Affective Biases in Humans and Animals.
Robinson, E S J; Roiser, J P
Depression is one of the most common but poorly understood psychiatric conditions. Although drug treatments and psychological therapies are effective in some patients, many do not achieve full remission and some patients receive no apparent benefit. Developing new improved treatments requires a better understanding of the aetiology of symptoms and evaluation of novel therapeutic targets in pre-clinical studies. Recent developments in our understanding of the basic cognitive processes that may contribute to the development of depression and its treatment offer new opportunities for both clinical and pre-clinical research. This chapter discusses the clinical evidence supporting a cognitive neuropsychological model of depression and antidepressant efficacy, and how this information may be usefully translated to pre-clinical investigation. Studies using neuropsychological tests in depressed patients and at risk populations have revealed basic negative emotional biases and disrupted reward and punishment processing, which may also impact on non-affective cognition. These affective biases are sensitive to antidepressant treatments with early onset effects observed, suggesting an important role in recovery. This clinical work into affective biases has also facilitated back-translation to animals and the development of assays to study affective biases in rodents. These animal studies suggest that, similar to humans, rodents in putative negative affective states exhibit negative affective biases on decision-making and memory tasks. Antidepressant treatments also induce positive biases in these rodent tasks, supporting the translational validity of this approach. Although still in the early stages of development and validation, affective biases in depression have the potential to offer new insights into the clinical condition, as well as facilitating the development of more translational approaches for pre-clinical studies.
BOVINE PLASMA FIBRINOGEN AS MARKER IN CLINICAL AND SUB-CLINICAL MASTITIS
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R. Ali
2018-06-01
Full Text Available Plasma samples were collected from healthy as well as clinical and sub-clinical mastitis affected cows from Barasat, West Bengal, India. Plasma samples, after ammonium sulphate precipitation, were dialyzed against several changes of PBS (pH 7.2 to remove the excess ammonium sulphate. Then plasma fibrinogens were purified by gel filtration chromatography on Sephacryl S-200 HR. SDS-PAGE (10% of purified fibrinogen from plasma of healthy cow revealed polypeptide bands of 74, 67 and 57 kDa which represent the α (alpha, β (beta and γ (gamma- chains respectively. On the other hand, purified fibrinogen from plasma of sub-clinical and clinical mastitis affected cow revealed polypeptide bands of 73 (α-chain, 68 kDa (β-chain and 72 (γ-chain, 68 kDa (β-chain respectively. The SDS-PAGE analysis showed the absence of gamma (γ- chain of fibrinogen in both the samples of sub-clinical and clinical mastitis positive cow. Single precipitin line was observed in double immunodiffusion test when purified fibrinogen from healthy, clinical and subclinical mastitis positive cows reacted with hyper immune sera raised in rabbit. No precipitin line was found against the normal control serum. These purified fibrinogens also showed cross reactivity against antibody raised in rabbit when analyzed by western blot technique.
Acute physiological impacts of CO{sub 2} ocean sequestration on marine animals
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Ishimatsu, A.; Hayashi, M.; Lee, K.S.; Murata, K.; Kumagai, E. [Nagasaki Univ., Nagasaki (Japan). Marine Research Inst.; Kikkawa, T. [Marine Ecology Research Inst., Chiba (Japan). Central Laboratory; Kita, J. [Research Inst. of Innovative Technology for the Earth, Kyoto (Japan)
2005-07-01
The biological impacts of ocean carbon dioxide (CO{sub 2}) sequestration must be carefully considered before it is implemented as a mitigation strategy. This paper presented details of a study investigating the effects of high CO{sub 2} concentrations on marine fish, lobster, and octopus. The influence of water temperature on the physiological effects of CO{sub 2} was also discussed. In the first part of the study, eggs and larvae of red seabream were exposed to both CO{sub 2} and HCI-acidified seawater at identical pH levels. Seabream in the CO{sub 2} group showed a much higher mortality rate than fish in the HCI group. Other tests showed that Japanese Flounder died after complete recovery of pH in seawater equilibrated with 5 per cent CO{sub 2}. Cardiac output was rapidly depressed in Yellowtail fish without significant changes in blood oxygen concentrations. Lower temperatures resulted in higher mortality and delayed pH recovery during hypercapnia in all fish. Western rock lobsters were the most tolerant to CO{sub 2} among all species tested. The recovery of hemolymph pH was complete at exposure to CO{sub 2} concentrations of 1 per cent. Changes in hemolymph bicarbonate concentrations indicated that acid-based regulatory mechanisms differed between fish and lobsters. Mortality rates for octopus were significant at CO{sub 2} concentrations of 1 per cent. The results of all tests showed that aquatic animals are more susceptible to increases in ambient CO{sub 2} levels than terrestrial animals. It was concluded that even slight elevations in CO{sub 2} concentration levels adversely affected physiological functioning in the tested species. It was concluded that CO{sub 2} sequestration in deeper, colder waters will have a more pronounced effect on aquatic animals due to the interactions between CO{sub 2} and lower temperatures, as well as the fact that most deep-sea fish are less tolerant to environmental perturbations. 3 refs., 1 tab., 3 figs.
Labelled T{sub 3}, T{sub 4} and TBP for In Vitro Testing of Thyroid Function in Man and Animals
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Czerniak, P.; Boruchowski, Sabina; Shomron, I. [Dept. of Radiotherapy and Isotopes, Tel-Hashomer Hospital, Tel-Aviv University Medical School, Faculty of Continuing Medical Education, Tel-Aviv (Israel)
1970-02-15
Iodothyronines are bound to determined electrophoretic fractions of serum proteins - TBP (TBG, TBA, TBPA). Radioiodine labelled T{sub 3} and T{sub 4} complex the free TBP fractions until saturation. The excess of added in vitro thyronines is then absorbed by the RBC. The changes described can be detected and quantitatively determined by radioisotope tests: radioelectrophoresis - T{sub 3/4} BP test, and RBC - {sup 125}I T{sub 3} test (Hamolsky test). The in vitro tests of the thyroid function can be clinically reliable if the protein fractions are normal, and they may be altered without thyroid pathology if the TBG fractions are abnormal. The electrophoretic fractions vary quantitatively and qualitatively in animals of different classes and orders. We chose these features to study the correlation between iodothyronines, plasma proteins and the above-mentioned thyroid tests. Twenty-two animal species (arranged according to the increasing percentage of the Hamolsky test) were examined: goat (8.6%, cow, lamb, calf, man, camel, goose, hamster, rat, turkey, marmot, duck, horse, donkey, hen, dog, pigeon, rabbit, guinea-pig, mouse, fish and frog (91.5%). The following additional parameters were examined: PBI, serum quantitative electrophoresis, T{sub 3} BP studies. All the tests were performed under identical technical conditions. Results and conclusions: (1) The Hamolsky test in the examined animals ranges from 9% to 92%. It is highest in the poicolothermics, in which much prealbumin and few glubulins are found on electrophoresis. The T{sub 3} BP is low, and about a half of the added {sup 125}I T{sub 3} remains unbound. (2) T{sub 3} and T{sub 4} are complexed with T{sub 3} BP and T{sub 4} BP fractions, which correspond to prealbumin, albumin, alpha 1-2, beta and exceptionally gamma globulin. The fractions are variable but characteristic for each animal species. T{sub 3} BP does not correlate exactly with T{sub 4} BP, and seems to be distributed over more fractions
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Takahiro Soshi
2017-09-01
Full Text Available Accumulating evidence suggests that category representations are based on features. Distinguishing features are considered to define categories, because of all-or-none responses for objects in different categories; however, it is unclear how distinguishing features actually classify objects at various category levels. The present study included 75 animals within three classes (mammal, bird, and fish, along with 195 verbal features. Healthy adults participated in memory-based feature-animal matching verification tests. Analyses included a hierarchical clustering analysis, support vector machine, and independent component analysis to specify features effective for classifications. Quantitative and qualitative comparisons for significant features were conducted between super-ordinate and sub-ordinate levels. The number of significant features was larger for super-ordinate than sub-ordinate levels. Qualitatively, the proportion of biological features was larger than cultural/affective features in both the levels, while the proportion of affective features increased at the sub-ordinate level. To summarize, the two types of features differentially function to establish category representations.
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Shittu Aminu
2012-08-01
Full Text Available Abstract Background Sub-clinical mastitis limits milk production and represents an important barrier to profitable livestock economics worldwide. Milk production from cows in Nigeria is not at optimum levels in view of many factors including sub-clinical mastitis. Results The overall herd-level prevalence rate for SCM was 85.33% (256/300 heads of cows while the quarter-level prevalence rate of SCM was 43.25% (519/1,200 quarters. The prevalence of SCM was 50.67%, 43.67%, 39.67% and 39.13% for the left fore-quarter, right hind-quarter, left hind-quarter and right fore-quarter, respectively. The Rahaji breed had the highest prevalence of SCM with 65.91% (29/44, while the White Fulani breed had the least with 32.39% (57/176. A total of 32.33% (97/300 had only one mammary quarter affected, 30.33% (91/300 had two quarters affected, 16.00% (48/300 had three quarters affected while 6.67% (20/300 had all the four quarters affected. A total of 53.00% had SCM in multiple quarters (159/300. The risk of SCM decreased significantly among young lactating cows compared to older animals (OR = 0.283; P P = 0.013; 95% CI = 1.557; 43.226. Improved sanitation (washing hands before milking will decrease the risk of SCM (OR = 0.173; P = 0.003; 95% CI = 0.054; 0.554. Conclusion SCM is prevalent among lactating cows in the Nigerian Savannah; and this is associated with both animal characteristics (age, breed and individual milk quarters and milking practices (hand washing.Good knowledge of the environment and careful management of the identified risk factors with improved sanitation should assist farm managers and veterinarians in implementing preventative programmes to reduce the incidence of SCM.
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Farah Ali, Riaz Hussain, Abdul Qayyum, Shafia Tehseen Gul, Zahid Iqbal and Mohammad Farooque Hassan
2016-11-01
Full Text Available The dromedary camels are considered as the best livestock animals in arid, semiarid and desert areas and camel milk is known as the valuable food source in these areas. The present study was aimed to investigate milk somatic cell counts and some biochemical changes in milk due to sub-clinical mastitis in camels. For this purpose milk samples were collected from 33 lactating animals and examined for sub clinical mastitis using California Mastitis Test. The chi-square and frequency analysis did not show any significant association with age, lactation stage, parity and quarter involved. The results indicated significant (P<0.01 increase in milk electrical conductivity and milk pH while significantly lower values for milk proteins, lactose and fat contents were recorded. The results revealed that the total milk somatic cell and neutrophil counts were significantly increased while the lymphocytes and macrophages were decreased in infected animals. Moreover, milk enzymes; aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase were significantly increased in mastitic animals as compared to the non-infected animals. The results indicated that milk electrical conductivity and some milk enzymes can be screened to investigate the sub-clinical mastitis in Camelus dromedaries.
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Rivero R
2002-12-01
Full Text Available Twenty-nine dairy farms were selected to determine the incidence of clinical mastitis, prevalence of sub-clinical mastitis and bacterial aetiology in the West Littoral Region of Uruguay. In samples taken by the owner and frozen at -20°C during a week the incidence rate of clinical mastitis was determined as 1.2 cases per 100 cow-months at risk. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common isolated pathogen in 37.5% of 40 milk samples from clinical cases obtained in 1 month. No bacteria grew in the 32.5% of the total samples. A sub-sample including 1077 dairy cows from randomly selected farms was used to determine the prevalence of sub-clinical mastitis. These samples were taken on one visit to each farm. The prevalence was 52.4% on a cow basis and 26.7% on an udder quarter basis. In 55.1% of the quarters of the selected animals with more than 300 000 cells/ml there was no growth. The isolated pathogens from sub-clinical cases and their relative frequencies were: Staphylococcus aureus 62.8%, Streptococcus agalactiae 11.3%, Enterococcus sp. 8%, coagulase-negative staphylococci 7.4%, Streptococus uberis 6.4%, Streptococcus dysgalactiae 1.8%, Escherichia coli 1.5% and Staphylococcus hyicus coagulase-positive 0.6%.
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Mukti Barua
2014-07-01
Full Text Available Aim: Mastitis is recognized as one of the most costly health disorder affecting dairy cows. An epidemiological study was carried out at some selected farms in Chittagong district of Bangladesh to determine the prevalence and risk factors of sub-clinical mastitis (SCM in dairy cows. Materials and Methods: For conducting the study, some dairy farms of Chittagong were selected from urban and periurban areas by stratified random sampling. A total of 444 quarter samples of 111 (56 from commercial dairy farms and 55 from backyards lactating dairy cows were considered. Sub-clinical mastitis (SCM was determined using three different indirect screening tests: California Mastitis Test (CMT, White Slide Test (WST and Surf Field Mastitis Test (SFMT. Sensitivity and specificity were also determined to measure the accuracy of those tests. Results: The prevalence of SCM by CMT, WST and SFMT were 32.43% (n=144, 33.56% (n=149 and 31.53% (n=140, respectively. Distribution of SCM in relation to different variables at quarter level and animal level was also recorded. The prevalence of SCM was significantly (P4 than others at quarter level. No significant difference (P>0.05 was found in relation to breed. Using CMT as a gold standard, sensitivity and specificity of WST and SFMT were also calculated at 95% confidence interval. The sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and disease prevalence by WST and SFMT were comparable. Conclusion: This study recommends that regular screening of sub-clinical mastitis will reduce the prevalence of sub-clinical mastitis. The most effective way to control sub-clinical mastitis is to take preventive measures such as regular cleaning of the floor, keeping the udder clean, milkman's cleanliness, dry cow therapy specially in high yielding dairy cows.
Anime (sub)culture in Lithuania: a global phenomenon localized expression
Baliūnaitė, Živilė
2017-01-01
Šio tyrimo tikslas – anime (sub)kultūros Lietuvoje analizė. Anime kultūra, apimanti manga komiksus, anime filmus, anime kompiuterinius žaidimus, cosplay, kilo Japonijoje ir yra ryški japonų kultūros dalis. Vakarų pasaulį ji pasiekė apie 1970 metus, o nuo 1990 metų anime kultūros populiarumas ėmė sparčiai augti, – šiuo metu daugelyje pasaulio šalių egzistuoja didelės anime kultūros gerbėjų grupės, kurios jau įvardijamos anime subkultūromis. Anime kultūros populiarumas taip išaugo, kad anime ku...
Animal models of osteogenesis imperfecta: applications in clinical research
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Enderli TA
2016-09-01
Full Text Available Tanya A Enderli, Stephanie R Burtch, Jara N Templet, Alessandra Carriero Department of Biomedical Engineering, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL, USA Abstract: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI, commonly known as brittle bone disease, is a genetic disease characterized by extreme bone fragility and consequent skeletal deformities. This connective tissue disorder is caused by mutations in the quality and quantity of the collagen that in turn affect the overall mechanical integrity of the bone, increasing its vulnerability to fracture. Animal models of the disease have played a critical role in the understanding of the pathology and causes of OI and in the investigation of a broad range of clinical therapies for the disease. Currently, at least 20 animal models have been officially recognized to represent the phenotype and biochemistry of the 17 different types of OI in humans. These include mice, dogs, and fish. Here, we describe each of the animal models and the type of OI they represent, and present their application in clinical research for treatments of OI, such as drug therapies (ie, bisphosphonates and sclerostin and mechanical (ie, vibrational loading. In the future, different dosages and lengths of treatment need to be further investigated on different animal models of OI using potentially promising treatments, such as cellular and chaperone therapies. A combination of therapies may also offer a viable treatment regime to improve bone quality and reduce fragility in animals before being introduced into clinical trials for OI patients. Keywords: OI, brittle bone, clinical research, mouse, dog, zebrafish
Kocer, Belgin; Unal, Tugba; Nazliel, Bijen; Biyikli, Zeynep; Yesilbudak, Zulal; Karakas, Sirel; Irkec, Ceyla
2008-12-01
This study investigated the presence of sub-clinical cognitive dysfunction in patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and the abnormalities of cognitive event-related potentials (ERPs). Subclinical cognitive dysfunction was assessed in 20 patients with CIS and in 20 healthy controls. Patients had impairments in verbal learning and long-term memory, evaluating attention, executive function and visuospatial skills, in decreasing order of frequency. SDLT and SIT were the most, and COWAT and BNT were the least affected tests. The N200 and P200 latencies were prolonged, and N100, N200 and P200 amplitudes were reduced in the patients relative to the controls, from the Fz, Cz and Pz electrode positions (p<0.05). Detailed cognitive testing is valuable in determining subclinical cognitive dysfunction in CIS patients. ERP abnormalities as well as abnormalities in detailed cognitivetesting in patients with CIS are helpful in the diagnosis of sub-clinical cognitive dysfunction.
Currently important animal disease management issues in sub-Saharan Africa.
Thomson, G R
2009-03-01
The present international approach to management of transboundary animal diseases (TADs) is based on the assumption that most can be eradicated; consequently, that is the usual objective adopted by international organizations concerned with animal health. However, for sub-Saharan Africa and southern Africa more particularly, eradication of most TADs is impossible for the foreseeable future for a variety of technical, financial and logistical reasons. Compounding this, the present basis for access to international markets for products derived from animals requires that the area of origin (country or zone) is free from trade-influencing TADs. The ongoing development of transfrontier conservation areas (TFCAs), extending across huge areas of southern Africa, therefore presents a development conundrum because it makes creation of geographic areas free from TADs more difficult and brings development based on wildlife conservation on the one hand and that based on livestock production on the other into sharp conflict. Sub-Saharan Africa is consequently confronted by a complex problem that contributes significantly to retarded rural development which, in turn, impedes poverty alleviation. In southern Africa specifically, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) presents the greatest problem in relation to access to international markets for animal products. However, it is argued that this problem could be overcome by a combination between (1) implementation of a commodity-based approach to trade in products derived from animals and (2) amendment of the international standards for FMD specifically (i.e. the FMD chapter in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Health [OIE]) so that occurrence of SAT serotype viruses in free-living African buffalo need not necessarily mean exclusion of areas where buffalo occur from international markets for animal products. This would overcome a presently intractable constraint to market access for southern African
Keeper-Animal Interactions: Differences between the Behaviour of Zoo Animals Affect Stockmanship.
Ward, Samantha J; Melfi, Vicky
2015-01-01
Stockmanship is a term used to describe the management of animals with a good stockperson someone who does this in a in a safe, effective, and low-stress manner for both the stock-keeper and animals involved. Although impacts of unfamiliar zoo visitors on animal behaviour have been extensively studied, the impact of stockmanship i.e familiar zoo keepers is a new area of research; which could reveal significant ramifications for zoo animal behaviour and welfare. It is likely that different relationships are formed dependant on the unique keeper-animal dyad (human-animal interaction, HAI). The aims of this study were to (1) investigate if unique keeper-animal dyads were formed in zoos, (2) determine whether keepers differed in their interactions towards animals regarding their attitude, animal knowledge and experience and (3) explore what factors affect keeper-animal dyads and ultimately influence animal behaviour and welfare. Eight black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis), eleven Chapman's zebra (Equus burchellii), and twelve Sulawesi crested black macaques (Macaca nigra) were studied in 6 zoos across the UK and USA. Subtle cues and commands directed by keepers towards animals were identified. The animals latency to respond and the respective behavioural response (cue-response) was recorded per keeper-animal dyad (n = 93). A questionnaire was constructed following a five-point Likert Scale design to record keeper demographic information and assess the job satisfaction of keepers, their attitude towards the animals and their perceived relationship with them. There was a significant difference in the animals' latency to appropriately respond after cues and commands from different keepers, indicating unique keeper-animal dyads were formed. Stockmanship style was also different between keepers; two main components contributed equally towards this: "attitude towards the animals" and "knowledge and experience of the animals". In this novel study, data demonstrated unique dyads
Clinical aspects of toxoplasmosis in small animal
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André Luiz Baptista Galvão
2014-02-01
Full Text Available Toxoplasmosis, a zoonosis of worldwide distribution, has importance in human and veterinary medicine. Animals can be direct or indirect source of infection to man, and this intermediate host, the disease may be responsible for encephalitis and deaths due to congenital form as coinfection in neonates and patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The man and animals can acquire the disease by eating undercooked meat or cures, infected with tissue cysts, as well as food and water contaminated with oocysts. Iatrogenic, such as, blood transfusion and organ transplantation are other less frequent routes of transmission. The causative agent of this disease is Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan obligate intracellular coccidian. In small animals, the infection has been reported in several countries, promoting varied clinical manifestations and uncommon but severe and fatal, which is a challenge in the clinical diagnosis of small animals, especially when the nervous system involvement. Thus, constitute the purpose of this review address the participation of small animals in the spread of the disease, clinical aspects related to it, as well as discuss methods of diagnosis, therapeutic measures, prophylaxis and control of this disease.
DEFF Research Database (Denmark)
Anniballi, Fabrizio; Fiore, Alfonsina; Löfström, Charlotta
2013-01-01
and economic concern because of its high mortality rate. Moreover, meat or other products from affected animals entering the food chain may result in a public health problem. To this end, early diagnosis is crucial to define and apply appropriate veterinary public health measures. Clinical diagnosis is based...... outbreaks. In this article we outline all phases of management of animal botulism outbreaks occurring in wet wild birds, poultry, cattle, horses, and fur farm animals....
Performance and management of draught animals in agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa: a review.
Pearson, R A; Vall, E
1998-10-01
Use of animal power generally enables farmers in sub-Saharan Africa to increase agricultural production and improve the quality of life. Effective use of working animals depends on an understanding of the capabilities of the animals for work, their husbandry requirements and the factors which can influence their performance. These issues are reviewed in this paper in the context of the use of animal power in agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. The type of animal used for work determines power available to the farmer. The performance of donkeys, horses and cattle have been compared in work tests. Equids are more suited to rapid low draught activities where their faster speed can be used to advantage. At higher draught forces, where speed is less important, the additional weight and power of cattle are an advantage. Use of heart rate recovery after work gives a reasonable indication of fatigue and fitness of equids, when test conditions are standardized. Although feed requirements for work are generally low, feed quality can be so poor that animals are unable to eat enough to meet energy needs for work, and so lose weight during the work season. However, improvements in work performance are not always seen following supplementary feeding in the dry season and the economics need to be considered in each case. Food availability, diseases and heat stress, the major constraints to performance of draught cattle and donkeys working in sub-Saharan Africa, are discussed.
Emergent properties of patch shapes affect edge permeability to animals.
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Vilis O Nams
Full Text Available Animal travel between habitat patches affects populations, communities and ecosystems. There are three levels of organization of edge properties, and each of these can affect animals. At the lowest level are the different habitats on each side of an edge, then there is the edge itself, and finally, at the highest level of organization, is the geometry or structure of the edge. This study used computer simulations to (1 find out whether effects of edge shapes on animal behavior can arise as emergent properties solely due to reactions to edges in general, without the animals reacting to the shapes of the edges, and to (2 generate predictions to allow field and experimental studies to test mechanisms of edge shape response. Individual animals were modeled traveling inside a habitat patch that had different kinds of edge shapes (convex, concave and straight. When animals responded edges of patches, this created an emergent property of responding to the shape of the edge. The response was mostly to absolute width of the shapes, and not the narrowness of them. When animals were attracted to edges, then they tended to collect in convexities and disperse from concavities, and the opposite happened when animals avoided edges. Most of the responses occurred within a distance of 40% of the perceptual range from the tip of the shapes. Predictions were produced for directionality at various locations and combinations of treatments, to be used for testing edge behavior mechanisms. These results suggest that edge shapes tend to either concentrate or disperse animals, simply because the animals are either attracted to or avoid edges, with an effect as great as 3 times the normal density. Thus edge shape could affect processes like pollination, seed predation and dispersal and predator abundance.
Cohen, Hagit; Zohar, Joseph; Matar, Michael A; Zeev, Kaplan; Loewenthal, Uri; Richter-Levin, Gal
2004-11-01
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects about 20-30% of exposed individuals. Clinical studies of PTSD generally employ stringent criteria for inclusion in study populations, and yet in animal studies the data collection and analysis are generally expressed as a function of exposed vs nonexposed populations, regardless of individual variation in response. Prior data support an approach to animal models analogous to inclusion criteria in clinical studies. This series of studies sought to assess prevalence rates of maladaptive vs adaptive responses determined according to a more stringent approach to the concept of inclusion/exclusion criteria (cutoff behavioral criteria-CBC), consisting of two successive behavioral tests (elevated plus maze and acoustic startle response tests). The rats were exposed to stressors in two different paradigms; exposure to a predator and underwater trauma. The prevalence rates of maladaptive responses to stress in these two distinct models dropped over time from 90% in the acute phase to 25% enduring/maladaptive response at 7 days, to remain constant over 30 days. As setting the affected individuals apart from the unaffected approximates clinical studies, it might also help to clarify some of the pending issues in PTSD research.
Animal models of chronic wound care: the application of biofilms in clinical research
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Trøstrup H
2016-11-01
Full Text Available Hannah Trøstrup,1 Kim Thomsen,1 Henrik Calum,2 Niels Høiby,1,3 Claus Moser1 1Department of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, 2Department of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, 3Institute for Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark Abstract: Chronic wounds are a substantial clinical problem affecting millions of people worldwide. Pathophysiologically, chronic wounds are stuck in the inflammatory state of healing. The role of bacterial biofilms in suppression and perturbation of host response could be an explanation for this observation. An inhibiting effect of bacterial biofilms on wound healing is gaining significant clinical attention over the last few years. There is still a paucity of suitable animal models to recapitulate human chronic wounds. The etiology of the wound (venous insufficiency, ischemia, diabetes, pressure has to be taken into consideration as underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and comorbidities display tremendous variation in humans. Confounders such as infection, smoking, chronological age, sex, medication, metabolic disturbances, and renal impairment add to the difficulty in gaining systematic and comparable studies on nonhealing wounds. Relevant hypotheses based on clinical or in vitro observations can be tested in representative animal models, which provide crucial tools to uncover the pathophysiology of cutaneous skin repair in infectious environments. Disposing factors, species of the infectious agent(s, and time of establishment of the infection are well defined in suitable animal models. In addition, several endpoints can be involved for evaluation. Animals do not display chronic wounds in the way that humans do. However, in many cases, animal models can mirror the pathological conditions observed in humans, although discrepancies between human and animal wound repair are obvious. The use of animal models should
Factors affecting sustainable animal trypanosomosis control in parts ...
African Journals Online (AJOL)
This study examined the factors affecting sustainable trypanosomiasis control in parts of Kaduna State within the sub-humid savannah ecological zone of Nigeria. Focus group discussions were ... More awareness and preference for pour-on and aerial spraying were higher than the use of traps, target or screens. Rearing of ...
Siska, William; Gupta, Aradhana; Tomlinson, Lindsay; Tripathi, Niraj; von Beust, Barbara
Clinical pathology testing is routinely performed in target animal safety studies in order to identify potential toxicity associated with administration of an investigational veterinary pharmaceutical product. Regulatory and other testing guidelines that address such studies provide recommendations for clinical pathology testing but occasionally contain outdated analytes and do not take into account interspecies physiologic differences that affect the practical selection of appropriate clinical pathology tests. Additionally, strong emphasis is often placed on statistical analysis and use of reference intervals for interpretation of test article-related clinical pathology changes, with limited attention given to the critical scientific review of clinically, toxicologically, or biologically relevant changes. The purpose of this communication from the Regulatory Affairs Committee of the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology is to provide current recommendations for clinical pathology testing and data interpretation in target animal safety studies and thereby enhance the value of clinical pathology testing in these studies.
Cell therapy in dilated cardiomyopathy: from animal models to clinical trials
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C. del Corsso
2011-05-01
Full Text Available Dilated cardiomyopathy can be the end-stage form and common denominator of several cardiac disorders of known cause, such as hypertensive, ischemic, diabetic and Chagasic diseases. However, some individuals have clinical findings, such as an increase in ventricular chamber size and impaired contractility (classical manifestations of dilated cardiomyopathy even in the absence of a diagnosed primary disease. In these patients, dilated cardiomyopathy is classified as idiopathic since its etiology is obscure. Nevertheless, regardless of all of the advances in medical, pharmacological and surgical procedures, the fate of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (of idiopathic or of any other known cause is linked to arrhythmic episodes, severe congestive heart failure and an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. In this review, we will summarize present data on the use of cell therapies in animal models of dilated cardiomyopathies and will discuss the few clinical trials that have been published so far involving patients affected by this disease. The animal models discussed here include those in which the cardiomyopathy is produced by genetic manipulation and those in which disease is induced by chemical or infectious agents. The specific model used clearly creates restrictions to translation of the proposed cell therapy to clinical practice, insofar as most of the clinical trials performed to date with cell therapy have used autologous cells. Thus, translation of genetic models of dilated cardiomyopathy may have to wait until the use of allogeneic cells becomes more widespread in clinical trials of cell therapies for cardiac diseases.
Mutebi, Francis; Krücken, Jürgen; von Samson-Himmelstjerna, Georg; Waiswa, Charles; Mencke, Norbert; Eneku, Wilfred; Andrew, Tamale; Feldmeier, Hermann
2018-01-01
Zoonotic tungiasis caused by Tunga penetrans remains a serious public and animal health problem among endemic villages in Uganda and many sub Saharan African countries. Studies on human and animal tungiasis-related knowledge and treatment practices in endemic communities have never been undertaken, a limitation to development of sustainable control measures. A cross sectional study using semi-structured questionnaires (Supplementary file S1) was conducted among 236 animal rearing households in 10 endemic villages in Bugiri District, South-Eastern Uganda. Focus group discussions and observation checklists were used to validate and clarify the findings. Most respondents knew the aetiology (89.4%), clinical signs (98%) and the ecology of T. penetrans as well as the major risk factors of human tungiasis (65.2%). In contrast, very few respondents were aware of animal tungiasis. Only 4.8% of those with infected animals on the compound knew that some of their animals were infected and 13.6% of the respondents had ever seen tungiasis-affected animals. Pigs (13.1%, n=31) and dogs (0.85%, n=2) were the only T. penetrans animal hosts known to animal owners. Affected humans were treated by extraction of embedded sand fleas using non-sterile sharp instruments in all households that reported occurrence of human tungiasis at least once (n=227). Also, affected animals were mainly treated by mechanical removal of embedded sand fleas in households that have ever experienced animal tungiasis (four out of 12; 33.3%). In a few instances, plant and animal pesticides (n=3) and other chemicals such as grease, paraffin and wood preservative (n=3) were also used to treat animal tungiasis. The study revealed a high level of knowledge on human tungiasis but inadequate knowledge on the zoonotic nature of tungiasis. Commonly applied methods for treatment of human and animal tungiasis are a health hazard by themselves. Concerted i.e. One Health-based efforts aiming at promoting appropriate
DEFF Research Database (Denmark)
Bortolaia, Valeria; Hansen, Katrine Hartung; Nielsen, Christine
2014-01-01
To determine the population structure and genetic relatedness of plasmids encoding CMY-2 β-lactamase in clinical Escherichia coli from humans and companion animals within a defined geographical area....
Small animal MRI: clinical MRI as an interface to basic biomedical research
International Nuclear Information System (INIS)
Pinkernelle, J.G.; Stelter, L.; Hamm, B.; Teichgraeber, U.
2008-01-01
The demand for highly resolved small animal MRI for the purpose of biomedical research has increased constantly. Dedicated small animal MRI scanners working at ultra high field strengths from 4.7 to 7.0 T and even above are MRI at its best. However, using high resolution RF coils in clinical scanners up to 3.0 T, small animal MRI can achieve highly resolved images showing excellent tissue contrast. In fact, in abundant experimental studies, clinical MRI is used for small animal imaging. Mostly clinical RF coils in the single-loop design are applied. In addition, custom-built RF coils and even gradient inserts are used in a clinical scanner. For the reduction of moving artifacts, special MRI-compatible animal ECG und respiration devices are available. In conclusion, clinical devices offer broad availability, are less expense in combination with good imaging performance and provide a translational nature of imaging results. (orig.)
Byers, Robert A.; Maiti, Raman; Danby, Simon G.; Pang, Elaine J.; Mitchell, Bethany; Carré, Matt J.; Lewis, Roger; Cork, Michael J.; Matcher, Stephen J.
2018-01-01
Measurement of sub-clinical atopic dermatitis (AD) is important for determining how long therapies should be continued after clinical clearance of visible AD lesions. An important biomarker of sub-clinical AD is epidermal hypertrophy, the structural measures of which often make optical coherence tomography (OCT) challenging due to the lack of a clearly delineated dermal-epidermal junction in AD patients. Alternatively, angiographic OCT measurements of vascular depth and morphology may represent a robust biomarker for quantifying the severity of clinical and sub-clinical AD. To investigate this, angiographic data sets were acquired from 32 patients with a range of AD severities. Deeper vascular layers within skin were found to correlate with increasing clinical severity. Furthermore, for AD patients exhibiting no clinical symptoms, the superficial plexus depth was found to be significantly deeper than healthy patients at both the elbow (p = 0.04) and knee (p<0.001), suggesting that sub-clinical changes in severity can be detected. Furthermore, the morphology of vessels appeared altered in patients with severe AD, with significantly different vessel diameter, length, density and fractal dimension. These metrics provide valuable insight into the sub-clinical severity of the condition, allowing the effects of treatments to be monitored past the point of clinical remission. PMID:29675335
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Washington Luiz Assunção Pereira
2010-04-01
Full Text Available This paper is part of a research program of metabolic nutritional diseases in water buffalo in the Humid Tropical Amazon. In that context, the objective was to study osteoporotic processes in buffalo raised in a grazing system on Marajó Island and the relation of the disease with the age as well as physical-chemical bone and hepatic copper status. One hundred and ten animals were evaluated: 39 young or juvenile and 71 adults that presented Body Condition Index from 1 to 2. One group was composed by young buffalo and another by adult animals. Based on anatomical-clinical and bone quality analyses, the animals were subdivided in two sub-groups, according to presence or absence of clinical signs of apparent osteopathic. Analysis of calcium, phosphorus, ash and bone density was performed on the middle third of the 11th right rib, and the copper concentration was determined from liver tissue. Pathological anatomical findings showed that 98.44% of juvenile animals and 96.16% of adult animals, respectively, presented some degree of osteoporosis (+, ++, +++. Low average percentages were demonstrated for phosphorus (10.69%, in ashes (60.24% and in density (1.46 g/ml. Hepatic copper presented similar low values (19.51 mg/kg. The results showed that juvenile animals presented more severe clinical sign of osteoporosis, and the pathogenesis may be related to low reserves of phosphorus in bony tissue and copper in liver tissue.
Currently important animal disease management issues in sub-Saharan Africa : policy and trade issues
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
G.R. Thomson
2009-09-01
Full Text Available The present international approach to management of transboundary animal diseases (TADs is based on the assumption that most can be eradicated ; consequently, that is the usual objective adopted by international organizations concerned with animal health. However, for sub-Saharan Africa and southern Africa more particularly, eradication of most TADs is impossible for the foreseeable future for a variety of technical, financial and logistical reasons. Compounding this, the present basis for access to international markets for products derived from animals requires that the area of origin (country or zone is free from trade-influencing TADs. The ongoing development of transfrontier conservation areas (TFCAs, extending across huge areas of southern Africa, therefore presents a development conundrum because it makes creation of geographic areas free from TADs more difficult and brings development based on wildlife conservation on the one hand and that based on livestock production on the other into sharp conflict. Sub-Saharan Africa is consequently confronted by a complex problem that contributes significantly to retarded rural development which, in turn, impedes poverty alleviation. In southern Africa specifically, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD presents the greatest problem in relation to access to international markets for animal products. However, it is argued that this problem could be overcome by a combination between (1 implementation of a commodity-based approach to trade in products derived from animals and (2 amendment of the international standards for FMD specifically (i.e. the FMD chapter in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Health [OIE] so that occurrence of SAT serotype viruses in free-living African buffalo need not necessarily mean exclusion of areas where buffalo occur from international markets for animal products. This would overcome a presently intractable constraint to market access for
Panksepp, Jaak
2011-01-01
The issue of whether other animals have internally felt experiences has vexed animal behavioral science since its inception. Although most investigators remain agnostic on such contentious issues, there is now abundant experimental evidence indicating that all mammals have negatively and positively-valenced emotional networks concentrated in homologous brain regions that mediate affective experiences when animals are emotionally aroused. That is what the neuroscientific evidence indicates. The relevant lines of evidence are as follows: 1) It is easy to elicit powerful unconditioned emotional responses using localized electrical stimulation of the brain (ESB); these effects are concentrated in ancient subcortical brain regions. Seven types of emotional arousals have been described; using a special capitalized nomenclature for such primary process emotional systems, they are SEEKING, RAGE, FEAR, LUST, CARE, PANIC/GRIEF and PLAY. 2) These brain circuits are situated in homologous subcortical brain regions in all vertebrates tested. Thus, if one activates FEAR arousal circuits in rats, cats or primates, all exhibit similar fear responses. 3) All primary-process emotional-instinctual urges, even ones as complex as social PLAY, remain intact after radical neo-decortication early in life; thus, the neocortex is not essential for the generation of primary-process emotionality. 4) Using diverse measures, one can demonstrate that animals like and dislike ESB of brain regions that evoke unconditioned instinctual emotional behaviors: Such ESBs can serve as 'rewards' and 'punishments' in diverse approach and escape/avoidance learning tasks. 5) Comparable ESB of human brains yield comparable affective experiences. Thus, robust evidence indicates that raw primary-process (i.e., instinctual, unconditioned) emotional behaviors and feelings emanate from homologous brain functions in all mammals (see Appendix S1), which are regulated by higher brain regions. Such findings suggest
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Jaak Panksepp
Full Text Available BACKGROUND: The issue of whether other animals have internally felt experiences has vexed animal behavioral science since its inception. Although most investigators remain agnostic on such contentious issues, there is now abundant experimental evidence indicating that all mammals have negatively and positively-valenced emotional networks concentrated in homologous brain regions that mediate affective experiences when animals are emotionally aroused. That is what the neuroscientific evidence indicates. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The relevant lines of evidence are as follows: 1 It is easy to elicit powerful unconditioned emotional responses using localized electrical stimulation of the brain (ESB; these effects are concentrated in ancient subcortical brain regions. Seven types of emotional arousals have been described; using a special capitalized nomenclature for such primary process emotional systems, they are SEEKING, RAGE, FEAR, LUST, CARE, PANIC/GRIEF and PLAY. 2 These brain circuits are situated in homologous subcortical brain regions in all vertebrates tested. Thus, if one activates FEAR arousal circuits in rats, cats or primates, all exhibit similar fear responses. 3 All primary-process emotional-instinctual urges, even ones as complex as social PLAY, remain intact after radical neo-decortication early in life; thus, the neocortex is not essential for the generation of primary-process emotionality. 4 Using diverse measures, one can demonstrate that animals like and dislike ESB of brain regions that evoke unconditioned instinctual emotional behaviors: Such ESBs can serve as 'rewards' and 'punishments' in diverse approach and escape/avoidance learning tasks. 5 Comparable ESB of human brains yield comparable affective experiences. Thus, robust evidence indicates that raw primary-process (i.e., instinctual, unconditioned emotional behaviors and feelings emanate from homologous brain functions in all mammals (see Appendix S1, which are regulated by
International Nuclear Information System (INIS)
Tillner, Falk; Buetof, Rebecca; Krause, Mechthild; Enghardt, Wolfgang; Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden; Technische Univ. Dresden; Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden
2014-01-01
For translational cancer research, pre-clinical in-vivo studies using small animals have become indispensable in bridging the gap between in-vitro cell experiments and clinical implementation. When setting up such small animal experiments, various biological, technical and methodical aspects have to be considered. In this work we present a comprehensive topical review based on relevant publications on irradiation techniques used for pre-clinical cancer research in mice and rats. Clinical radiotherapy treatment devices for the application of external beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy as well as dedicated research irradiation devices are feasible for small animal irradiation depending on the animal model and the experimental goals. In this work, appropriate solutions for the technological transfer of human radiation oncology to small animal radiation research are summarised. Additionally, important information concerning the experimental design is provided such that reliable and clinically relevant results can be attained.
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Tillner, Falk; Buetof, Rebecca [Technische Univ. Dresden (Germany). OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology; Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden (Germany); Technische Univ. Dresden (Germany). Dept. of Radiation Oncology; Thute, Prasad [Technische Univ. Dresden (Germany). OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology; Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden (Germany); Krause, Mechthild [Technische Univ. Dresden (Germany). OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology; Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden (Germany); Technische Univ. Dresden (Germany). Dept. of Radiation Oncology; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Dresden (Germany); German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg (Germany); Enghardt, Wolfgang [Technische Univ. Dresden (Germany). OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology; Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden (Germany); Technische Univ. Dresden (Germany). Dept. of Radiation Oncology; Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden (Germany). Inst. of Radiooncology
2014-07-01
For translational cancer research, pre-clinical in-vivo studies using small animals have become indispensable in bridging the gap between in-vitro cell experiments and clinical implementation. When setting up such small animal experiments, various biological, technical and methodical aspects have to be considered. In this work we present a comprehensive topical review based on relevant publications on irradiation techniques used for pre-clinical cancer research in mice and rats. Clinical radiotherapy treatment devices for the application of external beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy as well as dedicated research irradiation devices are feasible for small animal irradiation depending on the animal model and the experimental goals. In this work, appropriate solutions for the technological transfer of human radiation oncology to small animal radiation research are summarised. Additionally, important information concerning the experimental design is provided such that reliable and clinically relevant results can be attained.
A Concise Review of Amyloidosis in Animals
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Moges Woldemeskel
2012-01-01
Full Text Available Amyloidosis refers to a group of protein misfolding diseases characterized by deposition of a particular amyloid protein in various organs and tissues of animals and humans. Various types and clinical forms of amyloidosis, in which the pathology and pathogenesis is diverse depending upon the underlying causes and species affected, are reported in domestic and wild animals. The clinical findings are also quite variable consequent to the variation of the tissues and organs involved and the extent of functional disruption of the affected organs in various animal species. The affected organs may be enlarged and exhibit variable pallor grossly, or the amyloid deposit may be discernible only after microscopic examination of the affected tissues. Amyloid appears as a pale eosinophilic homogenous extracellular deposit in tissues. However, microscopic examination and Congo red staining with green birefringence under polarized light are needed to confirm amyloid and differentiate it from other apparently similar extracellular deposits such as collagen and fibrin. Identifying the type of amyloid deposit needs immunohistochemical staining, ultrastructural characterization of the amyloid fibril, and if feasible also genetic studies of the involved species for clinical and prognostic purposes. This paper provides a concise review of the occurrence of amyloidosis in domestic and wild animals.
Tillner, Falk; Thute, Prasad; Bütof, Rebecca; Krause, Mechthild; Enghardt, Wolfgang
2014-12-01
For translational cancer research, pre-clinical in-vivo studies using small animals have become indispensable in bridging the gap between in-vitro cell experiments and clinical implementation. When setting up such small animal experiments, various biological, technical and methodical aspects have to be considered. In this work we present a comprehensive topical review based on relevant publications on irradiation techniques used for pre-clinical cancer research in mice and rats. Clinical radiotherapy treatment devices for the application of external beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy as well as dedicated research irradiation devices are feasible for small animal irradiation depending on the animal model and the experimental goals. In this work, appropriate solutions for the technological transfer of human radiation oncology to small animal radiation research are summarised. Additionally, important information concerning the experimental design is provided such that reliable and clinically relevant results can be attained. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier GmbH.
Factors Affecting the Adoption of Genetically Modified Animals in the Food and Pharmaceutical Chains
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Cristina Mora
2013-03-01
Full Text Available The production of genetically modified (GM animals is an emerging technique that could potentially impact the livestock and pharmaceutical industries. Currently, food products derived from GM animals have not yet entered the market whilst two pharmaceutical products have. The objective of this paper is twofold: first it aims to explore the socio-economic drivers affecting the use of GM animals and, second, to review the risks and benefits from the point of view of the life sciences. A scoping study was conducted to assess research relevant to understanding the main drivers influencing the adoption of GM applications and their potential risks and benefits. Public and producers’ acceptance, public policies, human health, animal welfare, environmental impact and sustainability are considered as the main factors affecting the application of GM animal techniques in livestock and pharmaceutical chains.
Soleiro, C A; Pena, G A; Cavaglieri, L R; Coelho, I; Keller, L M; Dalcero, A M; Rosa, C A R
2013-12-01
Aspergillus fumigatus, a well-known human and animal pathogen causing aspergillosis, has been historically identified by morphological and microscopic features. However, recent studies have shown that species identification on the basis of morphology alone is problematic. The aim of this work was to confirm the taxonomic state at specie level of a set of clinical (human and animal) and animal environment A. fumigatus strains identified by morphological criteria applying a PCR-RFLP assay by an in silico and in situ analysis with three restriction enzymes. The A. fumigatus gliotoxin-producing ability was also determined. Previous to the in situ PCR-RFLP analysis, an in silico assay with BccI, MspI and Sau3AI restriction enzymes was carried out. After that, these enzymes were used for in situ assay. All A. fumigatus strains isolated from corn silage, human aspergillosis and bovine mastitis and high per cent of the strains isolated from cereals, animal feedstuff and sorghum silage were able to produce high gliotoxin levels. Also, all these strains identified by morphological criteria as A. fumigatus, regardless of its isolation source, had band patterns according to A. fumigatus sensu stricto by PCR-RFLP markers. Aspergillus fumigatus is a well-known human and animal pathogen causing aspergillosis. In this study, clinical (human and animal) and animal environment strains were able to produce high gliotoxin levels and had band profiles according to A. fumigatus sensu stricto by PCR-RFLP markers. The results obtained here suggest that strains involved in human and animal aspergillosis could come from the animal environment in which A. fumigatus is frequently found. Its presence in animal environments could affect animal health and productivity; in addition, there are risks of contamination for rural workers during handling and storage of animal feedstuffs. © 2013 The Society for Applied Microbiology.
9.4 T small animal MRI using clinical components for direct translational studies.
Felder, Jörg; Celik, A Avdo; Choi, Chang-Hoon; Schwan, Stefan; Shah, N Jon
2017-12-28
Magnetic resonance is a major preclinical and clinical imaging modality ideally suited for longitudinal studies, e.g. in pharmacological developments. The lack of a proven platform that maintains an identical imaging protocol between preclinical and clinical platforms is solved with the construction of an animal scanner based on clinical hard- and software. A small animal magnet and gradient system were connected to a clinical MR system. Several hardware components were either modified or built in-house to achieve compatibility. The clinical software was modified to account for the different field-of-view of a preclinical MR system. The established scanner was evaluated using clinical QA protocols, and platform compatibility for translational research was verified against clinical scanners of different field strength. The constructed animal scanner operates with the majority of clinical imaging sequences. Translational research is greatly facilitated as protocols can be shared between preclinical and clinical platforms. Hence, when maintaining sequences parameters, maximum similarity between pulses played out on a human or an animal system is maintained. Coupling of a small animal magnet with a clinical MR system is a flexible, easy to use way to establish and advance translational imaging capability. It provides cost and labor efficient translational capability as no tedious sequence reprogramming between moieties is required and cross-platform compatibility of sequences facilitates multi-center studies.
Animated-simulation modeling facilitates clinical-process costing.
Zelman, W N; Glick, N D; Blackmore, C C
2001-09-01
Traditionally, the finance department has assumed responsibility for assessing process costs in healthcare organizations. To enhance process-improvement efforts, however, many healthcare providers need to include clinical staff in process cost analysis. Although clinical staff often use electronic spreadsheets to model the cost of specific processes, PC-based animated-simulation tools offer two major advantages over spreadsheets: they allow clinicians to interact more easily with the costing model so that it more closely represents the process being modeled, and they represent cost output as a cost range rather than as a single cost estimate, thereby providing more useful information for decision making.
Panksepp, Jaak
2011-06-01
Do we need to consider mental processes in our analysis of brain functions in other animals? Obviously we do, if such BrainMind functions exist in the animals we wish to understand. If so, how do we proceed, while still retaining materialistic-mechanistic perspectives? This essay outlines the historical forces that led to emotional feelings in animals being marginalized in behavioristic scientific discussions of why animals behave the way they do, and why mental constructs are generally disregarded in modern neuroscientific analyses. The roots of this problem go back to Cartesian dualism and the attempt of 19th century physician-scientists to ground a new type of medical curriculum on a completely materialistic approach to body functions. Thereby all vitalistic principles were discarded from the lexicon of science, and subjective experience in animals was put in that category and discarded as an invalid approach to animal behavior. This led to forms of rigid operationalism during the era of behaviorism and subsequently ruthless reductionism in brain research, leaving little room for mentalistic concepts such as emotional feelings in animal research. However, modern studies of the brain clearly indicate that artificially induced arousals of emotional networks, as with localized electrical and chemical brain stimulation, can serve as "rewards" and "punishments" in various learning tasks. This strongly indicates that animal brains elaborate various experienced states, with those having affective contents being easiest to study rigorously. However, in approaching emotional feelings empirically we must pay special attention to the difficulties and vagaries of human language and evolutionary levels of control in the brain. We need distinct nomenclatures from primary (unconditioned phenomenal experiences) to tertiary (reflective) levels of mind. The scientific pursuit of affective brain processes in other mammals can now reveal general BrainMind principles that also apply
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Teran, Mariella Adriana, E-mail: mteran@fq.edu.u [Catedra de Radioquimica, Departamento Estrella Campos, Facultad de Quimica, Universidad de la Republica, P.O. 11800, Montevideo (Uruguay); Martinez, Elena; Reyes, Ana L.; Paolino, Andrea [Catedra de Radioquimica, Departamento Estrella Campos, Facultad de Quimica, Universidad de la Republica, P.O. 11800, Montevideo (Uruguay); Vital, Marcelo; Esperon, Patricia [Catedra de Biologia Molecular, Departamento de Bioquimica Clinica, Facultad de Quimica, Universidad de la Republica, Montevideo (Uruguay); Pacheco, Jose P. [Instituto de Patobiologia, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la Republica, Montevideo (Uruguay); Savio, Eduardo [Catedra de Radioquimica, Departamento Estrella Campos, Facultad de Quimica, Universidad de la Republica, P.O. 11800, Montevideo (Uruguay)
2011-02-15
Introduction: There are many diseases associated with variations in the expression of apoptosis such as organ rejection after transplantation, myocardial ischemia or infarct and neurodegenerative diseases. For this reason, the early visualization of this process is relevant to set fast and effective therapeutic strategies. Methods: The precursor was prepared according to the procedure reported by R. Alberto, R. Schibli, P. Schubiger, U. Abram, and T. Kaden [Reactions with the technetium and rhenium carbonyl complexes (NEt{sub 4})[MX{sub 3}(CO){sub 3}]. Synthesis and structure of Tc(CN-But){sub 3}(CO){sub 3}](NO{sub 3}) and (Net{sub 4})[Tc{sub 2}({mu}-SCH{sub 2}CH{sub 2}OH){sub 3}(CO){sub 3}], Polyhedron 1996;15: 1079-89]. Recombinant annexin V was incubated with [{sup 99m}Tc](H{sub 2}O)3(CO){sub 3}{sup +} solution, previously neutralized with buffer. Biodistribution studies were performed in 8-week-old female Wistar rats. Animals were housed and treated in compliance with institutional guidelines related to animal experimentation. Work protocol was previously approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of the university. Two groups of rats were defined. One was used as control and the other group was previously injected with 150 mg/kg ip of cyclophosphamide to induce apoptosis. Results: The synthesis of carbonyl precursor achieved yields higher than 90%, and the radiolabeled protein was obtained with 92% of radiochemical purity and high stability in vitro. An important uptake in apoptotic tissues was confirmed by biodistributions, scintigraphic images and histological studies. Conclusions: Biodistribution studies revealed hepatobiliary elimination, high stability in vivo and important uptake in the reticuloendothelial system. In the pathologic model, higher uptake values correspond to the liver, spleen, lungs and femur. Histological studies confirmed the development of apoptosis at 8 and 24 h postinduction in the spleen and lymphocyte bulks in the peribronchial area
The menagerie of neurology: Animal signs and the refinement of clinical acumen.
Beh, Shin C; Frohman, Teresa; Frohman, Elliot M
2014-06-01
Neurology is a field known for "eponymophilia." While eponym use has been a controversial issue in medicine, animal-related metaphoric descriptions continue to flourish in neurologic practice, particularly with the advent of neuroimaging. To provide practicing and trainee neurologists with a useful reference for all these colorful eponyms, we performed a literature review and summarized the various animal eponyms in the practice of neurology (and their etiologic implications) to date. We believe that the ability to recognize animal-like attributes in clinical neurology and neuroradiology may be attributed to a visual phenomenon known as pareidolia. We propose that animal eponyms are a useful method of recognizing clinical and radiologic patterns that aid in the diagnostic process and therefore are effective aidesmémoire and communicative tools that enliven and improve the practice of neurology.
Preliminary Experience with Small Animal SPECT Imaging on Clinical Gamma Cameras
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
P. Aguiar
2014-01-01
Full Text Available The traditional lack of techniques suitable for in vivo imaging has induced a great interest in molecular imaging for preclinical research. Nevertheless, its use spreads slowly due to the difficulties in justifying the high cost of the current dedicated preclinical scanners. An alternative for lowering the costs is to repurpose old clinical gamma cameras to be used for preclinical imaging. In this paper we assess the performance of a portable device, that is, working coupled to a single-head clinical gamma camera, and we present our preliminary experience in several small animal applications. Our findings, based on phantom experiments and animal studies, provided an image quality, in terms of contrast-noise trade-off, comparable to dedicated preclinical pinhole-based scanners. We feel that our portable device offers an opportunity for recycling the widespread availability of clinical gamma cameras in nuclear medicine departments to be used in small animal SPECT imaging and we hope that it can contribute to spreading the use of preclinical imaging within institutions on tight budgets.
Thermodynamic Factors Affecting UC<sub>1-xsub>Nx>Irradiation and Synthesis
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Lindemer, T.B.
2005-04-22
There is interest in attempting to synthesize nearly pure uranium nitride (UN) kernels for high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) fuel. Because the proposed process involves carbothermic conversion of a urania-carbon mixture in nitrogen and because there is a complete ideal solution of uranium carbide (UC) and UN, which is written as UC{sub 1-x}N{sub x}, the practical value of x for fuel irradiation needs to be determined. Insight is to be gained by relevant thermodynamic calculations of carbide-nitride equilibria for the fuel and fission product systems. The equilibria are readily compared on the nitrogen-based Ellingham diagram, which, in turn, provides guidance in interpreting past irradiations and in synthesis of the UC{sub 1-x}N{sub x} kernels.
Cohen, Hagit; Matar, Michael A; Zohar, Joseph
2014-01-01
The diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is conditional on directly experiencing or witnessing a significantly threatening event and the presence of a certain minimal number of symptoms from each of four symptom clusters (re-experiencing, avoidance, negative cognition and mood, and hyperarousal) at least one month after the event (DSM 5) (American Psychiatric Association 2013). Only a proportion of the population exposed develops symptoms fulfilling the criteria. The individual heterogeneity in responses of stress-exposed animals suggested that adapting clearly defined and reliably reproducible "diagnostic", i.e. behavioral, criteria for animal responses would augment the clinical validity of the analysis of study data. We designed cut-off (inclusion/exclusion) behavioral criteria (CBC) which classify study subjects as being severely, minimally or partially affected by the stress paradigm, to be applied retrospectively in the analysis of behavioral data. Behavioral response classification enables the researcher to correlate (retrospectively) specific anatomic, bio-molecular and physiological parameters with the degree and pattern of the individual behavioral response, and also introduces "prevalence rates" as a valid study-parameter. The cumulative results of our studies indicate that, by classifying the data from individual subjects according to their response patterns, the animal study can more readily be translated into clinical "follow-up" studies and back again. This article will discuss the concept of the model and its background, and present a selection of studies employing and examining the model, alongside the underlying translational rationale of each. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Institute for Laboratory Animal Research. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.
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Ishiwata, Kiichi E-mail: ishiwata@pet.tmig.or.jp; Kawamura, Kazunori; Wang Weifang; Tsukada, Hideo; Harada, Norihiro; Mochizuki, Hideki; Kimura, Yuichi; Ishii, Kenji; Iwata, Ren; Yanai, Kazuhiko
2004-05-01
The specific binding of [{sup 11}C]doxepin, which has been used as a radioligand for mapping histamine H{sub 1} receptors in human brain by positron emission tomography, was evaluated in five animal species. In mice the [{sup 11}C]doxepin uptake was reduced by treatment with cold doxepin and two H{sub 1} receptor antagonists, but not with H{sub 2}/H{sub 3} antagonists. The specific binding evaluated with treatment with (+)-chlorpheniramine (H{sub 1} antagonist) was in the range of 10-30% in mouse, rat, rabbit, and monkey, but was not detected in guinea pig.
Gholibeigian, Hassan; Gholibeigian, Zeinab
2015-04-01
Understanding the internal structure of the proton is crucial challenge for QCD, and one important aspect of this is to understand how the spin of the nucleon is build-up from the angular momentum of its quarks and gluons. In this way, what's the origin of differences between angular momentums of fundamental particles? It may be from their substructures. It seems there are four sub-particles of mater, plant, animal and human in substructure of each fundamental particle (string) as the origins of life and cause of differences between spins of those elementary particles. Material's sub-particle always is on and active. When the environmental conditions became ready for creation of each field of the plant, animal and human, sub-particles of their elementary particles became on and active and then, those elementary particles participated in processes of creation in their own field. God, as the main source of information, has been communicated with their sub-particles and transfers a package (bit) of information and laws (plus standard ethics for human sub-particles) to each of them for process and selection (mutation) of the next step of motion and interaction of their fundamental particles with each other in each Plank's time. This is causality for particles' motion in quantum area.
Reevy, Gretchen M; Delgado, Mikel M
2015-01-01
Few studies have examined how personality traits may be related to the amounts and types of attachments humans have toward companion animals (pets). In this study, 1,098 companion animal guardians (owners) completed a survey that included the Big Five Inventory, the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale, and the Pet Attachment Questionnaire. Each participant chose whether he or she identified as a Cat Person, Dog Person, Both, or Neither. Results indicated that neuroticism, conscientiousness, choosing a dog as a favorite pet, and identifying as a Cat Person, Dog Person, or Both predicted affection for a pet. Conscientiousness, extraversion, and openness decreased avoidant attachment to pets, and neuroticism increased anxious attachment to pets. Both dogs and cats could benefit from pet owners who are conscientious, and there may be some benefits of neuroticism in pet owners. The findings of this study will advance understanding of the human-animal bond. As this understanding increases, measurements of human attachment and personality may be useful for the development of tools that could assist shelter employees and veterinarians in counseling people about pet ownership.
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Nerina Vischer
Full Text Available The costs, complexity, legal requirements and number of amendments associated with clinical trials are rising constantly, which negatively affects the efficient conduct of trials. In Sub-Saharan Africa, this situation is exacerbated by capacity and funding limitations, which further increase the workload of clinical trialists. At the same time, trials are critically important for improving public health in these settings. The aim of this study was to identify the internal factors that slow down clinical trials in Sub-Saharan Africa. Here, factors are limited to those that exclusively relate to clinical trial teams and sponsors. These factors may be influenced independently of external conditions and may significantly increase trial efficiency if addressed by the respective teams.We conducted sixty key informant interviews with clinical trial staff working in different positions in two clinical research centres in Kenya, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Senegal. The study covered English- and French-speaking, and Eastern and Western parts of Sub-Saharan Africa. We performed thematic analysis of the interview transcripts.We found various internal factors associated with slowing down clinical trials; these were summarised into two broad themes, "planning" and "site organisation". These themes were consistently mentioned across positions and countries. "Planning" factors related to budget feasibility, clear project ideas, realistic deadlines, understanding of trial processes, adaptation to the local context and involvement of site staff in planning. "Site organisation" factors covered staff turnover, employment conditions, career paths, workload, delegation and management.We found that internal factors slowing down clinical trials are of high importance to trial staff. Our data suggest that adequate and coherent planning, careful assessment of the setting, clear task allocation and management capacity strengthening may help to overcome the identified
Animal models for clinical and gestational diabetes: maternal and fetal outcomes.
Kiss, Ana Ci; Lima, Paula Ho; Sinzato, Yuri K; Takaku, Mariana; Takeno, Marisa A; Rudge, Marilza Vc; Damasceno, Débora C
2009-10-19
Diabetes in pregnant women is associated with an increased risk of maternal and neonatal morbidity and remains a significant medical challenge. Diabetes during pregnancy may be divided into clinical diabetes and gestational diabetes. Experimental models are developed with the purpose of enhancing understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of diseases that affect humans. With regard to diabetes in pregnancy, experimental findings from models will lead to the development of treatment strategies to maintain a normal metabolic intrauterine milieu, improving perinatal development by preventing fetal growth restriction or macrosomia. Based on animal models of diabetes during pregnancy previously reported in the medical literature, the present study aimed to compare the impact of streptozotocin-induced severe (glycemia >300 mg/dl) and mild diabetes (glycemia between 120 and 300 mg/dl) on glycemia and maternal reproductive and fetal outcomes of Wistar rats to evaluate whether the animal model reproduces the maternal and perinatal results of clinical and gestational diabetes in humans. On day 5 of life, 96 female Wistar rats were assigned to three experimental groups: control (n = 16), severe (n = 50) and mild diabetes (n = 30). At day 90 of life, rats were mated. On day 21 of pregnancy, rats were killed and their uterine horns were exposed to count implantation and fetus numbers to determine pre- and post-implantation loss rates. The fetuses were classified according to their birth weight. Severe and mild diabetic dams showed different glycemic responses during pregnancy, impairing fetal glycemia and weight, confirming that maternal glycemia is directly associated with fetal development. Newborns from severe diabetic mothers presented growth restriction, but mild diabetic mothers were not associated with an increased rate of macrosomic fetuses. Experimental models of severe diabetes during pregnancy reproduced maternal and fetal outcomes of pregnant women
Animal models for clinical and gestational diabetes: maternal and fetal outcomes
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Kiss Ana CI
2009-10-01
Full Text Available Abstract Background Diabetes in pregnant women is associated with an increased risk of maternal and neonatal morbidity and remains a significant medical challenge. Diabetes during pregnancy may be divided into clinical diabetes and gestational diabetes. Experimental models are developed with the purpose of enhancing understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of diseases that affect humans. With regard to diabetes in pregnancy, experimental findings from models will lead to the development of treatment strategies to maintain a normal metabolic intrauterine milieu, improving perinatal development by preventing fetal growth restriction or macrosomia. Based on animal models of diabetes during pregnancy previously reported in the medical literature, the present study aimed to compare the impact of streptozotocin-induced severe (glycemia >300 mg/dl and mild diabetes (glycemia between 120 and 300 mg/dl on glycemia and maternal reproductive and fetal outcomes of Wistar rats to evaluate whether the animal model reproduces the maternal and perinatal results of clinical and gestational diabetes in humans. Methods On day 5 of life, 96 female Wistar rats were assigned to three experimental groups: control (n = 16, severe (n = 50 and mild diabetes (n = 30. At day 90 of life, rats were mated. On day 21 of pregnancy, rats were killed and their uterine horns were exposed to count implantation and fetus numbers to determine pre- and post-implantation loss rates. The fetuses were classified according to their birth weight. Results Severe and mild diabetic dams showed different glycemic responses during pregnancy, impairing fetal glycemia and weight, confirming that maternal glycemia is directly associated with fetal development. Newborns from severe diabetic mothers presented growth restriction, but mild diabetic mothers were not associated with an increased rate of macrosomic fetuses. Conclusion Experimental models of severe diabetes during pregnancy
Small animal radiotherapy research platforms
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Verhaegen, Frank; Granton, Patrick [Department of Radiation Oncology (MAASTRO), GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht 6201 BN (Netherlands); Tryggestad, Erik, E-mail: frank.verhaegen@maastro.nl [Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231 (United States)
2011-06-21
Advances in conformal radiation therapy and advancements in pre-clinical radiotherapy research have recently stimulated the development of precise micro-irradiators for small animals such as mice and rats. These devices are often kilovolt x-ray radiation sources combined with high-resolution CT imaging equipment for image guidance, as the latter allows precise and accurate beam positioning. This is similar to modern human radiotherapy practice. These devices are considered a major step forward compared to the current standard of animal experimentation in cancer radiobiology research. The availability of this novel equipment enables a wide variety of pre-clinical experiments on the synergy of radiation with other therapies, complex radiation schemes, sub-target boost studies, hypofractionated radiotherapy, contrast-enhanced radiotherapy and studies of relative biological effectiveness, to name just a few examples. In this review we discuss the required irradiation and imaging capabilities of small animal radiation research platforms. We describe the need for improved small animal radiotherapy research and highlight pioneering efforts, some of which led recently to commercially available prototypes. From this, it will be clear that much further development is still needed, on both the irradiation side and imaging side. We discuss at length the need for improved treatment planning tools for small animal platforms, and the current lack of a standard therein. Finally, we mention some recent experimental work using the early animal radiation research platforms, and the potential they offer for advancing radiobiology research. (topical review)
Small animal radiotherapy research platforms
Verhaegen, Frank; Granton, Patrick; Tryggestad, Erik
2011-06-01
Advances in conformal radiation therapy and advancements in pre-clinical radiotherapy research have recently stimulated the development of precise micro-irradiators for small animals such as mice and rats. These devices are often kilovolt x-ray radiation sources combined with high-resolution CT imaging equipment for image guidance, as the latter allows precise and accurate beam positioning. This is similar to modern human radiotherapy practice. These devices are considered a major step forward compared to the current standard of animal experimentation in cancer radiobiology research. The availability of this novel equipment enables a wide variety of pre-clinical experiments on the synergy of radiation with other therapies, complex radiation schemes, sub-target boost studies, hypofractionated radiotherapy, contrast-enhanced radiotherapy and studies of relative biological effectiveness, to name just a few examples. In this review we discuss the required irradiation and imaging capabilities of small animal radiation research platforms. We describe the need for improved small animal radiotherapy research and highlight pioneering efforts, some of which led recently to commercially available prototypes. From this, it will be clear that much further development is still needed, on both the irradiation side and imaging side. We discuss at length the need for improved treatment planning tools for small animal platforms, and the current lack of a standard therein. Finally, we mention some recent experimental work using the early animal radiation research platforms, and the potential they offer for advancing radiobiology research.
