Controlled double emulsification utilizing 3D PDMS microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, Fu-Che; Su, Yu-Chuan

2008-06-01

This paper presents a PDMS emulsification device that is capable of generating water-in-oil-in-water double emulsions in a controlled manner. Specially designed 3D microchannels are utilized to steer the independently driven water- and oil-phase flows (especially to restrict the attachment of the middle oil-phase flow on the channel surfaces), and to break the continuous flows into monodisperse double emulsions. In addition to channel geometries and fluid flow rates, surfactants and osmotic agents are employed to facilitate the breakup process and stabilize the resulting emulsion structures. In the prototype demonstration, two-level SU-8 molds were fabricated to duplicate PDMS microstructures, which were surface treated and bonded irreversibly to form 3D microchannels. Throughout the emulsification trials, dripping was intentionally induced to generate monodisperse double emulsions with single or multiple aqueous droplets inside each oil drop. It is found that the overall and core sizes of the resulting double emulsions could be adjusted independently, mainly by varying the outer and inner fluid flow rates, respectively. As such, the presented double emulsification device could potentially realize the controllability on emulsion structure and size distribution, which is desired for a variety of biological and pharmaceutical applications.

Protein instability toward organic solvent/water emulsification: implications for protein microencapsulation into microspheres.

PubMed

Sah, H

1999-01-01

The objective of this study was to investigate the behavior of three proteins at an organic solvent/water interface. To simulate the first microencapsulation step of a water-in-oil-in-water emulsion technique, a water-in-oil emulsion was prepared by emulsifying an aqueous protein solution in either methylene chloride or ethyl acetate. Phase separation was then followed to collect protein samples from the aqueous phase and the organic solvent/water interface. Their properties were assessed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and size exclusion-HPLC. Bovine serum albumin was relatively unharmed during emulsification, compared to other proteins such as ovalbumin and lysozyme. In particular, the methylene chloride treatment on ovalbumin led to the formation of a large quantity of water-insoluble, solid-like aggregates and changes in the composition of monomeric and dimeric ovalbumin species. With regard to the question of ovalbumin recovery, only 9.74 approximately 37.72% of the used ovalbumin was present in the aqueous phases after emulsification. Similar penchant was noted with lysozyme. Water-insoluble aggregates brought with by emulsification were found to be covalently bound. Interestingly, less emulsification-induced denaturing effects were observed with ethyl acetate. Our study clearly demonstrated the emulsification-induced adverse events that were detrimental to the integrity of proteins and the importance of preserving protein stability toward microencapsulation.

Emulsification kinetics during quasi-miscible flow in dead-end pores

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Broens, M.; Unsal, E.

2018-03-01

Microemulsions have found applications as carriers for the transport of solutes through various porous media. They are commonly pre-prepared in bulk form, and then injected into the medium. The preparation is done by actively mixing the surfactant, water and oil, and then allowing the mixture to stagnate until equilibrium is reached. The resulting microemulsion characteristics of the surfactant/oil/water system are studied at equilibrium conditions, and perfect mixing is assumed. But in applications like subsurface remediation and enhanced oil recovery, microemulsion formation may occur in the pore space. Surfactant solutions are injected into the ground to solubilize and/or mobilize the non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) by in-situ emulsification. Flow dynamics and emulsification kinetics are coupled, which also contributes to in-situ mixing. In this study, we investigated the nature of such coupling for a quasi-miscible fluid system in a conductive channel with dead-end extensions. A microfluidic setup was used, where an aqueous solution of an anionic, internal olefin sulfonate 20-24 (IOS) surfactant was injected into n-decane saturated glass micromodel. The oil phase was coloured using a solvatochromatic dye allowing for direct visualization of the aqueous and oil phases as well as their microemulsions under fluorescent light. Presence of both conductive and stagnant dead-end channels in a single pore system made it possible to isolate different transport mechanisms from each other but also allowed to study the transitions from one to the other. In the conductive channel, the surfactant was carried with flow, and emulsification was controlled by the localized flow dynamics. In the stagnant zones, the driving force of the mass transfer was driven by the chemical concentration gradient. Some of the equilibrium phase behaviour characteristics of the surfactant/oil/water system were recognisable during the quasi-miscible displacement. However, the equilibrium tests

Linking Findings in Microfluidics to Membrane Emulsification Process Design: The Importance of Wettability and Component Interactions with Interfaces

PubMed Central

Schroën, Karin; Ferrando, Montse; de Lamo-Castellví, Silvia; Sahin, Sami; Güell, Carme

2016-01-01

In microfluidics and other microstructured devices, wettability changes, as a result of component interactions with the solid wall, can have dramatic effects. In emulsion separation and emulsification applications, the desired behavior can even be completely lost. Wettability changes also occur in one phase systems, but the effect is much more far-reaching when using two-phase systems. For microfluidic emulsification devices, this can be elegantly demonstrated and quantified for EDGE (Edge-base Droplet GEneration) devices that have a specific behavior that allows us to distinguish between surfactant and liquid interactions with the solid surface. Based on these findings, design rules can be defined for emulsification with any micro-structured emulsification device, such as direct and premix membrane emulsification. In general, it can be concluded that mostly surface interactions increase the contact angle toward 90°, either through the surfactant, or the oil that is used. This leads to poor process stability, and very limited pressure ranges at which small droplets can be made in microfluidic systems, and cross-flow membrane emulsification. In a limited number of cases, surface interactions can also lead to lower contact angles, thereby increasing the operational stability. This paper concludes with a guideline that can be used to come to the appropriate combination of membrane construction material (or any micro-structured device), surfactants and liquids, in combination with process conditions. PMID:27187484

Effect of Alcohols on the Phase Behavior and Emulsification of a Sucrose Fatty Acid Ester/Water/Edible Oil System.

PubMed

Matsuura, Tsutashi; Ogawa, Akihiro; Ohara, Yukari; Nishina, Shogo; Nakanishi, Maho; Gohtani, Shoichi

2018-02-01

The effect of alcohols (ethanol, 1-propanol, propylene glycol, glycerin, sucrose) on the phase behavior and emulsification of sucrose stearic acid ester (SSE)/water/edible vegetable oil (EVO) systems was investigated. Adding sucrose, propylene glycol, and glycerin narrowed the oil-separated two-phase region in the phase diagram of the SSE/water/EVO systems, whereas adding ethanol and 1-propanol expanded the oil-separated two-phase region. Changing the course of emulsification in the phase diagram showed that the size of the oil-droplet particle typically decreased in a system with a narrowed oil-separated region. The emulsification properties of the systems varied with respect to changes in the phase diagram. The microstructure of the systems was examined using small-angle X-ray scattering, and the ability to retain the oil in the lamellar structure of the SSEs was suggested as an important role in emulsification, because the mechanism of the systems was the same as that for the liquid crystal emulsification method.

Manufacture of poly(methyl methacrylate) microspheres using membrane emulsification

PubMed Central

Bux, Jaiyana; Manga, Mohamed S.; Hunter, Timothy N.

2016-01-01

Accurate control of particle size at relatively narrow polydispersity remains a key challenge in the production of synthetic polymer particles at scale. A cross-flow membrane emulsification (XME) technique was used here in the preparation of poly(methyl methacrylate) microspheres at a 1–10 l h−1 scale, to demonstrate its application for such a manufacturing challenge. XME technology has previously been shown to provide good control over emulsion droplet sizes with careful choice of the operating conditions. We demonstrate here that, for an appropriate formulation, equivalent control can be gained for a precursor emulsion in a batch suspension polymerization process. We report here the influence of key parameters on the emulsification process; we also demonstrate the close correlation in size between the precursor emulsion and the final polymer particles. Two types of polymer particle were produced in this work: a solid microsphere and an oil-filled matrix microcapsule. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Soft interfacial materials: from fundamentals to formulation’. PMID:27298430

Fabrication of starch-based microparticles by an emulsification-crosslinking method

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Starch-based microparticles (MPs) fabricated by a water-in-water (w/w) emulsification-crosslinking method could be used as a controlled-release delivery vehicle for food bioactives. Due to the processing route without the use of toxic organic solvents, it is expected that these microparticles can be...

Spontaneous emulsification and self-propulsion of oil droplets induced by the synthesis of amino acid-based surfactants.

PubMed

Nagasaka, Yuriko; Tanaka, Shinpei; Nehira, Tatsuo; Amimoto, Tomoko

2017-09-27

It is well known that oil droplets in or on water exhibit spontaneous movement induced by surfactants, and this self-propulsion is regarded as an important factor in droplet-based models for a living cell. We report here an oil-droplet system spontaneously producing amino acid-based surfactants, which are then utilized for the droplets' self-propulsion. Thus this system is an active system capable of producing the fuel for the propulsion by itself, which can be used as a conceptual model for cell metabolism.

Probing insulin bioactivity in oral nanoparticles produced by ultrasonication-assisted emulsification/internal gelation

PubMed Central

Lopes, Marlene A; Abrahim-Vieira, Bárbara; Oliveira, Claudia; Fonte, Pedro; Souza, Alessandra M T; Lira, Tammy; Sequeira, Joana A D; Rodrigues, Carlos R; Cabral, Lúcio M; Sarmento, Bruno; Seiça, Raquel; Veiga, Francisco; Ribeiro, António J

2015-01-01

Alginate–dextran sulfate-based particles obtained by emulsification/internal gelation technology can be considered suitable carriers for oral insulin delivery. A rational study focused on the emulsification and particle recovery steps was developed in order to reduce particles to the nanosize range while keeping insulin bioactivity. There was a decrease in size when ultrasonication was used during emulsification, which was more pronounced when a cosurfactant was added. Ultrasonication add-on after particle recovery decreased aggregation and led to a narrower nanoscale particle-size distribution. Insulin encapsulation efficiency was 99.3%±0.5%, attributed to the strong pH-stabilizing electrostatic effect between insulin and nanoparticle matrix polymers. Interactions between these polymers and insulin were predicted using molecular modeling studies through quantum mechanics calculations that allowed for prediction of the interaction model. In vitro release studies indicated well-preserved integrity of nanoparticles in simulated gastric fluid. Circular dichroism spectroscopy proved conformational stability of insulin and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy technique showed rearrangements of insulin structure during processing. Moreover, in vivo biological activity in diabetic rats revealed no statistical difference when compared to nonencapsulated insulin, demonstrating retention of insulin activity. Our results demonstrate that alginate–dextran sulfate-based nanoparticles efficiently stabilize the loaded protein structure, presenting good physical properties for oral delivery of insulin. PMID:26425087

A Mutant Strain of a Surfactant-Producing Bacterium with Increased Emulsification Activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Qingmei; Yao, Jianming; Pan, Renrui; Yu, Zengliang

2005-06-01

As reported in this paper, a strain of oil-degrading bacterium Sp-5-3 was determined to belong to Enterobacteriaceae, which would be useful for microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR). The aim of our study was to generate a mutant using low energy N+ beam implantation. With 10 keV of energy and 5.2 × 1014 N+/cm2 of dose - the optimum condition, a mutant, S-34, was obtained, which had nearly a 5-fold higher surface and a 13-fold higher of emulsification activity than the wild type. The surface activity was measured by two methods, namely, a surface tension measuring instrument and a recording of the repulsive circle of the oil film; the emulsification activity was scaled through measuring the separating time of the oil-fermentation mixture. The metabolic acid was determined as methane by means of gas chromatography.

Modeling emulsification processes in rotary-disk mixers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laponov, S. V.; Shulaev, N. S.; Ivanov, S. P.; Bondar', K. E.; Suleimanov, D. F.

2017-10-01

This article presents the experimental studies results of emulsification processes in liquid-liquid systems in rotary-disk mixers, allowing regulating the distribution of dispersed particles by changing the process conditions and the ratio of the dispersed phase. It is shown that with the increase of mixer’s revolutions per minute (RPM), both the size of dispersed particles and the deviation of dispersed particles sizes from the average decrease. The increase of the dispersed particles part results in the increase of particles average sizes at the current energy consumption. Discovered relationships can be used in the design of industrial equipment and laboratory research.

Nanoformulation of poly(ethylene glycol) polymerized organic insect repellent by PIT emulsification method and its application for Japanese encephalitis vector control.

PubMed

Balaji, A P B; Mishra, Prabhakar; Suresh Kumar, R S; Mukherjee, Amitava; Chandrasekaran, Natarajan

2015-04-01

The utilization of increased dosage of insect repellents to overcome mosquito resistance has raised environmental concerns globally. In accord to this, we have formulated an efficacious, water-dispersive, nanometric formulation of a poor water-soluble insect repellent, diethylphenylacetamide (DEPA) by poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) polymerization followed by PIT emulsification method. The critical micelle concentration of PEG in the spontaneously emulsified conventional DEPA droplets was determined, based on the droplets physical stability. Subjecting them to PIT emulsification yielded monodispersed polymeric nanomicelles of DEPA (Nano DEPA) with hydrodynamic mean diameter of 153.74 nm. The high-resolution scanning and transmission electron microscopic studies revealed the characteristic core-shell structure of micelle. The comparative efficacy of Bulk DEPA and Nano DEPA was evaluated by larvicidal and WHO cone bioassay against the Japanese encephalitis vector Culex tritaeniorhynchus. The median lethal concentrations (48 h) for 3rd instars C. tritaeniorhynchus larvae were found to be 0.416 mg/L for Bulk DEPA and 0.052 mg/L for Nano DEPA, respectively. The median knockdown concentrations (60 min) for the two to three-day-old, sucrose-fed, female adult mosquitoes were 5.372% (v/v) and 3.471% (v/v) for Bulk and Nano DEPA, respectively. Further investigation by histopathological and biochemical studies propound that Nano DEPA exerted better bioefficacy as comparative to its bulk form even at minimal exposure concentrations. Hence, Nano DEPA will serve as an effective alternate in controlling the vector expansion with reduced dosage. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Oil-in-water emulsification using confined impinging jets.

PubMed

Siddiqui, Shad W; Norton, Ian T

2012-07-01

A confined impinging jet mixing device has been used to investigate the continuous sunflower oil/water emulsification process under turbulent flow conditions with oil contents between 5% (v/v) and 10% (v/v). Various emulsifiers (Tween20, Span80, Whey Protein, Lecithin and Sodium Dodecylsulphate) varying in molecular weights have been studied. Mean droplet sizes varied with the emulsifiers used and smallest droplets were obtained under fully turbulent flow regime, i.e. at the highest jet flow rate and highest jet Reynolds Number conditions. Sodium Dodecylsulfate (SDS) produced droplets in the range of 3.8 μm while 6 μm droplets were obtained with Whey Protein. Similar droplet sizes were obtained under fully turbulent flow conditions (610 mL/min; Reynolds Number=13,000) for oil content varying between 5% (v/v) and 10% (v/v). To investigate the smallest droplet size possible in the device, the emulsion was passed through the geometry multiple times. Multi-pass emulsification resulted in reduction in droplet size indicating that longer residence in the flow field under high shear condition allowed for breakage of droplets as well as the time for the emulsifier to stabilize the newly formed droplets, decreasing the impact of coalescence. This was confirmed by timescale analysis of the involved process steps for the droplet data obtained via experiments. Dependence of mean droplet size on the o/w interfacial tension and peak energy dissipation was also investigated. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Solubility and dissolution improvement of ketoprofen by emulsification ionic gelation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rachmaniar, Revika; Tristiyanti, Deby; Hamdani, Syarif; Afifah

2018-02-01

Ketoprofen or [2-(3-benzoylphenyl) propionic acid] is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) and an analgesic which has high permeability and low solubility. The purpose of this work was to improve the solubility and dissolution of poorly water-soluble ketoprofen prepared by emulsification ionic gelation method and utilizing polymer (chitosan) and cross linker (tripolyphosphate, TPP) for particles formulation. The results show that increasing pH value of TPP, higher solubility and dissolution of as-prepared ketoprofen-chitosan was obtained. The solubility in water of ketoprofen-chitosan with pH 6 for TPP increased 2.71-fold compared to untreated ketoprofen. While the dissolution of ketoprofen-chitosan with pH 6 of TPP in simulated gastric fluid without enzyme (0.1 N HCl), pH 4.5 buffer and simulated intestinal fluid without enzyme (phosphate buffer pH 6.8) was increased 1.9-fold, 1.6-fold and 1.2-fold compared to untreated ketoprofen for dissolution time of 30 minutes, respectively. It could be concluded that chitosan and TPP in the emulsification ionic gelation method for ketoprofen preparation effectively increases solubility and dissolution of poorly water-soluble ketoprofen.

Two-step emulsification process for water-in-oil-in-water multiple emulsions stabilized by lamellar liquid crystals.

PubMed

Ito, Toshifumi; Tsuji, Yukitaka; Aramaki, Kenji; Tonooka, Noriaki

2012-01-01

Multiple emulsions, also called complex emulsions or multiphase emulsions, include water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W)-type and oil-in-water-in-oil (O/W/O)-type emulsions. W/O/W-type multiple emulsions, obtained by utilizing lamellar liquid crystal with a layer structure showing optical anisotropy at the periphery of emulsion droplets, are superior in stability to O/W/O-type emulsions. In this study, we investigated a two-step emulsification process for a W/O/W-type multiple emulsion utilizing liquid crystal emulsification. We found that a W/O/W-type multiple emulsion containing lamellar liquid crystal can be prepared by mixing a W/O-type emulsion (prepared by primary emulsification) with a lamellar liquid crystal obtained from poly(oxyethylene) stearyl ether, cetyl alcohol, and water, and by dispersing and emulsifying the mixture in an outer aqueous phase. When poly(oxyethylene) stearyl ether and cetyl alcohol are each used in a given amount and the amount of water added is varied from 0 to 15 g (total amount of emulsion, 100 g), a W/O/W-type multiple emulsion is efficiently prepared. When the W/O/W-type multiple emulsion was held in a thermostatic bath at 25°C, the droplet size distribution showed no change 0, 30, or 60 days after preparation. Moreover, the W/O/W-type multiple emulsion strongly encapsulated Uranine in the inner aqueous phase as compared with emulsions prepared by one-step emulsification.

Centrifugal step emulsification applied for absolute quantification of nucleic acids by digital droplet RPA.

PubMed

Schuler, Friedrich; Schwemmer, Frank; Trotter, Martin; Wadle, Simon; Zengerle, Roland; von Stetten, Felix; Paust, Nils

2015-07-07

Aqueous microdroplets provide miniaturized reaction compartments for numerous chemical, biochemical or pharmaceutical applications. We introduce centrifugal step emulsification for the fast and easy production of monodisperse droplets. Homogenous droplets with pre-selectable diameters in a range from 120 μm to 170 μm were generated with coefficients of variation of 2-4% and zero run-in time or dead volume. The droplet diameter depends on the nozzle geometry (depth, width, and step size) and interfacial tensions only. Droplet size is demonstrated to be independent of the dispersed phase flow rate between 0.01 and 1 μl s(-1), proving the robustness of the centrifugal approach. Centrifugal step emulsification can easily be combined with existing centrifugal microfluidic unit operations, is compatible to scalable manufacturing technologies such as thermoforming or injection moulding and enables fast emulsification (>500 droplets per second and nozzle) with minimal handling effort (2-3 pipetting steps). The centrifugal microfluidic droplet generation was used to perform the first digital droplet recombinase polymerase amplification (ddRPA). It was used for absolute quantification of Listeria monocytogenes DNA concentration standards with a total analysis time below 30 min. Compared to digital droplet polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR), with processing times of about 2 hours, the overall processing time of digital analysis was reduced by more than a factor of 4.

Controlled microfluidic emulsification of oil in a clay nanofluid: Role of salt for Pickering stabilization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gholamipour-Shirazi, A.; Carvalho, M. S.; Fossum, J. O.

2016-07-01

Research on emulsions is driven by their widespread use in different industries, such as food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and oil recovery. Emulsions are stabilized by suitable surfactants, polymers, solid particles or a combination of them. Microfluidic emulsification is the process of droplet formation out of two or more liquids under strictly controlled conditions, without pre-emulsification step. Microfluidic technology offers a powerful tool for investigating the properties of emulsions themselves. In this work stable oil in water emulsions were formed with hydrophilic Laponite RD® nanoparticles adsorbed at the interface of the oil phase and aqueous clay nanofluid in a T junction microfluidic chip. Emulsion stability up to at least 40 days could be observed.

Emulsification Increases the Acute Ketogenic Effect and Bioavailability of Medium-Chain Triglycerides in Humans

PubMed Central

Courchesne-Loyer, Alexandre; Lowry, Carolyn-Mary; St-Pierre, Valérie; Vandenberghe, Camille; Fortier, Mélanie; Castellano, Christian-Alexandre; Wagner, J Richard; Cunnane, Stephen C

2017-01-01

Abstract Background: Lower-brain glucose uptake is commonly present before the onset of cognitive deterioration associated with aging and may increase the risk of Alzheimer disease. Ketones are the brain's main alternative energy substrate to glucose. Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) are rapidly β-oxidized and are ketogenic but also have gastrointestinal side effects. We assessed whether MCT emulsification into a lactose-free skim-milk matrix [emulsified MCTs (MCT-Es)] would improve ketogenesis, reduce side effects, or both compared with the same oral dose of MCTs consumed without emulsification [nonemulsified MCTs (MCT-NEs)]. Objectives: Our aims were to show that, in healthy adults, MCT-Es will induce higher ketonemia and have fewer side effects than MCT-NEs and the effects of MCT-NEs and MCT-Es on ketogenesis and plasma medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) will be dose-dependent. Methods: Using a metabolic study day protocol, 10 healthy adults were each given 3 separate doses (10, 20, or 30 g) of MCT-NEs or MCT-Es with a standard breakfast or no treatment [control (CTL)]. Blood samples were taken every 30 min for 4 h to measure plasma ketones (β-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate), octanoate, decanoate, and other metabolites. Participants completed a side-effects questionnaire at the end of each study day. Results: Compared with CTL, MCT-NEs increased ketogenesis by 2-fold with no significant differences between doses. MCT-Es increased total plasma ketones by 2- to 4-fold in a dose-dependent manner. Compared with MCT-NEs, MCT-Es increased plasma MCFA bioavailability (F) by 2- to 3-fold and decreased the number of side effects by ∼50%. Conclusions: Emulsification increased the ketogenic effect and decreased side effects in a dose-dependent manner for single doses of MCTs ≤30 g under matching conditions. Further investigation is needed to establish whether emulsification could sustain ketogenesis and minimize side effects and therefore be used as a treatment to

Nanoemulsions prepared by a low-energy emulsification method applied to edible films

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Catastrophic phase inversion (CPI) was used as a low-energy emulsification method to prepare oil-in-water (O/W) nanoemulsions in a lipid (Acetem)/water/nonionic surfactant (Tween 60) system. CPIs in which water-in-oil emulsions (W/O) are transformed into oil-in-water emulsions (O/W) were induced by ...

Preparation of uniform-sized multiple emulsions and micro/nano particulates for drug delivery by membrane emulsification.

PubMed

Liu, Wei; Yang, Xiang-Liang; Ho, W S Winston

2011-01-01

Much attention has in recent years been paid to fine applications of drug delivery systems, such as multiple emulsions, micro/nano solid lipid and polymer particles (spheres or capsules). Precise control of particle size and size distribution is especially important in such fine applications. Membrane emulsification can be used to prepare uniform-sized multiple emulsions and micro/nano particulates for drug delivery. It is a promising technique because of the better control of size and size distribution, the mildness of the process, the low energy consumption, easy operation and simple equipment, and amendable for large scale production. This review describes the state of the art of membrane emulsification in the preparation of monodisperse multiple emulsions and micro/nano particulates for drug delivery in recent years. The principles, influence of process parameters, advantages and disadvantages, and applications in preparing different types of drug delivery systems are reviewed. It can be concluded that the membrane emulsification technique in preparing emulsion/particulate products for drug delivery will further expand in the near future in conjunction with more basic investigations on this technique. Copyright © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association

Emulsification of oil in water as affected by different parameters.

PubMed

Baloch, Musa Kaleem; Hameed, Gulzar

2005-05-15

The aim of this investigation was to develop a basic understanding of the emulsification process by considering simple systems such as n-hexane, n-heptane, n-decane, and kerosene oil in water. The technique employed for the purpose was ultrasonification. The effect of ultrasonification time, chain length, viscosity, surface tension, oil content, and ionic strength of the media on the quality of emulsion has been studied. The emulsions were viewed through microscope to measure the number, size, and size distribution of droplets. Quantification of turbidity and viscosity was also used to characterize the emulsions. It has been found that the number and size of the droplets vary with the time of ultrasonification, contents of oils, molecular mass of the oils, and ionic strength of the media, and hence the quality of the emulsion is influenced by these parameters. The droplet size decreases, whereas the number of drops increases with the time of emulsification, approaching an optimum distribution at about 15 min of ultrasonification. Further, the increase in the molecular mass of the oil increases the size of the droplets and hence decreases the stability of the emulsion. The addition of electrolytes encourages coalescence and enhances the instability in the system. The results are in accord with the equations proposed by us.

Microencapsulation by Membrane Emulsification of Biophenols Recovered from Olive Mill Wastewaters

PubMed Central

Piacentini, Emma; Poerio, Teresa; Bazzarelli, Fabio; Giorno, Lidietta

2016-01-01

Biophenols are highly prized for their free radical scavenging and antioxidant activities. Olive mill wastewaters (OMWWs) are rich in biophenols. For this reason, there is a growing interest in the recovery and valorization of these compounds. Applications for the encapsulation have increased in the food industry as well as the pharmaceutical and cosmetic fields, among others. Advancements in micro-fabrication methods are needed to design new functional particles with target properties in terms of size, size distribution, and functional activity. This paper describes the use of the membrane emulsification method for the fine-tuning of microparticle production with biofunctional activity. In particular, in this pioneering work, membrane emulsification has been used as an advanced method for biophenols encapsulation. Catechol has been used as a biophenol model, while a biophenols mixture recovered from OMWWs were used as a real matrix. Water-in-oil emulsions with droplet sizes approximately 2.3 times the membrane pore diameter, a distribution span of 0.33, and high encapsulation efficiency (98% ± 1% and 92% ± 3%, for catechol and biophenols, respectively) were produced. The release of biophenols was also investigated. PMID:27171115

Purification of Drug Loaded PLGA Nanoparticles Prepared by Emulsification Solvent Evaporation Using Stirred Cell Ultrafiltration Technique.

PubMed

Paswan, Suresh K; Saini, T R

2017-12-01

The emulsifiers in an exceedingly higher level are used in the preparation of drug loaded polymeric nanoparticles prepared by emulsification solvent evaporation method. This creates great problem to the formulator due to their serious toxicities when it is to be administered by parenteral route. The final product is therefore required to be freed from the used surfactants by the conventional purification techniques which is a cumbersome job. The solvent resistant stirred cell ultrafiltration unit (Millipore) was used in this study using polyethersulfone ultrafiltration membrane (Biomax®) having pore size of NMWL 300 KDa as the membrane filter. The purification efficiency of this technique was compared with the conventional centrifugation technique. The flow rate of ultrafiltration was optimized for removal of surfactant (polyvinyl alcohol) impurities to the acceptable levels in 1-3.5 h from the nanoparticle dispersion of tamoxifen prepared by emulsification solvent evaporation method. The present investigations demonstrate the application of solvent resistant stirred cell ultrafiltration technique for removal of toxic impurities of surfactant (PVA) from the polymeric drug nanoparticles (tamoxifen) prepared by emulsification solvent evaporation method. This technique offers added benefit of producing more concentrated nanoparticles dispersion without causing significant particle size growth which is observed in other purification techniques, e.g., centrifugation and ultracentrifugation.

Emulsification of algal oil with soy lecithin improved DHA bioaccessibility but did not change overall in vitro digestibility.

PubMed

Lin, Xinjie; Wang, Qi; Li, Weili; Wright, Amanda J

2014-11-01

Oil emulsification facilitates digestive lipolysis and subsequent lipid bioaccessibility. This study aimed to understand the effects of emulsification on DHA-rich algal oil digestion and bioaccessibility. An oil/water emulsion (50 : 44 : 6 oil-water-soy lecithin) was subjected to an in vitro digestion model with gastric pH 1.6 or 4.0 and particle size distributions, duodenal stage lipolysis and DHA bioaccessibility were determined. The emulsion was destabilized at gastric pH 1.6, with subsequent slow duodenal lipolysis. With gastric pH 4.0, the emulsion structure remained intact, initial lipolysis proceeded rapidly and DHA bioaccessibility was higher than for bulk oil, a mixture of oil, water and soy lecithin, and the gastric pH 1.6 destabilized emulsion (p < 0.05). However, the extent of lipolysis was not affected by emulsification or gastric pH. Therefore, the presence of an intact emulsion at the start of duodenal digestion, while not impacting the extent of lipolysis, did impact the initial lipolysis and DHA bioaccessibility.

Preparation of stimulus responsive multiple emulsions by membrane emulsification using con a as biochemical sensor.

PubMed

Piacentini, Emma; Drioli, Enrico; Giorno, Lidietta

2011-04-01

In this work, a novel strategy for the controlled fabrication of biomolecular stimulus responsive water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) multiple emulsion using the membrane emulsification process was investigated. The emulsions interface was functionalized with a biomolecule able to function as a receptor for a target compound. The interaction between the biomolecular receptor and target stimulus activated the release of bioactive molecules contained within the structured emulsion. A glucose sensitive emulsion was investigated as a model study case. Concanavalin A (Con A) was used as the biomolecular glucose sensor. Various physicochemical strategies for stimulus responsive materials formulation are available in literature, but the preparation of biomolecule-responsive emulsions has been explored for the first time in this paper. The development of novel drug delivery systems requires advanced and highly precise techniques to obtain their particular properties and targeting requirements. The present study has proven the flexibility and suitability of membrane emulsification for the preparation of stable and functional multiple emulsions containing Con A as interfacial biomolecular receptor able to activate the release of a bioactive molecule as a consequence of interaction with the glucose target molecule. The influence of emulsion interfacial composition and membrane emulsification operating conditions on droplets stability and functional properties have been investigated. The release of the bioactive molecule as a function of glucose stimulus and its concentration has been demonstrated. Copyright © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Photochemistry in everyday life: the effect of spontaneous emulsification on the photochemistry of trans-anethole.

PubMed

Carteau, David; Brunerie, Pascal; Guillemat, Bruno; Bassani, Dario M

2007-04-01

The photochemical behaviour of spontaneously formed microemulsions obtained upon dilution of ethanolic solutions of trans-anethole (E-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)propene, t-A) with water is compared to that of homogeneous ethanolic t-A solutions. Significant differences in reactivity reflect the confined nature of the aggregated t-A which leads to reduced yields of isomerization and dimerization products. In contrast to homogeneous solutions, where a photostationary state enriched in the Z-isomer (c-A) is rapidly reached, the proportion of c-A formed upon irradiation of t-A microemulsions remains below 15%. In the presence of oxygen the formation of trans-anethole oxide is observed which, when formed in non-homogeneous environments, undergoes polymerization.

Impact of the emulsification-diffusion method on the development of pharmaceutical nanoparticles.

PubMed

Quintanar-Guerrero, David; Zambrano-Zaragoza, María de la Luz; Gutierrez-Cortez, Elsa; Mendoza-Munoz, Nestor

2012-12-01

Nanotechnology is having a profound impact in many scientific fields and it has become one of the most important and exciting discipline. Like all technological advances, nanotechnology has its own scientific basis with a broad interdisciplinary effect. Perhaps, we are witnessing an exponential growth of nanotechnology, reflection of this is the important increase in the number of patents, scientific papers and specialized "nano" meetings and journals. The impact in the pharmaceutical area is related to the use of colloidal drug delivery systems as carriers for bioactive agents, in particular, the nanoparticle technology. The term nanoparticles designates solid submicronic particles formed of acceptable materials (e.g. polymers, lipids, etc.) containing an active substance. It includes both nanospheres (matricial systems) and nanocapsules (membrane systems). The knowledge of the nanoparticle preparation methods is a key issue for the formulator involved with drug-delivery research and development. In general, the methods based on preformed polymers, in particular biodegradable polymers, are preferred due to their easy implementation and lower potential toxicity. One of the most widely used methods to prepare polymeric nanoparticles is emulsification-diffusion. This method has been discussed in some reviews that compile research works but has a small number of patents. In this review, the emulsification-diffusion method is discussed from a technological point of view in order to show the operating conditions and formulation variables from data extracted of recent patents and experimental works. The main idea is to provide the reader with a general guide for formulators to make decisions about the usefulness of this method to develop specific nanoparticulate systems. The first part of this review provides an overview of the emulsification-diffusion method to prepare polymeric nanoparticles, while the second part evaluates the influence of preparative variables on the

Preparation of lipid nanoemulsions by premix membrane emulsification with disposable materials.

PubMed

Gehrmann, Sandra; Bunjes, Heike

2016-09-25

The possibility to prepare nanoemulsions as drug carrier systems on small scale was investigated with disposable materials. For this purpose premix membrane emulsification (premix ME) as a preparation method for nanoemulsions with narrow particle size distributions on small scale was used. The basic principle of premix ME is that the droplets of a coarse pre-emulsion get disrupted by the extrusion through a porous membrane. In order to implement the common preparation setup for premix ME with disposable materials, the suitability of different syringe filters (made from polyethersulfone, cellulose acetate, cellulose ester and nylon) and different pharmaceutically relevant emulsifiers (phospholipids, polysorbate 80 and sucrose laurate) for the preparation of nanoemulsions was investigated. Already the preparation of the premix could be realized by emulsification with the help of two disposable syringes. As shown for a phospholipid-stabilized emulsion, the polyethersulfone filter was the most appropriate one and was used for the study with different emulsifiers. With this syringe filter, the median particle size of all investigated emulsions was below 500nm after 21 extrusion cycles through a 200nm filter and a subsequent extrusion cycle through a 100nm filter. Furthermore, the particle size distribution of the polysorbate 80- and sucrose laurate-stabilized emulsions prepared this way was very narrow (span value of 0.7). Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Optimization of the emulsification and solvent displacement method for the preparation of solid lipid nanoparticles.

PubMed

Noriega-Peláez, Eddy Kei; Mendoza-Muñoz, Néstor; Ganem-Quintanar, Adriana; Quintanar-Guerrero, David

2011-02-01

The essential aim of this article is to prepare solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) by emulsification and solvent displacement method and to determine the best process conditions to obtain submicron particles. The emulsification and solvent displacement method is a modification of the well-known emulsification-diffusion method, but without dilution of the system. The extraction of the partially water-miscible solvent from the emulsion globules is carried out under reduced pressure, which causes the diffusion of the solvent toward the external phase, with subsequent lipid aggregation in particles whose size will depend on the process conditions. The critical variables affecting the process, such as stirring rate, the proportion of phases in the emulsion, and the amount of stabilizer and lipid, were evaluated and optimized. By this method, it was possible to obtain a high yield of solids in the dispersion for the lipids evaluated (Compritol(®) ATO 888, Geleol(®), Gelucire(®) 44/14, and stearic acid). SLNs of up to ∼20 mg/mL were obtained for all lipids evaluated. A marked reduction in size, between 500 and 2500 rpm, was seen, and a transition from micro- to nanometric size was observed. The smaller particle sizes obtained were 113 nm for Compritol(®) ATO 888, 70 nm for Gelucire(®) 44/14, 210 nm for Geleol(®), and 527 nm for stearic acid, using a rotor-stator homogenizer (Ultra-Turrax(®)) at 16,000 rpm. The best phase ratio (organic/aqueous) was 1 : 2. The process proposed in this study is a new alternative to prepare SLNs with technological potential.

A randomised cross-over trial in healthy adults indicating improved absorption of omega-3 fatty acids by pre-emulsification

PubMed Central

Garaiova, Iveta; Guschina, Irina A; Plummer, Sue F; Tang, James; Wang, Duolao; Plummer, Nigel T

2007-01-01

Background The health benefits of increased intakes of omega-3 fatty acids are well established but palatability often presents a problem. The process of emulsification is used in the food industry to provide a wider spectrum of use, often with the result of increased consumption. Moreover, as emulsification is an important step in the digestion and absorption of fats, the pre-emulsification process may enhance digestion and absorption. In this study the levels of plasma fatty acid and triacylglycerol (TAG) following the ingestion of either an oil mixture or an emulsified oil mixture have been compared. Methods In this randomised cross-over study, 13 volunteers received the oil mixture and 11 received the oil emulsion as part of an otherwise fat free meal. Blood samples were collected at 0, 1.5, 3, 4.5, 6, 7.5 and 9 hours after ingestion of oil, separated and stored at -20°C. Plasma triacylglycerols were assessed spectrophotometrically and fatty acids were determined by gas chromatography. Following a washout period of twenty days the procedure was repeated with the assignments reversed. Results The postprandial plasma TAG and the C18:3 (n-6), C18:3(n-3), C20:5(n-3) and C22:6 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels for the emulsified oil group were increased significantly (P = 0.0182; P = 0.0493; P = 0.0137; P < 0.0001; P = 0.0355 respectively) compared with the non-emulsified oil group. The C16:0 and C18:0 saturated fatty acids, the C18:1 (n-9) monounsaturated fatty acid and the C18:2 PUFA were not significantly different for the oil and emulsified oil groups. Conclusion Pre-emulsification of an oil mixture prior to ingestion increases the absorption of longer chain more highly unsaturated fatty acids (especially eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid) but does not affect absorption of shorter chain less saturated fatty acids, suggesting that pre-emulsification of fish oils may be a useful means of boosting absorption of these beneficial fatty

Effect of emulsification on the skin permeation and UV protection of catechin.

PubMed

Yoshino, Sachie; Mitoma, Tomoaki; Tsuruta, Keiko; Todo, Hiroaki; Sugibayashi, Kenji

2014-06-01

An anti-aging effect may be obtained by skin application of tea catechins (Camellia sinensis) since they have high ultraviolet (UV)-protection activity. In this study, the skin permeation of catechin (C), epicatechin (EC), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin gallate (ECg) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) was determined and compared, and the effect of emulsification on the skin permeation of C was measured. The UV-protective effect of C was also determined. The in vitro skin permeability of each catechin derivative was determined using side-by-side diffusion of cells. The UV-protective effect of C was determined by applying different concentrations of C to the solution or emulsion on a three-dimensional cultured human skin model or normal human epidermal keratinocytes with UV-irradiation. ECg and EGCg with gallate groups showed lower skin permeability than C, EC and EGC without gallate groups, suggesting that the skin permeability of catechin derivatives may be dependent on the existence of a gallate group. Interestingly, the skin permeation of C was increased by an o/w emulsification. In addition, the C emulsion showed a significantly higher UV-protective effect by C than that with its aqueous solution. These results suggest that the o/w emulsion of catechin derivatives is probably useful as a cosmetic formulation with anti-aging efficacy.

Preparation of a novel lipid-core micelle using a low-energy emulsification method.

PubMed

Fritz, Hans F; Ortiz, Andrea C; Velaga, Sitaram P; Morales, Javier O

2018-04-16

High-energy methods for the manufacturing of nanomedicines are widely used; however, interest in low-energy methods is increasing due to their simplicity, better control over the process, and energy-saving characteristics during upscaling. Here, we developed a novel lipid-core micelle (LCM) as a nanocarrier to encapsulate a poorly water-soluble drug, nifedipine (NFD), by hot-melt emulsification, a low-energy method. LCMs are self-assembling colloidal particles composed of a hydrophobic core and a hydrophilic shell. Hybrid materials, such as Gelucire 44/14, are thus excellent candidates for their preparation. We characterized the obtained nanocarriers for their colloidal properties, drug loading and encapsulation efficiency, liquid state, stability, and drug release. The low-energy method hot-melt emulsification was successfully adapted for the manufacturing of small and narrowly dispersed LCMs. The obtained LCMs had a small average size of ~ 11 nm and a narrow polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.228. These nanocarriers were able to increase the amount of NFD dispersible in water more than 700-fold. Due to their sustained drug release profile and the PEGylation of Gelucire 44/14, these nanocarriers represent an excellent starting point for the development of drug delivery systems designed for long circulation times and passive targeting.

Microfluidic step-emulsification in a cylindrical geometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chakraborty, Indrajit; Leshansky, Alexander M.

2016-11-01

The model microfluidic device for high-throughput droplet generation in a confined cylindrical geometry is investigated numerically. The device comprises of core-annular pressure-driven flow of two immiscible viscous liquids through a cylindrical capillary connected co-axially to a tube of a larger diameter through a sudden expansion, mimicking the microfluidic step-emulsifier (1). To study this problem, the numerical simulations of axisymmetric Navier-Stokes equations have been carried out using an interface capturing procedure based on coupled level set and volume-of-fluid (CLSVOF) methods. The accuracy of the numerical method was favorably tested vs. the predictions of the linear stability analysis of core-annular two-phase flow in a cylindrical capillary. Three distinct flow regimes can be identified: the dripping (D) instability near the entrance to the capillary, the step- (S) and the balloon- (B) emulsification at the step-like expansion. Based on the simulation results we present the phase diagram quantifying transitions between various regimes in plane of the capillary number and the flow-rate ratio. MICROFLUSA EU H2020 project.

Emulsification and antioxidation of biosurfactant extracts from Chinese medicinal herbs fermentation in vitro.

PubMed

Chen, Chunyeh; Lin, Tachen; Shieh, Youmin

2015-10-01

Much attention has been paid to biosurfactants produced using microorganisms, but little direct evidence for the development of natural biosurfactants combined with Chinese medicinal herbs are available. We investigated the emulsification and antioxidation of biosurfactant extracts from Chinese medicinal herb fermentation (BECMHF) in vitro and their application in water retention capacity and the skin prick and allergy test (SPAT) index for skin cells. The results showed that the water retention capacity of BECMHF was positively associated with the emulsification index. The SPAT index of 8 Chinese medicinal herbs was 0 at a 1% or 2% concentration, suggesting no sensitivity or adverse effects on the skin cells. Eight BECMHFs produced using Alcaligenes piechaudii CC-ESB2 exhibited antioxidant capabilities, including 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and superoxide scavenging activity, and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity at a concentration of 10 mg/ml. The mechanism involved inhibitory effects on nitrite, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, and reactive oxygen species (ROSs) generation. BECMHFs exhibit favorable antioxidative properties in health food and satisfactory emulsifying and moisturizing characteristics in cosmetic formulations, which have potential applications in the health food and cosmetic industries, respectively. Copyright © 2015 The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Controlled tissue emulsification produced by high intensity focused ultrasound shock waves and millisecond boiling

PubMed Central

Khokhlova, Tatiana D.; Canney, Michael S.; Khokhlova, Vera A.; Sapozhnikov, Oleg A.; Crum, Lawrence A.; Bailey, Michael R.

2011-01-01

In high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) applications, tissue may be thermally necrosed by heating, emulsified by cavitation, or, as was recently discovered, emulsified using repetitive millisecond boiling caused by shock wave heating. Here, this last approach was further investigated. Experiments were performed in transparent gels and ex vivo bovine heart tissue using 1, 2, and 3 MHz focused transducers and different pulsing schemes in which the pressure, duty factor, and pulse duration were varied. A previously developed derating procedure to determine in situ shock amplitudes and the time-to-boil was refined. Treatments were monitored using B-mode ultrasound. Both inertial cavitation and boiling were observed during exposures, but emulsification occurred only when shocks and boiling were present. Emulsified lesions without thermal denaturation were produced with shock amplitudes sufficient to induce boiling in less than 20 ms, duty factors of less than 0.02, and pulse lengths shorter than 30 ms. Higher duty factors or longer pulses produced varying degrees of thermal denaturation combined with mechanical emulsification. Larger lesions were obtained using lower ultrasound frequencies. The results show that shock wave heating and millisecond boiling is an effective and reliable way to emulsify tissue while monitoring the treatment with ultrasound. PMID:22088025

Ultimate evidence for the ultimate regime

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smits, Alexander J.

2018-04-01

The ultimate regime of turbulence has been observed, more than half a century after its first prediction. Inspiration for achieving this technical feat came from the imperfections of an everyday pipe.

Evaluation of protein structural changes and water mobility in chicken liver paste batters prepared with plant oil substituting pork back-fat combined with pre-emulsification.

PubMed

Xiong, Guoyuan; Han, Minyi; Kang, Zhuangli; Zhao, Yingying; Xu, Xinglian; Zhu, Yingying

2016-04-01

Protein structural changes and water mobility properties in chicken liver paste batters prepared with plant oil (sunflower and canola oil combinations) substituting 0-40% pork back-fat combined with pre-emulsification were studied by Raman spectroscopy and low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Results showed that pre-emulsifying back-fat and plant oil, including substituting higher than 20% back-fat with plant oil increased the water- and fat-binding (p<0.05) properties, formed more even and fine microstructures, and gradually decreased the NMR relaxation times (T21a, T21b and T22), which was related to the lower fluid losses in chicken liver paste batters. Raman spectroscopy revealed that compared with a control, there was a decrease (p<0.05) in α-helix content accompanied by an increase (p<0.05) in β-sheet structure when substituting 20-40% back-fat with plant oil combined with pre-emulsification. Pre-emulsification and plant oil substitution changed tryptophan and tyrosine doublet hydrophobic residues in chicken liver paste batters. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Factors influencing the shear rate acting on silicone oil to cause silicone oil emulsification.

PubMed

Chan, Yau Kei; Cheung, Ning; Wong, David

2014-10-30

The shear force between silicone oil (SO) bubble and aqueous during eye movements may underlie the development of SO emulsification. This study examines factors that may affect such shear force induced by eye movements. A surface-modified model eye chamber was put under large-amplitude eye movements (amplitude 90°, angular velocity 360°/s, and a duration 300 ms). Agarose-made indentations were introduced to mimic the effect of encircling scleral buckle. Two SOs (1300 and 5000 centistokes [cSt]), three volumes (3, 4, and 5 mL), and two eye chambers (with and without indentation) were tested. Video recording was used to capture the movements of SO inside the model chamber under various conditions. The presence of indentation within the eye chamber significantly reduced the velocity of SO movements relative to the eye chamber movements (P < 0.001). To a lesser extent, an increase in viscosity also had a significant effect in reducing the relative movements. No significant effect was observed for the extent of SO fill in the chamber. Our experimental model suggests indentation within an eye, such as that created by scleral buckling, may have the greatest influence in reducing shear force induced by eye movements. Therefore, using an encircling scleral buckle may be similarly or more effective than using SO with higher viscosity in lowering the propensity to SO emulsification. Copyright 2014 The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc.

Preparation of uniform-sized PELA microspheres with high encapsulation efficiency of antigen by premix membrane emulsification.

PubMed

Wei, Qiang; Wei, Wei; Tian, Rui; Wang, Lian-Yan; Su, Zhi-Guo; Ma, Guang-Hui

2008-07-15

Relatively uniform-sized poly(lactide-co-ethylene glycol) (PELA) microspheres with high encapsulation efficiency were prepared rapidly by a novel method combining emulsion-solvent extraction and premix membrane emulsification. Briefly, preparation of coarse double emulsions was followed by additional premix membrane emulsification, and antigen-loaded microspheres were obtained by further solidification. Under the optimum condition, the particle size was about 1 mum and the coefficient of variation (CV) value was 18.9%. Confocal laser scanning microscope and flow cytometer analysis showed that the inner droplets were small and evenly dispersed and the antigen was loaded uniformly in each microsphere when sonication technique was occupied to prepare primary emulsion. Distribution pattern of PEG segment played important role on the properties of microspheres. Compared with triblock copolymer PLA-PEG-PLA, the diblock copolymer PLA-mPEG yielded a more stable interfacial layer at the interface of oil and water phase, and thus was more suitable to stabilize primary emulsion and protect coalescence of inner droplets and external water phase, resulting in high encapsulation efficiency (90.4%). On the other hand, solidification rate determined the time for coalescence during microspheres fabrication, and thus affected encapsulation efficiency. Taken together, improving the polymer properties and solidification rate are considered as two effective strategies to yield high encapsulation.

Development of method of optimized flavor production systems design based on nano-emulsification Kawista (Feronia limonia) Fruit extraction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suyanto, A.; Noor, E.; Fahma, F.; Rusli, M. S.; Djatna, T.

2018-01-01

‘Kawista’ (Feronia limonia) as a tropical fruit has unique flavor that can be applied as a flavor for food products. Flavor as volatile components are unstable by environment factors such as temperature and storage. Flavor nano emulsification form to improve the stability towards environment and increase its use in food products. Research carried out is system development of the nano emulsification Kawista extract flavor with sonication method. The best treatments are selected by Response Surface Methodology (RSM) for independent variable are amplitude (70-100%), time (90-150s) and temperature (5-45°C) controlled by the software of the device. The Flavor Extraction by maceration technique extended highest yield and flavor components. Nano-emulsions made with composition 1% (w/w) flavor extract, 2% (w/w) surfactant (tween 80), 0.25% Gum, and 96.75% (w/w) deionized water. The probe of sonication successfully for preparing stable O/W nano emulsions at amplitude, time and temperature 81.01%, 150s, 45°C, respectively. Characteristic of nano-emulsions i.e energy input (15.489J), viscosity (2.076 mPa.s), droplet size (13.446nm), and Polydispersity index (0.469).

In situ emulsification using a non-uniform alternating electric field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, Suhwan; Saveliev, Alexei V.

2014-08-01

We report an electric field based method for in situ emulsification of water droplets immersed in a continuous oil phase. High density water-in-oil emulsions are generated using non-uniform ac electric fields applied between needle and plate electrodes. An initial water droplet is entrained in the area of high electric field near the needle electrode where it is dispersed under the influence of high electric stresses. Breakup mechanisms responsible for a gradual dispersion of the water droplets are investigated. Identified mechanisms involve drop elongation to a cylindrical shape followed by a capillary breakup, ac electrospraying from individual water droplets, and formation and breakup of bead-like structures comprised by the water droplets interconnected by thin water bridges. Water droplets with diameters close to 1 μm and a narrow size distribution are formed at long processing times. The generated emulsion has a well-defined boundary and is confined near the needle electrode in a shape resembling a pendant drop.

Spontaneous Massive Adrenal Hemorrhage: A Management Dilemma

PubMed Central

Agarwal, Anshuman

2015-01-01

Abstract Adrenal hemorrhage (AH) is a rare but life-threatening condition. Small focal hemorrhage may present subclinically, but massive hemorrhage may lead to rapid cardiovascular collapse and ultimately death if not diagnosed appropriately and treated quickly. Most cases reported in the literature have been treated conservatively. In an event of increasing hemorrhage during conservative management, it may be tricky to intervene surgically because of the hematoma around the gland. Here we describe a case where we managed a large spontaneous AH by a combination of angioembolization and laparoscopic adrenalectomy. PMID:27579389

Influence of membrane material on the production of colloidal emulsions by premix membrane emulsification.

PubMed

Gehrmann, Sandra; Bunjes, Heike

2018-05-01

Premix membrane emulsification is a possibility to produce colloidal emulsions as carrier systems for poorly water soluble drugs. During the extrusion of a coarse pre-emulsion through a porous membrane, the emulsion droplets are disrupted into smaller droplets. The influence of the membrane material on the emulsification success was investigated in dependence on the emulsifier. Premixed medium chain triglyceride (MCT) emulsions stabilized with five different emulsifiers were extruded through seven different hydrophilic polymeric membrane materials with pore sizes of 200nm. The resulting emulsions differed strongly in particle size and particle size distribution with a range of median particle sizes between 0.08μm and 11μm. The particle size of the emulsions did not depend mainly on the structure or thickness of the membrane but on the combination of emulsifier and membrane material. Contact angle measurements indicated that the wetting of the membrane with the continuous phase of the emulsion was decisive for achieving emulsions with colloidal particle sizes. The type of dispersed phase was of minor importance as basically the same results were obtained with peanut oil instead of MCT. To prove the assumption that only sufficiently hydrophilic membrane materials led to emulsions with colloidal particle sizes, two membrane materials were hydrophilized by plasma treatment. After hydrophilization, the emulsifying process led to emulsions with smaller particle sizes. The use of an alumina membrane (Anodisc®) improved the process even more. With this type of membrane, emulsions with a median particle size below 250nm and a narrow particle size distribution could be obtained with all investigated emulsifiers. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Development of ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction based on solidification of a floating organic droplet for determination of organochlorine pesticides in water samples.

PubMed

Shu, Bin; Yang, Zhaoguang; Lee, Hsiaowan; Qiu, Bo; Li, Haipu

2016-02-01

An ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction based on the solidification of a floating organic droplet followed by gas chromatography with electron capture detection was developed for the simultaneous determination of 13 organochlorine pesticides in water samples. In the proposed method, ultrasound was applied to achieve the emulsification without addition of any dispersive solvent. In consequence, the volume of extraction phase remained unaffected by the ion strength of aqueous phase and high extraction recoveries were obtained. It was also found that dilution of the floating phase with acetone was necessary for preventing peak splitting in chromatogram. Under optimal conditions, the proposed method provided good sensitivity (the detection limits of organochlorine pesticides ranged from 1.3 to 3.9 ng/L) and good repeatability of extraction (below 6.5%, n = 5). The recoveries in reservoir and river water samples were between 75.8% and 96.9%. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Effect of blending and emulsification on thermal behavior, solid fat content, and microstructure properties of palm oil-based margarine fats.

PubMed

Saadi, S; Ariffin, A A; Ghazali, H M; Miskandar, M S; Abdulkarim, S M; Boo, H C

2011-01-01

The ability of palm oil (PO) to crystallize as beta prime polymorph has made it an attractive option for the production of margarine fat (MF). Palm stearin (PS) expresses similar crystallization behavior and is considered one of the best substitutes of hydrogenated oils due to its capability to impart the required level of plasticity and body to the finished product. Normally, PS is blended with PO to reduce the melting point at body temperature (37 °C). Lipid phase, formulated by PO and PS in different ratios were subjected to an emulsification process and the following analyses were done: triacylglycerols, solid fat content (SFC), and thermal behavior. In addition, the microstructure properties, including size and number of crystals, were determined for experimental MFs (EMFs) and commercial MFs (CMFs). Results showed that blending and emulsification at PS levels over 40 wt% significantly changed the physicochemical and microstructure properties of EMF as compared to CMF, resulting in a desirable dipalmitoyl-oleoyl-glycerol content of less than 36.1%. SFC at 37 °C, crystal size, crystal number, crystallization, and melting enthalpies (ΔH) were 15%, 5.37 μm, 1425 crystal/μm(2), 17.25 J/g, and 57.69J/g, respectively. All data reported indicate that the formation of granular crystals in MFs was dominated by high-melting triacylglycerol namely dipalmitoyl-oleoyl-glycerol, while the small dose of monoacylglycerol that is used as emulsifier slowed crystallization rate. Practical Application: Most of the past studies were focused on thermal behavior of edible oils and some blends of oils and fats. The crystallization of oils and fats are well documented but there is scarce information concerning some mechanism related to crystallization and emulsification. Therefore, this study will help to gather information on the behavior of emulsifier on crystallization regime; also the dominating TAG responsible for primary granular crystal formations, as well as to determine

Novel one-pot facile technique for preparing nanoparticles modified with hydrophilic polymers on the surface via block polymer-assisted emulsification/evaporation process.

PubMed

Kanakubo, Yurie; Ito, Fuminori; Murakami, Yoshihiko

2010-06-15

In this paper, we describe the novel facile technique for preparing surface-modified nanoparticles via newly developed amphiphilic block polymer-assisted emulsification/evaporation process. The effects of both organic solvents (the dispersed phase) and stabilizer in the external continuous phase on the stability of o/w emulsion was firstly investigated to clarify the optimal conditions for stable emulsification/evaporation processes. We found that the organic solvent mixture having a density adjusted to be 1.00 g/cm(3) gave the highly stable o/w emulsion. Under the optimal conditions, the relatively monodisperse poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-modified poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticle was obtained and characterized. The introduction of PEG to the particle surface was suggested by the fact that the diameter and zeta potential of the particle increased as the amount of added block polymer increased. The facile method presented in this paper can be a universal tool for modifying the surface of nanoparticles, even though reactive groups are not present on the surface. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Studies on the formation of polymeric nano-emulsions obtained via low-energy emulsification and their use as templates for drug delivery nanoparticle dispersions.

PubMed

Calderó, G; Montes, R; Llinàs, M; García-Celma, M J; Porras, M; Solans, C

2016-09-01

Ethylcellulose nanoparticles have been obtained from O/W nano-emulsions of the water/polyoxyethylene 10 oleyl ether/[ethyl acetate+4wt% ethylcellulose] system by low energy-energy emulsification at 25°C. Nano-emulsions with droplet sizes below 200nm and high kinetic stability were chosen for solubilising dexamethasone (DXM). Phase behaviour, conductivity and optical analysis studies of the system have evidenced for the first time that both, the polymer and the drug play a role on the structure of the aggregates formed along the emulsification path. Nano-emulsion formation may take place by both, phase inversion and self-emulsification. Spherical polymeric nanoparticles containing surfactant, showing sizes below 160nm have been obtained from the nano-emulsions by organic solvent evaporation. DXM loading in the nanoparticles was high (>90%). The release kinetics of nanoparticle dispersions with similar particle size and encapsulated DXM but different polymer to surfactant ratio were studied and compared to an aqueous DXM solution. Drug release from the nanoparticle dispersions was slower than from the aqueous solution. While the DXM solution showed a Fickian release pattern, the release behaviour from the nanoparticle dispersions was faster than that expected from a pure Fickian release. A coupled diffusion/relaxation model fitted the results very well, suggesting that polymer chains undergo conformational changes enhancing drug release. The contribution of diffusion and relaxation to drug transport in the nanoparticle dispersions depended on their composition and release time. Surfactant micelles present in the nanoparticle dispersion may exert a mild reservoir effect. The small particle size and the prolonged DXM release provided by the ethylcellulose nanoparticle dispersions make them suitable vehicles for controlled drug delivery applications. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Concussion Prevalence in Competitive Ultimate Frisbee Players

PubMed Central

Lazar, Damien J.; Lichtenstein, Jonathan D.; Tybor, David J.

2018-01-01

Background: Ultimate Frisbee (ultimate) is a fast-growing, popular sport played nationally by over 4 million athletes. While several studies have examined injury rates in ultimate, no work has investigated the prevalence of concussions specifically or players’ knowledge and management of those injuries. Purpose: To estimate the lifetime prevalence of concussions in ultimate and to assess players’ knowledge of concussions as well as their concussion management behaviors. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: From June to November 2015, we collected ultimate-related concussion data via an anonymous web-based survey, the Concussion in Ultimate Frisbee Survey, from a convenience sample of 787 male and female ultimate players across the United States. Results: There were 553 male and 234 female respondents included in the analysis; 26.58% of men and 24.79% of women reported that they had sustained at least 1 concussion while playing ultimate, with 45.58% and 43.10% of those men and women, respectively, reporting multiple concussions. A total of 67.81% of men and 78.21% of women stated that they would remove themselves from play after sustaining a given concussion, although 45.99% of men and 37.62% of women indicated that they had returned to play in the same game or practice. Conclusion: Our preliminary data suggest that concussions do commonly occur in competitive ultimate and that better education and management of concussions in ultimate athletes are needed. This study is an important first step in deepening our understanding of these issues. PMID:29552572

Ultimate Realities: Deterministic and Evolutionary

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moxley, Roy A.

2007-01-01

References to ultimate reality commonly turn up in the behavioral literature as references to determinism. However, this determinism is often difficult to interpret. There are different kinds of determinisms as well as different kinds of ultimate realities for a behaviorist to consider. To clarify some of the issues involved, the views of ultimate…

An engineering approach to design of dextran microgels size fabricated by water/oil emulsification.

PubMed

Salimi-Kenari, Hamed; Imani, Mohammad; Nodehi, Azizollah; Abedini, Hossein

2016-09-01

A correlation, based on fluid mechanics, has been investigated for the mean particle diameter of crosslinked dextran microgels (CDMs) prepared via a water/oil emulsification methodology conducted in a single-stirred vessel. To this end, non-dimensional correlations were developed to predict the mean particle size of CDMs as a function of Weber number, Reynolds number and viscosity number similar to ones introduced for liquid-liquid dispersions. Moreover, a Rosin-Rammler distribution function has been successfully applied to the microgel particle size distributions. The correlations were validated using experimentally obtained mean particle sizes for CDMs prepared at different stirring conditions. The validated correlation is especially applicable to medical and pharmaceutical applications where strict control on the mean particle size and size distribution of CDMs are extremely essential. [Formula: see text].

Fabrication of magnetic and fluorescent chitin and dibutyrylchitin sub-micron particles by oil-in-water emulsification.

PubMed

Blanco-Fernandez, Barbara; Chakravarty, Shatadru; Nkansah, Michael K; Shapiro, Erik M

2016-11-01

Chitin is a carbohydrate polymer with unique pharmacological and immunological properties, however, because of its unwieldy chemistry, the synthesis of discreet sized sub-micron particles has not been well reported. This work describes a facile and flexible method to fabricate biocompatible chitin and dibutyrylchitin sub-micron particles. This technique is based on an oil-in-water emulsification/evaporation method and involves the hydrophobization of chitin by the addition of labile butyryl groups onto chitin, disrupting intermolecular hydrogen bonds and enabling solubility in the organic solvent used as the oil phase during fabrication. The subsequent removal of butyryl groups post-fabrication through alkaline saponification regenerates native chitin while keeping particles morphology intact. Examples of encapsulation of hydrophobic dyes and nanocrystals are demonstrated, specifically using iron oxide nanocrystals and coumarin 6. The prepared particles had diameters between 300-400nm for dibutyrylchitin and 500-600nm for chitin and were highly cytocompatible. Moreover, they were able to encapsulate high amounts of iron oxide nanocrystals and were able to label mammalian cells. We describe a technique to prepare sub-micron particles of highly acetylated chitin (>90%) and dibutyrylchitin and demonstrate their utility as carriers for imaging. Chitin is a polysaccharide capable of stimulating the immune system, a property that depends on the acetamide groups, but its insolubility limits its use. No method for sub-micron particle preparation with highly acetylated chitins have been published. The only approach for the preparation of sub-micron particles uses low acetylation chitins. Dibutyrylchitin, a soluble chitin derivative, was used to prepare particles by oil in water emulsification. Butyryl groups were then removed, forming chitin particles. These particles could be suitable for encapsulation of hydrophobic payloads for drug delivery and cell imaging, as well as

Ultimate Realities: Deterministic and Evolutionary

PubMed Central

Moxley, Roy A

2007-01-01

References to ultimate reality commonly turn up in the behavioral literature as references to determinism. However, this determinism is often difficult to interpret. There are different kinds of determinisms as well as different kinds of ultimate realities for a behaviorist to consider. To clarify some of the issues involved, the views of ultimate realities are treated as falling along a continuum, with extreme views of complete indeterminism and complete determinism at either end and various mixes in between. Doing so brings into play evolutionary realities and the movement from indeterminism to determinism, as in Peirce's evolutionary cosmology. In addition, this framework helps to show how the views of determinism by B. F. Skinner and other behaviorists have shifted over time. PMID:22478489

Cellulose nanofibers from banana peels as a Pickering emulsifier: High-energy emulsification processes.

PubMed

Costa, Ana Letícia Rodrigues; Gomes, Andresa; Tibolla, Heloisa; Menegalli, Florencia Cecilia; Cunha, Rosiane Lopes

2018-08-15

Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) from banana peels was evaluated as promising stabilizer for oil-in-water emulsions. CNFs were treated using ultrasound and high-pressure homogenizer. Changes on the size, crystallinity index and zeta potential of CNFs were associated with the intense effects of cavitation phenomenon and shear forces promoted by mechanical treatments. CNFs-stabilized emulsions were produced under the same process conditions as the particles. Coalescence phenomenon was observed in the emulsions produced using high-pressure homogenizer, whereas droplets flocculation occurred in emulsions processed by ultrasound. In the latter, coalescence stability was associated with effects of cavitation forces acting on the CNFs breakup. Thus, smaller droplets created during the ultrasonication process could be recovered by particles that acted as an effective barrier against droplets coalescence. Our results improved understanding about the relationship between the choice of emulsification process and their effects on the CNFs properties influencing the potential application of CNFs as a food emulsifier. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of emulsification and spray-drying microencapsulation on the antilisterial activity of transcinnamaldehyde.

