Engineered XcmI cassette-containing vector for PCR-based ...

Indian Academy of Sciences (India)

Unknown

A simple and general method is described to construct a new vector bearing a synthetic XcmI cassette for direct cloning of PCR-amplified genes of interest. Cleavage of the vector with XcmI generates a linearized molecule with a single thymidine (T) overhang at the 3′ ends (T-vector) that facilitates TA cloning of PCR ...

The Plasma-Facing Components Transporter (PFCT) : a Prototype System for PFC Replacement on the new ITER 2001 Cassette Mock-up

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Micciche, G.; Lorenzelli, L.; Muro, L.; Irving, M.

2006-01-01

The remote maintainability of the early ITER divertor cassette (based on the ITER 1998 design) was successfully proved during test campaigns carried out in the Divertor Refurbishment Platform (DRP) at the ENEA research centre at Brasimone over the period 1999-2003. Due to subsequent major modifications in the ITER divertor cassette design, the main focus over the past few years has been on the design and manufacture of the various components, devices and tools needed for refurbishment of the new ITER 2001 Divertor Cassette. The design of this new cassette differs substantially from the earlier version: in particular the shape, weight and attachment system of the Plasma Facing Components (PFC's) has been completely revised, and this also entailed a review of the procedures adopted for its refurbishment. One of the major requirements of the cassette refurbishment process is removal and replacement of the three PFC's. In the old cassette concept, target replacement was performed by means of a purpose-built '' C '' frame slung from a standard bridge crane. The 2001 cassette design precludes such handling methods for a number of reasons, notably because of the extremely tight inter-PFC clearances, and the need for controlled inclination of the target in addition to normal translational movements, both impossible with a simple Cartesian crane. To demonstrate the refurbishment feasibility operations for the new ITER Divertor 2001 cassettes, an experimental machine known as the Plasma-Facing Component Transporter (PFCT) has been designed, fabricated and commissioned in the years 2004-5. This full six degree-of-freedom system has been designed to handle payloads of up to 5 tonnes with good positional accuracy, and axes capable of very low joint velocities, including inclination of the PFC's over the range of ± 10 o in both horizontal axes, and controlled rotation about the vertical axis. Preliminary trials carried out during the commissioning phase have proved its

Tie-down assessment of radioactive material packages on conveyances approach to competent authority approval applications in accordance with TS-R 1 (June 2000) and TS-G-1.1 (June 2002)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Read, J.; Owen, S.; Tso, C.F. [Arup, London (United Kingdom)

2004-07-01

This paper summarizes the authors' findings, during carrying out many package tie-down assessments, regarding the approach to the assessment process, and the issues that may arise. The current regulatory framework, as outlined in the abstract, is considered and possible areas for further development or research are discussed. The safe transport of a package containing radioactive material requires a secure system of retention on the conveyance during transport. The requirements for the assessment of this tie-down system are covered by International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA) Regulations, and by the specific regulatory and guidance materials applying in the country of application. The IAEA regulations have recently been updated in TS-R-1 (June 2000) [1] and TS-G-1.1 (June 2002) [2]. In particular, Appendix V of reference [2] specifically covers 'Package Stowage and Retention during Transport'. In the United Kingdom the Transport Container Standardisation Committee (TCSC) provides guidance on the application of the IAEA regulations in TCSC 1006 ''The securing of Radioactive Materials on Conveyances'' [3], and this document has also been revised in December 2003. The basic requirement of the IAEA regulations is to maintain the integrity of the components of the package and its retention systems during routine operations (TS-R-1 Para 612). In accident conditions the package is permitted and may be required as part of the design (the weak-link approach as discussed later in this paper) to separate from the conveyance, while preserving the package integrity. Any tie-down attachments on the package shall be so designed that, under normal and accident conditions of transport, the forces in those attachments shall not impair the ability of the package to meet the requirements of the Regulations. (TS-R-1 Para 636).

Tie-down assessment of radioactive material packages on conveyances approach to competent authority approval applications in accordance with TS-R 1 (June 2000) and TS-G-1.1 (June 2002)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Read, J.; Owen, S.; Tso, C.F.

2004-01-01

This paper summarizes the authors' findings, during carrying out many package tie-down assessments, regarding the approach to the assessment process, and the issues that may arise. The current regulatory framework, as outlined in the abstract, is considered and possible areas for further development or research are discussed. The safe transport of a package containing radioactive material requires a secure system of retention on the conveyance during transport. The requirements for the assessment of this tie-down system are covered by International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA) Regulations, and by the specific regulatory and guidance materials applying in the country of application. The IAEA regulations have recently been updated in TS-R-1 (June 2000) [1] and TS-G-1.1 (June 2002) [2]. In particular, Appendix V of reference [2] specifically covers 'Package Stowage and Retention during Transport'. In the United Kingdom the Transport Container Standardisation Committee (TCSC) provides guidance on the application of the IAEA regulations in TCSC 1006 ''The securing of Radioactive Materials on Conveyances'' [3], and this document has also been revised in December 2003. The basic requirement of the IAEA regulations is to maintain the integrity of the components of the package and its retention systems during routine operations (TS-R-1 Para 612). In accident conditions the package is permitted and may be required as part of the design (the weak-link approach as discussed later in this paper) to separate from the conveyance, while preserving the package integrity. Any tie-down attachments on the package shall be so designed that, under normal and accident conditions of transport, the forces in those attachments shall not impair the ability of the package to meet the requirements of the Regulations. (TS-R-1 Para 636)

Measurement of the CKM matrix element |V_ts|²

CERN Document Server

Unverdorben, Christopher Gerhard

This is the first direct measurement of the CKM matrix element |V_ts|, using data collected by the ATLAS detector in 2012 at √s=8 TeV pp-collisions with a total integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb⁻¹. The analysis is based on 112171 reconstructed tt̅ candidate events in the lepton+jets channel, having a purity of 90.0 %. 183 tt̅→WWbs̅ decays are expected (charge conjugation implied), which are available for the extraction of the CKM matrix element |V_ts|². To identify these rare decays, several observables are examined, such as the properties of jets, tracks and of b-quark identification algorithms. Furthermore, the s-quark hadrons K0s are considered, reconstructed by a kinematic fit. The best observables are combined in a multivariate analysis, called "boosted decision trees". The responses from Monte Carlo simulations are used as templates for a fit to data events yielding a significance value of 0.7σ for t→s+W decays. An upper limit of |V_ts|² < 1.74 % at 95 % confidence level is set, includi...

Distinct effects of struvite and biochar amendment on the class 1 integron antibiotic resistance gene cassettes in phyllosphere and rhizosphere.

Science.gov (United States)

An, Xin-Li; Chen, Qing-Lin; Zhu, Dong; Su, Jian-Qiang

2018-08-01

Struvite recovered from wastewater is promising for recycling phosphorus into soil as fertilizers. However, struvite application may prompt the proliferation of antibiotic resistance in soil and plant. This study examined the impacts of struvite application and biochar amendment on integrons abundance and gene cassette contexts in rhizosphere soil and phyllosphere using quantitative PCR and clone library analysis. Microcosm experiments revealed that class 1 integron was the most prevalent in all samples, with higher concentration and higher relative abundance in rhizosphere than those in phyllosphere. The majority of resistance gene cassettes were associated with genes encoding resistance to aminoglycosides, beta-lactams and chloramphenicols. Struvite application significantly increased the genetic diversity of antibiotic resistance gene cassettes in both rhizosphere and phyllosphere. However, biochar amendment attenuated the increasing effect of struvite application exerting on the class 1 integron antibiotic resistance gene cassette pool in phyllosphere. These findings highlighted human activities to be the source of integron gene cassette pool and raised the possibility of using biochar amendment as an alternative mean for mitigating antibiotic resistance in environments. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Advanced high temperature superconductor film-based process using RABiTS

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Goyal, A.; Hawsey, R.A.; Hack, J.; Moon, D.

2000-01-01

The purpose of this Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation (Contractor), Managing contractor for Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Midwest Superconductivity, Inc. (MSI) and Westinghouse Science and Electric Company (WEC) was to develop the basis for a commercial process for the manufacturing of superconducting tape based on the RABiTS technology developed at ORNL. The chosen method for deposition of YBCO films on RABiTS was Metal Organic chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD)

Deep-HiTS: Rotation Invariant Convolutional Neural Network for Transient Detection

Science.gov (United States)

Cabrera-Vives, Guillermo; Reyes, Ignacio; Förster, Francisco; Estévez, Pablo A.; Maureira, Juan-Carlos

2017-02-01

We introduce Deep-HiTS, a rotation-invariant convolutional neural network (CNN) model for classifying images of transient candidates into artifacts or real sources for the High cadence Transient Survey (HiTS). CNNs have the advantage of learning the features automatically from the data while achieving high performance. We compare our CNN model against a feature engineering approach using random forests (RFs). We show that our CNN significantly outperforms the RF model, reducing the error by almost half. Furthermore, for a fixed number of approximately 2000 allowed false transient candidates per night, we are able to reduce the misclassified real transients by approximately one-fifth. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time CNNs have been used to detect astronomical transient events. Our approach will be very useful when processing images from next generation instruments such as the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope. We have made all our code and data available to the community for the sake of allowing further developments and comparisons at https://github.com/guille-c/Deep-HiTS. Deep-HiTS is licensed under the terms of the GNU General Public License v3.0.

NEO osobnostní inventář (NEO-PI-3) v diagnostice osobnosti dětí a adolescentů

Czech Academy of Sciences Publication Activity Database

Hřebíčková, Martina

2008-01-01

Roč. 52, č. 5 (2008), s. 425-442 ISSN 0009-062X R&D Projects: GA ČR GA406/07/1561 Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z70250504 Keywords : personality * five-factor model * NEO Personality Inventory * NEO-PI-3 * adolescents Subject RIV: AN - Psychology Impact factor: 0.101, year: 2008

Arc Security System Based on Harmonics Detection for the TS ICRH Transmitter

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Berger-by, G.; Beaumont, B.; Lombard, G.; Millon, L.; Mollard, P.; Volpe, D.

2006-01-01

Since 1999 and with the help of I.P.P. (Institut fuer Plasmaphysik) Garching, we have tested in the Tore Supra (T.S.) ICRH transmitter, arcs security systems based on harmonics detection in a frequency band lower than the generator frequency. These systems have been designed for ASDEX in order to discriminate between the arcs and the ELMS mismatches during H-mode plasmas; they have been supplied to T.S. by a loan contract by I.P.P. The first tests done in T.S. were very successful and have permitted in 2000 to build a prototype matching T.S. technical requirements. These systems have some advantages in comparison with traditional securities which are based on use of a level on the V r /V f (Reflected to Forward voltage ratio) calculation . They do not use calculation, calibration with frequency or level. They can use RF signals from directional couplers or probes, so they are fully independent of the measurement systems. The detection bandwidth (4 MHz-35 MHz on TS) is independent of the antennae working frequencies. The detection principle is therefore insensitive to the crosstalk between the antennae and to the antennae coupling variations. The RF arc security box is installed in the generator hall which can be located far from the torus hall and the antennae (about 50 m on T.S.) a feature which is very relevant for the ITER transmitters. In 2001 we have built 3 systems based on our prototype in order to improve the protection of the 3 ICRH generators and antennae. These systems use industrial pass-band filters and a very sensitive linear detection (- 60 dBm) in order to facilitate the adjustment. Optical fibbers are used to transfer, with a very high immunity, the trip information to the generator electronic pilot. To guarantee safe operation, a checking test of the entire security chain is performed with a 10 MHz RF oscillator before each plasma start. The RF principle used on T.S. ICRH transmitter and its electronic interactions with the VME command control of

Vnitřní konzistence české verze NEO osobnostního inventáře (NEO-PI-R)

Czech Academy of Sciences Publication Activity Database

Hřebíčková, Martina

2002-01-01

Roč. 46, č. 6 (2002), s. 521-535 ISSN 0009-062X Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z7025918 Keywords : Five-factor model of personality * NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R) * basic psychometric characteristics Subject RIV: AN - Psychology Impact factor: 0.190, year: 2002

p21-ras effector domain mutants constructed by "cassette" mutagenesis

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Stone, J C; Vass, W C; Willumsen, B M

1988-01-01

A series of mutations encoding single-amino-acid substitutions within the v-rasH effector domain were constructed, and the ability of the mutants to induce focal transformation of NIH 3T3 cells was studied. The mutations, which spanned codons 32 to 40, were made by a "cassette" mutagenesis...

Simultaneous and multi-criteria optimization of TS requirements and maintenance at NPPs

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Martorell, S.; Sanchez, A.; Carlos, S.; Serradell, V.

2002-01-01

One of the main concerns of the nuclear industry is to improve the availability of safety-related systems at nuclear power plants (NPPs) to achieve high safety levels. The development of efficient testing and maintenance has been traditionally one of the different ways to guarantee high levels of systems availability, which are implemented at NPP through technical specification and maintenance requirements (TS and M). On the other hand, there is a widely recognized interest in using the probabilistic risk analysis (PRA) for risk-informed applications aimed to emphasize both effective risk control and effective resource expenditures at NPPs. TS and M-related parameters in a plant are associated with controlling risk or with satisfying requirements, and are candidate to be evaluated for their resource effectiveness in risk-informed applications. The resource versus risk-control effectiveness principles formally enter in optimization problems where the cost or the burden for the plant staff is to be minimized while the risk or the availability of the safety equipment is constrained to be at a given level, and vice versa. Optimization of TS and M has been found interesting from the very beginning. However, the resolution of such a kind of optimization problem has been limited to focus on only individual TS and M-related parameters (STI, AOT, PM frequency, etc.) and/or adopting an individual optimization criterion (availability, costs, plant risks, etc.). Nevertheless, a number of reasons exist (e.g. interaction, similar scope, etc.) that justify the growing interest in the last years to focus on the simultaneous and multi-criteria optimization of TS and M. In the simultaneous optimization of TS and M-related parameters based on risk (or unavailability) and cost, like in many other engineering optimization problems, one normally faces multi-modal and non-linear objective functions and a variety of both linear and non-linear constraints. Genetic algorithms (GAs) have

Neo-Ottomanism" in the Regional Policy of Turkey

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Elnur Tadzhaddinovich Mehdiyev

2016-01-01

Full Text Available The article is devoted to the ideology of Turkey's foreign policy. The term "neo-Ottomanism" is increasingly used in recent years in relation to the Turkish foreign policy. The concept of neo-Ottomanism, which ideology is the Prime Minister Davutoglu, implies a relationship of foreign policy of modern Turkey with the historical heritage of the Ottomans and its focus on return "last Ottoman", taking into account today's realities. The author examines this phenomenon in the context of the regional policy of Turkey in this period. The main directions of the strategy of neo are the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Crimea, and the Balkans. Particular attention is paid to manifestations of neo-Ottomanism in the post-Soviet region and the Middle East, as well as "soft power" strategy in the Turkish neo-Ottomanism. Activities of Ankara in the regions belonging to the sphere of its geopolitical interests is carried out on political, economic, religious, cultural and educational levels. Rapprochement with the political and business circles of influence of countries in the region is aimed at the formation of pro-Turkish lobby. "Arab Spring" has given Turkey a historic opportunity to realize its neo-Ottoman ambitions and create a new order in the Middle East. Turkey's rapprochement with the Islamic world during the 'Arab Spring' demonstrated that Ankara supported in conjunction with the Western nations protest and opposition movements in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia, aims to demonstrate to the West the growth of its influence in the region. Mediation is used in regional conflicts Turkish leadership as an instrument of "soft power", with which Ankara aims to increase its international and regional credibility. The result of "neo-Ottoman" Turkey's policy in relations with Russia became a serious crisis in all spheres of cooperation. Strategic mistakes made by the head of the republic R. Erdogan in the settlement of the Syrian crisis, may

TS WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA ANALYTICS- DECEMBER 2016

Data.gov (United States)

Department of Veterans Affairs — This PowerPoint included accomplishments reached in December 2016, along with how many TS users and Pulse users there are currently. Not only does this PowerPoint...

TS WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA ANALYTICS NOVEMBER 2016

Data.gov (United States)

Department of Veterans Affairs — This PowerPoint included accomplishments reached in November 2016, along with how many TS users and Pulse users there are currently. Not only does this PowerPoint...

Dilatation and Dysfunction of the Neo-aortic Root and in 76 Patients After the Ross Procedure.

Science.gov (United States)

Zimmermann, Corina A; Weber, Roland; Greutmann, Matthias; Dave, Hitendu; Müller, Christoph; Prêtre, René; Seifert, Burkhardt; Buechel, Emanuela Valsangiacomo; Kretschmar, Oliver; Attenhofer Jost, Christine H

2016-08-01

Pulmonary autograft replacement (Ross procedure) is used as an alternative to prosthetic aortic valve replacement patients with aortic valve disease. There are limited data on incidence and risk factors for dilatation and dysfunction of the neo-aortic after the Ross procedure. Ross procedure was performed in 100 patients at our institution between 1993 and 2011. In 76 patients, complete follow-up data were available. Their median age at surgery was 16 (0.4-58) years (76 % males; 95 % with congenital aortic valve disease). Median follow-up duration was 5.2 years (0.3-16.0 years). We analyzed their clinical and echocardiographic follow-up to identify possible risk factors for neo-aortic root dilatation and dysfunction. Ross procedure included reduction plasty of the native ascending aorta in 25 % of patients. During follow-up, 21 patients (28 %) developed neo-aortic root dilatation, 38 patients (50 %) dilatation oft the native ascending aorta and 7 patients (9 %) at least moderate neo-aortic regurgitation. Univariate risk factors for neo-aortic root dilatation were preoperative aortic regurgitation (p = 0.04), concomitant reduction plasty of the ascending aorta (p = 0.009) and a longer duration of follow-up (p = 0.005). Younger age at surgery was associated with dilatation of the ascending aorta (p = 0.03). Reoperation on the neo-aortic root because of severe dilatation was necessary in 6 patients (8 %), where 2 patients had at least moderate neo-aortic root regurgitation. Neo-aortic root and aortic dilatation are common after the Ross procedure. This is often combined with neo-aortic valve dysfunction. Close follow-up of these patients is mandatory.

ATP Binding cassette transporter gene expression in rat liver progenitor cells

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Ros, J.E.; Roskams, T.A.D.; Geuken, M.; Havinga, R.; Splinter, P.L.; Petersen, B.E.; LaRusso, N.F.; Kolk, van der D.M.; Kuipers, F.; Faber, K.N.; Müller, M.R.; Jansen, P.L.M.

2003-01-01

Background and aim: Liver regeneration after severe liver damage depends in part on proliferation and differentiation of hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs). Under these conditions they must be able to withstand the toxic milieu of the damaged liver. ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters are

ATP binding cassette transporter gene expression in rat liver progenitor cells

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Ros, J. E.; Roskams, T. A. D.; Geuken, M.; Havinga, R.; Splinter, P. L.; Petersen, B. E.; LaRusso, N. F.; van der Kolk, D. M.; Kuipers, F.; Faber, K. N.; Müller, M.; Jansen, P. L. M.

2003-01-01

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Liver regeneration after severe liver damage depends in part on proliferation and differentiation of hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs). Under these conditions they must be able to withstand the toxic milieu of the damaged liver. ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters are

ATP binding cassette transporter gene expression in rat liver progenitor cells

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Ros, J.E.; Roskams, TAD; Geuken, M; Havinga, R; Splinter, PL; Petersen, BE; LaRusso, NF; van der Kolk, D.M.; Kuipers, F; Faber, KN; Muller, M; Jansen, PLM

Background and aim: Liver regeneration after severe liver damage depends in part on proliferation and differentiation of hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs). Under these conditions they must be able to withstand the toxic milieu of the damaged liver. ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters are

NeoPHOX – a structurally tunable ligand system for asymmetric catalysis

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Jaroslav Padevět

2016-06-01

Full Text Available A synthesis of new NeoPHOX ligands derived from serine or threonine has been developed. The central intermediate is a NeoPHOX derivative bearing a methoxycarbonyl group at the stereogenic center next to the oxazoline N atom. The addition of methylmagnesium chloride leads to a tertiary alcohol, which can be acylated or silylated to produce NeoPHOX ligands with different sterical demand. The new NeoPHOX ligands were tested in the iridium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation and palladium-catalyzed allylic substitution. In both reactions high enantioselectivities were achieved, that were comparable to the enantioselectivities obtained with the up to now best NeoPHOX ligand derived from expensive tert-leucine.

Evaluation of D-1 tape and cassette characteristics: Moisture content of Sony and Ampex D-1 tapes when delivered

Science.gov (United States)

Ashton, Gary

Commercial D-1 cassette tapes and their associated recorders were designed to operate in broadcast studios and record in accordance with the International Radio Consultative Committee (CCIR) 607 digital video standards. The D-1 recorder resulted in the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) standards 224 to 228 and is the first digital video recorder to be standardized for the broadcast industry. The D-1 cassette and associated media are currently marketed for broadcast use. The recorder was redesigned for data applications and is in the early stages of being evaluated. The digital data formats used are specified in MIL-STD-2179 and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) X3.175-190 standard. In early 1990, the National Media Laboratory (NML) was asked to study the effects of time, temperature, and relative humidity on commercial D-1 cassettes. The environmental range to be studied was the one selected for the Advanced Tactical Air Reconnaissance System (ATARS) program. Several discussions between NML personnel, ATARS representatives, recorder contractors, and other interested parties were held to decide upon the experimental plan to be implemented. Review meetings were held periodically during the course of the experiment. The experiments were designed to determine the dimensional stability of the media and cassette since this is one of the major limiting factors of helical recorders when the media or recorders are subjected to non-broadcasting environments. Measurements were also made to characterize each sample of cassettes to give preliminary information on which purchase specifications could be developed. The actual tests performed on the cassettes and media before and after aging fall into the general categories listed.

The rate of charge tunneling is insensitive to polar terminal groups in self-assembled monolayers in Ag(TS)S(CH2)(n)M(CH2)(m)T//Ga2O3/EGaIn junctions.

Science.gov (United States)

Yoon, Hyo Jae; Bowers, Carleen M; Baghbanzadeh, Mostafa; Whitesides, George M

2014-01-08

This paper describes a physical-organic study of the effect of uncharged, polar, functional groups on the rate of charge transport by tunneling across self-assembled monolayer (SAM)-based large-area junctions of the form Ag(TS)S(CH2)(n)M(CH2)(m)T//Ga2O3/EGaIn. Here Ag(TS) is a template-stripped silver substrate, -M- and -T are "middle" and "terminal" functional groups, and EGaIn is eutectic gallium-indium alloy. Twelve uncharged polar groups (-T = CN, CO2CH3, CF3, OCH3, N(CH3)2, CON(CH3)2, SCH3, SO2CH3, Br, P(O)(OEt)2, NHCOCH3, OSi(OCH3)3), having permanent dipole moments in the range 0.5 < μ < 4.5, were incorporated into the SAM. A comparison of the electrical characteristics of these junctions with those of junctions formed from n-alkanethiolates led to the conclusion that the rates of charge tunneling are insensitive to the replacement of terminal alkyl groups with the terminal polar groups in this set. The current densities measured in this work suggest that the tunneling decay parameter and injection current for SAMs terminated in nonpolar n-alkyl groups, and polar groups selected from common polar organic groups, are statistically indistinguishable.

Novel environmental class 1 integrons and cassette arrays recovered from an on-farm bio-purification plant.

Science.gov (United States)

Martini, María Carla; Quiroga, María Paula; Pistorio, Mariano; Lagares, Antonio; Centrón, Daniela; Del Papa, María Florencia

2018-03-01

Rapid dissemination and emergence of novel antibiotic resistance genes among bacteria are rising problems worldwide. Since their discovery in clinical isolates in the late 1980s, class 1 integrons have been found in a wide range of bacterial genera and have been extensively studied as contributors to dissemination of antibiotic resistance. The present study aimed to investigate the presence and structure of class 1 integrons in plasmid-carrying bacterial isolates obtained from a biopurification system used for decontamination of pesticide-contaminated water as well as their possible role as reservoir of antimicrobial resistance gene cassettes. A total of 35 representative isolates were screened for the presence of class 1 integron integrase encoded by intI1. PCR and DNA sequencing revealed the presence of six class 1 integrons with four variable regions: 5΄CS-aadA1b-3΄CS, 5΄CS-aadA2-3΄CS, 5΄CS-aadA11cΔ-3΄CS and 5΄CS-dfrB3-aadA1di-catB2-aadA6k-3΄CS, the last two being unseen arrays of antimicrobial resistance gene cassettes associated with novel environmental alleles of intI1. These four class 1 integrons were identified as being present in four different genera, including Ochrobactrum, and Variovorax, where class 1 integrons have not been previously reported. The results provide evidence of the biopurification systems as a tank of class 1 integron carrying strains and novel environmental class 1 integron integrases associated with antimicrobial resistance gene cassette arrays. © FEMS 2017. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Evaluation of the Airborne CASI/TASI Ts-VI Space Method for Estimating Near-Surface Soil Moisture

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Lei Fan

2015-03-01

Full Text Available High spatial resolution airborne data with little sub-pixel heterogeneity were used to evaluate the suitability of the temperature/vegetation (Ts/VI space method developed from satellite observations, and were explored to improve the performance of the Ts/VI space method for estimating soil moisture (SM. An evaluation of the airborne ΔTs/Fr space (incorporated with air temperature revealed that normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI saturation and disturbed pixels were hindering the appropriate construction of the space. The non-disturbed ΔTs/Fr space, which was modified by adjusting the NDVI saturation and eliminating the disturbed pixels, was clearly correlated with the measured SM. The SM estimations of the non-disturbed ΔTs/Fr  space using the evaporative fraction (EF and temperature vegetation dryness index (TVDI were validated by using the SM measured at a depth of 4 cm, which was determined according to the land surface types. The validation results show that the EF approach provides superior estimates with a lower RMSE (0.023 m3·m−3 value and a higher correlation coefficient (0.68 than the TVDI. The application of the airborne ΔTs/Fr  space shows that the two modifications proposed in this study strengthen the link between the ΔTs/Fr space and SM, which is important for improving the precision of the remote sensing Ts/VI space method for monitoring SM.

ZIP8 zinc transporter: indispensable role for both multiple-organ organogenesis and hematopoiesis in utero.

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Marina Gálvez-Peralta

Full Text Available Previously this laboratory characterized Slc39a8-encoded ZIP8 as a Zn(2+/(HCO(3(-(2 symporter; yet, the overall physiological importance of ZIP8 at the whole-organism level remains unclear. Herein we describe the phenotype of the hypomorphic Slc39a8(neo/neo mouse which has retained the neomycin-resistance gene in intron 3, hence causing significantly decreased ZIP8 mRNA and protein levels in embryo, fetus, placenta, yolk sac, and several tissues of neonates. The Slc39a8(neo allele is associated with diminished zinc and iron uptake in mouse fetal fibroblast and liver-derived cultures; consequently, Slc39a8(neo/neo newborns exhibit diminished zinc and iron levels in several tissues. Slc39a8(neo/neo homozygotes from gestational day(GD-11.5 onward are pale, growth-stunted, and die between GD18.5 and 48 h postnatally. Defects include: severely hypoplastic spleen; hypoplasia of liver, kidney, lung, and lower limbs. Histologically, Slc39a8(neo/neo neonates show decreased numbers of hematopoietic islands in yolk sac and liver. Low hemoglobin, hematocrit, red cell count, serum iron, and total iron-binding capacity confirmed severe anemia. Flow cytometry of fetal liver cells revealed the erythroid series strikingly affected in the hypomorph. Zinc-dependent 5-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase, required for heme synthesis, was not different between Slc39a8(+/+ and Slc39a8(neo/neo offspring. To demonstrate further that the mouse phenotype is due to ZIP8 deficiency, we bred Slc39a8(+/neo with BAC-transgenic BTZIP8-3 line (carrying three extra copies of the Slc39a8 allele; this cross generated viable Slc39a8(neo/neo_BTZIP8-3(+/+ pups showing none of the above-mentioned congenital defects-proving Slc39a8(neo/neo causes the described phenotype. Our study demonstrates that ZIP8-mediated zinc transport plays an unappreciated critical role during in utero and neonatal growth, organ morphogenesis, and hematopoiesis.

Internal Gene Cassette from a Genotype S H9N2 Avian Influenza Virus Attenuates the Pathogenicity of H5 Viruses in Chickens and Mice

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Xiaoli Hao

2017-10-01

Full Text Available H9N2 avian influenza virus (AIV of genotype S frequently donate internal genes to facilitate the generation of novel reassortants such as H7N9, H10N8, H5N2 and H5N6 AIVs, posing an enormous threat to both human health and poultry industry. However, the pathogenicity and transmission of reassortant H5 viruses with internal gene cassette of genotype S H9N2-origin in chickens and mice remain unknown. In this study, four H5 reassortants carrying the HA and NA genes from different clades of H5 viruses and the remaining internal genes from an H9N2 virus of the predominant genotype S were generated by reverse genetics. We found that all four H5 reassortant viruses showed attenuated virulence in both chickens and mice, thus leading to increased the mean death times compared to the corresponding parental viruses. Consistently, the polymerase activity and replication ability in mammalian and avian cells, and the cytokine responses in the lungs of chickens and mice were also decreased when compared to their respective parental viruses. Moreover, these reassortants transmitted from birds to birds by direct contact but not by an airborne route. Our data indicate that the internal genes as a whole cassette from genotype S H9N2 viruses play important roles in reducing the pathogenicity of the H5 recombinants in chickens and mice, and might contribute to the circulation in avian or mammalian hosts.

Effect of genomic location on horizontal transfer of a recombinant gene cassette between Pseudomonas strains in the rhizosphere and spermosphere of barley seedlings

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Sengelov, G.; Kristensen, K. J.; Sørensen, Anders Morten Hay

2001-01-01

, horizontal transfer of a recombinant gene cassette inserted into the chromosome of a Pseudomonas strutzeri strain, into a mobilizable plasmid (pAGM42), and into a conjugative plasmid (pKJK5) isolated from barley rhizosphere was investigated. Horizontal transfer efficiencies of the gene cassette inserted...... efficiencies were up to 4.36 x 10(-3) transconjugants/(donors x recipients)(1/2). Transfer of chromosomal encoded genes could not be detected in the microcosms by conjugation or transformation. However, transformation did occur by using the same bacterial strains under laboratory conditions. The rhizosphere...

Second Generation HTs Wire Based on RABiTS Substrates and MOD YBCO

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Schoop, U. [American Superconductor Corporation, Westborough, MA; Rupich, Marty [American Superconductor Corporation, Westborough, MA; Thieme, C. L. H. [American Superconductor Corporation, Westborough, MA; Verebelyi, D. T. [American Superconductor Corporation, Westborough, MA; Zhang, W. [American Superconductor Corporation, Westborough, MA; Li, Xiaoping [American Superconductor Corporation, Westborough, MA; Kodenkandath, Thomas [American Superconductor Corporation, Westborough, MA; Nguyen, N. [American Superconductor Corporation, Westborough, MA; Siegal, E. E. [American Superconductor Corporation, Westborough, MA; Civale, L. [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL); Holesinger, T. G. [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL); Maiorov, B. [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL); Goyal, Amit [ORNL; Paranthaman, Mariappan Parans [ORNL

2005-01-01

The performance of Second Generation (2G) high temperature superconducting wire manufactured by continuous reel-to-reel processes is nearing the 300 A/cm-width (77 K, self field) performance threshold for commercial power cable applications. The 2G manufacturing approach under development at American Superconductor is based on the combination of the RABiTS substrate-buffer technology with metal organic deposition (MOD) of the YBCO layer. The capability of this process has been demonstrated in multiple 10 meter lengths with critical currents exceeding 250 A/cm-width with high uniformity and reproducibility. Critical currents of 380 A/cm-width have been achieved in short length samples prepared by the same basic process. The incorporation of nanoparticles ('nanodots') into the YBCO layer using the MOD process has resulted in a 2-fold improvement in the critical current at 65 K in a 3 T field. The research and development focus at ASMC is now directed toward the economical scale-up of the RABiTS/MOD process, optimization of the conductor properties for targeted applications and the use of 2G wire in initial demonstration applications.

ERCC1 and TS Expression as Prognostic and Predictive Biomarkers in Metastatic Colon Cancer.

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Michel B Choueiri

Full Text Available In patients with metastatic colon cancer, response to first line chemotherapy is a strong predictor of overall survival (OS. Currently, oncologists lack diagnostic tests to determine which chemotherapy regimen offers the greatest chance for response in an individual patient. Here we present the results of gene expression analysis for two genes, ERCC1 and TS, measured with the commercially available ResponseDX: Colon assay (Response Genetics, Los Angeles, CA in 41 patients with de novo metastatic colon cancer diagnosed between July 2008 and August 2013 at the University of California, San Diego. In addition ERCC1 and TS expression levels as determined by RNAseq and survival data for patients in TCGA were downloaded from the TCGA data portal. We found that patients with low expression of ERCC1 (n = 33 had significantly longer median OS (36.0 vs. 10.1 mo, HR 0.29, 95% CI .095 to .84, log-rank p = 9.0x10-6 and median time to treatment to failure (TTF following first line chemotherapy (14.1 vs. 2.4 mo, HR 0.17, 95% CI 0.048 to 0.58, log-rank p = 5.3x10-4 relative to those with high expression (n = 4. After accounting for the covariates age, sex, tumor grade and ECOG performance status in a Cox proportional hazard model the association of low ERCC1 with longer OS (HR 0.18, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.26, p = 0.0448 and TTF (HR 0.16, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.21, p = 0.0053 remained significant. Patients with low TS expression (n = 29 had significantly longer median OS (36.0 vs. 14.8 mo, HR 0.25, 95% CI 0.074 to 0.82, log-rank p = 0.022 relative to those with high expression (n = 12. The combined low expression of ERCC1/TS was predictive of response in patients treated with FOLFOX (40% vs. 91%, RR 2.3, Fisher's exact test p = 0.03, n = 27, but not with FOLFIRI (71% vs. 71%, RR 1.0, Fisher's exact test p = 1, n = 14. Overall, these findings suggest that measurement of ERCC1 and TS expression has potential clinical utility in managing patients with metastatic colorectal

CRISPR-Mediated Integration of Large Gene Cassettes Using AAV Donor Vectors

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Rasmus O. Bak

2017-07-01

Full Text Available The CRISPR/Cas9 system has recently been shown to facilitate high levels of precise genome editing using adeno-associated viral (AAV vectors to serve as donor template DNA during homologous recombination (HR. However, the maximum AAV packaging capacity of ∼4.5 kb limits the donor size. Here, we overcome this constraint by showing that two co-transduced AAV vectors can serve as donors during consecutive HR events for the integration of large transgenes. Importantly, the method involves a single-step procedure applicable to primary cells with relevance to therapeutic genome editing. We use the methodology in primary human T cells and CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells to site-specifically integrate an expression cassette that, as a single donor vector, would otherwise amount to a total of 6.5 kb. This approach now provides an efficient way to integrate large transgene cassettes into the genomes of primary human cells using HR-mediated genome editing with AAV vectors.

The Neo-Victorian Novel, 1990-2010

OpenAIRE

Worthington, Julia

2013-01-01

The final decade of the twentieth century and the first decade of the twenty-first witnessed a surge of published novels with direct and indirect connection to the Victorian era, at a time when a focus on the new millenium might have been expected. This proliferation of what came to be termed 'neo-Victorian novels' shows no sign of abating and has now given rise to scholarly research on the subject. The principal aim of this thesis is to examine the rise of the neo-Victorian novel during ...