Small animal radiotherapy research platforms
International Nuclear Information System (INIS)
Verhaegen, Frank; Granton, Patrick; Tryggestad, Erik
2011-01-01
Advances in conformal radiation therapy and advancements in pre-clinical radiotherapy research have recently stimulated the development of precise micro-irradiators for small animals such as mice and rats. These devices are often kilovolt x-ray radiation sources combined with high-resolution CT imaging equipment for image guidance, as the latter allows precise and accurate beam positioning. This is similar to modern human radiotherapy practice. These devices are considered a major step forward compared to the current standard of animal experimentation in cancer radiobiology research. The availability of this novel equipment enables a wide variety of pre-clinical experiments on the synergy of radiation with other therapies, complex radiation schemes, sub-target boost studies, hypofractionated radiotherapy, contrast-enhanced radiotherapy and studies of relative biological effectiveness, to name just a few examples. In this review we discuss the required irradiation and imaging capabilities of small animal radiation research platforms. We describe the need for improved small animal radiotherapy research and highlight pioneering efforts, some of which led recently to commercially available prototypes. From this, it will be clear that much further development is still needed, on both the irradiation side and imaging side. We discuss at length the need for improved treatment planning tools for small animal platforms, and the current lack of a standard therein. Finally, we mention some recent experimental work using the early animal radiation research platforms, and the potential they offer for advancing radiobiology research. (topical review)
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Rajeshkumar J. Tirpude
2012-12-01
Full Text Available Staphylococcus aureus bacteria isolated from different clinical presentations of staphylococcosis in rabbits were examined for the production of various virulence factors using biochemical and immunological tests. In the total of 106 S. aureus isolates; toxic shock syndrome toxin-1, staphylococcal enterotoxin-C, DNase, α-haemolysin, β-haemolysin, δ-haemolysin, protein A and clumping factor were observed with a frequency of 33.2, 16.98, 83.96, 69.81, 36.79, 100, 78.30 and 54.72 percent, respectively. No SE-A, SE-B and SE-D producing isolates were recovered in this study. All the S. aureus isolates from acute staphylococcosis produced TSST-1, SE-C and protein A. While δ–haemolysin and clumping factor were not detected in any acute isolates, these factors were observed at a relatively higher frequency in isolates from sub-acute and sub-clinical staphylococcosis. Coagulase type III was observed more predominantly with a frequency of 45.28%, while coagulase types V and VII were not observed in any isolate. Most of the virulence factors belonged to coagulase type III followed by type VI. TSST-1 and SE-C along with coagulase types III and VI could be correlated with the acute and sub-acute staphylococcal infections in rabbits in this study.
Clinical definitions of sensitisation in affective disorder
DEFF Research Database (Denmark)
Kessing, L V; Mortensen, P B; Bolwig, T G
1998-01-01
The observation of a progressive recurrence in affective disorder has been interpreted as a process of sensitisation. The clinical applicability of such a theoretical model was investigated using the Danish case register, which includes all hospital admissions with primary affective disorder...
Kam, E.L. van der; Coolen, J.C.; Ellenbroek, B.A.; Cools, A.R.
2005-01-01
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of mild acute and mild sub-chronic challenges on alcohol intake and preference in the genetically selected ratlines of apomorphine susceptible (APO-SUS) and apomorphine unsusceptible (APO-UNSUS) animals. Animals from both lines were subjected to
Acute Clinically Mastitic Animals in villages of Assiut Governance: Diagnosis and Treatment
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Mohammad Sayed and Ahmed Abdel Rady
Full Text Available This investigation was run in some villages in Assiut governance during summer 2007 to diagnose acute clinical mastitis in different animal species and to apply different lines of treatment for evaluating which treatment line of choice giving cure, aiming to another goal by preventing the conversion of acute mastitis towards the chronic one which is difficult to be treated and the dairy animal will be excluded. Therefore, 2150 animals were clinically examined in 5 villages located north to Assiut city, Egypt, including 400 cows, 950 ewes and 800 she goats, and the incidence of acute clinical mastitis was 22.50%, 2.63% and 4.63%, respectively. Milk samples were collected from all clinically mastitic cows for bacteriological examination to identify the causative agents of the intra-mammary infection (IMI. It was found the major causative agents isolated were Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Escherichia coli and Corynebacterium pyogenes, causing either single or mixed type of infection. When applying different lines of treatment, all diseased animals were classified into 3 groups: 1st group received local treatment by intra-mammary infusion antibiotic. 2nd group received systematic treatment by intra-muscular (I/M injection of both antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drugs. While, 3rd group received combination of both local and systematic treatment lines together. Cure% was achieved as 50% for 1st group, 90% for 2nd group, while 3rd group gave complete cure by 100%. It was noticed that the incidence of acute clinical mastitis among examined cows was worrisome and can be considered as indicator of the epidemiology of the disease. While, spreading of the disease among ewes and she goats was somewhat low in comparison with that of cows. In conclusion, combination of both local and systematic treatment lines together should be advised in treatment of acute clinical mastitis to ensure complete cure. The obtained results highlighted the
Blended learning in the small animal clinic
DEFF Research Database (Denmark)
Langebæk, Rikke
2011-01-01
At the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Basic Surgical Skills are taught in groups of 30-35 students in the first year of the master program (4th year students). The eight day course is an example of ‘blended learning’ in which students use our e-learning-material (Step 1) to prepare...... for the practical part of the course (Step 2, 3 and 4). From their home computers, students log on to the e-learning platform of Copenhagen University: https://absalon.ku.dk and go to the Basic Surgical Skills course, which consist of a line of chapters concerning a variety of surgical subjects. Each subject...... the implementation of these new teaching methods (e-learning and Skills Lab), teachers have ascertained a more satisfactory level of preparation, students that seem more focused and live-animal surgery that is conducted at a more ‘professional’ level than before. Finally, our research in this field shows...
Animal-assisted therapy with farm animals for persons with psychiatric disorders
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Bente Berget
Full Text Available Animal-assisted therapy (AAT with farm animals for humans with psychiatric disorders may reduce depression and state anxiety, and increase self-efficacy, in many participants. Social support by the farmer appears to be important. Positive effects are best documented for persons with affective disorders or clinical depression. Effects may sometimes take a long time to be detectable, but may occur earlier if the participants are encouraged to perform more complex working skills. Progress must however be individually adapted allowing for flexibility, also between days. Therapists involved with mental health show a pronounced belief in the effects of AAT with farm animals, variation being related to type of disorder, therapist's sex and his/her experience with AAT. Research is still scarce and further research is required to optimize and individually adapt the design of farm animal-assisted interventions.
Animal-assisted therapy with farm animals for persons with psychiatric disorders.
Berget, Bente; Braastad, Bjarne O
2011-01-01
Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) with farm animals for humans with psychiatric disorders may reduce depression and state anxiety, and increase self-efficacy, in many participants. Social support by the farmer appears to be important. Positive effects are best documented for persons with affective disorders or clinical depression. Effects may sometimes take a long time to be detectable, but may occur earlier if the participants are encouraged to perform more complex working skills. Progress must however be individually adapted allowing for flexibility, also between days. Therapists involved with mental health show a pronounced belief in the effects of AAT with farm animals, variation being related to type of disorder, therapist's sex and his/her experience with AAT. Research is still scarce and further research is required to optimize and individually adapt the design of farm animal-assisted interventions.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Esguerra A, A.; Arteaga, N. A.; Ipaz, L.; Aguilar, Y. [Universidad del Valle, TPMR, Grupo de Investigacion en Tribologia, Polimeros, Metalurgia de Polvos y Residuos Solidos, Calle 13 No. 100-00, A. A. 25360 Cali (Colombia); Amaya, C. [Centro Nacional de Asistencia Tecnica a la Industria ASTIN, SENA, Calle 52 No. 2 Bis-15, Salomia Cali (Colombia); Alba de Sanchez, N., E-mail: adriana.esguerra.arce@gmail.com [Universidad Autonoma de Occidente, Grupo de Investigacion en Ciencia e Ingenieria de Materiales, Calle 25 No. 115-85, A. A. 2790 Cali (Colombia)
2014-07-01
Due to their excellent properties, Ti-Al-N coatings have become attractive for biomedical applications. In this paper, friction and wear properties of Ti{sub 1-x}Al{sub x}N films having various aluminum contents, x, have been studied. Adhesion was measured by the scratch test technique; friction was carried out by a pin-on-disk tribometer using an animal bone-pin as counterpart and Ringer solution as simulated body fluid; and wear mechanisms were identified by scanning electron microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). It was found that the coating with x = 0.41 exhibited the highest CO F, conserves its integrity as a coating, and causes the lowest wear on the bone in Ringers solution. EDS analysis was performed to determine the contents of Ti, Al and N. An X-ray diffraction study was carried out using and X pert High Score Plus diffractometer with Cu-Kα radiation (α = 1.5406 A) at grazing angle of 0.5 grades. (Author)
Mellor, D J
2015-01-01
Affective neuroscience, incorporating neurophysiology and neuropsychology, is providing increasing evidence that certain behaviours of animals may be interpreted in terms of what they are intending to achieve, i.e. their goals. It is also providing evidence that allows inferences to be made about the affective contents of some goal-directed behaviours. These neuroscience-supported inferences are aligned with recommendations based on prior behaviour-based investigations of animals' preferences, aversions and priorities, and these observations together support the cautious use of particular behaviours to infer what the accompanying affects may be. In this review, therefore, some attention is given to negative affects and their relationships to poor animal welfare, but the primary focus is the positive affects animals may experience when they successfully engage in rewarding goal-directed behaviours, encapsulated in the concept of positive affective engagement. The review draws together reports of environment-focused and animal-to-animal interactive behaviours observed in a range of species and under diverse circumstances in order to illustrate the likely widespread occurrence of the positive affects that may accompany them. Particular consideration is given to affects that are potentially associated with some aspects of exploration and food acquisition in stimulus rich or impoverished environments, and to those that may be associated with aspects of the affiliative interactions of bonding or bond affirmation, maternal care, play and sexual activity. It is concluded that animals given the opportunity to engage in such activities may experience some positive affects. However, the intensity of an animal's experience of particular positive affects is likely to range from zero to very high because the associated behaviours occur intermittently, variation may occur during different phases of a goal-directed behaviour, and other positive or negative affects experienced at
Companion animal veterinarians' use of clinical communication skills.
McArthur, M L; Fitzgerald, J R
2013-09-01
To describe the communication techniques used by clients and veterinarians during companion animal visits in Australia. A cross-sectional descriptive study. A total of 64 veterinary consultations were audiotaped and analysed with the Roter Interaction Analysis System (RIAS); clients completed appointment level measures, including their satisfaction and perceptions of relational communication. Participants were 24 veterinarians and 64 clients. Statements intended to reassure clients were expressed frequently in the consultations, but in 59% of appointments empathy statements were not expressed towards either the client or the patient. In 10% of appointments, veterinarians did not used any open-ended questions. Overall client satisfaction was high and veterinarians' expressions of empathy directed to the client resulted in higher levels of client satisfaction. Clients' perceptions of relational communication were related to several veterinarian and client nonverbal scales. A focus on developing evidence-based clinical communication skills is expected to further enhance the veterinarian-client-patient relationship and associated clinical outcomes. Particular recommendations include the development of a broader emotion-handling repertoire, increased emphasis on the use of open-ended enquiry, including assessment of the client's perspective, as well as attention to aspects of nonverbal communication. The study provides preliminary evidence for the importance of verbal expressions of empathy during the companion animal consultation. © 2013 Australian Veterinary Association.
Clinico-radiographic Studies on The Prevalent Distal Limb Affections in Working Equine at Luxor City
A. A.A. Abdel-Hady; M.A. Sadan; Asmaa A. Metwally; A.S. Soliman
2017-01-01
To illustrate the clinical and radiographic findings of some distal limbs affections in Ninety two animals (24 horses and 68 donkeys) which were admitted to Animal Care Hospital in Luxor. Each animal was subjected to thorough clinical and radiographic examination; the grade of lameness was recorded and the best radiographic views were taken. Fifteen types of distal limb affections were evident. The most prevalent affections in donkeys were high and low ring bone (29.35%) and hoof abscess ( 9...
Socio-demographic and clinical factors affecting adherence to ...
African Journals Online (AJOL)
Socio-demographic and clinical factors affecting adherence to antihypertensive medications and blood pressure control among patients attending the family practice clinic in a tertiary hospital in northern Nigeria.
Schmidt, Ulrike; Keck, Martin E; Buell, Dominik R
2015-06-01
In the last couple of years, non-coding (nc) RNAs like micro-RNAs (miRNAs), small interference RNAs (siRNAs) and long ncRNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as promising candidates for biomarkers and drug-targets in a variety of psychiatric disorders. In contrast to reports on ncRNAs in affective disorders, schizophrenia and anxiety disorders, manuscripts on ncRNAs in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and associated animal models are scarce. Aiming to stimulate ncRNA research in PTSD and to identify the hitherto most promising ncRNA candidates and associated pathways for psychotrauma research, we conducted the first review on ncRNAs in PTSD. We aimed to identify studies reporting on the expression, function and regulation of ncRNAs in PTSD patients and in animals exhibiting a PTSD-like syndrome. Following the PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews, we systematically screened the PubMed database for clinical and animal studies on ncRNAs in PTSD, animal models for PTSD and animal models employing a classical fear conditioning paradigm. Using 112 different combinations of search terms, we retrieved 523 articles of which we finally included and evaluated three clinical and 12 animal studies. In addition, using the web-based tool DIANA miRPath v2.0, we searched for molecular pathways shared by the predicted targets of the here-evaluated miRNA candidates. Our findings suggest that mir-132, which has been found to be regulated in three of the here included studies, as well as miRNAs with an already established role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) seem to be particularly promising candidates for future miRNA studies in PTSD. These results are limited by the low number of human trials and by the heterogeneity of included animal studies. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Animal Models for Influenza Viruses: Implications for Universal Vaccine Development
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Irina Margine
2014-10-01
Full Text Available Influenza virus infections are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the human population. Depending on the virulence of the influenza virus strain, as well as the immunological status of the infected individual, the severity of the respiratory disease may range from sub-clinical or mild symptoms to severe pneumonia that can sometimes lead to death. Vaccines remain the primary public health measure in reducing the influenza burden. Though the first influenza vaccine preparation was licensed more than 60 years ago, current research efforts seek to develop novel vaccination strategies with improved immunogenicity, effectiveness, and breadth of protection. Animal models of influenza have been essential in facilitating studies aimed at understanding viral factors that affect pathogenesis and contribute to disease or transmission. Among others, mice, ferrets, pigs, and nonhuman primates have been used to study influenza virus infection in vivo, as well as to do pre-clinical testing of novel vaccine approaches. Here we discuss and compare the unique advantages and limitations of each model.
Pregnancy in HIV clinical trials in Sub Saharan Africa: failure of consent or contraception?
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Agnes Ssali
Full Text Available Higher than expected pregnancy rates have been observed in HIV related clinical trials in Sub-Saharan Africa. We designed a qualitative study to explore the factors contributing to high pregnancy rates among participants in two HIV clinical trials in Sub-Saharan Africa.Female and male participants enrolled in one of two clinical HIV trials in south-west Uganda were approached. The trials were a phase III microbicide efficacy trial among HIV negative women using vaginal gel (MDP; and a trial of primary prevention prophylaxis for invasive cryptococcal disease using fluconazole among HIV infected men and women in Uganda (CRYPTOPRO. 14 focus group discussions and 8 in-depth interviews were conducted with HIV positive and negative women and their male partners over a six month period. Areas explored were their experiences about why and when one should get pregnant, factors affecting use of contraceptives, HIV status disclosure and trial product use.All respondents acknowledged being advised of the importance of avoiding pregnancy during the trial. Factors reported to contribute to pregnancy included; trust that the investigational product (oral capsules/vaginal gel would not harm the baby, need for children, side effects that led to inconsistent contraceptive use, low acceptance of condom use among male partners. Attitudes towards getting pregnant are fluid within couples over time and the trials often last for more than a year. Researchers need to account for high pregnancy rates in their sample size calculations, and consider lesser used female initiated contraceptive options e.g. diaphragm or female condoms. In long clinical trials where there is a high fetal or maternal risk due to investigational product, researchers and ethics committees should consider a review of participants contraceptive needs/pregnancy desire review after a fixed period, as need for children, partners and health status of participants may alter over time.
Plant protein and animal proteins: do they differentially affect cardiovascular disease risk?
Richter, Chesney K; Skulas-Ray, Ann C; Champagne, Catherine M; Kris-Etherton, Penny M
2015-11-01
Proteins from plant-based compared with animal-based food sources may have different effects on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Numerous epidemiologic and intervention studies have evaluated their respective health benefits; however, it is difficult to isolate the role of plant or animal protein on CVD risk. This review evaluates the current evidence from observational and intervention studies, focusing on the specific protein-providing foods and populations studied. Dietary protein is derived from many food sources, and each provides a different composite of nonprotein compounds that can also affect CVD risk factors. Increasing the consumption of protein-rich foods also typically results in lower intakes of other nutrients, which may simultaneously influence outcomes. Given these complexities, blanket statements about plant or animal protein may be too general, and greater consideration of the specific protein food sources and the background diet is required. The potential mechanisms responsible for any specific effects of plant and animal protein are similarly multifaceted and include the amino acid content of particular foods, contributions from other nonprotein compounds provided concomitantly by the whole food, and interactions with the gut microbiome. Evidence to date is inconclusive, and additional studies are needed to further advance our understanding of the complexity of plant protein vs. animal protein comparisons. Nonetheless, current evidence supports the idea that CVD risk can be reduced by a dietary pattern that provides more plant sources of protein compared with the typical American diet and also includes animal-based protein foods that are unprocessed and low in saturated fat. © 2015 American Society for Nutrition.
Full Text Available ... seems promising, the next step may involve animal testing. This shows how the approach affects a living body and whether it's harmful. However, an approach that works well in the lab or animals doesn't always work well in people. Thus, research in humans is needed. For safety purposes, clinical ...
Development of regional cerebral sub-hypothermia with perfusion of hypothermic liquids
International Nuclear Information System (INIS)
Wang Peng; Ji Xunming
2007-01-01
The neuroprotection of induced hypothermia has been investigated intensively and confirmed in animal models and it has been used clinically in many fields since the finding of sub-hypothermia can also reduce cerebral injury. However the use of hypothermia in clinics is limited by the simultaneously induced systemic complications. Recently the sub-hypothermia induced by hypothermic regional arterial perfusion is proved to be the most effective method to reach the goal, including hypothermic normal saline with no influences on whole body temperature, cardiac rhythm and blood coagulation. According to the well development, fruitful achievement in the present status of this field, the authors are surely to have the inspiration for the further investigation and development of regional cerebral sub-hypothermia with perfusion of hypothermic liquids. (authors)
Sahin, Ceren; Doostdar, Nazanin; Neill, Joanna C
2016-10-01
Negative symptoms in schizophrenia remain an unmet clinical need. There is no licensed treatment specifically for this debilitating aspect of the disorder and effect sizes of new therapies are too small to make an impact on quality of life and function. Negative symptoms are multifactorial but often considered in terms of two domains, expressive deficit incorporating blunted affect and poverty of speech and avolition incorporating asociality and lack of drive. There is a clear need for improved understanding of the neurobiology of negative symptoms which can be enabled through the use of carefully validated animal models. While there are several tests for assessing sociability in animals, tests for blunted affect in schizophrenia are currently lacking. Two paradigms have recently been developed for assessing negative affect of relevance to depression in rats. Here we assess their utility for studying negative symptoms in schizophrenia using our well validated model for schizophrenia of sub-chronic (sc) treatment with Phencyclidine (PCP) in adult female rats. Results demonstrate that sc PCP treatment produces a significant negative affect bias in response to a high value reward in the optimistic and affective bias tests. Our results are not easily explained by the known cognitive deficits induced by sc PCP and support the hypothesis of a negative affective bias in this model. We suggest that further refinement of these two tests will provide a means to investigate the neurobiological basis of negative affect in schizophrenia, thus supporting the assessment of efficacy of new targets for this currently untreated symptom domain. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Demir, Ergül
2017-01-01
In this study, the aim was to construct a significant structural measurement model comparing students' affective characteristics with their mathematic achievement. According to this model, the aim was to test the measurement invariances between gender sub-groups hierarchically. This study was conducted as basic and descriptive research. Secondary…
Arai, M
2003-01-01
The electronic structures of (Pb sub 2 Cu)Sr sub 2 Eu sub x Ce sub n sub - sub x Cu sub 2 O sub 2 sub n sub + sub 6 (n = 2, 3) compounds which have fluorite blocks between two adjacent CuO sub 2 layers have been studied by using ab-initio method. It is found that the anisotropy is enhanced by inserting the fluorite blocks. The Fermi velocity perpendicular to the CuO sub 2 layers decreases as the thickness of fluorite blocks increases. The Eu substitution is found to affect both the atomic positions and electronic structures. The distance between apical oxygen and copper becomes shorter by the Eu substitution. The energy bands derived from oxygens in the fluorite blocks approach Fermi energy as the content of Eu substitution increases. (author)
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Entry, J.A.; Phillips, Ian; Stratton, Helen; Sojka, R.E
2003-03-01
Polyacrylamide mixture may be able to reduce run-off of enteric bacteria from animal wastes. - Animal wastes are a major contributor of nutrients and enteric microorganisms to surface water and ground water. Polyacrylamide (PAM) mixtures are an effective flocculent, and we hypothesized that they would reduce transport of microorganisms in flowing water. After waste water running at 60.0 l min{sup -1} flowed over PAM+Al{sub 2}(SO{sub 4}){sub 3}, or PAM+CaO in furrows, total coliform bacteria (TC) and fecal coliform bacteria (FC) were reduced by 30-50% at 1 and 50 m downstream of the treatments compared to the control. In a column study, PAM+Al{sub 2}(SO{sub 4}){sub 3}, and PAM+CaO applied to sandy, sandy loam, loam, and clay soils reduced NH{sub 4}{sup +} and ortho-P concentrations in leachate compared to the source waste water and the control. PAM+Al{sub 2}(SO{sub 4}){sub 3} and PAM+CaO applied to sandy, sandy loam and loam soils reduced both total and ortho-P, concentrations in leachate compared to the source wastewater and control treatment. In a field study, PAM+Al{sub 2}(SO{sub 4}){sub 3}, or PAM+CaO treatments did not consistently reduce NH{sub 4}{sup +}, NO{sub 3}{sup -}, ortho-P, and total P concentrations in wastewater flowing over any soil compared to inflow wastewater or the control treatment. With proper application PAM+ Al{sub 2}(SO{sub 4}){sub 3} and PAM+CaO may be able to reduce the numbers of enteric bacteria in slowly flowing wastewater running off animal confinement areas, reducing the amount of pollutants entering surface water and groundwater.
Effects of sub-chronic exposure to SO{sub 2} on lipid and carbohydrate metabolism in rats
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Lovati, M.R. [Institute of Pharmacological Sciences, Milan (Italy); Manzoni, C. [Institute of Pharmacological Sciences, Milan (Italy); Daldossi, M. [Institute of Pharmacological Sciences, Milan (Italy); Spolti, S. [Institute of Pharmacological Sciences, Milan (Italy); Sirtori, C.R. [Institute of Pharmacological Sciences, Milan (Italy)
1996-01-01
Sulfur dioxide (SO{sub 2}) is a ubiquitous air pollutant, present in low concentrations in the urban air, and in higher concentrations in the working environment. While toxicological reports on SO{sub 2} have extensively dealt with the pulmonary system, essentially no data are available on the effects of chronic exposure to this pollutant on intermediary metabolism, although some biochemical changes in lipid metabolism have been detected. The present investigation was aimed at evaluating the effects of sub-chronic exposure to SO{sub 2} on concentrations of serum lipids/lipoproteins and on glucose metabolism, in animal models of hypercholesterolemia and diabetes. A specially designed controlinert atmosphere chamber was used, where male Sprague-Dawley rats fed on either standard or cholesterol enriched (HC) diets, as well as streptozotocin diabetics, were exposed to SO{sub 2} at 5 and 10 ppm, 24 h per day for 14 days. In rats, both on a standard diet and on a HC regimen, SO{sub 2} exposure determined a significant dose-dependent increase in plasma triglycerides, up to +363% in the 10 ppm HC exposed animals. This same gas concentration significantly reduced HDL cholesterol levels. In contrast, exposure of diabetic animals to 10 ppm SO{sub 2} resulted in a fall (-41%) of plasma and liver triglycerides and in a concomitant increase (+62%) of plasma HDL cholesterol. This discrepancy could apparently be related to diverging effects of SO{sub 2} exposure on plasma insulin levels in the different animal groups. Kinetic analyses of triglyceride synthesis carried out in rats on a standard diet revealed, in exposed animals, a significant reduction in the secretory rate, in spite of the concomitant hypertriglyceridemia. These findings suggest that SO{sub 2} exposure can markedly modify major lipid and glycemic indices, also indicating a differential response in normo/hyperlipidemic versus diabetic animals. (orig.)
Hu, Yijie; Yibrehu, Betel; Zabini, Diana; Kuebler, Wolfgang M
2017-03-01
Sarcoidosis is a debilitating, inflammatory, multiorgan, granulomatous disease of unknown cause, commonly affecting the lung. In contrast to other chronic lung diseases such as interstitial pulmonary fibrosis or pulmonary arterial hypertension, there is so far no widely accepted or implemented animal model for this disease. This has hampered our insights into the etiology of sarcoidosis, the mechanisms of its pathogenesis, the identification of new biomarkers and diagnostic tools and, last not least, the development and implementation of novel treatment strategies. Over past years, however, a number of new animal models have been described that may provide useful tools to fill these critical knowledge gaps. In this review, we therefore outline the present status quo for animal models of sarcoidosis, comparing their pros and cons with respect to their ability to mimic the etiological, clinical and histological hallmarks of human disease and discuss their applicability for future research. Overall, the recent surge in animal models has markedly expanded our options for translational research; however, given the relative early stage of most animal models for sarcoidosis, appropriate replication of etiological and histological features of clinical disease, reproducibility and usefulness in terms of identification of new therapeutic targets and biomarkers, and testing of new treatments should be prioritized when considering the refinement of existing or the development of new models.
Factors affecting social workers' inclusion of animals in practice.
Risley-Curtiss, Christina; Rogge, Mary E; Kawam, Elisa
2013-04-01
Experts suggest that social work practitioners can improve their client service with a more thorough understanding of the impact of other animals on individuals and families. Studies indicate that some social work practitioners are including animals in their practices through assessment and interventions. Little is known about what factors contribute to this inclusion, especially because there is a lack of attention in social work education and research to animal-human relationships. This study used logistical regression to examine the impact of certain demographic, knowledge, and practice variables on the inclusion of animals in social work practice. Findings include that knowing other social workers who include animals in practice and primary client population served were significant for inclusion of animals in assessment, animal-assisted intervention, and treating clients for animal abuse or loss of an animal. Although practitioners' having a companion animal was positively related to including animals in interventions and treating clients for loss of an animal, contributing to animal welfare through volunteering at shelters or financially contributing to animal groups did not have an effect on inclusion of animals in practice. Implications for these and other findings are discussed, and recommendations for social work research, education, and practice are offered.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Zhang, Xiang; Ma, Jun, E-mail: majunhit@126.com; Lu, Xixin; Huangfu, Xiaoliu; Zou, Jing
2015-12-30
Highlights: • Proposed high efficient Mo (VI) removal with Fe{sub 2}(SO{sub 4}){sub 3} coagulation-filtration. • Studied different effects of Fe{sub 2}(SO{sub 4}){sub 3} and FeCl{sub 3} due to different anionic portions. • Reported the adverse effect of calcium on the removal of Mo (VI). • Proposed factors affecting Mo (VI) removal: intercepted Fe and adsorption affinity. - Abstract: Comparatively investigated the different effects of Fe{sub 2}(SO{sub 4}){sub 3} coagulation-filtration and FeCl{sub 3} coagulation-filtration on the removal of Mo (VI). And the influence of calcium, sulfate, silicate, phosphate and humic acid (HA) were also studied. The following conclusions can be obtained: (1) compared with the case of FeCl{sub 3}, Fe{sub 2}(SO{sub 4}){sub 3} showed a higher Mo (VI) removal efficiency at pH 4.00–5.00, but an equal removal efficiency at pH 6.00–9.00. (2) The optimum Mo (VI) removal by Fe{sub 2}(SO{sub 4}){sub 3} was achieved at pH 5.00–6.00; (3) The presence of calcium can reduce the removal of Mo (VI) over the entire pH range in the present study; (4) The effect of co-existing background anions (including HA) was dominated by three factors: Firstly the influence of co-existing background anions on the content of Fe intercepted from water (intercepted Fe). Secondly the competition of co-existing anions with Mo (VI) for adsorption sites. Thirdly the influence of co-existing background anions on the Zeta potential of the iron flocs.
Incidence and clinical presentation of groin injuries in sub-elite male soccer
DEFF Research Database (Denmark)
Hölmich, Per; Thorborg, Kristian; Dehlendorff, Christian
2014-01-01
BACKGROUND: Groin injuries cause major problems in the football codes, as they are prevalent and lead to prolonged symptoms and high recurrence. The aim of the present study was to describe the occurrence and clinical presentation of groin injuries in a large cohort of sub-elite soccer players.......0096). Having both adductor and abdominal pain also increased the injury time significantly when compared to injuries with no adductor and no abdominal pain (RIT=4.56, 95% CI 1.91 to 10.91, p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Adductor-related groin injury was the most common clinical presentation of groin injuries in male...... during a season. METHODS: Physiotherapists allocated to each of the participating 44 soccer clubs recorded baseline characteristics and groin injuries sustained by a cohort of 998 sub-elite male soccer players during a full 10-month season. All players with groin injuries were examined using the clinical...
Abe, Ichiro; Sugimoto, Kaoru; Miyajima, Tetsumasa; Ide, Tomoko; Minezaki, Midori; Takeshita, Kaori; Takahara, Saori; Nakagawa, Midori; Fujimura, Yuki; Kudo, Tadachika; Miyajima, Shigero; Taira, Hiroshi; Ohe, Kenji; Ishii, Tatsu; Yanase, Toshihiko; Kobayashi, Kunihisa
2018-04-27
Objectives We retrospectively investigated the clinical and endocrinological characteristics of adrenal incidentalomas. Methods We studied 61 patients who had been diagnosed with adrenal incidentalomas and had undergone detailed clinical and endocrinological evaluations while hospitalized. We used common criteria to diagnose the functional tumors, but for sub-clinical Cushing's syndrome, we used an updated set of diagnosis criteria: serum cortisol ≥1.8 μg/dL after a positive response to a 1-mg dexamethasone suppression test if the patient has a low morning ACTH level (Cushing's syndrome and sub-clinical Cushing's syndrome), and 25 (41.0%) had non-functional tumors. Compared with the non-functional tumor group, the primary aldosteronism group and the cortisol-secreting adenoma group were significantly younger and had significantly lower rates of hypokalemia, whereas the pheochromocytoma group had significantly larger tumors and a significantly lower body mass index. Conclusion Our study found a larger percentage of functional tumors among adrenal incidentalomas than past reports, partly because we used a lower serum cortisol level after a dexamethasone suppression test to diagnose sub-clinical Cushing's syndrome and because all of the patients were hospitalized and could therefore receive more detailed examinations. Young patients with hypokalemia or lean patients with large adrenal tumors warrant particularly careful investigation.
Sudheendra, L
2003-01-01
Electron transport and magnetic properties of three series of manganates of the formula (La sub 1 sub - sub x Ln sub x) sub 0 sub . sub 7 Ca sub 0 sub . sub 3 MnO sub 3 with Ln = Nd, Gd and Y, wherein only the average A-site cation radius (r sub A ) and associated disorder vary, without affecting the Mn sup 4 sup + /Mn sup 3 sup + ratio, have been investigated in an effort to understand the nature of phase separation. All three series of manganates show saturation magnetization characteristic of ferromagnetism, with the ferromagnetic T sub c decreasing with increasing x up to a critical value of x, x sub c (x sub c = 0.6, 0.3, 0.2 respectively for Nd, Gd, Y). For x > x sub c , the magnetic moments are considerably smaller, showing a small increase around T sub M , the value of T sub M decreasing slightly with increase in x or decrease in (r sub A ). The ferromagnetic compositions (x x sub c are insulating. The magnetic and electrical resistivity behaviour of these manganates is consistent with the occurrence...
Sub-clinical Alcohol Consumption and Gambling Disorder.
Harries, Michael D; Redden, Sarah A; Leppink, Eric W; Chamberlain, Samuel R; Grant, Jon E
2017-06-01
While it is well established that gambling disorder is associated with alcohol use disorder, less is known regarding whether sub-clinical alcohol consumption increases gambling behavior. This study examined the effects of varying levels of alcohol consumption on clinical and cognitive measures. The sample consisted of 572 non-treatment seeking gamblers age 18-29 who were divided into three groups: non-current drinkers, current drinkers who did not qualify for an alcohol use disorder, and those with an alcohol use disorder (AUD). All subjects were assessed on gambling pathology, severity and impulsivity using the Structured Clinical Interview for Gambling Disorder, Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale for Pathologic Gambling and the Barratt Impulsive Scale-11 and select cognitive tests. In all of the clinical measures, controlling for age, gender and education, the AUD group was significantly more likely than the non-current and current drinkers to be a pathologic gambler and to be impulsive, compulsive and depressed. On cognitive tasks, controlling for age, gender and education, the AUD group had significantly worse strategy use on a spatial working memory task than both other groups. This study suggests that the relationship between alcohol and gambling may only exist when pathology in both alcohol consumption and gambling behavior is present. Examining this relationship with alcohol consumption as a continuous variable would provide additional insight into the potential effects alcohol consumption has on gambling behavior.
International Nuclear Information System (INIS)
Blackstock, A. William; Kwock, Lester; Mukherji, Suresh K.; Schiro, Sharon; Tepper, Joel E.
1995-01-01
Purpose/Objective: Combined radiation and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) has resulted in improved outcomes in patients treated with gastrointestinal malignancies and squamous cancers of the head and neck. In our first aim, we proposed that the enhanced cell kill and tumor regression observed with the combination of 5-FU and radiation is related to radiation potentiating the anti-tumor effects of 5-FU. Using fluorine-19 ( 19 F) nuclear magnetic resonance (nmr) we non-invasively determined the tumor clearance rates of 5-FU +/- radiation in an animal model and used this research tool to predict tumor response in patients receiving concurrent radiation and 5-FU therapy. Our second aim was to evaluate the use of proton ( 1 H) nmr spectroscopy to non-invasively determine the spectral characteristics of malignant tumors in the head and neck and liver and correlate these clinical observations with in vitro and in vivo data. Materials and Methods: 1 H and 19 F spectroscopic analysis were performed with a 2.0T Otsuka magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy system. 1 H nmr patient studies were done on a clinical 1.5T Philips MR system. In vitro magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) studies were performed on a 11 T Bruker nmr system. Animal experiments for the 19 F nmr studies were performed on 3-6 week old female (Nu/Nu) athymic nude mice. Animals were injected s.c. with 10 6 human colon adenocarcinoma (HT-29) cells. At a tumor size of 1.0 cm, animals in the first group received i.v. 5-FU (100 mg/kg) immediately prior to spectroscopic analysis. Animals in the second group were treated with a single radiation dose of either 2 Gy or 10 Gy just prior to the 5-FU injection and subsequent spectroscopy. Spectroscopic analyses were performed at 20-30 minute intervals for 4-6 hr's. Results: 19 F nmr: A decrease in tumor clearance was observed in tumors pre-treated with a single dose of irradiation (2.0 Gy and 10 Gy). The clearance rate of the 5-FU for non-irradiated animals was 0.0178 min
Conditional dependence between tests affects the diagnosis and surveillance of animal diseases
DEFF Research Database (Denmark)
Gardner, I.A.; Stryhn, Henrik; Lind, Peter
2000-01-01
Dependence between the sensitivities or specificities of pairs of tests affects the sensitivity and specificity of tests when used in combination. Compared with values expected if tests are conditionally independent, a positive dependence in test sensitivity reduces the sensitivity of parallel te...... for toxoplasmosis and brucellosis in swine, and Johne's disease in cattle to illustrate calculation methods and to indicate the likely magnitude of the dependence between serologic tests used for diagnosis and surveillance of animal diseases....
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Raquel Cabezón
2013-01-01
Full Text Available The gut mucosa undergoes continuous antigenic exposure from food antigens, commensal flora derived ligands, and pathogens. This constant stimulation results in controlled inflammatory responses that are effectively suppressed by multiple factors. This tight regulation, necessary to maintain intestinal homeostasis, is affected during inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD resulting in altered immune responses to harmless microorganisms. Dendritic cells (DCs are sentinels of immunity, located in peripheral and lymphoid tissues, which are essential for homeostasis of T cell-dependent immune responses. The expression of a particular set of pathogen recognition receptors allows DCs to initiate immune responses. However, in the absence of danger signals, different DC subsets can induce active tolerance by inducing regulatory T cells (Treg, inhibiting inflammatory T helper cell responses, or both. Interestingly, several protocols to generate clinical grade tolerogenic DC (tol-DCs in vitro have been described, opening the possibility to restore the intestinal homeostasis to bacterial flora by cellular therapy. In this review, we discuss different DC subsets and their role in IBD. Additionally, we will review preclinical studies performed in animal models while describing recent characterization of tol-DCs from Crohn’s disease patients for clinical application.
Positive and Negative Affect in Clinic-Referred Youth With ADHD.
Okado, Izumi; Mueller, Charles W; Nakamura, Brad J
2016-01-01
To examine self-reported positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA) among youth with ADHD (only and comorbid) and other non-ADHD-referred youth in an ethnically diverse clinical sample. Semi-structured interviews identified 80 pure ADHD, 284 ADHD plus one or more comorbidities, and 730 non-ADHD youth (e.g., other diagnoses or no diagnosis). The Positive and Negative Affect Scale-Children (PANAS-C) was used to assess affective states. Even after controlling for the influence of potential confounds, youth with only ADHD reported higher PA and lower NA than other clinic-referred youth. The ADHD-comorbid group reported higher PA than the "non-ADHD" group, but these groups did not differ on level of NA. ADHD subtype did not influence results. Among clinic-referred youth, ADHD is associated with higher levels of PA and when there are no comorbid disorders, lower levels of NA. © The Author(s) 2013.
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Carolyn R O'Brien
Full Text Available BACKGROUND: Buruli ulcer (BU is a skin disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, with endemicity predominantly in sub-Saharan Africa and south-eastern Australia. The mode of transmission and the environmental reservoir(s of the bacterium and remain elusive. Real-time PCR investigations have detected M. ulcerans DNA in a variety of Australian environmental samples, including the faeces of native possums with and without clinical evidence of infection. This report seeks to expand on previously published findings by the authors' investigative group with regards to clinical and subclinical disease in selected wild possum species in BU-endemic areas of Victoria, Australia. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Twenty-seven clinical cases of M. ulcerans infection in free-ranging possums from southeastern Australia were identified retrospectively and prospectively between 1998-2011. Common ringtail possums (Pseudocheirus peregrinus, a common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula and a mountain brushtail possum (Trichosurus cunninghami were included in the clinically affected cohort. Most clinically apparent cases were adults with solitary or multiple ulcerative cutaneous lesions, generally confined to the face, limbs and/or tail. The disease was minor and self-limiting in the case of both Trichosurus spp. possums. In contrast, many of the common ringtail possums had cutaneous disease involving disparate anatomical sites, and in four cases there was evidence of systemic disease at post mortem examination. Where tested using real-time PCR targeted at IS2404, animals typically had significant levels of M. ulcerans DNA throughout the gut and/or faeces. A further 12 possums without cutaneous lesions were found to have PCR-positive gut contents and/or faeces (subclinical cases, and in one of these the organism was cultured from liver tissue. Comparisons were made between clinically and subclinically affected possums, and 61 PCR-negative, non-affected individuals
Plant and Animal Reproductive Strategies: Lessons from Offspring Size and Number Tradeoffs
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
K. G. Srikanta Dani
2017-05-01
Full Text Available The tradeoff between offspring size and number is ubiquitous and manifestly similar in plants and animals despite fundamental differences between the evolutionary histories of these two major life forms. Fecundity (offspring number primarily affects parental fitness, while offspring size underpins the fitness of parents and offspring. We provide an overview of theoretical models dealing with offspring size and fitness relationships. We follow that with a detailed examination of life-history constraints and environmental effects on offspring size and number, separately in plants and animals. The emphasis is on seed plants, but we endeavor to also summarize information from distinct animal groups—insects, fishes, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Furthermore, we analyse genetic controls on offspring size and number in two model organisms—Arabidopsis and Drosophila. Despite the deep evolutionary divergence between plants and animals, we find four trends in reproductive strategy that are common to both lineages: (i offspring size is generally less variable than offspring number, (ii offspring size increases with increasing parent body size, (iii maternal genes restrict offspring size and increase offspring numbers, while zygotic genes act to increase offspring size; such parent-offspring conflicts are enhanced when there is sibling rivalry, and (iv variation in offspring size increases under sub-optimal (harsh environmental conditions. The most salient difference between plants and animals is that the latter tend to produce larger (fewer offspring under sub-optimal conditions while seed plants invest in smaller (many seeds, suggesting that maternal genetic control over offspring size increases in plants but decreases in animals with parental care. The time is ripe for greater experimental exploration of genetic controls on reproductive allocation and parent-offspring conflicts in plants and animals under sub-optimal (harsh environments.
Distribution of transverse distances in directed animals
Sumedha
2003-01-01
We relate phi(x, s), the average number of sites at a transverse distance x in the directed animals with s sites in d transverse dimensions, to the two-point correlation function of a lattice gas with nearest neighbour exclusion in d dimensions. For large s, phi(x, s) has the scaling form s/R sup d sub s f(|x|/R sub s), where R sub s is the root-mean square radius of gyration of animals of s sites. We determine the exact scaling function for d = 1 to be f(r) = sq root pi/2 sq root 3 erfc(r/sq root 3). We also show that phi(x = 0, s) can be determined in terms of the animal number generating function of the directed animals.
Vitamin D for the Treatment of Epilepsy: Basic Mechanisms, Animal Models and Clinical Trials
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Kevin Pendo
2016-12-01
Full Text Available There is increasing evidence supporting dietary and alternative therapies for epilepsy, including the ketogenic diet, modified Atkins diet, and omega-3 fatty acids. Vitamin D is actively under investigation as a potential intervention for epilepsy. Vitamin D is fat soluble steroid which shows promise in animal models of epilepsy. Basic research has shed light on the possible mechanisms by which Vitamin D may reduce seizures, and animal data support the efficacy of Vitamin D in rat and mouse models of epilepsy. Very little clinical data exists to support the treatment of human epilepsy with Vitamin D, but positive findings from preliminary clinical trials warrant larger Phase I and II clinical trials in order to more rigorously determine the potential therapeutic value of Vitamin D as a treatment for human epilepsy.
Anniballi, F.; Fiore, A.; Löfström, Ch.; Skarin, H.; Auricchio, B.; Woudstra, C.; Bano, L.; Segerman, B.; Koene, M.G.J.
2013-01-01
Botulism is a severe neuroparalytic disease that affects humans, all warm-blooded animals, and some fishes. The disease is caused by exposure to toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum and other botulinum toxin–producing clostridia. Botulism in animals represents a severe environmental and economic
Sánchez, Sergio; Díaz-Sánchez, Sandra; Martínez, Remigio; Llorente, María Teresa; Herrera-León, Silvia; Vidal, Dolors
2013-10-25
Subtilase cytotoxin (SubAB) is an AB5 toxin produced by Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains usually lacking the eae gene product intimin. Two allelic variants of SubAB encoding genes have been described: subAB1, located on a plasmid, and subAB2, located on a pathogenicity island (PAI) together with tia gene. While subAB1 has been reported to be more frequent among bovine strains, subAB2 has been mainly associated with strains from small ruminants. We investigated the presence of the two variants of subAB among 59 eae-negative STEC from large game animals (deer and wild boar) and their meat and meat products in order to assess the role of other species in the epidemiology of subAB-positive, eae-negative STEC. For this approach, the strains were PCR-screened for the presence of subAB, including the specific detection of both allelic variants, for the presence of saa, tia and sab, and for stx subtyping. Overall, subAB genes were detected in 71.2% of the strains: 84.1% of the strains from deer and 33.3% of the strains from wild boar. Most of them (97.6%) possessed subAB2 and most of these subAB2-positive strains (92.7%) were also positive for tia and negative for saa, suggesting the presence of the subAB2-harbouring PAI. Subtype stx2b was present in most of the strains (67.8%) and a statistically significant association could be established between subAB2 and stx2b. Our results suggest that large game animals, mainly deer, may represent an important animal reservoir of subAB2-positive, eae-negative STEC, and also highlight the risk of human infection posed by the consumption of large game meat and meat products. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Growth and Characterization of Ce- Substituted Nd<sub>2sub>Fe>14sub>11B Single Crystals
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Susner, M. A. [Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Materials Science and Technology Division; Conner, B. S. [Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Materials Science and Technology Division; Saparov, B. I. [Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Materials Science and Technology Division; McGuire, M. A. [Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Materials Science and Technology Division; Crumlin, E. J. [Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Advanced Light Source; Veith, G. M. [Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Advanced Light Source; Cao, H. B. [Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Quantum Condensed Matter Division; Shanavas, K. V. [Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Materials Science and Technology Division; Parker, D. S. [Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Materials Science and Technology Division; Chakoumakos, B. C. [Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Quantum Condensed Matter Division; Sales, B. C. [Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Materials Science and Technology Division
2015-08-31
Single crystals of (Nd<sub>1-xsub>Cex)>2sub>Fe>14sub>B are grown out of Fe-(Nd,Ce) flux. Chemical and structural analysis of the crystals indicates that (Nd<sub>1-xsub>Cex)>2sub>Fe>14sub>B forms a solid solution until at least x = 0.38 with a Vegard-like variation of the lattice constants with x. Refinements of single crystal neutron diffraction data indicate that Ce has a slight site preference (7:3) for the 4g rare earth site over the 4f site. Furthermore, magnetization measurements show that for x = 0.38 the saturation magnetization at 400 K, a temperature important to applications, falls from 29.8 for the parent Nd<sub>2sub>Fe>14sub>B to 27.6 μ<sub>B>/f.u., the anisotropy field decreases from 5.5 T to 4.7 T, and the Curie temperature decreases from 586 to 543 K. First principles calculations carried out within density functional theory are used to explain the decrease in magnetic properties due to Ce substitution. Although the presence of the lower-cost and more abundant Ce slightly affects these important magnetic characteristics, this decrease is not large enough to affect a multitude of applications. Ce-substituted Nd<sub>2sub>Fe>14sub>B is therefore a potential high-performance permanent magnet material with substantially reduced Nd content.
International Nuclear Information System (INIS)
Mitzi, D.B.; Feffer, P.T.; Newsam, J.M.; Webb, D.J.; Klavins, P.; Jacobson, A.J.; Kapitulnik, A.
1988-01-01
Samples in the quaternary system (La/sub 1-//sub y/Pr/sub y/)(Ba/sub 2-//sub x/La/sub x/)Cu 3 O/sub 7+//sub δ/ have been prepared and characterized using x-ray and neutron diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and transport and magnetic measurements. Pr substitutes on the oxygen-depleted La layers for y>0.0, while La substitutes on the Ba sites for x>0.0. The effect of doping on each site is inferred to be primarily local, affecting immediately adjacent Cu-O layers. The similar suppression of superconductivity that accompanies doping on each of the two distinct sites apparently correlates with the degree of oxidation of the Cu-O sheets (and not the chains), indicating that the sheets support the high temperature superconductivity. Comparison of orthorhombic and tetragonal samples with similar Ba:La ratios (and y = 0) demonstrates that the orthorhombic phase yields the largest Meissner signals and highest transition temperatures in the La(Ba/sub 2-//sub x/La/sub x/)Cu 3 O/sub 7+//sub δ/ system
Yuan, S L; Xia, Z C; Zhao, L F; Liu, L; Chen, W; Zhang, G H; Zhang, L J; Feng, W; Zhong, Q H; Liu, S
2003-01-01
Polycrystalline samples of nominal La sub 2 sub / sub 3 Ca sub 1 sub / sub 3 Mn sub 1 sub - sub x Cu sub x O sub 3 (x 0% and 4%) were fabricated by a sol-gel method following sintering treatments at temperature T sub s ranging between 1000 deg. C and 1300 deg. C. Experiments indicate that doping Cu does not cause a change in crystalline structure, but strongly affects transport and magnetoresistance (MR) properties. For lower T sub s , when a low magnetic field of H = 0.3 T, is applied, the x = 0 samples show typical intergrain MR behaviour with a monotonic increase in MR sub 0 (ident to DELTA rho/rho(H = 0)) on cooling; while for the x = 4% samples, in addition to intergrain MR, a characteristic feature similar to colossal MR (CMR) is observed near the insulator-metal transition. The maximum MR with a value approx 80% of that for H = 0.3 T is obtained in the sample prepared at 1100 deg. C, which is comparable to the intrinsic CMR response usually observed in large fields of the order of several teslas.
Engelskirchen, Simon; Ehlers, Jan; Kirk, Ansgar T; Tipold, Andrea; Dilly, Marc
2017-09-20
During five and a half years of studying veterinary medicine, students should in addition to theoretical knowledge acquire sufficient practical skills. Considering animal welfare and ethical aspects, opportunities for hands-on learning on living animals are limited because of the high annual number of students. The first German veterinary clinical-skills lab, established in 2013 at the University for Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation (TiHo), offers opportunities for all students to learn, train and repeat clinical skills on simulators and models as frequently as they would like, until they feel sufficiently confident to transfer these skills to living animals. This study describes the establishment of clinical-skills lab training within the students' practical education, using the example of the small-animal clinic of the TiHo. Two groups of students were compared: without skills lab training (control group K) and with skills lab training (intervention group I). At the end of both the training and a subsequent 10-week clinical rotation in different sections of the clinic, an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) was performed, testing the students' practical skills at 15 stations. An additional multiple-choice test was performed before and after the clinical rotation to evaluate the increased theoretical knowledge. Students of group I achieved significantly (p ≤ 0.05) better results in eight of the 15 tested skills. The multiple-choice test revealed a significant (p ≤ 0.05) gain of theoretical knowledge in both groups without any differences between the groups. Students displayed a high degree of acceptance of the skills lab training. Using simulators and models in veterinary education is an efficient teaching concept, and should be used continually and integrated in the curriculum.
Palliyeguru, M W C D; Rose, S P; Mackenzie, A M
2011-06-01
1. The effect of three different levels of dietary trypsin inhibitor activity (achieved by varying the amount of non-toasted full fat soya bean in replacement for toasted full fat soya bean) on the incidence of spontaneously-occurring sub-clinical necrotic enteritis (NE) in broiler chickens was compared. A fourth dietary treatment compared the effect of a diet that used potato protein concentrate as the major protein source. The determined trypsin inhibitor activity increased with the increasing content of non-toasted soya bean: 1·90, 6·21, 8·46 and 3·72 mg/g for the three soya bean diets (0, 100 and 200 g of non-toasted soya bean/kg) and the potato protein diet respectively. 2. Although increasing amounts of the non-toasted full-fat soya bean increased the feed intakes of the birds, there was a marked reduction in protein digestibility, weight gain and feed conversion efficiency. 3. There was a linear increase in sub-clinical NE lesions in the duodenum, jejunum, mid small intestine and ileum with increasing non-toasted soya bean. Caecal Clostridium perfringens counts increased with the increasing dietary content of non-toasted soya bean. Serum α-toxin antibodies were higher in the birds fed the 200 g non-toasted soya bean/kg diet compared with the other diets. 4. The results demonstrated that variation in the amount of non-toasted dietary soya bean not only affects growth performance of broilers but also affects the incidence of sub-clinical necrotic enteritis in the flock. Ensuring the lowest possible trypsin-inhibitor activity in soya bean samples is a valuable tool to improve the health and welfare of birds and in reducing the financial losses from this disease.
Direct reciprocity in animals: The roles of bonding and affective processes.
Freidin, Esteban; Carballo, Fabricio; Bentosela, Mariana
2017-04-01
The presence of direct reciprocity in animals is a debated topic, because, despite its evolutionary plausibility, it is believed to be uncommon. Some authors claim that stable reciprocal exchanges require sophisticated cognition which has acted as a constraint on its evolution across species. In contrast, a more recent trend of research has focused on the possibility that direct reciprocity occurs within long-term bonds and relies on simple as well as more complex affective mechanisms such as emotional book-keeping, rudimentary and higher forms of empathy, and inequity aversion, among others. First, we present evidence supporting the occurrence of long-term reciprocity in the context of existing bonds in social birds and mammals. Second, we discuss the evidence for affective responses which, modulated by bonding, may underlie altruistic behaviours in different species. We conclude that the mechanisms that may underlie reciprocal exchanges are diverse, and that some act in interaction with bonding processes. From simple associative learning in social contexts, through emotional contagion and behavioural mimicry, to empathy and a sense of fairness, widespread and diverse social affective mechanisms may explain why direct reciprocity may not be a rare phenomenon among social vertebrates. © 2015 International Union of Psychological Science.
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Elisa B. Neuwald
2014-04-01
Full Text Available This paper describes the epidemiological, clinical and immunohistochemical characteristics of canine lymphomas diagnosed in the region of Porto Alegre, Brazil. Thirty dogs were enrolled in the study; most of them were male (60%, mixed-breed (23% and middle-aged or older. The majority (87% of affected dogs showed the multicentric form. The B-cell phenotype was most frequently detected (62%; 37% of the animals were in clinical stage IV, and 83% were classified as sub-stage "b". Lymphadenopathy was observed in 67% of the cases, and dyspnea, prostration, decreased appetite and vomiting were the most common clinical signs encountered. Anemia was a frequently encountered laboratory alteration (57%, as were leukocytosis (40%, thrombocytopenia (33%, lymphopenia (30%, hyperglobulinemia (20% and hypercalcemia (13%. The results of this study indicate that the clinical features of dogs with lymphoma in the region of Porto Alegre are similar to those observed worldwide.
Panksepp, Jaak
During the past half century of research with preclinical animal models, affective neuroscience has helped identify and illuminate the functional neuroanatomies and neurochemistries of seven primary process, i.e., genetically provided emotional systems of mammalian brains. All are subcortically localized, allowing animal models to guide the needed behavioral and neuroscientific analyses at levels of detail that cannot be achieved through human research, including modern brain imaging. They consist of the following neuronal processes: SEEKING/Enthusiasm, RAGE/Anger, FEAR/Anxiety, sexual LUST/Passion, maternal CARE/Nurturance, separation-distress PANIC/Grief and PLAY/Social Joy. Several of these systems figure heavily in social bonding. I will focus here especially on the genesis of depression. Its genesis is significantly influenced by (i) sustained overactivity of the separation-distress PANIC system reflecting severed social bonds and the excessive "psychological pain" of loneliness that can, if sustained, lead to a downward cascade known as psychological despair, and (ii) the despair phase that follows the acute PANIC response, which is characterized by abnormally low activity of the SEEKING, the so-called brain reward networks, leading to amotivational states that characterize depression. Depressive affect is promoted by such brain affective mechanisms of social attachments and social loss as well as diminished arousability of the SEEKING system, leading to chronic dysphoria. To understand why depression feels so bad, we must understand the neural mechanisms that mediate such social feelings.
B cell sub-types following acute malaria and associations with clinical immunity.
Sullivan, Richard T; Ssewanyana, Isaac; Wamala, Samuel; Nankya, Felistas; Jagannathan, Prasanna; Tappero, Jordan W; Mayanja-Kizza, Harriet; Muhindo, Mary K; Arinaitwe, Emmanuel; Kamya, Moses; Dorsey, Grant; Feeney, Margaret E; Riley, Eleanor M; Drakeley, Chris J; Greenhouse, Bryan; Sullivan, Richard
2016-03-03
Repeated exposure to Plasmodium falciparum is associated with perturbations in B cell sub-set homeostasis, including expansion atypical memory B cells. However, B cell perturbations immediately following acute malaria infection have been poorly characterized, especially with regard to their relationship with immunity to malaria. To better understand the kinetics of B cell sub-sets following malaria, the proportions of six B cell sub-sets were assessed at five time points following acute malaria in four to 5 years old children living in a high transmission region of Uganda. B cell sub-set kinetics were compared with measures of clinical immunity to malaria-lower parasite density at the time of malaria diagnosis and recent asymptomatic parasitaemia. Atypical memory B cell and transitional B cell proportions increased following malaria. In contrast, plasmablast proportions were highest at the time of malaria diagnosis and rapidly declined following treatment. Increased proportions of atypical memory B cells were associated with greater immunity to malaria, whereas increased proportions of transitional B cells were associated with evidence of less immunity to malaria. These findings highlight the dynamic changes in multiple B cell sub-sets following acute, uncomplicated malaria, and how these sub-sets are associated with developing immunity to malaria.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
MooN, Ern Soo; Park, Yoh Han; Cho, Chang Ho; Park, In Soo; Lee, Chong Suk; Lee, Hak Choong [National Medical Center, Seoul (Korea, Republic of)
1978-09-15
Hyperthyroidism may be defined as those clinical conditions which result from an increase in the circulating levels of one or both thyroid hormones. Hyperthyroidism in broad sense could be classified with toxic diffuse goiter, toxic adenomatous goiter, and toxic multinodular goiter on the basis of the circulating thyroid hormone levels. For this study, the subject included 94 cases with hyperthyroidism were presented in 77 with toxic diffuse goiter, 8 with toxic adenomatous goiter, and 9 with toxic multinodular goiter on the levels of {sup 125}IT{sub 3} resin uptake rate and serum thyroxine (T{sub 4}). The observed results were as follows: 1) In the cases of hyperthyroidism including toxic diffuse goiter, toxic adenomatous goiter, and toxic multinodular goiter, 20.21% of the patients were male and 79.79% female. The majority of the patients were in 2nd to 4th decades of their lives. 2) There were objective signs clearly manifested in hyperthyroidism including toxic diffuse goiter and toxic adenomatous goiter which were rare in the multinodular goiter. The clinical signs in toxic diffuse and toxic adenomatous goiter included wide pulse pressure, tachycardia, systolic murmur, exophthalmos, tremor and warm skin etc. 3) The most frequent complaints of the patients with hyperthyroidism were palpitation, weight loss, increased appetite, perspiration, heat intolerance, nervousness, exertional dyspnea, and menstrual disturbance etc. There was no clear difference in the incidence of symptoms between toxic diffuse goiter and toxic adenomatous goiter, but there was clear difference between toxic multinodular goiter. 4) Considering of results of {sup 125}IT{sub 3} resin uptake rate and serum T{sub 4} level in toxic diffuse goiter, toxic adenomatous goiter and toxic multinodular goiter, {sup 125}IT{sub 3} resin uptake rate was 49.15+-9.94% (mean) and serum T{sub 4} 21.29+-7.04 ug/dl (mean) in toxic diffuse goiter. In toxic multinodular goiter, {sup 125}I T{sub 3} resin uptake
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Callaway, J.M.; Cohen, M.L.; Currie, J.W.
1984-04-01
The objectives were to: (1) identify, characterize, and define existing or projected regional and global water resource management issues which may be affected by CO/sub 2/-induced climate changes; and (2) develop research priorities for acquiring additional information about the potential effects of a CO/sub 2/-induced climate change on the availability and allocation of freshwater supplies. The research was broken into four work elements: (1) identification of water resource management issues on a global and regional basis; (2) identification of a subset of generic CO/sub 2/-related water resource management issues believed to have the highest probability of being affected, beneficially or adversely, by a CO/sub 2/-induced climate change; (3) selection of specific sites for examining the potential effect of a CO/sub 2/-induced climate change on these issues; and (4) conducting detailed case studies at these sites, the results from which will be used to identify future research and data needs in the area of water resources. This report summarizes the research related to the first three work elements. 6 figures, 9 tables.
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
K Athisaya Mary
2005-07-01
Full Text Available Preliminary studies were carried out to investigate the role of filarial specific antibodies, raised in an animal model against the filarial parasite, Brugia malayi (sub-periodic, in blocking their early development in an experimental mosquito host, Aedes aegypti (Liverpool strain. In order to generate filarial specific antibodies, Mongolian gerbils, Meriones unguiculatus, were immunized either with live microfilariae (mf of B. malayi or their homogenate. Mf were harvested from the peritoneal cavity of Mongolian gerbils with patent infection of B. malayi and fed to A. aegypti along with the blood from immunized animals. Development of the parasite in infected mosquitoes was monitored until they reached infective stage larvae (L3. Fewer number of parasites developed to first stage (L1 and subsequently to L2 and L3 in mosquitoes fed with blood of immunized animals, when compared to those fed with blood of control animals. The results thus indicated that filarial parasite specific antibodies present in the blood of the immunized animals resulted in the reduction of number of larvae of B. malayi developing in the mosquito host.
Stargardt disease: clinical features, molecular genetics, animal models and therapeutic options
Tanna, Preena; Strauss, Rupert W; Fujinami, Kaoru; Michaelides, Michel
2017-01-01
Stargardt disease (STGD1; MIM 248200) is the most prevalent inherited macular dystrophy and is associated with disease-causing sequence variants in the gene ABCA4. Significant advances have been made over the last 10 years in our understanding of both the clinical and molecular features of STGD1, and also the underlying pathophysiology, which has culminated in ongoing and planned human clinical trials of novel therapies. The aims of this review are to describe the detailed phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of the disease, conventional and novel imaging findings, current knowledge of animal models and pathogenesis, and the multiple avenues of intervention being explored. PMID:27491360
Bentley, R Timothy; Taylor, Amanda R; Thomovsky, Stephanie A
2018-01-01
Small animal mycoses vary geographically. Different clinical presentations are seen in animals with infection of the central nervous system (CNS), including multifocal meningoencephalomyelitis, intracranial lesions that accompany sinonasal lesions, rapidly progressive ventriculitis, or solitary granuloma of the brain or spinal cord. Systemic, nasal, or extraneural clinical signs are common but, especially in granuloma cases, do not always occur. Surgery may have a diagnostic and therapeutic role in CNS granuloma. There have been recent advancements in serology. Fluconazole, voriconazole, and posaconazole cross the blood-brain barrier, but voriconazole is neurotoxic to cats. Liposomal and lipid-encapsulated formulations of amphotericin B are preferred. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Understanding animal fears: a comparison of the cognitive vulnerability and harm-looming models
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Armfield Jason M
2007-12-01
Full Text Available Abstract Background The Cognitive Vulnerability Model holds that both clinical and sub-clinical manifestations of animal fears are a result of how an animal is perceived, and can be used to explain both individual differences in fear acquisition and the uneven distribution of fears in the population. This study looked at the association between fear of a number of animals and perceptions of the animals as uncontrollable, unpredictable, dangerous and disgusting. Also assessed were the perceived loomingness, prior familiarity, and negative evaluation of the animals as well as possible conditioning experiences. Methods 162 first-year University students rated their fear and perceptions of four high-fear and four low-fear animals. Results Perceptions of the animals as dangerous, disgusting and uncontrollable were significantly associated with fear of both high- and low-fear animals while perceptions of unpredictability were significantly associated with fear of high-fear animals. Conditioning experiences were unrelated to fear of any animals. In multiple regression analyses, loomingness did not account for a significant amount of the variance in fear beyond that accounted for by the cognitive vulnerability variables. However, the vulnerability variables accounted for between 20% and 51% of the variance in all animals fears beyond that accounted for by perceptions of the animals as looming. Perceptions of dangerousness, uncontrollability and unpredictability were highly predictive of the uneven distribution of animal fears. Conclusion This study provides support for the Cognitive Vulnerability Model of the etiology of specific fears and phobias and brings into question the utility of the harm-looming model in explaining animal fear.
Full Text Available ... This shows how the approach affects a living body and whether it's harmful. However, an approach that works well in the lab or animals doesn't always work well in people. Thus, research in humans is needed. For safety purposes, clinical trials start ...
Scientific assessment of animal welfare.
Hemsworth, P H; Mellor, D J; Cronin, G M; Tilbrook, A J
2015-01-01
Animal welfare is a state within the animal and a scientific perspective provides methodologies for evidence-based assessment of an animal's welfare. A simplistic definition of animal welfare might be how the animal feels now. Affective experiences including emotions, are subjective states so cannot be measured directly in animals, but there are informative indirect physiological and behavioural indices that can be cautiously used to interpret such experiences. This review enunciates several key science-based frameworks for understanding animal welfare. The biological functioning and affective state frameworks were initially seen as competing, but a recent more unified approach is that biological functioning is taken to include affective experiences and affective experiences are recognised as products of biological functioning, and knowledge of the dynamic interactions between the two is considered to be fundamental to managing and improving animal welfare. The value of these two frameworks in understanding the welfare of group-housed sows is reviewed. The majority of studies of the welfare of group-housed sows have employed the biological functioning framework to infer compromised sow welfare, on the basis that suboptimal biological functioning accompanies negative affective states such as sow hunger, pain, fear, helplessness, frustration and anger. Group housing facilitates social living, but group housing of gestating sows raises different welfare considerations to stall housing, such as high levels of aggression, injuries and stress, at least for several days after mixing, as well as subordinate sows being underfed due to competition at feeding. This paper highlights the challenges and potential opportunities for the continued improvement in sow management through well-focused research and multidisciplinary assessment of animal welfare. In future the management of sentient animals will require the promotion of positive affective experiences in animals and this
The thermal conductivity of mixed fuel U<sub>xPu>1-xsub>O>2sub>: molecular dynamics simulations
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Liu, Xiang-Yang [Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Cooper, Michael William Donald [Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Stanek, Christopher Richard [Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Andersson, Anders David Ragnar [Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
2015-10-16
Mixed oxides (MOX), in the context of nuclear fuels, are a mixture of the oxides of heavy actinide elements such as uranium, plutonium and thorium. The interest in the UO<sub>2sub>-PuO>2sub> system arises from the fact that these oxides are used both in fast breeder reactors (FBRs) as well as in pressurized water reactors (PWRs). The thermal conductivity of UO<sub>2sub> fuel is an important material property that affects fuel performance since it is the key parameter determining the temperature distribution in the fuel, thus governing, e.g., dimensional changes due to thermal expansion, fission gas release rates, etc. For this reason it is important to understand the thermal conductivity of MOX fuel and how it differs from UO<sub>2sub>. Here, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are carried out to determine quantitatively, the effect of mixing on the thermal conductivity of U<sub>xPu>1-xsub>O>2sub>, as a function of PuO<sub>2sub> concentrations, for a range of temperatures, 300 – 1500 K. The results will be used to develop enhanced continuum thermal conductivity models for MARMOT and BISON by INL. These models express the thermal conductivity as a function of microstructure state-variables, thus enabling thermal conductivity models with closer connection to the physical state of the fuel.
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Linda L. Han
2011-11-01
Full Text Available We analyzed signs occurring among domestic and wild terrestrial animal species infected with raccoon rabies variant virus (RRV in Massachusetts, 1992–2010. The clinical sign of aggression was significantly associated with rabid stray cats (odds ratio, OR = 2.3 and RRV affected major wild terrestrial animal species individually, which included raccoons (OR = 2.8, skunks (OR = 8.0, gray foxes (OR = 21.3, red foxes (OR = 10.4, woodchucks (OR = 4.7 and coyotes (OR = 27.6. While aggression is a useful predictor of rabies among wild animals, combinations of other signs such as ataxia, disorientation, and salivation are useful predictors of rabies among domestic animals. Pets reported with multiple clinical signs had significantly higher rabies positive testing result than those reported with single clinical sign (p < 0.001. The result suggested the importance of avoiding aggressive terrestrial wild animals and giving additional attention to pets with multiple clinical signs.
Why are some animal populations unaffected or positively affected by roads?
