A Transforming Electricity System: Understanding the Interactions Between Clean Energy Technologies, Markets, and Policies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mooney, David

The U.S. electricity system is currently undergoing a dramatic transformation. State-level renewable portfolio standards, abundant natural gas at low prices, and rapidly falling prices for wind and solar technologies are among the factors that have ushered in this transformation. With objective, rigorous, technology-neutral analysis, NREL aims to increase the understanding of energy policies, markets, resources, technologies, and infrastructure and their connections with economic, environmental, and security priorities. The results of these analyses are meant to inform R&D, policy, and investment decisions as energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies advance from concept to commercial application to market penetration. This talk will provide an overview of how NREL uses high-fidelity data, deep knowledge of energy technology cost and performance, and advanced models and tools to provide the information needed to ensure this transformation occurs economically, while maintaining system reliability. Examples will be explored and will include analysis of tax credit impacts on wind and solar deployment and power sector emissions, as well as analysis of power systems operations in the Eastern Interconnection under 30% wind and solar penetration scenarios. Invited speaker number 47185.

Phase transformations in SrAl2Si2O8 glass

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Drummond, Charles H., III; Bansal, Narottam P.

1992-01-01

Bulk glass of SrAl2Si2O8 composition crystallized at temperatures below 1000 C into hexacelsian, a hexagonal phase which undergoes a reversible, rapid transformation to an orthorhombic phase at 758 C, and at higher temperatures crystallized as celsian, a monoclinic phase. The glass transition temperature and crystallization onset temperature were determined to be 883 C and 1086 C, respectively, from DSC at a heating rate of 20 C/min. Thermal expansion of the various phases and density and bend strengths of cold isostatically pressed glass powder bars, sintered at various temperatures, were measured. The kinetics of the hexacelsian-to-celsian transformation for SrAl2Si2O8 were studied. Hexacelsian flakes were isothermally heat treated at temperatures from 1025-1200 C for various times. Avrami plots were determined by quantitatively measuring the amount of monoclinic celsian formed at various times using x ray diffraction. The Avrami constant was determined to be 1.1, suggesting a diffusionless, one dimensional transformation mechanism. The activation energy was determined from an Arrhenius plot of 1n k vs. 1/T to be 125 kilocal/mole. This value is consistent with a mechanism which transforms the layered hexacelsian structure to a three dimensional framework celsian structure and involves the breaking of Si-O bonds.

Supporting Medical Home Transformation Through Evaluation of Patient Experience in a Large Culturally Diverse Primary Care Safety Net.

PubMed

Cook, Nicole; Hollar, T Lucas; Zunker, Christie; Peterson, Michael; Phillips, Teina; De Lucca, Michael

2016-01-01

The prevalence of chronic disease in the United States is rapidly increasing, with a disproportionate number of underserved, vulnerable patients sharing the burden. The Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) is a care delivery model that has shown promise to improve primary care and address the burden of chronic illness. The purpose of this study was to (1) understand patient characteristics that might influence perceived patient experience in a large primary care safety net undergoing PCMH transformation; (2) identify community-level quality improvement opportunities to support ongoing transformation activities; and (3) establish a baseline of patient experience across the primary care safety net that could be used in repeated evaluations over the course of transformation. A cross-sectional study design was used to conduct this research. A total of 351 racially and ethnically diverse patients of 4 primary care safety net organizations in Broward County, Florida, were surveyed regarding their experience with access to care and coordination of care. Reported access to care and coordination of care. Patients with chronic disease who reported having visited the clinic 3 or more times in the past 12 months reported a better coordination of care experience than patients who had fewer than 3 visits in the past 12 months (odds ratio = 3.57; 95% confidence interval, 1.76-7.24). Patients without chronic disease who had been receiving care at the clinic for 2 or more years of care reported worse experience with access to care than patients with less than 2 years of care (odds ratio = 0.26; 95% confidence interval, 0.11-0.60.) Race, ethnicity, language, and education were not significant predictors of patient experience. Findings support ongoing efforts to improve patient engagement among all patients and to enhance resources to manage chronic disease, including community-based self-management programs, in primary care safety nets undergoing PCMH transformation.

Four-dimensional Printing of Liquid Crystal Elastomers.

PubMed

Ambulo, Cedric P; Burroughs, Julia J; Boothby, Jennifer M; Kim, Hyun; Shankar, M Ravi; Ware, Taylor H

2017-10-25

Three-dimensional structures capable of reversible changes in shape, i.e., four-dimensional-printed structures, may enable new generations of soft robotics, implantable medical devices, and consumer products. Here, thermally responsive liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are direct-write printed into 3D structures with a controlled molecular order. Molecular order is locally programmed by controlling the print path used to build the 3D object, and this order controls the stimulus response. Each aligned LCE filament undergoes 40% reversible contraction along the print direction on heating. By printing objects with controlled geometry and stimulus response, magnified shape transformations, for example, volumetric contractions or rapid, repetitive snap-through transitions, are realized.

The essence of nursing in the shifting reality of Israel today.

PubMed

Ben Natan, Merav; Oren, Meir

2011-05-23

Israel's healthcare system is undergoing constant transformation; nurses' roles and education are changing accordingly. Israel's severe shortage of physicians has led to an increase in nurses' authority and responsibilities. The nursing profession is addressing many questions particularly in light of its expanded responsibilities and the current lack of legislation related to the practice of nursing. Additionally Israel is coping with an increasing shortage of nurses and the rapid development of innovative technologies. This article describes Israel's shifting reality and the nation's responses to these changing conditions. Responses include increasing financial support, enhancing educational opportunities, expanding the nursing role, and using new technologies.

Effect of redox potential and pH on TNT transformation in soil-water slurries

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

Price, C.B.; Brannon, J.M.; Hayes, C.A.

1997-10-01

The presence of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and its transformation products in surface soil, the vadose zone, and ground water can present serious environmental problems. This situation is exacerbated because the processes that control the mobility and transformation of TNT are not well understood. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of redox potential (Eh) and pH on the fate and transformation of TNT in soil. An initial investigation of soil components responsible for the observed TNT transformation was also conducted. Laboratory investigations consisted of testing at four separate redox potentials and four pH levels. An 18:1 (water:soil) suspensionmore » spiked with 100 {micro}g/g TNT was used. Results indicated that TNT was unstable under all redox and pH conditions, and was least stable under highly reducing conditions at all four pH values. Greater amounts of TNT were incorporated into soil organic matter under anaerobic than under aerobic conditions. Results of the soil component study indicated that the presence of Fe{sup +2} sorbed to clay surfaces may account for the rapid disappearance of TNT at reduced redox potentials. TNT in ground water moving into areas of intense reduction would not persist for long, but would undergo transformation and binding by soil organic matter.« less

Data-Driven Rightsizing: Integrating Preservation Into the Legacy Cities Landscape

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Evans, E.; Grosicki, B.

2017-08-01

Legacy cities, whose built environments are undergoing transformations due to population loss, are at a critical juncture in their urban history and the historic preservation field has an important role to play. Rapid mobile surveys provide an opportunity for data collection that expands beyond traditional historic criteria, and positions preservationists to be proactive decision-makers and to align with multi-disciplinary partners. Rapid mobile surveys are being utilized in conjunction with in-depth data analysis of comprehensive livability metrics at the parcel, neighborhood, and citywide levels to develop recommendations for reactivating vacant properties. Historic preservationists are spearheading these efforts through a tool called Relocal, which uses 70-85 distinct metrics and a community priority survey to generate parcel-level recommendations for every vacant lot and vacant building in the areas in which it is applied. Local volunteer-led rapid mobile surveys are key to gathering on-the-ground, real-time metrics that serve as Relocal's foundation. These new survey techniques generate usable data sets for historic preservation practitioners, land banks, planners, and other entities to inform strategic rightsizing decisions across legacy cities.

Hepatocellular carcinoma arising in a telangiectatic hepatocellular adenoma.

PubMed

González-Lara, María Fernanda; Córdova-Ramón, Juan Carlos; Gamboa-Domínguez, Armando; Cosme-Labarthe, Juan; Carrillo-Pérez, Diego Luis

2013-01-01

Telangiectatic hepatocellular adenoma is a rare, recently recognized subtype of benign liver tumor that may very rarely undergo transformation into hepatocellular carcinoma. We report an unusual case of a 75-year-old woman with no history of oral contraceptive use that underwent malignant transformation of a telangiectactic hepatocellular adenoma. No risk factors for adenoma development were identified in this otherwise healthy woman. Radiological characteristics, gross features and histopathology are herein described. In conclusion, telangiectatic hepatocellular adenoma can undergo malignant transformation. Further studies are needed to better clarify the factors associated with malignant progression.

The future of music in therapy and medicine.

PubMed

Thaut, Michael H

2005-12-01

The understanding of music's role and function in therapy and medicine is undergoing a rapid transformation, based on neuroscientific research showing the reciprocal relationship between studying the neurobiological foundations of music in the brain and how musical behavior through learning and experience changes brain and behavior function. Through this research the theory and clinical practice of music therapy is changing more and more from a social science model, based on cultural roles and general well-being concepts, to a neuroscience-guided model based on brain function and music perception. This paradigm shift has the potential to move music therapy from an adjunct modality to a central treatment modality in rehabilitation and therapy.

Role of Big Data and Machine Learning in Diagnostic Decision Support in Radiology.

PubMed

Syeda-Mahmood, Tanveer

2018-03-01

The field of diagnostic decision support in radiology is undergoing rapid transformation with the availability of large amounts of patient data and the development of new artificial intelligence methods of machine learning such as deep learning. They hold the promise of providing imaging specialists with tools for improving the accuracy and efficiency of diagnosis and treatment. In this article, we will describe the growth of this field for radiology and outline general trends highlighting progress in the field of diagnostic decision support from the early days of rule-based expert systems to cognitive assistants of the modern era. Copyright © 2018 American College of Radiology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Spatio-temporal patterns of major bacterial groups in alpine waters.

PubMed

Freimann, Remo; Bürgmann, Helmut; Findlay, Stuart E G; Robinson, Christopher T

2014-01-01

Glacial alpine landscapes are undergoing rapid transformation due to changes in climate. The loss of glacial ice mass has directly influenced hydrologic characteristics of alpine floodplains. Consequently, hyporheic sediment conditions are likely to change in the future as surface waters fed by glacial water (kryal) become groundwater dominated (krenal). Such environmental shifts may subsequently change bacterial community structure and thus potential ecosystem functioning. We quantitatively investigated the structure of major bacterial groups in glacial and groundwater-fed streams in three alpine floodplains during different hydrologic periods. Our results show the importance of several physico-chemical variables that reflect local geological characteristics as well as water source in structuring bacterial groups. For instance, Alpha-, Betaproteobacteria and Cytophaga-Flavobacteria were influenced by pH, conductivity and temperature as well as by inorganic and organic carbon compounds, whereas phosphorous compounds and nitrate showed specific influence on single bacterial groups. These results can be used to predict future bacterial group shifts, and potential ecosystem functioning, in alpine landscapes under environmental transformation.

Quartz crystal growth

DOEpatents

Baughman, Richard J.

1992-01-01

A process for growing single crystals from an amorphous substance that can undergo phase transformation to the crystalline state in an appropriate solvent. The process is carried out in an autoclave having a lower dissolution zone and an upper crystallization zone between which a temperature differential (.DELTA.T) is maintained at all times. The apparatus loaded with the substance, solvent, and seed crystals is heated slowly maintaining a very low .DELTA.T between the warmer lower zone and cooler upper zone until the amorphous substance is transformed to the crystalline state in the lower zone. The heating rate is then increased to maintain a large .DELTA.T sufficient to increase material transport between the zones and rapid crystallization. .alpha.-Quartz single crystal can thus be made from fused quartz in caustic solvent by heating to 350.degree. C. stepwise with a .DELTA.T of 0.25.degree.-3.degree. C., increasing the .DELTA.T to about 50.degree. C. after the fused quartz has crystallized, and maintaining these conditions until crystal growth in the upper zone is completed.

Temperature- and pressure-dependent structural transformation of methane hydrates in salt environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shin, Donghoon; Cha, Minjun; Yang, Youjeong; Choi, Seunghyun; Woo, Yesol; Lee, Jong-Won; Ahn, Docheon; Im, Junhyuck; Lee, Yongjae; Han, Oc Hee; Yoon, Ji-Ho

2017-03-01

Understanding the stability of volatile species and their compounds under various surface and subsurface conditions is of great importance in gaining insights into the formation and evolution of planetary and satellite bodies. We report the experimental results of the temperature- and pressure-dependent structural transformation of methane hydrates in salt environments using in situ synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance, and Raman spectroscopy. We find that under pressurized and concentrated brine solutions methane hydrate forms a mixture of type I clathrate hydrate, ice, and hydrated salts. Under a low-pressure condition, however, the methane hydrates are decomposed through a rapid sublimation of water molecules from the surface of hydrate crystals, while NaCl · 2H2O undergoes a phase transition into a crystal growth of NaCl via the migration of salt ions. In ambient pressure conditions, the methane hydrate is fully decomposed in brine solutions at temperatures above 252 K, the eutectic point of NaCl · 2H2O.

Thinking and practice of accelerating transformation of traditional Chinese medicine from experience medicine to evidence-based medicine.

PubMed

Liu, Baoyan; Zhang, Yanhong; Hu, Jingqing; He, Liyun; Zhou, Xuezhong

2011-06-01

The gradual development of Chinese medicine is based on constant accumulation and summary of experience in clinical practice, but without the benefit of undergoing the experimental medicine stage. Although Chinese medicine has formed a systematic and unique theory system through thousands of years, with the development of evidence-based medicine, the bondage of the research methods of experience medicine to Chinese medicine is appearing. The rapid transition and transformation from experience medicine to evidence-based medicine have become important content in the development of Chinese medicine. According to the features of Chinese medicine, we propose the research idea of "taking two ways simultaneously," which is the study both in the ideal condition and in the real world. Analyzing and constructing the theoretical basis and methodology of clinical research in the real world, and building the stage for research technique is key to the effective clinical research of Chinese medicine. Only by gradually maturing and completing the clinical research methods of the real world could we realize "taking two ways simultaneously" and complementing each other, continuously produce scientific and reliable evidence of Chinese medicine, as well as transform and develop Chinese medicine from experience medicine to evidence-based medicine.

Means and method for vapor generation

DOEpatents

Carlson, Larry W.

1984-01-01

A liquid, in heat transfer contact with a surface heated to a temperature well above the vaporization temperature of the liquid, will undergo a multiphase (liquid-vapor) transformation from 0% vapor to 100% vapor. During this transition, the temperature driving force or heat flux and the coefficients of heat transfer across the fluid-solid interface, and the vapor percentage influence the type of heating of the fluid--starting as "feedwater" heating where no vapors are present, progressing to "nucleate" heating where vaporization begins and some vapors are present, and concluding with "film" heating where only vapors are present. Unstable heating between nucleate and film heating can occur, accompanied by possibly large and rapid temperature shifts in the structures. This invention provides for injecting into the region of potential unstable heating and proximate the heated surface superheated vapors in sufficient quantities operable to rapidly increase the vapor percentage of the multiphase mixture by perhaps 10-30% and thereby effectively shift the multiphase mixture beyond the unstable heating region and up to the stable film heating region.

Means and method for vapor generation

DOEpatents

Carlson, L.W.

A liquid, in heat transfer contact with a surface heated to a temperature well above the vaporization temperature of the liquid, will undergo a multiphase (liquid-vapor) transformation from 0% vapor to 100% vapor. During this transition, the temperature driving force or heat flux and the coefficients of heat transfer across the fluid-solid interface, and the vapor percentage influence the type of heating of the fluid - starting as feedwater heating where no vapors are present, progressing to nucleate heating where vaporization begins and some vapors are present, and concluding with film heating where only vapors are present. Unstable heating between nucleate and film heating can occur, accompanied by possibly large and rapid temperature shifts in the structures. This invention provides for injecting into the region of potential unstable heating and proximate the heated surface superheated vapors in sufficient quantities operable to rapidly increase the vapor percentage of the multiphase mixture by perhaps 10 to 30% and thereby effectively shift the multiphase mixture beyond the unstable heating region and up to the stable film heating region.

Politicas y Gobierno de la Educacion Superior En American Latina. (Policies and Governance of Higher Education in Latin America). Texas Papers on Latin America. Paper No. 99-02.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cardiel, Hugo Casanova

Higher education is undergoing a complex process of transformation at the international level. This transformation is based especially in the fields of policies and governance of higher education institutions. In Latin America this trend has been growing since the 1980s, and higher education is undergoing a strong modification in its processes and…

FLASH protects ZEB1 from degradation and supports cancer cells' epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition

PubMed Central

Abshire, C F; Carroll, J L; Dragoi, A-M

2016-01-01

Cancer metastasis remains a significant challenge and the leading cause of cancer-associated deaths. It is postulated that during metastasis cells undergo epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process characterized by loss of cell–cell contacts and increased migratory and invasive potential. ZEB1 is one the most prominent transcriptional repressors of genes associated with EMT. We identified caspase-8-associated protein 2 (CASP8AP2 or FLASH) as a novel posttranscriptional regulator of ZEB1. Here we demonstrate that FLASH protects ZEB1 from proteasomal degradation brought by the action of the ubiquitin ligases SIAH1 and F-box protein FBXO45. As a result, loss of FLASH rapidly destabilized ZEB1 and reversed EMT cellular characteristics. Importantly, loss of FLASH blocked transforming growth factor-β-induced EMT and enhanced sensitivity to chemotherapy. Thus, we propose that FLASH–ZEB1 interplay may be a protective mechanism against ZEB1 degradation in cells undergoing EMT and may be an efficacious target for therapies aimed to block EMT progression. PMID:27526108

Designing and building oncolytic viruses

PubMed Central

Maroun, Justin; Muñoz-Alía, Miguel; Ammayappan, Arun; Schulze, Autumn; Peng, Kah-Whye; Russell, Stephen

2017-01-01

Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are engineered and/or evolved to propagate selectively in cancerous tissues. They have a dual mechanism of action; direct killing of infected cancer cells cross-primes anticancer immunity to boost the killing of uninfected cancer cells. The goal of the field is to develop OVs that are easily manufactured, efficiently delivered to disseminated sites of cancer growth, undergo rapid intratumoral spread, selectively kill tumor cells, cause no collateral damage and pose no risk of transmission in the population. Here we discuss the many virus engineering strategies that are being pursued to optimize delivery, intratumoral spread and safety of OVs derived from different virus families. With continued progress, OVs have the potential to transform the paradigm of cancer care. PMID:29387140

Sensitivity to perturbations and quantum phase transitions.

PubMed

Wisniacki, D A; Roncaglia, A J

2013-05-01

The local density of states or its Fourier transform, usually called fidelity amplitude, are important measures of quantum irreversibility due to imperfect evolution. In this Rapid Communication we study both quantities in a paradigmatic many body system, the Dicke Hamiltonian, where a single-mode bosonic field interacts with an ensemble of N two-level atoms. This model exhibits a quantum phase transition in the thermodynamic limit, while for finite instances the system undergoes a transition from quasi-integrability to quantum chaotic. We show that the width of the local density of states clearly points out the imprints of the transition from integrability to chaos but no trace remains of the quantum phase transition. The connection with the decay of the fidelity amplitude is also established.

The Behavioral and Social Sciences: Contributions and Opportunities in Academic Medicine.

PubMed

Smith, Patrick O; Grigsby, R Kevin

2017-06-01

The Association of American Medical Colleges plays a leading role in supporting the expansion and evolution of academic medicine and medical science in North America, which are undergoing high-velocity change. Behavioral and social science concepts have great practical value when applied to the leadership practices and administrative structures that guide and support the rapid evolution of academic medicine and medical sciences. The authors are two behavioral and social science professionals who serve as academic administrators in academic medical centers. They outline their career development and describe the many ways activities have been shaped by their work with the Association of American Medical Colleges. Behavioral and social science professionals are encouraged to become change agents in the ongoing transformation of academic medicine.

The extracellular nuclease Dns and its role in natural transformation of Vibrio cholerae.

PubMed

Blokesch, Melanie; Schoolnik, Gary K

2008-11-01

Free extracellular DNA is abundant in many aquatic environments. While much of this DNA will be degraded by nucleases secreted by the surrounding microbial community, some is available as transforming material that can be taken up by naturally competent bacteria. One such species is Vibrio cholerae, an autochthonous member of estuarine, riverine, and marine habitats and the causative agent of cholera, whose competence program is induced after colonization of chitin surfaces. In this study, we investigate how Vibrio cholerae's two extracellular nucleases, Xds and Dns, influence its natural transformability. We show that in the absence of Dns, transformation frequencies are significantly higher than in its presence. During growth on a chitin surface, an increase in transformation efficiency was found to correspond in time with increasing cell density and the repression of dns expression by the quorum-sensing regulator HapR. In contrast, at low cell density, the absence of HapR relieves dns repression, leading to the degradation of free DNA and to the abrogation of the transformation phenotype. Thus, as cell density increases, Vibrio cholerae undergoes a switch from nuclease-mediated degradation of extracellular DNA to the uptake of DNA by bacteria induced to a state of competence by chitin. Taken together, these results suggest the following model: nuclease production by low-density populations of V. cholerae might foster rapid growth by providing a source of nucleotides for the repletion of nucleotide pools. In contrast, the termination of nuclease production by static, high-density populations allows the uptake of intact DNA and coincides with a phase of potential genome diversification.

The Extracellular Nuclease Dns and Its Role in Natural Transformation of Vibrio cholerae▿

PubMed Central

Blokesch, Melanie; Schoolnik, Gary K.

2008-01-01

Free extracellular DNA is abundant in many aquatic environments. While much of this DNA will be degraded by nucleases secreted by the surrounding microbial community, some is available as transforming material that can be taken up by naturally competent bacteria. One such species is Vibrio cholerae, an autochthonous member of estuarine, riverine, and marine habitats and the causative agent of cholera, whose competence program is induced after colonization of chitin surfaces. In this study, we investigate how Vibrio cholerae's two extracellular nucleases, Xds and Dns, influence its natural transformability. We show that in the absence of Dns, transformation frequencies are significantly higher than in its presence. During growth on a chitin surface, an increase in transformation efficiency was found to correspond in time with increasing cell density and the repression of dns expression by the quorum-sensing regulator HapR. In contrast, at low cell density, the absence of HapR relieves dns repression, leading to the degradation of free DNA and to the abrogation of the transformation phenotype. Thus, as cell density increases, Vibrio cholerae undergoes a switch from nuclease-mediated degradation of extracellular DNA to the uptake of DNA by bacteria induced to a state of competence by chitin. Taken together, these results suggest the following model: nuclease production by low-density populations of V. cholerae might foster rapid growth by providing a source of nucleotides for the repletion of nucleotide pools. In contrast, the termination of nuclease production by static, high-density populations allows the uptake of intact DNA and coincides with a phase of potential genome diversification. PMID:18757542

Education Reform When Nations Undergo Radical Political and Social Transformation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

La Belle, Thomas J.; Ward, Christopher R.

1990-01-01

Analyzes the relationship between radical social transformation and educational reform in Algeria, China, Cuba, Ethiopia, Iran, Mozambique, and Nicaragua. Examines seven policy areas before and after transformation: centralized control, access to education, tracking, curriculum, personnel, language of instruction, and literacy. (28 references) (SV)

Rapid cell death in Xanthomonas campestris pv. glycines.

PubMed

Gautam, Satyendra; Sharma, Arun

2002-04-01

Xanthomonas campestris pv. glycines strain AM2 (XcgAM2), the etiological agent of bacterial pustule disease of soybean, exhibited post-exponential rapid cell death (RCD) in LB medium. X. campestris pv. malvacearum NCIM 2310 and X. campestris NCIM 2961 also displayed RCD, though less pronouncedly than XcgAM2. RCD was not observed in Pseudomonas syringae pv. glycines, or Escherichia coli DH5alpha. Incubation of the post-exponential LB-grown XcgAM2 cultures at 4 degrees C arrested the RCD. RCD was also inhibited by the addition of starch during the exponential phase of LB-growing XcgAM2. Protease negative mutants of XcgAM2 were found to be devoid of RCD behavior observed in the wild type XcgAM2. While undergoing RCD, the organism was found to transform to spherical membrane bodies. The presence of membrane bodies was confirmed by using a membrane specific fluorescent label, 1,6-diphenyl 1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH), and also by visualizing these structures under microscope. The membrane bodies of XcgAM2 were found to contain DNA, which was devoid of the indigenous plasmids of the organism. The membrane bodies were found to bind annexin V indicative of the externalization of membrane phosphatidyl serine. Nicking of DNA in XcgAM2 cultures undergoing RCD in LB medium was also detected using a TUNEL assay. The RCD in XcgAM2 appeared to have features similar to the programmed cell death in eukaryotes.

Transformation-Induced Diffraction Peak Broadening During Bainitic and Martensitic Transformations Under Small External Loads in a Quenched and Tempered High Strength Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dutta, R. K.; Huizenga, R. M.; Amirthalingam, M.; Hermans, M. J. M.; King, A.; Richardson, I. M.

2013-09-01

In situ phase transformation behavior of a high strength S690QL1 steel during continuous cooling under different mechanical loading conditions has been used to investigate the effect of small external loads on the transformation-induced plasticity during bainitic and martensitic transformations. The results show that during phase transformations, the untransformed austenite undergoes plastic deformation, thereby retarding further transformation to bainite/martensite. This occurs independent of external load.

Effect of milling conditions on solid-state amorphization of glipizide, and characterization and stability of solid forms.

PubMed

Xu, Kailin; Xiong, Xinnuo; Zhai, Yuanming; Wang, Lili; Li, Shanshan; Yan, Jin; Wu, Di; Ma, Xiaoli; Li, Hui

2016-09-10

In this study, the amorphization of glipizide was systematically investigated through high-energy ball milling at different temperatures. The results of solid-state amorphization through milling indicated that glipizide underwent direct crystal-to-glass transformation at 15 and 25°C and crystal-to-glass-to-crystal conversion at 35°C; hence, milling time and temperature had significant effects on the amorphization of glipizide, which should be effectively controlled to obtain totally amorphous glipizide. Solid forms of glipizide were detailedly characterized through analyses of X-ray powder diffraction, morphology, thermal curves, vibrational spectra, and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance. The physical stability of solid forms was investigated under different levels of relative humidity (RH) at 25°C. Forms I and III are kinetically stable and do not form any new solid-state forms at various RH levels. By contrast, Form II is kinetically unstable, undergoing direct glass-to-crystal transformation when RH levels higher than 32.8%. Therefore, stability investigation indicated that Form II should be stored under relatively dry conditions to prevent rapid crystallization. High temperatures can also induce the solid-state transformation of Form II; the conversion rate increased with increasing temperature. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Biotic and abiotic retention, recycling and remineralization of metals in the ocean

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

Boyd, Philip W.; Ellwood, Michael J.; Tagliabue, Alessandro

Trace metals shape both the biogeochemical functioning and biological structure of oceanic provinces. Trace metal biogeochemistry has primarily focused on modes of external supply of metals from aeolian, hydrothermal, sedimentary and other sources. However, metals also undergo internal transformations such as abiotic and biotic retention, recycling and remineralization. The role of these internal transformations in metal biogeochemical cycling is now coming into focus. First, the retention of metals by biota in the surface ocean for days, weeks or months depends on taxon-specific metal requirements of phytoplankton, and on their ultimate fate: that is, viral lysis, senescence, grazing and/or export tomore » depth. Rapid recycling of metals in the surface ocean can extend seasonal productivity by maintaining higher levels of metal bioavailability compared to the influence of external metal input alone. As metal-containing organic particles are exported from the surface ocean, different metals exhibit distinct patterns of remineralization with depth. These patterns are mediated by a wide range of physicochemical and microbial processes such as the ability of particles to sorb metals, and are influenced by the mineral and organic characteristics of sinking particles. We conclude that internal metal transformations play an essential role in controlling metal bioavailability, phytoplankton distributions and the subsurface resupply of metals.« less

Optomechanics of two- and three-dimensional soft photonic crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krishnan, Dwarak

Soft photonic crystals are a class of periodic dielectric structures that undergo highly nonlinear deformation due to strain or other external stimulus such as temperature, pH etc. This can in turn dramatically affect optical properties such as light transmittance. Moreover certain classes of lithographically fabricated structures undergo some structural distortion due to the effects of processing, eventually affecting the optical properties of the final photonic crystal. In this work, we study the deformation mechanics of soft photonic crystal structures using realistic physics-based models and leverage that understanding to explain the optomechanics of actual 2-D and 3-D soft photonic crystals undergoing similar symmetry breaking nonlinear deformations. We first study the optomechanics of two classes of 3-D soft photonic crystals: (1) hydrogel and (2) elastomer based material systems. The hydrogel based inverse face-centered-cubic structure undergoes swelling with change in pH of the surrounding fluid. The inverse structure is a network of bulky domains with thin ligament-like connections, and it undergoes a pattern transformation from FCC to L11 as a result of swelling. A continuum scale poroelasticity based coupled fluid-diffusion FEM model is developed to accurately predict this mechanical behavior. Light transmittance simulation results qualitatively explain the experimentally observed trends in the optical behavior with pH change. The elastomer based, lithographically fabricated material experiences shrinkage induced distortion upon processing. This behavior is modeled using FEM with the material represented by a neo-Hookean constitutive law. The light transmittance calculations for normal incidence are carried out using the transfer matrix method and a good comparison is obtained for the positions of first and second order reflectance peaks. A unit cell based approach is taken to compute the photonic bandstructure to estimate light propagation through the structure for other angles of light incidence. To obtain a detailed picture of the change in optical properties due to a pattern transformation, we study simple 2-D elastomer photonic crystals which undergo an interesting structural pattern transformation from simple circular holes to alternately oriented ellipses in a square lattice due to uniaxial compression. The incident light does not have any effect on the properties of the elastomer material. A decomposition of the deformation gradient quickly shows that the pattern transformation is induced by alternating rotations of the interstitial regions and the bending of interconnecting ligaments. Numerical simulations of light transmittance using vector element based FEM analysis of Maxwells equations shows changes in the light energy localization within the material especially in the high energy/low wavelength regions of the spectra. Additionally, with bandstructure calculations on a unit cell of the structure, the optomechanical behavior is completely explained. Finally, computational evidence is provided for a hypothetical 2-D photonic crystal made of a light-sensitive material, which undergoes a structural pattern transformation primarily due to the effect of incident light. The model takes into account the order kinetics of optically induced isomerization (of trans to cis configuration) in the azobenzene-liquid crystal elastomer to compute the transformational strain. This strain, in turn, deforms the structure and hence changes its periodicity and dielectric properties and thus affects the manner in which light gets localized within the material system. This consequently changes the profile of the imposed transformational strain on the deformed structure. The macroscopic strain history shows that prior to the mechanical instability that causes the pattern transformation, there is a period of structural relaxation which initiates the pattern transformation. After the symmetry breaking pattern transformation, the photonic bandstructure is altered significantly. Light does not get localized in the spot regions anymore and stress relaxation dominates. Due to this, the compressive macroscopic strain of the pattern transformed structure starts to decrease indicating a possible cyclical behavior.

Hospital customer service in a changing healthcare world: does it matter?

PubMed

Howard, J

1999-01-01

The healthcare industry is undergoing a rapid transformation to meet the ever-increasing needs and demands of the patient population. Employers and health plans such as HMOs are demanding better service and higher quality care, and hospitals are trying to tackle reimbursement cutbacks, streamline services, and serve a diverse population. Hospitals have begun to realize that to overcome these obstacles and meet the needs of the health care plans and consumers, they must focus on the demands of the customer. Customer service initiatives increase patient satisfaction and loyalty and overall hospital quality, and many hospitals have found that consumer demands can be met through initiating and maintaining a customer service program. This article describes how the administrator can create, implement, and manage customer service initiatives within the hospital.

Interplay between environment, agriculture and infectious diseases of poverty: case studies in China.

PubMed

Yang, Guo-Jing; Utzinger, Jürg; Zhou, Xiao-Nong

2015-01-01

Changes in the natural environment and agricultural systems induced by economic and industrial development, including population dynamics (growth, urbanization, migration), are major causes resulting in the persistence, emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases in developing countries. In the face of rapid demographic, economic and social transformations, the People's Republic of China (P.R. China) is undergoing unprecedented environmental and agricultural change. We review emerging and re-emerging diseases such as schistosomiasis, dengue, avian influenza, angiostrongyliasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis that have occurred in P.R. China due to environmental and agricultural change. This commentary highlights the research priorities and the response strategies, namely mitigation and adaptation, undertaken to eliminate the resurgence of those infectious diseases. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Hsp90 and environmental stress transform the adaptive value of natural genetic variation.

PubMed

Jarosz, Daniel F; Lindquist, Susan

2010-12-24

How can species remain unaltered for long periods yet also undergo rapid diversification? By linking genetic variation to phenotypic variation via environmental stress, the Hsp90 protein-folding reservoir might promote both stasis and change. However, the nature and adaptive value of Hsp90-contingent traits remain uncertain. In ecologically and genetically diverse yeasts, we find such traits to be both common and frequently adaptive. Most are based on preexisting variation, with causative polymorphisms occurring in coding and regulatory sequences alike. A common temperature stress alters phenotypes similarly. Both selective inhibition of Hsp90 and temperature stress increase correlations between genotype and phenotype. This system broadly determines the adaptive value of standing genetic variation and, in so doing, has influenced the evolution of current genomes.

Label-assisted mass spectrometry for the acceleration of reaction discovery and optimization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cabrera-Pardo, Jaime R.; Chai, David I.; Liu, Song; Mrksich, Milan; Kozmin, Sergey A.

2013-05-01

The identification of new reactions expands our knowledge of chemical reactivity and enables new synthetic applications. Accelerating the pace of this discovery process remains challenging. We describe a highly effective and simple platform for screening a large number of potential chemical reactions in order to discover and optimize previously unknown catalytic transformations, thereby revealing new chemical reactivity. Our strategy is based on labelling one of the reactants with a polyaromatic chemical tag, which selectively undergoes a photoionization/desorption process upon laser irradiation, without the assistance of an external matrix, and enables rapid mass spectrometric detection of any products originating from such labelled reactants in complex reaction mixtures without any chromatographic separation. This method was successfully used for high-throughput discovery and subsequent optimization of two previously unknown benzannulation reactions.

Training the 21st-Century Health Care Team: Maximizing Interprofessional Education Through Medical-Legal Partnership.

PubMed

Tobin-Tyler, Elizabeth; Teitelbaum, Joel

2016-06-01

For too long, many stakeholders in the health care delivery system have ignored the extent to which social determinants of health (SDH) are inextricably woven into and affect individual and population health. The health care system is undergoing a relatively rapid transformation, which has included in part an increasing recognition of SDH's effects. This recognition, in turn, has led to renewed calls for changing the way that physicians are trained and has accelerated medical education curricular reforms. This Perspective focuses on one such innovative method of team-based care and the opportunities for its integration into medical education: medical-legal partnership, a health care delivery model that embeds civil legal services into the spectrum of health care services provided to low-income or otherwise vulnerable patients and communities.

Crystal structure transformation in potassium acrylate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pai Verneker, V. R.; Vasanthakumari, R.

1983-10-01

Potassium acrylate undergoes a reversible phase transformation around 335°K with an activation energy of 133 kcal/mole. Differential scanning calorimetry and high temperature X-ray powder diffraction techniques have been used to probe this phenomenon.

Arsenic repartitioning during biogenic sulfidization and transformation of ferrihydrite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kocar, Benjamin D.; Borch, Thomas; Fendorf, Scott

2010-02-01

Iron (hydr)oxides are strong sorbents of arsenic (As) that undergo reductive dissolution and transformation upon reaction with dissolved sulfide. Here we examine the transformation and dissolution of As-bearing ferrihydrite and subsequent As repartitioning amongst secondary phases during biotic sulfate reduction. Columns initially containing As(V)-ferrihydrite coated sand, inoculated with the sulfate reducing bacteria Desulfovibrio vulgaris (Hildenborough), were eluted with artificial groundwater containing sulfate and lactate. Rapid and consistent sulfate reduction coupled with lactate oxidation is observed at low As(V) loading (10% of the adsorption maximum). The dominant Fe solid phase transformation products at low As loading include amorphous FeS within the zone of sulfate reduction (near the inlet of the column) and magnetite downstream where Fe(II) (aq) concentrations increase; As is displaced from the zone of sulfidogenesis and Fe(III) (s) depletion. At high As(V) loading (50% of the adsorption maximum), sulfate reduction and lactate oxidation are initially slow but gradually increase over time, and all As(V) is reduced to As(III) by the end of experimentation. With the higher As loading, green rust(s), as opposed to magnetite, is a dominant Fe solid phase product. Independent of loading, As is strongly associated with magnetite and residual ferrihydrite, while being excluded from green rust and iron sulfide. Our observations illustrate that sulfidogenesis occurring in proximity with Fe (hydr)oxides induce Fe solid phase transformation and changes in As partitioning; formation of As sulfide minerals, in particular, is inhibited by reactive Fe(III) or Fe(II) either through sulfide oxidation or complexation.

An evaluation of the transition temperature range of super-elastic orthodontic NiTi springs using differential scanning calorimetry.

PubMed

Barwart, O; Rollinger, J M; Burger, A

1999-10-01

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to determine the transition temperature ranges (TTR) of four types of super-elastic orthodontic nickel-titanium coil springs (Sentalloy). A knowledge of the TTR provides information on the temperature at which a NiTi wire or spring can assume superelastic properties and when this quality disappears. The spring types in this study can be distinguished from each other by their characteristic TTR during cooling and heating. For each tested spring type a characteristic TTR during heating (austenite transformation) and cooling (martensite transformation) was evaluated. The hysteresis of the transition temperature, found between cooling and heating, was 3.4-5.2 K. Depending on the spring type the austenite transformation started (As) at 9.7-17.1 degrees C and finished (Af) at 29.2-37 degrees C. The martensite transformation starting temperature (Ms) was evaluated at 32.6-25.4 degrees C, while Mf (martensite transformation finishing temperature) was 12.7-6.5 degrees C. The results show that the springs become super-elastic when the temperature increases and As is reached. They undergo a loss of super-elastic properties and a rapid decrease in force delivery when they are cooled to Mf. For the tested springs, Mf and As were found to be below room temperature. Thus, at room temperature and some degrees lower, all the tested springs exert super-elastic properties. For orthodontic treatment this means the maintenance of super-elastic behaviour, even when mouth temperature decreases to about room temperature as can occur, for example, during meals.

Arsenic Repartitioning during Biogenic Sulfidization and Transformation of Ferrihydrite

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

Kocar, B.; Borch, T; Fendorf, S

Iron (hydr)oxides are strong sorbents of arsenic (As) that undergo reductive dissolution and transformation upon reaction with dissolved sulfide. Here we examine the transformation and dissolution of As-bearing ferrihydrite and subsequent As repartitioning amongst secondary phases during biotic sulfate reduction. Columns initially containing As(V)-ferrihydrite coated sand, inoculated with the sulfate reducing bacteria Desulfovibrio vulgaris (Hildenborough), were eluted with artificial groundwater containing sulfate and lactate. Rapid and consistent sulfate reduction coupled with lactate oxidation is observed at low As(V) loading (10% of the adsorption maximum). The dominant Fe solid phase transformation products at low As loading include amorphous FeS within themore » zone of sulfate reduction (near the inlet of the column) and magnetite downstream where Fe(II){sub (aq)} concentrations increase; As is displaced from the zone of sulfidogenesis and Fe(III){sub (s)} depletion. At high As(V) loading (50% of the adsorption maximum), sulfate reduction and lactate oxidation are initially slow but gradually increase over time, and all As(V) is reduced to As(III) by the end of experimentation. With the higher As loading, green rust(s), as opposed to magnetite, is a dominant Fe solid phase product. Independent of loading, As is strongly associated with magnetite and residual ferrihydrite, while being excluded from green rust and iron sulfide. Our observations illustrate that sulfidogenesis occurring in proximity with Fe (hydr)oxides induce Fe solid phase transformation and changes in As partitioning; formation of As sulfide minerals, in particular, is inhibited by reactive Fe(III) or Fe(II) either through sulfide oxidation or complexation.« less

Arsenic repartitioning during biogenic sulfidization and transformation of ferrihydrite

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

Kocar, Benjamin D.; Borch, Thomas; Fendorf, Scott

Iron (hydr)oxides are strong sorbents of arsenic (As) that undergo reductive dissolution and transformation upon reaction with dissolved sulfide. Here we examine the transformation and dissolution of As-bearing ferrihydrite and subsequent As repartitioning amongst secondary phases during biotic sulfate reduction. Columns initially containing As(V)-ferrihydrite coated sand, inoculated with the sulfate reducing bacteria Desulfovibrio vulgaris (Hildenborough), were eluted with artificial groundwater containing sulfate and lactate. Rapid and consistent sulfate reduction coupled with lactate oxidation is observed at low As(V) loading (10% of the adsorption maximum). The dominant Fe solid phase transformation products at low As loading include amorphous FeS within themore » zone of sulfate reduction (near the inlet of the column) and magnetite downstream where Fe(II)(aq) concentrations increase; As is displaced from the zone of sulfidogenesis and Fe(III)(s) depletion. At high As(V) loading (50% of the adsorption maximum), sulfate reduction and lactate oxidation are initially slow but gradually increase over time, and all As(V) is reduced to As(III) by the end of experimentation. With the higher As loading, green rust(s), as opposed to magnetite, is a dominant Fe solid phase product. Independent of loading, As is strongly associated with magnetite and residual ferrihydrite, while being excluded from green rust and iron sulfide. Our observations illustrate that sulfidogenesis occurring in proximity with Fe (hydr)oxides induce Fe solid phase transformation and changes in As partitioning; formation of As sulfide minerals, in particular, is inhibited by reactive Fe(III) or Fe(II) either through sulfide oxidation or complexation.« less

Transformative Teachers or Teachers to Be Transformed? The Cases of Bolivia and Timor-Leste

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shah, Ritesh; Lopes Cardozo, Mieke T. A.

2016-01-01

Applying the Strategic Relational Approach, this paper analyses the circumstances behind and educators' strategies in response to education reforms in two nation-states undergoing socio-political transformation--Bolivia and Timor-Leste. Despite the starkly different histories and contemporary context of each nation, we suggest that transformation…

High-Performance Work Systems: American Models of Workplace Transformation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Appelbaum, Eileen; Batt, Rosemary

Rising competition in world and domestic markets for the past 2 decades has necessitated that U.S. companies undergo significant transformations to improve their performance with respect to a wide array of efficiency and quality indicators. Research on the transformations recently undertaken by some U.S. companies to boost performance revealed two…

Transformation of Human Erythrocyte Shape by Endotoxic Lipopolysaccharide

PubMed Central

Warren, John R.; Harris, Alan S.; Wallas, Charles H.

1983-01-01

Human erythrocytes were observed to undergo a discocyte to echinocyte to spheroechinocyte shape transformation during brief incubation with endotoxic lipopolysaccharide. It was concluded that lipopolysaccharide-membrane interactions alter the curvature of erythrocyte membranes. Images PMID:6822423

Protoplast isolation, transient transformation of leaf mesophyll protoplasts and improved Agrobacterium-mediated leaf disc infiltration of Phaseolus vulgaris: tools for rapid gene expression analysis.

PubMed

Nanjareddy, Kalpana; Arthikala, Manoj-Kumar; Blanco, Lourdes; Arellano, Elizabeth S; Lara, Miguel

2016-06-24

Phaseolus vulgaris is one of the most extensively studied model legumes in the world. The P. vulgaris genome sequence is available; therefore, the need for an efficient and rapid transformation system is more imperative than ever. The functional characterization of P. vulgaris genes is impeded chiefly due to the non-amenable nature of Phaseolus sp. to stable genetic transformation. Transient transformation systems are convenient and versatile alternatives for rapid gene functional characterization studies. Hence, the present work focuses on standardizing methodologies for protoplast isolation from multiple tissues and transient transformation protocols for rapid gene expression analysis in the recalcitrant grain legume P. vulgaris. Herein, we provide methodologies for the high-throughput isolation of leaf mesophyll-, flower petal-, hypocotyl-, root- and nodule-derived protoplasts from P. vulgaris. The highly efficient polyethylene glycol-mannitol magnesium (PEG-MMG)-mediated transformation of leaf mesophyll protoplasts was optimized using a GUS reporter gene. We used the P. vulgaris SNF1-related protein kinase 1 (PvSnRK1) gene as proof of concept to demonstrate rapid gene functional analysis. An RT-qPCR analysis of protoplasts that had been transformed with PvSnRK1-RNAi and PvSnRK1-OE vectors showed the significant downregulation and ectopic constitutive expression (overexpression), respectively, of the PvSnRK1 transcript. We also demonstrated an improved transient transformation approach, sonication-assisted Agrobacterium-mediated transformation (SAAT), for the leaf disc infiltration of P. vulgaris. Interestingly, this method resulted in a 90 % transformation efficiency and transformed 60-85 % of the cells in a given area of the leaf surface. The constitutive expression of YFP further confirmed the amenability of the system to gene functional characterization studies. We present simple and efficient methodologies for protoplast isolation from multiple P. vulgaris tissues. We also provide a high-efficiency and amenable method for leaf mesophyll transformation for rapid gene functional characterization studies. Furthermore, a modified SAAT leaf disc infiltration approach aids in validating genes and their functions. Together, these methods help to rapidly unravel novel gene functions and are promising tools for P. vulgaris research.

A novel procedure for examining pre-lexical phonetic-level analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bashford, James A.; Warren, Richard M.; Lenz, Peter W.

2005-09-01

A recorded word repeated over and over is heard to undergo a series of illusory changes (verbal transformations) to other syllables and words in the listener's lexicon. When a second image of the same repeating word is added through dichotic presentation (with an interaural delay preventing fusion), the two distinct lateralized images of the word undergo independent illusory transformations at the same rate observed for a single image [Lenz et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 107, 2857 (2000)]. However, when the contralateral word differs by even one phoneme, transformation rate decreases dramatically [Bashford et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 110, 2658 (2001)]. This suppression of transformations did not occur when a nonspeech competitor was employed. The present study found that dichotic suppression of transformation rate also is independent of the top-down influence of a verbal competitor's word frequency, neighborhood density, and lexicality. However, suppression did increase with the extent of feature mismatch at a given phoneme position (e.g., transformations for ``dark'' were suppressed more by contralateral ``hark'' than by ``bark''). These and additional findings indicate that dichotic verbal transformations can provide experimental access to a pre-lexical phonetic analysis normally obscured by subsequent processing. [Work supported by NIH.

Rapid preparative separation of monoclonal antibody charge variants using laterally-fed membrane chromatography.

PubMed

Sadavarte, Rahul; Madadkar, Pedram; Filipe, Carlos Dm; Ghosh, Raja

2018-01-15

Monoclonal antibodies undergo various forms of chemical transformation which have been shown to cause loss in efficacy and alteration in pharmacokinetic properties of these molecules. Such modified antibody molecules are known as variants. They also display physical properties such as charge that are different from intact antibody molecules. However, the difference in charge is very subtle and separation based on it is quite challenging. Charge variants are usually separated using ion-exchange column chromatography or isoelectric focusing. In this paper, we report a rapid and scalable method for fractionating monoclonal antibody charge variants, based on the use of cation exchange laterally-fed membrane chromatography (LFMC). Starting with a sample of monoclonal antibody hIgG1-CD4, three well-resolved fractions were obtained using either pH or salt gradient. These fractions were identified as acidic, neutral and basic variants. Each of these fractions contained intact heavy and light chains and so antibody fragmentation had no role in variant generation. The separation was comparable to that using column chromatography but was an order of magnitude faster. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Transforming Leadership Development for Significant Learning.

PubMed

Owen, Julie E

2015-01-01

Leadership education is undergoing a transformation where powerful pedagogies and emerging knowledge about the scholarship of teaching and learning supplant long held and often-outmoded practices of leadership education. This transformation requires new commitments to evidence-based practice, critical consciousness, and more complex understanding of the levers of leadership learning. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., A Wiley Company.

Emerging Early Actions to Bend the Curve in Sub-Saharan Africa's Nutrition Transition.

PubMed

Haggblade, Steven; Duodu, Kwaku G; Kabasa, John D; Minnaar, Amanda; Ojijo, Nelson K O; Taylor, John R N

2016-06-01

Sub-Saharan Africa is the last region to undergo a nutrition transition and can still avoid its adverse health outcomes. The article explores emerging responses to "bend the curve" in sub-Saharan Africa's nutrition transition to steer public health outcomes onto a healthier trajectory. Early responses in 3 countries at different stages of food system transformation are examined: South Africa-advanced, Ghana-intermediate, and Uganda-early. By comparing these with international experience, actions are proposed to influence nutrition and public health trajectories as Africa's food systems undergo rapid structural change. Arising from rapid urbanization and diet change, major public health problems associated with overweight are taking place, particularly in South Africa and among adult women. However, public health responses are generally tepid in sub-Saharan Africa. Only in South Africa have policy makers instituted extensive actions to combat overweight and associated noncommunicable diseases through regulation, education, and public health programs. Elsewhere, in countries in the early and middle stages of transition, public health systems continue to focus their limited resources primarily on undernutrition. Related pressures on the supply side of Africa's food systems are emerging that also need to be addressed. Three types of intervention appear most feasible: maternal and child health programs to simultaneously address short-term undernutrition problems while at the same time helping to reduce future tendencies toward overweigh; regulatory and fiscal actions to limit access to unhealthy foods; and modernization of Africa's agrifood food system through job skills training, marketing reforms, and food industry entrepreneurship. © The Author(s) 2016.

University Transformation: New Demands and Coping Strategies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chidindi, Joseph

2012-01-01

University education system is undergoing transformation requirements particularly in the developing world. The demands require adaptation to the prevailing circumstances hence the need for relevant strategies for universities. Issues such as institutional profiles, organizational structure and work integration, research activities, and funding…

Regioselective SN2 reactions for rapid syntheses of azido-inositols by one-pot sequence-specific nucleophilysis.

PubMed

Ravi, Arthi; Hassan, Syed Zahid; Vanikrishna, Ajithkumar N; Sureshan, Kana M

2017-04-04

Triflates of myo-inositol undergo facile solvolysis in DMSO and DMF yielding S N 2 products substituted with O-nucleophiles; DMF showed slower kinetics. Axial O-triflate undergoes faster substitution than equatorial O-triflate. By exploiting this difference in kinetics, solvent-tuning and sequence-controlled nucleophilysis, rapid synthesis of three azido-inositols of myo-configuration from myo-inositol itself has been achieved.

Patient rights protection in the Czech Republic: challenges of a transition from Communism to a modern legal system.

PubMed

Dostal, O

2007-03-01

The post-Communist countries in Central Europe, including the Czech Republic, underwent a rapid transformation of their legal systems, within which the concept of patient rights passed through revolutionary changes. This process however often left significant gaps in patient rights protection. There are practical difficulties for patients in defending their rights before the courts, such as problems with obtaining evidence and independent expert opinions, long delays and high costs of court proceedings, strict burden of proof rules and low compensation levels. Modern patient rights often collide with the systems of health care provision that are still unprepared for patient autonomy and responsibility. The experience gained in the transition process might be applicable also to other countries that undergo changes from traditional to modern system of patient rights protection.

FoxA and LIPG endothelial lipase control the uptake of extracellular lipids for breast cancer growth

PubMed Central

Slebe, Felipe; Rojo, Federico; Vinaixa, Maria; García-Rocha, Mar; Testoni, Giorgia; Guiu, Marc; Planet, Evarist; Samino, Sara; Arenas, Enrique J.; Beltran, Antoni; Rovira, Ana; Lluch, Ana; Salvatella, Xavier; Yanes, Oscar; Albanell, Joan; Guinovart, Joan J.; Gomis, Roger R.

2016-01-01

The mechanisms that allow breast cancer (BCa) cells to metabolically sustain rapid growth are poorly understood. Here we report that BCa cells are dependent on a mechanism to supply precursors for intracellular lipid production derived from extracellular sources and that the endothelial lipase (LIPG) fulfils this function. LIPG expression allows the import of lipid precursors, thereby contributing to BCa proliferation. LIPG stands out as an essential component of the lipid metabolic adaptations that BCa cells, and not normal tissue, must undergo to support high proliferation rates. LIPG is ubiquitously and highly expressed under the control of FoxA1 or FoxA2 in all BCa subtypes. The downregulation of either LIPG or FoxA in transformed cells results in decreased proliferation and impaired synthesis of intracellular lipids. PMID:27045898

Gas-phase ion/ion reactions of peptides and proteins: acid/base, redox, and covalent chemistries

PubMed Central

Prentice, Boone M.

2013-01-01

Gas-phase ion/ion reactions are emerging as useful and flexible means for the manipulation and characterization of peptide and protein biopolymers. Acid/base-like chemical reactions (i.e., proton transfer reactions) and reduction/oxidation (redox) reactions (i.e., electron transfer reactions) represent relatively mature classes of gas-phase chemical reactions. Even so, especially in regards to redox chemistry, the widespread utility of these two types of chemistries is undergoing rapid growth and development. Additionally, a relatively new class of gas-phase ion/ion transformations is emerging which involves the selective formation of functional-group-specific covalent bonds. This feature details our current work and perspective on the developments and current capabilities of these three areas of ion/ion chemistry with an eye towards possible future directions of the field. PMID:23257901

Gas-phase ion/ion reactions of peptides and proteins: acid/base, redox, and covalent chemistries.

PubMed

Prentice, Boone M; McLuckey, Scott A

2013-02-01

Gas-phase ion/ion reactions are emerging as useful and flexible means for the manipulation and characterization of peptide and protein biopolymers. Acid/base-like chemical reactions (i.e., proton transfer reactions) and reduction/oxidation (redox) reactions (i.e., electron transfer reactions) represent relatively mature classes of gas-phase chemical reactions. Even so, especially in regards to redox chemistry, the widespread utility of these two types of chemistries is undergoing rapid growth and development. Additionally, a relatively new class of gas-phase ion/ion transformations is emerging which involves the selective formation of functional-group-specific covalent bonds. This feature details our current work and perspective on the developments and current capabilities of these three areas of ion/ion chemistry with an eye towards possible future directions of the field.