PubMed

Trinh, Nga-Thi-Thanh; Lejmi, Raja; Gharsallaoui, Adem; Dumas, Emilie; Degraeve, Pascal; Thanh, Mai Le; Oulahal, Nadia

2015-01-01

Spray-dried redispersible transcinnamaldehyde (TC)-in-water emulsions were prepared in order to preserve its antibacterial activity; 5% (w/w) TC emulsions were first obtained with a rotor-stator homogeniser in the presence of either soybean lecithin or sodium caseinate as emulsifiers. These emulsions were mixed with a 30% (w/w) maltodextrin solution before feeding a spray-dryer. The antibacterial activity of TC alone, TC emulsions with and without maltodextrin before and after spray-drying were assayed by monitoring the growth at 30 °C of Listeria innocua in their presence and in their absence (control). Whatever the emulsifier used, antilisterial activity of TC was increased following its emulsification. However, reconstituted spray-dried emulsions stabilised by sodium caseinate had a higher antibacterial activity suggesting that they better resisted to spray-drying. This was consistent with observation that microencapsulation efficiencies were 27.6% and 78.7% for emulsions stabilised by lecithin and sodium caseinate, respectively.

Spontaneous Mutation Rate in the Smallest Photosynthetic Eukaryotes

PubMed Central

Krasovec, Marc; Eyre-Walker, Adam; Sanchez-Ferandin, Sophie

2017-01-01

Abstract Mutation is the ultimate source of genetic variation, and knowledge of mutation rates is fundamental for our understanding of all evolutionary processes. High throughput sequencing of mutation accumulation lines has provided genome wide spontaneous mutation rates in a dozen model species, but estimates from nonmodel organisms from much of the diversity of life are very limited. Here, we report mutation rates in four haploid marine bacterial-sized photosynthetic eukaryotic algae; Bathycoccus prasinos, Ostreococcus tauri, Ostreococcus mediterraneus, and Micromonas pusilla. The spontaneous mutation rate between species varies from μ = 4.4 × 10−10 to 9.8 × 10−10 mutations per nucleotide per generation. Within genomes, there is a two-fold increase of the mutation rate in intergenic regions, consistent with an optimization of mismatch and transcription-coupled DNA repair in coding sequences. Additionally, we show that deviation from the equilibrium GC content increases the mutation rate by ∼2% to ∼12% because of a GC bias in coding sequences. More generally, the difference between the observed and equilibrium GC content of genomes explains some of the inter-specific variation in mutation rates. PMID:28379581

Preparation and characterization of paclitaxel nanosuspension using novel emulsification method by combining high speed homogenizer and high pressure homogenization.

PubMed

Li, Yong; Zhao, Xiuhua; Zu, Yuangang; Zhang, Yin

2015-07-25

The aim of this study was to develop an alternative, more bio-available, better tolerated paclitaxel nanosuspension (PTXNS) for intravenous injection in comparison with commercially available Taxol(®) formulation. In this study, PTXNS was prepared by emulsification method through combination of high speed homogenizer and high pressure homogenization, followed by lyophilization process for intravenous administration. The main production parameters including volume ratio of organic phase in water and organic phase (Vo:Vw+o), concentration of PTX, content of PTX and emulsification time (Et), homogenization pressure (HP) and passes (Ps) for high pressure homogenization were optimized and their effects on mean particle size (MPS) and particle size distribution (PSD) of PTXNS were investigated. The characteristics of PTXNS, such as, surface morphology, physical status of paclitaxel (PTX) in PTXNS, redispersibility of PTXNS in purified water, in vitro dissolution study and bioavailability in vivo were all investigated. The PTXNS obtained under optimum conditions had an MPS of 186.8 nm and a zeta potential (ZP) of -6.87 mV. The PTX content in PTXNS was approximately 3.42%. Moreover, the residual amount of chloroform was lower than the International Conference on Harmonization limit (60 ppm) for solvents. The dissolution study indicated PTXNS had merits including effect to fast at the side of raw PTX and sustained-dissolution character compared with Taxol(®) formulation. Moreover, the bioavailability of PTXNS increased 14.38 and 3.51 times respectively compared with raw PTX and Taxol(®) formulation. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Spontaneous Fission

DOE R&D Accomplishments Database

Segre, Emilio

1950-11-22

The first attempt to discover spontaneous fission in uranium was made by [Willard] Libby, who, however, failed to detect it on account of the smallness of effect. In 1940, [K. A.] Petrzhak and [G. N.] Flerov, using more sensitive methods, discovered spontaneous fission in uranium and gave some rough estimates of the spontaneous fission decay constant of this substance. Subsequently, extensive experimental work on the subject has been performed by several investigators and will be quoted in the various sections. [N.] Bohr and [A.] Wheeler have given a theory of the effect based on the usual ideas of penetration of potential barriers. On this project spontaneous fission has been studied for the past several years in an effort to obtain a complete picture of the phenomenon. For this purpose the spontaneous fission decay constants {lambda} have been measured for separated isotopes of the heavy elements wherever possible. Moreover, the number {nu} of neutrons emitted per fission has been measured wherever feasible, and other characteristics of the spontaneous fission process have been studied. This report summarizes the spontaneous fission work done at Los Alamos up to January 1, 1945. A chronological record of the work is contained in the Los Alamos monthly reports.

The Ultimate Fizz

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Heckscher, Mary

2008-01-01

Many recipes for elementary science activities suggest making carbon dioxide from baking soda and vinegar; however, they often do not give exact measurements of the ingredients. The author was able to turn this "drawback" into a plus by challenging her fifth-grade students to find the "ultimate fizz"--i.,e., "What amount of baking soda added to a…

Preparation of stable food-grade double emulsions with a hybrid premix membrane emulsification system.

PubMed

Eisinaite, Viktorija; Juraite, Dovile; Schroën, Karin; Leskauskaite, Daiva

2016-09-01

In this study we demonstrate that food-grade double emulsions can be successfully prepared using a hybrid premix emulsification system. A coarse emulsion containing beetroot juice as inner water phase, sunflower oil as oil phase and 0.5% or 1.0% whey protein isolate solution as outer water phase was prepared using a rotor stator system. This emulsion was further refined, using a bed of glass beads (diameter 71μm), through which the emulsion was pushed at different applied pressure (200-500kPa) and number of passes (1-5). All applied pressures lead to much smaller droplets while the juice remained encapsulated (>98%). The viscosity of the emulsions increased due to swelling of the internal water phase, and this implies that it is possible to encapsulate the components efficiently at relatively low internal water phase fraction at which the emulsions can be handled easily, while allowing them to obtain their final viscosity later. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

CO2-Controllable Foaming and Emulsification Properties of the Stearic Acid Soap Systems.

PubMed

Xu, Wenlong; Gu, Hongyao; Zhu, Xionglu; Zhong, Yingping; Jiang, Liwen; Xu, Mengxin; Song, Aixin; Hao, Jingcheng

2015-06-02

Fatty acids, as a typical example of stearic acid, are a kind of cheap surfactant and have important applications. The challenging problem of industrial applications is their solubility. Herein, three organic amines-ethanolamine (EA), diethanolamine (DEA), and triethanolamine (TEA)-were used as counterions to increase the solubility of stearic acid, and the phase behaviors were investigated systematically. The phase diagrams were delineated at 25 and 50 °C, respectively. The phase-transition temperature was measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements, and the microstructures were vesicles and planar sheets observed by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) observations. The apparent viscosity of the samples was determined by rheological characterizations. The values, rcmc, for the three systems were less than 30 mN·m(-1). Typical samples of bilayers used as foaming agents and emulsifiers were investigated for the foaming and emulsification assays. CO2 was introduced to change the solubility of stearic acid, inducing the transition of their surface activity and further achieving the goal of defoaming and demulsification.

29 CFR 18.704 - Opinion on ultimate issue.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 29 Labor 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 true Opinion on ultimate issue. 18.704 Section 18.704 Labor... ultimate issue. Testimony in the form of an opinion or inference otherwise admissible is not objectionable because it embraces an ultimate issue to be decided by the judge as trier of fact. ...

Ultimate justification: Wittgenstein and medical ethics.

PubMed

Hughes, J

1995-02-01

Decisions must be justified. In medical ethics various grounds are given to justify decisions, but ultimate justification seems illusory and little considered. The philosopher Wittgenstein discusses the problem of ultimate justification in the context of general philosophy. His comments, nevertheless, are pertinent to ethics. From a discussion of Wittgensteinian notions, such as 'bedrock', the idea that 'ultimate' justification is grounded in human nature as such is derived. This discussion is relevant to medical ethics in at least five ways: it shows generally what type of certainty there is in practical ethics; it seems to imply some objective foundation to our ethical judgements; it squares with our experience of making ethical decisions; it shows something of the nature of moral arguments; and, finally, it has implications for teaching medicine and ethics.

Ultimate justification: Wittgenstein and medical ethics.

PubMed Central

Hughes, J

1995-01-01

Decisions must be justified. In medical ethics various grounds are given to justify decisions, but ultimate justification seems illusory and little considered. The philosopher Wittgenstein discusses the problem of ultimate justification in the context of general philosophy. His comments, nevertheless, are pertinent to ethics. From a discussion of Wittgensteinian notions, such as 'bedrock', the idea that 'ultimate' justification is grounded in human nature as such is derived. This discussion is relevant to medical ethics in at least five ways: it shows generally what type of certainty there is in practical ethics; it seems to imply some objective foundation to our ethical judgements; it squares with our experience of making ethical decisions; it shows something of the nature of moral arguments; and, finally, it has implications for teaching medicine and ethics. PMID:7776343

Spontaneous and Flow-Driven Interfacial Phase Change: Dynamics of Microemulsion Formation at the Pore Scale.

PubMed

Tagavifar, Mohsen; Xu, Ke; Jang, Sung Hyun; Balhoff, Matthew T; Pope, Gary A

2017-11-14

The dynamic behavior of microemulsion-forming water-oil-amphiphiles mixtures is investigated in a 2.5D micromodel. The equilibrium phase behavior of such mixtures is well-understood in terms of macroscopic phase transitions. However, what is less understood and where experimental data are lacking is the coupling between the phase change and the bulk flow. Herein, we study the flow of an aqueous surfactant solution-oil mixture in porous media and analyze the dependence of phase formation and spatial phase configurations on the bulk flow rate. We find that a microemulsion forms instantaneously as a boundary layer at the initial surface of contact between the surfactant solution and oil. The boundary layer is temporally continuous because of the imposed convection. In addition to the imposed flow, we observe spontaneous pulsed Marangoni flows that drag the microemulsion and surfactant solution into the oil stream, forming large (macro)emulsion droplets. The formation of the microemulsion phase at the interface distinguishes the situation from that of the more common Marangoni flow with only two phases present. Additionally, an emulsion forms via liquid-liquid nucleation or the Ouzo effect (i.e., spontaneous emulsification) at low flow rates and via mechanical mixing at high flow rates. With regard to multiphase flow, contrary to the common belief that the microemulsion is the wetting liquid, we observe that the minor oil phase wets the solid surface. We show that a layered flow pattern is formed because of the out-of-equilibrium phase behavior at high volumetric flow rates (order of 2 m/day) where advection is much faster than the diffusive interfacial mass transfer and transverse mixing, which promote equilibrium behavior. At lower flow rates (order of 30 cm/day), however, the dynamic and equilibrium phase behaviors are well-correlated. These results clearly show that the phase change influences the macroscale flow behavior.

Ionic liquid-based ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction coupled with high performance liquid chromatography for the determination of four fungicides in environmental water samples.

PubMed

Liang, Pei; Wang, Fang; Wan, Qin

2013-02-15

A highly efficient and environmentally friendly sample preparation method termed ionic liquid-based ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction (IL-USAEME) combined with high performance liquid chromatography has been developed for the determination of four fungicides (azoxystrobin, diethofencarb, pyrimethanil and kresoxim-methyl) in water samples. In this novel approach, ionic liquid (IL) was used as extraction solvent in place of the organic solvent used in conventional USAEME assay, and there is no need for using organic dispersive solvent which is typically required in the common dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction method. Various parameters that affect the extraction efficiency, such as the kind and volume of IL, ultrasound emulsification time, extraction temperature and salt addition were investigated and optimized. Under the optimum extraction condition, the linearities of calibration curves were in the range from 3 to 5000 ng mL(-1) for target analytes with the correlation coefficient higher than 0.9992. The enrichment factors and the limits of detection were in the range of 88-137 and 0.73-2.2 ng mL(-1), depending on the analytes. The environmental water samples were successfully analyzed using the proposed method, and the relative recoveries at fortified levels of 50 and 100 ng mL(-1) were in the range of 83.9%-116.2%. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Thymol nanoemulsions incorporated in quinoa protein/chitosan edible films; antifungal effect in cherry tomatoes.

PubMed

Robledo, Nancy; Vera, Paola; López, Luis; Yazdani-Pedram, Mehrdad; Tapia, Cristian; Abugoch, Lilian

2018-04-25

Thymol nanoemulsions were produced by spontaneous emulsification, ultrasound, and a combination of both methods. The best result in terms of size and polydispersion was spontaneous emulsification where thymol was efficiently encapsulated, the nanoemulsions inhibited Botrytis cinerea at 110 ppm of thymol. A 10% dilution of this nanoemulsion in water was used to prepare quinoa-chitosan films. The film microstructure was porous and heterogeneous. The tensile strength of the film was significantly lower but its mean elongation at break was similar to that of the control film. The water vapour permeability was similar to that of the control film. The effect of nanoemulsion-thymol-quinoa protein/chitosan coating on mould growth in inoculated cherry tomatoes was evaluated. Compared with control samples (tomatoes without coating and those coated with quinoa protein/chitosan), tomatoes with this coating and inoculated with B. cinerea showed a significant decrease in fungal growth after 7 days at 5 °C. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Does Spontaneous Favorability to Power (vs. Universalism) Values Predict Spontaneous Prejudice and Discrimination?

PubMed

Souchon, Nicolas; Maio, Gregory R; Hanel, Paul H P; Bardin, Brigitte

2017-10-01

We conducted five studies testing whether an implicit measure of favorability toward power over universalism values predicts spontaneous prejudice and discrimination. Studies 1 (N = 192) and 2 (N = 86) examined correlations between spontaneous favorability toward power (vs. universalism) values, achievement (vs. benevolence) values, and a spontaneous measure of prejudice toward ethnic minorities. Study 3 (N = 159) tested whether conditioning participants to associate power values with positive adjectives and universalism values with negative adjectives (or inversely) affects spontaneous prejudice. Study 4 (N = 95) tested whether decision bias toward female handball players could be predicted by spontaneous attitude toward power (vs. universalism) values. Study 5 (N = 123) examined correlations between spontaneous attitude toward power (vs. universalism) values, spontaneous importance toward power (vs. universalism) values, and spontaneous prejudice toward Black African people. Spontaneous positivity toward power (vs. universalism) values was associated with spontaneous negativity toward minorities and predicted gender bias in a decision task, whereas the explicit measures did not. These results indicate that the implicit assessment of evaluative responses attached to human values helps to model value-attitude-behavior relations. © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Personality Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Release kinetics and cell viability of ibuprofen nanocrystals produced by melt-emulsification.

PubMed

Fernandes, A R; Dias-Ferreira, J; Cabral, C; Garcia, M L; Souto, E B

2018-06-01

The clinical use of poorly water-soluble drugs has become a big challenge in pharmaceutical development due to the compromised bioavailability of the drugs in vivo. Nanocrystals have been proposed as a formulation strategy to improve the dissolution properties of these drugs. The benefits of using nanocrystals in drug delivery, when compared to other nanoparticles, are related to their production facilities, simple structure, and suitability for a variety of administration routes. High pressure homogenization (HPH) is the most promising production process, which can be employed at low or high temperatures. Ibuprofen nanocrystals with a mean size below 175 nm, and polydispersity below 0.18, have been produced by melt-emulsification, followed by HPH. Two nanocrystal formulations, differing on the surfactant composition, have been produced, their in vitro ibuprofen release tested in Franz diffusion cells and adjusted to several kinetic models (zero order, first order, Higuchi, Hixson-Crowell, Korsmeyer-Peppas, Baker-Lonsdale and Weibull model). Cell viability was assessed at 3, 6 and 24 h of incubation on human epithelial colorectal cells (Caco-2) by AlamarBlue ® colorimetric assay. For both formulations, Caco-2 cells viability was dependent on the drug concentration and time of exposure. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Spontaneous bilateral chylothorax with fatal outcome in a patient with melorheostosis.

PubMed

Leuenberger, Michèle; Braunwalder, Jan; Schmid, Ralph A; Stanga, Zeno

2008-11-01

We report a case of progressive, multifocal melorheostosis in a 28-year-old woman, with involvement of the left arm, chest, spine, and impressive soft tissue involvement. In the past, she had undergone multiple vascular interventions. She presented with spontaneous massive bilateral chylothorax. After conservative treatment without success, we conducted bilateral pleurodesis. This resulted in a clear reduction of pleural effusions, but her medical condition subsequently worsened due to progressive parenchymatous infiltrates, and increased interlobal pleural effusions. She ultimately died of global respiratory insufficiency. In patients with melorheostosis, involvement of the soft tissue can result in distinctive morbidity, and whenever possible, treatment should be conservative.

Experimental verification of self-calibration radiometer based on spontaneous parametric downconversion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Dongyang; Zheng, Xiaobing; Li, Jianjun; Hu, Youbo; Xia, Maopeng; Salam, Abdul; Zhang, Peng

2018-03-01

Based on spontaneous parametric downconversion process, we propose a novel self-calibration radiometer scheme which can self-calibrate the degradation of its own response and ultimately monitor the fluctuation of a target radiation. Monitor results were independent of its degradation and not linked to the primary standard detector scale. The principle and feasibility of the proposed scheme were verified by observing bromine-tungsten lamp. A relative standard deviation of 0.39 % was obtained for stable bromine-tungsten lamp. Results show that the proposed scheme is advanced of its principle. The proposed scheme could make a significant breakthrough in the self-calibration issue on the space platform.

The Ultimate Flag Games.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Angel, Kenny; Sutton, Nancy

This paper describes six Ultimate Flag Games which offer a change from traditional games and sports that are usually geared toward athletically inclined students. These new games, aimed at middle school through college students, allow for success from the least-skilled through the most athletically talented students. Players are ability grouped…

Porous 'Ouzo-effect' silica-ceria composite colloids and their application to aluminium corrosion protection.

PubMed

Hollamby, Martin J; Borisova, Dimitriya; Möhwald, Helmuth; Shchukin, Dmitry

2012-01-04

By exploiting spontaneous emulsification to prepare porous SiO(2) particles, we report the formation of porous CeO(2)@SiO(2) hybrid colloids and their incorporation into a silica-zirconia coating to improve the corrosion protection of aluminium. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2012

Education and Ultimate Meaning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schinkel, Anders

2015-01-01

Richard Peters and John White have both argued that education should contribute to the meaning people are able to find in or give to life. Both dismiss the idea of ultimate or profound meaning ("the meaning of life") in favour of ordinary meaning, or "meaning in life". Thus they exemplify the trend visible also in the general…

Spontaneous magnetic reconnection. Collisionless reconnection and its potential astrophysical relevance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Treumann, R. A.; Baumjohann, W.

2015-10-01

The present review concerns the relevance of collisionless reconnection in the astrophysical context. Emphasis is put on recent developments in theory obtained from collisionless numerical simulations in two and three dimensions. It is stressed that magnetic reconnection is a universal process of particular importance under collisionless conditions, when both collisional and anomalous dissipation are irrelevant. While collisional (resistive) reconnection is a slow, diffusive process, collisionless reconnection is spontaneous. On any astrophysical time scale, it is explosive. It sets on when electric current widths become comparable to the leptonic inertial length in the so-called lepton (electron/positron) "diffusion region", where leptons de-magnetise. Here, the magnetic field contacts its oppositely directed partner and annihilates. Spontaneous reconnection breaks the original magnetic symmetry, violently releases the stored free energy of the electric current, and causes plasma heating and particle acceleration. Ultimately, the released energy is provided by mechanical motion of either the two colliding magnetised plasmas that generate the current sheet or the internal turbulence cascading down to lepton-scale current filaments. Spontaneous reconnection in such extended current sheets that separate two colliding plasmas results in the generation of many reconnection sites (tearing modes) distributed over the current surface, each consisting of lepton exhausts and jets which are separated by plasmoids. Volume-filling factors of reconnection sites are estimated to be as large as {<}10^{-5} per current sheet. Lepton currents inside exhausts may be strong enough to excite Buneman and, for large thermal pressure anisotropy, also Weibel instabilities. They bifurcate and break off into many small-scale current filaments and magnetic flux ropes exhibiting turbulent magnetic power spectra of very flat power-law shape W_b∝ k^{-α } in wavenumber k with power becoming as

Production of BCG alginate-PLL microcapsules by emulsification/internal gelation.

PubMed

Esquisabel, A; Hernández, R M; Igartua, M; Gascón, A R; Calvo, B; Pedraz, J L

1997-01-01

A biocompatible emulsification method for microencapsulation of live cells and enzymes within a calcium alginate matrix applied to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) has been developed. Small-diameter alginate beads (microcapsules) were formed via internal gelation of an alginate solution emulsified within vegetable oil. Five different oils (sesame, sweet almond, perhydrosqualene, camomile and jojoba) were used. The rheological analysis of the oils showed a Newtonian behaviour, with viscosities = 30.0, 37.7, 51.2, 59.3 and 67.1 mPa.s for perhydrosqualene, jojoba, camomile, sesame and sweet almond oil respectively. The particle size of the microcapsules obtained ranged from 30.3 microns for the microcapsules prepared with sweet almond oil to 57.0 microns for those made with perhydrosqualene. The mean particle diameter obtained was found to be dependent on the viscosity of the oil employed, according to the equation: phi (micron) = 76.6-0.628 eta (mPa.s) (r2 = 0.943). The encapsulated BCG was identified by the Difco TB stain set K, followed by observation under optical microscopy. Freeze-drying of the microcapsules was carried out to ensure their stability during storage. Two batches of microcapsules (those prepared with sesame and jojoba oil) and four types of cryoprotectors (glucose, trehalose, mannitol and sorbitol), at three concentration levels (5, 10 and 20% w/v) were studied. The parameters evaluated were particle size, physical appearance, reconstitution of lyophilizates and microscopical evaluation. For both batches of microcapsules the best results were obtained with trehalose 5%, showing particle sizes of 42.1 microns in the case of the microcapsules prepared with sesame oil, and of 45.3 microns for those prepared with jojoba.

Adsorption of phospholipids at oil/water interfaces during emulsification is controlled by stress relaxation and diffusion.

PubMed

Hildebrandt, Ellen; Nirschl, Hermann; Kok, Robbert Jan; Leneweit, Gero

2018-05-16

Adsorption of phosphatidylcholines at oil/water interfaces strongly deviates from spread monolayers at air/water surfaces. Understanding its nature and consequences could vastly improve applications in medical nanoemulsions and biotechnologies. Adsorption kinetics at interfaces of water with different oil phases were measured by profile analysis tensiometry. Adsorption kinetics for 2 different phospholipids, DPPC and POPC, as well as 2 organic phases, squalene and squalane, show that formation of interfacial monolayers is initially dominated by stress-relaxation in the first minutes. Diffusion only gradually contributes to a decrease in interfacial tension at later stages of time and higher film pressures. The results can be applied for the optimization of emulsification protocols using mechanical treatments. Emulsions using phospholipids with unsaturated fatty acids are dominated much more strongly by stress-relaxation and cover interfaces very fast compared to those with saturated fatty acids. In contrast, phospholipid layers consisting of saturated fatty acids converge faster towards the equilibrium than those with unsaturated fatty acids.

Ultimate RHIC Performance Estimates

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

Hahn, H.

1986-11-10

The RHIC performance estimates for pp operation given in the Conceptual Design report are intentionally conservative as to energy and luminosity. The ultimate RHIC performance was estimated by an ad-hoc comittee with F.Dell, H. Foelsche, H. Hahn, S.Y. Lee, G. Parzen, E. Raka, S. Tepikian, and P. Thompson as members. The present note summarizes the committee's conclusions.

Reliability of Hull Girder Ultimate Strength of Steel Ships

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Da-wei, Gao; Gui-jie, Shi

2018-03-01

Hull girder ultimate strength is an evaluation index reflecting the true safety margin or structural redundancy about container ships. Especially, after the hull girder fracture accident of the MOL COMFORT, the 8,000TEU class large container ship, on June 17 2013, larger container ship safety has been paid on much more attention. In this paper, different methods of calculating hull girder ultimate strength are firstly discussed and compared with. The bending ultimate strength can be analyzed by nonlinear finite element method (NFEM) and increment-iterative method, and also the shear ultimate strength can be analyzed by NFEM and simple equations. Then, the probability distribution of hull girder wave loads and still water loads of container ship are summarized. At last, the reliability of hull girder ultimate strength under bending moment and shear forces for three container ships is analyzed by using a first order method. The conclusions can be applied to give guidance for ship design and safety evaluation.

Ultimate fate of constrained voters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vazquez, F.; Redner, S.

2004-09-01

We examine the ultimate fate of individual opinions in a socially interacting population of leftists, centrists and rightists. In an elemental interaction between agents, a centrist and a leftist can both become centrists or both become leftists with equal rates (and similarly for a centrist and a rightist). However leftists and rightists do not interact. This interaction step between pairs of agents is applied repeatedly until the system can no longer evolve. In the mean-field limit, we determine the exact probability that the system reaches consensus (either leftist, rightist or centrist) or a frozen mixture of leftists and rightists as a function of the initial composition of the population. We also determine the mean time until the final state is reached. Some implications of our results for the ultimate fate in a limit of the Axelrod model are discussed.

Spontaneous acute spinal subdural hematoma: spontaneous recovery from severe paraparesis--case report and review.

PubMed

Payer, Michael; Agosti, Reto

2010-11-01

Spontaneous idiopathic acute spinal subdural hematomas are highly exceptional. Neurological symptoms are usually severe, and rapid diagnosis with MRI is mandatory. Surgical evacuation has frequently been used therapeutically; however, spontaneous recovery in mild cases has also been reported. We present a case of spontaneous recovery from severe paraparesis after spontaneous acute SSDH, and review the English-speaking literature.

Ultimate Lateral Capacity of Rigid Pile in c- φ Soil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Wei-min

2018-03-01

To date no analytical solution of the pile ultimate lateral capacity for the general c- φ soil has been obtained. In the present study, a new dimensionless embedded ratio was proposed and the analytical solutions of ultimate lateral capacity and rotation center of rigid pile in c- φ soils were obtained. The results showed that both the dimensionless ultimate lateral capacity and dimensionless rotation center were the univariate functions of the embedded ratio. Also, the ultimate lateral capacity in the c- φ soil was the combination of the ultimate lateral capacity ( f c ) in the clay, and the ultimate lateral capacity ( f φ ) in the sand. Therefore, the Broms chart for clay, solution for clay ( φ=0) put forward by Poulos and Davis, solution for sand ( c=0) obtained by Petrasovits and Awad, and Kondner's ultimate bending moment were all proven to be the special cases of the general solution in the present study. A comparison of the field and laboratory tests in 93 cases showed that the average ratios of the theoretical values to the experimental value ranged from 0.85 to 1.15. Also, the theoretical values displayed a good agreement with the test values.

Production of Concentrated Pickering Emulsions with Narrow Size Distributions Using Stirred Cell Membrane Emulsification.

PubMed

Manga, Mohamed S; York, David W

2017-09-12

Stirred cell membrane emulsification (SCME) has been employed to prepare concentrated Pickering oil in water emulsions solely stabilized by fumed silica nanoparticles. The optimal conditions under which highly stable and low-polydispersity concentrated emulsions using the SCME approach are highlighted. Optimization of the oil flux rates and the paddle stirrer speeds are critical to achieving control over the droplet size and size distribution. Investigating the influence of oil volume fraction highlights the criticality of the initial particle loading in the continuous phase on the final droplet size and polydispersity. At a particle loading of 4 wt %, both the droplet size and polydispersity increase with increasing of the oil volume fraction above 50%. As more interfacial area is produced, the number of particles available in the continuous phase diminishes, and coincidently a reduction in the kinetics of particle adsorption to the interface resulting in larger polydisperse droplets occurs. Increasing the particle loading to 10 wt % leads to significant improvements in both size and polydispersity with oil volume fractions as high as 70% produced with coefficient of variation values as low as ∼30% compared to ∼75% using conventional homogenization techniques.

Ultimate Educational Aims, Overridingness, and Personal Well-Being

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Haji, Ishtiyaque; Cuypers, Stefaan E.

2011-01-01

Discussion regarding education's aims, especially its ultimate aims, is a key topic in the philosophy of education. These aims or values play a pivotal role in regulating and structuring moral and other types of normative education. We outline two plausible strategies to identify and justify education's ultimate aims. The first associates these…

"Got Disc?" The "Ultimate" Experience in Physical Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Tyler G.; Darst, Paul W.; Brusseau, Timothy A.

2006-01-01

A quality physical education program is one in which students are exposed to and can participate in a variety of sports and activities. One activity that is increasing in popularity in and outside of physical education is the game of "Ultimate." Opportunities to play Ultimate are increasing rapidly in intramural programs and community and…

A study of the effectiveness and energy efficiency of ultrasonic emulsification.

PubMed

Li, Wu; Leong, Thomas S H; Ashokkumar, Muthupandian; Martin, Gregory J O

2017-12-20

Three essential experimental parameters in the ultrasonic emulsification process, namely sonication time, acoustic amplitude and processing volume, were individually investigated, theoretically and experimentally, and correlated to the emulsion droplet sizes produced. The results showed that with a decrease in droplet size, two kinetic regions can be separately correlated prior to reaching a steady state droplet size: a fast size reduction region and a steady state transition region. In the fast size reduction region, the power input and sonication time could be correlated to the volume-mean diameter by a power-law relationship, with separate power-law indices of -1.4 and -1.1, respectively. A proportional relationship was found between droplet size and processing volume. The effectiveness and energy efficiency of droplet size reduction was compared between ultrasound and high-pressure homogenisation (HPH) based on both the effective power delivered to the emulsion and the total electric power consumed. Sonication could produce emulsions across a broad range of sizes, while high-pressure homogenisation was able to produce emulsions at the smaller end of the range. For ultrasonication, the energy efficiency was higher at increased power inputs due to more effective droplet breakage at high ultrasound intensities. For HPH the consumed energy efficiency was improved by operating at higher pressures for fewer passes. At the laboratory scale, the ultrasound system required less electrical power than HPH to produce an emulsion of comparable droplet size. The energy efficiency of HPH is greatly improved at large scale, which may also be true for larger scale ultrasonic reactors.

Spontaneous splenic rupture in an active duty Marine upon return from Iraq: a case report

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Introduction Atraumatic splenic rupture is a rare event that has been associated with several infectious disease processes. In the active duty military population, potential exposure to these pathogens is significant. Here we discuss the case of an active duty Marine with spontaneous splenic rupture upon return from a six-month deployment in Iraq. Case presentation A previously healthy 30-year-old Caucasian male active duty Marine presented with abdominal pain, fever and diarrhea after deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Based on clinical and radiographic evidence, a diagnosis of spontaneous splenic rupture was ultimately suspected. After exploratory laparotomy with confirmation of rupture, splenectomy was performed, and the patient made a full, uneventful recovery. Histopathologic examination revealed mild splenomegaly with a ruptured capsule of undetermined cause. Conclusion Spontaneous splenic rupture is a rare event that may lead to life-threatening hemorrhage if not diagnosed and treated quickly. Although the cause of this patient's case was unknown, atraumatic splenic rupture has been associated with a variety of infectious diseases and demonstrates some risks the active duty military population may face while on deployment. Having an awareness of these pathogens and their role in splenic rupture, clinicians caring for military personnel must be prepared to recognize and treat this potentially fatal complication. PMID:21054871

Malignant Transformation Potentials of Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells Both Spontaneously and via 3-Methycholanthrene Induction

PubMed Central

Lai, Xiulan; Liu, Sizheng; Chen, Yezeng; Zheng, Zexin; Xie, Qingdong; Maldonado, Martin; Cai, Zhiwei; Qin, Shan; Ho, Guyu; Ma, Lian

2013-01-01

Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUMSCs) are highly proliferative and can be induced to differentiate into advanced derivatives of all three germ layers. Thus, HUMSCs are considered to be a promising source for cell-targeted therapies and tissue engineering. However there are reports on spontaneous transformation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from human bone marrows. The capacity for HUMSCs to undergo malignant transform spontaneously or via induction by chemical carcinogens is presently unknown. Therefore, we isolated HUMSCs from 10 donors and assessed their transformation potential either spontaneously or by treating them with 3-methycholanthrene (3-MCA), a DNA-damaging carcinogen. The malignant transformation of HUMSCs in vitro was evaluated by morphological changes, proliferation rates, ability to enter cell senescence, the telomerase activity, chromosomal abnormality, and the ability to form tumors in vivo. Our studies showed that HUMSCs from all 10 donors ultimately entered senescence and did not undergo spontaneous malignant transformation. However, HUMSCs from two of the 10 donors treated with 3-MCA displayed an increased proliferation rate, failed to enter senescence, and exhibited an altered cell morphology. When these cells (tHUMSCs) were injected into immunodeficient mice, they gave rise to sarcoma-like or poorly differentiated tumors. Moreover, in contrast to HUMSCs, tHUMSCs showed a positive expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and did not exhibit a shortening of the relative telomere length during the long-term culture in vitro. Our studies demonstrate that HUMSCs are not susceptible to spontaneous malignant transformation. However, the malignant transformation could be induced by chemical carcinogen 3-MCA. PMID:24339974

The effect of calcium on the composition and physical properties of whey protein particles prepared using emulsification.

PubMed

Westerik, Nieke; Scholten, Elke; Corredig, Milena

2015-06-15

Protein microparticles were formed through emulsification of 25% (w/w) whey protein isolate (WPI) solutions containing various concentrations of calcium (0.0-400.0mM) in an oil phase stabilized by polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR). The emulsions were heated (at 80°C) and the microparticles subsequently re-dispersed in an aqueous phase. Light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed that control particles and those prepared with 7.4mM calcium were spherical and smooth. Particles prepared with 15.0mM calcium gained an irregular, cauliflower-like structure, and at concentrations larger than 30.0mM, shells formed and the particles were no longer spherical. These results describe, for the first time, the potential of modulating the properties of dense whey protein particles by using calcium, and may be used as structuring agents for the design of functional food matrices with increased protein and calcium content. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Photonic Crystals-Inhibited Spontaneous Emission: Optical Antennas-Enhanced Spontaneous Emission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yablonovitch, Eli

Photonic crystals are also part of everyday technological life in opto-electronic telecommunication devices that provide us with internet, cloud storage, and email. But photonic crystals have also been identified in nature, in the coloration of peacocks, parrots, chameleons, butterflies and many other species.In spite of its broad applicability, the original motivation of photonic crystals was to create a ``bandgap'' in which the spontaneous emission of light would be inhibited. Conversely, the opposite is now possible. The ``optical antenna'' can accelerate spontaneous emission. Over 100 years after the radio antenna, we finally have tiny ``optical antennas'' which can act on molecules and quantum dots. Employing optical antennas, spontaneous light emission can become faster than stimulated emission.

Patterns of Spontaneous Local Network Activity in Developing Cerebral Cortex: Relationship to Adult Cognitive Function.

PubMed

Peinado, Alejandro; Abrams, Charles K

2015-01-01

Detecting neurodevelopμental disorders of cognition at the earliest possible stages could assist in understanding them mechanistically and ultimately in treating them. Finding early physiological predictors that could be visualized with functional neuroimaging would represent an important advance in this regard. We hypothesized that one potential source of physiological predictors is the spontaneous local network activity prominent during specific periods in development. To test this we used calcium imaging in brain slices and analyzed variations in the frequency and intensity of this early activity in one area, the entorhinal cortex (EC), in order to correlate early activity with level of cognitive function later in life. We focused on EC because of its known role in different types of cognitive processes and because it is an area where spontaneous activity is prominent during early postnatal development in rodent models of cortical development. Using rat strains (Long-Evans, Wistar, Sprague-Dawley and Brattleboro) known to differ in cognitive performance in adulthood we asked whether neonatal animals exhibit corresponding strain-related differences in EC spontaneous activity. Our results show significant differences in this activity between strains: compared to a high cognitive-performing strain, we consistently found an increase in frequency and decrease in intensity in neonates from three lower performing strains. Activity was most different in one strain considered a model of schizophrenia-like psychopathology. While we cannot necessarily infer a causal relationship between early activity and adult cognition our findings suggest that the pattern of spontaneous activity in development could be an early predictor of a developmental trajectory advancing toward sub-optimal cognitive performance in adulthood. Our results further suggest that the strength of dopaminergic signaling, by setting the balance between excitation and inhibition, is a potential underlying

Ultimate Cost of Building Walls.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grimm, Clayford T.; Gross, James G.

The need for economic analysis of building walls is discussed, and the factors influencing the ultimate cost of exterior walls are studied. The present worth method is used to analyze three types of exterior non-loadbearing panel or curtain walls. Anticipated costs are expressed in terms of their present value per square foot of wall area. The…

[Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis].

PubMed

Velkey, Bálint; Vitális, Eszter; Vitális, Zsuzsanna

2017-01-01

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis occurs most commonly in cirrhotic patients with ascites. Pathogens get into the circulation by intestinal translocation and colonize in peritoneal fluid. Diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is based on elevated polymorphonuclear leukocyte count in the ascites (>0,25 G/L). Ascites culture is often negative but aids to get information about antibiotic sensitivity in positive cases. Treatment in stable patient can be intravenous then orally administrated ciprofloxacin or amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, while in severe cases intravenous III. generation cephalosporin. Nosocomial spontaneous bacterial peritonitis often caused by Gram-positive bacteria and multi-resistant pathogens can also be expected thus carbapenem should be the choice of the empiric treatment. Antibiotic prophylaxis should be considered. Norfloxacin is used most commonly, but changes are expected due to increase in quinolone resistance. As a primary prophylaxis, a short-term antibiotic treatment is recommended after gastrointestinal bleeding for 5 days, while long-term prophylaxis is for patients with low ascites protein, and advanced disease (400 mg/day). Secondary prophylaxis is recommended for all patients recovered from spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Due to increasing antibiotic use of antibiotics prophylaxis is debated to some degree. Orv. Hetil., 2017, 158(2), 50-57.

The ultimate disposition of depleted uranium

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

Not Available

1990-12-01

Significant amounts of the depleted uranium (DU) created by past uranium enrichment activities have been sold, disposed of commercially, or utilized by defense programs. In recent years, however, the demand for DU has become quite small compared to quantities available, and within the US Department of Energy (DOE) there is concern for any risks and/or cost liabilities that might be associated with the ever-growing inventory of this material. As a result, Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc. (Energy Systems), was asked to review options and to develop a comprehensive plan for inventory management and the ultimate disposition of DU accumulated atmore » the gaseous diffusion plants (GDPs). An Energy Systems task team, under the chairmanship of T. R. Lemons, was formed in late 1989 to provide advice and guidance for this task. This report reviews options and recommends actions and objectives in the management of working inventories of partially depleted feed (PDF) materials and for the ultimate disposition of fully depleted uranium (FDU). Actions that should be considered are as follows. (1) Inspect UF{sub 6} cylinders on a semiannual basis. (2) Upgrade cylinder maintenance and storage yards. (3) Convert FDU to U{sub 3}O{sub 8} for long-term storage or disposal. This will include provisions for partial recovery of costs to offset those associated with DU inventory management and the ultimate disposal of FDU. Another recommendation is to drop the term tails'' in favor of depleted uranium'' or DU'' because the tails'' label implies that it is waste.'' 13 refs.« less

[Primary spontaneous pneumomediastinum].

PubMed

Togashi, K; Hosaka, Y

2007-12-01

We report 5 cases of spontaneous pneumomediastinum. They were 4 men and 1 female with a mean age of 17 (14-25). Four patients developed sport-related pneumomediastinum and 1 patient had a karaoke-related condition. Primary spontaneous pneumomediasinum is a rare condition. In addition, there is no previous report describing karaoke-related spontaneous pneumomediastinum. Each of the patients experienced chest pain and/or neck pain before consulting our hospital. Chest roentgenogram and chest computed tomography showed pneumomediastinum without esophageal or tracheal injury. Four patients did not require hospitalization, but 1 patient was necessary to hospitalize for 7 days because of severe chest and neck pain. None of these 5 patients has had any recurrence for more than 1 year. Differentiating this entity from other diseases involving anterior chest pain is important.

Methods of Soft Tissue Emulsification Using a Mechanism of Ultrasonic Atomization Inside Gas or Vapor Cavities and Associated Systems and Devices

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bailey, Michael R. (Inventor); Simon, Julianna C. (Inventor); Crum, Lawrence A. (Inventor); Khokhlova, Vera A. (Inventor); Wang, Yak-Nam (Inventor); Sapozhnikov, Oleg A. (Inventor); Khokhlova, Tatiana D. (Inventor)

2016-01-01

The present technology is directed to methods of soft tissue emulsification using a mechanism of ultrasonic atomization inside gas or vapor cavities, and associated systems and devices. In several embodiments, for example, a method of non-invasively treating tissue includes pulsing ultrasound energy from the ultrasound source toward the target site in tissue. The ultrasound source is configured to emit high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) waves. The target site comprises a pressure-release interface of a gas or vapor cavity located within the tissue. The method continues by generating shock waves in the tissue to induce a lesion in the tissue at the target site. The method additionally includes characterizing the lesion based on a degree of at least one of a mechanical or thermal ablation of the tissue.

Spontaneous evaluative inferences and their relationship to spontaneous trait inferences.

PubMed

Schneid, Erica D; Carlston, Donal E; Skowronski, John J

2015-05-01

Three experiments are reported that explore affectively based spontaneous evaluative impressions (SEIs) of stimulus persons. Experiments 1 and 2 used modified versions of the savings in relearning paradigm (Carlston & Skowronski, 1994) to confirm the occurrence of SEIs, indicating that they are equivalent whether participants are instructed to form trait impressions, evaluative impressions, or neither. These experiments also show that SEIs occur independently of explicit recall for the trait implications of the stimuli. Experiment 3 provides a single dissociation test to distinguish SEIs from spontaneous trait inferences (STIs), showing that disrupting cognitive processing interferes with a trait-based prediction task that presumably reflects STIs, but not with an affectively based social approach task that presumably reflects SEIs. Implications of these findings for the potential independence of spontaneous trait and evaluative inferences, as well as limitations and important steps for future study are discussed. (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).

Spontaneous regression of neuroblastoma.

PubMed

Brodeur, Garrett M

2018-05-01

Neuroblastomas are characterized by heterogeneous clinical behavior, from spontaneous regression or differentiation into a benign ganglioneuroma, to relentless progression despite aggressive, multimodality therapy. Indeed, neuroblastoma is unique among human cancers in terms of its propensity to undergo spontaneous regression. The strongest evidence for this comes from the mass screening studies conducted in Japan, North America and Europe and it is most evident in infants with stage 4S disease. This propensity is associated with a pattern of genomic change characterized by whole chromosome gains rather than segmental chromosome changes but the mechanism(s) underlying spontaneous regression are currently a matter of speculation. There is evidence to support several possible mechanisms of spontaneous regression in neuroblastomas: (1) neurotrophin deprivation, (2) loss of telomerase activity, (3) humoral or cellular immunity and (4) alterations in epigenetic regulation and possibly other mechanisms. It is likely that a better understanding of the mechanisms of spontaneous regression will help to identify targeted therapeutic approaches for these tumors. The most easily targeted mechanism is the delayed activation of developmentally programmed cell death regulated by the tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA) pathway. Pan-Trk inhibitors are currently in clinical trials and so Trk inhibition might be used as the first line of therapy in infants with biologically favorable tumors that require treatment. Alternative approaches consist of breaking immune tolerance to tumor antigens but approaches to telomere shortening or epigenetic regulation are not easily druggable. The different mechanisms of spontaneous neuroblastoma regression are reviewed here, along with possible therapeutic approaches.

The Spontaneous Ray Log: A New Aid for Constructing Pseudo-Synthetic Seismograms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quadir, Adnan; Lewis, Charles; Rau, Ruey-Juin

2018-02-01

Conventional synthetic seismograms for hydrocarbon exploration combine the sonic and density logs, whereas pseudo-synthetic seismograms are constructed with a density log plus a resistivity, neutron, gamma ray, or rarely a spontaneous potential log. Herein, we introduce a new technique for constructing a pseudo-synthetic seismogram by combining the gamma ray (GR) and self-potential (SP) logs to produce the spontaneous ray (SR) log. Three wells, each of which consisted of more than 1000 m of carbonates, sandstones, and shales, were investigated; each well was divided into 12 Groups based on formation tops, and the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient (PCC) was calculated for each "Group" from each of the GR, SP, and SR logs. The highest PCC-valued log curves for each Group were then combined to produce a single log whose values were cross-plotted against the reference well's sonic ITT values to determine a linear transform for producing a pseudo-sonic (PS) log and, ultimately, a pseudo-synthetic seismogram. The range for the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) acceptable value for the pseudo-sonic logs of three wells was 78-83%. This technique was tested on three wells, one of which was used as a blind test well, with satisfactory results. The PCC value between the composite PS (SR) log with low-density correction and the conventional sonic (CS) log was 86%. Because of the common occurrence of spontaneous potential and gamma ray logs in many of the hydrocarbon basins of the world, this inexpensive and straightforward technique could hold significant promise in areas that are in need of alternate ways to create pseudo-synthetic seismograms for seismic reflection interpretation.

Skin permeation of D-limonene-based nanoemulsions as a transdermal carrier prepared by ultrasonic emulsification.

PubMed

Lu, Wen-Chien; Chiang, Been-Huang; Huang, Da-Wei; Li, Po-Hsien

2014-03-01

Nanoemulsions can be used for transporting pharmaceutical phytochemicals in skin-care products because of their stability and rapid permeation properties. However, droplet size may be a critical factor aiding permeation through skin and transdermal delivery efficiency. We prepared D-limonene nanoemulsions with various droplet sizes by ultrasonic emulsification using mixed surfactants of sorbitane trioleate and polyoxyethylene (20) oleyl ether under different hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) values. Droplet size decreased with increasing HLB value. With HLB 12, the droplet size was 23 nm, and the encapsulated ratio peaked at 92.3%. Transmission electron microscopy revealed spherical droplets and the gray parts were D-limonene precipitation incorporated in spherical droplets of the emulsion system. Franz diffusion cell was used to evaluate the permeation of D-limonene nanoemulsion through rat abdominal skin; the permeation rate depended on droplet size. The emulsion with the lowest droplet size (54 nm) achieved the maximum permeation rate. The concentration of D-limonene in the skin was 40.11 μL/cm(2) at the end of 360 min. Histopathology revealed no distinct voids or empty spaces in the epidermal region of permeated rat skin, so the D-limonene nanoemulsion may be a safe carrier for transdermal drug delivery. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ziprasidone-induced spontaneous orgasm.

PubMed

Boora, K; Chiappone, K; Dubovsky, S; Xu, J

2010-06-01

Neuroleptic treatment in schizophrenic patients has been associated with sexual dysfunction, including impotence and decreased libido. Spontaneous ejaculation without sexual arousal during typical antipsychotic treatment is a rare condition that has been described with zuclopentixol, trifluoperazine, and thiothixene. Here, we are reporting a case of spontaneous orgasm with ziprasidone in a bipolar patient. This patient began to repeatedly experience spontaneous sexual arousal and orgasm, which she had never experienced in the past. Ziprasidone might be causing an increase in sexual orgasm by 5-HT2 receptor antagonism, which preclinical evidence suggests that it facilitates dopamine release in the cortex.

Probing the Ultimate Limits of Plasmonic Enhancement

PubMed Central

Ciracì, C.; Hill, R. T.; Mock, J. J.; Urzhumov, Y.; Fernández-Domínguez, A. I.; Maier, S. A.; Pendry, J. B.; Chilkoti, A.; Smith, D. R.

2013-01-01

Metals support surface plasmons at optical wavelengths and have the ability to localize light to sub-wavelength regions. The field enhancements that occur in these regions set the ultimate limitations on a wide range of nonlinear and quantum optical phenomena. Here we show that the dominant limiting factor is not the resistive loss of the metal, but the intrinsic nonlocality of its dielectric response. A semi-classical model of the electronic response of a metal places strict bounds on the ultimate field enhancement. We demonstrate the accuracy of this model by studying the optical scattering from gold nanoparticles spaced a few angstroms from a gold film. The bounds derived from the models and experiments impose limitations on all nanophotonic systems. PMID:22936772

Emulsification Of Eutectic Salt Mixtures In Fluid Vehicles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vanderhoff, J. W.; El-Aasser, M. S.; Hawkins, T. W.

1988-05-01

High-internal-phase-volume emulsions of 75 volt 3/18/79 potassium iodide/sodium iodide/ urea model eutectic salt mixture in 83.5/16.5 Sartomer R-45HT hydroxy-terminated polybutadi-ene/Nujol mineral oil binder mixture were prepared at 60°C using water-in-oil emulsifiers and cured with isophorone diisocyanate or Desmodur N-100. The Nujol mineral oil enhanced the emulsification with a negligible reduction in the tensile properties of the cured elastomer. The average emulsion droplet sizes were ca. 200 nm initially, but increased slowly during curing to 500-1000 nm. The coalescence of the emulsion droplets followed the second-order dependence predicted by the von Smoluchowski diffusion-controlled flocculation; the rate constants were 1.05x10-18 and 9.58x10-18 cc/droplet-sec for dirnethyldioctadecylammonium bromide and Span 85 sorbitan trioleate, respectively. The isophorone diisocyanate reacted with emulsifiers containing primary hydroxyl or amine groups, to give unstable emulsions or no emulsions at all. Dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide with no primary hydroxyl or amine groups, however, did not react with isocyanates and gave stable emulsions. The reaction of the R-45HT hydroxy-terminated polybutadiene with isophorone diisocyanate followed the expec-ted second-order kinetics with a rate constant of 3.42x10-4 liters/mole-sec at 60°C. The tensile properties of the cured elastomers and emulsions generally increased with increasing NCO/OH ratio up to 1.6/1.0. With increasing volume fraction of dispersed phase, the maximum stress (tensile strength) decreased, the maximum strain (percent elongation) increased, and the initial modulus (tensile modulus) decreased, in contrast to the behavior of conventional filled polymer systems; however, the maximum stresses were in accord with theoretical values for a filled polymer in which the filler particles bear no load, the initial moduli were in accord with the predictions of an isostrain model, and the maximum strain increased

Physical Demands in Competitive Ultimate Frisbee.

PubMed

Krustrup, Peter; Mohr, Magni

2015-12-01

The objective was to study game demands in competitive ultimate Frisbee by performing match analysis during a game. Thirteen moderately trained (Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test levels 1 and 2 [Yo-Yo IR1 and IR2] performance: 1790 ± 382 m and 657 ± 225 m, respectively) competitive male ultimate Frisbee athletes played a game in which activity profile using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology and heart rate (HR) were recorded. Game HRmean and HRpeak were 82 ± 2% and 99 ± 1% of maximum heart rate, respectively. Total game distance was 4.70 ± 0.47 km, of which 0.63 ± 0.14 km was high-intensity running and 0.21 ± 0.11 km was sprinting. In the second half, 10% less (p ≤ 0.05) ground was covered with high-intensity running compared with the first half (0.28 ± 0.08 km vs. 0.31 ± 0.07 km). Less (43-47%; p ≤ 0.05) high-intensity running was performed in the third 9-minute period of each half compared with the first two 9-minute periods of the same half. Players performed 17.4 ± 5.7 sprints during the match. Yo-Yo IR2 performance correlated to the amount of high-intensity running in the last 9 minutes of both halves (r = 0.69, p ≤ 0.05), whereas Yo-Yo IR1 performance correlated with total sprint distance (r = 0.74, p ≤ 0.05). Ultimate Frisbee is an intense intermittent team sport with high cardiovascular loading and clear indications of fatigue toward the end of each half. Yo-Yo IR test performances correlate with physical match performance.

15 CFR 748.11 - Statement by Ultimate Consignee and Purchaser.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... ultimate consignee, provided the required statements are contained in Block 24 on the license application... copy submitted by the applicant must be of sufficient quality to ensure all assertions made on the...) Form or letter. The ultimate consignee and purchaser must complete either a statement on company...

15 CFR 748.11 - Statement by Ultimate Consignee and Purchaser.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... ultimate consignee, provided the required statements are contained in Block 24 on the license application... copy submitted by the applicant must be of sufficient quality to ensure all assertions made on the...) Form or letter. The ultimate consignee and purchaser must complete either a statement on company...

PLGA nanoparticles for the oral delivery of 5-Fluorouracil using high pressure homogenization-emulsification as the preparation method and in vitro/in vivo studies.

PubMed

Li, XueMing; Xu, YuanLong; Chen, GuoGuang; Wei, Ping; Ping, QiNeng

2008-01-01

The objective of the present study was to incorporate the hydrophilic anti-cancer drug 5-Fluorouracil(5-FU) into poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles(NP) to improve the oral bioavailability. Owing to the high solubility of 5-FU in basic water, the water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) emulsification process has been chosen as one of the most appropriate method for the encapsulation of 5-FU, and the ammonia solution was used as the inner aqueous phase solvent to increase the solubility of 5-FU. In order to reach submicron size as well as increasing the grade of monodispersity compared to previous preparation techniques, we prepared 5-FU loaded PLGA-NP by a high-pressure emulsification-solvent evaporation process. The PLGA-NPs were characterized with respect to their morphology, particle size, size distribution, 5-FU encapsulation efficiency, in vitro and in vivo studies in rats. In vitro release of 5-FU from nanoparticles appeared to have two components with an initial rapid release due to the surface associated drug and followed by a slower exponential release of 5-FU, which was dissolved in the core. The in vivo research was studied in male Sprague-Dawley rats after an oral 5-FU dose of 45 mg/kg. Single oral administration of 5-FU loaded PLGA-NP to rats produced bioavailability, which was statistically higher than 5-FU solution as negative control. And the MRT (mean residence time) of 5-FU loaded PLGA-NP was significantly (P < 0.05) modified. Thus, it is possible to design a controlled drug delivery system for oral 5-FU delivery, improving therapy efficiency by possible reduction of time intervals between peroral administrations and reduction of local gastrointestinal side effects.

Human Papillomavirus Infection as a Possible Cause of Spontaneous Abortion and Spontaneous Preterm Delivery

PubMed Central

Ambühl, Lea Maria Margareta; Baandrup, Ulrik; Dybkær, Karen; Blaakær, Jan; Uldbjerg, Niels; Sørensen, Suzette

2016-01-01

Based on the current literature, we aimed to provide an overview on Human Papillomavirus prevalence in normal pregnancies and pregnancies with adverse outcome. We conducted a systematic literature search in PubMed and Embase. Data extracted from the articles and used for analysis included HPV prevalence, pregnancy outcome, geographical location, investigated tissue types, and HPV detection methods. The overall HPV prevalence in normal full-term pregnancies was found to be 17.5% (95% CI; 17.3–17.7) for cervix, 8.3% (95% CI; 7.6–9.1) for placental tissue, 5.7% (95% CI; 5.1–6.3) for amniotic fluid, and 10.9% (95% CI; 10.1–11.7) for umbilical cord blood. Summary estimates for HPV prevalence of spontaneous abortions and spontaneous preterm deliveries, in cervix (spontaneous abortions: 24.5%, and preterm deliveries: 47%, resp.) and placenta (spontaneous abortions: 24.9%, and preterm deliveries: 50%, resp.), were identified to be higher compared to normal full-term pregnancies (P < 0.05 and P < 0.0001). Great variation in HPV prevalence was observed between study populations of different geographical locations. This review demonstrates an association between spontaneous abortion, spontaneous preterm delivery, and the presence of HPV in both the cervix and the placenta. However, a reliable conclusion is difficult to draw due to the limited number of studies conducted on material from pregnancies with adverse outcome and the risk of residual confounding. PMID:27110088

Spontaneous rib fractures.

PubMed

Katrancioglu, Ozgur; Akkas, Yucel; Arslan, Sulhattin; Sahin, Ekber

2015-07-01

Other than trauma, rib fracture can occur spontaneously due to a severe cough or sneeze. In this study, patients with spontaneous rib fractures were analyzed according to age, sex, underlying pathology, treatment, and complications. Twelve patients who presented between February 2009 and February 2011 with spontaneous rib fracture were reviewed retrospectively. The patients' data were evaluated according to anamnesis, physical examination, and chest radiographs. The ages of the patients ranged from 34 to 77 years (mean 55.91 ± 12.20 years), and 7 (58.4%) were male. All patients had severe cough and chest pain. The fractures were most frequently between 4th and 9th ribs; multiple rib fractures were detected in 5 (41.7%) patients. Eight (66.7%) patients had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 2 (16.7%) had bronchial asthma, and 2 (16.7%) had osteoporosis. Bone densitometry revealed a high risk of bone fracture in all patients. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or bronchial asthma had been treated with high-dose steroids for over a year. Spontaneous rib fracture due to severe cough may occur in patients with osteoporosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or bronchial asthma, receiving long-term steroid therapy. If these patients have severe chest pain, chest radiography should be performed to check for bone lesions. © The Author(s) 2015.

Intra-Beam Scattering, Impedance, and Instabilities in Ultimate Storage Rings

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

Bane, Karl; /SLAC

We have investigated collective effects in an ultimate storage ring, i.e. one with diffraction limited emittances in both planes, using PEP-X as an example. In an ultimate ring intra-beam scattering (IBS) sets the limit of current that can be stored. In PEP-X, a 4.5 GeV ring running round beams at 200 mA in 3300 bunches, IBS doubles the emittances to 11.5 pm at the design current. The Touschek lifetime is 11 hours. Impedance driven collective effects tend not to be important since the beam current is relatively low. We have investigated collective effects in PEP-X, an ultimate storage ring, i.e.more » one with diffraction limited emittances (at one angstrom wavelength) in both planes. In an ultimate ring intra-beam scattering (IBS) sets the limit of current that can be stored. In PEP-X, IBS doubles the emittances to 11.5 pm at the design current of 200 mA, assuming round beams. The Touschek lifetime is quite large in PEP-X, 11.6 hours, and - near the operating point - increases with decreasing emittance. It is, however, a very sensitive function of momentum acceptance. In an ultimate ring like PEP-X impedance driven collective effects tend not to be important since the beam current is relatively low. Before ultimate PEP-X can be realized, the question of how to run a machine with round beams needs serious study. For example, in this report we assumed that the vertical emittance is coupling dominated. It may turn out that using vertical dispersion is a preferable way to generate round beams. The choice will affect IBS and the Touschek effect.« less

Centaur Standard Shroud (CSS) static ultimate load structural tests

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1975-01-01

A series of tests were conducted on the jettisonable metallic shroud used on the Titan/Centaur launch vehicle to verify its structural capabilities and to evaluate its structural interaction with the Centaur stage. A flight configured shroud and the interfacing Titan/Centaur structural assemblies were subjected to tests consisting of combinations of applied axial and shear loads to design ultimate values, including a set of tests on thermal conditions and two dynamic response tests to verify the analytical stiffness model. The strength capabilities were demonstrated at ultimate (125 percent of design limit) loads. It was also verified that the spring rate of the flight configured shroud-to-Centaur forward structural deflections of the specimen became nonlinear, as expected, above limit load values. This test series qualification program verified that the Titan/Centaur shroud and the Centaur and Titan interface components are qualified structurally at design ultimate loads.

Influence of extraction pH on the foaming, emulsification, oil-binding and visco-elastic properties of marama protein.

PubMed

Gulzar, Muhammad; Taylor, John Rn; Minnaar, Amanda

2017-11-01

Marama bean protein, as extracted previously at pH 8, forms a viscous, adhesive and extensible dough. To obtain a protein isolate with optimum functional properties, protein extraction under slightly acidic conditions (pH 6) was investigated. Two-dimensional electrophoresis showed that pH 6 extracted marama protein lacked some basic 11S legumin polypeptides, present in pH 8 extracted protein. However, it additionally contained acidic high molecular weight polypeptides (∼180 kDa), which were disulfide crosslinked into larger proteins. pH 6 extracted marama proteins had similar emulsification properties to soy protein isolate and several times higher foaming capacity than pH 8 extracted protein, egg white and soy protein isolate. pH 6 extracted protein dough was more elastic than pH 8 extracted protein, approaching the elasticity of wheat gluten. Marama protein extracted at pH 6 has excellent food-type functional properties, probably because it lacks some 11S polypeptides but has additional high molecular weight proteins. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Changes in the EV-A71 Genome through Recombination and Spontaneous Mutations: Impact on Virulence.

PubMed

Mandary, Madiiha Bibi; Poh, Chit Laa

2018-06-12

Enterovirus 71 (EV-A71) is a major etiological agent of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) that mainly affects young children less than five years old. The onset of severe HFMD is due to neurological complications bringing about acute flaccid paralysis and pulmonary oedema. In this review, we address how genetic events such as recombination and spontaneous mutations could change the genomic organization of EV-A71, leading to an impact on viral virulence. An understanding of the recombination mechanism of the poliovirus and non-polio enteroviruses will provide further evidence of the emergence of novel strains responsible for fatal HFMD outbreaks. We aim to see if the virulence of EV-A71 is contributed solely by the presence of fatal strains or is due to the co-operation of quasispecies within a viral population. The phenomenon of quasispecies within the poliovirus is discussed to reflect viral fitness, virulence and its implications for EV-A71. Ultimately, this review gives an insight into the evolution patterns of EV-A71 by looking into its recombination history and how spontaneous mutations would affect its virulence.

Spontaneous tension haemopneumothorax.

PubMed

Patterson, Benjamin Oliver; Itam, Sarah; Probst, Fey

2008-10-31

We present a patient with sudden onset progressive shortness of breath and no history of trauma, who rapidly became haemodynamically compromised with a pneumothorax and pleural effusion seen on chest radiograph. He was treated for spontaneous tension pneumothorax but this was soon revealed to be a tension haemopneumothorax. He underwent urgent thoracotomy after persistent bleeding to explore an apical vascular abnormality seen on CT scanning. To our knowledge this is the first such case reported.Aetiology and current approach to spontaneous haemothorax are discussed briefly.

Silicon wafer-based tandem cells: The ultimate photovoltaic solution?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Green, Martin A.

2014-03-01

Recent large price reductions with wafer-based cells have increased the difficulty of dislodging silicon solar cell technology from its dominant market position. With market leaders expected to be manufacturing modules above 16% efficiency at 0.36/Watt by 2017, even the cost per unit area (60-70/m2) will be difficult for any thin-film photovoltaic technology to significantly undercut. This may make dislodgement likely only by appreciably higher energy conversion efficiency approaches. A silicon wafer-based cell able to capitalize on on-going cost reductions within the mainstream industry, but with an appreciably higher than present efficiency, might therefore provide the ultimate PV solution. With average selling prices of 156 mm quasi-square monocrystalline Si photovoltaic wafers recently approaching 1 (per wafer), wafers now provide clean, low cost templates for overgrowth of thin, wider bandgap high performance cells, nearly doubling silicon's ultimate efficiency potential. The range of possible Si-based tandem approaches is reviewed together with recent results and ultimate prospects.

Respiration in vitro: I. Spontaneous activity.

PubMed

Hamada, O; Garcia-Rill, E; Skinner, R D

1992-01-01

The present report describes respiratory-like activity recorded from intercostal muscles in the neonatal rat in vitro brain stem-spinal cord, rib-attached preparation. In this preparation from 1- to 4-day-old rats, spontaneous rhythmic and synchronized upward movements of the rib cage coincided with the recorded muscle activity. Spontaneous respiratory-like activity showed a frequency in the range of 0.05-0.2 Hz, with single-, double-, and mixed-burst patterns. Spontaneous activity declined over time, but increased in frequency as temperature increased. Multilevel recordings showed a cephalocaudal order of bursting of intercostal muscles. Brain stem transections at the prepontine level did not affect spontaneous frequency, whereas premedullary transections resulted in an increase in spontaneous respiratory frequency. High spinal transections eliminated spontaneous respiratory-like activity. These results suggest that there is a well-organized pontomedullary pattern generator for respiratory-like activity in this preparation, which can be modulated by temperature. The characteristics of these electromyographic (EMG) recordings allow comparison with previous in vitro studies of respiratory-like activity using nerve activity and in vivo studies using EMG activity. These results provide basic information on the spontaneous activity of this preparation as a prelude to the study of the effects of electrical stimulation of the spinal cord to induce respiratory-like activity, as described in the companion article.

Continuous synthesis of drug-loaded nanoparticles using microchannel emulsification and numerical modeling: effect of passive mixing.