Neo-classical economics, institutional economics and improved fisheries management

NARCIS (Netherlands)

van der Burg, Tsjalle

2000-01-01

According to neo-classical economists, taxes and individual transferable quotas (ITQs) are the most efficient measures for dealing with the problem of overfishing. Institutional economists, however, criticise neo-classical economists for neglecting political problems, enforcement problems and

Utilization of a lateral flow colloidal gold immunoassay strip based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy for ultrasensitive detection of antibiotics in milk

Science.gov (United States)

Shi, Qiaoqiao; Huang, Jie; Sun, Yaning; Yin, Mengqi; Hu, Mei; Hu, Xiaofei; Zhang, Zhijun; Zhang, Gaiping

2018-05-01

An ultrasensitive method for the detection of antibiotics in milk is developed based on inexpensive, simple, rapid and portable lateral flow immunoassay (LFI) strip, in combination with high sensitivity surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). In our strategy, an immunoprobe was prepared from colloidal gold (AuNPs) conjugated with both a monoclonal antibody against neomycin (NEO-mAb) and a Raman probe molecule 4-aminothiophenol (PATP). The competitive interaction with immunoprobe between free NEO and the coated antigen (NEO-OVA) resulted in the change of the amount of the immobilized immunoprobe on the paper substrate. The LFI procedure was completed within 15 min. The Raman intensity of PATP on the test line of the LFI strip was measured for the quantitative determination of NEO. The IC50 and the limit of detection (LOD) of this assay are 0.04 ng/mL and 0.216 pg/mL of NEO, respectively. There is no cross-reactivity (CR) of the assay with other compounds, showing high specificity of the assay. The recoveries for milk samples with added NEO are in the range of 89.7%-105.6% with the relative standard deviations (RSD) of 2.4%-5.3% (n = 3). The result reveals that this method possesses high specificity, sensitivity, reproducibility and stability, and can be used to detect a variety of antibiotic residues in milk samples.

Les coûts du diabète sur 10 ans au Canada : intégration des coûts en soins de santé imputables au diabète à un modèle de prédiction de son incidence

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Anja Bilandzic

2017-01-01

Full Text Available Introduction : Notre objectif était d’estimer les coûts de santé directs liés au traitement du diabète au Canada sur 10 ans, à l’aide de données de sondages nationaux et d’un outil de prévision du risque de diabète, ainsi que les coûts par personne. Méthodologie : Nous avons utilisé le Diabetes Population Risk Tool pour estimer le nombre de nouveaux cas de diabète chez les personnes âgées de 20 ans et plus sur 10 ans (jusqu'en 2022 à l’aide des données de 2011 et de 2012 de l’Enquête sur la santé dans les collectivités canadiennes. Nous avons évalué les coûts liés au diabète à partir d’une étude de cohorte faisant appel à l’appariement par score de propension, en utilisant la base de données sur le diabète de l’Ontario ainsi que d’autres données administratives. Nous avons calculé les coûts totaux en utilisant les coûts associés aux nouveaux cas, en tenant compte du sexe, de l’année du diagnostic et des taux de mortalité annuels dus à la maladie. Résultats : D'après nos calculs, le risque de développer le diabète sur 10 ans s’élevait pour la population canadienne en 2011-2012 à 9,98 %, soit 2,16 millions de nouveaux cas. Les coûts totaux en soins de santé imputables au diabète pendant cette période sont de 15,36 milliards (7,55 milliards pour les femmes et 7,81 milliards pour les hommes. Ce sont les hospitalisations de courte durée qui constituent la majeure partie de ces coûts (43,2 %. Des interventions menées au sein de la population entraînant une perte de poids de 5 % au sein de la population permettraient de réduire les coûts des soins de santé de 2,03 milliards de dollars. Une réduction du risque de 30 % obtenue grâce à des interventions auprès des personnes à plus haut risque de développer le diabète (c.-à-d. les 10 % au sommet du groupe à risque le plus élevé entraînerait des économies de l’ordrede 1,48 million de dollars. Conclusion : D'ici 2022

ExploreNEOs. III. PHYSICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF 65 POTENTIAL SPACECRAFT TARGET ASTEROIDS

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Mueller, Michael; Delbo', M.; Hora, J. L.; Fazio, G.; Smith, H. A.; Spahr, T. B.; Trilling, D. E.; Thomas, C. A.; Bhattacharya, B.; Bottke, W. F.; Chesley, S.; Mainzer, A.; Emery, J. P.; Harris, A. W.; Mommert, M.; Penprase, B.; Stansberry, J. A.

2011-01-01

Space missions to near-Earth objects (NEOs) are being planned at all major space agencies, and recently a manned mission to an NEO was announced as a NASA goal. Efforts to find and select suitable targets (plus backup targets) are severely hampered by our lack of knowledge of the physical properties of dynamically favorable NEOs. In particular, current mission scenarios tend to favor primitive low-albedo objects. For the vast majority of NEOs, the albedo is unknown. Here we report new constraints on the size and albedo of 65 NEOs with rendezvous Δv -1 . Our results are based on thermal-IR flux data obtained in the framework of our ongoing (2009-2011) ExploreNEOs survey using NASA's 'Warm-Spitzer' space telescope. As of 2010 July 14, we have results for 293 objects in hand (including the 65 low-Δv NEOs presented here); before the end of 2011, we expect to have measured the size and albedo of ∼700 NEOs (including probably ∼160 low-Δv NEOs). While there are reasons to believe that primitive volatile-rich materials are universally low in albedo, the converse need not be true: the orbital evolution of some dark objects likely has caused them to lose their volatiles by coming too close to the Sun. For all our targets, we give the closest perihelion distance they are likely to have reached (using orbital integrations from Marchi et al. 2009) and corresponding upper limits on the past surface temperature. Low-Δv objects for which both albedo and thermal history may suggest a primitive composition include (162998) 2001 SK162, (68372) 2001 PM9, and (100085) 1992 UY4.

Generation of a gene cassette for genetically engineered Salmonella Enteritidis in the specific region of the sipC gene

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M Ghasemi

2017-05-01

Full Text Available Introduction: Salmonellosis is an infection caused by eating contaminated food with Salmonella, and it can occur in humans and other animals. Salmonella has acquired the ability to create the infection due to the presence of several virulence genes. One of the virulence genes of salmonella is sipC gene that coding the SipC protein. The aim of this study was creating the gene cassette to genetically engineered Salmonella enteritidis in the specific region of the sipC gene. Methods: In this study, after DNA extraction from Salmonella, the upstream and downstream regions of the sipC gene was amplified based on PCR method. The PCR products were cloned with T/A cloning method and they were inserted into the pGEM vector. In order to generate the final gene cassette, each of the upstream and downstream regions of the sipC gene was subcloned into the pET32 vector, and cloning accuracy was assessed by PCR and enzyme digestion methods. Results: Amplification of the 320 bp upstream and 206 bp downstream of sipC gene was successful by PCR method. T/A cloning of these fragments were caused the formation of two pGEM-up and pGEM-down recombinant vectors. Results that were confirmed the sub-cloning accuracy indicate the formation of the final pET32-up-down gene cassette. Conclusion: The generated gene cassette in this study was considered as a multi-purpose cassette that is able to specific gene manipulation of Salmonella sipC gene by homologous recombination matched. This gene cassette has the necessary potential for sipC gene deletion or insertion of any useful gene instead of sipC gene.

Audio Cassettes as a Means of Professional Continuing Education for Pharmacists.

Science.gov (United States)

De Muth, James E.

1979-01-01

Lectures on audiotape cassettes are used by the University of Wisconsin-Extension for continuing profesional education of pharmacists. Evaluation statements from over 700 pharmacists revealed that participants viewed these courses as convenient, time-saving, and valuable learning experiences. The model presented in this study could be adapted for…

Konstantin Päts ja NSV Liidu Tallinna saatkond / Magnus Ilmjärv

Index Scriptorium Estoniae

Ilmjärv, Magnus, 1961-

1999-01-01

Järg Sep/13,14,15,16,17,18,20,21,22,22 lk. 17,21,17,18,18,16,17,21,18,14. Päts kui Nõukogude saatkonna lobitegija. Välisminister Pusta kangutamine. Pätsi info venelastele J. Tõnissoni kohta. Balti riikide vahelise koostöö takistamine. J. Puhk tõmmati venelaste mõjusfääri. Päts nõuab Eesti valitsuselt uut kaubanduslepingut venelastega

Neumomediastino espontáneo recidivante

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Damaris Reyes Hernández

2017-12-01

Full Text Available El neumomediastino espontáneo se caracteriza por la presencia de aire en el mediastino. Es una enfermedad generalmente benigna y autolimitada, no asociada a causa directa conocida. Es de infrecuente ocurrencia. Se presenta principalmente con dolor torácico, disnea y enfisema subcutáneo. El diagnóstico se realiza sobre la base del cuadro clínico y radiografía o tomografía axial computarizada de tórax. Se presenta el caso de un paciente masculino de 17 años de edad, atleta de alto rendimiento, que comienza de forma súbita con dolor torácico, disnea y enfisema subcutáneo. Se le realizó radiografía de tórax en la que se observa la presencia de aire en el mediastino, y se corrobora el diagnóstico de neumomediastino mediante tomografía axial computarizada de tórax. Recibió tratamiento conservador con mejoría evidente. Aunque la literatura reporta que no es habitual la recurrencia, en el paciente que se presenta hubo recidiva del neumomediastino a los tres meses del primer evento. Se presenta este caso por lo infrecuente de esta enfermedad y su recurrencia.

Photocatalytic hydrogen generation over Eosin Y-Sensitized TS-1 zeolite

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Zhang Xiaojie; Jin Zhiliang; Li Yuexiang; Li Shuben; Lu Gongxuan

2008-01-01

Eosin Y-sensitized TS-1 zeolite was studied for the photo-reduction of water into hydrogen driven by visible light (λ ≥ 420 nm). The optimal pH and weight ratio between Eosin Y and TS-1 zeolite is 7 and 1/8, respectively. In the presence of triethanolamine (TEA) as an electron donor, the highest rate of hydrogen generation and apparent quantum efficiency are 34 μmol h -1 and 9.4%, respectively, under visible light irradiation (λ ≥ 420 nm). Short-term stability test indicates that the catalyst is rather stable during 50 h photoreaction

Photocatalytic hydrogen generation over Eosin Y-Sensitized TS-1 zeolite

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Zhang Xiaojie [State Key Laboratory for Oxo Synthesis and Selective Oxidation, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianshui Zhong Road 18, Lanzhou 730000 (China); Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101 (China); Jin Zhiliang [State Key Laboratory for Oxo Synthesis and Selective Oxidation, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianshui Zhong Road 18, Lanzhou 730000 (China); Li Yuexiang [Department of Chemistry, Nanchang University, Nanjing Road 245, Nanchang 330047 (China); Li Shuben [State Key Laboratory for Oxo Synthesis and Selective Oxidation, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianshui Zhong Road 18, Lanzhou 730000 (China); Lu Gongxuan [State Key Laboratory for Oxo Synthesis and Selective Oxidation, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianshui Zhong Road 18, Lanzhou 730000 (China)], E-mail: gxlu@lzb.ac.cn

2008-05-30

Eosin Y-sensitized TS-1 zeolite was studied for the photo-reduction of water into hydrogen driven by visible light ({lambda} {>=} 420 nm). The optimal pH and weight ratio between Eosin Y and TS-1 zeolite is 7 and 1/8, respectively. In the presence of triethanolamine (TEA) as an electron donor, the highest rate of hydrogen generation and apparent quantum efficiency are 34 {mu}mol h{sup -1} and 9.4%, respectively, under visible light irradiation ({lambda} {>=} 420 nm). Short-term stability test indicates that the catalyst is rather stable during 50 h photoreaction.

Uncovering the evolutionary history of neo-XY sex chromosomes in the grasshopper Ronderosia bergii (Orthoptera, Melanoplinae) through satellite DNA analysis.

Science.gov (United States)

Palacios-Gimenez, Octavio M; Milani, Diogo; Lemos, Bernardo; Castillo, Elio R; Martí, Dardo A; Ramos, Erica; Martins, Cesar; Cabral-de-Mello, Diogo C

2018-01-08

Neo-sex chromosome systems arose independently multiple times in evolution, presenting the remarkable characteristic of repetitive DNAs accumulation. Among grasshoppers, occurrence of neo-XY was repeatedly noticed in Melanoplinae. Here we analyzed the most abundant tandem repeats of R. bergii (2n = 22, neo-XY♂) using deep Illumina sequencing and graph-based clustering in order to address the neo-sex chromosomes evolution. The analyses revealed ten families of satDNAs comprising about ~1% of the male genome, which occupied mainly C-positive regions of autosomes. Regarding the sex chromosomes, satDNAs were recorded within centromeric or interstitial regions of the neo-X chromosome and four satDNAs occurred in the neo-Y, two of them being exclusive (Rber248 and Rber299). Using a combination of probes we uncovered five well-defined cytological variants for neo-Y, originated by multiple paracentric inversions and satDNA amplification, besides fragmented neo-Y. These neo-Y variants were distinct in frequency between embryos and adult males. The genomic data together with cytogenetic mapping enabled us to better understand the neo-sex chromosome dynamics in grasshoppers, reinforcing differentiation of neo-X and neo-Y and revealing the occurrence of multiple additional rearrangements involved in the neo-Y evolution of R. bergii. We discussed the possible causes that led to differences in frequency for the neo-Y variants between embryos and adults. Finally we hypothesize about the role of DNA satellites in R. bergii as well as putative historical events involved in the evolution of the R. bergii neo-XY.

NEUMOTÓRAX ESPONTÁNEO ASOCIADO A FIBROSIS PULMONAR EN UN PACIENTE CON NEUROFIBROMATOSIS TIPO 2

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Gabriel Alcalá Cerra

2010-04-01

Full Text Available El compromiso pulmonar en pacientes con neurofibromatosis ha sido reiteradamente descrito como una complicación muy rara en la variedad tipo 1. Se caracteriza por enfermedad pulmonar intersticial difusa, fibrosis pulmonar, neoplasias torácicas y formación de bulas, estas últimas, con alto riesgo de ruptura. Describimos un caso de neumotórax espontáneo en una paciente con neurofibromatosis tipo 2, como consecuencia de cambios fibróticos pulmonares. A nuestro conocimiento, esta asociación no había sido reportada.

Serum albumin promotes ATP-binding cassette transporter-dependent sterol uptake in yeast

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Marek, Magdalena; Silvestro, Daniele; Fredslund, Maria D.

2014-01-01

Sterol uptake in fungi is a multistep process that involves interaction between external sterols and the cell wall, incorporation of sterol molecules into the plasma membrane, and subsequent integration into intracellular membranes for turnover. ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters have been...

Neo-liberal economic practices and population health: a cross-national analysis, 1980-2004.

Science.gov (United States)

Tracy, Melissa; Kruk, Margaret E; Harper, Christine; Galea, Sandro

2010-04-01

Although there has been substantial debate and research concerning the economic impact of neo-liberal practices, there is a paucity of research about the potential relation between neo-liberal economic practices and population health. We assessed the extent to which neo-liberal policies and practices are associated with population health at the national level. We collected data on 119 countries between 1980 and 2004. We measured neo-liberalism using the Fraser Institute's Economic Freedom of the World (EFW) Index, which gives an overall score as well as a score for each of five different aspects of neo-liberal economic practices: (1) size of government, (2) legal structure and security of property rights, (3) access to sound money, (4) freedom to exchange with foreigners and (5) regulation of credit, labor and business. Our measure of population health was under-five mortality. We controlled for potential mediators (income distribution, social capital and openness of political institutions) and confounders (female literacy, total population, rural population, fertility, gross domestic product per capita and time period). In longitudinal multivariable analyses, we found that the EFW index did not have an effect on child mortality but that two of its components: improved security of property rights and access to sound money were associated with lower under-five mortality (p = 0.017 and p = 0.024, respectively). When stratifying the countries by level of income, less regulation of credit, labor and business was associated with lower under-five mortality in high-income countries (p = 0.001). None of the EFW components were significantly associated with under-five mortality in low-income countries. This analysis suggests that the concept of 'neo-liberalism' is not a monolithic entity in its relation to health and that some 'neo-liberal' policies are consistent with improved population health. Further work is needed to corroborate or refute these findings.

Bureau de documentation TS/EL/DO

CERN Document Server

Dujardin, M

2004-01-01

Le bureau de documentation a comme responsabilité de fournir et manager toute la documentation nécessaire au groupe TS-EL. Ce travail utilise des outils CAO (EUCLID- AUTOCAD) et de gestion de base de donnés ORACLE (GESMAR,EDMS) largement utilisé dans le département TS mais aussi des applications métiers tel que le transfert des donnés CAO vers les bases de données, le cheminement automatique ou la schématique électrique. La section se concentre sur des études de grands ensembles et l'intégration 3D des équipements électriques. Les études de services généraux sont généralement sous-traitées. Le projet LHC occupe actuellement la quasi totalité de nos ressources. Pour mener à bien les études électriques du LHC, caractérisées par une définition tardive des besoins et de nombreuses modifications, une structure souple et réactive a été mis en place : Une cellule CAO 3D EUCLID, en charge des layouts d'équipements et des cheminements, en relation avec l'intégration, et une cellule d'é...

Computational prediction of CRISPR cassettes in gut metagenome samples from Chinese type-2 diabetic patients and healthy controls.

Science.gov (United States)

Mangericao, Tatiana C; Peng, Zhanhao; Zhang, Xuegong

2016-01-11

CRISPR has been becoming a hot topic as a powerful technique for genome editing for human and other higher organisms. The original CRISPR-Cas (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats coupled with CRISPR-associated proteins) is an important adaptive defence system for prokaryotes that provides resistance against invading elements such as viruses and plasmids. A CRISPR cassette contains short nucleotide sequences called spacers. These unique regions retain a history of the interactions between prokaryotes and their invaders in individual strains and ecosystems. One important ecosystem in the human body is the human gut, a rich habitat populated by a great diversity of microorganisms. Gut microbiomes are important for human physiology and health. Metagenome sequencing has been widely applied for studying the gut microbiomes. Most efforts in metagenome study has been focused on profiling taxa compositions and gene catalogues and identifying their associations with human health. Less attention has been paid to the analysis of the ecosystems of microbiomes themselves especially their CRISPR composition. We conducted a preliminary analysis of CRISPR sequences in a human gut metagenomic data set of Chinese individuals of type-2 diabetes patients and healthy controls. Applying an available CRISPR-identification algorithm, PILER-CR, we identified 3169 CRISPR cassettes in the data, from which we constructed a set of 1302 unique repeat sequences and 36,709 spacers. A more extensive analysis was made for the CRISPR repeats: these repeats were submitted to a more comprehensive clustering and classification using the web server tool CRISPRmap. All repeats were compared with known CRISPRs in the database CRISPRdb. A total of 784 repeats had matches in the database, and the remaining 518 repeats from our set are potentially novel ones. The computational analysis of CRISPR composition based contigs of metagenome sequencing data is feasible. It provides an efficient

Combination of MALDI-MSI and cassette dosing for evaluation of drug distribution in human skin explant

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Sørensen, Isabella S; Janfelt, Christian; Nielsen, Mette Marie B

2017-01-01

Study of skin penetration and distribution of the drug compounds in the skin is a major challenge in the development of topical drug products for treatment of skin diseases. It is crucial to have fast and efficacious screening methods which can provide information concerning the skin penetration ...... that combination of MALDI-MSI and cassette dosing can be used as a medium throughput screening tool at an early stage in the drug discovery/development process. Graphical abstract Investigation of drug distribution in human skin explant by MALDI-MSI after cassette dosing....

Neo-phalloplasty with re-innervated latissimus dorsi free flap: a functional study of a novel technique.

Science.gov (United States)

Ranno, R; Veselý, J; Hýza, P; Stupka, I; Justan, I; Dvorák, Z; Monni, N; Novák, P; Ranno, S

2007-01-01

Twenty two patients with gender dysphoria underwent neo-phalloplasties using a novel technique. Latissimus dorsi musculocutaneus re-innervated free flap was used to allow voluntary rigidity of the neo-penis. From the first 22 patients, 18 have obtained motoric function of reconstructed penis; the "paradox erection" was obtained. 14 patients came for examination after a follow-up period of mean 26.4 months. We evaluated the motility and shape changes of neo-phallus measuring its different size and dimension during relax and muscle contraction. The range of neo-phallus length in relaxed position was between 7 and 17 cm (mean 12.2 cm), its circumference in the same position had a range between 13 and 20 cm (mean 13.7 cm). All patients were able to contract the muscle with an average length reduction of 3.08 cm and an average circumference enlargement of 4 cm. In this study, the dimensions and motility were quantified demonstrating the neo-phallus function and size changes during sexual intercourse.

In situ hydrothermal synthesis of a novel hierarchically porous TS-1/modified-diatomite composite for methylene blue (MB) removal by the synergistic effect of adsorption and photocatalysis.

Science.gov (United States)

Yuan, Weiwei; Yuan, Peng; Liu, Dong; Yu, Wenbin; Laipan, Minwang; Deng, Liangliang; Chen, Fanrong

2016-01-15

Hierarchically porous TS-1/modified-diatomite composites with high removal efficiency for methylene blue (MB) were prepared via a facile in situ hydrothermal route. The surface charge state of the diatomite was modified to enhance the electrostatic interactions, followed by in situ hydrothermal coating with TS-1 nanoparticles. The zeolite loading amount in the composites could be adjusted by changing the hydrothermal time. The highest specific surface area and micropore volume of the obtained composites were 521.3m(2)/g and 0.254cm(3)/g, respectively, with an optimized zeolite loading amount of 96.8%. Based on the synergistic effect of efficient adsorption and photocatalysis resulting from the newly formed hierarchically porous structure and improved dispersion of TS-1 nanoparticles onto diatomite, the composites' removal efficiency for MB reached 99.1% after 2h of photocatalytic reaction, even higher than that observed using pure TS-1 nanoparticles. Moreover, the superior MB removal kinetics of the composites were well represented by a pseudo-first-order model, with a rate constant (5.28×10(-2)min(-1)) more than twice as high as that of pure TS-1 nanoparticles (2.43×10(-2)min(-1)). The significant dye removal performance of this novel TS-1/modified-diatomite composite indicates that it is a promising candidate for use in waste water treatment. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Neo-classical impurity transport

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Stringer, T.E.

The neo-classical theory for impurity transport in a toroidal plasma is outlined, and the results discussed. A general account is given of the impurity behaviour and its dependence on collisionality. The underlying physics is described with special attention to the role of the poloidal rotation

Role of the SRRz/Rz1 lambdoid lysis cassette in the pathoadaptive evolution of Shigella.

Science.gov (United States)

Leuzzi, Adriano; Grossi, Milena; Di Martino, Maria Letizia; Pasqua, Martina; Micheli, Gioacchino; Colonna, Bianca; Prosseda, Gianni

2017-06-01

Shigella, the etiological agent of bacillary dysentery (shigellosis), is a highly adapted human pathogen. It evolved from an innocuous ancestor resembling the Escherichia coli strain by gain and loss of genes and functions. While the gain process concerns the acquisition of the genetic determinants of virulence, the loss is related to the adaptation of the genome to the new pathogenic status and occurs by pathoadaptive mutation of antivirulence genes. In this study, we highlight that the SRRz/Rz 1 lambdoid lysis cassette, even though stably adopted in E. coli K12 by virtue of its beneficial effect on cell physiology, has undergone a significant decay in Shigella. Moreover, we show the antivirulence nature of the SRRz/Rz 1 lysis cassette in Shigella. In fact, by restoring the SRRz/Rz 1 expression in this pathogen, we observe an increased release of peptidoglycan fragments, causing an unbalance in the fine control exerted by Shigella on host innate immunity and a mitigation of its virulence. This strongly affects the virulence of Shigella and allows to consider the loss of SRRz/Rz 1 lysis cassette as another pathoadaptive event in the life of Shigella. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Historicism and neo-Kantianism.

Science.gov (United States)

Beiser, Fred

2008-12-01

This article treats the conflict between historicism and neo-Kantianism in the late nineteenth century by a careful examination of the writings of Wilhelm Windelband, the leader of the Southwestern neo-Kantians. Historicism was a profound challenge to the fundamental principles of Kant's philosophy because it seemed to imply that there are no universal and necessary principles of science, ethics or aesthetics. Since all such principles are determined by their social and historical context, they differ with each culture and epoch. Windelband attempted to respond to the challenge of this relativism by either broadening Kantian principles, so that they could accommodate the results of historicism, or by reformulating Kantian principles, so that they were impregnable to historical change. The article examines both aspects of Windelband's strategy in some detail, noting the many changes and different formulations in his views. A final section considers some of the difficulties of Windelband's strategy and concludes that, despite its heroic efforts, it was a failure.

Personality characteristics and sexual functioning of 188 cross-dressing men.

Science.gov (United States)

Brown, G R; Wise, T N; Costa, P T; Herbst, J H; Fagan, P J; Schmidt, C W

1996-05-01

The literature on cross-dressing men has been primarily limited to self-identified patients at psychiatric clinics who are in distress. To understand the personality trait characteristics and sexual functioning of nonpatient cross-dressers, 188 non-treatment-seeking male cross-dressers completed the NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI) and the Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory (DSFI). Respondents were classified as transvestites (TV; N = 83), transgenderists (TG; N = 61), or transsexuals (TS; N = 44) based on self-report and the nature of their cross-gender activities (e.g., use of female hormones, desire for sex reassignment, and amount of time spent in female role). These diagnostic groups did not differ on the five broad personality domains of the NEO-PI, but TS men scored higher than TV and TG men on the Aesthetics facet scale of Openness to Experience (O). In terms of the DSFI scales, TS men reported lower sexual drive than TV and TG men, and TS and TG men exhibited greater psychiatric symptoms and feminine gender role, and poorer body image than TV men. Upon exclusion of a group of 49 respondents who previously sought treatment for psychological problems, no significant differences emerged among the three diagnostic groups on the NEO-PI domain and facet scales. Consideration of the DSFI scales showed that TS men experienced less sexual drive, more psychiatric symptoms, and a greater feminine gender role than TV or TG men. This study suggests that cross-dressers not seen for clinical reasons are virtually indistinguishable from non-cross-dressing men using a measure of personality traits, a sexual functioning inventory, and measures of psychological distress. These results emphasize the importance of using clinical significance criteria as required by DSM-IV guidelines before diagnosing men who cross-dress with an axis I disorder.

Die onderwysbenadering van enkele neo-humanistiese pedagogiese denkers1

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Jeannette Steyn

1990-03-01

Full Text Available After analysing the works of four American writers concerning education, the following conclusions were arrived at:There has been a move away from the accentuation of the rational, cognitive or reason of man to an accentuation of the irrational, affect or emotion of man. The reason for this movement is anthropological in the sense that it reacts against the technicalization and the scientification of man, which was brought about by the cognitive era of humanism. Accentuating the affective functions of man is the neo-humanist’s answer to the technicalized and scientiftcated estranged man. The aims of this article are to discuss the four neo-humanistic views of education and to answer the question whether a neo-humanistic view is anthropologically balanced. The conclusion was reached that a neo-humanistic view of education is anthropologically unbalanced or dual is tic. The accentuation of the affect or emotion of man leads to the minimization of the other functions of man.

Mouse ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC) Transporters Conferring Multi-Drug Resistance

Science.gov (United States)

Shuaizhang, L I; Zhang, Wen; Yin, Xuejiao; Xing, Shilai; Xie, Qunhui; Cao, Zhengyu; Zhao, Bin

2015-04-28

The ABC (ATP-binding cassette) transporter is one of the largest and most ancient protein families with members functioning from protozoa to human. The resistance of cancer and tumor cells to anticancer drugs is due to the over-expression of some ABC transporters, which may finally lead to chemotherapy failure. The mouse ABC transporters are classified into seven subfamilies by phylogenetic analysis. The mouse ABC transporter gene, alias, chromosomal location and function have been determined. Within the ABC super-family, the MDR transporters (Abcb1, Abcc1, Abcg2) in mouse models have been proved to be valuable to investigate the biochemistry and physiological functions. This review concentrates on the multidrug resistance of mouse ABC transporters in cancer and tumor cells.

Disruption of Inhibitory Function in the Ts65Dn Mouse Hippocampus Through Overexpression of GIRK2

Science.gov (United States)

2007-10-24

embryological and developmental or a result of later problems. Delays in prenatal growth of the Ts65Dn cerebral cortex and hippocampus due to longer...cultured from both DS patients and model animals are also reportedly more vulnerable to apoptosis (Sawa, 1999). A majority of research investigating cell...death in DS has been limited to several apoptosis -related genes, including those related to oxidative stress, and transcription factors overexpressed

Comprehensive primary health care under neo-liberalism in Australia.

Science.gov (United States)

Baum, Fran; Freeman, Toby; Sanders, David; Labonté, Ronald; Lawless, Angela; Javanparast, Sara

2016-11-01

This paper applies a critical analysis of the impact of neo-liberal driven management reform to examine changes in Australian primary health care (PHC) services over five years. The implementation of comprehensive approaches to primary health care (PHC) in seven services: five state-managed and two non-government organisations (NGOs) was tracked from 2009 to 2014. Two questions are addressed: 1) How did the ability of Australian PHC services to implement comprehensive PHC change over the period 2009-2014? 2) To what extent is the ability of the PHC services to implement comprehensive PHC shaped by neo-liberal health sector reform processes? The study reports on detailed tracking and observations of the changes and in-depth interviews with 63 health service managers and practitioners, and regional and central health executives. The documented changes were: in the state-managed services (although not the NGOs) less comprehensive service coverage and more focus on clinical services and integration with hospitals and much less development activity including community development, advocacy, intersectoral collaboration and attention to the social determinants. These changes were found to be associated with practices typical of neo-liberal health sector reform: considerable uncertainty, more directive managerial control, budget reductions and competitive tendering and an emphasis on outputs rather than health outcomes. We conclude that a focus on clinical service provision, while highly compatible with neo-liberal reforms, will not on its own produce the shifts in population disease patterns that would be required to reduce demand for health services and promote health. Comprehensive PHC is much better suited to that task. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

T.S. ELIOT'S MISREADING OF SOME LITERARY SOURCES IN THE WASTE LAND

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Liem Satya Limanta

2002-01-01

Full Text Available A poet cannot be a poet at all if he is not connected with all the poetic tradition before him. This is T.S. Eliot's dictum which he stated in Tradition and the Individual Talent and which he practiced in his work The Waste Land. T.S. Eliot showed his relationship with the past through all the quotations and allusions to mythical, literary, and religious works. His reading of those sources according to Paul de Man cannot avoid misreading or misinterpretation. Harold Bloom has tried to build up a theory of misreading, which he prefers to call misprision, especially applied to and done by poets in The Anxiety of Influence. Throughout this article I shall show how T.S. Eliot has applied some of the ways Bloom describes in reading some of the literary sources, and by so doing Eliot has given new meaning to them.

Neo-Nationalism in Higher Education: Case of South Africa

Science.gov (United States)

Lee, Jenny J.

2017-01-01

Given the rise of regional hubs, emerging economies are experiencing international student growth as higher education providers in their respective regions. This study examined the neo-national experiences of international students in South Africa. Neo-nationalism refers to a new nationalism based national order in the new global economy. The…

Agent Based Fuzzy T-S Multi-Model System and Its Applications

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Xiaopeng Zhao

2015-11-01

Full Text Available Based on the basic concepts of agent and fuzzy T-S model, an agent based fuzzy T-S multi-model (ABFT-SMM system is proposed in this paper. Different from the traditional method, the parameters and the membership value of the agent can be adjusted along with the process. In this system, each agent can be described as a dynamic equation, which can be seen as the local part of the multi-model, and it can execute the task alone or collaborate with other agents to accomplish a fixed goal. It is proved in this paper that the agent based fuzzy T-S multi-model system can approximate any linear or nonlinear system at arbitrary accuracy. The applications to the benchmark problem of chaotic time series prediction, water heater system and waste heat utilizing process illustrate the viability and the efficiency of the mentioned approach. At the same time, the method can be easily used to a number of engineering fields, including identification, nonlinear control, fault diagnostics and performance analysis.

TS gene polymorphisms are not good markers of response to 5-FU therapy in stage III colon cancer patients.

Science.gov (United States)

Fariña-Sarasqueta, A; Gosens, M J E M; Moerland, E; van Lijnschoten, I; Lemmens, V E P P; Slooter, G D; Rutten, H J T; van den Brule, Adriaan J C

2011-08-01

Although the predictive and prognostic value of thymidylate synthase (TS) expression and gene polymorphism in colon cancer has been widely studied, the results are inconclusive probably because of methodological differences. With this study, we aimed to elucidate the role of TS gene polymorphisms genotyping in therapy response in stage III colon carcinoma patients treated with 5-FU adjuvant chemotherapy. 251 patients diagnosed with stage III colon carcinoma treated with surgery followed by 5-FU based adjuvant therapy were selected. The variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) and the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the 5'untranslated region of the TS gene were genotyped. There was a positive association between tumor T stage and the VNTR genotypes (p = 0.05). In both univariate and multivariate survival analysis no effects of the studied polymorphisms on survival were found. However, there was an association between both polymorphisms and age. Among patients younger than 60 years, the patients homozygous for 2R seemed to have a better overall survival, whereas among the patients older than 67 this longer survival was seen by the carriers of other genotypes. We conclude that the TS VNTR and SNP do not predict response to 5-FU therapy in patients with stage III colon carcinoma. However, age appears to modify the effects of TS polymorphisms on survival.

Enfisema subcutâneo maciço - Tratamento com drenos subcutâneos Massive subcutaneous emphysema - Management using subcutaneous drains

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Maria Sucena

2010-04-01

Full Text Available O enfisema subcutâneo é uma complicação relativamente comum na sequência de técnicas invasivas, procedimentos cirúrgicos e algumas patologias médicas. Na maior parte dos casos apenas causa sintomatologia minor e o tratamento é habitualmente conservador. Mesmo quando grave, raramente tem consequências patofisiológicas significativas, apesar de ser extremamente desconfortável para o doente. Os autores descrevem um caso clínico de enfisema subcutâneo maciço, de rápida instalação, após saída acidental de tubo de drenagem torácica, em doente com pneumotórax espontâneo secundário e fístula broncopleural. O enfisema foi tratado através da colocação, sob anestesia local, de dois drenos subcutâneos na parede anterossuperior do tórax, conectados a sacos de drenagem. Após a colocação dos drenos subcutâneos verificou-se uma franca melhoria clínica do doente, com descompressão eficaz do enfisema subcutâneo. No presente caso clínico, a técnica de drenagem do enfisema maciço mostrou-se simples, segura e eficaz, permitindo o alívio sintomático imediato.Massive subcutaneous emphysema is a relatively common complication in invasive techniques, surgical practice and some medical conditions. Subcutaneous emphysema is usually treated conservatively and may only cause minimal symptoms. Even when it is severe, subcutaneous emphysema rarely has pathophysiologic consequences, but it is extremely uncomfortable for the patient. The authors report a case of massive and rapid developing subcutaneous emphysema following chest tube displacement in a patient with spontaneous secondary pneumothorax and large air leak. The emphysema was treated with two subcutaneous drains, inserted using local anesthesia, on both sides of the chest (antero-superior thoracic wall, connected to drainage bags. The drains produced a dramatic clinical improvement and provided effective decompression of the subcutaneous emphysema. In this clinical case, the

ARTHUR DANTO: ¿ARTE POST-HISTÓRICO O ARTE CONTEMPORÁNEO?

OpenAIRE

R., MARÍA DEL CARMEN OLEAS

2013-01-01

Resumen:El arte contemporáneo es un concepto difícil de definir y Arthur Danto, como filósofo del arte ha sido uno de los que ha tratado de hacerlo. La siguiente reflexión intenta una aproximación al pensamiento de Danto sobre el arte contemporáneo al que él llama “arte post histórico”. Para Danto, el arte ha muerto y todo lo que sucede después de su muerte es arte post histórico: es de esta manera que él define al arte contemporáneo. Desde un punto de vista filosófico, el arte contemporáneo ...

TS LOOP ALCOVE VENTILATION ANALYSIS

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

T.M. Lahnalampi

2000-01-01

The scope of this analysis is to examine the existing, constructor installed, physical ventilation installations located in each of the Exploratory Studies Facility (ESF) Topopah Springs (TS) Loop Alcoves No.1, No.2, No.3, No.4, No.6, and No.7. Alcove No.5 is excluded from the scope of this analysis since it is an A/E design system. Each ventilation installation will be analyzed for the purpose of determining if requirements for acceptance into the A/E design technical baseline have been met. The ventilation installations will be evaluated using Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards and Exploratory Studies Facility Design Requirements (ESFDR) (YMP 1997) requirements. The end product will be a technical analysis that will define ventilation installation compliance issues, any outstanding field changes, and use-as-is design deviations that are required to bring the ventilation installations into compliance with requirements for acceptance into the A/E design technical baseline. The analysis will provide guidance for alcove ventilation component design modifications to be developed to correct any deficient components that do not meet minimum requirements and standards

A Combination of TsHARP and Thin Plate Spline Interpolation for Spatial Sharpening of Thermal Imagery

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Xuehong Chen

2014-03-01

Full Text Available There have been many studies and much attention paid to spatial sharpening for thermal imagery. Among them, TsHARP, based on the good correlation between vegetation index and land surface temperature (LST, is regarded as a standard technique because of its operational simplicity and effectiveness. However, as LST is affected by other factors (e.g., soil moisture in the areas with low vegetation cover, these areas cannot be well sharpened by TsHARP. Thin plate spline (TPS is another popular downscaling technique for surface data. It has been shown to be accurate and robust for different datasets; however, it has not yet been attempted in thermal sharpening. This paper proposes to combine the TsHARP and TPS methods to enhance the advantages of each. The spatially explicit errors of these two methods were firstly estimated in theory, and then the results of TPS and TsHARP were combined with the estimation of their errors. The experiments performed across various landscapes and data showed that the proposed combined method performs more robustly and accurately than TsHARP.