Probing peptide fragment ion structures by combining sustained off-resonance collision-induced dissociation and gas-phase H/D exchange (SORI-HDX) in Fourier transform ion-cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) instruments.

PubMed

Somogyi, Arpád

2008-12-01

The usefulness of gas-phase H/D exchange is demonstrated to probe heterogeneous fragment and parent ion populations. Singly and multiply protonated peptides/proteins were fragmented by using sustained off-resonance irradiation collision-induced dissociation (SORI-CID). The fragments and the surviving precursor ions then all undergo H/D exchange in the gas-phase with either D(2)O or CD(3)OD under the same experimental conditions. Usually, 10 to 60 s of reaction time is adequate to monitor characteristic differences in the H/D exchange kinetic rates. These differences are then correlated to isomeric ion structures. The SORI-HDX method can be used to rapidly test fragment ion structures and provides useful insights into peptide fragmentation mechanisms.

Structural and chemical evolution of the CdS:O window layer during individual CdTe solar cell processing steps

DOE PAGES

Abbas, A.; Meysing, D. M.; Reese, M. O.; ...

2017-12-01

Oxygenated cadmium sulfide (CdS:O) is often used as the n-type window layer in high-performance CdTe heterojunction solar cells. The as-deposited layer prepared by reactive sputtering is XRD amorphous, with a bulk composition of CdS0.8O1.2. Recently it was shown that this layer undergoes significant transformation during device fabrication, but the roles of the individual high temperature processing steps was unclear. In this work high resolution transmission electron microscopy coupled to elemental analysis was used to understand the evolution of the heterojunction region through the individual high temperature fabrication steps of CdTe deposition, CdCl2 activation, and back contact activation. It is foundmore » that during CdTe deposition by close spaced sublimation at 600 degrees C the CdS:O film undergoes recrystallization, accompanied by a significant (~30%) reduction in thickness. It is observed that oxygen segregates during this step, forming a bi-layer morphology consisting of nanocrystalline CdS adjacent to the tin oxide contact and an oxygen-rich layer adjacent to the CdTe absorber. This bilayer structure is then lost during the 400 degrees C CdCl2 treatment where the film transforms into a heterogeneous structure with cadmium sulfate clusters distributed randomly throughout the window layer. The thickness of window layer remains essentially unchanged after CdCl2 treatment, but a ~25 nm graded interfacial layer between CdTe and the window region is formed. Finally, the rapid thermal processing step used to activate the back contact was found to have a negligible impact on the structure or composition of the heterojunction region.« less

Some opinions about matter and material substances: from inanimate system -- to living according to A. Einstein general theory of relativity.

PubMed

Topuria, T; Gogebashvili, N; Korsantia, B

2005-11-01

During transformation from inanimate to living, change of the space position of the matter causes the change of the field, as the space does not exist without the field, therefore the time-space as the properties of material substances, should undergo certain changes. The outside inanimate system, in this case a matrix, has its own time. The living system, in this case a cell, where the matter undergoes space conformation with the change of field and space-time, has its own time and it has begun to flow more rapidly than in matrix. From the surface of the body, from different energetic reservoirs oppositely charged matter substances following from special transport systems from the life system transmitted into lifeless one and change their matter space conformation, create transmission gradient that is the gradient border of time from lifeless system into live. In the case of a human, hypothetically, the gradient system of time must be of a complex scheme counting the inter-transformation and interaction gradients of outer and inner abdominal systems. Subconscious and consciousness by means of special links and messages, information selection interact and form unique connection between the systems. Subconscious serves for accelerated time system. Conscious by means of permanent contact with the environment collects and reacts in matrix time system By interconnection of these two systems ideal adaptation with the environment takes place. Time difference gradient system is an additional energy factor, by means of which respective ordered geometrical structures special for the given types are formed. The living organism is an inter-regulated interconnection global system resulting from the changes of matter and material substances space configuration.

Structural and chemical evolution of the CdS:O window layer during individual CdTe solar cell processing steps

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

Abbas, A.; Meysing, D. M.; Reese, M. O.

Oxygenated cadmium sulfide (CdS:O) is often used as the n-type window layer in high-performance CdTe heterojunction solar cells. The as-deposited layer prepared by reactive sputtering is XRD amorphous, with a bulk composition of CdS0.8O1.2. Recently it was shown that this layer undergoes significant transformation during device fabrication, but the roles of the individual high temperature processing steps was unclear. In this work high resolution transmission electron microscopy coupled to elemental analysis was used to understand the evolution of the heterojunction region through the individual high temperature fabrication steps of CdTe deposition, CdCl2 activation, and back contact activation. It is foundmore » that during CdTe deposition by close spaced sublimation at 600 degrees C the CdS:O film undergoes recrystallization, accompanied by a significant (~30%) reduction in thickness. It is observed that oxygen segregates during this step, forming a bi-layer morphology consisting of nanocrystalline CdS adjacent to the tin oxide contact and an oxygen-rich layer adjacent to the CdTe absorber. This bilayer structure is then lost during the 400 degrees C CdCl2 treatment where the film transforms into a heterogeneous structure with cadmium sulfate clusters distributed randomly throughout the window layer. The thickness of window layer remains essentially unchanged after CdCl2 treatment, but a ~25 nm graded interfacial layer between CdTe and the window region is formed. Finally, the rapid thermal processing step used to activate the back contact was found to have a negligible impact on the structure or composition of the heterojunction region.« less

LABORATORY STUDIES ON THE REMEDIATION OF MERCURY-CONTAMINATED SOILS

EPA Science Inventory

Mercury, in contrast to other toxic metals, cycles between the atmosphere, land, and water. During this cycle, it undergoes a series of complex chemical and physical transformations. Because of these transformations, it is found in the environment not only as simple inorganic and...

Stable Nuclear Transformation System for the Coccolithophorid Alga Pleurochrysis carterae

PubMed Central

Endo, Hirotoshi; Yoshida, Megumi; Uji, Toshiki; Saga, Naotsune; Inoue, Koji; Nagasawa, Hiromichi

2016-01-01

Of the three dominant marine microalgal groups, dinoflagellates and diatoms can undergo genetic transformation; however, no transformation method has been established for haptophytes to date. Here, we report the first stable genetic transformation of a coccolithophore, Pleurochrysis carterae, by means of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated transfer of a bacterial hygromycin B-resistance gene. Together with the novel transient green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression system, this approach should facilitate further molecular-based research in this phylum. PMID:26947136

A Temperature‐Responsive Smart Europium Metal‐Organic Framework Switch for Reversible Capture and Release of Intrinsic Eu3+ Ions

PubMed Central

Zhu, Min; Song, Xue‐Zhi; Zhao, Shu‐Na; Meng, Xing; Wu, Lan‐Lan; Wang, Cheng

2015-01-01

Stimuli‐responsive structural transformations are emerging as a scaffold to develop a charming class of smart materials. A EuL metal‐organic framework (MOF) undergoes a reversible temperature‐stimulated single‐crystal to single‐crystal transformation, showing a specific behavior of fast capture/release of free Eu3+ in the channels at low and room temperatures. At room temperature, compound 1a is obtained with one free carboxylate group severing as further hook, featuring one‐dimensional square channels filled with intrinsic free europium ions. Trigged by lowering the ambient temperature, 1b is gained. In 1b, the intrinsic free europium ions can be fast captured by the carboxylate‐hooks anchored in the framework, resulting in the structural change and its channel distortion. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of such a rapid and reversible switch stemming from dynamic control between noncovalent and covalent Eu–ligand interactions. Utilizing EuL MOF to detect highly explosive 2,4,6‐trinitrophenol at room temperature and low temperature provides a glimpse into the potential of this material in fluorescence sensors. PMID:27980931

Thermal, spectroscopic and structural characterization of isostructural phase transition in 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panicker, Lata

2018-05-01

Polycrystalline samples of 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (4-HOBAL) were investigated using differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), Raman spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction. The DSC data indicated that 4-HOBAL on heating undergoes a polymorphic transformation from polymorph I to polymorph II. The polymorph II formed remains metastable at ambient condition and transforms to polymorph I when annealed at ambient temperature for more than seven days. The structural information of polymorphs I and II obtained using its X-ray powder diffraction patterns indicated that 4-HOBAL undergoes an isostructural phase transition from polymorph I (monoclinic, P21/c) to polymorph II (monoclinic, P21/c). Raman data suggest that this structural change is associated with some change in its molecular interactions. Thus, in 4-HOBAL the polymorphic phase transformation (II to I) even though energetically favoured is kinetically hindered.

Addressing disparities and achieving equity: cultural competence, ethics, and health-care transformation.

PubMed

Betancourt, Joseph R; Corbett, James; Bondaryk, Matthew R

2014-01-01

The passage of health-care reform and current efforts in payment reform signal the beginning of a significant transformation of the US health-care system. An entire new set of structures is being developed to facilitate increased access to care that is cost-effective and of high quality. As described in The Institute of Medicine report "Crossing the Quality Chasm," our nation is charting a path toward quality health care that aims to be safe, efficient, effective, timely, patient-centered, and equitable. As our health-care system rapidly undergoes dramatic transformation, several truths-and challenges-remain. First, racial and ethnic disparities in health care persist and are a clear sign of inequality in quality. Second, although the root causes for these disparities are complex, there exists a well-developed set of evidence-based approaches to address them; among these is improving the cultural competence of health-care providers and the health-care system. Third, as part of our care redesign, we must assure that we are prepared to meet the ethical challenges ahead and reassert the importance of equity, fairness, and caring as key building blocks of a new care delivery system. As we move ahead, it is critical to assure that our health-care system is culturally competent and has the capacity to deliver high-quality care for all, while eliminating disparities and assuring equity. Disparities are unjust, unethical, costly, and unacceptable-and integrating strategies to achieve equity as part of our health-care system's transformation will give us an incredible opportunity to comprehensively address them.

Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopic signatures for lung cells' epithelial mesenchymal transition: A preliminary report

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sarkar, Atasi; Sengupta, Sanghamitra; Mukherjee, Anirban; Chatterjee, Jyotirmoy

2017-02-01

Infra red (IR) spectral characterization can provide label-free cellular metabolic signatures of normal and diseased circumstances in a rapid and non-invasive manner. Present study endeavoured to enlist Fourier transform infra red (FTIR) spectroscopic signatures for lung normal and cancer cells during chemically induced epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) for which global metabolic dimension is not well reported yet. Occurrence of EMT was validated with morphological and immunocytochemical confirmation. Pre-processed spectral data was analyzed using ANOVA and principal component analysis-linear discriminant analysis (PCA-LDA). Significant differences observed in peak area corresponding to biochemical fingerprint (900-1800 cm- 1) and high wave-number (2800-3800 cm- 1) regions contributed to adequate PCA-LDA segregation of cells undergoing EMT. The findings were validated by re-analysis of data using another in-house built binary classifier namely vector valued regularized kernel approximation (VVRKFA), in order to understand EMT progression. To improve the classification accuracy, forward feature selection (FFS) tool was employed in extracting potent spectral signatures by eliminating undesirable noise. Gradual increase in classification accuracy with EMT progression of both cell types indicated prominence of the biochemical alterations. Rapid changes in cellular metabolome noted in cancer cells within first 24 h of EMT induction along with higher classification accuracy for cancer cell groups in comparison to normal cells might be attributed to inherent differences between them. Spectral features were suggestive of EMT triggered changes in nucleic acid, protein, lipid and bound water contents which can emerge as the useful markers to capture EMT related cellular characteristics.

Is public health ready to participate in the transformation of the healthcare system?

PubMed

Millar, John; Bruce, Ted; Cheng, Siu Mee; Masse, Richard; McKeown, David

2013-01-01

The healthcare system in Canada is undergoing significant transformation in response to three major interrelated pressures: the overall burden of illness is rising, patients are getting poor quality of care and healthcare costs are inexorably rising. One idea to guide this change is to transform the primary care system into a community-based primary healthcare (CBPH) system. This paper discusses, in particular, the readiness of public health to participate in the transformation to a CBPH system. Copyright © 2013 Longwoods Publishing.

Cell surface retention sequence binding protein-1 interacts with the v-sis gene product and platelet-derived growth factor beta-type receptor in simian sarcoma virus-transformed cells.

PubMed

Boensch, C; Huang, S S; Connolly, D T; Huang, J S

1999-04-09

The cell surface retention sequence (CRS) binding protein-1 (CRSBP-1) is a newly identified membrane glycoprotein which is hypothesized to be responsible for cell surface retention of the oncogene v-sis and c-sis gene products and other secretory proteins containing CRSs. In simian sarcoma virus-transformed NIH 3T3 cells (SSV-NIH 3T3 cells), a fraction of CRSBP-1 was demonstrated at the cell surface and underwent internalization/recycling as revealed by cell surface 125I labeling and its resistance/sensitivity to trypsin digestion. However, the majority of CRSBP-1 was localized in intracellular compartments as evidenced by the resistance of most of the 35S-metabolically labeled CRSBP-1 to trypsin digestion, and by indirect immunofluorescent staining. CRSBP-1 appeared to form complexes with proteolytically processed forms (generated at and/or after the trans-Golgi network) of the v-sis gene product and with a approximately 140-kDa proteolytically cleaved form of the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) beta-type receptor, as demonstrated by metabolic labeling and co-immunoprecipitation. CRSBP-1, like the v-sis gene product and PDGF beta-type receptor, underwent rapid turnover which was blocked in the presence of 100 microM suramin. In normal and other transformed NIH 3T3 cells, CRSBP-1 was relatively stable and did not undergo rapid turnover and internalization/recycling at the cell surface. These results suggest that in SSV-NIH 3T3 cells, CRSBP-1 interacts with and forms ternary and binary complexes with the newly synthesized v-sis gene product and PDGF beta-type receptor at the trans-Golgi network and that the stable binary (CRSBP-1.v-sis gene product) complex is transported to the cell surface where it presents the v-sis gene product to unoccupied PDGF beta-type receptors during internalization/recycling.

Moving towards a Learning Society. A CRE-ERT Forum Report on European Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cochinaux, Philippe; de Woot, Philippe

Society is undergoing profound transformations: movement toward a knowledge society, globalization, new patterns of work, unemployment and social exclusion, aging of the population, immigration, transformation of the family, a multimedia revolution, and consumerism. These changes are necessitating better, more balanced education and lifelong…

Transformations in Higher Education: Online Distance Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kobayashi, Victor

2002-01-01

Higher education is undergoing radical shifts that are part of the larger wave of changes taking place in the society. The transformation affects all sectors of higher education, especially distance learning and how it relates to the University's regular offerings. In this article, the author begins with clarifying the terms commonly associated…

Genetic Profile of Adenoid Cystic Carcinomas (ACC) with High-Grade Transformation versus Solid Type

PubMed Central

Costa, Ana Flávia; Altemani, Albina; Vékony, Hedy; Bloemena, Elisabeth; Fresno, Florentino; Suárez, Carlos; Llorente, José Luis; Hermsen, Mario

2010-01-01

Background: ACC can occasionally undergo dedifferentiation also referred to as high-grade transformation (ACC-HGT). However, ACC-HGT can also undergo transformation to adenocarcinomas which are not poorly differentiated. ACC-HGT is generally considered to be an aggressive variant of ACC, even more than solid ACC. This study was aimed to describe the genetic changes of ACC-HGT in relation to clinico-pathological features and to compare results to solid ACC. Methods: Genome-wide DNA copy number changes were analyzed by microarray CGH in ACC-HGT, 4 with transformation into moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma (MDA) and two into poorly differentiated carcinoma (PDC), 5 solid ACC. In addition, Ki-67 index and p53 immunopositivity was assessed. Results: ACC-HGT carried fewer copy number changes compared to solid ACC. Two ACC-HGT cases harboured a breakpoint at 6q23, near the cMYB oncogene. The complexity of the genomic profile concurred with the clinical course of the patient. Among the ACC-HGT, p53 positivity significantly increased from the conventional to the transformed (both MDA and PDC) component. Conclusion: ACC-HGT may not necessarily reflect a more advanced stage of tumor progression, but rather a transformation to another histological form in which the poorly differentiated forms (PDC) presents a genetic complexity similar to the solid ACC. PMID:20978318

Genetic profile of adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACC) with high-grade transformation versus solid type.

PubMed

Costa, Ana Flávia; Altemani, Albina; Vékony, Hedy; Bloemena, Elisabeth; Fresno, Florentino; Suárez, Carlos; Llorente, José Luis; Hermsen, Mario

2010-01-01

ACC can occasionally undergo dedifferentiation also referred to as high-grade transformation (ACC-HGT). However, ACC-HGT can also undergo transformation to adenocarcinomas which are not poorly differentiated. ACC-HGT is generally considered to be an aggressive variant of ACC, even more than solid ACC. This study was aimed to describe the genetic changes of ACC-HGT in relation to clinico-pathological features and to compare results to solid ACC. genome-wide DNA copy number changes were analyzed by microarray CGH in ACC-HGT, 4 with transformation into moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma (MDA) and two into poorly differentiated carcinoma (PDC), 5 solid ACC. In addition, Ki-67 index and p53 immunopositivity was assessed. ACC-HGT carried fewer copy number changes compared to solid ACC. Two ACC-HGT cases harboured a breakpoint at 6q23, near the cMYB oncogene. The complexity of the genomic profile concurred with the clinical course of the patient. Among the ACC-HGT, p53 positivity significantly increased from the conventional to the transformed (both MDA and PDC) component. ACC-HGT may not necessarily reflect a more advanced stage of tumor progression, but rather a transformation to another histological form in which the poorly differentiated forms (PDC) presents a genetic complexity similar to the solid ACC.

Genetic profile of adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACC) with high-grade transformation versus solid type.

PubMed

Costa, Ana Flávia; Altemani, Albina; Vékony, Hedy; Bloemena, Elisabeth; Fresno, Florentino; Suárez, Carlos; Llorente, José Luis; Hermsen, Mario

2011-08-01

ACC can occasionally undergo dedifferentiation also referred to as high-grade transformation (ACC-HGT). However, ACC-HGT can also undergo transformation to adenocarcinomas which are not poorly differentiated. ACC-HGT is generally considered to be an aggressive variant of ACC, even more than solid ACC. This study was aimed to describe the genetic changes of ACC-HGT in relation to clinico-pathological features, and to compare results to solid ACC. Genome wide DNA copy number changes were analyzed by microarray CGH in ACC-HGT, four with transformation into moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma (MDA) and two into poorly differentiated carcinoma (PDC), and five solid ACC. In addition, Ki67 index and p53 immunopositivity was assessed. ACC-HGT carried fewer copy number changes compared to solid ACC. Two ACC-HGT cases harboured a breakpoint at 6q23, near the cMYB oncogene. The complexity of the genomic profile concurred with the clinical course of the patient. Among the ACC-HGT, p53 positivity significantly increased from the conventional to the transformed (both MDA and PDC) component. ACC-HGT may not necessarily reflect a more advanced stage of tumor progression, but rather a transformation to another histological form in which the poorly differentiated forms (PDC) presents a genetic complexity similar to the solid ACC.

Information resources assessment of a healthcare integrated delivery system.

PubMed Central

Gadd, C. S.; Friedman, C. P.; Douglas, G.; Miller, D. J.

1999-01-01

While clinical healthcare systems may have lagged behind computer applications in other fields in the shift from mainframes to client-server architectures, the rapid deployment of newer applications is closing that gap. Organizations considering the transition to client-server must identify and position themselves to provide the resources necessary to implement and support the infrastructure requirements of client-server architectures and to manage the accelerated complexity at the desktop, including hardware and software deployment, training, and maintenance needs. This paper describes an information resources assessment of the recently aligned Pennsylvania regional Veterans Administration Stars and Stripes Health Network (VISN4), in anticipation of the shift from a predominantly mainframe to a client-server information systems architecture in its well-established VistA clinical information system. The multimethod assessment study is described here to demonstrate this approach and its value to regional healthcare networks undergoing organizational integration and/or significant information technology transformations. PMID:10566414

Emotional distress and disordered eating practices among southern Italian women.

PubMed

Cheney, Ann M

2012-09-01

This study is one of the first to examine the narrative links connecting social change, contested gender norms, body image, and eating disordered practices among southern Italian women. The research is based on 16 months of fieldwork, and I compare and contrast the stories of 23 educated women in southern Italy to highlight the contentious realities of entering adolescence in conservative social contexts where gender relations and value systems are undergoing rapid transformations. I examine how these young women dealt with conflicting cultural expectations of womanhood and whether it affected their emotional, psychological, and physical well-being. Their stories shed light on how parental control, community surveillance, and conflicts in developing gender identities and maturing womanly bodies contributed to their emotional distress. Distressed young women used rebellion and manipulation and control of food and the body to negotiate unjust social relations, specifically gender relations, that delegitimized their selves and, in some cases, their bodies.

DR5 as a reporter system to study auxin response in Populus.

PubMed

Chen, Yiru; Yordanov, Yordan S; Ma, Cathleen; Strauss, Steven; Busov, Victor B

2013-03-01

KEY MESSAGE : Auxin responsive promoter DR5 reporter system is functional in Populus to monitor auxin response in tissues including leaves, roots, and stems. We described the behavior of the DR5::GUS reporter system in stably transformed Populus plants. We found several similarities with Arabidopsis, including sensitivity to native and synthetic auxins, rapid induction after treatment in a variety of tissues, and maximal responses in root tissues. There were also several important differences from Arabidopsis, including slower time to maximum response and lower induction amplitude. Young leaves and stem sections below the apex showed much higher DR5 activity than did older leaves and stems undergoing secondary growth. DR5 activity was highest in cortex, suggesting high levels of auxin concentration and/or sensitivity in this tissue. Our study shows that the DR5 reporter system is a sensitive and facile system for monitoring auxin responses and distribution at cellular resolution in poplar.

Mass loss from interacting close binary systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Plavec, M. J.

1981-01-01

The three well-defined classes of evolved binary systems that show evidence of present and/or past mass loss are the cataclysmic variables, the Algols, and Wolf-Rayet stars. It is thought that the transformation of supergiant binary systems into the very short-period cataclysmic variables must have been a complex process. The new evidence that has recently been obtained from the far ultraviolet spectra that a certain subclass of the Algols (the Serpentids) are undergoing fairly rapid evolution is discussed. It is thought probable that the remarkable mass outflow observed in them is connected with a strong wind powered by accretion. The origin of the circumbinary clouds or flat disks that probably surround many strongly interacting binaries is not clear. Attention is also given to binary systems with hot white dwarf or subdwarf components, such as the symbiotic objects and the BQ stars; it is noted that in them both components may be prone to an enhanced stellar wind.

Structural transition in sputter-deposited amorphous germanium films by aging at ambient temperature

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

Okugawa, M.; Nakamura, R., E-mail: nakamura@mtr.osakafu-u.ac.jp; Numakura, H.

The structure of amorphous Ge (a-Ge) films prepared by sputter-deposition and the effects of aging at ambient temperature and pressure were studied by pair-distribution-function (PDF) analysis from electron scattering and molecular dynamics simulations. The PDFs of the as-deposited and aged samples for 3–13 months showed that the major peaks for Ge-Ge bonds decrease in intensity and broaden with aging for up to 7 months. In the PDFs of a-Ge of molecular dynamics simulation obtained by quenching liquid at different rates, the major peak intensities of a slowly cooled model are higher than those of a rapidly cooled model. Analyses onmore » short- and medium-range configurations show that the slowly cooled model includes a certain amount of medium-range ordered (MRO) clusters, while the rapidly cooled model includes liquid-like configurations rather than MRO clusters. The similarity between experimental and computational PDFs implies that as-deposited films are similar in structure to the slowly cooled model, whereas the fully aged films are similar to the rapidly cooled model. It is assumed that as they undergo room-temperature aging, the MRO clusters disintegrate and transform into liquid-like regions in the same matrix. This transition in local configurations is discussed in terms of instability and the non-equilibrium of nanoclusters produced by a vapor-deposition process.« less

Rapid behavioural gregarization in the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria entails synchronous changes in both activity and attraction to conspecifics

PubMed Central

Rogers, Stephen M.; Cullen, Darron A.; Anstey, Michael L.; Burrows, Malcolm; Despland, Emma; Dodgson, Tim; Matheson, Tom; Ott, Swidbert R.; Stettin, Katja; Sword, Gregory A.; Simpson, Stephen J.

2014-01-01

Desert Locusts can change reversibly between solitarious and gregarious phases, which differ considerably in behaviour, morphology and physiology. The two phases show many behavioural differences including both overall levels of activity and the degree to which they are attracted or repulsed by conspecifics. Solitarious locusts perform infrequent bouts of locomotion characterised by a slow walking pace, groom infrequently and actively avoid other locusts. Gregarious locusts are highly active with a rapid walking pace, groom frequently and are attracted to conspecifics forming cohesive migratory bands as nymphs and/or flying swarms as adults. The sole factor driving the onset of gregarization is the presence of conspecifics. In several previous studies concerned with the mechanism underlying this transformation we have used an aggregate measure of behavioural phase state, Pgreg, derived from logistic regression analysis, which combines and weights several behavioural variables to characterise solitarious and gregarious behaviour. Using this approach we have analysed the time course of behavioural change, the stimuli that induce gregarization and the key role of serotonin in mediating the transformation. Following a recent critique that suggested that using Pgreg may confound changes in general activity with genuine gregarization we have performed a meta-analysis examining the time course of change in the individual behaviours that we use to generate Pgreg. We show that the forced crowding of solitarious locusts, tactile stimulation of the hind femora, and the short-term application of serotonin each induce concerted changes in not only locomotion-related variables but also grooming frequency and attraction to other locusts towards those characteristic of long-term gregarious locusts. This extensive meta-analysis supports and extends our previous conclusions that solitarious locusts undergo a rapid behavioural gregarization upon receiving appropriate stimulation for a few hours that is mediated by serotonin, at the end of which their behaviour is largely indistinguishable from locusts that have been in the gregarious phase their entire lives. PMID:24768842

Displacive transformation of virus protein crystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Celotto, S.; Pond, R. C.

2003-10-01

A crystalline protein undergoes a displacive transformation in the T-even bacteriophage. In the present work, the transformation mechanism is modelled in terms of interfacial dislocations whose motion gives rise to the observed deformation. The topological properties (Burgers vector, {b}, and `overlap' step height, h) of the dislocations involved are defined rigorously and a recent theory is used that quantifies the diffusional flux arising due to their movement. The circumstance under which passage of transformation dislocations is diffusionless is identified. Thus, dislocation modelling is used successfully to describe a diffusionless displacive transformation in a process where the phenomenological theory of martensite crystallography cannot be applied.

Wavelet transforms with discrete-time continuous-dilation wavelets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Wei; Rao, Raghuveer M.

1999-03-01

Wavelet constructions and transforms have been confined principally to the continuous-time domain. Even the discrete wavelet transform implemented through multirate filter banks is based on continuous-time wavelet functions that provide orthogonal or biorthogonal decompositions. This paper provides a novel wavelet transform construction based on the definition of discrete-time wavelets that can undergo continuous parameter dilations. The result is a transformation that has the advantage of discrete-time or digital implementation while circumventing the problem of inadequate scaling resolution seen with conventional dyadic or M-channel constructions. Examples of constructing such wavelets are presented.

76 FR 76736 - Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-12-08

... Project Survey of Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Test (RIDT) Practices in Laboratories-NEW--the Office of...). Background and Brief Description The Survey of Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Testing Practices in Laboratories is a national systematic study investigating rapid influenza diagnostic testing practices in clinical...

Transformative Teaching and Learning by Developing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kallioinen, Outi

2011-01-01

The scholarship of teaching at Laurea University of Applied Sciences is undergoing a great change. The purpose of this article is to reflect the SWOT-analysis produced by 13 teachers at the end of the 2-year PD programme for Transformative Teaching concerning the implementation of the new pedagogical model of Laurea called Learning by Developing…

Critical Practice in P-12 Education: Transformative Teaching and Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lawrence, Salika A., Ed.

2014-01-01

With an ever growing diverse population and access to new technologies, it is no revelation that education is undergoing a significant transformation in the twenty-first century. What remains a struggle is equipping students to meet modern expectations while trying to provide a platform for learning that does not perpetuate the same inequalities…

The Reconstruction of Parenting after Migration: A Perspective from Cultural Translation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

de Haan, Mariette

2011-01-01

Migration induces complex processes of human transformation that are usually not reflected in theories that describe these changes. In most theories regarding these transformations, the implicit assumption is that immigrants undergo a transition to the culture of the mainstream population according to a modernization perspective. Based on a review…

Auto-Origami and Soft Programmable Transformers: Simulation Studies of Liquid Crystal Elastomers and Swelling Polymer Gels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Konya, Andrew; Santangelo, Christian; Selinger, Robin

2014-03-01

When the underlying microstructure of an actuatable material varies in space, simple sheets can transform into complex shapes. Using nonlinear finite element elastodynamic simulations, we explore the design space of two such materials: liquid crystal elastomers and swelling polymer gels. Liquid crystal elastomers (LCE) undergo shape transformations induced by stimuli such as heating/cooling or illumination; complex deformations may be programmed by ``blueprinting'' a non-uniform director field in the sample when the polymer is cross-linked. Similarly, swellable gels can undergo shape change when they are swollen anisotropically as programmed by recently developed halftone gel lithography techniques. For each of these materials we design and test programmable motifs which give rise to complex deformation trajectories including folded structures, soft swimmers, apertures that open and close, bas relief patterns, and other shape transformations inspired by art and nature. In order to accommodate the large computational needs required to model these materials, our 3-d nonlinear finite element elastodynamics simulation algorithm is implemented in CUDA, running on a single GPU-enabled workstation.

Localization and treatment of transformed tissues using the photodynamic sensitizer 2-[1-hexyloxyethyl]-2-devinyl pyropheophorbide-a.

PubMed

Furukawa, K; Yamamoto, H; Crean, D H; Kato, H; Mang, T S

1996-01-01

Photofrin is the photosensitizer currently used in most clinical trials examining the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the treatment and/or palliation of neoplasia. Although this drug has been shown to be efficacious in many of these trials, it possesses less than ideal qualities for use in a systemically administered photosensitizer. A new photosensitizer, 2-[l-hexyloxyethyl]-2-devinyl pyropheophorbide-a (HPPH), was developed for PDT. HPPH possesses more rapid clearance from skin and greater cytotoxicity per drug dose than Photofrin. The aims of this study were to: (1) examine the uptake and retention of HPPH in tissues undergoing malignant transformation using laser-induced fluorescence, and (2) evaluate the efficacy of HPPH and 665 nm light in treating carcinogen-induced tumors of the hamster buccal cheek pouch. The model of tissue transformation was the carcinogen (9,10-dimethyl-1, 2-benzanthracene)-induced premalignant and malignant lesions of the hamster buccal cheek pouch. Following induction of the specific transformation stages, hamsters were injected intraperitoneally with 0.5 mg/kg HPPH. Subsequently, the buccal mucosa was examined for fluorescence at various times up to 72 hours after photosensitizer injection. Uptake studies of HPPH showed highest fluorescence levels in tissues 48 hours after HPPH injection. Fluorescence levels of tissues increased significantly as follows. Normal < dysplasia < papillomas < squamous cell carcinomas. Carcinogen-induced tumors in 14 hamsters were treated with surface illuminations of red light (665 nm) via fiber optics coupled to an argon-ion pumped dye laser 48 hours after intraperitoneal injection with either 0.5 or 1.0 mg/kg HPPH. Complete necrosis of tumor tissues 7 days following PDT was observed in 57% (4/7) with 0.5 mg/kg and 86% (6/7) with 1.0 mg/kg HPPH.

Soft agar-based selection of spontaneously transformed rat prostate epithelial cells with highly tumorigenic characteristics.

PubMed

Gajdošik, Martina Šrajer; Hixson, Douglas C; Brilliant, Kate E; Yang, DongQin; De Paepe, Monique E; Josić, Djuro; Mills, David R

2018-05-29

The critical molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in the development and progression of prostate cancer remain elusive. In this report, we demonstrate that normal rat prostate epithelial cells (PEC) undergo spontaneous transformation at high passage (p > 85) evidenced by the acquisition of anchorage independent growth when plated on soft agar and tumorigenicity when injected into immunodeficient mice. In addition, we also report the discovery of a minor subpopulation of spontaneously transformed PEC derived from high passage PEC with the ability to migrate through a layer of 1% agar and form expanding colonies on the underlying plastic substratum. Comparison of these soft agar invasive (SAI) cells with low (p < 35), mid (p36-84) and high passage (p > 85) PEC identified marked differences in cell morphology, proliferation and motility. The SAI subpopulation was more tumorigenic than the high passage anchorage independent cultures from which they were isolated, as manifested by a decreased latency period and an increase in the size of tumors arising in immunodeficient mice. In contrast, low and mid passage cells were unable to grow on soft agar and failed to form tumors when injected into immunodeficient mice. Screening with antibody-based signaling arrays identified several differences in the altered expression levels of signaling proteins between SAI-derived cells and low or high passage PEC, including the up-regulation of EGFR and MAPK-related signaling pathways in SAI-selected cells. In summary, these studies suggest that the SAI assay selects for a novel, highly tumorigenic subpopulation of transformed cells that may represent an early step in the progression of slow growing prostatic carcinomas into more rapidly growing and aggressive tumors. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

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

Transforming Undergraduate Science Teaching: Social Constructivist Perspectives. Counterpoints: Studies in the Postmodern Theory of Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Taylor, Peter C., Ed.; Gilmer, Penny J., Ed.; Tobin, Kenneth, Ed.

This book comes at a time when epistemological reform is sweeping through the global community of science education. Since the 1970s, the theories of knowing embodied in the teaching activities of school science teachers have been undergoing a major transformation toward more learner-sensitive standpoints. Undergraduate science teaching however,…

Materials for programmed, functional transformation in transient electronic systems.

PubMed

Hwang, Suk-Won; Kang, Seung-Kyun; Huang, Xian; Brenckle, Mark A; Omenetto, Fiorenzo G; Rogers, John A

2015-01-07

Materials and device designs are presented for electronic systems that undergo functional transformation by a controlled time sequence in the dissolution of active materials and/or encapsulation layers. Demonstration examples include various biocompatible, multifunctional systems with autonomous behavior defined by materials selection and layout. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Region V Transportation Workforce Assessment and Summit

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-05-01

The transportation workforce is undergoing unprecedented change due to rapid retirement of baby boomers while at the same time information, communication, and automation technologies are rapidly changing the transportation of people and goods. The pu...

Occurrence of neonicotinoid insecticides in finished drinking water and fate during drinking water treatment

USGS Publications Warehouse

Klarich, Kathryn L.; Pflug, Nicholas C.; DeWald, Eden M.; Hladik, Michelle L.; Kolpin, Dana W.; Cwiertny, David M.; LeFevre, Gergory H.

2017-01-01

Neonicotinoid insecticides are widespread in surface waters across the agriculturally-intensive Midwestern US. We report for the first time the presence of three neonicotinoids in finished drinking water and demonstrate their general persistence during conventional water treatment. Periodic tap water grab samples were collected at the University of Iowa over seven weeks in 2016 (May-July) after maize/soy planting. Clothianidin, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam were ubiquitously detected in finished water samples and ranged from 0.24-57.3 ng/L. Samples collected along the University of Iowa treatment train indicate no apparent removal of clothianidin and imidacloprid, with modest thiamethoxam removal (~50%). In contrast, the concentrations of all neonicotinoids were substantially lower in the Iowa City treatment facility finished water using granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration. Batch experiments investigated potential losses. Thiamethoxam losses are due to base-catalyzed hydrolysis at high pH conditions during lime softening. GAC rapidly and nearly completely removed all three neonicotinoids. Clothianidin is susceptible to reaction with free chlorine and may undergo at least partial transformation during chlorination. Our work provides new insights into the persistence of neonicotinoids and their potential for transformation during water treatment and distribution, while also identifying GAC as an effective management tool to lower neonicotinoid concentrations in finished drinking water.

Place-based perceptions of the impacts of fracking along the Marcellus Shale.

PubMed

Sangaramoorthy, Thurka; Jamison, Amelia M; Boyle, Meleah D; Payne-Sturges, Devon C; Sapkota, Amir; Milton, Donald K; Wilson, Sacoby M

2016-02-01

We examined community perspectives and experiences with fracking in Doddridge County, West Virginia, USA as part of a larger assessment to investigate the potential health impacts associated with fracking in neighboring Maryland, USA. In November 2013, we held two focus groups with community residents who had been impacted by fracking operations and conducted field observations in the impacted areas. Employing grounded theory, we conducted qualitative analysis to explore emergent themes related to direct and indirect health impacts of fracking. Three components of experience were identified, including (a) meanings of place and identity, (b) transforming relationships, and (c) perceptions of environmental and health impacts. Our findings indicate that fracking contributes to a disruption in residents' sense of place and social identity, generating widespread social stress. Although community residents acknowledged the potential for economic growth brought about by fracking, rapid transformations in meanings of place and social identity influenced residents' perceptions of environmental and health impacts. Our findings suggest that in order to have a more complete understanding of the health impacts of fracking, future work must consider the complex linkages between social disruption, environmental impacts, and health outcomes through critical engagements with communities undergoing energy development. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Influence of volume magnetostriction on the thermodynamic properties of Ni-Mn-Ga shape memory alloys

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

Kosogor, Anna; Institute of Magnetism, 36-b, Vernadsky Str., Kyiv 03142; Donetsk Institute for Physics and Engineering, Kyiv 03028

2015-10-07

In the present article, the thermodynamic properties of Ni-Mn-Ga ferromagnetic shape memory alloys exhibiting the martensitic transformations (MTs) above and below Curie temperature are compared. It is shown that when MT goes below Curie temperature, the elastic and thermal properties of alloy noticeably depend on magnetization value due to spontaneous volume magnetostriction. However, the separation of magnetic parts from the basic characteristics of MT is a difficult task, because the volume magnetostriction does not qualitatively change the transformational behaviour of alloy. This problem is solved for several Ni-Mn-Ga alloys by means of the quantitative theoretical analysis of experimental data obtainedmore » in the course of stress-strain tests. For each alloy, the entropy change and the transformation heat evolved in the course of MT are evaluated, first, from the results of stress-strain tests and, second, from differential scanning calorimetry data. For all alloys, a quantitative agreement between the values obtained in two different ways is observed. It is shown that the magnetic part of transformation heat exceeds the non-magnetic one for the Ni-Mn-Ga alloys undergoing MTs in ferromagnetic state, while the elevated values of transformation heat measured for the alloys undergoing MTs in paramagnetic state are caused by large MT strains.« less

Influence of volume magnetostriction on the thermodynamic properties of Ni-Mn-Ga shape memory alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kosogor, Anna; L'vov, Victor A.; Cesari, Eduard

2015-10-01

In the present article, the thermodynamic properties of Ni-Mn-Ga ferromagnetic shape memory alloys exhibiting the martensitic transformations (MTs) above and below Curie temperature are compared. It is shown that when MT goes below Curie temperature, the elastic and thermal properties of alloy noticeably depend on magnetization value due to spontaneous volume magnetostriction. However, the separation of magnetic parts from the basic characteristics of MT is a difficult task, because the volume magnetostriction does not qualitatively change the transformational behaviour of alloy. This problem is solved for several Ni-Mn-Ga alloys by means of the quantitative theoretical analysis of experimental data obtained in the course of stress-strain tests. For each alloy, the entropy change and the transformation heat evolved in the course of MT are evaluated, first, from the results of stress-strain tests and, second, from differential scanning calorimetry data. For all alloys, a quantitative agreement between the values obtained in two different ways is observed. It is shown that the magnetic part of transformation heat exceeds the non-magnetic one for the Ni-Mn-Ga alloys undergoing MTs in ferromagnetic state, while the elevated values of transformation heat measured for the alloys undergoing MTs in paramagnetic state are caused by large MT strains.

An improved ternary vector system for Agrobacterium-mediated rapid maize transformation.

PubMed

Anand, Ajith; Bass, Steven H; Wu, Emily; Wang, Ning; McBride, Kevin E; Annaluru, Narayana; Miller, Michael; Hua, Mo; Jones, Todd J

2018-05-01

A simple and versatile ternary vector system that utilizes improved accessory plasmids for rapid maize transformation is described. This system facilitates high-throughput vector construction and plant transformation. The super binary plasmid pSB1 is a mainstay of maize transformation. However, the large size of the base vector makes it challenging to clone, the process of co-integration is cumbersome and inefficient, and some Agrobacterium strains are known to give rise to spontaneous mutants resistant to tetracycline. These limitations present substantial barriers to high throughput vector construction. Here we describe a smaller, simpler and versatile ternary vector system for maize transformation that utilizes improved accessory plasmids requiring no co-integration step. In addition, the newly described accessory plasmids have restored virulence genes found to be defective in pSB1, as well as added virulence genes. Testing of different configurations of the accessory plasmids in combination with T-DNA binary vector as ternary vectors nearly doubles both the raw transformation frequency and the number of transformation events of usable quality in difficult-to-transform maize inbreds. The newly described ternary vectors enabled the development of a rapid maize transformation method for elite inbreds. This vector system facilitated screening different origins of replication on the accessory plasmid and T-DNA vector, and four combinations were identified that have high (86-103%) raw transformation frequency in an elite maize inbred.

The importance of satellite quenching for the build-up of the red sequence of present-day galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van den Bosch, Frank C.; Aquino, Daniel; Yang, Xiaohu; Mo, H. J.; Pasquali, Anna; McIntosh, Daniel H.; Weinmann, Simone M.; Kang, Xi

2008-06-01

According to the current paradigm, galaxies initially form as disc galaxies at the centres of their own dark matter haloes. During their subsequent evolution, they may undergo a transformation to a red, early-type galaxy, thus giving rise to the build-up of the red sequence. Two important, outstanding questions are (i) which transformation mechanisms are most important and (ii) in what environment do they occur. In this paper, we study the impact of transformation mechanisms that operate only on satellite galaxies, such as strangulation, ram-pressure stripping and galaxy harassment. Using a large galaxy group catalogue constructed from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, we compare the colours and concentrations of satellites galaxies to those of central galaxies of the same stellar mass, adopting the hypothesis that the latter are the progenitors of the former. On average, satellite galaxies are redder and more concentrated than central galaxies of the same stellar mass, indicating that satellite-specific transformation processes do indeed operate. Central-satellite pairs that are matched in both stellar mass and colour, however, show no average concentration difference, indicating that the transformation mechanisms operating on satellites affect colour more than morphology. We also find that the colour and concentration differences of matched central-satellite pairs are completely independent of the mass of the host halo (not to be confused with the subhalo) of the satellite galaxy, indicating that satellite-specific transformation mechanisms are equally efficient in host haloes of all masses. This strongly rules against mechanisms that are thought to operate only in very massive haloes, such as ram-pressure stripping or harassment. Instead, we argue that strangulation is the main transformation mechanism for satellite galaxies. Finally, we determine the relative importance of satellite quenching for the build-up of the red sequence. We find that roughly 70 per cent of red-sequence satellite galaxies with M* ~ 109h-2Msolar had their star formation quenched as satellites. This drops rapidly with increasing stellar mass, reaching virtually zero at M* ~ 1011h-2Msolar. Therefore, a very significant fraction of red satellite galaxies were already quenched before they became a satellite.

Sorption, Photodegradation, and Chemical Transformation of Naproxen and Ibuprofen in Soils and Water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vulava, V. M.; Cory, W. C.; Murphey, V.; Ulmer, C.

2015-12-01

Trace levels of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) are increasingly being found in municipal drinking water and natural streams around the world. PhACs enter natural water systems after passing through wastewater treatment plants that have proven to be relatively inefficient at removing them. Once they are released into the environment, they can undergo (1) soil sorption, (2) photodegradation, and/or (3) chemical transformation into structurally similar compounds. The overarching goal of this study is to understand the geochemical fate of common PhACs in the environment. Here we report on our studies with naproxen (NAP) and ibuprofen (IBP) in soils and water. Both compounds are complex nonpolar (aromatic) organic molecules with polar (carboxylic acid) functional groups. The carboxylic functional groups are likely to be deprotonated at environmentally relevant pHs (~4-8). Sorption studies of both compounds were conducted in clean and relatively acidic (soil pH ~4.5-6.5) natural soils that contained varying levels of organic matter (OM), clay minerals, and Fe oxides. OM was observed to play an important role in each of the above three processes. Sorption was observed to be stronger and nonlinear in higher OM soils, while weaker but still significant in lower OM, higher clay soils; the amphiphilic nature of NAP and IBP combined with the complex charged and nonpolar surfaces available in the soil was observed to control the sorption behavior. Both NAP and IBP underwent rapid photodegradation in aqueous suspensions when exposed to simulated sunlight. The degradation rates were observed to change in the presence of humic acid or fulvic acid. During sorption and photodegradation experiments, common transformation products were observed for both NAP and IBP. The transformation products produced were indicative of chemical transformation and not biological factors. Concentrations of the transformation products were significantly higher in the photoexposed aqueous suspensions compared to that formed in soil solutions. This study also helped in understanding the important role OM plays in geochemical fate of PhACs. The transformation products identified here are known to have higher ecotoxicity than the parent PhACs.

Photochemically Induced Transformations of Transition Complexes.

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-05-17

simple Iron dinuclear species, the DPPM and DPPE phosphine bridged compounds undergo photolysis in CHCI3 to yield products containing formyl substitued...possible reaction pathway for the synthesis of these two monomers as byproducts In the ruthenium phosphine dimer preparation Is suggested. Full structural...DPPM dimer is also described. In contrast to the behavior of the simple iron dinuclear species, the DPPM and DPPE phosphine bridged compounds undergo

Move or Die: the Fate of the Tax Oncoprotein of HTLV-1

PubMed Central

Lodewick, Julie; Lamsoul, Isabelle; Bex, Françoise

2011-01-01

The HTLV-1 Tax protein both activates viral replication and is involved in HTLV-1-mediated transformation of T lymphocytes. The transforming properties of Tax include altering the expression of select cellular genes via activation of cellular pathways and perturbation of both cell cycle control mechanisms and apoptotic signals. The recent discovery that Tax undergoes a hierarchical sequence of posttranslational modifications that control its intracellular localization provides provocative insights into the mechanisms regulating Tax transcriptional and transforming activities. PMID:21994756

Profound hearing loss associated with hydrocodone/acetaminophen abuse.

PubMed

Friedman, R A; House, J W; Luxford, W M; Gherini, S; Mills, D

2000-03-01

To describe profound hearing loss associated with hydrocodone overuse and the successful rehabilitation of these patients with cochlear implantation. Retrospective review. A tertiary otologic referral center. Twelve patients with rapidly progressive hearing loss and a concurrent history of hydrocodone overuse. Comprehensive medical histories, physical findings, audiometric tests, and, in those patients undergoing cochlear implantation, postimplantation performance data were reviewed. Clinical characteristics of hydrocodone-related hearing loss and open set word and sentence performance in those patients undergoing cochlear implantation. Hydrocodone overuse was associated with rapidly progressive sensorineural hearing loss in 12 patients. In four patients the initial presentation was unilateral, and two of the patients experienced vestibular symptoms. None of the 12 patients experienced improved thresholds after high-dose prednisone. Seven of the eight patients undergoing cochlear implantation have demonstrated early success with their devices. Hydrocodone is frequently prescribed in combination with acetaminophen for the relief of pain and has a side effects profile similar to other medications in its class. Although not described previously, overuse or abuse can be associated with a rapidly progressive sensorineural hearing loss. These patients can be successfully rehabilitated with cochlear implantation.

Setaria viridis floral-dip: A simple and rapid Agrobacterium-medicated transformation method

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Setaria viridis was recently described as a new monocotyledonous model species for C4 photosynthesis research and genetic transformation. It has biological attributes (rapid life cycle, small genome, diploid, short stature and simple growth requirements) that make it suitable for use as a model plan...

In the Midst of Transformation: Reflections from the Bay Area Coalition for Equitable Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Route-Chatmon, LaShawn

2007-01-01

The Bay Area Coalition for Equitable Schools (BayCES) has been working to build the capacity of people to transform the educational experiences and outcomes of underserved students in the Oakland-San Francisco Bay Area for more than 15 years. BayCES supports people in urban districts and schools undergoing reform efforts to improve their…

Direct Photolysis Rates and Transformation Pathways of the Lampricides TFM and Niclosamide in Simulated Sunlight.

PubMed

McConville, Megan B; Hubert, Terrance D; Remucal, Christina K

2016-09-20

The lampricides 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM) and 2',5-dichloro-4'-nitrosalicylanilide (niclosamide) are directly added to many tributaries of the Great Lakes that harbor the invasive parasitic sea lamprey. Despite their long history of use, the fate of lampricides is not well understood. This study evaluates the rate and pathway of direct photodegradation of both lampricides under simulated sunlight. The estimated half-lives of TFM range from 16.6 ± 0.2 h (pH 9) to 32.9 ± 1.0 h (pH 6), while the half-lives of niclosamide range from 8.88 ± 0.52 days (pH 6) to 382 ± 83 days (pH 9) assuming continuous irradiation over a water depth of 55 cm. Both compounds degrade to form a series of aromatic intermediates, simple organic acids, ring cleavage products, and inorganic ions. Experimental data were used to construct a kinetic model which demonstrates that the aromatic products of TFM undergo rapid photolysis and emphasizes that niclosamide degradation is the rate-limiting step to dehalogenation and mineralization of the lampricide. This study demonstrates that TFM photodegradation is likely to occur on the time scale of lampricide applications (2-5 days), while niclosamide, the less selective lampricide, will undergo minimal direct photodegradation during its passage to the Great Lakes.

Direct photolysis rates and transformation pathways of the lampricides TFM and niclosamide in simulated sunlight

USGS Publications Warehouse

McConville, Megan B.; Hubert, Terrance D.; Remucal, Christina K.

2016-01-01

The lampricides 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM) and 2′,5-dichloro-4′-nitrosalicylanilide (niclosamide) are directly added to many tributaries of the Great Lakes that harbor the invasive parasitic sea lamprey. Despite their long history of use, the fate of lampricides is not well understood. This study evaluates the rate and pathway of direct photodegradation of both lampricides under simulated sunlight. The estimated half-lives of TFM range from 16.6 ± 0.2 h (pH 9) to 32.9 ± 1.0 h (pH 6), while the half-lives of niclosamide range from 8.88 ± 0.52 days (pH 6) to 382 ± 83 days (pH 9) assuming continuous irradiation over a water depth of 55 cm. Both compounds degrade to form a series of aromatic intermediates, simple organic acids, ring cleavage products, and inorganic ions. Experimental data were used to construct a kinetic model which demonstrates that the aromatic products of TFM undergo rapid photolysis and emphasizes that niclosamide degradation is the rate-limiting step to dehalogenation and mineralization of the lampricide. This study demonstrates that TFM photodegradation is likely to occur on the time scale of lampricide applications (2–5 days), while niclosamide, the less selective lampricide, will undergo minimal direct photodegradation during its passage to the Great Lakes.

Reform of health care in Germany

PubMed Central

Hurst, Jeremy W.

1991-01-01

For the past 45 years Germany has had two health care systems: one in the former Federal Republic of Germany and one in the former German Democratic Republic. The system in the Federal Republic was undergoing some important reforms when German reunification took place in October 1990. Now the system in eastern Germany is undergoing a major transformation to bring it more into line with that in western Germany. PMID:10110879

Visualization of bacterial flagella dynamics in a viscous shear flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ali, Jamel; Kim, Minjun

2016-11-01

We report on the dynamics of tethered bacterial flagella in an applied viscous shear flow and analyze their behavior using image processing. Flagellin proteins were repolymerized into flagellar filaments functionalized with biotin at their proximal end, and allowed to self-assemble within a micro channel coated with streptavidin. It was observed that all attached flagellar filaments aligned with the steady shear flow of various polymeric solutions. Furthermore it was observed that many of the filaments were stretched, and at elevated flow rates began to undergo polymorphic transformations, which were initiated at one end of the flagellum. When undergoing a change to a different helical form the flagellum was observed to transform to an oppositely handed helix, as to counteract the viscous torque imparted by the shear flow. It was also observed that some flagellar filaments did not undergo polymorphic transformations, but rotated about their helical axis. The rate of this rotation appears to be a function of the applied flow rate. These results expand on previous experimental work and aid in the development of a novel platform that harnesses the autonomic response of a 'forest' of bacterial flagella for engineering applications. This work was funded by NSF Grant CMMI-1000255, KEIT MOTIE Grant No. 10052980, and with Government support under and awarded by DoD, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship, 32 CFR 168a.

Rapid Population Growth and Rural Community Change: A Focus on Land Use Issues.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garkovich, Lorraine

Land use controls are often a major point of conflict between recent migrants and long-term residents of rapidly growing communities. Such conflict was noted in a case study of a rural community undergoing rapid population growth. The revision of a comprehensive land use plan for the community provided the opportunity to evaluate citizen…

Microstructures, Martensitic Transformation, and Mechanical Behavior of Rapidly Solidified Ti-Ni-Hf and Ti-Ni-Si Shape Memory Alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, X. L.; Song, K. K.; Zhang, L. M.; Xing, H.; Sarac, B.; Spieckermann, F.; Maity, T.; Mühlbacher, M.; Wang, L.; Kaban, I.; Eckert, J.

2018-03-01

In this work, the microstructure and mechanical properties of rapidly solidified Ti50- x/2Ni50- x/2Hf x ( x = 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 at.%) and Ti50- y/2Ni50- y/2Si y ( y = 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 10 at.%) shape memory alloys (SMAs) were investigated. The sequence of the phase formation and transformations in dependence on the chemical composition is established. Rapidly solidified Ti-Ni-Hf or Ti-Ni-Si SMAs are found to show relatively high yield strength and large ductility for specific Hf or Si concentrations, which is due to the gradual disappearance of the phase transformation from austenite to twinned martensite and the predominance of the phase transformation from twinned martensite to detwinned martensite during deformation as well as to the refinement of dendrites and the precipitation of brittle intermetallic compounds.

