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  9. The Handling of Missing Binary Data in Language Research

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Pichette, François; Béland, Sébastien; Jolani, Shahab; Lesniewska, Justyna

    2015-01-01

    Researchers are frequently confronted with unanswered questions or items on their questionnaires and tests, due to factors such as item difficulty, lack of testing time, or participant distraction. This paper first presents results from a poll confirming previous claims (Rietveld & van Hout, 2006; Schafer & Graham, 2002) that data…

  10. Hydraulic Hybrid and Conventional Parcel Delivery Vehicles' Measured Laboratory Fuel Economy on Targeted Drive Cycles

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

    Lammert, M. P.; Burton, J.; Sindler, P.

    2014-10-01

    This research project compares laboratory-measured fuel economy of a medium-duty diesel powered hydraulic hybrid vehicle drivetrain to both a conventional diesel drivetrain and a conventional gasoline drivetrain in a typical commercial parcel delivery application. Vehicles in this study included a model year 2012 Freightliner P100H hybrid compared to a 2012 conventional gasoline P100 and a 2012 conventional diesel parcel delivery van of similar specifications. Drive cycle analysis of 484 days of hybrid parcel delivery van commercial operation from multiple vehicles was used to select three standard laboratory drive cycles as well as to create a custom representative cycle. These fourmore » cycles encompass and bracket the range of real world in-use data observed in Baltimore United Parcel Service operations. The NY Composite cycle, the City Suburban Heavy Vehicle Cycle cycle, and the California Air Resources Board Heavy Heavy-Duty Diesel Truck (HHDDT) cycle as well as a custom Baltimore parcel delivery cycle were tested at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Renewable Fuels and Lubricants Laboratory. Fuel consumption was measured and analyzed for all three vehicles. Vehicle laboratory results are compared on the basis of fuel economy. The hydraulic hybrid parcel delivery van demonstrated 19%-52% better fuel economy than the conventional diesel parcel delivery van and 30%-56% better fuel economy than the conventional gasoline parcel delivery van on cycles other than the highway-oriented HHDDT cycle.« less

  11. One-year surveillance of ESKAPE pathogens in an intensive care unit of Monterrey, Mexico.

    PubMed

    Llaca-Díaz, Jorge Martín; Mendoza-Olazarán, Soraya; Camacho-Ortiz, Adrian; Flores, Samantha; Garza-González, Elvira

    2012-01-01

    Bacterial species from the ESKAPE group (i.e. Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter species) are frequently resistant to antibiotics. The purpose of this study was to monitor the incidence of ESKAPE pathogens at the intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary care hospital in Monterrey, Mexico. All clinically relevant organisms isolated from June 2011 to June 2012 were included. Identification and susceptibility testing was performed using panels from Sensititre. Resistance to oxacillin, for S. aureus, and the production of extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs), for K. pneumonia, were determined as defined by the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute. Also, the presence of vanA and vanB genes was determined in E. faecium vancomycin (VAN)-resistant isolates. The majority of pathogens (64.5%) isolated in the ICU unit were from the ESKAPE group. The organisms most frequently isolated were A. baumannii (15.8%) and P. aeruginosa (14.3%). A high resistance to carbapenems was detected for A. baumannii (75.3%) while 62% of S. aureus isolates were confirmed to be methicillin resistant. Of the K. pneumoniae isolates, 36.9% were ESBL producers. We detected three E. faecium VAN-resistant isolates, all of which contained the vanA gene. The presence of the ESKAPE group of pathogens is a major problem in the ICU setting. The results of this study support the implementation of special antimicrobial strategies to specifically target these microorganisms. Copyright © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  12. vanA-positive multi-drug-resistant Enterococcus spp. isolated from surfaces of a US hospital laundry facility.

    PubMed

    Michael, K E; No, D; Roberts, M C

    2017-02-01

    Enterococcus spp. are a normal part of the gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals. They are also important pathogens, being responsible for 14% of US nosocomial infections from 2007 to 2010. To examine a laundry facility that processes clinical linens for the presence and seasonality of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp. Surface samples were collected four times in 2015 from the dirty and clean areas of the laundry facility. Isolates were confirmed using biochemical assays, and antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed. Further investigations included molecular characterization by multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), detection of acquired vanA and vanB and/or intrinsic vanC1 genes by polymerase chain reaction, and eBURST analysis. Seventy-four vanA-positive multi-drug-resistant Enterococcus spp. were identified: 64/120 (53%) in the dirty area and 10/120 (8%) in the clean area. There were 14 ST types among the E. faecium isolates identified (ST16, 17, 18, 117, 186, 280, 324, 412, 584, 664, 665, 736, 750 and 1038). Both E. faecalis isolates were ST109. Isolation of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) isolates was significantly higher (53% vs 8%) in the dirty area of the facility compared with the clean area. This is the first study to examine an industrial laundry facility for the presence of VRE, and may be an unrecognized reservoir. Copyright © 2016 The Healthcare Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  13. Members of the Genera Paenibacillus and Rhodococcus Harbor Genes Homologous to Enterococcal Glycopeptide Resistance Genes vanA and vanB

    PubMed Central

    Guardabassi, L.; Christensen, H.; Hasman, H.; Dalsgaard, A.

    2004-01-01

    Genes homologous to enterococcal glycopeptide resistance genes vanA and vanB were found in glycopeptide-resistant Paenibacillus and Rhodococcus strains from soil. The putative d-Ala:d-Lac ligase genes in Paenibacillus thiaminolyticus PT-2B1 and Paenibacillus apiarius PA-B2B were closely related to vanA (92 and 87%) and flanked by genes homologous to vanH and vanX in vanA operons. PMID:15561881

  14. Members of the genera Paenibacillus and Rhodococcus harbor genes homologous to enterococcal glycopeptide resistance genes vanA and vanB.

    PubMed

    Guardabassi, L; Christensen, H; Hasman, H; Dalsgaard, A

    2004-12-01

    Genes homologous to enterococcal glycopeptide resistance genes vanA and vanB were found in glycopeptide-resistant Paenibacillus and Rhodococcus strains from soil. The putative D-Ala:D-Lac ligase genes in Paenibacillus thiaminolyticus PT-2B1 and Paenibacillus apiarius PA-B2B were closely related to vanA (92 and 87%) and flanked by genes homologous to vanH and vanX in vanA operons.

  15. Biochemical and genetic characterization of the vanC-2 vancomycin resistance gene cluster of Enterococcus casseliflavus ATCC 25788.

    PubMed

    Dutta, Ireena; Reynolds, Peter E

    2002-10-01

    The vanC-2 cluster of Enterococcus casseliflavus ATCC 25788 consisted of five genes (vanC-2, vanXY(C-2), vanT(C-2), vanR(C-2), and vanS(C-2)) and shared the same organization as the vanC cluster of E. gallinarum BM4174. The proteins encoded by these genes displayed a high degree of amino acid identity to the proteins encoded within the vanC gene cluster. The putative D,D-dipeptidase-D,D-carboxypeptidase, VanXY(C-2), exhibited 81% amino acid identity to VanXY(C), and VanT(C-2) displayed 65% amino acid identity to the serine racemase, VanT. VanR(C-2) and VanS(C-2) displayed high degrees of identity to VanR(C) and VanS(C), respectively, and contained the conserved residues identified as important to their function as a response regulator and histidine kinase, respectively. Resistance to vancomycin was expressed inducibly in E. casseliflavus ATCC 25788 and required an extended period of induction. Analysis of peptidoglycan precursors revealed that UDP-N-acetylmuramyl-L-Ala-delta-D-Glu-L-Lys-D-Ala-D-Ser could not be detected until several hours after the addition of vancomycin, and its appearance coincided with the resumption of growth. The introduction of additional copies of the vanT(C-2) gene, encoding a putative serine racemase, and the presence of supplementary D-serine in the growth medium both significantly reduced the period before growth resumed after addition of vancomycin. This suggested that the availability of D-serine plays an important role in the induction process.

  16. Incidence of Acute Kidney Injury among Patients Treated with Piperacillin-Tazobactam or Meropenem in Combination with Vancomycin.

    PubMed

    Rutter, W Cliff; Burgess, David S

    2018-07-01

    Acute kidney injury (AKI) increases during empirical antimicrobial therapy with the combination of piperacillin-tazobactam (TZP) and vancomycin (VAN) compared to the number of incidences with monotherapy or the combination of cefepime and VAN. Limited data regarding the impact of meropenem (MEM) combined with VAN exist. This study examined the AKI incidence among patients treated with MEM plus VAN (MEM+VAN) or TZP+VAN. Data were collected from the University of Kentucky Center for Clinical and Translational Science Enterprise Data Trust from September 2007 through October 2015. Adults without previous renal disease who received MEM+VAN or TZP+VAN for at least 2 days were included. AKI was assessed using risk, injury, failure, loss, and end-stage (RIFLE) criteria. Inverse probability of treatment weighting was utilized to control for differences between groups. In total, 10,236 patients met inclusion criteria, with 9,898 receiving TZP+VAN and 338 receiving MEM+VAN. AKI occurred in 15.4% of MEM+VAN patients and in 27.4% of TZP+VAN patients ( P < 0.001). TZP+VAN was associated with increased AKI compared to the level with MEM+VAN (odds ratio [OR], 2.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.82 to 3.52), after controlling for confounders. Use of MEM+VAN should be considered an appropriate alternative therapy to TZP+VAN if nephrotoxicity is a major concern. The results of this study demonstrate that judicial use of TZP+VAN for empirical coverage of infection is needed. Copyright © 2018 American Society for Microbiology.

  17. Revision of the subfamily Opiinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) from Hunan (China), including thirty-six new species and two new genera

    PubMed Central

    Li, Xi-Ying; van Achterberg, Cornelis; Tan, Ji-Cai

    2013-01-01

    Abstract The species of the subfamily Opiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from Hunan (Oriental China) are revised and illustrated. Thirty-six new species are described: Apodesmia bruniclypealis Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Apodesmia melliclypealis Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Areotetes albiferus Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Areotetes carinuliferus Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Areotetes striatiferus Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Coleopioides diversinotum Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Coleopioides postpectalis Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Fopius dorsopiferus Li, van Achterberg & Tan, sp. n., Indiopius chenae Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Opiognathus aulaciferus Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Opiognathus brevibasalis Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Opius crenuliferus Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Opius malarator Li, van Achterberg & Tan, sp. n., Opius monilipalpis Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Opius pachymerus Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Opius songi Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Opius youi Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Opius zengi Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Phaedrotoma acuticlypeata Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Phaedrotoma angiclypeata Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Phaedrotoma antenervalis Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Phaedrotoma depressiclypealis Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Phaedrotoma flavisoma Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Phaedrotoma nigrisoma Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Phaedrotoma protuberator Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Phaedrotoma rugulifera Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Li & van Achterberg,Phaedrotoma striatinota Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Phaedrotoma vermiculifera Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Rhogadopsis latipennis Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Rhogadopsis longicaudifera Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Rhogadopsis maculosa Li, van Achterberg & Tan, sp. n., Rhogadopsis obliqua Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Rhogadopsis sculpturator Li & van Achterberg, sp. n., Utetes longicarinatus Li & van Achterberg, sp. n. and Xynobius notauliferus Li & van Achterberg, sp. n. Areotetes van Achterberg & Li, gen. n. (type species: Areotetes carinuliferus sp. n.) and Coleopioides van Achterberg & Li, gen. n. (type species: Coleopioides postpectalis sp. n. are described. All species are illustrated and keyed. In total 30 species of Opiinae are sequenced and the cladograms are presented. Neopius Gahan, 1917, Opiognathus Fischer, 1972, Opiostomus Fischer, 1972, and Rhogadopsis Brèthes, 1913, are treated as a valid genera based on molecular and morphological differences. Opius vittata Chen & Weng, 2005 (not Opius vittatus Ruschka, 1915), Opius ambiguus Weng & Chen, 2005 (not Wesmael, 1835) and Opius mitis Chen & Weng, 2005 (not Fischer, 1963) are primary homonymsandarerenamed into Phaedrotoma depressa Li & van Achterberg, nom. n., Opius cheni Li & van Achterberg, nom. n. andOpius wengi Li & van Achterberg, nom. n., respectively. Phaedrotoma terga (Chen & Weng, 2005) comb. n.,Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead, 1905) and Biosteres pavitita Chen & Weng, 2005, are reported new for Hunan, Opiostomus aureliae (Fischer, 1957) comb. n. is new for China and Hunan; Xynobius maculipennis(Enderlein, 1912) comb. n. is new for Hunan and continental China and Rhogadopsis longuria (Chen & Weng, 2005) comb. n. is new for Hunan. The following new combinations are given: Apodesmia puncta (Weng & Chen, 2005) comb. n., Apodesmia tracta (Weng & Chen, 2005) comb. n., Areotetes laevigatus (Weng & Chen, 2005) comb. n., Phaedrotoma dimidia (Chen & Weng, 2005) comb. n., Phaedrotoma improcera (Weng & Chen, 2005) comb. n., Phaedrotoma amputata (Weng & Chen, 2005) comb. n., Phaedrotoma larga (Weng & Chen, 2005) comb. n., Phaedrotoma osculas (Weng & Chen, 2005) comb. n., Phaedrotoma postuma (Chen & Weng, 2005) comb. n., Phaedrotoma rugulosa (Chen & Weng, 2005) comb. n., Phaedrotoma tabularis (Weng & Chen, 2005) comb. n., Rhogadopsis apii (Chen & Weng, 2005) comb. n., Rhogadopsis dimidia (Chen & Weng, 2005) comb. n., Rhogadopsis diutia (Chen & Weng, 2005) comb. n., Rhogadopsis longuria (Chen & Weng, 2005) comb. n., Rhogadopsis pratellae(Weng & Chen, 2005) comb. n., Rhogadopsis pratensis (Weng & Chen, 2005) comb. n., Rhogadopsis sculpta (Chen & Weng, 2005) comb. n., Rhogadopsis sulcifer (Fischer, 1975) comb. n., Rhogadopsis tabidula(Weng & Chen, 2005) comb. n., Xynobius complexus (Weng & Chen, 2005) comb. n., Xynobius indagatrix (Weng & Chen, 2005) comb. n., Xynobius multiarculatus (Chen & Weng, 2005) comb. n. The following (sub)genera are synonymised: Snoflakopius Fischer, 1972, Jucundopius Fischer, 1984, Opiotenes Fischer, 1998, and Oetztalotenes Fischer, 1998, with Opiostomus Fischer, 1971; Xynobiotenes Fischer, 1998, with Xynobius Foerster, 1862; Allotypus Foerster, 1862, Lemnaphilopius Fischer, 1972, Agnopius Fischer, 1982, and Cryptognathopius Fischer, 1984, with Apodesmia Foerster, 1862; Nosopoea Foerster, 1862, Tolbia Cameron, 1907, Brachycentrus Szépligeti, 1907, Baeocentrum Schulz, 1911, Hexaulax Cameron, 1910, Coeloreuteus Roman, 1910, Neodiospilus Szépligeti, 1911, Euopius Fischer, 1967, Gerius Fischer, 1972, Grimnirus Fischer, 1972, Hoenirus Fischer, 1972, Mimirus Fischer, 1972, Gastrosema Fischer, 1972, Merotrachys Fischer, 1972, Phlebosema Fischer, 1972, Neoephedrus Samanta, Tamili, Saha & Raychaudhuri, 1983, Adontopius Fischer, 1984, Kainopaeopius Fischer, 1986, Millenniopius Fischer, 1996, and Neotropopius Fischer, 1999, with Phaedrotoma Foerster, 1862. PMID:23653521

  18. Scatterometry

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Stoffelen, Adrianus Cornelis Maria

    1996-10-01

    Een veelheid aan meteorologische metingen is dagelijks beschikbaar. De meeste van deze waarnemingen bevinden zich echter boven land, en met name windwaarnemingen boven de (Noord Atlantische) oceaan zijn schaars. Bij een westelijke luchtstroming is dit een duidelijke beperking voor de weers- en golfverwachtingen ten behoeve van Nederland. Juist dan is het gevaar voor bijvoorbeeld storm of overstroming het grootst. Ook in het aardse klimaatsysteem speelt de wind aan het oppervlak een grote rol en is de belangrijkste factor voor de aandrijving van de oceaancirculatie. De oceaancirculatie op zijn beurt is cruciaal voor de verschijnselen die samenhangen met bijvoorbeeld El Niño. Dit proefschift gaat over het scatterometer instrument dat vanuit de ruimte, zelfs onder een wolkendek, nauwkeurige en betrouwbare informatie geeft over de wind aan het oceaanoppervlak met een hoge mate van ruimtelijke consistentie. Tijdens de tweede wereldoorlog werden radars aan boord van schepen veelvuldig gebruikt voor de opsporing van vijandige vaartuigen. Hierbij werd vastgesteld dat de detectie slechter werd naarmate de wind aan het zeeoppervlak groter was. Proefondervindelijk was hiermee het principe van een wind scatterometer aangetoond. Al snel ontwikkelde zich dan ook de idee de wind aan het zeeoppervlak te meten met behulp van radar. Vanuit een vliegtuig of een satelliet word dan een microgolfbundel onder een schuine hoek naar het zeeoppervlak gestuurd. De microgolfstraling, met gewoonlijk een golflengte van enkele centimeters, wordt verstrooid aan het ruwe oppervlak, en een klein gedeelte van de uitgezonden puls keert terug naar het detectorgedeelte van de scatterometer. Het fysische fenomeen van belang voor de werking van de scatterometer is de aanwezigheid van zogeheten capillaire gavitatiegolven op het zeeoppervlak. Deze golven hebben een golflengte van enkele centimeters en reageren vrijwel instantaan op de sterkte van de wind. De verstrooiing van microgolven is op zijn beurt weer sterk afhankelijk van de amplitude van de capillaire golven. Bovendien blijken de capillaire golfjes over het algemeen gericht in lijn met de windrichting. Aldus bestaat er een verband tussen de hoeveelheid teruggestrooide energie en de windsterkte en -richting op enige hoogte. Een scatterometer instrument wordt zo ontworpen dat uit diverse metingen van het teruggestrooide vermogen, windsterkte en -richting afgeleid kunnen worden. Deze metingen kunnen dan eenvoudig vergeleken worden met bestaande windgegevens van boeien, schepen en weermodellen ter calibratie en validatie.?SAMENVATTING viii Overzicht In de loop der jaren zijn scatterometer instrumenten aan boord van verscheidene satellieten gelanceerd. De scatterometers op de ERS-1 en ERS-2 ("European Remote-sensing Satellite") hebben de langste staat van dienst en zijn sinds 1991 operationeel. Deze scatterometers (die identiek zijn) hebben ieder drie antennes, waarmee het oceaanoppervlak in drie verschillende richtingen bemeten wordt. Een punt op het aardoppervlak wordt eerst door de naar voren gerichte bundel belicht, dan door de naar opzij gerichte bundel, en als laatste door de naar achteren gerichte bundel. De drie metingen, verder kortweg aangeduid als trits, kunnen tegen elkaar worden uitgezet, hetgeen resulteert in een ruimtelijk (3D) plaatje. Door uitgekiende doorsneden te maken van deze ruimte kan de samenhang van de drie metingen kwalitatief worden bestudeerd. De drie metingen blijken dan inderdaad een sterke samenhang te vertonen die verklaard kan worden uit twee geofysische parameters. De drie metingen liggen namelijk in het algemeen dichtbij een hoornvormig (2D) oppervlak. De lengterichting van de hoorn blijkt voornamelijk te corresponderen met een variërende windsterkte (of ruwheid van de zee), en de kortste omtrek van de hoorn met een variërende windrichting (ofwel oriëntatie van de capillaire golfjes). De karakterisatie en modellering van dit oppervlak heeft geleid tot een aanzienlijke verbetering in de interpretatie van de scatterometer, zoals beschreven is in dit proefschrift. Hierboven is een uiterst simplistisch beeld gegeven van de fysica die van belang is bij de interpretatie van de scatterometer. Het eerste hoofdstuk van dit proefschrift beschrijft in meer detail de fysische modellering van belang bij de interpretatie van de scatterometer metingen. Ten eerste, de topografie van het zeeoppervlak is uitermate gecompliceerd en niet nauwkeurig te beschrijven met eenvoudige mathematische vergelijkingen. De capillaire golven hebben een andere fasesnelheid dan de langere golven en beide hebben hiermee een ingewikkelde dynamische interactie. Bij hogere windsnelheid breken de golven en ontstaan er schuimkoppen, hetgeen de fysische beschrijving verder compliceert. Ten tweede, de interactie van een schuin invallende microgolfbundel met dit gecompliceerde oppervlak is evenmin nauwkeurig te beschrijven. Zowel verstrooiing als reflectie kunnen een rol spelen. Ten derde, over de relatie tussen de amplitude van de capillaire golven en de wind op enige hoogte, laten we veronderstellen 10 m, is in de literatuur niet de overeenstemming tot in het gewenste detail. Bij lage windsnelheid zouden de oppervlaktespanning of variaties in de wind variabiliteit een rol kunnen spelen. Gezien de fysische complexiteit, is het niet verwonderlijk dat voor de interpretatie van scatterometer metingen statistische methoden hun opgang gevonden hebben. Dit proefschrift gaat met name in op deze methoden, en geeft, aan de hand van vijf wetenschappelijke publicaties, een tamelijk volledig beeld van de "state-of-the-art", zoals die bereikt is met de?SAMENVATTING ix ERS scatterometers (ERS-1 vanaf 17 juli 1991 en later ERS-2 vanaf 22 november 1995). Het derde hoofdstuk behandelt de visualisatie van de gemeten tritsen in de 3D meetruimte, de bepaling van de spreiding van de metingen rond het hoornvormige oppervlak, en de schatting van de meest waarschijnlijke "werkelijke" (of ruisvrije) trits bij het hoornvormige oppervlak gegeven de metingen en hun nauwkeurigheid (inversie). De perceptie dat de metingen met grote waarschijnlijkheid dichtbij een hoornvormig oppervlak liggen, vormt essentiële a priori informatie van belang voor de inversie. Een inversieprocedure gestoeld op waarschijnlijkheidstheorie is afgeleid. Verder worden aan de hand van de structuur van het hoornvormige oppervlak indicatoren bepaald, van belang voor de kwaliteitscontrole, instrumentbewaking, en de verdere verwerking van de gegevens. In de appendix wordt een methode besproken die beschrijft hoe, aan de hand van geselecteerde windgegevens en een goed wind-microgolf verband, ofwel transfer functie, de scatterometer verstrooiingsmetingen gecalibreerd kunnen worden boven de oceaan. Het blijkt dat deze calibratie, die per antenne wordt uitgevoerd, uiterst nauwkeurig is, en, wanneer toegepast, in de 3D meetruimte de verdeling van gemeten tritsen gemiddeld dichterbij de door de transfer functie gemodelleerde hoorn brengt. Dit levert een verbetert scatterometer wind product op. De methode was met name van groot belang voor de validatie en calibratie van de ERS-2 scatterometer, voordat de instrumentele calibratie was voltooid. Met behulp van een set windgegevens uit een weermodel en hun geschatte nauwkeurigheden, passend in locatie en tijd bij een set van scatterometer metingen en hun geschatte nauwkeurigheden, kan met quasi-lineaire schattingstheorie ("Maximum Likelihood Estimation") de meest waarschijnlijke wind-microgolf transfer functie worden afgeleid. De niet-lineariteit en onnauwkeurige formulering van de transfer functie, een niet-uniforme verdeling van invoergegevens, en een inaccurate formulering van de geschatte nauwkeurigheid kunnen hier een goed resultaat in de weg staan. Een nieuwe functie, genoemd CMOD4, wordt afgeleid in hoofdstuk IV. Een eerste eis die gesteld wordt aan een transfer functie, is dat het in de 3D meetruimte nauwkeurig bij de gemeten tritsen past. Wanneer de "fit" optimaal is zal het gecombineerde effect van meetonnauwkeurigheid en inversiefout kleiner zijn dan 0.5 m s -1 in de wind vector. CMOD4 blijkt binnen deze fout bij de metingen te passen. Een tweede eis is, dat voor een onafhankelijke gegevensset, het verschil tussen de geïnverteerde scatterometer wind en de bijpassende wind van bijvoorbeeld een weermodel zo klein mogelijk is. In de praktijk blijkt dat deze tweede eis impliciet volgt uit de eerste, maar ook dat de onnauwkeurigheid van de scatterometer wind met name wordt bepaald door de associatie van een locatie op de hoorn met een wind vector. De onnauwkeurigheid in de scatterometer wind kan dan ook goed beschreven worden in het wind domein.?SAMENVATTING x In hoofdstuk V wordt dit laatste verder uitgewerkt, en wordt gestreefd naar een gedetailleerde wind calibratie met behulp van in situ gegevens. Windgegevens bevatten doorgaans een relatief grote onnauwkeurigheid. Het wordt aangetoond dat ijking of regressie van zulke gegevens niet mogelijk is in een vergelijking van twee meetsystemen, tenzij de nauwkeurigheid van één van de twee meetsystemen bekend is. In de praktijk is dit meestal niet zo. Voor deze gevallen wordt een methode voorgesteld die uitgaat van de simultane vergelijking van drie meetsystemen. In dit geval kan zowel de ijking als een foutenmodel voor de drie meetsystemen worden opgelost. Toepassing van de methode laat zien dat de scatterometer wind afgeleid met behulp van CMOD4 ruwweg 5 % te laag is, en de oppervlaktewind van het gebruikte weermodel ongeveer 5 % te hoog. Het hoornvormige oppervlak blijkt te bestaan uit twee nauw samenvallende laagjes. Wanneer de wind een component heeft in de kijkrichting van de middelste microgolfbundel wordt de ene hoorn beschreven, en wanneer de wind een component heeft tegengesteld hieraan, de andere. Uit een trits metingen (met ruis) kan dus in het algemeen niet een unieke windvector worden bepaald. Twee ongeveer tegengestelde oplossingen resulteren. Deze dubbelzinnigheid in de windrichting kan in de praktijk worden opgelost door die oplossing te kiezen die het dichtst bij een korte termijn weervoorspelling ligt. Daarna kunnen eisen worden gesteld aan de ruimtelijke consistentie van het gevonden windvector veld. Zoals beschreven in hoofdstuk V levert zo'n methode de goede oplossing in meer dan 99 % van de gevallen. Zo kan een in het algemeen kwalitatief goed windproduct worden afgeleid uit de ERS scatterometermetingen. In het tweede gedeelte van hoofdstuk V wordt ingegaan op de assimilatie van scatterometergegevens in weermodellen. Voor variationele gegevensassimilatie wordt een methode voorgesteld, waarbij de dubbelzinnige scatterometerwinden worden geassimileerd, en niet direct de terugstrooiingsmetingen. Dit vanwege het feit dat de onzekerheid in de interpretatie van de scatterometer, het best is uit te drukken als een fout in de wind. De projectie van deze fout op de microgolfmetingen is niet-lineair, en daarmee tamelijk moeilijk te verwerken binnen de context van meteorologische variationele gegevensassimilatie. Assimilatie van de dubbelzinnige wind daarentegen is tamelijk recht toe recht aan. De scatterometermetingen leiden tot een duidelijk betere analyse en korte-termijn voorspelling van het windveld boven zee. De bedekking is echter zodanig dat andere windwaarnemingen nog lang een zeer welkome aanvulling zullen zijn. Nieuwe Amerikaanse scatterometers met een grotere bedekking zijn in ontwikkeling (met name QuikSCAT en SeaWinds). Vanwege hun andere geometrie en golflengte is echter eerst ontwikkelwerk nodig om tot een gedegen interpretatie te komen. De in dit proefschrift beschreven methodologie kan een belangrijke rol spelen in de interpretatie van de gegevens van deze scatterometers. De volgende generatie Europese scatterometers (ASCAT genoemd) heeft een?SAMENVATTING xi grote bedekking en de microgolflengte en meetgeometrie van de ERS scatterometers. Hiermee zijn we op termijn verzekerd van een goed scatterometer wind product.?SAMENVATTING xii

  19. A revision of the tribe Planitorini van Achterberg (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Euphorinae), with description of a new genus from Australia.

    PubMed

    van Achterberg, Cornelis; Quicke, Donald L J; Boring, C Andrew

    2017-01-01

    The tribe Planitorini van Achterberg (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Euphorinae) is revised. One new genus Paramannokeraia gen. n. (type species: P. gibsoni sp. n. ) and five new species from Australia are described and illustrated: Mannokeraia albipalpis van Achterberg, sp. n. , M. nigrita van Achterberg, sp. n. , M. punctata van Achterberg, sp. n. , Paramannokeraia gibsoni van Achterberg & Quicke, sp. n. and P. juliae van Achterberg, sp. n. The tribe Mannokeraiini van Achterberg, 1995, is synonymized with the tribe Planitorini ( syn. n. ).

  20. A revision of the tribe Planitorini van Achterberg (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Euphorinae), with description of a new genus from Australia

    PubMed Central

    van Achterberg, Cornelis; Quicke, Donald L.J.; Boring, C. Andrew

    2017-01-01

    Abstract The tribe Planitorini van Achterberg (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Euphorinae) is revised. One new genus Paramannokeraia gen. n. (type species: P. gibsoni sp. n.) and five new species from Australia are described and illustrated: Mannokeraia albipalpis van Achterberg, sp. n., M. nigrita van Achterberg, sp. n., M. punctata van Achterberg, sp. n., Paramannokeraia gibsoni van Achterberg & Quicke, sp. n. and P. juliae van Achterberg, sp. n. The tribe Mannokeraiini van Achterberg, 1995, is synonymized with the tribe Planitorini (syn. n.). PMID:29290713

  1. Consequences of the Introduction of Insensitive Munitions on Safety, Collateral Damage and Operations (consequenties van de invoering van mkm-munitie op veiligheid, gevolgschade en (internationaal) opereren

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-06-01

    van de werkzaamheden In dit rapport worden de gevolgen van initiatie van munitie door een ongewilde externe stimulus beschouwd aan de hand van reele...operationele scenario’s. Dit wordt vergeleken met de gevolgen in dezelfde scenario’s, waarin gebruik is gemaakt van Minder Kwetsbare Munitie (MKM). Naast...de historie van MKM wordt uitgelegd wat Inleiding of terroristische activiteiten, maar ook door MKM is. Vervolgens worden de gevolgen Munitie en de

  2. Comparison of three PCR primer sets for identification of vanB gene carriage in feces and correlation with carriage of vancomycin-resistant enterococci: interference by vanB-containing anaerobic bacilli.

    PubMed

    Ballard, S A; Grabsch, E A; Johnson, P D R; Grayson, M L

    2005-01-01

    We assessed the sensitivities and specificities of three previously described PCR primers on enrichment broth cultures of feces for the accurate detection of fecal carriage of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). In addition, we investigated specimens that were vanB PCR positive but VRE culture negative for the presence of other vanB-containing pathogens. Feces from 59 patients (12 patients carrying vanB Enterococcus faecium strains and 47 patients negative for VRE carriage) were cultured for 36 h in aerobic brain heart infusion (BHI) broth, anaerobic BHI (AnO(2)BHI) broth, or aerobic Enterococcosel (EC) broth. DNA was extracted from the cultures and tested for the presence of vanB by using the PCR primers of Dutka-Malen et al. (S. Dutka-Malen, S. Evers, and P. Courvalin, J. Clin. Microbiol. 33:24-27, 1995), Bell et al. (J. M. Bell, J. C. Paton, and J. Turnidge, J. Clin. Microbiol. 36:2187-2190, 1998), and Stinear et al. (T. P. Stinear, D. C. Olden, P. D. R. Johnson, J. K. Davies, and M. L. Grayson, Lancet 357:855-856, 2001). The sensitivity (specificity) of PCR compared with the results of culture on BHI, AnO(2)BHI, and EC broths were 67% (96%), 50% (94%), and 17% (100%), respectively, with the primers of Dutka-Malen et al.; 92% (60%), 92% (45%), and 92% (83%), respectively, with the primers of Bell et al.; and 92% (49%), 92% (43%), and 100% (51%) respectively, with the primers of Stinear et al. The primers of both Bell et al. and Stinear et al. were significantly more sensitive than those of Dutka-Malen et al. in EC broth (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). The poor specificities for all primer pairs were due in part to the isolation and identification of six anaerobic gram-positive bacilli, Clostridium hathewayi (n = 3), a Clostridium innocuum-like organism (n = 1), Clostridium bolteae (n = 1), and Ruminococcus lactaris-like (n = 1), from five fecal specimens that were vanB positive but VRE culture negative. All six organisms were demonstrated to contain a vanB gene identical to that of VRE. VanB-containing bowel anaerobes may result in false-positive interpretation of PCR-positive fecal enrichment cultures as VRE, regardless of the primers and protocols used.

  3. Genomic and expression analysis of the vanG-like gene cluster of Clostridium difficile.

    PubMed

    Peltier, Johann; Courtin, Pascal; El Meouche, Imane; Catel-Ferreira, Manuella; Chapot-Chartier, Marie-Pierre; Lemée, Ludovic; Pons, Jean-Louis

    2013-07-01

    Primary antibiotic treatment of Clostridium difficile intestinal diseases requires metronidazole or vancomycin therapy. A cluster of genes homologous to enterococcal glycopeptides resistance vanG genes was found in the genome of C. difficile 630, although this strain remains sensitive to vancomycin. This vanG-like gene cluster was found to consist of five ORFs: the regulatory region consisting of vanR and vanS and the effector region consisting of vanG, vanXY and vanT. We found that 57 out of 83 C. difficile strains, representative of the main lineages of the species, harbour this vanG-like cluster. The cluster is expressed as an operon and, when present, is found at the same genomic location in all strains. The vanG, vanXY and vanT homologues in C. difficile 630 are co-transcribed and expressed to a low level throughout the growth phases in the absence of vancomycin. Conversely, the expression of these genes is strongly induced in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of vancomycin, indicating that the vanG-like operon is functional at the transcriptional level in C. difficile. Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC-HPLC) and MS analysis of cytoplasmic peptidoglycan precursors of C. difficile 630 grown without vancomycin revealed the exclusive presence of a UDP-MurNAc-pentapeptide with an alanine at the C terminus. UDP-MurNAc-pentapeptide [d-Ala] was also the only peptidoglycan precursor detected in C. difficile grown in the presence of vancomycin, corroborating the lack of vancomycin resistance. Peptidoglycan structures of a vanG-like mutant strain and of a strain lacking the vanG-like cluster did not differ from the C. difficile 630 strain, indicating that the vanG-like cluster also has no impact on cell-wall composition.

  4. Evaluating learning and teaching using the Force Concept Inventory

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zitzewitz, Paul

    1997-04-01

    Teaching methods used in the calculus-based mechanics course for engineers and scientists (P150) at the University of Michigan-Dearborn were markedly changed in September, 1996. Lectures emphasize active learning with Mazur's ConcepTests, Sokoloff's Interactive Demonstrations, and Van Heuvelen's ALPS Kit worksheets. Students solve context-rich problems using Van Heuvelen's multiple representation format in cooperative groups in discussion sections. Labs were changed to use MBL emphasizing concepts and Experiment Problems to learn lab-based problem solving. Pre- and post-testing of 400 students with the Force Concept Inventory has demonstrated considerable success. The average increase in score has been 35-45methods as defined by Hake. The methods and results will be discussed. Detailed analyses of the FCI results will look at success in teaching specific concepts and the effect of student preparation in mathematics and high school physics.

  5. The generalized van der Waals theory of pure fluids and mixtures: Annual report for September 1985 to November 1986

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

    Sandler, S.I.

    1986-01-01

    The objective of the work is to use the generalized van der Waals theory, as derived earlier (''The Generalized van der Waals Partition Function I. Basic Theory'' by S.I. Sandler, Fluid Phase Equilibria 19, 233 (1985)) to: (1) understand the molecular level assumptions inherent in current thermodynamic models; (2) use theory and computer simulation studies to test these assumptions; and (3) develop new, improved thermodynamic models based on better molecular level assumptions. From such a fundamental study, thermodynamic models will be developed that will be applicable to mixtures of molecules of widely different size and functionality, as occurs in themore » processing of heavy oils, coal liquids and other synthetic fuels. An important aspect of our work is to reduce our fundamental theoretical developments to engineering practice through extensive testing and evaluation with experimental data on real mixtures. During the first year of this project important progress was made in the areas specified in the original proposal, as well as several subsidiary areas identified as the work progressed. Some of this work has been written up and submitted for publication. Manuscripts acknowledging DOE support, together with a very brief description, are listed herein.« less

  6. Effectiveness of autism training programme: An example from Van, Turkey.

    PubMed

    Eray, Safak; Murat, Duygu

    2017-11-01

    To determine the knowledge and attitudes of family practitioners before and after their participation in a training programme. The study was conducted at Van Training and Research Hospital, Van, Turkey, from December 1to 15, 2016, and comprised family practitioners. Before the training, the practitioners were asked to fill out a questionnaire that was prepared by the researchers. Subsequently, the training course was presented by the child and adolescent psychiatrists. After the training, participants were asked to fill out the same questionnaire again. The results of survey were compared before and after training. Data was evaluated using SPSS 22.Descriptive analyses were used and baseline characteristics were compared between groups using McNemar's test and paired t-test. Of the 79 family practitioners who filled out the questionnaire,75(94.9%) were included. The mean age of the practitioners was 28.2±11.63, with 40(53%) being females. Moreover,26(34.7%) participants thought that they had sufficient information regarding autism spectrum disorder before training, and this number increased to 66(88%) after training. There was a significant difference between pre-training and post-training scores of the questionnaire (p<0.001). There was a deficiency in knowledge about autism symptoms, aetiology, prevalence and treatment among family practitioners. .

  7. Pitch Angle Dependence of Drift Resonant Ions Observed by the Van Allen Probes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rankin, R.; Wang, C.; Wang, Y.; Zong, Q. G.; Zhou, X.

    2017-12-01

    Acceleration and modulation of ring current ions by poloidal mode ULF waves is investigated. A simplified MHD model of ULF waves in a dipole magnetic field is presented that includes phase mixing to perpendicular scales determined by the ionospheric Pedersen conductivity. The wave model is combined with a full Lorentz force test particle code to study drift and drift bounce resonance wave-particle interactions. Ion trajectories are traced backward-in-time to an assumed form of the distribution function, and Liouville's method is used to reconstruct the phase space density response (PSD) poloidal mode waves observed by the Van Allen Probes. In spite of its apparent simplicity, simulations using the wave and test particle models are able to explain the acceleration of ions and energy dispersion observed by the Van Allen Probes. The paper focuses on the pitch angle evolution of the initial PSD as it responds to the action of ULF waves. An interesting aspect of the study is the formation of butterfly ion distributions as ions make periodic radial oscillations across L. Ions become trapped in an effective potential well across a limited range of L and follow trajectories that cause them to surf along constant phase fronts. The impications of this new trapping mechanism for both ions and electrons is discussed.

  8. Inhibition of Orthopaedic Implant Infections by Immunomodulatory Effects of Host Defense Peptides

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2014-12-01

    significance was determined by t- tests or by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Bonferroni post hoc tests in experiments with multiple...groups. Non- parametric Mann-Whitney tests , Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA followed by Newman-Kuels post hoc tests , or van Elteren’s two-way tests were applied to...in D, and black symbols in A), statistical analysis was by one-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni versus control, post hoc tests . Otherwise, statistical

  9. Multi-body modeling method for rollover using MADYMO

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Changye; Lin, Zhigui; Lv, Juncheng; Luo, Qinyue; Qin, Zhenyao; Zhang, Pu; Chen, Tao

    2017-04-01

    Rollovers are complex road accidents causing a big deal of fatalities. FE model for rollover study will costtoo much time due to its long duration.A new multi-body modeling method is proposed in this paper which can save a lot of time and has high-fidelity meanwhile. Following works were carried out to validate this new method. First, a small van was tested following the FMVSS 208 protocol for the validation of the proposed modeling method. Second, a MADYMO model of this small van was reconstructed. The vehicle body was divided into two main parts, the deformable upper body and the rigid lower body, modeled by different waysbased on an FE model. The specific method of modeling is offered in this paper. Finally, the trajectories of the vehicle from test and simulation were comparedand the match was very good. Acceleration of left B pillar was taken into consideration, which turned out fitting the test result well in the time of event. The final deformation status of the vehicle in test and simulation showed similar trend. This validated model provides a reliable wayfor further research in occupant injuries during rollovers.

  10. Inelastic processes in atomic collisions involving ground state and laser-prepared atoms

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Planje, Willem Gilles

    1999-11-01

    In dit proefschrift worden experimenten beschreven waarbij ionen of atomen met een bepaalde snelheid op een ensemble van doelwitatomen worden gericht. Wanneer twee deeltjes elkaar voldoende genaderd hebben, vindt er wissel- werking plaats waarbij allerlei processen kunnen optreden. Deze processen resulteren in specieke eindproducten. Kennis over de interactie tussen twee botsingspartners wordt verkregen door te bekijken welke eindproducten ontstaan, en in welke mate. Een belangrijke grootheid die van invloed is op mogelijke processen is de onderlinge snelheid van de twee kernen, oftewel de botsingssnelheid. Wanneer de botsingssnelheid voldoende klein is dan kunnen de verschillende reactiemechanismen zowel kwalitatief als kwanti- tatief vaak goed voorspeld worden door het systeem te beschouwen als een kort-stondig molecuul, opgebouwd uit de twee botsende deeltjes. De ver- schillende processen die kunnen optreden worden gekwaliceerd afhankelijk van de vorming van bepaalde eindproducten. Ruwweg de volgende indeling kan gemaakt worden: 1. de interne structuur van de eindproducten zijn identiek aan die van de beginproducten. We spreken dan van een elastische botsing. 2. e en van de deeltjes of beiden worden in een aangeslagen toestand ge- bracht (of ge¨oniseerd). Dit zijn processen waarbij de herschikte elek- tronen zich bij de oorspronkelijke kern bevinden. We spreken dan van excitatie of ionisatie. 3. e en of meerdere elektronen bevinden zich bij de andere kern na de botsing (eventueel in aangeslagen toestand). We spreken dan van elek- tronenoverdracht. In het eerste deel van deze dissertatie worden botsingsexperimenten tussen heliumionen en natriumatomen beschreven waarbij het proces van elek- tronenoverdracht wordt onderzocht. Bij dit mechanisme is het buitenste 117?Samenvatting natriumelektron betrokken. Deze kan relatief gemakkelijk `overspringen' naar het heliumion wanneer deze zich dicht in de buurt van het natrium- atoom bevindt. Het elektron kan hierbij een bepaalde (aangeslagen) toe- stand bezetten. Wij meten de bezetting van de heliumtoestanden die onder uitzending van XUV licht ( ? 58 nm) vervallen naar de heliumgrondtoe- stand. Door de lichtintensiteit te meten onderzoeken we de mate van elek- tronenoverdracht naar een selecte groep van singlet helium`eind'toestanden, namelijk He(1s2p), He(1s3s), He(1s3p) en He(1s3d). In een reactie- vergelijking ziet het mechanisme er als volgt uit: He + (1s) + ( Na(3s) Na(3p) e- -! He + Na + -! He(1s 2 ) +h(58 nm) + Na + Het experiment kent een extra dimensie door het feit dat het, in beginsel bol- symmetrische, natriumatoom een bepaalde ruimtelijk uitlijning kan worden meegegeven. Met behulp van laserlicht van een specieke frequentie en po- larisatie, wordt het buitenste natriumelektron in een aangeslagen p toestand gebracht. Het aanslaan naar deze toestand heeft als gevolg dat het valentie- elektron zich op grotere afstand van zijn kern bevindt dan voorheen. Daar- naast kan, afhankelijk van de gebruikte laserpolarisatie, het buitenste elek- tron zich nu rond de natriumkern bewegen volgens een bepaalde anisotrope verdeling, de bolsymmetrie is doorbroken. De eecten van de excitatie en ruimtelijk verdeling van dit natriumelektron op het proces van elektronen- overdracht zijn onderzocht voor botsingsenergie¨en vari¨erend van 0.5 keV tot 6.0 keV. De metingen laten zien dat het eect van laserexcitatie een bezettingstoe- name van de beschouwde singlet heliumtoestanden betekent, ongeacht de uitlijning van het natrium 3p elektron. Dit is simpelweg te begrijpen uit het feit dat het 3p natrium elektron minder sterk gebonden is en elektro- nenoverdracht makkelijker gaat. Daarnaast is de uitlijning van het aanges- lagen elektron van invloed op de elektronenoverdracht. De resultaten zijn vergeleken met berekeningen van S.E. Nielsen en T.H. Rod [13], die de elek- tronoverdracht beschrijven in een model waarbij het betrokken elektron zich beweegt in bepaalde eectieve potentiaalvelden. De goede overeenkomsten van onze metingen met de berekeningen rechtvaardigen de theoretische be- nadering van Nielsen en Rod. 118?Samenvatting In het tweede gedeelte van het proefschrift worden botsingen beschouwd tussen helium- en neonatomen. Hierbij wordt nu niet gekeken naar bots- ingsproducten die zich manifesteren door bepaald licht uit te zenden, maar een elektron emitteren met een bepaalde energie. Verschillende soorten `eind'producten kunnen elektronen uitzenden, waaronder de negatieve ion- toestanden. Het elektronenspectrum, gemeten voor dit botsingssysteem, vertoont twee pieken die het spectrum domineren bij 16.2 eV en 19.4 eV voor verschillende botsingsenergie¨en tussen de 0.35 keV en 6.0 keV. Deze piekstructuren wijzen op de vorming van de kort-levende, negatieve iontoe- standen Ne-(2p 5 3s 2 ) en He-(1s2s 2 ) ten gevolge van de overdracht van e en elektron: He 0 + Ne 0 -! He-(1s2s 2 ) +Ne + (2p 5 ) 3 10- 14 s -! He 0 (1s 2 ) +Ne + + e- (19.37 eV) He 0 + Ne 0 -! He + (1s) +Ne-(2p 5 3s 2 ) 2:5 10- 13 s -! He + (1s) +Ne 0 (2p 6 ) +e- (16.15 eV) De meetresultaten vertonen een fenomeen waarbij de bezettingen van de negatieve iontoestanden een oscillerend gedrag vertonen als functie van de botsingssnelheid. Dit duidt op interferentie tussen de twee bijna-ontaarde moleculaire toestanden [He- + Ne + ] en[He + + Ne-]. Het is echter zeer op- merkelijk dat deze oscillatie wordt waargenomen in een experiment als deze, waarin de uitgezonden elektronen worden gemeten ongeacht de afbuighoek van het heliumatoom. Dit impliceert een speciek aanslagmechanisme van de moleculaire negatieve iontoestanden. Nader beschouwing van het bots- ingssysteem laat zien dat het instantane molecuul twee overgangen moet ondergaan voordat de negatieve iontoestanden gevormd worden. Als gevolg hiervan is de snelheid waarmee het negatieve en positieve ion uit elkaar be- wegen nagenoeg onafhankelijk van de afbuighoek van het helium projectiel en is oscillatie mogelijk waarneembaar. De wisselwerking tussen de twee beschouwde moleculaire toestanden impliceert gecorreleerde overdracht van twee elektronen: He- + Ne + 2e- ! He + + Ne- Door het quasi-resonante systeem als resonant te beschouwen kan het fenomeen kwalitatief goed verklaard worden. 119?Samenvatting Inhet laatstedeelwordt de bevolkingvanauto¨oniserende natriumtoestanden bekeken in He +=0 + Na botsingen. In tegenstelling tot de voorgaande exper- imenten waarin elektronenoverdracht beschouwd werd, betreft het hier een excitatiemechanisme. De beschouwde `eind'producten, i.e. de auto¨oniserende natriumtoestanden, bestaan in het algemeen kort en gaan over naar een stabiele iontoestand onder uitzending van een elektron met een toestands- karakteristieke kinetische energie. Door de elektronenspectra te meten bij verschillende botsingsenergie¨en, wordt de bezetting van de auto¨oniserende toestanden onderzocht. Ook hier wordt het eect van laserexcitatie en laser- polarisatie van het natriumatoom op de vorming van deze toestanden, en de mate waarin, bekeken. De metingen laten zien dat zowel in He + -Na als in He 0 -Na botsingen de invloed van de ruimtelijk uitlijning van het buitenste natriumelektron op de elektronenspectra nihil is. Dit impliceert dat het betrokken 3p elektron hoofdzakelijk een passieve rol speelt in de vorming van auto¨oniserende toe- standen: het blijft hoofdzakelijk de 3p toestand bezetten als een `toeschouwer' zonder een overgang te maken naar een andere toestand. Dit wordt boven- dien bevestigd door het feit dat wanneer een fractie natriumatomen aange- slagen wordt naar de p toestand dit een even grote reductie betekent van onder meer de populatie van de auto¨oniserende toestand Na(2p 5 3s 2 ). De verwachte grote toename van Na(2p 5 3p 2 ) toestanden, in geval van Na(3p) doelwitten, is niet waargenomen. 120?121?122

  11. The first report of the vanC₁ gene in Enterococcus faecium isolated from a human clinical specimen.

    PubMed

    Sun, Mingyue; Wang, Yue; Chen, Zhongju; Zhu, Xuhui; Tian, Lei; Sun, Ziyong

    2014-09-01

    The vanC₁ gene, which is chromosomally located, confers resistance to vancomycin and serves as a species marker for Enterococcus gallinarum. Enterococcus faecium TJ4031 was isolated from a blood culture and harbours the vanC₁gene. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays were performed to detect vanXYc and vanTc genes. Only the vanXYc gene was found in the E. faecium TJ4031 isolate. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of vancomycin and teicoplanin were 2 µg/mL and 1 µg/mL, respectively. Real-time reverse transcription-PCR results revealed that the vanC₁ and vanXYc genes were not expressed. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and southern hybridisation results showed that the vanC₁ gene was encoded in the chromosome. E. faecalis isolated from animals has been reported to harbour vanC₁gene. However, this study is the first to report the presence of the vanC₁gene in E. faecium of human origin. Additionally, our research showed the vanC₁gene cannot serve as a species-specific gene of E. gallinarum and that it is able to be transferred between bacteria. Although the resistance marker is not expressed in the strain, our results showed that E. faecium could acquire the vanC₁gene from different species.