What Future for Student Engagement in Neo-Liberal Times?

Science.gov (United States)

Zepke, Nick

2015-01-01

The paper first examines the context that has given student engagement a very strong profile in higher education. It identifies neo-liberalism as the driving force in the present higher education context and argues that student engagement enjoys an elective affinity with it. While neo-liberalism is dominant, student engagement will be strong. But…

The ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 regulates phosphoantigen release and Vγ9Vδ2 T cell activation by dendritic cells

Science.gov (United States)

Castella, Barbara; Kopecka, Joanna; Sciancalepore, Patrizia; Mandili, Giorgia; Foglietta, Myriam; Mitro, Nico; Caruso, Donatella; Novelli, Francesco; Riganti, Chiara; Massaia, Massimo

2017-01-01

Vγ9Vδ2 T cells are activated by phosphoantigens, such as isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP), which is generated in the mevalonate pathway of antigen-presenting cells. IPP is released in the extracellular microenvironment via unknown mechanisms. Here we show that the ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) mediates extracellular IPP release from dendritic cells (DC) in cooperation with apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) and butyrophilin-3A1. IPP concentrations in the supernatants are sufficient to induce Vγ9Vδ2 T cell proliferation after DC mevalonate pathway inhibition with zoledronic acid (ZA). ZA treatment increases ABCA1 and apoA-I expression via IPP-dependent LXRα nuclear translocation and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway inhibition. These results close the mechanistic gap in our understanding of extracellular IPP release from DC and provide a framework to fine-tune Vγ9Vδ2 T cell activation via mevalonate and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway modulation. PMID:28580927

Federalism. Theory and Neo-Functionalism: Elements for an analytical framework

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Dosenrode, Søren

2010-01-01

-McKayian way, is able to explain the cases of ‘big bang’ integration (USA, Australia, Canada), but not an ‘organic’ integration process. Neo-functionalism, on the other hand, is not able to explain this relatively fast form of integration, but it is – in its new version - able to analyze and explain......The purpose of this article is to propose a draft for an analytical frame for analyzing regional integration consisting of federalism theory and neo-functionalism. It starts out discussing the concept of regional integration setting up a stagiest model for categorizing it.Then follows an analysis...... of federalism theory and neo-functionalism. One argument of this article is to understand federalism theory as a regional integration theory. Another is to look at federalism theory as complementary to neo-functionalism when trying to explain regional integration. Federalism theory, in an extended Riker...

Association of ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter A1 Gene Polymorphisms in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus among Malaysians

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Polin Haghvirdizadeh

2015-01-01

Full Text Available Background. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM is a complex polygenic disorder characterized by impaired insulin resistance, insulin secretion, and dysregulation of lipid and protein metabolism with environmental and genetic factors. ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1 gene polymorphisms are reported as the one of the genetic risk factors for T2DM in various populations with conflicting results. This study was conducted based on PCR-HRM to determine the frequency of ABCA1 gene by rs2230806 (R219K, rs1800977 (C69T, and rs9282541 (R230C polymorphisms Malaysian subjects. Methods. A total of 164 T2DM and 165 controls were recruited and their genotypes for ABCA1 gene polymorphisms were determined based on the real time high resolution melting analysis. Results. There was a significant difference between the subjects in terms of age, BMI, FPG, HbA1c, HDL, LDL, and TG P<0.05. There was a significant association between HOM of R219K P=0.005, among Malaysian subjects; moreover, allele frequency revealed the significant difference in A allele of R219K P=0.003. But, there was no significant difference in genotypic and allelic frequencies of C69T and R230C polymorphism. Conclusion. R219K polymorphism of ABCA1 gene can be considered as a genetic risk factor for T2DM subjects among Malaysians.

Recombinogenic engineering of conjugative plasmids with fluorescent marker cassettes

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Reisner, A.; Molin, Søren; Zechner, E.L.

2002-01-01

An efficient approach for the insertion of fluorescent marker genes with sequence specificity into conjugative plasmids in Escherichia coli is described. For this purpose, homologous recombination of linear double-stranded targeting DNA was mediated by the bacteriophage lambda recombination...... resistance genes and fluorescent markers. The choice of 5' non-homologous extensions in primer pairs used for amplifying the marker cassettes determines the site specificity of the targeting DNA. This methodology is applicable to the modification of all plasmids that replicate in E coli and is not restricted...

Comparing two alternative measures of general personality in the assessment of psychopathy: a test of the NEO PI-R and the MPQ.

Science.gov (United States)

Gaughan, Eric T; Miller, Joshua D; Pryor, Lauren R; Lynam, Donald R

2009-08-01

This study examined the interrelations between two measures of personality, the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI-R; P. T. Costa & R. R. McCrae, 1992) and the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire (MPQ; Tellegen & Waller, 2008), and their relations with psychopathy in a sample of undergraduates. Results revealed good convergence between conceptually related personality traits; however, the NEO PI-R facets accounted for more variance in the MPQ subscales (mean R(2)=.49) than did MPQ subscales in NEO PI-R facets (mean R(2)=.35). Both accounted for substantial proportions of variance in psychopathy scores, although the NEO PI-R accounted for larger proportions and manifested greater incremental validity when using the broader domains of each measure; the differences decreased when the narrower facets/subscales were used. The results suggest that, although both measures assess psychopathy-related traits, the NEO PI-R provides a more complete description because of its assessment of interpersonal antagonism and the central role of this construct in psychopathy.

Oxidation of Catechol using Titanium Silicate (TS-1 Catalyst: Modeling and Optimization

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Sonali Sengupta

2013-12-01

Full Text Available The oxidation of catechol was studied in an eco-friendly process with commercial titanium silicate-1 (TS-1 catalyst and hydrogen peroxide as oxidant in absence of all mass transfer effects. The process was opti-mized by Box-Behnken design in terms of three independent process variables such as reaction tempera-ture, moles of hydrogen peroxide per mole of catechol and catalyst amount whose optimum values of the process variables were found to be 60 °C, 13.2 and 1.24 g respectively for maximum conversion of 75.8 %. The effects of different process parameters such as mole ratio of hydrogen peroxide to catechol, catalyst par-ticle size, catalyst amount, temperature and reaction time were studied. A pseudo first order kinetic model was fitted with the experimental rate data. The apparent activation energy for the reaction was found to be 11.37 kJ/mole.  © 2013 BCREC UNDIP. All rights reservedReceived: 22nd April 2013; Revised: 25th October 2013; Accepted: 1st November 2013[How to Cite: Sengupta, S., Ghosal, D., Basu, J.K. (2013. Oxidation of Catechol using Titanium Silicate (TS-1 Catalyst: Modeling and Optimization. Bulletin of Chemical Reaction Engineering & Catalysis, 8 (2: 167-177. (doi:10.9767/bcrec.8.2.4759.167-177][Permalink/DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.9767/bcrec.8.2.4759.167-177

Exploring patient experiences of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Science.gov (United States)

Beaver, Kinta; Williamson, Susan; Briggs, Jean

2016-02-01

Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy is recommended for 'inoperable' locally advanced and inflammatory breast cancers. For operable breast cancers, trials indicate no survival differences between chemotherapy given pre or post-surgery. Communicating evidence based information to patients is complex and studies examining patient experiences of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy are lacking. This study aims to explore the experiences of women who received neo-adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. A qualitative approach using in-depth interviews with 20 women who had completed neo-adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. Interview data were analysed using thematic analysis. The sample included a relatively young group of women, with caring responsibilities. Five main themes emerged: coping with the rapid transition from 'well' to 'ill', information needs and decision making, needing support and empathy, impact on family, and creating a new 'normal'. More support was needed towards the end of chemotherapy, when side effects were at their most toxic, and decisions about forthcoming surgery were being made. Some women were referred to psychological services, but usually when a crisis point had been reached. Information and support would have been beneficial at key time points. This information is vital in developing services and interventions to meet the complex needs of these patients and potentially prevent late referral to psychological services. Specialist oncology nurses are able to develop empathetic relationships with patients and have the experience, knowledge and skills to inform and support women experiencing neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. Targeting key time points and maintaining relationship throughout neo-adjuvant chemotherapy would be highly beneficial. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Solderability study of RABiTS-based YBCO coated conductors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Zhang Yifei; Duckworth, Robert C.; Ha, Tam T.; Gouge, Michael J.

2011-01-01

Study examines the implication of solder and flux selection in YBCO splice joints. Focus is on commercially available RABiTS-based YBCO coated conductors. Solderability varied with solder and flux for three different stabilizations tested. Resistivity of stabilizer was dominant factor in splice joint resistance. Solder materials affected splice joint resistance when solderability was poor. The solderability of commercially available YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x (YBCO) coated conductors that were made from Rolling Assisted Biaxially Textured Substrates (RABiTS)-based templates was studied. The coated conductors, also known as second-generation (2G) high temperature superconductor (HTS) wires (in the geometry of flat tapes about 4 mm wide), were laminated with copper, brass, or stainless steel strips as stabilizers. To understand the factors that influence their solderability, surface profilometry and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the wire surfaces. The solderability of three solders, 52In48Sn, 67Bi33In, and 100In (wt.%), was evaluated using a standard test (IPC/ECA J-STD-002) and with two different commercial fluxes. It was found that the solderability varied with the solder and flux but the three different wires showed similar solderability for a fixed combination of solder and flux. Solder joints of the 2G wires were fabricated using the tools and the procedures recommended by the HTS wire manufacturer. The solder joints were made in a lap-joint geometry and with the superconducting sides of the two wires face-to-face. The electrical resistances of the solder joints were measured at 77 K, and the results were analyzed to qualify the soldering materials and evaluate the soldering process. It was concluded that although the selection of soldering materials affected the resistance of a solder joint, the resistivity of the stabilizer was the dominant factor.

Multidrug ATP-binding cassette transporters are essential for hepatic development of Plasmodium sporozoites

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Rijpma, S.R.; Velden, M. van der; Gonzalez-Pons, M.; Annoura, T.; Schaijk, B.C.L. van; Gemert, G.J.A. van; Heuvel, J.M.W. van den; Ramesar, J.; Chevalley-Maurel, S.; Ploemen, I.H.; Khan, S.M.; Franetich, J.F.; Mazier, D.; Wilt, J.H.W. de; Serrano, A.E.; Russel, F.G.; Janse, C.J.; Sauerwein, R.W.; Koenderink, J.B.; Franke-Fayard, B.M.

2016-01-01

Multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRPs) belong to the C-family of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transport proteins and are known to transport a variety of physiologically important compounds and to be involved in the extrusion of pharmaceuticals. Rodent malaria parasites encode a single ABC

Metabolism of ATP-binding cassette drug transporter inhibitors: complicating factor for multidrug resistance.

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Cnubben, N.H.; Wortelboer, H.M.; Zanden, J.J. van; Rietjens, I.M.; Bladeren, P.J. van

2005-01-01

Membrane transport proteins belonging to the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) family of transport proteins play a central role in the defence of organisms against toxic compounds, including anticancer drugs. However, for compounds that are designed to display a toxic effect, this defence system diminishes

AquaLase versus NeoSoniX--a comparison study.

Science.gov (United States)

Jiraskova, Nada; Rozsival, Pavel; Kadlecova, Jana; Nekolova, Jana; Pozlerova, Jana; Dubravska, Zlatica

2007-12-01

To compare the metrics and surgical outcome when using Infiniti AquaLase and NeoSoniX cataract removal modalities. This prospective clinical study involved 50 patients with bilateral cataracts and lens removal using AquaLase in the right eye and NeoSoniX in the left eye. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), endothelial cell density and pachymetry were evaluted pre- and postoperatively. Statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon Signed- Rank Test. Preoperative mean pachymetry was 569 +/- 31 mu in the right eye (RE) and 560 +/- 37 mu in the left eye (LE), mean endothelial cell density 2744 +/- 418 cells/mm(2) (RE) and 2730 +/- 472 cells/mm(2) (LE). One week after operation pachymetry was 576 +/- 52 mu (RE) and 583 +/- 72 mu (LE) and endothelial cell density 2388 +/- 586 cells/mm(2) (RE) and 2463 +/- 615 cells/mm(2) (LE). One month after surgery pachymetry was 556 +/- 43 mu (RE) and 559 +/- 44 mu (LE) and endothelial cell density 2368 +/- 52 cells/mm(2) (RE) and 2495 +/- 548 cells/mm(2) (LE). BCVA improved in all eyes and was 0.8 or better on the first postoperative day. Both the NeosoniX and AquaLase minimize intraoperative damage to ocular structures.

Enhanced catalytic oxidation by hierarchically structured TS-1 zeolite

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Xin, H.; Zhao, Jiao; Zhao, J.; Xu, S.; Li, Junping; Zhang, Weiping; Guo, X.; Hensen, E.J.M.; Yang, Q.; Li, Can

2010-01-01

A TS-1 zeolite with a disordered network of mesopores penetrating the microporous crystalline zeolite framework was successfully synthesized by a one-pot carbon hard-templating synthesis approach. Besides conventional methods to characterize the mesoporosity, the use of variable-temperature 129Xe

Comparative effect of carotenoid complex from golden neo-life ...

African Journals Online (AJOL)

Summary: The immunomodulatory effect of Carotenoid complex from Golden Neo-Life Dynamite (GNLD) and carrot extracted Carotenoid was assessed using 24 albino Wistar rats. The rats were assigned to 4 groups of 6 rats each consisting of group 1(control group treated with distilled water), group 2 (treated with olive oil) ...

A Solution-Based Temperature Sensor Using the Organic Compound CuTsPc

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Shahino Mah Abdullah

2014-06-01

Full Text Available An electrochemical cell using an organic compound, copper (II phthalocyanine-tetrasulfonic acid tetrasodium salt (CuTsPc, has been fabricated and investigated as a solution-based temperature sensor. The capacitance and resistance of the ITO/CuTsPc solution/ITO chemical cell has been characterized as a function of temperature in the temperature range of 25–80 °C. A linear response with minimal hysteresis is observed. The fabricated temperature sensor has shown high consistency and sensitive response towards a specific range of temperature values.

Typological and dimensional approach at comparing the Giessen Test (GT) with the NEO-Five-Factor-Inventory (NEO-FFI)

Science.gov (United States)

Roth, Marcus; Körner, Annett; Herzberg, Philipp Yorck

2008-01-01

Objectives: This article reports comparisons of the Giessen Test (GT) with the NEO-Five-Factor-Inventory (NEO-FFI) based on a dimensional as well as on a typological approach. Method: Data were collected from 1673 subjects (aged between 18 and 96 years) constituting a representative sample of the German population. Results: The results indicate only moderate agreement (ranging from .25 to .61) between the subscales of the two personality inventories. The correspondence seems to be somewhat higher, when the typological approach was used instead of the dimensional approach. Conclusions: The typological approach is less dependent on the underlying questionnaires and provides a useful extension of the dimensional approach. PMID:19742276

ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY VERIFICATION: JOINT (NSF-EPA) VERIFICATION STATEMENT AND REPORT: TRITON SYSTEMS, LLC SOLID BOWL CENTRIFUGE, MODEL TS-5000

Science.gov (United States)

Verification testing of the Triton Systems, LLC Solid Bowl Centrifuge Model TS-5000 (TS-5000) was conducted at the Lake Wheeler Road Field Laboratory Swine Educational Unit in Raleigh, North Carolina. The TS-5000 was 48" in diameter and 30" deep, with a bowl capacity of 16 ft3. ...

Ancient Male Recombination Shaped Genetic Diversity of Neo-Y Chromosome in Drosophila albomicans.

Science.gov (United States)

Satomura, Kazuhiro; Tamura, Koichiro

2016-02-01

Researchers studying Y chromosome evolution have drawn attention to neo-Y chromosomes in Drosophila species due to their resembling the initial stage of Y chromosome evolution. In the studies of neo-Y chromosome of Drosophila miranda, the extremely low genetic diversity observed suggested various modes of natural selection acting on the nonrecombining genome. However, alternative possibility may come from its peculiar origin from a single chromosomal fusion event with male achiasmy, which potentially caused and maintained the low genetic diversity of the neo-Y chromosome. Here, we report a real case where a neo-Y chromosome is in transition from an autosome to a typical Y chromosome. The neo-Y chromosome of Drosophila albomicans harbored a rich genetic diversity comparable to its gametologous neo-X chromosome and an autosome in the same genome. Analyzing sequence variations in 53 genes and measuring recombination rates between pairs of loci by cross experiments, we elucidated the evolutionary scenario of the neo-Y chromosome of D. albomicans having high genetic diversity without assuming selective force, i.e., it originated from a single chromosomal fusion event, experienced meiotic recombination during the initial stage of evolution and diverged from neo-X chromosome by the suppression of recombination tens or a few hundreds of thousand years ago. Consequently, the observed high genetic diversity on the neo-Y chromosome suggested a strong effect of meiotic recombination to introduce genetic variations into the newly arisen sex chromosome. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Hygromycin B and apramycin antibiotic resistance cassettes for use in Campylobacter jejuni.

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Andrew Cameron

Full Text Available Campylobacter jejuni genetic manipulation is restricted by the limited number of antibiotic resistance cassettes available for use in this diarrheal pathogen. In this study, two antibiotic resistance cassettes were developed, encoding for hygromycin B and apramycin resistance, for use in mutagenesis or for selection of gene expression and complementation constructs in C. jejuni. First, the marker genes were successfully modified to allow for insertional mutagenesis or deletion of a gene-of-interest, and were bracketed with restriction sites for the facilitation of site-specific cloning. These hygromycin B and apramycin markers are encoded by plasmids pAC1H and pAC1A, respectively. We also modified an insertional gene-delivery vector to create pRRH and pRRA, containing the hygromycin B and apramycin resistance genes, and 3 unique restriction sites for the directional introduction of genes into the conserved multi-copy rRNA gene clusters of the C. jejuni chromosome. We determined the effective antibiotic concentrations required for selection, and established that no harmful effects or fitness costs were associated with carrying hygromycin B or apramycin resistance under standard C. jejuni laboratory conditions. Using these markers, the arylsulfatase reporter gene astA was deleted, and the ability to genetically complement the astA deletion using pRRH and pRRA for astA gene insertion was demonstrated. Furthermore, the relative levels of expression from the endogenous astA promoter were compared to that of polycistronic mRNA expression from the constitutive promoter upstream of the resistance gene. The development of additional antibiotic resistance cassettes for use in Campylobacter will enable multiple gene deletion and expression combinations as well as more in-depth study of multi-gene systems important for the survival and pathogenesis of this important bacterium.

Neratinib Reverses ATP-Binding Cassette B1-Mediated Chemotherapeutic Drug Resistance In Vitro, In Vivo, and Ex Vivo

OpenAIRE

Zhao, Xiao-qin; Xie, Jing-dun; Chen, Xing-gui; Sim, Hong May; Zhang, Xu; Liang, Yong-ju; Singh, Satyakam; Talele, Tanaji T.; Sun, Yueli; Ambudkar, Suresh V.; Chen, Zhe-Sheng; Fu, Li-wu

2012-01-01

Neratinib, an irreversible inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor and human epidermal receptor 2, is in phase III clinical trials for patients with human epidermal receptor 2-positive, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. The objective of this study was to explore the ability of neratinib to reverse tumor multidrug resistance attributable to overexpression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters. Our results showed that neratinib remarkably enhanced the sensitivity of ABCB1...

Integron gene cassettes and degradation of compounds associated with industrial waste: the case of the Sydney tar ponds.

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Jeremy E Koenig

Full Text Available Integrons are genetic platforms that accelerate lateral gene transfer (LGT among bacteria. They were first detected on plasmids bearing single and multiple drug resistance determinants in human pathogens, and it is abundantly clear that integrons have played a major role in the evolution of this public health menace. Similar genetic elements can be found in nonpathogenic environmental bacteria and in metagenomic environmental DNA samples, and it is reasonable to suppose that integrons have facilitated microbial adaptation through LGT in niches outside infectious disease wards. Here we show that a heavily impacted estuary, exposed for almost a century to products of coal and steel industries, has developed a rich and unique cassette metagenome, containing genes likely to aid in the catabolism of compounds associated with industrial waste found there. In addition, we report that the most abundant cassette recovered in this study is one that encodes a putative LysR protein. This autoregulatory transcriptional regulator is known to activate transcription of linked target genes or unlinked regulons encoding diverse functions including chlorocatechol and dichlorophenol catabolism. Finally, only class 1 integrase genes were amplified in this study despite using different primer sets, and it may be that the cassettes present in the Tar Ponds will prove to be associated with class 1 integrase genes. Nevertheless, our cassette library provides a snapshot of a complex evolutionary process involving integron-meditated LGT likely to be important in natural bioremediation.

Gemcitabine-Based Chemogene Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer Using Ad-dCK::UMK GDEPT and TS/RR siRNA Strategies

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Soukaina Réjiba

2009-07-01

Full Text Available Gemcitabine is a first-line agent for advanced pancreatic cancer therapy. However, its efficacy is often limited by its poor intracellular metabolism and chemoresistance. To exert its antitumor activity, gemcitabine requires to be converted to its active triphosphate form. Thus, our aim was to improve gemcitabine activation using gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy based on gemcitabine association with the deoxycytidine kinase::uridine monophosphate kinase fusion gene (dCK::UMK and small interference RNA directed against ribonucleotide reductase (RRM2 and thymidylate synthase (TS. In vitro, cytotoxicity was assessed by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-3,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide and [3H]thymidine assays. Apoptosis-related gene expression and activity were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and ELISA. For in vivo studies, the treatment efficacy was evaluated on subcutaneous and orthotopic pancreatic tumor models. Our data indicated that cell exposure to gemcitabine induced a down-regulation of dCK expression and up-regulation of TS and RR expression in Panc1-resistant cells when compared with BxPc3- and HA-hpc2-sensitive cells. The combination of TS/RRM2 small interference RNA with Ad-dCK::UMK induced a 40-fold decrease of gemcitabine IC50 in Panc1 cells. This strong sensitization was associated to apoptosis induction with a remarkable increase in TRAIL expression and a diminution of gemcitabine-induced nuclear factor-κB activity. In vivo, the gemcitabine-based tritherapy strongly reduced tumor volumes and significantly prolonged mice survival. Moreover, we observed an obvious increase of apoptosis and decrease of cell proliferation in tumors receiving the tritherapy regimens. Together, these findings suggest that simultaneous TS/RRM2-gene silencing and dCK::UMK gene overexpression markedly improved gemcitabine's therapeutic activity. Clearly, this combined strategy warrants further investigation.

Identification of a novel streptococcal gene cassette mediating SOS mutagenesis in Streptococcus uberis

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Varhimo, Emilia; Savijoki, Kirsi; Jalava, Jari; Kuipers, Oscar P.; Varmanen, Pekka

Streptococci have been considered to lack the classical SOS response, defined by increased mutation after UV exposure and regulation by LexA. Here we report the identification of a potential self-regulated SOS mutagenesis gene cassette in the Streptococcaceae family. Exposure to UV light was found

Development of an Operational TS Dataset Production System for the Data Assimilation System

Science.gov (United States)

Kim, Sung Dae; Park, Hyuk Min; Kim, Young Ho; Park, Kwang Soon

2017-04-01

An operational TS (Temperature and Salinity) dataset production system was developed to provide near real-time data to the data assimilation system periodically. It collects the latest 15 days' TS data of the north western pacific area (20°N - 55°N, 110°E - 150°E), applies QC tests to the archived data and supplies them to numerical prediction models of KIOST (Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology). The latest real-time TS data are collected from Argo GDAC and GTSPP data server every week. Argo data are downloaded from /latest_data directory of Argo GDAC. Because many duplicated data exist when all profile data are extracted from all Argo netCDF files, DB system is used to avoid duplication. All metadata (float ID, location, observation date and time, etc) of all Argo floats is stored into Database system and a Matlab program was developed to manipulate DB data, to check the duplication and to exclude duplicated data. GTSPP data are downloaded from /realtime directory of GTSPP data service. The latest data except ARGO data are extracted from the original data. Another Matlab program was coded to inspect all collected data using 10 QC tests and produce final dataset which can be used by the assimilation system. Three regional range tests to inspect annual, seasonal and monthly variations are included in the QC procedures. The C program was developed to provide regional ranges to data managers. It can calculate upper limit and lower limit of temperature and salinity at depth from 0 to 1550m. The final TS dataset contains the latest 15 days' TS data in netCDF format. It is updated every week and transmitted to numerical modeler of KIOST for operational use.

El Mediterráneo en la Estrategia de Seguridad Nacional 2013

OpenAIRE

Marquina Barrio, Antonio

2014-01-01

Los planteamientos sobre el Mediterráneo que se realizan en la Estrategia de Seguridad Nacional 2013 son unos planteamientos en buena parte deficientes que no tienen en cuenta profundos cambios acontecidos en el Mediterráneo y su espacio de seguridad en los últimos años. El artículo expone las principales modificaciones que habría que introducir para hacer frente a las simplificaciones y omisiones que la Estrategia de Seguridad Nacional 2013 presenta con respecto al Mediterráneo.

Functional and Clinical Outcome of Ileal (Studer) Neo-bladder Reconstruction: Single Centre Experience from Pakistan

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Nazim, S. M.; Ather, M. H.; Abbas, F.

2014-01-01

Objective: To determine the medium and long-term outcome of orthotopic continent urinary diversion with ileal (Studer) neo-bladder following radical cystectomy. Study Design: Case series. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Surgery, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January 1998 to September 2010. Methodology: Thirty eight patients underwent radical cystectomy for invasive bladder tumor with ileal neo-bladder (Studer type) reconstruction. Peri-operative and late complications, functional outcome of neo-bladder, urinary continence, metabolic and upper urinary tract status and overall survival were evaluated in all patients. Results: A total of 29 patients (23 males and 6 females) with mean age of 59 +- 12 years were included for the final analysis. The mean duration of surgery (both radical cystectomy and urinary diversion) was 520 +- 70 minutes. Perioperative complication rate was 24% (n=7) with surgical site infection in 4 patients, sepsis in 1 patient and 2 had ureteroileal leak. At 6 months follow-up, 22 patients were fully continent while 7 patients had minimal stress / nocturnal incontinence. The continence rate was 93% (n=27) at one year follow-up. The mean capacity of neo-bladder at 6 months was 384 +- 66 mLs. The late complication rate was 17% (n=5). Three patients developed anastomotic stricture requiring transurethral incision of neo bladder neck, one formed stone in neo-bladder and one developed incision hernia. All patients had preserved renal functions on follow-up. The survival rate was 80% (n=23) at a median follow-up of 66.4 +- 36 months. Two patients developed local recurrence and four developed distant metastasis. Conclusion: Studer ileal neo-bladder is a safe and effective option for urinary diversion in select patients with good oncological and functional outcomes comparable to contemporary literature, even in a low volume center. (author)

Detection of Extracellular Enzyme Activities in Ganoderma neo-japonicum

OpenAIRE

Jo, Woo-Sik; Park, Ha-Na; Cho, Doo-Hyun; Yoo, Young-Bok; Park, Seung-Chun

2011-01-01

The ability of Ganoderma to produce extracellular enzymes, including β-glucosidase, cellulase, avicelase, pectinase, xylanase, protease, amylase, and ligninase was tested in chromogenic media. β-glucosidase showed the highest activity, among the eight tested enzymes. In particular, Ganoderma neo-japonicum showed significantly stronger activity for β-glucosidase than that of the other enzymes. Two Ganoderma lucidum isolates showed moderate activity for avicelase; however, Ganoderma neo-japonic...

Evolution beyond neo-Darwinism: a new conceptual framework.

Science.gov (United States)

Noble, Denis

2015-01-01

Experimental results in epigenetics and related fields of biological research show that the Modern Synthesis (neo-Darwinist) theory of evolution requires either extension or replacement. This article examines the conceptual framework of neo-Darwinism, including the concepts of 'gene', 'selfish', 'code', 'program', 'blueprint', 'book of life', 'replicator' and 'vehicle'. This form of representation is a barrier to extending or replacing existing theory as it confuses conceptual and empirical matters. These need to be clearly distinguished. In the case of the central concept of 'gene', the definition has moved all the way from describing a necessary cause (defined in terms of the inheritable phenotype itself) to an empirically testable hypothesis (in terms of causation by DNA sequences). Neo-Darwinism also privileges 'genes' in causation, whereas in multi-way networks of interactions there can be no privileged cause. An alternative conceptual framework is proposed that avoids these problems, and which is more favourable to an integrated systems view of evolution. © 2015. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

Using genetic markers to orient the edges in quantitative trait networks: the NEO software.

Science.gov (United States)

Aten, Jason E; Fuller, Tova F; Lusis, Aldons J; Horvath, Steve

2008-04-15

Systems genetic studies have been used to identify genetic loci that affect transcript abundances and clinical traits such as body weight. The pairwise correlations between gene expression traits and/or clinical traits can be used to define undirected trait networks. Several authors have argued that genetic markers (e.g expression quantitative trait loci, eQTLs) can serve as causal anchors for orienting the edges of a trait network. The availability of hundreds of thousands of genetic markers poses new challenges: how to relate (anchor) traits to multiple genetic markers, how to score the genetic evidence in favor of an edge orientation, and how to weigh the information from multiple markers. We develop and implement Network Edge Orienting (NEO) methods and software that address the challenges of inferring unconfounded and directed gene networks from microarray-derived gene expression data by integrating mRNA levels with genetic marker data and Structural Equation Model (SEM) comparisons. The NEO software implements several manual and automatic methods for incorporating genetic information to anchor traits. The networks are oriented by considering each edge separately, thus reducing error propagation. To summarize the genetic evidence in favor of a given edge orientation, we propose Local SEM-based Edge Orienting (LEO) scores that compare the fit of several competing causal graphs. SEM fitting indices allow the user to assess local and overall model fit. The NEO software allows the user to carry out a robustness analysis with regard to genetic marker selection. We demonstrate the utility of NEO by recovering known causal relationships in the sterol homeostasis pathway using liver gene expression data from an F2 mouse cross. Further, we use NEO to study the relationship between a disease gene and a biologically important gene co-expression module in liver tissue. The NEO software can be used to orient the edges of gene co-expression networks or quantitative trait

68Ga/177Lu-NeoBOMB1, a Novel Radiolabeled GRPR Antagonist for Theranostic Use in Oncology.

Science.gov (United States)

Dalm, Simone U; Bakker, Ingrid L; de Blois, Erik; Doeswijk, Gabriela N; Konijnenberg, Mark W; Orlandi, Francesca; Barbato, Donato; Tedesco, Mattia; Maina, Theodosia; Nock, Berthold A; de Jong, Marion

2017-02-01

Because overexpression of the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) has been reported on various cancer types, for example, prostate cancer and breast cancer, targeting this receptor with radioligands might have a significant impact on staging and treatment of GRPR-expressing tumors. NeoBOMB1 is a novel DOTA-coupled GRPR antagonist with high affinity for GRPR and excellent in vivo stability. The purpose of this preclinical study was to further explore the use of NeoBOMB1 for theranostic application by determining the biodistribution of 68 Ga-NeoBOMB1 and 177 Lu-NeoBOMB1. PC-3 tumor-xenografted BALB/c nu/nu mice were injected with either approximately 13 MBq/250 pmol 68 Ga-NeoBOMB1 or a low (∼1 MBq/200 pmol) versus high (∼1 MBq/10 pmol) peptide amount of 177 Lu-NeoBOMB1, after which biodistribution and imaging studies were performed. At 6 time points (15, 30, 60, 120, 240, and 360 min for 68 Ga-NeoBOMB1 and 1, 4, 24, 48, 96, and 168 h for 177 Lu-NeoBOMB1) postinjection tumor and organ uptake was determined. To assess receptor specificity, additional groups of animals were coinjected with an excess of unlabeled NeoBOMB1. Results of the biodistribution studies were used to determine pharmacokinetics and dosimetry. Furthermore, PET/CT and SPECT/MRI were performed. Injection of approximately 250 pmol 68 Ga-NeoBOMB1 resulted in a tumor and pancreas uptake of 12.4 ± 2.3 and 22.7 ± 3.3 percentage injected dose per gram (%ID/g) of tissue, respectively, at 120 min after injection. 177 Lu-NeoBOMB1 biodistribution studies revealed a higher tumor uptake (17.9 ± 3.3 vs. 11.6 ± 1.3 %ID/g of tissue at 240 min after injection) and a lower pancreatic uptake (19.8 ± 6.9 vs. 105 ± 13 %ID/g of tissue at 240 min after injection) with the higher peptide amount injected, leading to a significant increase in the absorbed dose to the tumor versus the pancreas (200 pmol, 570 vs. 265 mGy/MBq; 10 pmol, 435 vs. 1393 mGy/MBq). Using these data to predict patient dosimetry, we found

Theranostic Perspectives in Prostate Cancer with the Gastrin-Releasing Peptide Receptor Antagonist NeoBOMB1: Preclinical and First Clinical Results.

Science.gov (United States)

Nock, Berthold A; Kaloudi, Aikaterini; Lymperis, Emmanouil; Giarika, Athina; Kulkarni, Harshad R; Klette, Ingo; Singh, Aviral; Krenning, Eric P; de Jong, Marion; Maina, Theodosia; Baum, Richard P

2017-01-01

We recently introduced the potent gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) antagonist 68 Ga-SB3 ( 68 Ga-DOTA-p-aminomethylaniline-diglycolic acid-DPhe-Gln-Trp-Ala-Val-Gly-His-Leu-NHEt), showing excellent tumor localizing efficacy in animal models and in patients. By replacement of the C-terminal Leu 13 -Met 14 -NH 2 dipeptide of SB3 by Sta 13 -Leu 14 -NH 2 , the novel GRPR antagonist NeoBOMB1 was generated and labeled with different radiometals for theranostic use. We herein report on the biologic profile of resulting 67/68 Ga-, 111 In-, and 177 Lu-NeoBOMB1 radioligands in GRPR-expressing cells and mouse models. The first evidence of prostate cancer lesion visualization in men using 68 Ga-NeoBOMB1 and PET/CT is also presented. NeoBOMB1 was radiolabeled with 67/68 Ga, 111 In, and 177 Lu according to published protocols. The respective metalated species nat Ga-, nat In-, and nat Lu-NeoBOMB1 were also synthesized and used in competition binding experiments against [ 125 I-Tyr 4 ]BBN in GRPR-positive PC-3 cell membranes. Internalization of 67 Ga-, 111 In-, and 177 Lu-NeoBOMB1 radioligands was studied in PC-3 cells at 37°C, and their metabolic stability in peripheral mouse blood was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of blood samples. Biodistribution was performed by injecting a 67 Ga-, 111 In-, or 177 Lu-NeoBOMB1 bolus (74, 74, or 370 kBq, respectively, 100 μL, 10 pmol total peptide ± 40 nmol Tyr 4 -BBN: for in vivo GRPR blockade) in severe combined immunodeficiency mice bearing PC-3 xenografts. PET/CT images with 68 Ga-NeoBOMB1 were acquired in prostate cancer patients. NeoBOMB1 and nat Ga-, nat In-, and nat Lu-NeoBOMB1 bound to GRPR with high affinity (half maximal inhibitory concentration, 1-2 nM). 67 Ga-, 111 In-, and 177 Lu-NeoBOMB1 specifically and strongly bound on the cell membrane of PC-3 cells displaying low internalization, as expected for receptor antagonists. They showed excellent metabolic stability in peripheral mouse blood

AHP 40: NAMUYI TIBETAN pha⁵⁴ tsə⁵⁴ RITUALS AND ORAL CHANTS

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Libu Lakhi (Li Jianfu

2016-02-01

Full Text Available sa54 da54 (b. 1939 is a Namuyi pha54 tsə54 - a traditional Namuyi religious practitioner/ specialist - who chants and conducts religious rituals. He lives and practices in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China. This article introduces pha54 tsə54 sa54 da54 and the many hours of his oral materials recorded by Libu Lakhi in 2009 that are archived at http://tinyurl.com/lgf3row. In addition, aspects of Namuyi religion are described, including terms of mountain deities, ill omens and taboos, the pha54 tsə54, sa54 da54, chants, and a personal account of a ritual done in Dashui Village, Minsheng Township, Xichang City, Sichuan Province in March 2013. An appendix, seven photographs, and a diagram provide additional detail.

