Generic worklist handler for workflow-enabled products

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmidt, Joachim; Meetz, Kirsten; Wendler, Thomas

1999-07-01

Workflow management (WfM) is an emerging field of medical information technology. It appears as a promising key technology to model, optimize and automate processes, for the sake of improved efficiency, reduced costs and improved patient care. The Application of WfM concepts requires the standardization of architectures and interfaces. A component of central interest proposed in this report is a generic work list handler: A standardized interface between a workflow enactment service and application system. Application systems with embedded work list handlers will be called 'Workflow Enabled Application Systems'. In this paper we discus functional requirements of work list handlers, as well as their integration into workflow architectures and interfaces. To lay the foundation for this specification, basic workflow terminology, the fundamentals of workflow management and - later in the paper - the available standards as defined by the Workflow Management Coalition are briefly reviewed.

Detecting distant homologies on protozoans metabolic pathways using scientific workflows.

PubMed

da Cruz, Sérgio Manuel Serra; Batista, Vanessa; Silva, Edno; Tosta, Frederico; Vilela, Clarissa; Cuadrat, Rafael; Tschoeke, Diogo; Dávila, Alberto M R; Campos, Maria Luiza Machado; Mattoso, Marta

2010-01-01

Bioinformatics experiments are typically composed of programs in pipelines manipulating an enormous quantity of data. An interesting approach for managing those experiments is through workflow management systems (WfMS). In this work we discuss WfMS features to support genome homology workflows and present some relevant issues for typical genomic experiments. Our evaluation used Kepler WfMS to manage a real genomic pipeline, named OrthoSearch, originally defined as a Perl script. We show a case study detecting distant homologies on trypanomatids metabolic pathways. Our results reinforce the benefits of WfMS over script languages and point out challenges to WfMS in distributed environments.

Modification of the Highly Conductive PEDOT:PSS Layer for Use in Silver Nanogrid Electrodes for Flexible Inverted Polymer Solar Cells.

PubMed

Wang, Jie; Fei, Fei; Luo, Qun; Nie, Shuhong; Wu, Na; Chen, Xiaolian; Su, Wenming; Li, Yuanjie; Ma, Chang-Qi

2017-03-01

Silver nanogrid based flexible transparent electrode is recognized as the most promising alternative to ITO electrode for organic electronics, owing to its low production cost and excellent flexibility. Typically, a highly conductive thin film coating layer, such as highly conductive PEDOT:PSS (HC-PEDOT:PSS) is usually deposited onto the Ag-grid electrode to smooth the surface and to minimize the sheet resistance. In this paper, we found that inverted flexible polymer solar cells with structure of Ag-grid/HC-PEDOT:PSS/ZnO/photoactive layer/MoO 3 /Al generally exhibits strong S-shaped J-V curves, which could be eliminated by light-soaking treatment. Kelvin probe force microscope (KPFM) measurement proved that a large work function (WF) difference (0.70 eV) between HC-PEDOT:PSS and ZnO is the main reason for the formation of S-shape. White light soaking of the Ag-grid/HC-PEDOT:PSS gradually decreased the WF of HC-PEDOT:PSS from 5.10 to 4.60 eV, leading to a reduced WF difference between HC-PEDOT:PSS and ZnO from 0.70 to 0.38 eV. Such a WF difference decrease was believed to be the working mechanism for the light-soaking effect in this flexible device. Based on this finding, the HC-PEDOT:PSS solution was then modified by doping with polyethylenimine (PEI) and aqueous ammonia. The modified PEDOT:PSS film is characteristic of adjusting WF through varying PEI doping concentrations. By using such a modified PEDOT:PSS layer, light-soaking-free flexible inverted polymer solar cell with a power conversion efficiency of 6.58% was achieved for PTB7-Th:PC 71 BM cells. The current work provides a useful guideline for interfacial modification for Ag-grid based flexible electrode.

Recombinant von Willebrand factor: preclinical development.

PubMed

Plaimauer, B; Schlokat, U; Turecek, P L; Mitterer, A; Mundt, W; Auer, W; Pichler, L; Gritsch, H; Schwarz, H P

2001-08-01

Von Willebrand factor (vWF) is a multimeric glycoprotein (GP) that attracts platelets to the site of vascular injury, mediates platelet-platelet interaction, and stabilizes factor VIII (FVIII) in the circulation. Quantitative and qualitative defects of vWF result in von Willebrand disease (vWD), manifested by modest to severe bleeding episodes. Substitution therapy, with plasma-derived FVIII/vWF complex concentrates, is used for patients suffering the more severe forms of vWD. Efficacy of these preparations is often unsatisfactory because inadvertent proteolytic degradation during the manufacturing process causes them to lack the hemostatically most active high-molecular-weight multimers. In contrast, recombinant vWF (r-vWF), which is constitutively expressed at high yields in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and secreted into the conditioned medium under perfusion fermentation in "protein-free" medium, has high-molecular-weight multimers of extraordinary structural integrity. Functional analysis has shown that r-vWF promotes ristocetin cofactor-mediated platelet aggregation, collagen interaction and FVIII binding, and platelet-collagen adhesion under shear stress. Infusing vWF-deficient animals with r-vWF corrected vWF concentration and reduced blood loss, subsequently stabilizing endogenous FVIII associated with the reduction of bleeding time. Compared with plasma-derived vWF preparations, r-vWF was found to have a prolonged half-life, further enhancing the potential value of r-vWF as a therapeutic agent for treating patients suffering from vWD.

The weighted function method: A handy tool for flood frequency analysis or just a curiosity?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bogdanowicz, Ewa; Kochanek, Krzysztof; Strupczewski, Witold G.

2018-04-01

The idea of the Weighted Function (WF) method for estimation of Pearson type 3 (Pe3) distribution introduced by Ma in 1984 has been revised and successfully applied for shifted inverse Gaussian (IGa3) distribution. Also the conditions of WF applicability to a shifted distribution have been formulated. The accuracy of WF flood quantiles for both Pe3 and IGa3 distributions was assessed by Monte Caro simulations under the true and false distribution assumption versus the maximum likelihood (MLM), moment (MOM) and L-moments (LMM) methods. Three datasets of annual peak flows of Polish catchments serve the case studies to compare the results of the WF, MOM, MLM and LMM performance for the real flood data. For the hundred-year flood the WF method revealed the explicit superiority only over the MLM surpassing the MOM and especially LMM both for the true and false distributional assumption with respect to relative bias and relative mean root square error values. Generally, the WF method performs well and for hydrological sample size and constitutes good alternative for the estimation of the flood upper quantiles.

Wall-layer model for LES with massive separation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fakhari, Ahmad; Armenio, Vincenzo; Roman, Federico

2016-11-01

Currently, Wall Functions (WF) work well under specific conditions, mostly exhibit drawbacks specially in flows with separation beyond curvatures. In this work, we propose a more general WF which works well in attached and detached flows, in presence and absence of Immersed Boundaries (IB). First we modified an equilibrium stress WF for boundary-fitted geometry making dynamic the computation of the k (von Karman constant) of the log-law; the model was first applied to a periodic open channel flow, and then to the flow over a 2D single hill using uniform coarse grids; the model captured separation with reasonable accuracy. Thereafter IB Method by Roman et al. was improved to avoid momentum loss at the interface between the fluid-solid regions. This required calibration of interfacial eddy viscosity; also a random stochastic forcing was used in wall-normal direction to increase Reynolds stresses and improve mean velocity profile. Finally, to reproduce flow separation, a simplified boundary layer equation was applied to construct velocity at near wall computational nodes. The new scheme was tested on the 2D single hill and periodic hills applying Cartesian and curvilinear grids; good agreement with references was obtained with reduction in cost and complexity. Financial support from project COSMO "CFD open source per opera morta" PAR FSC 2007-2013, Friuli Venezia Giulia.

Inhibition of ADAMTS-13 by Doxycycline Reduces von Willebrand Factor Degradation During Supraphysiological Shear Stress: Therapeutic Implications for Left Ventricular Assist Device-Associated Bleeding.

PubMed

Bartoli, Carlo R; Kang, Jooeun; Restle, David J; Zhang, David M; Shabahang, Cameron; Acker, Michael A; Atluri, Pavan

2015-11-01

The aim of this study was to investigate a potential therapy for left ventricular assist device (LVAD)-associated bleeding. Nonsurgical bleeding is the most frequent complication of LVAD support. Recent evidence has demonstrated that supraphysiological shear stress from continuous-flow LVADs accelerates von Willebrand factor (vWF) metabolism by the action of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13 (ADAMTS-13) (the vWF protease). An acquired vWF deficiency causes bleeding. This suggests that ADAMTS-13 is a clinical target to reduce vWF degradation. We tested the hypothesis that inhibition of ADAMTS-13 with doxycycline, an inexpensive, clinically approved drug, reduces vWF degradation during shear stress. Whole blood was collected from human donors (n = 15), and purified, recombinant ADAMTS-13 protein was obtained. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to quantify the dose relationship between doxycycline and ADAMTS-13 activity prior to shear stress (n = 10). To determine the effect of shear stress, plasma and recombinant ADAMTS-13 were exposed to LVAD-like supraphysiological shear stress (approximately 175 dyne/cm(2)). vWF multimers and degradation fragments were characterized with electrophoresis and immunoblotting (n = 10). Förster resonance energy transfer was used to quantify plasma ADAMTS-13 activity (n = 10). An ELISA was used to quantify vWF:collagen binding activity. Platelet aggregometry was performed with adenosine 5'-diphosphate, collagen, and ristocetin (vWF-platelet pathway) agonism (n = 10). Doxycycline significantly decreased plasma ADAMTS-13 activity (p = 0.01) and the activity of recombinant human ADAMTS-13 protein by 21%. After plasma was exposed to shear stress, the same pattern of vWF degradation was observed as previously reported for LVAD patients, and vWF:collagen binding activity decreased significantly (p = 0.002). Doxycycline significantly decreased ADAMTS-13 activity (p = 0.04) and the activity of recombinant ADAMTS-13 by 18%, protected large vWF multimers from degradation, and significantly decreased the levels of the 5 smallest vWF fragments by 12 ± 2% (p < 0.05). As a result, vWF:collagen binding activity was significantly restored (p = 0.004). ADAMTS-13 inhibition with doxycycline did not hyperactivate platelets. Inhibition of ADAMTS-13 by doxycycline decreased vWF degradation and improved vWF function during supraphysiological shear stress without hyperactivating platelets. ADAMTS-13 is a clinical target to reduce vWF degradation, improve vWF function, and potentially reduce bleeding during LVAD support. Copyright © 2015 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Work-family and family-work conflicts amongst African nurses caring for patients with AIDS.

PubMed

Makola, Lehlogonolo; Mashegoane, Solomon; Debusho, Legesse K

2015-12-14

South African nursing environments are marked by various incapacitating stressors. This study explores work-family (W-F) and family-work (F-W) conflicts as aspects of stress amongst nurses working with patients who have AIDS. The study sought to determine the value of W-F and F-W conflicts as predictors of work and family satisfaction, as well as turnover intentions and the moderating role of supervisor and significant other support, amongst nurses caring for patients with AIDS in public hospitals within the Capricorn and Mopani districts, Limpopo Province. The study used a cross-sectional design, with data collected at one point only. Ninety-one nursing staff provided the data for the study by completing structured, self-administered surveys. Analysis involved computing correlations of all study variables. Thereafter, associated variables were used as predictors. In each predictive analysis, the nurses' stress served as a control variable, W-F and F-W conflicts were the independent variables and significant others and supervisor supports were moderators. Interaction terms were derived from independent and moderator variables. Although the findings of the study were not generally supportive of the hypotheses advanced, they nevertheless showed, amongst other findings, that F-W conflict predicted work satisfaction whilst W-F conflict predicted turnover intentions. Moreover, significant other support had a direct effect on family satisfaction whilst supervisor support moderated reports of W-F conflict and experiences of work satisfaction. The study showed that inter-role models that appear to be established in the context of developed societies require some further investigations in South Africa.

Improved Work Function of Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): Poly(styrenesulfonic acid) and its Effect on Hybrid Silicon/Organic Heterojunction Solar Cells.

PubMed

Shen, Xiaojuan; Chen, Ling; Pan, Jianmei; Hu, Yue; Li, Songjun; Zhao, Jie

2016-12-01

Hybrid silicon/organic solar cells have been recently extensively investigated due to their simple structure and low-cost fabrication process. However, the efficiency of the solar cells is greatly limited by the barrier height as well as the carrier recombination at the silicon/organic interface. In this work, hydrochloroplatinic acid (H 2 PtCl 6 ) is employed into the poly(3,4-ethlenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) solution, and the work function (WF) of the PEDOT:PSS layer has been successfully improved. Based on the Pt-modified PEDOT:PSS layer, the efficiency of the silicon/PEDOT:PSS cell can be increased to 11.46%, corresponding to ~20% enhancement to the one without platinum (Pt) modification. Theoretical and experimental results show that, when increasing the WF of the PEDO:PSS layer, the barrier height between the silicon/PEDOT:PSS interface can be effectively enhanced. Meanwhile, the carrier recombination at the interface is significantly reduced. These results can contribute to better understanding of the interfacial mechanism of silicon/PEDOT:PSS interface, and further improving the device performance of silicon/organic solar cells.

Improved Work Function of Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): Poly(styrenesulfonic acid) and its Effect on Hybrid Silicon/Organic Heterojunction Solar Cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, Xiaojuan; Chen, Ling; Pan, Jianmei; Hu, Yue; Li, Songjun; Zhao, Jie

2016-11-01

Hybrid silicon/organic solar cells have been recently extensively investigated due to their simple structure and low-cost fabrication process. However, the efficiency of the solar cells is greatly limited by the barrier height as well as the carrier recombination at the silicon/organic interface. In this work, hydrochloroplatinic acid (H2PtCl6) is employed into the poly(3,4-ethlenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) solution, and the work function (WF) of the PEDOT:PSS layer has been successfully improved. Based on the Pt-modified PEDOT:PSS layer, the efficiency of the silicon/PEDOT:PSS cell can be increased to 11.46%, corresponding to 20% enhancement to the one without platinum (Pt) modification. Theoretical and experimental results show that, when increasing the WF of the PEDO:PSS layer, the barrier height between the silicon/PEDOT:PSS interface can be effectively enhanced. Meanwhile, the carrier recombination at the interface is significantly reduced. These results can contribute to better understanding of the interfacial mechanism of silicon/PEDOT:PSS interface, and further improving the device performance of silicon/organic solar cells.

Effects of Endovascular Interventions on vWF and Fb Levels in Type 2 Diabetic Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease.

PubMed

Yao, Hua-Qiang; Wang, Fu-Jun; Kang, Zhen

2016-05-01

von Willebrand Factor (vWF) and fibrinogen (Fb) are associated with hypercoagulability and thrombosis, which are the pathology and symptom of arterial disease. This research aims to study the effects of endovascular interventions on blood vWF and Fb levels in patients with diabetic peripheral artery disease (PAD). Totally, 66 type 2 diabetic patients with PAD (intervention group) and 26 type 2 diabetic patients without PAD (control group) were enrolled. These patients are matched at gender, age, and diabetes duration. For PAD patients, percutaneous interventions (balloon dilation or stent implantation) were performed, and blood samples were collected before, during, and after interventions. Then, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and prothrombin time-derived method were used to detect the levels of vWF and Fb, respectively. For intervention group, vWF and Fb levels in distal ischemic regions (vWF: 231.3%, Fb: 4.97 g/L) were significantly higher than that in nonischemic regions (vWF: 147.6%, Fb: 3.91 g/L, P value < 0.01). After interventions, ischemia was improved, whereas vWF and Fb levels were significantly increased (vWF: 299.2%, Fb: 5.69 g/L, P value < 0.01). During the 2 weeks after interventions, vWF and Fb levels reached a peak (vWF: 199.3%, Fb: 4.96 g/L) and then decreased gradually to lower than the preinterventional levels (vWF: 148.3%, Fb: 3.88 g/L, P value < 0.05). Interventions caused increases of blood vWF and Fb in the first week postintervention, leading to endothelial dysfunction and blood hypercoagulability. It suggested endothelial function protection and anticoagulant therapies should be applied to diabetic PAD patients after interventions. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Targeting von Willebrand Factor in Ischaemic Stroke: Focus on Clinical Evidence.

PubMed

Buchtele, Nina; Schwameis, Michael; Gilbert, James C; Schörgenhofer, Christian; Jilma, Bernd

2018-06-01

Despite great efforts in stroke research, disability and recurrence rates in ischaemic stroke remain unacceptably high. To address this issue, one potential target for novel therapeutics is the glycoprotein von Willebrand factor (vWF), which increases in thrombogenicity especially under high shear rates as it bridges between vascular sub-endothelial collagen and platelets. The rationale for vWF as a potential target in stroke comes from four bodies of evidence. (1) Animal models which recapitulate the pathogenesis of stroke and validate the concept of targeting vWF for stroke prevention and the use of the vWF cleavage enzyme ADAMTS13 in acute stroke treatment. (2) Extensive epidemiologic data establishing the prognostic role of vWF in the clinical setting showing that high vWF levels are associated with an increased risk of first stroke, stroke recurrence or stroke-associated mortality. As such, vWF levels may be a suitable marker for further risk stratification to potentially fine-tune current risk prediction models which are mainly based on clinical and imaging data. (3) Genetic studies showing an association between vWF levels and stroke risk on genomic levels. Finally, (4) studies of patients with primary disorders of excess or deficiency of function in the vWF axis (e.g. thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and von Willebrand disease, respectively) which demonstrate the crucial role of vWF in atherothrombosis. Therapeutic inhibition of VWF by novel agents appears particularly promising for secondary prevention of stroke recurrence in specific sub-groups of patients such as those suffering from large artery atherosclerosis, as designated according to the TOAST classification. Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart.

A modified weighted function method for parameter estimation of Pearson type three distribution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liang, Zhongmin; Hu, Yiming; Li, Binquan; Yu, Zhongbo

2014-04-01

In this paper, an unconventional method called Modified Weighted Function (MWF) is presented for the conventional moment estimation of a probability distribution function. The aim of MWF is to estimate the coefficient of variation (CV) and coefficient of skewness (CS) from the original higher moment computations to the first-order moment calculations. The estimators for CV and CS of Pearson type three distribution function (PE3) were derived by weighting the moments of the distribution with two weight functions, which were constructed by combining two negative exponential-type functions. The selection of these weight functions was based on two considerations: (1) to relate weight functions to sample size in order to reflect the relationship between the quantity of sample information and the role of weight function and (2) to allocate more weights to data close to medium-tail positions in a sample series ranked in an ascending order. A Monte-Carlo experiment was conducted to simulate a large number of samples upon which statistical properties of MWF were investigated. For the PE3 parent distribution, results of MWF were compared to those of the original Weighted Function (WF) and Linear Moments (L-M). The results indicate that MWF was superior to WF and slightly better than L-M, in terms of statistical unbiasness and effectiveness. In addition, the robustness of MWF, WF, and L-M were compared by designing the Monte-Carlo experiment that samples are obtained from Log-Pearson type three distribution (LPE3), three parameter Log-Normal distribution (LN3), and Generalized Extreme Value distribution (GEV), respectively, but all used as samples from the PE3 distribution. The results show that in terms of statistical unbiasness, no one method possesses the absolutely overwhelming advantage among MWF, WF, and L-M, while in terms of statistical effectiveness, the MWF is superior to WF and L-M.

Effects of complete water fasting and regeneration diet on kidney function, oxidative stress and antioxidants.

PubMed

Mojto, V; Gvozdjakova, A; Kucharska, J; Rausova, Z; Vancova, O; Valuch, J

2018-01-01

The aim of the study was to observe the influence of 11-days complete water fasting (WF) and regeneration diet (RD) on renal function, body weight, blood pressure and oxidative stress. Therapeutic WF is considered a healing method. Ten volunteers drank only water for 11 days, followed by RD for the next 11 days. Data on body weight, blood pressure, kidney functions, antioxidants, lipid peroxidation, cholesterols, triacylglycerols and selected biochemical parameters were obtained. WF increased uric acid and creatinine and decreased glomerular filtration rate. After RD, the parameters were comparable to baseline values. Urea was not affected. Lipid peroxidation (TBARS) decreased and maintained stable after RD. Fasting decreased α-tocopherol and increased γ-tocopherol, no significant changes were found after RD. Coenzyme Q10 decreased after RD. HDL-cholesterol decreased in WF. Total- and LDL-cholesterol decreased after RD. Other biochemical parameters were within the range of reference values. The effect of the complete fasting on kidney function was manifested by hyperuricemia. Renal function was slightly decreased, however maintained within the reference values. After RD, it returned to baseline values. The positive effect of the complete water fasting was in the reduction of oxidative stress, body weight and blood pressure (Tab. 3, Ref. 25).

Tracing a Route and Finding a Shortcut: The Working Memory, Motivational, and Personality Factors Involved.

PubMed

Pazzaglia, Francesca; Meneghetti, Chiara; Ronconi, Lucia

2018-01-01

Wayfinding (WF) is the ability to move around efficiently and find the way from a starting point to a destination. It is a component of spatial navigation, a coordinate and goal-directed movement of one's self through the environment. In the present study, the relationship between WF tasks (route tracing and shortcut finding) and individual factors were explored with the hypothesis that WF tasks would be predicted by different types of cognitive, affective, motivational variables, and personality factors. A group of 116 university students (88 F.) were conducted along a route in a virtual environment and then asked first to trace the same route again, and then to find a shortcut between the start and end points. Several instruments assessing visuospatial working memory, mental rotation ability, self-efficacy, spatial anxiety, positive attitude to exploring, and personality traits were administered. The results showed that a latent spatial ability factor (measured with the visuospatial working memory and mental rotations tests) - controlled for gender - predicted route-tracing performance, while self-report measures of anxiety, efficacy, and pleasure in exploring, and some personality traits were more likely to predict shortcut-finding performance. We concluded that both personality and cognitive abilities affect WF performance, but differently, depending on the requirements of the task.

Amaranth addition to enzymatically modified wheat flour improves dough functionality, bread immunoreactivity and quality.

PubMed

Heredia-Sandoval, N G; Calderón de la Barca, A M; Carvajal-Millán, E; Islas-Rubio, A R

2018-01-24

Consumers with gluten-related disorders require gluten-free (GF) foods to avoid an immune response. Alternative to the use of non-gluten containing grains to prepare GF bread, the gluten reactivity has been greatly reduced using a proline specific cleavage enzyme, however, the gluten functionality was lost. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of adding an amaranth flour blend (AFB) to enzymatically modified wheat-flour proteins on dough functionality and to evaluate the immunoreactivity and acceptability of the prepared bread. First, wheat flour (20% w/v, substrate) was hydrolyzed using 8.4 U mg -1 protein Aspergillus niger prolyl-endopeptidase (AnPEP) for 8 h at 40 °C under constant agitation. Four types of breads were prepared with the same formulation except for the type of flour (14% w.b.): wheat flour (WF), WF-AFB unmodified not incubated, WF-AFB unmodified incubated and WF-AFB modified. The protein composition and free thiols were analyzed before and after amaranth addition, and the flour and bread proteins were run using SDS-PAGE and immune-detected in blots with IgA from celiac disease patients. The immunoreactive gluten content, specific volume and bread acceptability were evaluated. The polymeric proteins and free thiol groups of WF decreased after AnPEP treatment. The electrophoretic patterns of the modified flour and bread proteins were different and the IgA-immunodetection in blots was highly reduced, particularly for the higher molecular weight subunits. The addition of AFB to the modified wheat flour prepared using AnPEP improved the dough functionality by increasing the thiol groups and allowed the preparation of a sensorially acceptable bread with only 60 mg kg -1 immunoreactive gluten.

Comparison of the effects of three different Baccaurea angulata whole fruit juice doses on plasma, aorta and liver MDA levels, antioxidant enzymes and total antioxidant capacity.

PubMed

Ibrahim, Muhammad; Mikail, Maryam Abimbola; Ahmed, Idris Adewale; Hazali, Norazlanshah; Abdul Rasad, Mohammad Syaiful Bahari; Abdul Ghani, Radiah; Hashim, Ridzwan; Arief, Solachuddin Jahuari; Md Isa, Muhammad Lokman; Draman, Samsul

2017-05-17

Baccaurea angulata (common names: belimbing dayak or belimbing hutan) is a Malaysian underutilized fruit. The preliminary work on B. angulata fruit juice showed that it possesses antioxidant properties. Therefore, further work is needed to confirm the efficacy and proper dosage of B. angulata as a potential natural antioxidant. The present study was thus carried out to compare the effects of three different B. angulata whole fruit (WF) juice doses administered at nutritional doses of 0.50, 1.00 and 1.50 ml/kg/day on plasma, aorta and liver malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase) as well as total antioxidant capacity in rabbits fed high-cholesterol diet. Thirty-five male rabbits of New Zealand strain were randomly assigned to seven groups. For 12 weeks, group CH was fed 1% cholesterol diet only; group C1 was fed 1% cholesterol diet and 0.50 ml/kg/day B. angulata WF juice; group C2 was fed 1% cholesterol diet and 1.00 ml/kg/day B. angulata WF juice; group C3 was fed 1% cholesterol diet and 1.50 ml/kg/day B. angulata WF juice; group N was fed standard pellet only; group N1 was fed standard pellet and 0.50 ml/kg/day B. angulata WF juice; and group N2 was fed standard pellet and 1.00 ml/kg/day B. angulata WF juice. The three doses reduced the formation of MDA and enhanced the expression of endogenous antioxidant enzymes. The highest dose used (1.50 ml/kg/day) was, however, seen as the most potent. Higher doses of B. angulata juice exerted better antioxidant activity.

Differential roles of fibrinogen and von Willebrand factor on clot formation and platelet adhesion in reconstituted and immune thrombocytopenia.

PubMed

Misgav, Mudi; Shenkman, Boris; Budnik, Ivan; Einav, Yulia; Martinowitz, Uri

2011-05-01

Bleeding tendencies in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) do not always correlate with the number of platelets, suggesting platelet function variation. We used a model of normal whole blood thrombocytopenia to compare platelet function and other hemostatic variables with ITP patients. We further investigated the effect of in vitro spiking with von Willebrand factor (vWF) and fibrinogen on platelet function and hemostatic variables. The Cone and Plate(let) Analyzer was used to measure platelet adhesion (surface coverage [SC], %) and aggregation (average size, μm(2)) under defined shear rate (1200 s(-1)). Rotational thromboelastometry was used to determine variables of clot formation triggered by CaCl(2) and tissue factor. In both the model of thrombocytopenia as well as in ITP, the SC and to some extent the average size were correlated to the platelet number over a range of 5 to 80 × 10(6)/mL. The results obtained for most ITP samples were within the boundaries of the lower and upper limits set by the whole blood model of thrombocytopenia. The addition of 2 U/mL vWF (Haemate-P) to whole blood (calculated to plasma volume) results in an increase in the SC and average size without affecting clot formation. Spiking with fibrinogen (100 and 300 mg/dL) did not affect platelet deposition but improved clot formation. Using a model of whole blood thrombocytopenia enables us to establish reference variables for the Cone and Plate(let) Analyzer and rotational thromboelastometry and to assess platelet function and clot formation in the presence of severe thrombocytopenia. We demonstrated that in most cases of ITP, platelet function is comparable to normal platelets. This work also suggests that vWF and fibrinogen differentially affect primary and secondary hemostasis and therefore both may perform a function in the bleeding phenotype and possibly may be considered for treatment in patients with ITP. © 2011 International Anesthesia Research Society

CMOS integration of high-k/metal gate transistors in diffusion and gate replacement (D&GR) scheme for dynamic random access memory peripheral circuits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dentoni Litta, Eugenio; Ritzenthaler, Romain; Schram, Tom; Spessot, Alessio; O’Sullivan, Barry; Machkaoutsan, Vladimir; Fazan, Pierre; Ji, Yunhyuck; Mannaert, Geert; Lorant, Christophe; Sebaai, Farid; Thiam, Arame; Ercken, Monique; Demuynck, Steven; Horiguchi, Naoto

2018-04-01

Integration of high-k/metal gate stacks in peripheral transistors is a major candidate to ensure continued scaling of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) technology. In this paper, the CMOS integration of diffusion and gate replacement (D&GR) high-k/metal gate stacks is investigated, evaluating four different approaches for the critical patterning step of removing the N-type field effect transistor (NFET) effective work function (eWF) shifter stack from the P-type field effect transistor (PFET) area. The effect of plasma exposure during the patterning step is investigated in detail and found to have a strong impact on threshold voltage tunability. A CMOS integration scheme based on an experimental wet-compatible photoresist is developed and the fulfillment of the main device metrics [equivalent oxide thickness (EOT), eWF, gate leakage current density, on/off currents, short channel control] is demonstrated.

Solution-Processed n-Type Graphene Doping for Cathode in Inverted Polymer Light-Emitting Diodes

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

Kwon, Sung-Joo; Han, Tae-Hee; Kim, Young-Hoon

n-Type doping with (4-(1,3-dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzoimidazol-2-yl)phenyl) dimethylamine (N-DMBI) reduces a work function (WF) of graphene by ~0.45 eV without significant reduction of optical transmittance. Solution process of N-DMBI on graphene provides effective n-type doping effect and air-stability at the same time. Although neutral N-DMBI act as an electron receptor leaving the graphene p-doped, radical N-DMBI acts as an electron donator leaving the graphene n-doped, which is demonstrated by density functional theory. We also verify the suitability of N-DMBI-doped n-type graphene for use as a cathode in inverted polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs) by using various analytical methods. Inverted PLEDs using a graphene cathodemore » doped with N-DMBI radical showed dramatically improved device efficiency (~13.8 cd/A) than did inverted PLEDs with pristine graphene (~2.74 cd/A). Finally, N-DMBI-doped graphene can provide a practical way to produce graphene cathodes with low WF in various organic optoelectronics.« less

Solution-Processed n-Type Graphene Doping for Cathode in Inverted Polymer Light-Emitting Diodes

DOE PAGES

Kwon, Sung-Joo; Han, Tae-Hee; Kim, Young-Hoon; ...

2018-01-11

n-Type doping with (4-(1,3-dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzoimidazol-2-yl)phenyl) dimethylamine (N-DMBI) reduces a work function (WF) of graphene by ~0.45 eV without significant reduction of optical transmittance. Solution process of N-DMBI on graphene provides effective n-type doping effect and air-stability at the same time. Although neutral N-DMBI act as an electron receptor leaving the graphene p-doped, radical N-DMBI acts as an electron donator leaving the graphene n-doped, which is demonstrated by density functional theory. We also verify the suitability of N-DMBI-doped n-type graphene for use as a cathode in inverted polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs) by using various analytical methods. Inverted PLEDs using a graphene cathodemore » doped with N-DMBI radical showed dramatically improved device efficiency (~13.8 cd/A) than did inverted PLEDs with pristine graphene (~2.74 cd/A). Finally, N-DMBI-doped graphene can provide a practical way to produce graphene cathodes with low WF in various organic optoelectronics.« less

Comparison of tungsten films grown by CVD and hot-wire assisted atomic layer deposition in a cold-wall reactor

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

Yang, Mengdi, E-mail: M.Yang@utwente.nl; Aarnink, Antonius A. I.; Kovalgin, Alexey Y.

2016-01-15

In this work, the authors developed hot-wire assisted atomic layer deposition (HWALD) to deposit tungsten (W) with a tungsten filament heated up to 1700–2000 °C. Atomic hydrogen (at-H) was generated by dissociation of molecular hydrogen (H{sub 2}), which reacted with WF{sub 6} at the substrate to deposit W. The growth behavior was monitored in real time by an in situ spectroscopic ellipsometer. In this work, the authors compare samples with tungsten grown by either HWALD or chemical vapor deposition (CVD) in terms of growth kinetics and properties. For CVD, the samples were made in a mixture of WF{sub 6} and molecularmore » or atomic hydrogen. Resistivity of the WF{sub 6}-H{sub 2} CVD layers was 20 μΩ·cm, whereas for the WF{sub 6}-at-H-CVD layers, it was 28 μΩ·cm. Interestingly, the resistivity was as high as 100 μΩ·cm for the HWALD films, although the tungsten films were 99% pure according to x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction reveals that the HWALD W was crystallized as β-W, whereas both CVD films were in the α-W phase.« less

On Weak and Strong 2k- bent Boolean Functions

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-01-01

U.S.A. Email: pstanica@nps.edu Abstract—In this paper we introduce a sequence of discrete Fourier transforms and define new versions of bent...denotes the complex conjugate of z. An important tool in our analysis is the discrete Fourier transform , known in Boolean functions literature, as Walsh...Hadamard, or Walsh–Hadamard transform , which is the func- tion Wf : Fn2 → C, defined by Wf (u) = 2− n 2 ∑ x∈Vn (−1)f(x)⊕u·x. Any f ∈ Bn can be

The effects of different fractions of Coriandrum sativum on pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures and brain tissues oxidative damage in rats.

PubMed

Anaeigoudari, Akbar; Hosseini, Mahmoud; Karami, Reza; Vafaee, Farzaneh; Mohammadpour, Toktam; Ghorbani, Ahmad; Sadeghnia, Hamid Reza

2016-01-01

In the present work, the effects of different fractions of Coriandrum sativum (C. sativum), on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures and brain tissues oxidative damage were investigated in rats. The rats were divided into the following groups: (1) vehicle, (2) PTZ (90 mg/kg), (3) water fraction (WF) of C. sativum (25 and 100 mg/kg), (4) n-butanol fraction (NBF) of C. sativum (25 and 100 mg/kg), and (5) ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) of C. sativum (25 and 100 mg/kg). The first generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) latency in groups treated with 100 mg /kg of WF or EAF was significantly higher than that of PTZ group (p<0.01). In contrast to WF, the EAF and NBF were not effective in increasing the first minimal clonic seizure (MCS) latency. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in both cortical and hippocampal tissues of PTZ group were significantly higher than those of control animals (p<0.001). Pretreatment with WF, NBF, or EAF resulted in a significant reduction in the MDA levels of hippocampi (p<0.01 - p<0.001). Following PTZ administration, a significant reduction in total thiol groups was observed in the brain tissues (p<0.05). Pretreatment with WF and NBF significantly elevated thiol concentrations in cortical and hippocampal tissues, respectively (p<0.05). The present study showed that different fractions of C. sativum possess antioxidant activity in the brain and WF and EAF of this plant have anticonvulsant effects.

Global seismic attenuation imaging using full-waveform inversion: a comparative assessment of different choices of misfit functionals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karaoǧlu, Haydar; Romanowicz, Barbara

2018-02-01

We present the results of synthetic tests that aim at evaluating the relative performance of three different definitions of misfit functionals in the context of 3-D imaging of shear wave attenuation in the earth's upper mantle at the global scale, using long-period full-waveform data. The synthetic tests are conducted with simple hypothetical upper-mantle models that contain Qμ anomalies centred at different depths and locations, with or without additional seismic velocity anomalies. To build synthetic waveform data sets, we performed simulations of 50 events in the hypothetical (target) models, using the spectral element method, filtered in the period range 60-400 s. The selected events are chosen among 273 events used in the development of radially anisotropic model SEMUCB-WM1 and recorded at 495 stations worldwide. The synthetic Z-component waveforms correspond to paths and time intervals (fundamental mode and overtone Rayleigh waves) that exist in the real waveform data set. The inversions for shear attenuation structure are carried out using a Gauss-Newton optimization scheme in which the gradient and Hessian are computed using normal mode perturbation theory. The three different misfit functionals considered are based on time domain waveform (WF) and waveform envelope (E-WF) differences, as well as spectral amplitude ratios (SA), between observed and predicted waveforms. We evaluate the performance of the three misfit functional definitions in the presence of seismic noise and unresolved S-wave velocity heterogeneity and discuss the relative importance of physical dispersion effects due to 3-D Qμ structure. We observed that the performance of WF is poorer than the other two misfit functionals in recovering attenuation structure, unless anelastic dispersion effects are taken into account in the calculation of partial derivatives. WF also turns out to be more sensitive to seismic noise than E-WF and SA. Overall, SA performs best for attenuation imaging. Our tests show that it is important to account for 3-D elastic effects (focusing) before inverting for Qμ. Additionally, we show that including high signal-to-noise ratio overtone wave packets is necessary to resolve Qμ structure at depths greater than 250 km.

Anti-diabetic properties of flavonoid compounds isolated from Hyphaene thebaica epicarp on alloxan induced diabetic rats

PubMed Central

Salib, Josline Y.; Michael, Helana N.; Eskande, Emad Fawzy

2013-01-01

Background: Diabetes mellitus, becoming the third killer of mankind after cancer and cardiovascular diseases, is one of the most challenging diseases facing health care professionals today. That is why; there has been a growing interest in the therapeutic use of natural products for diabetes, especially those derived from plants. Aim: To evaluate the anti-diabetic activity together with the accompanying biological effects of the fractions and the new natural compounds of Hyphaene thebaica (HT) epicarp. Materials and Methods: 500 g of coarsely powdered of (HT) fruits epicarp were extracted by acetone. The acetone crude extract was fractionated with methanol and ethyl acetate leaving a residual water-soluble fraction WF. The anti-diabetic effects of the WF and one of its compounds of the acetone extract of the (HT) epicarp were investigated in this study using 40 adult male rats. Results: Phytochemical investigation of active WF revealed the presence of ten different flavonoids, among which two new natural compounds luteolin 7-O-[6”-O-α-Lrhamnopyranosyl]-β-D-galactopyranoside 3 and chrysoeriol 7-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl(1→2)-α-L-arabinofuranoside 5 were isolated. Supplementation of the WF improved glucose and insulin tolerance and significantly lowered blood glycosylated hemoglobin levels. On the other hand, compound 5 significantly reduced AST and ALT levels of liver, respectively. Likewise, the kidney functions were improved for both WF and compound 5, whereby both urea and creatinine levels in serum were highly significant Conclusion: The results justify the use of WF and compound 5 of the (HT) epicarp as anti-diabetic agent, taking into consideration that the contents of WF were mainly flavonoids PMID:23598921

Impact of CD200-Fc on dendritic cells in lupus-prone NZB/WF1 mice

DOE PAGES

Yin, Yufeng; Zhao, Lidan; Zhang, Fengchun; ...

2016-08-22

Abnormal expression of CD200/CD200R1 may contribute to the immunologic abnormalities in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study aimed to assess the function of CD200/CD200R1and impact of CD200-Fc on dendritic cells in lupus-prone NZB/WF1 mice. Female NZB/WF1 mice were treated with CD200-Fc or control for 4 weeks. Plasma samples were collected to measure autoantibody levels. The expression levels of CD200/CD200R1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and splenocytes were examined. The percentage of CD200/CD200R1-positive cells in splenocytes from NZB/WF1 mice was lower than that of C57BL/6 mice (p<0.05). The plasma level of anti-dsDNA was significantly higher in NZB/WF1 micemore » than C57BL/6 mice (p<0.001). However, the anti-dsDNA levels decreased (p=0.047) after CD200-Fc treatment. Finally, CD200-Fc reduced the levels of IL-6 (p=0.017) and IL-10 (p=0.03) in the dendritic cell culture supernatant. This study suggests that the immunosuppressive CD200/CD200R1 signaling pathway might be involved in the immunopathology of NZB/WF1 mice; the present results merit further exploration of agents that can modulate the CD200/CD200FR1 pathway as a therapy for human lupus.« less

Circulating adhesion molecules after short-term exposure to particulate matter among welders.

PubMed

Fang, S C; Eisen, E A; Cavallari, J M; Mittleman, M A; Christiani, D C

2010-01-01

Studies from several countries indicate that welders experience increased risk of mortality and morbidity from ischaemic heart disease. Although the underlying mechanisms are unclear, vascular responses to particulate matter contained in welding fumes may play a role. To investigate this, we studied the acute effects of welding fume exposure on the endothelial component of vascular function, as measured by circulating adhesion molecules involved in leukocyte adhesion (sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1) and coagulation (vWF). A panel of 26 male welders was studied repeatedly across a 6 h work-shift on a high exposure welding day and/or a low exposure non-welding day. Personal PM(2.5) exposure was measured throughout the work-shift. Blood samples were collected in the morning (baseline) prior to the exposure period, immediately after the exposure period, and the following morning. To account for the repeated measurements, we used linear mixed models to evaluate the effects of welding (binary) and PM(2.5) (continuous) exposure on each blood marker, adjusting for baseline blood marker concentration, smoking, age and time of day. Welding and PM(2.5) exposure were significantly associated with a decrease in sVCAM-1 in the afternoon and the following morning and an increase in vWF in the afternoon. The data suggest that welding and short-term occupational exposure to PM(2.5) may acutely affect the endothelial component of vascular function.

Genetic drivers of von Willebrand Factor levels in an ischemic stroke population and association with risk for recurrent stroke

PubMed Central

Williams, Stephen R; Hsu, Fang-Chi; Keene, Keith L; Chen, Wei-Min; Dzhivhuho, Godfrey; Rowles, Joe L; Southerland, Andrew M; Furie, Karen L; Rich, Stephen S; Worrall, Bradford B; Sale, Michèle M

2017-01-01

Background and Purpose von Willebrand Factor (vWF) plays an important role in thrombus formation during cerebrovascular damage. We sought to investigate the potential role of circulating vWF in recurrent cerebrovascular events and identify genetic contributors to variation in vWF level in an ischemic stroke population. Methods We analyzed the effect of circulating vWF on risk of recurrent stroke using survival models in the Vitamin Intervention for Stroke Prevention (VISP) trial as well as the utility of vWF in reclassification over traditional factors. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) with imputation, based upon 1000 Genomes Project data, for circulating vWF levels and then interrogated loci previously associated with vWF levels. We performed expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) analysis for vWF across different tissues. Results Elevated vWF levels were associated with increased risk for recurrent stroke in VISP. Adding vWF to traditional clinical parameters also improved recurrent stroke risk prediction. We identified SNPs significantly associated with circulating vWF at the ABO locus (p < 5×10-8) and replicated findings from previous genetic associations of vWF levels in humans. eQTL analyses demonstrate that most associated ABO SNPs were also associated with vWF gene expression. Conclusions Elevated vWF levels are associated with recurrent stroke in VISP. In the VISP population, genetic determinants of vWF levels that impact vWF gene expression were identified. These data add to our knowledge of the pathophysiologic and genetic basis for recurrent stroke risk, and may have implications for clinical care decision-making. PMID:28495826

The molecular genetics of von Willebrand disease.

PubMed

Berber, Ergül

2012-12-01

Quantitative and/or qualitative deficiency of von Willebrand factor (vWF) is associated with the most common inherited bleeding disease von Willebrand disease (vWD). vWD is a complex disease with clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Incomplete penetrance and variable expression due to genetic and environmental factors contribute to its complexity. vWD also has a complex molecular pathogenesis. Some vWF gene mutations are associated with the affected vWF biosynthesis and multimerization, whereas others are associated with increased clearance and functional impairment. Moreover, in addition to a particular mutation, type O blood may result in the more severe phenotype. The present review aimed to provide a summary of the current literature on the molecular genetics of vWD. None declared.

The effects of different fractions of Coriandrum sativum on pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures and brain tissues oxidative damage in rats

PubMed Central

Anaeigoudari, Akbar; Hosseini, Mahmoud; Karami, Reza; Vafaee, Farzaneh; Mohammadpour, Toktam; Ghorbani, Ahmad; Sadeghnia, Hamid Reza

2016-01-01

Objective: In the present work, the effects of different fractions of Coriandrum sativum (C. sativum), on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures and brain tissues oxidative damage were investigated in rats. Materials and Methods: The rats were divided into the following groups: (1) vehicle, (2) PTZ (90 mg/kg), (3) water fraction (WF) of C. sativum (25 and 100 mg/kg), (4) n-butanol fraction (NBF) of C. sativum (25 and 100 mg/kg), and (5) ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) of C. sativum (25 and 100 mg/kg). Results: The first generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) latency in groups treated with 100 mg /kg of WF or EAF was significantly higher than that of PTZ group (p<0.01). In contrast to WF, the EAF and NBF were not effective in increasing the first minimal clonic seizure (MCS) latency. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in both cortical and hippocampal tissues of PTZ group were significantly higher than those of control animals (p<0.001). Pretreatment with WF, NBF, or EAF resulted in a significant reduction in the MDA levels of hippocampi (p<0.01 - p<0.001). Following PTZ administration, a significant reduction in total thiol groups was observed in the brain tissues (p<0.05). Pretreatment with WF and NBF significantly elevated thiol concentrations in cortical and hippocampal tissues, respectively (p<0.05). Conclusion: The present study showed that different fractions of C. sativum possess antioxidant activity in the brain and WF and EAF of this plant have anticonvulsant effects. PMID:27222836

Decomposition analysis of water footprint changes in a water-limited river basin: a case study of the Haihe River basin, China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhi, Y.; Yang, Z. F.; Yin, X. A.

2014-05-01

Decomposition analysis of water footprint (WF) changes, or assessing the changes in WF and identifying the contributions of factors leading to the changes, is important to water resource management. Instead of focusing on WF from the perspective of administrative regions, we built a framework in which the input-output (IO) model, the structural decomposition analysis (SDA) model and the generating regional IO tables (GRIT) method are combined to implement decomposition analysis for WF in a river basin. This framework is illustrated in the WF in Haihe River basin (HRB) from 2002 to 2007, which is a typical water-limited river basin. It shows that the total WF in the HRB increased from 4.3 × 1010 m3 in 2002 to 5.6 × 1010 m3 in 2007, and the agriculture sector makes the dominant contribution to the increase. Both the WF of domestic products (internal) and the WF of imported products (external) increased, and the proportion of external WF rose from 29.1 to 34.4%. The technological effect was the dominant contributor to offsetting the increase of WF. However, the growth of WF caused by the economic structural effect and the scale effect was greater, so the total WF increased. This study provides insights about water challenges in the HRB and proposes possible strategies for the future, and serves as a reference for WF management and policy-making in other water-limited river basins.

Perioperative onset of acquired von Willebrand syndrome: Comparison between HVAD, HeartMate II and on-pump coronary bypass surgery.

PubMed

Feldmann, Christina; Zayat, Rashad; Goetzenich, Andreas; Aljalloud, Ali; Woelke, Eva; Maas, Judith; Tewarie, Lachmandath; Schmitz-Rode, Thomas; Autschbach, Ruediger; Steinseifer, Ulrich; Moza, Ajay

2017-01-01

Acquired von Willebrand syndrome (AvWS) is associated with postoperative bleeding complications in patients with continuous flow left ventricular assist devices (CF-LVADs). The aim of this study is to analyze the perioperative vWF profile comparing an axial pump (HMII) to a centrifugal pump (HVAD) regarding the correlation between perioperative occurrence of AvWS, early- and late-postoperative bleeding events. From July 2013 until March 2015 blood samples of 33 patients (12 HMII/ 8 HVAD/ 13 controls) were prospectively collected at 12 different time points and analyzed for the vWF antigen (vWF:Ag), its activity (vWF:Ac) and the vWF:Ac/vWF:Ag-ratio (vWF:ratio). The follow up period for postoperative bleeding events was from July 2013 until July 2016. Postoperatively, there was no difference in the vWF-profile between HVAD and HMII groups. However, a subgroup of patients already had significantly lower vWF:ratios preoperatively. Postoperatively, both CF-LVAD groups presented significantly lower vWF:ratios compared to the control group. Bleeding events per patient-year did not differ between the two groups (HMII vs. HVAD: 0.67 vs. 0.85, p = 0.685). We detected a correlation between vWF:ratio <0.7at LVAD-start (r = -0.583, p = 0.006) or at the end of surgery (r = -0.461, p = 0.035) and the occurrence of pericardial tamponade. In the control group, the drop in both vWF:Ag and vWF:Ac recovered immediately postoperatively above preoperative values. A subgroup of patients with end-stage heart failure already suffers AvWS preoperatively. In both CF-LVAD groups, AvWS begins immediately after surgery. Intraoperative vWF:ratios <0.7 correlate with higher incidences of pericardial tamponade and re-operation. The presumably dilutive effect of the heart lung machine on vWF vanishes immediately at the end of surgery, possibly as part of an acute-phase response.

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

Yin, Yufeng; Zhao, Lidan; Zhang, Fengchun

Abnormal expression of CD200/CD200R1 may contribute to the immunologic abnormalities in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study aimed to assess the function of CD200/CD200R1and impact of CD200-Fc on dendritic cells in lupus-prone NZB/WF1 mice. Female NZB/WF1 mice were treated with CD200-Fc or control for 4 weeks. Plasma samples were collected to measure autoantibody levels. The expression levels of CD200/CD200R1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and splenocytes were examined. The percentage of CD200/CD200R1-positive cells in splenocytes from NZB/WF1 mice was lower than that of C57BL/6 mice (p<0.05). The plasma level of anti-dsDNA was significantly higher in NZB/WF1 micemore » than C57BL/6 mice (p<0.001). However, the anti-dsDNA levels decreased (p=0.047) after CD200-Fc treatment. Finally, CD200-Fc reduced the levels of IL-6 (p=0.017) and IL-10 (p=0.03) in the dendritic cell culture supernatant. This study suggests that the immunosuppressive CD200/CD200R1 signaling pathway might be involved in the immunopathology of NZB/WF1 mice; the present results merit further exploration of agents that can modulate the CD200/CD200FR1 pathway as a therapy for human lupus.« less

Numerical analysis of scalar dissipation length-scales and their scaling properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vaishnavi, Pankaj; Kronenburg, Andreas

2006-11-01

Scalar dissipation rate, χ, is fundamental to the description of scalar-mixing in turbulent non-premixed combustion. Most contributions to the statistics for χ come from the finest turbulent mixing-scales and thus its adequate characterisation requires good resolution. Reliable χ-measurement is complicated by the trade-off between higher resolution and greater signal-to-noise ratio. Thus, the present numerical study utilises the error-free mixture fraction, Z, and fluid mechanical data from the turbulent reacting jet DNS of Pantano (2004). The aim is to quantify the resolution requirements for χ-measurement in terms of easily measurable properties of the flow like the integral-scale Reynolds number, Reδ, using spectral and spatial-filtering [cf. Barlow and Karpetis (2005)] analyses. Analysis of the 1-D cross-stream dissipation spectra enables the estimation of the dissipation length scales. It is shown that these spectrally-computed scales follow the expected Kolmogorov scaling with Reδ-0.75 . The work also involves local smoothening of the instantaneous χ-field over a non-overlapping spatial-interval (filter-width, wf), to study the smoothened χ-value as a function of wf, as wf is extrapolated to the smallest scale of interest. The dissipation length-scales thus captured show a stringent Reδ-1 scaling, compared to the usual Kolmogorov-type. This concurs with the criterion of 'resolution adequacy' of the DNS, as set out by Sreenivasan (2004) using the theory of multi-fractals.

A Comparison of Cytotoxicity and Oxidative Stress from Welding Fumes Generated with a New Nickel-, Copper-Based Consumable versus Mild and Stainless Steel-Based Welding in RAW 264.7 Mouse Macrophages

PubMed Central

Badding, Melissa A.; Fix, Natalie R.; Antonini, James M.; Leonard, Stephen S.

2014-01-01

Welding processes that generate fumes containing toxic metals, such as hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), manganese (Mn), and nickel (Ni), have been implicated in lung injury, inflammation, and lung tumor promotion in animal models. While federal regulations have reduced permissible worker exposure limits to Cr(VI), this is not always practical considering that welders may work in confined spaces and exhaust ventilation may be ineffective. Thus, there has been a recent initiative to minimize the potentially hazardous components in welding materials by developing new consumables containing much less Cr(VI) and Mn. A new nickel (Ni) and copper (Cu)-based material (Ni-Cu WF) is being suggested as a safer alternative to stainless steel consumables; however, its adverse cellular effects have not been studied. This study compared the cytotoxic effects of the newly developed Ni-Cu WF with two well-characterized welding fumes, collected from gas metal arc welding using mild steel (GMA-MS) or stainless steel (GMA-SS) electrodes. RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages were exposed to the three welding fumes at two doses (50 µg/ml and 250 µg/ml) for up to 24 hours. Cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, phagocytic function, and cytokine production were examined. The GMA-MS and GMA-SS samples were found to be more reactive in terms of ROS production compared to the Ni-Cu WF. However, the fumes from this new material were more cytotoxic, inducing cell death and mitochondrial dysfunction at a lower dose. Additionally, pre-treatment with Ni-Cu WF particles impaired the ability of cells to phagocytize E. coli, suggesting macrophage dysfunction. Thus, the toxic cellular responses to welding fumes are largely due to the metal composition. The results also suggest that reducing Cr(VI) and Mn in the generated fume by increasing the concentration of other metals (e.g., Ni, Cu) may not necessarily improve welder safety. PMID:24977413

A comparison of cytotoxicity and oxidative stress from welding fumes generated with a new nickel-, copper-based consumable versus mild and stainless steel-based welding in RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages.

PubMed

Badding, Melissa A; Fix, Natalie R; Antonini, James M; Leonard, Stephen S

2014-01-01

Welding processes that generate fumes containing toxic metals, such as hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), manganese (Mn), and nickel (Ni), have been implicated in lung injury, inflammation, and lung tumor promotion in animal models. While federal regulations have reduced permissible worker exposure limits to Cr(VI), this is not always practical considering that welders may work in confined spaces and exhaust ventilation may be ineffective. Thus, there has been a recent initiative to minimize the potentially hazardous components in welding materials by developing new consumables containing much less Cr(VI) and Mn. A new nickel (Ni) and copper (Cu)-based material (Ni-Cu WF) is being suggested as a safer alternative to stainless steel consumables; however, its adverse cellular effects have not been studied. This study compared the cytotoxic effects of the newly developed Ni-Cu WF with two well-characterized welding fumes, collected from gas metal arc welding using mild steel (GMA-MS) or stainless steel (GMA-SS) electrodes. RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages were exposed to the three welding fumes at two doses (50 µg/ml and 250 µg/ml) for up to 24 hours. Cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, phagocytic function, and cytokine production were examined. The GMA-MS and GMA-SS samples were found to be more reactive in terms of ROS production compared to the Ni-Cu WF. However, the fumes from this new material were more cytotoxic, inducing cell death and mitochondrial dysfunction at a lower dose. Additionally, pre-treatment with Ni-Cu WF particles impaired the ability of cells to phagocytize E. coli, suggesting macrophage dysfunction. Thus, the toxic cellular responses to welding fumes are largely due to the metal composition. The results also suggest that reducing Cr(VI) and Mn in the generated fume by increasing the concentration of other metals (e.g., Ni, Cu) may not necessarily improve welder safety.

Exercise induced von Willebrand Factor release -- new model for routine endothelial testing.

PubMed

Balen, Sanja; Ruzić, Alen; Mirat, Jure; Persić, Viktor

2007-01-01

Endothelial dysfunction (ED) is actively involved in the mechanism of occurrence, development and progression of all the degrees of atherosclerosis. The established impact of ED on the progress and outcome of cardiovascular diseases, together with convincing indications of a possible successful therapeutic modification, necessitate the changeover of ED assessment from experimental to a routine practice. As there is no appropriate method for a clinical practice, scientists anticipate significant research efforts in the further development. Among numerous methods already available, von Willebrand Factor (vWF) stands out significantly. In accordance with the accepted leading diagnostic role of vWF baseline levels in the group of peripheral endothelial markers, and earlier scientific observations on the absence of its expected reactivation during physical exercise, we hypothesised this promising theory. We believe that a constant stronger release of vWF in endothelial cell injury leads to the exhaustion of its stores in Weibel-Palade bodies with the consequent absence of the expected rise of concentration during the exercise. Therefore, we hypothesised that ED could be exhaustible vWF endothelopathy and the exercise induced release of vWF a new, simple, safe and reliable test for the detection of ED and monitoring of the expected therapeutic effect. In order to have a final clinical usability of the proposed diagnostic model, it is necessary to test its reliability in different pathological and risk states, and establish susceptibility in therapeutic procedures. The correlation with invasive functional angiographic tests and the flow mediated dilatation test of peripheral arteries also needs to be validated. We expect the proposed test of vWF inducibility to find its place in clinical practice, i.e. in prevention, prediction and therapy of cardiovascular diseases.

Stellar photometry with the Wide Field/Planetary Camera of the Hubble Space Telescope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holtzman, Jon A.

1990-07-01

Simulations of Wide Field/Planetary Camera (WF/PC) images are analyzed in order to discover the most effective techniques for stellar photometry and to evaluate the accuracy and limitations of these techniques. The capabilities and operation of the WF/PC and the simulations employed in the study are described. The basic techniques of stellar photometry and methods to improve these techniques for the WF/PC are discussed. The correct parameters for star detection, aperture photometry, and point-spread function (PSF) fitting with the DAOPHOT software of Stetson (1987) are determined. Consideration is given to undersampling of the stellar images by the detector; variations in the PSF; and the crowding of the stellar images. It is noted that, with some changes DAOPHOT, is able to generate photometry almost to the level of photon statistics.

Bioplastic composite foam prepared from poly(lactic acid) and natural wood flour

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suwannakas, Pokkes; Petrchwattana, Nawadon; Covavisaruch, Sirijutaratana

2016-03-01

The major drawbacks of Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) bioplastic are its cost and brittleness. This study aims to reduce the cost by foaming PLA reinforced with wood flour. A series of PLA/ natural fiber (WF) composite was prepared by using WF of selected conifers up to 5 wt%; each composite formulation was then foamed using 2 wt% of Azodicarbonamide (ADC) as chemical foaming agent. ADC effectively reduced the density of PLA and the PLA/WF composite foam by about 45% to 0.64 g/cm3 from 1.24 g/cm3 of neat PLA and 1.26 g/cm3 of PLA/WF composites when 2 wt% ADC was applied. Mechanical behaviors in terms of compressive and impact properties were investigated. With the presence of WF, the compressive stress increased with the WF content due to the good interfacial adhesion between the PLA matrix and the WF. This was verified by microscopic observation, leading to efficient stress transfer at the interface between PLA matrix and the WF. The presence of WF raised the specific compressive modulus and strength of PLA/WF composites to around 0.94 GPa.cm3/g and 2.65 MPa.cm3/g but foaming the PLA or the PLA/WF composites led to a dramatic reduction of the compressive modulus to 0.2-0.4 GPa.cm3/g, implying that the PLA and the PLA/WF foams had become softened. This was evidently observed in the significant reduction of hardness coupled with the vast drop of stress required to compressively deform the foams.

Development of a Methodology for Hydrogeological Characterization of Faults: Progress of the Project in Berkeley, California

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goto, J.; Moriya, T.; Yoshimura, K.; Tsuchi, H.; Karasaki, K.; Onishi, T.; Ueta, K.; Tanaka, S.; Kiho, K.

2010-12-01

The Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan (NUMO), in collaboration with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), has carried out a project to develop an efficient and practical methodology to characterize hydrologic property of faults since 2007, exclusively for the early stage of siting a deep underground repository. A preliminary flowchart of the characterization program and a classification scheme of fault hydrology based on the geological feature have been proposed. These have been tested through the field characterization program on the Wildcat Fault in Berkeley, California. The Wildcat Fault is a relatively large non-active strike-slip fault which is believed to be a subsidiary of the active Hayward Fault. Our classification scheme assumes the contrasting hydrologic features between the linear northern part and the split/spread southern part of the Wildcat Fault. The field characterization program to date has been concentrated in and around the LBNL site on the southern part of the fault. Several lines of electrical and reflection seismic surveys, and subsequent trench investigations, have revealed the approximate distribution and near-surface features of the Wildcat Fault (see also Onishi, et al. and Ueta, et al.). Three 150m deep boreholes, WF-1 to WF-3, have been drilled on a line normal to the trace of the fault in the LBNL site. Two vertical holes were placed to characterize the undisturbed Miocene sedimentary formations at the eastern and western sides of the fault (WF-1 and WF-2 respectively). WF-2 on the western side intersected the rock formation, which was expected only in WF-1, and several of various intensities. Therefore, WF-3, originally planned as inclined to penetrate the fault, was replaced by the vertical hole further to the west. It again encountered unexpected rocks and faults. Preliminary results of in-situ hydraulic tests suggested that the transmissivity of WF-1 is ten to one hundred times higher than WF-2. The monitoring of hydraulic pressure displayed different head distribution patterns between WF-1 and WF-2 (see also Karasaki, et al.). Based on these results, three hypotheses on the distribution of the Wildcat Fault were proposed: (a) a vertical fault in between WF-1 and WF-2, (b) a more gently dipping fault intersected in WF-2 and WF-3, and (c) a wide zone of faults extending between WF-1 and WF-3. At present, WF-4, an inclined hole to penetrate the possible (eastern?) master fault, is ongoing to test these hypotheses. After the WF-4 investigation, hydrologic and geochemical analyses and modeling of the southern part of the fault will be carried out. A simpler field characterization program will also be carried out in the northern part of the fault. Finally, all the results will be synthesized to improve the comprehensive methodology.

The force distribution probability function for simple fluids by density functional theory.

PubMed

Rickayzen, G; Heyes, D M

2013-02-28

Classical density functional theory (DFT) is used to derive a formula for the probability density distribution function, P(F), and probability distribution function, W(F), for simple fluids, where F is the net force on a particle. The final formula for P(F) ∝ exp(-AF(2)), where A depends on the fluid density, the temperature, and the Fourier transform of the pair potential. The form of the DFT theory used is only applicable to bounded potential fluids. When combined with the hypernetted chain closure of the Ornstein-Zernike equation, the DFT theory for W(F) agrees with molecular dynamics computer simulations for the Gaussian and bounded soft sphere at high density. The Gaussian form for P(F) is still accurate at lower densities (but not too low density) for the two potentials, but with a smaller value for the constant, A, than that predicted by the DFT theory.

Effectiveness of the Wavelet Transform on the Surface EMG to Understand the Muscle Fatigue During Walk

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hussain, M. S.; Mamun, Md.

2012-01-01

Muscle fatigue is the decline in ability of a muscle to create force. Electromyography (EMG) is a medical technique for measuring muscle response to nervous stimulation. During a sustained muscle contraction, the power spectrum of the EMG shifts towards lower frequencies. These effects are due to muscle fatigue. Muscle fatigue is often a result of unhealthy work practice. In this research, the effectiveness of the wavelet transform applied to the surface EMG (SEMG) signal as a means of understanding muscle fatigue during walk is presented. Power spectrum and bispectrum analysis on the EMG signal getting from right rectus femoris muscle is executed utilizing various wavelet functions (WFs). It is possible to recognize muscle fatigue appreciably with the proper choice of the WF. The outcome proves that the most momentous changes in the EMG power spectrum are symbolized by WF Daubechies45. Moreover, this research has compared bispectrum properties to the other WFs. To determine muscle fatigue during gait, Daubechies45 is used in this research to analyze the SEMG signal.

Development and analysis of composite flour bread.

PubMed

Menon, Lakshmi; Majumdar, Swarnali Dutta; Ravi, Usha

2015-07-01

The study elucidates the effect of utilizing cereal-pulse-fruit seed composite flour in the development and quality analysis of leavened bread. The composite flour was prepared using refined wheat flour (WF), high protein soy flour (SF), sprouted mung bean flour (MF) and mango kernel flour (MKF). Three variations were formulated such as V-I (WF: SF: MF: MKF = 85:5:5:5), V-II (WF: SF: MF: MKF = 70:10:10:10), and V-III (WF: SF: MF: MKF = 60:14:13:13). Pertinent functional, physico-chemical and organoleptic attributes were studied in composite flour variations and their bread preparations. Physical characteristics of the bread variations revealed a percentage decrease in loaf height (14 %) and volume (25 %) and 20 % increase in loaf weight with increased substitution of composite flour. The sensory evaluation of experimental breads on a nine-point hedonic scale revealed that V-I score was 5 % higher than the standard bread. Hence, the present study highlighted the nutrient enrichment of bread on incorporation of a potential waste material mango kernel, soy and sprouted legume. Relevant statistical tests were done to analyze the significance of means for all tested parameters.

Low Work Function Csl Coatings for Enhanced Field Emission Properties

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-04-01

CsI is an insulator band gap=6.2 eV Ref. 6 that would be expected to impede, rather than to enhance, electron tunneling. Vlahos et al.7...minimal WF. Vlahos et al.10 later carried out ex situ experimental char- acterization of the surfaces of CsI-coated cathodes after use in a FE device...Jenkin, J. Liesegang, and R. C. G. Leckey, Phys. Rev. B 11, 5179 1975. 7V. Vlahos , J. H. Booske, and D. Morgan, Appl. Phys. Lett. 91, 144102 2007. 8A

Clinical application of a rapid method using agarose gel electrophoresis and Western blotting to evaluate von Willebrand factor protease activity.

PubMed

Kirzek, D M; Rick, M E

2001-03-01

A method for evaluating the activity of the von Willebrand factor (vWF) protease is described, and a clinical application is illustrated. The procedure utilizes gel electrophoresis, Western blotting, and luminographic detection methods to evaluate the distribution of vWF multimers before and after incubation of clinical samples under conditions that favor proteolysis by this enzyme. Physiologically, the high-molecular-weight multimers of vWF are cleaved by the vWF protease under conditions of high shear stress in parts of the arterial circulation; cleavage of vWF multimers is also observed after exposure of vWF to denaturing agents in vitro and thus can serve as a laboratory test for the activity of the protease. vWF protease activity is decreased or absent in patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura due to an inhibiting autoantibody, and this leads to high levels of noncleaved vWF and to life-threatening thrombosis, thrombocytopenia and anemia. The assay evaluates the activity of the protease by assessing the cleavage of vWF multimers after patient plasmas are incubated in vitro under denaturing conditions. With the use of these electrophoresis and Western blotting techniques, patient plasmas can be rapidly assessed for the activity of the vWF protease which may aid in the treatment strategy for these patients.

Investigating intermolecular forces associated with thrombus initiation using optical tweezers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arya, Maneesh; Lopez, Jose A.; Romo, Gabriel M.; Dong, Jing-Fei; McIntire, Larry V.; Moake, Joel L.; Anvari, Bahman

2002-05-01

Thrombus formation occurs when a platelet membrane receptor, glycoprotein (GP) Ib-IX-V complex, binds to its ligand, von Willebrand factor (vWf), in the subendothelium or plasma. To determine which GP Ib-IX-V amino acid sequences are critical for bond formation, we have used optical tweezers to measure forces involved in the binding of vWf to GP Ib-IX-V variants. Inasmuch as GP Ib(alpha) subunit is the primary component in human GP Ib-IX-V complex that binds to vWf, and that canine GP Ib(alpha) , on the other hand, does not bind to human vWf, we progressively replaced human GP Ib(alpha) amino acid sequences with canine GP Ib(alpha) sequences to determine the sequences essential for vWf/GP Ib(alpha) binding. After measuring the adhesive forces between optically trapped, vWf-coated beads and GP Ib(alpha) variants expressed on mammalian cells, we determined that leucine- rich repeat 2 of GP Ib(alpha) was necessary for vWf/GP Ib-IX- V bond formation. We also found that deletion of the N- terminal flanking sequence and leucine-rich repeat 1 reduced adhesion strength to vWf but did not abolish binding. While divalent cations are known to influence binding of vWf, addition of 1mM CaCl2 had no effect on measured vWf/GP Ib(alpha) bond strengths.

The water footprint of humanity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mekonnen, M. M.; Hoekstra, A. Y.

2011-12-01

This study quantifies and maps the water footprint (WF) of humanity at a high spatial resolution level. It reports on consumptive use of rainwater (green WF) and ground and surface water (blue WF) and volumes of water polluted (grey WF). Water footprints are estimated per nation from both a production and consumption perspective. International virtual water flows are estimated based on trade in agricultural and industrial commodities. The global WF in the period 1996-2005 was 9087 Gm3/yr (74% green, 11% blue, 15% grey). Agricultural production contributes 92%. About one fifth of the global WF relates to production for export. The total volume of international virtual water flows related to trade in agricultural and industrial products was 2320 Gm3/yr (68% green, 13% blue, 19% grey). The WF of the global average consumer was 1385 m3/yr. The average consumer in the US has a WF of 2842 m3/yr, while the average citizens in China and India have WFs of 1071 m3/yr and 1089 m3/yr, respectively. Consumption of cereal products gives the largest contribution to the WF of the average consumer (27%), followed by meat (22%) and milk products (7%). The volume and pattern of consumption and the WF per ton of product of the products consumed are the main factors determining the WF of a consumer. The study illustrates the global dimension of water consumption and pollution by showing that several countries heavily rely on foreign water resources and that many countries have significant impacts on water consumption and pollution elsewhere.

The water footprint of humanity.

PubMed

Hoekstra, Arjen Y; Mekonnen, Mesfin M

2012-02-28

This study quantifies and maps the water footprint (WF) of humanity at a high spatial resolution. It reports on consumptive use of rainwater (green WF) and ground and surface water (blue WF) and volumes of water polluted (gray WF). Water footprints are estimated per nation from both a production and consumption perspective. International virtual water flows are estimated based on trade in agricultural and industrial commodities. The global annual average WF in the period 1996-2005 was 9,087 Gm(3)/y (74% green, 11% blue, 15% gray). Agricultural production contributes 92%. About one-fifth of the global WF relates to production for export. The total volume of international virtual water flows related to trade in agricultural and industrial products was 2,320 Gm(3)/y (68% green, 13% blue, 19% gray). The WF of the global average consumer was 1,385 m(3)/y. The average consumer in the United States has a WF of 2,842 m(3)/y, whereas the average citizens in China and India have WFs of 1,071 and 1,089 m(3)/y, respectively. Consumption of cereal products gives the largest contribution to the WF of the average consumer (27%), followed by meat (22%) and milk products (7%). The volume and pattern of consumption and the WF per ton of product of the products consumed are the main factors determining the WF of a consumer. The study illustrates the global dimension of water consumption and pollution by showing that several countries heavily rely on foreign water resources and that many countries have significant impacts on water consumption and pollution elsewhere.

Juvenile winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) and summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) utilization of Southern New England nurseries: Comparisons among estuarine, tidal river, and coastal lagoon shallow-water habitats

PubMed Central

Taylor, David L.; McNamee, Jason; Lake, John; Gervasi, Carissa L.; Palance, Danial G.

2016-01-01

This study evaluated the relative importance of the N arragansett Bay estuary (RI and MA, USA), and associated tidal rivers and coastal lagoons, as nurseries for juvenile winter flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus, and summer flounder, Paralichthys dentatus. Winter flounder (WF) and summer flounder (SF) abundance and growth were measured from May to October (2009–2013) and served as indicators for the use and quality of shallow-water habitats (water depth < 1.5–3.0 m). These bioindicators were then analyzed with respect to physiochemical conditions to determine the mechanisms underlying intra-specific habitat selection. WF and SF abundances were greatest in late May and June (maximum monthly mean = 4.9 and 0.55 flounder/m2 for WF and SF, respectively), and were significantly higher in the tidal rivers relative to the bay and lagoons. Habitat-related patterns in WF and SF abundance were primarily governed by their preferences for oligohaline (0.1–5 ppt) and mesohaline (6–18 ppt) waters, but also their respective avoidance of hypoxic conditions (< 4 mg DO/L) and warm water temperatures (> 25 °C). Flounder habitat usage was also positively related to sediment organic content, which may be due to these substrates having sufficiently high prey densities. WF growth rates (mean = 0.25 ± 0.14 mm/d) were negatively correlated with the abundance of conspecifics, whereas SF growth (mean = 1.39 ± 0.46 mm/d) was positively related to temperature and salinity. Also, contrary to expectations, flounder occupied habitats that offered no ostensible advantage in intra-specific growth rates. WF and SF exposed to low salinities in certain rivers likely experienced increased osmoregulatory costs, thereby reducing energy for somatic growth. Low-salinity habitats, however, may benefit flounder by providing refugia from predation or reduced competition with other estuarine fishes and macro-invertebrates. Examining WF and SF abundance and growth across each species’ broader geographic distribution revealed that southern New England habitats may constitute functionally significant nurseries. These results also indicated that juvenile SF have a geographic range extending further north than previously recognized. PMID:27746705

A Preliminary Study of Work-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Group Therapy for Japanese Workers.

PubMed

Ito, Daisuke; Watanabe, Asuka; Takeichi, Sakino; Ishihara, Ayako; Yamamoto, Kazuyoshi

2018-06-06

In Japan, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been introduced in the 'Rework Programme', but its impact on return to work (RTW) has not been fully clarified. This pilot study investigated the initial efficacy of a work-focused cognitive behavioural group therapy (WF-CBGT) for Japanese workers on sick leave due to depression. Twenty-three patients on leave due to depression were recruited from a mental health clinic. WF-CBGT including behavioural activation therapy, cognitive therapy, and problem-solving therapy techniques was conducted for eight weekly 150-minute sessions. Participants completed questionnaires on depression and anxiety (Kessler-6), social adaptation (Social Adaptation Self-Evaluation Scale), and difficulty in RTW (Difficulty in Returning to Work Inventory) at pre- and post-intervention time points. Rates of re-instatement after the intervention were examined. One participant dropped out, but 22 participants successfully completed the intervention. All scale scores significantly improved after intervention and, except for difficulty in RTW related to physical fitness, all effect sizes were above the moderate classification. All participants who completed the intervention succeeded in RTW. Results suggested the possibility that WF-CBGT may be a feasible and promising intervention for Japanese workers on leave due to depression regardless of cross-cultural differences, but that additional research examining effectiveness using controlled designs and other samples is needed. Future research should examine the efficacy of this programme more systematically to provide relevant data to aid in the continued development of an evidence-based intervention.

Influence of Gas Adsorption and Gold Nanoparticles on the Electrical Properties of CVD-Grown MoS2 Thin Films.

PubMed

Cho, Yunae; Sohn, Ahrum; Kim, Sujung; Hahm, Myung Gwan; Kim, Dong-Ho; Cho, Byungjin; Kim, Dong-Wook

2016-08-24

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has increasingly attracted attention from researchers and is now one of the most intensively explored atomic-layered two-dimensional semiconductors. Control of the carrier concentration and doping type of MoS2 is crucial for its application in electronic and optoelectronic devices. Because the MoS2 layers are atomically thin, their transport characteristics may be very sensitive to ambient gas adsorption and the resulting charge transfer. We investigated the influence of the ambient gas (N2, H2/N2, and O2) choice on the resistance (R) and surface work function (WF) of trilayer MoS2 thin films grown via chemical vapor deposition. We also studied the electrical properties of gold (Au)-nanoparticle (NP)-coated MoS2 thin films; their R value was found to be 2 orders of magnitude smaller than that for bare samples. While the WF largely varied for each gas, R was almost invariant for both the bare and Au-NP-coated samples regardless of which gas was used. Temperature-dependent transport suggests that variable range hopping is the dominant mechanism for electrical conduction for bare and Au-NP-coated MoS2 thin films. The charges transferred from the gas adsorbates might be insufficient to induce measurable R change and/or be trapped in the defect states. The smaller WF and larger localization length of the Au-NP-coated sample, compared with the bare sample, suggest that more carriers and less defects enhanced conduction in MoS2.

Removing cosmic-ray hits from multiorbit HST Wide Field Camera images

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Windhorst, Rogier A.; Franklin, Barbara E.; Neuschaefer, Lyman W.

1994-01-01

We present an optimized algorithm that removes cosmic rays ('CRs') from multiorbit Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Wide Field/Planetary Camera ('WF/PC') images. It computes the image noise in every iteration from the WF/PC CCD equation. This includes all known sources of random and systematic calibration errors. We test this algorithm on WF/PC stacks of 2-12 orbits as a function of the number of available orbits and the formal Poissonian sigma-clipping level. We find that the algorithm needs greater than or equal 4 WF/PC exposures to locate the minimal sky signal (which is noticeably affected by CRs), with an optimal clipping level at 2-2.5 x sigma(sub Poisson). We analyze the CR flux detected on multiorbit 'CR stacks,' which are constructed by subtracting the best CR filtered images from the unfiltered 8-12 orbit average. We use an automated object finder to determine the surface density of CRS as a function of the apparent magnitude (or ADU flux) they would have generated in the images had they not been removed. The power law slope of the CR 'counts' (gamma approximately = 0.6 for N(m) m(exp gamma)) is steeper than that of the faint galaxy counts down to V approximately = 28 mag. The CR counts show a drop off between 28 less than or approximately V less than or approximately 30 mag (the latter is our formal 2 sigma point source sensitivity without spherical aberration). This prevents the CR sky integral from diverging, and is likely due to a real cutoff in the CR energy distribution below approximately 11 ADU per orbit. The integral CR surface density is less than or approximately 10(exp 8)/sq. deg, and their sky signal is V approximately = 25.5-27.0 mag/sq. arcsec, or 3%-13% of our NEP sky background (V = 23.3 mag/sq. arcsec), and well above the EBL integral of the deepest galaxy counts (B(sub J) approximately = 28.0 mag/sq. arcsec). We conclude that faint CRs will always contribute to the sky signal in the deepest WF/PC images. Since WFPC2 has approximately 2.7x lower read noise and a thicker CCD, this will result in more CR detections than in WF/PC, potentially affecting approximately 10%-20% of the pixels in multiorbit WFPC2 data cubes.

Work-Family Conflict among Female Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cinamon, R.G.; Rich, Y.

2005-01-01

Work-family conflict was investigated among 187 Israeli women teachers to better understand relationships between teachers' professional and family lives. The research examined perceived importance of work and family roles and effects of stress and support variables on W->F and F->W conflict. Additionally, effects of teachers' years of experience…

Speed and efficiency limits of multilevel incoherent heat engines.

PubMed

Mukherjee, V; Niedenzu, W; Kofman, A G; Kurizki, G

2016-12-01

We present a comprehensive theory of heat engines (HE) based on a quantum-mechanical "working fluid" (WF) with periodically modulated energy levels. The theory is valid for any periodicity of driving Hamiltonians that commute with themselves at all times and do not induce coherence in the WF. Continuous and stroke cycles arise in opposite limits of this theory, which encompasses hitherto unfamiliar cycle forms, dubbed here hybrid cycles. The theory allows us to discover the speed, power, and efficiency limits attainable by incoherently operating multilevel HE depending on the cycle form and the dynamical regimes.

The water footprint of humanity

PubMed Central

Hoekstra, Arjen Y.; Mekonnen, Mesfin M.

2012-01-01

This study quantifies and maps the water footprint (WF) of humanity at a high spatial resolution. It reports on consumptive use of rainwater (green WF) and ground and surface water (blue WF) and volumes of water polluted (gray WF). Water footprints are estimated per nation from both a production and consumption perspective. International virtual water flows are estimated based on trade in agricultural and industrial commodities. The global annual average WF in the period 1996–2005 was 9,087 Gm3/y (74% green, 11% blue, 15% gray). Agricultural production contributes 92%. About one-fifth of the global WF relates to production for export. The total volume of international virtual water flows related to trade in agricultural and industrial products was 2,320 Gm3/y (68% green, 13% blue, 19% gray). The WF of the global average consumer was 1,385 m3/y. The average consumer in the United States has a WF of 2,842 m3/y, whereas the average citizens in China and India have WFs of 1,071 and 1,089 m3/y, respectively. Consumption of cereal products gives the largest contribution to the WF of the average consumer (27%), followed by meat (22%) and milk products (7%). The volume and pattern of consumption and the WF per ton of product of the products consumed are the main factors determining the WF of a consumer. The study illustrates the global dimension of water consumption and pollution by showing that several countries heavily rely on foreign water resources and that many countries have significant impacts on water consumption and pollution elsewhere. PMID:22331890

von Willebrand factor as a novel noninvasive predictor of portal hypertension and esophageal varices in hepatitis B patients with cirrhosis.

PubMed

Wu, Hao; Yan, Shiping; Wang, Guangchuan; Cui, Shaobo; Zhang, Chunqing; Zhu, Qiang

2015-01-01

At present, there is no perfect noninvasive method to assess portal hypertension and esophageal varices. Early predicting esophageal varices can provide evidence for managing cirrhotic patients. We aimed to further investigate von Willebrand factor (vWF) as a noninvasive predictor of portal hypertension, especially of esophageal varices. A total of 60 hepatitis B patients with cirrhosis and 45 healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. Levels of six markers were examined. All patients underwent hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) and esophagogastroduodenoscopy. We evaluated the performance of six factors for diagnosis of portal hypertension and esophageal varices. The vWF levels in liver tissues were observed by immunohistochemistry. Correlations between the level of vWF in liver tissues and HVPG and between levels of vWF in tissues and plasma were examined. Cutoff values of plasma vWF (1510.5 mU/mL and 1701 mU/mL) showed high positive predictive value (PPV, 90.2% and 87.5%) in predicting clinically significant portal hypertension and severe portal hypertension. Cutoff values of vWF (1414 mU/ml and 1990 mU/mL, PPV 90.3% and 86.3%, respectively) were provided to detect the presence and degree of esophageal varices. Linear correlations were observed between levels of vWF in liver tissues and HVPG (r(2) = 0.552, p < 0.001) and between the level of vWF in liver tissues and in plasma (r(2) = 0.461, p < 0.001). The vWF is a noninvasive predictor of portal hypertension and esophageal varices in hepatitis B patients with cirrhosis. Increased levels of vWF in liver tissues may induce the elevated plasma vWF levels, but molecular mechanism is needed for further study.

Withaferin-A Induces Apoptosis in Osteosarcoma U2OS Cell Line via Generation of ROS and Disruption of Mitochondrial Membrane Potential.