PubMed

Ortiz de Solorzano, Isabel; Uson, Laura; Larrea, Ane; Miana, Mario; Sebastian, Victor; Arruebo, Manuel

2016-01-01

By using interdigital microfluidic reactors, monodisperse poly(d,l lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (NPs) can be produced in a continuous manner and at a large scale (~10 g/h). An optimized synthesis protocol was obtained by selecting the appropriated passive mixer and fluid flow conditions to produce monodisperse NPs. A reduced NP polydispersity was obtained when using the microfluidic platform compared with the one obtained with NPs produced in a conventional discontinuous batch reactor. Cyclosporin, an immunosuppressant drug, was used as a model to validate the efficiency of the microfluidic platform to produce drug-loaded monodisperse poly(d,l lactic-co-glycolic acid) NPs. The influence of the mixer geometries and temperatures were analyzed, and the experimental results were corroborated by using computational fluid dynamic three-dimensional simulations. Flow patterns, mixing times, and mixing efficiencies were calculated, and the model supported with experimental results. The progress of mixing in the interdigital mixer was quantified by using the volume fractions of the organic and aqueous phases used during the emulsification-evaporation process. The developed model and methods were applied to determine the required time for achieving a complete mixing in each microreactor at different fluid flow conditions, temperatures, and mixing rates.

Perioperative spontaneous bilateral suprachoroidal hemorrhage

PubMed Central

Haridas, Anjana; Litwin, Andre S.; Coker, Timothy

2011-01-01

Summary Suprachoroidal hemorrhage is a rare condition, occurring most commonly in the perioperative period, although cases of unilateral spontaneous hemorrhages have been reported. We report a case of bilateral spontaneous suprachoroidal hemorrhage and discuss the potential causative factors. PMID:23362387

26 CFR 48.6427-8 - Diesel fuel and kerosene; claims by ultimate purchasers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 16 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 true Diesel fuel and kerosene; claims by ultimate... kerosene; claims by ultimate purchasers. (a) Overview. This section provides rules under which ultimate purchasers of taxed diesel fuel and kerosene may claim the income tax credits or payments allowed by section...

26 CFR 48.6427-8 - Diesel fuel and kerosene; claims by ultimate purchasers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 16 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Diesel fuel and kerosene; claims by ultimate... kerosene; claims by ultimate purchasers. (a) Overview. This section provides rules under which ultimate purchasers of taxed diesel fuel and kerosene may claim the income tax credits or payments allowed by section...

26 CFR 48.6427-8 - Diesel fuel and kerosene; claims by ultimate purchasers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 16 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Diesel fuel and kerosene; claims by ultimate... kerosene; claims by ultimate purchasers. (a) Overview. This section provides rules under which ultimate purchasers of taxed diesel fuel and kerosene may claim the income tax credits or payments allowed by section...

26 CFR 48.6427-8 - Diesel fuel and kerosene; claims by ultimate purchasers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 16 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Diesel fuel and kerosene; claims by ultimate... kerosene; claims by ultimate purchasers. (a) Overview. This section provides rules under which ultimate purchasers of taxed diesel fuel and kerosene may claim the income tax credits or payments allowed by section...

Optical antenna enhanced spontaneous emission

PubMed Central

Eggleston, Michael S.; Messer, Kevin; Zhang, Liming; Yablonovitch, Eli; Wu, Ming C.

2015-01-01

Atoms and molecules are too small to act as efficient antennas for their own emission wavelengths. By providing an external optical antenna, the balance can be shifted; spontaneous emission could become faster than stimulated emission, which is handicapped by practically achievable pump intensities. In our experiments, InGaAsP nanorods emitting at ∼200 THz optical frequency show a spontaneous emission intensity enhancement of 35× corresponding to a spontaneous emission rate speedup ∼115×, for antenna gap spacing, d = 40 nm. Classical antenna theory predicts ∼2,500× spontaneous emission speedup at d ∼ 10 nm, proportional to 1/d2. Unfortunately, at d < 10 nm, antenna efficiency drops below 50%, owing to optical spreading resistance, exacerbated by the anomalous skin effect (electron surface collisions). Quantum dipole oscillations in the emitter excited state produce an optical ac equivalent circuit current, Io = qω|xo|/d, feeding the antenna-enhanced spontaneous emission, where q|xo| is the dipole matrix element. Despite the quantum-mechanical origin of the drive current, antenna theory makes no reference to the Purcell effect nor to local density of states models. Moreover, plasmonic effects are minor at 200 THz, producing only a small shift of antenna resonance frequency. PMID:25624503

Optical antenna enhanced spontaneous emission

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

Eggleston, Michael S.; Messer, Kevin; Zhang, Liming

Atoms and molecules are too small to act as efficient antennas for their own emission wavelengths. By providing an external optical antenna, the balance can be shifted; spontaneous emission could become faster than stimulated emission, which is handicapped by practically achievable pump intensities. In our experiments, InGaAsP nanorods emitting at ~200 THz optical frequency show a spontaneous emission intensity enhancement of 35 × corresponding to a spontaneous emission rate speedup ~115 ×, for antenna gap spacing, d = 40 nm. Classical antenna theory predicts ~2,500 × spontaneous emission speedup at d ~10 nm, proportional to 1/d 2. Unfortunately, at dmore » < 10 nm, antenna efficiency drops below 50%, owing to optical spreading resistance, exacerbated by the anomalous skin effect (electron surface collisions). Quantum dipole oscillations in the emitter excited state produce an optical ac equivalent circuit current, I(o) = qω|x(o)|/d, feeding the antenna-enhanced spontaneous emission, where q|x(o)| is the dipole matrix element. Despite the quantum-mechanical origin of the drive current, antenna theory makes no reference to the Purcell effect nor to local density of states models. Additionally, plasmonic effects are minor at 200 THz, producing only a small shift of antenna resonance frequency.« less

Optical antenna enhanced spontaneous emission.

PubMed

Eggleston, Michael S; Messer, Kevin; Zhang, Liming; Yablonovitch, Eli; Wu, Ming C

2015-02-10

Atoms and molecules are too small to act as efficient antennas for their own emission wavelengths. By providing an external optical antenna, the balance can be shifted; spontaneous emission could become faster than stimulated emission, which is handicapped by practically achievable pump intensities. In our experiments, InGaAsP nanorods emitting at ∼ 200 THz optical frequency show a spontaneous emission intensity enhancement of 35 × corresponding to a spontaneous emission rate speedup ∼ 115 ×, for antenna gap spacing, d = 40 nm. Classical antenna theory predicts ∼ 2,500 × spontaneous emission speedup at d ∼ 10 nm, proportional to 1/d(2). Unfortunately, at d < 10 nm, antenna efficiency drops below 50%, owing to optical spreading resistance, exacerbated by the anomalous skin effect (electron surface collisions). Quantum dipole oscillations in the emitter excited state produce an optical ac equivalent circuit current, I(o) = qω|x(o)|/d, feeding the antenna-enhanced spontaneous emission, where q|x(o)| is the dipole matrix element. Despite the quantum-mechanical origin of the drive current, antenna theory makes no reference to the Purcell effect nor to local density of states models. Moreover, plasmonic effects are minor at 200 THz, producing only a small shift of antenna resonance frequency.

Optical antenna enhanced spontaneous emission

DOE PAGES

Eggleston, Michael S.; Messer, Kevin; Zhang, Liming; ...

2015-01-26

Atoms and molecules are too small to act as efficient antennas for their own emission wavelengths. By providing an external optical antenna, the balance can be shifted; spontaneous emission could become faster than stimulated emission, which is handicapped by practically achievable pump intensities. In our experiments, InGaAsP nanorods emitting at ~200 THz optical frequency show a spontaneous emission intensity enhancement of 35 × corresponding to a spontaneous emission rate speedup ~115 ×, for antenna gap spacing, d = 40 nm. Classical antenna theory predicts ~2,500 × spontaneous emission speedup at d ~10 nm, proportional to 1/d 2. Unfortunately, at dmore » < 10 nm, antenna efficiency drops below 50%, owing to optical spreading resistance, exacerbated by the anomalous skin effect (electron surface collisions). Quantum dipole oscillations in the emitter excited state produce an optical ac equivalent circuit current, I(o) = qω|x(o)|/d, feeding the antenna-enhanced spontaneous emission, where q|x(o)| is the dipole matrix element. Despite the quantum-mechanical origin of the drive current, antenna theory makes no reference to the Purcell effect nor to local density of states models. Additionally, plasmonic effects are minor at 200 THz, producing only a small shift of antenna resonance frequency.« less

Spontaneous combustion of hydrogen

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nusselt, Wilhelm; Pothmann, PH

1923-01-01

It is shown by the author's experiments that hydrogen which escapes to the atmosphere through openings in the system may burn spontaneously if it contains dust. Purely thermal reasoning can not account for the combustion. It seems to be rather an electrical ignition. In order to determine whether the cause of the spontaneous ignition was thermo-chemical, thermo-mechanical, or thermo-electrical, the experiments in this paper were performed.

Ultimate Longitudinal Strength of Composite Ship Hulls

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xiangming; Huang, Lingkai; Zhu, Libao; Tang, Yuhang; Wang, Anwen

2017-01-01

A simple analytical model to estimate the longitudinal strength of ship hulls in composite materials under buckling, material failure and ultimate collapse is presented in this paper. Ship hulls are regarded as assemblies of stiffened panels which idealized as group of plate-stiffener combinations. Ultimate strain of the plate-stiffener combination is predicted under buckling or material failure with composite beam-column theory. The effects of initial imperfection of ship hull and eccentricity of load are included. Corresponding longitudinal strengths of ship hull are derived in a straightforward method. A longitudinally framed ship hull made of symmetrically stacked unidirectional plies under sagging is analyzed. The results indicate that present analytical results have a good agreement with FEM method. The initial deflection of ship hull and eccentricity of load can dramatically reduce the bending capacity of ship hull. The proposed formulations provide a simple but useful tool for the longitudinal strength estimation in practical design.

Combined wind turbine fatigue and ultimate load reduction by individual blade control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Y.; Leithead, W. E.

2014-06-01

If each blade of the wind turbine has individual pitch actuator, there is possibility of employing the pitch system to mitigate structural loads through advanced control methods. Previously, considerable reduction of blade lifetime equivalent fatigue loads has been achieved by Individual Blade Control (IBC) and in addition, it has also been shown the potential in blade ultimate loads reduction. However, both fatigue and ultimate loads impact on the design and life of wind turbine blades. In this paper, the design and application of IBC that concurrently reduce both blade fatigue and ultimate loads is investigated. The contributions of blade load spectral components, which are 1P, 2P and edgewise mode from blade in-plane and/or out-of-plane bending moments, are firstly explored. Four different control options for reducing various combinations of these load components are compared. In response to the different spectral peaks of both fatigue and ultimate loads, the controller has been designed so that it can act on different frequency components which vary with wind speed. The performance of the IBC controller on fatigue and ultimate load reduction is assessed by simulating a 5MW exemplar wind turbine. Simulation results show that with a proper selection of controlling inputs at different wind speed, the use of a single combined IBC can achieve satisfactory reduction on both fatigue and ultimate loads.

Excess glycogen does not resolve high ultimate pH of oxidative muscle.

PubMed

England, Eric M; Matarneh, Sulaiman K; Oliver, Emily M; Apaoblaza, Ariel; Scheffler, Tracy L; Shi, Hao; Gerrard, David E

2016-04-01

Skeletal muscle glycogen content can impact the extent of postmortem pH decline. Compared to glycolytic muscles, oxidative muscles contain lower glycogen levels antemortem which may contribute to the higher ultimate pH. In an effort to explore further the participation of glycogen in postmortem metabolism, we postulated that increasing the availability of glycogen would drive additional pH decline in oxidative muscles to equivalent pH values similar to the ultimate pH of glycolytic muscles. Glycolysis and pH declines were compared in porcine longissimus lumborum (glycolytic) and masseter (oxidative) muscles using an in vitro system in the presence of excess glycogen. The ultimate pH of the system containing longissimus lumborum reached a value similar to that observed in intact muscle. The pH decline of the system containing masseter samples stopped prematurely resulting in a higher ultimate pH which was similar to that of intact masseter muscle. To investigate further, we titrated powdered longissimus lumborum and masseter samples in the reaction buffer. As the percentage of glycolytic sample increased, the ultimate pH decreased. These data show that oxidative muscle produces meat with a high ultimate pH regardless of glycogen content and suggest that inherent muscle factors associated with glycolytic muscle control the extent of pH decline in pig muscles. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Spontaneous network activity and synaptic development

PubMed Central

Kerschensteiner, Daniel

2014-01-01

Throughout development, the nervous system produces patterned spontaneous activity. Research over the last two decades has revealed a core group of mechanisms that mediate spontaneous activity in diverse circuits. Many circuits engage several of these mechanisms sequentially to accommodate developmental changes in connectivity. In addition to shared mechanisms, activity propagates through developing circuits and neuronal pathways (i.e. linked circuits in different brain areas) in stereotypic patterns. Increasing evidence suggests that spontaneous network activity shapes synaptic development in vivo. Variations in activity-dependent plasticity may explain how similar mechanisms and patterns of activity can be employed to establish diverse circuits. Here, I will review common mechanisms and patterns of spontaneous activity in emerging neural networks and discuss recent insights into their contribution to synaptic development. PMID:24280071

75 FR 60133 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Declaration of Ultimate Consignee That Articles Were...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-29

... Activities: Declaration of Ultimate Consignee That Articles Were Exported for Temporary Scientific or... the Declaration of Ultimate Consignee That Articles Were Exported for Temporary Scientific or...: Title: Declaration of Ultimate Consignee That Articles Were Exported for Temporary Scientific or...

Spontaneous pneumothorax in diffuse cystic lung diseases.

PubMed

Cooley, Joseph; Lee, Yun Chor Gary; Gupta, Nishant

2017-07-01

Diffuse cystic lung diseases (DCLDs) are a heterogeneous group of disorders with varying pathophysiologic mechanisms that are characterized by the presence of air-filled lung cysts. These cysts are prone to rupture, leading to the development of recurrent spontaneous pneumothoraces. In this article, we review the epidemiology, clinical features, and management DCLD-associated spontaneous pneumothorax, with a focus on lymphangioleiomyomatosis, Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome, and pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis. DCLDs are responsible for approximately 10% of apparent primary spontaneous pneumothoraces. Computed tomography screening for DCLDs (Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome, lymphangioleiomyomatosis, and pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis) following the first spontaneous pneumothorax has recently been shown to be cost-effective and can help facilitate early diagnosis of the underlying disorders. Patients with DCLD-associated spontaneous pneumothorax have a very high rate of recurrence, and thus pleurodesis should be considered following the first episode of spontaneous pneumothorax in these patients, rather than waiting for a recurrent episode. Prior pleurodesis is not a contraindication to future lung transplant. Although DCLDs are uncommon, spontaneous pneumothorax is often the sentinel event that provides an opportunity for diagnosis. By understanding the burden and implications of pneumothoraces in DCLDs, clinicians can facilitate early diagnosis and appropriate management of the underlying disorders.

Ultimate Strength of Ferro-Geopolymer Composite Built-Up I Joist

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vipin, K. T.; Ganesan, N.; Indira, P. V.

2017-07-01

An experimental study was carried out to study the behaviour of ferro-geopolymer built-up I- joist with different types of mesh reinforcements under flexure. Mesh reinforcements considered in this study are square welded meshes, square woven meshes and hexagonal meshes. First crack load as well as ultimate strength of ferro-geopolymer built-up I-joist in flexure was obtained. An attempt was made to predict the first crack load and ultimate moment capacity of the specimen.

Ultimate Limit State Assessment of Timber Bolt Connection Subjected to Double Unequal Shears

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Musilek, Josef; Plachy, Jan

2017-10-01

Nowadays the problems occur when a structure engineer need to assess the ultimate limit state of timber bolt connection which is subjected to double unequal shears. This assessment of ultimate limit state shows the reliability of these connections. In assessing the reliability of this connection in ultimate limit state is a problem, because the formulas and equations that are currently available in design standards and available literature, describing only connections loaded symmetrically - this mean that they describe the timber bolt connection subjected to double equal shears. This fact causes problems because structural engineers have no available support, according to which they could assess reliability of the connection in terms of the ultimate limit state. They must therefore often report following an asymmetrically loaded connections carry about using formulas, which are primarily designed for checking connections loaded symmetrically. This leads logically to the fact that it is not respected by the actual behaviour of the connection in the ultimate limit state. Formulas derived in this paper provide the possibility to assess the ultimate limit state for such connection. The formulas derived in this article allow to carry out a reliability assessment of the ultimate limit state of timber bolt connection subjected to double shear. The using of the formulas derived in this paper leads to better description of the behaviour of this type of connection and also to the more economic design. An example of using these derived formulas is shown. There is shown in this example, how to assess the reliability of timber bolt connection subjected to double unequal shears in terms of ultimate limit states.

78 FR 69101 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Declaration of the Ultimate Consignee That Articles...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-11-18

... Activities: Declaration of the Ultimate Consignee That Articles Were Exported for Temporary Scientific or... the Declaration of the Ultimate Consignee that Articles were Exported for Temporary Scientific or...: Title: Declaration of the Ultimate Consignee that Articles were Exported for Temporary Scientific or...

Phorbol ester and spontaneous activity in SHR aorta

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

Moisey, D.M.; Cox, R.H.

1986-03-01

Thoracic aortas (TA) were excised from 6-week old SHR and WKY. 2mm rings were mounted isometrically at optimum preload. Spontaneous rhythmical activity developed in TA from SHR and had a frequency of 3-4/min with varying periods of quiescence between bursts of activity. The spontaneous activity often produced an increase in tension development which was associated with increased frequency of oscillations. Verapamil (10/sup -7/ M) or Ca/sup + +/-free solution added during the contractile phase resulted in an immediate loss of tension and spontaneous activity. Addition of ouabain (10/sup -4/ M) during the contractile phase of spontaneous activity, increased the frequencymore » of oscillations which appeared to fuse into a tetanus. Spontaneous rhythmical activity was infrequently observed in TA from WKY. However, addition of phorbol 12-myristate-13 acetate (TPA), frequently induced spontaneous rhythmic oscillations associated with tension development in TA from WKY. TPA contracted the SHR TA and increased the frequency of oscillations. SHR TA were more sensitive to TPA than WKY. This study demonstrates (1) spontaneous rhythmical activity, independent of agonist stimulation in TA from 6-week old SHR and (2) TPA induced spontaneous oscillatory activity. The mechanism underlying the spontaneous oscillatory activity may involve membrane coupling events and Na-pump difference between SHR and WKY.« less

ULTIMATE: a deployable multiple integral field unit for Subaru

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ellis, S. C.; Zhelem, Ross; Brown, David; Staszak, Nicholas F.; Lidman, Chris; Nataf, David M.; Casey, Andrew R.; Xavier, Pascal; Sheinis, Andrew; Gillingham, Peter; Tims, Julia; Lawrence, Jon; Bryant, Julia; Sharp, Rob

2016-08-01

ULTIMATE is an instrument concept under development at the AAO, for the Subaru Telescope, which will have the unique combination of ground layer adaptive optics feeding multiple deployable integral field units. This will allow ULTIMATE to probe unexplored parameter space, enabling science cases such as the evolution of galaxies at z 0:5 to 1.5, and the dark matter content of the inner part of our Galaxy. ULTIMATE will use Starbugs to position between 7 and 13 IFUs over a 14 × 8 arcmin field-of-view, pro- vided by a new wide-field corrector. All Starbugs can be positioned simultaneously, to an accuracy of better than 5 milli-arcsec within the typical slew-time of the telescope, allowing for very efficient re-configuration between observations. The IFUs will feed either the near-infrared nuMOIRCS or the visible/ near-infrared PFS spectrographs, or both. Future possible upgrades include the possibility of purpose built spectrographs and incorporating OH suppression using fibre Bragg gratings. We describe the science case and resulting design requirements, the baseline instrument concept, and the expected performance of the instrument.

Spontaneous splenic rupture in infectious mononucleosis.

PubMed

Rothwell, S; McAuley, D

2001-09-01

Spontaneous splenic rupture is a rare but life-threatening complication of infectious mononucleosis. Abdominal pain and tachycardia are unusual in uncomplicated infectious mononucleosis and should alert a doctor to the possibility of spontaneous splenic rupture.

Spontaneous Healing of Mycobacterium ulcerans Lesions in the Guinea Pig Model

PubMed Central

Silva-Gomes, Rita; Marcq, Elly; Trigo, Gabriela; Gonçalves, Carine M.; Longatto-Filho, Adhemar; Castro, António G.; Pedrosa, Jorge; Fraga, Alexandra G.

2015-01-01

Buruli Ulcer (BU) is a necrotizing skin disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans infection. BU is characterized by a wide range of clinical forms, including non-ulcerative cutaneous lesions that can evolve into severe ulcers if left untreated. Nevertheless, spontaneous healing has been reported to occur, although knowledge on this process is scarce both in naturally infected humans and experimental models of infection. Animal models are useful since they mimic different spectrums of human BU disease and have the potential to elucidate the pathogenic/protective pathway(s) involved in disease/healing. In this time-lapsed study, we characterized the guinea pig, an animal model of resistance to M. ulcerans, focusing on the macroscopic, microbiological and histological evolution throughout the entire experimental infectious process. Subcutaneous infection of guinea pigs with a virulent strain of M. ulcerans led to early localized swelling, which evolved into small well defined ulcers. These macroscopic observations correlated with the presence of necrosis, acute inflammatory infiltrate and an abundant bacterial load. By the end of the infectious process when ulcerative lesions healed, M. ulcerans viability decreased and the subcutaneous tissue organization returned to its normal state after a process of continuous healing characterized by tissue granulation and reepethelialization. In conclusion, we show that the experimental M. ulcerans infection of the guinea pig mimics the process of spontaneous healing described in BU patients, displaying the potential to uncover correlates of protection against BU, which can ultimately contribute to the development of new prophylactic and therapeutic strategies. PMID:26625302

Visually Evoked Spiking Evolves While Spontaneous Ongoing Dynamics Persist

PubMed Central

Huys, Raoul; Jirsa, Viktor K.; Darokhan, Ziauddin; Valentiniene, Sonata; Roland, Per E.

2016-01-01

Neurons in the primary visual cortex spontaneously spike even when there are no visual stimuli. It is unknown whether the spiking evoked by visual stimuli is just a modification of the spontaneous ongoing cortical spiking dynamics or whether the spontaneous spiking state disappears and is replaced by evoked spiking. This study of laminar recordings of spontaneous spiking and visually evoked spiking of neurons in the ferret primary visual cortex shows that the spiking dynamics does not change: the spontaneous spiking as well as evoked spiking is controlled by a stable and persisting fixed point attractor. Its existence guarantees that evoked spiking return to the spontaneous state. However, the spontaneous ongoing spiking state and the visual evoked spiking states are qualitatively different and are separated by a threshold (separatrix). The functional advantage of this organization is that it avoids the need for a system reorganization following visual stimulation, and impedes the transition of spontaneous spiking to evoked spiking and the propagation of spontaneous spiking from layer 4 to layers 2–3. PMID:26778982

Peritonitis - spontaneous bacterial

MedlinePlus

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP); Ascites - peritonitis; Cirrhosis - peritonitis ... who are on peritoneal dialysis for kidney failure. Peritonitis may have other causes . These include infection from ...

Dorsomedial prefontal cortex supports spontaneous thinking per se.

PubMed

Raij, T T; Riekki, T J J

2017-06-01

Spontaneous thinking, an action to produce, consider, integrate, and reason through mental representations, is central to our daily experience and has been suggested to serve crucial adaptive purposes. Such thinking occurs among other experiences during mind wandering that is associated with activation of the default mode network among other brain circuitries. Whether and how such brain activation is linked to the experience of spontaneous thinking per se remains poorly known. We studied 51 healthy subjects using a comprehensive experience-sampling paradigm during 3T functional magnetic resonance imaging. In comparison with fixation, the experiences of spontaneous thinking and spontaneous perception were related to activation of wide-spread brain circuitries, including the cortical midline structures, the anterior cingulate cortex and the visual cortex. In direct comparison of the spontaneous thinking versus spontaneous perception, activation was observed in the anterior dorsomedial prefrontal cortex. Modality congruence of spontaneous-experience-related brain activation was suggested by several findings, including association of the lingual gyrus with visual in comparison with non-verbal-non-visual thinking. In the context of current literature, these findings suggest that the cortical midline structures are involved in the integrative core substrate of spontaneous thinking that is coupled with other brain systems depending on the characteristics of thinking. Furthermore, involvement of the anterior dorsomedial prefrontal cortex suggests the control of high-order abstract functions to characterize spontaneous thinking per se. Hum Brain Mapp 38:3277-3288, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Nanophotonic Devices; Spontaneous Emission Faster than Stimulated Emission

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-02-02

optically pumped spontaneous emission, and electrically pumped spontaneous emission. We have observed a speedup of >300x, and we project a speedup of 2500x...The project has succeeded, both for optically pumped spontaneous emission, and electrically pumped spontaneous emission. We have observed a speedup...Fabricated Plasmonic Optical Transformer”, (with H. Choo, S. Cabrini, P.J. Schuck, X. Liang,) U.S. Patent No. 9,052,450 (Jun. 9, 2015). 2. “ Probes

Surface spontaneous parametric down-conversion.

PubMed

Perina, Jan; Luks, Antonín; Haderka, Ondrej; Scalora, Michael

2009-08-07

Surface spontaneous parametric down-conversion is predicted as a consequence of continuity requirements for electric- and magnetic-field amplitudes at a discontinuity of chi;{(2)} nonlinearity. A generalization of the usual two-photon spectral amplitude is suggested to describe this effect. Examples of nonlinear layered structures and periodically poled nonlinear crystals show that surface contributions to spontaneous down-conversion can be important.

Do positive spontaneous thoughts function as incentive salience?

PubMed

Rice, Elise L; Fredrickson, Barbara L

2017-08-01

The present work explores the theoretical relationship between positive spontaneous thoughts and incentive salience-a psychological property thought to energize wanting and approach motivation by rendering cues that are associated with enjoyment more likely to stand out to the individual when subsequently encountered in the environment (Berridge, 2007). We reasoned that positive spontaneous thoughts may at least be concomitants of incentive salience, and as such, they might likewise mediate the effect of liking on wanting. In Study 1, 103 adults recruited via Amazon's Mechanical Turk reported on key aspects of 10 everyday activities. As predicted, positive spontaneous thoughts mediated the relationship between liking an activity in the past and wanting to engage in it in the future. In Study 2, 99 undergraduate students viewed amusing and humorless cartoons and completed a thought-listing task, providing experimental evidence for the causal effect of liking on positive spontaneous thoughts. In Study 3, we tested whether positive spontaneous thoughts play an active role in energizing wanting rather than merely co-occurring with (inferred) incentive salience. In that experiment involving 80 undergraduates, participants who were led to believe that their spontaneous thoughts about a target activity were especially positive planned to devote more time to that activity over the coming week than participants who received no such information about their spontaneous thoughts. Collectively, these findings suggest that positive spontaneous thoughts may play an important role in shaping approach motivation. Broader implications and future directions in the study of positive spontaneous thoughts are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).

26 CFR 48.6427-11 - Kerosene; claims by registered ultimate vendors (blending).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 16 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 true Kerosene; claims by registered ultimate vendors... Administrative Provisions of Special Application to Retailers and Manufacturers Taxes § 48.6427-11 Kerosene... certain registered ultimate vendors of taxed kerosene may claim the income tax credits or payments allowed...

26 CFR 48.6427-11 - Kerosene; claims by registered ultimate vendors (blending).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 16 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Kerosene; claims by registered ultimate vendors... Administrative Provisions of Special Application to Retailers and Manufacturers Taxes § 48.6427-11 Kerosene... certain registered ultimate vendors of taxed kerosene may claim the income tax credits or payments allowed...

26 CFR 48.6427-11 - Kerosene; claims by registered ultimate vendors (blending).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 16 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Kerosene; claims by registered ultimate vendors... Administrative Provisions of Special Application to Retailers and Manufacturers Taxes § 48.6427-11 Kerosene... certain registered ultimate vendors of taxed kerosene may claim the income tax credits or payments allowed...

26 CFR 48.6427-11 - Kerosene; claims by registered ultimate vendors (blending).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 16 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Kerosene; claims by registered ultimate vendors... Administrative Provisions of Special Application to Retailers and Manufacturers Taxes § 48.6427-11 Kerosene... certain registered ultimate vendors of taxed kerosene may claim the income tax credits or payments allowed...

Spontaneous squamous cell carcinoma induced by the somatic inactivation of retinoblastoma and Trp53 tumor suppressors.

PubMed

Martínez-Cruz, Ana Belén; Santos, Mirentxu; Lara, M Fernanda; Segrelles, Carmen; Ruiz, Sergio; Moral, Marta; Lorz, Corina; García-Escudero, Ramón; Paramio, Jesús M

2008-02-01

Squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) represent the most aggressive type of nonmelanoma skin cancer. Although little is known about the causal alterations of SCCs, in organ-transplanted patients the E7 and E6 oncogenes of human papillomavirus, targeting the p53- and pRb-dependent pathways, have been widely involved. Here, we report the functional consequences of the simultaneous elimination of Trp53 and retinoblastoma (Rb) genes in epidermis using Cre-loxP system. Loss of p53, but not pRb, produces spontaneous tumor development, indicating that p53 is the predominant tumor suppressor acting in mouse epidermis. Although the simultaneous inactivation of pRb and p53 does not aggravate the phenotype observed in Rb-deficient epidermis in terms of proliferation and/or differentiation, spontaneous SCC development is severely accelerated in doubly deficient mice. The tumors are aggressive and undifferentiated and display a hair follicle origin. Detailed analysis indicates that the acceleration is mediated by premature activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor/Akt pathway, resulting in increased proliferation in normal and dysplastic hair follicles and augmented tumor angiogenesis. The molecular characteristics of this model provide valuable tools to understand epidermal tumor formation and may ultimately contribute to the development of therapies for the treatment of aggressive squamous cancer.

Trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine and spontaneous abortion.

PubMed

Irving, Stephanie A; Kieke, Burney A; Donahue, James G; Mascola, Maria A; Baggs, James; DeStefano, Frank; Cheetham, T Craig; Jackson, Lisa A; Naleway, Allison L; Glanz, Jason M; Nordin, James D; Belongia, Edward A

2013-01-01

To estimate the association between spontaneous abortion and influenza vaccine receipt with a case-control study utilizing data from six health care organizations in the Vaccine Safety Datalink. Women aged 18-44 years with spontaneous abortion during the autumn of 2005 or 2006 were identified using International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification codes. Cases of spontaneous abortion at 5-16 weeks of gestation were confirmed by medical record review; date of fetal demise was based on ultrasound information when available. Control group individuals with a live birth were individually matched to case group individuals by health care organization and date of last menstrual period (LMP). The primary exposure of interest was influenza vaccination during the 28 days preceding the date of spontaneous abortion of the matched pair. Conditional logistic regression models adjusted for maternal age, health care utilization, maternal diabetes, and parity. Our final analysis included 243 women with spontaneous abortion and 243 matched control group women; 82% of women with spontaneous abortion had ultrasound confirmation of fetal demise. Using clinical diagnosis and ultrasound data, the mean gestational age at fetal demise was 7.8 weeks. Mean ages at LMP of case group women and control group women were 31.7 and 29.3 years, respectively (P<.001). Sixteen women with spontaneous abortion (7%) and 15 (6%) matched control group women received influenza vaccine within the 28-day exposure window. There was no association between spontaneous abortion and influenza vaccination in the 28-day exposure window (adjusted matched odds ratio 1.23, 95% confidence interval 0.53-2.89; P=.63). There was no statistically significant increase in the risk of pregnancy loss in the 4 weeks after seasonal inactivated influenza vaccination. II.

Depressive disorder and grief following spontaneous abortion.

PubMed

Kulathilaka, Susil; Hanwella, Raveen; de Silva, Varuni A

2016-04-12

Abortion is associated with moderate to high risk of psychological problems such as depression, use of alcohol or marijuana, anxiety, depression and suicidal behaviours. The increased risk of depression after spontaneous abortion in Asian populations has not been clearly established. Only a few studies have explored the relationship between grief and depression after abortion. A study was conducted to assess the prevalence and risk factors of depressive disorder and complicated grief among women 6-10 weeks after spontaneous abortion and compare the risk of depression with pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic. Spontaneous abortion group consisted of women diagnosed with spontaneous abortion by a Consultant Obstetrician. Women with confirmed or suspected induced abortion were excluded. The comparison group consisted of randomly selected pregnant, females attending the antenatal clinics of the two hospitals. Diagnosis of depressive disorder was made according to ICD-10 clinical criteria based on a structured clinical interview. This assessment was conducted in both groups. The severity of depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patients Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Grief was assessed using the Perinatal Grief Scale which was administered to the women who had experienced spontaneous abortion. The sample consisted of 137 women in each group. The spontaneous abortion group (mean age 30.39 years (SD = 6.38) were significantly older than the comparison group (mean age 28.79 years (SD = 6.26)). There were more females with ≥10 years of education in the spontaneous abortion group (n = 54; SD = 39.4) compared to the comparison group (n = 37; SD = 27.0). The prevalence of depression in the spontaneous abortion group was 18.6 % (95 CI, 11.51-25.77). The prevalence of depression in the comparison group was 9.5 % (95 CI, 4.52-14.46). Of the 64 women fulfilling criteria for grief, 17 (26.6 %) also fulfilled criteria for a depressive episode. The relative risk of

Etiology of spontaneous abortion before and after the demonstration of embryonic cardiac activity in women with recurrent spontaneous abortion.

PubMed

Liu, Yukun; Liu, Yinglin; Zhang, Shuning; Chen, Hui; Liu, Meilan; Zhang, Jianping

2015-05-01

To analyze the etiologic factors of spontaneous abortion in the first trimester among women with recurrent spontaneous abortion, specifically before and after the demonstration of embryonic cardiac activity. A retrospective analysis included women with recurrent spontaneous abortion admitted to a center in Guangzhou, China, for dilation and curettage after a spontaneous abortion in the first trimester between January 2008 and December 2012. The etiologic factors of spontaneous abortion occurring before versus after the demonstration of cardiac activity were compared. A total of 232 women were included. Among 146 women with demonstrated cardiac activity before spontaneous abortion, 78 (53.4%) had an embryonic karyotype abnormality, 55 (37.7%) had traditional etiologic factors, and 34 (23.3%) had an unidentified cause. Among 86 women without cardiac activity, 41 (47.7%) had an embryonic karyotype abnormality, 28 (32.6%) had traditional etiologic factors, and 26 (30.2%) had an unidentified cause. After exclusion of abortions involving embryonic karyotype abnormalities, there was a higher incidence of APA positivity in the group with embryonic cardiac activity than in the other group (13/68 [19.1%] vs 1/45 [2.2%]; P=0.008) and a lower incidence of subclinical hypothyroidism (8/68 [11.8%] vs 12/45 [26.7%]; P=0.042). The distribution of etiologic factors in spontaneous abortion differs according to whether embryonic cardiac activity is recorded. Copyright © 2015 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Spontaneous Resolution of Massive Spontaneous Tubercular Pneumothorax

PubMed Central

Kant, Surya; Saheer, S.; Hassan, G.; Parengal, Jabeed

2011-01-01

A 29-year-old female presented with complaints of fever and productive cough of three weeks duration. Pulmonary tuberculosis was diagnosed bacteriologically and she was prescribed antituberculosis drugs. During follow-up she developed massive pneumothorax, for which patient refused surgical management and was managed conservatively. After six months there was complete spontaneous resolution of pneumothorax. The unusual presentation and unexpected outcome prompted us to report this case. PMID:22937428

Spontaneous Trait Inferences on Social Media.

PubMed

Levordashka, Ana; Utz, Sonja

2017-01-01

The present research investigates whether spontaneous trait inferences occur under conditions characteristic of social media and networking sites: nonextreme, ostensibly self-generated content, simultaneous presentation of multiple cues, and self-paced browsing. We used an established measure of trait inferences (false recognition paradigm) and a direct assessment of impressions. Without being asked to do so, participants spontaneously formed impressions of people whose status updates they saw. Our results suggest that trait inferences occurred from nonextreme self-generated content, which is commonly found in social media updates (Experiment 1) and when nine status updates from different people were presented in parallel (Experiment 2). Although inferences did occur during free browsing, the results suggest that participants did not necessarily associate the traits with the corresponding status update authors (Experiment 3). Overall, the findings suggest that spontaneous trait inferences occur on social media. We discuss implications for online communication and research on spontaneous trait inferences.

Pickering emulsion stabilized by cashew gum- poly-l-lactide copolymer nanoparticles: Synthesis, characterization and amphotericin B encapsulation.

PubMed

Richter, A R; Feitosa, J P A; Paula, H C B; Goycoolea, F M; de Paula, R C M

2018-04-01

In this work, we provide proof-of-concept of formation, physical characteristics and potential use as a drug delivery formulation of Pickering emulsions (PE) obtained by a novel method that combines nanoprecipitation with subsequent spontaneous emulsification process. To this end, pre-formed ultra-small (d.∼10 nm) nanoprecipitated nanoparticles of hydrophobic derivatives of cashew tree gum grafted with polylactide (CGPLAP), were conceived to stabilize Pickering emulsions obtained by spontaneous emulsification. These were also loaded with Amphotericin B (AmB), a drug of low oral bioavailability used in the therapy of neglected diseases such as leishmaniasis. The graft reaction was performed in two CG/PLA molar ratio conditions (1:1 and 1:10). Emulsions were prepared by adding the organic phase (Miglyol 812 ® ) in the aqueous phase (nanoprecipitated CGPLAP), resulting the immediate emulsion formation. The isolation by centrifugation does not destabilize or separate the nanoparticles from oil droplets of the PE emulsion. Emulsions with CGPLAP 1:1 presented unimodal distributions at different CGPLA concentration, lower values in size and PDI and the best stability over time. The AmB was incorporated in the emulsions with a process efficiency of 21-47%, as determined by UV-vis. AmB in CGPLAP emulsions is in less aggregated state than observed in commercial AmB formulation. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Occupational exposures among nurses and risk of spontaneous abortion

PubMed Central

LAWSON, Christina C; ROCHELEAU, Carissa M.; WHELAN, Elizabeth A; LIVIDOTI HIBERT, Eileen N.; GRAJEWSKI, Barbara; SPIEGELMAN, Donna; RICH-EDWARDS, Janet W.

2015-01-01

Objective We investigated self-reported occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs, anesthetic gases, antiviral drugs, sterilizing agents (disinfectants), and X-rays and the risk of spontaneous abortion in U.S. nurses. Study Design Pregnancy outcome and occupational exposures were collected retrospectively from 8,461 participants of the Nurses’ Health Study II. Of these, 7,482 were eligible for analysis using logistic regression. Results Participants reported 6,707 live births, and 775 (10%) spontaneous abortions (<20 weeks). After adjusting for age, parity, shift work, and hours worked, antineoplastic drug exposure was associated with a 2-fold increased risk of spontaneous abortion, particularly with early spontaneous abortion before the 12th week, and 3.5-fold increased risk among nulliparous women. Exposure to sterilizing agents was associated with a 2-fold increased risk of late spontaneous abortion (12–20 weeks), but not with early spontaneous abortion. Conclusion This study suggests that certain occupational exposures common to nurses are related to risks of spontaneous abortion. PMID:22304790

Occupational exposures among nurses and risk of spontaneous abortion.

PubMed

Lawson, Christina C; Rocheleau, Carissa M; Whelan, Elizabeth A; Lividoti Hibert, Eileen N; Grajewski, Barbara; Spiegelman, Donna; Rich-Edwards, Janet W

2012-04-01

We investigated self-reported occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs, anesthetic gases, antiviral drugs, sterilizing agents (disinfectants), and X-rays and the risk of spontaneous abortion in US nurses. Pregnancy outcome and occupational exposures were collected retrospectively from 8461 participants of the Nurses' Health Study II. Of these, 7482 were eligible for analysis using logistic regression. Participants reported 6707 live births, and 775 (10%) spontaneous abortions (<20 weeks). After adjusting for age, parity, shift work, and hours worked, antineoplastic drug exposure was associated with a 2-fold increased risk of spontaneous abortion, particularly with early spontaneous abortion before the 12th week, and 3.5-fold increased risk among nulliparous women. Exposure to sterilizing agents was associated with a 2-fold increased risk of late spontaneous abortion (12-20 weeks), but not with early spontaneous abortion. This study suggests that certain occupational exposures common to nurses are related to risks of spontaneous abortion. Published by Mosby, Inc.

Chemical pleurodesis for spontaneous pneumothorax.

PubMed

How, Cheng-Hung; Hsu, Hsao-Hsun; Chen, Jin-Shing

2013-12-01

Pneumothorax is defined as the presence of air in the pleural cavity. Spontaneous pneumothorax, occurring without antecedent traumatic or iatrogenic cause, is sub-divided into primary and secondary. The severity of pneumothorax could be varied from asymptomatic to hemodynamically compromised. Optimal management of this benign disease has been a matter of debate. In addition to evacuating air from the pleural space by simple aspiration or chest tube drainage, the management of spontaneous pneumothorax also focused on ceasing air leakage and preventing recurrences by surgical intervention or chemical pleurodesis. Chemical pleurodesis is a procedure to achieve symphysis between the two layers of pleura by sclerosing agents. In the current practice guidelines, chemical pleurodesis is reserved for patients unable or unwilling to receive surgery. Recent researches have found that chemical pleurodesis is also safe and effective in preventing pneumothorax recurrence in patients with the first episode of spontaneous pneumothorax or after thoracoscopic surgery and treating persistent air leakage after thoracoscopic surgery. In this article we aimed at exploring the role of chemical pleurodesis for spontaneous pneumothorax, including ceasing air leakage and preventing recurrence. The indications, choice of sclerosants, safety, effects, and possible side effects or complications of chemical pleurodesis are also reviewed here. Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum after bench press training.

PubMed

Nishino, Tomoya

2017-04-01

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is often associated with asthma and mainly affects adolescent males with a tall, thin body habitus. A 17-year-old man complained of chest and pharyngeal pain after bench press training and spontaneous pneumomediastinum was diagnosed. It should be considered in the differential diagnosis of chest pain of uncertain cause.

Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum After Electronic Cigarette Use.

PubMed

Marasco, Rita Daniela; Loizzi, Domenico; Ardò, Nicoletta Pia; Fatone, Fabio Nicola; Sollitto, Francesco

2018-06-01

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is an uncommon condition typically occurring in young men presenting with pleuritic pain, dyspnea, and subcutaneous emphysema. We report an exceptional case of spontaneous pneumomediastinum after electronic cigarette use in an otherwise healthy young man. Copyright © 2018 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Spontaneous cooperation for prosocials, but not for proselfs: Social value orientation moderates spontaneous cooperation behavior

PubMed Central

Mischkowski, Dorothee; Glöckner, Andreas

2016-01-01

Cooperation is essential for the success of societies and there is an ongoing debate whether individuals have therefore developed a general spontaneous tendency to cooperate or not. Findings that cooperative behavior is related to shorter decision times provide support for the spontaneous cooperation effect, although contrary results have also been reported. We show that cooperative behavior is better described as person × situation interaction, in that there is a spontaneous cooperation effect for prosocial but not for proself persons. In three studies, one involving population representative samples from the US and Germany, we found that cooperation in a public good game is dependent on an interaction between individuals’ social value orientation and decision time. Increasing deliberation about the dilemma situation does not affect persons that are selfish to begin with, but it is related to decreasing cooperation for prosocial persons that gain positive utility from outcomes of others and score high on the related general personality trait honesty/humility. Our results demonstrate that the spontaneous cooperation hypothesis has to be qualified in that it is limited to persons with a specific personality and social values. Furthermore, they allow reconciling conflicting previous findings by identifying an important moderator for the effect. PMID:26876773

Phase-field simulation of counter-current spontaneous imbibition in a fractured heterogeneous porous medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rokhforouz, M. R.; Akhlaghi Amiri, H. A.

2017-06-01

Spontaneous imbibition is well-known to be one of the most effective processes of oil recovery in fractured reservoirs. However, the detailed pore-scale mechanisms of the counter-current imbibition process and the effects of different fluid/rock parameters on this phenomenon have not yet been deeply addressed. This work presents the results of a new pore-level numerical study of counter-current spontaneous imbibition, using coupled Cahn-Hilliard phase field and Navier-Stokes equations, solved by a finite element method. A 2D fractured medium was constructed consisting of a nonhomogeneous porous matrix, in which the grains were represented by an equilateral triangular array of circles with different sizes and initially saturated with oil, and a fracture, adjacent to the matrix, initially saturated with water and supported by low rate water inflow. Through invasion of water into the matrix, oil drops were expelled one by one from the matrix to the fracture, and in the matrix, water progressed by forming capillary fingerings, with characteristics corresponding to the experimental observations. The effects of wettability, viscosity ratio, and interfacial tension were investigated. In strongly water-wet matrix, with grain contact angles of θ < π/8, different micro-scale mechanisms were successfully captured, including oil film thinning and rupture, fluids' contact line movement, water bridging, and oil drop detachment. It was notified that there was a specific grain contact angle for this simulated model, θ = π/4, above it, matrix oil recovery was negligible by imbibition, while below it, the imbibition rate and oil recovery were significantly increased by decreasing the contact angle. In simulated mixed wet models, water, coming from the fracture, just invaded the neighboring water-wet grains; the water front was stopped moving as it met the oil-wet grains or wide pores/throats. Increasing water-oil interfacial tension, in the range of 0.005-0.05 N/m, resulted in

Ultimate pier and contraction scour prediction in cohesive soils at selected bridges in Illinois

USGS Publications Warehouse

Straub, Timothy D.; Over, Thomas M.; Domanski, Marian M.

2013-01-01

The Scour Rate In COhesive Soils-Erosion Function Apparatus (SRICOS-EFA) method includes an ultimate scour prediction that is the equilibrium maximum pier and contraction scour of cohesive soils over time. The purpose of this report is to present the results of testing the ultimate pier and contraction scour methods for cohesive soils on 30 bridge sites in Illinois. Comparison of the ultimate cohesive and noncohesive methods, along with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) cohesive soil reduction-factor method and measured scour are presented. Also, results of the comparison of historic IDOT laboratory and field values of unconfined compressive strength of soils (Qu) are presented. The unconfined compressive strength is used in both ultimate cohesive and reduction-factor methods, and knowing how the values from field methods compare to the laboratory methods is critical to the informed application of the methods. On average, the non-cohesive method results predict the highest amount of scour, followed by the reduction-factor method results; and the ultimate cohesive method results predict the lowest amount of scour. The 100-year scour predicted for the ultimate cohesive, noncohesive, and reduction-factor methods for each bridge site and soil are always larger than observed scour in this study, except 12% of predicted values that are all within 0.4 ft of the observed scour. The ultimate cohesive scour prediction is smaller than the non-cohesive scour prediction method for 78% of bridge sites and soils. Seventy-six percent of the ultimate cohesive predictions show a 45% or greater reduction from the non-cohesive predictions that are over 10 ft. Comparing the ultimate cohesive and reduction-factor 100-year scour predictions methods for each bridge site and soil, the scour predicted by the ultimate cohesive scour prediction method is less than the reduction-factor 100-year scour prediction method for 51% of bridge sites and soils. Critical shear stress

Self-Propelled Motion of Monodisperse Underwater Oil Droplets Formed by a Microfluidic Device.

PubMed

Ueno, Naoko; Banno, Taisuke; Asami, Arisa; Kazayama, Yuki; Morimoto, Yuya; Osaki, Toshihisa; Takeuchi, Shoji; Kitahata, Hiroyuki; Toyota, Taro

2017-06-06

We evaluated the speed profile of self-propelled underwater oil droplets comprising a hydrophobic aldehyde derivative in terms of their diameter and the surrounding surfactant concentration using a microfluidic device. We found that the speed of the oil droplets is dependent on not only the surfactant concentration but also the droplet size in a certain range of the surfactant concentration. This tendency is interpreted in terms of combination of the oil and surfactant affording spontaneous emulsification in addition to the Marangoni effect.

A method for early determination of meat ultimate pH.

PubMed

Young, O A; West, J; Hart, A L; van Otterdijk, F F H

2004-02-01

A patented method of rapidly determining the ultimate pH from approximate glycolytic potential of muscles of slaughtered animals has been devised. The method is based on the rapid hydrolysis of muscle glycogen to glucose by the enzyme amyloglucosidase and subsequent measurement of the liberated glucose. In acetate buffer at pH 4.5, glucose concentration can be determined in 30 s with domestic meters for diabetes control. The meter response differed from that of glucose in blood, but was linear with concentration. In slurries comprising homogenised meat in acetate buffer and added glucose, a similar linear response was obtained. Amyloglucosidase was capable of rapidly hydrolysing glycogen to glucose in such slurries. In the 24 h following slaughter, a decrease in glycogen, as determined by glucose, occurred in parallel with the decline in pH. At the same time, lactate progressively accumulated as expected. Values for the approximate glycolytic potential and (by calibration) ultimate pH, were obtained on prerigor muscle within 7 min of muscle sampling in an industrial environment. The method is suitable for on-line application in beef abattoirs particularly those employing hot boning where ultimate must be known at the grading point.

Spontaneous action potentials and neural coding in unmyelinated axons.

PubMed

O'Donnell, Cian; van Rossum, Mark C W

2015-04-01

The voltage-gated Na and K channels in neurons are responsible for action potential generation. Because ion channels open and close in a stochastic fashion, spontaneous (ectopic) action potentials can result even in the absence of stimulation. While spontaneous action potentials have been studied in detail in single-compartment models, studies on spatially extended processes have been limited. The simulations and analysis presented here show that spontaneous rate in unmyelinated axon depends nonmonotonically on the length of the axon, that the spontaneous activity has sub-Poisson statistics, and that neural coding can be hampered by the spontaneous spikes by reducing the probability of transmitting the first spike in a train.

Quantum Lidar - Remote Sensing at the Ultimate Limit

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-07-01

of Lossy Propaga- tion of Non-Classical Dual-Mode Entangled Photon States 57 34 Decay of Coherence for a N00N State (N=10) as a Function of...resolution could be beaten by exploiting entangled photons [Boto2000, Kok2001]. This effect is now universally known as quantum super-resolution. We...spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC), optical parametric amplifier (OPA), optical parametric oscillator (OPO), and entangled - photon Laser (EPL

Spontaneity and Equilibrium II: Multireaction Systems

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Raff, Lionel M.

2014-01-01

The thermodynamic criteria for spontaneity and equilibrium in multireaction systems are developed and discussed. When N reactions are occurring simultaneously, it is shown that G and A will depend upon N independent reaction coordinates, ?a (a = 1,2, ..., N), in addition to T and p for G or T and V for A. The general criteria for spontaneity and…

Determination of ochratoxin A in fruit juice by high-performance liquid chromatography after vortex-assisted emulsification microextraction based on solidification of floating organic drop.

PubMed

Asadi, Mohammad

2018-03-01

A rapid, simple, and green vortex-assisted emulsification microextraction method based on solidification of floating organic drop was developed for the extraction and determination of ochratoxin A (OTA) with high-performance liquid chromatography. Some factors influencing the extraction efficiency of OTA such as the type and volume of extraction solvent, sample pH, salt concentration, vortex time, and sample volume were optimized. Under optimized conditions, the calibration curve exhibited linearity in the range of 50.0-500 ng L -1 with a coefficient of determination higher than 0.999. The limit of detection was 15.0 ng L -1 . The inter- and intra-assays relative standard deviations were in a range of 4.7-8.7%. The accuracy of the developed method was investigated through recovery experiments, and it was successfully used for the quantification of OTA in 40 samples of fruit juice.

Acute suppression of spontaneous neurotransmission drives synaptic potentiation.

PubMed

Nosyreva, Elena; Szabla, Kristen; Autry, Anita E; Ryazanov, Alexey G; Monteggia, Lisa M; Kavalali, Ege T

2013-04-17

The impact of spontaneous neurotransmission on neuronal plasticity remains poorly understood. Here, we show that acute suppression of spontaneous NMDA receptor-mediated (NMDAR-mediated) neurotransmission potentiates synaptic responses in the CA1 regions of rat and mouse hippocampus. This potentiation requires protein synthesis, brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression, eukaryotic elongation factor-2 kinase function, and increased surface expression of AMPA receptors. Our behavioral studies link this same synaptic signaling pathway to the fast-acting antidepressant responses elicited by ketamine. We also show that selective neurotransmitter depletion from spontaneously recycling vesicles triggers synaptic potentiation via the same pathway as NMDAR blockade, demonstrating that presynaptic impairment of spontaneous release, without manipulation of evoked neurotransmission, is sufficient to elicit postsynaptic plasticity. These findings uncover an unexpectedly dynamic impact of spontaneous glutamate release on synaptic efficacy and provide new insight into a key synaptic substrate for rapid antidepressant action.

Studying brain organization via spontaneous fMRI signal

PubMed Central

Power, Jonathan D; Schlaggar, Bradley L; Petersen, Steven E

2014-01-01

In recent years, some substantial advances in understanding human (and non-human) brain organization have emerged from a relatively unusual approach: the observation of spontaneous activity, and correlated patterns in spontaneous activity, in the “resting” brain. Most commonly, spontaneous neural activity is measured indirectly via fMRI signal in subjects who are lying quietly in the scanner, the so-called “resting state”. This Primer introduces the fMRI-based study of spontaneous brain activity, some of the methodological issues active in the field, and some ways in which resting state fMRI has been used to delineate aspects of area-level and supra-areal brain organization. PMID:25459408

Ultimate concerns in late modernity: Archer, Bourdieu and reflexivity.

PubMed

Farrugia, David; Woodman, Dan

2015-12-01

Through a critique of Margaret Archer's theory of reflexivity, this paper explores the theoretical contribution of a Bourdieusian sociology of the subject for understanding social change. Archer's theory of reflexivity holds that conscious 'internal conversations' are the motor of society, central both to human subjectivity and to the 'reflexive imperative' of late modernity. This is established through critiques of Bourdieu, who is held to erase creativity and meaningful personal investments from subjectivity, and late modernity is depicted as a time when a 'situational logic of opportunity' renders embodied dispositions and the reproduction of symbolic advantages obsolete. Maintaining Archer's focus on 'ultimate concerns' in a context of social change, this paper argues that her theory of reflexivity is established through a narrow misreading and rejection of Bourdieu's work, which ultimately creates problems for her own approach. Archer's rejection of any pre-reflexive dimensions to subjectivity and social action leaves her unable to sociologically explain the genesis of 'ultimate concerns', and creates an empirically dubious narrative of the consequences of social change. Through a focus on Archer's concept of 'fractured reflexivity', the paper explores the theoretical necessity of habitus and illusio for understanding the social changes that Archer is grappling with. In late modernity, reflexivity is valorized just as the conditions for its successful operation are increasingly foreclosed, creating 'fractured reflexivity' emblematic of the complex contemporary interaction between habitus, illusio, and accelerating social change. © London School of Economics and Political Science 2015.

The Ultimate Factor of Safety for Aircraft and Spacecraft Its History, Applications and Misconceptions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zipay, John J.; Modlin, C. Thomas, Jr.; Larsen, Curtis E.

2016-01-01

The ultimate factor of safety (FOSULT) concept used in aircraft and spacecraft has evolved over many decades. Currently an FOSULT 1.5 is the FAR-mandated value for aircraft while an FOSULT of 1.4 has been used in various spacecraft. This paper was motivated by the desire to concisely explain the origins, proper interpretation and application of the ultimate factor of safety concept, since the authors have seen throughout their careers many misconceptions and incorrect applications of this concept. The history of the ultimate factor of safety concept is briefly summarized, the proper application of the factor of safety in aircraft design, structural analysis and operations is covered in detail, examples of limit load exceedance in aircraft and spacecraft are discussed, the evolution of the 1.4 FOSULT for spacecraft is described and some misconceptions regarding the ultimate factor of safety concept are addressed. It is hoped that this paper can be a summary resource for engineers to understand the origin, purpose and proper application of the ultimate factor of safety.

Formin like 1 expression is increased on CD4+ T lymphocytes in spontaneous autoimmune uveitis.

PubMed

Degroote, Roxane L; Uhl, Patrizia B; Amann, Barbara; Krackhardt, Angela M; Ueffing, Marius; Hauck, Stefanie M; Deeg, Cornelia A

2017-02-10

The membrane protein expression repertoire of cells changes in course of activation. In equine recurrent uveitis (ERU), a spontaneous autoimmune disease in horses with relapsing and ultimately blinding inner eye inflammation, CD4+ T lymphocytes are the crucial pathogenic cells activated in the periphery directly prior to an inflammatory episode. In order to find relevant changes in the membrane proteome associated to disease, we sorted CD4+ lymphocytes and compared protein abundance from the generated proteome datasets of both healthy horses and ERU cases. We detected formin like 1, a key player in actin dependent cellular processes such as phagocytosis, cell adhesion and cell migration, with significantly higher abundance in the CD4+ cell membrane proteome of horses with ERU. In transmigration experiments, we demonstrated higher migration rate of cells originating from diseased animals connecting formin like 1 to the migratory ability of cells. These findings are the first description of formin like 1 in association to processes involved in migration of inflammatory CD4+ T cells across the blood-retinal barrier in a spontaneous ocular autoimmune disease and suggest formin like 1 to play a role in the molecular mechanisms of ERU disease pathogenesis. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD005384. This comparative proteomic study of membrane proteins of CD4+ T cells identified a novel protein, formin like 1, with expression on the plasma cell membrane of equine CD4+ T cells and a significant change of abundance on CD4+ T cells of horses with a spontaneous autoimmune disease. Functional studies in a cell culture model for transmigration at the blood-retinal barrier (BRB) unraveled a strong impact of formin like 1 on migratory processes of CD4+ T cells across the BRB, a key event in uveitis pathogenesis. These findings provide novel knowledge about changes in the CD4+ immune cell membrane proteome in a spontaneously and naturally occurring

Ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction for determination of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole in wine samples by gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Fontana, Ariel R; Patil, Sangram H; Banerjee, Kaushik; Altamirano, Jorgelina C

2010-04-28

A fast and effective microextraction technique is proposed for preconcentration of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (2,4,6-TCA) from wine samples prior gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometric (GC-MS/MS) analysis. The proposed technique is based on ultrasonication (US) for favoring the emulsification phenomenon during the extraction stage. Several variables influencing the relative response of the target analyte were studied and optimized. Under optimal experimental conditions, 2,4,6-TCA was quantitatively extracted achieving enhancement factors (EF) > or = 400 and limits of detection (LODs) 0.6-0.7 ng L(-1) with relative standard deviations (RSDs) < or = 11.3%, when 10 ng L(-1) 2,4,6-TCA standard-wine sample blend was analyzed. The calibration graphs for white and red wine were linear within the range of 5-1000 ng L(-1), and estimation coefficients (r(2)) were > or = 0.9995. Validation of the methodology was carried out by standard addition method at two concentrations (10 and 50 ng L(-1)) achieving recoveries >80% indicating satisfactory robustness of the method. The methodology was successfully applied for determination of 2,4,6-TCA in different wine samples.

Ultimate dynamics of the Kirschner-Panetta model: Tumor eradication and related problems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Starkov, Konstantin E.; Krishchenko, Alexander P.

2017-10-01

In this paper we consider the ultimate dynamics of the Kirschner-Panetta model which was created for studying the immune response to tumors under special types of immunotherapy. New ultimate upper bounds for compact invariant sets of this model are given, as well as sufficient conditions for the existence of a positively invariant polytope. We establish three types of conditions for the nonexistence of compact invariant sets in the domain of the tumor-cell population. Our main results are two types of conditions for global tumor elimination depending on the ratio between the proliferation rate of the immune cells and their mortality rate. These conditions are described in terms of simple algebraic inequalities imposed on model parameters and treatment parameters. Our theoretical studies of ultimate dynamics are complemented by numerical simulation results.

Revisiting perceptions of quality of hospice care: managing for the ultimate referral.

PubMed

Churchman, Richard; York, Grady S; Woodard, Beth; Wainright, Charles; Rau-Foster, Mary

2014-08-01

Hospice services provided in the final months of life are delivered through complex interpersonal relationships between caregivers, patients, and families. Often, service value and quality are defined by these interpersonal interactions. This understanding provides hospice leaders with an enormous opportunity to create processes that provide the optimal level of care during the last months of life. The authors argue that the ultimate referral is attained when a family member observes the care of a loved one, and the family member conveys a desire to receive the same quality of services their loved one received at that facility. The point of this article is to provide evidence that supports the methods to ultimately enhance the patient's and family's experience and increase the potential for the ultimate referral. © The Author(s) 2013.

26 CFR 48.6427-10 - Kerosene; claims by registered ultimate vendors (blocked pumps).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 16 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Kerosene; claims by registered ultimate vendors... Administrative Provisions of Special Application to Retailers and Manufacturers Taxes § 48.6427-10 Kerosene... which certain registered ultimate vendors of taxed kerosene may claim the income tax credits or payments...

26 CFR 48.6427-10 - Kerosene; claims by registered ultimate vendors (blocked pumps).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 16 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Kerosene; claims by registered ultimate vendors... Administrative Provisions of Special Application to Retailers and Manufacturers Taxes § 48.6427-10 Kerosene... which certain registered ultimate vendors of taxed kerosene may claim the income tax credits or payments...

26 CFR 48.6427-10 - Kerosene; claims by registered ultimate vendors (blocked pumps).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 16 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Kerosene; claims by registered ultimate vendors... Administrative Provisions of Special Application to Retailers and Manufacturers Taxes § 48.6427-10 Kerosene... which certain registered ultimate vendors of taxed kerosene may claim the income tax credits or payments...

26 CFR 48.6427-10 - Kerosene; claims by registered ultimate vendors (blocked pumps).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 16 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 true Kerosene; claims by registered ultimate vendors... Administrative Provisions of Special Application to Retailers and Manufacturers Taxes § 48.6427-10 Kerosene... which certain registered ultimate vendors of taxed kerosene may claim the income tax credits or payments...

Spontaneous Scalarization: Dead or Alive?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berti, Emanuele; Crispino, Luis; Gerosa, Davide; Gualtieri, Leonardo; Horbatsch, Michael; Macedo, Caio; Okada da Silva, Hector; Pani, Paolo; Sotani, Hajime; Sperhake, Ulrich

2015-04-01

In 1993, Damour and Esposito-Farese showed that a wide class of scalar-tensor theories can pass weak-field gravitational tests and exhibit nonperturbative strong-field deviations away from General Relativity in systems involving neutron stars. These deviations are possible in the presence of ``spontaneous scalarization,'' a phase transition similar in nature to spontaneous magnetization in ferromagnets. More than twenty years after the original proposal, binary pulsar experiments have severely constrained the possibility of spontaneous scalarization occurring in nature. I will show that these experimental constraints have important implications for the torsional oscillation frequencies of neutron stars and for the so-called ``I-Love-Q'' relations in scalar-tensor theories. I will also argue that there is still hope to observe strong scalarization effects, despite the strong experimental bounds on the original mechanism. In particular, I will discuss two mechanisms that could produce strong scalarization in neutron stars: anisotropy and multiscalarization. This work was supported by NSF CAREER Award PHY-1055103.

Detection of target phonemes in spontaneous and read speech.

PubMed

Mehta, G; Cutler, A

1988-01-01

Although spontaneous speech occurs more frequently in most listeners' experience than read speech, laboratory studies of human speech recognition typically use carefully controlled materials read from a script. The phonological and prosodic characteristics of spontaneous and read speech differ considerably, however, which suggests that laboratory results may not generalise to the recognition of spontaneous speech. In the present study listeners were presented with both spontaneous and read speech materials, and their response time to detect word-initial target phonemes was measured. Responses were, overall, equally fast in each speech mode. However, analysis of effects previously reported in phoneme detection studies revealed significant differences between speech modes. In read speech but not in spontaneous speech, later targets were detected more rapidly than targets preceded by short words. In contrast, in spontaneous speech but not in read speech, targets were detected more rapidly in accented than in unaccented words and in strong than in weak syllables. An explanation for this pattern is offered in terms of characteristic prosodic differences between spontaneous and read speech. The results support claims from previous work that listeners pay great attention to prosodic information in the process of recognising speech.

Spontaneously Combustible Solids -- A Literature Search

DTIC Science & Technology

1975-05-01

Wasahizeon, D.* C. It. K(EY WORDS (Continue on reviers side It necesary and Identify by block number) Pyrophoric Materials Hazardous Materials...and Identify by block number) Existing information on spontaneously combustible solids including pyrophoric - air hazardous materials and water... pyrophoric -air hazardous and water reactive materials. All available hazard classification systems and test methods releting to spontaneous combustion have

Spontaneous closure of traumatic macular hole

PubMed Central

Sanjay, Srinivasan; Yeo, Tun Kuan; Au Eong, Kah-Guan

2012-01-01

Macular hole formation is a well-known complication following ocular trauma. Less commonly recognised is the spontaneous closure of such holes. A 27-year-old man presented with a history of blunt trauma to his left eye. Eye evaluation showed conjunctival laceration, diffuse retinal oedema and multiple retinal haemorrhages in that eye. A month later, he developed a full thickness macular hole. Two months later, there was spontaneous complete closure of the full-thickness macular hole in the left eye as confirmed on optical coherence tomography. Spontaneous closure of hole is not uncommon. Observation for a period of up to 12 months is a reasonable management option. Macular hole surgery for traumatic macular holes may be delayed in such cases. PMID:23961017

Spontaneous closure of traumatic macular hole.