Hypocellularity in the Murine Model for Down Syndrome Ts65Dn Is Not Affected by Adult Neurogenesis

Science.gov (United States)

López-Hidalgo, Rosa; Ballestín, Raul; Vega, Jessica; Blasco-Ibáñez, José M.; Crespo, Carlos; Gilabert-Juan, Javier; Nácher, Juan; Varea, Emilio

2016-01-01

Down syndrome (DS) is caused by the presence of an extra copy of the chromosome 21 and it is the most common aneuploidy producing intellectual disability. Neural mechanisms underlying this alteration may include defects in the formation of neuronal networks, information processing and brain plasticity. The murine model for DS, Ts65Dn, presents reduced adult neurogenesis. This reduction has been suggested to underlie the hypocellularity of the hippocampus as well as the deficit in olfactory learning in the Ts65Dn mice. Similar alterations have also been observed in individuals with DS. To determine whether the impairment in adult neurogenesis is, in fact, responsible for the hypocellularity in the hippocampus and physiology of the olfactory bulb, we have analyzed cell proliferation and neuronal maturation in the two major adult neurogenic niches in the Ts656Dn mice: the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the hippocampus and the subventricular zone (SVZ). Additionally, we carried out a study to determine the survival rate and phenotypic fate of newly generated cells in both regions, injecting 5′BrdU and sacrificing the mice 21 days later, and analyzing the number and phenotype of the remaining 5′BrdU-positive cells. We observed a reduction in the number of proliferating (Ki67 positive) cells and immature (doublecortin positive) neurons in the subgranular and SVZ of Ts65Dn mice, but we did not observe changes in the number of surviving cells or in their phenotype. These data correlated with a lower number of apoptotic cells (cleaved caspase 3 positive) in Ts65Dn. We conclude that although adult Ts65Dn mice have a lower number of proliferating cells, it is compensated by a lower level of cell death. This higher survival rate in Ts65Dn produces a final number of mature cells similar to controls. Therefore, the reduction of adult neurogenesis cannot be held responsible for the neuronal hypocellularity in the hippocampus or for the olfactory learning deficit of Ts65Dn mice

Effects of positive impression management on the NEO Personality Inventory--Revised in a clinical population.

Science.gov (United States)

Ballenger, J F; Caldwell-Andrews, A; Baer, R A

2001-06-01

Sixty adults in outpatient psychotherapy completed the NEO Personality Inventory--Revised (NEO PI-R, P. T. Costa & R. R. McCrae, 1992a). Half were instructed to fake good and half were given standard instructions. All completed the Interpersonal Adjective Scale--Revised, Big Five (J. S. Wiggins & P. D. Trapnell, 1997) under standard instructions, and their therapists completed the observer rating form of the NEO Five-Factor Inventory. A comparison group of 30 students completed the NEO PI-R under standard instructions. Standard and fake-good participants obtained significantly different NEO PI-R domain scores. Correlations between the NEO PI-R and criterion measures were significantly lower for faking than for standard patients. Validity scales for the NEO PI-R (J. A. Schinka, B. N. Kinder, & T. Kremer, 1997) were moderately accurate in discriminating faking from standard patients, but were only marginally accurate in discriminating faking patients from students.

Aleksandr Gol’ts, Armiia Rossii: 11 poteriannykh let, Moscow: Zakharov, 2004, 224 pp.

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Richard F. Staar

2004-07-01

Full Text Available Specialist of military questions, Aleksandr Gol’ts worked for Red Star (Krasnaia Zvezda, the newspaper of the Russian Ministry of Defense, before joining various prestigious magazines such as Itogi. He is considered one of the most prominent journalist on military matters in Russia today. His book, “The Russian Army : 11 lost years”, is dedicated to military reforms in post-Soviet Russia. With his extensive knowledge of institutional realities of the military establishment, Gol’ts provides a...

Produtos sanguíneos lábeis

OpenAIRE

Amaral, Soraia Necho

2012-01-01

O Instituto Português do Sangue (IPS) é o único organismo competente e responsável pela gestão da medicina transfusional a nível nacional. As suas funções compreendem: a coordenação de todas as atividades relacionadas com a transfusão de sangue, desde a colheita da dádiva à administração do componente sanguíneo; o planeamento do Sistema Nacional de Hemovigilância, certificando-se da segurança dos componentes sanguíneos disponíveis e distribuídos; e a garantia da continuidade dos seus serviços...

[Case report: a recurrent gastric cancer in the terminal stage, associated with obstructive jaundice which responded significantly to oral administration of TS-1].

Science.gov (United States)

Tasaka, K; Tomofuzi, Y; Sugihara, Z; Fukuda, H

2001-10-01

TS-1, a novel oral formation of 5-fluorouracil that consists of 1M tegafur (5-FU), 0.4M CDHP and 1M Oxo, is reported to achieve a higher response rate of 49% in patients with advanced gastric cancer in a late phase II study. We report a case of recurrent gastric cancer that responded significantly to the short-term administration of TS-1. A 73-year-old man, who had undergone a curative distal gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy 2 years earlier, had presented with obstructive jaundice resulting from cancerous lymphadenopathy. PTCD was performed for drainage, but cholestasis disappeared completely through the two courses of oral administration of TS-1. The serum level of transaminase and bilirubin remained within normal limits, even with PTCD unequipped, until the patient died of the original disease. The adverse effects observed with the drug were anemia (grade 1) and skin pigmentation (grade 2), both of which improved soon after discontinuing the medication. In conclusion, TS-1 may be well-tolerable and effective in some cases of terminal-stage and/or recurrent gastric cancer, especially those associated with obstructive jaundice arising from the cancerous lymphadenopathy, in that patient QOL can be maintained to a much greater extent.

Reliability of the NEO Five Factor Inventory short form for assessing personality after stroke.

Science.gov (United States)

Dwan, Toni; Ownsworth, Tamara; Donovan, Caroline; Lo, Ada Ho Yan

2017-07-01

It is well recognized that an individual's personality characteristics influence their psychological adjustment after stroke. However, there is a lack of research on the reliability of personality inventories for stroke. This study primarily aimed to evaluate the reliability of the Neuroticism, Extroversion, Openness to Experience (NEO)-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) for assessing pre-morbid personality and personality changes after stroke. Further aims were to investigate changes in personality during the hospital-to-home transition period and examine associations between personality and mood. Forty participants with stroke (52.5% male, M age=65.55 years) were recruited at time of hospital discharge and completed the NEO-FFI, Centre for Epidemiologic Studies - Depression and Geriatric Anxiety Inventory. Significant others completed an informant version of the NEO-FFI. Stroke participants were re-assessed on the NEO-FFI at 1-month and 4-months post-discharge. Forty matched controls also completed the NEO-FFI. Internal consistency was adequate for the NEO-FFI (α=0.57-0.86), although low for agreeableness. There was fair to excellent concordance between self-rated and informant versions of the NEO-FFI (ICC=0.58-0.78). Significant positive associations were found between neuroticism and mood (r=0.50-0.68), and significant negative associations were found between extraversion and mood (r=-0.33-0.36) and agreeableness and anxiety (r=-0.43). Self-ratings of stroke participants on the NEO-FFI at discharge did not significantly differ from matched controls. Extraversion levels significantly decreased, and agreeableness levels significantly increased between discharge and 1- and 4-months post-discharge. Overall, the results support the reliability of the NEO-FFI for assessing personality characteristics in the context of stroke.

75 FR 38168 - Hazardous Materials: International Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material (TS...

Science.gov (United States)

2010-07-01

... may also provide contact information, such as a telephone number and/or e-mail address. PHMSA and the.... PHMSA-2010-0130 (Notice No.10-2)] Hazardous Materials: International Regulations for the Safe Transport... (IAEA) ``Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material'' (TS-R-1), which is scheduled for...

Topsy-Turvy Neo-Developmentalism: An Analysis of the Current Brazilian Model of Development

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Bruno Milanez

2015-09-01

Full Text Available The paper discusses the similarities and differences between neo-developmentalism and neo-extractivism. The evaluation compares Brazil with nine other Latin American countries and is based on a framework that considers both economic policies and their outcomes. On the policy side, it looks at income, monetary, international trade, industrial and mineral resource policies; on the outcome side, it observes the composition of both exports and the Gross Domestic Product. In the end, we argue that neo-developmentalism and neo-extractivism are actually variations of the same development route and may face similar challenges in the long term.

Neo-Liberalism in British Columbia Education and Teachers' Union Resistance

Science.gov (United States)

Poole, Wendy

2007-01-01

Since the election of the Campbell government in 2001, teachers have experienced heightened conflict with the provincial government. An analysis of the discourse and power relations between the BC Teachers' Federation (BCTF) and government reveals a neo-liberal agenda on the part of government and anti-neo-liberalism on the part of the BCTF.…

The Mastodon in the room: how Darwinian is neo-Darwinism?

Science.gov (United States)

Brooks, Daniel R

2011-03-01

Failing to acknowledge substantial differences between Darwinism and neo-Darwinism impedes evolutionary biology. Darwin described evolution as the outcome of interactions between the nature of the organism and the nature of the conditions, each relatively autonomous but both historically and spatially intertwined. Furthermore, he postulated that the nature of the organism was more important than the nature of the conditions, leading to natural selection as an inevitable emergent product of biological systems. The neo-Darwinian tradition assumed a creative rather than selective view of natural selection, with the nature of the organism determined by the nature of the conditions, rendering the nature of the organism and temporal contingency unnecessary. Contemporary advances in biology, specifically the phylogenetics revolution and evo-devo, underscore the significance of history and the nature of the organism in biology. Darwinism explains more biology better, and better resolves apparent anomalies between living systems and more general natural laws, than does neo-Darwinism. The "extended" or "expanded" synthesis currently called for by neo-Darwinians is Darwinism. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of Slip Time in Forming Neo-Esophageal Stenosis After Replacement of a Thoracic Esophagus With Nitinol Artificial Esophagus.

Science.gov (United States)

Liang, Xian-Liang; Liang, Jian-Hui

2015-07-01

Attempts have been made to investigate the effect of slip time of nitinol artificial esophagus for forming neo-esophageal stenosis after replacement of a thoracic esophagus with nitinol artificial esophagus in 20 experimental pigs. The pigs whose slip time was less than 90 days postoperatively had severe dysphagia (Bown's III) immediately after they were fed, and the dysphagia aggravated gradually later on (Bown's III-IV). The pigs whose slip time was more than 90 days postoperatively had mild/moderate dysphagia (Bown's I-II) immediately after they were fed, and the dysphagia relieved gradually later on (Bown's II-I-0). The ratios between the diameter of neo-esophagus in different slip time and normal esophagus were 25% (at 2 months postoperatively), 58% (at 4 months postoperatively), and 93% (at 6 months postoperatively), respectively. The relationship between nitinol artificial esophagus slip time and neo-esophageal stenosis showed a positive correlation. After replacement of a thoracic esophagus with nitinol artificial esophagus, the artificial esophageal slip time not only affected the original diameter of the neo-esophagus immediately, but also affected the neo-esophageal scar stricture forming process later on. The narrowing of neo-esophagus is caused by overgrowth of scar tissue. But there is the positive correlation between artificial esophagus slip time and neo-esophageal stenosis, so this can be a way of overcoming neo-esophageal stenosis by delaying slip time of artificial esophagus. Copyright © 2015 International Center for Artificial Organs and Transplantation and Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Neo4j essentials

CERN Document Server

Gupta, Sumit

2015-01-01

If you are an application developer or software architect who wants to dive into the Cypher language and learn the concepts of graph theory and graph-based data models, this is the book for you. Prior experience with a graph-based or NoSQL-based database is expected. Some knowledge of Java will be beneficial, as this will give you more insights into Neo4j's extensibility.

The impact of ISO/TS 16949 on automotive industries and created organizational capabilities from its implementation

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Bakhtiar Ostadi

2010-12-01

Full Text Available ISO/TS 16949 is an ISO Technical Specification. ISO/TS 16949 achieves the objectives which are continually to improve the production of automobile parts and related services, and to strengthen the international competition for the automotive industry and its suppliers. By applying this quality system standard, automotive manufacturers could offer superior products and good services to customers. The more the companies know about the benefits if quality management systems such as ISO/TS 16949, better they can seek interest and determine indices of these systems. So, this standard has been implemented in companies considering a number of benefits. In this paper, we carry out an empirical study in order to verify the importance these benefits and ranking them based on the value of importance. Finally, the study tends to provide a reference guide considering benefits assessment and created organizational capabilities from this standard for the automotive industry in pursuing ISO/TS 16949 and procuring maximum benefit from the results.

Susceptibility to rifaximin and other antimicrobials of bacteria isolated in patients with acute gastrointestinal infections in Southeast Mexico

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O. Novoa-Farias

2017-07-01

Full Text Available Introduction: Enteropathogenic bacteria isolated in Mexico City have shown a high rate of resistance to different antibiotics, with the exception of rifaximin (RIF. RIF is a nonabsorbable antibiotic that reaches high fecal concentrations (≈ 8,000 μg/g. Susceptibility to antimicrobials can vary in different geographic regions. Aim: To study the susceptibility to rifaximin and other antimicrobials of enteropathogenic bacteria isolated in patients with acute diarrhea in the southeastern region of Mexico. Material and methods: A total of 614 strains of bacteria isolated from patients with acute diarrhea from 4 cities in Southeast Mexico were analyzed. An antibiogram with the following antibiotics was created: ampicillin (AMP, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (T-S, neomycin (NEO, furazolidone (FUR, ciprofloxacin (CIP, chloramphenicol (CHL, and fosfomycin (FOS, assessed through the agar diffusion method at the standard concentrations recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI and the American Society for Microbiology (ASM, and RIF, assessed through microdilution at 4 concentrations. Results: The bacteria were Escherichia coli (55%, as the majority, in all its pathogenic variants, Shigella (16.8%, Salmonella (15.3%, Aeromonas (7.8%, and less than 5% Campylobacter, Yersinia, Vibrio, and Plesiomonas. The accumulated overall susceptibility to RIF was 69.1, 90.8, 98.9, and 100% at concentrations of 100, 200, 400, and 800 μg/ml, respectively. Overall susceptibility to other antibiotics was FOS 82.8%, CHL 76.8%, CIP 73.9%, FUR 64%, T-S 58.7%, NEO 55.8%, and AMP 23.8%. Susceptibility to RIF at 400 and 800 μg was significantly greater than with the other antimicrobials (P 98% of the bacterial strains and a high frequency of resistance to several common antimicrobials. Resumen: Antecedentes: Bacterias enteropatógenas aisladas en la Ciudad de México han mostrado una alta tasa de resistencia a diversos antibi

"Cremaster' tsükkel" : Matthew Barney avastusretk kunsti ja filmikunsti vahealal / Miriam Dagan ; tõlk. Epp Aareleid

Index Scriptorium Estoniae

Dagan, Miriam

2007-01-01

Ameerika kunstniku ja režissööri kunstnikufilmidest "Cremaster' tsükkel" (1994-2002). Viie tsükli põhisündmusest. Viienda filmi rekvisiitor oli Meeli Salumäe, Kostabi Maailma assistent New Yorgis

Neo-patrimonialismo e populismo : uma leitura pela reciprocidade

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Eric Sabourin

2011-10-01

Full Text Available Este artigo propõe uma leitura dos processos de neo-patrimonialismo em particular nos Estados africanos e de neo populismo nos Estados latino-americanos a luz da lógica de reciprocidade. Defende a hipótese que o principio de reciprocidade sendo diferente daquele da troca (e em particular da troca mercantil, ele pode gerar formas de alienação especificas e não redutíveis a principal forma de alienação do sistema de troca: a exploração capitalista analisada por Marx.

Pharmacogenetic Aspects of the Interaction of AT1 Receptor Antagonists With ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter ABCG2

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Anne Ripperger

2018-05-01

Full Text Available The ATP-binding cassette transporter ABCG2 (BCRP and MXR is involved in the absorption, distribution, and elimination of numerous drugs. Thus, drugs that are able to reduce the activity of ABCG2, e.g., antihypertensive AT1 receptor antagonists (ARBs, may cause drug-drug interactions and compromise drug safety and efficacy. In addition, genetic variability within the ABCG2 gene may influence the ability of the transporter to interact with ARBs. Thus, the aim of this study was to characterize the ARB-ABCG2 interaction in the light of naturally occurring variations (F489L, R482G or amino acid substitutions with in silico-predicted relevance for the ARB-ABCG2 interaction (Y469A; M483F; Y570A. For this purpose, ABCG2 variants were expressed in HEK293 cells and the impact of ARBs on ABCG2 activity was studied in vitro using the pheophorbide A (PhA efflux assay. First, we demonstrated that both the F489L and the Y469A substitution, respectively, reduced ABCG2 protein levels in these cells. Moreover, both substitutions enhanced the inhibitory effect of candesartan cilexetil, irbesartan, losartan, and telmisartan on ABCG2-mediated PhA efflux, whereas the R482G substitution blunted the inhibitory effect of candesartan cilexetil and telmisartan in this regard. In contrast, the ARB-ABCG2 interaction was not altered in cells expressing either the M483F or the Y570A variant, respectively. In conclusion, our data indicate that the third transmembrane helix and adjacent regions of ABCG2 may be of major importance for the interaction of ARBs with the ABC transporter. Moreover, we conclude from our data that individuals carrying the F489L polymorphism may be at increased risk of developing ABCG2-related drug-drug interactions in multi-drug regimens involving ARBs.

Ganoderma neo-japonicum Imazeki revisited: Domestication study and antioxidant properties of its basidiocarps and mycelia

Science.gov (United States)

Tan, Wee-Cheat; Kuppusamy, Umah Rani; Phan, Chia-Wei; Tan, Yee-Shin; Raman, Jegadeesh; Anuar, Azliza Mad; Sabaratnam, Vikineswary

2015-01-01

Mushroom cultivation benefits humankind as it deliberately encourages wild mushrooms to be commercially propagated while recycling agricultural wastes. Ganoderma neo-japonicum is a rare polypore mushroom found growing on decaying Schizostachyum brachycladium (a tropical bamboo) clumps in Malaysia. The Malaysian indigenous tribes including the Temuans and Temiars use the basidiocarps of G. neo-japonicum to treat various ailments including diabetes. In this study, the domestication of G. neo-japonicum in artificial logs of different agricultural residues was investigated. Sawdust promoted the mycelia spawn colonisation in the shortest period of 38 ± 0.5 days. However, only sawdust and bamboo dust supported the primodia formation. Complex medium supported mycelium growth in submerged cultures and 27.11 ± 0.43 g/L of mycelia was obtained after 2 weeks of cultivation at 28 °C and 200 rpm. Antioxidant potential in mushroom may be influenced by different cultivation and extraction methods. The different extracts from the wild and cultivated basidiocarps as well as mycelia were then tested for their antioxidant properties. Aqueous and ethanol extracts of mycelia and basidiocarps tested had varying levels of antioxidant activities. To conclude, domestication of wild G. neo-japonicum using agroresidues may ensure a continuous supply of G. neo-japonicum for its medicinal use while ensuring the conservation of this rare species. PMID:26213331

A Study on the Measurement of the Pollution Level of Bacteria and Disinfection of Table and IP Cassette

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bae, Seok Hwan; Lee, Moo Sik; Lim, Chang Seon; Kim, Gha Jung

2008-01-01

For the number of microbes and the pollution level of bacteriology of IP Cassette and Table by laboratories, after identifying the bacteria before and after using alcohol and tissue including disinfectant and statistically testing, this research was intended to provide the basic data for the prevention and the right disinfection guideline for infection management of hospitals in diagnostic radiology. The subject of this research was the general room of diagnostic radiology of a university hospital in Daejeon City. The research was conducted from Apr 5 to Apr 12, 2007. The number of microbes and the pollution level of bacteriology of IP Cassette and Table by laboratories were tested before and after using alcohol and tissue for disinfection including disinfectant. In order to collect specimens exactly, they were collected with the nurse who specialized in infection management of the hospital, and statistical processing was done with SPSS V13.0. To compare the results before and after using alcohol and tissue, T-test was implemented, and post-hoc test was conducted. Bacteria were detected in 19 cases of 24 subjects(79.2%), however, they were not detected in 5 cases(20.8%). 7 kinds of bacteria were detected as isolated bacteria, of which Methicillin Resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococci(MRCNS) were detected in 15 cases(62.5%), which was most, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus(MRSA) in 6 cases(16.7%), Enterococcus Faecium(EFM) in 5 cases(20.8%), Acinetobacter baumannii(ABA) in 2 cases(8.3%), and Bacillus sp, Coagulase-negative Staphylococci(CNS), and Enterococcus sp(ENT) in 1 case, respectively(4.2%). In all bacteria except ABA, Gram positive bacillia were detected in 30 cases(97%), and Gram negative bacilli were detected only in 1 case(3%). As for the kinds of bacteria and the number of groups before and after using 70% Alcohol by Groups, when the bacteria were identified after disinfecting IP Cassette and Table with 70% Alcohol, all the bacteria became

A Study on the Measurement of the Pollution Level of Bacteria and Disinfection of Table and IP Cassette

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Bae, Seok Hwan; Lee, Moo Sik; Lim, Chang Seon; Kim, Gha Jung [Koyang University, Koyang (Korea, Republic of)

2008-09-15

For the number of microbes and the pollution level of bacteriology of IP Cassette and Table by laboratories, after identifying the bacteria before and after using alcohol and tissue including disinfectant and statistically testing, this research was intended to provide the basic data for the prevention and the right disinfection guideline for infection management of hospitals in diagnostic radiology. The subject of this research was the general room of diagnostic radiology of a university hospital in Daejeon City. The research was conducted from Apr 5 to Apr 12, 2007. The number of microbes and the pollution level of bacteriology of IP Cassette and Table by laboratories were tested before and after using alcohol and tissue for disinfection including disinfectant. In order to collect specimens exactly, they were collected with the nurse who specialized in infection management of the hospital, and statistical processing was done with SPSS V13.0. To compare the results before and after using alcohol and tissue, T-test was implemented, and post-hoc test was conducted. Bacteria were detected in 19 cases of 24 subjects(79.2%), however, they were not detected in 5 cases(20.8%). 7 kinds of bacteria were detected as isolated bacteria, of which Methicillin Resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococci(MRCNS) were detected in 15 cases(62.5%), which was most, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus(MRSA) in 6 cases(16.7%), Enterococcus Faecium(EFM) in 5 cases(20.8%), Acinetobacter baumannii(ABA) in 2 cases(8.3%), and Bacillus sp, Coagulase-negative Staphylococci(CNS), and Enterococcus sp(ENT) in 1 case, respectively(4.2%). In all bacteria except ABA, Gram positive bacillia were detected in 30 cases(97%), and Gram negative bacilli were detected only in 1 case(3%). As for the kinds of bacteria and the number of groups before and after using 70% Alcohol by Groups, when the bacteria were identified after disinfecting IP Cassette and Table with 70% Alcohol, all the bacteria became

The Prediction of the Gas Utilization Ratio based on TS Fuzzy Neural Network and Particle Swarm Optimization.

Science.gov (United States)

Zhang, Sen; Jiang, Haihe; Yin, Yixin; Xiao, Wendong; Zhao, Baoyong

2018-02-20

Gas utilization ratio (GUR) is an important indicator that is used to evaluate the energy consumption of blast furnaces (BFs). Currently, the existing methods cannot predict the GUR accurately. In this paper, we present a novel data-driven model for predicting the GUR. The proposed approach utilized both the TS fuzzy neural network (TS-FNN) and the particle swarm algorithm (PSO) to predict the GUR. The particle swarm algorithm (PSO) is applied to optimize the parameters of the TS-FNN in order to decrease the error caused by the inaccurate initial parameter. This paper also applied the box graph (Box-plot) method to eliminate the abnormal value of the raw data during the data preprocessing. This method can deal with the data which does not obey the normal distribution which is caused by the complex industrial environments. The prediction results demonstrate that the optimization model based on PSO and the TS-FNN approach achieves higher prediction accuracy compared with the TS-FNN model and SVM model and the proposed approach can accurately predict the GUR of the blast furnace, providing an effective way for the on-line blast furnace distribution control.

Career guidance for Social Justice in Neo-Liberal Times

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Thomsen, Rie; Skovhus, Randi Boelskifte; Sultana, Ronald

SIMPOSIO 16. Career guidance for Social Justice in Neo-Liberal Times (English) Ronald Sultana (Coord.), Tristram Hooley (Coord.), Rie Thomsen, Peter Plant, Roger Kjærgård, Marcelo Afonso Ribeiro, Randi Boelskifte Skovhus and Tron Inglar......SIMPOSIO 16. Career guidance for Social Justice in Neo-Liberal Times (English) Ronald Sultana (Coord.), Tristram Hooley (Coord.), Rie Thomsen, Peter Plant, Roger Kjærgård, Marcelo Afonso Ribeiro, Randi Boelskifte Skovhus and Tron Inglar...

Carcinoma espinocelular infiltrante de base de cráneo en paciente de 16 años con albinismo óculo-cutáneo

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

J.M. Lasso-Vázquez

2013-12-01

Full Text Available Presentamos el caso de una adolescente africana de 16 años de edad afectada por albinismo óculo-cutáneo, que desarrolló un carcinoma epidermoide en pabellón auricular derecho que requirió escisión radical y reconstrucción con colgajo TRAM libre. El albinismo es un trastorno metabólico genético que consiste en la incapacidad hereditaria para sintetizar melanina. Tiene dos variantes clínicas: el albinismo ocular y el albinismo óculo-cutáneo. En determinados países africanos, los pacientes afectos por esta enfermedad son socialmente rechazados y por ello no se les presta un control sanitario adecuado. Por esta razón el tumor llevaba varios años de evolución y cuando la paciente fue vista en nuestro centro, existía una infiltración profunda con afectación severa de la base del cráneo. La compleja anatomía de las estructuras vitales en esta región hace que la resección quirúrgica de los tumores sea complicada. Comentamos las peculiaridades en la reconstrucción de casos complejos en la base lateral del cráneo con proyección a la zona temporal.

Bulk Densities of Binary Asteroids from the Warm Spitzer NEO Survey

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Kistler, John; Trilling, D. E.; Mueller, M.; Hora, J. L.; Harris, A. W.; Bhattacharya, B.; Bottke, W. F.; Chesley, S.; Emery, J. P.; Fazo, G.; Mainzer, A.; Penprase, B.; Smith, H. A.; Spahr, T. B.; Stansberry, J. A.; Thomas, C. A.

2010-01-01

The Warm Spitzer NEO survey, ExploreNEOs, will observe approximately 700 Near Earth Asteroids. Several of these objects are known to be binary asteroid systems. Binary systems are interesting due to the unique opportunity they present for determining the masses and densities of their constituent

Creationism, Neo-Darwinism and Panspermia

Science.gov (United States)

Klyce, Brig; Wickramasinghe, N. Chandra

2011-10-01

Creationists and neo-Darwinists have spent the past several decades engaged in a sullen trench warfare, occasionally firing at each other with little effect. We argue in this article that an acceptance of panspermia as a "third way" might lead to a long over-due reconciliation between the contending groups.

Cassette pontoon bridge of high mobility

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Krzysztof KOSIUCZENKO

2011-01-01

Full Text Available Looking through the known and used buoyant systems, it can be remarked that the single buoyant segments are the stiff objects made of steel or plastic with variable dimensions and a complex construction. The ready to use buoyant segments, that assure the proper displacement, must have the factory leak-tightness. They take up a big transportation volume and need the assurance of the suitably abundant means of transport. Usually the heavy wheeled vehicles are needed because of high own mass of buoyant segment and large gauges. The exploitation of such constructions is very expensive. A cassette pontoon bridge, presented in this paper, is the proposition of the increase of the mobility of construction. The decrease of the single buoyant segment dimensions with the assurance of the capacity leads that more segments fit into in the same dimensions of the loading compartment of the vehicle and storage accommodation. The application of standardized joints assures the assembly efficiency with not numerous crew.

77 FR 43817 - Notice of Submission for OMB Review; Office of Postsecondary Education; Talent Search (TS) Annual...

Science.gov (United States)

2012-07-26

...; Talent Search (TS) Annual Performance Report SUMMARY: The Talent Search program provides Federal... Records Management Services, Office of Management, publishes this notice containing proposed information... records. Title of Collection: Talent Search (TS) Annual Performance Report. OMB Control Number: Pending...

Visible photometry of NEOs in support of a Warm Spitzer program

Science.gov (United States)

Trilling, David E.; Jones, Sarah; Penprase, Bryan; Emery, Josh; Harris, Alan; Spahr, Tim; Delbo, Marco

2009-08-01

Near Earth Objects (NEOs) may act as dynamical and compositional tracers of the history of near-Earth space. However, despite their scientific importance, key characteristics of the NEO population -- such as the size distribution, mix of albedos and mineralogies, and contributions from so-called dead or dormant comets -- remain largely unexplored; some 99% of all presently known NEOs are essentially uncharacterized. We have been awarded 500 hours of Warm Spitzer time to study some 700 NEOs. The Spitzer data will allow us to measure thermal fluxes and, in combination with optical data, derive albedos and diameters for a large fraction of all known NEOs. Remarkably, the primary uncertainty in our Spitzer results will derive from a lack of good optical photometry for our targets. Fortunately, our targets are generally bright, and obtaining good V band measurements of them requires only a modest amount of time on modest aperture telescopes. We propose here for 36 hours of SMARTS 1.3-m time or 54 hours of SMARTS 0.9-m time to obtain visible photometry of the 72 southern moderately bright ``B'' semester targets in our Warm Spitzer program. These program is ideal for queue/service observing because each observation requires only ~30 minutes and our targets are all over the sky.

The characteristics of Fugi IP Cassette Type PII and application for radiation oncology quality assurance tests and portal imaging

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Soh, H.S.; Ung, N.M.; Ng, K.H.

2008-01-01

Full text: The advancement of digital imaging has prompted more medical institutions to go filmless. The computed radiography (CR) system is becoming an important tool not only in diagnostic imaging, but also in radiation oncology. A new CR system that was specially designed for the use in radiation oncology. Fuji IP cassette type PII has been introduced to the market in the middle of year 2006. This project aimed to study some basic physical characteristics of this new type of cassette and explore its application for performing quality assurance (QA) tests and portal imaging in radiotherapy. All the images were read by FCR 5000 Plus reader. The image was found to reach its saturation value of 1023 (due to the image was stored in 10 bits data) by depending on the sensitivity value being adjusted. The uniformity test gave the result of 0.12%. The cassette was used to perform the QA tests which were previously performed using film. All the results met the specification as stated in AAPM Task Group 40. The comparison for the portal images of Portal Vision contrast-detail phantom showed that the spatial resolution of the images obtained by CR system (Fujifilm Co.. Ltd.. Tokyo. Japan) were better than the EPID (Varian Medical Systems. Inc.. Palo Alto. USA) and film system (Eastman Kodak Co.. New York. USA). The IP cassette type PII was found to be suitable as an alternative QA test tool and portal imaging in radiotherapy.

Rapid neo-sex chromosome evolution and incipient speciation in a major forest pest.

Science.gov (United States)

Bracewell, Ryan R; Bentz, Barbara J; Sullivan, Brian T; Good, Jeffrey M

2017-11-17

Genome evolution is predicted to be rapid following the establishment of new (neo) sex chromosomes, but it is not known if neo-sex chromosome evolution plays an important role in speciation. Here we combine extensive crossing experiments with population and functional genomic data to examine neo-XY chromosome evolution and incipient speciation in the mountain pine beetle. We find a broad continuum of intrinsic incompatibilities in hybrid males that increase in strength with geographic distance between reproductively isolated populations. This striking progression of reproductive isolation is coupled with extensive gene specialization, natural selection, and elevated genetic differentiation on both sex chromosomes. Closely related populations isolated by hybrid male sterility also show fixation of alternative neo-Y haplotypes that differ in structure and male-specific gene content. Our results suggest that neo-sex chromosome evolution can drive rapid functional divergence between closely related populations irrespective of ecological drivers of divergence.

The Role of ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters in Neuro-Inflammation: Relevance for Bioactive Lipids

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Kooij, G.; van Horssen, J.; Bandaru, V.V.R.; Haughey, N.J.; de Vries, H.E.

2012-01-01

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are highly expressed by brain endothelial cells that form the blood-brain barrier (BBB). These efflux pumps play an important role in maintaining brain homeostasis as they actively hinder the entry of unwanted blood-derived compounds into the central nervous

A novel stabilization condition for T-S polynomial fuzzy system with time-delay:A sum-of-squares approach

OpenAIRE

Tsai, Shun Hung; Chen, Yu-An; Chen, Yu-Wen; Lo, Ji-Chang; Lam, Hak-Keung

2017-01-01

A novel stabilization problem for T-S polynomial fuzzy system with time-delay is investigated in this paper. Firstly, a polynomial fuzzy controller for T-S polynomial fuzzy system with time-delay is proposed. In addition, based on polynomial Lyapunov-Krasovskii function and the developed polynomial slack variable matrices, a novel stabilization condition for T-S polynomial fuzzy system with time-delay is presented in terms of sum-of-square (SOS) form. Lastly, nonlinear system with time-delay ...

Adrenalectomy for Cushing's syndrome: do's and don'ts.

Science.gov (United States)

Paduraru, D N; Nica, A; Carsote, M; Valea, A

2016-01-01

Aim. To present specific aspects of adrenalectomy for Cushing's syndrome (CS) by introducing well established aspects ("do's") and less known aspects ("don'ts"). Material and Method. This is a narrative review. Results. The "do's" for laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) are the following: it represents the "gold standard" for secretor and non-secretor adrenal tumors and the first line therapy for CS with an improvement of cardio-metabolic co-morbidities; the success rate depending on the adequate patients' selection and the surgeon's skills. The "don'ts" are large (>6-8 centimeters), locally invasive, malignant tumors requiring open adrenalectomy (OA). Robotic adrenalectomy is a new alternative for LA, with similar safety and conversion rate and lower pain drugs use. The "don'ts" are the following: lack of randomized controlled studies including oncologic outcome, different availability at surgical centers. Related to the sub-types of CS, the "do's" are the following: adrenal adenomas which are cured by LA, while adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) requires adrenalectomy as first line therapy and adjuvant mitotane therapy; synchronous bilateral adrenalectomy (SBA) is useful for Cushing's disease (only cases refractory to pituitary targeted therapy), for ectopic Cushing's syndrome (cases with unknown or inoperable primary site), and for bilateral cortisol producing adenomas. The less established aspects are the following: criteria of skilled surgeon to approach ACC; the timing of surgery in subclinical CS; the need for adrenal vein catheterization (which is not available in many centers) to avoid unnecessary SBA. Conclusion. Adrenalectomy for CS is a dynamic domain; LA overstepped the former OA area. The future will improve the knowledge related to RA while the cutting edge is represented by a specific frame of intervention in SCS, children and pregnant women. Abbreviations: ACC = adrenocortical carcinoma, ACTH = Adrenocorticotropic Hormone, CD = Cushing's disease, CS

Population Policies and Education: Exploring the Contradictions of Neo-Liberal Globalisation

Science.gov (United States)

Bovill, Catherine; Leppard, Margaret

2006-01-01

The world is increasingly characterised by profound income, health and social inequalities (Appadurai, 2000). In recent decades development initiatives aimed at reducing these inequalities have been situated in a context of increasing globalisation with a dominant neo-liberal economic orthodoxy. This paper argues that neo-liberal globalisation…

An Assessment of the Oral Bioavailability of Three Ca-Channel Blockers Using a Cassette-Microdose Study: A New Strategy for Streamlining Oral Drug Development.