  12. Adapting the Get Yourself Tested Campaign to Reach Black and Latino Sexual-Minority Youth.

    PubMed

    Garbers, Samantha; Friedman, Allison; Martinez, Omar; Scheinmann, Roberta; Bermudez, Dayana; Silva, Manel; Silverman, Jen; Chiasson, Mary Ann

    2016-09-01

    Culturally appropriate efforts are needed to increase sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing and care among Black and Latino sexual-minority youth, who are at high risk for STDs. Get Yourself Tested, a national testing campaign, has demonstrated success among youth, but it has yet to be assessed for relevance or impact among this population. This effort included (1) formative and materials-testing research through focus groups; (2) adaptation of existing Get Yourself Tested campaign materials to be more inclusive of Black and Latino sexual-minority youth; (3) a 3-month campaign in four venues of New York City, promoting STD testing at events and through mobile testing and online and social media platforms; (4) process evaluation of outreach activities; and (5) an outcome evaluation of testing at select campaign venues, using a preexperimental design. During the 3-month campaign period, the number of STD tests conducted at select campaign venues increased from a comparable 3-month baseline period. Although testing uptake through mobile vans remained low in absolute numbers, the van drew a high-prevalence sample, with positivity rates of 26.9% for chlamydia and 11.5% for gonorrhea. This article documents the process and lessons learned from adapting and implementing a local campaign for Black and Latino sexual-minority youth. © 2016 Society for Public Health Education.

  13. Molecular Characterization of Enterococcus faecalis N06-0364 with Low-Level Vancomycin Resistance Harboring a Novel d-Ala-d-Ser Gene Cluster, vanL▿

    PubMed Central

    Boyd, David A.; Willey, Barbara M.; Fawcett, Darlene; Gillani, Nazira; Mulvey, Michael R.

    2008-01-01

    Enterococcus faecalis N06-0364, exhibiting a vancomycin MIC of 8 μg/ml, was found to harbor a novel d-Ala-d-Ser gene cluster, designated vanL. The vanL gene cluster was similar in organization to the vanC operon, but the VanT serine racemase was encoded by two separate genes, vanTmL (membrane binding) and vanTrL (racemase). PMID:18458129

  14. Low prevalence of vancomycin- and bifunctional aminoglycoside-resistant enterococci isolated from poultry farms in Malaysia.

    PubMed

    Chan, Yean Yean; Abd Nasir, Mohd Hafiz B; Yahaya, Mohd Azli B; Salleh, Noor Mohamad Amin B; Md Dan, Azril Deenor B; Musa, Abd Majid B; Ravichandran, M

    2008-02-29

    A total of 225 samples from poultry farms and the surrounding environment were screened for vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and bifunctional aminoglycoside-resistant enterococci using conventional microbiological tests and a nanoplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Three (1.3%) of the samples were found to contain vancomycin-resistant isolates (MIC>256 microg/mL) that had a vanA genotype. The three vanA positive VRE isolates were identified as different species. Only one isolate (Enterococcus faecium F 4/13_54) was sensitive to teicoplanin (MIC<0. 12-0.35 microg/mL); the other two VRE (E. faecalis A 21_35 and E. gallinarum F 5/10_1) were resistant to teicoplanin (MIC 3.6-->16 microg/mL). The vanC genotype was observed in nine (4%) of the samples collected. High-level gentamicin-resistant (HLGR) enterococci (with MIC ranging between 100 and 500 microg/mL) were detected in 44 samples. However, only 40 of these were found to possess the aac(6')-aph(2'') gene. The overall prevalence of VRE among the samples from the poultry farms and environment was 5.3%, but the prevalence of the clinically significant vanA VRE was 1.3%, and the prevalence of bifunctional aminoglycoside-resistant enterococci was slightly higher, at 19.5%.

  15. 19 CFR 10.41a - Lift vans, cargo vans, shipping tanks, skids, pallets, and similar instruments of international...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-04-01

    ... for inspection by Customs officials upon reasonable notice. (3) If the container does not exit the U.S... 19 Customs Duties 1 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Lift vans, cargo vans, shipping tanks, skids... Traffic § 10.41a Lift vans, cargo vans, shipping tanks, skids, pallets, and similar instruments of...

  16. 19 CFR 10.41a - Lift vans, cargo vans, shipping tanks, skids, pallets, and similar instruments of international...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ... for inspection by Customs officials upon reasonable notice. (3) If the container does not exit the U.S... 19 Customs Duties 1 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Lift vans, cargo vans, shipping tanks, skids... Traffic § 10.41a Lift vans, cargo vans, shipping tanks, skids, pallets, and similar instruments of...

  17. 19 CFR 10.41a - Lift vans, cargo vans, shipping tanks, skids, pallets, and similar instruments of international...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ... for inspection by Customs officials upon reasonable notice. (3) If the container does not exit the U.S... 19 Customs Duties 1 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Lift vans, cargo vans, shipping tanks, skids... Traffic § 10.41a Lift vans, cargo vans, shipping tanks, skids, pallets, and similar instruments of...

  18. Molecular Characterization of Virulence Genes in Vancomycin-Resistant and Vancomycin-Sensitive Enterococci

    PubMed Central

    Biswas, Priyanka Paul; Dey, Sangeeta; Sen, Aninda; Adhikari, Luna

    2016-01-01

    Background: The aim of this study was to find out the correlation between presence of virulence (gelatinase [gel E], enterococcal surface protein [esp], cytolysin A [cyl A], hyaluronidase [hyl], and aggregation substance [asa1]) and vancomycin-resistant genes (van A and van B) in enterococci, with their phenotypic expression. Materials and Methods: A total of 500 isolates (250 each clinical and fecal) were processed. Enterococci were isolated from various clinical samples and from fecal specimens of colonized patients. Various virulence determinants namely asa1, esp, hyl, gel E, and cyl were detected by phenotypic methods. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of vancomycin was determined by agar dilution method. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the presence of virulence and van genes. Results: Out of all the samples processed, 12.0% (60/500) isolates carried van A or van B genes as confirmed by MIC test and PCR methods. Genes responsible for virulence were detected by multiplex PCR and at least one of the five was detected in all the clinical vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and vancomycin-sensitive enterococci (VSE). gel E, esp, and hyl genes were found to be significantly higher in clinical VRE. Of the fecal isolates, presence of gel E, esp, and asa1 was significantly higher in VRE as compared to VSE. The presence of hyl gene in the clinical VRE was found to be statistically significant (P = 0.043) as against the fecal VRE. Correlation between the presence of virulence genes and their expression as detected by phenotypic tests showed that while biofilm production was seen in 61.1% (22/36) of clinical VRE, the corresponding genes, i.e., asa1 and esp were detected in 30.5% (11/36) and 27.8% (10/36) of strains only. Conclusion: Enterococcus faecium isolates were found to carry esp gene, a phenomenon that has been described previously only for Enterococcus faecalis, but we were unable to correlate the presence of esp with their capacity to form biofilms. PMID:27013840

  19. Baseline tests of the AM General DJ-5E electruck electric delivery van

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Dustin, M. O.; Tryon, H. B.; Sargent, N. B.

    1977-01-01

    An electric quarter ton truck designed for use as a postal delivery vehicle was tested to characterize the state of the art of electric vehicles. Vehicle performance test results are presented. It is powered by a single-module, 54 volt industrial battery through a silicon controlled rectifier continuously adjustable controller with regenerative braking applied to a direct current compound wound motor.

  20. Van der Waals equation of state revisited: importance of the dispersion correction.

    PubMed

    de Visser, Sam P

    2011-04-28

    One of the most basic equations of state describing nonideal gases and liquids is the van der Waals equation of state, and as a consequence, it is generally taught in most first year undergraduate chemistry courses. In this work, we show that the constants a and b in the van der Waals equation of state are linearly proportional to the polarizability volume of the molecules in a gas or liquid. Using this information, a new thermodynamic one-parameter equation of state is derived that contains experimentally measurable variables and physics constants only. This is the first equation of state apart from the Ideal Gas Law that contains experimentally measurable variables and physics constants only, and as such, it may be a very useful and practical equation for the description of dilute gases and liquids. The modified van der Waals equation of state describes pV as the sum of repulsive and attractive intermolecular interaction energies that are represented by an exponential repulsion function between the electron clouds of the molecules and a London dispersion component, respectively. The newly derived equation of state is tested against experimental data for several gas and liquid examples, and the agreement is satisfactory. The description of the equation of state as a one-parameter function also has implications on other thermodynamic functions, such as critical parameters, virial coefficients, and isothermal compressibilities. Using our modified van der Waals equation of state, we show that all of these properties are a function of the molecular polarizability volume. Correlations of experimental data confirm the derived proportionalities.

  1. First and Second Order Stokes Generation by SRS in Methane: Influence of Rep-Rate, Beam Quality and Astigmatism (Opwekking van Eerste en Tweede Orde Stokes d.m.v. SRS in Methaan: Invloed van de Pulsfrequentie, de Bundelkwaliteit en Astigmatisme)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1992-09-01

    omzettings rendementen van circa 75% gehaad bij een ingangs- energie van 280 mJ. De mogelijkheden tot bet halen van een hoger rendement lijken...of rep-rate, beam quality and astigmatism DImi-Thu-B~mO ITA1EiM-tT-h lF I~~ ~~’ IAPR2 8 1993~ I ~Xtbai Uiitdw FJ.M. van Putten J.C. van den Heuvel RJ.L...Influence of rep-rate. beam quality and astigmatism author(s) : F.J.M. van Putten, I.C. van den Heuvel, R.J.L. Lerou institute : TNO Physics and

  2. Using the Van Hiele theory to analyze primary school teachers' written work on geometrical proof problems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jupri, A.

    2018-05-01

    The lack of ability of primary school teachers in deductive thinking, such as doing geometrical proof, is an indispensable issue to be dealt with. In this paper, we report on results of a three-step of the field document study. The study was part of a pilot study for improving deductive thinking ability of primary school teachers. First, we designed geometrical proof problems adapted from literature. Second, we administered an individual written test involving nine master students of primary education program, in which they are having experiences as primary school mathematics teachers. Finally, we analyzed the written work from the view of the Van Hiele theory. The results revealed that even if about the half of the teachers show ability in doing formal proof, still the rest provides inappropriate proving. For further investigation, we wonder whether primary school teachers would show better deductive thinking if the teaching of geometry is designed in a systematic and appropriate manner according to the Van Hiele theory.

  3. VAN method of short-term earthquake prediction shows promise

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Uyeda, Seiya

    Although optimism prevailed in the 1970s, the present consensus on earthquake prediction appears to be quite pessimistic. However, short-term prediction based on geoelectric potential monitoring has stood the test of time in Greece for more than a decade [VarotsosandKulhanek, 1993] Lighthill, 1996]. The method used is called the VAN method.The geoelectric potential changes constantly due to causes such as magnetotelluric effects, lightning, rainfall, leakage from manmade sources, and electrochemical instabilities of electrodes. All of this noise must be eliminated before preseismic signals are identified, if they exist at all. The VAN group apparently accomplished this task for the first time. They installed multiple short (100-200m) dipoles with different lengths in both north-south and east-west directions and long (1-10 km) dipoles in appropriate orientations at their stations (one of their mega-stations, Ioannina, for example, now has 137 dipoles in operation) and found that practically all of the noise could be eliminated by applying a set of criteria to the data.

  4. Electric Vehicle Site Operator Program

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    1992-05-01

    Kansas State University, with funding support from federal, state, public, and private companies, is participating in the Department of Energy's Electric Vehicle Site Operator Program. Through participation is this program, Kansas State is demonstrating, testing, and evaluating electric or hybrid vehicle technology. This participation will provide organizations the opportunity to examine the latest EHV prototypes under actual operating conditions. KSU proposes to purchase one electric or hybrid van and four electric cars during the first two years of this five year program. KSU has purchased one G-Van built by Conceptor Industries, Toronto, Canada and has initiated a procurement order to purchase two Soleq 1992 Ford EVcort stationwagons.

  5. Hydrodynamics of the VanA-type VanS histidine kinase: an extended solution conformation and first evidence for interactions with vancomycin

    PubMed Central

    Phillips-Jones, Mary K.; Channell, Guy; Kelsall, Claire J.; Hughes, Charlotte S.; Ashcroft, Alison E.; Patching, Simon G.; Dinu, Vlad; Gillis, Richard B.; Adams, Gary G.; Harding, Stephen E.

    2017-01-01

    VanA-type resistance to glycopeptide antibiotics in clinical enterococci is regulated by the VanSARA two-component signal transduction system. The nature of the molecular ligand that is recognised by the VanSA sensory component has not hitherto been identified. Here we employ purified, intact and active VanSA membrane protein (henceforth referred to as VanS) in analytical ultracentrifugation experiments to study VanS oligomeric state and conformation in the absence and presence of vancomycin. A combination of sedimentation velocity and sedimentation equilibrium in the analytical ultracentrifuge (SEDFIT, SEDFIT-MSTAR and MULTISIG analysis) showed that VanS in the absence of the ligand is almost entirely monomeric (molar mass M = 45.7 kDa) in dilute aqueous solution with a trace amount of high molar mass material (M ~ 200 kDa). The sedimentation coefficient s suggests the monomer adopts an extended conformation in aqueous solution with an equivalent aspect ratio of ~(12 ± 2). In the presence of vancomycin over a 33% increase in the sedimentation coefficient is observed with the appearance of additional higher s components, demonstrating an interaction, an observation consistent with our circular dichroism measurements. The two possible causes of this increase in s – either a ligand induced dimerization and/or compaction of the monomer are considered. PMID:28397853

  6. Methodology for Constructing a Modernization Roadmap for Air Force Automatic Test Systems

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-01-01

    Constructing a Modernization Roadmap for Air Force Automatic Test Systems Lionel A. Galway , Rachel Rue, James M. Masters, Ben D. Van Roo, Manuel...constructing a modernization roadmap for Air Force automatic test systems / Lionel A. Galway ... [et al.]. p. cm. Includes bibliographical...references. ISBN 978-0-8330-5899-7 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. United States. Air Force—Weapons systems—Testing. I. Galway , Lionel A., 1950- UG633.M3445

  7. In Vivo Fluorescence Confocal Microscopy to Investigate the Role of RhoC in Inflammatory Breast Cancer

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2005-04-01

    5084. 6. Colpaert CG, Vermeulen PB, Benoy I, Soubry A, van Roy F, van Beest P, Goovaerts G, Dirix LY, van Dam P, Fox SB, Harris AL, van MarckEA...cancer. Cancer Res 1999, 59: 5079-5084. 17 14. Colpaert CG, Vermeulen PB, Benoy I, Soubry A, van Roy F, van Beest P, Goovaerts G, Dirix LY, van Dam P...Ohira S, Feng Y, Nikaido T, Konishi I: Up- regulation of small GTPases, RhoA and RhoC, is associated with tumor progression in ovarian carcinoma. Lab

  8. Mentale Inzetbaarheid van Teams: Ontwikkeling van een Moden van Teamfunctioneren als Module voor SCOPE (Mental Readiness of Teams - Development of a Team Model as Module for SCOPE)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2007-04-01

    inzetbaarheid van teams: ontwikkeling van een model van teamfunctioneren als module voor SCOPE Datumn april 2007 Auteur (s) R. de B~ruin C’. Vervvijs A.J...Datum april 2007 Programmaleider Projectleider Auteur (s) dr. W.A. Lotens, TNO Defensie en A.]. van Vijet, TNO Defensie en R. de Bruin Veiligheid...Deelnemers verwachten wel, in lijn met de theorie , dat een lage cohesie samenhangt met een lage effectiviteit. Een hoge cohesie, daarentegen, zou

  9. User Manual PIRATE Model, Release Beta 1.0. (Handleiding PIRATE model, versie Beta 1.0)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1998-01-01

    Beperkingen van PIRATE 40 9 . Conclusies en aanbevelingen 41 10. Referenties 42 11 . Ondertekening 43 TNO-rapport FEL-97-A285 Inleiding Bij maritieme...Inhoud Inleiding 7 1.1 Doel van PIRATE 7 1.2 Werking van PIRATE 8 1.3 Opbouw van de handleiding 8 2. Bediening van PIRATE 9 2.1 Systeemvereisten 10...2.2 Installatie 10 2.3 Bediening van de gebruikersinterface 11 2.4 Gebruiken van de figuren in andere programmes 15 3. Radars, radars in PIRATE

  10. A Simple Answer to a Simple Question on Changing Answers

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bridgeman, Brent

    2012-01-01

    In an article in the Winter 2011 issue of the "Journal of Educational Measurement", van der Linden, Jeon, and Ferrara suggested that "test takers should trust their initial instincts and retain their initial responses when they have the opportunity to review test items." They presented a complex IRT model that appeared to show that students would…

  11. On Maximizing Item Information and Matching Difficulty with Ability.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bickel, Peter; Buyske, Steven; Chang, Huahua; Ying, Zhiliang

    2001-01-01

    Examined the assumption that matching difficulty levels of test items with an examinee's ability makes a test more efficient and challenged this assumption through a class of one-parameter item response theory models. Found the validity of the fundamental assumption to be closely related to the van Zwet tail ordering of symmetric distributions (W.…

  12. Predicting the Geometry Knowledge of Pre-Service Elementary Teachers

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Duatepe Aksu, Asuman

    2013-01-01

    In this study, the aim was to examine the factors that predict the geometry knowledge of pre-service elementary teachers. Data was collected on 387 pre-service elementary teachers from four universities by using a geometry knowledge test, the van Hiele geometric thinking level test, a geometry self efficacy scale and a geometry attitude scale.…

  13. Fidelity analysis of mechanically aided copying/enlarging of Jan van Eyck's Portrait of Niccolo Albergati

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Stork, David G.; Duarte, Marco

    2007-01-01

    The contemporary artist David Hockney has hypothesized that some early Renaissance painters secretly projected optical images onto their supports (canvas, paper, oak panel, ...), directly traced these projections, and then filled in the tracings with paint[1]. Hockney has presented somewhat impressionistic image evidence for this claim, but he and thin-film physicist Charles Falco also point to perspective anomalies, to the fidelity of passages in certain paintings, and to historical documents in search of support for this direct tracing claim[2]. Key visual evidence adduced in support of this tracing claim is a pair of portraits by Jan van Eyck of Cardinal Niccolo Albergati - a small informal silverpoint study of 1431 and a slightly larger formal work in oil on panel of 1432. The contours in these two works bear striking resemblance in shape (after being appropriately scaled) and there are at least two "relative shifts" - passages that co-align well after a spatial shift of one of the images [2]. This evidence has led the theory's proponents to claim that van Eyck copied the silverpoint by means of an optical projector, or epidiascope, the relative shifts due to him accidentally bumping the setup during the copying. Previous tests of the tracing theory for these works considered four candidate methods van Eyck might have used to copied and enlarged the image in the silverpoint study: unaided ("by eye"), mechanical, grid, and the optical projection method itself [3]. Based on the full evidence, including the recent discovery of tiny pinprick holes in the silverpoint, reenactments, material culture and optical knowledge in the early 15th century, the mechanical method was judged most plausible and optical method the least plausible[3]. However, this earlier work did not adequately test whether a trained artist could "re-enact" the copying by mechanical methods: "Although we have not explicitly verified that high fidelities can be achieved through the use of a Reductionszirkel(or compass, protractor and ruler), there are no significant challenges in this regard"[3]. Our work here seeks to complete the test of the direct tracing claim. As we shall see, a talented realist artist can indeed achieve fidelity comparable to that found in these works, a result that re-affirms the earlier conclusion that when copying and enlarging the silverpoint image, it is more likely that van Eyck used a well-known, simple, mechanical method than a then unknown, secret and complicated optical method.

  14. RpoS induces expression of the Vibrio anguillarum quorum-sensing regulator VanT.

    PubMed

    Weber, Barbara; Croxatto, Antony; Chen, Chang; Milton, Debra L

    2008-03-01

    In vibrios, regulation of the Vibrio harveyi-like LuxR transcriptional activators occurs post-transcriptionally via small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) that destabilize the luxR mRNA at a low cell population, eliminating expression of LuxR. Expression of the sRNAs is modulated by the vibrio quorum-sensing phosphorelay systems. However, vanT mRNA, which encodes a LuxR homologue in Vibrio anguillarum, is abundant at low and high cell density, indicating that VanT expression may be regulated via additional mechanisms. In this study, Western analyses showed that VanT was expressed throughout growth with a peak of expression during late exponential growth. VanO induced partial destabilization of vanT mRNA via activation of at least one Qrr sRNA. Interestingly, the sigma factor RpoS significantly stabilized vanT mRNA and induced VanT expression during late exponential growth. This induction was in part due to RpoS repressing expression of Hfq, an RNA chaperone. RpoS is not part of the quorum-sensing regulatory cascade since RpoS did not regulate expression or activity of VanO, and RpoS was not regulated by VanO or VanT. VanT and RpoS were needed for survival following UV irradiation and for pigment and metalloprotease production, suggesting that RpoS works with the quorum-sensing systems to modulate expression of VanT, which regulates survival and stress responses.

  15. R&D Plan for Army Applications of AI/Robotics.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1982-05-01

    Research, Development, and Acquisition (Army) OCE--Office, Chief of Engineers HTTG--High Technology Test Group DNA--Defense Nuclear Agency Contractors...comparison, include both trailer and van-mounted tools and * testing equipment that are generally of sufficient weight and bulk to be mounted and used on a...interactive diagnosis and corrective maintenance information for surface-to-surface missile launching systems beyond the capability of automet’. test equipment

  16. Shipboard Tests of Halon 1301 Test Gas Simulants

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1990-08-22

    Halon 1301 Test Gas Simulants," Memo Report, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, 1989. 8. Air Products and Chemicals , Inc ., "SF6 , An... Products and Chemicals , Inc ., "Specialty Gas Material Safety Data Sheet, Sulfur Hexafluoride " Air Products and Chemicals, Specialty Gas Department...34 Washington, DC, 1978. 11. N.I. Sax, Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials, Sixth Edition, Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, New York, NY, 1984. 12. Air

  17. Chlorhexidine Induces VanA-Type Vancomycin Resistance Genes in Enterococci

    PubMed Central

    Bhardwaj, Pooja; Ziegler, Elizabeth

    2016-01-01

    Chlorhexidine is a bisbiguanide antiseptic used for infection control. Vancomycin-resistant E. faecium (VREfm) is among the leading causes of hospital-acquired infections. VREfm may be exposed to chlorhexidine at supra- and subinhibitory concentrations as a result of chlorhexidine bathing and chlorhexidine-impregnated central venous catheter use. We used RNA sequencing to investigate how VREfm responds to chlorhexidine gluconate exposure. Among the 35 genes upregulated ≥10-fold after 15 min of exposure to the MIC of chlorhexidine gluconate were those encoding VanA-type vancomycin resistance (vanHAX) and those associated with reduced daptomycin susceptibility (liaXYZ). We confirmed that vanA upregulation was not strain or species specific by querying other VanA-type VRE. VanB-type genes were not induced. The vanH promoter was found to be responsive to subinhibitory chlorhexidine gluconate in VREfm, as was production of the VanX protein. Using vanH reporter experiments with Bacillus subtilis and deletion analysis in VREfm, we found that this phenomenon is VanR dependent. Deletion of vanR did not result in increased chlorhexidine susceptibility, demonstrating that vanHAX induction is not protective against chlorhexidine. As expected, VanA-type VRE is more susceptible to ceftriaxone in the presence of sub-MIC chlorhexidine. Unexpectedly, VREfm is also more susceptible to vancomycin in the presence of subinhibitory chlorhexidine, suggesting that chlorhexidine-induced gene expression changes lead to additional alterations in cell wall synthesis. We conclude that chlorhexidine induces expression of VanA-type vancomycin resistance genes and genes associated with daptomycin nonsusceptibility. Overall, our results indicate that the impacts of subinhibitory chlorhexidine exposure on hospital-associated pathogens should be further investigated in laboratory studies. PMID:26810654

  18. Tussenrapportage Validatie Onderwijsvernieuwingen (Validation Assistant in Instructional Design)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2007-05-01

    validatie onderwij svemieuwingen D)atum mei 2007 Auteur (s) drs. J.P. van Meer drs. G,J. Veldhuis dr. M.L. van Ernmerik M.G. van Schaik Rubricering...als doel om nog beter is het van belang dat het maken van keuzes Auteur (s) passende adviezen te kunnen genereren. binnen een moeilijk grijpbaar...benaderd door de theorie achter de onderwijsconcepten te toetsen aan het oordeel van de expert. Er zijn echter beperkingen in deze opzet denkbaar die

  19. Natural Gas Vans To Help Clear the Air In Metro Denver

    Science.gov Websites

    officials think the test will yield information that can be used by private or public fleet managers evaluation also marks a unique partnership among government, industry and private organizations. The Ford

  20. The van Hove distribution function for Brownian hard spheres: Dynamical test particle theory and computer simulations for bulk dynamics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hopkins, Paul; Fortini, Andrea; Archer, Andrew J.; Schmidt, Matthias

    2010-12-01

    We describe a test particle approach based on dynamical density functional theory (DDFT) for studying the correlated time evolution of the particles that constitute a fluid. Our theory provides a means of calculating the van Hove distribution function by treating its self and distinct parts as the two components of a binary fluid mixture, with the "self " component having only one particle, the "distinct" component consisting of all the other particles, and using DDFT to calculate the time evolution of the density profiles for the two components. We apply this approach to a bulk fluid of Brownian hard spheres and compare to results for the van Hove function and the intermediate scattering function from Brownian dynamics computer simulations. We find good agreement at low and intermediate densities using the very simple Ramakrishnan-Yussouff [Phys. Rev. B 19, 2775 (1979)] approximation for the excess free energy functional. Since the DDFT is based on the equilibrium Helmholtz free energy functional, we can probe a free energy landscape that underlies the dynamics. Within the mean-field approximation we find that as the particle density increases, this landscape develops a minimum, while an exact treatment of a model confined situation shows that for an ergodic fluid this landscape should be monotonic. We discuss possible implications for slow, glassy, and arrested dynamics at high densities.

  1. [Investigation of Cryptosporidium sp. in workers of the Van municipality slaughterhouse and in slaughtered animals].

    PubMed

    Ciçek, Mutalip; Körkoca, Hanifi; Gül, Abdurrahman

    2008-01-01

    This study was carried out in order to investigate the prevalence of Cryptosporidium sp. in slaughtered animals and workers of the Van municipality slaughterhouse in Van. Animals slaughtered at different times and workers who had been working in different departments of the slaughter house were included in the study for three months. A total of 309 fecal specimens from animals including 167 sheep, 56 goats and 86 cattle and 87 fecal specimens from workers were examined for Cryptosporidium sp. oocysts. In slaughtered animals, the modified acid-fast staining method was used to determine the oocysts of Cryptosporidium sp. The fecal samples of slaughter workers were examined by using RIDA (R) Quick Cryptosporidium Strip Test (R-Biopharm, Germany) and the modified acid-fast staining method. Fecal samples found to be positive by stripe test were also confirmed with the ELISA method (R-Biopharm, Germany). Oocysts of Cryptosporidium sp. were found in fecal specimens of 22 sheep (13.17%), 6 goats (10.71%) and 7 cattle (8.13%). Intestinal parasites were observed in 34 fecal specimens of workers (39.08%). Cryptosporidium sp., Hymenolepis nana, Chilomastix mesnili, Endolimax nana, Iodamoeba bütschlii were found in the specimen of one worker (1.14%), Entamoeba coli in 4 workers (4.59%), Blastocystis hominis (9.19%) in 8 workers, and Giardia intestinalis (19.54%) in 17 workers.

  2. Antibiotic resistance and molecular characterization of probiotic and clinical Lactobacillus strains in relation to safety aspects of probiotics.

    PubMed

    Klein, Günter

    2011-02-01

    The evaluation of the safety of probiotic strains includes the exclusion of antibiotic resistance of clinical importance. Ninety-two strains from the genus Lactobacillus isolated from probiotics, food, and clinical sources were included in the investigation. Species tested were the L. acidophilus group, L. casei group, L. reuteri/fermentum group, and L. sakei/curvatus group. Cell and colony morphology, fermentation patterns, and growth characteristics as well as soluble whole cell proteins were analyzed. Antibiotic resistance against clinically important agents was determined by broth dilution tests. The vanA and tet genes were confirmed. Resistances occurred mainly against gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, clindamycin, sulfonamides, and, in some cases, glycopeptides. The natural glycopeptide resistance within the L. casei group and L. reuteri appears to be not of clinical relevance, as there was no vanA gene present. Therefore, the transfer of this resistance is very unlikely. Tet-(A), -(B), -(C), -(M), or -(O) gene could not be detected. The protein fingerprinting within the L. casei group proved that L. rhamnosus strains of clinical origin clustered together with probiotic strains. For safety evaluations resistance patterns of a broad range of strains are a useful criterion together with the exclusion of known resistance genes (like the vanA gene) and can be used for decision making on the safety of probiotics, both by authorization bodies and manufacturers.

  3. The Tapley and Bryden test of performance differences between the hands: The original data, newer data, and the relation to pegboard and other tasks.

    PubMed

    McManus, I C; Van Horn, John Darrell; Bryden, Pamela J

    2016-02-08

    Tapley and Bryden (T&B)'s 1985 circle-marking task is a group-administered task assessing performance differences between the hands. The bimodal distribution clearly separates self-described right- and left-handers. Using Phil's original datafiles we analyse the test in more detail, providing raw scores for each hands which are useful forensically, and we provide reliability estimates. Van Horn's unpublished 1992 PhD thesis studied T&B tasks and Annett pegboards varying in difficulty. A striking finding, that Phil Bryden called "the Van Horn problem," was that hand differences (R - L) were unrelated to task difficulty. That result was the starting point for Pamela Bryden's 1998 thesis, firstly replicating Van Horn, but then showing that task difficulty did relate to hand differences for Grooved pegboards. Pamela Bryden's model for those effects is presented here. Comparing across tasks, the T&B and pegboard tasks showed almost complete consistency for direction of handedness. Likewise, within each task, degree of handedness intercorrelated strongly across variants. In strong contrast, degree of handedness for T&B tasks showed minimal correlation with degree of handedness for pegboards. At the highest level, therefore, direction of handedness is consistent within individuals (conventional right and left handedness), but there are separable processes determining dominant-non-dominant hands differences for each particular task.

  4. Complete sequence of Enterococcus faecium pVEF3 and the detection of an omega-epsilon-zeta toxin-antitoxin module and an ABC transporter.

    PubMed

    Sletvold, H; Johnsen, P J; Hamre, I; Simonsen, G S; Sundsfjord, A; Nielsen, K M

    2008-07-01

    Glycopeptide resistant Enterococcus faecium (GREF) persists on Norwegian poultry farms despite the ban on the growth promoter avoparcin. The biological basis for long-term persistence of avoparcin resistance is not fully understood. This study presents the complete DNA sequence of the E. faecium R-plasmid pVEF3 and functional studies of some plasmid-encoded traits (a toxin-antitoxin (TA) system and an ABC transporter) that may be of importance for plasmid persistence. The pVEF3 (63.1 kbp), isolated from an E. faecium strain of poultry origin sampled in Norway in 1999, has 71 coding sequences including the vanA avoparcin/vancomycin resistance encoding gene cluster. pVEF3 encodes the TA system omega-epsilon-zeta, and plasmid stability tests and transcription analysis show that omega-epsilon-zeta is functional in Enterococcus faecalis OGIX, although with decreasing effect over time. The predicted ABC transporter was not found to confer reduced susceptibility to any of the 28 substances tested. The TA system identified in the pVEF-type plasmids may contribute to vanA plasmid persistence on Norwegian poultry farms. However, size and compositional heterogeneity among E. faecium vanA plasmids suggest that additional plasmid maintenance systems in combination with host specific factors and frequent horizontal gene transfer and rearrangement causes the observed plasmid composition and distribution patterns.

  5. Softwaremodule voor het Simuleren van de Gevolgen van Raketonderschepping (The Dutch Program for the Simulation of Missile Intercept Effects)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2007-07-01

    effects (Softwaremodule voor het simuleren van de gevolgen van raketonderschepping) 11 . AUTHOR(S) Dr E. Abadjieva, MSc R.P. Sterkenburg, MSc F. Bouquet...Softwaremnodule voor het simuleren van de gevolgen van raketonderschepping D)attini Juli 2007 Auteur(s) dr. F. Abadjicva ir. R.P Sterkenburg ir. F. Bouquet ir...P.W. D)ouip Rubricering rapport O)ngerubri ceerd Vastgesteld door Maj R. 11 . Jongkinid Vastgesteld d.d. 12 juni 2007 (Deze nitining mizil-4 sict

  6. Diagnosing Cervical Neoplasia in Rural Brazil Using a Mobile Van Equipped with In Vivo Microscopy: A Cluster-Randomized Community Trial.

    PubMed

    Hunt, Brady; Fregnani, José Humberto Tavares Guerreiro; Schwarz, Richard A; Pantano, Naitielle; Tesoni, Suelen; Possati-Resende, Júlio César; Antoniazzi, Marcio; de Oliveira Fonseca, Bruno; de Macêdo Matsushita, Graziela; Scapulatempo-Neto, Cristovam; Kerr, Ligia; Castle, Philip E; Schmeler, Kathleen; Richards-Kortum, Rebecca

    2018-06-01

    Cervical cancer is a leading cause of death in underserved areas of Brazil. This prospective randomized trial involved 200 women in southern/central Brazil with abnormal Papanicolaou tests. Participants were randomized by geographic cluster and referred for diagnostic evaluation either at a mobile van upon its scheduled visit to their local community, or at a central hospital. Participants in both arms underwent colposcopy, in vivo microscopy, and cervical biopsies. We compared rates of diagnostic follow-up completion between study arms, and also evaluated the diagnostic performance of in vivo microscopy compared with colposcopy. There was a 23% absolute and 37% relative increase in diagnostic follow-up completion rates for patients referred to the mobile van (102/117, 87%) compared with the central hospital (53/83, 64%; P = 0.0001; risk ratio = 1.37, 95% CI, 1.14-1.63). In 229 cervical sites in 144 patients, colposcopic examination identified sites diagnosed as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or more severe (CIN2+; 85 sites) with a sensitivity of 94% (95% CI, 87%-98%) and specificity of 50% (95% CI, 42%-58%). In vivo microscopy with real-time automated image analysis identified CIN2+ with a sensitivity of 92% (95% CI, 84%-97%) and specificity of 48% (95% CI, 40%-56%). Women referred to the mobile van were more likely to complete their diagnostic follow-up compared with those referred to a central hospital, without compromise in clinical care. In vivo microscopy in a mobile van provides automated diagnostic imaging with sensitivity and specificity similar to colposcopy. Cancer Prev Res; 11(6); 359-70. ©2018 AACR . ©2018 American Association for Cancer Research.

  7. Macro-invertebrate decline in surface water polluted with imidacloprid: a rebuttal and some new analyses.

    PubMed

    Vijver, Martina G; van den Brink, Paul J

    2014-01-01

    Imidacloprid, the largest selling insecticide in the world, has received particular attention from scientists, policymakers and industries due to its potential toxicity to bees and aquatic organisms. The decline of aquatic macro-invertebrates due to imidacloprid concentrations in the Dutch surface waters was hypothesised in a recent paper by Van Dijk, Van Staalduinen and Van der Sluijs (PLOS ONE, May 2013). Although we do not disagree with imidacloprid's inherent toxicity to aquatic organisms, we have fundamental concerns regarding the way the data were analysed and interpreted. Here, we demonstrate that the underlying toxicity of imidacloprid in the field situation cannot be understood except in the context of other co-occurring pesticides. Although we agree with Van Dijk and co-workers that effects of imidacloprid can emerge between 13 and 67 ng/L we use a different line of evidence. We present an alternative approach to link imidacloprid concentrations and biological data. We analysed the national set of chemical monitoring data of the year 2009 to estimate the relative contribution of imidacloprid compared to other pesticides in relation to environmental quality target and chronic ecotoxicity threshold exceedances. Moreover, we assessed the relative impact of imidacloprid on the pesticide-induced potential affected fractions of the aquatic communities. We conclude that by choosing to test a starting hypothesis using insufficient data on chemistry and biology that are difficult to link, and by ignoring potential collinear effects of other pesticides present in Dutch surface waters Van Dijk and co-workers do not provide direct evidence that reduced taxon richness and abundance of macroinvertebrates can be attributed to the presence of imidacloprid only. Using a different line of evidence we expect ecological effects of imidacloprid at some of the exposure profiles measured in 2009 in the surface waters of the Netherlands.

  8. Elucidating pharmacodynamic interaction of silver nanoparticle - topical deliverable antibiotics.

    PubMed

    Thirumurugan, G; Seshagiri Rao, J V L N; Dhanaraju, M D

    2016-07-18

    In order to exploit the potential benefits of antimicrobial combination therapy, we need a better understanding of the circumstances under which pharmacodynamic interactions expected. In this study, Pharmacodynamic interactions between silver nanoparticle (SNP) and topical antibiotics such as Cefazolin (CEF), Mupirocin (MUP), Gentamycin (GEN), Neomycin (NEO), Tetracycline (TET), Vancomycin (VAN) were investigated using the MIC test, Combination assay followed by Fractional Inhibitory concentration Index and Agar well diffusion method. SNP + MUP, SNP + NEO, SNP + VAN combinations showed Synergism (SN) and SNP + CEF, SNP + GEN, SNP + TET showed Partial synergism (PS) against Staphylococcus aureus. Four combinations (SNP + CEF, SNP + MUP, SNP + GEN, SNP + VAN) showed SN, SNP + TET showed PS and Indifferent effect (ID) were observed for SNP + NEO against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. SN was observed for SNP + CEF, SNP + GEN, SNP + NEO, SNP + TET and SNP + MUP showed ID, SNP + VAN showed PS against Escherichia coli. In addition, we elucidated the possible mechanism involved in the pharmacodynamic interaction between SNP-topical antibiotics by increased ROS level, membrane damage following protein release, K(+) leakage and biofilm inhibition. Thus, our findings support that conjugation of the SNP with topical antibiotics have great potential in the topical formulation when treating complex resistant bacterial infections and where there is a need of more concentration to kill pathogenic bacteria.

  9. Elucidating pharmacodynamic interaction of silver nanoparticle - topical deliverable antibiotics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Thirumurugan, G.; Seshagiri Rao, J. V. L. N.; Dhanaraju, M. D.

    2016-07-01

    In order to exploit the potential benefits of antimicrobial combination therapy, we need a better understanding of the circumstances under which pharmacodynamic interactions expected. In this study, Pharmacodynamic interactions between silver nanoparticle (SNP) and topical antibiotics such as Cefazolin (CEF), Mupirocin (MUP), Gentamycin (GEN), Neomycin (NEO), Tetracycline (TET), Vancomycin (VAN) were investigated using the MIC test, Combination assay followed by Fractional Inhibitory concentration Index and Agar well diffusion method. SNP + MUP, SNP + NEO, SNP + VAN combinations showed Synergism (SN) and SNP + CEF, SNP + GEN, SNP + TET showed Partial synergism (PS) against Staphylococcus aureus. Four combinations (SNP + CEF, SNP + MUP, SNP + GEN, SNP + VAN) showed SN, SNP + TET showed PS and Indifferent effect (ID) were observed for SNP + NEO against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. SN was observed for SNP + CEF, SNP + GEN, SNP + NEO, SNP + TET and SNP + MUP showed ID, SNP + VAN showed PS against Escherichia coli. In addition, we elucidated the possible mechanism involved in the pharmacodynamic interaction between SNP-topical antibiotics by increased ROS level, membrane damage following protein release, K+ leakage and biofilm inhibition. Thus, our findings support that conjugation of the SNP with topical antibiotics have great potential in the topical formulation when treating complex resistant bacterial infections and where there is a need of more concentration to kill pathogenic bacteria.

  10. Three state-of-the-art individual electric and hybrid vehicle test reports, volume 2

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1978-01-01

    Procedures used in determining the energy efficiency and economy of a gasoline-electric hybrid taxi, an electric passenger car, and an electric van are described. Tabular and graphic data show results of driving cycle and constant speed tests, energy distribution to various components, efficiency of the components, and, for the hybrid vehicle, the emissions.