PubMed

Zhang, Hui-Liang; Zhang, Hong

2017-01-01

Withaferin-A (WF-A) is a well-known dietary compound isolated from Withania sominifera . It has tremendous pharmacological potential and has been shown to exhibit antiproliferative activity against several types of cancerous cells. Currently, the main focus of anti-cancer therapeutic development is to identify apoptosis inducing drug-like molecules. Osteosarcoma is a rare type of osteocancer, affecting human. The present study therefore focused on the evaluation of antitumor potential of WF-A against several osteosarcoma cell lines. MTT assay was used to evaluate WF-A against osteosarcoma cell lines and to calculate the IC 50 . DAPI staining was used to confirm the apoptosis inducing potential of WF-A. Mitochondrial membrane potential, reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay, and Western blotting were used to confirm the basis of apoptosis. The results revealed that that WF-A exhibited strong antiproliferative activity against all the cells lines, with IC 50 ranging from 0.32 to 7.6 μM. The lowest IC 50 (0.32 μM) was observed against U2OS cell line and therefore it was selected for further analysis. DAPI staining indicated that WF-A exhibited antiproliferative activity via induction of apoptosis. Moreover, WF-A induced ROS-mediated reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential ΔΨm) in a dose-dependent manner and activation of caspase-3 in osteosarcoma cells. We propose that WF-A may prove a potent therapeutic agent for inducing apoptosis in osteosarcoma cell lines via generation of ROS and disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential. WF-A exhibits strong anticancer activity against osteosarcoma cell linesAntiproliferative activity of WF-A is via induction of apoptosisWF-A induced ROS-mediated reduction in mitochondrial membrane potentialWF-A induced expression of caspase-3 in osteosarcoma cells. Abbreviations used: WA: Withaferin A; ROS: Reactive oxygen species; OS: Osteosarcoma; MMP: Mitochondrial membrane potential.

Changes of plasma vWF level in response to the improvement of air quality: an observation of 114 healthy young adults.

PubMed

Yuan, Zhonghai; Chen, Yan; Zhang, Ying; Liu, Hui; Liu, Qian; Zhao, Jun; Hu, Min; Huang, Wei; Wang, Guangfa; Zhu, Tong; Zhang, Jim; Zhu, Ping

2013-04-01

Plasma von Willebrand factor (vWF) is an important factor involving in hemostasis and various cardiovascular diseases. Air pollution is related to many respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. During the Olympic Games Beijing 2008 period (August 8 to September 17, 2008) when air quality in Beijing improved greatly, we studied the relationship between plasma vWF level and the factors of air pollution index (API), ABO blood group, and polymorphisms in vWF gene in healthy young adults. We recruited 114 healthy medical students. In a period of more than 4 months around the period of Olympic Games Beijing 2008, six blood samples at stages 1 and 2 (before Olympic Games), stages 3 and 4 (during Olympic Games), and stages 5 and 6 (after Olympic Games) were taken from every participant for the measurement of plasma vWF level and genotyping of three SNPs (rs7954855, rs7965413, and rs216311) in vWF gene. Daily air pollution index near their living places was obtained from the officially published data. The average API began to decrease from stage 2, reached to nadir in stages 3 and 4, and increased but was still lower in stages 5 and 6. Plasma vWF decreased during the experimental period in all participants. The average plasma vWF decreased from stage 2 and remained lower in stages 3-6. vWF level varied greatly among the participants (from 30 to 170 %) but decreased proportionately when we analyzed their levels individually. Participants with O blood type had lower plasma vWF level than those with A, B, and AB blood types. Those with the SNP in vWF gene causing homozygous threonine at codon 1381 had lower plasma vWF level than those with homozygous alanine or heterozygous alanine/threonine. In the 114 normal individuals, the average plasma vWF level decreased during the period of Olympic Games Beijing 2008 when air quality improved greatly. This suggests that control of air pollution may be useful to prevent some diseases such as cardiovascular diseases.

Left Ventricular Assist Device Design Reduces von Willebrand Factor Degradation: A Comparative Study Between the HeartMate II and the EVAHEART Left Ventricular Assist System.

PubMed

Bartoli, Carlo R; Kang, Jooeun; Zhang, David; Howard, Jessica; Acker, Michael; Atluri, Pavan; Motomura, Tadashi

2017-04-01

Supraphysiologic shear stress from continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) accelerates von Willebrand factor (vWF) degradation and predisposes patients to nonsurgical bleeding. It is unknown whether unique design characteristics of LVADs differentially affect vWF degradation. We tested the hypothesis that the centrifugal-flow EVAHEART (Evaheart, Houston, TX) left ventricular assist system (LVAS), which was designed to minimize shear stress (low operational revolutions per minute [rpm], larger flow gaps, low shear stress, flat H-Q curve), reduced vWF degradation versus the axial-flow HeartMate II (Thoratec, Pleasanton, CA) LVAD. Whole human blood was obtained from volunteer donors (n = 22). Blood was circulated for 12 hours in mock circulatory loops through a HeartMate II (n = 10; 11,400 rpm, 6.3 ± 0.8 L/min, 76 ± 2 mm Hg) or an EVAHEART LVAS (n = 12; 2,300 rpm, 5.7 ± 0.1 L/min, 80 ± 1 mm Hg). vWF degradation was characterized with electrophoresis and immunoblotting for large vWF multimers and 11 vWF degradation fragments. The HeartMate II eliminated large vWF multimers and significantly (p < 0.05) increased 10 of 11 vWF degradation fragments at 6 and 12 hours. The increase was approximately 2.0-fold at 6 hours and 2.2-fold at 12 hours. In contrast, the EVAHEART LVAS modestly reduced large vWF multimers and significantly increased 5 of 11 and 8 of 11 vWF degradation fragments at 6 and 12 hours, respectively. The increase was approximately 1.5-fold at 6 hours and 1.7-fold at 12 hours. The EVAHEART LVAS caused significantly less degradation (p < 0.01) than the HeartMate II of the 140 kDa vWF fragment (cleavage product of ADAMTS-13, the vWF protease). The EVAHEART LVAS caused significantly less vWF degradation than the HeartMate II in a mock circulatory loop with whole human blood. LVAD design features may minimize vWF degradation. These data may inform the design and operation of next-generation LVADs to minimize blood trauma. Copyright © 2017 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Bond Dissociation Energies of the Tungsten Fluorides and Their Singly-Charged Ions: A Density Functional Survey

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dyall, Kenneth G.; Arnold, James (Technical Monitor)

1999-01-01

The dissociation of WF6 and the related singly-charged cations and anions into the lower fluorides and fluorine atoms has been investigated theoretically using density functional theory (B3LYP) and relativistic effective core potentials, with estimates of spin-orbit effects included using a simple model. The inclusion of spin-orbit is essential for a correct description of the thermochemistry. The total atomization energy of the neutral and anionic WF6 is reproduced to within 25 kcal/mol, but comparison of individual bond dissociation energies with available experimental data shows discrepancies of up to 10 kcal/mol. The results are nevertheless useful to help resolve discrepancies in experimental data and provide estimates of missing data.

Understanding Beijing's water challenge: a decomposition analysis of changes in Beijing's water footprint between 1997 and 2007.

PubMed

Zhang, Zhuoying; Shi, Minjun; Yang, Hong

2012-11-20

Beijing has been experiencing increasing water shortage alongside its astonishing economic growth over the past decades. This study conducts a quasi-dynamic input-output (IO) analysis to investigate changes in Beijing's water footprint (WF) and decompose the effects of contributing factors to the changes during 1997-2007. The analysis distinguishes "internal" and "external" WF to depict connections of Beijing's water use with outside. The results show an increase in Beijing's WF from 4342 million m(3) in 1997 to 5748 million m(3) in 2007. Almost all the increase was attributable to the expansion of the external WF, while the internal WF only changed slightly, indicating a growing dependence of Beijing on external water resources. The decomposition analysis reveals that the technological effect was the principal contributor to offset the WF increase and the structural effect stemmed from the shift of demand toward products of the tertiary industries also contributed to reducing the WF. However, these effects were not sufficient to reverse the expansion of Beijing's WF resulted from the scale effect induced by expansion of final demand and the economic system efficiency effect associated with the growth of trade between Beijing and outside. The study provides insights into Beijing's water challenge and sheds lights on the combating strategies for the future. It is also an endeavor to enhance the policy relevance of the WF studies.

Whey protein solution coating for fat-uptake reduction in deep-fried chicken breast strips.

PubMed

Dragich, Ann M; Krochta, John M

2010-01-01

This study investigated the use of whey protein, as an additional coating, in combination with basic, well-described predust, batter, and breading ingredients, for fat-uptake reduction in fried chicken. Chicken breasts were cut into strips (1 x 5 x 10 cm) and coated with wheat flour (WF) as a predust, dipped in batter, coated with WF as a breading, then dipped in 10% denatured whey protein isolate (DWPI) aqueous solution (wet basis). A WF-batter-WF treatment with no DWPI solution dip was included as a control. Coated chicken strips were deep-fried at 160 degrees C for 5 min. A Soxhlet-type extraction was performed to determine the fat content of the meat fraction of fried samples, the coating fraction of fried samples, raw chicken, and raw coating ingredients. The WF-batter-WF-10% DWPI solution had significantly lower fat uptake than the WF-batter-WF control, by 30.67% (dry basis). This article describes applied research involving fat reduction in coated deep-fried chicken. The methods used in this article were intended to achieve maximized fat reduction while maintaining a simple procedure applicable to actual food processing lines.

Effect of waxy rice flour and cassava starch on freeze-thaw stability of rice starch gels.

PubMed

Charoenrein, Sanguansri; Preechathammawong, Nutsuda

2012-10-01

Repeatedly frozen and thawed rice starch gel affects quality. This study investigated how incorporating waxy rice flour (WF) and cassava starch (CS) in rice starch gel affects factors used to measure quality. When rice starch gels containing 0-2% WF and CS were subjected to 5 freeze-thaw cycles, both WF and CS reduced the syneresis in first few cycles. However CS was more effective in reducing syneresis than WF. The different composite arrangement of rice starch with WF or CS caused different mechanisms associated with the rice starch gel retardation of retrogradation, reduced the spongy structure and lowered syneresis. Both swollen granules of rice starch and CS caused an increase in the hardness of the unfrozen and freeze-thawed starch gel while highly swollen WF granules caused softer gels. These results suggested that WF and CS were effective in preserving quality in frozen rice starch based products. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

On methods of estimating cosmological bulk flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nusser, Adi

2016-01-01

We explore similarities and differences between several estimators of the cosmological bulk flow, B, from the observed radial peculiar velocities of galaxies. A distinction is made between two theoretical definitions of B as a dipole moment of the velocity field weighted by a radial window function. One definition involves the three-dimensional (3D) peculiar velocity, while the other is based on its radial component alone. Different methods attempt at inferring B for either of these definitions which coincide only for the case of a velocity field which is constant in space. We focus on the Wiener Filtering (WF) and the Constrained Minimum Variance (CMV) methodologies. Both methodologies require a prior expressed in terms of the radial velocity correlation function. Hoffman et al. compute B in Top-Hat windows from a WF realization of the 3D peculiar velocity field. Feldman et al. infer B directly from the observed velocities for the second definition of B. The WF methodology could easily be adapted to the second definition, in which case it will be equivalent to the CMV with the exception of the imposed constraint. For a prior with vanishing correlations or very noisy data, CMV reproduces the standard Maximum Likelihood estimation for B of the entire sample independent of the radial weighting function. Therefore, this estimator is likely more susceptible to observational biases that could be present in measurements of distant galaxies. Finally, two additional estimators are proposed.

Benchmark levels for the consumptive water footprint of crop production for different environmental conditions: a case study for winter wheat in China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhuo, La; Mekonnen, Mesfin M.; Hoekstra, Arjen Y.

2016-11-01

Meeting growing food demands while simultaneously shrinking the water footprint (WF) of agricultural production is one of the greatest societal challenges. Benchmarks for the WF of crop production can serve as a reference and be helpful in setting WF reduction targets. The consumptive WF of crops, the consumption of rainwater stored in the soil (green WF), and the consumption of irrigation water (blue WF) over the crop growing period varies spatially and temporally depending on environmental factors like climate and soil. The study explores which environmental factors should be distinguished when determining benchmark levels for the consumptive WF of crops. Hereto we determine benchmark levels for the consumptive WF of winter wheat production in China for all separate years in the period 1961-2008, for rain-fed vs. irrigated croplands, for wet vs. dry years, for warm vs. cold years, for four different soil classes, and for two different climate zones. We simulate consumptive WFs of winter wheat production with the crop water productivity model AquaCrop at a 5 by 5 arcmin resolution, accounting for water stress only. The results show that (i) benchmark levels determined for individual years for the country as a whole remain within a range of ±20 % around long-term mean levels over 1961-2008, (ii) the WF benchmarks for irrigated winter wheat are 8-10 % larger than those for rain-fed winter wheat, (iii) WF benchmarks for wet years are 1-3 % smaller than for dry years, (iv) WF benchmarks for warm years are 7-8 % smaller than for cold years, (v) WF benchmarks differ by about 10-12 % across different soil texture classes, and (vi) WF benchmarks for the humid zone are 26-31 % smaller than for the arid zone, which has relatively higher reference evapotranspiration in general and lower yields in rain-fed fields. We conclude that when determining benchmark levels for the consumptive WF of a crop, it is useful to primarily distinguish between different climate zones. If actual consumptive WFs of winter wheat throughout China were reduced to the benchmark levels set by the best 25 % of Chinese winter wheat production (1224 m3 t-1 for arid areas and 841 m3 t-1 for humid areas), the water saving in an average year would be 53 % of the current water consumption at winter wheat fields in China. The majority of the yield increase and associated improvement in water productivity can be achieved in southern China.

[Relationship between PMP, FN, vWF and Bleeding Degree in Patients with Acute Leukemia].

PubMed

Wang, Chang-Sheng; Zhao, Lian; Huang, Li-Yun; Yue, Xiao-He

2018-06-01

To detect the serum levels of platelet microparticle (PMP), fibronectin (FN), and von Willebrand Factor (vWF) in acute leukemia (AL) patients with thrombocytopenic and to analyze the relationship of the serum levels of PMP, FN and vWF with bleeding degree. One hundred and one newly diagnosed AL patients from May 2014 to May 2017 were enrolled the AL group. According to the WHO standard of bleeding stratification, 101 AL patients were divided into 5 sub groups: 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 score groups; 52 normal persons subjected to physical examination were enrolled in control group. The PMP level was detected by flow cytometry; the FN and vWF levels were detected by ELISA. The levels of PMP, FN and vWF were compared between the AL group and the control group. The serum levels of PMP, FN and vWF were compared according to bleeding degree group. The relationship of bleeding degree with the serum levels of PMP, FN and vWF was analyzed. The patients with newly diagnosed acute leukemia aged 18 to 60, and accounted for 61.39%. The degree of bleeding was mainly 1 score, which accounted for 38.61%. The serum levels of PMP, vWF and FN AL groups were significantly higher than those in control group (6.06%±4.38% vs 0.89%±0.50%, 205.82±24.89 vs 58.04±13.35 µg/L, 398.29±46.93 vs 311.37±26.02 µg/L)(P<0.001). The serum levels of PMP, FN and vWF were different among 5 subgroup (P<0.01); the level of PMP and FN were the highest in 0 score group and the lowest in 4 score group; the vWF level was the highest in 4 score groups and the lowest in 0 score group. The bleeding degree in the patients with acute leukemia negatively correlated with PMP level, and positively with NF and vWF levels (r=-0.753, r=0.648, r=0.805). According to the relationship of the bleeding degree with serum levels of PMP, FN, vWF in patients, the detection of PMP, vWF and FN levels can help to evaluale the bleeding degree in the patients.

Marginal cost curves for water footprint reduction in irrigated agriculture: a policy and decision making guide for efficient water use in crop production

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chukalla, Abebe; Krol, Maarten; Hoekstra, Arjen

2016-04-01

Reducing water footprints (WF) in irrigated crop production is an essential element in water management, particularly in water-scarce areas. To achieve this, policy and decision making need to be supported with information on marginal cost curves that rank measures to reduce the WF according to their cost-effectiveness and enable the estimation of the cost associated with a certain WF reduction target, e.g. towards a certain reasonable WF benchmark. This paper aims to develop marginal cost curves (MCC) for WF reduction. The AquaCrop model is used to explore the effect of different measures on evapotranspiration and crop yield and thus WF that is used as input in the MCC. Measures relate to three dimensions of management practices: irrigation techniques (furrow, sprinkler, drip and subsurface drip); irrigation strategies (full and deficit irrigation); and mulching practices (no mulching, organic and synthetic mulching). A WF benchmark per crop is calculated as resulting from the best-available production technology. The marginal cost curve is plotted using the ratios of the marginal cost to WF reduction of the measures as ordinate, ranking with marginal costs rise with the increase of the reduction effort. For each measure, the marginal cost to reduce WF is estimated by comparing the associated WF and net present value (NPV) to the reference case (furrow irrigation, full irrigation, no mulching). The NPV for each measure is based on its capital costs, operation and maintenances costs (O&M) and revenues. A range of cases is considered, including: different crops, soil types and different environments. Key words: marginal cost curve, water footprint benchmark, soil water balance, crop growth, AquaCrop

Platelet glycoprotein Ibalpha forms catch bonds with human WT vWF but not with type 2B von Willebrand disease vWF.

PubMed

Yago, Tadayuki; Lou, Jizhong; Wu, Tao; Yang, Jun; Miner, Jonathan J; Coburn, Leslie; López, José A; Cruz, Miguel A; Dong, Jing-Fei; McIntire, Larry V; McEver, Rodger P; Zhu, Cheng

2008-09-01

Arterial blood flow enhances glycoprotein Ibalpha (GPIbalpha) binding to vWF, which initiates platelet adhesion to injured vessels. Mutations in the vWF A1 domain that cause type 2B von Willebrand disease (vWD) reduce the flow requirement for adhesion. Here we show that increasing force on GPIbalpha/vWF bonds first prolonged ("catch") and then shortened ("slip") bond lifetimes. Two type 2B vWD A1 domain mutants, R1306Q and R1450E, converted catch bonds to slip bonds by prolonging bond lifetimes at low forces. Steered molecular dynamics simulations of GPIbalpha dissociating from the A1 domain suggested mechanisms for catch bonds and their conversion by the A1 domain mutations. Catch bonds caused platelets and GPIbalpha-coated microspheres to roll more slowly on WT vWF and WT A1 domains as flow increased from suboptimal levels, explaining flow-enhanced rolling. Longer bond lifetimes at low forces eliminated the flow requirement for rolling on R1306Q and R1450E mutant A1 domains. Flowing platelets agglutinated with microspheres bearing R1306Q or R1450E mutant A1 domains, but not WT A1 domains. Therefore, catch bonds may prevent vWF multimers from agglutinating platelets. A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif-13 (ADAMTS-13) reduced platelet agglutination with microspheres bearing a tridomain A1A2A3 vWF fragment with the R1450E mutation in a shear-dependent manner. We conclude that in type 2B vWD, prolonged lifetimes of vWF bonds with GPIbalpha on circulating platelets may allow ADAMTS-13 to deplete large vWF multimers, causing bleeding.

Spatial inequality of water footprint in China: A detailed decomposition of inequality from water use types and drivers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Siao; Fang, Chuanglin; Lv, Jinyan

2017-10-01

Given a limited volume of freshwater resources and increasing water demand in China, a relatively equal final water use distribution among different provinces is necessary to mitigate water scarcity faced by a great proportion of population. In this study, the Gini coefficient is used to measure inequality of provincial water footprints (WFs), which are computed based on the China multi-regional input-output table in 30 provinces. The inequality analysis indicates that in China, albeit improved equality of the WF via virtual water (VW) transfers in comparison to the real water use, provincial WFs still present inequality (with Gini coefficient 0.22). Inequality decomposition techniques are used to examine the main sectoral contributor and drivers of WF inequality. The decomposition of inequality in the total WF by sectoral water use types indicates that agricultural WF is the largest contributor, contributing 45.7% of the total inequality, followed by industrial WF (36.9%), tertiary WF (11.1%) and domestic water use (6.3%). Inequality decomposition in the total WF by drivers shows that the effect of natural water availability is insignificant. The main drivers of inequality in agricultural WF are real water use and water use efficiency, with the inter-class effect overwhelming inter-class effect based on classification according to these factors. Inequality in industrial and tertiary WFs is mainly driven by real water use and economic level. Policy inferences are given towards a more equal distribution of WF.

Welding fume exposure and associated inflammatory and hyperplastic changes in the lungs of tumor susceptible a/j mice.

PubMed

Solano-Lopez, Claudia; Zeidler-Erdely, Patti C; Hubbs, Ann F; Reynolds, Steven H; Roberts, Jenny R; Taylor, Michael D; Young, Shih-Houng; Castranova, Vincent; Antonini, James M

2006-01-01

It has been suggested that welding fume (WF) exposure increases lung cancer risk in welders. Epidemiology studies have failed to conclude that WF alone causes lung cancer and animal studies are lacking. We examined the course of inflammation, damage, and repair in the lungs of A/J mice, a lung tumor susceptible strain, caused by stainless steel WF. Mice were exposed by pharyngeal aspiration to 40 mg/kg of WF, silica, or saline. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed 24 hours, 1 and 16 weeks to assess lung injury and inflammation and histopathology was done 1, 8, 16, 24, and 48 weeks postexposure. Both exposures increased inflammatory cells, lactate dehydrogenase and albumin at 24 hr and 1 week. At 16 weeks, these parameters remained elevated in silica-exposed but not WF-exposed mice. Histopathologic evaluation at 1 week indicated that WF induced bronchiolar epithelial hyperplasia with associated cellular atypia, alveolar bronchiolo-alveolar hyperplasia (BAH) in peribronchiolar alveoli, and peribronchiolar lymphogranulomatous inflammation. Persistent changes included foci of histiocytic inflammation, fibrosis, atypical bronchiolar epithelial cells, and bronchiolar BAH. The principle changes in silica-exposed mice were histiocytic and suppurative inflammation, fibrosis, and alveolar BAH. Our findings that WF causes persistent bronchiolar and peribronchiolar epithelial changes, suggest a need for studies of bronchiolar changes after WF exposure.

Susceptibility to fatty acid-induced β-cell dysfunction is enhanced in prediabetic diabetes-prone biobreeding rats: a potential link between β-cell lipotoxicity and islet inflammation.

PubMed

Tang, Christine; Naassan, Anthony E; Chamson-Reig, Astrid; Koulajian, Khajag; Goh, Tracy T; Yoon, Frederick; Oprescu, Andrei I; Ghanim, Husam; Lewis, Gary F; Dandona, Paresh; Donath, Marc Y; Ehses, Jan A; Arany, Edith; Giacca, Adria

2013-01-01

β-Cell lipotoxicity is thought to play an important role in the development of type 2 diabetes. However, no study has examined its role in type 1 diabetes, which could be clinically relevant for slow-onset type 1 diabetes. Reports of enhanced cytokine toxicity in fat-laden islets are consistent with the hypothesis that lipid and cytokine toxicity may be synergistic. Thus, β-cell lipotoxicity could be enhanced in models of autoimmune diabetes. To determine this, we examined the effects of prolonged free fatty acids elevation on β-cell secretory function in the prediabetic diabetes-prone BioBreeding (dp-BB) rat, its diabetes-resistant BioBreeding (dr-BB) control, and normal Wistar-Furth (WF) rats. Rats received a 48-h iv infusion of saline or Intralipid plus heparin (IH) (to elevate free fatty acid levels ~2-fold) followed by hyperglycemic clamp or islet secretion studies ex vivo. IH significantly decreased β-cell function, assessed both by the disposition index (insulin secretion corrected for IH-induced insulin resistance) and in isolated islets, in dp-BB, but not in dr-BB or WF, rats, and the effect of IH was inhibited by the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine. Furthermore, IH significantly increased islet cytokine mRNA and plasma cytokine levels (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and IL-10) in dp-BB, but not in dr-BB or WF, rats. All dp-BB rats had mononuclear infiltration of islets, which was absent in dr-BB and WF rats. In conclusion, the presence of insulitis was permissive for IH-induced β-cell dysfunction in the BB rat, which suggests a link between β-cell lipotoxicity and islet inflammation.

Dogs with heart diseases causing turbulent high-velocity blood flow have changes in platelet function and von Willebrand factor multimer distribution.

PubMed

Tarnow, Inge; Kristensen, Annemarie T; Olsen, Lisbeth H; Falk, Torkel; Haubro, Lotte; Pedersen, Lotte G; Pedersen, Henrik D

2005-01-01

The purpose of this prospective study was to investigate platelet function using in vitro tests based on both high and low shear rates and von Willebrand factor (vWf) multimeric composition in dogs with cardiac disease and turbulent high-velocity blood flow. Client-owned asymptomatic, untreated dogs were divided into 4 groups: 14 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (Cavaliers) with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and no or minimal mitral regurgitation (MR), 17 Cavaliers with MVP and moderate to severe MR, 14 control dogs, and 10 dogs with subaortic stenosis (SAS). Clinical examinations and echocardiography were performed in all dogs. PFA100 closure times (the ability of platelets to occlude a hole in a membrane at high shear rates), platelet activation markers (plasma thromboxane B2 concentration, platelet surface P-selectin expression), platelet aggregation (in whole blood and platelet-rich plasma with 3 different agonists), and vWf multimers were analyzed. Cavaliers with moderate to severe MR and dogs with SAS had longer closure times and a lower percentage of the largest vWf multimers than did controls. Maximal aggregation responses were unchanged in dogs with SAS but enhanced in Cavaliers with MVP (regardless of MR status) compared with control dogs. No significant difference in platelet activation markers was found among groups. The data suggest that a form of platelet dysfunction detected at high shear rates was present in dogs with MR and SAS, possibly associated with a qualitative vWf defect. Aggregation results suggest increased platelet reactivity in Cavaliers, but the platelets did not appear to circulate in a preactivated state in either disease.

Overexpression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells enhance the expression of induced endothelial cells

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) are capable of differentiating into endothelial cells in vitro and acquire major characteristics of mature endothelial-like expression of vWF and CD31. SFAs and lipid oxidation products have been linked with postprandial endothelial dysfunction. Consumption of SFAs impairs arterial endothelial function, while a Mediterranean-type MUFA-diet has a beneficial effect on endothelial function by producing a decrease in levels of vWF, TFPI and PAI-1. Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), which converts SFA to MUFA, is involved in the cellular biosynthesis of MUFAs from SFA substrates. High expression of SCD1 is corresponded with low rates of fatty acid oxidation, therefore it might reduce inflammatory responses and be beneficial for the growth of induced endothelial cells. Overexpression of SCD1 in BM-MSCs might increase the growth of induced endothelial cells. The goal of this research is to study the relationship between overexpression of SCD1 and the expression of induced endothelial cells in BM-MSCs in vitro. Methods The gene SCD1 was integrated into a lentiviral vector, and then 293 T cells were transfected by the connected product to produce a packaged virus. BM-MSCs were infected by the packaged virus. Cell culture and endothelial induction were performed. Fluorescent quantitative PCR of CD31, vWF and VE-cad was performed after 1 week and 2 weeks to test the growth of induced endothelial cells. Results The mRNA amount of CD31, vWF and VE-cad of the SCD1 overexpressed group was statistically higher than that of the empty vector (EV) group and that of the normal group after 1 week and 2 weeks, respectively (p < 0.05). Immunocytochemical staining of CD31 or vWF was detected by visualizing red color. Conclusions This study suggested that overexpression of SCD1 in BM-MSCs could increase the expression of induced endothelial cells in vitro. PMID:24650127

One-year eye-to-eye comparison of wavefront-guided versus wavefront-optimized laser in situ keratomileusis in hyperopes

PubMed Central

Sáles, Christopher S; Manche, Edward E

2014-01-01

Background To compare wavefront (WF)-guided and WF-optimized laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) in hyperopes with respect to the parameters of safety, efficacy, predictability, refractive error, uncorrected distance visual acuity, corrected distance visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and higher order aberrations. Methods Twenty-two eyes of eleven participants with hyperopia with or without astigmatism were prospectively randomized to receive WF-guided LASIK with the VISX CustomVue S4 IR or WF-optimized LASIK with the WaveLight Allegretto Eye-Q 400 Hz. LASIK flaps were created using the 150-kHz IntraLase iFS. Evaluations included measurement of uncorrected distance visual acuity, corrected distance visual acuity, <5% and <25% contrast sensitivity, and WF aberrometry. Patients also completed a questionnaire detailing symptoms on a quantitative grading scale. Results There were no statistically significant differences between the groups for any of the variables studied after 12 months of follow-up (all P>0.05). Conclusion This comparative case series of 11 subjects with hyperopia showed that WF-guided and WF-optimized LASIK had similar clinical outcomes at 12 months. PMID:25419115

Water Supply Treatment Sustainability of Semambu Water Supply Treatment Process - Water Footprint Approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aziz, Edriyana A.; Malek, Marlinda Abdul; Moni, Syazwan N.; Hadi, Iqmal H.; Zulkifli, Nabil F.

2018-03-01

In this study, the assessment by using Water Footprint (WF) approach was conducted to assess water consumption within the water supply treatment process (WSTP) services of Semambu Water Treatment Plant (WTP). Identification of the type of WF at each stage of WSTP was carried out and later the WF accounting for the period 2010 – 2016 was calculated. Several factors that might influence the accounting such as population, and land use. The increasing value of total WF per year was due to the increasing water demand from population and land use activities. However, the pattern of rainfall intensity from the monsoonal changes was not majorly affected the total amount of WF per year. As a conclusion, if the value of WF per year keeps increasing due to unregulated development in addition to the occurrences of climate changing, the intake river water will be insufficient and may lead to water scarcity. The findings in this study suggest actions to reduce the WF will likely have a great impact on freshwater resources availability and sustainability.

Studies on the baking properties of non-wheat flours--I. Breadfruit (Artocarpus artilis).

PubMed

Esuoso, K O; Bamiro, F O

1995-08-01

The possibility of producing bread from wheat (WF)/Breadfruit (BF), composite flour has been examined. Wheat flour was supplemented with up to 50% breadfruit flour. Chemical analysis of the breadfruit flour indicated a high starch content (80.9 +/- 0.9%), a fairly high crude fibre and ash contents (1.6 +/- 0.3; 4.2 +/- 0.3%) respectively and a low protein content (4.0 +/- 0.5%). Brabender amylograph pasting viscosity of the various flour and flour blends indicated that apart from the 100% WF, 10% BF/WF blends recorded the best pasting characteristics in terms of the starch stability, gelatinization index and set back values. While the 100% BF exhibited the poorest pasting characteristics. Physical characteristics indicated that only 100% WF and 10% BF/WF were free of cracks and crumbliness, 20% and 30% BF/WF had slight cracks, while others are dense and highly cracked. This was reflected on the panellist judgment during sensory evaluation. There was no significant difference at P < 0.05 between the control (100% WF) and the composite bread samples up to 30% level of breadfruit flour. Others differed significantly.

Sublethal effects in Avocet and Stilt hatchlings from selenium-contaminated sites

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hoffman, D.J.; Marn, C.M.; Marois, Katherine C.; Sproul, E.; Dunne, M.; Skorupa, J.P.

2002-01-01

Excess selenium (Se) in the aquatic food chain is embryotoxic and teratogenic to avocets, stilts, and other waterbirds. American avocet (Recurvirostra americana) and black-necked stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) eggs were collected from three sites in the Tulare Lake Basin of California, USA, and hatched in the laboratory. These sites included the Tulare Lake Drainage District?north (TLDD-N, water 2.5 ppb Se), TLDD?south (TLDD-S, water 8.6 ppb Se), and Westfarmers (WF, water 190 ppb Se). Highest egg Se concentrations occurred at WF (geometric mean 31.4 ppm dry wt for avocets and 20.5 ppm dry wt for stilts). Mean egg Se concentrations were 6.7 ppm for avocets and 8.4 ppm for stilts at TLDD-S, and 3.3 ppm for avocets and 2.3 ppm for stilts at TLDD-N. Hatching success and incidence of malformations did not differ among sites, but yolk sac?free hatching weights and bone lengths were less for avocets at the WF site, whereas liver weights and liver to body weight ratios were greater at that site. With increasing Se concentration, oxidative stress was most apparent in avocet hatchlings from WF: hepatic glutathione (GSH) peroxidase activity increased, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity decreased, and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) concentration as well as the ratio of GSSG to reduced GSH concentration increased. In stilts, hepatic GSH concentration was lower in WF hatchlings. In conclusion, our findings of Se-impaired embryo growth and hepatotoxicity in avocet hatchlings suggest that oxidative stress observed in hatchlings may be related to these biological effects and may serve as a potential bioindicator of subsequent impaired functions.

Multilevel quantum Otto heat engines with identical particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, X. L.; Guo, D. Y.; Wu, S. L.; Yi, X. X.

2018-02-01

A quantum Otto heat engine is studied with multilevel identical particles trapped in one-dimensional box potential as working substance. The symmetrical wave function for Bosons and the anti-symmetrical wave function for Fermions are considered. In two-particle case, we focus on the ratios of W^i (i=B,F) to W_s, where W^B and W^F are the work done by two Bosons and Fermions, respectively, and W_s is the work output of a single particle under the same conditions. Due to the symmetrical of the wave functions, the ratios are not equal to 2. Three different regimes, low-temperature regime, high-temperature regime, and intermediate-temperature regime, are analyzed, and the effects of energy level number and the differences between the two baths are calculated. In the multiparticle case, we calculate the ratios of W^i_M/M to W_s, where W^i_M/M can be seen as the average work done by a single particle in multiparticle heat engine. For other working substances whose energy spectrum has the form of E_n˜ n^2, the results are similar. For the case E_n˜ n, two different conclusions are obtained.

Introduction of water footprint assessment approach to enhance water supply management in Malaysia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moni, Syazwan N.; Aziz, Edriyana A.; Malek, M. A.

2017-10-01

Presently, Water Footprint (WF) Approach has been used to assess the sustainability of a product's chain globally but is lacking in the services sector. Thus, this paper aims to introduce WF assessment as a technical approach to determine the sustainability of water supply management for the typical water supply treatment process (WSTP) used in Malaysia. Water supply is one of the pertinent services and most of WF accounting begins with data obtained from the water supply treatment plant. Therefore, the amount of WF will be accounted for each process of WSTP in order to determine the water utilization for the whole process according to blue, green and grey WF. Hence, the exact amount of water used in the process can be measured by applying this accounting method to assess the sustainability of water supply management in Malaysia. Therefore, the WF approach in assessing sustainability of WSTP could be implemented.

A Two-Tier Golgi-Based Control of Organelle Size Underpins the Functional Plasticity of Endothelial Cells

PubMed Central

Ferraro, Francesco; Kriston-Vizi, Janos; Metcalf, Daniel J.; Martin-Martin, Belen; Freeman, Jamie; Burden, Jemima J.; Westmoreland, David; Dyer, Clare E.; Knight, Alex E.; Ketteler, Robin; Cutler, Daniel F.

2014-01-01

Summary Weibel-Palade bodies (WPBs), endothelial-specific secretory granules that are central to primary hemostasis and inflammation, occur in dimensions ranging between 0.5 and 5 μm. How their size is determined and whether it has a functional relevance are at present unknown. Here, we provide evidence for a dual role of the Golgi apparatus in controlling the size of these secretory carriers. At the ministack level, cisternae constrain the size of nanostructures (“quanta”) of von Willebrand factor (vWF), the main WPB cargo. The ribbon architecture of the Golgi then allows copackaging of a variable number of vWF quanta within the continuous lumen of the trans-Golgi network, thereby generating organelles of different sizes. Reducing the WPB size abates endothelial cell hemostatic function by drastically diminishing platelet recruitment, but, strikingly, the inflammatory response (the endothelial capacity to engage leukocytes) is unaltered. Size can thus confer functional plasticity to an organelle by differentially affecting its activities. PMID:24794632

Marginal cost curves for water footprint reduction in irrigated agriculture: guiding a cost-effective reduction of crop water consumption to a permit or benchmark level

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chukalla, Abebe D.; Krol, Maarten S.; Hoekstra, Arjen Y.

2017-07-01

Reducing the water footprint (WF) of the process of growing irrigated crops is an indispensable element in water management, particularly in water-scarce areas. To achieve this, information on marginal cost curves (MCCs) that rank management packages according to their cost-effectiveness to reduce the WF need to support the decision making. MCCs enable the estimation of the cost associated with a certain WF reduction target, e.g. towards a given WF permit (expressed in m3  ha-1 per season) or to a certain WF benchmark (expressed in m3  t-1 of crop). This paper aims to develop MCCs for WF reduction for a range of selected cases. AquaCrop, a soil-water-balance and crop-growth model, is used to estimate the effect of different management packages on evapotranspiration and crop yield and thus the WF of crop production. A management package is defined as a specific combination of management practices: irrigation technique (furrow, sprinkler, drip or subsurface drip); irrigation strategy (full or deficit irrigation); and mulching practice (no, organic or synthetic mulching). The annual average cost for each management package is estimated as the annualized capital cost plus the annual costs of maintenance and operations (i.e. costs of water, energy and labour). Different cases are considered, including three crops (maize, tomato and potato); four types of environment (humid in UK, sub-humid in Italy, semi-arid in Spain and arid in Israel); three hydrologic years (wet, normal and dry years) and three soil types (loam, silty clay loam and sandy loam). For each crop, alternative WF reduction pathways were developed, after which the most cost-effective pathway was selected to develop the MCC for WF reduction. When aiming at WF reduction one can best improve the irrigation strategy first, next the mulching practice and finally the irrigation technique. Moving from a full to deficit irrigation strategy is found to be a no-regret measure: it reduces the WF by reducing water consumption at negligible yield reduction while reducing the cost for irrigation water and the associated costs for energy and labour. Next, moving from no to organic mulching has a high cost-effectiveness, reducing the WF significantly at low cost. Finally, changing from sprinkler or furrow to drip or subsurface drip irrigation reduces the WF, but at a significant cost.

A novel wood flour-filled composite based on microfibrillar high-density polyethylene (HDPE)/Nylon-6 blends.

PubMed

Liu, Hongzhi; Yao, Fei; Xu, Yanjun; Wu, Qinglin

2010-05-01

A novel wood flour (WF)-filled composite based on the microfibrillar high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and Nylon-6 co-blend, in which both in situ formed Nylon-6 microfibrils and WF acted as reinforcing elements, was successfully developed using a two-step extrusion method. At the 30wt.% WF loading level, WF-filled composite based on the microfibrillized HDPE/Nylon-6 blend exhibited higher strengths and moduli than the corresponding HDPE-based composite. The incorporation of WF reduced short-term creep response of HDPE matrix and the presence of Nylon-6 microfibrils further contributed to the creep reduction. Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Validation of the 2012 Fukuoka Consensus Guideline for Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm of the Pancreas From a Single Institution Experience.

PubMed

Yu, Songfeng; Takasu, Naoki; Watanabe, Toshihiro; Fukumoto, Tsuyoshi; Okazaki, Shinji; Tezuka, Koji; Sugawara, Shuichiro; Hirai, Ichiro; Kimura, Wataru

2017-08-01

The 2012 Fukuoka consensus guideline has stratified the risks of malignant intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) of the pancreas into "high-risk stigmata" (HRS) and "worrisome feature" (WF). This study aimed to evaluate its clinical validity based on a single institution experience. Eighty-nine patients who underwent surgical resection with pathological diagnosis of IPMN were retrospectively studied. High-risk stigmata was significantly correlated with the prevalence of malignant IPMN as compared with WF. The positive predictive values of HRS and WF were 66.7% and 35.7% for branch duct IPMN and 80% and 38.1% for main duct IPMN, respectively. Univariate analysis indicated that all the factors in HRS and WF had statistical significance. Whereas multivariate analysis revealed only enhanced solid component (odds ratio [OR], 50.01; P = 0.008), presence of mural nodule (OR, 73.83; P < 0.001) and lymphadenopathy (OR, 20.85; P = 0.03) were independent predictors. Scoring HRS and WF by different numbers of positive factors resulted in improved predictive value. The area under the curve of HRS score was significantly lower than that of WF or HRS + WF score (0.680 vs 0.900 or 0.902, respectively; P < 0.001). As supplementary to the 2012 Fukuoka guideline, we suggest that calculating scores of WF and HRS may have superior diagnostic accuracy in predicting malignant IPMN.

Critical role of aldehydes in cigarette smoke-induced acute airway inflammation

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Cigarette smoking (CS) is the most important risk factor for COPD, which is associated with neutrophilic airway inflammation. We hypothesize, that highly reactive aldehydes are critical for CS-induced neutrophilic airway inflammation. Methods BALB/c mice were exposed to CS, water filtered CS (WF-CS) or air for 5 days. Levels of total particulate matter (TPM) and aldehydes in CS and WF-CS were measured. Six hours after the last exposure, inflammatory cells and cytokine levels were measured in lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Furthermore, Beas-2b bronchial epithelial cells were exposed to CS extract (CSE) or WF-CS extract (WF-CSE) in the absence or presence of the aldehyde acrolein and IL-8 production was measured after 24 hrs. Results Compared to CS, in WF-CS strongly decreased (CS; 271.1 ± 41.5 μM, WF-CS; 58.5 ± 8.2 μM) levels of aldehydes were present whereas levels of TPM were only slightly reduced (CS; 20.78 ± 0.59 mg, WF-CS; 16.38 ± 0.36 mg). The numbers of mononuclear cells in BALF (p<0.01) and lung tissue (p<0.01) were significantly increased in the CS- and WF-CS-exposed mice compared to air control mice. Interestingly, the numbers of neutrophils (p<0.001) in BALF and neutrophils and eosinophils (p<0.05) in lung tissue were significantly increased in the CS-exposed but not in WF-CS-exposed mice as compared to air control mice. Levels of the neutrophil and eosinophil chemoattractants KC, MCP-1, MIP-1α and IL-5 were all significantly increased in lung tissue from CS-exposed mice compared to both WF-CS-exposed and air control mice. Interestingly, depletion of aldehydes in WF-CS extract significantly reduced IL-8 production in Beas-2b as compared to CSE, which could be restored by the aldehyde acrolein. Conclusion Aldehydes present in CS play a critical role in inflammatory cytokine production and neutrophilic- but not mononuclear airway inflammation. PMID:23594194

Platelet glycoprotein Ibα forms catch bonds with human WT vWF but not with type 2B von Willebrand disease vWF

PubMed Central

Yago, Tadayuki; Lou, Jizhong; Wu, Tao; Yang, Jun; Miner, Jonathan J.; Coburn, Leslie; López, José A.; Cruz, Miguel A.; Dong, Jing-Fei; McIntire, Larry V.; McEver, Rodger P.; Zhu, Cheng

2008-01-01

Arterial blood flow enhances glycoprotein Ibα (GPIbα) binding to vWF, which initiates platelet adhesion to injured vessels. Mutations in the vWF A1 domain that cause type 2B von Willebrand disease (vWD) reduce the flow requirement for adhesion. Here we show that increasing force on GPIbα/vWF bonds first prolonged (“catch”) and then shortened (“slip”) bond lifetimes. Two type 2B vWD A1 domain mutants, R1306Q and R1450E, converted catch bonds to slip bonds by prolonging bond lifetimes at low forces. Steered molecular dynamics simulations of GPIbα dissociating from the A1 domain suggested mechanisms for catch bonds and their conversion by the A1 domain mutations. Catch bonds caused platelets and GPIbα-coated microspheres to roll more slowly on WT vWF and WT A1 domains as flow increased from suboptimal levels, explaining flow-enhanced rolling. Longer bond lifetimes at low forces eliminated the flow requirement for rolling on R1306Q and R1450E mutant A1 domains. Flowing platelets agglutinated with microspheres bearing R1306Q or R1450E mutant A1 domains, but not WT A1 domains. Therefore, catch bonds may prevent vWF multimers from agglutinating platelets. A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif–13 (ADAMTS-13) reduced platelet agglutination with microspheres bearing a tridomain A1A2A3 vWF fragment with the R1450E mutation in a shear-dependent manner. We conclude that in type 2B vWD, prolonged lifetimes of vWF bonds with GPIbα on circulating platelets may allow ADAMTS-13 to deplete large vWF multimers, causing bleeding. PMID:18725999

Systemic effect of water fluoridation on dental caries prevalence.

PubMed

Cho, Hyun-Jae; Jin, Bo-Hyoung; Park, Deok-Young; Jung, Se-Hwan; Lee, Heung-Soo; Paik, Dai-Il; Bae, Kwang-Hak

2014-08-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the systemic effect of water fluoridation on dental caries prevalence and experience in Cheongju, South Korea, where water fluoridation ceased 7 years previously. A cross-sectional survey was employed at two schools where water fluoridation had ceased (WF-ceased area) and at two schools where the water had never been fluoridated (non-WF area). The schools in the non-WF area were of a similar population size to the schools in the WF-ceased area. Children of three age groups were examined in both areas: aged 6 (n = 505), 8 (n = 513), and 11 years (n = 467). The differences in the mean number of decayed or filled primary teeth (dft) and the mean number of decayed, missing, or filled permanent teeth (DMFT) scores between areas after adjusting for oral health behaviors and socio-demographic factors were analyzed by a Poisson regression model. The regression model showed that the DMFT ratio for children aged 11 years in the WF-ceased area was 0.581 (95% CI 0.450-0.751). In contrast, the dft ratio for age 6 in the WF-ceased area was 1.158 (95% CI 1.004-1.335). Only the DMFT ratio for age 8 (0.924, 95% CI 0.625-1.368) was not significant. While 6-year-old children who had not ingested fluoridated water showed higher dft in the WF-ceased area than in the non-WF area, 11-year-old children in the WF-ceased area who had ingested fluoridated water for approximately 4 years after birth showed significantly lower DMFT than those in the non-WF area. This suggests that the systemic effect of fluoride intake through water fluoridation could be important for the prevention of dental caries. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Water fraction of edible medicinal fern Stenochlaena palustris is a potent α-glucosidase inhibitor with concurrent antioxidant activity.

PubMed

Chai, Tsun-Thai; Kwek, Meng-Tee; Ong, Hean-Chooi; Wong, Fai-Chu

2015-11-01

This study aimed to isolate a potent antiglucosidase and antioxidant fraction from Stenochlaena palustris. Extraction was performed with hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol, and water. Antiglucosidase, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays found methanol extract (ME) to be the most active. Water fraction (WF) of ME was a stronger α-glucosidase inhibitor (EC50 2.9 μg/mL) than quercetin, with weak antiamylase activity. WF was a competitive α-glucosidase inhibitor. DPPH scavenging activity of WF (EC50 7.7 μg/mL) was weaker than quercetin. WF (EC50 364 μg/mL) was a stronger hydrogen peroxide scavenger than gallic acid (EC50 838 μg/mL) and was equally strong as quercetin in scavenging superoxide. WF possessed moderate copper chelating activity. WF was enriched in total phenolics (TP) and hydroxycinnamic acids (THC). TP correlated with antioxidant activity (R(2) > 0.76). Only THC correlated with antiglucosidase activity (R(2) = 0.86). Overall, WF demonstrated concurrent, potent antiglucosidase and antioxidant activities. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Obstructive sleep apnea and neurocognitive function in a Hispanic/Latino population.

PubMed

Ramos, Alberto R; Tarraf, Wassim; Rundek, Tatjana; Redline, Susan; Wohlgemuth, William K; Loredo, Jose S; Sacco, Ralph L; Lee, David J; Arens, Raanan; Lazalde, Patricia; Choca, James P; Mosley, Thomas; González, Hector M

2015-01-27

We evaluated the association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and neurocognitive function among community-dwelling Hispanic/Latino individuals in the United States. Cross-sectional analysis of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos middle-aged and older adults, aged 45 to 74 years, with neurocognitive test scores at baseline measurements from 2008 to 2011. Neurocognitive scores were measured using the Word Fluency (WF) Test, the Brief-Spanish English Verbal Learning Test (SEVLT), and the Digit Symbol Substitution (DSS) Test. OSA was defined by the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). Multivariable linear regression models were fit to evaluate relations between OSA and neurocognitive scores. The analysis consisted of 8,059 participants, mean age of 56 years, 55% women, and 41% with less than high school education. The mean AHI was 9.0 (range 0-142; normal AHI <5/h). There was an association between the AHI and all 4 neurocognitive test scores: Brief-SEVLT-sum (β = -0.022) and -recall (β = -0.010), WF (β = -0.023), and DSS (β = -0.050) at p < 0.01 that was fully attenuated by age. In the fully adjusted regression model, female sex was a moderating factor between the AHI and WF (β = -0.027, p < 0.10), SVELT-sum (β = -0.37), SVELT-recall (β = -0.010), and DSS (β = -0.061) at p < 0.01. OSA was associated with worse neurocognitive function in a representative sample of Hispanic/Latino women in the United States. © 2014 American Academy of Neurology.

Nanomechanical Contribution of Collagen and von Willebrand Factor A in Marine Underwater Adhesion and Its Implication for Collagen Manipulation.

PubMed

Yoo, Hee Young; Huang, Jun; Li, Lin; Foo, Mathias; Zeng, Hongbo; Hwang, Dong Soo

2016-03-14

Recent works on mussel adhesion have identified a load bearing matrix protein (PTMP1) containing von Willebrand factor (vWF) with collagen binding capability that contributes to the mussel holdfast by manipulating mussel collagens. Using a surface forces apparatus, we investigate for the first time, the nanomechanical properties of vWF-collagen interaction using homologous proteins of mussel byssus, PTMP1 and preCollagens (preCols), as collagen. Mimicking conditions similar to mussel byssus secretion (pH < 5.0) and seawater condition (pH 8.0), PTMP1 and preCol interact weakly in the "positioning" phase based on vWF-collagen binding and strengthen in "locked" phase due to the combined effects of electrostatic attraction, metal binding, and mechanical shearing. The progressive enhancement of binding between PTMP1 with porcine collagen under the aforementioned conditions is also observed. The binding mechanisms of PTMP1-preCols provide insights into the molecular interaction of the mammalian collagen system and the development of an artificial extracellular matrix based on collagens.

Influence of atrial fibrillation on plasma von willebrand factor, soluble E-selectin, and N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide levels in systolic heart failure.

PubMed

Freestone, Bethan; Gustafsson, Finn; Chong, Aun Yeong; Corell, Pernille; Kistorp, Caroline; Hildebrandt, Per; Lip, Gregory Y H

2008-05-01

Endothelial dysfunction is present in patients with heart failure (HF) due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction, as well as in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who have normal cardiac function. It is unknown whether AF influences the degree of endothelial dysfunction in patients with systolic HF. We measured levels of plasma von Willebrand factor (vWF) and E-selectin (as indexes of endothelial damage/dysfunction and endothelial activation, respectively; both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) in patients with AF and HF (AF-HF), who were compared to patients with sinus rhythm and HF (SR-HF), as well as in age-matched, healthy, control subjects. We also assessed the relationship of vWF and E-selectin to plasma N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NTpro-BNP), a marker for HF severity and prognosis. One hundred ninety patients (73% men; mean age, 69.0 +/- 10.1 years [+/- SD]) with systolic HF were studied, who were compared to 117 healthy control subjects: 52 subjects (27%) were in AF, while 138 subjects (73%) were in sinus rhythm. AF-HF patients were older than SR-HF patients (p = 0.046), but left ventricular ejection fraction and New York Heart Association class were similar. There were significant differences in NT-proBNP (p < 0.0001) and plasma vWF (p = 0.003) between patients and control subjects. On Tukey post hoc analysis, AF-HF patients had significantly increased NT-proBNP (p < 0.001) and vWF (p = 0.0183) but not E-selectin (p = 0.071) levels when compared to SR-HF patients. On multivariate analysis, the presence of AF was related to plasma vWF levels (p = 0.018). Plasma vWF was also significantly correlated with NT-proBNP levels (Spearman r = 0.139; p = 0.017). There is evidence of greater endothelial damage/dysfunction in AF-HF patients when compared to SR-HF patients. The clinical significance of this is unclear but may have prognostic value.

Clinical high-resolution mapping of the proteoglycan-bound water fraction in articular cartilage of the human knee joint.

PubMed

Bouhrara, Mustapha; Reiter, David A; Sexton, Kyle W; Bergeron, Christopher M; Zukley, Linda M; Spencer, Richard G

2017-11-01

We applied our recently introduced Bayesian analytic method to achieve clinically-feasible in-vivo mapping of the proteoglycan water fraction (PgWF) of human knee cartilage with improved spatial resolution and stability as compared to existing methods. Multicomponent driven equilibrium single-pulse observation of T 1 and T 2 (mcDESPOT) datasets were acquired from the knees of two healthy young subjects and one older subject with previous knee injury. Each dataset was processed using Bayesian Monte Carlo (BMC) analysis incorporating a two-component tissue model. We assessed the performance and reproducibility of BMC and of the conventional analysis of stochastic region contraction (SRC) in the estimation of PgWF. Stability of the BMC analysis of PgWF was tested by comparing independent high-resolution (HR) datasets from each of the two young subjects. Unlike SRC, the BMC-derived maps from the two HR datasets were essentially identical. Furthermore, SRC maps showed substantial random variation in estimated PgWF, and mean values that differed from those obtained using BMC. In addition, PgWF maps derived from conventional low-resolution (LR) datasets exhibited partial volume and magnetic susceptibility effects. These artifacts were absent in HR PgWF images. Finally, our analysis showed regional variation in PgWF estimates, and substantially higher values in the younger subjects as compared to the older subject. BMC-mcDESPOT permits HR in-vivo mapping of PgWF in human knee cartilage in a clinically-feasible acquisition time. HR mapping reduces the impact of partial volume and magnetic susceptibility artifacts compared to LR mapping. Finally, BMC-mcDESPOT demonstrated excellent reproducibility in the determination of PgWF. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Determinants of the Thrombogenic Potential of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

PubMed Central

Burke, Andrew; Singh, Ravi; Carroll, David L.; Owen, John; Kock, Nancy D.; D’Agostino, Ralph; Torti, Frank M.; Torti, Suzy V.

2011-01-01

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are cylindrical tubes of graphitic carbon with unique physical and electrical properties. MWCNTs are being explored for a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Successful biomedical application of MWCNTs will require compatibility with normal circulatory components, including constituents of the hemostatic cascades. In this manuscript, we compare the thrombotic activity of MWCNTs in vitro and in vivo. We also assess the influence of functionalization of MWCNTs on thrombotic activity. In vitro, MWCNT activate the intrinsic pathway of coagulation as measured by activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) assays. Functionalization by amidation or carboxylation enhances this procoagulant activity. Mechanistic studies demonstrate that MWCNTs enhance propagation of the intrinsic pathway via a non-classical mechanism strongly dependent on factor IX. MWCNTs preferentially associate with factor IXa and may provide a platform for its activation. In addition to their effects on the coagulation cascade, MWCNTs activate platelets in vitro, with amidated MWCNTs exhibiting greater platelet activation than carboxylated or pristine MWCNTs. However, contrasting trends are obtained in vivo, where functionalization tends to diminish rather than enhance pro-coagulant activity. Thus, following systemic injection of MWCNTs in mice, pristine MWCNTs decreased platelet counts, increased vWF, and increased D-dimers. In contrast, carboxylated MWCNTS exhibited little procoagulant tendency in vivo, eliciting only a mild and transient decrease in platelets. Amidated MWCNTs elicited no statistically significant change in platelet count. Further, neither carboxylated nor amidated MWCNTs increased vWF or D-dimers in mouse plasma. We conclude that the pro-coagulant tendencies of MWCNTs observed in vitro are not necessarily recapitulated in vivo. Further, functionalization can markedly attenuate the procoagulant activity of MWCNTs in vivo. This work will inform the rational development of biocompatible MWCNTs for systemic delivery. PMID:21663954

Chemical composition, rheological, quality characteristics and storage stability of buns enriched with coriander and curry leaves.

PubMed

Sudha, M L; Rajeswari, G; Venkateswara Rao, G

2014-12-01

Effect of addition of normal (NL) and dehydrated (DL) curry leaves (Murraya koeniggi) and coriander leaves (Corinadrum sativum) in the ratio of 1:1 to refined wheat flour (WF) or a blend of refined wheat flour-whole wheat flour (WF-WWF, 1:1) on the rheological, nutritional, storage and quality characteristics of the buns were studied. Water absorption increased on addition of increasing levels of DL from 0 to 7.5 % to WF-WWF when compared to WF. Dough weakening was greater when DL was added to WF-WWF as seen in decrease in dough stability and abscissa at rupture values. Addition of gluten and emulsifiers improved the quality characteristics of buns prepared using either 25 % NL or 5 % DL. Storage stability of buns with DL was better. The protein, dietary fiber, iron and carotenoids in buns prepared from WF-WWF were higher. The results indicate the utilization of leaves in dehydrated form in the preparation of nutritionally improved buns.

Microbiological, Nutritional, and Sensory Quality of Bread Produced from Wheat and Potato Flour Blends

PubMed Central

Ijah, Udeme Joshua Josiah; Aduloju, Mercy Oluwayemisi; Aransiola, Sesan Abiodun

2014-01-01

Dehydrated uncooked potato (Irish and sweet) flour was blended by weight with commercial wheat flour at 0 to 10% levels of substitution to make bread. Comparative study of the microbial and nutritional qualities of the bread was undertaken. The total aerobic bacterial counts ranged from 3.0 × 105 cfu/g to 1.09 × 106 cfu/g while the fungal counts ranged from 8.0 × 101 cfu/g to 1.20 × 103 cfu/g of the sample. Coliforms were not detected in the bread. Bacteria isolated were species of Bacillus, Staphylococcus, and Micrococcus while fungi isolates were species of Aspergillus, Penicillium, Rhizopus, and Mucor. The mean sensory scores (color, aroma, taste, texture, and general acceptability) were evaluated. The color of the bread baked from WF/IPF2 (wheat/Irish potato flour, 95 : 5%) blend was preferred to WF (wheat flour, 100%) while WF/SPF1 (wheat/sweet potato flour, 100%) and WF/IPF1 (wheat/Irish potato flour, 90 : 10%) aroma were preferred to WF. However, the bread baked from WF, WF/IPF2 (wheat flour/Irish potato flour, 95 : 5%), and WF/SPF2 (wheat/sweet potato flour, 95 : 5%) was more acceptable than other blends. The use of hydrated potato flour in bread making is advantageous due to increased nutritional value, higher bread yield, and reduced rate of staling. PMID:26904642

Platelet von Willebrand factor in Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome.

PubMed

McKeown, L P; Hansmann, K E; Wilson, O; Gahl, W; Gralnick, H R; Rosenfeld, K E; Rosenfeld, S J; Horne, M K; Rick, M E

1998-10-01

The Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome (HPS) is an autosomal recessive inherited disorder characterized by oculocutaneous albinism, tissue accumulation of ceroid pigment, and a mild to moderate bleeding diathesis attributed to storage-pool deficient (SPD) platlets. Patients have platelet aggregation and release abnormalities. In addition, low levels of plasma von Willebrand factor (vWF) antigen in some HPS patients have been associated with a greater bleeding tendency than would be predicted from either condition alone. Other HPS patients have severe bleeding despite normal levels of plasma vWF, suggesting that at least one additional factor is responsible for their bleeding diathesis. Because platelet vWF levels have been well correlated with clinical bleeding times in patients with von Willebrand's disease, we have measured the platelet vWF activity and antigen levels in 30 HPS patients and have attempted to correlate their clinical bleeding with these values. The platelet vWF activity levels in patients was significantly lower than that of normal subjects (P < 0.0001). The patients as a group also had slightly lower values of plasma vWF activity when compared with normals (P-0.03). In 11 of the HPS patients, the multimeric structure of plasma vWF showed a decrease in the high molecular weight multimers and an increase in the low molecular weight multimers. In correlating the platelet and plasma vWF values with the bleeding histories, we were not able to show a predictable relationship in the majority of the patients.

Nutritional mitigation of winter thermal stress in gilthead seabream: Associated metabolic pathways and potential indicators of nutritional state.

PubMed

Richard, Nadège; Silva, Tomé S; Wulff, Tune; Schrama, Denise; Dias, Jorge P; Rodrigues, Pedro M L; Conceição, Luís E C

2016-06-16

A trial was carried out with gilthead seabream juveniles, aiming to investigate the ability of an enhanced dietary formulation (diet Winter Feed, WF, containing a higher proportion of marine-derived protein sources and supplemented in phospholipids, vitamin C, vitamin E and taurine) to assist fish in coping with winter thermal stress, compared to a low-cost commercial diet (diet CTRL). In order to identify the metabolic pathways affected by WF diet, a comparative two dimensional differential in-gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) analysis of fish liver proteome (pH 4–7) was undertaken at the end of winter. A total of 404 protein spots, out of 1637 detected, were differentially expressed between the two groups of fish. Mass spectrometry analysis of selected spots suggested that WF diet improved oxidative stress defense, reduced endoplasmic reticulum stress, enhanced metabolic flux through methionine cycle and phenylalanine/tyrosine catabolism, and induced higher aerobic metabolism and gluconeogenesis. Results support the notion that WF diet had a positive effect on fish nutritional state by partially counteracting the effect of thermal stress and underlined the sensitivity of proteome data for nutritional and metabolic profiling purposes. Intragroup variability and co-measured information were also used to pinpoint which proteins displayed a stronger relation with fish nutritional state. Winter low water temperature is a critical factor for gilthead seabream farming in the Mediterranean region, leading to a reduction of feed intake, which often results in metabolic and immunological disorders and stagnation of growth performances. In a recent trial, we investigated the ability of an enhanced dietary formulation (diet WF) to assist gilthead seabream in coping with winter thermal stress, compared to a standard commercial diet (diet CTRL). Within this context, in the present work, we identified metabolic processes that are involved in the stress-mitigating effect observed with diet WF, by undertaking a comparative analysis of fish liver proteome at the end of winter. This study brings information relative to biological processes that are involved in gilthead seabream winter thermal stress and shows that these can be mitigated through a nutritional strategy, assisting gilthead seabream to deal better with winter thermal conditions. Furthermore, the results show that proteomic information not only clearly distinguishes the two dietary groups from each other, but also captures heterogeneities that reflect intra-group differences in nutritional state. This was exploited in this work to refine the variable selection strategy so that protein spots displaying a stronger correlation with “nutritional state” could be identified as possible indicators of gilthead seabream metabolic and nutritional state. Finally, this study shows that gel-based proteomics seems to provide more reliable information than transmissive FT-IR spectroscopy, for the purposes of nutritional and metabolic profiling.

The equivalency between logic Petri workflow nets and workflow nets.

PubMed

Wang, Jing; Yu, ShuXia; Du, YuYue

2015-01-01

Logic Petri nets (LPNs) can describe and analyze batch processing functions and passing value indeterminacy in cooperative systems. Logic Petri workflow nets (LPWNs) are proposed based on LPNs in this paper. Process mining is regarded as an important bridge between modeling and analysis of data mining and business process. Workflow nets (WF-nets) are the extension to Petri nets (PNs), and have successfully been used to process mining. Some shortcomings cannot be avoided in process mining, such as duplicate tasks, invisible tasks, and the noise of logs. The online shop in electronic commerce in this paper is modeled to prove the equivalence between LPWNs and WF-nets, and advantages of LPWNs are presented.

The Equivalency between Logic Petri Workflow Nets and Workflow Nets

PubMed Central

Wang, Jing; Yu, ShuXia; Du, YuYue

2015-01-01

Logic Petri nets (LPNs) can describe and analyze batch processing functions and passing value indeterminacy in cooperative systems. Logic Petri workflow nets (LPWNs) are proposed based on LPNs in this paper. Process mining is regarded as an important bridge between modeling and analysis of data mining and business process. Workflow nets (WF-nets) are the extension to Petri nets (PNs), and have successfully been used to process mining. Some shortcomings cannot be avoided in process mining, such as duplicate tasks, invisible tasks, and the noise of logs. The online shop in electronic commerce in this paper is modeled to prove the equivalence between LPWNs and WF-nets, and advantages of LPWNs are presented. PMID:25821845

The Global Geostationary Wildfire ABBA: Current Implementation and Future Plans

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prins, E.; Schmidt, C. C.; Hoffman, J.; Brunner, J.; Hyer, E. J.; Reid, J. S.

2012-12-01

The Wild Fire Automated Biomass Burning Algorithm (WF_ABBA), developed at the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS), has a long legacy of operational near real-time wildfire detection and characterization in the Western Hemisphere. The first phase of the global geostationary WF_ABBA was made operational at NOAA NESDIS in 2009 and currently includes diurnal active fire monitoring from GOES-East, GOES-South America, GOES-West, Meteosat-9 and MTSAT-1R/-2. This allows for near global active fire monitoring with coverage of Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific utilizing distinct geostationary sensors and a consistent algorithm. Version 6.5.006 of the WF_ABBA was specifically designed to address the capabilities and limitations of diverse geostationary sensors and requests from the global fire monitoring and user community. This presentation will provide an overview of version 6.5.006 of the global WF_ABBA fire product including the new fire and opaque cloud mask and associated metadata. We will demonstrate the WF_ABBA showing examples from around the globe with a focus on the capabilities and plans for integrating new geostationary platforms with coverage of Eastern Europe and Asia (INSAT-3D, Korean COMS, Russian GOMS Elektro-L MSU-GS). We are also preparing for future fire monitoring in the Western Hemisphere, Europe, and Africa utilizing the next generation GOES-R Imager and Meteosat Third Generation Flexible Combined Imager (MTG - FCI). The goal is to create a globally consistent long-term fire product utilizing the capabilities of each of these unique operational systems and a common fire detection algorithm. On an international level, development of a global geostationary fire monitoring system is supported by the IGOS GOFC/GOLD Fire Implementation Team. This work also generally supports Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) activities and the Group on Earth Observations (GEO).

Water Footprint Assessment in Waste Water Treatment Plant: Indicator of the sustainability of urban water cycle.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gómez Llanos, Eva; Durán Barroso, Pablo; Matías Sánchez, Agustín; Fernández Rodríguez, Santiago; Guzmán Caballero, Raúl

2017-04-01

The seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) represent a challenge for citizens and countries around the world by working together to reduce social inequality, to fight poverty and climate change. The Goal six water and sanitation aims for ensuring, among others, the protection and restoration of water-related ecosystem (target 6.6) and encouraging the water use efficiency (target 6.3). The commitment to this goal is not only the development of sanitation infrastructure, but also incorporates the necessity of a sustainable and efficient management from ecological and economic perspectives. Following this approach, we propose a framework for assessing the waste water treatment plant (WWTP) management based on the Water Footprint (WF) principles. The WF as indicator is able to highlight the beneficial role of WWTPs within the environment and provide a complementary information to evaluate the impact of a WWTP regarding to the use of freshwater and energy. Therefore, the footprint family provides an opportunity to relate the reduction of pollutant load in a WWTP and the associated consumptions in terms of electricity and chemical products. As a consequence, the new methodology allows a better understanding of the interactions among water and energy resources, economic requirements and environmental risks. Because of this, the current technologies can be improved and innovative solutions for monitoring and management of urban water use can be integrated. The WF was calculated in four different WWTP located in the North East of Extremadura (SW Spain) which have activated sludge process as secondary treatment. This zone is characterized by low population density but an incipient tourism development. The WF estimation and its relationship with the electricity consumption examines the efficiency of each WWTP and identifies the weak points in the management in terms of the sustainability. Consequently, the WF establishes a benchmark for multidisciplinary decision-making that combines water uses, consumptions and environmental impacts.

Warfarin affects acute inflammatory response induced by subcutaneous polyvinyl sponge implantation in rats.

PubMed

Mirkov, Ivana; Popov Aleksandrov, Aleksandra; Demenesku, Jelena; Ninkov, Marina; Mileusnic, Dina; Kataranovski, Dragan; Kataranovski, Milena

2017-09-01

Warfarin (WF) is an anticoagulant which also affects physiological processes other than hemostasis. Our previous investigations showed the effect of WF which gained access to the organism via skin on resting peripheral blood granulocytes. Based on these data, the aim of the present study was to examine whether WF could modulate the inflammatory processes as well. To this aim the effect of WF on the inflammatory response induced by subcutaneous sponge implantation in rats was examined. Warfarin-soaked polyvinyl sponges (WF-sponges) were implanted subcutaneously and cell infiltration into sponges, the levels of nitric oxide (NO) and inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) production by sponge cells were measured as parameters of inflammation. T cell infiltration and cytokine interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-17 (IL-17) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were measured at day 7 post implantation. Warfarin exerted both stimulatory and suppressive effects depending on the parameter examined. Flow cytometry of cells recovered from sponges showed higher numbers of granulocytes (HIS48 + cells) at days 1 and 3 post implantation and CD11b + cells at day 1 compared to control sponges. Cells from WF-sponges had an increased NO production (Griess reaction) at days 1 and 7. In contrast, lower levels of TNF (measured by ELISA) production by cells recovered from WF-soaked sponges were found in the early (day one) phase of reaction with unchanged levels at other time points. While IL-6 production by cells recovered from WF-soaked sponges was decreased at day 1, it was increased at day 7. Higher T cell numbers were noted in WF sponges at day 7 post implantation, and recovered cells produced more IFN-γ and IL-17, while IL-10 production remained unchanged. Warfarin affects some of the parameters of inflammatory reaction induced by subcutaneous polyvinyl sponge implantation. Differential (both stimulatory as well as inhibitory) effects of WF on inflammatory response to sponge implants might affect the course and/or duration of this reaction.

Integrating High Resolution Water Footprint and GIS for Promoting Water Efficiency in the Agricultural Sector: A Case Study of Plantation Crops in the Jordan Valley

PubMed Central

Shtull-Trauring, Eliav; Aviani, Ido; Avisar, Dror; Bernstein, Nirit

2016-01-01

Addressing the global challenges to water security requires a better understanding of humanity's use of water, especially the agricultural sector that accounts for 70% of global withdrawals. This study combined high resolution-data with a GIS system to analyze the impact of agricultural practices, crop type, and spatial factors such as drainage basins, climate, and soil type on the Water Footprint (WF) of agricultural crops. The area of the study, the northern Lower Jordan Valley, covers 1121 ha in which three main plantation crops are grown: banana (cultivated in open-fields or net-houses), avocado and palm-dates. High-resolution data sources included GIS layers of the cultivated crops and a drainage pipe-system installed in the study area; meteorological data (2000–2013); and crop parameters (yield and irrigation recommendations). First, the study compared the WF of the different crops on the basis of yield and energy produced as well as a comparison to global values and local irrigation recommendations. The results showed that net-house banana has the lowest WF based on all different criteria. However, while palm-dates showed the highest WF for the yield criteria, it had the second lowest WF for energy produced, emphasizing the importance of using multiple parameters for low and high yield crop comparisons. Next, the regional WF of each drainage basin in the study area was calculated, demonstrating the strong influence of the Gray WF, an indication of the amount of freshwater required for pollution assimilation. Finally, the benefits of integrating GIS and WF were demonstrated by computing the effect of adopting net-house cultivation throughout the area of study with a result a reduction of 1.3 MCM irrigation water per year. Integrating the WF methodology and local high-resolution data using GIS can therefore promote and help quantify the benefits of adopting site-appropriate crops and agricultural practices that lower the WF by increasing yield, reducing water consumption, and minimizing negative environmental impacts. PMID:28018408

Integrating High Resolution Water Footprint and GIS for Promoting Water Efficiency in the Agricultural Sector: A Case Study of Plantation Crops in the Jordan Valley.

PubMed

Shtull-Trauring, Eliav; Aviani, Ido; Avisar, Dror; Bernstein, Nirit

2016-01-01

Addressing the global challenges to water security requires a better understanding of humanity's use of water, especially the agricultural sector that accounts for 70% of global withdrawals. This study combined high resolution-data with a GIS system to analyze the impact of agricultural practices, crop type, and spatial factors such as drainage basins, climate, and soil type on the Water Footprint (WF) of agricultural crops. The area of the study, the northern Lower Jordan Valley, covers 1121 ha in which three main plantation crops are grown: banana (cultivated in open-fields or net-houses), avocado and palm-dates. High-resolution data sources included GIS layers of the cultivated crops and a drainage pipe-system installed in the study area; meteorological data (2000-2013); and crop parameters (yield and irrigation recommendations). First, the study compared the WF of the different crops on the basis of yield and energy produced as well as a comparison to global values and local irrigation recommendations. The results showed that net-house banana has the lowest WF based on all different criteria. However, while palm-dates showed the highest WF for the yield criteria, it had the second lowest WF for energy produced, emphasizing the importance of using multiple parameters for low and high yield crop comparisons. Next, the regional WF of each drainage basin in the study area was calculated, demonstrating the strong influence of the Gray WF, an indication of the amount of freshwater required for pollution assimilation. Finally, the benefits of integrating GIS and WF were demonstrated by computing the effect of adopting net-house cultivation throughout the area of study with a result a reduction of 1.3 MCM irrigation water per year. Integrating the WF methodology and local high-resolution data using GIS can therefore promote and help quantify the benefits of adopting site-appropriate crops and agricultural practices that lower the WF by increasing yield, reducing water consumption, and minimizing negative environmental impacts.

Withaferin-A induces apoptosis in osteosarcoma U2OS cell line via generation of ROS and disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential.

PubMed

Li, A-X; Sun, M; Li, X

2017-03-01

Withaferin-A (WF-A) is a well-known dietary compound isolated from Withania somnifera. It has marked pharmacological potential and has been shown to exhibit antiproliferative activity against several types of cancerous cells. Currently, the main focus of anti-cancer therapeutic development is to identify apoptosis-inducing drug-like molecules. Osteosarcoma is a rare type of bone cancer affecting humans. The objective of the present study was therefore to evaluate the antitumor potential of WF-A against several osteosarcoma cell lines. MTT assay was used to evaluate WF-A against osteosarcoma cell lines and to calculate the IC50. DAPI staining was used to confirm the apoptosis-inducing potential of WF-A. Mitochondrial membrane potential, reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay, and Western blotting were used to confirm the basis of apoptosis. The results of the present study revealed that WF-A exhibited strong antiproliferative activity against all the cells lines, with IC50 ranging from 0.32 to 7.6 µM. The lowest IC50 (0.32 µM) was observed against U2OS cell line and, therefore, it was selected for further analysis. DAPI staining indicated that WF-A exhibited antiproliferative activity via induction of apoptosis. Moreover, WF-A induced a ROS-mediated reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential in a dose-dependent manner and activation of caspase-3 in osteosarcoma cells. We suggest that WF-A may prove a potent therapeutic agent for inducing apoptosis in osteosarcoma cell lines via generation of ROS and disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential.

47 CFR 36.152 - Categories of Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 2 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Categories of Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF... Telecommunications Property Cable and Wire Facilities § 36.152 Categories of Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF). (a) C... channels, and for circuits between control terminals and radio stations providing very high frequency...

47 CFR 36.152 - Categories of Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 2 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Categories of Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF... Telecommunications Property Cable and Wire Facilities § 36.152 Categories of Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF). (a) C... channels, and for circuits between control terminals and radio stations providing very high frequency...

47 CFR 36.152 - Categories of Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 2 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Categories of Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF... Telecommunications Property Cable and Wire Facilities § 36.152 Categories of Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF). (a) C... channels, and for circuits between control terminals and radio stations providing very high frequency...

Review of Reactive Power Dispatch Strategies for Loss Minimization in a DFIG-based Wind Farm

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

Zhang, Baohua; Hu, Weihao; Hou, Peng

This study reviews and compares the performance of reactive power dispatch strategies for the loss minimization of Doubly Fed Induction Generator (DFIG)-based Wind Farms (WFs). Twelve possible combinations of three WF level reactive power dispatch strategies and four Wind Turbine (WT) level reactive power control strategies are investigated. All of the combined strategies are formulated based on the comprehensive loss models of WFs, including the loss models of DFIGs, converters, filters, transformers, and cables of the collection system. Optimization problems are solved by a Modified Particle Swarm Optimization (MPSO) algorithm. The effectiveness of these strategies is evaluated by simulations onmore » a carefully designed WF under a series of cases with different wind speeds and reactive power requirements of the WF. The wind speed at each WT inside the WF is calculated using the Jensen wake model. The results show that the best reactive power dispatch strategy for loss minimization comes when the WF level strategy and WT level control are coordinated and the losses from each device in the WF are considered in the objective.« less

Review of Reactive Power Dispatch Strategies for Loss Minimization in a DFIG-based Wind Farm

DOE PAGES

Zhang, Baohua; Hu, Weihao; Hou, Peng; ...

2017-06-27

This study reviews and compares the performance of reactive power dispatch strategies for the loss minimization of Doubly Fed Induction Generator (DFIG)-based Wind Farms (WFs). Twelve possible combinations of three WF level reactive power dispatch strategies and four Wind Turbine (WT) level reactive power control strategies are investigated. All of the combined strategies are formulated based on the comprehensive loss models of WFs, including the loss models of DFIGs, converters, filters, transformers, and cables of the collection system. Optimization problems are solved by a Modified Particle Swarm Optimization (MPSO) algorithm. The effectiveness of these strategies is evaluated by simulations onmore » a carefully designed WF under a series of cases with different wind speeds and reactive power requirements of the WF. The wind speed at each WT inside the WF is calculated using the Jensen wake model. The results show that the best reactive power dispatch strategy for loss minimization comes when the WF level strategy and WT level control are coordinated and the losses from each device in the WF are considered in the objective.« less

The correlations of the electronic structure and film growth of 2,7-diocty[1]benzothieno[3,2-b]benzothiophene (C8-BTBT) on SiO2.

PubMed

Lyu, Lu; Niu, Dongmei; Xie, Haipeng; Zhao, Yuan; Cao, Ningtong; Zhang, Hong; Zhang, Yuhe; Liu, Peng; Gao, Yongli

2017-01-04

Combining ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS), X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and small angle X-ray diffraction (SAXD) measurements, we perform a systematic investigation on the correlations of the electronic structure, film growth and molecular orientation of 2,7-diocty[1]benzothieno[3,2-b]benzothiophene (C8-BTBT) on silicon oxide (SiO 2 ). AFM analysis reveals a phase transition of disorderedly oriented molecules in clusters in thinner films to highly ordered standing-up molecules in islands in thicker films. SAXD peaks consistently support the standing-up configuration in islands. The increasing ordering of the molecular orientation with film thickness contributes to the changing of the shape and lowering of the leading edge of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO). The end methyl of the highly ordered standing molecules forms an outward pointing dipole layer which makes the work function (WF) decrease with increasing thickness. The downward shift of the HOMO and a decrease of WF result in unconventional downward band bending and decreased ionization potential (IP). The correlations of the orientation ordering of molecules, film growth and interface electronic structures provide a useful design strategy to improve the performance of C8-BTBT thin film based field effect transistors.

Considerations on methodological challenges for water footprint calculations.

PubMed

Thaler, S; Zessner, M; De Lis, F Bertran; Kreuzinger, N; Fehringer, R

2012-01-01

We have investigated how different approaches for water footprint (WF) calculations lead to different results, taking sugar beet production and sugar refining as examples. To a large extent, results obtained from any WF calculation are reflective of the method used and the assumptions made. Real irrigation data for 59 European sugar beet growing areas showed inadequate estimation of irrigation water when a widely used simple approach was used. The method resulted in an overestimation of blue water and an underestimation of green water usage. Dependent on the chosen (available) water quality standard, the final grey WF can differ up to a factor of 10 and more. We conclude that further development and standardisation of the WF is needed to reach comparable and reliable results. A special focus should be on standardisation of the grey WF methodology based on receiving water quality standards.

The water use of Indian diets and socio-demographic factors related to dietary blue water footprint.

PubMed

Harris, Francesca; Green, Rosemary F; Joy, Edward J M; Kayatz, Benjamin; Haines, Andy; Dangour, Alan D

2017-06-01

Agriculture accounts for ~90% of India's fresh water use, and there are concerns that future food production will be threatened by insufficient water supply of adequate quality. This study aimed to quantify the water required in the production of diets in India using the water footprint (WF) assessment method. The socio-demographic associations of dietary WFs were explored using mixed effects regression models with a particular focus on blue (irrigation) WF given the importance for Indian agriculture. Dietary data from ~7000 adults living in India were matched to India-specific WF data for food groups to quantify the blue and green (rainfall) WF of typical diets. The mean blue and green WF of diets was 737l/capita/day and 2531l/capita/day, respectively. Vegetables had the lowest WFs per unit mass of product, while roots/tubers had the lowest WFs per unit dietary energy. Poultry products had the greatest blue WFs. Wheat and rice contributed 31% and 19% of the dietary blue WF respectively. Vegetable oils were the highest contributor to dietary green WF. Regional variation in dietary choices meant large differences in dietary blue WFs, whereby northern diets had nearly 1.5 times greater blue WFs than southern diets. Urban diets had a higher blue WF than rural diets, and a higher standard of living was associated with larger dietary blue WFs. This study provides a novel perspective on the WF of diets in India using individual-level dietary data, and demonstrates important variability in WFs due to different food consumption patterns and socio-demographic characteristics. Future dietary shifts towards patterns currently consumed by individuals in higher income groups, would likely increase irrigation requirements putting substantial pressure on India's water resources. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Application of water footprint combined with a unified virtual crop pattern to evaluate crop water productivity in grain production in China.

PubMed

Wang, Y B; Wu, P T; Engel, B A; Sun, S K

2014-11-01

Water shortages are detrimental to China's grain production while food production consumes a great deal of water causing water crises and ecological impacts. Increasing crop water productivity (CWP) is critical, so China is devoting significant resources to develop water-saving agricultural systems based on crop planning and agricultural water conservation planning. A comprehensive CWP index is necessary for such planning. Existing indices such as water use efficiency (WUE) and irrigation efficiency (IE) have limitations and are not suitable for the comprehensive evaluation of CWP. The water footprint (WF) index, calculated using effective precipitation and local water use, has advantages for CWP evaluation. Due to regional differences in crop patterns making the CWP difficult to compare directly across different regions, a unified virtual crop pattern is needed to calculate the WF. This project calculated and compared the WF of each grain crop and the integrated WFs of grain products with actual and virtual crop patterns in different regions of China for 2010. The results showed that there were significant differences for the WF among different crops in the same area or among different areas for the same crop. Rice had the highest WF at 1.39 m(3)/kg, while corn had the lowest at 0.91 m(3)/kg among the main grain crops. The WF of grain products was 1.25 m(3)/kg in China. Crop patterns had an important impact on WF of grain products because significant differences in WF were found between actual and virtual crop patterns in each region. The CWP level can be determined based on the WF of a virtual crop pattern, thereby helping optimize spatial distribution of crops and develop agricultural water savings to increase CWP. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

An Adaptive Cross-Correlation Algorithm for Extended-Scene Shack-Hartmann Wavefront Sensing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sidick, Erkin; Green, Joseph J.; Ohara, Catherine M.; Redding, David C.