Rapidly reversible redox transformation in nanophase manganese oxides at room temperature triggered by changes in hydration

PubMed Central

Birkner, Nancy; Navrotsky, Alexandra

2014-01-01

Chemisorption of water onto anhydrous nanophase manganese oxide surfaces promotes rapidly reversible redox phase changes as confirmed by calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, and titration for manganese average oxidation state. Surface reduction of bixbyite (Mn2O3) to hausmannite (Mn3O4) occurs in nanoparticles under conditions where no such reactions are seen or expected on grounds of bulk thermodynamics in coarse-grained materials. Additionally, transformation does not occur on nanosurfaces passivated by at least 2% coverage of what is likely an amorphous manganese oxide layer. The transformation is due to thermodynamic control arising from differences in surface energies of the two phases (Mn2O3 and Mn3O4) under wet and dry conditions. Such reversible and rapid transformation near room temperature may affect the behavior of manganese oxides in technological applications and in geologic and environmental settings. PMID:24733903

Rapidly reversible redox transformation in nanophase manganese oxides at room temperature triggered by changes in hydration.

PubMed

Birkner, Nancy; Navrotsky, Alexandra

2014-04-29

Chemisorption of water onto anhydrous nanophase manganese oxide surfaces promotes rapidly reversible redox phase changes as confirmed by calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, and titration for manganese average oxidation state. Surface reduction of bixbyite (Mn2O3) to hausmannite (Mn3O4) occurs in nanoparticles under conditions where no such reactions are seen or expected on grounds of bulk thermodynamics in coarse-grained materials. Additionally, transformation does not occur on nanosurfaces passivated by at least 2% coverage of what is likely an amorphous manganese oxide layer. The transformation is due to thermodynamic control arising from differences in surface energies of the two phases (Mn2O3 and Mn3O4) under wet and dry conditions. Such reversible and rapid transformation near room temperature may affect the behavior of manganese oxides in technological applications and in geologic and environmental settings.

a Transient Semi-Metallic Layer in Detonating Nitromethane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reed, Evan J.; Manaa, M. Riad; Fried, Laurence E.; Glaesemann, Kurt; Joannopoulos, John D.

2007-12-01

We present the first ever glimpse behind a detonation shock front in a chemically reactive quantum molecular dynamics simulation of the explosive nitromethane (CH3NO2). We discover that the wide-bandgap insulator nitromethane undergoes chemical decomposition and a transformation into a semi-metallic state for a limited distance behind the detonation front. We find this transformation is associated with the production of charged decomposition species.

Exploiting pattern transformation to tune phononic band gaps in a two-dimensional granular crystal.

PubMed

Göncü, F; Luding, S; Bertoldi, K

2012-06-01

The band structure of a two-dimensional granular crystal composed of silicone rubber and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) cylinders is investigated numerically. This system was previously shown to undergo a pattern transformation with uniaxial compression by Göncü et al. [Soft Matter 7, 2321 (2011)]. The dispersion relations of the crystal are computed at different levels of deformation to demonstrate the tunability of the band structure, which is strongly affected by the pattern transformation that induces new band gaps. Replacement of PTFE particles with rubber ones reveals that the change of the band structure is essentially governed by pattern transformation rather than particles' mechanical properties.

Becoming a nurse faculty leader: Taking risks by being willing to fail.

PubMed

Pardue, Karen T; Young, Patricia K; Horton-Deutsch, Sara; Halstead, Judith; Pearsall, Catherine

2018-04-01

Higher education is undergoing rapid transformation requiring nurse faculty leaders to engage in risk taking. Consequently, what is known about the experience of taking risks? How do leaders decide what constitutes a risk worth taking? How do leaders who take risks tolerate failure? The purpose of this study was to explicate the leadership practices of risk taking in nurse faculty leaders. Interpretive phenomenology was used to explore the experience of risk taking among 15 self-identified nurse faculty leaders. Unstructured audio recorded interviews were conducted in which participants described their experiences of taking risks. Transcribed interviews were analyzed by a research team to uncover themes in the narrative data. A theme, willingness to fail, and three subthemes, enacting a culture of experimentation, working hard for success, and learning from failure are reported. This study provides practical know-how and an evidence-base to support nurse academic leaders in the practice of risk taking during these challenging times in higher education. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

An Approach for Expanding Triterpenoid Complexity via Divergent Norrish-Yang Photocyclization

PubMed Central

Ignatenko, Vasily A.; Tochtrop, Gregory P.

2013-01-01

Triterpenoids comprise a very diverse family of polycyclic molecules that is well-known to possess a myriad of medicinal properties. Therefore, triterpenoids constitute an attractive target for medicinal chemistry and diversity-oriented synthesis. Photochemical transformations provide a promising tool for the rapid, green and inexpensive generation of skeletal diversity in the construction of natural product-like libraries. With this in mind, we have developed a diversity-oriented strategy, whereby the parent triterpenoids bryonolic acid and lanosterol are converted to the pseudo-symmetrical polyketones by sequential allylic oxidation and oxidative cleavage of the bridging double bond at the B/C-ring fusion. The resultant polyketones were hypothesized to undergo divergent Norrish-Yang cyclization to produce unique 6/4/8-fused triterpenoid analogs. The subtle differences between parent triterpenoids led to dramatically different spatial arrangements of reactive functionalities. This finding was rationalized through conformational analysis to explain unanticipated photoinduced pinacolization, as well as the regio- and stereochemical outcome of the desired Norrish-Yang cyclization. PMID:23544445

Identifying the Source of Large-Scale Atmospheric Variability in Jupiter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Orton, Glenn

2011-01-01

We propose to use the unique mid-infrared filtered imaging and spectroscopic capabilities of the Subaru COMICS instrument to determine the mechanisms associated with recent unusual rapid albedo and color transformations of several of Jupiter's bands, particularly its South Equatorial Belt (SEB), as a means to understand the coupling between its dynamics and chemistry. These observations will characterize the temperature, degree of cloud cover, and distribution of minor gases that serve as indirect tracers of vertical motions in regions that will be undergoing unusual large-scale changes in dynamics and chemistry: the SEB, as well as regions near the equator and Jupiter's North Temperate Belt. COMICS is ideal for this investigation because of its efficiency in doing both imaging and spectroscopy, its 24.5-mum filter that is unique to 8-meter-class telescopes, its wide field of view that allows imaging of nearly all of Jupiter's disk, coupled with a high diffraction-limited angular resolution and optimal mid-infrared atmospheric transparency.

Genomic catastrophes frequently arise in esophageal adenocarcinoma and drive tumorigenesis

PubMed Central

Patch, Ann-Marie; Bailey, Peter; Newell, Felicity; Holmes, Oliver; Fink, J. Lynn; Quinn, Michael C.J.; Tang, Yue Hang; Lampe, Guy; Quek, Kelly; Loffler, Kelly A.; Manning, Suzanne; Idrisoglu, Senel; Miller, David; Xu, Qinying; Waddell, Nick; Wilson, Peter J.; Bruxner, Timothy J.C.; Christ, Angelika N.; Harliwong, Ivon; Nourse, Craig; Nourbakhsh, Ehsan; Anderson, Matthew; Kazakoff, Stephen; Leonard, Conrad; Wood, Scott; Simpson, Peter T.; Reid, Lynne E.; Krause, Lutz; Hussey, Damian J.; Watson, David I.; Lord, Reginald V.; Nancarrow, Derek; Phillips, Wayne A.; Gotley, David; Smithers, B. Mark; Whiteman, David C.; Hayward, Nicholas K.; Campbell, Peter J.; Pearson, John V.; Grimmond, Sean M.; Barbour, Andrew P.

2015-01-01

Oesophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) incidence is rapidly increasing in Western countries. A better understanding of EAC underpins efforts to improve early detection and treatment outcomes. While large EAC exome sequencing efforts to date have found recurrent loss-of-function mutations, oncogenic driving events have been underrepresented. Here we use a combination of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and single-nucleotide polymorphism-array profiling to show that genomic catastrophes are frequent in EAC, with almost a third (32%, n = 40/123) undergoing chromothriptic events. WGS of 22 EAC cases show that catastrophes may lead to oncogene amplification through chromothripsis-derived double-minute chromosome formation (MYC and MDM2) or breakage-fusion-bridge (KRAS, MDM2 and RFC3). Telomere shortening is more prominent in EACs bearing localized complex rearrangements. Mutational signature analysis also confirms that extreme genomic instability in EAC can be driven by somatic BRCA2 mutations. These findings suggest that genomic catastrophes have a significant role in the malignant transformation of EAC. PMID:25351503

Shear-driven phase transformation in silicon nanowires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vincent, L.; Djomani, D.; Fakfakh, M.; Renard, C.; Belier, B.; Bouchier, D.; Patriarche, G.

2018-03-01

We report on an unprecedented formation of allotrope heterostructured Si nanowires by plastic deformation based on applied radial compressive stresses inside a surrounding matrix. Si nanowires with a standard diamond structure (3C) undergo a phase transformation toward the hexagonal 2H-allotrope. The transformation is thermally activated above 500 °C and is clearly driven by a shear-stress relief occurring in parallel shear bands lying on {115} planes. We have studied the influence of temperature and axial orientation of nanowires. The observations are consistent with a martensitic phase transformation, but the finding leads to clear evidence of a different mechanism of deformation-induced phase transformation in Si nanowires with respect to their bulk counterpart. Our process provides a route to study shear-driven phase transformation at the nanoscale in Si.

Shear-driven phase transformation in silicon nanowires.

PubMed

Vincent, L; Djomani, D; Fakfakh, M; Renard, C; Belier, B; Bouchier, D; Patriarche, G

2018-03-23

We report on an unprecedented formation of allotrope heterostructured Si nanowires by plastic deformation based on applied radial compressive stresses inside a surrounding matrix. Si nanowires with a standard diamond structure (3C) undergo a phase transformation toward the hexagonal 2H-allotrope. The transformation is thermally activated above 500 °C and is clearly driven by a shear-stress relief occurring in parallel shear bands lying on {115} planes. We have studied the influence of temperature and axial orientation of nanowires. The observations are consistent with a martensitic phase transformation, but the finding leads to clear evidence of a different mechanism of deformation-induced phase transformation in Si nanowires with respect to their bulk counterpart. Our process provides a route to study shear-driven phase transformation at the nanoscale in Si.

Transformation of the diamond /110/ surface

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pepper, S. V.

1982-01-01

The diamond surface undergoes a transformation in its electronic structure by a vacuum anneal at approximately 900 C. This transformation is characterized by the appearance of a feature in the band gap region of the energy loss spectrum. The kinetics of the transformation on the (110) surface is studied by observing the growth of this feature with time and temperature. The transformation is found to be consistent with first-order kinetics with an activation energy of 4.8 eV. It is also found that the band gap feature could be removed by exposure of the transformed surface to excited hydrogen. The results are consistent with the polished diamond (110) surface being covered with hydrogen which removes the band gap states and can be thermally desorbed at approximately 900 C.

Rapid identification and classification of Listeria spp. and serotype assignment of Listeria monocytogenes using fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy and artificial neural network analysis

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The use of Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) in conjunction with Artificial Neural Network software, NeuroDeveloper™ was examined for the rapid identification and classification of Listeria species and serotyping of Listeria monocytogenes. A spectral library was created for 245 strains...

Rapid behavioural gregarization in the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria entails synchronous changes in both activity and attraction to conspecifics.

PubMed

Rogers, Stephen M; Cullen, Darron A; Anstey, Michael L; Burrows, Malcolm; Despland, Emma; Dodgson, Tim; Matheson, Tom; Ott, Swidbert R; Stettin, Katja; Sword, Gregory A; Simpson, Stephen J

2014-06-01

Desert Locusts can change reversibly between solitarious and gregarious phases, which differ considerably in behaviour, morphology and physiology. The two phases show many behavioural differences including both overall levels of activity and the degree to which they are attracted or repulsed by conspecifics. Solitarious locusts perform infrequent bouts of locomotion characterised by a slow walking pace, groom infrequently and actively avoid other locusts. Gregarious locusts are highly active with a rapid walking pace, groom frequently and are attracted to conspecifics forming cohesive migratory bands as nymphs and/or flying swarms as adults. The sole factor driving the onset of gregarization is the presence of conspecifics. In several previous studies concerned with the mechanism underlying this transformation we have used an aggregate measure of behavioural phase state, Pgreg, derived from logistic regression analysis, which combines and weights several behavioural variables to characterise solitarious and gregarious behaviour. Using this approach we have analysed the time course of behavioural change, the stimuli that induce gregarization and the key role of serotonin in mediating the transformation. Following a recent critique that suggested that using Pgreg may confound changes in general activity with genuine gregarization we have performed a meta-analysis examining the time course of change in the individual behaviours that we use to generate Pgreg. We show that the forced crowding of solitarious locusts, tactile stimulation of the hind femora, and the short-term application of serotonin each induce concerted changes in not only locomotion-related variables but also grooming frequency and attraction to other locusts towards those characteristic of long-term gregarious locusts. This extensive meta-analysis supports and extends our previous conclusions that solitarious locusts undergo a rapid behavioural gregarization upon receiving appropriate stimulation for a few hours that is mediated by serotonin, at the end of which their behaviour is largely indistinguishable from locusts that have been in the gregarious phase their entire lives. Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Transforming the Army Division in an Era of Persistent Conflict

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-05-21

shortcomings in divisional structure and encouraged change . Divisional structures flexible enough to synchronize subordinate elements and maximize...the roles cannot be accomplished by the same staff. The divisio staff must be organized to readily absorb and integrate change . They must be as...undergoing its most significant change in over 50 years. In spite of the transformation efforts from 1999 through 2007, the Army remains ill prepared to

[Acute transformation of chronic myeloid leukemia: disappearance of the Philadelphia chromosome after autograft].

PubMed

Reiffers, J; David, B; Bernard, P; Vezon, G; Marit, G; Moulinier, J; Broustet, A

1984-04-12

Two patients with chronic granulocytic leukemia (C.G.L.) undergoing transformation were treated by high dose chemotherapy and total body irradiation followed by autografting of hematopoietic stem cells collected and cryo-preserved at the time of diagnosis. Recovery of hematopoiesis was characterized by disappearance of the Philadelphia chromosome in most metaphases. A new approach of the management of C.G.L. is discussed.

[The preparation of a new hydroxyapatite and the study on its cytocompatibility].

PubMed

Tao, Kai; Mao, Tianqiu; Chen, Fulin; Liu, Xiaoyan

2006-08-01

The cuttlebones, harvested from cuttles, undergo the chemical reaction in high temperature and high pressure for a certain time. The products are qualitatively analysed, and spacial structure observation and cytocompatibility are tested. The results show that the chemical component of the cuttlebone is CaCO3 and the crystal type is aragonite. Cuttlebones undergo a hydro-thermal reaction, and thus transform into hydroxyapatite-that is, the cuttlebone-transformed hydroxyapatite(CBHA). The CBHA materials have the interconnected microporous network structures. Under the high magnification, CBHAs appear to have many micro-spheres, thus construct a new self-assembled nano-material system. The marrow stromal osteoblasts can adhere to and proliferate well on the surface of the CBHAs. These results show that CBHAs have good biocompatibility. Therefore, it can be a potential candidate scaffold for bone tissue engineering.

Consensus physical activity guidelines for Asian Indians.

PubMed

Misra, Anoop; Nigam, Priyanka; Hills, Andrew P; Chadha, Davinder S; Sharma, Vineeta; Deepak, K K; Vikram, Naval K; Joshi, Shashank; Chauhan, Ashish; Khanna, Kumud; Sharma, Rekha; Mittal, Kanchan; Passi, Santosh Jain; Seth, Veenu; Puri, Seema; Devi, Ratna; Dubey, A P; Gupta, Sunita

2012-01-01

India is currently undergoing rapid economic, demographic, and lifestyle transformations. A key feature of the latter transformation has been inappropriate and inadequate diets and decreases in physical activity. Data from various parts of India have shown a steady increase in the prevalence of lifestyle-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the metabolic syndrome, hypertension, coronary heart disease (CHD), etc., frequently in association with overweight or obesity. Comparative data show that Asian Indians are more sedentary than white Caucasians. In this review, the Consensus Group considered the available physical activity guidelines from international and Indian studies and formulated India-specific guidelines. A total of 60 min of physical activity is recommended every day for healthy Asian Indians in view of the high predisposition to develop T2DM and CHD. This should include at least 30 min of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, 15 min of work-related activity, and 15 min of muscle-strengthening exercises. For children, moderate-intensity physical activity for 60 min daily should be in the form of sport and physical activity. This consensus statement also includes physical activity guidelines for pregnant women, the elderly, and those suffering from obesity, T2DM, CHD, etc. Proper application of guidelines is likely to have a significant impact on the prevalence and management of obesity, the metabolic syndrome, T2DM, and CHD in Asian Indians.

NON-TRADITIONAL 'GREENER' ALTERNATIVES TO SYNTHETIC ORGANIC TRANSFORMATIONS

EPA Science Inventory

Non-traditional 'Greener' Alternatives to Synthetic Organic Transformations

Rajender S. Varma
Synthetic organic transformations performed under non-traditional conditions are becoming popular primarily to circumvent the growing environmental concerns. A rapid and envir...

Predicting kinetics of polymorphic transformations from structure mapping and coordination analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stevanović, Vladan; Trottier, Ryan; Musgrave, Charles; Therrien, Félix; Holder, Aaron; Graf, Peter

2018-03-01

To extend materials design and discovery into the space of metastable polymorphs, rapid and reliable assessment of transformation kinetics to lower energy structures is essential. Herein we focus on diffusionless polymorphic transformations and investigate routes to assess their kinetics using solely crystallographic arguments. As part of this investigation we developed a general algorithm to map crystal structures onto each other, and ascertain the low-energy (fast-kinetics) transformation pathways between them. Pathways with minimal dissociation of chemical bonds, along which the number of bonds (in ionic systems the first-shell coordination) does not decrease below that in the end structures, are shown to always be the fast-kinetics pathways. These findings enable the rapid assessment of the kinetics of polymorphic transformation and the identification of long-lived metastable structures. The utility is demonstrated on a number of transformations including those between high-pressure SnO2 phases, which lack a detailed atomic-level understanding.

A Mixed-Methods Study of the Transformation Model for Rapid Improvement of Low Achieving Rural Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Atkinson Duina, Angela

2013-01-01

New regulations attached to ARRA funding of federal School Improvement Fund grants aimed at producing rapid turnaround of low performing schools were highly criticized as unsuitable for rural schools. This mixed-methods study looked at the implementation of the School Improvement Fund Transformation Model in two rural Maine high schools during the…

Effect of lattice-mismatch-induced strains on coupled diffusive and displacive phase transformations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bouville, Mathieu; Ahluwalia, Rajeev

2007-02-01

Materials which can undergo slow diffusive transformations as well as fast displacive transformations are studied using the phase-field method. The model captures the essential features of the time-temperature-transformation (TTT) diagrams, continuous cooling transformation (CCT) diagrams, and microstructure formation of these alloys. In some material systems there can exist an intrinsic volume change associated with these transformations. We show that these coherency strains can stabilize mixed microstructures (such as retained austenite-martensite and pearlite-martensite mixtures) by an interplay between diffusive and displacive mechanisms, which can alter TTT and CCT diagrams. Depending on the conditions there can be competitive or cooperative nucleation of the two kinds of phases. The model also shows that small differences in volume changes can have noticeable effects on the early stages of martensite formation and on the resulting microstructures.

NON-TRADITIONAL 'GREENER' ALTERNATIVES TO SYNTHETIC ORGANIC TRANSFORMATIONS USING MICROWAVES

EPA Science Inventory

Non-traditional 'Greener' Alternatives to synthetic Organic Transformations Using Microwaves

A rapid and environmentally friendlier approach for organic synthesis and transformations is described which involves microwave (MW) exposure of neat reactants (undiluted) often i...

Development of a carburizing and quenching simulation tool: A material model for low carbon steels undergoing phase transformations

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

Bammann, D.; Prantil, V.; Kumar, A.

1996-06-24

An internal state variable formulation for phase transforming alloy steels is presented. We have illustrated how local transformation plasticity can be accommodated by an appropriate choice for the corresponding internal stress field acting between the phases. The state variable framework compares well with a numerical micromechanical calculation providing a discrete dependence of microscopic plasticity on volume fraction and the stress dependence attributable to a softer parent phase. The multiphase model is used to simulate the stress state of a quenched bar and show qualitative trends in the response when the transformation phenomenon is incorporated on the length scale of amore » global boundary value problem.« less

Human mesothelial cells are unusually susceptible to simian virus 40-mediated transformation and asbestos cocarcinogenicity

PubMed Central

Bocchetta, Maurizio; Di Resta, Ilaria; Powers, Amy; Fresco, Raoul; Tosolini, Alessandra; Testa, Joseph R.; Pass, Harvey I.; Rizzo, Paola; Carbone, Michele

2000-01-01

Mesothelioma, a malignancy associated with asbestos, has been recently linked to simian virus 40 (SV40). We found that infection of human mesothelial cells by SV40 is very different from the semipermissive infection thought to be characteristic of human cells. Mesothelial cells are uniformly infected but not lysed by SV40, a mechanism related to p53, and undergo cell transformation at an extremely high rate. Exposure of mesothelial cells to asbestos complemented SV40 mutants in transformation. Our data provide a mechanistic explanation for the ability of SV40 to transform mesothelial cells preferentially and indicate that asbestos and SV40 may be cocarcinogens. PMID:10954737

Thin-Film Transformation of NH4 PbI3 to CH3 NH3 PbI3 Perovskite: A Methylamine-Induced Conversion-Healing Process.

PubMed

Zong, Yingxia; Zhou, Yuanyuan; Ju, Minggang; Garces, Hector F; Krause, Amanda R; Ji, Fuxiang; Cui, Guanglei; Zeng, Xiao Cheng; Padture, Nitin P; Pang, Shuping

2016-11-14

Methylamine-induced thin-film transformation at room-temperature is discovered, where a porous, rough, polycrystalline NH 4 PbI 3 non-perovskite thin film converts stepwise into a dense, ultrasmooth, textured CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 perovskite thin film. Owing to the beneficial phase/structural development of the thin film, its photovoltaic properties undergo dramatic enhancement during this NH 4 PbI 3 -to-CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 transformation process. The chemical origins of this transformation are studied at various length scales. © 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

SUPERNOVAE POWERED BY MAGNETARS THAT TRANSFORM INTO BLACK HOLES

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

Moriya, Takashi J.; Metzger, Brian D.; Blinnikov, Sergei I., E-mail: takashi.moriya@nao.ac.jp

2016-12-10

Rapidly rotating, strongly magnetized neutron stars (NSs; magnetars) can release their enormous rotational energy via magnetic spin-down, providing a power source for bright transients such as superluminous supernovae (SNe). On the other hand, particularly massive (so-called supramassive) NSs require a minimum rotation rate to support their mass against gravitational collapse, below which the NS collapses to a black hole (BH). We model the light curves (LCs) of SNe powered with magnetars that transform into BHs. Although the peak luminosities can reach high values in the range of superluminous SNe, their post maximum LCs can decline very rapidly because of the suddenmore » loss of the central energy input. Early BH transformation also enhances the shock breakout signal from the magnetar-driven bubble relative to the main SN peak. Our synthetic LCs of SNe powered by magnetars transforming to BHs are consistent with those of some rapidly evolving bright transients recently reported by Arcavi et al.« less

Leaf-Litter Breakdown

EPA Science Inventory

Terrestrial leaves are a major energy source for forested stream ecosystems around the world. Leaves entering streams as litterfall undergo a series of physical and chemical transformations mediated by internal chemistry and the interaction of microbes and invertebrates resulting...

77 FR 65191 - Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-10-25

... Community Transformation Grants: Evaluation of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity-related Television... effectiveness of media campaigns targeting nutrition, physical activity, and obesity (NPAO). A number of.... These efforts provide a [[Page 65192

MAXI/GSC detection of an undergoing soft-to-hard state transition of MAXI J1535-571

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Negoro, H.; Sugawara, Y.; Nakajima, M.; Sakamaki, A.; Maruyama, W.; Mihara, T.; Nakahira, S.; Yatabe, F.; Takao, Y.; Matsuoka, M.; Kawai, N.; Sugizaki, M.; Tachibana, Y.; Morita, K.; Sakamoto, T.; Serino, M.; Sugita, S.; Kawakubo, Y.; Hashimoto, T.; Yoshida, A.; Ueno, S.; Tomida, H.; Ishikawa, M.; Isobe, N.; Shimomukai, R.; Ueda, Y.; Tanimoto, A.; Morita, T.; Yamada, S.; Tsuboi, Y.; Iwakiri, W.; Sasaki, R.; Kawai, H.; Sato, T.; Tsunemi, H.; Yoneyama, T.; Yamauchi, M.; Hidaka, K.; Iwahori, S.; Kawamuro, T.; Yamaoka, K.; Shidatsu, M.

2018-06-01

We report an undergoing soft-to-hard state transition of the black hole candidate MAXI J1535-571 in outburst (ATel #10699). After the unexpectedly rapid decrease in the X-ray flux remaining in the soft state from 2018 April 16 (ATel #11568), the source underwent a hard state transition around April 30 (ATel #11611).

Ion-beam-induced magnetic and structural phase transformation of Ni-stabilized face-centered-cubic Fe films on Cu(100)

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

Gloss, Jonas; Institute of Physical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno University of Technology, Technická 2, 616 69 Brno; Shah Zaman, Sameena

2013-12-23

Metastable face-centered cubic (fcc) Fe/Cu(100) thin films are good candidates for ion-beam magnetic patterning due to their magnetic transformation upon ion-beam irradiation. However, pure fcc Fe films undergo spontaneous transformation when their thickness exceeds 10 ML. This limit can be extended to approximately 22 ML by deposition of Fe at increased CO background pressures. We show that much thicker films can be grown by alloying with Ni for stabilizing the fcc γ phase. The amount of Ni necessary to stabilize nonmagnetic, transformable fcc Fe films in dependence on the residual background pressure during the deposition is determined and a phasemore » diagram revealing the transformable region is presented.« less

Transformation in Graduates of Hakomi Therapy Training: A Mindful, Body-Centered Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Himanen, Caren

2015-01-01

Corrective experiences (CEs) in psychotherapy are important curative factors and clients who experience transformation post rapid gains and thrive as a result. Although transformations are important indicators of growth, less than half of clients experience them. This qualitative study explored the experience of transformation in graduates of a…

Ladderenes: The mechanochemistry and the photochemistry of an exciting class of substances

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frank, Irmgard

2018-06-01

Recently, Chen et al. presented a fascinating paper about the synthesis and mechanochemical transformation of ladderenes. These compounds are sufficiently stable to undergo controlled transformation to polyacetylene if exposed to mechanical load caused, for example, by ultrasound. The present paper adds a closer analysis of the behaviour of the electronic structure under these conditions as well as a study of the photochemical behaviour. The influence of potential side reactions is discussed.

Ultra-modified rapid sequence induction with transnasal humidified rapid insufflation ventilatory exchange: Challenging convention.

PubMed

Kulkarni, Ketan Sakharam; Dave, Nandini; Saran, Shriyam; Garasia, Madhu; Parelkar, Sandesh

2018-04-01

During positive pressure ventilation, gastric inflation and subsequent pulmonary aspiration can occur. Rapid sequence induction (RSI) technique is an age-old formula to prevent this. We adopted a novel approach of RSI for patients with high risk of aspiration and evaluated it further in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgeries. We believe that, in patients with risk of gastric insufflation and pulmonary aspiration, transnasal humidified rapid-insufflation ventilatory exchange can be useful in facilitating pre- and apnoeic oxygenation till tracheal isolation is achieved.

On peaceful coexistence: is the collapse postulate incompatible with relativity?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Myrvold, Wayne C.

In this paper, it is argued that the prima facie conflict between special relativity and the quantum-mechanical collapse postulate is only apparent, and that the seemingly incompatible accounts of entangled systems undergoing collapse yielded by different reference frames can be regarded as no more than differing accounts of the same processes and events. Attention to the transformation properties of quantum-mechanical states undergoing unitary, non-collapse evolution points the way to a treatment of collapse evolution consistent with the demands of relativity.

Fe(+) chemical ionization of peptides.

PubMed

Speir, J P; Gorman, G S; Amster, I J

1993-02-01

Laser-desorbed peptide neutral molecules were allowed to react with Fe(+) in a Fourier transform mass spectrometer, using the technique of laser desorption/chemical ionization. The Fe(+) ions are formed by laser ablation of a steel target, as well as by dissociative charge-exchange ionization of ferrocene with Ne(+). Prior to reaction with laser-desorbed peptide molecules, Fe(+) ions undergo 20-100 thermalizin collisions with xenon to reduce the population of excited-state metal ion species. The Fe(+) ions that have not experienced thermalizing collisions undergo charge exchange with peptide molecules. Iron ions that undergo thermalizing collisions before they are allowed to react with peptides are found to undergo charge exchange and to form adduct species [M + Fe(+)] and fragment ions that result from the loss of small, stable molecules, such as H2O, CO, and CO2, from the metal ion-peptide complex.

Exact self-similarity solution of the Navier-Stokes equations for a porous channel with orthogonally moving walls

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dauenhauer, Eric C.; Majdalani, Joseph

2003-06-01

This article describes a self-similarity solution of the Navier-Stokes equations for a laminar, incompressible, and time-dependent flow that develops within a channel possessing permeable, moving walls. The case considered here pertains to a channel that exhibits either injection or suction across two opposing porous walls while undergoing uniform expansion or contraction. Instances of direct application include the modeling of pulsating diaphragms, sweat cooling or heating, isotope separation, filtration, paper manufacturing, irrigation, and the grain regression during solid propellant combustion. To start, the stream function and the vorticity equation are used in concert to yield a partial differential equation that lends itself to a similarity transformation. Following this similarity transformation, the original problem is reduced to solving a fourth-order differential equation in one similarity variable η that combines both space and time dimensions. Since two of the four auxiliary conditions are of the boundary value type, a numerical solution becomes dependent upon two initial guesses. In order to achieve convergence, the governing equation is first transformed into a function of three variables: The two guesses and η. At the outset, a suitable numerical algorithm is applied by solving the resulting set of twelve first-order ordinary differential equations with two unspecified start-up conditions. In seeking the two unknown initial guesses, the rapidly converging inverse Jacobian method is applied in an iterative fashion. Numerical results are later used to ascertain a deeper understanding of the flow character. The numerical scheme enables us to extend the solution range to physical settings not considered in previous studies. Moreover, the numerical approach broadens the scope to cover both suction and injection cases occurring with simultaneous wall motion.

Rapid estimation of frequency response functions by close-range photogrammetry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tripp, J. S.

1985-01-01

The accuracy of a rapid method which estimates the frequency response function from stereoscopic dynamic data is computed. It is shown that reversal of the order of the operations of coordinate transformation and Fourier transformation, which provides a significant increase in computational speed, introduces error. A portion of the error, proportional to the perturbation components normal to the camera focal planes, cannot be eliminated. The remaining error may be eliminated by proper scaling of frequency data prior to coordinate transformation. Methods are developed for least squares estimation of the full 3x3 frequency response matrix for a three dimensional structure.

Global positioning systems for personal travel surveys : Lexington area travel data collection test

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1986-12-01

The urban transportation planning process is undergoing critical transformations. Of particular interest is the emergence of private sector involvement in the planning, management, financing, construction of transportation systems and provision of tr...

Redesigning forages with condensed tannins

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Maximizing protein content in forages and minimizing protein loss during silage fermentation and rumen digestion are concerns for livestock and dairy producers. Substantial amounts of forage protein undergo proteolysis (breakdown) during the ensiling process and during rumen fermentation, transforme...

Three-Dimensional Subsurface Flow, Fate and Transport of Microbes and Chemicals (3DFATMIC) Model

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This model simulates subsurface flow, fate and transport of contaminants that are undergoing chemical or biological transformations. The model is applicable to transient conditions in both saturated and unsaturated zones.

Two-Dimensional Subsurface Flow, Fate and Transport of Microbes and Chemicals (2DFATMIC) Model

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This model simulates subsurface flow, fate, and transport of contaminants that are undergoing chemical or biological transformations. This model is applicable to transient conditions in both saturated and unsaturated zones.

Rapid prototyping and stereolithography in dentistry

PubMed Central

Nayar, Sanjna; Bhuminathan, S.; Bhat, Wasim Manzoor

2015-01-01

The word rapid prototyping (RP) was first used in mechanical engineering field in the early 1980s to describe the act of producing a prototype, a unique product, the first product, or a reference model. In the past, prototypes were handmade by sculpting or casting, and their fabrication demanded a long time. Any and every prototype should undergo evaluation, correction of defects, and approval before the beginning of its mass or large scale production. Prototypes may also be used for specific or restricted purposes, in which case they are usually called a preseries model. With the development of information technology, three-dimensional models can be devised and built based on virtual prototypes. Computers can now be used to create accurately detailed projects that can be assessed from different perspectives in a process known as computer aided design (CAD). To materialize virtual objects using CAD, a computer aided manufacture (CAM) process has been developed. To transform a virtual file into a real object, CAM operates using a machine connected to a computer, similar to a printer or peripheral device. In 1987, Brix and Lambrecht used, for the first time, a prototype in health care. It was a three-dimensional model manufactured using a computer numerical control device, a type of machine that was the predecessor of RP. In 1991, human anatomy models produced with a technology called stereolithography were first used in a maxillofacial surgery clinic in Viena. PMID:26015715

Geometrically controlled snapping transitions in shells with curved creases.

PubMed

Bende, Nakul Prabhakar; Evans, Arthur A; Innes-Gold, Sarah; Marin, Luis A; Cohen, Itai; Hayward, Ryan C; Santangelo, Christian D

2015-09-08

Curvature and mechanics are intimately connected for thin materials, and this coupling between geometry and physical properties is readily seen in folded structures from intestinal villi and pollen grains to wrinkled membranes and programmable metamaterials. While the well-known rules and mechanisms behind folding a flat surface have been used to create deployable structures and shape transformable materials, folding of curved shells is still not fundamentally understood. Shells naturally deform by simultaneously bending and stretching, and while this coupling gives them great stability for engineering applications, it makes folding a surface of arbitrary curvature a nontrivial task. Here we discuss the geometry of folding a creased shell, and demonstrate theoretically the conditions under which it may fold smoothly. When these conditions are violated we show, using experiments and simulations, that shells undergo rapid snapping motion to fold from one stable configuration to another. Although material asymmetry is a proven mechanism for creating this bifurcation of stability, for the case of a creased shell, the inherent geometry itself serves as a barrier to folding. We discuss here how two fundamental geometric concepts, creases and curvature, combine to allow rapid transitions from one stable state to another. Independent of material system and length scale, the design rule that we introduce here explains how to generate snapping transitions in arbitrary surfaces, thus facilitating the creation of programmable multistable materials with fast actuation capabilities.

Rapid prototyping and stereolithography in dentistry.

PubMed

Nayar, Sanjna; Bhuminathan, S; Bhat, Wasim Manzoor

2015-04-01

The word rapid prototyping (RP) was first used in mechanical engineering field in the early 1980s to describe the act of producing a prototype, a unique product, the first product, or a reference model. In the past, prototypes were handmade by sculpting or casting, and their fabrication demanded a long time. Any and every prototype should undergo evaluation, correction of defects, and approval before the beginning of its mass or large scale production. Prototypes may also be used for specific or restricted purposes, in which case they are usually called a preseries model. With the development of information technology, three-dimensional models can be devised and built based on virtual prototypes. Computers can now be used to create accurately detailed projects that can be assessed from different perspectives in a process known as computer aided design (CAD). To materialize virtual objects using CAD, a computer aided manufacture (CAM) process has been developed. To transform a virtual file into a real object, CAM operates using a machine connected to a computer, similar to a printer or peripheral device. In 1987, Brix and Lambrecht used, for the first time, a prototype in health care. It was a three-dimensional model manufactured using a computer numerical control device, a type of machine that was the predecessor of RP. In 1991, human anatomy models produced with a technology called stereolithography were first used in a maxillofacial surgery clinic in Viena.

Accelerating Thermokarst Transforms Ice-Cored Terrain Triggering a Downstream Cascade to the Ocean

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rudy, A. C. A.; Lamoureux, S. F.; Kokelj, S. V.; Smith, I. R.; England, J. H.

2017-11-01

Recent climate warming has activated the melt-out of relict massive ice in permafrost-preserved moraines throughout the western Canadian Arctic. This ice that has persisted since the last glaciation, buried beneath as little as 1 m of overburden, is now undergoing accelerated permafrost degradation and thermokarst. Here we document recent and intensifying thermokarst activity on eastern Banks Island that has increased the fluvial transport of sediments and solutes to the ocean. Isotopic evidence demonstrates that a major contribution to discharge is melt of relict ground ice, resulting in a significant hydrological input from thermokarst augmenting summer runoff. Accelerated thermokarst is transforming the landscape and the summer hydrological regime and altering the timing of terrestrial to marine and lacustrine transfers over significant areas of the western Canadian Arctic. The intensity of the landscape changes demonstrates that regions of cold, continuous permafrost are undergoing irreversible alteration, unprecedented since deglaciation ( 13 cal kyr B.P.).

Temperature- and composition-dependent hydrogen diffusivity in palladium from statistically-averaged molecular dynamics

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

Zhou, Xiaowang; Heo, Tae Wook; Wood, Brandon C.

Solid-state hydrogen storage materials undergo complex phase transformations whose kinetics is often limited by hydrogen diffusion. Among metal hydrides, palladium hydride undergoes a diffusional phase transformation upon hydrogen uptake, during which the hydrogen diffusivity varies with hydrogen composition and temperature. Here we perform robust statistically-averaged molecular dynamics simulations to obtain a well-converged analytical expression for hydrogen diffusivity in bulk palladium that is valid throughout all stages of the reaction. Our studies confirm significant dependence of the diffusivity on composition and temperature that elucidate key trends in the available experimental measurements. Whereas at low hydrogen compositions, a single process dominates, atmore » high hydrogen compositions, diffusion is found to exhibit behavior consistent with multiple hopping barriers. Further analysis, supported by nudged elastic band computations, suggests that the multi-barrier diffusion can be interpreted as two distinct mechanisms corresponding to hydrogen-rich and hydrogen-poor local environments.« less

Temperature- and composition-dependent hydrogen diffusivity in palladium from statistically-averaged molecular dynamics

DOE PAGES

Zhou, Xiaowang; Heo, Tae Wook; Wood, Brandon C.; ...

2018-03-09

Solid-state hydrogen storage materials undergo complex phase transformations whose kinetics is often limited by hydrogen diffusion. Among metal hydrides, palladium hydride undergoes a diffusional phase transformation upon hydrogen uptake, during which the hydrogen diffusivity varies with hydrogen composition and temperature. Here we perform robust statistically-averaged molecular dynamics simulations to obtain a well-converged analytical expression for hydrogen diffusivity in bulk palladium that is valid throughout all stages of the reaction. Our studies confirm significant dependence of the diffusivity on composition and temperature that elucidate key trends in the available experimental measurements. Whereas at low hydrogen compositions, a single process dominates, atmore » high hydrogen compositions, diffusion is found to exhibit behavior consistent with multiple hopping barriers. Further analysis, supported by nudged elastic band computations, suggests that the multi-barrier diffusion can be interpreted as two distinct mechanisms corresponding to hydrogen-rich and hydrogen-poor local environments.« less

Developing a reversible rapid coordinate transformation model for the cylindrical projection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ye, Si-jing; Yan, Tai-lai; Yue, Yan-li; Lin, Wei-yan; Li, Lin; Yao, Xiao-chuang; Mu, Qin-yun; Li, Yong-qin; Zhu, De-hai

2016-04-01

Numerical models are widely used for coordinate transformations. However, in most numerical models, polynomials are generated to approximate "true" geographic coordinates or plane coordinates, and one polynomial is hard to make simultaneously appropriate for both forward and inverse transformations. As there is a transformation rule between geographic coordinates and plane coordinates, how accurate and efficient is the calculation of the coordinate transformation if we construct polynomials to approximate the transformation rule instead of "true" coordinates? In addition, is it preferable to compare models using such polynomials with traditional numerical models with even higher exponents? Focusing on cylindrical projection, this paper reports on a grid-based rapid numerical transformation model - a linear rule approximation model (LRA-model) that constructs linear polynomials to approximate the transformation rule and uses a graticule to alleviate error propagation. Our experiments on cylindrical projection transformation between the WGS 84 Geographic Coordinate System (EPSG 4326) and the WGS 84 UTM ZONE 50N Plane Coordinate System (EPSG 32650) with simulated data demonstrate that the LRA-model exhibits high efficiency, high accuracy, and high stability; is simple and easy to use for both forward and inverse transformations; and can be applied to the transformation of a large amount of data with a requirement of high calculation efficiency. Furthermore, the LRA-model exhibits advantages in terms of calculation efficiency, accuracy and stability for coordinate transformations, compared to the widely used hyperbolic transformation model.

Phase transformation pathways of ultrafast-laser-irradiated Ln2O3 (Ln =Er -Lu )

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rittman, Dylan R.; Tracy, Cameron L.; Chen, Chien-Hung; Solomon, Jonathan M.; Asta, Mark; Mao, Wendy L.; Yalisove, Steven M.; Ewing, Rodney C.

2018-01-01

Ultrafast laser irradiation causes intense electronic excitations in materials, leading to transient high temperatures and pressures. Here, we show that ultrafast laser irradiation drives an irreversible cubic-to-monoclinic phase transformation in Ln2O3 (Ln =Er -Lu ), and explore the mechanism by which the phase transformation occurs. A combination of grazing incidence x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy are used to determine the magnitude and depth-dependence of the phase transformation, respectively. Although all compositions undergo the same transformation, their transformation mechanisms differ. The transformation is pressure-driven for Ln =Tm -Lu , consistent with the material's phase behavior under equilibrium conditions. However, the transformation is thermally driven for Ln =Er , revealing that the nonequilibrium conditions of ultrafast laser irradiation can lead to novel transformation pathways. Ab initio molecular-dynamics simulations are used to examine the atomic-scale effects of electronic excitation, showing the production of oxygen Frenkel pairs and the migration of interstitial oxygen to tetrahedrally coordinated constitutional vacancy sites, the first step in a defect-driven phase transformation.

Phase transformation pathways of ultrafast-laser-irradiated Ln 2 O 3 ( Ln = Er – Lu )

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

Rittman, Dylan R.; Tracy, Cameron L.; Chen, Chien-Hung

Ultrafast laser irradiation causes intense electronic excitations in materials, leading to transient high temperatures and pressures. Here, we show that ultrafast laser irradiation drives an irreversible cubic-to-monoclinic phase transformation in Ln 2O 3 ( Ln = Er – Lu ) , and explore the mechanism by which the phase transformation occurs. A combination of grazing incidence x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy are used to determine the magnitude and depth-dependence of the phase transformation, respectively. Although all compositions undergo the same transformation, their transformation mechanisms differ. The transformation is pressure-driven for Ln = Tm – Lu , consistent with themore » material's phase behavior under equilibrium conditions. However, the transformation is thermally driven for Ln = Er , revealing that the nonequilibrium conditions of ultrafast laser irradiation can lead to novel transformation pathways. Ab initio molecular-dynamics simulations are used to examine the atomic-scale effects of electronic excitation, showing the production of oxygen Frenkel pairs and the migration of interstitial oxygen to tetrahedrally coordinated constitutional vacancy sites, the first step in a defect-driven phase transformation.« less

Phase transformation pathways of ultrafast-laser-irradiated Ln 2 O 3 ( Ln = Er – Lu )

DOE PAGES

Rittman, Dylan R.; Tracy, Cameron L.; Chen, Chien-Hung; ...

2018-01-10

Ultrafast laser irradiation causes intense electronic excitations in materials, leading to transient high temperatures and pressures. Here, we show that ultrafast laser irradiation drives an irreversible cubic-to-monoclinic phase transformation in Ln 2O 3 ( Ln = Er – Lu ) , and explore the mechanism by which the phase transformation occurs. A combination of grazing incidence x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy are used to determine the magnitude and depth-dependence of the phase transformation, respectively. Although all compositions undergo the same transformation, their transformation mechanisms differ. The transformation is pressure-driven for Ln = Tm – Lu , consistent with themore » material's phase behavior under equilibrium conditions. However, the transformation is thermally driven for Ln = Er , revealing that the nonequilibrium conditions of ultrafast laser irradiation can lead to novel transformation pathways. Ab initio molecular-dynamics simulations are used to examine the atomic-scale effects of electronic excitation, showing the production of oxygen Frenkel pairs and the migration of interstitial oxygen to tetrahedrally coordinated constitutional vacancy sites, the first step in a defect-driven phase transformation.« less

Nature and transformation of dissolved organic matter in treatment wetlands

USGS Publications Warehouse

Barber, L.B.; Leenheer, J.A.; Noyes, T.I.; Stiles, E.A.

2001-01-01

This investigation into the occurrence, character, and transformation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in treatment wetlands in the western United States shows that (i) the nature of DOM in the source water has a major influence on transformations that occur during treatment, (ii) the climate factors have a secondary effect on transformations, (iii) the wetlands receiving treated wastewater can produce a net increase in DOM, and (iv) the hierarchical analytical approach used in this study can measure the subtle DOM transformations that occur. As wastewater treatment plant effluent passes through treatment wetlands, the DOM undergoes transformation to become more aromatic and oxygenated. Autochthonous sources are contributed to the DOM, the nature of which is governed by the developmental stage of the wetland system as well as vegetation patterns. Concentrations of specific wastewaterderived organic contaminants such as linear alkylbenzene sulfonate, caffeine, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid were significantly attenuated by wetland treatment and were not contributed by internal loading.

Natural Transformation of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Agrobacterium tumefaciens in Soil

PubMed Central

Demanèche, Sandrine; Kay, Elisabeth; Gourbière, François; Simonet, Pascal

2001-01-01

Little information is available concerning the occurrence of natural transformation of bacteria in soil, the frequency of such events, and the actual role of this process on bacterial evolution. This is because few bacteria are known to possess the genes required to develop competence and because the tested bacteria are unable to reach this physiological state in situ. In this study we found that two soil bacteria, Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Pseudomonas fluorescens, can undergo transformation in soil microcosms without any specific physical or chemical treatment. Moreover, P. fluorescens produced transformants in both sterile and nonsterile soil microcosms but failed to do so in the various in vitro conditions we tested. A. tumefaciens could be transformed in vitro and in sterile soil samples. These results indicate that the number of transformable bacteria could be higher than previously thought and that these bacteria could find the conditions necessary for uptake of extracellular DNA in soil. PMID:11375171

Rapid Solidification and Phase Transformations in Additive Manufactured Materials

DOE PAGES

Asle Zaeem, Mohsen; Clarke, Amy Jean

2016-01-14

Within the past few years, additive manufacturing (AM) has emerged as a promising manufacturing technique to enable the production of complex engineering structures with high efficiency and accuracy. Among the important factors establishing AM as a sustainable manufacturing process is the ability to control the microstructures and properties of AM products. In most AM processes, such as laser sintering (LS), laser melting (LM), and laser metal deposition (LMD), rapid solidification and high-temperature phase transformations play primary roles in determining nano- and microstructures, and consequently the mechanical and other properties of AM products. This topic of JOM is dedicated to summarizingmore » the current research efforts in the area of rapid solidification and phase transformations in additively manufactured materials. Finally, a brief summary follows below of 10 journal articles in this topic.« less

A study to evaluate non-uniform phase maps in shape memory alloys using finite element method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Motte, Naren

The unique thermo-mechanical behavior of Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs), such as their ability to recover the original shape upon heating or being able to tolerate large deformations without undergoing plastic transformations, makes them a good choice for actuators. This work studies their application in the aerospace and defense industries where SMA components can serve as release mechanisms for gates of enclosures that have to be deployed remotely. This work provides a novel approach in evaluating the stress and heat induced change of phase in a SMA, in terms of the transformation strain tensor. In particular, the FEA tool ANSYS has been used to perform a 2-D analysis of a Cu-Al-Zn-Mn SMA specimen undergoing a nontraditional loading path in two steps with stress and heating loads. In the first load step, tensile displacement is applied, followed by the second load step in which the specimen is heated while the end displacements are held constant. A number of geometric configurations are examined under the two step loading path. Strain results are used to calculate transformation strain which provides a quantitative measure of phase at a material point; when transformation strain is zero, the material point is either twinned martensite, or austenite depending on the temperature. Transformation strain value of unity corresponds to detwinned martensite. A value between zero and one indicates mixed phase. In this study, through two step loading in conjunction with transformation strain calculations, a method for mapping transient non-uniform distribution of phases in an SMA is introduced. Ability to obtain drastically different phase distributions under same loading path by modifying the geometry is demonstrated. The failure behavior of SMAs can be designed such that the load level the crack initiates and the path it propagates can be customized.

Galvanizing Local Resources: A Strategy for Sustainable Development in Rural China

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cho, Eun Ji

2014-01-01

China has been undergoing a rapid development over the past decades, and rural areas are facing a number of challenges in the process of the change. The "New Channel" project, initiated to promote sustainable development and protect natural and cultural heritage in Tongdao county in China from a rapid urbanization and economic…

TRANSFORMATION OF CARBON TETRACHLORIDE IN THE PRESENCE OF SULFIDE, BIOTITE, AND VERMICULITE

EPA Science Inventory

Carbon tetrachloride is transformed in aqueous solutions containing dissolved hydrogen sulfide more rapidly in the presence of the minerals biotite and vermiculite than in homogeneous systems. Approximately 8045% of the CC4 was transformed to COP via the measured intermediate, CS...

Evaluation of a Recombinant Escherichia coli Strain that Uses the Sarin Simulant Isopropylmethylphosphonic Acid (IMPA) as a Sole Carbon and Phosphate Source

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-04-01

phosphate use by these recombinant strains was evaluated because carbon use by these strains is still undergoing optimization by LBNL. The E . coli ...plasmids, had successful growth when transformed into a different E . coli background, which correlated with IMPA degradation. Ultimately, the...transformed E . coli strains, optimized at ECBC, were able to grow using IMPA as the phosphate source. 15. SUBJECT TERMS Acetylcholinesterase (AChE

The Measurement of Residual Stresses by X-Ray Diffraction Techniques

DTIC Science & Technology

1978-09-26

Sutton, (1967)for an Al alloy , and in Volorinta, (1965)for a low carbon steel. In materials that undergo phase changes even more complex stre~s states may...extensive study of surface integrity in machining steels and Ti alloys , including the effects of induced phase transformations . It is interesting to rote...that phase transformations did 7 not occur in milling operations, and hence similar stress patterns were found in both alloys . Grinding has been examined

Functional transformations of odor inputs in the mouse olfactory bulb.

PubMed

Adam, Yoav; Livneh, Yoav; Miyamichi, Kazunari; Groysman, Maya; Luo, Liqun; Mizrahi, Adi

2014-01-01

Sensory inputs from the nasal epithelium to the olfactory bulb (OB) are organized as a discrete map in the glomerular layer (GL). This map is then modulated by distinct types of local neurons and transmitted to higher brain areas via mitral and tufted cells. Little is known about the functional organization of the circuits downstream of glomeruli. We used in vivo two-photon calcium imaging for large scale functional mapping of distinct neuronal populations in the mouse OB, at single cell resolution. Specifically, we imaged odor responses of mitral cells (MCs), tufted cells (TCs) and glomerular interneurons (GL-INs). Mitral cells population activity was heterogeneous and only mildly correlated with the olfactory receptor neuron (ORN) inputs, supporting the view that discrete input maps undergo significant transformations at the output level of the OB. In contrast, population activity profiles of TCs were dense, and highly correlated with the odor inputs in both space and time. Glomerular interneurons were also highly correlated with the ORN inputs, but showed higher activation thresholds suggesting that these neurons are driven by strongly activated glomeruli. Temporally, upon persistent odor exposure, TCs quickly adapted. In contrast, both MCs and GL-INs showed diverse temporal response patterns, suggesting that GL-INs could contribute to the transformations MCs undergo at slow time scales. Our data suggest that sensory odor maps are transformed by TCs and MCs in different ways forming two distinct and parallel information streams.

String duality transformations in f(R) gravity from Noether symmetry approach

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

Capozziello, Salvatore; Gionti, Gabriele S.J.; Vernieri, Daniele, E-mail: capozziello@na.inf.it, E-mail: ggionti@as.arizona.edu, E-mail: vernieri@iap.fr

2016-01-01

We select f(R) gravity models that undergo scale factor duality transformations. As a starting point, we consider the tree-level effective gravitational action of bosonic String Theory coupled with the dilaton field. This theory inherits the Busher's duality of its parent String Theory. Using conformal transformations of the metric tensor, it is possible to map the tree-level dilaton-graviton string effective action into f(R) gravity, relating the dilaton field to the Ricci scalar curvature. Furthermore, the duality can be framed under the standard of Noether symmetries and exact cosmological solutions are derived. Using suitable changes of variables, the string-based f(R) Lagrangians aremore » shown in cases where the duality transformation becomes a parity inversion.« less

Automatic Fourier transform and self-Fourier beams due to parabolic potential

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

Zhang, Yiqi, E-mail: zhangyiqi@mail.xjtu.edu.cn; Liu, Xing; Belić, Milivoj R., E-mail: milivoj.belic@qatar.tamu.edu

We investigate the propagation of light beams including Hermite–Gauss, Bessel–Gauss and finite energy Airy beams in a linear medium with parabolic potential. Expectedly, the beams undergo oscillation during propagation, but quite unexpectedly they also perform automatic Fourier transform, that is, periodic change from the beam to its Fourier transform and back. In addition to oscillation, the finite-energy Airy beams exhibit periodic inversion during propagation. The oscillating period of parity-asymmetric beams is twice that of the parity-symmetric beams. Based on the propagation in parabolic potential, we introduce a class of optically-interesting beams that are self-Fourier beams—that is, the beams whose Fouriermore » transforms are the beams themselves.« less

Invariants of polarization transformations.