  11. A Cross-Culture Study of Sex Differences Among First-Graders on A Verbal Test.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Quijano, Teresa

    The purposes of a study conducted in Texas and Mexico were to examine the language performance of boys and girls in 3 cultures (Mexican, Mexican American, and Anglo American), and to determine if girls exceeded boys in verbal performance in each of these cultures. The Van Alstyne Picture Vocabulary Test (an English language instrument translated…

  12. Operation ARGUS 1958.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1982-04-30

    Nuclear Test Operations South Atlantic ARGUS Christofilos Theory FLORAL ARGUS Effect JASON Van Allen Belts Nuclear Test Personnel Review (MTPR) MIDAS ...precluded radiological exposure. Project 7.3 -- Surface Measurements (Project MIDAS ) Agencies: This project, code-named MIDAS for security reasons, was...weapon casings, but these personnel were badged and equipped with ten self-reading pocket dosimeters as well as alpha-detection equipment provided by the

  13. Calibrated Bayes Factors Should Not Be Used: A Reply to Hoijtink, van Kooten, and Hulsker.

    PubMed

    Morey, Richard D; Wagenmakers, Eric-Jan; Rouder, Jeffrey N

    2016-01-01

    Hoijtink, Kooten, and Hulsker ( 2016 ) present a method for choosing the prior distribution for an analysis with Bayes factor that is based on controlling error rates, which they advocate as an alternative to our more subjective methods (Morey & Rouder, 2014 ; Rouder, Speckman, Sun, Morey, & Iverson, 2009 ; Wagenmakers, Wetzels, Borsboom, & van der Maas, 2011 ). We show that the method they advocate amounts to a simple significance test, and that the resulting Bayes factors are not interpretable. Additionally, their method fails in common circumstances, and has the potential to yield arbitrarily high Type II error rates. After critiquing their method, we outline the position on subjectivity that underlies our advocacy of Bayes factors.

  14. Evaluatie Kennistechnologische Ondersteuning bij Diagnose van SEWACO systemen (Projectmanagementplan) (Evaluation of Knowledge Technological Support for Diagnosis of SEWACO Systems (Project Management Plan)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1991-08-01

    diagnos van SE WACO systmnen/ AD-A245 424111 1fl1,l Niets uit deze uitgave mag warden vermenigvuldligd en/of oPenbaar gemaakt door middel van druk...fotakopie. microfilm of op welks andere whlze dan ook, zonder voorafgaande toeslemming van TNO. Hot ter inzage geven van het TNO-rapport aan direct...belanghebbenden is tegestaan. HYP. vanl OC dt Indian dit rapport in opdracht ward uitgebracht, wordt voor de, rechten en verpiichtingen van opdrachtgever en

  15. The phosphotransferase VanU represses expression of four qrr genes antagonizing VanO-mediated quorum-sensing regulation in Vibrio anguillarum

    PubMed Central

    Weber, Barbara; Lindell, Kristoffer; El Qaidi, Samir; Hjerde, Erik; Willassen, Nils-Peder

    2011-01-01

    Vibrio anguillarum utilizes quorum sensing to regulate stress responses required for survival in the aquatic environment. Like other Vibrio species, V. anguillarum contains the gene qrr1, which encodes the ancestral quorum regulatory RNA Qrr1, and phosphorelay quorum-sensing systems that modulate the expression of small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) that destabilize mRNA encoding the transcriptional regulator VanT. In this study, three additional Qrr sRNAs were identified. All four sRNAs were positively regulated by σ54 and the σ54-dependent response regulator VanO, and showed a redundant activity. The Qrr sRNAs, together with the RNA chaperone Hfq, destabilized vanT mRNA and modulated expression of VanT-regulated genes. Unexpectedly, expression of all four qrr genes peaked at high cell density, and exogenously added N-acylhomoserine lactone molecules induced expression of the qrr genes at low cell density. The phosphotransferase VanU, which phosphorylates and activates VanO, repressed expression of the Qrr sRNAs and stabilized vanT mRNA. A model is presented proposing that VanU acts as a branch point, aiding cross-regulation between two independent phosphorelay systems that activate or repress expression of the Qrr sRNAs, giving flexibility and precision in modulating VanT expression and inducing a quorum-sensing response to stresses found in a constantly changing aquatic environment. PMID:21948044

  16. The phosphotransferase VanU represses expression of four qrr genes antagonizing VanO-mediated quorum-sensing regulation in Vibrio anguillarum.

    PubMed

    Weber, Barbara; Lindell, Kristoffer; El Qaidi, Samir; Hjerde, Erik; Willassen, Nils-Peder; Milton, Debra L

    2011-12-01

    Vibrio anguillarum utilizes quorum sensing to regulate stress responses required for survival in the aquatic environment. Like other Vibrio species, V. anguillarum contains the gene qrr1, which encodes the ancestral quorum regulatory RNA Qrr1, and phosphorelay quorum-sensing systems that modulate the expression of small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) that destabilize mRNA encoding the transcriptional regulator VanT. In this study, three additional Qrr sRNAs were identified. All four sRNAs were positively regulated by σ(54) and the σ(54)-dependent response regulator VanO, and showed a redundant activity. The Qrr sRNAs, together with the RNA chaperone Hfq, destabilized vanT mRNA and modulated expression of VanT-regulated genes. Unexpectedly, expression of all four qrr genes peaked at high cell density, and exogenously added N-acylhomoserine lactone molecules induced expression of the qrr genes at low cell density. The phosphotransferase VanU, which phosphorylates and activates VanO, repressed expression of the Qrr sRNAs and stabilized vanT mRNA. A model is presented proposing that VanU acts as a branch point, aiding cross-regulation between two independent phosphorelay systems that activate or repress expression of the Qrr sRNAs, giving flexibility and precision in modulating VanT expression and inducing a quorum-sensing response to stresses found in a constantly changing aquatic environment.

  17. Een Meetsysteem voor het Testen van Radiocommunicatie-Apparatuur (A measuring Facility for Testing of Radio Communication Equipment)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1991-08-01

    insert various jamming signals. The criterion for classifying radio equipment under test is the quality of transferred information , that is the SINAD...UNCLASSFED) This report describes a test facility for measuring the behaviour and quality of radio communication equipment in a simulated operational...formation FEL has the disposal of a facility to test the quality of radio equipment in a simulated operational situation. (Y .. ,. -’ , / " " ’ TNO mppon 4

  18. Review of Stantonia Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Orgilinae) from Vietnam, China, Japan, and Russia, with descriptions of six new species

    PubMed Central

    van Achterberg, Cornelis; Long, Khuat Dang; Chen, Xue-xin

    2017-01-01

    Abstract The genus Stantonia Ashmead, 1904 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Orgilinae) is reviewed for Vietnam, China, Japan, and Russia. Six new species of the genus Stantonia are described and illustrated: Stantonia brevicaudata van Achterberg, sp. n., S. dickyyui van Achterberg & Long, sp. n., S. granulata Long & van Achterberg, sp. n., S. robustifemur van Achterberg & Long, sp. n., S. stilpnosoma Long & van Achterberg, sp. n., and S. vietnamica van Achterberg, sp. n. A new subgenus (Planitonia subg. n.: type species Stantonia robustifemur van Achterberg & Long, sp. n.) is proposed for the species with a flat clypeus and face, and reduced vein r-m of the fore wing. Three species are newly recorded from Vietnam: Stantonia gracilis van Achterberg, 1987, S. sumatrana Enderlein, 1908, and S. tianmushana Chen, He & Ma, 2004. A key to species of Stantonia from Vietnam, China, Russia, and Japan is provided. PMID:29362527

  19. Quantitative Characterization of Molecular Similarity Spaces: Tools for Computational Toxicology

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2000-01-20

    numbers for hydrogen-filled molecular structure, hydrogen-suppressed molecular structure, and van der Waals volume. Van der Waals...relative covalent radii Geometrical Vw van der Waals volume 3DW 3-D Wiener number for the hydrogen-suppressed geometric distance matrix...molecular structure, and van der Waals volume. Van der Waals volume, Vw (Bondi 1964). was calculated using Sybyl 6.1 from Tripos As- sociates. Inc

  20. Physical Protection: the State of the Art

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2005-02-01

    fundamentele mechanisme van adsorptie van water beschrijft; dit is ingewikkeld en kost veel tijd ; een tweede benadering is het opstellen van een eenvoudig...gasscheidingsmethoden, bij voorkeur regeneratief, zijn zeer wenselijk vanwege de logistieke voordelen en de gegarandeerde langere operatie tijd . P(T)SA is meer...in de loop van de tijd ) met vrij simpele middelen en technieken sterk worden verbeterd. Deze technieken, zoals micro-encapsulatie en toevoeging van

  1. Thickened boundary layer theory for air film drag reduction on a van body surface

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xie, Xiaopeng; Cao, Lifeng; Huang, Heng

    2018-05-01

    To elucidate drag reduction mechanism on a van body surface under air film condition, a thickened boundary layer theory was proposed and a frictional resistance calculation model of the van body surface was established. The frictional resistance on the van body surface was calculated with different parameters of air film thickness. In addition, the frictional resistance of the van body surface under the air film condition was analyzed by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation and different air film states that influenced the friction resistance on the van body surface were discussed. As supported by the CFD simulation results, the thickened boundary layer theory may provide reference for practical application of air film drag reduction on a van body surface.

  2. Transient aerodynamic characteristics of vans during the accelerated overtaking process

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Li-ning; Wang, Xing-shen; Du, Guang-sheng; Liu, Zheng-gang; Lei, Li

    2018-04-01

    This paper studies the influence of the accelerated overtaking process on the vehicles' transient aerodynamic characteristics, through 3-D numerical simulations with dynamic meshes and sliding interface technique. Numerical accuracy is verified by experimental results. The aerodynamic characteristics of vehicles in the uniform overtaking process and the accelerated overtaking process are compared. It is shown that the speed variation of the overtaking van would influence the aerodynamic characteristics of the two vans, with greater influence on the overtaken van than on the overtaking van. The simulations of three different accelerated overtaking processes show that the greater the acceleration of the overtaking van, the larger the aerodynamic coefficients of the overtaken van. When the acceleration of the overtaking van increases by 1 m/s2, the maximum drag force, side force and yawing moment coefficients of the overtaken van all increase by more than 6%, to seriously affect the power performance and the stability of the vehicles. The analysis of the pressure fields under different accelerated conditions reveals the cause of variations of the aerodynamic characteristics of vehicles.

  3. Intelligent transportation systems field operational test cross-cutting study : commercial vehicle administrative processes

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1999-10-01

    This analysis brief explores differences and similarities among the national crash experience of combination-unit trucks (CUTs), single-unit trucks (SUTs), and "all vehicles" (principally cars and light truck/vans). These CUT vs. SUT vs. all vehicle ...

  4. Socialization Practices, Job Satisfaction and Commitment,

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1983-01-01

    organizational entry practice? Neither researchers nor practitioners have directly addressed this issue. Van Manen ( Van Hasnen, 1978) identified seven dimensions...TR-2 John Van Maanen, "Some Thoughts (and Afterthoughts) on Context, Interpretation, and Organization Theory" February, 1982. TR1-3 John Van Maanen...Contradictions in Technical Careers" March, 1982; Working Paper 1281-82. TR-5 John Van Maanen & Deborah Kolb. "The Professional Apprentice: Observations on Fie1

  5. Inventarisatie telematica-ontwikkelingen Natco (Inventory Telematics Developments Natco)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1998-05-01

    telefonie, die binnen afzienbare tijd een bereikbaarheid over nagenoeg de gehele wereldbol kan garanderen. Ook hier is de koppeling van netwerken van...PCS is ’de mogelijkheid voor een gebruiker te communiceren in elke gewenste vorm, op elke tijd , op elke plaats en in verschillende rollen...wat betreft plaats, tijd en tempo van het leren, kan worden gerealiseerd. De toepassing van teleleren kan leiden tot een verbetering van de interne

  6. Evaporation from Sand

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1992-04-01

    Instituuts Advies R2ad PML Prof. dr. U.A.Th. Brinkanl~ 36. Direactur van het Medisch Biologisch Laboratorium TNO Prof.Dr. W.R.F. Notten 37. Directeur...Grootsdialige Rampenbestrijdcing Ministerie van Binnenlandsc Zaken Drs. H. Evers 9. Adviseur van het Prins Maurits Laboratorium TWO Prot. Dr. J.M. van...Rossum, 10. Adyisew, van het Prins Maurits Laboratorium TWO Chernisdie Research Prof.Dr. G. Dijkstra 11. H~ur. NBC DMKIJOMAT/KIO Ir. AAM. Slagveer 12

  7. An Application of the Rasch Measurement Theory to an Assessment of Geometric Thinking Levels

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Stols, Gerrit; Long, Caroline; Dunne, Tim

    2015-01-01

    The purpose of this study is to apply the Rasch model to investigate both the Van Hiele theory for geometric development and an associated test. In terms of the test, the objective is to investigate the functioning of a classic 25-item instrument designed to identify levels of geometric proficiency. The dataset of responses by 244 students (106…

  8. Car Builder: Design, Construct and Test Your Own Cars. School Version with Lesson Plans. [CD-ROM].

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Highsmith, Joni Bitman

    Car Builder is a scientific CD-ROM-based simulation program that lets students design, construct, modify, test, and compare their own cars. Students can design sedans, four-wheel-drive vehicles, vans, sport cars, and hot rods. They may select for aerodynamics, power, and racing ability, or economic and fuel efficiency. It is a program that teaches…

  9. Comparison of Integer Programming (IP) Solvers for Automated Test Assembly (ATA). Research Report. ETS RR-15-05

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Donoghue, John R.

    2015-01-01

    At the heart of van der Linden's approach to automated test assembly (ATA) is a linear programming/integer programming (LP/IP) problem. A variety of IP solvers are available, ranging in cost from free to hundreds of thousands of dollars. In this paper, I compare several approaches to solving the underlying IP problem. These approaches range from…

  10. Synthetic Minor NSR Permit: Van Hook Crude Terminal, LLC - Van Hook Crude Terminal/Rail Loading Facility

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    This page contains the current effective synthetic minor NSR permit for the Van Hook Crude Terminal, LLC, Van Hook Crude Terminal/Rail Loading Facility, located on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in Mountrail County, ND.

  11. Re-Validation of the Van Rie HIV/AIDS-Related Stigma Scale for Use with People Living with HIV in the United States

    PubMed Central

    Kipp, Aaron M.; Audet, Carolyn M.; Earnshaw, Valerie A.; Owens, Jared; McGowan, Catherine C.; Wallston, Kenneth A.

    2015-01-01

    There is little consensus about which of the many validated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) stigma scales should be regularly used, with few being re-validated in different contexts or evaluated for how they compare to other, existing HIV stigma scales. The purpose of this exploratory study was to re-validate the Van Rie HIV/AIDS-Related Stigma Scale, originally validated in Thailand and using a third-person wording structure, for use with people living with HIV in the United States. Adult HIV clinic patients completed a survey including the Berger and Van Rie scales, and measures of social support and depression. Eighty-five of 211 (40%) eligible participants provided data for both stigma scales. Exploratory factor analyses identified three factors to the Van Rie scale: Loss of Social Relationships (new subscale), Managing HIV Concealment (new subscale), and Perceived Community Stigma (original subscale). These subscales were moderately inter-related (r = 0.51 to 0.58) with acceptable to excellent reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.69 to 0.90). The Van Rie subscales were also moderately inter-correlated with the Berger subscales (r = 0.44 to 0.76), had similar construct validity, and tended to have higher mean stigma scores when compared with Berger subscales that were conceptually most similar. The revised Van Rie HIV-related Stigma Scale demonstrates good validity and internal consistency, offering a valid measure of HIV stigma with a three-factor structure. The third-person wording may be particularly suitable for measuring stigmatizing attitudes during an individual’s transition from at-risk and undergoing HIV testing to newly diagnosed, a time when experiences of discrimination and processing issues of disclosure have not yet occurred. The stigma mechanisms for individuals making this transition have not been well explored. These scenarios, combined with the observed non-response to the Berger Enacted Stigma subscale items (a surprise finding), highlight gaps in our understanding of HIV stigma and how best to measure it. PMID:25738884

  12. Analysing model fit of psychometric process models: An overview, a new test and an application to the diffusion model.

    PubMed

    Ranger, Jochen; Kuhn, Jörg-Tobias; Szardenings, Carsten

    2017-05-01

    Cognitive psychometric models embed cognitive process models into a latent trait framework in order to allow for individual differences. Due to their close relationship to the response process the models allow for profound conclusions about the test takers. However, before such a model can be used its fit has to be checked carefully. In this manuscript we give an overview over existing tests of model fit and show their relation to the generalized moment test of Newey (Econometrica, 53, 1985, 1047) and Tauchen (J. Econometrics, 30, 1985, 415). We also present a new test, the Hausman test of misspecification (Hausman, Econometrica, 46, 1978, 1251). The Hausman test consists of a comparison of two estimates of the same item parameters which should be similar if the model holds. The performance of the Hausman test is evaluated in a simulation study. In this study we illustrate its application to two popular models in cognitive psychometrics, the Q-diffusion model and the D-diffusion model (van der Maas, Molenaar, Maris, Kievit, & Boorsboom, Psychol Rev., 118, 2011, 339; Molenaar, Tuerlinckx, & van der Maas, J. Stat. Softw., 66, 2015, 1). We also compare the performance of the test to four alternative tests of model fit, namely the M 2 test (Molenaar et al., J. Stat. Softw., 66, 2015, 1), the moment test (Ranger et al., Br. J. Math. Stat. Psychol., 2016) and the test for binned time (Ranger & Kuhn, Psychol. Test. Asess. , 56, 2014b, 370). The simulation study indicates that the Hausman test is superior to the latter tests. The test closely adheres to the nominal Type I error rate and has higher power in most simulation conditions. © 2017 The British Psychological Society.

  13. Presence of the resistance genes vanC1 and pbp5 in phenotypically vancomycin and ampicillin susceptible Enterococcus faecalis.

    PubMed

    Schwaiger, Karin; Bauer, Johann; Hörmansdorfer, Stefan; Mölle, Gabriele; Preikschat, Petra; Kämpf, Peter; Bauer-Unkauf, Ilse; Bischoff, Meike; Hölzel, Christina

    2012-08-01

    Ampicillin and vancomycin are important antibiotics for the therapy of Enterococcus faecalis infections. The ampicillin resistance gene pbp5 is intrinsic in Enterococcus faecium. The vanC1 gene confers resistance to vancomycin and serves as a species marker for Enterococcus gallinarum. Both genes are chromosomally located. Resistance to ampicillin and vancomycin was determined in 484 E. faecalis of human and porcine origin by microdilution. Since E. faecalis are highly skilled to acquire resistance genes, all strains were investigated for the presence of pbp5 (and, in positive strains, for the penicillin-binding protein synthesis repressor gene psr) and vanC1 (and, in positive strains, for vanXYc and vanT) by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). One porcine and one human isolate were phenotypically resistant to ampicillin; no strain was vancomycin resistant. Four E. faecalis (3/1 of porcine/human origin) carried pbp5 (MIC=1 mg/L), and four porcine strains were vanC1 positive (minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC]=1 mg/L). Real-time reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR revealed that the genes were not expressed. The psr gene was absent in the four pbp5-positive strains; the vanXYc gene was absent in the four vanC1-positive strains. However, vanT of the vanC gene cluster was detected in two vanC1-positive strains. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the presence of pbp5, identical with the "E. faecium pbp5 gene," and of vanC1/vanT in E. faecalis. Even if resistance is not expressed in these strains, this study shows that E. faecalis have a strong ability to acquire resistance genes-and potentially to spread them to other bacteria. Therefore, close monitoring of this species should be continued.

  14. 77 FR 14583 - Notice to Manufacturers of Alternative Fuel Vans

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-03-12

    ... Alternative Fuel Vans AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), U.S. DOT. ACTION: Notice to Manufacturers of Alternative Fuel Vans. SUMMARY: Projects funded under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) must... (FAA) is considering issuing waivers to foreign manufacturers of alternative fuel vans. This notice...

  15. Dynamical importance of van der Waals saddle and excited potential surface in C(1D)+D2 complex-forming reaction

    PubMed Central

    Shen, Zhitao; Ma, Haitao; Zhang, Chunfang; Fu, Mingkai; Wu, Yanan; Bian, Wensheng; Cao, Jianwei

    2017-01-01

    Encouraged by recent advances in revealing significant effects of van der Waals wells on reaction dynamics, many people assume that van der Waals wells are inevitable in chemical reactions. Here we find that the weak long-range forces cause van der Waals saddles in the prototypical C(1D)+D2 complex-forming reaction that have very different dynamical effects from van der Waals wells at low collision energies. Accurate quantum dynamics calculations on our highly accurate ab initio potential energy surfaces with van der Waals saddles yield cross-sections in close agreement with crossed-beam experiments, whereas the same calculations on an earlier surface with van der Waals wells produce much smaller cross-sections at low energies. Further trajectory calculations reveal that the van der Waals saddle leads to a torsion then sideways insertion reaction mechanism, whereas the well suppresses reactivity. Quantum diffraction oscillations and sharp resonances are also predicted based on our ground- and excited-state potential energy surfaces. PMID:28094253

  16. Hypervelocity Microparticle Impact Studies: Simulating Cosmic Dust Impacts on the Dustbuster

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Austin, D. E.; Manning, H. L. K.; Bailey, C. L.; Farnsworth, J. T.; Ahrens, T. J.; Beauchamp, J. L.

    2002-01-01

    Iron and copper microparticles accelerated to 2-20 km/s in a 2 MV Van de Graaff accelerator were used to test a recently-developed cosmic dust mass spectrometer, known as the Dustbuster. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

  17. Plasmapause Location: Model Compared to Van Allen Probes Observations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Goldstein, J.; Baker, D. N.; Blake, J. B.; Funsten, H. O.; Jaynes, A. N.; Malaspina, D.; Reeves, G. D.; Spence, H. E.; Thaller, S. A.; Wygant, J. R.

    2017-12-01

    We study the evolution of the plasmapause for a multi-year period (January 2013 to January 2017) spanning much of the Van Allen Probes mission, by comparing the output of a plasmapause test particle simulation with the spacecraft potential measured by the Electric Field and Waves (EFW) suite. Consistent with previous results, we quantify the accuracy of the model by measuring the radial difference between real and virtual satellite encounters with the plasmapause boundary. We find that model performance is better on the nightside and during active periods, and worse on the duskside/dayside and during extended quiet intervals. For two case studies, we compare the plasmapause with the locations of relativistic electron flux peaks. For global context we use the test particle plasmaspheric index Fp [Goldstein et al., 2016], the fraction of a circular drift orbit inside the plasmapause, as a proxy for the globally integrated opportunity for losses in cold plasma. We find an inverse relationship between relativistic flux and the Fp index, consistent with increased likelihood of losses in cold plasma.

  18. Antibiotic resistance assessment in S. aureus strains isolated from raw sheep's milk cheese.

    PubMed

    Spanu, V; Virdis, S; Scarano, C; Cossu, F; De Santis, E P L; Cosseddu, A M

    2010-06-01

    In vitro activities of 16 antibiotics were tested against 36 Staphylococcus aureus (SA) strains isolated from raw sheep's milk cheese from six dairies. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using a broth microdilution method (CLSI). All 36 isolates were analyzed for the presence of the accessory gene regulator gene, agr (I-IV), and genes encoding resistance to methicillin (mecA), erythromycin (ermA), penicillin (blaZ), and vancomycin (vanA-B). The isolates were also analyzed for similarities in pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns. SA strains showed resistance to ampicillin (36.1%), penicillin (33.3%), tetracycline (11.1%), and cloxacillin (2.8%) but were susceptible (>or=94.4%) to 12 out of 16 tested antimicrobials. The overall susceptibility of the strains to oxacillin, vancomycin, and erythromycin was confirmed by the absence of the mecA, vanA-B, and ermA genes. The PFGE results showed that 32 strains belonged to 10 different clusters (P1-P10) while four strains were untypeable.

  19. International Hydrogenase Conference (7th) Held at the University of Reading on August 24th to 29th 2004.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2004-08-19

    Johannes Hackstein [ PB GIO rNovel Fe-hydrogenases from the rumen ciliate metagenome . :12.50 :114.00 -1 Lunch [ 114.00 1 7.00 1 Poster Session 2...d.r.o’ g’.e n-.a-.s.e..s from the rumnen ciliate metagenome . p36 Severing, E., Boxma, B., van Alen, T.A., Ricard, G., van Hoek, A.H.A.M., Moon-van...hydrogenases from the rumen ciliate metagenome . Severing, E.’, Boxma, B.1, van Alen, T.A.’, Ricard, G.z, van Hoek, A.H.A.M.’, Moon-van der Staay, S.Y

  20. Genetics Home Reference: bare lymphocyte syndrome type II

    MedlinePlus

    ... 6. Citation on PubMed Gobin SJ, Peijnenburg A, van Eggermond M, van Zutphen M, van den Berg R, van den Elsen PJ. The RFX complex is crucial ... D, Szöllosi J, Jenei A. Bare lymphocyte syndrome: an opportunity to discover our immune system. Immunol Lett. ...

  1. Crystalline multiwall carbon nanotubes and their application as a field emission electron source.

    PubMed

    Liu, Peng; Zhou, Duanliang; Zhang, Chunhai; Wei, Haoming; Yang, Xinhe; Wu, Yang; Li, Qingwei; Liu, Changhong; Du, Bingchu; Liu, Liang; Jiang, Kaili; Fan, Shoushan

    2018-05-18

    Using super-aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) film, we have fabricated van der Waals crystalline multiwall CNTs (MWCNT) by adopting high pressure and high temperature processing. The CNTs keep parallel to each other and are distributed uniformly. X-ray diffraction characterization shows peaks at the small angle range, which can be assigned to the spacing of the MWCNT crystals. The mechanical, electrical and thermal properties are all greatly improved compared with the original CNT film. The field emission properties of van der Waals crystalline MWCNTs are tested and they show a better surface morphology stability for the large emission current. We have further fabricated a field emission x-ray tube and demonstrated a precise resolution imaging ability.

  2. Reliability of classification for post-traumatic ankle osteoarthritis.

    PubMed

    Claessen, Femke M A P; Meijer, Diederik T; van den Bekerom, Michel P J; Gevers Deynoot, Barend D J; Mallee, Wouter H; Doornberg, Job N; van Dijk, C Niek

    2016-04-01

    The purpose of this study was to identify the most reliable classification system for clinical outcome studies to categorize post-traumatic-fracture-osteoarthritis. A total of 118 orthopaedic surgeons and residents-gathered in the Ankle Platform Study Collaborative Science of Variation Group-evaluated 128 anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of patients after a bi- or trimalleolar ankle fracture on a Web-based platform in order to rate post-traumatic osteoarthritis according to the classification systems coined by (1) van Dijk, (2) Kellgren, and (3) Takakura. Reliability was evaluated with the use of the Siegel and Castellan's multirater kappa measure. Differences between classification systems were compared using the two-sample Z-test. Interobserver agreement of surgeons who participated in the survey was fair for the van Dijk osteoarthritis scale (k = 0.24), and poor for the Takakura (k = 0.19) and the Kellgren systems (k = 0.18) according to the categorical rating of Landis and Koch. This difference in one categorical rating was found to be significant (p < 0.001, CI 0.046-0.053) with the high numbers of observers and cases available. This study documents fair interobserver agreement for the van Dijk osteoarthritis scale, and poor interobserver agreement for the Takakura and Kellgren osteoarthritis classification systems. Because of the low interobserver agreement for the van Dijk, Kellgren, and Takakura classification systems, those systems cannot be used for clinical decision-making. Development of diagnostic criteria on basis of consecutive patients, Level II.

  3. Learning from Profiles of the Special Needs Gifted

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Swanson, Julie Dingle; Van Tassel-Baska, Joyce; Feng, Annie; Chandler, Kimberley

    2007-01-01

    Through a longitudinal study focused on identification policy that is inclusive of underrepresented gifted students (Van Tassel-Baska & Feng, 2003; Van Tassel-Baska, Feng, & deBrux, under review; Van Tassel-Baska, Feng, & Evans, in press; Van Tassel-Baska, Johnson, & Avery, 2002), a team of researchers developed case studies of special needs…

  4. 78 FR 47487 - Notice of Proposed Buy America Waiver

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-08-05

    ... (NFRMPO). NFRMPO is in the process of procuring vehicles for its vanpool program, ``VanGo.'' In accordance... Organization (NFRMPO). NFRMPO operates a vanpool (``VanGo'') program, which has 75 vans with routes connecting, among others, Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, Denver, and Boulder, Colorado. The VanGo program carries...

  5. Representation of Research Paradigms as a Function of Familiarity with Research Domains

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1992-07-01

    van de paradigma’s te kunnen vaststellen. Keuze van het Juiste paradigma werd bepaald door proefpersonen te vragen de betreffende zin te classificeren...als afkomstig van een bepaaid type onderzoek. De innoud van het paradigma werd bepaald door proefpersonen te, vragen zoveel kenmerken voor bet

  6. Additional Value from Road Mapping in Defense Policy Making (meerwaarde van roadmapping bij beleidsontwikkeling van de koninklijke landmacht)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-05-01

    van zogonaamde strategische reserves tot bijvaarbeeld lakaal boschikbare gevechtscapacitoit. 9 11 Joint. Do Nederlandse krijgsmacht ontwikkelt zich tot...8 2 W erkwijze van de KL tot nu toe ............................................................................... 9 2.1 O...ntwikkeling visiedocurnent ....................................................................................... 9 2.2 Opzet beleid- en deelstudies

  7. Structuring of the Renewed Decision Making Process in the Royal Netherlands Army (Structurering van het vernieuwde besluitvormingsproces binnen de KL).

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1996-10-10

    time informatie wordt door Eisenhardt (1989) gedefinieerd als " information about a firm’s operations or environment for which there is little or no...op het invoeren van (getypte) tekst . Conclusie Elektronisch Brainstormen: * in principe geschikt om Eigen Mogelijkheden te genereren, vooral als de...Capaieairt ca •acitenit ca a• C ie•lit Fig. 1 Mogelijke wijzen van besluitvorming (zie tekst ) als functie van beschik- bare tijd, capaciteit en ervaring van

  8. The Design of a Propeller for a U.S. Coast Guard Icebreaker Tugboat

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1975-10-01

    series as investigated by Van Lammeren, Van Manen , and Oosterveld . This propeller series, commonly referred to as the K’jgeningen B-screw series...RtFEKENCES Van Lammeren, W.P.A., Van Manen , J.D., and Oosterveld, M.W.C., "The Wageningen B-Screw Series," Transactions of the Society of Naval Architects...forces has been reported by Van Gunsteren and Pronk . They investigated both single and twin screw ships of various types and the results are

  9. The Role of b-Catenin in Mammary Gland Carcinogenesis

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2002-03-01

    Wetering, M., Cavallo, R., Dooijes, D., van Beest , M., van Es, J., Loureiro, J., Ypma, A., hursh, D., Jones, T., Bejsovec, A., Peifer, M., Mortin, M...Transduction Lab - domain of /3-catenin. oratories) and anti-KT3 (Babco) were used as primary Elevated levels of fl-catenin were recently observed in antibodies...1988). Cell, 55, 619 -625. Kolligs FT, Hu G, Dang CV and Fearon ER. (1999). Mol. van de Wetering M, Cavallo R, Dooijes D, van Beest M, van Cell. Biol

  10. MATE (Mentale Aspecten van Team Effectiviteit) (MATE (Mental Aspects of Team Effectiveness))

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-05-01

    0 Auteur (s) drs. J.P. van Meer drs. MI. 1 ’ IIart0 drs. 1. van der 16. Rubricering rapport Ongerubriceerd Vastgesteld door Ikol drs. L.A. de Vos...team Auteur (s) Teamntraining drs. J.P. van Meer drs. M.H.E. I Hart Programmanummer Projectnummer drs. 1. van der Beijl V406 015.34095 Rubricering...Murphy & Cleveland (1995) geven inzicht in de tearngedragingen die meetbaar zijn en de theorie over Shared Mental Models (Espevik et al, 2006) laat zien

  11. De Ontwikkeling van een PBPK Model voor VX; Stand van Zaken V013-813 en 207C (The Development of a PBPK Model for VX: Status Report)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-02-01

    ing. H.C. Trap, dr. ir. M.J. van der werd zes maal gesproken over de Schans, ing. L.F. Chau, B.). Lander, invulling en de voortgang van het I.A. Cordia ...dr. ir. M.J. van der Schans, ing. L.F. Chau, J.P. Oostdijk, B.J. Lander, l.A. Cordia 25 TNO Defensie en Veiligheid, vestiging Rijswijk, Marketing en

  12. Speed Measuring System (Detectoren en Signaalbewerking Voor Het Snelheidsmeetsysteem 4-01)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1989-03-01

    een hogere nauwkeurigheid te halen dan san de voet van bet signasi mogelijk is bij een grote signaalaniplitude, Wanneer de S/L < 6 is wordt de drempel...snelheidsmeetsysteem 4-01 Niets Uilf deze ultgave mag worden vermenigvuldigd en of openbaar gemaakt door mlddel van druk fotokope microfilm autour~s): of op welke...andere wijze dan 006 zonder voorafgaarode toestemming van TNO J. van der Haven Hetlter I zage geven van net TNO-rappoit aan direct belanghebbenoen is

  13. Eisen voor Buitenbeelden van Voertuigsimulatoren: Een Literatuurstudie (Use of Exterior Pictures in Vehicle Simulators: A Literature Survey)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1991-06-01

    1.3 Opleiding en onderzoek met voertuigsimulatoren 9 1.4 Opbouw van simulatoren 11 1.5 Totstandkomning van beelden in CGI-systemen 13 1.6 Bepalen van...pictures in vehicle simulators. A literature survey s 029 9 20 Aantal bladzijden: 102 .JISTRIBIYI±WN- STATEMEN9 -2 39 Approved for public release; 2 28 9 ...Achteruitkijkspiegels en verrekijkers 79 8.2 Helderheidsversterkers en warmtebeelden 80 8.3 Middelen om afstand te bepalen 80 9 INTERACTIES VAN HET

  14. Technologies as Rural Special Education Problem Solvers--A Status Report and Successful Strategies.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Helge, Doris

    Rural schools can help solve their special education problems by using advanced technology to provide instructional support (computer managed instruction, satellite television, library searches, resource networks, on-line testing), instructional applications (computer assisted instruction, reading machines, mobile vans, instructional television),…

  15. Misidentification of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in hospitals in Tripoli, Libya

    PubMed Central

    Ahmed, Mohamed O.; Abuzweda, Abdulbaset R.; Alghazali, Mohamed H.; Elramalli, Asma K.; Amri, Samira G.; Aghila, Ezzeddin Sh.; Abouzeed, Yousef M.

    2010-01-01

    Background Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a nosocomial (hospital-acquired) pathogen of exceptional concern. It is responsible for life-threatening infections in both the hospital and the community. Aims To determine the frequency of MRSA misidentification in hospitals in Tripoli, Libya using current testing methods. Methods One hundred and seventy S. aureus isolates previously identified as MRSA were obtained from three hospitals in Tripoli. All isolates were reidentified by culturing on mannitol salt agar, API 20 Staph System and retested for resistance to methicillin using the cefoxitin disk diffusion susceptibility test and PBP2a. D-tests and vancomycin E-tests (Van-E-tests) were also performed for vancomycin-resistant isolates. Results Of the 170 isolates examined, 86 (51%) were confirmed as MRSA (i.e. 49% were misidentified as MRSA). Fifteen (17%) of the confirmed MRSA strains exhibited inducible clindamycin resistance. Of the 86 confirmed MRSA isolates, 13 (15%) were resistant to mupirocin, 53 (62%) were resistant to ciprofloxacin, 41 (48%) were resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and none were resistant to linezolid. Although disc-diffusion testing indicated that 23 (27%) of the isolates were resistant to vancomycin, none of the isolates were vancomycin-resistant by Van-E-test. Conclusions Misidentification of nosocomial S. aureus as MRSA is a serious problem in Libyan hospitals. There is an urgent need for the proper training of microbiology laboratory technicians in standard antimicrobial susceptibility procedures and the implementation of quality control programs in microbiology laboratories of Libyan hospitals. PMID:21483574

  16. Fluorescent vancomycin and terephthalate comodified europium-doped layered double hydroxides nanoparticles: synthesis and application for bacteria labelling

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sun, Jianchao; Fan, Hai; Wang, Nan; Ai, Shiyun

    2014-09-01

    Vancomycin (Van)- and terephthalate (TA)-comodified europium-doped layered double hydroxides (Van-TA-Eu-LDHs) nanoparticles were successfully prepared by a two-step method, in which, TA acted as a sensitizer to enhance the fluorescent property and Van was modified on the surface of LDH to act as an affinity reagent to bacteria. The obtained products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope and fluorescent spectroscopy. The results demonstrated that the prepared Van- and TA-comodified europium-doped layered double hydroxides (Van-TA-Eu-LDHs) nanoparticles with diameter of 50 nm in size showed highly efficient fluorescent property. Furthermore, due to the high affinity of Van to bacteria, the prepared Van-TA-Eu-LDHs nanoparticles showed efficient bacteria labelling by fluorescent property. The prepared nanoparticles may have wide applications in the biological fields, such as biomolecular labelling and cell imaging.

  17. STS-27 Atlantis, OV-104, terminal countdown demonstration test (TCDT) at KSC

    NASA Image and Video Library

    1988-11-14

    S88-53244 (14 Nov 1988) --- The crewmembers for STS-27 leave the operations and checkout (O&C) building en route to a transfer van that will take them to Launch Pad 39B for their terminal countdown demonstration test. From the front to the rear are astronauts Robert L. Gibson, Guy S. Gardner, William M. Shepherd, Richard M. (Mike) Mullane and Jerry L. Ross.

  18. Orion GN and C Mitigation Efforts for Van Allen Radiation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    King, Ellis T.; Jackson, Mark

    2013-01-01

    The Orion Crew Module (CM) is NASA's next generation manned space vehicle, scheduled to return humans to lunar orbit in the coming decade. The Orion avionics and GN&C architectures have progressed through a number of project phases and are nearing completion of a major milestone. The first unmanned test mission, dubbed "Exploration Flight Test One" (EFT-1) is scheduled to launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center late next year and provides the first integrated test of all the vehicle systems, avionics and software.

  19. Baseline tests of the battronic Minivan electric delivery van

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Dustin, M. O.; Soltis, R. F.; Bozek, J. M.; Maslowski, E. A.

    1977-01-01

    An electric passenger vehicle was tested to develop data characterizing the state of the art of electric and hybrid vehicles. The test measured vehicle maximum speed, range at constant speed, range over stop-and-go driving schedules, maximum acceleration, gradeability and limit, road energy consumption, road power, indicated energy consumption, braking capability and battery charge efficiency. The data obtained are to serve as a baseline to compare improvements in electric and hybrid vehicle technologies and to assist in establishing performance standards.

  20. Defending commercial surrogate motherhood against Van Niekerk and Van Zyl.

    PubMed Central

    McLachlan, H V

    1997-01-01

    The arguments of Van Niekerk and Van Zyl that, on the grounds that it involves an inappropriate commodification and alienation of women's labour, commercial surrogate motherhood (CSM) is morally suspect are discussed and considered to be defective. In addition, doubt is cast on the notion that CSM should be illegal. PMID:9451602

  1. Alternative Fuels Data Center: Renzenberger Inc Saves Money With Propane

    Science.gov Websites

    Vans Renzenberger Inc Saves Money With Propane Vans to someone by E-mail Share Alternative Fuels Data Center: Renzenberger Inc Saves Money With Propane Vans on Facebook Tweet about Alternative Fuels Data Center: Renzenberger Inc Saves Money With Propane Vans on Twitter Bookmark Alternative Fuels

  2. 77 FR 44683 - Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation, IZOD Dress Furnishings Division, New York, NY; Notice of...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-07-30

    ... for Reconsideration for the workers and former workers of Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation, IZOD Women... Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation, IZOD Women's Wholesale Division, New York, New York has not increased. In... Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation, IZOD Women's Wholesale Division, New York, New York) was incorrect, that...

  3. 15 CFR 30.26 - Reporting of vessels, aircraft, cargo vans, and other carriers and containers.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... vehicles, trailers, pallets, cargo vans, lift vans, or similar shipping containers are not considered... 15 Commerce and Foreign Trade 1 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Reporting of vessels, aircraft, cargo vans, and other carriers and containers. 30.26 Section 30.26 Commerce and Foreign Trade Regulations...

  4. 15 CFR 30.26 - Reporting of vessels, aircraft, cargo vans, and other carriers and containers.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... vehicles, trailers, pallets, cargo vans, lift vans, or similar shipping containers are not considered... 15 Commerce and Foreign Trade 1 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Reporting of vessels, aircraft, cargo vans, and other carriers and containers. 30.26 Section 30.26 Commerce and Foreign Trade Regulations...

  5. 15 CFR 30.26 - Reporting of vessels, aircraft, cargo vans, and other carriers and containers.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... vehicles, trailers, pallets, cargo vans, lift vans, or similar shipping containers are not considered... 15 Commerce and Foreign Trade 1 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Reporting of vessels, aircraft, cargo vans, and other carriers and containers. 30.26 Section 30.26 Commerce and Foreign Trade Regulations...

  6. 15 CFR 30.26 - Reporting of vessels, aircraft, cargo vans, and other carriers and containers.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... vehicles, trailers, pallets, cargo vans, lift vans, or similar shipping containers are not considered... 15 Commerce and Foreign Trade 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Reporting of vessels, aircraft, cargo vans, and other carriers and containers. 30.26 Section 30.26 Commerce and Foreign Trade Regulations...

  7. 15 CFR 30.26 - Reporting of vessels, aircraft, cargo vans, and other carriers and containers.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... vehicles, trailers, pallets, cargo vans, lift vans, or similar shipping containers are not considered... 15 Commerce and Foreign Trade 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Reporting of vessels, aircraft, cargo vans, and other carriers and containers. 30.26 Section 30.26 Commerce and Foreign Trade Regulations...

  8. Probing the binding of phenolic aldehyde vanillin with bovine serum albumin: Evidence from spectroscopic and docking approach.

    PubMed

    Siddiqui, Gufran Ahmed; Siddiqi, Mohammad Khursheed; Khan, Rizwan Hasan; Naeem, Aabgeena

    2018-05-08

    The interactions of bovine serum albumin (BSA) with vanillin (VAN) were studied using UV-vis absorption, fluorescence, synchronous fluorescence, three dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy (3D), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), circular dichroism (CD), and molecular docking techniques. The results revealed that VAN causes the static quenching of BSA by forming BSA-VAN complex. The thermodynamic parameters obtained using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) showed that the interaction between BSA and VAN is spontaneous and hydrogen bonding, van der Waals forces are mainly involved in stabilizing the complex. The distance between the donor and the acceptor was analyzed using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) which showed Forster distance of 2.58 nm. Molecular docking technique was applied to study the modes of interaction between BSA-VAN system and it was found that VAN bound to the sub-domain IIA of BSA. Structural analysis using 3D, synchronous fluorescence FTIR, and CD showed that upon binding of VAN, BSA exhibits small micro-environmental changes around tryptophan amino acid residue. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  9. Transcriptional Analysis of the vanC Cluster from Enterococcus gallinarum Strains with Constitutive and Inducible Vancomycin Resistance

    PubMed Central

    Panesso, Diana; Abadía-Patiño, Lorena; Vanegas, Natasha; Reynolds, Peter E.; Courvalin, Patrice; Arias, Cesar A.

    2005-01-01

    The vanC glycopeptide resistance gene cluster encodes enzymes required for synthesis of peptidoglycan precursors ending in d-Ala-d-Ser. Enterococcus gallinarum BM4174 and SC1 are constitutively and inducibly resistant to vancomycin, respectively. Analysis of peptidoglycan precursors in both strains indicated that UDP-MurNAc-tetrapeptide and UDP-MurNAc-pentapeptide[d-Ser] were synthesized in E. gallinarum SC1 only in the presence of vancomycin (4 μg/ml), whereas the “resistance” precursors accumulated in the cytoplasm of BM4174 cells under both inducing and noninducing conditions. Northern hybridization and reverse transcription-PCR experiments revealed that all the genes from the cluster, vanC-1, vanXYC, vanT, vanRC, and vanSC, were transcribed from a single promoter. In the inducible SC1 isolate, transcriptional regulation appeared to be responsible for inducible expression of resistance. Promoter mapping in E. gallinarum BM4174 revealed that the transcriptional start site was located 30 nucleotides upstream from vanC-1 and that the −10 promoter consensus sequence had high identity with that of the vanA cluster. Comparison of the deduced sequence of the vanSC genes from isolates with constitutive and inducible resistance revealed several amino acid substitutions located in the X box (R200L) and in the region between the F and G2 boxes (D312N, D312A, and G320S) of the putative sensor kinase proteins from isolates with constitutive resistance. PMID:15728903

  10. Heterologous expression of glycopeptide resistance vanHAX gene clusters from soil bacteria in Enterococcus faecalis.

    PubMed

    Hasman, Henrik; Aarestrup, Frank M; Dalsgaard, Anders; Guardabassi, Luca

    2006-04-01

    The aim of the study was to determine whether glycopeptide resistance gene clusters from soil bacteria could be heterologously expressed in Enterococcus faecalis and adapt to the new host following exposure to vancomycin. The vanHAX clusters from Paenibacillus thiaminolyticus PT-2B1, Paenibacillus apiarius PA-B2B and Amycolatopsis coloradensis DSM 44225 were separately cloned in an appropriately constructed shuttle vector containing the two-component regulatory system (vanRS) of Tn1546. The complete vanA(PT) operon (vanRSHAXY) from P. thiaminolyticus PT-2B1 was cloned in the same shuttle vector lacking enterococcal vanRS. All plasmid constructs were electroporated into E. faecalis JH2-2 and the MICs of vancomycin and teicoplanin were determined for each recombinant strain before and following exposure to sublethal concentrations of vancomycin. The vanHAX clusters from P. thiaminolyticus and P. apiarius conferred high-level vancomycin resistance (MIC > or = 125 mg/L) in E. faecalis JH2-2. In contrast, cloning of the vanHAX cluster from A. coloradensis did not result in a significant increase of vancomycin resistance (MIC = 0.7 mg/L). Resistance to vancomycin was not observed after cloning the complete vanA(PT) operon from P. thiaminolyticus (MIC = 2 mg/L), but this recombinant rapidly adapted to high concentrations of vancomycin (MIC = 500 mg/L) following exposure to sub-lethal concentrations of this antibiotic. The results showed that vanA(PT) in P. thiaminolyticus is a possible ancestor of vanA-mediated glycopeptide resistance in enterococci. Experimental evidence supported the hypothesis that enterococci did not acquire glycopeptide resistance directly from glycopeptide-producing organisms such as A. coloradensis.