2007-01-01

This viewgraph presentation reviews the Adaptive Cross-Correlation (ACC) Algorithm for extended scene-Shack Hartmann wavefront (WF) sensing. A Shack-Hartmann sensor places a lenslet array at a plane conjugate to the WF error source. Each sub-aperture lenslet samples the WF in the corresponding patch of the WF. A description of the ACC algorithm is included. The ACC has several benefits; amongst them are: ACC requires only about 4 image-shifting iterations to achieve 0.01 pixel accuracy and ACC is insensitive to both background light and noise much more robust than centroiding,

Control of Flow Structure and Ignition of Hydrocarbon Fuel in Cavity and Behind Wallstep of Supersonic Duct by Filamentary DC Discharge

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-01-01

Lindstrom , K.R. Jackson, S. Williams, R. Givens, W.F. Bailey, C.J. Tam, W.F. Terry, AIAA Journal 47, 2368 (2009). 13. S.T. Sanders, J.A. Baldwin, T.P...A. Kuthi, C. Jiang, P. Ronney, and Martin A. Gundersen, ―Transient Plasma Ignition of Quiescent and Flowing Air/Fuel Mixtures‖ IEEE Transactions on...applications at elevated temperature. JQSRT 103 (2007) 565–577. 17. C.D. Lindstrom , K.R. Jackson, S. Williams, R. Givens, W.F. Bailey, C.J. Tam, W.F

47 CFR 36.153 - Assignment of Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF) to categories.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 2 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Assignment of Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF... Telecommunications Property Cable and Wire Facilities § 36.153 Assignment of Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF) to categories. (a) Cable consists of: Aerial cable, underground cable, buried cable, submarine cable, deep sea...

47 CFR 36.153 - Assignment of Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF) to categories.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 2 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Assignment of Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF... Telecommunications Property Cable and Wire Facilities § 36.153 Assignment of Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF) to categories. (a) Cable consists of: Aerial cable, underground cable, buried cable, submarine cable, deep sea...

47 CFR 36.153 - Assignment of Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF) to categories.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 2 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Assignment of Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF... Telecommunications Property Cable and Wire Facilities § 36.153 Assignment of Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF) to categories. (a) Cable consists of: Aerial cable, underground cable, buried cable, submarine cable, deep sea...

47 CFR 36.157 - Host/remote message Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF)-Category 4-apportionment procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 2 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Host/remote message Cable and Wire Facilities... TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES 1 Telecommunications Property Cable and Wire Facilities § 36.157 Host/remote message Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF)—Category 4—apportionment procedures. (a) Host/Remote Message C&WF...

47 CFR 36.157 - Host/remote message Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF)-Category 4-apportionment procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 2 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Host/remote message Cable and Wire Facilities... TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES 1 Telecommunications Property Cable and Wire Facilities § 36.157 Host/remote message Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF)—Category 4—apportionment procedures. (a) Host/Remote Message C&WF...

47 CFR 36.153 - Assignment of Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF) to categories.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 2 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Assignment of Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF... Telecommunications Property Cable and Wire Facilities § 36.153 Assignment of Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF) to... cable and intrabuilding network cable. Where an entire cable or aerial wire is assignable to one...

47 CFR 36.153 - Assignment of Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF) to categories.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 2 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Assignment of Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF... Telecommunications Property Cable and Wire Facilities § 36.153 Assignment of Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF) to... cable and intrabuilding network cable. Where an entire cable or aerial wire is assignable to one...

Probabilistic evaluation of the water footprint of a river basin: Accounting method and case study in the Segura River Basin, Spain.

PubMed

Pellicer-Martínez, Francisco; Martínez-Paz, José Miguel

2018-06-15

In the current study a method for the probabilistic accounting of the water footprint (WF) at the river basin level has been proposed and developed. It is based upon the simulation of the anthropised water cycle and combines a hydrological model and a decision support system. The methodology was carried out in the Segura River Basin (SRB) in South-eastern Spain, and four historical scenarios were evaluated (1998-2010-2015-2027). The results indicate that the WF of the river basin reached 5581 Mm 3 /year on average in the base scenario, with a high variability. The green component (3231 Mm 3 /year), mainly generated by rainfed crops (62%), was responsible for the great variability of the WF. The blue WF (1201 Mm 3 /year) was broken down into surface water (56%), renewable groundwater (20%) and non-renewable groundwater (24%), and it showed the generalized overexploitation of aquifers. Regarding the grey component (1150 Mm 3 /year), the study reveals that wastewater, especially phosphates (90%), was the main culprit producing water pollution in surface water bodies. The temporal evolution of the four scenarios highlighted the successfulness of the water treatment plans developed in the river basin, with a sharp decrease in the grey WF, as well as the stability of the WF and its three components in the future. So, the accounting of the three components of the WF in a basin was integrated into the management of water resources, it being possible to predict their evolution, their spatial characterisation and even their assessment in probabilistic terms. Then, the WF was incorporated into the set of indicators that usually is used in water resources management and hydrological planning. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Exposure to welding fumes and lower airway infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae.

PubMed

Suri, Reetika; Periselneris, Jimstan; Lanone, Sophie; Zeidler-Erdely, Patti C; Melton, Geoffrey; Palmer, Keith T; Andujar, Pascal; Antonini, James M; Cohignac, Vanessa; Erdely, Aaron; Jose, Ricardo J; Mudway, Ian; Brown, Jeremy; Grigg, Jonathan

2016-02-01

Welders are at increased risk of pneumococcal pneumonia. The mechanism for this association is not known. The capacity of pneumococci to adhere to and infect lower airway cells is mediated by host-expressed platelet-activating factor receptor (PAFR). We sought to assess the effect of mild steel welding fumes (MS-WF) on PAFR-dependent pneumococcal adhesion and infection to human airway cells in vitro and on pneumococcal airway infection in a mouse model. The oxidative potential of MS-WF was assessed by their capacity to reduce antioxidants in vitro. Pneumococcal adhesion and infection of A549, BEAS-2B, and primary human bronchial airway cells were assessed by means of quantitative bacterial culture and expressed as colony-forming units (CFU). After intranasal instillation of MS-WF, mice were infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung CFU values were determined. PAFR protein levels were assessed by using immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry, and PAFR mRNA expression was assessed by using quantitative PCR. PAFR was blocked by CV-3988, and oxidative stress was attenuated by N-acetylcysteine. MS-WF exhibited high oxidative potential. In A549 and BEAS-2B cells MS-WF increased pneumococcal adhesion and infection and PAFR protein expression. Both CV-3988 and N-acetylcysteine reduced MS-WF-stimulated pneumococcal adhesion and infection of airway cells. MS-WF increased mouse lung PAFR mRNA expression and increased BALF and lung pneumococcal CFU values. In MS-WF-exposed mice CV-3988 reduced BALF CFU values. Hypersusceptibility of welders to pneumococcal pneumonia is in part mediated by the capacity of welding fumes to increase PAFR-dependent pneumococcal adhesion and infection of lower airway cells. Copyright © 2015 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. All rights reserved.

SMILE and Wavefront-Guided LASIK Out-Compete Other Refractive Surgeries in Ameliorating the Induction of High-Order Aberrations in Anterior Corneal Surface

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Purpose. To compare the change of anterior corneal higher-order aberrations (HOAs) after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), wavefront-guided LASIK with iris registration (WF-LASIK), femtosecond laser-assisted laser in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK), and small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE). Methods. In a prospective study, 82 eyes underwent LASIK, 119 eyes underwent WF-LASIK, 88 eyes underwent FS-LASIK, and 170 eyes underwent SMILE surgery. HOAs were measured with Pentacam device preoperatively and 6 months after surgery. The aberrations were described as Zernike polynomials, and analysis focused on total HOAs, spherical aberration (SA), horizontal coma, and vertical coma over 6 mm diameter central corneal zone. Results. Six months postoperatively, all procedures result in increase of anterior corneal total HOAs and SA. There were no significant differences in the induced HOAs between LASIK and FS-LASIK, while SMILE induced fewer total HOAs and SA compared with LASIK and FS-LASIK. Similarly, WF-LASIK also induced less total HOAs than LASIK and FS-LASIK, but only fewer SA than FS-LASIK (P < 0.05). No significant difference could be detected in the induced total HOAs and SA between SMILE and WF-LASIK, whereas SMILE induced more horizontal coma and vertical coma compared with WF-LASIK (P < 0.05). Conclusion. FS-LASIK and LASIK induced comparable anterior corneal HOAs. Compared to LASIK and FS-LASIK, both SMILE and WF-LASIK showed advantages in inducing less total HOAs. In addition, SMILE also possesses better ability to reduce the induction of SA in comparison with LASIK and FS-LASIK. However, SMILE induced more horizontal coma and vertical coma compared with WF-LASIK, indicating that the centration of SMILE procedure is probably less precise than WF-LASIK. PMID:27818792

Efficient stabilization of recombinant human coagulation factor VIII in the milk of transgenic mice using hFVIII and vWF co-expression vector transduction.

PubMed

Ren, Xiaoye; Gong, Xiuli; Cai, Qin; Guo, Xinbing; Xu, Miao; Ren, Zhaorui; Zeng, Yitao

2015-06-01

To investigate the reasons for the instability of human coagulation factor FVIII (hFVIII) in milk which is an intractable obstacle during the hFVIII production by a transgenic mammary gland bioreactor. We constructed P1A3-hFVIIIBDD and P1A3-hFVIIIBDD-IRES-vWF co-expression cassettes for generating transgenic mice. P1A3-hFVIII/CMV-vWF double heterozygotes were also prepared by mating P1A3-hFVIIIBDD with CMV-vWF mice. hFVIII bioactivity in milk was determined under different storage conditions. The half-life (in vitro) of hFVIII bioactivity in P1A3-hFVIIIBDD-IRES-vWF mice was significantly longer than P1A3-hFVIIIBDD mice [77 ± 4.9 vs. 44 ± 2.6 h at 4 °C, 32.5 ± 5 vs. 19.7 ± 0.6 h at room temperature and 7.4 ± 1.4 vs. 3.4 ± 0.6 at 37 °C, respectively (P < 0.05)]. The half-life (in vitro) of hFVIII bioactivity in milk of double heterozygotes was similar to P1A3-hFVIIIBDD-IRES-vWF ones, demonstrating that the vWF transgene expression in hFVIII transgenic mice can efficiently improve the stabilization of hFVIII bioactivity in milk. We provide a new approach of P1A3-hFVIIIBDD-IRES-vWF co-expression to generate more stable hFVIII in transgenic milk with rapid and low cost as well as valuable information for producing pharmaceutical proteins by transgenic mammary gland bioreactor.

Biodegradation, Biosorption of Phenanthrene and Its Trans-Membrane Transport by Massilia sp. WF1 and Phanerochaete chrysosporium

PubMed Central

Gu, Haiping; Lou, Jun; Wang, Haizhen; Yang, Yu; Wu, Laosheng; Wu, Jianjun; Xu, Jianming

2016-01-01

Reducing phenanthrene (PHE) in the environment is critical to ecosystem and human health. Biodegradation, biosorption, and the trans-membrane transport mechanism of PHE by a novel strain, Massilia sp. WF1, and an extensively researched model fungus, Phanerochaete chrysosporium were investigated in aqueous solutions. Results showed that the PHE residual concentration decreased with incubation time and the data fitted well to a first-order kinetic equation, and the t1/2 of PHE degradation by WF1, spores, and mycelial pellets of P. chrysosporium were about 2 h, 87 days, and 87 days, respectively. The biosorbed PHE was higher in P. Chrysosporium than that in WF1, and it increased after microorganisms were inactivated and inhibited, especially in mycelial pellets. The detected intracellular auto-fluorescence of PHE by two-photon excitation microscopy also proved that PHE indeed entered into the cells. Based on regression, the intracellular (Kdin) and extracellular (Kdout) dissipation rate constants of PHE by WF1 were higher than those by spores and mycelial pellets. In addition, the transport rate constant of PHE from outside solution into cells (KinS/Vout) for WF1 were higher than the efflux rate constant of PHE from cells to outside solution (KoutS/Vin), while the opposite phenomena were observed for spores and mycelial pellets. The amount of PHE that transported from outside solution into cells was attributed to the rapid degradation and active PHE efflux in the cells of WF1 and P. Chrysosporium, respectively. Besides, the results under the inhibition treatments of 4°C, and the presence of sodium azide, colchicine, and cytochalasin B demonstrated that a passive trans-membrane transport mechanism was involved in PHE entering into the cells of WF1 and P. Chrysosporium. PMID:26858710

Evaluation of von Willebrand factor in COPD patients*

PubMed Central

Bártholo, Thiago Prudente; da Costa, Cláudia Henrique; Rufino, Rogério

2014-01-01

OBJECTIVE: To compare the absolute serum von Willebrand factor (vWF) levels and relative serum vWF activity in patients with clinically stable COPD, smokers without airway obstruction, and healthy never-smokers. METHODS: The study included 57 subjects, in three groups: COPD (n = 36); smoker (n = 12); and control (n = 9). During the selection phase, all participants underwent chest X-rays, spirometry, and blood testing. Absolute serum vWF levels and relative serum vWF activity were obtained by turbidimetry and ELISA, respectively. The modified Medical Research Council scale (cut-off score = 2) was used in order to classify COPD patients as symptomatic or mildly symptomatic/asymptomatic. RESULTS: Absolute vWF levels were significantly lower in the control group than in the smoker and COPD groups: 989 ± 436 pg/mL vs. 2,220 ± 746 pg/mL (p < 0.001) and 1,865 ± 592 pg/mL (p < 0.01). Relative serum vWF activity was significantly higher in the COPD group than in the smoker group (136.7 ± 46.0% vs. 92.8 ± 34.0%; p < 0.05), as well as being significantly higher in the symptomatic COPD subgroup than in the mildly symptomatic/asymptomatic COPD subgroup (154 ± 48% vs. 119 ± 8%; p < 0.05). In all three groups, there was a negative correlation between FEV1 (% of predicted) and relative serum vWF activity (r2 = −0.13; p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that increases in vWF levels and activity contribute to the persistence of systemic inflammation, as well as increasing cardiovascular risk, in COPD patients. PMID:25210959

Effect of environmental conditions on the mechanical properties and fungal degradation of polycaprolactone/microcrystalline cellulose/wood flour composites

Treesearch

Ronald Sabo; Liwei Jin; Nicole Stark; Rebecca E. Ibach

2013-01-01

Polycaprolactone (PCL) filled with microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), wood flour (WF), or both were characterized before and after exposure to various environmental conditions for 60 days. PCL/WF composites had the greatest tensile strength and modulus compared to neat PCL or PCL composites containing MCC. Electron microscopy indicated better adhesion between WF...

47 CFR 36.152 - Categories of Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 2 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Categories of Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF... Telecommunications Property Cable and Wire Facilities § 36.152 Categories of Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF). (a) C... exchange cable and wire facilites among the operations are set forth in §§ 36.154 and 36.155. (b...

47 CFR 36.152 - Categories of Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 2 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Categories of Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF... Telecommunications Property Cable and Wire Facilities § 36.152 Categories of Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF). (a) C... exchange cable and wire facilites among the operations are set forth in §§ 36.154 and 36.155. (b...

Using ERP and WfM Systems for Implementing Business Processes: An Empirical Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aversano, Lerina; Tortorella, Maria

Software systems mainly considered from enterprises for dealing with a business process automation belong to the following two categories: Workflow Management Systems (WfMS) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. The wider diffusion of ERP systems tends to favourite this solution, but there are several limitations of most ERP systems for automating business processes. This paper reports an empirical study aiming at comparing the ability of implementing business processes of ERP systems and WfMSs. Two different case studies have been considered in the empirical study. It evaluates and analyses the correctness and completeness of the process models implemented by using ERP and WfM systems.

Exercise-induced shear stress is associated with changes in plasma von Willebrand factor in older humans.

PubMed

Gonzales, Joaquin U; Thistlethwaite, John R; Thompson, Benjamin C; Scheuermann, Barry W

2009-07-01

Shear stress is the frictional force of blood against the endothelium, a stimulus for endothelial activation and the release of von Willebrand factor (vWF). This study tested the hypothesis that the increase in shear stress associated with exercise correlates with plasma vWF. Young (n = 14, 25.7 +/- 5.4 years) and older (n = 13, 65.6 +/- 10.7 years) individuals participated in 30 min of dynamic handgrip exercise at a moderate intensity. Brachial artery diameter and blood flow were measured using ultrasound Doppler and blood samples were collected before, immediately after, and following 30 min of recovery from exercise with plasma levels of vWF. Plasma levels of vWF increased (P < 0.05) by 6 +/- 2% in young individuals and 4 +/- 1% in older individuals immediately after exercise. The change in plasma vWF was linearly correlated with the increase in shear stress during exercise in older individuals (post-exercise: r = 0.78, 30 min recovery: r = 0.77, P < 0.01), but no association was found in the young individuals. These changes in plasma levels of vWF in humans suggest that aging influences endothelial activation and hemostasis.

Comparison of traditional burn wound mapping with a computerized program.

PubMed

Williams, James F; King, Booker T; Aden, James K; Serio-Melvin, Maria; Chung, Kevin K; Fenrich, Craig A; Salinas, José; Renz, Evan M; Wolf, Steven E; Blackbourne, Lorne H; Cancio, Leopoldo C

2013-01-01

Accurate burn estimation affects the use of burn resuscitation formulas and treatment strategies, and thus can affect patient outcomes. The objective of this process-improvement project was to compare the accuracy of a computer-based burn mapping program, WoundFlow (WF), with the widely used hand-mapped Lund-Browder (LB) diagram. Manikins with various burn representations (from 1% to more than 60% TBSA) were used for comparison of the WF system and LB diagrams. Burns were depicted on the manikins using red vinyl adhesive. Healthcare providers responsible for mapping of burn patients were asked to perform burn mapping of the manikins. Providers were randomized to either an LB or a WF group. Differences in the total map area between groups were analyzed. Also, direct measurements of the burn representations were taken and compared with LB and WF results. The results of 100 samples, compared using Bland-Altman analysis, showed no difference between the two methods. WF was as accurate as LB mapping for all burn surface areas. WF may be additionally beneficial in that it can track daily progress until complete wound closure, and can automatically calculate burn size, thus decreasing the chances of mathematical errors.

The use of whole food animal studies in the safety assessment of genetically modified crops: limitations and recommendations.

PubMed

Bartholomaeus, Andrew; Parrott, Wayne; Bondy, Genevieve; Walker, Kate

2013-11-01

There is disagreement internationally across major regulatory jurisdictions on the relevance and utility of whole food (WF) toxicity studies on GM crops, with no harmonization of data or regulatory requirements. The scientific value, and therefore animal ethics, of WF studies on GM crops is a matter addressable from the wealth of data available on commercialized GM crops and WF studies on irradiated foods. We reviewed available GM crop WF studies and considered the extent to which they add to the information from agronomic and compositional analyses. No WF toxicity study was identified that convincingly demonstrated toxicological concern or that called into question the adequacy, sufficiency, and reliability of safety assessments based on crop molecular characterization, transgene source, agronomic characteristics, and/or compositional analysis of the GM crop and its near-isogenic line. Predictions of safety based on crop genetics and compositional analyses have provided complete concordance with the results of well-conducted animal testing. However, this concordance is primarily due to the improbability of de novo generation of toxic substances in crop plants using genetic engineering practices and due to the weakness of WF toxicity studies in general. Thus, based on the comparative robustness and reliability of compositional and agronomic considerations and on the absence of any scientific basis for a significant potential for de novo generation of toxicologically significant compositional alterations as a sole result of transgene insertion, the conclusion of this review is that WF animal toxicity studies are unnecessary and scientifically unjustifiable.

Dietary and economic effects of eliminating shortfall in fruit intake on nutrient intakes and diet cost.

PubMed

Rehm, Colin D; Drewnowski, Adam

2016-07-07

Children in the United States do not consume the recommended amounts of fruit. The economic and dietary consequences of meeting the shortfall in fruit consumption have not been evaluated. Analyses were based on a nationally representative sample of 4-18 year-old children (n = 2,647) from the 2009-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The shortfall in total fruit consumption for each child was estimated based on the USDA MyPlate recommendations. The potential impact of filling the shortfall in total fruit consumption was projected with whole fruit alone (WF model) or a combination of 100 % fruit juice and whole fruit (FJ + WF model). Juice consumption was capped using American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) standards. The USDA national food prices database was used to estimate the cost of meeting the dietary recommendations for fruit. Selected nutrient and mineral intakes, as well as daily diet cost were estimated after eliminating the shortfall in fruit consumption. Among all children, vitamin C (+22.8 mg [95 % CI 21.4, 24.1] in the WF model and +48.1 mg [95 % CI 45.2, 51.1] in the FJ + WF model) and potassium intakes (+203 mg [95 % CI 190, 215] in WF and +263 mg [95 % CI 248, 280] in FJ + WF) were increased in both models. The FJ + WF model resulted in a marginal increase in dietary fiber (e.g., a relative change less than 10 %), while the WF model resulted in a meaningful increase in dietary fiber (e.g., a relative change greater than 10 %; +2.2 g [95 % CI 2.1, 2.3]). Conversely, the WF model resulted in only a marginal increase in calcium, while the FJ + WF model resulted in a meaningful increase in calcium (+85 mg [95 % CI 79, 89]). Calories were increased in all models (+4.5 % [95 % CI 4.1, 4.9 %] for FJ + WF and +3.5 % [95 % CI 3.2, 3.7 %] for WF). Meeting the fruit shortfall with whole fruit alone increased estimated diet costs by 9.9 % (+$0.44/d [95 % CI 0.42, 0.47]), while the fruit juice/whole fruit combination increased diet costs by 5.2 % (+$0.23/d [95 % CI 0.22, 0.25]). Meeting fruit consumption guidelines without a substantial increase in diet costs may be a challenge. Combining whole fruit with 100 % fruit juice capped at AAP standards may be one approach to meeting fruit recommendations within cost constraints. Identifying approaches to increasing whole fruit consumption in as cost-neutral a fashion as possible should be a priority.

Modeling Shear Induced Von Willebrand Factor Binding to Collagen

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dong, Chuqiao; Wei, Wei; Morabito, Michael; Webb, Edmund; Oztekin, Alparslan; Zhang, Xiaohui; Cheng, Xuanhong

2017-11-01

Von Willebrand factor (vWF) is a blood glycoprotein that binds with platelets and collagen on injured vessel surfaces to form clots. VWF bioactivity is shear flow induced: at low shear, binding between VWF and other biological entities is suppressed; for high shear rate conditions - as are found near arterial injury sites - VWF elongates, activating its binding with platelets and collagen. Based on parameters derived from single molecule force spectroscopy experiments, we developed a coarse-grain molecular model to simulate bond formation probability as a function of shear rate. By introducing a binding criterion that depends on the conformation of a sub-monomer molecular feature of our model, the model predicts shear-induced binding, even for conditions where binding is highly energetically favorable. We further investigate the influence of various model parameters on the ability to predict shear-induced binding (vWF length, collagen site density and distribution, binding energy landscape, and slip/catch bond length) and demonstrate parameter ranges where the model provides good agreement with existing experimental data. Our results may be important for understanding vWF activity and also for achieving targeted drug therapy via biomimetic synthetic molecules. National Science Foundation (NSF),Division of Mathematical Sciences (DMS).

Water footprinting of pasture-based farms; beef and sheep.

PubMed

Murphy, E; Curran, T P; Holden, N M; O'Brien, D; Upton, J

2018-05-01

In the context of water use for agricultural production, water footprints (WFs) have become an important sustainability indicator. To understand better the water demand for beef and sheep meat produced on pasture-based systems, a WF of individual farms is required. The main objective of this study was to determine the primary contributors to freshwater consumption up to the farm gate expressed as a volumetric WF and associated impacts for the production of 1 kg of beef and 1 kg of sheep meat from a selection of pasture-based farms for 2 consecutive years, 2014 and 2015. The WF included green water, from the consumption of soil moisture due to evapotranspiration, and blue water, from the consumption of ground and surface waters. The impact of freshwater consumption on global water stress from the production of beef and sheep meat in Ireland was also computed. The average WF of the beef farms was 8391 l/kg carcass weight (CW) of which 8222 l/kg CW was green water and 169 l/kg CW was blue water; water for the production of pasture (including silage and grass) contributed 88% to the WF, concentrate production - 10% and on-farm water use - 1%. The average stress-weighted WF of beef was 91 l H2O eq/kg CW, implying that each kg of beef produced in Ireland contributed to freshwater scarcity equivalent to the consumption of 91 l of freshwater by an average world citizen. The average WF of the sheep farms was 7672 l/kg CW of which 7635 l/kg CW was green water and 37 l/kg CW was blue water; water for the production of pasture contributed 87% to the WF, concentrate production - 12% and on-farm water use - 1%. The average stress-weighted WF was 2 l H2O eq/kg CW for sheep. This study also evaluated the sustainability of recent intensification initiatives in Ireland and found that increases in productivity were supported through an increase in green water use and higher grass yields per hectare on both beef and sheep farms.

Formulation and characterization of bread using coconut-pulp flour and wheat flour composite with addition of xanthan-gum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Erminawati; Sidik, W.; Listanti, R.; Zulfakar, H.

2018-01-01

Coconut-pulp flour is coconut flour made from by-product of coconut-milk based food products. The flour contains no gluten and high fibre, which can be considered as functional potential food. Bread made from composite-flour of coconut-pulp flour and wheat flour was studied for its physic-chemical and sensory characteristics. Addition of hydrocolloid, like xanthan-gum, was aimed to provide viscoelasticity for the dough which is essential for baked product. Composite-flour proportion used in this study was; 10CPF/90WF, 15CPF/85WF and 20CPF/80WF; and xanthan gum to total flour of 0,1% and 0,4%. Variable observed were; crumb-texture, crumb-colour, taste of coconut, preference and flavour; moisture, ash, fiber and soluble-protein contents. The research showed that addition of coconut-pulp flour in the composite-flour decreased specific volume value and increased the bread texture produced. It also increased the bread moisture-content, ash-content, fibre-content and soluble protein-content. Moreover, the xanthan-gum addition resulted in decreased specific-volume value and increased texture and fiber-content of the bread produced. Overall, the sensory characteristic of crumb colour, flavour and panellist preference revealed better than control bread made from wheat flour, however its crumb texture harder compare to control bread made from wheat flour. This study showed that coconut-pulp flour potential to be developed for production of functional food.

The water footprint of Austria for different diets.

PubMed

Vanham, D

2013-01-01

This paper analyses the Austrian water footprint of consumption (WF(cons)) for different diets: the current diet, a healthy diet (based upon the dietary recommendations issued by the German nutrition society, or DGE), a vegetarian diet and a combined diet between both latter diets. As in many western countries, the current Austrian diet consists of too many products from the groups sugar, crop oils, meat, animal fats, milk, milk products and eggs and not enough products from the groups cereals, rice, potatoes, vegetables and fruit. Especially the consumption of animal products accounts for high WF amounts. These diets result in a substantial reduction (range 922-1,362 l per capita per day (lcd)) of the WF(cons) for agricultural products, which is currently 3,655 lcd. However, the Austrian water footprint of agricultural production (WF(prod) = 2,066 lcd) still remains lower than even the WF(cons) for a vegetarian diet (2,293 lcd). As a result the country is a net virtual water importer regarding agricultural products for all analysed scenarios.

Influence of waxy rice flour substitution for wheat flour on characteristics of batter and freeze-thawed cake.

PubMed

Jongsutjarittam, Nisachon; Charoenrein, Sanguansri

2013-09-12

This study aimed to improve the freeze-thawed cake properties by10-20% waxy rice flour (WRF) substitution for wheat flour (WF). Viscosity of WRF-substituted batters was lower; consequently, trapped air was less uniformly distributed than WF batter. After five freeze-thaw cycles, firmness and enthalpy of melting retrograded amylopectin of WF- and WRF-substituted cakes increased and the matrix surrounding the air pores from SEM images was denser than in fresh-baked cakes. Sensory evaluation showed an increase in firmness and a decrease in firmness acceptability of freeze-thawed cakes. However, freeze-thawed cake with WRF substitution had significantly less firmness, less dense matrix and more acceptability than WF cake. This could have been due to a low amylose content of WRF and the spread of ruptured waxy rice starch granules around swollen wheat starch granules as observed by CLSM. Thus, WRF could be used for WF substitution to improve the firmness in freeze-thawed cake. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Natural polymer biocomposites produced from processing raw wood flour by severe shear deformation.

PubMed

Zhang, Xiaoqing; Wu, Xiaolin; Haryono, Hengky; Xia, Kenong

2014-11-26

Wood flour (WF) based natural polymer biocomposites were produced using the equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) technique. The wood particle structures were disrupted and the cellulose crystallinity was decreased while bulk materials were formed with continuous phase structures by the severe shear-deformation during ECAP. The mechanical properties of the processed WF materials were enhanced when the processing temperature was increased due to enhanced intermolecular interactions and thermal crosslinking reactions among WF components. The processing capability was improved by using wheat gluten (WG) as additives, leading to significantly reduced processing temperature. Effective chain penetration and strong intermolecular interactions in conjunction with chemical crosslinking occurred between WG and the amorphous components in WF. However, the thermal decomposition of the WG component also occurred at increased temperatures, resulting in a decrease in the mechanical strength of the WF/WG composites. The result has demonstrated that ECAP is a promising methodology to produce renewable and degradable biocomposites from wood waste. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Inhibitory activity of aspirin on von Willebrand factor-induced platelet aggregation.

PubMed

Homoncik, M; Jilma, B; Eichelberger, B; Panzer, S

2000-09-01

The effect of aspirin (ASA) on vWF induced platelet - platelet interaction is unknown. We therefore tested the response of platelets to von Willebrand factor (vWF) coated beads induced platelet aggregation before and after i.v. and oral ASA. 1000 mg ASA was infused to 10 healthy individuals and after a wash-out period 7 volunteers received 100 mg ASA orally over a period of 11 days. Prior to ASA and in regular intervals thereafter we tested the reactivity to vWF-coated beads to assess platelet adhesion/aggregation and the fade-out time of ASA effects on platelets. Considerable interindividual variability in response to vWF-coated beads was observed, both before ASA and after treatment with ASA. The maximal response to vWF-coated beads (Tmax), the time lag, and the slope of the curve were significantly affected by i.v. ASA, whereas 100 mg of ASA had only inconstant effect on Tmax and slope. The absolute reduction of Tmax after ASA depended on the pre-ASA level, while the percentage of the reduction was similar in all individuals. Thus, platelet aggregation induced by vWF-coated beads is impaired by ASA. Furthermore, our data indicate a large interindividual variability of the response to ASA shortly after treatment induction, which becomes more constant after prolonged treatment.

Transition metal oxide as anode interface buffer for impedance spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Hui; Tang, Chao; Wang, Xu-Liang; Zhai, Wen-Juan; Liu, Rui-Lan; Rong, Zhou; Pang, Zong-Qiang; Jiang, Bing; Fan, Qu-Li; Huang, Wei

2015-12-01

Impedance spectroscopy is a strong method in electric measurement, which also shows powerful function in research of carrier dynamics in organic semiconductors when suitable mathematical physical models are used. Apart from this, another requirement is that the contact interface between the electrode and materials should at least be quasi-ohmic contact. So in this report, three different transitional metal oxides, V2O5, MoO3 and WO3 were used as hole injection buffer for interface of ITO/NPB. Through the impedance spectroscopy and PSO algorithm, the carrier mobilities and I-V characteristics of the NPB in different devices were measured. Then the data curves were compared with the single layer device without the interface layer in order to investigate the influence of transitional metal oxides on the carrier mobility. The careful research showed that when the work function (WF) of the buffer material was just between the work function of anode and the HOMO of the organic material, such interface material could work as a good bridge for carrier injection. Under such condition, the carrier mobility measured through impedance spectroscopy should be close to the intrinsic value. Considering that the HOMO (or LUMO) of most organic semiconductors did not match with the work function of the electrode, this report also provides a method for wide application of impedance spectroscopy to the research of carrier dynamics.

Withaferin-A Reduces Type I Collagen Expression In Vitro and Inhibits Development of Myocardial Fibrosis In Vivo

PubMed Central

Challa, Azariyas A.; Vukmirovic, Milica; Blackmon, John; Stefanovic, Branko

2012-01-01

Type I collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body. Its excessive synthesis results in fibrosis of various organs. Fibrosis is a major medical problem without an existing cure. Excessive synthesis of type I collagen in fibrosis is primarily due to stabilization of collagen mRNAs. We recently reported that intermediate filaments composed of vimentin regulate collagen synthesis by stabilizing collagen mRNAs. Vimentin is a primary target of Withaferin-A (WF-A). Therefore, we hypothesized that WF-A may reduce type I collagen production by disrupting vimentin filaments and decreasing the stability of collagen mRNAs. This study is to determine if WF-A exhibits anti-fibrotic properties in vitro and in vivo and to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of its action. In lung, skin and heart fibroblasts WF-A disrupted vimentin filaments at concentrations of 0.5–1.5 µM and reduced 3 fold the half-lives of collagen α1(I) and α2(I) mRNAs and protein expression. In addition, WF-A inhibited TGF-β1 induced phosphorylation of TGF-β1 receptor I, Smad3 phosphorylation and transcription of collagen genes. WF-A also inhibited in vitro activation of primary hepatic stellate cells and decreased their type I collagen expression. In mice, administration of 4 mg/kg WF-A daily for 2 weeks reduced isoproterenol-induced myocardial fibrosis by 50%. Our findings provide strong evidence that Withaferin-A could act as an anti-fibrotic compound against fibroproliferative diseases, including, but not limited to, cardiac interstitial fibrosis. PMID:22900077

The use of whole food animal studies in the safety assessment of genetically modified crops: Limitations and recommendations

PubMed Central

Bartholomaeus, Andrew; Parrott, Wayne; Bondy, Genevieve

2013-01-01

There is disagreement internationally across major regulatory jurisdictions on the relevance and utility of whole food (WF) toxicity studies on GM crops, with no harmonization of data or regulatory requirements. The scientific value, and therefore animal ethics, of WF studies on GM crops is a matter addressable from the wealth of data available on commercialized GM crops and WF studies on irradiated foods. We reviewed available GM crop WF studies and considered the extent to which they add to the information from agronomic and compositional analyses. No WF toxicity study was identified that convincingly demonstrated toxicological concern or that called into question the adequacy, sufficiency, and reliability of safety assessments based on crop molecular characterization, transgene source, agronomic characteristics, and/or compositional analysis of the GM crop and its near-isogenic line. Predictions of safety based on crop genetics and compositional analyses have provided complete concordance with the results of well-conducted animal testing. However, this concordance is primarily due to the improbability of de novo generation of toxic substances in crop plants using genetic engineering practices and due to the weakness of WF toxicity studies in general. Thus, based on the comparative robustness and reliability of compositional and agronomic considerations and on the absence of any scientific basis for a significant potential for de novo generation of toxicologically significant compositional alterations as a sole result of transgene insertion, the conclusion of this review is that WF animal toxicity studies are unnecessary and scientifically unjustifiable. PMID:24164514

Von Willebrand's disease with spontaneous platelet aggregation induced by an abnormal plasma von Willebrand factor.

PubMed Central

Grainick, H R; Williams, S B; McKeown, L P; Rick, M E; Maisonneuve, P; Jenneau, C; Sultan, Y

1985-01-01

We have investigated and characterized the abnormalities in four unrelated patients with von Willebrand's disease (vWd) who have (a) enhanced ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation (RIPA) at low ristocetin concentrations, (b) absence of the largest plasma von Willebrand factor (vWf) multimers, and (c) thrombocytopenia. The platelet-rich plasma of these patients aggregates spontaneously without the addition of any agonists. When isolated normal platelets are resuspended in patient plasma spontaneous aggregation occurs; however, the patients' plasmas did not induce platelet aggregation of normal washed formalinized platelets. When the patients' platelets are suspended in normal plasma, spontaneous aggregation is not observed. The spontaneous platelet aggregation (SPA) is associated with dense granule secretion as measured by ATP release and alpha granule release as measured by beta-thromboglobulin and platelet factor 4 release. The SPA is totally inhibited by 5 mM EDTA, prostaglandin I2, and dibutryl cyclic AMP, while it is only partially inhibited by 1 mM EDTA, acetylsalicylic acid, or apyrase. A monoclonal antibody directed against glycoprotein Ib (GPIb) and/or a monoclonal antibody against the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GPIIb/IIIa) complex totally inhibits the SPA. The vWf was isolated from the plasma of one of these patients. The purified vWf induced platelet aggregation of normal platelets resuspended in either normal or severe vWd plasma, but the vWf did not induce platelet aggregation of normal platelets resuspended in afibrinognemic plasma. Sialic acid and galactose quantification of the patient's vWf revealed approximately a 50% reduction compared with normal vWf. These studies indicate that a form of vWd exists, which is characterized by SPA that is induced by the abnormal plasma vWf. The SPA is dependent on the presence of plasma fibrinogen, and the availability of the GPIb and the GPIIb/IIIa complex. In this variant form of vWd the abnormal vWf causes enhanced RIPA, SPA, and thrombocytopenia. Images PMID:2932469

Including screening in van der Waals corrected density functional theory calculations: the case of atoms and small molecules physisorbed on graphene.

PubMed

Silvestrelli, Pier Luigi; Ambrosetti, Alberto

2014-03-28

The Density Functional Theory (DFT)/van der Waals-Quantum Harmonic Oscillator-Wannier function (vdW-QHO-WF) method, recently developed to include the vdW interactions in approximated DFT by combining the quantum harmonic oscillator model with the maximally localized Wannier function technique, is applied to the cases of atoms and small molecules (X=Ar, CO, H2, H2O) weakly interacting with benzene and with the ideal planar graphene surface. Comparison is also presented with the results obtained by other DFT vdW-corrected schemes, including PBE+D, vdW-DF, vdW-DF2, rVV10, and by the simpler Local Density Approximation (LDA) and semilocal generalized gradient approximation approaches. While for the X-benzene systems all the considered vdW-corrected schemes perform reasonably well, it turns out that an accurate description of the X-graphene interaction requires a proper treatment of many-body contributions and of short-range screening effects, as demonstrated by adopting an improved version of the DFT/vdW-QHO-WF method. We also comment on the widespread attitude of relying on LDA to get a rough description of weakly interacting systems.

Effects of pretreatments of banana (Musa AAA,Omini) on the composition, rheological properties, and baking quality of its flour and composite blends with wheat flour.

PubMed

Bakare, Adegoke H; Ogunbowale, Olukemi D; Adegunwa, Mojisola O; Olusanya, Joseph O

2017-03-01

Effects of chemical and heat pretreatments on the protein, gluten, and alpha-amylase activity, pasting (Peak [ P ], Final [ F ] setback [ S ] viscosity, pasting temperature [ PT ] and time [ T ]) and alveogram (Energy [ E ], maximum inflation [ MI ], P / L , and elasticity index [ EI ]) properties of flour from the pretreated bananas and its composite with wheat flour (WF) were examined. The baking (water absorption [WA] and specific volume [SV]) and sensory properties of bread produced from the flour were also examined. Protein, gluten, and alpha-amylase activity ranged from 4.75 ± 0.07%, 30.25 ± 0.05%, and 4.00 ± 0.05 min to 13.75 ± 0.06%, 35.64 ± 0.06%, and 39.61 ± 1.18 min with WF:PTBF/95:05, WF:CTBF/00:100, WF:BBF/80:20, WF:100 and WF:CTBF/00:100, WF:PTBF/95:05, WF:100, WF:PTBF/00:100 having lowest and highest values, respectively. P , F , S viscosities, PT and T ranged from 186.17 ± 0.71, 217.08 ± 1.41, 38.92 ± 5.42 RVU, 84.70 ± 0.28°C, 5.04 ± 0.05 min to 461.0 ± 5.07, 348.5 ± 8.84, 88.83 ± 0.24 RVU, 87.20 ± 0.00°C, 6.24 ± 0.05 min, respectively. E , MI , P / L , and EI ranged from 141.50 ± 0.71 × 10 -4 J, 15.35 ± 0.07, 0.59 ± 0.83 and 35.85 ± 0.07 to 325.00 ± 1.4 × 10 -4 J, 22.55 ± 0.07, 2.75 ± 0.07, and 70.50 ± 0.71, respectively. WA and SV were 48.12 ± 0.07 to 52.60 ± 0.14 and 2.850 ± 0.07 to 5.635 ± 0.18 with the WF having significantly ( P  < 0.05) higher values than other blends and the most acceptable in terms of appearance and taste.

Preparation for the Implantation of an Intracortical Visual Prosthesis in a Human

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-12-01

cluster of the WFMA. Electrode current flows between the micro-(working) electrode and a longer large-area counter electrode, using either...Biomed Eng 44(10):931-9. McCreery DB, Yuen TGH, Agnew, WF, Bullara LA (2000). Chronic microstimulation in the feline ventral cochlear nucleus

Trends in California's Water Footprint, 1992-2012

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cooley, H.; Fulton, J.

2015-12-01

Water and other natural resource uses are increasingly affected by globalized trade and consumption patterns. We examine how California's water footprint has changed over two decades (1992 to 2012). Four findings emerge: first, California's water footprint (WF) has grown faster than population, indicating an increased per-capita WF; second, while California's WF is primarily associated with food products, energy products are becoming more important; third, the state's internal water resources are increasingly used for products consumed outside of the state; and fourth, external water resources have provided for all of California's expanded WF and are predominately "green water," or non-managed water sources. In light of climate change and mounting pressures on water resources, California policymaking must examine these trends in order to mitigate water-related risk.

Establishment of a VISAR Measurement System for Material Model Validation in DSTO

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-02-01

advancements published in the works by L.M. Baker, E.R. Hollenbach and W.F. Hemsing [1-3] and results in the user-friendly interface and configuration of the...VISAR system [4] used in the current work . VISAR tests are among the mandatory instrumentation techniques when validating material models and...The present work reports on preliminary tests using the recently commissioned DSTO VISAR system, providing an assessment of the experimental set-up

Heat transport in electrically aligned multiwalled carbon nanotubes dispersed in water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cervantes-Alvarez, F.; Macias, J. D.; Alvarado-Gil, J. J.

2018-02-01

A modified Ångström method was used to determine the thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity of aqueous dispersions of multiwalled carbon nanotubes as a function of their weight fraction concentration and in the presence of an externally applied electric field. Measurements were performed in planar samples, with a fixed thickness of 3.18 mm applying an AC voltage in the range from 0 to 70~V_RMS and for concentrations of carbon nanotubes from 0 to 2 wf%. It is shown that this field induces the formation of clusters followed by their alignment along the electric field, which can favor heat transfer in that direction. Heat transfer measurements show two regimes, in the first one under 0.5 wf%, voltages lower than 30~V_RMS are not strong enough to induce the adequate order of the carbon nanostructures, and as a consequence, thermal diffusivity of the dispersion remains close to the thermal diffusivity of water. In contrast for higher concentrations (above 1.5 wf%), 10~V_RMS are enough to get a good alignment. Above such thresholds of concentrations and voltages, thermal diffusivity and conductivity increase, when the electric field is increased, in such a way that for an applied voltage of 20~V_RMS and for a concentration of 1.5 wf%, an increase of 49% of the thermal conductivity was obtained. It is also shown that this approach exhibits limits, due to the fact that the electric-field induced structure, can act as a heating element at high electric field intensities and carbon nanotubes concentrations, which can induce convection and evaporation of the liquid matrix.

Virtual water flows and water-footprint of agricultural crop production, import and export: A case study for Israel.

PubMed

Shtull-Trauring, E; Bernstein, N

2018-05-01

Agriculture is the largest global consumer of freshwater. As the volume of international trade continues to rise, so does the understanding that trade of water-intensive crops from areas with high precipitation, to arid regions can help mitigate water scarcity, highlighting the importance of crop water accounting. Virtual-Water, or Water-Footprint [WF] of agricultural crops, is a powerful indicator for assessing the extent of water use by plants, contamination of water bodies by agricultural practices and trade between countries, which underlies any international trade of crops. Most available studies of virtual-water flows by import/export of agricultural commodities were based on global databases, which are considered to be of limited accuracy. The present study analyzes the WF of crop production, import, and export on a country level, using Israel as a case study, comparing data from two high-resolution local databases and two global datasets. Results for local datasets demonstrate a WF of ~1200Million Cubic Meters [MCM]/year) for total crop production, ~1000MCM/year for import and ~250MCM/year for export. Fruits and vegetables comprise ~80% of Export WF (~200MCM/year), ~50% of crop production and only ~20% of the imports. Economic Water Productivity [EWP] ($/m 3 ) for fruits and vegetables is 1.5 higher compared to other crops. Moreover, the results based on local and global datasets varied significantly, demonstrating the importance of developing high-resolution local datasets based on local crop coefficients. Performing high resolution WF analysis can help in developing agricultural policies that include support for low WF/high EWP and limit high WF/low EWP crop export, where water availability is limited. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Schematic diagram of light path in Wide Field Planetary Camera 2

NASA Image and Video Library

1993-03-15

S93-33258 (15 Mar 1993) --- An optical schematic diagram of one of the four channels of the Wide Field\\Planetary Camera-2 (WF\\PC-2) shows the path taken by beams from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) before an image is formed at the camera's charge-coupled devices. A team of NASA astronauts will pay a visit to the HST later this year, carrying with them the new WF/PC-2 to replace the one currently on the HST. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California has been working on the replacement system for several months. See NASA photo S93-33257 for a close-up view of tiny articulating mirrors designed to realign incoming light in order to make certain the beams fall precisely in the middle of the secondary mirrors.

Reassessment of ABO blood group, sex, and age on laboratory parameters used to diagnose von Willebrand disorder: potential influence on the diagnosis vs the potential association with risk of thrombosis.

PubMed

Favaloro, Emmanuel J; Soltani, Soma; McDonald, Jane; Grezchnik, Ella; Easton, Leanne; Favaloro, James W C

2005-12-01

We reassessed the influence of ABO blood group, sex, and age on plasma levels of von Willebrand factor (vWF) antigen, vWF:ristocetin cofactor, vWF:collagen binding assay, and factor VIII coagulant (FVIII:C). Data show that levels of vWF and FVIII:C increase with increasing age (P < .001 for all parameters) and that the ABO blood group influences plasma levels such that O group levels are significantly less than non-O group levels. There was no significant association with sex and Rh status. The selection of normal ranges based on ABO blood groups may influence the clinical diagnosis of von Willebrand disease (vWD) but might not be clinically relevant or help identify people at increased risk of bleeding. Differences in ABO-related ranges were more extensive at the high end of the ranges. This is of particular interest because high levels of vWF and FVIII are associated with thrombosis risk, and an ABO relationship also has been described. O group individuals may or may not be at greater risk for bleeding (they have lower levels of vWF and FVIII:C) and are more likely to be diagnosed with vWD. It also is possible that O group status may be protective for thrombosis.

Efficient biodegradation of phenanthrene by a novel strain Massilia sp. WF1 isolated from a PAH-contaminated soil.

PubMed

Wang, Haizhen; Lou, Jun; Gu, Haiping; Luo, Xiaoyan; Yang, Li; Wu, Laosheng; Liu, Yong; Wu, Jianjun; Xu, Jianming

2016-07-01

A novel phenanthrene (PHE)-degrading strain Massilia sp. WF1, isolated from PAH-contaminated soil, was capable of degrading PHE by using it as the sole carbon source and energy in a range of pH (5.0-8.0), temperatures (20-35 °C), and PHE concentrations (25-400 mg L(-1)). Massilia sp. WF1 exhibited highly effective PHE-degrading ability that completely degraded 100 mg L(-1) of PHE over 2 days at optimal conditions (pH 6.0, 28 °C). The kinetics of PHE biodegradation by Massilia sp. WF1 was well represented by the Gompertz model. Results indicated that PHE biodegradation was inhibited by the supplied lactic acid but was promoted by the supplied carbon sources of glucose, citric acid, and succinic acid. Salicylic acid (SALA) and phthalic acid (PHTA) were not utilized by Massilia sp. WF1 and had no obvious effect on PHE biodegradation. Only two metabolites, 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (1H2N) and PHTA, were identified in PHE biodegradation process. Quantitatively, nearly 27.7 % of PHE was converted to 1H2N and 30.3 % of 1H2N was further metabolized to PHTA. However, the PHTA pathway was broken and the SALA pathway was ruled out in PHE biodegradation process by Massilia sp. WF1.

Adhesive properties of the isolated amino-terminal domain of platelet glycoprotein Ibα in a flow field

PubMed Central

Marchese, Patrizia; Saldívar, Enrique; Ware, Jerry; Ruggeri, Zaverio M.

1999-01-01

We have examined the interaction between the amino-terminal domain of platelet glycoprotein (GP) Ibα and immobilized von Willebrand Factor (vWF) under flow conditions in the absence of other components of the GP Ib–IX–V complex. Latex beads were coated with a recombinant fragment containing GP Ibα residues 1–302, either with normal sequence or with the single G233V substitution that causes enhanced affinity for plasma vWF in platelet-type pseudo-von-Willebrand disease. Beads coated with native fragment adhered to vWF in a manner comparable to platelets, showing surface translocation that reflected the transient nature of the bonds formed. Thus, the GP Ibα extracellular domain is necessary and sufficient for interacting with vWF under high shear stress. Beads coated with the mutated fragment became tethered to vWF in greater number and had lower velocity of translocation than beads coated with the normal counterpart, suggesting that the G233V mutation lowers the rate of bond dissociation. Our findings define an approach for studying the biomechanical properties of the GP Ibα–vWF bond and suggest that this interaction is tightly regulated to allow rapid binding at sites of vascular injury, while permitting the concurrent presence of receptor and ligand in the circulation. PMID:10393908

Use of baru (Brazilian almond) waste from physical extraction of oil to produce gluten free cakes.

PubMed

Pineli, Lívia de Lacerda de Oliveira; de Aguiar, Lorena Andrade; de Oliveira, Guilherme Theodoro; Botelho, Raquel Braz Assunção; Ibiapina, Maria do Desterro Ferreira Pereira; de Lima, Herbert Cavalcanti; Costa, Ana Maria

2015-03-01

The extraction of oil from baru almonds produces a waste that carries part of their nutritional qualities and antioxidants. It can be used to produce partially deffated baru flour (PDBF). We aimed to evaluate the applicability of PDBF and the effect of the addition of xanthan gum (XG) to produce gluten free cakes. Cakes were prepared with 100% wheat flour (WF cake) and with 100% PDBF and four different levels of XG (0%-PDBF cake, 0.1%-X1, 0.2%-X2 and 0.3%-X3 cakes), and evaluated for composition, antioxidants, moisture, specific volume, texture and sensory acceptance. PDBF cakes showed lower carbohydrate values, but higher protein, lipids, calories and antioxidant contents. They were rich in fiber, as well as iron, zinc and copper. The replacement of WF by PDBF resulted in an increased hardness and adhesiveness and a decreased cohesiveness, elasticity and moisture. Chewiness of X2 cake was similar to that of WF cake. X2 and X3 cakes showed specific volume closer to that of WF cake. No difference was found among the treatments for texture and appearance acceptances. Flavor of X2 and X3 cakes were more accepted than WF cake. Acceptance of all cakes were in the liking region of hedonic scale. PBDF associated to XG is a feasible option to substitute WF in gluten free cake, improving its nutritional quality.

The ERP signature of the contextual diversity effect in visual word recognition.

PubMed

Vergara-Martínez, Marta; Comesaña, Montserrat; Perea, Manuel

2017-06-01

Behavioral experiments have revealed that words appearing in many different contexts are responded to faster than words that appear in few contexts. Although this contextual diversity (CD) effect has been found to be stronger than the word-frequency (WF) effect, it is a matter of debate whether the facilitative effects of CD and WF reflect the same underlying mechanisms. The analysis of the electrophysiological correlates of CD may shed some light on this issue. This experiment is the first to examine the ERPs to high- and low-CD words when WF is controlled for. Results revealed that while high-CD words produced faster responses than low-CD words, their ERPs showed larger negativities (225-325 ms) than low-CD words. This result goes in the opposite direction of the ERP WF effect (high-frequency words elicit smaller N400 amplitudes than low-frequency words). The direction and scalp distribution of the CD effect resembled the ERP effects associated with "semantic richness." Thus, while apparently related, CD and WF originate from different sources during the access of lexical-semantic representations.

Development and characterization of powder metallurgically produced discontinuous tungsten fiber reinforced tungsten composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mao, Y.; Coenen, J. W.; Riesch, J.; Sistla, S.; Almanstötter, J.; Jasper, B.; Terra, A.; Höschen, T.; Gietl, H.; Bram, M.; Gonzalez-Julian, J.; Linsmeier, Ch; Broeckmann, C.

2017-12-01

In future fusion reactors, tungsten is the prime candidate material for the plasma facing components. Nevertheless, tungsten is prone to develop cracks due to its intrinsic brittleness—a major concern under the extreme conditions of fusion environment. To overcome this drawback, tungsten fiber reinforced tungsten (Wf/W) composites are being developed. These composite materials rely on an extrinsic toughing principle, similar to those in ceramic matrix composite, using internal energy dissipation mechanisms, such as crack bridging and fiber pull-out, during crack propagation. This can help Wf/W to facilitate a pseudo-ductile behavior and allows an elevated damage resilience compared to pure W. For pseudo-ductility mechanisms to occur, the interface between the fiber and matrix is crucial. Recent developments in the area of powder-metallurgical Wf/W are presented. Two consolidation methods are compared. Field assisted sintering technology and hot isostatic pressing are chosen to manufacture the Wf/W composites. Initial mechanical tests and microstructural analyses are performed on the Wf/W composites with a 30% fiber volume fraction. The samples produced by both processes can give pseudo-ductile behavior at room temperature.

Respiratory

MedlinePlus

The words "respiratory" and "respiration" refer to the lungs and breathing. ... Boron WF. Organization of the respiratory system. In: Boron WF, Boulpaep EL, eds. Medical Physiology . 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 26.

Understanding Large Wind Farm Impacts on Regional Climate and Vegetation Growth from Observational and Modeling Perspectives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xia, Geng

In the most recent decade, wind energy has experienced exponential growth worldwide and this rapid increase is expected to continue, particularly over farmlands in the United States. This poses an important question regarding whether the widespread deployment of wind turbines (WTs) will influence surface/near-surface microclimate and vegetation growth. In this dissertation, I investigate the potential wind farm (WF) impacts on regional climate and vegetation growth from both observational and modeling perspectives. High resolution satellite, radiosonde and field observations are used to determine the magnitude and variability of WF-induced changes on surface/near-surface temperatures while the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model is used to simulate these changes in real-world WFs at regional scales and to uncover the physical processes behind the simulated temperature changes. First, the primary physical mechanisms controlling the seasonal and diurnal variations of WF impacts on land surface temperature (LST) are investigated by analyzing both satellite data and field observations. It is found that the turbine-induced turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) relative to the background TKE determines the magnitude and variability of such impacts. In addition, atmospheric stability also matters in determining the sign and strength of the net downward heat transport as well as the magnitude of the background TKE. Second, the WRF's ability in simulating the observed WF impacts on LST is examined by conducting real-world WF experiments driven by realistic initial and boundary conditions. Overall, the WRF model can moderately reproduce the observed spatiotemporal variations of the background LST but has difficulties in reproducing such variations for the turbine-induced LST change signals at pixel levels. However, the model is still able to reproduce the coherent and consistent responses of the observed WF-induced LST changes at regional scales. Third, the spatiotemporal characteristics of the simulated temperature changes as well as the relevant physical processes responsible for such changes are further investigated using the WRF model. It is found that (i) the WF-induced sensible heat flux change is the dominant surface forcing responsible for the simulated temperature changes; (ii) the WF-induced temperature changes are not only restricted at the surface but also can extend vertically to the hub-height level and horizontally spread 60 km in the downwind direction; (iii) the vertical divergence of heat flux from the planetary boundary layer scheme and the resolved temperature advection are the two most likely physical processes behind the simulated temperature changes. Finally, the possible WF impacts on vegetation growth are also investigated using high resolution ( 250m) satellite derived vegetation indices (VI) over two well-studied large WF regions. Results indicate that the WFs have insignificant or no detectable impacts on local vegetation growth. At the pixel level, the VI changes demonstrate a random nature and have no spatial coupling with the WF layout. At the regional level, there is no systematic shift in vegetation greenness between the pre- and post-turbine periods. At interannual and seasonal time scales, there are no confident vegetation changes over wind farm pixels relative to non-wind farm pixels. Most importantly, the majority of the VI changes are within the data uncertainty, suggesting that the WF impacts on vegetation, if any, cannot be separated confidently from the data noise.

Optimization of simultaneous microwave/ultrasonic-assisted extraction of phenolic compounds from walnut flour using response surface methodology.

PubMed

Luo, Yan; Wu, Wanxing; Chen, Dan; Lin, Yuping; Ma, Yage; Chen, Chaoyin; Zhao, Shenglan

2017-12-01

Walnut is a traditional food as well as a traditional medicine recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia; however, the large amounts of walnut flour (WF) generated in walnut oil production have not been well utilized. This study maximized the total polyphenolic yield (TPY) from the walnut flour (WF) by optimizing simultaneous ultrasound/microwave-assisted hydroalcoholic extraction (SUMAE). Response surface methodology was used to optimize the processing parameters for the TPY, including microwave power (20-140 W), ultrasonic power (75-525 W), extraction temperature (25-55 °C), and time (0.5-9.5 min). The polyphenol components were analysed by LC-MS. A second-order polynomial model satisfactorily fit the experimental TPY data (R 2  = 0.9932, P < 0.0001 and R adj 2     = 0.9868). The optimized quick extraction conditions were microwave power 294.38 W, ultrasonic power 93.5 W, temperature 43.38 °C and time 4.33 min, with a maximum TPY of 34.91 mg GAE/g, which was a rapid extraction. The major phenolic components in the WF extracts were glansreginin A, ellagic acid, and gallic acid with peak areas of 22.15%, 14.99% and 10.96%, respectively, which might be used as functional components for health food, cosmetics and medicines. The results indicated that walnut flour, a waste product from the oil industry, was a rich source of polyphenolic compounds and thus could be used as a high-value functional food ingredient.

Probabilistic Structural Analysis of Ship Hull Longitudinal Strength.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-12-01

EXRPLATION CTA DATAI .0251, ESSO 1:.qT H U %IB R FA .1: *fREVISED POS-%.ATRNT .010 oaIGINL ,.ESSO MALAYSIA .0o5.j LOG OF NUMBER OF CYCLES, LOG N FIG. 1...108 0.000961 i f Nញ a -’ 0. 0625" 5/8 0.01172 flange , x + Wf O0.156 +w breadth 8 -L,_ 0.0625 F6 0.156 + wf For Wf = 6" ,= 0. 0625 z o0 o. ,- .0. 0

The Response of Small Scale Rigid Targets to Shallow Buried Explosive Detonations

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-09-01

properties as applied in this work was based on some of the standard defini- tions of soil constitutive properties as found in, e.g., Chen and Baladi [18...Technology Corporation; 2007. [18] Chen WF, Baladi GY. Soil plasticity: theory and implementation. New York: Elsevier Science; 1985. [19] Zimmerman

STS-61 air-bearing floor training in bldg 9N with Astronaut Jeff Hoffman

NASA Image and Video Library

1993-06-07

Making use of the air-bearing floor in JSC's Shuttle mockup and integration laboratory, Astronaut Jeffrey A. Hoffman practices working with the Hubble Space Telescope's Wide Field/Planetary Camera (WF/PC). Changing out the large camera is one of several jobs to be performed by STS-61.

40 CFR 796.1950 - Vapor pressure.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... to a wide variety of chemical types and structures, EPA has sponsored research and development work... Chemistry, 3:664-670 (1969). (3) Spencer, W.F. and Cliath, M.M. “Vapor Density and Apparent Vapor Pressure of Lindane,” Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 18:529-530 (1970). [50 FR 39252, Sept. 27...

40 CFR 796.1950 - Vapor pressure.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... to a wide variety of chemical types and structures, EPA has sponsored research and development work... Chemistry, 3:664-670 (1969). (3) Spencer, W.F. and Cliath, M.M. “Vapor Density and Apparent Vapor Pressure of Lindane,” Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 18:529-530 (1970). [50 FR 39252, Sept. 27...

40 CFR 796.1950 - Vapor pressure.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... to a wide variety of chemical types and structures, EPA has sponsored research and development work... Chemistry, 3:664-670 (1969). (3) Spencer, W.F. and Cliath, M.M. “Vapor Density and Apparent Vapor Pressure of Lindane,” Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 18:529-530 (1970). [50 FR 39252, Sept. 27...

40 CFR 796.1950 - Vapor pressure.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... to a wide variety of chemical types and structures, EPA has sponsored research and development work... Chemistry, 3:664-670 (1969). (3) Spencer, W.F. and Cliath, M.M. “Vapor Density and Apparent Vapor Pressure of Lindane,” Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 18:529-530 (1970). [50 FR 39252, Sept. 27...

No wire? No problem: Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) can be performed effectively and more rapidly with a wire-free device.

PubMed

Romagnoli, Anna Noel; Teeter, William; Wasicek, Philip; Gamble, William Bryan; Hu, Fu Peter M; Stein, Deborah; Scalea, Thomas; Brenner, Megan

2018-06-12

A wire-free device is available for REBOA providing aortic occlusion (AO) without lengthy platform guide-wires and large sheaths. This was a retrospective, single-institution review of patients who received REBOA from May 2014-September 2017. Timing of procedural steps was measured in seconds (s) using time-stamped videography. 74 patients received REBOA; 29 with a platform guidewire, 12F sheath, and balloon catheter (W group), and 45 with a 7F sheath and wire-free device (WF group). Mean age (p=0.22) and ISS (p=0.80) were similar between groups. 59 patients received REBOA at Zone 1; 15 patients at Zone 3. There was no difference in median [IQR] time to common femoral artery (CFA) access between the WF (194[98,313]s) and W (193[126,280]s) groups (p=0.96). Both median time to AO after CFA access (WF:158[109,264]s vs. W:307[222,390]s, p<0.001) and median total procedural time (WF:366[263,596]s vs. W:511[441,597]s; p=0.012) were significantly shorter with the wire-free system. The rates of percutaneous versus open CFA access was not different between groups (p=0.48). Both groups had a similar physiologic response to AO as measured by pre- and post-AO SBP (p=0.86). Overall mortality rate was 74%; 90% in the W group, and 64% in the WF group (p = 0.027). The procedure-related complication rate was not significantly different between groups with regard to compartment syndrome (W:3% vs WF:4%, p=1.0), access-related complications (W:0 vs WF:6%, p=0.28) or systemic complication (W:0 vs WF:9%, p=0.15). Once CFA access is obtained, AO with a smaller wire-free device reduces procedural time by approximately 50%. When perfusion to proximal organs is essential, the seconds saved to achieve AO may contribute to improved mortality. Time to obtain CFA access is not dependent on introducer sheath size. Therapeutic, Level V.

Water-Energy Nexus: the case of biogas production from energy crops evaluated by Water Footprint and LCA methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pacetti, Tommaso; Caporali, Enrica; Federici, Giorgio

2015-04-01

This study analyzes the production of biogas from aerobic digestion of energy crops. The production of biogas is an important case study because its spread, similar to other sources of bioenergy, creates questions about the environmental effects, the competition in the food market as well as the progressive change of land use. In particular is hereby analyzed the nexus between bioenergy production and water, which plays a key role because water resources are often the limiting factor in energy production from energy crops. The environmental performances of biogas production were analyzed through Water Footprint (WF) and Life cycle assessment (LCA): the integration of LCA and WF represents an attempt of taking advantage of their complementary strengths in environmental assessment, trying to give a comprehensive analysis of bioenergy production sustainability. Eighteen scenarios were considered, trying to figure out the performances of different combinations of locations (north, center, south Italy), crops (maize, sorghum, wheat) and treatments (anaerobic digestion with water dilution or manure co-digestion). WF assessment shows that cultivation phase is the most impacting on water resource use along the entire system life cycle. In particular, water requirements for crop growth shows that sorghum is the more water saver crop (in terms of consumptive water use to produce the amount of crop needed to produce 1 GJ of biogas energy content). Moreover WF investigates the kind of water use and shows that wheat, despite being the most intensive water user, exploits more green water than the other crops.WF was evaluated with respect to water stress indicators for the Italian territory, underlining the higher criticalities associated with water use in southern Italy and identifying consumptive blue water use, in this area, as the main hotspot. Therefore biogas production from energy crops in southern Italy is unsustainable from a water management perspective. At a basin scale, WF results obtained for central Italy were compared with local water availability (Merse river basin), pinpointing the time dependence of the sustainability. This analysis highlights that wheat, even if more water intensive than other crops, has a WF that not burdens the driest period as maize and sorghum does, underlying importance of assessing the temporal distribution of water use. Further, WF was combined with LCA. First WF results were used as input for LCA inventory, and then some indicators of the selected impact assessment method were analyzed to obtain additional information mainly on water resource quality. The overall results show that biogas production from energy crops has in general negative impacts (i.e. beneficial environmental performances), due to the savings associated with avoided conventional energy production, for all the indicators except water depletion, fresh water ecotoxicity and marine ecotoxicity. WF and LCA results show the benefit of coupling the two methods. Since WF focuses on the water use and the LCA focus on an extended range of environmental loads, creating synergies between these two approaches can help having a comprehensive assessment and a better insight in the Nexus.

Detection of von Willebrand factor and tissue factor in platelets-fibrin rich coronary thrombi in acute myocardial infarction.

PubMed

Yamashita, Atsushi; Sumi, Takahiro; Goto, Shinya; Hoshiba, Yasunari; Nishihira, Kensaku; Kawamoto, Riichirou; Hatakeyama, Kinta; Date, Haruhiko; Imamura, Takuroh; Ogawa, Hisao; Asada, Yujiro

2006-01-01

The rapid closure of coronary arteries due to occlusive thrombi is the major cause of acute myocardial infarction. However, the mechanisms of coronary thrombus formation have not been elucidated. We immunohistochemically assessed the localizations and their changes over time of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa, fibrin, von Willebrand factor (vWF), and tissue factor (TF), after the onset of chest pain (<4, 4 to 6, or 6 to 12 hours), in fresh coronary thrombi causing acute myocardial infarction. The occlusive thrombi were consistently composed of platelets, fibrin, vWF, and TF from the early phase of onset, and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa and fibrin were closely associated with vWF and TF, respectively. vWF and/or TF may contribute to occlusive thrombus formation and be novel therapeutic candidates for treating patients with coronary thrombosis.

WF/PC internal molecular contamination during system thermal-vacuum test

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Taylor, Daniel M.; Barengoltz, J.; Jenkins, T.; Leschly, K.; Triolo, J.

1988-01-01

During the recent system thermal vacuum test of the Wide-Field/Planetary Camera (WF/PC), instrumentation was added to the WF/PC to characterize the internal molecular contamination and verify the instrument throughput down to 1470 angstroms. Analysis of data elements revealed two contaminants affecting the far-ultraviolet (FUV) performance of the WF/PC. The one contaminant (heavy volatile) is correlated with the electronic and housing temperature, and the contamination is significantly reduced when the electronics are operated below plus 8 degrees to plus 10 degrees C. The other contaminant (light volatile) is controlled by the heat pipe temperature, and the contamination is significantly reduced when the Thermal Electric Cooler (TEC) hot-junction temperature is below minus 40 degrees to minus 50 degrees C. The utility of contamination sensors located behind instruments during system tests was demonstrated.

Water footprint components required to address the water-energy-food nexus, with the recent Urban Water Atlas for Europe as an example

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vanham, Davy

2017-04-01

The first part of this presentation analyses which water footprint (WF) components are necessary in WF accounting to provide relevant information to address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's) water security (SDG 6), food security (SDG 2) and energy security (SDG 7) in a nexus setting. It is strongly based on the publication Vanham (2016) http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2015.08.003. First, the nexus links between (1) the planetary boundary freshwater resources (green and blue water resources) and (2) food, energy and blue water security are discussed. Second, it is shown which water uses are mostly represented in WF accounting. General water management and WF studies only account for the water uses agriculture, industry and domestic water. Important water uses are however mostly not identified as separate entities or even included, i.e. green and blue water resources for aquaculture, wild foods, biofuels, hydroelectric cooling, hydropower, recreation/tourism, forestry (for energy and other biomass uses) and navigation. Third, therefore a list of essential separate components to be included within WF accounting is presented. The latter would be more coherent with the water-food-energy-ecosystem nexus. The second part of the presentation gives a brief overview of the recently published Urban Water Atlas for Europe. It shows for a selected city which WF components are represented and which not. As such, it also identifies research gaps.

Grey water footprint reduction in irrigated crop production: effect of nitrogen application rate, nitrogen form, tillage practice and irrigation strategy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chukalla, Abebe D.; Krol, Maarten S.; Hoekstra, Arjen Y.

2018-06-01

Grey water footprint (WF) reduction is essential given the increasing water pollution associated with food production and the limited assimilation capacity of fresh water. Fertilizer application can contribute significantly to the grey WF as a result of nutrient leaching to groundwater and runoff to streams. The objective of this study is to explore the effect of the nitrogen application rate (from 25 to 300 kg N ha-1), nitrogen form (inorganic N or manure N), tillage practice (conventional or no-tillage) and irrigation strategy (full or deficit irrigation) on the nitrogen load to groundwater and surface water, crop yield and the N-related grey water footprint of crop production by a systematic model-based assessment. As a case study, we consider irrigated maize grown in Spain on loam soil in a semi-arid environment, whereby we simulate the 20-year period 1993-2012. The water and nitrogen balances of the soil and plant growth at the field scale were simulated with the Agricultural Policy Environmental eXtender (APEX) model. As a reference management package, we assume the use of inorganic N (nitrate), conventional tillage and full irrigation. For this reference, the grey WF at a usual N application rate of 300 kg N ha-1 (with crop yield of 11.1 t ha-1) is 1100 m3 t-1, which can be reduced by 91 % towards 95 m3 t-1 when the N application rate is reduced to 50 kg N ha-1 (with a yield of 3.7 t ha-1). The grey WF can be further reduced to 75 m3 t-1 by shifting the management package to manure N and deficit irrigation (with crop yield of 3.5 t ha-1). Although water pollution can thus be reduced dramatically, this comes together with a great yield reduction, and a much lower water productivity (larger green plus blue WF) as well. The overall (green, blue and grey) WF per tonne is found to be minimal at an N application rate of 150 kg N ha-1, with manure, no-tillage and deficit irrigation (with crop yield of 9.3 t ha-1). The paper shows that there is a trade-off between grey WF and crop yield, as well as a trade-off between reducing water pollution (grey WF) and water consumption (green and blue WF). Applying manure instead of inorganic N and deficit instead of full irrigation are measures that reduce both water pollution and water consumption with a 16 % loss in yield.

[Research progress on water footprint in agricultural products].

PubMed

Lu, Yang; Liu, Xiu-wei; Zhang, Xi-ying

2015-10-01

Water is one of the important resources in human activities. Scientifically and rationally evaluating the effects of human activities on water resources is important for sustainable water resource management. The innovative concepts of water footprint (WF) distinguished the human water consumption into green water, blue water and grey water which extended the evaluation methods in sustainable utilization of water resources. Concepts of WF based on virtual water (VW) and based on life cycle assessment (LCA) both combined water quality and water quantity are now the focuses in agricultural water management researches. Theory of WF based on VW includes the calculation of green, blue and grey WF as well as the evaluation of the sustainability of water environment. Theory of WF based on LCA reflects the overall impact of consumptive and degradative water use on the environment. The purpose of this article was to elaborate the research progresses in theoretical calculation methods and environmental sustainability assessment of the two water footprint theories and then to analyze the differentiation of these two methodologies in describing the consumptive water use in agriculture and its effects on environment. Finally, some future research aspects on water footprint were provided.

Probabilistic analysis and fatigue damage assessment of offshore mooring system due to non-Gaussian bimodal tension processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, Anteng; Li, Huajun; Wang, Shuqing; Du, Junfeng

2017-08-01

Both wave-frequency (WF) and low-frequency (LF) components of mooring tension are in principle non-Gaussian due to nonlinearities in the dynamic system. This paper conducts a comprehensive investigation of applicable probability density functions (PDFs) of mooring tension amplitudes used to assess mooring-line fatigue damage via the spectral method. Short-term statistical characteristics of mooring-line tension responses are firstly investigated, in which the discrepancy arising from Gaussian approximation is revealed by comparing kurtosis and skewness coefficients. Several distribution functions based on present analytical spectral methods are selected to express the statistical distribution of the mooring-line tension amplitudes. Results indicate that the Gamma-type distribution and a linear combination of Dirlik and Tovo-Benasciutti formulas are suitable for separate WF and LF mooring tension components. A novel parametric method based on nonlinear transformations and stochastic optimization is then proposed to increase the effectiveness of mooring-line fatigue assessment due to non-Gaussian bimodal tension responses. Using time domain simulation as a benchmark, its accuracy is further validated using a numerical case study of a moored semi-submersible platform.

Multi-Response Optimization of WEDM Process Parameters Using Taguchi Based Desirability Function Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Majumder, Himadri; Maity, Kalipada

2018-03-01

Shape memory alloy has a unique capability to return to its original shape after physical deformation by applying heat or thermo-mechanical or magnetic load. In this experimental investigation, desirability function analysis (DFA), a multi-attribute decision making was utilized to find out the optimum input parameter setting during wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) of Ni-Ti shape memory alloy. Four critical machining parameters, namely pulse on time (TON), pulse off time (TOFF), wire feed (WF) and wire tension (WT) were taken as machining inputs for the experiments to optimize three interconnected responses like cutting speed, kerf width, and surface roughness. Input parameter combination TON = 120 μs., TOFF = 55 μs., WF = 3 m/min. and WT = 8 kg-F were found to produce the optimum results. The optimum process parameters for each desired response were also attained using Taguchi’s signal-to-noise ratio. Confirmation test has been done to validate the optimum machining parameter combination which affirmed DFA was a competent approach to select optimum input parameters for the ideal response quality for WEDM of Ni-Ti shape memory alloy.

A hotspot analysis of the water footprint and groundwater depletion in the High Plains Aquifer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Multsch, Sebastian; Pahlow, Markus; Ellensohn, Judith; Michalik, Thomas; Frede, Hans-Georg; Breuer, Lutz

2015-04-01

The water footprint (WF) of irrigation agriculture sums up to 45.72 km3 yr-1(46% blue, 54% green) across the High Plains Aquifer (HPA) in the USA. Green WFs are dominating the north-east. Blue WFs are related to regions with intensive depletion of groundwater in the center and southern HPA, a situation further exacerbated by an increase of the blue water fraction of crop WF over the past (by 50% for 1990-1999; by 57% for 2000-2012). By means of a cluster analysis with the three parameter groundwater decline, blue and green WF, hotspots have been delineated spatially. Two sub-regions in the southern and central covering merely 20% of the HPA area have a share of one-third (7.92 km3 yr-1) of the total WF. This clearly shows that local strategies for sustainable allocation and use of freshwater resources are required. A likely impact of the sowing date (earliest vs. latest) on the WF has been studied, showing that blue WF increases by about 4% on average for all crops for the late sowing date, whereby the green and blue WF of cotton decreases totally about 0.9 km3 yr-1. Further evaluation criteria apart from water conservation considered are economic water productivity and nutritional value per volume of water consumed in agricultural production. Corn leads to the highest economic water productivity of 0.34 USD m-3, which in addition provides the highest nutritional value of 4362 kcal m-3. Favoring sorghum over corn was found advantageous in years with water shortage, because irrigation requirements and crop evapotranspiration of sorghum are lower by 20% and 25%, respectively, yet accompanied with nutritional losses of 28% compared to corn production. Such a trade-off is to be evaluated by farmers and policy makers, whereby the green and blue WFs, the impact of the sowing date as well as the economic and nutritional productivity presented here supports decision making.

Elevated levels of von Willebrand factor and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) are associated with disease severity and clinical outcome of scrub typhus.

PubMed

Chen, Hongliu; Ning, Zong; Qiu, Ying; Liao, Yuanli; Chang, Haihua; Ai, Yuanyuan; Wei, Yinghua; Deng, Yiming; Shen, Ying

2017-08-01

This study aimed to investigate whether von Willebrand factor (vWF) and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) are associated with the severity and clinical outcome of scrub typhus and to seek novel biomarkers for surveillance and prediction of the prognosis of this infection. Serum concentrations of vWF and HMGB1 were measured twice by ELISA for scrub typhus patients (n=103), once prior to doxycycline therapy and then on day 7 of doxycycline therapy; concentrations were measured once for healthy controls (n=32). Among the total 103 patients enrolled, 38 had disease complicated by multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Serum concentrations of vWF and HMGB1 were significantly higher in all the patients than in the healthy controls, both prior to doxycycline treatment and on day 7 of doxycycline treatment (p<0.01). Furthermore, serum levels of vWF, HMGB1, and creatinine (SCr) in the patients with MODS increased distinctly, while the platelet (PLT) count diminished markedly compared to the levels in patients without MODS (p<0.01). The concentration of vWF was positively correlated with that of HMGB1 (r=0.764, p<0.001) and SCr (r=0.528, p<0.001), but negatively correlated with the PLT count (r=-0.632, p<0.001). Both HMGB1 and vWF were significantly associated with mortality in scrub typhus (area under the curve (AUC)=0.864, p=0.001, and AUC=0.862, p=0.001, respectively). Elevated levels of vWF and HMGB1 are associated with the severity and clinical outcome of scrub typhus. These represent possible new biomarkers for use in the assessment and prognostic prediction of this infection. Copyright © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Assessment of the Dual Role of Clumping Factor A in S. Aureus Adhesion to Endothelium in Absence and Presence of Plasma.

PubMed

Claes, Jorien; Ditkowski, Bartosz; Liesenborghs, Laurens; Veloso, Tiago Rafael; Entenza, Jose M; Moreillon, Philippe; Vanassche, Thomas; Verhamme, Peter; Hoylaerts, Marc F; Heying, Ruth

2018-06-17

Adhesion of Staphylococcus aureus to endothelial cells (ECs) is paramount in infective endocarditis. Bacterial proteins such as clumping factor A (ClfA) and fibronectin binding protein A (FnbpA) mediate adhesion to EC surface molecules and (sub)endothelial matrix proteins including fibrinogen (Fg), fibrin, fibronectin (Fn) and von Willebrand factor (vWF). We studied the influence of shear flow and plasma on the binding of ClfA and FnbpA (including its sub-domains A, A 16+ , ABC, CD) to coverslip-coated vWF, Fg/fibrin, Fn or confluent ECs, making use of Lactococcus lactis , expressing these adhesins heterologously. Global adherence profiles were similar in static and flow conditions. In the absence of plasma, L. lactis-clfA binding to Fg increased with shear forces, whereas binding to fibrin did not. The degree of adhesion of L. lactis-fnbpA to EC-bound Fn and of L. lactis-clfA to EC-bound Fg, furthermore, was similar to that of L. lactis-clfA to coated vWF domain A1, in the presence of vWF-binding protein (vWbp). Yet, in plasma, L. lactis-clfA adherence to activated EC-vWF/vWbp dropped over 10 minutes by 80% due to vWF-hydrolysis by a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13 and that of L. lactis-fnbpA likewise by > 70% compared to the adhesion in absence of plasma. In contrast, plasma Fg supported high L. lactis-clfA binding to resting and activated ECs. Or, in plasma S. aureus adhesion to active endothelium occurs mainly via two complementary pathways: a rapid but short-lived vWF/vWbp pathway and a stable integrin-coupled Fg-pathway. Hence, the pharmacological inhibition of ClfA-Fg interactions may constitute a valuable additive treatment in infective endocarditis. Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart.

Improvement of organic solar cells by flexible substrate and ITO surface treatments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Yuang-Tung; Ho, Jyh-Jier; Wang, Chien-Kun; Lee, William; Lu, Chih-Chiang; Yau, Bao-Shun; Nain, Jhen-Liang; Chang, Shun-Hsyung; Chang, Chiu-Cheng; Wang, Kang L.

2010-10-01

In this paper, surface treatments on polyethylene terephthalate with polymeric hard coating (PET-HC) substrates are described. The effect of the contact angle on the treatment is first investigated. It has been observed that detergent is quite effective in removing organic contamination on the flexible PET-HC substrates. Next, using a DC-reactive magnetron sputter, indium tin oxide (ITO) thin films of 90 nm are grown on a substrate treated by detergent. Then, various ITO surface treatments are made for improving the performance of the finally developed organic solar cells with structure Al/P3HT:PCBM/PEDOT:PSS/ITO/PET. It is found that the parameters of the ITO including resistivity, carrier concentration, transmittance, surface morphology, and work function depended on the surface treatments and significantly influence the solar cell performance. With the optimal conditions for detergent treatment on flexible PET substrates, the ITO film with a resistivity of 5.6 × 10 -4 Ω cm and average optical transmittance of 84.1% in the visible region are obtained. The optimal ITO surface treated by detergent for 5 min and then by UV ozone for 20 min exhibits the best WF value of 5.22 eV. This improves about 8.30% in the WF compared with that of the untreated ITO film. In the case of optimal treatment with the organic photovoltaic device, meanwhile, 36.6% enhancement in short circuit current density ( Jsc) and 92.7% enhancement in conversion efficiency ( η) over the untreated solar cell are obtained.