PubMed

Sadjadi, Firooz A

2007-05-20

The use of polarization-sensitive sensors is being explored in a variety of applications. Polarization diversity has been shown to improve the performance of the automatic target detection and recognition in a significant way. However, it also brings out the problems associated with processing and storing more data and the problem of polarization distortion during transmission. We present a technique for extracting attributes that are invariant under polarization transformations. The polarimetric signatures are represented in terms of the components of the Stokes vectors. Invariant algebra is then used to extract a set of signature-related attributes that are invariant under linear transformation of the Stokes vectors. Experimental results using polarimetric infrared signatures of a number of manmade and natural objects undergoing systematic linear transformations support the invariancy of these attributes.

Dilatancy of Shear Transformations in a Colloidal Glass

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Y. Z.; Jiang, M. Q.; Lu, X.; Qin, Z. X.; Huang, Y. J.; Shen, J.

2018-01-01

Shear transformations, as fundamental rearrangement events operating in local regions, hold the key of plastic flow of amorphous solids. Despite their importance, the dynamic features of shear transformations are far from clear, which is the focus of the present study. Here, we use a colloidal glass under shear as the prototype to directly observe the shear-transformation events in real space. By tracing the colloidal-particle rearrangements, we quantitatively determine two basic properties of shear transformations: local shear strain and dilatation (or free volume). It is revealed that the local free volume undergoes a significantly temporary increase prior to shear transformations, eventually leading to a jump of local shear strain. We clearly demonstrate that shear transformations have no memory of the initial free volume of local regions. Instead, their emergence strongly depends on the dilatancy ability of these local regions, i.e., the dynamic creation of free volume. More specifically, the particles processing the high dilatancy ability directly participate in subsequent shear transformations. These results experimentally enrich Argon's statement about the dilatancy nature of shear transformations and also shed insight into the structural origin of amorphous plasticity.

Progress of gas-insulated transformers

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

Togawa, Y.; Ikeda, M.; Toda, K.

The world`s first transformer was manufactured at Ganz in Hungary in 1885. Two years later in 1887 patents applications were made for about oil immersed transformers in the US. Since then, oil immersed types have predominated for medium- and large-capacity transformers, which are now giving way to gas insulated transformers in some areas. Behind such trends are plans to construct substations inside buildings or underground, because of the difficulty in acquiring land for substations in large cities where power demand is concentrated. Requirements are protection against accidents, compactness and overall economy. Total gas insulated substations combining GIS units and gasmore » insulated transformers these needs. Demand for gas insulated transformers has been increasing rapidly, particularly in Japan and Hong Kong. First, relatively small-capacity models below 20--30 MVA were put into practical use and today 275 kV, 300 MVa models are in use and 500kV, 1,500 MVA models are coming into use. Engineering is progressing very rapidly in these areas. This paper describes the design techniques and important maintenance techniques for the latest gas insulated transformers from 5,000 kVA to 300 MVA.« less

Physical transformation of niclosamide solvates in pharmaceutical suspensions determined by DSC and TG analysis.

PubMed

de Villiers, M M; Mahlatji, M D; Malan, S F; van Tonder, E C; Liebenberg, W

2004-07-01

This study reports the preparation of four niclosamide solvates and the determination of the stability of the crystal forms in different suspension vehicles by DSC and TG analysis. Thermal analysis showed that the niclosamide solvates were extremely unstable in a PVP-vehicle and rapidly changed to monohydrated crystals. A suspension in propylene glycol was more stable and TG analysis showed that crystal transformation was less rapid. In this vehicle, the crystals transformed to the anhydrate, rather than the monohydrate, since the vehicle was non-aqueous. The TEG-hemisolvate was the most stable in suspension and offered the best possibility of commercial exploitation.

Convergent radial dispersion: A note on evaluation of the Laplace transform solution

USGS Publications Warehouse

Moench, Allen F.

1991-01-01

A numerical inversion algorithm for Laplace transforms that is capable of handling rapid changes in the computed function is applied to the Laplace transform solution to the problem of convergent radial dispersion in a homogeneous aquifer. Prior attempts by the author to invert this solution were unsuccessful for highly advective systems where the Peclet number was relatively large. The algorithm used in this note allows for rapid and accurate inversion of the solution for all Peclet numbers of practical interest, and beyond. Dimensionless breakthrough curves are illustrated for tracer input in the form of a step function, a Dirac impulse, or a rectangular input.

Mechanisms of cell transformation in the embryonic heart.

PubMed

Huang, J X; Potts, J D; Vincent, E B; Weeks, D L; Runyan, R B

1995-03-27

The process of cell transformation in the heart is a complex one. By use of the invasion bioassay, we have been able to identify several critical components of the cell transformation process in the heart. TGF beta 3 can be visualized as a switch in the environment that contributes to the initial process of cell transformation. Our data show that it is a critical switch in the transformation process. Even so, it is apparently only one of the factors involved. Others may include other TGF beta family members, the ES antigens described by Markwald and co-workers and additional unknown substances. Observing the sensitivity of the process to pertussis toxin, there is likely to be a G-protein-linked receptor involved, yet we have not identified a known ligand for this type of receptor. Clearly, there are several different signal transduction processes involved. The existence of multiple pathways is consistent with the idea that the target endothelial cells receive a variety of environmental imputs, the sum of which will produce cell transformation at the correct time and place. Adjacent endothelial cells of the ventricle that do not undergo cell transformation are apparently refractory to one or more of the stimuli. Figure 4 depicts a summary diagram of this invasion process with localization of most of the molecules mentioned in this narrative. As hypothesized here, elements of the transformation process may recapitulate aspects of gastrulation. Since some conservation of mechanism is expected in cells, it is not surprising that cells undergoing phenotypic change might reutilize mechanisms used previously to produce mesenchyme from the blastodisk. Though we have preliminary data to suggest this point, confirmation of the hypothesis by perturbation of genes such as brachyury, msx-1, etc. will be required to establish this point. The advantage of this hypothesis is that it provides, from the work of others in the area of gastrulation, a ready source of molecules and mechanisms that can be tested in the transforming heart. Whereas, perturbation of such mechanisms at gastrulation may be lethal to the embryo, such molecules and mechanisms may be responsible for the high incidence of birth defects in the heart.

Fate of Zinc and Silver Engineered Nanoparticles in Sewerage Networks

EPA Science Inventory

Engineered zinc oxide (ZnO) and silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) used in consumer products are largely released into the environment through the wastewater stream. Limited information is available regarding the transformations they undergo during their transit through sewerage sy...

Driving Decisions and Vehicle Crashes Among Older Drivers

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1995-07-01

American society is undergoing a major demographic transformation. A larger proportion of the population is becoming older and an increasing number of older individuals are licensed to drive and they drive more than their age cohorts a decade ago. Th...

Magnetism-Structure Correlations during the epsilon ->tau Transformation in Rapidly-Solidified MnAl Nanostructured Alloys

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

Jimenez-Villacorta, F; Marion, JL; Oldham, JT

2014-01-21

Magnetic and structural aspects of the annealing-induced transformation of rapidly-solidified Mn55Al45 ribbons from the as-quenched metastable antiferromagnetic (AF) epsilon-phase to the target ferromagnetic (FM) L1(0) tau-phase are investigated. The as-solidified material exhibits a majority hexagonal epsilon-MnAl phase revealing a large exchange bias shift below a magnetic blocking temperature T-B similar to 95 K (H-ex similar to 13 kOe at 10 K), ascribed to the presence of compositional fluctuations in this antiferromagnetic phase. Heat treatment at a relatively low annealing temperature T-anneal approximate to 568 K (295 degrees C) promotes the nucleation of the metastable L1(0) tau-MnAl phase at the expensemore » of the parent epsilon-phase, donating an increasingly hard ferromagnetic character. The onset of the epsilon ->tau transformation occurs at a temperature that is similar to 100 K lower than that reported in the literature, highlighting the benefits of applying rapid solidification for synthesis of the rapidly-solidified parent alloy.« less

Differential gene expression in Daphnia magna suggests distinct modes of action and bioavailability for ZnO nanoparticles and Zn ions

EPA Science Inventory

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are being rapidly developed for use in consumer products, wastewater treatment and chemotherapy, providing several possible routes for ZnO NP exposure to humans and aquatic organisms. Recent studies have shown that ZnO NPs undergo rapid dissolut...

Shaping liquid drops by vibration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pototsky, Andrey; Bestehorn, Michael

2018-02-01

We present and analyze a minimal hydrodynamic model of a vertically vibrated liquid drop that undergoes dynamic shape transformations. In agreement with experiments, a circular lens-shaped drop is unstable above a critical vibration amplitude, spontaneously elongating in the horizontal direction. Smaller drops elongate into localized states that oscillate with half of the vibration frequency. Larger drops evolve by transforming into a snake-like structure with gradually increasing length. The worm state is long-lasting with a potential to fragment into smaller drops.

Electrosprayed chitosan nanoparticles: facile and efficient approach for bacterial transformation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abyadeh, Morteza; Sadroddiny, Esmaeil; Ebrahimi, Ammar; Esmaeili, Fariba; Landi, Farzaneh Saeedi; Amani, Amir

2017-12-01

A rapid and efficient procedure for DNA transformation is a key prerequisite for successful cloning and genomic studies. While there are efforts to develop a facile method, so far obtained efficiencies for alternative methods have been unsatisfactory (i.e. 105-106 CFU/μg plasmid) compared with conventional method (up to 108 CFU/μg plasmid). In this work, for the first time, we prepared chitosan/pDNA nanoparticles by electrospraying methods to improve transformation process. Electrospray method was used for chitosan/pDNA nanoparticles production to investigate the non-competent bacterial transformation efficiency; besides, the effect of chitosan molecular weight, N/P ratio and nanoparticle size on non-competent bacterial transformation efficiency was evaluated too. The results showed that transformation efficiency increased with decreasing the molecular weight, N/P ratio and nanoparticles size. In addition, transformation efficiency of 1.7 × 108 CFU/μg plasmid was obtained with chitosan molecular weight, N/P ratio and nanoparticles size values of 30 kDa, 1 and 125 nm. Chitosan/pDNA electrosprayed nanoparticles were produced and the effect of molecular weight, N/P and size of nanoparticles on transformation efficiency was evaluated. In total, we present a facile and rapid method for bacterial transformation, which has comparable efficiency with the common method.

Bioluminescence-based system for rapid detection of natural transformation.

PubMed

Santala, Ville; Karp, Matti; Santala, Suvi

2016-07-01

Horizontal gene transfer plays a significant role in bacterial evolution and has major clinical importance. Thus, it is vital to understand the mechanisms and kinetics of genetic transformations. Natural transformation is the driving mechanism for horizontal gene transfer in diverse genera of bacteria. Our study introduces a simple and rapid method for the investigation of natural transformation. This highly sensitive system allows the detection of a transformation event directly from a bacterial population without any separation step or selection of cells. The system is based on the bacterial luciferase operon from Photorhabdus luminescens The studied molecular tools consist of the functional modules luxCDE and luxAB, which involve a replicative plasmid and an integrative gene cassette. A well-established host for bacterial genetic investigations, Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1, is used as the model bacterium. We show that natural transformation followed by homologous recombination or plasmid recircularization can be readily detected in both actively growing and static biofilm-like cultures, including very rare transformation events. The system allows the detection of natural transformation within 1 h of introducing sample DNA into the culture. The introduced method provides a convenient means to study the kinetics of natural transformation under variable conditions and perturbations. © FEMS 2016. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Arctic BioMap: Building Participatory Technologies for Community-Specific Environmental Monitoring and Decision Making in the North

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murray, M. S.; Panikkar, B.; Liang, S.; Kutz, S.

2016-12-01

The Arctic continues to undergo unprecedented and accelerated system-wide environmental change. For people who live in the north this presents challenges to resource management, subsistence, health and well-being, and yet, there is very little community-specific data on wildlife (including wildlife health), local environmental conditions and emerging hazards in Northern Canada. A novel approach that integrates community expertise with developing technologies can simplify data collection and improve understanding of current and future conditions. It can also improve our ability to manage and adapt to the rapidly transforming Arctic. Arctic BioMap is a data platform for real-time monitoring and a geospatial informational database of wildlife and environmental information useful for assessment, research, management, and education. It enables monitoring of wildlife and environmental variables including hazards to inform decision-making at multiples scales. Using participatory technologies Arctic BioMap incorporates indigenous research needs and the ensuing data can be used to inform policy making. Arctic BioMap provides a forum for continuous exchange and communication among community members, scientists, resources managers, and other stakeholders.

Chlorogenic acid stability in pressurized liquid extraction conditions.

PubMed

Wianowska, Dorota; Typek, Rafał; Dawidowicz, Andrzej L

2015-01-01

Chlorogenic acids (CQAs) are phenolic compounds naturally occurring in all higher plants. They are potentially useful in pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, food additives, and cosmetics due to their recently suggested biomedical activity. Hence, research interest in CQA properties, their isomers, and natural occurrence has been growing. Pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) is regarded as an effective and quick sample preparation method in plant analysis. The short time of PLE decreases the risk of chemical degradation of extracted compounds, thus increasing the attractiveness of its application. However, PLE applied for plant sample preparation is not free from limitations. We found that trans-5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (trans-5-CQA), the main CQA isomer, isomerizes to 3- and 4-O-caffeoylquinic acids and undergoes transesterification, hydrolysis, and reaction with water even in rapid PLE. Moreover, the number and concentration of trans-5-CQA derivatives formed in PLE strongly depends on extractant composition, its pH, and extraction time and temperature. It was not possible to find the PLE conditions in which the transformation process of trans-5-CQA would be eliminated.

Collaborative Biomedicine in the Age of Big Data: The Case of Cancer

PubMed Central

Butte, Atul J; Schully, Sheri D; Dalton, William S; Khoury, Muin J; Hesse, Bradford W

2014-01-01

Biomedicine is undergoing a revolution driven by high throughput and connective computing that is transforming medical research and practice. Using oncology as an example, the speed and capacity of genomic sequencing technologies is advancing the utility of individual genetic profiles for anticipating risk and targeting therapeutics. The goal is to enable an era of “P4” medicine that will become increasingly more predictive, personalized, preemptive, and participative over time. This vision hinges on leveraging potentially innovative and disruptive technologies in medicine to accelerate discovery and to reorient clinical practice for patient-centered care. Based on a panel discussion at the Medicine 2.0 conference in Boston with representatives from the National Cancer Institute, Moffitt Cancer Center, and Stanford University School of Medicine, this paper explores how emerging sociotechnical frameworks, informatics platforms, and health-related policy can be used to encourage data liquidity and innovation. This builds on the Institute of Medicine’s vision for a “rapid learning health care system” to enable an open source, population-based approach to cancer prevention and control. PMID:24711045

Collaborative biomedicine in the age of big data: the case of cancer.

PubMed

Shaikh, Abdul R; Butte, Atul J; Schully, Sheri D; Dalton, William S; Khoury, Muin J; Hesse, Bradford W

2014-04-07

Biomedicine is undergoing a revolution driven by high throughput and connective computing that is transforming medical research and practice. Using oncology as an example, the speed and capacity of genomic sequencing technologies is advancing the utility of individual genetic profiles for anticipating risk and targeting therapeutics. The goal is to enable an era of "P4" medicine that will become increasingly more predictive, personalized, preemptive, and participative over time. This vision hinges on leveraging potentially innovative and disruptive technologies in medicine to accelerate discovery and to reorient clinical practice for patient-centered care. Based on a panel discussion at the Medicine 2.0 conference in Boston with representatives from the National Cancer Institute, Moffitt Cancer Center, and Stanford University School of Medicine, this paper explores how emerging sociotechnical frameworks, informatics platforms, and health-related policy can be used to encourage data liquidity and innovation. This builds on the Institute of Medicine's vision for a "rapid learning health care system" to enable an open source, population-based approach to cancer prevention and control.

Artificial Intelligence for Pathologists Is Not Near--It Is Here: Description of a Prototype That Can Transform How We Practice Pathology Tomorrow.

PubMed

Ye, Jay J

2015-07-01

Pathologists' daily tasks consist of both the professional interpretation of slides and the secretarial tasks of translating these interpretations into final pathology reports, the latter of which is a time-consuming endeavor for most pathologists. To describe an artificial intelligence that performs secretarial tasks, designated as Secretary-Mimicking Artificial Intelligence (SMILE). The underling implementation of SMILE is a collection of computer programs that work in concert to "listen to" the voice commands and to "watch for" the changes of windows caused by slide bar code scanning; SMILE responds to these inputs by acting upon PowerPath Client windows (Sunquest Information Systems, Tucson, Arizona) and its Microsoft Word (Microsoft, Redmond, Washington) Add-In window, eventuating in the reports being typed and finalized. Secretary-Mimicking Artificial Intelligence also communicates relevant information to the pathologist via the computer speakers and message box on the screen. Secretary-Mimicking Artificial Intelligence performs many secretarial tasks intelligently and semiautonomously, with rapidity and consistency, thus enabling pathologists to focus on slide interpretation, which results in a marked increase in productivity, decrease in errors, and reduction of stress in daily practice. Secretary-Mimicking Artificial Intelligence undergoes encounter-based learning continually, resulting in a continuous improvement in its knowledge-based intelligence. Artificial intelligence for pathologists is both feasible and powerful. The future widespread use of artificial intelligence in our profession is certainly going to transform how we practice pathology.

About sleep's role in memory.

PubMed

Rasch, Björn; Born, Jan

2013-04-01

Over more than a century of research has established the fact that sleep benefits the retention of memory. In this review we aim to comprehensively cover the field of "sleep and memory" research by providing a historical perspective on concepts and a discussion of more recent key findings. Whereas initial theories posed a passive role for sleep enhancing memories by protecting them from interfering stimuli, current theories highlight an active role for sleep in which memories undergo a process of system consolidation during sleep. Whereas older research concentrated on the role of rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep, recent work has revealed the importance of slow-wave sleep (SWS) for memory consolidation and also enlightened some of the underlying electrophysiological, neurochemical, and genetic mechanisms, as well as developmental aspects in these processes. Specifically, newer findings characterize sleep as a brain state optimizing memory consolidation, in opposition to the waking brain being optimized for encoding of memories. Consolidation originates from reactivation of recently encoded neuronal memory representations, which occur during SWS and transform respective representations for integration into long-term memory. Ensuing REM sleep may stabilize transformed memories. While elaborated with respect to hippocampus-dependent memories, the concept of an active redistribution of memory representations from networks serving as temporary store into long-term stores might hold also for non-hippocampus-dependent memory, and even for nonneuronal, i.e., immunological memories, giving rise to the idea that the offline consolidation of memory during sleep represents a principle of long-term memory formation established in quite different physiological systems.

Open Innovation and Technology Maturity Analysis

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-09-11

Management Process Develop a framework which incorporates DoD Acquisition Management framework (e.g: TRLs), DoD Business Transformation strategies...Public Organizations (DoD): DoD Force Transformation : • Support the Joint Warfighting Capability of the DoD • Enable Rapid Access to Information for...Survey - 2007  Defense Transformation : Clear Leadership, Accountability, and Management Tools Are Needed to Enhance DOD’s Efforts to Transform Military

Irradiation-induced β to α SiC transformation at low temperature

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

Parish, Chad M.; Koyanagi, Takaaki; Kondo, Sosuke

Here, we observed that β-SiC, neutron irradiated to 9 dpa (displacements per atom) at ≈1440 °C, began transforming to α-SiC, with radiation-induced Frank dislocation loops serving as the apparent nucleation sites. 1440 °C is a far lower temperature than usual β → α phase transformations in SiC. SiC is considered for applications in advanced nuclear systems, as well as for electronic or spintronic applications requiring ion irradiation processing. β-SiC, preferred for nuclear applications, is metastable and undergoes a phase transformation at high temperatures (typically 2000 °C and above). Nuclear reactor concepts are not expected to reach the very high temperaturesmore » for thermal transformation. However, our results indicate incipient β → α phase transformation, in the form of small (~5–10 nm) pockets of α-SiC forming in the β matrix. In service transformation could degrade structural stability and fuel integrity for SiC-based materials operated in this regime. However, engineering this transformation deliberately using ion irradiation could enable new electronic applications.« less

Irradiation-induced β to α SiC transformation at low temperature

DOE PAGES

Parish, Chad M.; Koyanagi, Takaaki; Kondo, Sosuke; ...

2017-04-26

Here, we observed that β-SiC, neutron irradiated to 9 dpa (displacements per atom) at ≈1440 °C, began transforming to α-SiC, with radiation-induced Frank dislocation loops serving as the apparent nucleation sites. 1440 °C is a far lower temperature than usual β → α phase transformations in SiC. SiC is considered for applications in advanced nuclear systems, as well as for electronic or spintronic applications requiring ion irradiation processing. β-SiC, preferred for nuclear applications, is metastable and undergoes a phase transformation at high temperatures (typically 2000 °C and above). Nuclear reactor concepts are not expected to reach the very high temperaturesmore » for thermal transformation. However, our results indicate incipient β → α phase transformation, in the form of small (~5–10 nm) pockets of α-SiC forming in the β matrix. In service transformation could degrade structural stability and fuel integrity for SiC-based materials operated in this regime. However, engineering this transformation deliberately using ion irradiation could enable new electronic applications.« less

Dilatometric investigation of α(orthorhombic)→β(tetragonal) transformation in U-15 wt.% Cr alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rameshkumar, Santhosh; Raju, Subramanian; Saibaba, Saroja

2018-04-01

The α→β transformation characteristics in U-15wt.% Cr alloy have been investigated by dilatometry at slow heating rates (3-10 K min-1). The starting microstructure of U-15Cr alloy consists of a mixture of metastable βm-U(body centred tetroganal), α-U(orthorhombic) and elemental Cr(bcc) phases. Upon heating, the metastable βmU phase has progressively transformed to equilibrium α-U structure; before, finally undergoing equilibrium α→β transformation with further increase in temperature. The measured α→β transformation temperature, when extrapolated to 0 K min-1 heating rate has been found to be higher than the currently accepted equilibrium phase diagram estimate. This is due to the kinetic difficulty associated with Cr-diffusion in U-15Cr alloy. The kinetics of α→β transformation upon continuous heating has been modeled in terms of a suitable framework for diffusional transformations, and the effective activation energy for overall transformation has been estimated to be in the range 160-180 kJ mol-1.

Solvent-induced controllable synthesis, single-crystal to single-crystal transformation and encapsulation of Alq3 for modulated luminescence in (4,8)-connected metal-organic frameworks.

PubMed

Lan, Ya-Qian; Jiang, Hai-Long; Li, Shun-Li; Xu, Qiang

2012-07-16

In this work, for the first time, we have systematically demonstrated that solvent plays crucial roles in both controllable synthesis of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and their structural transformation process. With solvent as the only variable, five new MOFs with different structures have been constructed, in which one MOF undergoes solvent-induced single-crystal to single-crystal (SCSC) transformation that involves not only solvent exchange but also the cleavage and formation of coordination bonds. Particularly, a significant crystallographic change has been realized through an unprecedented three-step SCSC transformation process. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that the obtained MOF could be an excellent host for chromophores such as Alq3 for modulated luminescent properties.

Transforming Big Data into cancer-relevant insight: An initial, multi-tier approach to assess reproducibility and relevance* | Office of Cancer Genomics

Cancer.gov

The Cancer Target Discovery and Development (CTD^2) Network was established to accelerate the transformation of "Big Data" into novel pharmacological targets, lead compounds, and biomarkers for rapid translation into improved patient outcomes. It rapidly became clear in this collaborative network that a key central issue was to define what constitutes sufficient computational or experimental evidence to support a biologically or clinically relevant finding.

16. Governor Accumulator Tanks for Units 3 and 4 and ...

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

16. Governor Accumulator Tanks for Units 3 and 4 and Grounding Transformer for Unit 4, view to the east. The back of the governor housing is visible in center of photograph, between the accumulator tanks. The grounding transformer for Unit 4 is located on left side of photograph, behind wire mesh safety cage. - Washington Water Power Clark Fork River Noxon Rapids Hydroelectric Development, Powerhouse, South bank of Clark Fork River at Noxon Rapids, Noxon, Sanders County, MT

High Throughput Screening of Toxicity Pathways Perturbed by Environmental Chemicals

EPA Science Inventory

Toxicology, a field largely unchanged over the past several decades, is undergoing a significant transformation driven by a number of forces – the increasing number of chemicals needing assessment, changing legal requirements, advances in biology and computer science, and concern...

The Uses of Crisis: Taking the Tide at the Flood.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kerchner, Charles T.; Schuster, Jack H.

1982-01-01

Crises can, under certain conditions, be transformed into instruments of organizational good. Undergoing crisis in an organization--calling attention to problems and labeling them as crises--may be a preferable management strategy to coping with prolonged periods of shrinking resources. (MLW)

CF3DODA-Me induces apoptosis, degrades Sp1, and blocks the transformation phase of the blebbishield emergency program.

PubMed

Taoka, Rikiya; Jinesh, Goodwin G; Xue, Wenrui; Safe, Stephen; Kamat, Ashish M

2017-05-01

Cancer stem cells are capable of undergoing cellular transformation after commencement of apoptosis through the blebbishield emergency program in a VEGF-VEGFR2-dependent manner. Development of therapeutics targeting the blebbishield emergency program would thus be important in cancer therapy. Specificity protein 1 (Sp1) orchestrates the transcription of both VEGF and VEGFR2; hence, Sp1 could act as a therapeutic target. Here, we demonstrate that CF 3 DODA-Me induced apoptosis, degraded Sp1, inhibited the expression of multiple drivers of the blebbishield emergency program such as VEGFR2, p70S6K, and N-Myc through activation of caspase-3, inhibited reactive oxygen species; and inhibited K-Ras activation to abolish transformation from blebbishields as well as transformation in soft agar. These findings confirm CF 3 DODA-Me as a potential therapeutic candidate that can induce apoptosis and block transformation from blebbishields.

Intercultural Philosophy and the Nondual Wisdom of "Basic Goodness": Implications for Contemplative and Transformative Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eppert, Claudia; Vokey, Daniel; Nguyen, Tram Truong Anh; Bai, Heesoon

2015-01-01

Radical personal and systemic social transformation is urgently needed to address world-wide violence and inequality, pervasive moral confusion and corruption, and the rapid, unprecedented global destruction of our environment. Recent years have seen an embrace of intersubjectivity within discourse on educational transformation within academia and…

Amorphous salts formed from rapid dehydration of multicomponent chloride and ferric sulfate brines: Implications for Mars.

PubMed

Sklute, Elizabeth C; Rogers, A Deanne; Gregerson, Jason C; Jensen, Heidi B; Reeder, Richard J; Dyar, M Darby

2018-03-01

Salts with high hydration states have the potential to maintain high levels of relative humidity (RH) in the near subsurface of Mars, even at moderate temperatures. These conditions could promote deliquescence of lower hydrates of ferric sulfate, chlorides, and other salts. Previous work on deliquesced ferric sulfates has shown that when these materials undergo rapid dehydration, such as that which would occur upon exposure to present day Martian surface conditions, an amorphous phase forms. However, the fate of deliquesced halides or mixed ferric sulfate-bearing brines are presently unknown. Here we present results of rapid dehydration experiments on Ca-, Na-, Mg- and Fe-chloride brines and multi-component (Fe 2 (SO 4 ) 3 ± Ca, Na, Mg, Fe, Cl, HCO 3 ) brines at ∼21°C, and characterize the dehydration products using visible/near-infrared (VNIR) reflectance spectroscopy, mid-infrared attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. We find that rapid dehydration of many multicomponent brines can form amorphous solids or solids with an amorphous component, and that the presence of other elements affects the persistence of the amorphous phase under RH fluctuations. Of the pure chloride brines, only Fe-chloride formed an amorphous solid. XRD patterns of the multicomponent amorphous salts show changes in position, shape, and magnitude of the characteristic diffuse scattering observed in all amorphous materials that could be used to help constrain the composition of the amorphous salt. Amorphous salts deliquesce at lower RH values compared to their crystalline counterparts, opening up the possibility of their role in potential deliquescence-related geologic phenomena such as recurring slope lineae (RSLs) or soil induration. This work suggests that a wide range of aqueous mixed salt solutions can lead to the formation of amorphous salts and are possible for Mars; detailed studies of the formation mechanisms, stability and transformation behaviors of amorphous salts are necessary to further constrain their contribution to Martian surface materials.

Amorphous salts formed from rapid dehydration of multicomponent chloride and ferric sulfate brines: Implications for Mars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sklute, Elizabeth C.; Rogers, A. Deanne; Gregerson, Jason C.; Jensen, Heidi B.; Reeder, Richard J.; Dyar, M. Darby

2018-03-01

Salts with high hydration states have the potential to maintain high levels of relative humidity (RH) in the near subsurface of Mars, even at moderate temperatures. These conditions could promote deliquescence of lower hydrates of ferric sulfate, chlorides, and other salts. Previous work on deliquesced ferric sulfates has shown that when these materials undergo rapid dehydration, such as that which would occur upon exposure to present day Martian surface conditions, an amorphous phase forms. However, the fate of deliquesced halides or mixed ferric sulfate-bearing brines are presently unknown. Here we present results of rapid dehydration experiments on Ca-, Na-, Mg- and Fe-chloride brines and multicomponent (Fe2(SO4)3 ± Ca, Na, Mg, Fe, Cl, HCO3) brines at ∼21 °C, and characterize the dehydration products using visible/near-infrared (VNIR) reflectance spectroscopy, mid-infrared attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. We find that rapid dehydration of many multicomponent brines can form amorphous solids or solids with an amorphous component, and that the presence of other elements affects the persistence of the amorphous phase under RH fluctuations. Of the pure chloride brines, only Fe-chloride formed an amorphous solid. XRD patterns of the multicomponent amorphous salts show changes in position, shape, and magnitude of the characteristic diffuse scattering observed in all amorphous materials that could be used to help constrain the composition of the amorphous salt. Amorphous salts deliquesce at lower RH values compared to their crystalline counterparts, opening up the possibility of their role in potential deliquescence-related geologic phenomena such as recurring slope lineae (RSLs) or soil induration. This work suggests that a wide range of aqueous mixed salt solutions can lead to the formation of amorphous salts and are possible for Mars; detailed studies of the formation mechanisms, stability and transformation behaviors of amorphous salts are necessary to further constrain their contribution to Martian surface materials.

Amorphous salts formed from rapid dehydration of multicomponent chloride and ferric sulfate brines: Implications for Mars

PubMed Central

Sklute, Elizabeth C.; Rogers, A. Deanne; Gregerson, Jason C.; Jensen, Heidi B.; Reeder, Richard J.; Dyar, M. Darby

2018-01-01

Salts with high hydration states have the potential to maintain high levels of relative humidity (RH) in the near subsurface of Mars, even at moderate temperatures. These conditions could promote deliquescence of lower hydrates of ferric sulfate, chlorides, and other salts. Previous work on deliquesced ferric sulfates has shown that when these materials undergo rapid dehydration, such as that which would occur upon exposure to present day Martian surface conditions, an amorphous phase forms. However, the fate of deliquesced halides or mixed ferric sulfate-bearing brines are presently unknown. Here we present results of rapid dehydration experiments on Ca–, Na–, Mg– and Fe–chloride brines and multi-component (Fe2 (SO4)3 ± Ca, Na, Mg, Fe, Cl, HCO3) brines at ∼21°C, and characterize the dehydration products using visible/near-infrared (VNIR) reflectance spectroscopy, mid-infrared attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. We find that rapid dehydration of many multicomponent brines can form amorphous solids or solids with an amorphous component, and that the presence of other elements affects the persistence of the amorphous phase under RH fluctuations. Of the pure chloride brines, only Fe–chloride formed an amorphous solid. XRD patterns of the multicomponent amorphous salts show changes in position, shape, and magnitude of the characteristic diffuse scattering observed in all amorphous materials that could be used to help constrain the composition of the amorphous salt. Amorphous salts deliquesce at lower RH values compared to their crystalline counterparts, opening up the possibility of their role in potential deliquescence-related geologic phenomena such as recurring slope lineae (RSLs) or soil induration. This work suggests that a wide range of aqueous mixed salt solutions can lead to the formation of amorphous salts and are possible for Mars; detailed studies of the formation mechanisms, stability and transformation behaviors of amorphous salts are necessary to further constrain their contribution to Martian surface materials. PMID:29670302

Complement proteins bind to nanoparticle protein corona and undergo dynamic exchange in vivo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Fangfang; Wang, Guankui; Griffin, James I.; Brenneman, Barbara; Banda, Nirmal K.; Holers, V. Michael; Backos, Donald S.; Wu, Linping; Moghimi, Seyed Moein; Simberg, Dmitri

2017-05-01

When nanoparticles are intravenously injected into the body, complement proteins deposit on the surface of nanoparticles in a process called opsonization. These proteins prime the particle for removal by immune cells and may contribute toward infusion-related adverse effects such as allergic responses. The ways complement proteins assemble on nanoparticles have remained unclear. Here, we show that dextran-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide core-shell nanoworms incubated in human serum and plasma are rapidly opsonized with the third complement component (C3) via the alternative pathway. Serum and plasma proteins bound to the nanoworms are mostly intercalated into the nanoworm shell. We show that C3 covalently binds to these absorbed proteins rather than the dextran shell and the protein-bound C3 undergoes dynamic exchange in vitro. Surface-bound proteins accelerate the assembly of the complement components of the alternative pathway on the nanoworm surface. When nanoworms pre-coated with human plasma were injected into mice, C3 and other adsorbed proteins undergo rapid loss. Our results provide important insight into dynamics of protein adsorption and complement opsonization of nanomedicines.

Adaptive Neuron Model: An architecture for the rapid learning of nonlinear topological transformations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tawel, Raoul (Inventor)

1994-01-01

A method for the rapid learning of nonlinear mappings and topological transformations using a dynamically reconfigurable artificial neural network is presented. This fully-recurrent Adaptive Neuron Model (ANM) network was applied to the highly degenerate inverse kinematics problem in robotics, and its performance evaluation is bench-marked. Once trained, the resulting neuromorphic architecture was implemented in custom analog neural network hardware and the parameters capturing the functional transformation downloaded onto the system. This neuroprocessor, capable of 10(exp 9) ops/sec, was interfaced directly to a three degree of freedom Heathkit robotic manipulator. Calculation of the hardware feed-forward pass for this mapping was benchmarked at approximately 10 microsec.

Laparoscopic appendectomy to remove a metallic foreign body in a wild Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) undergoing rehabilitation.

PubMed

Llano Sanchez, Karmele; Handayani, Ayu B; Nelson, Christine L; Eng, Jaclyn W L; Prameswari, Wendi; Hicks, Nigel; Pizzi, Romain

2016-12-01

A laparoscopic appendectomy was performed in a wild orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) undergoing rehabilitation, for a metal nail found on radiographs, using 3-mm instrumentation. Post-operative healing was rapid and uneventful, with return to the forest within 10 days. This is the first report of minimally invasive surgery in a wild orangutan. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The Role of Dioxin Receptor in Mammary Development and Carcinogenesis

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-06-01

hydrocarbons: Examination of the mechanism of toxicity. Annu. Rev. Pharmacol. Toxicol. 22: 517-554. 2. Giannone JV, Okey AB, Harper PA (1995...transcriptional activation, the liganded hR undergoes a rapid degradation leading to a massive epletion both in vivo and in vitro ( Giannone et al., 998...and undergoes a massive depletion within hours of ligand binding ( Giannone et al., 1998; Harper et al., 1994; Prokipcak and Okey, 1991; Pollenz, 1996

Iron cycling under oscillatory redox conditions: from observations to processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meile, C. D.; Chen, C.; Barcellos, D.; Wilmoth, J.; Thompson, A.

2017-12-01

Fe oxyhydroxides play a critical role in soils through their role as structural entities, their high sorption capacity, their role as terminal electron acceptors in the respiration of organic matter, as well as their potential to affect the reactivity of that organic matter. In soils that undergo repeated fluctuations in O2 concentrations, soil iron undergoes transformations between reduced and oxidized forms. The rate of Fe(II) oxidation can govern the nature of Fe(III) oxyhydroxides formed, and hence can affect rates of OC mineralization under suboxic conditions. But it remains unclear if this same behavior occurs in soils, where Fe(II) is mainly present as surface complexes. We documented the impact of such redox oscillations on iron cycling through targeted experiments, in which the magnitude and frequency of redox oscillations were varied systematically on soils from the Luquillo Critical Zone Observatory, Puerto Rico. Our observations demonstrated that higher O2 concentrations led to a faster Fe(II) oxidation and resulted in less crystalline Fe(III)-oxyhydroxides than lower O2 concentrations. We further studied the dynamics of iron phases by amending soil slurries with isotopically-labeled 57Fe(II) and developed a numerical model to quantify the individual processes. Our model showed a higher rate of Fe(III) reduction and increased sorption capacity following the oxidation of Fe(II) at high O2 levels than at low O2 levels, and revealed rapid Fe atom exchange between solution and solid phase. Concurrent measurements of CO2 in our oscillation experiments further illustrated the importance O2 fluctuations on coupled Fe-C dynamics.

Use of Propofol for Induction and Maintenance of Anesthesia in a King Penguin ( Aptenodytes patagonicus ) Undergoing Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

PubMed

Bigby, Sarah E; Carter, Jennifer E; Bauquier, Sébastien; Beths, Thierry

2016-09-01

Anesthesia protocols for patients with intracranial lesions need to provide hemodynamic stability, preserve cerebrovascular autoregulation, avoid increases in intracranial pressure, and facilitate a rapid recovery. Propofol total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) maintains cerebral blood flow autoregulation and is considered superior to inhalant agents as an anesthetic protocol for patients with intracranial lesions. A propofol-based TIVA subsequent to premedication with medetomidine and diazepam was used in a king penguin ( Aptenodytes patagonicus ) undergoing magnetic resonance imaging of the brain after a new onset of seizures. This protocol provided a rapid and smooth induction and calm recovery in the penguin. When ventilation control is possible, propofol TIVA may be a superior choice to inhalant agents for anesthesia of birds with potential intracranial lesions.

Influence of stress and phase on corrosion of a superelastic nickel-titanium orthodontic wire.

PubMed

Segal, Nadav; Hell, Jess; Berzins, David W

2009-06-01

The purpose of this investigation was to study the effect of stress and phase transformation on the corrosion properties of a superelastic nickel-titanium orthodontic wire. The phase transformation profiles of superelastic nickel-titanium (Sentalloy, GAC International, Bohemia, NY) and beta-titanium (TMA, Ormco, Orange, Calif) archwires were analyzed by using differential scanning calorimetry. The force/deflection behavior of the wires at 37 degrees C was measured in a 3-point bending test per modified American Dental Association specification no. 32. Electrochemical testing consisted of monitoring the open circuit potential (OCP) for 2 hours followed by polarization resistance and cyclic polarization tests on archwire segments engaged in a 5-bracket simulation apparatus with bend deflections of 0.75, 1.5, or 3 mm in artificial saliva at 37 degrees C. Nondeflected segments were also tested. Sentalloy was additionally examined for bending and corrosion at 5 degrees C, where it exists as martensite and is devoid of stress-induced phase transformation. OCP at 2 hours and corrosion current density (i(corr)) were analyzed by using ANOVA and Tukey tests (alpha = .05) (n = 10 per deflection). Significant differences (P < 0.05) in OCP with deflection were found for the TMA and the Sentalloy wires at 5 degrees C, but not for Sentalloy at 37 degrees C. Significant differences (P < 0.05) in i(corr) with deflection were also observed. All 3 wire groups had their lowest mean i(corr) values when not deflected. The i(corr) for superelastic Sentalloy (37 degrees C) peaked at 0.75 mm deflection before the wire's stress-induced phase transformation point and then decreased with further deflection and transformation. The i(corr) values for TMA and Sentalloy at 5 degrees C, both of which do not undergo phase transformation with deformation, continuously increased from 0 to 1.5 mm deflection before decreasing at the 3.0-mm deflection. Stress increased the corrosion rate in nickel-titanium and beta-titanium orthodontic wires. Alterations in stress/strain associated with phase transformation in superelastic nickel-titanium might alter the corrosion rate in ways different from wires not undergoing phase transformation.

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

Yu, Cun; Ren, Yang; Cui, Lishan

Under high pressure, materials usually shrink during compression as described by an equation of state. Here, we present the anomalous volume expansion behavior of a one-dimensional Nb nanowire embedded in a NiTi transforming matrix, while the matrix undergoes a pressure-induced martensitic transformation. The Nb volume expansion depends on the NiTi transition pressure range from the matrix, which is controlled by the shear strain induced by different pressure transmitting media. The transformation-induced interfacial stresses between Nb and NiTi may play a major role in this anomaly. In conclusion, our discovery sheds new light on the nano-interfacial effect on mechanical anomalies inmore » heterogeneous systems during a pressure-induced phase transition.« less

An Alignment Model for Collaborative Value Networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bremer, Carlos; Azevedo, Rodrigo Cambiaghi; Klen, Alexandra Pereira

This paper presents parts of the work carried out in several global organizations through the development of strategic projects with high tactical and operational complexity. By investing in long-term relationships, strongly operating in the transformation of the competitive model and focusing on the value chain management, the main aim of these projects was the alignment of multiple value chains. The projects were led by the Axia Transformation Methodology as well as by its Management Model and following the principles of Project Management. As a concrete result of the efforts made in the last years in the Brazilian market this work also introduces the Alignment Model which supports the transformation process that the companies undergo.

Rethinking the Principalship.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lashway, Larry

2002-01-01

The definition of the role of school principal is currently undergoing transformation in light of modern school issues and a shortage of qualified candidates. In "A Century's Quest to Understand School Leadership," Kenneth Leithwood and Daniel Duke conclude that recent thinking has focused on six forms of leadership: instructional,…

77 FR 13607 - Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-07

... Transformation Grants: Use of System Dynamic Modeling and Economic Analysis in Select Communities--New--National... community interventions. Using a system dynamics approach, CDC also plans to conduct simulation modeling... the development of analytic tools for system dynamics modeling under more limited conditions. The...

A metamorphic inorganic framework that can be switched between eight single-crystalline states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhan, Caihong; Cameron, Jamie M.; Gabb, David; Boyd, Thomas; Winter, Ross S.; Vilà-Nadal, Laia; Mitchell, Scott G.; Glatzel, Stefan; Breternitz, Joachim; Gregory, Duncan H.; Long, De-Liang; MacDonell, Andrew; Cronin, Leroy

2017-02-01

The design of highly flexible framework materials requires organic linkers, whereas inorganic materials are more robust but inflexible. Here, by using linkable inorganic rings made up of tungsten oxide (P8W48O184) building blocks, we synthesized an inorganic single crystal material that can undergo at least eight different crystal-to-crystal transformations, with gigantic crystal volume contraction and expansion changes ranging from -2,170 to +1,720 Å3 with no reduction in crystallinity. Not only does this material undergo the largest single crystal-to-single crystal volume transformation thus far reported (to the best of our knowledge), the system also shows conformational flexibility while maintaining robustness over several cycles in the reversible uptake and release of guest molecules switching the crystal between different metamorphic states. This material combines the robustness of inorganic materials with the flexibility of organic frameworks, thereby challenging the notion that flexible materials with robustness are mutually exclusive.

Microdomain Formation, Oxidation, and Cation Ordering in LaCa 2Fe 3O 8+y

DOE PAGES

Price, Patrick M.; Browning, Nigel D.; Butt, Darryl P.

2015-03-23

The compound LaCa 2Fe 3O 8+y, also known as the Grenier phase, is known to undergo an order-disorder transformation (ODT) at high temperatures. Oxidation has been observed when the compound is cooled in air after the ODT. In this study, we have synthesized the Grenier compound in air using traditional solid state reactions and investigated the structure and composition before and after the ODT. Thermal analysis showed that the material undergoes an order-disorder transformation in both oxygen and argon atmospheres with dynamic, temperature dependent, oxidation upon cooling. Results from scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) suggest that the Grenier phase hasmore » preferential segregation of Ca and La on the two crystallographic A-sites before the ODT, but a random distribution above the ODT temperature. Furthermore, STEM images suggest the possibility that oxygen excess may exist in La-rich regions within microdomains rather than at microdomain boundaries.« less

Ultimate biodegradability and ecotoxicity of orally administered antidiabetic drugs.

PubMed

Markiewicz, Marta; Jungnickel, Christian; Stolte, Stefan; Białk-Bielińska, Anna; Kumirska, Jolanta; Mrozik, Wojciech

2017-07-05

Hypoglycaemic pharmaceuticals are recently more and more frequently detected in the environment. In our previous study, we have shown that even though many of them undergo significant primary degradation some are transformed to stable products or undergo such transformation that a large part of the structure is still preserved. One of the main routes of elimination from wastewaters or surface waters is biodegradation and a lack thereof leads to accumulation in the environment. Within this work we tested the ultimate biodegradability of six oral antidiabetics: metformin and its main metabolite guanylurea, acarbose, glibenclamide, gliclazide, glimepiride and repaglinide. We also compared the experimental results obtained in this and accompanying work with models designed to predict biodegradability and showed that these models are only moderately successful. Additionally, we examined these compounds in acute Daphnia magna test to check if they might pose an ecotoxicological threat. Combining the results of biodegradability and toxicity tests allows a preliminary assessment of their potential environmental impact. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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.

24. Station Oil Tanks, view to the south. The four ...

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

24. Station Oil Tanks, view to the south. The four oil storage tanks located along the east wall (left side of photograph) are, from foreground to background: dirty transformer oil tank, clean transformer oil tank, dirty lubricating oil tank, and clean lubricating oil tank. An oil filter system is also visible in background along the far wall. - Washington Water Power Clark Fork River Noxon Rapids Hydroelectric Development, Powerhouse, South bank of Clark Fork River at Noxon Rapids, Noxon, Sanders County, MT

Natural Escherichia coli strains undergo cell-to-cell plasmid transformation.

PubMed

Matsumoto, Akiko; Sekoguchi, Ayuka; Imai, Junko; Kondo, Kumiko; Shibata, Yuka; Maeda, Sumio

2016-12-02

Horizontal gene transfer is a strong tool that allows bacteria to adapt to various environments. Although three conventional mechanisms of horizontal gene transfer (transformation, transduction, and conjugation) are well known, new variations of these mechanisms have also been observed. We recently reported that DNase-sensitive cell-to-cell transfer of nonconjugative plasmids occurs between laboratory strains of Escherichia coli in co-culture. We termed this phenomenon "cell-to-cell transformation." In this report, we found that several combinations of Escherichia coli collection of reference (ECOR) strains, which were co-cultured in liquid media, resulted in DNase-sensitive cell-to-cell transfer of antibiotic resistance genes. Plasmid isolation of these new transformants demonstrated cell-to-cell plasmid transfer between the ECOR strains. Natural transformation experiments, using a combination of purified plasmid DNA and the same ECOR strains, revealed that cell-to-cell transformation occurs much more frequently than natural transformation under the same culture conditions. Thus, cell-to-cell transformation is both unique and effective. In conclusion, this study is the first to demonstrate cell-to-cell plasmid transformation in natural E. coli strains. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Formation of an Anti-Core–Shell Structure in Layered Oxide Cathodes for Li-Ion Batteries

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

Zhang, Hanlei; Omenya, Fredrick; Whittingham, M. Stanley

The layered → rock-salt phase transformation in the layered dioxide cathodes for Li-ion batteries is believed to result in a “core-shell” structure of the primary particles, in which the core region maintains as the layered phase while the surface region undergoes the phase transformation to the rock-salt phase. Using transmission electron microscopy, here we demonstrate the formation of an “anti-core-shell” structure in cycled primary particles with a formula of LiNi0.80Co0.15Al0.05O2, in which the surface and subsurface regions remain as the layered structure while the rock-salt phase forms as domains in the bulk with a thin layer of the spinel phasemore » between the rock-salt core and the skin of the layered phase. Formation of this anti-core-shell structure is attributed to the oxygen loss at the surface that drives the migration of oxygen from the bulk to the surface, thereby resulting in localized areas of significantly reduced oxygen levels in the bulk of the particle, which subsequently undergoes the phase transformation to the rock-salt domains. The formation of the anti-core-shell rock-salt domains is responsible for the reduced capacity, discharge voltage and ionic conductivity in cycled cathode.« less

Construction of two vectors for gene expression in Trichoderma reesei.

PubMed

Lv, Dandan; Wang, Wei; Wei, Dongzhi

2012-01-01

We report the construction of two filamentous fungi Trichoderma reesei expression vectors, pWEF31 and pWEF32. Both vectors possess the hygromycin phosphotransferase B gene expression cassette and the strong promoter and terminator of the cellobiohydrolase 1 gene (cbh1) from T. reesei. The two newly constructed vectors can be efficiently transformed into T. reesei with Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The difference between pWEF31 and pWEF32 is that pWEF32 has two longer homologous arms. As a result, pWEF32 easily undergoes homologous recombination. On the other hand, pWEF31 undergoes random recombination. The applicability of both vectors was tested by first generating the expression vectors pWEF31-red and pWEF32-red and then detecting the expression of the DsRed2 gene in T. reesei Rut C30. Additionally, we measured the exo-1,4-β-glucanase activity of the recombinant cells. Our work provides an effective transformation system for homologous and heterologous gene expression and gene knockout in T. reesei. It also provides a method for recombination at a specific chromosomal location. Finally, both vectors will be useful for the large-scale gene expression industry. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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

Zarzycki, Piotr; Rosso, Kevin M.

Understanding Fe(II)-catalyzed transformations of Fe(III)- (oxyhydr)oxides is critical for correctly interpreting stable isotopic distributions and for predicting the fate of metal ions in the environment. Recent Fe isotopic tracer experiments have shown that goethite undergoes rapid recrystallization without phase change when exposed to aqueous Fe(II). The proposed explanation is oxidation of sorbed Fe(II) and reductive Fe(II) release coupled 1:1 by electron conduction through crystallites. Given the availability of two tracer exchange data sets that explore pH and particle size effects (e.g., Handler et al. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2014, 48, 11302-11311; Joshi and Gorski Environ. Sci. Technol. 2016, 50, 7315-7324), wemore » developed a stochastic simulation that exactly mimics these experiments, while imposing the 1:1 constraint. We find that all data can be represented by this model, and unifying mechanistic information emerges. At pH 7.5 a rapid initial exchange is followed by slower exchange, consistent with mixed surface- and diffusion-limited kinetics arising from prominent particle aggregation. At pH 5.0 where aggregation and net Fe(II) sorption are minimal, that exchange is quantitatively proportional to available particle surface area and the density of sorbed Fe(II) is more readily evident. Our analysis reveals a fundamental atom exchange rate of ~10-5 Fe nm-2 s-1, commensurate with some of the reported reductive dissolution rates of goethite, suggesting Fe(II) release is the rate-limiting step in the conduction mechanism during recrystallization.« less

Stochastic Simulation of Isotopic Exchange Mechanisms for Fe(II)-Catalyzed Recrystallization of Goethite.

PubMed

Zarzycki, Piotr; Rosso, Kevin M

2017-07-05

Understanding Fe(II)-catalyzed transformations of Fe(III)-(oxyhydr)oxides is critical for correctly interpreting stable isotopic distributions and for predicting the fate of metal ions in the environment. Recent Fe isotopic tracer experiments have shown that goethite undergoes rapid recrystallization without phase change when exposed to aqueous Fe(II). The proposed explanation is oxidation of sorbed Fe(II) and reductive Fe(II) release coupled 1:1 by electron conduction through crystallites. Given the availability of two tracer exchange data sets that explore pH and particle size effects (e.g., Handler et al. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2014 , 48 , 11302 - 11311 ; Joshi and Gorski Environ. Sci. Technol. 2016 , 50 , 7315 - 7324 ), we developed a stochastic simulation that exactly mimics these experiments, while imposing the 1:1 constraint. We find that all data can be represented by this model, and unifying mechanistic information emerges. At pH 7.5 a rapid initial exchange is followed by slower exchange, consistent with mixed surface- and diffusion-limited kinetics arising from prominent particle aggregation. At pH 5.0 where aggregation and net Fe(II) sorption are minimal, that exchange is quantitatively proportional to available particle surface area and the density of sorbed Fe(II) is more readily evident. Our analysis reveals a fundamental atom exchange rate of ∼10 -5 Fe nm -2 s -1 , commensurate with some of the reported reductive dissolution rates of goethite, suggesting Fe(II) release is the rate-limiting step in the conduction mechanism during recrystallization.

Migration transition in small Northern and Eastern Caribbean states.

PubMed

Mcelroy, J L; De Albuquerque, K

1988-01-01

1 area of intra-Caribbean migration that has been overlooked is the "migration transition"--the transformation of rapidly modernizing societies from net labor exporters to net labor importers. This article assembles 8 case studies to 1) briefly present a spectrum of migration experiences in the Caribbean, 2) uncover some transitions under way, 3) pinpoint the forces that underlie the migration transition, and 4) point out some of the more important policy implications of labor migration reversals. The 8 island societies sampled for illustration purposes include 1) the Bahamas and the US Virgin Islands as post-migration transition societies (Zelinsky's advanced society), 2) the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands as undergoing transition (Zelinsky's late transitional society), and 3) Anguilla, St. Kitts-Nevis, Turks and Caicos, and Montserrat as premigration transition societies (Zelinsky's early transitional society). Population data for the islands were derived primarily from the West Indian censuses and government statistics. These 8 historical sketches reveal certain commonalities. All are at various stages in a long-term economic restructuring to displace traditional staple crops with more income elastic, high value export services. In such societies, population growth and progress along the migration transition is an increasing function of this kind of successful export substitution. In addition, along the migration and economic transitions, such insular economies exhibit a relatively large public sector (20-30% of all activity), declining unemployment, increasing fiscal autonomy, and are committed to a development strategy remarkably similar to the "successful" model of the Bahamas and the US Virgin Islands. Cursory evidence suggests that, because of intersectoral competition for land and labor, there is an inverse relationship between farm effort/manufacturing employment and tourism intensity. This review suggests that small islands undergoing rapid growth imperatives also experience a similar set of self-reinforcing socioeconomic and environmental imbalances. Particularly for post-transition and transition societies, these spillovers include increasing real estate speculation and inflation because of tourism and the allied development of retirement colonies of affluent North Americans, wage pressures and skilled manpower shortages, and increasing vulnerability to international business cycles.