Rytwinski, Trina; Fahrig, Lenore
2013-11-01
In reviews on effects of roads on animal population abundance we found that most effects are negative; however, there are also many neutral and positive responses [Fahrig and Rytwinski (Ecol Soc 14:21, 2009; Rytwinski and Fahrig (Biol Conserv 147:87-98, 2012)]. Here we use an individual-based simulation model to: (1) confirm predictions from the existing literature of the combinations of species traits and behavioural responses to roads that lead to negative effects of roads on animal population abundance, and (2) improve prediction of the combinations of species traits and behavioural responses to roads that lead to neutral and positive effects of roads on animal population abundance. Simulations represented a typical situation in which road mitigation is contemplated, i.e. rural landscapes containing a relatively low density (up to 1.86 km/km(2)) of high-traffic roads, with continuous habitat between the roads. In these landscapes, the simulations predict that populations of species with small territories and movement ranges, and high reproductive rates, i.e. many small mammals and birds, should not be reduced by roads. Contrary to previous suggestions, the results also predict that populations of species that obtain a resource from roads (e.g. vultures) do not increase with increasing road density. In addition, our simulations support the predation release hypothesis for positive road effects on prey (both small- and large-bodied prey), whereby abundance of a prey species increased with increasing road density due to reduced predation by generalist road-affected predators. The simulations also predict an optimal road density for the large-bodied prey species if it avoids roads or traffic emissions. Overall, the simulation results suggest that in rural landscapes containing high-traffic roads, there are many species for which road mitigation may not be necessary; mitigation efforts should be tailored to the species that show negative population responses to roads.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Li, Junliang; Wang, Shaorong; Wang, Zhengrong; Liu, Renzhu; Wen, Tinglian; Wen, Zhaoyin [Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1295 Dingxi Road, Shanghai 200050 (China)
2008-05-01
(La{sub 0.74}Bi{sub 0.10}Sr{sub 0.16})MnO{sub 3-{delta}} (LBSM)-(Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3}){sub 0.7}(Er{sub 2}O{sub 3}){sub 0.3}(ESB) composite cathodes were fabricated for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells with Sc-stabilized zirconia as the electrolyte. The performance of these cathodes was investigated at temperatures below 750 C by AC impedance spectroscopy and the results indicated that LBSM-ESB had a better performance than traditional composite electrodes such as LSM-GDC and LSM-YSZ. At 750 C, the lowest interfacial polarization resistance was only 0.11 {omega} cm{sup 2} for the LBSM-ESB cathode, 0.49 {omega} cm{sup 2} for the LSM-GDC cathode, and 1.31 {omega} cm{sup 2} for the LSM-YSZ cathode. The performance of the cathode was improved gradually by increasing the ESB content, and the performance was optimal when the amounts of LBSM and ESB were equal in composite cathodes. This study shows that the sintering temperature of the cathode affected performance, and the optimum sintering temperature for LBSM-ESB was 900 C. (author)
Clinical consequences of sensitisation in affective disorder
DEFF Research Database (Denmark)
Kessing, L V; Mortensen, P B; Bolwig, T G
1998-01-01
Clinically derived measures of the initial course of episodes might reflect a process of sensitisation in affective disorder. However, the clinical consequences of such measures have not been investigated. The predictive effect of measures of the initial course of episodes was investigated...... period between initial episodes of the illness, reflecting a great intensity of illness, predicted increased risk of subsequent development of dementia, and for unipolar patients, decreased risk of subsequent alcoholism. Surprisingly, a progressive course, with decreasing intervals between initial...... episodes of the illness, had no predictive effect. Similarly, no predictive effects on the risk of death or suicidal acts could be demonstrated with any measure of the initial course of episodes....
Evaluation of factors affecting adherence to asthma controller ...
African Journals Online (AJOL)
Evaluation of factors affecting adherence to asthma controller therapy in chest clinics in a sub-Saharan African setting: a cross-sectional study. ... Background: Adherence to controller therapy in asthma is a major concern during the management of the disease. Objective: To determine the adherence rate and identify the ...
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Wang, Shizhong; Zou, Yuman [College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, Fujian (China)
2006-06-15
High performance Sm{sub 0.5}Sr{sub 0.5}CoO{sub 3}(SSC)-La{sub 0.8}Sr{sub 0.2}Ga{sub 0.8}Mg{sub 0.15}Co{sub 0.05}O{sub 3} (LSGMC5) composite cathodes for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (ITSOFC) were prepared and characterized. The SSC powders were synthesized using the glycine-nitrate method and La{sub 0.8}Sr{sub 0.2}Ga{sub 0.8}Mg{sub 0.15}Co{sub 0.05}O{sub 3}(LSGMC5) powders were synthesized using the citrate method. The calcining temperature for the SSC and LSGMC5 powders had strong effect on the microstructure of the composite electrode and electrode/electrolyte interface, which affected the performance of the SSC-LSGMC5 electrode strongly. The electrode based on SSC calcined at 1223K and LSGMC5 calcined at 1273K exhibited the highest performance among the electrodes studied. The electrode resistance was about 0.07{omega}cm{sup 2}, and the overpotential under 1Acm{sup -2} current density was as low as 0.077V at 973K in oxygen, which could be an ideal cathode for ITSOFC based on lanthanum gallate electrolytes. (author)
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Lin, Yu [Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)
2002-12-31
Eu(Ba<sub>1-xsub>LRx)>2sub>Cu>3sub>O>7+δsub> were systematically studied in order to understand how the valence of the rear earth elements, ionic sizes and magnetic moment affect the crystal structure and magnetic and electrical properties. Differential thermal analyses were carried out to check the phase purity, X-ray data were least-squares fitted to determine the lattice parameters, and DC-SQUID magnetometry was used to characterize the superconducting properties. These results showed that the crystallography is consistent with other EuLR123ss series, LR = La, Pr, Eu. The lattice parameters vary with the ionic radii of the rare earth ions. Unlike the uniform change in lattice parameter, the superconducting transition did not vary systematically with the ionic size of the dopants. Although the general trend was for T<sub>c> to decrease with decreasing ionic size of the dopant, for the same doping level, Pr was anomalous, depressing T<sub>c> faster. Although the exact mechanism is not clear, this result is consistent with the depression of T<sub>c> for Pr substitution for the rare earth in R123. The critical current J<sub>c> was determined using the Bean model from magnetization versus field measurements as a function of temperature and field. The effect of the dopants on J<sub>c> with the increasing of temperature or applied field was determined. For T < 77 K and small values of x, the value of J<sub>c> was increased over that of the x = 0 sample. In addition, the smaller the substituting atom, the higher the J<sub>c> becomes. For instance, at x = 0.025, Eu123 < EuLa.025 < EuPr.025 < EuNd.025 < EuEu.025. The enhancement of J<sub>c> disappears for x > 0.05 and T > 0.5T<sub>c>.
International Nuclear Information System (INIS)
Marcinkowski, Radosław; Mollet, Pieter; Van Holen, Roel; Vandenberghe, Stefaan
2016-01-01
The mouse model is widely used in a vast range of biomedical and preclinical studies. Thanks to the ability to detect and quantify biological processes at the molecular level in vivo, PET has become a well-established tool in these investigations. However, the need to visualize and quantify radiopharmaceuticals in anatomic structures of millimetre or less requires good spatial resolution and sensitivity from small-animal PET imaging systems. In previous work we have presented a proof-of-concept of a dedicated high-resolution small-animal PET scanner based on thin monolithic scintillator crystals and Digital Photon Counter photosensor. The combination of thin monolithic crystals and MLE positioning algorithm resulted in an excellent spatial resolution of 0.7 mm uniform in the entire field of view (FOV). However, the limitation of the scanner was its low sensitivity due to small thickness of the lutetium-yttrium oxyorthosilicate (LYSO) crystals (2 mm). Here we present an improved detector design for a small-animal PET system that simultaneously achieves higher sensitivity and sustains a sub-millimetre spatial resolution. The proposed detector consists of a 5 mm thick monolithic LYSO crystal optically coupled to a Digital Photon Counter. Mean nearest neighbour (MNN) positioning combined with depth of interaction (DOI) decoding was employed to achieve sub-millimetre spatial resolution. To evaluate detector performance the intrinsic spatial resolution, energy resolution and coincidence resolving time (CRT) were measured. The average intrinsic spatial resolution of the detector was 0.60 mm full-width-at-half-maximum (FWHM). A DOI resolution of 1.66 mm was achieved. The energy resolution was 23% FWHM at 511 keV and CRT of 529 ps were measured. The improved detector design overcomes the sensitivity limitation of the previous design by increasing the nominal sensitivity of the detector block and retains an excellent intrinsic spatial resolution. (paper)
Berridge, Brian R; Schultze, A Eric; Heyen, Jon R; Searfoss, George H; Sarazan, R Dustan
2016-12-01
Cardiovascular (CV) safety liabilities are significant concerns for drug developers and preclinical animal studies are predominately where those liabilities are characterized before patient exposures. Steady progress in technology and laboratory capabilities is enabling a more refined and informative use of animals in those studies. The application of surgically implantable and telemetered instrumentation in the acute assessment of drug effects on CV function has significantly improved historical approaches that involved anesthetized or restrained animals. More chronically instrumented animals and application of common clinical imaging assessments like echocardiography and MRI extend functional and in-life structural assessments into the repeat-dose setting. A growing portfolio of circulating CV biomarkers is allowing longitudinal and repeated measures of cardiac and vascular injury and dysfunction better informing an understanding of temporal pathogenesis and allowing earlier detection of undesirable effects. In vitro modeling systems of the past were limited by their lack of biological relevance to the in vivo human condition. Advances in stem cell technology and more complex in vitro modeling platforms are quickly creating more opportunity to supplant animals in our earliest assessments for liabilities. Continuing improvement in our capabilities in both animal and nonanimal modeling should support a steady decrease in animal use for primary liability identification and optimize the translational relevance of the animal studies we continue to do. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Institute for Laboratory Animal Research. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.
Optimized animal model to mimic the reality of stress-induced depression in the clinic.
Zhang, Yi; Wang, Yuting; Lei, Hui; Wang, Lei; Xue, Liang; Wang, Xin; Zhu, Xiongzhao
2017-05-06
Animal models are useful tools for verifying the relationship between stress and depression; however, an operational criterion for excluding the resilient animals from the analysis has not been established yet, which hinders the model's ability to more accurately mimic the scenario in humans. To induce depression-like symptoms, rats received maternal deprivation (MD) during PND1-14, and/or chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) exposure. The latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to determine latent subgroups in treatment naive adult rats. The percentile method was used to distinguish sensitive and non-sensitive behaviors in rats. The sucrose preference rate of treatment naive adult rats was fit using a Beta distribution, while immobility time was fit using a Gamma distribution. Indexes of behavioral tests revealed the 4-class model as the best fit for treatment naive adult rats. The incidence of stress-resilience in MD rats was significantly higher than that in CUS rats and MD + CUS rats. There was a significantly higher incidence of stress-resilience in CUS rats compared with MD + CUS rats. Recovery rate of anhedonia-like and sub anhedonia-like behaviors in CUS rats was significantly higher than that in MD and MD + CUS rats. There was a significantly higher recovery rate of anhedonia-like behaviors in MD rats compared to MD + CUS rats. The percentile method is suitable for setting up an operational cutoff to classify depression-like, sub depression-like, and resilient behaviors in rats exposed to MD and CUS.
Factors Affecting Sustainable Animal Trypanosomosis Control in ...
African Journals Online (AJOL)
trypanosomiasis control in parts of Kaduna State within the sub- humid savannah ... livestock farmers in planning and implementation. Across ... help to ensure a better management of livestock in tsetse fly infested areas with minimal loses in .... market and administered by them. This drug ... Table 2 shows the analysis of.
Chronic stress impacts the cardiovascular system: animal models and clinical outcomes.
Golbidi, Saeid; Frisbee, Jefferson C; Laher, Ismail
2015-06-15
Psychological stresses are associated with cardiovascular diseases to the extent that cardiovascular diseases are among the most important group of psychosomatic diseases. The longstanding association between stress and cardiovascular disease exists despite a large ambiguity about the underlying mechanisms. An array of possibilities have been proposed including overactivity of the autonomic nervous system and humoral changes, which then converge on endothelial dysfunction that initiates unwanted cardiovascular consequences. We review some of the features of the two most important stress-activated systems, i.e., the humoral and nervous systems, and focus on alterations in endothelial function that could ensue as a result of these changes. Cardiac and hematologic consequences of stress are also addressed briefly. It is likely that activation of the inflammatory cascade in association with oxidative imbalance represents key pathophysiological components of stress-induced cardiovascular changes. We also review some of the commonly used animal models of stress and discuss the cardiovascular outcomes reported in these models of stress. The unique ability of animals for adaptation under stressful conditions lessens the extrapolation of laboratory findings to conditions of human stress. An animal model of unpredictable chronic stress, which applies various stress modules in a random fashion, might be a useful solution to this predicament. The use of stress markers as indicators of stress intensity is also discussed in various models of animal stress and in clinical studies. Copyright © 2015 the American Physiological Society.
de Vries, Rob B. M.; Wever, Kimberley E.; Avey, Marc T.; Stephens, Martin L.; Sena, Emily S.; Leenaars, Marlies
2014-01-01
The question of how animal studies should be designed, conducted, and analyzed remains underexposed in societal debates on animal experimentation. This is not only a scientific but also a moral question. After all, if animal experiments are not appropriately designed, conducted, and analyzed, the results produced are unlikely to be reliable and the animals have in effect been wasted. In this article, we focus on one particular method to address this moral question, namely systematic reviews of previously performed animal experiments. We discuss how the design, conduct, and analysis of future (animal and human) experiments may be optimized through such systematic reviews. In particular, we illustrate how these reviews can help improve the methodological quality of animal experiments, make the choice of an animal model and the translation of animal data to the clinic more evidence-based, and implement the 3Rs. Moreover, we discuss which measures are being taken and which need to be taken in the future to ensure that systematic reviews will actually contribute to optimizing experimental design and thereby to meeting a necessary condition for making the use of animals in these experiments justified. PMID:25541545
International Nuclear Information System (INIS)
Verhaegen, Frank; Hoof, Stefan van; Granton, Patrick V.; Trani, Daniela
2014-01-01
Recently, precision irradiators integrated with a high-resolution CT imaging device became available for pre-clinical studies. These research platforms offer significant advantages over older generations of animal irradiators in terms of precision and accuracy of image-guided radiation targeting. These platforms are expected to play a significant role in defining experiments that will allow translation of research findings to the human clinical setting. In the field of radiotherapy, but also others such as neurology, the platforms create unique opportunities to explore e.g. the synergy between radiation and drugs or other agents. To fully exploit the advantages of this new technology, accurate methods are needed to plan the irradiation and to calculate the three-dimensional radiation dose distribution in the specimen. To this end, dedicated treatment planning systems are needed. In this review we will discuss specific issues for precision irradiation of small animals, we will describe the workflow of animal treatment planning, and we will examine several dose calculation algorithms (factorization, superposition-convolution, Monte Carlo simulation) used for animal irradiation with kilovolt photon beams. Issues such as dose reporting methods, photon scatter, tissue segmentation and motion will also be discussed briefly.
Bandgap engineering of the Lu{sub x}Y{sub 1−x}PO{sub 4} mixed crystals
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Levushkina, V.S., E-mail: viktoriia.levushkina@ut.ee [Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, Ravila 14c, 50411 Tartu (Estonia); Physics Faculty, Moscow State University, Leninskiye Gory 1-2, 11991 Moscow (Russian Federation); Spassky, D.A. [Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, Ravila 14c, 50411 Tartu (Estonia); Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics, Moscow State University, Leninskiye Gory 1-2, 11991 Moscow (Russian Federation); Aleksanyan, E.M. [Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, Ravila 14c, 50411 Tartu (Estonia); A. Alikhanyan National Science Laboratory, Yerevan Physics Institute, Alikhanyan Yeghbayrneri St. 2, 0036 Yerevan (Armenia); Brik, M.G. [Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, Ravila 14c, 50411 Tartu (Estonia); College of Sciences, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, 400065 Chongqing (China); Institute of Physics, Jan Dlugosz University, Armii Krajowej 13/15, PL-42200 Czestochowa (Poland); Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Lotników 32/46, 02-668 Warsaw (Poland); Tretyakova, M.S.; Zadneprovski, B.I. [Central Research and Development Institute of Chemistry and Mechanics, Nagatinskaya St. 16a, 115487 Moscow (Russian Federation); Belsky, A.N. [Institute of Light and Matter, CNRS, University Lyon1, 69622 Villeurbanne (France)
2016-03-15
Bandgap modification of the Lu{sub x}Y{sub 1−x}PO{sub 4} mixed crystals has been studied by thermostimulated luminescence (TSL) and ab-initio calculation methods. Doping of Lu{sub x}Y{sub 1−x}PO{sub 4} with Ce{sup 3+} allowed to follow up the changes of electron traps depth, caused by the modification of the bottom of conduction band. The observed gradual shift of the most intensive TSL peaks to higher temperatures with increase of x value was connected with the high-energy shift of the conduction band bottom. According to the band structure calculations the bottom of the conduction band is formed by the 5d and 4d states of Lu and Y, respectively. Therefore, substitution of one cation by another is responsible for the observed variation of the electronic and optical properties. Doping with Eu{sup 3+} was used to study the modification of the hole traps and the top of the valence band in Lu{sub x}Y{sub 1−x}PO{sub 4}. The independence of the TSL peaks position on x value in Lu{sub x}Y{sub 1−x}PO{sub 4}:Eu{sup 3+} allows to conclude that the top of the valence band is negligibly affected by the cation substitution. According to the band structure calculations the top of the valence band is formed by the O 2p electronic states, which are not affected by the cation substitution. The resulting increase of the bandgap with x value is confirmed by the data of ab-initio calculations. - Highlights: • Band structure modification with x in Lu{sub x}Y{sub 1−x}PO{sub 4}:RE{sup 3+} (RE=Ce, Eu) is studied. • Depth of electron traps is affected by the bandgap modification. • Increase of bandgap with x is due to the shift of conduction band bottom.
DEFF Research Database (Denmark)
Pommergaard, H C; Rosenberg, J; Schumacher-Petersen, Camilla
2011-01-01
Animal models are valuable for studying pathogenic factors and preventive measures for colon anastomotic leakage. The suitability of the species as models varies greatly; however, no consensus exists on which species to use. The aim of this review was to evaluate different experimental animals...... for the study of clinical colon anastomotic leakage....
Platelet binding and biodistribution of [{sup 99m}Tc]rBitistatin in animal species and humans
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Knight, Linda C. [Department of Radiology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140 (United States)], E-mail: lknight@temple.edu; Romano, Jan E. [Department of Radiology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140 (United States); Bright, Lewis T.; Agelan, Alexis [University Laboratory Animal Resources, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140 (United States); Kantor, Steven; Maurer, Alan H. [Department of Radiology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140 (United States)
2007-10-15
Introduction: {sup 99m}Tc recombinant bitistatin (rBitistatin) is a radioligand for {alpha}{sub IIb}{beta}{sub 3} (glycoproteins IIb/IIIa) receptor on platelets and is being developed as a diagnostic radiopharmaceutical for in vivo imaging of acute thrombi and emboli. Prior to the first administration of [{sup 99m}Tc]rBitistatin to human subjects, its biodistribution and effects on platelets were evaluated in animals. This paper reports findings in animal studies in comparison with initial findings in normal human subjects. Methods: [{sup 99m}Tc]rBitistatin was administered to mice, guinea pigs and dogs to assess time-dependent organ distribution, urinary excretion and blood disappearance rates. Blood samples were analyzed to determine radioligand binding to circulating platelets and the extent of plasma protein binding. The effect of [{sup 99m}Tc]rBitistatin on circulating platelet count was determined. These factors were also determined in normal human subjects who received [{sup 99m}Tc]rBitistatin as part of a Phase I clinical trial. Results: The main organs that accumulated [{sup 99m}Tc]rBitistatin were kidneys, liver and spleen in all animal species and humans. The main organs seen on human images were the kidneys and spleen. Liver uptake was fainter, and soft-tissue background was low. [{sup 99m}Tc]rBitistatin bound to circulating platelets in blood, with a higher percentage of binding to platelets in guinea pigs and dogs compared to that in humans. Plasma protein binding was low and of little consequence in view of platelet binding. The main route of excretion was through the urine. [{sup 99m}Tc]rBitistatin did not affect platelet counts in humans or dogs. Conclusions: [{sup 99m}Tc]rBitistatin, when administered at low doses for imaging, has no adverse effects on platelets and has the qualitative biodistribution predicted by animal studies. [{sup 99m}Tc]rBitistatin was found to bind to circulating platelets in humans, suggesting that it will be able to bind
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Rivera, T., E-mail: trivera@ipn.mx [Centro de Investigacion en Ciencia Aplicada y Tecnologia Avanzada-Legaria, IPN. Av. Legaria 694, Col. Irrigacion. 11500 Mexico DF (Mexico); Espinoza, A.; Von, S.M. [Centro Estatal de Cancerologia de los Servicios de Salud de Nayarit, Enfermeria S/n, Fracc, Fray Junipero Serra, 63169 Tepic Nay (Mexico); Alvarez, R.; Jimenez, Y. [Centro de Investigacion en Ciencia Aplicada y Tecnologia Avanzada-Legaria, IPN. Av. Legaria 694, Col. Irrigacion. 11500 Mexico DF (Mexico)
2012-07-15
In the present work high energy electron beam dosimetry from linear accelerator (LINACs) for clinical applications using dysprosium doped calcium sulfate embedded in polytetrafluorethylene (CaSO{sub 4}:Dy+PTFE) was studied. The irradiations were carried out using high electron beams (6 to 18 MeV) from a linear accelerator (LINAC) Varian, CLINAC 2300C/D, for clinical practice purpose. The electron irradiations were obtained using the water solid in order to guarantee electronic equilibrium conditions (EEC). Field shaping for electron beams was obtained with electron cones. Glow curve and other thermoluminescent characteristics of CaSO{sub 4}:Dy+PTFE were conducted under high electrons beams irradiations. The TL response of the pellets showed an intensity peak centered at around 215 Degree-Sign C. TL response of CaSO{sub 4}:Dy+PTFE as a function of high electron absorbed dose showed a linearity in a wide range. To obtain reproducibility characteristic, a set of pellets were exposed repeatedly for the same electron absorbed dose. The results obtained in this study can suggest the applicability of CaSO{sub 4}:Dy+PTFE pellets for high electron beam dosimetry, provided fading is correctly accounted for. - Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Developing of CaSO{sub 4}:Dy to electron beams dosimetry. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Characterization of caSO{sub 4}:Dy to radiation safety in LINACs. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer TL characteristics of CaSO{sub 4}:Dy for electron beams quality control.
Photoluminescence from Cd{sub x}Hg{sub 1-x}Te
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Breivik, M; Selvig, E; Tonheim, C R; Brendhagen, E; Brudevoll, T; Rheenen, A D van; Steen, H; Nicolas, S; Lorentzen, T; Haakenaasen, R [Norwegian Defence Research Establishment, P O Box 25, N-2027 Kjeller (Norway)], E-mail: magnus.breivik@gmail.com
2008-03-15
We present important aspects of photoluminescence (PL) of Cd{sub x}Hg{sub 1-x}Te in the infrared part of the spectrum where background thermal radiation significantly affects the PL spectrum. We show how the background spectrum can be removed from the data. We also show how the wavelength of the excitation laser affects the relative intensity of the PL peaks from a multi-layer structure. Finally, we present temperature dependent PL of a Cd{sub 0.36}Hg{sub 0.64}Te/Cd{sub 0.61}Hg{sub 0.39}Te multiple quantum well structure grown on a 4 {mu}m thick Cd{sub 0.36}Hg{sub 0.64}Te buffer layer. We attribute the low temperature peak from the buffer layer to impurities. The impurity levels are depopulated as the temperature increases, resulting in a decreased PL peak intensity. Above {approx}200 K a band-to-band peak from the buffer layer is observed. The quantum well peak persists up to {approx}200 K.
Animal Models in Burn Research
Abdullahi, A.; Amini-Nik, S.; Jeschke, M.G
2014-01-01
Burn injury is a severe form of trauma affecting more than two million people in North America each year. Burn trauma is not a single pathophysiological event but a devastating injury that causes structural and functional deficits in numerous organ systems. Due to its complexity and the involvement of multiple organs, in vitro experiments cannot capture this complexity nor address the pathophysiology. In the past two decades, a number of burn animal models have been developed to replicate the various aspects of burn injury; to elucidate the pathophysiology and explore potential treatment interventions. Understanding the advantages and limitations of these animal models is essential for the design and development of treatments that are clinically relevant to humans. This review paper aims to highlight the common animal models of burn injury in order to provide investigators with a better understanding of the benefits and limitations of these models for translational applications. While many animal models of burn exist, we limit our discussion to the skin healing of mouse, rat, and pig. Additionally, we briefly explain hypermetabolic characteristics of burn injury and the animal model utilized to study this phenomena. Finally, we discuss the economic costs associated with each of these models in order to guide decisions of choosing the appropriate animal model for burn research. PMID:24714880
Factors Affecting Social Workers' Inclusion of Animals in Practice
Risley-Curtiss, Christina; Rogge, Mary E.; Kawam, Elisa
2013-01-01
Experts suggest that social work practitioners can improve their client service with a more thorough understanding of the impact of other animals on individuals and families. Studies indicate that some social work practitioners are including animals in their practices through assessment and interventions. Little is known about what factors…
Nishioka, Scott T; Sato, Miles M; Wong, Linda L; Tiirikainen, Maarit; Kwee, Sandi A
2018-01-01
Increased serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels are associated with specific molecular sub-classes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), supporting AFP as a predictive or therapeutic biomarker for precision treatment of this disease. Considering recent efforts to validate HCC molecular classification systems across different populations, we applied existing signature-based classification templates to Hawaii cohorts and examined whether associations between HCC molecular sub-class, AFP levels, and clinical features found elsewhere can also be found in Hawaii, a region with a unique demographic and risk factor profile for HCC. Whole-genome expression profiling was performed on HCC tumors collected from 40 patients following partial hepatectomy. Tumors underwent transcriptome-based categorization into 3 molecular sub-classes (S1, S2, and S3). Patient groups based on molecular sub-class and AFP level were then compared with regards to clinical features and survival. Differences associated with AFP level and other clinical parameters were also examined at the gene signature level by gene set enrichment analysis. Statistically confident (false discovery rate 400 ng/mL predicted significant tumor enrichment for genes corresponding to MYC target activation, high cell proliferation, poor clinical prognosis, and the S2 sub-class. AFP > 400 ng/mL and non-S3 tumor classification were found to be significant predictors of overall survival. Distinct sub-classes of HCC associated with different molecular features and survival outcomes can be detected with statistical confidence in a Pacific Island cohort. Molecular classification signatures and other predictive markers for HCC that are valid for all patient populations are needed to support multi-center efforts to develop targeted therapies for HCC.
Animal models of yellow fever and their application in clinical research.
Julander, Justin G
2016-06-01
Yellow fever virus (YFV) is an arbovirus that causes significant human morbidity and mortality. This virus has been studied intensively over the past century, although there are still no treatment options for those who become infected. Periodic and unpredictable yellow fever (YF) outbreaks in Africa and South America continue to occur and underscore the ongoing need to further understand this viral disease and to develop additional countermeasures to prevent or treat cases of illness. The use of animal models of YF is critical to accomplishing this goal. There are several animal models of YF that replicate various aspects of clinical disease and have provided insight into pathogenic mechanisms of the virus. These typically include mice, hamsters and non-human primates (NHP). The utilities and shortcomings of the available animal models of YF are discussed. Information on recent discoveries that have been made in the field of YFV research is also included as well as important future directions in further ameliorating the morbidity and mortality that occur as a result of YFV infection. It is anticipated that these model systems will help facilitate further improvements in the understanding of this virus and in furthering countermeasures to prevent or treat infections. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Corredor, L.T. [Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, 50670-901 Recife, PE (Brazil); Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências de Materiais-CCEN, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, 50670-901 Recife, PE (Brazil); Grupo de Física de Nuevos Materiales, Departamento de Física, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá D.C. (Colombia); Albino Aguiar, J. [Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, 50670-901 Recife, PE (Brazil); Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências de Materiais-CCEN, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, 50670-901 Recife, PE (Brazil); Landínez Téllez, D.A. [Grupo de Física de Nuevos Materiales, Departamento de Física, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá D.C. (Colombia); Pureur, P.; Mesquita, F. [Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS (Brazil); Roa-Rojas, J. [Grupo de Física de Nuevos Materiales, Departamento de Física, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá D.C. (Colombia)
2015-06-15
Highlights: • We investigated the effect of the dilution of magnetic Ru sub-lattice of RuSr{sub 2}GdCu{sub 2}O{sub 8}. • We synthesized the doped compound Rui{sub x}Re{sub x}Sr{sub 2}GdCu{sub 2}O{sub y}, for 3%, 6%, 9% and 12% Re. • Re would affect the electron coupling: just 3 and 6% samples were superconductor. • Superconductivity emergence strongly affects magnetic properties of 3 and 6% samples. • A weak ferromagnetic component is consistent with a globally antiferromagnetic system. - Abstract: Despite the discovery of new superconductors classes, high-Tc oxides continue to be a current topic, because of their complex phase diagrams and doping-dependant effects (allowing one to investigate the interaction between orbitals), as well as structural properties such as lattice distortion and charge ordering, among many others. Ruthenocuprates are magnetic superconductors in which the magnetic transition temperature is much higher than the critical superconducting temperature, making them unique compounds. With the aim of investigating the dilution of the magnetic Ru sub-lattice, we proposed the synthesis of the Ru{sub 1−x}Re{sub x}Sr{sub 2}GdCu{sub 2}O{sub y} ruthenocuprate-type family, adapting the known two-step process (double perovskite + CuO) by directly doping the double perovskite, thus obtaining the perovskite compound Sr{sub 2}GdRu{sub 1−x}Re{sub x}O{sub y}, which represents a new synthesis process to the best of our knowledge. Our samples were structurally characterized through X-ray diffraction, and the patterns were analysed via Rietveld refinement. A complete magnetic characterization as a function of temperature and applied field, as well as transport measurements were carried out. We discuss our results in the light of the two-lattice model for ruthenocuprates, and a relation between RuO{sub 2} (magnetic) and CuO{sub 2} (superconductor) sub-lattices can clearly be observed.
Dichter, Gabriel S; Damiano, Cara A; Allen, John A
2012-07-06
This review summarizes evidence of dysregulated reward circuitry function in a range of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders and genetic syndromes. First, the contribution of identifying a core mechanistic process across disparate disorders to disease classification is discussed, followed by a review of the neurobiology of reward circuitry. We next consider preclinical animal models and clinical evidence of reward-pathway dysfunction in a range of disorders, including psychiatric disorders (i.e., substance-use disorders, affective disorders, eating disorders, and obsessive compulsive disorders), neurodevelopmental disorders (i.e., schizophrenia, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders, Tourette's syndrome, conduct disorder/oppositional defiant disorder), and genetic syndromes (i.e., Fragile X syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, Williams syndrome, Angelman syndrome, and Rett syndrome). We also provide brief overviews of effective psychopharmacologic agents that have an effect on the dopamine system in these disorders. This review concludes with methodological considerations for future research designed to more clearly probe reward-circuitry dysfunction, with the ultimate goal of improved intervention strategies.
Effect of As/sub 2/O/sub 3/ on gluconeogenesis
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Szinicz, L.; Forth, W.
1988-06-01
The effect of As/sub 2/O/sub 3/ and As/sub 2/O/sub 5/ on gluconeogenesis from various substrates in the liver and kidney of rats was investigated. A concentration-dependent inhibition by As/sub 2/O/sub 3/ was found. The highest degree of inhibition was observed in incubations with pyruvate. The inhibition of glucose formation was accompanied to a lesser extent by a diminution in O/sub 2/ consumption and ATP content. The effect was also dependent on the substrate used. Oleate, 0,5 mmol/l, increased gluconeogenesis from pyruvate. The effect was not abolished by As/sub 2/O/sub 3/. A decrease in the content of acetyl-CoA, 3-hydroxybutyrate, and reduced glutathione was found in suspensions of isolated rat kidney tubules or hepatocytes incubated with As/sub 2/O/sub 3/. About 10 times higher concentrations of As/sub 2/O/sub 5/ were necessary to induce a similar extent of inhibition of gluconeogenesis, decrease in O/sub 2/ consumption, and in ATP content as compared with As/sub 2/O/sub 3/. Gluconeogenesis from pyruvate exhibited highest sensitivity to As/sub 2/O/sub 5/. Starved rats were shown to be much more sensitive to As/sub 2/O/sub 3/ than animals with free access to food.
DEFF Research Database (Denmark)
Nielsen, Gitte Blach; Nielsen, Jens Peter; Haugegaard, John
2017-01-01
During the last decade, the clinical manifestation of Porcine Circovirus type 2 (PCV2) infections has mostly changed from postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome and high mortality to sub-clinical infections manifested only through impaired production parameters. However, co-infection with other...... respiratory pathogens often results in a larger effect on production, sometimes with clinical signs. Little is known about the impact of a moderate level PCV2 infection without co-infections, particularly in terms of feed conversion ratio and antimicrobial consumption. The purpose of the study was to evaluate...... the effect of vaccination against PCV2 in a sub-clinically infected, high-health finishing herd in terms of viral load in serum, feed conversion ratio and antimicrobial treatments. The study was conducted as a randomised clinical field trial with a parallel group design. Vaccination against PCV2...
Charged-Higgs on R{sub D}{sup {sub (}{sub *}{sub )}}, τ polarization, and FBA
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Chen, Chuan-Hung [National Cheng-Kung University, Department of Physics, Tainan (China); Nomura, Takaaki [KIAS, School of Physics, Seoul (Korea, Republic of)
2017-09-15
We study the influence of a charged-Higgs on the excess of branching fraction ratio, R{sub M} = BR(anti B → Mτ anti ν{sub τ})/BR(anti B → Ml anti ν{sub l}) (M = D, D*), in a generic two-Higgs-doublet model. In order to investigate the lepton polarization, the detailed decay amplitudes with lepton helicity are given. When the charged-Higgs is used to resolve excesses, it is found that two independent Yukawa couplings are needed to explain the R{sub D} and R{sub D*} anomalies. We show that when the upper limit of BR(B{sub c} → τ anti ν{sub τ}) < 30% is included, R{sub D} can be significantly enhanced while R{sub D*} < 0.27. With the BR(B{sub c} → τ anti ν{sub τ}) constraint, we find that the τ-lepton polarizations can be still affected by the charged-Higgs effects, where the standard model (SM) predictions are obtained: P{sup τ}{sub D} ∼ 0.324 and P{sup τ}{sub D*} ∼ -0.500, and they can be enhanced to be P{sup τ}{sub D} ∼ 0.5 and P{sup τ}{sub D*} ∼ -0.41 by the charged-Higgs. The integrated lepton forward-backward asymmetry (FBA) is also studied, where the SM result is anti A{sup D{sup ({sup *{sup ),τ}{sub FB}}}} ∼ -0.359(0.064), and they can be enhanced (decreased) to be anti A{sup D{sup ({sup *{sup ),τ}{sub FB}}}} ∼ -0.33(0.02). (orig.)
Sub-Clinical Cognitive Decline and Resting Cerebral Blood Flow in Middle Aged Men.
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Otto Mølby Henriksen
Full Text Available Although dementia is associated with both global and regional cerebral blood flow (CBF changes, little is known about cerebral perfusion in the early pre-clinical stages of cognitive decline preceding overt cognitive dysfunction. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of early sub-clinical cognitive decline with CBF.The study participants were recruited from a cohort of Danish men born in 1953. Based on a regression model we selected men who performed better (Group A, n = 94 and poorer (Group B, n = 95 on cognitive testing at age 57 than expected from testing at age 20. Participants underwent supplementary cognitive testing, blood sampling and MRI including measurements of regional and global CBF.Regional CBF was lower in group B than in group A in the posterior cingulate gyrus and the precuneus. The associations were attenuated when corrected for global atrophy, but remained significant in regions of interest based analysis adjusting for regional gray matter volume and vascular risk factors. No influence of group on global CBF was observed.We conclude that early sub-clinical cognitive decline is associated with reduced perfusion in the precuneus and posterior cingulate gyrus independently of regional atrophy and vascular risk factors, but cannot be statistically separated from an association with global atrophy.
Nordquist, Rebecca E; van der Staay, Franz Josef; van Eerdenburg, Frank J C M; Velkers, Francisca C; Fijn, Lisa; Arndt, Saskia S
2017-02-21
A number of mutilating procedures, such as dehorning in cattle and goats and beak trimming in laying hens, are common in farm animal husbandry systems in an attempt to prevent or solve problems, such as injuries from horns or feather pecking. These procedures and other practices, such as early maternal separation, overcrowding, and barren housing conditions, raise concerns about animal welfare. Efforts to ensure or improve animal welfare involve adapting the animal to its environment, i.e., by selective breeding (e.g., by selecting "robust" animals) adapting the environment to the animal (e.g., by developing social housing systems in which aggressive encounters are reduced to a minimum), or both. We propose adapting the environment to the animals by improving management practices and housing conditions, and by abandoning mutilating procedures. This approach requires the active involvement of all stakeholders: veterinarians and animal scientists, the industrial farming sector, the food processing and supply chain, and consumers of animal-derived products. Although scientific evidence about the welfare effects of current practices in farming such as mutilating procedures, management practices, and housing conditions is steadily growing, the gain in knowledge needs a boost through more scientific research. Considering the huge number of animals whose welfare is affected, all possible effort must be made to improve their welfare as quickly as possible in order to ban welfare-compromising procedures and practices as soon as possible.
Sub-Clinical Cognitive Decline and Resting Cerebral Blood Flow in Middle Aged Men
DEFF Research Database (Denmark)
Henriksen, Otto Mølby; Hansen, Naja Liv; Osler, Merete
2017-01-01
of early sub-clinical cognitive decline with CBF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study participants were recruited from a cohort of Danish men born in 1953. Based on a regression model we selected men who performed better (Group A, n = 94) and poorer (Group B, n = 95) on cognitive testing at age 57 than...
High-pressure behavior of A <sub>2sub> B <sub>2sub> O <sub>7sub> pyrochlore (A=Eu, Dy; B=Ti, Zr)
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Rittman, Dylan R.; Turner, Katlyn M.; Park, Sulgiye; Fuentes, Antonio F.; Yan, Jinyuan; Ewing, Rodney C.; Mao, Wendy L.
2017-01-28
In situ high-pressure X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy were used to determine the influence of composition on the high-pressure behavior of A<sub>2sub>B>2sub>O>7sub> pyrochlore (A=Eu, Dy; B=Ti, Zr) up to ~50GPa. Based on X-ray diffraction results, all compositions transformed to the high-pressure cotunnite structure. The B-site cation species had a larger effect on the transition pressure than the A-site cation species, with the onset of the phase transformation occurring at ~41 GPa for B=Ti and ~16 GPa B=Zr. However, the A-site cation affected the kinetics of the phase transformation, with the transformation for compositions with the smaller ionic radii, i.e., A=Dy, proceeding faster than those with a larger ionic radii, i.e., A=Eu. These results were consistent with previous work in which the radius-ratio of the A- and B-site cations determined the energetics of disordering, and compositions with more similarly sized A- and B-site cations had a lower defect formation energy. Raman spectra revealed differences in the degree of short-range order of the different compositions. Due to the large phase fraction of cotunnite at high pressure for B=Zr compositions, Raman modes for cotunnite could be observed, with more modes recorded for A=Eu than A=Dy. These additional modes are attributed to increased short-to-medium range ordering in the initially pyrochlore structured Eu<sub>2sub>Zr>2sub>O>7sub> as compared with the initially defect-fluorite structured Dy<sub>2sub>Zr>2sub>O>7sub>.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Park, Eun Kil [Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-744 (Korea, Republic of); Display Research Center, Samsung Display Co., Ltd., Yongin-City, Gyeonggi-Do 446-711 (Korea, Republic of); Kim, Sungmin [Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-744 (Korea, Republic of); Heo, Jaeyeong, E-mail: jheo@jnu.ac.kr [Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and the Optoelectronics Convergence Research Center, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 500-757 (Korea, Republic of); Kim, Hyeong Joon, E-mail: thinfilm@snu.ac.kr [Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-744 (Korea, Republic of)
2016-05-01
Highlights: • Crack generation in encapsulation layers were detected by leakage current. • Atomic concentration of SiO{sub x}N{sub y} films affected the bending reliability. • The shapes of the crack tips were affected by the stoichiometry of the SiO{sub x}N{sub y} films. - Abstract: By measuring leakage current density, we detected crack generation in silicon nitride (SiN{sub x}) and silicon oxynitride (SiO{sub x}N{sub y}) thin-film encapsulation layers, and correlated with the films’ water vapor permeability characteristics. After repeated bending cycles, both the changes in water vapor transmission rate and leakage current density were directly proportional to the crack density. Thick SiN{sub x} films had better water vapor barrier characteristics in their pristine state, but cyclic loading led to fast failure. Varying the atomic concentration of the SiO{sub x}N{sub y} films affected their bending reliability. We attribute these differences to changes in the shape of the crack tip as the oxygen content varies.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Ben Abdeljelil, Nawel; Rochette, Pierre-Alexandre; Pearson, Angela, E-mail: angela.pearson@iaf.inrs.ca
2013-09-15
Mutations in UL24 of herpes simplex virus type 1 can lead to a syncytial phenotype. We hypothesized that UL24 affects the sub-cellular distribution of viral glycoproteins involved in fusion. In non-immortalized human foreskin fibroblasts (HFFs) we detected viral glycoproteins B (gB), gD, gH and gL present in extended blotches throughout the cytoplasm with limited nuclear membrane staining; however, in HFFs infected with a UL24-deficient virus (UL24X), staining for the viral glycoproteins appeared as long, thin streaks running across the cell. Interestingly, there was a decrease in co-localized staining of gB and gD with F-actin at late times in UL24X-infected HFFs. Treatment with chemical agents that perturbed the actin cytoskeleton hindered the formation of UL24X-induced syncytia in these cells. These data support a model whereby the UL24 syncytial phenotype results from a mislocalization of viral glycoproteins late in infection. - Highlights: • UL24 affects the sub-cellular distribution of viral glycoproteins required for fusion. • Sub-cellular distribution of viral glycoproteins varies in cell-type dependent manner. • Drugs targeting actin microfilaments affect formation of UL24-related syncytia in HFFs.
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Robert Nunan
2014-11-01
Full Text Available The efficient healing of a skin wound is something that most of us take for granted but is essential for surviving day-to-day knocks and cuts, and is absolutely relied on clinically whenever a patient receives surgical intervention. However, the management of a chronic wound – defined as a barrier defect that has not healed in 3 months – has become a major therapeutic challenge throughout the Western world, and it is a problem that will only escalate with the increasing incidence of conditions that impede wound healing, such as diabetes, obesity and vascular disorders. Despite being clinically and molecularly heterogeneous, all chronic wounds are generally assigned to one of three major clinical categories: leg ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers or pressure ulcers. Although we have gleaned much knowledge about the fundamental cellular and molecular mechanisms that underpin healthy, acute wound healing from various animal models, we have learned much less about chronic wound repair pathology from these models. This might largely be because the animal models being used in this field of research have failed to recapitulate the clinical features of chronic wounds. In this Clinical Puzzle article, we discuss the clinical complexity of chronic wounds and describe the best currently available models for investigating chronic wound pathology. We also assess how such models could be optimised to become more useful tools for uncovering pathological mechanisms and potential therapeutic treatments.
Clinical and Neurobiological Relevance of Current Animal Models of Autism Spectrum Disorders
Kim, Ki Chan; Gonzales, Edson Luck; Lázaro, María T.; Choi, Chang Soon; Bahn, Geon Ho; Yoo, Hee Jeong; Shin, Chan Young
2016-01-01
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social and communication impairments, as well as repetitive and restrictive behaviors. The phenotypic heterogeneity of ASD has made it overwhelmingly difficult to determine the exact etiology and pathophysiology underlying the core symptoms, which are often accompanied by comorbidities such as hyperactivity, seizures, and sensorimotor abnormalities. To our benefit, the advent of animal models has allowed us to assess and test diverse risk factors of ASD, both genetic and environmental, and measure their contribution to the manifestation of autistic symptoms. At a broader scale, rodent models have helped consolidate molecular pathways and unify the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying each one of the various etiologies. This approach will potentially enable the stratification of ASD into clinical, molecular, and neurophenotypic subgroups, further proving their translational utility. It is henceforth paramount to establish a common ground of mechanistic theories from complementing results in preclinical research. In this review, we cluster the ASD animal models into lesion and genetic models and further classify them based on the corresponding environmental, epigenetic and genetic factors. Finally, we summarize the symptoms and neuropathological highlights for each model and make critical comparisons that elucidate their clinical and neurobiological relevance. PMID:27133257
DEFF Research Database (Denmark)
Jakobsen, Klaus Damgaard; Hansen, Thomas Folkmann; Dam, Henrik
2008-01-01
investigated. A standardized schema for basic anamnesis and the Operational Criteria Checklist for Psychotic and Affective Illness (OPCRIT) were used. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of clinical affective disorder ICD-10 diagnoses and the formal agreement between clinical...
Peiris, M; Yen, H-L
2014-08-01
Influenza type A viruses affect humans and other animals and cause significant morbidity, mortality and economic impact. Influenza A viruses are well adapted to cross species barriers and evade host immunity. Viruses that cause no clinical signs in wild aquatic birds may adapt in domestic poultry to become highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses which decimate poultry flocks. Viruses that cause asymptomatic infection in poultry (e.g. the recently emerged A/H7N9 virus) may cause severe zoonotic disease and pose a major pandemic threat. Pandemic influenza arises at unpredictable intervals from animal viruses and, in its global spread, outpaces current technologies for making vaccines against such novel viruses. Confronting the threat of influenza in humans and other animals is an excellent example of a task that requires a One Health approach. Changes in travel, trade in livestock and pets, changes in animal husbandry practices, wet markets and complex marketing chains all contribute to an increased risk of the emergence of novel influenza viruses with the ability to cross species barriers, leading to epizootics or pandemics. Coordinated surveillance at the animal- human interface for pandemic preparedness, risk assessment, risk reduction and prevention at source requires coordinated action among practitioners in human and animal health and the environmental sciences. Implementation of One Health in the field can be challenging because of divergent short-term objectives. Successful implementation requires effort, mutual trust, respect and understanding to ensure that long-term goals are achieved without adverse impacts on agricultural production and food security.
Owners' Perceptions of Their Animal's Behavioural Response to the Loss of an Animal Companion.
Walker, Jessica K; Waran, Natalie K; Phillips, Clive J C
2016-11-03
The loss of a companion animal is recognised as being associated with experiences of grief by the owner, but it is unclear how other animals in the household may be affected by such a loss. Our aim was to investigate companion animals' behavioural responses to the loss of a companion through owner-report. A questionnaire was distributed via, and advertised within, publications produced by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) across Australia and New Zealand, and through a selection of veterinary clinics within New Zealand. A total of 279 viable surveys were returned pertaining to 159 dogs and 152 cats. The two most common classes of behavioural changes reported for both dogs and cats were affectionate behaviours (74% of dogs and 78% of cats) and territorial behaviours (60% of dogs and 63% of cats). Both dogs and cats were reported to demand more attention from their owners and/or display affiliative behaviour, as well as spend time seeking out the deceased's favourite spot. Dogs were reported to reduce the volume (35%) and speed (31%) of food consumption and increase the amount of time spent sleeping (34%). Cats were reported to increase the frequency (43%) and volume (32%) of vocalisations following the death of a companion. The median duration of reported behavioural changes in both species was less than 6 months. There was consensus that the behaviour of companion animals changed in response to the loss of an animal companion. These behavioural changes suggest the loss had an impact on the remaining animal.
Science and animal models of marrow stimulation for cartilage repair.
Fortier, Lisa A; Cole, Brian J; McIlwraith, C Wayne
2012-03-01
Microfracture of subchondral bone to enhance cartilage repair is a popular surgical technique used in human and animal patients. Clinical results with resolution or improvement in pain are promising and last on average for 2 to 3 years. Animal studies aimed at understanding microfracture indicate that the repair tissue continues to remodel toward chondrogenesis for at least a year, but longer term results are not available to gain insight into the mechanism of microfracture function or failure over time. Subchondral bone sclerosis and central lesional osteophyte formation following subchondral bone microfracture have been observed in animal models of microfracture, but studies do not provide any insight into the etiology of these pathologies. The continued maturation of microfracture repair tissue over time supports further investigation of microfracture or microfracture-augmented cartilage repair procedures with caution for the investigator and clinician to be observant for conditions that lead to subchondral bone sclerosis or central osteophyte formation, and what affect these boney reactions have on clinical outcome.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Schüler, Emil; Trovati, Stefania; King, Gregory; Lartey, Frederick; Rafat, Marjan; Villegas, Manuel; Praxel, A. Joe [Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California (United States); Loo, Billy W., E-mail: BWLoo@stanford.edu [Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California (United States); Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California (United States); Maxim, Peter G., E-mail: PMaxim@stanford.edu [Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California (United States); Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California (United States)
2017-01-01
Purpose: A key factor limiting the effectiveness of radiation therapy is normal tissue toxicity, and recent preclinical data have shown that ultra-high dose rate irradiation (>50 Gy/s, “FLASH”) potentially mitigates this effect. However, research in this field has been strongly limited by the availability of FLASH irradiators suitable for small animal experiments. We present a simple methodologic approach for FLASH electron small animal irradiation with a clinically available linear accelerator (LINAC). Methods and Materials: We investigated the FLASH irradiation potential of a Varian Clinac 21EX in both clinical mode and after tuning of the LINAC. We performed detailed FLUKA Monte Carlo and experimental dosimetric characterization at multiple experimental locations within the LINAC head. Results: Average dose rates of ≤74 Gy/s were achieved in clinical mode, and the dose rate after tuning exceeded 900 Gy/s. We obtained 220 Gy/s at 1-cm depth for a >4-cm field size with 90% homogeneity throughout a 2-cm-thick volume. Conclusions: We present an approach for using a clinical LINAC for FLASH irradiation. We obtained dose rates exceeding 200 Gy/s after simple tuning of the LINAC, with excellent dosimetric properties for small animal experiments. This will allow for increased availability of FLASH irradiation to the general research community.
Schüler, Emil; Trovati, Stefania; King, Gregory; Lartey, Frederick; Rafat, Marjan; Villegas, Manuel; Praxel, A Joe; Loo, Billy W; Maxim, Peter G
2017-01-01
A key factor limiting the effectiveness of radiation therapy is normal tissue toxicity, and recent preclinical data have shown that ultra-high dose rate irradiation (>50 Gy/s, "FLASH") potentially mitigates this effect. However, research in this field has been strongly limited by the availability of FLASH irradiators suitable for small animal experiments. We present a simple methodologic approach for FLASH electron small animal irradiation with a clinically available linear accelerator (LINAC). We investigated the FLASH irradiation potential of a Varian Clinac 21EX in both clinical mode and after tuning of the LINAC. We performed detailed FLUKA Monte Carlo and experimental dosimetric characterization at multiple experimental locations within the LINAC head. Average dose rates of ≤74 Gy/s were achieved in clinical mode, and the dose rate after tuning exceeded 900 Gy/s. We obtained 220 Gy/s at 1-cm depth for a >4-cm field size with 90% homogeneity throughout a 2-cm-thick volume. We present an approach for using a clinical LINAC for FLASH irradiation. We obtained dose rates exceeding 200 Gy/s after simple tuning of the LINAC, with excellent dosimetric properties for small animal experiments. This will allow for increased availability of FLASH irradiation to the general research community. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Pesti Des Petits ruminants virus infection in animals
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Chauhan H.C.
2009-08-01
Full Text Available For centuries morbillivirus infections have had a huge impact on both human beings and animals. Morbilliviruses are highly contagious pathogens that cause some of the most devastating viral diseases of humans and animals world wide. They include measles virus (MV, canine distemper virus (CDV, rinderpest virus (RPV and peste des petits ruminants (PPRV virus. Furthermore, new emerging infectious diseases of morbilliviruses with significant ecological consequences of marine mammals have been discovered in the past decades. Phocid distemper virus (PDV in seals and the cetacean morbillivirus (CMV have been found in dolphins, whales and porpoises. Peste des petits ruminants (PPR is a highly contagious ,infectious , an acute or sub acute viral disease of domestic and wild small ruminants characterized by fever, oculonasal discharges, stomatitis, conjunctivitis, gastroenteritis and pneumonia. Goats are more severely affected than sheep. It is also known as pseudorinderpest of small ruminants, pest of small ruminants, pest of sheep and goats, kata, stomatitis- pneumoentritis syndrome, contagious pustular stomatitis and pneumoentritis complex. It is one of the major notifiable diseases of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE. [Vet. World 2009; 2(4.000: 150-155
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Stenger, C G.F.; Burggraaf, A J [Technische Hogeschool Twente, Enschede (Netherlands)
1980-10-16
The ordering of the trivalent and pentavalent cations in the pervoskites Pb(Sc/sub 1/2/Nb/sub 1/2/)O/sub 3/ and Pb(Sc/sub 1/2/Ta/sub 1/2/)O/sub 3/ can be varied by suitable heat treatments. The degree as well as the kind of order strongly affects the character of the FE ..-->.. PE phase transition. A spatially homogeneous disorder leads to a diffuse phase transition whereas a hybrid crystal with a nonhomogeneous disorder shows a sequence of two FE ..-->.. PE transitions.
Stargardt disease: clinical features, molecular genetics, animal models and therapeutic options.
Tanna, Preena; Strauss, Rupert W; Fujinami, Kaoru; Michaelides, Michel
2017-01-01
Stargardt disease (STGD1; MIM 248200) is the most prevalent inherited macular dystrophy and is associated with disease-causing sequence variants in the gene ABCA4 Significant advances have been made over the last 10 years in our understanding of both the clinical and molecular features of STGD1, and also the underlying pathophysiology, which has culminated in ongoing and planned human clinical trials of novel therapies. The aims of this review are to describe the detailed phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of the disease, conventional and novel imaging findings, current knowledge of animal models and pathogenesis, and the multiple avenues of intervention being explored. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.
Guina, Tina; Lanning, Lynda L.; Omland, Kristian S.; Williams, Mark S.; Wolfraim, Larry A.; Heyse, Stephen P.; Houchens, Christopher R.; Sanz, Patrick; Hewitt, Judith A.
2018-01-01
Francisella tularensis is a highly infectious Gram-negative bacterium that is the etiologic agent of tularemia in animals and humans and a Tier 1 select agent. The natural incidence of pneumonic tularemia worldwide is very low; therefore, it is not feasible to conduct clinical efficacy testing of tularemia medical countermeasures (MCM) in human populations. Development and licensure of tularemia therapeutics and vaccines need to occur under the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) Animal Rule under which efficacy studies are conducted in well-characterized animal models that reflect the pathophysiology of human disease. The Tularemia Animal Model Qualification (AMQ) Working Group is seeking qualification of the cynomolgus macaque (Macaca fascicularis) model of pneumonic tularemia under Drug Development Tools Qualification Programs with the FDA based upon the results of studies described in this manuscript. Analysis of data on survival, average time to death, average time to fever onset, average interval between fever and death, and bacteremia; together with summaries of clinical signs, necropsy findings, and histopathology from the animals exposed to aerosolized F. tularensis Schu S4 in five natural history studies and one antibiotic efficacy study form the basis for the proposed cynomolgus macaque model. Results support the conclusion that signs of pneumonic tularemia in cynomolgus macaques exposed to 300–3,000 colony forming units (cfu) aerosolized F. tularensis Schu S4, under the conditions described herein, and human pneumonic tularemia cases are highly similar. Animal age, weight, and sex of animals challenged with 300–3,000 cfu Schu S4 did not impact fever onset in studies described herein. This study summarizes critical parameters and endpoints of a well-characterized cynomolgus macaque model of pneumonic tularemia and demonstrates this model is appropriate for qualification, and for testing efficacy of tularemia therapeutics under Animal Rule. PMID
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Suzuki, T
1969-01-01
Male guinea pigs were exposed to 1 or 4 to 8 ppM O/sub 3/, 10 or 50 ppM SO/sub 2/, or 10 or 80 ppM NO/sub 2/ for 3 hr. Histamine and water content of lungs were measured. Animals exposed to higher concentrations of O/sub 3/ or NO/sub 2/ had edematous lungs. Lungs of those exposed to lower concentrations of O/sub 3/ or NO/sub 2/ also had slightly higher water contents. Lung histamine content and concentration decreased by O/sub 3/ exposure but not by any other treatment. In vitro exposure of lung to O/sub 3/ showed released histamine occurring in the perfusion outflow. Endogenous, cellular, inert histamine evidently was released by O/sub 3/ stimulant. However, the mechanism for NO/sub 2/-caused edema was not revealed, but could be direct action on lung vessels rather than through histamine mediation.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Larisch, R. [Duesseldorf Univ. (Germany). Klinik fuer Nuklearmedizin; Klimke, A. [Duesseldorf Univ. (Germany). Psychiatrische Klinik
1998-12-31
The present review describes findings and clinical indications for the dopamine D{sub 2} receptor scintigraphy. Methods for the examination of D{sub 2} receptors are positron emission tomography (PET) using {sup 11}C- or {sup 18}F-labelled butyrophenones or benzamides or single photon emission tomography (SPECT) using {sup 123}I-iodobenzamide (IBZM) respectively. The most important indication in neurology is the differential diagnosis of Parkinsonism: Patients with early Parkinson`s disease show an increased D{sub 2} receptor binding (D{sub 2}-RB) compared to control subjects. However, patients suffering from Steele-Richardson-Olszewski-Syndrome or Multiple System Atrophy show a decreased D{sub 2}-RB and are generally non-responsive to treatment. Postsynaptic blockade of D{sub 2} receptors results in a drug induced Parkinsonian syndrome, which can be diagnosed by D{sub 2} scintigraphy. Further possible indications occur in psychiatry: The assessment of receptor occupancy is useful in schizophrenic patients treated with neuroleptics. Additionally, D{sub 2} receptor scintigraphy might help to clarify the differential diagnosis between neuroleptic malignant syndrome and lethal catatonia. The method might be useful for supervising neurobiochemical changes in drug dependency and during withdrawal. Assessment of dopamine D{sub 2} receptor binding can simplify the choice of therapy in depressive disorder: Patients showing a low D{sub 2} binding are likely to improve following an antidepressive drug treatment whereas sleep deprivation is promising in patients with high D{sub 2} binding. (orig.) [Deutsch] Die vorliegende Arbeit gibt eine Uebersicht ueber Befunde und klinische Indikationen zur Dopamin-D{sub 2}-Rezeptorszintigraphie. Methoden zur Untersuchung der D{sub 2}-Rezeptoren sind die Positronen-Emissions-Tomographie (PET) mit {sup 11}C- oder {sup 18}F-markierten Butyrophenonen oder Benzamiden oder die Einzelphotonen-Emissions-Tomographie (SPECT) mit {sup 123}I
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Cheng, Xiangyi; Yang, Hongshun; Ruan, Keqing; Xu, Xiaoliang [University of Science and Technology of China, Key Laboratory of Strongly-Coupled Quantum Matter Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and School of Physical Sciences, Hefei (China); Meng, Dechao [University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Hefei (China)
2017-04-15
The layered perovskite-related oxide Nd{sub 6}Ti{sub 4}Fe{sub 2}O{sub 20} was prepared by incorporating NdFeO{sub 3} in the host Nd{sub 2}Ti{sub 2}O{sub 7} using floating-zone melting technique. XRD and HRTEM results suggested that the material has a layered structure of n = 6 type. Nd{sub 6}Ti{sub 4}Fe{sub 2}O{sub 20} exhibited spin glass-like behavior, and its magnetic behavior was affected by magnetic Nd{sup 3+} ions strongly at low temperature. The ferromagnetic and ferroelectric properties were observed by magnetic and PFM measurements at the room temperature. UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy revealed that the compound is a visible light absorbing photocatalyst with a direct band gap of 2.2 eV. In addition, the photocatalytic behaviors of bulk Nd{sub 6}Ti{sub 4}Fe{sub 2}O{sub 20} were evaluated by photodegradation of rhodamine B under visible light irradiation. (orig.)
Stem cell therapy for joint problems using the horse as a clinically relevant animal model
DEFF Research Database (Denmark)
Koch, Thomas Gadegaard; Betts, Dean H.
2007-01-01
of experimentally induced lesions. The horse lends itself as a good animal model of spontaneous joint disorders that are clinically relevant to similar human disorders. Equine stem cell and tissue engineering studies may be financially feasible to principal investigators and small biotechnology companies...
First aid Animal bites: First aid Animal bites: First aid By Mayo Clinic Staff These guidelines can help you care for a minor animal bite, such ... 26, 2017 Original article: http://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-animal-bites/basics/ART-20056591 . Mayo ...
Animal studies on growth and development.
Lerchl, Alexander
2011-12-01
Despite the fact that no plausible biological mechanism has yet been identified how electromagnetic fields below recommended exposure limits could negatively affect health of animals or humans, many experiments have been performed in various animal species, mainly mice and rats, to investigate the possible effects on growth and development. While older studies often suffered from sub-optimal exposure conditions, recent investigations, using sophisticated exposure devices and thus preventing thermal effects, have been performed without these limitations. In principle, two types of studies can be addressed: those which have investigated the carcinogenic or co-carcinogenic effects of exposure in developing animals, and those which have been done in developing animals without the focus on carcinogenic or co-carcinogenic effects. In both areas, the vast majority of publications did not show adverse effects. The largest study so far has been done in normal mice which have been chronically exposed to UMTS signals up to 1.3 W/kg SAR, thus 16 times higher than the whole-body exposure limit for humans. Even after four generations, no systematic or dose-dependent alterations in development or fertility could be found, supporting the view that negative effects on humans are very unlikely. Ongoing experiments in our laboratory investigate the effects of head-only exposure in rats (up to 10 W/kg local SAR) which are exposed from 14 days of age daily for 2 h. A battery of behavioral tests is performed in young, adult, and pre-senile animals. The results will help to clarify possible effects of exposure on brain development. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Affective instability as a clinical feature of avoidant personality disorder.
Snir, Avigal; Bar-Kalifa, Eran; Berenson, Kathy R; Downey, Geraldine; Rafaeli, Eshkol
2017-10-01
The current study's main goal was to examine whether affective instability is elevated among individuals suffering from avoidant personality disorder (APD) by comparing it to the affective instability found among individuals suffering from borderline personality disorder (BPD) as well that found among healthy controls. Adults (N = 152, aged 18-65 years) with BPD, APD, or no psychopathology participated in a 3-week computerized diary study. We examined temporal instability in negative affect using experience-sampling methods. Both within and between days, individuals with APD showed greater affective instability compared to the healthy control individuals, although less affective instability compared to individuals with BPD. The findings are in line with affective instability (or emotional lability) as a key dimension relevant across personality disorders. Additionally, they emphasize the need for research and clinical attention to affective characteristics (alongside the more readily recognized interpersonal characteristics) of APD. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Chang, Edwin; Liu, Shuangdong; Chin, Frederick; Cheng, Zhen [Stanford University, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA (United States); Gowrishankar, Gayatri; Yaghoubi, Shahriar [Stanford University, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA (United States); Stanford University, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Department of Bioengineering, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA (United States); Wedgeworth, James Patrick [Stanford University, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Department of Bioengineering, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA (United States); Berndorff, Dietmar; Gekeler, Volker [Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Global Drug Discovery, Berlin (Germany); Gambhir, Sanjiv S. [Stanford University, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA (United States); Stanford University, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Department of Bioengineering, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA (United States); Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Nuclear Medicine, Departments of Radiology and Bioengineering, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford, CA (United States)
2011-04-15
An {sup 18}F-labeled PEGylated arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) dimer [{sup 18}F]FPP(RGD){sub 2} has been used to image tumor {alpha}{sub v}{beta}{sub 3} integrin levels in preclinical and clinical studies. Serial positron emission tomography (PET) studies may be useful for monitoring antiangiogenic therapy response or for drug screening; however, the reproducibility of serial scans has not been determined for this PET probe. The purpose of this study was to determine the reproducibility of the integrin {alpha}{sub v}{beta}{sub 3}-targeted PET probe, [{sup 18}F ]FPP(RGD){sub 2} using small animal PET. Human HCT116 colon cancer xenografts were implanted into nude mice (n = 12) in the breast and scapular region and grown to mean diameters of 5-15 mm for approximately 2.5 weeks. A 3-min acquisition was performed on a small animal PET scanner approximately 1 h after administration of [{sup 18}F]FPP(RGD){sub 2} (1.9-3.8 MBq, 50-100 {mu}Ci) via the tail vein. A second small animal PET scan was performed approximately 6 h later after reinjection of the probe to assess for reproducibility. Images were analyzed by drawing an ellipsoidal region of interest (ROI) around the tumor xenograft activity. Percentage injected dose per gram (%ID/g) values were calculated from the mean or maximum activity in the ROIs. Coefficients of variation and differences in %ID/g values between studies from the same day were calculated to determine the reproducibility. The coefficient of variation (mean {+-}SD) for %ID{sub mean}/g and %ID{sub max}/g values between [{sup 18}F]FPP(RGD){sub 2} small animal PET scans performed 6 h apart on the same day were 11.1 {+-} 7.6% and 10.4 {+-} 9.3%, respectively. The corresponding differences in %ID{sub mean}/g and %ID{sub max}/g values between scans were -0.025 {+-} 0.067 and -0.039 {+-} 0.426. Immunofluorescence studies revealed a direct relationship between extent of {alpha}{sub {nu}}{beta}{sub 3} integrin expression in tumors and tumor vasculature
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Yang, Ping, E-mail: mse_yangp@ujn.edu.cn; Zhang, Aiyu; Li, Xiaoyu; Liu, Ning; Zhang, Yulan; Zhang, Ruili
2013-08-15
CdTe{sub 0.5}Se{sub 0.5}/Cd{sub 0.5}Zn{sub 0.5}S core/shell quantum dots (QDs) with a tunable photoluminescence (PL) range from yellow to dark red (up to a PL peak wavelength of 683 nm) were fabricated using various reaction systems. The core/shell QDs created in the reaction solution of trioctylamine (TOA) and oleic acid (OA) at 300 °C exhibited narrow PL spectra and a related low PL efficiency (38%). In contrast, the core/shell QDs prepared in the solution of 1-octadecene (ODE) and hexadecylamine (HDA) at 200 °C revealed a high PL efficiency (70%) and broad PL spectra. This phenomenon is ascribed that the precursor of Cd, reaction temperature, solvents, and ligands affected the formation process of the shell. The slow growth rate of the shell in the solution of ODE and HDA made QDs with a high PL efficiency. Metal acetate salts without reaction with HDA led to the core/shell QDs with a broad size distribution. - Graphical abstract: CdTe{sub 0.5}Se{sub 0.5}/Cd{sub 0.5}Zn{sub 0.5}S quantum dots (QDs) with tunable photoluminescence, high PL efficiency, and high stability through organic synthesis, in which chemicals affected the properties of the QDs. Display Omitted - Highlights: • CdTe{sub 0.5}Se{sub 0.5}/Cd{sub 0.5}Zn{sub 0.5}S quantum dots created via organic synthesis. • Chemicals affected the properties of the quantum dots. • The quantum dots revealed high photoluminescence efficiency and stability. • The quantum dots with tunable photoluminescence in a range from yellow to dark red. • The QDs are utilizable for various applications such as biological labeling.
DEFF Research Database (Denmark)
Nielsen, Gitte Blach; Nielsen, Jens Peter; Haugegaard, John
2017-01-01
During the last decade, the clinical manifestation of Porcine Circovirus type 2 (PCV2) infections has mostly changed from postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome and high mortality to sub-clinical infections manifested only through impaired production parameters. However, co-infection with oth...
A systematic review of clinical audit in companion animal veterinary medicine.