PubMed

Sanjay, Srinivasan; Yeo, Tun Kuan; Au Eong, Kah-Guan

2012-07-01

Macular hole formation is a well-known complication following ocular trauma. Less commonly recognised is the spontaneous closure of such holes. A 27-year-old man presented with a history of blunt trauma to his left eye. Eye evaluation showed conjunctival laceration, diffuse retinal oedema and multiple retinal haemorrhages in that eye. A month later, he developed a full thickness macular hole. Two months later, there was spontaneous complete closure of the full-thickness macular hole in the left eye as confirmed on optical coherence tomography. Spontaneous closure of hole is not uncommon. Observation for a period of up to 12 months is a reasonable management option. Macular hole surgery for traumatic macular holes may be delayed in such cases.

7 CFR 4274.308 - Eligibility requirements-Ultimate recipients.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... making a loan to one of its members. (c) Any delinquent debt to the Federal Government by the ultimate... authority to incur the debt and carry out the purpose of the loan. (b) To be eligible to receive loans from... rates and terms. (4) Must, along with its principal officers (including their immediate family), hold no...

Spontaneous generation in medieval Jewish philosophy and theology.

PubMed

Gaziel, Ahuva

2012-01-01

The concept of life forms emerging from inanimate matter--spontaneous generation--was widely accepted until the nineteenth century. Several medieval Jewish scholars acknowledged this scientific theory in their philosophical and religious contemplations. Quite interestingly, it served to reinforce diverse, or even opposite, theological conclusions. One approach excluded spontaneously-generated living beings form the biblical account of creation or the story of the Deluge. Underlying this view is an understanding that organisms that generate spontaneously evolve continuously in nature and, therefore, do not require divine intervention in their formation or survival during disastrous events. This naturalistic position reduces the miraculous dimension of reality. Others were of the opinion that spontaneous generation is one of the extraordinary marvels exhibited in this world and, accordingly, this interpretation served to accentuate the divine aspect of nature. References to spontaneous generation also appear in legal writings, influencing practical applications such as dietary laws and actions forbidden on the Sabbath.

Individual differences in physiological flexibility predict spontaneous avoidance.

PubMed

Aldao, Amelia; Dixon-Gordon, Katherine L; De Los Reyes, Andres

2016-08-01

People often regulate their emotions by resorting to avoidance, a putatively maladaptive strategy. Prior work suggests that increased psychopathology symptoms predict greater spontaneous utilisation of this strategy. Extending this work, we examined whether heightened resting cardiac vagal tone (which reflects a general ability to regulate emotions in line with contextual demands) predicts decreased spontaneous avoidance. In Study 1, greater resting vagal tone was associated with reduced spontaneous avoidance in response to disgust-eliciting pictures, beyond anxiety and depression symptoms and emotional reactivity. In Study 2, resting vagal tone interacted with anxiety and depression symptoms to predict spontaneous avoidance in response to disgust-eliciting film clips. The positive association between symptoms and spontaneous avoidance was more pronounced among participants with reduced resting vagal tone. Thus, increased resting vagal tone might protect against the use of avoidance. Our findings highlight the importance of assessing both subjective and biological processes when studying individual differences in emotion regulation.

Ultimate computing. Biomolecular consciousness and nano Technology

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

Hameroff, S.R.

1987-01-01

The book advances the premise that the cytoskeleton is the cell's nervous system, the biological controller/computer. If indeed cytoskeletal dynamics in the nanoscale (billionth meter, billionth second) are the texture of intracellular information processing, emerging ''NanoTechnologies'' (scanning tunneling microscopy, Feynman machines, von Neumann replicators, etc.) should enable direct monitoring, decoding and interfacing between biological and technological information devices. This in turn could result in important biomedical applications and perhaps a merger of mind and machine: Ultimate Computing.

Association study of estrogen receptor alpha gene polymorphisms with spontaneous abortion: is this a possible reason for unexplained spontaneous abortion?

PubMed

Anousha, Negin; Hossein-Nezhad, Arash; Biramijamal, Firouzeh; Rahmani, Ali; Maghbooli, Zhila; Aghababaei, Elahe; Nemati, Shahram

2013-01-01

Estrogen plays a crucial role in fetal and placental development through estrogen receptors. Association of estrogen receptor alpha gene (ESR1) polymorphisms with spontaneous abortion has been shown in some studies. Our main goal was to study the potential association of spontaneous abortion with the ESR1 gene variations (PvuII and XbaI) in fetal tissue. Totally, 161 samples were recruited including 80 samples of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded fetal tissue from spontaneous abortion and 81 samples of normal term placental tissue. The restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method was performed for genotyping the rs2234693 (A/G XbaI) and rs9340799 (T/C PvuII) single nucleotide polymorphisms located in intron 1 of ESR1. The results have been confirmed by DNA sequencing analysis. The different genotypes distribution was detected in two study groups. Haplotype analysis indicated that ppxx is protective genotype against spontaneous abortion (P = 0.01). In conclusion, the potential role of ESR1 genetic variation in spontaneous abortion might be valuable in high-risk subjects, and that needs to be confirmed with future studies.

Association Study of Estrogen Receptor Alpha Gene Polymorphisms with Spontaneous Abortion: Is This a Possible Reason for Unexplained Spontaneous Abortion?

PubMed Central

Anousha, Negin; Hossein-Nezhad, Arash; Biramijamal, Firouzeh; Rahmani, Ali; Maghbooli, Zhila; Aghababaei, Elahe; Nemati, Shahram

2013-01-01

Estrogen plays a crucial role in fetal and placental development through estrogen receptors. Association of estrogen receptor alpha gene (ESR1) polymorphisms with spontaneous abortion has been shown in some studies. Our main goal was to study the potential association of spontaneous abortion with the ESR1 gene variations (PvuII and XbaI) in fetal tissue. Totally, 161 samples were recruited including 80 samples of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded fetal tissue from spontaneous abortion and 81 samples of normal term placental tissue. The restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method was performed for genotyping the rs2234693 (A/G XbaI) and rs9340799 (T/C PvuII) single nucleotide polymorphisms located in intron 1 of ESR1. The results have been confirmed by DNA sequencing analysis. The different genotypes distribution was detected in two study groups. Haplotype analysis indicated that ppxx is protective genotype against spontaneous abortion (P = 0.01). In conclusion, the potential role of ESR1 genetic variation in spontaneous abortion might be valuable in high-risk subjects, and that needs to be confirmed with future studies. PMID:24228243

Studying brain organization via spontaneous fMRI signal.

PubMed

Power, Jonathan D; Schlaggar, Bradley L; Petersen, Steven E

2014-11-19

In recent years, some substantial advances in understanding human (and nonhuman) brain organization have emerged from a relatively unusual approach: the observation of spontaneous activity, and correlated patterns in spontaneous activity, in the "resting" brain. Most commonly, spontaneous neural activity is measured indirectly via fMRI signal in subjects who are lying quietly in the scanner, the so-called "resting state." This Primer introduces the fMRI-based study of spontaneous brain activity, some of the methodological issues active in the field, and some ways in which resting-state fMRI has been used to delineate aspects of area-level and supra-areal brain organization. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Shared risk aversion in spontaneous and induced abortion.

PubMed

Catalano, Ralph; Bruckner, Tim A; Karasek, Deborah; Adler, Nancy E; Mortensen, Laust H

2016-05-01

Does the incidence of spontaneous abortion correlate positively over conception cohorts with the incidence of non-clinically indicated induced abortion as predicted by shared risk aversion? We find that the number of spontaneous and non-clinically indicated induced abortions correlates in conception cohorts, suggesting that risk aversion affects both the conscious and non-conscious mechanisms that control parturition. Much literature speculates that natural selection conserved risk aversion because the trait enhanced Darwinian fitness. Risk aversion, moreover, supposedly influences all decisions including those that individuals can and cannot report making. We argue that these circumstances, if real, would manifest in conscious and non-conscious decisions to invest in prospective offspring, and therefore affect incidence of induced and spontaneous abortion over time. Using data from Denmark, we test the hypothesis that monthly conception cohorts yielding unexpectedly many non-clinically indicated induced abortions also yield unexpectedly many spontaneous abortions. The 180 month test period (January 1995 through December 2009), yielded 1 351 800 gestations including 156 780 spontaneous as well as 233 280 induced abortions 9100 of which were clinically indicated. We use Box-Jenkins transfer functions to adjust the incidence of spontaneous and non-clinically indicated induced abortions for autocorrelation (including seasonality), cohort size, and fetal as well as gestational anomalies over the 180-month test period. We use cross-correlation to test our hypothesized association. We find a positive association between spontaneous and non-clinically indicated induced abortions. This suggests, consistent with our theory, that mothers of conception cohorts that yielded more spontaneous abortions than expected opted more frequently than expected for non-clinically indicated induced abortion. Limitations of our work include that even the world's best registration system

Cursed lamp: the problem of spontaneous abortion.

PubMed

Simkulet, William

2017-08-09

Many people believe human fetuses have the same moral status as adult human persons, that it is wrong to allow harm to befall things with this moral status, and thus voluntary, induced abortion is seriously morally wrong. Recently, many prochoice theorists have argued that this antiabortion stance is inconsistent; approximately 60% of human fetuses die from spontaneous abortion, far more than die from induced abortion, so if antiabortion theorists really believe that human fetuses have significant moral status, they have strong moral obligations to oppose spontaneous abortion. Yet, few antiabortion theorists devote any effort to doing so. Many prochoice theorists argue that to resolve this inconsistency, antiabortion theorists should abandon their opposition to induced abortion. Here, I argue that those who do not abandon their opposition to induced abortion but continue to neglect spontaneous abortion act immorally. Aristotle argues that moral responsibility requires both control and awareness; I argue that once an antiabortion theorist becomes aware of the frequency of spontaneous abortion, they have a strong moral obligation to redirect their efforts towards combating spontaneous abortion; failure to do so is morally monstrous. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Spontaneous sensorimotor coupling with multipart music.

PubMed

Hurley, Brian K; Martens, Peter A; Janata, Petr

2014-08-01

Music often evokes spontaneous movements in listeners that are synchronized with the music, a phenomenon that has been characterized as being in "the groove." However, the musical factors that contribute to listeners' initiation of stimulus-coupled action remain unclear. Evidence suggests that newly appearing objects in auditory scenes orient listeners' attention, and that in multipart music, newly appearing instrument or voice parts can engage listeners' attention and elicit arousal. We posit that attentional engagement with music can influence listeners' spontaneous stimulus-coupled movement. Here, 2 experiments-involving participants with and without musical training-tested the effect of staggering instrument entrances across time and varying the number of concurrent instrument parts within novel multipart music on listeners' engagement with the music, as assessed by spontaneous sensorimotor behavior and self-reports. Experiment 1 assessed listeners' moment-to-moment ratings of perceived groove, and Experiment 2 examined their spontaneous tapping and head movements. We found that, for both musically trained and untrained participants, music with more instruments led to higher ratings of perceived groove, and that music with staggered instrument entrances elicited both increased sensorimotor coupling and increased reports of perceived groove. Although untrained participants were more likely to rate music as higher in groove, trained participants showed greater propensity for tapping along, and they did so more accurately. The quality of synchronization of head movements with the music, however, did not differ as a function of training. Our results shed new light on the relationship between complex musical scenes, attention, and spontaneous sensorimotor behavior.

Cholesterol blocks spontaneous insertion of membrane proteins into liposomes of phosphatidylcholine.

PubMed

Nakamura, Shota; Suzuki, Sonomi; Saito, Hiroaki; Nishiyama, Ken-Ichi

2018-04-01

Spontaneous insertion of membrane proteins into liposomes formed from Escherichia coli polar phospholipids is blocked by diacylglycerol (DAG) at a physiological level. We found that cholesterol also blocks this spontaneous insertion, although a much larger amount is necessary for sufficient blockage. Reversely, sphingomyelin enhanced the spontaneous insertion. DAG at a physiological level was found not to block spontaneous insertion into liposomes formed from phosphatidylcholine (PC), while non-physiologically high concentrations of DAG reduced it. On the other hand, cholesterol blocked the spontaneous insertion into PC liposomes at a physiological level, explaining that both PC and cholesterol are absent in E. coli. While sphingomyelin did not enhance spontaneous insertion into PC liposomes, the effect of cholesterol on blockage of spontaneous insertion was dominant over that of sphingomyelin, suggesting that cholesterol functions as a blocker of disordered spontaneous insertion in eukaryotic cells. Lower amount of cholesterol was necessary to block spontaneous insertion into ER-mimic liposomes, explaining that ER membranes contain less amount of cholesterol. These results also explain that cholesterol, but not DAG, is involved in blockage of spontaneous insertion in eukaryotic cells, since DAG plays an important role as a second messenger in signal transduction.

Spontaneous polyploidization in cucumber.

PubMed

Ramírez-Madera, Axel O; Miller, Nathan D; Spalding, Edgar P; Weng, Yiqun; Havey, Michael J

2017-07-01

This is the first quantitative estimation of spontaneous polyploidy in cucumber and we detected 2.2% polyploids in a greenhouse study. We provide evidence that polyploidization is consistent with endoreduplication and is an on-going process during plant growth. Cucumber occasionally produces polyploid plants, which are problematic for growers because these plants produce misshaped fruits with non-viable seeds. In this study, we undertook the first quantitative study to estimate the relative frequency of spontaneous polyploids in cucumber. Seeds of recombinant inbred lines were produced in different environments, plants were grown in the field and greenhouse, and flow cytometry was used to establish ploidies. From 1422 greenhouse-grown plants, the overall relative frequency of spontaneous polyploidy was 2.2%. Plants possessed nuclei of different ploidies in the same leaves (mosaic) and on different parts of the same plant (chimeric). Our results provide evidence of endoreduplication and polysomaty in cucumber, and that it is an on-going and dynamic process. There was a significant effect (p = 0.018) of seed production environment on the occurrence of polyploid plants. Seed and seedling traits were not accurate predictors of eventual polyploids, and we recommend that cucumber producers rogue plants based on stature and leaf serration to remove potential polyploids.

[Spontaneous hemothorax revealing Wegener's vasculitis in a pregnant woman].

PubMed

Serhane, Hind; Yassine, Msougar; Amro, Lamyae

2016-01-01

Spontaneous hemothorax is a rare condition. Its causes are multiple but sometimes they remain unknown. In some patients, thoracotomy may be the only means to determine hemothorax origin. Vasculitis have not been reported as a common cause of spontaneous hemothorax. Pregnancy does not appear to have causal or aggravating effect on spontaneous hemothorax or on vasculitis. We here report the peculiar case of a young patient presenting during pregnancy with spontaneous hemothorax secondary to Wegener's vasculitis. The latter was diagnosed by pleural biopsy performed during exploratory thoracotomy and confirmed by ANCA assays.

The ultimate efficiency of photosensitive systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Buoncristiani, A. M.; Byvik, C. E.; Smith, B. T.

1981-01-01

These systems have in common two important but not independent features: they can produce a storable fuel, and they are sensitive only to radiant energy with a characteristic absorption spectrum. General analyses of the conversion efficiencies were made using the operational characteristics of each particular system. An efficiency analysis of a generalized system consisting of a blackbody source, a radiant energy converter having a threshold energy and operating temperature, and a reservoir is reported. This analysis is based upon the first and second laws of thermodynamics, and leads to a determination of the limiting or ultimate efficiency for an energy conversion system having a characteristic threshold.

Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking in Nonrelativistic Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Watanabe, Haruki

The subject of condensed matter physics is very rich --- there are an infinite number of parameters producing a diversity of exciting phenomena. As a theorist, my goal is to distill general principles out of this complexity --- to construct theories that can coherently explain many known examples altogether. This thesis is composed of several attempts to develop such theories in topics related to spontaneously symmetry breaking. A remarkable feature of many-body interacting systems is that although they are described by equations respecting various symmetries, they may spontaneously organize into a state that explicitly breaks symmetries. Examples are numerous: various types of crystalline and magnetic orders, Bose-Einstein condensates of cold atoms, superfluids of liquid helium, chiral symmetry in QCD, neutron stars, and cosmic inflation. These systems with spontaneously broken continuous symmetries have gapless excitations, so called Nambu-Goldstone bosons (NGBs). Although the properties of NGBs are well understood in Lorentz-invariant systems, surprisingly, some basic properties of NGBs such as their number and dispersion in nonrelativistic systems have not been discussed from a general perspective. In the first part of this thesis, we solve this issue by developing and analyzing an effective Lagrangian that coherently captures the low-energy, long-distance physics of many different symmetry-breaking states all at once. Next, we examine whether these NGBs originating from spontaneous symmetry breaking remain to be well-defined excitations inside a metal, where low-energy electrons near Fermi surface can collide with them. Our result is a one equation criterion that specifies whether the interactions between electrons and NGBs can be ignored, or whether it completely changes their character. In the latter case, unusual phases of matter such as non-Fermi liquids may arise; in that case, NGBs are overdamped and cannot form particle-like excitations in spite of the

NSAIDs and spontaneous abortions – true effect or an indication bias?

PubMed Central

Daniel, Sharon; Koren, Gideon; Lunenfeld, Eitan; Levy, Amalia

2015-01-01

Aim The aim of the study was to characterize the extent of indication bias resulting from the excessive use of NSAIDs on the days preceding a spontaneous abortion to relieve pain. Methods We used data from a retrospective cohort study assessing the risk for spontaneous abortions following exposure to NSAIDs. Three definitions of exposure for cases of spontaneous abortions were compared, from the first day of pregnancy until the day of spontaneous abortion and until 3 and 2 days before a spontaneous abortion. Statistical analysis was performed using multivariate time programmed Cox regression. Results A sharp increase was observed in the dispensation of indomethacin, diclofenac and naproxen, and a milder increase was found in the use of ibuprofen during the week before a spontaneous abortion. Non- selective COX inhibitors in general and specifically diclofenac and indomethacin were found to be associated with spontaneous abortions when the exposure period was defined until the day of spontaneous abortion (hazard ratio (HR) 1.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04, 1.28; HR 1.31, 95% CI 1.08, 1.59 and HR 3.33, 95% CI 2.09, 5.29, respectively). The effect disappears by excluding exposures occurring on the day before the spontaneous abortion for non-selective COX inhibitors and on the last week before the spontaneous abortion for indomethacin. In general, decreasing HRs were found with the exclusion of exposures occurring on the days immediately before the spontaneous abortion. Conclusions The increased use of NSAIDs during the last few days that preceded a spontaneous abortion to relieve pain associated with the miscarriage could bias studies assessing the association between exposure to NSAIDs and spontaneous abortions. PMID:25858169

Children's Spontaneous Vocalisations during Play: Aesthetic Dimensions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Countryman, June; Gabriel, Martha; Thompson, Katherine

2016-01-01

This paper explores the phenomenon of spontaneous vocalisations in the self-chosen, unstructured outdoor play of children aged 3-12. Spontaneous vocalisations encompass the whole range of children's unprompted, natural, expressive vocal soundings beyond spoken language. Non-participant observations at childcare centres and on elementary school…

Lunar Cycle Influences Spontaneous Delivery in Cows

PubMed Central

Yonezawa, Tomohiro; Uchida, Mona; Tomioka, Michiko; Matsuki, Naoaki

2016-01-01

There is a popular belief that the lunar cycle influences spontaneous delivery in both humans and cattle. To assess this relationship, we investigated the synodic distribution of spontaneous deliveries in domestic Holstein cows. We used retrospective data from 428 spontaneous, full-term deliveries within a three-year period derived from the calving records of a private farm in Hokkaido, Japan. Spontaneous birth frequency increased uniformly from the new moon to the full moon phase and decreased until the waning crescent phase. There was a statistically significant peak between the waxing gibbous and full moon phases compared with those between the last quarter and the waning crescent. These changes were clearly observed in deliveries among multiparous cows, whereas they were not evident in deliveries among nulliparous cows. These data suggest the utility of dairy cows as models for bio-meteorological studies, and indicate that monitoring lunar phases may facilitate comprehensive understanding of parturition. PMID:27580019

Language does not come "in boxes": Assessing discrepancies between adverse drug reactions spontaneous reporting and MedDRA® codes in European Portuguese.

PubMed

Inácio, Pedro; Airaksinen, Marja; Cavaco, Afonso

2015-01-01

The description of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) by health care professionals (HCPs) can be highly variable. This variation can affect the coding of a reaction with the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA(®)), the gold standard for pharmacovigilance database entries. Ultimately, the strength of a safety signal can be compromised. The objective of this study was to assess: 1) participation of different HCPs in ADR reporting, and 2) variation of language used by HCPs when describing ADRs, and to compare it with the corresponding MedDRA(®) codes. A retrospective content analysis was performed, using the database of spontaneous reports submitted by HCPs in the region of the Southern Pharmacovigilance Unit, Portugal. Data retrieved consisted of the idiomatic description of all ADRs occurring in 2004 (first year of the Unit activity, n = 53) and in 2012 (n = 350). The agreement between the language used by HCPs and the MedDRA(®) dictionary codes was quantitatively assessed. From a total of 403 spontaneous reports received in the two years, 896 words describing ADRs were collected. HCPs presented different levels of pharmacovigilance participation and ADR idiomatic descriptions, with pharmacists providing the greatest overall contribution. The agreement between the language used in spontaneous reports and the corresponding MedDRA(®) terms varied by HCP background, with nurses presenting the poorer results than medical doctors and pharmacists when considering the dictionary as the gold standard in ADRs' language. Lexical accuracy and semantic variations exist between different HCP groups. These differences may interfere with the strength of a generated safety signal. Clinical and MedDRA(®) terminology training should be targeted to increase not only the frequency, but also the quality of spontaneous reports, in accordance with HCPs' experience and background. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

75 FR 76746 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Declaration of Ultimate Consignee That Articles Were...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-12-09

... Activities: Declaration of Ultimate Consignee That Articles Were Exported for Temporary Scientific or... That Articles Were Exported for Temporary Scientific or Educational Purposes. This is a proposed... forms of information. Title: Declaration of Ultimate Consignee That Articles Were Exported for Temporary...

Leaky synapses: Regulation of spontaneous neurotransmission in central synapses

PubMed Central

Wasser, Catherine R.; Kavalali, Ege T.

2009-01-01

The mechanisms underlying spontaneous neurotransmitter release are not well understood. Under physiological as well as pathophysiological circumstances, spontaneous fusion events can set the concentration of ambient levels of neurotransmitter within the synaptic cleft and in the extracellular milieu. In the brain, unregulated release of excitatory neurotransmitters, exacerbated during pathological conditions such as stroke, can lead to neuronal damage and death. In addition, recent findings suggest that under physiological circumstances spontaneous release events can trigger postsynaptic signaling events independent of evoked neurotransmitter release. Therefore, elucidation of mechanisms underlying spontaneous neurotransmission may help us better understand the functional significance of this form of release and provide tools for its selective manipulation. For instance, our recent investigations indicate that the level of cholesterol in the synapse plays a critical role in limiting spontaneous synaptic vesicle fusion. Therefore, alterations in synaptic cholesterol metabolism can be a critical determinant of glutamatergic neurotransmission at rest. This article aims to provide a closer look into our current understanding of the mechanisms underlying spontaneous neurotransmission and the signaling triggered by these unitary release events. PMID:18434032

Functionally Equivalent Variants in a Non-standard Variety and Their Implications for Universal Grammar: A Spontaneous Speech Corpus.

PubMed

Leivada, Evelina; Papadopoulou, Elena; Pavlou, Natalia

2017-01-01

Findings from the field of experimental linguistics have shown that a native speaker may judge a variant that is part of her grammar as unacceptable, but still use it productively in spontaneous speech. The process of eliciting acceptability judgments from speakers of non-standard languages is sometimes clouded by factors akin to prescriptive notions of grammatical correctness. It has been argued that standardization enhances the ability to make clear-cut judgments, while non-standardization may result to grammatical hybridity, often manifested in the form of functionally equivalent variants in the repertoire of a single speaker. Recognizing the importance of working with corpora of spontaneous speech, this work investigates patterns of variation in the spontaneous production of five neurotypical, adult speakers of a non-standard variety in terms of three variants, each targeting one level of linguistic analysis: syntax, morphology, and phonology. The results reveal the existence of functionally equivalent variants across speakers and levels of analysis. We first discuss these findings in relation to the notions of competing, mixed, and fused grammars, and then we flesh out the implications that different values of the same variant carry for parametric approaches to Universal Grammar. We observe that intraspeaker realizations of different values of the same variant within the same syntactic environment are incompatible with the 'triggering-a-single-value' approach of parametric models, but we argue that they are compatible with the concept of Universal Grammar itself. Since the analysis of these variants is ultimately a way of investigating the status of Universal Grammar primitives, we conclude that claims about the alleged unfalsifiability of (the contents of) Universal Grammar are unfounded.

Functionally Equivalent Variants in a Non-standard Variety and Their Implications for Universal Grammar: A Spontaneous Speech Corpus

PubMed Central

Leivada, Evelina; Papadopoulou, Elena; Pavlou, Natalia

2017-01-01

Findings from the field of experimental linguistics have shown that a native speaker may judge a variant that is part of her grammar as unacceptable, but still use it productively in spontaneous speech. The process of eliciting acceptability judgments from speakers of non-standard languages is sometimes clouded by factors akin to prescriptive notions of grammatical correctness. It has been argued that standardization enhances the ability to make clear-cut judgments, while non-standardization may result to grammatical hybridity, often manifested in the form of functionally equivalent variants in the repertoire of a single speaker. Recognizing the importance of working with corpora of spontaneous speech, this work investigates patterns of variation in the spontaneous production of five neurotypical, adult speakers of a non-standard variety in terms of three variants, each targeting one level of linguistic analysis: syntax, morphology, and phonology. The results reveal the existence of functionally equivalent variants across speakers and levels of analysis. We first discuss these findings in relation to the notions of competing, mixed, and fused grammars, and then we flesh out the implications that different values of the same variant carry for parametric approaches to Universal Grammar. We observe that intraspeaker realizations of different values of the same variant within the same syntactic environment are incompatible with the ‘triggering-a-single-value’ approach of parametric models, but we argue that they are compatible with the concept of Universal Grammar itself. Since the analysis of these variants is ultimately a way of investigating the status of Universal Grammar primitives, we conclude that claims about the alleged unfalsifiability of (the contents of) Universal Grammar are unfounded. PMID:28790953

Optimization and Prediction of Ultimate Tensile Strength in Metal Active Gas Welding.

PubMed

Ampaiboon, Anusit; Lasunon, On-Uma; Bubphachot, Bopit

2015-01-01

We investigated the effect of welding parameters on ultimate tensile strength of structural steel, ST37-2, welded by Metal Active Gas welding. A fractional factorial design was used for determining the significance of six parameters: wire feed rate, welding voltage, welding speed, travel angle, tip-to-work distance, and shielded gas flow rate. A regression model to predict ultimate tensile strength was developed. Finally, we verified optimization of the process parameters experimentally. We achieved an optimum tensile strength (558 MPa) and wire feed rate, 19 m/min, had the greatest effect, followed by tip-to-work distance, 7 mm, welding speed, 200 mm/min, welding voltage, 30 V, and travel angle, 60°. Shield gas flow rate, 10 L/min, was slightly better but had little effect in the 10-20 L/min range. Tests showed that our regression model was able to predict the ultimate tensile strength within 4%.

Familial spontaneous pneumothorax in three generations and its HLA.

PubMed

Yamada, Akitoshi; Takeda, Yoshitaka; Hayashi, Satoru; Shimizu, Kazuta

2003-09-01

We experienced a case of familial spontaneous pneumothorax in three generations. Six of 13 family members had episodes of spontaneous pneumothorax. It is well established that there are some diseases associated with human leukocyte antigen (HLA). We performed HLA phenotyping for HLA of A, B and C. In our study, we detected the HLA haplotype A2, B61 in three of 4 who had episodes of spontaneous pneumothorax. The HLA haplotype A2, B70 were also detected in three of 4 who had episodes. This suggests that familial spontaneous pneumothorax might have hereditary factors.

Individual differences in spontaneous analogical transfer.

PubMed

Kubricht, James R; Lu, Hongjing; Holyoak, Keith J

2017-05-01

Research on analogical problem solving has shown that people often fail to spontaneously notice the relevance of a semantically remote source analog when solving a target problem, although they are able to form mappings and derive inferences when given a hint to recall the source. Relatively little work has investigated possible individual differences that predict spontaneous transfer, or how such differences may interact with interventions that facilitate transfer. In this study, fluid intelligence was measured for participants in an analogical problem-solving task, using an abridged version of the Raven's Progressive Matrices (RPM) test. In two experiments, we systematically compared the effect of augmenting verbal descriptions of the source with animations or static diagrams. Solution rates to Duncker's radiation problem were measured across varying source presentation conditions, and participants' understanding of the relevant source material was assessed. The pattern of transfer was best fit by a moderated mediation model: the positive impact of fluid intelligence on spontaneous transfer was mediated by its influence on source comprehension; however, this path was in turn modulated by provision of a supplemental animation via its influence on comprehension of the source. Animated source depictions were most beneficial in facilitating spontaneous transfer for those participants with low scores on the fluid intelligence measure.

Spontaneous Remission of Nephrotic Syndrome in Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy

PubMed Central

Polanco, Natalia; Gutiérrez, Elena; Covarsí, Adelardo; Ariza, Francisco; Carreño, Agustín; Vigil, Ana; Baltar, José; Fernández-Fresnedo, Gema; Martín, Carmen; Pons, Salvador; Lorenzo, Dolores; Bernis, Carmen; Arrizabalaga, Pilar; Fernández-Juárez, Gema; Barrio, Vicente; Sierra, Milagros; Castellanos, Ines; Espinosa, Mario; Rivera, Francisco; Oliet, Aniana; Fernández-Vega, Francisco

2010-01-01

Spontaneous remission is a well known characteristic of idiopathic membranous nephropathy, but contemporary studies describing predictors of remission and long-term outcomes are lacking. We conducted a retrospective, multicenter cohort study of 328 patients with nephrotic syndrome resulting from idiopathic membranous nephropathy that initially received conservative therapy. Spontaneous remission occurred in 104 (32%) patients: proteinuria progressively declined after diagnosis until remission of disease at 14.7 ± 11.4 months. Although spontaneous remission was more frequent with lower levels of baseline proteinuria, it also frequently occurred in patients with massive proteinuria: 26% among those with baseline proteinuria 8 to 12 g/24 h and 22% among those with proteinuria >12 g/24 h. Baseline serum creatinine and proteinuria, treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor antagonists, and a >50% decline of proteinuria from baseline during the first year of follow-up were significant independent predictors for spontaneous remission. Only six patients (5.7%) experienced a relapse of nephrotic syndrome. The incidence of death and ESRD were significantly lower among patients with spontaneous remission. In conclusion, spontaneous remission is common among patients with nephrotic syndrome resulting from membranous nephropathy and carries a favorable long-term outcome with a low incidence of relapse. A decrease in proteinuria >50% from baseline during the first year predicts spontaneous remission. PMID:20110379

Spontaneous Grammar Explanations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tjoo, Hong Sing; Lewis, Marilyn

1998-01-01

Describes one New Zealand university language teacher's reflection on her own grammar explanations to university-level students of Bahasa Indonesian. Examines form-focused instruction through the teacher's spontaneous answers to students' questions about the form of the language they are studying. The teacher's experiences show that it takes time…

Spontaneous obliteration of spontaneous vertebral arteriovenous fistula associated with fibromuscular dysplasia after partial surgery: A case report.

PubMed

Iampreechakul, Prasert; Siriwimonmas, Somkiet

2016-12-01

We describe a patient with spontaneous obliteration of spontaneous vertebral arteriovenous fistula (VAVF) associated with fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) after partial surgery. A 52-year-old hypertensive female woke up one morning with left shoulder pain and weakness of the left upper extremity. A few days later, she developed left-sided audible bruit. She was treated for left frozen shoulder and supportive treatment for audible bruit for four years. She was referred from her general physician to a neurosurgeon because of left arm weakness. Physical examination showed signs of cervical radiculomyelopathy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an extradural mass on the left side of the cervical spinal canal from level C2 to C6. Provisional diagnosis was epidural vascular tumour. Laminectomy and partial removal of the mass was performed at level C5 to C6. Pathological report revealed suspected vascular malformation. Postoperative MRI showed thrombosed epidural vascular structure. Angiography showed dysplastic changes of both vertebral arteries representing FMD with VAVF of the left vertebral artery at level C1-C2. Two years after surgery, follow-up MRI demonstrated complete spontaneous resolution of the large thrombosed epidural vein. Disappearance of her audible bruit immediately after surgery and gradual improvement of her cervical radiculomyelopathy were observed after two years of clinical follow-up. From the literature, we found another 11 patients with 12 VAVFs who had spontaneous obliteration or cure of their fistulas. In the present case, spontaneous obliteration of the fistula seems to correlate with surgery inducing closure of the epidural venous exit leading to thrombosis of the enlarged epidural draining vein. © The Author(s) 2016.

Effect of load eccentricity and substructure deformation on ultimate strength of shuttle orbiter thermal protection system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sawyer, J. W.

1981-01-01

The effect of load eccentricity and substructure deformation on the ultimate strength and stress displacement properties of the shuttle orbiter thermal protection system (TPS) was determined. The LI-900 Reusable Surface Insulation (RSI) tiles mounted on the .41 cm thick Strain Isolator Pad (SIP) were investigated. Substructure deformations reduce the ultimate strength of the SIP/tile TPS and increase the scatter in the ultimate strength data. Substructure deformations that occur unsymmetric to the tile can cause the tile to rotate when subjected to a uniform applied load. Load eccentricity reduces SIP/tile TPS ultimate strength and causes tile rotation.

Cholinergic Interneurons Underlie Spontaneous Dopamine Release in Nucleus Accumbens

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

The release of dopamine from terminals in the NAc is regulated by a number of factors, including voltage-gated ion channels, D2-autoreceptors, and nAChRs. Cholinergic interneurons (CINs) drive dopamine release through activation of nAChRs on dopamine terminals. Using cyclic voltammetry in mouse brain slices, nAChR-dependent spontaneous dopamine transients and the mechanisms underlying the origin were examined in the NAc. Spontaneous events were infrequent (0.3 per minute), but the rate and amplitude were increased after blocking Kv channels with 4-aminopyridine. Although the firing frequency of CINs was increased by blocking glutamate reuptake with TBOA and the Sk blocker apamin, only 4-aminopyridine increased the frequency of dopamine transients. In contrast, inhibition of CIN firing with the μ/δ selective opioid [Met5]enkephalin (1 μm) decreased spontaneous dopamine transients. Cocaine increased the rate and amplitude of dopamine transients, suggesting that the activity of the dopamine transporter limits the detection of these events. In the presence of cocaine, the rate of spontaneous dopamine transients was further increased after blocking D2-autoreceptors. Blockade of muscarinic receptors had no effect on evoked dopamine release, suggesting that feedback inhibition of acetylcholine release was not involved. Thus, although spontaneous dopamine transients are reliant on nAChRs, the frequency was not strictly governed by the activity of CINs. The increase in frequency of spontaneous dopamine transients induced by cocaine was not due to an increase in cholinergic tone and is likely a product of an increase in detection resulting from decreased dopamine reuptake. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The actions of dopamine in the NAc are thought to be responsible for endogenous reward and the reinforcing properties of drugs of abuse, such as psychostimulants. The present work examines the mechanisms underlying nAChR-induced spontaneous dopamine release. This study

Spontaneous Hedonic Reactions to Social Media Cues.

PubMed

van Koningsbruggen, Guido M; Hartmann, Tilo; Eden, Allison; Veling, Harm

2017-05-01

Why is it so difficult to resist the desire to use social media? One possibility is that frequent social media users possess strong and spontaneous hedonic reactions to social media cues, which, in turn, makes it difficult to resist social media temptations. In two studies (total N = 200), we investigated less-frequent and frequent social media users' spontaneous hedonic reactions to social media cues using the Affect Misattribution Procedure-an implicit measure of affective reactions. Results demonstrated that frequent social media users showed more favorable affective reactions in response to social media (vs. control) cues, whereas less-frequent social media users' affective reactions did not differ between social media and control cues (Studies 1 and 2). Moreover, the spontaneous hedonic reactions to social media (vs. control) cues were related to self-reported cravings to use social media and partially accounted for the link between social media use and social media cravings (Study 2). These findings suggest that frequent social media users' spontaneous hedonic reactions in response to social media cues might contribute to their difficulties in resisting desires to use social media.

Spontaneous auricular seroma.

PubMed

Crowley, T P; Jones, A P; Milner, R H

2012-09-01

We present a case of spontaneous seroma of the ear, which can be encountered in the plastic surgery clinic. We describe our management and briefly review the literature regarding this interesting condition. Copyright © 2012 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Regions of absolute ultimate boundedness for discrete-time systems.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Siljak, D. D.; Weissenberger, S.

1972-01-01

This paper considers discrete-time systems of the Lur'e-Postnikov class where the linear part is not asymptotically stable and the nonlinear characteristic satisfies only partially the usual sector condition. Estimates of the resulting finite regions of absolute ultimate boundedness are calculated by means of a quadratic Liapunov function.

The Ultimate Sampling Dilemma in Experience-Based Decision Making

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fiedler, Klaus

2008-01-01

Computer simulations and 2 experiments demonstrate the ultimate sampling dilemma, which constitutes a serious obstacle to inductive inferences in a probabilistic world. Participants were asked to take the role of a manager who is to make purchasing decisions based on positive versus negative feedback about 3 providers in 2 different product…

Wilderness education: The ultimate commitment to quality wilderness stewardship

Treesearch

Gregory F. Hansen; Tom Carlson

2007-01-01

The effective planning, implementation, and monitoring of a wilderness education program will ultimately produce measurable results that can be instrumental in achieving wilderness management goals and objectives. This paper will provide a simple step-by-step overview of how to develop and maintain a successful wilderness education program through planning,...

Plasma folate levels and risk of spontaneous abortion.

PubMed

George, Lena; Mills, James L; Johansson, Anna L V; Nordmark, Anna; Olander, Bodil; Granath, Fredrik; Cnattingius, Sven

2002-10-16

Both folate deficiency and folic acid supplements have been reported to increase the risk of spontaneous abortion. The results are inconclusive, however, and measurements of folate have not been available in all studies. To study the association between plasma folate levels and the risk of spontaneous abortion. Population-based, matched, case-control study of case women with spontaneous abortion and control women from January 1996 through December 1998 in Uppsala County, Sweden. Plasma folate measurements were available for 468 cases and 921 controls at 6 to 12 gestational weeks. Risk of spontaneous abortion vs maternal plasma folate level. Compared with women with plasma folate levels between 2.20 and 3.95 ng/mL (5.0 and 8.9 nmol/L), women with low (< or =2.19 ng/mL [< or =4.9 nmol/L]) folate levels were at increased risk of spontaneous abortion (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-2.14), whereas women with higher folate levels (3.96-6.16 ng/mL [9.0-13.9 nmol/L] and > or =6.17 ng/mL [> or =14.0 nmol/L]) showed no increased risk of spontaneous abortion (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.59-1.20; and OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.47-1.16, respectively). Low folate levels were associated with a significantly increased risk when the fetal karyotype was abnormal (OR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.09-3.48) but not when the fetal karyotype was normal (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.55-2.24) or unknown (OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 0.90-2.33). Low plasma folate levels were associated with an increased risk of early spontaneous abortion.

Effect of rotation preference on spontaneous alternation behavior on Y maze and introduction of a new analytical method, entropy of spontaneous alternation.

PubMed

Bak, Jia; Pyeon, Hae-In; Seok, Jin-I; Choi, Yun-Sik

2017-03-01

Y maze has been used to test spatial working memory in rodents. To this end, the percentage of spontaneous alternation has been employed. Alternation indicates sequential entries into all three arms; e.g., when an animal visits all three arms clockwise or counterclockwise sequentially, alternation is achieved. Interestingly, animals have a tendency to rotate or turn to a preferred side. Thus, when an animal has a high rotation preference, this may influence their alternation behavior. Here, we have generated a new analytical method, termed entropy of spontaneous alternation, to offset the effect of rotation preference on Y maze. To validate the entropy of spontaneous alternation, we employed a free rotation test using a cylinder and a spatial working memory test on Y maze. We identified that mice showed 65.1% rotation preference on average. Importantly, the percentage of spontaneous alternation in the high preference group (more than 70% rotation to a preferred side) was significantly higher than that in the no preference group (<55%). In addition, there was a clear correlation between rotation preference on cylinder and turning preference on Y maze. On the other hand, this potential leverage effect that arose from rotation preference disappeared when the animal behavior on Y maze was analyzed with the entropy of spontaneous alternation. Further, entropy of spontaneous alternation significantly determined the loss of spatial working memory by scopolamine administration. Combined, these data indicate that the entropy of spontaneous alternation provides higher credibility when spatial working memory is evaluated using Y maze. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Spontaneous thigh hematoma associated with diclofenac.

PubMed

Salemis, Nikolaos S

2009-01-01

Spontaneous nongastrointestinal bleeding in patients treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is an extremely rare occurrence. Herein, the case of a 60-year-old woman with severe bilateral hip osteoarthritis treated with diclofenac sodium, who presented with manifestations of a spontaneous hematoma of the right thigh, is described. There was no history of trauma or family history of bleeding disorder. Thorough investigation excluded a hemorrhagic disorder. The patient was treated conservatively with success and was advised to discontinue diclofenac.

Spontaneous breathing during lung-protective ventilation in an experimental acute lung injury model: high transpulmonary pressure associated with strong spontaneous breathing effort may worsen lung injury.

PubMed

Yoshida, Takeshi; Uchiyama, Akinori; Matsuura, Nariaki; Mashimo, Takashi; Fujino, Yuji

2012-05-01

We investigated whether potentially injurious transpulmonary pressure could be generated by strong spontaneous breathing and exacerbate lung injury even when plateau pressure is limited to <30 cm H2O. Prospective, randomized, animal study. University animal research laboratory. Thirty-two New Zealand White rabbits. Lavage-injured rabbits were randomly allocated to four groups to receive low or moderate tidal volume ventilation, each combined with weak or strong spontaneous breathing effort. Inspiratory pressure for low tidal volume ventilation was set at 10 cm H2O and tidal volume at 6 mL/kg. For moderate tidal volume ventilation, the values were 20 cm H2O and 7-9 mL/kg. The groups were: low tidal volume ventilation+spontaneous breathingweak, low tidal volume ventilation+spontaneous breathingstrong, moderate tidal volume ventilation+spontaneous breathingweak, and moderate tidal volume ventilation+spontaneous breathingstrong. Each group had the same settings for positive end-expiratory pressure of 8 cm H2O. Respiratory variables were measured every 60 mins. Distribution of lung aeration and alveolar collapse were histologically evaluated. Low tidal volume ventilation+spontaneous breathingstrong showed the most favorable oxygenation and compliance of respiratory system, and the best lung aeration. By contrast, in moderate tidal volume ventilation+spontaneous breathingstrong, the greatest atelectasis with numerous neutrophils was observed. While we applied settings to maintain plateau pressure at <30 cm H2O in all groups, in moderate tidal volume ventilation+spontaneous breathingstrong, transpulmonary pressure rose >33 cm H2O. Both minute ventilation and respiratory rate were higher in the strong spontaneous breathing groups. Even when plateau pressure is limited to <30 cm H2O, combined with increased respiratory rate and tidal volume, high transpulmonary pressure generated by strong spontaneous breathing effort can worsen lung injury. When spontaneous breathing is

Spontaneous passage of long, sharp gastrointestinal foreign body in a child.

PubMed

Karthikeyan, Vilvapathy Senguttuvan; Ansari, Mohammed Gaffoor; Suresh, Ramasamy; Easwaran, Bettaiyagowder

2015-01-19

Foreign body (FB) ingestion is a common problem in children. Up to 90% of these FBs pass spontaneously. FBs reaching the stomach usually pass out spontaneously. Exceptions to this spontaneous passage include a long FB that cannot cross the pylorus, duodenum or ileocaecal junction. We present a case of a 9-year boy who accidentally ingested a long paper pin, which spontaneously passed in 26 h. This case is being reported to highlight the successful spontaneous passage of a 4 cm long sharp foreign body in a child. 2015 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.

Reduced Design Load Basis for Ultimate Blade Loads Estimation in Multidisciplinary Design Optimization Frameworks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pavese, Christian; Tibaldi, Carlo; Larsen, Torben J.; Kim, Taeseong; Thomsen, Kenneth

2016-09-01

The aim is to provide a fast and reliable approach to estimate ultimate blade loads for a multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) framework. For blade design purposes, the standards require a large amount of computationally expensive simulations, which cannot be efficiently run each cost function evaluation of an MDO process. This work describes a method that allows integrating the calculation of the blade load envelopes inside an MDO loop. Ultimate blade load envelopes are calculated for a baseline design and a design obtained after an iteration of an MDO. These envelopes are computed for a full standard design load basis (DLB) and a deterministic reduced DLB. Ultimate loads extracted from the two DLBs with the two blade designs each are compared and analyzed. Although the reduced DLB supplies ultimate loads of different magnitude, the shape of the estimated envelopes are similar to the one computed using the full DLB. This observation is used to propose a scheme that is computationally cheap, and that can be integrated inside an MDO framework, providing a sufficiently reliable estimation of the blade ultimate loading. The latter aspect is of key importance when design variables implementing passive control methodologies are included in the formulation of the optimization problem. An MDO of a 10 MW wind turbine blade is presented as an applied case study to show the efficacy of the reduced DLB concept.

Psychiatric symptoms and pregnancy distress in subsequent pregnancy after spontaneous abortion history.

PubMed

Haghparast, Elahe; Faramarzi, Mahbobeh; Hassanzadeh, Ramezan

2016-01-01

Spontaneous abortion is one of the most important complications of pregnancy with short and long adverse psychological effects on women. This study assesses the implications of a spontaneous abortion history has on women's psychiatric symptoms and pregnancy distress in subsequent pregnancy less than one years after spontaneous abortion. A case-control study was conducted on pregnant women of Babol city from September 2014 to May 2015. In this study, 100 pregnant women with spontaneous abortion history during a year ago and 100 pregnant women without spontaneous abortion history were enrolled. All the participants in two groups completed the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), and pregnancy Distress Questionnaire (PDQ). Women with spontaneous abortion history had significantly higher mean of many subscales of SCL-90 (depression, anxiety, somatization, obsessive-compulsiveness, interpersonal sensitivity, psychoticism, hostility, paranoid, and Global Severity Index) more than women without spontaneous abortion history. Also, women with spontaneous abortion history had significantly higher mean of two subscales of PDQ concerns about birth and the baby, concerns about emotions and relationships) and total PDQ more than women without spontaneous abortion history. Pregnant women with less than a year after spontaneous abortion history are at risk of psychiatric symptoms and pregnancy distress more than controls. This study supports those implications for planning the post spontaneous abortion psychological care for women, especially women who wanted to be pregnant during 12 month after spontaneous abortion.

Psychiatric symptoms and pregnancy distress in subsequent pregnancy after spontaneous abortion history

PubMed Central

Haghparast, Elahe; Faramarzi, Mahbobeh; Hassanzadeh, Ramezan

2016-01-01

Objectives: Spontaneous abortion is one of the most important complications of pregnancy with short and long adverse psychological effects on women. This study assesses the implications of a spontaneous abortion history has on women’s psychiatric symptoms and pregnancy distress in subsequent pregnancy less than one years after spontaneous abortion. Methods: A case-control study was conducted on pregnant women of Babol city from September 2014 to May 2015. In this study, 100 pregnant women with spontaneous abortion history during a year ago and 100 pregnant women without spontaneous abortion history were enrolled. All the participants in two groups completed the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), and pregnancy Distress Questionnaire (PDQ). Results: Women with spontaneous abortion history had significantly higher mean of many subscales of SCL-90 (depression, anxiety, somatization, obsessive-compulsiveness, interpersonal sensitivity, psychoticism, hostility, paranoid, and Global Severity Index) more than women without spontaneous abortion history. Also, women with spontaneous abortion history had significantly higher mean of two subscales of PDQ concerns about birth and the baby, concerns about emotions and relationships) and total PDQ more than women without spontaneous abortion history. Conclusion: Pregnant women with less than a year after spontaneous abortion history are at risk of psychiatric symptoms and pregnancy distress more than controls. This study supports those implications for planning the post spontaneous abortion psychological care for women, especially women who wanted to be pregnant during 12 month after spontaneous abortion. PMID:27882001

Ultimate Load Behaviour of Reinforced Concrete Beam with Corroded Reinforcement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kanchana Devi, A.; Ramajaneyulu, K.; Sundarkumar, S.; Ramesh, G.; Bharat Kumar, B. H.; Krishna Moorthy, T. S.

2017-12-01

Corrosion of reinforcement reduces the load carrying capacity, energy dissipation and ductility of Reinforced Concrete (RC) members. In the present study, reinforcements of RC beam are subjected to 10, 25, and 30% corrosion and the respective RC beams are tested to evaluate their ultimate load behaviour. A huge drop in energy dissipation capacity of the RC beam is observed beyond the corrosion level of 10%. Further, nonlinear finite element analysis is employed to assess the load-displacement behaviour and ultimate load of RC beam. The corrosion induced damage to the reinforcement is represented in the finite element model by modifying its mechanical properties based on the results reported in the literature. The resultant load versus displacement curves of reinforced concrete beams are obtained. Good correlation is observed between the finite element analysis results and that obtained from experimental investigation on the control beam. The experimental results are also compared with the finite element analysis results for RC beams with corroded reinforcement. In order to understand the effect of corrosion on the mechanical properties of reinforcement, the corroded reinforcements are modelled in nonlinear finite element analysis by (i) reducing the area of reinforcement alone (ii) by reducing both area and mechanical properties and (iii) reducing the mechanical properties without reducing the area of steel as reported in literature. The results obtained for the beam with corroded reinforcement confirms reduction in yield stress and ultimate stress of the reinforcement steel.

Ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction combined with injection-port derivatization for the determination of some chlorophenoxyacetic acids in water samples.

PubMed

Yamini, Yadollah; Saleh, Abolfazl

2013-07-01

An efficient method based on ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction followed by injection-port derivatization GC analysis was developed to determine 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) in natural water samples. In this procedure, 12.5 μL of 1-undecanol was injected slowly into a 12 mL home-designed centrifuge glass vial containing an aqueous sample of the analytes located inside an ultrasonic water bath. The resulting emulsion was centrifuged, and 1 μL of the separated organic solvent together with 1 μL of the derivatization reagent were injected into a GC equipped with a flame ionization detector. Several factors that influence the derivatization and extraction were optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the LODs were 0.33 and 1.7 μg/L for MCPA and 2,4-D, respectively. Preconcentration factors of 670 and 836 were obtained for MCPA and 2,4-D, respectively. The precision of the proposed method was evaluated in terms of repeatability, which was <5.7% (n = 5). The applicability of the proposed method was evaluated by extraction and determination of chlorophenoxyacetic acids from some natural waters, which indicated that the matrices of natural waters have no significant effect on the extraction and derivatization efficiency of this method. © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Flow Friction or Spontaneous Ignition?

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stoltzfus, Joel M.; Gallus, Timothy D.; Sparks, Kyle

2012-01-01

"Flow friction," a proposed ignition mechanism in oxygen systems, has proved elusive in attempts at experimental verification. In this paper, the literature regarding flow friction is reviewed and the experimental verification attempts are briefly discussed. Another ignition mechanism, a form of spontaneous combustion, is proposed as an explanation for at least some of the fire events that have been attributed to flow friction in the literature. In addition, the results of a failure analysis performed at NASA Johnson Space Center White Sands Test Facility are presented, and the observations indicate that spontaneous combustion was the most likely cause of the fire in this 2000 psig (14 MPa) oxygen-enriched system.

A novel ionic amphiphilic chitosan derivative as a stabilizer of nanoemulsions: Improvement of antimicrobial activity of Cymbopogon citratus essential oil.

PubMed

Bonferoni, Maria Cristina; Sandri, Giuseppina; Rossi, Silvia; Usai, Donatella; Liakos, Ioannis; Garzoni, Alice; Fiamma, Maura; Zanetti, Stefania; Athanassiou, Athanassia; Caramella, Carla; Ferrari, Franca

2017-04-01

Amphiphilic chitosans have been recently proposed to improve delivery of poorly soluble drugs. In the present paper a derivative obtained by ionic interaction between chitosan and oleic acid was for the first time studied to physically stabilize o/w nanoemulsions of an antimicrobial essential oil, Cymbopogon citratus (Lemongrass), in a low energy and mild conditions emulsification process. The novel combination of spontaneous emulsification process with chitosan oleate amphiphilic properties resulted in a stable dispersion of a few hundred nanometer droplets. Positive zeta potential confirmed the presence of a chitosan shell around the oil droplets, which is responsible for the nanoemulsion physical stabilization and for the maintenance of chitosan bioactive properties, such as mucoadhesion. Cytotoxicity test was performed on four different cell lines (HEp-2, Caco-2, WKD and McCoy cells) showing biocompatibility of the system. The maintenance and in some cases even a clear improvement in the essential oil antimicrobial activity towards nine bacterial and ten fungal strains, all of clinical relevance was verified for Lemongrass nanoemulsion. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Association between Ureaplasma urealyticum endocervical infection and spontaneous abortion.

PubMed

Ahmadi, Amjad; Khodabandehloo, Mazaher; Ramazanzadeh, Rashid; Farhadifar, Fariba; Nikkhoo, Bahram; Soofizade, Nasrin; Rezaii, Masoome

2014-12-01

Ureaplasma urealyticum can colonize women genital tract and be isolated from the amniotic fluid of women with adverse pregnancy outcomes. The association of U. urealyticum with spontaneous abortion remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of U. urealyticum infection among pregnant women and its association with spontaneous abortion. In this case-control study we included 109 women with spontaneous abortion with gestation age between 10-20 weeks (Cases), and 109 women with normal pregnancy with gestation age between 20-30 weeks (Controls) in Sanandaj, Iran. Using specific primers and extracted DNA from endocervical swabs, a PCR test was conducted for detection of U. urealyticum in both women groups. Total prevalence of U. urealyticum infection in women was 26 out of 218 cases (11.92%). The prevalence of U. urealyticum infection was 18 out of 109 (16.5%) and 8 out of 109 (7.3%) in case (spontaneous abortion) and control groups, respectively. Using chi-square test, association between U. urealyticum infection and spontaneous abortion was statistically significant (P<0.05). Colonization of U. urealyticum in genital tract of women, and its asymptomatic feature in combination with other factors such as other microorganisms or cervical incompetence may induce spontaneous abortion. Further studies are needed to confirm this possibility.

49 Stories That Make an Ultimate STEM Lesson Plan

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mehta, Swati; Mehta, Rohit; Berzina-Pitcher, Inese; Seals, Christopher; Mishra, Punya

2016-01-01

In this paper we reviewed what 49 large urban public school district STEM teachers enrolled in a year-long graduate certificate and fellowship program at a large Midwestern university considered as their amazing teaching moments. They were asked to share their amazing teaching moments that would make an Ultimate Lesson Plan in STEM. In smaller…

Ultimate Gradient Limitation in Niobium Superconducting Accelerating Cavities

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

Checchin, Mattia; Grassellino, Anna; Martinello, Martina

2016-06-01

The present study is addressed to the theoretical description of the ultimate gradient limitation in SRF cavities. Our intent is to exploit experimental data to confirm models which provide feed-backs on how to improve the current state-of-art. New theoretical insight on the cavities limiting factor can be suitable to improve the quench field of N-doped cavities, and therefore to take advantage of high Q 0 at high gradients.

Preparation of Nanoemulsions by Premix Membrane Emulsification: Which Parameters Have a Significant Influence on the Resulting Particle Size?

PubMed

Gehrmann, Sandra; Bunjes, Heike

2017-08-01

Oil-in-water emulsions with particle sizes smaller than 200 nm are interesting carrier systems for poorly water-soluble drugs. Such emulsions can be produced by premix membrane emulsification. In this study, it was systematically investigated which process and formulation parameters have a strong influence on the resulting quality of a triglyceride emulsion. The influence of the pre-emulsion quality and the emulsifier concentration was examined. Also a design of experiments (DoE) approach was carried out: variables included were emulsifier (poloxamer 188, Tween 80, and sucrose laurate [SL]), flow rate, cycle number, and membrane material (polyester, nylon, cellulose acetate, and aluminum oxide; pore sizes, 200 nm), and responses were d 50 value and span for particle size and distribution width. The quality of the pre-emulsion had no influence on the quality of the nanoemulsion after 5 extrusion cycles. The DoE evaluation indicated that an increase in flow rate was of minor importance, whereas an increase in cycle number had a strong impact on the decrease of particle size. The very hydrophilic alumina membrane in combination with the emulsifier which caused the lowest interfacial tension (SL) was the most suitable combination. However, in general, the favorable emulsifier was membrane dependent. Even smaller particle sizes (∼100 nm) could be achieved by using an alumina membrane with smaller pore sizes (100 nm). Copyright © 2017 American Pharmacists Association®. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Manipulation of spontaneous emission in a tapered photonic crystal fibre

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Myers, S. J.; Fussell, D. P.; Dawes, J. M.; Mägi, E.; McPhedran, R. C.; Eggleton, B. J.; de Sterke, C. Martijn

2006-12-01

We characterize the spontaneous emission of dye that is introduced into the central core of a tapered photonic crystal fiber. Since the photonic crystal period in the fibre cladding varies along the taper, the transmission and spontaneous emission spectra over a wide range of relative frequencies can be observed. The spontaneous emission spectra of the fibre transverse to the fiber axis show suppression due to partial band-gaps of the structure, and also enhancement of spontaneous emission near the band edges. We associate these with van Hove features, as well as finite cluster size effects.

Spontaneous Hemothorax Caused by Pulmonary Micro-Venous Hemangioma.

PubMed

Homma, Takahiro; Yamamoto, Yutaka; Imura, Johji; Doki, Yoshinori; Yoshimura, Naoki; Senda, Kazutaka; Toge, Masayoshi; Ojima, Toshihiro; Shimada, Yoshifumi; Masawa, Nobuhide

2015-07-01

Various etiologies of spontaneous hemothorax have been reported, though the cause remains unidentified in some patients despite an exploratory thoracotomy. We report on an 89-year-old man with spontaneous hemothorax resolved by partial resection of the lung using complete video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. The histopathologic findings revealed a ruptured micro-venous hemangioma located just below the bleeding visceral pleura. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of spontaneous hemothorax caused by a pulmonary micro-venous hemangioma. Copyright © 2015 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Novel folliculin (FLCN) mutation and familial spontaneous pneumothorax.

PubMed

Zhu, J-F; Shen, X-Q; Zhu, F; Tian, L

2017-01-01

Familial spontaneous pneumothorax is one of the characteristics of Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHDS), which is an autosomal dominant disease caused by the mutation of folliculin (FLCN). To investigate the mutation of FLCN gene in a familial spontaneous pneumothorax. Prospective case study. Clinical and genetic data of a Chinese family with four patients who presented spontaneous pneumothorax in the absence of skin lesions or renal tumors were collected. CT scan of patient's lung was applied for observation of pneumothorax. DNA sequencing of the coding exons (4-14 exons) of FLCN was performed for all 11 members of the family and 100 unrelated healthy controls. CT scan of patient's lung showed spontaneous pneumothorax. A mutation (c. 510C > G) that leads to a premature stop codon (p. Y170X) was found in the proband using DNA sequencing of coding exons (4-14 exons) of FLCN. This mutation was also observed in the other affected members of the family. A nonsense mutation of FLCN was found in a spontaneous pneumothorax family. Our results expand the mutational spectrum of FLCN in patients with BHDS. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Association of Physicians. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Cholesterol-dependent balance between evoked and spontaneous synaptic vesicle recycling

PubMed Central

Wasser, Catherine R; Ertunc, Mert; Liu, Xinran; Kavalali, Ege T

2007-01-01

Cholesterol is a prominent component of nerve terminals. To examine cholesterol's role in central neurotransmission, we treated hippocampal cultures with methyl-β-cyclodextrin, which reversibly binds cholesterol, or mevastatin, an inhibitor of cholesterol biosynthesis, to deplete cholesterol. We also used hippocampal cultures from Niemann-Pick type C1-deficient mice defective in intracellular cholesterol trafficking. These conditions revealed an augmentation in spontaneous neurotransmission detected electrically and an increase in spontaneous vesicle endocytosis judged by horseradish peroxidase uptake after cholesterol depletion by methyl-β-cyclodextrin. In contrast, responses evoked by action potentials and hypertonicity were severely impaired after the same treatments. The increase in spontaneous vesicle recycling and the decrease in evoked neurotransmission were reversible upon cholesterol addition. Cholesterol removal did not impact on the low level of evoked neurotransmission seen in the absence of synaptic vesicle SNARE protein synaptobrevin-2 whereas the increase in spontaneous fusion remained. These results suggest that synaptic cholesterol balances evoked and spontaneous neurotransmission by hindering spontaneous synaptic vesicle turnover and sustaining evoked exo-endocytosis. PMID:17170046

Is curettage needed for uncomplicated incomplete spontaneous abortion?

PubMed

Ballagh, S A; Harris, H A; Demasio, K

1998-11-01

Spontaneous abortion occurs in 15% to 20% of all human pregnancies. Since the late 1800s, the management of incomplete spontaneous abortion has focused on using curettage to empty the uterus as quickly as possible. This practice began to reduce blood loss and infection and has been unquestioned for 4 decades. In today's medical climate, few spontaneous abortions are the resuslt of illegal manipulation, given the availability of legal pregnancy termination. Antibiotics and transfusions are available, should complications arise in conservatively managed cases. Two prospective randomized trials suggest that conservative management may be advantageous for women who have stable vital signs without evidence of infection. They will have fewer perforations and, possibly, fewer infections and uterine synechiae with expectant or medical management. Larger trials should be undertaken to critically assess surgical evacuation compared to medical management, factoring in the psychologic impact of treatment. We believe that medical management will prove to be the most appropriate treatment for uncomplicated spontaneous incomplete abortion in the 21st century.

Multiple proximate and ultimate causes of natal dispersal in white-tailed deer

USGS Publications Warehouse

Long, E.S.; Diefenbach, D.R.; Rosenberry, C.S.; Wallingford, B.D.

2008-01-01

Proximate and ultimate causes of dispersal in vertebrates vary, and relative importance of these causes is poorly understood. Among populations, inter- and intrasexual social cues for dispersal are thought to reduce inbreeding and local mate competition, respectively, and specific emigration cue may affect dispersal distance, such that inbreeding avoidance dispersal tends to be farther than dispersal to reduce local competition. To investigate potential occurrence of multiple proximate and ultimate causes of dispersal within populations, we radio-marked 363 juvenile male white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in 2 study areas in Pennsylvania. Natal dispersal probability and distance were monitored over a 3-year period when large-scale management changes reduced density of adult females and increased density of adult males. Most dispersal (95-97%) occurred during two 12-week periods: spring, when yearling males still closely associate with related females, and prior to fall breeding season, when yearling males closely associate with other breeding-age males. Following changes to sex and age structure that reduced potential for inbreeding and increased potential for mate competition, annual dispersal probability did not change; however, probability of spring dispersal decreased, whereas probability of fall dispersal increased. Spring dispersal distances were greater than fall dispersal distances, suggesting that adaptive inbreeding avoidance dispersal requires greater distance than mate competition dispersal where opposite-sex relatives are philopatric and populations are not patchily distributed. Both inbreeding avoidance and mate competition are important ultimate causes of dispersal of white-tailed deer, but ultimate motivations for dispersal are proximately cued by different social mechanisms and elicit different responses in dispersers.

Ultrasound-Assisted Emulsification Microextraction Based on Solidification Floating Organic Drop Trace Amounts of Manganese Prior to Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry Determination

PubMed Central

Mohadesi, Alireza; Falahnejad, Masoumeh

2012-01-01

In the present study, an ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction based on solidification floating organic drop method is described for preconcentration of trace amounts of Mn (II). 2-(5-Bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5 diethylaminophenol was added to a solution of Mn+2 at ph = 10.0. After this, 1-undecanol was added to the solution as an extraction solvent, and solution was stirred. Several factors influencing the microextraction efficiency, such as pH, the amount of chelating agent, nature and volume of extraction solvent, the volume of sample solution, stirring rate, and extraction time were investigated and optimized. Then sample vial was cooled by inserting into an ice bath, and the solidified was transferred into a suitable vial for immediate melting. Finally the sample was injected into a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Under the optimum condition the linear dynamic range was 0.50–10.0 ng mL−1 with a correlation coefficient of 0.9926, and the detection limit of 0.3 ng mL−1 was obtained. The enrichment factor was 160. The proposed method was successfully applied for separation and determination of manganese in sea, rain, tap, and river water samples. PMID:22645504

Thoracoscopic modified pleural tent for spontaneous pneumothorax.