Fixture for winding transformers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mclyman, M. T.

1980-01-01

Bench-mounted fixture assists operator in winding toroid-shaped transformer cores. Toroid is rigidly held in place as wires are looped around. Arrangement frees both hands for rapid winding and untangling of wires that occurs when core is hand held.

Transit as transformation : the Euclid Corridor in Cleveland

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-06-30

Public and private investments catalyzed a striking transformation along Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, generated in part by the construction of a new bus rapid transit (BRT) system known as the HealthLine. Euclid Avenues strategic location stretches...

The method of parallel-hierarchical transformation for rapid recognition of dynamic images using GPGPU technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Timchenko, Leonid; Yarovyi, Andrii; Kokriatskaya, Nataliya; Nakonechna, Svitlana; Abramenko, Ludmila; Ławicki, Tomasz; Popiel, Piotr; Yesmakhanova, Laura

2016-09-01

The paper presents a method of parallel-hierarchical transformations for rapid recognition of dynamic images using GPU technology. Direct parallel-hierarchical transformations based on cluster CPU-and GPU-oriented hardware platform. Mathematic models of training of the parallel hierarchical (PH) network for the transformation are developed, as well as a training method of the PH network for recognition of dynamic images. This research is most topical for problems on organizing high-performance computations of super large arrays of information designed to implement multi-stage sensing and processing as well as compaction and recognition of data in the informational structures and computer devices. This method has such advantages as high performance through the use of recent advances in parallelization, possibility to work with images of ultra dimension, ease of scaling in case of changing the number of nodes in the cluster, auto scan of local network to detect compute nodes.

Locality and rapidity of the ultra-large elastic deformation of Nb nanowires in a NiTi phase-transforming matrix

DOE PAGES

Wang, Shan; Cui, Lishan; Hao, Shijie; ...

2014-10-24

This study investigated the elastic deformation behaviour of Nb nanowires embedded in a NiTi matrix. The Nb nanowires exhibited an ultra-large elastic deformation, which is found to be dictated by the martensitic transformation of the NiTi matrix, thus exhibiting unique characteristics of locality and rapidity. These are in clear contrast to our conventional observation of elastic deformations of crystalline solids, which is a homogeneous lattice distortion with a strain rate controlled by the applied strain. The Nb nanowires are also found to exhibit elastic-plastic deformation accompanying the martensitic transformation of the NiTi matrix in the case when the transformation strainmore » of the matrix over-matches the elastic strain limit of the nanowires, or exhibit only elastic deformation in the case of under-matching. Such insight provides an important opportunity for elastic strain engineering and composite design.« less

Bidirectional Transformation of a Metamorphic Protein between the Water-Soluble and Transmembrane Native States.

PubMed

Tanaka, Koji; Caaveiro, Jose M M; Tsumoto, Kouhei

2015-11-24

The bidirectional transformation of a protein between its native water-soluble and integral transmembrane conformations is demonstrated for FraC, a hemolytic protein of the family of pore-forming toxins. In the presence of biological membranes, the water-soluble conformation of FraC undergoes a remarkable structural reorganization generating cytolytic transmembrane nanopores conducive to cell death. So far, the reverse transformation from the native transmembrane conformation to the native water-soluble conformation has not been reported. We describe the use of detergents with different physicochemical properties to achieve the spontaneous conversion of transmembrane pores of FraC back into the initial water-soluble state. Thermodynamic and kinetic stability data suggest that specific detergents cause an asymmetric change in the energy landscape of the protein, allowing the bidirectional transformation of a membrane protein.

Are Schools Getting Tongue-Tied? ESL Programs Face New Challenges

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schachter, Ron

2013-01-01

Spanish-speaking students, but the ESL map is undergoing a dramatic transformation that is challenging K12 schools to cope with a burgeoning number of different native languages--more than 100 in some locations--as new immigrants arrive in districts across the country. The number…

Acceptance of Nontraditional Scholarship at LCME Accredited Medical Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Candler, Christopher Scott

2011-01-01

The definition and nature of scholarship is undergoing a transformation across North American medical schools. Some medical schools have adopted broadened views of scholarship that recognize and reward nontraditional scholarly works. This study investigated whether nontraditional scholarly works such as MedEdPORTAL publications contribute to…

Pakistan’s Gwadar Port - Prospects of Economic Revival

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-06-01

Ahmed , who stood by me all the time during the academic rigors involved in the completion of this thesis. They sacrificed their opportunities to... Ashraf Khan, “Pakistan Fishing Village undergoes Transformation into global mega-port,” Agence France Presse, (September 14, 2003). 107 Kux Dennis

Transformation and Framework of Teacher Professional Development in Taiwan

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Huang, Bo-Ruey

2016-01-01

This article describes the situation of teacher professional development in Taiwan, including the history and the framework of teacher professional development. With diversification of teacher education systems and institutions, teacher professional development in Taiwan is undergoing a gradual governance shift from the model of centralised state…

The revitalization of a business office: how one system increased its self-pay collections.

PubMed

Gardner, Doug; Tempest, Randy

2007-03-01

After undergoing a dramatic transformation in self-pay collections, the Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati collected $34 million in 2006, up from $19 million in 2004. The organization was able to achieve this increase without any decrease in patient satisfaction.

Tweens' Characterization of Digital Technologies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brito, Pedro Quelhas

2012-01-01

The tweens are a transitional age group undergoing deep physical and psychological transformations. Based on a thirteen-focus group research design involving 103 students, and applying a tweens-centered approach, the characteristics of SMS, IM, Internet, digital photos, electronic games, and email were analyzed. Categories such as moral issues,…

Temperature limited heaters using phase transformation of ferromagnetic material

DOEpatents

Vitek, John Michael [Oak Ridge, TN; Brady, Michael Patrick [Oak Ridge, TN

2009-10-06

Systems, methods, and heaters for treating a subsurface formation are described herein. Systems and methods for making heaters are described herein. At least one heater includes a ferromagnetic conductor and an electrical conductor. The electrical conductor is electrically coupled to the ferromagnetic conductor. The heater provides a first amount of heat at a lower temperature. The heater may provide a second reduced amount of heat when the heater reaches a selected temperature, or enters a selected temperature range, at which the ferromagnetic conductor undergoes a phase transformation.

A transient semimetallic layer in detonating nitromethane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reed, Evan J.; Riad Manaa, M.; Fried, Laurence E.; Glaesemann, Kurt R.; Joannopoulos, J. D.

2008-01-01

Despite decades of research, the microscopic details and extreme states of matter found within a detonating high explosive have yet to be elucidated. Here we present the first quantum molecular-dynamics simulation of a shocked explosive near detonation conditions. We discover that the wide-bandgap insulator nitromethane (CH3NO2) undergoes chemical decomposition and a transformation into a semimetallic state for a limited distance behind the detonation front. We find that this transformation is associated with the production of charged decomposition species and provides a mechanism to explain recent experimental observations.

On the Theory of High-Power Ultrashort Pulse Propagation in Raman-Active Media

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Belenov, E. M.; Isakov, V. A.; Kanavin, A. P.; Smetanin, I. V.

1996-01-01

The propagation of an intense femtosecond pulse in a Raman-active medium is analyzed. An analytic solution which describes in explicit form the evolution of the light pulse is derived. The field of an intense light wave undergoes a substantial transformation as the wave propagates through the medium. The nature of this transformation can change over time scales comparable to the period of the optical oscillations. As a result, the pulse of sufficiently high energy divides into stretched and compressed domains where the field decreases and increases respectively.

Enantioselective direct α-amination of aldehydes via a photoredox mechanism: a strategy for asymmetric amine fragment coupling.

PubMed

Cecere, Giuseppe; König, Christian M; Alleva, Jennifer L; MacMillan, David W C

2013-08-07

The direct, asymmetric α-amination of aldehydes has been accomplished via a combination of photoredox and organocatalysis. Photon-generated N-centered radicals undergo enantioselective α-addition to catalytically formed chiral enamines to directly produce stable α-amino aldehyde adducts bearing synthetically useful amine substitution patterns. Incorporation of a photolabile group on the amine precursor obviates the need to employ a photoredox catalyst in this transformation. Importantly, this photoinduced transformation allows direct and enantioselective access to α-amino aldehyde products that do not require postreaction manipulation.

Neptune

NASA Image and Video Library

1999-10-14

This photograph of Neptune shows three of the features that NASA Voyager 2 has been photographing during recent weeks. At the north is the Great Dark Spot, accompanied by bright, white clouds that undergo rapid changes in appearance.

NON-TRADITIONAL APPROACHES FOR PHARMACEUTICALLY RELEVANT SYNTHETIC TRANSFORMATIONS

EPA Science Inventory

A rapid and environmentally friendlier approach for organic synthesis, and transformations is described which involves microwave (MW) exposure of neat reactants (undiluted) often in presence of inorganic oxides as recyclable catalysts such as alumina, silica, clay, or 'doped' sur...

Cooperative transforming activities of ras, myc, and src viral oncogenes in nonestablished rat adrenocortical cells.

PubMed Central

MacAuley, A; Pawson, T

1988-01-01

Early-passage rat adrenocortical cells were infected with Kirsten murine sarcoma virus and MMCV mouse myc virus, two retroviruses carrying the v-Ki-ras and v-myc oncogenes, respectively. Efficient morphological transformation required coinfection with the two viruses, was dependent on the presence of high serum concentrations, and was not immediately accompanied by growth in soft agar. The doubly infected cells coordinately acquired the capacity for anchorage- and serum-independent growth during passage in culture. The appearance of such highly transformed cells was correlated with the emergence of a dominant clone, as suggested by an analysis of retrovirus integration sites. These results indicate that the concerted expression of v-Ki-ras and v-myc could induce rapid morphological transformation of nonestablished adrenocortical cells but that an additional genetic or epigenetic event was required to permit full transformation by these two oncogenes. In contrast, v-src, introduced by retrovirus infection in conjunction with v-myc, rapidly induced serum- and anchorage-independent growth. Therefore, the p60v-src protein-tyrosine kinase, unlike p21v-ras, is apparently not restricted in the induction of a highly transformed phenotype in adrenocortical cells. This system provides an in vitro model for the progressive transformation of epithelial cells by dominantly acting oncogenes. Images PMID:2846881

Gold-catalyzed and N-iodosuccinimide-mediated cyclization of gamma-substituted allenamides.

PubMed

Hyland, Christopher J T; Hegedus, Louis S

2006-10-27

Chiral gamma-substituted allenamides have been shown to undergo efficient gold-catalyzed and N-iodosuccinimide-mediated cyclization to highly functionalized dihydrofurans. These reactions proceed rapidly and without loss of stereochemistry.

Civil Rights and Organized Labor.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hill, Herbert

1984-01-01

The refusal of union leadership to accept the perspective of interracial unionism has meant the failure to organize the South. If unions are to implement the principle of democracy in the workplace, they must undergo a major transformation, becoming the voice of the unemployed, the working poor, and of women and racial minorities. (Author)

The Speciation Of Silver Nanoparticles In Antimicrobial Fabric Before and After Exposure To A Hypochlorite/Detergent Solution

EPA Science Inventory

Because of their antibacterial properties, silver nanoparticles are often used in consumer products. To assess environmental and/or human health risks from these nanoparticles, there is a need to identify the chemical transformations that Silver nanoparticles undergo in differen...

Problems and Trends Regarding Vocational Teachers in China

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kuang, Ying

2014-01-01

At present, China's vocational education system is undergoing a transition process from growing in size to improving in quality. Teacher and teaching force issues are a bottleneck and critical factor that will determine whether the transformation will be successful. The real-world problems of the number, deployment, capacity, and training systems…

Anatomy in Occupational Therapy Program Curriculum: Practitioners' Perspectives

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schofield, Katherine Anne

2014-01-01

Anatomy education is undergoing significant transformation. It is unknown whether changes are in accordance with occupational therapy (OT) practice needs. The purpose of this pilot study was to survey OT clinicians to determine their perspectives on the value of anatomy in OT curricula, and anatomical knowledge required for practice. In addition…

75 FR 26962 - Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-13

... Project Estimating the Capacity for National and State-Level Colorectal Cancer Screening through a Survey... Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer- related deaths in the United States (U.S.). Most colorectal cancers develop from pre-existing growths, or polyps, which slowly transform into...

A Heuristic for Analysing and Teaching Literature Dealing with the Challenges of Social Justice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Narismulu, Priya

2013-01-01

Transformation involves rethinking values and ways of seeing and acting, particularly as time stress compounds legacies of oppression and systematic underdevelopment in many postcolonial countries. These are exacerbated by structural challenges, as many societies are undergoing national, democratic, urban, race, class and gender revolutions…

The use of LANDSAT digital data to detect and monitor vegetation water deficiencies. [South Dakota

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thompson, D. R.; Wehmanen, O. A.

1977-01-01

A technique devised using a vector transformation of LANDSAT digital data to indicate when vegetation is undergoing moisture stress is described. A relation established between the remote sensing-based criterion (the Green Index Number) and a ground-based criterion (Crop Moisture Index) is discussed.

Do You Have a Strategy?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kalina, David

2006-01-01

Education is undergoing a transformation across the country as it responds to new understandings of the mechanisms for learning. These changes are affecting the physical environments where learning occurs, from individual rooms to entire building complexes. The impact of these trends on facilities is dramatic. Old classroom models will not support…

Origin and Development of Multicultural Education in the USA

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sultanova, Leila

2016-01-01

Modern society is undergoing complex social, economic and political transformations of planetary scope due to globalization processes. One of the peculiarities of a modern globalization wave is an intercultural interaction that, in its turn, has resulted in multicultural education. Multicultural education is quite a new branch of pedagogical…

Signals, Transducers, and Modulation: A Wireless Design Challenge

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rose, Mary Annette

2006-01-01

In this age of cell phones, digital television, and satellite radio, individuals easily forget that information and energy must undergo complex transformations to enable real-time wireless communication. This article describes a practical and proven design activity that enables secondary and post-secondary students to design and test a modulator…

The Evolution of Economist's Labour Market in Romania

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Isaic-Maniu, Alexandru; Herteliu, Claudiu

2006-01-01

The modern world is undergoing a fundamental transformation characterized by a lot of challenges, dynamism, globalization, and the increasing influence of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). These new technologies have implications for all aspects of the society and economy; they are changing the way of doing business, the way of…

THE AGING SOCIETY, NATURAL RESOURCE UTILIZATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

EPA Science Inventory

The U.S. is undergoing a dramatic demographic transformation toward older adults, spearheaded by the aging Baby Boomers, but projected to last beyond the Boomer generation. In August 2004, EPA held a workshop on (1) the change in aging demographics over time, (2) key issues (i.e...

PROCEEDINGS OF THE AGING AMERICANS: IMPACT ON THE ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY WORKSHOP

EPA Science Inventory

The U.S. is undergoing a dramatic demographic transformation toward older adults, spearheaded by the aging Baby Boomers, but projected to last beyond the Boomer generation. There has been little discussion in the environmental community, however, about the impact of the aging soc...

The Contexts of Composing: A Dynamic Scene with Movable Centers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wiley, Mark L.

An examination of the transformations that the concept of genius undergoes when viewed through the apparently incommensurable expressivistic and social views of composing helps to reconcile phenomenologically objective descriptions of composing with value-laden descriptions of the self in the act of writing. When the description of composition is…

Palomar College: A Technological Transformation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Halttunen, Lynda Gavigan

2002-01-01

Offers advice for colleges intending to undergo software conversions, asserting that sufficient resources are key to a smooth process. Describes the conversion process at Palomar College (California) in 1997, when Palomar purchased PeopleSoft enterprise-wide software in response to Y2K compliance issues. Stresses the ongoing need for training and…

Video Views and Reviews: Gastrulation and the Fashioning of Animal Embryos

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Watters, Christopher

2005-01-01

Most science students readily understand that following fertilization, a single-celled egg must undergo multiple rounds of cell division to become a multicellular organism. This transformation is so universal among animal embryos that developmental biologists refer to the process with a single term: ''gastrulation.'' During gastrulation, many if…

Retail Consulting Class: Experiential Learning Platform to Develop Future Retail Talents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Oh, Hyunjoo; Polidan, Mary

2018-01-01

The retail industry is undergoing a significant transformation. Factors such as technological advancement and evolving consumer demands have forced companies to rethink their traditional approaches to retail. Retailers have since embraced data-driven strategies with real-time implementation to stay relevant in this complex, ever-changing industry.…

Nutrient uptake by marshes and seagrasses: Ecosystem functions and spatial variability in the provision of this ecosystem servoce

EPA Science Inventory

Nitrogen entering coastal wetlands undergoes several important transformations involving oxidation and reduction; some ends up in the atmosphere, while much of it remains in the sediments of healthy marshes and seagrass beds – the rest passes into receiving waters. Variability i...

Bulgaria: The Double Edge of Economy and Demography

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Georgieva, Patricia

2004-01-01

The higher education and research sector in Bulgaria is undergoing a gradual change. Whether this transformation will bring success or failure depends on how prepared stakeholders are to meet associated challenges and opportunities. The mobility of academics and the related phenomenon of brain drain need careful investigation. Academic teachers…

Human Capital and Technology Development in Malaysia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Awang, Halimah

2004-01-01

This paper examines the development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and its relation to the development of human capital in Malaysia as a country undergoing transformation into an ICT-driven and knowledge-based society. Education and training, being the key variable of human capital, is examined in terms of the government…

"We ARE Our Instrument!": Forming a Singer Identity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

O'Bryan, Jessica

2015-01-01

Preparation for the operatic stage means that for some students their voice will undergo significant transformation during training. For most operatic singers, voice type will determine future roles, the music they perform and potential career trajectory. Voice type becomes a facet of identity and position within the operatic world. This article…

A "coca-cola" shape: cultural change, body image, and eating disorders in San Andrés, Belize.

PubMed

Anderson-Fye, Eileen P

2004-12-01

Eating disorders have been associated with developing nations undergoing rapid social transition, including participation in a global market economy and heavy media exposure. San Andrés, Belize, a community with many risk factors associated with the cross-cultural development of eating disorders, has shown remarkable resistance to previously documented patterns, despite a local focus on female beauty. Drawing on longitudinal person-centered ethnography with adolescent girls, this article examines why this community appears exceptional in light of the literature. First, community beauty and body image ideals and practices are explicated. Then, a protective ethnopsychology is proposed as a key mediating factor of the rapid socio-cultural change among young women. Finally, possible nascent cases of eating disordered behavior are discussed in light of their unique phenomenology: that is, having to do more with economic opportunity in the tourism industry and less with personal distress or desire for thinness. Close, meaning-centered examination of eating and body image practices may aid understanding and prevention of eating disorders among adolescents undergoing rapid social change in situations of globalization and immigration.

City transformations in a 1.5 °C warmer world

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Solecki, William; Rosenzweig, Cynthia; Dhakal, Shobhakar; Roberts, Debra; Barau, Aliyu Salisu; Schultz, Seth; Ürge-Vorsatz, Diana

2018-03-01

Meeting the ambitions of the Paris Agreement will require rapid and massive decarbonization of cities, as well as adaptation. Capacity and requirement differs across cities, with challenges and opportunities for transformational action in both the Global North and South.

NON-TRADITIONAL 'GREENER' ALTERNATIVES TO SYNTHETIC ORGANIC TRANSFORMATIONS USING MICROWAVES

EPA Science Inventory

A rapid and environmentally friendlier approach for organic synthesis and transformations is described which involves microwave (MW) exposure of neat reactants (undiluted) often in presence of inorganic oxides as recyclable catalysts such as alumina, silica, clay, or 'doped' surf...

City Transformations in a 1.5 C Warmer World

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barau, Aliyu Salisu; Urge-Vorsatz, Diana; Schultz, Seth; Solecki, William; Dhakal, Shobhakar; Rosenzweig, Cynthia; Roberts, Debra

2018-01-01

Meeting the ambitions of the Paris Agreement will require rapid and massive decarbonization of cities, as well as adaptation. Capacity and requirement differs across cities, with challenges and opportunities for transformational action in both the Global North and South.

Disruptive Potential of the Internet to Transform Illicit Drug Markets and Impact on Future Patterns of Drug Consumption.

PubMed

Griffiths, P; Mounteney, J

2017-02-01

The internet facilitates rapid and covert communication, knowledge transfer, and has the potential to disrupt and transform drug market models and associated consumption patterns. Innovation and new trends diffuse rapidly through this medium and new operational models are emerging. Although the online drug markets currently only account for a small share of all drug transactions, the potential of the surface and deep web to provide a new platform for drug sale and exchanges is considerable. © 2016 American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics.

Stainless steels for cryogenic bolts and nuts (in French)

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

Leroy, F.; Rabbe, P.; Odin, G.

1975-03-01

Stainless steel for cryogenic applications are generally austenitic steels which, under the effect of cold-drawing, can or cannot undergo a partial martensitic transformation according to their composition. It has been shown that very high ductility and endurance characteristics at low temperatures, together with very high yield strength and resistances values, can be attained with grades of nitrogenous steels of types Z2CN18-10N and Z3CMN18-8-6N. Optimum ductility values are obtained by employing to the best possible, the martensitic transformations which develop during cold-drawing. From the plotting of the rational traction curves, it is possible to analyse very simply the influence of themore » composition on the martensitic transformations. (FR)« less

Anomalous expansion of Nb nanowires in a NiTi matrix under high pressure

DOE PAGES

Yu, Cun; Ren, Yang; Cui, Lishan; ...

2016-10-17

Under high pressure, materials usually shrink during compression as described by an equation of state. Here, we present the anomalous volume expansion behavior of a one-dimensional Nb nanowire embedded in a NiTi transforming matrix, while the matrix undergoes a pressure-induced martensitic transformation. The Nb volume expansion depends on the NiTi transition pressure range from the matrix, which is controlled by the shear strain induced by different pressure transmitting media. The transformation-induced interfacial stresses between Nb and NiTi may play a major role in this anomaly. In conclusion, our discovery sheds new light on the nano-interfacial effect on mechanical anomalies inmore » heterogeneous systems during a pressure-induced phase transition.« less

Transformations of organic compounds under the action of mechanical stress

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dubinskaya, Aleksandra M.

1999-08-01

Transformations of organic compounds (monomeric and polymeric) under the action of mechanical stress are considered. Two types of processes occur under these conditions. The first type involves disordering and amorphisation of crystal structure and conformational transformations as a result of rupture of intermolecular bonds. The second type includes mechanochemical reactions activated by deformation of valence bonds and angles under mechanical stress, namely, the rupture of bonds, oxidation and hydrolysis. Data on the organic mechanochemical synthesis of new compounds or molecular complexes are systematised and generalised. It is demonstrated that mechanical treatment ensures mass transfer and the contact of reacting species in these reactions. Proteins are especially sensitive to mechanical stress and undergo denaturation; enzymes are inactivated. The bibliography includes 115 references.

Transformation and bioavailability of metal oxide nanoparticles in aquatic and terrestrial environments. A review.

PubMed

Amde, Meseret; Liu, Jing-Fu; Tan, Zhi-Qiang; Bekana, Deribachew

2017-11-01

Metal oxide nanoparticles (MeO-NPs) are among the most consumed NPs and also have wide applications in various areas which increased their release into the environmental system. Aquatic (water and sediments) and terrestrial compartments are predicted to be the destination of the released MeO-NPs. In these compartments, the particles are subjected to various dynamic processes such as physical, chemical and biological processes, and undergo transformations which drive them away from their pristine state. These transformation pathways can have strong implications for the fate, transport, persistence, bioavailability and toxic-effects of the NPs. In this critical review, we provide the state-of-the-knowledge on the transformation processes and bioavailability of MeO-NPs in the environment, which is the topic of interest to researchers. We also recommend future research directions in the area which will support future risk assessments by enhancing our knowledge of the transformation and bioavailability of MeO-NPs. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Latent heat contribution to the direct magnetocaloric effect in Ni-Mn-Ga shape memory alloys with coupled martensitic and magnetic transformations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caballero-Flores, R.; Sánchez-Alarcos, V.; Recarte, V.; Pérez-Landazábal, J. I.; Gómez-Polo, C.

2016-05-01

We report the direct magnetocaloric response of materials that present a second-order phase transition in the temperature range where a first-order structural transition also occurs. In particular, the influence of the latent heat on the field-induced adiabatic temperature change has been analyzed in a Ni-Mn-Ga alloy with coupled martensitic and magnetic transformations. It is found that discrepancies around 20% arise depending on whether the latent heat is taken into account or not. From the observed results, a general expression for the indirect determination of the adiabatic temperature change, that takes into account the contributions of both the martensitic and magnetic transformations, is proposed and experimentally confirmed. The observed key role of the latent heat allows us to understand why materials with first-order transformations do not present adiabatic temperature changes as higher as those which would correspond to materials undergoing second-order transformations with similar isothermal entropy change.

Emergency medicine in Dubai, UAE.

PubMed

Partridge, Robert; Abbo, Michael; Virk, Alamjit

2009-08-18

Dubai has rapidly risen to prominence in the Persian Gulf region as a center of global commerce and tourism and as a cultural crossroad between East and West. The health-care infrastructure has undergone rapid development. Collaborations with academic medical centers now exist to advance clinical care, teaching and research. Emergency medicine has also advanced and is undergoing dynamic change. Dubai may soon emerge as a regional leader in emergency medicine training and practice.

A morphing-based scheme for large deformation analysis with stereo-DIC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Genovese, Katia; Sorgente, Donato

2018-05-01

A key step in the DIC-based image registration process is the definition of the initial guess for the non-linear optimization routine aimed at finding the parameters describing the pixel subset transformation. This initialization may result very challenging and possibly fail when dealing with pairs of largely deformed images such those obtained from two angled-views of not-flat objects or from the temporal undersampling of rapidly evolving phenomena. To address this problem, we developed a procedure that generates a sequence of intermediate synthetic images for gradually tracking the pixel subset transformation between the two extreme configurations. To this scope, a proper image warping function is defined over the entire image domain through the adoption of a robust feature-based algorithm followed by a NURBS-based interpolation scheme. This allows a fast and reliable estimation of the initial guess of the deformation parameters for the subsequent refinement stage of the DIC analysis. The proposed method is described step-by-step by illustrating the measurement of the large and heterogeneous deformation of a circular silicone membrane undergoing axisymmetric indentation. A comparative analysis of the results is carried out by taking as a benchmark a standard reference-updating approach. Finally, the morphing scheme is extended to the most general case of the correspondence search between two largely deformed textured 3D geometries. The feasibility of this latter approach is demonstrated on a very challenging case: the full-surface measurement of the severe deformation (> 150% strain) suffered by an aluminum sheet blank subjected to a pneumatic bulge test.

Corruption of homeostatic mechanisms in the guanylyl cyclase C signaling pathway underlying colorectal tumorigenesis

PubMed Central

Waldman, Scott A

2010-01-01

Colon cancer, the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, originates from the malignant transformation of intestinal epithelial cells. The intestinal epithelium undergoes a highly organized process of rapid regeneration along the crypt-villus axis, characterized by proliferation, migration, differentiation and apoptosis, whose coordination is essential to maintaining the mucosal barrier. Disruption of these homeostatic processes predisposes cells to mutations in tumor suppressors or oncogenes, whose dysfunction provides transformed cells an evolutionary growth advantage. While sequences of genetic mutations at different stages along the neoplastic continuum have been established, little is known of the events initiating tumorigenesis prior to adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) mutations. Here, we examine a role for the corruption of homeostasis induced by silencing novel tumor suppressors, including the intestine-specific transcription factor CDX2 and its gene target guanylyl cyclase C (GCC), as early events predisposing cells to mutations in APC and other sequential genes that initiate colorectal cancer. CDX2 and GCC maintain homeostatic regeneration in the intestine by restricting cell proliferation, promoting cell maturation and adhesion, regulating cell migration and defending the intestinal barrier and genomic integrity. Elimination of CDX2 or GCC promotes intestinal tumor initiation and growth in aged mice, mice carrying APC mutations or mice exposed to carcinogens. The roles of CDX2 and GCC in suppressing intestinal tumorigenesis, universal disruption in their signaling through silencing of hormones driving GCC, and the uniform overexpression of GCC by tumors underscore the potential value of oral replacement with GCC ligands as targeted prevention and therapy for colorectal cancer. PMID:20592492

Galaxies at the Extremes: Ultradiffuse Galaxies in the Virgo Cluster

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mihos, Chris

2017-08-01

The ultradiffuse galaxies (UDGs) recently discovered in massive galaxy clusters presents both challenges and opportunities for our understanding of galaxy evolution in dense clusters. Such large, low density galaxies should be most vulnerable to gravitational destruction within the cluster environment. Thus their presence in cluster cores argues either that they must be stabilized by massive dark halos or else be short-lived objects undergoing rapid transformation, perhaps leading to the formation of ultracompact dwarf galaxies (UCDs) if their destruction leaves only a compact nucleus behind. We propose deep imaging of four Virgo Cluster UDGs to probe their local environment within Virgo via accurate tip of the red giant branch (TRGB) distances. With a distance precision of 1 Mpc, we will accurately place the objects in the Virgo core, cluster outskirts, or intervening field. When coupled with our extant kinematic data, we can determine whether they are infalling objects or instead have already passed through the cluster core. We will also compare their compact nuclei to Virgo UCDs, and study their globular cluster (GC) populations in detail. Probing three magnitudes beyond the turnover in the GC luminosity function, we will construct larger and cleaner GC samples than possible with ground-based imaging, using the total mass and radial extent of the globular cluster systems to estimate the dark halo mass and tidal radius for each UDG. The new information provided by HST about the local environment and intrinsic properties of these Virgo UDGs will be used in conjunction with simulation data to study cluster-driven evolution and transformation of low density galaxies.

About Sleep's Role in Memory

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Over more than a century of research has established the fact that sleep benefits the retention of memory. In this review we aim to comprehensively cover the field of “sleep and memory” research by providing a historical perspective on concepts and a discussion of more recent key findings. Whereas initial theories posed a passive role for sleep enhancing memories by protecting them from interfering stimuli, current theories highlight an active role for sleep in which memories undergo a process of system consolidation during sleep. Whereas older research concentrated on the role of rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep, recent work has revealed the importance of slow-wave sleep (SWS) for memory consolidation and also enlightened some of the underlying electrophysiological, neurochemical, and genetic mechanisms, as well as developmental aspects in these processes. Specifically, newer findings characterize sleep as a brain state optimizing memory consolidation, in opposition to the waking brain being optimized for encoding of memories. Consolidation originates from reactivation of recently encoded neuronal memory representations, which occur during SWS and transform respective representations for integration into long-term memory. Ensuing REM sleep may stabilize transformed memories. While elaborated with respect to hippocampus-dependent memories, the concept of an active redistribution of memory representations from networks serving as temporary store into long-term stores might hold also for non-hippocampus-dependent memory, and even for nonneuronal, i.e., immunological memories, giving rise to the idea that the offline consolidation of memory during sleep represents a principle of long-term memory formation established in quite different physiological systems. PMID:23589831

Kinetics and mechanism of the pressure-induced lamellar order/disorder transition in phosphatidylethanolamine: a time-resolved X-ray diffraction study.

PubMed

Mencke, A P; Caffrey, M

1991-03-05

By using synchrotron radiation, a movie was made of the X-ray scattering pattern from a biological liquid crystal undergoing a phase transition induced by a pressure jump. The system studied includes the fully hydrated phospholipid dihexadecylphosphatidylethanolamine in the lamellar gel (L beta') phase at a temperature of 68 degrees C and a pressure of 9.7 MPa (1400 psig). Following the rapid release of pressure to atmospheric the L beta' phase transforms slowly into the lamellar liquid crystal (L alpha) phase. The pressure perturbation is applied with the intention of producing a sudden phase disequilibrium followed by monitoring the system as it relaxes to its new equilibrium condition. Remarkably, the proportion of sample in the L alpha phase grows linearly with time, taking 37 s to totally consume the L beta' phase. The time dependencies of radius, peak intensity, and width of the powder diffraction ring of the low-angle (001) lamellar reflections were obtained from the movie by image processing. The concept of an "effective pressure" is introduced to account for the temperature variations that accompany the phase transition and to establish that the observed large transit time is indeed intrinsic to the sample and not due to heat exchange with the environment. The reverse transformation, L alpha to L beta', induced by a sudden jump from atmospheric pressure to 9.7 MPa, is complete in less than 13 s. These measurements represent a new approach for studying the kinetics of lipid phase transitions and for gaining insights into the mechanism of the lamellar order/disorder transition.

Mobile DNA in the pathogenic Neisseria

PubMed Central

Obergfell, Kyle P.; Seifert, H. Steven

2015-01-01

The genus Neisseria contains two pathogenic species of notable public health concern: Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis. These pathogens display a notable ability to undergo frequent programmed recombination events. The recombination mediated pathways of transformation and pilin antigenic variation in the Neisseria are well studied systems that are critical for pathogenesis. Here we will detail the conserved and unique aspects of transformation and antigenic variation in the Neisseria. Transformation will be followed from initial DNA binding through recombination into the genome with consideration to the factors necessary at each step. Additional focus is paid to the unique type IV secretion system that mediates donation of transforming DNA in the pathogenic Neisseria. The pilin antigenic variation system uses programed recombinations to alter a major surface determinant which allows immune avoidance and promotes infection. We discuss the trans- and cis- acting factors which facilitate pilin antigenic variation and present the current understanding of the mechanisms involved in the process. PMID:25866700

Mechanical instabilities in periodic porous elasto-plastic solids.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singamaneni, Srikanth; Bertoldi, Katia; Chang, Sehoon; Jang, Ji-Hyun; Young, Seth; Thomas, Edwin; Boyce, Mary; Tsukruk, Vladimir

2009-03-01

We describe the transformation of the periodic microporous structures fabricated by interference lithography followed by their freezing below glass transition. Periodic porous microstructures subjected to internal compressive stresses can undergo sudden structural transformation at a critical strain. The pattern transformation of collapsed pores is caused by the stresses originated during the polymerization of acrylic acid (rubbery component) inside of cylindrical pores and the subsequent solvent evaporation in the organized microporous structure. The results of a non-linear numerical investigation confirm the critical role of the bifurcation of the periodic solid under compressive stresses. In striking contrast to the earlier observations of elastic instabilities in porous elastomeric solids, the elastic-plastic nature of the crosslinked periodic microstructure studied here provides for the ability to lock in the transformed pattern with complete relaxation of the internal stresses. By confining the polymerization of acrylic acid to localized porous areas complex microscopic periodic structures are obtained.

Thermal and magnetic hysteresis associated with martensitic and magnetic phase transformations in Ni52Mn25In16Co7 Heusler alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Madiligama, A. S. B.; Ari-Gur, P.; Ren, Y.; Koledov, V. V.; Dilmieva, E. T.; Kamantsev, A. P.; Mashirov, A. V.; Shavrov, V. G.; Gonzalez-Legarreta, L.; Grande, B. H.

2017-11-01

Ni-Mn-In-Co Heusler alloys demonstrate promising magnetocaloric performance for use as refrigerants in magnetic cooling systems with the goal of replacing the lower efficiency, eco-adverse fluid-compression technology. The largest change in entropy occurs when the applied magnetic field causes a merged structural and magnetic transformation and the associated entropy changes of the two transformations works constructively. In this study, magnetic and crystalline phase transformations were each treated separately and the effects of the application of magnetic field on thermal hystereses associated with both structural and magnetic transformations of the Ni52Mn25In16Co7 were studied. From the analysis of synchrotron diffraction data and thermomagnetic measurements, it was revealed that the alloy undergoes both structural (from cubic austenite to a mixture of 7M &5M modulated martensite) and magnetic (ferromagnetic to a low-magnetization phase) phase transformations. Thermal hysteresis is associated with both transformations, and the variation of the thermal hystereses of the magnetic and structural transformations with applied magnetic field is significantly different. Because of the differences between the hystereses loops of the two transformations, they merge only upon heating under a certain magnetic field.

Cell-free chromatin from dying cancer cells integrate into genomes of bystander healthy cells to induce DNA damage and inflammation

PubMed Central

Mittra, Indraneel; Samant, Urmila; Sharma, Suvarna; Raghuram, Gorantla V; Saha, Tannistha; Tidke, Pritishkumar; Pancholi, Namrata; Gupta, Deepika; Prasannan, Preeti; Gaikwad, Ashwini; Gardi, Nilesh; Chaubal, Rohan; Upadhyay, Pawan; Pal, Kavita; Rane, Bhagyeshri; Shaikh, Alfina; Salunkhe, Sameer; Dutt, Shilpee; Mishra, Pradyumna K; Khare, Naveen K; Nair, Naveen K; Dutt, Amit

2017-01-01

Bystander cells of the tumor microenvironment show evidence of DNA damage and inflammation that can lead to their oncogenic transformation. Mediator(s) of cell–cell communication that brings about these pro-oncogenic pathologies has not been identified. We show here that cell-free chromatin (cfCh) released from dying cancer cells are the key mediators that trigger both DNA damage and inflammation in the surrounding healthy cells. When dying human cancer cells were cultured along with NIH3T3 mouse fibroblast cells, numerous cfCh emerged from them and rapidly entered into nuclei of bystander NIH3T3 cells to integrate into their genomes. This led to activation of H2AX and inflammatory cytokines NFκB, IL-6, TNFα and IFNγ. Genomic integration of cfCh triggered global deregulation of transcription and upregulation of pathways related to phagocytosis, DNA damage and inflammation. None of these activities were observed when living cancer cells were co-cultivated with NIH3T3 cells. However, upon intravenous injection into mice, both dead and live cells were found to be active. Living cancer cells are known to undergo extensive cell death when injected intravenously, and we observed that cfCh emerging from both types of cells integrated into genomes of cells of distant organs and induced DNA damage and inflammation. γH2AX and NFκB were frequently co-expressed in the same cells suggesting that DNA damage and inflammation are closely linked pathologies. As concurrent DNA damage and inflammation is a potent stimulus for oncogenic transformation, our results suggest that cfCh from dying cancer cells can transform cells of the microenvironment both locally and in distant organs providing a novel mechanism of tumor invasion and metastasis. The afore-described pro-oncogenic pathologies could be abrogated by concurrent treatment with chromatin neutralizing/degrading agents suggesting therapeutic possibilities. PMID:28580170

Measuring Aseismic Slip through Characteristically Repeating Earthquakes at the Mendocino Triple Junction, Northern California

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Materna, K.; Taira, T.; Burgmann, R.

2016-12-01

The Mendocino Triple Junction (MTJ), at the transition point between the San Andreas fault system, the Mendocino Transform Fault, and the Cascadia Subduction Zone, undergoes rapid tectonic deformation and produces more large (M>6.0) earthquakes than any region in California. Most of the active faults of the triple junction are located offshore, making it difficult to characterize both seismic slip and aseismic creep. In this work, we study aseismic creep rates near the MTJ using characteristically repeating earthquakes (CREs) as indicators of creep rate. CREs are generally interpreted as repeated failures of the same seismic patch within an otherwise creeping fault zone; as a consequence, the magnitude and recurrence time of the CREs can be used to determine a fault's creep rate through empirically calibrated scaling relations. Using seismic data from 2010-2016, we identify CREs as recorded by an array of eight 100-Hz PBO borehole seismometers deployed in the Cape Mendocino area. For each event pair with epicenters less than 30 km apart, we compute the cross-spectral coherence of 20 seconds of data starting one second before the P-wave arrival. We then select pairs with high coherence in an appropriate frequency band, which is determined uniquely for each event pair based on event magnitude, station distance, and signal-to-noise ratio. The most similar events (with median coherence above 0.95 at two or more stations) are selected as CREs and then grouped into CRE families, and each family is used to infer a local creep rate. On the Mendocino Transform Fault, we find relatively high creep rates of >5 cm/year that increase closer to the Gorda Ridge. Closer to shore and to the MTJ itself, we find many families of repeaters on and off the transform fault with highly variable creep rates, indicative of the complex deformation that takes place there.

Transforming Undergraduate Research Opportunities Using Telepresence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pallant, Amy; McIntyre, Cynthia; Stephens, A. Lynn

2016-01-01

The National Science Foundation funded the "Transforming Remotely Conducted Research through Ethnography, Education, and Rapidly Evolving Technologies" (TREET) project to explore ways to utilize advances in technology and thus to provide opportunities for scientists and undergraduate students to engage in deep sea research. The…

Reverse Shape Memory Effect Related to α → γ Transformation in a Fe-Mn-Al-Ni Shape Memory Alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, Huabei; Huang, Pan; Zhou, Tiannan; Wang, Shanling; Wen, Yuhua

2017-05-01

In this study, we investigated the shape memory behavior and phase transformations of solution-treated Fe43.61Mn34.74Al13.38Ni8.27 alloy between room temperature and 1173 K (900 °C). This alloy exhibits the reverse shape memory effect resulting from the phase transformation of α (bcc) → γ (fcc) between 673 K and 1073 K (400 °C and 800 °C) in addition to the shape memory effect resulting from the martensitic reverse transformation of γ' (fcc) → α (bcc) below 673 K (400 °C). There is a high density of hairpin-shaped dislocations in the α phase undergoing the martensitic reverse transformation of γ' → α. The lath γ phase, which preferentially nucleates and grows in the reversed α phase, has the same crystal orientation with the reverse-transformed γ' martensite. However, the vermiculate γ phase, which is precipitated in the α phase between lath γ phase, has different crystal orientations. The lath γ phase is beneficial to attaining better reverse shape memory effect than the vermiculate γ phase.

Ectopic Integration of Transforming DNA Is Rare among Neurospora Transformants Selected for Gene Replacement

PubMed Central

Miao, VPW.; Rountree, M. R.; Selker, E. U.

1995-01-01

In a variety of organisms, DNA-mediated transformation experiments commonly produce transformants with multiple copies of the transforming DNA, including both selected and unselected molecules. Such ``cotransformants'' are much more common than expected from the individual transformation frequencies, suggesting that subpopulations of cells, or nuclei, are particularly competent for transformation. We found that Neurospora crassa transformants selected for gene replacement at the am gene had not efficiently incorporated additional DNA, suggesting that nuclei that undergo transformation by homologous recombination are not highly competent at integration of DNA by illegitimate recombination. Spheroplasts were treated with DNA fragments homologous to am and with an Escherichia coli hph plasmid. Transformants were initially selected for hph (hygromycin(R)), allowed to conidiate to generate homokaryons and then selected for either Am(-) (gene replacements) or hph. Surprisingly, most am replacement strains were hygromycin(S) (124/140) and carried no extraneous DNA (116/140). Most transformants selected for hph also had ectopic copies of am DNA and/or multiple copies of hph sequences (32/35), generally at multiple sites, confirming that efficient cotransformation could occur. To test the implication that cotransformation involving gene replacement and ectopic integration is rare, we compared the yields of am replacement strains with or without prior selection for hph. The initial selection did not appreciably help (or hinder) recovery of strains with replacements. PMID:7789758

A technique to detect periodic and non-periodic ultra-rapid flux time variations with standard radio-astronomical data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borra, Ermanno F.; Romney, Jonathan D.; Trottier, Eric

2018-06-01

We demonstrate that extremely rapid and weak periodic and non-periodic signals can easily be detected by using the autocorrelation of intensity as a function of time. We use standard radio-astronomical observations that have artificial periodic and non-periodic signals generated by the electronics of terrestrial origin. The autocorrelation detects weak signals that have small amplitudes because it averages over long integration times. Another advantage is that it allows a direct visualization of the shape of the signals, while it is difficult to see the shape with a Fourier transform. Although Fourier transforms can also detect periodic signals, a novelty of this work is that we demonstrate another major advantage of the autocorrelation, that it can detect non-periodic signals while the Fourier transform cannot. Another major novelty of our work is that we use electric fields taken in a standard format with standard instrumentation at a radio observatory and therefore no specialized instrumentation is needed. Because the electric fields are sampled every 15.625 ns, they therefore allow detection of very rapid time variations. Notwithstanding the long integration times, the autocorrelation detects very rapid intensity variations as a function of time. The autocorrelation could also detect messages from Extraterrestrial Intelligence as non-periodic signals.

Rapid chlorophyll a fluorescence transient of Lemna gibba leaf as an indication of light and hydroxylamine effect on photosystem II activity.

PubMed

Dewez, David; Ali, Nadia Ait; Perreault, François; Popovic, Radovan

2007-05-01

Rapid chlorophyll fluorescence transient induced by saturating flash (3000 micromol of photons m-2 s-1) was investigated when Lemna gibba had been exposed to light (100 micromol of photons m-2 s-1) causing the Kautsky effect or in low light intensity unable to trigger PSII photochemistry. Measurements were made by using, simultaneously, a pulse amplitude modulated fluorometer and plant efficiency analyzer system, either on non-treated L. gibba leaf or those treated with different concentrations of hydroxylamine (1-50 mM) causing gradual inhibition of the water splitting system. When any leaf was exposed to continuous light during the Kautsky effect, a rapid fluorescence transient may reflect current activity of photosystem II within the photosystem II complex. Under those conditions, a variation of transition steps appearing over time was related to a drastic change to the photosystem II functional properties. This value indicated that the energy dissipation through non-photochemical pathways was undergoing extreme change. The change of rapid fluorescence transient, induced under continuous light, when compared to those obtained under very low light intensity, confirmed the ability of photosystem II to be capable to undergo rapid adaptation lasting about two minutes. When the water splitting system was inhibited and electron donation partially substituted by hydroxylamine, the adaptation ability of photosystem II to different light conditions was lost. In this study, the change of rapid fluorescence kinetic and transient appearing over time was shown to be a good indication for the change of the functional properties of photosystem II induced either by light or by hydroxylamine.

How to improve colon cancer screening rates

PubMed Central

Alberti, Luiz Ronaldo; Garcia, Diego Paim Carvalho; Coelho, Debora Lucciola; De Lima, David Correa Alves; Petroianu, Andy

2015-01-01

Colorectal carcinoma is a common cause of death throughout the world and may be prevented by routine control, which can detect precancerous neoplasms and early cancers before they undergo malignant transformation or metastasis. Three strategies may improve colon cancer screening rates: convince the population about the importance of undergoing a screening test; achieve higher efficacy in standard screening tests and make them more available to the community and develop new more sensitive and efficacious screening methods and make them available as routine tests. In this light, the present study seeks to review these three means through which to increase colon cancer screening rates. PMID:26688708

Effect of point defects and disorder on structural phase transitions

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

Toulouse, J.

1997-06-01

Since the beginning in 1986, the object of this project has been Structural Phase Transitions (SPT) in real as opposed to ideal materials. The first stage of the study has been centered around the role of Point Defects in SPT`s. Our intent was to use the previous knowledge we had acquired in the study of point defects in non-transforming insulators and apply it to the study of point defects in insulators undergoing phase transitions. In non-transforming insulators, point defects, in low concentrations, marginally affect the bulk properties of the host. It is nevertheless possible by resonance or relaxation methods tomore » study the point defects themselves via their local motion. In transforming solids, however, close to a phase transition, atomic motions become correlated over very large distances; there, even point defects far removed from one another can undergo correlated motions which may strongly affect the transition behavior of the host. Near a structural transition, the elastic properties win be most strongly affected so as to either raise or decrease the transition temperature, prevent the transition from taking place altogether, or simply modify its nature and the microstructure or domain structure of the resulting phase. One of the well known practical examples is calcium-stabilized zirconia in which the high temperature cubic phase is stabilized at room temperature with greatly improved mechanical properties.« less

Heterogeneous Oxidation of Laboratory-generated Mixed Composition and Biomass Burning Particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lim, C. Y.; Sugrue, R. A.; Hagan, D. H.; Cappa, C. D.; Kroll, J. H.; Browne, E. C.

2016-12-01

Heterogeneous oxidation of organic aerosol (OA) can significantly transform the chemical and physical properties of particulate matter in the atmosphere, leading to changes to the chemical composition of OA and potential volatilization of organic compounds. It has become increasingly apparent that the heterogeneous oxidation kinetics of OA depend on the phase and morphology of the particles. However, most laboratory experiments to date have been performed on single-component, purely organic precursors, which may exhibit fundamentally different behavior than more complex particles in the atmosphere. Here we present laboratory studies of the heterogeneous oxidation of two more complex chemical systems: thin, organic coatings on inorganic seed particles and biomass burning OA. In the first system, squalane (C30H62), a model compound for reduced OA, is coated onto dry ammonium sulfate particles at various thicknesses (10-20 nm) and exposed to hydroxyl radical (OH) in a flow tube reactor. In the second, we use a semi-batch reactor to study the heterogeneous OH-initiated oxidation of biomass burning particles as a part of the 2016 FIREX campaign in Missoula, MT. The resulting changes in chemical composition are monitored with an Aerodyne High Resolution Time-of-flight Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (AMS) and a soot-particle AMS for the non-refractory and refractory systems, respectively. We show that the heterogeneous oxidation kinetics of these multicomponent particles are substantially different than that of the single-component particles. The oxidation of organic coatings is rapid, undergoing dramatic changes to carbon oxidation state and losing a significant amount of organic mass after relatively low OH exposures (equivalent to several days of atmospheric processing). In the case of biomass burning particles, the kinetics are complex, with different components (inferred by aerosol mass spectrometry) undergoing oxidation at different rates.

Graphene Oxide-Promoted Reshaping and Coarsening of Gold Nanorods and Nanoparticles

PubMed Central

Pan, Hanqing; Low, Serena; Weerasuriya, Nisala; Shon, Young-Seok

2015-01-01

This paper describes thermally induced reshaping and coarsening behaviors of gold nanorods and nanoparticles immobilized on the surface of graphene oxide. Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-stabilized gold nanorods with an aspect ratio of ~3.5 (54:15 nm) and glutathione-capped gold nanoparticles with an average core size of ~3 nm were synthesized and self-assembled onto the surface of graphene oxide. The hybrid materials were then heated at different temperatures ranging from 50 to 300 °C. The effects of heat treatments were monitored using UV–vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). These results were directly compared with those of heat-treated free-standing gold nanorods and nanoparticles without graphene oxide to understand the heat-induced morphological changes of the nanohybrids. The obtained results showed that the gold nanorods would undergo a complete reshaping to spherical particles at the temperature of 50 °C when they are assembled on graphene oxide. In comparison, the complete reshaping of free-standing gold nanorods to spherical particles would ultimately require a heating of the samples at 200 °C. In addition, the spherical gold nanoparticles immobilized on graphene oxide would undergo a rapid coarsening at the temperature of 100–150 °C, which was lower than the temperature (150–200 °C) required for visible coarsening of free-standing gold nanoparticles. The results indicated that graphene oxide facilitates the reshaping and coarsening of gold nanorods and nanoparticles, respectively, during the heat treatments. The stripping and spillover of stabilizing ligands promoted by graphene oxide are proposed to be the main mechanism for the enhancements in the heat-induced transformations of nanohybrids. PMID:25611371

Microglial numbers attain adult levels after undergoing a rapid decrease in cell number in the third postnatal week.

PubMed

Nikodemova, Maria; Kimyon, Rebecca S; De, Ishani; Small, Alissa L; Collier, Lara S; Watters, Jyoti J

2015-01-15

During postnatal development, microglia, CNS resident innate immune cells, are essential for synaptic pruning, neuronal apoptosis and remodeling. During this period microglia undergo morphological and phenotypic transformations; however, little is known about how microglial number and density is regulated during postnatal CNS development. We found that after an initial increase during the first 14 postnatal days, microglial numbers in mouse brain began declining in the third postnatal week and were reduced by 50% by 6weeks of age; these "adult" levels were maintained until at least 9months of age. Microglial CD11b levels increased, whereas CD45 and ER-MP58 declined between P10 and adulthood, consistent with a maturing microglial phenotype. Our data indicate that both increased microglial apoptosis and a decreased proliferative capacity contribute to the developmental reduction in microglial numbers. We found no correlation between developmental reductions in microglial numbers and brain mRNA levels of Cd200, Cx3Cl1, M-Csf or Il-34. We tested the ability of M-Csf-overexpression, a key growth factor promoting microglial proliferation and survival, to prevent microglial loss in the third postnatal week. Mice overexpressing M-Csf in astrocytes had higher numbers of microglia at all ages tested. However, the developmental decline in microglial numbers still occurred, suggesting that chronically elevated M-CSF is unable to overcome the developmental decrease in microglial numbers. Whereas the identity of the factor(s) regulating microglial number and density during development remains to be determined, it is likely that microglia respond to a "maturation" signal since the reduction in microglial numbers coincides with CNS maturation. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Disruptive Challenges and Accelerating Force Transformation

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-01-01

strategy and the military transformation process. The ability to maintain a competitive advantage depends not only on the Nation’s manpower, fiscal...rapid change and ambiguity are the norm, this competitive advantage often depends on the availability of multiple effective options. If U.S. military

Diffuse-interface model for rapid phase transformations in nonequilibrium systems.

PubMed

Galenko, Peter; Jou, David

2005-04-01

A thermodynamic approach to rapid phase transformations within a diffuse interface in a binary system is developed. Assuming an extended set of independent thermodynamic variables formed by the union of the classic set of slow variables and the space of fast variables, we introduce finiteness of the heat and solute diffusive propagation at the finite speed of the interface advancing. To describe transformations within the diffuse interface, we use the phase-field model which allows us to follow steep but smooth changes of phase within the width of the diffuse interface. Governing equations of the phase-field model are derived for the hyperbolic model, a model with memory, and a model of nonlinear evolution of transformation within the diffuse interface. The consistency of the model is proved by the verification of the validity of the condition of positive entropy production and by outcomes of the fluctuation-dissipation theorem. A comparison with existing sharp-interface and diffuse-interface versions of the model is given.