A forensic investigation into the etiology of bat mortality at a wind farm: barotrauma or traumatic injury?

PubMed

Rollins, K E; Meyerholz, D K; Johnson, G D; Capparella, A P; Loew, S S

2012-03-01

Migrating bats have increased mortality near moving turbine blades at wind farms. The authors evaluated competing hypotheses of barotrauma and traumatic injury to determine the cause. They first examined the utility of lungs from salvaged bat carcasses for histopathologic diagnosis of barotrauma and studied laboratory mice as a model system. Postmortem time, environmental temperature, and freezing of carcasses all affected the development of vascular congestion, hemorrhage, and edema. These common tissue artifacts mimicked the diagnostic criteria of pulmonary barotrauma; therefore, lung tissues from salvaged bats should not be used for barotrauma diagnosis. The authors next compared wind farm (WF) bats to building collision (BC) bats collected near downtown Chicago buildings. WF bats had an increased incidence in fracture cases and specific bone fractures and had more external lacerations than BC bats. WF bats had additional features of traumatic injury, including diaphragmatic hernia, subcutaneous hemorrhage, and bone marrow emboli. In summary, 73% (190 of 262) of WF bats had lesions consistent with traumatic injury. The authors then examined for ruptured tympana, a sensitive marker of barotrauma in humans. BC bats had only 1 case (2%, 1 of 42), but this was attributed to concurrent cranial fractures, whereas WF bats had a 20% (16 of 81) incidence. When cases with concurrent traumatic injury were excluded, this yielded a small fraction (6%, 5 of 81) of WF bats with lesions possibly consistent with barotrauma etiology. Forensic pathology examination of the data strongly suggests that traumatic injury is the major cause of bat mortality at wind farms and, at best, barotrauma is a minor etiology.

Imported water risk: the case of the UK

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoekstra, Arjen Y.; Mekonnen, Mesfin M.

2016-05-01

While the water dependency of water-scarce nations is well understood, this is not the case for countries in temperate and humid climates, even though various studies have shown that many of such countries strongly rely on the import of water-intensive commodities from elsewhere. In this study we introduce a method to evaluate the sustainability and efficiency of the external water footprint (WF) of a country, with the UK as an example. We trace, quantify and map the UK’s direct and indirect water needs and assess the ‘imported water risk’ by evaluating the sustainability of the water consumption in the source regions. In addition, we assess the efficiency of the water consumption in source areas in order to identify the room for water savings. We find that half of the UK’s global blue WF—the direct and indirect consumption of ground- and surface water resources behind all commodities consumed in the UK—is located in places where the blue WF exceeds the maximum sustainable blue WF. About 55% of the unsustainable part of the UK’s blue WF is located in six countries: Spain (14%), USA (11%), Pakistan (10%), India (7%), Iran (6%), and South Africa (6%). Our analysis further shows that about half of the global consumptive WF of the UK’s direct and indirect crop consumption is inefficient, which means that consumptive WFs exceed specified WF benchmark levels. About 37% of the inefficient part of the UK’s consumptive WF is located in six countries: Indonesia (7%), Ghana (7%), India (7%), Brazil (6%), Spain (5%), and Argentina (5%). In some source countries, like Pakistan, Iran, Spain, USA and Egypt, unsustainable and inefficient blue water consumption coincide. We find that, by lowering overall consumptive WFs to benchmark levels, the global blue WF of UK crop consumption could be reduced by 19%. We discuss four strategies to mitigate imported water risk: become more self-sufficient in food; diversify the import of water-intensive commodities, favouring the sourcing from water-abundant regions; reconsider the import of water-intensive commodities from the regions that are most severely water stressed altogether; and collaborate internationally with source countries with unsustainable water use where opportunities exist to increase water productivity.

The clearance mechanism of chilled blood platelets.

PubMed

Hoffmeister, Karin M; Felbinger, Thomas W; Falet, Hervé; Denis, Cécile V; Bergmeier, Wolfgang; Mayadas, Tanya N; von Andrian, Ulrich H; Wagner, Denisa D; Stossel, Thomas P; Hartwig, John H

2003-01-10

Platelet transfusion is a very common lifesaving medical procedure. Not widely known is the fact that platelets, unlike other blood cells, rapidly leave the circulation if refrigerated prior to transfusion. This peculiarity requires blood services to store platelets at room temperature, limiting platelet supplies for clinical needs. Here, we describe the mechanism of this clearance system, a longstanding mystery. Chilling platelets clusters their von Willebrand (vWf) receptors, eliciting recognition of mouse and human platelets by hepatic macrophage complement type 3 (CR3) receptors. CR3-expressing but not CR3-deficient mice exposed to cold rapidly decrease platelet counts. Cooling primes platelets for activation. We propose that platelets are thermosensors, primed at peripheral sites where most injuries occurred throughout evolution. Clearance prevents pathologic thrombosis by primed platelets. Chilled platelets bind vWf and function normally in vitro and ex vivo after transfusion into CR3-deficient mice. Therefore, GPIb modification might permit cold platelet storage.

Kernel Wiener filter and its application to pattern recognition.

PubMed

Yoshino, Hirokazu; Dong, Chen; Washizawa, Yoshikazu; Yamashita, Yukihiko

2010-11-01

The Wiener filter (WF) is widely used for inverse problems. From an observed signal, it provides the best estimated signal with respect to the squared error averaged over the original and the observed signals among linear operators. The kernel WF (KWF), extended directly from WF, has a problem that an additive noise has to be handled by samples. Since the computational complexity of kernel methods depends on the number of samples, a huge computational cost is necessary for the case. By using the first-order approximation of kernel functions, we realize KWF that can handle such a noise not by samples but as a random variable. We also propose the error estimation method for kernel filters by using the approximations. In order to show the advantages of the proposed methods, we conducted the experiments to denoise images and estimate errors. We also apply KWF to classification since KWF can provide an approximated result of the maximum a posteriori classifier that provides the best recognition accuracy. The noise term in the criterion can be used for the classification in the presence of noise or a new regularization to suppress changes in the input space, whereas the ordinary regularization for the kernel method suppresses changes in the feature space. In order to show the advantages of the proposed methods, we conducted experiments of binary and multiclass classifications and classification in the presence of noise.

Rare and low-frequency variants and their association with plasma levels of fibrinogen, FVII, FVIII, and vWF

PubMed Central

Huffman, Jennifer E.; de Vries, Paul S.; Morrison, Alanna C.; Sabater-Lleal, Maria; Kacprowski, Tim; Auer, Paul L.; Brody, Jennifer A.; Chasman, Daniel I.; Chen, Ming-Huei; Guo, Xiuqing; Lin, Li-An; Marioni, Riccardo E.; Müller-Nurasyid, Martina; Yanek, Lisa R.; Pankratz, Nathan; Grove, Megan L.; de Maat, Moniek P. M.; Cushman, Mary; Wiggins, Kerri L.; Qi, Lihong; Sennblad, Bengt; Harris, Sarah E.; Polasek, Ozren; Riess, Helene; Rivadeneira, Fernando; Rose, Lynda M.; Goel, Anuj; Taylor, Kent D.; Teumer, Alexander; Uitterlinden, André G.; Vaidya, Dhananjay; Yao, Jie; Tang, Weihong; Levy, Daniel; Waldenberger, Melanie; Becker, Diane M.; Folsom, Aaron R.; Giulianini, Franco; Greinacher, Andreas; Hofman, Albert; Huang, Chiang-Ching; Kooperberg, Charles; Silveira, Angela; Starr, John M.; Strauch, Konstantin; Strawbridge, Rona J.; Wright, Alan F.; McKnight, Barbara; Franco, Oscar H.; Zakai, Neil; Mathias, Rasika A.; Psaty, Bruce M.; Ridker, Paul M.; Tofler, Geoffrey H.; Völker, Uwe; Watkins, Hugh; Fornage, Myriam; Hamsten, Anders; Deary, Ian J.; Boerwinkle, Eric; Koenig, Wolfgang; Rotter, Jerome I.; Hayward, Caroline; Dehghan, Abbas; Reiner, Alex P.; O’Donnell, Christopher J.

2015-01-01

Fibrinogen, coagulation factor VII (FVII), and factor VIII (FVIII) and its carrier von Willebrand factor (vWF) play key roles in hemostasis. Previously identified common variants explain only a small fraction of the trait heritabilities, and additional variations may be explained by associations with rarer variants with larger effects. The aim of this study was to identify low-frequency (minor allele frequency [MAF] ≥0.01 and <0.05) and rare (MAF <0.01) variants that influence plasma concentrations of these 4 hemostatic factors by meta-analyzing exome chip data from up to 76 000 participants of 4 ancestries. We identified 12 novel associations of low-frequency (n = 2) and rare (n = 10) variants across the fibrinogen, FVII, FVIII, and vWF traits that were independent of previously identified associations. Novel loci were found within previously reported genes and had effect sizes much larger than and independent of previously identified common variants. In addition, associations at KCNT1, HID1, and KATNB1 identified new candidate genes related to hemostasis for follow-up replication and functional genomic analysis. Newly identified low-frequency and rare-variant associations accounted for modest amounts of trait variance and therefore are unlikely to increase predicted trait heritability but provide new information for understanding individual variation in hemostasis pathways. PMID:26105150

Adaptive Evolution of the Venom-Targeted vWF Protein in Opossums that Eat Pitvipers

PubMed Central

Jansa, Sharon A.; Voss, Robert S.

2011-01-01

The rapid evolution of venom toxin genes is often explained as the result of a biochemical arms race between venomous animals and their prey. However, it is not clear that an arms race analogy is appropriate in this context because there is no published evidence for rapid evolution in genes that might confer toxin resistance among routinely envenomed species. Here we report such evidence from an unusual predator-prey relationship between opossums (Marsupialia: Didelphidae) and pitvipers (Serpentes: Crotalinae). In particular, we found high ratios of replacement to silent substitutions in the gene encoding von Willebrand Factor (vWF), a venom-targeted hemostatic blood protein, in a clade of opossums known to eat pitvipers and to be resistant to their hemorrhagic venom. Observed amino-acid substitutions in venom-resistant opossums include changes in net charge and hydrophobicity that are hypothesized to weaken the bond between vWF and one of its toxic snake-venom ligands, the C-type lectin-like protein botrocetin. Our results provide the first example of rapid adaptive evolution in any venom-targeted molecule, and they support the notion that an evolutionary arms race might be driving the rapid evolution of snake venoms. However, in the arms race implied by our results, venomous snakes are prey, and their venom has a correspondingly defensive function in addition to its usual trophic role. PMID:21731638

China’s rising hydropower demand challenges water sector

PubMed Central

Liu, Junguo; Zhao, Dandan; Gerbens-Leenes, P. W.; Guan, Dabo

2015-01-01

Demand for hydropower is increasing, yet the water footprints (WFs) of reservoirs and hydropower, and their contributions to water scarcity, are poorly understood. Here, we calculate reservoir WFs (freshwater that evaporates from reservoirs) and hydropower WFs (the WF of hydroelectricity) in China based on data from 875 representative reservoirs (209 with power plants). In 2010, the reservoir WF totaled 27.9 × 109 m3 (Gm3), or 22% of China’s total water consumption. Ignoring the reservoir WF seriously underestimates human water appropriation. The reservoir WF associated with industrial, domestic and agricultural WFs caused water scarcity in 6 of the 10 major Chinese river basins from 2 to 12 months annually. The hydropower WF was 6.6 Gm3 yr−1 or 3.6 m3 of water to produce a GJ (109 J) of electricity. Hydropower is a water intensive energy carrier. As a response to global climate change, the Chinese government has promoted a further increase in hydropower energy by 70% by 2020 compared to 2012. This energy policy imposes pressure on available freshwater resources and increases water scarcity. The water-energy nexus requires strategic and coordinated implementations of hydropower development among geographical regions, as well as trade-off analysis between rising energy demand and water use sustainability. PMID:26158871

Water Footprint Analysis of Paddy Rice and the Nexus of Water-Land-Rice in Taiwan: 2005-2014

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, T. C.

2018-05-01

This paper explores the water footprint (WF) of paddy rice and the nexus of water-land-food (rice) in Taiwan. The research results indicate that the average annual rice WF for the years 2005-2014 was about 7,580 m3/ton, of which 80% was blue, 17% was green, and 3% was grey. This average annual footprint was about 5.7 times larger than the 2000-2004 average annual WF of rice for countries around the globe of 1325 m3/ton, of which 48% was green, 44% was blue, and 8% was grey. The blue WF is the most important source of water for rice production in Taiwan. The water consumption of the second crop is higher than that of the first crop. The water use efficiency in the southern region of Taiwan is the best, while the northern part of Taiwan exhibits relatively high inefficiency. The rates of change in cultivated land and rice production in Taiwan are decreasing in a stable manner. However, the annual rate of change in the rice WF is unstable. The nexus of land, water, and food should be taken into consideration to protect water availability, maintain agricultural production, and avoid land degradation. The results could offer useful information for agriculture policy and water resource management.

China's rising hydropower demand challenges water sector.

PubMed

Liu, Junguo; Zhao, Dandan; Gerbens-Leenes, P W; Guan, Dabo

2015-07-09

Demand for hydropower is increasing, yet the water footprints (WFs) of reservoirs and hydropower, and their contributions to water scarcity, are poorly understood. Here, we calculate reservoir WFs (freshwater that evaporates from reservoirs) and hydropower WFs (the WF of hydroelectricity) in China based on data from 875 representative reservoirs (209 with power plants). In 2010, the reservoir WF totaled 27.9 × 10(9) m(3) (Gm(3)), or 22% of China's total water consumption. Ignoring the reservoir WF seriously underestimates human water appropriation. The reservoir WF associated with industrial, domestic and agricultural WFs caused water scarcity in 6 of the 10 major Chinese river basins from 2 to 12 months annually. The hydropower WF was 6.6 Gm(3) yr(-1) or 3.6 m(3) of water to produce a GJ (10(9) J) of electricity. Hydropower is a water intensive energy carrier. As a response to global climate change, the Chinese government has promoted a further increase in hydropower energy by 70% by 2020 compared to 2012. This energy policy imposes pressure on available freshwater resources and increases water scarcity. The water-energy nexus requires strategic and coordinated implementations of hydropower development among geographical regions, as well as trade-off analysis between rising energy demand and water use sustainability.

Historical development of crop-related water footprints and inter-regional virtual water flows within China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhuo, La; Mekonnen, Mesfin M.; Hoekstra, Arjen Y.

2015-04-01

China is facing water-related challenges, including an uneven distribution of water resources, both temporally and spatially, and an increasing competition over the limited water resources among different sectors. This issue has been widely researched and was finally included into the National Plan 2011 (the 2011 No. 1 Document by the State Council of China). However, there is still lack of information on how population growth and rapid urbanization have affected the water resources in China over the last decades. The current study aims at investigating (i) the intra-annual variation of green and blue water footprints (WFs) of crop production in China over the period 1978-2009 at a spatial resolution of 5 by 5 arc-minute; (ii) the yearly virtual water (VW) balances of 31 provinces within China, related water savings for the country, as well as the VW flows among eight economic regions resulting from inter-regional crop trade over the same period; and (iii) the development of the WF related to crop consumption by Chinese consumers. Results show that, over the period 1978-2009, the total WF related to crop production within China increased by only 4%), but regional changes were significant. From the 1980s to the 2000s, the shift of the cropping centre from the South to the North resulted in an increase of about 16% in the blue WF and 19% in the green WF in the North and a reduction of the blue and green WF in the South by 11% and 3%, respectively. China as a whole was a net virtual water importer related to crop trade, thus saving domestic water resources. China's inter-regional crop trade generated a blue water 'loss' annually by transferring crops from provinces with relatively low crop water productivity to provinces with relatively high productivity. Over the decades, the original VW flow from the South coastal region to the Northeast was reversed. Rice was the all-time dominant crop in the inter-regional VW flows (accounting for 34% in 2009), followed by wheat and maize. The WF of the South related to crop consumption increased by 17% (~61 billion m3) while the increase in the North was 8% (~23 billion m3) from the 1980s to the 2000s. The national average annual WF per capita of crop consumption reduced by 8% (from 606 m3cap-1y-1 to 559 m3cap-1y-1) from the 1980s to the 2000s owing to the reduction in the WF per unit mass of a crop. However, because of the movement of the major agricultural areas to the North, the WF per capita in Inner Mongolia, for example, was increased (by 4% from the 1980s to the 2000s) due to the higher WF per unit mass of a crop locally, but with an increased level of self-reliance in crop consumption. Accounting for the different production and consumption characteristics across provinces is crucial for China's water governance.

Analysis of castellated steel beam with oval openings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tudjono, S.; Sunarto; Han, A. L.

2017-11-01

A castellated steel beam is per definition a wide flange (WF) or I shaped steel profile with openings, to reduce self-weight and improve the effectiveness in terms of material use. Recently, extensive study on these castellated steel beams has been conducted, involving different shapes in web openings. The main goal of these research works was to evaluate and analyze its optimum opening sizes and shapes configuration. More in-depth research work to the behavior and the influence of holes to WF beams need to be conducted. In this paper, an oval shaped web opening is chosen as alternate. The study involves a modification in the variation of oval web openings both in the horizontally and vertically direction. An experimental and numerical study based on the finite element method conducted with the Abaqus/CAE 6.12 software is used to analyze the buckling behavior of the web. The obtained results from the experimental test specimens are in good agreement with the obtained results from the finite element analysis. Furthermore, the numerical model can be expanded to be used as analyzing tool in evaluating and studying the effect and influencing factors of a variation in opening’s parameters.

Diagnostic performance of labial minor salivary gland flow measurement for assessment of xerostomia.

PubMed

Satoh-Kuriwada, Shizuko; Iikubo, Masahiro; Shoji, Noriaki; Sakamoto, Maya; Sasano, Takashi

2012-08-01

Minor salivary gland flow rate (MF) has been proposed as a key feature of xerostomia (subjective feeling of dry mouth). To assess its diagnostic performance, MF was compared in xerostomia and control subjects. Sixty-six subjects with xerostomia and 30 controls were enrolled. MF was measured in the lower labial mucosa using the iodine-starch filter paper method. Stimulated whole salivary flow rates were also measured using the gum test (stimulated-WF). Both labial-MF and stimulated-WF were significantly lower in xerostomia subjects than in controls. There was a positive correlation between labial-MF and stimulated-WF in control but not xerostomia subjects. In xerostomia subjects compared to controls, there was a significantly larger reduction in labial-MF than in stimulated-WF. Xerostomia was most accurately diagnosed using a labial-MF cutoff value of 0.25 μL/cm(2)/min. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy at this cutoff value were 1.00, 0.87, 0.93, 1.00, and 0.96, respectively. Compared to respective values of 0.64, 1.00, 1.00, 0.56, and 0.75 for stimulated-WF at the traditional cutoff of 1.0 mL/min, these data indicate the higher sensitivity, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy of labial-MF. Xerostomia was more strongly related to reduction of labial-MF than to that of stimulated-WF. Xerostomia was most likely triggered at a labial-MF cut-off value of 0.25 μL/cm(2)/min based on results from the iodine-starch method. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Association of von Willebrand factor blood levels with exercise hypertension.

PubMed

Nikolic, Sonja B; Adams, Murray J; Otahal, Petr; Edwards, Lindsay M; Sharman, James E

2015-05-01

A hypertensive response to moderate intensity exercise (HRE) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. The mechanisms of an HRE are unclear, although previous studies suggest this may be due to haemostatic and/or haemodynamic factors. We investigated the relationships between an HRE with haemostatic and hemodynamic indices. Sixty-four participants (57 ± 10 years, 71 % male) with indication for exercise stress testing underwent cardiovascular assessment at rest and during moderate intensity exercise, from which 20 participants developed an HRE (defined as moderate exercise systolic BP ≥ 170 mmHg/men and ≥ 160 mmHg/women). Rest, exercise and post-exercise blood samples were analysed for haemostatic markers, including von Willebrand factor (vWf), and haemodynamic measures of brachial and central blood pressure (BP), aortic stiffness and systemic vascular resistance index (SVRi). HRE participants had higher rest vWf compared with normotensive response to exercise (NRE) participants (1,927 mU/mL, 95 % CI 1,240-2,615, vs. 1,129 mU/mL, 95 % CI 871-1,386; p = 0.016). vWf levels significantly decreased from rest to post-exercise in HRE participants (p = 0.005), whereas vWf levels significantly increased from rest to exercise in NRE participants (p = 0.030). HRE participants also had increased triglycerides, rest BP, aortic stiffness and exercise SVRi (p < 0.05 for all). Rest vWf predicted exercise brachial systolic BP (β = 0.220, p = 0.043; adjusted R (2) = 0.451, p < 0.001) independent of age, sex, body mass index, triglycerides, rest brachial systolic BP and aortic stiffness. Increased rest blood levels of vWf are independently associated with moderate intensity exercise systolic BP. These findings implicate abnormalities in haemostasis as a possible factor contributing to HRE at moderate intensity.

Exposure to welding fumes and lower airway infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae

PubMed Central

Suri, Reetika; Periselneris, Jimstan; Lanone, Sophie; Zeidler-Erdely, Patti C.; Melton, Geoffrey; Palmer, Keith T.; Andujar, Pascal; Antonini, James M.; Cohignac, Vanessa; Erdely, Aaron; Jose, Ricardo J.; Mudway, Ian; Brown, Jeremy; Grigg, Jonathan

2015-01-01

Background Welders are at increased risk of pneumococcal pneumonia. The mechanism for this association is not known. The capacity of pneumococci to adhere to and infect lower airway cells is mediated by host-expressed platelet-activating factor receptor (PAFR). Objective We sought to assess the effect of mild steel welding fumes (MS-WF) on PAFR-dependent pneumococcal adhesion and infection to human airway cells in vitro and on pneumococcal airway infection in a mouse model. Methods The oxidative potential of MS-WF was assessed by their capacity to reduce antioxidants in vitro. Pneumococcal adhesion and infection of A549, BEAS-2B, and primary human bronchial airway cells were assessed by means of quantitative bacterial culture and expressed as colony-forming units (CFU). After intranasal instillation of MS-WF, mice were infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung CFU values were determined. PAFR protein levels were assessed by using immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry, and PAFR mRNA expression was assessed by using quantitative PCR. PAFR was blocked by CV-3988, and oxidative stress was attenuated by N-acetylcysteine. Results: MS-WF exhibited high oxidative potential. In A549 and BEAS-2B cells MS-WF increased pneumococcal adhesion and infection and PAFR protein expression. Both CV-3988 and N-acetylcysteine reduced MS-WF–stimulated pneumococcal adhesion and infection of airway cells. MS-WF increased mouse lung PAFR mRNA expression and increased BALF and lung pneumococcal CFU values. In MS-WF–exposed mice CV-3988 reduced BALF CFU values. Conclusions Hypersusceptibility of welders to pneumococcal pneumonia is in part mediated by the capacity of welding fumes to increase PAFR-dependent pneumococcal adhesion and infection of lower airway cells. PMID:26277596

Presynaptic selectivity of a ligand for serotonin 1A receptors revealed by in vivo PET assays of rat brain.

PubMed

Saijo, Takeaki; Maeda, Jun; Okauchi, Takashi; Maeda, Jun-ichi; Morio, Yasunori; Kuwahara, Yasuhiro; Suzuki, Masayuki; Goto, Nobuharu; Fukumura, Toshimitsu; Suhara, Tetsuya; Higuchi, Makoto

2012-01-01

A novel investigational antidepressant with high affinity for the serotonin transporter and the serotonin 1A (5-HT(1A)) receptor, called Wf-516 (structural formula: (2S)-1-[4-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-3-[2-(5-methyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)benzo[b]furan-4-yloxy]propan-2-ol monohydrochloride), has been found to exert a rapid therapeutic effect, although the mechanistic basis for this potential advantage remains undetermined. We comparatively investigated the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of Wf-516 and pindolol by positron emission tomographic (PET) and autoradiographic assays of rat brains in order to elucidate their molecular interactions with presynaptic and postsynaptic 5-HT(1A) receptors. In contrast to the full receptor occupancy by pindolol in PET measurements, the binding of Wf-516 to 5-HT(1A) receptors displayed limited capacity, with relatively high receptor occupancy being achieved in regions predominantly containing presynaptic receptors. This selectivity was further proven by PET scans of neurotoxicant-treated rats deficient in presynaptic 5-HT(1A) receptors. In addition, [(35)S]guanosine 5'-O-[γ-thio]triphosphate autoradiography indicated a partial agonistic ability of Wf-516 for 5-HT(1A) receptors. This finding has lent support to reports that diverse partial agonists for 5-HT(1A) receptors exert high sensitivity for presynaptic components. Thus, the present PET data suggest a relatively high capacity of presynaptic binding sites for partial agonists. Since our in vitro and ex vivo autoradiographies failed to illustrate these distinct features of Wf-516, in vivo PET imaging is considered to be, thus far, the sole method capable of pharmacokinetically demonstrating the unique actions of Wf-516 and similar new-generation antidepressants.

Presynaptic Selectivity of a Ligand for Serotonin 1A Receptors Revealed by In Vivo PET Assays of Rat Brain

PubMed Central

Okauchi, Takashi; Maeda, Jun-ichi; Morio, Yasunori; Kuwahara, Yasuhiro; Suzuki, Masayuki; Goto, Nobuharu; Fukumura, Toshimitsu; Suhara, Tetsuya; Higuchi, Makoto

2012-01-01

A novel investigational antidepressant with high affinity for the serotonin transporter and the serotonin 1A (5-HT1A) receptor, called Wf-516 (structural formula: (2S)-1-[4-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-3-[2-(5-methyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)benzo[b]furan-4-yloxy]propan-2-ol monohydrochloride), has been found to exert a rapid therapeutic effect, although the mechanistic basis for this potential advantage remains undetermined. We comparatively investigated the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of Wf-516 and pindolol by positron emission tomographic (PET) and autoradiographic assays of rat brains in order to elucidate their molecular interactions with presynaptic and postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptors. In contrast to the full receptor occupancy by pindolol in PET measurements, the binding of Wf-516 to 5-HT1A receptors displayed limited capacity, with relatively high receptor occupancy being achieved in regions predominantly containing presynaptic receptors. This selectivity was further proven by PET scans of neurotoxicant-treated rats deficient in presynaptic 5-HT1A receptors. In addition, [35S]guanosine 5′-O-[γ-thio]triphosphate autoradiography indicated a partial agonistic ability of Wf-516 for 5-HT1A receptors. This finding has lent support to reports that diverse partial agonists for 5-HT1A receptors exert high sensitivity for presynaptic components. Thus, the present PET data suggest a relatively high capacity of presynaptic binding sites for partial agonists. Since our in vitro and ex vivo autoradiographies failed to illustrate these distinct features of Wf-516, in vivo PET imaging is considered to be, thus far, the sole method capable of pharmacokinetically demonstrating the unique actions of Wf-516 and similar new-generation antidepressants. PMID:22880045

Effects of Cordyceps militaris (L.) Fr. fermentation on the nutritional, physicochemical, functional properties and angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitory activity of red bean (Phaseolus angularis [Willd.] W.F. Wight.) flour.

PubMed

Xiao, Yu; Sun, Mingmei; Zhang, Qiuqin; Chen, Yulian; Miao, Junqing; Rui, Xin; Dong, Mingsheng

2018-04-01

The effects of solid-state fermentation with Cordyceps militaris (L.) Fr. on the nutritional, physicochemical, and functional properties as well as angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity of red bean ( Phaseolus angularis [Willd.] W.F. Wight.) flour were determined. Fermentation increased the amount of small peptides but significantly decreased large peptides. Fermentation also increased proteins and essential amino acids (by 9.31 and 13.89%, respectively) and improved the in vitro protein digestibility (6.54%) of red beans. Moreover, fermentation increased the water holding capacity (from 2.36 to 2.59 mL/g), fat absorption capacity (from 84.65 to 114.55%), emulsion activity (from 10.96 to 52.77%), emulsion stability (from 5.43 to 53.82%), and foaming stability (from 11.95 to 20.68%). Fermented red bean flour achieved a lower least gelation concentration of 14% than that of the control (18%). In contrast to the non-fermented red bean, the fermented red bean showed ACE inhibitory activity, with IC 50 value of 0.63 mg protein/mL. Overall, fermentation improved the nutritional, physicochemical, and functional properties as well as the biological activity of red bean flour. Thus, fermented red bean flour may serve as a novel nutritional and functional ingredient for applications in food design.

Blood coagulation system in patients with chronic kidney disease: a prospective observational study

PubMed Central

Huang, Meng-Jie; Wei, Ri-bao; Wang, Yang; Su, Ting-yu; Di, Ping; Li, Qing-ping; Yang, Xi; Li, Ping; Chen, Xiang-mei

2017-01-01

Objectives Thromboembolic events are the major factor affecting the prognosis of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Haemostatic alterations are possible causes of these complications, but their roles remain poorly characterised. In the prospective observational study, we investigated the entire coagulation process in patients with CKD to elucidate the mechanisms of their high thromboembolic risk. Methods A total of 95 patients with CKD and 20 healthy controls who met the inclusion criteria were consecutively recruited from September 2015 to March 2016. The platelet count, platelet aggregation, von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF:Ag), vWF ristocetin cofactor activity (vWF:RCo), fibrinogen, factor V (FV), FVII, FVIII, antithrombin III, protein C, protein S, D-dimer, standard coagulation tests and thromboelastography were measured in patients with CKD and controls. Associations between the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and haemostatic biomarkers were tested using multivariable linear regression. Results The adjusted and unadjusted levels of vWF:Ag, vWF:RCo, fibrinogen, FVII, FVIII and D-dimer were significantly higher in patients with CKD than that in the healthy controls, and were elevated with CKD progression. However, after adjustment for baseline differences, platelet aggregation and thromboelastography parameters showed no significant differences between patients with CKD and healthy controls. In the correlation analysis, vWF:Ag, vWF:RCo and FVIII were inversely associated with eGFR (r=−0.359, p<0.001; r=−0.391, p<0.001; r=−0.327, p<0.001, respectively). During the 1-year of follow-up, one cardiovascular event occurred in patients with CKD 5 stage, whereas no thromboembolic event occurred in the CKD 3 and 4 and control groups. Conclusions Patients with CKD are characterised by endothelial dysfunction and increased coagulation, especially FVIII activity. The abnormal haemostatic profiles may contribute to the elevated risk of thrombotic events but further longer-term study with large samples is still required to more precisely determine the relationship between the elevation of procoagulant factors and clinical outcomes. PMID:28576889

Blood coagulation system in patients with chronic kidney disease: a prospective observational study.

PubMed

Huang, Meng-Jie; Wei, Ri-Bao; Wang, Yang; Su, Ting-Yu; Di, Ping; Li, Qing-Ping; Yang, Xi; Li, Ping; Chen, Xiang-Mei

2017-06-01

Thromboembolic events are the major factor affecting the prognosis of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Haemostatic alterations are possible causes of these complications, but their roles remain poorly characterised. In the prospective observational study, we investigated the entire coagulation process in patients with CKD to elucidate the mechanisms of their high thromboembolic risk. A total of 95 patients with CKD and 20 healthy controls who met the inclusion criteria were consecutively recruited from September 2015 to March 2016. The platelet count, platelet aggregation, von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF:Ag), vWF ristocetin cofactor activity (vWF:RCo), fibrinogen, factor V (FV), FVII, FVIII, antithrombin III, protein C, protein S, D-dimer, standard coagulation tests and thromboelastography were measured in patients with CKD and controls. Associations between the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and haemostatic biomarkers were tested using multivariable linear regression. The adjusted and unadjusted levels of vWF:Ag, vWF:RCo, fibrinogen, FVII, FVIII and D-dimer were significantly higher in patients with CKD than that in the healthy controls, and were elevated with CKD progression. However, after adjustment for baseline differences, platelet aggregation and thromboelastography parameters showed no significant differences between patients with CKD and healthy controls. In the correlation analysis, vWF:Ag, vWF:RCo and FVIII were inversely associated with eGFR (r=-0.359, p<0.001; r=-0.391, p<0.001; r=-0.327, p<0.001, respectively). During the 1-year of follow-up, one cardiovascular event occurred in patients with CKD 5 stage, whereas no thromboembolic event occurred in the CKD 3 and 4 and control groups. Patients with CKD are characterised by endothelial dysfunction and increased coagulation, especially FVIII activity. The abnormal haemostatic profiles may contribute to the elevated risk of thrombotic events but further longer-term study with large samples is still required to more precisely determine the relationship between the elevation of procoagulant factors and clinical outcomes. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Water footprint of Jing-Jin-Ji urban agglomeration in China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, D.

2017-12-01

A rapidly expanding economy and increasing water demand for economic production is placing enormous stress on water quantity and aquatic environment in Northern China, especially the so-called Jing-Jin-Ji (Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei) urban agglomeration. Several studies have focused on energy consumption, air pollution, CO2 emissions and regional blue water footprint (WF) following release of the Jing-Jin-Ji Integration Strategy by the China government. However, a comprehensive assessment distinguishing blue, green and grey WF amongst different industrial sectors, ascertaining how WF transfers internally and beyond the region and final demand consumption is not available. In this study, we quantified the WF and virtual water flow on a sectoral basis for the year 2010 through coupling the multi-regional input-output model (MRIO) with WF assessment. The results showed that Beijing and Tianjin are net importers of green, blue and grey water from Hebei and other provinces to support their needs. Conversely, Hebei exports all WF colors to Beijing, Tianjin and other provinces in China, more than 60% of WF is transferred as virtual water. For the overall Jing-Jin-Ji region a small amount of blue water (2,086 million m3) is exported, but huge amounts of green water (15,573 million m3) and grey water (30,620 million m3) are outsourced. A "Virtual Water Strategy" is one measure which could alleviate water stress at the regional scale, with consideration of financial compensation from water receiving regions made to water supplying regions for achieving water management targets. We also found that physical water transfer to Jing-Jin-Ji could not balance virtual blue water exports. Our research suggests that a continuation of an export-based economic development model will worsen Hebei's water stress. Reducing the dependency of Hebei's sectoral economy on export of water intensive and low value added agricultural products may be one strategy to reduce the pressure on regional water resources. In addition, the Integration Strategy drives industrial transfer from Beijing to Hebei resulting in the transfer of enterprises with low water utilization efficiency and producing heavy pollution. Thus, the government should consider incentivizing corporations to adopt technologies that reduce water consumption and pollution.

Trade-off between blue and grey water footprint of crop production at different nitrogen application rates under various field management practices.

PubMed

Chukalla, Abebe D; Krol, Maarten S; Hoekstra, Arjen Y

2018-06-01

In irrigated crop production, nitrogen (N) is often applied at high rates in order to maximize crop yield. With such high rates, the blue water footprint (WF) per unit of crop is low, but the N-related grey WF per unit of crop yield is relatively high. This study explores the trade-off between blue and grey WF at different N-application rates (from 25 to 300 kg N ha -1  y -1 ) under various field management practices. We first analyse this trade-off under a reference management package (applying inorganic-N, conventional tillage, full irrigation). Next, we estimate the economically optimal N-application rate when putting a price to pollution. Finally, we consider the blue-grey WF trade-off for other management packages, a combination of inorganic-N or organic-N with conventional tillage or no-tillage, and full or deficit irrigation. We use the APEX model to simulate soil water and N balances and crop growth. As a case study, we consider irrigated maize on loam soil for the period 1998-2012 in a semi-arid environment in Spain. The results for the reference package show that increasing N application from 50 to 200 kg N ha -1 , with crop yield growing by a factor 3, involves a trade-off, whereby the blue WF per tonne declines by 60% but the N-related grey WF increases by 210%. Increasing N application from 25 to 50 kg N ha -1 , with yield increasing by a factor 2, is a no-regret move, because blue and grey WFs per tonne are reduced by 40% and 8%, respectively. Decreasing N application from 300 to 200 kg N ha -1 is a no-regret move as well. The minimum blue WF per tonne is found at N application of 200 kg N ha -1 , with a price of 8 $ kg -1 of N load to water pollution the economically optimal N-application rate is 150 kg N ha -1 . Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Influence of Steam Injection and Water-in-Oil Emulsions on Diesel Fuel Combustion Performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sung, Meagan

Water injection can be an effective strategy for reducing NOx because water's high specific heat allows it to absorb heat and lower system temperatures. Introducing water as an emulsion can potentially be more effective at reducing emissions than steam injection due to physical properties (such as microexplosions) that can improve atomization and increase mixing. Unfortunately, the immiscibility of emulsions makes them difficult to work with so they must be mixed properly. In this effort, a method for adequately mixing surfactant-free emulsions was established and verified using high speed cinematography. As the water to fuel mass ratio (W/F) increased, emulsion atomization tests showed little change in droplet size and spray angle, but a shorter overall breakup point. Dual-wavelength planar laser induced fluorescence (D-PLIF) patternation showed an increase in water near the center of the spray. Steam injection flames saw little change in reaction stability, but emulsion flames experienced significant losses in stability that limited reaction operability at higher W/F. Emulsions were more effective at reducing NOx than steam injection, likely because of liquid water's latent heat of vaporization and the strategic injection of water into the flame core. OH* chemiluminescence showed a decrease in heat release for both methods, though the decrease was greater for emulsions. Both methods saw decreases in flame length for W/F 0.15. Lastly, flame imaging showed a shift towards a redder appearance with the addition or more water, as well as a reduction in flame flares.

Dissociative recombination and mutual neutralization of heavier molecular ions: C{sub 10}H{sub 8}{sup +}, WF{sub 5}{sup +}, and C{sub n}F{sub m}{sup +}

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

Wiens, Justin P.; Shuman, Nicholas S.; Viggiano, Albert A., E-mail: afrl.rvborgmailbox@kirtland.af.mil

Dissociative recombination (DR) rate coefficients for the naphthalene cation, C{sub 10}H{sub 8}{sup +}, and WF{sub 5}{sup +}, and mutual neutralization (MN) rate coefficients for these species and five C{sub n}F{sub m}{sup +} ions, were determined at 300 K using variable electron and neutral density attachment mass spectrometry (VENDAMS). DR proceeds at 9 ± 3 × 10{sup −7} cm{sup 3} s{sup −1} for C{sub 10}H{sub 8}{sup +} and at 6.1 ± 1.4 × 10{sup −7} cm{sup 3} s{sup −1} for WF{sub 5}{sup +}. Consistent with previous results, MN for the polyatomic cations with the halide anions Cl{sup −}, Br{sup −}, andmore » I{sup −} exhibits an approximate μ{sup −1/2} reduced mass dependence of the reactant partners, demonstrating that ion collision velocities influence the rate coefficients. This work is an extension of VENDAMS to systems, where low reactant concentrations are necessary to avoid significant reaction of product ions with the neutral precursor, i.e., conditions not suitable for traditional flowing afterglow measurements, as well as to ions of masses > ∼ 100 Da, which are not amenable to the study of DR in magnetic storage rings. Our results expand the sparse literature on DR and MN of heavier ions.« less

Analysis of the Influence of Starting Materials and Processing Conditions on the Properties of W/Cu Alloys

PubMed Central

Montealegre-Meléndez, Isabel; Arévalo, Cristina; Perez-Soriano, Eva M.; Neubauer, Erich; Rubio-Escudero, Cristina; Kitzmantel, Michael

2017-01-01

In this work, a study of the influence of the starting materials and the processing time used to develop W/Cu alloys is carried out. Regarding powder metallurgy as a promising fabrication route, the difficulties in producing W/Cu alloys motivated us to investigate the influential factors on the final properties of the most industrially demanding alloys: 85-W/15-Cu, 80-W/20-Cu, and 75-W/25-Cu alloys. Two different tungsten powders with large variation among their particle size—fine (Wf) and coarse (Wc) powders—were used for the preparation of W/Cu alloys. Three weight ratios of fine and coarse (Wf:Wc) tungsten particles were analyzed. These powders were labelled as “tungsten bimodal powders”. The powder blends were consolidated by rapid sinter pressing (RSP) at 900 °C and 150 MPa, and were thus sintered and compacted simultaneously. The elemental powders and W/Cu alloys were studied by optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Thermal conductivity, hardness, and densification were measured. Results showed that the synthesis of W/Cu using bimodal tungsten powders significantly affects the final alloy properties. The higher the tungsten content, the more noticeable the effect of the bimodal powder. The best bimodal W powder was the blend with 10 wt % of fine tungsten particles (10-Wf:90-Wc). These specimens present good values of densification and hardness, and higher values of thermal conductivity than other bimodal mixtures. PMID:28772502

47 CFR 69.305 - Carrier cable and wire facilities (C&WF).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 3 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Carrier cable and wire facilities (C&WF). 69.305 Section 69.305 Telecommunication FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (CONTINUED) COMMON CARRIER SERVICES (CONTINUED) ACCESS CHARGES Apportionment of Net Investment § 69.305 Carrier cable and wire...

47 CFR 69.305 - Carrier cable and wire facilities (C&WF).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 3 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Carrier cable and wire facilities (C&WF). 69.305 Section 69.305 Telecommunication FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (CONTINUED) COMMON CARRIER SERVICES (CONTINUED) ACCESS CHARGES Apportionment of Net Investment § 69.305 Carrier cable and wire...

Future electricity: The challenge of reducing both carbon and water footprint.

PubMed

Mekonnen, Mesfin M; Gerbens-Leenes, P W; Hoekstra, Arjen Y

2016-11-01

We estimate the consumptive water footprint (WF) of electricity and heat in 2035 for the four energy scenarios of the International Energy Agency (IEA) and a fifth scenario with a larger percentage of solar energy. Counter-intuitively, the 'greenest' IEA scenario (with the smallest carbon footprint) shows the largest WF increase over time: an increase by a factor four over the period 2010-2035. In 2010, electricity from solar, wind, and geothermal contributed 1.8% to the total. The increase of this contribution to 19.6% in IEA's '450 scenario' contributes significantly to the decrease of the WF of the global electricity and heat sector, but is offset by the simultaneous increase of the use of firewood and hydropower. Only substantial growth in the fractions of energy sources with small WFs - solar, wind, and geothermal energy - can contribute to a lowering of the WF of the electricity and heat sector in the coming decades. The fifth energy scenario - adapted from the IEA 450 scenario but based on a quick transition to solar, wind and geothermal energy and a minimum in bio-energy - is the only scenario that shows a strong decline in both carbon footprint (-66%) and consumptive WF (-12%) in 2035 compared to the reference year 2010. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Pea Fiber and Wheat Bran Fiber Show Distinct Metabolic Profiles in Rats as Investigated by a 1H NMR-Based Metabolomic Approach

PubMed Central

Liu, Guangmang; Xiao, Liang; Fang, Tingting; Cai, Yimin; Jia, Gang; Zhao, Hua; Wang, Jing; Chen, Xiaoling; Wu, Caimei

2014-01-01

This study aimed to examine the effect of pea fiber (PF) and wheat bran fiber (WF) supplementation in rat metabolism. Rats were assigned randomly to one of three dietary groups and were given a basal diet containing 15% PF, 15% WF, or no supplemental fiber. Urine and plasma samples were analyzed by NMR-based metabolomics. PF significantly increased the plasma levels of 3-hydroxybutyrate, and myo-inositol as well as the urine levels of alanine, hydroxyphenylacetate, phenylacetyglycine, and α-ketoglutarate. However, PF significantly decreased the plasma levels of isoleucine, leucine, lactate, and pyruvate as well as the urine levels of allantoin, bile acids, and trigonelline. WF significantly increased the plasma levels of acetone, isobutyrate, lactate, myo-inositol, and lipids as well as the urine levels of alanine, lactate, dimethylglycine, N-methylniconamide, and α-ketoglutarate. However, WF significantly decreased the plasma levels of amino acids, and glucose as well as the urine levels of acetate, allantoin, citrate, creatine, hippurate, hydroxyphenylacetate, and trigonelline. Results suggest that PF and WF exposure can promote antioxidant activity and can exhibit common systemic metabolic changes, including lipid metabolism, energy metabolism, glycogenolysis and glycolysis metabolism, protein biosynthesis, and gut microbiota metabolism. PF can also decrease bile acid metabolism. These findings indicate that different fiber diet may cause differences in the biofluid profile in rats. PMID:25541729

Water consumption related to different diets in Mediterranean cities.

PubMed

Vanham, D; Del Pozo, S; Pekcan, A G; Keinan-Boker, L; Trichopoulou, A; Gawlik, B M

2016-12-15

Providing the sustainable development goals (SDGs) water, food and energy security to cities relies strongly on resource use outside city borders. Many modern cities have recently invested in a sustainable urban water system, and score high in international city rankings regarding water management and direct urban water use. However, these rankings generally neglect external resource use for cities. Here we quantify the water resources related to food consumption in thirteen cities located in Mediterranean countries, by means of the water footprint (WF) concept. These WFs amount from 3277l per capita per day (l/cap/d) to 5789l/cap/d. These amounts are about thirty times higher than their direct urban water use. We additionally analyse the WF of three diet scenarios, based upon a Mediterranean dietary pattern. Many authors identify the Mediterranean diet as cultural heritage, being beneficial for human health and a model for a sustainable food system. The first diet scenario, a healthy Mediterranean diet including meat, leads to WF reductions of -19% to -43%. The second diet scenario (pesco-vegetarian), leads to WF reductions of -28% to -52%. The third diet scenario (vegetarian), leads to WF reductions of -30% to -53%. In other words, if urban citizens want to save water, they need to look at their diets. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

One-pot preparation of conducting composite containing abundant amino groups on electrode surface for electrochemical detection of von willebrand factor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Wen; Ma, Chao; Li, Yi; Liu, Baihui; Tan, Liang

2018-03-01

A one-pot protocol based on cyclic voltammetric scan was employed to prepare new conducting composite that was abundant in amino groups. The scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and infrared spectrum characterization demonstrate that poly(azure A), gold nanoparticles, chitosan and cysteine were immobilized simultaneously on glassy carbon electrode surface. Von Willebrand factor (vWF) antibody (Ab) was subsequently assembled by using glutaraldehyde to construct the Ab/composite-modified electrode. The capture of vWF could inhibit the charge transfer between the ferri-/ferrocyanide probe and the electrode and exert the negative effect on the electrochemical response of the dye polymer in the conducting composite due to the strong steric hindrance effect. The DPV peak current change before and after the immunoreaction was found to be proportional to the logarithm of the vWF concentration from 0.001 to 100 μg mL-1 with a detection limit of 0.4 ng mL-1. The proposed label-free electrochemical method was employed in the investigation on the release of vWF by oxidation-injured vascular endothelial cells. The experimental results exhibit that the vWF content in growth medium was increased when the oxidation injury of the cells was intensified in the presence of H2O2.

Lactobacillus paracasei GMNL-32 exerts a therapeutic effect on cardiac abnormalities in NZB/W F1 mice

PubMed Central

Rajendran, Peramaiyan; Tzang, Bor-Show; Yeh, Yu-Lan; Shen, Chia-Yao; Chen, Ray-Jade; Ho, Tsung-Jung; Vijaya Padma, Viswanadha

2017-01-01

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a disease that mostly affects women. Accelerated atherosclerosis is a high-risk factor associated with SLE patients. SLE associated with cardiovascular disease is one of the most important causes of death. In this study, we demonstrated that Lactobacillus paracasei GMNL-32 (GMNL-32), a probiotic species, exhibits anti-fibrosis and anti-apoptotic effects on the cardiac tissue of NZB/WF1 mice. Female NZB/W F1 mice, a well-known and commonly used lupus-prone mouse strain, were treated with or without GMNL-32 administration for 12 weeks. Oral administration of GMNL-32 to NZB/WF1 mice significantly increased the ventricular thickness when compared to that of NZB/WF1 mice. Administration of GMNL-32 significantly attenuated the cardiac cell apoptosis that was observed in exacerbate levels in the control NZB/WF1 mice. Further, the cellular morphology that was slightly distorted in the NZB/WF1 was effectively alleviated in the treatment group mice. In addition, GMNL-32 reduced the level of Fas death receptor-related pathway of apoptosis signaling and enhanced anti-apoptotic proteins. These results indicate that GMNL-32 exhibit an effective protective effect on cardiac cells of SLE mice. Thus, GMNL-32 may be a potential therapeutic strategy against SLE associated arthrosclerosis. PMID:28934296

Spatial pattern characteristics of water footprint for maize production in Northeast China.

PubMed

Duan, Peili; Qin, Lijie; Wang, Yeqiao; He, Hongshi

2016-01-30

Water footprint (WF) methodology is essential for quantifying total water consumption of crop production and making efficient water management policies. This study calculated the green, blue, grey and total WFs of maize production in Northeast China from 1998 to 2012 and compared the values of the provinces. This study also analyzed the spatial variation and structure characteristics of the WFs at the prefecture level. The annual average WF of maize production was 1029 m(3) per ton, which was 51% green, 21% blue and 28% grey. The WF of maize production was highest in Liaoning Province, moderate in Heilongjiang Province and lowest in Jilin Province. The spatial differences of the WFs calculated for the 36 major maize production prefectures were significant in Northeast China. There was a moderate positive spatial autocorrelation among prefectures that had similar WFs. Local indicator of spatial autocorrelation index (LISA) analysis identified prefectures with higher WFs in the southeast region of Liaoning Province and the southwest region of Heilongjiang Province and prefectures with lower WFs in the middle of Jilin Province. Spatial differences in the WF of maize production were caused mainly by variations in climate conditions, soil quality, irrigation facilities and maize yield. The spatial distribution of WFs can help provide a scientific basis for optimizing maize production distribution and then formulate strategies to reduce the WF of maize production. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.

Collaborative Decision Making in METOC

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-01-01

desired effect (Eagly, & Chaiken, 1993). Arguably, artificial intelligence is representative of the best of approaches in rational decision - making ...2001), The quantum of social action and the function of emotion in decision - making , Emotional and Intelligent II: The Tangled Knot of Social...Collaborative decision making in METOC W.F. Lawless Paine College, Departments of Mathematics and Psychology Augusta, GA 30901-3182 ph: 706

Geologic setting of massive sulfide deposits and hydrothermal vents along the southern Juan de Fuca Ridge

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

Normark, W.R.; Morton, J.L.; Delaney, J.R.

1982-01-01

This report incorporates data from two cruises of the USGS vessel SP LEE: (1) L12-80-WF from 29 October to 13 November 1980, and (2) L11-81-WF from 4 to 15 September 1981. The 1980 cruise occurred long after the optimum weather window for this region. The natural results was that no photographic or sample stations could be attempted during nearly continuous gale- and storm-force winds, which twice forced the vessel to depart the work area for safety. A detailed bathymetric survey of a 35-km segment of the ridge axial zone was completed nonetheless, and the bathymetric map compiled from this surveymore » was used as the base for our second cruise in 1981. The second visit to the area was blessed with fair weather, and most of the cruise effort was devoted to photography and sampling, including dredging and hydrocasts in the axial valley segment, which is the central part of the area surveyed in 1980.« less

Zebrafish Locomotor Responses Predict Irritant Potential of Smoke Particulate Matter from Five Biomass Fuels

EPA Science Inventory

Over the past few decades, the drying and warming trends of global climate change have increased wildland fire (WF) season length, as well as geographic area impacted. Consequently, exposures to WF fine particulate matter (PM2.5; aerodynamic diameter <2.5 µm) are likely ...

Word Fluency: A Task Analysis.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Laine, Matti

It is suggested that models of human problem solving are useful in the analysis of word fluency (WF) test performance. In problem-solving terms, WF tasks would require the subject to define and clarify the conditions of the task (task acquisition), select and employ appropriate strategies, and monitor one's performance. In modern neuropsychology,…

47 CFR 36.621 - Study area total unseparated loop cost.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... investment and Exchange Line CO Circuit Equipment Category 4.13 investment. This amount is calculated by deducting the accumulated depreciation and noncurrent deferred Federal income taxes attributable to C&WF...) Maintenance expense attributable to C&WF subcategory 1.3 investment, and CO Category 4.13 investment as...

47 CFR 36.621 - Study area total unseparated loop cost.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... investment and Exchange Line CO Circuit Equipment Category 4.13 investment. This amount is calculated by deducting the accumulated depreciation and noncurrent deferred Federal income taxes attributable to C&WF...) Maintenance expense attributable to C&WF subcategory 1.3 investment, and CO Category 4.13 investment as...

47 CFR 36.621 - Study area total unseparated loop cost.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... investment and Exchange Line CO Circuit Equipment Category 4.13 investment. This amount is calculated by deducting the accumulated depreciation and noncurrent deferred Federal income taxes attributable to C&WF...) Maintenance expense attributable to C&WF subcategory 1.3 investment, and CO Category 4.13 investment as...

47 CFR 54.1308 - Study Area Total Unseparated Loop Cost.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... C&WF subcategory 1.3 investment and Exchange Line CO Circuit Equipment Category 4.13 investment. This amount is calculated by deducting the accumulated depreciation and noncurrent deferred Federal... investment as reported in § 54.1305(c). (3) Maintenance expense attributable to C&WF Subcategory 1.3...

Research of thermionic converter collector properties in model experiments with surface control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Agafonov, Valerii R.; Vizgalov, Anatolii V.; Iarygin, Valerii I.

Consideration was given to a possible scheme of phenomena on electrodes leading to changes in emission properties (EP) of a thermionic converter (TEC) collector. It was based on technology and materials typical of the TOPAZ-type reactor-converter (TRC). The element composition (EC), near-surface layer (NSL) structure, and work function (WF) of a collector made from niobium-based polycrystal alloy were studied within this scheme experimentally. The influence of any media except for the interelectrode gap (IEG) medium was excluded when investigating the effect of thermovacuum treatment (TVT) as well as the influence of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and methane on the NSL characteristics. Experimental data and analytical estimates of the impact of fission products of the nuclear fuel on collector EP are presented. The calculation of possible TRC electrical power decrease was also carried out.

Influence of doum (Hyphaene thebaica L.) flour addition on dough mixing properties, bread quality and antioxidant potential.

PubMed

Aboshora, Waleed; Lianfu, Zhang; Dahir, Mohammed; Qingran, Meng; Musa, Abubakr; Gasmalla, Mohammed A A; Omar, Khamis Ali

2016-01-01

In this covenant of functional foods, the world seeks for new healthier food products with appropriate proportions of bioactive constituents such as fiber, mineral elements, phenols and flavonoids. The doum fruit has good nutritional and pharmaceutical properties; therefore, its incorporation in breads could be beneficial in improving human health. In the current study, partial substitution of wheat flour (WF) with doum fruit flour (DFF) at levels of 5 %, 10 %, 15 % and 20 % were carried out to investigate the dough viscoelastic properties, baking performance, proximate compositions and antioxidant properties of the breads. Partial substitution of WF with DFF increased the water absorption and developing time of dough (P ≤ 0.05), while, the dough extensibility, resistance to extension and the deformation energy were reduced. Bread supplemented with DFF resulted in a reduction in quality in terms of specific loaf volume, conferred softness, hardness, cohesiveness and gumminess to the bread crumbs. DFF up to 15 % could partially replace WF in bread; increase its nutritional value in terms of fiber content and minerals, with only a small depreciation in the bread quality. Sensory evaluation showed that breads supplemented up to 15 % DFF were acceptable to the panelists and there was no significant difference in terms of taste, texture and overall acceptability compared to the control. The incorporation of DFF increased the total phenolic contents, total flavonoids contents and antioxidant properties compared to the control (for both flour and bread).

Improved endothelial function and lipid profile compensate for impaired hemostatic and inflammatory status in iatrogenic chronic subclinical hyperthyroidism of thyroid cancer patients on L-t4 therapy.

PubMed

Gazdag, A; Nagy, E V; Burman, K D; Paragh, G; Jenei, Z

2010-06-01

We aimed to compare the changes of endothelial function and haemostatic, inflammatory and metabolic parameters of short-term iatrogenic hypothyroidism to the characteristics of subclinical hyperthyroidism in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. Twenty four women (mean age 42.4+/-8.1 years) had undergone total thyroidectomy and radioiodine ablation in treatment for differentiated thyroid cancer. We measured serum thyroglobulin, thyroid function, plasma levels of lipid parameters, homocystine, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, von Willebrandt factor activity (vWF), nitric oxide, as well as flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD) and nitroglycerin-mediated vasodilatation of the brachial artery during iatrogenic hypothyroidism (TSH 89.82+/-29.36 mU/L) and again in the same patients during subclinical hyperthyroidism secondary to exogenous levothyroxine administration (TSH 0.24+/-0.11 mU/L). In hypothyroidism, FMD was markedly lower than in subclinical hyperthyroidism (6.79+/-4.44 vs. 14.37+/-8.33%, p<0.005). Total cholesterol (7.34+/-1.23 vs. 4.75+/-1.14 mmol/L, p<0.001), LDL-cholesterol (4.55+/-1.10 vs. 2.70+/-0.89 mmol/L, p<0.005) and homocystine (12.95+/-4.49 vs. 9.62+/-2.29 micromol/L, p<0.005) were significantly higher in hypothyroidism. There was no difference in nitroglycerin-mediated vasodilatation, blood pressure, serum triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol levels according to thyroid function. Fibrinogen (3.23+/-0.50 vs. 4.01+/-0.84 g/L, p<0.005), vWF (90.09+/-25.92 vs.130.63+/-29.97%, p<0.001), C-reactive protein (4.39+/-5.16 vs. 5.55+/-5.15 mg/L, p<0.001) and plasma nitric oxide (24.56+/-6.71 vs. 32.34+/-7.0 micromol/L, <0.005) values were significantly lower in hypothyroidism. FMD correlated in a positive manner with fibrinogen, vWF and nitrogen oxide. Chronic subclinical hyperthyroidism was associated with improved endothelial function and lipid profile, while haemostatic and inflammatory parameters were impaired. The two opposite mechanisms may well compensate for each other at the level of the vessel wall. (c) J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart, New York.

Thermal behavior of extracted and delignified pine wood flour

Treesearch

Yao Chen; Mandla A. Tshabalala; Jianmin Gao; Nicole M. Stark; Yongming Fan; Rebecca E. Ibach

2014-01-01

To investigate the effect of extractives and lignin on the thermal stability of wood flour (WF), thermogravimetric analysis was used to determine thermal degradation behavior of extracted and delignified mixed pine WF. The contribution of lignin to thermal stability was greater than that of extractives. Removing extractives resulted in improved thermal stability by...

47 CFR 36.156 - Interexchange Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF)-Category 3-apportionment procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... cost per equivalent interexchange telephone circuit kilometer for all circuits in Category 3 is determined and applied to the equivalent interexchange telephone circuit kilometer counts of each of the... Interexchange Cable and Wire Facilities C&WF where feasible. All study areas shall apportion the non-directly...

47 CFR 36.156 - Interexchange Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF)-Category 3-apportionment procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... cost per equivalent interexchange telephone circuit kilometer for all circuits in Category 3 is determined and applied to the equivalent interexchange telephone circuit kilometer counts of each of the... Interexchange Cable and Wire Facilities C&WF where feasible. All study areas shall apportion the non-directly...

47 CFR 36.156 - Interexchange Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF)-Category 3-apportionment procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... cost per equivalent interexchange telephone circuit kilometer for all circuits in Category 3 is determined and applied to the equivalent interexchange telephone circuit kilometer counts of each of the... Interexchange Cable and Wire Facilities C&WF where feasible. All study areas shall apportion the non-directly...

47 CFR 36.156 - Interexchange Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF)-Category 3-apportionment procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... cost per equivalent interexchange telephone circuit kilometer for all circuits in Category 3 is determined and applied to the equivalent interexchange telephone circuit kilometer counts of each of the... Interexchange Cable and Wire Facilities C&WF where feasible. All study areas shall apportion the non-directly...

Cooking and Fe fortification have different effects on Fe bioavailability of bread and tortillas.

PubMed

Hernández, Miguel; Sousa, Virginia; Villalpando, Salvador; Moreno, Ambar; Montalvo, Irene; López-Alarcón, Mardya

2006-02-01

To identify iron sources for wheat- (WF) and corn-flour (CF) fortification taking into account the effect of cooking. Sixty-six Fe-depleted rats were replete with various Fe sources. Fe bioavailability and utilization in wheat bread (WB) and corn tortillas (CT) fortified with various Fe sources was assessed after the depletion and repletion periods. Baking decreased the phytates content of WF by 97%. Improvements in Hb and FeHb were greater in rats fed unfortified WB than in those fed unfortified WF. Fe fortification had no benefit. In contrast, phytates content was unchanged by tortilla preparation, but fortification improved iron availability. Iron bioavailability indicators were best in rats fed CT fortified with ferrous sulfate and NaFe(III)EDTA than in those fed unfortified CT or CT plus reduced Fe. We concluded that baking WF bread improved the bioavailability of native Fe with no further effect of fortification. Pan-cooking of lime-treated CF did not improve Fe bioavailability, but addition of Ferrous sulfate or NaFe(III)EDTA did it, despite the high phytate and calcium content of tortillas.

Effect of mineral and organic fertilization on grey water footprint in a fertirrigated crop under semiarid conditions.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Castellanos Serrano, María Teresa; Requejo Mariscal, María Isabel; Cartagena Causapé, María Carmen; Arce Martínez, Augusto; Ribas Elcorobarrutia, Francisco; Jesús Cabello Cabello, María; María Tarquis Alfonso, Ana

2016-04-01

The concept of "water footprint" (WF) was introduced as an indicator for the total volume of direct and indirect freshwater used, consumed and/or polluted [1]. The WF distinguishes between blue water (volume of surface and groundwater consumed), green water (rain-water consumed), and grey water (volume of freshwater that is required to assimilate the load of pollutants based on existing ambient water quality standards). In semiarid scenarios with low water quality, where the irrigation is necessary to maintain production, green WF is zero because the effective rainfall is negligible. As well as blue WF includes: i) extra consumption or irrigation water that the farmer has to apply to compensate the fail of uniformity on discharge of drips, ii) percolation out of control or salts leaching, which depends on the salt tolerance of the crop, soil and quality of irrigation water, to ensure the fruit yield. The major concern is grey WF, because the irrigation and nitrogen dose have to be adjusted to the crop needs in order to minimize nitrate pollution. This study is focused in assessment mineral and organic fertilization on grey WF in a fertirrigated melon crop under semiarid conditions, which is principally cultivated in the centre of Spain declared vulnerable zone to nitrate pollution by applying the Directive 91/676/CEE. During successive years, a melon crop (Cucumis melo L.) was grown under field conditions. Different doses of ammonium nitrate were used as well as compost derived from the wine-distillery industry which is relevant in this area. Acknowledgements: This project has been supported by INIA-RTA04-111-C3 and INIA-RTA2010-00110-C03. Keywords: Water footprint, nitrogen, fertirrigation, inorganic fertilizers, organic amendments, semiarid conditions. [1] Hoekstra, A.Y. 2003. Virtual water trade. Proceedings of the International Expert Meeting on Virtual Water Trade, Delft, The Netherlands, 12-13 December 2002. Value of Water Research Report Series No. 12, UNESCO-IHE, Delft, The Netherlands.

Association of dental caries with socioeconomic status in relation to different water fluoridation levels.

PubMed

Cho, Hyun-Jae; Lee, Heung-Soo; Paik, Dai-Il; Bae, Kwang-Hak

2014-12-01

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of dental caries in 11-year-old children, related to water fluoridation and family affluence scale (FAS), as an indicator of socioeconomic status (SES) in Korea. A total of eight areas were selected for study: four areas with fluoridated piped water (WF areas) and four areas with nonfluoridated piped water (non-WF areas). Non-WF areas had a similar economic level and population size compared with the WF areas. A total of 1446 elementary school students, 11 years of age, were included. They were examined, and questionnaires completed by their parents were analyzed. In the questionnaire, information about gender, FAS as an indicator of SES, occasions of daily cariogenic snack intake, occasions of daily cariogenic beverage intake, drinking of piped water, cooking with piped water, and usage of oral hygiene supplemental measures were surveyed. The bivariate association between the characteristics of the subjects and the number of decayed, filled, and missing permanent teeth (DMFT score) was analyzed through an independent samples t-test. The difference in the mean DMFT score between different FAS groups was analyzed by DMFT ratio, after adjusting for gender, oral health behaviors, and usage of piped water variables. The DMFT ratio was calculated from a Poisson regression model, because the DMFT score was not normally distributed. There was no significant association between FAS and the mean DMFT score in both areas, by bivariate analysis. After adjusting for each group of confounders, a significant association (95% CI: 1.032-1.513) was found between the FAS and mean DMFT scores in non-WF areas; however, no significant difference was observed in the WF areas (95% CI: 0.766-1.382). This study supported that water fluoridation could not only lead to a lower prevalence of dental caries, but also help to reduce the effect of SES inequalities on oral health. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Crystal Phases Formed in a CaO-Fe2O3 System Under a High Cooling Rate in Air

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kashiwaya, Yoshiaki

2017-12-01

A CaO-Fe2O3 system is a fundamental binary system for the iron ore sintering process. Although the basic reactions have been investigated since the 1960s, melting and solidification caused by the combustion of coke results in an unstable state owing to extreme temperature variations. In this study, using a hot thermocouple method, samples of 10 pct CaO-90 pct Fe2O3 and 20 pct CaO-80 pct Fe2O3 were melted on a thermocouple and quenched with several techniques. The obtained samples were precisely examined by XRD. It was found that the sample containing 10 pct CaO-90 pct Fe2O3 changed to 10 pct CaO-13 pct FeO-77 pct Fe2O3 under an oxygen partial pressure ( P_{{{O}2 }} ) of 0.21 during melting. For the 10 pct CaO sample, the crystal phases found at a low cooling rate (509 K/s) were WFss, C4WF8 (C: CaO, W: FeO, F: Fe2O3), and C2W4F9. When the sample composition was 20 pct CaO, the precipitated crystal phases were C4WF4, C4F7, and C4WF8. On the other hand, the crystal phases for high cooling rates (1590 and 7900 K/s) with 10 pct CaO were WFss (solid solution of WF and F), F, and C2W4F9. The formation of the equilibrium phases WFss, F, C4WF4, and C4WF8 can be understood by examining the isothermal section of the phase diagrams, while the unstable phases C2W4F9 and C4F7 are discussed on the basis of the reactions under an equilibrium state.

Evaluation of a disintegrin-like and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type 1 repeat motifs 13 (ADAMTS13) activity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for measuring plasma ADAMTS13 activity in dogs.

PubMed

Maruyama, Haruhiko; Kaneko, Michiko; Otake, Taiga; Kano, Rui; Yamaya, Yoshiki; Watari, Toshihiro; Hasegawa, Atsuhiko; Kamata, Hiroshi

2014-03-01

A disintegrin-like and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type 1 repeat motifs 13 (ADAMTS13) is a von Willebrand factor (vWF)-cleaving protease. Deficiencies in ADAMTS13 activity are known to cause thrombotic diseases in human beings. The present study evaluated whether the human ADAMTS13 activity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit containing human vWF73 (a minimal substrate) and anti-N10 antibody (which specifically recognizes the decapeptide of the C-terminal edge of cleaved vWF by human ADAMTS13) is applicable to the measurement of canine plasma ADAMTS13 activity. Human vWF73 fused with a GST-tag and a His-tag (GST-hvWF73-His) was reacted with recombinant canine (rc)ADAMTS13, canine plasma, and human plasma, and then used in Western blotting using anti-N10 antibody. Linearity and intra- and interassay reproducibility of the human ADAMTS13 activity ELISA kit in canine plasma were further evaluated. Finally, plasma ADAMTS13 activity was measured in 13 healthy dogs and 6 dogs with bacteremia using the human ADAMTS13 activity ELISA kit. Cleaved products with a 28-kDa GST-hvWF73-His were detected specifically in rcADAMTS13 as well as in human ADAMTS13, and also in canine plasma by anti-N10 antibody, showing excellent linearity. Intra-assay coefficient of variation (CV) was 3.0-12.4%, and interassay CV was 11.5-12.5%. The ADAMTS13 activity was significantly lower in dogs with bacteremia than in healthy dogs (P = 0.0025). The current study revealed that the human ADAMTS13 activity ELISA kit is applicable for measurement of canine plasma ADAMTS13 activity to elucidate the pathology of thrombotic diseases in dogs.

Urban consumption of meat and milk and its green and blue water footprints-Patterns in the 1980s and 2000s for Nairobi, Kenya.

PubMed

Bosire, Caroline K; Lannerstad, Mats; de Leeuw, Jan; Krol, Maarten S; Ogutu, Joseph O; Ochungo, Pamela A; Hoekstra, Arjen Y

2017-02-01

Various studies show that the developing world experiences and will continue to experience a rise in consumption of animal proteins, particularly in cities, as a result of continued urbanization and income growth. Given the relatively large water footprint (WF) of animal products, this trend is likely to increase the pressure on already scarce water resources. We estimate, analyse and interpret the changes in consumption of meat and milk between the 1980s and 2000s for three income classes in Nairobi, the ratio of domestic production to imports, and the WF (the volume of freshwater consumed) to produce these commodities in Kenya and abroad. Nairobi's middle-income class grew much faster than the overall population. In addition, milk consumption per capita by the middle-income group grew faster than for the city's population as a whole. Contrary to expectation, average meat consumption per capita across all income groups in Nairobi declined by 11%. Nevertheless, total meat consumption increased by a factor 2.2 as a result of population growth, while total milk consumption grew by a factor 5. As a result, the total WF of meat consumption increased by a factor 2.3 and the total WF of milk consumption by a factor 4.2. The increase in milk consumption was met by increased domestic production, whereas the growth in meat consumption was partly met through imports and an enlargement of the footprint in the countries neighbouring Kenya. A likely future rise in the consumption of meat and milk in Nairobi will further enlarge the city's WF. Given Kenya's looming blue water scarcity, it is anticipated that this WF will increasingly spill over the borders of the country. Accordingly, policies aimed at meeting the rise in demand for meat and milk should consider the associated environmental constraints and the economic implications both nationally and internationally. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Inter- and intra-annual variation of water footprint of crops and blue water scarcity in the Yellow River basin (1961-2009)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhuo, La; Mekonnen, Mesfin M.; Hoekstra, Arjen Y.; Wada, Yoshihide

2016-01-01

The Yellow River Basin (YRB), the second largest river basin of China, has experienced a booming agriculture over the past decades. But data on variability of and trends in water consumption, pollution and scarcity in the YRB are lacking. We estimate, for the first time, the inter- and intra-annual water footprint (WF) of crop production in the YRB for the period 1961-2009 and the variation of monthly scarcity of blue water (ground and surface water) for 1978-2009, by comparing the blue WF of agriculture, industry and households in the basin to the maximum sustainable level. Results show that the average overall green (from rainfall) and blue (from irrigation) WFs of crops in the period 2001-2009 were 14% and 37% larger, respectively, than in the period 1961-1970. The annual nitrogen- and phosphorus-related grey WFs (water required to assimilate pollutants) of crop production grew by factors of 24 and 36, respectively. The green-blue WF per ton of crop reduced significantly due to improved crop yields, while the grey WF increased because of the growing application of fertilizers. The ratio of blue to green WF increased during the study period resulting from the expansion of irrigated agriculture. In the period 1978-2009, the annual total blue WFs related to agriculture, industry and households varied between 19% and 52% of the basin's natural runoff. The blue WF in the YRB generally peaks around May-July, two months earlier than natural peak runoff. On average, the YRB faced moderate to severe blue water scarcity during seven months (January-July) per year. Even in the wettest month in a wet year, about half of the area of the YRB still suffered severe blue water scarcity, especially in the basin's northern part.

Word Retrieval Latencies as a Function of Frequency and Age-of-Acquisition Priming, Repeated Trials, and Individual Differences.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carroll, John B.

In three immediately succeeding trials, 45 young adults named 50 pictures of objects as rapidly as possible; word retrieval latencies were measured for each item. Before each trial, one experimental group was given information as to the word frequency (WF) level of the items' names. The other experimental group was given information as to the…

Bioavailable IGF-1 is beneficially associated with biomarkers of endothelial function in young healthy adults: The African-PREDICT study.

PubMed

Barnard, Sunelle A; Smith, Wayne; Mels, Catharina M C; Botha, Shani; Schutte, Aletta E

2018-06-12

Low circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) are associated with endothelial dysfunction, subsequently leading to the development of cardiovascular disease. To better understand the early phases of vascular deterioration in a young, healthy population, we investigated, cross-sectionally, whether biomarkers of endothelial function (intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF ag )) are associated with IGF-1 in a healthy study population forming part of the larger African Prospective study on the Early Detection and Identification of Cardiovascular diseases and Hypertension (African-PREDICT). We included 825 black and white men and women (aged 20-30 years) and determined IGF-1, IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and vWF ag from blood samples. We also measured 24-h blood pressure and health behaviours namely waist circumference, accelerometery, cotinine and gamma glutamyl transferase. We used the IGF-1/IGFBP-3 M ratio as an estimate of bioavailable IGF-1. In multivariable-adjusted regression analyses performed in the total group, VCAM-1 associated positively with IGFBP-3 (β = 0.21; p < .001) and negatively with IGF-1/IGFBP-3 (β = -0.18; p < .001). ICAM-1 showed a borderline negative association with IGF-1 (β = -0.09; p = .054) and IGF-1/IGFBP-3 (β = -0.08; p = .057). vWF ag was not associated with IGF-1, IGFBP-3 or bioavailable IGF-1. VCAM-1 is beneficially associated with IGF-1 in a young healthy cohort, independent of sex, ethnicity, blood pressure and health behaviours - thereby confirming the potential importance of bioavailable IGF-1 in early vascular endothelial protection. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dual Therapy with Aspirin and Cilostazol May Improve Platelet Aggregation in Noncardioembolic Stroke Patients: A Pilot Study.

PubMed

Ohnuki, Yoichi; Ohnuki, Yuko; Kohara, Saori; Shimizu, Mie; Takizawa, Shunya

2017-01-01

Objective Some previous studies have found clinical benefit of dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and cilostazol for prevention of secondary stroke, but the physiological mechanism involved remains unknown. We aimed to clarify the effects of aspirin/cilostazol therapy on the platelet and endothelial functions of patients with acute noncardioembolic ischemic stroke, in comparison to patients who were treated with aspirin alone. Methods The present randomized prospective pilot study enrolled 24 patients within a week after the onset of noncardioembolic ischemic stroke. The patients were randomly allocated to receive aspirin (100 mg/day) (A group; 11 patients) or cilostazol (200 mg/day) plus aspirin (100 mg/day) (CA group; 13 patients). We measured platelet aggregation, platelet activation, and the thrombomodulin (TM), highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and von Willebrand (vWF) antigen levels and vWF activity over a 4-week period after enrollment. Results There was no significant difference in the platelet functions of the A and CA groups. However, the platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP) was decreased at 2 and 4 weeks (p<0.05) after treatment in comparison to the pre-treatment values in the CA group, but not in the A group. Platelet activation, and the hs-CRP, TM, ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and vWF values did not significantly decrease after treatment in either group. Conclusion Although there were no significant differences in platelet aggregation, platelet activation or the endothelial biomarker levels of the A and CA groups, dual therapy with aspirin and cilostazol inhibited platelet aggregation in comparison to the pre-treatment values, similarly to patients who received aspirin alone. This may suggest the clinical usefulness of dual therapy with aspirin and cilostazol in the treatment of patients with noncardioembolic ischemic stroke.

47 CFR 36.154 - Exchange Line Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF)-Category 1-apportionment procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 2 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Exchange Line Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF... COMPANIES 1 Telecommunications Property Cable and Wire Facilities § 36.154 Exchange Line Cable and Wire... apportioning the cost of exchange line cable and wire facilities among the operations is the determination of...

47 CFR 36.154 - Exchange Line Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF)-Category 1-apportionment procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 47 Telecommunication 2 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Exchange Line Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF... COMPANIES 1 Telecommunications Property Cable and Wire Facilities § 36.154 Exchange Line Cable and Wire... apportioning the cost of exchange line cable and wire facilities among the operations is the determination of...

Effect of starvation on vein preference of whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) on chilli as host plant

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Siti Sakinah, A.; Mohamad Roff M., N.; Idris, A. B.

2014-09-01

The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), is a cosmopolitan pest of horticultural crops. It caused serious damaged to the plants by feeding on plant saps as direct damage and transmit virus as indirect damage. Vein preferences of both female and male whitefly (WF) on chilli plant were recorded using Dinolite, a portable microscope, under laboratory conditions. WF adults of both sexes were starved for 2 and 4 hours before used for observation while no starvation for control individual (treatment). Results showed that both female and male preferred to feed on secondary veins rather than lamina, midrib and vein. From the result of whitefly preferred target site, hopefully this information will help to improve control tactics in WF management.

Electronic structure of CdSe-ZnS 2D nanoplatelets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cruguel, Hervé; Livache, Clément; Martinez, Bertille; Pedetti, Silvia; Pierucci, Debora; Izquierdo, Eva; Dufour, Marion; Ithurria, Sandrine; Aubin, Hervé; Ouerghi, Abdelkarim; Lacaze, Emmanuelle; Silly, Mathieu G.; Dubertret, Benoit; Lhuillier, Emmanuel

2017-04-01

Among colloidal nanocrystals, 2D nanoplatelets (NPLs) made of cadmium chalcogenides have led to especially well controlled optical features. However, the growth of core shell heterostructures has so far been mostly focused on CdS shells, while more confined materials will be more promising to decouple the emitting quantum states of the core from their external environment. Using k.p simulation, we demonstrate that a ZnS shell reduces by a factor 10 the leakage of the wavefunction into the surrounding medium. Using X-ray photoemission (XPS), we confirm that the CdSe active layer is indeed unoxidized. Finally, we build an effective electronic spectrum for these CdSe/ZnS NPLs on an absolute energy scale which is a critical set of parameters for the future integration of this material into optoelectronic devices. We determine the work function (WF) to be 4.47 eV while the material is behaving as an n-type semiconductor.

ACE/DD genotype is associated with hemostasis balance disturbances reflecting hypercoagulability and endothelial dysfunction in patients with untreated hypertension.

PubMed

Makris, T K; Stavroulakis, G A; Dafni, U G; Gialeraki, A E; Krespi, P G; Hatzizacharias, A N; Tsoukala, C G; Vythoulkas, J S; Kyriakidis, M K

2000-11-01

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism has been associated with an increased incidence of myocardial infarction. Recent studies have investigated a potential influence of ACE gene polymorphism on fibrinolysis or endothelial function. It has been previously established that essential hypertension is accompanied by endothelial dysfunction and fibrinolytic balance disorders. The aim of our study was to study the relation between ACE gene polymorphism and fibrinolytic/hemostatic factors as well as endothelial cell damage markers in patients with hypertension. The following parameters were evaluated in 104 patients with previously untreated hypertension: plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) antigen, fibrinogen, D-dimer, and von Willebrand factor (vWF). The genotype of the ACE gene was also determined (by the polymerase chain reaction method), and patients were characterized according to the observed alleles as deletion/deletion (DD), insertion/insertion (II), or insertion/deletion (ID). Those with DD genotype (n = 42) had significantly higher plasma levels of PAI-1 antigen (P =. 012), tPA antigen (P =.0001), fibrinogen (P =.0002), D-dimer (P =. 0001) and vWF (P =.0004) compared with ID (n = 30) or II (n = 32) genotypes. The ACE gene genotypes appeared to be significant predictors for plasma PAI-1 antigen, tPA antigen, fibrinogen, D -dimer, and vWF even after adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, triglyceride and cholesterol levels, and blood pressure. Our findings suggest that the ACE/DD genotype is associated with hemostasis balance disturbances reflecting hypercoagulability and endothelial damage in patients with untreated hypertension.

[Personalized drug therapy-directed clinical pharmacology research based on genetic polymorphisms and pharmacokinetics analysis].

PubMed

Hayashi, Hideki

2013-01-01

In this decade, the field of pharmacogenomics (PGx), which is related to pharmacokinetics (PK) or pharmacodynamics (PD), has attracted much attention because it may provide a possible explanation for individual differences in the clinical efficacy of drugs. For the development of personalized drug therapy, it is important to accumulate evidence from PK/PD/PGx analysis in clinical trials. Warfarin (WF) is one of the most widely prescribed anticoagulants for the prevention and treatment of venous and arterial thromboembolism. However, large interindividual and interethnic differences have been observed in the WF dose required to elicit the anticoagulant effect. We investigated the factors influencing the WF maintenance dose in Japanese patients. Our study confirmed a large interindividual variability in the WF maintenance dose that was due to a VKORC1 1639 G>A polymorphism and differences in body weight, age, and serum albumin. In addition, we found that the CYP4F2 genotype affects the plasma concentration of menaquinone-4, and that this finding was correlated with the WF sensitivity index in Japanese pediatric patients. Methotrexate (MTX) is an antifolate that is widely used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and cancer. The response to low-dose MTX demonstrated wide interpatient variability; however, the contributing factors remain unclear. We found that the frequency of the RFC1 80A allele was higher in RA patients treated with MTX alone compared with patients who received biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs). This finding may support the combined use of bDMARDs and MTX. Further large-scale prospective clinical trials are required to confirm these findings.

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Clinical correlation of dose to the pharyngo-esophageal axis and dysphagia

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

Fua, Tsien F.; Corry, June; Milner, Alvin D.