Rose, Nicole; Toews, Lorraine; Pang, Daniel S J
2016-02-26
Clinical audit is a quality improvement process with the goal of continuously improving quality of patient care as assessed by explicit criteria. In human medicine clinical audit has become an integral and required component of the standard of care. In contrast, in veterinary medicine there appear to have been a limited number of clinical audits published, indicating that while clinical audit is recognised, its adoption in veterinary medicine is still in its infancy. A systematic review was designed to report and evaluate the veterinary literature on clinical audit in companion animal species (dog, cat, horse). A systematic search of English and French articles using Proquest Dissertations and Theses database (February 6, 2014), CAB Abstracts (March 21, 2014 and April 4, 2014), Scopus (March 21, 2014), Web of Science Citation index (March 21, 2014) and OVID Medline (March 21, 2014) was performed. Included articles were those either discussing clinical audit (such as review articles and editorials) or reporting parts of, or complete, audit cycles. The majority of articles describing clinical audit were reviews. From 89 articles identified, twenty-one articles were included and available for review. Twelve articles were reviews of clinical audit in veterinary medicine, five articles included at least one veterinary clinical audit, one thesis was identified, one report was of a veterinary clinical audit website and two articles reported incomplete clinical audits. There was no indication of an increase in the number of published clinical audits since the first report in 1998. However, there was evidence of article misclassification, with studies fulfilling the criteria of clinical audit not appropriately recognised. Quality of study design and reporting of findings varied considerably, with information missing on key components, including duration of study, changes in practice implemented between audits, development of explicit criteria and appropriate statistical
RAPD-based genotyping of Malassezia pachydermatis from Domestic and wild animals
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Franciele Cristina Kagueyama
2016-10-01
Full Text Available Malassezia pachydermatis (M. pachydermatis is a fungus of importance in human and veterinary medicine. Although a part of the normal microbiota, it can sometimes be present in its pathogenic form, particularly causing otitis and dermatitis in animals. Among human beings, it mainly affects immune compromised patients and newborns, causing simple pustulosis, seborrheic dermatitis, tinea versicolor or fungemia. This study aimed to analyze the genomic polymorphism in M. pachydermatis samples isolated from Canis familiaris (domestic dog, Felis catus (domestic cat, and Myrmecophaga tridactyla (giant anteater. Two hundred and fourteen samples were collected and cultured in Sabouraud agar with chloranphenicol (100mg L-1 and incubated at 37 °C for a period of 7 to 10 days. One hundred and sixty six samples that appeared morphologically comparable to yeast cultures were processed for DNA extraction and PCR was performed for a specific region in the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS of M. pachydermatis. Among these, seven (4.21% were negative and 159 (95.79% were positive. Of the 159 positive samples, 102 (64.15% were from animals with clinical signs and 57 (35.85% without clinical signs. Fifty-seven samples were selected at random for RAPD-PCR based genotyping and distributed into four genetic groups. Types I and II were more frequent in animals with clinical signs while type III was frequent in healthy animals. Type IV occurred evenly across animals with or without clinical signs. These results indicate differences in pathogenicity of the fungus based on the genotype.
Animal based parameters are no panacea for on-farm monitoring of animal welfare
Bracke, M.B.M.
2007-01-01
On-farm monitoring of animal welfare is an important, present-day objective in animal welfare science. Scientists tend to focus exclusively on animal-based parameters, possibly because using environment-based parameters could be begging the question why welfare has been affected and because
Muellner, Petra; Muellner, Ulrich; Gates, M Carolyn; Pearce, Trish; Ahlstrom, Christina; O'Neill, Dan; Brodbelt, Dave; Cave, Nick John
2016-01-01
Veterinary practitioners have extensive knowledge of animal health from their day-to-day observations of clinical patients. There have been several recent initiatives to capture these data from electronic medical records for use in national surveillance systems and clinical research. In response, an approach to surveillance has been evolving that leverages existing computerized veterinary practice management systems to capture animal health data recorded by veterinarians. Work in the United Kingdom within the VetCompass program utilizes routinely recorded clinical data with the addition of further standardized fields. The current study describes a prototype system that was developed based on this approach. In a 4-week pilot study in New Zealand, clinical data on presentation reasons and diagnoses from a total of 344 patient consults were extracted from two veterinary clinics into a dedicated database and analyzed at the population level. New Zealand companion animal and equine veterinary practitioners were engaged to test the feasibility of this national practice-based health information and data system. Strategies to ensure continued engagement and submission of quality data by participating veterinarians were identified, as were important considerations for transitioning the pilot program to a sustainable large-scale and multi-species surveillance system that has the capacity to securely manage big data. The results further emphasized the need for a high degree of usability and smart interface design to make such a system work effectively in practice. The geospatial integration of data from multiple clinical practices into a common operating picture can be used to establish the baseline incidence of disease in New Zealand companion animal and equine populations, detect unusual trends that may indicate an emerging disease threat or welfare issue, improve the management of endemic and exotic infectious diseases, and support research activities. This pilot project
Animal models: an important tool in mycology.
Capilla, Javier; Clemons, Karl V; Stevens, David A
2007-12-01
Animal models of fungal infections are, and will remain, a key tool in the advancement of the medical mycology. Many different types of animal models of fungal infection have been developed, with murine models the most frequently used, for studies of pathogenesis, virulence, immunology, diagnosis, and therapy. The ability to control numerous variables in performing the model allows us to mimic human disease states and quantitatively monitor the course of the disease. However, no single model can answer all questions and different animal species or different routes of infection can show somewhat different results. Thus, the choice of which animal model to use must be made carefully, addressing issues of the type of human disease to mimic, the parameters to follow and collection of the appropriate data to answer those questions being asked. This review addresses a variety of uses for animal models in medical mycology. It focuses on the most clinically important diseases affecting humans and cites various examples of the different types of studies that have been performed. Overall, animal models of fungal infection will continue to be valuable tools in addressing questions concerning fungal infections and contribute to our deeper understanding of how these infections occur, progress and can be controlled and eliminated.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Utsumi, H. (Kyoto Univ. (Japan). Radiation Biology Center); Elkind, M.M. (Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO (United States). Dept. of Radiological Health Sciences)
1991-10-01
Earlier work has been extended to compare the killing of long-phase V79 Chinese hamster cells by ionizing radiation when they are treated immediately after irradiation with medium containing either caffeine or 90% D{sub 2}O. The object was to determine if the enhanced killing due to post-treatment with caffeine, or D{sub 2}O, resulted from action on the same sector of potentially lethal damage as appeared to be the case for hypertonic shock and D{sub 2}O medium. The treatments by themselves were not toxic to unirradiated cells. We found that the enhanced expression of potentially lethal damage by post-treatment with caffeine or D{sub 2}O medium is similar. For example, the kinetic of the repair of the potentially lethal damage expressible by either post-treatment was similar, and an additive enhancement of potentially lethal damage occurred when the two treatments were administered sequentially. These findings suggest that caffeine and D{sub 2}O medium affect the same sector of potentially lethal damage. When the two treatments were combined, however, they competed with each other. Thus, although caffeine and D{sub 2}O medium act on the same sector of potentially lethal damage they do so differently, suggesting that more than one pathway of the expression of radiation damage can result in the same phenotypic effect. (author).
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Dichter Gabriel S
2012-07-01
Full Text Available Abstract This review summarizes evidence of dysregulated reward circuitry function in a range of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders and genetic syndromes. First, the contribution of identifying a core mechanistic process across disparate disorders to disease classification is discussed, followed by a review of the neurobiology of reward circuitry. We next consider preclinical animal models and clinical evidence of reward-pathway dysfunction in a range of disorders, including psychiatric disorders (i.e., substance-use disorders, affective disorders, eating disorders, and obsessive compulsive disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders (i.e., schizophrenia, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders, Tourette’s syndrome, conduct disorder/oppositional defiant disorder, and genetic syndromes (i.e., Fragile X syndrome, Prader–Willi syndrome, Williams syndrome, Angelman syndrome, and Rett syndrome. We also provide brief overviews of effective psychopharmacologic agents that have an effect on the dopamine system in these disorders. This review concludes with methodological considerations for future research designed to more clearly probe reward-circuitry dysfunction, with the ultimate goal of improved intervention strategies.
Watanabe, Y; Awaji, S; Watanabe, K; Fujishiro, H; Ikebe, M
2003-01-01
X-ray diffraction measurements under high and low temperature, and magnetic field have been performed for the doped La sub 1 sub - sub x Ca sub x MnO sub 3 sub + subdelta polycrystals to clarify the coexistent phases and their structures around the composition of x - 0.5. By measurements at high temperature, the transition from a Pnma to an Imma space group symmetry phase has been firstly observed in this system at the temperature between 500degC and 600degC. At low temperature, the importance of the measurement of (131) reflection is noticed and the phase fraction of two similar Pnma phases with ferromagnetic and anti-ferromagnetic states is determined. It is found that the application of the magnetic field by 5 T and the slight change of the composition x by 0.02 remarkably affect this phase fraction. (author)
The voice of emotion across species: how do human listeners recognize animals' affective states?
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Marina Scheumann
Full Text Available Voice-induced cross-taxa emotional recognition is the ability to understand the emotional state of another species based on its voice. In the past, induced affective states, experience-dependent higher cognitive processes or cross-taxa universal acoustic coding and processing mechanisms have been discussed to underlie this ability in humans. The present study sets out to distinguish the influence of familiarity and phylogeny on voice-induced cross-taxa emotional perception in humans. For the first time, two perspectives are taken into account: the self- (i.e. emotional valence induced in the listener versus the others-perspective (i.e. correct recognition of the emotional valence of the recording context. Twenty-eight male participants listened to 192 vocalizations of four different species (human infant, dog, chimpanzee and tree shrew. Stimuli were recorded either in an agonistic (negative emotional valence or affiliative (positive emotional valence context. Participants rated the emotional valence of the stimuli adopting self- and others-perspective by using a 5-point version of the Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM. Familiarity was assessed based on subjective rating, objective labelling of the respective stimuli and interaction time with the respective species. Participants reliably recognized the emotional valence of human voices, whereas the results for animal voices were mixed. The correct classification of animal voices depended on the listener's familiarity with the species and the call type/recording context, whereas there was less influence of induced emotional states and phylogeny. Our results provide first evidence that explicit voice-induced cross-taxa emotional recognition in humans is shaped more by experience-dependent cognitive mechanisms than by induced affective states or cross-taxa universal acoustic coding and processing mechanisms.
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Ščuka Leon
2005-01-01
Full Text Available Porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC is a major economic problem for swine producers world-wide. Pharmacodynamic, pharmacokinetics and clinical efficacy of florfenicol oral formulations in domestic animals were evaluated. For this purpose the systematic review and meta-analysis were done. In vitro efficacy of florfenicol showed that this drug is highly effective against most important respiratory pathogens. All these facts are shown in our survey. Three studies in pigs were relevant to include in the meta-analysis, which showed that results in the florfenicol group were better than in comparative control groups in all observed parameters: clinical signs, lung lesions and resolution of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (P<0,001. A second meta-analysis with 7 studies showed that the usage of florfenicol reduces mortality in pig herds with PRDC (P<0.05. Other field trials in pigs using florfenicol oral forms where reviewed. After treatment with florfenicol oral solution there was a significant drop of mortality in both groups of pigs (P<0.01; eg. one using florfenicol oral solution in treating PRDC (n=85 and another mixed pneumoenteric infection (n=54. Analysis of data when using premix in pigs (n=118 also suggests that a medicated premix has a favorable anti-infectious effect on pigs, irrespective of the group of animals or the evolution stage of the disease. Finally, favorable effect of florfenicol in treating swine ileitis was also presented. Regarding their pharmacokinetics, in vitro and clinical efficacy of florfenicol oral forms, they should be considered as a powerful tool for combating complex infections that are frequently met in intensive animal production.
Animal to human translational paradigms relevant for approach avoidance conflict decision making.
Kirlic, Namik; Young, Jared; Aupperle, Robin L
2017-09-01
Avoidance behavior in clinical anxiety disorders is often a decision made in response to approach-avoidance conflict, resulting in a sacrifice of potential rewards to avoid potential negative affective consequences. Animal research has a long history of relying on paradigms related to approach-avoidance conflict to model anxiety-relevant behavior. This approach includes punishment-based conflict, exploratory, and social interaction tasks. There has been a recent surge of interest in the translation of paradigms from animal to human, in efforts to increase generalization of findings and support the development of more effective mental health treatments. This article briefly reviews animal tests related to approach-avoidance conflict and results from lesion and pharmacologic studies utilizing these tests. We then provide a description of translational human paradigms that have been developed to tap into related constructs, summarizing behavioral and neuroimaging findings. Similarities and differences in findings from analogous animal and human paradigms are discussed. Lastly, we highlight opportunities for future research and paradigm development that will support the clinical utility of this translational work. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
DEFF Research Database (Denmark)
Jamal, Syed Muhammad; Ferrari, G.; Hussain, M.
2012-01-01
A total of 1501 oral swab samples from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan were collected from clinically healthy animals between July 2008 and August 2009 and assayed for the presence of foot‐and‐mouth disease virus (FMDV) RNA. The oral swab samples from two (of four) live animal markets...... for FMDV. In the Landhi dairy colony, Pakistan, a cohort of 179 apparently healthy animals was studied. On their arrival within the colony, thirty‐nine (22%) of these animals were found positive for FMDV RNA (serotype A was identified), while 130 (72.6%) had antibodies to FMDV non‐structural proteins. Thus...
Investigating animal health effects of sour gas acid forming emissions
International Nuclear Information System (INIS)
Edwards, W.C.
1992-01-01
The effects of sour gas well blowout emissions on livestock are reviewed. Guidelines for safe drilling operations in hydrogen sulfide environments, general hazards and characteristics of hydrogen sulfide, and guidelines for field investigation into the effects of sour gas and acid emissions on livestock are discussed. A case history involving the Ross No. 2 gas well blowout of July 1985 in Rankin County, Mississippi is presented. The blowout lasted for 72 days, and at peak discharge the 500 ppM radius was ca 3.5 miles. A cattle embryo transplant operation located one half mile from the well was affected by the blowout. Examination by a local veterinarian of the cattle demonstrated eye irritation, epiphora, nasal discharge and coughing. After one and a half months of exposure, most animals showed clinical signs of a severe dry hacking cough, epiphora, dry rales over the thoracic inlet, and a bronchial popping sound over the lateral thorax. All animals had eye irritation. Of 55 animals showing signs of respiratory distress and eye irritations, 15 were still clinically ill in May of 1986. 7 refs., 1 tab
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Kang, S. -g.; Zhou, G.; Yang, P.; Liu, Y.; Sun, B.; Huynh, T.; Meng, H.; Zhao, L.; Xing, G.; Chen, C.; Zhao, Y.; Zhou, R.
2012-09-18
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is the most lethal of the solid tumors and the fourth-leading cause of cancer-related death in North America. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have long been targeted as a potential anticancer therapy because of their seminal role in angiogenesis and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation of tumor survival and invasion. However, the inhibition specificity to MMPs and the molecular-level understanding of the inhibition mechanism remain largely unresolved. Here, we found that endohedral metallofullerenol Gd@C<sub>82sub>(OH)>22sub> can successfully inhibit the neoplastic activity with experiments at animal, tissue, and cellular levels. Gd@C<sub>82sub>(OH)>22sub> effectively blocks tumor growth in human pancreatic cancer xenografts in a nude mouse model. Enzyme activity assays also show Gd@C<sub>82sub>(OH)>22sub> not only suppresses the expression of MMPs but also significantly reduces their activities. We then applied large-scale molecular-dynamics simulations to illustrate the molecular mechanism by studying the Gd@C<sub>82sub>(OH)>22sub>–MMP-9 interactions in atomic detail. Our data demonstrated that Gd@C<sub>82sub>(OH)>22sub> inhibits MMP-9 mainly via an exocite interaction, whereas the well-known zinc catalytic site only plays a minimal role. Steered by nonspecific electrostatic, hydrophobic, and specific hydrogen-bonding interactions, Gd@C<sub>82sub>(OH)>22sub> exhibits specific binding modes near the ligand-specificity loop S1', thereby inhibiting MMP-9 activity. Both the suppression of MMP expression and specific binding mode make Gd@C<sub>82sub>(OH)>22sub> a potentially more effective nanomedicine for pancreatic cancer than traditional medicines, which usually target the proteolytic sites directly but fail in selective inhibition. Finally, our findings provide insights for de novo design of nanomedicines for fatal diseases such as pancreatic cancer.
Advances in biomagnetic research using high- T{sub c} superconducting quantum interference devices
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Yang, Hong-Chang [Department of Physics/Institute of Applied Physics, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan (China); Horng, Herng-Er; Yang, S Y [Institute of Electro-Optical Science and Technology, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 116, Taiwan (China); Liao, Shu-Hsien, E-mail: hcyang@phys.ntu.edu.t [Department of Physics, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 116, Taiwan (China)
2009-09-15
This review reports the advances of biomagnetic research using high- T{sub c} superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs). It especially focuses on SQUID-detected magnetocardiography (MCG), magnetically labeled immunoassays (MLIs) as well as nuclear magnetic resonance and imaging (NMR/MRI). The progress in MCG that scientists have made and the encountered challenges are discussed here. This study includes the early detection of the electromagnetic change in cardiac activity in animal studies of hypercholesterolemic rabbits, which suggests the possibility of early diagnosis of cardiac disease in clinical applications. The progress on MLIs using measurements of remanence, magnetic relaxation and magnetic susceptibility reduction is presented. The wash-free immunomagnetic reduction shows both high sensitivity and high specificity. NMR/MRI of high spectral resolution and of high signal-to-noise ratio are addressed and discussed. The proton-phosphate J-coupling of trimethyl phosphate ((CH{sub 3}){sub 3}PO{sub 4}) in one shot in microtesla fields is demonstrated. The prospects of biomagnetic applications are addressed. (topical review)
Diagnosis of foot-and-mouth disease of clinically infected cattle ...
African Journals Online (AJOL)
Clinical diagnosis was made using signs of oral and feet lesions causing severe anorexia and lameness respectively in affected animals and calves. Feet lesions were found to be similar to those in exotic animals with sloughing of hoof unlike in indigenous cattle that often are interdigital granulomatous lesions. Mortality ...
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Medellin-Castillo, Nahum A. [Centro de Investigacion y Estudios de Posgrado, Facultad de Ingenieria, Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi, Av. Dr. M. Nava No.6, San Luis de Potosi, 78290 (Mexico); Ocampo-Perez, Raul [Centro de Investigacion y Estudios de Posgrado, Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas, Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosi, 78290 (Mexico); Departamento de Quimica Inorganica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, 18071, Granada (Spain); Leyva-Ramos, Roberto [Centro de Investigacion y Estudios de Posgrado, Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas, Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosi, 78290 (Mexico); Sanchez-Polo, Manuel [Departamento de Quimica Inorganica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, 18071, Granada (Spain); Rivera-Utrilla, Jose, E-mail: jrivera@ugr.es [Departamento de Quimica Inorganica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, 18071, Granada (Spain); Mendez-Diaz, Jose D. [Departamento de Quimica Inorganica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, 18071, Granada (Spain)
2013-01-01
The objective of this work was to compare the effectiveness of conventional technologies (adsorption on activated carbon, AC, and ozonation) and technologies based on advanced oxidation processes, AOPs, (UV/H{sub 2}O{sub 2}, O{sub 3}/AC, O{sub 3}/H{sub 2}O{sub 2}) to remove phthalates from aqueous solution (ultrapure water, surface water and wastewater). Diethyl phthalate (DEP) was chosen as a model pollutant because of its high water solubility (1080 mg/L at 293 K) and toxicity. The activated carbons showed a high adsorption capacity to adsorb DEP in aqueous solution (up to 858 mg/g), besides the adsorption mechanism of DEP on activated carbon is governed by dispersive interactions between {pi} electrons of its aromatic ring with {pi} electrons of the carbon graphene planes. The photodegration process showed that the pH solution does not significantly affect the degradation kinetics of DEP and the first-order kinetic model satisfactorily fitted the experimental data. It was observed that the rate of decomposition of DEP with the O{sub 3}/H{sub 2}O{sub 2} and O{sub 3}/AC systems is faster than that with only O{sub 3}. The technologies based on AOPs (UV/H{sub 2}O{sub 2}, O{sub 3}/H{sub 2}O{sub 2}, O{sub 3}/AC) significantly improve the degradation of DEP compared to conventional technologies (O{sub 3}, UV). AC adsorption, UV/H{sub 2}O{sub 2}, O{sub 3}/H{sub 2}O{sub 2}, and O{sub 3}/AC showed a high yield to remove DEP; however, the disadvantage of AC adsorption is its much longer time to reach maximum removal. The best system to treat water (ultrapure and natural) polluted with DEP is the O{sub 3}/AC one since it achieved the highest DEP degradation and TOC removal, as well as the lower water toxicity. -- Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Activated carbons showed a high adsorption capacity (up to 858 mg/g) to remove DEP. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The pH solution did not significantly affect the photodegradation kinetics of DEP. Black
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Thiyagarajan, R. [Centre for High Pressure Research, School of Physics, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirapalli 620024, Tamil Nadu (India); Esakki Muthu, S. [Centre for High Pressure Research, School of Physics, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirapalli 620024, Tamil Nadu (India); Univ. Grenoble Alpes and CEA, INAC-SPSMS, F-38000 Grenoble (France); Manikandan, K. [Centre for High Pressure Research, School of Physics, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirapalli 620024, Tamil Nadu (India); Arumugam, S., E-mail: sarumugam1963@yahoo.com [Centre for High Pressure Research, School of Physics, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirapalli 620024, Tamil Nadu (India)
2016-01-15
Magnetization of polycrystalline La{sub 0.35}Pr{sub 0.35}Ca{sub 0.3}MnO{sub 3} sample has been measured as a function of temperature (T) and magnetic field (H) under various external hydrostatic pressures (P) up to ~1 GPa. At ambient P, the sample exhibits paramagnetic (PM)–ferromagnetic (FM) transition (T{sub C}) at 167 K and 173 K in cooling and warming cycles respectively under the magnetic field (µ{sub 0}.H) of 0.1 T. It also shows a hysteresis during both temperature- and field- dependence of magnetization measurements at ambient P, suggests the presence of a first-order transition. Moreover, the field dependence of magnetization shows S type field-induced metamagnetic transition (FIMMT) over a temperature range below T{sub C} in the FM state. The application of P in M(T) increases T{sub C} at a rate [dT{sub C}/dP] of 13.9 K/GPa, but the thermally-driven first-order transition is not affected by P. However, the applied P suppresses FIMMT and reduces field-driven first-order transition in the magnetization isotherms [M(H)]below T{sub C}. H increases both magnetic entropy change (∆S{sub m}) and Relative Cooling Power (RCP), whereas the P slightly increases ∆S{sub m}{sup max} and no appreciable change in RCP. These results suggest that H and P can be used as a tool to enhance magnetocaloric values in the phase separated manganites. - Highlights: • At ambient P, La{sub 0.35}Pr{sub 0.35}Ca{sub 0.3}MnO{sub 3} sample shows first-order PM–FM transition. • P increases the T{sub C} at a rate of 13.9 K/GPa, thermal hysteresis is not affected. • P diminishes the field-driven first-order PM–FM transition, suppresses FIMMMT. • H increases ∆S{sub m} and RCP. P slightly increases ∆S{sub m}{sup max}, but no change in RCP by P.
Structure and optical properties of thin As{sub 2}S{sub 3}-In{sub 2}S{sub 3} films
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Todorov, R; Pirov, J; Petkov, K [Institute of Optical Materials and Technologies ' Acad. J. Malinowski' , Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., bl.109, 1113 Sofia (Bulgaria); Tsankov, D, E-mail: rossen@clf.bas.bg [Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev St. bl.9, 1113 Sofia (Bulgaria)
2011-08-03
This paper deals with the optical properties of thin As{sub 2}S{sub 3}-In{sub 2}S{sub 3} films. The thin layers were deposited by thermal co-evaporation of As{sub 2}S{sub 3} and In{sub 2}S{sub 3}. The composition of the coatings was controlled by x-ray microanalysis; it was found to be close to the expected one. The refractive index n and optical band gap E{sub g}{sup opt} were calculated from the transmittance and reflectance spectra. The results showed that the refractive index of thin As-S films is not affected by the addition of 1 at% indium and it increases from 2.46 to 2.58 for thin film with 13 at% In. A decrease in the changes in the refractive index, {Delta}n, after exposure to light or annealing with addition of indium in arsenic sulfide is observed. To explain the influence of the indium on the photoinduced changes in the optical properties of thin As-S-In films, the glass structure was investigated by infrared spectroscopy. The calculated values of the optical constants were compared with those obtained from ellipsometric measurements.
Communication in Animal Social Networks
Snijders, Lysanne; Naguib, Marc
2017-01-01
Animal social networks and animal communication networks are key disciplines for understanding animal social behavior, yet these disciplines remain poorly integrated. In this review, we show how communication and social networks are inherently linked, with social signals reflecting and affecting
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Iversen, Nina K., E-mail: nina.iversen@biology.au.dk [Zoophysiology, Department of Biological Sciences, Aarhus University (Denmark); Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University (Denmark); Frische, Sebastian [Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University (Denmark); Thomsen, Karen [Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University (Denmark); Laustsen, Christoffer; Pedersen, Michael [MR Research Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus University (Denmark); Hansen, Pernille B.L.; Bie, Peter [Cardiovascular and Renal Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark (Denmark); Fresnais, Jérome [Physicochimie des Electrolytes, Colloïdes et Sciences Analytiques (PECSA) UMR 7195 CNRS-UPMC-ESPCI, 4 place Jussieu, 75252 Paris Cedex 05 (France); Berret, Jean-Francois [Matière et Systèmes Complexes, UMR 7057 CNRS Université Denis Diderot Paris-VII, Bâtiment Condorcet, 10 rue Alice Domon et Léonie Duquet, 75205 Paris (France); Baatrup, Erik [Zoophysiology, Department of Biological Sciences, Aarhus University (Denmark); Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University (Denmark); Wang, Tobias [Zoophysiology, Department of Biological Sciences, Aarhus University (Denmark)
2013-01-15
This study describes the distribution of intravenously injected polyacrylic acid (PAA) coated γ-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} NPs (10 mg kg{sup −1}) at the organ, cellular and subcellular levels in healthy BALB/cJ mice and in parallel addresses the effects of NP injection on kidney function, blood pressure and vascular contractility. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed accumulation of NPs in the liver within 1 h after intravenous infusion, accommodated by intracellular uptake in endothelial and Kupffer cells with subsequent intracellular uptake in renal cells, particularly the cytoplasm of the proximal tubule, in podocytes and mesangial cells. The renofunctional effects of NPs were evaluated by arterial acid–base status and measurements of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) after instrumentation with chronically indwelling catheters. Arterial pH was 7.46 ± 0.02 and 7.41 ± 0.02 in mice 0.5 h after injections of saline or NP, and did not change over the next 12 h. In addition, the injections of NP did not affect arterial PCO{sub 2} or [HCO{sub 3}{sup −}] either. Twenty-four and 96 h after NP injections, the GFR averaged 0.35 ± 0.04 and 0.35 ± 0.01 ml min{sup −1} g{sup −1}, respectively, values which were statistically comparable with controls (0.29 ± 0.02 and 0.33 ± 0.1 ml{sup –1} min{sup –1} 25 g{sup –1}). Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) decreased 12–24 h after NP injections (111.1 ± 11.5 vs 123.0 ± 6.1 min{sup −1}) associated with a decreased contractility of small mesenteric arteries revealed by myography to characterize endothelial function. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that accumulation of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles does not affect kidney function in healthy mice but temporarily decreases blood pressure. -- Highlights: ► PAA coated γ-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles were injected intravenously into healthy mice. ► We examine the distribution and physiological effects of
de Jonge, Paul K J D; Sloff, Marije; Janke, Heinz P; Kortmann, Barbara B M; de Gier, Robert P E; Geutjes, Paul J; Oosterwijk, Egbert; Feitz, Wout F J
2017-10-01
It is common to test medical devices in large animal studies that are or could also be used in humans. In this short report we describe the use of a ureteral J-stent for the evaluation of biodegradable tubular constructs for tissue reconstruction, and the regeneration of ureters in Saanen goats. Similarly to a previous study in pigs, the ureteral J-stent was blindly inserted until some resistance was met. During evaluation of the goats after three months, perforation of the renal cortex by the stent was observed in four out of seven animals. These results indicated that blind stent placement was not possible in goats. In four new goats, clinical protocols were followed using X-ray and iodinated contrast fluids to visualize the kidney and stent during stent placement. With this adaptation the stents were successfully placed in the kidneys of these four new goats with minimal additional effort. It is likely that other groups in other fields ran into similar problems that could have been avoided by following clinical protocols. Therefore, we would like to stress the importance of following clinical protocols when using medical devices in animals to prevent unnecessary suffering and to reduce the number of animals needed.
External quality assurance performance of clinical research laboratories in sub-saharan Africa.
Amukele, Timothy K; Michael, Kurt; Hanes, Mary; Miller, Robert E; Jackson, J Brooks
2012-11-01
Patient Safety Monitoring in International Laboratories (JHU-SMILE) is a resource at Johns Hopkins University that supports and monitors laboratories in National Institutes of Health-funded international clinical trials. To determine the impact of the JHU-SMILE quality assurance scheme in sub-Saharan African laboratories, we reviewed 40 to 60 months of external quality assurance (EQA) results of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) in these laboratories. We reviewed the performance of 8 analytes: albumin, alanine aminotransferase, creatinine, sodium, WBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and the human immunodeficiency virus antibody rapid test. Over the 40- to 60-month observation period, the sub-Saharan laboratories had a 1.63% failure rate, which was 40% lower than the 2011 CAP-wide rate of 2.8%. Seventy-six percent of the observed EQA failures occurred in 4 of the 21 laboratories. These results demonstrate that a system of remote monitoring, feedback, and audits can support quality in low-resource settings, even in places without strong regulatory support for laboratory quality.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Liu, Shuxin, E-mail: liushuxin88@126.com [School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Mianyang Normal University, Mianyang, Sichuan 621000 (China); Gu, Chunlei [School of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050018 (China); Wang, Haibin [School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Mianyang Normal University, Mianyang, Sichuan 621000 (China); Liu, Ruijiang [School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013 (China); Wang, Hong; He, Jichuan [School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Mianyang Normal University, Mianyang, Sichuan 621000 (China)
2015-10-15
In order to study the effect of symbiotic compound Fe{sub 2}P{sub 2}O{sub 7} on electrochemical performance of LiFePO{sub 4}/C cathode materials, the LiFePO{sub 4}/Fe{sub 2}P{sub 2}O{sub 7}/C cathode materials were synthesized by in-situ synthesis method. The phase compositions and microstructures of the products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). Results indicate that the existence of Fe{sub 2}P{sub 2}O{sub 7} does not alter LiFePO{sub 4} crystal structure and the existence of Fe{sub 2}P{sub 2}O{sub 7} decreases the particles size of LiFePO{sub 4}. The electrochemical behavior of cathode materials was analyzed using galvanostatic measurement and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The results show that the existence of Fe{sub 2}P{sub 2}O{sub 7} improves electrochemical performance of LiFePO{sub 4} cathode materials in specific capability and lithium ion diffusion rate. The charge–discharge specific capacity and apparent lithium ion diffusion coefficient increase with Fe{sub 2}P{sub 2}O{sub 7} content and maximizes around the Fe{sub 2}P{sub 2}O{sub 7} content is 5 wt%. It has been had further proved that the Fe{sub 2}P{sub 2}O{sub 7} adding enhances the lithium ion transport to improve the electrochemical performance of LiFePO{sub 4} cathode materials. However, excessive Fe{sub 2}P{sub 2}O{sub 7} will block the electron transfer pathway and affect the electrochemical performances of LiFePO{sub 4} directly. - Graphical abstract: The LiFePO{sub 4}/Fe{sub 2}P{sub 2}O{sub 7}/C cathode materials were synthesized by in-situ synthesis method. The existence of Fe{sub 2}P{sub 2}O{sub 7} does not alter LiFePO{sub 4} crystal structure and the existence of Fe{sub 2}P{sub 2}O{sub 7} decreases the particles size of LiFePO{sub 4}. The charge–discharge specific capacity and apparent lithium ion diffusion coefficient increase with Fe{sub 2}P{sub 2}O{sub 7} content. However, excessive Fe{sub 2}P{sub 2}O{sub 7} will
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Bejjit, L.; Haddad, M. [Faculte des Sciences, Meknes (Morocco); Bejjit, L. [Faculte des Sciences, Errachidia (Morocco); Deville, A.; Gaillard, B.; Noel, H. [Universite de Provence, 13 - Marseille (France); Monnereau, O. [Universite de Rennes, 35 - Rennes (France)
1998-01-01
Compounds with yttrium totally or partially substituted by gadolinium in High-T{sub c} superconductor YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7} were prepared. The superconductivity is not affected by this substitution. An orthorhombic structure has been observed in GdBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7} sintered and single crystals. The EPR measurements show linewidth dependence on chemical preparation in GdBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7}. In Gd-low concentration compounds (x{<=}0.02), a narrow parasite signal, due to the Y{sub 2}BaCuO{sub 5} green phase, appears superimposed to the principal Gd{sup 3+} ions Electron Spin Resonance (EPR) line. (authors) 12 refs.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Gordillo-Vazquez, F J [Instituto de Optica, C.S.I.C., Serrano 121, 28006 Madrid (Spain); Albella, J M [Instituto de Materiales de Madrid, C.S.I.C., Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid (Spain)
2004-02-01
We have used a kinetic model to investigate the influence of changing the pressure (0.1-0.8 Torr) and power (100-300 W) on the non-equilibrium plasma chemistry of RF (13.56 MHz) produced C{sub 2}H{sub 2} (1%)/H{sub 2}/Ar plasmas of interest for the synthesis of nanodiamond thin films. We found that the concentrations of the species C{sub 2}(X{sup 1}SIGMA{sup +}{sub g}), C{sub 2}(a{sup 3}PI{sub u}) and C{sub 2}H are not sensitive to variations in the power but they exhibit a significant increase when the pressure decreases at high argon content in the plasma. In addition, the concentrations of C{sub 2}H{sub 2}, CH{sub 4} and CH{sub 3} exhibit a slight (case of C{sub 2}H{sub 2}) or negligible (case of CH{sub 3} and CH{sub 4}) power-dependence although they decrease (case of C{sub 2}H{sub 2} and CH{sub 4}) or remain almost constant (case of CH{sub 3}) as the pressure decreases. A reasonable agreement is found when comparing the model predictions with available experimental results. These findings provide a basic understanding of the plasma chemistry of hydrocarbon/Ar-rich plasma environments and, at the same time, can be of interest to optimize the processing conditions of nanodiamond films from medium pressure RF hydrocarbon/Ar-rich plasmas.
ONSET OF SEXUAL ACTIVITY AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN HIV/AIDS-AFFECTED HOUSEHOLDS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA.
Magadi, Monica A; Uchudi, Joseph
2015-03-01
This paper examines the effect of orphanhood and HIV status of adults in a household on onset of sexual activity among adolescent girls and boys aged 15-17 years in sub-Saharan Africa. Multilevel logistic regression models were applied to pooled Demographic and Health Surveys data from nineteen countries of sub-Saharan Africa where HIV test data were collected during 2003-2008 from nationally representative samples of men and women of reproductive age. The results highlight increased vulnerability among adolescent boys and girls living in households where an adult is infected with HIV, and adolescent boys who are paternal orphans. On average, adolescent boys and girls living in households where at least one adult is HIV-positive have about 25% higher odds of having initiated sexual activity compared with their counterparts of similar characteristics in households where no adult is HIV-positive. Furthermore, adolescent boys who are paternal orphans have about 25% higher odds of having initiated sexual activity than their non-orphan counterparts of similar individual characteristics. Further analysis reveals that household circumstances relating to living arrangements and poverty are important pathways through which household HIV/AIDS status is linked to adolescent sexual debut. The findings underscore the importance of international efforts in the sub-Saharan Africa region to address the plight of other children in HIV/AIDS-affected households, beyond orphans.
Li diffusion in NbSe/sub 2/ and Ag/sub 0.25/NbSe/sub 2/ single crystals
International Nuclear Information System (INIS)
Folinsbee, J.T.; Simpson, A.M.; Jericho, M.H.
1986-01-01
Measurements are reported of the diffusion of Lithium into NbSe/sub 2/ and into NbSe/sub 2/ preintercalated with silver. Diffusion parallel to the layers is found to be at least 2 orders of magnitude greater than perpendicular to the layers, but not to be greatly affected by the presence of intercalated silver. The activation energy for Li hopping in NbSe/sub 2/ is estimated to be 520 meV. The staging structure of Ag/sub x/NbSe/sub 2/ is also reported. These results have implications for the characterization of cathode materials in intercalation batteries
Balmus, Ioana Miruna; Ciobica, Alin; Antioch, Iulia; Dobrin, Romeo; Timofte, Daniel
2016-01-01
The correlation between the affective disorders and the almost ubiquitous pathological oxidative stress can be described in a multifactorial way, as an important mechanism of central nervous system impairment. Whether the obvious changes which occur in oxidative balance of the affective disorders are a part of the constitutive mechanism or a collateral effect yet remains as an interesting question. However it is now clear that oxidative stress is a component of these disorders, being characterized by different aspects in a disease-dependent manner. Still, there are a lot of controversies regarding the relevance of the oxidative stress status in most of the affective disorders and despite the fact that most of the studies are showing that the affective disorders development can be correlated to increased oxidative levels, there are various studies stating that oxidative stress is not linked with the mood changing tendencies. Thus, in this minireview we decided to describe the way in which oxidative stress is involved in the affective disorders development, by focusing on the main oxidative stress markers that could be used mechanistically and therapeutically in these deficiencies, the genetic perspectives, some antioxidant approaches, and the relevance of some animal models studies in this context.
Clinical Phenotype of Depression Affects Interleukin-6 Synthesis.
Zadka, Łukasz; Dzięgiel, Piotr; Kulus, Michał; Olajossy, Marcin
2017-06-01
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is not a single disease, but a number of various ailments that form one entity. Psychomotor retardation, anhedonia, sleep disorders, an increased suicide risk, and anxiety are the main symptoms that often define the clinical diagnosis of depression. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), as one of the proinflammatory cytokines, seems to be overexpressed during certain mental disorders, including MDD. Overexpression of IL-6 in depression is thought to be a factor associated with bad prognosis and worse disease course. IL-6 may directly affect brain functioning and production of neurotransmitters; moreover, its concentration is correlated with certain clinical symptoms within the wide range of depressive symptomatology. Furthermore, there is a strong correlation between IL-6 synthesis and psychosomatic functioning of the patient. This article discusses potential sources and significance of IL-6 in the pathogenesis of depression.
Clinical and laboratory profile of different dengue sub types in dengue virus infection
Niloy Gan Chaudhuri; S. Vithyavathi; K. Sankar
2016-01-01
Background: Dengue infection, an arthropod-borne viral hemorrhagic fever is caused by Arbovirus of Flavivirus genus and transmitted by Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus. Liver involvement in dengue fever is manifested by the elevation of transaminases representing reactive hepatitis, due to direct attack of virus itself or the use of hepatotoxic drugs. The objective of the study was to investigate clinical and laboratory profile of different dengue sub type's patients admitted for dengue fever....
Difference between T sub 1 and T sub 2 weighted MR images in avascular necrosis of the femoral head
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Kokubo, Takashi; Yoshikawa, Koki; Itai, Yuzo; Iio, Masahiro; Takatori, Yoshio; Kamogawa, Morihide; Ninomiya, Setsuo [Tokyo Univ. (Japan). Faculty of Medicine
1990-01-01
T{sub 1} and T{sub 2} weighted MR images were compared in 32 hips with avascular necrosis, and the difference between them was discussed. In 27 of 32 hips, abnormal low intensity area in the affected femoral head is smaller in T{sub 2} weighted images than in T{sub 1} weighted images. The area of low intensity on T{sub 1} weighted image and high on T{sub 2} weighted image might be granuloma in reactive tissue and surrounding hyperemia. The difference between T{sub 1} and T{sub 2} weighted images must be taken into consideration especially in determination of the border of affected bone. (author).
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Morikawa, D.; Yu, X. Z.; Kaneko, Y. [RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS), Wako 351-0198 (Japan); Tokunaga, Y.; Arima, T. [RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS), Wako 351-0198 (Japan); Department of Advanced Materials Science, University of Tokyo, Kashiwa 277-8561 (Japan); Nagai, T.; Kimoto, K. [Transmission Electron Microscopy Station and Surface Physics and Structure Unit, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Tsukuba 305-0044 (Japan); Tokura, Y. [RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS), Wako 351-0198 (Japan); Department of Applied Physics, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656 (Japan)
2015-11-23
We have investigated nanometric magnetic textures in thin (<150 nm) plates of Ru-doped bilayered manganites La{sub 1.2}Sr{sub 1.8}(Mn{sub 1−y}Ru{sub y}){sub 2}O{sub 7}. Ru substitution for Mn site changes the magnetic anisotropy from in-plane to out-of-plane easy axis type without any significant change of global magnetic and crystal structures. The combination of conventional and Lorentz transmission electron microscopy observations confirms the emergence of magnetic bubbles and skyrmions in the absence of magnetic field. With the changing Ru concentration, systematic changes in the type of magnetic bubbles are observed. A tiny residual magnetic field also affects the generation and the type-change of magnetic bubbles.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Chupakhina, T.I., E-mail: chupakhina@ihim.uran.ru [Institute of Solid State Chemistry of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 91, Pervomaiskaya Str., Ekaterinburg (Russian Federation); Melnikova, N.V. [Ural Federal University, 19, Mira Str., Ekaterinburg (Russian Federation); Gyrdasova, O.I. [Institute of Solid State Chemistry of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 91, Pervomaiskaya Str., Ekaterinburg (Russian Federation)
2016-06-15
A new K{sub 2}NiF{sub 4}-type phase Sr{sub 2}Mn{sub 0,5}Ti{sub 0,5}O{sub 4} have been synthesized by a sol–gel procedure and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy. There are no oxide ion vacancies in these materials; oxidation states of manganese and titanium were estimated as +4. Rietveld profile analysis shows that the phase crystallizes with tetragonal unit cell in the space group I4/mmm. Substitution of Ti{sup 4+} for Mn{sup 4+} does not affect the distortion of coordination polyhedra (Mn,Ti)O{sub 6} and SrO{sub 9}. The dielectric properties of the ceramic samples are caused by structural and charge characteristics, regular coordination polyhedra SrO{sub 9} and lack of charge ordering, which can lead to significant permittivity. Increase of the dielectric constant at temperatures above 453 K is caused mainly by the grain boundary processes explained in terms of the Maxwell–Wagner polarization model. - Highlights: • The new complex oxide Sr{sub 2}Mn{sub 0,5}Ti{sub 0,5}O{sub 4} was prepared. • The structures of the compound were analyzed by Rietveld refinement. • Distortions of SrO{sub 9} and (Mn,Ti)O{sub 6} polyhedra are not strong. • Dielectric properties are determined by regular structure and lack of charge ordering. • Permittivity increase under heat is associated with processes at the grain boundaries.
Shemer, A; Sakka, N; Baran, R; Scher, R; Amichai, B; Norman, L; Farhi, R; Magun, R; Brazilai, A; Daniel, R
2015-03-01
Clinical studies regarding complete cure rate of onychomycosis using oral Terbinafine have a very broad range (14-90%) based solely on response to treatment on the big toenail. To evaluate the efficacy of Terbinafine in all affected onychomycotic toenails and, furthermore, to evaluate differences in mycological, clinical and complete cure rate between affected onychomycotic toenails. Inclusion criteria are as follows: distolateralsubungual onychomycotic involvement of the hallux and additional involvement of at least two more toenails of the same foot. Exclusion criteria are as follows: patients with nail traumata and hypersensitivity to Terbinafine. Patients were treated with oral Terbinafine 250 mg/day for 16 weeks. Mycological analysis was performed using direct microscopy and culture. Clinical improvement was assessed using digital photography. Statistically significant difference was found in clinical improvement between the great toenail and all other involved toenails. The rate of complete cure (100% clinical cure and mycological cure) of the big toenail was lower (23%) as compared to the second (65%), third (51%) and the fourth toenail (67%). This is a case series study that was based on a single-centre cohort. Our results support findings that efficacy of Terbinafine should be based on all involved onychomycotic toenails; the big toenail is not superior in response compared to other affected toenails. © 2014 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
NONE
2014-07-15
This article provides information on: Genetic variation on the control of resistance to infectious diseases in small ruminants for improving animal productivity; Genetic characterization of indigenous livestock breeds; Testing irradiation technology for potential use in trypanosome vaccine development; Strengthening animal disease diagnostic capacities in veterinary laboratories in sub-Saharan Africa; Proficiency testing for Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) diagnosis by Nucleic Acid Amplification (RT-PCR). Information on Fellows is also provided.
International Nuclear Information System (INIS)
2014-01-01
This article provides information on: Genetic variation on the control of resistance to infectious diseases in small ruminants for improving animal productivity; Genetic characterization of indigenous livestock breeds; Testing irradiation technology for potential use in trypanosome vaccine development; Strengthening animal disease diagnostic capacities in veterinary laboratories in sub-Saharan Africa; Proficiency testing for Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) diagnosis by Nucleic Acid Amplification (RT-PCR). Information on Fellows is also provided
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Lee, D.S.; Longhurst, J.W.S.
1990-11-01
Estimates of emissions of SO{sub 2}, NO{sub x}, HCl and NH{sub 3} have been made for Greater Manchester and the North West of England. These estimates were made using data on power generation, fuel useage, animal and human population statistics. A large fossil fuel fired power station is the largest known point source for emissions of SO{sub 2}, NO{sub x} and HCl. However, emissions from motor vehicles make the largest contribution to NO{sub x} emissions in the North-West as a whole. The largest contribution to NH{sub 3} emissions in the North-West is from cattle. However in the Metropolitan Counties of Merseyside and Greater Manchester, it has been calculated that humans could contribute 73% and 81%, respectively, to the emissions of NH{sub 3}. The uncertainties in the methodologies used are highlighted, and where possible, recommendations made as to how future emissions estimates might be improved. 33 refs., 9 figs., 7 tabs.
Transgenesis may affect farm animal welfare: a case for systematic risk assessment
Reenen, van C.; Meuwissen, T.H.E.; Hopster, H.; Oldenbroek, K.; Kruip, T.A.; Blokhuis, H.J.
2001-01-01
This paper considers (potentially) harmful consequences of transgenesis for farm animal welfare and examines the strategy of studying health and welfare of transgenic farm animals. Evidence is discussed showing that treatments imposed in the context of farm animal transgenesis are by no means
Animal models of papillomavirus pathogenesis.
Campo, M Saveria
2002-11-01
problematic and understandably research efforts have shifted in focus from animal to human PVs. However, there are still areas in which studies on animal PVs will continue to provide answers to questions pertaining to virus biology. One of these questions is the involvement of HPV in oesophageal and bladder cancer in humans as is the case for BPV in cattle. Another is the site of viral latency. Lymphocytes have been proposed as a site of latency for both BPV and HPV but only experiments performed in animals could clarify this point. Animal PVs have been instrumental in the development of vaccines as cattle, rabbit and more recently dog all provide the opportunity to study vaccination in the natural host. Several anti-HPV vaccines, both prophylactic and therapeutic, based on those developed in animals, are now in clinical trials with encouraging results. In vitro studies with two animal PV early proteins, the transcriptional regulator E2 and the oncoprotein E5, among others, have contributed to the elucidation of viral gene control and cell transformation. BPV E2 was the first viral product to be identified as a transcriptional regulator; more recently, its association with mitotic chromosomes has been suggested as a mechanism for the partition of viral genomes between daughter cells, and its L2-mediated localisation in the sub-nuclear compartments PODs is believed to favour viral DNA encapsidation. E5 is the major transforming protein of several BPVs. Many of the function of E5 proteins have been first established for BPV E5 and later validated for HPV E5. E5 interacts with 16k ductin/subunit c and this interaction is deemed responsible for the down-regulation of gap junction intercellular communication and the inhibition of acidification of endomembranes. E5 activates growth factor receptors and numerous kinases, including cdks, and down-regulates expression of MHC class I. Thus E5 would help the establishment of viral infection by promoting both cell proliferation and
Ying, X N; Zhang, Q M; Huang, Y N; Wang, Y N
2002-01-01
The internal friction of Ca partially substituted Y sub 1 sub - sub x Ca sub x Ba sub 2 Cu sub 3 O sub 7 sub - subdelta ceramics was measured using the vibrating reed method from liquid-nitrogen temperature to room temperature at kilohertz frequency. There are two thermally activated relaxation peaks (called P1 and P2 at 95 K and 120 K, respectively). The intensity of P1 almost remains unchanged with Ca substitution, while that of P2 decreases. Another internal friction peak appears around 220 K (called P3). With the increase of Ca content, the intensity of P3 decreases and the peak position shifts toward low temperature. We also have observed that Zn substitution affects P3 much less and Fe substitution seems to result in another contribution to the internal friction around 250 K. We expect that the P3 peak originates from a charge-carrier crossover and possibly has some relationship with the occurrence of the dynamic stripe at low temperature.
Theoretical and clinical overview of affective temperaments in mood disorders
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Xenia Gonda
2015-07-01
Full Text Available Temperaments are imperturbable variations of personality, traits and ways of reacting to the environment that characterize individuals and remain constant throughout several different situations. Temperaments usually play a central role in determining emotional reactions, therefore several temperamental models have attempted to establish the potential relationship between temperaments and affective disorders. According to Hagop Akiskal, affective temperaments are subclinical and subaffective trait-like manifestations of affective disorders. Unlike several models of temperament which were exclusively developed theoretically in order to describe healthy human functioning, later extrapolated to capture the pathological domains of mental and behavioral features, the current model of affective temperaments was developed on classical traditions and mainly based on the observation of subjects with mood disorders and their healthy first degree relatives. There is accumulating evidence concerning the development of affective temperaments based on their adaptive evolutionary characteristics and genetic background, and normative data from large national studies on general and healthy samples indicate their universal characteristics. Studies in affective patient populations indicate that the relationship between affective temperaments and affective illness is more complex than a simple extrapolation from psychopathology and mental health, and affective temperaments may represent a latent state of the staging model, playing a pathoplastic role in mood disorders determining their evolution, clinical features, main characteristics and outcome. A large body of data on affective temperaments has been published during the last decade, deserving a critical analysis presented in this overview.
Relaxation of photogenerated carriers under He, H sub 2 , CO sub 2 and O sub 2 on ZnO
Han, C S; Jun, J
1998-01-01
The relaxation process of photogenerated carriers was investigated using conductivity measurement on ZnO under He,H sub 2 ,CO sub 2 and O sub 2. The process was well explained with the rate constant of reaction or recombination of hole and electron, k sub h and k sub e (k sub h >k sub e), respectively. Generally, k sub h increased with the pressure of the gases. The slope of k sub h with respect to the pressure increased in the order of H sub 2<=He
Animal signals and emotion in music: Coordinating affect across groups
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Gregory A. Bryant
2013-12-01
Full Text Available Researchers studying the emotional impact of music have not traditionally been concerned with the principled relationship between form and function in evolved animal signals. The acoustic structure of musical forms is related in important ways to emotion perception, and thus research on nonhuman animal vocalizations is relevant for understanding emotion in music. Musical behavior occurs in cultural contexts that include many other coordinated activities which mark group identity, and can allow people to communicate within and between social alliances. The emotional impact of music might be best understood as a proximate mechanism serving an ultimately social function. Here I describe recent work that reveals intimate connections between properties of certain animal signals and evocative aspects of human music, including 1 examinations of the role of nonlinearities (e.g., broadband noise in nonhuman animal vocalizations, and the analogous production and perception of these features in human music, and 2 an analysis of group musical performances and possible relationships to nonhuman animal chorusing and emotional contagion effects. Communicative features in music are likely due primarily to evolutionary byproducts of phylogenetically older, but still intact communication systems. But in some cases, such as the coordinated rhythmic sounds produced by groups of musicians, our appreciation and emotional engagement might be due to the operation of an adaptive social signaling system. Future empirical work should examine human musical behavior through the comparative lens of behavioral ecology and an adaptationist cognitive science. By this view, particular coordinated sound combinations generated by musicians exploit evolved perceptual response biases—many shared across species—and proliferate through cultural evolutionary processes.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Yu, Cheng-Long, E-mail: johnyucl@aliyun.com [School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi' an 710021 (China); Research Laboratory of Hydrothermal Chemistry, Faculty of Science, The Kochi University, Kochi 780-8520 (Japan); Liu, Wei; Yang, Long-Tao; Wang, Dao-Yi; Wu, Kang [School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi' an 710021 (China); Zhang, Zeng-Ping [Key Laboratory for Special Area Highway Engineering of Ministry of Education, Chang' an University, Xi' an 710064 (China); Wang, Xiu-Feng [School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi' an 710021 (China); Yanagisawa, Kazumichi [Research Laboratory of Hydrothermal Chemistry, Faculty of Science, The Kochi University, Kochi 780-8520 (Japan)
2016-11-15
Lithium metatitanate (β-Li{sub 2}TiO{sub 3}) pebbles were fabricated via the modified indirect wet chemistry method. Effect of varied additives, as polyvinyl alcohol, glycerol, and agar on the properties evolution was investigated. The highest density is obtained by adding 2 wt% (weight percent) polyvinyl alcohol, 3 wt% glycerol, and 3 wt% agar, respectively. β-Li{sub 2}TiO{sub 3} pebbles with relative sintered density of 92.4%T.D. (Theoretical Density), the ratio of the intensity of diffraction peak (002) to that of (−133) of about 2.93, about 1.58 mm in diameter, a better sphericity of 1.02, the particle size of 5–6 μm, and the well-developed surface layered structure are successfully fabricated with 3 wt% glycerol. Glycerol is beneficial to improving the properties by other fabrication method as well. - Highlights: • Polyvinyl alcohol, glycerol, and agar were used to prepare β-Li{sub 2}TiO{sub 3} pebbles. • Properties of the β-Li{sub 2}TiO{sub 3} pebbles were governed by the additives. • Glycerol is beneficial to improving the properties of β-Li{sub 2}TiO{sub 3} pebbles.
Shi, Danni; Vine, Donna F
2012-07-01
To review rodent animal models of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), with a focus on those associated with the metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Review. Rodent models of PCOS. Description and comparison of animal models. Comparison of animal models to clinical phenotypes of PCOS. Animals used to study PCOS include rodents, mice, rhesus monkeys, and ewes. Major methods to induce PCOS in these models include subcutaneous injection or implantation of androgens, estrogens, antiprogesterone, letrozole, prenatal exposure to excess androgens, and exposure to constant light. In addition, transgenic mice models and spontaneous PCOS-like rodent models have also been developed. Rodents are the most economical and widely used animals to study PCOS and ovarian dysfunction. The model chosen to study the development of PCOS and other metabolic parameters remains dependent on the specific etiologic hypotheses being investigated. Rodent models have been shown to demonstrate changes in insulin metabolism, with or without induction of hyperandrogenemia, and limited studies have investigated cardiometabolic risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Given the clinical heterogeneity of PCOS, the utilization of different animal models may be the best approach to further our understanding of the pathophysiologic mechanisms associated with the early etiology of PCOS and cardiometabolic risk. Copyright © 2012 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Li, Sha; Yang, Yongpeng; Huang, Shiping, E-mail: huangsp@mail.buct.edu.cn
2017-07-15
Highlights: • O{sub 2} adsorption and dissociation on Pd{sub 13-n}Ni{sub n}@Pt{sub 42} NPs are performed by DFT. • Adsorption energies of O{sub 2} and O are strongly affected by the coordination number. • Adsorption energy and d-band center displays the opposite change tendency. • Ni{sub 13}@Pt{sub 42} is the most active catalyst among Pd{sub 13-n}Ni{sub n}@Pt{sub 42} (n = 0, 1, 12, and 13) NPs. - Abstract: Density functional theory calculations are performed to investigate O{sub 2} adsorption and dissociation on the icosahedral Pd{sub 13-n}Ni{sub n}@Pt{sub 42} (n = 0, 1, 12, and 13) tri-metallic nanoparticles. The parallel adsorption of O{sub 2} on Pd{sub 13-n}Ni{sub n}@Pt{sub 42} (n = 0, 1, 12, and 13) is stronger than the vertical adsorption. The adsorption of O{sub 2} on the bridge site (B1) is favorable in the Pd{sub 13-n}Ni{sub n}@Pt{sub 42} (n = 0, 1, 12, and 13) nanoparticles, while the adsorption of O atom on the hollow site (H1) is preferred. The adsorption energies of O{sub 2} and O are strongly affected by the coordination number. Low coordination site shows strong adsorption of O{sub 2} and O on the Pd{sub 13-n}Ni{sub n}@Pt{sub 42} (n = 0, 1, 12, and 13) nanoparticles. The adsorption energies of O{sub 2} and O atoms are found to be correlated well with the d-band center of surface Pt. For the Pd{sub 13-n}Ni{sub n}@Pt{sub 42} (n = 0, 1, 12, and13) nanoparticles catalysts, the ORR activity follows the order of Ni{sub 13}@Pt{sub 42} > Pd{sub 13}@Pt{sub 42} > Pd{sub 12}Ni{sub 1}@Pt{sub 42} > Pd{sub 1}Ni{sub 12}@Pt{sub 42}, illustrating that the Ni{sub 13}@Pt{sub 42} is the strongest ORR activity among the Pd{sub 13-n}Ni{sub n}@Pt{sub 42} (n = 0, 1, 12, and13) nanoparticles catalysts. Our results have important significance to understand the mechanism of O{sub 2} dissociation on the Pd{sub 13-n}Ni{sub n}@Pt{sub 42} (n = 0, 1, 12, and 13) tri-metallic nanoparticles.
Mice selected for high versus low stress reactivity: a new animal model for affective disorders.
Touma, Chadi; Bunck, Mirjam; Glasl, Lisa; Nussbaumer, Markus; Palme, Rupert; Stein, Hendrik; Wolferstätter, Michael; Zeh, Ramona; Zimbelmann, Marina; Holsboer, Florian; Landgraf, Rainer
2008-07-01
Affective disorders such as major depression are among the most prevalent and costly diseases of the central nervous system, but the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. In recent years, it has become evident that alterations of the stress hormone system, in particular dysfunctions (hyper- or hypo-activity) of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, play a prominent role in the development of major depressive disorders. Therefore, we aimed to generate a new animal model comprising these neuroendocrine core symptoms in order to unravel parameters underlying increased or decreased stress reactivity. Starting from a population of outbred mice (parental generation: 100 males and 100 females of the CD-1 strain), two breeding lines were established according to the outcome of a 'stress reactivity test' (SRT), consisting of a 15-min restraint period and tail blood samplings immediately before and after exposure to the stressor. Mice showing a very high or a very low secretion of corticosterone in the SRT, i.e. animals expressing a hyper- or a hypo-reactivity of the HPA axis, were selected for the 'high reactivity' (HR) and the 'low reactivity' (LR) breeding line, respectively. Additionally, a third breeding line was established consisting of animals with an 'intermediate reactivity' (IR) in the SRT. Already in the first generation, i.e. animals derived from breeding pairs selected from the parental generation, significant differences in the reactivity of the HPA axis between HR, IR, and LR mice were observed. Moreover, these differences were found across all subsequent generations and could be increased by selective breeding, which indicates a genetic basis of the respective phenotype. Repeated testing of individuals in the SRT furthermore proved that the observed differences in stress responsiveness are present already early in life and can be regarded as a robust genetic predisposition. Tests investigating the animal's emotionality including anxiety
Animal models to guide clinical drug development in ADHD: lost in translation?
Wickens, Jeffery R; Hyland, Brian I; Tripp, Gail
2011-01-01
We review strategies for developing animal models for examining and selecting compounds with potential therapeutic benefit in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD is a behavioural disorder of unknown aetiology and pathophysiology. Current understanding suggests that genetic factors play an important role in the aetiology of ADHD. The involvement of dopaminergic and noradrenergic systems in the pathophysiology of ADHD is probable. We review the clinical features of ADHD including inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity and how these are operationalized for laboratory study. Measures of temporal discounting (but not premature responding) appear to predict known drug effects well (treatment validity). Open-field measures of overactivity commonly used do not have treatment validity in human populations. A number of animal models have been proposed that simulate the symptoms of ADHD. The most commonly used are the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and the 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned (6-OHDA) animals. To date, however, the SHR lacks treatment validity, and the effects of drugs on symptoms of impulsivity and inattention have not been studied extensively in 6-OHDA-lesioned animals. At the present stage of development, there are no in vivo models of proven effectiveness for examining and selecting compounds with potential therapeutic benefit in ADHD. However, temporal discounting is an emerging theme in theories of ADHD, and there is good evidence of increased value of delayed reward following treatment with stimulant drugs. Therefore, operant behaviour paradigms that measure the effects of drugs in situations of delayed reinforcement, whether in normal rats or selected models, show promise for the future. LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed issue on Translational Neuropharmacology. To view the other articles in this issue visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2011.164.issue-4 PMID:21480864
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Diane S. Daniel
2017-09-01
Full Text Available Enterococcus faecalis ranks as one of the leading causes of nosocomial infections. A strong epidemiological link has been reported between E. faecalis inhabiting animals and environmental sources. This study investigates the genetic diversity, antibiotic resistance and virulence determinants in E. faecalis from three sources in Malaysia. A total of 250 E. faecalis isolates were obtained consisting of 120 isolates from farm animals, 100 isolates from water sources and 30 isolates from hospitalized patients. Pulse-field gel electrophoresis-typing yielded 63 pulsotypes, with high diversity observed in all sources (D = ≥0.901. No pulsotype was common to all the three sources. Each patient room had its own unique PFGE pattern which persisted after six months. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of Vancomycin, Gentamicin, Penicillin, Tetracycline, Nitrofurantoin, Levofloxacin, Ciprofloxacin and Fosfomycin were evaluated. Resistance to Tetracycline was most prevalent in isolates from farm animals (62% and water sources (49%. Water isolates (86% had a higher prevalence of the asa1 gene, which encodes for aggregation substance, whereas clinical (78% and farm animal isolates (87% had a higher prevalence of the esp gene, encoding a surface exposed protein. This study generates knowledge on the genetic diversity of E. faecalis with antibiotic resistance and virulence characteristics from various sources in Malaysia. Keywords: Antibiotic resistance, Enterococcus faecalis, Genetic diversity, Molecular typing, Virulence markers
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Kim, Jae Hyung; Pak, Daewon [Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul (Korea, Republic of); Chang, Won Seok [Korea District Heating Corp, Seongnam (Korea, Republic of)
2015-10-15
Biological conversion of CO{sub 2} was examined in a fixed bed reactor inoculated with anaerobic mixed culture to investigate influencing factors, the type of packing material and the composition of the feeding gas mixture. During the operation of the fixed bed reactor by feeding the gas mixture (80% H{sub 2} and 20% CO{sub 2} based on volume basis), the volumetric CO{sub 2} conversion rate was higher in the fixed bed reactor packed with sponge due to its large surface area and high mass transfer from gas to liquid phase compared with PS ball. Carbon dioxide loaded into the fixed bed reactor was not completely converted because some of H{sub 2} was used for biomass growth. When a mole ratio of H{sub 2} to CO{sub 2} in the feeding gas mixture increased from 4 to 5, CO{sub 2} was completely converted into CH{sub 4}. The packing material with large surface area is effective in treating gaseous substrate such as CO{sub 2} and H{sub 2}. H{sub 2}, electron donor, should be providing more than required according to stoichiometry because some of it is used for biomass growth.
Adrenal incidentaloma: A case of pheochromocytoma with sub-clinical Cushing′s syndrome
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Ashutosh Goyal
2013-01-01
Full Text Available Adrenal incidentalomas (AIs are a cluster of different pathologies, but AIs with dual functional aspects are very rare. We report a case of AI with the evidence of both pheochromocytoma and sub-clinical Cushing′s syndrome. A 42-year-old female patient presented with the history of abdominal pain. Abdominal computed tomography revealed right adrenal mass suggestive of pheochromocytoma. On endocrine evaluation, she admitted history of intermittent headache and palpitations for 4 years and was on treatment for hypertension and diabetes. There were no signs and symptoms suggestive of Cushing′s syndrome. The laboratory data demonstrated 10 times raised 24-h urinary fractionated metanephrines with non-suppressible serum cortisol after 2-day low-dose dexamethasone suppression test. She underwent right-sided adrenalectomy with subsequent resolution of both pheochromocytoma and hypercortisolism. Patient was discharged in good clinical condition.
Lehmann, Jörg; Schulz, Ronny M; Sanzenbacher, Ralf
2015-11-01
For the development of medicinal products animal models are still indispensable to demonstrate efficacy and safety prior to first use in humans. Advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMP), which include cell-based medicinal products (CBMP), differ in their pharmacology and toxicology compared to conventional pharmaceuticals, and thus, require an adapted regime for non-clinical development. Developers are, therefore, challenged to develop particular individual concepts and to reconcile these with regulatory agencies. Guidelines issued by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other sources can provide direction.The published approaches for non-clinical testing of efficacy document that homologous animal models where the therapeutic effect is investigated in a disease-relevant animal model utilizing cells derived from the same species are commonly used. The challenge is that the selected model should reflect the human disease in all critical features and that the cells should be comparable to the investigated human medicinal product in terms of quality and biological activity. This is not achievable in all cases. In these cases, alternative methods may provide supplemental information. To demonstrate the scientific proof-of-concept (PoC), small animal models such as mice or rats are preferred. During the subsequent product development phase, large animal models (i.e. sheep, minipigs, dogs) must be considered, as they may better reflect the anatomical or physiological situation in humans. In addition to efficacy, those models may also be suitable to prove some safety aspects of ATMP (e.g. regarding dose finding, local tolerance, or undesired interactions and effects of the administered cells in the target tissue). In contrast, for evaluation of the two prominent endpoints for characterizing the safety of ATMP (i.e. biodistribution, tumorigenicity) heterologous small animal models, especially immunodeficient mouse strains
Effects of stress on alcohol drinking: a review of animal studies
Lopez, Marcelo F.; Doremus-Fitzwater, Tamara L.
2011-01-01
Rationale While stress is often proposed to play a significant role in influencing alcohol consumption, the relationship between stress and alcohol is complex and poorly understood. Over several decades, stress effects on alcohol drinking have been studied using a variety of animal models and experimental procedures, yet this large body of literature has generally produced equivocal results. Objectives This paper reviews results from animal studies in which alcohol consumption is evaluated under conditions of acute/sub-chronic stress exposure or models of chronic stress exposure. Evidence also is presented indicating that chronic intermittent alcohol exposure serves as a stressor that consequently influences drinking. Results The effects of various acute/sub-chronic stress procedures on alcohol consumption have generally been mixed, but most study outcomes suggest either no effect or decreased alcohol consumption. In contrast, most studies indicate that chronic stress, especially when administered early in development, results in elevated drinking later in adulthood. Chronic alcohol exposure constitutes a potent stressor itself, and models of chronic intermittent alcohol exposure reliably produce escalation of voluntary alcohol consumption. Conclusions A complex and dynamic interplay among a wide array of genetic, biological, and environmental factors govern stress responses, regulation of alcohol drinking, and the circumstances in which stress modulates alcohol consumption. Suggestions for future directions and new approaches are presented that may aid in developing more sensitive and valid animal models that not only better mimic the clinical situation, but also provide greater understanding of mechanisms that underlie the complexity of stress effects on alcohol drinking. PMID:21850445
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Rajbhandari, P., E-mail: p.rajbhandari@sheffield.ac.uk [UCCS UMR-CNRS 8181, Universite de Lille1, Villeneuve d' Ascq (France); Montagne, L. [UCCS UMR-CNRS 8181, Universite de Lille1, Villeneuve d' Ascq (France); Tricot, G. [UCCS UMR-CNRS 8181, Universite de Lille1, Villeneuve d' Ascq (France); LASIR UMR-CNRS 8516, Universite de Lille1, Villeneuve d' Ascq (France)
2016-11-01
A zinc alkali pyrophosphate system 46.6ZnO-20Na{sub 2}O-33.5P{sub 2}O{sub 5} presenting low-T{sub g} (339 °C) and good thermal stability has been doped with (1–4) mol% of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, B{sub 2}O{sub 3} and SiO{sub 2} to improve the stability of the glass with a minimal increase in glass transition temperature (T{sub g}). XRD and 1D {sup 31}P solid state NMR were used to monitor the isothermal crystallization process occurring at 130 °C above T{sub g}. If the Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} and B{sub 2}O{sub 3} doping significantly improved thermal stability, this property was marginally affected by SiO{sub 2} doping. Viscosity measurements were performed to observe the crystallization effects induced by the doping. It is noteworthy that the T{sub g} values of all the doped compositions with improved stability presented in this work are below 400 °C. Raman spectroscopy, 1D {sup 31}P, {sup 27}Al, {sup 11}B and {sup 29}Si solid state NMR were carried out to determine the structural modifications and coordination states of the doping elements all along the composition line. - Highlights: • Low-Tg phosphate glasses doped with Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, B{sub 2}O{sub 3} and SiO{sub 2} have been formulated. • Thermal stability of the glass has been improved significantly. • The structural modification induced by doping elements has been studied by employing solid state NMR technique.