  11. Comparison of Six Generic Vancomycin Products for Treatment of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Experimental Endocarditis in Rabbits

    PubMed Central

    Tattevin, P.; Saleh-Mghir, A.; Davido, B.; Ghout, I.; Massias, L.; Garcia de la Maria, C.; Miró, J. M.; Perronne, C.; Laurent, F.

    2013-01-01

    Concerns have recently emerged about the potency and the quality of generic vancomycin (VAN) products approved for use in humans, based on experiments in a neutropenic mouse thigh infection model. However, other animal models may be more appropriate to decipher the bactericidal activities of VAN generics in vivo and to predict their efficacy in humans. We aimed to compare the bactericidal activities of six generic VAN products currently used in France (Mylan and Sandoz), Spain (Hospira), Switzerland (Teva), and the United States (Akorn-Strides and American Pharmaceutical Products [APP]) in a rabbit model of aortic valve endocarditis induced by 8 × 107 CFU of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain COL (VAN MIC, 1.5 μg/ml). In vitro, there were no significant differences in the time-kill curve studies performed with the six generic VAN products. Ten rabbits in each group were treated with intravenous (i.v.) VAN, 60 mg/kg of body weight twice a day (b.i.d.) for 4 days. Mean peak serum VAN levels, measured 45 min after the last injection, ranged from 35.5 (APP) to 45.9 μg/ml (Teva). Mean trough serum VAN levels, measured 12 h after the last injection, ranged from 2.3 (Hospira) to 9.2 (APP) μg/ml. All generic VAN products were superior to controls (no treatment) in terms of residual organisms in vegetations (P < 0.02 for each comparison) and in the spleen (P < 0.005 for each comparison). Pairwise comparisons of generic VAN products found no significant differences. In conclusion, a stringent MRSA endocarditis model found no significant differences in the bactericidal activities of six generic VAN products currently used in Europe and America. PMID:23254435

  12. New taxa, including three new genera show uniqueness of Neotropical Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera)

    PubMed Central

    van Nieukerken, Erik J.; Doorenweerd, Camiel; Nishida, Kenji; Snyers, Chris

    2016-01-01

    Abstract After finding distinct clades in a molecular phylogeny for Nepticulidae that could not be placed in any known genera and discovering clear apomorphic characters that define these clades, as well as a number of Neotropical species that could be placed in known genera but were undescribed, three new genera and nine new species are here described from the Neotropics: Stigmella gallicola van Nieukerken & Nishida, sp. n. reared from galls on Hampea appendiculata (Malvaceae) in Costa Rica, representing the first example of a gall making Stigmella; Stigmella schinivora van Nieukerken, sp. n. reared from leafmines on Schinus terebinthifolia (Anacardiaceae) in Argentina, Misiones; Stigmella costaricensis van Nieukerken & Nishida, sp. n. and Stigmella intronia van Nieukerken & Nishida, sp. n. each from a single specimen collected the same night in Costa Rica, Parque Nacional Chirripó; Stigmella molinensis van Nieukerken & Snyers, sp. n. reared from leafmines on Salix humboldtiana, Peru, Lima, the first Neotropical species of the Stigmella salicis group sensu stricto; Ozadelpha van Nieukerken, gen. n. with type species Ozadelpha conostegiae van Nieukerken & Nishida, sp. n., reared from leafmines on Conostegia oerstediana (Melastomataceae) from Costa Rica; Neotrifurcula van Nieukerken, gen. n. with type species Neotrifurcula gielisorum van Nieukerken, sp. n. from Chile; Hesperolyra van Nieukerken, gen. n.. with type species Fomoria diskusi Puplesis & Robinson, 2000; Hesperolyra saopaulensis van Nieukerken, sp. n., reared from an unidentified Myrtaceae, Sao Paulo, Brasil; and Acalyptris janzeni van Nieukerken & Nishida, sp. n. from Costa Rica, Guanacaste. Five new combinations are made: Ozadelpha ovata (Puplesis & Robinson, 2000), comb. n. and Ozadelpha guajavae (Puplesis & Diškus, 2002), comb. n., Hesperolyra diskusi (Puplesis & Robinson, 2000), comb. n., Hesperolyra molybditis (Zeller, 1877), comb. n. and Hesperolyra repanda (Puplesis & Diškus, 2002), comb. n. Three specimens are briefly described, but left unnamed: Ozadelpha specimen EvN4680, Neotrifurcula specimen EvN4504 and Neotrifurcula specimen RH2. PMID:27917037

  13. Vancomycin resistant Enterococcus spp. from crows and their environment in metropolitan Washington State, USA: Is there a correlation between VRE positive crows and the environment?

    PubMed

    Roberts, Marilyn C; No, David B; Marzluff, John M; Delap, Jack H; Turner, Robert

    2016-10-15

    Vancomycin-resistant enterococci [VRE] have been isolated from municipal, hospital and agricultural wastewater, recreational beaches, wild animals, birds and food animals around the world. In this study, American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) from sewage treatment plants (WWTP), dairy farms, and a large roost in a restored wetland with corresponding environmental samples were cultured for VRE. A total of 245 samples [156 crows, 89 environmental] were collected and screened for acquired vanA, vanB and/or intrinsic vanC1 genes. Samples were enriched overnight in BHI supplemented with 20μg/mL aztreonam, 4μg/mL vancomycin and plated on m-Enterococcus agar media supplemented with 6μg/mL vancomycin. Selected colonies were grown on BHI media supplemented with 18μg/mL vancomycin. Of these, 24.5% of the crow and 55% the environmental/cow samples were VRE positive as defined by Enterococcus spp. able to grow on media supplemented with 18μg/mL vancomycin. A total of 122 VRE isolates, 43 crow and 79 environmental isolates were screened, identified to species level using 16S sequencing and further characterized. Four vanA E. faecium and multiple vanC1 E. gallinarum were identified from crows isolated from three sites. E. faecium vanA and E. gallinarum vanC1 along with other Enterococcus spp. carrying vanA, vanB, vanC1 were isolated from three environments. All enterococci were multidrug resistant. Crows were more likely to carry vanA E. faecium than either the cow feces or wetland waters/soils. Comparing E. gallinarum vanC1 from crows and their environment would be useful in determining whether crows share VRE strains with their environment. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  14. Computer Simulation of the Effect of Pretreatment with Reversible Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors on the Protection Against Soman Poisoning

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1993-12-01

    dr. U.A. Th. Brinkmnan 31* Directeur van het Medisch Biologisch Laboratorium TNO Prof. dr. W.R.F. Notten 32 PML-TNO, Directeur; daarna reserve 33 PML...Generaal Personeel Ministerie van Defensie 8* Adviseur van het Prins Maurits Laboratorium TNO Chemnische Research Prof. dr. G. Dijkstra 9* lid van de

  15. Alternative Fuels Data Center: Natural Gas Delivery Vans Support McShan

    Science.gov Websites

    FloristA> Natural Gas Delivery Vans Support McShan Florist to someone by E-mail Share Alternative Natural Gas Delivery Vans Support McShan Florist Watch how a Dallas, Texas, florist reduces emissions and saves money fueling delivery vans with compressed natural gas. For information about this project

  16. Waardering en Analyse van Simulatieresultaten (Valuation and Analysis of Simulation Results)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1991-12-01

    is uit de tabel van de Students T-verdeling te halen . Deze wordt aangeduid met t,(v), waarin a de overschrijdingskans en v bet aantal vrijheidsgraden...2 vrijheidsgraden. Uit de tabol van de Student’s t-verdeling zija nu de kritieke waardon R, on R2 to halen zodanig dat P(t >R2 ) = i Wordt or eon...analyse van simnulatieresultaten - TDCnaK RAPPORTE1CENTRALE Frederikkazerne, Geb. 140 AD-A25 470van den Burchlaan 31AD-A25 470Telefoon: 070-3166394

  17. Novel type of VanB2 teicoplanin-resistant hospital-associated Enterococcus faecium.

    PubMed

    Santona, Antonella; Paglietti, Bianca; Al-Qahtani, Ahmed A; Bohol, Marie Fe F; Senok, Abiola; Deligios, Massimo; Rubino, Salvatore; Al-Ahdal, Mohammed N

    2014-08-01

    Seven high-risk clones of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREF) belonging to clonal complex 17 were identified using multilocus sequence typing (MLST) among clinical isolates from Saudi Arabia. Among these isolates, a new hospital-associated sequence type (ST795), VanB(2)-type teicoplanin-resistant strain was detected. Its unusual phenotype resulted from a new combination of mutations in the ddl, vanS and vanW genes, which confirmed the trend of evolution in VanB-type resistance. Furthermore, characteristics of adaptation and persistence in the hospital environment of ST795 were emphasised by the presence of genes and clusters recognised to be specific for hospital-associated VREF. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. and the International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.

  18. UPS Hydraulic Hybrid Delivery Van Testing | Transportation Research | NREL

    Science.gov Websites

    , use, fuel economy, reliability, and other vehicle performance data. The in-lab portion involves dynamometer evaluation at NREL's Renewable Fuels and Lubricants Laboratory to determine the fuel economy and Hydraulic Hybrid and Conventional Parcel Delivery Vehicles' Measured Laboratory Fuel Economy on Targeted

  19. Serving the Needs of Various Groups of Stakeholders.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Geva-May, Iris; Peretz, Hannah

    1991-01-01

    The extent to which evaluation results answer different stakeholders' needs was explored in the evaluation of a business English course at Van Leer Institute for the Development of Executive Assistants in Tel-Aviv (Israel), using diagnostic tests. Students (n=52), teachers, curriculum team, and administrators could use the evaluation results. (SLD)

  20. Macro-Invertebrate Decline in Surface Water Polluted with Imidacloprid: A Rebuttal and Some New Analyses

    PubMed Central

    Vijver, Martina G.; van den Brink, Paul J.

    2014-01-01

    Imidacloprid, the largest selling insecticide in the world, has received particular attention from scientists, policymakers and industries due to its potential toxicity to bees and aquatic organisms. The decline of aquatic macro-invertebrates due to imidacloprid concentrations in the Dutch surface waters was hypothesised in a recent paper by Van Dijk, Van Staalduinen and Van der Sluijs (PLOS ONE, May 2013). Although we do not disagree with imidacloprid's inherent toxicity to aquatic organisms, we have fundamental concerns regarding the way the data were analysed and interpreted. Here, we demonstrate that the underlying toxicity of imidacloprid in the field situation cannot be understood except in the context of other co-occurring pesticides. Although we agree with Van Dijk and co-workers that effects of imidacloprid can emerge between 13 and 67 ng/L we use a different line of evidence. We present an alternative approach to link imidacloprid concentrations and biological data. We analysed the national set of chemical monitoring data of the year 2009 to estimate the relative contribution of imidacloprid compared to other pesticides in relation to environmental quality target and chronic ecotoxicity threshold exceedances. Moreover, we assessed the relative impact of imidacloprid on the pesticide-induced potential affected fractions of the aquatic communities. We conclude that by choosing to test a starting hypothesis using insufficient data on chemistry and biology that are difficult to link, and by ignoring potential collinear effects of other pesticides present in Dutch surface waters Van Dijk and co-workers do not provide direct evidence that reduced taxon richness and abundance of macroinvertebrates can be attributed to the presence of imidacloprid only. Using a different line of evidence we expect ecological effects of imidacloprid at some of the exposure profiles measured in 2009 in the surface waters of the Netherlands. PMID:24587069

  1. Optimizing Protein-Protein van der Waals Interactions for the AMBER ff9x/ff12 Force Field.

    PubMed

    Chapman, Dail E; Steck, Jonathan K; Nerenberg, Paul S

    2014-01-14

    The quality of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations relies heavily on the accuracy of the underlying force field. In recent years, considerable effort has been put into developing more accurate dihedral angle potentials for MD force fields, but relatively little work has focused on the nonbonded parameters, many of which are two decades old. In this work, we assess the accuracy of protein-protein van der Waals interactions in the AMBER ff9x/ff12 force field. Across a test set of 44 neat organic liquids containing the moieties present in proteins, we find root-mean-square (RMS) errors of 1.26 kcal/mol in enthalpy of vaporization and 0.36 g/cm(3) in liquid densities. We then optimize the van der Waals radii and well depths for all of the relevant atom types using these observables, which lowers the RMS errors in enthalpy of vaporization and liquid density of our validation set to 0.59 kcal/mol (53% reduction) and 0.019 g/cm(3) (46% reduction), respectively. Limitations in our parameter optimization were evident for certain atom types, however, and we discuss the implications of these observations for future force field development.

  2. The physics behind Van der Burgh's empirical equation, providing a new predictive equation for salinity intrusion in estuaries

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Zhilin; Savenije, Hubert H. G.

    2017-07-01

    The practical value of the surprisingly simple Van der Burgh equation in predicting saline water intrusion in alluvial estuaries is well documented, but the physical foundation of the equation is still weak. In this paper we provide a connection between the empirical equation and the theoretical literature, leading to a theoretical range of Van der Burgh's coefficient of 1/2 < K < 2/3 for density-driven mixing which falls within the feasible range of 0 < K < 1. In addition, we developed a one-dimensional predictive equation for the dispersion of salinity as a function of local hydraulic parameters that can vary along the estuary axis, including mixing due to tide-driven residual circulation. This type of mixing is relevant in the wider part of alluvial estuaries where preferential ebb and flood channels appear. Subsequently, this dispersion equation is combined with the salt balance equation to obtain a new predictive analytical equation for the longitudinal salinity distribution. Finally, the new equation was tested and applied to a large database of observations in alluvial estuaries, whereby the calibrated K values appeared to correspond well to the theoretical range.

  3. In Vivo Fluorescence Confocal Microscopy to Investigate the Role of RhoC in Inflammatory Breast Cancer

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2005-11-01

    5084. 6. Colpaert CG, Vermeulen PB, Benoy I, Soubry A, van Roy F, van Beest P, Goovaerts G, Dirix LY, van Dam P, Fox SB, Harris AL, van MarckEA...small GTPases, RhoA and RhoC, is associ- inflammatory breast cancer. Clin Exp Metastasis 2002, ated with tumor progression in ovarian carcinoma. Lab

  4. Design and mechanistic study of a novel gold nanocluster-based drug delivery system.

    PubMed

    Li, Qinzhen; Pan, Yiting; Chen, Tiankai; Du, Yuanxin; Ge, Honghua; Zhang, Buchang; Xie, Jianping; Yu, Haizhu; Zhu, Manzhou

    2018-05-22

    Chemically-triggered drug delivery systems (DDSs) have been extensively studied as they do not require specialized equipment to deliver the drug and can deeply penetrate human tissue. However, their syntheses are complicated and they tend to be cytotoxic, which restricts their clinical utility. In this work, the self-regulated drug loading and release capabilities of peptide-protected gold nanoclusters (Pep-Au NCs) are investigated using vancomycin (Van) as the model drug. Gold nanoclusters (Au NCs) coated with a custom-designed pentapeptide are synthesized as drug delivery nanocarriers and loaded with Van - a spontaneous process reliant on the specific binding between Van and the custom-designed peptide. The Van-loaded Au NCs show comparable antimicrobial activity with Van on its own, and the number of Van released by the Pep-Au NCs is found to be proportional to the amount of bacteria present. The controlled nature of the Van release is very encouraging, and predominantly due to the stronger binding affinity of Van with bacteria than that with Au NCs. In addition, these fluorescent Au NCs could also be used to construct temperature sensors, which enable the in vitro and in vivo bioimaging.

  5. Vanilla mosaic virus isolates from French Polynesia and the Cook Islands are Dasheen mosaic virus strains that exclusively infect vanilla.

    PubMed

    Farreyrol, K; Pearson, M N; Grisoni, M; Cohen, D; Beck, D

    2006-05-01

    Sequence was determined for the coat protein (CP) gene and 3' non-translated region (3'NTR) of two vanilla mosaic virus (VanMV) isolates from Vanilla tahitensis, respectively from the Cook Islands (VanMV-CI) and French Polynesia (VanMV-FP). Both viruses displayed distinctive features in the N-terminal region of their CPs; for VanMV-CI, a 16-amino-acid deletion including the aphid transmission-related DAG motif, and for VanMV-FP, a stretch of GTN repeats that putatively belongs to the class of natively unfolded proteins. VanMV-FP CP also has a novel DVG motif in place of the DAG motif, and an uncommon Q//V protease cleavage site. The sequences were compared to a range of Dasheen mosaic virus (DsMV) strains and to potyviruses infecting orchids. Identity was low to DsMV strains across the entire CP coding region and across the 3'NTR, but high across the CP core and the CI-6K2-NIa region. In accordance with current ICTV criteria for species demarcation within the family Potyviridae, VanMV-CI and VanMV-FP are strains of DsMV that exclusively infect vanilla.

  6. Micro-Bubble Experiments at the Van de Graaff Accelerator

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

    Sun, Z. J.; Wardle, Kent E.; Quigley, K. J.

    In order to test and verify the experimental designs at the linear accelerator (LINAC), several micro-scale bubble ("micro-bubble") experiments were conducted with the 3-MeV Van de Graaff (VDG) electron accelerator. The experimental setups included a square quartz tube, sodium bisulfate solution with different concentrations, cooling coils, gas chromatography (GC) system, raster magnets, and two high-resolution cameras that were controlled by a LabVIEW program. Different beam currents were applied in the VDG irradiation. Bubble generation (radiolysis), thermal expansion, thermal convection, and radiation damage were observed in the experiments. Photographs, videos, and gas formation (O 2 + H 2) data were collected.more » The micro-bubble experiments at VDG indicate that the design of the full-scale bubble experiments at the LINAC is reasonable.« less

  7. Van der waals forces on thin liquid films in capillary tubes

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

    Herdt, G.C.; Swanson, L.W.

    1993-10-01

    A theory of the van der Waals attraction between a thin liquid films and a capillary tube is presented assuming the presence of a vapor-liquid interface. The model is based on the surface mode analysis method of van Kampen et al. Values for the van der Waals interaction energy per unit area were calculated for liquid films of pentane on a gold substrate assuming a thin liquid film. Results indicate that the effect of capillary curvature on the van der Waals interaction increases as the ratio of the liquid film thickness to the capillary radius is increased. This trend ismore » consistent with predictions based on the Hamaker theory. Deviations from results based on the Hamaker theory are easily explained in terms of retardation of the van der Waals interaction. Because the effect of capillary curvature increases in the regime where retardation effects become important, curvature effects constitute a small correction to the van der Waals forces in a capillary tube.« less

  8. First complete genome sequence of vanilla mosaic strain of Dasheen mosaic virus isolated from the Cook Islands.

    PubMed

    Puli'uvea, Christopher; Khan, Subuhi; Chang, Wee-Leong; Valmonte, Gardette; Pearson, Michael N; Higgins, Colleen M

    2017-02-01

    We present the first complete genome of vanilla mosaic virus (VanMV). The VanMV genomic structure is consistent with that of a potyvirus, containing a single open reading frame (ORF) encoding a polyprotein of 3139 amino acids. Motif analyses indicate the polyprotein can be cleaved into the expected ten individual proteins; other recognised potyvirus motifs are also present. As expected, the VanMV genome shows high sequence similarity to the published Dasheen mosaic virus (DsMV) genome sequences; comparisons with DsMV continue to support VanMV as a vanilla infecting strain of DsMV. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that VanMV and DsMV share a common ancestor, with VanMV having the closest relationship with DsMV strains from the South Pacific.

  9. Abstracts of Papers Submitted in 1975 for Publication,

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1975-01-01

    Supported by NSF Grant GA-35393) Temporal Adaptations in Sibling Species of Capitetla . .B-20 J. Frederick Grassle, Judith P. Grassle, Rudolph S. Sheltema...Charlene D. Van Raalte and Edward J. Carpenter (Supported by NSF Grant GA-43008) Physiological Adaptations of Marsh Animals to a Hydrocarbon-Polluted Envi...therapy prior to hospitalization did not vitiate the validity of the test. A bedside adaptation of the limulus test, performed by house officers and

  10. Behavioral Responses to DDT and Pyrethroids Between Anopheles Minimus Species A and C Malaria Vectors in Thailand

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2005-01-01

    and lambdacyhalothrin in contact and noncontact trials* Condition Population Chemical (No. of tests) Number escaped (%) % mortality Escaped Remained...bioassays. Figures 2–5 show the proportions of mosquitoes remaining in the exposure and control chambers under different test conditions and chemical...minimus. Genetica 82: 63–72. 33. van Bortel W, Trung HD, Roelants P, Harbach RE, Backeljau T, Coosemans M, 2000. Molecular identification of Anopheles

  11. Experimental Test of Nonclassicality for a Single Particle

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-08-01

    photon Greenberger -Horne-Zeilinger entanglement,” Nature 403, 515-519 (2000). 15. G. Brida, M. Genovese, C. Novero, and E. Predazzi, “New experimental...33, 34]) and its ability to show that some quantum states in a two dimensional Hilbert space cannot be classical. We note that because this is a...dimensional Hilbert space and a physical implementation of that test. Appendix A necessary requirement for a convincingly realizing the Alicki-Van Ryn’s

  12. Design and Analysis of Chronic Aquatic Tests of Toxicity with Daphnia magna.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1981-12-01

    surface waters. From that need evolved numerous standard toxicity tests. Aquatic toxicologists and biologists developed, refine,, and standard- ized many...experimental categorization summary sheets prepared by Dr. William van der Schalie, which is shown in Table I.I. 7 j-. " .’?, i...partial solution to this dilema can be obtained by studying the effects of the solvent alone. If the solvent by itself produces no toxic responses at

  13. Identification of VanN-type vancomycin resistance in an Enterococcus faecium isolate from chicken meat in Japan.

    PubMed

    Nomura, Takahiro; Tanimoto, Koichi; Shibayama, Keigo; Arakawa, Yoshichika; Fujimoto, Shuhei; Ike, Yasuyoshi; Tomita, Haruyoshi

    2012-12-01

    Five VanN-type vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium strains were isolated from a sample of domestic chicken meat in Japan. All isolates showed low-level resistance to vancomycin (MIC, 12 mg/liter) and had the same pulsed-field gel electrophoresis profile. The vancomycin resistance was encoded on a large plasmid (160 kbp) and was expressed constitutively. The VanN-type resistance operon was identical to the first resistance operon to be reported, with the exception of a 1-bp deletion in vanT(N) and a 1-bp substitution in vanS(N).

  14. Review of Gasteruption Latreille (Hymenoptera, Gasteruptiidae) from Iran and Turkey, with the description of 15 new species

    PubMed Central

    van Achterberg, Cornelis; Talebi, Ali Asghar

    2014-01-01

    Abstract The genus Gasteruption Latreille, 1796 (Hymenoptera: Evanioidea: Gasteruptiidae: Gasteruptiinae) from North Iran and Turkey is revised, keyed and fully illustrated for the first time. In total 36 species are treated of which 33 are recorded from Turkey and 23 from Iran. Fifteen species are new for science: Gasteruption aciculatum van Achterberg, sp. n., Gasteruption agrenum van Achterberg, sp. n., Gasteruption brevibasale van Achterberg & Saure, sp. n., Gasteruption coriacoxale van Achterberg, sp. n., Gasteruption flavimarginatum van Achterberg, sp. n., Gasteruption heminitidum van Achterberg, sp. n., Gasteruption henseni van Achterberg, sp. n., Gasteruption ischnolaimum van Achterberg, sp. n., Gasteruption nigrapiculatum van Achterberg, sp. n., Gasteruption paglianoi van Achterberg & Saure, sp. n., Gasteruption pseudolaticeps van Achterberg, sp. n., Gasteruption punctifrons van Achterberg, sp. n., Gasteruption schmideggeri van Achterberg & Saure, sp. n., Gasteruption scorteum van Achterberg, sp. n. and Gasteruption smitorum van Achterberg, sp. n. Twenty-one species are reported new for Turkey and 16 species new for Iran. Fifteen new synonyms are proposed: Foenus terrestris Tournier, 1877, Gasteruption trifossulatum Kieffer, 1904, and Gasteruption ignoratum Kieffer, 1912, of Gasteruption caucasicum (Guérin-Méneville, 1844); Gasteruption daisyi Alekseev, 1993, of Gasteruption dolichoderum Schletterer, 1889; Gasteruption assectator var. nitidulum Schletterer, 1885, of Gasteruption freyi (Tournier, 1877); Gasteruption schossmannae Madl, 1987, of Gasteruption hastator (Fabricius, 1804); Gasteryption fallaciosum Semenov, 1892, Gasteruption dubiosum Semenov, 1892 and Gasteruption obsoletum Semenov, 1892, of Gasteruption insidiosum Semenov, 1892; Gasteryption schewyrewi Semenov, 1892, of Gasteruption jaculator (Linnaeus, 1758); Gasteruption floreum Szépligeti, 1903, of Gasteruption lugubre Schletterer, 1889; Gasteruption trichotomma Kieffer, 1904, and Gasteruption palaestinum Pic, 1916, of Gasteruption merceti Kieffer, 1904; Gasteryption foveiceps Semenov, 1892, of Gasteruption nigrescens Schletterer, 1885, and Gasteruption libanense Pic, 1916, of Gasteruption syriacum Szépligeti, 1903. Gasteruption lugubre Schletterer, 1889, is recognised as a valid species. Lectotypes are designated for Ichneumon assectator Linnaeus, 1758; Ichneumon jaculator Linnaeus, 1758; Foenus terrestris Tournier, 1877; Foenus freyi Tournier, 1877; Foenus nigripes Tournier, 1877; Foenus goberti Tournier, 1877; Foenus granulithorax Tournier, 1877; Foenus minutus Tournier, 1877; Foenus borealis Thomson, 1883; Faenus diversipes Abeille de Perrin, 1879; Foenus rugulosus Abeille de Perrin, 1879; Faenus obliteratus Abeille de Perrin, 1879; Faenus undulatum Abeille de Perrin, 1879; Faenus variolosus Abeille de Perrin, 1879; Gasteruption distinguendum Schletterer, 1885; Gasteruption laeviceps Schletterer, 1885; Gasteruption thomsonii Schletterer, 1885; Gasteruption foveolatum Schletterer, 1889; Gasteruption sowae Schletterer, 1901; Gasteruption foveolum Szépligeti, 1903; Gasteruption floreum Szépligeti, 1903; Gasteruption caudatum Szépligeti, 1903; Gasteruption syriacum Szépligeti, 1903; Gasteruption merceti Kieffer, 1904 and Gasteruption ignoratum Kieffer, 1912. A neotype is designated for Gasteruption tournieri Schletterer, 1885. PMID:25561849

  15. Fitness costs of various mobile genetic elements in Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis

    PubMed Central

    Starikova, Irina; Al-Haroni, Mohammed; Werner, Guido; Roberts, Adam P.; Sørum, Vidar; Nielsen, Kaare M.; Johnsen, Pål J.

    2013-01-01

    Objectives To determine the fitness effects of various mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis when newly acquired. We also tested the hypothesis that the biological cost of vancomycin resistance plasmids could be mitigated during continuous growth in the laboratory. Methods Different MGEs, including two conjugative transposons (CTns) of the Tn916 family (18 and 33 kb), a pathogenicity island (PAI) of 200 kb and vancomycin-resistance (vanA) plasmids (80–200 kb) of various origins and classes, were transferred into common ancestral E. faecium and E. faecalis strains by conjugation assays and experimentally evolved (vanA plasmids only). Transconjugants were characterized by PFGE, S1 nuclease assays and Southern blotting hybridization analyses. Single specific primer PCR was performed to determine the target sites for the insertion of the CTns. The fitness costs of various MGEs in E. faecium and E. faecalis were estimated in head-to-head competition experiments, and evolved populations were generated in serial transfer assays. Results The biological cost of a newly acquired PAI and two CTns were both host- and insertion-locus-dependent. Newly acquired vanA plasmids may severely reduce host fitness (25%–27%), but these costs were rapidly mitigated after only 400 generations of continuous growth in the absence of antibiotic selection. Conclusions Newly acquired MGEs may impose an immediate biological cost in E. faecium. However, as demonstrated for vanA plasmids, the initial costs of MGE carriage may be mitigated during growth and beneficial plasmid–host association can rapidly emerge. PMID:23833178

  16. Characterization of Tn1546 in vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium isolated from canine urinary tract infections: evidence of gene exchange between human and animal enterococci.

    PubMed

    Simjee, S; White, D G; McDermott, P F; Wagner, D D; Zervos, M J; Donabedian, S M; English, L L; Hayes, J R; Walker, R D

    2002-12-01

    Thirty-five enterococcal isolates were recovered from dogs diagnosed with urinary tract infections at the Michigan State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital over a 2-year period (1996 to 1998). Isolated species included Enterococcus faecium (n = 13), Enterococcus faecalis (n = 7), Enterococcus gallinarum (n = 11), and Enterococcus casseliflavus (n = 4). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed several different resistance phenotypes, with the majority of the enterococcal isolates exhibiting resistance to three or more antibiotics. One E. faecium isolate, CVM1869, displayed high-level resistance to vancomycin (MIC > 32 micro g/ml) and gentamicin (MIC > 2,048 micro g/ml). Molecular analysis of this isolate revealed the presence of Tn1546 (vanA), responsible for high-level vancomycin resistance, and Tn5281 carrying aac6'-aph2", conferring high-level aminoglycoside resistance. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis revealed that CVM1869 was a canine E. faecium clone that had acquired Tn1546, perhaps from a human vancomycin-resistant E. faecium. Transposons Tn5281 and Tn1546 were located on two different conjugative plasmids. Sequence analysis revealed that in Tn1546, ORF1 had an 889-bp deletion and an IS1216V insertion at the 5' end and an IS1251 insertion between vanS and vanH. To date, this particular form of Tn1546 has only been described in human clinical vancomycin-resistant enterococcus isolates unique to the United States. Additionally, this is the first report of a vancomycin-resistant E. faecium isolated from a companion animal in the United States.

  17. Revision of the family Chalcididae (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) from Vietnam, with the description of 13 new species

    PubMed Central

    Narendran, T. C.; van Achterberg, Cornelis

    2016-01-01

    Abstract A total of 16 genera and 68 species of Chalcididae of Vietnam are taxonomically treated. Thirteen new species are described; the remaining 55 species are keyed, redescribed or provided with a diagnosis. Among these 37 species and eleven genera are recorded for the first time from Vietnam. The thirteen new species are: Antrocephalus neogalleriae Narendran & van Achterberg, sp. n.; Brachymeria neowiebesina Narendran & van Achterberg, sp. n., Brachymeria semirusula Narendran & van Achterberg, sp. n., Dirhinus neoclaviger Narendran & van Achterberg, sp. n., Epitranus narendrani van Achterberg, sp. n., Epitranus neonigriceps Narendran & van Achterberg, sp. n., Heydoniella vietnamensis Narendran & van Achterberg, sp. n., Megachalcis vietnamicus Narendran & van Achterberg, sp. n., Notaspidium vietnamicum Narendran & van Achterberg, sp. n., Oxycoryphe neotenax Narendran & van Achterberg, sp. n., Sthulapada neopadata Narendran & van Achterberg, sp. n., Sthulapada vietnamensis Narendran & van Achterberg, sp. n., and Tanycoryphus masii Narendran & van Achterberg, sp. n. The newly recorded genera are: Antrocephalus Kirby, 1883; Haltichella Spinola, 1811; Heydoniella Narendran, 2003; Hockeria Walker, 1834; Kriechbaumerella Dalla Torre, 1894; Notaspidium Dalla Torre, 1897; Oxycoryphe Kriechbaumer, 1894; Psilochalcis Kieffer, 1904; Sthulapada Narendran, 1989; Tanycorphus Cameron, 1905, and Trigonura Sichel, 1865. The following known species are recorded for the first time from Vietnam: Antrocephalus decipiens (Masi, 1929); Antrocephalus lugubris (Masi, 1932); Antrocephalus maculipennis (Cameron, 1905); Antrocephalus nasutus (Holmgren, 1869); Antrocephalus sepyra (Walker, 1846); Antrocephalus validicornis (Holmgren, 1868); Brachymeria alternipes (Walker, 1871); Brachymeria aurea (Girault, 1915); Brachymeria coxodentata Joseph, Narendran & Joy, 1972; Brachymeria euploeae (Westwood, 1837); Brachymeria hime Habu, 1960; Brachymeria jambolana Gahan, 1942; Brachymeria kamijoi Habu, 1960; Brachymeria lugubris (Walker, 1871); Brachymeria marmonti (Girault, 1924); Brachymeria minuta (Linnaeus, 1767); Brachymeria scutellocarinata Joseph, Narendran & Joy, 1972; Brachymeria shansiensis Habu, 1961; Brachymeria taiwana (Matsumura, 1910); Dirhinus anthracia Walker, 1846; Dirhinus claviger Bouček & Narendran, 1981; Epitranus albipennis Walker, 1874; Epitranus ater Bouček, 1982; Epitranus gauldi Bouček, 1982; Epitranus oxytelus Bouček, 1982; Epitranus ramnathi (Mani & Dubey, 1973); Haltichella delhensis Roy & Farooqi, 1984; Haltichella nipponensis Habu, 1960; Hockeria bangalorica Narendran, 1989; Hockeria guptai Narendran, 1989; Kriechbaumerella ayyari (Gahan, 1919); Kriechbaumerella cordigaster Roy & Farooqi, 1984; Kriechbaumerella destructor (Waterston, 1922); Kriechbaumerella nepalensis Narendran, 1989; Oxycoryphe scutellatus Narendran, 1989; Psilochalcis carinigena (Cameron, 1907), and Trigonura luzonensis Narendran, 1987. Brachymeria calopeplae Joseph, Narendran & Joy, 1972, is treated as a valid species. PMID:27110185

  18. 78 FR 47817 - Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Application for an Exemption From Van Hool N...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-08-06

    ....V. and Coach USA AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of... exemption from Van Hool N.V. and Coach USA (Van Hool/Coach USA) to allow the use of double deck motorcoaches..., Van Hool/Coach USA is requesting an exemption that would allow the use of sleeper berths that comply...

  19. Alternating current impedance spectroscopic analysis of biofunctionalized vertically-aligned silica nanospring surface for biosensor applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Timalsina, Yukta P.

    In this dissertation, a process of vertically-aligned (silica) nanosprings (VANS) based biosensor development is presented. Alternating current (AC) impedance spectroscopy has been used to analyze sensor response as a function of saline phosphate (SP) buffer and biological solutions. The sensor is a parallel plate capacitor consisting of two glass substrates coated with indium tin oxide (ITO), where the VANS [or randomly-aligned nanosprings (RANS)] grown on one substrate serve as the dielectric spacer layer. The response of a VANS device as a function of ionic concentration in SP buffer was examined and an equivalent circuit model was developed. The results demonstrated that VANS sensors exhibited greater sensitivity to the changes in SP concentration relative to the ITO sensors, which serve as controls. The biofunctionalized VANS surface via physisorption and the cross-linker method demonstrates the repeatability, specificity, and selectivity of the binding. The physisorption of biotinylated immunoglobulin G (B-IgG) onto the VANS surface simplifies the whole sensing procedure for the detection of glucose oxidase, since the avidin-conjugated glucose oxidase (Av-GOx) can directly be immobilized on the B-IgG. The cross linker method involves the covalent attachment of antibodies onto the functionalized VANS surface via imine bond. The experiments revealed that the VANS sensor response is solely the result of the interaction of target molecule i.e. mouse IgG with the probe layer, i.e. goat antimouse IgG (GalphaM IgG). It was determined that VANS-based sensors exhibit a greater magnitude of change between successive bio-layers relative to the controls above 100 Hz, which indicates that the addition of biomolecules inhibits the diffusion of ions and changes the effective dielectric response of the VANS via biomolecular polarization. The study of ionic transport in nanosprings suggested that conductance follows a scaling law. It was demonstrated that a VANS-based device exhibits a greater magnitude of change relative to the RANS device below 10 kHz, which has equivalent property of the ITO controls. This dissertation demonstrates the potential for VANS as a novel nanomaterial platform for the development of highly sensitive, selective, low cost, and label free biosensors.

  20. Mathematical foundations of the dendritic growth models.

    PubMed

    Villacorta, José A; Castro, Jorge; Negredo, Pilar; Avendaño, Carlos

    2007-11-01

    At present two growth models describe successfully the distribution of size and topological complexity in populations of dendritic trees with considerable accuracy and simplicity, the BE model (Van Pelt et al. in J. Comp. Neurol. 387:325-340, 1997) and the S model (Van Pelt and Verwer in Bull. Math. Biol. 48:197-211, 1986). This paper discusses the mathematical basis of these models and analyzes quantitatively the relationship between the BE model and the S model assumed in the literature by developing a new explicit equation describing the BES model (a dendritic growth model integrating the features of both preceding models; Van Pelt et al. in J. Comp. Neurol. 387:325-340, 1997). In numerous studies it is implicitly presupposed that the S model is conditionally linked to the BE model (Granato and Van Pelt in Brain Res. Dev. Brain Res. 142:223-227, 2003; Uylings and Van Pelt in Network 13:397-414, 2002; Van Pelt, Dityatev and Uylings in J. Comp. Neurol. 387:325-340, 1997; Van Pelt and Schierwagen in Math. Biosci. 188:147-155, 2004; Van Pelt and Uylings in Network. 13:261-281, 2002; Van Pelt, Van Ooyen and Uylings in Modeling Dendritic Geometry and the Development of Nerve Connections, pp 179, 2000). In this paper we prove the non-exactness of this assumption, quantify involved errors and determine the conditions under which the BE and S models can be separately used instead of the BES model, which is more exact but considerably more difficult to apply. This study leads to a novel expression describing the BE model in an analytical closed form, much more efficient than the traditional iterative equation (Van Pelt et al. in J. Comp. Neurol. 387:325-340, 1997) in many neuronal classes. Finally we propose a new algorithm in order to obtain the values of the parameters of the BE model when this growth model is matched to experimental data, and discuss its advantages and improvements over the more commonly used procedures.

  1. Evaluation of risk factors for vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity.

    PubMed

    Park, So Jin; Lim, Na Ri; Park, Hyo Jung; Yang, Jae Wook; Kim, Min-Ji; Kim, Kyunga; In, Yong Won; Lee, Young Mee

    2018-05-09

    Background Vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibiotic of choice for the treatment of serious infections caused by multi-resistant Gram-positive bacteria. However, vancomycin-associated nephrotoxicity (VAN) often limits its use. Previous data suggested a few risk factors of VAN, including higher mean vancomycin trough level, higher daily doses, old age, long duration of vancomycin therapy, and concomitant nephrotoxins. Objective To evaluate the incidence and risk factors of VAN and determine whether higher vancomycin trough concentrations were associated with a greater risk for VAN. Settings A retrospective, observational, single-center study at the 1960-bed university-affiliated tertiary care hospital (Samsung Medical Center), Seoul, Korea. Method A retrospective analysis of adult patients who received vancomycin parenterally in a tertiary care medical center from March 1, 2013 to June 30, 2013 was performed. We excluded patients with a baseline serum creatinine level > 2 mg/dL and those who had a history of end-stage renal disease and dialysis at baseline. The clinical characteristics were compared between patients with nephrotoxicity and those without nephrotoxicity to identify the risk factors associated with VAN. Main outcome measure Incidence of VAN and VAN-associated risk factors were analyzed. Results Of the 315 vancomycin-treated patients, nephrotoxicity occurred in 15.2% of the patients. In multivariate analysis, higher vancomycin trough concentrations of > 20 mg∕L (OR 9.57, 95% CI 2.49-36.83, p < 0.01) and intensive care unit (ICU) residence (OR 2.86, 95% CI 1.41-5.82, p < 0.01) were independently associated with VAN. Conclusion Our findings suggest that higher vancomycin trough levels and ICU residence might be associated with a greater risk for VAN. More careful monitoring of vancomycin serum trough levels and patient status might facilitate the timely prevention of VAN.

  2. Genetics Home Reference: dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency

    MedlinePlus

    ... NG, Bakker HD, Meinsma R, Van Lenthe H, De Abreu RA, Smeitink JA, Kayserili H, Apak MY, ... 9. Review. Citation on PubMed van Kuilenburg AB, De Abreu RA, van Gennip AH. Pharmacogenetic and clinical ...

  3. Building Cultural Capability for Full-Spectrum Operations

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-01-01

    Mol, Born, Willemsen, & Van der Molen , 2005; Caligiuri & Day, 2000). In addition to these broad traits, antecedents to cross-cultural competence...510-517. 18 Mol, S. T., Born, M. P., Willemsen, M. E., & Van Der Molen , H. T. (2005). Predicting expatriate job performance for selection purposes: A...et al., 2003). In addition, self-regulation has been shown to be critical for adjustment (Matsumoto et al., 2003; van Oudenhoven, Mol, & Van der Zee

  4. Selective Perception for Robot Driving

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1992-05-01

    models are theories of human cognitive activity during driving. Van der Molen and Botticher recently reviewed several of these models [ van der Molen 871...how to represent driving knowledge, how to perceive traffic situations, or how to process information to obtain actions. Van der Molen and Botticher...attempted to compare the operations of various models objectively on the same task [Rothengatter 88, van der Molen 87], but the models could be

  5. Quality of Life for Adults with Asthma in a Military Setting

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1998-05-01

    Tilley, Havstead, & Zoratti, 1997). More recently, van der Molen , et al. (1997) conducted a study comparing discriminative aspects of two generic...Symptom Management Faculty Group, UCSF. (1994). IMAGE: Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 26(4), 272-276. van der Molen , T., Postma, D., Schreuers, A...the most important (Earwood, 1996, Rutten- Van Molken, Van Doorslaer, & Rutten, 1992). Purpose of the Study When patients clarify their perceptions of

  6. Rater Biases in Genetically Informative Research Designs: Comment on Bartels, Boomsma, Hudziak, van Beijsterveldt, and van den Oord (2007)

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hoyt, William T.

    2007-01-01

    Rater biases are of interest to behavior genetic researchers, who often use ratings data as a basis for studying heritability. Inclusion of multiple raters for each sibling pair (M. Bartels, D. I. Boomsma, J. J. Hudziak, T. C. E. M. van Beijsterveldt, & E. J. C. G. van den Oord, 2007) is a promising strategy for controlling bias variance and may…

  7. Application of Diffusion Monte Carlo to Materials Dominated by van der Waals Interactions

    DOE PAGES

    Benali, Anouar; Shulenburger, Luke; Romero, Nichols A.; ...

    2014-06-12

    Van der Waals forces are notoriously difficult to account for from first principles. We perform extensive calculation to assess the usefulness and validity of diffusion quantum Monte Carlo when applied to van der Waals forces. We present results for noble gas solids and clusters - archetypical van der Waals dominated assemblies, as well as a relevant pi-pi stacking supramolecular complex: DNA + intercalating anti-cancer drug Ellipticine.

  8. More Issues in Observed-Score Equating

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    van der Linden, Wim J.

    2013-01-01

    This article is a response to the commentaries on the position paper on observed-score equating by van der Linden (this issue). The response focuses on the more general issues in these commentaries, such as the nature of the observed scores that are equated, the importance of test-theory assumptions in equating, the necessity to use multiple…

  9. Speed and pressure recording in three-dimensional flow

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Krisam, F

    1932-01-01

    Van der Megge Zijnen's spherical Pitot tube with its 5 test holes insures a simultaneous record of static pressure and magnitude and direction of velocity in three-dimensional flow. The report treats the method as well as the range of application of this Pitot in the light of modern knowledge on flow around spheres.

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

    Quigley, Kevin; Chemerisov, Sergey; Tkac, Peter

    Through irradiations using our 3 MeV Van de Graaf accelerator, Argonne is testing the radiation stability of components of equipment that are being used to dispense molybdenum solutions for use as feeds to 99mTc generators and in the 99mTc generators themselves. Components have been irradiated by both a direct electron beam and photons generated from a tungsten convertor.

  11. Elution kinetics, antimicrobial activity, and mechanical properties of 11 different antibiotic loaded acrylic bone cement.