Science.gov (United States)

Yamashita, Shinji; Kataoka, Makoto; Suzaki, Yuki; Imai, Hiromitsu; Morimoto, Takuya; Ohashi, Kyoichi; Inano, Akihiro; Togashi, Kazutaka; Mutaguchi, Kuninori; Sugiyama, Yuichi

2015-09-01

A cassette-microdose (MD) clinical study was performed to demonstrate its usefulness for identifying the most promising compound for oral use. Three Ca-channel blockers (nifedipine, nicardipine, and diltiazem) were chosen as model drugs. In the MD clinical study, a cassette-dose method was employed in which three model drugs were administered simultaneously. Both intravenous (i.v.) and oral (p.o.) administration studies were conducted to calculate the oral bioavailability (BA). For comparison, p.o. studies with therapeutic dose (ThD) levels were also performed. In all studies, blood concentrations of each drug were successfully determined using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry with the lower limit of quantification of 0.2-2.0 pg/mL. Oral BA of nifedipine in the MD study was approximately 50% and in the same range with that obtained in the ThD study, whereas other two drugs showed significantly lower BA in the MD study, indicating a dose-dependent absorption. In addition, compared with the ThD study, absorption of nicardipine was delayed in the MD study. As a result, nifedipine was considered to be most promising for oral use. In conclusion, a cassette-MD clinical study is of advantage for oral drug development that enables to identify the candidate having desired properties for oral use. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association.

60Co-irradiation as an alternate method for sterilization of penicillin G, neomycin, novobiocin, and dihydrostreptomycin

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Tsuji, K.; Rahn, P.D.; Steindler, K.A.

1983-01-01

The effects of the use of 60Co-irradiation to sterilize antibiotics were evaluated. The antibiotic powders were only occasionally contaminated with microorganisms. The D-values of the products and environmental isolates were 0.028, 0.027, 0.015, 0.046, 0.15, 0.018, and 0.19 Mrads for Aspergillus species (UC 7297, 7298), A. fumigatus (UC 7299), Rhodotorula species (UC 7300), Penicillium oxalicum (UC 7269), Pseudomonas maltophilia (UC 6855), and a biological indicator microorganism, Bacillus pumilus spores (ATCC 27142). An irradiation dose of 1.14 Mrads, therefore, was sufficient to achieve a six-log cycle destruction of B. pumilus spores. Based on the bioburden data, a minimum irradiation dose of 1.05 Mrads was calculated to be sufficient to obtain a 10(-6) probability of sterilizing the most radioresistant isolate, Pen. oxalicum. To determine the radiolytic degradation scheme and the stability of the antibiotics following irradiation, high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) methods were developed. The resulting rates of degradation for the antibiotics were 0.6, 1.2, 2.3, and 0.95%/Mrad for penicillin G, neomycin, novobiocin, and dihydrostreptomycin, respectively. Furthermore, radiolytic degradation pathways for the antibiotics were identified and found to be similar to those commonly encountered when antibiotics are subjected to acidic, basic, hydrolytic, or oxidative treatments. No radiolytic compounds unique to 60Co-irradiation were found

Effect of partial saturation of bonded neo magnet on the automotive accessory motor

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Nimitkumar K. Sheth

2017-05-01

Full Text Available In this paper the effects of using a partially magnetized bonded neo (NdFeB magnet in an automotive accessory motor are presented. The potential reason for partial saturation of the bonded neo magnet is explained and a simple method to ensure saturation of the magnet is discussed. A magnetizing fixture design using the 2-D Finite element analysis (FEA is presented. The motor performance at various magnet saturation levels has been estimated using the 2-D FEA. Details of the thermal demagnetization test adopted by the automotive industry is also discussed and results of the motor performance for four saturation levels are detailed. These results indicate that the effect of demagnetization is more adverse in a motor with partially saturated magnets.

Effect of partial saturation of bonded neo magnet on the automotive accessory motor

Science.gov (United States)

Sheth, Nimitkumar K.; Angara, Raghu C. S. Babu

2017-05-01

In this paper the effects of using a partially magnetized bonded neo (NdFeB) magnet in an automotive accessory motor are presented. The potential reason for partial saturation of the bonded neo magnet is explained and a simple method to ensure saturation of the magnet is discussed. A magnetizing fixture design using the 2-D Finite element analysis (FEA) is presented. The motor performance at various magnet saturation levels has been estimated using the 2-D FEA. Details of the thermal demagnetization test adopted by the automotive industry is also discussed and results of the motor performance for four saturation levels are detailed. These results indicate that the effect of demagnetization is more adverse in a motor with partially saturated magnets.

An Example of Neo-Tarekat in Bandung, Indonesia

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Muhammad Adlin Sila

2009-08-01

Full Text Available At present, several tarekats surfaced in the urban centers of Indonesia and continued to perform as a vehicle of social and cultural cohesion. The emergence of these so-called neo-tarekats (neo-sufi mystical orders introduced rational reference to the sacred texts and Islamic law and rejected the close association between tarekats and the veneration of saints and holy places as generally known as silsilah in the old version of tarekats. This article depicts a close look at of Tarekat Kadisiyyah, an example of the neo-tarekats, located in central Bandung city of West Java. Most of the followers of this tarekat come from young and educated among urban people in Bandung. Mursyid (Ar: murshid of this tarekat refers to a person named Suprapto Kadis, who experienced the absence of an outward mursyid (lahiriah, but received direct guidance from Allah. There is no chain of transmission of mystical knowledge from a special mursyid to him. This kind of mursyid reminds us the concept of uwaysiyah in classical Islamic literature. Uways is the person who knew the prophet Muhammad but never met him in person. Another concept can be used to analyzes this phenomena is the notions of khidr functioning as an invisible guide for the mursyid. Tarekat Kadisiyyah trained its students that one should become his own self in order to know Allah. In doing this, Tarekat Kadisiyyah concluded that shari>‘ah is important as it is the vehicle to gain closeness to Allah. Keywords: Tarekat Kadisiyah, Suprapto Kadis, neo-tarekat, mursyid, suluk

Diverse gene cassettes in class 1 integrons of facultative oligotrophic bacteria of River Mahananda,West Bengal, India.

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Ranadhir Chakraborty

Full Text Available BACKGROUND: In this study a large random collection (n=2188 of facultative oligotrophic bacteria, from 90 water samples gathered in three consecutive years (2007-2009 from three different sampling sites of River Mahananda in Siliguri, West Bengal, India, were investigated for the presence of class 1 integrons and sequences of the amplification products. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Replica plating method was employed for determining the antibiotic resistance profile of the randomly assorted facultative oligotrophic isolates. Genomic DNA from each isolate was analyzed by PCR for the presence of class 1 integron. Amplicons were cloned and sequenced. Numerical taxonomy and 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses were done to ascertain putative genera of the class 1 integron bearing isolates. Out of 2188 isolates, 1667 (76.19% were antibiotic-resistant comprising of both single-antibiotic resistance (SAR and multiple-antibiotic resistant (MAR, and 521 (23.81% were sensitive to all twelve different antibiotics used in this study. Ninety out of 2188 isolates produced amplicon(s of varying sizes from 0.15 to 3.45 KB. Chi-square (χ(2 test revealed that the possession of class 1 integron in sensitive, SAR and MAR is not equally probable at the 1% level of significance. Diverse antibiotic-resistance gene cassettes, aadA1, aadA2, aadA4, aadA5, dfrA1, dfrA5, dfrA7, dfrA12, dfrA16, dfrA17, dfrA28, dfrA30, dfr-IIe, blaIMP-9, aacA4, Ac-6'-Ib, oxa1, oxa10 and arr2 were detected in 64 isolates. The novel cassettes encoding proteins unrelated to any known antibiotic resistance gene function were identified in 26 isolates. Antibiotic-sensitive isolates have a greater propensity to carry gene cassettes unrelated to known antibiotic-resistance genes. The integron-positive isolates under the class Betaproteobacteria comprised of only two genera, Comamonas and Acidovorax of family Comamonadaceae, while isolates under class Gammaproteobacteria fell under the families

Interstitial lung disease caused by TS-1: a case of long-term drug retention as a fatal adverse reaction.

Science.gov (United States)

Park, Joong-Min; Hwang, In Gyu; Suh, Suk-Won; Chi, Kyong-Choun

2011-12-01

TS-1 is an oral anti-cancer agent for gastric cancer with a high response rate and low toxicity. We report a case of long-term drug retention of TS-1 causing interstitial lung disease (ILD) as a fatal adverse reaction. A 65-year-old woman underwent a total gastrectomy with pathologic confirmation of gastric adenocarcinoma. She received 6 cycles of TS-1 and low-dose cisplatin for post-operative adjuvant chemotherapy followed by single-agent maintenance therapy with TS-1. After 8 months, the patient complained of a productive cough with sputum and mild dyspnea. A pulmonary evaluation revealed diffuse ILD in the lung fields, bilaterally. In spite of discontinuing chemotherapy and the administration of corticosteroids, the pulmonary symptoms did not improve, and the patient died of pulmonary failure. TS-1-induced ILD can be caused by long-term drug retention that alters the lung parenchyma irreversibly, the outcome of which can be life-threatening. Pulmonary evaluation for early detection of disease is recommended.

Neo-Timm staining in the thalamus of chronically epileptic rats

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Hamani C.

2005-01-01

Full Text Available The thalamus is an important modulator of seizures and is severely affected in cholinergic models of epilepsy. In the present study, chronically epileptic rats had their brains processed for neo-Timm and acetylcholinesterase two months after the induction of status epilepticus with pilocarpine. Both controls and pilocarpine-treated animals presented neo-Timm staining in the anterodorsal nucleus, laterodorsal nucleus, reticular nucleus, most intralaminar nuclei, nucleus reuniens, and rhomboid nucleus of the thalamus, as well as in the zona incerta. The intensity of neo-Timm staining was similar in control and pilocarpine-treated rats, except for the nucleus reuniens and the rhomboid nucleus, which had a lower intensity of staining in the epileptic group. In animal models of temporal lobe epilepsy, zinc seems to modulate glutamate release and to decrease seizure activity. In this context, a reduction of neo-Timm-stained terminals in the midline thalamus could ultimately result in an increased excitatory activity, not only within its related nuclei, but also in anatomical structures that receive their efferent connections. This might contribute to the pathological substrate observed in chronic pilocarpine-treated epileptic animals.

Theatrical Style and the Work of T.S. Eliot.

Science.gov (United States)

Harris, Warren Meredith

This study examines T.S. Eliot's intentions for the staging of his plays, as revealed in the texts themselves and in related documents. His plays reflect his basically naturalistic conception of the stage environment and the acting; two of the plays, "Sweeney Agonistes," which was unfinished, and "The Family Reunion," demonstrate his inability to…

Associations between dru Types and SCCmec Cassettes

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Bartels, Mette D; Boye, Kit; Oliveira, Duarte C

2013-01-01

SCCmec types I to VI. The isolates represented a broad genetic background based on Staphylococcal protein A (spa) typing and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and included 68 isolates (68 patients) from an outbreak with t024-ST8-IVa and 26 isolates from the same patient. Sequencing identified 53 dru......Molecular typing is an important tool in the investigation of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) outbreaks and in following the evolution of MRSA. The staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) contains a hypervariable region with a variable number of 40 bp repeats named direct...... repeat units (dru). The dru region has been suggested as a supplementary typing method for MRSA and an international nomenclature exists. The purpose of this study was to investigate the diversity and variability of the dru region in a diverse collection of MRSA. We studied 302 MRSA isolates harbouring...

LIDAR TS for ITER core plasma. Part I: layout & hardware

Science.gov (United States)

Salzmann, H.; Gowers, C.; Nielsen, P.

2017-12-01

The original time-of-flight design of the Thomson scattering diagnostic for the ITER core plasma has been shown up by ITER. This decision was justified by insufficiencies of some of the components. In this paper we show that with available, present day technology a LIDAR TS system is feasible which meets all the ITER specifications. As opposed to the conventional TS system the LIDAR TS also measures the high field side of the plasma. The optical layout of the front end has been changed only little in comparison with the latest one considered by ITER. The main change is that it offers an optical collection without any vignetting over the low field side. The throughput of the system is defined only by the size and the angle of acceptance of the detectors. This, in combination with the fact that the LIDAR system uses only one set of spectral channels for the whole line of sight, means that no absolute calibration using Raman or Rayleigh scattering from a non-hydrogen isotope gas fill of the vessel is needed. Alignment of the system is easy since the collection optics view the footprint of the laser on the inner wall. In the described design we use, simultaneously, two different wavelength pulses from a Nd:YAG laser system. Its fundamental wavelength ensures measurements of 2 keV up to more than 40 keV, whereas the injection of the second harmonic enables measurements of low temperatures. As it is the purpose of this paper to show the technological feasibility of the LIDAR system, the hardware is considered in Part I of the paper. In Part II we demonstrate by numerical simulations that the accuracy of the measurements as required by ITER is maintained throughout the given plasma parameter range. The effect of enhanced background radiation in the wavelength range 400 nm-500 nm is considered. In Part III the recovery of calibration in case of changing spectral transmission of the front end is treated. We also investigate how to improve the spatial resolution at the

Pedagogy of the Consumer: The Politics of Neo-Liberal Welfare Reform

Science.gov (United States)

Wilkins, Andrew

2012-01-01

Situated against the backdrop of a widespread and growing interest in the linkages between neo-liberalism and welfare, this paper introduces the lens of neo-liberalism as a conceptual strategy for thinking about contemporary issues in education policy. Through charting the historic rise of unfettered market institutions and practices in the…

Education Policy as Proto-Fascism: The Aesthetics of Racial Neo-Liberalism

Science.gov (United States)

Webb, P. Taylor; Gulson, Kalervo N.

2011-01-01

We argue that neo-liberal educational policy has emerged as a proto-fascist governmentality. This contemporary technology relies on State racisms and racial orderings manifested from earlier liberal and neo-liberal practices of biopower. As a proto-fascist technology, education policy, and school choice policies in particular, operate within a…

Route to neo-inguinal canal: Our experience

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J Jacob Swaroop Anand

2011-01-01

Full Text Available Aim: The objective of this study was to stress the importance and value of this route to neo-inguinal canal creation for undescended testis management laparoscopically. Materials and Methods: Data from the Department of Paediatric Surgery, Coimbatore Medical College, was taken. Retrospective study was undertaken for the period 2004 to 2008. Here the surgical technique and outcome of the treatment are recorded for children aged 1 year to 12 years. Results: A total of 126 children underwent laparoscopic stage II surgery by this route (medial to the medial umbilical ligament. Right-sided undescended testis (UDT was present in 76 (60% patients. Left-sided UDT was present in 45 (35% patients. Bilateral UDT was present in 5 (5% patients. There were 90 (71% patients aged less than 2 years and 36 (29% patients aged more than 2 years. The eldest patient was 12 years of age. The overall hospital stay was 1 day. There were no complications seen in the follow-up. In all cases, the testis could not be brought down in a single stage. Conclusion: Creation of neo-inguinal canal medial to the medial umbilical ligament and just lateral to the bladder has the advantage of gaining more length on the vessels and vas to bring the testis to scrotum. The laparoscopic management of undescended testis in stage II by this innovative new route is simple, less complicated and well tolerated.

Structural design of DEMO Divertor Cassette Body: provisional FEM analysis and introductive application of RCC-MRx design rules

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Frosi, Paolo, E-mail: paolo.frosi@enea.it [Unità Tecnica Fusione-ENEA C.R. Frascati, Via E. Fermi 45, 00044 Frascati (Italy); Mazzone, Giuseppe [Unità Tecnica Fusione-ENEA C.R. Frascati, Via E. Fermi 45, 00044 Frascati (Italy); You, Jeong-Ha [Max Planck Institute of Plasma Physics, Boltzmann Str. 2, 85748 Garching (Germany)

2016-11-01

This paper deals with the early steps in developing a structural fem model of DEMO Divertor. The study is focused on the thermal and structural analysis of the Cassette Body: a new geometry has been developed for this component: it is foreseen that the plasma facing component (PFC) will be directly placed on the cassette but for the Dome no choice has been adopted yet. For now the model contains only a suitable schematization of the Cassette Body and its objective is to analyze the effect produced by the main loads (electromagnetic loads, coolant pressure, thermal neutron and convective loads) on itself: an available estimate of loads is that one derived from ITER: for a proper translation some assumptions have been made and they are described in the paper. Now it is not a primary purpose to obtain some definitive statements about stresses, displacements, temperatures and so on; the authors want to construct a set of FEM models that will help all the decisions of DEMO Divertor design in its future development. This set is conceived as a tool that shall be improved to account for all the main enhancements that will be found in geometry, in material properties data and in load evaluations. Moreover, the main design variables (loads, material properties, some geometric items, mesh element size) are defined as parameters. This work considers also an introductive approach for future structural verification of the Divertor Cassette Body: so a concern of the Design and Construction Rules for Mechanical Components of Nuclear Installation (RCC-MRx) has been implemented. The FEM code used is Ansys rel. 15.

Germline stem cells and neo-oogenesis in the adult human ovary.

Science.gov (United States)

Liu, Yifei; Wu, Chao; Lyu, Qifeng; Yang, Dongzi; Albertini, David F; Keefe, David L; Liu, Lin

2007-06-01

It remains unclear whether neo-oogenesis occurs in postnatal ovaries of mammals, based on studies in mice. We thought to test whether adult human ovaries contain germline stem cells (GSCs) and undergo neo-oogenesis. Rather than using genetic manipulation which is unethical in humans, we took the approach of analyzing the expression of meiotic marker genes and genes for germ cell proliferation, which are required for neo-oogenesis, in adult human ovaries covering an age range from 28 to 53 years old, compared to testis and fetal ovaries served as positive controls. We show that active meiosis, neo-oogenesis and GSCs are unlikely to exist in normal, adult, human ovaries. No early meiotic-specific or oogenesis-associated mRNAs for SPO11, PRDM9, SCP1, TERT and NOBOX were detectable in adult human ovaries using RT-PCR, compared to fetal ovary and adult testis controls. These findings are further corroborated by the absence of early meiocytes and proliferating germ cells in adult human ovarian cortex probed with markers for meiosis (SCP3), oogonium (OCT3/4, c-KIT), and cell cycle progression (Ki-67, PCNA), in contrast to fetal ovary controls. If postnatal oogenesis is confirmed in mice, then this species would represent an exception to the rule that neo-oogenesis does not occur in adults.

Housing transformations Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area. The passage from Neo-liberalism to Urban Neo-development

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Juan Pablo del Río

2014-12-01

Full Text Available The economic recovery that followed the 2001/02 crisis in Argentina came with a relevant improvement in a number of social and economic indicators, related among other reasons to the design of public policies aimed at recuperating employment levels and the productive matrix. In this context, the “construction – public works” tandem became a central topic in the agenda, and Real Estate expansion was widely assessed as a positive outcome by macro-economic standards. However, this process was not exempt of contradictions, as can be seen in the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires, where it is possible to observe a set of concurring tendencies resulting from the hybridization of the urban neo-liberalization still present and the recent expansion of urban neo-developmentalism. As a result, the expansion of State-led de-commodification of goods and services aimed at social reproduction, coexists with a persisting process of socially regressive housing space production, together with an intense commodification of existing housing, associated with a growing financializationof “bricks”.

Selective ATP-Binding Cassette Subfamily C Gene Expression and Proinflammatory Mediators Released by BEAS-2B after PM2.5, Budesonide, and Cotreated Exposures

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Jarline Encarnación-Medina

2017-01-01

Full Text Available ATP-binding cassette subfamily C (ABCC genes code for phase III metabolism proteins that translocate xenobiotic (e.g., particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5 and drug metabolites outside the cells. IL-6 secretion is related with the activation of the ABCC transporters. This study assesses ABCC1–4 gene expression changes and proinflammatory cytokine (IL-6, IL-8 release in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B exposed to PM2.5 organic extract, budesonide (BUD, used to control inflammation in asthmatic patients, and a cotreatment (Co-T: PM2.5 and BUD. A real-time PCR assay shows that ABCC1 was upregulated in BEAS-2B exposed after 6 and 7 hr to PM2.5 extract or BUD but downregulated after 6 hr of the Co-T. ABCC3 was downregulated after 6 hr of BUD and upregulated after 6 hr of the Co-T exposures. ABCC4 was upregulated after 5 hr of PM2.5 extract, BUD, and the Co-T exposures. The cytokine assay revealed an increase in IL-6 release by BEAS-2B exposed after 5 hr to PM2.5 extract, BUD, and the Co-T. At 7 hr, the Co-T decreases IL-6 release and IL-8 at 6 hr. In conclusion, the cotreatment showed an opposite effect on exposed BEAS-2B as compared with BUD. The results suggest an interference of the BUD therapeutic potential by PM2.5.

A hybrid GA-TS algorithm for open vehicle routing optimization of coal mines material

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Yu, S.W.; Ding, C.; Zhu, K.J. [China University of Geoscience, Wuhan (China)

2011-08-15

In the open vehicle routing problem (OVRP), the objective is to minimize the number of vehicles and the total distance (or time) traveled. This study primarily focuses on solving an open vehicle routing problem (OVRP) by applying a novel hybrid genetic algorithm and the Tabu search (GA-TS), which combines the GA's parallel computing and global optimization with TS's Tabu search skill and fast local search. Firstly, the proposed algorithm uses natural number coding according to the customer demands and the captivity of the vehicle for globe optimization. Secondly, individuals of population do TS local search with a certain degree of probability, namely, do the local routing optimization of all customer sites belong to one vehicle. The mechanism not only improves the ability of global optimization, but also ensures the speed of operation. The algorithm was used in Zhengzhou Coal Mine and Power Supply Co., Ltd.'s transport vehicle routing optimization.

1986 POLICY: BEGINNING OF NEO-LIBERAL AGENDA

Indian Academy of Sciences (India)

First page Back Continue Last page Overview Graphics... VIOLATED THE CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES OF. EQUALITY & SOCIAL JUSTICE.. INTRODUCED A SOCIO-POLITICAL FAULT FOR NEO-LIBERAL FORCES TO PROMOTE PRINCIPLE OF PARALLEL STREAMS.

CaTs Lab (CHAOS and Thermal Sciences Laboratory)

Science.gov (United States)

Teate, Anthony A.

2002-01-01

The CHAOS and Thermal Sciences Laboratory (CaTs) at James Madison University evolved into a noteworthy effort to increase minority representation in the sciences and mathematics. Serving ten students and faculty directly, and nearly 50 students indirectly, CaTs, through recruitment efforts, workshops, mentoring programs, tutorial services and research and computational laboratories, fulfilled its intent to initiate an academically enriched research program aimed at strengthening the academic and self-actualization skills of undergraduate students with potential to pursue doctoral study in the sciences. The stated goal of the program was to increase by 5% the number of enrolled mathematics and science students into the program. Success far exceeded the program goals by producing 100% graduation rate of all supported recipients during its tenure, with 30% of the students subsequently in pursuit of graduate degrees. Student retention in the program exceeded 90% and faculty participation exceeded the three members involved in mentoring and tutoring, gaining multi-disciplinary support. Aggressive marketing of the program resulted in several paid summer internships and commitments from NASA and an ongoing relationship with CHROME, a nationally recognized organization which focuses on developing minority students in the sciences and mathematics. Success of the program was only limited by the limited fiscal resources at NASA which resulted in phasing out of the program.

A green surfactant-assisted synthesis of hierarchical TS-1 zeolites with excellent catalytic properties for oxidative desulfurization.

Science.gov (United States)

Du, Shuting; Li, Fen; Sun, Qiming; Wang, Ning; Jia, Mingjun; Yu, Jihong

2016-02-25

Hierarchical TS-1 zeolites with uniform intracrystalline mesopores have been successfully synthesized through the hydrothermal method by using the green and cheap surfactant Triton X-100 as the mesoporous template. The resultant materials exhibit remarkably enhanced catalytic activity in oxidative desulfurization reactions compared to the conventional TS-1 zeolite.

September 11, Neo-liberalism and Discourse

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Holmgreen, Lise-Lotte

2006-01-01

of British financial news reports is analysed. This corpus covers the two-month period before and after the September-11 attacks and illustrates the extent to which economic ideology (neo-liberalism) and socio-economic change (the terrorist attacks) influence the choice of metaphor, and hence...

Neo-Mercantilist Policy and China’s Rise as a Global Power

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Fu-Lai Tony Yu

2017-12-01

Full Text Available This paper argues that China is adopting Neo-mercantilist policies in its national development and global expansion. China’s Neo-mercantilist strategies include promoting nationalism and patriotism, stockpiling gold and foreign reserves, striving for favorable balance of payment via exchange rate manipulation, tariff, export subsidies and other trade protections. The Chinese government also controls population growth for national development and social control, initiates “Belt and Road” project and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to counter American and Western influences, and deploys strategic expansion in Africa, South Asia and Latin American countries. China’s economic success through Neo-mercantilist strategies may provide an incentive for other Asian developing nations such as the Philippines to follow.

Una registrazione neo-sumerica di orzo da Nippur

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di Pasquale, Emanuella

2003-06-01

Full Text Available This article presents the edition of a Neo-Sumerian cuneiform text from Nippur. The tablet records a balanced account of barley distributed to several people under the supervision of Lu-Enlila, and is dated to the sixth month of Shu-Suen's fifth year

El artículo presenta la edición de un texto cuneiforme de época neo-sumeria procedente de la ciudad de Nippur. La tablilla registra un balance contable de asignaciones de cebada a diversos individuos, bajo la responsabilidad de Lu-Enlila. El documento está datado en el sexto mes del año 5 de reinado de Shu-Suen.

Astrometric Results of NEOs from the Characterization and Astrometric Follow-up Program at Adler Planetarium

Science.gov (United States)

Nault, Kristie A.; Brucker, Melissa J.; Hammergren, Mark; Gyuk, Geza; Solontoi, Mike R.

2015-11-01

We present astrometric results of near-Earth objects (NEOs) targeted in fourth quarter 2014 and in 2015. This is part of Adler Planetarium’s NEO characterization and astrometric follow-up program, which uses the Astrophysical Research Consortium (ARC) 3.5-m telescope at Apache Point Observatory (APO). The program utilizes a 17% share of telescope time, amounting to a total of 500 hours per year. This time is divided up into two hour observing runs approximately every other night for astrometry and frequent half-night runs approximately several times a month for spectroscopy (see poster by M. Hammergren et. al.) and light curve studies (see poster by M. J. Brucker et. al.).Observations were made using Seaver Prototype Imaging Camera (SPIcam), a visible-wavelength, direct imaging CCD camera with 2048 x 2048 pixels and a field of view of 4.78’ x 4.78’. Observations were made using 2 x 2 binning.Special emphasis has been made to focus on the smallest NEOs, particularly around 140m in diameter. Targets were selected based on absolute magnitude (prioritizing for those with H > 25 mag to select small objects) and a 3σ uncertainty less than 400” to ensure that the target is in the FOV. Targets were drawn from the Minor Planet Center (MPC) NEA Observing Planning Aid, the JPL What’s Observable tool, and the Spaceguard priority list and faint NEO list.As of August 2015, we have detected 670 NEOs for astrometric follow-up, on point with our goal of providing astrometry on a thousand NEOs per year. Astrometric calculations were done using the interactive software tool Astrometrica, which is used for data reduction focusing on the minor bodies of the solar system. The program includes automatic reference star identification from new-generation star catalogs, access to the complete MPC database of orbital elements, and automatic moving object detection and identification.This work is based on observations done using the 3.5-m telescope at Apache Point Observatory

TMAP: A NEO follow-up program utilizing undergraduate observers

Science.gov (United States)

Ramirez, C.; Deaver, D.; Martinez, R.; Foster, J.; Kuang, L.; Ates, A.; Anderson, M.; Mijac, M.; Gillam, S.; Hicks, M. D.

2000-10-01

In the spring of 2000 we began TMAP (Table Mountain Astrometry Project), a program designed to provide timely astrometric followup of newly discovered near-Earth asteroids. Relying on undergraduate observers from the local California State Universities, we have to date been involved with the over 50 NEO and new comet discoveries. This is a significant fraction of all near-Earth asteroids discovered over the time period. All observations are performed at JPL's Table Mountain Facility near Wrightwood California using the 0.6-meter telescope equipped with a Photometrics LN cooled 1k CCD mounted at the cassegrain focus. With this system we can routinely detect objects to R=20.5. We have typically scheduled two runs per month on weekends bracketing the new moon. The student observers man the telescope are trained to select and obtain R-band images of candidates from the Minor Planet Center's NEO Confirmation Page (http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/cfa/ps/NEO/TheNEOPage.html). The astrometry is then reduced and submitted to the Minor Planet Center the following day. TMAP has proven to be an efficient way both to obtain much needed astrometric measurements of newly discovered small bodies as well as to involve undergraduate researchers in planetary research. The limiting magnitudes provided by the 0.6-meter partially fills the gap between the extremely helpful and dedicated amateur astromitrists and the followup that the NEO detection programs do themselves. This work is supported by NASA.

pSv3neo transfection and radiosensitivity of human cancer cell lines

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Parris, C.N.; Masters, J.R.W.; Green, M.H.L.

1990-01-01

Immortalisation of human fibroblasts by transfection with a plasmid, pSV3neo, results in an increase in their radioresistance. The change in radiosensitivity may either be a consequence of transformation or due to expression of the SV40 T-antigen in pSV3neo. To investigate these two possibilities, we transfected pSV3neo into cells already transformed and immortalised. The radiosensitivies of three human bladder cancer cell lines were unaltered in clones expressing T-antigen, indicating that the changes observed in fibroblasts probably are a consequence of transformation, and not the presence of SV40 T-antigen. (author)

Emotion of Physiological Signals Classification Based on TS Feature Selection

Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China (English)

Wang Yujing; Mo Jianlin

2015-01-01

This paper propose a method of TS-MLP about emotion recognition of physiological signal.It can recognize emotion successfully by Tabu search which selects features of emotion’s physiological signals and multilayer perceptron that is used to classify emotion.Simulation shows that it has achieved good emotion classification performance.

Comparison of pharmacokinetics of newly discovered aromatase inhibitors by a cassette microdosing approach in healthy Japanese subjects.

Science.gov (United States)

Kusuhara, Hiroyuki; Takashima, Tadayuki; Fujii, Hisako; Takashima, Tsutomu; Tanaka, Masaaki; Ishii, Akira; Tazawa, Shusaku; Takahashi, Kazuhiro; Takahashi, Kayo; Tokai, Hidekichi; Yano, Tsuneo; Kataoka, Makoto; Inano, Akihiro; Yoshida, Suguru; Hosoya, Takamitsu; Sugiyama, Yuichi; Yamashita, Shinji; Hojo, Taisuke; Watanabe, Yasuyoshi

2017-12-01

The aim of the present study is to investigate the pharmacokinetics of our newly developed aromatase inhibitors (cetrozole and TMD-322) in healthy subjects by a cassette microdose strategy. A cocktail of cetrozole and TMD-322 was administered intravenously or orally (1.98 μg for each drug) to six healthy volunteers in a crossover fashion. Anastrozole (1.98 μg) was also included in the oral cocktail. Total body clearance and bioavailability were 12.1 ± 7.1 mL/min/kg and 34.9 ± 32.3% for cetrozole, and 16.8 ± 3.5 mL/min/kg and 18.4 ± 12.2% for TMD-322, respectively. The area under the plasma concentration-time curves of cetrozole and TMD-322 after oral administration was markedly lower than that of anastrozole because of their high hepatic clearance. Two subjects out of six exhibited 4- and 17-fold larger exposure of cetrozole than the others following intravenous and oral administration, respectively. Such variation was not observed for TMD-322 and anastrozole. Extensive metabolism of cetrozole and TMD-322 was observed in the CYP2C19 expression system among the test CYP isoforms (CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and CYP3A4). We report the first clinical investigation of our aromatase inhibitors by a cassette microdose strategy in healthy Japanese subjects. This strategy offers an optional approach for candidate selection as a phase zero study in drug development. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Neo4j graph data modeling

CERN Document Server

Lal, Mahesh

2015-01-01

If you are a developer who wants to understand the fundamentals of modeling data in Neo4j and how it can be used to model full-fledged applications, then this book is for you. Some understanding of domain modeling may be advantageous but is not essential.

Influence de l’anthropisation sur la végétation locale et l’abondance des tsé-tsé au sud du Burkina Faso*

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Rayaissé J.B.

2009-03-01

Full Text Available Des enquêtes entomologiques couplées à une analyse phytosociologique ont été menées dans la zone de Folonzo au sud du Burkina Faso sur la rivière Comoé. L’étude avait pour objectif de comparer l’abondance et la diversité des espèces de glossines dans une zone protégée et une zone non protégée, grâce à des transects perpendiculaires au cours d’eau. Des pièges ont été posés le long de ces transects depuis la rivière Comoé jusqu’à la savane en passant par la galerie forestière. Une analyse diachronique de la zone entre 1980 et 2008 a également été menée par comparaison d’images satellites Landsat et à partir de l’évolution des densités de tsé-tsé. Sur chacun des transects, une description de la flore a été faite, incluant toutes les espèces situées dans un rayon de 10 m autour de chaque piège. Il existe une très grande homogénéité floristique entre les transects, particulièrement pour la forêt-galerie, en revanche la savane montre une relative hétérogénéité. L’enquête entomologique révèle la présence de quatre espèces de glossines qui sont Glossina tachinoides (74 %, G. morsitans submorsitans (20 %, G. palpalis gambiensis (4 % et G. medicorum (2 %. Une différence nette s’observe entre la zone non protégée et la zone protégée, avec une densité moyenne de tsé-tsé quatre fois inférieure dans la première. Cette différence est particulièrement importante pour G. m. submorsitans, dont les densités sont divisées par neuf dans la zone non protégée. Cette régression s’explique par la diminution de la faune sauvage hors de la zone protégée, et ceci est extrapolable à l’ensemble du pays où cette espèce de glossine est en net recul. L’évolution du terroir de Folonzo montre une augmentation impressionnante des densités humaines et des surfaces cultivées, qui n’a pas (encore d’impact visible sur la composition floristique des lieux d’analyse, mais qui

Function and structure in phage Qbeta RNA replicase. Association of EF-Tu-Ts with the other enzyme subunits

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Blumenthal, T; Young, R A; Brown, S

1976-01-01

alters its quaternary structure: the EF-Tu-Ts cannot be covalently attached to the other enzyme subunits with bifunctional cross-linking reagents in the presence of RNA. This conformational change is not influenced by ionic strength. The addition of Qbeta RNA to the enzyme, does not result in the release...... for one another increases with increasing ionic strength. The enzyme is capable of initiation of RNA synthesis with synthetic templates only when in the low ionic strength conformation. Elongation of initiated polynucleotide chains is not affectedby ionic strength. Addition of Qbeta RNA to the enzyme also...... of EF-Tu-Ts from the other enzyme subunits: whereas free EF-Tu-Ts binds GDP independently of salt concentration, this binding by Qbeta replicase is sensitive to high ionic strength and remains so in the presence of Qbeta RNA. Furthermore, RNA does not allow the release of EF-Ts from EF-Tu by GTP...

Hematopoietic Stem Cells from Ts65Dn Mice Are Deficient in the Repair of DNA Double-Strand Breaks.

Science.gov (United States)

Wang, Yingying; Chang, Jianhui; Shao, Lijian; Feng, Wei; Luo, Yi; Chow, Marie; Du, Wei; Meng, Aimin; Zhou, Daohong

2016-06-01

Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of an extra partial or whole copy of chromosome 21. In addition to musculoskeletal and neurodevelopmental abnormalities, children with DS exhibit various hematologic disorders and have an increased risk of developing acute lymphoblastic leukemia and acute megakaryocytic leukemia. Using the Ts65Dn mouse model, we investigated bone marrow defects caused by trisomy for 132 orthologs of the genes on human chromosome 21. The results showed that, although the total bone marrow cellularity as well as the frequency of hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) was comparable between Ts65Dn mice and their age-matched euploid wild-type (WT) control littermates, human chromosome 21 trisomy led to a significant reduction in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) numbers and clonogenic function in Ts65Dn mice. We also found that spontaneous DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) were significantly increased in HSCs from the Ts65Dn mice, which was correlated with the significant reduction in HSC clonogenic activity compared to those from WT controls. Moreover, analysis of the repair kinetics of radiation-induced DSBs revealed that HSCs from Ts65Dn mice were less proficient in DSB repair than the cells from WT controls. This deficiency was associated with a higher sensitivity of Ts65Dn HSCs to radiation-induced suppression of HSC clonogenic activity than that of euploid HSCs. These findings suggest that an additional copy of genes on human chromosome 21 may selectively impair the ability of HSCs to repair DSBs, which may contribute to DS-associated hematological abnormalities and malignancies.

A state of limbo: the politics of waiting in neo-liberal Latvia.