2007-03-15

Purpose: The aim of this study was to quantify the dose delivered to the pharyngo-esophageal axis using different intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) techniques for treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and to correlate this with acute swallowing toxicity. Methods and Materials: The study population consisted of 28 patients treated with IMRT between February 2002 and August 2005: 20 with whole field IMRT (WF-IMRT) and 8 with IMRT fields junctioned with an anterior neck field with central shielding (j-IMRT). Dose to the pharyngo-esophageal axis was measured using dose-volume histograms. Acute swallowing toxicity was assessed by review of dysphagia grade during treatment and enteralmore » feeding requirements. Results: The mean pharyngo-esophageal dose was 55.2 Gy in the WF-IMRT group and 27.2 Gy in the j-IMRT group, p < 0.001. Ninety-five percent (19/20) of the WF-IMRT group developed Grade 3 dysphagia compared with 62.5% (5/8) of the j-IMRT group, p = 0.06. Feeding tube duration was a median of 38 days for the WF-IMRT group compared with 6 days for the j-IMRT group, p = 0.04. Conclusions: Clinical vigilance must be maintained when introducing new technology to ensure that unanticipated adverse effects do not result. Although newer planning systems can reduce the dose to the pharyngo-esophageal axis with WF-IMRT, the j-IMRT technique is preferred at least in patients with no gross disease in the lower neck.« less

Properties of wood-plastic composites (WPCs) reinforced with extracted and delignified wood flour

Treesearch

Yao Chen; Nicole M. Stark; Mandla A. Tshabalala; Jianmin Gao; Yongming Fan

2014-01-01

The water sorption and mechanical properties of wood-plastic composites (WPCs) made of extracted and delignified wood flour (WF) has been investigated. WF was prepared by extraction with the solvent systems toluene/ethanol (TE), acetone/water (AW), and hot water (HW), and its delignification was conducted by means of sodium chlorite/acetic acid (AA) solution. A 2 4...

Properties of flat-pressed wood plastic composites containing fire retardants

Treesearch

Nadir Ayrilmis; Jan. T. Benthien; Heiko Thoemen; Robert H. White

2011-01-01

This study investigated physical, mechanical, and fire properties of the flat-pressed wood plastic composites (WPCs) incorporated with various fire retardants (FRs) [5 or 15% by weight (wt)] at 50 wt % of the wood flour (WF). The WPC panels were made from dry-blended WF, polypropylene (PP) with maleic anhydride grafted PP (2 wt %), and FR powder formulations using a...

Maestro Workflow Conductor

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

Di Natale, Francesco

2017-06-01

MaestroWF is a Python tool and software package for loading YAML study specifications that represents a simulation campaign. The package is capable of parameterizing a study, pulling dependencies automatically, formatting output directories, and managing the flow and execution of the campaign. MaestroWF also provides a set of abstracted objects that can also be used to develop user specific scripts for launching simulation campaigns.

Color and surface chemistry changes of extracted wood flour after heating at 120 °C

Treesearch

Yao Chen; Mandla A. Tshabalala; Jianmin Gao; Nicole M. Stark

2013-01-01

To investigate the effect of heat on color and surface chemistry of wood flour (WF), unextracted, extracted and delignified samples of commercial WF were heated at 120 °C for 24 h and analyzed by colorimetry, diffuse reflectance visible (DRV), attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) and Fourier transform Raman (FT-Raman) spectroscopies....

Development of the hard x-ray monitor onboard WF-MAXI

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arimoto, Makoto; Yatsu, Yoichi; Kawai, Nobuyuki; Ikeda, Hirokazu; Harayama, Atsushi; Takeda, Shin'ichiro; Takahashi, Tadayuki; Tomida, Hiroshi; Ueno, Shiro; Kimura, Masashi; Mihara, Tatehiro; Serino, Motoko; Tsunemi, Hiroshi; Yoshida, Atsumasa; Sakamoto, Takanori; Kohmura, Tadayoshi; Negoro, Hitoshi; Ueda, Yoshihiro

2014-07-01

WF-MAXI is a mission to detect and localize X-ray transients with short-term variability as gravitational-wave (GW) candidates including gamma-ray bursts, supernovae etc. We are planning on starting observations by WF-MAXI to be ready for the initial operation of the next generation GW telescopes (e.g., KAGRA, Advanced LIGO etc.). WF-MAXI consists of two main instruments, Soft X-ray Large Solid Angle Camera (SLC) and Hard X-ray Monitor (HXM) which totally cover 0.7 keV to 1 MeV band. HXM is a multi-channel array of crystal scintillators coupled with APDs observing photons in the hard X-ray band with an effective area of above 100 cm2. We have developed an analog application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) dedicated for the readout of 32-channel APDs' signals using 0.35 μm CMOS technology based on Open IP project and an analog amplifier was designed to achieve a low-noise readout. The developed ASIC showed a low-noise performance of 2080 e- + 2.3 e-/pF at root mean square and with a reverse-type APD coupled to a Ce:GAGG crystal a good FWHM energy resolution of 6.9% for 662 keV -rays.

Use of routine histopathology and factor VIII-related antigen/von Willebrand factor immunohistochemistry to differentiate primary hemangiosarcoma of bone from telangiectatic osteosarcoma in 54 dogs.

PubMed

Giuffrida, M A; Bacon, N J; Kamstock, D A

2017-12-01

Hemangiosarcoma (HSA) of bone and telangiectatic osteosarcoma (tOSA) can appear similar histologically, but differ in histogenesis (malignant endothelial cells versus osteoblasts), and may warrant different treatments. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) for endothelial cell marker factor VIII-related antigen/von Willebrand factor (FVIII-RAg/vWF) is a well-documented ancillary test to confirm HSA diagnoses in soft tissues, but its use in osseous HSA is rarely described. Archived samples of 54 primary appendicular bone tumours previously diagnosed as HSA or tOSA were evaluated using combination routine histopathology (RHP) and IHC. Approximately 20% of tumours were reclassified on the basis of FVIII-RAg/vWF immunoreactivity, typically from an original diagnosis of tOSA to a reclassified diagnosis of HSA. No sample with tumour osteoid clearly identified on RHP was immunopositive for FVIII-RAg/vWF. RHP alone was specific but not sensitive for diagnosis of HSA, compared with combination RHP and IHC. Routine histopathological evaluation in combination with FVIII-RAg/vWF IHC can help differentiate canine primary appendicular HSA from tOSA. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Isolation and separation of physicochemically distinct fimbrial types expressed on a single culture of Escherichia coli O7:K1:H6.

PubMed Central

Karch, H; Leying, H; Büscher, K H; Kroll, H P; Opferkuch, W

1985-01-01

The fimbrial (pili) profile of a single strain of Escherichia coli O7:K1:H6 (WF96) was evaluated. Fimbriae were isolated by sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation, purified from flagellae by the use of 0.4% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and separated into distinct fimbrial types. Analysis of the purified WF96 fimbriae by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed two polypeptide bands with molecular weights of 16,000 and 21,000. Treatment of the fimbrial mixture with saturated guanidine hydrochloride resulted in the appearance of a third band with a molecular weight of 19,500. The relative susceptibilities of the WF96 fimbrial types to disrupting chemicals (octyl-glucoside, urea, SDS, and guanidine hydrochloride) were assessed by exposure of the fimbrial mixture to each agent, separation of the depolymerized fimbriae from intact fimbriae by gel filtration on Sepharose CL-4B, and identification of the disaggregated fimbrial types by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of column fractions. The physicochemical heterogeneity of the three fimbrial types coexpressed on WF96 was exploited to develop a method for separation of individual fimbriae. Images PMID:2857155

History of Hubble Space Telescope (HST)

NASA Image and Video Library

1994-01-01

A comparison image of the M100 Galactic Nucleus, taken by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Wide Field Planetary Camera-1 (WF/PC1) and Wide Field Planetary Camera-2 (WF/PC2). The HST was placed in a low-Earth orbit by the Space Shuttle Discovery, STS-31 mission, in April 1990. Two months after its deployment in space, scientists detected a 2-micron spherical aberration in the primary mirror of the HST that affected the telescope's ability to focus faint light sources into a precise point. This imperfection was very slight, one-fiftieth of the width of a human hair. During four spacewalks, the STS-61 crew replaced the solar panel with its flexing problems; the WF/PC1 with the WF/PC2, with built-in corrective optics; and the High-Speed Photometer with the Corrective Optics Space Telescope Axial Replacement (COSTAR), to correct the aberration for the remaining instruments. The purpose of the HST, the most complex and sensitive optical telescope ever made, is to study the cosmos from a low-Earth orbit for 15 years or more. The HST provides fine detail imaging, produces ultraviolet images and spectra, and detects very faint objects.

Properties of Shock Hardened 7050 Aluminum Alloy.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-11-12

AD-ALO 887 NAVAL AIR DEVELOPMENT CENTER WARMINSTER PA AIRCRAFT -ETC F/6 11/6 PROPERTIES OF SHOCK HARDENED 7050 ALUMINUM ALLOT. (UI NOV 81 C E NEU...Systems Technology Directorate NAVAL AIR DEVELOPMENT CENTER Warminster, Pennsylvania 18974 12 NOV 1981 PHASE REPORT AIRTASK NO. WF54591201 :3l’ Work Unit...No. ZMIOI )** >,,, A APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE;DISTRIBUTION UNLIMITED Prepared forg NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND Department of the Navy Washington, D.C

Multilingual Aeronautical Dictionary (Dictionnaire Aeronautique Multilingue)

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-01-01

6t6 obtenue des dgifiisatiohs sbiv~nfis; et nodus lei en rerneicions-vivement: Amnerican Society of Metals , Metals Park, Ohio. USA (pour mati~re...Ephemeris (f) status minium or aluminium alloy on a metal by spraying, ES efemrides (, pl americanas DE 1. H6hentoferanz (MI hot dipping, diffusion...routine work, using voice DE telhsttitige Regelung f) does not entail the addition of another metal to DE 1 AGACS ES mando Wf automiltico the weld. 2

Water Footprint in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones: Mineral vs. Organic Fertilization.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Castellanos Serrano, María Teresa; Requejo Mariscal, María Isabel; Villena Gordo, Raquel; Cartagena Causapé, María Carmen; Arce Martínez, Augusto; Ribas Elcorobarrutia, Francisco; María Tarquis Alfonso, Ana

2017-04-01

In intensive agriculture, it is necessary to apply irrigation and fertilizers to increase the crop yield. An optimization of water and N application is necessary. An excess of irrigation implies nitrates washing which would contribute to the contamination of the groundwater. An excess of N, besides affecting the yield and fruit quality, causes serious environmental problems. Nitrate vulnerable zones (NVZs) are areas designated as being at risk from agricultural nitrate pollution. They include around 16% of land in Spain and in Castilla-La Mancha, the area studied, represents 45% of the total land. In several zones, the N content of the groundwater could be approximately 140 mg L-1, or even higher [1]. The input of nitrogen fertilizers (mineral or organic), applied with a poor management, could be increased considerably the pollution risks. The water footprint (WF) is as indicator for the total volume of direct and indirect freshwater used, consumed and/or polluted [2]. The WF includes both consumptive water use: blue water (volume of surface and groundwater consumed) and green water (rainwater consumed)). A third element is the water required to assimilate pollution (grey water) [2]. Under semiarid conditions with low irrigation water quality, green WF is zero because the effective rainfall is negligible. Blue WF includes: i) extra consumption or irrigation water that the farmer has to apply to compensate the fail of uniformity on discharge of drips, ii) percolation out of control or salts leaching, which depends on the salt tolerance of the crop, soil and quality of irrigation water, to ensure the fruit yield. In the NVZs, the major concern is grey WF, because the irrigation and nitrogen dose have to be adjusted to the crop needs in order to minimize nitrate pollution. This study focus on the assessment of mineral and organic fertilization on WF in a fertirrigated melon crop under semiarid conditions with a low water quality. During successive years, a melon crop (Cucumis melo L.) was grown under field conditions. Different doses of ammonium nitrate were used as well as waste compost derived from the wine-distillery industry, which is relevant in this area. Grey WF was estimated in both type of fertilizers using Castellanos et al. [3] methodology. The results showed that in the case of inorganic fertilization gray WF experiment a huge increase when the optimum dose were exceeded. Meanwhile, in the case of organic fertilization, even the doses exceeded the optimum, the increase gray WF was significantly lower. The discussion of these results will be presented based on the mineralization rate and N content of irrigation water. Acknowledgements: This project has been supported by INIA-RTA04-111-C3 and INIA-RTA2010-00110-C03. [1] ITAP, 2011. Protocolo para el seguimiento y control de los programas de actuación en las zonas vulnerables a la contaminación por nitratos de Castilla-La Mancha. Available in: www.itap.es. [2] Hoekstra, A.Y. 2003. Virtual water trade. Proceedings of the International Expert Meeting on Virtual Water Trade, Delft, The Netherlands, 12-13 December 2002. Value of Water Research Report Series No. 12, UNESCO-IHE, Delft, The Netherlands. [3] Castellanos, M.T., Cartagena, M.C., Requejo, M.I. Arce, A., Cabello, M.J., Ribas, F., Tarquis, A.M. 2016. Agronomic concepts in water footprint assessment: A case of study in a fertirrigated melon crop under semiarid conditions. Agricultural Water Management 170: 81-90.

The effect of inter-annual variability of consumption, production, trade and climate on crop-related green and blue water footprints and inter-regional virtual water trade: A study for China (1978-2008).

PubMed

Zhuo, La; Mekonnen, Mesfin M; Hoekstra, Arjen Y

2016-05-01

Previous studies into the relation between human consumption and indirect water resources use have unveiled the remote connections in virtual water (VW) trade networks, which show how communities externalize their water footprint (WF) to places far beyond their own region, but little has been done to understand variability in time. This study quantifies the effect of inter-annual variability of consumption, production, trade and climate on WF and VW trade, using China over the period 1978-2008 as a case study. Evapotranspiration, crop yields and green and blue WFs of crops are estimated at a 5 × 5 arc-minute resolution for 22 crops, for each year in the study period, thus accounting for climate variability. The results show that crop yield improvements during the study period helped to reduce the national average WF of crop consumption per capita by 23%, with a decreasing contribution to the total from cereals and increasing contribution from oil crops. The total consumptive WFs of national crop consumption and crop production, however, grew by 6% and 7%, respectively. By 2008, 28% of total water consumption in crop fields in China served the production of crops for export to other regions and, on average, 35% of the crop-related WF of a Chinese consumer was outside its own province. Historically, the net VW within China was from the water-rich South to the water-scarce North, but intensifying North-to-South crop trade reversed the net VW flow since 2000, which amounted 6% of North's WF of crop production in 2008. South China thus gradually became dependent on food supply from the water-scarce North. Besides, during the whole study period, China's domestic inter-regional VW flows went dominantly from areas with a relatively large to areas with a relatively small blue WF per unit of crop, which in 2008 resulted in a trade-related blue water loss of 7% of the national total blue WF of crop production. The case of China shows that domestic trade, as governed by economics and governmental policies rather than by regional differences in water endowments, determines inter-regional water dependencies and may worsen rather than relieve the water scarcity in a country. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Modelling and multi objective optimization of WEDM of commercially Monel super alloy using evolutionary algorithms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Varun, Sajja; Reddy, Kalakada Bhargav Bal; Vardhan Reddy, R. R. Vishnu

2016-09-01

In this research work, development of a multi response optimization technique has been undertaken, using traditional desirability analysis and non-traditional particle swarm optimization techniques (for different customer's priorities) in wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM). Monel 400 has been selected as work material for experimentation. The effect of key process parameters such as pulse on time (TON), pulse off time (TOFF), peak current (IP), wire feed (WF) were on material removal rate (MRR) and surface roughness(SR) in WEDM operation were investigated. Further, the responses such as MRR and SR were modelled empirically through regression analysis. The developed models can be used by the machinists to predict the MRR and SR over a wide range of input parameters. The optimization of multiple responses has been done for satisfying the priorities of multiple users by using Taguchi-desirability function method and particle swarm optimization technique. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) is also applied to investigate the effect of influential parameters. Finally, the confirmation experiments were conducted for the optimal set of machining parameters, and the betterment has been proved.

The Shape of Things to Come: Evaluating Word Frequency as a Continuous Variable in Recognition Memory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hemmer, Pernille; Criss, Amy H.

2013-01-01

The role of experience in memory, specifically the word frequency (WF) mirror effect showing higher hit rates and lower false alarm rates for low-frequency words, is one of the hallmarks of memory. However, this "regularity of memory" is limited because normative WF has been treated as discrete (low vs. high). We evaluate the extent to…

Replacing 100% fruit juice with whole fruit results in a trade off of nutrient in the diets of children

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The effect of replacing 100% fruit juice (FJ) with whole fruit (WF) on nutrient intake and adequacy in children's diets is unclear. The objective of this study was to model the effect of replacing FJ with WF in children's diets. Data from children 2-18 years of age (n=6,090) participating in the Na...

Effects of fire retardants on physical, mechanical, and fire properties of flat-pressed WPCs

Treesearch

Nadir Ayrilmis; Jan T. Benthien; Heiko Thoemen; Robert H. White

2012-01-01

Physical, mechanical, and fire properties of the flat-pressed wood plastic composites (WPCs) incorporated with various fire retardants (10% by weight) at different levels of wood flour (WF) content, 40, 50, or 60 wt%, were investigated. The WPC panels were made from dry-blended WF, polypropylene (PP), and fire retardant (FR) powders with maleic anhydride-grafted PP (2...

A phase I feasibility study of multi-modality imaging assessing rapid expansion of marrow fat and decreased bone mineral density in cancer patients

PubMed Central

Hui, Susanta K; Arentsen, Luke; Sueblinvong, Thanasak; Brown, Keenan; Bolan, Pat; Ghebre, Rahel G; Downs, Levi; Shanley, Ryan; Hansen, Karen E.; Minenko, Anne G.; Takhashi, Yutaka; Yagi, Masashi; Zhang, Yan; Geller, Melissa; Reynolds, Margaret; Lee, Chung K; Blaes, Anne H.; Allen, Sharon; Zobel, Bruno Beomonte; Le, Chap; Froelich, Jerry; Rosen, Clifford; Yee, Douglas

2014-01-01

Purpose Cancer survivors are at an increased risk for fractures, but lack of effective and economical biomarkers limits quantitative assessments of marrow fat (MF), bone mineral density (BMD) and their relation in response to cytotoxic cancer treatment. We report dual energy CT (DECT) imaging, commonly used for cancer diagnosis, treatment and surveillance, as a novel biomarker of MF and BMD. Methods We validated DECT in pre-clinical and Phase I clinical trials and verified with water-fat MRI (WF-MRI), quantitative CT (QCT) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Basis material composition framework was validated using water and small-chain alcohols simulating different components of bone marrow. Histologic validation was achieved by measuring percent adipocyte in cadaver vertebrae and compared with DECT and WF-MRI. For a Phase I trial, sixteen patients with gynecologic malignancies (treated with oophorectomy, radiotherapy or chemotherapy) underwent DECT, QCT, WF-MRI and DXA before and 12 months after treatment. BMD and MF percent and distribution were quantified in lumbar vertebrae and the right femoral neck. Results Measured precision (3 mg/cm3) was sufficient to distinguish test solutions. Adiposity in cadaver bone histology was highly correlated with MF measured using DECT and WF-MRI (r = 0.80 and 0.77, respectively). In the clinical trial, DECT showed high overall correlation (r = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.69, 0.83) with WF-MRI. MF increased significantly after treatment (p<0.002). Chemotherapy and radiation caused greater increases in MF than oophorectomy (p<0.032). L4 BMD decreased 14% by DECT, 20% by QCT, but only by 5% by DXA (p<0.002 for all). At baseline, we observed a statistically significant inverse association between MF and BMD which was dramatically attenuated after treatment. Conclusion Our study demonstrated that DECT, similar to WF-MRI, can accurately measure marrow adiposity. Both imaging modalities show rapid increase in MF following cancer treatment. Our results suggest that MF and BMD cannot be used interchangeably to monitor skeletal health following cancer therapy. PMID:25536285

A phase I feasibility study of multi-modality imaging assessing rapid expansion of marrow fat and decreased bone mineral density in cancer patients.

PubMed

Hui, Susanta K; Arentsen, Luke; Sueblinvong, Thanasak; Brown, Keenan; Bolan, Pat; Ghebre, Rahel G; Downs, Levi; Shanley, Ryan; Hansen, Karen E; Minenko, Anne G; Takhashi, Yutaka; Yagi, Masashi; Zhang, Yan; Geller, Melissa; Reynolds, Margaret; Lee, Chung K; Blaes, Anne H; Allen, Sharon; Zobel, Bruno Beomonte; Le, Chap; Froelich, Jerry; Rosen, Clifford; Yee, Douglas

2015-04-01

Cancer survivors are at an increased risk for fractures, but lack of effective and economical biomarkers limits quantitative assessments of marrow fat (MF), bone mineral density (BMD) and their relation in response to cytotoxic cancer treatment. We report dual energy CT (DECT) imaging, commonly used for cancer diagnosis, treatment and surveillance, as a novel biomarker of MF and BMD. We validated DECT in pre-clinical and phase I clinical trials and verified with water-fat MRI (WF-MRI), quantitative CT (QCT) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Basis material composition framework was validated using water and small-chain alcohols simulating different components of bone marrow. Histologic validation was achieved by measuring percent adipocyte in the cadaver vertebrae and compared with DECT and WF-MRI. For a phase I trial, sixteen patients with gynecologic malignancies (treated with oophorectomy, radiotherapy or chemotherapy) underwent DECT, QCT, WF-MRI and DXA before and 12months after treatment. BMD and MF percent and distribution were quantified in the lumbar vertebrae and the right femoral neck. Measured precision (3mg/cm(3)) was sufficient to distinguish test solutions. Adiposity in cadaver bone histology was highly correlated with MF measured using DECT and WF-MRI (r=0.80 and 0.77, respectively). In the clinical trial, DECT showed high overall correlation (r=0.77, 95% CI: 0.69, 0.83) with WF-MRI. MF increased significantly after treatment (p<0.002). Chemotherapy and radiation caused greater increases in MF than oophorectomy (p<0.032). L4 BMD decreased 14% by DECT, 20% by QCT, but only 5% by DXA (p<0.002 for all). At baseline, we observed a statistically significant inverse association between MF and BMD which was dramatically attenuated after treatment. Our study demonstrated that DECT, similar to WF-MRI, can accurately measure marrow adiposity. Both imaging modalities show rapid increase in MF following cancer treatment. Our results suggest that MF and BMD cannot be used interchangeably to monitor skeletal health following cancer therapy. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The use of linear programming to determine whether a formulated complementary food product can ensure adequate nutrients for 6- to 11-month-old Cambodian infants.

PubMed

Skau, Jutta K H; Bunthang, Touch; Chamnan, Chhoun; Wieringa, Frank T; Dijkhuizen, Marjoleine A; Roos, Nanna; Ferguson, Elaine L

2014-01-01

A new software tool, Optifood, developed by the WHO and based on linear programming (LP) analysis, has been developed to formulate food-based recommendations. This study discusses the use of Optifood for predicting whether formulated complementary food (CF) products can ensure dietary adequacy for target populations in Cambodia. Dietary data were collected by 24-h recall in a cross-sectional survey of 6- to 11-mo-old infants (n = 78). LP model parameters were derived from these data, including a list of foods, median serving sizes, and dietary patterns. Five series of LP analyses were carried out to model the target population's baseline diet and 4 formulated CF products [WinFood (WF), WinFood-Lite (WF-L), Corn-Soy-Blend Plus (CSB+), and Corn-Soy-Blend Plus Plus (CSB++)], which were added to the diet in portions of 33 g/d dry weight (DW) for infants aged 6-8 mo and 40 g/d DW for infants aged 9-11 mo. In each series of analyses, the nutritionally optimal diet and theoretical range, in diet nutrient contents, were determined. The LP analysis showed that baseline diets could not achieve the Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) for thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, vitamin B-12, calcium, iron, and zinc (range: 14-91% of RNI in the optimal diets) and that none of the formulated CF products could cover the nutrient gaps for thiamin, niacin, iron, and folate (range: 22-86% of the RNI). Iron was the key limiting nutrient, for all modeled diets, achieving a maximum of only 48% of the RNI when CSB++ was included in the diet. Only WF and WF-L filled the nutrient gap for calcium. WF-L, CSB+, and CSB++ filled the nutrient gap for zinc (9- to 11-mo-olds). The formulated CF products improved the nutrient adequacy of complementary feeding diets but could not entirely cover the nutrient gaps. These results emphasize the value of using LP to evaluate special CF products during the intervention planning phase. The WF study was registered at controlled-trials.com as ISRCTN19918531.

Rhodium clustering process on defective (8,0) SWCNT: Analysis of chemical and physical properties using density functional theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ambrusi, Ruben E.; Luna, C. Romina; Sandoval, Mario G.; Bechthold, Pablo; Pronsato, M. Estela; Juan, Alfredo

2017-12-01

The Spin-polarized density functional theory is used to study the effect of a single vacancy in a (8,0) single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) on the Rh clustering process. The vacancy is considered oxygenated and non-oxygenated and, in each case, different Rhn cluster sizes (n = 1-4) are taken into account. For the analysis of these systems some physical and chemical properties are calculated, such as binding energy (Eb), work function (WF), magnetic moment, charge transfer, bond length, band gap (Eg), and density of state (DOS). From this analysis it can be concluded that: a single Rh atom and Rh2 dimer are adsorbed on vacancy without oxygen, whereas Rh3 and Rh4 clusters prefer to be adsorbed on oxygenated vacancy. In all cases, Rh adsorption induces a magnetic moment. When the Rh atom and Rh2 dimer are bonded to the defective SWCNT, it has been found that they show a semiconductor behavior that could be interesting to use in the spintronic area. In the case of Rh3 and Rh4 clusters our results show a metallic behavior suggesting that these systems are good candidates for nanotube contact.

Wide-field retinal optical coherence tomography with wavefront sensorless adaptive optics for enhanced imaging of targeted regions.

PubMed

Polans, James; Keller, Brenton; Carrasco-Zevallos, Oscar M; LaRocca, Francesco; Cole, Elijah; Whitson, Heather E; Lad, Eleonora M; Farsiu, Sina; Izatt, Joseph A

2017-01-01

The peripheral retina of the human eye offers a unique opportunity for assessment and monitoring of ocular diseases. We have developed a novel wide-field (>70°) optical coherence tomography system (WF-OCT) equipped with wavefront sensorless adaptive optics (WSAO) for enhancing the visualization of smaller (<25°) targeted regions in the peripheral retina. We iterated the WSAO algorithm at the speed of individual OCT B-scans (~20 ms) by using raw spectral interferograms to calculate the optimization metric. Our WSAO approach with a 3 mm beam diameter permitted primarily low- but also high- order peripheral wavefront correction in less than 10 seconds. In preliminary imaging studies in five normal human subjects, we quantified statistically significant changes with WSAO correction, corresponding to a 10.4% improvement in average pixel brightness (signal) and 7.0% improvement in high frequency content (resolution) when visualizing 1 mm (~3.5°) B-scans of the peripheral (>23°) retina. We demonstrated the ability of our WF-OCT system to acquire non wavefront-corrected wide-field images rapidly, which could then be used to locate regions of interest, zoom into targeted features, and visualize the same region at different time points. A pilot clinical study was conducted on seven healthy volunteers and two subjects with prodromal Alzheimer's disease which illustrated the capability to image Drusen-like pathologies as far as 32.5° from the fovea in un-averaged volume scans. This work suggests that the proposed combination of WF-OCT and WSAO may find applications in the diagnosis and treatment of ocular, and potentially neurodegenerative, diseases of the peripheral retina, including diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.

Wide-field retinal optical coherence tomography with wavefront sensorless adaptive optics for enhanced imaging of targeted regions

PubMed Central

Polans, James; Keller, Brenton; Carrasco-Zevallos, Oscar M.; LaRocca, Francesco; Cole, Elijah; Whitson, Heather E.; Lad, Eleonora M.; Farsiu, Sina; Izatt, Joseph A.

2016-01-01

The peripheral retina of the human eye offers a unique opportunity for assessment and monitoring of ocular diseases. We have developed a novel wide-field (>70°) optical coherence tomography system (WF-OCT) equipped with wavefront sensorless adaptive optics (WSAO) for enhancing the visualization of smaller (<25°) targeted regions in the peripheral retina. We iterated the WSAO algorithm at the speed of individual OCT B-scans (~20 ms) by using raw spectral interferograms to calculate the optimization metric. Our WSAO approach with a 3 mm beam diameter permitted primarily low- but also high- order peripheral wavefront correction in less than 10 seconds. In preliminary imaging studies in five normal human subjects, we quantified statistically significant changes with WSAO correction, corresponding to a 10.4% improvement in average pixel brightness (signal) and 7.0% improvement in high frequency content (resolution) when visualizing 1 mm (~3.5°) B-scans of the peripheral (>23°) retina. We demonstrated the ability of our WF-OCT system to acquire non wavefront-corrected wide-field images rapidly, which could then be used to locate regions of interest, zoom into targeted features, and visualize the same region at different time points. A pilot clinical study was conducted on seven healthy volunteers and two subjects with prodromal Alzheimer’s disease which illustrated the capability to image Drusen-like pathologies as far as 32.5° from the fovea in un-averaged volume scans. This work suggests that the proposed combination of WF-OCT and WSAO may find applications in the diagnosis and treatment of ocular, and potentially neurodegenerative, diseases of the peripheral retina, including diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. PMID:28101398

Dynamic Changes of Smooth Muscle and Endothelial Markers in the Early Healing Process of Dacron Vascular Grafts in the Dog, Using RT-PCR.

PubMed

Ishida; Wu; Shi; Fujita; Sauvage; Hammond; Wijelath

2000-03-01

Previous studies of neointima formation on Dacron vascular grafts mainly focused on the late stages using immunohistochemistry staining for von Willebrand factor (vWF) and smooth muscle (SM) alpha-actin. However, it is impossible to use immunohistochemistry to study the early events of neointima formation, because graft samples lack sufficient cellular material. Therefore, we used reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to demonstrate dynamic changes of SM and endothelial markers during the early stages of neointima formation. Preclotted Dacron grafts were implanted in the descending thoracic aorta of 14 mongrel dogs. Specimens were retrieved at 1-4 weeks. Total RNAs were extracted from mid-portion of graft flow surfaces, and RT-PCR for vWF, SM myosin heavy chain (MHC), and SM alpha-actin were performed and expressed as a ratio to the ribosome s17 signal. SM MHC and vWF mRNA expression was low at 1-2 weeks but elevated at 3-4 weeks (P < 0.05). However, SM alpha-actin mRNA levels were expressed consistently throughout the study period. At 3-4 weeks, vWF mRNA expression was inversely correlated to thrombus formation on the graft flow surface. Increased expressions of SM MHC and vWF mRNA corresponded to the formation of neointima and an endothelial layer at the later stages. However, SM alpha-actin mRNA expression did not vary during the healing process. The application of RT-PCR should permit further studies of gene regulation in the early vascular graft healing process in vivo. This model can also be used to study the molecular events that are involved in SM cell differentiation.

An Agent-based Modeling of Water-Food Nexus towards Sustainable Management of Urban Water Resources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Esmaeili, N.; Kanta, L.

2017-12-01

Growing population, urbanization, and climate change have put tremendous stress on water systems in many regions. A shortage in water system not only affects water users of a municipality but also that of food system. About 70% of global water is withdrawn for agriculture; livestock and dairy productions are also dependent on water availability. Although researchers and policy makers have identified and emphasized the water-food (WF) nexus in recent decade, most existing WF models offer strategies to reduce trade-offs and to generate benefits without considering feedback loops and adaptations between those systems. Feedback loops between water and food system can help understand long-term behavioral trends between water users of the integrated WF system which, in turn, can help manage water resources sustainably. An Agent-based modeling approach is applied here to develop a conceptual framework of WF systems. All water users in this system are modeled as agents, who are capable of making decisions and can adapt new behavior based on inputs from other agents in a shared environment through a set of logical and mathematical rules. Residential and commercial/industrial consumers are represented as municipal agents; crop, livestock, and dairy farmers are represented as food agents; and water management officials are represented as policy agent. During the period of water shortage, policy agent will propose/impose various water conservation measures, such as adapting water-efficient technologies, banning outdoor irrigation, implementing supplemental irrigation, using recycled water for livestock/dairy production, among others. Municipal and food agents may adapt conservation strategies and will update their demand accordingly. Emergent properties of the WF nexus will arise through dynamic interactions between various actors of water and food system. This model will be implemented to a case study for resource allocation and future policy development.

The water footprint of bioenergy

PubMed Central

Gerbens-Leenes, Winnie; Hoekstra, Arjen Y.; van der Meer, Theo H.

2009-01-01

All energy scenarios show a shift toward an increased percentage of renewable energy sources, including biomass. This study gives an overview of water footprints (WFs) of bioenergy from 12 crops that currently contribute the most to global agricultural production: barley, cassava, maize, potato, rapeseed, rice, rye, sorghum, soybean, sugar beet, sugar cane, and wheat. In addition, this study includes jatropha, a suitable energy crop. Since climate and production circumstances differ among regions, calculations have been performed by country. The WF of bioelectricity is smaller than that of biofuels because it is more efficient to use total biomass (e.g., for electricity or heat) than a fraction of the crop (its sugar, starch, or oil content) for biofuel. The WF of bioethanol appears to be smaller than that of biodiesel. For electricity, sugar beet, maize, and sugar cane are the most favorable crops [50 m3/gigajoule (GJ)]. Rapeseed and jatropha, typical energy crops, are disadvantageous (400 m3/GJ). For ethanol, sugar beet, and potato (60 and 100 m3/GJ) are the most advantageous, followed by sugar cane (110 m3/GJ); sorghum (400 m3/GJ) is the most unfavorable. For biodiesel, soybean and rapeseed show to be the most favorable WF (400 m3/GJ); jatropha has an adverse WF (600 m3/GJ). When expressed per L, the WF ranges from 1,400 to 20,000 L of water per L of biofuel. If a shift toward a greater contribution of bioenergy to energy supply takes place, the results of this study can be used to select the crops and countries that produce bioenergy in the most water-efficient way. PMID:19497862

Early Healing Events after Periodontal Surgery: Observations on Soft Tissue Healing, Microcirculation, and Wound Fluid Cytokine Levels.

PubMed

Kaner, Doğan; Soudan, Mouaz; Zhao, Han; Gaßmann, Georg; Schönhauser, Anna; Friedmann, Anton

2017-01-27

Early wound healing after periodontal surgery with or without enamel matrix derivative/biphasic calcium phosphate (EMD/BCP) was characterized in terms of soft tissue closure, changes of microcirculation, and expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in gingival crevicular fluid/wound fluid (GCF/WF). Periodontal surgery was carried out in 30 patients (18 patients: application of EMD/BCP for regeneration of bony defects; 12 patients: surgical crown lengthening (SCL)). Healthy sites were observed as untreated controls. GCF/WF samples were collected during two post-surgical weeks. Flap microcirculation was measured using laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF). Soft tissue healing was evaluated after two weeks. GCF/WF levels of interleukin 1β (IL-1β), tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α), IL-6, and IL-10 were determined using a multiplex immunoassay. Surgery caused similar reductions of flap microcirculation followed by recovery within two weeks in both EMD/BCP and SCL groups. GCF/WF and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels were immediately increased after surgery, and returned only partially to baseline levels within the two-week observation period. Levels of IL-10 were temporarily reduced in all surgical sites. Flap dehiscence caused prolonged elevated levels of GCF/WF, IL-1β, and TNF-α. These findings show that periodontal surgery triggers an immediate inflammatory reaction corresponding to the early inflammatory phase of wound healing, and these inflammation measures are temporary in case of maintained closure of the flap. However, flap dehiscence causes prolonged inflammatory exudation from the periodontal wound. If the biological pre-conditions for periodontal wound healing are considered important for the clinical outcome, care should be taken to maintain primary closure of the flap.

A new approach to assessing the water footprint of wine: an Italian case study.

PubMed

Lamastra, Lucrezia; Suciu, Nicoleta Alina; Novelli, Elisa; Trevisan, Marco

2014-08-15

Agriculture is the largest freshwater consumer, accounting for 70% of the world's water withdrawal. Water footprints (WFs) are being increasingly used to indicate the impacts of water use by production systems. A new methodology to assess WF of wine was developed in the framework of the V.I.V.A. project (Valutazione Impatto Viticoltura sull'Ambiente), launched by the Italian Ministry for the Environment in 2011 to improve the Italian wine sector's sustainability. The new methodology has been developed that enables different vines from the same winery to be compared. This was achieved by calculating the gray water footprint, following Tier III approach proposed by Hoekstra et al. (2011). The impact of water use during the life cycle of grape-wine production was assessed for six different wines from the same winery in Sicily, Italy using both the newly developed methodology (V.I.V.A.) and the classical methodology proposed by the Water Footprint Network (WFN). In all cases green water was the largest contributor to WF, but the new methodology also detected differences between vines of the same winery. Furthermore, V.I.V.A. methodology assesses water body contamination by pesticides application whereas the WFN methodology considers just fertilization. This fact ended highlights the highest WF of vineyard 4 calculated by V.I.V.A. if compared with the WF calculated with WFN methodology. Comparing the WF of wine produced with grapes from the six different wines, the factors most greatly influencing the results obtained in this study were: distance from the water body, fertilization rate, amount and eco-toxicological behavior of the active ingredients used. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Formulation and nutritional evaluation of weaning food processed from cooking banana, supplemented with cowpea and peanut

PubMed Central

Bassey, Francisca I; Mcwatters, Kay H; Edem, Christopher A; Iwegbue, Chukwujindu M A

2013-01-01

The possibility of processing a ready-to-eat nutrient-rich weaning food (WF) for infants within the age group of 0.5–0.9 years from cooking banana fortified with popular and affordable legumes (cowpea and peanut) was investigated with the aid of computer software and available technology in Nigeria. A composite of 47% cowpea, 40% ripe banana, and 13% peanut was processed, analyzed to compare the actual nutrient composition to that predicted by the software and that of two popular commercial WFs produced by Gerber Products Company: rice with banana (RB) and oats with banana (OB). Proximate composition was determined by Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) methods, in vitro digestibility by the pH drop method, and amino acid was determined using high performance liquid chromatography. Essential amino acid values were comparable to the predicted values. Protein and oil contents had values of 16.89% and 8.38%, 6.9% and 1.10%, and 12.03% and 3.16% for WF, RB, and OB, respectively. Octadecenoic (oleic) acid had the highest value of 3.65% followed by octadecadienoic (linoleic) acid with a value of 2.64% amounting to 76.69% of the total fatty acid. Total sugar content of WF was recorded as 15.96 g/100 g, with fructose having the highest value of 8.07 g/100 g, followed by dextrose with a value of 7.66 g/100 g. In vitro-digestibility was in the order OB>WF>RB. The results show that it is feasible to produce precooked WF which has the potential to meet the nutritional needs of an infant, from local staples using computer-assisted technique and inexpensive technology available in Nigeria. PMID:24804045

Native multimer analysis of plasma and platelet von Willebrand factor compared to denaturing separation: implication for the interpretation of satellite bands.

PubMed

Hohenstein, Kurt; Griesmacher, Andrea; Weigel, Günter; Golderer, Georg; Ott, Helmut Werner

2011-06-01

Blue native electrophoresis (BNE) was applied to analyze the von Willebrand factor (vWF) multimers in their native state and to present a methodology to perform blue native electrophoresis on human plasma proteins, which has not been done before. The major difference between this method and the commonly used SDS-agarose gel electrophoresis is the lack of satellite bands in the high-resolution native gel. To further analyze this phenomenon, a second dimension was performed under denaturing conditions. Thereby, we obtained a pattern in which each protein sub-unit from the first dimension dissociates into three distinct sub-bands. These bands confirm the triplet structure, which consists of an intermediate band and two satellite bands. By introducing the second dimension, our novel method separates the triplet structure into a higher resolution than the commonly used SDS-agarose gel electrophoresis does. This helps considerably in the classification of ambiguous von Willebrand's disease subtypes. In addition, our method has the additional advantage of being able to resolve the triplet structure of platelet vWF multimers, which has not been identified previously through conventional SDS-agarose electrophoresis multimer analysis. This potential enables us to compare the triplet structure from platelet and plasmatic vWF, and may help to find out whether structural abnormalities concern the vWF molecule in the platelet itself, or whether they are due to the physiological processing of vWF shed into circulation. Owing to its resolution and sensitivity, this native separation technique offers a promising tool for the analysis and detection of von Willebrand disorder, and for the classification of von Willebrand's disease subtypes. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

The relationship of systemic markers of renal function and vascular function with retinal blood vessel responses.

PubMed

Heitmar, R; Varma, C; De, P; Lau, Y C; Blann, A D

2016-11-01

To test the hypothesis of a significant relationship between systemic markers of renal and vascular function (processes linked to cardiovascular disease and its development) and retinal microvascular function in diabetes and/or cardiovascular disease. Ocular microcirculatory function was measured in 116 patients with diabetes and/or cardiovascular disease using static and continuous retinal vessel responses to three cycles of flickering light. Endothelial function was evaluated by von Willebrand factor (vWf), endothelial microparticles and soluble E selectin, renal function by serum creatinine, creatinine clearance and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). HbA1c was used as a control index. Central retinal vein equivalence and venous maximum dilation to flicker were linked to HbA1c (both p < 0.05). Arterial reaction time was linked to serum creatinine (p = 0.036) and eGFR (p = 0.039); venous reaction time was linked to creatinine clearance (p = 0.018). Creatinine clearance and eGFR were linked to arterial maximum dilatation (p < 0.001 and p = 0.003, respectively) and the dilatation amplitude (p = 0.038 and p = 0.048, respectively) responses in the third flicker cycle. Of venous responses to the first flicker cycle, HbA1c was linked to the maximum dilation response (p = 0.004) and dilatation amplitude (p = 0.017), vWf was linked to the maximum constriction response (p = 0.016), and creatinine clearance to the baseline diameter fluctuation (p = 0.029). In the second flicker cycle, dilatation amplitude was linked to serum creatinine (p = 0.022). Several retinal blood vessel responses to flickering light are linked to glycaemia and renal function, but only one index is linked to endothelial function. Renal function must be considered when interpreting retinal vessel responses.

Integration of Lower Level Supervisors into the Management Structure.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-08-31

sessions. Brief (2-3 hour) training "work sessions" could be developed to help lower level supervisors 4 solve specific problema . These sessions...34 In D. Cartwright (ed.), Studies in Social Power. Ann Arbor, MI: The University of Michigan Press, 1959. Gardner, B.B. & Whyte, W.F. "The man in the...line supervisory problem redefined." Personnel Journal, 1975, 54(12), 620-623+. Stouffer, S.A. "An analysis of conflicting social norms." American

Hubble Space Telescope: Wide field and planetary camera instrument handbook. Version 2.1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Griffiths, Richard (Editor)

1990-01-01

An overview is presented of the development and construction of the Wide Field and Planetary Camera (WF/PC). The WF/PC is a duel two dimensional spectrophotometer with rudimentary polarimetric and transmission grating capabilities. The instrument operates from 1150 to 11000 A with a resolution of 0.1 arcsec per pixel or 0.043 arcsec per pixel. Data products and standard calibration methods are briefly summarized.

Aphid-induced Defences in Chilli Affect Preferences of the Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae).

PubMed

Saad, Khalid A; Mohamad Roff, M N; Hallett, Rebecca H; Idris, A B

2015-09-03

The sweetpotato whitefly (WF), Bemisia tabaci, is a major pest that damages a wide range of vegetable crops in Malaysia. WF infestation is influenced by a variety of factors, including previous infestation of the host plant by other insect pests. This study investigated the effects of previous infestation of host chilli plants by the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) on the olfactory behavioural response of B. tabaci, using free-choice bioassay with a Y-tube olfactometer. We analysed volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by non-infested and M. persicae-infested chilli plants using solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Our results showed that female WFs preferred non-infested to pre-infested plants. Collection and analysis of volatile compounds emitted by infested plants confirmed that there were significant increases in the production of monoterpenes (cymene; 1,8-cineole), sesquiterpenes (β-cadinene, α-copaene), and methyl salicylate (MeSA) compared to non-infested plants. Our results suggest that host plant infestation by aphids may induce production of secondary metabolites that deter B. tabaci from settling on its host plants. These results provide important information for understanding WF host selection and dispersal among crops, and also for manipulating WF behaviour to improve IPM in chilli.

Operational early warning platform for extreme meteorological events

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mühr, Bernhard; Kunz, Michael

2015-04-01

Operational early warning platform for extreme meteorological events Most natural disasters are related to extreme weather events (e.g. typhoons); weather conditions, however, are also highly relevant for humanitarian and disaster relief operations during and after other natural disaster like earthquakes. The internet service "Wettergefahren-Frühwarnung" (WF) provides various information on extreme weather events, especially when these events are associated with a high potential for large damage. The main focus of the platform is on Central Europe, but major events are also monitored worldwide on a daily routine. WF provides high-resolution forecast maps for many weather parameters which allow detailed and reliable predictions about weather conditions during the next days in the affected areas. The WF service became operational in February 2004 and is part of the Center for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction Technology (CEDIM) since 2007. At the end of 2011, CEDIM embarked a new type of interdisciplinary disaster research termed as forensic disaster analysis (FDA) in near real time. In case of an imminent extreme weather event WF plays an important role in CEDIM's FDA group. It provides early and precise information which are always available and updated several times during a day and gives advice and assists with articles and reports on extreme events.

Thermal Degradation, Mechanical Properties and Morphology of Wheat Straw Flour Filled Recycled Thermoplastic Composites

PubMed Central

Mengeloglu, Fatih; Karakus, Kadir

2008-01-01

Thermal behaviors of wheat straw flour (WF) filled thermoplastic composites were measured applying the thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. Morphology and mechanical properties were also studied using scanning electron microscope and universal testing machine, respectively. Presence of WF in thermoplastic matrix reduced the degradation temperature of the composites. One for WF and one for thermoplastics, two main decomposition peaks were observed. Morphological study showed that addition of coupling agent improved the compatibility between WFs and thermoplastic. WFs were embedded into the thermoplastic matrix indicating improved adhesion. However, the bonding was not perfect because some debonding can also be seen on the interface of WFs and thermoplastic matrix. In the case of mechanical properties of WF filled recycled thermoplastic, HDPE and PP based composites provided similar tensile and flexural properties. The addition of coupling agents improved the properties of thermoplastic composites. MAPE coupling agents performed better in HDPE while MAPP coupling agents were superior in PP based composites. The composites produced with the combination of 50-percent mixture of recycled HDPE and PP performed similar with the use of both coupling agents. All produced composites provided flexural properties required by the ASTM standard for polyolefin-based plastic lumber decking boards. PMID:27879719

Vascular-Associated Muc4/Vwf Co-Localization in Human Conjunctival Malignant Melanoma Specimens-Tumor Metastasis by Migration?

PubMed

Kakkassery, Vinodh; Winterhalter, Sibylle; Nick, Ann-Christin; Joachim, Stephanie C; Joussen, Antonia M; Kociok, Norbert

2017-10-01

To investigate whether vascular differentiation marker von Willebrand factor (vWf) and proliferation marker KI67 expression correlate with MUC4 localization around stromal tumor vascularization in human conjunctival malignant melanoma (CMM). For the purposes of this study, we analyzed samples from human CMMs (n = 4), conjunctival compound nevi (n = 7), and samples from healthy conjunctiva (n = 7) for MUC1, 4, and 16 by immunohistochemistry. To test CMM vessel association of MUC4, we investigated the co-localization of MUC4 with vWf or KI67 in human CMM specimens (n = 10) by immunohistochemistry. Also, we investigated the MUC4 localization around vessels of healthy conjunctiva (n = 10). The immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated membrane-associated mucin expression in epithelia of CMM, nevi and healthy conjunctiva, whereas only MUC4 was localized perivascular in CMM tissue in this preliminary analysis. Co-staining analysis with vWf and KI67 demonstrated MUC4 localization around stromal vessels in human CMM specimens. In contrast, no MUC4 localization has been seen around healthy conjunctiva stroma vessels. MUC4 was detected around vWf/KI67-positive CMM stromal vascular tissue, but not around healthy conjunctival stroma vessels. Therefore, we assume that MUC4 might play a role in tumor cell migration toward vessels inducing metastasis.

History of Hubble Space Telescope (HST)

NASA Image and Video Library

1993-12-01

Astronaut Hoffman held the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Wide Field/Planetary Camera-1 (WF/PC1) that was replaced by WF/PC2 in the cargo bay of the Space Shuttle orbiter Endeavour during Extravehicular Activity (EVA). The STS-61 mission was the first of the series of the HST servicing missions. Two months after its deployment in space, scientists detected a 2-micron spherical aberration in the primary mirror of the HST that affected the telescope's ability to focus faint light sources into a precise point. This imperfection was very slight, one-fiftieth of the width of a human hair. During four spacewalks, the STS-61 crew replaced the solar panel with its flexing problems; the WF/PC1 with WF/PC2, with built-in corrective optics; and the High-Speed Photometer with the Corrective Optics Space Telescope Axial Replacement (COSTAR) to correct the aberration for the remaining instruments. The purpose of the HST, the most complex and sensitive optical telescope ever made, is to study the cosmos from a low-Earth orbit for 15 years or more. The HST provides fine detail imaging, produces ultraviolet images and spectra, and detects very faint objects. The Marshall Space Flight Center had responsibility for design, development, and construction of the HST. The Perkin-Elmer Corporation, in Danbury, Cornecticut, developed the optical system and guidance sensors.

The inhibition of tetrahydrofuran clathrate-hydrate formation with antifreeze protein

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zeng, H.; Wilson, L. D.; Walker, V. K.; Ripmeester, J. A.

2003-01-01

The effect of Type I fish antifreeze protein (AFP) from the winter flounder, Pleuronectes americanus (Walbaum), (WfAFP) on the formation of tetrahydrofuran (THF) clathrate hydrate was studied by observing changes in THF crystal morphology and determining the induction time for nucleation. AFP retarded THF clathrate-hydrate growth at the tested temperatures and modified the THF clathrate-hydrate crystal morphology from octahedral to plate-like. AFP appears to be even more effective than the kinetic inhibitor, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Recombinant AFP from an insect, a spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.), moth, (Cf) was also tested for inhibition activity by observation of the THF-hydrate-crystal-growth habit. Like WfAFP, CfAFP appeared to show adsorption on multiple THF-hydrate-crystal faces. A protein with no antifreeze activity, cytochrome C, was used as a control and it neither changed the morphology of the THF clathrate-hydrate crystals, nor retarded the formation of the hydrate. Preliminary experiments on the inhibition activity of WfAFP on a natural gas hydrate assessed induction time and the amount of propane gas consumed. Similar to the observations for THF, the data indicated that WfAFP inhibited propane-hydrate growth. Taken together, these results support our hypothesis that AFPs can inhibit clathrate-hydrate growth and as well, offer promise for the understanding of the inhibition mechanism.

Thrombomodulin, von Willebrand factor and E-selectin as plasma markers of endothelial damage/dysfunction and activation in pregnancy induced hypertension.

PubMed

Nadar, Sunil K; Al Yemeni, Eman; Blann, Andrew D; Lip, Gregory Y H

2004-01-01

Endothelial disturbance (whether activation, dysfunction or damage) is a likely pathogenic mechanism in pre-eclampsia and pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). We set out to determine which of three plasma markers of endothelial disturbance, indicating endothelial activation (E-selectin) or damage/dysfunction (von Willebrand factor (vWf), soluble thrombomodulin), would provide the best discriminator of PIH compared to normotensive pregnancy. Cross-sectional study of 36 consecutive women with PIH (age 31+/-6 years) and 36 consecutive women with normotensive pregnancies (age 29+/-5 years) of similar parity. Plasma levels of vWf, E-selectin and thrombomodulin were measured using ELISA. As expected, women with PIH had significantly higher levels of plasma vWf (by 19%, p=0.003), E-selectin (by 40%, p<0.001) and thrombomodulin (by 61%, p=0.01) than normotensive women. However, on stepwise multiple regression analysis, only thrombomodulin was an independent significant predictor of the presence of PIH (p=0.023). We conclude that although vWf, E-selectin and thrombomodulin are all raised in PIH, only thrombomodulin was independently associated with PIH. This molecule could potentially be useful in monitoring and in providing clues in aetiology and pathophysiology, and may have implications for the clinical complications associated with PIH.

The essential work of fracture of thermoplastic orthodontic retainer materials.

PubMed

Pascual, Albert L; Beeman, Cynthia S; Hicks, E Preston; Bush, Heather M; Mitchell, Richard J

2010-05-01

To investigate whether oral cleansing agents affect the essential work of fracture (EWF) and plastic work of fracture (PWF) for two types of orthodontic thermoplastic retainer materials. Polyethylene-terephthalate-glycol (PETG; Tru-Tain Splint) and polypropylene/ethylene-propylene rubber (PP-EPR) blend (Essix-C+) sheets were compared. For each material, six sets of 25 sheets were thermoformed into double-edge-notched-tension specimens; subsets of five specimens were formed with internotch distances (L) equal to 6, 8, 10, 12, or 14 mm, respectively. Sets were stored (160 hours, 25 degrees C) in air (DRY), distilled water (DW), Original Listerine (LIS), mint Crest ProHealth (CPH), 3% hydrogen peroxide (HP), or Polident solution (POL). Specimens were fractured in tension at 2.54 mm/min. Areas under load-elongation curves were measured to determine total work of fracture (W(f)). Linear regressions (W(f) vs L [n = 25]) yielded intercepts (EWF) and slopes (PWF). Ninety-five percent confidence intervals were used to evaluate differences in EWF and PWF estimates. PP-EPR blends showed higher EWFs after storage in HP vs storage in DW. PP-EPR blend showed higher EWFs after storage in CPH vs PETG. After HP storage, PP-EPR exhibited lower PWFs than with any other storage conditions. PP-EPR exhibited higher PWFs than PETG after storage in DRY, DW, and LIS. Compared with DW, none of the cleansers decreased the energy to initiate fracture. With one exception, no cleanser decreased the energy to continue plastic fracture extension. In PP-EPR blend, increased resistance to fracture initiation was observed with CPH and HP, yet, surprisingly, HP decreased resistance to plastic fracture growth.

How field monitoring of green infrastructure stormwater practices has led to changes in North Carolina's Stormwater BMP design manual

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hunt, W. F.; Winston, R. J.

2011-12-01

Green Infrastructure stormwater management is comprised of many biologically-based stormwater treatment practices. Two of which, bioretention and level spreader- vegetative filter strips, have been extensively studied at over 10 different field locations across North Carolina by NC State University. The result of this research has been dramatic changes to the state of North Carolina's stormwater BMP Design Manual, which now allows a greater amount of flexibility for the design of each practice than most other design manuals. The purpose of this presentation is to present a summary of research conducted in North Carolina and associate that research with specific changes made in the state's design guidance for both bioretention (Table 1) and level spreader- vegetated filter strip systems (Table 2). Among the changes are type of vegetation, ratio of hydraulic loading, underdrainage configuration, and fill media selection. References (in print) associated with the tables are listed below: Hathaway, J.M. and W.F. Hunt. 2008. Field Evaluation of Level Spreaders in the Piedmont of North Carolina. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, 134(4):538-542. Hunt, W.F., A.R. Jarrett, J.T. Smith, L.J. Sharkey. 2006. Evaluating Bioretention Hydrology and Nutrient Removal at Three Field Sites in North Carolina. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, 132 (6): 600-608. Hunt, W.F., J.M. Hathaway, R.J. Winston, and S.J. Jadlocki. 2010. Runoff Volume Reduction by a Level Spreader - Vegetated Filter Strip System in Suburban Charlotte, NC. Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, 15(6): 399-503. Jones, M.P. and W.F. Hunt. 2009. Bioretention Impact on Runoff Temperature in Trout Sensitive Waters. Journal of Environmental Engineering, 135(8): 577-585. Li, H., L.J. Sharkey, W.F. Hunt, A.P. Davis. 2009. Mitigation of Impervious Surface Hydrology using Bioretention in North Carolina and Maryland. Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, 14(4): 407-415. Line, D.E. and W.F. Hunt. 2009. Performance of a Bioretention Area and a Level Spreader-Grass Filter Strip at Two Highway Sites in North Carolina. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, 135(2): 217-224. Passeport, E., W.F. Hunt, D.E. Line, R.A. Smith, and R.A. Brown. 2009. Field Study of the Ability of Two Grassed Bioretention Cells to Reduce Stormwater Runoff Pollution. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, 135(4): 505-510. Winston, R.J., W.F. Hunt, D.L. Osmond, W.G. Lord, and M.D. Woodward. 2011. Field Evaluation of Four Level Spreader - Vegetative Filter Strips to Improve Urban Stormwater Quality. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering. 137(3): 170-182.
Table 1 - Research-Based Design Changes for Bioretention in North Carolina Table 2 - Level Spreader - Vegetated Filter Strip Design Evolution in North Carolina

Plasma microRNAs levels are different between pulmonary and extrapulmonary ARDS patients: a clinical observational study.

PubMed

Zheng, Yi; Liu, Song-Qiao; Sun, Qin; Xie, Jian-Feng; Xu, Jing-Yuan; Li, Qing; Pan, Chun; Liu, Ling; Huang, Ying-Zi

2018-02-13

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) obviously alleviate the damage of the structure and function of pulmonary vascular endothelial cells (VEC). The therapeutic effects of MSC are significantly different between pulmonary ARDS (ARDSp) and extrapulmonary ARDS (ARDSexp). MicroRNAs (miRNAs), as important media of MSC regulating VEC, are not studied between ARDSp and ARDSexp. We aimed to explore the plasma levels difference of miRNAs that regulate VEC function and are associated with MSC (MSC-VEC-miRNAs) between ARDSp and ARDSexp patients. MSC-VEC-miRNAs were obtained through reviewing relevant literatures screened in PubMed database. We enrolled 57 ARDS patients within 24 h of admission to the ICU and then collected blood samples, extracted plasma supernatant. Patients' clinical data were collected. Then, plasma expression of MSC-VEC-miRNAs was measured by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. Simultaneously, plasma endothelial injury markers VCAM-1, vWF and inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-10 were detected by ELISA method. Fourteen miRNAs were picked out after screening. A total of 57 ARDS patients were included in this study, among which 43 cases pertained to ARDSp group and 14 cases pertained to ARDSexp group. Plasma miR-221 and miR-27b levels in ARDSexp group exhibited significantly lower than that in ARDSp group (miR-221, 0.22 [0.12-0.49] vs. 0.57 [0.22-1.57], P = 0.008, miR-27b, 0.34 [0.10-0.46] vs. 0.60 [0.20-1.46], P = 0.025). Plasma vWF concentration in ARDSexp group exhibited significantly lower than that in ARDSp group (0.77 [0.29-1.54] vs. 1.80 [0.95-3.51], P = 0.048). Significant positive correlation was found between miR-221 and vWF in plasma levels (r = 0.688, P = 0.022). Plasma miR-26a and miR-27a levels in non-survival group exhibited significantly lower than that in survival group (miR-26a, 0.17 [0.08-0.20] vs. 0.69 [0.24-2.33] P = 0.018, miR-27a, 0.23 [0.16-0.58] vs. 1.45 [0.38-3.63], P = 0.021) in ARDSp patients. Plasma miR-221, miR-27b and vWF levels in ARDSexp group are significantly lower than that in ARDSp group. Plasma miR-26a and miR-27a levels in non-survival group are significantly lower than that in survival group in ARDSp patients.

The defective nature of ice Ic and its implications for atmospheric science

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuhs, W. F.; Hansen, T. C.

2009-04-01

The possible atmospheric implication of ice Ic (cubic ice) has already been suggested some time ago in the context of snow crystal formation [1]. New findings from air-borne measurements in cirrus clouds and contrails have put ice Ic into the focus of interest to understand the so-called "supersaturation puzzle" [2,3,4,5]. Our recent microstructural work on ice Ic [6,7] appears to be highly relevant in this context. We have found that ice Ic is characterized by a complex stacking fault pattern, which changes as a function of temperature as well as time. Indeed, from our own [8] and other group's work [9] one knows that (in contrast to earlier believe) ice Ic can form up to temperatures at least as high as 240K - thus in the relevant range for cirrus clouds. We have good preliminary evidence that the "cubicity" (which can be related to stacking fault probabilities) as well as the particle size of ice Ic are the relevant parameters for this correlation. The "cubicity" of stacking faulty ice Ic (established by diffraction) correlates nicely with the increased supersaturation at decreasing temperatures observed in cirrus clouds and contrails, a fact, which may be considered as further evidence for the presence of ice Ic. Moreover, the stacking faults lead to kinks in the outer shapes of the minute ice Ic crystals as seen by cryo scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM); these defective sites are likely to play some role in heterogeneous reactions in the atmosphere. The cryo-SEM work suggests that stacking-faulty ice Ic has many more active centres for such reactions than the usually considered thermodynamically stable form, ice Ih. [1] T Kobayashi & T Kuroda (1987) Snow Crystals. In: Morphology of Crystals (ed. I Sunagawa), Terra Scientific Publishing, Tokyo, pp.649-743. [2] DM Murphy (2003) Dehydration in cold clouds is enhanced by a transition from from cubic to hexagonal ice. Geophys.Res.Lett.,30, 2230, doi:10.1029/2003GL018566. [3] RS Gao & 19 other authors (2004) Evidence that nitric acid increases relative humidity in low-temperature cirrus clouds. Science 303, 516-520. [4] T Peter, C Marcolli, P Spaichinger, T Corti, MC Baker & T Koop (2006) When dry air is too humid. Science 314, 1399-1402. [5] JE Shilling, MA Tolbert, OB Toon, EJ Jensen, BJ Murray & AK Bertram (2006) Measurements of the vapor pressure of cubic ice and their implications for atmospheric ice clouds. Geophys.Res.Lett. 33, 026671. [6] TC Hansen, MM Koza & WF Kuhs (2008) Formation and annealing of cubic ice: I Modelling of stacking faults. J.Phys.Cond.Matt. 20, 285104. [7] TC Hansen, MM Koza, P Lindner & WF Kuhs (2008) Formation and annealing of cubic ice: II. Kinetic study. J.Phys.Cond.Matt. 20, 285105. [8] WF Kuhs, G Genov, DK Staykova & AN Salamatin (2004) Ice perfection and the onset of anomalous preservation of gas hydrates. Phys.Chem.Chem.Phys. 6, 4917-4920. [9] BJ Murray, DA Knopf & AK Bertram (2005) The formation of cubic ice under conditions relevant to Earth's atmosphere. Nature 434, 292-205.

Constrained Adaptive Beamforming for Improved Contrast in Breast Ultrasound

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-06-01

Contr., vol. 54, no. 5, pp. 1045-1054, May 2007. Ranganathan , K. and W.F. Walker, “Cystic Resolution: A Performance Metric for Ultrasound Imaging...Ultrasonics Symposium. D.A. Guenther, Ranganathan , K. and W.F. Walker, “Design of Apodization Profiles Using a Cystic Resolution Metric for Ultrasound...diagnosis. 22 References: [1] V. Jackson, " Management of solid breast nodules: what is the role of sonography?," Radiology, vol. 196, pp. 14-15, 1995

Pressure-induced metal-insulator transitions in chalcogenide NiS2-xSex

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hussain, Tayyaba; Oh, Myeong-jun; Nauman, Muhammad; Jo, Younjung; Han, Garam; Kim, Changyoung; Kang, Woun

2018-05-01

We report the temperature-dependent resistivity ρ(T) of chalcogenide NiS2-xSex (x = 0.1) using hydrostatic pressure as a control parameter in the temperature range of 4-300 K. The insulating behavior of ρ(T) survives at low temperatures in the pressure regime below 7.5 kbar, whereas a clear insulator-to-metallic transition is observed above 7.5 kbar. Two types of magnetic transitions, from the paramagnetic (PM) to the antiferromagnetic (AFM) state and from the AFM state to the weak ferromagnetic (WF) state, were evaluated and confirmed by magnetization measurement. According to the temperature-pressure phase diagram, the WF phase survives up to 7.5 kbar, and the transition temperature of the WF transition decreases as the pressure increases, whereas the metal-insulator transition temperature increases up to 9.4 kbar. We analyzed the metallic behavior and proposed Fermi-liquid behavior of NiS1.9Se0.1.

Development and Application of Wood Flour-Filled Polylactic Acid Composite Filament for 3D Printing

PubMed Central

Tao, Yubo; Wang, Honglei; Li, Zelong; Li, Peng; Shi, Sheldon Q.

2017-01-01

This paper presents the development of wood flour (WF)-filled polylactic acid (PLA) composite filaments for a fused deposition modeling (FDM) process with the aim of application to 3D printing. The composite filament consists of wood flour (5 wt %) in a PLA matrix. The detailed formulation and characterization of the composite filament were investigated experimentally, including tensile properties, microstructure, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The feedstock filaments of this composite were produced and used successfully in an assembled FDM 3D printer. The research concludes that compared with pure PLA filament, adding WF changed the microstructure of material fracture surface, the initial deformation resistance of the composite was enhanced, the starting thermal degradation temperature of the composite decreased slightly, and there were no effects on the melting temperature. The WF/PLA composite filament is suitable to be printed by the FDM process. PMID:28772694

Water Supply Treatment Sustainability of Panching Water Supply Treatment Process - Water Footprint Approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aziz, Edriyana A.; Malek, Marlinda Abdul; Moni, Syazwan N.; Zulkifli, Nabil F.; Hadi, Iqmal H.

2018-03-01

In many parts of the world, freshwater is scarce and overexploited. The purpose of this study is to determine the water footprint of Water Supply Treatment Process (WSTP) at Panching Water Treatment Plant (WTP) as well as to identify the sustainability of the Sg. Kuantan as an intake resource due to the effect of land use development. The total water footprint (WF) will be calculated by using WF accounting manual. The results obtained shows that the water intake resource is still available but it is believed that it will not be able to cope with the increasing WF. The increment of water demand percentage by 1.8% from 2015 to 2016 has increased 11 times higher of the water footprint percentage, 19.9%. This result shows that the water consumption during the water supply treatment process is two times higher than the demand thus it shows the inefficient of the water management

Adversarial Collaboration Decision-Making: An Overview of Social Quantum Information Processing

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-01-01

collaborative decision - making (CDM) to solve problems is an aspect of human behavior least yielding to rational predictions. To reduce the complexity of CDM...increases. Implications for C2 decision - making are discussed. Overview of research Game theory was one of the first rational approaches to the study of...Psychologist, 36, 343-356. Lawless, W.F. (2001), The quantum of social action and the function of emotion in decision - making , Proceedings, Emotional and

Determination of the In Vitro and In Vivo Activity of Compounds Tested Against Punta Toro Virus.

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-12-29

were performed on 295 AVS compounds in LLC-MK2 cells with inhibition of viral cytopathic effect (CPE) as initial endpoint and reduction of virus...ineffective doses of ribavirin were highly active against the infection. 11. Publications and Presentations: One manuscript describing work performed on...USERS unclassifie 22a N4AME QP RESPONSIBE INDIIDUAL 22b. TELEPHONE WInd Area Code) 22. OFFICE SYMBOL WF ir ginia M. Miller- - DD FORM 1473,s4Mat 83

A Model for High Frequency Radar Auroral Clutter

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-03-01

PROGRAM ELEMENT PROJECT. TA9K Deputy for Electronic Technology (HADCEEP) AREA A WORK UNIT Hansco AF13 02Fl II CONTROLLING OFFICE NAME AND ADDRESS W...region is sometimes referred to as the "polar cavity." 16 I wf, 2. RKlIO PROPA(ArION CONSIDERATIONS An essential element in computing the incidence and...called liaselgrove equations. 8 This is :iccomplished nume’rically by use of a computer program originally developed by ,lTnes .11rd later modified

STS-61 air-bearing floor training in bldg 9N with Astronaut Jeff Hoffman

NASA Image and Video Library

1993-06-07

S93-35696 (7 June 1993) --- Making use of the air-bearing floor in Johnson Space Center's (JSC) Shuttle Mockup and Integration Laboratory, astronaut Jeffrey A. Hoffman practices working with the Hubble Space Telescope's (HST) Wide Field/Planetary Camera (WF/PC). Hoffman is one of four mission specialists who will participate in HST servicing on the scheduled December mission. Changing out the large camera is one of several chores to be performed by the four. Photo credit: NASA

Steinhaus’ Geometric Location Problem for Random Samples in the Plane.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-05-11

NAL 411R A1, ’I 7 - I STEINHAUS ’ GEOMETRIC LOCATION PROBLEM FOR RANDOM SAMPLES IN THE PLANE By Dorit Hochbaum and J. Michael Steele TECHNICAL REPORT...DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS -Dltrib’ytion/ STANFORD UNIVERSITY A-I.abilty Codes STANFORD, CALIFORNIA Dist Spciat ecial Steinhaus ’ Geometric Location Problem for...Random Samples in the Plane By Dorit Hochbaum and J. Michael Steele I. Introduction. The work of H. Steinhaus U wf94 as apparently the first explicit

Refractive index and its impact on pseudophakic dysphotopsia.

PubMed

Radmall, Bryce R; Floyd, Anne; Oakey, Zack; Olson, Randall J

2015-01-01

It has been shown that the biggest dissatisfier for uncomplicated cataract surgery patients is pseudophakic dysphotopsia (PD). While edge design of an intraocular lens (IOL) impacts this problem, refractive index is still controversial as to its impact. This retrospective cohort study was designed to determine the role of increasing refractive index in PD. This study was conducted at the John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, USA. A retrospective chart review identified patients who received one of two hydrophobic acrylic single piece IOLs (AcrySof WF SP [SN60WF] or Tecnis SP [ZCB00]), which differed mainly by refractive index (1.55 versus 1.47). Eighty-seven patients who had received implantation of a one-piece hydrophobic acrylic IOL were enrolled. Patients were included if the surgery had been uncomplicated and took place at least a year before study participation. All eligible patients had 20/20 best corrected vision, without any disease known to impact visual quality. In addition to conducting a record review, the enrolled patients were surveyed for PD, using a modified National Eye Institute Visual Function questionnaire, as well as for overall satisfaction with visual quality. Statistical analysis demonstrated no difference between the two cohorts regarding PD, general visual function, and overall visual satisfaction. The study suggests that with the two IOLs assessed, increasing the refractive index does not increase incidence of PD or decrease overall visual satisfaction.

Effect of irrigation techniques and strategies on water footprint of growing crops

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chukalla, A. D.; Krol, M. S.; Hoekstra, A. Y. Y.

2014-12-01

Reducing the water footprint (WF) of growing crops, the largest water user and a significant contributor to the WF of many consumer products, plays a significant role in integrated and sustainable water management. The water footprint for growing crop is accounted by relating the crop yield with the corresponding consumptive water use (CWU), which both can be adjusted by measures that affect the crop growth and root-zone soil water balance. This study explored the scope for reducing the water footprint of irrigated crops by experimenting set of field level technical and managerial measures: (i) irrigation technologies (Furrow, sprinkler, drip and sub-surface drip), (ii) irrigation strategies (full and a range of sustained and controlled deficit) and (iii) field management options (zero, organic and synthetic mulching). Ranges of cases were also considered: (a) Arid and semi-arid environment (b) Loam and Sandy-loam soil types and (c) for Potato, Wheat and Maize crops; under (c) wet, normal and dry years. AquaCrop, the water driven crop growth and soil water balance model, offered the opportunity to systematically experiment these measures on water consumption and yield. Further, the green and blue water footprints of growing crop corresponding to each measure were computed by separating the root zone fluxes of the AquaCrop output into the green and blue soil water stocks and their corresponding fluxes. Results showed that in arid environment reduction in irrigation supply, CWU and WF up to 300 mm, 80 mm and 75 m3/tonne respectively can be achieved for Maize by a combination of organic mulching and drip technology with controlled deficit irrigation strategies (10-20-30-40% deficit with reference to the full irrigation requirement). These reductions come with a yield drop of 0.54 tonne/ha. In the same environment under the absence of mulching practice, the sub-surface drip perform better in reducing CWU and WF of irrigated crops followed by drip and furrow irrigation technique. This rank though changes in non-moisture limiting condition (wet year) drip performing better in reducing the WF of growing crops than sub-surface drip. It was observed that with all range of irrigation techniques, strategies and field management practices there is more room in reducing the WF of growing crops in loam than sandy-loam soil.

Relationship between the von Willebrand Factor Plasma Concentration and Ultrasonographic Doppler Findings in Pregnancies Complicated by Hypertensive Disorders: A Pilot Study.

PubMed

Szpera-Gozdziewicz, Agata; Gozdziewicz, Tomasz; Boruczkowski, Maciej; Dworacki, Grzegorz; Breborowicz, Grzegorz H

2018-01-01

Recent evidence suggests that impaired cytotrophoblast proliferation and migration are major factors responsible for the development of hypertension in pregnancy. Studies report that von Willebrand factor (vWf) is a specific endothelial damage plasma marker. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between vWf maternal plasma concentration and maternal and fetal Doppler flow measurements in pregnancies complicated by hypertension. It may provide additional insight into the pathophysiology of pregnancy-related hypertension and show the potential method for disease prevention and therapy. We created 3 study groups: pregnant women with chronic hypertension (n = 10), gestational hypertension (n = 18), preeclampsia (n = 21), and control (22 healthy pregnant women). Every woman underwent ultrasound Doppler flow measurements performed simultaneously with venous blood collection. The vWf plasma concentrations were assessed using the commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. The preeclampsia group had significantly higher vWf plasma concentrations in those patients with ultrasonographic features of placental insufficiency than in those without these characteristics (638 ± 208 vs. 377 ± 74 ng/mL; p < 0.017). Our results may confirm the arrangement and severity of endothelial damage in preeclamptic patients and may have identified those patients with a significantly higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. © 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Assessment of food-water nexus by water footprint: a case study in Saskatchewan, Canada

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Y.; Si, B.

2016-12-01

It is important but challengeable to understand the water-food nexus complexity. The water footprint (WF), a relatively new index, is a comprehensive indicator that can be used to evaluate crop water production. This paper aims to 1) determine how water footprint changes at different crop rotational types; 2) investigate what is difference if WF is calculated by yield-based or protein-based; and 3) explore how virtual water flows are responding to regional meteorological, agricultural, and socio-economic factors. The result provided the water footprint and virtual water flow exemplified for Saskatchewan agri-food production industries. By using the water footprint, we determined the best rotation for pulse crops in terms of efficiency of water productivity and water-saving opportunity. While yield is a comprehensive index to assess the productivity (yield-based WF), it underestimated the contribution of some crops, such as pulse crops with relatively low yield but high protein contents (protein-based WF). Consequently, we concluded that water-saving benefits can be achieved by the development and adoption of water efficient technology and better virtual water flows may be achieved by increased area of low water footprint in Saskatchewan. Our finding improves the current concepts of water and food security, informs production and trade decisions, and thus suggests optimal strategies by reduced water footprints in terms of agricultural management.

The anti-inflammatory impact of omega-3 polyunsaturated Fatty acids during the establishment of endometriosis-like lesions.

PubMed

Attaman, Jill A; Stanic, Aleksandar K; Kim, Minji; Lynch, Maureen P; Rueda, Bo R; Styer, Aaron K

2014-10-01

The anti-inflammatory impact of three polyunsaturated fatty acids (3-PUFA) in endometriosis is incompletely understood. The effect of 3-PUFA on endometriosis-like lesions is evaluated as a potential anti-inflammatory treatment target. Wild Type (WT) and transgenic Fat-1 mice (high levels of endogenous 3-PUFA) were utilized in a uterine tissue transplant endometriosis model. Experimental donor×host pairs included: WT×WT (WW), WT×Fat-1 (WF), and Fat-1×Fat-1 (FF). Cytokine content (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IL-17A, IFN-γ, TNF-γ, MCP-1 and RANTES) and immunocellular composition in lesions was determined. Intralesion IL-6 in WF hosts was 99-fold lower than WW hosts (P=0.03). Compared to WW host lesions, Cox-2 levels were decreased in WF [1.5-fold (P=0.02)] and FF [1.2-fold (P=0.01)] host lesions, respectively, and intralesion VEGF expression was increased [1.8-fold; P=0.02 (WF) and 1.5-fold; P=0.01 (FF)]. Lesions in FF hosts demonstrated reduced phosphohistone 3 expression (70%; P=0.03) compared to WW control hosts. Systemic host 3-PUFA levels influence immune, angiogenic, and proliferative factors implicated in the early establishment of endometriosis. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Mesenchymal stem cells reside in a vascular niche in the decidua basalis and are absent in remodelled spiral arterioles.

PubMed

Kusuma, G D; Manuelpillai, U; Abumaree, M H; Pertile, M D; Brennecke, S P; Kalionis, B

2015-03-01

Maternal decidua basalis tissue attached to the placenta following delivery is a source of decidual mesenchymal stem cells (DMSCs). The in vitro characteristics of DMSCs have been partly defined but their in vivo function(s) are poorly understood. The anatomic location, or niche, provides clues regarding potential in vivo function(s) of DMSCs, but the niche has not been described. Cells were isolated from the decidua basalis and flow cytometric analyses showed the expected phenotypic profile for MSC cell surface markers. In vitro, the cells differentiated into adipocytes, osteocytes, and chondrocytes. DMSCs were then stained with antibodies by immunofluorescence detection. Immunocytochemistry revealed that DMSCs were positive for FZD-9, STRO-1, 3G5, and α-SMA as expected and lacked expression of vWF and Ck7. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis showed the cultured cells were of maternal origin. Immunofluorescence was carried out on placental bed biopsies using the FZD-9, STRO-1, 3G5, and α-SMA antibodies. DMSCs were located in the vascular niche in decidua basalis. Immunofluorescence with antibodies to FZD-9, Ck7 and vWF revealed DMSCs in the vascular niche surrounding intact non-transformed spiral arterioles but DMSCs were absent in fully transformed spiral arterioles. Spiral arteriole remodelling is a critical feature of human pregnancy. The DMSC niche was investigated in fully transformed and non-transformed spiral arterioles. DMSCs have not been previously implicated in spiral arteriole remodelling. The absence of DMSCs around fully transformed spiral arterioles suggests they are a target for replacement or destruction by invading placental extravillous trophoblast cells, which carry out spiral arteriole remodelling. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Upcyte® Microvascular Endothelial Cells Repopulate Decellularized Scaffold

PubMed Central

Dally, Iris; Hartmann, Nadja; Münst, Bernhard; Braspenning, Joris; Walles, Heike

2013-01-01

A general problem in tissue engineering is the poor and insufficient blood supply to guarantee tissue cell survival as well as physiological tissue function. To address this limitation, we have developed an in vitro vascularization model in which a decellularized porcine small bowl segment, representing a capillary network within a collagen matrix (biological vascularized scaffold [BioVaSc]), is reseeded with microvascular endothelial cells (mvECs). However, since the supply of mvECs is limited, in general, and as these cells rapidly dedifferentiate, we have applied a novel technology, which allows the generation of large batches of quasi-primary cells with the ability to proliferate, whilst maintaining their differentiated functionality. These so called upcyte mvECs grew for an additional 15 population doublings (PDs) compared to primary cells. Upcyte mvECs retained endothelial characteristics, such as von Willebrandt Factor (vWF), CD31 and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression, as well as positive Ulex europaeus agglutinin I staining. Upcyte mvECs also retained biological functionality such as tube formation, cell migration, and low density lipoprotein (LDL) uptake, which were still evident after PD27. Initial experiments using MTT and Live/Dead staining indicate that upcyte mvECs repopulate the BioVaSc Scaffold. As with conventional cultures, these cells also express key endothelial molecules (vWF, CD31, and eNOS) in a custom-made bioreactor system even after a prolonged period of 14 days. The combination of upcyte mvECs and the BioVaSc represents a novel and promising approach toward vascularizing bioreactor models which can better reflect organs, such as the liver. PMID:22799502

Patterns of fire activity over Indonesia and Malaysia from polar and geostationary satellite observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hyer, Edward J.; Reid, Jeffrey S.; Prins, Elaine M.; Hoffman, Jay P.; Schmidt, Christopher C.; Miettinen, Jukka I.; Giglio, Louis

2013-03-01

Biomass burning patterns over the Maritime Continent of Southeast Asia are examined using a new active fire detection product based on application of the Wildfire Automated Biomass Burning Algorithm (WF_ABBA) to data from the imagers on the MTSAT geostationary satellites operated by the Japanese space agency JAXA. Data from MTSAT-1R and MTSAT-2 covering 34 months from September 2008 to July 2011 are examined for a study region consisting of Indonesia, Malaysia, and nearby environs. The spatial and temporal distributions of fires detected in the MTSAT WF_ABBA product are described and compared with active fire observations from MODIS MOD14 data. Land cover distributions for the two instruments are examined using a new 250 m land cover product from the National University of Singapore. The two products show broadly similar patterns of fire activity, land cover distribution of fires, and pixel fire radiative power (FRP). However, the MTSAT WF_ABBA data differ from MOD14 in important ways. Relative to MODIS, the MTSAT WF_ABBA product has lower overall detection efficiency, but more fires detected due to more frequent looks, a greater relative fraction of fires in forest and a lower relative fraction of fires in open areas, and significantly higher single-pixel retrieved FRP. The differences in land cover distribution and FRP between the MTSAT and MODIS products are shown to be qualitatively consistent with expectations based on pixel size and diurnal sampling. The MTSAT WF_ABBA data are used to calculate coverage-corrected diurnal cycles of fire for different regions within the study area. These diurnal cycles are preliminary but demonstrate that the fraction of diurnal fire activity sampled by the two MODIS sensors varies significantly by region and vegetation type. Based on the results from comparison of the two fire products, a series of steps is outlined to account for some of the systematic biases in each of these satellite products in order to produce a successful merged fire detection product.