Valence behavior of Eu-ions in intermetallic compound Ce{sub 0.5}Eu{sub 0.5}Pd{sub 3}B{sub 0.5}
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Pandey, Abhishek, E-mail: apandey@ameslab.gov [Experimental Condensed Matter Physics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF, Bidhannagar, Kolkata 700064 (India); S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Block-JD, Sector-III, Salt Lake, Kolkata 700098 (India); Mazumdar, Chandan, E-mail: chandan.mazumdar@saha.ac.in [S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Block-JD, Sector-III, Salt Lake, Kolkata 700098 (India); Ranganathan, R. [S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Block-JD, Sector-III, Salt Lake, Kolkata 700098 (India); Raghavendra Reddy, V.; Gupta, Ajay [UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research, University Campus, Khandawa Road, Indore (India)
2011-12-15
We have studied the valence behavior of rare-earth ions, in particular Eu-ions, in a cubic intermetallic compound Ce{sub 0.5}Eu{sub 0.5}Pd{sub 3}B{sub 0.5} which is a homogeneous solid solution of two mixed-valent compounds CePd{sub 3} and EuPd{sub 3}B. Results of {sup 151}Eu Moessbauer spectroscopic measurements show that two different valence states, i.e., divalent- and trivalent-like states of Eu-ions exist in the compound. The possible reason for the observed heterogeneous valency vis-a-vis the variation in the chemical environment and the number of nearest-neighbor B atoms surrounding the Eu-ions has been discussed. Our results demonstrate that B incorporation in such Eu-based cubic intermetallic compounds leads to a situation where heterogeneous-valence state of Eu-ions is an energetically favorable ground state. - Highlights: > Intermetallic compound Ce{sub 0.5}Eu{sub 0.5}Pd{sub 3}B{sub 0.5} crystallizes in a single phase. > Eu-ions in Ce{sub 0.5}Eu{sub 0.5}Pd{sub 3}B{sub 0.5} are charge-ordered compared to +2.3 valency in Ce{sub 0.5}Eu{sub 0.5}Pd{sub 3}. > B incorporation makes charge-ordered state of Eu-ions energetically more favorable. > Nearest-neighbor chemical environment affects the Eu valency.
The impact of sub-clinical over-hydration on left ventricular mass in peritoneal dialysis patients.
Hassan, Kamal; Hassan, Dunia; Shturman, Alexander; Rubinchik, Irina; Fadi, Hassan; Shadi, Hassan; Atar, Shaul
2015-01-01
Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) represents a major predictor of the development of cardiovascular (CV) complications. Over-hydration (OH) is an important uremic risk factor associated with LVH and increased CV morbidity and mortality in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. In the present study we evaluated the prevalence of sub-clinical OH (SCOH) among PD patients and its effects on left ventricular mass (LVM). In this cross sectional study hydration status, blood pressure, glucose load, systemic inflammation and LVM were evaluated in 43 clinically stable patients on maintenance PD for 24-76 months. The hydration status was assessed by whole-body bio-impedance spectroscopy (BIS). Peripheral edema and any evidence of pulmonary congestion were considered clinical signs of OH. OH ≥ 1.5 L was detected in 26 (60.5%) of the study participants; the OH in 19 (73.1%) of them was sub-clinical. Only 23.5% (4/17) of patients with OH < 1.5 L had LVH compared to 68.4% (13/19) of those with SCOH ≥ 1.5 L (P = 0.007). Compared to patients with OH < 1.5 L, patients with SCOH ≥ 1.5 L had higher levels of blood pressure, peritoneal glucose load, plasma brain natriuretic peptide, high sensitive C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 and LVMI; and lower levels of serum albumin (P < 0.001). No significant differences were found between patients with clinical OH or SCOH with OH ≥ 1.5 L. SCOH is highly prevalent among PD patients and may contribute to the development of LVH. Considering the poor prognosis associated with over-hydrated PD patients, periodic assessment of hydration status using accurate BIS is suggested.
Radiosynthesis and pre-clinical evaluation of [{sup 18}F]fluoro-[1,2-{sup 2}H{sub 4}]choline
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Smith, Graham [Comprehensive Cancer Imaging Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN (United Kingdom); Zhao Yongjun [MDx Discovery (part of GE Healthcare) at Hammersmith Imanet, Ltd., Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN (United Kingdom); Leyton, Julius [Comprehensive Cancer Imaging Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN (United Kingdom); Shan Bo [MDx Discovery (part of GE Healthcare) at Hammersmith Imanet, Ltd., Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN (United Kingdom); Nguyen, Quang-de; Perumal, Meg [Comprehensive Cancer Imaging Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN (United Kingdom); Turton, David [GE-Imanet, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN (United Kingdom); Arstad, Erik; Luthra, Sajinder K.; Robins, Edward G. [MDx Discovery (part of GE Healthcare) at Hammersmith Imanet, Ltd., Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN (United Kingdom); Aboagye, Eric O., E-mail: eric.aboagye@imperial.ac.u [Comprehensive Cancer Imaging Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN (United Kingdom)
2011-01-15
Introduction: Choline radiotracers are widely used for clinical PET diagnosis in oncology. [{sup 11}C]Choline finds particular utility in the imaging of brain and prostate tumor metabolic status, where 2-[{sup 18}F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ('FDG') shows high background uptake. More recently we have extended the clinical utility of [{sup 11}C]choline to breast cancer where radiotracer uptake correlates with tumor aggressiveness (grade). In the present study, a new choline analog, [{sup 18}F]fluoro-[1,2-{sup 2}H{sub 4}]choline, was synthesized and evaluated as a potential PET imaging probe. Methods: [{sup 18}F]Fluorocholine, [{sup 18}F]fluoro-[1-{sup 2}H{sub 2}]choline and [{sup 18}F]fluoro-[1,2-{sup 2}H{sub 4}]choline were synthesized by alkylation of the relevant precursor with [{sup 18}F]fluorobromomethane or [{sup 18}F]fluoromethyl tosylate. Radiosynthesis of [{sup 18}F]fluoromethyl tosylate required extensive modification of the existing method. [{sup 18}F]Fluorocholine and [{sup 18}F]fluoro-[1,2-{sup 2}H{sub 4}]choline were then subjected to in vitro oxidative stability analysis in a chemical oxidation model using potassium permanganate and an enzymatic model using choline oxidase. The two radiotracers, together with the corresponding di-deuterated compound, [{sup 18}F]fluoro-[1-{sup 2}H{sub 2}]choline, were then evaluated in vivo in a time-course biodistribution study in HCT-116 tumor-bearing mice. Results: Alkylation with [{sup 18}F]fluoromethyl tosylate proved to be the most reliable radiosynthetic route. Stability models indicate that [{sup 18}F]fluoro-[1,2-{sup 2}H{sub 4}]choline possesses increased chemical and enzymatic (choline oxidase) oxidative stability relative to [{sup 18}F]fluorocholine. The distribution of the three radiotracers, [{sup 18}F]fluorocholine, [{sup 18}F]fluoro-[1-{sup 2}H{sub 2}]choline and [{sup 18}F]fluoro-[1,2-{sup 2}H{sub 4}]choline, showed a similar uptake profile in most organs. Crucially, tumor uptake of [{sup 18}F
Hydrogen sulfide (H{sub 2}S) and sour gas effects on the eye. A historical perspective
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Lambert, Timothy William [Environmental Health, Calgary Health Region, 1509 Centre St SW, Calgary Alberta, T2G 2E6 (Canada)]. E-mail: tim.lambert@calgaryheathregion.ca; Goodwin, Verona Marie [VM Goodwin Research and Consulting Ltd. (Canada); Stefani, Dennis [Environmental Health, Calgary Health Region, 1509 Centre St SW, Calgary Alberta, T2G 2E6 (Canada); Strosher, Lisa [Environmental Health, Calgary Health Region, 1509 Centre St SW, Calgary Alberta, T2G 2E6 (Canada)
2006-08-15
pyknosis, edema and separation of cells in the eye following exposures for 3 h at 36 ppm H{sub 2}S [Michal FV. Eye lesions caused by hydrogen sulfide. Cesk Ophthalmol 1950;6;5-8]. In 1975, in Alberta, irreversible eye damage and photophobia were experimentally produced in calves exposed to 20 ppm H{sub 2}S for 1 week [Nordstrom GA. A study of calf response of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide gases. Thesis, University of Alberta, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Edmonton Alberta; 1975, 218 pp.]. Alberta Environmental Centre documented clinical irritation of the eye at 40 ppm H{sub 2}S in 6 hours in rats [Alberta Environmental Centre. Morphological observations in rats exposed for six hours to an atmosphere of 0, 56, or 420 mg/m{sup 3} hydrogen sulfide. AECV86-A1. Alberta Environmental Centre, Vegreville, Alberta; 1986b. 28 pp.]. In two sour gas blow-outs in Alberta, in the early 1980s, eye injury was documented in humans and animals at 0.5 ppm H{sub 2}S. Community studies in the United States, Europe and New Zealand suggest that acute exposure to 25 ppb H{sub 2}S is the lowest concentration to irritate the eyes; with chronic exposure, serious eye effects are suggested. In contrast to the conclusion, all of the studies, except one, cited in the AHW Report indicate toxic effects on the eye below 100 ppm H{sub 2}S [Alberta Health and Wellness (AHW report). Health effects associated with short-term exposure to low levels of hydrogen sulfide (H{sub 2}S): a technical review, Alberta Health and Wellness, October 2002, 81pp.]. In addition, the AHW Report (2002) mis-presented two studies as 'clinical studies', claiming they reported no evidence of eye effects in humans from 2 and 30 ppm H{sub 2}S for 30-40 minutes [Alberta Health and Wellness (AHW report). Health effects associated with short-term exposure to low levels of hydrogen sulfide (H{sub 2}S): a technical review, Alberta Health and Wellness, October 2002, 81pp.].
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Dunn, Andrew W. [The Materials Science and Engineering Program, Dept. of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221 (United States); Ehsan, Sadat M.; Mast, David [Department of Physics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221 (United States); Pauletti, Giovanni M. [The James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267 (United States); Xu, Hong [Nano Biomedical Research Center, School of Biomedical Engineering, Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030 (China); Zhang, Jiaming; Ewing, Rodney C. [Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 (United States); Shi, Donglu, E-mail: donglu.shi@uc.edu [The Materials Science and Engineering Program, Dept. of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221 (United States); Shanghai East Hospital, The Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Nano Science, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200120 (China)
2015-01-01
The photothermal effect of magnetite (Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}) nanoparticles was characterized by photonic absorption in the near-infrared (NIR) region. Upon laser irradiation at 785 nm, the Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanoparticles generate localized hyperthermia in tumorous lesions, which is an effective strategy for cancer therapy; however, uncoated magnetite possesses an innate toxicity which can lead to drawbacks in the clinical setting. To reduce innate toxicity, a poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) coating on the nanoparticles was investigated in order to determine the alterations to stability and the degree of toxicity in an attempt to create a higher utility vector. It was found that the PAA coating significantly reduced the innate toxicity of the uncoated magnetite. Furthermore, the efficacy of PAA-coated magnetite nanoparticles (PAA-Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}) was investigated for treating MDA-MB-231 (human mammary gland adenocarcinoma) cultures in viable concentration ranges (0.1–0.5 mg/ml). An appropriate PAA-Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} concentration range was then established for inducing significant cell death by hyperthermic ablation, but not through innate toxicity. - Highlights: • Uncoated magnetite NPs possess high innate toxicity in MDA-MB-231 cultures. • PAA coating significantly reduces innate toxicity and stabilizes magnetite NPs. • Thermal ablation begins at 0.2 mg/ml for PAA-Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} at 785 nm NIR laser, 38.5 kW/m{sup 2}. • 38.5 kW/m{sup 2} does not significantly affect MDA-MB-231 viability in-vitro.
International Nuclear Information System (INIS)
Mitsuda, Minoru; Yamaguchi, Masayuki; Nakagami, Ryutaro; Furuta, Toshihiro; Fujii, Hirofumi; Sekine, Norio; Niitsu, Mamoru; Moriyama, Noriyuki
2013-01-01
Simultaneous magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of multiple small animals in a single session increases throughput of preclinical imaging experiments. Such imaging using a 3-tesla clinical scanner with multi-array coil requires correction of intensity variation caused by the inhomogeneous sensitivity profile of the coil. We explored a method for correcting intensity that we customized for multi-animal MR imaging, especially abdominal imaging. Our institutional committee for animal experimentation approved the protocol. We acquired high resolution T 1 -, T 2 -, and T 2 * -weighted images and low resolution proton density-weighted images (PDWIs) of 4 rat abdomens simultaneously using a 3T clinical scanner and custom-made multi-array coil. For comparison, we also acquired T 1 -, T 2 -, and T 2 * -weighted volume coil images in the same rats in 4 separate sessions. We used software created in-house to correct intensity variation. We applied thresholding to the PDWIs to produce binary images that displayed only a signal-producing area, calculated multi-array coil sensitivity maps by dividing low-pass filtered PDWIs by low-pass filtered binary images pixel by pixel, and divided uncorrected T 1 -, T 2 -, or T 2 * -weighted images by those maps to obtain intensity-corrected images. We compared tissue contrast among the liver, spinal canal, and muscle between intensity-corrected multi-array coil images and volume coil images. Our intensity correction method performed well for all pulse sequences studied and corrected variation in original multi-array coil images without deteriorating the throughput of animal experiments. Tissue contrasts were comparable between intensity-corrected multi-array coil images and volume coil images. Our intensity correction method customized for multi-animal abdominal MR imaging using a 3T clinical scanner and dedicated multi-array coil could facilitate image interpretation. (author)
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Baltra, T [Ministerio de Educacion, Santiago (Chile); Fuenzalida, V M; Grahmann, C R [Chile Univ., Santiago (Chile). Dept. de Fisica
1997-12-31
The parasitic phase formation during the thermal processing of the H Tc La Ba{sub 2} Cu{sub 3} O{sub 7-x} superconductor, particularly the Ba Cu O{sub 2}, is studied. The formation of the stable parasitic phase depends on the temperature of the initial treatments and on the heating rate during the sintering process. The superconducting highest purity material is obtained with treatment at 900 deg C and lowest heating rate. The temperature during the final annealing in oxygen of the sample did also affect the transport properties. Samples with the lowest resistivity in the normal state were produced by annealing in oxygen at 300 deg C. The largest orthorhombic distortion was obtained at 325 deg C. (author). 2 refs., 1 fig., 2 tabs.
Passini, Elisa; Britton, Oliver J; Lu, Hua Rong; Rohrbacher, Jutta; Hermans, An N; Gallacher, David J; Greig, Robert J H; Bueno-Orovio, Alfonso; Rodriguez, Blanca
2017-01-01
Early prediction of cardiotoxicity is critical for drug development. Current animal models raise ethical and translational questions, and have limited accuracy in clinical risk prediction. Human-based computer models constitute a fast, cheap and potentially effective alternative to experimental assays, also facilitating translation to human. Key challenges include consideration of inter-cellular variability in drug responses and integration of computational and experimental methods in safety pharmacology. Our aim is to evaluate the ability of in silico drug trials in populations of human action potential (AP) models to predict clinical risk of drug-induced arrhythmias based on ion channel information, and to compare simulation results against experimental assays commonly used for drug testing. A control population of 1,213 human ventricular AP models in agreement with experimental recordings was constructed. In silico drug trials were performed for 62 reference compounds at multiple concentrations, using pore-block drug models (IC 50 /Hill coefficient). Drug-induced changes in AP biomarkers were quantified, together with occurrence of repolarization/depolarization abnormalities. Simulation results were used to predict clinical risk based on reports of Torsade de Pointes arrhythmias, and further evaluated in a subset of compounds through comparison with electrocardiograms from rabbit wedge preparations and Ca 2+ -transient recordings in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPS-CMs). Drug-induced changes in silico vary in magnitude depending on the specific ionic profile of each model in the population, thus allowing to identify cell sub-populations at higher risk of developing abnormal AP phenotypes. Models with low repolarization reserve (increased Ca 2+ /late Na + currents and Na + /Ca 2+ -exchanger, reduced Na + /K + -pump) are highly vulnerable to drug-induced repolarization abnormalities, while those with reduced inward current density
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Elisa Passini
2017-09-01
Full Text Available Early prediction of cardiotoxicity is critical for drug development. Current animal models raise ethical and translational questions, and have limited accuracy in clinical risk prediction. Human-based computer models constitute a fast, cheap and potentially effective alternative to experimental assays, also facilitating translation to human. Key challenges include consideration of inter-cellular variability in drug responses and integration of computational and experimental methods in safety pharmacology. Our aim is to evaluate the ability of in silico drug trials in populations of human action potential (AP models to predict clinical risk of drug-induced arrhythmias based on ion channel information, and to compare simulation results against experimental assays commonly used for drug testing. A control population of 1,213 human ventricular AP models in agreement with experimental recordings was constructed. In silico drug trials were performed for 62 reference compounds at multiple concentrations, using pore-block drug models (IC50/Hill coefficient. Drug-induced changes in AP biomarkers were quantified, together with occurrence of repolarization/depolarization abnormalities. Simulation results were used to predict clinical risk based on reports of Torsade de Pointes arrhythmias, and further evaluated in a subset of compounds through comparison with electrocardiograms from rabbit wedge preparations and Ca2+-transient recordings in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPS-CMs. Drug-induced changes in silico vary in magnitude depending on the specific ionic profile of each model in the population, thus allowing to identify cell sub-populations at higher risk of developing abnormal AP phenotypes. Models with low repolarization reserve (increased Ca2+/late Na+ currents and Na+/Ca2+-exchanger, reduced Na+/K+-pump are highly vulnerable to drug-induced repolarization abnormalities, while those with reduced inward current density
Lanz, Roland; Kuhnert, Peter; Boerlin, Patrick
2003-01-02
Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on a total of 581 clinical Escherichia coli isolates from diarrhea and edema disease in pigs, from acute mastitis in dairy cattle, from urinary tract infections in dogs and cats, and from septicemia in laying hens collected in Switzerland between 1999 and 2001. Among the 16 antimicrobial agents tested, resistance was most frequent for sulfonamides, tetracycline, and streptomycin. Isolates from swine presented significantly more resistance than those from the other animal species. The distribution of the resistance determinants for sulfonamides, tetracycline, and streptomycin was assessed by hybridization and PCR in resistant isolates. Significant differences in the distribution of resistance determinants for tetracycline (tetA, tetB) and sulfonamides (sulII) were observed between the isolates from swine and those from the other species. Resistance to sulfonamides could not be explained by known resistance mechanisms in more than a quarter of the sulfonamide-resistant and sulfonamide-intermediate isolates from swine, dogs and cats. This finding suggests that one or several new resistance mechanisms for sulfonamides may be widespread among E. coli isolates from these animal species. The integrase gene (intI) from class I integrons was detected in a large proportion of resistant isolates in association with the sulI and aadA genes, thus demonstrating the importance of integrons in the epidemiology of resistance in clinical E. coli isolates from animals.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Kouznetsov, Konstantin Alexander [Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (US). Dept. of Physics; Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
1999-12-01
The cuprate YBa<sub>2sub>Cu>3sub>O>7-δsub> is the material that drives the majority of the technological applications of high transition temperature (T<sub>c>) superconductors, particularly in the area of superconducting electronics. Despite the widespread use of high-T<sub>c> superconducting materials in a variety of applications, the nature of the superconducting state in these materials remains unknown since their discovery more than a decade ago. Many properties of the high-T<sub>c> superconductors are determined by their order parameter, which is a wavefunction describing the superconducting condensate. The symmetry of the order parameter in cuprates has been the subject of intensive investigation, leading to conflicting sets of results. Some experiments supported conventional, s-wave symmetry of the order parameter, while others indicated an unconventional, d-wave symmetry. The first part of this thesis is an experimental study of the symmetry of the order parameter in YBa<sub>2sub>Cu>3sub>O>7-δsub>. A new class of phase sensitive experiments is described that involve Josephson tunneling along the c-axis of twinned crystals of YBa<sub>2sub>Cu>3sub>O>7-δsub>. These experiments showed that an s-wave component must reverse sign across the twin boundary, providing direct evidence for a mixed, s+d symmetry of the order parameter in YBa<sub>2sub>Cu>3sub>O>7-δsub>, and thereby reconciling two conflicting sets of previous findings and establishing the dominant d-wave pairing symmetry. The second part of the thesis focuses on practical applications of YBa<sub>2sub>Cu>3sub>O>7-δsub> in superconducting electronics. The authors introduce a novel Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) gradiometer. The principle of operation of these long baseline high-T{sub c} SQUID gradiometers is based on the inductive coupling of the input coil of a planar flux transformer to the
Miyata, S; Suzuki, J I; Kuroda, K; Koshizuka, N
2003-01-01
In order to clarify the origin of the high critical current density (J sub c) of NdBa sub 2 Cu sub 3 O sub 7 sub - subdelta (Nd123), we investigated the inhomogeneities in this material by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) experiments. As a result of numerical calculations, it was found that the anisotropic scattering patterns and radial intensity profiles can be explained by the existence of elliptic cylindrical objects of which the cylindrical axis is parallel to the crystallographic c-axis. Long and short elliptic axis lengths and the height of the elliptic cylinders in the high-J sub c sample are about 400, 200 and 100 nm, and those of the low-J sub c sample are about 200, 100 and 50 nm. Since these two samples have been heat-treated in different manners, it is suggested that sizes of the elliptic cylinders are affected by the heat treatments and this change in scale, as a result, increases or decreases the J sub c characteristics of the samples. (author)
Lucas, C.; Criens-Poublon, L. J.; Cockrell, C. T.; de Haan, R. J.
2002-01-01
Based on results of cell studies and animal experiments, clinical trials with Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) were performed, which finally did not demonstrate a beneficial effect on outcome of wound healing. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the evidence from cell studies and animal
CONSTRUCTION AND PARTIAL VALIDATION OF AN ANIMAL USE INVENTORY
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Donald I. Templer
2013-12-01
Full Text Available A 78-item Animal Use Inventory was constructed. Previous animal attitude scales have centered on affection, bonding, companion animal ownership, animal-human continuity, and general attitudes toward animals, but not use of animals. The present inventory has six scales: Sports and Entertainment, Hunting, Working and Service, Research, Fur, and Loving and Affection. Men scored higher on the Hunting, Research, Entertainment, and Service scales. National Rifle Association members scored higher than animal protection society members on the Hunting and Fur scales. In general, the scales correlated positively with each other but negatively with the Loving and Affection scale. Nevertheless, caution was urged because of the unimpressive Cronbach’s alphas on some of the scales. Further development is recommended.
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Mozhaev, Peter B. [Institute of Physics and Technology RAS, Moscow 117218 (Russian Federation) and Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, DK-2800 (Denmark)]. E-mail: pbmozh@nm.ru; Mozhaeva, Julia E. [Institute of Physics and Technology RAS, Moscow 117218 (Russian Federation); Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, DK-2800 (Denmark); Bdikin, Igor K. [Institute of Solid State Physics RAS, Chernogolovka, Moscow distr., 142432 (Russian Federation); CICECO, University of Aveiro, Aveiro 3810-193 (Portugal); Kotelyanskii, Iosif M. [Institute of Radio Engineering and Electronics RAS, Moscow 125009 (Russian Federation); Lusanov, Valery A. [Institute of Radio Engineering and Electronics RAS, Moscow 125009 (Russian Federation); Hansen, Jorn Bindslev [Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, DK-2800 (Denmark); Jacobsen, Claus S. [Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, DK-2800 (Denmark); Kholkin, Andrey L. [CICECO, University of Aveiro, Aveiro 3810-193 (Portugal)
2006-02-01
Epitaxial heterostructures YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O {sub x}(YBCO)/CeO{sub 2}/NdGaO{sub 3} were prepared on tilted-axes NdGaO{sub 3} substrates using laser ablation technique. Morphology, crystal structure and electrical properties of the obtained films were characterized. The seeding mechanisms are affected by the tilt angle, resulting in superior YBCO films on NdGaO{sub 3} substrates in an intermediate range of tilt angles of 6-14{sup o}. The introduction of CeO{sub 2} layer leads to change of the YBCO film orientation: at low deposition rate c-oriented films are formed, while at high deposition rates the film grows with c-axis tilted along the [1 1 0] NdGaO{sub 3} direction. Bi-epitaxial films and structures were prepared by removal of part of the CeO{sub 2} layer using ion-beam milling.
Mental health literacy, sub-clinical personality disorders and job fit.
Furnham, Adrian; Petropoulou, Kelly
2018-02-15
This study looked at lay theories of how people with sub-clinical personality disorders experience the world of work. The aim was to investigate the paradox that subclinical and clinical personality disorders are seen as beneficial for success, rather than a handicap in certain jobs. In all, 230 participants read 14 vignettes derived from Oldham and Morris's book describing DSMIII personality disorders for a popular audience. Participants were invited to suggest what type of work each disordered person may be successful at, as well as six ratings of their social adjustment. There was a tendency for people to believe those with OCD to be suited to Accountancy, Narcissism and Paranoia to General Management, Histrionic PD to being an Actor and Schizotypal an Artist. Surprisingly Paranoid and Sadistic people were judged to be good managers and Histrionic, Passive Aggressive and Schizotypal the worst. People in Cluster C were judged as best managers, but those in Cluster B as better adjusted. Results show that lay people believe that certain "dark-side" traits associated with personality disorders, particularly dependency and OCD, are thought to be beneficial for success, rather than failure, in many jobs.
Adapting Animal-Assisted Therapy Trials to Prison-Based Animal Programs.
Allison, Molly; Ramaswamy, Megha
2016-09-01
Prison-based animal programs have shown promise when it comes to increased sociability, responsibility, and levels of patience for inmates who participate in these programs. Yet there remains a dearth of scientific research that demonstrates the impact of prison-based animal programs on inmates' physical and mental health. Trials of animal-assisted therapy interventions, a form of human-animal interaction therapy most often used with populations affected by depression/anxiety, mental illness, and trauma, may provide models of how prison-based animal program research can have widespread implementation in jail and prison settings, whose populations have high rates of mental health problems. This paper reviews the components of prison-based animal programs most commonly practiced in prisons today, presents five animal-assisted therapy case studies, evaluates them based on their adaptability to prison-based animal programs, and discusses the institutional constraints that act as barriers for rigorous prison-based animal program research implementation. This paper can serve to inform the development of a research approach to animal-assisted therapy that nurses and other public health researchers can use in working with correctional populations. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Ducrot, Christian; Gautret, Marjolaine; Pineau, Thierry; Jestin, André
2016-03-14
The objectives of this bibliometric analysis of the scientific literature were to describe the research subjects and the international collaborations in the field of research on infectious diseases in livestock animals including fishes and honeybees. It was based on articles published worldwide from 2006 through 2013. The source of data was the Web of Science, Core collection(®) and only papers fully written in English were considered. Queries were built that combined 130 descriptors related to animal species and 1213 descriptors related to diseases and pathogens. To refine and assess the accuracy of the extracted database, supplementary filters were applied to discard non-specific terms and neighbouring topics, and numerous tests were carried out on samples. For pathogens, annotation was done using a thematic terminology established to link each disease with its corresponding pathogen, which was in turn classified according to its family. A total of 62,754 articles were published in this field during this 8-year period. The average annual growth rate of the number of papers was 5%. This represents the reference data to which we compared the average annual growth rate of articles produced in each of the sub-categories that we defined. Thirty-seven percent of the papers were dedicated to ruminant diseases. Poultry, pigs and fishes were covered by respectively 21, 13 and 14% of the total. Thirty-seven percent of papers concerned bacteria, 33% viruses, 19% parasites, 2% prions, the remaining being multi-pathogens. Research on virology, especially on pigs and poultry, is increasing faster than the average. There also is increasing interest in monogastric species, fish and bees. The average annual growth rate for Asia was 10%, which is high compared to 3% for Europe and 2% for the Americas, indicating that Asia is currently playing a leading role in this field. There is a well established network of international collaborations. For 75% of the papers, the co
A Critical Review of the Impacts of Leaking CO<sub>2sub> Gas and Brine on Groundwater Quality
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Qafoku, Nikolla [Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States); Zheng, Liange [Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); Bacon, Diana H. [Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States); Lawter, Amanda R. [Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States); Brown, Christopher F. [Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
2015-09-30
Geological carbon sequestration (GCS) is a global carbon emission reduction strategy involving the capture of CO<sub>2sub> emitted from fossil fuel burning power plants, as well as the subsequent injection of the captured CO<sub>2sub> gas into deep saline aquifers or depleted oil and gas reservoirs. A critical question that arises from the proposed GCS is the potential impacts of CO<sub>2sub> injection on the quality of drinking-water systems overlying CO<sub>2sub> sequestration storage sites. Although storage reservoirs are evaluated and selected based on their ability to safely and securely store emplaced fluids, leakage of CO<sub>2sub> from storage reservoirs is a primary risk factor and potential barrier to the widespread acceptance of geologic CO<sub>2sub> sequestration (OR Harvey et al. 2013; Y-S Jun et al. 2013; DOE 2007). Therefore, a systematic understanding of how CO<sub>2sub> leakage would affect the geochemistry of potable aquifers, and subsequently control or affect elemental and contaminant release via sequential and/or simultaneous abiotic and biotic processes and reactions is vital.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Ni Shibing; Zhou Guo; Wang Xinghui; Sun Xiaolei; Yang Feng; Liu Yingqi [Department of Physics, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000 (China); He Deyan, E-mail: hedy@lzu.edu.cn [Department of Physics, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000 (China)
2010-04-15
The controlled synthesis of Zn{sub 3}(OH){sub 2}V{sub 2}O{sub 7}.nH{sub 2}O hierarchical structures has been successfully realized in a large scale via a simple hydrothermal method. It was demonstrated that the morphologies of the final products are significantly affected by the quantity of hexamethylenetetramine, reaction temperature and reaction time. Optimum amount of sodium sulfate plays a crucial role in the development of crystallinity of the products. The morphology evolvement and the growth mechanism were discussed, and sulfate induced oriented attachment and temperature facilitated Ostwald ripening process were proposed for the possible formation mechanism. The structure and morphology of those products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectrum, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) equipped with energy dispersion spectrum (EDS). Furthermore, the photoluminescence properties of those products were researched. Excellent visible light emission ranging from 400 to 700 nm was exhibited via room temperature photoluminescence (PL) measurement.
Weijs, Cynthia A; Coe, Jason B; Hecker, Kent G
2015-01-01
Final-year veterinary students must meet baseline clinical competency upon completion of their training for entry to practice. Workplace-based assessments (WBAs), widely used in human medical training to assess post-graduate students' professionalism and clinical performance, have recently been adopted in undergraduate veterinary clinical teaching environments. WBAs should support veterinary trainees' learning in a clinical teaching environment, though utility of WBAs within veterinary education may differ from that in medical training due to differences in context and in learners' stage of clinical development. We conducted focus groups with final-year veterinary students and clinical instructors following the implementation of three WBAs (Direct Observation of Procedural Skills [DOPS], the Mini-Clinical evaluation exercise [Mini-CEX], and the In-Training Evaluation Report [ITER]) during a small-animal primary-veterinary-care rotation. Students and clinical instructors viewed the DOPS and Mini-CEX as feasible and valuable learning and assessment tools that offered an overall opportunity for timely in-the-moment feedback. Instructors viewed the ITER as less feasible in the context of a service-oriented veterinary clinical teaching environment. Students believed the ITER had potential to be informative, although in its existing application the ITER had limited utility due to time constraints on instructors that prevented them from providing students with individualized and specific feedback. In service-oriented veterinary clinical teaching environments, successful implementation of WBAs requires balancing provision of feedback to students, time demands on clinical instructors, and flexibility of assessment tools.
DiFilippo, Frank P.; Patel, Sagar
2009-06-01
A multi-pinhole collimation device for small animal single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) uses the gamma camera detectors of a standard clinical SPECT scanner. The collimator and animal bed move independently of the detectors, and therefore their motions must be synchronized. One approach is manual triggering of the SPECT acquisition simultaneously with a programmed motion sequence for the device. However, some data blurring and loss of image quality result, and true electronic synchronization is preferred. An off-the-shelf digital gyroscope with integrated Bluetooth interface provides a wireless solution to device synchronization. The sensor attaches to the SPECT gantry and reports its rotational speed to a notebook computer controlling the device. Software processes the rotation data in real-time, averaging the signal and issuing triggers while compensating for baseline drift. Motion commands are sent to the collimation device with minimal delay, within approximately 0.5 second of the start of SPECT gantry rotation. Test scans of a point source demonstrate an increase in true counts and a reduction in background counts compared to manual synchronization. The wireless rotation sensor provides robust synchronization of the collimation device with the clinical SPECT scanner and enhances image quality.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Boni, Andra Georgia, E-mail: andra.boni@infim.ro [National Institute of Materials Physics, Atomistilor 105bis, Magurele, Ilfov 77125 (Romania); University of Bucharest, Faculty of Physics, Magurele 077125 (Romania); Chirila, Cristina; Pasuk, Iuliana; Negrea, Raluca; Trupina, Lucian [National Institute of Materials Physics, Atomistilor 105bis, Magurele, Ilfov 77125 (Romania); Le Rhun, Gwenael [CEA, LETI, MINATEC Campus, 17 rue des Martyrs, 38054 Grenoble cedex 9 (France); Vilquin, Bertrand [Université de Lyon, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, INL, CNRS UMR5270, 36 avenue Guy de Collongue, F-69134 Ecully cedex (France); Pintilie, Ioana; Pintilie, Lucian [National Institute of Materials Physics, Atomistilor 105bis, Magurele, Ilfov 77125 (Romania)
2015-10-30
Electrical properties of ferroelectric capacitors based on PbZr{sub 0.52}Ti{sub 0.48}O{sub 3} thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition on silicon substrate with SrTiO{sub 3} buffer layer grown by molecular beam epitaxy were studied. A SrRuO{sub 3} layer was deposited as bottom electrode also by pulse laser deposition and Pt, Ir, Ru, SrRuO{sub 3} were used as top contacts. Electrical characterization comprised hysteresis and capacitance–voltage measurements in the temperature range from 150 K to 400 K. It was found that the macroscopic electrical properties are affected by the electrode interface, by the choice of the top electrode. However, even for metals with very different work functions (e.g. Pt and SrRuO{sub 3}) the properties of the top and bottom electrode interfaces remain fairly symmetric suggesting a strong influence from the bound polarization charges located near the interface. - Highlights: • Ferroelectric capacitors based on PbZr{sub 0.52}Ti{sub 0.48}O{sub 3} were deposited on Si substrate. • The structural characterization proved the epitaxial growth of the layers. • Macroscopic electrical properties are affected by the choice of the top electrode. • The difference on imprint field, dielectric constant are analyzed depending on the electrode-ferroelectric interface.
Xu, Zhe; Li, Weibo; Jiang, Jun; Zhuang, Xiran; Chen, Wei; Peng, Mei; Wang, Jianhua; Lu, Fan; Shen, Meixiao; Wang, Yuanyuan
2017-11-28
The study aimed to characterize the entire corneal topography and tomography for the detection of sub-clinical keratoconus (KC) with a Zernike application method. Normal subjects (n = 147; 147 eyes), sub-clinical KC patients (n = 77; 77 eyes), and KC patients (n = 139; 139 eyes) were imaged with the Pentacam HR system. The entire corneal data of pachymetry and elevation of both the anterior and posterior surfaces were exported from the Pentacam HR software. Zernike polynomials fitting was used to quantify the 3D distribution of the corneal thickness and surface elevation. The root mean square (RMS) values for each order and the total high-order irregularity were calculated. Multimeric discriminant functions combined with individual indices were built using linear step discriminant analysis. Receiver operating characteristic curves determined the diagnostic accuracy (area under the curve, AUC). The 3rd-order RMS of the posterior surface (AUC: 0.928) obtained the highest discriminating capability in sub-clinical KC eyes. The multimeric function, which consisted of the Zernike fitting indices of corneal posterior elevation, showed the highest discriminant ability (AUC: 0.951). Indices generated from the elevation of posterior surface and thickness measurements over the entire cornea using the Zernike method based on the Pentacam HR system were able to identify very early KC.
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Mulugeta A
2016-12-01
Full Text Available Anwar Mulugeta,1 Girmay Medhin,2 Getnet Yimer,1 Rahimush Jemal,3 Abebaw Fekadu,4,5 1Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, 2Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, 3Department of Pharmacy, Tikur Anbesa Hospital, 4Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 5Department of Psychological Medicine, Centre for Affective Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, London, UK Background: There is a developing consensus on the effectiveness of various interventions for mental disorders in low- and middle-income countries, and it has been proposed that the main task is to scale up these interventions. In this context, we aimed to review the quality and extent of intervention trials for selected priority mental and neurological disorders in sub-Saharan Africa.Methods: Medline and African Journals Online databases were used for searching relevant articles. Both randomized and nonrandomized clinical trials for the treatment of schizophrenia, depression, maternal depression, bipolar disorder, and epilepsy/seizure disorders that involve pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, and physical therapy were included. An extensive list of search terms that identified locations, disorders, interventions, and study types were employed. The qualities of the trials were appraised using the single-component quality assessment of the consolidated standards of reporting trials (CONSORT statement and the Jadad scale.Results: From 1,136 studies identified, only 34 trials that fulfilled inclusion criteria were used for quality analysis. Most studies were clinical trials of treatments for epilepsy and were conducted after 2006. In terms of region, the majority of studies were conducted in South Africa (22 of the 34 studies. Approximately half of the trials (53% were conducted in single center and the majority
Sildenafil Can Affect Innate and Adaptive Immune System in Both Experimental Animals and Patients.
Kniotek, Monika; Boguska, Agnieszka
2017-01-01
Sildenafil, a type 5 phosphodiesterase inhibitor (PDE5-I), is primarily used for treating erectile dysfunction. Sildenafil inhibits the degradation of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) by competing with cGMP for binding site of PDE5. cGMP is a secondary messenger activating protein kinases and a common regulator of ion channel conductance, glycogenolysis, and cellular apoptosis. PDE5 inhibitors (PDE-Is) found application in cardiology, nephrology, urology, dermatology, oncology, and gynecology. Positive result of sildenafil treatment is closely connected with its immunomodulatory effects. Sildenafil influences angiogenesis, platelet activation, proliferation of regulatory T cells, and production of proinflammatory cytokines and autoantibodies. Sildenafil action in humans and animals appears to be different. Surprisingly, it also acts differently in males and females organisms. Although the immunomodulatory effects of PDE5 inhibitors appear to be promising, none of them reached the point of being tested in clinical trials. Data on the influence of selective PDE5-Is on the human immune system are limited. The main objective of this review is to discuss the immunomodulatory effects of sildenafil in both patients and experimental animals. This is the first review of the current state of knowledge about the effects of sildenafil on the immune system.
Use of a Combined SpO<sub>2sub>/PtcCO>2sub> Sensor in the Delivery Room
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Costantino Romagnoli
2012-08-01
Full Text Available Arterial oxygen saturation (SaO<sub>2sub> and partial arterial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO<sub>2sub> are important respiratory parameters in critically ill neonates. A sensor combining a pulse oximeter with the Stow-Severinghaus electrode, required for the measurement of peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO<sub>2sub> and transcutaneous partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PtcCO<sub>2sub>, respectively, has been recently used in neonatal clinical practice (TOSCA500ÒRadiometer. We evaluated TOSCA usability and reliability in the delivery room (DR, throughout three different periods, on term, late-preterm, and preterm neonates. During the first period (period A, 30 healthy term neonates were simultaneously monitored with both TOSCA and a MASIMO pulse oximeter. During the second period (period B, 10 healthy late-preterm neonates were monitored with both TOSCA and a transcutaneous device measuring PtcCO<sub>2sub> (TINAÒ TCM3, Radiometer. During the third period (period C, 15 preterm neonates were monitored with TOSCA and MASIMO after birth, during stabilization, and during transport to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU. Blood gas analyses were performed to compare transcutaneous and blood gas values. TOSCA resulted easily and safely usable in the DR, allowing reliable noninvasive SaO<sub>2sub> estimation. Since PtcCO<sub>2sub> measurements with TOSCA required at least 10 min to be stable and reliable, this parameter was not useful during the early resuscitation immediately after birth. Moreover, PtcCO<sub>2sub> levels were less precise if compared to the conventional transcutaneous monitoring. However, PtcCO<sub>2sub> measurement by TOSCA was useful as trend-monitoring after stabilization and during transport to NICU.
Sub clinical vitamin A deficiency and anemia among Vietnamese children less than five years of age
Khan, N.C.; Ninh, N.X.; Nhien, N.V.; Khoi, H.H.; West, C.E.; Hautvast, J.G.A.J.
2007-01-01
The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence of sub clinical vitamin A deficiency and anemia in Vietnamese children. For this, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in 40 villages (clus-ters) of four ecological regions in Vietnam during Apr-May 2001. In total 1657 children less than 5
International Nuclear Information System (INIS)
Manka, Robert; Jahnke, Cosima; Hucko, Thomas; Dietrich, Thore; Gebker, Rolf; Schnackenburg, Bernhard; Graf, Kristof; Paetsch, Ingo
2013-01-01
To evaluate the inter-study, inter-reader and intra-reader reproducibility of cardiac cine and scar imaging in rats using a clinical 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance (MR) system. Thirty-three adult rats (Sprague–Dawley) were imaged 24 hours after surgical occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery using a 3.0 Tesla clinical MR scanner (Philips Healthcare, Best, The Netherlands) equipped with a dedicated 70 mm solenoid receive-only coil. Left-ventricular (LV) volumes, mass, ejection fraction and amount of myocardial scar tissue were measured. Intra-and inter-observer reproducibility was assessed in all animals. In addition, repeat MR exams were performed in 6 randomly chosen rats within 24 hours to assess inter-study reproducibility. The MR imaging protocol was successfully completed in 32 (97%) animals. Bland-Altman analysis demonstrated high intra-reader reproducibility (mean bias%: LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), -1.7%; LV end-systolic volume (LVESV), -2.2%; LV ejection fraction (LVEF), 1.0%; LV mass, -2.7%; and scar mass, -1.2%) and high inter-reader reproducibility (mean bias%: LVEDV, 3.3%; LVESV, 6.2%; LVEF, -4.8%; LV mass, -1.9%; and scar mass, -1.8%). In addition, a high inter-study reproducibility was found (mean bias%: LVEDV, 0.1%; LVESV, -1.8%; LVEF, 1.0%; LV mass, -4.6%; and scar mass, -6.2%). Cardiac MR imaging of rats yielded highly reproducible measurements of cardiac volumes/function and myocardial infarct size on a clinical 3.0 Tesla MR scanner system. Consequently, more widely available high field clinical MR scanners can be employed for small animal imaging of the heart e.g. when aiming at serial assessments during therapeutic intervention studies
Animal-assisted therapy at Mayo Clinic: The time is now.
Creagan, Edward T; Bauer, Brent A; Thomley, Barbara S; Borg, Jessica M
2015-05-01
The animal-human bond refers to an emotional, almost existential, relationship between animals and people. From the time of antiquity, domestic animals were an important source of economic vitality, but with the changing cultural landscape, the companion animal has become a faithful friend. Overwhelming anecdotal evidence supports the healing power of this relationship. We summarize the emerging literature on the neurobiochemical and cardiovascular benefits of companion pet ownership. We address the peer-reviewed data from myriad journal articles assessing the impact of the companion animal on the quality and often the length of life of select patients. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Fu, Qiu-ping; Zheng, Ze-yuan; Lin, Nan-xi; Liu, Xiao-feng; Hong, Can-huang; Hu, Xiao-lin, E-mail: linamethyst@fzu.edu.cn; Zhuang, Nai-feng; Chen, Jian-zhong, E-mail: j.z.chen@fzu.edu.cn
2016-11-01
Thin films of Ce{sub 1}Gd{sub 2}Fe{sub 5−x}Ga{sub x}O{sub 12} (Ce,Ga:GIG) were prepared on Gd{sub 3}Ga{sub 5}O{sub 12} (GGG) and Ca{sub 2.90}Li{sub 0.30}Nb{sub 1.93}Ga{sub 2.76}O{sub 12} (CLNGG) substrates by using radio frequency magnetron sputtering technique. The phase, grain orientation, surface morphology, transmittance, magnetism and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) properties of films were analyzed. And the effects of lattice mismatch and non-magnetic Ga{sup 3+}-doping were discussed. The results show that the films with higher crystallized quality and lower stress can be obtained by growing on CLNGG than on GGG. Moreover, the coercive force, magnetization, magneto-optical effect intensity and orientation of film can be effectively regulated by adjusting Ga{sup 3+}-doped concentration. - Highlights: • With excellent magneto-optical performance, Ce,Ga:GIG film has a good application prospect. • Ce,Ga:GIG film with high quality were prepared on CLNGG by RF magnetron sputtering. • Crystalline quality and morphology of films are intently related to the substrate. • Ga{sup 3+} doping obviously affect on magnetism and magneto-optical property of Ce:GIG film.
Mayorga, Melissa; Rodríguez-Cavallini, Evelyn; López-Ureña, Diana; Barquero-Calvo, Elías; Quesada-Gómez, Carlos
2015-12-01
The etiology of veterinary infectious diseases has been the focus of considerable research, yet relatively little is known about the causative agents of anaerobic infections. Susceptibility studies have documented the emergence of antimicrobial resistance and indicate distinct differences in resistance patterns related to veterinary hospitals, geographic regions, and antibiotic-prescribing regimens. The aim of the present study was to identify the obligate anaerobic bacteria from veterinary clinical samples and to determinate the in vitro susceptibility to eight antimicrobials and their resistance-associated genes. 81 clinical specimens obtained from food-producing animals, pets and wild animals were examined to determine the relative prevalence of obligate anaerobic bacteria, and the species represented. Bacteroides spp, Prevotella spp and Clostridium spp represented approximately 80% of all anaerobic isolates. Resistance to metronidazole, clindamycin, tetracycline and fluoroquinolones was found in strains isolated from food-producing animals. Ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin and cephalotin showed the highest resistance in all isolates. In 17%, 4% and 14% of tetracycline-resistant isolates, the resistance genes tetL, tetM and tetW were respectively amplified by PCR whereas in 4% of clindamycin-resistant strains the ermG gene was detected. 26% of the isolates were positive for cepA, while only 6% harbored the cfxA (resistance-conferring genes to beta-lactams). In this study, the obligate anaerobic bacteria from Costa Rica showed a high degree of resistance to most antimicrobials tested. Nevertheless, in the majority of cases this resistance was not related to the resistance acquired genes usually described in anaerobes. It is important to address and regulate the use of antimicrobials in the agricultural industry and the empirical therapy in anaerobic bacterial infections in veterinary medicine, especially since antibiotics and resistant bacteria can persist in the
International Nuclear Information System (INIS)
Aide, Nicolas; Desmonts, Cedric; Agostini, Denis; Bardet, Stephane; Bouvard, Gerard; Beauregard, Jean-Mathieu; Roselt, Peter; Neels, Oliver; Beyer, Thomas; Kinross, Kathryn; Hicks, Rodney J.
2010-01-01
The objective of the study was to evaluate state-of-the-art clinical PET/CT technology in performing static and dynamic imaging of several mice simultaneously. A mouse-sized phantom was imaged mimicking simultaneous imaging of three mice with computation of recovery coefficients (RCs) and spillover ratios (SORs). Fifteen mice harbouring abdominal or subcutaneous tumours were imaged on clinical PET/CT with point spread function (PSF) reconstruction after injection of [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose or [18F]fluorothymidine. Three of these mice were imaged alone and simultaneously at radial positions -5, 0 and 5 cm. The remaining 12 tumour-bearing mice were imaged in groups of 3 to establish the quantitative accuracy of PET data using ex vivo gamma counting as the reference. Finally, a dynamic scan was performed in three mice simultaneously after the injection of 68 Ga-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). For typical lesion sizes of 7-8 mm phantom experiments indicated RCs of 0.42 and 0.76 for ordered subsets expectation maximization (OSEM) and PSF reconstruction, respectively. For PSF reconstruction, SOR air and SOR water were 5.3 and 7.5%, respectively. A strong correlation (r 2 = 0.97, p 2 = 0.98; slope = 0.89, p 2 = 0.96; slope = 0.62, p 68 Ga-EDTA dynamic acquisition. New generation clinical PET/CT can be used for simultaneous imaging of multiple small animals in experiments requiring high throughput and where a dedicated small animal PET system is not available. (orig.)
DEFF Research Database (Denmark)
Broberg, Brian Villumsen; Glenthøj, Birte Yding; Dias, Rebecca
2009-01-01
RATIONALE: Therapies treating cognitive impairments in schizophrenia especially deficits in executive functioning are not available at present. OBJECTIVE: The current study evaluated the effect of ampakine CX516 in reversing deficits in executive functioning as represented in two animal models of...... that direct glutamatergic interventions could improve these, when assessed in the ID-ED attentional set-shifting task....... of schizophrenia and assessed by a rodent analog of the intradimensional-extradimensional (ID-ED) attentional set-shifting task. The second generation antipsychotic, sertindole, provided further validation of the schizophrenia-like disease models. METHODS: Animals were subjected to (a) sub-chronic or (b) early...
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Paolo Biagi
2014-03-01
Full Text Available The incidence and prevalence of chronic heart failure are increasing worldwide, as is the number of very old patients (>85 years affected by this disease. The aim of this sub-analysis of the multicenter, observational CONFINE study was to detect clinical and therapeutic peculiarities in patients with chronic heart failure aged >85 years. We recruited patients admitted with a diagnosis of chronic heart failure and present in the hospital in five index days, in 91 Units of Internal Medicine. The patients’ clinical characteristics, functional and cognitive status, and the management of the heart failure were analyzed. A total of 1444 subjects were evaluated, of whom 329 (23.1% were over 85 years old. Signs and symptoms of chronic heart failure were more common in very old patients, as were severe renal insufficiency, anemia, disability and cognitive impairment. The present survey found important age-related differences (concomitant diseases, cognitive status among patients with chronic heart failure, as well as different therapeutic strategies and clinical outcome for patients over 85 years old. Since these patients are usually excluded from clinical trials and their management remains empirical, specific studies focused on the treatment of very old patients with chronic heart failure are needed.
Huang, Tze-Ta; Tseng, Chih-En; Lee, Tsan-Mu; Yeh, Jen-Ying; Lai, Yu-Yung
2009-03-01
Nasal-ala pressure sores induced by nasotracheal intubation are common complications of oral and maxillofacial surgery, but are easily ignored. To determine whether such sores could be prevented, we studied the effects of a combination of cushioning material in an animal model, and then analyzed the efficacy of this combination clinically. Four pigs received nasotracheal intubation. Each pig received intubation for 4, 8, 12, or 16 hours. Outcomes from pigs undergoing 500-gram-weight compression on each nostril were compared: one nostril received an application of cushioning materials, and the contralateral nostril did not. After the required study period, clinical assessment and further evaluation were performed by measuring pressure-sore dimensions and performing incisional biopsies. Clinical applications of this protective technique were then undertaken. Eight patients who underwent intubation without Soft Liner (GC Co, Tokyo, Japan) and DuoDERM CGF (ConvaTec, Inc, Princeton, NJ) protection, and 10 patients with Soft Liner and DuoDERM protection, were evaluated. The protective efficacy of the cushioning materials was significant in the animal model as well as in clinical practice. Pressure sores were avoided on the protected side, with severe tissue necrosis documented on the control side. We found that the combined use of Soft Liner and DuoDERM reduced the size and severity of nasal-ala pressure sores attributable to nasotracheal intubation during oral and maxillofacial surgery.
Clinico-radiographic Studies on The Prevalent Distal Limb Affections in Working Equine at Luxor City
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
A. A.A. Abdel-Hady
2017-01-01
Full Text Available To illustrate the clinical and radiographic findings of some distal limbs affections in Ninety two animals (24 horses and 68 donkeys which were admitted to Animal Care Hospital in Luxor. Each animal was subjected to thorough clinical and radiographic examination; the grade of lameness was recorded and the best radiographic views were taken. Fifteen types of distal limb affections were evident. The most prevalent affections in donkeys were high and low ring bone (29.35% and hoof abscess ( 9.78% followed by traumatic arthritis of the fetlock (6.52%, suspensory ligament desmitis (5.43%, fracture of first phalanx (5.43%, fracture of PII (4.35%, side bone (3.26% whereas, fracture of metacarpal bone (1.09%, sesamoditis (1.09% and flexural deformities (1.09% represented the lowest prevalent affections.On the other hand, side bone (4.35%, fracture of the metacarpal bone (4.35% represented the most prevalent affections in horses followed by high and low ring bone (3.26%, fractures of PI (2.17%, PII (2.17%, subluxation of coronopedal joint (2.17% and punctured wounds in of the hoof (2.17%, traumatic arthritis of the fetlock joint (2.17%. Whereas, navicular disease (1.09%, suspensory ligament desmitis (1.09% and hoof abscess (1.09% were the lowest prevalent affections in horses. Treatment was not recommended in certain cases. In conclusion, although the wide stride progress have made in diagnostic imaging in recent decades, the x ray still offers a satisfactory tool for diagnostic imaging in equine limb practice that is useful for equine practitioners.
Early diagnosis of sub-clinical stage of diabetic retinopathy
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Xing-Hui Xu
2014-12-01
Full Text Available AIM: To evaluate the early diagnosis of sub-clinic stage of diabetic retinopathy.METHODS: This was cross sectional study,multifocal retina electroretinogram(mf-ERG, contrast sensitivity(CSand central retinal artery color Doppler examination were recorded from 30 cases(30 eyesmatched control subjects, 35 cases(35 eyeswith type 2 diabetes mellitus(DMwithout diabetic retinopathy(NDRand 38 cases(38 eyeswith non-prolifera tive diabetic retinopathy(NPDR. One-way ANOVA and SNK-q test were used for data analysis.RESULTS: P1 response density of NDR patients were found decrease, N1 implicit time were delayed. Which were related with the degree of retinopathy(PPPP>0.05, The differences between normal group, NDR group and NPDR group were found statistically significant(PCONCLUSION: mf-ERG and CS are sensitive indexes for early evaluation of visual function in patients with diabetes mellitus, with development of the disease, CRA blood flow also appears to decline.
Heart failure in sub-Saharan Africa: A clinical approach.
Kraus, S; Ogunbanjo, G; Sliwa, K; Ntusi, N A B
2016-01-01
Despite medical advances, heart failure (HF) remains a global health problem and sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is no exception, with decompensated HF being the most common primary diagnosis for patients admitted to hospital with heart disease. In SSA the in-hospital mortality rate of decompensated HF is up to 8.3%. HF is a clinical syndrome that is caused by a diverse group of aetiologies, each requiring unique management strategies, highlighting the need for diagnostic certainty and a broad understanding of the complex pathophysiology of this condition. While there are a number of advanced medical, device and surgical interventions being tailored for HF internationally, the fundamental basic principles of HF management, such as patient education, effective management of congestion and initiation of disease-modifying medical therapies, remain a challenge on our continent. This review addresses both the epidemiology of HF in SSA and principles of management that focus specifically on symptom relief, prevention of hospitalisation and improving survival in this population.
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
I Made Gede Sunarya
2015-01-01
Full Text Available Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk merancang, mengimplementasi Anime (Animation Learning Media Berbasis Multimedia untuk Pembelajaran Dasar Sistem Komputer Bahasan Instalasi Hardware serta mengetahui respon mahasiswa terhadap penerapan Anime berbasis multimedia tersebut. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode penelitian pengembangan (Research and Development. Desain pengembangan yang digunakan adalah model Dick & Carey. Pengembangan Anime sebagai sebuah produk akhir dari penelitian ini menggunakan metode pengembangan yang disebut System Development Life Cycle (SDLC berbasis Waterfall yang merupakan standar pengembangan sebuah perangkat lunak. Validasi yang dilakukan dalam pengujian produk yaitu validasi produk secara teknis, validasi oleh para ahli dan uji terbatas. Pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan cara pemberian angket kepada mahasiswa. Data yang terkumpul dianalisis secara statistik deskriptif. Rancangan dan implementasi media anime terdiri dari 3 menu utama, yaitu menu pengenalan hardware, menu perakitan komputer, menu troubleshooting komputer. menu pengenalan hardware terdiri dari 4 sub menu, yaitu alat input, alat output, alat pemroses, alat penyimpanan. Menu perakitan komputer terdiri dari submenu perakitan tanpa casing dan perakitan dengan casing. Respon mahasiswa terhadap pengembangan media anime dalam kategori sangat positif.
Understanding Adolescents’ Categorisation of Animal Species
Connor, Melanie; Lawrence, Alistair B.
2017-01-01
Simple Summary When people try to make sense of the world they often use categorisations, which are seen as a basic function of human cognition. People use specific attributes to categorise animals with young children using mostly visual cues like number of legs, whereas adults use more comprehensive attributes such as the habitat that the animal lives in. The aim of the present study was to investigate how adolescents categorise different types of animals. A card sorting exercise in combination with a survey questionnaire was implemented. Adolescents were asked to group images of a variety of common British farm, pet, and wild animals that were printed on cards. Furthermore, adolescents were asked to rate a number of animals regarding their utility, likability, and fear, which served as affective responses. Results show that adolescents primarily use an animal’s perceived utility as a means for their categorisation along with their affective feelings towards those animals. In other words, adolescents group animals into farm, pet, and wild animals with one exception, birds. Birds, regardless of their role in society (pet, farm, or wild animal), were mostly grouped together. The results are important to understand adolescents’ perception of animals, which may explain the different attitudes and behaviours towards animals. Abstract Categorisations are a means of investigating cognitive maps. The present study, for the first time, investigates adolescents’ spontaneous categorisation of 34 animal species. Furthermore, explicit evaluations of 16 selected animals in terms of their perceived utility and likeability were analysed. 105 British adolescents, 54% female, mean age 14.5 (SD = 1.6) participated in the study. Results of multidimensional scaling (MDS) techniques indicate 3-dimensional data representation regardless of gender or age. Property fittings show that affect and perceived utility of animals explain two of the MDS dimensions, and hence partly explain
Weiss, Sonja; Kadlec, Kristina; Fessler, Andrea T; Schwarz, Stefan
2013-12-27
The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) in a small animal clinic and to investigate their distribution and possible transmission. Swabs (n=72) were taken from hospitalized pets, the environment and employees of a small animal clinic and screened for the presence of MRS. The staphylococcal species was confirmed biochemically or by 16S rDNA sequencing. Susceptibility to antimicrobial agents was tested by broth dilution. The presence of mecA and other resistance genes was confirmed by PCR. Molecular typing of the isolates followed standard procedures. In total, 34 MRS belonging to the four species Staphylococcus aureus (n=5), Staphylococcus epidermidis (n=21), Staphylococcus haemolyticus (n=6) or Staphylococcus pettenkoferi (n=2) were isolated. All isolates were multidrug-resistant with resistance to at least three classes of antimicrobial agents. Among the five methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates, four belonged to the clonal complex CC398; two of them were isolated from cats, the remaining two from pet cages. Overall, the MRS isolates differed in their characteristics, except for one S. epidermidis clone (n=9) isolated from hospitalized cats without clinical staphylococcal infections, pet cages, the clinic environment as well as from a healthy employee. This MRSE clone was resistant to 10 classes of antimicrobial agents, including aminocyclitols, β-lactams, fluoroquinolones, lincosamides, macrolides, phenicols, pleuromutilins, sulfonamides, tetracyclines and trimethoprim. These findings suggest a possible transmission of specific MRS isolates between animal patients, employees and the clinic environment. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
A theoretical perspective to inform assessment and treatment strategies for animal hoarders.
Patronek, Gary J; Nathanson, Jane N
2009-04-01
Animal hoarding is a poorly understood, maladaptive, destructive behavior whose etiology and pathology are only beginning to emerge. We compare and contrast animal hoarding to the compulsive hoarding of objects and proceed to draw upon attachment theory, the literature of personality disorder and trauma, and our own clinical experience to propose a developmental trajectory. Throughout life, there is a persistent struggle to form a functional attachment style and achieve positive social integration. For some people, particularly those affected by a dysfunctional primary attachment experience in childhood, a protective, comforting relationship with animals may form an indelible imprint. In adulthood, when human attachment has been chronically problematic, compulsive caregiving of animals can become the primary means of maintaining or building a sense of self. Improving assessment and treatment of animal hoarders requires attention to contributing psychosocial conditions, while taking into account the centrality of the animals to the hoarder's identity, self-esteem and sense of control. It is our hope that the information presented will provide a basis upon which clinicians can focus their own counseling style, assessment, and methods of treatment.
Scotney, Rebekah L; McLaughlin, Deirdre; Keates, Helen L
2015-11-15
The study of occupational stress and compassion fatigue in personnel working in animal-related occupations has gained momentum over the last decade. However, there remains incongruence in understanding what is currently termed compassion fatigue and the associated unique contributory factors. Furthermore, there is minimal established evidence of the likely influence of these conditions on the health and well-being of individuals working in various animal-related occupations. To assess currently available evidence and terminology regarding occupational stress and compassion fatigue in personnel working in animal shelters, veterinary clinics, and biomedical research facilities. Studies were identified by searching the following electronic databases with no publication date restrictions: ProQuest Research Library, ProQuest Social Science Journals, PsycARTICLES, Web of Science, Science Direct, Scopus, PsychINFO databases, and Google Scholar. Search terms included (euthanasia AND animals) OR (compassion fatigue AND animals) OR (occupational stress AND animals). Only articles published in English in peer-reviewed journals that included use of quantitative or qualitative techniques to investigate the incidence of occupational stress or compassion fatigue in the veterinary profession or animal-related occupations were included. On the basis of predefined criteria, 1 author extracted articles, and the data set was then independently reviewed by the other 2 authors. 12 articles met the selection criteria and included a variety of study designs and methods of data analysis. Seven studies evaluated animal shelter personnel, with the remainder evaluating veterinary nurses and technicians (2), biomedical research technicians (1), and personnel in multiple animal-related occupations (2). There was a lack of consistent terminology and agreed definitions for the articles reviewed. Personnel directly engaged in euthanasia reported significantly higher levels of work stress and lower
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Zhang Fan [Department of Radiology, Nanjing Jinling Hospital, Clinical School of Medical College of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210002 (China); Lu Guangming, E-mail: cjr.luguangming@vip.163.com [Department of Radiology, Nanjing Jinling Hospital, Clinical School of Medical College of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210002 (China); Zee Chishing, E-mail: chishing@usc.edu [Department of Radiology, USC Keck School of Medicine (United States)
2011-07-15
Background and purpose: Wallerian degeneration (WD), the secondary degeneration of axons from cortical and subcortical injuries, is associated with poor neurological outcome. There is some quantitative MR imaging techniques used to estimate the biologic changes secondary to delayed neuronal and axonal losses. Our purpose is to assess the sensitivity of ADC value and T{sub 2} relaxation time for early detection of WD. Methods: Ten male Sprague-Dawley rats were used to establish in vivo Wallerian degeneration model of CNS by ipsilateral motor-sensory cortex ablation. 5 days after cortex ablation, multiecho-T{sub 2} relaxometry and multi-b value DWI were acquired by using a 7 T MR imaging scanner. ADC-map and T{sub 2}-map were reconstructed by post-processing. ROIs are selected according to pathway of corticospinal tract from cortex, internal capsule, cerebral peduncle, pons, medulla oblongata to upper cervical spinal cord to measure ADC value and T{sub 2} relaxation time of healthy side and affected side. The results were compared between the side with cortical ablation and the side without ablation. Results: Excluding ablated cortex, ADC values of the corticospinal tract were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in affected side compared to the unaffected, healthy side; no difference in T{sub 2} relaxation time was observed between the affected and healthy sides. Imaging findings were correlated with histological examinations. Conclusion: As shown in this animal experiment, ADC values could non-invasively demonstrate the secondary degeneration involving descending white matter tracts. ADC values are more sensitive indicators for detection of early WD than T{sub 2} relaxation time.
Egharevba, Efe; Atkinson, Jacqueline
2016-08-15
Clinical trials still represent the gold standard in testing the safety and efficacy of new and existing treatments. However, developing regions including sub-Saharan Africa remain underrepresented in pharmaceutical industry sponsored trials for a number of reasons including fear of corruption and unethical behaviour. This fear exists both on the part of pharmaceutical companies, and investigators carrying out research in the region. The objective of this research was to understand the ethical considerations associated with the conduct of pharmaceutical industry sponsored clinical trials in sub-Saharan Africa. Corruption was identified as a significant issue by a number of stakeholders who participated in semi-structured interviews and completed questionnaires. Additionally, fear of being perceived as corrupt or unethical even when conducting ethically sound research was raised as a concern. Thus corruption, whether actual or perceived, is one of a number of issues which have precluded the placement of a greater number of pharmaceutical sponsored clinical trials in this region. More discussion around corruption with all relevant stakeholders is required in order for progress to be made and to enable greater involvement of sub-Saharan African countries in the conduct of industry sponsored clinical trials.
Brucellosis in Sub-Saharan Africa: Current challenges for management, diagnosis and control.