Science.gov (United States)

Ozoliņa-Fitzgerald, Liene

2016-09-01

This article presents an ethnographic study of politics of waiting in a post-Soviet context. While activation has been explored in sociological and anthropological literature as a neo-liberal governmental technology and its application in post-socialist context has also been compellingly documented, waiting as a political artefact has only recently been receiving increased scholarly attention. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork at a state-run unemployment office in Riga, this article shows how, alongside activation, state welfare policies also produce passivity and waiting. Engaging with the small but developing field of sociological literature on the politics of waiting, I argue that, rather than interpreting it as a clash between 'neo-liberal' and 'Soviet' regimes, we should understand the double-move of activation and imposition of waiting as a key mechanism of neo-liberal biopolitics. This article thus extends the existing theorizations of the temporal politics of neo-liberalism. © London School of Economics and Political Science 2016.

Arte contemporáneo: temporalidad, territorialización y circulación

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Jonathan Feldman

2017-01-01

Full Text Available Este artículo da cuenta de diferentes definiciones teóricas del arte contemporáneo y sus características, recurriendo a los enfoques de Giorgio Agamben, Terry Smith, Boris Groys y Julieta Aranda, para, a continuación, poner en relación estas posiciones con la noción de territorialización esbozada por Deleuze y Guattari (1985, y así posar la mirada sobre tres niveles de territorialidad que atraviesan las definiciones de arte contemporáneo: local, regional y global. Esto permite, finalmente, vincular estos niveles a los modos de circulación y exhibición del arte contemporáneo para generar discursos sostenidos sobre la base de las instituciones y los mercados artísticos. Se hace también una breve descripción de los casos de dos instituciones porteñas que permiten comprobar estos niveles de territorialidad y las formas de circulación del arte contemporáneo.

[The relationship between acupuncture-moxibustion theory of DOU Hanqing and Neo- Confucianism].

Science.gov (United States)

Li, Baojin; Huang, Longxiang

2018-02-12

For the construction factors of acupuncture-moxibustion theory of DOU Hanqing , a doctor in Jin-Yuan Dynasty, we studied his life, acupuncture-moxibustion theory and culture background in the History of Medicine and Philosophy of Science & Technology. It was found that the major source of DOU Hanqing ' s Confucianism was the CHENG - ZHU Neo-Confucianism. The data show that Neo-Confucianism played an important role in the enrichment of his human nature, spirit, moral cultivation and political talent, making him a scholar in the Jin - Yuan dynasty, also shaping his medical ethics, medical skill and acupuncture-moxibustion theory. The inheritance, development and application of CHENG - ZHU Neo-Confucianism provided the most fundamental thinking, research methods and patterns for DOU Hanqing to interpret the acupuncture classics, summarize his teachers' experience and develop his theoretical system. DOU Hanqing ' s acupuncture-moxibustion practice and theory reached a new level, because he took acupuncture-moxibustion as one of the knowledge investigation and attainment of CHENG - ZHU Neo-Confucianism.

CONNECTION OF THE NEO-TETHYAN OCEAN TO THE RISE OF ...

Indian Academy of Sciences (India)

Table of contents. CONNECTION OF THE NEO-TETHYAN OCEAN TO THE RISE OF THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAIN BELT · Slide 2 · Slide 3 · Slide 4 · Slide 5 · Slide 6 · Slide 7 · Slide 8 · Slide 9 · Slide 10 · Slide 11 · LADAKH MAFIC MAGMATIC ROCKS (INDUS SUTURE ZONE) · Contrast in characteristics for the mafic ...

SCIENCE WHERE CULTURE MATTERS: A NEO-CLASSICAL ...

Indian Academy of Sciences (India)

SCIENCE WHERE CULTURE MATTERS: A NEO-CLASSICAL APPROACH TO EXPLORE UNTAPPED BACTERIAL DIVERSITY. MILIND WATVE; Dept of Microbiology, Abasaheb Garware College, Pune. www.culturematters.org; * Life Research Foundation, Pune; * Evolvus Biotech Pvt. Ltd.,Pune ...

Off-pump transapical implantation of artificial neo-chordae to correct mitral regurgitation: the TACT Trial (Transapical Artificial Chordae Tendinae) proof of concept.

Science.gov (United States)

Seeburger, Joerg; Rinaldi, Mauro; Nielsen, Sten Lyager; Salizzoni, Stefano; Lange, Ruediger; Schoenburg, Markus; Alfieri, Ottavio; Borger, Michael Andrew; Mohr, Friedrich Wilhelm; Aidietis, Audrius

2014-03-11

The goal of this study was to evaluate the safety and performance of the NeoChord DS1000 system (NeoChord, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota). There is an increasing interest in transcatheter mitral valve (MV) treatment. The NeoChord DS 1000 system enables off-pump beating heart transapical MV repair with implantation of artificial neo-chordae. Patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) due to isolated posterior prolapse were included in this TACT (Transapical Artificial Chordae Tendinae) trial. All patients were scheduled for off-pump transapical implantation of neo-chordae. Thirty patients at 7 centers were enrolled. Major adverse events included 1 death due to post-cardiotomy syndrome and concomitant sepsis and 1 minor stroke with the patient fully recovered at the 30-day follow-up visit. Additional patients experienced procedural major adverse events related to a reoperation or conversion to standard of care. Acute procedural success (placement of at least 1 neo-chord and reduction of MR from 3+ or 4+ to ≤2+) was achieved in 26 patients (86.7%). In 4 patients neo-chordae were not placed for technical and/or patient-specific reasons. These patients underwent intraoperative (3 patients) or post-operative (1 patient) standard MV repair. At 30 days, 17 patients maintained an MR grade ≤2+. Four patients who developed recurrent MR were successfully treated with open MV repair during 30-day follow-up. Results improved with experience: durable reduction in MR to ≤2+ at 30 days was achieved in 5 (33.3%) of the first 15 patients and 12 (85.7%) of the last 14 patients. Off-pump transapical implantation of artificial chordae to correct MR is technically safe and feasible; however, it yields further potential for improvement of efficacy and durability. (Safety and Performance Study of the NeoChord Device [TACT]; NCT01777815). Copyright © 2014 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

MoMuLV-ts-1: A Unique Mouse Model of Retrovirus-Induced Lymphoma Transmitted by Breast Milk

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

J. Chakraborty

2011-01-01

Full Text Available Our laboratory has developed a murine model of lymphoma via breast milk transmission of MoMuLV-ts-1 (Moloney murine leukemia virus-temperature sensitive mutant-1. Uninfected offspring suckled from infected surrogate mothers become infected and develop lymphoma. Multiple gene integration sites of ts-1 into the infected mouse genome including tacc3, aurka, ndel1, tpx2, p53, and rhamm were identified, and mRNA expressions were quantitated. These genes produce centrosomal proteins, which may be involved in abnormal chromosomal segregation leading to aneuploidy or multiploidy, thus causing lymphoma. Since there is no report to date on this retroviral model leading to centrosomal abnormality, and causing lymphoma development, this is a valuable and unique model to study the centrosomal involvement in lymphomagenesis.

Human integration as a fundamental anthropological problem in Neo-Humanistic education / Song-Guk Joh

OpenAIRE

Joh, Song-Guk

1997-01-01

Neo-Humanistic education (or "humanistic education" in Neo-Humanist terms) is an irrationalistic educational movement which developed in the USA during the 1960s and 1970s on the basis of Progressivism, Existentialism, Humanistic Psychology, Romantic criticism and some religious movements. Neo-Humanistic Education attempts to effect human integration as the most important goal in the context of education. This research focuses on human integration as a fundamental anthropological problem i...

Frecuencia de grupos sanguíneos y factor Rh en donantes de sangre, Colombia ,1996

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Mauricio Beltrán

1999-03-01

Full Text Available El establecer un patrón nacional de distribución de los grupos sanguíneos por seccionales de salud con base en los datos de donantes de banco de sangre, permite la localización e intercambio de sangre y componentes con fines de transfusión de una manera oportuna, mejora la disponibilidad de sangre y ofrece, además, información útil para áreas como las de genética para identificación personal y pruebas de paternidad, y en el campo antropológico para hallar diferencias raciales según su distribución. Con el fin de estimar la frecuencia y distribución de los grupos A, 8, AB y O y factor Rh por seccionales de salud en donantes de sangre, se analizó la información enviada durante 1996 por todos los bancos del país a la Coordinación Nacional de Bancos de Sangre con sede en el lnstituto Nacional de Salud. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de la información, diferenciando por grupos sanguíneos y la presencia o ausencia del factor Rhesus. Durante 1996, los 180 bancos de sangre del país recolectaron 393.063 unidades de sangre; éstos reportaron los datos de pruebas de grupos sanguíneos A, B, AB , O y factor Rhesus de 338.063 (86% unidades; no se obtuvo información de las unidades restantes. Del total de unidades hemoclasificadas, 91,16% correspondió al factor Rhesus positivo; para este factor, la distribución por grupos sanguíneos fue de 56,2% para el grupo 0; 26,0% para el grupo A; 7,3% para el grupo B, y 1,4% para el grupo sanguíneo AB. El 8,83% de las unidades de sangre restantes correspondió al factor Rhesusne-a ativo. con una distribución por grupos sanguíneos de 5,1%'para el grupo 0; 2,7% para el grupo A; 0,7% para el grupo B, y para el grupo AB 0,31%. Los bancos de sangre de las seccionales de Antioquia, Caldas y San Andrés, reportaron la mayor proporción de unidades de sangre hemoclasificadas como factor Rhesus negativo. Esta información debe ser utilizada por todos los bancos de sangre, para ubicar e

Deriving and Analyzing Analytical Structures of a Class of Typical Interval Type-2 TS Fuzzy Controllers.

Science.gov (United States)

Zhou, Haibo; Ying, Hao

2017-09-01

A conventional controller's explicit input-output mathematical relationship, also known as its analytical structure, is always available for analysis and design of a control system. In contrast, virtually all type-2 (T2) fuzzy controllers are treated as black-box controllers in the literature in that their analytical structures are unknown, which inhibits precise and comprehensive understanding and analysis. In this regard, a long-standing fundamental issue remains unresolved: how a T2 fuzzy set's footprint of uncertainty, a key element differentiating a T2 controller from a type-1 (T1) controller, affects a controller's analytical structure. In this paper, we describe an innovative technique for deriving analytical structures of a class of typical interval T2 (IT2) TS fuzzy controllers. This technique makes it possible to analyze the analytical structures of the controllers to reveal the role of footprints of uncertainty in shaping the structures. Specifically, we have mathematically proven that under certain conditions, the larger the footprints, the more the IT2 controllers resemble linear or piecewise linear controllers. When the footprints are at their maximum, the IT2 controllers actually become linear or piecewise linear controllers. That is to say the smaller the footprints, the more nonlinear the controllers. The most nonlinear IT2 controllers are attained at zero footprints, at which point they become T1 controllers. This finding implies that sometimes if strong nonlinearity is most important and desired, one should consider using a smaller footprint or even just a T1 fuzzy controller. This paper exemplifies the importance and value of the analytical structure approach for comprehensive analysis of T2 fuzzy controllers.

Neo-liberalism, Crisis and the Contradictions of Depoliticisation

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Peter Burnham

2017-10-01

Full Text Available This paper develops a political economy analysis of depoliticisation in the context of the crisis of neo-liberalism in Western Europe. Following a discussion of the theoretical foundations of the concept, it emphases that whilst depoliticisation strategies are often associated with neo-liberalism, such strategies have a longer trajectory existing even within Keynesian regimes. The paper then details the many forms taken by depoliticisation within neo-liberal governing regimes focusing on the reorganisation of civil society and the state from the late 1970s to the present primarily with examples from the UK. It suggests, contrary to much popular discussion, that there is a significant degree of continuity in the form of economic manage-ment followed before, during and after the recent financial crisis of 2008/09. Both in terms of ideology and practice, many governments have maintained and even deepened their commitment to depoliticised gov-erning principles. However it seems clear that attempts to depoliticise neo-liberal economic policy have not enabled state managers to avoid the emergence of crisis at the level of the state. Contrary to accounts which argue in simplistic fashion that `economic’ crisis produces `political’ crisis, this paper suggests that crisis is best understood as expressed simultaneously in both economic and political forms. Crisis at the level of the state precipitated in part by the entrenchment of depoliticised governing strategies is not simply the result of economic crisis but is an aspect of that crisis contributing to its depth and apparent insolubility. In this way the paper challenges some critiques of depoliticisation which have suggested (Hay 2014, 303 that the concept is in part both fatalistic and functionalist removing much of the political contingency of the moment of crisis itself.

From Protectionism to Neo-Protectionism: New Dimensions of Liberal Regulation

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Panchenko Volodymyr

2017-12-01

Full Text Available The article summarizes the main concepts of the policy of protectionism. It was proved that the shaded or semi-open nature of protectionism of the 21st century model does not fall under classical manifestations of protectionism recorded in the WTO documents, and therefore further hybridization of its forms actualizes the need for their classification in order to attract the attention of the scientific community to new challenges to the global regulation of the system of international economic relations. It was discovered, that protectionism in the process of economical globalization has evolved from trade policy based on introduction of tariff limitations, and later from non-tariff protection instruments, into a complex comprehensive state mechanism for increasing competitiveness of the national economy in the process of globalization, which we call neo-protectionism. Was provided a classification of neo-protectionism and were singled out forms of manifestation of each of its types. Were established country features of neo-protectionism policy. Was established that flexibility of tools for implementing neo-protectionism policy, absence of a unified approach to interpreting the methods of achieving goals announced by the state, differences in priorities and unity of the goals of all instruments, which are to stimulate restoration of economic growth, can be considered as determinative signs of new regulation. It was found that state intervention becomes an inherent characteristic of liberal politics. Was observed that neo-protectionism with its flexible instruments becomes a policy of reducing asymmetric distribution of benefits from globalization and reaction to global imbalances, which again emphasizes the thesis that state participation in regulation of economic processes is an objective reality, and we are witnessing transformation of the previously announced trend towards deregulation into re-regulation.

Síndromes Neurocutáneos identificables por el Médico General Integral mediante examen físico

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Odalys Salas San Juan

Full Text Available Introducción: el Síndrome Neurocutáneo es el término general que se utiliza para referirse a determinados trastornos neurológicos. Constituye un grupo heterogéneo de desórdenes congénitos que afectan principalmente a las estructuras derivadas del neuroectodermo embrionario. Objetivo: caracterizar los hallazgos clínicos de los Síndromes Neurocutáneos identificables al examen físico por el Médico General Integral. Métodos: se realizó un trabajo de revisión donde se utilizaron métodos teóricos en el proceso de revisión de la bibliografía actualizada seleccionada, específicamente en el campo de la neurología, la dermatología y la genética. Resultados: las características clínicas de la Esclerosis Tuberosa, Neurofibromatosis Tipo 1, Tipo 2, Schwannomatosis y Enfermedad de Sturge-Weber (Sindromes Neurocutáneos se pueden identificar durante el examen físico. Conclusiones: el adecuado conocimiento por el Médico General Integral, de las características clínicas del síndrome neurocutáneo, considerando su heterogeneidad y expresividad clínica, permite realizar al examen físico el diagnóstico oportuno de la enfermedad, lo que favorece el manejo del paciente.

TS-05: 150 lines of java with high architectural complexity

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Christensen, Henrik Bærbak

2005-01-01

In the short time span available in a software architecture course, it is difficult to find a software system that is both interesting from an architectural perspective and so small that it does not overwhelm the students.We present TS-05 which is a bare 150 line Java "toy-system" that never...

Linfoma primario cutáneo difuso de células B grandes, tipo pierna (LPCDCBG-TP), localizado en cuero cabelludo

OpenAIRE

Felipe Fereira, Oristel I; Leonardo, Eugenio; Hernández Vázquez, Juan

2010-01-01

Los linfomas primarios cutáneos de células B se consideran actualmente como categoría distintiva de los linfomas primarios cutáneos y se reconocen subtipos característicos dentro de ellos. Se presenta un caso de linfoma primario cutáneo difuso de células B grandes, tipo pierna, con localización en el cuero cabelludo, donde se pudo disponer de estudios inmunohistoquímicos para su tipificación, que mostraron positividad para los marcadores CD20, bcl-2 y MUM-1, y negatividad para CD3 y bcl-6. Es...

Framing the Real: Lefèbvre and NeoRealist Cinematic Space as Practice

OpenAIRE

Brancaleone, David

2014-01-01

In 1945 Roberto Rossellini's Neo-realist Rome, Open City set in motion an approach to cinema and its representation of real life – and by extension real spaces – that was to have international significance in film theory and practice. However, the re-use of the real spaces of the city, and elsewhere, as film sets in Neo-realist film offered (and offers) more than an influential aesthetic and set of cinematic theories. Through Neo-realism, it can be argued that we gain access to a cinematic re...

Preclinical Characterization of a Novel Monoclonal Antibody NEO-201 for the Treatment of Human Carcinomas

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Massimo Fantini

2018-01-01

Full Text Available NEO-201 is a novel humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody that was derived from an immunogenic preparation of tumor-associated antigens from pooled allogeneic colon tumor tissue extracts. It was found to react against a variety of cultured human carcinoma cell lines and was highly reactive against the majority of tumor tissues from many different carcinomas, including colon, pancreatic, stomach, lung, and breast cancers. NEO-201 also exhibited tumor specificity, as the majority of normal tissues were not recognized by this antibody. Functional assays revealed that treatment with NEO-201 is capable of mediating both antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC against tumor cells. Furthermore, the growth of human pancreatic xenograft tumors in vivo was largely attenuated by treatment with NEO-201 both alone and in combination with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells as an effector cell source for ADCC. In vivo biodistribution studies in human tumor xenograft-bearing mice revealed that NEO-201 preferentially accumulates in the tumor but not organ tissue. Finally, a single-dose toxicity study in non-human primates demonstrated safety and tolerability of NEO-201, as a transient decrease in circulating neutrophils was the only related adverse effect observed. These findings indicate that NEO-201 warrants clinical testing as both a novel diagnostic and therapeutic agent for the treatment of a broad variety of carcinomas.

Nuevos Baremos para la Adaptación Española del Inventario de Personalidad NEO Revisado (NEO PI-R: Fiabilidad y Datos Normativos en Voluntarios de la Población General

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Jesús Sanz

2009-01-01

Full Text Available La adaptación española comercial del Inventario de Personalidad NEO-Revisado (NEO PI-R fue baremada en contextos de selección de personal. Aunque estos baremos son apropiados cuando las personas pueden distorsionar sus respuestas, no lo son para situaciones con deseabilidad social baja como, por ejemplo, investigaciones con voluntarios, precisamente el contexto donde se desarrolló y baremó el NEO PI-R original. Se presentan por primera vez datos normativos y de fiabilidad de la adaptación española comercial del NEO PI-R obtenidos con voluntarios de la población general española (N = 682. Los índices de consistencia interna de las escalas globales del NEO PI-R fueron excelentes (alfas ≥ 0,85, mientras que en 25 de las 30 escalas específicas oscilaron entre adecuados y buenos (alfas ≥ 0,60 y < 0,80. Las diferencias estandarizadas en las puntuaciones del NEO PI-R entre la muestra de voluntarios y la de selección de personal de los baremos comerciales alcanzaron medias absolutas de tamaño medio (d = 0,53, lo que justifica la creación de baremos específicos para situaciones donde las personas no tienen interés directo en distorsionar sus respuestas. Se ofrecen baremos separados para mujeres y varones voluntarios, y se discute su utilidad en diferentes contextos de evaluación de la personalidad (p. ej., contextos clínicos.

Transnational pharmaceutical corporations and neo-liberal business ethics in India.

Science.gov (United States)

D'Mello, Bernard

2002-03-01

The author critiques the expedient application of market valuation principles by the transnational corporations and other large firms in the Indian pharmaceutical industry on a number of issues like patents, pricing, irrational drugs, clinical trials, etc. He contends that ethics in business is chiseled and etched within the confines of particular social structures of accumulation. An ascendant neo-liberal social structure of accumulation has basically shaped these firms' sharp opposition to the Indian Patents Act, 1970, government administered pricing, etc. The author contents that the practice of neo-liberal economics is strongly associated with a "one-dimensional" ethics that privileges market valuation principles over all others. This seems to inevitably generate a social counter-movement that struggles for social protections. He critiques neo-liberal business practices from a perspective that derives from the work of the economic anthropologist Karl Polanyi. Before the present phase of liberalization in India, markets were "managed", but without a "welfare state" in place. Moving toward deregulation of the markets without a welfare state in place is unethical. Keeping the debilities of the institutional framework of public policy in mind, the author adopts a Polanyian perspective that places its trust and hope in the growing social legitimacy of the counter-movement in opposition to both neo-liberal business practices and the degenerate behavior of state agencies.

Republicanismo neo-romano e democracia contestatória

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Ricardo Silva

2011-06-01

Full Text Available O artigo examina o conceito de democracia derivado da fórmula "neo-romana" da liberdade como não-dominação. Para os autores vinculados à tradição neo-romana, a realização do princípio republicano do povo como "guardião da liberdade" depende da constituição de um modelo de democracia contestatória, apresentado como superação dos modelos da democracia eleitoral e da democracia participativa - ambos considerados tributários de uma concepção positiva de liberdade. Após deter-se no exame do conceito de democracia contestatória, o artigo analisa as principais críticas a esse conceito. Duas objeções recebem destaque: a de que o racionalismo do modelo contestatório conduz à despolitização da deliberação democrática e a de que o excessivo zelo dos neo-romanos contra o populismo e a tirania da maioria reproduz os traços "elitistas" da tradição republicana clássica. Conclui-se com uma breve avaliação da pertinência dessas críticas.

Elongation factor Ts directly facilitates the formation and disassembly of the Escherichia coli elongation factor Tu·GTP·aminoacyl-tRNA ternary complex.

Science.gov (United States)

Burnett, Benjamin J; Altman, Roger B; Ferrao, Ryan; Alejo, Jose L; Kaur, Navdep; Kanji, Joshua; Blanchard, Scott C

2013-05-10

Aminoacyl-tRNA (aa-tRNA) enters the ribosome in a ternary complex with the G-protein elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) and GTP. EF-Tu·GTP·aa-tRNA ternary complex formation and decay rates are accelerated in the presence of the nucleotide exchange factor elongation factor Ts (EF-Ts). EF-Ts directly facilitates the formation and disassociation of ternary complex. This system demonstrates a novel function of EF-Ts. Aminoacyl-tRNA enters the translating ribosome in a ternary complex with elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) and GTP. Here, we describe bulk steady state and pre-steady state fluorescence methods that enabled us to quantitatively explore the kinetic features of Escherichia coli ternary complex formation and decay. The data obtained suggest that both processes are controlled by a nucleotide-dependent, rate-determining conformational change in EF-Tu. Unexpectedly, we found that this conformational change is accelerated by elongation factor Ts (EF-Ts), the guanosine nucleotide exchange factor for EF-Tu. Notably, EF-Ts attenuates the affinity of EF-Tu for GTP and destabilizes ternary complex in the presence of non-hydrolyzable GTP analogs. These results suggest that EF-Ts serves an unanticipated role in the cell of actively regulating the abundance and stability of ternary complex in a manner that contributes to rapid and faithful protein synthesis.

Tensile strength/yield strength (TS/YS) ratios of high-strength steel (HSS) reinforcing bars

Science.gov (United States)

Tavio, Anggraini, Retno; Raka, I. Gede Putu; Agustiar

2018-05-01

The building codes such as American Concrete Institute (ACI) 318M-14 and Standard National Indonesia (SNI) 2847:2013 require that the ratio of tensile strength (TS) and yield strength (YS) should not less than 1.25. The requirement is based on the assumption that a capability of a structural member to develop inelastic rotation capacity is a function of the length of the yield region. This paper reports an investigation on various steel grades, namely Grades 420, 550, 650, and 700 MPa, to examine the impact of different TS/YS ratios if it is less or greater than the required value. Grades 550, 650, and 700 MPa were purposely selected with the intention to examine if these higher grades are still promising to be implemented in special structural systems since they are prohibited by the building codes for longitudinal reinforcement, whereas Grade 420 MPa bars are the maximum limit of yield strength of reinforcing bars that is allowable for longitudinal reinforcement of special structural systems. Tensile tests of these steel samples were conducted under displacement controlled mode to capture the complete stress-strain curves and particularly the post-yield response of the steel bars. From the study, it can be concluded that Grade 420 performed higher TS/YS ratios and they were able to reach up to more than 1.25. However, the High Strength Still (HSS) bars (Grades 550, 600, and 700 MPa) resulted in lower TS/YS ratios (less than 1.25) compared with those of Grade 420 MPa.

Practical experience in the determination of the tube voltage using the Ardran-Crooks cassette

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ewen, K.; Roesner, W.

1984-01-01

Within the framework of quality control measures in X-ray diagnostics and therapy, it is desirable to employ for the determination of tube voltage (e.g. in diagnostic X-ray equipment) methods which are as economical as possible while saving time and being simple to apply in spite of the fact that they are as highly accurate as ever possible. The absorber method described here, represented by the Ardran-Crooks cassette, possesses the advantage of low price and easy application. However, if it is operated in such a way that time is saved (assessment by the eye), it is not so accurate, whereas in accurate operation (assessment via luxmeter) it does require a relatively large amount of time. After the film has been exposed, it is necessary to estimate or measure the agreement of blackenings on one and the same film in order to determine the tube voltage. This voltage is then read off by means of a calibration curve. The error in the determination of the tube voltage via the Ardran-Crooks cassette depends on the accuracy of the calibration curve, which, in turn, depends on the number of measurements performed when producing the curve, and on the correct voltage of the standard X-ray equipment used in producing the calibration curve. In addition, assessment by eye adds a total error of 2.3% to 8%, depending on the amount of tube voltage. If the luxmeter is used instead of the eye, this additional error is less than 1% in relation to the magnitude of the tube voltage. (orig./BWU) [de

No evidence for neo-oogenesis may link to ovarian senescence in adult monkey.

Science.gov (United States)

Yuan, Jihong; Zhang, Dongdong; Wang, Lei; Liu, Mengyuan; Mao, Jian; Yin, Yu; Ye, Xiaoying; Liu, Na; Han, Jihong; Gao, Yingdai; Cheng, Tao; Keefe, David L; Liu, Lin

2013-11-01

Female germline or oogonial stem cells transiently residing in fetal ovaries are analogous to the spermatogonial stem cells or germline stem cells (GSCs) in adult testes where GSCs and meiosis continuously renew. Oocytes can be generated in vitro from embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells, but the existence of GSCs and neo-oogenesis in adult mammalian ovaries is less clear. Preliminary findings of GSCs and neo-oogenesis in mice and humans have not been consistently reproducible. Monkeys provide the most relevant model of human ovarian biology. We searched for GSCs and neo-meiosis in ovaries of adult monkeys at various ages, and compared them with GSCs from adult monkey testis, which are characterized by cytoplasmic staining for the germ cell marker DAZL and nuclear expression of the proliferative markers PCNA and KI67, and pluripotency-associated genes LIN28 and SOX2, and lack of nuclear LAMIN A, a marker for cell differentiation. Early meiocytes undergo homologous pairing at prophase I distinguished by synaptonemal complex lateral filaments with telomere perinuclear distribution. By exhaustive searching using comprehensive experimental approaches, we show that proliferative GSCs and neo-meiocytes by these specific criteria were undetectable in adult mouse and monkey ovaries. However, we found proliferative nongermline somatic stem cells that do not express LAMIN A and germ cell markers in the adult ovaries, notably in the cortex and granulosa cells of growing follicles. These data support the paradigm that adult ovaries do not undergo germ cell renewal, which may contribute significantly to ovarian senescence that occurs with age. Copyright © 2013 AlphaMed Press.

An ultrastructural study of the effect of neomycin on the colon in the human subject and in the conventional and the germ-free mouse.

Science.gov (United States)

Aluwihare, A P

1971-05-01

An electron microscopic study of the colon of normal mice and human subjects and those treated with neomycin is reported; there is a close resemblance between the mouse and human colons. After rapid disinfection of the colon, there is epithelial cell damage due to a toxic effect of the drug, a reduction in epithelial turnover accompanying the change in flora, and an important reduction in the cellularity of the lamina propria mainly due to a reduction in inflammatory cells. The changes in the lamina propria probably represent changes in the antipathogenetic defences of the host.

PFCRT and DHFR-TS Sequences for Monitoring Drug Resistance in ...

African Journals Online (AJOL)

Erah

from falciparum malaria isolates collected in Adzopé City, Côte d'Ivoire in 2007. Methods: Blood ... performed using specific primers of pfcrt and dhfr-ts. During the study .... The following mixture was prepared to a final volume of 50 ..... following the withdrawal of these anti- malarials as ... Malaria vaccines in Africa. Acta Trop.

High precision wavelength measurements of X-ray lines emitted from TS-Tokamak plasmas

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Platz, P. [Association Euratom-CEA, Centre d`Etudes de Cadarache, 13 - Saint-Paul-lez-Durance (France). Dept. de Recherches sur la Fusion Controlee; Cornille, M.; Dubau, J. [Observatoire de Paris, 92 - Meudon (France)

1996-01-01

X-ray line spectra from highly charged impurity ions have been taken with a high-resolution Bragg-crystal spectrometer on the Tore Supra (TS) tokamak. By cross-checking the wavelengths of reference lines from the heliumlike ions Ti20 + (2.6 Angstroms) and Ar16 + (3.95 Angstroms) we first demonstrate that it is possible to measure wavelengths with a precision, {lambda}/{delta}{lambda}, of better than 50000. We than determine the wavelengths of n=3 to n=2 transitions of neonlike Ag37+ in the 4 Angstroms spectral range. (authors). 16 refs., 7 figs., 3 tabs.

Neo-No-Barroco o barrococó: Hacia una perspectiva menos inexacta del neobarroco

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Eduardo Espina

2015-05-01

Full Text Available Este ensayo analiza las nociones estéticas principales que definen la llamada poética neobarroca. Al respecto, presenta elementos para justificar la utilización de los vocablos neo-no-barroco y barrococó en vez de “neobarroco”, por considerar a este término erróneo, pues proyecta la idea –por el uso del prefijo– que es descendiente directo del barroco español, algo que es una verdad incompleta. La relación del neo-no-barroco/barrococó con la idea fundacional del Romanticismo, de que la poesía debe pensar sobre el pensamiento, es obvia y sin embargo no ha sido debidamente analizada. Por lo tanto, al haber una reconfiguración etimológica de la estética asociada con la dificultad y la superposición de escollos retóricos que le exigen al acto de la lectura una mayor concentración, la poética neo-no-barroca o barrococó podrá alcanzar una más exacta definición y permitirá incluir voces poéticas hasta ahora no consideradas neobarrocas. This essay reflects upon the principal aesthetic notions that define the so-called Neobaroque poetic. In this regard, new evidence is presented in order to justify the use of two words (synonymous, neo-no-barroco and barrococó instead of “Neo-baroque”, considering this term a misnomer since it projects the idea –by the use of the prefix– that it is a direct descendent of the Spanish Baroque, which is an incomplete truth. The relationship of the neo-no-barroco / barrococó with the foundational idea of Romanticism; that poetry should think about thinking is obvious and yet, it has not been adequately analyzed. Therefore, having an etymological reconfiguration of the aesthetic associated with difficulty and with the overlapping rhetorical pitfalls that demand the act of reading at a higher concentration level, the neo-no-barroco or barrococó poetic will be able to reach a more precise definition and allow the inclusion of poetic voices hitherto unconsidered as Neobaroque.

Rare codons effect on expression of recombinant gene cassette in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3

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Aghil Esmaeili-Bandboni

2017-11-01

Full Text Available Objective: To demonstrate the sensitivity of expression of fusion genes to existence of a large number of rare codons in recombinant gene sequenced. Methods: Primers for amplification of cholera toxin B, Shiga toxin B and gfp genes were designed by Primer3 software and synthesized. All of these 3 genes were cloned. Then the genes were fused together by restriction sites and enzymatic method. Two linkers were used as a flexible bridge in connection of these genes. Results: Cloning and fusion of cholera toxin B, Shiga toxin B and gfp genes were done correctly. After that, expression of the recombinant gene construction was surveyed. Conclusions: According to what was seen, because of the accumulation of 12 rare codons of Shiga toxin B and 19 rare codons of cholera toxin B in this gene cassette, the expression of the recombinant gene cassette, in Escherichia coli BL21, failed.

Two Marine Cyanobacterial Aplysiatoxin Polyketides, Neo-debromoaplysiatoxin A and B, with K+ Channel Inhibition Activity.

Science.gov (United States)

Han, Bing-Nan; Liang, Ting-Ting; Keen, Lawrence Jordan; Fan, Ting-Ting; Zhang, Xiao-Dan; Xu, Lin; Zhao, Qi; Wang, Shu-Ping; Lin, Hou-Wen

2018-02-02

The isolation and structure elucidation of two cyanobacterial debromoaplysiatoxin (DAT) analogues, neo-debromoaplysiatoxin A (1) and neo-debromoaplysiatoxin B (2), were reported and found to possess 6/10/6 and 6/6/6 fused-ring systems, respectively, which are rarely seen among aplysiatoxins. Both compounds exhibited potent blocking activity against Kv1.5 with IC 50 values of 6.94 ± 0.26 and 0.30 ± 0.05 μM, respectively. These findings suggest the potential of aplysiatoxin analogues in modulating ionic channels and also provide links between the DAT target, protein kinase C, and cell regulation.

Neo-Industrial and Sustainable Development of Russia as Mineral Resources Exploiting Country

Science.gov (United States)

Prokudina, Marina; Zhironkina, Olga; Kalinina, Oksana; Gasanov, Magerram; Agafonov, Felix

2017-11-01

In the Russian economy, the world leadership in the extraction of different mineral resources is combined with the potential for their processing and a significant scientific sector. Innovative development of raw materials extraction is impossible without the parallel technological modernization of the high-tech sector. In general, the complex of these processes is a neo-industrialization of the economy. Neo-industrially oriented transformation of the economy reflects complex changes in its structure, the transformation of established stable relationships between various elements of the system of social production that determine macroeconomic proportions. Neo-industrial transformations come along with the modification of economic relations associated with investments, innovations, labor and income distribution, with the process of locating productive forces and regulating the economy by the government. Neo-industrialization of economy is not only significant changes in its technological and reproductive structure (the development of high-tech industries, the integration of science and industry), but, above all, the implementation of a system structural policy of innovative development of raw material industry and the recovery of manufacturing industries on a new technological basis.

Automotive standard ISO/TS 16949 as a quality determinant

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Joanna Rosak-Szyrocka

2016-03-01

Full Text Available The main aim of this paper is to present the standard ISO/TS 16949. In the modern world of competition, quality is one of the most important factors. Modern organizations should gamble on quality, regardless of the type of business, because it is the basic form of running a business effectively. It is not only a factor of market success, but also an indication of organizational culture.

Neo-Philanthropy

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Villadsen, Kaspar

2011-01-01

-governmental organisations and specific services run by volunteers to help different target groups. Charitable trusts may offer philanthropic aid for diverse purposes which allegedly supersede the state’s capacity for action, such as the promotion of business ethics, the strengthening of community participation, health......Neo-philanthropy refers to the re-emergence of philanthropic activities and a growing public trust in those who carry them out as ameliorators of societal and social issues. The original term ‘philanthropy’ designates the donating of money or services for societal purposes or for the benefit...... of specific groups with some perceived need. Further, it is understood that philanthropic activities are guided by some kind of moral, religious, or humanitarian principles. The term has a rather broad range of applications, since it may both designate funding bodies that offer charitable donations and non...

Neomycin damage and regeneration of hair cells in both mechanoreceptor and electroreceptor lateral line organs of the larval Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii).