Circulating Endothelial Cells in Patients with Heart Failure and Left Ventricular Dysfunction

PubMed Central

Martínez-Sales, Vicenta; Sánchez-Lázaro, Ignacio; Vila, Virtudes; Almenar, Luis; Contreras, Teresa; Reganon, Edelmiro

2011-01-01

Introduction and Aims: Acute and chronic heart failure may manifest different degrees of endothelial damage and angiogenesis. Circulating endothelial cells (CEC) have been identified as marker of vascular damage. The aim of our study was to evaluate the evolution of the CEC at different stages of patients with heart failure. We also investigated a potential correlation between CEC and markers of vascular damage and angiogenesis. Methods: We studied 32 heart failure patients at hospital admission (acute phase) and at revision after 3 months (stable phase) and 32 controls. Circulating markers of endothelial damage (CEC; von Willebrand factor, vWF and soluble E-selectin, sEsel) and angiogenesis (vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGF and thrombospondin-1) were quantified. Results: Levels of CEC, vWF, sEsel and VEGF are significantly higher in heart failure patients than in controls. Levels of CEC (36.9 ± 15.3 vs. 21.5 ± 10.0 cells/ml; p < 0.001), vWF (325 ± 101 vs. 231 ± 82%; p < 0.001) and VEGF (26.3 ± 15.2 vs. 21.9 ± 11.9 ng/ml; p < 0.001) are significantly higher in the acute phase than in the stable phase of heart failure. CEC levels correlate with vWF and VEGF. Results show than 100% of patients in acute phase and 37.5% in stable phase have levels of CEC higher than the 99th percentile of the distribution of controls (16 cells/ml). Therefore, increases in CEC represent a relative risk of 9.5 for heart failure patients suffering from acute phase. Conclusions: CEC, in addition to being elevated in heart failure, correlate with vWF levels, providing further support for CEC as markers of endothelial damage. Levels of CEC are associated with the acute phase of heart failure and could be used as a marker of the worsening in heart failure. PMID:21897001

Effects of blood pressure on the prothrombotic risk in 1235 patients with non‐valvular atrial fibrillation

PubMed Central

Varughese, George I; Patel, Jeetesh V; Tomson, Joseph; Lip, Gregory Y H

2007-01-01

Background Increased levels of plasma von Willebrand factor (vWf, an index of endothelial damage/dysfunction) and soluble P‐selectin (sP‐sel, an index of platelet activation) concentrations have been reported as indices of the prothrombotic state in both non‐valvular atrial fibrillation and hypertension separately. However, the effect of hypertension on the levels of these indices in the setting of atrial fibrillation, and whether increasing severity of hypertension presents an additive prothrombotic risk, is unclear. Methods Plasma concentrations of vWf and sP‐sel were measured by ELISA in 1235 patients with atrial fibrillation, and levels related to a history of hypertension and rising quartiles of systolic, diastolic and pulse pressure in those with and without diabetes mellitus and prior vascular events. Results Mean plasma vWf was higher among patients with atrial fibrillation with a history of hypertension (149 vs 145 IU/dl, p = 0.005). Also, an increase in the levels of vWf with increasing quartiles of pulse pressure (p = 0.042) was noticed. However, on multivariate analysis, after adjusting for potential confounders, the effects of both hypertension and pulse pressure became non‐significant (p = 0.261 and p = 0.5, respectively). Levels of sP‐sel were unaffected by a history of hypertension and rising quartiles of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, or pulse pressure. Conclusion Among patients with atrial fibrillation, patients with hypertension have higher vWf levels, indicating endothelial damage/dysfunction, which is associated with increasing pulse pressure. However, these associations are probably owing to the presence of other associated cardiovascular disease, rather than hypertension itself. Furthermore, platelet activation (sP‐sel) was unrelated to hypertension or blood pressure in this atrial fibrillation cohort. Hypertension or blood pressure levels do not seem to have an independent additive affect on the prothrombotic state in atrial fibrillation. PMID:17005711

Characterization of N-doped multilayer graphene grown on 4H-SiC (0001)

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

Arezki, Hakim, E-mail: hakim.arezki@lgep.supelec.fr; Jaffré, Alexandre; Alamarguy, David

Large-area graphene film doped with hetero-atoms is of great interest for a wide spectrum of nanoelectronics applications, such as field effect devices, super capacitors, fuel cells among many others. Here, we report the structural and electronic properties of nitrogen doped multilayer graphene on 4H-SiC (0001). The incorporation of nitrogen during the growth causes an increase in the D band on the Raman signature indicating that the nitrogen is creating defects. The analysis of micro-Raman mapping of G, D, 2D bands shows a predominantly trilayer graphene with a D band inherent to doping and inhomogeneous dopant distribution at the step edges.more » Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) indicates an n type work function (WF) of 4.1 eV. In addition, a top gate FET device was fabricated showing n-type I-V characteristic after the desorption of oxygen with high electron and holes mobilities.« less

Conjugate gradient method for phase retrieval based on the Wirtinger derivative.

PubMed

Wei, Zhun; Chen, Wen; Qiu, Cheng-Wei; Chen, Xudong

2017-05-01

A conjugate gradient Wirtinger flow (CG-WF) algorithm for phase retrieval is proposed in this paper. It is shown that, compared with recently reported Wirtinger flow and its modified methods, the proposed CG-WF algorithm is able to dramatically accelerate the convergence rate while keeping the dominant computational cost of each iteration unchanged. We numerically illustrate the effectiveness of our method in recovering 1D Gaussian signals and 2D natural color images under both Gaussian and coded diffraction pattern models.

Health Risk Assessment of Embedded Depleted Uranium: Behavior, Physiology, Histology and Biokenetic Modeling.

DTIC Science & Technology

1996-11-01

increased urinary excretion of beta2-microglobulin and various amino acids. In rats exposed subchronically to low doses (cumulative dose: 0.66 or 1.32 mg/kg...leakage or failure of tubule reabsorption. Urinary enzymes are sensitive, non- invasive markers of toxicity primarily in the kidney tubules46. NAG is a...42 Neuman, W.F., Urinary uranium as a measure of exposure hazard, Industrial. Med. Surgery, 19 (1950) 185-191. 43 Neuman, W.F., Fleming, R.W., Dounce

Underbody Blast Models of TBI Caused by Hyper-Acceleration and Secondary Head Impact

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-02-01

or behavioral indices of brain injury . 2.0 Technical Requirements: 2 Fig. 1. Diffusion tensor imaging of water diffusion in the internal capsule...demonstrates relative differences between blast (left) and sham (right) and also the similarities between the two animals in each group. vWF Bcl - 2 Fo ld...C ha ng e -8 -6 -4 - 2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 ** ** Figure 6. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) validation of vWF and Bcl - 2

Effect of Rice Bran and Wheat Fibers on Microbiological and Physicochemical Properties of Fermented Sausages during Ripening and Storage

PubMed Central

Jung, Ji-Taek; Lee, Jin-kyu; Choi, Yeong-Seok; Lee, Ju-Ho; Choi, Jung-Seok; Choi, Yang-Il; Chung, Yoon-Kyung

2018-01-01

Abstract This study investigated the effect of rice bran fiber (RBF) and wheat fibers (WF) on microbiological and physicochemical properties of fermented sausages during ripening and storage. The experimental design included three treatments: Control, no addition; RBF, 1.5%; and WF, 1.5%. During the ripening periods, the addition of dietary fibers rapidly decreased pH and maintained high water activity values of fermented sausages (p<0.05). Lactic acid bacteria were more prevalent in fermented sausages with rice bran fiber than control and sausages with added wheat fiber. During cold storage, lower pH was observed in sausages with dietary fibers (p<0.05), and the water activity and color values were reduced as the storage period lengthened. Fermented sausages containing dietary fibers were higher in lactic acid bacteria counts, volatile basic nitrogen and 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substance values compared to the control (p<0.05). The results indicate that, the addition of dietary fibers in the fermented sausages promotes the growth of lactic bacteria and fermentation, and suggests that development of functional fermented sausages is possible. PMID:29805280

An anti-von Willebrand factor aptamer reduces platelet adhesion among patients receiving aspirin and clopidogrel in an ex vivo shear-induced arterial thrombosis.

PubMed

Arzamendi, Dabit; Dandachli, Firas; Théorêt, Jean-François; Ducrocq, Gregory; Chan, Mark; Mourad, Walid; Gilbert, James C; Schaub, Robert G; Tanguay, Jean-François; Merhi, Yahye

2011-01-01

The von Willebrand factor (vWF) aptamer, ARC1779 that blocks the binding of vWF A1-domain to platelet glycoprotein 1b (GPIb) at high shear, may deliver a site-specific antithrombotic effect. We investigated the efficiency of ARC1779 on platelet function in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) on double antiplatelet therapy. Blood from patients taking aspirin and clopidogrel and from normal volunteers was treated ex vivo with ARC1779 or abciximab, either prior to perfusion (pretherapy) or 10 minutes following the initiation of perfusion (posttherapy) on damaged arteries. Under pre- but not posttherapy, platelet adhesion was significantly reduced by ARC1779 at 83 and 250 nmol/L and by abciximab (100 nmol/L) versus placebo (4.8, 3.8, and 2.9 vs 7.3 platelets × 10(6)/cm(2), P < .05). In contrast to abciximab, ARC1779 did not significantly affect platelet aggregation, P-selectin expression, and platelet-leukocyte binding. These proof-of-concept data may constitute the framework for randomized clinical investigations of this novel antiplatelet therapy among patients with CAD.

Anomalous Photoionization in Xe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klapisch, Marcel; Busquet, Michel

2012-10-01

Photoionization (PI) cross sections are important components of the opacities that are necessary for the simulation of astrophysical and ICF plasmas. Most of PI cross sections (i) start abruptly at threshold and (ii) decrease as an inverse power (e.g.3^rd) of the photon energy. In the framework of the CRASH project [1] we computed Xe opacities with the STA code [2]. We observed that the PI cross section for the 4d shell has neither of these 2 characteristics. We explain this result as interference between the bound 4d wavefunction (wf), the photon, and the free electron wf. Similar, but less pronounced effects are seen for the 5d and 5p shells. Simplified models of PI not involving the actual wf would not show this effect and would probably be inaccurate.[4pt] [1] Doss, F. W., Drake, R. P., and Kuranz, C. C., High Ener. Dens. Phys. 6, 157-61.[0pt] [2] Busquet, M., Klapisch, M., Bar-Shalom, A., et al., Bull. Am. Phys. Soc. 55, 225 (2010).

Echicetin Coated Polystyrene Beads: A Novel Tool to Investigate GPIb-Specific Platelet Activation and Aggregation

PubMed Central

Petunin, Alexey; Clemetson, Kenneth J.; Gambaryan, Stepan; Walter, Ulrich

2014-01-01

von Willebrand factor/ristocetin (vWF/R) induces GPIb-dependent platelet agglutination and activation of αIIbβ3 integrin, which also binds vWF. These conditions make it difficult to investigate GPIb-specific signaling pathways in washed platelets. Here, we investigated the specific mechanisms of GPIb signaling using echicetin-coated polystyrene beads, which specifically activate GPIb. We compared platelet activation induced by echicetin beads to vWF/R. Human platelets were stimulated with polystyrene beads coated with increasing amounts of echicetin and platelet activation by echicetin beads was then investigated to reveal GPIb specific signaling. Echicetin beads induced αIIbβ3-dependent aggregation of washed platelets, while under the same conditions vWF/R treatment led only to αIIbβ3-independent platelet agglutination. The average distance between the echicetin molecules on the polystyrene beads must be less than 7 nm for full platelet activation, while the total amount of echicetin used for activation is not critical. Echicetin beads induced strong phosphorylation of several proteins including p38, ERK and PKB. Synergistic signaling via P2Y12 and thromboxane receptor through secreted ADP and TxA2, respectively, were important for echicetin bead triggered platelet activation. Activation of PKG by the NO/sGC/cGMP pathway inhibited echicetin bead-induced platelet aggregation. Echicetin-coated beads are powerful and reliable tools to study signaling in human platelets activated solely via GPIb and GPIb-triggered pathways. PMID:24705415

Mechanism study of endothelial protection and inhibits platelet activation of low molecular weight fucoidan from Laminaria japonica

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Anjin; Zhang, Fang; Shi, Jie; Zhao, Xue; Yan, Meixing

2016-10-01

Several studies have indicated that fucoidan fractions with low molecular weight and different sulfate content from Laminaria japonica could inhibit the activation of platelets directly by reducing the platelet aggregation. To explore the direct effect of LMW fucoidan on the platelet system furthermore and examine the possible mechanism, the endothelial protection and inhibits platelet activation effects of two LMW fucoidan were investigated. In the present study, Endothelial injury model of rats was made by injection of adrenaline (0.4 mg kg-1) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells were cultured. vWF level was be investigated in vivo and in vitro as an important index of endothelial injury. LMW fucoidan could significantly reduce vWF level in vascular endothelial injury rats and also significantly reduce vWF level in vitro. The number of EMPs was be detected as another important index of endothelial injury. The results showed that LMW fucoidan reduced EMPs stimulated by tumor necrosis factor. In this study, it was found that by inhibiting platelet adhesion, LMW fucoidan played a role in anti-thrombosis and the specific mechanism of action is to inhibit the flow of extracellular Ca2+. All in a word, LMW fucoidan could inhibit the activation of platelets indirectly by reducing the concentration of EMPs and vWF, at the same time; LMW fucoidan inhibited the activation of platelets directly by inhibiting the flow of extracellular Ca2+.

Antiapoptotic and Antioxidant Properties of Orthosiphon stamineus Benth (Cat's Whiskers): Intervention in the Bcl-2-Mediated Apoptotic Pathway

PubMed Central

Abdelwahab, Siddig Ibrahim; Mohan, Syam; Mohamed Elhassan, Manal; Al-Mekhlafi, Nabil; Mariod, Abdelbasit Adam; Abdul, Ahmad Bustamam; Abdulla, Mahmood Ameen; Alkharfy, Khalid M.

2011-01-01

Antiapoptotic and antioxidant activities of aqueous-methanolic extract (CAME) of Orthosiphonstamineus Benth(OS), and its hexane (HF), chloroform (CF), n-butanol (NBF), ethyl acetate (EAF) and water (WF) fractions were investigated. Antioxidant properties were evaluated using the assays of Folin-Ciocalteu, aluminiumtrichloride, β-carotene bleaching and DPPH. The role of OS against hydrogen peroxide induced apoptosis on MDA-M231 epithelial cells was examined using MTT assay, phase contrast microscope, colorimetric assay of caspase-3, western blot and quantitative real-time PCR. Results showed that EAF showed the highest total phenolic content followed by CAME, NBF, WF, CF and HF, respectively. Flavonoid content was in the order of the CF > EAF > HF > CAME > NBF > WF. The IC50 values on DPPH assay for different extract/fractions were 126.2 ± 23, 31.25 ± 1.2, 15.25 ± 2.3, 13.56 ± 1.9, 23.0 ± 3.2, and 16.66 ± 1.5 μg/ml for HF, CF, EAF, NBF, WF and CAME, respectively. OSreduced the oxidation of β-carotene by hydroperoxides. Cell death was dose-dependently inhibited by pretreatment with OS. Caspase-3 and distinct morphological features suggest the anti-apoptotic activities of OS. This plant not only increased the expression of Bcl-2, but also decreased Bax expression, and ultimately reduced H2O2-induced apoptosis. The current results showed that phenolics may provide health and nutritional benefits. PMID:21234328

Enzymatic Hydrolysis and Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation of Soybean Processing Intermediates for the Production of Ethanol and Concentration of Protein and Lipids

PubMed Central

Long, Craig C.; Gibbons, William

2012-01-01

Carbohydrates in soybeans are generally undesirable due to their low digestibility and because they “dilute” more valuable components (proteins, lipids). To remove these carbohydrates and raise the titer of more valuable components, ethanol production was investigated. Commercial enzymes (Novozyme cellulase, β-glucosidase, and pectinase) were added to ground soybeans (SB), soybean meal (SBM), soybean hulls (SH), and soybean white flakes (WF) at a 10% solids loading rate to quantify hydrolyzed glucan. Saccharification resulted in glucan reductions of 28%, 45%, 76%, and 80% (SBM, SB, SH, WF, resp.). Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) trials were conducted at 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% solids loading with Saccharomyces cerevisiae NRRL Y-2034 and Scheffersomyces stipitis NRRL Y-7124, with protein, fiber, and lipids analyzed at SSF 10% solids and saccharification trials. S. cerevisiae and S. stipitis produced ~3–12.5 g/L ethanol and ~2.5–8.6 g/L ethanol, respectively, on SB, SBM, and WF over all solid loading rates. SH resulted in higher ethanol titers for both S. cerevisiae (~9–23 g/L) and S. stipitis (~9.5–14.5 g/L). Protein concentrations decreased by 2.5–10% for the SB, SBM, and WF, but increased by 53%–55% in SH. Oil concentrations increased by ~50% for SB; by ~500%–1300% for the others. PMID:23762751

Endothelial markers are associated with pancreatic necrosis and overall prognosis in acute pancreatitis: A preliminary cohort study.

PubMed

Chen, Yizhe; Ke, Lu; Meng, Lei; Yang, Qi; Tong, Zhihui; Pan, Yiyuan; Li, Weiqin; Li, Jieshou

Endothelial injury is believed to play an important role in the evolution of pancreatic microcirculatory dysfunction and pancreatic necrosis (PN) in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP). The aim of this study was to investigate the role of three endothelial markers (von Willebrand factor, vWF; E-selectin; endothelial protein C receptor, EPCR) in the early phase of AP, especially the relationship between endothelial markers and PN. From March 2015 to March 2016, 57 AP patients admitted within 72 h of symptom onset in our hospital were included for this study. Blood samples were taken on admission and the clinical characteristics and outcomes of these patients were recorded. The levels of vWF, E-selectin and EPCR were measured using ELISA for analysis and compared with other severity markers of AP. All the three markers were significantly different in healthy control, mild, moderate and severe AP patients. Moreover, the endothelial markers, especially vWF, also showed significant difference in patients with different extent of PN, as well as those with or without MODS. Additionally, the levels of endothelial markers correlated well with other commonly used markers of AP severity. Elevated endothelium-related mediators (vWF, E-selectin and EPCR) appear to participate in the development of PN and may be a potential indicator of overall prognosis. Our results may help clinicians better understand the pathophysiological process of the development of PN. Copyright © 2016 IAP and EPC. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Postprandial energy expenditure in whole-food and processed-food meals: implications for daily energy expenditure.

PubMed

Barr, Sadie B; Wright, Jonathan C

2010-07-02

Empirical evidence has shown that rising obesity rates closely parallel the increased consumption of processed foods (PF) consumption in USA. Differences in postprandial thermogenic responses to a whole-food (WF) meal vs. a PF meal may be a key factor in explaining obesity trends, but currently there is limited research exploring this potential link. The goal was to determine if a particular PF meal has a greater thermodynamic efficiency than a comparable WF meal, thereby conferring a greater net-energy intake. Subjective satiation scores and postprandial energy expenditure were measured for 5-6 h after isoenergetic meals were ingested. The meals were either 'whole' or 'processed' cheese sandwiches; multi-grain bread and cheddar cheese were deemed whole, while white bread and processed cheese product were considered processed. Meals were comparable in terms of protein (15-20%), carbohydrate (40-50%), and fat (33-39%) composition. Subjects were healthy women (n=12) and men (n=5) studied in a crossover design. There were no significant differences in satiety ratings after the two meals. Average energy expenditure for the WF meal (137+/-14.1 kcal, 19.9% of meal energy) was significantly larger than for the PF meal (73.1+/-10.2 kcal, 10.7% of meal energy). Ingestion of the particular PF meal tested in this study decreases postprandial energy expenditure by nearly 50% compared with the isoenergetic WF meal. This reduction in daily energy expenditure has potential implications for diets comprised heavily of PFs and their associations with obesity.

Manganese speciation of laboratory-generated welding fumes

PubMed Central

Andrews, Ronnee N.; Keane, Michael; Hanley, Kevin W.; Feng, H. Amy; Ashley, Kevin

2015-01-01

The objective of this laboratory study was to identify and measure manganese (Mn) fractions in chamber-generated welding fumes (WF) and to evaluate and compare the results from a sequential extraction procedure for Mn fractions with that of an acid digestion procedure for measurement of total, elemental Mn. To prepare Mn-containing particulate matter from representative welding processes, a welding system was operated in short circuit gas metal arc welding (GMAW) mode using both stainless steel (SS) and mild carbon steel (MCS) and also with flux cored arc welding (FCAW) and shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) using MCS. Generated WF samples were collected onto polycarbonate filters before homogenization, weighing and storage in scintillation vials. The extraction procedure consisted of four sequential steps to measure various Mn fractions based upon selective solubility: (1) soluble Mn dissolved in 0.01 M ammonium acetate; (2) Mn (0,II) dissolved in 25 % (v/v) acetic acid; (3) Mn (III,IV) dissolved in 0.5% (w/v) hydroxylamine hydrochloride in 25% (v/v) acetic acid; and (4) insoluble Mn extracted with concentrated hydrochloric and nitric acids. After sample treatment, the four fractions were analyzed for Mn by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). WF from GMAW and FCAW showed similar distributions of Mn species, with the largest concentrations of Mn detected in the Mn (0,II) and insoluble Mn fractions. On the other hand, the majority of the Mn content of SMAW fume was detected as Mn (III,IV). Although the concentration of Mn measured from summation of the four sequential steps was statistically significantly different from that measured from the hot block dissolution method for total Mn, the difference is small enough to be of no practical importance for industrial hygiene air samples, and either method may be used for Mn measurement. The sequential extraction method provides valuable information about the oxidation state of Mn in samples and allows for comparison to results from previous work and from total Mn dissolution methods. PMID:26345630

Manganese speciation of laboratory-generated welding fumes.

PubMed

Andrews, Ronnee N; Keane, Michael; Hanley, Kevin W; Feng, H Amy; Ashley, Kevin

The objective of this laboratory study was to identify and measure manganese (Mn) fractions in chamber-generated welding fumes (WF) and to evaluate and compare the results from a sequential extraction procedure for Mn fractions with that of an acid digestion procedure for measurement of total, elemental Mn. To prepare Mn-containing particulate matter from representative welding processes, a welding system was operated in short circuit gas metal arc welding (GMAW) mode using both stainless steel (SS) and mild carbon steel (MCS) and also with flux cored arc welding (FCAW) and shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) using MCS. Generated WF samples were collected onto polycarbonate filters before homogenization, weighing and storage in scintillation vials. The extraction procedure consisted of four sequential steps to measure various Mn fractions based upon selective solubility: (1) soluble Mn dissolved in 0.01 M ammonium acetate; (2) Mn (0,II) dissolved in 25 % (v/v) acetic acid; (3) Mn (III,IV) dissolved in 0.5% (w/v) hydroxylamine hydrochloride in 25% (v/v) acetic acid; and (4) insoluble Mn extracted with concentrated hydrochloric and nitric acids. After sample treatment, the four fractions were analyzed for Mn by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). WF from GMAW and FCAW showed similar distributions of Mn species, with the largest concentrations of Mn detected in the Mn (0,II) and insoluble Mn fractions. On the other hand, the majority of the Mn content of SMAW fume was detected as Mn (III,IV). Although the concentration of Mn measured from summation of the four sequential steps was statistically significantly different from that measured from the hot block dissolution method for total Mn, the difference is small enough to be of no practical importance for industrial hygiene air samples, and either method may be used for Mn measurement. The sequential extraction method provides valuable information about the oxidation state of Mn in samples and allows for comparison to results from previous work and from total Mn dissolution methods.

Hypnotic Effect of Portulaca oleracea L on Pentobarbital-Induced Sleep in Mice.

PubMed

Hamedi, Shokouhsadat; Forouzanfar, Fatemeh; Rakhshandeh, Hasan; Arian, Amirali

2018-03-08

In Iranian Traditional Medicine, the herbs with cold and wet temperament can help to improve insomnia. Portulaca oleracea has cold and wet temperament, so the present study was carried out to investigate the sleep-prolonging effect of Portulaca oleracea. This work was an experimental study on mice which were randomly divided into these groups: saline (control); Diazepam:) positive control); hydro-alcoholic extract of Portulaca oleracea (12.5, 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg) by Soxhlet apparatus and maceration; in the effective (dose25 mg/kg), different fractions of extract were tested. Ethyl acetate fraction (EAF:); n-Hexane fraction (n-HF); water fraction (WF). All the test compounds were injected intraperitoneally (IP) 30 minutes before pentobarbital administration (30 mg/kg). Duration and latency of pentobarbital-induced sleep were recorded. Also, LD50 of Portulaca oleracea extract was determined and the possible neurotoxicity of the extract was tested on neural PC12 cells. Besides, 30 min after administration of hydro alcoholic extract (HAE) motor coordination (rota-rod test) were assessed. HAE increased the duration of pentobarbital-induced sleep at doses of 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg The hypnotic effect of HAE was comparable to that induced by diazepam. Similarly, WF, EAF, and n-HF at 25 mg/kg could increase sleep duration. The sleep latency was decreased by HAE and NHF but not by WF and EAF. The LD50 value for HAE was found to be 4.8 g/Kg. HAE and its fractions did not show neurotoxic effect in cultured PC12-cell line, also HAE did not affect the animals' performance on the rotarod test. The present data demonstrated that Portulaca oleracea potentiates sleeping behaviors. The main component (s) responsible for the hypnotic effects of this plant is most likely a non-polar agent (s) which is found in n-HF. Isolation of the active constituents may yield a novel sedative drug. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

Hypnotic Effect of Ocimum basilicum on Pentobarbital-Induced Sleep in Mice.

PubMed

Askari, Vahid Reza; Baradaran Rahimi, Vafa; Ghorbani, Ahmad; Rakhshandeh, Hassan

2016-07-01

Sleep disorders are accompanied by several complications, and currently used soporific drugs can induce unwanted effects such as psychomotor impairment, tolerance, amnesia, and rebound insomnia. The present study was carried out to investigate if Ocimum basilicum has a sleep-prolonging effect. This work was an experimental study on 72 mice which were randomly divided into 9 groups: saline (control); diazepam (3 mg/kg, positive control); hydro-alcoholic extract (HAE) of Ocimum basilicum (25, 50, or 100 mg/kg); ethyl acetate fraction (EAF, 50 mg/kg); n-butanol fraction (NBF, 50 mg/kg); water fraction (WF, 50 mg/kg); and saline containing 10% DMSO (vehicle for EAF and NBF). All the test compounds were injected intraperitoneally (IP) 30 minutes before pentobarbital administration (30 mg/kg). Duration and latency of pentobarbital-induced sleep were recorded. Also, LD50 of HAE was determined and the cytotoxicity of HAE was tested on neural and fibroblast cells using the MTT assay. HAE increased the duration of pentobarbital-induced sleep at doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg (P < 0.001). The hypnotic effect of HAE was comparable to that induced by diazepam. Similarly, WF, EAF, and NBF at 50 mg/kg could increase sleep duration. The sleep latency was decreased by HAE (P < 0.01 - P < 0.001) and NBF (P < 0.001), but not by WF and EAF. The LD50 value for HAE was found to be 2.4 g/kg. HAE had no effect on the viability of neuronal PC12 cells and L929 fibroblast cells. The present data demonstrated that Ocimum basilicum potentiates sleeping behaviors without any cytotoxicity. The main component (s) responsible for the hypnotic effects of this plant is most likely a non-polar agent (s) which is found in NBF. Isolation of the active constituents may yield a novel sedative drug.

Hypnotic Effect of Ocimum basilicum on Pentobarbital-Induced Sleep in Mice

PubMed Central

Askari, Vahid Reza; Baradaran Rahimi, Vafa; Ghorbani, Ahmad; Rakhshandeh, Hassan

2016-01-01

Background Sleep disorders are accompanied by several complications, and currently used soporific drugs can induce unwanted effects such as psychomotor impairment, tolerance, amnesia, and rebound insomnia. Objectives The present study was carried out to investigate if Ocimum basilicum has a sleep-prolonging effect. Materials and Methods This work was an experimental study on 72 mice which were randomly divided into 9 groups: saline (control); diazepam (3 mg/kg, positive control); hydro-alcoholic extract (HAE) of Ocimum basilicum (25, 50, or 100 mg/kg); ethyl acetate fraction (EAF, 50 mg/kg); n-butanol fraction (NBF, 50 mg/kg); water fraction (WF, 50 mg/kg); and saline containing 10% DMSO (vehicle for EAF and NBF). All the test compounds were injected intraperitoneally (IP) 30 minutes before pentobarbital administration (30 mg/kg). Duration and latency of pentobarbital-induced sleep were recorded. Also, LD50 of HAE was determined and the cytotoxicity of HAE was tested on neural and fibroblast cells using the MTT assay. Results HAE increased the duration of pentobarbital-induced sleep at doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg (P < 0.001). The hypnotic effect of HAE was comparable to that induced by diazepam. Similarly, WF, EAF, and NBF at 50 mg/kg could increase sleep duration. The sleep latency was decreased by HAE (P < 0.01 - P < 0.001) and NBF (P < 0.001), but not by WF and EAF. The LD50 value for HAE was found to be 2.4 g/kg. HAE had no effect on the viability of neuronal PC12 cells and L929 fibroblast cells. Conclusions The present data demonstrated that Ocimum basilicum potentiates sleeping behaviors without any cytotoxicity. The main component (s) responsible for the hypnotic effects of this plant is most likely a non-polar agent (s) which is found in NBF. Isolation of the active constituents may yield a novel sedative drug. PMID:27651944

The time-dependence of the defective nature of ice Ic (cubic ice) and its implications for atmospheric science

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sippel, Christian; Koza, Michael M.; Hansen, Thomas C.; Kuhs, Werner F.

2010-05-01

The possible atmospheric implication of ice Ic (cubic ice) has already been suggested some time ago in the context of snow crystal formation [1]. New findings from air-borne measurements in cirrus clouds and contrails have put ice Ic into the focus of interest to understand the so-called "supersaturation puzzle" [2,3,4]. Our recent microstructural work on ice Ic [5,6] appears to be highly relevant in this context. We have found that ice Ic is characterized by a complex stacking fault pattern, which changes as a function of temperature as well as time. Indeed, from our own [7] and other group's work [8] one knows that (in contrast to earlier believe) ice Ic can form up to temperatures at least as high as 240K - thus in the relevant range for cirrus clouds. We have good preliminary evidence that the "cubicity" (which can be related to stacking fault probabilities) as well as the particle size of ice Ic are the relevant parameters for this correlation. The "cubicity" of stacking faulty ice Ic (established by diffraction) correlates nicely with the increased supersaturation at decreasing temperatures observed in cirrus clouds and contrails, a fact, which may be considered as further evidence for the presence of ice Ic. Recently, we have studied the time-dependency of the changes in both "cubicity" and particle size at various temperatures of relevance for cirrus clouds and contrails by in-situ neutron powder diffraction. The timescales over which changes occur (several to many hours) are similar to the life-time of cirrus clouds and contrails and suggest that the supersaturation situation may change within this time span in the natural environment too. Some accompanying results obtained by cryo-SEM (scanning electron microscopy) work will also be presented and suggest that stacking-faulty ice Ic has kinky surfaces providing many more active centres for heterogeneous reactions on the surface than in the usually assumed stable hexagonal form of ice Ih with its rather flat low-indexed crystal faces. [1] T Kobayashi & T Kuroda (1987) Snow Crystals. In: Morphology of Crystals (ed. I Sunagawa), Terra Scientific Publishing, Tokyo, pp.649-743. [2] RS Gao & 19 other authors (2004) Evidence that nitric acid increases relative humidity in low-temperature cirrus clouds. Science 303, 516-520. [3] T Peter, C Marcolli, P Spichtinger, T Corti, MC Baker & T Koop (2006) When dry air is too humid. Science 314, 1399-1402. [4] JE Shilling, MA Tolbert, OB Toon, EJ Jensen, BJ Murray & AK Bertram (2006) Measurements of the vapor pressure of cubic ice and their implications for atmospheric ice clouds. Geophys.Res.Lett. 33, 026671. [5] TC Hansen, MM Koza & WF Kuhs (2008) Formation and annealing of cubic ice: I Modelling of stacking faults. J.Phys.Cond.Matt. 20, 285104. [6] TC Hansen, MM Koza, P Lindner & WF Kuhs (2008) Formation and annealing of cubic ice: II. Kinetic study. J.Phys.Cond.Matt. 20, 285105. [7] WF Kuhs, G Genov, DK Staykova & AN Salamatin, T Hansen (2004) Ice perfection and the onset of anomalous preservation of gas hydrates. Phys.Chem.Chem.Phys. 6, 4917-4920. [8] BJ Murray, DA Knopf & AK Bertram (2005) The formation of cubic ice under conditions relevant to Earth's atmosphere. Nature 434, 292-205.

Evidence of f-electron localization at a heavy-fermion quantum critical point

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Steglich, Frank

2014-03-01

The prototypical heavy-fermion compound YbRh2Si2 exhibits a magnetic-field (B) induced antiferromagnetic quantum critical point (QCP) at Bc (⊥c) ~ 60 mT. As inferred from transport and thermodynamic measurements a quantum-critical energy scale, kB T *(B) , indicating a crossover of the Fermi surface, has been established for this system. Upon extrapolating finite-temperature (T) data to T = 0, one concludes (i) a vanishing of T*(B) and (ii) an abrupt drop in the (normal) Hall coefficient RH(B) at B =Bc , verifying the proposal of a Kondo destroying QCP. The dynamical processes underlying this apparent break-up of the Kondo singlets have been explored by studying the Lorenz ratio L/L0 as a function of Tand B. Here, L = ρ / w is the ratio of the electrical (ρ) and thermal (w = L0 T / κ) resistivities, with κ being the thermal conductivity and L0 = (πkB)2 /3e2 Sommerfeld's constant. By properly taking care of bosonic (magnon/paramagnon) contributions to the heat current which exist at finite temperature only, extrapolation of the measured data to T = 0 yields a purely electronic Lorenz ratio L/L0 = 1 at B ≠Bc . At B = Bc, we extrapolate L/L0 ~ 0.9. Therefore, the Wiedemann Franz (WF) law holds at any value of the control parameter B, except for the field-induced QCP, as is also illustrated by a pronounced heating of the sample when measuring the low - T electrical resistivity in the vicinity of the critical magnetic field. This violation of the WF law is ascribed to scatterings of the electronic heat carriers from fermionic quantum-critical fluctuations, namely those of the Fermi surface. Work done in collaboration with H. Pfau, S. Lausberg, P. Sun, U. Stockert, M. Brando, S. Friedemann, C. Krellner, C. Geibel, S. Wirth, S. Kirchner, E. Abrahams and Q. Si.

Generation and characterization of a spontaneously immortalized endothelial cell line from mice microcirculation.

PubMed

Loiola, Rodrigo A; Torres, Tathiany C; Aburaya, Carla M; Landgraf, Maristella A; Landgraf, Richardt G; Bosco Pesquero, João; Fernandes, Liliam

2013-05-01

Endothelial cells from microvasculature are directly involved in a large number of vascular diseases; however, culture of these cells is problematic, since most methodologies employ proteolytic enzymes or mechanical techniques, leading to cell damage and contamination of endothelial cultures with other cellular types. Besides, primary cultured cells have a short life span in vitro and undergo replicative senescence after 3-4 passages, limiting long-term studies. In the present work we report the generation of a spontaneously immortalized endothelial culture obtained from mice pulmonary capillaries. Firstly, primary (third passage) and immortalized (100th) cultures were established. Further, monoclonal populations were obtained by serial dilutions from immortalized cultures. Cells were analyzed according to: (1) morphological appearance, (2) expression of specific endothelial markers by fluorescent staining [von Willebrand Factor (vWF), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and Ulex europaeus (UEA-1)] and by flow cytometry (endoglin, VE-cadherin and VCAM-1), and (3) release of nitric oxide (NO), assessed by the specific fluorescent dye DAF-2 DA, and prostacyclin (PGI2), quantified by enzyme immune assay. In both cultures cells grew in monolayers and presented cobblestone appearance at confluence. Positive staining for vWF, eNOS, ACE and UEA-1 was detected in cloned as well as in early-passage cultured cells. Similarly, cultures presented equal expressions of endoglin, VE-cadherin and VCAM-1. Values of NO and PGI2 levels did not differ between cultures. From these results we confirm that the described spontaneously immortalized endothelial cell line is capable of unlimited growth and retains typical morphological and functional properties exhibited by primary cultured cells. Therefore, the endothelial cell line described in the present study can become a suitable tool in the field of endothelium research and can be useful for the investigation of production of endothelial mediators, angiogenesis and inflammation. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Type-inversion as a working mechanism of high voltage MAPbBr3(Cl)-based halide perovskite solar cells.

PubMed

Kedem, Nir; Kulbak, Michael; Brenner, Thomas M; Hodes, Gary; Cahen, David

2017-02-22

Using several metals with different work functions as solar cell back contact we identify majority carrier type inversion in methylammonium lead bromide (MAPbBr3, without intentional doping) as the basis for the formation of a p-n junction. MAPbBr 3 films deposited on TiO 2 are slightly n-type, whereas in a full device they are strongly p-type. The charge transfer between the metal electrode and the halide perovskite (HaP) film is shown to determine the dominant charge carrier type of the HaP and, thus, also of the final cells. Usage of Pt, Au and Pb as metal electrodes shows the effects of metal work function on minority carrier diffusion length and majority carrier concentration in the HaP, as well as on built-in voltage, band bending, and open circuit voltage (V OC ) within a solar cell. V OC > 1.5 V is demonstrated. The higher the metal WF, the higher the carrier concentration induced in the HaP, as indicated by a narrower space charge region and a smaller minority carrier diffusion length. From the analysis of bias-dependent electron beam-induced currents, the HaP carrier concentrations are estimated to be ∼ 1 × 10 17 cm -3 with Au and 2-3 × 10 18 cm -3 with Pt. A model in which type-inversion stretches across the entire film width implies formation of the p-n junction away from the interface, near the back-contact metal electrode. This work highlights the importance of the contact metal on device performance in that contact engineering can also serve to control the carrier concentration in HaP.

An analysis on how switching to a more balanced and naturally improved milk would affect consumer health and the environment.

PubMed

Roibás, Laura; Martínez, Ismael; Goris, Alfonso; Barreiro, Rocío; Hospido, Almudena

2016-10-01

This study compares a premium brand of UHT milk, Unicla, characterised by an improved nutritional composition, to conventional milk, in terms of health effects and environmental impacts. Unlike enriched milks, in which nutrients are added to the final product, Unicla is obtained naturally by improving the diet of the dairy cows. Health effects have been analysed based on literature findings, while the environmental analysis focused on those spheres of the environment where milk is expected to cause the higher impacts, and thus carbon (CF) and water footprints (WF) have been determined. Five final products have been compared: 3 conventional (skimmed, semi-skimmed, whole) and 2 Unicla (skimmed, semi-skimmed) milks. As a functional unit, one litre of packaged UHT milk entering the regional distribution centre has been chosen. The improved composition of Unicla milk is expected to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease and to protect consumers against oxidative damage, among other health benefits. Concerning the environmental aspect, CF of Unicla products are, on average, 10% lower than their conventional equivalents, mainly due to the lower enteric emissions of caused by the Unicla diet. No significant differences were found between the WF of Unicla and conventional milk. Raw milk is the main contributor to both footprints (on average, 83.2 and 84.3% of the total CF of Unicla and conventional milk, respectively, and 99.9% of WF). The results have been compared to those found in literature, and a sensitivity analysis has been performed to verify their robustness. The study concludes that switching to healthier milk compositions can help slowing down global warming, without contributing to other environmental issues such as water scarcity. The results should encourage other milk companies to commit to the development of healthier, less environmentally damaging products, and also to stimulate consumers to bet on them. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Exploring the dynamics of research collaborations by mapping social networks in invasion science.

PubMed

Abrahams, B; Sitas, N; Esler, K J

2018-06-19

Moving towards more integrative approaches within the invasion sciences has been recognized as a means of improving linkages between science, policy, and practice. Yet despite the recognition that biological invasions pose complex social-ecological challenges, the invasion literature poorly covers social-ecological or distinctly integrative research. Various initiatives and investments have been made towards building research capacity and conducting more integrative research aimed at improving the management of biological invasions. Using a combination of social network and thematic analysis approaches, and the South African Working for Water (WfW) program as a case study for the management of invasive species, we identify and explore the roles of core authors in shaping collaboration networks and research outputs, based on bibliographic records. We found that research produced under the auspices of WfW is authored by a handful of core authors, conducting primarily ecologically-focused research, with social research significantly underrepresented. Core authors identified in this study play an essential role in mediating relationships between researchers, in addition to potentially controlling access to those seeking to form collaborations, maintaining network cohesion and connectivity across institutional and disciplinary boundaries. Research projects should be designed to span disciplines and institutions if they are to adequately address complex challenges. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

How to use water footprint as an indicator to assess the sustainability of food systems? Insights from a Mediterranean perspective

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Altobelli, Filiberto; Meybeck, Alexandre; Gitz, Vincent; Dalla Marta, Anna

2014-05-01

The water footprint (WF) accounts for both the direct and indirect water use. It enables to calculate the water used to produce specific agricultural products. These have different water footprints. Thus the composition of the diet drives its water footprint, and ultimately agriculture's water consumption. This paper considers how the WF indicator could be used to assess the sustainability of food systems. FAO has started to study the notion of sustainable diets in order to design methods and indicators towards their assessment in different agro-ecological zones. A first issue is to identify issues which are critical to sustainability in a given area. Water scarcity is the most critical development problem in the Mediterranean area and the single most important factor in limiting agricultural growth. Water availability in the region has been declining steadily since the late 1950s. In turn, agriculture is one of the main water user. The Mediterranean diet model has been well scientifically characterized through its new revised pyramidal representation (Bach et al, 2011). Studies have calculated that the Mediterranean diet consumes less water then Anglo-Saxon types of diets. But such studies measure the water footprint of a model rather than the reality of food consumption patterns in the Mediterranean area. Moreover for a given water footprint, the "net" environmental impact depends not only on water consumption but also on water scarcity (WS) in the area of production, and also at the time of production. Therefore a more complete indicator to assess the sustainability of a food system from a consumption perspective could be WF/WS. It would include the distinction between green and blue water, as well as methodologies to determine the most appropriate scale (local, national, watershed) and measure it. Such a use of the WF, applied to domestic and imported food products alike, would enable to assess the water impact of food consumption. It could be completed by an indicator calculating the WF of agricultural employment and income.

Comparative efficacy of bilastine, desloratadine and rupatadine in the suppression of wheal and flare response induced by intradermal histamine in healthy volunteers.

PubMed

Antonijoan, Rosa; Coimbra, Jimena; García-Gea, Consuelo; Puntes, Montserrat; Gich, Ignasi; Campo, Cristina; Valiente, Román; Labeaga, Luis

2017-01-01

To compare the peripheral antihistaminic activity of bilastine, rupatadine and desloratadine in inhibiting the histamine-induced wheal and flare (W&F) response. Twenty-four healthy volunteers aged 18-40 years participated in this crossover, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study. Subjects received single doses of bilastine 20 mg, desloratadine 5 mg, rupatadine 10 mg and placebo. W&F responses induced by intradermal injection of histamine 5 μg were evaluated before treatment (basal value) and at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12 and 24 hours after treatment. Fifteen minutes after histamine injection, W&F surface areas (cm 2 ) were quantified using the Visitrak System. Itching sensation was evaluated using a 100 mm visual analog scale. EudraCT number: 2015-000790-13. The primary outcome measure was the percentage reduction in W&F areas after each active treatment compared with corresponding basal values. Bilastine induced the greatest inhibition in wheal area and was significantly superior to desloratadine and rupatadine from 1 to 12 hours (both p < .001). Rupatadine and desloratadine were better than placebo without differences between them. Maximum wheal inhibition occurred at 6 hours (bilastine 83%, desloratadine 38%, rupatadine 37%). Onset of action was 1 hour for bilastine and 4 hours for desloratadine and rupatadine. Bilastine was significantly superior to desloratadine and rupatadine for flare inhibition from 1-24 hours (both p < .001) with an onset of action at 30 minutes. Bilastine was significantly better than desloratadine (2-12 hours; at least p < .05) and rupatadine (2-9 hours; at least p < .01) for reducing itching sensation. Neither desloratadine nor rupatadine significantly reduced itching compared to placebo. All active treatments were well tolerated. Bilastine 20 mg induced significantly greater inhibition of the W&F response compared with desloratadine 5 mg and rupatadine 10 mg throughout the 24 hour study period, and had the fastest onset of action. Only bilastine significantly reduced itching sensation versus placebo.

The water footprint of sweeteners and bio-ethanol.

PubMed

Gerbens-Leenes, Winnie; Hoekstra, Arjen Y

2012-04-01

An increasing demand for food together with a growing demand for energy crops result in an increasing demand for and competition over water. Sugar cane, sugar beet and maize are not only essential food crops, but also important feedstock for bio-ethanol. Crop growth requires water, a scarce resource. This study aims to assess the green, blue and grey water footprint (WF) of sweeteners and bio-ethanol from sugar cane, sugar beet and maize in the main producing countries. The WFs of sweeteners and bio-ethanol are mainly determined by the crop type that is used as a source and by agricultural practise and agro-climatic conditions; process water footprints are relatively small. The weighted global average WF of sugar cane is 209 m(3)/tonne; for sugar beet this is 133 m(3)/tonne and for maize 1222 m(3)/tonne. Large regional differences in WFs indicate that WFs of crops for sweeteners and bio-ethanol can be improved. It is more favourable to use maize as a feedstock for sweeteners or bio-ethanol than sugar beet or sugar cane. The WF of sugar cane contributes to water stress in the Indus and Ganges basins. In the Ukraine, the large grey WF of sugar beet contributes to water pollution. In some western European countries, blue WFs of sugar beet and maize need a large amount of available blue water for agriculture. The allocation of the limited global water resources to bio-energy on a large scale will be at the cost of water allocation to food and nature. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Geological trainings for analogue astronauts: Lessons learned from MARS2013 expedition, Morocco

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Orgel, C.; Achorner, I.; Losiak, A.; Gołębiowska, I.; Rampey, M.; Groemer, G.

2013-09-01

The Austrian Space Forum (OeWF) is a national organisation for space professionals and space enthusiasts. In collaboration with internal partner organisations, the OeWF focuses on Mars analogue research with their space volunteers and organises space-related outreach/education activities and conducts field tests with the Aouda.X and Aouda.S spacesuit simulators in Mars analogue environment. The main project of OeWF is called "PolAres" [1]. As the result of lessons learned from the Río Tinto 2011 expedition [4], we started to organise geological training sessions for the analogue astronauts. The idea was to give them basic geological background to perform more efficiently in the field. This was done in close imitation of the Apollo astronaut trainings that included theoretical lectures (between Jan. 1963-Nov. 1972) about impact geology, igneous petrology of the Moon, geophysics and geochemistry as well as several field trips to make them capable to collect useful samples for the geoscientists on Earth [3] [5]. In the last year the OeWF has organised three geoscience workshops for analogue astronauts as the part of their "astronaut" training. The aim was to educate the participants to make them understand the fundamentals in geology in theory and in the field (Fig. 1.). We proposed the "Geological Experiment Sampling Usefulness" (GESU) experiment for the MARS2013 simulation to improve the efficiency of the geological trainings. This simulation was conducted during February 2013, a one month Mars analogue research was conducted in the desert of Morocco [2] (Fig. 2.).

Racial differences in weight loss, payment method, and complications following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy.

PubMed

Bayham, Brooke E; Bellanger, Drake E; Hargroder, Andrew G; Johnson, William D; Greenway, Frank L

2012-11-01

Obesity affects approximately one-third of the US adult population. Although more black adults are considered to be obese compared to white adults, black adults are less likely to undergo bariatric surgery for weight loss. Black adults typically lose less weight and are more prone to adverse events following bariatric surgery than white adults. The objectives of this study were to compare weight loss, payment methods, and early postoperative complications between black and white adults. A retrospective chart review of 420 Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) patients and 454 sleeve gastrectomy (SG) patients (all female) was conducted. A mixed-model analysis was used to assess statistical significance of differences in weight loss between surgeries and races. A Chi-square test was used to assess racial differences in payment method (insurance or private pay) and postoperative complications by operation. Statistical significance was set as P > 0.05. RYGB patients lost significantly more weight at 26, 52, 78, and 104 weeks postoperatively compared to SG patients. White females (WF) lost significantly more weight than black females (BF) at 26, 52, 78, and 104 weeks postoperatively. WF experienced more minor and major complications in the perioperative period than BF, but BF experienced more minor and overall complications in the postoperative period than WF. A greater percentage of black patients had insurance coverage compared to white patients for both surgeries. WF appear to lose more weight than BF regardless of surgery, but both races experience surgical complications. Black patients may be less likely to undergo bariatric surgery without insurance coverage.

The real water consumption behind drinking water: the case of Italy.

PubMed

Niccolucci, V; Botto, S; Rugani, B; Nicolardi, V; Bastianoni, S; Gaggi, C

2011-10-01

The real amount of drinking water available per capita is a topic of great interest for human health and the economic and political management of resources. The global market of bottled drinking water, for instance, has shown exponential growth in the last twenty years, mainly due to reductions in production costs and investment in promotion. This paper aims to evaluate how much freshwater is actually consumed when water is drunk in Italy, which can be considered a mature bottled-water market. A Water Footprint (WF) calculation was used to compare the alternatives: bottled and tap water. Six Italian brands of water sold in PET bottles were inventoried, analysed and compared with the public tap water of the city of Siena, as representative of the Italian context. Results showed that more than 3 L of water were needed to provide consumers with 1.50 L of drinking water. In particular, a volume of 1.50 L of PET-bottled water required an extra virtual volume of 1.93 L of water while an extra 2.13 L was necessary to supply the same volume of tap water. These values had very different composition and origin. The WF of tap water was mainly due to losses of water during pipeline distribution and usage, while WF of bottled water was greatly influenced by the production of plastic materials. When the contribution of cooling water was added to the calculation, the WF of bottled water rose from 3.43 to 6.92 L. Different strategies to reduce total water footprint are discussed. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[Assessment of Soil Fluorine Pollution in Jinhua Fluorite Ore Areas].

PubMed

Ye, Qun-feng; Zhou, Xiao-ling

2015-07-01

The contents of. soil total fluorine (TF) and water-soluble fluorine (WF) were measured in fluorite ore areas located in Jinhua City. The single factor index, geoaccumulation index and health risk assessment were used to evaluate fluorine pollution in soil in four fluorite ore areas and one non-ore area, respectively. The results showed that the TF contents in soils were 28. 36-56 052. 39 mg.kg-1 with an arithmetic mean value of 8 325.90 mg.kg-1, a geometric mean of 1 555. 94 mg.kg-1, and a median of 812. 98 mg.kg-1. The variation coefficient of TF was 172. 07% . The soil WF contents ranged from 0. 83 to 74. 63 mg.kg-1 with an arithmetic mean value of 16. 94 mg.kg-1, a geometric mean of 10. 59 mg.kg-1, and a median of 10. 17 mg.kg-1. The variation coefficient of WF was 100. 10%. The soil TF and WF contents were far higher than the national average level of the local fluorine epidemic occurrence area. The fluoride pollution in soil was significantly affected by human factors. Soil fluorine pollution in Yangjia, Lengshuikeng and Huajie fluorite ore areas was the most serious, followed by Daren fluorite ore area, and in non-ore area there was almost no fluorine pollution. Oral ingestion of soils was the main exposure route. Sensitivity analysis of model parameters showed that children's weight exerted the largest influence over hazard quotient. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was found among the three kinds of evaluation methods.

Circulating endothelial cells in acute ischaemic stroke.

PubMed

Nadar, Sunil K; Lip, Gregory Y H; Lee, Kaeng W; Blann, Andrew D

2005-10-01

Increased numbers of CD146-bearing circulating endothelial cells (CECs) in the peripheral blood probably represent the most direct evidence of endothelial cell damage. As acute ischaemic strokes are associated with endothelial abnormalities, we hypothesised that these CECs are raised in acute stroke, and that they would correlate with the other indices of endothelial perturbation, i.e. plasma von Willebrand factor (vWf) and soluble E-selectin. We studied 29 hypertensive patients (19 male; mean age 63 years) who presented with an acute stroke and compared them with 30 high risk hypertensive patients (21 male; mean age 62 years) and 30 normotensive controls (16 male; mean age 58 years). CECs were estimated by CD146 immunobead capture, vWf and soluble E-selectin by ELISA. Patients with an acute ischaemic stroke had significantly higher numbers of CECs/ml of blood (p<0.001) plasma vWf (p=0.008) soluble E-selectin (p=0.002) and higher systolic blood pressure (SBP) as compared to the other groups. The number of CECs significantly correlated with soluble E-selectin (r=0.432, p<0.001) and vWf (r=0.349, p=0.001) but not with SBP (r=0.198, p=0.069). However, in multivariate analysis, only disease group (i.e. health, hypertension or stroke) was associated with increased CECs. Acute ischaemic stroke is associated with increased numbers of CECs. The latter correlate well with established plasma markers of endothelial dysfunction or damage, thus unequivocally confirming severe vasculopathy in this condition. However, the greatest influence on CECs numbers was clinical group.

Evaluation of the Pulmonary Toxicity of a Fume Generated from a Nickel-, Copper-Based Electrode to be Used as a Substitute in Stainless Steel Welding.

PubMed

Antonini, James M; Badding, Melissa A; Meighan, Terence G; Keane, Michael; Leonard, Stephen S; Roberts, Jenny R

2014-01-01

Epidemiology has indicated a possible increase in lung cancer among stainless steel welders. Chromium (Cr) is a primary component of stainless steel welding fume. There is an initiative to develop alternative welding consumables [nickel (Ni)- and copper (Cu)-based alloys] that do not contain Cr. No study has been performed to evaluate the toxicity of fumes generated from Ni- and Cu-based consumables. Dose-response and time-course effects on lung toxicity of a Ni- and Cu-based welding fume (Ni-Cu WF) were examined using an in vivo and in vitro bioassay, and compared with two other well-characterized welding fumes. Even though only trace amounts of Cr were present, a persistent increase in lung injury and inflammation was observed for the Ni-Cu WF compared to the other fumes. The difference in response appears to be due to a direct cytotoxic effect by the Ni-Cu WF sample on lung macrophages as opposed to an elevated production of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Evaluation of the Pulmonary Toxicity of a Fume Generated from a Nickel-, Copper-Based Electrode to be Used as a Substitute in Stainless Steel Welding

PubMed Central

Antonini, James M; Badding, Melissa A; Meighan, Terence G; Keane, Michael; Leonard, Stephen S; Roberts, Jenny R

2014-01-01

Epidemiology has indicated a possible increase in lung cancer among stainless steel welders. Chromium (Cr) is a primary component of stainless steel welding fume. There is an initiative to develop alternative welding consumables [nickel (Ni)- and copper (Cu)-based alloys] that do not contain Cr. No study has been performed to evaluate the toxicity of fumes generated from Ni- and Cu-based consumables. Dose–response and time-course effects on lung toxicity of a Ni- and Cu-based welding fume (Ni–Cu WF) were examined using an in vivo and in vitro bioassay, and compared with two other well-characterized welding fumes. Even though only trace amounts of Cr were present, a persistent increase in lung injury and inflammation was observed for the Ni–Cu WF compared to the other fumes. The difference in response appears to be due to a direct cytotoxic effect by the Ni–Cu WF sample on lung macrophages as opposed to an elevated production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). PMID:25392698

Mechanism of action and interactions between xanthine oxidase inhibitors derived from natural sources of chlorogenic and ferulic acids.

PubMed

Gawlik-Dziki, Urszula; Dziki, Dariusz; Świeca, Michał; Nowak, Renata

2017-06-15

The aim of this study was to estimate the phenolic composition and xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitory activity of green coffee beans (GCB) and wholemeal wheat flour (WF). Additionally, the type and strength of interaction (expressed as the combination index, CI) and mode of XO inhibition were analyzed. The major phenolic in GCB was 5-caffeoylquinic acid (39.92mg/g dw). The main phenolic acids in WF were trans- and cis-ferulic acids (257 and 165.57mg/100g dw, respectively). Both ferulic and chlorogenic acids individually inhibited XO, and for their combination moderate synergism was found. Buffer extractable compounds from GCB and WF demonstrated slight synergism (CI=0.92), while potentially bioaccessible and bioavailable compounds acted synergistically (CI=0.43 and 0.54, respectively). Buffer-extractable and potentially bioavailable phytochemicals from GCB acted uncompetitively, whereas potentially bioaccessible compounds acted as noncompetitive XO inhibitors. The addition of 3-5% of GCB to wheat bread significantly increased XO-inhibitory activity. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Folding and Aggregation of Mucin Domains.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Urbanc, Brigita; Bansil, Rama; Turner, Bradley

2007-03-01

Mucin glycoproteins consist of tandem repeating glycosylated regions flanked by non-repetitive protein domains with little glycosylation. These non-repetitive domains are involved in polymerization of mucin via disulfide bonds and play an important role in the pH dependent gelation of gastric mucin, which is essential to protecting the stomach from autodigestion. We have examined the folding and aggregation of the non-repetitive sequence of von Willebrand factor vWF-C1 domain (67 amino acids) and PGM 2X (242 amino acids) using Discrete Molecular Dynamics (four-bead protein model with hydrogen bonding and amino acid-specific hydrophobic/hydrophilic and electrostatic interactions of side chains). Simulations of vWF C1 show 4-6 β-strands separated by turns/loops with more loops at lower pH. A simulation of several vWF C1 proteins at low pH shows aggregates still with a high content of β-strands and enhanced turn/loop regions. For the PGM 2X simulation the contact map shows several salt bridges enclosing hairpin turns. The implications of these simulations for describing the aggregation/gelation of PGM will be discussed.

Preseason preparation training and endothelial function in elite professional soccer players

PubMed Central

Androulakis, Nikolaos E; Koundourakis, Nikolaos E; Nioti, Eleni; Spatharaki, Paraskevi; Hatzisymeon, Despina; Miminas, Ioannis; Alexandrakis, Michael G

2015-01-01

Aim To examine whether a high volume of soccer-specific training can lead to endothelial activation and/or dysfunction in professional soccer players due to exercise-induced oxidative stress. Methods Twenty-three (15 nonsmokers and eight smokers) healthy, elite male professional soccer players (mean age: 25.2±4.3 years, BMI: 23.1±1.3 kg/m2, fat: 7.8%±2.6%) were selected for this study. All participants had a full clinical and laboratory evaluation. von Willebrand factor antigen (vWf Ag) plasma levels were measured on two different occasions: 1 day before the beginning of the preseason preparation period and after 7 weeks of strenuous exercise. Results Mean vWf Ag plasma levels were significantly decreased from 95.1%±26% to 88.3%±27.2% at the end of the experimental period (P=0.018), suggesting a potential beneficial effect on the endothelium of these athletes. Further analysis showed that age greater than 29 years with an age range from 29 to 34 years can not impair this effect (P>0.05). Conclusion Strenuous exercise did not lead to endothelium activation or dysfunction in well-trained elite soccer players. On the contrary, it seemed to produce a beneficial effect on the endothelium of these players. PMID:26648731

Optical properties of aerosol contaminated cloud derived from MODIS instrument

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mei, Linlu; Rozanov, Vladimir; Lelli, Luca; Vountas, Marco; Burrows, John P.

2016-04-01

The presence of absorbing aerosols above/within cloud can reduce the amount of up-welling radiation in visible (VIS) and short-wave infrared and darken the spectral reflectance when compared with a spectrum of a clean cloud observed by satellite instruments (Jethva et al., 2013). Cloud properties retrieval for aerosol contaminated cases is a great challenge. Even small additional injection of aerosol particles into clouds in the cleanest regions of Earth's atmosphere will cause significant effect on those clouds and on climate forcing (Koren et al., 2014; Rosenfeld et al., 2014) because the micro-physical cloud process are non-linear with respect to the aerosol loading. The current cloud products like Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) ignoring the aerosol effect for the retrieval, which may cause significant error in the satellite-derived cloud properties. In this paper, a new cloud properties retrieval method, considering aerosol effect, based on the weighting-function (WF) method, is presented. The retrieval results shows that the WF retrieved cloud properties (e.g COT) agrees quite well with MODIS COT product for relative clear atmosphere (AOT ≤ 0.4) while there is a large difference for large aerosol loading. The MODIS COT product is underestimated for at least 2 - 3 times for AOT>0.4, and this underestimation increases with the increase of AOT.

Protective Role of Parenting Attitude on the Behavioral and Neurocognitive Development of the Children from Economically Disadvantaged Families.

PubMed

Jung, Da-Eun; Bhang, Soo-Young; Lee, Won-Hye; Yoon, Hae-Joo; Jung, Hee-Yeon; Kim, Yeni

2018-06-01

Association between home environment and the behavioral and neurocognitive development of children from a community childcare center for low-income families was examined (aged 6 to 12 years, n=155). The parents performed a questionnaire on home environment (K-HOME-Q) to assess home environment including parenting attitude and the Child Behavior Checklist (K-CBCL). The children performed the Wechsler Intelligence (IQ) Scale, Stroop interference test (Stroop), word fluency test (WF), and design fluency test (DF) to assess their neurocognitive development. 'Nurturing of Development' and 'Variety of Language Interaction' scores from the K-HOME-Q, were inversely associated with total behavior problems, externalization, rule-breaking, and aggressive behavior subscales of K-CBCL, and 'Emotional atmosphere' and 'Tolerance toward the child' scores showed inverse associations with the total behavior problems, rule-breaking, aggressive behavior, and withdrawn/depressed subscales. Despite economic hardship, the mean scores of the neurocognitive tests were comparable to the average level of Korean children's normative sample. However, 'Nurturing of Development' and 'Tolerance toward the Child' score of K-HOME-Q were associated with better executive function (IQ, WF, DF). These results suggest that parental stimulation of development and tolerant parenting attitude may offer protection against the negative effects of suboptimal economic environment on children's behavior and neurocognitive development.

Porous tungsten prepared by atmospheric-pressure chemical vapor deposition with WF6 and its characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Ying; Yu, Xiaodong; Tan, Chengwen; Wang, Fuchi; Ma, Honglei; Yue, Jintao

2017-05-01

Porous tungsten (W) is used in aeronautic and aerospace engineering, power electronics field and metallurgical industry. In this study, porous W with 98wt% W was prepared on a carbon foam substrate by atmospheric-pressure chemical vapor deposition (CVD) with tungsten fluoride (WF6) as the precursor. The porous W with 78.1346% porosity displayed a pure α-W phase and the uniform surface. The mode pore diameter of porous W is 208.0 µm. In a compression test, the fracture strength of porous W is 20.3 MPa.

Blood Clotting Inspired Polymer Physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sing, Charles Edward

The blood clotting process is one of the human body's masterpieces in targeted molecular manipulation, as it requires the activation of the clotting cascade at a specific place and a specific time. Recent research in the biological sciences have discovered that one of the protein molecules involved in the initial stages of the clotting response, von Willebrand Factor (vWF), exhibits counterintuitive and technologically useful properties that are driven in part by the physical environment in the bloodstream at the site of a wound. In this thesis, we take inspiration from initial observations of the vWF in experiments, and aim to describe the behaviors observed in this process within the context of polymer physics. By understanding these physical principles, we hope to harness nature's ability to both direct molecules in both spatial and conformational coordinates. This thesis is presented in three complementary sections. After an initial introduction describing the systems of interest, we first describe the behavior of collapsed Lennard-Jones polymers in the presence of an infinite medium. It has been shown that simple bead-spring homopolymer models describe vWF quite well in vitro. We build upon this previous work to first describe the behavior of a collapsed homopolymer in an elongational fluid flow. Through a nucleation-protrusion mechanism, scaling relationships can be developed to provide a clear picture of a first-order globule-stretch transition and its ramifications in dilute-solution rheology. The implications of this behavior and its relation to the current literature provides qualitative explanations for the physiological process of vasoconstriction. In an effort to generalize these observations, we present an entire theory on the behavior of polymer globules under influence of any local fluid flow. Finally, we investigate the internal dynamics of these globules by probing their pulling response in an analogous fashion to force spectroscopy. We elucidate the presence of both a solid-liquid dynamic globule transition and a contour-based description of internal globule friction. It is possible to incrementally add levels of details to these Lennard-Jones polymer models to more accurately represent biological molecules. In the second section of this thesis, we investigate the consequences of incorporating a Bell-model behavior into single homopolymer interactions to describe a "self-associating'' polymer. We first demonstrate how this model is, in equilibrium, essentially the same as a Lennard-Jones polymer, however we demonstrate that the polymer dynamics are indeed both drastically different and tunable. This has ramifications under the presence of dynamic loads, and we investigate single-molecule response to both shear and pulling stimuli. In the former, we find novel and tunable giant non-monotonic stretching responses. In the latter, we use our observations to develop a complete and general theory of pulling these types of molecules that has ramifications in both the study of biological polymers and in the design of soft materials with tunable mechanical response. The final section introduces concepts related to the behavior of collapsed polymers in fluid flows near surfaces. During the blood clotting process, vWF undergoes a counterintuitive adsorption process and here we begin to develop the physical fundamentals required to understand this process. After a brief introduction to the relevant hydrodynamic treatment we use in simulations, we first describe the presence of a hydrodynamic lift force and the formalism we use as we include it in the context of our theory. We reveal the presence of a non-monotonic lift force, and subsequently utilize this theoretical formalism to describe the adsorption and desorption behavior of a collapsed polymer globule near an attractive surface. We investigate the limit of large flows and highly attractive surfaces by providing a description of the conformational and hydrodynamic behavior of a polymer tethered at a surface. We finally discuss the behaviors of a polymer that associates with a surface, and postulate the importance of such processes in vWF function. We finally include an addendum that describes an unrelated project that investigates the possibilities of using superparamagnetic beads as a tool for hydrodynamic propulsion by assembling these beads into "rotors" near a surface to create microwalkers that have interesting applications in self-assembled microfluidic chips. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, libraries.mit.edu/docs - docs mit.edu)

In vivo vascularization of MSC-loaded porous hydroxyapatite constructs coated with VEGF-functionalized collagen/heparin multilayers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, Kai; Li, Bo; Lou, Lixia; Xu, Yufeng; Ye, Xin; Yao, Ke; Ye, Juan; Gao, Changyou

2016-01-01

Rapid and adequate vascularization is vital to the long-term success of porous orbital enucleation implants. In this study, porous hydroxyapatite (HA) scaffolds coated with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-functionalized collagen (COL)/heparin (HEP) multilayers (porosity 75%, pore size 316.8 ± 77.1 μm, VEGF dose 3.39 ng/mm3) were fabricated to enhance vascularization by inducing the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to endothelial cells. The in vitro immunofluorescence staining, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and western blotting results demonstrated that the expression of the endothelial differentiation markers CD31, Flk-1, and von Willebrand factor (vWF) was significantly increased in the HA/(COL/HEP)5/VEGF/MSCs group compared with the HA/VEGF/MSCs group. Moreover, the HA/(COL/HEP)5 scaffolds showed a better entrapment of the MSCs and accelerated cell proliferation. The in vivo assays showed that the number of newly formed vessels within the constructs after 28 d was significantly higher in the HA/(COL/HEP)5/VEGF/MSCs group (51.9 ± 6.3/mm2) than in the HA (26.7 ± 2.3/mm2) and HA/VEGF/MSCs (38.2 ± 2.4/mm2) groups. The qRT-PCR and western blotting results demonstrated that the HA/(COL/HEP)5/VEGF/MSCs group also had the highest expression of CD31, Flk-1, and vWF at both the mRNA and protein levels.

In vivo longitudinal chromatic aberration of pseudophakic eyes.

PubMed

Siedlecki, Damian; Jóźwik, Agnieszka; Zając, Marek; Hill-Bator, Aneta; Turno-Kręcicka, Anna

2014-02-01

To present the results of longitudinal chromatic aberration measurements on two groups of pseudophakic eyes in comparison to healthy eyes. The longitudinal chromatic aberration of the eye, defined as chromatic difference of refraction with disabled accommodation, was measured with the use of a visual refractometer with a custom-designed target illuminator consisting of a narrow-band RGB diode (blue λb = 470 ± 15 nm; green λg = 525 ± 18 nm; red λr = 660 ± 10 nm). The measurements were performed on nine eyes implanted with AcrySof IQ SN60WF, 14 eyes implanted with AcrySof SA60AT, and 10 phakic eyes under cycloplegia. The mean values of the longitudinal chromatic aberration between 470 and 660 nm for the control group was 1.12 ± 0.14 D. For SA60AT group, it was 1.45 ± 0.42 D whereas for SN60WF it was 1.17 ± 0.52 D. The statistical test showed significant difference between SA60AT and the control group (p < 0.05) and no significant difference between SN60WF and the control groups (p = 0.64). The study showed that the longitudinal chromatic aberration in vivo can be easily and reliably estimated with an adapted visual refractometer. The two groups of pseudophakic eyes measured in this study showed different values of chromatic aberration. Its magnitude for SA60AT group was significantly larger than for the control group whereas for SN60WF the difference was not significant. The optical material used for intraocular lens design may have significant influence on the magnitude of the chromatic aberration of the pseudophakic eye, and therefore on its optical and visual performance in polychromatic light.

Chemical characterization and effects on Lepidium sativum of the native and bioremediated components of dry olive mill residue.

PubMed

Aranda, E; García-Romera, I; Ocampo, J A; Carbone, V; Mari, A; Malorni, A; Sannino, F; De Martino, A; Capasso, R

2007-09-01

Dry olive mill residue (DOR) from the olive oil production by two phase centrifugation system was fractionated by a consecutive continuous solid-liquid extraction obtaining the EAF, PF, MF and WF fractions with ethyl acetate, n-propanol, methanol and water, respectively. The chemical, chromatographic and mass spectrometric analyses showed EAF, PF and MF to be mainly composed of simple phenols, phenolic acids, flavonoids and glycosilated phenols (glycosides of phenols, secoiridoids and flavonoids), whereas WF was mainly consisting of polymerin, the metal organic polymeric mixture previously identified in olive oil mill waste waters and composed of carbohydrates, melanin, proteins and metals (K, Na, Ca, Mg and Fe). The identification in DOR of oleoside, 6'-beta-glucopyranosyl-oleoside and 6'-beta-rhamnopyranosyl-oleoside, and of its organic polymeric component, known as polymerin, are reported for the first time in this paper. The inoculation of the previously mentioned fractions with saprobe fungi Coriolopsis rigida, Pycnoporus cynnabarinus or Trametes versicolor indicated these fungi to be able to metabolize both the phenols and glycosilated phenols, but not polymerin. In correspondence, EAF, PF, MF and WF, which proved to be toxic on Lepidium sativum, decreased their toxicity after incubation with the selected fungi, WF showing to be also able to stimulate the growth of the selected seeds. The phytotoxicity appeared mainly correlated to the monomeric phenols and, to a lesser extent, to the glycosilated phenols, whereas polymerin proved to be non toxic. However, the laccase activity was not associated with the decrease of phytotoxicity. The valorization of DOR as a producer of high added value substances of industrial and agricultural interest in native form and after their bioremediation for a final objective of the total DOR recycling is also discussed.

Angiogenesis and phenotypic alteration of alveolar capillary endothelium in areas of neoplastic cell spread in primary lung adenocarcinoma.

PubMed

Jin, E; Ghazizadeh, M; Fujiwara, M; Nagashima, M; Shimizu, H; Ohaki, Y; Arai, S; Gomibuchi, M; Takemura, T; Kawanami, O

2001-09-01

Normal alveolar capillary endothelium is quiescent in nature and displays anticoagulant thrombomodulin (TM) on its surface. The cytoplasms of these endothelial cells are ultrastructurally non-fenestrated type, and they barely express von Willebrand factor (vWf). Alveolar fibrosis is accompanied by a capillary endothelium reactive for vWf, and a loss of TM expression. In primary lung adenocarcinoma, neovascularization occurs in association with alveolar fibrosis. In order to study basic factors related to angiogenesis and phenotypic changes of the capillaries located in tumor-bearing alveolar walls, we examined 37 primary lung adenocarcinomas with electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy with antibodies for TM, vWf, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and its receptors (KDR and Flt-1), and proliferating markers (Ki-67/proliferating cell nuclear antigen). Tissues microdissected specifically from alveolar walls were used for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to assess expressions of mRNA isoforms of VEGF and its receptors. New capillary branching was found by ultrastructural study in the alveolar walls in 12% of the patients. Nuclei of the capillary endothelial cells were reactive for proliferating cell markers. Endothelial fenestrae were developed in 65% of the patients, TM reactivity was lost in the alveolar capillaries, and their cell cytoplasms obtained a reactivity for vWf through a transitional mosaic-like distribution pattern of both antigens. Besides cytoplasmic VEGF expression in neoplastic cells, tumor-bearing alveolar walls showed significant expression of mRNA of VEGF165 and KDR. These findings imply that angiogenesis and phenotypic changes of the alveolar capillaries are closely related to a higher expression of tumor-associated VEGF165 and of KDR in the alveolar walls in primary lung adenocarcinoma.

Urban food consumption and associated water resources: The example of Dutch cities.

PubMed

Vanham, D; Mak, T N; Gawlik, B M

2016-09-15

Full self-sufficiency in cities is a major concern. Cities import resources for food, water and energy security. They are however key to global sustainability, as they concentrate a rapidly increasing and urbanising population (or number of consumers). In this paper, we analysed the dependency of urban inhabitants on the resource water for food consumption, by means of Dutch cities. We found that in extremely urbanised municipalities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam, people eat more meat and cereals and less potatoes than in other Dutch municipalities. Their current water footprint (WF) related to food consumption is therefore higher (3245l/cap/day) than in strongly urbanised cities (3126l/cap/day). Dutch urban citizens who eat too many animal products, crop oils and sugar can reduce their WF (with 29 to 32%) by shifting to a healthier diet. Recommended less meat consumption has the largest impact on the total WF reduction. A shift to a pesco-vegetarian or vegetarian diet would require even less water resources, where the WF can be reduced by 36 to 39% and 40 to 42% respectively. Dutch cities such as Amsterdam have always scored very high in international sustainability rankings for cities, partly due to a long history in integrated (urban) water management in the Netherlands. We argue that such existing rankings only show a certain - undoubtedly very important - part of urban environmental sustainability. To communicate the full picture to citizens, stakeholders and policy makers, indicators on external resource usage need to be employed. The fact that external resource dependency can be altered through changing dietary behaviour should be communicated. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Applying the input-output method to account for water footprint and virtual water trade in the Haihe River basin in China.

PubMed

Zhao, Xu; Yang, Hong; Yang, Zhifeng; Chen, Bin; Qin, Yan

2010-12-01

The virtual water strategy which advocates importing water intensive products and exporting products with low water intensity is gradually accepted as one of the options for solving water crisis in severely water scarce regions. However, if we count the virtual water embodied in imported products as the water saved for a region, we might overestimate the saving by including the virtual water that is later re-exported in association with the proceeded products made from the originally imported products. This problem can be avoided by accounting for the saved water through calculating water footprint (WF) in domestic final consumptive products. In this paper, an input-output analysis (IOA) based on the water footprint accounting framework is built to account for WF and virtual water trade of final consumptive products in the water stressed Haihe River basin in China for the year 1997, 2000, and 2002. The input-output transaction tables of the three years are constructed. The results show WF of 46.57, 44.52, and 42.71 billion m(3) for the three years, respectively. These volumes are higher than the water used directly in the corresponding years in the basin. A WF intensity (WFI) indicator is then used to assess if the economic activities in the basin are consistent with the virtual water strategy. The temporal change of the WFI is also decomposed by the index number analysis method. The results showed that the basin was silently importing virtual water through the trade of raw and processed food commodities under the background of the whole economic circulation.

Paradoxical Effect of Nonphysiological Shear Stress on Platelets and von Willebrand Factor.

PubMed

Chen, Zengsheng; Mondal, Nandan K; Ding, Jun; Koenig, Steven C; Slaughter, Mark S; Wu, Zhongjun J

2016-07-01

Blood can become hypercoagulable by shear-induced platelet activation and generation of microparticles. It has been reported that nonphysiological shear stress (NPSS) could induce shedding of platelet receptor glycoprotein (GP) Ibα, which may result in an opposite effect to hemostasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the NPSS on platelets and von Willebrand factor (vWF). Human blood was exposed to two levels of NPSS (25 Pa, 125 Pa) with an exposure time of 0.5 s, generated by using a novel blood-shearing device. Platelet activation (P-selectin expression, GPIIb/IIIa activation and generation of microparticles) and shedding of three platelet receptors (GPIbα, GPVI, GPIIb/IIIa) in sheared blood were quantified using flow cytometry. Aggregation capacity of sheared blood induced by ristocetin and collagen was evaluated using an aggregometer. Shear-induced vWF damage was characterized with Western blotting. Consistent with the published data, the NPSS caused significantly more platelets to become activated with increasing NPSS level. Meanwhile, the NPSS induced the shedding of platelet receptors. The loss of the platelet receptors increased with increasing NPSS level. The aggregation capacity of sheared blood induced by ristocetin and collagen decreased. There was a loss of high molecular weight multimers (HMWMs) of vWF in sheared blood. These results suggest that the NPSS induced a paradoxical effect. More activated platelets increase the risk of thrombosis, while the reduction in platelet receptors and the loss of HMWM-vWF increased the propensity of bleeding. The finding might provide a new perspective to understand thrombosis and acquired bleeding disorder in patients supported with blood contacting medical devices. Copyright © 2015 International Center for Artificial Organs and Transplantation and Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Paradoxical Effect of Non-Physiological Shear Stress on Platelets and von Willebrand factor

PubMed Central

Chen, Zengsheng; Mondal, Nandan K; Ding, Jun; Koenig, Steven C.; Slaughter, Mark S.; Wu, Zhongjun J.

2016-01-01

Blood can become hypercoagulable by shear-induced platelet activation and generation of microparticles. It has been reported that non-physiological shear stress (NPSS) could induce shedding of platelet receptor glycoprotein (GP) Ibα, which may result in an opposite effect to hemostasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the NPSS on platelets and von Willebrand factor (vWF). Human blood was exposed to two levels of NPSS (25Pa, 125Pa) with an exposure time of 0.5 sec., generated by using a novel blood shearing device. Platelet activation (P-selectin expression, GPIIb/IIIa activation and generation of microparticles) and shedding of three platelet receptors (GPIbα, GPVI, GPIIb/IIIa) in sheared blood were quantified using flow cytometry. Aggregation capacity of sheared blood induced by ristocetin and collagen was evaluated using an aggregometer. Shear-induced vWF damage was characterized with western blotting. Consistent with the published data, the NPSS caused significantly more platelets to become activated with increasing NPSS level. Meanwhile, the NPSS induced the shedding of platelet receptors. The loss of the platelet receptors increased with increasing NPSS level. The aggregation capacity of sheared blood induced by ristocetin and collagen decreased. There was a loss of high molecular weight multimers (HMWM) of vWF in sheared blood. These results suggest that the NPSS induced a paradoxical effect. More activated platelets increase the risk of thrombosis while the reduction in platelet receptors and the loss of HMWM-vWF increased the propensity of bleeding. The finding might provide a new perspective to understand thrombosis and acquired bleeding disorder in patients supported with blood contacting medical devices. PMID:26582038

Physical Confirmation and Comparative Genomics of the Rat Mammary carcinoma susceptibility 3 Quantitative Trait Locus.

PubMed

Le, Saasha; Martin, Zachary C; Samuelson, David J

2017-06-07

Human breast and rat mammary cancer susceptibility are complex phenotypes where complete sets of risk associated loci remain to be identified for both species. We tested multiple congenic rat strains to physically confirm and positionally map rat Mammary carcinoma susceptibility 3 ( Mcs3 )-a mammary cancer resistance allele previously predicted at Rattus norvegicus chromosome 1 ( RNO1 ). The mammary cancer susceptible Wistar Furth (WF) strain was the recipient, and the mammary cancer resistant Copenhagen (Cop) strain was the RNO1 -segment donor for congenics. Inbred WF females averaged 6.3 carcinogen-induced mammary carcinomas per rat. Two WF.Cop congenic strains averaged 2.8 and 3.4 mammary carcinomas per rat, which confirmed Mcs3 as an independently acting allele. Two other WF.Cop congenic strains averaged 6.6 and 8.1 mammary carcinomas per rat, and, thus, did not contain Mcs3 Rat Mcs3 was delimited to 27.8 Mb of RNO1 from rs8149408 to rs105131702 ( RNO1 :143700228-171517317 of RGSC 6.0/rn6). Human genetic variants with p values for association to breast cancer risk below 10 -7 had not been reported for Mcs3 orthologous loci; however, human variants located in Mcs3 -orthologous regions with potential association to risk (10 -7  <  p  < 10 -3 ) were listed in some population-based studies. Further, rat Mcs3 contains sequence orthologous to human 11q13/14 -a region frequently amplified in female breast cancer. We conclude that Mcs3 is an independently acting mammary carcinoma resistance allele. Human population-based, genome-targeted association studies interrogating Mcs3 orthologous loci may yield novel breast cancer risk associated variants and genes. Copyright © 2017 Le et al.

Effects of meat consumption and vegetarian diet on risk of wrist fracture over 25 years in a cohort of peri- and postmenopausal women

PubMed Central

Thorpe, Donna L; Knulsen, Synnove F; Beeson, W Lawrence; Rajaram, Sujatha; Fraser, Gary E

2009-01-01

Background Evidence suggesting that a diet high in fruits and vegetables may be beneficial to bone health has sparked interest in the potential benefit of a vegetarian diet. However, other studies have raised a question regarding the of adequacy protein in such a diet. Objective The aim of the present study was to take a whole foods approach in examining the effects of foods high in protein on the risk of wrist fracture (WF) in a cohort with a significant proportion consuming a meat-free diet. Design A cohort study of women who completed two lifestyle surveys 25 years apart. Subjects One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five peri- and postmenopausal women at the time of the first survey. Results There was a significant interaction between meat consumption and foods high in vegetable protein. Among vegetarians, those who consumed the least vegetable protein intake were at highest risk for fracture. However, increasing levels of plant-based high-protein foods decreased WF risk, with a 68% reduction in risk (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.13-079) in the highest intake group. Among those with lowest vegetable protein consumption, increasing meat intake decreased the risk of WF, with the highest consumption decreasing risk by 80% (HR = 0.20, 95% CI 0.06-0.66). Conclusions The finding that higher consumption frequencies of foods rich in protein were associated with reduced WF supports the importance of adequate protein for bone health. The similarity in risk reduction by vegetable protein foods compared with meat intake suggests that adequate protein intake is attainable in a vegetarian diet. PMID:17686206

Potential of ultraviolet wide-field imaging and multiphoton microscopy for analysis of dehydroergosterol in cellular membranes.