The backward phase flow and FBI-transform-based Eulerian Gaussian beams for the Schroedinger equation

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

Leung Shingyu, E-mail: masyleung@ust.h; Qian Jianliang, E-mail: qian@math.msu.ed

2010-11-20

We propose the backward phase flow method to implement the Fourier-Bros-Iagolnitzer (FBI)-transform-based Eulerian Gaussian beam method for solving the Schroedinger equation in the semi-classical regime. The idea of Eulerian Gaussian beams has been first proposed in . In this paper we aim at two crucial computational issues of the Eulerian Gaussian beam method: how to carry out long-time beam propagation and how to compute beam ingredients rapidly in phase space. By virtue of the FBI transform, we address the first issue by introducing the reinitialization strategy into the Eulerian Gaussian beam framework. Essentially we reinitialize beam propagation by applying themore » FBI transform to wavefields at intermediate time steps when the beams become too wide. To address the second issue, inspired by the original phase flow method, we propose the backward phase flow method which allows us to compute beam ingredients rapidly. Numerical examples demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed algorithms.« less

The backward phase flow and FBI-transform-based Eulerian Gaussian beams for the Schrödinger equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leung, Shingyu; Qian, Jianliang

2010-11-01

We propose the backward phase flow method to implement the Fourier-Bros-Iagolnitzer (FBI)-transform-based Eulerian Gaussian beam method for solving the Schrödinger equation in the semi-classical regime. The idea of Eulerian Gaussian beams has been first proposed in [12]. In this paper we aim at two crucial computational issues of the Eulerian Gaussian beam method: how to carry out long-time beam propagation and how to compute beam ingredients rapidly in phase space. By virtue of the FBI transform, we address the first issue by introducing the reinitialization strategy into the Eulerian Gaussian beam framework. Essentially we reinitialize beam propagation by applying the FBI transform to wavefields at intermediate time steps when the beams become too wide. To address the second issue, inspired by the original phase flow method, we propose the backward phase flow method which allows us to compute beam ingredients rapidly. Numerical examples demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed algorithms.

High-resolution 2-D Bragg diffraction reveal heterogeneous domain transformation behavior in a bulk relaxor ferroelectric

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

Pramanick, Abhijit, E-mail: apramani@cityu.edu.hk; Stoica, Alexandru D.; An, Ke

2016-08-29

In-situ measurement of fine-structure of neutron Bragg diffraction peaks from a relaxor single-crystal using a time-of-flight instrument reveals highly heterogeneous mesoscale domain transformation behavior under applied electric fields. It is observed that only ∼25% of domains undergo reorientation or phase transition contributing to large average strains, while at least 40% remain invariant and exhibit microstrains. Such insights could be central for designing new relaxor materials with better performance and longevity. The current experimental technique can also be applied to resolve complex mesoscale phenomena in other functional materials.

High-resolution 2-D Bragg diffraction reveal heterogeneous domain transformation behavior in a bulk relaxor ferroelectric

DOE PAGES

Pramanick, Abhijit; Stoica, Alexandru D.; An, Ke

2016-09-02

In-situ measurement of fine-structure of neutron Bragg diffraction peaks from a relaxor single-crystal using a time-of-flight instrument reveals highly heterogeneous mesoscale domain transformation behavior under applied electric fields. We observed that only 25% of domains undergo reorienta- tion or phase transition contributing to large average strains, while at least 40% remain invariant and exhibit microstrains. Such insights could be central for designing new relaxor materials with better performance and longevity. The current experimental technique can also be applied to resolve com- plex mesoscale phenomena in other functional materials.

Large Deflection of Ideal Pseudo-Elastic Shape Memory Alloy Cantilever Beam

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cui, Shitang; Hu, Liming; Yan, Jun

This paper deals with the large deflections of pseudo-elastic shape memory alloy cantilever beams subjected to a concentrated load at the free end. Because of the large deflections, geometry nonlinearity arises and this analysis employs the nonlinear bending theory. The exact expression of curvature is used in the moment-curvature relationship. As a vertical force at the tip of cantilever, curvature and bending moment distribution expressions are deduced. The curvature changed distinctly when the surface material undergoes phase transformation. The length of phase transformation region was affected greatly with the force at the free end.

Polymorphic transformation of helical flagella of bacteria

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lim, Sookkyung; Howard Berg Collaboration; William Ko Collaboration; Yongsam Kim Collaboration; Wanho Lee Collaboration; Charles Peskin Collaboration

2016-11-01

Bacteria such as E. coli swim in an aqueous environment by utilizing the rotation of flagellar motors and alternate two modes of motility, runs and tumbles. Runs are steady forward swimming driven by bundles of flagellar filaments whose motors are turning CCW; tumbles involve a reorientation of the direction of swimming triggered by motor reversals. During tumbling, the helical flagellum undergoes polymorphic transformations, which is a local change in helical pitch, helical radius, and handedness. In this work, we investigate the underlying mechanism of structural conformation and how this polymorphic transition plays a role in bacterial swimming. National Science Foundation.

O-Ring sealing arrangements for ultra-high vacuum systems

DOEpatents

Kim, Chang-Kyo; Flaherty, Robert

1981-01-01

An all metal reusable O-ring sealing arrangement for sealing two concentric tubes in an ultra-high vacuum system. An O-ring of a heat recoverable alloy such as Nitinol is concentrically positioned between protruding sealing rings of the concentric tubes. The O-ring is installed between the tubes while in a stressed martensitic state and is made to undergo a thermally induced transformation to an austenitic state. During the transformation the O-ring expands outwardly and contracts inwardly toward a previously sized austenitic configuration, thereby sealing against the protruding sealing rings of the concentric tubes.

Enantioselective Direct α-Amination of Aldehydes via a Photoredox Mechanism: A Strategy for Asymmetric Amine Fragment Coupling

PubMed Central

Cecere, Giuseppe; Koenig, Christian M.; Alleva, Jennifer L.

2013-01-01

The direct, asymmetric α-amination of aldehydes has been accomplished via a combination of photoredox and organocatalysis. Photon-generated, nitrogen-centered radicals undergo enantioselective α-addition to catalytically formed chiral enamines to directly produce stable α-amino aldehyde adducts bearing synthetically useful amine substitution patterns. Incorporation of a photolabile group on the amine precursor obviates the need to employ a photoredox catalyst in this transformation. Importantly, this photoinduced transformation allows direct and enantioselective access to α-amino aldehyde products that do not require post-reaction manipulation. PMID:23869694

Land-use and hydroperiod affect kettle hole sediment carbon and nitrogen biogeochemistry

Treesearch

Kai Nils Nitzsche; Thomas Kalettka; Katrin Premke; Gunnar Lischeid; Arthur Gessler; Zachary Eric Kayler

2017-01-01

Kettle holes are glaciofluvially created depressional wetlands that collect organic matter (OM) and nutrients from their surrounding catchment. Kettle holes mostly undergo pronounced wet-dry cycles. Fluctuations in water table, land-use, andmanagement can affect sediment biogeochemical transformations and perhaps threaten the carbon stocks of these unique ecosystems....

Hybrid Learning: An Effective Resource in University Education?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alducin-Ochoa, Juan Manuel; Vázquez-Martínez, Ana Isabel

2016-01-01

The organisation of university education in Europe is undergoing profound changes as a consequence of the establishment of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). This transformation entails methodological changes that are focused on student work. The student is now considered to be an autonomous individual who is able to choose a path of study…

Engagement of the PFC in Consolidation and Recall of Recent Spatial Memory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leon, Wanda C.; Bruno, Martin A.; Allard, Simon; Nader, Karim; Cuello, A. Claudio

2010-01-01

The standard model of system consolidation proposes that memories are initially hippocampus dependent and become hippocampus independent over time. Previous studies have demonstrated the involvement of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in the retrieval of remote memories. The transformations required to make a memory undergo system's…

The Aesthetic and Moral Character of Oakeshott's Educational Writings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Corey, Elizabeth

2013-01-01

This article is an investigation of two apparently contradictory impulses in Oakeshott's writings about liberal education. On the one hand, he implied that it was primarily "aesthetic", something undertaken for its own sake with no practical consequences. On the other hand, he often implied that a student might undergo a moral transformation in…

A Master Key to Workforce Skills Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Association of Canadian Community Colleges, 2006

2006-01-01

Canadian society is undergoing a significant transformation, largely in response to the forces of globalization and the development of the knowledge/information economy. The key to the economic and social well being of Canada's diverse communities lies in the knowledge-and-skills base of its citizens. Canada must design policies and programs which…

Researching into a MOOC Embedded Flipped Classroom Model for College English Reading and Writing Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Xinying, Zhang

2017-01-01

There is obvious pressure for higher education institutions to undergo transformation now in China. Reflecting this, the computer and information technology give rise to the development of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) embedded flipped classroom. Flipped classroom approaches replace the traditional transmissive teaching with engaging…

The use of Landsat digital data to detect and monitor vegetation water deficiencies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thompson, D. R.; Wehmanen, O. A.

1977-01-01

In the Large Area Crop Inventory Experiment a technique was devised using a vector transformation of Landsat digital data to indicate when vegetation is undergoing moisture stress. A relation was established between the remote-sensing-based criterion (the Green Index Number) and a ground-based criterion (Crop Moisture Index).

Adapting the Transtheoretical Model of Change to the Bereavement Process

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Calderwood, Kimberly A.

2011-01-01

Theorists currently believe that bereaved people undergo some transformation of self rather than returning to their original state. To advance our understanding of this process, this article presents an adaptation of Prochaska and DiClemente's transtheoretical model of change as it could be applied to the journey that bereaved individuals…

An Aging Teacher Corps: How Should School Systems Respond?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liebes, Sherry

The teaching corps is undergoing a transformation as the teaching population ages. In the past, "burned-out" teachers could be transferred or could change professions. The economics of the 1980's leaves dissatisfied teachers with no alternative but to remain in teaching. This paper examines ways to help administrators and teachers cope with this…

Design for Learning: Adapting the Microscopic Anatomy Laboratory to Adult Learners

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jurjus, Rosalyn A.; Krum, Janette; Goldman, Ellen F.

2013-01-01

Medical school curricula are undergoing transformational change in response to calls for integrating content across courses and years to enable better retention and application and for individualizing learning to meet the diverse backgrounds and thus differing needs of students. To address the related teaching challenges, faculty can employ solid…

Case management and quality: have we reached a tipping point?

PubMed

Dulworth, Sherrie

2006-01-01

In The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell describes a phenomenon in which a niche market or fad undergoes transformation into mainstream acceptability, resulting in widespread social change. He concludes that a "tipping point" occurs when a series of small events results in a critical mass of acceptance that produces sudden major changes.

The Audit of the Information Technologies & Communication Projects Developed by Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Capisizu, Sergiu; Nosca, Gheorghe; Parlog, Adriean

2006-01-01

The modern world is undergoing a fundamental transformation characterized by a lot of challenges, dynamism, globalization, and the increasing influence of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). These new technologies have implications for all aspects of the society and economy; they are changing the way of doing business, the way of…

Becoming a Teacher--Student Teachers' Learning Patterns in Teacher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ahonen, Elsi; Pyhältö, Kirsi; Pietarinen, Janne; Soini, Tiina

2015-01-01

Student teacher learning is a key issue for further professional development. Literature on student teacher learning suggests that students learn about teaching and undergo professional transformation during their education. However, studies often focus on a certain time period and on how students should learn instead of how they actually do…

Congenital neck masses.

PubMed

Rosa, Peter A; Hirsch, David L; Dierks, Eric J

2008-08-01

Congenital neck lesions reflect abnormal embryogenesis in head and neck development. A thorough knowledge of embryology and anatomy is critical in the diagnosis and treatment of these lesions. The appropriate diagnosis of these lesions is necessary to provide appropriate treatment and long-term follow up, because some of these lesions may undergo malignant transformation or be harbingers of malignant disease.

Foreign Experience of Formation of Anti-Corruption Strategies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Almaganbetov, Pernebay; Kenzhibekova, Elmira; Khvedelidze, Teimuraz; Buranbayeva, Saliman; Sailibayeva, Zhanel

2016-01-01

Corruption is the main obstacle on the way toward state's economic and political growth. Corrupt practices are one of the oldest forms of crime that arose with an appearance of nationhood. Nowadays, corruption harms the economies of developing countries that are undergoing a process of an economic model transformation. Kazakhstan is among these…

Articulating Performance Expectations for Scholarship at an Australian Regional University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Crookes, Patrick A.; Smith, Kylie M.; Else, Fabienne C.; Crookes, Ellie

2016-01-01

With an academic workforce undergoing transformation, it is vital that universities rethink how they define and value scholarship through their processes for academic promotion. A key part of this rethink is to review and refine existing documentation about promotion to reflect changing conceptions of scholarly work, in a way that enables scholars…

Aqueous photolysis of the organic ultraviolet filter chemical octyl methoxycinnamate.

PubMed

MacManus-Spencer, Laura A; Tse, Monica L; Klein, Jacob L; Kracunas, Alison E

2011-05-01

Organic UV filter chemicals are the active ingredients in personal care products designed to protect the skin from UV radiation, and hundreds of tons are estimated to be produced annually. Despite their entrance into the aquatic environment by both direct and indirect routes and their detection in surface waters and fish, little is known about their environmental fate. UV filter chemicals are designed to be photostable, but some undergo transformation upon exposure to UV light. Octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC), a commonly used UV filter chemical, degrades rapidly by direct photolysis; previous studies have focused on its photoisomerization, and a few investigators have reported the formation of cyclodimers. Here, we present the kinetics and quantum efficiency of the direct photolysis of OMC and confirm that dimerization occurs as a result of direct photolysis in aqueous solution. Likely identities of the dimers are offered based on comparison to reported results for other cinnamate derivatives. We have identified additional products of direct photolysis that have not been previously reported and investigated their photostability, as well as the mechanism of product formation. There is also some evidence of indirect photolysis in the presence of dissolved natural organic matter.

A guide to studying human hair follicle cycling in vivo

PubMed Central

Oh, Ji Won; Kloepper, Jennifer; Langan, Ewan A.; Kim, Yongsoo; Yeo, Joongyeub; Kim, Min Ji; Hsi, Tsai-Ching; Rose, Christian; Yoon, Ghil Suk; Lee, Seok-Jong; Seykora, John; Kim, Jung Chul; Sung, Young Kwan

2015-01-01

Hair follicles (HFs) undergo life-long cyclical transformations, progressing through stages of rapid growth (anagen), regression (catagen), and relative “quiescence” (telogen). Since HF cycling abnormalities underlie many human hair growth disorders, the accurate classification of individual cycle stages within skin biopsies is clinically important and essential for hair research. For preclinical human hair research purposes, human scalp skin can be xenografted onto immunocompromised mice to study human HF cycling and manipulate long-lasting anagen in vivo. While available for mice, a comprehensive guide on how to recognize different human hair cycle stages in vivo is lacking. Here, we present such a guide, which uses objective, well-defined, and reproducible criteria and integrates simple morphological indicators with advanced, (immuno)-histochemical markers. This guide also characterizes human HF cycling in xenografts and highlights the utility of this model for in vivo hair research. Detailed schematic drawings and representative micrographs provide examples of how best to identify human HF stages, even in sub-optimally sectioned tissue, and practical recommendations are given for designing human-on-mouse hair cycle experiments. Thus, this guide seeks to offer a benchmark for human hair cycle stage classification, for both hair research experts and newcomers to the field. PMID:26763421

Magnesium-aspartate-based crystallization switch inspired from shell molt of crustacean

PubMed Central

Tao, Jinhui; Zhou, Dongming; Zhang, Zhisen; Xu, Xurong; Tang, Ruikang

2009-01-01

Many animals such as crustacean periodically undergo cyclic molt of the exoskeleton. During this process, amorphous calcium mineral phases are biologically stabilized by magnesium and are reserved for the subsequent rapid formation of new shell tissue. However, it is a mystery how living organisms can regulate the transition of the precursor phases precisely. We reveal that the shell mineralization from the magnesium stabilized precursors is associated with the presence of Asp-rich proteins. It is suggested that a cooperative effect of magnesium and Asp-rich compound can result into a crystallization switch in biomineralization. Our in vitro experiments confirm that magnesium increases the lifetime of amorphous calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate in solution so that the crystallization can be temporarily switched off. Although Asp monomer alone inhibits the crystallization of pure amorphous calcium minerals, it actually reduces the stability of the magnesium-stabilized precursors to switch on the transformation from the amorphous to crystallized phases. These modification effects on crystallization kinetics can be understood by an Asp-enhanced magnesium desolvation model. The interesting magnesium-Asp-based switch is a biologically inspired lesson from nature, which can be developed into an advanced strategy to control material fabrications. PMID:20007788

Magnesium-aspartate-based crystallization switch inspired from shell molt of crustacean.

PubMed

Tao, Jinhui; Zhou, Dongming; Zhang, Zhisen; Xu, Xurong; Tang, Ruikang

2009-12-29

Many animals such as crustacean periodically undergo cyclic molt of the exoskeleton. During this process, amorphous calcium mineral phases are biologically stabilized by magnesium and are reserved for the subsequent rapid formation of new shell tissue. However, it is a mystery how living organisms can regulate the transition of the precursor phases precisely. We reveal that the shell mineralization from the magnesium stabilized precursors is associated with the presence of Asp-rich proteins. It is suggested that a cooperative effect of magnesium and Asp-rich compound can result into a crystallization switch in biomineralization. Our in vitro experiments confirm that magnesium increases the lifetime of amorphous calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate in solution so that the crystallization can be temporarily switched off. Although Asp monomer alone inhibits the crystallization of pure amorphous calcium minerals, it actually reduces the stability of the magnesium-stabilized precursors to switch on the transformation from the amorphous to crystallized phases. These modification effects on crystallization kinetics can be understood by an Asp-enhanced magnesium desolvation model. The interesting magnesium-Asp-based switch is a biologically inspired lesson from nature, which can be developed into an advanced strategy to control material fabrications.

One-dimensional growth of hexagonal rods of metastable h-MoO3 using one-pot, rapid and environmentally benign supercritical fluid processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thangasamy, Pitchai; Shanmugapriya, Vadivel; Sathish, Marappan

2018-05-01

A facile and one-pot supercritical fluid method was demonstrated for the synthesis of phase pure crystalline h-MoO3 microrods within a short reaction time of 5 min at 400 °C. The formation of h-MoO3 was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopic analysis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images clearly revealed the formation of hexagonal h-MoO3 rods. Further, photoluminescence emission peaks corresponding to band to band transition was observed in the h-MoO3 microrods. It was observed that when increasing the reaction time from 5 min to 30 min at 400 °C, h-MoO3 microrods undergoes disintegration to α-MoO3 thin nanorods. Interestingly, h-MoO3 microrods were also formed in a reaction time of 30 min at 400 °C when reducing the volume of nitric acid from 1 mL to ∼0.5 mL. The short reaction time and simple synthetic strategy makes this method can be suitable for the synthesis of other semiconductor nanomaterials for diverse applications.

The importance of Zebrafish in biomedical research.

PubMed

Tavares, Bárbara; Santos Lopes, Susana

2013-01-01

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is an ideal model organism for the study of vertebrate development. This is due to the large clutches that each couple produces, with up to 200 embryos every 7 days, and to the fact that the embryos and larvae are small, transparent and undergo rapid external development. Using scientific literature research tools available online and the keywords Zebrafish, biomedical research, human disease, and drug screening, we reviewed original studies and reviews indexed in PubMed. In this review we summarized work conducted with this model for the advancement of our knowledge related to several human diseases. We also focused on the biomedical research being performed in Portugal with the zebrafish model. Powerful live imaging and genetic tools are currently available for zebrafish making it a valuable model in biomedical research. The combination of these properties with the optimization of automated systems for drug screening has transformed the zebrafish into "a top model" in biomedical research, drug discovery and toxicity testing. Furthermore, with the optimization of xenografts technology it will be possible to use zebrafish to aide in the choice of the best therapy for each patient. Zebrafish is an excellent model organism in biomedical research, drug development and in clinical therapy.

Making sense of big data in health research: Towards an EU action plan.

PubMed

Auffray, Charles; Balling, Rudi; Barroso, Inês; Bencze, László; Benson, Mikael; Bergeron, Jay; Bernal-Delgado, Enrique; Blomberg, Niklas; Bock, Christoph; Conesa, Ana; Del Signore, Susanna; Delogne, Christophe; Devilee, Peter; Di Meglio, Alberto; Eijkemans, Marinus; Flicek, Paul; Graf, Norbert; Grimm, Vera; Guchelaar, Henk-Jan; Guo, Yi-Ke; Gut, Ivo Glynne; Hanbury, Allan; Hanif, Shahid; Hilgers, Ralf-Dieter; Honrado, Ángel; Hose, D Rod; Houwing-Duistermaat, Jeanine; Hubbard, Tim; Janacek, Sophie Helen; Karanikas, Haralampos; Kievits, Tim; Kohler, Manfred; Kremer, Andreas; Lanfear, Jerry; Lengauer, Thomas; Maes, Edith; Meert, Theo; Müller, Werner; Nickel, Dörthe; Oledzki, Peter; Pedersen, Bertrand; Petkovic, Milan; Pliakos, Konstantinos; Rattray, Magnus; I Màs, Josep Redón; Schneider, Reinhard; Sengstag, Thierry; Serra-Picamal, Xavier; Spek, Wouter; Vaas, Lea A I; van Batenburg, Okker; Vandelaer, Marc; Varnai, Peter; Villoslada, Pablo; Vizcaíno, Juan Antonio; Wubbe, John Peter Mary; Zanetti, Gianluigi

2016-06-23

Medicine and healthcare are undergoing profound changes. Whole-genome sequencing and high-resolution imaging technologies are key drivers of this rapid and crucial transformation. Technological innovation combined with automation and miniaturization has triggered an explosion in data production that will soon reach exabyte proportions. How are we going to deal with this exponential increase in data production? The potential of "big data" for improving health is enormous but, at the same time, we face a wide range of challenges to overcome urgently. Europe is very proud of its cultural diversity; however, exploitation of the data made available through advances in genomic medicine, imaging, and a wide range of mobile health applications or connected devices is hampered by numerous historical, technical, legal, and political barriers. European health systems and databases are diverse and fragmented. There is a lack of harmonization of data formats, processing, analysis, and data transfer, which leads to incompatibilities and lost opportunities. Legal frameworks for data sharing are evolving. Clinicians, researchers, and citizens need improved methods, tools, and training to generate, analyze, and query data effectively. Addressing these barriers will contribute to creating the European Single Market for health, which will improve health and healthcare for all Europeans.

Rapid method for controlling the correct labeling of products containing common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) and main substitute species (Eledone cirrhosa and Dosidicus gigas) by fast real-time PCR.

PubMed

Espiñeira, Montserrat; Vieites, Juan M

2012-12-15

The TaqMan real-time PCR has the highest potential for automation, therefore representing the currently most suitable method for screening, allowing the detection of fraudulent or unintentional mislabeling of species. This work describes the development of a real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) system for the detection and identification of common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) and main substitute species (Eledone cirrhosa and Dosidicus gigas). This technique is notable for the combination of simplicity, speed, sensitivity and specificity in an homogeneous assay. The method can be applied to all kinds of products; fresh, frozen and processed, including those undergoing intensive processes of transformation. This methodology was validated to check how the degree of food processing affects the method and the detection of each species. Moreover, it was applied to 34 commercial samples to evaluate the labeling of products made from them. The methodology herein developed is useful to check the fulfillment of labeling regulations for seafood products and to verify traceability in commercial trade and for fisheries control. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Thermally-prepared polymorphic forms of cilostazol.

PubMed

Stowell, Grayson W; Behme, Robert J; Denton, Stacy M; Pfeiffer, Inigo; Sancilio, Frederick D; Whittall, Linda B; Whittle, Robert R

2002-12-01

Prior to this study, cilostazol, an antithrombotic drug, was thought to exist as a single crystalline phase with a melting point of approximately 159 degrees C (Form A). On cooling, melts often form a glass that, when heated, may crystallize as additional crystalline polymorphic forms. Cilostazol, when reheated, subsequently forms polymorphs that melt at approximately 136 degrees C (Form B) and 146 degrees C (Form C). Free-energy temperature diagrams estimated from calorimetry data reveal that each pair of the cilostazol polymorphs (A-B, B-C, and A-C) is monotropic. Essentially pure samples of suitable crystalline shape and size permitted single crystal structural analysis of Forms A and C. Theoretical solubility ratios calculated using calorimetry data indicate that at 37 degrees C, Form B should be more than four times more soluble and Form C should be more than two times more soluble than Form A. Forms B and C could not be crystallized from solvents. Metastable forms from super cooled melts analyzed by intrinsic dissolution and Fourier transform-Raman experiments demonstrated that Forms B and C undergo a rapid, solvent-mediated recrystallization to Form A, making dissolution rate measurements difficult. Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmaceutical Association J Pharm Sci 91:2481-2488, 2002

Effect of rolling on phase composition and microhardness of austenitic steels with different stacking-fault energies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Melnikov, Eugene; Astafurova, Elena; Maier, Galina; Moskvina, Valentina

2017-12-01

The influence of multi-pass cold rolling on the phase composition and microhardness of austenitic Fe-18Cr-9Ni-0.21C, Fe-18Cr-9Ni-0.5Ti-0.08C, Fe-17Cr-13Ni-3Mo-0.01C (in wt %) steels with different stacking fault energies was studied. The metastable Fe-18Cr-9Ni-0.5Ti-0.08C steel undergoes γ → α' phase transformations during rolling, the volume fraction of strain-induced α'-martensite in steel structure is increased with increasing strain. Metastable austenite Fe-18Cr-9Ni-0.21C steel does not undergo the formation of an appreciable amount of strain-induced α'-martensite under rolling, but the magnetophase analysis reveals a small amount of ferrite phase in the structure of steel after rolling. The structure of stable Fe-17Cr-13Ni-3Mo-0.01C steel remains austenitic independently under strain. Investigations of microhardness of the steels show that their values are increased with strain and are dependent on propensity of steels to strain-induced martensitic transformation.

High Efficiency Transformation of Cultured Tobacco Cells 1

PubMed Central

An, Gynheung

1985-01-01

Tobacco calli were transformed at levels up to 50% by cocultivation of tobacco cultured cells with Agrobacterium tumefaciens harboring the binary transfer-DNA vector, pGA472, containing a kanamycin resistance marker. Transformation frequency was dependent on the physiological state of the tobacco cells, the nature of Agrobacterium strain and, less so, on the expression of the vir genes of the tumor-inducing plasmid. Maximum transformation frequency was obtained with exponentially growing plant cells, suggesting that rapid growth of plant cells is an essental factor for efficient transformation of higher plants. Images Fig. 1 PMID:16664453

Use of glancing angle X-ray powder diffractometry to depth-profile phase transformations during dissolution of indomethacin and theophylline tablets.

PubMed

Debnath, Smita; Predecki, Paul; Suryanarayanan, Raj

2004-01-01

The purpose of this study was (i) to develop glancing angle x-ray powder diffractometry (XRD) as a method for profiling phase transformations as a function of tablet depth; and (ii) to apply this technique to (a) study indomethacin crystallization during dissolution of partially amorphous indomethacin tablets and to (b) profile anhydrate --> hydrate transformations during dissolution of theophylline tablets. The intrinsic dissolution rates of indomethacin and theophylline were determined after different pharmaceutical processing steps. Phase transformations during dissolution were evaluated by various techniques. Transformation in the bulk and on the tablet surface was characterized by conventional XRD and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. Glancing angle XRD enabled us to profile these transformations as a function of depth from the tablet surface. Pharmaceutical processing resulted in a decrease in crystallinity of both indomethacin and theophylline. When placed in contact with the dissolution medium, while indomethacin recrystallized, theophylline anhydrate rapidly converted to theophylline monohydrate. Due to intimate contact with the dissolution medium, drug transformation occurred to a greater extent at or near the tablet surface. Glancing angle XRD enabled us to depth profile the extent of phase transformations as a function of the distance from the tablet surface. The processed sample (both indomethacin and theophylline) transformed more rapidly than did the corresponding unprocessed drug. Several challenges associated with the glancing angle technique, that is, the effects of sorbed water, phase transformations during the experimental timescale, and the influence of phase transformation on penetration depth, were addressed. Increased solubility, and consequently dissolution rate, is one of the potential advantages of metastable phases. This advantage is negated if, during dissolution, the metastable to stable transformation rate > dissolution rate. Glancing angle XRD enabled us to quantify and thereby profile phase transformations as a function of compact depth. The technique has potential utility in monitoring surface reactions, both chemical decomposition and physical transformations, in pharmaceutical systems.

Simple genetic transformation assay for rapid diagnosis of Moraxella osloensis.

PubMed

Juni, E

1974-01-01

A genetic transformation assay for unequivocal identification of strains of Moraxella osloensis is described. In this assay a stable tryptophan auxotroph is transformed to prototrophy by deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) samples from other strains of M. osloensis but not by DNA samples from unrelated bacteria. The test is simple to perform and definitive results can be obtained in less than 24 h. The procedure, which is suitable for routine diagnosis in a clinical laboratory, involves a rapid method for preparation of crude transforming DNA from small quantities of bacterial cells and permits simultaneous examination of large numbers of isolated cultures. The assay was shown to correctly identify 27 strains previously classified as M. osloensis. Forty-five other gram-negative, oxidase-positive, nonmotile coccobacilli, which might be confused with M. osloensis unless subject to more extensive testing, were shown to be unrelated genetically to M. osloensis. The transformation assay clearly distinguishes M. osloensis from Acinetobacter. Although most strains of M. osloensis are nonfastidious, being able to grow in a mineral medium supplemented with a single organic carbon source, one of the strains tested was only able to grow on fairly complex media and could not be transformed to grow on simple media. Inability to alkalize Simmons citrate agar was shown not to be characteristic of all strains of M. osloensis.

Simple Genetic Transformation Assay for Rapid Diagnosis of Moraxella osloensis

PubMed Central

Juni, Elliot

1974-01-01

A genetic transformation assay for unequivocal identification of strains of Moraxella osloensis is described. In this assay a stable tryptophan auxotroph is transformed to prototrophy by deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) samples from other strains of M. osloensis but not by DNA samples from unrelated bacteria. The test is simple to perform and definitive results can be obtained in less than 24 h. The procedure, which is suitable for routine diagnosis in a clinical laboratory, involves a rapid method for preparation of crude transforming DNA from small quantities of bacterial cells and permits simultaneous examination of large numbers of isolated cultures. The assay was shown to correctly identify 27 strains previously classified as M. osloensis. Forty-five other gram-negative, oxidase-positive, nonmotile coccobacilli, which might be confused with M. osloensis unless subject to more extensive testing, were shown to be unrelated genetically to M. osloensis. The transformation assay clearly distinguishes M. osloensis from Acinetobacter. Although most strains of M. osloensis are nonfastidious, being able to grow in a mineral medium supplemented with a single organic carbon source, one of the strains tested was only able to grow on fairly complex media and could not be transformed to grow on simple media. Inability to alkalize Simmons citrate agar was shown not to be characteristic of all strains of M. osloensis. Images PMID:4589126

Digital disruption ?syndromes.

PubMed

Sullivan, Clair; Staib, Andrew

2017-05-18

The digital transformation of hospitals in Australia is occurring rapidly in order to facilitate innovation and improve efficiency. Rapid transformation can cause temporary disruption of hospital workflows and staff as processes are adapted to the new digital workflows. The aim of this paper is to outline various types of digital disruption and some strategies for effective management. A large tertiary university hospital recently underwent a rapid, successful roll-out of an integrated electronic medical record (EMR). We observed this transformation and propose several digital disruption "syndromes" to assist with understanding and management during digital transformation: digital deceleration, digital transparency, digital hypervigilance, data discordance, digital churn and post-digital 'depression'. These 'syndromes' are defined and discussed in detail. Successful management of this temporary digital disruption is important to ensure a successful transition to a digital platform. What is known about this topic? Digital disruption is defined as the changes facilitated by digital technologies that occur at a pace and magnitude that disrupt established ways of value creation, social interactions, doing business and more generally our thinking. Increasing numbers of Australian hospitals are implementing digital solutions to replace traditional paper-based systems for patient care in order to create opportunities for improved care and efficiencies. Such large scale change has the potential to create transient disruption to workflows and staff. Managing this temporary disruption effectively is an important factor in the successful implementation of an EMR. What does this paper add? A large tertiary university hospital recently underwent a successful rapid roll-out of an integrated electronic medical record (EMR) to become Australia's largest digital hospital over a 3-week period. We observed and assisted with the management of several cultural, behavioural and operational forms of digital disruption which lead us to propose some digital disruption 'syndromes'. The definition and management of these 'syndromes' are discussed in detail. What are the implications for practitioners? Minimising the temporary effects of digital disruption in hospitals requires an understanding that these digital 'syndromes' are to be expected and actively managed during large-scale transformation.

The Relationship between Emotional Intelligence, Transformational Leadership, and Effectiveness in School Principals

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hebert, Elizabeth B.

2010-01-01

In the rapidly changing school environment effective principals are needed to make necessary changes while also developing a culture of shared responsibility and community (Hallinger & Heck, 1998; Leithwood & Jantzi, 1999). The correlation between transformational leadership and emotional intelligence was investigated in this quantitative…

The development of new ferromagnetic shape memory alloys in Ni-Mn-Ga system

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

Chernenko, V.A.; Kokorin, V.V.; Vitenko, I.N.

1995-10-15

The Ferromagnetic Heusler alloy Ni{sub 2}MnGa is known to undergo a structural phase transformation of martensitic type. Thermoelastic nature, shape memory effect (SME) and superelasticity were sound to be intrinsic to this transformation. In this work the authors present the results of the investigation of the following problems: how M{sub s}, the thermal hysteresis, Curie temperature, transformation heat are affected by the composition variation in the Ni-Mn-Ga alloy system in a concentration interval for each component of about 10 at. %. This work was performed to make sure that the new family of Ni-Mn-Ga based shape memory alloys (SMA) withmore » a wide variety of structural and magnetic properties is actually elaborated.« less

Characteristics of the interplanetary shocks formed by a sudden increase in the velocity of the solar wind from a coronal hole

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bravo, S.

1995-01-01

Coronal holes are the sources of the solar wind and, according to recent YOKOH observations, may undergo rapid changes which are associated with manifestations of explosive solar activity. Rapid changes in a hole's structure will produce rapid changes in the characteristics of the wind emerging from it and, in the particular c se of a sudden increase in wind velocity, this may lead to the formation of an interplanetary shock. We discuss the characteristics of shocks formed in such a way and compare them with interplanetary observations.

Sampling methods and data generation

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The study of forensic microbiology is an inherent blend of forensic science and microbiology, and both disciplines have recently been undergoing rapid advancements in technology that are allowing for exciting new research avenues. The integration of two different disciplines poses challenges becaus...

METABOLISM AND GENOTOXICITY OF 1-NITROPYRENE

EPA Science Inventory

1-Nitropyrene (NP), a nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and a potent bacterial mutagen, has been identified in combustion emissions and may contribute to the burden of genotoxicity associated with air pollution. NP undergoes rapid metabolism by rat hepatic subcellular frac...

Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation of Superroot-derived Lotus corniculatus plants: a valuable tool for functional genomics.

PubMed

Jian, Bo; Hou, Wensheng; Wu, Cunxiang; Liu, Bin; Liu, Wei; Song, Shikui; Bi, Yurong; Han, Tianfu

2009-06-25

Transgenic approaches provide a powerful tool for gene function investigations in plants. However, some legumes are still recalcitrant to current transformation technologies, limiting the extent to which functional genomic studies can be performed on. Superroot of Lotus corniculatus is a continuous root cloning system allowing direct somatic embryogenesis and mass regeneration of plants. Recently, a technique to obtain transgenic L. corniculatus plants from Superroot-derived leaves through A. tumefaciens-mediated transformation was described. However, transformation efficiency was low and it took about six months from gene transfer to PCR identification. In the present study, we developed an A. rhizogenes-mediated transformation of Superroot-derived L. corniculatus for gene function investigation, combining the efficient A. rhizogenes-mediated transformation and the rapid regeneration system of Superroot. The transformation system using A. rhizogenes K599 harbouring pGFPGUSPlus was improved by validating some parameters which may influence the transformation frequency. Using stem sections with one node as explants, a 2-day pre-culture of explants, infection with K599 at OD(600) = 0.6, and co-cultivation on medium (pH 5.4) at 22 degrees C for 2 days enhanced the transformation frequency significantly. As proof of concept, Superroot-derived L. corniculatus was transformed with a gene from wheat encoding an Na+/H+ antiporter (TaNHX2) using the described system. Transgenic Superroot plants were obtained and had increased salt tolerance, as expected from the expression of TaNHX2. A rapid and efficient tool for gene function investigation in L. corniculatus was developed, combining the simplicity and high efficiency of the Superroot regeneration system and the availability of A. rhizogenes-mediated transformation. This system was improved by validating some parameters influencing the transformation frequency, which could reach 92% based on GUS detection. The combination of the highly efficient transformation and the regeneration system of Superroot provides a valuable tool for functional genomics studies in L. corniculatus.

New insights into the environmental photochemistry of 5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol (triclosan): reconsidering the importance of indirect photoreactions.

PubMed

Bianco, Angelica; Fabbri, Debora; Minella, Marco; Brigante, Marcello; Mailhot, Gilles; Maurino, Valter; Minero, Claudio; Vione, Davide

2015-04-01

Triclosan (5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol) is a widely used antimicrobial agent that undergoes fairly slow biodegradation. It is often found in surface waters in both the acidic (HTric) and basic (Tric(-)) forms (pKa ∼8), and it can undergo direct photodegradation to produce several intermediates including a dioxin congener (2,8-dichlorodibenzodioxin, hereafter 28DCDD). The latter is formed from Tric(-) and causes non-negligible environmental concern. Differently from current literature reports, in this paper we show that the direct photolysis would not be the only important transformation pathway of triclosan in surface waters. This is particularly true for HTric, which could undergo very significant reactions with (•)OH and, if the laser-derived quenching rate constants of this work are comparable to the actual reaction rate constants, with the triplet states of chromophoric dissolved organic matter ((3)CDOM*). Model calculations suggest that reaction with (3)CDOM* could be the main HTric phototransformation pathway in deep waters with high dissolved organic carbon (DOC), while reaction with (•)OH could prevail in low-DOC waters. In the case of Tric(-) the direct photolysis is much more important than for HTric, but triplet-sensitised transformation could produce 28DCDD + 27DCDD with higher yield compared to the direct photolysis, and it could play some role as dioxin source in deep waters with elevated DOC. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Transforming Growth Factor-β1 activates ΔNp63/c-Myc to promote Oral Squamous cell carcinoma

PubMed Central

Hu, Lihua; Li, Zhi; Liu, Jingpeng; Wang, Chunling; Nawshad, Ali

2016-01-01

Objective During the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), the transformed epithelial cells undergo increased proliferation resulting in tumor growth and invasion. Interestingly, throughout all phases of differentiation and progression of OSCC, TGFβ1 induces cell cycle arrest/apoptosis, however; the role of TGFβ1 in promoting cancer cell proliferation has not been explored in detail. The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of TGFβ1 on OSCC cell proliferation. Methods Using both human OSCC samples and cell lines (UMSCC38 and UMSCC 11B), we employed biochemical experiments to show protein, mRNA, gene expression and protein-DNA interactions during OSCC progression. Results Our results showed that TGFβ1 increased OSCC cell proliferation by up-regulating the expression of ΔNp63 and c-Myc oncogenes. While the basal OSCC cell proliferation is sustained by activating ΔNp63, increased induction of c-Myc causes unregulated OSCC cell proliferation. Following induction of the cell cycle by ΔNp63 and c-Myc, cancer cells that halt c-Myc activity undergo EMT/invasion while those that continue to express ΔNp63/c-Myc undergo unlimited progression through the cell cycle. Conclusion We conclude that OSCC proliferation is manifested by the induction of c-Myc in response to TGFβ1 signaling, which is essential for OSCC growth. Our data highlights the potential role of TGFβ1 in the induction of cancer progression and invasion of OSCC. PMID:27567435

Multistage carcinogenesis in cell culture.

PubMed

Rubin, H

2001-01-01

Rodent fibroblasts explanted from embryos to culture undergo a period of declining growth rate in serial passages leading to crisis, followed by the appearance of variants which can multiply indefinitely. If the "immortal" cell line was established by low density passage, i.e., 3T3 cells, it has a low saturation density and is non-tumorigenic. If it was established by high density passage, it has a high saturation density and is tumorigenic. The establishment of cells goes through successive stages, including increased capacity to multiply in low serum concentration, growth to high saturation density, growth in suspension, assisted tumour formation in susceptible hosts and unassisted tumour formation. Chromosome aberrations and aneuploidy occur long before the capacity to produce tumours appears. Contrary to conventional belief, human fibroblast populations also undergo a continuous loss of capacity to multiply from the time of explantation, with only the longest surviving clone reaching the Hayflick limit. Neoplastic transformation of rodent cells is strongly favoured by maintaining them in a quiescent state at confluence for prolonged periods, which results in genetic damage to the cells. It also produces a large variety of chromosomal aberrations in human cells and extends their replicative lifespan. Individual clones are more susceptible to spontaneous transformation than their heterogeneous parental cultures. The implications of these results for tumour development in vivo are that oncogenic genetic changes may be common under stressful conditions which restrict replication, and that such changes are maximized when a rogue clone reaches a critical size that reduces stabilizing interactions with neighbouring clones. An alternative explanation, described in the Addendum, which we retrospectively favor is that the easily transformed clones are a minority in the uncloned parental population. The reason they transform before the parental population is that when they are expanded, they have more transformable cells available under the selective condition of confluence than the uncloned parental population from which they are derived.

Large-Scale Deformation and Uplift Associated with Serpentinization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Germanovich, L. N.; Lowell, R. P.; Smith, J. E.

2014-12-01

Geologic and geophysical data suggest that partially serpentinized peridotites and serpentinites are a significant part of the oceanic lithosphere. All serpentinization reactions are exothermic and result in volume expansion as high as 40%. Volume expansion beneath the seafloor will lead to surface uplift and elevated stresses in the neighborhood of the region undergoing serpentinization. The serpentinization-induced stresses are likely to result in faulting or tensile fracturing that promote the serpentinization process by creating new permeability and allowing fluid access to fresh peridotite. To explore these issues, we developed a first-order model of crustal deformation by considering an inclusion undergoing transformation strain in an elastic half-space. Using solutions for inclusions of different shapes, orientations, and depths, we calculate the surface uplift and mechanical stresses generated by the serpentinization processes. We discuss the topographic features at the TAG hydrothermal field (Mid-Atlantic Ridge, 26°N), uplift of the Miyazaki Plain (Southwestern Japan), and tectonic history of the Atlantic Massif (inside corner high of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, 30°N, and the Atlantis Transform Fault). Our analysis suggests that an anomalous salient of 3 km in diameter and 100 m high at TAG may have resulted from approximately 20% transformational strain in a region beneath the footwall of the TAG detachment fault. This serpentinization process tends to promote slip along some overlying normal faults, which may then enhance fluid pathways to the deeper crust to continue the serpentinization process. The serpentinization also favors slip and seismicity along the antithetic faults identified below the TAG detachment fault. Our solution for the Miyazaki Plain above the Kyushu-Palau subduction zone explains the observed uplift of 120 m, but the transformational strain needs only be 3%. Transformational strains associated with serpentinization in this region may promote thrust-type events in the aseismic slip zone near the upper boundary of the subducting Philippine Sea Plate. Thermal effects of serpentinization in both regions are small.

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of the haploid liverwort Marchantia polymorpha L., an emerging model for plant biology.

PubMed

Ishizaki, Kimitsune; Chiyoda, Shota; Yamato, Katsuyuki T; Kohchi, Takayuki

2008-07-01

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation has not been practical in pteridophytes, bryophytes and algae to date, although it is commonly used in model plants including Arabidopsis and rice. Here we present a rapid Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system for the haploid liverwort Marchantia polymorpha L. using immature thalli developed from spores. Hundreds of hygromycin-resistant plants per sporangium were obtained by co-cultivation of immature thalli with Agrobacterium carrying the binary vector that contains a reporter, the beta-glucuronidase (GUS) gene with an intron, and a selection marker, the hygromycin phosphotransferase (hpt) gene. In this system, individual gemmae, which arise asexually from single initial cells, were analyzed as isogenic transformants. GUS activity staining showed that all hygromycin-resistant plants examined expressed the GUS transgene in planta. DNA analyses verified random integration of 1-5 copies of the intact T-DNA between the right and the left borders into the M. polymorpha genome. The efficient and rapid Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of M. polymorpha should provide molecular techniques to facilitate comparative genomics, taking advantage of this unique model plant that retains many features of the common ancestor of land plants.

Transformational Leadership and Innovation: A Comparison Study between Iraq's Public and Private Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Al-Husseini, Sawasn; Elbeltagi, Ibrahim

2016-01-01

With globalisation and a rapidly changing environment, the higher education sector in developing countries is facing challenges that require extraordinary leaders. Innovation is important for organisations, particularly in learning environments. Transformational leadership (TL) has been found to have an important influence on innovation, leading…

Hypersensitivity reactions to metal implants: laboratory options.

PubMed

Carossino, Anna Maria; Carulli, Christian; Ciuffi, Simone; Carossino, Roberto; Zappoli Thyrion, Giorgia Donata; Zonefrati, Roberto; Innocenti, Massimo; Brandi, Maria Luisa

2016-11-23

All implant compounds undergo an electrochemical process when in contact with biological fluids, as well as mechanical corrosion due to abrasive wear, with production of metal debris that may inhibit repair processes. None of the commonly-used methods can diagnose implant allergies when used singly, therefore a panel of tests should be performed on allergic patients as pre-operative screening, or when a postoperative metal sensitisation is suspected. We analysed patients with painful prostheses and subjects prone to allergies using the Patch Test in comparison with the Lymphocyte Transformation Test. Cytokine production was evaluated to identify prognostic markers for early diagnosis of aseptic loosening. Metal debris endocytosis and cytoskeletal rearrangement was visualised by confocal microscopy. Our results demonstrate that the Lymphocyte Transformation Test can identify patients who have a predisposition to develop allergic reactions and can confirm the diagnosis of hypersensitivity in patients with painful prostheses. The prevalence of a Th2-cytokine pattern may be used to identify predisposition to the development of allergic diseases, while the selective presence of osteoclastogenic cytokines may be used as predictor of a negative outcome in patients with painful prosthesis. The hypothesis of the prognostic value of these cytokines as early markers of aseptic loosening is attractive, but its confirmation would require extensive testing. The Lymphocyte Transformation Test is the most suitable method for testing systemic allergies. We suggest that the combined use of the Patch Test and the Lymphocyte Transformation Test, associated with cytokine detection in selected patients, could provide a useful tool for preventive evaluation of immune reactivity in patients undergoing primary joint replacement surgery, and for clinical monitoring of the possible onset of a metal sensitization in patients with implanted devices.

Rapid thinning of Pine Island Glacier in the early Holocene.

PubMed

Johnson, J S; Bentley, M J; Smith, J A; Finkel, R C; Rood, D H; Gohl, K; Balco, G; Larter, R D; Schaefer, J M

2014-02-28

Pine Island Glacier, a major outlet of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, has been undergoing rapid thinning and retreat for the past two decades. We demonstrate, using glacial-geological and geochronological data, that Pine Island Glacier (PIG) also experienced rapid thinning during the early Holocene, around 8000 years ago. Cosmogenic (10)Be concentrations in glacially transported rocks show that this thinning was sustained for decades to centuries at an average rate of more than 100 centimeters per year, which is comparable with contemporary thinning rates. The most likely mechanism was a reduction in ice shelf buttressing. Our findings reveal that PIG has experienced rapid thinning at least once in the past and that, once set in motion, rapid ice sheet changes in this region can persist for centuries.

Delayed Expansion and Contraction of CD8+ T Cell Response during Infection with Virulent Salmonella typhimurium1

PubMed Central

Luu, Rachel A.; Gurnani, Komal; Dudani, Renu; Kammara, Rajagopal; van Faassen, Henk; Sirard, Jean-Claude; Krishnan, Lakshmi; Sad, Subash

2014-01-01

Ag presentation to CD8+ T cells often commences immediately after infection, which facilitates their rapid expansion and control of infection. Subsequently, the primed cells undergo rapid contraction. We report that this paradigm is not followed during infection with virulent Salmonella enterica, serovar Typhimurium (ST), an intracellular bacterium that replicates within phagosomes of infected cells. Although susceptible mice die rapidly (~7 days), resistant mice (129×1SvJ) harbor a chronic infection lasting ~60–90 days. Using rOVA-expressing ST (ST-OVA), we show that T cell priming is considerably delayed in the resistant mice. CD8+ T cells that are induced during ST-OVA infection undergo delayed expansion, which peaks around day 21, and is followed by protracted contraction. Initially, ST-OVA induces a small population of cycling central phenotype (CD62LhighIL-7RαhighCD44high) CD8+ T cells. However, by day 14–21, majority of the primed CD8+ T cells display an effector phenotype (CD62LlowIL-7RαlowCD44high). Subsequently, a progressive increase in the numbers of effector memory phenotype cells (CD62LlowIL-7RαhighCD44high) occurs. This differentiation program remained unchanged after accelerated removal of the pathogen with antibiotics, as majority of the primed cells displayed an effector memory phenotype even at 6 mo postinfection. Despite the chronic infection, CD8+ T cells induced by ST-OVA were functional as they exhibited killing ability and cytokine production. Importantly, even memory CD8+ T cells failed to undergo rapid expansion in response to ST-OVA infection, suggesting a delay in T cell priming during infection with virulent ST-OVA. Thus, phagosomal lifestyle may allow escape from host CD8+ T cell recognition, conferring a survival advantage to the pathogen. PMID:16849458

Model of oronasal rehabilitation in children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome undergoing rapid maxillary expansion: Research review

PubMed Central

Levrini, Luca; Lorusso, Paola; Caprioglio, Alberto; Magnani, Augusta; Diaféria, Giovana; Bittencourt, Lia; Bommarito, Silvana

2014-01-01

Rapid maxillary expansion (RME) is a widely used practice in orthodontics. Scientific evidence shows that RME can be helpful in modifying the breathing pattern in mouth-breathing patients. In order to promote the restoration of physiological breathing we have developed a rehabilitation program associated with RME in children. The aim of the study was a literature review and a model of orofacial rehabilitation in children with obstructive sleep apnea undergoing treatment with rapid maxillary expansion. Muscular training (local exercises and general ones) is the key factor of the program. It also includes hygienic and behavior instructions as well as other therapeutic procedures such as rhinosinusal washes, a postural re-education (Alexander technique) and, if necessary, a pharmacological treatment aimed to improve nasal obstruction. The program should be customized for each patient. If RME is supported by an adequate functional rehabilitation, the possibility to change the breathing pattern is considerably amplified. Awareness, motivation and collaboration of the child and their parents, as well as the cooperation among specialists, such as orthodontist, speech therapist, pediatrician and otolaryngologist, are necessary conditions to achieve the goal. PMID:26483933

Equations of State and High-Pressure Phases of Explosives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peiris, Suhithi M.; Gump, Jared C.

Energetic materials, being the collective name for explosives, propellants, pyrotechnics, and other flash-bang materials, span a wide range of composite chemical formulations. Most militarily used energetics are solids composed of particles of the pure energetic material held together by a binder. Commonly used binders include various oils, waxes, and polymers or plasticizers, and the composite is melt cast, cured, or pressed to achieve the necessary mechanical properties (gels, putties, sheets, solid blocks, etc.) of the final energetic material. Mining, demolition, and other industries use liquid energetics that are similarly composed of an actual energetic material or oxidizer together with a fuel, that is to be mixed and poured for detonation. Pure energetic materials that are commonly used are nitroglycerine, ammonium nitrate, ammonium or sodium perchlorate, trinitrotoluene (TNT), HMX, RDX, and TATB. All of them are molecular materials or molecular ions that when initiated or insulted undergoes rapid decomposition with excessive liberation of heat resulting in the formation of stable final products. When the final products are gases, and they are rapidly produced, the sudden pressure increase creates a shock wave. When decomposition is so rapid that the reaction moves through the explosive faster than the speed of sound in the unreacted explosive, the material is said to detonate. Typically, energetic materials that undergo detonation are known as high explosives (HEs) and energetic materials that burn rapidly or deflagrate are known as low explosives and/or propellants.

Bridging the Local with the Global: Building a New University on the Fringes of Europe

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pinheiro, Romulo

2013-01-01

In Norway, the higher education landscape is undergoing profound transformation. This process is being driven by a number of factors, including demography, competition and academic aspirations, with many so-called "university-colleges" aspiring to become fully-fledged universities. We shed light on the dynamics of one such institution,…

An Exploratory Study into Work/Family Balance within the Australian Higher Education Sector

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pillay, Soma; Kluvers, Ron; Abhayawansa, Subhash; Vranic, Vedran

2013-01-01

The higher education landscape is undergoing major transformation, with a significant impact on the work and family practices of academics and professional staff. The purpose of this exploratory study is to examine the extent to which (1) time-related, (2) strain-related and (3) demographical variables impact on the work/family balance of academic…

Restart: The Resurgence of Computer Science in UK Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Neil C. C.; Sentance, Sue; Crick, Tom; Humphreys, Simon

2014-01-01

Computer science in UK schools is undergoing a remarkable transformation. While the changes are not consistent across each of the four devolved nations of the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), there are developments in each that are moving the subject to become mandatory for all pupils from age 5 onwards. In this article, we…

Understanding the Concept of the Entrepreneurial University from the Perspective of Higher Education Models

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sam, Chanphirun; van der Sijde, Peter

2014-01-01

Over the last few decades, globalization and ever-increasing demands of the knowledge-based economy have caused higher education in most countries around the world to undergo significant transformation. Notwithstanding the dramatic changes in higher education, it is clearly noticed that the influence of the European higher education models is…

The Transformation of Metropolitan Universities: A Case Study of Rutgers University-Newark and Its Community Engagement Programs, 1967-2010

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hill, Diane

2012-01-01

During the past decade, urban colleges and universities have been undergoing changes attributable to the reemergence of outreach initiatives. More recently, these outreach efforts have been specifically designed to increase community engagement among faculty and students and to lend the institution's scientific, policy and social service expertise…

KSC-2013-1528

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-02-15

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – An artist's concept shows a possible layout of a commercial spacecraft and rocket using facilities at Launch Pad 39A as NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida undergoes a transformation into a multi-user spaceport. Several companies are designing rockets and spacecraft that could be used to launch astronauts and payloads into space in the future. Credit: NASA

School Psychologists' Willingness to Implement RtI: The Role of Philosophical and Practical Readiness

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fan, Chung-Hau; Denner, Peter R.; Bocanegra, Joel O.; Ding, Yi

2016-01-01

After the change in IDEIA, different models of response to intervention (RtI) have been practiced widely in American school systems. School psychologists are in an important position to facilitate RtI practice and provide professional development in order to help their school systems successfully undergo this transformation. However, there is a…

Inclusive Education: Perceptions of School Administration Team Members (SATM) in General Elementary Schools in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shani, Michal

2013-01-01

Inclusion policy refers to a reform where diversity among all learners, including those with disabilities, is supported. In order to implement this policy, schools have to undergo a process of transformation toward inclusive education where children receive equal education with learning opportunities for all. In an ideal school, where inclusive…

Supporting Professional Doctorate Women Students through Identity Change and Turbulent Times: Who Cares?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Webber, Louise

2017-01-01

Professional doctorates are designed to enable students to blend their doctorate level study with their working lives. During the course of their studies women undergo identity change and transformation as their perspectives change, this has knock on effects at home and at work. Women students, who are mothers, also have to balance and juggle…

I Felt Like My Heart Was Staying behind: Psychological Implications of Family Separations & Reunifications for Immigrant Youth

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Suarez-Orozco, Carola; Bang, Hee Jin; Kim, Ha Yeon

2011-01-01

Though many transnational families undergo profound transformations that are often complicated by extended periods of separation between loved ones, it is challenging to establish a sense of prevalence of family separations as well as their effects on youth. Utilizing the Longitudinal Immigrant Student Adaptation data with 282 newcomer adolescents…

A community in the wildland-urban interface

Treesearch

María Cecilia Ciampoli Halaman

2013-01-01

Communities located in the wildland-urban interface undergo a process of transformation until they can guard against fires occurring in the area. This study analyzed this process for the Estación neighborhood in the city of Esquel, Chubut Province, Argentina. The analysis was performed by comparing the level of danger diagnosed for each neighborhood home in 2004 with...