    PubMed

    Gálvez-López, Ruben; Peña-Monje, Alejandro; Antelo-Lorenzo, Ramón; Guardia-Olmedo, Juan; Moliz, Juan; Hernández-Quero, José; Parra-Ruiz, Jorge

    2014-01-01

    Antibiotic-loaded acrylic bone cements (ALABC) spacers are routinely used in the treatment of prosthetic joint infections. The objectives of our study were to evaluate different ALABC for elution kinetics, thermal stability, and mechanical properties. A 10 or 20% mixture (w/w) beads of medium viscosity bone cement (DePuy, Inc) and vancomycin (VAN), gentamycin (GM), daptomycin (DAP), moxifloxacin (MOX), rifampicin (RIF), cefotaxime (CTX), cefepime (FEP), amoxicillin clavulanate (AmC), ampicillin (AMP), meropenem (MER), and ertapenem (ERT) were formed and placed into wells filled with phosphate-buffered saline. Antibiotic concentrations were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. Antimicrobial activity was tested against Micrococcus luteus ATCC 9341 or Escherichia coli ATCC 25922. AmC, AMP, and FEP concentration rapidly decreased after day 2, being almost undetectable at day 4. Sustained and high elution rates were observed with VAN, GM, MOX, and RIF for the 30-day duration of the experiment. DAP, MER, ERT, and CTX elution rates constantly decreased from day 4. All antibiotics tested retained antimicrobial activity proving thermal stability. Mechanical properties of ALABC were maintained except when RIF was used. © 2013.

  12. [Mobile hospital -real time mobile telehealthcare system with ultrasound and CT van using high-speed satellite communication-].

    PubMed

    Takizawa, Masaomi; Miyashita, Toyohisa; Murase, Sumio; Kanda, Hirohito; Karaki, Yoshiaki; Yagi, Kazuo; Ohue, Toru

    2003-01-01

    A real-time telescreening system is developed to detect early diseases for rural area residents using two types of mobile vans with a portable satellite station. The system consists of a satellite communication system with 1.5Mbps of the JCSAT-1B satellite, a spiral CT van, an ultrasound imaging van with two video conference system, a DICOM server and a multicast communication unit. The video image and examination image data are transmitted from the van to hospitals and the university simultaneously. Physician in the hospital observes and interprets exam images from the van and watches the video images of the position of ultrasound transducer on screenee in the van. After the observation images, physician explains a results of the examination by the video conference system. Seventy lung CT screening and 203 ultrasound screening were done from March to June 2002. The trial of this real time screening suggested that rural residents are given better healthcare without visit to the hospital. And it will open the gateway to reduce the medical cost and medical divide between city area and rural area.

  13. DdlN from Vancomycin-Producing Amycolatopsis orientalis C329.2 Is a VanA Homologue with d-Alanyl-d-Lactate Ligase Activity

    PubMed Central

    Marshall, C. Gary; Wright, Gerard D.

    1998-01-01

    Vancomycin-resistant enterococci acquire high-level resistance to glycopeptide antibiotics through the synthesis of peptidoglycan terminating in d-alanyl-d-lactate. A key enzyme in this process is a d-alanyl-d-alanine ligase homologue, VanA or VanB, which preferentially catalyzes the synthesis of the depsipeptide d-alanyl-d-lactate. We report the overexpression, purification, and enzymatic characterization of DdlN, a VanA and VanB homologue encoded by a gene of the vancomycin-producing organism Amycolatopsis orientalis C329.2. Evaluation of kinetic parameters for the synthesis of peptides and depsipeptides revealed a close relationship between VanA and DdlN in that depsipeptide formation was kinetically preferred at physiologic pH; however, the DdlN enzyme demonstrated a narrower substrate specificity and commensurately increased affinity for d-lactate in the C-terminal position over VanA. The results of these functional experiments also reinforce the results of previous studies that demonstrated that glycopeptide resistance enzymes from glycopeptide-producing bacteria are potential sources of resistance enzymes in clinically relevant bacteria. PMID:9791137

  14. d-Ala-d-Ser VanN-Type Transferable Vancomycin Resistance in Enterococcus faecium▿

    PubMed Central

    Lebreton, François; Depardieu, Florence; Bourdon, Nancy; Fines-Guyon, Marguerite; Berger, Pierre; Camiade, Sabine; Leclercq, Roland; Courvalin, Patrice; Cattoir, Vincent

    2011-01-01

    Enterococcus faecium UCN71, isolated from a blood culture, was resistant to low levels of vancomycin (MIC, 16 μg/ml) but susceptible to teicoplanin (MIC, 0.5 μg/ml). No amplification was observed with primers specific for the previously described glycopeptide resistance ligase genes, but a PCR product corresponding to a gene called vanN was obtained using degenerate primers and was sequenced. The deduced VanN protein was related (65% identity) to the d-alanine:d-serine VanL ligase. The organization of the vanN gene cluster, determined using degenerate primers and by thermal asymmetric interlaced (TAIL)-PCR, was similar to that of the vanC operons. A single promoter upstream from the resistance operon was identified by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE)-PCR. The presence of peptidoglycan precursors ending in d-serine and d,d-peptidase activities in the absence of vancomycin indicated constitutive expression of the resistance operon. VanN-type resistance was transferable by conjugation to E. faecium. This is the first report of transferable d-Ala-d-Ser-type resistance in E. faecium. PMID:21807981

  15. Sleep and Alertness Management IV: Effects of Alertness Enhancers Caffeine and Modafinil on Performance in Marmosets

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2007-03-01

    het prestatieniveau de fysieke aspecten met behuip van een gedurende alle sessies. Conclusies: op een hoog peil te houden. Het onderzoek...started at 6:30 h. On every test day and on every parameter the animals were tested in the same order. To maintain a sustained level of the alertness...quantitatively assesses these parameters and is extensively described and validated [Wolthuis et al., 1994; Philippens et al., 2000]. The apparatus (see

  16. Comparisons of geoid models over Alaska computed with different Stokes' kernel modifications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, X.; Wang, Y.

    2011-01-01

    Various Stokes kernel modification methods have been developed over the years. The goal of this paper is to test the most commonly used Stokes kernel modifications numerically by using Alaska as a test area and EGM08 as a reference model. The tests show that some methods are more sensitive than others to the integration cap sizes. For instance, using the methods of Vaníček and Kleusberg or Featherstone et al. with kernel modification at degree 60, the geoid decreases by 30 cm (on average) when the cap size increases from 1° to 25°. The corresponding changes in the methods of Wong and Gore and Heck and Grüninger are only at the 1 cm level. At high modification degrees, above 360, the methods of Vaníček and Kleusberg and Featherstone et al become unstable because of numerical problems in the modification coefficients; similar conclusions have been reported by Featherstone (2003). In contrast, the methods of Wong and Gore, Heck and Grüninger and the least-squares spectral combination are stable at any modification degree, though they do not provide as good fit as the best case of the Molodenskii-type methods at the GPS/Leveling benchmarks. However, certain tests for choosing the cap size and modification degree have to be performed in advance to avoid abrupt mean geoid changes if the latter methods are applied.

  17. Resonance oscillations of nonreciprocal long-range van der Waals forces between atoms in electromagnetic fields

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sherkunov, Yury

    2018-03-01

    We study theoretically the van der Waals interaction between two atoms out of equilibrium with an isotropic electromagnetic field. We demonstrate that at large interatomic separations, the van der Waals forces are resonant, spatially oscillating, and nonreciprocal due to resonance absorption and emission of virtual photons. We suggest that the van der Waals forces can be controlled and manipulated by tuning the spectrum of artificially created random light.

  18. Storings analyse Ten Behoeve van het Materieelverzorgingsplan (Failure Analysis for the Maintenance Plan)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1990-05-01

    oporachtnemer verwezen naar de ’Algemone Voorwaarden voor Onderzoeks- opdrachten TNO’. dan wet de betreflende terzake fijasen partlijen gesloten * 11 ...ixvulling van het onderhoudsschema 9 2.4 Invulling van het onderhoudsschema in de praktijk 14 2.5 Gonclusies 16 3 STORINGSANALYSES 18 3.1 ’Failure mode...nnfd- en subgroep (dit is een opdeling van bet systeem naar functioneel sanienhangende delen). Pa gina 9 - Het onderhoudsniveau waar jedere

  19. Implication of Two-Coupled Differential Van der Pol Duffing Oscillator in Weak Signal Detection

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Peng, Hang-hang; Xu, Xue-mei; Yang, Bing-chu; Yin, Lin-zi

    2016-04-01

    The principle of the Van der Pol Duffing oscillator for state transition and for determining critical value is described, which has been studied to indicate that the application of the Van der Pol Duffing oscillator in weak signal detection is feasible. On the basis of this principle, an improved two-coupled differential Van der Pol Duffing oscillator is proposed which can identify signals under any frequency and ameliorate signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The analytical methods of the proposed model and the construction of the proposed oscillator are introduced in detail. Numerical experiments on the properties of the proposed oscillator compared with those of the Van der Pol Duffing oscillator are carried out. Our numerical simulations have confirmed the analytical treatment. The results demonstrate that this novel oscillator has better detection performance than the Van der Pol Duffing oscillator.

  20. van Manen's method and reduction in a phenomenological hermeneutic study.

    PubMed

    Heinonen, Kristiina

    2015-03-01

    To describe van Manen's method and concept of reduction in a study that used a phenomenological hermeneutic approach. Nurse researchers have used van Manen's method in different ways. Participants' lifeworlds are described in depth, but descriptions of reduction have been brief. The literature and knowledge review and manual search of research articles. Databases Web Science, PubMed, CINAHL and PsycINFO, without applying a time period, to identify uses of van Manen's method. This paper shows how van Manen's method has been used in nursing research and gives some examples of van Manen's reduction. Reduction enables us to conduct in-depth phenomenological hermeneutic research and understand people's lifeworlds. As there are many variations in adapting reduction, it is complex and confusing. This paper contributes to the discussion of phenomenology, hermeneutic study and reduction. It opens up reduction as a method for researchers to exploit.

  1. Scaling laws for van der Waals interactions in nanostructured materials.

    PubMed

    Gobre, Vivekanand V; Tkatchenko, Alexandre

    2013-01-01

    Van der Waals interactions have a fundamental role in biology, physics and chemistry, in particular in the self-assembly and the ensuing function of nanostructured materials. Here we utilize an efficient microscopic method to demonstrate that van der Waals interactions in nanomaterials act at distances greater than typically assumed, and can be characterized by different scaling laws depending on the dimensionality and size of the system. Specifically, we study the behaviour of van der Waals interactions in single-layer and multilayer graphene, fullerenes of varying size, single-wall carbon nanotubes and graphene nanoribbons. As a function of nanostructure size, the van der Waals coefficients follow unusual trends for all of the considered systems, and deviate significantly from the conventionally employed pairwise-additive picture. We propose that the peculiar van der Waals interactions in nanostructured materials could be exploited to control their self-assembly.

  2. Space Earthquake Perturbation Simulation (SEPS) an application based on Geant4 tools to model and simulate the interaction between the Earthquake and the particle trapped on the Van Allen belt

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ambroglini, Filippo; Jerome Burger, William; Battiston, Roberto; Vitale, Vincenzo; Zhang, Yu

    2014-05-01

    During last decades, few space experiments revealed anomalous bursts of charged particles, mainly electrons with energy larger than few MeV. A possible source of these bursts are the low-frequency seismo-electromagnetic emissions, which can cause the precipitation of the electrons from the lower boundary of their inner belt. Studies of these bursts reported also a short-term pre-seismic excess. Starting from simulation tools traditionally used on high energy physics we developed a dedicated application SEPS (Space Perturbation Earthquake Simulation), based on the Geant4 tool and PLANETOCOSMICS program, able to model and simulate the electromagnetic interaction between the earthquake and the particles trapped in the inner Van Allen belt. With SEPS one can study the transport of particles trapped in the Van Allen belts through the Earth's magnetic field also taking into account possible interactions with the Earth's atmosphere. SEPS provides the possibility of: testing different models of interaction between electromagnetic waves and trapped particles, defining the mechanism of interaction as also shaping the area in which this takes place,assessing the effects of perturbations in the magnetic field on the particles path, performing back-tracking analysis and also modelling the interaction with electric fields. SEPS is in advanced development stage, so that it could be already exploited to test in details the results of correlation analysis between particle bursts and earthquakes based on NOAA and SAMPEX data. The test was performed both with a full simulation analysis, (tracing from the position of the earthquake and going to see if there were paths compatible with the burst revealed) and with a back-tracking analysis (tracing from the burst detection point and checking the compatibility with the position of associated earthquake).

  3. Clinical relevance of molecular identification of microorganisms and detection of antimicrobial resistance genes in bloodstream infections of paediatric cancer patients.

    PubMed

    Carlesse, Fabianne; Cappellano, Paola; Quiles, Milene Gonçalves; Menezes, Liana Carballo; Petrilli, Antonio Sérgio; Pignatari, Antonio Carlos

    2016-09-01

    Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are the major cause of mortality in cancer patients. Molecular techniques are used for rapid diagnosis of BSI, allowing early therapy and improving survival. We aimed to establish whether real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) could improve early diagnosis and therapy in paediatric cancer patients, and describe the predominant pathogens of BSI and their antimicrobial susceptibility. Blood samples were processed by the BACTEC system and microbial identification and susceptibility tests were performed by the Phoenix system. All samples were screened by multiplex 16 s rDNA qPCR. Seventeen species were evaluated using sex-specific TaqMan probes and resistance genes blaSHV, blaTEM, blaCTX, blaKPC, blaIMP, blaSPM, blaVIM, vanA, vanB and mecA were screened by SYBR Green reactions. Therapeutic efficacy was evaluated at the time of positive blood culture and at final phenotypic identification and antimicrobial susceptibility results. We analyzed 69 episodes of BSI from 64 patients. Gram-positive bacteria were identified in 61 % of the samples, Gram-negative bacteria in 32 % and fungi in 7 %. There was 78.2 % of agreement between the phenotypic and molecular methods in final species identification. The mecA gene was detected in 81.4 % of Staphylococcus spp., and 91.6 % were concordant with the phenotypic method. Detection of vanA gene was 100 % concordant. The concordance for Gram-negative susceptibilities was 71.4 % for Enterobacteriaceae and 50 % for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Therapy was more frequently inadequate in patients who died, and the molecular test was concordant with the phenotypic susceptibility test in 50 %. qPCR has potential indication for early identification of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes from BSI in paediatric cancer patients and may improve antimicrobial therapy.

  4. Research Update: Fast and tunable nanoionics in vertically aligned nanostructured films

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lee, Shinbuhm; MacManus-Driscoll, Judith L.

    2017-04-01

    This review provides the design principles to develop new nanoionic applications using vertically aligned nanostructured (VAN) thin films, incorporating two phases which self-assemble in one film. Tunable nanoionics has attracted great attention for energy and device applications, such as ion batteries, solid oxide fuel cells, catalysts, memories, and neuromorphic devices. Among many proposed device architectures, VAN films have strong potential for nanoionic applications since they show enhanced ionic conductivity and tunability. Here, we will review the recent progress on state-of-the-art nanoionic applications, which have been realized by using VAN films. In many VAN systems made by the inclusion of an oxygen ionic insulator, it is found that ions flow through the vertical heterointerfaces. The observation is consistent with structural incompatibility at the vertical heteroepitaxial interfaces resulting in oxygen deficiency in one of the phases and hence to oxygen ion conducting pathways. In other VAN systems where one of the phases is an ionic conductor, ions flow much faster within the ionic conducting phase than within the corresponding plain film. The improved ionic conduction coincides with much improved crystallinity in the ionically conducting nanocolumnar phase, induced by use of the VAN structure. Furthermore, for both cases Joule heating effects induced by localized ionic current flow also play a role for enhanced ionic conductivity. Nanocolumn stoichiometry and strain are other important parameters for tuning ionic conductivity in VAN films. Finally, double-layered VAN film architectures are discussed from the perspective of stabilizing VAN structures which would be less stable and hence less perfect when grown on standard substrates.

  5. Side-looking airborne radar image interpretation and geological mapping: Problems and results

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Scanvic, J. Y.; Soubari, E. H.

    1980-01-01

    Geological experiments and surveys conducted by BRGM and GDTA members to evaluate interest in SLAR image interpretation are summarized. Two surveys were selected for presentation: Les Vans (Massif central, France) and Guyana (South America). They have permitted a comparison between different types of SLAR: Goodyear, Motorola, JPL, and Vigie in term of lithological and structural applications. On the Les Vans test site conclusions reached concern radiometry, which is better on L-band imagery, polarization, HV being more useful than HH for geological mapping in an L-band system, wavelength and illuminations. Over Guyana, the use of Goodyear X-band SLAR enables satisfactory geological and structural mapping under heavy equatorial forest with cloud cover conditions. A differential program was developed for fracture filtering and image enhancement with a coherent light laser, and significant results were obtained.

  6. Martin Van Buren National Historic Site transportation analysis report

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2010-10-01

    The Volpe Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center) is providing transportation support to Martin Van Buren National Historic Site's (NHS) first General Management Plan (GMP), which will be complete in 2010 or 2011. Currently, Martin Van Buren NHS...

  7. The Dramatic Methods of Hans van Dam.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    van de Water, Manon

    1994-01-01

    Interprets for the American reader the untranslated dramatic methods of Hans van Dam, a leading drama theorist in the Netherlands. Discusses the functions of drama as a method, closed dramatic methods, open dramatic methods, and applying van Dam's methods. (SR)

  8. 78 FR 37270 - Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-06-20

    ... (IA) Thomas M. Harris (MI) Paul M. Hinkson (TN) Ellie L. Murphree (AL) Michael P. Passmore (FL) Wendell S. Sehen (OH) Gary E. Valentine (OH) Kevin W. Van Arsdol (CO) Charles Van Dyke (WI) Harlon C. Van...

  9. Reparametrization of Protein Force Field Nonbonded Interactions Guided by Osmotic Coefficient Measurements from Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

    PubMed

    Miller, Mark S; Lay, Wesley K; Li, Shuxiang; Hacker, William C; An, Jiadi; Ren, Jianlan; Elcock, Adrian H

    2017-04-11

    There is a small, but growing, body of literature describing the use of osmotic coefficient measurements to validate and reparametrize simulation force fields. Here we have investigated the ability of five very commonly used force field and water model combinations to reproduce the osmotic coefficients of seven neutral amino acids and five small molecules. The force fields tested include AMBER ff99SB-ILDN, CHARMM36, GROMOS54a7, and OPLS-AA, with the first of these tested in conjunction with the TIP3P and TIP4P-Ew water models. In general, for both the amino acids and the small molecules, the tested force fields produce computed osmotic coefficients that are lower than experiment; this is indicative of excessively favorable solute-solute interactions. The sole exception to this general trend is provided by GROMOS54a7 when applied to amino acids: in this case, the computed osmotic coefficients are consistently too high. Importantly, we show that all of the force fields tested can be made to accurately reproduce the experimental osmotic coefficients of the amino acids when minor modifications-some previously reported by others and some that are new to this study-are made to the van der Waals interactions of the charged terminal groups. Special care is required, however, when simulating Proline with a number of the force fields, and a hydroxyl-group specific modification is required in order to correct Serine and Threonine when simulated with AMBER ff99SB-ILDN. Interestingly, an alternative parametrization of the van der Waals interactions in the latter force field, proposed by the Nerenberg and Head-Gordon groups, is shown to immediately produce osmotic coefficients that are in excellent agreement with experiment. Overall, this study reinforces the idea that osmotic coefficient measurements can be used to identify general shortcomings in commonly used force fields' descriptions of solute-solute interactions and further demonstrates that modifications to van der Waals parameters provide a simple route to optimizing agreement with experiment.

  10. Reparameterization of Protein Force Field Nonbonded Interactions Guided by Osmotic Coefficient Measurements from Molecular Dynamics Simulations

    PubMed Central

    Miller, Mark S.; Lay, Wesley K.; Li, Shuxiang; Hacker, William C.; An, Jiadi; Ren, Jianlan; Elcock, Adrian H.

    2017-01-01

    There is a small, but growing, body of literature describing the use of osmotic coefficient measurements to validate and reparameterize simulation force fields. Here we have investigated the ability of five very commonly used force field and water model combinations to reproduce the osmotic coefficients of seven neutral amino acids and five small molecules. The force fields tested include AMBER ff99SB-ILDN, CHARMM36, GROMOS54a7, and OPLS-AA, with the first of these tested in conjunction with the TIP3P and TIP4P-Ew water models. In general, for both the amino acids and the small molecules, the tested force fields produce computed osmotic coefficients that are lower than experiment; this is indicative of excessively favorable solute-solute interactions. The sole exception to this general trend is provided by GROMOS54a7 when applied to amino acids: in this case, the computed osmotic coefficients are consistently too high. Importantly, we show that all of the force fields tested can be made to accurately reproduce the experimental osmotic coefficients of the amino acids when minor modifications – some previously reported by others and some that are new to this study – are made to the van der Waals interactions of the charged terminal groups. Special care is required, however, when simulating Proline with a number of the force fields, and a hydroxyl-group specific modification is required in order to correct Serine and Threonine when simulated with AMBER ff99SB-ILDN. Interestingly, an alternative parameterization of the van der Waals interactions in the latter force field, proposed by the Nerenberg and Head-Gordon groups, is shown to immediately produce osmotic coefficients that are in excellent agreement with experiment. Overall, this study reinforces the idea that osmotic coefficient measurements can be used to identify general shortcomings in commonly used force fields’ descriptions of solute-solute interactions, and further demonstrates that modifications to van der Waals parameters provides a simple route to optimizing agreement with experiment. PMID:28296391

  11. Reevaluating excess success in psychological science.

    PubMed

    van Boxtel, Jeroen J A; Koch, Christof

    2016-10-01

    Francis (Psychonomic Bulletin Review, 21, 1180-1187, 2014) recently claimed that 82 % of articles with four or more experiments published in Psychological Science between 2009 and 2012 cannot be trusted. We critique Francis' analysis and point out the dependence of his approach on including the appropriate experiments and significance tests. We focus on one of the articles (van Boxtel & Koch, in Psychological Science, 23(4), 410-418, 2012) flagged by Francis and show that the inappropriate inclusion of experiments and tests have led Francis to mistakenly flag this article. We found that decisions about whether to include certain tests potentially affect 34 of the 44 articles analyzed by Francis. We further performed p-curve analyses on the articles discussed in Francis' analysis. We found that 9 of 44 studies showed significant evidential value, 11 studies showed insufficient evidential value, and 1 study showed evidence of p-hacking. Our reevaluation is important, because some researchers may have gained the false impression that none of the quoted articles in Psychological Science can be trusted (as stated by Francis). The analysis by Francis is most likely insufficient to warrant this conclusion for some articles and certainly is insufficient with respect to the study by van Boxtel and Koch (Psychological Science, 23, 410-418, 2012).

  12. Accurate prediction of polarised high order electrostatic interactions for hydrogen bonded complexes using the machine learning method kriging.

    PubMed

    Hughes, Timothy J; Kandathil, Shaun M; Popelier, Paul L A

    2015-02-05

    As intermolecular interactions such as the hydrogen bond are electrostatic in origin, rigorous treatment of this term within force field methodologies should be mandatory. We present a method able of accurately reproducing such interactions for seven van der Waals complexes. It uses atomic multipole moments up to hexadecupole moment mapped to the positions of the nuclear coordinates by the machine learning method kriging. Models were built at three levels of theory: HF/6-31G(**), B3LYP/aug-cc-pVDZ and M06-2X/aug-cc-pVDZ. The quality of the kriging models was measured by their ability to predict the electrostatic interaction energy between atoms in external test examples for which the true energies are known. At all levels of theory, >90% of test cases for small van der Waals complexes were predicted within 1 kJ mol(-1), decreasing to 60-70% of test cases for larger base pair complexes. Models built on moments obtained at B3LYP and M06-2X level generally outperformed those at HF level. For all systems the individual interactions were predicted with a mean unsigned error of less than 1 kJ mol(-1). Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  13. Toward an Operational Definition of Cross-Cultural Competence from the Literature

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-01-01

    Journal of Applied Psychology, 73, 410-420. Mol, S. T., Born, M. P., Willemsen, M. E., & Van Der Molen , H. T. (2005). Predicting expatriate job...decision-making processes (Ang, Van Dyne, Koh, & Ng, 2004; Ang, Van Dyne, & Koh, 2007). Because the CQ has demonstrated validity and covers the...empirical foundation. U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences, Study Report 2008-1. Arlington, VA: ARI. Ang, S., Van Dyne, L

  14. A Design Procedure for Minimizing Propeller-Induced Vibration in Hull Structural Elements.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1979-09-01

    Propeller," 12th International Towing Tank Conference, Rome, 1969. 46. Van Manen , J. D., "The Effect of Cavitation on the Interaction Be- tween Propeller...The wake, when determined in absence of the propeller, is called the nominal wake field. Van Oossanen [8) points out that it is becoming...wire anemometer and the laser-Doppler anomometer. These are discussed briefly in a paper by van Gent and van Oossanen [11. 4. Estimate Longitudinal

  15. Who Do We Deploy for Psychological Operations: A Function Profile for TPT Members

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-01-01

    doet onderzoek om de ontwikkeling v’an PSYOPS in Nederland te ondersteunen. Een eerste stap, in het goed voorbereiden en uitvoeren van PSYOPS is het...bezit. De focus van het huidige project ligt op de selectiemethode van mensen die PSYOPS functies gaan vervullen. Naast Nederland zijn er ook andere NAVO...deze interviews kwam naar voren dat verschillende landen kampen met dezelfde problemen als Nederland wat betreft de selectie van het PSYOPS personeel

  16. Beslisbevoegdheden van de Uitgestegen Soldaat. Deel B: Verbetering van Situational Awareness Met Behulp van de Soldier Digital Assistant in een Gesimuleerde Omgeving (Authority and Responsbility of the Dismounted Soldier. Part B. Improving the Situational Awareness using the Soldier Digital Assistant in a Simulated Environment)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2007-04-01

    Dergelijke omngevingen zijn tot op heden vrijwel uitsluitend gebruikt voor training en onderwijs , maar slechts zeer sporadisch voor wetenschappelijk...Onderstaande instanties/personen ontvangen een volledig exemplaar van het rapport. 1 DMO/SC-DR&D standaard inclusief digitale versie bijgeleverd op cd

  17. Serine and alanine racemase activities of VanT: a protein necessary for vancomycin resistance in Enterococcus gallinarum BM4174.

    PubMed

    Arias, C A; Weisner, J; Blackburn, J M; Reynolds, P E

    2000-07-01

    Vancomycin resistance in Enterococcus gallinarum results from the production of UDP-MurNAc-pentapeptide[D-Ser]. VanT, a membrane-bound serine racemase, is one of three proteins essential for this resistance. To investigate the selectivity of racemization of L-Ser or L-Ala by VanT, a strain of Escherichia coli TKL-10 that requires D-Ala for growth at 42 degrees C was used as host for transformation experiments using plasmids containing the full-length vanT from Ent. gallinarum or the alanine racemase gene (alr) of Bacillus stearothermophilus: both plasmids were able to complement E. coli TKL-10 at 42 degrees C. No alanine or serine racemase activities were detected in the host strain E. coli TKL-10 grown at 30, 34 or 37 degrees C. Serine and alanine racemase activities were found almost exclusively (96%) in the membrane fraction of E. coli TKL-10/pCA4(vanT): the alanine racemase activity of VanT was 14% of the serine racemase activity in both E. coli TKL-10/pCA4(vanT) and E. coli XL-1 Blue/pCA4(vanT). Alanine racemase activity was present mainly (95%) in the cytoplasmic fraction of E. coli TKL-10/pJW40(alr), with a trace (1.6%) of serine racemase activity. Additionally, DNA encoding the soluble domain of VanT was cloned and expressed in E. coli M15 as a His-tagged polypeptide and purified: this polypeptide also exhibited both serine and alanine racemase activities; the latter was approximately 18% of the serine racemase activity, similar to that of the full-length, membrane-bound enzyme. N-terminal sequencing of the purified His-tagged polypeptide revealed a single amino acid sequence, indicating that the formation of heterodimers between subunits of His-tagged C-VanT and endogenous alanine racemases from E. coli was unlikely. The authors conclude that the membrane-bound serine racemase VanT also has alanine racemase activity but is able to racemize serine more efficiently than alanine, and that the cytoplasmic domain is responsible for the racemase activity.

  18. Acute kidney injury associated with concomitant vancomycin and piperacillin/tazobactam administration: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

    PubMed

    Chen, Xiao-Yu; Xu, Ri-Xiang; Zhou, Xin; Liu, Yang; Hu, Cheng-Yang; Xie, Xue-Feng

    2018-05-11

    As a tricyclic glycopeptide antibiotic used to treat acute infections, Vancomycin (VAN) is often administered with piperacillin/tazobactam (PT) to treat various infections in clinical practice. However, whether the combination of these two drugs, compared to VAN alone, can cause an increased risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) remains controversial. This study aims to identify the correlation between the development of AKI and the combined use of VAN and PT. We conducted a meta-analysis of eight observational cohort studies (a total of 10727 participants received VAN and PT versus VAN and other β-lactams). PubMed, Chinese Biological Medicine Database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) Database, Wan Fang Digital Periodicals Database (WFDP), and China Science Citation Database (CSCD) were searched through April 2017 using "vancomycin" and "piperacillin" and "tazobactam" as well as "acute kidney injury" or "acute renal failure" or "AKI" or "ARF" or "nephrotoxicity." Two reviewers extracted the data and assessed the risk of bias. A correlation was found between the development of AKI and concurrent use of VAN and PT compared with concomitant VAN and β-lactams (OR 1.57; 95% CI, 1.13-2.01; I 2  = 76.4%, p < 0.001). Similar findings were obtained in an analysis of studies comparing concurrent VAN and PT use with concurrent VAN and β-lactam (cefepime) use (OR 1.50; 95% CI, 1.07-1.93; I 2  = 80.5%, p < 0.001). Exclusion of fair-quality and low-quality articles did not change the results (OR 1.49; 95% CI, 1.06-1.92; I 2  = 84.1%, p < 0.001). Regarding β-lactam therapy in clinical practice, an elevated risk of AKI due to the combined use of VAN and PT should be considered.

  19. Characterization and modelling of VanT: a novel, membrane-bound, serine racemase from vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus gallinarum BM4174.

    PubMed

    Arias, C A; Martín-Martinez, M; Blundell, T L; Arthur, M; Courvalin, P; Reynolds, P E

    1999-03-01

    Sequence determination of a region downstream from the vanXYc gene in Enterococcus gallinarum BM4174 revealed an open reading frame, designated vanT, that encodes a 698-amino-acid polypeptide with an amino-terminal domain containing 10 predicted transmembrane segments. The protein contained a highly conserved pyridoxal phosphate attachment site in the C-terminal domain, typical of alanine racemases. The protein was overexpressed in Escherichia coli, and serine racemase activity was detected in the membrane but not in the cytoplasmic fraction after centrifugation of sonicated cells, whereas alanine racemase activity was located almost exclusively in the cytoplasm. When the protein was overexpressed as a polypeptide lacking the predicted transmembrane domain, serine racemase activity was detected in the cytoplasm. The serine racemase activity was partially (64%) inhibited by D-cycloserine, whereas host alanine racemase activity was almost totally inhibited (97%). Serine racemase activity was also detected in membrane preparations of constitutively vancomycin-resistant E. gallinarum BM4174 but not in BM4175, in which insertional inactivation of the vanC-1 D-Ala:D-Ser ligase gene probably had a polar effect on expression of the vanXYc and vanT genes. Comparative modelling of the deduced C-terminal domain was based on the alignment of VanT with the Air alanine racemase from Bacillus stearothermophilus. The model revealed that almost all critical amino acids in the active site of Air were conserved in VanT, indicating that the C-terminal domain of VanT is likely to adopt a three-dimensional structure similar to that of Air and that the protein could exist as a dimer. These results indicate that the source of D-serine for peptidoglycan synthesis in vancomycin-resistant enterococci expressing the VanC phenotype involves racemization of L- to D-serine by a membrane-bound serine racemase.

  20. Space Van system update

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cormier, Len

    1992-07-01

    The Space Van is a proposed commercial launch vehicle that is designed to carry 1150 kg to a space-station orbit for a price of $1,900,000 per flight in 1992 dollars. This price includes return on preoperational investment. Recurring costs are expected to be about $840,000 per flight. The Space Van is a fully reusable, assisted-single-stage-to orbit system. The most innovative new feature of the Space Van system is the assist-stage concept. The assist stage uses only airbreathing engines for vertical takeoff and vertical landing in the horizontal attitude and for launching the rocket-powered orbiter stage at mach 0.8 and an altitude of about 12 km. The primary version of the orbiter is designed for cargo-only without a crew. However, a passenger version of the Space Van should be able to carry a crew of two plus six passengers to a space-station orbit. Since the Space Van is nearly single-stage, performance to polar orbit drops off significantly. The cargo version should be capable of carrying 350 kg to a 400-km polar orbit. In the passenger version, the Space Van should be able to carry two crew members - or one crew member plus a passenger.

  1. Critical lines for an unequal size of molecules in a binary gas-liquid mixture around the van Laar point using the combination of the Tompa model and the van der Waals equation.

    PubMed

    Gençaslan, Mustafa; Keskin, Mustafa

    2012-02-14

    We combine the modified Tompa model with the van der Waals equation to study critical lines for an unequal size of molecules in a binary gas-liquid mixture around the van Laar point. The van Laar point is coined by Meijer and it is the only point at which the mathematical double point curve is stable. It is the intersection of the tricritical point and the double critical end point. We calculate the critical lines as a function of χ(1) and χ(2), the density of type I molecules and the density of type II molecules for various values of the system parameters; hence the global phase diagrams are presented and discussed in the density-density plane. We also investigate the connectivity of critical lines at the van Laar point and its vicinity and discuss these connections according to the Scott and van Konynenburg classifications. It is also found that the critical lines and phase behavior are extremely sensitive to small modifications in the system parameters. © 2012 American Institute of Physics

  2. Improved curvature-based inpainting applied to fine art: recovering van Gogh's partially hidden brush strokes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kuang, Yubin; Stork, David G.; Kahl, Fredrik

    2011-03-01

    Underdrawings and pentimenti-typically revealed through x-ray imaging and infrared reflectography-comprise important evidence about the intermediate states of an artwork and thus the working methods of its creator.1 To this end, Shahram, Stork and Donoho introduced the De-pict algorithm, which recovers layers of brush strokes in paintings with open brush work where several layers are partially visible, such as in van Gogh's Self portrait with a grey felt hat.2 While that preliminary work served as a proof of concept that computer image analytic methods could recover some occluded brush strokes, the work needed further refinement before it could be a tool for art scholars. Our current work makes several steps to improve that algorithm. Specifically, we refine the inpainting step through the inclusion of curvature-based constraints, in which a mathematical curvature penalty biases the reconstruction toward matching the artist's smooth hand motion. We refine and test our methods using "ground truth" image data: passages of four layers of brush strokes in which the intermediate layers were recorded photographically. At each successive top layer (currently identified by the user), we used k-means clustering combined with graph cuts to obtain chromatically and spatially coherent segmentation of brush strokes. We then reconstructed strokes at the deeper layer with our new curvature-based inpainting algorithm based on chromatic level lines. Our methods are clearly superior to previous versions of the De-pict algorithm on van Gogh's works giving smoother, natural strokes that more closely match the shapes of unoccluded strokes. Our improved method might be applied to the classic drip paintings of Jackson Pollock, where the drip work is more open and the physics of splashing paint ensures that the curvature more uniform than in the brush strokes of van Gogh.

  3. Vancomycin-resistant gene identification from live bacteria on an integrated microfluidic system by using low temperature lysis and loop-mediated isothermal amplification

    PubMed Central

    Chang, Wen-Hsin; Yu, Ju-ching; Yang, Sung-Yi; Lin, Yi-Cheng; Wang, Chih-Hung; You, Huey-Ling; Wu, Jiunn-Jong; Lee, Gwo-Bin

    2017-01-01

    Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) is a kind of enterococci, which shows resistance toward antibiotics. It may last for a long period of time and meanwhile transmit the vancomycin-resistant gene (vanA) to other bacteria. In the United States alone, the resistant rate of Enterococcus to vancomycin increased from a mere 0.3% to a whopping 40% in the past two decades. Therefore, timely diagnosis and control of VRE is of great need so that clinicians can prevent patients from becoming infected. Nowadays, VRE is diagnosed by antibiotic susceptibility test or molecular diagnosis assays such as matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization/time-of-flight mass spectrometry and polymerase chain reaction. However, the existing diagnostic methods have some drawbacks, for example, time-consumption, no genetic information, or high false-positive rate. This study reports an integrated microfluidic system, which can automatically identify the vancomycin resistant gene (vanA) from live bacteria in clinical samples. A new approach using ethidium monoazide, nucleic acid specific probes, low temperature chemical lysis, and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) has been presented. The experimental results showed that the developed system can detect the vanA gene from live Enterococcus in joint fluid samples with detection limit as low as 10 colony formation units/reaction within 1 h. This is the first time that an integrated microfluidic system has been demonstrated to detect vanA gene from live bacteria by using the LAMP approach. With its high sensitivity and accuracy, the proposed system may be useful to monitor antibiotic resistance genes from live bacteria in clinical samples in the near future. PMID:28798845

  4. Corneal staining patterns in vernal keratoconjunctivitis: the new VKC-CLEK scoring scale.

    PubMed

    Leonardi, Andrea; Lazzarini, Daniela; La Gloria Valerio, Alvise; Scalora, Tania; Fregona, Iva

    2018-01-24

    To propose a new scoring system in the assessment of ocular surface epithelial damage in vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC). 25 consecutive patients with VKC (50 eyes) were evaluated using the Quality of Life in children with VKC (QUICK) questionnaire and objective clinical measures: fluorescein and lissamine green staining and cornea confocal microscopy (Heidelberg Retina Tomography 3). Oxford, Van Bljsterweld and a new system, the VKC-Collaborative Longitudinal Evaluation of Keratoconus study (CLEK) (VKC-CLEK) scores, were used to evaluate the epithelial damage after staining. Mean Oxford and VKC-CLEK scores were significantly different after fluorescein staining (P<0.001), but significantly correlated (P<0.001; r=0.649). The same data were obtained comparing Van Bljsterweld and VKC-CLEK after lissamine green staining (P<0.001; r=0.760). In patient with limbal VKC, a statistically significant difference was found comparing new VKC-CLEK scores and Oxford or Van Bljsterweld scores (P<0.001), but not in tarsal VKC. A statistically superior concordance was found between QUICK and VKC-CLEK scores compared with standard staining scores values (P<0.001). Oxford and Van Bijsterveld scores are not adequate for the evaluation of the epithelial damage in patients with limbal VKC because the staining patterns considered for these tests do not correspond to the staining patterns in patients with VKC. We propose a new scoring system, VKC-CLEK, to better evaluate both limbal and tarsal epithelial damage in patients with VKC. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

  5. Pharmacokinetic Monitoring Of Vancomycin In Cystic Fibrosis: Is It Time To Move Past Trough Concentrations?

    PubMed

    Fusco, Nicholas M; Prescott, William A; Meaney, Calvin J

    2018-05-04

    A correlation between vancomycin trough concentrations (VTC) and area under the curve (AUC) to minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ratio (AUC/MIC) has not been established in children/adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF). The primary objective of this study was to determine the correlation between measured VTCs and AUC/MIC using population-based pharmacokinetics. A retrospective cohort study of children/adolescents diagnosed with CF, age 6 to < 18 years, treated with vancomycin (VAN) for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection was conducted. The relationship between final VTCs and calculated AUC/MIC, using models established by Le et al and Stockmann et al, was assessed using Pearson and Spearman correlations. All tests were two-tailed with alpha set at 0.05. Thirty children/adolescents, age 7 to 17 years (median age 15 [IQR 9-17] years), were included. The mean final VAN dose was 58.03±18.58 mg/kg/day and the median final VTC was 12.6 (11-13.6) mg/L. The mean AUC/MIC was 355.34±138.46 (Le model) versus 426.79±178.92 (Stockmann model) (p=0.089). No correlation existed between VTCs and AUC/MIC using either the model by Le (r=0.140, p=0.461) or Stockmann (r=0.115; p=0.564). Using the Stockmann model: VAN dose (mg/kg/dose) was found to have a strong positive correlation with AUC (r=0.8874, p<0.0001) and AUC/MIC (r=0.7877, p<0.0001). VTCs did not correlate with AUC or AUC/MIC. Further research is needed to determine which estimate of VAN treatment efficacy is most appropriate for children and adolescents with CF infected with MRSA.

  6. Sensitivity analysis of non-cohesive sediment transport formulae

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pinto, Lígia; Fortunato, André B.; Freire, Paula

    2006-10-01

    Sand transport models are often based on semi-empirical equilibrium transport formulae that relate sediment fluxes to physical properties such as velocity, depth and characteristic sediment grain sizes. In engineering applications, errors in these physical properties affect the accuracy of the sediment fluxes. The present analysis quantifies error propagation from the input physical properties to the sediment fluxes, determines which ones control the final errors, and provides insight into the relative strengths, weaknesses and limitations of four total load formulae (Ackers and White, Engelund and Hansen, van Rijn, and Karim and Kennedy) and one bed load formulation (van Rijn). The various sources of uncertainty are first investigated individually, in order to pinpoint the key physical properties that control the errors. Since the strong non-linearity of most sand transport formulae precludes analytical approaches, a Monte Carlo method is validated and used in the analysis. Results show that the accuracy in total sediment transport evaluations is mainly determined by errors in the current velocity and in the sediment median grain size. For the bed load transport using the van Rijn formula, errors in the current velocity alone control the final accuracy. In a final set of tests, all physical properties are allowed to vary simultaneously in order to analyze the combined effect of errors. The combined effect of errors in all the physical properties is then compared to an estimate of the errors due to the intrinsic limitations of the formulae. Results show that errors in the physical properties can be dominant for typical uncertainties associated with these properties, particularly for small depths. A comparison between the various formulae reveals that the van Rijn formula is more sensitive to basic physical properties. Hence, it should only be used when physical properties are known with precision.

  7. Nanotechnology-Enabled Optical Molecular Imaging of Breast Cancer

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2013-09-01

    Jacobus J M van Der Hoeven, Elsken van Der Wall, Petra van Der Groep, Paul J van Diest, Emile F I Comans, Urvi Joshi, et al. 2002. “Biologic...Leigh G Seamon, William B Farrar, and Edward W Martin . 2008. “Novel perioperative imaging with 18F-FDG PET/CT and intraoperative 18F-FDG detection...www.springerlink.com/content/n752170246r84660/. Hall, Nathan C, Stephen P Povoski, Douglas A Murrey, Michael V Knopp, and Edward W Martin . 2007. “Combined

  8. A Representational Approach to Knowledge and Multiple Skill Levels for Broad Classes of Computer Generated Forces

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1997-12-01

    that I’ll turn my attention to that computer game we’ve talked so much about... Dave Van Veldhuizen and Scott Brown (soon-to-be Drs. Van Veldhuizen and...Industry Training Systems Conference. 1988. 37. Van Veldhuizen , D. A. and L. J Hutson. "A Design Methodology for Domain Inde- pendent Computer...proposed by Van Veld- huizen and Hutson (37), extends the general architecture to support both a domain- independent approach to implementing CGFs and

  9. REMOTE LAND MINE(FIELD) DETECTION. An Overview of Techniques (DETECTIE VAN LANDMIJNEN EN MIJNENVELDEN OP AFSTAND. Een Overzicht van de technieken),

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1994-09-01

    titel DETECTIE VAN LANDMIJNEN EN MIJNENVELDEN OP AFSTAND, een overzicht van de technieken auteur (s) Drs. J.S. Groot, Ir. Y.H.L. Janssen datum september...functions based on set theory . The fundamental theory is developed in the sixties. This theory was applicable to binary images (black-and-white images...held at TNO-FEL. Various subjects related to fusion techniques: Dempster Shafer theory , Bayesian inference, Kalman filtering, fuzzy logic. [A15], [B4

  10. Beta-catenin: A Potential Survival Marker of Breast Cancer Stem Cells

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-09-01

    T. C., Alexander, C. M., Georges-Labouesse, E., Van der Neut , R., Kreidberg, J. A., Jones, C. J., Sonnenberg, A. and Streuli, C. H. (2001...de Lau, W., Oving, I., Hurlstone, A., van der Horn, K., Batlle, E., Coudreuse, D., Haramis, A. P., Tjon-Pon-Fong, M., Moerer, P., van den Born, M...Scherer, D. C., Willert, K., Hintz, L., Nusse, R. & Weissman, I. L. (2003) Nature 423, 409-14. 36. van de Wetering, M., Sancho, E., Verweij, C

  11. DoD Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Convention: ASC X12 Transaction Set 836 Contract Award (Version 003010)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1993-01-01

    upon designation of DoD Activity Address Code (DoDAAC) or other code coordinated with the value-added network (VAN). Mandatory ISA06 106 Interc.ange...coordinated with the value-added network (VAN). Non-DoD activities use identification code qualified by ISA05 and coordinated with the VAN. Mandatory...designation of DoD Activity Address Code (DoDAAC) or other code coordinated with the value-added network (VAN). Mandatory ISA08 107 Interchange Receiver

  12. Definitie Rapport Taktisch LAN Demonstratie (Definition Report Tactical LAN Demonstration)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1990-06-01

    am deze sneiheid te halen . Hierover kan eon uitspraak warden gedaan, enerzijds na de ontwikkeling van het S-4 interface en anderzijds na berokeningen...90-A02 *2ma~D. Definitie rapport taktisch LAN Niels Ult deze urgave reai erorden verrnengvldigd er of openbaar genakt door MiddeI van druk. folokopre...microfrilm Of OP wetke arroere 00lze 000 00k. zonoe, O~u S vdorafgaanoe loestermeng van TNOHet ter inzage gen van het TNO-rapport Ing. R. J . C.14

  13. Testbed Environment for Distributed Observation (testbed omgeving voor gedistribueerde waarneming)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-05-01

    het IP-adres en portnumnmer van de MID halen . Ook de naamn van de XML-file om de NID te beschrijven staat hierin vermeld (in dit geval ’CSD.xmId’) in...DeviceML beschrijving van de NID op te halen . Dit wordt gedaan door een TCP/IP verbinding op te zetten tussen de LUS en de NID (via de DeviceML port...vernisenigvuidigd! enlof openbaar gensaaki door middel van druk, fotokopie, microftinm of op welke andere wijze dan ook, zonder voorafgaande schrifielijke

  14. Does Cultural Intelligence Matter? Effects of Principal and Teacher Cultural Intelligence on Latino Student Achievement

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Collins, Kathy S.; Duyar, Ibrahim; Pearson, Carolyn L.