Science.gov (United States)

Fan, Chunxin; Zou, Sha; Wang, Jian; Zhang, Bo; Song, Jiakun

2016-05-01

The lateral line found in some amphibians and fishes has two distinctive classes of sensory organs: mechanoreceptors (neuromasts) and electroreceptors (ampullary organs). Hair cells in neuromasts can be damaged by aminoglycoside antibiotics and they will regenerate rapidly afterward. Aminoglycoside sensitivity and the capacity for regeneration have not been investigated in ampullary organs. We treated Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii) larvae with neomycin and observed loss and regeneration of sensory hair cells in both organs by labeling with DASPEI and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The numbers of sensory hair cells in both organs were reduced to the lowest levels at 6 hours posttreatment (hpt). New sensory hair cells began to appear at 12 hpt and were regenerated completely in 7 days. To reveal the possible mechanism for ampullary hair cell regeneration, we analyzed cell proliferation and the expression of neural placodal gene eya1 during regeneration. Both cell proliferation and eya1 expression were concentrated in peripheral mantle cells and both increased to the highest level at 12 hpt, which is consistent with the time course for regeneration of the ampullary hair cells. Furthermore, we used Texas Red-conjugated gentamicin in an uptake assay following pretreatment with a cation channel blocker (amiloride) and found that entry of the antibiotic was suppressed in both organs. Together, our results indicate that ampullary hair cells in Siberian sturgeon larvae can be damaged by neomycin exposure and they can regenerate rapidly. We suggest that the mechanisms for aminoglycoside uptake and hair cell regeneration are conserved for mechanoreceptors and electroreceptors. J. Comp. Neurol. 524:1443-1456, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Cassette-based in-situ TEM sample inspection in the dual-beam FIB

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kendrick, A B; Moore, T M; Zaykova-Feldman, L; Amador, G; Hammer, M

2008-01-01

A novel method is presented, combining site-specific TEM sample preparation and in-situ STEM analysis in a dual-beam microscope (FIB/SEM) fitted with a chamber mounted nano-manipulator. TEM samples are prepared using a modified in-situ, lift-out method, whereby the samples are thinned and oriented for immediate in-situ STEM analysis using the tilt, translation, and rotation capabilities of a FIB/SEM sample stage, a nano-manipulator, and a novel cassette. This cassette can provide a second tilt axis, orthogonal to the stage tilt axis, so that the STEM image contrast can be optimized to reveal the structural features of the sample (true STEM imaging in the FIB/SEM). The angles necessary for stage rotation and probe shaft rotation are calculated based on the position of the nano-manipulator relative to the stage and door and the stage tilt angle. A FIB/SEM instrument, equipped with a high resolution scanning electron column, can provide sufficiently high image resolution to enable many failure analysis and process control applications to be successfully carried out without requiring the use of a separate dedicated TEM/STEM instrument. The benefits of this novel approach are increased throughput and reduced cost per sample. Comparative analysis of different sample preparation methods is provided, and the STEM images obtained are shown.

Validation of a urine circulating cathodic antigen cassette test for detection of Schistosoma haematobiumin uMkhanyakude district of South Africa.

Science.gov (United States)

Rubaba, O; Chimbari, M J; Soko, W; Manyangadze, T; Mukaratirwa, S

2018-06-01

Circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) tests for schistosomiasis are fast and less complicated allowing making them good candidates for routine qualitative screening for schistosomiasis at point of care. The urine-CCA has been evaluated for detection of S. mansoni with promising results. Its specificity and consistency in detecting S. haematobium infection in different endemic regions has been variable. This study validated a rapid urine-CCA cassette test for qualitative detection of S. haematobium infection in an S. haematobium endemic area with low S. mansoni prevalence. Microscopic examination for the standard urine filtration technique was used to validate the commercially available urine-CCA cassette test (rapid medical diagnostics ® ). The validation was done in a sample of primary school pupils (n = 420) aged 10-15 years in schools in the Jozini Municipality, KZN. There was a relationship between infection intensity and a positive urine-CCA test. Using the urine filtration method as the gold standard, the prevalence for S. haematobium was 40%, the accuracy of the CCA kit was 54.8%, sensitivity was 68.1% while the specificity was 45.8%. The positive predictive value was 45.82% while the negative predictive value was 68.05%. Both the urine filtration and the urine-CCA methods detected heavy (≥50 eggs/10 mL urine) and light infections at statistically significant levels. The overall accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of the urine-CCA cassette test were low. The urine-CCA cassette test performed much better for heavy infections than low infections (p < 0.05) implying that the kit may not be suitable for low endemic areas. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Bmp2 in osteoblasts of periosteum and trabecular bone links bone formation to vascularization and mesenchymal stem cells

Science.gov (United States)

Yang, Wuchen; Guo, Dayong; Harris, Marie A.; Cui, Yong; Gluhak-Heinrich, Jelica; Wu, Junjie; Chen, Xiao-Dong; Skinner, Charles; Nyman, Jeffry S.; Edwards, James R.; Mundy, Gregory R.; Lichtler, Alex; Kream, Barbara E.; Rowe, David W.; Kalajzic, Ivo; David, Val; Quarles, Darryl L.; Villareal, Demetri; Scott, Greg; Ray, Manas; Liu, S.; Martin, James F.; Mishina, Yuji; Harris, Stephen E.

2013-01-01

Summary We generated a new Bmp2 conditional-knockout allele without a neo cassette that removes the Bmp2 gene from osteoblasts (Bmp2-cKOob) using the 3.6Col1a1-Cre transgenic model. Bones of Bmp2-cKOob mice are thinner, with increased brittleness. Osteoblast activity is reduced as reflected in a reduced bone formation rate and failure to differentiate to a mature mineralizing stage. Bmp2 in osteoblasts also indirectly controls angiogenesis in the periosteum and bone marrow. VegfA production is reduced in Bmp2-cKOob osteoblasts. Deletion of Bmp2 in osteoblasts also leads to defective mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which correlates with the reduced microvascular bed in the periosteum and trabecular bones. Expression of several MSC marker genes (α-SMA, CD146 and Angiopoietin-1) in vivo, in vitro CFU assays and deletion of Bmp2 in vitro in α-SMA+ MSCs support our conclusions. Critical roles of Bmp2 in osteoblasts and MSCs are a vital link between bone formation, vascularization and mesenchymal stem cells. PMID:23843612

Neo-sex Chromosomes in the Monarch Butterfly, Danaus plexippus

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Andrew J. Mongue

2017-10-01

Full Text Available We report the discovery of a neo-sex chromosome in the monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus, and several of its close relatives. Z-linked scaffolds in the D. plexippus genome assembly were identified via sex-specific differences in Illumina sequencing coverage. Additionally, a majority of the D. plexippus genome assembly was assigned to chromosomes based on counts of one-to-one orthologs relative to the butterfly Melitaea cinxia (with replication using two other lepidopteran species, in which genome scaffolds have been mapped to linkage groups. Sequencing coverage-based assessments of Z linkage combined with homology-based chromosomal assignments provided strong evidence for a Z-autosome fusion in the Danaus lineage, involving the autosome homologous to chromosome 21 in M. cinxia. Coverage analysis also identified three notable assembly errors resulting in chimeric Z-autosome scaffolds. Cytogenetic analysis further revealed a large W chromosome that is partially euchromatic, consistent with being a neo-W chromosome. The discovery of a neo-Z and the provisional assignment of chromosome linkage for >90% of D. plexippus genes lays the foundation for novel insights concerning sex chromosome evolution in this female-heterogametic model species for functional and evolutionary genomics.

An expert protocol for immunofluorescent detection of calcium channels in tsA-201 cells.

Science.gov (United States)

Koch, Peter; Herzig, Stefan; Matthes, Jan

Pore-forming subunits of voltage gated calcium channels (VGCC) are large membrane proteins (260kDa) containing 24 transmembrane domains. Despite transfection with viral promoter driven vectors, biochemical analysis of VGCC is often hampered by rather low expression levels in heterologous systems rendering VGCC challenging targets. Especially in immunofluorescent detection, calcium channels are demanding proteins. We provide an expert step-by-step protocol with adapted conditions for handling procedures (tsA-201 cell culture, transient transfection, incubation time and temperature at 28°C or 37°C and immunostaining) to address the L-type calcium-channel pore Ca v 1.2 in an immunofluorescent approach. We performed immunocytochemical analysis of Ca v 1.2 expression at single-cell level in combination with detection of different markers for cellular organelles. We show confluency levels and shapes of tsA-201 cells at different time points during an experiment. Our experiments reveal sufficient levels of Ca v 1.2 protein and a correct Ca v 1.2 expression pattern in polygonal shaped cells already 12h after transfection. A sequence of elaborated protocol modifications allows subcellular localization analysis of Ca v 1.2 in an immunocytochemical approach. We provide a protocol that may be used to achieve insights into physiological and pathophysiological processes involving voltage gated calcium channels. Our protocol may be used for expression analysis of other challenging proteins and efficient overexpression may be exploited in related biochemical techniques requiring immunolabels. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Informações preliminares sobre flebotomíneos do norte do Paraná

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Ueslei Teodoro

2006-04-01

Full Text Available São relatados os resultados de coletas de flebotomíneos feitas em localidades de 10 municípios do Estado do Paraná, com armadilhas de Falcão em domicílios, abrigos de animais domésticos e nas matas, de 1999 a 2002. Coletaram-se 13.653 flebotomíneos de 10 espécies dos gêneros Brumptomyia, Expapillata, Evandromyia, Migonemyia, Pintomyia, Nyssomyia, Psathyromyia. A espécie Nyssomyia neivai predominou em cinco municípios, e N. whitmani nos demais, a qual foi numericamente superior à primeira. Verificou-se maior freqüência de flebotomíneos nas matas, residências, pocilgas e galinheiros. As investigações sobre a participação de animais domésticos e da fauna de flebotomíneos na epidemiologia da leishmaniose tegumentar deveriam fazer parte da rotina dos serviços de saúde, especialmente nas áreas onde a doença é endêmica.

NeoAnalysis: a Python-based toolbox for quick electrophysiological data processing and analysis.

Science.gov (United States)

Zhang, Bo; Dai, Ji; Zhang, Tao

2017-11-13

In a typical electrophysiological experiment, especially one that includes studying animal behavior, the data collected normally contain spikes, local field potentials, behavioral responses and other associated data. In order to obtain informative results, the data must be analyzed simultaneously with the experimental settings. However, most open-source toolboxes currently available for data analysis were developed to handle only a portion of the data and did not take into account the sorting of experimental conditions. Additionally, these toolboxes require that the input data be in a specific format, which can be inconvenient to users. Therefore, the development of a highly integrated toolbox that can process multiple types of data regardless of input data format and perform basic analysis for general electrophysiological experiments is incredibly useful. Here, we report the development of a Python based open-source toolbox, referred to as NeoAnalysis, to be used for quick electrophysiological data processing and analysis. The toolbox can import data from different data acquisition systems regardless of their formats and automatically combine different types of data into a single file with a standardized format. In cases where additional spike sorting is needed, NeoAnalysis provides a module to perform efficient offline sorting with a user-friendly interface. Then, NeoAnalysis can perform regular analog signal processing, spike train, and local field potentials analysis, behavioral response (e.g. saccade) detection and extraction, with several options available for data plotting and statistics. Particularly, it can automatically generate sorted results without requiring users to manually sort data beforehand. In addition, NeoAnalysis can organize all of the relevant data into an informative table on a trial-by-trial basis for data visualization. Finally, NeoAnalysis supports analysis at the population level. With the multitude of general-purpose functions provided

Digital expression profiling identifies RUNX2, CDC5L, MDM2, RECQL4, and CDK4 as potential predictive biomarkers for neo-adjuvant chemotherapy response in paediatric osteosarcoma.

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Jeffrey W Martin

Full Text Available Osteosarcoma is the most common malignancy of bone, and occurs most frequently in children and adolescents. Currently, the most reliable technique for determining a patients' prognosis is measurement of histopathologic tumor necrosis following pre-operative neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. Unfavourable prognosis is indicated by less than 90% estimated necrosis of the tumor. Neither genetic testing nor molecular biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis have been described for osteosarcomas. We used the novel nanoString mRNA digital expression analysis system to analyse gene expression in 32 patients with sporadic paediatric osteosarcoma. This system used specific molecular barcodes to quantify expression of a set of 17 genes associated with osteosarcoma tumorigenesis. Five genes, from this panel, which encoded the bone differentiation regulator RUNX2, the cell cycle regulator CDC5L, the TP53 transcriptional inactivator MDM2, the DNA helicase RECQL4, and the cyclin-dependent kinase gene CDK4, were differentially expressed in tumors that responded poorly to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. Analysis of the signalling relationships of these genes, as well as other expression markers of osteosarcoma, indicated that gene networks linked to RB1, TP53, PI3K, PTEN/Akt, myc and RECQL4 are associated with osteosarcoma. The discovery of these networks provides a basis for further experimental studies of role of the five genes (RUNX2, CDC5L, MDM2, RECQL4, and CDK4 in differential response to chemotherapy.

Site-specific recombination in the chicken genome using Flipase recombinase-mediated cassette exchange.

Science.gov (United States)

Lee, Hong Jo; Lee, Hyung Chul; Kim, Young Min; Hwang, Young Sun; Park, Young Hyun; Park, Tae Sub; Han, Jae Yong

2016-02-01

Targeted genome recombination has been applied in diverse research fields and has a wide range of possible applications. In particular, the discovery of specific loci in the genome that support robust and ubiquitous expression of integrated genes and the development of genome-editing technology have facilitated rapid advances in various scientific areas. In this study, we produced transgenic (TG) chickens that can induce recombinase-mediated gene cassette exchange (RMCE), one of the site-specific recombination technologies, and confirmed RMCE in TG chicken-derived cells. As a result, we established TG chicken lines that have, Flipase (Flp) recognition target (FRT) pairs in the chicken genome, mediated by piggyBac transposition. The transgene integration patterns were diverse in each TG chicken line, and the integration diversity resulted in diverse levels of expression of exogenous genes in each tissue of the TG chickens. In addition, the replaced gene cassette was expressed successfully and maintained by RMCE in the FRT predominant loci of TG chicken-derived cells. These results indicate that targeted genome recombination technology with RMCE could be adaptable to TG chicken models and that the technology would be applicable to specific gene regulation by cis-element insertion and customized expression of functional proteins at predicted levels without epigenetic influence. © FASEB.

Expression of heterologous genes from an IRES translational cassette in replication-competent murine leukemia virus vectors

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Jespersen, T.; Duch, M.; Carrasco, M.L.

1999-01-01

of spliced env mRNA for the SL3-3 derived vector relative to the Akv derived vectors, seemingly contributing to its low replication capacity. The EGFP expressing Akv-MLV was genetically stable for multiple rounds of infection; marker-cassette deletion revertants appeared after several replication rounds...

A highly Conserved Aspartic Acid Residue of the Chitosanase from Bacillus Sp. TS Is Involved in the Substrate Binding.

Science.gov (United States)

Zhou, Zhanping; Zhao, Shuangzhi; Liu, Yang; Chang, Zhengying; Ma, Yanhe; Li, Jian; Song, Jiangning

2016-11-01

The chitosanase from Bacillus sp. TS (CsnTS) is an enzyme belonging to the glycoside hydrolase family 8. The sequence of CsnTS shares 98 % identity with the chitosanase from Bacillus sp. K17. Crystallography analysis and site-direct mutagenesis of the chitosanase from Bacillus sp. K17 identified the important residues involved in the catalytic interaction and substrate binding. However, despite progress in understanding the catalytic mechanism of the chitosanase from the family GH8, the functional roles of some residues that are highly conserved throughout this family have not been fully elucidated. This study focused on one of these residues, i.e., the aspartic acid residue at position 318. We found that apart from asparagine, mutation of Asp318 resulted in significant loss of enzyme activity. In-depth investigations showed that mutation of this residue not only impaired enzymatic activity but also affected substrate binding. Taken together, our results showed that Asp318 plays an important role in CsnTS activity.

REAC/TS Radiation Accident Registry: An Overview

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Doran M. Christensen, DO, REAC/TS Associate Director and Staff Physician Becky Murdock, REAC/TS Registry and Health Physics Technician

2012-12-12

Over the past four years, REAC/TS has presented a number of case reports from its Radiation Accident Registry. Victims of radiological or nuclear incidents must meet certain dose criteria for an incident to be categorized as an “accident” and be included in the registry. Although the greatest numbers of “accidents” in the United States that have been entered into the registry involve radiation devices, the greater percentage of serious accidents have involved sealed sources of one kind or another. But if one looks at the kinds of accident scenarios that have resulted in extreme consequence, i.e., death, the greater share of deaths has occurred in medical settings.

SCIENCE WHERE CULTURE MATTERS: A NEO-CLASSICAL ...

Indian Academy of Sciences (India)

Table of contents. SCIENCE WHERE CULTURE MATTERS: A NEO-CLASSICAL APPROACH TO EXPLORE UNTAPPED BACTERIAL DIVERSITY · UNDER GRADUATE RESEARCH An alternative model of doing science · THE EXPANSE OF LIFE · HOW MANY SP. OF BACTERIA IN 1 g SOIL? TORSVIK ET AL 1990.

Functional Evaluation of Modified T Pouch as Ileal Neo bladder Ortho topic Reservoir

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hammouda, H.M.

2004-01-01

We report on the functional results of ortho topic modified T pouch ileal neo bladder, incorporating serous- lined extra mural ileal anti reflux technique for urinary diversion after radical cystectomy. Material and Methods: From September 1998 through November 2001,42 patients of mean age 49 years (range 45-54) having invasive bladder carcinoma underwent radical cystectomy and ortho topic ileal neo bladder urinary diversion, the modified T pouch. Thirty-three patients were males while the remaining 9 were females. The mean follow up was 24 months (range 18-42). Preoperative unior bilateral ureteral dilatation was noted in 13/42 (30.9%) patients). Follow up included clinical examination, laboratory, radiological and uro dynamic investigations. Early postoperative complications were recorded in 3 cases, that were managed conservatively. Day and night continence were achieved in 34/42 (81 %) and 29/42 (69%) patients, night enuresis in 2 (4.8%),while satisfactory day and night continence were noted, respectively. Upper urinary tract (UUT) remained unchanged or improved in all cases. No need for clean intermittent catherization (CIC). No evidence of reflux was detected. Pressure at maximum capacity (average 17 cm H 2 O at 600 ml). Mean flow rate was 17.6 ml/sec (range 15-24). Pelvic cancer recurrence was recorded in 5 patients at mean 24 months, respectively. Modified T pouch has an excellent functional criteria as an ortho topic ileal neo bladder reservoir. It is absolutely indicated in short and/or massively dilated ureter

Fully Automated Data Collection Using PAM and the Development of PAM/SPACE Reversible Cassettes

Science.gov (United States)

Hiraki, Masahiko; Watanabe, Shokei; Chavas, Leonard M. G.; Yamada, Yusuke; Matsugaki, Naohiro; Igarashi, Noriyuki; Wakatsuki, Soichi; Fujihashi, Masahiro; Miki, Kunio; Baba, Seiki; Ueno, Go; Yamamoto, Masaki; Suzuki, Mamoru; Nakagawa, Atsushi; Watanabe, Nobuhisa; Tanaka, Isao

2010-06-01

To remotely control and automatically collect data in high-throughput X-ray data collection experiments, the Structural Biology Research Center at the Photon Factory (PF) developed and installed sample exchange robots PAM (PF Automated Mounting system) at PF macromolecular crystallography beamlines; BL-5A, BL-17A, AR-NW12A and AR-NE3A. We developed and installed software that manages the flow of the automated X-ray experiments; sample exchanges, loop-centering and X-ray diffraction data collection. The fully automated data collection function has been available since February 2009. To identify sample cassettes, PAM employs a two-dimensional bar code reader. New beamlines, BL-1A at the Photon Factory and BL32XU at SPring-8, are currently under construction as part of Targeted Proteins Research Program (TPRP) by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan. However, different robots, PAM and SPACE (SPring-8 Precise Automatic Cryo-sample Exchanger), will be installed at BL-1A and BL32XU, respectively. For the convenience of the users of both facilities, pins and cassettes for PAM and SPACE are developed as part of the TPRP.

La grossesse chez l'adolescente à l'hôpital de Tsévié (Togo ...

African Journals Online (AJOL)

Objectif : Décrire le profil des grossesses chez l'adolescente à l'hôpital de Tsévié (Togo). Matériel et méthode : Il s'agissait d'une étude descriptive analytique portant sur les dossiers des parturientes âgées de 10 à 19 ans reçues à l'hôpital de Tsévié entre janvier 2011 et juin 2012. Résultats : Au cours de cette période, 180 ...

Product Liability: A Neo-Austrian Based Perspective

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Folmer, H.; Heijman, W.J.M.; Leen, A.R.

2002-01-01

The paper is an exercise in a neo-Austrian based economic analysis of product liability. After a short historical introduction, we take two of the basic premises of Austrian economic thought and see which system of product liability results. If costs are subjective and entrepreneurship is the

Neo-institutional Perspectives on Public Management Reform

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Gestel, N.M. van; Teelken, J.C.

2006-01-01

In this paper, theoretical explanations of competing drivers of change from neo-institutional theory are applied to public sector patterns of reform. The aim is to investigate basic ideas, assumptions, and practices of public management reform over the past two decades and analyze these elements of

Transesophageal echocardiography in NeoChord procedure

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Pittarello Demetrio

2015-01-01

Full Text Available Background: Transapical off-pump mitral valve intervention with neochord implantation for degenerative mitral valve disease have been recently introduced in the surgical practice. The procedure is performed under 2D-3D transesophageal echocardiography guidance. Methods: The use of 3D real-time transesophageal echocardiography provides more accurate information than 2D echocardiography only in all the steps of the procedure. In particular 3D echocardiography is mandatory for preoperative assessment of the morphology of the valve, for correct positioning of the neochord on the diseased segment , for the final tensioning of the chordae and for the final evaluation of the surgical result. Result and Conclusion: This article is to outline the technical aspects of the transesophageal echocardiography guidance of the NeoChord procedure showing that the procedure can be performed only with a close and continuous interaction between the anesthesiologist and the cardiac surgeon.

Molecular Events Involved in a Single Cycle of Ligand Transfer from an ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, LolCDE, to a Molecular Chaperone, LolA*

OpenAIRE

Taniguchi, Naohiro; Tokuda, Hajime

2008-01-01

An ATP binding cassette transporter LolCDE complex releases lipoproteins from the inner membrane of Escherichia coli in an ATP-dependent manner, leading to the formation of a complex between a lipoprotein and a periplasmic chaperone, LolA. LolA is proposed to undergo a conformational change upon the lipoprotein binding. The lipoprotein is then transferred from the LolA-lipoprotein complex to the outer membrane via LolB. Unlike most ATP binding cassette transporters med...

[The relationship between early neo-maternal exposure, and maternal attachment, maternal self-esteem and postpartum depression in the mothers of NICU infants].

Science.gov (United States)

Ahn, Young-Mee; Kim, Mi-Ran

2005-08-01

This study was performed to investigate the quantities of three neo-maternal exposures; visiting frequency, auditory contact and physical contact, and to examine the relationship between the quantities of each exposure and maternal attachment, maternal self-esteem and postpartum depression in 40 mothers of NICU babies during the first week in the NICU. Each neo-maternal exposure was counted at every mother's visit to the newborn and maternal attachment, maternal self-esteem and postpartum depression were measured using the maternal attachment inventory, the maternal self-report inventory and Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) on the first and seventh day in the NICU. The Mean of each neo-maternal exposure was 8.77(2.81) for the visiting frequency, 5.82(3.66) for the auditory contact and 5.60(2.89) for the physical contact during 7 days in the NICU. No significant changes were found in the scores of maternal attachment, maternal self-esteem and postpartum depression between the first and the seventh day in the NICU. The quantities of neo-maternal exposures were positively related to the scores of maternal attachment and maternal self-esteem but not related to postpartum depression. The results of the study suggest the lack of early neo-maternal exposure in cases of NICU hospitalization negate its beneficial effects on maternal psychological well-being in increasing maternal attachment and self-esteem. More efforts are needed for the neo-maternal interaction and the reevaluation of NICU visitation hours in order to promote maternal-infant interaction.

Neo-Institutional Approach to the Study of Electronic Government

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Yan I. Vaslavskiy

2016-01-01

Full Text Available The article is devoted to the neo-institutional approach as a methodological basis in the study of electronic government. In this article substantiates the choice of neo-institutional approach to the study of the processes of implementation of information and communication technologies in the activity of state institutions, analyzes the differences of neoinstitutionalism from traditional institutional approach, considers the features of the different directions of neo-institutionalism, namely sociological, historical and rational choice theory. Attention is paid to the reasons for the renewed interest in political institutions in political science. The article emphasizes the importance of considering the electronic government as an institution, and the conditions for its implementation in the Russian political system as the institutional environment. The authors pay special attention to the variety of sociological neo-institutionalism, used, in addition to political science in sociology of organizations. The article substantiates the value of using sociological institutionalism to explore the electronic government based on a comparative analysis of e-government projects in Russia and abroad and explores its heuristic capabilities. It examines the impact of the system of norms and values of the institutional environment on the processes of formation and development of electronic government in Russia. The research capacity of this theory is due to the fact that it allows us to trace the reasons for copying and replication of inefficient practices and organizational and management schemes, to identify the factors impeding innovation use by the state of electronic interaction technologies. It is emphasized that the use of the theory of institutional isomorphism is useful in the sphere of implementation of electronic technologies, in which a key role play pluralism, horizontal managerial communication, inter-agency coordination.

lacZ transduced human breast cancer xenografts as an in vivo model for the study of invasion and metastasis

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Brünner, N; Thompson, E W; Spang-Thomsen, M

1992-01-01

in the animals by usual histological procedures would require extensive sectioning of the whole animal. To overcome this problem, we transduced human breast cancer cells with a replication-defective Moloney murine leukaemia retroviral vector (M-MuLV) containing both neoR (neomycin resistance) and lacZ genes...... but not the surrounding mouse tissue on either whole tissue blocks or histological sections. The staining procedure was highly sensitive, allowing detection of microfoci of human cancer cells, and quantitative estimation of the metastatic capacity of the cells. These results indicate that lacZ transduction of human...

Excision of a viral reprogramming cassette by delivery of synthetic Cre mRNA

Science.gov (United States)

Loh, Yuin-Han; Yang, Jimmy Chen; De Los Angeles, Alejandro; Guo, Chunguang; Cherry, Anne; Rossi, Derrick J.; Park, In-Hyun; Daley, George Q.

2012-01-01

The generation of patient-specific induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells provides an invaluable resource for cell therapy, in vitro modeling of human disease, and drug screening. To date, most human iPS cells have been generated with integrating retro- and lenti-viruses and are limited in their potential utility because residual transgene expression may alter their differentiation potential or induce malignant transformation. Alternatively, transgene-free methods using adenovirus and protein transduction are limited by low efficiency. This report describes a protocol for the generation of transgene-free human induced pluripotent stem cells using retroviral transfection of a single vector, which includes the coding sequences of human OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, and cMYC linked with picornaviral 2A plasmids. Moreover, after reprogramming has been achieved, this cassette can be removed using mRNA transfection of Cre recombinase. The method described herein to excise reprogramming factors with ease and efficiency facilitates the experimental generation and use of transgene-free human iPS cells. PMID:22605648

Fasting Induces Nuclear Factor E2-Related Factor 2 and ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters via Protein Kinase A and Sirtuin-1 in Mouse and Human

Science.gov (United States)

Kulkarni, Supriya R.; Donepudi, Ajay C.; Xu, Jialin; Wei, Wei; Cheng, Qiuqiong C.; Driscoll, Maureen V.; Johnson, Delinda A.; Johnson, Jeffrey A.; Li, Xiaoling

2014-01-01

Abstract Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine whether 3′-5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-protein kinase A (PKA) and Sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) dependent mechanisms modulate ATP-binding Cassette (ABC) transport protein expression. ABC transport proteins (ABCC2–4) are essential for chemical elimination from hepatocytes and biliary excretion. Nuclear factor-E2 related-factor 2 (NRF2) is a transcription factor that mediates ABCC induction in response to chemical inducers and liver injury. However, a role for NRF2 in the regulation of transporter expression in nonchemical models of liver perturbation is largely undescribed. Results: Here we show that fasting increased NRF2 target gene expression through NRF2- and SIRT1–dependent mechanisms. In intact mouse liver, fasting induces NRF2 target gene expression by at least 1.5 to 5-fold. In mouse and human hepatocytes, treatment with 8-Bromoadenosine-cAMP, a cAMP analogue, increased NRF2 target gene expression and antioxidant response element activity, which was decreased by the PKA inhibitor, H-89. Moreover, fasting induced NRF2 target gene expression was decreased in liver and hepatocytes of SIRT1 liver-specific null mice and NRF2-null mice. Lastly, NRF2 and SIRT1 were recruited to MAREs and Antioxidant Response Elements (AREs) in the human ABCC2 promoter. Innovation: Oxidative stress mediated NRF2 activation is well described, yet the influence of basic metabolic processes on NRF2 activation is just emerging. Conclusion: The current data point toward a novel role of nutrient status in regulation of NRF2 activity and the antioxidant response, and indicates that cAMP/PKA and SIRT1 are upstream regulators for fasting-induced activation of the NRF2-ARE pathway. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 20, 15–30. PMID:23725046

ATP-Binding Cassette Proteins: Towards a Computational View of Mechanism

Science.gov (United States)

Liao, Jielou

2004-03-01

Many large machine proteins can generate mechanical force and undergo large-scale conformational changes (LSCC) to perform varying biological tasks in living cells by utilizing ATP. Important examples include ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters. They are membrane proteins that couple ATP binding and hydrolysis to the translocation of substrates across membranes [1]. To interpret how the mechanical force generated by ATP binding and hydrolysis is propagated, a coarse-grained ATP-dependent harmonic network model (HNM) [2,3] is applied to the ABC protein, BtuCD. This protein machine transports vitamin B12 across membranes. The analysis shows that subunits of the protein move against each other in a concerted manner. The lowest-frequency modes of the BtuCD protein are found to link the functionally critical domains, and are suggested to be responsible for large-scale ATP-coupled conformational changes. [1] K. P. Locher, A. T. Lee and D. C. Rees. Science 296, 1091-1098 (2002). [2] Atilgan, A. R., S. R. Durell, R. L. Jernigan, M. C. Demirel, O. Keskin, and I. Bahar. Biophys. J. 80, 505-515(2002); M. M Tirion, Phys. Rev. Lett. 77, 1905-1908 (1996). [3] J. -L. Liao and D. N. Beratan, 2003, to be published.

The E-learning Cabaret: do's and don'ts in E-Learning Design

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Westera, Wim

2009-01-01

Westera, W. (2006). The E-Learning Cabaret: do's and don'ts in E-Learning Design. Book of Abstracts, 12th International Conference on Technology Supported Learning & Teaching, Online Educa Berlin (pp. 169-171). November, 29-December, 1, 2006, Berlin, Germany: ICWE-GmbH.

Domains and facets: hierarchical personality assessment using the revised NEO personality inventory.

Science.gov (United States)

Costa, P T; McCrae, R R

1995-02-01

Personality traits are organized hierarchically, with narrow, specific traits combining to define broad, global factors. The Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R; Costa & McCrae, 1992c) assesses personality at both levels, with six specific facet scales in each of five broad domains. This article describes conceptual issues in specifying facets of a domain and reports evidence on the validity of NEO-PI-R facet scales. Facet analysis-the interpretation of a scale in terms of the specific facets with which it correlates-is illustrated using alternative measures of the five-factor model and occupational scales. Finally, the hierarchical interpretation of personality profiles is discussed. Interpretation on the domain level yields a rapid understanding of the individual interpretation of specific facet scales gives a more detailed assessment.

Teams between Neo-Taylorism and Anti-Taylorism

NARCIS (Netherlands)

H.D. Pruijt (Hans)

2003-01-01

textabstractThe concept of teamworking is the product of two distinct developments. One: a neo- Tayloristic form of organization of work, of which Toyota has shown that it can be very profitable, was packaged and reframed to make it acceptable to the Western public. Two: anti-Tayloristic ways

Objectives and Model Payload Definition for NEO Human Mission Studies

Science.gov (United States)

Carnelli, I.; Galvez, A.; Carpenter, J.

2011-10-01

ESA has supported studies on NEO threat assessment systems and deflection concepts in the context of the General Studies Programme and in close cooperation with the directorates of Technical and Quality Management and of the Scientific Programme. This work has made it possible to identify a project for Europe to make a significant - yet realistic - contribution to the international efforts in this field: the Don Quijote NEO technology demonstration mission. This paper describes what such a small mission can do to prepare future human exploration and what is the in-situ data that can be obtained through such a project.

Field Support System (FS-AID) and Working Capital Fund Tracking System (WCF-TS)

Data.gov (United States)

US Agency for International Development — The Field Support System (FS-AID) and Working Capital Fund Tracking System (WCF-TS) are two modules of a single data management system that share common tables and...

Phase-Angle Dependence of Determinations of Diameter, Albedo, and Taxonomy: A Case Study of NEO 3691 Bede

Science.gov (United States)

Wooden, Diane H.; Lederer, Susan M.; Jehin, Emmanuel; Howell, Ellen S.; Fernandez, Yan; Harker, David E.; Ryan, Erin; Lovell, Amy; Woodward, Charles E.; Benner, Lance A.

2015-01-01

Parameters important for NEO risk assessment and mitigation include Near-Earth Object diameter and taxonomic classification, which translates to surface composition. Diameters of NEOs are derived from the thermal fluxes measured by WISE, NEOWISE, Spitzer Warm Mission and ground-based telescopes including the IRTF and UKIRT. Diameter and its coupled parameters Albedo and IR beaming parameter (a proxy for thermal inertia and/or surface roughness) are dependent upon the phase angle, which is the Sun-target-observer angle. Orbit geometries of NEOs, however, typically provide for observations at phase angles greater than 20 degrees. At higher phase angles, the observed thermal emission is sampling both the day and night sides of the NEO. We compare thermal models for NEOs that exclude (NEATM) and include (NESTM) night-side emission. We present a case study of NEO 3691 Bede, which is a higher albedo object, X (Ec) or Cgh taxonomy, to highlight the range of H magnitudes for this object (depending on the albedo and phase function slope parameter G), and to examine at different phase angles the taxonomy and thermal model fits for this NEO. Observations of 3691 Bede include our observations with IRTF+SpeX and with the 10 micrometer UKIRT+Michelle instrument, as well as WISE and Spitzer Warm mission data. By examining 3691 Bede as a case study, we highlight the interplay between the derivation of basic physical parameters and observing geometry, and we discuss the uncertainties in H magnitude, taxonomy assignment amongst the X-class (P, M, E), and diameter determinations. Systematic dependencies in the derivation of basic characterization parameters of H-magnitude, diameter, albedo and taxonomy with observing geometry are important to understand. These basic characterization parameters affect the statistical assessments of the NEO population, which in turn, affects the assignment of statistically-assessed basic parameters to discovered but yet-to-be-fully-characterized NEOs.

Female Researchers in Neo-Victorian Fiction

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Lai-Ming Tammy Ho

2016-06-01

Full Text Available Neo-Victorian novelists sometimes use postgraduate students – trainee academics – who research nineteenth-century writers as protagonists. This article discusses four neo-Victorian novels, Lloyd Jones’s Mister Pip (2006, Justine Picardie’s Daphne (2008, A.N. Wilson’s A Jealous Ghost (2005 and Scarlett Thomas’s The End of Mr Y (2006, in which female postgraduate students take the centre stage. In Victorian literature, which mirrors the gender bias in the academic world and in society at large at that time, most scholars are male. The contemporary writers’ choice of female trainee academics is worth investigating as it speaks to the visibly changed gender make-up of contemporary academia. However, this utopian situation is complicated by the fact that the writers have chosen to frustrate the characters’ entry into the world of scholarship by having them leave the university environment altogether before the end of the novel. The fact that these females all choose to depart the university forms a contrast with notions of the university found in Victorian novels, in which leaving or not attending university might have detrimental effects on the characters.

From Copenhagen to Neo-Copenhagen Interpretation

Science.gov (United States)

de Muynck, Willem M.

2007-12-01

Positive and negative features of the Copenhagen interpretation are discussed. As positive features can be mentioned its pragmatism and its awareness of the crucial role of measurement. However, the main part of the contribution is devoted to the negative features, to wit, its pragmatism (once again), its confounding of preparation and measurement, its classical account of measurement, its completeness claims, the ambiguity of its notion of correspondence, its confused notion of complementarity. It is demonstrated how confusions and paradoxes stemming from the negative features of the Copenhagen interpretation can be dealt with in an amended interpretation, to be referred to as `neo-Copenhagen interpretation', in which the role of the measuring instrument is taken seriously by recognizing the quantum mechanical character of its interaction with the microscopic object. The ensuing necessity of extending the notion of a quantum mechanical observable from the Hermitian operator of the standard formalism to the positive operator-valued measure of a generalized formalism yields a sound mathematical basis for a transition from the Copenhagen contextualistic-realist interpretation to the neo-Copenhagen empiricist one. Applications to the uncertainty relations and to the Bell inequalities are briefly discussed.