PubMed

Kawachi, Riken; Matsuwaki, Rie; Tachibana, Keisei; Karita, Shin; Nakazato, Yoko; Tanaka, Ryota; Nagashima, Yasushi; Takei, Hidefumi; Kondo, Haruhiko

2016-08-01

We developed a modified pleural tent (m-tent) procedure and used it in our hospital in almost 30 consecutive patients with spontaneous pneumothorax. The objective of this study was to clarify the feasibility and effectiveness of a thoracoscopic m-tent for the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax. From July 2013 to November 2014, 107 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax were treated in our institution. Eighty-nine of these patients were analysed retrospectively. The inclusion criteria for thoracoscopic m-tent for spontaneous pneumothorax were multiple and widespread bullae, postoperative relapse and secondary spontaneous pneumothorax. The surgical procedures were usually performed through three ports. After bullectomy, an m-tent is made to strip the parietal pleura off the chest wall from about the level of the fourth or fifth rib to the apex, and two or three ligations are then applied to fix the pleural tent and lung parenchyma. Patients in whom an m-tent was not indicated underwent bullectomy plus coverage using absorbable materials. Twenty-seven patients underwent bullectomy plus m-tent (m-tent group) and 62 underwent bullectomy plus coverage over a staple line using an absorbable material such as a polyglycolic acid sheet or nitrocellulose sheet (coverage group). No severe postoperative complications were observed in either group. The m-tent and coverage groups showed significant differences in operation time (129 vs 86 min, mean), haemorrhage (12.8 vs 7.2 ml), postoperative hospital stay (3.7 vs 2.9 days) and postoperative painkiller intake (8.6 vs 6.8 days). Recurrence was observed in 1 (3.7%) and 2 patients (3.2%), respectively. The thoracoscopic m-tent procedure requires a longer operation, a longer hospital stay and greater painkiller intake. However, these differences are acceptable, and an m-tent should be considered as an option for pleural reinforcement in spontaneous pneumothorax, especially in patients who are complicated with severe pulmonary

[Bacterial vaginosis and spontaneous preterm birth].

PubMed

Brabant, G

2016-12-01

To determine if bacterial vaginosis is a marker for risk of spontaneous preterm delivery and if its detection and treatment can reduce this risk. Consultation of the database Pubmed/Medline, Science Direct, and international guidelines of medical societies. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a dysbiosis resulting in an imbalance in the vaginal flora through the multiplication of anaerobic bacteria and jointly of a disappearance of well-known protective Lactobacilli. His diagnosis is based on clinical Amsel criteria and/or a Gram stain with establishment of the Nugent score. The prevalence of the BV extraordinarily varies according to ethnic and/or geographical origin (4-58 %), in France, it is close to 7 % in the first trimester of pregnancy (EL2). The link between BV and spontaneous premature delivery is low with an odds ratio between 1.5 and 2 in the most recent studies (EL3). Metronidazole or clindamycin is effective to treat BV (EL3). It is recommended to prescribe one of these antibiotics in the case of symptomatic BV (Professional Consensus). The testing associated with the treatment of BV in the global population showed no benefit in the prevention of the risk of spontaneous preterm delivery (EL2). Concerning low-risk asymptomatic population (defined by the absence of antecedent of premature delivery), it has been failed profit to track and treat the BV in the prevention of the risk of spontaneous preterm delivery (EL1). Concerning the high-risk population (defined by a history of preterm delivery), it has been failed profit to track and treat the VB in the prevention of the risk of spontaneous preterm delivery (EL3). However, in the sub population of patients with a history of preterm delivery occurred in a context of materno-fetal bacterial infection, there may be a benefit to detect and treat early and systematically genital infection, and in particular the BV (Professional Consensus). The screening and treatment of BV during pregnancy in asymptomatic low

Magnetism, superconductivity, and spontaneous orbital order in iron-based superconductors: Which comes first and why?

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

Chubukov, Andrey V.; Khodas, M.; Fernandes, Rafael M.

Magnetism and nematic order are the two nonsuperconducting orders observed in iron-based superconductors. To elucidate the interplay between them and ultimately unveil the pairing mechanism, several models have been investigated. In models with quenched orbital degrees of freedom, magnetic fluctuations promote stripe magnetism, which induces orbital order. In models with quenched spin degrees of freedom, charge fluctuations promote spontaneous orbital order, which induces stripe magnetism. Here, we develop an unbiased approach, in which we treat magnetic and orbital fluctuations on equal footing. Key to our approach is the inclusion of the orbital character of the low-energy electronic states into renormalizationmore » group (RG) analysis. We analyze the RG flow of the couplings and argue that the same magnetic fluctuations, which are known to promote s ± superconductivity, also promote an attraction in the orbital channel, even if the bare orbital interaction is repulsive. We next analyze the RG flow of the susceptibilities and show that, if all Fermi pockets are small, the system first develops a spontaneous orbital order, then s ± superconductivity, and magnetic order does not develop down to T=0. We argue that this scenario applies to FeSe. In systems with larger pockets, such as BaFe 2As 2 and LaFeAsO, we find that the leading instability is either towards a spin-density wave or superconductivity. We argue that in this situation nematic order is caused by composite spin fluctuations and is vestigial to stripe magnetism. Finally, our results provide a unifying description of different iron-based materials.« less

Magnetism, superconductivity, and spontaneous orbital order in iron-based superconductors: Which comes first and why?

DOE PAGES

Chubukov, Andrey V.; Khodas, M.; Fernandes, Rafael M.

2016-12-02

Magnetism and nematic order are the two nonsuperconducting orders observed in iron-based superconductors. To elucidate the interplay between them and ultimately unveil the pairing mechanism, several models have been investigated. In models with quenched orbital degrees of freedom, magnetic fluctuations promote stripe magnetism, which induces orbital order. In models with quenched spin degrees of freedom, charge fluctuations promote spontaneous orbital order, which induces stripe magnetism. Here, we develop an unbiased approach, in which we treat magnetic and orbital fluctuations on equal footing. Key to our approach is the inclusion of the orbital character of the low-energy electronic states into renormalizationmore » group (RG) analysis. We analyze the RG flow of the couplings and argue that the same magnetic fluctuations, which are known to promote s ± superconductivity, also promote an attraction in the orbital channel, even if the bare orbital interaction is repulsive. We next analyze the RG flow of the susceptibilities and show that, if all Fermi pockets are small, the system first develops a spontaneous orbital order, then s ± superconductivity, and magnetic order does not develop down to T=0. We argue that this scenario applies to FeSe. In systems with larger pockets, such as BaFe 2As 2 and LaFeAsO, we find that the leading instability is either towards a spin-density wave or superconductivity. We argue that in this situation nematic order is caused by composite spin fluctuations and is vestigial to stripe magnetism. Finally, our results provide a unifying description of different iron-based materials.« less

Spontaneous Gamma Activity in Schizophrenia.

PubMed

Hirano, Yoji; Oribe, Naoya; Kanba, Shigenobu; Onitsuka, Toshiaki; Nestor, Paul G; Spencer, Kevin M

2015-08-01

A major goal of translational neuroscience is to identify neural circuit abnormalities in neuropsychiatric disorders that can be studied in animal models to facilitate the development of new treatments. Oscillations in the gamma band (30-100 Hz) of the electroencephalogram have received considerable interest as the basic mechanisms underlying these oscillations are understood, and gamma abnormalities have been found in schizophrenia (SZ). Animal models of SZ based on hypofunction of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) demonstrate increased spontaneous broadband gamma power, but this phenomenon has not been identified clearly in patients with SZ. To examine spontaneous gamma power and its relationship to evoked gamma oscillations in the auditory cortex of patients with SZ. We performed a cross-sectional study including 24 patients with chronic SZ and 24 matched healthy control participants at the Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System from January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2012. Electroencephalograms were obtained during auditory steady-state stimulation at multiple frequencies (20, 30, and 40 Hz) and during a resting state in 18 participants in each group. Electroencephalographic activity in the auditory cortex was estimated using dipole source localization. Auditory steady-state response (ASSR) measures included the phase-locking factor and evoked power. Spontaneous gamma power was measured as induced (non-phase-locked) gamma power in the ASSR data and as total gamma power in the resting-state data. The ASSR phase-locking factor was reduced significantly in patients with SZ compared with controls for the 40-Hz stimulation (mean [SD], 0.075 [0.028] vs 0.113 [0.065]; F1,46 = 6.79 [P = .012]) but not the 20- or the 30-Hz stimulation (0.042 [0.038] vs 0.043 [0.034]; F1,46 = 0.006 [P = .938] and 0.084 [0.040] vs 0.098 [0.050]; F1,46 = 1.605 [P = .212], respectively), repeating previous findings. The mean [SD] broadband-induced (30

Getting “Just Deserts” or Seeing the “Silver Lining”: The Relation between Judgments of Immanent and Ultimate Justice

PubMed Central

Harvey, Annelie J.; Callan, Mitchell J.

2014-01-01

People can perceive misfortunes as caused by previous bad deeds (immanent justice reasoning) or resulting in ultimate compensation (ultimate justice reasoning). Across two studies, we investigated the relation between these types of justice reasoning and identified the processes (perceptions of deservingness) that underlie them for both others (Study 1) and the self (Study 2). Study 1 demonstrated that observers engaged in more ultimate (vs. immanent) justice reasoning for a “good” victim and greater immanent (vs. ultimate) justice reasoning for a “bad” victim. In Study 2, participants' construals of their bad breaks varied as a function of their self-worth, with greater ultimate (immanent) justice reasoning for participants with higher (lower) self-esteem. Across both studies, perceived deservingness of bad breaks or perceived deservingness of ultimate compensation mediated immanent and ultimate justice reasoning respectively. PMID:25036011

Spontaneous poisoning by Prosopis juliflora (Leguminosae) in sheep

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The aim of this paper is to describe the first report of clinical, epidemiological and pathological aspects of spontaneous poisoning by Prosopis juliflora in sheep. Of a total of 500 sheep at risk, two adult male sheep were affected; one died spontaneously and the other animal was examined, euthaniz...

Spontaneous olfactory receptor neuron activity determines follower cell response properties

PubMed Central

Joseph, Joby; Dunn, Felice A.; Stopfer, Mark

2012-01-01

Noisy or spontaneous activity is common in neural systems and poses a challenge to detecting and discriminating signals. Here we use the locust to answer fundamental questions about noise in the olfactory system: Where does spontaneous activity originate? How is this activity propagated or reduced throughout multiple stages of neural processing? What mechanisms favor the detection of signals despite the presence of spontaneous activity? We found that spontaneous activity long observed in the secondary projection neurons (PNs) originates almost entirely from the primary olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) rather than from spontaneous circuit interactions in the antennal lobe, and that spontaneous activity in ORNs tonically depolarizes the resting membrane potentials of their target PNs and local neurons (LNs), and indirectly tonically depolarizes tertiary Kenyon cells (KCs). However, because these neurons have different response thresholds, in the absence of odor stimulation, ORNs and PNs display a high spontaneous firing rate but KCs are nearly silent. Finally, we used a simulation of the olfactory network to show that discrimination of signal and noise in the KCs is best when threshold levels are set so that baseline activity in PNs persists. Our results show how the olfactory system benefits from making a signal detection decision after a point of maximal information convergence, e.g., after KCs pool inputs from many PNs. PMID:22357872

Transcending matter: physics and ultimate meaning.

PubMed

Paulson, Steve; Frank, Adam; Kaiser, David; Maudlin, Tim; Natarajan, Priyamvada

2015-12-01

From the discovery of new galaxies and nearly undetectable dark energy to the quantum entanglement of particles across the universe, new findings in physics naturally elicit a sense of awe and wonder. For the founders of modern physics-from Einstein and Bohr to Heisenberg, Pauli, and Bohm-a fascination with deeper questions of meaning and ultimate reality led some of them to explore esoteric traditions and metaphysics. More recently, however, physicists have largely shunned such philosophical and spiritual associations. What can contemporary physics offer us in the quest to understand our place in the universe? Has physics in some ways become a religion unto itself that rejects the search for existential meaning? Discussion of these and related questions is presented in this paper. © 2015 New York Academy of Sciences.

37. ALTERNATE DESIGN, SIMILAR TO THAT ULTIMATELY SELECTED, BUT USING ...

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

37. ALTERNATE DESIGN, SIMILAR TO THAT ULTIMATELY SELECTED, BUT USING STEPPED TOWERS, AND WITH PYLONS CAPPED BY LANTERNS Pen-and-ink drawing by project architect Alfred Eichler, ca. 1934. - Sacramento River Bridge, Spanning Sacramento River at California State Highway 275, Sacramento, Sacramento County, CA

Vaginal antimycotics and the risk for spontaneous abortions.

PubMed

Daniel, Sharon; Rotem, Reut; Koren, Gideon; Lunenfeld, Eitan; Levy, Amalia

2018-06-01

Spontaneous abortions are the most common complication of pregnancy. Clotrimazole and miconazole are widely used vaginal-antimycotic agents used for the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis. A previous study has suggested an increased risk of miscarriage associated with these azoles, which may lead health professionals to refrain from their use even if clinically indicated. The aim of the current study was to assess the risk for spontaneous abortions following first trimester exposure to vaginal antimycotics. A historical cohort study was conducted including all clinically apparent pregnancies that began from January 2003 through December 2009 and admitted for birth or spontaneous abortion at Soroka Medical Center, Clalit Health Services, Beer-Sheva, Israel. A computerized database of medication dispensation was linked with 2 computerized databases containing information on births and spontaneous abortions. Time-varying Cox regression models were constructed adjusting for mother's age, diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, obesity, hypercoagulable or inflammatory conditions, recurrent miscarriages, intrauterine contraceptive device, ethnicity, tobacco use, and the year of admission. A total of 65,457 pregnancies were included in the study: 58,949 (90.1%) ended with birth and 6508 (9.9%) with a spontaneous abortion. Overall, 3246 (5%) pregnancies were exposed to vaginal antimycotic medications until the 20th gestational week: 2712 (4.2%) were exposed to clotrimazole and 633 (1%) to miconazole. Exposure to vaginal antimycotics was not associated with spontaneous abortions as a group (crude hazard ratio, 1.11; 95% confidence interval, 0.96-1.29; adjusted hazard ratio, 1.11; 95% confidence interval, 0.96-1.29) and specifically for clotrimazole (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.05; 95% confidence interval, 0.89-1.25) and miconazole (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.34; 95% confidence interval, 0.99-1.80). Furthermore, no association was found between categories of dosage of vaginal

The influence of spontaneous activity on stimulus processing in primary visual cortex.

PubMed

Schölvinck, M L; Friston, K J; Rees, G

2012-02-01

Spontaneous activity in the resting human brain has been studied extensively; however, how such activity affects the local processing of a sensory stimulus is relatively unknown. Here, we examined the impact of spontaneous activity in primary visual cortex on neuronal and behavioural responses to a simple visual stimulus, using functional MRI. Stimulus-evoked responses remained essentially unchanged by spontaneous fluctuations, combining with them in a largely linear fashion (i.e., with little evidence for an interaction). However, interactions between spontaneous fluctuations and stimulus-evoked responses were evident behaviourally; high levels of spontaneous activity tended to be associated with increased stimulus detection at perceptual threshold. Our results extend those found in studies of spontaneous fluctuations in motor cortex and higher order visual areas, and suggest a fundamental role for spontaneous activity in stimulus processing. Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Spontaneous polyploidization in cucumber

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Cucumber occasionally produces polyploid plants, which are problematic for growers because these plants produce misshaped fruits with non-viable seeds. In this study, we undertook the first quantitative study to estimate the frequency of spontaneous polyploids in cucumber. Seeds of recombinant inbre...

Vortex-assisted surfactant-enhanced emulsification microextraction combined with LC-MS/MS for the determination of glucocorticoids in water with the aid of experimental design.

PubMed

Asati, Ankita; Satyanarayana, G N V; Patel, Devendra K

2017-04-01

An efficient and inexpensive method using vortex-assisted surfactant-enhanced emulsification microextraction (VASEME) based on solidification of floating organic droplet coupled with ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry is proposed for the analysis of glucocorticoids in water samples (river water and hospital wastewater). VASEME was optimized by the experimental validation of Plackett-Burman design and central composite design, which has been co-related to experimental design. Plackett-Burman design showed that factors such as vortex time, surfactant concentration, and pH significantly affect the extraction efficiency of the method. Method validation was characterized by an acceptable calibration range of 1-1000 ng L -1 , and the limit of detection was in the range from 2.20 to 8.12 ng L -1 for glucocorticoids. The proposed method was applied to determine glucocorticoids in river water and hospital wastewater in Lucknow, India. It is reliable and rapid and has potential application for analysis of glucocorticoids in environmental aqueous samples. Graphical Abstract Low density based extraction of gluococorticoids by using design of experiment.

New Perspectives on Spontaneous Brain Activity: Dynamic Networks and Energy Matter.

PubMed

Tozzi, Arturo; Zare, Marzieh; Benasich, April A

2016-01-01

Spontaneous brain activity has received increasing attention as demonstrated by the exponential rise in the number of published article on this topic over the last 30 years. Such "intrinsic" brain activity, generated in the absence of an explicit task, is frequently associated with resting-state or default-mode networks (DMN)s. The focus on characterizing spontaneous brain activity promises to shed new light on questions concerning the structural and functional architecture of the brain and how they are related to "mind". However, many critical questions have yet to be addressed. In this review, we focus on a scarcely explored area, specifically the energetic requirements and constraints of spontaneous activity, taking into account both thermodynamical and informational perspectives. We argue that the "classical" definitions of spontaneous activity do not take into account an important feature, that is, the critical thermodynamic energetic differences between spontaneous and evoked brain activity. Spontaneous brain activity is associated with slower oscillations compared with evoked, task-related activity, hence it exhibits lower levels of enthalpy and "free-energy" (i.e., the energy that can be converted to do work), thus supporting noteworthy thermodynamic energetic differences between spontaneous and evoked brain activity. Increased spike frequency during evoked activity has a significant metabolic cost, consequently, brain functions traditionally associated with spontaneous activity, such as mind wandering, require less energy that other nervous activities. We also review recent empirical observations in neuroscience, in order to capture how spontaneous brain dynamics and mental function can be embedded in a non-linear dynamical framework, which considers nervous activity in terms of phase spaces, particle trajectories, random walks, attractors and/or paths at the edge of the chaos. This takes us from the thermodynamic free-energy, to the realm of "variational

Enhancing emulsification and antioxidant ability of egg albumin by moderately acid hydrolysis: Modulating an emulsion-based system for mulberry seed oil.

PubMed

Chang, Jing; Kang, Xu; Yuan, Jiang-Lan

2018-07-01

Mulberry seed oil (MSO) is a kind of potential health-care lipids. This study, we investigated unsaturated fatty acids profiles of freshly squeezed MSO by GC-MS and modulated an oil-in-water emulsion system stabilized by acid hydrolyzed egg albumin (AHEA) to protect MSO from oxidation. The results showed that the content of total unsaturated fatty acids in MSO was almost 80%, of which 9, 12- and 10, 13-linoleic acid was over 60% and 10% respectively. In the case of the MSO-in-AHEA emulsions, it was observed that acid hydrolysis improved emulsifying effect, emulsifying stability and antioxidant activity of egg albumin (EA). The hydrolysates of EA (1%, w/w) acid hydrolyzed for 4 h at 85 °C had the best DPPH radical scavenging efficiency. It was suitable for EA to hydrolyze for 4 to 12 h at pH 2.5 and 85 °C because of their better emulsification and oxidation stability than the others. The results about AHEA could be valuable for designing delivery and protect systems for MSO or other bioactive component to avoid their oxidative damage or control their release. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ultrasound-assisted temperature-controlled ionic liquid emulsification microextraction coupled with capillary electrophoresis for the determination of parabens in personal care products.

PubMed

Ma, Teng; Li, Zheng; Jia, Qiong; Zhou, Weihong

2016-07-01

We developed a CE and ultrasound-assisted temperature-controlled ionic liquid emulsification microextraction method for the determination of four parabens (methyl paraben, ethyl paraben, propyl paraben, and butyl paraben) in personal care products including mouthwash and toning lotion. In the proposed extraction procedure, ionic liquid (IL, 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate) was used as extraction solvent, moreover, no disperser solvent was needed. Parameters affecting the extraction efficiency including volume of IL, heating temperature, ultrasonic time, extraction time, sample pH, ionic strength, and centrifugation time were optimized. Under the optimized conditions, the method was found to be linear over the range of 3-500 ng/mL with coefficient of determination (R(2) ) in the range of 0.9990-0.9998. The LODs and LOQs for the four parabens were 0.45-0.72 ng/mL and 1.50-2.40 ng/mL, respectively. Intraday and interday precisions (RSDs, n = 5) were in the range of 5.4-6.8% and 7.0-8.7%, respectively. The recoveries of parabens at different spiked levels ranged from 71.9 to 119.2% with RSDs less than 9.5%. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

The effects of age and divided attention on spontaneous recognition.

PubMed

Anderson, Benjamin A; Jacoby, Larry L; Thomas, Ruthann C; Balota, David A

2011-05-01

Studies of recognition typically involve tests in which the participant's memory for a stimulus is directly questioned. There are occasions however, in which memory occurs more spontaneously (e.g., an acquaintance seeming familiar out of context). Spontaneous recognition was investigated in a novel paradigm involving study of pictures and words followed by recognition judgments on stimuli with an old or new word superimposed over an old or new picture. Participants were instructed to make their recognition decision on either the picture or word and to ignore the distracting stimulus. Spontaneous recognition was measured as the influence of old vs. new distracters on target recognition. Across two experiments, older adults and younger adults placed under divided-attention showed a greater tendency to spontaneously recognize old distracters as compared to full-attention younger adults. The occurrence of spontaneous recognition is discussed in relation to ability to constrain retrieval to goal-relevant information.

Association between Nutritional Status with Spontaneous Abortion.

PubMed

Ahmadi, Rahimeh; Ziaei, Saeideh; Parsay, Sosan

2017-01-01

Spontaneous abortion is the most common adverse pregnancy outcome. We aimed to investigate a possible link between nutrient deficiencies and the risk of spontaneous abortion. This case-control study included the case group (n=331) experiencing a spontaneous abortion before 14 weeks of pregnancy and the control group (n=331) who were healthy pregnant women over 14 weeks of pregnancy. The participants filled out Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), in which they reported their frequency of consumption for a given serving of each food item during the past three months, on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. The reported frequency for each food item was converted to a daily intake. Then, consumption of nutrients was compared between the two groups. There are significant differences between the two groups regarding consumed servings/day of vegetables, bread and cereal, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans, fats, oils and dairy products (P=0.012, P<0.001, P=0.004, P<0.001, P=0.019, respectively). There are significant differences between the two groups in all micronutrient including folic acid, iron, vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and zinc (P<0.001). Poor nutrientions may be correlated with increased risk of spontaneous abortion.

Association between Nutritional Status with Spontaneous Abortion

PubMed Central

Ahmadi, Rahimeh; Ziaei, Saeideh; Parsay, Sosan

2017-01-01

Background Spontaneous abortion is the most common adverse pregnancy outcome. We aimed to investigate a possible link between nutrient deficiencies and the risk of spontaneous abortion. Materials and Methods This case-control study included the case group (n=331) experiencing a spontaneous abortion before 14 weeks of pregnancy and the control group (n=331) who were healthy pregnant women over 14 weeks of pregnancy. The participants filled out Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), in which they reported their frequency of consumption for a given serving of each food item during the past three months, on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. The reported frequency for each food item was converted to a daily intake. Then, consumption of nutrients was compared between the two groups. Results There are significant differences between the two groups regarding consumed servings/day of vegetables, bread and cereal, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans, fats, oils and dairy products (P=0.012, P<0.001, P=0.004, P<0.001, P=0.019, respectively). There are significant differences between the two groups in all micronutrient including folic acid, iron, vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and zinc (P<0.001). Conclusion Poor nutrientions may be correlated with increased risk of spontaneous abortion. PMID:28042413

Ultimate explanations and suboptimal choice.

PubMed

Vasconcelos, Marco; Machado, Armando; Pandeirada, Josefa N S

2018-07-01

Researchers have unraveled multiple cases in which behavior deviates from rationality principles. We propose that such deviations are valuable tools to understand the adaptive significance of the underpinning mechanisms. To illustrate, we discuss in detail an experimental protocol in which animals systematically incur substantial foraging losses by preferring a lean but informative option over a rich but non-informative one. To understand how adaptive mechanisms may fail to maximize food intake, we review a model inspired by optimal foraging principles that reconciles sub-optimal choice with the view that current behavioral mechanisms were pruned by the optimizing action of natural selection. To move beyond retrospective speculation, we then review critical tests of the model, regarding both its assumptions and its (sometimes counterintuitive) predictions, all of which have been upheld. The overall contention is that (a) known mechanisms can be used to develop better ultimate accounts and that (b) to understand why mechanisms that generate suboptimal behavior evolved, we need to consider their adaptive value in the animal's characteristic ecology. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Interprofessional learning, impression management, and spontaneity in the acute healthcare setting.

PubMed

Bell, Elaine; McAllister, Sue; Ward, Paul R; Russell, Alison

2016-09-01

Spontaneous learning is integral to definitions of interprofessional learning (IPL) because it has been suggested that spontaneous learning can be deeply connected with the work that people do in collaboration with colleagues via their professional networks. However, its nature and the processes involved are not well understood. Goffman's theory of impression management offers a useful theoretical framework to consider the way in which interaction in the workplace connects to spontaneous learning. This article explores the current literature to investigate the usefulness of this framework to better understand and identify spontaneous learning in the workplace. Aspects such as the connections between spontaneous learning occurring in formal and informal work activities, the spaces in which it occurs, and the influence of professional networking are considered. It is proposed that research directed to developing a better understanding of the nature of spontaneous learning in IPL will assist in connecting this learning to formal IPL curricula, enhancing IPL and patient outcomes.

Spontaneity and Equilibrium III: A History of Misinformation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Raff, Lionel M.

2014-01-01

Necessary and sufficient criteria for reaction spontaneity in a given direction and for spontaneity of finite transformations in single-reaction, closed systems are developed. The criteria are general in that they hold for reactions conducted under either conditions of constant T and p or constant T and V. These results are illustrated using a…

Spontaneous Activity Drives Local Synaptic Plasticity In Vivo.

PubMed

Winnubst, Johan; Cheyne, Juliette E; Niculescu, Dragos; Lohmann, Christian

2015-07-15

Spontaneous activity fine-tunes neuronal connections in the developing brain. To explore the underlying synaptic plasticity mechanisms, we monitored naturally occurring changes in spontaneous activity at individual synapses with whole-cell patch-clamp recordings and simultaneous calcium imaging in the mouse visual cortex in vivo. Analyzing activity changes across large populations of synapses revealed a simple and efficient local plasticity rule: synapses that exhibit low synchronicity with nearby neighbors (<12 μm) become depressed in their transmission frequency. Asynchronous electrical stimulation of individual synapses in hippocampal slices showed that this is due to a decrease in synaptic transmission efficiency. Accordingly, experimentally increasing local synchronicity, by stimulating synapses in response to spontaneous activity at neighboring synapses, stabilized synaptic transmission. Finally, blockade of the high-affinity proBDNF receptor p75(NTR) prevented the depression of asynchronously stimulated synapses. Thus, spontaneous activity drives local synaptic plasticity at individual synapses in an "out-of-sync, lose-your-link" fashion through proBDNF/p75(NTR) signaling to refine neuronal connectivity. VIDEO ABSTRACT. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Volume-controlled Ventilation Does Not Prevent Injurious Inflation during Spontaneous Effort.

PubMed

Yoshida, Takeshi; Nakahashi, Susumu; Nakamura, Maria Aparecida Miyuki; Koyama, Yukiko; Roldan, Rollin; Torsani, Vinicius; De Santis, Roberta R; Gomes, Susimeire; Uchiyama, Akinori; Amato, Marcelo B P; Kavanagh, Brian P; Fujino, Yuji

2017-09-01

Spontaneous breathing during mechanical ventilation increases transpulmonary pressure and Vt, and worsens lung injury. Intuitively, controlling Vt and transpulmonary pressure might limit injury caused by added spontaneous effort. To test the hypothesis that, during spontaneous effort in injured lungs, limitation of Vt and transpulmonary pressure by volume-controlled ventilation results in less injurious patterns of inflation. Dynamic computed tomography was used to determine patterns of regional inflation in rabbits with injured lungs during volume-controlled or pressure-controlled ventilation. Transpulmonary pressure was estimated by using esophageal balloon manometry [Pl(es)] with and without spontaneous effort. Local dependent lung stress was estimated as the swing (inspiratory change) in transpulmonary pressure measured by intrapleural manometry in dependent lung and was compared with the swing in Pl(es). Electrical impedance tomography was performed to evaluate the inflation pattern in a larger animal (pig) and in a patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Spontaneous breathing in injured lungs increased Pl(es) during pressure-controlled (but not volume-controlled) ventilation, but the pattern of dependent lung inflation was the same in both modes. In volume-controlled ventilation, spontaneous effort caused greater inflation and tidal recruitment of dorsal regions (greater than twofold) compared with during muscle paralysis, despite the same Vt and Pl(es). This was caused by higher local dependent lung stress (measured by intrapleural manometry). In injured lungs, esophageal manometry underestimated local dependent pleural pressure changes during spontaneous effort. Limitation of Vt and Pl(es) by volume-controlled ventilation could not eliminate harm caused by spontaneous breathing unless the level of spontaneous effort was lowered and local dependent lung stress was reduced.

Tooth display and lip position during spontaneous and posed smiling in adults.

PubMed

Van Der Geld, Pieter; Oosterveld, Paul; Berge, Stefaan J; Kuijpers-Jagtman, Anne M

2008-08-01

To analyze differences in tooth display, lip-line height, and smile width between the posed smiling record, traditionally produced for orthodontic diagnosis, and the spontaneous (Duchenne) smile of joy. The faces of 122 male participants were each filmed during spontaneous and posed smiling. Spontaneous smiles were elicited through the participants watching a comical movie. Maxillary and mandibular lip-line heights, tooth display, and smile width were measured using a digital videographic method for smile analysis. Paired sample t-tests were used to compare measurements of posed and spontaneous smiling. Maxillary lip-line heights during spontaneous smiling were significantly higher than during posed smiling. Compared to spontaneous smiling, tooth display in the (pre)molar area during posed smiling decreased by up to 30%, along with a significant reduction of smile width. During posed smiling, also mandibular lip-line heights changed and the teeth were more covered by the lower lip than during spontaneous smiling. Reduced lip-line heights, tooth display, and smile width on a posed smiling record can have implications for the diagnostics of lip-line height, smile arc, buccal corridors, and plane of occlusion. Spontaneous smiling records next to posed smiling records are therefore recommended for diagnostic purposes. Because of the dynamic nature of spontaneous smiling, it is proposed to switch to dynamic video recording of the smile.

Spontaneous passage of ureteral stones in patients with indwelling ureteral stents.

PubMed

Baumgarten, Lee; Desai, Anuj; Shipman, Scott; Eun, Daniel D; Pontari, Michel A; Mydlo, Jack H; Reese, Adam C

2017-10-01

To determine rates of spontaneous ureteral stone passage in patients with indwelling ureteral stents, and to identify factors associated with the spontaneous passage of stones while a ureteral stent is in place. From our institutional database, we identified patients who underwent ureteroscopic procedures for stone disease between January 1, 2013 and March 1, 2015. We compared the rates of spontaneous stone passage between patients who had previously undergone ureteral stent placement and those who had not. In patients with indwelling stents, multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with spontaneous stone passage. A total of 194 patients met inclusion criteria. Spontaneous stone passage rates were similar in the stented (17/119, 14%) and non-stented (15/75, 20%) groups (p = 0.30). In bivariate analysis of stented patients, smaller stone size (p < 0.001) and distal stone location (p = 0.01) were significantly associated with spontaneous stone passage. Multivariate logistic regression analysis of stented patients showed that only small stone size was significantly associated with the likelihood of stone passage (p = 0.01), whereas stent duration, stone location, and stone laterality were not. A small, but clinically significant percentage of ureteral stones pass spontaneously with a ureteral stent in place. Small stone size is associated with an increased likelihood of spontaneous passage in patients with indwelling stents. These findings may help to identify patients who can potentially avoid additional surgical procedures for definitive stone removal after ureteral stent placement.

γ-Oryzanol nanoemulsions produced by a low-energy emulsification method: an evaluation of process parameters and physicochemical stability.

PubMed

Zhong, Jinfeng; Liu, Xiong; Wang, Yonghua; Qin, Xiaoli; Li, Zeling

2017-06-21

γ-Oryzanol is a natural antioxidant and nutraceutical compound, which makes it a good candidate for nutraceuticals, food supplements and pharmaceutical preparations. However, the incorporation of γ-oryzanol into aqueous formulations is rather difficult and its bioavailability can be severely decreased because of its water-insoluble property. In this study, γ-oryzanol-enriched nanoemulsion based fish oil and medium-chain triglyceride as carrier oils were proposed. The main objective was to optimize process parameters to form stable nanoemulsions and evaluate their physicochemical stability. The formulations of stable γ-oryzanol nanoemulsions were composed of 10% mixed carrier oils (weight ratio of fish oil to medium-chain triglyceride = 3 : 7) and 10% mixed surfactants (weight ratio of Tween 80 to Span 20 = 3 : 1). The nanoemulsions were stable at a broad pH range of 2-7 and high salt concentrations (≤0.8 mol L -1 ) and sucrose levels (≤16%). The nanoemulsions were much more stable at heating temperatures below 50 °C than at elevated heating temperatures (60 and 70 °C). The nanoemulsions maintained their physical stability at various storage temperatures (5-37 °C) for 18 days. Nanoemulsions at 5 and 23 °C had lower peroxide values and anisidine values than those at an elevated storage temperature (37 °C). These results demonstrate that the low-energy emulsification method can produce γ-oryzanol-enriched nanoemulsions using fish oil and medium-chain triglyceride as carrier oils, and provide useful information for producing bioactive lipids-loaded nanoemulsions for food systems, personal care and pharmaceutical products.

Spontaneous apoptotic DNA fragmentation in cultured guinea pig gastric mucosal cells.

PubMed

Tsutsumi, S; Rokutan, K; Tsuchiya, T; Mizushima, T

2000-02-01

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the mechanism of spontaneous and rapid cell death of cultured gastric pit cells. Gastric pit cells have a rapid cell turnover rate in vivo. We here show that guinea pig gastric pit cells in culture undergo spontaneous and rapid apoptotic DNA fragmentation, which may represent the rapid cell turnover cycle of gastric pit cells in vivo. This spontaneous apoptotic DNA fragmentation required the presence of fetal calf serum in the culture media. Furthermore, the spontaneous apoptotic DNA fragmentation was prevented by protein synthesis and caspase inhibitors.

[Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis: impact of microbiological changes].

PubMed

Almeida, Paulo Roberto Lerias de; Camargo, Nutianne Schneider; Arenz, Maximilhano; Tovo, Cristiane Valle; Galperim, Bruno; Behar, Paulo

2007-01-01

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is a serious complication in cirrhotic patients, and the changes in the microbiological characteristics reported in the last years are impacting the choice of antibiotic used in the treatment. To evaluate the change in the epidemiology and antibiotic resistance of the bacteria causing spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in a 7 years period. All the cases of cirrhotic patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis with positive cultural examination were retrospectively studied. Two periods were evaluated: 1997-1998 and 2002-2003. The most frequent infecting organisms and the sensitivity in vitro to antibiotics were registered. In the first period (1997-1998) there were 33 cases, 3 (9%) with polymicrobial infection. The most common were: E.coli in 13 (36,11%), Staphylococcus coagulase-negative in 6 (16,66%), K. pneumoniae in 5 (13,88%), S. aureus in 4 (11,11%) and S. faecalis in 3 (8,33%). In 2003-2004, there were 43 cases, 2 (5%) with polymicrobial infection. The most frequent were: Staphylococus coagulase-negative in 16 (35,55%), S. aureus in 8 (17,77%), E. coli in 7 (15,55%) and K. pneumoniae in 3 (6,66%). No one was using antibiotic prophilaxys. The prevalence of S. aureus methicillin-resitant to quinolone and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole changed from 25% to 50%, and vancomicin was the only one with absolute activity during all the period. In the same way, the prevalence of E. coli resistant to third generation cephalosporin and to quinolone changed from 0% to 16%. There was a modification of the bacterial population causing spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, with high frequency of gram-positive organisms, as well as an increase in the resistance to the traditionally recommended antibiotics. This study suggests a probable imminent inclusion of a drug against gram-positive organisms in the empiric treatment of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

Spontaneous revegetation vs. forestry reclamation in post-mining sand pits.

PubMed

Šebelíková, Lenka; Řehounková, Klára; Prach, Karel

2016-07-01

Vegetation development of sites restored by two different methods, spontaneous revegetation and forestry reclamation, was compared in four sand pit mining complexes located in the southern part of the Czech Republic, central Europe. The space-for-time substitution method was applied to collect vegetation records in 13 differently aged and sufficiently large sites with known history. The restoration method, age (time since site abandonment/reclamation), groundwater table, slope, and aspect in all sampled plots were recorded in addition to the visual estimation of percentage cover of all present vascular plant species. Multivariate methods and GLM were used for the data elaboration. Restoration method was the major factor influencing species pattern. Both spontaneously revegetated and forestry reclaimed sites developed towards forest on a comparable timescale. Although the sites did not significantly differ in species richness (160 species in spontaneously revegetated vs. 111 in forestry reclaimed sites), spontaneously revegetated sites tended to be more diverse with more species of conservation potential (10 Red List species in spontaneous sites vs. 4 Red List species in forestry reclaimed sites). These results support the use of spontaneous revegetation as an effective and low-cost method of sand pit restoration and may contribute to implementation of this method in practice.

Spontaneous subduction at transform faults: common process or outlier?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lallemand, S.; Abecassis, S.; Arcay, D.; Garel, F.

2017-12-01

Spontaneous subduction is argued to occur mainly at transform faults, as a result of gravitational instability of the older plate in the absence of convergence, leading to subduction. Spontaneous subduction has been suggested for the initiation of the Izu-Bonin-Mariana subduction zone, based on the occurrence of a specific magmatic sequence including forearc basalts and boninites. Some thermo-mechanical models have been designed to focus on gravitational instability but only of the colder plate present at the transform fault, restricting the study of conditions yielding spontaneous subduction. We perform a more general 2D parameteric study, by combining pseudo-brittle and ductile rheologies. We test the influence of the two plate ages but also the role and the rheological properties of the transform fault, assumed to be made of a weak layer (crust in our case). This crustal layer may also be present (or not) on top of plates. Slip is free on all sides of the simulation box. We observe three different behaviors depending on experimental set-up: overall static conductive cooling, spontaneous subduction of the colder plate, and spontaneous subduction of the younger lithosphere. Our results suggest that spontaneous subduction of the colder plate can occur only for a limited range of lithosphere age pairs and if the brittle strength of the oceanic crust is low enough. In any cases, this mode of subduction initiation yields an instantaneous slab rollback associated with an extremely fast trench retreat, resulting in upper plate extension and asthenosphere upwelling along the slab top up to the surface. Our first conclusion is that the set of conditions necessary to trigger spontaneous subduction is (extremely) rare in nature, so that this process appears as an outlier. The second conclusion is that, when it occurs, spontaneous subduction initiation is close to catastrophic. This implies that the typical magmatic sequence including boninites should erupt within a limited

Adjudicating pathological criminal incapacity within a climate of ultimate issue barriers: a comparative perspective.

PubMed

Stevens, Geert Philip

2015-01-01

Mental health experts are increasingly being utilised by the criminal justice system to provide assistance to courts during the assessment of issues falling beyond the knowledge and/or experience of the courts. A particular domain where the assistance of qualified psychiatrists and psychologists is becoming essential is where the defence of pathological criminal incapacity falls to be assessed. Mental health professionals testifying during trials where the defence of pathological criminal incapacity is raised will present opinion evidence which is one of the exceptions to the rule of inadmissibility of opinion evidence. Mental health professionals providing their opinion evidence are, however, prohibited from expressing opinions on so-called "ultimate issues" upon which only the court may ultimately rule upon. The latter rule is also commonly known in practice as the "ultimate issue" rule which presents multifaceted challenges in respect of the application of the defence of pathological criminal incapacity. In this article, the author assesses the application of the ultimate issue rule with reference to the defence of pathological criminal incapacity as it operates within the South African criminal law context. A comparative analysis is also provided with reference to the rule as it operates in the United States of America and more specifically Federal Rule 704. It is concluded that the ultimate issue rule unnecessarily restricts testimony provided by mental health professionals as such placing a barrier on such evidence. As such, it is argued that the rule is superfluous as it remains within the discretion of the trier of fact to decide as to what weight to attach to such evidence. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

The Risk of Human Papillomavirus Infection for Spontaneous Abortion, Spontaneous Preterm Birth, and Pregnancy Rate of Assisted Reproductive Technologies: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PubMed

Xiong, Yi-Quan; Mo, Yun; Luo, Qiao-Ming; Huo, Shu-Ting; He, Wen-Qiao; Chen, Qing

2018-04-12

To estimate the impact of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection on spontaneous abortion, spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB), pregnancy rate of females undergoing assisted reproductive technologies (ART), and spontaneous abortion of ART pregnancy. PubMed, Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched until December 16, 2016. The OR or relative risk (RR) with its corresponding 95% CI were selected as effect size. Subgroup analysis of HPV genotype infection (high-risk HPV [HR-HPV] or indiscriminate genotype) was performed. Statistical analysis was conducted using STATA 12.0. Eighteen studies were included. Eight studies revealed no significant association between HPV infection and spontaneous abortion (OR 1.40, 95% CI 0.56-3.50). However, subgroup analysis showed indiscriminate genotype HPV infection increased the ratio of spontaneous abortion with OR of 2.24 (95% CI 1.37-3.65), while HR-HPV infection had no significant effect (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.21-1.98). The results indicated that HR-HPV infection was a risk for sPTB with a pooled OR of 2.84 (95% CI 1.95-4.14). HPV infection was found to be independent of the ART-based clinical pregnancy rate (RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.64-1.70) and spontaneous abortion of ART pregnancy (RR 1.47, 95% CI 0.86-2.50). Indiscriminate HPV genotype infection can increase the risk of spontaneous abortion and HR-HPV infection was a risk factor for sPTB. However, there was not enough evidence to indicate the association between HPV infection and pregnancy rate of ART, and spontaneous abortion of ART pregnancy. Different genotypes of HPV infection may play a discrepant role in adverse pregnancy outcomes. © 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel.

High internal phase agar hydrogel dispersions in cocoa butter and chocolate as a route towards reducing fat content.

PubMed

Skelhon, Thomas S; Olsson, Patrik K A; Morgan, Adam R; Bon, Stefan A F

2013-09-01

Reducing the fat content of chocolate formulations is a major challenge for the confectionery industry. We report the suspension of aqueous microgel agar particles of up to 80% v/v within sunflower oil, cocoa butter, and ultimately chocolate. The optimised emulsification process involves a shear-cooling step. We demonstrate the versatility of our method when applied to white, milk, and dark chocolate formulations, whilst preserving the desired polymorph V of the cocoa butter matrix. In addition, we show that this technology can be used as a strategy to disperse alcoholic beverages into chocolate confectionery.

Flexible bilayers with spontaneous curvature lead to lamellar gels and spontaneous vesicles

PubMed Central

Coldren, Bret A.; Warriner, Heidi; van Zanten, Ryan; Zasadzinski, Joseph A.; Sirota, Eric B.

2006-01-01

Mixtures of cetyltrimethylammonium tosylate (CTAT) and sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) in water form a fluid lamellar phase at ≤40 wt % water but surprisingly turn into viscous gels at higher water fractions. The gels are characterized by spherulite and other bilayer defects consistent with a low bending elasticity, κ ∼ kBT, and a nonzero spontaneous curvature. Caillé analysis of the small-angle x-ray line shape confirms that for 7:3 wt:wt CTAT:SDBS bilayers at 50% water, κ = 0.62 ± 0.09 kBT and κ̄ = −0.9 ± 0.2 kBT. For 13:7 wt:wt CTAT:SDBS bilayers, the measured bending elasticity decreases with increasing water dilution in good agreement with predictions based on renormalization theory, giving κo = 0.28 kBT. These results show that surfactant mixing is sufficient to make κ ∼ kBT, which promotes strong, Helfrich-type repulsion between bilayers that can dominate the van der Waals attraction. These are necessary conditions for spontaneous vesicles formed at even higher water fractions to be equilibrium structures. PMID:16467142

Intrusive thoughts: linking spontaneous mind wandering and OCD symptomatology.

PubMed

Seli, Paul; Risko, Evan F; Purdon, Christine; Smilek, Daniel

2017-03-01

One recent line of research in the literature on mind wandering has been concerned with examining rates of mind wandering in special populations, such as those characterized by attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, dysphoria, and schizophrenia. To best conceptualize mind wandering in studies examining special populations, it has recently been suggested that researchers distinguish between deliberate and spontaneous subtypes of this experience. Extending this line of research on mind wandering in special populations, in a large non-clinical sample (N = 2636), we examined how rates of deliberate and spontaneous mind wandering vary with symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Results indicate that, whereas deliberate mind wandering is not associated with OCD symptomatology, spontaneous mind wandering is, with higher reports of spontaneous mind wandering being associated with higher reports of OCD symptoms. We discuss the implications of these results for understanding both mind wandering and OCD.

Unilateral Loss of Spontaneous Venous Pulsations in an Astronaut

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mader, Thomas H.; Gibson, C. Robert; Lee, Andrew G.; Patel, Nimesh; Hart, Steven; Pettit, Donald R.

2014-01-01

Spontaneous venous pulsations seen on the optic nerve head (optic disc) are presumed to be caused by fluctuations in the pressure gradient between the intraocular and retrolaminar venous systems. The disappearance of previously documented spontaneous venous pulsations is a well-recognized clinical sign usually associated with a rise in intracranial pressure and a concomitant bilateral elevation of pressure in the subarachnoid space surrounding the optic nerves. In this correspondence we report the unilateral loss of spontaneous venous pulsations in an astronaut 5 months into a long duration space flight. We documented a normal lumbar puncture opening pressure 8 days post mission. The spontaneous venous pulsations were also documented to be absent 21 months following return to Earth.. We hypothesize that these changes may have resulted from a chronic unilateral rise in optic nerve sheath pressure caused by a microgravity-induced optic nerve sheath compartment syndrome.

Atypical development of spontaneous social cognition in autism spectrum disorders.

PubMed

Senju, Atsushi

2013-02-01

Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have profound impairment in the development of social interaction and communication. However, it is also known that some 'high-functioning' individuals with ASD show apparently typical capacity to process social information in a controlled experimental settings, despite their difficulties in daily life. The current paper overviews the spontaneous social cognition, spontaneous processing of social information in the absence of explicit instruction or task demand, in individuals with ASD. Three areas of the researches, false belief attribution, imitation/mimicry, and eye gaze processing, have been reviewed. The literatures suggest that high-functioning individuals with ASD (a) do not spontaneously attribute false belief to others, even though they can easily do so when explicitly instructed, (b) can imitate others' goal-directed actions under explicit instruction and show spontaneous mimicry of others' actions when they attend to the action, but are less likely to show spontaneous mimicry without the task structure to navigate attention to others' action and (c) can process others' gaze direction and shift attention to others' gaze directions, but fail to spontaneously attend to another person's eyes in social and communicative context, and less likely to be prompted to respond in response to perceived eye contact. These results are consistent with the claim that individuals with ASD do not spontaneously attend to socially relevant information, even though they can easily process the same information when their attention is navigated towards it. Copyright © 2012 The Japanese Society of Child Neurology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Maternal Prepregnancy Folate Intake and Risk of Spontaneous Abortion and Stillbirth

PubMed Central

Gaskins, Audrey J.; Rich-Edwards, Janet W.; Hauser, Russ; Williams, Paige L.; Gillman, Matthew W.; Ginsburg, Elizabeth S.; Missmer, Stacey A.; Chavarro, Jorge E.

2014-01-01

Objective To evaluate prospectively the relationship between prepregnancy folate intake and risk of spontaneous abortion and stillbirth. Methods Women in the Nurses’ Health Study-II who self-reported a pregnancy between 1992 and 2009 were included in this analysis. Dietary folate and supplement use was assessed every 4 years, starting in 1991, by a food-frequency questionnaire. Pregnancies were self-reported, with case pregnancies lost spontaneously (spontaneous abortion <20 weeks of gestation and stillbirth 20+ weeks of gestation) and comparison pregnancies ending in ectopic pregnancy, induced abortion, or live birth. Results Among the 11,072 women, 15,950 pregnancies were reported of which 2,756(17.3%) ended in spontaneous abortion and 120(0.8%) ended in stillbirth. Compared to women in the lowest quintile of prepregnancy folate intake (<285μg/day), those in the highest quintile (>851μg/day) had a relative risk (RR) of spontaneous abortion of 0.91 (95% CI 0.82,1.02) after multivariable adjustment (P-trend=0.04). This association was primarily attributable to intake of folate from supplements. Compared to women without supplemental folate intake (0μg/day), those in the highest category (>730μg/day) had a RR of spontaneous abortion of 0.80 (95% CI 0.71,0.90) after multivariable adjustment (P-trend=<0.001). The association of prepregnancy supplemental folate with risk of spontaneous abortion was consistent across gestational period of loss. A similar inverse trend was observed with the risk of stillbirth, which fell short of conventional significance (P-trend=0.06). Conclusions Higher intake of folate from supplements was associated with reduced risk of spontaneous abortion. Women at risk of pregnancy should use supplemental folate for neural tube defect prevention and because it may decrease the risk of spontaneous abortion,. PMID:24901281

Maternal prepregnancy folate intake and risk of spontaneous abortion and stillbirth.

PubMed

Gaskins, Audrey J; Rich-Edwards, Janet W; Hauser, Russ; Williams, Paige L; Gillman, Matthew W; Ginsburg, Elizabeth S; Missmer, Stacey A; Chavarro, Jorge E

2014-07-01

To evaluate prospectively the relationship between prepregnancy folate intake and risk of spontaneous abortion and stillbirth. Women in the Nurses' Health Study II who self-reported a pregnancy between 1992 and 2009 were included in this analysis. Dietary folate and supplement use was assessed every 4 years, starting in 1991, by a food frequency questionnaire. Pregnancies were self-reported with case pregnancies lost spontaneously (spontaneous abortion less than 20 weeks of gestation and stillbirth 20+ weeks of gestation) and comparison pregnancies ending in ectopic pregnancy, induced abortion, or live birth. Among the 11,072 women, 15,950 pregnancies were reported of which 2,756 (17.3%) ended in spontaneous abortion and 120 (0.8%) ended in stillbirth. Compared with women in the lowest quintile of prepregnancy folate intake (less than 285 micrograms/d), those in the highest quintile (greater than 851 micrograms/d) had a relative risk of spontaneous abortion of 0.91 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.82-1.02) after multivariable adjustment (P trend=.04). This association was primarily attributable to intake of folate from supplements. Compared with women without supplemental folate intake (0 micrograms/d), those in the highest category (greater than 730 micrograms/d) had a relative risk of spontaneous abortion of 0.80 (95% CI 0.71-0.90) after multivariable adjustment (P trend <.001). The association of prepregnancy supplemental folate with risk of spontaneous abortion was consistent across gestational period of loss. A similar inverse trend was observed with the risk of stillbirth, which fell short of conventional significance (P trend=.06). Higher intake of folate from supplements was associated with reduced risk of spontaneous abortion. Women at risk of pregnancy should use supplemental folate for neural tube defect prevention and because it may decrease the risk of spontaneous abortion. : II.

The Ultimate Challenge: Prove B. F. Skinner Wrong

PubMed Central

Chance, Paul

2007-01-01

For much of his career, B. F. Skinner displayed the optimism that is often attributed to behaviorists. With time, however, he became less and less sanguine about the power of behavior science to solve the major problems facing humanity. Near the end of his life he concluded that a fair consideration of principles revealed by the scientific analysis of behavior leads to pessimism about our species. In this article I discuss the case for Skinner's pessimism and suggest that the ultimate challenge for behavior analysts today is to prove Skinner wrong. PMID:22478494

Spontaneous Chronic Pain After Experimental Thoracotomy Revealed by Conditioned Place Preference: Morphine Differentiates Tactile Evoked Pain From Spontaneous Pain.

PubMed

Hung, Ching-Hsia; Wang, Jeffrey Chi-Fei; Strichartz, Gary R

2015-09-01

Chronic pain after surgery limits social activity, interferes with work, and causes emotional suffering. A major component of such pain is reported as resting or spontaneous pain with no apparent external stimulus. Although experimental animal models can simulate the stimulus-evoked chronic pain that occurs after surgery, there have been no studies of spontaneous chronic pain in such models. Here the conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm was used to reveal resting pain after experimental thoracotomy. Male Sprague Dawley rats received a thoracotomy with 1-hour rib retraction, resulting in evoked tactile hypersensitivity, previously shown to last for at least 9 weeks. Intraperitoneal injections of morphine (2.5 mg/kg) or gabapentin (40 mg/kg) gave equivalent 2- to 3-hour-long relief of tactile hypersensitivity when tested 12 to 14 days postoperatively. In separate experiments, single trial CPP was conducted 1 week before thoracotomy and then 12 days (gabapentin) or 14 days (morphine) after surgery, followed the next day by 1 conditioning session with morphine or gabapentin, both versus saline. The gabapentin-conditioned but not the morphine-conditioned rats showed a significant preference for the analgesia-paired chamber, despite the equivalent effect of the 2 agents in relieving tactile allodynia. These results show that experimental thoracotomy in rats causes spontaneous pain and that some analgesics, such as morphine, that reduce evoked pain do not also relieve resting pain, suggesting that pathophysiological mechanisms differ between these 2 aspects of long-term postoperative pain. Perspective: Spontaneous pain, a hallmark of chronic postoperative pain, is demonstrated here in a rat model of experimental postthoracotomy pain, further validating the use of this model for the development of analgesics to treat such symptoms. Although stimulus-evoked pain was sensitive to systemic morphine, spontaneous pain was not, suggesting different mechanistic

Spontaneous splenic rupture in infectious mononucleosis: a review.

PubMed

Asgari, M M; Begos, D G

1997-01-01

Spontaneous rupture of the spleen is a rare complication of infectious mononucleosis (IM) occurring in 0.1-0.5 percent of patients with proven IM [1]. Although splenectomy has been advocated as the definitive therapy in the past, numerous recent reports have documented favorable outcomes with non-operative management. A review of the literature suggests that non-operative management can be successful if appropriate criteria, such as hemodynamic stability and transfusion requirements are applied in patient selection. We report the case of a 36 year old man with infectious mononucleosis who had a spontaneous splenic rupture and who was successfully managed by splenectomy. Based on review of the literature, an approach to management of a spontaneously ruptured spleen secondary to IM is suggested.

Spontaneous splenic rupture in infectious mononucleosis: a review.

PubMed Central

Asgari, M. M.; Begos, D. G.

1997-01-01

Spontaneous rupture of the spleen is a rare complication of infectious mononucleosis (IM) occurring in 0.1-0.5 percent of patients with proven IM [1]. Although splenectomy has been advocated as the definitive therapy in the past, numerous recent reports have documented favorable outcomes with non-operative management. A review of the literature suggests that non-operative management can be successful if appropriate criteria, such as hemodynamic stability and transfusion requirements are applied in patient selection. We report the case of a 36 year old man with infectious mononucleosis who had a spontaneous splenic rupture and who was successfully managed by splenectomy. Based on review of the literature, an approach to management of a spontaneously ruptured spleen secondary to IM is suggested. PMID:9493849

Spontaneous parity violation and SUSY strong gauge theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haba, Naoyuki; Ohki, Hiroshi

2012-07-01

We suggest simple models of spontaneous parity violation in supersymmetric strong gauge theory. We focus on left-right symmetric model and investigate vacuum with spontaneous parity violation. Non-perturbative effects are calculable in supersymmetric gauge theory, and we suggest new models. Our models show confinement, so that we try to understand them by using a dual description of the theory. The left-right symmetry breaking and electroweak symmetry breaking are simultaneously occurred with the suitable energy scale hierarchy. This structure has several advantages compared to the MSSM. The scale of the Higgs mass (left-right breaking scale) and that of VEVs are different, so the SUSY little hierarchy problems are absent. The second model also induces spontaneous supersymmetry breaking [1].

Abolishment of Spontaneous Flight Turns in Visually Responsive Drosophila.

PubMed

Ferris, Bennett Drew; Green, Jonathan; Maimon, Gaby

2018-01-22

Animals react rapidly to external stimuli, such as an approaching predator, but in other circumstances, they seem to act spontaneously, without any obvious external trigger. How do the neural processes mediating the execution of reflexive and spontaneous actions differ? We studied this question in tethered, flying Drosophila. We found that silencing a large but genetically defined set of non-motor neurons virtually eliminates spontaneous flight turns while preserving the tethered flies' ability to perform two types of visually evoked turns, demonstrating that, at least in flies, these two modes of action are almost completely dissociable. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Spontaneous HIT syndrome post-knee replacement surgery with delayed recovery of thrombocytopenia: a case report and literature review.

PubMed

Poudel, Dilli Ram; Ghimire, Sushil; Dhital, Rashmi; Forman, Daniel A; Warkentin, Theodore E

2017-09-01

Recently published reports have established a heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)-mimicking thromboembolic disorder without proximate heparin exposure, called spontaneous HIT syndrome. Although the pathophysiology remains unclear, anti-platelet factor 4 (PF4)/heparin antibodies possibly triggered by exposure to knee cartilage glycosaminoglycans or other non-heparin polyanions found on bacterial surfaces and nucleic acids have been postulated. We present a 53-year-old female receiving antithrombotic prophylaxis with aspirin following right total knee replacement surgery (without perioperative or any previous lifetime heparin exposure) who acutely presented with high-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) and right great saphenous vein thrombophlebitis on postoperative day (POD) 14; her platelet count at presentation was 13 × 10 9 /L. Prior to diagnostic consideration of spontaneous HIT syndrome, the patient briefly received unfractionated heparin (UFH) and one dose of enoxaparin. The patient's serum tested strongly positive for anti-PF4/heparin antibodies by two different PF4-dependent enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and by serotonin release assay (SRA). Failure of fondaparinux anticoagulation (persisting HIT-associated disseminated intravascular coagulation) prompted switching to argatroban. Severe thrombocytopenia persisted (platelet count nadir, 12 × 10 9 /L, on POD21), and 9 days after starting argatroban symptomatic right leg deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) occurred, prompting switch to rivaroxaban. Thereafter, her course was uneventful, although platelet count recovery was prolonged, reaching 99 × 10 9 /L by POD45 and 199 × 10 9 /L by POD79. The patient's serum elicited strong serotonin release in the absence of heparin (seen even with 1/32 serum dilution) that was enhanced by pharmacological concentrations of UFH (0.1 and 0.3 IU/mL) and fondaparinux (0.1-1.2 μg/mL, i.e., in vitro fondaparinux "cross-reactivity"). Ultimately, platelet count recovery was

From a distance: implications of spontaneous self-distancing for adaptive self-reflection.

PubMed

Ayduk, Ozlem; Kross, Ethan

2010-05-01

Although recent experimental work indicates that self-distancing facilitates adaptive self-reflection, it remains unclear (a) whether spontaneous self-distancing leads to similar adaptive outcomes, (b) how spontaneous self-distancing relates to avoidance, and (c) how this strategy impacts interpersonal behavior. Three studies examined these issues demonstrating that the more participants spontaneously self-distanced while reflecting on negative memories, the less emotional (Studies 1-3) and cardiovascular (Study 2) reactivity they displayed in the short term. Spontaneous self-distancing was also associated with lower emotional reactivity and intrusive ideation over time (Study 1). The negative association between spontaneous self-distancing and emotional reactivity was mediated by how participants construed their experience (i.e., less recounting relative to reconstruing) rather than avoidance (Studies 1-2). In addition, spontaneous self-distancing was associated with more problem-solving behavior and less reciprocation of negativity during conflicts among couples in ongoing relationships (Study 3). Although spontaneous self-distancing was empirically related to trait rumination, it explained unique variance in predicting key outcomes. 2010 APA, all rights reserved

From a distance: Implications of spontaneous self-distancing for adaptive self-reflection

PubMed Central

Ayduk, Özlem; Kross, Ethan

2010-01-01

Although recent work experimental work indicates that self-distancing facilitates adaptive self-reflection, it remains unclear (a) whether spontaneously self-distancing leads to similar adaptive outcomes, (b) how spontaneous self-distancing relates to avoidance, and (c) how this strategy impacts interpersonal behavior. Three studies examined these issues demonstrating that the more participants spontaneously self-distanced while reflecting on negative memories, the less emotional (Studies 1–3) and cardiovascular (Study 2) reactivity they displayed in the short-term. Spontaneous self-distancing was also associated with lower emotional reactivity and intrusive ideation over time (Study 1). The negative association between spontaneous self-distancing and emotional reactivity was mediated by how participants construed their experience (i.e., less recounting relative to reconstruing) rather than avoidance (Studies 1–2). In addition, spontaneous self-distancing was associated with more problem-solving behavior and less reciprocation of negativity during conflicts among couples in ongoing relationships (Study 3). Although spontaneous self-distancing was empirically related to trait rumination, it explained unique variance in predicting key outcomes. PMID:20438226

Spontaneous Hall effect in a chiral p-wave superconductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Furusaki, Akira; Matsumoto, Masashige; Sigrist, Manfred

2001-08-01

In a chiral superconductor with broken time-reversal symmetry a ``spontaneous Hall effect'' may be observed. We analyze this phenomenon by taking into account the surface properties of a chiral superconductor. We identify two main contributions to the spontaneous Hall effect. One contribution originates from the Bernoulli (or Lorentz) force due to spontaneous currents running along the surfaces of the superconductor. The other contribution has a topological origin and is related to the intrinsic angular momentum of Cooper pairs. The latter can be described in terms of a Chern-Simons-like term in the low-energy field theory of the superconductor and has some similarities with the quantum Hall effect. The spontaneous Hall effect in a chiral superconductor is, however, nonuniversal. Our analysis is based on three approaches to the problem: a self-consistent solution of the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equation, a generalized Ginzburg-Landau theory, and a hydrodynamic formulation. All three methods consistently lead to the same conclusion that the spontaneous Hall resistance of a two-dimensional superconducting Hall bar is of order h/(ekFλ)2, where kF is the Fermi wave vector and λ is the London penetration depth; the Hall resistance is substantially suppressed from a quantum unit of resistance. Experimental issues in measuring this effect are briefly discussed.

An unusual case of spontaneous esophagopleural fistula.

PubMed

Dash, Manoranjan; Mohanty, Thitta; Patnaik, Jyoti; Mishra, Narayan; Subhankar, Saswat; Parida, Priyadarsini

2017-01-01

Esophago-pleural fistula (EPF) is an uncommon condition, despite of an anatomical proximity of these structures. Causes of EPF include pneumonectomy for suppurative or tubercular disease of lung and carcinoma lung, malignancy of esophagus. Benign EPF is rare and may be due to trauma or infection. The most common infectious cause is tuberculosis. Spontaneous development of fistula between esophagus and pleura is rarely described in literature. We, hereby present a spontaneous case of such a rare entity in a middle-aged male.

Fabrication strategy for amphiphilic microcapsules with narrow size distribution by premix membrane emulsification.