    2016-01-01

    Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine whether the levels of cultural intelligence (CQ) of principals and teachers influence Latino students' achievement. The study first tested the applicability of Ang and Van Dyne's (2008) Cultural Intelligence Questionnaire (CQS) for the measurement of principals and teachers' CQ levels by construct…

  15. Parsing the Passive: Comparing Children with Specific Language Impairment to Sequential Bilingual Children

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Marinis, Theodoros; Saddy, Douglas

    2013-01-01

    Twenty-five monolingual (L1) children with specific language impairment (SLI), 32 sequential bilingual (L2) children, and 29 L1 controls completed the Test of Active & Passive Sentences-Revised (van der Lely 1996) and the Self-Paced Listening Task with Picture Verification for actives and passives (Marinis 2007). These revealed important…

  16. Observation-Based Dissipation and Input Terms for Spectral Wave Models, with End-User Testing

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2013-09-30

    swell dissipation across the ocean. Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L06607, 4p Ardhuin, F., E. Rogers, A. Babanin, J.-F. Filipot, R. Magne, A. Roland, A. van... definitions , calibration and validations. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 40, 1917-1941 Babanin, A.V., K.N. Tsagareli, I.R Young, and D.J. Walker, 2010: Numerical

  17. A Qualitative Phenomenological Study of Veteran Teachers to Increase Novice Teacher Retention

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Boyer, Darcel

    2013-01-01

    Recent school reform initiatives and state mandates dictate increases in teacher accountability with teacher performance based on the results of standardized test scores. Although the number of teachers who choose to leave the profession is distressing, there are those who choose to remain for the long term. Utilizing the modified van Kaam method…

  18. Tests with DDT foliar sprays to control the California flatheaded borer

    Treesearch

    Robert L. Lyon

    1959-01-01

    The California flatheaded borer (Melanophila californica Van Dyke) kills an estimated 30 million board-feet of pine timber in California each year. The insect is especially troublesome on ponderosa and Jeffrey pines growing on dry sites, and it has caused serious losses in Jeffrey pine stands on valuable , watershed and recreational lands of...

  19. Exploring a multi-scale method for molecular simulation in continuum solvent model: Explicit simulation of continuum solvent as an incompressible fluid.

    PubMed

    Xiao, Li; Luo, Ray

    2017-12-07

    We explored a multi-scale algorithm for the Poisson-Boltzmann continuum solvent model for more robust simulations of biomolecules. In this method, the continuum solvent/solute interface is explicitly simulated with a numerical fluid dynamics procedure, which is tightly coupled to the solute molecular dynamics simulation. There are multiple benefits to adopt such a strategy as presented below. At this stage of the development, only nonelectrostatic interactions, i.e., van der Waals and hydrophobic interactions, are included in the algorithm to assess the quality of the solvent-solute interface generated by the new method. Nevertheless, numerical challenges exist in accurately interpolating the highly nonlinear van der Waals term when solving the finite-difference fluid dynamics equations. We were able to bypass the challenge rigorously by merging the van der Waals potential and pressure together when solving the fluid dynamics equations and by considering its contribution in the free-boundary condition analytically. The multi-scale simulation method was first validated by reproducing the solute-solvent interface of a single atom with analytical solution. Next, we performed the relaxation simulation of a restrained symmetrical monomer and observed a symmetrical solvent interface at equilibrium with detailed surface features resembling those found on the solvent excluded surface. Four typical small molecular complexes were then tested, both volume and force balancing analyses showing that these simple complexes can reach equilibrium within the simulation time window. Finally, we studied the quality of the multi-scale solute-solvent interfaces for the four tested dimer complexes and found that they agree well with the boundaries as sampled in the explicit water simulations.

  20. Prevalence and genetic mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance in Staphylococcus species: A multicentre report of the indian council of medical research antimicrobial resistance surveillance network.

    PubMed

    Rajkumar, Sunanda; Sistla, Sujatha; Manoharan, Meerabai; Sugumar, Madhan; Nagasundaram, Niveditha; Parija, Subhash Chandra; Ray, Pallab; Bakthavatchalam, Yamuna Devi; Veeraraghavan, Balaji; Kapil, Arti; Walia, Kamini; Ohri, V C

    2017-01-01

    Routine surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an essential component of measures aimed to tackle the growing threat of resistant microbes in public health. This study presents a 1-year multicentre report on AMR in Staphylococcus species as part of Indian Council of Medical Research-AMR surveillance network. Staphylococcus species was routinely collected in the nodal and regional centres of the network and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed against a panel of antimicrobials. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of vancomycin (VAN), daptomycin, tigecycline and linezolid (LNZ) against selected methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) isolates were determined by E-test and MIC creep, if any, was determined. Resistant genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction for those isolates showing phenotypic resistance. The prevalence of MRSA was found to be range from moderate (21%) to high (45%) among the centres with an overall prevalence of 37.3%. High prevalence of resistance was observed with commonly used antimicrobials such as ciprofloxacin and erythromycin in all the centres. Resistance to LNZ was not encountered except for a single case. Full-blown resistance to VAN in S. aureus was not observed; however, a few VAN-intermediate S. aureus isolates were documented. The most common species of coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS) identified was Staphylococcus haemolyticus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Resistance among CoNS was relatively higher than S. aureus. Most phenotypically resistant organisms possessed the corresponding resistance genes. There were localised differences in the prevalence of resistance between the centres. The efficacy of the anti-MRSA antimicrobials was very high; however, almost all these antimicrobials showed evidence of creeping MIC.

  1. Molecular Epidemiology of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium Isolated from Clinical Specimens in the Northwest of Iran.

    PubMed

    Jahansepas, Ali; Ahangarzadeh Rezaee, Mohammad; Hasani, Alka; Sharifi, Yaeghob; Rahnamaye Farzami, Marjan; Dolatyar, Alireza; Aghazadeh, Mohammad

    2018-04-30

    This study was conducted to investigate the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium. Antibiotic resistance and virulence genes in the aforementioned resistant isolates were studied using the epsilometer (E)-test and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). These isolates were subjected to typing by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Thirty vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE; 18.75%) were isolated from a total of 160 various clinical specimens cultured for any bacterial growth. Of these, 11 (36.7%) isolates were identified as E. faecalis and 19 (63.3%) as E. faecium. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of vancomycin, teicoplanin, and three alternative therapeutic options (linezolid, daptomycin, and quinupristin/dalfopristin) were determined using the E-test. Multiplex PCR was done for confirming species, identification of the resistant genotypes, and the detection of the virulence genes. Finally, the clonal relationship of all VRE strains was studied by PFGE. All VRE strains showed vancomycin MIC ≥256 μg/mL, and 27 (90%) isolates carried the vanA gene, whereas none of the isolates carried vanB. The most common resistance antibiotic pattern observed was toward rifampicin (n = 30 [100%]). Among all virulence genes studied, gelE (n = 28 [93.33%]) was found as the most prevalent virulent gene. VRE isolates exhibited 90%, 46.67%, 100%, and 66.67% resistance to teicoplanin, linezolid, quinupristin/dalfopristin, and daptomycin, respectively. Molecular typing demonstrated 16 PFGE types of VRE isolates (A-P). Although vanA was carried by most of the isolates, PFGE displayed small clonal dissemination among VR E. faecium and VR E. faecalis species.

  2. Structural and Functional Adaptation of Vancomycin Resistance VanT Serine Racemases

    PubMed Central

    Meziane-Cherif, Djalal; Stogios, Peter J.; Evdokimova, Elena; Egorova, Olga

    2015-01-01

    ABSTRACT Vancomycin resistance in Gram-positive bacteria results from the replacement of the d-alanyl–d-alanine target of peptidoglycan precursors with d-alanyl–d-lactate or d-alanyl–d-serine (d-Ala-d-Ser), to which vancomycin has low binding affinity. VanT is one of the proteins required for the production of d-Ala-d-Ser-terminating precursors by converting l-Ser to d-Ser. VanT is composed of two domains, an N-terminal membrane-bound domain, likely involved in l-Ser uptake, and a C-terminal cytoplasmic catalytic domain which is related to bacterial alanine racemases. To gain insight into the molecular function of VanT, the crystal structure of the catalytic domain of VanTG from VanG-type resistant Enterococcus faecalis BM4518 was determined. The structure showed significant similarity to type III pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP)-dependent alanine racemases, which are essential for peptidoglycan synthesis. Comparative structural analysis between VanTG and alanine racemases as well as site-directed mutagenesis identified three specific active site positions centered around Asn696 which are responsible for the l-amino acid specificity. This analysis also suggested that VanT racemases evolved from regular alanine racemases by acquiring additional selectivity toward serine while preserving that for alanine. The 4-fold-lower relative catalytic efficiency of VanTG against l-Ser versus l-Ala implied that this enzyme relies on its membrane-bound domain for l-Ser transport to increase the overall rate of d-Ser production. These findings illustrate how vancomycin pressure selected for molecular adaptation of a housekeeping enzyme to a bifunctional enzyme to allow for peptidoglycan remodeling, a strategy increasingly observed in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. PMID:26265719

  3. Structural and functional adaptation of vancomycin resistance VanT serine racemases

    DOE PAGES

    Meziane-Cherif, Djalal; Stogios, Peter J.; Evdokimova, Elena; ...

    2015-08-11

    Vancomycin resistance in Gram-positive bacteria results from the replacement of the D-alanyl–D-alanine target of peptidoglycan precursors with D-alanyl–D-lactate or D-alanyl–D-serine (D-Ala-D-Ser), to which vancomycin has low binding affinity. VanT is one of the proteins required for the production of D-Ala-D-Ser-terminating precursors by converting L-Ser to D-Ser. VanT is composed of two domains, an N-terminal membrane-bound domain, likely involved in L-Ser uptake, and a C-terminal cytoplasmic catalytic domain which is related to bacterial alanine racemases. To gain insight into the molecular function of VanT, the crystal structure of the catalytic domain of VanT G from VanG-type resistant Enterococcus faecalis BM4518more » was determined. The structure showed significant similarity to type III pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP)-dependent alanine racemases, which are essential for peptidoglycan synthesis. Comparative structural analysis between VanT G and alanine racemases as well as site-directed mutagenesis identified three specific active site positions centered around Asn 696 which are responsible for theL-amino acid specificity. This analysis also suggested that VanT racemases evolved from regular alanine racemases by acquiring additional selectivity toward serine while preserving that for alanine. The 4-fold-lower relative catalytic efficiency of VanT G against L-Ser versus L-Ala implied that this enzyme relies on its membrane-bound domain for L-Ser transport to increase the overall rate of D-Ser production. These findings illustrate how vancomycin pressure selected for molecular adaptation of a housekeeping enzyme to a bifunctional enzyme to allow for peptidoglycan remodeling, a strategy increasingly observed in antibiotic-resistant bacteria.« less

  4. Laser Safety and Hazardous Analysis for the ARES (Big Sky) Laser System

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

    AUGUSTONI, ARNOLD L.

    A laser safety and hazard analysis was performed for the ARES laser system based on the 2000 version of the American National Standards Institute's (ANSI) Standard Z136.1,for Safe Use of Lasers and the 2000 version of the ANSI Standard Z136.6, for Safe Use of Lasers Outdoors. The ARES laser system is a Van/Truck based mobile platform, which is used to perform laser interaction experiments and tests at various national test sites.

  5. A discussion of the socio-economic losses and shelter impacts from the Van, Turkey Earthquakes of October and November 2011

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Daniell, J. E.; Khazai, B.; Wenzel, F.; Kunz-Plapp, T.; Vervaeck, A.; Muehr, B.; Markus, M.

    2012-04-01

    The Van earthquake in 2011 hit at 10:41 GMT (13:41 Local) on Sunday, October 23rd, 2011. It was a Mw7.1-7.3 event located at a depth of around 10 km with the epicentre located directly between Ercis (pop. 75,000) and Van (pop. 370,000). Since then, the CEDIM Forensic Analysis Group (using a team of seismologists, engineers, sociologists and meteorologists) and www.earthquake-report.com has reported and analysed on the Van event. In addition, many damaging aftershocks occurring after the main eventwere analysed including a major aftershock centered in Van-Edremit on November 9th, 2011, causing much additional losses. The province of Van has around 1.035 million people as of the last census. The Van province is one of the poorest in Turkey and has much inequality between the rural and urban centers with an average HDI (Human Development Index) around that of Bhutan or Congo. The earthquakes are estimated to have caused 604 deaths (23 October) and 40 deaths (9 November); mostly due to falling debris and house collapse). In addition, between 1 billion TRY to 4 billion TRY (approx. 555 million USD - 2.2 billion USD) is estimated as total economic losses. This represents around 17 to 66% of the provincial GDP of the Van Province (approx. 3.3 billion USD) as of 2011. From the CATDAT Damaging Earthquakes Database, major earthquakes such as this one have occurred in the year 1111 causing major damage and having a magnitude around 6.5-7. In the year 1646 or 1648, Van was again struck by a M6.7 quake killing around 2000 people. In 1881, a M6.3 earthquake near Van killed 95 people. Again, in 1941, a M5.9 earthquake affected Ercis and Van killing between 190 and 430 people. 1945-1946 as well as 1972 brought again damaging and casualty-bearing earthquakes to the Van province. In 1976, the Van-Muradiye earthquake struck the border region with a M7, killing around 3840 people and causing around 51,000 people to become homeless. Key immediate lessons from similar historic earthquakes in eastern Turkey were developed in terms of the mass shelter and post-earthquake housing needs of the displaced population of Van. This included an analysis of shelter and reconstruction requirements under winter weather conditions; community resourcefulness in coping with housing needs through indigenous methods; and issues with in-place sheltering versus relocation and resettlement. A summary of the losses and implications on the GDP, economic dynamics, capital stock, social structure shelter and housing needs of the region is discussed. In addition, a quick comparison to past similar earthquakes is undertaken through the use of CATDAT.

  6. Stirling Powered Van Progam overview

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Shaltens, R. K.

    1986-01-01

    The Stirling Powered Van Program (SPVP) is a multiyear, multiphase program to evaluate the automotive Stirling engine (ASE) in Air Force vans under realistic conditions. The objective of the SPVP is to transfer to manufacturer and end user(s) (i.e., on the path to commercialization) the second-generation Mod 2 ASE upon completion of the Automotive Stirling Engine Program in 1987. In order to meet this objective, the SPVP must establish Stirling performance, integrity, reliability, durability and maintainability. The ASE program background leading to the van program is reviewed and plans for evaluating the kinematic Stirling engine in Air Force vans examined. Also discussed are the NASA technology transfers to industry that have been accomplished and those which are currently being developed.

  7. Conversion of Chemical Reaction Energy into Useful Work in the Van't Hoff Equilibrium Box

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bazhin, N. M.; Parmon, V. N.

    2007-01-01

    The ideal van't Hoff equilibrium box is described in detail. It shows that van't Hoff equilibrium box divided in two parts can simultaneously produce heat and useful work without violation of the first law of thermodynamics.

  8. Genetics Home Reference: van der Woude syndrome

    MedlinePlus

    ... What is the prognosis of a genetic condition? Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center Frequency Van der Woude syndrome is believed to occur in 1 in 35,000 to 1 in 100,000 people, based on data from Europe and Asia. Van der Woude syndrome ...

  9. A New Method for Suppressing Periodic Narrowband Interference Based on the Chaotic van der Pol Oscillator

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lu, Jia; Zhang, Xiaoxing; Xiong, Hao

    The chaotic van der Pol oscillator is a powerful tool for detecting defects in electric systems by using online partial discharge (PD) monitoring. This paper focuses on realizing weak PD signal detection in the strong periodic narrowband interference by using high sensitivity to the periodic narrowband interference signals and immunity to white noise and PD signals of chaotic systems. A new approach to removing the periodic narrowband interference by using a van der Pol chaotic oscillator is described by analyzing the motion characteristic of the chaotic oscillator on the basis of the van der Pol equation. Furthermore, the Floquet index for measuring the amplitude of periodic narrowband signals is redefined. The denoising signal processed by the chaotic van der Pol oscillators is further processed by wavelet analysis. Finally, the denoising results verify that the periodic narrowband and white noise interference can be removed efficiently by combining the theory of the chaotic van der Pol oscillator and wavelet analysis.

  10. Van der Waals interaction in uniaxial anisotropic media.

    PubMed

    Kornilovitch, Pavel E

    2013-01-23

    Van der Waals interactions between flat surfaces in uniaxial anisotropic media are investigated in the nonretarded limit. The main focus is the effect of nonzero tilt between the optical axis and the surface normal on the strength of the van der Waals attraction. General expressions for the van der Waals free energy are derived using the surface mode method and the transfer-matrix formalism. To facilitate numerical calculations a temperature-dependent three-band parameterization of the dielectric tensor of the liquid crystal 5CB is developed. A solid slab immersed in a liquid crystal experiences a van der Waals torque that aligns the surface normal relative to the optical axis of the medium. The preferred orientation is different for different materials. Two solid slabs in close proximity experience a van der Waals attraction that is strongest for homeotropic alignment of the intervening liquid crystal for all the materials studied. The results have implications for the stability of plate-like colloids in liquid crystal hosts.

  11. Van, Turkey Earthquake of 23 October 2011, Mw 7.2; An Overview on Disaster Management

    PubMed Central

    ZARÉ, Mehdi; NAZMAZAR, Behnaz

    2013-01-01

    An earthquake was happened on 23 October 2011 in Van, Turkey (Mw7.2) at the eastern most area of Anatolian plateau and in the neighborhood of Iranian border (West Azerbaijan Province). The study was performed based on field and office observations and has been focused on the process of disaster management in Turkey after the 23 October 2011 earthquake. We surveyed the quake from the view point of disaster management, and study the relief process during and after the catastrophe. The day-to-day disaster management procedure in seventeen days after the event has been scrutinized as well. The number of victims and extent of damage in Van earthquake was relatively limited according to the national experiences and recent modernization of infrastructures in Turkey. The Van earthquake caused 644 deaths and demolishing of several buildings in the cities of Van and Erciş in Van Province. The performance of the government organizations is however criticized based on their response to the event. PMID:23515082

  12. Evolution of novel O-methyltransferases from the Vanilla planifolia caffeic acid O-methyltransferase.

    PubMed

    Li, Huaijun Michael; Rotter, David; Hartman, Thomas G; Pak, Fulya E; Havkin-Frenkel, Daphna; Belanger, Faith C

    2006-06-01

    The biosynthesis of many plant secondary compounds involves the methylation of one or more hydroxyl groups, catalyzed by O-methyltransferases (OMTs). Here, we report the characterization of two OMTs, Van OMT-2 and Van OMT-3, from the orchid Vanilla planifolia Andrews. These enzymes catalyze the methylation of a single outer hydroxyl group in substrates possessing a 1,2,3-trihydroxybenzene moiety, such as methyl gallate and myricetin. This is a substrate requirement not previously reported for any OMTs. Based on sequence analysis these enzymes are most similar to caffeic acid O-methyltransferases (COMTs), but they have negligible activity with typical COMT substrates. Seven of 12 conserved substrate-binding residues in COMTs are altered in Van OMT-2 and Van OMT-3. Phylogenetic analysis of the sequences suggests that Van OMT-2 and Van OMT-3 evolved from the V. planifolia COMT. These V. planifolia OMTs are new instances of COMT-like enzymes with novel substrate preferences.

  13. Vancomycin-resistant enterococci with vanA gene in treated municipal wastewater and their association with human hospital strains.

    PubMed

    Oravcova, Veronika; Mihalcin, Matus; Zakova, Jana; Pospisilova, Lucie; Masarikova, Martina; Literak, Ivan

    2017-12-31

    Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are pathogens of increasing medical importance. In Brno, Czech Republic, we collected 37 samples from the effluent of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), 21 surface swabs from hospital settings, and 59 fecal samples from hospitalized patients and staff. Moreover, we collected 284 gull cloacal swabs from the colony situated 35km downstream the WWTP. Samples were cultured selectively. Enterococci were identified using MALDI-TOF MS, phenotypically tested for susceptibility to antibiotics, and by PCR for occurrence of resistance and virulence genes. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) were used to examine genotypic diversity. VRE carrying the vanA gene were found in 32 (86%, n=37) wastewater samples, from which we obtained 49 isolates: Enterococcus faecium (44) and Enterococcus gallinarum (2), Enterococcus casseliflavus (2), and Enterococcus raffinosus (1). From 33 (69%) of 48 inpatient stool samples, we obtained 39 vanA-carrying VRE, which belonged to E. faecium (33 isolates), Enterococcus faecalis (4), and Enterococcus raffinosus (2). Nearly one-third of the samples from hospital surfaces contained VRE with the vanA gene. VRE were not detected among gulls. Sixty-seven (84%, n=80) E. faecium isolates carried virulence genes hyl and/or esp. Virulence of E. faecalis was encoded by gelE, asa1, and cylA genes. A majority of the E. faecium isolates belonged to the clinically important sequence types ST17 (WWTP: 10 isolates; hospital: 4 isolates), ST18 (9;8), and ST78 (5;0). The remaining isolates belonged to ST555 (2;0), ST262 (1;6), ST273 (3;0), ST275 (1;0), ST549 (2;0), ST19 (0;1), ST323 (3;0), and ST884 (7;17). Clinically important enterococci carrying the vanA gene were almost continually detectable in the effluent of the WWTP, indicating insufficient removal of VRE during wastewater treatment and permanent shedding of these antibiotic resistant pathogens into the environment from this source. This represents a risk of their transmission to the environment. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  14. Reply to “Statistical evaluation of the VAN Method using the historic earthquake catalog in Greece,” by Richard L. Aceves, Stephen K. Park and David J. Strauss

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Varotsos, P.; Lazaridou, M.

    The pioneering calculation by Aceves et al. [1996] shed light on the main question of this debate, i.e., on whether “VAN predictions can be ascribed to chance.” Aceves et al. [1996] conclude that “the VAN method has resulted in a significantly higher prediction rate than randomly sampling a PDF (probability density function) map generated from a 25 year history of earthquakes.” After investigating the totality of VAN predictions issued during the period 1987-1989, Aceves et al. [1996] found: “The prediction rate for the VAN method clearly exceeds that from the random model at all time lags between 5-22 days. At a 5 day time lag, the VAN prediction rate of 35.7% has a P-value of less than 0.06%. This means that a random model does as well as does the VAN method less than 0.06% of the time. At 22 days, the prediction rate of 67.9% has a P-value of less than 0.07%.” These conclusions basically coincide with those of Hamada [1993] although Aceves et al. [1996] followed different procedures. They are also in fundamental agreement with the results of Honkura and Tanaka [1996]. Another important conclusion of Aceves et al. [1996] is that, after declustering the earthquake catalog and prediction list from aftershocks, “VAN method is still formally significant.”

  15. Genetics Home Reference: Ellis-van Creveld syndrome

    MedlinePlus

    ... CREVELD SYNDROME Sources for This Page Baujat G, Le Merrer M. Ellis-van Creveld syndrome. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2007 Jun ... CB, Kochilas L, Schimmenti LA, Moller JH. Ellis-van Creveld syndrome and congenital heart defects: presentation of an additional 32 cases. Pediatr Cardiol. 2011 Oct;32( ...

  16. Population-based Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis and Trichomonas vaginalis Prevalence Using Discarded, Deidentified Urine Specimens Previously Collected for Drug Testing (Open Access Publisher’s Version)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2017-10-24

    123van Houdt R, et al. Sex Transm Infect 2018;94:117–123. doi:10.1136/sextrans-2017-053133 Epidemiology letter Population-based Neisseria...trichomonas vaginalis testing, Melinda Balansay-ames, chris Myers and gary Brice for Pcr- based sex determination testing, and Kimberly De Vera for...dx. doi. org/ 10. 1136/ sextrans- 2017- 053355) To cite Harbertson J, Jamerson M, graf PcF, et al. Sex Transm Infect 2018;94:123. received 28 July

  17. Commissioning and field tests of a van-mounted system for the detection of radioactive sources and Special Nuclear Material

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

    Cester, D.; Lunardon, M.; Stevanato, L.

    2015-07-01

    MODES SNM project aimed to carry out technical research in order to develop a prototype for a mobile, modular detection system for radioactive sources and Special Nuclear Materials (SNM). Its main goal was to deliver a tested prototype of a modular mobile system capable of passively detecting weak or shielded radioactive sources with accuracy higher than that of currently available systems. By the end of the project all the objectives have been successfully achieved. Results from the laboratory commissioning and the field tests will be presented. (authors)

  18. IKK and (Beta) - Catenin in Breast Cancer

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2004-07-01

    signaling activity. Earlier data generated from the Byers lab have shown that phosphorylation of certain serine residues in the N-terminal of 13...ligand specificity. Cancer Res 60:4709-4713. 58. van de Wetering, M., R. Cavailo, D. Dooijes, M. van Beest , J. van Es, J. Louriero, A. Ypma, D. Hursh

  19. Jao Van De Lagemaat | NREL

    Science.gov Websites

    Jao Van De Lagemaat Photo of Jao Vandelagemaat. Jao Van De Lagemaat Center Director: Chemistry and Lagemaat is currently the Center Director of the Chemistry and Nanoscience Center at NREL. He received his university. Education Ph.D. Physical Chemistry, University of Utrecht Featured Publications View all NREL

  20. Is Progressive Education Obsolete: A Reconsideration.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Beineke, John A.

    1993-01-01

    Van Til's 1962 article on whether or not progressive education is obsolete was a response to charges that the new education as espoused by Dewey was outmoded. This paper reexamines Van Til's article and suggests a prognostication similar to Van Til's could be ventured today that another period of progressivism is inevitable. (SM)

  1. A Conversation with William Van Til.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Beineke, John A.

    1989-01-01

    Reports an interview with William Van Til, Coffman Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Education at Indiana State University (Terre Haute). Van Til reviews his career as a social studies teacher and his writings on curriculum and social foundations. Presents his opinions on progressive education, famous educators, educational history and reform,…

  2. Assuring Safety in Bus Transportation--Update on Federal Legislation.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Craft, Nick

    2003-01-01

    Discusses the growing use of vans for transportation by child care centers and increasing concerns about van safety. Presents information on relevant federal legislation related to motor vehicle safety and the safety standards of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Recommends that child care programs replace retiring vans with…

  3. Basic Research in Electronics (JSEP)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1991-12-01

    Single Crystal Growth Single crystals of Bi2Sr 2 CaCu2 O8 (BSCCO) have been prepared following the method of Mitzi , et al. [241. A mixture of oxides...P.C. van Son, H. van Kempen and P. Wyder, Phys. Rev. Lett., 50 2226 (1987). [24] D.B. Mitzi , L.W. Lombardo, A. Kapitulnik,/S.S. Laderman and R.D...Phys. Rev., 165 837 (1908). P.C. van Son, H. van Kempen and P. Wyder, Phys. Rev. Lett., 59 2228 (1987). D.B. Mitzi , L.W. Lombardo, A. Kapitulnik

  4. Nanotechnology-Enabled Optical Molecular Imaging of Breast Cancer

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-07-01

    Jacobus J M van Der Hoeven, Elsken van Der Wall, Petra van Der Groep, Paul J van Diest, Emile F I Comans, Urvi Joshi, et al. 2002. “Biologic correlates...William B Farrar, and Edward W Martin . 2008. “Novel perioperative imaging with 18F-FDG PET/CT and intraoperative 18F-FDG detection using a handheld gamma...n752170246r84660/. Hall, Nathan C, Stephen P Povoski, Douglas A Murrey, Michael V Knopp, and Edward W Martin . 2007. “Combined approach of perioperative 18F-FDG PET

  5. Dynamical property analysis of fractionally damped van der pol oscillator and its application

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhong, Qiuhui; Zhang, Chunrui

    2012-01-01

    In this paper, the fractionally damped van der pol equation was studied. Firstly, the fractionally damped van der pol equation was transformed into a set of integer order equations. Then the Lyapunov exponents diagram was given. Secondly, it was transformed into a set of fractional integral equations and solved by a predictor-corrector method. The time domain diagrams and phase trajectory were used to describe the dynamic behavior. Finally, the fractionally damped van der pol equation was used to detect a weak signal.

  6. Investigation of Gene Expression Correlating With Centrosome Amplification in Development and Progression of Breast Cancer

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2004-09-01

    M. A., Broerse, J. J., deVries, J. B., vandenBerg, K. K., Knaan, 33. Papa, D., Li, S. A. & Li, J. J. (2003) Mol. Carcinog. 38, 97-105. S. & van der ...Veer LI, Dai H, van de Vijver MJ, et al. Gene (n = 84). These data are similar to those of van de expression profiling predicts clinical outcome of...breast Vijver et al,"O who demonstrated a significant cancer. Nature 2002;415:530-536. correlation between outcome and expression of 70 10 van de Vijver

  7. A notable difference between ideal gas and infinite molar volume limit of van der Waals gas

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Q. H.; Shen, Y.; Bai, R. L.; Wang, X.

    2010-05-01

    The van der Waals equation of state does not sufficiently represent a gas unless a thermodynamic potential with two proper and independent variables is simultaneously determined. The limiting procedures under which the behaviour of the van der Waals gas approaches that of an ideal gas are letting two van der Waals coefficients be zero rather than letting the molar volume become infinitely large; otherwise, the partial derivative of internal energy with respect to pressure at a fixed temperature does not vanish.

  8. Trajectory Simulation Model for a Side- Thruster Guided MLRS-Type Vehicle

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1999-05-01

    km halen . Voor de toekomst heeft men behoefte aan een dracht van ongeveer 60 km. Het is de doelstelling van opdracht A95KL410 om kennis en inzicht...G.M.H.J.L. Gadiot Datum mei 1999 Opdrachtnr. A95KL410 Rapportnr. PML 1998-A80 Figuur M.I.- Lancering van een M26-raket vanaf een MLRS ’launcher’. De...Koninklijke Nederlandse Landmacht (KL) heeft het ’Multiple Launcher Rocket System’ (MLRS) in gebruik. Met de huidige uitrusting kan men een dracht van 30

  9. Geographical Information Extraction With Remote Sensing. Part I - Main Report.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1998-08-01

    Oude Waalsdorperweg 63 Date P0 Box 96864 2509 JG The Hague August 1998 The Netherlands Author(s) Phone +31 70 374 00 00 Dr A.C. van den Broek Fax +31 70...328 09 61 M. van Persie H.H.S. Noorbergen Dr G.J. Rijckenberg SSponsor HWO-COfHWO-KL N E R Project officer J. Rogge Affiliation KIN/IA - i All...Main report Auteur(s) Dr. A.C. van den Broek, Ir. M. van Persie, Ing. H.H.S. Noorberg~en, Dr. G.J. Rijkenberg Datum augustus 1998 Opdrachtnr

  10. Kennislacunes op het gebied van wapens en munitie in OVG (Knowledge Gaps in the Area of Weapons and Munitions in MOUT)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-12-01

    Structuur 6 2.2 Inzetketen 8 2.3 Combinaties van W&M en doelen 9 2.4 Militaire activiteiten 10 3 De OVG context 11 4 Kennislacunes wapens en...Aanlal pagina’s Aantal bijlagen Ongerubriceerd drs. R.G.W. Gouweleeuw 7 november 2008 11 )eze mbricering \\N ijzigl mci) Ongerubriceerd...TNO-rapport | TNO-DV 2008 A436 9 /24 2.3 Combinaties van W&M en doelen In [2] is een overzicht opgesteld van zogenoemde ’force assets’ die tegen

  11. Geautomatiseerde Verwerking van Militaire berichten Volgens ADatP-3 (Automated Processing of Military Messages According to ADatP-3)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1992-06-01

    ATCCIS beoogt juist dat te bereiken door te werken aan ecn informatie model en een data element dictionary. TNO-rapport Pagina 9 Binnen bet C2...en distributie 44 4.3.2 Interface met de gebruiker 45 4.3.3 Interface met dc operationcle database 46 TNO-rapport Pagina 11 4.3.3.1 Interpretatie...die bezig zijn met het ontwikkelen en implementeren van berichtformaten. Deel I van de publicatie bevat de beschrijving van FORMETS, delen 11 , I11 en

  12. Jacobus Schroeder van der Kolk (1797-1862): his resistance against materialism.

    PubMed

    Eling, P

    1998-07-01

    Schroeder van der Kolk is regarded as the founder of Dutch psychiatry and neurology. This paper describes his vitalistic views on the relation between body and soul, as formulated by him in a series of lectures. These lectures were intended to counteract the materialistic tendencies of some of Schroeder van der Kolk's French and German contemporaries. It is argued that Schroeder van der Kolk can be regarded as the transition in Holland from the "Naturphilosophie" approach to the modern experimental approach in physiology. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.

  13. J. H. Van Vleck and Magnetism at the University of Wisconsin: 1928 -1934

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Huber, David

    2011-03-01

    In 1928, John Van Vleck returned to his alma mater to take a position in the Physics Department. Six years later he left to join the faculty of Harvard University. While Van Vleck was at Wisconsin, he began a series of theoretical studies that helped lay the foundation for the modern theory of magnetism in solids. In 1932 Van Vleck published his celebrated monograph, The Theory of Electric and Magnetic Susceptibilities, in which he made use of the new theory to explain the results of experimental studies in a variety of magnetic materials. In my talk, I will review the accomplishments of Van Vleck and his students during this period and also comment briefly on his notes for a second edition of the book.

  14. Margaret Cavendish's materialist critique of van Helmontian chymistry.

    PubMed

    Clucas, Stephen

    2011-03-01

    A striking omission in the scholarship on the reception of the chymical philosophy of Jan Baptista van Helmont in England in the seventeenth century is the work of the mid-seventeenth-century natural philosopher Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle. In her Philosophical Letters (1664), Cavendish offers an extended critique of Van Helmont's work (whose Ortus Medicince had recently been translated into English by John Sadler). In this paper, I compare Cavendish's criticisms with those of Robert Boyle in his Sceptical Chymist (1661). Both Boyle and Cavendish attacked Van Helmont for the obscurity of his chymical vocabulary and concepts, and attacked his seminalism. Although their critiques had much in common, they diverged in their attitudes to Van Helmont's experiments. As an opponent of the experimental philosophy, Cavendish had little interest in the quality of Van Helmont's experimental claims, whereas Boyle was critical of their unreplicability. I also try to show that the two writers had very different polemical agendas, with Boyle defending his vision of chymistry based on a corpuscularian natural philosophy, and Cavendish being as much concerned with establishing her religious orthodoxy as with defending the truth claims of her own materialist vitalism. For Cavendish, Van Helmont was an example of the dangers of mingling theology and natural philosophy.

  15. Multidisciplinary management of a patient with van der Woude syndrome: A case report.

    PubMed

    Tehranchi, Azita; Behnia, Hossein; Nadjmi, Nasser; Yassaee, Vahid Reza; Ravesh, Zeinab; Mina, Morteza

    2017-01-01

    Van der Woude syndrome (VWS) is the most frequent form of syndromic cleft lip and palate (SCLP) accounting for 2% of all patients with CLP. We describe the orthodontic treatment of a girl diagnosed with VWS referred by her family dentist for her cosmetic concerns. Comprehensive orthodontic treatment, secondary bone graft, distraction osteogenesis (for a deficient maxilla), secondary palatoplasty and excision of lower lip pits, as well as orthodontic and prosthetic procedures may provide a satisfactory outcome. Genetic testing showed a known putative splice site mutation (c.174+1G/A) as the prime cause of VWS in our patient and her family. SCLP has significant effects on facial aesthetics and the psychosocial status. Parents should be assessed and counseled appropriately. This condition is treatable in the absence of life threatening systemic anomalies. An interdisciplinary team approach is advocated. Copyright © 2016 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

  16. Energetic Proton Spectra Measured by the Van Allen Probes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Summers, Danny; Shi, Run; Engebretson, Mark J.; Oksavik, Kjellmar; Manweiler, Jerry W.; Mitchell, Donald G.

    2017-10-01

    We test the hypothesis that pitch angle scattering by electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves can limit ring current proton fluxes. For two chosen magnetic storms, during 17-20 March 2013 and 17-20 March 2015, we measure proton energy spectra in the region 3 ≤ L ≤ 6 using the RBSPICE-B instrument on the Van Allen Probes. The most intense proton spectra are observed to occur during the recovery periods of the respective storms. Using proton precipitation data from the POES (NOAA and MetOp) spacecraft, we deduce that EMIC wave action was prevalent at the times and L-shell locations of the most intense proton spectra. We calculate limiting ring current proton energy spectra from recently developed theory. Comparisons between the observed proton energy spectra and the theoretical limiting spectra show reasonable agreement. We conclude that the measurements of the most intense proton spectra are consistent with self-limiting by EMIC wave scattering.

  17. The Learning Curve in neurofeedback of Peter Van Deusen: A review article

    PubMed Central

    Ribas, Valdenilson Ribeiro; Ribas, Renata de Melo Guerra; Martins, Hugo André de Lima

    2016-01-01

    ABSTRACT The Learning Curve (TLC) in neurofeedback concept emerged after Peter Van Deusen compiled the results of articles on the expected electrical activity of the brain. This concept was subsequently tested on patients at four clinics in Atlanta between 1994 and 2001. The aim of this paper was to report the historical aspects of TLC. Articles published on the electronic databases MEDLINE/PubMed and Web of Science were reviewed. During patient evaluation, TLC investigates categories called disconnected, hot temporal lobes, reversal of alpha and beta waves, blocking, locking, and filtering or processing. This enables neuroscientists to use their training designs and, by means of behavioral psychology, to work on neuroregulation, as self-regulation for patients. TLC shows the relationships between electrical, mental and behavioral activity in patients. It also identifies details of patterns that can assist physicians in their choice of treatment. PMID:29213440

  18. X-ray electron density investigation of chemical bonding in van der Waals materials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kasai, Hidetaka; Tolborg, Kasper; Sist, Mattia; Zhang, Jiawei; Hathwar, Venkatesha R.; Filsø, Mette Ø.; Cenedese, Simone; Sugimoto, Kunihisa; Overgaard, Jacob; Nishibori, Eiji; Iversen, Bo B.

    2018-03-01

    Van der Waals (vdW) solids have attracted great attention ever since the discovery of graphene, with the essential feature being the weak chemical bonding across the vdW gap. The nature of these weak interactions is decisive for many extraordinary properties, but it is a strong challenge for current theory to accurately model long-range electron correlations. Here we use synchrotron X-ray diffraction data to precisely determine the electron density in the archetypal vdW solid, TiS2, and compare the results with density functional theory calculations. Quantitative agreement is observed for the chemical bonding description in the covalent TiS2 slabs, but significant differences are identified for the interactions across the gap, with experiment revealing more electron deformation than theory. The present data provide an experimental benchmark for testing theoretical models of weak chemical bonding.

  19. Effect of adding Te to layered GaSe crystals to increase the van der Waals bonding force

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tanabe, Tadao; Zhao, Shu; Sato, Yohei; Oyama, Yutaka

    2017-10-01

    The interplanar binding strength of layered GaSe1-xTex crystals was directly measured using a tensile testing machine. The GaSe1-xTex crystals were grown by a low temperature liquid phase solution method under a controlled Se vapor pressure. The stoichiometry-controlled GaSe1-xTex crystal has the ɛ-polytype structure of GaSe, where the Te atoms are substituted for some of the Se atoms in the GaSe crystal. The effect of adding Te on the bonding strength between the GaSe layers was determined from direct measurements of the van der Waals bonding energy. The bonding energy was increased from 0.023 × 106 N/m2 for GaSe to 0.16 × 106 N/m2 for GaSe1-xTex (x = 0.106).

  20. Handling properties of diverse automobiles and correlation with full scale response data. [driver/vehicle response to aerodynamic disturbances

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hoh, R. H.; Weir, D. H.

    1973-01-01

    Driver/vehicle response and performance of a variety of vehicles in the presence of aerodynamic disturbances are discussed. Steering control is emphasized. The vehicles include full size station wagon, sedan, compact sedan, van, pickup truck/camper, and wagon towing trailer. Driver/vehicle analyses are used to estimate response and performance. These estimates are correlated with full scale data with test drivers and the results are used to refine the driver/vehicle models, control structure, and loop closure criteria. The analyses and data indicate that the driver adjusts his steering control properties (when he can) to achieve roughly the same level of performance despite vehicle variations. For the more disturbance susceptible vehicles, such as the van, the driver tightens up his control. Other vehicles have handling dynamics which cause him to loosen his control response, even though performance degrades.

  1. Communication: Multiple-property-based diabatization for open-shell van der Waals molecules

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

    Karman, Tijs; Avoird, Ad van der; Groenenboom, Gerrit C., E-mail: gerritg@theochem.ru.nl

    2016-03-28

    We derive a new multiple-property-based diabatization algorithm. The transformation between adiabatic and diabatic representations is determined by requiring a set of properties in both representations to be related by a similarity transformation. This set of properties is determined in the adiabatic representation by rigorous electronic structure calculations. In the diabatic representation, the same properties are determined using model diabatic states defined as products of undistorted monomer wave functions. This diabatic model is generally applicable to van der Waals molecules in arbitrary electronic states. Application to locating seams of conical intersections and collisional transfer of electronic excitation energy is demonstrated formore » O{sub 2} − O{sub 2} in low-lying excited states. Property-based diabatization for this test system included all components of the electric quadrupole tensor, orbital angular momentum, and spin-orbit coupling.« less

  2. Characterization of Hydrogen Embrittled Zircaloy-4 by Using a Van de Graaff Particle Accelerator

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Budd, John

    2013-04-01

    On-site, dry cask storage was originally by the intended to be a short-term solution for holding spent nuclear fuel. Due to the lack of a permanent storage facility, the nuclear power industry seeks to assess the effective lifetime of the casks. One issue which could compromise cask integrity is Hydrogen embrittlement. This phenomenon occurs in the Zircaloy-4 fuel-rod cladding and is caused by the formation of Zirconium hydrides. Over time, thermal stresses caused by the heat from reactions of the stored nuclear fuel could result in significant breaches of the cladding. Our group at Texas A&M University- Kingsville is conducting experiments to aid in determining when such breaches will occur. We will irradiate samples of the alloy with protons of energies up to 400 keV using a Van de Graaff particle accelerator. Once irradiated, their properties will be characterized using scanning electron microscopy and Vickers hardness tests.

  3. The meaning of "significance" for different types of research [translated and annotated by Eric-Jan Wagenmakers, Denny Borsboom, Josine Verhagen, Rogier Kievit, Marjan Bakker, Angelique Cramer, Dora Matzke, Don Mellenbergh, and Han L. J. van der Maas]. 1969.

    PubMed

    de Groot, A D

    2014-05-01

    Adrianus Dingeman de Groot (1914-2006) was one of the most influential Dutch psychologists. He became famous for his work "Thought and Choice in Chess", but his main contribution was methodological--De Groot co-founded the Department of Psychological Methods at the University of Amsterdam (together with R. F. van Naerssen), founded one of the leading testing and assessment companies (CITO), and wrote the monograph "Methodology" that centers on the empirical-scientific cycle: observation-induction-deduction-testing-evaluation. Here we translate one of De Groot's early articles, published in 1956 in the Dutch journal Nederlands Tijdschrift voor de Psychologie en Haar Grensgebieden. This article is more topical now than it was almost 60years ago. De Groot stresses the difference between exploratory and confirmatory ("hypothesis testing") research and argues that statistical inference is only sensible for the latter: "One 'is allowed' to apply statistical tests in exploratory research, just as long as one realizes that they do not have evidential impact". De Groot may have also been one of the first psychologists to argue explicitly for preregistration of experiments and the associated plan of statistical analysis. The appendix provides annotations that connect De Groot's arguments to the current-day debate on transparency and reproducibility in psychological science. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  4. Comparison of clients of a mobile health van and a traditional STD clinic.

    PubMed

    Ellen, Jonathan M; Bonu, Sekhar; Arruda, Jaime S; Ward, Michael A; Vogel, Ruth

    2003-04-01

    The objective of this study was to determine if there were any demographic, behavioral, and clinical differences between clients seen aboard a mobile sexually transmitted disease (STD)/HIV clinic compared with those seen in a traditional municipal STD/HIV health clinic for receipt of STD/HIV services. Clients seen in the two different settings were interviewed about demographic characteristics, reasons for their visit, STD history, their HIV/STD risk factors, and the risk factors of their sex partners. Clients in both settings were also offered testing for syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and HIV. Results suggested that clients seen at the mobile clinic were older, more likely to be injecting drug users themselves and/or to have sex partners who were, or had engaged in prostitution for money or drugs. Over half (54.4%) of the mobile clinic clients sought testing for HIV, and they were far less likely to be seeking care for symptoms of an STD. In contrast, only 7.1% of municipal clinic clients indicated HIV testing as the reason for their visit, whereas nearly two thirds (64.5%) reported symptoms of disease. Two percent of municipal clinic clients and 5.4% of mobile clinic clients had a positive HIV test ( p<.001), and 17.8% of STD clinic clients and 5.6% of mobile van clients had a positive gonorrhea and/or test ( p<.001). These data suggest that a mobile STD/HIV clinic may be an effective strategy to reach individuals at high risk for HIV who are not being served by traditional municipal STD/HIV health clinics.