Ducrotoy, M; Bertu, W J; Matope, G; Cadmus, S; Conde-Álvarez, R; Gusi, A M; Welburn, S; Ocholi, R; Blasco, J M; Moriyón, I
2017-01-01
Brucellosis is a highly contagious zoonosis caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella and affecting domestic and wild mammals. In this paper, the bacteriological and serological evidence of brucellosis in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and its epidemiological characteristics are discussed. The tools available for the diagnosis and treatment of human brucellosis and for the diagnosis and control of animal brucellosis and their applicability in the context of SSA are presented and gaps identified. These gaps concern mostly the need for simpler and more affordable antimicrobial treatments against human brucellosis, the development of a B. melitensis vaccine that could circumvent the drawbacks of the currently available Rev 1 vaccine, and the investigation of serological diagnostic tests for camel brucellosis and wildlife. Strategies for the implementation of animal vaccination are also discussed. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Magnitude of indoor NO{sub 2} from biomass fuels in rural settings of Ethiopia
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Kumie, A.; Ali, A.; Mekonnen, E. (Addis Ababa Univ., Medical Faculty (Ethiopia)); Emmelin, A.; Wahlberg, S.; Brandstrom, D. (Umeaa Univ., Umeaa Int. School of Public Health (Sweden)); Berhane, Y. (Addis Continental Inst. of Public Health, Addis Ababa (Ethiopia))
2009-02-15
Half of the world's population and about 80% of households in Sub-Saharan Africa depend on biomass fuels. Indoor air pollution due to biomass fuel combustion may constitute a major public health threat affecting children and women. The purpose of this study was to measure levels of indoor NO{sub 2} concentration in homes with under-five children in rural Ethiopia. The study was undertaken in the Butajira area in Ethiopia from March 2000 to April 2002. 24-h samples were taken regularly at about three month intervals in approximately 3300 homes. Indoor air sampling was done using a modified Willems badge. For each sample taken, an interview with the mother of the child was performed. A Saltzman colorimetric method using a spectrometer calibrated at 540 nm was employed to analyze the mass of NO{sub 2} in field samples. Wood, crop residues and animal dung were the main household fuels. The mean (s.d.) 24-h concentration of NO{sub 2} was 97 mug/m3 (91.4). This is more than double the currently proposed annual mean of WHO air quality guideline. Highland households had significantly higher indoor NO{sub 2} concentration. This study demonstrates high levels of indoor NO{sub 2} in rural homes of Ethiopia. (au)
Superconductivity in Na{sub 1-x}CoO{sub 2}.yH{sub 2}O thin films
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Hildebrandt, Sandra; Komissinkiy, Philipp; Alff, Lambert [Institute for Materials Science, TU Darmstadt (Germany); Fritsch, Ingo; Habermeier, Hanns-Ulrich [Max-Planck-Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart (Germany); Lemmens, Peter [Institute for Condensed Matter Physics, TU Braunschweig (Germany)
2010-07-01
Sodium cobaltate (Na{sub 1-x}CoO{sub 2}) is a novel material with thermoelectric behavior, charge and spin ordered states dependent on the sodium content in the composition. A superconducting phase was found in water intercalated sodium cobaltate (Na{sub 1-x}CoO{sub 2}.yH{sub 2}O) with x=0.65-0.7 and y=0.9-1.3. The pairing state is still under debate, but there are some indications for a spin-triplet or p-wave superconducting pairing state. First films of Na{sub 1-x}CoO{sub 2}.yH{sub 2}O with a superconducting transition temperature near 5 K have been successfully grown. Here we report on thin films of Na{sub 1-x}CoO{sub 2} grown by pulsed laser deposition technique. The deposition parameters, sodium deintercalation and water intercalation conditions are tuned in order to obtain the superconducting phase. The instability of this phase might be an indication for triplet superconductivity, which is known to be affected strongly by impurities and defects.This observation is in agreement with the fact that so far also no superconducting thin films of the most famous triplet superconductor Sr{sub 2}RuO{sub 4} have been reported.
Malwela, Thivhulawi; Maputle, Sonto M; Lebese, Rachel T
2016-05-24
Professional midwives have an important role to play in midwifery training to produce a competent midwife. According to the social learning theory, professional midwives act as role models for students. When allocated for clinical learning experiences in the training hospitals, students will have the opportunity to observe the well-trained, skilled, and experienced professional midwives. The whole process will enable students to integrate theory with practice and they will become competent. The aim of this study was to determine the factors affecting integration of midwifery nursing science theory with clinical practice as perceived by midwives. The study was conducted at the training hospitals in Vhembe district of the Limpopo Province, South Africa. These hospitals were: Donald Fraser, Siloam, and Tshidzini. A qualitative explorative, descriptive and contextual design was used. A Nonprobability, convenient sampling method was used to select 11 midwives from the following hospitals: Donald Fraser, Siloam, and Tshidzini, in Vhembe district. In-depth individual interviews were conducted. Data were analysed through open coding method. One theme and five sub-themes emerged from the analysed data, namely: shortage of midwives, attitudes towards student midwives, reluctance to perform teaching functions, language barriers, and declining midwifery practice standards. Shortage of midwives in the clinical areas led to fewer numbers of mentors whom the students could observe and imitate to acquire clinical skills. Some of the midwives were reluctant to teach students. Recommendations were made for both training institutions and hospitals to employ preceptors for students in the clinical practical.
Management of Sickle Cell Disease: A Review for Physician Education in Nigeria (Sub-Saharan Africa
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Ademola Samson Adewoyin
2015-01-01
Full Text Available Sickle cell disease (SCD predominates in sub-Saharan Africa, East Mediterranean areas, Middle East, and India. Nigeria, being the most populous black nation in the world, bears its greatest burden in sub-Saharan Africa. The last few decades have witnessed remarkable scientific progress in the understanding of the complex pathophysiology of the disease. Improved clinical insights have heralded development and establishment of disease modifying interventions such as chronic blood transfusions, hydroxyurea therapy, and haemopoietic stem cell transplantation. Coupled with parallel improvements in general supportive, symptomatic, and preventive measures, current evidence reveals remarkable appreciation in quality of life among affected individuals in developed nations. Currently, in Nigeria and other West African states, treatment and control of SCD are largely suboptimal. Improved knowledge regarding SCD phenotypes and its comprehensive care among Nigerian physicians will enhance quality of care for affected persons. This paper therefore provides a review on the aetiopathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and management of SCD in Nigeria, with a focus on its local patterns and peculiarities. Established treatment guidelines as appropriate in the Nigerian setting are proffered, as well as recommendations for improving care of affected persons.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Palcheva, R., E-mail: radost@ic.bas.bg [InGAP Centre for Research-based Innovation, SMN, University of Oslo, PO Box 1033, Blindern, Oslo 0315 Norway (Norway); Olsbye, U.; Palcut, M. [InGAP Centre for Research-based Innovation, SMN, University of Oslo, PO Box 1033, Blindern, Oslo 0315 Norway (Norway); Rauwel, P. [Department of Physics, SMN, University of Oslo, PO Box B 1048 Blindern, Oslo 0316 (Norway); Tyuliev, G.; Velinov, N. [Institute of Catalysis, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, G. Bonchev Str., Bldg. 11, Sofia 1113 (Bulgaria); Fjellvåg, H.H. [InGAP Centre for Research-based Innovation, SMN, University of Oslo, PO Box 1033, Blindern, Oslo 0315 Norway (Norway)
2015-12-01
Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • Perovskites type-oxide La{sub 0.75}Sr{sub 0.25}(Fe{sub 0.8}Co{sub 0.2}){sub 1−x}Ga{sub x}O{sub 3-δ} (x = 0.1, 0.25, 0.4) prepared by the sol–gel citrate method. • Bulk and surface analysis to determine catalysts composition evolution. • Anaerobic catalytic partial oxidation of methane to syngas at 600 °C in a pulse apparatus over Rh promoted perovskites. • The catalysts showed high stability and selectivity. - Abstract: Synthesis gas production via selective oxidation of methane at 600 °C in a pulse reaction over La{sub 0.75}Sr{sub 0.25}(Fe{sub 0.8}Co{sub 0.2}){sub 1−x}Ga{sub x}O{sub 3-δ} (x = 0.1, 0.25, 0.4) perovskite-supported rhodium catalysts, was investigated. The perovskite oxides were prepared by sol–gel citrate method and characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Moessbauer Spectroscopy (MS), Temperature Programmed Reduction (TPR-H{sub 2}), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM). According to XRD analysis, the synthesized samples were a single perovskite phase. The perovskite structure of Ga substituted samples remained stable after TPR-H{sub 2}, as confirmed by XRD. Data of MS identified Fe{sup 3+} ions in two distinctive coordination environments, and Fe{sup 4+} ions. The Rh{sub 2}O{sub 3} thin overlayer was detected by the HRTEM for the Rh impregnated perovskite oxides. During the interaction of methane with oxidized perovskite-supported Rh (0.5 wt.%) catalysts, besides CO, H{sub 2}, and surface carbon, CO{sub 2} and H{sub 2}O were formed. The Rh perovskite catalyst with x = 0.25 gallium exhibits the highest catalytic activity of 83% at 600 °C. The CO selectivity was affected by the reducibility of La{sub 0.75}Sr{sub 0.25}(Fe{sub 0.8}Co{sub 0.2}){sub 1−x}Ga{sub x}O{sub 3-δ} perovskite materials.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Gatimu, Alvin J.; Berthelot, Romain; Muir, Sean; Sleight, Arthur W. [Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331 (United States); Subramanian, M.A., E-mail: mas.subramanian@oregonstate.edu [Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331 (United States)
2012-06-15
The effects of Ti, Fe and Co substitutions for Ir on the structure and on the physical properties of Sr{sub 2}IrO{sub 4} are investigated. A complete solid solution Sr{sub 2}Ir{sub 1-x}Ti{sub x}O{sub 4} is obtained while both Fe and Co doping are relatively limited. In each case however, the c-axis cell parameter and the initial IrO{sub 6} octahedra tilting decreases with substitution. Doping with Ti, Fe and Co results in a decrease of the magnetic susceptibility and in an increase in the paramagnetic effective moment for Co and Fe doped samples and a suppression of the weak ferromagnetic ordering observed for Sr{sub 2}IrO{sub 4}. - Graphical abstract: Solid solutions of Sr{sub 2}Ir{sub 1-x}M{sub x}O{sub 4} (M=Ti, Fe, Co) have been synthesized and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, magnetism and electrical measurements. Changes in the a parameter and decreases in both the c-axis cell parameters and the initial IrO{sub 6} octahedra tilting are found to be correlated. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Solid Solutions of Sr{sub 2}Ir{sub 1-x}M{sub x}O{sub 4} (M=Ti, Fe, Co) are synthesized. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The Sr{sub 2}Ir{sub 1-x}Ti{sub x}O{sub 4} solid solution is complete while those of Fe and Co are relatively limited. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The change in a cell parameter with substitution is much less than that of the c parameter. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Decreased tilting and the smaller size of the M cation contrastingly affect the a parameter. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Doping results in a suppression of the weak ferromagnetic ordering in Sr{sub 2}IrO{sub 4}.
International Nuclear Information System (INIS)
Zaid, A.I.O.; Jaber, F.
2003-01-01
Aluminum-ceramic composites were made by powder metallurgy up to early 80's. Since then several attempts Metal have been made to produce these composites by liquid metallurgy method. Different techniques have been reported to produce these composites by this method and many difficulties have been encountered in wetting the particles by the molten metal due to the difference in densities which caused non uniform distribution of the particles in the matrix resulting in poor mechanical strength. In this paper, the production of aluminum-aluminum oxide (Al-Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/) metal matrix composite by different techniques is investigated. These include injection, centrifugal vortex, compocasting and a newly suggested method, modified vortex technique. The effect of the process parameters are investigated and discussed and the optimum process conditions were determined. It was found that preheating of the alumina powder for one hour at 1050 deg. before introducing it to the aluminum melt is vital to be accepted by the melt. Incorporation of the alumina particles by injecting them below the surface of the melt resulted in better wettability of the particles but no more than 10% volume fraction was achieved. Similarly, in the centrifuged casting technique, the same volume fraction of the Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ particles was obtained and in both techniques existence of porosity was observed. The vortex technique, when its parameters were optimized resulted in higher volume fraction, as 25% of alumina particles was achieved with better particle distribution than those obtained by the injection and centrifuged casting methods. Comparison among the different techniques is made based on volume fraction, particle distribution, soundness and micro segregation. A new method, based on modifying the vortex technique is given and discussed. The mechanical strength and hardness of Al-Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ MMPC produced by this method were determined. It was found that an increase of 100% in
Routes for synthesis and characterization of the Lu{sub 1-x}Ca{sub x}Cu{sub 2}Si{sub 2} series
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Radaelli, Matheus; Piva, Mario Moda; Christovam, Denise S.; Ribeiro, Ana L.A.; Pagliuso, Pascoal G., E-mail: goiba@ifi.unicamp.br [Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), SP (Brazil)
2016-07-01
Full text: New materials design always plays an important role in condensed matter physics. When CeCu{sub 2} Si{sub 2} was discovered,a new front in the field of superconductivity on strongly correlated materials started and led to the discovery of many classes of related materials. In such materials, the interplay between magnetism (affected by the hybridization strength between local f electrons and conduction electrons) and heavy-fermion superconductivity is still a matter of controversy and intense studies. Based on these materials, one can explore the structural and stoichiometric similarities among the several classes of related compounds to develop routes for new materials design of novel heavy fermion superconductors.The non-magnetic reference compound LuCu{sub 2}Si{sub 2} crystallizes in a ThCr{sub 2}Si{sub 2}-type structure (I4/mmm) and presents a metallic-like temperature dependent resistivity [2]. As such, it can be used as a based compound to search for 3d-based magnetic analogs of CeCu{sub 2}Si{sub 2}. In this work, we have performed Lu-site substitutions (Ba,Sr,Ca) in order to tune the orbital differentiation of the Cu 3d bands and potentially induce magnetism. We will discuss experiments of x-ray powder diffraction, elemental analysis (EDS, WDS), resistivity and DC magnetic susceptibility on single crystals Lu{sub 1-x}Ca{sub x}Cu{sub 2}Si{sub 2} (X{sub nominal} = 0, 0.3 and 0.5) grown from Tin-flux and evaluate the efficiency of different kinds of dopant to induce magnetism. (author)
Nuclear techniques in Australian animal production
International Nuclear Information System (INIS)
1976-01-01
In tropical and sub-tropical regions, the production of domestic animals is frequently depressed by the climatic and ecological conditions. These negative effects can be overcome to a great extent by improved methods of animal and land management. In animal research, nuclear techniques are playing an important role in the study of different aspects of nutrition, metabolism, reproduction and health of domestic animals. In response to the need expressed by Member States for more information on these techniques, the Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Atomic Energy in Food and Agriculture and the IAEA's Division of Technical Assistance organized a study tour to Australia, a country which has developed considerable expertise in agricultural and animal research. The purpose of the study tour was to enable veterinary and animal scientists and administrators from developing countries in Asia and the Far East to observe at first hand the ways in which animal production, particularly meat, milk and wool, can be increased in tropical and sub-tropical areas. Fourteen senior scientists and research directors from seven Asian countries (Bangladesh, India, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand) participated. The counterpart organizations in Australia were the Australian Development Assistance Agency (ADAA) and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO). The chief programmer and co-ordinator of the study tour was John E. Vercoe, officer-in-charge of CSIRO's Tropical Cattle Research Centre in Rockhampton, and a former IAEA staff member. The tour was financed by the United Nations Development Programme. The participants visited research facilities of universities, national and state laboratories and commercial cattle producers. The tour started at Sydney and proceeded north along the east coast of Australia to Townsville. On the way, major stops were made in Armidale, Grafton, Wollongbar, Brisbane and Rockhampton. In Rockhampton, a
High-throughput screen for novel antimicrobials using a whole animal infection model.
Moy, Terence I; Conery, Annie L; Larkins-Ford, Jonah; Wu, Gang; Mazitschek, Ralph; Casadei, Gabriele; Lewis, Kim; Carpenter, Anne E; Ausubel, Frederick M
2009-07-17
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a unique whole animal model system for identifying small molecules with in vivo anti-infective properties. C. elegans can be infected with a broad range of human pathogens, including Enterococcus faecalis, an important human nosocomial pathogen. Here, we describe an automated, high-throughput screen of 37,200 compounds and natural product extracts for those that enhance survival of C. elegans infected with E. faecalis. Using a robot to dispense live, infected animals into 384-well plates and automated microscopy and image analysis, we identified 28 compounds and extracts not previously reported to have antimicrobial properties, including six structural classes that cure infected C. elegans animals but do not affect the growth of the pathogen in vitro, thus acting by a mechanism of action distinct from antibiotics currently in clinical use.
Charge ordering and multiferroicity in Fe{sub 3}BO{sub 5} and Fe{sub 2}MnBO{sub 5} oxyborates
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Maignan, A., E-mail: antoine.maignan@ensicaen.fr [Laboratoire CRISMAT, UMR 6508 CNRS/ENSICAEN/UNICAEN, 6 bd du Maréchal Juin, 14050 CAEN Cedex 4 (France); Lainé, F.; Guesdon, A.; Malo, S. [Laboratoire CRISMAT, UMR 6508 CNRS/ENSICAEN/UNICAEN, 6 bd du Maréchal Juin, 14050 CAEN Cedex 4 (France); Damay, F. [Laboratoire Léon Brillouin, UMR 12, LLB-Saclay, 91191 GIF-SUR-YVETTE Cedex (France); Martin, C. [Laboratoire CRISMAT, UMR 6508 CNRS/ENSICAEN/UNICAEN, 6 bd du Maréchal Juin, 14050 CAEN Cedex 4 (France)
2017-02-15
The comparison of Fe{sub 3}BO{sub 5} and Fe{sub 2}MnBO{sub 5} reveals that the 2Fe{sup 2+}: Fe{sup 3+} charge ordering of the former is suppressed in the latter. Spin dynamics probed by ac susceptibility are strongly affected by the substitution, inducing superparamagnetism at low temperature in Fe{sub 2}MnBO{sub 5}. Interestingly, for both oxyborates, glassiness is observed in the dielectric properties at low temperature, but only Fe{sub 3}BO{sub 5} shows a magnetodielectric effect close to its lower magnetic transition. A change in the electrical polarization, measured by pyroelectric current integration, is observed in Fe{sub 3}BO{sub 5} and is even more pronounced in Fe{sub 2}MnBO{sub 5}. Such results suggest that these oxyborates behave like antiferromagnetic relaxor ferroelectrics. These features are proposed to be related to the distribution of the species (Fe{sup 3+}, Fe{sup 2+} and Mn{sup 2+}) over the four transition metal sites forming the ludwigite structure. - Graphical abstract: 90 K [010] electron diffraction patterns of Fe{sub 3}BO{sub 5}. The yellow arrows in the pattern indicate the extra-spots corresponding to the superstructure induced by the charge ordering. - Highlights: • The TEM (ED) study of the Fe{sub 3}BO{sub 5} oxyborate at 90 K reveals a superstructure related to a Fe{sup 2+}/Fe{sup 3+} ordering. • The Fe{sub 2}MnBO{sub 5}, Mn-substituted counterpart, does not show such ordering. • Our magnetic and electric measurements demonstrate that these magnetic ferrites exhibit glassiness in their charges (relaxor-type) with additional superparamagnetism at low T for Fe{sub 2}MnBO{sub 5} and magnetodielectric coupling near T{sub N2}=72 K in Fe{sub 3}BO{sub 5}. • The pyroelectric measurements confirm the existence of a ferroelectric behavior in these antiferromagnets. Accordingly, our results open the route to the study of other large class of the M{sub 2}{sup 2+}M’{sup 3+}BO{sub 5} ludwigites and to their complex magnetism and its
Epidemiological review of human and animal fascioliasis in Egypt.
Soliman, Maha F M
2008-06-01
One of the neglected food-borne-diseases in the international public health arena is fascioliasis. It is a serious infectious parasitic disease infecting humans and animals worldwide and tops all the zoonotic helminthes. Human cases are being increasingly reported from Europe, the Americas, Oceania, Africa and Asia. Hence, human fascioliasis is considered now as a zoonosis of major global and regional importance. In Egypt, animal and human fascioliasis is an endemic clinical and epidemiological health problem. Doubtless, understanding the epidemiology of the parasitic diseases and factors affecting their incidence provides the foundation upon which effective prevention and control programs should be established. This article reviews the history, life cycles, transmission, incidence, geographical distribution, and environmental and human determinants that contribute to the epidemiological picture of fascioliasis with special reference to Egypt.
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Guo, Xia [State Key Laboratory of Electronic Thin Films and Integrated Devices, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Jianshe Road, Chengdu 610054 (China); Tang, Bin, E-mail: tangbin@uestc.edu.cn [State Key Laboratory of Electronic Thin Films and Integrated Devices, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Jianshe Road, Chengdu 610054 (China); Liu, Jiaqin [Sichuan Special Equipment Inspection Institute, Dongfeng Road, Chengdu 610061 (China); Chen, Hetuo; Zhang, Shuren [State Key Laboratory of Electronic Thin Films and Integrated Devices, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Jianshe Road, Chengdu 610054 (China)
2015-10-15
The microwave dielectric properties and the morphology of Ba{sub 6−3x}Nd{sub 8+2x}Ti{sub 18−y}(Cr{sub 1/2}Nb{sub 1/2}){sub y}O{sub 54} (x = 0.75, 0 ≤ y ≤ 3.0) ceramics prepared under different sintering conditions were investigated in this work. The effects of substitutions on the microstructure and microwave dielectric properties were discussed. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of the sintered samples revealed a single-phase formation BaNd{sub 2}Ti{sub 4}O{sub 12} with a tungsten bronze type structure in the system. The results of energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and lattice parameters calculated on XRD data could confirm the substitution at B-site. A small amount of substitutions improved quality factor value (Q × f) and the temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τ{sub f}) but led to a decrease of the permittivity. The temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τ{sub f}) was found to decrease with increasing substitutions because of the declination of tolerance factor (t). And the τ{sub f} could be adjusted from +62.4 ppm/°C to −7.3 ppm/°C with increment of substitutions. Finally, excellent dielectric properties were obtained as y was 0.5 sintered at 1400 °C for 2 h in air: ε{sub r} = 88.6, Q × f = 11486 GHz, τ{sub f} = +37.1 ppm/°C. - Graphical abstract: It was evident that the tendency of the τ{sub f} was consistent with the variation of tolerance factor (t). The τ{sub f} was much affected by the titling of Ti–O octahedral that bigger ionic radius of (Cr{sub 1/2}Nb{sub 1/2}){sup 4+} substituted for Ti{sup 4+} would significantly reduce the temperature coefficient of resonant frequency. - Highlights: • (Cr{sub 1/2}Nb{sub 1/2}){sup 4+} substitution for Ti{sup 4+} would low down the τ{sub f} of the samples. • The Cr{sup 3+} substitution for Ti{sup 4+} would promote the quality factor. • (Cr{sub 1/2}Nb{sub 1/2}){sup 4+} substitution for Ti{sup 4+} makes the permittivity maintain a high value. • The high Q × f
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Javed Memon, Jam Kashif, Muhammad Yaqoob, Wang Liping, Yongchun Yang and Fan Hongjie*
2013-04-01
Full Text Available Prevalence of sub-clinical and clinical coliform mastitis with antimicrobial sensitivity profile of various mastitis-causing organisms was investigated. Milk samples collected from 299 cows infected with clinical mastitis to evaluate the prevalence of coliform mastitis and 1660 quarters milk samples randomly collected from 415 lactating cows for detection of subclinical mastitis (SCM by Hangzhou Mastitis Test (HMT. SCM at quarters and cow level was recorded to be 20.2 and 52.3%, respectively. Occurrence of SCM in left rear quarter was high (26.7%. Statistical analysis of risk factors showed, cows with 6-9 years of age (P=0.046; Odds ratio (OR, +1.414; 95% confidence interval (CI=1.006-1.988 and 60.7%, cows with 4-7 calves (P=0.028; OR, +1.502; 95% CI=1.044-2.160 and 62.2%, and cows in late stage of lactation (P=0.039; OR, +1.947; 95% CI=1.023-3.702 and 68%, were more susceptible to SCM. All the 115 organisms from SCM milk samples and 103 Escherichia coli from CM samples were confirmed by PCR techniques. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC results revealed that E. coli isolates were resistant to penicillin group (93-99%, fluoroquinolones (40-74%, cephalosporins (54-66%, oxytetracycline (91%, gentamycin (82%, SUL-TRM (88% and were sensitive to florfenicol. Staphylococcus aureus isolates were resistant to ampicillin (91%, oxytetracycline (59% and methicillin (29%. Streptococcus agalactiae isolates were 8 to 15% resistant to used antimicrobials. In conclusion, cows with SCM were reservoir of various bacterial pathogens and high prevalence of E. coli in clinical mastitis milk could be major complications for mastitis treatment due to their multidrug resistance profile.
SIMULATED ANIMAL EXPERIMENTS IN TEACHING AND RESEARCH
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Chirag B. Mistry, Shreya M. Shah, Jagatkumar D. Bhatt
2015-07-01
Full Text Available Animal experiments are of paramount importance in the pre-clinical screening of new chemical entity. On the other hand, various regulatory guidelines for animal experiments are becoming more stringent in the face of worldwide protests by animal rights activists. Moreover, simulated animal experiments’ softwares are being developed and they can be implemented in the postgraduate and graduate students’ curriculum for demonstration of standard physiological and pharmacological principles compared to real time animal experiments. In fact, implementation of virtual experiment will decrease hand on experience of animal experiments among medical students, but after medical graduation, animal experiment is lest utilized during their day to day clinical practice. Similarly, in case of postgraduate pharmacology curriculum, computer based virtual animal experiments can facilitate teaching and learning in a short span of time with various protocols, without sacrificing any animal for already established experimental outcomes.
Trindade, Fábio; Leite-Moreira, Adelino; Ferreira-Martins, João; Ferreira, Rita; Falcão-Pires, Inês; Vitorino, Rui
2017-02-01
Today there is an increasing demand for heart transplantations for patients diagnosed with heart failure. Though, shortage of donors as well as the large number of ineligible patients hurdle such treatment option. This, in addition to the considerable number of transplant rejections, has driven the clinical research towards the field of regenerative medicine. Nonetheless, to date, several stem cell therapies tested in animal models fall by the wayside and when they meet the criteria to clinical trials, subjects often exhibit modest improvements. A main issue slowing down the admission of such therapies in the domain of human trials is the lack of protocol standardization between research groups, which hampers comparison between different approaches as well as the lack of thought regarding the clinical translation. In this sense, given the large amount of reports on stem cell therapy studies in animal models reported in the last 3years, we sought to evaluate their advantages and limitations towards the clinical setting and provide some suggestions for the forthcoming investigations. We expect, with this review, to start a new paradigm on regenerative medicine, by evoking the debate on how to plan novel stem cell therapy studies with animal models in order to achieve more consistent scientific production and accelerate the admission of stem cell therapies in the clinical setting. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Real-time speech-driven animation of expressive talking faces
Liu, Jia; You, Mingyu; Chen, Chun; Song, Mingli
2011-05-01
In this paper, we present a real-time facial animation system in which speech drives mouth movements and facial expressions synchronously. Considering five basic emotions, a hierarchical structure with an upper layer of emotion classification is established. Based on the recognized emotion label, the under-layer classification at sub-phonemic level has been modelled on the relationship between acoustic features of frames and audio labels in phonemes. Using certain constraint, the predicted emotion labels of speech are adjusted to gain the facial expression labels which are combined with sub-phonemic labels. The combinations are mapped into facial action units (FAUs), and audio-visual synchronized animation with mouth movements and facial expressions is generated by morphing between FAUs. The experimental results demonstrate that the two-layer structure succeeds in both emotion and sub-phonemic classifications, and the synthesized facial sequences reach a comparative convincing quality.
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Wieland, Raphael; Rudau, Fabian; Gross, Boris; Judd, Thomas; Koelle, Dieter; Kleiner, Reinhold [Physikalisches Institut and Center for Collective Quantum Phenomena in LISA" +, Universitaet Tuebingen, Tuebingen (Germany); Kinev, Nickolay; Koshelets, Valery [Kotel' nikov Institute of Radio Engineering and Electronics, Moscow (Russian Federation); Tsujimoto, Manabu [Kyoto University, Kyoto (Japan); Ji, Min; Huang, Ya; Zhou, Xianjing; An, Deyue; Wang, Huabing [National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba (Japan); Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, Nanjing University, Nanjing (China); Wu, Peihang [Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, Nanjing University, Nanjing (China); Hatano, Takeshi [National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba (Japan)
2015-07-01
Josephson Junctions (JJs) offer a natural way to convert a dc voltage into high-frequency electromagnetic radiation. In the high-Tc superconductor Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2}CaCu{sub 2}O{sub 8} (BSCCO), JJs form intrinsically, allowing to fabricate stacks of hundreds of junctions easily. Emission can occur at relatively low bias currents but also at larger input power with frequencies from 0.4 to 1 THz. At high bias, a hot spot forms, affecting both the intensity and the linewidth of the radiation. BSCCO mesas are believed to work as a cavity for electromagnetic standing waves, synchronizing all the junctions in the stack. We investigated THz emission and hotspot formation using a combination of transport measurements, electromagnetic wave detection via a superconducting receiver and low temperature scanning laser microscopy.
Estimating clinical chemistry reference values based on an existing data set of unselected animals.
Dimauro, Corrado; Bonelli, Piero; Nicolussi, Paola; Rassu, Salvatore P G; Cappio-Borlino, Aldo; Pulina, Giuseppe
2008-11-01
In an attempt to standardise the determination of biological reference values, the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry (IFCC) has published a series of recommendations on developing reference intervals. The IFCC recommends the use of an a priori sampling of at least 120 healthy individuals. However, such a high number of samples and laboratory analysis is expensive, time-consuming and not always feasible, especially in veterinary medicine. In this paper, an alternative (a posteriori) method is described and is used to determine reference intervals for biochemical parameters of farm animals using an existing laboratory data set. The method used was based on the detection and removal of outliers to obtain a large sample of animals likely to be healthy from the existing data set. This allowed the estimation of reliable reference intervals for biochemical parameters in Sarda dairy sheep. This method may also be useful for the determination of reference intervals for different species, ages and gender.
Speed, Traci J; Richards, Jessica M; Finan, Patrick H; Smith, Michael T
2017-07-01
Sex differences in clinical pain severity and response to experimental pain are commonly reported, with women generally showing greater vulnerability. Affect, including state (a single rating) and stable (average daily ratings over two weeks) positive affect and negative affect has also been found to impact pain sensitivity and severity, and research suggests that affect may modulate pain differentially as a function of sex. The current study aimed to examine sex as a moderator of the relationships between affect and pain-related outcomes among participants with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). One hundred and seventy-nine participants (59 men) with KOA completed electronic diaries assessing clinical pain, positive affect, and negative affect. A subset of participants (n=120) underwent quantitative sensory testing, from which a single index of central sensitization to pain was derived. We used multiple regression models to test for the interactive effects of sex and affect (positive versus negative and stable versus state) on pain-related outcomes. We used mixed effects models to test for the moderating effects of sex on the relationships between state affect and pain over time. Sex differences in affect and pain were identified, with men reporting significantly higher stable positive affect and lower central sensitization to pain indexed by quantitative sensory testing, as well as marginally lower KOA-specific clinical pain compared to women. Moreover, there was an interaction between stable positive affect and sex on KOA-specific clinical pain and average daily non-specific pain ratings. Post hoc analyses revealed that men showed trends towards an inverse relationship between stable positive affect and pain outcomes, while women showed no relationship between positive affect and pain. There was also a significant interaction between sex and stable negative affect and sex on KOA-specific pain such that men showed a significantly stronger positive relationship between
Antibiotic alternatives: the substitution of antibiotics in animal husbandry?
Cheng, Guyue; Hao, Haihong; Xie, Shuyu; Wang, Xu; Dai, Menghong; Huang, Lingli; Yuan, Zonghui
2014-01-01
It is a common practice for decades to use of sub-therapeutic dose of antibiotics in food-animal feeds to prevent animals from diseases and to improve production performance in modern animal husbandry. In the meantime, concerns over the increasing emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria due to the unreasonable use of antibiotics and an appearance of less novelty antibiotics have prompted efforts to develop so-called alternatives to antibiotics. Whether or not the alternatives could really ...
VanCleave, Janice
2001-01-01
Presents a set of hands-on, outdoor science experiments designed to teach elementary school students about animal adaptation. The experiments focus on: how color camouflage affects an insect population; how spiderlings find a home; and how chameleons camouflage themselves by changing color. (SM)
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Kehrberg, G.; Saul, G.; Rose, H.; Pradel, I.; Moldenhauer, H. (Humboldt-Universitaet, Berlin (German Democratic Republic). Bereich Medizin (Charite))
1984-01-01
The occurrence of a leukocytosis following Li/sub 2/CO/sub 3/ treatment was examined in rats. The radiation-induced leukocytosis revealed depended on dose and time as well. Li/sub 2/CO/sub 3/ did not prevent radiogenic leukopenia following 7 Gy whole-body irradiation. There was, however, a decrease of the duration of the leukopenia. The small therapeutic range of Li/sub 2/CO/sub 3/ in irradiated animals must by emphasized.
Yoon, B Y; Lee, S H; Kim, Y
2001-01-01
The crystal structures of fully dehydrated Pd sup 2 sup + - and Tl sup + -exchanged zeolite X, Pd sub 1 sub 8 Tl sub 5 sub 6 Si sub 1 sub 0 sub 0 Al sub 9 sub 2 O sub 3 sub 8 sub 4 (Pd sub 1 sub 8 Tl sub 5 sub 6 X, a = 24.935(4) A) and Pd sub 2 sub 1 Tl sub 5 sub 0 Si sub 1 sub 0 sub 0 Al sub 9 sub 2 O sub 3 sub 8 sub 4 (Pd sub 2 sub 1 Tl sub 5 sub 0 -X, a = 24.914(4) A), have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods in the cubic space group Fd3 at 21(1) .deg. C. The crystals were prepared using an exchange solution that had a Pd(NH sub 3) sub 4 Cl sub 2 : TINO sub 3 mole ratio of 50 : 1 and 200 : 1, respectively, with a total concentration of 0.05 M for 4 days. After dehydration at 360 .deg. C and 2 x 10 sup - sup 6 Torr in flowing oxygen for 2 days, the crystals were evacuated at 21(1) .deg. C for 2 hours. They were refined to the final error indices R sub 1 = 0.045 and R sub 2 = 0.038 with 344 reflections for Pd sub 1 sub 8 Tl sub 5 sub 6 -X, and R sub 1 = 0.043 and R sub 2 = 0.045 with ...
Iron 1s X-ray photoemission of Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}
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Miedema, P.S., E-mail: p.s.miedema@gmail.com [Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht (Netherlands); Borgatti, F. [CNR-ISMN, Instituto per Io Studio di Materiali Nanostrutturati, Via Gobetti 101, I-40129 Bologna (Italy); Offi, F. [Dipartimento di Scienze, Università di Roma Tre, I-00146 Rome (Italy); Panaccione, G. [Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, CNR-IOM, Laboratorio TASC, Area Science Park, I-34149 Trieste (Italy); Groot, F.M.F. de [Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht (Netherlands)
2015-08-15
Highlights: • Three peaks of 1s XPS of Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} means use of three configurations. • 1s XPS vs 2p XPS: advantage of 1s XPS for charge transfer parameter analysis. • Charge transfer multiplet analysis with same parameters for 1s and 2p XPS. - Abstract: We present the 1s X-ray photoemission spectrum of α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} in comparison with its 2p photoemission spectrum. We show that in case of transition metal oxides, because the 1s core hole is not affected by core hole spin-orbit coupling and almost not affected by core-valence multiplet effects, the Fe 1s spectrum and the complementary charge transfer multiplet calculations allow for an accurate determination of the charge transfer parameters. The consistency of the obtained parameters for the 1s photoemission was confirmed with 2p photoemission calculations and compared to 2p experimental photoemission spectra.
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Cao, Qing [Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)
2012-01-01
The unique combination of magnetic properties and structural transitions exhibited by many members of the R<sub>5sub>(SixGe>1-xsub>)>4sub> family (R = rare earths, 0 ≤ x ≤ 1) presents numerous opportunities for these materials in advanced energy transformation applications. Past research has proven that the crystal structure and magnetic ordering of the R<sub>5sub>(SixGe>1-xsub>)>4sub> compounds can be altered by temperature, magnetic field, pressure and the Si/Ge ratio. Results of this thesis study on the crystal structure of the Er<sub>5sub>Si>4sub> compound have for the first time shown that the application of mechanical forces (i.e. shear stress introduced during the mechanical grinding) can also result in a structural transition from Gd<sub>5sub>Si>4sub>-type orthorhombic to Gd<sub>5sub>Si>2sub>Ge>2sub>-type monoclinic. This structural transition is reversible, moving in the opposite direction when the material is subjected to low-temperature annealing at 500 °C.
Furnham, Adrian; Crump, John
2014-08-01
This study aimed to examine a Big Five 'bright-side' analysis of a sub-clinical personality disorder, i.e. narcissism. A total of 6957 British adults completed the NEO-PI-R, which measures the Big Five Personality factors at the domain and the facet level, as well as the Hogan Development Survey (HDS), which has a measure of Narcissism called Bold as one of its dysfunctional interpersonal tendencies. Correlation and regression results confirmed many of the associations between the Big Five domains and facets (NEO-PI-R) and sub-clinical narcissism. The Bold (Narcissism) scale from the HDS was the criterion variable in all analyses. Bold individuals are disagreeable extraverts with very low scores on facet Modesty but moderately high scores on Assertiveness, Competence and Achievement Striving. The study confirmed work using different population groups and different measures. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Clinical Trials of Immunogene Therapy for Spontaneous Tumors in Companion Animals
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Gerardo Claudio Glikin
2014-01-01
Full Text Available Despite the important progress obtained in the treatment of some pets’ malignancies, new treatments need to be developed. Being critical in cancer control and progression, the immune system’s appropriate modulation may provide effective therapeutic options. In this review we summarize the outcomes of published immunogene therapy veterinary clinical trials reported by many research centers. A variety of tumors such as canine melanoma, soft tissue sarcomas, osteosarcoma and lymphoma, feline fibrosarcoma, and equine melanoma were subjected to different treatment approaches. Both viral and mainly nonviral vectors were used to deliver gene products as cytokines, xenogeneic tumor associated antigens, specific ligands, and proapoptotic regulatory factors. In some cases autologous, allogenic, or xenogeneic transgenic cytokine producing cells were assayed. In general terms, minor or no adverse collateral effects appeared during this kind of therapies and treated patients usually displayed a better course of the disease (longer survival, delayed or suppressed recurrence or metastatic spread, and improvement of the quality of life. This suggests the utility of these methodologies as standard adjuvant treatments. The encouraging outcomes obtained in companion animals support their ready application in veterinary clinical oncology and serve as preclinical proof of concept and safety assay for future human gene therapy trials.
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Mark W. Wojnarowicz
2017-06-01
Full Text Available Animal models of concussion, traumatic brain injury (TBI, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE are widely available and routinely deployed in laboratories around the world. Effective animal modeling requires careful consideration of four basic principles. First, animal model use must be guided by clarity of definitions regarding the human disease or condition being modeled. Concussion, TBI, and CTE represent distinct clinical entities that require clear differentiation: concussion is a neurological syndrome, TBI is a neurological event, and CTE is a neurological disease. While these conditions are all associated with head injury, the pathophysiology, clinical course, and medical management of each are distinct. Investigators who use animal models of these conditions must take into account these clinical distinctions to avoid misinterpretation of results and category mistakes. Second, model selection must be grounded by clarity of purpose with respect to experimental questions and frame of reference of the investigation. Distinguishing injury context (“inputs” from injury consequences (“outputs” may be helpful during animal model selection, experimental design and execution, and interpretation of results. Vigilance is required to rout out, or rigorously control for, model artifacts with potential to interfere with primary endpoints. The widespread use of anesthetics in many animal models illustrates the many ways that model artifacts can confound preclinical results. Third, concordance between key features of the animal model and the human disease or condition being modeled is required to confirm model biofidelity. Fourth, experimental results observed in animals must be confirmed in human subjects for model validation. Adherence to these principles serves as a bulwark against flawed interpretation of results, study replication failure, and confusion in the field. Implementing these principles will advance basic science discovery and
9 CFR 53.3 - Appraisal of animals or materials.
2010-01-01
... 9 Animals and Animal Products 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Appraisal of animals or materials. 53.3 Section 53.3 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF... animals or materials. (a) Animals affected by or exposed to disease, and materials required to be...
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Nummedal, Dag [Trustees Of The Colorado School Of Mines, Golden, CO (United States); Doran, Kevin [Trustees Of The Colorado School Of Mines, Golden, CO (United States); Sitchler, Alexis [Trustees Of The Colorado School Of Mines, Golden, CO (United States); McCray, John [Trustees Of The Colorado School Of Mines, Golden, CO (United States); Mouzakis, Katherine [Trustees Of The Colorado School Of Mines, Golden, CO (United States); Glossner, Andy [Trustees Of The Colorado School Of Mines, Golden, CO (United States); Mandernack, Kevin [Trustees Of The Colorado School Of Mines, Golden, CO (United States); Gutierrez, Marte [Trustees Of The Colorado School Of Mines, Golden, CO (United States); Pranter, Matthew [Trustees Of The Colorado School Of Mines, Golden, CO (United States); Rybowiak, Chris [Trustees Of The Colorado School Of Mines, Golden, CO (United States)
2012-09-30
This multitask research project was conducted in anticipation of a possible future increase in industrial efforts at CO<sub>2sub> storage in Colorado sedimentary basins. Colorado is already the home to the oldest Rocky Mountain CO<sub>2sub> storage site, the Rangely Oil Field, where CO<sub>2sub>-EOR has been underway since the 1980s. The Colorado Geological Survey has evaluated storage options statewide, and as part of the SW Carbon Sequestration Partnership the Survey, is deeply engaged in and committed to suitable underground CO<sub>2sub> storage. As a more sustainable energy industry is becoming a global priority, it is imperative to explore the range of technical options available to reduce emissions from fossil fuels. One such option is to store at least some emitted CO<sub>2sub> underground. In this NETL-sponsored CO<sub>2sub> sequestration project, the Colorado School of Mines and our partners at the University of Colorado have focused on a set of the major fundamental science and engineering issues surrounding geomechanics, mineralogy, geochemistry and reservoir architecture of possible CO<sub>2sub> storage sites (not limited to Colorado). Those are the central themes of this final report and reported below in Tasks 2, 3, 4, and 6. Closely related to these reservoir geoscience issues are also legal, environmental and public acceptance concerns about pore space accessibility—as a precondition for CO<sub>2sub> storage. These are addressed in Tasks 1, 5 and 7. Some debates about the future course of the energy industry can become acrimonius. It is true that the physics of combustion of hydrocarbons makes it impossible for fossil energy to attain a carbon footprint anywhere nearly as low as that of renewables. However, there are many offsetting benefits, not the least that fossil energy is still plentiful, it has a global and highly advanced distribution system in place, and the footprint that the fossil energy infrastructure occupies is
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Ahn, Kyunghan [Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)
2007-01-01
The family of R<sub>5sub>SixGe>4-xsub> alloys demonstrates a variety of unique physical phenomena related to magneto-structural transitions associated with reversible breaking and reforming of specific bonds that can be controlled by numerous external parameters such as chemical composition, magnetic field, temperature, and pressure. Therefore, R<sub>5sub>SixGe>4-xsub> systems have been extensively studied to uncover the mechanism of the extraordinary magneto-responsive properties including the giant magnetoresistance (GMR) and colossal magnetostriction, as well as giant magnetocaloric effect (GMCE). Until now, more than a half of possible R<sub>5sub>SixGe>4-xsub> pseudobinary systems have been completely or partially investigated with respect to their crystallography and phase relationships (R = La, Pr, Nd, Gd, Tb, Dy, Er, Lu, Y). Still, there are other R<sub>5sub>SixGe>4-xsub> systems (R = Ce, Sm, Ho, Tm, and Yb) that are not studied yet. Here, we report on phase relationships and structural, magnetic, and thermodynamic properties in the Yb<sub>5sub>SixGe>4-xsub>and Sm<sub>5sub>SixGe>4-xsub> pseudobinary systems, which may exhibit mixed valence states. The crystallography, phase relationships, and physical properties of Yb<sub>5sub>SixGe>4-xsub> alloys with 0 ≤ x ≤ 4 have been examined by using single crystal and powder x-ray diffraction at room temperature, and dc magnetization and heat capacity measurements between 1.8 K and 400 K in magnetic fields ranging from 0 to 7 T. Unlike the majority of R<sub>5sub>SixGe>4-xsub> systems studied to date, where R is the rare earth metal, all Yb-based germanide-silicides with the 5:4 stoichiometry crystallize in the same Gd<sub>5sub>Si>4sub>-type structure. The magnetic properties of Yb<sub>5sub>SixGe>4-xsub> materials are nearly composition
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Steren, L.B. E-mail: steren@cab.cnea.gov.ar; Sirena, M.; Guimpel, J
2000-03-01
We report structural, magnetic and transport measurements on La{sub 0.6}Sr{sub 0.4}MnO{sub 3} thin films grown on MgO and TiSrO{sub 3} substrates with thickness varying from 5 to 500 nm. We find that the lattice mismatch between substrates and films affects the morphology and induced-strains of the films. We show that these two different effects strongly influence the ferromagnetic order, the metal-insulator transition, the localization of the current carriers and the magnetoresistance of these materials.
Effects of different ways of fasting in experimental animals
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Zari Naderi Ghalenoie
2015-12-01
Full Text Available While fasting has been practiced for centuries, its beneficial effects was unknown until recently. This review tries to analyze the current literature of how fasting and intermittent fasting (IF could affect clinical pathological parameters, learning, mood and brain plasticity. The effects of different ways of fasting on metabolism and stress were also explored. Animal experiments have elucidated fasting and IF could exert positive effects on learning, mood and brain, plus metabolic functions such lowering plasma glucose and insulin level and improvement in lipid metabolism (reduced visceral fat tissue and increased plasma adiponectin level, and an increased resistance to stress. Thus, more clinical studies are necessary to test the effectiveness of fasting and IF in preventing different diseases.
Verhoeven, V W J; Mulder, F M
2002-01-01
The stoichiometric compound LiMn sub 2 O sub 4 is known to show charge ordering with well-defined Mn sup 3 sup + and Mn sup 4 sup + sites just below room temperature (RT). Above RT the electrons are hopping rapidly between sites. For lithium-ion batteries the material Li[Mn sub 1 sub . sub 9 sub 6 Li sub 0 sub . sub 0 sub 4]O sub 4 is technologically relevant. Due to the small amount of Li on the Mn site, the low-T regular ordering of the Mn charge appears to be destroyed completely, as is evidenced by neutron diffraction in the magnetically ordered state. However, the charges are still fixed in an irregular fashion, as can also be deduced from sup 7 Li nuclear magnetic resonance measurements. In the lithium-extracted compound Li sub 0 sub . sub 2 [Mn sub 1 sub . sub 9 sub 6 Li sub 0 sub . sub 0 sub 4]O sub 4 , predominantly Mn sup 4 sup + is present. Neutron diffraction in the magnetically ordered state shows a well-defined antiferromagnetic ordering, with doubling of the unit cell in three directions. Clear...
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Lin, Zhi; Liao, Wenhua; Yang, Yuanyuan [College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Agricultural University of Hebei, 071000 Baoding (China); Gao, Zhiling, E-mail: zhilinggao@hotmail.com [College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Agricultural University of Hebei, 071000 Baoding (China); Ma, Wenqi; Wang, Dianwu [College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Agricultural University of Hebei, 071000 Baoding (China); Cao, Yufeng; Li, Jianguo [College of Animal Science and Technology, Agricultural University of Hebei, 071000 Baoding (China); Cai, Zhenjiang [Mechanical and Electric Engineering College, Agricultural University of Hebei, 071000 Baoding (China)
2015-04-15
Accurately quantifying methane (CH{sub 4}) and nitrous oxide (N{sub 2}O) emissions from beef operations in China is necessary to evaluate the contribution of beef cattle to greenhouse gas budgets at the national and global level. Methane and N{sub 2}O emissions from two intensive beef feedlots in the North China Plain, one with a restricted feeding strategy and high manure collection frequency and the other with an ad libitum feeding strategy and low manure collection frequency, were quantified in the fall and spring seasons using an inverse dispersion technique. The diel pattern of CH{sub 4} from the beef feedlot with an ad libitum feed strategy (single peak during a day) differed from that under a restricted feeding condition (multiple peaks during a day), but little difference in the diel pattern of N{sub 2}O emissions between two feeding strategies was observed. The two-season average CH{sub 4} emission rates of the two intensive feedlots were 230 and 198 g CH{sub 4} animal{sup −1} d{sup −1} and accounted for 6.7% and 6.8% of the gross energy intake, respectively, indicating little impact of the feeding strategy and manure collection frequency on the CH{sub 4} conversion factor at the feedlot level. However, the average N{sub 2}O emission rates (21.2 g N{sub 2}O animal{sup −1} d{sup −1}) and conversion factor (8.5%) of the feedlot with low manure collection frequency were approximately 131% and 174% greater, respectively, than the feedlot under high frequency conditions, which had a N{sub 2}O emission rate and conversion factor of 9.2 g N{sub 2}O animal{sup −1} d{sup −1} and 3.1%, respectively, indicating that increasing manure collection frequency played an important role in reducing N{sub 2}O emissions from beef feedlots. In addition, comparison indicated that China’s beef and dairy cattle in feedlots appeared to have similar CH{sub 4} conversion factors. - Highlights: • CH{sub 4} and N{sub 2}O emissions from China’s beef feedlots were
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Shen, Lanxian [Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Renewable Energy Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technology, Yunnan Provincial Renewable Energy Engineering Key Lab, Solar Energy Research Institution, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500 (China); Li, Decong [College of Optoelectronic Engineering, Yunnan Open University, Kunming 650500 (China); Liu, Hongxia; Liu, Zuming [Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Renewable Energy Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technology, Yunnan Provincial Renewable Energy Engineering Key Lab, Solar Energy Research Institution, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500 (China); Deng, Shukang, E-mail: skdeng@126.com [Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Renewable Energy Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technology, Yunnan Provincial Renewable Energy Engineering Key Lab, Solar Energy Research Institution, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500 (China)
2016-12-01
In this study, the structural and electronic structural properties of Ba{sub 8}Ga{sub 16}Sn{sub 30−x}Ge{sub x} (0≤x≤30) are determined by the first-principle method on the basis of density functional theory. Consistent with experimental findings, calculated results reveal that Ge atoms preferentially occupy the 2a and 24g sites in these compounds. As the content of Ge in Ge-substituted clathrate is increased, the lattice parameter is decreased, and the structural stability is enhanced. The bandgaps of the compound at 1≤x≤10 are smaller than those of Ba{sub 8}Ga{sub 16}Sn{sub 30}. By contrast, the bandgaps of the compound at x>10 are larger than those of Ba{sub 8}Ga{sub 16}Sn{sub 30}. The substitution of Ge for Sn affects p-type conductivity but not n-type conductivity. As Ge content increases, the whole conduction band moves to the direction of high energy, and the density of states of valence-band top decreases. The calculated potential energy versus displacement of Ba indicates that the vibration energy of this atom increases as cage size decreases. Because Ge substitution also affects clathrate structural symmetry, the distance of Ba atom deviation from the center of the cage initially increases and subsequently decreases as the Ge content increases.
Animal welfare impact assessments
DEFF Research Database (Denmark)
Sandøe, Peter; Gamborg, Christian
2017-01-01
aimed at dealing with wild animals. McCulloch and Reiss argue that this could be remedied by means of a “mandatory application of formal and systematic Animal Welfare Impact Assessment (AWIA)”. Optimistically, they consider that an AWIA could help to resolve controversies involving wild animals. The aim...... is a welfare issue. Furthermore, we argue that AWIA is unlikely to prevent serious moral disagreements over how to weigh concerns about wild animals against priorities in human health, the health of domestic and farm animals, and biodiversity, but that it may nonetheless serve to limit harms imposed......Control of wild animals may give rise to controversy, as is seen in the case of badger control to manage TB in cattle in the UK. However, it is striking that concerns about the potential suffering of the affected animals themselves are often given little attention or completely ignored in policies...
Lekic, Tim; Klebe, Damon; Pichon, Pilar; Brankov, Katarina; Sultan, Sally; McBride, Devin; Casel, Darlene; Al-Bayati, Alhamza; Ding, Yan; Tang, Jiping; Zhang, John H
2017-01-01
Germinal matrix hemorrhage is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity from prematurity. This brain region is vulnerable to bleeding and re-bleeding within the first 72 hours of preterm life. Cerebroventricular expansion of blood products contributes to the mechanisms of brain injury. Consequences include lifelong hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, and intellectual disability. Unfortunately little is known about the therapeutic needs of this patient population. This review discusses the mechanisms of germinal matrix hemorrhage, the animal models utilized, and the potential therapeutic targets. Potential therapeutic approaches identified in pre-clinical investigations include corticosteroid therapy, iron chelator administration, and transforming growth factor-β pathway modulation, which all warrant further investigation. Thus, effective preclinical modeling is essential for elucidating and evaluating novel therapeutic approaches, ahead of clinical consideration. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
ELLSWORTH,D.S.; LA ROCHE,J.; HENDREY,G.R.
1998-03-01
A maturing loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) forest was exposed to elevated CO{sub 2} in the natural environment in a perturbation study conducted over three seasons using the free-air CO{sub 2} enrichment (FACE) technique. At the time measurements were begun in this study, the pine canopy was comprised entirely of foliage which had developed under elevated CO{sub 2} conditions (atmospheric [CO{sub 2}] {approx} 550 {micro}mol mol{sup {minus}1}). Measurements of leaf photosynthetic responses to CO{sub 2} were taken to examine the effects of elevated CO{sub 2} on photosynthetic N nutrition in a pine canopy under elevated CO{sub 2}. Photosynthetic CO{sub 2} response curves (A-c{sub i} curves) were similar in FACE trees under elevated CO{sub 2} compared with counterpart trees in ambient plots for the first foliage cohort produced in the second season of CO{sub 2} exposure, with changes in curve form detected in the foliage cohorts subsequently produced under elevated CO{sub 2}. Differences in the functional relationship between carboxylation rate and N{sub a} suggest that for a given N{sub a} allocated among successive cohorts of foliage in the upper canopy, V{sub c max} was 17% lower in FACE versus Ambient trees. The authors also found that foliar Rubisco content per unit total protein derived from Western blot analysis was lower in late-season foliage in FACE foliage compared with ambient-grown foliage. The results illustrate a potentially important mode of physiological adjustment to growth conditions that may operate in forest canopies. Their findings suggest that mature loblolly pine trees growing in the field may have the capacity for shifts in intrinsic nitrogen utilization for photosynthesis under elevated CO{sub 2} that are not dependent on changes in leaf N. While carboxylation efficiency per unit N apparently decreased under elevated CO{sub 2}, photosynthetic rates in trees at elevated CO{sub 2} concentrations {approx} 550 pmol mol{sub {minus}1} are still
Schukken, Y H; Bennett, G J; Zurakowski, M J; Sharkey, H L; Rauch, B J; Thomas, M J; Ceglowski, B; Saltman, R L; Belomestnykh, N; Zadoks, R N
2011-12-01
The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of intramammary treatment with ceftiofur hydrochloride of nonsevere, clinical coliform mastitis. One hundred four cases on 5 farms met the enrollment criteria for the study. Escherichia coli was the most common coliform species identified in milk samples from cows with mild to moderate clinical mastitis, followed by Klebsiella spp. and Enterobacter spp. At enrollment, a milk sample from the affected quarter was taken and used for on-farm culture or submitted to the laboratory. For cows in the treatment group, treatment was initiated with ceftiofur hydrochloride via intramammary infusion at 24-h intervals for 5 d according to label standards. Cows in the control group did not receive treatment. Culture results were available on the day after enrollment and only cows with coliform mastitis continued in the treatment and untreated control groups. Bacteriological cure was defined based on 2 posttreatment milk samples. Molecular typing was used for final definition of bacteriological cure. Treatment of nonsevere clinical gram-negative mastitis with ceftiofur hydrochloride resulted in a significant increase in bacteriological cure compared with nontreated controls in animals infected with E. coli or Klebsiella spp. Treated animals clinically improved significantly more compared with control cows. No significant differences were observed between treated and control animals in milk production or linear score before or after clinical mastitis. Treated animals left the study less frequently compared with control animals. Copyright © 2011 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Doctors and Vampires in Sub-Saharan Africa: Ethical Challenges in Clinical Trial Research
Peeters Grietens, Koen; Ribera, Joan Muela; Erhart, Annette; Hoibak, Sarah; Ravinetto, Raffaella M.; Gryseels, Charlotte; Dierickx, Susan; O'Neill, Sarah; Muela, Susanna Hausmann; D'Alessandro, Umberto
2014-01-01
Collecting blood samples from individuals recruited into clinical research projects in sub-Saharan Africa can be challenging. Strikingly, one of the reasons for participant reticence is the occurrence of local rumors surrounding “blood stealing” or “blood selling.” Such fears can potentially have dire effects on the success of research projects—for example, high dropout rates that would invalidate the trial's results—and have ethical implications related to cultural sensitivity and informed consent. Though commonly considered as a manifestation of the local population's ignorance, these rumors represent a social diagnosis and a logical attempt to make sense of sickness and health. Born from historical antecedents, they reflect implicit contemporary structural inequalities and the social distance between communities and public health institutions. We aim at illustrating the underlying logic governing patients' fear and argue that the management of these beliefs should become an intrinsic component of clinical research. PMID:24821846
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Annamalai, Alagappan; Eo, Yang Dam [Department of Advanced Technology Fusion, Konkuk University, 1 Hwayang-dong, Kwangjin-gu, Seoul 143-701 (Korea, Republic of); Im, Chan [Department of Chemistry, Konkuk University, 1 Hwayang-dong, Kwangjin-gu, Seoul 143-701 (Korea, Republic of); Lee, Man-Jong, E-mail: leemtx@konkuk.ac.kr [Department of Advanced Technology Fusion, Konkuk University, 1 Hwayang-dong, Kwangjin-gu, Seoul 143-701 (Korea, Republic of)
2011-10-15
We present for the first time the influence of different mineralizers on the isoelectric point (IEP) of zinc stannate (Zn{sub 2}SnO{sub 4}) nanoparticles hydrothermally prepared using three different mineralizers, viz., Na{sub 2}CO{sub 3}, KOH and tert-butyl amine, and the effect of the IEPs on the dye loading behavior of Zn{sub 2}SnO{sub 4} based photoelectrodes in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). To produce highly crystalline, uniform sized Zn{sub 2}SnO{sub 4} nanoparticles, hydrothermal processing parameters, such as reaction temperature, time, and the mineralizers used have been critically adjusted. The structural and morphological features of the as-synthesized Zn{sub 2}SnO{sub 4} nanoparticles have been observed using both scanning and transmission electron microscopy. For the surface state characterization of shape- and size-controlled Zn{sub 2}SnO{sub 4} nanoparticles, the IEPs of Zn{sub 2}SnO{sub 4} surfaces were determined through zeta potential measurements. The IEPs were found to be 5.7, 7.4 and 8.1 for Zn{sub 2}SnO{sub 4} nanoparticles formed using Na{sub 2}CO{sub 3}, KOH and tert-butyl amine, respectively, suggesting that the surface properties of Zn{sub 2}SnO{sub 4} nanoparticles can be manipulated through the choice of the mineralizers used during the hydrothermal reaction. The amount of N719 dye loading on the surfaces of Zn{sub 2}SnO{sub 4} electrodes having different IEPs was also evaluated. It was revealed that the higher the IEP, the higher the dye loading amount, which means that the IEP mainly affects the dye loading at the dye-metal oxide interface. - Highlights: {yields} The effect of various mineralizers on the isoelectric point of Zn{sub 2}SnO{sub 4} was discussed. {yields} The IEP of Zn{sub 2}SnO{sub 4} can be modified by the choice of mineralizer. {yields} Change in IEP affects the surface properties and the morphology of Zn{sub 2}SnO{sub 4} particles. {yields} Modified surface affects the N719 dye loading behaviour of the Zn{sub 2
Anvekar, T S; Sarode, P R; Kamat-Dalal, V N; Narlikar, Anant V
2002-01-01
EXAFS, X-ray Rietveld refinement and infra-red absorption measurements have been made on Yb sub 1 sub - sub x Ca sub x (Ba sub 0 sub . sub 8 Sr sub 0 sub . sub 2) sub 2 Cu sub 3 O sub 6 sub + subdelta in order to understand the effect of Ca doping on the local structure of planar Cu ion. The study indicates that restoration of superconductivity is due to oxidation of copper ions in the CuO sub 2 planes. (author)
DEFF Research Database (Denmark)
Johansen, Anders; Bangsø Nielsen, Henrik; Hansen, Christian M.
2013-01-01
did not affect egg survival during the first 48h and it took up to 10days before total elimination was reached. In general, anaerobic digestion in biogas plants seems an efficient way (thermophilic more efficient than mesophilic) to treat organic farm wastes in a way that suppresses animal parasites......, Ascaris suum, was assessed under conditions similar to biogas plants managed at meso- (37°C) and thermophilic (55°C) conditions. Cattle manure was used as digestion substrate and experimental units were sampled destructively over time. Regarding weed seeds, the effect of thermophilic conditions (55°C...
Tick-borne infections in human and animal population worldwide
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
José Brites-Neto
2015-03-01
Full Text Available The abundance and activity of ectoparasites and its hosts are affected by various abiotic factors, such as climate and other organisms (predators, pathogens and competitors presenting thus multiples forms of association (obligate to facultative, permanent to intermittent and superficial to subcutaneous developed during long co-evolving processes. Ticks are ectoparasites widespread globally and its eco epidemiology are closely related to the environmental conditions. They are obligatory hematophagous ectoparasites and responsible as vectors or reservoirs at the transmission of pathogenic fungi, protozoa, viruses, rickettsia and others bacteria during their feeding process on the hosts. Ticks constitute the second vector group that transmit the major number of pathogens to humans and play a role primary for animals in the process of diseases transmission. Many studies on bioecology of ticks, considering the information related to their population dynamics, to the host and the environment, comes possible the application and efficiency of tick control measures in the prevention programs of vector-borne diseases. In this review were considered some taxonomic, morphological, epidemiological and clinical fundamental aspects related to the tick-borne infections that affect human and animal populations.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Ellsworth, D.S.; LaRoche, J.; Hendrey, G.R.
1998-03-01
A maturing loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) forest was exposed to elevated CO{sub 2} in the natural environment in a perturbation study conducted over three seasons using the free-air CO{sub 2} enrichment (FACE) technique. At the time measurements were begun in this study, the pine canopy was comprised entirely of foliage which had developed under elevated CO{sub 2} conditions (atmospheric CO{sub 2} {approx} 550 {micro}mol/mol{sup {minus}1}). Measurements of leaf photosynthetic responses to CO{sub 2} were taken to examine the effects of elevated CO{sub 2} on photosynthetic N nutrition in a pine canopy under elevated CO{sub 2}. Photosynthetic CO{sub 2} response curves (A-c{sub i} curves) were similar in FACE trees under elevated CO{sub 2} compared with counterpart trees in ambient plots for the first foliage cohort produced in the second season of CO{sub 2} exposure, with changes in curve form detected in the foliage cohorts subsequently produced under elevated CO{sub 2}. Differences in the functional relationship between carboxylation rate and N{sub a} suggest that for a given N{sub a} allocated among successive cohorts of foliage in the upper canopy, V{sub c max} was 17% lower in FACE versus Ambient trees. The authors also found that foliar Rubisco content per unit total protein derived from Western blot analysis was lower in late-season foliage in FACE foliage compared with ambient-grown foliage. The results illustrate a potentially important mode of physiological adjustment to growth conditions that may operate in forest canopies. Findings suggest that mature loblolly pine trees growing in the field may have the capacity for shifts in intrinsic nitrogen utilization for photosynthesis under elevated CO{sub 2} that are not dependent on changes in leaf N. Findings suggest a need for continued examination of internal feedbacks at the whole-tree and ecosystem level in forests that may influence long-term photosynthetic responses to elevated CO{sub 2}.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Mejia, J.; Galvis-Alonso, O.Y., E-mail: mejia_famerp@yahoo.com.b [Faculdade de Medicina de Sao Jose do Rio Preto (FAMERP), SP (Brazil). Dept. de Biologia Molecular; Castro, A.A. de; Simoes, M.V. [Faculdade de Medicina de Sao Jose do Rio Preto (FAMERP), SP (Brazil). Dept. de Clinica Medica; Leite, J.P. [Universidade de Sao Paulo (FMRP/USP), Ribeirao Preto, SP (Brazil). Fac. de Medicina. Dept. de Neurociencias e Ciencias do Comportamento; Braga, J. [Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE), Sao Jose dos Campos, SP (Brazil). Div. de Astrofisica
2010-11-15
The main objective of the present study was to upgrade a clinical gamma camera to obtain high resolution tomographic images of small animal organs. The system is based on a clinical gamma camera to which we have adapted a special-purpose pinhole collimator and a device for positioning and rotating the target based on a computer-controlled step motor. We developed a software tool to reconstruct the target's three-dimensional distribution of emission from a set of planar projections, based on the maximum likelihood algorithm. We present details on the hardware and software implementation. We imaged phantoms and heart and kidneys of rats. When using pinhole collimators, the spatial resolution and sensitivity of the imaging system depend on parameters such as the detector-to-collimator and detector-to-target distances and pinhole diameter. In this study, we reached an object voxel size of 0.6 mm and spatial resolution better than 2.4 and 1.7 mm full width at half maximum when 1.5- and 1.0-mm diameter pinholes were used, respectively. Appropriate sensitivity to study the target of interest was attained in both cases. Additionally, we show that as few as 12 projections are sufficient to attain good quality reconstructions, a result that implies a significant reduction of acquisition time and opens the possibility for radiotracer dynamic studies. In conclusion, a high resolution single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) system was developed using a commercial clinical gamma camera, allowing the acquisition of detailed volumetric images of small animal organs. This type of system has important implications for research areas such as Cardiology, Neurology or Oncology. (author)
Non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of As{sub 30}Te{sub 60}Ga{sub 10} glass
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Mohamed, Mansour; Abd-Elnaiem, Alaa M.; Abdel-Rahim, M.A.; Hafiz, M.M. [Assiut University, Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut (Egypt); Hassan, R.M. [Assiut University, Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut (Egypt); Aden University, Physics Department, Faculty of Education-Zingiber, Aden (Yemen)
2017-08-15
The crystallization study under non-isothermal conditions of As{sub 30}Te{sub 60}Ga{sub 10} glass was investigated. The studied composition was synthesized by melt-quenching technique and characterized by different techniques such as X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The XRD analysis revealed that the as-prepared and annealed bulk glass of As{sub 30}Te{sub 60}Ga{sub 10} exhibit the amorphous, and polycrystalline nature, respectively. The DSC results showed that the heating rate affects the characteristic temperatures, for instance, the glass transition, onset, and peak crystallization temperatures. Furthermore, some thermal analysis methods such as the Kissinger and Matusita et al., approximations were employed to determine the crystallization parameters: for example Avrami exponent and the activation energies for glass transition and crystallization process. In addition, we have compared the experimental DSC data with the calculated ones based on the Johnson-Mehl-Avrami (JMA) and Sestak-Berggren SB(M,N) models. The results indicated that the SB(M,N) model is more suitable for describing the non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of the investigated composition. (orig.)
International Nuclear Information System (INIS)
Lavalaye, J.; Knol, R.J.J.; Bruin, K. de; Reneman, L.; Booij, J.; Janssen, A.G.M.
2000-01-01
The recently developed radioligand [ 123 I]FP-CIT is suitable for clinical single-photon emission tomography (SPET) imaging of the dopamine (DA) transporter in vivo. To date it has remained unclear whether dopaminergic medication influences the striatal [ 123 I]FP-CIT binding. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of this medication on [ 123 I]FP-CIT binding in the brain. We used an animal model in which we administered dopaminomimetics, antipsychotics and an antidepressant. In vivo [ 123 I]FP-CIT binding to the DA and serotonin transporters was evaluated after sub-chronic and acute administration of the drugs. The administered medication induced small changes in striatal [ 123 I]FP-CIT binding which were not statistically significant. As expected, the DA reuptake blocker GBR 12,909 induced a significant decrease in [ 123 I]FP-CIT binding. [ 123 I]FP-CIT binding in the serotonin-rich hypothalamus was decreased only after acute administration of fluvoxamine. The results of this study suggest that dopaminergic medication will not affect the results of DA transporter SPET imaging with [ 123 I]FP-CIT. (orig.)