PubMed

Wei, Yi; Wang, Yuxia; Wang, Lianyan; Hao, Dongxia; Ma, Guanghui

2011-10-15

Amphiphilic co-polymer, which can maintain the stability of proteins and increase the protein loading efficiency, is considered as an exploring-worthy biodegrade polymer for drug delivery. However, amphiphilic microcapsules prepared by conventional methods, such like mechanical stirring and spray-drying methods, exhibit broad size distributions due to its hydrophilic sequences, leading to poor reproducibility. In this study, we employed poly(monomethoxypoly ethylene glycol-co-D,L-lactide) (mPEG-PLA, PELA), one of common amphiphilic polymers, as model to focus on investigating the process parameters and mechanisms to prepare PELA microcapsules with narrow size distribution and regular sphericity by combining premix membrane emulsification and double emulsion technique. The coarse double emulsion with broad size distribution was repeatedly pressed through Shirasu Porous Glass (SPG) membrane with relatively high pressure to form the fine emulsion with narrow size distribution. Then, the microcapsules with narrow size distribution can be obtained by solvent extraction method. It was found that it was more difficult to obtain PELA microcapsules with narrow size distribution and smooth surface due to its amphiphilic property, compared with the cases of PLA and PLGA. The smooth surface morphology was found to be related to several factors including internal water phase with less volume, slower stirring rate during solidification and using ethyl acetate as oil phase. It was also found that mass ratio of hydrophilic mPEG, stabilizer PVA concentration in external water phase and transmembrane pressure played important role on the distribution of microcapsules size. The suitable preparation conditions were determined as follows: for the membrane with pore size of 2.8 μm, the mass ratio of PLA/mPEG was 19:1, volume ratio of W(1)/O was 1:10 and O/W(2) was 1:5, PVA concentration (w/v) was 1.0%, magnetic stirring rate during solidification was 60 rpm and 300 kPa was chosen as

Transition to the Ultimate Regime in Two-Dimensional Rayleigh-Bénard Convection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Xiaojue; Mathai, Varghese; Stevens, Richard J. A. M.; Verzicco, Roberto; Lohse, Detlef

2018-04-01

The possible transition to the so-called ultimate regime, wherein both the bulk and the boundary layers are turbulent, has been an outstanding issue in thermal convection, since the seminal work by Kraichnan [Phys. Fluids 5, 1374 (1962), 10.1063/1.1706533]. Yet, when this transition takes place and how the local flow induces it is not fully understood. Here, by performing two-dimensional simulations of Rayleigh-Bénard turbulence covering six decades in Rayleigh number Ra up to 1 014 for Prandtl number Pr =1 , for the first time in numerical simulations we find the transition to the ultimate regime, namely, at Ra*=1013 . We reveal how the emission of thermal plumes enhances the global heat transport, leading to a steeper increase of the Nusselt number than the classical Malkus scaling Nu ˜Ra1 /3 [Proc. R. Soc. A 225, 196 (1954), 10.1098/rspa.1954.0197]. Beyond the transition, the mean velocity profiles are logarithmic throughout, indicating turbulent boundary layers. In contrast, the temperature profiles are only locally logarithmic, namely, within the regions where plumes are emitted, and where the local Nusselt number has an effective scaling Nu ˜Ra0.38 , corresponding to the effective scaling in the ultimate regime.

When do humans spontaneously adopt another's visuospatial perspective?

PubMed

Freundlieb, Martin; Kovács, Ágnes M; Sebanz, Natalie

2016-03-01

Perspective-taking is a key component of social interactions. However, there is an ongoing controversy about whether, when and how instances of spontaneous visuospatial perspective-taking occur. The aim of this study was to investigate the underlying factors as well as boundary conditions that characterize the spontaneous adoption of another person's visuospatial perspective (VSP) during social interactions. We used a novel paradigm, in which a participant and a confederate performed a simple stimulus-response (SR) compatibility task sitting at a 90° angle to each other. In this set-up, participants would show a spatial compatibility effect only if they adopted the confederate's VSP. In a series of 5 experiments we found that participants reliably adopted the VSP of the confederate, as long as he was perceived as an intentionally acting agent. Our results therefore show that humans are able to spontaneously adopt the differing VSP of another agent and that there is a tight link between perspective-taking and performing actions together. The results suggest that spontaneous VSP-taking can effectively facilitate and speed up spatial alignment processes accruing from dynamic interactions in multiagent environments. (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).

Spontaneous and posed facial expression in Parkinson's disease.

PubMed

Smith, M C; Smith, M K; Ellgring, H

1996-09-01

Spontaneous and posed emotional facial expressions in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD, n = 12) were compared with those of healthy age-matched controls (n = 12). The intensity and amount of facial expression in PD patients were expected to be reduced for spontaneous but not posed expressions. Emotional stimuli were video clips selected from films, 2-5 min in duration, designed to elicit feelings of happiness, sadness, fear, disgust, or anger. Facial movements were coded using Ekman and Friesen's (1978) Facial Action Coding System (FACS). In addition, participants rated their emotional experience on 9-point Likert scales. The PD group showed significantly less overall facial reactivity than did controls when viewing the films. The predicted Group X Condition (spontaneous vs. posed) interaction effect on smile intensity was found when PD participants with more severe disease were compared with those with milder disease and with controls. In contrast, ratings of emotional experience were similar for both groups. Depression was positively associated with emotion rating but not with measures of facial activity. Spontaneous facial expression appears to be selectively affected in PD, whereas posed expression and emotional experience remain relatively intact.

Spontaneous periodic hypothermia and hyperhidrosis: a possibly novel cerebral neurotransmitter disorder.

PubMed

Rodrigues Masruha, Marcelo; Lin, Jaime; Arita, Juliana Harumi; De Castro Neto, Eduardo Ferreira; Scerni, Débora Amado; Cavalheiro, Esper Abrão; Mazzacoratti, Maria Da Graça Naffah; Vilanova, Luiz Celso Pereira

2011-04-01

Spontaneous periodic episodes of hypothermia still defy medical knowledge. In 1969, Shapiro et al. described the first two cases of spontaneous periodic hypothermia associated with agenesis of the corpus callosum. Recently, Dundar et al. reported a case of spontaneous periodic hypothermia and hyperhidrosis without corpus callosum agenesis, suggesting that the periodic episodes of hypothermia might be of epileptiform origin. Here we describe two paediatric patients with spontaneous periodic hypothermia without corpus callosum agenesis and demonstrate, to our knowledge for the first time, altered levels of neurotransmitter metabolites within the cerebrospinal fluid. © The Authors. Journal compilation © Mac Keith Press 2010.

Spontaneous Elimination of Hepatitis C Virus Infection.

PubMed

Janiak, Maciej; Caraballo Cortes, Kamila; Demkow, Urszula; Radkowski, Marek

2018-01-01

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the etiological agent of chronic hepatitis C and a major cause of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Only a minority of infected individuals can clear the virus spontaneously. The knowledge of the determinants of virus clearance would allow the development of effective methods preventing its further spread and optimizing treatment regimens. Viral factors associated with spontaneous virus clearance in the acute phase of infection, such as HCV genotype, virus heterogeneity, and the impact of viral proteins on the immune system have been characterized. Likewise, host genetic markers, such as the interleukin genotypes, HLA alleles, and factors affecting the T lymphocyte response appear to play an important role. Studies have revealed that natural clearance of HCV infection in the chronic phase is rare and its mechanisms are not well understood. In this review, we present the state-of-the art knowledge on the viral and host factors affecting the spontaneous elimination of HCV infection.

Spontaneous Endometriosis Within a Primary Umbilical Hernia

PubMed Central

Yheulon, Christopher G

2017-01-01

Umbilical hernias are rather common in the General Surgery clinic; however, endometriosis of an umbilical hernia is rare. It is especially unusual to have endometriosis of an umbilical hernia spontaneously occur compared to occurring at a site of a prior surgery. We present a case of spontaneous endometriosis of an umbilical hernia without prior surgery to her umbilicus. She had not presented with the usual symptoms of endometriosis and it was not considered as a diagnosis prior to surgery. Umbilical endometriosis is rare but usually occurs after prior laparoscopic surgery. We believe this is the second reported case in the English literature and the first such case reported from North America of spontaneous endometriosis of an umbilical hernia. This case highlights the importance of a full review of systems and qualifying the type and occurrence of pain. Additionally, it is always important to analyze surgical specimens in pathology to avoid errors in diagnosis. PMID:29164008

Spontaneous Endometriosis Within a Primary Umbilical Hernia.

PubMed

Laferriere, Nicole R; Yheulon, Christopher G

2017-11-01

Umbilical hernias are rather common in the General Surgery clinic; however, endometriosis of an umbilical hernia is rare. It is especially unusual to have endometriosis of an umbilical hernia spontaneously occur compared to occurring at a site of a prior surgery. We present a case of spontaneous endometriosis of an umbilical hernia without prior surgery to her umbilicus. She had not presented with the usual symptoms of endometriosis and it was not considered as a diagnosis prior to surgery. Umbilical endometriosis is rare but usually occurs after prior laparoscopic surgery. We believe this is the second reported case in the English literature and the first such case reported from North America of spontaneous endometriosis of an umbilical hernia. This case highlights the importance of a full review of systems and qualifying the type and occurrence of pain. Additionally, it is always important to analyze surgical specimens in pathology to avoid errors in diagnosis.

Ultimate Success Rates on National Board Examinations: A Research Brief.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gross, Leon J.; Wallis, Norman E.; Present, Richard K.

1999-01-01

A study investigated the percentage of optometry students successfully completing the four-component National Board of Examiners in Optometry examination at graduation between 1995 to 1997. Ultimate pass rates for all four components ranged from 87.0% to 90.9%. Results are discussed in relation to the 1993 test-sequence expansion and to the number…

Primer on spontaneous heating and pyrophoricity

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

Not Available

1994-12-01

This primer was prepared as an information resource for personnel responsible for operation of DOE nuclear facilities. It has sections on combustion principles, spontaneous heating/ignition of hydrocarbons and organics, pyrophoric gases and liquids, pyrophoric nonmetallic solids, pyrophoric metals (including Pu and U), and accident case studies. Although the information in this primer is not all-encompassing, it should provide the reader with a fundamental knowledge level sufficient to recognize most spontaneous combustion hazards and how to prevent ignition and widespread fires. This primer is provided as an information resource only, and is not intended to replace any fire protection or hazardousmore » material training.« less

Spontaneous resolution of traumatic acute subdural haematomas: A systematic review.

PubMed

Vital, Roberto Bezerra; Hamamoto Filho, Pedro Tadao; Oliveira, Victor Azevedo de; Romero, Flávio Ramalho; Zanini, Marco Antônio

2016-01-01

Traumatic subdural haematomas often require emergency surgical evacuation. Spontaneous resolution of traumatic acute subdural haematomas (TASDH) is under-reported. Two patients are described with spontaneous resolution of TASDH correlating with previous reports. A discussion is presented on the clinical, pathological and radiological features of TASDH. A review of the literature was performed using PubMed (Medline), Embase, and Cochrane Library for similar cases. A total 21 articles were included, involving 27 cases well detailed of TASDH with spontaneous resolution or neurological and radiological improvement in less than 24 h. There are two main mechanisms for the spontaneous resolution of acute subdural haematomas: dilution in subarachnoid space and redistribution of the haematoma in the subdural space. The primary radiological characteristic of these lesions is a hypodense rim on the outer surface of the clot. Spontaneous resolution of TASDH is unusual. Clinical and radiological surveillance is essential for appropriate management of these patients. Copyright © 2015 Sociedad Española de Neurocirugía. Published by Elsevier España. All rights reserved.

Gauged Supergravities and Spontaneous Supersymmetry Breaking from the Double Copy Construction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chiodaroli, M.; Günaydin, M.; Johansson, H.; Roiban, R.

2018-04-01

Supergravities with gauged R symmetry and Minkowski vacua allow for spontaneous supersymmetry breaking and, as such, provide a framework for building supergravity models of phenomenological relevance. In this Letter, we initiate the study of double copy constructions for these supergravities. We argue that, on general grounds, we expect their scattering amplitudes to be described by a double copy of the type (spontaneously broken gauge theory)⊗ (gauge theory with broken supersymmetry). We present a simple realization in which the resulting supergravity has U (1 )R gauge symmetry, spontaneously broken N =2 supersymmetry, and massive gravitini. This is the first instance of a double copy construction of a gauged supergravity and of a theory with spontaneously broken supersymmetry. The construction extends in a straightforward manner to a large family of gauged Yang-Mills-Einstein supergravity theories with or without spontaneous gauge-symmetry breaking.

Spontaneous hematologic recovery from bone marrow aplasia after accidental tenfold overdosage with radiophosphorus

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

Gmuer, J.; Bischof, B.; Coninx, S.

1983-04-01

Two patients with polycythemia vera received intravenously an accidental tenfold overdosage of radiophosphorus therapy (60 and 50 mCi 32P, respectively). In both patients, the occurrence of hemorrhagic complications 3 wk after the 32P medication led to detection of the error and referral to our hospital. Upon admission they showed an agranulocytosis, severe thrombocytopenia, and bone marrow aplasia. In both cases, spontaneous recovery of the hematopoiesis was observed from day 40 posttreatment onward. In one patient, a slow but ultimately complete normalization of blood counts and marrow morphology took place, whereas in the other, a mild thrombocytopenia persists. Nearly 5 yrmore » after the accidental overdosage, both patients are clinically well. Symptoms of polycythemia vera have not reappeared up to now. Attempts were made to evaluate the radiation dose absorbed by the bone marrow. In the first patient, the daily 32P excretion was determined from day 22 to day 60, whereas in the other patient a whole body count was performed on day 78 after administration. From these results, an approximate cumulative bone marrow dose of 10 Sv (1000 rem) could be calculated.« less

Spontaneous trait inference and spontaneous trait transference are both unaffected by prior evaluations of informants.

PubMed

Zengel, Bettina; Ambler, James K; McCarthy, Randy J; Skowronski, John J

2017-01-01

This article reports results from a study in which participants encountered either (a) previously known informants who were positive (e.g. Abraham Lincoln), neutral (e.g., Jay Leno), or negative (e.g., Adolf Hitler), or (b) previously unknown informants. The informants ostensibly described either a trait-implicative positive behavior, a trait-implicative negative behavior, or a neutral behavior. These descriptions were framed as either the behavior of the informant or the behavior of another person. Results yielded evidence of informant-trait linkages for both self-informants and for informants who described another person. These effects were not moderated by informant type, behavior valence, or the congruency or incongruency between the prior knowledge of the informant and the behavior valence. Results are discussed in terms of theories of Spontaneous Trait Inference and Spontaneous Trait Transference.

Spontaneous fulminant gas gangrene.

PubMed

Delbridge, M S; Turton, E P L; Kester, R C

2005-07-01

Gas gangrene is a rare condition, usually associated with contaminated traumatic injuries. It carries a high rate of mortality and morbidity. A number of studies have implicated non-traumatic gas gangrene and colonic neoplasia. This paper reports a patient who presented spontaneously with Clostridium septicum gas gangrene and an occult caecal carcinoma.

Spontaneous and amplified radiation at the initial stage of a SASE FEL.

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

Huang, Z.; Kim, K.-J.

At the initial stage of a self-amplified spontaneous emission (SASE) free-electron laser (FEL), spontaneous undulator radiation in certain experimental configurations can dominate the amplified signal over an extended undulator distance. In this paper they study both the spontaneous and the amplified radiation in the framework of the paraxial wave equation and determine the transition from the dominance of spontaneous emission to exponential amplification. They compare theoretical expectations with SASE simulation codes GINGER and GENESIS.

Salience of the Nuclear Threat: Operationalization through Spontaneous Concern.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mayton, Daniel M., II

An indirect/nonreactive technique of assessing spontaneous concern should be used to examine the salience of the threat of nuclear war. Direct/reactive techniques may produce inconsistent results and inadvertently enhance a false consensus. The procedures for the administration, scoring, and interpretation of a spontaneous concern measure along…

An unusual case of spontaneous esophagopleural fistula

PubMed Central

Dash, Manoranjan; Mohanty, Thitta; Patnaik, Jyoti; Mishra, Narayan; Subhankar, Saswat; Parida, Priyadarsini

2017-01-01

Esophago-pleural fistula (EPF) is an uncommon condition, despite of an anatomical proximity of these structures. Causes of EPF include pneumonectomy for suppurative or tubercular disease of lung and carcinoma lung, malignancy of esophagus. Benign EPF is rare and may be due to trauma or infection. The most common infectious cause is tuberculosis. Spontaneous development of fistula between esophagus and pleura is rarely described in literature. We, hereby present a spontaneous case of such a rare entity in a middle-aged male. PMID:28474659

Spontaneous distal rupture of the plantar fascia.

PubMed

Gitto, Salvatore; Draghi, Ferdinando

2018-07-01

Spontaneous ruptures of the plantar fascia are uncommon injuries. They typically occur at its calcaneal insertion and usually represent a complication of plantar fasciitis and local treatment with steroid injections. In contrast, distal ruptures commonly result from traumatic injuries. We describe the case of a spontaneous distal rupture of the plantar fascia in a 48-year-old woman with a low level of physical activity and no history of direct injury to the foot, plantar fasciitis, or steroid injections. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Increasing spontaneous language in three autistic children.

PubMed Central

Matson, J L; Sevin, J A; Fridley, D; Love, S R

1990-01-01

A time delay procedure was used to increase spontaneous verbalizations of 3 autistic children. Multiple baseline across behaviors designs were used with target responses, selected via a social validation procedure, of two spontaneous responses ("please" and "thank you") and one verbally prompted response ("you're welcome"). The results indicate gains across target behaviors for all children, with occurrence across other stimuli and settings. These gains were validated socially with 10 adults. Furthermore, increases in appropriate language had no effect on levels of inappropriate speech. PMID:2373659

Predictive factors of spontaneous CMV DNAemia clearance in kidney transplantation.

PubMed

Noble, Johan; Gatault, Philippe; Sautenet, Bénédicte; Gaudy-Graffin, Catherine; Beby-Defaux, Agnes; Thierry, Antoine; Essig, Marie; Halimi, Jean-Michel; Munteanu, Eliza; Alain, Sophie; Buchler, Matthias

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection occurs frequently after solid organ transplantation. Therapeutic strategies, in particular when to start a curative treatment, has not yet been defined. The purpose of this study was to assess predictive factors associated with spontaneous clearance of CMV DNAemia in kidney transplant recipients. All kidney recipients of a single center were recruited. Patients with at least one positive CMV DNAemia during the first year post transplantation were included in our analysis. Whole blood CMV PCR was performed using Abbott ® RealTime CMV, calibrated according to WHO standards and expressed in log10 IU/ml (Detection = 1.79 IU log10/ml). Post transplantation, prophylaxis (valganciclovir) was given for 3 months for CMV positive recipients (R+) and 6 months for CMV positive donors giving to seronegative recipients (D + R-). Clinical and biological symptoms attributable to CMV were collected. We defined as spontaneous CMV clearance undetectable DNAemia before the fourth follow up without treatment. Results were expressed as mean ± SD. Results were prospectively assessed in a French multicenter validation cohort. Between 05/2012 and 05/2015, 95 patients had at least one positive CMV DNAemia. Thirty-six (37.8%) had spontaneous undetectable DNAemia. Fifty-nine patients had non-spontaneous CMV clearance. ROC analysis showed that an initial CMV DNAemia <2.75 log10/IU/mL was optimal to predict CMV spontaneous clearance. On multivariate analysis, factors associated with spontaneous CMV clearance were initial PCR level lower than 2.75 log10/IU/ml (OR = 33.8, 95% CI [7.1-160.0]), and absence of CMV DNAemia increase of more than 1 log10 between two analyses (OR = 128.0, 95% CI [11.9-1368.0]). Clinical and biological abnormalities were not associated CMV DNAemia spontaneous clearance. Observations made for the principal cohort were validated in an independent cohort of 49 kidney transplanted patients. Initial standardized

An introduction to UGRS: the ultimate grading and remanufacturing system

Treesearch

John Moody; Charles J. Gatchell; Elizabeth S. Walker; Powsiri Klinkhachorn

1998-01-01

The Ultimate Grading and Remanufactming System (UGRS) is an advanced computer program for grading and remanufacturing lumber. It is an interactive program that will both grade lumber according to NHLA rules and remanufacture it for maximum value. UGRS is written to run under Microsoft Windows 3.0 or later updates and provides a sophisticated graphical user interface....

Posttraumatic stress disorder and risk of spontaneous preterm birth.

PubMed

Shaw, Jonathan G; Asch, Steven M; Kimerling, Rachel; Frayne, Susan M; Shaw, Kate A; Phibbs, Ciaran S

2014-12-01

To evaluate the association between antenatal posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and spontaneous preterm delivery. We identified antenatal PTSD status and spontaneous preterm delivery in a retrospective cohort of 16,334 deliveries covered by the Veterans Health Administration from 2000 to 2012. We divided mothers with PTSD into those with diagnoses present the year before delivery (active PTSD) and those only with earlier diagnoses (historical PTSD). We identified spontaneous preterm birth and potential confounders including age, race, military deployment, twins, hypertension, substance use, depression, and results of military sexual trauma screening and then performed multivariate regression to estimate adjusted odds ratio (OR) of spontaneous preterm delivery as a function of PTSD status. Of 16,334 births, 3,049 (19%) were to mothers with PTSD diagnoses, of whom 1,921 (12%) had active PTSD. Spontaneous preterm delivery was higher in those with active PTSD (9.2%, n=176) than those with historical (8.0%, n=90) or no PTSD (7.4%, n=982) before adjustment (P=.02). The association between PTSD and preterm birth persisted, when adjusting for covariates, only in those with active PTSD (adjusted OR 1.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14-1.61). Analyses adjusting for comorbid psychiatric and medical diagnoses revealed the association with active PTSD to be robust. In this cohort, containing an unprecedented number of PTSD-affected pregnancies, mothers with active PTSD were significantly more likely to suffer spontaneous preterm birth with an attributable two excess preterm births per 100 deliveries (95% CI 1-4). Posttraumatic stress disorder's health effects may extend, through birth outcomes, into the next generation.

Predictors of rapid spontaneous resolution of acute subdural hematoma.

PubMed

Fujimoto, Kenji; Otsuka, Tadahiro; Yoshizato, Kimio; Kuratsu, Jun-ichi

2014-03-01

Acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) usually requires emergency surgical decompression, but rare cases exhibit rapid spontaneous resolution. The aim of this retrospective study was to identify factors predictive of spontaneous ASDH resolution. A total of 366 consecutive patients with ASDH treated between January 2006 and September 2012 were identified in our hospital database. Patients with ASDH clot thickness >10mm in the frontoparietotemporal region and showing a midline shift >10mm on the initial computed tomography (CT) scan were divided into two groups according to subsequent spontaneous resolution. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors predictive of rapid spontaneous ASDH resolution. Fifty-six ASDH patients met study criteria and 18 demonstrated rapid spontaneous resolution (32%). Majority of these patients were not operated because of poor prognosis/condition and in accordance to family wishes. Univariate analysis revealed significant differences in use of antiplatelet agents before head injury and in the incidence of a low-density band between the hematoma and inner wall of the skull bone on the initial CT. Use of antiplatelet agents before head injury (OR 19.6, 95% CI 1.5-260.1, p=0.02) and the low-density band on CT images (OR 40.3, 95% CI 3.1-520.2, p=0.005) were identified as independent predictive factors by multivariate analysis. Our analysis suggested that use of antiplatelet agents before head injury and a low-density band between the hematoma and inner skull bone on CT images (indicative of cerebrospinal fluid infusion into the subdural space) increase the probability of rapid spontaneous resolution. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ultimate biochemical oxygen demand in semi-intensively managed shrimp pond waters

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Three independent studies were conducted to quantified ultimate biochemical oxygen demand (UBOD) and the corresponding decomposition rate constant for production pond (average 21.5 ha each) waters and effluents on six semi-intensively managed marine shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) farms in Honduras. S...

Fitness change in relation to mutation number in spontaneous mutation accumulation lines of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

PubMed Central

Kraemer, Susanne A.; Böndel, Katharina B.; Ness, Robert W.; Keightley, Peter D.; Colegrave, Nick

2017-01-01

Abstract Although all genetic variation ultimately stems from mutations, their properties are difficult to study directly. Here, we used multiple mutation accumulation (MA) lines derived from five genetic backgrounds of the green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii that have been previously subjected to whole genome sequencing to investigate the relationship between the number of spontaneous mutations and change in fitness from a nonevolved ancestor. MA lines were on average less fit than their ancestors and we detected a significantly negative correlation between the change in fitness and the total number of accumulated mutations in the genome. Likewise, the number of mutations located within coding regions significantly and negatively impacted MA line fitness. We used the fitness data to parameterize a maximum likelihood model to estimate discrete categories of mutational effects, and found that models containing one to two mutational effect categories (one neutral and one deleterious category) fitted the data best. However, the best‐fitting mutational effects models were highly dependent on the genetic background of the ancestral strain. PMID:28884790

Estimation of Ultimate Tensile Strength of dentin Using Finite Element Analysis from Endodontically Treated Tooth

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sinthaworn, S.; Puengpaiboon, U.; Warasetrattana, N.; Wanapaisarn, S.

2018-01-01

Endodontically treated teeth were simulated by finite element analysis in order to estimate ultimate tensile strength of dentin. Structures of the endodontically treated tooth cases are flared root canal, restored with different number of fiber posts {i.e. resin composite core without fiber post (group 1), fiber post No.3 with resin composite core (group 2) and fiber post No.3 accessory 2 fiber posts No.0 with resin composite core (group 3)}. Elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio of materials were selected from literatures. The models were loaded by the average fracture resistances load of each groups (group 1: 361.80 N, group 2: 559.46 N, group 3: 468.48 N) at 135 degree angulation in respect to the longitudinal axis of the teeth. The stress analysis and experimental confirm that fracture zone is at dentin area. To estimate ultimate tensile strength of dentin, trial and error of ultimate tensile strength were tested to obtain factor of safety (FOS) equal to 1.00. The result reveals that ultimate tensile strength of dentin of group 1, 2, 3 are 38.89, 30.96, 37.19 MPa, respectively.

Concurrent left-sided spontaneous pneumothorax in Japanese monogerminal twins.

PubMed

Tsukadaira, A; Okubo, Y; Ota, M; Hotta, J; Kubo, K

2001-01-01

Monogerminal twin brothers aged 17 were admitted because of concurrent left-sided spontaneous pneumothorax. A familial background of this common disease in association with the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) has been suggested; however, the actual mode of inheritance in association with HLA typing is still uncertain. HLA analysis in this family revealed the HLA-A24, B61 (40), Cw3, DR4, DR53, and DQ3 haplotype in the twins and their father, who also had a medical history of spontaneous pneumothorax. We report these cases as an extremely rare example of familial occurrence of spontaneous pneumothorax. Copyright 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel

The relationship between maternal nutritional status and spontaneous abortion.

PubMed

Neela, J; Raman, L

1997-01-01

The incidence of pregnancy wastage is high among poor women. Though the aetiology of spontaneous abortion is multifactorial, nutritional deficiency is considered to be an important contributory factor. A case-control study was conducted to assess the relationship between maternal vitamin status and spontaneous abortion. The incidence of anaemia (15%), and riboflavin (84%) and folate deficiency (24.5%) were similar among the cases and controls. Vitamin A levels were higher in the study group compared to those in controls. The results suggest that various nutrient deficiencies have no correlation with the occurrence of spontaneous abortion. The role of increased vitamin A levels needs to be studied further.

15 CFR Supplement No. 3 to Part 748 - BIS-711, Statement by Ultimate Consignee and Purchaser Instructions

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... this form. Block 6: Ultimate Consignee. Enter the requested information and sign the statement in ink... must be signed in ink by the Purchaser, if the Purchaser is not the same as the Ultimate Consignee...

15 CFR Supplement No. 3 to Part 748 - BIS-711, Statement by Ultimate Consignee and Purchaser Instructions

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... this form. Block 6: Ultimate Consignee. Enter the requested information and sign the statement in ink... must be signed in ink by the Purchaser, if the Purchaser is not the same as the Ultimate Consignee...

15 CFR Supplement No. 3 to Part 748 - BIS-711, Statement by Ultimate Consignee and Purchaser Instructions

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... this form. Block 6: Ultimate Consignee. Enter the requested information and sign the statement in ink... must be signed in ink by the Purchaser, if the Purchaser is not the same as the Ultimate Consignee...

15 CFR Supplement No. 3 to Part 748 - BIS-711, Statement by Ultimate Consignee and Purchaser Instructions

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... this form. Block 6: Ultimate Consignee. Enter the requested information and sign the statement in ink... must be signed in ink by the Purchaser, if the Purchaser is not the same as the Ultimate Consignee...

Spontaneous Communication in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Review of Topographies and Interventions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Duffy, Cormac; Healy, Olive

2011-01-01

Lack of spontaneous communicative initiations appears to be a consistent problem in individuals with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD; Fujiki & Brinton, 2009). Spontaneous communication is emitted at a much lower frequency compared to individuals with language impairment and typically developing persons. Deficits of spontaneity in…

[Treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax].

PubMed

Ribichini, P; Solaini, L; Montanari, M C; Amigoni, A; Piccinini, E

1990-09-15

Following an analysis of current treatment strategies for spontaneous pneumothorax and their surrounding controversies, the paper reports the Authors' personal experience. From 1 January 1984 to 31 December 1989 a total of 76 cases of spontaneous pneumothorax were treated, of which 3 were bilateral. The M:F ratio was 9:1 and the age of patients ranged between 16 and 77 years (mean age 39.2); 22 cases were relapses (27.8%). Conservative therapy was used in 12 cases (15.1%); pleural drainage was introduced in 54 cases (68.3%) for a mean of 7.5 days. Fourteen thoracotomies were performed in 13 patients (10.4%): bullectomy was performed 10 times with stapler, whereas pleurodesis was obtained in 9 cases using pleural abrasion and in 5 cases using apical pleurectomy plus pleural abrasion. Axillary thoracotomy at the 5th space was most commonly used. No major complications were observed during the postoperative period and, in spite of the minimum follow-up of 3 months, no cases of relapse were observed in operated patients.

Gaussian curvature directs the distribution of spontaneous curvature on bilayer membrane necks.

PubMed

Chabanon, Morgan; Rangamani, Padmini

2018-03-28

Formation of membrane necks is crucial for fission and fusion in lipid bilayers. In this work, we seek to answer the following fundamental question: what is the relationship between protein-induced spontaneous mean curvature and the Gaussian curvature at a membrane neck? Using an augmented Helfrich model for lipid bilayers to include membrane-protein interaction, we solve the shape equation on catenoids to find the field of spontaneous curvature that satisfies mechanical equilibrium of membrane necks. In this case, the shape equation reduces to a variable coefficient Helmholtz equation for spontaneous curvature, where the source term is proportional to the Gaussian curvature. We show how this latter quantity is responsible for non-uniform distribution of spontaneous curvature in minimal surfaces. We then explore the energetics of catenoids with different spontaneous curvature boundary conditions and geometric asymmetries to show how heterogeneities in spontaneous curvature distribution can couple with Gaussian curvature to result in membrane necks of different geometries.

Wall roughness induces asymptotic ultimate turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Xiaojue; Verschoof, Ruben A.; Bakhuis, Dennis; Huisman, Sander G.; Verzicco, Roberto; Sun, Chao; Lohse, Detlef

2018-04-01

Turbulence governs the transport of heat, mass and momentum on multiple scales. In real-world applications, wall-bounded turbulence typically involves surfaces that are rough; however, characterizing and understanding the effects of wall roughness on turbulence remains a challenge. Here, by combining extensive experiments and numerical simulations, we examine the paradigmatic Taylor-Couette system, which describes the closed flow between two independently rotating coaxial cylinders. We show how wall roughness greatly enhances the overall transport properties and the corresponding scaling exponents associated with wall-bounded turbulence. We reveal that if only one of the walls is rough, the bulk velocity is slaved to the rough side, due to the much stronger coupling to that wall by the detaching flow structures. If both walls are rough, the viscosity dependence is eliminated, giving rise to asymptotic ultimate turbulence—the upper limit of transport—the existence of which was predicted more than 50 years ago. In this limit, the scaling laws can be extrapolated to arbitrarily large Reynolds numbers.

Associative memory model with spontaneous neural activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kurikawa, Tomoki; Kaneko, Kunihiko

2012-05-01

We propose a novel associative memory model wherein the neural activity without an input (i.e., spontaneous activity) is modified by an input to generate a target response that is memorized for recall upon the same input. Suitable design of synaptic connections enables the model to memorize input/output (I/O) mappings equaling 70% of the total number of neurons, where the evoked activity distinguishes a target pattern from others. Spontaneous neural activity without an input shows chaotic dynamics but keeps some similarity with evoked activities, as reported in recent experimental studies.

Spontaneous Polariton Currents in Periodic Lateral Chains.

PubMed

Nalitov, A V; Liew, T C H; Kavokin, A V; Altshuler, B L; Rubo, Y G

2017-08-11

We predict spontaneous generation of superfluid polariton currents in planar microcavities with lateral periodic modulation of both the potential and decay rate. A spontaneous breaking of spatial inversion symmetry of a polariton condensate emerges at a critical pumping, and the current direction is stochastically chosen. We analyze the stability of the current with respect to the fluctuations of the condensate. A peculiar spatial current domain structure emerges, where the current direction is switched at the domain walls, and the characteristic domain size and lifetime scale with the pumping power.

Spontaneous Play and Imagination in Everyday Science Classroom Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Andrée, Maria; Lager-Nyqvist, Lotta

2013-01-01

In science education, students sometimes create and engage in spontaneous science-oriented play where ideas about science and scientists are put to use. However, in previous research, little attention has been given to the role of informal spontaneous play in school science classrooms. We argue that, in order to enhance our understanding of…

Fetal exposure to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and spontaneous abortions

PubMed Central

Daniel, Sharon; Koren, Gideon; Lunenfeld, Eitan; Bilenko, Natalya; Ratzon, Ronit; Levy, Amalia

2014-01-01

Background: Spontaneous abortion is the most common complication of pregnancy. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used during pregnancy. Published data are inconsistent regarding the risk of spontaneous abortion following exposure to NSAIDs. Methods: We performed a historical cohort study involving all women who conceived between January 2003 and December 2009 and who were admitted for delivery or spontaneous abortion at Soroka Medical Center, Clalit Health Services, Israel. A computerized database of medication dispensation was linked with 2 computerized databases containing information on births and spontaneous abortions. We constructed time-varying Cox regression models and adjusted for maternal age, diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, obesity, hypercoagulation or inflammatory conditions, recurrent miscarriage, in vitro fertilization of the current pregnancy, intrauterine contraceptive device, ethnic background, tobacco use and year of admission. Results: The cohort included 65 457 women who conceived during the study period; of these, 58 949 (90.1%) were admitted for a birth and 6508 (9.9%) for spontaneous abortion. A total of 4495 (6.9%) pregnant women were exposed to NSAIDs during the study period. Exposure to NSAIDs was not an independent risk factor for spontaneous abortion (nonselective cyclooxygenase [COX] inhibitors: adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.99–1.22; selective COX-2 inhibitors: adjusted HR 1.43, 95% CI 0.79–2.59). There was no increased risk for specific NSAID drugs, except for a significantly increased risk with exposure to indomethacin (adjusted HR 2.8, 95% CI 1.70–4.69). We found no dose–response effect. Interpretation: We found no increased risk of spontaneous abortion following exposure to NSAIDs. Further research is needed to assess the risk following exposure to selective COX-2 inhibitors. PMID:24491470

The psychiatrist's guide to right and wrong: Part IV: The insanity defense and the Ultimate Issue Rule.

PubMed

Goldstein, R L

1989-01-01

In the wake of Hinckley, widespread public dissatisfaction with the role of psychiatrists in insanity defense litigation prompted Congress in 1984 to amend the Federal Rules of Evidence to prohibit psychiatric testimony on the ultimate legal issue of whether or not a defendant is insane. APA's Statement on the Insanity Defense served as the ably articulated premise for this evidentiary amendment. APA argued that in going beyond their psychiatric expertise by answering ultimate issue questions as to whether defendants are legally insane, experts are likely to confuse the jury and undermine public confidence in psychiatry. APA also asserted that there was an impermissible logical leap between scientific psychiatric inquiry and moral-legal conclusions on the ultimate issue of insanity. This article reviews the origins, history, and vicissitudes of the Ultimate Issue Rule and analyzes the Statement on the Insanity Defense from both a legal and psychiatric perspective on the issue of whether psychiatrists should answer the ultimate question in insanity cases. The analysis suggests that APA's conclusions are not supported on scientific or evidentiary grounds, but may be warranted as a policy consideration to safeguard the public image of psychiatry.

Prisoner Fasting as Symbolic Speech: The Ultimate Speech-Action Test.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sneed, Don; Stonecipher, Harry W.

The ultimate test of the speech-action dichotomy, as it relates to symbolic speech to be considered by the courts, may be the fasting of prison inmates who use hunger strikes to protest the conditions of their confinement or to make political statements. While hunger strikes have been utilized by prisoners for years as a means of protest, it was…

Photomicrographic Investigation of Spontaneous Freezing Temperatures of Supercooled Water Droplets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dorsch, R. G.; Hacker, P. T.

1950-01-01

A photomicrographic technique for investigating eupercooled. water droplets has been devised and. used. to determine the spontaneous freezing temperatures of eupercooled. water droplets of the size ordinarily found. in the atmosphere. The freezing temperatures of 4527 droplets ranging from 8.75 to 1000 microns in diameter supported on a platinum surface and 571 droplets supported on copper were obtained. The average spontaneous freezing temperature decreased with decrease in the size of the droplets. The effect of size on the spontaneous freezing temperature was particularly marked below 60 microns. Frequency-distribution curves of the spontaneous freezing temperatures observed for droplets of a given size were obtained. Although no droplet froze at a temperature above 20 0 F, all droplets melted at 32 F. Results obtained with a copper support did not differ essentially from those obtained with a platinum surface.

Excess spontaneous emission in non-Hermitian optical systems. I. Laser amplifiers

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

Siegman, A.E.

1989-02-01

Petermann first predicted in 1979 the existence of an excess-spontaneous-emission factor in gain-guided semiconductor lasers. We show that an excess spontaneous emission of this type, and also a correlation between the spontaneous emission into different cavity modes, will in fact be present in all open-sided laser resonators or optical lens guides. These properties arise from the non-self-adjoint or non-power-orthogonal nature of the optical resonator modes. The spontaneous-emission rate is only slightly enhanced in stable-resonator or index-guided structures, but can become very much larger than normal in gain-guided or geometrically unstable structures. Optical resonators or lens guides that have an excessmore » noise emission necessarily also exhibit an ''excess initial-mode excitation factor'' for externally injected signals. As a result, the excess spontaneous emission can be balanced out and the usual quantum-noise limit recovered in laser amplifiers and in injection-seeded laser oscillators, but not in free-running laser oscillators.« less

Evaluation of Time-Temperature Integrators (TTIs) with Microorganism-Entrapped Microbeads Produced Using Homogenization and SPG Membrane Emulsification Techniques.

PubMed

Rahman, A T M Mijanur; Lee, Seung Ju; Jung, Seung Won

2015-12-28

A comparative study was conducted to evaluate precision and accuracy in controlling the temperature dependence of encapsulated microbial time-temperature integrators (TTIs) developed using two different emulsification techniques. Weissela cibaria CIFP 009 cells, immobilized within 2% Na-alginate gel microbeads using homogenization (5,000, 7,000, and 10,000 rpm) and Shirasu porous glass (SPG) membrane technologies (10 μm), were applied to microbial TTIs. The prepared micobeads were characterized with respect to their size, size distribution, shape and morphology, entrapment efficiency, and bead production yield. Additionally, fermentation process parameters including growth rate were investigated. The TTI responses (changes in pH and titratable acidity (TA)) were evaluated as a function of temperature (20°C, 25°C, and 30°C). In comparison with conventional methods, SPG membrane technology was able not only to produce highly uniform, small-sized beads with the narrowest size distribution, but also the bead production yield was found to be nearly 3.0 to 4.5 times higher. However, among the TTIs produced using the homogenization technique, poor linearity (R(2)) in terms of TA was observed for the 5,000 and 7,000 rpm treatments. Consequently, microbeads produced by the SPG membrane and by homogenization at 10,000 rpm were selected for adjusting the temperature dependence. The Ea values of TTIs containing 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 g microbeads, prepared by SPG membrane and conventional methods, were estimated to be 86.0, 83.5, and 76.6 kJ/mol, and 85.5, 73.5, and 62.2 kJ/mol, respectively. Therefore, microbial TTIs developed using SPG membrane technology are much more efficient in controlling temperature dependence.

Vortex-assisted emulsification semimicroextraction for the analytical control of restricted ingredients in cosmetic products: determination of bronopol by liquid chromatography.

PubMed

Miralles, Pablo; Bellver, Raquel; Chisvert, Alberto; Salvador, Amparo

2016-03-01

Vortex-assisted emulsification semimicroextraction is proposed as a one-step solution-extraction procedure for sample preparation in cosmetic products. The procedure allows rapid preparation based on dispersion of the sample in a mixture of 1 mL of n-hexane and 0.5 mL of ethanol, followed by the addition of 0.5 mL of water and centrifugation to obtain two separated phases. This procedure provides good sample clean-up with minimum dilution and is very useful for the determination of ingredients with restricted concentrations, such as bronopol. The procedure was applied to the determination of bronopol by liquid chromatography with UV detection. The best chromatographic separation was obtained by using a C18 column set at 40 °C and performing a stepwise elution with a mixture of ethanol/aqueous 1 % acetic acid solution as mobile phase pumped at 0.5 mL min(-1). The detection wavelength was set at 250 nm and the total run time required was 12 min. The method was successfully applied to 18 commercial cosmetic samples including creams, shampoos, and bath gels. Good recoveries and repeatability were obtained, with a limit of detection of 0.9 μg mL(-1), which makes the method suitable for the analytical control of cosmetic products. Moreover, it could be considered environmentally friendly, because water, ethanol, and only a low volume of n-hexane are used as solvents.

The spontaneous market order and evolution.

PubMed

Beck, Naomi

2016-08-01

Darwin's theory of natural selection and the idea of a spontaneous order share a fundamental feature: the claim that apparent design or order do not necessarily imply a designer or rational planning. But they also present important differences, which touch upon central questions such as the evolution of morality, the role of human agency in social evolution, the existence (or not) of directionality in undesigned processes, and the presence (nor not) of a providential element in evolutionary accounts. In this article, I explore these themes and probe the relationship between the notion of a spontaneous order and the theory of evolution by natural selection. The reflections of Nobel laureate in economics, F.A. von Hayek, provide the beginning and endpoint in this voyage, for they constitute the most pronounced effort to develop a full-fledged theory combining evolution and economics in recent times. But along the way, I also investigate the influence of classical political economy on Darwin's thought, primarily that of Adam Smith, and consider the reasons for which Darwin did not refer to Smith when discussing the principle of natural selection in The Origin of Species. I conclude that the spontaneous order, as understood by Hayek, and evolution by natural selection constitute two disparate concepts. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Progesterone to prevent spontaneous preterm birth

PubMed Central

Romero, Roberto; Yeo, Lami; Chaemsaithong, Piya; Chaiworapongsa, Tinnakorn; Hassan, Sonia

2014-01-01

Summary Preterm birth is the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide, and its prevention is an important healthcare priority. Preterm parturition is one of the ‘great obstetrical syndromes’ and is caused by multiple etiologies. One of the mechanisms of disease is the untimely decline in progesterone action, which can be manifested by a sonographic short cervix in the midtrimester. The detection of a short cervix in the midtrimester is a powerful risk factor for preterm delivery. Vaginal progesterone can reduce the rate of preterm delivery by 45%, and the rate of neonatal morbidity (admission to neonatal intensive care unit, respiratory distress syndrome, need for mechanical ventilation, etc.). To prevent one case of spontaneous preterm birth <33 weeks of gestation, 12 patients with a short cervix would need to be treated. Vaginal progesterone reduces the rate of spontaneous preterm birth in women with a short cervix both with and without a prior history of preterm birth. In patients with a prior history of preterm birth, vaginal progesterone is as effective as cervical cerclage to prevent preterm delivery. 17α-Hydroxyprogesterone caproate has not been shown to be effective in reducing the rate of spontaneous preterm birth in women with a short cervix. PMID:24315687

Complexin Mutants Reveal Partial Segregation between Recycling Pathways That Drive Evoked and Spontaneous Neurotransmission

PubMed Central

Sabeva, Nadezhda; Cho, Richard W.; Vasin, Alexander; Gonzalez, Agustin; Littleton, J. Troy

2017-01-01

Synaptic vesicles fuse at morphological specializations in the presynaptic terminal termed active zones (AZs). Vesicle fusion can occur spontaneously or in response to an action potential. Following fusion, vesicles are retrieved and recycled within nerve terminals. It is still unclear whether vesicles that fuse spontaneously or following evoked release share similar recycling mechanisms. Genetic deletion of the SNARE-binding protein complexin dramatically increases spontaneous fusion, with the protein serving as the synaptic vesicle fusion clamp at Drosophila synapses. We examined synaptic vesicle recycling pathways at complexin null neuromuscular junctions, where spontaneous release is dramatically enhanced. We combined loading of the lipophilic dye FM1–43 with photoconversion, electron microscopy, and electrophysiology to monitor evoked and spontaneous recycling vesicle pools. We found that the total number of recycling vesicles was equal to those retrieved through spontaneous and evoked pools, suggesting that retrieval following fusion is partially segregated for spontaneous and evoked release. In addition, the kinetics of FM1–43 destaining and synaptic depression measured in the presence of the vesicle-refilling blocker bafilomycin indicated that spontaneous and evoked recycling pools partially intermix during the release process. Finally, FM1–43 photoconversion combined with electron microscopy analysis indicated that spontaneous recycling preferentially involves synaptic vesicles in the vicinity of AZs, whereas vesicles recycled following evoked release involve a larger intraterminal pool. Together, these results suggest that spontaneous and evoked vesicles use separable recycling pathways and then partially intermix during subsequent rounds of fusion. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Neurotransmitter release involves fusion of synaptic vesicles with the plasma membrane in response to an action potential, or spontaneously in the absence of stimulation. Upon

[Risk factors in the living environment of early spontaneous abortion pregnant women].

PubMed

Liu, Xin-yan; Bian, Xu-ming; Han, Jing-xiu; Cao, Zhao-jin; Fan, Guang-sheng; Zhang, Chao; Zhang, Wen-li; Zhang, Shu-zhen; Sun, Xiao-guang

2007-10-01

To study the relationship between early spontaneous abortion and living environment, and explore the risk factors of spontaneous abortion. We conducted analysis based on the interview of 200 spontaneous abortion cases and the matched control (age +/- 2 years) by using multifactor Logistic regression analysis. The proportions of watching TV > or =10 hours/week, operating computer > or =45 hours/week, using copycat, microwave oven and mobile phone, electromagnetism equipment near the dwell or work place, e. g. switch room < or =50 m and launching tower < or =500 m in the cases are significantly higher than those in the controls in single factor analysis (all P < 0.05). After adjusted the effect of other risk factors by multifactor analysis, using microwave oven and mobile phone, contacting abnormal smell of fitment material > or =3 months, having emotional stress during the first term of pregnancy and spontaneous abortion history were significantly associated with risk of spontaneous abortion. The odds ratios of these risk factors were 2.23 and 4.63, respectively. Using microwave oven and mobile phone, contacting abnormal smell of fitment material > or =3 months, having emotional stress during the first term of pregnancy, and spontaneous abortion history are risk factors of early spontaneous abortion.

Prenatal antidepressant exposure and risk of spontaneous abortion - a population-based study.

PubMed

Kjaersgaard, Maiken Ina Siegismund; Parner, Erik Thorlund; Vestergaard, Mogens; Sørensen, Merete Juul; Olsen, Jørn; Christensen, Jakob; Bech, Bodil Hammer; Pedersen, Lars Henning

2013-01-01

To estimate the risk of spontaneous abortion after use of antidepressant medication during pregnancy. From the Danish Medical Birth Registry and the Danish National Hospital Registry, we identified all pregnancies leading to in- or outpatient contacts in Denmark from February 1997 to December 2008. The Danish Registry of Medicinal Product Statistics provided information on the women's prescriptions for antidepressants during pregnancy. We obtained information on women who were diagnosed with depression from the Danish Psychiatric Central Registry. Adjusted relative risks (aRR) of spontaneous abortion were estimated according to exposure to antidepressants or maternal depression using binomial regression. Of the 1,005,319 pregnancies (547,300 women) identified, 114,721 (11.4%) ended in a spontaneous abortion. We identified 22,061 pregnancies exposed to antidepressants and 1,843 with a diagnosis of depression with no antidepressant use, of which 2,637 (12.0%) and 205 (11.1%) ended in a spontaneous abortion, respectively. Antidepressant exposure was associated with an aRR of 1.14 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10-1.18) for spontaneous abortion compared with no exposure to antidepressants. Among women with a diagnosis of depression, the aRR for spontaneous abortion after any antidepressant exposure was 1.00 (95% CI 0.80-1.24). No individual selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) was associated with spontaneous abortions. In unadjusted analyses, we found that mirtazapine, venlafaxine, and duloxetine were associated with spontaneous abortions among women with depression but we had no information on potential differences in disease severity and only few pregnancies were exposed in the population. We identified a slightly increased risk of spontaneous abortion associated with the use of antidepressants during pregnancy. However, among women with a diagnosis of depression, antidepressants in general or individual SSRI in particular were not associated with

[Correlation of genomic DNA methylation level with unexplained early spontaneous abortion].

PubMed

Chao, Yuan; Weng, Lidong; Zeng, Rong

2014-10-01

To investigate the correlation of genomic DNA methylation level with unexplained early spontaneous abortion and analyze the role of DNMT1, DNMT3A and DNMT3B. Forty-five villus samples from spontaneous abortion cases (with 33 maternal peripheral blood samples) and 44 villus samples from induced abortion (with 34 maternal peripheral blood samples) were examined with high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) to measure the overall methylation level of the genomic DNA. The expressions of DNMT mRNAs were detected using fluorescence quantitative-PCR in the villus samples from 33 induced abortion cases and 30 spontaneous abortion cases. Genomic DNA methylation level was significantly lower in the villus in spontaneous abortion group than in induced abortion group (P<0.01), but similar in the maternal blood samples between the two groups (P>0.05). The mean mRNA expression levels of DNMT1 and DNMT3A in the villus were significantly lower in spontaneous abortion group than in induced abortion group (P<0.05), but DNMT3B expression showed no significant difference between them (P>0.05). Insufficient genomic DNA methylation in the villus does exist in human early spontaneous abortion, and this insufficiency is probably associated with down-regulated expressions of DNMT1 and DNMT3A.

Spontaneous pregnancy loss: evaluation, management, and follow-up counseling.

PubMed

Scroggins, K M; Smucker, W D; Krishen, A E

2000-03-01

Spontaneous pregnancy loss is a common problem requiring a logical and systematic approach to evaluation and management. This article outlines a practical method for primary care physicians to use throughout the diagnosis, management, and follow-up periods. It integrates collaborative decision making and attention to the emotional and informational needs of the patient experiencing spontaneous pregnancy loss.

Spontaneous fungal peritonitis: a rare but severe complication of liver cirrhosis.

PubMed

Gravito-Soares, Marta; Gravito-Soares, Elisa; Lopes, Sandra; Ribeiro, Graça; Figueiredo, Pedro

2017-09-01

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is the most common infectious complication in cirrhosis. Spontaneous fungal peritonitis is rare and remains unknown. In this work, spontaneous fungal peritonitis as well as risk factors and prognosis are characterized. A retrospective case-control study of 253 consecutive admissions by peritonitis in cirrhotic patients was carried out between 2006 and 2015. Comparison of patients with spontaneous fungal peritonitis (cases) and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis with positive microbiologic ascitic fluid culture (controls) was performed. Variables such as sociodemographic and clinical features, cirrhosis etiology, liver dysfunction scores, ascitic and laboratory parameters, invasive procedures, and prognosis were evaluated. Of the 231 patients, eight (3.5%) developed spontaneous fungal peritonitis, 62.5% of cases being coinfected with bacteria. Candida spp. was isolated in 87.5% of cases, mainly Candida albicans (37.5%) and C. krusei (25.0%). Patients with spontaneous fungal peritonitis had higher ascitic fluid lactate dehydrogenase (288.4±266.6 vs. 161.0±179.5; P=0.011), blood leukocyte count (15187.5±5432.3 vs. 10969.8±6949.5; P=0.028), blood urea nitrogen (69.8±3.1 vs. 36.3±25.5; P=0.001), higher number of invasive procedures (colonoscopy: 25.0 vs. 0.8%, P=0.001; urinary catheterization: 87.5 vs. 49.6%, P=0.038; nasogastric intubation: 87.5 vs. 26.9%, P=0.001), and longer duration of hospital stay (30.0±32.9 vs. 18.9±17.0 days; P=0.031). No statistical difference was found between the two groups for Model for End-Stage Liver Disease, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease-sodium, and Child-Pugh scores. Spontaneous fungal peritonitis was associated with a worse prognosis, particularly severe sepsis/septic shock (87.5 vs. 42.8%, P=0.023), admission in the gastroenterology intensive care unit (87.5 vs. 24.4%; P=0.001), and overall (62.5 vs. 31.9%; P=0.039) or 30-day mortality (50.0 vs. 24.4%; P=0.034), with a mean diagnosis

LRFD software for design and actual ultimate capacity of confined rectangular columns.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-04-01

The analysis of concrete columns using unconfined concrete models is a well established practice. On the : other hand, prediction of the actual ultimate capacity of confined concrete columns requires specialized nonlinear : analysis. Modern codes and...

Spontaneous Pneumothoraces in Patients with Birt–Hogg–Dubé Syndrome

PubMed Central

Kopras, Elizabeth J.; Henske, Elizabeth P.; James, Laura E.; El-Chemaly, Souheil; Veeraraghavan, Srihari; Drake, Matthew G.; McCormack, Francis X.

2017-01-01

Rationale: Spontaneous pneumothorax is a common complication of Birt–Hogg–Dubé syndrome (BHD). Objectives: The optimal approach to treatment and prevention of BHD-associated spontaneous pneumothorax, and to advising patients with BHD regarding risk of pneumothorax associated with air travel, is not well established. Methods: Patients with BHD were recruited from the Rare Lung Diseases Clinic Network and the BHD Foundation and surveyed about disease manifestations and air travel experiences. Results: A total of 104 patients completed the survey. The average age at diagnosis was 47 years, with an average delay from first symptoms of 13 years. Pulmonary cysts were the most frequent phenotypic manifestation of BHD, present in 85% of patients. Spontaneous pneumothorax was the presenting manifestation that led to the diagnosis of BHD in 65% of patients, typically after the second episode (mean, 2.4 episodes). Seventy-nine (76%) of 104 patients had at least one spontaneous pneumothorax during their lifetime, and 82% had multiple pneumothoraces. Among patients with multiple pneumothoraces, 73% had an ipsilateral recurrence, and 48% had a subsequent contralateral spontaneous pneumothorax following a sentinel event. The mean ages at first and second pneumothoraces were 36.5 years (range, 14–63 yr) and 37 years (range, 20–55 yr), respectively. The average number of spontaneous pneumothoraces experienced by patients with a sentinel pneumothorax was 3.6. Pleurodesis was generally performed after the second (mean, 2.4) ipsilateral pneumothorax and reduced the ipsilateral recurrence rate by half. A total of 11 episodes of spontaneous pneumothorax occurred among eight patients either during or within the 24-hour period following air travel, consistent with an air travel–related pneumothorax rate of 8% per patient and 0.12% per flight. Prior pleurodesis reduced the occurrence of a subsequent flight-related pneumothorax. Conclusions: Spontaneous pneumothorax is an

Spontaneous Pneumothoraces in Patients with Birt-Hogg-Dubé Syndrome.

PubMed

Gupta, Nishant; Kopras, Elizabeth J; Henske, Elizabeth P; James, Laura E; El-Chemaly, Souheil; Veeraraghavan, Srihari; Drake, Matthew G; McCormack, Francis X

2017-05-01

Spontaneous pneumothorax is a common complication of Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHD). The optimal approach to treatment and prevention of BHD-associated spontaneous pneumothorax, and to advising patients with BHD regarding risk of pneumothorax associated with air travel, is not well established. Patients with BHD were recruited from the Rare Lung Diseases Clinic Network and the BHD Foundation and surveyed about disease manifestations and air travel experiences. A total of 104 patients completed the survey. The average age at diagnosis was 47 years, with an average delay from first symptoms of 13 years. Pulmonary cysts were the most frequent phenotypic manifestation of BHD, present in 85% of patients. Spontaneous pneumothorax was the presenting manifestation that led to the diagnosis of BHD in 65% of patients, typically after the second episode (mean, 2.4 episodes). Seventy-nine (76%) of 104 patients had at least one spontaneous pneumothorax during their lifetime, and 82% had multiple pneumothoraces. Among patients with multiple pneumothoraces, 73% had an ipsilateral recurrence, and 48% had a subsequent contralateral spontaneous pneumothorax following a sentinel event. The mean ages at first and second pneumothoraces were 36.5 years (range, 14-63 yr) and 37 years (range, 20-55 yr), respectively. The average number of spontaneous pneumothoraces experienced by patients with a sentinel pneumothorax was 3.6. Pleurodesis was generally performed after the second (mean, 2.4) ipsilateral pneumothorax and reduced the ipsilateral recurrence rate by half. A total of 11 episodes of spontaneous pneumothorax occurred among eight patients either during or within the 24-hour period following air travel, consistent with an air travel-related pneumothorax rate of 8% per patient and 0.12% per flight. Prior pleurodesis reduced the occurrence of a subsequent flight-related pneumothorax. Spontaneous pneumothorax is an important, recurrent manifestation of pulmonary involvement in patients

Interhemispheric correlations of slow spontaneous neuronal fluctuations revealed in human sensory cortex

PubMed Central

Nir, Yuval; Mukamel, Roy; Dinstein, Ilan; Privman, Eran; Harel, Michal; Fisch, Lior; Gelbard-Sagiv, Hagar; Kipervasser, Svetlana; Andelman, Fani; Neufeld, Miri Y; Kramer, Uri; Arieli, Amos; Fried, Itzhak; Malach, Rafael

2009-01-01

Animal studies have shown robust electrophysiological activity in the sensory cortex in the absence of stimuli or tasks. Similarly, recent human functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) revealed widespread, spontaneously emerging cortical fluctuations. However, it is unknown what neuronal dynamics underlie this spontaneous activity in the human brain. Here we studied this issue by combining bilateral single-unit, local field potentials (LFPs) and intracranial electrocorticography (ECoG) recordings in individuals undergoing clinical monitoring. We found slow (<0.1 Hz, following 1/f-like profiles) spontaneous fluctuations of neuronal activity with significant interhemispheric correlations. These fluctuations were evident mainly in neuronal firing rates and in gamma (40–100 Hz) LFP power modulations. Notably, the interhemispheric correlations were enhanced during rapid eye movement and stage 2 sleep. Multiple intracranial ECoG recordings revealed clear selectivity for functional networks in the spontaneous gamma LFP power modulations. Our results point to slow spontaneous modulations in firing rate and gamma LFP as the likely correlates of spontaneous fMRI fluctuations in the human sensory cortex. PMID:19160509

The importance of causal connections in the comprehension of spontaneous spoken discourse.

PubMed

Cevasco, Jazmin; van den Broek, Paul

2008-11-01

In this study, we investigated the psychological processes in spontaneous discourse comprehension through a network theory of discourse representation. Existing models of narrative comprehension describe the importance of causality processing for forming a representation of a text, but usually in the context of deliberately composed texts rather than in spontaneous, unplanned discourse. Our aim was to determine whether spontaneous discourse components with many causal connections are represented more strongly than components with few connections--similar to the findings in text comprehension literature--and whether any such effects depend on the medium in which the spontaneous discourse is presented (oral vs. written). Participants either listened to or read a transcription of a section of a radio transmission. They then recalled the spontaneous discourse material and answered comprehension questions. Results indicate that the processing of causal connections plays an important role in the comprehension of spontaneous spoken discourse, and do not indicate that their effects on recall are weaker in the comprehension of oral discourse than in the comprehension of written discourse.

Spontaneous remission of a squamous cell carcinoma of the floor of the mouth.

PubMed

de Andrade Sousa, Alexandre; Lopes Rena, Rafael; Souza Silva, Guilherme; Marcos Arantes Soares, João; Porcaro-Salles, José Maria; Nunes, Laiz; Alves Mesquita, Ricardo; Jham, Bruno Correia

2014-10-01

Spontaneous remission is a rare, but well recognized event in oncology. Certain tumours, such as melanomas, hypernephromas and neuroblastomas, are known for showing spontaneous regression. Similarly, spontaneous regression of oral lymphomas, as well as oropharyngeal and recurrent tongue carcinomas, has been reported. Here, we present a novel case of a patient with a primary squamous cell carcinoma on the floor of the mouth whose tumour regressed spontaneously in three months, without any treatment. We also review of the literature on the spontaneous remission of oral cancer and discuss possible mechanisms for this phenomenon. Copyright © 2014 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Deliberative and spontaneous cognitive processes associated with HIV risk behavior

PubMed Central

Ames, Susan L.; Stacy, Alan W.

2012-01-01

Dual process models of decision-making suggest that behavior is mediated by a spontaneous behavior selection process or by a more deliberative evaluation of behavioral options. We examined whether the deliberative system moderates the influence of spontaneous cognition on HIV-risk behaviors. A measure of spontaneous sex-related associations (word association), a measure of deliberative working memory capacity (operation span), and two measures of sexual behavior (condom use and multiple partners) were assessed in a cross-sectional study among 490 adult drug offenders. Significant effects were observed among men but not among women in two latent interaction models. In a novel finding, the accessibility of spontaneous safe sex-related associations was significantly more predictive of condom use among men with higher working memory capacity than among men with lower capacity. These results have implications for the design of interventions to promote safe sex practices. PMID:22331437

Spontaneous esophageal-pleural fistula.

PubMed

Vyas, Sameer; Prakash, Mahesh; Kaman, Lileshwar; Bhardwaj, Nidhi; Khandelwal, Niranjan

2011-10-01

Spontaneous esophageal-pleural fistula (EPF) is a rare entity. We describe a case in a middle-aged female who presented with severe retrosternal chest pain and shortness of breadth. Chest computed tomography showed right EPF and hydropneumothorax. She was managed conservatively keeping the chest tube drainage and performing feeding jejunostomy. A brief review of the imaging finding and management of EPF is discussed.

Spontaneous Trigeminal Allodynia in Rats: A Model of Primary Headache

PubMed Central

Oshinsky, Michael L.; Sanghvi, Menka M.; Maxwell, Christina R.; Gonzalez, Dorian; Spangenberg, Rebecca J.; Cooper, Marnie; Silberstein, Stephen D.

2014-01-01

Animal models are essential for studying the pathophysiology of headache disorders and as a screening tool for new therapies. Most animal models modify a normal animal in an attempt to mimic migraine symptoms. They require manipulation to activate the trigeminal nerve or dural nociceptors. At best, they are models of secondary headache. No existing model can address the fundamental question: How is a primary headache spontaneously initiated? In the process of obtaining baseline periorbital von Frey thresholds in a wild-type Sprague-Dawley rat, we discovered a rat with spontaneous episodic trigeminal allodynia (manifested by episodically changing periorbital pain threshold). Subsequent mating showed that the trait is inherited. Animals with spontaneous trigeminal allodynia allow us to study the pathophysiology of primary recurrent headache disorders. To validate this as a model for migraine, we tested the effects of clinically proven acute and preventive migraine treatments on spontaneous changes in rat periorbital sensitivity. Sumatriptan, ketorolac, and dihydroergotamine temporarily reversed the low periorbital pain thresholds. Thirty days of chronic valproic acid treatment prevented spontaneous changes in trigeminal allodynia. After discontinuation, the rats returned to their baseline of spontaneous episodic threshold changes. We also tested the effects of known chemical human migraine triggers. On days when the rats did not have allodynia and showed normal periorbital von Frey thresholds, glycerol trinitrate and calcitonin gene related peptide induced significant decreases in the periorbital pain threshold. This model can be used as a predictive model for drug development and for studies of putative biomarkers for headache diagnosis and treatment. PMID:22963523

Diverse attitudes to and understandings of spontaneous awakening trials: results from a statewide quality improvement collaborative*.

PubMed

Miller, Melissa A; Krein, Sarah L; George, Christine T; Watson, Sam R; Hyzy, Robert C; Iwashyna, Theodore J

2013-08-01

Spontaneous awakening trials (SATs) improve outcomes in mechanically ventilated patients, but implementation remains erratic. We examined variation in reported practice, prevalence of attitudes and fears regarding spontaneous awakening trials, and organizational practices associated with routine implementation of spontaneous awakening trials in an ICU quality improvement collaborative. Written survey. Michigan Health and Hospital Association's Keystone ICU, a quality improvement collaborative of 73 hospitals. Attendees of the yearly Keystone ICU meeting, January 2011, including nurses, physicians, hospital administrators, and other healthcare professionals. Respondents were asked about institutional characteristics, spontaneous awakening trial practice, attitudes and barriers regarding spontaneous awakening trials, and organizational cultural characteristics that might influence SAT practice. The association of organizational cultural characteristics and attitudes with reported spontaneous awakening trial use was evaluated using logistic regression. Three hundred nineteen participants attended the meeting. The survey response rate was 83.4%. Respondents reported wide variation in approach to spontaneous awakening trial performance and patient selection. 48.6% of respondents reported regular spontaneous awakening trial use, defined as greater than 75% of mechanically ventilated patients undergoing spontaneous awakening trials each day. In bivariable analysis, addressing sedation goals routinely in rounds and having spontaneous awakening trials as part of unit culture were positively associated with regular spontaneous awakening trial use, whereas the perception that spontaneous awakening trials increased short-term adverse effects, staff fears of spontaneous awakening trials, and the perception that spontaneous awakening trials are hard work were negatively associated with regular spontaneous awakening trial use. In multivariable analysis, only addressing sedation

Spontaneous Hemothorax Following Cardiac Surgery.