Study comparing sequential (neo-adjuvant) versus concurrent chemo-radiotherapy in patients with squamous cell carcinoma

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Okawa, Tomohiko; Karasawa, Kumiko; Kaneyasu, Yuko; Tanaka, Makiko; Kita-Okawa, Midori; Ishii, Tetsuo

1994-01-01

Radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy is still used for standard treatment in patients with locally advanced unresectable cancer. A study was undertaken to compare a sequential (neo-adjuvant) with a simultaneous (concurrent) chemotherapy and radiotherapy program. Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin (80 mg/m 2 i.v. day 1) and 5FU (600 mg/m 2 continuous i.v. day 1-5) every 3 weeks prior to definitive conventional radiotherapy (60-65 Gy), or cisplatin (20 mg/m 2 i.v. day 1-5) and 5FU (250 mg/m 2 continuous i.v. infusion. day 1-14) were given simultaneously for same radiotherapy. Complete response rate was 45% in the sequential treatment and 43% in the simultaneous arm. Leukopenia and other adverse effects were slightly more frequent in the simultaneous arm, but there were no significant differences. These results suggested that individualization of treatment planning and establishment of optimum treatment were most important for combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. (author)

Educational Modes of Thinking in Neo-Confucianism: A Traditional Lens for Rethinking Modern Education

Science.gov (United States)

Hwang, Keumjoong

2013-01-01

This article discusses the distinctive educational modes of thinking in Neo-Confucianism, with an interest of extracting Confucian reflective views for modern education of traditionally Confucian East Asia. Neo-Confucian typical modes of thinking on education are characterized as "heart-mind centered" and "learning as…

The uncertain foundation of neo-Darwinism: metaphysical and epistemological pluralism in the evolutionary synthesis.

Science.gov (United States)

Delisle, Richard G

2009-06-01

The Evolutionary Synthesis is often seen as a unification process in evolutionary biology, one which provided this research area with a solid common theoretical foundation. As such, neo-Darwinism is believed to constitute from this time onward a single, coherent, and unified movement offering research guidelines for investigations. While this may be true if evolutionary biology is solely understood as centred around evolutionary mechanisms, an entirely different picture emerges once other aspects of the founding neo-Darwinists' views are taken into consideration, aspects potentially relevant to the elaboration of an evolutionary worldview: the tree of life, the ontological distinctions of the main cosmic entities (inert matter, biological organisms, mind), the inherent properties of self-organizing matter, evolutionary ethics, and so on. Profound tensions and inconsistencies are immediately revealed in the neo-Darwinian movement once this broader perspective is adopted. This pluralism is such that it is possible to identify at least three distinct and quasi-incommensurable epistemological/metaphysical frameworks as providing a proper foundation for neo-Darwinism. The analysis of the views of Theodosius Dobzhansky, Bernhard Rensch, and Ernst Mayr will illustrate this untenable pluralism, one which requires us to conceive of the neo-Darwinian research agenda as being conducted in more than one research programme or research tradition at the same time.

Particulate Study on NeoProfen, a Neonatal Injectable Product.

Science.gov (United States)

Krishna, Aravind; Rice, Michael; Kester, Tom; Waters, Michael; Wilson, Terry

2016-01-01

NeoProfen or sterile ibuprofen L-lysine at 10 mg/mL ibuprofen, in 2 mL single-use Type I glass vials is often a first choice medication used to close a patent ductus arteriosus in neonatal patients from 500 to 1500 g body weight. Visible particulate matter was found in vials that were placed on a commercial stability program prior to the approved expiration date of 2 years. A combination of instrumental techniques including inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry, and Raman and Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy was used to evaluate stability, pilot batch and packaging samples in a root cause investigation. The particulate matter was shown to consist largely of ibuprofen aluminum salts of various stoichiometries. It developed over time by a substitution mechanism, in which the ibuprofen anion in solution reacts with the aluminum oxide network of the borosilicate glass giving the ibuprofen aluminum salt with =Al-OH remaining in the network. For corrective action an alternate Type I borosilicate glass vial with interior coating, not found in the original vial, was chosen for the product to prevent this occurrence. NeoProfen (sterile preservative-free ibuprofin L-lysine at 17 mg/mL in a single-use glass vial) is used to close a clinically significant patent ductus arteriosus in premature infants no more than 32 weeks gestational age. The neonatal population is especially sensitive to outside chemical, physical and environmental conditions because of incompletely developed organ systems, low birth weight and other underlying conditions. Two batches of this product were voluntarily recalled by the manufacturer, Lundbeck, and investigated for the source of particulate matter observed during a commercial stability testing program. This was found to result from an interaction between the product and the Type I borosilicate glass vial where ibuprofen

ISO/TS 16949 system in quality aspect

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Joanna Rosak-Szyrocka

2014-12-01

Full Text Available In the automotive industry the use of modern technology and provision of the highest quality product and related services is the most important element of rivalry between global corporations and motorcycles. In a competitive struggle for the recognition of its brand in the automotive market global organizations continuously raise the requirements for quality management systems, so that the finished product meets all the standards in terms of safety, quality and satisfying the ever-growing needs of customers - present and future drivers and passengers of cars. ISO/TS 16949 quality management system is presented in the paper. A framework for customer specific requirement as well as preventing problems is shown.

Cierre percutáneo de fístulas coronario-pulmonares en el adulto

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Pedro Trujillo, MD

2014-01-01

Full Text Available El cierre percutáneo de las fístulas coronario-pulmonares con implante de “coils” es eficaz y pueden realizarlo los cardiólogos intervencionistas de adultos. Se presentan tres casos clínicos de cierre percutáneo exitoso de fístulas coronario-pulmonares con implante de “coils”.

Protein dynamics associated with failed and rescued learning in the Ts65Dn mouse model of Down syndrome.

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Md Mahiuddin Ahmed

Full Text Available Down syndrome (DS is caused by an extra copy of human chromosome 21 (Hsa21. Although it is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability (ID, there are, as yet, no effective pharmacotherapies. The Ts65Dn mouse model of DS is trisomic for orthologs of ∼55% of Hsa21 classical protein coding genes. These mice display many features relevant to those seen in DS, including deficits in learning and memory (L/M tasks requiring a functional hippocampus. Recently, the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA receptor antagonist, memantine, was shown to rescue performance of the Ts65Dn in several L/M tasks. These studies, however, have not been accompanied by molecular analyses. In previous work, we described changes in protein expression induced in hippocampus and cortex in control mice after exposure to context fear conditioning (CFC, with and without memantine treatment. Here, we extend this analysis to Ts65Dn mice, measuring levels of 85 proteins/protein modifications, including components of MAP kinase and MTOR pathways, and subunits of NMDA receptors, in cortex and hippocampus of Ts65Dn mice after failed learning in CFC and after learning was rescued by memantine. We show that, compared with wild type littermate controls, (i of the dynamic responses seen in control mice in normal learning, >40% also occur in Ts65Dn in failed learning or are compensated by baseline abnormalities, and thus are considered necessary but not sufficient for successful learning, and (ii treatment with memantine does not in general normalize the initial protein levels but instead induces direct and indirect responses in approximately half the proteins measured and results in normalization of the endpoint protein levels. Together, these datasets provide a first view of the complexities associated with pharmacological rescue of learning in the Ts65Dn. Extending such studies to additional drugs and mouse models of DS will aid in identifying pharmacotherapies for effective

The pseudo-scientific psychologyof the economic neo-liberalism

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Alečković-Nikolić Mila S.

2014-01-01

Full Text Available The aim of the paper is to call attention to logical, axiological, psychological and historical foundations of the problem of economic neo-liberalism. The question is how to achieve psychological comprehension of the historical developpement of the idea of scientific reductionism, the idea of 'common law' and rational utilitarism (Hobbes, Locke, Smith, Bentham, of rationalism (Kant and socialism (Rousseau. In the second part of this analysis the aim is to show that the theory of mechanical simplification in the comprehension of human society is logically wrong theory and that this logically wrong theory is the premise of the social totalitarianism. Finally, the goal of our analysis (specially relevant for the Serbian society trapped today is to show that the world of actual financial reductionism and economic neo-liberalism does not understand at all the real human nature.

Neo4j high performance

CERN Document Server

Raj, Sonal

2015-01-01

If you are a professional or enthusiast who has a basic understanding of graphs or has basic knowledge of Neo4j operations, this is the book for you. Although it is targeted at an advanced user base, this book can be used by beginners as it touches upon the basics. So, if you are passionate about taming complex data with the help of graphs and building high performance applications, you will be able to get valuable insights from this book.

Multimedia Application for Facility Information on Cassette Trand's Music Stores Using Macromedia Flash 8

OpenAIRE

Nicholas Ardiansyah; Rahayu Noveandini, SKom, MMSI

2010-01-01

Interesting development of the computer with the various trends that have increasedas never stopped. One thing that this trend is about the use of multimedia, where tocreate a multimedia application programs in search of songs - songs that not onlylisten but can see the songs that we choose to use as a means of information hasattracted the attention of society at a record store that is "Shop Cassette Trend's Music".

Avaliação do desempenho da tecnologia NeoSoniX TM em cirurgias de catarata Performance evaluation of NeoSoniX TM technology in cataract surgery

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Leonardo Akaishi

2006-06-01

Full Text Available OBJETIVOS: As técnicas e resultados da cirurgia de catarata melhoraram drasticamente com o avanço tecnológico. Um dos motivos para melhoria seria a menor utilização de ultra-som com novos aparelhos de facoemulsificação. O objetivo deste estudo é confirmar na prática a vantagem teórica da caneta NeoSoniX TM. MÉTODOS: Foi realizada uma análise na qual os autores compararam resultados dos parâmetros registrados pelo aparelho de facoemulsificação Legacy durante 300 cirurgias de catarata realizadas com caneta de ultra-som (handpiece convencional e 100 com a caneta NeoSoniX TM. Todas as cirurgias foram realizadas pelo mesmo cirurgião, com a mesma técnica cirúrgica. A escolha da "handpiece" foi aleatória, sendo comparadas, em relação ao grau de dureza das cataratas, os parâmetros de tempo do ultra-som, quantidade de solução salina balanceada e porcentagem de "average power" utilizadas durante as cirurgias. RESULTADOS: Foi realizada análise retrospectiva numa série cronológica de casos, mostrando que em qualquer que seja o grau de dureza da catarata, o tempo de utilização do ultra-som com a caneta NeoSoniX foi inferior ao da caneta convencional (pPURPOSE: The techniques and results of cataract surgery have improved dramatically with technological advancements. One of the reasons for this improvement would be the reduced use of ultrasound with the new phacoemulsification devices. The objective of this study is to confirm the theoretical advantage of the NeoSoniX handpiece. METHODS: The authors compared the results of the parameters recorded by the Legacy phacoemulsification system during 300 cataract surgeries performed with the use of the conventional ultrasound handpiece and 100 performed with the innovative NeosonixTM. All surgeries were performed by the same senior surgeon, using the same surgical technique. The choice of handpiece was random. The handpieces were compared considering cataract grade of hardness, in

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) consumption in the Ts65Dn model of Down syndrome fails to improve behavioral deficits and is detrimental to skeletal phenotypes.

Science.gov (United States)

Stringer, Megan; Abeysekera, Irushi; Thomas, Jared; LaCombe, Jonathan; Stancombe, Kailey; Stewart, Robert J; Dria, Karl J; Wallace, Joseph M; Goodlett, Charles R; Roper, Randall J

2017-08-01

Down syndrome (DS) is caused by three copies of human chromosome 21 (Hsa21) and results in phenotypes including intellectual disability and skeletal deficits. Ts65Dn mice have three copies of ~50% of the genes homologous to Hsa21 and display phenotypes associated with DS, including cognitive deficits and skeletal abnormalities. DYRK1A is found in three copies in humans with Trisomy 21 and in Ts65Dn mice, and is involved in a number of critical pathways including neurological development and osteoclastogenesis. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the main polyphenol in green tea, inhibits Dyrk1a activity. We have previously shown that EGCG treatment (~10mg/kg/day) improves skeletal abnormalities in Ts65Dn mice, yet the same dose, as well as ~20mg/kg/day did not rescue deficits in the Morris water maze spatial learning task (MWM), novel object recognition (NOR) or balance beam task (BB). In contrast, a recent study reported that an EGCG-containing supplement with a dose of 2-3mg per day (~40-60mg/kg/day) improved hippocampal-dependent task deficits in Ts65Dn mice. The current study investigated if an EGCG dosage similar to that study would yield similar improvements in either cognitive or skeletal deficits. Ts65Dn mice and euploid littermates were given EGCG [0.4mg/mL] or a water control, with treatments yielding average daily intakes of ~50mg/kg/day EGCG, and tested on the multivariate concentric square field (MCSF)-which assesses activity, exploratory behavior, risk assessment, risk taking, and shelter seeking-and NOR, BB, and MWM. EGCG treatment failed to improve cognitive deficits; EGCG also produced several detrimental effects on skeleton in both genotypes. In a refined HPLC-based assay, its first application in Ts65Dn mice, EGCG treatment significantly reduced kinase activity in femora but not in the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, or hippocampus. Counter to expectation, 9-week-old Ts65Dn mice exhibited a decrease in Dyrk1a protein levels in Western blot analysis

Investigating Personality in Stuttering: Results of a Case Control Study Using the NEO-FFI

Science.gov (United States)

Bleek, Benjamin; Montag, Christian; Faber, Jennifer; Reuter, Martin

2011-01-01

A recent study by Iverach et al. ("Journal of Communication Disorders," 2010) compared persons who stutter with two normative samples in the context of the five-factor model of personality measured by the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI). Persons who stutter were characterized by higher "Neuroticism," lower…

The Near Earth Object Scout Spacecraft: A Low Cost Approach to in-situ Characterization of the NEO Population

Science.gov (United States)

Koontz, Steven L.; Condon, Gerald; Graham, Lee; Bevilacqua, Ricardo

2014-01-01

to 420 days in duration and assuming chemical propulsion. Similar studies have been reported assuming high power electric propulsion for manned NEO rendezvous missions (11). The delta V requirement breakdown and mission profile data from references 10 and 11 are used as a basis for sizing the NEO Scout spacecraft and for conducting preliminary feasibility assessments using the Tsiokolvsky rocket equation, a (worst-case) delta V requirement of 10 km/sec, and a maximum spacecraft dry mass of 20 kg. Using chemical propellant for a 10 km/sec delta V drives spacecraft wet mass well above 300 kg so that chemical propulsion is a non-starter for the proposed mission profile and spacecraft wet mass limits. In contrast, a solar electric propulsion system needs only 8 kg of Xe propellant to accelerate the spacecraft to 10 km/sec in 163 days with 0.02 N of thrust and 500 W of power from1.6 sq m of 29% efficient solar panels. In a second example, accelerating a 4 kg payload to 7 km/sec over 180 days requires about 6.7 kg of propellant and 1.2 kg of solar panels (12 kg total spacecraft wet mass).

Darwin and Reductionisms: Victorian, Neo-Darwinian and Postgenomic Biologies

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Angelique Richardson

2010-10-01

Full Text Available This article compares the open-ended Darwinism of Charles Darwin, George Lewes, George Eliot and Thomas Hardy with reductive post-Weismann and early eugenist views and more recent neo-Darwinian ideas including literary Darwinism. It argues that some Victorians had a clear sense of the complexities of the natural world, and of the centrality of environment to life. This awareness contrasts with the processes of divorce and isolation that underpin neo-Darwinian understandings of evolutionary development. But biologists and philosophers of biology are now emphasising the complex and dynamic relations between organism and environment in ways that would have appealed to Darwin’s contemporaries. The article establishes that there are significant parallels between mid-Victorian and postgenomic thought.

Memory H ∞ performance control of a class T-S fuzzy system

Science.gov (United States)

Wang, Yanhua; He, Xiqin; Wu, Zhihua; Kang, Xiulan; Xiu, Wei

2018-03-01

For much nonlinear system in the control system, both the stability of the system and certain performance indicators are required. The characteristics of T-S model in fuzzy system make it possible to illustrate a great amount of nonlinear system efficiently. First and foremost, the T-S model with uncertainties and external disturbance is utilized to interpret nonlinear system so as to implement H∞ performance control by means of fuzzy control theory. Meantime, owing to the tremendous existence of time delay phenomenon in the controlled, feedback controller with memory fuzzy state is fabricated. On the basis of Lyapunov Stability Theory, the closed-loop system becomes stable by establishing Lyapunov function. Gain matrix of the memory state feedback controller is obtained by applying linear matrix inequality methodology. And simultaneously it makes the system meet the requirement of the H∞ performance indicator. Ultimately, the efficiency of the above-mentioned method is exemplified by the numerical computation.

Ratiometric Matryoshka biosensors from a nested cassette of green- and orange-emitting fluorescent proteins.

Science.gov (United States)

Ast, Cindy; Foret, Jessica; Oltrogge, Luke M; De Michele, Roberto; Kleist, Thomas J; Ho, Cheng-Hsun; Frommer, Wolf B

2017-09-05

Sensitivity, dynamic and detection range as well as exclusion of expression and instrumental artifacts are critical for the quantitation of data obtained with fluorescent protein (FP)-based biosensors in vivo. Current biosensors designs are, in general, unable to simultaneously meet all these criteria. Here, we describe a generalizable platform to create dual-FP biosensors with large dynamic ranges by employing a single FP-cassette, named GO-(Green-Orange) Matryoshka. The cassette nests a stable reference FP (large Stokes shift LSSmOrange) within a reporter FP (circularly permuted green FP). GO- Matryoshka yields green and orange fluorescence upon blue excitation. As proof of concept, we converted existing, single-emission biosensors into a series of ratiometric calcium sensors (MatryoshCaMP6s) and ammonium transport activity sensors (AmTryoshka1;3). We additionally identified the internal acid-base equilibrium as a key determinant of the GCaMP dynamic range. Matryoshka technology promises flexibility in the design of a wide spectrum of ratiometric biosensors and expanded in vivo applications.Single fluorescent protein biosensors are susceptible to expression and instrumental artifacts. Here Ast et al. describe a dual fluorescent protein design whereby a reference fluorescent protein is nested within a reporter fluorescent protein to control for such artifacts while preserving sensitivity and dynamic range.

Safety inspections - the role of TS : risks, their assessment and the role of safety systems

CERN Document Server

Béjar-Alonso, Isabel; CERN. Geneva. TS Department

2008-01-01

In 2007 the DG decided a new approach for safety at CERN. This had as consequence the creation of a new unit, the safety service provider, in the TS department. The organization and the services that this unit provides to CERN will be described and the achievements since the creation of the unit will be summarized. Some important personnel safety systems, on their side have been the responsibility of the TS Department for many years. Their importance has grown with the arrival of LHC and their complexity and impact on operation has increased. Their role as well as the importance of an appropriate regulatory framework shall be discussed.

A role for a neo-sex chromosome in stickleback speciation

Science.gov (United States)

Kitano, Jun; Ross, Joseph A.; Mori, Seiichi; Kume, Manabu; Jones, Felicity C.; Chan, Yingguang F.; Absher, Devin M.; Grimwood, Jane; Schmutz, Jeremy; Myers, Richard M.; Kingsley, David M.; Peichel, Catherine L.

2009-01-01

Sexual antagonism, or conflict between the sexes, has been proposed as a driving force in both sex chromosome turnover and speciation. Although closely related species often have different sex chromosome systems, it is unknown whether sex chromosome turnover contributes to the evolution of reproductive isolation between species. In this study, we show that a newly evolved sex chromosome harbours genes that contribute to speciation in threespine stickleback fish (Gasterosteus aculeatus). We first identified a neo-sex chromosome system found only in one member of a sympatric species pair in Japan. We then performed genetic linkage mapping of male-specific traits important for reproductive isolation between the Japanese species pair. The neo-X chromosome harbours loci for male courtship display traits that contribute to behavioural isolation, while the ancestral X chromosome contains loci for both behavioural isolation and hybrid male sterility. Our work not only provides strong evidence for a large-X effect on reproductive isolation in a vertebrate system, but also provides direct evidence that a young neo-X chromosome contributes to reproductive isolation between closely related species. Our data suggest that sex chromosome turnover might play a greater role in speciation than previously appreciated. PMID:19783981

MuPeXI: prediction of neo-epitopes from tumor sequencing data

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Bjerregaard, Anne-Mette; Nielsen, Morten; Hadrup, Sine Reker

2017-01-01

Personalization of immunotherapies such as cancer vaccines and adoptive T cell therapy depends on identification of patient-specific neo-epitopes that can be specifically targeted. MuPeXI, the mutant peptide extractor and informer, is a program to identify tumor-specific peptides and assess...... their potential to be neo-epitopes. The program input is a file with somatic mutation calls, a list of HLA types, and optionally a gene expression profile. The output is a table with all tumor-specific peptides derived from nucleotide substitutions, insertions, and deletions, along with comprehensive annotation...

Towards a Foundation of Material Approaches in Neo-institutional Theory

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Cartel, Melodie; Boxenbaum, Eva

Socio-material approaches of innovation are currently developing fast in neo-institutional theory yet they lack global coherence. As a result, their contribution to the understanding of institutional innovation is fragile. This paper develops a coherent view on socio-material approaches...... of innovation in neo-institutional theory. Drawing on a literature review, we propose that material approaches of institutional innovation focus on the design of institutions. We build on the concept of bricolage to unveil the three activities involved in the design of institutions: crafting, testing...... and evaluating. Eventually, we articulate these findings with existing insights on institutional innovation and develop a multilevel model of institutional innovation....

Membrane porters of ATP-binding cassette transport systems are polyphyletic.

Science.gov (United States)

Wang, Bin; Dukarevich, Maxim; Sun, Eric I; Yen, Ming Ren; Saier, Milton H

2009-09-01

The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily consists of both importers and exporters. These transporters have, by tradition, been classified according to the ATP hydrolyzing constituents, which are monophyletic. The evolutionary origins of the transmembrane porter proteins/domains are not known. Using five distinct computer programs, we here provide convincing statistical data suggesting that the transmembrane domains of ABC exporters are polyphyletic, having arisen at least three times independently. ABC1 porters arose by intragenic triplication of a primordial two-transmembrane segment (TMS)-encoding genetic element, yielding six TMS proteins. ABC2 porters arose by intragenic duplication of a dissimilar primordial three-TMS-encoding genetic element, yielding a distinctive protein family, nonhomologous to the ABC1 proteins. ABC3 porters arose by duplication of a primordial four-TMS-encoding genetic element, yielding either eight- or 10-TMS proteins. We assign each of 48 of the 50 currently recognized families of ABC exporters to one of the three evolutionarily distinct ABC types. Currently available high-resolution structural data for ABC porters are fully consistent with our findings. These results provide guides for future structural and mechanistic studies of these important transport systems.

Chemistry and Bioactivity of NeoMTA Plus™ versus MTA Angelus® Root Repair Materials

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Sawsan T. Abu Zeid

2017-01-01

Full Text Available Objectives. To analyse the chemistry and bioactivity of NeoMTA Plus in comparison with the conventional root repair materials. Method and Materials. Unhydrated and hydrated (initial and final sets materials were analysed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD. For bioactivity study, small holes of dentin discs were filled with either materials, immersed in PBS for 15 days, and analysed with FTIR and scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive X-ray (SEM/EDX. The calculation of crystallinity and carbonate/phosphate (CO3/PO4 ratio of surface precipitates (from FTIR and calcium/phosphate (Ca/P ratio (from EDX was statistically analysed using t-test or ANOVA, respectively, at 0.05 significance. Results. Both materials are tricalcium silicate-based that finally react to be calcium silicate hydrate. NeoMTA Plus has relatively high aluminium and sulfur content, with tantalum oxide as an opacifier instead of zirconium oxide in MTA Angelus. NeoMTA Plus showed better apatite formation, higher crystallinity and Ca/P but lower CO3/PO4 ratio than MTA Angelus. SEM showed globular structure with a small particle size in NeoMTA Plus while spherical structure with large particle size in MTA Angelus. Conclusion. Due to fast setting, higher crystallinity, and better bioactivity of NeoMTA Plus, it can be used as a pulp and root repair material.

Novel types of staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec elements identified in clonal complex 398 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains.

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Li, S.; Skov, R.L.; Han, X.; Larsen, A.R.; Larsen, J.; Sorum, M.; Wulf, M.; Voss, A.; Hiramatsu, K.; Ito, T.

2011-01-01

The structures of staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) elements carried by 31 clonal complex 398 (CC398) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains isolated from the participants at a conference were analyzed. The SCCmecs were classified into novel types, namely, IX, X,

Neo-sex chromosomes in the black muntjac recapitulate incipient evolution of mammalian sex chromosomes

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Zhou, Qi; Wang, Jun; Huang, Ling

2008-01-01

in coding regions of eight investigated genes as well as cis-regulatory regions of two housekeeping genes. In vivo assays characterized a neo-Y insertion in the promoter of the CLTC gene that causes a significant reduction in allelic expression. A neo-Y-linked deletion in the 3'-untranslated region of gene...

A Universal Ts-VI Triangle Method for the Continuous Retrieval of Evaporative Fraction From MODIS Products

Science.gov (United States)

Zhu, Wenbin; Jia, Shaofeng; Lv, Aifeng

2017-10-01

The triangle method based on the spatial relationship between remotely sensed land surface temperature (Ts) and vegetation index (VI) has been widely used for the estimates of evaporative fraction (EF). In the present study, a universal triangle method was proposed by transforming the Ts-VI feature space from a regional scale to a pixel scale. The retrieval of EF is only related to the boundary conditions at pixel scale, regardless of the Ts-VI configuration over the spatial domain. The boundary conditions of each pixel are composed of the theoretical dry edge determined by the surface energy balance principle and the wet edge determined by the average air temperature of open water. The universal triangle method was validated using the EF observations collected by the Energy Balance Bowen Ratio systems in the Southern Great Plains of the United States of America (USA). Two parameterization schemes of EF were used to demonstrate their applicability with Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) products over the whole year 2004. The results of this study show that the accuracy produced by both of these two parameterization schemes is comparable to that produced by the traditional triangle method, although the universal triangle method seems specifically suited to the parameterization scheme proposed in our previous research. The independence of the universal triangle method from the Ts-VI feature space makes it possible to conduct a continuous monitoring of evapotranspiration and soil moisture. That is just the ability the traditional triangle method does not possess.

Thermal surface analysis on high-rise building façades with neo-minimalist and modern style in Penang, Malaysia

Science.gov (United States)

Arab, Yasser; Hassan, Ahmad Sanusi; Qanaa, Bushra

2017-10-01

This research analyzed the façade thermal performance of high-rise buildings with modern and neo-minimalist architectural style. Four high-rise apartment buildings in Penang Island are selected as case studies for this research. The modern architectural style, which was popular during the 1970s to 1990s, nearly disregarded the cultural identity of the country and used the basic geometric shapes in the design. Conversely, the neo-minimalist style is the popular style from the 2010s up to the present. This style is a result of the "less is more" concept, which means using minimal applications to obtain an efficient design. The four selected case studies are as follows: Halaman Kristal 2 and Mutiara Idaman 1 with modern architectural style and Light Linear and Baystar apartments with neo-minimalist style. The research uses Fluke Ti20 thermal imager to capture thermal images of the west façade of the selected case studies on an hourly basis from 12:00 to 6:00 P.M. on March 15, 2017. Results confirm that the neo-minimalist façade elements, such as balconies and recessed walls, as well as other shading elements, are effective in improving the performance of façade shading. Notably, façade shading causes low surface temperature and provides cool indoor atmosphere during the day when the temperature is extremely high outside. Accordingly, this distinct feature partly explains the current popularity of the neo-minimalist architectural style.

Ceļa servitūts

OpenAIRE

Livdāns, Dāvis

2016-01-01

Bakalaura darba tēma ir “Ceļa servitūts.” Bakalaura darba mērķis ir izpētīt ceļa servitūta nodibināšanas kārtību, iespējamās kļūdas, praksē nodibināto servitūtu problēmjautājumus un to risinājumus. Bakalaura darba tapšanas stadijā autors izmantoja zinātnisko literatūru, normatīvos aktus, kā arīi ar to tapšanu saistītos dokumentus un juridiskās prakses materiālus. Darbā ir apskatīti gan Civillikumā noteiktie servitūtu nodibināšanas pamati, gan citi iespējamie nodibināšanas pamati, pēc kā ir an...

Vom Stabilitäts- und Wachstumsgesetz zum Wohlstands- und Nachhaltigkeitsgesetz

OpenAIRE

Koll, Willi

2016-01-01

Das Stabilitäts- und Wachstumsgesetz wird bald 50 Jahre alt. Neue Herausforderungen erfordern eine Wirtschaftspolitik, die weit über die Ziele des Gesetzes hinausweist. Sie muss wirtschaftliches Wachstum und Stabilität mit den Zielen fiskalischer, sozialer und ökologischer Nachhaltigkeit auf nationaler und europäischer Ebene verbinden. Der Autor gibt einen Über blick über solche umfassenden Zielsysteme und leitet daraus ab, wie eine derart erweiterte wirtschaftspolitische Agenda in ein Wohlst...

Embryonic demise caused by targeted disruption of a cysteine protease Dub-2.

Science.gov (United States)

Baek, Kwang-Hyun; Lee, Heyjin; Yang, Sunmee; Lim, Soo-Bin; Lee, Wonwoo; Lee, Jeoung Eun; Lim, Jung-Jin; Jun, Kisun; Lee, Dong-Ryul; Chung, Young

2012-01-01

A plethora of biological metabolisms are regulated by the mechanisms of ubiquitination, wherein this process is balanced with the action of deubiquitination system. Dub-2 is an IL-2-inducible, immediate-early gene that encodes a deubiquitinating enzyme with growth regulatory activity. DUB-2 presumably removes ubiquitin from ubiquitin-conjugated target proteins regulating ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, but its specific target proteins are unknown yet. To elucidate the functional role of Dub-2, we generated genetically modified mice by introducing neo cassette into the second exon of Dub-2 and then homologous recombination was done to completely abrogate the activity of DUB-2 proteins. We generated Dub-2+/- heterozygous mice showing a normal phenotype and are fertile, whereas new born mouse of Dub-2-/- homozygous alleles could not survive. In addition, Dub-2-/- embryo could not be seen between E6.5 and E12.5 stages. Furthermore, the number of embryos showing normal embryonic development for further stages is decreased in heterozygotes. Even embryonic stem cells from inner cell mass of Dub-2-/- embryos could not be established. Our study suggests that the targeted disruption of Dub-2 may cause embryonic lethality during early gestation, possibly due to the failure of cell proliferation during hatching process.

Embryonic demise caused by targeted disruption of a cysteine protease Dub-2.

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Kwang-Hyun Baek

Full Text Available BACKGROUND: A plethora of biological metabolisms are regulated by the mechanisms of ubiquitination, wherein this process is balanced with the action of deubiquitination system. Dub-2 is an IL-2-inducible, immediate-early gene that encodes a deubiquitinating enzyme with growth regulatory activity. DUB-2 presumably removes ubiquitin from ubiquitin-conjugated target proteins regulating ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, but its specific target proteins are unknown yet. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To elucidate the functional role of Dub-2, we generated genetically modified mice by introducing neo cassette into the second exon of Dub-2 and then homologous recombination was done to completely abrogate the activity of DUB-2 proteins. We generated Dub-2+/- heterozygous mice showing a normal phenotype and are fertile, whereas new born mouse of Dub-2-/- homozygous alleles could not survive. In addition, Dub-2-/- embryo could not be seen between E6.5 and E12.5 stages. Furthermore, the number of embryos showing normal embryonic development for further stages is decreased in heterozygotes. Even embryonic stem cells from inner cell mass of Dub-2-/- embryos could not be established. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that the targeted disruption of Dub-2 may cause embryonic lethality during early gestation, possibly due to the failure of cell proliferation during hatching process.

A non-chemically selective top-down approach towards the preparation of hierarchical TS-1 zeolites with improved oxidative desulfurization catalytic performance.

Science.gov (United States)

Du, Shuting; Chen, Xiaoxin; Sun, Qiming; Wang, Ning; Jia, Mingjun; Valtchev, Valentin; Yu, Jihong

2016-02-28

Hierarchical TS-1 zeolites with secondary macropores have been successfully prepared by using two different fluoride-containing chemical etching post-treated routes. Hierarchical TS-1 zeolites exhibited a chemical composition similar to that of the parent material and showed remarkably enhanced catalytic activity in oxidative desulfurization reaction.

[Neo-'hippocratism' in Bernardino Ramazzini].

Science.gov (United States)

Marinozzi, Silvia; Conforti, Maria; Gazzaniga, Valentina

2011-01-01

Neo-hippocratism is a rational and mechanic method to explain pathological phenomena and discover the causes of diseases. Bernardino Ramazzini uses Hippocratic empirical observation to investigate the relations between the alterations of the air - due to mephitic vapours, of organic and inorganic origin - and the development of pathological processes. His notion of corruption of the atmosphere as the origin of epidemics and specific diseases, and that of prevention as the main strategy of modern medicine, is developed in medical literature and in the public medicine projects of the end of the Seventeenth century.

Usuga tõe ja töö vabariiki / Matti Päts ; interv. Ants Sild

Index Scriptorium Estoniae

Päts, Matti, 1933-

2003-01-01

Patendiameti peadirektor Matti Päts vastab küsimustele, mis puudutavad Eesti Vabariiki selle 12. taasiseseisvumisaastal, eesti ajakirjandust, segadust ühiskonnas, kokkuhoidliku meelelaadi kadumist, insenerkonna vähest esindatust ühiskonnaelu juhtimises, maaelu

Leadership Pipeline – en neo-weberiansk revitalisering af bureaukratiet?

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Dahl, Kristian Aagaard; Nielsen, Jeppe

2015-01-01

Selvom Leadership Pipeline har vundet indpas i mange private og offentlige organisationer, er den akademiske litteratur om ledelsesmodellen indtil videre forbavsende beskeden. I denne artikel søger vi at indkredse svar på, hvorvidt Leadership Pipeline udgør et (gammeldags) bureaukratisk perspektiv...... på ledelse. Vores dokumentanalyse viser, at Leadership Pipeline modellen bygger på weberianske og neo-weberianske principper om klare over-/underordnelsesforhold og faste referencestrukturer. Samtidig viser en nøjere granskning, at modellen også inkluderer andre ledelsesdyder med betoning af...... meningsskabelse, innovation, helhedsorientering og ledelse på tværs. Det leder os til at foreslå, at Leadership Pipeline modellen i dens udtryksform udviser ambidekstrale træk, hvor weberianske og neo- weberianske principper søges koblet med tilsyneladende modsatrettede, postmoderne ledelsesforståelser. Vi...

ATP binding cassette G1-dependent cholesterol efflux during inflammation.

Science.gov (United States)

de Beer, Maria C; Ji, Ailing; Jahangiri, Anisa; Vaughan, Ashley M; de Beer, Frederick C; van der Westhuyzen, Deneys R; Webb, Nancy R

2011-02-01

ATP binding cassette transporter G1 (ABCG1) mediates the transport of cellular cholesterol to HDL, and it plays a key role in maintaining macrophage cholesterol homeostasis. During inflammation, HDL undergoes substantial remodeling, acquiring lipid changes and serum amyloid A (SAA) as a major apolipoprotein. In the current study, we investigated whether remodeling of HDL that occurs during acute inflammation impacts ABCG1-dependent efflux. Our data indicate that lipid free SAA acts similarly to apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) in mediating sequential efflux from ABCA1 and ABCG1. Compared with normal mouse HDL, acute phase (AP) mouse HDL containing SAA exhibited a modest but significant 17% increase in ABCG1-dependent efflux. Interestingly, AP HDL isolated from mice lacking SAA (SAAKO mice) was even more effective in promoting ABCG1 efflux. Hydrolysis with Group IIA secretory phospholipase A(2) (sPLA(2)-IIA) significantly reduced the ability of AP HDL from SAAKO mice to serve as a substrate for ABCG1-mediated cholesterol transfer, indicating that phospholipid (PL) enrichment, and not the presence of SAA, is responsible for alterations in efflux. AP human HDL, which is not PL-enriched, was somewhat less effective in mediating ABCG1-dependent efflux compared with normal human HDL. Our data indicate that inflammatory remodeling of HDL impacts ABCG1-dependent efflux independent of SAA.

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