Shame veiled and unveiled: the shame affect and its re-emergence in the clinical setting.
Mann, Mali
2010-09-01
The paper examines the psychoanalytic theory of shame and the importance of developmental aspects of the shame affect. In a clinical setting, the discovery of the shame affect, stemming from unconscious and early traumatic situations, is an important and useful approach in helping the patient access painful memories and defenses against them. The defenses disguise the underlying shame affect; furthermore, vision is being bound up with the searing painful affect of shame. The anticipatory dread of scornful gaze of another person, similar to objective self-awareness can cause mortification. Fear of mortification and being exposed emerges in the clinical setting. Through the recognition of enactments in the transference and countertransference interchange, the analyst helps the patient working through them. Several case vignettes demonstrate these important concepts. Finally, the author discusses how shame in certain situations can be a powerful, positive motivator for human interactions.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Moreno, L.M.; Blázquez, J.S., E-mail: jsebas@us.es; Ipus, J.J.; Conde, A.
2014-02-05
Highlights: • Mechanical alloying of Co{sub 62}Nb{sub 6}Zr{sub 2}B{sub 30} leads to amorphous phase with B inclusions. • Using optimized amorphous B, amorphization occurs earlier. • B is more effectively introduced in the matrix using amorphous B. • Magnetoelasic contribution to effective magnetic anisotropy is negligible. -- Abstract: Co{sub 62}Nb{sub 6}Zr{sub 2}B{sub 30} composition was mechanically alloyed using three different types of boron powders in the starting mixture: crystalline β-B, commercial amorphous B and optimized amorphous B via ball milling. Using optimized amorphous B, amorphization process of the alloy is more efficient but milling to optimize amorphous B introduces some iron contamination. Boron inclusions (100–150 nm in size) remain even after long milling times. However, using amorphous boron reduces the fraction of boron distributed as inclusions to ∼40% of the total B. Thermal stability at the end of the milling process is affected by the initial boron microstructure. Coercivity is reduced a half using amorphous B instead of crystalline B in the starting mixture.
Weng, Hsin-Yi; Hart, Lynette A
2012-01-01
This study investigated how the current economic recession (since December 2007) has affected dog and cat relinquishment, adoption, and euthanasia at the Anti-Cruelty Society animal shelter in Chicago, Illinois. The study compared temporal patterns of the investigated statistics before (2000-2007) the start of the current recession with the patterns after the start of the recession (2008-2010). The results showed that once the guardianship (ownership) of a nonhuman animal had been established, the recession did not greatly affect the owner's decision on relinquishment-except for the relinquishment of senior dogs, which may be associated with increased costs of care. However, an unfavorable economic environment may have reduced adoption of animals. The consequences of a decline in adoptions might be reflected in an increase in the proportion or number of sheltered animals euthanized. This study demonstrated how monitoring changes in temporal patterns in these shelter statistics can help guide animal shelters to better prepare for the current recession.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Boota, Muhammad [MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500AE Enschede (Netherlands); Engineering Department, University of Rome “ROMA TRE”, Via della Vasca Navale 79, 00146 Rome (Italy); Houwman, Evert P., E-mail: e.p.houwman@utwente.nl; Nguyen, Minh D.; Rijnders, Guus [MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500AE Enschede (Netherlands); Lanzara, Giulia [Engineering Department, University of Rome “ROMA TRE”, Via della Vasca Navale 79, 00146 Rome (Italy)
2016-05-15
The pulsed laser deposition process of 300 nm thick films of Pb(Mg{sub 1/3}Nb{sub 2/3})O{sub 3}){sub 0.67}-(PbTiO{sub 3}){sub 0.33} on (001)-oriented SrTiO{sub 3} was studied by varying deposition pressure, substrate deposition temperature, laser fluence on the target and target-substrate distance. Perovskite phase pure, (001)-oriented, epitaxial smooth films were obtained in a narrow range of deposition parameters. The ferroelectric and dielectric properties of films fabricated within this parameter range still vary significantly. This shows the sensitivity of the system for growth conditions. The best film has a polarization value close to that expected for a (001) poled, stress free single crystal film. All films show deposition conditions dependent variations in the self-bias field. The self-bias is very stable during long cycling for films made at optimum deposition conditions. The piezoelectric coefficients of the films are strongly reduced with respect to bulk single crystal values due to the film clamping. The properties variations are ascribed to changes in the grain boundary properties in which film defects are expected to accumulate. Notably slight off-stoichiometry may cause localized screening charges, affecting specifically the polarization and dielectric constant.
Tsai, Meng-Li; Kozłowska, Anna; Li, Yu-Sheng; Shen, Wen-Ling; Huang, Andrew Chih Wei
2017-08-01
The present study examines whether housing style (e.g., single housing, same-strain-grouped housing, and different-strain-grouped housing) and rat strain (e.g., spontaneous hypertension rats [SHR] and Wistar-Kyoto rats [WKY]) mediate motor function and anxiety behavior in the open field task. From week 4 through week 10 following birth, the rats were measured 30min for locomotor activity and anxiety once per week in the open field task. The SHR rats exhibited hyperactivity in total distance traveled and movement time to form the animal model of ADHD. The SHR rats spent more time inside the square and crossed the inside-outside line more often than the WKY rats, indicating the SHR rats exhibited less anxiety behavior. The different-strain-grouped housing style (but neither the same-strain-grouped housing style nor the single housing style) decreased total distance traveled and facilitated anxiety behavior. The motor function was negatively correlated with anxiety behavior for SHR rats but not for WKY rats. Housing styles had a negative correlation between motor function and anxiety behavior. The present findings provide some insights regarding how social factors (such as housing style) affect motor function and anxiety behavior related to ADHD in a clinical setting. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Effect of synthesis conditions on the nanopowder properties of Ce{sub 0.9}Zr{sub 0.1}O{sub 2}
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Zimicz, M.G.; Fabregas, I.O.; Lamas, D.G. [CINSO (Centro de Investigaciones en Solidos) CONICET-CITEFA J.B. de La Salle 4397, 1603 Villa Martelli, Pcia. de Buenos Aires (Argentina); Larrondo, S.A., E-mail: susana@di.fcen.uba.ar [Laboratorio de Procesos Cataliticos, Departamento de Ingenieria Quimica, Facultad de Ingenieria, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pabellon de Industrias, Ciudad Universitaria, 1428 Buenos Aires (Argentina)
2011-06-15
Graphical abstract: . The synthesis of nanocrystalline Ce{sub 0.9}Zr{sub 0.1}O{sub 2} powders via the gel-combustion method, using different fuels, and following either stoichiometric or non-stoichiometric pH-controlled routes is investigated. Research highlights: {yields} All samples exhibited the fluorite-type crystal structure, nanometric average crystallite size and negligible carbon content. {yields} Synthesis conditions strongly affect the average crystallite size, the degree of agglomeration, the specific surface area and the pore volume. {yields} Our results indicate that, by controlling the synthesis conditions it is possible to obtain solids with custom-made morphological properties. -- Abstract: In this work, the synthesis of nanocrystalline Ce{sub 0.9}Zr{sub 0.1}O{sub 2} powders via the gel-combustion method, using different fuels, and following either stoichiometric or non-stoichiometric pH-controlled routes is investigated. The objective is to evaluate the effect of synthesis conditions on the textural and morphological properties, and the crystal structure of the synthesized materials. The solids were characterized by nitrogen physisorption, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XPD), and Carbon-Hydrogen-Nitrogen Elemental Analysis (CHN). All the powders exhibited nanometric crystallite size, fluorite-type structure and negligible carbon content. Synthesis conditions strongly affect the average crystallite size, the degree of agglomeration, the specific surface area and the pore volume. Our results indicate that, by controlling the synthesis conditions it is possible to obtain solids with custom-made morphological properties.
Structural and magnetic studies of the Co{sub 1+x}Ti{sub x}Fe{sub 2(1−x)}O{sub 4} ferrites
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Amer, M.A., E-mail: moazamer@hotmail.com
2017-03-15
The cubic spinel Co{sub 1+x}Ti{sub x}Fe{sub 2(1−x)}O{sub 4} ferrites, 0.0≤x≤0.5, were prepared by the standard ceramic technique. The samples were examined using the techniques; XRD, FT-IR, SEM and VSM. The average lattice parameter showed dependence on x, whereas the crystallite and grain size and strain did not. The infrared spectra showed six absorption bands in the range of 200–1000 cm{sup −1}. They were assigned to the corresponding metallic ion–oxygen bonds among the A- and B-sites. The absorption bands ν{sub 1} and ν{sub 2} and their intensities and force constants F{sub 1} and F{sub 2} were increased against x. Using the transmitted and absorbed energy, the IR velocity and refractive index and jump rate of vacancies were determined and discussed as functions of x. The trend of sauration magnetization Ms was decreased with x, whereas that of coercivity and anisotropy constant was increased. The determined Debye temperature and stiffness constant of the samples were discussed as functions of x. The absorption bands ν{sub 1} and ν{sub 2} proved dependence on the distance between magnetic ions (hopping length) L{sub A-A} and L{sub B-B} at the A- and B-sites, respectively, whereas F{sub 1} and F{sub 2} proved dependence on Ms. - Highlights: • Trend of Ms showed decrease with x, whereas that of Hc and K showed increase. • IR velocity and refractive index and jump rate of vacancies revealed dependence on x. • Debye temperature and stiffness constant showed increase with the additional factor x. • IR bands ν{sub 1} and ν{sub 2} were decreased with the distance between magnetic ions L{sub A} and L{sub B}. • Force constants F{sub 1} and F{sub 2} were affected by the saturation magnetization Ms.
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Minamimoto, Ryogo; Jamali, Mehran; Gambhir, Sanjiv Sam [Stanford University, Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Stanford, CA (United States); Stanford University, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology, Stanford, CA (United States); Karam, Amer; Dorigo, Oliver [Stanford University, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford, CA (United States); Barkhodari, Amir; Iagaru, Andrei [Stanford University, Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Stanford, CA (United States)
2016-06-15
We report the effect of antiangiogenic therapy on the biodistribution of {sup 18}F-FPPRGD{sub 2} (a surrogate biomarker of integrin α{sub v}β{sub 3} expression), and the potential of {sup 18}F-FPPRGD{sub 2} to predict the prognosis in patients with cervical cancer and ovarian cancer in this clinical scenario. Data from six women, age range 30 - 59 years (mean ± SD 44.0 ± 12.5 years), who had undergone a {sup 18}F-FPPRGD{sub 2} PET/CT scan and bevacizumab-containing therapy were prospectively collected and analyzed. We compared baseline {sup 18}F-FPPRGD{sub 2} and {sup 18}F-FDG uptake in the lesions and tumor-to-background (T/B) ratios. The maximum and mean {sup 18}F-FPPRGD{sub 2} standardized uptake values (SUV{sub max} and SUV{sub mean}) were recorded for 13 normal organs, as well as in all the identified malignant lesions on the pretreatment scan and the 1-week post-treatment scan. We also measured changes in {sup 18}F-FPPRGD{sub 2} uptake from before to 1 week after treatment{sub ,} and compared them to the changes in {sup 18}F-FDG uptake from before to 6 weeks after treatment. Treatment outcomes were correlated with these changes. The uptake in lesions and T/B ratio of {sup 18}F-FPPRGD{sub 2} were lower than those of {sup 18}F-FDG (SUV{sub max} 3.7 ± 1.3 vs. 6.0 ± 1.8, P < 0.001; SUV{sub mean} 2.6 ± 0.7 vs. 4.2 ± 1.3, P < 0.001; T/B ratio based on SUV{sub max} 2.4 ± 1.0 vs. 2.6 ± 1.0, P < 0.04; T/B ratio based on SUV{sub mean} 1.9 ± 0.6 vs. 2.4 ± 1.0, P < 0.003). One patient did not return for the follow-up scan and in another patient no lesions were identified on the pretreatment scan. {sup 18}F-FPPRGD{sub 2} uptake in lesions in the remaining four patients had significantly changed 1 week after treatment (SUV{sub mean} 3.3 ± 1.0 vs. 2.7 ± 1.0, P < 0.001), while uptake in all normal tissues analyzed was not affected by treatment. One patient with clinical disease progression had a decrease in lesional {sup 18}F-FPPRGD{sub 2} SUV{sub mean} of 1
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
NANCYLENI PINTO CHAVES
2011-06-01
Full Text Available Forty male and female animals, aged between 2.5 and 1 6years were clinically and radiographically examined inorder to study the occurrence of lesions of the distalphalanx of forelimbs in cart horses. The clinicalexamination showed that 20% of the animals had grade 2lameness, due, mainly, to hoof irregularity, sole damage and frog destruction. Radiographic exam showed 100% of pedal osteitis, 22.5% of phalanx fracture and 17.5% of phalanx rotation. Despite the severe level of injury in the third phalanx, animals did not show clinical signs consistent with the radiographic findings, concluding that donkeys are very resistant and that the lesions observed in the distal phalanx affect to a lesser extent the carrying out of these animal's activities.
Page, Allen E; Stills, Harold F; Horohov, David W
2014-12-15
In the horse, Lawsonia intracellularis infection results in equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE). While upwards of 100% of weanlings on an endemic farm may seroconvert, only a small percentage (approximately 5%) will develop clinical disease. Cell-mediated immune mechanisms likely play a role in resistance to L. intracellularis and the absence of a L. intracellularis-specific IFN-γ response has been associated with the development of EPE. The goal of this study was to determine whether protection from clinical EPE is associated with the induction of a systemic IgG sub-isotypic response consistent with a Th1-type cytokine response. To describe their L. intracellularis/EPE status, horses enrolled in this study were placed into one of three categories: seropositive-only, vaccinated, and presumptive clinical EPE. An existing ELISA method was modified to detect L. intracellularis-specific IgG(a), IgG(b), and IgG(t) antibodies using the mouse anti-equine hybridomas CVS-48, CVS-39, and CVS-40, respectively. Additionally, the existing ELISA method was used to quantify total IgG antibodies specific for L. intracellularis for comparison between the groups. Total L. intracellularis-specific IgG was found to be significantly higher (pequine IgG sub-isotypes may provide additional information once these become commercially available. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Arkan, Burcu; Ordin, Yaprak; Yılmaz, Dilek
2018-03-01
Clinical education is an essential part of nursing education. The purpose of this study was to explore nurse students' experiences related to cinical learning environments, factors effecting to clinical learning process. Descriptive qualitative design was used in this study, and data were collected from 2nd class nursing student (n = 14). The study took the form of in-depth interviews between August-October 2015. The qualitative interviews were analyzed by using simple content analysis. Data were analyzed manually. Experiences nurse students are described five themes. The themes of the study are (1) effecting persons to clinical learning, (2) educational atmosphere, (3) students' personal charactering, (4) the impact of education in school, and (5) students' perceptions related to clinical learning. Participants stated that they experienced many difficulties during clinical learning process. All students importantly stated that nurse teacher is very effecting to clinical learning. This study contributes to the literature by providing data on beginner nursing student' experiences about clinical learning process. The data of this present study show to Turkish nursing student is affecting mostly from persons in clinical learning. The data of this present study will guide nurse teacher when they plan to interventions to be performed to support student during clinical learning process. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Pelosato, Renato; Cristiani, Cinzia; Dotelli, Giovanni; Latorrata, Saverio; Zampori, Luca [CMIC - Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica ' ' G. Natta' ' , Politecnico di Milano, P.zza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano (Italy); Ruffo, Riccardo [Dipartimento di Scienza dei Materiali, Universita di Milano-Bicocca, Via Cozzi 53, 20125 Milano (Italy)
2010-12-15
A simple and inexpensive co-precipitation route in aqueous medium is proposed to prepare La{sub 0.8}Sr{sub 0.2}Ga{sub 0.8}Mg{sub 02}O{sub 3-{delta}} ionic conductor (LSGM). Different synthetic procedures and operating parameters (i.e. nature and amount of the precipitating agents, HNO{sub 3} addition and temperature) have been evaluated in order to underline their influence on the composition and microstructure of the final phase. Intermediate and final products were characterized by Thermal-Gravimetry, IR-spectroscopy, X-ray Powder Diffraction, Rietveld analysis and Scanning Electron Microscopy. The electrical properties were measured by Impedance Spectroscopy in the temperature range 250-800 C. Slight variations of the synthetic procedure (such as precipitating agent amount or no HNO{sub 3} addition) have a considerable and detrimental effect on the ions losses and the subsequent achievement of the final phase. The use NH{sub 4}OH as an alternative precipitating agent is dramatically disadvantageous. Ions losses during precipitation must be controlled (i) to avoid understoichiometry in the LSGM phase and (ii) to prevent the formation of large amounts of secondary phases. In fact, both affect the total electrical conductivity. The use of large excess of (NH{sub 4}){sub 2}CO{sub 3} precipitating agent and the addition of HNO{sub 3} lead to the best material characterized by a rhombohedral structure, small amount of side phases, a relative density of 98% and a total conductivity of 6.44 x 10{sup -2} S cm{sup -1} at 800 C and 1.13 x 10{sup -2} S cm{sup -1} at 600 C. (author)
Bradley, Michael P; Nagamine, Claude M
2017-01-01
Zika virus has garnered great attention over the last several years, as outbreaks of the disease have emerged throughout the Western Hemisphere. Until quite recently Zika virus was considered a fairly benign virus, with limited clinical severity in both people and animals. The size and scope of the outbreak in the Western Hemisphere has allowed for the identification of severe clinical disease that is associated with Zika virus infection, most notably microcephaly among newborns, and an association with Guillian–Barré syndrome in adults. This recent association with severe clinical disease, of which further analysis strongly suggested causation by Zika virus, has resulted in a massive increase in the amount of both basic and applied research of this virus. Both small and large animal models are being used to uncover the pathogenesis of this emerging disease and to develop vaccine and therapeutic strategies. Here we review the animal-model–based Zika virus research that has been performed to date. PMID:28662753
Stress-induced Curie temperature increase in the Fe{sub 64}Ni{sub 36} invar alloy
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Gorria, Pedro; Martinez-Blanco, David; Blanco, Jesus A. [Departamento de Fisica, Universidad de Oviedo (Spain); Boada, Roberto; Chaboy, Jesus [ICMA and Departamento de Fisica de la Materia Condensada, CSIC - Universidad de Zaragoza (Spain); Fernandez-Martinez, Alejandro [LGIT, University of Grenoble and CNRS, Maison des Geosciences, Grenoble (France); Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble (France); Garbarino, Gaston; Castro, German R.; Mezouar, Mohamed [European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), Grenoble (France); Smith, Ronald I. [ISIS Facility, RAL, Chilton, Didcot, Oxon (United Kingdom); Alonso, J.I.G. [Department of Physical and Analytical Chemistry, University of Oviedo (Spain); Hernando, Antonio [Instituto de Magnetismo Aplicado, UCM-ADIF-CSIC, Madrid (Spain)
2009-05-15
Structural and magnetic changes on invar Fe{sub 64}Ni{sub 36} alloy (T{sub C}=500 K) produced by mechanical milling followed by heating up to 1073 K, were investigated by neutron diffraction, magnetization measurements, X-ray diffraction under high pressures and X-ray absorption at both Fe and Ni K-edges. We argue that the strain induced in the Fe{sub 64}Ni{sub 36} material after this treatment mainly affects the Fe sites due to the magnetovolume coupling, the most notorious feature being the increase of the Curie temperature ({delta}T{sub C}=70 K). (copyright 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim) (orig.)
Clinical veterinary proteomics: Techniques and approaches to decipher the animal plasma proteome.
Ghodasara, P; Sadowski, P; Satake, N; Kopp, S; Mills, P C
2017-12-01
Over the last two decades, technological advancements in the field of proteomics have advanced our understanding of the complex biological systems of living organisms. Techniques based on mass spectrometry (MS) have emerged as powerful tools to contextualise existing genomic information and to create quantitative protein profiles from plasma, tissues or cell lines of various species. Proteomic approaches have been used increasingly in veterinary science to investigate biological processes responsible for growth, reproduction and pathological events. However, the adoption of proteomic approaches by veterinary investigators lags behind that of researchers in the human medical field. Furthermore, in contrast to human proteomics studies, interpretation of veterinary proteomic data is difficult due to the limited protein databases available for many animal species. This review article examines the current use of advanced proteomics techniques for evaluation of animal health and welfare and covers the current status of clinical veterinary proteomics research, including successful protein identification and data interpretation studies. It includes a description of an emerging tool, sequential window acquisition of all theoretical fragment ion mass spectra (SWATH-MS), available on selected mass spectrometry instruments. This newly developed data acquisition technique combines advantages of discovery and targeted proteomics approaches, and thus has the potential to advance the veterinary proteomics field by enhancing identification and reproducibility of proteomics data. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Structure evolution upon chemical and physical pressure in (Sr{sub 1−x}Ba{sub x}){sub 2}FeSbO{sub 6}
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Tiittanen, T.; Karppinen, M., E-mail: maarit.karppinen@aalto.fi
2017-02-15
Here we demonstrate the gradual structural transformation from the monoclinic I2/m to tetragonal I4/m, cubic Fm-3m and hexagonal P6{sub 3}/mmc structure upon the isovalent larger-for-smaller A-site cation substitution in the B-site ordered double-perovskite system (Sr{sub 1−x}Ba{sub x}){sub 2}FeSbO{sub 6}. This is the same transformation sequence previously observed up to Fm-3m upon heating the parent Sr{sub 2}FeSbO{sub 6} phase to high temperatures. High-pressure treatment, on the other hand, transforms the hexagonal P6{sub 3}/mmc structure of the other end member Ba{sub 2}FeSbO{sub 6} back to the cubic Fm-3m structure. Hence we may conclude that chemical pressure, physical pressure and decreasing temperature all work towards the same direction in the (Sr{sub 1−x}Ba{sub x}){sub 2}FeSbO{sub 6} system. Also shown is that with increasing Ba-for-Sr substitution level, i.e. with decreasing chemical pressure effect, the degree-of-order among the B-site cations, Fe and Sb, decreases. - Graphical abstract: In the (Sr{sub 1−x}Ba{sub x}){sub 2}FeSbO{sub 6} double-perovskite system the gradual structural transformation from the monoclinic I2/m to tetragonal I4/m, cubic Fm-3m and hexagonal P6{sub 3}/mmc structure is seen upon the isovalent larger-for-smaller A-site cation substitution. High-pressure treatment under 4 GPa extends stability of the cubic Fm-3m structure within a wider substitution range of x. - Highlights: • Gradual structural transitions upon A-cation substitution in (Sr{sub 1−x}Ba{sub x}){sub 2}FeSbO{sub 6.} • With increasing x structure changes from I2/m to I4/m, Fm-3m and P6{sub 3}/mmc. • Degree of B-site order decreases with increasing x and A-site cation radius. • High-pressure treatment extends cubic Fm-3m phase stability for wider x range. • High-pressure treatment affects bond lengths mostly around the A-cation.
Guizilini, Solange; Alves, Daniel F; Bolzan, Douglas W; Cancio, Andreia S A; Regenga, Marisa M; Moreira, Rita S L; Trimer, Renata; Gomes, Walter J
2014-09-01
The aim of this trial was to compare functional capacity, pulmonary shunt fraction and clinical outcomes between patients undergoing pleurotomy with a pleural drain inserted in the sub-xyphoid position and patients with a pleural drain placed in the intercostal position after off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery. Patients were randomized into two groups according to the pleural drain site: Group II (n = 33 intercostal pleural drain); and Group SI (n = 35 sub-xyphoid pleural drain). Functional capacity was assessed by the distance covered on the 6-min walking test performed preoperatively and on postoperative day (POD) 5; in addition, pulmonary function test was determined preoperatively and on POD 1 and 5. Pulmonary shunt fraction was evaluated preoperatively and on POD 1, and clinical outcomes were recorded throughout the study. Group SI had better preservation of lung volumes and capacities in POD compared with Group II (P Pulmonary shunt fraction increased in both groups postoperatively; however, Group SI showed a smaller pulmonary shunt fraction (0.26 ± 0.04 vs 0.21 ± 0.04%; P = 0.0014). Functional capacity was significantly reduced in both groups on POD 5; however, Group SI showed better preservation of functional capacity (P = 0.0001). Group SI had better postoperative clinical results, with lower incidence of atelectasis and pleural effusion (P capacity and exercise tolerance with a smaller pulmonary shunt fraction and improved clinical outcomes compared with intercostal pleural drainage after off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.
Hall mobilities in GaN{sub x}As{sub 1-x}
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Olea, Javier; Gonzalez-Diaz, German [Dpto. de Fisica Aplicada III, Facultad de Ciencias Fisicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid 28040 (Spain); Yu, Kin Man; Walukiewicz, Wladek [Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720-8197 (United States)
2010-07-15
In this work we report a systematic study of the electron and hole mobilities of GaN{sub x}As{sub 1-x} alloys with different dopants (Zn, Te) and carrier concentrations (10{sup 17}-10{sup 19} cm{sup -3}). We found a very slight reduction of the hole mobility in p-GaN{sub x}As{sub 1-x} compared to p-GaAs, indicating that for small N contents ({proportional_to}1.6%) the valence band is not affected by the N incorporation. In a striking contrast, incorporation of even small amounts of N leads to an abrupt reduction of the electron mobility in n-GaN{sub x}As{sub 1-x}. We further show that the processes that limit the mobility in GaN{sub x}As{sub 1-x} can be explained by the band broadening and the random field scatterings. Considering these two scattering mechanisms we calculated the dependence of electron mobilities on electron concentration as well as on N composition in GaN{sub x}As{sub 1-x}. The calculations agree reasonably well with experiment data of maximum electron mobilities with alloy composition. (copyright 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim) (orig.)
Animal Resource Program | Center for Cancer Research
CCR Animal Resource Program The CCR Animal Resource Program plans, develops, and coordinates laboratory animal resources for CCR’s research programs. We also provide training, imaging, and technology development in support of moving basic discoveries to the clinic. The ARP Manager:
Animal Resource Program | Center for Cancer Research
CCR Animal Resource Program The CCR Animal Resource Program plans, develops, and coordinates laboratory animal resources for CCR’s research programs. We also provide training, imaging, and technology development in support of moving basic discoveries to the clinic. The ARP Office:
Crystallization of Zr<sub>2sub>PdxCu>1-xsub> and Zr<sub>2sub>NixCu>1-xsub> Metallic Glass
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Xu, Min [Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)
2008-01-01
One interesting aspect of rretallic glasses is the numerous instances of the deviation of the phase selection from the amorphous state to thermodynamically stable phases during the crystallization process. Their devitrification pathways allow us to study the relationship between the original amorphous structure and their crystalline counter parts. Among the various factors of phase selections, size and electronic effects have been most extensively studied. Elucidating the phase selection process of a glassy alloy will be helpful to fill in the puzzle of the changes from disordered to ordered structures. In this thesis, Two model Zr<sub>2sub>PdxCu>1-xsub> and Zr<sub>2sub>NixCu>1-xsub> (x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1) glassy systems were investigated since: (1) All of the samples can be made into a homogenous metallic glass; (2) The atomic radii differ from Pd to Cu is by 11%, while Ni has nearly the identical atomic size compare to Cu. Moreover, Pd and Ni differ by only one valence electron from Cu. Thus, these systems are ideal to test the idea of the effects of electronic structure and size factors; (3) The small number of components in these pseudo binary systems readily lend themselves to theoretical modeling. Using high temperature X-ray diffraction (HTXRD) and thermal analysis, topological, size, electronic, bond and chemical distribution factors on crystallization selections in Zr<sub>2sub>PdxCu>1-xsub> and Zr<sub>2sub>NixCu>1-xsub> metallic glass have been explored. All Zr<sub>2sub>PdxCu>1-xsub> compositions share the same Cu11b phase with different pathways of meta-stable, icosahedral quasicrystalline phase (i-phase), and C16 phase formations. The quasicrystal phase formation is topologically related to the increasing icosahedral short range order (SRO) with Pd content in Zr<sub>2sub>PdxCu>1-xsub> system. Meta-stable C16 phase is competitive with
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Chen, Wei; Liu, Tian-Yu; Huang, Ting; Liu, Xiao-Heng, E-mail: xhliu@mail.njust.edu.cn; Zhu, Jun-Wu; Duan, Guo-Rong; Yang, Xu-Jie
2015-11-15
Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • We designed and fabricated novel Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} QDs/g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} heterojunction structures. • Novel Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} QDs/g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} catalysts were constructed by one-pot hydrothermal route. • The catalysts show highly efficient solar light catalytic activity. • Z-scheme mechanism was proposed to explain the enhanced catalytic activity. - Abstract: The use of solar energy is a promising means for pollution abatement or environmental remediation. In the present work, we report the design and fabrication of Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} QDs/g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} binary heterojunction photocatalysts with highly efficient solar light response, wherein the Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} QDs were in situ uniformly immobilized on porous g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} ultrathin nanosheets (NSs) by one-pot hydrothermal strategy. The photocatalytic performance of the Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} QDs/g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} NSs hybrid composites was evaluated for the photodegradation of Rhodamine B (RhB). It was found that the mass ratio of Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} QDs to g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} nanosheets in the composites significantly affects the photocatalytic activity. Higher amounts of g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} nanosheets in Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} QDs/g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} composites showed lower photocatalytic activity. The composite with 10 mg g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} nanosheets exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity, with nearly 11-fold enhancement in photocatalytic efficiency over pure Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} QDs. Different from previous reports, a novel Z-scheme photocatalytic mechanism was proposed to explain the enhanced the photocatalytic efficiency.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Farooq, Muhammad; Ramli, Anita; Subbarao, Duvvuri [Department of Chemical EngineeringUniversiti Teknologi PETRONAS Bandar Seri Iskandar, 31750 Tronoh, Perak (Malaysia); Fundamental and Applied Sciences Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS Bandar Seri Iskandar, 31750 Tronoh, Perak (Malaysia); Department of Chemical EngineeringUniversiti Teknologi PETRONAS Bandar Seri Iskandar, 31750 Tronoh, Perak (Malaysia)
2012-09-26
The physical and chemical properties of a catalyst play a vital role in various industrial applications. Molybdenum catalysts supported on {gamma}-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} and {gamma}-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-CeO{sub 2} mixed oxides with varying loading of CeO{sub 2} (5, 10, 15, 20 wt% with respect to {gamma}-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}) were prepared by wet impregnation method. The physiochemical properties of these synthesized Mo catalysts were studied with various characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), field emission scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive analysis (FESEM-EDX) and X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF). The results showed that the addition of CeO{sub 2} into the support affected the binding energies of the elements and reducibility of the metal oxides formed after calcination of catalyst samples due to the change in metal-support interaction. Further, the characterization techniques showed that the active metal was well dispersed on the surface of support material.
Co-{alpha}Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-Cu as shaped catalyst in NaBH{sub 4} hydrolysis
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Chamoun, R. [Universite Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR 5615, Laboratoire des Multimateriaux et Interfaces, 43 boulevard du 11 Novembre 1918, F-69622 Villeurbanne (France); Universite Libanaise, Faculte des Sciences II, Laboratoire de physique appliquee, 90656 Jdeidet El Metn (Lebanon); Demirci, U.B.; Miele, P. [Universite Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR 5615, Laboratoire des Multimateriaux et Interfaces, 43 boulevard du 11 Novembre 1918, F-69622 Villeurbanne (France); Zaatar, Y.; Khoury, A. [Universite Libanaise, Faculte des Sciences II, Laboratoire de physique appliquee, 90656 Jdeidet El Metn (Lebanon)
2010-07-15
A study about catalytic films of Co-supported-over-{alpha}Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} fabricated by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) is reported, the as-prepared shaped catalysts being intended to catalyze NaBH{sub 4} hydrolysis. Co-{alpha}Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} supported over Cu substrate can be prepared by a 2-step route: (i) preparation of the supported catalyst Co-{alpha}Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} (in powder form) by wet impregnation of CoCl{sub 2} over {alpha}Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, followed by a reduction, and (ii) fabrication of Co-{alpha}Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-Cu (thin film over Cu) by EPD. Both types of catalysts, whatever their form, are highly efficient in hydrolyzing NaBH{sub 4}, conversions of 100% and HGRs of tens of mL(H{sub 2}) min{sup -1} being achieved at 60-80 C. The Co-{alpha}Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-Cu catalysts are even more reactive than the Co-{alpha}Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} catalysts because the surface of the former materials becomes much more acid than that of the latter ones in the course of the EPD process. The respective rate laws and reaction kinetics have been determined. Independently on the catalyst form, apparent activation energies of about 52 kJ mol{sup -1} and positive reaction orders versus the initial NaBH{sub 4} concentration (i.e. 0.3-0.7) were calculated, suggesting that the EPD does not affect the reaction mechanisms. Besides, it is showed that the hydrolysis is really catalytic as well as typical of a heterogeneous process. For example, an apparent reaction order versus the Co content of 0.9 was calculated. All of these results among others are reported and discussed in the present article. (author)
International Nuclear Information System (INIS)
Nosheen, M.; Riaz, A.K.
2005-01-01
A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of trace elements on growth and yield of mature tea bushes, at National Tea Research Inst., Shinkiari, Mansehra, Pakistan, during 2003. The treatments included control (no fertilizer), recommended dose of NPK (432:111:74 kg ha/sup -1/ alone and NPK in combination with either two doses of (5.5 and 11 kg ha/sup -1/) ZnSO/sub 4/ or (2.0 and 4.0 kg ha/sup -1/)MnSO/sub 4/ or (0.225 and 0.45 kg ha/sup -1/) Al/sub 2/(SO/sub 4/)/sub 3/ to soil and one dose of each (11 kg ha/sup -1/) ZnSO/sub 4/, (4.0 kg ha/sup -1) MnSO/sub 4/ and (0.45 kg ha/sup -1/) Al/sub 2/(SO/sub 4/)/sub 3/ applied as spray solution. Treatments including soil application of NPK alone and NPK + either ZnSO/sub 4/, MnSO/sub 4/ or Al/sub 2/(SO/sub 4/)/sub 3/ significantly (P < 0.001) increased tea yield (fresh weight of three leaves + bud), shoot height and tissue Zn and Mn concentrations with significant interactions (T x t) on tissue Zn and Mn levels. As compared to control the yield increased by 7.0,30,.37,42,37 and 34% with NPK alone, NPK + 5.5, + 11.0 ZnSO/sub 4/, + 2.0, + 4.0 MnSO/sub 4/, + 0.225, + 0.45 kg ha/sup -1/ Al/sub 2/(SO/sub 4/)/sub 3/, respectively during fist three months while the yield of six months plucking showed similar response to treatments but was significantly lower than the first three months. Soil pH, Zn and Mn concentrations were significantly affected by treatments, time of sampling, and depth of sampling. Except ZnSO/sub 4/, lower doses of MnSO/sub 4/ (2.0 kg ha-l) and Al/sub 2/(SO/sub 4/)/sub 3/ (0.225 kg ha/sup -1/), were more effective as compared to their higher doses when applied to soil, regarding tea yield and shoot height. Foliar application of 11 kg ha-l ZnSO/sub 4/ significantly increased yield as compared to its both levels when applied to soil. It is concluded that MnSO/sub 4/ and Al/sub 2/(SO/sub 4/)/sub 3/ should be applied at the rate of 2.0 and 0.225 kg ha/sup -l/. (author)
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Haiges, Ralf; Christe, Karl O. [Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute and Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA (United States); Vasiliu, Monica; Dixon, David A. [Department of Chemistry, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL (United States)
2017-01-12
The reaction between [UO{sub 2}F{sub 2}] and an excess of Me{sub 3}SiN{sub 3} in acetonitrile solution results in fluoride-azide exchange and the uranium(VI) dioxodiazide adduct [UO{sub 2}(N{sub 3}){sub 2}.CH{sub 3}CN] was isolated in quantitative yield. The subsequent reaction of [UO{sub 2}(N{sub 3}){sub 2}.CH{sub 3}CN] with 2,2{sup '}-bipyridine (bipy) resulted in the formation of the azido-bridged binuclear complex [(bipy){sub 2}(UO{sub 2}){sub 2}(N{sub 3}){sub 4}]. The triazido anion [(bipy)UO{sub 2}(N{sub 3}){sub 3}]{sup -} was obtained by the reaction of [UO{sub 2}(N{sub 3}){sub 2}.CH{sub 3}CN] with stoichiometric amounts of bipy and the ionic azide [PPh{sub 4}][N{sub 3}]. The reaction of [UO{sub 2}(N{sub 3}){sub 2}] with two equivalents of the [PPh{sub 4}][N{sub 3}] resulted in the formation of the mononuclear tetraazido anion [UO{sub 2}(N{sub 3}){sub 4}]{sup 2-} as well as the azido-bridged binuclear anion [(UO{sub 2}){sub 2}(N{sub 3}){sub 8}]{sup 4-}. The novel uranium oxoazides were characterized by their vibrational spectra and in the case of [(bipy){sub 2}(UO{sub 2}){sub 2}(N{sub 3}){sub 4}].CH{sub 3}CN, [PPh{sub 4}][(bipy)UO{sub 2}(N{sub 3}){sub 3}], [PPh{sub 4}]{sub 2}[UO{sub 2}(N{sub 3}){sub 4}], [PPh{sub 4}]{sub 2}[UO{sub 2}(N{sub 3}){sub 4}].2CH{sub 3}CN, and [PPh{sub 4}]{sub 4}[(UO{sub 2}){sub 2}(N{sub 3}){sub 8}].4CH{sub 3}CN by their X-ray crystal structures. (copyright 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Hibbert, D B; Tseung, A C.C.
1979-12-01
A study of the reduction of sulfur dioxide to elemental sulfur by carbon monoxide on a La/sub 0/ /sub 5/ Sr/sub 0/ /sub 5/ CoO/sub 3/ catalyst a perovskite oxide, to determine the effects of oxygen and water on SO2 reduction showed that in the presence of 5 to 16% oxygen, the reaction between sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide still occurred if there was sufficient carbon monoxide in the gas to react with all the oxygen. At 600C, all the sulfur dioxide was removed at 5 to 16% oxygen levels. Water vapor at 2% did not adversely affect the reaction. The unwanted by-products, hydrogen disulfide and carbonyl sulfide, were reduced at contact times below 0.25 sec. During the reaction, the catalyst itself reacted with sulfur to give metal sulfides. When reagent grade CO/sub 2/O/sub 3/ was substituted for perovskite oxide, the maximum conversion of 98% of sulfur dioxide was attained at 550C, but an unacceptably high concentration of carbonyl sulfide was formed; within 1 hr, the sulfur dioxide conversion fell to 60%. The perovskite oxide reaction may be useful in removing sulfur dioxide from fosill fuel stack gases.
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Tukhbatullin, A.A., E-mail: adiska0501@gmail.ru; Sharipov, G.L.; Bagautdinova, A.R.
2016-05-15
Excited radicals {sup *}CH and {sup *}C{sub 2} have been registered as light-emitting products of the mechanochemical decomposition of hydrocarbon gases (natural gas, CH{sub 4}, and C{sub 2}H{sub 2}) occurring at decomposition of the hydrated cerium and terbium sulfates under atmosphere of these gases, followed by triboluminescence. The inlet of hydrocarbons almost does not affect the intensity of the solid-state components of triboluminescence, viz., the luminescence of the excited ions Ln{sup 3+}. However, these gases completely suppress the luminescence of molecular nitrogen observed in air (a gas component of triboluminescence). The mechanism of decomposition of methane and acetylene by electrical discharges generated by the destruction of the crystals (the main source of gas component triboluminescence) have been discussed.
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Joint Graduate Group in Bioengineering, University of California, San Francisco and University of California, Berkeley; Department of Radiology, University of California; Gullberg, Grant T; Hwang, Andrew B.; Franc, Benjamin L.; Gullberg, Grant T.; Hasegawa, Bruce H.
2008-02-15
Small animal SPECT imaging systems have multiple potential applications in biomedical research. Whereas SPECT data are commonly interpreted qualitatively in a clinical setting, the ability to accurately quantify measurements will increase the utility of the SPECT data for laboratory measurements involving small animals. In this work, we assess the effect of photon attenuation, scatter and partial volume errors on the quantitative accuracy of small animal SPECT measurements, first with Monte Carlo simulation and then confirmed with experimental measurements. The simulations modeled the imaging geometry of a commercially available small animal SPECT system. We simulated the imaging of a radioactive source within a cylinder of water, and reconstructed the projection data using iterative reconstruction algorithms. The size of the source and the size of the surrounding cylinder were varied to evaluate the effects of photon attenuation and scatter on quantitative accuracy. We found that photon attenuation can reduce the measured concentration of radioactivity in a volume of interest in the center of a rat-sized cylinder of water by up to 50percent when imaging with iodine-125, and up to 25percent when imaging with technetium-99m. When imaging with iodine-125, the scatter-to-primary ratio can reach up to approximately 30percent, and can cause overestimation of the radioactivity concentration when reconstructing data with attenuation correction. We varied the size of the source to evaluate partial volume errors, which we found to be a strong function of the size of the volume of interest and the spatial resolution. These errors can result in large (>50percent) changes in the measured amount of radioactivity. The simulation results were compared with and found to agree with experimental measurements. The inclusion of attenuation correction in the reconstruction algorithm improved quantitative accuracy. We also found that an improvement of the spatial resolution through the
Experimental psychiatric illness and drug abuse models: from human to animal, an overview.
Edwards, Scott; Koob, George F
2012-01-01
Preclinical animal models have supported much of the recent rapid expansion of neuroscience research and have facilitated critical discoveries that undoubtedly benefit patients suffering from psychiatric disorders. This overview serves as an introduction for the following chapters describing both in vivo and in vitro preclinical models of psychiatric disease components and briefly describes models related to drug dependence and affective disorders. Although there are no perfect animal models of any psychiatric disorder, models do exist for many elements of each disease state or stage. In many cases, the development of certain models is essentially restricted to the human clinical laboratory domain for the purpose of maximizing validity, whereas the use of in vitro models may best represent an adjunctive, well-controlled means to model specific signaling mechanisms associated with psychiatric disease states. The data generated by preclinical models are only as valid as the model itself, and the development and refinement of animal models for human psychiatric disorders continues to be an important challenge. Collaborative relationships between basic neuroscience and clinical modeling could greatly benefit the development of new and better models, in addition to facilitating medications development.
How Can You Prevent Rabies in Animals?
... Regulation of diagnostic test kits Prevention Prevention in animals Prevention in people Rabies in the U.S. and around the World ... United States? Veterinarians What to do with an animal that has bitten a person Caring for animals with potential exposure Clinical signs ...
Balchev, N; Kunev, B; Souleva, A; Tsacheva, T
2001-01-01
The effect of Sn-doping in (Pb sub 0 sub . sub 6 Sn sub y Cu sub 0 sub . sub 4 sub - sub y)Sr sub 2 (Y sub 1 sub - sub x Ca sub x)Cu sub 2 O sub z for 0 <= y <= 0.3 and 0 <= x <= 0.7 was investigated. It was established that a nearly pure 1212 phase could be obtained at 0 <= y <= 0.1 and 0 <= x <= 0.3. The obtained X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns as well as the results of the inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis showed that the Sn-substitution was possible in the (Pb,Cu)-1212 phase. Superconductivity was observed at 0.4 <= x <= 0.7. The onset of the diamagnetic transitions varied from 10 to 30 K. The influence of the strong Pb deficiency on the superconducting properties of the samples was discussed. (authors)
Yang, C F; Zhang, H
2002-01-01
We investigate the effect of Ca doping on the electronic transport properties and superconductivity of Pr sub 1 sub - sub x Ca sub x Ba sub 1 sub . sub 8 Sr sub 0 sub . sub 2 Cu sub 3 O sub y and Pr sub 1 sub - sub x Ca sub x Sr sub 2 Cu sub 2 sub . sub 7 Mo sub 0 sub . sub 3 O sub y systems. It is found that when PrBa sub 2 Cu sub 3 O sub y (Pr123) is in a highly localized state, the Ca doping mainly decreases the 4f-2p hybridized states and thus releases the holes into the CuO sub 2 planes. Whereas when Pr123 is in a less localized state, the Ca doping not only introduces holes into the CuO sub 2 planes, but also induces dramatic charge transfer. Our results suggest that only when the hole concentration in both the CuO chain and the CuO sub 2 planes reaches a proper value, can the superconductivity be restored in the Pr123 system.
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Mohamed, Mohamed Mokhtar, E-mail: mohmok2000@yahoo.com [Benha University, Faculty of Science, Chemistry Department, Benha (Egypt); Bayoumy, W.A. [Benha University, Faculty of Science, Chemistry Department, Benha (Egypt); Goher, M.E. [National Institute of Oceanography & Fisheries, Environmental Chemistry, Cairo (Egypt); Abdo, M.H., E-mail: mh_omr@yahoo.com [National Institute of Oceanography & Fisheries, Environmental Chemistry, Cairo (Egypt); Mansour El-Ashkar, T.Y. [National Institute of Oceanography & Fisheries, Environmental Chemistry, Cairo (Egypt)
2017-08-01
Highlights: • The α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}/Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} doped n-TiO{sub 2} was synthesized via deposition-self assembly technique. • The photocatalyst 1%α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}/Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}/n-TiO{sub 2} show a remarkable performance while MB degradation. • The strong interaction between α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}/Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} and n-TiO{sub 2} plays an important role. • It exhibits a unique textural, optical and charge transfer properties. - Abstract: Well dispersed α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}@Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanoparticles (7 nm) supported on mesoporous nitrogen doped titanium dioxide (N-TiO{sub 2}) are synthesized by deposition self-assembly route and their performances as photocatalysts toward methylene blue (MB) degradation are evaluated. The results illustrate that the spherical yolk-shell structure of α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}@Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}@N-TiO{sub 2} at the loading of 1%; of excellent S{sub BET} (187 m{sup 2} g{sup −1}) and pore volume (0.50 cm{sup 3} g{sup −1}), achieved high photocatalytic performance for the MB degradation (20 ppm, λ > 420 nm, lamp power = 160 W) under visible light illumination (k = 0.059 min{sup −1}). The influence of the interface formation between α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}@Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} and n-TiO{sub 2} affects severely the charges separation efficiency and enhances the electron transfer to keep on the existence of Fe{sup 3+}/Fe{sup 2+} moieties; those take significant role in the reaction mechanism. The existence of the latter junction is affirmed via XRD, TEM-SAED, Raman and FTIR techniques whereas, the photogenerated charges, their separation together with their transport and recombination rates are depicted via photoluminescence, electrical conductivity, incident photon to current efficiency (IPCE), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and impedance (EIS) measurements. The catalyst loading, zero point charge, pH variation, total organic carbon (TOC%) and the effect of lamps power are thoroughly investigated. The 1%α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3
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Culp, Jeffrey T; Chen, De-Li; Liu, Jinchen; Chirdon, Danielle; Kauffman, Kristi; Goodman, Angela; Johnson, J Karl
2013-02-01
Variable-temperature in situ ATR-FTIR spectra are presented for the porous spin-crossover compounds [Fe(pyrazine)Ni(CN)<sub>4sub>] and [Fe(pyrazine)Pt(CN)<sub>4sub>] under CO<sub>2sub> pressures of up to 8 bar. Significant shifts in the ν<sub>3sub> and ν<sub>2sub> IR absorption bands of adsorbed CO<sub>2sub> are observed as the host materials undergo transition between low- and high-spin states. Computational models used to determine the packing arrangement of CO<sub>2sub> within the pore structures show a preferred orientation of one of the adsorbed CO<sub>2sub> molecules with close O=C=O···H contacts with the pyrazine pillar ligands. The interaction is a consequence of the commensurate distance of the inter-pyrazine separations and the length of the CO<sub>2sub> molecule, which allows the adsorbed CO<sub>2sub> to effectively bridge the pyrazine pillars in the structure. The models were used to assign the distinct shifts in the IR absorption bands of the adsorbed CO<sub>2sub> that arise from changes in the O=C=O···H contacts that strengthen and weaken in correlation with changes in the Fe–N bond lengths as the spin state of Fe changes. The results indicate that spin-crossover compounds can function as a unique type of flexible sorbent in which the pore contractions associated with spin transition can affect the strength of CO<sub>2sub>–host interactions.
/sup 239/PuO/sub 2/ aerosol inhalation with emphasis on pulmonary connective tissue modifications
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Metivier, H; Masse, R; Nobil' e, D; Lafuma, J
1975-09-01
Inhalation studies were undertaken in which plutonium dioxide (/sup 239/PuO/sub 2/) was administered to either unanesthetized Wistar rats or anaesthetized baboons. In both groups of animals some deaths occurred from acute lung damage resulting from cell necrosis particularly to vascular tissue followed by alveolar oedema. At later stages, marked interstitial pneumonitis and interstitial fibrosis occurred and deaths resulted from respiratory insufficiency preceded by high arterial blood pCO/sub 2/ and low pO/sub 2/. In rats as many as 50% of the animals finally developed lung neoplasms but only two such tumors were found in baboons. Attempts were made to correlate biochemical parameters with observed tissue damage and animal mortality.
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Deepu R Pillai
Full Text Available BACKGROUND: Small animal models of human diseases are an indispensable aspect of pre-clinical research. Being dynamic, most pathologies demand extensive longitudinal monitoring to understand disease mechanisms, drug efficacy and side effects. These considerations often demand the concomitant development of monitoring systems with sufficient temporal and spatial resolution. METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS: This study attempts to configure and optimize a clinical 3 Tesla magnetic resonance scanner to facilitate imaging of small animal central nervous system pathologies. The hardware of the scanner was complemented by a custom-built, 4-channel phased array coil system. Extensive modification of standard sequence protocols was carried out based on tissue relaxometric calculations. Proton density differences between the gray and white matter of the rodent spinal cord along with transverse relaxation due to magnetic susceptibility differences at the cortex and striatum of both rats and mice demonstrated statistically significant differences. The employed parallel imaging reconstruction algorithms had distinct properties dependent on the sequence type and in the presence of the contrast agent. The attempt to morphologically phenotype a normal healthy rat brain in multiple planes delineated a number of anatomical regions, and all the clinically relevant sequels following acute cerebral ischemia could be adequately characterized. Changes in blood-brain-barrier permeability following ischemia-reperfusion were also apparent at a later time. Typical characteristics of intra-cerebral haemorrhage at acute and chronic stages were also visualized up to one month. Two models of rodent spinal cord injury were adequately characterized and closely mimicked the results of histological studies. In the employed rodent animal handling system a mouse model of glioblastoma was also studied with unequivocal results. CONCLUSIONS: The implemented customizations including extensive
Pillai, Deepu R.; Heidemann, Robin M.; Lanz, Titus; Dittmar, Michael S.; Sandner, Beatrice; Beier, Christoph P.; Weidner, Norbert; Greenlee, Mark W.; Schuierer, Gerhard; Bogdahn, Ulrich; Schlachetzki, Felix
2011-01-01
Background Small animal models of human diseases are an indispensable aspect of pre-clinical research. Being dynamic, most pathologies demand extensive longitudinal monitoring to understand disease mechanisms, drug efficacy and side effects. These considerations often demand the concomitant development of monitoring systems with sufficient temporal and spatial resolution. Methodology and Results This study attempts to configure and optimize a clinical 3 Tesla magnetic resonance scanner to facilitate imaging of small animal central nervous system pathologies. The hardware of the scanner was complemented by a custom-built, 4-channel phased array coil system. Extensive modification of standard sequence protocols was carried out based on tissue relaxometric calculations. Proton density differences between the gray and white matter of the rodent spinal cord along with transverse relaxation due to magnetic susceptibility differences at the cortex and striatum of both rats and mice demonstrated statistically significant differences. The employed parallel imaging reconstruction algorithms had distinct properties dependent on the sequence type and in the presence of the contrast agent. The attempt to morphologically phenotype a normal healthy rat brain in multiple planes delineated a number of anatomical regions, and all the clinically relevant sequels following acute cerebral ischemia could be adequately characterized. Changes in blood-brain-barrier permeability following ischemia-reperfusion were also apparent at a later time. Typical characteristics of intra-cerebral haemorrhage at acute and chronic stages were also visualized up to one month. Two models of rodent spinal cord injury were adequately characterized and closely mimicked the results of histological studies. In the employed rodent animal handling system a mouse model of glioblastoma was also studied with unequivocal results. Conclusions The implemented customizations including extensive sequence protocol
Locke, S; Osborne, M; O'Rourke, P
2011-02-01
The objective of this paper is to measure the clinical course (months) in young athletes with persistent fatigue and to identify any covariates affecting the duration of recovery. This was a prospective longitudinal study of 68 athletes; 87% were elite (42 males, 26 females), aged 20.5±3.74 years (SD), who presented with the symptom of persistent fatigue. The collective duration to full clinical recovery was estimated using Kaplan-Meier product-limit curves, and covariates associated with prolonging recovery were identified from Cox proportional hazard models. The median recovery was 5 months (range 1-60 months). The range of presenting symptom duration was 0.5-36 months. The covariates identified were an increased duration of presenting symptoms [hazard ratio (HR), 1.06; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.02-1.12; P=0.005] and the response of serum cortisol concentration to a standard exercise challenge (HR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.09-3.38; P=0.03). Delay in recovery was not associated with categories of fatigue that included medical, training-related diagnoses, or other causes. In conclusion, the fatigued athlete represents a significant clinical problem with a median recovery of 5 months, whose collective clinical course to recovery can be estimated by Kaplan-Meier curves and appears to be a continuum. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S.
Swan, G E; Coetzer, J A W; Terblanche, H M
2009-08-01
The globalisation of trade and food, the increased volume and speed of international travel, climate change, and the related escalation of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases mean that countries are now more interconnected and interdependent than ever before. Africa is beleaguered by a range of endemic infectious and parasitic tropical diseases which, due to its diverse wildlife populations and indigenous livestock, can serve as a reservoir of high-impact or transboundary diseases and play a role in the emergence of disease, particularly at the wildlife, domestic animal and human interfaces. It is therefore essential to integrate animal and public health issues into the veterinary curriculum. Veterinary training in most parts of sub-Saharan Africa has focused on producing veterinarians to serve the livestock sector although socio-economic changes and privatisation of Veterinary Services have caused curriculum adjustments, as have globalisation and the increased risk of the spread of transboundary diseases. In South Africa, undergraduate veterinary training is more clinically oriented than in other regions. Animal and public health issues are covered in the curriculum, although their global relevance is not emphasised. The authors describe the undergraduate veterinary curriculum and summarise post-graduate programmes in South Africa. They also discuss a more comprehensive core-elective approach to the current curriculum and the need to adapt to new challenges facing the profession. Finally, they examine the potential use of innovative technology in undergraduate and post-graduate training and professional development, the importance of regional and international collaboration and the accreditation and recognition of veterinary training.
Animal Models of Chemotherapy-induced Mucositis
DEFF Research Database (Denmark)
Sangild, Per T; Shen, René Liang; Pontoppidan, Peter Erik Lotko
2018-01-01
constitution). Here, we briefly describe CIM pathophysiology, particularly the basic knowledge that has been obtained from CIM animal models. These model studies have indicated potential new preventive and ameliorating interventions, including supplementation with natural bioactive diets (e.g. milk fractions...... easier make clinically-relevant treatment regimens possible. In synergy, animal models improve the basic pathophysiological understanding of CIM and provide new ideas for treatment that are required to make competent decisions in clinical practice....
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Levin, E.M., E-mail: levin@iastate.edu [Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering, US Department of Energy Ames Laboratory, Ames, IA 50011 (United States); Department of Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011 (United States); Cooling, C. [Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering, US Department of Energy Ames Laboratory, Ames, IA 50011 (United States); Bud’ko, S.L. [Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering, US Department of Energy Ames Laboratory, Ames, IA 50011 (United States); Department of Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011 (United States); Straszheim, W.E. [Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering, US Department of Energy Ames Laboratory, Ames, IA 50011 (United States); Lograsso, T.A. [Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering, US Department of Energy Ames Laboratory, Ames, IA 50011 (United States); Department of Materials Sciences and Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011 (United States)
2017-05-01
GeTe, a self-doping semiconductor, is a well-known base compound for thermoelectric and phase-change materials. It is known, that replacement of Ge in Ag{sub 6.5}Sb{sub 6.5}Ge{sub 37}Te{sub 50} (TAGS-85) material by rare earth Dy significantly enhances both the power factor and thermoelectric figure of merit. Here we demonstrate how replacement of Ge in GeTe by rare earths with different atomic size and localized magnetic moments affect XRD patterns, magnetization, {sup 125}Te NMR spectra and spin-lattice relaxation, and the Seebeck coefficient of the alloys with a nominal composition of Ge{sub 49}Te{sub 50}R{sub 1} (R = La, Pr, Gd, Dy, and Yb). SEM, EDS and WDS data show that rare earth atoms in the matrix are present at smaller extent compared to a nominal composition, whereas rare earth also is present in inclusions. Rare earths affect the Seebeck coefficient, which is a result of interplay between the reduction due to higher carrier concentration and enhancement due to magnetic contribution. The effect of replacement of Ge in GeTe by Dy on the Seebeck coefficient is smaller than that observed in Ag{sub 6.5}Sb{sub 6.5}Ge{sub 36} Te{sub 50}Dy{sub 1}. This can be explained by larger amount of rare earth, which can be embedded into the lattice of materials containing [Ag + Sb] atomic pairs and possible effect from these pairs. - Highlights: • The effects of rare earth in Ge{sub 49}Te{sub 50}R{sub 1} (R = La, Pr, Gd, Dy, and Yb) are studied. • Rare earth atoms in the matrix are present at smaller extent compared to a nominal composition. • The effect on the Seebeck coefficient is a result from carrier concentration and magnetic contribution.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Majoros, M [IRC in Superconductivity, University of Cambridge, Cambridge (United Kingdom); Institute of Electrical Engineering, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava (Slovakia); Glowacki, B A [IRC in Superconductivity, University of Cambridge, Cambridge (United Kingdom); Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge, Cambridge (United Kingdom); Campbell, A M [IRC in Superconductivity, University of Cambridge, Cambridge (United Kingdom)
2001-06-01
Two factors affect critical current anisotropy in multifilamentary Ag/(Pb,Bi){sub 2}Sr{sub 2}Ca{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 10+x} tapes - the intrinsic material anisotropy and the geometry. Experimental results on the magnetic field dependence and anisotropy of the critical current in a multifilamentary Ag/(Pb,Bi){sub 2}Sr{sub 2}Ca{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 10+x} tape after correction for self-magnetic field effects were found to fit the anisotropic Kim relation. Based on this relation a finite-element-method numerical code for solving the nonlinear Poisson equation for vector magnetic potential was adopted. It allowed the experimental data to be reproduced by back calculation and made possible the study of the interplay of self and external magnetic fields in different cases with well defined physical parameters of the material. The model was used to analyse the distribution of the critical current in individual filaments as well as to evaluate the influence of their geometrical arrangements on the critical current of the tape. The self-field critical current of an individual filament 'extracted' from the tape was compared with the critical current of the overall tape. The effect of the self-magnetic field on critical current distribution obtained by the cutting method was determined. The critical currents of the tapes with different cross sections were calculated and compared with experiments and the influence of the self-field was analysed. The anisotropic properties of a low anisotropy architecture of a multifilamentary Ag/(Pb,Bi){sub 2}Sr{sub 2}Ca{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 10+x} conductor were studied. The dependence of critical currents (normalized to self-field critical currents) on external magnetic field corrected for the self-field was found to follow nearly the same curves as those for tapes with different critical current densities (in the range 20-70 kA cm{sup -2} in a self-field), which makes the numerical model applicable to different tapes. (author)
Ramaswamy, N S
1994-03-01
In fifty developing countries, which contain half of the total human population of the world, there is a heavy dependence on draught animals as an energy source. These animals are used for agriculture operations in 52% of cultivated areas of the world, as well as for hauling 25 million carts. This situation is likely to continue for at least another fifty years. The work performed annually by these draught animals would require 20 million tons of petroleum, valued at US$6 billion, if it were performed by motorized vehicles. The poor working conditions of these animals often adversely affect their productivity. The application of improved technology and better management (i.e. through better feed and health services, and improved design of agricultural implements and carts) could considerably improve the welfare of these animals. Improved systems would generate sufficient benefits for the economy to justify the required investment. High priority should therefore be given to draught animal power in the economic development agenda.
Ulyanov, A N; Yang, D S
2003-01-01
The phase diagram and local structure of La sub 0 sub . sub 7 Ca sub 0 sub . sub 3 sub - sub x Ba sub x MnO sub 3 (x=0; 0.03; 0.06; ... 0.3) lanthanum manganites were studies. The Curie temperature, T sub c , of the compositions showed a sharp change near the concentrational structural orthorhombic-rhombohedral phase transition. Maximums of dispersion, sigma sub M sub n sub - sub O sup 2 , and asymmetry, sigma M sub n sub - sub O sup 3 , of pair distribution function for the Mn-O bond distances of MnO sub 6 octahedron on x-dependence were observed by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis. The maximum of sigma sub M sub n sub - sub O sup 2 is caused by increase of dynamic rms displacements of Mn-O bond distances near the T sub c. The observed x dependence of sigma sub M sub n sub - sub O sup 3 reflects the reduction of charge carriers mobility at approaching to T sub c. (author)
International Nuclear Information System (INIS)
Ginter, D.S.; Ginter, M.L.
1988-01-01
We show that a minimal parameter coupled channel model based on eigenquantum defect theory can reproduce quantitatively the known Rydberg structures associated with six channels of nsσ,ndλ( 3 Σ + /sub u/, 3 Σ + /sub u/, 3 Pi/sub u/, 3 Δ/sub u/) v = 0 ancestry in He 2 . Except for a few levels affected by accidental perturbations, these extensive level structures can be reproduced to within average experimental uncertainties. Previously unreported spectral analyses for transitions to the b 3 Pi/sub g/ state from rotational levels in the nl channel segments with n = 12--18 are included in this work. These spectral transitions were predicted and observed in the early stages of this investigation and were used to determine a number of new energy levels for the n = 3--18 data base used in subsequent calculations. The model uses a U matrix modified slightly from a Hund's case (b) to case (d) transformation and energy dependent eigenquantum defects μ/sub α/. Discussed in detail is a specific 14 parameter representation for ∼500 energy levels in which 2 parameters modify U to include interactions between ns and nd and 12 parameters describe the variation of the μ/sub α/'s with energy
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Ou, Z.Q., E-mail: z.ou@tudelft.nl [Fundamental Aspects of Materials and Energy, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft (Netherlands); Zhang, L. [Fundamental Aspects of Materials and Energy, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft (Netherlands); BASF Nederland B.V., Strijkviertel 67, 3454PK De Meern (Netherlands); Dung, N.H. [Fundamental Aspects of Materials and Energy, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft (Netherlands); Eijck, L. van [Neutron and Positron Methods in Materials, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft (Netherlands); Mulders, A.M. [University of New South Wales in Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600 (Australia); Avdeev, M. [Bragg Institute, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization (ANSTO), Kirrawee DC NSW 2232 (Australia); Dijk, N.H. van; Brück, E. [Fundamental Aspects of Materials and Energy, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft (Netherlands)
2013-08-15
We report on the magnetic and structural properties of Mn{sub 0.66}Fe{sub 1.29}P{sub 1−x}Si{sub x} melt-spun ribbons with 0.34≤x≤0.42 that are promising candidates for high-temperature magnetocaloric applications. A magnetic moment of up to 4.57 μ{sub B}/f.u. for x=0.34 indicates high magnetic density in the system, which is certainly advantageous for the magnetocaloric effects. Introducing site disorder at the 3g site by replacing 1/3 of Fe with Mn appears to enhance the magnetic interaction, while the strong magnetoelastic coupling is maintained. This site disorder also shows a stabilizing effect on the hexagonal crystal structure, which is maintained to a high Si content. The moment alignment within the crystallographic unit cell is also affected when the Si content is increased from x=0.34 to 0.42 in the Mn{sub 0.66}Fe{sub 1.29}P{sub 1−x}Si{sub x} compounds as the canting angle with respect to the c-direction increases. - Highlights: • The magnetic structure is determined using neutron diffraction. • A magnetic moment of up to 4.57 μ{sub B}/f.u. is observed. • Alignment of the magnetic moment is canted when varying the Si content. • The 3g site disorder shows a stabilizing effect on the hexagonal crystal structure.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Kamran, M.; Ullah, A. [Nanomagnetism and Nanotechnology Laboratory, International Islamic University, Islamabad 44000 (Pakistan); Rahman, S. [Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China Hefei, Anhui 230026 (China); Tahir, A. [Department of Physics, Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad 44000 (Pakistan); Nadeem, K., E-mail: kashif.nadeem@iiu.edu.pk [Nanomagnetism and Nanotechnology Laboratory, International Islamic University, Islamabad 44000 (Pakistan); Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, National Laboratory for Superconductivity, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 603, Beijing 100190 (China); Anis ur Rehman, M. [Applied Thermal Physics Laboratory, Department of Physics, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad 44000 (Pakistan); Hussain, S. [Magnetism Laboratory, Department of Physics, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad 44000 (Pakistan)
2017-07-01
Mg concentration and were explained with the help of Maxwell-Wagner model and Koop’s theory. Dielectric properties were improved for nanoparticles with x = 0.6 and is attributed to their larger average crystallite size. In summary, Mg doping has significantly affects the structural, magnetic, and dielectric properties of CoCr{sub 2}O{sub 4} nanoparticles, which can be attributed to variations in local magnetic exchange interactions and variation in average crystallite size of these chromite nanoparticles.