  5. Pre-Service Elementary School and Secondary Mathematics Teachers' Van Hiele Levels and Gender Differences

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Halat, Erdogan

    2008-01-01

    The aim of this study was to find and compare the pre-service elementary school and secondary mathematic teachers' reasoning stages in geometry. There were a total of 281 pre-service teachers, 125 elementary school teachers and 156 secondary mathematics teachers, involved in the study. The researcher employed a multiple-choice geometry test. This…

  6. Improving the Sequential Time Perception of Teenagers with Mild to Moderate Mental Retardation with 3D Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR)

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Passig, David

    2009-01-01

    Children with mental retardation have pronounced difficulties in using cognitive strategies and comprehending abstract concepts--among them, the concept of sequential time (Van-Handel, Swaab, De-Vries, & Jongmans, 2007). The perception of sequential time is generally tested by using scenarios presenting a continuum of actions. The goal of this…

  7. Tightly Coupled Mechanistic Study of Materials in the Extreme Space Environment

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-10-11

    to examine spacecraft contamination issues from the perspective of non- equilibrium gas dynamics (Levin), material response at the atomistic level...Space Environment Group has worked to examine spacecraft contamination issues from the perspective of non- equilibrium gas dynamics (Levin...material response at the atomistic level (Rajan), high fidelity gas -surface chemistry models (van Duin), and experiments to characterize and test

  8. Genetics Home Reference: spastic paraplegia type 5A

    MedlinePlus

    ... Testing (2 links) Gasser T, Finsterer J, Baets J, Van Broeckhoven C, Di Donato S, Fontaine B, De Jonghe P, Lossos A, Lynch T, Mariotti C, Schöls L, ... M, Forlani S, Guyant-Maréchal L, Fontaine B, Guimarães J, Isidor B, ... D, Chevy F, Chinnery PF, Coutinho P, Azulay JP, Feki I, Mochel F, Wolf C, ...

  9. Flexible Strategy Use by Students Who Learn Much versus Little from Text: Transitions within Think-Aloud Protocols

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Cromley, Jennifer G.; Wills, Theodore W.

    2016-01-01

    Van den Broek's landscape model explicitly posits sequences of moves during reading in real time. Two other models that implicitly describe sequences of processes during reading are tested in the present research. Coded think-aloud data from 24 undergraduate students reading scientific text were analysed with lag-sequential techniques to compare…

  10. Clinical and Microbiological Characteristics of Eggerthella lenta Bacteremia

    PubMed Central

    Tai, A. Y.; Kotsanas, D.; Francis, M. J.; Roberts, S. A.; Ballard, S. A.; Junckerstorff, R. K.; Korman, T. M.

    2014-01-01

    Eggerthella lenta is an emerging pathogen that has been underrecognized due to historical difficulties with phenotypic identification. Until now, its pathogenicity, antimicrobial susceptibility profile, and optimal treatment have been poorly characterized. In this article, we report the largest cohort of patients with E. lenta bacteremia to date and describe in detail their clinical features, microbiologic characteristics, treatment, and outcomes. We identified 33 patients; the median age was 68 years, and there was no gender predominance. Twenty-seven patients (82%) had serious intra-abdominal pathology, often requiring a medical procedure. Of those who received antibiotics (28/33, 85%), the median duration of treatment was 21.5 days. Mortality from all causes was 6% at 7 days, 12% at 30 days, and 33% at 1 year. Of 26 isolates available for further testing, all were identified as E. lenta by both commercially available matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) systems, and none were found to harbor a vanA or vanB gene. Of 23 isolates which underwent susceptibility testing, all were susceptible to amoxicillin-clavulanate, cefoxitin, metronidazole, piperacillin-tazobactam, ertapenem, and meropenem, 91% were susceptible to clindamycin, 74% were susceptible to moxifloxacin, and 39% were susceptible to penicillin. PMID:25520446

  11. Statistical strength of experiments to reject local realism with photon pairs and inefficient detectors

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

    Zhang Yanbao; Mathematical and Computational Sciences Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, Colorado, 80305; Knill, Emanuel

    2010-03-15

    Because of the fundamental importance of Bell's theorem, a loophole-free demonstration of a violation of local realism (LR) is highly desirable. Here, we study violations of LR involving photon pairs. We quantify the experimental evidence against LR by using measures of statistical strength related to the Kullback-Leibler (KL) divergence, as suggested by van Dam et al.[W. van Dam, R. D. Gill, and P. D. Grunwald, IEEE Trans. Inf. Theory. 51, 2812 (2005)]. Specifically, we analyze a test of LR with entangled states created from two independent polarized photons passing through a polarizing beam splitter. We numerically study the detection efficiencymore » required to achieve a specified statistical strength for the rejection of LR depending on whether photon counters or detectors are used. Based on our results, we find that a test of LR free of the detection loophole requires photon counters with efficiencies of at least 89.71%, or photon detectors with efficiencies of at least 91.11%. For comparison, we also perform this analysis with ideal unbalanced Bell states, which are known to allow rejection of LR with detector efficiencies above 2/3.« less

  12. Semiclassical evaluation of quantum fidelity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vanicek, Jiri

    2004-03-01

    We present a numerically feasible semiclassical method to evaluate quantum fidelity (Loschmidt echo) in a classically chaotic system. It was thought that such evaluation would be intractable, but instead we show that a uniform semiclassical expression not only is tractable but it gives remarkably accurate numerical results for the standard map in both the Fermi-golden-rule and Lyapunov regimes. Because it allows a Monte-Carlo evaluation, this uniform expression is accurate at times where there are 10^70 semiclassical contributions. Remarkably, the method also explicitly contains the ``building blocks'' of analytical theories of recent literature, and thus permits a direct test of approximations made by other authors in these regimes, rather than an a posteriori comparison with numerical results. We explain in more detail the extended validity of the classical perturbation approximation and thus provide a ``defense" of the linear response theory from the famous Van Kampen objection. We point out the potential use of our uniform expression in other areas because it gives a most direct link between the quantum Feynman propagator based on the path integral and the semiclassical Van Vleck propagator based on the sum over classical trajectories. Finally, we test the applicability of our method in integrable and mixed systems.

  13. A. E. van Vogt: In Search of Meaning.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Drake, H. L.

    A general semantics perspective of science fiction writer A. E. van Vogt is presented in this paper. The first major section of the paper contains a biographical sketch of van Vogt and traces the influence of A. Korzybski's work on general semantics, "Science and Sanity," on his writing, while the second major section provides an…

  14. Motion Sickness When Driving With a Head-Slaved Camera System

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2003-02-01

    YPR-765 under armour (Report TM-97-A026). Soesterberg, The Netherlands: TNO Human Factors Research Institute. Van Erp, J.B.F., Padmos, P. & Tenkink, E...Institute. Van Erp, J.B.F., Van den Dobbelsteen, J.J. & Padmos, P. (1998). Improved camera-monitor system for driving YPR-765 under armour (Report TM-98

  15. 15 CFR Appendix F to Part 30 - FTR to FTSR Concordance

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ..., aircraft, cargo vans, and other carriers and containers 30.33 Vessels, planes, cargo vans, and other carriers and containers sold foreign. 30.27 Return of exported cargo to the United States prior to reaching... transactions. 30.26 Reporting of vessels, aircraft, cargo vans, and other carriers and containers 30.33 Vessels...

  16. The "Discernment of a Human Face" in Research: A Reaction to Van Hesteren's Human Science and Counselling.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Knowles, Don

    1986-01-01

    Responds to Van Hesteren's advocacy of a "human science" orientation, using constructs and analytical methods from phenomenology to enhance methodology. Approves of a philosophy of science and of a self-perspective. Questions the need for complex terminology, Van Hesteren's definition of what constitutes research, quantification, and…

  17. A Diverging View of Role Modeling in Medical Education

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Sandhu, Gurjit; Rich, Jessica V.; Magas, Christopher; Walker, G. Ross

    2015-01-01

    Research in the area of role modeling has primarily focused on the qualities and attributes of exceptional role models, and less attention has been given to the act of role modeling itself (Elzubeir & Rizk, 2001; Jochemsen-van der Leeuw, van Dijk, van Etten-Jamaludin, & Wieringa-de Waard, 2013; Wright, 1996; Wright, Wong, & Newill,…

  18. Fundacion Bernard van Leer, Boletin Informativo, 1987-1996 (Bernard van Leer Foundation Information Bulletin).

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Fundacion Bernard van Leer, Boletin Informativo, 1996

    1996-01-01

    This document consists of ten annual Spanish Language Bulletins, published during the period 1987-1996. The early bulletins were largely composed of selections originally published in the Bernard van Lear Foundation's English-Language "Newsletter The articles discuss topics such as: (1) parents as children's first teachers; (2) health and…

  19. Early Childhood Matters: The Bulletin of the Bernard van Leer Foundation, 1999.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Smale, Jim, Ed.

    1999-01-01

    This document consists of the three 1999 issues of The Bernard van Leer Foundation's "Early Childhood Matters." This periodical, addressed to practitioners in the field of early childhood education, evolved from an in-house publication directed to projects funded by the Bernard van Leer Foundation. Articles in the February 1999 edition…

  20. Early Childhood Matters: The Bulletin of the Bernard van Leer Foundation, 1998.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Smale, Jim, Ed.

    1998-01-01

    This document consists of the three 1998 issues of The Bernard van Leer Foundations'"Early Childhood Matters." This periodical, addressed to practitioners in the field of early childhood development, evolved from an in-house publication directed to projects funded by the Bernard van Leer Foundation. Articles in the February 1998 edition…

  1. The Selection of a Van Lift or a Scooter.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Stevens, John H.

    1990-01-01

    This newsletter issue describes 3-wheeled scooters and van lifts that can assist a person with a disability to drive independently or have access to transportation. The section on van lifts compares hydraulic lifts and electric lifts, lists manufacturers, and offers an "assessment quiz" outlining factors to consider in selecting a van…

  2. Early Childhood Matters: The Bulletin of the Bernard van Leer Foundation, 2000.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Smale, Jim, Ed.

    2000-01-01

    This document consists of the three 2000 issues of The Bernard van Leer Foundation's "Early Childhood Matters." This periodical, addressed to practitioners in the field of early childhood education, evolved from an in-house publication directed to projects funded by the Bernard van Leer Foundation. Articles in the February 2000 edition…

  3. Cognitive and Neural Sciences Division 1989 Programs.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1989-09-01

    INVESTIGATOR: Herbert L. Roitblat University of Hawaii Department of Psychology (808) 948-8027 R&T PROJECT CODE: 4426707 CONTRACT No: N0001489J1093 CURRENT END...Posner, 76, 77 Fuster, 107 Kieras, 32 247 V Reckase, 54 Speidel, 96 Van Cott, 127 Robertson, 126 Sperling, 81 Van Essen, 85 Roitblat , 216 Squire, 153 Van

  4. Genetics Home Reference: Langerhans cell histiocytosis

    MedlinePlus

    ... Oct;29(5):853-73. doi: 10.1016/j.hoc.2015.06.005. Epub 2015 Aug 18. Review. Citation on PubMed Nelson DS, van Halteren A, Quispel WT, van den Bos C, Bovée JV, Patel B, Badalian-Very G, van Hummelen P, Ducar M, Lin L, MacConaill LE, Egeler RM, ...

  5. Runway Incursion Prevention System: Demonstration and Testing at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Jones, Denise R.; Quach, Cuong C.; Young, Steven D.

    2007-01-01

    A Runway Incursion Prevention System (RIPS) was tested at the Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport (DFW) in October 2000. The system integrated airborne and ground components to provide both pilots and controllers with enhanced situational awareness, supplemental guidance cues, a real-time display of traffic information, and warning of runway incursions in order to prevent runway incidents while also improving operational capability. A series of test runs was conducted using NASA s Boeing 757 research aircraft and a test van equipped to emulate an incurring aircraft. The system was also demonstrated to over 100 visitors from the aviation community. This paper gives an overview of the RIPS, DFW flight test activities, and quantitative and qualitative results of the testing.

  6. Obituary: James Alfred Van Allen, 1914-2006

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ludwig, George H.; McIlwain, Carl Edwin

    2006-12-01

    James Alfred Van Allen, world-renowned space scientist, died 9 August 2006 at the age of ninety-one. He succumbed to heart failure after a ten-week period of declining health. Van Allen served for his entire sixty-seven-year professional career as an amazingly productive researcher, space science spokesman, inspired teacher, and valued colleague. The realization by him and his associates that charged particles are trapped by the Earth's magnetic field began a whole new field of research, magnetospheric physics. Following that initial discovery, he and his associates quickly extended their observations, first to the inner planets, and then to the rest of the planets and beyond. During his tenure at Iowa, he and his group flew instruments on more than sixty successful Earth satellites and planetary spacecraft, including the first missions to the planets Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Van Allen's lifetime publication list numbers more than 275, of which many are widely-cited, seminal papers. He was the sole author of more than 125 of those papers. Beyond the research laboratory, Van Allen worked energetically throughout his career in establishing space research as a new branch of human inquiry. He was among the most sought-after as a committee member and adviser, working at the highest levels of government, including the White House and Congress, and at all levels of the national and international research establishments. Many presentations in the non-scientific arena helped to bring the exciting discoveries and challenges of space research to the attention of the general public. James Van Allen (Van to his many friends and colleagues) was born on 7 September 1914 on a small farm near Mount Pleasant, Iowa, the second of four sons of Alfred Morris Van Allen and Alma Olney Van Allen. After high school in Mount Pleasant, he entered Iowa Wesleyan College, majoring in physics and graduating summa cum laude. While there, he was introduced to geophysics research under the tutelage of physics professor Thomas C. Poulter, who served as chief scientist on the 1933-1935 Second Byrd Antarctic Expedition. He entered the State University of Iowa for his graduate work in physics, receiving his master's degree in solid state physics in 1936 and his Ph.D. degree in nuclear physics in 1939. Van Allen's first post-graduate work was as a Carnegie Research Fellow at the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism (DTM) of the Carnegie Institution, located in Washington, DC. There, he was involved in the department's work on nuclear physics, geomagnetism, cosmic rays, auroral physics, and ionospheric physics. By late 1939, the war in Europe was escalating, and Van Allen shifted to development of the embryonic proximity fuse, continuing that work in the Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) that was established for that purpose in 1942. Van Allen and two colleagues took the first of the then highly secret radio proximity fuses to the South Pacific Fleet for initial field trials and introduction into combat. Following the war, Van Allen organized the High Altitude Research Group at APL and directed it until his departure in1950. Among other things, he participated in the planning and use of captured German V-2 rockets. As that program was closing, he led the development of the Aerobee sounding rocket to meet the need for continuing high altitude research. The Aerobee achieved a remarkable record of achievement, with a total of 1,037 fired as of January 1985. As the 1950s opened, Van Allen and his family moved to Iowa City, where he became Professor and Head of the State University of Iowa Physics Department. He and his new graduate students started a research program by using the university's football practice field to launch cosmic ray instruments with small surplus balloons. That quickly expanded to the use of rockets to carry larger balloons to greater heights. Those "rockoons," a Van Allen invention, were launched from a series of six highly successful field expeditions from 1952 through 1957. As the prospect for launching Earth satellites began to materialize, Van Allen became an enthusiastic participant in planning and executing the U.S. program. After gaining a spot on the short list of initial experiments for the Vanguard satellite program, development of the cosmic ray instrument that he had proposed became a high laboratory priority. That instrument was launched in abbreviated form by an Army Jupiter C vehicle as Explorer I on 31 January 1958, and the full version was launched less than two months later as Explorer III. The two satellites resulted in what Van Allen considered the crowning event of his long and distinguished career — the discovery, with his university associates, of the bands of intense radiation that surround the Earth, now known as the "Van Allen Radiation Belts." Van Allen continued to take a leading role in extending space research beyond Earth's orbit. His group sent instruments to the Moon, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and throughout interplanetary space. During his outstandingly productive career, Van Allen served as principal investigator on more than twenty-five space science missions. James Van Allen was the consummate teacher and mentor. Years ago, when asked how he would most like to be remembered, he replied simply, "As a teacher." He supervised the preparation of forty-eight master's and thirty-four doctor's theses by sixty different individuals. He gave those graduate students extraordinary freedom and responsibility in the conduct of their projects. He always treated his students, both undergraduate and graduate, with respect, listening to them, learning from them, and guiding them with wisdom and kindness. The folksy, pipe-smoking scientist worked from 1951 until 1964 in a modest office on the second floor of the old Physics and Mathematics building. He maintained his own private laboratory, where he continued to spend many hours with hands-on work at the bench. When the new Physics and Astronomy building was completed in 1964 (rechristened in 1982, appropriately, as Van Allen Hall), he set up his private working room apart from his departmental office in a large, soon-cluttered, corner office on the seventh floor. That room became the center of his activity in 1985, when he retired as Department Head and active teacher. There, through his retirement years and until shortly before his death, he continued his roles as researcher, advisor, and mentor, serving at times as Professor Emeritus, Carver Professor of Physics, and Regent Distinguished Professor. Van Allen maintained membership in over a dozen professional organizations and received over a dozen Honorary ScD degrees. His additional awards and other distinct forms of recognition are far too numerous to list here, but include AAS's Gerard P. Kuiper Prize, the Crafoord Prize of the Royal Swedish Academy of Science, the National Medal of Science presented by U.S. President Reagan, the National Science Foundation's Vannevar Bush Award, NASA's Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2006 Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Lifetime Achievement Trophy, the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomy Society, AGU's John A. Fleming Award and William Bowie Medal, and the Abelson Prize by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In addition to those many public acknowledgements of his prodigious contributions, James A. Van Allen will be fondly remembered by his many students, who now populate the entire realm of modern space research. He is survived by his wife, Abigail Fithian Halsey II Van Allen, and his five children, Cynthia Van Allen Schaffner, Dr. Margot Van Allen Cairns, Sarah Van Allen Trimble, Thomas Halsey Van Allen, and Peter C. Van Allen.

  7. Cosmological models constructed by van der Waals fluid approximation and volumetric expansion

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Samanta, G. C.; Myrzakulov, R.

    The universe modeled with van der Waals fluid approximation, where the van der Waals fluid equation of state contains a single parameter ωv. Analytical solutions to the Einstein’s field equations are obtained by assuming the mean scale factor of the metric follows volumetric exponential and power-law expansions. The model describes a rapid expansion where the acceleration grows in an exponential way and the van der Waals fluid behaves like an inflation for an initial epoch of the universe. Also, the model describes that when time goes away the acceleration is positive, but it decreases to zero and the van der Waals fluid approximation behaves like a present accelerated phase of the universe. Finally, it is observed that the model contains a type-III future singularity for volumetric power-law expansion.

  8. [Multidisciplinary treatment in orthodontics].

    PubMed

    Oosterkamp, B C M; Kuijpers, M A R

    2015-11-01

    In deze editie van het NTvT neemt het thema ‘Multidisciplinaire aanpak in de orthodontie’ de lezer mee in de mogelijkheden van multidisciplinaire zorg vanuit een orthodontisch oogpunt. Tandheelkunde is niet meer uitsluitend gericht op preventie en behandeling van cariës. De gebitstoestand van zowel ­kinderen als volwassenen is de afgelopen 30 jaar namelijk sterk verbeterd. De cariës­ervaring is duidelijk afgenomen en mensen behouden steeds langer hun natuurlijke gebit. Daarnaast is een fraai uitziend en goed functionerend gebit steeds vanzelfsprekender geworden en zijn patiënten gemotiveerd hun gebit te behouden. Deze ontwikkelingen vragen ook van (mond)zorgverleners een andere kijk op de zorg. De tandheelkundige zorg betreft steeds meer integrale zorg met een multidisciplinair karakter waarbij ­verschillende disciplines samenwerken om in samenspraak met de patiënt tot een optimaal resultaat te komen.

  9. Enhanced Chiral Discriminatory van der Waals Interactions Mediated by Chiral Surfaces

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Barcellona, Pablo; Safari, Hassan; Salam, A.; Buhmann, Stefan Yoshi

    2017-05-01

    We predict a discriminatory interaction between a chiral molecule and an achiral molecule which is mediated by a chiral body. To achieve this, we generalize the van der Waals interaction potential between two ground-state molecules with electric, magnetic, and chiral response to nontrivial environments. The force is evaluated using second-order perturbation theory with an effective Hamiltonian. Chiral media enhance or reduce the free interaction via many-body interactions, making it possible to measure the chiral contributions to the van der Waals force with current technology. The van der Waals interaction is discriminatory with respect to enantiomers of different handedness and could be used to separate enantiomers. We also suggest a specific geometric configuration where the electric contribution to the van der Waals interaction is zero, making the chiral component the dominant effect.

  10. Voltage and Pressure Scaling of Streamer Dynamics in a Helium Plasma Jet With N2 CO-Flow (Postprint)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2014-08-14

    de Wetering, R. Blanc, E. M. van Veldhuizen , and U. Ebert, J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 43, 145204 (2010). 26T. M. P. Briels, J. Kos, G. J. J. Winands, E. M... van Veldhuizen , and U. Ebert, J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 41, 234004 (2008). 27See http://physics.nist.gov/PhysRefData/ASD for National Institute of...T. Briels, and E. van Velduizen, J. Geophys. Res. 115, A00E43, doi:10.1029/2009JA014867 (2010) and references therein. 25S. Nijdam, F. M. J. H. van

  11. Quantum synchronization of quantum van der Pol oscillators with trapped ions.

    PubMed

    Lee, Tony E; Sadeghpour, H R

    2013-12-06

    The van der Pol oscillator is the prototypical self-sustained oscillator and has been used to model nonlinear behavior in biological and other classical processes. We investigate how quantum fluctuations affect phase locking of one or many van der Pol oscillators. We find that phase locking is much more robust in the quantum model than in the equivalent classical model. Trapped-ion experiments are ideally suited to simulate van der Pol oscillators in the quantum regime via sideband heating and cooling of motional modes. We provide realistic experimental parameters for 171Yb+ achievable with current technology.

  12. Size Effects in Epitaxial Films of Magnetite

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2002-06-03

    van Eemeren , J. aan de Stegge, 1727. WJ.M. de Jonge, Surf. Sci. 373 (1997) 85. [38] J.L. Dormann, T. Merceron, P. Renaudin, VA.M. Brabers, J. [20] S.A...Metals and Semiconductors, Trans Tech, Switzerland, 1994, p. __221. [4] G.A. Prinz, Phys. Today 48 (1995) 58. 100 - [5] P.J. van der Zaag. P.J.H...Bloemen. J.M. Gaines, R.M. Wolf, -10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 P.A.A. van der Heijden, R.J.M. van de Veerdonk, W.J.M. velocity [mm/s] de Jonge, J. Magn. Magn

  13. Energy Sources for Soldier Modernisation Programme Systems (Overzicht van Ontwikkelingen op het Gebied van Draagbare Energieopslag en Energieopwekking)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1999-12-01

    9 . http://home.earthlink.net/-fradella/homepage.htm 10. http ://web.mit.edu/aeroastro/www/labs/GTL/research/micro/micro.html 11 . http://www.ecr.co.il...Meijer 7 LAS/DB&P/BO/OB&T taxv. aooi Jansen 8 LAS/DB&PIBO/OB 9 LAS/DB&P/BO/CIV 10 OGMAN/Externe plannen Infanterie 11 DM/C31 12 DM/COM 13 KPU-bedrijf 14...detailed specifications mentioned before. TNO-rapport TNO-MEP - R 99/490 9 van 51 Samenvatting In dit rapport wordt een eerste globale selectie gemaakt: van

  14. Structural and Functional Adaptation of Vancomycin Resistance VanT Serine Racemases.

    PubMed

    Meziane-Cherif, Djalal; Stogios, Peter J; Evdokimova, Elena; Egorova, Olga; Savchenko, Alexei; Courvalin, Patrice

    2015-08-11

    Vancomycin resistance in Gram-positive bacteria results from the replacement of the D-alanyl-D-alanine target of peptidoglycan precursors with D-alanyl-D-lactate or D-alanyl-D-serine (D-Ala-D-Ser), to which vancomycin has low binding affinity. VanT is one of the proteins required for the production of D-Ala-D-Ser-terminating precursors by converting L-Ser to D-Ser. VanT is composed of two domains, an N-terminal membrane-bound domain, likely involved in L-Ser uptake, and a C-terminal cytoplasmic catalytic domain which is related to bacterial alanine racemases. To gain insight into the molecular function of VanT, the crystal structure of the catalytic domain of VanTG from VanG-type resistant Enterococcus faecalis BM4518 was determined. The structure showed significant similarity to type III pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP)-dependent alanine racemases, which are essential for peptidoglycan synthesis. Comparative structural analysis between VanTG and alanine racemases as well as site-directed mutagenesis identified three specific active site positions centered around Asn696 which are responsible for the L-amino acid specificity. This analysis also suggested that VanT racemases evolved from regular alanine racemases by acquiring additional selectivity toward serine while preserving that for alanine. The 4-fold-lower relative catalytic efficiency of VanTG against L-Ser versus L-Ala implied that this enzyme relies on its membrane-bound domain for L-Ser transport to increase the overall rate of d-Ser production. These findings illustrate how vancomycin pressure selected for molecular adaptation of a housekeeping enzyme to a bifunctional enzyme to allow for peptidoglycan remodeling, a strategy increasingly observed in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Vancomycin is one of the drugs of last resort against Gram-positive antibiotic-resistant pathogens. However, bacteria have evolved a sophisticated mechanism which remodels the drug target, the D-alanine ending precursors in cell wall synthesis, into precursors terminating with D-lactate or D-serine, to which vancomycin has less affinity. D-Ser is synthesized by VanT serine racemase, which has two unusual characteristics: (i) it is one of the few serine racemases identified in bacteria and (ii) it contains a membrane-bound domain involved in L-Ser uptake. The structure of the catalytic domain of VanTG showed high similarity to alanine racemases, and we identified three specific active site substitutions responsible for L-Ser specificity. The data provide the molecular basis for VanT evolution to a bifunctional enzyme coordinating both transport and racemization. Our findings also illustrate the evolution of the essential alanine racemase into a vancomycin resistance enzyme in response to antibiotic pressure. Copyright © 2015 Meziane-Cherif et al.

  15. Particle Energization in Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts Due to Solar Wind Forcing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Baker, D. N.

    2017-12-01

    Early observations of the Earth's radiation environment clearly indicated that the Van Allen belts could be delineated into an inner zone dominated by high-energy protons and an outer zone dominated by high-energy electrons. The energy distribution, spatial extent and particle species makeup of the Van Allen belts has been subsequently explored by several space missions. However, recent observations by the NASA dual-spacecraft Van Allen Probes mission have revealed unexpected properties of the radiation belts, especially for electrons at highly relativistic (E > 2 MeV) and ultra-relativistic (E > 5 MeV) kinetic energies. In this presentation we show using high spatial and temporal resolution data from the experiments on board the Van Allen Probes that multiple belts can exist concurrently and that an exceedingly sharp inner boundary exists for ultra-relativistic electrons. Using additionally available Van Allen Probes data, we demonstrate that these remarkable features of energetic electrons are driven by strong solar and solar wind forcings. The comprehensive Van Allen Probes data show more broadly and in many ways how extremely high energy particles are accelerated, transported, and lost in the magnetosphere due to interplanetary shock wave interactions, coronal mass ejection impacts, and high-speed solar wind streams. The new data have shown especially how dayside processes play a key role in electron acceleration and loss processes.

  16. Influence of van der Waals forces on increasing the strength and toughness in dynamic fracture of nanofibre networks: a peridynamic approach

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bobaru, F.

    2007-07-01

    The peridynamic method is used here to analyse the effect of van der Waals forces on the mechanical behaviour and strength and toughness properties of three-dimensional nanofibre networks under imposed stretch deformation. The peridynamic formulation allows for a natural inclusion of long-range forces (such as van der Waals forces) by considering all interactions as 'long-range'. We use van der Waals interactions only between different fibres and do not need to model individual atoms. Fracture is introduced at the microstructural (peridynamic bond) level for the microelastic type bonds, while van der Waals bonds can reform at any time. We conduct statistical studies to determine a certain volume element for which the network of randomly oriented fibres becomes quasi-isotropic and insensitive to statistical variations. This qualitative study shows that the presence of van der Waals interactions and of heterogeneities (sacrificial bonds) in the strength of the bonds at the crosslinks between fibres can help in increasing the strength and toughness of the nanofibre network. Two main mechanisms appear to control the deformation of nanofibre networks: fibre reorientation (caused by deformation and breakage) and fibre accretion (due to van der Waals interaction). Similarities to the observed toughness of polymer adhesive in the abalone shell composition are explained. The author would like to dedicate this work to the 60th anniversary of Professor Subrata Mukherjee.

  17. Modified Van der Waals equation and law of corresponding states

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhong, Wei; Xiao, Changming; Zhu, Yongkai

    2017-04-01

    It is well known that the Van der Waals equation is a modification of the ideal gas law, yet it can be used to describe both gas and liquid, and some important messages can be obtained from this state equation. However, the Van der Waals equation is not a precise state equation, and it does not give a good description of the law of corresponding states. In this paper, we expand the Van der Waals equation into its Taylor's series form, and then modify the fourth order expansion by changing the constant Virial coefficients into their analogous ones. Via this way, a more precise result about the law of corresponding states has been obtained, and the law of corresponding states can then be expressed as: in terms of the reduced variables, all fluids should obey the same equation with the analogous Virial coefficients. In addition, the system of 3 He with quantum effects has also been taken into consideration with our modified Van der Waals equation, and it is found that, for a normal system without quantum effect, the modification on ideal gas law from the Van der Waals equation is more significant than the real case, however, for a system with quantum effect, this modification is less significant than the real case, thus a factor is introduced in this paper to weaken or strengthen the modification of the Van der Waals equation, respectively.

  18. Arnoldus Van Rhijn on aphasia: a forgotten thesis.

    PubMed

    Eling, Paul

    2011-01-01

    Aphasia formed a central topic in the discussion on localization of function in the nineteenth century, in particular in France, Germany and Great Brittain. Little is known on contributions from the Netherlands. This paper aims to discuss the contents of Arnoldus Van Rhijn's dissertation on aphasia, written in 1868 and one of the very few Dutch contributions to aphasiology in the nineteenth century. Added to this paper is a translation of the "Physiological Part" of Van Rhijn's dissertation. Van Rhijn discussed three cases with acquired aphasia. He rejected Broca's notion of a cortical center for the articulation of speech and instead regarded the cortex as the site where the will exerted its influence. He argued that there is a certain form of specialization: the will to say something is localized at a different place than the will to write. According to Van Rhijn, the highest motor centers are localized in the subcortical gray areas. Van Rhijn concluded that aphasia may result from lesions to the cortical centers involved in speaking, or from a disconnection of the cortical and subcortical centers. Very little work was done on aphasia in the 19th century in the Netherlands. Van Rhijn's thesis, from an aphasiological point of view of limited value, does show that the notions of "centers", "connections", and "disorders due to disconnections" were generally known before Wernicke, also in the Netherlands. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Srl. All rights reserved.

  19. Survey of Virulence Determinants among Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium Isolated from Clinical Specimens of Hospitalized Patients of North west of Iran

    PubMed Central

    Sharifi, Yaeghob; Hasani, Alka; Ghotaslou, Reza; Varshochi, Mojtaba; Hasani, Akbar; Aghazadeh, Mohammad; Milani, Morteza

    2012-01-01

    Recent data indicates an increasing rate of vancomycin resistance in clinical enterococcal isolates worldwide. The nosocomial enterococci are likely to harbor virulence elements that increase their ability to colonize hospitalized patients. The aim of this study was to characterize virulence determinants in vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) obtained from various clinical sources. During the years 2008 to 2010, a total of 48 VRE isolates were obtained from three University teaching hospitals in Northwest, Iran. Initially, phenotypic speciation was done and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of vancomycin were determined by agar dilution method and E-test. Then, species identification and resistance genotypes along with detection of virulence genes (asa1, esp, gelE, ace and cpd) of the isolates were performed by multiplex PCR. Thirty eight isolates were identified as vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) and ten as E. faecalis (VREfs). Irrespective of the species, vanA gene (89.58%) was dominant and three phenotypically vancomycin susceptible E. faecium isolates carried the vanB gene. Among virulence genes investigated, the esp was found in 27(71%) VREfm strains, but did not in any VREfs. Other virulence determinants were highly detected in VREfs strains. Our data indicate a high prevalence of E. faecium harboring vancomycin resistance with vanA genotype and the two VRE species displayed different virulence genes. PMID:22582098

  20. Temperature- and pH-Sensitive Nanohydrogels of Poly(N-Isopropylacrylamide) for Food Packaging Applications: Modelling the Swelling-Collapse Behaviour

    PubMed Central

    Fuciños, Clara; Fuciños, Pablo; Míguez, Martín; Katime, Issa; Pastrana, Lorenzo M.; Rúa, María L.

    2014-01-01

    Temperature-sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) nanohydrogels were synthesized by nanoemulsion polymerization in water-in-oil systems. Several cross-linking degrees and the incorporation of acrylic acid as comonomer at different concentrations were tested to produce nanohydrogels with a wide range of properties. The physicochemical properties of PNIPA nanohydrogels, and their relationship with the swelling-collapse behaviour, were studied to evaluate the suitability of PNIPA nanoparticles as smart delivery systems (for active packaging). The swelling-collapse transition was analyzed by the change in the optical properties of PNIPA nanohydrogels using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. The thermodynamic parameters associated with the nanohydrogels collapse were calculated using a mathematical approach based on the van't Hoff analysis, assuming a two-state equilibrium (swollen to collapsed). A mathematical model is proposed to predict both the thermally induced collapse, and the collapse induced by the simultaneous action of two factors (temperature and pH, or temperature and organic solvent concentration). Finally, van't Hoff analysis was compared with differential scanning calorimetry. The results obtained allow us to solve the problem of determining the molecular weight of the structural repeating unit in cross-linked NIPA polymers, which, as we show, can be estimated from the ratio of the molar heat capacity (obtained from the van't Hoff analysis) to the specific heat capacity (obtained from calorimetric measurements). PMID:24520326

  1. Temperature- and pH-sensitive nanohydrogels of poly(N-Isopropylacrylamide) for food packaging applications: modelling the swelling-collapse behaviour.

    PubMed

    Fuciños, Clara; Fuciños, Pablo; Míguez, Martín; Katime, Issa; Pastrana, Lorenzo M; Rúa, María L

    2014-01-01

    Temperature-sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) nanohydrogels were synthesized by nanoemulsion polymerization in water-in-oil systems. Several cross-linking degrees and the incorporation of acrylic acid as comonomer at different concentrations were tested to produce nanohydrogels with a wide range of properties. The physicochemical properties of PNIPA nanohydrogels, and their relationship with the swelling-collapse behaviour, were studied to evaluate the suitability of PNIPA nanoparticles as smart delivery systems (for active packaging). The swelling-collapse transition was analyzed by the change in the optical properties of PNIPA nanohydrogels using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. The thermodynamic parameters associated with the nanohydrogels collapse were calculated using a mathematical approach based on the van't Hoff analysis, assuming a two-state equilibrium (swollen to collapsed). A mathematical model is proposed to predict both the thermally induced collapse, and the collapse induced by the simultaneous action of two factors (temperature and pH, or temperature and organic solvent concentration). Finally, van't Hoff analysis was compared with differential scanning calorimetry. The results obtained allow us to solve the problem of determining the molecular weight of the structural repeating unit in cross-linked NIPA polymers, which, as we show, can be estimated from the ratio of the molar heat capacity (obtained from the van't Hoff analysis) to the specific heat capacity (obtained from calorimetric measurements).

  2. DOE/KEURP site operator program. Year 3, Second Quarter Report, October 1--December 31, 1993

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

    Not Available

    Kansas State University, with funding support from federal, state, public, and private companies, is participating in the Department of Energy`s Electric Vehicle Site Operator Program. Through participation in this program, Kansas State is displaying, testing, and evaluating electric or hybrid vehicle technology. This participation will provide organizations the opportunity to examine the latest EHV prototypes under actual operating conditions. KSU has purchased several electric cars and proposes to purchase additional electric vehicles. KSU has purchased one G-Van built by Conceptor Industries, Toronto, Canada and has procured two (2) Soleq 1993 Ford EVcort station wagons. During calendar year 1994, the Kansas`more » electric vehicle program expects to purchase a minimum of four and a maximum of eleven additional electric vehicles. The G-Van was signed in order for the public to be aware that it was an electric vehicle. Financial participants` names have been stenciled on the back door of the van. The Soleq EvCorts have not been signed. In order to demonstrate the technology as feasible, the EvCorts were deliberately not signed. The goal is to generate a public perception that this vehicle is no different from any similar internal combustion engine vehicle. Magnetic signs have been made for special functions to ensure sponsor support is recognized and acknowledged.« less

  3. Experimental Study of Turbulent Mixing and Selectivity of Competing Reactions

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1988-07-01

    polymerization reactors ( Van der Molen et al., 1982). MIixing is also recognized as a key factor affecting overall performance of a combustor--both in terms...Eng. Sci., 28, 413 (1973). Van der Molen , T. J., A. Koenen, H. H. J. Oosterwijk, and H. Th. Van der Bend. "Effect of Process Conditions on Light-Off

  4. The Soviet Academy of Sciences and Technological Development

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1980-12-01

    Mikulinskiy, Director of the Institute of the History of Science and Technology, 1VAN SSSR, No. 7, 1977, p. 89. 2The Russian word vnedreniye means...of the History of Science and Technology, Moscow, 1970. 2VAN SSSR, No. 9, 1976, p. 20. 3vAN SSSR, No. 2, 1977, p. 8. 19 found it necessary to

  5. Multiple Voices in Charles Van Riper's Desensitization Therapy

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Leahy, Margaret M.

    2008-01-01

    Background: Charles Van Riper (1905-94) author, researcher and practitioner, was one of the major contributors to the field of stuttering in the 20th century. His series of Action Therapy videotapes provide a useful model of how therapy was implemented by a master clinician. Aims: Van Riper's session with a client is analysed to reveal how voices…

  6. An Empirical Introduction to the Concept of Chemical Element Based on Van Hiele's Theory of Level Transitions

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Vogelezang, Michiel; Van Berkel, Berry; Verdonk, Adri

    2015-01-01

    Between 1970 and 1990, the Dutch working group "Empirical Introduction to Chemistry" developed a secondary school chemistry education curriculum based on the educational vision of the mathematicians van Hiele and van Hiele-Geldof. This approach viewed learning as a process in which students must go through discontinuous level transitions…

  7. Cylinders and Seances: Elise van Calcar and the Spirit of Froebel

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bakker, Nelleke

    2013-01-01

    This essay discusses the life and work of Elise van Calcar (1822-1904), a writer and maternal feminist who introduced Froebel's kindergarten in the Netherlands. Van Calcar also was the leader of a Christian branch of spiritualism. The focus is pointed at parallels between her reading of Froebel and of "messages" from spirits in the…

  8. Bernard van Leer Foundation Annual Review 1993 = Fundacion Bernard van Leer Revista Anual 1993.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bernard Van Leer Foundation, The Hague (Netherlands).

    This report, in both English and Spanish versions, aims to highlight the Bernard van Leer Foundation's identity, objectives, and major activities, as well as the work undertaken by the projects the foundation supports. The review features articles on the Foundation's work on advocacy, supporting families living in disadvantaged circumstances,…

  9. 49 CFR 393.128 - What are the rules for securing automobiles, light trucks and vans?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 5 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false What are the rules for securing automobiles, light... automobiles, light trucks and vans? (a) Applicability. The rules in this section apply to the transportation of automobiles, light trucks, and vans which individually weigh 4,536 kg. (10,000 lb) or less...

  10. 49 CFR 393.128 - What are the rules for securing automobiles, light trucks and vans?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 5 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false What are the rules for securing automobiles, light... automobiles, light trucks and vans? (a) Applicability. The rules in this section apply to the transportation of automobiles, light trucks, and vans which individually weigh 4,536 kg. (10,000 lb) or less...

  11. 49 CFR 393.128 - What are the rules for securing automobiles, light trucks and vans?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 5 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false What are the rules for securing automobiles, light... automobiles, light trucks and vans? (a) Applicability. The rules in this section apply to the transportation of automobiles, light trucks, and vans which individually weigh 4,536 kg. (10,000 lb) or less...

  12. 49 CFR 393.128 - What are the rules for securing automobiles, light trucks and vans?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 5 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false What are the rules for securing automobiles, light... automobiles, light trucks and vans? (a) Applicability. The rules in this section apply to the transportation of automobiles, light trucks, and vans which individually weigh 4,536 kg. (10,000 lb) or less...

  13. 49 CFR 393.128 - What are the rules for securing automobiles, light trucks and vans?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 5 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false What are the rules for securing automobiles, light... automobiles, light trucks and vans? (a) Applicability. The rules in this section apply to the transportation of automobiles, light trucks, and vans which individually weigh 4,536 kg. (10,000 lb) or less...

  14. 77 FR 56701 - Morgan Olson, LLC, Denial of Petition for Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-09-13

    ... Olson walk-in van-type trucks having a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) over 4,536 kg and manufactured... model year 2009, 2010, and 2011 walk-in van-type trucks. Noncompliance: Morgan Olson states that the... walk-in van manufactured by Morgan Olson, would immediately notice this gap and realize that the door...

  15. Van Go: A Labor of Love

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Williams, Jennifer

    2012-01-01

    Like a tapestry woven with one outstanding thread from beginning to end, the author's forty-year tenure as an art educator has its golden thread in her Van Go art outreach project. Quite literally, she takes students in a "van" and they "go," mostly on dirt roads, taking art to rural schools in Idaho, some of which have no more…

  16. Willem van de Wall: Organizer and Innovator in Music Education and Music Therapy.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Clair, Alicia Ann; Heller, George N.

    1989-01-01

    Examines Willem van de Wall's historically significant contributions to seminal literature on music therapy and the influence of music on behavior. Reviews van de Wall's early writings, at his work on music for children, and on music in institutions. Cites his "Music in Hospitals" as the culmination of his work in music therapy, music…

  17. VanT, a Homologue of Vibrio harveyi LuxR, Regulates Serine, Metalloprotease, Pigment, and Biofilm Production in Vibrio anguillarum

    PubMed Central

    Croxatto, Antony; Chalker, Victoria J.; Lauritz, Johan; Jass, Jana; Hardman, Andrea; Williams, Paul; Cámara, Miguel; Milton, Debra L.

    2002-01-01

    Vibrio anguillarum possesses at least two N-acylhomoserine lactone (AHL) quorum-sensing circuits, one of which is related to the luxMN system of Vibrio harveyi. In this study, we have cloned an additional gene of this circuit, vanT, encoding a V. harveyi LuxR-like transcriptional regulator. A V. anguillarum ΔvanT null mutation resulted in a significant decrease in total protease activity due to loss of expression of the metalloprotease EmpA, but no changes in either AHL production or virulence. Additional genes positively regulated by VanT were identified from a plasmid-based gene library fused to a promoterless lacZ. Three lacZ fusions (serA::lacZ, hpdA-hgdA::lacZ, and sat-vps73::lacZ) were identified which exhibited decreased expression in the ΔvanT strain. SerA is similar to 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenases and catalyzes the first step in the serine-glycine biosynthesis pathway. HgdA has identity with homogentisate dioxygenases, and HpdA is homologous to 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenases (HPPDs) involved in pigment production. V. anguillarum strains require an active VanT to produce high levels of an l-tyrosine-induced brown color via HPPD, suggesting that VanT controls pigment production. Vps73 and Sat are related to Vibrio cholerae proteins encoded within a DNA locus required for biofilm formation. A V. anguillarum ΔvanT mutant and a mutant carrying a polar mutation in the sat-vps73 DNA locus were shown to produce defective biofilms. Hence, a new member of the V. harveyi LuxR transcriptional activator family has been characterized in V. anguillarum that positively regulates serine, metalloprotease, pigment, and biofilm production. PMID:11872713

  18. VanT, a homologue of Vibrio harveyi LuxR, regulates serine, metalloprotease, pigment, and biofilm production in Vibrio anguillarum.

    PubMed

    Croxatto, Antony; Chalker, Victoria J; Lauritz, Johan; Jass, Jana; Hardman, Andrea; Williams, Paul; Cámara, Miguel; Milton, Debra L

    2002-03-01

    Vibrio anguillarum possesses at least two N-acylhomoserine lactone (AHL) quorum-sensing circuits, one of which is related to the luxMN system of Vibrio harveyi. In this study, we have cloned an additional gene of this circuit, vanT, encoding a V. harveyi LuxR-like transcriptional regulator. A V. anguillarum Delta vanT null mutation resulted in a significant decrease in total protease activity due to loss of expression of the metalloprotease EmpA, but no changes in either AHL production or virulence. Additional genes positively regulated by VanT were identified from a plasmid-based gene library fused to a promoterless lacZ. Three lacZ fusions (serA::lacZ, hpdA-hgdA::lacZ, and sat-vps73::lacZ) were identified which exhibited decreased expression in the Delta vanT strain. SerA is similar to 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenases and catalyzes the first step in the serine-glycine biosynthesis pathway. HgdA has identity with homogentisate dioxygenases, and HpdA is homologous to 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenases (HPPDs) involved in pigment production. V. anguillarum strains require an active VanT to produce high levels of an L-tyrosine-induced brown color via HPPD, suggesting that VanT controls pigment production. Vps73 and Sat are related to Vibrio cholerae proteins encoded within a DNA locus required for biofilm formation. A V. anguillarum Delta vanT mutant and a mutant carrying a polar mutation in the sat-vps73 DNA locus were shown to produce defective biofilms. Hence, a new member of the V. harveyi LuxR transcriptional activator family has been characterized in V. anguillarum that positively regulates serine, metalloprotease, pigment, and biofilm production.