PubMed

Barua, Anupama; Brown, Robert; Puppala, Swapna; O'Regan, David J

2016-04-01

We report a case of spontaneous hemothorax after aortic valve replacement in a 72-year-old female resulting from rupture of a pleural adhesion leading to hemodynamic instability. doi: 10.1111/jocs.12729 (J Card Surg 2016;31:211-213). © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Endocrine dysfunction and recurrent spontaneous abortion: An overview

PubMed Central

Kaur, Ramandeep; Gupta, Kapil

2016-01-01

Miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of a fetus before it is viable, occurring at a rate of 15–20%. Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) or habitual miscarriage is defined as repeated occurrence of 3 or more miscarriages before 20th week of gestation accounting for the most common complication of early pregnancy in humans. Various etiological factors responsible for recurrent miscarriage are anatomical, genetical, endocrinological, immunological, and infectious. The endocrinological abnormalities may be polycystic ovarian syndrome, hyperprolactinemia, luteal phase defect, thyroid dysfunction, diabetes, or hyperandrogenism contributing to recurrent pregnancy loss. In the present article, the role of endocrinological disorders in patients with RSA has been reviewed. The article search was done using electronic databases, Google scholarly articles, and PubMed based on different key words. We have further combined the searches and made grouping as per various endocrine abnormalities, which might be responsible to cause spontaneous loss of fetus. PMID:27127734

Rapid population growth and environmental degradation: ultimate versus proximate factors.

PubMed

Shaw, R P

1989-01-01

This philosophical review of 2 arguments about responsibility for and solutions to environmental degradation concludes that both sides are correct: the ultimate and the proximal causes. Ultimate causes of pollution are defined as the technology responsible for a given type of pollution, such as burning fossil fuel; proximate causes are defined as situation-specific factors confounding the problem, such as population density or rate of growth. Commoner and others argue that developed countries with low or negative population growth rates are responsible for 80% of world pollution, primarily in polluting technologies such as automobiles, power generation, plastics, pesticides, toxic wastes, garbage, warfaring, and nuclear weapons wastes. Distortionary policies also contribute; examples are agricultural trade protection, land mismanagement, urban bias in expenditures, and institutional rigidity., Poor nations are responsible for very little pollution because poverty allows little waste or expenditures for polluting, synthetic technologies. The proximal causes of pollution include numbers and rate of growth of populations responsible for the pollution. Since change in the ultimate cause of pollution remains out of reach, altering the numbers of polluters can make a difference. Predictions are made for proportions of the world's total waste production, assuming current 1.6 tons/capita for developed countries and 0.17 tons/capita for developing countries. If developing countries grow at current rates and become more wealthy, they will be emitting half the world's waste by 2025. ON the other hand, unsustainable population growth goes along with inadequate investment in human capital: education, health, employment, infrastructure. The solution is to improve farming technologies in the 117 non-self-sufficient countries, fund development in the most unsustainable enclaves of growing countries, break institutionalized socio-political rigidity in these enclaves, and focus on

Methods for Determining Spontaneous Mutation Rates

PubMed Central

Foster, Patricia L.

2007-01-01

Spontaneous mutations arise as a result of cellular processes that act upon or damage DNA. Accurate determination of spontaneous mutation rates can contribute to our understanding of these processes and the enzymatic pathways that deal with them. The methods that are used to calculate mutation rates are based on the model for the expansion of mutant clones originally described by Luria and Delbrück and extended by Lea and Coulson. The accurate determination of mutation rates depends on understanding the strengths and limitations of these methods and how to optimize a fluctuation assay for a given method. This chapter describes the proper design of a fluctuation assay, several of the methods used to calculate mutation rates, and ways to evaluate the results statistically. PMID:16793403

Spontaneous Nasal Septal Abscess Presenting as a Soft Tissue Mass in a Child.

PubMed

Cai, Yi; Saqi, Anjali; Haddad, Joseph

2017-04-01

Nasal septal abscess (NSA) is a rare condition most commonly seen as a complication of nasal trauma. The diagnosis of NSA requires emergent treatment, because delayed management can result in significant morbidity. Typically, NSA presents as a purulent collection that can be managed with drainage, either surgically or at bedside. We report an unusual presentation of a spontaneous NSA in a 7-year-old boy as a solid nasal mass eroding the nasal septum. The solid, tumor-like nature of the mass necessitated intervention beyond drainage and was ultimately excised. Imaging initiated in the emergency department revealed a partially cystic mass and erosion of the septum, which was key to the diagnosis. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Given the ease with which a diagnosis of NSA may be missed and the need for urgent management upon diagnosis of a NSA, we aim to highlight the clinical, radiologic, and histopathologic aspects that aid in diagnosis of NSA. Imaging, obtaining culture results, and initiation of antibiotics are paramount in management. In addition, NSAs may also necessitate bedside drainage given their emergent nature. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Determination of personal care products and hormones in leachate and groundwater from Polish MSW landfills by ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction and GC-MS.

PubMed

Kapelewska, Justyna; Kotowska, Urszula; Wiśniewska, Katarzyna

2016-01-01

Determination of the endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in leachate and groundwater samples from the landfill sites is very important because of the proven harmful effects of these compounds on human and animal organisms. A method combining ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction (USAEME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was developed for simultaneous determination of seven personal care products (PCPs): methylparaben (MP), ethylparaben (EP), propylparaben (PP), buthylparaben (BP), benzophenone (BPh), 3-(4-methylbenzylidene)camphor (4-MBC), N,N-diethyltoluamide (DEET), and two hormones: estrone (E1) and β-estradiol (E2) in landfill leachate and groundwater samples. The limit of detection (LOD)/limit of quantification (LOQ) values in landfill leachate and groundwater samples were in the range of 0.003-0.083/0.009-0.277 μg L(-1) and 0.001-0.015/0.002-0.049 μg L(-1), respectively. Quantitative recoveries and satisfactory precision were obtained. All studied compounds were found in the landfill leachates from Polish municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills; the concentrations were between 0.66 and 202.42 μg L(-1). The concentration of pollutants in groundwater samples was generally below 0.1 μg L(-1).

Astigmatism and spontaneous emission factor of laser diodes with parabolic gain

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

Mamine, T.

1983-04-01

An explicit relation between the astigmatism and the spontaneous emission factor of gain guiding lasers has been derived with the assumption that the gain profile can be approximated to be a parabola or that the lowest order mode in the cavity is approximately Gaussian. The maximum value of the spontaneous emission factor is shown to be ..sqrt..2 if index guiding is dominant. Beyond K = ..sqrt..2, where gain guiding is dominant in this region, the astigmatism decreases with the spontaneous emission factor. It is also shown that the spontaneous emission factor of the gain guiding lasers does not much exceedmore » ten and this conclusion has been confirmed experimentally for those whose stripe widths are larger than 4 ..mu..m.« less

The Nature of Spontaneity in High Quality Mathematics Learning Experiences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Williams, Gaye

2004-01-01

Spontaneity has been linked to high quality learning experiences in mathematics (Csikszentmihalyi & Csikszentmihalyi, 1992; Williams, 2002).This paper shows how spontaneity can be identified by attending to the nature of social elements in the process of abstracting (Dreyfus, Hershkowitz, & Schwarz, 2001). This process is elaborated…

Age and Ultimate Attainment in the Pronunciation of a Foreign Language.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bongaerts, Theo; van Summeren, Chantal; Planken, Brigette; Schils, Erik

1997-01-01

Reports on two studies addressing the issue of ultimate attainment of pronunciation by late second-language learners. Findings indicate that it is not impossible to achieve an authentic, nativelike pronunciation of a second language after a specified biological time. The article argues that certain learner characteristics and learning contexts may…

Comparison of non-toxic methods for creating beta-carotene encapsulated in PMMA nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dobrzanski, Christopher D.

Nano/microcapsules are becoming more prevalent in various industries such as drug delivery, cosmetics, etc. Current methods of particle formation often use toxic or carcinogenic/mutagenic/reprotoxic (CMR) chemicals. This study intends to improve upon existing methods of particle formation and compare their effectiveness in terms of entrapment efficiency, mean particle size, and yield utilizing only non-toxic chemicals. In this study, the solvent evaporation (SE), spontaneous emulsification, and spontaneous emulsion solvent diffusion (SESD) methods were compared in systems containing green solvents ethyl acetate, dimethyl carbonate or acetone. PMMA particles containing encapsulated beta carotene, an ultraviolet sensitive substance, were synthesized. It was desired to produce particles with minimum mean size and maximum yield and entrapment of beta carotene. The mass of the water phase, the mass of the polymer and the pumping or blending rate were varied for each synthesis method. The smallest particle sizes for SE and SESD both were obtained from the middle water phase sizes, 200 g and 100 g respectively. The particles obtained from the larger water phase in SESD were much bigger, about 5 microns in diameter, even larger than the ones obtained from SE. When varying the mass of PMMA used in each synthesis method, as expected, more PMMA led to larger particles. Increasing the blending rate in SE from 6,500 to 13,500 rpm had a minimal effect on average particle size, but the higher shear resulted in highly polydisperse particles (PDI = 0.87). By decreasing the pump rate in SESD, particles became smaller and had lower entrapment efficiency. The entrapment efficiencies of the particles were generally higher for the larger particles within a mode. Therefore, we found that minimizing the particle size while maximizing entrapment were somewhat contradictory goals. The solvent evaporation method was very consistent in terms of the values of mean particle size, yield, and

Association between trefoil factor 3 gene variants and idiopathic recurrent spontaneous abortion.

PubMed

Haroun, Sally; Altmäe, Signe; Karypidis, Helena; Kuningas, Maris; Landgren, Britt-Marie; Akerud, Helena; Skjöldebrand-Sparre, Lottie; Hosseini, Frida; Bremme, Katarina; Sundström-Poromaa, Inger; Stavreus-Evers, Anneli

2014-12-01

Trefoil factor 3 (TFF3) gene is an inflammatory mediator expressed in human endometrium during the window of implantation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible genetic association of TFF3 variants in recurrent spontaneous abortion. Women with a history of recurrent spontaneous abortion (n = 164) and healthy pregnant women (n = 143) were genotyped for five TFF3 polymorphisms (rs225439 G/A, rs533093 C/T, rs225361 A/G, rs11701143 T/C and rs77436142 G/C). In addition, haplotypes formed within the gene were analysed. Within the recurrent spontaneous abortion group, women who at some point had given birth and childless women had 4.19 ± 1.75 and 5.34 ± 3.42 consecutive spontaneous abortions, respectively. Women who had experience recurrent spontaneous abortions had a lower allele frequency of the rs11701143 promoter region minor C allele compared with fertile women (0.02 versus 0.05, P = 0.015). Patients with rs225361 AG genotype had significantly more successful pregnancies before spontaneous abortion than those with homozygous AA and GG genotypes (P = 0.014). No significant differences in haplotype frequencies between patients and controls were detected. Possible genetic risk factors identified that might contribute to the pathogenesis of idiopathic recurrent spontaneous abortion were TFF3 gene variants. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Phosphofructokinase and mitochondria partially explain the high ultimate pH of broiler pectoralis major muscle.

PubMed

Matarneh, Sulaiman K; Yen, Con-Ning; Elgin, Jennifer M; Beline, Mariane; da Luz E Silva, Saulo; Wicks, Jordan C; England, Eric M; Dalloul, Rami A; Persia, Michael E; Omara, Islam I; Shi, Hao; Gerrard, David E

2018-05-01

During postmortem metabolism, muscle pH gradually declines to reach an ultimate pH near 5.6 across most meat species. Yet, broiler pectoralis major (P. major) muscle generates meat with high ultimate pH (pH ∼ 5.9). For better understanding of the underlying mechanism responsible for this phenomenon, we evaluated the involvement of breast muscle chilling on the extent of postmortem metabolism. Broiler breast muscles were either subjected to chilling treatment (control) or left at room temperature (RT) for 120 min. P. major muscle from the RT treatment had lower ultimate pH, greater glycogen degradation and lactate accumulation. While these findings suggest that carcass chilling can contribute to the premature termination of postmortem metabolism, chilling did not fully explain the high ultimate pH of P. major muscle. Our results also revealed that glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) was very low at 24 h, and therefore we hypothesized that G6P was limiting. To test this hypothesis, muscle samples from P. major and porcine longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle were homogenized into a reaction buffer that mimics postmortem glycolysis with or without 0.5 mg/mL isolated mitochondria. While samples containing porcine LL muscle reached the normal level of ultimate pH, P. major muscle samples reached a value similar to that observed in vivo even in the presence of excess G6P, indicating that G6P was not limiting. Mitochondria enhanced the glycolytic flux and pH decline in systems containing muscle from both species. More importantly, however, was that in vitro system containing chicken with mitochondria reached pH value similar to that of samples containing LL muscle without mitochondria. To investigate further, phosphofructokinase (PFK) activity was compared in broiler P. major and porcine LL muscle at different pH values. PFK activity was lower in P. major muscle at pH 7, 6.5, and 6.2 than LL muscle. In conclusion, carcass chilling can partially contribute to the high ultimate p

Fast retrieval and autonomous regulation of single spontaneously recycling synaptic vesicles

PubMed Central

Leitz, Jeremy; Kavalali, Ege T

2014-01-01

Presynaptic terminals release neurotransmitters spontaneously in a manner that can be regulated by Ca2+. However, the mechanisms underlying this regulation are poorly understood because the inherent stochasticity and low probability of spontaneous fusion events has curtailed their visualization at individual release sites. Here, using pH-sensitive optical probes targeted to synaptic vesicles, we visualized single spontaneous fusion events and found that they are retrieved extremely rapidly with faster re-acidification kinetics than their action potential-evoked counterparts. These fusion events were coupled to postsynaptic NMDA receptor-driven Ca2+ signals, and at elevated Ca2+ concentrations there was an increase in the number of vesicles that would undergo fusion. Furthermore, spontaneous vesicle fusion propensity in a synapse was Ca2+-dependent but regulated autonomously: independent of evoked fusion probability at the same synapse. Taken together, these results expand classical quantal analysis to incorporate endocytic and exocytic phases of single fusion events and uncover autonomous regulation of spontaneous fusion. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.03658.001 PMID:25415052

Exposure to ambient air pollutants and spontaneous abortion.

PubMed

Moridi, Maryam; Ziaei, Saeideh; Kazemnejad, Anoshirvan

2014-03-01

This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between ambient concentrations of air pollutants and first-trimester spontaneous abortion. This was a retrospective case–control study, which was conducted on 296 women from June 2010 to February 2011 in Tehran, Iran. Cases were 148 women who experienced a spontaneous abortion before 14 weeks of gestation while the controls were 148 pregnant women after 14 weeks of gestation and groups were matched on sociodemographics and obstetrics characteristics. The samples were recruited randomly from 10 hospitals. In total, pollutants concentrations were collected at 29 stations hourly throughout the study area. We estimated the mean exposure for each participant and investigated the association between spontaneous abortion and ambient pollutants. Findings demonstrated that the average of ambient air pollutants in the cases was significantly higher than in the controls (P < 0.05). The odd ratios of abortion in the areas with higher concentrations of CO, NO₂, O₃ and PM₁₀ were 1.98, 0.96, 0.94 and 1.01, respectively (P < 0.05). Also, the model showed that there was no significant association between prenatal exposures to SO₂ and abortion (P > 0.05). Our findings suggest that pregnant women exposed to ambient air pollutants may be at increased risk of spontaneous abortion. Confirmation by further research is needed.

METHYLATED ASIII COMPOUNDS AS POTENTIAL PROXIMATE/ULTIMATE GENOTOXIC METABOLITES OF INORGANIC ARSENIC

EPA Science Inventory

METHYLATED Asm COMPOUNDS AS POTENTIAL PROXIMATE/ULTIMATE GENOTOXIC METABOLITES OF INORGANIC ARSENIC.

The methylation of inorganic arsenic has typically been viewed as a detoxification process. Genotoxicity tests have generally shown that arsenite has greater mutagenic p...

Student Experiments in Spontaneous Fission.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Becchetti, F. D.; Ying, J. S.

1981-01-01

Advanced undergraduate experiments utilizing a commercially available, thin spontaneous fission source are described, including studies of the energy and mass distribution of the fission fragments and their energy and angular correlation. The experiments provide a useful introduction to fission, nuclear mass equations, heavy-ion physics, and…

Cognitive and contextual correlates of spontaneous and deliberate mind-wandering.

PubMed

Robison, Matthew K; Unsworth, Nash

2018-01-01

Individuals with greater cognitive abilities generally show reduced rates of mind-wandering when completing relatively demanding tasks (Randall, Oswald, & Beier, 2014). However, it is yet unclear whether elevated rates of mind-wandering among low-ability individuals are manifestations of deliberate, intentional episodes of mind-wandering because of task disengagement or lack of motivation, or to spontaneous, unintentional failures to maintain task-oriented attention. The present study examined this issue by measuring working memory capacity (WMC), mind-wandering during 3 relatively demanding attention control tasks, and contextual variables (e.g., motivation, alertness, perceptions of task unpleasantness). Results indicated that the relationship between WMC and mind-wandering was primarily driven by spontaneous episodes. Lack of alertness also uniquely predicted more frequent spontaneous mind-wandering independently of WMC. Deliberate mind-wandering was primarily driven by a lack of motivation. Thus, cognitive and contextual factors can have distinct relationships with spontaneous and deliberate mind-wandering. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Override of spontaneous respiratory pattern generator reduces cardiovascular parasympathetic influence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Patwardhan, A. R.; Vallurupalli, S.; Evans, J. M.; Bruce, E. N.; Knapp, C. F.

1995-01-01

We investigated the effects of voluntary control of breathing on autonomic function in cardiovascular regulation. Variability in heart rate was compared between 5 min of spontaneous and controlled breathing. During controlled breathing, for 5 min, subjects voluntarily reproduced their own spontaneous breathing pattern (both rate and volume on a breath-by-breath basis). With the use of this experimental design, we could unmask the effects of voluntary override of the spontaneous respiratory pattern generator on autonomic function in cardiovascular regulation without the confounding effects of altered respiratory pattern. Results from 10 subjects showed that during voluntary control of breathing, mean values of heart rate and blood pressure increased, whereas fractal and spectral powers in heart rate in the respiratory frequency region decreased. End-tidal PCO2 was similar during spontaneous and controlled breathing. These results indicate that the act of voluntary control of breathing decreases the influence of the vagal component, which is the principal parasympathetic influence in cardiovascular regulation.

Differentiating the Causes of Spontaneous Rib Fracture After Breast Cancer.

PubMed

Harris, Susan R

2016-12-01

Spontaneous rib fracture after treatment for primary breast cancer is not uncommon. Although metastatic disease accounts for about 30% of spontaneous rib fractures and should constitute the first line of diagnostic investigation, other possible contributors include primary osteoporosis or secondary osteoporosis resulting from cancer treatments. Chemotherapy-induced menopause, aromatase inhibitors, radiation therapy, and long-term bisphosphonate use can all contribute to bone fragility, including spontaneous rib fractures in the latter 3. Drawing on recent breast cancer practice guidelines as well as population-based studies of fracture risk for women with a history of breast cancer and systematic reviews, this Perspective will provide an update on recent developments in understanding how to differentiate the possible reasons for non-traumatic rib fracture in women treated for breast cancer. In addition to describing the various possible causes of spontaneous rib fracture, the recommended medical and imaging procedures for differentiating among the potential causes will be presented. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Spontaneous decoherence of coupled harmonic oscillators confined in a ring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gong, ZhiRui; Zhang, ZhenWei; Xu, DaZhi; Zhao, Nan; Sun, ChangPu

2018-04-01

We study the spontaneous decoherence of coupled harmonic oscillators confined in a ring container, where the nearest-neighbor harmonic potentials are taken into consideration. Without any external symmetry-breaking field or surrounding environment, the quantum superposition state prepared in the relative degrees of freedom gradually loses its quantum coherence spontaneously. This spontaneous decoherence is interpreted by the gauge couplings between the center-of-mass and the relative degrees of freedoms, which actually originate from the symmetries of the ring geometry and the corresponding nontrivial boundary conditions. In particular, such spontaneous decoherence does not occur at all at the thermodynamic limit because the nontrivial boundary conditions become the trivial Born-von Karman boundary conditions when the perimeter of the ring container tends to infinity. Our investigation shows that a thermal macroscopic object with certain symmetries has a chance for its quantum properties to degrade even without applying an external symmetry-breaking field or surrounding environment.

Inflammasome assembly in the chorioamniotic membranes during spontaneous labor at term.

PubMed

Gomez-Lopez, Nardhy; Romero, Roberto; Xu, Yi; Garcia-Flores, Valeria; Leng, Yaozhu; Panaitescu, Bogdan; Miller, Derek; Abrahams, Vikki M; Hassan, Sonia S

2017-05-01

Inflammasome activation requires two steps: priming and assembly of the multimeric complex. The second step includes assembly of the sensor molecule and adaptor protein ASC (an apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD), which results in ASC speck formation and the recruitment of caspase (CASP)-1. Herein, we investigated whether there is inflammasome assembly in the chorioamniotic membranes and choriodecidual leukocytes from women who underwent spontaneous labor at term. Using in situ proximity ligation assays, ASC/CASP-1 complexes were determined in the chorioamniotic membranes from women who delivered at term without labor or underwent spontaneous labor at term with or without acute histologic chorioamnionitis (n=10-11 each). Also, ASC speck formation was determined by flow cytometry in the choriodecidual leukocytes isolated from women who delivered at term with or without spontaneous labor (n=9-12 each). (i) ASC/CASP-1 complexes were detected in the chorioamniotic membranes; (ii) ASC/CASP-1 complexes were greater in the chorioamniotic membranes from women who underwent spontaneous labor at term than in those without labor; (iii) ASC/CASP-1 complexes were even more abundant in the chorioamniotic membranes from women who underwent spontaneous labor at term with acute histologic chorioamnionitis than in those without this placental lesion; (iv) ASC speck formation was detected in the choriodecidual leukocytes; and (v) ASC speck formation was greater in the choriodecidual leukocytes isolated from women who underwent spontaneous labor at term than in those without labor. There is inflammasome assembly in the chorioamniotic membranes and choriodecidual leukocytes during spontaneous labor at term. Published 2017. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

Inflammasome Assembly in the Chorioamniotic Membranes during Spontaneous Labor at Term

PubMed Central

Gomez-Lopez, Nardhy; Romero, Roberto; Xu, Yi; Garcia-Flores, Valeria; Leng, Yaozhu; Panaitescu, Bogdan; Miller, Derek; Abrahams, Vikki M.; Hassan, Sonia S.

2017-01-01

Problem Inflammasome activation requires two steps: priming and assembly of the multimeric complex. The second step includes assembly of the sensor molecule and adaptor protein ASC (an apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD), which results in ASC speck formation and the recruitment of caspase (CASP)-1. Herein, we investigated whether there is inflammasome assembly in the chorioamniotic membranes and choriodecidual leukocytes from women who underwent spontaneous labor at term. Method of Study Using in situ proximity ligation assays, ASC/CASP-1 complexes were determined in the chorioamniotic membranes from women who delivered at term without labor or underwent spontaneous labor at term with or without acute histologic chorioamnionitis (n=10–11 each). Also, ASC speck formation was determined by flow cytometry in the choriodecidual leukocytes isolated from women who delivered at term with or without spontaneous labor (n=9–12 each). Results 1) ASC/CASP-1 complexes were detected in the chorioamniotic membranes; 2) ASC/CASP-1 complexes were greater in the chorioamniotic membranes from women who underwent spontaneous labor at term than in those without labor; 3) ASC/CASP-1 complexes were even more abundant in the chorioamniotic membranes from women who underwent spontaneous labor at term with acute histologic chorioamnionitis than in those without this placental lesion; 4) ASC speck formation was detected in the choriodecidual leukocytes; and 5) ASC speck formation was greater in the choriodecidual leukocytes isolated from women who underwent spontaneous labor at term than in those without labor. Conclusion There is inflammasome assembly in the chorioamniotic membranes and choriodecidual leukocytes during spontaneous labor at term. PMID:28233423

Orofacial neuropathic pain reduces spontaneous burrowing behavior in rats.

PubMed

Deseure, K; Hans, G

2018-07-01

It was recently reported that spontaneous burrowing behavior is decreased after tibial nerve transection, spinal nerve transection and partial sciatic nerve ligation. It was proposed that spontaneous burrowing could be used as a measure of the impact of neuropathic pain after peripheral nerve injury. It has remained unclear whether the reduction in burrowing behavior is caused directly by pain or hypersensitivity in the affected limbs, making it more difficult to perform burrowing, or by a pain induced decrease in the general wellbeing, thus reducing the motivation to burrow. We studied burrowing behavior after infraorbital nerve injury, a model of orofacial neuropathic pain that does not affect the limbs. Burrowing behavior was significantly reduced after infraorbital nerve injury. Isolated face grooming and responsiveness to mechanical von Frey stimulation of the infraorbital nerve territory were significantly increased after infraorbital nerve injury, indicative, respectively, of spontaneous pain and mechanical allodynia. It is concluded that spontaneous burrowing may provide a measure of the global impact of pain on the animal's wellbeing after peripheral nerve injury and incorporation of this behavioral assay in preclinical drug testing may improve the predictive validity of currently used pain models. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Sowing the seeds of stereotypes: Spontaneous inferences about groups.

PubMed

Hamilton, David L; Chen, Jacqueline M; Ko, Deborah M; Winczewski, Lauren; Banerji, Ishani; Thurston, Joel A

2015-10-01

Although dispositional inferences may be consciously drawn from the trait implications of observed behavior, abundant research has shown that people also spontaneously infer trait dispositions simply in the process of comprehending behavior. These spontaneous trait inferences (STIs) can occur without intention or awareness. All research on STIs has studied STIs based on behaviors of individual persons. Yet important aspects of social life occur in groups, and people regularly perceive groups engaging in coordinated action. We propose that perceivers make spontaneous trait inferences about groups (STIGs), parallel to the STIs formed about individuals. In 5 experiments we showed that (a) perceivers made STIGs comparable with STIs about individuals (based on the same behaviors), (b) a cognitive load manipulation did not affect the occurrence of STIGs, (c) STIGs occurred for groups varying in entitativity, (d) STIGs influenced perceivers' impression ratings of those groups, and (e) STIG-based group impressions generalized to new group members. These experiments provide the first evidence for STIGs, a process that may contribute to the formation of spontaneous group impressions. Implications for stereotype formation are discussed. (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).

Spontaneous esophageal-pleural fistula

PubMed Central

Vyas, Sameer; Prakash, Mahesh; Kaman, Lileshwar; Bhardwaj, Nidhi; Khandelwal, Niranjan

2011-01-01

Spontaneous esophageal-pleural fistula (EPF) is a rare entity. We describe a case in a middle-aged female who presented with severe retrosternal chest pain and shortness of breadth. Chest computed tomography showed right EPF and hydropneumothorax. She was managed conservatively keeping the chest tube drainage and performing feeding jejunostomy. A brief review of the imaging finding and management of EPF is discussed. PMID:22084548

Vortex-assisted surfactant-enhanced emulsification microextraction based on solidification of floating organic drop combined with high performance liquid chromatography for determination of naproxen and nabumetone.

PubMed

Asadi, Mohammad; Haji Shabani, Ali Mohammad; Dadfarnia, Shayessteh; Abbasi, Bijan

2015-12-18

A novel, rapid, simple and green vortex-assisted surfactant-enhanced emulsification microextraction method based on solidification of floating organic drop was developed for simultaneous separation/preconcentration and determination of ultra trace amounts of naproxen and nabumetone with high performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection. Some parameters influencing the extraction efficiency of analytes such as type and volume of extractant, type and concentration of surfactant, sample pH, KCl concentration, sample volume, and vortex time were investigated and optimized. Under optimal conditions, the calibration graph exhibited linearity in the range of 3.0-300.0ngL(-1) for naproxen and 7.0-300.0ngL(-1) for nabumetone with a good coefficient of determination (R(2)>0.999). The limits of detection were 0.9 and 2.1ngL(-1). The relative standard deviations for inter- and intra-day assays were in the range of 5.8-10.1% and 3.8-6.1%, respectively. The method was applied to the determination of naproxen and nabumetone in urine, water, wastewater and milk samples and the accuracy was evaluated through recovery experiments. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Yoichiro Nambu and the Mechanism of Spontaneous Broken Symmetries in

Science.gov Websites

Subatomic Physics RSS Archive Videos XML DOE R&D Accomplishments DOE R&D Mechanism of Spontaneous Broken Symmetries in Subatomic Physics Resources with Additional Information Physics "for the discovery of the mechanism of spontaneous broken symmetry in subatomic physics"

[Treatment of the first episode of spontaneous pneumothorax].

PubMed

Moubachir, H; Zaghba, N; Benjelloun, H; Bakhatar, A; Yassine, N

2016-11-01

The management of a first episode of spontaneous pneumothorax is controversial and the best technique to be used as an initial intervention, aspiration or intercostal drainage, is still debated. We present a retrospective case series during two and a half consecutive years describing the immediate management of spontaneous pneumothoraces, comparing aspiration versus thoracic drainage. One hundred and thirty-three clinical files from patients with spontaneous pneumothoraces were analyzed (17 primary and 116 secondary). The pneumothoraces were of varying size and different etiologies. Patients were initially treated with simple aspiration in 68 cases, with an immediate success rate of 37.5%, intercostal drainage in 49 cases, and by rest alone in 16 cases. In case of secondary pneumothorax, aspiration appeared to offer advantages as an initial strategy over intercostal drainage in terms of hospital stay (11 versus 22 days), and with significant effectiveness (37.5%). Copyright © 2016 SPLF. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Ultimate Spectrum of Solar/Stellar Cosmic Rays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Struminsky, Alexei

2015-08-01

We reconstruct an ultimate spectrum of solar/stellar cosmic rays (SCR) in a given point in the heliosphere (stellar sphere) basing on maximal value of magnetic field strenght in active region and its characteristic linear dimension. An accelerator of given dimensions and magnetic field strengh may accelarate to a finite energy for a given time (a maximal energy of SCR). We will use spectrum of SCR proposed by Syrovatsky (1961) for relativistic and non-relativistic energies normaliszing it to galactic cosmic ray (GCR) intensity at maximal SCR energy. Maximal values of SCR flux propagating in the heliosphere are determined by equilibrium between pressure of interplanetary magnrtic field and dynamic pressure of SCR (Frier&Webber, 1963). The obtained spectra would be applied to explain the extreme solar particle event occurred in about 775 AD basing on the tree-ring chronology (Miyake et al., 2012).

Predisposing Factors for Spontaneous Closure of Congenital Portosystemic Shunts.

PubMed

Paganelli, Massimiliano; Lipsich, José E; Sciveres, Marco; Alvarez, Fernando

2015-10-01

In a review of 382 cases of congenital portosystemic shunt, we found that presentation with neonatal cholestasis strongly predicts spontaneous closure of intrahepatic shunts (OR 8.3, 95% CI 3.4-20.2). Spontaneous closure before the 24th month of age is more likely for distal or multiple shunts, but rare for patent ductus venosus. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Spontaneous Intrahepatic Portal Venous Shunt: Presentation and Endovascular Treatment.

PubMed

Sheth, Nakul; Sabbah, Nathanael; Contractor, Sohail

2016-07-01

Spontaneous intrahepatic portal venous shunts are rare with only few case reports published. Treatments using various endovascular techniques have been described, although no single technique has been shown to be preferred. We present a patient who was referred for treatment of a spontaneous portal venous shunt and describe our treatment approach and present a review on previously reported cases. © The Author(s) 2016.

Spontaneous closure of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas: a report of 3 cases.

PubMed

Clarençon, Frédéric; Biondi, Alessandra; Sourour, Nader-Antoine; Di Maria, Federico; Iosif, Christina; Nouet, Aurélien; Navarro, Soledad; Le Jean, Lise; Chiras, Jacques

2013-07-01

Spontaneous closures of dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) are rare. We present spontaneous occlusion of dAVFs in 3 cases (one type IIa dAVF, one type IIb and one type III). Patients were 3 males with a mean age of 55 years (range 45-61). For two patients, the dAVF was revealed by hemorrhage. No head trauma was recorded at the interrogatory. Mean delay for spontaneous closure was 4 months (3-5 months). Review of the literature about this rare occurrence is presented and the factors that may lead to spontaneous occlusion of dAVFs are discussed. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Spontaneous Number Representation in Mosquitofish

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dadda, Marco; Piffer, Laura; Agrillo, Christian; Bisazza, Angelo

2009-01-01

While there is convincing evidence that preverbal human infants and non-human primates can spontaneously represent number, considerable debate surrounds the possibility that such capacity is also present in other animals. Fish show a remarkable ability to discriminate between different numbers of social companions. Previous work has demonstrated…

Do Parkinson's disease patients disclose their adverse events spontaneously?

PubMed

Perez-Lloret, Santiago; Rey, María Verónica; Fabre, Nelly; Ory, Fabienne; Spampinato, Umberto; Montastruc, Jean-Louis; Rascol, Olivier

2012-05-01

Underreporting of adverse drug reactions is common but has been rarely studied in Parkinson's disease (PD). To compare the prevalence of adverse events (AEs) in relation to antiparkinsonian drugs in PD patients using two different data collection methods: patient's spontaneous reporting versus a predefined investigator-driven structured interview. Secondary objectives were to assess factors related to spontaneous reporting and to compare the rate of AE reporting in PD patients with that of a group of non-parkinsonian post-stroke patients. Cross-sectional study. Ambulatory, cognitively intact PD or post-stroke outpatients. None. Patients were first asked by means of an an open question to disclose any unpleasant effects in connection with their current medications that had occurred during the previous week. Afterwards, a predefined questionnaire listing the most common AEs known to be related to antiparkinsonian drugs was used to question the same patients in a systematic manner about the presence of any AE during the same week. Chronological and semiological criteria were used to classify the reported AEs as "unrelated" or "possibly/plausibly related" to the antiparkinsonian treatment. A total of 203 PD and 52 post-stroke patients of comparable age and sex were recruited. Eighty-five PD and five post-stroke patients reported spontaneously at least one AE (42 vs. 10%, p < 0.01), while 203 PD and 47 post-stroke patients reported at least one AE following the structured questionnaire (100 vs. 90%, p < 0.001). In PD patients, there were a total of 112 spontaneously reported AEs as compared with 1,574 according to the structured questionnaire (7%). Spontaneous disclosure of AEs was associated with experiencing >2 AEs [OR = 1.2 (1.1-3.2)], logistic regression). Seventy-four percent of PD patients had ≥1 AE possibly/plausibly related to antiparkinsonian drugs. Results showed that only 7% of AEs were reported spontaneously by patients, thus underscoring the

HHV Predicting Correlations for Torrefied Biomass Using Proximate and Ultimate Analyses

PubMed Central

Nhuchhen, Daya Ram; Afzal, Muhammad T.

2017-01-01

Many correlations are available in the literature to predict the higher heating value (HHV) of raw biomass using the proximate and ultimate analyses. Studies on biomass torrefaction are growing tremendously, which suggest that the fuel characteristics, such as HHV, proximate analysis and ultimate analysis, have changed significantly after torrefaction. Such changes may cause high estimation errors if the existing HHV correlations were to be used in predicting the HHV of torrefied biomass. No study has been carried out so far to verify this. Therefore, this study seeks answers to the question: “Can the existing correlations be used to determine the HHV of the torrefied biomass”? To answer this, the existing HHV predicting correlations were tested using torrefied biomass data points. Estimation errors were found to be significantly high for the existing HHV correlations, and thus, they are not suitable for predicting the HHV of the torrefied biomass. New correlations were then developed using data points of torrefied biomass. The ranges of reported data for HHV, volatile matter (VM), fixed carbon (FC), ash (ASH), carbon (C), hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) contents were 14.90 MJ/kg–33.30 MJ/kg, 13.30%–88.57%, 11.25%–82.74%, 0.08%–47.62%, 35.08%–86.28%, 0.53%–7.46% and 4.31%–44.70%, respectively. Correlations with the minimum mean absolute errors and having all components of proximate and ultimate analyses were selected for future use. The selected new correlations have a good accuracy of prediction when they are validated using another set of data (26 samples). Thus, these new and more accurate correlations can be useful in modeling different thermochemical processes, including combustion, pyrolysis and gasification processes of torrefied biomass. PMID:28952487

The ultimate quantum limits on the accuracy of measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yuen, Horace P.

1992-01-01

A quantum generalization of rate-distortion theory from standard communication and information theory is developed for application to determining the ultimate performance limit of measurement systems in physics. For the estimation of a real or a phase parameter, it is shown that the root-mean-square error obtained in a measurement with a single-mode photon level N cannot do better than approximately N exp -1, while approximately exp(-N) may be obtained for multi-mode fields with the same photon level N. Possible ways to achieve the remarkable exponential performance are indicated.

Dynamics of entanglement between two atomic samples with spontaneous scattering

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

Di Lisi, Antonio; De Siena, Silvio; Illuminati, Fabrizio

2004-07-01

We investigate the effects of spontaneous scattering on the evolution of entanglement of two atomic samples, probed by phase-shift measurements on optical beams interacting with both samples. We develop a formalism of conditional quantum evolutions and present a wave function analysis implemented in numerical simulations of the state vector dynamics. This method allows us to track the evolution of entanglement and to compare it with the predictions obtained when spontaneous scattering is neglected. We provide numerical evidence that the interferometric scheme to entangle atomic samples is only marginally affected by the presence of spontaneous scattering and should thus be robustmore » even in more realistic situations.« less

Endobronchial angiofibroma in the aberrant tracheal bronchus presenting as spontaneous pneumomediastinum.

PubMed

Kim, Kyung Soo; Moon, Young Kyu; Jeon, Hyun Woo; Park, Chan Beom; Ahn, Myeong Im; Lee, Kyo Young; Park, Jae Kil

2015-07-22

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is a self-limiting benign disease but abnormal bronchial lesions can be rarely found incidentally, and in selected cases will require surgical resection. A 38-year-old man presented with a spontaneous pneumomediastinum. Chest computed tomography revealed an incidental linear endobronchial tumour in the aberrant tracheal bronchus. The tumour was removed surgically and diagnosed with a rare benign tumour of endobronchial angiofibroma. We report a rare case of endobronchial angiofibroma in the aberrant tracheal bronchus which was detected during the evaluation of a spontaneous pneumomediastinum.

Which nerve conduction parameters can predict spontaneous electromyographic activity in carpal tunnel syndrome?

PubMed

Chang, Chia-Wei; Lee, Wei-Ju; Liao, Yi-Chu; Chang, Ming-Hong

2013-11-01

We investigate electrodiagnostic markers to determine which parameters are the best predictors of spontaneous electromyographic (EMG) activity in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). We enrolled 229 patients with clinically proven and nerve conduction study (NCS)-proven CTS, as well as 100 normal control subjects. All subjects were evaluated using electrodiagnostic techniques, including median distal sensory latencies (DSLs), sensory nerve action potentials (SNAPs), distal motor latencies (DMLs), compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs), forearm median nerve conduction velocities (FMCVs) and wrist-palm motor conduction velocities (W-P MCVs). All CTS patients underwent EMG examination of the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscle, and the presence or absence of spontaneous EMG activities was recorded. Normal limits were determined by calculating the means ± 2 standard deviations from the control data. Associations between parameters from the NCS and EMG findings were investigated. In patients with clinically diagnosed CTS, abnormal median CMAP amplitudes were the best predictors of spontaneous activity during EMG examination (p<0.001; OR 36.58; 95% CI 15.85-84.43). If the median CMAP amplitude was ≤ 2.1 mV, the rate of occurrence of spontaneous EMG activity was >95% (positive predictive rate >95%). If the median CMAP amplitude was higher than the normal limit (>4.9 mV), the rate of no spontaneous EMG activity was >94% (negative predictive rate >94%). An abnormal SNAP amplitude was the second best predictor of spontaneous EMG activity (p<0.001; OR 4.13; 95% CI 2.16-7.90), and an abnormal FMCV was the third best predictor (p=0.01; OR 2.10; 95% CI 1.20-3.67). No other nerve conduction parameters had significant power to predict spontaneous activity upon EMG examination. The CMAP amplitudes of the APB are the most powerful predictors of the occurrence of spontaneous EMG activity. Low CMAP amplitudes are strongly associated with spontaneous activity, whereas high CMAP

Ultrasound-Assisted Surfactant-Enhanced Emulsification Micro-Extraction Followed by HPLC for Determination of Preservatives in Water, Beverages and Personal Care Products.

PubMed

Jan-E, Sudarat; Santaladchaiyakit, Yanawath; Burakham, Rodjana

2017-01-01

An ultrasound-assisted surfactant-enhanced emulsification micro-extraction (UASEME) procedure has been developed for pre-concentration of benzoic acid (BA) and paraben preservatives, including methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben and butylparaben, prior to high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet (HPLC-UV) analysis. Separations were performed on a Lichrospher RP-18 endcapped 5 µm, using an isocratic mobile phase of 40% acetonitile, at a flow rate of 1 mL min -1 The selected UASEME conditions comprised the use of 10 mL sample extract, 125 µL 1-octanol as extraction solvent and 0.05 mmol L -1 Tween 20 as emulsifier, 0.5% sodium chloride, ultrasonication time of 6 min and centrifugation time of 10 min. Method performance demonstrated wide linear range between 0.5 and 7,000 µg L -1 (R 2  > 0.9903) and limits of detection between 0.03 and 10 µg L -1 , which providing the enrichment factors of 15-184. The method precision (relative standard deviation) was <7%. The developed UASEME coupled with HPLC-UV has been successfully applied to determine four paraben preservatives in various sample matrices such as water, beverages and personal care products. The recoveries in the range of 70-138.1% were obtained. However, BA could not be determined in real sample extracts. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Toddlers' Spontaneous Attention to Number

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baroody, Arthur J.; Li, Xia; Lai, Meng-lung

2008-01-01

Hannula and Lehtinen (2001, 2005) defined spontaneous focusing on numerosity (SFON) as the tendency to notice the relatively abstract attribute of number despite the presence of other attributes. According to nativists, an innate concept of one to three directs young children's attention to these "intuitive numbers" in everyday situations--even…

Heterogeneous CPA sensitivity of spontaneous excitation in smooth muscle of the rabbit urethra.

PubMed

Hashitani, Hikaru; Yanai, Yoshimasa; Kohri, Kenjiro; Suzuki, Hikaru

2006-06-01

1. To investigate the role of intracellular Ca stores in generating spontaneous excitation of the urethra, the effects of cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) on spontaneous contractions, transient increases in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i; Ca transients) and depolarizations were examined in smooth muscles of the rabbit urethra. 2. In about 90% of circular smooth muscle (CSM) preparations, CPA (10 microM) increased the amplitude of spontaneous contractions by about 180% and reduced their frequency to some 25% of control values (CPA-resistant), while it readily abolished the contractions in the remaining preparations. 3. In about 70% of CSM preparations, CPA prevented the generation of spontaneous depolarizations termed slow waves, but increased their amplitude and duration in the remainder. CPA also prevented the generation of spontaneous Ca transients in about 40% of CSM preparations, while increasing their amplitude and duration in the remaining preparations. In CPA-resistant preparations that had been exposed to nicardipine (1 microM), subsequent CPA invariably abolished residual spontaneous depolarizations or Ca transients. CPA abolished caffeine-induced Ca transients in Ca-free solutions, suggesting that it effectively depleted intracellular Ca stores. 4. Longitudinal smooth muscles generated spontaneous action potentials, which had a shape distinct from that of slow waves in CSM. Spontaneous action potentials were abolished by nicardipine but not CPA. 5. Transmural nerve stimulation increased the frequency of Ca transients to give a sustained rise in [Ca2+]i, but inhibited their generation after blocking alpha-adrenoceptors with phentolamine (1 microM). These nerve-evoked responses were preserved in preparations that had been exposed to CPA. Similarly, both in control and CPA-treated CSM preparations, spontaneous Ca transients were accelerated by noradrenaline (NAd, 1 microM) and were suppressed by 3-morpholino-sydnonimine (SIN-1, 10 microM), a nitric

78 FR 72972 - Application of Ultimate JETCHARTERS, LLC for Commuter Air Carrier Authority

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-04

... all interested persons to show cause why it should not issue an order finding Ultimate JETCHARTERS, LLC, fit, willing, and able, and awarding it commuter air carrier authority to conduct scheduled...

Optimized ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction for simultaneous trace multielement determination of heavy metals in real water samples by ICP-OES.

PubMed

Sereshti, Hassan; Heravi, Yeganeh Entezari; Samadi, Soheila

2012-08-15

Ultrasonic-assisted emulsification microextraction (USAEME) combined with inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was used for preconcentration and determination of aluminum, bismuth, cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, gallium, indium, nickel, lead, thallium and zinc in real water samples. Ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (APDC) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) were used as the chelating agent and extraction solvent, respectively. The effective parameters (factors) of the extraction process such as volume of extraction solvent, pH, sonication time, and concentration of chelating agent were optimized by a small central composite design (CCD). The optimum conditions were found to be 98 μL for extraction solvent, 1476 mg L(-1) for chelating agent, 3.8 for pH and 9 min for sonication time. Under the optimal conditions, the limits of detection (LODs) for Al, Bi, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Ga, In, Ni, Pb, Tl and Zn were 0.13, 0.48, 0.19, 0.28, 0.29, 0.27, 0.27, 0.38, 0.44, 0.47, 0.52 and 0.17 μg L(-1), respectively. The linear dynamic range (LDR) was 1-1000 μ gL(-1) with determination coefficients of 0.991-0.998. Relative standard deviations (RSDs, C=200 μg L(-1), n=6) were between 1.87%-5.65%. The proposed method was successfully applied to the extraction and determination of heavy metals in real water samples and the satisfactory relative recoveries (90.3%-105.5%) were obtained. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Spontaneous extrusion of a stainless steel glaucoma drainage implant (Ex-PRESS).

PubMed

Tavolato, M; Babighian, S; Galan, A

2006-01-01

To report a case of spontaneous extrusion of a stainless steel glaucoma drainage implant (Ex-PRESS). An Ex-PRESS was implanted under the conjunctiva in a 76-year-old man with primary open-angle glaucoma. Two years after implantation, the Ex-Press extruded spontaneously. Despite this adverse event, there was no increase in intraocular pressure. This is the first report of spontaneous extrusion of an Ex-PRESS device. Implanting the device under a scleral flap should be considered to avoid adverse events such as extrusion or conjunctival erosion.

7 CFR 4280.29 - Supplemental financing required for the Ultimate Recipient Project.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 15 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Supplemental financing required for the Ultimate Recipient Project. 4280.29 Section 4280.29 Agriculture Regulations of the Department of Agriculture... AND GRANTS Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Programs § 4280.29 Supplemental financing...

A low pH does not determine the community dynamics of spontaneously developed backslopped liquid wheat sourdoughs but does influence their metabolite kinetics.

PubMed

Van Kerrebroeck, Simon; Bastos, Francisca Casanova C; Harth, Henning; De Vuyst, Luc

2016-12-19

This study dealt with the influence of a crucial pH value of 4.0 on the microbiota of spontaneously fermented backslopped liquid wheat sourdoughs. Two spontaneously fermented wheat sourdough fermentation experiments were carried out, one without control of the pH and one with the pH kept constant at pH4.0, both during nine backslopping steps. In each case, two additional backslopping steps were carried out, with the pH kept constant at 4.0 and with free pH, respectively. Keeping the pH constant at 4.0 changed the microbial community dynamics and metabolite kinetics of the sourdough fermentations. A slower prevalence of sourdough-specific Kazachstania yeasts occurred. Nevertheless, in both experiments, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lb. plantarum/pentosus/paraplantarum, and Kazachstania exigua/bulderi/barnettii prevailed ultimately. The lactic acid and ethanol concentration profiles were affected positively by keeping the pH constant at a minimum of 4.0 as well as the l- and d-lactic acid ratio profile, a potential biological marker for sourdough stability and maturity. Also, the concentration and diversity of acetate esters and their precursors, in particular isoamyl acetate and isoamyl alcohol, were affected negatively by the pH control, indicating the role of pH stress in the sourdough aroma formation. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Spontaneous Osteoblastic Osteosarcoma in a Mongolian Gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus)

PubMed Central

Salyards, Gregory W; Blas-Machado, Uriel; Mishra, Sasmita; Harvey, Stephen B; Butler, Abigail M

2013-01-01

Spontaneous neoplasms in Mongolian gerbils have an incidence of 20% to 26.8%, but osteosarcomas occur at a much lower rate. Here we report a 1-y-old Mongolian gerbil with a spontaneous osteosarcoma at the level of the proximal tibia, with metastases to the pectoral muscles and lungs. Grossly, the tibial mass obliterated the tibia and adjacent muscles, and an axillary mass with a bloody, cavitary center expanded the pectoral muscles. Microscopically, the tibial mass was an infiltrative, osteoblastic mesenchymal neoplasm, and the axillary mass was an anaplastic mesenchymal neoplasm with hemorrhage. The lung contained multiple metastatic foci. Immunohistochemistry for osteonectin was strongly positive in the tibial, axillary, and pulmonary metastases. Although osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone neoplasm that occurs spontaneously in all laboratory and domestic animal species and humans, it arises less frequently than does other neoplasms. The current case of spontaneous osteoblastic osteosarcoma of the proximal tibia and metastases to the pectoral muscles and lung in a Mongolian gerbil is similar in presentation, histology, and predilection site of both osteoblastic and telangiectatic osteosarcomas in humans. In addition, this case is an unusual manifestation of osteosarcoma in the appendicular skeleton of a Mongolian gerbil. PMID:23561939

Prospective memory: effects of divided attention on spontaneous retrieval.

PubMed

Harrison, Tyler L; Mullet, Hillary G; Whiffen, Katie N; Ousterhout, Hunter; Einstein, Gilles O

2014-02-01

We examined the effects of divided attention on the spontaneous retrieval of a prospective memory intention. Participants performed an ongoing lexical decision task with an embedded prospective memory demand, and also performed a divided-attention task during some segments of lexical decision trials. In all experiments, monitoring was highly discouraged, and we observed no evidence that participants engaged monitoring processes. In Experiment 1, performing a moderately demanding divided-attention task (a digit detection task) did not affect prospective memory performance. In Experiment 2, performing a more challenging divided-attention task (random number generation) impaired prospective memory. Experiment 3 showed that this impairment was eliminated when the prospective memory cue was perceptually salient. Taken together, the results indicate that spontaneous retrieval is not automatic and that challenging divided-attention tasks interfere with spontaneous retrieval and not with the execution of a retrieved intention.

B7-H1 shapes T-cell-mediated brain endothelial cell dysfunction and regional encephalitogenicity in spontaneous CNS autoimmunity.

PubMed

Klotz, Luisa; Kuzmanov, Ivan; Hucke, Stephanie; Gross, Catharina C; Posevitz, Vilmos; Dreykluft, Angela; Schulte-Mecklenbeck, Andreas; Janoschka, Claudia; Lindner, Maren; Herold, Martin; Schwab, Nicholas; Ludwig-Portugall, Isis; Kurts, Christian; Meuth, Sven G; Kuhlmann, Tanja; Wiendl, Heinz

2016-10-11

Molecular mechanisms that determine lesion localization or phenotype variation in multiple sclerosis are mostly unidentified. Although transmigration of activated encephalitogenic T cells across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a crucial step in the disease pathogenesis of CNS autoimmunity, the consequences on brain endothelial barrier integrity upon interaction with such T cells and subsequent lesion formation and distribution are largely unknown. We made use of a transgenic spontaneous mouse model of CNS autoimmunity characterized by inflammatory demyelinating lesions confined to optic nerves and spinal cord (OSE mice). Genetic ablation of a single immune-regulatory molecule in this model [i.e., B7-homolog 1 (B7-H1, PD-L1)] not only significantly increased incidence of spontaneous CNS autoimmunity and aggravated disease course, especially in the later stages of disease, but also importantly resulted in encephalitogenic T-cell infiltration and lesion formation in normally unaffected brain regions, such as the cerebrum and cerebellum. Interestingly, B7-H1 ablation on myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-specific CD4 + T cells, but not on antigen-presenting cells, amplified T-cell effector functions, such as IFN-γ and granzyme B production. Therefore, these T cells were rendered more capable of eliciting cell contact-dependent brain endothelial cell dysfunction and increased barrier permeability in an in vitro model of the BBB. Our findings suggest that a single immune-regulatory molecule on T cells can be ultimately responsible for localized BBB breakdown, and thus substantial changes in lesion topography in the context of CNS autoimmunity.

Measuring emotional and cognitive empathy using dynamic, naturalistic, and spontaneous emotion displays.

PubMed

Buck, Ross; Powers, Stacie R; Hull, Kyle S

2017-10-01

Most measures of nonverbal receiving ability use posed expressions as stimuli. As empathy measures, such stimuli lack ecological validity, as the participant is not actually experiencing emotion. An alternative approach uses natural and dynamic displays of spontaneous expressions. The Communication of Affect Receiving Ability Test (CARAT) uses as stimuli spontaneous facial expressions and gestures filmed by an unobtrusive camera of solitary participants responding to emotional images. This article reports the development and initial validation of the CARAT-Spontaneous, Posed, Regulated (CARAT-SPR), which measures both abilities to detect emotion from spontaneous displays (emotion communication accuracy) and to differentiate spontaneous, posed, and regulated displays (expression categorization ability). Although spontaneous displays are natural responses to emotional images, posed displays involve asking the sender to display "as if" responding to a particular sort of image when no image is in fact present (simulation), while Regulated displays involve asking the sender to display "as if" responding to a particular sort of image when an image of opposite valence is in fact present (masking). Expression categorization ability involves judging deception-simulation and masking-and conceptually involves a kind of perspective-taking or cognitive empathy. Emotion communication using spontaneous clips achieved a high level of accuracy and was strongly correlated with ratings of sender expressivity. Expression categorization ability was not significantly correlated with expressivity ratings and was modestly negatively correlated with emotion communication accuracy. In a brief version of the CARAT-SPR, women showed evidence of greater emotion signal detection, whereas men reported greater confidence in expression categorization. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).

Spontaneous rupture of the ascending aorta.

PubMed

Bin Mahmood, Syed Usman; Ulrich, Andrew; Safdar, Basmah; Geirsson, Arnar; Mangi, Abeel A

2018-02-01

Nontraumatic, spontaneous rupture of the ascending aorta is rare and the etiology is largely unknown. We reviewed seven patients from our institution, with no known aortic disease or hereditary connective tissue disorder that presented with spontaneous ascending aortic rupture from 2012 to 2017. Most patients presented with non-radiating chest pain along with hypertension (71.4%). The mean ascending aortic diameter at rupture was 4.60 ± 0.62 cm. The median door-to-operating room time was 2.58 h, resulting from effective implementation of an aortic emergency protocol. There were no operative mortalities. In patients with ascending aortic rupture, aortic diameter may not always correlate with the risk of rupture. Rapid diagnosis combined with a multidisciplinary approach is vital for the successful management of these high-risk patients. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Spontaneous Bilateral Vertebral Artery Dissection During a Basketball Game

PubMed Central

Mas Rodriguez, Manuel F.; Berrios, Rafael Arias; Ramos, Edwardo

2016-01-01

Spontaneous vertebral artery dissection accounts for 2% of all ischemic strokes and can occur as a consequence of sports events. We present an unusual case of spontaneous bilateral vertebral artery dissection in a 30-year-old male patient during a basketball game. He developed severe dysphagia, right hemiparesis, and balance dysfunction. We also present a review of the pathology, diagnosis, symptomatology, treatment, prognosis, and occurrence of this entity in sports. PMID:26733592

Spontaneous Tricuspid Valve Chordal Rupture in Idiopathic Pulmonary Hypertension.

PubMed

Rodrigues, Ana Clara Tude; Afonso, José E; Cordovil, Adriana; Monaco, Claudia; Piveta, Rafael; Cordovil, Rodrigo; Fischer, Claudio H; Vieira, Marcelo; Lira-Filho, Edgar; Morhy, Samira S

2016-03-01

Rupture of tricuspid valve is unusual, occurring mainly in the setting of blunt trauma or endomyocardial biopsy. Spontaneous tricuspid valve chordal rupture is particularly rare. We report herein a case of a patient with severe pulmonary hypertension, on the lung transplantation waiting list, who presented with spontaneous chordal rupture, exacerbation of tricuspid insufficiency and worsening of clinical status. Diagnosis and treatment, along with possible mechanisms for this complication, are discussed. © 2015, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Spontaneous Action and Transformative Learning: Empirical Investigations and Pragmatist Reflections

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nohl, Arnd-Michael

2009-01-01

Whereas present theories of transformative learning tend to focus on the rational and reflective actor, in this article it is suggested that spontaneous action may play a decisive role in transformative learning too. In the spontaneity of action, novelty finds its way into life, gains momentum, is respected by others and reflected by the actor.…

Observation of ground-state quantum beats in atomic spontaneous emission.

PubMed

Norris, D G; Orozco, L A; Barberis-Blostein, P; Carmichael, H J

2010-09-17

We report ground-state quantum beats in spontaneous emission from a continuously driven atomic ensemble. Beats are visible only in an intensity autocorrelation and evidence spontaneously generated coherence in radiative decay. Our measurement realizes a quantum eraser where a first photon detection prepares a superposition and a second erases the "which path" information in the intermediate state.

Assembly of Customized TAL Effectors Through Advanced ULtiMATE System.

PubMed

Yang, Junjiao; Guo, Shengjie; Yuan, Pengfei; Wei, Wensheng

2016-01-01

Transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs) have been widely applied in gene targeting. Here we describe an advanced ULtiMATE (USER-based Ligation-Mediated Assembly of TAL Effector) system that utilizes USER fusion technique and archive of 512 tetramer templates to achieve highly efficient construction of TALEs, which takes only half a day to accomplish the assembly of any given TALE construct. This system is also suitable for large-scale assembly of TALENs and any other TALE-based constructions.

Spontaneous Spreading of a Droplet: The Role of Solid Continuity and Advancing Contact Angle.

PubMed

Jiang, Youhua; Sun, Yujin; Drelich, Jaroslaw W; Choi, Chang-Hwan

2018-05-01

Spontaneous spreading of a droplet on a solid surface is poorly understood from a macroscopic level down to a molecular level. Here, we investigate the effect of surface topography and wettability on spontaneous spreading of a water droplet. Spreading force is measured for a suspended droplet that minimizes interference of kinetic energy in the spontaneous spreading during its contact with solid surfaces of discontinuous (pillar) and continuous (pore) patterns with various shapes and dimensions. Results show that a droplet cannot spread spontaneously on pillared surfaces regardless of their shapes or dimensions because of the solid discontinuity. On the contrary, a droplet on pored surfaces can undergo spontaneous spreading whose force increases with a decrease in the advancing contact angle. Theoretical models based on both the system free energy and capillary force along the contact line validate the direct and universal dependency of the spontaneous spreading force on the advancing contact angle.

On the Dynamics of the Spontaneous Activity in Neuronal Networks

PubMed Central

Bonifazi, Paolo; Ruaro, Maria Elisabetta; Torre, Vincent

2007-01-01

Most neuronal networks, even in the absence of external stimuli, produce spontaneous bursts of spikes separated by periods of reduced activity. The origin and functional role of these neuronal events are still unclear. The present work shows that the spontaneous activity of two very different networks, intact leech ganglia and dissociated cultures of rat hippocampal neurons, share several features. Indeed, in both networks: i) the inter-spike intervals distribution of the spontaneous firing of single neurons is either regular or periodic or bursting, with the fraction of bursting neurons depending on the network activity; ii) bursts of spontaneous spikes have the same broad distributions of size and duration; iii) the degree of correlated activity increases with the bin width, and the power spectrum of the network firing rate has a 1/f behavior at low frequencies, indicating the existence of long-range temporal correlations; iv) the activity of excitatory synaptic pathways mediated by NMDA receptors is necessary for the onset of the long-range correlations and for the presence of large bursts; v) blockage of inhibitory synaptic pathways mediated by GABAA receptors causes instead an increase in the correlation among neurons and leads to a burst distribution composed only of very small and very large bursts. These results suggest that the spontaneous electrical activity in neuronal networks with different architectures and functions can have very similar properties and common dynamics. PMID:17502919

Measuring frequency of spontaneous swallowing.

PubMed

Afkari, Sohail

2007-12-01

A new multi-sensory non-invasive portable system capable of detecting spontaneous swallowing in a patient population has been developed. Swallowing signals are recorded via Electromyogram (voltage potentials generated by throat muscles), an accelerometer (laryngeal elevations) and a microphone (cervical auscultation) affixed to the neck at the coniotomy region. Simultaneous signal comparison of all three modalities provides a vastly more reliable measure of swallowing frequency by rejecting artefacts associated with speech, body movement, coughing and background intereferences. The operational accuracy of the system was validated by a hand-held manual counter on a healthy subject undertaking everyday activities. Preliminary results showed a recorded mean spontaneous swallowing frequency of 1.32 swallows/minute and a slighly higher mean voluntary swallowing frequency of 1.52 swallows/minute with the intake of 100 ml of water. The device was able to detect 94.3% of dry swallows correctly, with each sensor responding differently to various noise interferences. The proposed system has potential to provide additional diagnostic information in clinical research of possible physiological problems associated with an abnormal swallowing frequency across a range of medical fields.

Spontaneous Wave Generation from Submesoscale Fronts and Filaments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shakespeare, C. J.; Hogg, A.

2016-02-01

Submesoscale features such as eddies, fronts, jets and filaments can be significant sources of spontaneous wave generation at the ocean surface. Unlike near-inertial waves forced by winds, these spontaneous waves are typically of higher frequency and can propagate through the thermocline, whereupon they break and drive mixing in the ocean interior. Here we investigate the spontaneous generation, propagation and subsequent breaking of these waves using a combination of theory and submesoscale resolving numerical models. The mechanism of generation is nearly identical to that of lee waves where flow is deflected over a rigid obstacle on the sea floor. Here, very sharp fronts and filaments of order 100m width moving in the submesoscale surface flow generate "surface lee waves" by presenting an obstacle to the surrounding stratified fluid. Using our numerical model we quantify the net downward wave energy flux from the surface, and where it is dissipated in the water column. Our results suggest an alternative to the classical paradigm where the energy associated with mixing in the ocean interior is sourced from bottom-generated lee waves.

Impaired insulin secretion in the spontaneous diabetes rats.

PubMed

Kimura, K; Toyota, T; Kakizaki, M; Kudo, M; Takebe, K; Goto, Y

1982-08-01

Dynamics of insulin and glucagon secretion were investigated by using a new model of spontaneous diabetes rats produced by the repetition of selective breeding in our laboratories. The perfusion experiments of the pancreas showed that the early phase of insulin secretion to continuous stimulation with glucose was specifically impaired, although the response of the early phase to arginine was preserved. The glucose-induced insulin secretion in the nineth generation (F8) which had a more remarkably impaired glucose tolerance was more reduced than in the sixth generation (F5). No significant difference of glucagon secretion in response to arginine or norepinephrine was noted between the diabetes rats and control ones. The present data indicate that the defective insulin secretion is a primary derangement in a diabetic state of the spontaneous diabetes rat. This defect in the early phase of glucose-induced insulin secretion suggests the specific impairment of the recognition of glucose by the pancreatic beta-cells. The spontaneous diabetes rats are very useful as a model of disease for investigating pathophysiology of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.