Adverse Environments and Children's Creativity Development: Transforming the Notion of "Success in Adversity" in China

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cheng, Li; Tan, Mei; Liu, Zhengkui

2015-01-01

China has been undergoing great social change due to its new focus on urbanization and globalization. Such change has had a tremendous adverse impact on the living conditions of millions of young children, simultaneously generating new interest in children's creativity development. The intersection of these two issues has important implications…

Attitudes toward Gay Marriage in States Undergoing Marriage Law Transformation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brumbaugh, Stacey M.; Sanchez, Laura A.; Nock, Steven L.; Wright, James D.

2008-01-01

This study examines attitudes toward gay marriage within the context of concern over the weakening of heterosexual marriage. We use data from a three-state survey conducted in 1998 - 2000 and designed to explore attitudes toward marriage and divorce reform (N = 976). We find that women, Whites, and younger persons are more approving of gay…

Urban transformation of a metropolis and its environmental impacts: a case study in Shanghai.

PubMed

Tian, Zhan; Cao, Guiying; Shi, Jun; McCallum, Ian; Cui, Linli; Fan, Dongli; Li, Xinhu

2012-06-01

The aim of this paper is to understand the sustainability of urban spatial transformation in the process of rapid urbanization, and calls for future research on the demographic and economic dimensions of climate change. Shanghai towards its transformation to a metropolis has experienced vast socioeconomic and ecological change and calls for future research on the impacts of demographic and economic dimensions on climate change. We look at the major questions (1) to explore economic and demographic growth, land use and land-cover changes in the context of rapid economic and city growth, and (2) to analyze how the demography and economic growth have been associated with the local air temperature and vegetation. We examine urban growth, land use and land-cover changes in the context of rapid economic development and urbanization. We assess the impact of urban expansion on local air temperature and vegetation. The analysis is based on time series data of land use, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and meteorological, demographic and economic data. The results indicate that urban growth has been driven by mass immigration; as a consequence of economic growth and urban expansion, a large amount of farmland has been converted to paved road and residential buildings. Furthermore, the difference between air temperature in urban and exurban areas has increased rapidly. The decrease of high mean annual NDVI has mainly occurred around the dense urban areas.

Using cognitive task analysis to inform issues in human systems integration in railroad operations

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-05-23

U.S. Railroad operations are undergoing rapid changes involving the introduction of new technologies such as positive train control (PTC), energy management systems (EMS), and electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) brakes in the locomotive cab. To...

The Phases of Sulfur.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Birdwhistell, Kurt R.

1995-01-01

Presents a demonstration that illustrates the dramatic changes that sulfur undergoes upon heating to 200 degrees centigrade and then cooling to room temperature. Supplements the demonstration of the rubberlike properties of catenasulfur made by rapid cooling of the sulfur melt in ice water. (JRH)

Picosecond amorphization of SiO2 stishovite under tension.

PubMed

Misawa, Masaaki; Ryuo, Emina; Yoshida, Kimiko; Kalia, Rajiv K; Nakano, Aiichiro; Nishiyama, Norimasa; Shimojo, Fuyuki; Vashishta, Priya; Wakai, Fumihiro

2017-05-01

It is extremely difficult to realize two conflicting properties-high hardness and toughness-in one material. Nano-polycrystalline stishovite, recently synthesized from Earth-abundant silica glass, proved to be a super-hard, ultra-tough material, which could provide sustainable supply of high-performance ceramics. Our quantum molecular dynamics simulations show that stishovite amorphizes rapidly on the order of picosecond under tension in front of a crack tip. We find a displacive amorphization mechanism that only involves short-distance collective motions of atoms, thereby facilitating the rapid transformation. The two-step amorphization pathway involves an intermediate state akin to experimentally suggested "high-density glass polymorphs" before eventually transforming to normal glass. The rapid amorphization can catch up with, screen, and self-heal a fast-moving crack. This new concept of fast amorphization toughening likely operates in other pressure-synthesized hard solids.

Effect of impurity on high pressure behavior of nano indium titanate

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

Chitnis, Abhishek, E-mail: abhishekchitnis87@gmail.com; Garg, Nandini; Mishra, A. K.

2015-06-24

Angle dispersive x-ray diffraction studies were carried out on a mixture of nano particles of indium titanate, indium oxide, and disordered TiO{sub 2} upto pressures of ∼ 45 GPa. Our studies show that indium titanate undergoes a partial decomposition to its constituent high pressure oxides. However, concomitantly a very small fraction of indium titanate transforms to a denser phase at ∼ 27.5 GPa. This transformation to new phase was found to be irreversible. At this pressure even cubic In{sub 2}O{sub 3} transformed to the In{sub 2}O{sub 3} (II) (iso-structural to Rh{sub 2}O{sub 3} (II)) phase, without any signature of themore » intermediate corundum phase. The high pressure In{sub 2}O{sub 3} (II) phase transforms to the corundum structure on release of pressure. These studies indicate that the presence of a large fraction of seed impurities could have facilitated the decomposition of indium titanate into its constituent oxides at the cost of its incomplete transformation to the high pressure denser phase.« less

Pressure-induced transformations in amorphous silicon: A computational study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garcez, K. M. S.; Antonelli, A.

2014-02-01

We study the transformations between amorphous phases of Si through molecular simulations using the environment dependent interatomic potential (EDIP) for Si. Our results show that upon pressure, the material undergoes a transformation from the low density amorphous (LDA) Si to the high density amorphous (HDA) Si. This transformation can be reversed by decompressing the material. This process, however, exhibits clear hysteresis, suggesting that the transformation LDA ↔ HDA is first-order like. The HDA phase is predominantly five-fold coordinated, whereas the LDA phase is the normal tetrahedrally bonded amorphous Si. The HDA phase at 400 K and 20 GPa was submitted to an isobaric annealing up to 800 K, resulting in a denser amorphous phase, which is structurally distinct from the HDA phase. Our results also show that the atomic volume and structure of this new amorphous phase are identical to those of the glass obtained by an isobaric quenching of the liquid in equilibrium at 2000 K and 20 GPa down to 400 K. The similarities between our results and those for amorphous ices suggest that this new phase is the very high density amorphous Si.

Karyotyping of Transformed Human Epithelial Cells from Exposures of Heavy Ions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yeshitla, Samrawit

2013-01-01

It is most likely that the untreated transformed single clone (clone #2) cell undergoes unequal segregation of chromosome in two daughter cell that result in 94 chromosome during mitosis, particularly in anaphase stage. Chromosome aberration observed. I. Breakage of part of chromosome 7. II. One additional number of chromosome 8 instead of the total chromosome can only be explained by early abnormal cell division. III. Complete lost of chromosome and translocation and fusion of chromosome 3 and X-chromosome. IV. Our result for translocation and fusion of chromosome 3 and X- Chromosome is conformed by mBAND pattern. There is no different between the transformed parental cell and the single cloned transformed cell. Both harbor the chromosome 5 and 16 translocation and both harbor has the trisomy chromosome 20. Transformed cells may have the number of chromosomes greater or less than 46. Doubling of chromosome numbers is a signature of tumor. Chromosomal aberration was observed on HBEC-3kt non-irradiated-soft agar (Clone #2) sample, and indication of chromosome instability in the tumor development process.

Using Landsat digital data to detect moisture stress in corn-soybean growing regions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thompson, D. R.; Wehmanen, O. A.

1980-01-01

As a part of a follow-on study to the moisture stress detection effort conducted in the Large Area Crop Inventory Experiment (LACIE), a technique utilizing transformed Landsat digital data was evaluated for detecting moisture stress in humid growing regions using sample segments from Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana. At known growth stages of corn and soybeans, segments were classified as undergoing moisture stress or not undergoing stress. The remote-sensing-based information was compared to a weekly ground-based index (Crop Moisture Index). This comparison demonstrated that the remote sensing technique could be used to monitor the growing conditions within a region where corn and soybeans are the major crop.

Mechanical phenotype of cancer cells: cell softening and loss of stiffness sensing.

PubMed

Lin, Hsi-Hui; Lin, Hsiu-Kuan; Lin, I-Hsuan; Chiou, Yu-Wei; Chen, Horn-Wei; Liu, Ching-Yi; Harn, Hans I-Chen; Chiu, Wen-Tai; Wang, Yang-Kao; Shen, Meng-Ru; Tang, Ming-Jer

2015-08-28

The stiffness sensing ability is required to respond to the stiffness of the matrix. Here we determined whether normal cells and cancer cells display distinct mechanical phenotypes. Cancer cells were softer than their normal counterparts, regardless of the type of cancer (breast, bladder, cervix, pancreas, or Ha-RasV12-transformed cells). When cultured on matrices of varying stiffness, low stiffness decreased proliferation in normal cells, while cancer cells and transformed cells lost this response. Thus, cancer cells undergo a change in their mechanical phenotype that includes cell softening and loss of stiffness sensing. Caveolin-1, which is suppressed in many tumor cells and in oncogene-transformed cells, regulates the mechanical phenotype. Caveolin-1-upregulated RhoA activity and Y397FAK phosphorylation directed actin cap formation, which was positively correlated with cell elasticity and stiffness sensing in fibroblasts. Ha-RasV12-induced transformation and changes in the mechanical phenotypes were reversed by re-expression of caveolin-1 and mimicked by the suppression of caveolin-1 in normal fibroblasts. This is the first study to describe this novel role for caveolin-1, linking mechanical phenotype to cell transformation. Furthermore, mechanical characteristics may serve as biomarkers for cell transformation.

Sorption, photodegradation, and chemical transformation of naproxen and ibuprofen in soils and water.

PubMed

Vulava, Vijay M; Cory, Wendy C; Murphey, Virginia L; Ulmer, Candice Z

2016-09-15

Pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) are released into the environment where they undergo soil sorption, photodegradation, and chemical transformation into structurally similar compounds. Here we report on studies of naproxen (NAP) and ibuprofen (IBP), two widely-used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), in soils and water. Organic matter (OM) was observed to play an important role in each of these processes. Sorption was observed to be stronger and nonlinear in higher OM soils while weaker but still significant in lower OM, higher clay soils; the amphiphilic nature of these two PhACs combined with the complex charged and nonpolar surfaces available in the soil was observed to control the sorption behavior. Simulated solar photodegradation rates of NAP and IBP in water were observed to change in the presence of humic acid or fulvic acid. Structural analogs of each compound were observed as the result of chemical transformation in both photoexposed aqueous solutions and non-photoexposed soil. Two of these transformation products were detected as both soil and photo transformation products for both PhACs. OM was observed to influence the chemical transformation of both pharmaceuticals. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Study of the transformation sequence on a high temperature martensitic transformation Ni-Mn-Ga-Co shape memory alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Recarte, V.; Pérez-Landazábal, J. I.; Sánchez-Alarcos, V.; Rodríguez-Velamazán, J. A.

2014-11-01

Ni-Mn-Ga alloys show the highest magnetic-field-induced strain among ferromagnetic shape memory alloys. A great effort is being done in this alloy system to increase the application temperature range. In this sense, the addition of small amounts of Cobalt to NiMnGa alloys has been proved to increase the MT temperatures through the increase of the electron per atom relation (e/a). In this work, the analysis of the crystal structure of the present phases and the phase transformations has been performed on a Ni-Mn-Ga-Co alloy by neutron diffraction measurements from 10 K to 673 K. The study has been completed by means of calorimetric and magnetic measurements. On cooling the alloy undergoes a martensitic transformation from a face centered cubic structure to a nonmodulated tetragonal martensite. The appearance of intermartensite transformations can be disregarded in the whole temperature range below the martensitic transformation. However, a jump in the unit-cell volume of the tetragonal martensite has been observed at 325 K. Since this temperature is close to the Curie temperature of the alloy both, the structural and magnetic contributions are taken into account to explain the results.

Rapidly evolving R genes in diverse grass species confer resistance to rice blast disease

PubMed Central

Yang, Sihai; Li, Jing; Zhang, Xiaohui; Zhang, Qijun; Huang, Ju; Chen, Jian-Qun; Hartl, Daniel L.; Tian, Dacheng

2013-01-01

We show that the genomes of maize, sorghum, and brachypodium contain genes that, when transformed into rice, confer resistance to rice blast disease. The genes are resistance genes (R genes) that encode proteins with nucleotide-binding site (NBS) and leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domains (NBS–LRR proteins). By using criteria associated with rapid molecular evolution, we identified three rapidly evolving R-gene families in these species as well as in rice, and transformed a randomly chosen subset of these genes into rice strains known to be sensitive to rice blast disease caused by the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. The transformed strains were then tested for sensitivity or resistance to 12 diverse strains of M. oryzae. A total of 15 functional blast R genes were identified among 60 NBS–LRR genes cloned from maize, sorghum, and brachypodium; and 13 blast R genes were obtained from 20 NBS–LRR paralogs in rice. These results show that abundant blast R genes occur not only within species but also among species, and that the R genes in the same rapidly evolving gene family can exhibit an effector response that confers resistance to rapidly evolving fungal pathogens. Neither conventional evolutionary conservation nor conventional evolutionary convergence supplies a satisfactory explanation of our findings. We suggest a unique mechanism termed “constrained divergence,” in which R genes and pathogen effectors can follow only limited evolutionary pathways to increase fitness. Our results open avenues for R-gene identification that will help to elucidate R-gene vs. effector mechanisms and may yield new sources of durable pathogen resistance. PMID:24145399

Thermal properties and phase transition in the fluoride, (NH{sub 4}){sub 3}SnF{sub 7}

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

Kartashev, A.V.; Astafijev Krasnoyarsk State Pedagogical University, 660049 Krasnoyarsk; Gorev, M.V.

2016-05-15

Calorimetric, dilatometric and differential thermal analysis studies were performed on (NH{sub 4}){sub 3}SnF{sub 7} for a wide range of temperatures and pressures. Large entropy (δS{sub 0}=22 J/mol K) and elastic deformation (δ(ΔV/V){sub 0}=0.89%) jumps have proven that the Pa-3↔Pm-3m phase transition is a strong first order structural transformation. A total entropy change of ΔS{sub 0}=32.5 J/mol K is characteristic for the order–disorder phase transition, and is equal to the sum of entropy changes in the related material, (NH{sub 4}){sub 3}TiF{sub 7}, undergoing transformation between the two cubic phases through the intermediate phases. Hydrostatic pressure decreases the stability of the highmore » temperature Pm-3m phase in (NH{sub 4}){sub 3}SnF{sub 7}, contrary to (NH{sub 4}){sub 3}TiF{sub 7}, characterised by a negative baric coefficient. The effect of experimental conditions on the chemical stability of (NH{sub 4}){sub 3}SnF{sub 7} was observed. - Graphical abstract: Strong first order structural transformation Pa-3↔Pm-3m in (NH{sub 4}){sub 3}SnF{sub 7} is associated with very large total entropy change of ΔS{sub 0}=32.5 J/mol K characteristic for the ordering processes and equal to the sum of entropy changes in the related (NH{sub 4}){sub 3}TiF{sub 7} undergoing transformation between the same two cubic phases through the intermediate phases. - Highlights: • (NH{sub 4}){sub 3}SnF{sub 7} undergoes strong first order Pa-3↔Pm-3m phase transition. • Anomalous behaviour of ΔC{sub p} and ΔV/V exists far below phase transition temperature. • Structural distortions are accompanied by huge total entropy change ΔS≈Rln50. • High pressure strongly increases the stability of Pa-3 phase in (NH{sub 4}){sub 3}SnF{sub 7}. • Entropy of the Pa-3↔Pm-3m phase transition does not depend on pressure.« less

First report on rapid screening of nanomaterial-based antimicrobial agents against β-lactamase resistance using pGLO plasmid transformed Escherichia coli HB 101 K-12

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raj, M. Alpha; Muralidhar, Y.; Sravanthi, M.; Prasad, T. N. V. K. V.; Nissipriya, M.; Reddy, P. Sirisha; Neelima, T. Shoba; Reddy, G. Dilip; Adilaxmamma, K.; Kumar, P. Anand; Krishna, T. Giridhara

2016-08-01

Combating antibiotic resistance requires discovery of novel antimicrobials effective against resistant bacteria. Herein, we present for the first time, pGLO plasmid transformed Escherichia coli HB 101 K 12 as novel model for screening of nanomaterial-based antimicrobial agents against β-lactamase resistance. E. coli HB 101 was transformed by pGLO plasmid in the presence of calcium chloride (50 mM; pH 6.1) aided by heat shock (0-42-0 °C). The transformed bacteria were grown on Luria-Bertani agar containing ampicillin (amp) and arabinose (ara). The transformed culture was able to grow in the presence of ampicillin and also exhibited fluorescence under UV light. Both untransformed and transformed bacteria were used for screening citrate-mediated nanosilver (CNS), aloin-mediated nanosilver (ANS), 11-α-keto-boswellic acid (AKBA)-mediated nanosilver (BNS); nanozinc oxide, nanomanganese oxide (NMO) and phytochemicals such as aloin and AKBA. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were obtained by microplate method using ρ-iodo nitro tetrazolium indicator. All the compounds were effective against transformed bacteria except NMO and AKBA. Transformed bacteria exhibited reverse cross resistance against aloin. ANS showed the highest antibacterial activity with a MIC of 0.32 ppm followed by BNS (10.32 ppm), CNS (20.64 ppm) and NZO (34.83 ppm). Thus, pGLO plasmid can be used to induce resistance against β-lactam antibiotics and the model can be used for rapid screening of new antibacterial agents effective against resistant bacteria.

Differential receipt of sentinel lymph node biopsy within practice-based research networks

PubMed Central

Meyer, Anne-Marie; Reeder-Hayes, Katherine E.; Liu, Huan; Wheeler, Stephanie B.; Penn, Dolly; Weiner, Bryan J.; Carpenter, William R.

2013-01-01

Background Provider-based research networks (PBRNs) are promising for accelerating not only research, but also dissemination of research-based evidence into broader community practice. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is an innovation in breast cancer care associated with equivalent survival and lower morbidity, as compared to standard axillary lymph node dissection. We examined the diffusion of SLNB into practice and whether affiliation with the Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP), a cancer-focused PBRN, was associated with more rapid uptake of SLNB. Research Design Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results(SEER)-Medicare data were used to study women diagnosed with stage I or II breast cancer in the years 2000 to 2005 and undergoing breast conserving surgery with axillary staging (n=6,226). The primary outcome was undergoing SLNB. CCOP affiliation of the surgical physician was ascertained from NCI records. Multivariable generalized linear modeling with generalized estimating equations was used to measure association between CCOP exposure and undergoing SLNB, controlling for potential confounders. Results Women treated by a CCOP physician had significantly higher odds of receiving SLNB compared to women treated by a non-CCOP physician (OR 2.68; 95% CI 1.35, 5.34). The magnitude of this association was larger than that observed among patients treated by physicians operating in medical school-affiliated hospitals (OR 1.76; 95% CI 1.30–2.39). Conclusion Women treated by CCOP-affiliated physicians were more likely to undergo SLNB irrespective of the hospital’s medical school affiliation, suggesting that the CCOP PBRN may play a role in the rapid adoption of research-based innovation in community practice. PMID:23942221

Histological transformation after acquired resistance to epidermal growth factor tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

PubMed

Shao, Yi; Zhong, Dian-Sheng

2018-04-01

Non-small-cell lung cancer patients with sensitive epidermal growth factor receptor mutations generally respond well to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). However, acquired resistance will eventually develop place after 8-16 months. Several mechanisms contribute to the resistance including T790M mutation, c-Met amplification, epithelial mesenchymal transformation and PIK3CA mutation; however, histological transformation is a rare mechanism. The patterns and mechanisms underlying histological transformation need to be explored. We searched PubMed, EMBASE and search engines Google Scholar, Medical Matrix for literature related to histological transformation. Case reports, cases series, and clinical and basic medical research articles were reviewed. Sixty-one articles were included in this review. Cases of transformation to small-cell lung cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and sarcoma after TKI resistance have all been reported. As the clinical course differed dramatically between cases, a new treatment scheme needs to be recruited. The mechanisms underlying histological transformation have not been fully elucidated and probably relate to cancer stem cells, driver genetic alterations under selective pressure or the heterogeneity of the tumor. When TKI resistance develops, we recommend that patients undergo a second biopsy to determine the reason, guide the next treatment and predict the prognosis.

(Bio)transformation of 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN) in Soils

PubMed Central

Olivares, Christopher I.; Abrell, Leif; Khatiwada, Raju; Chorover, Jon; Sierra-Alvarez, Reyes; Field, Jim A.

2015-01-01

Recent studies have begun to assess the environmental fate and toxicity of 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN), an insensitive munition compound of interest to defense agencies. Aerobic and anaerobic DNAN biotransformation in soils was evaluated in this study. Under aerobic conditions, there was little evidence of transformation; most observed removal was attributed to adsorption and subsequent slow chemical reactions. Under anaerobic conditions, DNAN was reductively (bio)transformed and the rate of the transformation was positively correlated with soil organic carbon (OC) up to a threshold of 2.07% OC. H2 addition enhanced the nitroreduction rate compared to endogenous treatments lacking H2. Heat-killed treatments provided rates similar to the endogenous treatment, suggesting that abiotic factors play a role in DNAN reduction. Ten (bio)transformation products were detected by high-resolution mass spectrometry. The proposed transformation pathway involves reduction of DNAN to aromatic amines, with putative reactive nitroso-intermediates coupling with the amines to form azo dimers. Secondary reactions include N-alkyl substitution, O-demethylation (sometimes followed by dehydroxylation), and removal of an N-containing group. Globally, our results suggest that the main reaction DNAN undergoes in anaerobic soils is nitroreduction to 2-methoxy-5-nitroaniline (MENA) and 2,4-diaminoanisole (DAAN), followed by anaerobic coupling reactions yielding azo-dimers. The dimers were subsequently subject to further (bio)transformations. PMID:26551225

Noise suppression in surface microseismic data by τ-p transform

USGS Publications Warehouse

Forghani-Arani, Farnoush; Batzle, Mike; Behura, Jyoti; Willis, Mark; Haines, Seth; Davidson, Michael

2013-01-01

Surface passive seismic methods are receiving increased attention for monitoring changes in reservoirs during the production of unconventional oil and gas. However, in passive seismic data the strong cultural and ambient noise (mainly surface-waves) decreases the effectiveness of these techniques. Hence, suppression of surface-waves is a critical step in surface microseismic monitoring. We apply a noise suppression technique, based on the τ — p transform, to a surface passive seismic dataset recorded over a Barnett Shale reservoir undergoing a hydraulic fracturing process. This technique not only improves the signal-to-noise ratios of added synthetic microseismic events, but it also preserves the event waveforms.

Simple catalytic mechanism for the direct coupling of α-carbonyls with functionalized amines: a one-step synthesis of Plavix.

PubMed

Evans, Ryan W; Zbieg, Jason R; Zhu, Shaolin; Li, Wei; MacMillan, David W C

2013-10-30

The direct α-amination of ketones, esters, and aldehydes has been accomplished via copper catalysis. In the presence of catalytic copper(II) bromide, a diverse range of carbonyl and amine substrates undergo fragment coupling to produce synthetically useful α-amino-substituted motifs. The transformation is proposed to proceed via a catalytically generated α-bromo carbonyl species; nucleophilic displacement of the bromide by the amine then delivers the α-amino carbonyl adduct while the catalyst is reconstituted. The practical value of this transformation is highlighted through one-step syntheses of two high-profile pharmaceutical agents, Plavix and amfepramone.

A Simple Catalytic Mechanism for the Direct Coupling of α-Carbonyls with Functionalized Amines: A One-Step Synthesis of Plavix

PubMed Central

Evans, Ryan W.; Zbieg, Jason R.; Zhu, Shaolin; Li, Wei; MacMillan, David W. C.

2014-01-01

The direct α-amination of ketones, esters, and aldehydes has been accomplished via copper catalysis. In the presence of catalytic copper(II) bromide, a diverse range of carbonyl and amine substrates undergo fragment coupling to produce synthetically useful α-amino substituted motifs. The transformation is proposed to proceed via a catalytically generated α-bromo carbonyl species; nucleophilic displacement of the bromide by the amine then delivers the α-amino carbonyl adduct while the catalyst is reconstituted. The practical value of this transformation is highlighted through one-step syntheses of two high–profile pharmaceutical agents, Plavix and amfepramone. PMID:24107144

Shocking Tails in the Major Merger Abell 2744

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Owers, Matt S.; Couch, Warrick J.; Nulsen, Paul E. J.; Randall, Scott W.

2012-05-01

We identify four rare "jellyfish" galaxies in Hubble Space Telescope imagery of the major merger cluster Abell 2744. These galaxies harbor trails of star-forming knots and filaments which have formed in situ in gas tails stripped from the parent galaxies, indicating they are in the process of being transformed by the environment. Further evidence for rapid transformation in these galaxies comes from their optical spectra, which reveal starburst, poststarburst, and active galactic nucleus features. Most intriguingly, three of the jellyfish galaxies lie near intracluster medium features associated with a merging "Bullet-like" subcluster and its shock front detected in Chandra X-ray images. We suggest that the high-pressure merger environment may be responsible for the star formation in the gaseous tails. This provides observational evidence for the rapid transformation of galaxies during the violent core passage phase of a major cluster merger.

SHOCKING TAILS IN THE MAJOR MERGER ABELL 2744

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

Owers, Matt S.; Couch, Warrick J.; Nulsen, Paul E. J.

We identify four rare 'jellyfish' galaxies in Hubble Space Telescope imagery of the major merger cluster Abell 2744. These galaxies harbor trails of star-forming knots and filaments which have formed in situ in gas tails stripped from the parent galaxies, indicating they are in the process of being transformed by the environment. Further evidence for rapid transformation in these galaxies comes from their optical spectra, which reveal starburst, poststarburst, and active galactic nucleus features. Most intriguingly, three of the jellyfish galaxies lie near intracluster medium features associated with a merging 'Bullet-like' subcluster and its shock front detected in Chandra X-raymore » images. We suggest that the high-pressure merger environment may be responsible for the star formation in the gaseous tails. This provides observational evidence for the rapid transformation of galaxies during the violent core passage phase of a major cluster merger.« less

Disorder trapping by rapidly moving phase interface in an undercooled liquid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Galenko, Peter; Danilov, Denis; Nizovtseva, Irina; Reuther, Klemens; Rettenmayr, Markus

2017-08-01

Non-equilibrium phenomena such as the disappearance of solute drag, the origin of solute trapping and evolution of disorder trapping occur during fast transformations with originating metastable phases [D.M. Herlach, P.K. Galenko, D. Holland-Moritz, Metastable solids from undrercooled melts (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2007)]. In the present work, a theoretical investigation of disorder trapping by a rapidly moving phase interface is presented. Using a model of fast phase transformations, a system of governing equations for the diffusion of atoms, and the evolution of both long-range order parameter and phase field variable is formulated. First numerical solutions are carried out for a congruently melting binary alloy system.

Rapid formation of complexity in the total synthesis of natural products enabled by oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptene building blocks.

PubMed

Schindler, Corinna S; Carreira, Erick M

2009-11-01

This critical review showcases examples of rapid formation of complexity in total syntheses starting from 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene derivatives. An overview of methods allowing synthetic access to these building blocks is provided and their application in recently developed synthetic transformations to structurally complex systems is illustrated. In addition, the facile access to a novel oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptene derived building block is presented which significantly enlarges the possibilities of previously known chemical transformations and is highlighted in the enantioselective route to the core of the banyaside and suomilide natural products (107 references).

Accelerators: Sparking Innovation and Transdisciplinary Team Science in Disparities Research

PubMed Central

Horowitz, Carol R.; Shameer, Khader; Gabrilove, Janice; Atreja, Ashish; Shepard, Peggy; Goytia, Crispin N.; Smith, Geoffrey W.; Dudley, Joel; Manning, Rachel; Bickell, Nina A.; Galvez, Maida P.

2017-01-01

Development and implementation of effective, sustainable, and scalable interventions that advance equity could be propelled by innovative and inclusive partnerships. Readied catalytic frameworks that foster communication, collaboration, a shared vision, and transformative translational research across scientific and non-scientific divides are needed to foster rapid generation of novel solutions to address and ultimately eliminate disparities. To achieve this, we transformed and expanded a community-academic board into a translational science board with members from public, academic and private sectors. Rooted in team science, diverse board experts formed topic-specific “accelerators”, tasked with collaborating to rapidly generate new ideas, questions, approaches, and projects comprising patients, advocates, clinicians, researchers, funders, public health and industry leaders. We began with four accelerators—digital health, big data, genomics and environmental health—and were rapidly able to respond to funding opportunities, transform new ideas into clinical and community programs, generate new, accessible, actionable data, and more efficiently and effectively conduct research. This innovative model has the power to maximize research quality and efficiency, improve patient care and engagement, optimize data democratization and dissemination among target populations, contribute to policy, and lead to systems changes needed to address the root causes of disparities. PMID:28241508

Accelerators: Sparking Innovation and Transdisciplinary Team Science in Disparities Research.

PubMed

Horowitz, Carol R; Shameer, Khader; Gabrilove, Janice; Atreja, Ashish; Shepard, Peggy; Goytia, Crispin N; Smith, Geoffrey W; Dudley, Joel; Manning, Rachel; Bickell, Nina A; Galvez, Maida P

2017-02-23

Development and implementation of effective, sustainable, and scalable interventions that advance equity could be propelled by innovative and inclusive partnerships. Readied catalytic frameworks that foster communication, collaboration, a shared vision, and transformative translational research across scientific and non-scientific divides are needed to foster rapid generation of novel solutions to address and ultimately eliminate disparities. To achieve this, we transformed and expanded a community-academic board into a translational science board with members from public, academic and private sectors. Rooted in team science, diverse board experts formed topic-specific "accelerators", tasked with collaborating to rapidly generate new ideas, questions, approaches, and projects comprising patients, advocates, clinicians, researchers, funders, public health and industry leaders. We began with four accelerators-digital health, big data, genomics and environmental health-and were rapidly able to respond to funding opportunities, transform new ideas into clinical and community programs, generate new, accessible, actionable data, and more efficiently and effectively conduct research. This innovative model has the power to maximize research quality and efficiency, improve patient care and engagement, optimize data democratization and dissemination among target populations, contribute to policy, and lead to systems changes needed to address the root causes of disparities.

The American Faculty: The Restructuring of Academic Work and Careers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schuster, Jack H.; Finkelstein, Martin J.

2008-01-01

Higher education is becoming destabilized in the face of extraordinarily rapid change. The composition of the academy's most valuable asset--the faculty--and the essential nature of faculty work are being transformed. Jack H. Schuster and Martin J. Finkelstein describe the transformation of the American faculty in the most extensive and ambitious…

Rapid Business Transformations in Health Care: A Systems Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shulaiba, Refaat A.

2011-01-01

The top two priorities of health care business leaders are to constantly improve the quality of health care while striving to contain and reduce the high cost of health care. The Health Care industry, similar to all businesses, is motivated to deliver innovative solutions that accelerate business transformation and increase business capabilities. …

How Paradigms Create Politics: The Transformation of American Educational Policy, 1980-2001

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mehta, Jal

2013-01-01

American educational policy was rapidly transformed between 1980 and 2001. Accountability was introduced into a sphere that had long been loosely coupled, both major political parties reevaluated longstanding positions, and significant institutional control over the schooling shifted to the federal government for the first time in the nation's…

Hairy Root as a Model System for Undergraduate Laboratory Curriculum and Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Keyes, Carol A.; Subramanian, Senthil; Yu, Oliver

2009-01-01

Hairy root transformation has been widely adapted in plant laboratories to rapidly generate transgenic roots for biochemical and molecular analysis. We present hairy root transformations as a versatile and adaptable model system for a wide variety of undergraduate laboratory courses and research. This technique is easy, efficient, and fast making…

Planning for Low End Analytics Disruptions in Business School Curricula

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rienzo, Thomas; Chen, Kuanchin

2018-01-01

Analytics is getting a great deal of attention in both industrial and academic venues. Organizations of all types are becoming more serious about transforming data from a variety of sources into insight, and analytics is the key to that transformation. Academic institutions are rapidly responding to the demand for analytics talent, with hundreds…

The Difference Engine: Computing, Knowledge, and the Transformation of Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Provenzo, Eugene F.

2011-01-01

Since the 1960s, the rapid evolution of technology has created a new cultural geography--a virtual geography. "The Difference Engine: Computing, Knowledge and the Transformation of Learning" offers a conscious critique of this change and its effects on contemporary culture and education. This engaging text assumes that we are at a critical…

Globalization on the Margins: Education and Post-Socialist Transformations in Central Asia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Silova, Iveta

2010-01-01

The essays in "Globalization on the Margins" explore the continuities and changes in Central Asian education development since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Reflecting on two decades of post-socialist transformations, they reveal that education systems in Central Asia responded to the rapidly changing political, economic, and…

Transforming the Roles of a Public Extension Agency to Strengthen Innovation: Lessons from the National Agricultural Extension Project in Bangladesh

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chowdhury, Ataharul Huq; Odame, Helen Hambly; Leeuwis, Cees

2014-01-01

Purpose: The rapidly evolving nature of agricultural innovation processes in low-income countries requires agricultural extension agencies to transform the classical roles that previously supported linear information dissemination and adoption of innovation. In Bangladesh, strengthening agricultural innovation calls for facilitation of interactive…

Emergency care. From zero to hero.

PubMed

Bevington, Jay; Halligan, Aidan; Cullen, Ron

2004-07-29

Essex Ambulance Service trust has achieved a rapid transformation, having last year received the country's worst CHI report. The trust transformed itself through new roles, collaborative working and developing its own model for out-of-hours services. Staff have new confidence in the management team, led by young, relatively inexperienced chief executive Anthony Marsh.

Multi-Level Alignment Model: Transforming Face-to-Face into E-Instructional Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Byers, Celina

2005-01-01

Purpose--To suggest to others in the field an approach equally valid for transforming existing courses into online courses and for creating new online courses. Design/methodology/approach--Using the literature for substantiation, this article discusses the current rapid change within organizations, the role of technology in that change, and the…

Top Strategic Issues Facing HBCUs, Now and into the Future

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hodge-Clark, Kristen; Daniels, Brandon D.

2014-01-01

Created in a time of segregation and discrimination to educate students of color, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have played a pivotal role in transforming the landscape of higher education in the United States. Today, in an era of rapid transformation, HBCUs face historic challenges as well as new obstacles. Questions about…

Staff Developers' Perceptions on Building a Culture of Teaching and Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roy, I. J.

2007-01-01

The rapid education transformation in South African education over the past decade (1994-current), forced Institutions of Higher Learning to critically examine their own practices. The transformation of the post apartheid South African education system is largely driven and determined by a social and economic agenda. At institutions of higher…

Rapid trench initiated recrystallization and stagnation in narrow Cu interconnect lines

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

O'Brien, Brendan B.; Rizzolo, Michael; Prestowitz, Luke C.

2015-10-26

Understanding and ultimately controlling the self-annealing of Cu in narrow interconnect lines has remained a top priority in order to continue down-scaling of back-end of the line interconnects. Recently, it was hypothesized that a bottom-up microstructural transformation process in narrow interconnect features competes with the surface-initiated overburden transformation. Here, a set of transmission electron microscopy images which captures the grain coarsening process in 48 nm lines in a time resolved manner is presented, supporting such a process. Grain size measurements taken from these images have demonstrated that the Cu microstructural transformation in 48 nm interconnect lines stagnates after only 1.5 h atmore » room temperature. This stubborn metastable structure remains stagnant, even after aggressive elevated temperature anneals, suggesting that a limited internal energy source such as dislocation content is driving the transformation. As indicated by the extremely low defect density found in 48 nm trenches, a rapid recrystallization process driven by annihilation of defects in the trenches appears to give way to a metastable microstructure in the trenches.« less

Path Integral Computation of Quantum Free Energy Differences Due to Alchemical Transformations Involving Mass and Potential.

PubMed

Pérez, Alejandro; von Lilienfeld, O Anatole

2011-08-09

Thermodynamic integration, perturbation theory, and λ-dynamics methods were applied to path integral molecular dynamics calculations to investigate free energy differences due to "alchemical" transformations. Several estimators were formulated to compute free energy differences in solvable model systems undergoing changes in mass and/or potential. Linear and nonlinear alchemical interpolations were used for the thermodynamic integration. We find improved convergence for the virial estimators, as well as for the thermodynamic integration over nonlinear interpolation paths. Numerical results for the perturbative treatment of changes in mass and electric field strength in model systems are presented. We used thermodynamic integration in ab initio path integral molecular dynamics to compute the quantum free energy difference of the isotope transformation in the Zundel cation. The performance of different free energy methods is discussed.

Adenovirus E1A and E1B-19K Proteins Protect Human Hepatoma Cells from Transforming Growth Factor β1-induced Apoptosis

PubMed Central

Tarakanova, Vera L.; Wold, William S. M.

2009-01-01

Primary and some transformed hepatocytes undergo apoptosis in response to transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ). We report that infection with species C human adenovirus conferred resistance to TGFβ-induced apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (Huh-7). Protection against TGFβ-mediated cell death in adenovirus-infected cells correlated with the maintenance of normal nuclear morphology, lack of pro-caspases 8 and 3 processing, maintenance of the mitochondrial membrane potential, and lack of cellular DNA degradation. The TGFβ pro-apoptotic signaling pathway was blocked upstream of mitochondria in adenovirus-infected cells. Both the N-terminal sequences of the E1A proteins and the E1B-19K protein were necessary to protect infected cells against TGFβ-induced apoptosis. PMID:19854227

Stepwise immortalization and transformation of adult human prostate epithelial cells by a combination of HPV-18 and v-Ki-ras.

PubMed Central

Rhim, J S; Webber, M M; Bello, D; Lee, M S; Arnstein, P; Chen, L S; Jay, G

1994-01-01

Recent investigations have shown the presence of ras gene mutations and human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in prostate carcinomas. In the present study, secondary adult human prostatic epithelial cells, upon transfection with a plasmid containing the entire HPV-18 genome, acquired an indefinite life-span in culture but did not undergo malignant conversion. Subsequent infection of these immortalized cells with the Kirsten murine sarcoma virus, which contains an activated Ki-ras oncogene, induced morphological transformation that led to the acquisition of neoplastic properties. These findings demonstrate the malignant transformation of adult human prostate epithelial cells in culture by a combination of viral oncogenes and the successive roles of HPV infection and Ki-ras activation in a multistep process responsible for prostate carcinogenesis. Images PMID:7991549

Bradykinin-induced growth inhibition of normal rat kidney (NRK) cells is paralleled by a decrease in epidermal-growth-factor receptor expression.

PubMed Central

Van Zoelen, E J; Peters, P H; Afink, G B; Van Genesen, S; De Roos, D G; Van Rotterdam, W; Theuvenet, A P

1994-01-01

Normal rat kidney fibroblasts, grown to density arrest in the presence of epidermal growth factor (EGF), can be induced to undergo phenotypic transformation by treatment with transforming growth factor beta or retinoic acid. Here we show that bradykinin blocks this growth-stimulus-induced loss of density-dependent growth arrest by a specific receptor-mediated mechanism. The effects of bradykinin are specific, and are not mimicked by other phosphoinositide-mobilizing agents such as prostaglandin F2 alpha. Northern-blot analysis and receptor-binding studies demonstrate that bradykinin also inhibits the retinoic acid-induced increase in EGF receptor levels in these cells. These studies provide additional evidence that EGF receptor levels modulate EGF-induced expression of the transformed phenotype in these cells. Images Figure 5 PMID:8135739

Direct enantio-convergent transformation of racemic substrates without racemization or symmetrization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ito, Hajime; Kunii, Shun; Sawamura, Masaya

2010-11-01

Asymmetric reactions that transform racemic mixtures into enantio-enriched products are in high demand, but classical kinetic resolution produces enantiopure compounds in <50% yield even in an ideal case. Many deracemization processes have thus been developed including dynamic kinetic resolution and dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformation, which can provide enantio-enriched products even after complete conversion of the racemic starting materials. However, these dynamic processes require racemization or symmetrization of the substrates or intermediates. We demonstrate a direct chemical enantio-convergent transformation without a racemization or symmetrization process. Copper(I)-catalysed asymmetric allylic substitution of a racemic allylic ether afforded a single enantiomer of an α-chiral allylboronate with complete conversion and high enantioselectivity (up to 98% enantiomeric excess). One enantiomer of the substrate undergoes an anti-SN2'-type reaction whereas the other enantiomer reacts via a syn-SN2' pathway. The products, which cannot be prepared by dynamic procedures, have been used to construct all-carbon quaternary stereocentres.

The use of spectral methods in bidomain studies.

PubMed

Trayanova, N; Pilkington, T

1992-01-01

A Fourier transform method is developed for solving the bidomain coupled differential equations governing the intracellular and extracellular potentials on a finite sheet of cardiac cells undergoing stimulation. The spectral formulation converts the system of differential equations into a "diagonal" system of algebraic equations. Solving the algebraic equations directly and taking the inverse transform of the potentials proved numerically less expensive than solving the coupled differential equations by means of traditional numerical techniques, such as finite differences; the comparison between the computer execution times showed that the Fourier transform method was about 40 times faster than the finite difference method. By application of the Fourier transform method, transmembrane potential distributions in the two-dimensional myocardial slice were calculated. For a tissue characterized by a ratio of the intra- to extracellular conductivities that is different in all principal directions, the transmembrane potential distribution exhibits a rather complicated geometrical pattern. The influence of the different anisotropy ratios, the finite tissue size, and the stimuli configuration on the pattern of membrane polarization is investigated.

ESTIMATING THE TIMING OF DIET SHIFTS USING STABLE ISOTOPES

EPA Science Inventory

Stable isotope analysis has become an important tool in studies of trophic food webs and animal feeding patterns. When animals undergo rapid dietary shifts due to migration, metamorphosis, or other reasons, the isotopic composition of their tissues begins changing to reflect tha...

Improved design of electrophoretic equipment for rapid sickle-cell-anemia screening

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reddick, J. M.; Hirsch, I.

1974-01-01

Effective mass screening may be accomplished by modifying existing electrophoretic equipment in conjunction with multisample applicator used with cellulose-acetate-matrix test paper. Using this method, approximately 20 to 25 samples can undergo electrophoresis in 5 to 6 minutes.

75 FR 58353 - Business Development Mission to Egypt and Morocco

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-24

..., Tangier is undergoing rapid development and modernization. Plans for the city include five-star hotels... DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration Business Development Mission to Egypt..., and U.S. Commercial Service is organizing a Business Development Mission to explore ports and...

Changing Supervision for Changing Times.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leeper, Robert R., Ed.

This collection of four addresses considers some important issues for educational supervisors in a society undergoing rapid social changes. Jacqueline Grennan Wexler suggests that open communication in a climate of mutual independence and responsibility among educational administrators, students, teachers, and taxpayers is a possible solution to…

In Situ Transmission Electron Microscopy Study of Electron Beam-Induced Transformations in Colloidal Cesium Lead Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals.

PubMed

Dang, Zhiya; Shamsi, Javad; Palazon, Francisco; Imran, Muhammad; Akkerman, Quinten A; Park, Sungwook; Bertoni, Giovanni; Prato, Mirko; Brescia, Rosaria; Manna, Liberato

2017-02-28

An increasing number of studies have recently reported the rapid degradation of hybrid and all-inorganic lead halide perovskite nanocrystals under electron beam irradiation in the transmission electron microscope, with the formation of nanometer size, high contrast particles. The nature of these nanoparticles and the involved transformations in the perovskite nanocrystals are still a matter of debate. Herein, we have studied the effects of high energy (80/200 keV) electron irradiation on colloidal cesium lead bromide (CsPbBr 3 ) nanocrystals with different shapes and sizes, especially 3 nm thick nanosheets, a morphology that facilitated the analysis of the various ongoing processes. Our results show that the CsPbBr 3 nanocrystals undergo a radiolysis process, with electron stimulated desorption of a fraction of bromine atoms and the reduction of a fraction of Pb 2+ ions to Pb 0 . Subsequently Pb 0 atoms diffuse and aggregate, giving rise to the high contrast particles, as previously reported by various groups. The diffusion is facilitated by both high temperature and electron beam irradiation. The early stage Pb nanoparticles are epitaxially bound to the parent CsPbBr 3 lattice, and evolve into nonepitaxially bound Pb crystals upon further irradiation, leading to local amorphization and consequent dismantling of the CsPbBr 3 lattice. The comparison among CsPbBr 3 nanocrystals with various shapes and sizes evidences that the damage is particularly pronounced at the corners and edges of the surface, due to a lower diffusion barrier for Pb 0 on the surface than inside the crystal and the presence of a larger fraction of under-coordinated atoms.

Through the glass darkly: intraepithelial neoplasia, top-down differentiation and the road to pelvic serous cancer

PubMed Central

Crum, Christopher P; Herfs, Michael; Ning, Gang; Bijron, Jonathan G.; Howitt, Brooke E.; Jimenez, Cynthia A.; Hanamornroongruang, Suchanan; McKeon, Frank D.; Xian, Wa

2014-01-01

The origins of pelvic high grade serous cancer (HGSC) have become a subject of intense scrutiny in view of proposals to reduce the incidence of the disease via opportunistic salpingectomy in healthy women. Accumulated data implicates the fimbria as a site of origin and descriptive molecular pathology and experimental evidence strongly support a serous carcinogenic sequence in the fallopian tube. Both direct and indirect ("surrogate") precursors suggest the benign tube undergoes important biologic changes after menopause, acquiring abnormalities in gene expression that are shared with malignancy. However, the tube can be linked to only some HGSCs, recharging arguments that nearby peritoneum/ovarian surface epithelium (POSE) also hosts progenitors to this malignancy. A major sticking point is the difference in immunophenotype between POSE and Müllerian epithelium, essentially requiring mesothelial to Müllerian differentiation prior to or during malignant transformation to HGSC. However, there is emerging evidence that an embryonic or progenitor phenotype exists in the adult female genital tract with the capacity to differentiate, normally or during neoplastic transformation. Recently, a putative cell of origin to cervical cancer has been identified in the squamo-columnar (SC) junction, projecting a model whereby embryonic progenitors give rise to immuno-phenotypically distinct neoplastic progeny under stromal influences via "top down" differentiation. A similar pattern of differentiation is implied in the endometrium and the juxtaposition of disparate epithelial immuno-phenotypes (POSE and underlying Müllerian inclusions) recapitulates this in the ovary. While a sudden mesothelial-Mullerian transition remains to be proven, it would explain the rapid evolution, short asymptomatic interval, and absence of a defined epithelial starting point in many HGSCs. Resolving this question will be critical to both expectations from prophylactic salpingectomy and future approaches to pelvic serous cancer prevention. PMID:24030860

Volcano fact sheet; glacier-generated debris flows at Mount Rainier

USGS Publications Warehouse

Walder, J.S.; Driedger, C.L.

1993-01-01

Mount Rainier is a young volcano whose slopes are undergoing rapid change by a variety of geologic processes, including debris flows. Debris flows are churning masses of water, rock and mud that travel rapidly down the volcano's steep, glacially carved valleys, leaving in their wake splintered trees, picnic sites buried in mud, and damaged roads. Debris flows typically contain as much as 65 to 70 percent rock and soil by volume and have the appearance of wet concrete. At Mount Rainier National Park, these flows invariably begin in remote areas nearly inaccessible to people, but may move rapidly downstream into areas frequented by visitors.

Neurotensin and neuromedin N undergo distinct catabolic processes in murine astrocytes and primary cultured neurons.

PubMed

Vincent, B; Vincent, J P; Checler, F

1994-04-01

We examined the occurrence of various endopeptidases and exopeptidases and their subcellular partition within soluble and membrane-associated compartments of 15-day-old astrocytes and 4-day-old primary cultured neurons. Peptidases were monitored with chromogenic or fluorimetric substrates and identified by means of specific inhibitors. We assessed the contribution of these peptidases in the catabolism of two related neuropeptides, neurotensin and neuromedin N. Metabolites were separated by HPLC and the identity of the proteolytic activities involved in their formation was established using specific inhibitors. Neuromedin N and neurotensin undergo both quantitative and qualitative differential proteolysis. Initial maximal rates of neuromedin N degradation were higher than those of neurotensin in both cell types. Furthermore, the two peptides were inactivated much more rapidly by the soluble than by the membrane-associated fractions prepared from both cell cultures. Neuromedin N was rapidly broken down by an aminopeptidase M/leucine aminopeptidase attack, leading to the functionally silent Des-Lys1-neuromedin N metabolite. In the astrocytic membrane-associated fraction, neuromedin N underwent an additional minor endoproteolytic cleavage at the Pro3-Tyr4 bond elicited by endopeptidase 24.11, as suggested by the protective effect of its blocking agent phosphoramidon. Unlike neuromedin N, neurotensin totally resisted hydrolysis by aminopeptidases. Primary inactivating cleavages detected in both cell types appeared mainly located at the Arg8-Arg9 and Pro10-Tyr11 bonds, leading to the formations of neurotensin-(1-8) and neurotensin-(1-10) as the major biologically inactive neurotensin catabolites. Endopeptidase 24.15 appeared mainly responsible for neurotensin-(1-8) formation by the soluble fraction of neurons and astrocytes. In contrast, endopeptidase 24.16 was involved in neurotensin-(1-10) formation by both soluble and membrane-associated fractions of the two cell types. An additional cleavage leading to neurotensin-(1-11) formation and ascribed to endopeptidase 24.11 was detected mainly in the membrane-associated fraction from astrocytes. Finally, the secondary processing of neurotensin degradation products indicated that: (a) neurotensin-(1-11) was converted into neurotensin-(1-8) in the membrane fraction prepared from astrocytes; (b) neurotensin-(1-10) was transformed into neurotensin-(1-8) by an unidentified peptidase belonging to the class of metalloenzymes. The significance of distinct quantitative and qualitative catabolic fates of neuromedin N and neurotensin in cultured astrocytes and neurons is discussed.

Pressure, temperature, and electric field dependence of phase transformations in niobium modified 95/5 lead zirconate titanate

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

Dong, Wen D.; Carlos Valadez, J.; Gallagher, John A.

2015-06-28

Ceramic niobium modified 95/5 lead zirconate-lead titanate (PZT) undergoes a pressure induced ferroelectric to antiferroelectric phase transformation accompanied by an elimination of polarization and a volume reduction. Electric field and temperature drive the reverse transformation from the antiferroelectric to ferroelectric phase. The phase transformation was monitored under pressure, temperature, and electric field loading. Pressures and temperatures were varied in discrete steps from 0 MPa to 500 MPa and 25 °C to 125 °C, respectively. Cyclic bipolar electric fields were applied with peak amplitudes of up to 6 MV m{sup −1} at each pressure and temperature combination. The resulting electric displacement–electric field hysteresis loops weremore » open “D” shaped at low pressure, characteristic of soft ferroelectric PZT. Just below the phase transformation pressure, the hysteresis loops took on an “S” shape, which split into a double hysteresis loop just above the phase transformation pressure. Far above the phase transformation pressure, when the applied electric field is insufficient to drive an antiferroelectric to ferroelectric phase transformation, the hysteresis loops collapse to linear dielectric behavior. Phase stability maps were generated from the experimental data at each of the temperature steps and used to form a three dimensional pressure–temperature–electric field phase diagram.« less

Rapid Identification and Classification of Listeria spp. and Serotype Assignment of Listeria monocytogenes Using Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy and Artificial Neural Network Analysis

PubMed Central

Romanolo, K. F.; Gorski, L.; Wang, S.; Lauzon, C. R.