PubMed

Wüstner, Daniel; Brewer, Jonathan R; Bagatolli, Luis; Sage, Daniel

2011-01-01

Dehydroergosterol (DHE) is an intrinsically fluorescent sterol with absorption/emission in the ultraviolet (UV) region and biophysical properties similar to those of cholesterol. We compared the potential of UV-sensitive low-light-level wide-field (UV-WF) imaging with that of multiphoton (MP) excitation microscopy to monitor DHE in living cells. Significantly reduced photobleaching in MP microscopy of DHE enabled us to acquire three-dimensional z-stacks of DHE-stained cells and to obtain high-resolution maps of DHE in surface ruffles, nanotubes, and the apical membrane of epithelial cells. We found that the lateral resolution of MP microscopy is ∼1.5-fold higher than that of UV-WF deconvolution microscopy, allowing for improved spatiotemporal analysis of plasma membrane sterol distribution. Surface intensity patterns of DHE with a diameter of 0.2 μm persisting over several minutes could be resolved by MP time-lapse microscopy. Diffusion coefficients of 0.25-μm-diameter endocytic vesicles containing DHE were determined by MP spatiotemporal image correlation spectroscopy. The requirement of extremely high laser power for visualization of DHE by MP microscopy made this method less potent for multicolor applications with organelle markers like green fluorescent protein-tagged proteins. The signal-to-noise ratio obtainable by UV-WF imaging could be significantly improved by pixelwise bleach rate fitting and calculation of an amplitude image from the decay model and by frame averaging after pixelwise bleaching correction of the image stacks. We conclude that UV-WF imaging and MP microscopy of DHE provide complementary information regarding membrane distribution and intracellular targeting of sterols. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Effects of illuminants and illumination time on lettuce growth, yield and nutritional quality in a controlled environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, Y. Z.; Guo, S. S.; Ai, W. D.; Tang, Y. K.

2014-07-01

Effects of illuminants and illumination time on the growth of lettuce were researched. Red-blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs, 90% red light +10% blue light) and white light fluorescent (WF) lamps were compared as the illuminants for plant cultivation. Under each type of illuminant, lettuce was grown at 4 illumination times: 12 h, 16 h, 20 h and 24 h, with the same light intensity of 600 μmolm-2s-1. The leaf net photosynthetic rate (Pn) under the two illuminants was comparable but the shape of lettuce was obviously affected by the illuminant. The WF lamps produced more compact plant, while red-blue LED resulted in less but longer leaves. However, the total leaf area was not significantly affected by the illuminant. The red-blue LED produced nearly same aboveground biomass with far less energy consumption relative to WF lamps. The underground biomass was lowered under red-blue LED in comparison with WF lamps. Red-blue LED could improve the nutritional quality of lettuce by increasing the concentration of soluble sugar and vitamin C (VC) and reducing the concentration of nitrate. Under each type of illuminant, longer illumination time resulted in higher Pn, more leaves and larger leaf area. The total chlorophyll concentration increased while the concentration ratio of chlorophyll a/b decreased with the extension of illumination time. Illumination time had highly significant positive correlation with biomass. Moreover, when total daily light input was kept the same, longer illumination time increased the biomass significantly as well. In addition, longer illumination time increased the concentration of crude fiber, soluble sugar and VC and reduced the concentration of nitrate. In summary, red-blue LEDs and 24 h illumination time were demonstrated to be more suitable for lettuce cultivation in the controlled environment.

Validating An Analytic Completeness Model for Kepler Target Stars Based on Flux-level Transit Injection Experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Catanzarite, Joseph; Burke, Christopher J.; Li, Jie; Seader, Shawn; Haas, Michael R.; Batalha, Natalie; Henze, Christopher; Christiansen, Jessie; Kepler Project, NASA Advanced Supercomputing Division

2016-06-01

The Kepler Mission is developing an Analytic Completeness Model (ACM) to estimate detection completeness contours as a function of exoplanet radius and period for each target star. Accurate completeness contours are necessary for robust estimation of exoplanet occurrence rates.The main components of the ACM for a target star are: detection efficiency as a function of SNR, the window function (WF) and the one-sigma depth function (OSDF). (Ref. Burke et al. 2015). The WF captures the falloff in transit detection probability at long periods that is determined by the observation window (the duration over which the target star has been observed). The OSDF is the transit depth (in parts per million) that yields SNR of unity for the full transit train. It is a function of period, and accounts for the time-varying properties of the noise and for missing or deweighted data.We are performing flux-level transit injection (FLTI) experiments on selected Kepler target stars with the goal of refining and validating the ACM. “Flux-level” injection machinery inserts exoplanet transit signatures directly into the flux time series, as opposed to “pixel-level” injection, which inserts transit signatures into the individual pixels using the pixel response function. See Jie Li's poster: ID #2493668, "Flux-level transit injection experiments with the NASA Pleiades Supercomputer" for details, including performance statistics.Since FLTI is affordable for only a small subset of the Kepler targets, the ACM is designed to apply to most Kepler target stars. We validate this model using “deep” FLTI experiments, with ~500,000 injection realizations on each of a small number of targets and “shallow” FLTI experiments with ~2000 injection realizations on each of many targets. From the results of these experiments, we identify anomalous targets, model their behavior and refine the ACM accordingly.In this presentation, we discuss progress in validating and refining the ACM, and we compare our detection efficiency curves with those derived from the associated pixel-level transit injection experiments.Kepler was selected as the 10th mission of the Discovery Program. Funding for this mission is provided by NASA, Science Mission Directorate.

Installation Restoration Program. Phase 2. Confirmation/Quantification. Stage 1. Sites 24-WF15, 25-WF22 and 26-BST5. U.S. Air Force Plant No. 42, Palmdale, California.

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-06-15

Primary Metals: CA Title 2:60 e Arsenic 0.005 mg/L~~ Barium 0.005 mg/LICadmium 0.005 mg/L Chromium 0.01 mg/L Lead 0.05 mg/L Mercury 0.001 mg/L Selenium...analyzed for twelve metals: arsenic (As), barium (Ba), cadmium (Ca), chromium (COr), lead (Pb), mer- cury (Hg), selenium (Se), silver (Ag), iron (Fe...Total Threshold Limit Substnce (mg/L) (mg/Kg) Arsenic 5.0 500 Barium (excludingf barium sulfate) 100 10,000 Cadmium 1.0 100 Chromium VI 5 500 Chromium

Optical Parametric Amplification of Single Photon: Statistical Properties and Quantum Interference

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Xue-Xiang; Yuan, Hong-Chun

2014-05-01

By using phase space method, we theoretically investigate the quantum statistical properties and quantum interference of optical parametric amplification of single photon. The statistical properties, such as the Wigner function (WF), average photon number, photon number distribution and parity, are derived analytically for the fields of the two output ports. The results indicate that the fields in the output ports are multiphoton states rather than single photon state due to the amplification of the optical parametric amplifiers (OPA). In addition, the phase sensitivity is also examined by using the detection scheme of parity measurement.

Significant variations in Weber fraction for changes in inter-onset interval of a click train over the range of intervals between 5 and 300 ms.

PubMed

Ungan, Pekcan; Yagcioglu, Suha

2014-01-01

It is a common psychophysical experience that a train of clicks faster than ca. 30/s is heard as one steady sound, whereas temporal patterns occurring on a slower time scale are perceptually resolved as individual auditory events. This phenomenon suggests the existence of two different neural mechanisms for processing of auditory sequences with fast and slow repetition rates. To test this hypothesis we used Weber's law, which is known to be valid for perception of time intervals. Discrimination thresholds and Weber fractions (WFs) for 12 base inter-click intervals (ICIs) between 5 and 300 ms were measured from 10 normal hearing subjects by using an "up-down staircase" algorithm. The mean WF, which is supposed to be constant for any perceptual mechanism according to Weber's law, displayed significant variation with click rate. WFs decreased sharply from an average value of around 5% at repetition rates below 20 Hz to about 0.5% at rates above 67 Hz. Parallel to this steep transition, subjects reported that at rates below 20 Hz they perceived periodicity as a fast tapping rhythm, whereas at rates above 50 Hz the perceived quality was a pitch. Such a dramatic change in WF indicated the existence of two separate mechanisms for processing the click rate for long and short ICIs, based on temporal and spectral features, respectively. A range of rates between 20 and 33 Hz, in which the rate discrimination threshold was maximum, appears to be a region where both of the presumed time and pitch mechanisms are relatively insensitive to rate alterations. Based on this finding, we speculate that the interval-based perception mechanism ceases to function at around 20 Hz and the spectrum-based mechanism takes over at around 33 Hz; leaving a transitional gap in between, where neither of the two mechanisms is as sensitive. Another notable finding was a significant drop in WF for ICI = 100 ms, suggesting a connection of time perception to the electroencephalography alpha rhythm.

Performance of wave function and density functional methods for water hydrogen bond spin-spin coupling constants.

PubMed

García de la Vega, J M; Omar, S; San Fabián, J

2017-04-01

Spin-spin coupling constants in water monomer and dimer have been calculated using several wave function and density functional-based methods. CCSD, MCSCF, and SOPPA wave functions methods yield similar results, specially when an additive approach is used with the MCSCF. Several functionals have been used to analyze their performance with the Jacob's ladder and a set of functionals with different HF exchange were tested. Functionals with large HF exchange appropriately predict 1 J O H , 2 J H H and 2h J O O couplings, while 1h J O H is better calculated with functionals that include a reduced fraction of HF exchange. Accurate functionals for 1 J O H and 2 J H H have been tested in a tetramer water model. The hydrogen bond effects on these intramolecular couplings are additive when they are calculated by SOPPA(CCSD) wave function and DFT methods. Graphical Abstract Evaluation of the additive effect of the hydrogen bond on spin-spin coupling constants of water using WF and DFT methods.

Localization of single biological molecules out of the focal plane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gardini, L.; Capitanio, M.; Pavone, F. S.

2014-03-01

Since the behaviour of proteins and biological molecules is tightly related to the cell's environment, more and more microscopy techniques are moving from in vitro to in living cells experiments. Looking at both diffusion and active transportation processes inside a cell requires three-dimensional localization over a few microns range, high SNR images and high temporal resolution (ms order of magnitude). We developed an apparatus that combines different microscopy techniques to satisfy all the technical requirements for 3D tracking of single fluorescent molecules inside living cells with nanometer accuracy. To account for the optical sectioning of thick samples we built up a HILO (Highly Inclined and Laminated Optical sheet) microscopy system through which we can excite the sample in a widefield (WF) configuration by a thin sheet of light that can follow the molecule up and down along the z axis spanning the entire thickness of the cell with a SNR much higher than traditional WF microscopy. Since protein dynamics inside a cell involve all three dimensions, we included a method to measure the x, y, and z coordinates with nanometer accuracy, exploiting the properties of the point-spread-function of out-of-focus quantum dots bound to the protein of interest. Finally, a feedback system stabilizes the microscope from thermal drifts, assuring accurate localization during the entire duration of the experiment.

Omega-3 fatty acids modulate Weibel-Palade body degranulation and actin cytoskeleton rearrangement in PMA-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

PubMed

Bürgin-Maunder, Corinna S; Brooks, Peter R; Russell, Fraser D

2013-11-08

Long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC n-3 PUFAs) produce cardiovascular benefits by improving endothelial function. Endothelial cells store von Willebrand factor (vWF) in cytoplasmic Weibel-Palade bodies (WPBs). We examined whether LC n-3 PUFAs regulate WPB degranulation using cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). HUVECs were incubated with or without 75 or 120 µM docosahexaenoic acid or eicosapentaenoic acid for 5 days at 37 °C. WPB degranulation was stimulated using phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), and this was assessed by immunocytochemical staining for vWF. Actin reorganization was determined using phalloidin-TRITC staining. We found that PMA stimulated WPB degranulation, and that this was significantly reduced by prior incubation of cells with LC n-3 PUFAs. In these cells, WPBs had rounded rather than rod-shaped morphology and localized to the perinuclear region, suggesting interference with cytoskeletal remodeling that is necessary for complete WPB degranulation. In line with this, actin rearrangement was altered in cells containing perinuclear WPBs, where cells exhibited a thickened actin rim in the absence of prominent cytoplasmic stress fibers. These findings indicate that LC n-3 PUFAs provide some protection against WBP degranulation, and may contribute to an improved understanding of the anti-thrombotic effects previously attributed to LC n-3 PUFAs.

The influence of lexical characteristics and talker accent on the recognition of English words by speakers of Japanese.

PubMed

Yoneyama, Kiyoko; Munson, Benjamin

2017-02-01

Whether or not the influence of listeners' language proficiency on L2 speech recognition was affected by the structure of the lexicon was examined. This specific experiment examined the effect of word frequency (WF) and phonological neighborhood density (PND) on word recognition in native speakers of English and second-language (L2) speakers of English whose first language was Japanese. The stimuli included English words produced by a native speaker of English and English words produced by a native speaker of Japanese (i.e., with Japanese-accented English). The experiment was inspired by the finding of Imai, Flege, and Walley [(2005). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 117, 896-907] that the influence of talker accent on speech intelligibility for L2 learners of English whose L1 is Spanish varies as a function of words' PND. In the currently study, significant interactions between stimulus accentedness and listener group on the accuracy and speed of spoken word recognition were found, as were significant effects of PND and WF on word-recognition accuracy. However, no significant three-way interaction among stimulus talker, listener group, and PND on either measure was found. Results are discussed in light of recent findings on cross-linguistic differences in the nature of the effects of PND on L2 phonological and lexical processing.

Origin of the "waterfall" effect in phonon dispersion of relaxor perovskites.

PubMed

Hlinka, J; Kamba, S; Petzelt, J; Kulda, J; Randall, C A; Zhang, S J

2003-09-05

We have undertaken an inelastic neutron scattering study of the perovskite relaxor ferroelectric Pb(Zn(1/3)Nb(2/3))O3 with 8% PbTiO3 (PZN-8%PT) in order to elucidate the origin of the previously reported unusual kink on the low frequency transverse phonon dispersion curve (known as the "waterfall effect"). We show that its position (q(wf)) depends on the choice of the Brillouin zone and that the relation of q(wf) to the size of the polar nanoregions is highly improbable. The waterfall phenomenon is explained in the framework of a simple model of coupled damped harmonic oscillators representing the acoustic and optic phonon branches.

Low n-6/n-3 PUFA Ratio Improves Lipid Metabolism, Inflammation, Oxidative Stress and Endothelial Function in Rats Using Plant Oils as n-3 Fatty Acid Source.

PubMed

Yang, Li Gang; Song, Zhi Xiu; Yin, Hong; Wang, Yan Yan; Shu, Guo Fang; Lu, Hui Xia; Wang, Shao Kang; Sun, Gui Ju

2016-01-01

Lipid metabolism, inflammation, oxidative stress and endothelial function play important roles in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD), which may be affected by an imbalance in the n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratio. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio on these cardiovascular risk factors in rats fed a high-fat diet using plant oils as the main n-3 PUFA source. The 1:1 and 5:1 ratio groups had significantly decreased serum levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and proinflammatory cytokines compared with the 20:1 group (p < 0.05). Additionally, the 20:1 group had significantly increased serum levels of E-Selectin, von Willebrand factor (vWF), and numerous markers of oxidative stress compared with the other groups (p < 0.05). The 1:1 group had a significantly decreased lipid peroxide level compared with the other groups (p < 0.05). Serum levels of malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species and vWF tended to increase with n-6/n-3 PUFA ratios increasing from 5:1 to 20:1. We demonstrated that low n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio (1:1 and 5:1) had a beneficial effect on cardiovascular risk factors by enhancing favorable lipid profiles, having anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress effects, and improving endothelial function. A high n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio (20:1) had adverse effects. Our results indicated that low n-6/n-3 PUFA ratios exerted beneficial cardiovascular effects, suggesting that plant oils could be used as a source of n-3 fatty acids to prevent CVD. They also suggested that we should be aware of possible adverse effects from excessive n-3 PUFA.

A short history of diagnostic tests for von Willebrand disease: in memory of Barry Firkin (1930 to 2001) and Ted Zimmerman (1937 to 1988).

PubMed

Koutts, Jerry

2006-07-01

By the end of the 1960s, von Willebrand disease (vWD) was accepted as a combined deficiency of factor (F) VIII coagulation and a plasma factor responsible for normal platelet adhesion. Just how these two functions related to each other was unclear, and the diagnostic tests available at the time were poorly reproducible, cumbersome, and unreliable. As a consequence, the condition was poorly delineated from other coagulation and platelet disorders. In the early 1970s, ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation was described and formed the basis of the first consistent and reliable test that quantified the platelet adhesive function missing in vWD. Immunoprecipitating techniques specific for the molecule missing in vWD were defined. The application of these technologies allowed a clearer understanding of the heterogeneity of vWD and continues to form a basis for the diagnosis of this condition. Concurrently, exploration of the structure and function of von Willebrand factor (vWF) has contributed greatly to the understanding of platelet physiology, ligand receptor interaction, and pathways of cellular interaction and activation. Despite all of the progress during the last 35 years, including extensive developments in the field of molecular biology and genetics of vWD, the diagnosis of this condition in many, if not most cases, remains controversial. The final plasma level of vWF is influenced substantially by epigenetic and environmental factors. This natural heterogeneity is further compounded by significant imprecision of existing tests. As a consequence, defining vWD on the basis of a variation from the normal range alone is more than likely to be incorrect. The high frequency of a positive bleeding disorder in the normal population does not assist discrimination. It has been suggested that the diagnosis of mild type 1 vWD be discarded because it does not exhibit consistent linkage to the VWF gene and does not predict bleeding.

Thioredoxin Inhibitors Attenuate Platelet Function and Thrombus Formation

PubMed Central

Metcalfe, Clive; Ramasubramoni, Anjana; Pula, Giordano; Harper, Matthew T.; Mundell, Stuart J.; Coxon, Carmen H.

2016-01-01

Thioredoxin (Trx) is an oxidoreductase with important physiological function. Imbalances in the NADPH/thioredoxin reductase/thioredoxin system are associated with a number of pathologies, particularly cancer, and a number of clinical trials for thioredoxin and thioredoxin reductase inhibitors have been carried out or are underway. Due to the emerging role and importance of oxidoreductases for haemostasis and the current interest in developing inhibitors for clinical use, we thought it pertinent to assess whether inhibition of the NADPH/thioredoxin reductase/thioredoxin system affects platelet function and thrombosis. We used small molecule inhibitors of Trx (PMX 464 and PX-12) to determine whether Trx activity influences platelet function, as well as an unbiased proteomics approach to identify potential Trx substrates on the surface of platelets that might contribute to platelet reactivity and function. Using LC-MS/MS we found that PMX 464 and PX-12 affected the oxidation state of thiols in a number of cell surface proteins. Key surface receptors for platelet adhesion and activation were affected, including the collagen receptor GPVI and the von Willebrand factor receptor, GPIb. To experimentally validate these findings we assessed platelet function in the presence of PMX 464, PX-12, and rutin (a selective inhibitor of the related protein disulphide isomerase). In agreement with the proteomics data, small molecule inhibitors of thioredoxin selectively inhibited GPVI-mediated platelet activation, and attenuated ristocetin-induced GPIb-vWF-mediated platelet agglutination, thus validating the findings of the proteomics study. These data reveal a novel role for thioredoxin in regulating platelet reactivity via proteins required for early platelet responses at sites of vessel injury (GPVI and GPIb). This work also highlights a potential opportunity for repurposing of PMX 464 and PX-12 as antiplatelet agents. PMID:27716777

Thioredoxin Inhibitors Attenuate Platelet Function and Thrombus Formation.

PubMed

Metcalfe, Clive; Ramasubramoni, Anjana; Pula, Giordano; Harper, Matthew T; Mundell, Stuart J; Coxon, Carmen H

2016-01-01

Thioredoxin (Trx) is an oxidoreductase with important physiological function. Imbalances in the NADPH/thioredoxin reductase/thioredoxin system are associated with a number of pathologies, particularly cancer, and a number of clinical trials for thioredoxin and thioredoxin reductase inhibitors have been carried out or are underway. Due to the emerging role and importance of oxidoreductases for haemostasis and the current interest in developing inhibitors for clinical use, we thought it pertinent to assess whether inhibition of the NADPH/thioredoxin reductase/thioredoxin system affects platelet function and thrombosis. We used small molecule inhibitors of Trx (PMX 464 and PX-12) to determine whether Trx activity influences platelet function, as well as an unbiased proteomics approach to identify potential Trx substrates on the surface of platelets that might contribute to platelet reactivity and function. Using LC-MS/MS we found that PMX 464 and PX-12 affected the oxidation state of thiols in a number of cell surface proteins. Key surface receptors for platelet adhesion and activation were affected, including the collagen receptor GPVI and the von Willebrand factor receptor, GPIb. To experimentally validate these findings we assessed platelet function in the presence of PMX 464, PX-12, and rutin (a selective inhibitor of the related protein disulphide isomerase). In agreement with the proteomics data, small molecule inhibitors of thioredoxin selectively inhibited GPVI-mediated platelet activation, and attenuated ristocetin-induced GPIb-vWF-mediated platelet agglutination, thus validating the findings of the proteomics study. These data reveal a novel role for thioredoxin in regulating platelet reactivity via proteins required for early platelet responses at sites of vessel injury (GPVI and GPIb). This work also highlights a potential opportunity for repurposing of PMX 464 and PX-12 as antiplatelet agents.

Single and simultaneous binary mergers in Wright-Fisher genealogies.

PubMed

Melfi, Andrew; Viswanath, Divakar

2018-05-01

The Kingman coalescent is a commonly used model in genetics, which is often justified with reference to the Wright-Fisher (WF) model. Current proofs of convergence of WF and other models to the Kingman coalescent assume a constant sample size. However, sample sizes have become quite large in human genetics. Therefore, we develop a convergence theory that allows the sample size to increase with population size. If the haploid population size is N and the sample size is N 1∕3-ϵ , ϵ>0, we prove that Wright-Fisher genealogies involve at most a single binary merger in each generation with probability converging to 1 in the limit of large N. Single binary merger or no merger in each generation of the genealogy implies that the Kingman partition distribution is obtained exactly. If the sample size is N 1∕2-ϵ , Wright-Fisher genealogies may involve simultaneous binary mergers in a single generation but do not involve triple mergers in the large N limit. The asymptotic theory is verified using numerical calculations. Variable population sizes are handled algorithmically. It is found that even distant bottlenecks can increase the probability of triple mergers as well as simultaneous binary mergers in WF genealogies. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Toxicity evaluation of prodigiosin from Serratia marcescens in a Caenorhabditis elegans model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seah, Siew-Wei; Nathan, Sheila; Wan, Kiew-Lian

2016-11-01

Serratia marcescens produces several secondary metabolites, including a red antimicrobial pigment, prodigiosin. There is considerable interest in prodigiosin and its derivatives due to their anticancer and immunosuppressive properties. Prodigiosin has also become the main choice of red dye in textiles. As prodigiosin has potentially high commercial value, there is a demand to develop high-throughput and cost-effective bioprocesses for prodigiosin production. However little is still known about its toxicity. This study was carried out to investigate the toxicity effect of prodigiosin. To determine if prodigiosin was potentially toxic to eukaryotic systems, the S. marcescens ATCC 274 wild type (Sma 274) and the non-prodigiosin producer S. marcescens Bizio WF mutant ATCC 29635 (WF mutant) were grown under the optimised conditions for prodigiosin production and fed to the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The mean time to death (TDmean) for Sma 274-infected worms assayed on agar was 112.6 hours while the WF mutant culture had a TDmean of 104.4 hours. However, the nematode killing kinetics were not significantly different between the prodigiosin-producing and non-producing S. marcescens strains (p>0.05). In lieu of its non-toxic property, prodigiosin has the potential to be developed for safe therapeutic applications and as a safe environmental friendly bio-dye.

Environmental and water sustainability of milk production in Northeast Spain.

PubMed

Noya, I; González-García, S; Berzosa, J; Baucells, F; Feijoo, G; Moreira, M T

2018-03-01

This study focuses on the assessment of the environmental profile of a milk farm, representative of the dairy sector in Northeast Spain, from a cradle-to-gate perspective. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) principles established by ISO standards together with the carbon footprint guidelines proposed by International Dairy Federation (IDF) were followed. The environmental results showed two critical contributing factors: the production of the livestock feed (e.g., alfalfa) and the on-farm emissions from farming activities, with contributions higher than 50% in most impact categories. A comparison with other LCA studies was carried out, which confirmed the consistency of these results with the values reported in the literature for dairy systems from several countries. Additionally, the Water Footprint (WF) values were also estimated according to the Water Footprint Network (WFN) methodology to reveal that feed and fodder production also had a predominant influence on the global WF impacts, with contributions of 99%. Green WF was responsible for remarkable environmental burdens (around 88%) due to the impacts associated with the cultivation stage. Finally, the substitution of alfalfa by other alternative protein sources in animal diets were also proposed and analysed due to its relevance as one of the main contributors of livestock feed. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Application of water footprint in a fertirrigated melon crop under semiarid conditions: A review.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Castellanos Serrano, María Teresa; Requejo Mariscal, María Isabel; Villena Gordo, Raquel; Cartagena Causapé, María Carmen; Arce Martínez, Augusto; Ribas Elcorobarrutia, Francisco; Jesús Cabello Cabello, María; María Tarquis Alfonso, Ana

2015-04-01

In recent times, there has been a major increase in the use of water and fertilizers in order to increase agricultural production, while at the same time there has increased evidence that aquifers are reducing their water level, enriched by nutrient and degraded as a result of pollution. So best management practices are needed for much of cropped, irrigated and fertirrigated land, to avoid contamination of fresh water and groundwater. The concept of "water footprint" (WF) was introduced as an indicator for the total volume of direct and indirect freshwater used, consumed and/or polluted [1]. The WF distinguishes between blue water (volume of surface and groundwater consumed), green water (rain-water consumed), and grey water (volume of freshwater that is required to assimilate the load of pollutants based on existing ambient water quality standards). This study is focused in calculating the crops WF using a real case of study in a fertirrigated melon crop under semiarid conditions which is principally cultivated in the centre of Spain declared vulnerable zone to nitrate pollution by applying the Directive 91/676/CEE. During successive years, a melon crop (Cucumis melo L.) was grown under field conditions applying mineral and organic fertilizers. Different doses of ammonium nitrate were used as well as compost derived from the wine-distillery industry which is relevant in this area. This application help us to review the different concepts in which is based WF. Acknowledgements: This project has been supported by INIA-RTA04-111-C3 and INIA-RTA2010-00110-C03-01. Keywords: Water footprint, nitrogen, fertirrigation, inorganic fertilizers, organic amendments, winery waste, semiarid conditions. [1] Hoekstra, A.Y. 2003. Virtual water trade. Proceedings of the International Expert Meeting on Virtual Water Trade, Delft, The Netherlands, 12-13 December 2002. Value of Water Research Report Series No. 12, UNESCO-IHE, Delft, The Netherlands.

Comparison of Two Methods for Estimating Adjustable One-Point Cane Length in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

PubMed

Camara, Camila Thais Pinto; de Freitas, Sandra Maria Sbeghen Ferreira; de Lima, Waléria Paixão; Lima, Camila Astolphi; Amorim, César Ferreira; Perracini, Monica Rodrigues

2017-01-01

Our aim is to estimate inter-observer reliability, test-retest reliability, anthropometric and biomechanical adequacy and minimal detectable change when measuring the length of single-point adjustable canes in community-dwelling older adults. There are 112 participants in the study. They are men and women, aged 60 years and over, who were attending an outpatient community health centre. An exploratory study design was used. Participants underwent two assessments within the same day by two independent observers and by the same observer at an interval of 15-45 days. Two measures were used to establish the length of a single-point adjustable cane: the distance from the distal wrist crease to the floor (WF) and the distance from the top of the greater trochanter of the femur to the floor (TF). Each individual was fitted according to these two measures, and elbow flexion angle was measured. Inter-observer reliability and the test-retest reliability were high in both TF (ICC 3.1  = 0.918 and ICC 2.1  = 0.935) and WF measures (ICC 3.1  = 0.967 and ICC 2.1  = 0.960). Only 1% of the individuals kept an elbow flexion angle within the standard recommendation of 30° ± 10° when the cane length was determined by the TF measure, and 30% of the participants when the cane was determined by the WF measure. The minimal detectable cane length change was 2.2 cm. Our results suggest that, even though both measures are reliable, cane length determined by WF distance is more appropriate to keep the elbow flexion angle within the standard recommendation. The minimal detectable change corresponds to approximately a hole in the cane adjustment. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Pneumococcal infection of respiratory cells exposed to welding fumes; Role of oxidative stress and HIF-1 alpha.

PubMed

Grigg, Jonathan; Miyashita, Lisa; Suri, Reetika

2017-01-01

Welders are more susceptible to pneumococcal pneumonia. The mechanisms are yet unclear. Pneumococci co-opt the platelet activating factor receptor (PAFR) to infect respiratory epithelial cells. We previously reported that exposure of respiratory cells to welding fumes (WF), upregulates PAFR-dependent pneumococcal infection. The signaling pathway for this response is unknown, however, in intestinal cells, hypoxia-inducible factor-1 α (HIF 1α) is reported to mediate PAFR-dependent infection. We sought to assess whether oxidative stress plays a role in susceptibility to pneumococcal infection via the platelet activating factor receptor. We also sought to evaluate the suitability of nasal epithelial PAFR expression in welders as a biomarker of susceptibility to infection. Finally, we investigated the generalisability of the effect of welding fumes on pneumococcal infection and growth using a variety of different welding fume samples. Nasal epithelial PAFR expression in welders and controls was analysed by flow cytometry. WF were collected using standard methodology. The effect of WF on respiratory cell reactive oxygen species production, HIF-1α expression, and pneumococcal infection was determined using flow cytometry, HIF-1α knockdown and overexpression, and pneumococcal infection assays. We found that nasal PAFR expression is significantly increased in welders compared with controls and that WF significantly increased reactive oxygen species production, HIF-1α and PAFR expression, and pneumococcal infection of respiratory cells. In unstimulated cells, HIF-1α knockdown decreased PAFR expression and HIF-1α overexpression increased PAFR expression. However, in knockdown cells pneumococcal infection was paradoxically increased and in overexpressing cells infection was unaffected. Nasal epithelial PAFR expression may be used as a biomarker of susceptibility to pneumococcal infection in order to target individuals, particularly those at high risk such as welders, for the pneumococcal vaccine. Expression of HIF-1α in unexposed respiratory cells inhibits basal pneumococcal infection via PAFR-independent mechanisms.

Mobility and Agility During Locomotion in the Mark III Space Suit.

PubMed

Cullinane, Conor R; Rhodes, Richard A; Stirling, Leia A

2017-06-01

The Mark III (MIII) space suit assembly (SSAs) implements a multibearing, hard-material hip brief assembly (HBA). We hypothesize that: 1) the MIII HBA restricts operator mobility and agility which manifests in effects to gait parameters; 2) the waist bearing provides rotational motion, partially alleviating the restrictions; and 3) there are resistive, speed-dependent torques associated with the spinning bearings which further diminish mobility and agility. A subject (Suited and Unsuited) performed two planetary tasks-walking forward (WF) and backward (WB). An analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post hoc comparisons were performed to determine interaction effects. Motion capture data was processed to obtain gait parameters: static base (m), dynamic base (m), step length (m), stride length (m), cadence (steps/min), center of mass speed (m · s-1), foot clearance (toe and heel) (m), and bearing angular velocities (° · s-1). The static base when Suited (0.355 m) was larger than Unsuited (0.263 m). The Suited dynamic base (pooled, 0.200 m) was larger than both Unsuited WF (0.081 m) and WB (0.107 m). When Suited, the operator had lower clearance heights. The waist bearings provided about 7.2° of rotation when WB and WF. The maximum torque, while WF, in the right upper and mid bearings was 15.6 ± 1.35 Nm and 16.3 ± 1.28 Nm. This study integrated suit component properties and the emergent biomechanics of the operator to investigate how biomechanics are affected. The human hip has three collocated degrees of freedom (DOFs), whereas the HBA has a single DOF per bearing. The results can inform requirements for future SSA and other wearable system designs and evaluations.Cullinane CR, Rhodes RA, Stirling LA. Mobility and agility during locomotion in the Mark III space suit. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2017; 88(6):589-596.

Experimental transport studies of yttrium barium copper oxide and lambda-DNA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yuexing

This dissertation consists of two parts. In Part I, we focus on the quasi-particle transport properties in the high temperature superconductor YBa2Cu3O7-delta (YBCO), probed by the thermal Hall conductivity (kappa xy). The thermal Hall conductivity selectively reflects the transport behaviors of the charge carriers. By measuring kappaxy in the normal state YBCO, we established a new method to determine the Wiedemann-Franz (WF) ratio in cuprates. We determined the Hall-channel WF ratio kappa xy/sigmaxyT in Cu and YBCO. In the latter, we uncovered a T-linear dependence and suppression of the Hallchannel WF ratio. The suppression of the Hall-channel WF ratio in systems with predominant electron-electron scattering will be discussed. Thermal transport behaviors of the quasi-particles in the mixed state were studied by measuring kappaxx and kappa xy in a high-purity YBCO crystal. From the field-dependence of the thermal conductivity kappaxx, we separated the quasi particle contribution (kappae) from the phonon background. In the Hall channel, we observed that the (weak-field) kappa xy increased 103-fold between T c (90 K) and 30 K, implying a 100-fold enhancement of the quasi-particle lifetime. We found that kappaxy exhibited a specific scaling behavior below ˜30 K. The implication of the scaling behavior will be discussed. In Part II, we describe an experiment on determining the electrical conductivity of the bacteriophage lambda-DNA, an issue currently under intense debate. We covalently bonded the DNA to Au electrodes by incorporating thiol modified dTTP into the 'sticky' ends of the lambda-DNA. Two-probe measurements on such molecules provided a lower bound for the resistivity rho > 10 6 mum at bias potentials up to 20 V, in conflict with recent claims of moderate to high conductivity. We stress the importance of eliminating salt residues in these measurements.

Changes in soil moisture drive soil methane uptake along a fire regeneration chronosequence in a eucalypt forest landscape.

PubMed

Fest, Benedikt; Wardlaw, Tim; Livesley, Stephen J; Duff, Thomas J; Arndt, Stefan K

2015-11-01

Disturbance associated with severe wildfires (WF) and WF simulating harvest operations can potentially alter soil methane (CH4 ) oxidation in well-aerated forest soils due to the effect on soil properties linked to diffusivity, methanotrophic activity or changes in methanotrophic bacterial community structure. However, changes in soil CH4 flux related to such disturbances are still rarely studied even though WF frequency is predicted to increase as a consequence of global climate change. We measured in-situ soil-atmosphere CH4 exchange along a wet sclerophyll eucalypt forest regeneration chronosequence in Tasmania, Australia, where the time since the last severe fire or harvesting disturbance ranged from 9 to >200 years. On all sampling occasions, mean CH4 uptake increased from most recently disturbed sites (9 year) to sites at stand 'maturity' (44 and 76 years). In stands >76 years since disturbance, we observed a decrease in soil CH4 uptake. A similar age dependency of potential CH4 oxidation for three soil layers (0.0-0.05, 0.05-0.10, 0.10-0.15 m) could be observed on incubated soils under controlled laboratory conditions. The differences in soil CH4 uptake between forest stands of different age were predominantly driven by differences in soil moisture status, which affected the diffusion of atmospheric CH4 into the soil. The observed soil moisture pattern was likely driven by changes in interception or evapotranspiration with forest age, which have been well described for similar eucalypt forest systems in south-eastern Australia. Our results imply that there is a large amount of variability in CH4 uptake at a landscape scale that can be attributed to stand age and soil moisture differences. An increase in severe WF frequency in response to climate change could potentially increase overall forest soil CH4 sinks. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Effects of PCB 126 and PCB 153 on secretion of steroid hormones and mRNA expression of steroidogenic genes (STAR, HSD3B, CYP19A1) and estrogen receptors (ERα, ERβ) in prehierarchical chicken ovarian follicles.

PubMed

Sechman, Andrzej; Batoryna, Marta; Antos, Piotr A; Hrabia, Anna

2016-12-15

The objective of this study was to assess the in vitro effects of dioxin-like PCB 126 and non-dioxin-like PCB 153 on basal and ovine LH (oLH)-stimulated testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) secretion and expression of steroidogenic genes (STAR, HSD3B and CYP19A1) and estrogen receptors α (ERα) and β (ERβ) in white (WF) and yellowish (YF) prehierarchical follicles of the hen ovary. Steroid concentrations in a medium and gene expression in follicles following 6h of exposition were determined by RIA and real-time qPCR, respectively. Both PCBs increased basal and oLH-stimulated T secretion by the WF follicles. PCB 126 reduced basal E2 secretion by the WF follicles. PCB 153 elevated but PCB 126 reduced oLH-stimulated E2 secretion by the prehierarchical follicles. PCB 126 increased basal STAR and HSD3B and reduced CYP19A1 mRNA expression in these follicles. PCB 153 increased basal expression of STAR and HSD3B in YF follicles, but diminished HSD3B mRNA levels in the WF. The studied PCBs had an opposite effect on basal and oLH-stimulated CYP19A1 mRNA expression in prehierarchical follicles. Both PCBs modulated basal and inhibited oLH-stimulated ERα and ERβ gene expression in the prehierarchical follicles. In conclusion, data of the current study demonstrate the congener-specific effects of PCBs on sex steroid secretion by prehierarchical follicles of the chicken ovary, which are at least partly related to STAR, HSD3B and CYP19A1 gene expression. It is suggested that PCBs, by influencing follicular steroidogenesis and expression of estrogen receptors, may impair development and selection of yellowish follicles to the preovulatory hierarchy. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Utilization of Landsat-8 data for the estimation of carrot and maize crop water footprint under the arid climate of Saudi Arabia.

PubMed

Madugundu, Rangaswamy; Al-Gaadi, Khalid A; Tola, ElKamil; Hassaballa, Abdalhaleem A; Kayad, Ahmed G

2018-01-01

The crop Water Footprint (WF) can provide a comprehensive knowledge of the use of water through the demarcation of the amount of the water consumed by different crops. The WF has three components: green (WFg), blue (WFb) and grey (WFgr) water footprints. The WFg refers to the rainwater stored in the root zone soil layer and is mainly utilized for agricultural, horticultural and forestry production. The WFb, however, is the consumptive use of water from surface or groundwater resources and mainly deals with irrigated agriculture, industry, domestic water use, etc. While the WFgr is the amount of fresh water required to assimilate pollutants resulting from the use of fertilizers/agrochemicals. This study was conducted on six agricultural fields in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia, during the period from December 2015 to December 2016, to investigate the spatiotemporal variation of the WF of silage maize and carrot crops. The WF of each crop was estimated in two ways, namely agro-meteorological (WFAgro) and remote sensing (WFRS) methods. The blue, green and grey components of WFAgro were computed with the use of weather station/Eddy covariance measurements and field recorded crop yield datasets. The WFRS estimated by applying surface energy balance principles on Landsat-8 imageries. However, due to non-availability of Landsat-8 data on the event of rainy days, this study was limited to blue component (WFRS-b). The WFAgro of silage maize was found to range from 3545 m3 t-1 to 4960 m3 t-1; on an average, the WFAgro-g, WFAgro-b, and WFAgro-gr are composed of < 1%, 77%, and 22%, respectively. In the case of carrot, the WFAgro ranged between 297 m3 t-1 and 502 m3 t-1. The WFAgro-g of carrot crop was estimated at <1%, while WFAgro-b and WFAgro-gr was 67% and 32%, respectively. The WFAgro-b is occupied as a major portion in WF of silage maize (77%) and carrot (68%) crops. This is due to the high crop water demand combined with a very erratic rainfall, the irrigation is totally provided using groundwater delivered by center pivot irrigation systems. On the other hand, the WFRS-b estimated using Landsat-8 data was varied from 276 (±73) m3 t-1 (carrot) and 2885 (±441) m3 t-1 (silage maize). The variation (RMSE) between WFRS-b and WFAgro-b was about 17% and 14% for silage maize and carrot crops, respectively.

Time-of-flight neutron powder diffraction study on the third row transition metal hexafluorides WF6, OsF6, and PtF6

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marx, R.; Seppelt, K.; Ibberson, R. M.

1996-05-01

A neutron diffraction study on the third-row transition metal hexafluorides MF6 (M≡W, Os, Pt) has been performed using the high resolution neutron powder diffractometer (HRPD) at the spallation source ISIS, England. The previously unknown structures of the low-temperature phases of OsF6 and PtF6 are reported. WF6, OsF6, and PtF6, which exhibit a (5dt2g)0, (5dt2g)2, and (5dt2g)4 electronic configuration, respectively, are found to be isostructural and crystallize in the UF6 structure, space group Pmnb, (No. 62). The geometry of the MF6 molecules is to good approximation octahedral for each compound, the mean M-F bond length increasing only slightly from 182.5 (W) to 185.0 (Pt). For WF6 deviations from ideal octahedral geometry are only marginally significant [181.8(2) to 183.2(2) pm] and may be interpreted on the basis of packing effects. Deviations for the d2 complex OsF6 are somewhat larger [181.5(2) to 184.4(3) pm] and may be assumed to be caused by packing effects essentially the same as for WF6, in addition to a first-order Jahn-Teller effect arising from the (5dt2g)2 electronic configuration. While eliminating the effects of packing by a comparison of individual M-F bond lengths for WF6 and OsF6, the OsF6 molecule shows to have D4h symmetry with two apical M-F bonds about 1.8 pm longer than the four equatorial bonds as a result of the Jahn-Teller distortion. Only small deviations from ideal octahedral geometry [184.4(3) to 185.8(3) pm] are found for the d4 complex PtF6. Within the series W to Pt a substantial shortening of the F...F van der Waals contact distances is observed. This shortening more than compensates for the increase in the M-F bond lengths and leads to unit cell volumes and cell parameters decreasing continuously from W to Pt. The variation of F...F contact distances and M-F bond lengths may be rationalized in terms of polarization of the F-ligands in the field of the highly charged nuclei of the central atoms which are only incompletely shielded by the 5d electrons.

A methodology for the investigation of toughness and crack propagation in mouse bone.

PubMed

Carriero, Alessandra; Zimmermann, Elizabeth A; Shefelbine, Sandra J; Ritchie, Robert O

2014-11-01

Bone fracture is a health concern for those with aged bone and brittle bone diseases. Mouse bone is widely used as a model of human bone, especially to investigate preclinical treatment strategies. However, little is known about the mechanisms of mouse bone fracture and its similarities and differences from fracture in human bone. In this work we present a methodology to investigate the fracture toughness during crack initiation and crack propagation for mouse bone. Mouse femora were dissected, polished on their periosteal surface, notched on the posterior surface at their mid-diaphysis, and tested in three-point bending under displacement control at a rate of 0.1mm/min using an in situ loading stage within an environmental scanning electron microscope. We obtained high-resolution real-time imaging of the crack initiation and propagation in mouse bone. From the images we can measure the crack extension at each step of the crack growth and calculate the toughness of the bone (in terms of stress intensity factor (K) and work to fracture (Wf)) as a function of stable crack length (Δa), thus generating a resistance curve for the mouse bone. The technique presented here provides insight into the evolution of microdamage and the toughening mechanisms that resist crack propagation, which are essential for preclinical development of treatments to enhance bone quality and combat fracture risk. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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

Sassani, David; Price, Laura L.; Rechard, Robert P.

This report provides an update to Sassani et al. (2016) and includes: (1) an updated set of inputs (Sections 2.3) on various additional waste forms (WF) covering both DOE-managed spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and DOE-managed (as) high-level waste (HLW) for use in the inventory represented in the geologic disposal safety analyses (GDSA); (2) summaries of evaluations initiated to refine specific characteristics of particular WF for future use (Section 2.4); (3) updated development status of the Online Waste Library (OWL) database (Section 3.1.2) and an updated user guide to OWL (Section 3.1.3); and (4) status updates (Section 3.2) for the OWLmore » inventory content, data entry checking process, and external OWL BETA testing initiated in fiscal year 2017.« less

VOx effectively doping CVD-graphene for transparent conductive films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ji, Qinghua; Shi, Liangjing; Zhang, Qinghong; Wang, Weiqi; Zheng, Huifeng; Zhang, Yuzhi; Liu, Yangqiao; Sun, Jing

2016-11-01

Chemical vapor deposition(CVD)-synthesized graphene is potentially an alternative for tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) transparent conductive films (TCFs), however its sheet resistance is still too high to meet many demands. Vanadium oxide has been widely applied as smart window materials, however, no study has been reported to use it as dopant to improve the conductivity of graphene TCFs. In this study, we firstly reported that VOx doping can effectively lower the sheet resistance of CVD-graphene films while keeping its good optical properties, whose transmittance is as high as 86-90%. The optimized VOx-doped graphene exhibits a sheet resistance as low as 176 Ω/□, which decreases by 56% compared to the undoped graphene films. The doping process is convenient, stable, economical and easy to operate. What is more, VOx can effectively increase the work function(WF) of the film, making it more appropriate for use in solar cells. The evolution of the VOx species annealed at different temperatures below 400 °C has been detailed studied for the first time, based on which the doping mechanism is proposed. The prepared VOx doped graphene is expected to be a promising candidate for transparent conductive film purposes.

Electroless-plated Ni pattern with catalyst printing on indium-gallium-zinc oxide surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Onoue, Miki; Ogura, Shintaro; Kusaka, Yasuyuki; Fukuda, Nobuko; Yamamoto, Noritaka; Kojima, Keisuke; Chikama, Katsumi; Ushijima, Hirobumi

2017-05-01

Electroless plated metals have been used for wiring and electrodes in the manufacture of electronic devices. To obtain plated patterns, etching and photoresist are generally used. However, through catalyst patterning by printing, we can obtain metal patterns without etching and photoresists by electroless plating. Solution-processed indium-gallium-zinc oxide (IGZO) has received significant attention for showing high performance and ease of preparation in air atmosphere. In this study, we prepared an electroless plated pattern by catalyst printing as electrodes of IGZO TFT. There are few reports on the application of plated metal electrodes prepared by catalyst printing to the source and drain electrodes of IGZO TFT. The prepared IGZO TFT exhibits a typical current-voltage (I-V) curve. The plated electrodes caused many problems such as performance degradation. However, our result showed that the plated metal electrodes can drive IGZO TFT. In addition, we confirm plated metal growth into the catalyst layer by cross sectional scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) of the plated Ni. We discuss the relevance of the measured work function (WF) of the electrode materials and the performance of IGZO TFT.

A DICOM Based Collaborative Platform for Real-Time Medical Teleconsultation on Medical Images.

PubMed

Maglogiannis, Ilias; Andrikos, Christos; Rassias, Georgios; Tsanakas, Panayiotis

2017-01-01

The paper deals with the design of a Web-based platform for real-time medical teleconsultation on medical images. The proposed platform combines the principles of heterogeneous Workflow Management Systems (WfMSs), the peer-to-peer networking architecture and the SPA (Single-Page Application) concept, to facilitate medical collaboration among healthcare professionals geographically distributed. The presented work leverages state-of-the-art features of the web to support peer-to-peer communication using the WebRTC (Web Real Time Communication) protocol and client-side data processing for creating an integrated collaboration environment. The paper discusses the technical details of implementation and presents the operation of the platform in practice along with some initial results.

Workflow management systems in radiology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wendler, Thomas; Meetz, Kirsten; Schmidt, Joachim

1998-07-01

In a situation of shrinking health care budgets, increasing cost pressure and growing demands to increase the efficiency and the quality of medical services, health care enterprises are forced to optimize or complete re-design their processes. Although information technology is agreed to potentially contribute to cost reduction and efficiency improvement, the real success factors are the re-definition and automation of processes: Business Process Re-engineering and Workflow Management. In this paper we discuss architectures for the use of workflow management systems in radiology. We propose to move forward from information systems in radiology (RIS, PACS) to Radiology Management Systems, in which workflow functionality (process definitions and process automation) is implemented through autonomous workflow management systems (WfMS). In a workflow oriented architecture, an autonomous workflow enactment service communicates with workflow client applications via standardized interfaces. In this paper, we discuss the need for and the benefits of such an approach. The separation of workflow management system and application systems is emphasized, and the consequences that arise for the architecture of workflow oriented information systems. This includes an appropriate workflow terminology, and the definition of standard interfaces for workflow aware application systems. Workflow studies in various institutions have shown that most of the processes in radiology are well structured and suited for a workflow management approach. Numerous commercially available Workflow Management Systems (WfMS) were investigated, and some of them, which are process- oriented and application independent, appear suitable for use in radiology.

Rheological, baking, and sensory properties of composite bread dough with breadfruit (Artocarpus communis Forst) and wheat flours.

PubMed

Bakare, Adegoke H; Osundahunsi, Oluwatooyin F; Olusanya, Joseph O

2016-07-01

The rheological (Pasting, farinograph, and alveograph) properties of wheat flour (WF) replaced with breadfruit four (05-40%) was analyzed. Baking and sensory qualities of the resulting bread were evaluated. Differences in baking properties of loaves produced under laboratory and industrial conditions were analyzed with t-test, whereas ANOVA was used for other analyses. Peak and final viscosities in the composite blends (CB) ranged from 109.20 to 114.06 RVU and 111.86 to 134.40 RVU, respectively. Dough stability decreased from 9.15 to 0.78 min, whereas farinograph water absorption increased 59.7-65.9%. Alveograph curve configuration ratio increased from 1.27 to 7.39, whereas specific volume (Spv) of the loaves decreased from 2.96 to 1.32 cm(3)/g. The Spv of WF loaves were not significantly different (P > 0.05) from that of the 5% CB, whereas production conditions had no significant effects on absorbed water (t = 0.532, df = 18 P = 0.3005), weight loss during baking (t = 0.865, df = 18, P = 0.199), and Spv (t = 0.828, df = 14.17, P = 0.211). The sensory qualities of the 5% blend were not significantly different from the WF.

Dynamic Looping of a Free-Draining Polymer

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

Ye, Felix X. -F.; Stinis, Panos; Qian, Hong

Here, we revisit the celebrated Wilemski--Fixman (WF) treatment for the looping time of a free-draining polymer. The WF theory introduces a sink term into the Fokker--Planck equation for themore » $3(N+1)$-dimensional Ornstein--Uhlenbeck process of polymer dynamics, which accounts for the appropriate boundary condition due to the formation of a loop. The assumption for WF theory is considerably relaxed. A perturbation method approach is developed that justifies and generalizes the previous results using either a delta sink or a Heaviside sink. For both types of sinks, we show that under the condition of a small dimensionless $$\\epsilon$$, the ratio of capture radius to the Kuhn length, we are able to systematically produce all known analytical and asymptotic results obtained by other methods. This includes most notably the transition regime between the $N^2$ scaling of Doi, and $$N\\sqrt{N}/\\epsilon$$ scaling of Szabo, Schulten, and Schulten. The mathematical issue at play is the nonuniform convergence of $$\\epsilon\\to 0$$ and $$N\\to\\infty$$, the latter being an inherent part of the theory of a Gaussian polymer. Our analysis yields a novel term in the analytical expression for the looping time with small $$\\epsilon$$, which was previously unknown. Monte Carlo numerical simulations corroborate the analytical findings. The systematic method developed here can be applied to other systems modeled by multidimensional Smoluchowski equations.« less

Relationships of inflammatory and haemostatic markers with social class: results from a population-based study of older men.

PubMed

Ramsay, Sheena; Lowe, Gordon D O; Whincup, Peter H; Rumley, Ann; Morris, Richard W; Wannamethee, S Goya

2008-04-01

Haemostatic and inflammatory markers have been hypothesised to mediate the relationship of social class and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We investigated whether a range of inflammatory/haemostatic markers are associated with social class independent of chronic diseases and behavioural risk factors in a population-based sample of 2682 British men aged 60-79 without a physician diagnosis of CVD, diabetes or musculoskeletal disease requiring anti-inflammatory medications. Men in lower social classes had higher mean levels of C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, interleukin-6, white blood cell count, von Willebrand factor (vWF), factor VIII, activated protein C (APC) resistance, plasma viscosity, fibrin D-dimer and platelet count, compared to higher social class groups; but not of tissue plasminogen activator antigen, haematocrit or activated partial prothrombin time. After adjustment for behavioural risk factors (smoking, alcohol, physical activity and body mass), the associations of social class with vWF, factor VIII, APC resistance, plasma viscosity, and platelet count though weakened, remained statistically significant, while those of other markers were considerably attenuated. In this study of older men without CVD, the social gradient in inflammatory and haemostatic markers was substantially explained by behavioural risk factors. The effect of socio-economic gradient on the factor VIII-vWF complex, APC resistance, plasma viscosity and platelet count merits further study.

Dihydroartiminisin inhibits the growth and metastasis of epithelial ovarian cancer.

PubMed

Wu, Buchu; Hu, Ke; Li, Shu; Zhu, Jing; Gu, Liying; Shen, Haoran; Hambly, Brett D; Bao, Shisan; Di, Wen

2012-01-01

Dihydroartiminisin (DHA), the active component of a Chinese herb (Artemisia annua), has been utilised as an anti-malarial drug since ancient China. DHA has also been shown to inhibit proliferation of cancer in vitro. However, the capacity of DHA to inhibit the development of ovarian cancer is still unclear. The adhesion, invasion, and migration of human ovarian cancer cell line (HO8910PM) was determined following DHA treatment in vitro, using Matrigel coated plate, transwell membrane chamber, and wound healing models, respectively. A mouse ovarian cancer model was established by orthotopic inoculation of HO8910PM cell line in nude mice. The growth and metastasis in vivo was determined 8 weeks post-implantation in response to DHA treatment. The expression of phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase (pFAK) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) was evaluated using Western blotting. The expression of Von Willebrand factor (vWF) and infiltration of macrophages were determined, using immunohistochemistry. DHA inhibits ovarian cancer cell proliferation, adhesion, migration and invasion in vitro in a dose-dependent manner, consistent with decreased expression of pFAK and MMP-2, but not MMP-9. DHA inhibited metastasis significantly in vivo, associated with reduced vWF expression and macrophage infiltration. In conclusion, DHA inhibits the development of ovarian cancer, in part via down-regulating pFAK, MMP-2, vWF and macrophage infiltration.

High Precision Prediction of Functional Sites in Protein Structures

PubMed Central

Buturovic, Ljubomir; Wong, Mike; Tang, Grace W.; Altman, Russ B.; Petkovic, Dragutin

2014-01-01

We address the problem of assigning biological function to solved protein structures. Computational tools play a critical role in identifying potential active sites and informing screening decisions for further lab analysis. A critical parameter in the practical application of computational methods is the precision, or positive predictive value. Precision measures the level of confidence the user should have in a particular computed functional assignment. Low precision annotations lead to futile laboratory investigations and waste scarce research resources. In this paper we describe an advanced version of the protein function annotation system FEATURE, which achieved 99% precision and average recall of 95% across 20 representative functional sites. The system uses a Support Vector Machine classifier operating on the microenvironment of physicochemical features around an amino acid. We also compared performance of our method with state-of-the-art sequence-level annotator Pfam in terms of precision, recall and localization. To our knowledge, no other functional site annotator has been rigorously evaluated against these key criteria. The software and predictive models are incorporated into the WebFEATURE service at http://feature.stanford.edu/wf4.0-beta. PMID:24632601

Body temperature norms

MedlinePlus

Morrison SF. Regulation of body temperature. In: Boron WF, Boulpaep EL, eds. Medical Physiology . 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 59. Sajadi MM, Mackowiak PA. Temperature regulation and the pathogenesis ...

Photoelectron spectroscopic studies of ultra-thin CuPc layers on a Si(111)-(√3 × √3)R30°-B surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Menzli, S.; Laribi, A.; Mrezguia, H.; Arbi, I.; Akremi, A.; Chefi, C.; Chérioux, F.; Palmino, F.

2016-12-01

The adsorption of copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) molecules on Si(111)-(√3 × √3)R30°-B surface is investigated at room temperature under ultra-high vacuum. Crystallographic, chemical and electronic properties of the interface are investigated by low energy electron diffraction (LEED), ultraviolet and X-ray photoemission spectroscopies (UPS, XPS) and X-ray photoemission diffraction (XPD). LEED and XPD results shed light on the growth mechanism of CuPc on this substrate. At one monolayer coverage the growth mode was characterized by the formation of crystalline 3D nanoislands. The molecular packing deduced from this study appears very close to the one of the bulk CuPc α phase. The 3D islands are formed by molecules aligned in a standing manner. XPS core level spectra of the substrate reveal that there is no discernible chemical interaction between molecules and substrate. However there is charge transfer from molecules to the substrate. During the growth, the work function (WF) was found to decrease from 4.50 eV for the clean substrate to 3.70 eV for the highest coverage (30 monolayers). Within a thickness of two monolayers deposition, an interface dipole of 0.50 eV was found. A substrate band bending of 0.25 eV was deduced over all the range of exposure. UPS spectra indicate the existence of a band bending of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) of 0.30 eV. The changes in the work function, in the Fermi level position and in the onset of the molecular HOMO state have been used to determine the energy level alignment at the interface.

Development of Specialized Equipment to Measure Piezoelectric Coefficients of Polymer Piezoelectric Materials,

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-02-22

definition g.l = (Voc/t)(F/wt) = field/stress 2. C =KT K 1E w/t (parallel plate capacitdnce formula) ’. VL = Voc Cx’/CL for CL > Cx 4.v g/wF Kt Eoewlt...V = (g3 1 /w)F 2. V L =(Cg/c,.v oc 3. V =(Cg/CL)(g31/w)F 4. Vstd = "d3 3"/C std F 5. V L/ Vst d = (C /C ) (g ’)(C /"d " )Sg L 31 std 33 01. 6. R (in...34 and the second T " e’hicial Note No. 1 - Theory of the use of Channel Products (’DT (X() d., meteor to measure d31 direct.]y on Piezoelect.rlc Ceramic

The effects of ginsenoside Rb1 on endothelial damage and ghrelin expression induced by hyperhomocysteine.

PubMed

Xu, Zhiwei; Lan, Taohua; Wu, Weikang; Wu, Yiling

2011-01-01

Studies have indicated that ginsenoside Rb1 and ghrelin could both prevent homocysteine (Hcy)-induced endothelial dysfunction through the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)/nitric oxide (NO) mechanism. This study investigated whether endogenous ghrelin mediates the endothelial protection of ginsenosidee Rb1 through in vitro and in vivo experiments. Rats were randomized into a control group, a hyperhomocysteine (HHcy) model group with a high methionine diet, a ginsenosides (GS) group, and HHcy plus GS group. Plasma ghrelin was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Aortic rings for control and HHcy groups were treated with ghrelin or not. Endothelium-dependent vasodilatation function was evaluated by the aortic ring assay, and the structural changes were visualized by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured, and the experimental conditions were optimized according to NO production. After treatment, the NO, ghrelin, and von Willebrand factor (vWF) levels in the media were detected and analyzed with linear regression. Ghrelin and eNOS expression were observed by cell immunohistochemical staining. Ghrelin receptor antagonist was used to detect the mechanism of ginsenoside Rb1 on NO production, which was reflected by diacetylated 4,5-diaminofluorescein-2 diacetate fluorescence. In vivo experiments demonstrated that plasma ghrelin levels in the HHcy group were significantly elevated vs controls (P < .05) and were significantly increased in the HHcy plus GS group (P < .01). Compared with control, endothelium-dependent vasodilatation function was greatly reduced in the HHcy group (P < .01), which was significantly increased in HHcy plus ghrelin group compared with HHcy group (P < .01). The arterial walls of HHcy group exhibited characteristic pathologic changes, which were repaired in HHcy plus ghrelin group. In vivo, compared with Hcy (200 μM) group, HUVECs pretreated with ginsenoside Rb1 (10 μM) for 30 minutes showed significant increases in NO and ghrelin levels and evident reduction in vWF levels. Linear regression analysis demonstrated that ghrelin levels were significantly positively correlated with NO levels and significantly negatively correlated with vWF levels. The addition of Rb1 to Hcy also greatly reversed Hcy-induced downregulation of ghrelin and eNOS expression. Ghrelin inhibition significantly abolished the upregulation of NO levels induced by Rb1. Ghrelin can prevent Hcy-induced vascular endothelial dysfunction and structural damage. The compensatory elevation of plasma ghrelin levels in an Hcy-induced endothelial injury model may be a protective response. Ginsenoside Rb1 can significantly stimulate the ghrelin endocrine to inhibit endothelial injury. Ginsenoside also upregulates the NO signaling pathway reduced by Hcy through the ghrelin molecular mechanism. Copyright © 2011 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Flavivirus RNA Replication: Essential Viral Functions as Targets for Antiviral Therapeutics

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-04-30

therapeutics 5 S2P• SONAI . aUTl4Of4S) Marc S. Collett and JoAnn A. Suzich 138. TYPE OF REPORr 𔃽m, TME COVERED 14 DATE OF REPoRT IYfm ,oW,.Oav,-iy PAGE COUNT...H O N E ( A w h p o A m &• iC g a 2 2 c. O WF C E S Y M B O L Mrs. Virginia M. Miller 301,-663-7325 ..,) ....•• Z,. OOFom 1473, JUI NSE oet,, are tv...supernatant fraction, a particulate fraction (P20) was isolated by centrifugation at 20,000 x g . The P20 fraction contained nearly all of the viral RDRP

Implementing a geographical information system to assess endemic fluoride areas in Lamphun, Thailand

PubMed Central

Theerawasttanasiri, Nonthaphat; Taneepanichskul, Surasak; Pingchai, Wichain; Nimchareon, Yuwaree; Sriwichai, Sangworn

2018-01-01

Introduction Many studies have shown that fluoride can cross the placenta and that exposure to high fluoride during pregnancy may result in premature birth and/or a low birth weight. Lamphun is one of six provinces in Thailand where natural water fluoride (WF) concentrations >10.0 mg/L were found, and it was also found that >50% of households used water with high fluoride levels. Nevertheless, geographical information system (GIS) and maps of endemic fluoride areas are lacking. We aimed to measure the fluoride level of village water supplies to assess endemic fluoride areas and present GIS with maps in Google Maps. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted from July 2016 to January 2017. Purpose sampling was used to identify villages of districts with WF >10.0 mg/L in the Mueang Lamphun, Pasang, and Ban Thi districts. Water samples were collected with the geolocation measured by Smart System Info. Fluoride was analyzed with an ion-selective electrode instrument using a total ionic strength adjustment buffer. WF >0.70 mg/L was used to identify unsafe drinking water and areas with high endemic fluoride levels. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the findings, and MS Excel was used to create the GIS database. Maps were created in Google Earth and presented in Google Maps. Results We found that WF concentrations ranged between 0.10–13.60 mg/L. Forty-four percent (n=439) of samples were at unsafe levels (>0.70 mg/L), and. 54% (n=303) of villages and 46% (n=79,807) of households used the unsafe drinking water. Fifty percent (n=26) of subdistricts were classified as being endemic fluoride areas. Five subdistricts were endemic fluoride areas, and in those, there were two subdistricts in which every household used unsafe drinking water. Conclusion These findings show the distribution of endemic fluoride areas and unsafe drinking water in Lamphun. This is useful for health policy authorities, local governments, and villagers and enables collaboration to resolve these issues. The GIS data are available at https://drive.google.com/open?id=1mi4Pvomf5xHZ1MQjK44pdp2xXFw&usp=sharing. PMID:29398924

Enhancing Next-Generation Sequencing-Guided Cancer Care Through Cognitive Computing.

PubMed

Patel, Nirali M; Michelini, Vanessa V; Snell, Jeff M; Balu, Saianand; Hoyle, Alan P; Parker, Joel S; Hayward, Michele C; Eberhard, David A; Salazar, Ashley H; McNeillie, Patrick; Xu, Jia; Huettner, Claudia S; Koyama, Takahiko; Utro, Filippo; Rhrissorrakrai, Kahn; Norel, Raquel; Bilal, Erhan; Royyuru, Ajay; Parida, Laxmi; Earp, H Shelton; Grilley-Olson, Juneko E; Hayes, D Neil; Harvey, Stephen J; Sharpless, Norman E; Kim, William Y

2018-02-01

Using next-generation sequencing (NGS) to guide cancer therapy has created challenges in analyzing and reporting large volumes of genomic data to patients and caregivers. Specifically, providing current, accurate information on newly approved therapies and open clinical trials requires considerable manual curation performed mainly by human "molecular tumor boards" (MTBs). The purpose of this study was to determine the utility of cognitive computing as performed by Watson for Genomics (WfG) compared with a human MTB. One thousand eighteen patient cases that previously underwent targeted exon sequencing at the University of North Carolina (UNC) and subsequent analysis by the UNCseq informatics pipeline and the UNC MTB between November 7, 2011, and May 12, 2015, were analyzed with WfG, a cognitive computing technology for genomic analysis. Using a WfG-curated actionable gene list, we identified additional genomic events of potential significance (not discovered by traditional MTB curation) in 323 (32%) patients. The majority of these additional genomic events were considered actionable based upon their ability to qualify patients for biomarker-selected clinical trials. Indeed, the opening of a relevant clinical trial within 1 month prior to WfG analysis provided the rationale for identification of a new actionable event in nearly a quarter of the 323 patients. This automated analysis took <3 minutes per case. These results demonstrate that the interpretation and actionability of somatic NGS results are evolving too rapidly to rely solely on human curation. Molecular tumor boards empowered by cognitive computing could potentially improve patient care by providing a rapid, comprehensive approach for data analysis and consideration of up-to-date availability of clinical trials. The results of this study demonstrate that the interpretation and actionability of somatic next-generation sequencing results are evolving too rapidly to rely solely on human curation. Molecular tumor boards empowered by cognitive computing can significantly improve patient care by providing a fast, cost-effective, and comprehensive approach for data analysis in the delivery of precision medicine. Patients and physicians who are considering enrollment in clinical trials may benefit from the support of such tools applied to genomic data. © AlphaMed Press 2017.

The orbit and size distribution of small Solar System objects orbiting the Sun interior to the Earth's orbit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zavodny, Maximilian; Jedicke, Robert; Beshore, Edward C.; Bernardi, Fabrizio; Larson, Stephen

2008-12-01

We present the first observational measurement of the orbit and size distribution of small Solar System objects whose orbits are wholly interior to the Earth's (Inner Earth Objects, IEOs, with aphelion <0.983 AU). We show that we are able to model the detections of near-Earth objects (NEO) by the Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) using a detailed parameterization of the CSS survey cadence and detection efficiencies as implemented within the Jedicke et al. [Jedicke, R., Morbidelli, A., Spahr, T., Petit, J.M., Bottke, W.F., 2003. Icarus 161, 17-33] survey simulator and utilizing the Bottke et al. [Bottke, W.F., Morbidelli, A., Jedicke, R., Petit, J.-M., Levison, H.F., Michel, P., Metcalfe, T.S., 2002. Icarus 156, 399-433] model of the NEO population's size and orbit distribution. We then show that the CSS detections of 4 IEOs are consistent with the Bottke et al. [Bottke, W.F., Morbidelli, A., Jedicke, R., Petit, J.-M., Levison, H.F., Michel, P., Metcalfe, T.S., 2002. Icarus 156, 399-433] IEO model. Observational selection effects for the IEOs discovered by the CSS were then determined using the survey simulator in order to calculate the corrected number and H distribution of the IEOs. The actual number of IEOs with H<18 (21) is 36±26 ( 530±240) and the slope of the H magnitude distribution ( ∝10) for the IEOs is α=0.44-0.22+0.23. The slope is consistent with previous measurements for the NEO population of α=0.35±0.02 [Bottke, W.F., Morbidelli, A., Jedicke, R., Petit, J.-M., Levison, H.F., Michel, P., Metcalfe, T.S., 2002. Icarus 156, 399-433] and α=0.39±0.013 [Stuart, J.S., Binzel, R.P., 2004. Icarus 170, 295-311]. Based on the agreement between the predicted and observed IEO orbit and absolute magnitude distributions there is no indication of any non-gravitational effects (e.g. Yarkovsky, tidal disruption) affecting the known IEO population.

Carbon sequestration in dryland soils and plant residue as influenced by tillage and crop rotation.

PubMed

Sainju, Upendra M; Lenssen, Andrew; Caesar-Thonthat, Thecan; Waddell, Jed

2006-01-01

Long-term use of conventional tillage and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-fallow systems in the northern Great Plains have resulted in low soil organic carbon (SOC) levels. We examined the effects of two tillage practices [conventional till (CT) and no-till (NT)], five crop rotations [continuous spring wheat (CW), spring wheat-fallow (W-F), spring wheat-lentil (Lens culinaris Medic.) (W-L), spring wheat-spring wheat-fallow (W-W-F), and spring wheat-pea (Pisum sativum L.)-fallow (W-P-F)], and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) planting on plant C input, SOC, and particulate organic carbon (POC). A field experiment was conducted in a mixture of Scobey clay loam (fine-loamy, mixed, Aridic Argiborolls) and Kevin clay loam (fine, montmorillonitic, Aridic Argiborolls) from 1998 to 2003 in Havre, MT. Total plant biomass returned to the soil from 1998 to 2003 was greater in CW (15.5 Mg ha(-1)) than in other rotations. Residue cover, amount, and C content in 2004 were 33 to 86% greater in NT than in CT and greater in CRP than in crop rotations. Residue amount (2.47 Mg ha(-1)) and C content (0.96 Mg ha(-1)) were greater in NT with CW than in other treatments, except in CT with CRP and W-F and in NT with CRP and W-W-F. The SOC at the 0- to 5-cm depth was 23% greater in NT (6.4 Mg ha(-1)) than in CT. The POC was not influenced by tillage and crop rotation, but POC to SOC ratio at the 0- to 20-cm depth was greater in NT with W-L (369 g kg(-1) SOC) than in CT with CW, W-F, and W-L. From 1998 to 2003, SOC at the 0- to 20-cm depth decreased by 4% in CT but increased by 3% in NT. Carbon can be sequestered in dryland soils and plant residue in areas previously under CRP using reduced tillage and increased cropping intensity, such as NT with CW, compared with traditional practice, such as CT with W-F system, and the content can be similar to that in CRP planting.

Implementing a geographical information system to assess endemic fluoride areas in Lamphun, Thailand.

PubMed

Theerawasttanasiri, Nonthaphat; Taneepanichskul, Surasak; Pingchai, Wichain; Nimchareon, Yuwaree; Sriwichai, Sangworn

2018-01-01

Many studies have shown that fluoride can cross the placenta and that exposure to high fluoride during pregnancy may result in premature birth and/or a low birth weight. Lamphun is one of six provinces in Thailand where natural water fluoride (WF) concentrations >10.0 mg/L were found, and it was also found that >50% of households used water with high fluoride levels. Nevertheless, geographical information system (GIS) and maps of endemic fluoride areas are lacking. We aimed to measure the fluoride level of village water supplies to assess endemic fluoride areas and present GIS with maps in Google Maps. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from July 2016 to January 2017. Purpose sampling was used to identify villages of districts with WF >10.0 mg/L in the Mueang Lamphun, Pasang, and Ban Thi districts. Water samples were collected with the geolocation measured by Smart System Info. Fluoride was analyzed with an ion-selective electrode instrument using a total ionic strength adjustment buffer. WF >0.70 mg/L was used to identify unsafe drinking water and areas with high endemic fluoride levels. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the findings, and MS Excel was used to create the GIS database. Maps were created in Google Earth and presented in Google Maps. We found that WF concentrations ranged between 0.10-13.60 mg/L. Forty-four percent (n=439) of samples were at unsafe levels (>0.70 mg/L), and. 54% (n=303) of villages and 46% (n=79,807) of households used the unsafe drinking water. Fifty percent (n=26) of subdistricts were classified as being endemic fluoride areas. Five subdistricts were endemic fluoride areas, and in those, there were two subdistricts in which every household used unsafe drinking water. These findings show the distribution of endemic fluoride areas and unsafe drinking water in Lamphun. This is useful for health policy authorities, local governments, and villagers and enables collaboration to resolve these issues. The GIS data are available at https://drive.google.com/open?id=1mi4Pvomf5xHZ1MQjK44pdp2xXFw&usp=sharing.

Investigation of the shape transferability of nanoscale multi-tip diamond tools in the diamond turning of nanostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, Xichun; Tong, Zhen; Liang, Yingchun

2014-12-01

In this article, the shape transferability of using nanoscale multi-tip diamond tools in the diamond turning for scale-up manufacturing of nanostructures has been demonstrated. Atomistic multi-tip diamond tool models were built with different tool geometries in terms of the difference in the tip cross-sectional shape, tip angle, and the feature of tool tip configuration, to determine their effect on the applied forces and the machined nano-groove geometries. The quality of machined nanostructures was characterized by the thickness of the deformed layers and the dimensional accuracy achieved. Simulation results show that diamond turning using nanoscale multi-tip tools offers tremendous shape transferability in machining nanostructures. Both periodic and non-periodic nano-grooves with different cross-sectional shapes can be successfully fabricated using the multi-tip tools. A hypothesis of minimum designed ratio of tool tip distance to tip base width (L/Wf) of the nanoscale multi-tip diamond tool for the high precision machining of nanostructures was proposed based on the analytical study of the quality of the nanostructures fabricated using different types of the multi-tip tools. Nanometric cutting trials using nanoscale multi-tip diamond tools (different in L/Wf) fabricated by focused ion beam (FIB) were then conducted to verify the hypothesis. The investigations done in this work imply the potential of using the nanoscale multi-tip diamond tool for the deterministic fabrication of period and non-periodic nanostructures, which opens up the feasibility of using the process as a versatile manufacturing technique in nanotechnology.

Microwave digestion preparation and ICP determination of boron in human plasma

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ferrando, A. A.; Green, N. R.; Barnes, K. W.; Woodward, B.

1993-01-01

A microwave digestion procedure, followed by Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma Spectroscopy, is described for the determination of boron (B) in human plasma. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) currently does not certify the concentration of B in any substance. The NIST citrus leaves 1572 (CL) Standard Reference Material (SRM) and wheat flour 1567a (WF) were chosen to determine the efficacy of digestion. CL and WF values compare favorably to those obtained from an open-vessel, wet digestion followed by ICP, and by neutron activation and mass spectrometric measurements. Plasma samples were oxidized by doubled-distilled ultrapure HNO3 in 120 mL PFA Teflon vessels. An MDS-81D microwave digestion procedure allows for rapid and relatively precise determination of B in human plasma, while limiting handling hazards and sources of contamination.

Updates on Search for Correlations Between Sprites and TGFs By Goddard Robotic Telescope Wide Field (GRT-WF)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Watanabe, K.; Alaniz, S.; Sakamoto, T.; Okajima, T.; Gehrels, N.; Chagnon, H.; Atkins, C.; Keefe, K.; Gutierrez, K.

2016-12-01

Although several theoretical explanations for Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes (TGFs) exist, we still do not clearly understand the cause of the phenomena. On the other hand, free electrons in the Earth atmosphere produce lightnings (under the TGF regions) as well as sprites (above the TGF regions) . We have been studying possible connections between sprites and TGFs. We constructed Goddard Robotic Telescope - Wide Field (GRT-WF) in June 2011, which is composed of seven wide field optical camera located at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) in Fort Myers, FL, to observe sprites in all the directions of the sky. We have recorded over 600 sprites so far, and studied possible associations with TGFs detected by NASA's Fermi/GBM and RHESSI. We will present the current status of our study.

Blue and grey water footprint of textile industry in China.

PubMed

Wang, Laili; Ding, Xuemei; Wu, Xiongying

2013-01-01

Water footprint (WF) is a newly developed idea that indicates impacts of freshwater appropriation and wastewater discharge. The textile industry is one of the oldest, longest and most complicated industrial chains in the world's manufacturing industries. However, the textile industry is also water intensive. In this paper, we applied a bottom-up approach to estimate the direct blue water footprint (WFdir,blue) and direct grey water footprint (WFdir,grey) of China's textile industry at sector level based on WF methodology. The results showed that WFdir,blue of China's textile industry had an increasing trend from 2001 to 2010. The annual WFdir,blue surpassed 0.92 Gm(3)/yr (giga cubic meter a year) since 2004 and rose to peak value of 1.09 Gm(3)/yr in 2007. The original and residuary WFdir,grey (both were calculated based on the concentration of chemical oxygen demand (CODCr)) of China's textile industry had a similar variation trend with that of WFdir,blue. Among the three sub-sectors of China's textile industry, the manufacture of textiles sector's annual WFdir,blue and WFdir,grey were much larger than those of the manufacture of textile wearing apparel, footware and caps sector and the manufacture of chemical fibers sector. The intensities of WFdir,blue and WF(res)dir,grey of China's textile industry were year by year decreasing through the efforts of issuing restriction policies on freshwater use and wastewater generation and discharge, and popularization of water saving and wastewater treatment technologies.

Grey water on three agricultural catchments in the Czech Republic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blazkova, Sarka D.; Kulasova, Alena

2014-05-01

The COST project EU EURO-AGRIWAT focuses apart from other problems on the assessment of water footprint (WF). WF is defined as the quantity of water used to produce some goods or a service. In particular, the WF of an agricultural product is the volume of water used during the crop growing period. It has three components: the green water which is rain or soil moisture transpired by a crop, the blue water which is the amount of irrigation water transpired and the grey water which is the volume of water required to dilute pollutants and to restore the quality standards of the water body. We have been observing three different agricultural catchments. The first of them is Smrzovka Brook, located in the protected nature area in the south part of the Jizerske Mountains. An ecological farming has been carried out there. The second agricultural catchment area is the Kralovsky Creek, which lies in the foothills of the Krkonose Mountains and is a part of an agricultural cooperative. The last agricultural catchment is the Klejnarka stream, located on the outskirts of the fertile Elbe lowlands near Caslav. Catchments Kralovsky Brook and Klejnarka carry out usual agricultural activities. On all three catchments, however, recreational cottages or houses not connected to the sewerage system and/or with inefficient septic tanks occur. The contribution shows our approach to trying to quantify the real grey water from agriculture, i.e. the grey water caused by nutrients not utilised by the crops.

Polymer-Based Reconstruction of the Inferior Vena Cava in Rat: Stem Cells or RGD Peptide?

PubMed Central

Pontailler, Margaux; Illangakoon, Eranka; Williams, Gareth R.; Marijon, Camille; Bellamy, Valérie; Balvay, Daniel; Autret, Gwenhael; Vanneaux, Valérie; Larghero, Jérôme; Planat-Benard, Valérie; Perier, Marie-Cécile; Bruneval, Patrick; Menasché, Philippe

2015-01-01

As part of a program targeted at developing a resorbable valved tube for replacement of the right ventricular outflow tract, we compared three biopolymers (polyurethane [PU], polyhydroxyalkanoate (the poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate-co-4-hydroxyvalerate) [PHBVV]), and polydioxanone [PDO]) and two biofunctionalization techniques (using adipose-derived stem cells [ADSCs] or the arginine-glycine-aspartate [RGD] peptide) in a rat model of partial inferior vena cava (IVC) replacement. Fifty-three Wistar rats first underwent partial replacement of the IVC with an acellular electrospun PDO, PU, or PHBVV patch, and 31 nude rats subsequently underwent the same procedure using a PDO patch biofunctionalized either by ADSC or RGD. Results were assessed both in vitro (proliferation and survival of ADSC seeded onto the different materials) and in vivo by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), histology, immunohistochemistry [against markers of vascular cells (von Willebrand factor [vWF], smooth muscle actin [SMA]), and macrophages ([ED1 and ED2] immunostaining)], and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA; for the expression of various cytokines and inducible NO synthase). PDO showed the best in vitro properties. Six weeks after implantation, MRI did not detect significant luminal changes in any group. All biopolymers were evenly lined by vWF-positive cells, but only PDO and PHBVV showed a continuous layer of SMA-positive cells at 3 months. PU patches resulted in a marked granulomatous inflammatory reaction. The ADSC and RGD biofunctionalization yielded similar outcomes. These data confirm the good biocompatibility of PDO and support the concept that appropriately peptide-functionalized polymers may be successfully substituted for cell-loaded materials. PMID:25611092

Comparison of skin microvascular reactivity with hemostatic markers of endothelial dysfunction and damage in type 2 diabetes

PubMed Central

Beer, Sandra; Feihl, François; Ruiz, Juan; Juhan-Vague, Irène; Aillaud, Marie-Françoise; Wetzel, Sandrine Golay; Liaudet, Lucas; Gaillard, Rolf C; Waeber, Bernard

2008-01-01

Aim: Patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) are at increased cardiovascular risk due to an accelerated atherosclerotic process. The present study aimed to compare skin microvascular function, pulse wave velocity (PWV), and a variety of hemostatic markers of endothelium injury [von Willebrand factor (vWF), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), and the soluble form of thrombomodulin (s-TM)] in patients with NIDDM. Methods: 54 patients with NIDDM and 38 sex- and age-matched controls were studied. 27 diabetics had no overt micro- and/or macrovascular complications, while the remainder had either or both. The forearm skin blood flow was assessed by laser-Doppler imaging, which allowed the measurement of the response to iontophoretically applied acetylcholine (endothelium-dependent vasodilation) and sodium nitroprusside (endothelium-independent vasodilation), as well as the reactive hyperemia triggered by the transient occlusion of the circulation. Results: Both endothelial and non-endothelial reactivity were significantly blunted in diabetics, regardless of the presence or the absence of vascular complications. Plasma vWF, TFPI and s-TM levels were significantly increased compared with controls only in patients exhibiting vascular complications. Concentrations of t-PA and PAI-1 were significantly increased in the two groups of diabetics versus controls. Conclusion: In NIDDM, both endothelium-dependent and -independent microvascular skin reactivity are impaired, whether or not underlying vascular complications exist. It also appears that microvascular endothelial dysfunction is not necessarily associated in NIDDM with increased circulating levels of hemostatic markers of endothelial damage known to reflect a hypercoagulable state. PMID:19337558

Method for transmittance measurements in sunglasses for a kiosk

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mello, Marcio M.; Figueiredo, M.; Konda, R. A.; Ventura, Liliane

2013-03-01

Light transmittance measurements through sunglasses lenses is one of the required tests of the Brazilian Standard NBR15111(2004). Its measurement establishes the category of the sample and determines the required ultraviolet, visible and infrared protection, as well as the attenuation coefficient for signal light recognition. However, these measurements are usually performed by spectrophotometers and educated users, who are acknowledged to manage the equipment, use the weighting functions (WF) and interpret the data. We propose an alternative method, which consists in having matching optics and electronics to obtain a close WF to be used in transmittance measurements, and create an accessible device, for public self-use, providing a simple way for measuring and educating the public about sunglasses protection. Measurements were made in 30 samples for UV test, performed for the 280 - 400nm range, where UVA and UVB light sources and two photodiode sensors with Erythema action response are assembled, and for traffic signal a visible light sensor was used with spectral human eye response and different LEDs. As for the visible test, the visible light sensor was used for different light sources: incandescent, fluorescent, and a set of LEDs, while the infrared test is performed by several LEDs that provide the 780 - 2000nm range, and an infrared sensor. For these tests, only the samples spectrum were used. The transmittances were within the deviation limit required by NBR15111. The results have led us to build a self service kiosk for public use providing the category, UV protection and IR protection of the sunglasses as well as the information regarding its use for driving.