Spontaneous abortions and reproductive selection mechanisms in the rubber and leather industry in Finland

PubMed Central

Hemminki, K; Niemi, Marja-Liisa; Kyyrönen, P; Kilpikari, I; Vainio, H

1983-01-01

ABSTRACT Spontaneous abortions in hospitals were analysed from two sources—membership files of the Union of Rubber and Leather Workers (about 10 000 women) and records of the personnel of a rubber factory (about 1600 women). Two frequencies of spontaneous abortions were calculated for each population analysed: rate (No spontaneous abortions X 100/No pregnancies) and ratio (No spontaneous abortions X 100/No births). The two frequencies were increased for all union members compared with all Finnish women. The frequencies, however, did not appreciably differ when the pregnancies occurred during union membership as compared with the pregnancies before or after membership. The frequency of spontaneous abortions was higher for the short-time union members than for those employed for longer periods, but the increased frequency did not correlate with union membership. The employees of a rubber factory had slightly fewer spontaneous abortions on average than the community population. The women employed in the rubber factory for three to 23 months were found to have appreciably higher frequencies of spontaneous abortions than the women employed for longer periods. The present study showed the feasibility of using cases of spontaneous abortions in hospitals in an occupational study with longitudinal employment data. Women with short periods of employment appeared to have more spontaneous abortions than those with longer periods of employment suggesting the presence of selection mechanisms, perhaps with some analogies to the “healthy worker effect” in occupational mortality studies. The presence of such selection mechanisms deserve serious consideration in occupational reproductive epidemiology. PMID:6824605

Plug nozzles: The ultimate customer driven propulsion system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Aukerman, Carl A.

1991-01-01

This paper presents the results of a study applying the plug cluster nozzle concept to the propulsion system for a typical lunar excursion vehicle. Primary attention for the design criteria is given to user defined factors such as reliability, low volume, and ease of propulsion system development. Total thrust and specific impulse are held constant in the study while other parameters are explored to minimize the design chamber pressure. A brief history of the plug nozzle concept is included to point out the advanced level of technology of the concept and the feasibility of exploiting the variables considered in this study. The plug cluster concept looks very promising as a candidate for consideration for the ultimate customer driven propulsion system.

Spontaneous and evoked release are independently regulated at individual active zones.

PubMed

Melom, Jan E; Akbergenova, Yulia; Gavornik, Jeffrey P; Littleton, J Troy

2013-10-30

Neurotransmitter release from synaptic vesicle fusion is the fundamental mechanism for neuronal communication at synapses. Evoked release following an action potential has been well characterized for its function in activating the postsynaptic cell, but the significance of spontaneous release is less clear. Using transgenic tools to image single synaptic vesicle fusion events at individual release sites (active zones) in Drosophila, we characterized the spatial and temporal dynamics of exocytotic events that occur spontaneously or in response to an action potential. We also analyzed the relationship between these two modes of fusion at single release sites. A majority of active zones participate in both modes of fusion, although release probability is not correlated between the two modes of release and is highly variable across the population. A subset of active zones is specifically dedicated to spontaneous release, indicating a population of postsynaptic receptors is uniquely activated by this mode of vesicle fusion. Imaging synaptic transmission at individual release sites also revealed general rules for spontaneous and evoked release, and indicate that active zones with similar release probability can cluster spatially within individual synaptic boutons. These findings suggest neuronal connections contain two information channels that can be spatially segregated and independently regulated to transmit evoked or spontaneous fusion signals.

Intake of probiotic food and risk of spontaneous preterm delivery123

PubMed Central

Myhre, Ronny; Brantsæter, Anne Lise; Myking, Solveig; Gjessing, Håkon Kristian; Sengpiel, Verena; Meltzer, Helle Margrete; Haugen, Margaretha; Jacobsson, Bo

2011-01-01

Background: Preterm delivery represents a substantial problem in perinatal medicine worldwide. Current knowledge on potential influences of probiotics in food on pregnancy complications caused by microbes is limited. Objective: We hypothesized that intake of food with probiotics might reduce pregnancy complications caused by pathogenic microorganisms and, through this, reduce the risk of spontaneous preterm delivery. Design: This study was performed in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort on the basis of answers to a food-frequency questionnaire. We studied intake of milk-based products containing probiotic lactobacilli and spontaneous preterm delivery by using a prospective cohort study design (n = 950 cases and 17,938 controls) for the pregnancy outcome of spontaneous preterm delivery (<37 gestational weeks). Analyses were adjusted for the covariates of parity, maternal educational level, and physical activity. Results: Pregnancies that resulted in spontaneous preterm delivery were associated with any intake of milk-based probiotic products in an adjusted model [odds ratio (OR): 0.857; 95% CI: 0.741, 0.992]. By categorizing intake into none, low, and high intakes of the milk-based probiotic products, a significant association was observed for high intake (OR: 0.820; 95% CI: 0.681, 0.986). Conclusion: Women who reported habitual intake of probiotic dairy products had a reduced risk of spontaneous preterm delivery. PMID:20980489

Early pregnancy angiogenic markers and spontaneous abortion: an Odense Child Cohort study.

PubMed

Andersen, Louise B; Dechend, Ralf; Karumanchi, S Ananth; Nielsen, Jan; Joergensen, Jan S; Jensen, Tina K; Christesen, Henrik T

2016-11-01

Spontaneous abortion is the most commonly observed adverse pregnancy outcome. The angiogenic factors soluble Fms-like kinase 1 and placental growth factor are critical for normal pregnancy and may be associated to spontaneous abortion. We investigated the association between maternal serum concentrations of soluble Fms-like kinase 1 and placental growth factor, and subsequent spontaneous abortion. In the prospective observational Odense Child Cohort, 1676 pregnant women donated serum in early pregnancy, gestational week <22 (median 83 days of gestation, interquartile range 71-103). Concentrations of soluble Fms-like kinase 1 and placental growth factor were determined with novel automated assays. Spontaneous abortion was defined as complete or incomplete spontaneous abortion, missed abortion, or blighted ovum <22+0 gestational weeks, and the prevalence was 3.52% (59 cases). The time-dependent effect of maternal serum concentrations of soluble Fms-like kinase 1 and placental growth factor on subsequent late first-trimester or second-trimester spontaneous abortion (n = 59) was evaluated using a Cox proportional hazards regression model, adjusting for body mass index, parity, season of blood sampling, and age. Furthermore, receiver operating characteristics were employed to identify predictive values and optimal cut-off values. In the adjusted Cox regression analysis, increasing continuous concentrations of both soluble Fms-like kinase 1 and placental growth factor were significantly associated with a decreased hazard ratio for spontaneous abortion: soluble Fms-like kinase 1, 0.996 (95% confidence interval, 0.995-0.997), and placental growth factor, 0.89 (95% confidence interval, 0.86-0.93). When analyzed by receiver operating characteristic cut-offs, women with soluble Fms-like kinase 1 <742 pg/mL had an odds ratio for spontaneous abortion of 12.1 (95% confidence interval, 6.64-22.2), positive predictive value of 11.70%, negative predictive value of 98

Ultimate strength performance of tankers associated with industry corrosion addition practices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Do Kyun; Kim, Han Byul; Zhang, Xiaoming; Li, Chen Guang; Paik, Jeom Kee

2014-09-01

In the ship and offshore structure design, age-related problems such as corrosion damage, local denting, and fatigue damage are important factors to be considered in building a reliable structure as they have a significant influence on the residual structural capacity. In shipping, corrosion addition methods are widely adopted in structural design to prevent structural capacity degradation. The present study focuses on the historical trend of corrosion addition rules for ship structural design and investigates their effects on the ultimate strength performance such as hull girder and stiffened panel of double hull oil tankers. Three types of rules based on corrosion addition models, namely historic corrosion rules (pre-CSR), Common Structural Rules (CSR), and harmonised Common Structural Rules (CSRH) are considered and compared with two other corrosion models namely UGS model, suggested by the Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS), and Time-Dependent Corrosion Wastage Model (TDCWM). To identify the general trend in the effects of corrosion damage on the ultimate longitudinal strength performance, the corrosion addition rules are applied to four representative sizes of double hull oil tankers namely Panamax, Aframax, Suezmax, and VLCC. The results are helpful in understanding the trend of corrosion additions for tanker structures

Can Ureteral Jet Flow Measurement Predict Spontaneous Passage of Distal Ureteral Stones?

PubMed

Ongun, Sakir; Teken, Abdurrazak; Yılmaz, Orkun; Süleyman, Sakir

2018-06-27

The study aimed to investigate the relationship between the spontaneous passage of distal ureteral stones and ureteral jet flow measurement. The study included 74 patients with acute renal colic between June 2015 and June 2016, and distal ureteral stones of 10 mm or less in a non-contrast CT were comprised in a prospective study. The ureteral jet was measured by Doppler ultrasonography. At the fourth week follow-up, kidney-ureter-bladder radiography was taken and the patients who no longer had a stone were considered to have spontaneously passed it. The average stone size of the patients was 5.6 ± 2.0 mm. After 4 weeks of follow-up, 55 patients (74.3%) had passed the stone spontaneously whereas 19 (25.6%) had not. The patients in the former group were found to have a higher peak flow velocity of ureteral jet on the stone side than those in the latter group. In regression analysis ureteral jet on the stone side was independently associated with spontaneous passage (p = 0.027). For the spontaneous passage, a ureteral jet flow peak velocity above 15.25 cm/s had an 85.4% sensitivity and 63.1% specificity. Measurement of the ureteral jet flow peak velocity can be beneficial in predicting the potential spontaneous passage of distal ureteral stones. © 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Electrophysiological time course and brain areas of spontaneous and intentional trait inferences

PubMed Central

Van Duynslaeger, Marijke; Verstraeten, Edwin

2007-01-01

This study measured event-related potentials during spontaneous and intentional trait inferences. Participants read sentences describing the behavior of a target person from which a strong moral trait could be inferred. The last word of each sentence determined the consistency with the trait induced during an introductory paragraph. In comparison with behaviors that were consistent with the implied trait, a P300 waveform was obtained when the behaviors were evaluative inconsistent with that trait. This dependency on behavioral consistency indicates that trait inferences were made previously while reading the preceding behaviors, irrespective of the participants’ spontaneous or intentional goals. Overall, the P300 shows considerable parallels between spontaneous and intentional inferences, indicating that the type and timing of the inconsistency process is very similar. In contrast, source localization (LORETA) of the event-related potentials suggest that spontaneous inferences show greater activation in the temporo-parietal junction compared to intentional inferences following an inconsistency. Memory measures taken after the presentation of the stimulus material involved sentence completion and trait-cued recall, and supported the occurrence of trait inferences associated with the actor. They also showed significant correlations with the neural components (i.e. P300 and its current density at the temporo-parietal junction) predominantly following spontaneous instructions, indicating that these components are valid neural indices of spontaneous inferences. PMID:18985139

Tamsulosin modulates, but does not abolish the spontaneous activity in the guinea pig prostate gland.

PubMed

Chakrabarty, Basu; Dey, Anupa; Lam, Michelle; Ventura, Sabatino; Exintaris, Betty

2015-06-01

To examine the effects of the α1A -adrenoceptor antagonist, tamsulosin, on spontaneous contractile and electrical activity in the guinea-pig prostate gland. The effects of tamsulosin (0.1 and 0.3 nM) were investigated in adult and ageing male guinea pig prostate glands using conventional tension recording and electrophysiological intracellular microelectrode recording techniques. Tamsulosin reduced spontaneous activity, and had different age-dependent effects on adult and ageing guinea pigs at different concentrations. 0.1 nM tamsulosin caused a significantly greater reduction of spontaneous contractile and electrical activity in ageing guinea pigs in comparison to adult guinea pigs. In contrast, 0.3 nM tamsulosin had a significantly greater reduction of spontaneous contractile and electrical activity in adult guinea pigs in comparison to ageing guinea pigs. This study demonstrates that tamsulosin can modulate spontaneous myogenic stromal contractility and the underlying spontaneous electrical activity; tamsulosin does not block spontaneous activity. This reduction in spontaneous activity suggests that downstream cellular mechanisms underlying smooth muscle tone are being targeted, and these may represent novel therapeutic targets to better treat benign prostatic hyperplasia. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Interleukin-6 level and gene polymorphism in spontaneous miscarriage.

PubMed

Drozdzik, M; Szlarb, N; Kurzawski, M

2013-09-01

The aetiology of spontaneous miscarriage, the most common pregnancy complication, remains undefined. One of postulated factors involved in miscarriage pathology is interleukin 6 (IL-6). Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate IL-6 and interleukin 6 receptor (IL-6R) gene polymorphisms in patients with spontaneous miscarriage. One hundred fifty-seven patients diagnosed with spontaneous miscarriage and age and gestational time matched controls were included in the case-control study. In all study participants circulating IL-6 levels (chemiluminescent immunoassay) and IL6-174G>C as well as IL6R rs2228145:A>C polymorphisms were evaluated. The distribution of IL6 as well as IL6R alleles and genotypes were similar in the controls and patients with miscarriage. Only a trend of more frequent appearance of -174GC+CC and C allele in the patients with miscarriage was noted. Blood serum concentrations of IL-6 were significantly elevated in patients with miscarriage vs those with physiological pregnancy. Likewise, IL-6 concentrations differ significantly with the types of miscarriage. The highest concentrations of the cytokine was seen in subjects with incomplete miscarriage (4.28 ± 4.88 pg/ml) followed by imminent miscarriage (2.97 ± 2.42 pg/ml), and then missed miscarriage (2.07 ± 1.90 pg/ml), being significantly the lowest in missed miscarriage group. No association between the IL6 genotype and IL-6 serum concentration were noted, both in the miscarriage group and in the control group. The findings of the study support the role of IL-6 in spontaneous miscarriage irrespectively of its type. However, no correlation between circulating IL-6 and IL6 gene polymorphism, as well as IL-6 and IL-6R polymorphisms associations with spontaneous miscarriage were revealed. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Polarization control of spontaneous emission for rapid quantum-state initialization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

DiLoreto, C. S.; Rangan, C.

2017-04-01

We propose an efficient method to selectively enhance the spontaneous emission rate of a quantum system by changing the polarization of an incident control field, and exploiting the polarization dependence of the system's spontaneous emission rate. This differs from the usual Purcell enhancement of spontaneous emission rates as it can be selectively turned on and off. Using a three-level Λ system in a quantum dot placed in between two silver nanoparticles and a linearly polarized, monochromatic driving field, we present a protocol for rapid quantum state initialization, while maintaining long coherence times for control operations. This process increases the overall amount of time that a quantum system can be effectively utilized for quantum operations, and presents a key advance in quantum computing.

Spontaneous Thought and Vulnerability to Mood Disorders: The Dark Side of the Wandering Mind.

PubMed

Marchetti, Igor; Koster, Ernst H W; Klinger, Eric; Alloy, Lauren B

2016-09-01

There is increasing interest in spontaneous thought, namely task-unrelated or rest-related mental activity. Spontaneous thought is an umbrella term for processes like mindwandering, involuntary autobiographical memory, and daydreaming, with evidence elucidating adaptive and maladaptive consequences. In this theoretical framework, we propose that, apart from its positive functions, spontaneous thought is a precursor for cognitive vulnerability in individuals who are at-risk for mood disorders. Importantly, spontaneous thought mostly focuses on unattained goals and evaluates the discrepancy between current and desired status (Klinger, 1971, 2013a). In individuals who stably (i.e., trait negative affectivity) or transitorily (i.e., stress) experience negative emotions in reaction to goal-discrepancy, spontaneous thought fosters major cognitive vulnerabilities (e.g., rumination, hopelessness, low self-esteem, and cognitive reactivity) which, in turn, enhance depression. Furthermore, we also highlight preliminary links between spontaneous thought and bipolar disorder. The evidence for this framework is reviewed and we discuss theoretical and clinical implications of our proposal.

Spontaneous Thought and Vulnerability to Mood Disorders: The Dark Side of the Wandering Mind

PubMed Central

Marchetti, Igor; Koster, Ernst H.W.; Klinger, Eric; Alloy, Lauren B.

2017-01-01

There is increasing interest in spontaneous thought, namely task-unrelated or rest-related mental activity. Spontaneous thought is an umbrella term for processes like mindwandering, involuntary autobiographical memory, and daydreaming, with evidence elucidating adaptive and maladaptive consequences. In this theoretical framework, we propose that, apart from its positive functions, spontaneous thought is a precursor for cognitive vulnerability in individuals who are at-risk for mood disorders. Importantly, spontaneous thought mostly focuses on unattained goals and evaluates the discrepancy between current and desired status (Klinger, 1971, 2013a). In individuals who stably (i.e., trait negative affectivity) or transitorily (i.e., stress) experience negative emotions in reaction to goal-discrepancy, spontaneous thought fosters major cognitive vulnerabilities (e.g., rumination, hopelessness, low self-esteem, and cognitive reactivity) which, in turn, enhance depression. Furthermore, we also highlight preliminary links between spontaneous thought and bipolar disorder. The evidence for this framework is reviewed and we discuss theoretical and clinical implications of our proposal. PMID:28785510

Imaging Signs in Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension: Prevalence and Relationship to CSF Pressure.

PubMed

Kranz, P G; Tanpitukpongse, T P; Choudhury, K R; Amrhein, T J; Gray, L

2016-07-01

Patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension often exhibit low CSF pressure and changes on brain MR imaging and/or evidence of CSF leak on myelography. We investigated whether individual imaging signs of spontaneous intracranial hypotension correlate with measured CSF pressure and how frequently these 2 markers of spontaneous intracranial hypotension were concordant. We performed a retrospective, cross-sectional study of 99 subjects with spontaneous intracranial hypotension. Prevalence of brain and myelographic imaging signs of spontaneous intracranial hypotension was recorded. CSF pressure among subjects with or without individual imaging signs was compared by using a 2-tailed t test and ANOVA. Concordance between low CSF pressure (≤6 cm H2O) and imaging was defined as the presence of the sign in a subject with low CSF pressure or absence of the sign when pressure was not low. Dural enhancement, brain sagging, and venous distension sign were present in 83%, 61%, and 75% of subjects, respectively, and myelographic evidence of CSF leak was seen in 55%. Marginal correlations between CSF pressure and brain sagging (P = .046) and the venous distension sign (P = .047) were found. Dural enhancement and myelographic evidence of leak were not significantly correlated with CSF pressure. Rates of concordance between imaging signs and low CSF pressure were generally low, ranging from 39% to 55%. Brain and myelographic signs of spontaneous intracranial hypotension correlate poorly with CSF pressure. These findings reinforce the need to base the diagnosis of spontaneous intracranial hypotension on multiple diagnostic criteria and suggest the presence of patient-specific variables that influence CSF pressure in these individuals. © 2016 by American Journal of Neuroradiology.

Ultimately short ballistic vertical graphene Josephson junctions

PubMed Central

Lee, Gil-Ho; Kim, Sol; Jhi, Seung-Hoon; Lee, Hu-Jong

2015-01-01

Much efforts have been made for the realization of hybrid Josephson junctions incorporating various materials for the fundamental studies of exotic physical phenomena as well as the applications to superconducting quantum devices. Nonetheless, the efforts have been hindered by the diffusive nature of the conducting channels and interfaces. To overcome the obstacles, we vertically sandwiched a cleaved graphene monoatomic layer as the normal-conducting spacer between superconducting electrodes. The atomically thin single-crystalline graphene layer serves as an ultimately short conducting channel, with highly transparent interfaces with superconductors. In particular, we show the strong Josephson coupling reaching the theoretical limit, the convex-shaped temperature dependence of the Josephson critical current and the exceptionally skewed phase dependence of the Josephson current; all demonstrate the bona fide short and ballistic Josephson nature. This vertical stacking scheme for extremely thin transparent spacers would open a new pathway for exploring the exotic coherence phenomena occurring on an atomic scale. PMID:25635386

The Assessment of the Ultimate Hull Girder Strength of RO-RO Ship after Damages

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zubair Muis Alie, Muhammad; Sitepu, Ganding; Izaak Latumahin, Samuel

2018-03-01

Many accidents of Ro-Ro ships happen in Indonesia such as collision and grounding. When the collision or grounding takes place on the Ro-Ro ship, the ultimate strength of hull structure after damage becomes decrease. Car and passenger decks are critical location since collision and/or grounding occur. In the present study, the assessment of the ultimate hull girder strength is conducted. The cross section of Ro-Ro ship is taken to be analyzed. The collision and grounding damages are assumed to be palced on the side and bottom area, respectively. The damages are created by removing the element from the side shell and bottom part. Finally, the result obtained is compared with one another.

A case of Clostridium septicum spontaneous gas gangrene.

PubMed

Dylewski, Joe; Drummond, Robert; Rowen, John

2007-03-01

Severe skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are often life-threatening emergencies that require a rapid diagnosis. Gas gangrene is one of the most fulminant types of SSTI and is usually caused by Clostridium perfringens' contamination of an open wound. Although gas gangrene is usually associated with fecally contaminated wounds, "spontaneous" cases occur and are most commonly caused by Clostridium (C.) septicum. We report a case of spontaneous gas gangrene caused by C. septicum that only became manifest while the patient was being monitored in the emergency department. We also review the diagnosis and treatment aspects of this entity.

Spontaneous haemothorax caused by a ruptured oesophageal artery.

PubMed

Zhang, Wenxiong; Wu, Yongbing; Zhang, Xiaoqiang; Jiang, Han

2017-06-01

Spontaneous haemothorax is a subcategory of haemothorax that occurs in the absence of trauma or other causes. It is a rare emergency that can progress rapidly with massive blood loss leading to haemorrhagic shock and death. We describe a patient with massive spontaneous haemothorax caused by the disruption of an oesophageal artery from the middle segment of descending thoracic aorta. We sutured the bleeding artery in an emergency thoracotomy after the failure of interventional procedure. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.

Spontaneous resolution of postoperative lumbar pseudomeningoceles: A report of four cases.

PubMed

Solomon, Prince; Sekharappa, Vijay; Krishnan, Venkatesh; David, Kenny Samuel

2013-07-01

Pseudomeningocele is an extradural cerebrospinal fluid collection arising from a dural defect, that may be congenital, traumatic, or more commonly as a result of postoperative complication. Majority of the postoperative pseudomeningoceles occurring after lumbar spine surgeries are small and resolve spontaneously. However, large pseudomeningoceles are rare and spontaneous resolution of such pseudomeningoceles has not been described. We report four cases of postoperative large lumbar pseudomeningoceles that presented as asymptomatic soft fluctuant swelling over the back which resolved spontaneously. We also reviewed the related literatures and operative records of these patients to find the possible mechanism of occurrence, their management, prevention, and reasons for spontaneous resolution. We conclude that nonoperative management under close observation can be employed for asymptomatic postoperative large lumbar pseudomeningoceles. Surgical exploration and repair should be reserved for symptomatic cases presenting with clinical features of intracranial hypotension, worsening neurology, external fistula or infection, thereby avoiding morbidity and potential complications associated with surgical treatment.

Spontaneous nystagmus in dorsolateral medullary infarction indicates vestibular semicircular canal imbalance.

PubMed

Rambold, H; Helmchen, C

2005-01-01

Spontaneous nystagmus caused by dorsolateral medullary infarction may be of vestibular origin. To test if imbalance of the central pathways of the semicircular canals contributes to spontaneous nystagmus in dorsolateral medullary syndrome. We examined four patients with dorsolateral medullary syndrome and recorded spontaneous nystagmus binocularly at gaze straight ahead with the three-dimensional search coil technique. The median slow phase velocity of the nystagmus was analysed in the light and in the dark, and the normalised velocity axes were compared with the rotation axes as predicted from anatomical data of the semicircular canal. The slow phase rotation axes of all patients aligned best with the rotation axes resulting from stimulation of the contralesional posterior and horizontal semicircular canals. This alignment cannot be explained by pure otolith imbalance. We propose that vestibular imbalance caused by an ipsilesional lesion of the central semicircular canal pathways of the horizontal and anterior semicircular canals largely accounts for spontaneous nystagmus in dorsolateral medullary syndrome.

Reflex effects on renal nerve activity characteristics in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

PubMed

DiBona, G F; Jones, S Y; Sawin, L L

1997-11-01

The effects of arterial and cardiac baroreflex activation on the discharge characteristics of renal sympathetic nerve activity were evaluated in conscious spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar-Kyoto rats. In spontaneously hypertensive rats compared with Wistar-Kyoto rats, (1) arterial baroreflex regulation of renal sympathetic nerve activity was reset to a higher arterial pressure and the gain was decreased and (2) cardiac baroreflex regulation of renal sympathetic nerve activity exhibited a lower gain. With the use of sympathetic peak detection analysis, the inhibition of integrated renal sympathetic nerve activity, which occurred during both increased arterial pressure (arterial baroreflex) and right atrial pressure (cardiac baroreflex), was due to parallel decreases in peak height with little change in peak frequency in both spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar-Kyoto rats. Arterial and cardiac baroreflex inhibition of renal sympathetic nerve activity in Wistar-Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rats is due to a parallel reduction in the number of active renal sympathetic nerve fibers.

[Epidemiological features and risk factors of spontaneous abortion among rural Tibetan women at childbearing age].

PubMed

Fan, Xiaojing; Wang, Weihua; Liu, Ruru; Dang, Shaonong; Kang, Yijun

2014-04-01

To study the current status and risk factors of spontaneous abortion of women with Tibetan ethnicity at reproductive age in rural areas. Pregnant women who lived in Tibet were interviewed on their former reproductive history and being followed on the outcomes of pregnant from 2006 to 2012. Generalized Poisson regression model was used to explore the influencing factors of spontaneous abortion. OR value of the research factors was estimated and its 95% confidence interval counted. There were 1 557 pregnant women under this study, with a total number of 2 687 pregnancies and 2 382 productions. 171 women underwent spontaneous abortion, with a total number of 204 times, 93 women had histories of abortion, with a total number of 101 times. Among all the Tibetan pregnant women, the ratio between spontaneous abortion and pregnant women was 7.6% while the rate of spontaneous abortion was 7.9% . Ratio between the number of women who had experienced spontaneous abortion and the total number of women under survey was 11.0% . Pregnancy appeared the important reason on spontaneous abortion. The risk of having spontaneous abortion would increase among women who had more than 3 pregnancies. Results from Poisson regression analysis revealed that the odds ratio (OR) value before the adjustment was 3.921 (95% CI:2.553-6.021) but after the adjustment, it increased to 4.722 (95% CI:2.834-7.866). The increase of production time could reduce the risk of spontaneous abortion in women of childbearing age. Risks related to spontaneous abortion were associated with the number of pregnancies. Women seemed to have lower risk for spontaneous abortion after 2009, with OR value as 0.419 (95%CI:0.285-0.616) before, compared to aOR value as 0.580 (95%CI:0.380-0.885) after the adjustment Social-demographic characteristics was not found to be particularly associated with the occurrence of spontaneous abortion. Rate of spontaneous abortion among Tibetan women at childbearing age was not particularly

Extinction and spontaneous recovery of spatial behavior in pigeons.

PubMed

Leising, Kenneth J; Wong, Jared; Blaisdell, Aaron P

2015-10-01

We investigated extinction and spontaneous recovery of spatial associations using a landmark-based appetitive search task in a touchscreen preparation with pigeons. Four visual landmarks (A, B, C, and D) were separately established as signals of a hidden reinforced target among an 8 × 7 array of potential target locations. The target was located above landmarks (LM) A and C and below B and D. After conditioning, A and B were extinguished. Responding to A and C was assessed on probe tests 2 days following extinction, whereas, B and D were tested 14 days after extinction. We observed spontaneous recovery from spatial extinction following a 14-day, but not a 2-day, postextinction retention interval. Furthermore, by plotting the spatial distribution of responding across the X and Y axes during testing, we found that spontaneous recovery of responding to the target in our task was due to enhanced spatial control (i.e., a change in the overall distribution of responses) following the long delay to testing. These results add spatial extinction and spontaneous recovery to the list of findings supporting the assertion that extinction involves new learning that attenuates the originally acquired response, and that original learning of the spatial relationship between paired events survives extinction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).

[Spontaneous splenic rupture due to infectious acute mononucleosis: case report].

PubMed

Greco, L; De Gennaro, E; Degara, A; Papa, U

2003-01-01

Infectious mononucleosis is an acute, viral, illness associated with a high incidence of splenomegaly. Spontaneous splenic rupture is a rare but life-threatening complication of infectious mononucleosis. The authors report the case of a 19-year-old patient with an infectious mononucleosis causing a spontaneous splenic rupture. When rupture occurs the mortality has been significant. The spleen may be vulnerable for the histopathologic changes that occur as a result of this illness. Two thirds of patients with infectious mononucleosis develop an enlarged spleen, but in only 0.5% of all patients will it rupture. Abdominal pain and tachycardia are unusual in uncomplicated infectious mononucleosis and should alert a doctor to the possibility of spontaneous splenic rupture. The diagnosis of splenic rupture may be confirmed in a variety of ways. In this patient ultrasound and Rutkow's criteria may aid in establishing the diagnosis. In patients with infectious mononucleosis suspected of having rupture of the spleen, a rapid but thorough assessment and prompt implementation of appropriate management should minimize the associated morbidity and mortality. On the basis of review of the medical literature and of our own experience, we advocate emergent splenectomy for spontaneous splenic rupture in patients with infectious mononucleosis.

Prospective controlled trial comparing colostomy irrigation with "spontaneous-action" method.

PubMed

Williams, N S; Johnston, D

1980-07-12

Thirty randomly selected patients with permanent colostomies entered a prospective controlled trial comparing colostomy irrigation with spontaneous action. Each patient was interviewed and examined before irrigation was begun and again after the technique had been used for three months. Each then reverted to spontaneous action for a further three months and was then reassessed. Eight patients abandoned irrigation and 22 (73%) adhered to the protocol. Irrigation caused no mishaps or complications. The mean time spent managing the stoma was 45 +/- SEM 9 min/24 hours during spontaneous action and 53 +/- 9 min/24 hours during irrigation. This difference was not significant. The numbers of bowel actions weekly were 13 +/ SEM 2 during spontaneous action and 6 +/- 1 during irrigation (p < 0.01). Irrigation reduced odour and flatus in 20 patients and enabled 12 out of 18 to stop using drugs and seven to discard their appliance. Irrigation also improved the social life of 18 patients and the working conditions of eight out of 14. These finding show that some patients may not be suitable for irrigation but that for many it is better than the conventional British method of colostomy management. With modern apparatus the technique is safe.

Spontaneous gram-negative bacillary meningitis in adult patients: characteristics and outcome.

PubMed

Pomar, Virginia; Benito, Natividad; López-Contreras, Joaquin; Coll, Pere; Gurguí, Mercedes; Domingo, Pere

2013-09-30

Spontaneous meningitis caused by gram-negative bacilli in adult patients is uncommon and poorly characterized. Our objective is to describe and compare the characteristics and the outcome of adult patients with spontaneous gram-negative bacilli meningitis (GNBM) and spontaneous meningitis due to other pathogens. Prospective single hospital-based observational cohort study conducted between 1982 and 2006 in a university tertiary hospital in Barcelona (Spain). The Main Outcome Measure: In-hospital mortality. Gram-negative bacilli meningitis was diagnosed in 40 (7%) of 544 episodes of spontaneous acute bacterial meningitis. The most common pathogens were Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas species. On admission, characteristics associated with spontaneous gram-negative bacilli meningitis by multivariate modeling were advanced age, history of cancer, nosocomial acquisition of infection, urinary tract infection as distant focus of infection, absence of rash, hypotension, and a high cerebrospinal fluid white-cell count. Nine (23%) episodes were acquired in the hospital and they were most commonly caused by Pseudomonas. The in-hospital mortality rate was 53%. The mortality rate was higher among patients with Gram-negative bacillary meningitis than among those with other bacterial meningitis and their risk of death was twenty times higher than among patients infected with Neisseria meningitidis (odds ratio 20.47; 95% confidence interval 4.03-103.93; p<0.001). Gram-negative bacilli cause 9% of spontaneous bacterial meningitis of known etiology in adults. Characteristics associated with GNBM include advanced age, history of cancer, nosocomial acquisition, and urinary tract infection as distant focus of infection. The mortality rate is higher among patients with gram-negative bacillary meningitis than among those with other bacterial meningitides.

The Relationship between Chlamydia trachomatis Genital Infection and Spontaneous Abortion.

PubMed

Ahmadi, Amjad; Khodabandehloo, Mazaher; Ramazanzadeh, Rashid; Farhadifar, Fariba; Roshani, Daem; Ghaderi, Ebrahim; Farhangi, Niloofar

2016-01-01

Chlamydia trachomatis is the etiology of most of sexually transmitted diseases. Colonization of C. trachomatis in the genital tract during early gestation has been associated with preterm birth, and preterm premature rupture of the membranes. The role of C. trachomatis on spontaneous abortion has not yet been proved completely. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of C. trachomatis infection among pregnant women and its association with spontaneous abortion. This case-control study was conducted from August 2012 until January 2013. Totally, 218 women were included; 109 women with spontaneous abortion with gestation age between 10-20 weeks (cases), and 109 women with normal pregnancy with gestation age between 20-30 weeks (controls) in Sanandaj, Iran. DNA was extracted from endocervical swabs and a PCR test was conducted for detection of C. trachomatis infection in women using specific primers. Independent T-test and Chi-square were used for comparison of quantitative and qualitative variables, respectively, and p<0.05 was considered significant. The total prevalence of C. trachomatis infection was 38(17.43%) in endocervical swabs of women. However, the number of cases with C. trachomatis infections was 25 out of 109(22.9%) in the case group and 13 out of 109(11.9%) in control group, respectively. Association between chlamydia infection and spontaneous abortion was statistically significant (OR=2.198, CI 95%: 1.058-4.56). Our study showed that C. trachomatis infection was associated with spontaneous abortion. Thus, screening and treatment of pregnant women may prevent this adverse pregnancy outcome.

Use of antibiotics during pregnancy and risk of spontaneous abortion.

PubMed

Muanda, Flory T; Sheehy, Odile; Bérard, Anick

2017-05-01

Although antibiotics are widely used during pregnancy, evidence regarding their fetal safety remains limited. Our aim was to quantify the association between antibiotic exposure during pregnancy and risk of spontaneous abortion. We conducted a nested case-control study within the Quebec Pregnancy Cohort (1998-2009). We excluded planned abortions and pregnancies exposed to fetotoxic drugs. Spontaneous abortion was defined as having a diagnosis or procedure related to spontaneous abortion before the 20th week of pregnancy. The index date was defined as the calendar date of the spontaneous abortion. Ten controls per case were randomly selected and matched by gestational age and year of pregnancy. Use of antibiotics was defined by filled prescriptions between the first day of gestation and the index date and was compared with (a) non-exposure and (b) exposure to penicillins or cephalosporins. We studied type of antibiotics separately using the same comparator groups. After adjustment for potential confounders, use of azithromycin (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.34-2.02; 110 exposed cases), clarithromycin (adjusted OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.90-2.91; 111 exposed cases), metronidazole (adjusted OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.27-2.26; 53 exposed cases), sulfonamides (adjusted OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.36-2.97; 30 exposed cases), tetracyclines (adjusted OR 2.59, 95% CI 1.97-3.41; 67 exposed cases) and quinolones (adjusted OR 2.72, 95% CI 2.27-3.27; 160 exposed cases) was associated with an increased risk of spontaneous abortion. Similar results were found when we used penicillins or cephalosporins as the comparator group. After adjustment for potential confounders, use of macro-lides (excluding erythromycin), quinolones, tetracyclines, sulfonamides and metronidazole during early pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of spontaneous abortion. Our findings may be of use to policy-makers to update guidelines for the treatment of infections during pregnancy. © 2017

Use of antibiotics during pregnancy and risk of spontaneous abortion

PubMed Central

Muanda, Flory T.; Sheehy, Odile; Bérard, Anick

2017-01-01

BACKGROUND: Although antibiotics are widely used during pregnancy, evidence regarding their fetal safety remains limited. Our aim was to quantify the association between antibiotic exposure during pregnancy and risk of spontaneous abortion. METHODS: We conducted a nested case–control study within the Quebec Pregnancy Cohort (1998–2009). We excluded planned abortions and pregnancies exposed to fetotoxic drugs. Spontaneous abortion was defined as having a diagnosis or procedure related to spontaneous abortion before the 20th week of pregnancy. The index date was defined as the calendar date of the spontaneous abortion. Ten controls per case were randomly selected and matched by gestational age and year of pregnancy. Use of antibiotics was defined by filled prescriptions between the first day of gestation and the index date and was compared with (a) non-exposure and (b) exposure to penicillins or cephalosporins. We studied type of antibiotics separately using the same comparator groups. RESULTS: After adjustment for potential confounders, use of azithromycin (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.34–2.02; 110 exposed cases), clarithromycin (adjusted OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.90–2.91; 111 exposed cases), metronidazole (adjusted OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.27–2.26; 53 exposed cases), sulfonamides (adjusted OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.36–2.97; 30 exposed cases), tetracyclines (adjusted OR 2.59, 95% CI 1.97–3.41; 67 exposed cases) and quinolones (adjusted OR 2.72, 95% CI 2.27–3.27; 160 exposed cases) was associated with an increased risk of spontaneous abortion. Similar results were found when we used penicillins or cephalosporins as the comparator group. INTERPRETATION: After adjustment for potential confounders, use of macro-lides (excluding erythromycin), quinolones, tetracyclines, sulfonamides and metronidazole during early pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of spontaneous abortion. Our findings may be of use to policy-makers to update

From mind wandering to involuntary retrieval: Age-related differences in spontaneous cognitive processes.

PubMed

Maillet, David; Schacter, Daniel L

2016-01-08

The majority of studies that have investigated the effects of healthy aging on cognition have focused on age-related differences in voluntary and deliberately engaged cognitive processes. Yet many forms of cognition occur spontaneously, without any deliberate attempt at engaging them. In this article we review studies that have assessed age-related differences in four such types of spontaneous thought processes: mind-wandering, involuntary autobiographical memory, intrusive thoughts, and spontaneous prospective memory retrieval. These studies suggest that older adults exhibit a reduction in frequency of both mind-wandering and involuntary autobiographical memory, whereas findings regarding intrusive thoughts have been more mixed. Additionally, there is some preliminary evidence that spontaneous prospective memory retrieval may be relatively preserved in aging. We consider the roles of age-related differences in cognitive resources, motivation, current concerns and emotional regulation in accounting for these findings. We also consider age-related differences in the neural correlates of spontaneous cognitive processes. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

From mind wandering to involuntary retrieval: Age-related differences in spontaneous cognitive processes

PubMed Central

Maillet, David; Schacter, Daniel L.

2015-01-01

The majority of studies that have investigated the effects of healthy aging on cognition have focused on age-related differences in voluntary and deliberately engaged cognitive processes. Yet many forms of cognition occur spontaneously, without any deliberate attempt at engaging them. In this article we review studies that have assessed age-related differences in four such types of spontaneous thought processes: mind-wandering, involuntary autobiographical memory, intrusive thoughts, and spontaneous prospective memory retrieval. These studies suggest that older adults exhibit a reduction in frequency of both mind-wandering and involuntary autobiographical memory, whereas findings regarding intrusive thoughts have been more mixed. Additionally, there is some preliminary evidence that spontaneous prospective memory retrieval may be relatively preserved in aging. We consider the roles of age-related differences in cognitive resources, motivation, current concerns and emotional regulation in accounting for these findings. We also consider age-related differences in the neural correlates of spontaneous cognitive processes. PMID:26617263

They call it like they see it: spontaneous naming and attention to shape.

PubMed

Samuelson, Larissa K; Smith, Linda B

2005-03-01

Two experiments explore children's spontaneous labeling of novel objects as a method to study early lexical access. The experiments also provide new evidence on children's attention to object shape when labeling objects. In Experiment 1, the spontaneous productions of 21 23- to 28-month-olds (mean 26;28) shown a set of novel, unnamed objects were analyzed both in terms of the specific words said and, via adult judgments, their likely perceptual basis. We found that children's spontaneous names were cued by the perceptual feature of shape. Experiment 2 examines the relation between spontaneous productions, name generalizations in a structured task, and vocabulary development in a group of children between 17 and 24 months of age (mean 21;6). Results indicate that object shape plays an important role in both spontaneous productions and novel noun generalization, but contrary to current hypotheses, children may name objects by shape from the earliest points of productive vocabulary development and this tendency may not be lexically specific.

Estimating the probability of spontaneous abortion in the presence of induced abortion and vice versa.

PubMed Central

Hammerslough, C R

1992-01-01

An integrated approach to estimate the total number of pregnancies that begin in a population during one calendar year and the probability of spontaneous abortion is described. This includes an indirect estimate of the number of pregnancies that result in spontaneous abortions. The method simultaneously takes into account the proportion of induced abortions that are censored by spontaneous abortions and vice versa in order to estimate the true annual number of spontaneous and induced abortions for a population. It also estimates the proportion of pregnancies that women intended to allow to continue to a live birth. The proposed indirect approach derives adjustment factors to make indirect estimates by combining vital statistics information on gestational age at induced abortion (from the 12 States that report to the National Center for Health Statistics) with a life table of spontaneous abortion probabilities. The adjustment factors are applied to data on induced abortions from the Alan Guttmacher Institute Abortion Provider Survey and data on births from U.S. vital statistics. For the United States in 1980 the probability of a spontaneous abortion is 19 percent, given the presence of induced abortion. Once the effects of spontaneous abortion are discounted, women in 1980 intended to allow 73 percent of their pregnancies to proceed to a live birth. One medical benefit to a population practicing induced abortion is that induced abortions avert some spontaneous abortions, leading to a lower mean gestational duration at the time of spontaneous abortion. PMID:1594736

Determination of phenols and pharmaceuticals in municipal wastewaters from Polish treatment plants by ultrasound-assisted emulsification-microextraction followed by GC-MS.

PubMed

Kotowska, Urszula; Kapelewska, Justyna; Sturgulewska, Joanna

2014-01-01

A method combining ultrasound-assisted emulsification-microextraction (USAEME) with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was developed for simultaneous determination of four acidic pharmaceuticals, ibuprofen, naproxen, ketoprofen, and diclofenac, as well as four phenols, 4-octylphenol, 4-n-nonylphenol, bisphenol A, and triclosan in municipal wastewaters. Conditions of extraction and simultaneous derivatization were optimized with respect to such aspects as type and volume of extraction solvent, volume of derivatization reagent, kind and amount of buffering salt, location of the test tube in the ultrasonic bath, and extraction time. The average correlation coefficient of the calibration curves was 0.9946. The LOD/(LOQ) values in influent and effluent wastewater were in the range of 0.002-0.121/(0.005-0.403) μg L(-1) and 0.002-0.828/(0.006-2.758) μg L(-1), respectively. Quantitative recoveries (≥94%) and satisfactory precision (average RSD 8.2%) were obtained. The optimized USAEME/GC-MS method was applied for determination of the considered pharmaceuticals and phenols in influents and treated effluents from nine Polish municipal wastewater treatment plants. The average concentration of acidic pharmaceuticals in influent and effluent wastewater were in the range of 0.06-551.96 μg L(-1) and 0.01-22.61 μg L(-1), respectively, while for phenols were in the range of 0.03-102.54 μg L(-1) and 0.02-10.84 μg L(-1), respectively. The removal efficiencies of the target compounds during purification process were between 84 and 99%.

Spontaneous pushing to prevent postpartum urinary incontinence: a randomized, controlled trial.

PubMed

Low, Lisa Kane; Miller, Janis M; Guo, Ying; Ashton-Miller, James A; DeLancey, John O L; Sampselle, Carolyn M

2013-03-01

The risk for urinary incontinence can be 2.6-fold greater in women after pregnancy and childbirth compared with their never-pregnant counterparts, with the incidence increasing with parity. We tested the hypothesis that the incidence of de novo postpartum urinary incontinence in primiparous women is reduced with the use of spontaneous pushing alone or in combination with perineal massage compared with women who experienced traditional directed pushing for second-stage management. This was a prospective clinical trial enrolling and randomizing 249 women into a four-group design: (1) routine care with coached or directed pushing, (2) spontaneous self-directed pushing, (3) prenatal perineal massage initiated in the third trimester, and (4) the combination of spontaneous pushing plus perineal massage. Self-report of incontinence was assessed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and covariance (ANCOVA) models in 145 remaining women at 12 months postpartum using the Leakage Index, which is sensitive to minor leakage. No statistical difference in the incidence of de novo postpartum incontinence was found based on method of pushing (spontaneous/directed) (P value = 0.57) or in combination with prenatal perineal massage (P value = 0.57). Fidelity to pushing treatment of type was assessed and between-groups crossover detected. Spontaneous pushing did not reduce the incidence of postpartum incontinence experienced by women 1 year after their first birth due to high cross-over between randomization groups.

[Mechanisms of endogenous drug resistance acquisition by spontaneous chromosomal gene mutation].

PubMed

Fukuda, H; Hiramatsu, K

1997-05-01

Endogenous resistance in bacteria is caused by a change or loss of function and generally genetically recessive. However, this type of resistance acquisition are now prevalent in clinical setting. Chromosomal genes that afford endogenous resistance are the genes correlated with the target of the drug, the drug inactivating enzymes, and permeability of the molecules including the antibacterial agents. Endogenous alteration of the drug target are mediated by the spontaneous mutation of their structural gene. This mutation provides much lower affinity of the drugs for the target. Gene expression of the inactivating enzymes, such as class C beta-lactamase, is generally regulated by regulatory genes. Spontaneous mutations in the regulatory genes cause constitutive enzyme production and provides the resistant to the agent which is usually stable for such enzymes. Spontaneous mutation in the structural gene gives the enzyme extra-spectrum substrate specificity, like ESBL (Extra-Spectrum-beta-Lactamase). Expression of structural genes encoding the permeability systems are also regulated by some regulatory genes. The spontaneous mutation of the regulatory genes reduce an amount of porin protein. This mutation causes much lower influx of the drug in the cell. Spontaneous mutation in promoter region of the structural gene of efflux protein was observed. This mutation raised the gene transcription and overproduced efflux protein. This protein progresses the drug efflux from the cell.

[Difference between perinatal mortality in multiple pregnancies obtained spontaneously versus assisted reproduction].

PubMed

del Rayo Rivas-Ortiz, Yazmín; Hernández-Herrera, Ricardo Jorge

2010-06-01

Recently assisted reproduction techniques are more common, which increases multiple pregnancies and adverse perinatal outcomes. Some authors report increased mortality in multiple pregnancies products obtained by techniques of assisted reproduction vs. conceived spontaneously, although other authors found no significant difference. To evaluate mortality rate of multiple pregnancies comparing those obtained by assisted reproduction vs. spontaneous conception. Retrospective, observational and comparative study. We included pregnant women with 3 or more products that went to the Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad No. 23, IMSS, in Monterrey, NL (Mexico), between 2002-2008. We compared the number of complicated pregnancies and dead products obtained by a technique of assisted reproduction vs. spontaneous. 68 multiple pregnancies were included. On average, spontaneously conceived fetuses had more weeks of gestation and more birth weight than those achieved by assisted reproduction techniques (p = ns). 20.5% (14/68) of multiple pregnancies had one or more fatal events: 10/40 (25%) by assisted reproduction techniques vs. 4/28 (14%) of spontaneous multiple pregnancies (p = 0.22). 21/134 (16%) of the products conceived by assisted reproduction techniques and 6/88 (7%) of spontaneous (p < 0.03) died. 60% of all multiple pregnancies were obtained by a technique of assisted reproduction and 21% of the cases had one or more fatal events (11% more in pregnancies achieved by assisted reproduction techniques). 12% of the products of multiple pregnancies died (9% more in those obtained by a technique of assisted reproduction).

Spontaneous regression of curve in immature idiopathic scoliosis - does spinal column play a role to balance? An observation with literature review.

PubMed

Modi, Hitesh N; Suh, Seung-Woo; Yang, Jae-Hyuk; Hong, Jae-Young; Venkatesh, Kp; Muzaffar, Nasir

2010-11-04

Child with mild scoliosis is always a subject of interest for most orthopaedic surgeons regarding progression. Literature described Hueter-Volkmann theory regarding disc and vertebral wedging, and muscular imbalance for the progression of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. However, many authors reported spontaneous resolution of curves also without any reason for that and the rate of resolution reported is almost 25%. Purpose of this study was to question the role of paraspinal muscle tuning/balancing mechanism, especially in patients with idiopathic scoliosis with early mild curve, for spontaneous regression or progression as well as changing pattern of curves. An observational study of serial radiograms in 169 idiopathic scoliosis children (with minimum follow-up one year) was carried. All children with Cobb angle < 25° and who were diagnosed for the first time were selected. As a sign of immaturity at the time of diagnosis, all children had Risser sign 0. No treatment was given to entire study group. Children were divided in three groups at final follow-up: Group A, B and C as children with regression, no change and progression of their curves, respectively. Additionally changes in the pattern of curve were also noted. Average age was 9.2 years at first visit and 10.11 years at final follow-up with an average follow-up of 21 months. 32.5% (55/169), 41.4% (70/169) and 26% (44/169) children exhibited regression, no change and progression in their curves, respectively. 46.1% of children (78/169) showed changing pattern of their curves during the follow-up visits before it settled down to final curve. Comparing final fate of curve with side of curve and number of curves it did not show any relationship (p > 0.05) in our study population. Possible reason for changing patterns could be better explained by the tuning/balancing mechanism of spinal column that makes an effort to balance the spine and result into spontaneous regression or prevent further progression of

The correlation of sperm morphology with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PubMed Central

Cao, Xiaodan; Cui, Yun; Zhang, Xiaoxia; Lou, Jiangtao; Zhou, Jun; Wei, Renxiong

2017-01-01

Sperm morphology displays a potential impact on sperm function and may ultimately impact reproductive function. Current studies have investigated the correlation between sperm morphology with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) but have shown inconsistent results. Hence, we systematically searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CNKI databases, as well as the Cochrane Library for studies that examined the association between sperm morphology and unexplained RSA. Fifteen studies were identified, including 883 cases and 530 controls. Our meta-analysis results indicated that the percentage of normal sperm morphology from men with RSA partners was significantly lower than those from normal controls(SMD [95% CI]: − 0.60 [−0.81, −0.40]; P<0.00001) and the percentage of sperm morphologic alterations was significantly higher in patients with RSA compared with the control group (SMD [95% CI]: 0.92 [0.42, 1.43]; P=0.0004). The present study suggested that the percentage of normal sperm morphology may indeed decrease in men from RSA group compared with controls. However, there were some limitations in the study such as the differences in stain techniques and classification criteria. Further evidences are needed to better elucidate the relationship between sperm morphology and unexplained RSA. PMID:28903451

Bilateral spontaneous crystalline lens dislocation to the anterior chamber: a case report.

PubMed

Jovanović, Milos

2013-01-01

There are various reasons for the lens dislocation. Spontaneous dislocation of a clear lens is extremely rare, especially its dislocation to the anterior chamber. The author presents a case of spontaneous clear lens dislocation to the anterior chamber in both eyes in a patient without the history of any trauma. Dislocation occurred spontaneously, first in the left eye, along with a sudden decrease of vision. The ophthalmologist found a clear lens in the anterior chamber, without any sign of an elevated intraocular pressure, as should have been expected. The dislocated lens was removed surgically (intracapsular extraction) with the preventive basal iridectomy. Two years later, the same happened in the right eye: clear lens moved spontaneously to the anterior chamber, with a decrease of vision, but again without any rise of intraocular pressure and/or any pain. Intracapsular extraction of the lens with basal iridectomy was done again. The presented case demonstrates that spontaneous dislocation of the transparent lens to the eye anterior chamber can occur in both eyes at different time intervals. We suggest the removal of dislocated lens in the anterior chamber by the intracapsular extraction.

Spontaneous Ion Depletion and Accumulation Phenomena Induced by Imbibition through Permselective Medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Hyomin; Jung, Yeonsu; Park, Sungmin; Kim, Ho-Young; Kim, Sung Jae

2016-11-01

Generally, an ion depletion region near a permselective medium is induced by predominant ion flux through the medium. External electric field or hydraulic pressure has been reported as the driving forces. Among these driving forces, an imbibition through the nanoporous medium was chosen as the mechanism to spontaneously generate the ion depletion region. The water-absorbing process leads to the predominant ion flux so that the spontaneous formation of the ion depletion zone is expected even if there are no additional driving forces except for the inherent capillary action. In this presentation, we derived the analytical solutions using perturbation method and asymptotic analysis for the spontaneous phenomenon. Using the analysis, we found that there is also spontaneous accumulation regime depending on the mobility of dissolved electrolytic species. Therefore, the rigorous analysis of the spontaneous ion depletion and accumulation phenomena would provide a key perspective for the control of ion transportation in nanofluidic system such as desalinator, preconcentrator, and energy harvesting device, etc. Samsung Research Funding Center of Samsung Electronics (SRFC-MA1301-02) and BK21 plus program of Creative Research Engineer Development IT, Seoul National University.

On the thermodynamics of particle-stabilized emulsions: curvature effects and catastrophic phase inversion.

PubMed

Kralchevsky, P A; Ivanov, I B; Ananthapadmanabhan, K P; Lips, A

2005-01-04

The flexural properties of a particle adsorption monolayer are investigated theoretically. If the particles are not densely packed, the interfacial bending moment and the spontaneous curvature (due to the particles) are equal to zero. The situation changes if the particles are closely packed. Then the particle adsorption monolayer possesses a significant bending moment, and the interfacial energies of bending and dilatation become comparable. In this case, the bending energy can either stabilize or destabilize the Pickering emulsion, depending on whether the particle contact angle is smaller or greater than 90 degrees . Theoretical expressions are derived for the bending moment, for the curvature elastic modulus, and for the work of interfacial deformation and emulsification. The latter is dominated by the work for creation of a new oil-water interface and by the work for particle adsorption. The curvature effects give a contribution of second order, which is significant only for emulsification at 50:50 water/oil volume fractions. A thermodynamic criterion for the type of the formed emulsion is proposed. It predicts the existence of a catastrophic phase inversion in particle-stabilized emulsions, in agreement with the experimental observations. The derived theoretical expressions could find application for interpretation of experimental data on production and stability of Pickering emulsions.

Sex and Ear Differences in Spontaneous and Click-Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions in Young Adults

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Snihur, Adrian W. K.; Hampson, Elizabeth

2011-01-01

Effects of sex and handedness on the production of spontaneous and click-evoked otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) were explored in a non-hearing impaired population (ages 17-25 years). A sex difference in OAEs, either produced spontaneously (spontaneous OAEs or SOAEs) or in response to auditory stimuli (click-evoked OAEs or CEOAEs) has been reported in…

Mechanisms of morphine enhancement of spontaneous seizure activity.

PubMed

Saboory, Ehsan; Derchansky, Miron; Ismaili, Mohammed; Jahromi, Shokrollah S; Brull, Richard; Carlen, Peter L; El Beheiry, Hossam

2007-12-01

High-dose opioid therapy can precipitate seizures; however, the mechanism of such a dangerous adverse effect remains poorly understood. The aim of our study was to determine whether the neuroexcitatory activity of high-dose morphine is mediated by selective stimulation of opioid receptors. Mice hippocampi were resected intact and bathed in low magnesium artificial cerebrospinal fluid to induce spontaneous seizure-like events recorded from CA1 neurons. Application of morphine had a biphasic effect on the recorded spontaneous seizure-like events. In a low concentration (10 microM), morphine depressed electrographic seizure activity. Higher morphine concentrations (30 and 100 microM) enhanced seizure activity in an apparent dose-dependent manner. Naloxone, a nonselective opiate antagonist blocked the proconvulsant action of morphine. Selective mu and kappa opiate receptor agonists and antagonists enhanced and suppressed the spontaneous seizure activity, respectively. On the contrary, delta opioid receptor ligands did not have an effect. The proseizure effect of morphine is mediated through selective stimulation of mu and kappa opiate receptors but not the activation of the delta receptor system. The observed dose-dependent mechanism of morphine neuroexcitation underscores careful adjustment and individualized opioid dosing in the clinical setting.

Gauge Theories and Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-11-01

This report summarizes attempts to understand in what way spontaneous symmetry breaking arose in the context of guage field theories of elementary...gauge field theories. It was felt that the symmetry breaking used by the physicists (a procedure known as the Higgs mechanism) is not precisely a

QED (quantum-electrodynamical) theory of excess spontaneous emission noise

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

Milonni, P.W.

1990-01-01

The results of a quantum-electrodynamical theory of excess spontaneous emission noise in lossy resonators will be presented. The Petermann K factor'' does not enter into the spontaneous emission rate of a single atom in the cavity. The QED theory allows different interpretations of the K factor, and we use this fact to justify semiclassical analyses and to provide in one example a simple derivation of K in terms of the amplification of the quantum vacuum field entering the resonator through its mirrors. 17 refs.

A case report of a spontaneous oesophageal pleural fistula.

PubMed

Kumar, Sanjeev; Singh, Arshdeep; Matreja, Prithpal S; Kler, Sanjiv Kumar

2013-03-01

We are reporting a case of an asthmatic patient who presented to us with retrosternal chest pain, constipation, and shortness of breath, with features which were suggestive of a hydropneumothorax and shock. On recovery from the shock, the patient was found to have increased chest tube drainage, which was suggestive of an oesophageal rupture. The Computerized Tomography (CT) scan showed a fistulous track. The patient was diagnosed as a case of a spontaneous oesophageal pleural fistula (Spontaneous EPF) on the basis of her clinical and radiological findings.

Spontaneous actin dynamics in contractile rings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kruse, Karsten; Wollrab, Viktoria; Thiagarajan, Raghavan; Wald, Anne; Riveline, Daniel

Networks of polymerizing actin filaments are known to be capable to self-organize into a variety of structures. For example, spontaneous actin polymerization waves have been observed in living cells in a number of circumstances, notably, in crawling neutrophils and slime molds. During later stages of cell division, they can also spontaneously form a contractile ring that will eventually cleave the cell into two daughter cells. We present a framework for describing networks of polymerizing actin filaments, where assembly is regulated by various proteins. It can also include the effects of molecular motors. We show that the molecular processes driven by these proteins can generate various structures that have been observed in contractile rings of fission yeast and mammalian cells. We discuss a possible functional role of each of these patterns. The work was supported by Agence Nationale de la Recherche, France, (ANR-10-LABX-0030-INRT) and by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft through SFB1027.

Avian models with spontaneous autoimmune diseases

PubMed Central

Wick, Georg; Andersson, Leif; Hala, Karel; Gershwin, M. Eric; Selmi, Carlo F.; Erf, Gisela F.; Lamont, Susan J.; Sgonc, Roswitha

2012-01-01

Autoimmune diseases in human patients only become clinically manifest when the disease process has developed to a stage where functional compensation by the afflicted organ or system is not possible any more. In order to understand the initial etiologic and pathogenic events that are generally not yet accessible in humans, appropriate animal models are required. In this respect, spontaneously developing models - albeit rare – reflect the situation in humans much more closely than experimentally induced models, including knockout and transgenic mice. The present review describes three spontaneous chicken models for human autoimmune diseases, the Obese strain (OS) with a Hashimoto-like autoimmune thyroiditis, the University of California at Davis lines 200 and 206 (UCD-200 and 206) with a scleroderma-like disease and the amelanotic Smyth line with a vitiligo-like syndrome (SLV). Special emphasis is given to the new opportunities to unravel the genetic basis of these diseases in view of the recently completed sequencing of the chicken genome. PMID:17145302

Spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking in metamaterials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Mingkai; Powell, David A.; Shadrivov, Ilya V.; Lapine, Mikhail; Kivshar, Yuri S.

2014-07-01

Spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking underpins a variety of areas such as subatomic physics and biochemistry, and leads to an impressive range of fundamental phenomena. Here we show that this prominent effect is now available in artificial electromagnetic systems, enabled by the advent of magnetoelastic metamaterials where a mechanical degree of freedom leads to a rich variety of strong nonlinear effects such as bistability and self-oscillations. We report spontaneous symmetry breaking in torsional chiral magnetoelastic structures where two or more meta-molecules with opposite handedness are electromagnetically coupled, modifying the system stability. Importantly, we show that chiral symmetry breaking can be found in the stationary response of the system, and the effect is successfully demonstrated in a microwave pump-probe experiment. Such symmetry breaking can lead to a giant nonlinear polarization change, energy localization and mode splitting, which provides a new possibility for creating an artificial phase transition in metamaterials, analogous to that in ferrimagnetic domains.

Spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking in metamaterials.

PubMed

Liu, Mingkai; Powell, David A; Shadrivov, Ilya V; Lapine, Mikhail; Kivshar, Yuri S

2014-07-18

Spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking underpins a variety of areas such as subatomic physics and biochemistry, and leads to an impressive range of fundamental phenomena. Here we show that this prominent effect is now available in artificial electromagnetic systems, enabled by the advent of magnetoelastic metamaterials where a mechanical degree of freedom leads to a rich variety of strong nonlinear effects such as bistability and self-oscillations. We report spontaneous symmetry breaking in torsional chiral magnetoelastic structures where two or more meta-molecules with opposite handedness are electromagnetically coupled, modifying the system stability. Importantly, we show that chiral symmetry breaking can be found in the stationary response of the system, and the effect is successfully demonstrated in a microwave pump-probe experiment. Such symmetry breaking can lead to a giant nonlinear polarization change, energy localization and mode splitting, which provides a new possibility for creating an artificial phase transition in metamaterials, analogous to that in ferrimagnetic domains.

Spontaneous bending of pre-stretched bilayers.

PubMed

DeSimone, Antonio

2018-01-01

We discuss spontaneously bent configurations of pre-stretched bilayer sheets that can be obtained by tuning the pre-stretches in the two layers. The two-dimensional nonlinear plate model we use for this purpose is an adaptation of the one recently obtained for thin sheets of nematic elastomers, by means of a rigorous dimensional reduction argument based on the theory of Gamma-convergence (Agostiniani and DeSimone in Meccanica. doi:10.1007/s11012-017-0630-4, 2017, Math Mech Solids. doi:10.1177/1081286517699991, arXiv:1509.07003, 2017). We argue that pre-stretched bilayer sheets provide us with an interesting model system to study shape programming and morphing of surfaces in other, more complex systems, where spontaneous deformations are induced by swelling due to the absorption of a liquid, phase transformations, thermal or electro-magnetic stimuli. These include bio-mimetic structures inspired by biological systems from both the plant and the animal kingdoms.

Intrasphenoidal encephalocele and spontaneous CSF rhinorrhoea.

PubMed

Daniilidis, J; Vlachtsis, K; Ferekidis, E; Dimitriadis, A

1999-12-01

Intrasphenoidal encephalocele is a rare clinical entity. In the international literature only 16 cases have been reported up today, with female predominance. Clinically they manifest at middle and advanced ages (40-67 years), when spontaneous CSF rhinorrhoea or recurrent meningitis occurs. We present our case, a 46 years old female, who had CSF rhinorrhoea from the right vestibule for 10 months. The diagnosis was based on the history and the high-resolution brain and skull base CT-scanning in conjunction with opaque fluid injection in the subarachnoidal space through a lumbar puncture. She was successfully treated with an operation, through an endonasal trans-ethmoid microendoscopic approach, using the Draf and Stammberger technique. We discuss the pathogenesis of the intrasphenoidal encephalocele, the existence of small occult defects in the skull base, which cause, at the middle and advanced ages, CSF fistula with spontaneous CSF rhinorrhoea and/or recurrent meningitis. Finally we emphasize the advantages of the endonasal surgical approach for the treatment of this condition.

Ultimate Osmosis Engineered by the Pore Geometry and Functionalization of Carbon Nanostructures

PubMed Central

Song, Zhigong; Xu, Zhiping

2015-01-01

Osmosis is the key process in establishing versatile functions of cellular systems and enabling clean-water harvesting technologies. Membranes with single-atom thickness not only hold great promises in approaching the ultimate limit of these functions, but also offer an ideal test-bed to explore the underlying physical mechanisms. In this work, we explore diffusive and osmotic transport of water and ions through carbon nanotube and porous graphene based membranes by performing molecular dynamics simulations. Our comparative study shows that the cylindrical confinement in carbon nanotubes offers much higher salt rejection at similar permeability in osmosis compared to porous graphene. Moreover, chemical functionalization of the pores modulates the membrane performance by its steric and electrostatic nature, especially at small-size pores due to the fact that the optimal transport is achieved by ordered water transport near pore edges. These findings lay the ground for the ultimate design of forward osmosis membranes with optimized performance trade-off, given the capability of nano-engineering nanostructures by their geometry and chemistry. PMID:26037602

Mind-wandering as spontaneous thought: a dynamic framework.

PubMed

Christoff, Kalina; Irving, Zachary C; Fox, Kieran C R; Spreng, R Nathan; Andrews-Hanna, Jessica R

2016-11-01

Most research on mind-wandering has characterized it as a mental state with contents that are task unrelated or stimulus independent. However, the dynamics of mind-wandering - how mental states change over time - have remained largely neglected. Here, we introduce a dynamic framework for understanding mind-wandering and its relationship to the recruitment of large-scale brain networks. We propose that mind-wandering is best understood as a member of a family of spontaneous-thought phenomena that also includes creative thought and dreaming. This dynamic framework can shed new light on mental disorders that are marked by alterations in spontaneous thought, including depression, anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.