2015-01-01

The use of Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) in conjunction with Artificial Neural Network software NeuroDeveloper™ was examined for the rapid identification and classification of Listeria species and serotyping of Listeria monocytogenes. A spectral library was created for 245 strains of Listeria spp. to give a biochemical fingerprint from which identification of unknown samples were made. This technology was able to accurately distinguish the Listeria species with 99.03% accuracy. Eleven serotypes of Listeria monocytogenes including 1/2a, 1/2b, and 4b were identified with 96.58% accuracy. In addition, motile and non-motile forms of Listeria were used to create a more robust model for identification. FT-IR coupled with NeuroDeveloper™ appear to be a more accurate and economic choice for rapid identification of pathogenic Listeria spp. than current methods. PMID:26600423

Picosecond amorphization of SiO2 stishovite under tension

PubMed Central

Misawa, Masaaki; Ryuo, Emina; Yoshida, Kimiko; Kalia, Rajiv K.; Nakano, Aiichiro; Nishiyama, Norimasa; Shimojo, Fuyuki; Vashishta, Priya; Wakai, Fumihiro

2017-01-01

It is extremely difficult to realize two conflicting properties—high hardness and toughness—in one material. Nano-polycrystalline stishovite, recently synthesized from Earth-abundant silica glass, proved to be a super-hard, ultra-tough material, which could provide sustainable supply of high-performance ceramics. Our quantum molecular dynamics simulations show that stishovite amorphizes rapidly on the order of picosecond under tension in front of a crack tip. We find a displacive amorphization mechanism that only involves short-distance collective motions of atoms, thereby facilitating the rapid transformation. The two-step amorphization pathway involves an intermediate state akin to experimentally suggested “high-density glass polymorphs” before eventually transforming to normal glass. The rapid amorphization can catch up with, screen, and self-heal a fast-moving crack. This new concept of fast amorphization toughening likely operates in other pressure-synthesized hard solids. PMID:28508056

Race Is Nowhere and Race Is Everywhere: Narratives from Black and White South African University Students in Post-Apartheid South Africa

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Walker, Melanie

2005-01-01

This paper examines the life history narratives of a group of 12 black and white male and female undergraduate students at a historically white Afrikaans medium university, now undergoing its own transformation in post-apartheid South Africa. Conceptualizations of identity and discourse across four elements of context, setting, situated activity…

Oxidative aging and secondary organic aerosol formation from simulated wildfire emissions

Treesearch

C. J. Hennigan; M. A. Miracolo; G. J. Engelhart; A. A. May; Cyle Wold; WeiMin Hao; T. Lee; A. P. Sullivan; J. B. Gilman; W. C. Kuster; J. A. de Gouw; J. L. Collett; S. M. Kreidenweis; A. L. Robinson

2010-01-01

Wildfires are a significant fraction of global biomass burning and a major source of trace gas and particle emissions in the atmosphere. Understanding the air quality and climate implications of wildfires is difficult since the emissions undergo complex transformations due to aging processes during transport away from the source. As part of the third Fire Lab at...

Assessing regional differences in nitrogen losses from U.S. dairy farms using the integrated farm systems model

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Nitrogen (N) enters and leaves a dairy production system through many pathways and in many forms: undergoing numerous transformations as it passes from feed to animal to milk or manure and back again. Due to the complexity of the dairy system, estimates of N flows and losses require the use of model...

The Public Field in Brazil: Toward a Multidisciplinary Educational Approach for the Professional with Multiple Roles

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lucio, Magda L.; Almeida, Lindijane S. B.; Silveira, Raquel M. C.

2018-01-01

Contemporary public management in Brazil is undergoing a great deal of transformation. From the year 2008 the Brazilian Federal government has been investing in policies and planned actions that aim to expand access to Higher Education. This paradigm shift was possible through the understanding that the agenda of public problems required trained…

Transforming Teaching and Learning at University of Ghana through Community Service-Learning: Listening to the Voices of Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tagoe, Michael A.

2014-01-01

Universities all over the world are undergoing change to improve teaching, learning and service. These changes have been motivated by call for universities to connect more to communities to address their problems. One of the means of ensuring that universities and communities engage mutually in a partnership where students, faculty and community…

Emergent Cultural Change: Unintended Consequences of a Strategic Information Technology Services Implementation in a United Kingdom University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Waring, Teresa; Skoumpopoulou, Dimitra

2013-01-01

Over the past 20 years, universities in the United Kingdom have been undergoing a dramatic period of transformation and change which can be attributed to the expansion of the higher education sector, the growth in student numbers and the development of an ideological approach to public service management referred to as "new…

A European Perspective on New Modes of University Governance and Actorhood. Research & Occasional Paper Series: CSHE.17.11

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Krucken, Georg

2011-01-01

Higher education systems in Europe are currently undergoing profound transformations. At the macro-level, there is an increase in the number of students enrolled, subjects of study offered, and university missions that have gained legitimacy over time. At the second level changes are evident at the level of university governance. New Public…

JPRS Report, Near East & South Asia.

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-06-20

first is that the Arab national liberation movement, after the calamity in Palestine in 1948, came to be led by a nationalistic, petite bourgeoisie ...structure of this leadership underwent a process of change and transformation, and gradually became a bureaucratic bourgeoisie (state bourgeoisie ... bourgeoisie , and the remnants of feudalism). After undergoing these changes, the leadership of the national liberation movement was no longer able

As They Like It--Culture-Centred Counsellor Education in the Context of Aotearoa New Zealand: A Play on Bicultural Pluralism

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lang, Steve K. W.; Gardiner, Brent D.

2014-01-01

Against a backdrop of social struggles to rebalance power between colonisers and indigenous peoples, counsellor education at a university in Aotearoa New Zealand is undergoing a transformation. This article explores the creation and application of a framework that results from listening to the voices of indigenous peoples and counselling…

Halogenated Explosives to Defeat Biological Agents

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-09-01

The synthetic transformation of difluoramination of ketones by difluoramine (HNF2)29 is a specialized, hazardous process that is not likely to become...defluorination in triflic acid; even 4-(trifluoromethyl)propiophenone (ethyl phenyl ketone ) does not undergo C–F cleavage.45 The prospect of this...trifluoroacetaldehyde hydrate to generate trifluoroacet- aldehyde gas, which reacts with liquefied ammonia at low temperature. Upon warming, the hemiaminal

Analysis of MYB oncogene in transformed adenoid cystic carcinomas reveals distinct pathways of tumor progression.

PubMed

Costa, Ana F; Altemani, Albina; García-Inclán, Cristina; Fresno, Florentino; Suárez, Carlos; Llorente, José L; Hermsen, Mario

2014-06-01

Adenoid cystic carcinomas can occasionally undergo dedifferentiation, a phenomenon also referred to as high-grade transformation. However, cases of adenoid cystic carcinomas have been described showing transformation to adenocarcinomas that are not poorly differentiated, indicating that high-grade transformation may not necessarily reflect a more advanced stage of tumor progression, but rather a transformation to another histological form, which may encompass a wide spectrum of carcinomas in terms of aggressiveness. The aim of this study was to gain more insight in the biology of this pathological phenomenon by means of genetic profiling of both histological components. Using microarray comparative genomic hybridization, we compared the genome-wide DNA copy-number changes of the conventional and transformed area of eight adenoid cystic carcinomas with high-grade transformation, comprising four with transformation into moderately differentiated adenocarcinomas and four into poorly differentiated carcinomas. In general, the poorly differentiated carcinoma cases showed a higher total number of copy-number changes than the moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma cases, and this correlated with a worse clinical course. Special attention was given to chromosomal translocation and protein expression of MYB, recently being considered to be an early and major oncogenic event in adenoid cystic carcinomas. Our data showed that the process of high-grade transformation is not always accompanied by an accumulation of genetic alterations; both conventional and transformed components harbored unique genetic alterations, which indicate a parallel progression. Our data further demonstrated that the MYB/NFIB translocation is not necessarily an early event or fundamental for the progression to adenoid cystic carcinoma with high-grade transformation.

Ferroelasticity in palmierite-type(1  -  x)Pb3(PO4)2 - xPb3(AsO4)2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bismayer, Ulli; Mihailova, Boriana; Angel, Ross

2017-06-01

Lead phosphate-arsenate Pb3(P1-x As x O4)2 undergoes an improper ferroelastic phase transition from a rhombohedral paraphase R\\bar{3}m to a monoclinic ferrophase C2/c leading to distinct twin boundary patterns. On cooling compounds with x larger than 0.8 undergo further transitions to monoclinic low-temperature phases, whereas the composition with x  =  0.8 shows order-parameter coupling phenomena. The transformation R\\bar{3}m -C2/c was described on the basis of a three-state Potts model and the existence of precursors of monoclinic clusters in the rhombohedral paraphase. The system is one of the best studied improper ferroelastics. Due to its two-mode phonon behaviour the solid solution exhibits multistep temperature- as well as pressure-driven structural transformations with different length and time scales. Relevant investigations and findings of this palmierite-type material have been made by Prof E K H Salje. Some of the most prominent results from x-ray diffraction, optical microscopy and Raman scattering are reviewed, and the potential implications for domain-wall structures and engineering are discussed.

Registration methods for nonblind watermark detection in digital cinema applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nguyen, Philippe; Balter, Raphaele; Montfort, Nicolas; Baudry, Severine

2003-06-01

Digital watermarking may be used to enforce copyright protection of digital cinema, by embedding in each projected movie an unique identifier (fingerprint). By identifying the source of illegal copies, watermarking will thus incite movie theatre managers to enforce copyright protection, in particular by preventing people from coming in with a handy cam. We propose here a non-blind watermark method to improve the watermark detection on very impaired sequences. We first present a study on the picture impairments caused by the projection on a screen, then acquisition with a handy cam. We show that images undergo geometric deformations, which are fully described by a projective geometry model. The sequence also undergoes spatial and temporal luminance variation. Based on this study and on the impairments models which follow, we propose a method to match the retrieved sequence to the original one. First, temporal registration is performed by comparing the average luminance variation on both sequences. To compensate for geometric transformations, we used paired points from both sequences, obtained by applying a feature points detector. The matching of the feature points then enables to retrieve the geometric transform parameters. Tests show that the watermark retrieval on rectified sequences is greatly improved.

Stereoselective Synthesis of Methylene Oxindoles via Palladium(II)-Catalyzed Intramolecular Cross-Coupling of Carbamoyl Chlorides.

PubMed

Le, Christine M; Sperger, Theresa; Fu, Rui; Hou, Xiao; Lim, Yong Hwan; Schoenebeck, Franziska; Lautens, Mark

2016-11-02

We report a highly robust, general and stereoselective method for the synthesis of 3-(chloromethylene)oxindoles from alkyne-tethered carbamoyl chlorides using PdCl 2 (PhCN) 2 as the catalyst. The transformation involves a stereo- and regioselective chloropalladation of an internal alkyne to generate a nucleophilic vinyl Pd II species, which then undergoes an intramolecular cross-coupling with a carbamoyl chloride. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions, is insensitive to the presence of moisture and air, and is readily scalable. The products obtained from this reaction are formed with >95:5 Z:E selectivity in nearly all cases and can be used to access biologically relevant oxindole cores. Through combined experimental and computational studies, we provide insight into stereo- and regioselectivity of the chloropalladation step, as well as the mechanism for the C-C bond forming process. Calculations provide support for a mechanism involving oxidative addition into the carbamoyl chloride bond to generate a high valent Pd IV species, which then undergoes facile C-C reductive elimination to form the final product. Overall, the transformation constitutes a formal Pd II -catalyzed intramolecular alkyne chlorocarbamoylation reaction.

Tumor-Protective Mechanism Identified from Premature Aging Disease | Center for Cancer Research

Cancer.gov

Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS) is an extraordinarily rare genetic disorder caused by a mutation in the LMNA gene, which encodes architectural proteins of the human cell nucleus. The mutation causes the production of a mutant protein called progerin. Patients with HGPS display signs of premature aging, such as hair loss, slowed growth, weakening of bone and joint integrity, and cardiovascular disease. Most die in their mid-teens of heart disease or stroke. Intriguingly, these patients do not develop another aging-related disease, cancer, despite having dramatically elevated levels of DNA damage. Tom Misteli, Ph.D., of CCR’s Laboratory of Receptor Biology and Gene Expression, and his colleagues hypothesized that, rather than patients not living long enough to develop cancer, a resistance mechanism was operating in HGPS cells to prevent cancer formation. To begin testing this idea, the researchers transformed fibroblasts from HGPS patients or age-matched, healthy controls with telomerase, constitutively-activated HRAS, and SV40 large and small T antigens. Transformed HGPS cells displayed morphological changes and increased proliferation similar to transformed controls but formed fewer colonies in soft agar and fewer tumors when injected into mice. When the investigators examined global gene expression in the two populations of cells, they found that transformed HGPS cells failed to activate many of the genes that are induced in response to transformation in controls, including oncogenic and proliferation pathways. In addition the transformed HGPS cells were unable to undergo oncogenic de-differentiation. Importantly, the tumor resistance in HGPS cells was due to the presence of the progerin protein, which was both necessary and sufficient to protect cells from oncogenic transformation. Together these results suggested that HGPS cells resist cancer-inducing stimuli by not undergoing the genetic reprogramming necessary for tumor initiation. The scientists then set out to elucidate the molecular basis of this protective mechanism. The researchers used a genome-wide RNA interference screen to look for regulatory factors that affected colony and tumor formation. They observed the strongest effect with loss of BRD4, a bromodomain-containing protein that binds acetylated histones and modulates gene expression by recruiting transcriptional regulators. Previous studies have suggested that BRD4 has anti-metastatic and anti-proliferative activities in breast and colon cancers, respectively, and knocking-down BRD4 in the transformed HGPS fibroblasts restored colony and tumor formation. In contrast, BRD4 has been reported to have a cancer-promoting role in hematologic cancers.

Preventive overhaul time for power transformers

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

Sarmadi, M.; Rouhi, J.; Fayyaz, A.

Power transformers are the major piece of equipment in high-voltage substations. A considerable number of these transformers exist in Iran`s integrated network. Due to the climate diversity and improper usage, many of these transformers age rapidly, suffer failure and are taken out of service before half their useful life. At the present time the utility companies have no specific time-frame and plan for preventive overhaul. Detection of preventive overhaul time will increase the remaining life of transformers and improve the reliability of substations. An exact check of the remaining lifetime of transformers is not yet possible by available diagnostic techniques.more » In this paper, the authors present a method of identifying the right time for preventive overhaul in 63 kV power transformers. This method is developed based on 25 year transformer performance records in Northern Iran (subtropical climate) and with the utilization of studies done by electrical engineering communities world-wide.« less

Revisioning the Clinical Relationship: Heinz Kohut and the Viewpoint of Self-Psychology.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Masek, Robert J.

Psychoanalysis is undergoing rapid and remarkable changes in its basic metapsychology, theoretical reflections, and concrete, clinical interventions. Through self-psychology, Heinz Kohut's alternative views on the clinical relationship have contributed to this restructuring of psychoanalysis. Traditionally, mainstream psychoanalysis has viewed the…

78 FR 69854 - Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-11-21

... undetermined agents, undetermined sources, undetermined transmission, or undetermined risk factors. These EEIs... transmission, or risk factors to effectively implement rapid prevention and control measures to protect the...; data are analyzed to determine the agents, sources, modes of transmission, or risk factors so that...

THE EVOLUTION IN ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE ASSURANCE

EPA Science Inventory

The area of Environmental Compliance Assurance, in my view, is undergoing a rapid evolution of significance to all affected by environmental regulations. It is said that the only societal constant is change, which is at once both an oxymoron and a truth. This statement is certain...

Bromination of Phenol

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Talbot, Christopher

2013-01-01

This "Science note" examines the bromination of phenol, a reaction that is commonly taught at A-level and IB (International Baccalaureate) as an example of electrophilic substitution. Phenol undergoes bromination with bromine or bromine water at room temperature. A white precipitate of 2,4,6-tribromophenol is rapidly formed. This…

Depalmitoylated Ras traffics to and from the Golgi complex via a nonvesicular pathway

PubMed Central

Goodwin, J. Shawn; Drake, Kimberly R.; Rogers, Carl; Wright, Latasha; Lippincott-Schwartz, Jennifer; Philips, Mark R.; Kenworthy, Anne K.

2005-01-01

Palmitoylation is postulated to regulate Ras signaling by modulating its intracellular trafficking and membrane microenvironment. The mechanisms by which palmitoylation contributes to these events are poorly understood. Here, we show that dynamic turnover of palmitate regulates the intracellular trafficking of HRas and NRas to and from the Golgi complex by shifting the protein between vesicular and nonvesicular modes of transport. A combination of time-lapse microscopy and photobleaching techniques reveal that in the absence of palmitoylation, GFP-tagged HRas and NRas undergo rapid exchange between the cytosol and ER/Golgi membranes, and that wild-type GFP-HRas and GFP-NRas are recycled to the Golgi complex by a nonvesicular mechanism. Our findings support a model where palmitoylation kinetically traps Ras on membranes, enabling the protein to undergo vesicular transport. We propose that a cycle of depalmitoylation and repalmitoylation regulates the time course and sites of Ras signaling by allowing the protein to be released from the cell surface and rapidly redistributed to intracellular membranes. PMID:16027222

Aspirin Desensitization in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease: Results of the Multicenter ADAPTED Registry (Aspirin Desensitization in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease).

PubMed

Rossini, Roberta; Iorio, Annamaria; Pozzi, Roberto; Bianco, Matteo; Musumeci, Giuseppe; Leonardi, Sergio; Lettieri, Corrado; Bossi, Irene; Colombo, Paola; Rigattieri, Stefano; Dossena, Cinzia; Anzuini, Angelo; Capodanno, Davide; Senni, Michele; Angiolillo, Dominick J

2017-02-01

There are limited data on aspirin (ASA) desensitization for patients with coronary artery disease. The aim of the present study was to assess the safety and efficacy of a standard rapid desensitization protocol in patients with ASA sensitivity undergoing coronary angiography. This is a prospective, multicenter, observational study including 7 Italian centers including patients with a history of ASA sensitivity undergoing coronary angiography with intent to undergo percutaneous coronary intervention. A total of 330 patients with history of ASA sensitivity with known/suspected stable coronary artery disease or presenting with an acute coronary syndrome, including ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction were enrolled. Adverse effects to aspirin included urticaria (n=177, 53.6%), angioedema (n=69, 20.9%), asthma (n=65, 19.7%), and anaphylactic reaction (n=19, 5.8%). Among patients with urticaria/angioedema, 13 patients (3.9%) had a history of idiopathic chronic urticaria. All patients underwent a rapid ASA (5.5 hours) desensitization procedure. The desensitization procedure was performed before cardiac catheterization in all patients, except for those (n=78, 23.6%) presenting with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction who underwent the desensitization after primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Percutaneous coronary intervention was performed in 235 patients (71%) of the overall study population. The desensitization procedure was successful in 315 patients (95.4%) and in all patients with a history of anaphylactic reaction. Among the 15 patients (4.6%) who did not successfully respond to the desensitization protocol, adverse reactions were minor and responded to treatment with corticosteroids and antihistamines. Among patients with successful in-hospital ASA desensitization, 253 patients (80.3%) continued ASA for at least 12 months. Discontinuation of ASA in the 62 patients (19.7%) who had responded to the desensitization protocol was because of medical decision and not because of hypersensitivity reactions. A standard rapid desensitization protocol is safe and effective across a broad spectrum of patients, irrespective of the type of aspirin sensitivity manifestation, with indications to undergo coronary angiography with intent to perform percutaneous coronary intervention. URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02848339. © 2017 American Heart Association, Inc.

Transgenic Wheat, Barley and Oats: Production and Characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lazzeri, Paul A.; Jones, Huw D.

Ever since the first developments in plant transformation technology using model plant species in the early 1980s, there has been a body of plant science research devoted to adapting these techniques to the transformation of crop plants. For some crop species progress was relatively rapid, but in other crop groups such as the small grain cereals, which were not readily amenable to culture in vitro and were not natural hosts to Agrobacterium, it has taken nearly two decades to develop reliable and robust transformation methods.

Micro 3D printing using a digital projector and its application in the study of soft materials mechanics.

PubMed

Lee, Howon; Fang, Nicholas X

2012-11-27

Buckling is a classical topic in mechanics. While buckling has long been studied as one of the major structural failure modes(1), it has recently drawn new attention as a unique mechanism for pattern transformation. Nature is full of such examples where a wealth of exotic patterns are formed through mechanical instability(2-5). Inspired by this elegant mechanism, many studies have demonstrated creation and transformation of patterns using soft materials such as elastomers and hydrogels(6-11). Swelling gels are of particular interest because they can spontaneously trigger mechanical instability to create various patterns without the need of external force(6-10). Recently, we have reported demonstration of full control over buckling pattern of micro-scaled tubular gels using projection micro-stereolithography (PμSL), a three-dimensional (3D) manufacturing technology capable of rapidly converting computer generated 3D models into physical objects at high resolution(12,13). Here we present a simple method to build up a simplified PμSL system using a commercially available digital data projector to study swelling-induced buckling instability for controlled pattern transformation. A simple desktop 3D printer is built using an off-the-shelf digital data projector and simple optical components such as a convex lens and a mirror(14). Cross-sectional images extracted from a 3D solid model is projected on the photosensitive resin surface in sequence, polymerizing liquid resin into a desired 3D solid structure in a layer-by-layer fashion. Even with this simple configuration and easy process, arbitrary 3D objects can be readily fabricated with sub-100 μm resolution. This desktop 3D printer holds potential in the study of soft material mechanics by offering a great opportunity to explore various 3D geometries. We use this system to fabricate tubular shaped hydrogel structure with different dimensions. Fixed on the bottom to the substrate, the tubular gel develops inhomogeneous stress during swelling, which gives rise to buckling instability. Various wavy patterns appear along the circumference of the tube when the gel structures undergo buckling. Experiment shows that circumferential buckling of desired mode can be created in a controlled manner. Pattern transformation of three-dimensionally structured tubular gels has significant implication not only in mechanics and material science, but also in many other emerging fields such as tunable matamaterials.

Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time of flight mass spectrometry based chemical profiling approach to rapidly reveal chemical transformation of sulfur-fumigated medicinal herbs, a case study on white ginseng.

PubMed

Li, Song-Lin; Shen, Hong; Zhu, Ling-Ying; Xu, Jun; Jia, Xiao-Bin; Zhang, Hong-Mei; Lin, Ge; Cai, Hao; Cai, Bao-Chang; Chen, Shi-Lin; Xu, Hong-Xi

2012-03-30

Sulfur-fumigation may induce chemical transformation of medicinal herbs. Development of rapid method to reveal potential sulfur-fumigation induced chemical transformation of herbs is a very important issue for efficacy and safety of herb application. In present study, a new strategy was proposed to rapidly reveal chemical transformation of sulfur-fumigated herbs by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time of flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS) based chemical profiling approach. The non-fumigated herb was water-wetted and further treated with burning sulfur to get sulfur-fumigated herb. Then the chemical fingerprints of both non-fumigated and sulfur-fumigated samples were compared by UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS analysis. The identities of all detected peaks, in particular those newly generated in sulfur-fumigated samples were confirmed by comparing the mass spectra and retention times of peaks with that of reference compounds, and/or tentatively assigned by matching empirical molecular formula with that of published compounds, and/or elucidating quasi-molecular ions and fragment ions referring to available literature information. The identification could be rationalized through deducing possible reactions involved in the generation of these newly detected compounds. The proposed strategy was extensively investigated in the case of white ginseng. Total 82 components were detected in non-fumigated and sulfur-fumigated white ginseng samples, among them 35 sulfur-containing compounds detected only in sulfur-fumigated white ginseng and its decoction were assigned to be sulfate or sulfite derivatives of original ginsenosides, and were deduced to be generated via reactions of esterification, addition, hydrolysis and dehydration during sulfur-fumigation and decocting of white ginseng. The established approach was applied to discriminate sulfur-fumigated white ginseng among commercial samples from America, Canada, and Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and Mainland of China, which indicated that the proposed approach is rapid and specific, and should also be useful for investigation of potential chemical transformation of other sulfur-fumigated medicinal herbs. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Rapid testing of pulse transformers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Grillo, J.

1980-01-01

Quality-control testing of pulse transformers is speeded up by method for determining rise time and droop. Instead of using oscilloscope and square-wave generator to measure these characteristics directly, method uses voltmeter and sine-wave generator to measure them indirectly in about one-tenth time. Droop and rise time are determined by measuring input/output voltage ratio at just four frequencies.

Improved Student Learning through a Faculty Learning Community: How Faculty Collaboration Transformed a Large-Enrollment Course from Lecture to Student Centered

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Elliott, Emily R.; Reason, Robert D.; Coffman, Clark R.; Gangloff, Eric J.; Raker, Jeffrey R.; Powell-Coffman, Jo Anne; Ogilvie, Craig A.

2016-01-01

Undergraduate introductory biology courses are changing based on our growing understanding of how students learn and rapid scientific advancement in the biological sciences. At Iowa State University, faculty instructors are transforming a second-semester large-enrollment introductory biology course to include active learning within the lecture…

From Preservice to Teacher Leadership: Meeting the Future in Educator Preparation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Holland, John M.; Eckert, Jon; Allen, Megan M.

2014-01-01

Amidst myriad reforms, the education landscape is rapidly shifting. There has been a call for teacher leadership to lead these reforms, helping transform the profession and reshape education. The call for teacher leadership is changing the role of a teacher, and as this role transforms, so must teacher education. The authors examine teacher…

Professional Development for Transformational Technology Integration: An Experimental Study of In-Service Teachers' Self-Perceptions of Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tachau, Elena M.

2017-01-01

Professional Development for Transformational Technology Integration: An Experimental Study of In-Service Teachers' Self-Perceptions of Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge Elena M. Tachau Drexel University Chairperson: Brian K. Smith, Ph.D. The rapid advancement of technology tasks K-12 schools with providing professional development…

An Exploration of Transformational Leadership and Its Role in Strategic Planning: A Conceptual Framework.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Turan, Selahattin; Sny, Christopher L.

The literature on transformational leadership is reviewed to provide a theoretical framework for leaders in educational organizations. Our rapidly changing society calls for a new type of educational leadership. Drawing on the work of J. M. Burns (1978) and B. M. Bass (1985) among others, transactional leaders are distinguished from…

Neo-Liberal Education Policies in Turkey and Transformation in Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Polat, Selda

2013-01-01

As it is in many countries in the world, in Turkey the effects of neoliberal ideology have rapidly increased since the 1980s, and social and economic structure has been transformed. Education, which is the basic dynamic of constructing social and economic structure and regeneration, stands in the center of neoliberalism. In this process, what…

Transforming Life Skills Education into a Life-Changing Event: The Case of the Musical "The Green Crystal"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Potgieter, Amanda S.

2013-01-01

This paper reports on how participation in a secondary school musical production, within a life skills education programme, may contribute curricularly and pedagogically towards equipping learners for meaningful, successful living in a rapidly transforming society. Using the life skills curriculum for the subject Life Orientation, and employing…

Towards a Strength-Based Juvenile Correctional Facility: Sustainability and Effects of an Institutional Transformation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barton, William H.; Mackin, Juliette R.

2012-01-01

In 2006, the administration of a state-run, secure juvenile correctional facility initiated an attempt to transform its institutional culture using a strength-based approach to assessment and case planning. This resulted in a rapid improvement in institutional climate. The current study revisits this setting several years later to see if those…

Simple immunoassay for detection of PCBs in transformer oil.

PubMed

Glass, Thomas R; Ohmura, Naoya; Taemi, Yukihiro; Joh, Takashi

2005-07-01

A rapid and inexpensive procedure to detect polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in transformer oil is needed to facilitate identification and removal of PCB contaminated transformers. Here we describe a simple two-step liquid-liquid extraction using acidic dimethyl sulfoxide in conjunction with an immunoassay for detecting PCBs in transformer oil. The process described is faster and simpler than any previous immunoassay while maintaining comparable detection limit and false negative rate. Cross reactivity data, characterizing the immunoassay response to the four Kanechlor technical mixtures of PCBs in oil, are presented. Forty-five used transformer oil samples were analyzed by gas chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry and were also evaluated using the immunoassay protocol developed. Results presented show zero false negatives at a 1.4 ppm nominal cutoff for the transformer oils analyzed.

Rapid deletion production in fungi via Agrobacterium mediated transformation of OSCAR deletion contructs.

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Precise deletion of gene(s) of interest, while leaving the rest of the genome unchanged, provides the ideal product to determine that particular gene’s function in the living organism. In this protocol we describe the OSCAR method of precise and rapid deletion plasmid construction. OSCAR relies on t...

Anoxia-Reoxygenation Regulates Mitochondrial Dynamics through the Hypoxia Response Pathway, SKN-1/Nrf, and Stomatin-Like Protein STL-1/SLP-2

PubMed Central

Tabakin, Alexandra; Salazar-Vasquez, Nathaly; Rongo, Christopher

2013-01-01

Many aerobic organisms encounter oxygen-deprived environments and thus must have adaptive mechanisms to survive such stress. It is important to understand how mitochondria respond to oxygen deprivation given the critical role they play in using oxygen to generate cellular energy. Here we examine mitochondrial stress response in C. elegans, which adapt to extreme oxygen deprivation (anoxia, less than 0.1% oxygen) by entering into a reversible suspended animation state of locomotory arrest. We show that neuronal mitochondria undergo DRP-1-dependent fission in response to anoxia and undergo refusion upon reoxygenation. The hypoxia response pathway, including EGL-9 and HIF-1, is not required for anoxia-induced fission, but does regulate mitochondrial reconstitution during reoxygenation. Mutants for egl-9 exhibit a rapid refusion of mitochondria and a rapid behavioral recovery from suspended animation during reoxygenation; both phenotypes require HIF-1. Mitochondria are significantly larger in egl-9 mutants after reoxygenation, a phenotype similar to stress-induced mitochondria hyperfusion (SIMH). Anoxia results in mitochondrial oxidative stress, and the oxidative response factor SKN-1/Nrf is required for both rapid mitochondrial refusion and rapid behavioral recovery during reoxygenation. In response to anoxia, SKN-1 promotes the expression of the mitochondrial resident protein Stomatin-like 1 (STL-1), which helps facilitate mitochondrial dynamics following anoxia. Our results suggest the existence of a conserved anoxic stress response involving changes in mitochondrial fission and fusion. PMID:24385935

Ultrafast compression of graphite observed with sub-ps time resolution diffraction on LCLS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Armstrong, Michael; Goncharov, A.; Crowhurst, J.; Zaug, J.; Radousky, H.; Grivickas, P.; Bastea, S.; Goldman, N.; Stavrou, E.; Belof, J.; Gleason, A.; Lee, H. J.; Nagler, R.; Holtgrewe, N.; Walter, P.; Pakaprenka, V.; Nam, I.; Granados, E.; Presher, C.; Koroglu, B.

2017-06-01

We will present ps time resolution pulsed x-ray diffraction measurements of rapidly compressed highly oriented pyrolytic graphite along its basal plane at the Materials under Extreme Conditions (MEC) sector of the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS). These experiments explore the possibility of rapid (<100 ps time scale) material transformations occurring under very highly anisotropic compression conditions. Under such conditions, non-equilibrium mechanisms may play a role in the transformation process. We will present experimental results and simulations which explore this possibility. This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344.

Rapid detection of foodborne microorganisms on food surface using Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Hong; Irudayaraj, Joseph

2003-02-01

Fourier transform (FT) Raman spectroscopy was used for non-destructive characterization and differentiation of six different microorganisms including the pathogen Escherichia coli O157:H7 on whole apples. Mahalanobis distance metric was used to evaluate and quantify the statistical differences between the spectra of six different microorganisms. The same procedure was extended to discriminate six different strains of E. coli. The FT-Raman procedure was not only successful in discriminating the different E. coli strain but also accurately differentiated the pathogen from non-pathogens. Results demonstrate that FT-Raman spectroscopy can be an excellent tool for rapid examination of food surfaces for microorganism contamination and for the classification of microbial cultures.

RELATIONSHIP OF MICROBIAL COMMUNITY STRUCTURE AND CARBON DYNAMICS IN SOILS FROM BRAZILIAN SAVANNAS

EPA Science Inventory

Fertilization is a widespread management practice in savanna areas of central Brazil (Cerrado) that are undergoing rapid agricultural land use changes. We conducted field and laboratory studies in soils with added fertilizers to determine the effect that fertilization of native a...

Enhancing Life Purpose amongst Thai Adolescents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Balthip, Karnsunaphat; McSherry, Wilfred; Petchruschatachart, Usanee; Piriyakoontorn, Siriwan; Liamputtong, Pranee

2017-01-01

This article describes experiences that enhanced life purpose in 21 Thai adolescents living in Southern Thailand. Thailand is undergoing rapid change from technology, a globalizing economy, and shifting social norms. A phenomenological analysis of in-depth interviews and stories to better understand how Thai youth themselves experience and…

Exploring agricultural production systems and their fundamental components with system dynamics modeling

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Agricultural production in the United States is undergoing marked changes due to rapid shifts in consumer demands, input costs, and concerns for food safety and environmental impact. Agricultural production systems are comprised of multidimensional components and drivers that interact in complex wa...

Bush encroachment dynamics and rangeland management implications in the Horn of Africa

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Rangelands in the Horn of Africa have been undergoing a rapid shift from herbaceous to woody plant dominance in the past decades, threatening subsistence livestock herding and pastoral food security. Despite of significant rangeland management implications, quantification of the spatial extent of en...

Discourses of Professionalism in Family Day Care

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cook, Kay; Davis, Elise; Williamson, Lara; Harrison, Linda J.; Sims, Margaret

2013-01-01

Family day care in Australia is currently undergoing rapid "professionalisation" within a national reform agenda that seeks to raise and standardise early childhood service quality. Included within this reform is a requirement that all family day care workers obtain formal qualifications and that workers are referred to as…

The overview effect: the impact of space exploration on the evolution of nursing science.

PubMed

Butcher, H K; Forchuk, C

1992-01-01

The purpose of this article is to explore the overview effect, an experience evoked by space travel that has the capacity to transform all patterns of human existence and evolution toward greater potentials in human diversity and creativity. As nurses migrate with humanity into the solar system and beyond, they will experience the overview effect. The core components of the effect include changed perceptions of space, time, sound, and weight which have the potential to transform the evolution of nursing science. Nursing paradigms will encompass a view of humanity as integral with an infinite evolutionary universe. After generations of living in space in a diversity of new environments, the physical body will undergo radical changes, and the meaning of health will be transformed. The article concludes with a discussion on the parallels between Rogers' science of unitary human beings and the overview effect.

Crystallography of in-situ transformations of the M 7C3 carbide in the cast Fe-Cr-Ni alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kraposhin, V. S.; Kondrat'ev, S. Yu.; Talis, A. L.; Anastasiadi, G. P.

2017-03-01

In the process of holding of the cast heat-resistant Fe-Cr-Ni (0.45C-25Cr-35Ni) alloy at 1150°C, the eutectic chromium carbide present in its structure undergoes a gradual transition M 7C3 → M 23C6. The gradual formation of domains of the M 23C6 carbide inside the particles of the M 7C3 carbide makes it possible to assume that the observed phase transition is the well-known carbide transformation of the in situ type. The mechanism of the in situ transformation of the crystal structure of the carbide from M 7C3 into M 23C6 with a change in the number of nearest metal neighbors of carbon atoms is explained within the previously developed combinatory model of polymorphic transitions in the metals.

Molecular dynamics simulation of shock-wave loading of copper and titanium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bolesta, A. V.; Fomin, V. M.

2017-10-01

At extreme pressures and temperatures common materials form new dense phases with compacted atomic arrangements. By classical molecular dynamics simulation we observe that FCC copper undergo phase transformation to BCC structure. The transition occurs under shock wave loading at the pressures above 80 GPa and corresponding temperatures above 2000 K. We calculate phase diagram, show that at these pressures and low temperature FCC phase of copper is still stable and discuss the thermodynamic reason for phase transformation at high temperature shock wave regime. Titanium forms new hexagonal phase at high pressure as well. We calculate the structure of shock wave in titanium and observe that shock front splits in three parts: elastic, plastic and phase transformation. The possibility of using a phase transition behind a shock wave with further unloading for designing nanocrystalline materials with a reduced grain size is also shown.

Modeling solid-state transformations occurring in dissolution testing.

PubMed

Laaksonen, Timo; Aaltonen, Jaakko

2013-04-15

Changes in the solid-state form can occur during dissolution testing of drugs. This can often complicate interpretation of results. Additionally, there can be several mechanisms through which such a change proceeds, e.g. solvent-mediated transformation or crystal growth within the drug material itself. Here, a mathematical model was constructed to study the dissolution testing of a material, which undergoes such changes. The model consisted of two processes: the recrystallization of the drug from a supersaturated liquid state caused by the dissolution of the more soluble solid form and the crystal growth of the stable solid form at the surface of the drug formulation. Comparison to experimental data on theophylline dissolution showed that the results obtained with the model matched real solid-state changes and that it was able to distinguish between cases where the transformation was controlled either by solvent-mediated crystallization or solid-state crystal growth. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Atomistic Simulation of Interstitial Dislocation Loop Evolution under Applied Stresses in BCC Iron

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

Long, Xue Hao; Wang, Dong; Setyawan, Wahyu

Evolution of an interstitial 1/2⟨111⟩ dislocation loop under tensile, shear, and torsion stresses is studied with molecular statics method. Under a tensile stress, the dependence of ultimate tensile strength on size of loop is calculated. The formation of small shear loops around the initial prismatic loop is confirmed as an intermediate state to form the final dislocation network. Under a shear stress, the rotation of a loop is observed not only by a change of the habit plane but also through a transformation between a shear and a prismatic loop. Under torsion, a perfect BCC crystal may undergo a BCCmore » to FCC or BCC to HCP transformation. The present work indicates that a 1/2⟨111⟩ loop can delay these transformations, resulting in the formation of micro-crack on the surface.« less

Structural phase transition of gold under uniaxial, tensile, and triaxial stresses: An ab initio study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Durandurdu, Murat

2007-07-01

The behavior of gold crystal under uniaxial, tensile, and three different triaxial stresses is studied using an ab initio constant pressure technique within a generalized gradient approximation. Gold undergoes a phase transformation from the face-centered-cubic structure (fcc) to a body-centered-tetragonal (bct) structure having the space group of I4/mmm with the application of uniaxial stress, while it transforms to a face-centered-tetragonal (fct) phase within I4/mmm symmetry under uniaxial tensile loading. Further uniaxial compression of the bct phase results in a symmetry change from I4/mmm to P1 at high stresses and ultimately structural failure around 200.0GPa . For the case of triaxial stresses, gold also converts into a bct state. The critical stress for the fcc-to-bct transformation increases as the ratio of the triaxial stress increases. Both fct and bct phases are elastically unstable.

Barriers to horizontal cell transformation by extracellular vesicles containing oncogenic H-ras.

PubMed

Lee, Tae Hoon; Chennakrishnaiah, Shilpa; Meehan, Brian; Montermini, Laura; Garnier, Delphine; D'Asti, Esterina; Hou, Wenyang; Magnus, Nathalie; Gayden, Tenzin; Jabado, Nada; Eppert, Kolja; Majewska, Loydie; Rak, Janusz

2016-08-09

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) enable the exit of regulatory, mutant and oncogenic macromolecules (proteins, RNA and DNA) from their parental tumor cells and uptake of this material by unrelated cellular populations. Among the resulting biological effects of interest is the notion that cancer-derived EVs may mediate horizontal transformation of normal cells through transfer of mutant genes, including mutant ras. Here, we report that H-ras-mediated transformation of intestinal epithelial cells (IEC-18) results in the emission of exosome-like EVs containing genomic DNA, HRAS oncoprotein and transcript. However, EV-mediated horizontal transformation of non-transformed cells (epithelial, astrocytic, fibroblastic and endothelial) is transient, limited or absent due to barrier mechanisms that curtail the uptake, retention and function of oncogenic H-ras in recipient cells. Thus, epithelial cells and astrocytes are resistant to EV uptake, unless they undergo malignant transformation. In contrast, primary and immortalized fibroblasts are susceptible to the EV uptake, retention of H-ras DNA and phenotypic transformation, but these effects are transient and fail to produce a permanent tumorigenic conversion of these cells in vitro and in vivo, even after several months of observation. Increased exposure to EVs isolated from H-ras-transformed cancer cells, but not to those from their indolent counterparts, triggers demise of recipient fibroblasts. Uptake of H-ras-containing EVs stimulates but fails to transform primary endothelial cells. Thus, we suggest that intercellular transfer of oncogenes exerts regulatory rather than transforming influence on recipient cells, while cancer cells may often act as preferential EV recipients.

Spontaneous transformation of adult mesenchymal stem cells from cynomolgus macaques in vitro

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

Ren, Zhenhua; Key Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Ministry of Education, Beijing; Department of Anatomy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032

2011-12-10

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown potential clinical utility in cell therapy and tissue engineering, due to their ability to proliferate as well as to differentiate into multiple lineages, including osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic specifications. Therefore, it is crucial to assess the safety of MSCs while extensive expansion ex vivo is a prerequisite to obtain the cell numbers for cell transplantation. Here we show that MSCs derived from adult cynomolgus monkey can undergo spontaneous transformation following in vitro culture. In comparison with MSCs, the spontaneously transformed mesenchymal cells (TMCs) display significantly different growth pattern and morphology, reminiscent of the characteristicsmore » of tumor cells. Importantly, TMCs are highly tumorigenic, causing subcutaneous tumors when injected into NOD/SCID mice. Moreover, no multiple differentiation potential of TMCs is observed in vitro or in vivo, suggesting that spontaneously transformed adult stem cells may not necessarily turn into cancer stem cells. These data indicate a direct transformation of cynomolgus monkey MSCs into tumor cells following long-term expansion in vitro. The spontaneous transformation of the cultured cynomolgus monkey MSCs may have important implications for ongoing clinical trials and for models of oncogenesis, thus warranting a more strict assessment of MSCs prior to cell therapy. -- Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Spontaneous transformation of cynomolgus monkey MSCs in vitro. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Transformed mesenchymal cells lack multipotency. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Transformed mesenchymal cells are highly tumorigenic. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Transformed mesenchymal cells do not have the characteristics of cancer stem cells.« less

Barriers to horizontal cell transformation by extracellular vesicles containing oncogenic H-ras

PubMed Central

Lee, Tae Hoon; Chennakrishnaiah, Shilpa; Meehan, Brian; Montermini, Laura; Garnier, Delphine; D'Asti, Esterina; Hou, Wenyang; Magnus, Nathalie; Gayden, Tenzin; Jabado, Nada; Eppert, Kolja; Majewska, Loydie; Rak, Janusz

2016-01-01

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) enable the exit of regulatory, mutant and oncogenic macromolecules (proteins, RNA and DNA) from their parental tumor cells and uptake of this material by unrelated cellular populations. Among the resulting biological effects of interest is the notion that cancer-derived EVs may mediate horizontal transformation of normal cells through transfer of mutant genes, including mutant ras. Here, we report that H-ras-mediated transformation of intestinal epithelial cells (IEC-18) results in the emission of exosome-like EVs containing genomic DNA, HRAS oncoprotein and transcript. However, EV-mediated horizontal transformation of non-transformed cells (epithelial, astrocytic, fibroblastic and endothelial) is transient, limited or absent due to barrier mechanisms that curtail the uptake, retention and function of oncogenic H-ras in recipient cells. Thus, epithelial cells and astrocytes are resistant to EV uptake, unless they undergo malignant transformation. In contrast, primary and immortalized fibroblasts are susceptible to the EV uptake, retention of H-ras DNA and phenotypic transformation, but these effects are transient and fail to produce a permanent tumorigenic conversion of these cells in vitro and in vivo, even after several months of observation. Increased exposure to EVs isolated from H-ras-transformed cancer cells, but not to those from their indolent counterparts, triggers demise of recipient fibroblasts. Uptake of H-ras-containing EVs stimulates but fails to transform primary endothelial cells. Thus, we suggest that intercellular transfer of oncogenes exerts regulatory rather than transforming influence on recipient cells, while cancer cells may often act as preferential EV recipients. PMID:27437771

ARISTOLOCHIC ACID I METABOLISM IN THE ISOLATED PERFUSED RAT KIDNEY

PubMed Central

Priestap, Horacio A.; Torres, M. Cecilia; Rieger, Robert A.; Dickman, Kathleen G.; Freshwater, Tomoko; Taft, David R.; Barbieri, Manuel A.; Iden, Charles R.

2012-01-01

Aristolochic acids are natural nitro-compounds found globally in the plant genus Aristolochia that have been implicated in the severe illness in humans termed aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN). Aristolochic acids undergo nitroreduction, among other metabolic reactions, and active intermediates arise that are carcinogenic. Previous experiments with rats showed that aristolochic acid I (AA-I), after oral administration or injection, is subjected to detoxication reactions to give aristolochic acid Ia, aristolactam Ia, aristolactam I and their glucuronide and sulfate conjugates that can be found in urine and faeces. Results obtained with whole rats do not clearly define the role of liver and kidney in such metabolic transformation. In this study, in order to determine the specific role of the kidney on the renal disposition of AA-I and to study the biotransformations suffered by AA-I in this organ, isolated kidneys of rats were perfused with AA-I. AA-I and metabolite concentrations were determined in perfusates and urines using HPLC procedures. The isolated perfused rat kidney model showed that AA-I distributes rapidly and extensively in kidney tissues by uptake from the peritubular capillaries and the tubules. It was also established that the kidney is able to metabolize AA-I into aristolochic acid Ia, aristolochic acid Ia O-sulfate, aristolactam Ia, aristolactam I and aristolactam Ia O-glucuronide. Rapid demethylation and sulfation of AA-I in the kidney generate aristolochic acid Ia and its sulfate conjugate that are voided to the urine. Reduction reactions to give the aristolactam metabolites occur to a slower rate. Renal clearances showed that filtered AA-I is reabsorbed at the tubules whereas the metabolites are secreted. The unconjugated metabolites produced in the renal tissues are transported to both urine and perfusate whereas the conjugated metabolites are almost exclusively secreted to the urine. PMID:22118289

Shaping the role of 'fast' and 'slow' drivers of change in forest-shrubland socio-ecological systems.

PubMed

Ferrara, Agostino; Kelly, Claire; Wilson, Geoff A; Nolè, Angelo; Mancino, Giuseppe; Bajocco, Sofia; Salvati, Luca

2016-03-15

The temporal speeds and spatial scales at which ecosystem processes operate are often at odds with the scale and speed at which natural resources such as soil, water and vegetation are managed those. Scale mismatches often occur as a result of the time-lag between policy development, implementation and observable changes in natural capital in particular. In this study, we analyse some of the transformations that can occur in complex forest-shrubland socio-ecological systems undergoing biophysical and socioeconomic change. We use a Multiway Factor Analysis (MFA) applied to a representative set of variables to assess changes in components of natural, economic and social capitals over time. Our results indicate similarities among variables and spatial units (i.e. municipalities) which allows us to rank the variables used to describe the SES according to their rapidity of change. The novelty of the proposed framework lies in the fact that the assessment of rapidity-to-change, based on the MFA, takes into account the multivariate relationships among the system's variables, identifying the net rate of change for the whole system, and the relative impact that individual variables exert on the system itself. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of fast and slow variables on the evolution of socio-economic systems based on simplified multivariate procedures applicable to vastly different socio-economic contexts and conditions. This study also contributes to quantitative analysis methods for long-established socio-ecological systems, which may help in designing more effective, and sustainable land management strategies in environmentally sensitive areas. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Xenon elimination kinetics following brief exposure.

PubMed

Schaefer, Maximilian S; Piper, Thomas; Geyer, Hans; Schneemann, Julia; Neukirchen, Martin; Thevis, Mario; Kienbaum, Peter

2017-05-01

Xenon is a modern inhalative anaesthetic with a very low solubility in tissues providing rapid elimination and weaning from anaesthesia. Besides its anaesthetic properties, Xenon promotes the endogenous erythropoietin biosynthesis and thus has been enlisted as prohibited substance by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). For effective doping controls, knowledge about the elimination kinetics of Xenon and the duration of traceability are of particular importance. Seventy-seven full blood samples were obtained from 7 normal weight patients undergoing routine Xenon-based general anaesthesia with a targeted inspiratory concentration of 60% Xenon in oxygen. Samples were taken before and during Xenon inhalation as well as one, two, 4, 8, 16, 24, 32, 40, and 48 h after exposure. Xenon concentrations were assessed in full blood by gas chromatography and triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry with a detection limit of 0.25 µmol/L. The elimination of Xenon was characterized by linear regression of log-transformed Xenon blood concentrations, as well as non-linear regression. Xenon exposure yielded maximum concentrations in arterial blood of 1.3 [1.1; 1.6] mmol/L. Xenon was traceable for 24 to 48 h. The elimination profile was characterized by a biphasic pattern with a rapid alpha phase, followed by a slower beta phase showing a first order kinetics (c[Xe] = 69.1e -0.26x , R 2  = 0.83, t 1/2  = 2.7 h). Time in hours after exposure could be estimated by 50*ln(1.39/c[Xe] 0.077 ). Xenon's elimination kinetics is biphasic with a delayed beta phase following a first order kinetics. Xenon can reliably be detected for at least 24 h after brief exposure. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Impacts of Earth rotation parameters on GNSS ultra-rapid orbit prediction: Derivation and real-time correction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Qianxin; Hu, Chao; Xu, Tianhe; Chang, Guobin; Hernández Moraleda, Alberto

2017-12-01

Analysis centers (ACs) for global navigation satellite systems (GNSSs) cannot accurately obtain real-time Earth rotation parameters (ERPs). Thus, the prediction of ultra-rapid orbits in the international terrestrial reference system (ITRS) has to utilize the predicted ERPs issued by the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) or the International GNSS Service (IGS). In this study, the accuracy of ERPs predicted by IERS and IGS is analyzed. The error of the ERPs predicted for one day can reach 0.15 mas and 0.053 ms in polar motion and UT1-UTC direction, respectively. Then, the impact of ERP errors on ultra-rapid orbit prediction by GNSS is studied. The methods for orbit integration and frame transformation in orbit prediction with introduced ERP errors dominate the accuracy of the predicted orbit. Experimental results show that the transformation from the geocentric celestial references system (GCRS) to ITRS exerts the strongest effect on the accuracy of the predicted ultra-rapid orbit. To obtain the most accurate predicted ultra-rapid orbit, a corresponding real-time orbit correction method is developed. First, orbits without ERP-related errors are predicted on the basis of ITRS observed part of ultra-rapid orbit for use as reference. Then, the corresponding predicted orbit is transformed from GCRS to ITRS to adjust for the predicted ERPs. Finally, the corrected ERPs with error slopes are re-introduced to correct the predicted orbit in ITRS. To validate the proposed method, three experimental schemes are designed: function extrapolation, simulation experiments, and experiments with predicted ultra-rapid orbits and international GNSS Monitoring and Assessment System (iGMAS) products. Experimental results show that using the proposed correction method with IERS products considerably improved the accuracy of ultra-rapid orbit prediction (except the geosynchronous BeiDou orbits). The accuracy of orbit prediction is enhanced by at least 50% (error related to ERP) when a highly accurate observed orbit is used with the correction method. For iGMAS-predicted orbits, the accuracy improvement ranges from 8.5% for the inclined BeiDou orbits to 17.99% for the GPS orbits. This demonstrates that the correction method proposed by this study can optimize the ultra-rapid orbit prediction.

Gene deregulation and spatial genome reorganization near breakpoints prior to formation of translocations in anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

PubMed

Mathas, Stephan; Kreher, Stephan; Meaburn, Karen J; Jöhrens, Korinna; Lamprecht, Björn; Assaf, Chalid; Sterry, Wolfram; Kadin, Marshall E; Daibata, Masanori; Joos, Stefan; Hummel, Michael; Stein, Harald; Janz, Martin; Anagnostopoulos, Ioannis; Schrock, Evelin; Misteli, Tom; Dörken, Bernd

2009-04-07

Although the identification and characterization of translocations have rapidly increased, little is known about the mechanisms of how translocations occur in vivo. We used anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) with and without the characteristic t(2;5)(p23;q35) translocation to study the mechanisms of formation of translocations and of ALCL transformation. We report deregulation of several genes located near the ALCL translocation breakpoint, regardless of whether the tumor contains the t(2;5). The affected genes include the oncogenic transcription factor Fra2 (located on 2p23), the HLH protein Id2 (2p25), and the oncogenic tyrosine kinase CSF1-receptor (5q33.1). Their up-regulation promotes cell survival and repression of T cell-specific gene expression programs that are characteristic for ALCL. The deregulated genes are in spatial proximity within the nuclear space of t(2;5)-negative ALCL cells, facilitating their translocation on induction of double-strand breaks. These data suggest that deregulation of breakpoint-proximal genes occurs before the formation of translocations, and that aberrant transcriptional activity of genomic regions is linked to their propensity to undergo chromosomal translocations. Also, our data demonstrate that deregulation of breakpoint-proximal genes has a key role in ALCL.

Gene deregulation and spatial genome reorganization near breakpoints prior to formation of translocations in anaplastic large cell lymphoma

PubMed Central

Mathas, Stephan; Kreher, Stephan; Meaburn, Karen J.; Jöhrens, Korinna; Lamprecht, Björn; Assaf, Chalid; Sterry, Wolfram; Kadin, Marshall E.; Daibata, Masanori; Joos, Stefan; Hummel, Michael; Stein, Harald; Janz, Martin; Anagnostopoulos, Ioannis; Schrock, Evelin; Misteli, Tom; Dörken, Bernd

2009-01-01

Although the identification and characterization of translocations have rapidly increased, little is known about the mechanisms of how translocations occur in vivo. We used anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) with and without the characteristic t(2;5)(p23;q35) translocation to study the mechanisms of formation of translocations and of ALCL transformation. We report deregulation of several genes located near the ALCL translocation breakpoint, regardless of whether the tumor contains the t(2;5). The affected genes include the oncogenic transcription factor Fra2 (located on 2p23), the HLH protein Id2 (2p25), and the oncogenic tyrosine kinase CSF1-receptor (5q33.1). Their up-regulation promotes cell survival and repression of T cell-specific gene expression programs that are characteristic for ALCL. The deregulated genes are in spatial proximity within the nuclear space of t(2;5)-negative ALCL cells, facilitating their translocation on induction of double-strand breaks. These data suggest that deregulation of breakpoint-proximal genes occurs before the formation of translocations, and that aberrant transcriptional activity of genomic regions is linked to their propensity to undergo chromosomal translocations. Also, our data demonstrate that deregulation of breakpoint-proximal genes has a key role in ALCL. PMID:19321746