Unravelling the secrets of Cs controlled secondary ion formation: Evidence of the dominance of site specific surface chemistry, alloying and ionic bonding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wittmaack, Klaus

2013-03-01

Exposure of ion bombarded solids to Cs gives rise to a very strong enhancement of the yields of negatively charged secondary ions and, concurrently, to a lowering of positive ion yields. The phenomena have been explored in a large number of experimental and theoretical studies but attempts to clarify the mechanism of ion formation were not as successful as assumed. This review examines the state of the art in Cs controlled secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) in great detail, with due consideration of low-energy alkali-ion scattering. In very basic studies on alkali induced secondary ion yield changes, sub-monolayer quantities of Cs or Li were deposited on the sample surface, followed by low-fluence ion bombardment, to avoid significant damage. If SIMS is applied to characterise the composition of solid materials, the simplest approach to achieving sample erosion as well as high negative-ion yields is bombardment with primary ions of Cs. Two other methods of sample loading with Cs provide more flexibility, (i) exposure to a collimated beam of Cs vapour and concurrent bombardment with high-energy non-Cs ions and (ii) the mixed-beam approach involving quasi-simultaneous bombardment with Cs and Xe ions. Both concepts have the advantage that undesirable sample overload with Cs can be avoided. High Cs concentrations reduce the formation probability of target specific molecular ions and lower the yields of all types of positive secondary ions, including Cs+, M+, X+, MCs+ and XCs+ (M and X denoting matrix and impurity elements). Quantitative SIMS analysis using MCs+ and XCs+ ions appears feasible, provided the Cs coverage is kept below about 5%. The semi-classical model of resonant charge transfer, also known as the tunnelling model, has long been considered a solid framework for the interpretation of Cs and Li based SIMS data. The model predicts ionisation probabilities for cases in which, at shallow distances from the surface, the affinity (ionisation) level of the departing atom is shifted below (above) the Fermi level. Ion yields should be controlled by the work function (WF) of the sample, Φ, and the normal velocity of the ejected ions. To explore the predicted velocity dependence, the performance characteristics of the employed SIMS instrument need to be known. The Cs induced negative-ion yield enhancement observed with pure metal and alloy targets often exceeded five orders of magnitude, with enhancement factors essentially independent of the emission energy. This absence of a velocity dependence is at variance with the predictions of the tunnelling model. Previous theoretical attempts to model the Φ-dependence and the apparent velocity effect for the overrated case of O-emission from Li and Cs exposed oxidised metal surfaces must be considered a meander. The experimental data, recorded with a quadrupole based instrument of inadequate extraction geometry, may alternatively be rationalised in terms of alkali induced changes in the energy spectrum of sputtered atoms. Another important finding is that secondary ion yield changes do not correlate with the absolute magnitude of the (macroscopic) WF but often with WF changes, ΔΦ. The frequently used method of determining ΔΦ in situ from the shift of the leading edge of secondary ion energy spectra rests on the assumption, taken for granted or not even appreciated, that Cs induced yield changes are independent of the ion's emission velocity. Hence the approach is only applicable if the tunnelling model is not valid. The local character of alkali induced WF changes, which might provide a route to an understanding of previously unexplained phenomena, has been explored using photoemission of adsorbed inert gases, scanning tunneling microscopy and low-energy ion scattering spectrometry. At room temperature, the Cs coverage is limited to one layer of adatoms. Close similarities are identified between WF changes generated by Cs vapour deposition and by bombardment with Cs ions. This finding implies that sub-monolayer quantities of Cs adatoms grow at the surface of Cs bombarded samples. The process has been studied in-situ by medium-energy ion scattering spectrometry. The stationary Cs coverage, NCs, is controlled by the efficiency of active transport of implanted atoms to the surface, the bulk retention properties of the sample and the cross section for sputtering of adatoms. Unearthing immobile implanted Cs atoms by sputter erosion usually provides only a minor contribution to the stationary coverage. Cs adatoms are mobile; the time required for final adatom rearrangement may be on the order of minutes at room temperature. Exposure of Cs bombarded samples to oxygen gives rise to oxidation of the substrate as well as to the formation of oxide layers of complex composition. Intercalation should be taken into account as a possible route of alkali transport into analysed samples. An important aspect ignored in prior work is that the alkali coverage required to produce a certain WF change is five to seven times higher if Li is deposited instead of Cs. Studies involving the use of Li thus provide no advantage compared to Cs. Furthermore, migration of the tiny Li atoms into the sample and metallisation effects aggrevate data interpretation. Literature data for ΔΦ (NCs), measured using Cs vapour deposition, can be converted to calibration curves, NCs (ΔΦ), for calculating the coverage established in implantation studies, a method referred to as ΔΦ→NCs conversion. This concept may be carried even further, as shown convincingly for silicon, the material examined most frequently in basic SIMS studies: Si- ion fractions, P(Si-), derived from yields measured under vastly different conditions of Cs supply, exhibit essentially the same ΔΦ dependence. Inverting the data one can produce calibration functions for ΔΦ versus P(Si-), denoted P(Si-)→ΔΦ, or, more generally, P(M-)→ΔΦ conversion. On this basis, transient yields measured during Cs implantation can be evaluated as a function of Cs coverage. The summarised results imply that secondary ions are commonly not formed by charge transfer between an escaping atom and the electronic system of the sample but are already emitted as ions. The probability of ion formation appears to be controlled by the local ionic character of the alkali-target atom bonds, i.e., by the difference in electronegativity between the involved elements as well as by the electron affinity and the ionisation potential of the departing atom. This idea is supported by the finding that Si- yields exhibit the same very strong dependence on Cs coverage as Si+ and O- yields on the oxygen fraction in oxygen loaded Si. Most challenging to theoreticians is the finding that the ionisation probability is independent of the emission velocity of sputtered ions. This phenomenon cannot be rationalised along established routes of thinking. Different concepts need to be explored. An old, somewhat exotic idea takes account of the heavy perturbation created for a very short period of time at the site of ion emission (dynamic randomisation). Molecular dynamics simulations are desirable to clarify the issue. Ultimately it may be possible to describe all phenomena of enhanced or suppressed secondary ion formation, produced either by surface loading with alkali atoms or by enforced surface oxidation, on the basis of a single universal model. There is plenty of room for exciting new studies.

47 CFR 69.401 - Direct expenses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... elements in the same proportions as the combined investment in COE, IOT, and C&WF apportioned to each... shall be deemed to be associated with § 69.303(b) IOT investment for purposes of the apportionment...

47 CFR 69.401 - Direct expenses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... elements in the same proportions as the combined investment in COE, IOT, and C&WF apportioned to each... shall be deemed to be associated with § 69.303(b) IOT investment for purposes of the apportionment...

47 CFR 69.401 - Direct expenses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... elements in the same proportions as the combined investment in COE, IOT, and C&WF apportioned to each... shall be deemed to be associated with § 69.303(b) IOT investment for purposes of the apportionment...

47 CFR 69.401 - Direct expenses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... elements in the same proportions as the combined investment in COE, IOT, and C&WF apportioned to each... shall be deemed to be associated with § 69.303(b) IOT investment for purposes of the apportionment...

47 CFR 69.401 - Direct expenses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... elements in the same proportions as the combined investment in COE, IOT, and C&WF apportioned to each... shall be deemed to be associated with § 69.303(b) IOT investment for purposes of the apportionment...

Widely Applicable n-Type Molecular Doping for Enhanced Photovoltaic Performance of All-Polymer Solar Cells.

PubMed

Xu, Yalong; Yuan, Jianyu; Sun, Jianxia; Zhang, Yannan; Ling, Xufeng; Wu, Haihua; Zhang, Guobing; Chen, Junmei; Wang, Yongjie; Ma, Wanli

2018-01-24

A widely applicable doping design for emerging nonfullerene solar cells would be an efficient strategy in order to further improve device photovoltaic performance. Herein, a family of compound TBAX (TBA= tetrabutylammonium, X = F, Cl, Br, or I, containing Lewis base anions are considered as efficient n-dopants for improving polymer-polymer solar cells (all-PSCs) performance. In all cases, significantly increased fill factor (FF) and slightly increased short-circuit current density (J sc ) are observed, leading to a best PCE of 7.0% for all-PSCs compared to that of 5.8% in undoped devices. The improvement may be attributed to interaction between different anions X - (X = F, Cl, Br, and I) in TBAX with the polymer acceptor. We reveal that adding TBAX at relatively low content does not have a significantly impact on blend morphology, while it can reduce the work function (WF) of the electron acceptor. We find this simple and solution processable n-type doping can efficiently restrain charge recombination in all-polymer solar cell devices, resulting in improved FF and J sc. More importantly, our findings may provide new protocles and insights using n-type molecular dopants in improving the performance of current polymer-polymer solar cells.

Synergetic Influences of Mixed-Host Emitting Layer Structures and Hole Injection Layers on Efficiency and Lifetime of Simplified Phosphorescent Organic Light-Emitting Diodes.

PubMed

Han, Tae-Hee; Kim, Young-Hoon; Kim, Myung Hwan; Song, Wonjun; Lee, Tae-Woo

2016-03-09

We used various nondestructive analyses to investigate various host material systems in the emitting layer (EML) of simple-structured, green phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) to clarify how the host systems affect its luminous efficiency (LE) and operational stability. An OLED that has a unipolar single-host EML with conventional poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) ( PSS) showed high operating voltage, low LE (∼26.6 cd/A, 13.7 lm/W), and short lifetime (∼4.4 h @ 1000 cd/m(2)). However, the combined use of a gradient mixed-host EML and a molecularly controlled HIL that has increased surface work function (WF) remarkably decreased operating voltage and improved LE (∼68.7 cd/A, 77.0 lm/W) and lifetime (∼70.7 h @ 1000 cd/m(2)). Accumulated charges at the injecting interfaces and formation of a narrow recombination zone close to the interfaces are the major factors that accelerate degradation of charge injection/transport and electroluminescent properties of OLEDs, so achievement of simple-structured OLEDs with high efficiency and long lifetime requires facilitating charge injection and balanced transport into the EML and distributing charge carriers and excitons in EML.

One-Pot Large-Scale Synthesis of Carbon Quantum Dots: Efficient Cathode Interlayers for Polymer Solar Cells.

PubMed

Yang, Yuzhao; Lin, Xiaofeng; Li, Wenlang; Ou, Jiemei; Yuan, Zhongke; Xie, Fangyan; Hong, Wei; Yu, Dingshan; Ma, Yuguang; Chi, Zhenguo; Chen, Xudong

2017-05-03

Cathode interlayers (CILs) with low-cost, low-toxicity, and excellent cathode modification ability are necessary for the large-scale industrialization of polymer solar cells (PSCs). In this contribution, we demonstrated one-pot synthesized carbon quantum dots (C-dots) with high production to serve as efficient CIL for inverted PSCs. The C-dots were synthesized by a facile, economical microwave pyrolysis in a household microwave oven within 7 min. Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) studies showed that the C-dots possessed the ability to form a dipole at the interface, resulting in the decrease of the work function (WF) of cathode. External quantum efficiency (EQE) measurements and 2D excitation-emission topographical maps revealed that the C-dots down-shifted the high energy near-ultraviolet light to low energy visible light to generate more photocurrent. Remarkably improvement of power conversion efficiency (PCE) was attained by incorporation of C-dots as CIL. The PCE was boosted up from 4.14% to 8.13% with C-dots as CIL, which is one of the best efficiency for i-PSCs used carbon based materials as interlayers. These results demonstrated that C-dots can be a potential candidate for future low cost and large area PSCs producing.

RODENT RESISTANT CABLE MATERIALS.

DTIC Science & Technology

Several formulations of organotin compounds in polymeric materials were evaluated for application to polyethylene cable coatings. Tributyltin ...test the effectiveness of this formulation in protecting treated WF-16 cable from rodent damage. In a laboratory test vapors of tributyltin chloride

A new telescope concept for space communication

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Henneberg, Peter; Schubert, Hermann

1990-07-01

The design concept of an optical transmit-receive antenna telescope developed in the framework of the ESA SILEX program is presented. SILEX involves optical communication between satellites in GEO, using semiconductor laser diodes operating at 825 nm as the light source. The telescope requirements include entrance diameter 250 mm, exit pupil 8 mm, acquisition FOV 8500 microrad, communication FOV 2000 microrad, angular magnification -31.25, retroreflection 3 microW/sq m nm or less, stray light 1.05 microW/sq m nm or less, and alignment stability 10 years with no refocusing in orbit. The present compact two-mirror configuration employs the glass-ceramic Zerodur for all of the major components (primary mirror/baseplate, secondary mirror, tube, front ring, and ocular) for a total mass of only 5760 g. The prototype manufacturing process gave surface errors of 25 nm rms-WF for the primary and 15 nm rms-WF for the secondary.

A Large Number of Sprites from an Isolated Storm System in January in South West FL

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Watanabe, K.; Atkins, C.; Chagnon, H.; Alaniz, S.; Sakamoto, T.; Okajima, T.; Hata, Y.; Yokosuga, F.; Yamamoto, A.

2017-12-01

Goddard Robotic Telescope - Wide Field (GRT-WF) was built in June 2011 as a sister instrument of GRT which is located at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD. GRT-WF utilizes seven wide field optical cameras located at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) in Fort Myers, FL, to observe sprites in all the directions of the sky. Our primary goal is to study possible associations of sprites with TGFs (Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes), and we have detected 700 sprites so far. In this presentation, however, we report unique sprite events which occurred in January 2012. Although we hardly have thunderstorms in January in South West FL, we detected 70 sprites from an isolated storm system traveling in the Gulf of Mexico region over a single night. This is the first time we observed such dense sprite events. We will report the detailed properties of these sprites.

Weathering Characteristics of Wood Plastic Composites Reinforced with Extracted or Delignified Wood Flour

PubMed Central

Chen, Yao; Stark, Nicole M.; Tshabalala, Mandla A.; Gao, Jianmin; Fan, Yongming

2016-01-01

This study investigated weathering performance of an HDPE wood plastic composite reinforced with extracted or delignified wood flour (WF). The wood flour was pre-extracted with three different solvents, toluene/ethanol (TE), acetone/water (AW), and hot water (HW), or sodium chlorite/acetic acid. The spectral properties of the composites before and after artificial weathering under accelerated conditions were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, the surface color parameters were analyzed using colorimetry, and the mechanical properties were determined by a flexural test. Weathering of WPC resulted in a surface lightening and a decrease in wood index (wood/HDPE) and flexural strength. WPCs that were reinforced with delignified wood flour showed higher ΔL* and ΔE* values, together with lower MOE and MOR retention ratios upon weathering when compared to those with non-extracted control and extracted WF. PMID:28773732

Development of low-fat and low-calorie beef sausage using modified starch as fat replacement agent.

PubMed

Mohammadi, Mehrdad; Oghabi, Firouz

2012-04-01

The effects of modified waxy maize starch (MWMS, 10-32.5 g kg(-1)) as a replacement for varying levels of oil or both oil and wheat flour (WF) on the chemical and technological characteristics of 60% beef sausages were investigated. Addition of MWMS increased water-holding capacity and decreased moisture content and both cooking and purge losses. Incorporation of MWMS improved organoleptic acceptance compared with control sausages. Sausage formula 5 (F5), containing 20 g kg(-1) MWMS and 50 g kg(-1) WF, was better (P < 0.05) than all other formulae. The total caloric content of the sausages decreased significantly with decreasing fat level (P < 0.05); for example, the decrease in fat content of 57.4% in F5 led to a significant decrease in energy value of 34.9% (P < 0.05). Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry.

Thrombus Formation at High Shear Rates.

PubMed

Casa, Lauren D C; Ku, David N

2017-06-21

The final common pathway in myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke is occlusion of blood flow from a thrombus forming under high shear rates in arteries. A high-shear thrombus forms rapidly and is distinct from the slow formation of coagulation that occurs in stagnant blood. Thrombosis at high shear rates depends primarily on the long protein von Willebrand factor (vWF) and platelets, with hemodynamics playing an important role in each stage of thrombus formation, including vWF binding, platelet adhesion, platelet activation, and rapid thrombus growth. The prediction of high-shear thrombosis is a major area of biofluid mechanics in which point-of-care testing and computational modeling are promising future directions for clinically relevant research. Further research in this area will enable identification of patients at high risk for arterial thrombosis, improve prevention and treatment based on shear-dependent biological mechanisms, and improve blood-contacting device design to reduce thrombosis risk.

Kwf-Grid workflow management system for Earth science applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tran, V.; Hluchy, L.

2009-04-01

In this paper, we present workflow management tool for Earth science applications in EGEE. The workflow management tool was originally developed within K-wf Grid project for GT4 middleware and has many advanced features like semi-automatic workflow composition, user-friendly GUI for managing workflows, knowledge management. In EGEE, we are porting the workflow management tool to gLite middleware for Earth science applications K-wf Grid workflow management system was developed within "Knowledge-based Workflow System for Grid Applications" under the 6th Framework Programme. The workflow mangement system intended to - semi-automatically compose a workflow of Grid services, - execute the composed workflow application in a Grid computing environment, - monitor the performance of the Grid infrastructure and the Grid applications, - analyze the resulting monitoring information, - capture the knowledge that is contained in the information by means of intelligent agents, - and finally to reuse the joined knowledge gathered from all participating users in a collaborative way in order to efficiently construct workflows for new Grid applications. Kwf Grid workflow engines can support different types of jobs (e.g. GRAM job, web services) in a workflow. New class of gLite job has been added to the system, allows system to manage and execute gLite jobs in EGEE infrastructure. The GUI has been adapted to the requirements of EGEE users, new credential management servlet is added to portal. Porting K-wf Grid workflow management system to gLite would allow EGEE users to use the system and benefit from its avanced features. The system is primarly tested and evaluated with applications from ES clusters.

Water footprint of crop production for different crop structures in the Hebei southern plain, North China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chu, Yingmin; Shen, Yanjun; Yuan, Zaijian

2017-06-01

The North China Plain (NCP) has a serious shortage of freshwater resources, and crop production consumes approximately 75 % of the region's water. To estimate water consumption of different crops and crop structures in the NCP, the Hebei southern plain (HSP) was selected as a study area, as it is a typical region of groundwater overdraft in the NCP. In this study, the water footprint (WF) of crop production, comprised of green, blue and grey water footprints, and its annual variation were analyzed. The results demonstrated the following: (1) the WF from the production of main crops was 41.8 km3 in 2012. Winter wheat, summer maize and vegetables were the top water-consuming crops in the HSP. The water footprint intensity (WFI) of cotton was the largest, and for vegetables, it was the smallest; (2) the total WF, WFblue, WFgreen and WFgrey for 13 years (2000-2012) of crop production were 604.8, 288.5, 141.3 and 175.0 km3, respectively, with an annual downtrend from 2000 to 2012; (3) winter wheat, summer maize and vegetables consumed the most groundwater, and their blue water footprint (WFblue) accounted for 74.2 % of the total WFblue in the HSP; (4) the crop structure scenarios analysis indicated that, with approximately 20 % of arable land cultivated with winter wheat-summer maize in rotation, 38.99 % spring maize, 10 % vegetables and 10 % fruiters, a sustainable utilization of groundwater resources can be promoted, and a sufficient supply of food, including vegetables and fruits, can be ensured in the HSP.

Sensitive Period for the Recovery of the Response Rate of the Wind-Evoked Escape Behavior of Unilaterally Cercus-Ablated Crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus).

PubMed

Takuwa, Hiroyuki; Kanou, Masamichi

2015-04-01

We examined the compensational recovery of the response rate (relative occurrence) of the wind-evoked escape behavior in unilaterally cercus-ablated crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus) and elucidated the existence of a sensitive period for such recovery by rearing the crickets under different conditions. In one experiment, each cricket was reared in an apparatus called a walking inducer (WI) to increase the sensory input to the remaining cercus, i.e., the self-generated wind caused by walking. In another experiment, each cricket was reared in a small plastic case separate from the outside atmosphere (wind-free: WF). In this rearing condition, the cricket did not experience self-generated wind as walking was prohibited. During the recovery period after the unilateral cercus ablation, the crickets were reared under either the WI or WF condition to investigate the role of the sensory inputs on the compensational recovery of the response rate. The compensational recovery of the response rate occurred only in the crickets reared under the WI condition during the early period after the ablation. In particular, WI rearing during the first three days after the ablation resulted in the largest compensational recovery in the response rate. In contrast, no compensational recovery was observed in the crickets reared under the WF condition during the first three days. These results suggest that a sensitive period exists in which sensory inputs from the remaining cercus affect the compensational recovery of the response rate more effectively than during other periods.

Randomized clinical trial on acute effects of i.v. iron sucrose during haemodialysis.

PubMed

Garcia-Fernandez, Nuria; Echeverria, Aitziber; Sanchez-Ibarrola, Alfonso; Páramo, José Antonio; Coma-Canella, Isabel

2010-03-01

Haemodialysis induces endothelial dysfunction by oxidation and inflammation. Intravenous iron administration during haemodialysis could worsen endothelial dysfunction. The aim of this study was to ascertain if iron produces endothelial dysfunction and the possible neutralizing effect of N-acetylcysteine when infused before iron. The oxidative and inflammatory effects of iron during haemodialysis were also assessed. Forty patients undergoing haemodialysis were studied in a randomized and cross-over design with and without N-acetylcysteine infused before iron sucrose (50 or 100 mg). Plasma Von Willebrand factor (vWF), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) levels, malondialdehyde, total antioxidant capacity, CD11b/CD18 expression in monocytes, interleukin (IL)-8 in monocytes and plasma IL-8 were studied at baseline and during haemodialysis. Haemodialysis produced significant (P < 0.001) increase in plasma vWF, sICAM-1, malondialdehyde, IL-8 and CD11b/CD18 expression in monocytes, as well as decrease in total antioxidant capacity. Iron induced significant increase in plasma malondialdehyde and IL-8 in monocytes, but had no effect on total antioxidant capacity, CD11b/CD18 expression, plasma IL-8, vWF and sICAM-1. The addition of N-acetylcysteine to 50 mg of iron produced a significant (P = 0.040) decrease in malondialdehyde. Standard (100 mg) and low (50 mg) doses of iron during haemodialysis had no effects on endothelium. Iron only had minor effects on inflammation and produced an increase in oxidative stress, which was neutralized by N-acetylcysteine at low iron dose. Haemodialysis caused a significant increase in oxidative stress, inflammation and endothelial dysfunction markers.

Ex-vivo assessment of anchoring force of covered biflanged metal stent and covered self-expandable metal stent for interventional EUS.

PubMed

Tonozuka, Ryosuke; Yunoki, Shunji; Itoi, Takao; Sofuni, Atsushi; Tsuchiya, Takayoshi; Ishii, Kentaro; Tanaka, Reina; Honjo, Mitsuyoshi; Mukai, Shuntaro; Fujita, Mitsuru; Yamamoto, Kenjiro; Asai, Yasutsugu; Matsunami, Yukitoshi; Kurosawa, Takashi; Kojima, Hiroyuki; Nagakawa, Yuichi; Nagakawa, Yoshiyasu

2018-06-05

EUS-guided transmural drainage (EUS-TD) using a covered biflanged metal stent (CBFMS) and a conventional tubular biliary covered self-expandable metal stent (CSEMS) has recently been performed by EUS experts. However, appropriate traction force of the sheath to prevent the migration during stent deployment is well unknown. Herein, we assessed the anchoring force (AF) of the distal flange in CBFMSs and CSEMSs. The AFs of 4 CBFMSs (Stents AX, NG, PL, and SX) and 6 CSEMSs (Stents BF, BP, EG, HN, SP, and WF) were compared in an ex vivo setting. We assessed the AF produced by each stent using an EUS-TD model and an EUS-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) model consisting of sheet-shaped specimens of the stomach, gelatin gel, and gelatin tubes. For CBFMSs, the maximum AF of Stent AX was significantly higher than those of Stents PL and SX (P < 0.05) in the porcine model. In the gelatin series, all stents except Stent NG showed a nearly similar AF. For CSEMSs, Stents HN, EG, BF, and WF showed gradual AF elevation in the porcine stomach. Stents SP and BP showed a lower AF than the other 4 stents. For the gelatin setting, the maximum AF of Stents HN, EG, and WF were higher than those of the other stents regardless of the type of specimens. The significance of the AF and traction distance according to the property of various CBFMSs and CSEMSs could be elucidated using ex-vivo models. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Development, validation and application of a micro-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry based method for simultaneous quantification of selected protein biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction in murine plasma.

PubMed

Suraj, Joanna; Kurpińska, Anna; Olkowicz, Mariola; Niedzielska-Andres, Ewa; Smolik, Magdalena; Zakrzewska, Agnieszka; Jasztal, Agnieszka; Sitek, Barbara; Chlopicki, Stefan; Walczak, Maria

2018-02-05

The objective of this study was to develop and validate the method based on micro-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (microLC/MS-MRM) for simultaneous determination of adiponectin (ADN), von Willebrand factor (vWF), soluble form of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (sVCAM-1), soluble form of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1) and syndecan-1 (SDC-1) in mouse plasma. The calibration range was established from 2.5pmol/mL to 5000pmol/mL for ADN; 5pmol/mL to 5000pmol/mL for vWF; 0.375pmol/mL to 250pmol/mL for sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1; and 0.25pmol/mL to 250pmol/mL for SDC-1. The method was applied to measure the plasma concentration of selected proteins in mice fed high-fat diet (HFD), and revealed the pro-thrombotic status by increased concentration of vWF (1.31±0.17 nmol/mL (Control) vs 1.98±0.09 nmol/mL (HFD), p <0.05) and the dysregulation of adipose tissue metabolism by decreased concentration of ADN (0.62±0.08 nmol/mL (Control) vs 0.37±0.06 nmol/mL (HFD), p <0.05). In conclusion, the microLC/MS-MRM-based method allows for reliable measurements of selected protein biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction in mouse plasma. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Determinants of hypofibrinolysis in patients with digestive tract cancer.

PubMed

Gronostaj, Katarzyna; Richter, Piotr; Nowak, Wojciech; Undas, Anetta

2016-01-01

Recently, we demonstrated that digestive tract cancer (DTC) is associated with reduced fibrin clot permeability and impaired fibrinolysis. We investigated determinants of fibrinolysis in DTC patients. In 44 consecutive patients with DTC and 47 controls matched for age, sex, and cardiovascular risk, we evaluated fibrinolysis proteins, platelet activation markers, thrombin formation, together with plasma clot lysis time assays in the absence (CLT) and presence of carboxypeptidase potato inhibitor (CLT CPI) that blocks thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI). In the DTC group CLT (by 22.3%) and CLT CPI (by 27.4%) were longer compared with controls. The DTC patients had higher plasma fibrinolysis inhibitors, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) (by 18.2%), TAFI activity (by 17.3%), and antigen (by 11.2%). The patients had markedly increased platelet markers - soluble CD40 ligand (by 338%) and P-selectin (by 97%), together with von Willebrand factor (vWF) antigen (by 61%). Thrombin-antithrombin complexes (TAT) (by 48.7%) and soluble thrombomodulin (sTM) (by 17.2%) were also increased in the DTC group (all p < 0.05). Patients with high-grade tumours (n = 26) compared with remainders (n = 18) had longer CLT, higher tissue-type plasminogen activator antigen, both TAFI antigen and activity levels, vWF, and sTM. Multiple regression analysis after adjustment for potential confounders showed that independent predictors of CLT in DTC patients were TAT, TAFI activity, and vWF. The only independent predictor of CLT CPI was TAT. Hypofibrinolysis in DTC patients is largely driven by enhanced thrombin generation, TAFI, and endothelial injury.

Proximity sounding analysis for derechos and supercells: an assessment of similarities and differences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doswell, Charles A.; Evans, Jeffry S.

Proximity soundings (within 2 h and 167 km) of derechos (long-lived, widespread damaging convective windstorms) and supercells have been obtained. More than 65 derechos, accompanied by 115 proximity soundings, are identified during the years 1983 to 1993. The derechos have been divided into categories according to the synoptic situation: strong forcing (SF), weak forcing (WF), and "hybrid" cases (which are neither weakly nor strongly forced). Nearly 100 supercell proximity soundings have been found for the period 1998 to 2001, subdivided into nontornadic and tornadic supercells; tornadic supercells were further subdivided into those producing significant (>F1 rating) tornadoes and weak tornadoes (F0-F1 rating). WF derecho situations typically are characterized by warm, moist soundings with large convective available potential instability (CAPE) and relatively weak vertical wind shear. SF derechos usually have stronger wind shears, and cooler and less moist soundings with lower CAPE than the weakly forced cases. Most derechos exhibit strong storm-relative inflow at low levels. In WF derechos, this is usually the result of rapid convective system movement, whereas in SF derechos, storm-relative inflow at low levels is heavily influenced by relatively strong low-level windspeeds. "Hybrid" cases collectively are similar to an average of the SF and WF cases. Supercells occur in environments that are not all that dissimilar from those that produce SF derechos. It appears that some parameter combining instability and deep layer shear, such as the Energy-Helicity Index (EHI), can help discriminate between tornadic and nontornadic supercell situations. Soundings with significant tornadoes (F2 and greater) typically show high 0-1 km relative humidities, and strong 0-1 km shear. Results suggest it may not be easy to forecast the mode of severe thunderstorm activity (i.e., derecho versus supercell) on any particular day, given conditions that favor severe thunderstorm activity in general. It is possible that the convective initiation mechanism is an important factor, with linear initiation favoring derechos, whereas nonlinear forcing might favor supercells. Upper-level storm-relative flow in supercells tends to be rear-to-front, whereas for derechos, storm-relative flow tends to be front-to-rear through a deep surface-based layer. However, knowing the storm-relative hodograph requires knowledge of storm motion, which can be a challenge to predict. These results generally imply that probabilistic forecasts of convective mode could be a successful strategy.

The influence of nutrition on the insulin-like growth factor system and the concentrations of growth hormone, glucose, insulin, gonadotropins and progesterone in ovarian follicular fluid and plasma from adult female horses (Equus caballus)

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Feed intake affects the GH-IGF system and may be a key factor in determining the ovarian follicular growth rate. In fat mares, the plasma IGF-1 concentration is high with low GH and a quick follicular growth rate, in contrast to values observed in thin mares. Nothing is known regarding the long-term effects of differential feed intake on the IGF system. The objective of this experiment was to quantify IGFs, IGFBPs, GH, glucose, insulin, gonadotropin and progesterone (P4) in blood and in preovulatory follicular fluid (FF) in relation to feeding levels in mares. Methods Three years prior to the experiment, Welsh Pony mares were assigned to a restricted diet group (R, n = 10) or a well-fed group (WF, n = 9). All mares were in good health and exhibited differences in body weight and subcutaneous fat thickness. Follicular development was scanned daily and plasma was also collected daily. Preovulatory FF was collected by ultrasound-guided follicular aspiration. Hormone levels were assayed in FF and plasma with a validated RIA. Results According to scans, the total number of follicles in group R was 53% lower than group WF. Insulin and IGF-1 concentrations were higher in WF than in R mares. GH and IGF-2 concentrations were lower in plasma from WF mares than from R mares, but the difference was not significant in FF. The IGFBP-2/IGFBP-3 ratio in FF was not affected by feeding but was dramatically increased in R mare plasma. No difference in gonadotropin concentration was found with the exception of FSH, which was higher in the plasma of R mares. On the day of puncture, P4 concentrations were not affected by feeding but were higher in preovulatory FF than in plasma. Conclusions The bioavailability of IGF-1 or IGF-2, represented by the IGFBP2/IGFBP3 ratio, is modified by feed intake in plasma but not in FF. These differences partially explain the variability in follicular growth observed between well-fed mares and mares on restricted diets. PMID:25078409

Water for wood products versus nature, food or feed

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schyns, Joep; Booij, Martijn; Hoekstra, Arjen

2017-04-01

Forests play a central interlinked role in the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. The Agenda aims at an increased share of renewable energy in the global energy mix (target 7.2) and restoration and sustainable management of forests (targets 6.6, 15.1 & 15.2). Forests also play a key role in the hydrological cycle accounting for the largest water flux from land to atmosphere. However, we do not know which part of this is used for the production of wood products such as lumber, pulp and paper, firewood or biofuel. SDG target 6.4 calls for increased water-use efficiency across all sectors and requires understanding the competing demands for water and the potential conflicts between wood production and other purposes like food (SDG 2). To reach the SDGs we need to understand the interlinkages between the SDGs and know how much water is used in the forestry sector. We provide the first estimate of global water use in the forestry sector, using the water footprint (WF) as indicator and distinguishing between consumption of green water (precipitation) and blue water (groundwater through capillary rise). We estimate forest evaporation at a high spatial resolution level and attribute total water consumption to the various forest products, including ecosystem services. Global water consumption for wood production increased by 34% over 50 years to 290x109 m3/y in 2001-2010. Wood has a higher economic water productivity (EWP, US/m3) than common food or feed crops like wheat, maize and sugar beet, and bio-ethanol from wood has a small WF per unit of energy compared to first-generation bio-ethanol from these three crops. Counterintuitively, extensive wood production has a smaller WF and hence a higher EWP than intensive wood production. The reason is that extensively exploited forests host relatively more value next to wood production in the form of other ecosystem services. Recycling of wood products could effectively reduce the WF of the forestry sector, thereby leaving more water available for the generation of other ecosystem services. Our findings contribute to a more complete picture of the human appropriation of water and the understanding of the interlinkages between the SDGs, thus feeding the debate on water for wood products versus nature, food or feed.

Establishing and testing a catchment water footprint framework to inform sustainable irrigation water use for an aquifer under stress.

PubMed

le Roux, Betsie; van der Laan, Michael; Vahrmeijer, Teunis; Bristow, Keith L; Annandale, John G

2017-12-01

Future water scarcities in the face of an increasing population, climate change and the unsustainable use of aquifers will present major challenges to global food production. The ability of water footprints (WFs) to inform water resource management at catchment-scale was investigated on the Steenkoppies Aquifer, South Africa. Yields based on cropping areas were multiplied with season-specific WFs for each crop to determine blue and green water consumption by agriculture. Precipitation and evapotranspiration of natural vegetation and other uses of blue water were included with the agricultural WFs to compare water availability and consumption in a catchment sustainability assessment. This information was used to derive a water balance and develop a catchment WF framework that gave important insights into the hydrology of the aquifer through a simplified method. This method, which requires the monitoring of only a few key variables, including rainfall, agricultural production, WFs of natural vegetation and other blue water flows, can be applied to inform the sustainability of catchment scale water use (as opposed to more complex hydrological studies). Results indicate that current irrigation on the Steenkoppies Aquifer is unsustainable. This is confirmed by declining groundwater levels, and suggests that there should be no further expansion of irrigated agriculture on the Steenkoppies Aquifer. Discrepancies between in- and outflows of water in the catchment indicated that further development of the WF approach is required to improve understanding of the geohydrology of the aquifer and to set and meet sustainability targets for the aquifer. It is envisaged that this 'working' framework can be applied to other water-stressed aquifers around the world. Crown Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Daily and 3-hourly Variability in Global Fire Emissions and Consequences for Atmospheric Model Predictions of Carbon Monoxide

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mu, M.; Randerson, J. T.; vanderWerf, G. R.; Giglio, L.; Kasibhatla, P.; Morton, D.; Collatz, G. J.; DeFries, R. S.; Hyer, E. J.; Prins, E. M.;

Angiogenesis extent and macrophage density increase simultaneously with pathological progression in B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas

PubMed Central

Vacca, A; Ribatti, D; Ruco, L; Giacchetta, F; Nico, B; Quondamatteo, F; Ria, R; Iurlaro, M; Dammacco, F

1999-01-01

Node biopsies of 30 benign lymphadenopathies and 71 B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (B-NHLs) were investigated for microvessel and macrophage counts using immunohistochemistry and morphometric analysis. Both counts were significantly higher in B-NHL. Moreover, when these were grouped into low-grade and high-grade lymphomas, according to the Kiel classification and Working Formulation (WF), statistically significant higher counts were found in the high-grade tumours. Immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy revealed a close spatial association between microvessels and macrophages. Overall, the results suggest that, in analogy to what has already been shown in solid tumours, angiogenesis occurring in B-NHLs increases with tumour progression, and that macrophages promote the induction of angiogenesis via the release of their angiogenic factors. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaign PMID:10070898

Thromboelastographic Evaluation of Dogs with Acute Liver Disease.

PubMed

Kelley, D; Lester, C; Shaw, S; de Laforcade, A; Webster, C R L

2015-01-01

Given the liver's pivotal role in hemostasis and fibrinolysis, the coagulopathy accompanying hepatic disease is complex. To prospectively evaluate kaolin-activated thromboelastography (TEG) in dogs with acute liver disease (ALD) and compare with plasma-based coagulation tests. Twenty-one dogs with a diagnosis of ALD based on recent onset of clinical signs accompanied by increases in serum bilirubin concentration and alanine aminotransferase activity. Clinical presentation, CBC, serum biochemistry, platelet count, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and TEG analysis were evaluated in 21 dogs with a subset also having fibrinogen, antithrombin (AT) activity, protein C (PC) activity, d-dimers, and von Willebrand's factor (vWF) activity analyzed. A PT >1.5 times the upper limit of normal defined acute liver failure (ALF). Dogs with ALD had mean increases in R, K, LY30, PT, aPTT, and vWF activity, and decreases in angle, maximal amplitude (MA), G, AT activity, and PC activity. The TEG results defined dogs as hypocoagulable (11/21), normocoagulable (8/21), or hypercoagulable (2/21). Increases in LY30 defined 8/21 dogs as hyperfibrinolytic. Hypocoagulable and hyperfibrinolytic dogs had lower fibrinogen and PC activity than dogs without these abnormalities. Overall, ALF dogs had greater increases in K and LY30, and decreases in MA, G, and PC activity than dogs with less severe hepatic impairment. Results for MA and LY30 were positively correlated with serum bilirubin concentration and white blood cell count, and negatively correlated with serum cholesterol concentration. ALD dogs have a range of coagulation abnormalities that trend toward hypocoagulability and hyperfibrinolysis as functional impairment occurs. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Isolation and characterization of conditionally immortalized mouse glomerular endothelial cell lines.

PubMed

Rops, Angelique L; van der Vlag, Johan; Jacobs, Cor W; Dijkman, Henry B; Lensen, Joost F; Wijnhoven, Tessa J; van den Heuvel, Lambert P; van Kuppevelt, Toin H; Berden, Jo H

2004-12-01

The culture and establishment of glomerular cell lines has proven to be an important tool for the understanding of glomerular cell functions in glomerular physiology and pathology. Especially, the recent establishment of a conditionally immortalized visceral epithelial cell line has greatly boosted the research on podocyte biology. Glomeruli were isolated from H-2Kb-tsA58 transgenic mice that contain a gene encoding a temperature-sensitive variant of the SV40 large tumor antigen, facilitating proliferative growth at 33 degrees C and differentiation at 37 degrees C. Glomerular endothelial cells were isolated from glomerular outgrowth by magnetic beads loaded with CD31, CD105, GSL I-B4, and ULEX. Clonal cell lines were characterized by immunofluorescence staining with antibodies/lectins specific for markers of endothelial cells, podocytes, and mesangial cells. Putative glomerular endothelial cell lines were analyzed for (1) cytokine-induced expression of adhesion molecules; (2) tube formation on Matrigel coating; and (3) the presence of fenestrae. As judged by immunostaining for Wilms tumor-1, smooth muscle actin (SMA), podocalyxin, and von Willebrand factor (vWF), we obtained putative endothelial, podocyte and mesangial cell lines. The mouse glomerular endothelial cell clone #1 (mGEnC-1) was positive for vWF, podocalyxin, CD31, CD105, VE-cadherin, GSL I-B4, and ULEX, internalized acetylated-low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and showed increased expression of adhesion molecules after activation with proinflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, mGEnC-1 formed tubes and contained nondiaphragmed fenestrae. The mGEnC-1 represents a conditionally immortalized cell line with various characteristics of differentiated glomerular endothelial cells when cultured at 37 degrees C. Most important, mGEnC-1 contains nondiaphragmed fenestrae, which is a unique feature of glomerular endothelial cells.

Protein Profile Analysis of Two Australian Snake Venoms by One- Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis and MS/MS Experiments.

PubMed

Georgieva, Dessislava; Hildebrand, Diana; Simas, Rodrigo; Coronado, Monika A; Kwiatkowski, Marcel; Schlüter, Hartmut; Arni, Raghuvir; Spencer, Patrick; Betzel, Christian

2017-01-01

The Pseudechis colletti and Pseudechis butleri venoms were analyzed by 1-D gel electrophoresis, followed by mass spectrometric analysis of tryptic peptides obtained from the protein bands. Both venoms contain highly potent pharmacologically active components, which were assigned to the following protein families: basic and acidic phospholipases A2 (PLA2s), L-amino acid oxidases (LAAOs), P-III metalloproteinases (P-III SVMPs), 5'- nucleotidases (5'-NTDs), cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISPs), venom nerve growth factors (VNGFs) and post-synaptic neurotoxins. Considerable predominance of PLA2s over other toxins is a characteristic feature of both venoms. The major differences in the venom compositions are the higher concentration of SVMPs and CRISPs in the P. butleri venom, as well as the presence of post-synaptic neurotoxins. Furthermore, the analysis revealed a high concentration of proteins with myotoxic, coagulopathic and apoptotic activities. PLA2s are responsible for the myotoxic and anticoagulant effects observed in patients after envenomation (4). The other protein families, encountered in the two venoms, probably contribute to the major symptoms described for these venoms. These results explain the observed clinical effects of the black snake envenomation. The analyzed venoms contain group P-III metalloproteinases of medical importance with the potency to be used for diagnostic purposes of von Willebrand factor (vWF) disease, for regulation of vWF in thrombosis and haemostasis, for studying the function of the complement system in host defense and in the pathogenesis of diseases. Comparison of venomic data showed similarities in the major venom components of snakes from the genus Pseudechis, resulting in common clinical effects of envenomation, and demonstrating close relationships between venom toxins of Elapidae snakes. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

Effect of bovine apo-lactoferrin on the growth and virulence of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae.

PubMed

Luna-Castro, Sarahí; Aguilar-Romero, Francisco; Samaniego-Barrón, Luisa; Godínez-Vargas, Delfino; de la Garza, Mireya

2014-10-01

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (App) is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes porcine pleuropneumonia, leading to economic losses in the swine industry. Due to bacterial resistance to antibiotics, new treatments for this disease are currently being sought. Lactoferrin (Lf) is an innate immune system glycoprotein of mammals that is microbiostatic and microbicidal and affects several bacterial virulence factors. The aim of this study was to investigate whether bovine iron-free Lf (BapoLf) has an effect on the growth and virulence of App. Two serotype 1 strains (reference strain S4074 and the isolate BC52) and a serotype 7 reference strain (WF83) were analyzed. First, the ability of App to grow in iron-charged BLf was discarded because in vivo, BapoLf sequesters iron and could be a potential source of this element favoring the infection. The minimum inhibitory concentration of BapoLf was 14.62, 11.78 and 10.56 µM for the strain BC52, S4074 and WF83, respectively. A subinhibitory concentration (0.8 µM) was tested by assessing App adhesion to porcine buccal epithelial cells, biofilm production, and the secretion and function of toxins and proteases. Decrease in adhesion (24-42 %) was found in the serotype 1 strains. Biofilm production decreased (27 %) for only the strain 4074 of serotype 1. Interestingly, biofilm was decreased (60-70 %) in the three strains by BholoLf. Hemolysis of erythrocytes and toxicity towards HeLa cells were not affected by BapoLf. In contrast, proteolytic activity in all strains was suppressed in the presence of BapoLf. Finally, oxytetracycline produced synergistic effect with BapoLf against App. Our results suggest that BapoLf affects the growth and several of the virulence factors in App.

Carbon and water footprint of pork supply chain in Catalonia: From feed to final products.

PubMed

Noya, Isabel; Aldea, Xavier; Gasol, Carles M; González-García, Sara; Amores, Maria José; Colón, Joan; Ponsá, Sergio; Roman, Isabel; Rubio, Miguel A; Casas, Eudald; Moreira, María Teresa; Boschmonart-Rives, Jesús

2016-04-15

A systematic tool to assess the Carbon Footprint (CF) and Water Footprint (WF) of pork production companies was developed and applied to representative Catalan companies. To do so, a cradle-to-gate environmental assessment was carried out by means of the LCA methodology, taking into account all the stages involved in the pork chain, from feed production to the processing of final products, ready for distribution. In this approach, the environmental results are reported based on eight different functional units (FUs) according to the main pork products obtained. With the aim of ensuring the reliability of the results and facilitating the comparison with other available reports, the Product Category Rules (PCR) for Catalan pork sector were also defined as a basis for calculations. The characterization results show fodder production as the main contributor to the global environmental burdens, with contributions higher than 76% regardless the environmental indicator or the life cycle stage considered, which is in agreement with other published data. In contrast, the results in terms of CF and WF lay above the range of values reported elsewhere. However, major discrepancies are mainly due to the differences in the co-products allocation criteria. In this sense, economic/physical allocation and/or system expansion have been mostly considered in literature. In contrast, no allocation was considered appropriate in this study, according to the characteristics of the industries and products under assessment; thus, the major impacts fall on the main product, which derives on comparatively higher environmental burdens. Finally, due to the relevance of fodder production in the overall impact assessment results, strategies to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions as well as water use associated to this stage were proposed in the pork supply chain. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

β3 Integrin Haplotype Influences Gene Regulation and Plasma von Willebrand Factor Activity

PubMed Central

Payne, Katie E; Bray, Paul F; Grant, Peter J; Carter, Angela M

2008-01-01

The Leu33Pro polymorphism of the gene encoding β3 integrin (ITGB3) is associated with acute coronary syndromes and influences platelet aggregation. Three common promoter polymorphisms have also been identified. The aims of this study were to (1) investigate the influence of the ITGB3 −400C/A, −425A/C and −468G/A promoter polymorphisms on reporter gene expression and nuclear protein binding and (2) determine genotype and haplotype associations with platelet αIIbβ3 receptor density. Promoter haplotypes were introduced into an ITGB3 promoter-pGL3 construct by site directed mutagenesis and luciferase reporter gene expression analysed in HEL and HMEC-1 cells. Binding of nuclear proteins was assessed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. The association of ITGB3 haplotype with platelet αIIbβ3 receptor density was determined in 223 subjects. Species conserved motifs were identified in the ITGB3 promoter in the vicinity of the 3 polymorphisms. The GAA, GCC, AAC, AAA and ACC constructs induced ~50% increased luciferase expression relative to the GAC construct in both cell types. Haplotype analysis including Leu33Pro indicated 5 common haplotypes; no associations between ITGB3 haplotypes and receptor density were found. However, the GCC-Pro33 haplotype was associated with significantly higher vWF activity (128.6 [112.1–145.1]%) compared with all other haplotypes (107.1 [101.2–113.0]%, p=0.02). In conclusion, the GCC-Pro33 haplotype was associated with increased vWF activity but not with platelet αIIbβ3 receptor density, which may indicate ITGB3 haplotype influences endothelial function. PMID:18045606

Optimization of CO2 adsorption capacity and cyclical adsorption/desorption on tetraethylenepentamine-supported surface-modified hydrotalcite.

PubMed

Thouchprasitchai, Nutthavich; Pintuyothin, Nuthapol; Pongstabodee, Sangobtip

2018-03-01

The objective of this research was to investigate CO 2 adsorption capacity of tetraethylenepentamine-functionalized basic-modified calcined hydrotalcite (TEPA/b-cHT) sorbents at atmospheric pressure formed under varying TEPA loading levels, temperatures, sorbent weight to total gaseous flow rate (W/F) ratios and CO 2 concentrations in the influent gas. The TEPA/b-cHT sorbents were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) analysis of nitrogen (N 2 ) adsorption/desorption and carbon-hydrogen-nitrogen (CHN) elemental analysis. Moreover, a full 2 4 factorial design with three central points at a 95% confidence interval was used to screen important factor(s) on the CO 2 adsorption capacity. It revealed that 85.0% variation in the capacity came from the influence of four main factors and the 15.0% one was from their interactions. A face-centered central composite design response surface method (FCCCD-RSM) was then employed to optimize the condition, the maximal capacity of 5.5-6.1mmol/g was achieved when operating with a TEPA loading level of 39%-49% (W/W), temperature of 76-90°C, W/F ratio of 1.7-2.60(g·sec)/cm 3 and CO 2 concentration of 27%-41% (V/V). The model fitted sufficiently the experimental data with an error range of ±1.5%. From cyclical adsorption/desorption and selectivity at the optimal condition, the 40%TEPA/b-cHT still expressed its effective performance after eight cycles. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Von Willebrand Factor Deposition and ADAMTS-13 Consumption in Allograft Tissue of Thrombotic Microangiopathy-like Disorder After Living Donor Liver Transplantation: A Case Report.

PubMed

Nakanuma, S; Miyashita, T; Hayashi, H; Ohbatake, Y; Takamura, H; Okazaki, M; Yamaguchi, T; Sakai, S; Makino, I; Oyama, K; Tajima, H; Ninomiya, I; Fushida, S; Ohta, T

2017-09-01

Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) pathogenesis after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is thought to be caused by release of unusually large von Willebrand factor multimers (UL-vWFMs) resulting from sinusoidal endothelial cell damage and induction of platelet adhesion and aggregation. A decrease in a disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motifs-13 (ADAMTS-13) that cleave UL-vWFMs might cause excessive UL-vWFMs activity and result in platelet thrombus formation. However, this phenomenon has not undergone a full pathologic assessment. A 60-year-old man was diagnosed with hepatitis C-related end-stage cirrhosis. His son was the donor, and he underwent LDLT. On postoperative day 44, his laboratory findings met most TMA diagnostic criteria, and he was diagnosed with TMA-like disorder (TMALD). Localization of CD42b as a platelet marker, vWF, and ADAMTS-13 in allograft tissue of this patient were evaluated using immunohistochemistry. CD42b expression was observed as platelet aggregates attached to hepatocytes or within the hepatocyte cytoplasm, a morphology called extravasated platelet aggregation (EPA). vWF expression was observed mainly as deposited compact clusters, and ADAMTS-13 expression resembled distinct dots throughout the liver tissue. These findings suggest that EPA indicated sinusoidal endothelial cell damage followed by detachment, and vWF deposition resulted from UL-vWFM oversynthesis. ADAMTS-13 might be consumed in the allograft tissue to cleave UL-vWFMs, but ADAMTS-13 levels might be insufficient to cleave all the deposited UL-vWFMs. We present the case of an LDLT recipient diagnosed with TMALD using blood tests, which showed the presence of TMA pathogenesis in the allograft. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Drought impacts to water footprints and virtual water transfers of the Central Valley of California

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marston, Landon; Konar, Megan

2017-07-01

The Central Valley of California is one of the most productive agricultural locations in the world, which is made possible by a complex and vast irrigation system. Beginning in 2012, California endured one of the worst droughts in its history. Local impacts of the drought have been evaluated, but it is not yet well understood how the drought reverberated through the global food system. Here we quantify drought impacts to the water footprint (WF) of agricultural production and virtual water transfers (VWT) from the Central Valley of California. To do this, we utilize high-resolution spatial and temporal data sets and a crop model from predrought conditions (2011) through 3 years of exceptional drought (2012-2014). Despite a 12% reduction in harvested area, the WF of agricultural production in the Central Valley increased by 3%. This was due to greater crop water requirements from higher temperatures and a shift to more water-intensive orchard and vine crops. The groundwater WF increased from 7.00 km3 in 2011 to 13.63 km3 in 2014, predominantly in the Tulare Basin. Transfers of food commodities declined by 1% during the drought, yet total VWT increased by 3% (0.51 km3). From 2011 to 2014, groundwater VWT increased by 3.42 km3, offsetting the 0.94 km3 reduction in green VWT and the 1.96 km3 decrease in surface VWT. During the drought, local and global consumers nearly doubled their reliance on the Central Valley Aquifer. These results indicate that drought may strengthen the telecoupling between groundwater withdrawals and distant consumers of agricultural commodities.

Soft tissue profile changes after bilateral sagittal split osteotomy for mandibular advancement: a systematic review.

PubMed

Joss, Christof Urs; Joss-Vassalli, Isabella Maria; Kiliaridis, Stavros; Kuijpers-Jagtman, Anne Marie

2010-06-01

The purpose of the present systematic review was to evaluate the soft tissue/hard tissue ratio in bilateral sagittal split advancement osteotomy (BSSO) with rigid internal fixation (RIF) or wire fixation (WF). The databases PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar Beta were searched. From the original 711 articles identified, 12 were finally included. Only 3 studies were prospective and 9 were retrospective. The postoperative follow-up ranged from 3 months to 12.7 years for RIF and 6 months to 5 years for WF. The short- and long-term ratios for the lower lip to lower incisor for BSSO with RIF or WF were 50%. No difference between the short- and long-term ratios for the mentolabial-fold to point B and soft tissue pogonion to pogonion could be observed. It was a 1:1 ratio. One exception was seen for the long-term results of the soft tissue pogonion to pogonion in BSSO with RIF; they tended to be greater than a 1:1 ratio. The upper lip mainly showed retrusion but with high variability. Despite a large number of studies on the short- and long-term effects of mandibular advancement by BSSO, the results of the present systematic review have shown that evidence-based conclusions on soft tissue changes are still unknown. This is mostly because of the inherent problems of retrospective studies, inferior study designs, and the lack of standardized outcome measures. Well-designed prospective studies with sufficient sample sizes that have excluded patients undergoing additional surgery (ie, genioplasty or maxillary surgery) are needed. 2010 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Blood Coagulation and Asthma Exacerbation in Children.

PubMed

Manuyakorn, Wiparat; Mairiang, Dara; Sirachainan, Nongnuch; Kadegasem, Praguywan; Kamchaisatian, Wasu; Benjaponpitak, Suwat; Chuansumrit, Ampaiwan

2016-01-01

Recent studies have demonstrated the activation of coagulation pathways in asthmatic airways. This study aimed to determine systemic blood coagulation during asthma exacerbation compared with the stable state in children. Pediatric patients (aged between 5 and 15 years) suffering from asthma exacerbation were enrolled. von Willebrand factor (vWF), plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1), protein C, D-dimer, prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 (F1 + 2), thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured during asthma exacerbation and stable state. A total of 22 patients were enrolled. The median vWF, PAI-1, and CRP during asthma exacerbation were significantly higher than those of the stable state: 147.5% (interquartile range, IQR: 111.05-196.57) versus 94% (IQR: 69.72-109.62, p < 0.001), 41.9 ng/ml (IQR: 21.91-48.61) versus 26.17 ng/ml (IQR: 15.89-34.44, p < 0.03), and 4.46 mg/l (IQR: 2.15-16.23) versus 0.87 mg/l (IQR: 0.20-3.89, p < 0.015), respectively. However, the median protein C during asthma exacerbation was significantly lower than that of the stable state: 99.5% (IQR: 86.75-117) versus 113% (IQR: 94-115.25), p = 0.01. No significant difference was found between the levels of D-dimer, F1 + 2, and TAT during asthma exacerbation and stable state. Ultimately, D-dimer was positively correlated with asthma exacerbation score (R = 0.466, p = 0.027). A significant correlation was observed between vWF and CRP (R = 0.527, p = 0.012). Evidence was found of increased endothelial activation and increased PAI-1 during asthma exacerbation. This may emphasize the potential role of blood coagulation in asthma exacerbation. © 2016 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Coagulation Profile in Patients with Different Etiologies for Cushing Syndrome: A Prospective Observational Study.

PubMed

Tirosh, Amit; Lodish, Maya; Lyssikatos, Charalampos; Belyavskaya, Elena; Feelders, Richard A; Stratakis, Constantine A

2017-05-01

Previous studies reported a higher prevalence of venous-thromboembolic events among patients with Cushing disease (CD) compared to those with ACTH-independent Cushing syndrome (CS) from adrenal sources. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the coagulation profile of patients with CS from different etiologies. A prospective observational study was conducted at a clinical research center. The study included adult patients admitted for evaluation of suspected CS (n=85), that were divided into 3 groups: CD (n=22), ACTH-independent CS from an adrenal tumor/hyperplasia (adrenal CS, n=21), and a control group consisting of subjects with negative screening for CS (rule-out CS, n=42). Coagulation profiles were drawn before and 8.5±4.3 months after surgery (trans-sphenoidal or adrenalectomy, n=18), and included fibrinogen, Factor VIII (FVIII), von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF:Ag), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), antithrombin III (ATIII), Protein C (PC), Protein S (PS), α2-antiplasmin (α2AP), and aPTT measurements. Patients with CD had higher baseline mean cortisol levels, ATIII activity and vWF:Ag levels compared with adrenal CS. Differences in ATIII activity and vWF:Ag levels remained even after controlling for BMI, and ATIII after also controlling for 24-h urinary free cortisol collections. Our study showed for the first time the differences in coagulation profiles between various etiologies of CS. We assume that the higher cortisol burden among CD patients may explain the differences found in the coagulation profile as well as the higher risk for VTE compared with primary adrenal CS patients. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Serological Diagnosis of Acute Scrub Typhus in Southern India: Evaluation of InBios Scrub Typhus Detect IgM Rapid Test and Comparison with other Serological Tests.

PubMed

Anitharaj, Velmurugan; Stephen, Selvaraj; Pradeep, Jothimani; Park, Sungman; Kim, Seung-Han; Kim, Young Jin; Kim, Eun-Ye; Kim, Yoon-Won

2016-11-01

Scrub Typhus (ST) is being reported from different parts of India in the recent past. However, the diagnosis and confirmation of ST cases require specific serological and molecular diagnostic tests. Both rapid and conventional ELISA tests need to be properly evaluated. Evaluation of a new ST IgM Immunochromatography (ICT) test kit (InBios Scrub Typhus Detect IgM Rapid Test) and compare it with another rapid kit, conventional ELISA kit and Weil-Felix (WF) test. This prospective study was carried out in Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry, during November 2015 to June 2016. Clinically suspected 220 ST patients were examined by a new kit, InBios Scrub Typhus Detect IgM Rapid Test, taking the conventional InBios Scrub Typhus Detect IgM ELISA as reference. Additional comparison was made with ImmuneMed Scrub Typhus Rapid, and WF test (single OXK titers ≥1:320). Statistical analysis was performed (Chi-square, Spearman's correlation and Kappa) using IBM SPSS Statistics 17 for Windows (SPSS Inc; Chicago, USA). Percentage Sensitivity, Specificity, Positive Predictive and Negative Predictive Values for InBios, ImmuneMed and WF were 99.25, 93.02, 95.68, 98.77; 94.87, 94.19, 96.21, 92.05 and 50.38, 95.51, 94.29, 56.67 respectively. A total of 134 patients were positive in reference standard InBios IgM ELISA. This new rapid ST IgM kit validated for the first time in India, showed good sensitivity and specificity. As a Point-of-Care (PoC) test, the kit would be helpful in both urban and remote rural parts of India.

Serological Diagnosis of Acute Scrub Typhus in Southern India: Evaluation of InBios Scrub Typhus Detect IgM Rapid Test and Comparison with other Serological Tests

PubMed Central

Anitharaj, Velmurugan; Pradeep, Jothimani; Park, Sungman; Kim, Seung-Han; Kim, Young Jin; Kim, Eun-Ye; Kim, Yoon-Won

2016-01-01

Introduction Scrub Typhus (ST) is being reported from different parts of India in the recent past. However, the diagnosis and confirmation of ST cases require specific serological and molecular diagnostic tests. Both rapid and conventional ELISA tests need to be properly evaluated. Aim Evaluation of a new ST IgM Immunochromatography (ICT) test kit (InBios Scrub Typhus Detect IgM Rapid Test) and compare it with another rapid kit, conventional ELISA kit and Weil-Felix (WF) test. Materials and Methods This prospective study was carried out in Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry, during November 2015 to June 2016. Clinically suspected 220 ST patients were examined by a new kit, InBios Scrub Typhus Detect IgM Rapid Test, taking the conventional InBios Scrub Typhus Detect IgM ELISA as reference. Additional comparison was made with ImmuneMed Scrub Typhus Rapid, and WF test (single OXK titers ≥1:320). Statistical analysis was performed (Chi-square, Spearman’s correlation and Kappa) using IBM SPSS Statistics 17 for Windows (SPSS Inc; Chicago, USA). Results Percentage Sensitivity, Specificity, Positive Predictive and Negative Predictive Values for InBios, ImmuneMed and WF were 99.25, 93.02, 95.68, 98.77; 94.87, 94.19, 96.21, 92.05 and 50.38, 95.51, 94.29, 56.67 respectively. A total of 134 patients were positive in reference standard InBios IgM ELISA. Conclusion This new rapid ST IgM kit validated for the first time in India, showed good sensitivity and specificity. As a Point-of-Care (PoC) test, the kit would be helpful in both urban and remote rural parts of India. PMID:28050364

Effect of Understress on Fretting Fatigue Crack Initiation of Press-Fitted Axle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kubota, Masanobu; Niho, Sotaro; Sakae, Chu; Kondo, Yoshiyuki

Axles are one of the most important components in railway vehicles with regard to safety, since a fail-safe design is not available. The problems of fretting fatigue crack initiation in a press-fitted axle have not been completely solved even though up-to-date fatigue design methods are employed. The objective of the present study is to clarify the effect of understress on fretting fatigue crack initiation behavior in the press-fitted axle. Most of the stress amplitude given to the axle in service is smaller than the fretting fatigue limit based on the stress to initiate cracks under a constant load σwf1. Rotating bending fatigue tests were performed using a 40mm-diameter press-fitted axle assembly. Two-step variable stresses consisting of σwf1 and half or one-third of σwf1 were used in the experiment. Crack initiation life was defined as the number of cycles when a fretting fatigue crack, which is longer than 30µm, was found using a metallurgical microscope. Fretting fatigue cracks were initiated even when the variable stress did not contain the stress above the fretting fatigue crack initiation limit. The crack initiation life varied from 4.0×107 to 1.2×108 depending on the stress frequency ratio nL/nH. The sum of the number of cycles of higher stress at crack initiation NH was much smaller than the number of cycles to initiate cracks estimated from the modified Miner's rule. The value of the modified Miner's damage ranged from 0.013 to 0.185. To clarify the effect of variable amplitude on the fretting fatigue crack initiation, a comprehensive investigation related to relative slip, tangential force and fretting wear is necessary.

Discovery and antiplatelet activity of a selective PI3Kβ inhibitor (MIPS-9922).

PubMed

Zheng, Zhaohua; Pinson, Jo-Anne; Mountford, Simon J; Orive, Stephanie; Schoenwaelder, Simone M; Shackleford, David; Powell, Andrew; Nelson, Erin M; Hamilton, Justin R; Jackson, Shaun P; Jennings, Ian G; Thompson, Philip E

2016-10-21

A series of amino-substituted triazines were developed and examined for PI3Kβ inhibition and anti-platelet function. Structural adaptations of a morpholine ring of the prototype pan-PI3K inhibitor ZSTK474 yielded PI3Kβ selective compounds, where the selectivity largely derives from an interaction with the non-conserved Asp862 residue, as shown by site directed mutagenesis. The most PI3Kβ selective inhibitor from the series was studied in detail through a series of in vitro and in vivo functional studies. MIPS-9922, 10 potently inhibited ADP-induced washed platelet aggregation. It also inhibited integrin αIIbβ3 activation and αIIbβ3 dependent platelet adhesion to immobilized vWF under high shear. It prevented arterial thrombus formation in the in vivo electrolytic mouse model of thrombosis without inducing prolonged bleeding or excess blood loss. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Two phenylalanines in the C-terminus of Epstein-Barr virus Rta protein reciprocally modulate its DNA binding and transactivation function

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

Chen, L.-W.; Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520; Raghavan, Vineetha

The Rta (R transactivator) protein plays an essential role in the Epstein-Barr viral (EBV) lytic cascade. Rta activates viral gene expression by several mechanisms including direct and indirect binding to target viral promoters, synergy with EBV ZEBRA protein, and stimulation of cellular signaling pathways. We previously found that Rta proteins with C-terminal truncations of 30 aa were markedly enhanced in their capacity to bind DNA (Chen, L.W., Chang, P.J., Delecluse, H.J., and Miller, G., (2005). Marked variation in response of consensus binding elements for the Rta protein of Epstein-Barr virus. J. Virol. 79(15), 9635-9650.). Here we show that two phenylalaninesmore » (F600 and F605) in the C-terminus of Rta play a crucial role in mediating this DNA binding inhibitory function. Amino acids 555 to 605 of Rta constitute a functional DNA binding inhibitory sequence (DBIS) that markedly decreased DNA binding when transferred to a minimal DNA binding domain of Rta (aa 1-350). Alanine substitution mutants, F600A/F605A, abolished activity of the DBIS. F600 and F605 are located in the transcriptional activation domain of Rta. Alanine substitutions, F600A/F605A, decreased transcriptional activation by Rta protein, whereas aromatic substitutions, such as F600Y/F605Y or F600W/F605W, partially restored transcriptional activation. Full-length Rta protein with F600A/F605A mutations were enhanced in DNA binding compared to wild-type, whereas Rta proteins with F600Y/F605Y or F600W/F605W substitutions were, like wild-type Rta, relatively poor DNA binders. GAL4 (1-147)/Rta (416-605) fusion proteins with F600A/F605A mutations were diminished in transcriptional activation, relative to GAL4/Rta chimeras without such mutations. The results suggest that, in the context of a larger DBIS, F600 and F605 play a role in the reciprocal regulation of DNA binding and transcriptional activation by Rta. Regulation of DNA binding by Rta is likely to be important in controlling its different modes of action.« less

Integrating Ecological and Water Footprint Accounting in a Multi-Regional Input-Output Framework

EPA Science Inventory

Carbon, ecological, and water footprints (CF, EF, and WF) are accounting tools that can be used to understand the connection between consumption activities and environmental pressures on the Earth?s atmosphere, bioproductive areas, and freshwater resources. These indicators have ...

Increased Levels of Metalloproteinase 10 and Hemostatic Markers in Patients With Noncomplicated Primary Varicose Veins.

PubMed

Dzieciuchowicz, Lukasz; Espinosa, Gaudencio; Páramo, José A

2015-10-01

The purpose of the study was to analyze a systemic activation of hemostasis and concentration of matrix metalloproteinase 10 (MMP-10) in patients with primary varicose veins (PVVs). A study group consisted of 41 patients with noncomplicated PVVs. A control group consisted of 30 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals without varicose veins. The concentration of d-dimers (DD), prothrombin fragments 1 and 2 (F1+2), antigen of von Willebrand factor (vWF), and activity of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) in plasma and concentration of MMP-10 in serum were analyzed. In patients with PVVs, higher concentrations of DD (P < .001), F1+2 (P < .001), vWF (P = .027), MMP-10 (P = .006), and higher activity of PAI-1 (P < .001) were observed. However, no correlation between the concentrations of MMP-10 and prothrombotic markers was found. Noncomplicated PVVs are associated with systemic, prothrombotic activation of hemostasis and increased concentration of MMP-10, suggesting a prothrombotic and proinflammatory state. © The Author(s) 2014.

Endothelium dysfunction markers in patients with diabetic retinopathy.

PubMed

Siemianowicz, Krzysztof; Francuz, Tomasz; Gminski, Jan; Telega, Alicja; Syzdól, Marcin

2005-03-01

Diabetes mellitus leads to endothelium dysfunction and an accelerated progression of atherosclerosis. Vascular complications of diabetes mellitus can affect not only large and medium arteries resulting in coronary heart disease and peripheral arteries diseases, but also small vessels leading to retinopathy and nephropathy. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin and von Willebrand factor (vWF) are considered as markers of endothelium dysfunction. The aim of our study was to evaluate plasma levels of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin and vWF in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus receiving insulin therapy and who had diabetic non-proliferative retinopathy, proliferative retinopathy, or did not develop diabetic retinopathy. There were no statistically significant differences between studied groups in any of evaluated endothelium dysfunction markers. There was no statistically significant correlation between measured parameters and a period of diabetic history. None of the studied markers presented a significant correlation with a period of insulin treatment.

Implications of the biofuels policy mandate in Thailand on water: the case of bioethanol.

PubMed

Gheewala, Shabbir H; Silalertruksa, Thapat; Nilsalab, Pariyapat; Mungkung, Rattanawan; Perret, Sylvain R; Chaiyawannakarn, Nuttapon

2013-12-01

The study assesses the implications of the bioethanol policy mandate in Thailand of producing 9 M litre ethanol per day by 2021 on water use and water deprivation. The results reveal that water footprint (WF) of bioethanol varies between 1396 and 3105 L water/L ethanol. Cassava ethanol has the highest WF followed by molasses and sugarcane ethanol, respectively. However, in terms of fresh water (especially irrigation water) consumption, molasses ethanol is highest with 699-1220 L/L ethanol. To satisfy the government plan of bioethanol production in 2021, around 1625 million m(3) of irrigation water/year will be additionally required, accounting for about 3% of the current active water storage of Thailand. Two important watersheds in the northeastern region of Thailand are found to be potentially facing serious water stress if water resources are not properly managed. Measures to reduce water footprint of bioethanol are recommended. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Rheology, fatty acid profile and quality characteristics of nutrient enriched pizza base.

PubMed

Gupta, Chaitali Sen; Milind; Jeyarani, T; Rajiv, Jyotsna

2015-05-01

Enrichment of thick bread type pizza base (PZB) was done by substituting wheat flour (WF) with 5, 10 and 15 % soya protein isolate (SPI). The rheological characteristics of WF showed that water absorption increased, extensibility and peak viscosity decreased when level of SPI increased from 5 to 15 %. Baking studies showed that spread ratio decreased and hardness values of PZB increased with the increase in amount of SPI from 5 to15 %. Beyond 10 % SPI, the overall quality of PZB was adversely affected. To the optimal blend of 10 % SPI, 5 % psyllium husk (PH) was added and the hydrogenated fat was replaced by canola oil (CAN) in enriched PZB. The enriched PZB treated with combination of additives had 1.7 and 1.6 times more protein and dietary fiber than the control PZB. Fatty acid analysis showed that the enriched PZB had 58.65 % oleic, 6.58 % linolenic acid and 31.28 % polyunsaturated fatty acid and no Trans fat was present.

The effect of water injection on nitric oxide emissions of a gas turbine combustor burning ASTM Jet-A fuel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Marchionna, N. R.; Diehl, L. A.; Trout, A. M.

1973-01-01

Tests were conducted to determine the effect of water injection on oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions of a full annular, ram induction gas turbine combustor burning ASTM Jet-A fuel. The combustor was operated at conditions simulating sea-level takeoff and cruise conditions. Water at ambient temperature was injected into the combustor primary zone at water-fuel ratios up to 2. At an inlet-air temperature of 589 K (600 F) water injection decreased the NOx emission index at a constant exponential rate: NOx = NOx (o) e to the -15 W/F power (where W/F is the water-fuel ratio and NOx(o) indicates the value with no injection). The effect of increasing combustor inlet-air temperature was to decrease the effect of the water injection. Other operating variables such as pressure and reference Mach number did not appear to significantly affect the percent reduction in NOx. Smoke emissions were found to decrease with increasing water injection.

Analog quantum simulation of generalized Dicke models in trapped ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aedo, Ibai; Lamata, Lucas

2018-04-01

We propose the analog quantum simulation of generalized Dicke models in trapped ions. By combining bicromatic laser interactions on multiple ions we can generate all regimes of light-matter coupling in these models, where here the light mode is mimicked by a motional mode. We present numerical simulations of the three-qubit Dicke model both in the weak field (WF) regime, where the Jaynes-Cummings behavior arises, and the ultrastrong coupling (USC) regime, where a rotating-wave approximation cannot be considered. We also simulate the two-qubit biased Dicke model in the WF and USC regimes and the two-qubit anisotropic Dicke model in the USC regime and the deep-strong coupling regime. The agreement between the mathematical models and the ion system convinces us that these quantum simulations can be implemented in the laboratory with current or near-future technology. This formalism establishes an avenue for the quantum simulation of many-spin Dicke models in trapped ions.

Single-trial detection of visual evoked potentials by common spatial patterns and wavelet filtering for brain-computer interface.

PubMed

Tu, Yiheng; Huang, Gan; Hung, Yeung Sam; Hu, Li; Hu, Yong; Zhang, Zhiguo

2013-01-01

Event-related potentials (ERPs) are widely used in brain-computer interface (BCI) systems as input signals conveying a subject's intention. A fast and reliable single-trial ERP detection method can be used to develop a BCI system with both high speed and high accuracy. However, most of single-trial ERP detection methods are developed for offline EEG analysis and thus have a high computational complexity and need manual operations. Therefore, they are not applicable to practical BCI systems, which require a low-complexity and automatic ERP detection method. This work presents a joint spatial-time-frequency filter that combines common spatial patterns (CSP) and wavelet filtering (WF) for improving the signal-to-noise (SNR) of visual evoked potentials (VEP), which can lead to a single-trial ERP-based BCI.

Probabilities of having minimum amounts of available soil water at wheat planting

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-fallow (WF) remains a prominent cropping system throughout the Central Great Plains despite documentation confirming the inefficiency of precipitation storage during the second summer fallow period. Wheat yield is greatly influenced by available soil water at plan...

Trends and sources of ozone and sub-micron aerosols at the Mt. Bachelor Observatory (MBO) during 2004-2015

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Lei; Jaffe, Daniel A.

2017-09-01

In this paper, we report the climatology of tropospheric ozone (O3) and sub-micron aerosol scattering at the Mt. Bachelor Observatory (MBO, 2.8 km asl) in central Oregon, USA, during 2004-2015. The seasonal cycle for O3 showed a bimodal pattern with peaks in April and July, while aerosol scattering (σsp) was lognormally distributed with a very high peak in August and a smaller peak in May. The mean O3 concentrations showed positive and significant trends in all seasons except winter, with a slope of 0.6-0.8 ppbv yr-1. Monthly criteria for isolating free tropospheric (FT) and boundary layer influenced (BLI) air masses at MBO were obtained based on comparison of MBO water vapor (WV) distributions to those of Salem (SLE) and Medford (MFR), Oregon, at equivalent pressure level. In all seasons, FT O3 was, on average, higher than BLI O3, but the seasonal patterns were rather similar. For σsp the FT mean in spring was higher, but the BLI mean in summer was significantly higher, indicating the importance of regional wildfire smoke. To better understand the causes for the seasonal and interannual trends at MBO, we identified four major categories of air masses that impact O3, carbon monoxide (CO) and aerosols: upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS) O3 intrusion, Asian long-range transport (ALRT), Arctic air pollution (AAP) and plumes from the Pacific Northwest region (PNW). ALRT and PNW plumes can be further divided into wildfires (WF), industrial pollution (IP) and mineral dust (MD). Over the 12 years of observations, 177 individual plume events have been identified. Enhancement ratios (ERs) and Ångström exponents (AEs) of aerosols were calculated for all events. The lowest slope of Δσsp/ΔO3 is a unique feature of UTLS events. PNW-WF events have the highest averages for Δσsp/ΔCO, Δσsp/ΔO3 and Δσsp/ΔNOy compared to other events. These ERs decrease during long-range transport due to the shorter residence time of aerosols compared to the other pollutants. ALRT-WF events have lower absorption AEs (Åap) than PNW-WF, implying that brown carbon (BrC) is generated from biomass burning but its fraction decreases during long-range transport. Signatures of ERs and AEs are useful tools to identify different plume categories. These results demonstrate the increasing impact of baseline O3 on US air quality due to both global sources and regional wildfire events.

PO-58 - Cardiovascular risk profile in survivors of adult cancer - results from the general population study.

PubMed

Panova-Noeva, M; Hermanns, I M; Schulz, A; Laubert-Reh, D; Zeller, T; Blankenberg, S; Spronk, H M; Münzel, T; Lackner, K J; Ten Cate, H; Wild, P S

2016-04-01

The advancements in cancer treatment and detection of early cancer have resulted in steady increase of adult cancer survivors over the years. However, due to the long term toxic effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is increasing in survivors. Identifying risk factors and interventions to reduce the excess burden of CVD in this vulnerable population is urgently needed. To investigate the cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs), inflammation and coagulation profile in cancer survivors from a large population-based study. Presence of CVRFs and laboratory markers have been compared in individuals with (n=1,359) and without (n=13,626) history of cancer. Standard laboratory profile, including blood glucose and lipid profile, has been evaluated in 15,010 individuals from the Gutenberg Health Study (GHS). Coagulation factors, D-dimer and von Willebrand factor (vWF) activity were available in N=4,993. The individuals with history of cancer were older compared to no history of cancer with mean age of 61,5years and 54.4years, respectively (p<0.001). Traditional CVRFs as diabetes (14% vs 8.8%), dyslipidemia (49.6% vs 43.7%) and hypertension (60.3 vs 48.7%) were more frequent whereas smoking was less frequent (14.5% vs 19.9%) in cancer survivors (p<0.001). The standard laboratory profile showed cancer survivors with lower erythrocyte, platelet and white blood cell counts and higher C-reactive protein (CRP), glucose, HbA1c and triglycerides levels (p<0.001). Multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, sex and CVRFs demonstrated an independent association with diabetes (odds ratio, OR: 1.24, 1.02-1.50; p=0.027) and higher CRP (OR: 1.01, 1.01-1.02; p=0.00071). Fibrinogen, FV, FVII, FVIII and FXI, D-dimer and vWF activity were higher in cancer survivors (p<0.001). Multivariable logistic regression confirmed an independent association with higher fibrinogen (OR: 1.002, 1.000-1.003) and vWF activity (OR: 1.005, 1.001-1.008). This is the first study investigating CVRFs, inflammation and coagulation profile in individuals with history of cancer from a well characterized population-representative adult sample. It gives evidence for higher prevalence of CVRFs, particularly diabetes in this vulnerable population. Markers of inflammation as CRP and fibrinogen and vWF activity were higher in cancer survivors independent of the cardiovascular risk profile. These results underline the increased risk of CVD and need for development of cardio-oncology programs offering cardiovascular prevention. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Improving cattle nutrition on the Great Plains with shrubs and fecal seeding of fourwing saltbush

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Two in vitro trials were conducted for estimates of dietary percentage of fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens; FS) or winterfat (Krascheninnikovia lanata; WF) to improve diet digestibility when cattle graze mature cool-season grass. Three in vitro trials were conducted to estimate the percentage ...

Biodegradable baked foam made with chayotextle starch mixed with plantain flour and wood fiber

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

New renewable materials are needed to reduce petroleum-based plastic packaging. The effect of plantain flour (PF) and wood fiber (WF) on the properties of starch-based foams (SBFs) were investigated. The SBFs were characterized using physical, thermal, and mechanical methods to better understand the...

U.S. EPA, Pesticide Product Label, NAMCO PINTOFUME, 11/02/1981

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

2011-04-14

... cl o-lTIII"\\iItIoI' p,," at "'-M "'Wf".SI/'IOuII:l' be toe..., 0"1 .. 9'~or .conc'~ "aoo VIda. ... bou''II ()/I ",lllls ao.j DOII'\\ (.Itr' alt.o bill.e

47 CFR 36.154 - Exchange Line Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF)-Category 1-apportionment procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... jurisdictions shall be updated annually as specified in § 36.154(b). [52 FR 17229, May 6, 1987, as amended at 53... services. (b) The costs assigned to subcategories 1.1 and 1.2 shall be directly assigned to the appropriate...

47 CFR 36.154 - Exchange Line Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF)-Category 1-apportionment procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... jurisdictions shall be updated annually as specified in § 36.154(b). [52 FR 17229, May 6, 1987, as amended at 53... services. (b) The costs assigned to subcategories 1.1 and 1.2 shall be directly assigned to the appropriate...