  19. Emergence of vancomycin resistance in the genus Streptococcus: characterization of a vanB transferable determinant in Streptococcus bovis.

    PubMed Central

    Poyart, C; Pierre, C; Quesne, G; Pron, B; Berche, P; Trieu-Cuot, P

    1997-01-01

    Streptococcus bovis NEM760 was isolated from a stool swab collected on admission from a patient as surveillance for vancomycin-resistant enterococci. Strain NEM760 was identified as S. bovis by conventional biochemical methods and partial sequence analysis of its 16S rRNA. This strain was resistant to a low level of vancomycin (MIC, 64 micrograms/ml) but was susceptible to teicoplanin (MIC, 1 micrograms/ml), and vancomycin induced resistance to both glycopeptides. The presence of a vanB-related gene in NEM760 was demonstrated in a PCR assay which enabled specific amplification of a 635-hp internal segment of vanB. Sequence analysis of the corresponding PCR product revealed that it was highly homologous (96% identity) to the prototype vanB sequence of Enterococcus faecalis V583. The VanB resistance of determinant of S. bovis NEM760 was transferred by conjugation to E. faecalis and Enterococcus faecium at a similar frequency of 2 x 10(-5) per donor. SmaI-digested genomic DNAs of independently obtained transconjugants of E. faecalis and E. faecium were analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and Southern hybridization with a vanB DNA probe. The electrophoretic and hybridization patterns obtained with all transconjugants of the same species were indistinguishable and revealed vanB-containing chromosomal insertions of approximately 100 kb. These results suggest that the genes mediating VanB-type resistance in S. bovis NEM760 are part of large transferable genetic elements. The results presented in the report demonstrate for the first time the role of streptococci in the dissemination of vancomycin resistance among gram-positive bacteria. PMID:8980749

  20. Paint it Black: Using Change-Point Analysis to Investigate Increasing Vulnerability to Depression towards the End of Vincent van Gogh's Life.

    PubMed

    van Emmerik, Arnold A P; Hamaker, Ellen L

    2017-09-04

    This study investigated whether Vincent van Gogh became increasingly self-focused-and thus vulnerable to depression-towards the end of his life, through a quantitative analysis of his written pronoun use over time. A change-point analysis was conducted on the time series formed by the pronoun use in Van Gogh's letters. We used time as a predictor to see whether there was evidence for increased self-focus towards the end of Van Gogh's life, and we compared this to the pattern in the letters written before his move to Arles. Specifically, we examined Van Gogh's use of first person singular pronouns (FPSP) and first person plural pronouns (FPPP) in the 415 letters he wrote while working as an artist before his move to Arles, and in the next 248 letters he wrote after his move to Arles until his death in Auvers-sur-Oise. During the latter period, Van Gogh's use of FPSP showed an annual increase of 0.68% ( SE = 0.15, p < 0.001) and his use of FPPP showed an annual decrease of 0.23% ( SE = 0.04, p < 0.001), indicating increasing self-focus and vulnerability to depression. This trend differed from Van Gogh's pronoun use in the former period (which showed no significant trend in FPSP, and an annual increase of FPPP of 0.03%, SE = 0.02, p = 0.04). This study suggests that Van Gogh's death was preceded by a gradually increasing self-focus and vulnerability to depression. It also illustrates how existing methods (i.e., quantitative linguistic analysis and change-point analysis) can be combined to study specific research questions in innovative ways.

  1. Paint it Black: Using Change-Point Analysis to Investigate Increasing Vulnerability to Depression towards the End of Vincent van Gogh’s Life

    PubMed Central

    van Emmerik, Arnold A. P.; Hamaker, Ellen L.

    2017-01-01

    This study investigated whether Vincent van Gogh became increasingly self-focused—and thus vulnerable to depression—towards the end of his life, through a quantitative analysis of his written pronoun use over time. A change-point analysis was conducted on the time series formed by the pronoun use in Van Gogh’s letters. We used time as a predictor to see whether there was evidence for increased self-focus towards the end of Van Gogh’s life, and we compared this to the pattern in the letters written before his move to Arles. Specifically, we examined Van Gogh’s use of first person singular pronouns (FPSP) and first person plural pronouns (FPPP) in the 415 letters he wrote while working as an artist before his move to Arles, and in the next 248 letters he wrote after his move to Arles until his death in Auvers-sur-Oise. During the latter period, Van Gogh’s use of FPSP showed an annual increase of 0.68% (SE = 0.15, p < 0.001) and his use of FPPP showed an annual decrease of 0.23% (SE = 0.04, p < 0.001), indicating increasing self-focus and vulnerability to depression. This trend differed from Van Gogh’s pronoun use in the former period (which showed no significant trend in FPSP, and an annual increase of FPPP of 0.03%, SE = 0.02, p = 0.04). This study suggests that Van Gogh’s death was preceded by a gradually increasing self-focus and vulnerability to depression. It also illustrates how existing methods (i.e., quantitative linguistic analysis and change-point analysis) can be combined to study specific research questions in innovative ways. PMID:28869542

  2. A Novel Multivoxel-Based Quantitation of Metabolites and Lipids Noninvasively Combined with Diffusion-Weighted Imaging in Breast Cancer

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-09-01

    scanner. Report of the Progress: Multi-slice DWI-MRI and 4D EP-COSI was tested in 2 malignant and 3 benign breast cancer patients and 6 healthy...for improving the overall specificity. • We are currently testing retrospective Maximum Entropy and Compressed Sensing of the 4D EP-COSI data so that...MRS. NMR in Biomed. 2008;22(1):77-91. 2 Kobus T, Vos PC, Hambrock T, De Rooij M, Hulsbergen-Van de Kaa CA, Barentsz JO, Heerschap A, Scheenen TW

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

    Fischer, W.; Shiota, T.

    Two categories of NaS traction batteries will be discussed: the present battery of Asea Brown Boveri and Powerplex and potential future NaS traction batteries. A large number of our present 24 kWh - 35 kw battery has been subjected to bench and on-vehicle performance tests. Test results will be presented. Future battery types to be volume produced in the early 1990`s are discussed with regard to energy, power and shape for special applications such a passenger car and van propulsion. Examples for those batteries will be given and projected performance characteristiques will be discussed.

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

    Fischer, W.; Shiota, T.

    Two categories of NaS traction batteries will be discussed: the present battery of Asea Brown Boveri and Powerplex and potential future NaS traction batteries. A large number of our present 24 kWh - 35 kw battery has been subjected to bench and on-vehicle performance tests. Test results will be presented. Future battery types to be volume produced in the early 1990's are discussed with regard to energy, power and shape for special applications such a passenger car and van propulsion. Examples for those batteries will be given and projected performance characteristiques will be discussed.

  5. Isotope separation by photodissociation of Van der Waal's molecules

    DOEpatents

    Lee, Yuan T.

    1977-01-01

    A method of separating isotopes based on the dissociation of a Van der Waal's complex. A beam of molecules of a Van der Waal's complex containing, as one partner of the complex, a molecular species in which an element is present in a plurality of isotopes is subjected to radiation from a source tuned to a frequency which will selectively excite vibrational motion by a vibrational transition or through electronic transition of those complexed molecules of the molecular species which contain a desired isotope. Since the Van der Waal's binding energy is much smaller than the excitational energy of vibrational motion, the thus excited Van der Waal's complex dissociate into molecular components enriched in the desired isotope. The recoil velocity associated with vibrational to translational and rotational relaxation will send the separated molecules away from the beam whereupon the product enriched in the desired isotope can be separated from the constituents of the beam.

  6. Communication: Determining the structure of the N{sub 2}Ar van der Waals complex with laser-based channel-selected Coulomb explosion

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

    Wu, Chengyin, E-mail: cywu@pku.edu.cn; Liu, Yunquan; Gong, Qihuang

    2014-04-14

    We experimentally reconstructed the structure of the N{sub 2}Ar van der Waals complex with the technique of laser-based channel-selected Coulomb explosion imaging. The internuclear distance between the N{sub 2} center of mass and the Ar atom, i.e., the length of the van der Waals bond, was determined to be 3.88 Å from the two-body explosion channels. The angle between the van der Waals bond and the N{sub 2} principal axis was determined to be 90° from the three-body explosion channels. The reconstructed structure was contrasted with our high level ab initio calculations. The agreement demonstrated the potential application of laser-basedmore » Coulomb explosion in imaging transient molecular structure, particularly for floppy van der Waals complexes, whose structures remain difficult to be determined by conventional spectroscopic methods.« less

  7. Analysis of the world epidemiological situation among vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium infections and the current situation in Poland

    PubMed

    Talaga-Ćwiertnia, Katarzyna; Bulanda, Małgorzata

    2018-01-01

    Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) strains have become an important hospital pathogen due to their rapid spread, high mortality rate associated with infections and limited therapeutic options. Vancomycin resistance is predominantly mediated by VanA or VanB phenotypes, which differ as regards maintaining sensitivity to teicoplanin in the VanB phenotype. The majority of VREfm cases in the United States, Europe, Korea, South America and Africa are currently caused by the VanA phenotype. However, the epidemics in Australia and Singapore are chiefly brought about by the VanB phenotype. The rate of VREfm isolate spread varies greatly. The greatest percentage of VREfm is now recorded in the USA, Ireland and Australia. Supervision of VRE is implemented to varying degrees. Therefore, the epidemiological situation in some countries is difficult to assess due to limited data or lack thereof.

  8. Vibration-rotation-tunneling spectroscopy of the van der Waals Bond: A new look at intermolecular forces

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

    Cohen, R.C.; Saykally, R.J.

    Measurements of the low-frequency van der Waals vibrations in weakly bound complexes by high-resolution laser spectroscopy provide a means to probe intermolecular forces at unprecedented levels of detail and precision. Several new methods are presently being used to record vibration/rotation-tunneling (VRT) transitions associated with the motions of the weak bonds in van der Waals clusters. The most direct measurements are those probing only the van der Waals modes themselves, which occur at far-infrared wavelengths. This article presents a review of the information on both intramolecular forces and intramolecular dynamics that has been obtained from far-infrared VRT spectra of 18 complexesmore » during the past several years. Some rotationally resolved measurements of van der Waals modes observed in combination with electronic or vibrational excitation are also discussed. 185 refs., 15 figs., 1 tab.« less

  9. When Boundaries around the "Secret" Are Tested: A School Community Response to the Policing of Undocumented Immigrants

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Crawford, Emily R.

    2018-01-01

    This case study focuses on a 2008 incident where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) vans appeared near a K-5 elementary school. It was the first time school personnel experienced the impact of federal immigration agents policing illegality in their school community, and the event set off a chain of decision-making choices as to how…

  10. Nodal Statistics for the Van Vleck Polynomials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bourget, Alain

    The Van Vleck polynomials naturally arise from the generalized Lamé equation as the polynomials of degree for which Eq. (1) has a polynomial solution of some degree k. In this paper, we compute the limiting distribution, as well as the limiting mean level spacings distribution of the zeros of any Van Vleck polynomial as N --> ∞.

  11. A Practical Terrestrial Packet Radio Network.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1983-11-01

    12 Howard Frank, Israel Gitman and Richard Van Slyke , "Packet Radio System--Network Considerations," AFIPS Conference Proceedings, Anaheim, 1975...p, 1396. 33 Howard Frank, Israel Gitman and Richard Van Slyke, "Packet Radio System--Network Considerations," AFIPS...44, 1975 NCC, Anaheim, pp. 233-242. J 149 I : Frank, Howard, Israel Gitman and Richard Van Slyke, "Packet Radio System — Network

  12. Top-Level Players' Visual Control of Interceptive Actions: Bootsma and Van Wieringen (1990) 20 Years Later

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bootsma, Reinoud J.; Fernandez, Laure; Morice, Antoine H. P.; Montagne, Gilles

    2010-01-01

    Using a two-step approach, Van Soest et al. (2010) recently questioned the pertinence of the conclusions drawn by Bootsma and Van Wieringen (1990) with respect to the visual regulation of an exemplary rapid interceptive action: the attacking forehand drive in table tennis. In the first step, they experimentally compared the movement behaviors of…

  13. Martin Van Buren's "Return to the Soil." Teaching with Historic Places.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    National Register of Historic Places, Washington, DC. Interagency Resources Div.

    Using primary documents, maps, and visual data, this lesson packet focuses on Martin Van Buren and his retirement home, Lindenwald, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. The lesson materials compliment classroom study of early 19th century politics by tracing the life of Martin Van Buren and his role in the Jacksonian Era. Included…

  14. The Educational Thought of Cornelius Van Til: Philosophical Foundations of the Contemporary Christian School Movement.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Maffet, Gregory J.; Dye, Charles M.

    This paper gives an account of the thoughts of Cornelius Van Til on the contemporary Christian school movement. An account of the historical development of Christian compromise is given, followed by a critique of the compromise among contemporary Christian educators. Van Til claims that any educational position which falls short of being founded…

  15. Community Music during the New Deal: The Contributions of Willem Van de Wall and Max Kaplan

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Krikun, Andrew

    2010-01-01

    Willem Van de Wall (1887-1953) and Max Kaplan (1911-98) built careers spanning music performance, music education, adult education, sociology, social work, music therapy and community music. Willem Van de Wall was a seminal influence on the development of the fields of music therapy and adult education--researching the role of music in…

  16. Unconscious Odour Conditioning 25 Years Later: Revisiting and Extending "Kirk-Smith, Van Toller and Dodd"

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Zucco, Gesualdo M.; Paolini, Michela; Schaal, Benoist

    2009-01-01

    The pioneering work by Kirk-Smith, Van Toller, and Dodd [Kirk-Smith, M. D., Van Toller, C., & Dodd, G. H. (1983). "Unconscious odour conditioning in human subjects." "Biological Psychology," 17, 221-231], established that an unnoticed odorant paired with an emotionally meaningful task can influence mood and attitudes when the odorant alone is…

  17. Onderzoek Naar de Bepaling van Wrijvingscoefficienten van een Voertuig uit Uitrolcurves (Research into the Determination of Friction Coefficients of a Vehicle from Deceleration Curves)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1991-08-01

    en Aemne Vrwaarden Wo OndOrzoeks 8 FE 1 1 opdrchl aT00’ dn wet do bereflende F B 0 1 9 terzake tussen partilon geslOlen dw:Agsu overOerikomStf...Ongemlbric~~d 9 -028 14 :259 wwWmtmd.fl 59w IEEIIIIiiiarabIg𔃽 1 c~ Vrederikkazerle, Geb. InO 03 3.. ~ van den Burchlaal 312 03 173Telefoofl 070-3166394...1ILEIDING 6 2 HET FYSISCHE MODEL 8 3 ONDERZOEK AAN DE DIFFERENTIAALVERGELIJKING 11 3.1 Existentie en uniciteit van ccii oplossing 11 3.2 Continulleit en

  18. Science, Sex, and Pictures: Reflections on Van Fraassen's Use of Perspectival Representations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Okruhlik, Kathleen

    2014-03-01

    Bas van Fraassen's brand of empiricism, as articulated in his well-known constructive empiricism and his more recent empiricist structuralism, has been developed using the so-called semantic approach to scientific theories. This approach has allowed van Fraassen to espouse quite a robust form of non-realism about unobservable entities while avoiding some of the problems that contributed to the demise of logical empiricism. I shall argue, however, that in other respects van Fraassen replicates many of the serious shortcomings associated with the earlier tradition -- despite the fact that his choice of language sometimes obscures those similarities. Because van Fraassen's empiricist structuralism is much less well-known than his constructive empiricism, the rather lengthy first section of this paper provides an overview and initial assessment of that position. Subsequent sections deal with the ways in which van Fraassen's very sophisticated form of empiricism not only fails to address some of the most serious shortcomings of logical empiricism but actually reinforces them. The chief focus is on the failure to address issues that arise from the historical and social contexts within which science is pursued -- this despite a vocabulary rich in references to perspectivity, pragmatics, context, use, and aims.

  19. Effect of van der Waals forces on thermal conductance at the interface of a single-wall carbon nanotube array and silicon

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Feng, Ya; Zhu, Jie; Tang, Dawei

    2014-12-01

    Molecular dynamics simulations are performed to evaluate the effect of van der Waals forces among single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) on the interfacial thermal conductance between a SWNT array and silicon substrate. First, samples of SWNTs vertically aligned on silicon substrate are simulated, where both the number and arrangement of SWNTs are varied. Results reveal that the interfacial thermal conductance of a SWNT array/Si with van der Waals forces present is higher than when they are absent. To better understand how van der Waals forces affect heat transfer through the interface between SWNTs and silicon, further constructs of one SWNT surrounded by different numbers of other ones are studied, and the results show that the interfacial thermal conductance of the central SWNT increases with increasing van der Waals forces. Through analysis of the covalent bonds and vibrational density of states at the interface, we find that heat transfer across the interface is enhanced with a greater number of chemical bonds and that improved vibrational coupling of the two sides of the interface results in higher interfacial thermal conductance. Van der Waals forces stimulate heat transfer at the interface.

  20. Impact of Vancomycin MIC on Treatment Outcomes in Invasive Staphylococcus aureus Infections

    PubMed Central

    Song, Kyoung-Ho; Kim, Moonsuk; Kim, Chung Jong; Cho, Jeong Eun; Choi, Yun Jung; Park, Jeong Su; Ahn, Soyeon; Jang, Hee-Chang; Park, Kyung-Hwa; Jung, Sook-In; Yoon, Nara; Kim, Dong-Min; Hwang, Jeong-Hwan; Lee, Chang Seop; Lee, Jae Hoon; Kwak, Yee Gyung; Kim, Eu Suk; Park, Seong Yeon; Park, Yoonseon; Lee, Kkot Sil; Lee, Yeong-Seon

    2016-01-01

    ABSTRACT There are conflicting data on the association of vancomycin MIC (VAN-MIC) with treatment outcomes in Staphylococcus aureus infections. We investigated the relationship between high VAN-MIC and 30-day mortality and identified the risk factors for mortality in a large cohort of patients with invasive S. aureus (ISA) infections, defined as the isolation of S. aureus from a normally sterile site. Over a 2-year period, 1,027 adult patients with ISA infections were enrolled in 10 hospitals, including 673 (66%) patients with methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infections. There were 200 (19.5%) isolates with high VAN-MIC (≥1.5 mg/liter) by Etest and 87 (8.5%) by broth microdilution (BMD). The all-cause 30-day mortality rate was 27.4%. High VAN-MIC by either method was not associated with all-cause 30-day mortality, and this finding was consistent across MIC methodologies and methicillin susceptibilities. We conclude that high VAN-MIC is not associated with increased risk of all-cause 30-day mortality in ISA infections. Our data support the view that VAN-MIC alone is not sufficient evidence to change current clinical practice. PMID:27956430

  1. An Examination of Potential Causes of the Persistent Capillary Fringe Extension Observed During a Pumping Test in an Unconfined Aquifer

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bunn, M. I.; Jones, J.; Endres, A. L.

    2008-12-01

    Hydrogeologists quantify the properties of unconfined aquifers by analyzing the data from pumping tests. The most appropriate method of incorporating flow contributions from the vadose zone into these analyses has been the subject of debate for decades. Recently, a highly detailed data set was collected during a seven- day pumping test at CFB Borden, Ontario (Bevan et al., 2005) which has allowed a close examination of the vadose zone response to pumping. Water table drawdown was monitored using pressure transducers in 11 monitoring wells, while moisture profiles were collected 19 times during the 7-day test using neutron logging. The Borden aquifer system is quite homogeneous, and numerical simulations using the variably saturated model InHM resulted in excellent reproduction of the observed hydraulic head drawdowns. Conversely, the simulated moisture profiles correlated poorly with neutron-logging-derived observed profiles. Specifically, the field results show delayed drawdown in the vadose zone, resulting in a persistent and significant extension of the capillary fringe, with the shape of the moisture profile remaining constant through the transition zone. Numerical simulations using various forms of the capillary pressure-saturation relationship with reasonable parameter sets were unable produce the extension. Neutron moisture profiles were selected from three locations (3, 5, and 15 m radial distance from the pumping well) at which an adjacent shallow deep piezometer pair could be used to accurately estimate water table location. Using this data in conjunction with the inverse modeling tool PEST, a set of van Genuchten capillary pressure-saturation parameters was generated to match each observed moisture profile. Horizontal and vertical hydraulic gradients and flow rates at the water table were generated using model output and compared to the fitted parameters. The van Genuchten parameter n was found to have significant scatter in both profile location and observation time when compared to any of the modeled results. The van Genuchten parameter alpha was found to vary linearly as a function of horizontal hydraulic gradient; further the results from all observation locations and times were found to follow the same linear relationship. The likely effects of consolidation, entrapped air, heterogeneity, and hydraulic gradients on the observed moisture profile were also evaluated. Results indicate a need for further investigation into the applicability of laboratory derived steady-state water retention curves for field scale simulations.

  2. A nonparametric smoothing method for assessing GEE models with longitudinal binary data.

    PubMed

    Lin, Kuo-Chin; Chen, Yi-Ju; Shyr, Yu

    2008-09-30

    Studies involving longitudinal binary responses are widely applied in the health and biomedical sciences research and frequently analyzed by generalized estimating equations (GEE) method. This article proposes an alternative goodness-of-fit test based on the nonparametric smoothing approach for assessing the adequacy of GEE fitted models, which can be regarded as an extension of the goodness-of-fit test of le Cessie and van Houwelingen (Biometrics 1991; 47:1267-1282). The expectation and approximate variance of the proposed test statistic are derived. The asymptotic distribution of the proposed test statistic in terms of a scaled chi-squared distribution and the power performance of the proposed test are discussed by simulation studies. The testing procedure is demonstrated by two real data. Copyright (c) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  3. Runway Incursion Prevention System Testing at the Wallops Flight Facility

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Jones, Denise R.

    2005-01-01

    A Runway Incursion Prevention System (RIPS) integrated with a Synthetic Vision System concept (SVS) was tested at the Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO) and Wallops Flight Facility (WAL) in the summer of 2004. RIPS provides enhanced surface situational awareness and alerts of runway conflicts in order to prevent runway incidents while also improving operational capability. A series of test runs was conducted using a Gulfstream-V (G-V) aircraft as the test platform and a NASA test aircraft and a NASA test van as incurring traffic. The purpose of the study, from the RIPS perspective, was to evaluate the RIPS airborne incursion detection algorithms and associated alerting and airport surface display concepts, focusing on crossing runway incursion scenarios. This paper gives an overview of the RIPS, WAL flight test activities, and WAL test results.

  4. Chesapeake Bay Sediment Flux Model

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1993-06-01

    1988; Van der Molen , -88- 1991; Yoshida, 1981.) The model developed below is based on both of these approaches. It incorporates the diagenetic...288: pp. 289-333. Van der Molen , D.T. (1991): A simple, dynamic model for the simulation of the release of phosphorus from sediments in shallow...1974; Berner, 1980; van Cappellen and Berner, 1988). These relate the diagenetic production of phosphate to the resulting pore water concentration

  5. Perception for Outdoor Navigation

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1991-12-01

    are theories of human cognitive activity during driving. Van der Molen and Botticher recently reviewed several of these models [40]. The models...represent driving knowledge, how to perceive traffic situations, or how to process information to obtain actions. Van der Molen and Botticher attempted to...Conference on Robotics and Automation. IEEE, 1987. [40] van der Molen , H.H., and Botticher, A.M.T. Risk Models for Traffic Participants: A Concerted

  6. The Role of Rad17 in DNA Damage Checkpoint Signaling and Initiation of Apoptosis in Mammary Cells

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2005-07-01

    Shen et al. 1998). Antibodies to β-catenin (Transduction lab ), GSK-3β (Santa Cruz), Smad3 I-20 (Santa Cruz), Smad3 (Zymed), phspho-Smad2 (Cell...van de Wetering, M., R. Cavallo, D. Dooijes, M. van Beest , J. van Es, J. Loureiro, A. Ypma, D. Hursh, T. Jones, A. Bejsovec, M. Peifer, M. Mortin

  7. Optimizing of In Situ Bioremediation Technology to Manage Perchlorate-Contaminated Groundwater

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2003-03-01

    template using the best fitness values. MOMGA then executes another cycle of initialization, primordial, and juxtapositional phases ( Van Veldhuizen ...Implementation of In Situ Remediation Technologies,” Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 37(3): 295-317, 1999. Coello Coello, A. C., D.A. Van Veldhuizen , and G.B...Environmental Management. 56: 79-95, 1999. Van Veldhuizen , David A. Multiobjective Evolutionary Algorithms: Classifications, Analyses, and New

  8. The research contributions of Dr. Paul Van Deusen

    Treesearch

    Thomas B. Lynch; Francis A. Roesch; John Paul McTague; Jeffrey H. Gove; Gregory A. Reams; Aaron R. Weiskittel

    2015-01-01

    Dr. Paul Van Deusen’s recent passing concluded a rich 30+-year research career dedicated to development and implementation of quantitative methods for forestry and natural resources. Since the early part of his career as a biometrician with the USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station in the 1980s-1990s and continuing with his later employment at NCASI, Dr. Van...

  9. Effective field theories for van der Waals interactions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Brambilla, Nora; Shtabovenko, Vladyslav; Tarrús Castellà, Jaume; Vairo, Antonio

    2017-06-01

    Van der Waals interactions between two neutral but polarizable systems at a separation R much larger than the typical size of the systems are at the core of a broad sweep of contemporary problems in settings ranging from atomic, molecular and condensed matter physics to strong interactions and gravity. In this paper, we reexamine the dispersive van der Waals interactions between two hydrogen atoms. The novelty of the analysis resides in the usage of nonrelativistic effective field theories of quantum electrodynamics. In this framework, the van der Waals potential acquires the meaning of a matching coefficient in an effective field theory, dubbed van der Waals effective field theory, suited to describe the low-energy dynamics of an atom pair. It may be computed systematically as a series in R times some typical atomic scale and in the fine-structure constant α . The van der Waals potential gets short-range contributions and radiative corrections, which we compute in dimensional regularization and renormalize here for the first time. Results are given in d space-time dimensions. One can distinguish among different regimes depending on the relative size between 1 /R and the typical atomic bound-state energy, which is of order m α2. Each regime is characterized by a specific hierarchy of scales and a corresponding tower of effective field theories. The short-distance regime is characterized by 1 /R ≫m α2 and the leading-order van der Waals potential is the London potential. We also compute next-to-next-to-next-to-leading-order corrections. In the long-distance regime we have 1 /R ≪m α2. In this regime, the van der Waals potential contains contact terms, which are parametrically larger than the Casimir-Polder potential that describes the potential at large distances. In the effective field theory, the Casimir-Polder potential counts as a next-to-next-to-next-to-leading-order effect. In the intermediate-distance regime, 1 /R ˜m α2, a significantly more complex potential is obtained. We compare this exact result with the two previous limiting cases. We conclude by commenting on the van der Waals interactions in the hadronic case.

  10. Vancomycin-induced acute kidney injury in elderly Chinese patients: a single-centre cross-sectional study.

    PubMed

    Pan, Kun-Ming; Wu, Yi; Chen, Can; Chen, Zhang-Zhang; Xu, Jian-An; Cao, Lei; Xu, Qing; Wu, Wei; Dai, Pei-Fang; Li, Xiao-Yu; Lv, Qian-Zhou

    2018-04-01

    The objective of the present study was to investigate the current situation concerning, and risk factors for, vancomycin (VAN)-induced acute kidney injury (VI-AKI) in elderly Chinese patients, to assess outcomes and risk factors in patients who have developed VI-AKI, in order to provide suggestions for improving the prevention and treatment of this condition in these patients. We retrospectively identified elderly older inpatients who had received four or more doses of VAN treatment. We compared patients with VI-AKI with those who received VAN treatment and had not developed AKI (NO-AKI). We defined VI-AKI as developing AKI during VAN therapy or within 3 days after withdrawal of VAN. A total of 647 out of 862 elderly inpatients were included in the study. Among those excluded, in 89.3% of cases (192/215) this was because of lack of data on serum creatinine (SCr). Among included patients, 32.5% (210/647) of patients received therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) during VAN therapy. In 66.9% of cases (424/634), there was insufficient TDM, and in 3.9% (25/634) this was appropriate. A total of 102 patients had confirmed VI-AKI, with an incidence of 15.8% (102/647). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that hyperuricaemia [odds ratio (OR) = 3.045; P = 0.000)], mechanical ventilation (OR = 1.906; P = 0.022) and concomitant vasopressor therapy (OR = 1.919; P = 0.027) were independent risk factors for VI-AKI; higher serum albumin (OR = 0.885; P = 0.000) was determined to be an independent protective factor for VI-AKI. For the elderly Chinese patients treated with VAN, there was insufficient monitoring of SCr, too little use of VAN TDM, and lower rate of patients whose VAN though serum concentrations were not obtained at the correct time. We recommend that hospital managers increase investment in clinical pharmacists, to strengthen professional management. Patients with concomitant hyperuricaemia and on mechanical ventilation and vasopressor therapy should be paid more attention, and a higher serum albumin was determined to be an independent protective factor for VI-AKI. © 2018 The British Pharmacological Society.

  11. Characterization of selected municipal solid waste components to estimate their biodegradability.

    PubMed

    Bayard, R; Benbelkacem, H; Gourdon, R; Buffière, P

    2018-06-15

    Biological treatments of Residual Municipal Solid Waste (RMSW) allow to divert biodegradable materials from landfilling and recover valuable alternative resources. The biodegradability of the waste components needs however to be assessed in order to design the bioprocesses properly. The present study investigated complementary approaches to aerobic and anaerobic biotests for a more rapid evaluation. A representative sample of residual MSW was collected from a Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) plant and sorted out into 13 fractions according to the French standard procedure MODECOM™. The different fractions were analyzed for organic matter content, leaching behavior, contents in biochemical constituents (determined by Van Soest's acid detergent fiber method), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Bio-Methane Potential (BMP). Experimental data were statistically treated by Principal Components Analysis (PCA). Cumulative oxygen consumption from BOD tests and cumulative methane production from BMP tests were found to be positively correlated in all waste fractions. No correlation was observed between the results from BOD or BMP bioassays and the contents in cellulose-like, hemicelluloses-like or labile organic compounds. No correlation was observed either with the results from leaching tests (Soluble COD). The contents in lignin-like compounds, evaluated as the non-extracted RES fraction in Van Soest's method, was found however to impact negatively the biodegradability assessed by BOD or BMP tests. Since cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin are the polymers responsible for the structuration of lignocellulosic complexes, it was concluded that the structural organization of the organic matter in the different waste fractions was more determinant on biodegradability than the respective contents in individual biopolymers. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  12. The Paget Trial: A Multicenter, Observational Cohort Intervention Study for the Clinical Efficacy, Safety, and Immunological Response of Topical 5% Imiquimod Cream for Vulvar Paget Disease.

    PubMed

    van der Linden, Michelle; Meeuwis, Kim; van Hees, Colette; van Dorst, Eleonora; Bulten, Johan; Bosse, Tjalling; IntHout, Joanna; Boll, Dorry; Slangen, Brigitte; van Seters, Manon; van Beurden, Marc; van Poelgeest, Mariëtte; de Hullu, Joanne

    2017-09-06

    Vulvar Paget disease is a rare skin disorder, which is most common in postmenopausal Caucasian women. They usually present with an erythematous plaque that may show fine or typical "cake icing" scaling or ulceration that may cause itching, pain, irritation, or a burning sensation. Although most cases are noninvasive, vulvar Paget disease may be invasive or associated with an underlying vulvar or distant adenocarcinoma. The histological evidence of so-called "Paget cells" with abundant pale cytoplasm in the epithelium confirms the diagnosis. The origin of these Paget cells is still unclear. Treatment of choice is wide local excision with negative margins. Obtaining clear surgical margins is challenging and may lead to extensive and mutilating surgery. Even then, recurrence rates are high, ranging from 15% to 70%, which emphasizes the need for new treatment options. A number of case reports, retrospective case series, and one observational study have shown promising results using the topical immune response modifier imiquimod. This study aims to investigate the efficacy, safety, and immunological response in patients with noninvasive vulvar Paget disease using a standardized treatment schedule with 5% imiquimod cream. Topical 5% imiquimod cream might be an effective and safe treatment alternative for vulvar Paget disease. The Paget Trial is a multicenter observational cohort study including eight tertiary referral hospitals in the Netherlands. It is ethically approved by the Medical-Ethical Committee of Arnhem-Nijmegen and registered in the Central Committee on Research Involving Human Subjects (CCMO) Register by as NL51648.091.14. Twenty patients with (recurrent) noninvasive vulvar Paget disease will be treated with topical 5% imiquimod cream three times a week for 16 weeks. The primary efficacy outcome is the reduction in lesion size at 12 weeks after end of treatment. Secondary outcomes are safety, immunological response, and quality of life. Safety will be assessed by evaluation of adverse events and tolerability of treatment. To evaluate the immunological response, various immunological markers will be tested on biopsy specimens taken before, during, and after treatment. Quality of life will be assessed with three questionnaires taken before, during, and after treatment. First results are expected in the summer of 2018. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02385188; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02385188 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6sXygHuhP). ©Michelle van der Linden, Kim Meeuwis, Colette van Hees, Eleonora van Dorst, Johan Bulten, Tjalling Bosse, Joanna IntHout, Dorry Boll, Brigitte Slangen, Manon van Seters, Marc van Beurden, Mariëtte van Poelgeest, Joanne de Hullu. Originally published in JMIR Research Protocols (http://www.researchprotocols.org), 06.09.2017.

  13. Gel shift analysis of the empA promoter region in Vibrio anguillarum.

    PubMed

    Denkin, Steven M; Sekaric, Pedja; Nelson, David R

    2004-10-29

    The induction of metalloprotease encoded by empA in Vibrio anguillarum occurs at high cell density in salmon intestinal mucus. Previously we have shown that there are significant differences in empA expression in two strains of V. anguillarum, M93Sm and NB10. It is hypothesized that differences in empA regulation are due to differences in binding of regulatory elements. Two strains of V. anguillarum, M93Sm and NB10, were examined and compared for the presence of DNA regulatory proteins that bind to and control the empA promoter region. Gel mobility shift assays, using a digoxigenin (DIG)-labeled oligomer containing a lux box-like element and the promoter for empA, were done to demonstrate the presence of a DNA-binding protein. Protein extracts from NB10 cells incubated in Luria Bertani broth + 2% NaCl (LB20), nine salts solution + 200 microg/ml mucus (NSSM), 3M (marine minimal medium), or NSS resulted in a gel mobility shift. No gel mobility shift was seen when protein extracts from either LB20- or NSSM-grown M93Sm cells were mixed with the DIG-labeled empA oligomer. The azocasein assay detected protease activity in all incubation conditions for NB10 culture supernatants. In contrast, protease activity was detected in M93Sm culture supernatants only when incubated in NSSM. Since the luxR homologue in V. anguillarum, vanT, has been cloned, sequenced, and shown to be required for protease activity, we wanted to determine if vanT mutants of NB10 exhibit the same gel shift observed in the wild-type. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to create vanT mutants in V. anguillarum M93Sm and NB10 to test whether VanT is involved with the gel mobility shift. Both vanT mutants, M02 and NB02, did not produce protease activity in any conditions. However, protein extracts from NB02 incubated in each condition still exhibited a gel shift when mixed with the DIG-labeled empA oligomer. The data demonstrate that protein extracts of V. anguillarum NB10 cells contain a protein that binds to a 50 bp oligomer containing the empA promoter-lux box-like region. NB10 cells express empA during stationary phase in all growth conditions. The DNA binding protein is not present in M93Sm extracts. M93Sm cells express protease activity only when incubated at high cell density in fish gastrointestinal mucus. The gel shift observed with NB10 cells is not due to VanT binding. The data also suggest that the DNA binding protein is responsible for the less restrictive expression of empA in NB10 compared to M93Sm.

  14. Reduced susceptibility of Enterococcus spp. isolates from Cairo University Hospital to tigecycline: Highlight on the influence of proton pump inhibitors.

    PubMed

    Hassan, Reem Mostafa; Ghaith, Doaa Mohammad; Ismail, Dalia Kadry; Zafer, Mai Mahmoud

    2018-03-01

    The incidence of reduced susceptibility to tigecycline (TIG) is increasing. This study aimed to analyse the in vitro activity of TIG against Enterococcus spp. isolates recovered from hospitalised patients and to evaluate the effect of omeprazole on the in vitro antimicrobial activity of TIG against several enterococcal species. A total of 67 Enterococcus clinical isolates were identified by MALDI-TOF/MS and multiplex PCR. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of TIG alone and in combination with omeprazole (10, 30 and 60mg/L) were determined by broth microdilution. Antibiotic susceptibility to other antibiotics was determined by disk diffusion. The presence of van, tet(X) and tet(X1) genes was tested by multiplex PCR. Of the 67 Enterococcus isolates, 2 (3.0%) were resistant to TIG and 13 (19.4%) were intermediate-resistant according to EUCAST. The frequencies of resistance to norfloxacin (80.6%), doxycycline (80.6%), levofloxacin (74.6%) and ciprofloxacin (71.6%) were highest, whilst that of vancomycin (25.4%) was lowest. The vanA gene was detected in 11 Enterococcus isolates (8 Enterococcus faecalis, 3 Enterococcus faecium), vanB in 3 Enterococcus isolates (2 E. faecium, 1 E. faecalis) and vanC-2/3 in 3 Enterococcus casseliflavus. Nine isolates (13.4%) were positive for tet(X1). TIG resistance occurred both in patients receiving or not TIG and/or omeprazole. Omeprazole increased TIG MICs by 4-128-fold. The possibility of selection of TIG-non-susceptible Enterococcus in the gut may occur with long-term use of omeprazole. Omeprazole influenced TIG activity in a concentration-dependent manner. To our knowledge; this is the first report of TIG-non-susceptible Enterococcus spp. in Egypt. Copyright © 2017 International Society for Chemotherapy of Infection and Cancer. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  15. Moment tensor inversion of recent local moderate sized Van Earthquakes: seismicity and active tectonics of the Van region : Eastern Turkey

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kalafat, D.; Suvarikli, M.; Ogutcu, Z.; Kekovali, K.; Ocal, M. F.; Gunes, Y.; Pinar, A.

    2013-12-01

    The study area of the present research, the Van Region is located at the norththern end of the collision zone between the Anatolia and Arabian plates. Therefore, the southeast border of the Anatolian plate collides with the Arabian plate along the Bitlis Suture Zone. This zone is formed by collision of Arabian and in large scale Eurasian plates at mid-Miocen age. This type of thrust generation as a result of compressional regime extends east-west. The largest recorded earthquakes have all taken place along Southern Turkey (e.g. Lice, 1971; Varto, 1966; Caldiran, 1976). On the 23th of October 2011, an earthquake shook the Van Lake, Eastern Turkey, following a seismic sequence of more than three months in an unprecedented episode for this region characterized by null or low seismicity. The October 23, 2011 Van-Ercis Earthquake (Mw=7.1) was the most devastating resulting in loss of life and destruction. In order to study the aftershocks' activity of this main event, we installed and kept a seismic network of 10 broad-band (BB) stations in the area for an interval of nearly fifteen months. We characterized the seismogenic structure of the zone by calculating a minimum 1-D local velocity model and obtaining precise hypocentre locations. We also calculated fault plane solutions for more than 200 moderate sized earthquakes based on first motion polarities and commonly Moment Tensor Inversion Methods. The seismogenic zone would be localized at aproximately 10 km depth. Generally, the distribution of the important moderate earthquakes and the aftershock distribution shows that the E-W and NE-SW oriented fault segments cause the earthquake activities. Aftershock events are located along the eastern border of Lake Van and mainly between 5 and 10 km depth and disposed in two alignments: a ~E-W-trending alignment that matches with the trace of the Van Trust fault Zone and a NE-trending which could correspond to an structure not previously seen. Selected focal mechanisms show a strong trust faulting which coincides with the nature of the Van fault. We were currently analysing an archive of over 5000 local events recorded by the KOERI seismic network of over 20 broadband stations between 2010 and 2013 in the whole Van Region. The Van Earthquake initiated and caused an increase in seismic activity of the region. Van Earthquake and its important aftershocks fault mechanism solutions show that the region is under compression and reverse faulting is a result of this regime which is effective on the active compressional tectonics of the region. This study was supported by Bogazici University Research Projects Commission under SRP/BAP project No. 6040.

  16. Evaluation of BBL CHROMagar VanRE for detection of vancomycin-resistant Enterococci in rectal swab specimens.

    PubMed

    Stamper, Paul D; Shulder, Stephanie; Bekalo, Pearl; Manandhar, Deepika; Ross, Tracy L; Speser, Sharon; Kingery, Julie; Carroll, Karen C

    2010-11-01

    A study was performed on 517 surveillance rectal swabs to evaluate a selective and differential chromogenic medium, the BBL CHROMagar VanRE (CVRE), which enables recovery and identification of VanA- and VanB-containing Enterococcus faecium (ENFM) and Enterococcus faecalis (ENFS) isolates. Compared to BBL Enterococcosel agar, a bile-esculin-azide-vancomycin (BEAV) agar, the initial overall sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of CVRE for the detection of vancomycin-resistant ENFM and ENFS were 99.1% and 94.8% and 84.2% and 99.7%, respectively. Among our patient population, more vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) were recovered with CVRE than BEAV.

  17. Evaluation of BBL CHROMagar VanRE for Detection of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci in Rectal Swab Specimens▿

    PubMed Central

    Stamper, Paul D.; Shulder, Stephanie; Bekalo, Pearl; Manandhar, Deepika; Ross, Tracy L.; Speser, Sharon; Kingery, Julie; Carroll, Karen C.

    2010-01-01

    A study was performed on 517 surveillance rectal swabs to evaluate a selective and differential chromogenic medium, the BBL CHROMagar VanRE (CVRE), which enables recovery and identification of VanA- and VanB-containing Enterococcus faecium (ENFM) and Enterococcus faecalis (ENFS) isolates. Compared to BBL Enterococcosel agar, a bile-esculin-azide-vancomycin (BEAV) agar, the initial overall sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of CVRE for the detection of vancomycin-resistant ENFM and ENFS were 99.1% and 94.8% and 84.2% and 99.7%, respectively. Among our patient population, more vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) were recovered with CVRE than BEAV. PMID:20739492

  18. Van Driest transformation and compressible wall-bounded flows

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Huang, P. G.; Coleman, G. N.

    1994-01-01

    The transformation validity question utilizing resulting data from direct numerical simulations (DNS) of supersonic, isothermal cold wall channel flow was investigated. The DNS results stood for a wide scope of parameter and were suitable for the purpose of examining the generality of Van Driest transformation. The Van Driest law of the wall can be obtained from the inner-layer similarity arguments. It was demonstrated that the Van Driest transformation cannot be incorporated to collapse the sublayer and log-layer velocity profiles simultaneously. Velocity and temperature predictions according to the preceding composite mixing-length model were presented. Despite satisfactory congruity with the DNS data, the model must be perceived as an engineering guide and not as a rigorous analysis.

  19. Helical screw expander evaluation project

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Mckay, R.

    1982-01-01

    A one MW helical rotary screw expander power system for electric power generation from geothermal brine was evaluated. The technology explored in the testing is simple, potentially very efficient, and ideally suited to wellhead installations in moderate to high enthalpy, liquid dominated field. A functional one MW geothermal electric power plant that featured a helical screw expander was produced and then tested with a demonstrated average performance of approximately 45% machine efficiency over a wide range of test conditions in noncondensing, operation on two-phase geothermal fluids. The Project also produced a computer equipped data system, an instrumentation and control van, and a 1000 kW variable load bank, all integrated into a test array designed for operation at a variety of remote test sites. Data are presented for the Utah testing and for the noncondensing phases of the testing in Mexico. Test time logged was 437 hours during the Utah tests and 1101 hours during the Mexico tests.

  20. Polyclonal emergence of vanA vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium in Australia.

    PubMed

    van Hal, Sebastiaan J; Espedido, Björn A; Coombs, Geoffrey W; Howden, Benjamin P; Korman, Tony M; Nimmo, Graeme R; Gosbell, Iain B; Jensen, Slade O

    2017-04-01

    To investigate the genetic context associated with the emergence of vanA VRE in Australia. The whole genomes of 18 randomly selected vanA -positive Enterococcus faecium patient isolates, collected between 2011 and 2013 from hospitals in four Australian capitals, were sequenced and analysed. In silico typing and transposon/plasmid assembly revealed that the sequenced isolates represented (in most cases) different hospital-adapted STs and were associated with a variety of different Tn 1546 variants and plasmid backbone structures. The recent emergence of vanA VRE in Australia was polyclonal and not associated with the dissemination of a single 'dominant' ST or vanA -encoding plasmid. Interestingly, the factors contributing to this epidemiological change are not known and future studies may need to consider investigation of potential community sources. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

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