2012-01-01
Background Anecdotal evidence points to variations in individual students’ evolving confidence in clinical and patient communication skills during a clinical internship. A better understanding of the specific aspects of internships that contribute to increasing or decreasing confidence is needed to best support students during the clinical component of their study. Methods A multi-method approach, combining two large-scale surveys with 269 students and three in-depth individual interviews with a sub-sample of 29 students, was used to investigate the evolution of change in student confidence during a 10-month long internship. Change in levels of confidence in patient communication and clinical skills was measured and relationship to demographic factors were explored. The interviews elicited students’ accounts and reflections on what affected the evolution of their confidence during the internship. Results At the start of their internship, students were more confident in their patient communication skills than their clinical skills but prior experience was significantly related to confidence in both. Initial confidence in patient communication skills was also related to age and prior qualification but not gender whilst confidence in clinical skills was related to gender but not age or prior qualification. These influences were maintained over time. Overall, students’ levels of confidence in patient communication and clinical skills confidence increased significantly over the duration of the internship with evidence that change over time in these two aspects were inter-related. To explore how specific aspects of the internship contributed to changing levels of confidence, two extreme sub-groups of interviewees were identified, those with the least increase and those with the highest increase in professional confidence over time. A number of key factors affecting the development of confidence were identified, including among others, interactions with clinicians
Hecimovich, Mark; Volet, Simone
2012-06-19
Anecdotal evidence points to variations in individual students' evolving confidence in clinical and patient communication skills during a clinical internship. A better understanding of the specific aspects of internships that contribute to increasing or decreasing confidence is needed to best support students during the clinical component of their study. A multi-method approach, combining two large-scale surveys with 269 students and three in-depth individual interviews with a sub-sample of 29 students, was used to investigate the evolution of change in student confidence during a 10-month long internship. Change in levels of confidence in patient communication and clinical skills was measured and relationship to demographic factors were explored. The interviews elicited students' accounts and reflections on what affected the evolution of their confidence during the internship. At the start of their internship, students were more confident in their patient communication skills than their clinical skills but prior experience was significantly related to confidence in both. Initial confidence in patient communication skills was also related to age and prior qualification but not gender whilst confidence in clinical skills was related to gender but not age or prior qualification. These influences were maintained over time. Overall, students' levels of confidence in patient communication and clinical skills confidence increased significantly over the duration of the internship with evidence that change over time in these two aspects were inter-related. To explore how specific aspects of the internship contributed to changing levels of confidence, two extreme sub-groups of interviewees were identified, those with the least increase and those with the highest increase in professional confidence over time. A number of key factors affecting the development of confidence were identified, including among others, interactions with clinicians and patients, personal agency and
Grain growth behavior of Li{sub 4}SiO{sub 4} pebbles fabricated by agar method for tritium breeder
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Xiang, Maoqiao [School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, 30 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100083 (China); Zhang, Yingchun, E-mail: zycustb@126.com [School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, 30 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100083 (China); Zhang, Yun; Wang, Chaofu; Liu, Wei [School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, 30 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100083 (China); Yu, Yonghong [Department of Physics, Renmin University of China, Beijing, 100872 (China)
2016-11-15
Highlights: • Grain sizes of Li{sub 4}SiO{sub 4} were adjusted by different silicon sources. • Grain growth exponent of Li{sub 4}SiO{sub 4} was about 3. • Grain growth activation energy of Li{sub 4}SiO{sub 4} was about 125.54 kJ/mol. • Grain growth of Li{sub 4}SiO{sub 4} pebble was controlled by vapor transport. - Abstract: The Li{sub 4}SiO{sub 4} tritium breeding pebbles will be filled in the blanket and used for 2 years or more at high temperatures, which would increase the grain size and affect tritium release. Hence, grain sizes of the Li{sub 4}SiO{sub 4} pebbles fabricated by agar method were investigated, and two kinds of different silicon sources (crystal and amorphous SiO{sub 2}) with different particle sizes were used. The particle size of SiO{sub 2} could affect grain size and density of the Li{sub 4}SiO{sub 4} pebble. And the isothermal sintering was carried out to study the grain growth kinetics of Li{sub 4}SiO{sub 4}. The grain growth exponent (n) and the activation energy (Q) were calculated by the phenomenological kinetic equation. The calculated n values were 4.10, 3.98, 3.34 and 2.96, and corresponding Q values were 152.15, 147.99, 125.54 and 110.58 kJ/mol, respectively. At the higher sintering temperatures (950 and 1000 °C), the grain growth of Li{sub 4}SiO{sub 4} was controlled by vapor transport.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Li, Tingting; Li, Yang; Wu, Ruonan; Zhou, Han; Fang, Xiaochen [Anhui Key Laboratory of Metal Materials and Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan 243002 (China); Su, Shubing [School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Ningbo University of Technology, Ningbo 315016 (China); Xia, Ailin, E-mail: alxia@126.com [Anhui Key Laboratory of Metal Materials and Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan 243002 (China); Jin, Chuangui; Liu, Xianguo [Anhui Key Laboratory of Metal Materials and Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan 243002 (China)
2015-11-01
A new sol–gel route using egg-white as the binder of metal ions, is developed to prepare hexagonal M-type SrFe{sub 12}O{sub 19} ferrite in this study, and the effects of different atomic ratio of Sr and Fe (Sr/Fe), sintering temperature (T{sub s}) and usage of egg-white (M{sub ew}) on the phase formation, morphology and magnetic properties of specimens are studied. It is found that the single-phase SrFe{sub 12}O{sub 19} ferrite only can be obtained under a Sr/Fe of 1:8 and a T{sub s} between 1000 °C and 1300 °C. The magnetic properties of specimens are also obviously affected by the different Sr/Fe and T{sub s}, primarily due to the emergency of impurities. The M{sub ew} has an obvious impact on the crystallinity of specimens, which consequently affects their magnetic properties. In our study, the optimum conditions to prepare the single-phase SrFe{sub 12}O{sub 19} ferrite are Sr/Fe=1:8, M{sub ew}= 3 g and T{sub s} =1200 °C. - Highlights: • Single-phase SrM ferrite was obtained via a novel sol–gel method using egg-white. • Single-phase SrM ferrite was obtained under Sr/Fe=1:8 and T{sub s} between 1000 and 1300 °C. • The usage of egg-white affects the crystallinity and magnetic properties markedly.
Ackerson, Kelly; Zielinski, Ruth
2017-11-01
far too many women continue to die from pregnancy and childbirth related causes. While rates have decreased in the past two decades, some areas of the world such as sub-Saharan Africa continue to have very high maternal mortality rates. One intervention that has been demonstrated to decrease maternal mortality is use of family planning and modern contraception, yet rates of use in sub-Saharan countries with the highest rates of maternal death remain very low. to review available research and summarize the factors that inhibit or promote family planning and contraceptive use among refugee women and women from surrounding areas living in Sub-Saharan Africa. a review of the literature. Cochrane Library, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), OVID, power search, and PubMed databases. studies included were: (1) published in English from 2007 to present; (2) primary research; and (3) focused on family planning and contraceptive use among refugee women and women in surrounding areas. Findings were discussed within the framework of the Interaction Model of Client Health Behavior. twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. Utilization of modern contraceptive methods was low. Women were socially influenced to avoid the use of contraceptives by husbands and others in the community. Reasons were a lack of trust in western medicine and the desire to have large families. Low socioeconomic status and proximity of family planning clinics were barriers to access. Women believed that health care providers were unqualified, many described being treated with disrespect in the health clinics. Knowledge and understanding of contraceptives was low; while most women knew different methods were available, there were many misconceptions. Believing that certain contraceptives cause death, infertility and side effects, contributed to fear of use. This lack of knowledge and fear, even with the desire to space and limit births, affected motivation to use
Structural and magnetic properties and superconductivity in Ba(Fe<sub>1-xsub>TMx)>2sub>As>2sub>
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Thaler, Alexander [Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)
2012-01-01
We studied the effects on structural and magnetic phase transitions and the emergence of superconductivity in transition metal substituted BaFe<sub>2sub>As>2sub>. We grew four series of Ba(Fe<sub>1-xsub>TM>2sub>)>2sub>As>2sub> (TM=Ru, Mn, Co+Cr and Co+Mn) and characterized them by crystallographic, magnetic and transport measurements. We also subjected Ba(Fe<sub>1-xsub>Crx)>2sub>As>2sub> and Ba(Fe<sub>1-xsub>Cox)>2sub>As>2sub> to heat treatment to explore what changes might be induced.
International Nuclear Information System (INIS)
Lai, Y.; Xu, B.O.; Mou, S.
2012-01-01
A hydroponics culture experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of iron plaque and/or Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3/ on Cadmium (Cd) uptake by and translocation within rice seedlings. Uniform rice seedlings grown in nutrient solution for two weeks were selected and transferred to nutrient solution containing ferrous iron (Fe/sup 2+/) (30 mg/L) for 24 h to induce the formation of iron plaque on the root surface. Then rice seedlings were exposed to different level of Cd (1.0 mg/L and 0.1 mg/L), and simultaneously Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3/ was added into hydroponic system for three days. At harvest Cd content in dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate (DCB) extracts, roots and shoots were determined. The results of this study showed that iron plaque could sequester more Cd on root surfaces of rice seedlings, however, Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3/ reduced Cd adsorbed on root surfaces. Both of iron plaque and/or Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3/ did not block Cd uptake by and translocation within rice seedlings. Although iron plaque could alleviate Cd toxicity to rice seedlings under low concentration of Cd (0.1 mg/L), the root tissue played more important role in reducing Cd translocation into shoot. And the long period experiment of hydroponic and soil culture was still needed to verify the potential effect of iron plaque and/or Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3/ on alleviating Cd toxicity to rice seedlings. (author)
Animation, A Neuroplasticart* Media of Visual Thinking and Emotions
DEFF Research Database (Denmark)
Carpe Pérez, Inmaculada Concepción
2017-01-01
At the Animated Learning Lab, Denmark, we use animation as a social emotional learning media to practice emotional intelligence and the neuroplasticity of our brain. We connect cognitive, affective neuroscience with animation through the creative process of making animated films. We obtain a plea...
Bornhöft, Lena; Larsson, Maria E H; Thorn, Jörgen
2015-01-01
Primary Care Triage is a patient sorting system used in some primary health care clinics (PHCCs) in Sweden where patients with musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are triaged directly to physiotherapists. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether sorting/triaging patients seeking a PHCC for MSD directly to physiotherapists affects their utilization of medical services at the clinic for the MSD and to determine whether the effects of the triaging system vary for different sub-groups of patients. A retrospective case-control study design was used at two PHCCs. At the intervention clinic, 656 patients with MSD were initially triaged to physiotherapists. At the control clinic, 1673 patients were initially assessed by general practitioners (GPs). The main outcome measures were the number of patients continuing to visit GPs after the initial assessment, the number of patients receiving referrals to specialists/external examinations, doctors' notes for sick-leave or prescriptions for analgesics during one year, all for the original MSD. Significantly fewer patients triaged to physiotherapists required multiple GP visits for the MSD or received MSD-related referrals to specialists/external examinations, sick-leave recommendations or prescriptions during the following year compared to the GP-assessed group. This applies to all sub-groups except for the group with lower extremity disorders, which did not reach significance for either multiple GP visits or sick-leave recommendations. The reduced utilization of medical services by patients with MSD who were triaged to physiotherapists at a PHCC is likely due to altered management of MSD with initial assessment by physiotherapists.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Caron, A. [UCCS UMR-CNRS 8181, Université de Lille1, Villeneuve d' Ascq (France); Doumert, B. [IMMCL, Université de Lille1, Villeneuve d' Ascq (France); Tricot, G., E-mail: gregory.tricot@univ-lille1.fr [UCCS UMR-CNRS 8181, Université de Lille1, Villeneuve d' Ascq (France); LASIR UMR-CNRS 8516, Université de Lille1, Villeneuve d' Ascq (France)
2014-10-15
Insertion of Ga{sub 2}O{sub 3} in sodium metaphosphate glasses has been investigated in this paper. Materials containing up to 30 mol% of Ga{sub 2}O{sub 3} have been prepared using the standard melt-quenching technique within the xGa{sub 2}O{sub 3}–(100 − x)NaPO{sub 3} composition line. Macroscopic properties (glass transition temperature, density and molar volume) are significantly affected by the Ga{sub 2}O{sub 3} insertion. 1D {sup 71}Ga and {sup 31}P magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS-NMR) performed at very high field (18.8 T) indicate a strong evolution of the gallium coordination state around the x = 15 composition and a continuous evolution of the phosphate network organisation. In addition, {sup 71}Ga({sup 31}P) D-HMQC NMR technique was used for the first time to highlight the presence of mixed P–O–Ga linkages within the glass structure. The impact of gallium insertion is finally discussed and compared to the effect of the widely used aluminum and boron elements. If gallium and aluminum elements present similar effect on the macroscopic properties, some discrepancies can be observed concerning their structural effect. - Highlights: • Glasses with 30 mol% of Ga{sub 2}O{sub 3} have been prepared in the NaPO{sub 3}–Ga{sub 2}O{sub 3} line. • T{sub g} and density are affected by the Ga{sup 3+} insertion. • Presence of mixed Ga/P species have been highlighted by 2D correlation NMR.
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Marín, J.
2002-02-01
Full Text Available Ceramic matrix composites reinforced with metallic particles exhibit good mechanical properties. One research line has involved the fabrication of 3A (alumina-aluminide alloys composites via in situ consolidation of aluminum reactive powders mixed with a metallic oxide. In this paper the solid state reactions for the Al-MoO<sub>3sub> system and the effect of the precursor compositions for obtaining Al<sub>2sub>O>3sub> composites and intermetallic aluminides are studied. The reactions in vacuum for the 25 °C to 750 °C temperature range, and the microstructural evolution up to 1200 °C were studied. DTA-TG and DSC were used to determine that a heating rate of 1 °C/min at the critical range of 500-600 °C, resulted in controlled aluminothermic reactions. XRD and SEM showed that in the sintered composites a microstructure composed of an Al<sub>2sub>O>3sub> matrix and a Mo aluminide /metallic Mo dispersed phase was present. The precursor composition affects the dispersed phase in the composite (Mo aluminides and/or metallic Mo, the relative Al<sub>2sub>O>3sub> /second phase quantities, and the hardness of the composite sintered at 1450 °C.
Los materiales compuestos de matriz cerámica (CMC's de Al<sub>2sub>O>3sub> reforzados con partículas metálicas tienen propiedades mecánicas muy atractivas. Un área de investigación emergente es la fabricación de compuestos 3A (Alumina-Aluminide-Alloys, mediante la formación in situ de Al<sub>2sub>O>3sub> reforzada con metal elemental y/o aluminuros del metal, partiendo de polvos de aluminio y de óxidos metálicos. En este trabajo se estudian las reacciones en estado sólido para el sistema Al-MoO<sub>3sub>. Las reacciones de aluminotermia se estudian en vacío para el rango de temperaturas entre 25 °C y 750 °C y su evolución microestructural hasta 1.200 °C. Mediante análisis calorimétrico (DTA-TG y DSC se determinó que para una
Prevalence of asinine herpesvirus type 5 (AsHV-5) infection in clinically normal Lipizzaner horses.
Rushton, James Oliver; Kolodziejek, Jolanta; Nell, Barbara; Nowotny, Norbert
2014-04-01
The aim of this study was to assess the extent of asinine herpesvirus (AsHV) type 5 infection in 'closed' populations of clinically normal Lipizzaner horses. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells plus nasal and conjunctival swabs were obtained on four occasions over an 18 month period from 266 animals as part of a health surveillance programme. Sequence analysis of samples that were positive by nested consensus herpesvirus PCR but negative using quantified equid herpesvirus (EHV) type 2 and 5 PCR, revealed a total of 51 samples from 39 horses positive for AsHV-5. No statistically significant association between animal age, gender or geographical location and infection status was identified. The findings suggest sub-clinical AsHV-5 infection may be encountered more frequently than previously reported. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Sbrockey, N. M., E-mail: sbrockey@structuredmaterials.com; Tompa, G. S. [Structured Materials Industries, Inc., Piscataway, New Jersey 08854 (United States); Kalkur, T. S.; Mansour, A. [Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Colorado State University at Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80933 (United States); Khassaf, H.; Yu, H.; Aindow, M.; Alpay, S. P. [Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269 (United States)
2016-08-01
A solidly mounted acoustic resonator was fabricated using a Ba{sub 0.60}Sr{sub 0.40}TiO{sub 3} (BST) film deposited by metal organic chemical vapor deposition. The device was acoustically isolated from the substrate using a Bragg reflector consisting of three pairs of Ta{sub 2}O{sub 5}/SiO{sub 2} layers deposited by chemical solution deposition. Transmission electron microscopy verified that the Bragg reflector was not affected by the high temperatures and oxidizing conditions necessary to process high quality BST films. Electrical characterization of the resonator demonstrated a quality factor (Q) of 320 and an electromechanical coupling coefficient (K{sub t}{sup 2}) of 7.0% at 11 V.
Song, M K; Kim, Y
2001-01-01
The crystal structures of fully dehydrated Ni sup 2 sup + - and Tl sup + -exchanged zeolite X (Ni sub 1 sub 7 Tl sub 5 sub 8 -X, and Ni sub 1 sub 2 Tl sub 6 sub 8 -X; X=Si sub 1 sub 0 sub 0 Al sub 9 sub 2 O sub 3 sub 8 sub 4) have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques in the cubic space group Fd3 at 21(1) .deg. C (a=24.380(4) A, 24.660(4) A, respectively). Their structures have been refined to the final error indices R sub 1 =0.037 and R sub 2 =0.043 with 485 reflections, and R sub 1 =0.039 and R sub 2 =0.040 with 306 reflections, respectively, for which I>3 sigma(I). In Ni sub 1 sub 7 Tl sub 5 sub 8 -X, 17 Ni sup 2 sup + ions per unit cell were found at only two sites: 15 at site I at the center of the hexagonal prism (Ni-O=2.203(9) A). and the remaining 2 at site II near single six-oxygen rings in the supercage (Ni-O=2.16(3) A). Fifty-eight Tl sup + ions were found at five crystallographic sites: 28 at site II (Tl-O=2.626(8) A, 2 at site I' in the sodalite cavity near the hexagonal ...
Animal Welfare in Air Transport
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Boris Popović
2012-10-01
Full Text Available Animal welfare is becoming an evermore-important factorfor air carriers from the economical viewpoint, due to its importantimpact on the carrier public image. High standard care hasto be taken of animals during transport in order to satisfy an importantsegment of airline customers, either the Business/Firstclass passengers travelling with pets, or influential shippers ofracing horses, dogs, Zoo species etc.Air transp011 of animals, disregarding other advantages,may pose a threat to their health and welfare being a significantmultifactorial stressor. Along with cardiovascular, endocrineand metabolic abe1mtions, it affects the immune response ofan animal and increases susceptibility to infection. Therefore,strict conditions for air transport of eve1y animal species havebeen imposed. Transport of only healthy animals is approved,as it is necessG/y to prevent the spread of disease during transportand to provide satisfactOJy environment for animals to betransported.
Animal models for Ebola and Marburg virus infections
Nakayama, Eri; Saijo, Masayuki
2013-01-01
Ebola and Marburg hemorrhagic fevers (EHF and MHF) are caused by the Filoviridae family, Ebolavirus and Marburgvirus (ebolavirus and marburgvirus), respectively. These severe diseases have high mortality rates in humans. Although EHF and MHF are endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. A novel filovirus, Lloviu virus, which is genetically distinct from ebolavirus and marburgvirus, was recently discovered in Spain where filoviral hemorrhagic fever had never been reported. The virulence of this virus has not been determined. Ebolavirus and marburgvirus are classified as biosafety level-4 (BSL-4) pathogens and Category A agents, for which the US government requires preparedness in case of bioterrorism. Therefore, preventive measures against these viral hemorrhagic fevers should be prepared, not only in disease-endemic regions, but also in disease-free countries. Diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics need to be developed, and therefore the establishment of animal models for EHF and MHF is invaluable. Several animal models have been developed for EHF and MHF using non-human primates (NHPs) and rodents, which are crucial to understand pathophysiology and to develop diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics. Rhesus and cynomolgus macaques are representative models of filovirus infection as they exhibit remarkably similar symptoms to those observed in humans. However, the NHP models have practical and ethical problems that limit their experimental use. Furthermore, there are no inbred and genetically manipulated strains of NHP. Rodent models such as mouse, guinea pig, and hamster, have also been developed. However, these rodent models require adaptation of the virus to produce lethal disease and do not mirror all symptoms of human filovirus infection. This review article provides an outline of the clinical features of EHF and MHF in animals, including humans, and discusses how the animal models have been developed to study pathophysiology, vaccines, and therapeutics. PMID:24046765
Animal models for Ebola and Marburg virus infections
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Eri eNakayama
2013-09-01
Full Text Available Ebola and Marburg hemorrhagic fevers (EHF and MHF are caused by the Filoviridae family, Ebolavirus and Marburgvirus (ebolavirus and marburgvirus, respectively. These severe diseases have high mortality rates in humans. Although EHF and MHF are endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. A novel filovirus, Lloviu virus, which is genetically distinct from ebolavirus and marburgvirus, was recently discovered in Spain where filoviral hemorrhagic fever had never been reported. The virulence of this virus has not been determined. Ebolavirus and marburgvirus are classified as biosafety level-4 (BSL-4 pathogens and Category A agents, for which the US government requires preparedness in case of bioterrorism. Therefore, preventive measures against these viral hemorrhagic fevers should be prepared, not only in disease-endemic regions, but also in disease-free countries. Diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics need to be developed, and therefore the establishment of animal models for EHF and MHF is invaluable. Several animal models have been developed for EHF and MHF using nonhuman primates (NHPs and rodents, which are crucial to understand pathophysiology and to develop diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics. Rhesus and cynomolgus macaques are representative models of filovirus infection as they exhibit remarkably similar symptoms to those observed in humans. However, the NHP models have practical and ethical problems that limit their experimental use. Furthermore, there are no inbred and genetically manipulated strains of NHP. Rodent models such as mouse, guinea pig, and hamster, have also been developed. However, these rodent models require adaptation of the virus to produce lethal disease and do not mirror all symptoms of human filovirus infection. This review article provides an outline of the clinical features of EHF and MHF in animals, including humans, and discusses how the animal models have been developed to study pathophysiology, vaccines, and therapeutics.
Acute and sub-chronic toxicity studies of honokiol microemulsion.
Zhang, Qianqian; Li, Jianguo; Zhang, Wei; An, Quan; Wen, Jianhua; Wang, Aiping; Jin, Hongtao; Chen, Shizhong
2015-04-01
The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute and sub-chronic toxicity of honokiol microemulsion. In the acute toxicity tests, the mice were intravenously injected graded doses of honokiol microemulsion and were observed for toxic symptoms and mortality daily for 14 days. In the sub-chronic toxicity study, rats were injected honokiol microemulsion at doses of 100, 500, 2500 μg/kg body weight (BW) for 30 days. After 30 days treatment and 14 days recovery, the rats were sacrificed for hematological, biochemical and histological examination. In the acute toxicity tests, the estimated median lethal dosage (LD50) was 50.5mg/kg body weight in mice. In the sub-chronic toxicity tests, the non-toxic reaction dose was 500 μg/kg body weight. In each treatment group, degeneration or/and necrosis in vascular endothelial cells and structure change of vessel wall can be observed in the injection site (cauda vein) of a few animals while there were no changes in the vessels of other organs. The overall findings of this study indicate that the honokiol microemulsion is non-toxic up to 500 μg/kg body weight, and it has irritation to the vascular of the injection site which should be paid attention to in clinical medication. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Anderson, Maureen E.C.; Weese, J. Scott
2016-01-01
The objective of this study was to describe the perceived importance of and barriers to hand hygiene among companion animal clinic staff. An anonymous, voluntary written questionnaire was completed by 356 of approximately 578 individuals (62%) from 49/51 clinics. On a scale of 1 (not important) to 7 (very important), the percentage of respondents who rated hand hygiene as a 5 or higher was at least 82% in all clinical scenarios queried. The most frequently reported reason for not performing hand hygiene was forgetting to do so (40%, 141/353). Specific discussion of hand hygiene practices at work was recalled by 32% (114/354) of respondents. Although veterinary staff seem to recognize the importance of hand hygiene, it should be emphasized more during staff training. Other barriers including time constraints and skin irritation should also be addressed, possibly through increased access to and use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers. PMID:26933265
Dielectric properties of Ga{sub 2}O{sub 3}-doped barium iron niobate ceramics
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Sanjoom, Kachaporn [Department of Physics and Materials Science, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200 (Thailand); Thailand Center of Excellence in Physics, Commission on Higher Education, 328 Sri Ayutthaya Road, Bangkok, 10400 (Thailand); Pengpat, Kamonpan; Eitssayeam, Sukum; Tunkasiri, Tawee [Department of Physics and Materials Science, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200 (Thailand); Materials Science Research Center, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200 (Thailand); Rujijanagul, Gobwute [Department of Physics and Materials Science, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200 (Thailand); Materials Science Research Center, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200 (Thailand); Thailand Center of Excellence in Physics, Commission on Higher Education, 328 Sri Ayutthaya Road, Bangkok, 10400 (Thailand)
2014-08-15
Ga-doped BaFe{sub 0.5}Nb{sub 0.5}O{sub 3} (Ba(Fe{sub 1-x}Ga{sub x}){sub 0.5}Nb{sub 0.5}O{sub 3}) ceramics were fabricated and their properties were investigated. All ceramics showed perovskite structure with cubic symmetry and the solubility of Ga in BFN ceramics had a limit at x = 0.2. Examination of the dielectric spectra indicated that all ceramic samples presented high dielectric constants that were frequency dependent. The x = 0.2 ceramic showed a very high dielectric constant (ε{sub r} > 240 000 at 1 kHz) while the x = 0.4 sample exhibited high thermal stability of dielectric constant with low loss tangent from room temperature (RT) to 100 C with ε{sub r} > 28 000 (at 1 kHz) when compared to other samples. By using a complex impedance analysis technique, bulk grain, grain boundary, and electrode response were found to affect the dielectric behavior that could be related to the Maxwell-Wagner polarization mechanism. (copyright 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
May, Julian
2018-02-01
Socio-economic dynamics determine the transition from diets characterized by the risk of famine, to those characterized by the risk of diet-related non-communicable disease (DR-NCD). This transition is of particular concern in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in which key socio-economic interactions that influence diet include economic growth and rapid urbanization; inequality and a growing middle class; and obesogenic food environments and an increasing prevalence of DR-NCD. In each case, countries in SSA are among those experiencing the most rapid change in the world. These interactions, styled as 'keystones', affect the functioning of other components of the food system and the diets that result. Data from the wealthiest quartile of countries in SSA suggest that these keystones may be increasing the risk of DR-NCD, widening inequalities in health outcomes due to unbalanced diets. To address this, new consumer and government capabilities that address these keystones are required. Food sensitive urban planning, supporting food literacy and fiscal management of consumption are examples. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Cynomolgus macaque as an animal model for severe acute respiratory syndrome.
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
James V Lawler
2006-05-01
Full Text Available The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS in 2002 and 2003 affected global health and caused major economic disruption. Adequate animal models are required to study the underlying pathogenesis of SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV infection and to develop effective vaccines and therapeutics. We report the first findings of measurable clinical disease in nonhuman primates (NHPs infected with SARS-CoV.In order to characterize clinically relevant parameters of SARS-CoV infection in NHPs, we infected cynomolgus macaques with SARS-CoV in three groups: Group I was infected in the nares and bronchus, group II in the nares and conjunctiva, and group III intravenously. Nonhuman primates in groups I and II developed mild to moderate symptomatic illness. All NHPs demonstrated evidence of viral replication and developed neutralizing antibodies. Chest radiographs from several animals in groups I and II revealed unifocal or multifocal pneumonia that peaked between days 8 and 10 postinfection. Clinical laboratory tests were not significantly changed. Overall, inoculation by a mucosal route produced more prominent disease than did intravenous inoculation. Half of the group I animals were infected with a recombinant infectious clone SARS-CoV derived from the SARS-CoV Urbani strain. This infectious clone produced disease indistinguishable from wild-type Urbani strain.SARS-CoV infection of cynomolgus macaques did not reproduce the severe illness seen in the majority of adult human cases of SARS; however, our results suggest similarities to the milder syndrome of SARS-CoV infection characteristically seen in young children.
Effect of Er-doping on the structural and optical properties of Cd{sub 2}V{sub 2}O{sub 7}
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Lozada-Morales, R.; Cid-Garcia, A.; Palomino-Merino, R. [Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla, Postgrado en Fisica Aplicada, Facultad de Ciencias Fisico-Matematicas, Av. 14, San Claudio, Col. San Manuel, Puebla (Mexico); Lopez-Calzada, G.; Jimenez-Sandoval, S. [Centro de Investigacion y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Unidad Queretaro, Apartado Postal 1-798, Queretaro, Qro. 76001 (Mexico); Zayas, Ma.E. [Departamento de Investigacion en Fisica de la Universidad de Sonora, Edificio 3I, Blvd. Edificio 5 E, Luis Encinas s/n, Col. Centro, 83000 Hermosillo, Sonora (Mexico); Zelaya-Angel, O. [Departamento de Fisica, Centro de Investigacion y de Estudios Avanzados, P.O. Box 14-740, Mexico D. F. 07360 (Mexico); Carmona-Rodriguez, J. [Instituto Tecnologico Superior de Poza Rica, Calle Luis Donaldo Colosio S/N, Col. Arroyo del Maiz, C.P. 93230, Poza Rica, Veracruz (Mexico); Rubio-Rosas, E. [Centro de Vinculacion Universitaria, Av. 14, San Claudio, Col. San Manuel, Puebla (Mexico); Portillo-Moreno, O. [Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas, Av. 14, San Claudio, Col. San Manuel, Puebla (Mexico)
2012-11-15
The melt-quenching method was used to prepare two groups of samples using CdO and V{sub 2}O{sub 5} as starting materials. Taking into account that a crystalline-amorphous phase transition would be expected for the CdO-V{sub 2}O{sub 5} system, a first batch was prepared varying the proportions of CdO and V{sub 2}O{sub 5} in the intervals 60-95 and 40-5 wt%, respectively. With the aim of investigating the effect of erbium in the phase transition and crystalline quality of the first group of samples, a second batch was fabricated with the same proportions of CdO and V{sub 2}O{sub 5}, with the addition of 5 wt% of Er(NO{sub 3})5H{sub 2}O as source of Er{sup 3+} ions. It was found that crystalline or amorphous samples could be obtained depending on the relative concentrations of CdO and V{sub 2}O{sub 5}, and that the borderline between amorphous and crystalline samples was affected by the incorporation of Er. From X-ray diffraction, it was possible to identify the formation of the ternary compound Cd{sub 2}V{sub 2}O{sub 7} in the crystalline cases. The Raman and infrared bands in these samples were in agreement with the lattice modes of Cd{sub 2}V{sub 2}O{sub 7}. Additionally, an improvement in the crystalline quality of Cd{sub 2}V{sub 2}O{sub 7} was obtained for the Er-doped samples. The effect of the local environment around the Er{sup 3+} ions on the room temperature photoluminescence was also investigated for the amorphous and crystalline samples. (Copyright copyright 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Aguilar M, J. A. [Centro de Investigac ion en Materiales Avanzados, S. C., Alianza Norte No. 202, Parque de Investigacion e Innovacion Tecnologica, Nueva Carretera Aeropuerto Km. 10 Apodaca 66600, Nuevo Leon (Mexico); Pech C, M. I. [IPN, Centro de Investigacion y de Estudios Avanzados, Unidad Saltillo, Carretera Saltillo-Monterrey Km. 13, Saltillo 25900, Coahuila (Mexico); Hernandez, M. B.; Rodriguez, E.; Garcia O, L. [Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Facultad de Ingenieria Mecanica y Electrica, San Nicolas de los Garza, Nuevo Leon (Mexico); Glot, A. B., E-mail: josue.aguilar@cimav.edu.mx [Universidad Tecnologica de la Mixteca, Division de Estudios de Posgrado, Carretera Acatlima Km. 2.5, Huajuapan de Leon 69000, Oaxaca (Mexico)
2013-10-01
The effect of Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3} addition on the physical characteristics, microstructure, and current-voltage properties of (Co-Sb)-doped SnO{sub 2} varistors was investigated. SnO{sub 2}-Co{sub 3}O{sub 4}-Sb{sub 2}O{sub 5} ceramics with additions of 0.0, 0.03, 0.05 and 0.07 mol % Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3} were sintered at 1350 C under ambient atmosphere and characterized micro structurally and electrically. The characterization by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy show that the microstructure remains as a single phase material with multimodal size distribution of SnO{sub 2} grains. The greatest effect of Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3} additions is manifested in the electric breakdown field. Additions of high levels (0.07 and 0.05 %) of this oxide promote and increase of approximately 55% in this parameter compared to the Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3}-free sample. Another physical property is affected: the measured density values decreases as the Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3} content increases. A change in the nonlinearity coefficient value is produced only at the highest Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3} content while at intermediate levels there is not change at all. Consequently, when seeking high nonlinearity coefficients, intermediate levels of Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3} are not recommended. (Author)
Moessbauer studies of single crystal Pr sub 1 sub / sub 3 Sr sub 2 sub / sub 3 FeO sub 3
Uhm, Y R; Kim, C S; Tomioka, Y; Tokura, Y
2000-01-01
Single crystal Pr sub 1 sub / sub 3 Sr sub 2 sub / sub 3 FeO sub 3 was synthesized by using the floating zone method and the relation of magnetic properties and charge ordering transition with lattice dynamics was systematically investigated. Moessbauer spectra of Pr sub 1 sub / sub 3 sub S r sub 2 sub / sub 3 FeO sub 3 were taken at various temperatures ranging from 20 K to room temperature. The charge disproportionation, in which iron with valence states Fe sup 3 sup + and Fe sup 5 sup + was found in a ratio of 2:1, was detected in Pr sub 1 sub / sub 3 Sr sub 2 sub / sub 3 FeO sub 3 below 190+-3 K. Iron with valence state Fe sup 4 sup + coexisted in Pr sub 1 sub / sub 3 sub S r sub 2 sub / sub 3 FeO sub 3 at and above 150 K, and its ratio increased from 13 to 66 % with increasing temperature. This result means that charge-ordered and -disordered phases co-exist in Pr sub 1 sub / sub 3 Sr sub 2 sub / sub 3 FeO sub 3.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Mao, Lingling; Wu, Yilei; Stoumpos, Constantinos C.; Traore, Boubacar [Institut; Katan, Claudine [Institut; Even, Jacky [Fonctions; Wasielewski, Michael R.; Kanatzidis, Mercouri G.
2017-08-16
Two-dimensional (2D) hybrid halide perovskites come as a family (B)<sub>2sub>(A)>n-1sub>PbnX>3n+1sub> (B and A= cations; X= halide). These perovskites are promising semiconductors for solar cells and optoelectronic applications. Among the fascinating properties of these materials is white-light emission, which has been mostly observed in single-layered 2D lead bromide or chloride systems (n = 1), where the broad emission comes from the transient photoexcited states generated by self-trapped excitons (STEs) from structural distortion. Here we report a multilayered 2D perovskite (n = 3) exhibiting a tunable white-light emission. Ethylammonium (EA+) can stabilize the 2D perovskite structure in EA<sub>4sub>Pb>3sub>Br>10–xsub>Clx> (x = 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9.5, and 10) with EA+ being both the A and B cations in this system. Because of the larger size of EA, these materials show a high distortion level in their inorganic structures, with EA4Pb3Cl10 having a much larger distortion than that of EA<sub>4sub>Pb>3sub>Br>10sub>, which results in broadband white-light emission of EA<sub>4sub>Pb>3sub>Cl>10sub> in contrast to narrow blue emission of EA4Pb3Br10. The average lifetime of the series decreases gradually from the Cl end to the Br end, indicating that the larger distortion also prolongs the lifetime (more STE states). The band gap of EA<sub>4sub>Pb>3sub>Br>10–xsub>Clx> ranges from 3.45 eV (x = 10) to 2.75 eV (x = 0), following Vegard’s law. First-principles density functional theory calculations (DFT) show that both EA<sub>4sub>Pb>3sub>Cl>10sub> and EA<sub>4sub>Pb>3sub>Br>10sub> are direct band gap semiconductors. The color rendering index (CRI) of the series improves from 66 (EA<sub>4sub>Pb>3sub>Cl>10sub>) to 83 (EA<sub>4sub>Pb>3sub>Br>0.5sub>Cl>9.5sub>), displaying high tunability and versatility of the
Coupled effects of atmospheric N/sub 2/O and O/sub 3/ on the earth's climate
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Wang, W C; Sze, N D
1980-08-07
Increased application of nitrogen fertilizer could perturb the atmospheric nitrogen cycle and might lead to a possible increase in atmospheric N/sub 2/O. N/sub 2/O plays an important role in stratospheric chemistry as well as in the global radiation budget. Recent studies suggest that perturbation of local ozone could also significantly affect the global climate. Here we show that a doubling in the present day N/sub 2/O level might significantly perturb the distribution of O/sub 3/ and HNO/sub 3/, and that the associated climatic feedbacks from O/sub 3/ and HNO/sub 3/ perturbations could contribute as much as 0.23 K warming of the surface temperature, in addition to 0.44 K directly caused by N/sub 2/O doubling.
Giovannelli, F; Monot-Laffez, I
2003-01-01
Bars and pellets of the (Sm sub 0 sub . sub 3 sub 3 Eu sub 0 sub . sub 3 sub 3 Gd sub 0 sub . sub 3 sub 3)Ba sub 2 Cu sub 3 O sub x superconductor were processed in air, using the floating zone method and the top-seeded melt-textured growth method, respectively. The samples were prepared using different experimental conditions, i.e. maximal processing temperature, translation rate or cooling rate. Their physical properties and their microstructure were studied. All the samples exhibit a satisfying superconducting transition whereas the critical current density greatly depends on the processing parameters. The sample prepared by the floating zone method at 1070 deg C with a translation rate of 2 mm h sup - sup 1 exhibits a very high J sub c value of 70000 A cm sup - sup 2 in the self-field and more than 30000 A cm sup - sup 2 at 1.7 T. The pellet processed at 1080 deg C with a cooling rate of 2 deg C h sup - sup 1 has a high J sub c reaching about 56000 A cm sup - sup 2 in the self-field and more than 32000 A ...
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Souza, Luiza Freire de; Souza, Divanizia N., E-mail: luizaf25@hotmail.com, E-mail: divanizi@ufs.br [Universidade Federal de Sergipe (UFS), Sao Cristovao, SE (Brazil). Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Fisica
2013-07-01
The thermoluminescent dosimetry (TL) is a well-established technique for the detection of ionizing radiation in hospitals, clinics, and industrial establishments where there is the need to quantify the radiation. For this practice is require the use phosphors which are sensitive to radiation. Some phosphors are already commonly used in this practice, for example, TLD-100 (LiF: Mg, Ti), CaSO{sub 4}:Tm and CaSO{sub 4}:Dy. A compound that was most recently introduced in dosimetry and has many advantageous features to detect neutrons, electrons and gamma is the magnesium tetraborate (MgB{sub 4}O{sub 7}), but the undoped material is not good for dosimetry, since signal does not show satisfactory thermoluminescence. The present work presents the analysis of the compound MgB{sub 4}O{sub 7} when doped with rare earth elements, thulium (Tm) and dysprosium (Dy). The production of MgB{sub 4}O{sub 7}: Dy and MgB{sub 4}O{sub 7}: Tm occurred under acidic conditions. Following the process of crystal growth, several tests were made on phosphors produced to verify the quality of materials as TL dosimeter. Initially, was made the identification of the crystalline phases found in the material, using the technique of X-ray diffractometry, and then were evaluated and compared the TL emission curves of the crystals with two different types of dopants, to this, the samples were irradiated with different radiation sources: {sup 137}Cs (0,66 MeV), {sup 60}Co (1.25 MeV) and X-rays (0.41 MeV) and based on the results was evaluated the energy dependence of phosphors. Another characteristic analyzed, was the decay of TL signal for the material (fading). The results show that the material can be an excellent TL dosimeter when doped with rare earth elements Dy and Tm. (author)
Magnetostructural Phase Diagram of Multiferroic (ND<sub>4sub>)>2sub>FeCl>5sub>.H>2sub>O
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Clune, A. [Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States); Hughey, K. [Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States); Musfeldt, J. L. [Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States); Tian, W. [Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Fernandez-Baca, J. [Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Singleton, John [Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
2017-02-13
Spin and polarization flop transitions are fascinating, especially when controlled by external stimuli like magnetic and electric field and accompanied by large material responses involving multiple degrees of freedom. Multiferroics like MnWO<sub>4sub>, TbMnO<sub>3sub>, and Ni<sub>3sub>TeO>6sub> are flagship examples and owe their remarkable properties, for instance field control of polarization and polarization flops combined with spin helix reorientation, to the anisotropy and heavy centers that bring in spin-orbit coupling. The family of A<sub>2sub>FeX>5sub>.H>2sub>O erythrosiderites (A = K, Rb, NH<sub>4sub>; B = Fe, Mn, Co; X = Cl, Br, H<sub>2sub>O) drew our attention due to the rich chemical tuning possibilities, complex phase diagrams, and topological similarities to oxide multiferroics.1 (NH<sub>4sub>)>2sub>FeCl>5sub>.H>2sub>O is the flagship example (Fig. 1(a)). It displays a high temperature order-disorder transition involving long-range hydrogen bonding of the NH<sub>4sub>+ group and two successive low temperature magnetic transitions below which non-collinear magnetic order and ferroelectricity are established.1 In addition to the magnetically-induced electric polarization that arises below 6.9 K (P = 3 μC/m<sub>2sub> along a and a smaller component along b), applied field reveals a peculiar hysteretic spin flop transition near 4.5 T above which polarization flops from the a- to the c-axis. There are elastic components as well. Taken together, these findings raise questions about the interactions that induce this behavior and whether additional non-equilibrium phases might be accessed under even higher magnetic fields.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Skvortsov, V G; Sadetdinov, Sh V; Akimov, V M; Mitrasov, Yu N; Petrova, O V; Klopov, Yu N [Chuvashskij Gosudarstvennyj Pedagogicheskij Inst., Cheboksary (Russian Federation) Universitet Druzhby Narodov, Moscow (Russian Federation)
1994-02-01
Phase equilibriums in the Li[sub 2]B[sub 4]O[sub 7] (Na[sub 2]B[sub 4]O[sub 7], K[sub 2]B[sub 4]O[sub 7])-N[sub 2]H[sub 3]H[sub 4]OH-H[sub 2]O systems were investigated by methods of isothermal solubility, refractometry and PH-metry at 25 deg C for the first time. Lithium and sodium tetraborates was established to form phases of changed composition mM[sub 2]B[sub 4]O[sub 7][center dot]nN[sub 2]H[sub 3]C[sub 2]H[sub 4]OH[center dot]XH[sub 2]O, where M=Li, Na with hydrazine ethanol. K[sub 2]B[sub 4]O[sub 7][center dot]4H[sub 2]O precipitates in solid phase in the case of potassium salt. Formation of isomorphous mixtures was supported by X-ray diffraction and IR spectroscopy methods.
Helping Children with Disabilities through Animal-Assisted Therapy
Watts, Katie; Everly, Janet Stout
2009-01-01
The Delta Society defines animal-assisted therapy as "a goal-directed intervention in which an animal is incorporated as an integral part of the clinical healthcare treatment process." Unlike other animal-assisted activities, animal-assisted therapy, or AAT, is led by a professional such as a physical therapist, occupational therapist,…
International Nuclear Information System (INIS)
Kato, K.; Fukuda, H.
1985-01-01
When the rat cerebellar climbing fibers degenerated, as induced by lesioning the inferior olive with 3-acetylpyridine (3-AP), GABA/sub B/ receptor binding determined with 3 H-(+/-)baclofen was reduced in the cerebellum but not in the cerebral cortex of rats. Computer analysis of saturation data revealed two components of the binding sites, and indicated that decrease of the binding in the cerebellum was due to reduction in receptor density, mainly of the high-affinity sites, the B/sub max/ of which was reduced to one-third that in the control animals. In vitro treatment with 3-AP, of the membranes prepared from either the cerebellum or the cerebral cortex, induced no alteration in the binding sites, thereby indicating that the alteration of GABA/sub B/ sites induced by in vivo treatment with 3-AP is not due to a direct action of 3-AP on the receptor. GABA/sub A/ and benzodiazepine receptor binding labelled with 3 H-muscimol and 3 H-diazepam, respectively, in both of brain regions was not affected by destruction of the inferior olive. These results provide evidence that some of the GABA/sub B/ sites but neither GABA/sub A/ nor benzodiazepine receptors in the cerebellum are located at the climbing fiber terminals. 28 references, 4 figures, 2 tables
Do genetically modified crops affect animal reproduction? A review of the ongoing debate.
Zhang, W; Shi, F
2011-05-01
In the past few years, genetically modified (GM) crops aimed at producing food/feed that became part of the regular agriculture in many areas of the world. However, we are uncertain whether GM food and feed can exert potential adverse effects on humans or animals. Of importance, the reproductive toxicology of GM crops has been studied using a number of methods, and by feeding GM crops to a number species of animals to ensure the safety assessment of GM food and feed. It appears that there are no adverse effects of GM crops on many species of animals in acute and short-term feeding studies, but serious debates of effects of long-term and multigenerational feeding studies remain. The aims of this review are to focus on the latest (last 3 to 4 years) findings and debates on reproduction of male and female animals after feeding daily diets containing the GM crops, and to present the possible mechanism(s) to explain their influences.
The calm mouse: an animal model of stress reduction.
Gurfein, Blake T; Stamm, Andrew W; Bacchetti, Peter; Dallman, Mary F; Nadkarni, Nachiket A; Milush, Jeffrey M; Touma, Chadi; Palme, Rupert; Di Borgo, Charles Pozzo; Fromentin, Gilles; Lown-Hecht, Rachel; Konsman, Jan Pieter; Acree, Michael; Premenko-Lanier, Mary; Darcel, Nicolas; Hecht, Frederick M; Nixon, Douglas F
2012-05-09
Chronic stress is associated with negative health outcomes and is linked with neuroendocrine changes, deleterious effects on innate and adaptive immunity, and central nervous system neuropathology. Although stress management is commonly advocated clinically, there is insufficient mechanistic understanding of how decreasing stress affects disease pathogenesis. Therefore, we have developed a "calm mouse model" with caging enhancements designed to reduce murine stress. Male BALB/c mice were divided into four groups: control (Cntl), standard caging; calm (Calm), large caging to reduce animal density, a cardboard nest box for shelter, paper nesting material to promote innate nesting behavior, and a polycarbonate tube to mimic tunneling; control exercise (Cntl Ex), standard caging with a running wheel, known to reduce stress; and calm exercise (Calm Ex), calm caging with a running wheel. Calm, Cntl Ex and Calm Ex animals exhibited significantly less corticosterone production than Cntl animals. We also observed changes in spleen mass, and in vitro splenocyte studies demonstrated that Calm Ex animals had innate and adaptive immune responses that were more sensitive to acute handling stress than those in Cntl. Calm animals gained greater body mass than Cntl, although they had similar food intake, and we also observed changes in body composition, using magnetic resonance imaging. Together, our results suggest that the Calm mouse model represents a promising approach to studying the biological effects of stress reduction in the context of health and in conjunction with existing disease models.
C60 and U ion irradiation of Gd<sub>2sub>TixZr>2-xsub>O>7sub> pyrochlore
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Zhang, Jiaming; Toulemonde, Marcel; Lang, Maik; Costantini, Jean Marc; Della-Negra, Serge; Ewing, Rodney C.
2015-08-01
Gd<sub>2sub>TixZr>2-xsub>O>7sub> (x = 0 to 2) pyrochlore was irradiated by 30 MeV C<sub>60sub> clusters, which provide an extremely high ionizing energy density. Here, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy revealed a complex ion-track structure in Gd<sub>2sub>Ti>2sub>O>7sub> and Gd<sub>2sub>TiZrO>7sub>, consisting of an amorphous core and a shell of a disordered, defect-fluorite structure.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Ordóñez-Regil, E., E-mail: eduardo.ordonez@inin.gob.mx [Depto. de Química, Gerencia de Ciencias Básicas, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares, AP 18-1027, CP 11801 México D.F. (Mexico); Contreras-Ramírez, A., E-mail: aida.contreras@inin.gob.mx [Depto. de Química, Gerencia de Ciencias Básicas, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares, AP 18-1027, CP 11801 México D.F. (Mexico); Depto. de Tecnología de Materiales, Gerencia de Ciencias Aplicadas, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares, AP 18-1027, CP 11801 México D.F. (Mexico); Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Unidad Académica el Cerrillo, Piedras Blancas, AP 2-139, CP 50000 Toluca Estado de México (Mexico); Fernández-Valverde, S.M., E-mail: suilma.fernandez@inin.gob.mx [Depto. de Química, Gerencia de Ciencias Básicas, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares, AP 18-1027, CP 11801 México D.F. (Mexico); González-Martínez, P.R., E-mail: pedro.gonzalez@inin.gob.mx [Depto. de Física, Gerencia de Ciencias Básicas, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares, AP 18-1027, CP 11801 México D.F. (Mexico); Carrasco-Ábrego, H., E-mail: hector.carrasco@inin.gob.mx [Depto. Aceleradores, Gerencia de Ciencias Ambientales, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares, AP 18-1027, CP 11801 México D.F. (Mexico)
2013-11-15
Graphical abstract: -- Highlights: •NaZr{sub 2}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} exposed to gamma doses of 10, 30 and 50 MGy. •Gamma radiation produced growth of the crystal size of the NZP. •Morphology changes were reversible by heating. •Linear relationship between the thermoluminescence and the applied gamma dose. •This property could be useful for high-level gamma dosimetry. -- Abstract: This work describes the synthesis and characterization of NaZr{sub 2}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}. The stability of this material under high doses of gamma radiation was investigated in the range of 10–50 MGy. Samples of unaltered and gamma irradiated NaZr{sub 2}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} were characterized by X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and thermoluminescence. The results showed that while functional groups were not affected by the gamma irradiation, morphology changes were observed with increasing doses of gamma irradiation. The morphology of the non-irradiated compound is agglomerated flakes; however, irradiation at 10 MGy splits the flakes inducing the formation of well-defined cubes. Gamma irradiation induced the crystal size of the NaZr{sub 2}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} to grow. The heat treatment (973 K) of samples irradiated at 50 MGy resulted in the recovery of the original morphology. Furthermore, the thermoluminescence analysis of the irradiated compound is reported.
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Larry Carbone
Full Text Available Scientists who perform major survival surgery on laboratory animals face a dual welfare and methodological challenge: how to choose surgical anesthetics and post-operative analgesics that will best control animal suffering, knowing that both pain and the drugs that manage pain can all affect research outcomes. Scientists who publish full descriptions of animal procedures allow critical and systematic reviews of data, demonstrate their adherence to animal welfare norms, and guide other scientists on how to conduct their own studies in the field. We investigated what information on animal pain management a reasonably diligent scientist might find in planning for a successful experiment. To explore how scientists in a range of fields describe their management of this ethical and methodological concern, we scored 400 scientific articles that included major animal survival surgeries as part of their experimental methods, for the completeness of information on anesthesia and analgesia. The 400 articles (250 accepted for publication pre-2011, and 150 in 2014-15, along with 174 articles they reference included thoracotomies, craniotomies, gonadectomies, organ transplants, peripheral nerve injuries, spinal laminectomies and orthopedic procedures in dogs, primates, swine, mice, rats and other rodents. We scored articles for Publication Completeness (PC, which was any mention of use of anesthetics or analgesics; Analgesia Use (AU which was any use of post-surgical analgesics, and Analgesia Completeness (a composite score comprising intra-operative analgesia, extended post-surgical analgesia, and use of multimodal analgesia. 338 of 400 articles were PC. 98 of these 338 were AU, with some mention of analgesia, while 240 of 338 mentioned anesthesia only but not post-surgical analgesia. Journals' caliber, as measured by their 2013 Impact Factor, had no effect on PC or AU. We found no effect of whether a journal instructs authors to consult the ARRIVE
Carbone, Larry; Austin, Jamie
2016-01-01
Scientists who perform major survival surgery on laboratory animals face a dual welfare and methodological challenge: how to choose surgical anesthetics and post-operative analgesics that will best control animal suffering, knowing that both pain and the drugs that manage pain can all affect research outcomes. Scientists who publish full descriptions of animal procedures allow critical and systematic reviews of data, demonstrate their adherence to animal welfare norms, and guide other scientists on how to conduct their own studies in the field. We investigated what information on animal pain management a reasonably diligent scientist might find in planning for a successful experiment. To explore how scientists in a range of fields describe their management of this ethical and methodological concern, we scored 400 scientific articles that included major animal survival surgeries as part of their experimental methods, for the completeness of information on anesthesia and analgesia. The 400 articles (250 accepted for publication pre-2011, and 150 in 2014-15, along with 174 articles they reference) included thoracotomies, craniotomies, gonadectomies, organ transplants, peripheral nerve injuries, spinal laminectomies and orthopedic procedures in dogs, primates, swine, mice, rats and other rodents. We scored articles for Publication Completeness (PC), which was any mention of use of anesthetics or analgesics; Analgesia Use (AU) which was any use of post-surgical analgesics, and Analgesia Completeness (a composite score comprising intra-operative analgesia, extended post-surgical analgesia, and use of multimodal analgesia). 338 of 400 articles were PC. 98 of these 338 were AU, with some mention of analgesia, while 240 of 338 mentioned anesthesia only but not post-surgical analgesia. Journals' caliber, as measured by their 2013 Impact Factor, had no effect on PC or AU. We found no effect of whether a journal instructs authors to consult the ARRIVE publishing guidelines
Advances in Geological CO{sub 2} Sequestration and Co-Sequestration with O{sub 2}
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Verba, Circe A; O& #x27; Connor, William K.; Ideker, J.H.
2012-10-28
The injection of CO{sub 2} for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) and sequestration in brine-bearing formations for long term storage has been in practice or under investigation in many locations globally. This study focused on the assessment of cement wellbore seal integrity in CO{sub 2}- and CO{sub 2}-O{sub 2}-saturated brine and supercritical CO{sub 2} environments. Brine chemistries (NaCl, MgCl{sub 2}, CaCl{sub 2}) at various saline concentrations were investigated at a pressure of 28.9 MPa (4200 psi) at both 50{degree}C and 85{degree}C. These parameters were selected to simulate downhole conditions at several potential CO{sub 2} injection sites in the United States. Class H portland cement is not thermodynamically stable under these conditions and the formation of carbonic acid degrades the cement. Dissociation occurs and leaches cations, forming a CaCO{sub 3} buffered zone, amorphous silica, and other secondary minerals. Increased temperature affected the structure of C-S-H and the hydration of the cement leading to higher degradation rates.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Zong, Xiaopeng [Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)
2007-01-01
Strong electron correlation is believed to be an essential and unifying factor in diverse properties of condensed matter systems. Ground states that can arise due to electron correlation effects include Mott insulators, heavy fermion, ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism, spin glasses, and high-temperature superconductivity. The electronic systems in transition metal oxide compounds are often highly correlated. In this thesis, the author presents experimental studies on three strongly correlated vanadium oxide compounds: LiV<sub>2sub>O>4sub>, (Li<sub>xV>1-xsub>)>3sub>BO>5sub>, and CaV<sub>2sub>O>4sub>, which have completely different ground states.
Draft Animal Power at the Core of Strategies of Family Farms in Sub-Saharan Africa
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
M. Havard
2004-03-01
Full Text Available A comparative analysis was carried out on the use of draft animal power in three contrasted situations: the groundnut basin of Senegal, North-Cameroon, and Eastern Burkina Faso. The objective was to characterize draft animal power within farms. In each situation, data were collected according to specific methods and tools, and with the collaboration of various partners, but they did not allow for comparisons between the three countries. In any case, the analysis shows that farmers’ access to animal draft is often a difficult and step by step project. The first step is the acquisition of draft animals, which can require years of effort. The introduction of animal traction leads to major changes in the production system of farmers who need to find a balance between land and energy availability, and manpower. The use of animals helps expand cultivated areas and develop crop/livestock integration. It changes the work organization and distribution, and generates new incomes. Finally, it creates new tasks related to husbandry activities, which thus lead to more expenses from farmers. At the farm level, analyses show that farmers acquire implements in various ways and therefore use various strategies in order to have access to and retain animal traction. They also confirm the central role of animal traction in the life cycle of the farms. At the village level, they show the determining role of work and land exchanges among farms in the process of animal traction acquisition. This process is at an advanced stage in the Senegalese groundnut basin and at an earlier stage in Eastern Burkina Faso and North-Cameroon. It is essential to assist these processes. Priorities must be given to the acquisition of draft animals for unequipped farmers in Eastern Burkina Faso and North-Cameroon, and to taking sustainable measures in all three countries studied, particularly in Senegal: diversified activities, technique control, area-specific innovations.
Lin, C T; Liang, B
2002-01-01
Single crystals with the [100] orientation were selected and used as seeds to investigate the effect of travelling solvent floating zone growth on superconducting oxides of Nd sub 1 sub . sub 8 sub 5 Ce sub 0 sub . sub 1 sub 5 CuO sub 4 and Bi sub 2 Sr sub 2 CaCu sub 2 O sub 8 sub - subdelta. The number of nuclei was remarkably reduced and random nuclei could be eased when the seeding was applied during the growth of Nd sub 1 sub . sub 8 sub 5 Ce sub 0 sub . sub 1 sub 5 CuO sub 4 single crystals, compared to the crystals grown without seed. The crystal could preferentially grow on the seed although some additional nuclei occurred at the solid-liquid interface during the initial growth process. In consequence, the crystal ingot obtained is a large single grain having dimensions of 5 mm in diameter and 40 mm in length. The orientation of the seeded growth crystal was found to be 5deg off the [100] seed identified by an x-ray Laue pattern. For the growth of Bi sub 2 Sr sub 2 CaCu sub 2 O sub 8 sub - subdelta, it...
Multifocal Equine Influenza Outbreak with Vaccination Breakdown in Thoroughbred Racehorses
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Sarah Gildea
2018-04-01
Full Text Available Equine influenza (EI outbreaks occurred on 19 premises in Ireland during 2014. Disease affected thoroughbred (TB and non-TB horses/ponies on a variety of premises including four racing yards. Initial clinical signs presented on 16 premises within a two-month period. Extensive field investigations were undertaken, and the diagnostic effectiveness of a TaqMan RT-PCR assay was demonstrated in regularly-vaccinated and sub-clinically-affected horses. Epidemiological data and repeat clinical samples were collected from 305 horses, of which 40% were reported as clinically affected, 39% were identified as confirmed cases and 11% were sub-clinically affected. Multivariable analysis demonstrated a significant association between clinical signs and age, vaccination status and number of vaccine doses received. Vaccine breakdown was identified in 31% of horses with up to date vaccination records. This included 27 horses in four different racing yards. Genetic and antigenic analysis identified causal viruses as belonging to Clade 2 of the Florida sublineage (FCL2. At the time of this study, no commercially available EI vaccine in Ireland had been updated in line with World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE recommendations to include a FCL2 virus. The findings of this study highlight the potential ease with which EI can spread among partially immune equine populations.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Wu, K.H.; Fu, C.M.; Jeng, W.J. [National Chiao-Tung Univ., Taiwan (China)] [and others
1994-12-31
The effects of oxygen stoichiometry on the transport properties of the pulsed laser deposited YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub x} bicrystalline grain boundary weak-link junctions were studied. It is found that not only the cross boundary resistive transition foot structure can be manipulated repeatedly with oxygen annealling processes but the junction behaviors are also altered in accordance. In the fully oxygenated state i.e. with x=7.0 in YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub x} stoichiometry, the junction critical current exhibits a power of 2 scaling behavior with temperature. In contrast, when annealed in the conditions of oxygen-deficient state (e.g. with x=6.9 in YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub x} stoichiometry) the junction critical current switches to a linear temperature dependence behavior. The results are tentatively attributed to the modification of the structure in the boundary area upon oxygen annealing, which, in turn, will affect the effective dimension of the geometrically constrained weak-link bridges. The detailed discussion on the responsible physical mechanisms as well as the implications of the present results on device applications will be given.
DEFF Research Database (Denmark)
Jensen, Tina Birk; Bonde, Marianne Kjær; Kongsted, Anne Grete
2010-01-01
Sows suffering from clinical signs of disease (e.g. lameness, wounds and shoulder ulcers) are often involuntarily culled, affecting the farmer's economy and the welfare of the animals. In order to investigate the interrelationships between clinical signs of individual pregnant group-housed sows, we...
Development of animal welfare understanding drives change in minimum welfare standards.
Mellor, D J; Webster, J R
2014-04-01
The process by which societies adapt to increasing knowledge about the mental and physical capacities of animals and the ways in which they are affected by human activities has been described as a journey. Different countries and regions are at various stages of this journey, and will take a unique path, depending on their specific social and cultural dynamics. However, all participants are unified by an increasing awareness of, and concern for, animal welfare. This journey has been characterised by a number of landmark events, one of which was the release of the Five Freedoms concept. Although aspirational and abstract, as it did not outline specific practical goals, nonetheless this concept became a catalyst for moving animal welfare thinking in a new direction, and set up a number of important targets for research. This eventually led to a key shift in thinking from a focus on biological functioning and resources, to ways of assessing welfare outcomes in terms of animals' experiences, i.e. their affective states. Behaviour science played an important role in the interpretation of animals' affective experiences, receiving compelling support from parallel studies in affective neuroscience. An important aspect of our understanding of animal welfare is that affective states can be negative or positive. Enabling animals to perform specific behaviours at key times when they are needed is central to the achievement of positive affective states. Another important event has been the development of practical ways to shift the spectrum of affective states towards a positive balance and their incorporation into welfare codes and regulations. The recent focus on positive affective states does not mean that negative experiences should be given less attention. In fact, in those countries that are at the early stages of the journey, improving function and productivity may be the most effective way to promote some important aspects of animal welfare. For example, alleviating
Substrate-dependent Au{sub x} cluster: A new insight into Au{sub x}/CeO{sub 2}
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Zhu, Kong-Jie; Yang, Yan-Ju [School of Chemistry and Life Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004 (China); Lang, Jia-Jian [School of Chemistry and Life Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004 (China); Engineering Laboratory of Specialty Fibers and Nuclear Energy Materials, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315201 (China); Teng, Bo-Tao, E-mail: tbt@zjnu.cn [School of Chemistry and Life Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004 (China); Wu, Feng-Min [School of Chemistry and Life Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004 (China); Du, Shi-Yu [Engineering Laboratory of Specialty Fibers and Nuclear Energy Materials, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315201 (China); Wen, Xiao-Dong, E-mail: wxd@sxicc.ac.cn [State Key Laboratory of Coal Conversion, Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Taiyuan 030001 (China)
2016-11-30
Graphical abstract: 2D Au{sub x} (x < 10) on CeO{sub 2}(110) are more stable than 3D ones, while the stability trend changes for x ≥ 10; Au{sub x} (x ≤ 4) prefer to monatomically disperse on CeO{sub 2}(100) and aggregate to 3D clusters for x > 4. - Highlights: • The stable structures of Au{sub x}/CeO{sub 2} are dependent of index surfaces of CeO{sub 2}. • Au{sub x} prefers to monatomically disperse on CeO{sub 2}(100) at low coverage. • Au{sub x} aggregates to 3D clusters on CeO{sub 2}(100) at high coverage. • 2D Au{sub x} (x < 10) are more stable than the 3D ones on CeO{sub 2}(110). • The effects on the stability of Au{sub x}/CeO{sub 2} are systematically discussed. - Abstract: To theoretically study the structures of metal clusters on oxides is very important and becomes one of the most challenging works in computational heterogeneous catalysis since many factors affect their structures and lead to various possibilities. In this work, it is very interesting to find that the stable structures and stability evolution of Au{sub x} clusters on ceria are varied with different index surfaces of CeO{sub 2}. The corresponding reasons in chemical, geometric and electronic properties are systematically explored. Au{sub x} (x = 1–4) clusters prefer to separately disperse at the O-O bridge sites on CeO{sub 2}(100) due to the low coordination number of surface O; while aggregate due to the strong Au–Au attractions when x is larger than 4. Owing to the uniform distribution of O-O bridge sites on CeO{sub 2}(111) and (100), the most stable configurations of Au{sub x} are 3D structures with bottom atoms more than top ones when x is larger than 4. However, 2D configurations of Au{sub x}/CeO{sub 2}(110) (x < 10) are more stable than the corresponding 3D structures due to the particular O-O arrangement on CeO{sub 2}(110). 3D Au{sub x} clusters across O-O-Y lines are suggested as the most stable configurations for Au{sub x}/CeO{sub 2}(110) (x ≥ 10). The present
Karkaba, A; Benschop, J; Hill, K E; Grinberg, A
2017-03-01
To characterise methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates from infection sites in animals in New Zealand and assess the prevalence of subclinical MRSA colonisation in dogs and cats attending veterinary clinics in Auckland. MRSA isolates from clinical specimens obtained by the main New Zealand veterinary diagnostic laboratories between June 2012 and June 2013, were genotypically characterised by DNA microarray hybridisation analysis and spa typing. In addition, nasal or perineal skin swabs collected from a cross-sectional sample of dogs (n=361) and cats (n=225) attending 29 veterinary clinics in Auckland during the same period were analysed for MRSA by culture. Eight MRSA clinical isolates were submitted for characterisation by the participating laboratories. The isolates originated from five dogs, including two isolates from the same dog, one foal, and one isolate had no identification of the source. The strain-types identified were AK3 (ST-5 SCCmecIV t045; n=1), USA500 (ST8 SCCmecIV t064; n=1), WSPP (ST30 SCCmecIV t019; n=1), Rhine Hesse (ST5 SCCmecII t002; n=2), and EMRSA-15 (ST22 SCCmecIV t032; n=3). No MRSA were isolated from 586 cultured swabs. Methicillin-susceptible S. aureus were detected in 9/257 (3.5%) swabs and non-aureus staphylococci in 22/257 (8.5%) swabs. The estimated true MRSA subclinical colonisation prevalence was 0%, with an upper 95% CI boundary of 1.9% for cats and 1.4% for dogs. The modest number of MRSA isolates submitted for this study by the participating laboratories suggests clinical MRSA infection in animals in New Zealand continues to be sporadic. The wide variety of strain-types found mirrored the evolving strain-type diversity observed in humans. We cannot rule out bias due to the non-random sampling of dogs and cats, but the apparent colonisation prevalence of 0% was consistent with the low prevalence of subclinical colonisation in humans in New Zealand. These similarities indicate the epidemiology of animal and
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Pan, Wei [Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States); Jiang, Y. X. [Georgia Inst. of Technology, Atlanta, GA (United States); Ihlefeld, Jon [Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States); Lu, Ping [Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States); Lee, Stephen R. [Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
2015-12-01
A great deal of research has been carried out in oxide material systems. Among them, ZnO and La<sub>0.7sub>Sr>0.3sub>MnO>3sub> (LSMO) are of particular interest due to their superb optical properties and colossal magneto-resistive effect. Here, we report our recent results of magneto-transport studies in self-assembled, epitaxial (ZnO)0.5:(La<sub>0.7sub>Sr>0.3sub>MnO>3sub>)>0.5sub> nanocomposite films.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Rodríguez, M.G. [Laboratorio de Bajas Temperaturas, Departamento de Física, FCEyNUBA and IFIBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires (Argentina); Polla, G.; Ramos, C.P. [Gerencia de Investigación y Aplicaciones, CAC-CNEA, San Martín (Argentina); Acha, C., E-mail: acha@df.uba.ar [Laboratorio de Bajas Temperaturas, Departamento de Física, FCEyNUBA and IFIBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires (Argentina)
2015-11-15
We have carried out an investigation of the structural, magnetic, transport and superconducting properties of Fe{sub 1+z}Te{sub 1−x−y}Se{sub x}S{sub y} ceramic compounds, for z = 0 and some specific Se (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) and S (0 ≤ y ≤ 0.12) contents. The incorporation of Se and S to the FeTe structure produces a progressive reduction of the crystallographic parameters as well as different degrees of structural disorder associated with the differences of the ionic radius of the substituting cations. In the present study, we measure transport properties of this family of compounds and we show the direct influence of disorder in the normal and superconductor states. We notice that the structural disorder correlates with a variable range hopping conducting regime observed at temperatures T > 200 K. At lower temperatures, all the samples except the one with the highest degree of disorder show a crossover to a metallic-like regime, probably related to the transport of resilient-quasi-particles associated with the proximity of a Fermi liquid state at temperatures below the superconducting transition. Moreover, the superconducting properties are depressed only for that particular sample, in accordance to the condition that superconductivity is affected by disorder when the electronic localization length ξ{sub L} becomes smaller than the coherence length ξ{sub SC}. - Highlights: • New Fe(1 + z)Te(1−x−y)Se(x)S(y) ceramic samples were synthesized. • Structural, magnetic, transport and superconducting properties are presented. • Nonmagnetic disorder determines a VRH conduction regime near room temperature. • Superconductivity is affected by disorder.
Collapse transition and cyclomatic number distribution of directed lattice animals
International Nuclear Information System (INIS)
Lam, P.M.; Duarte, J.A.M.S.
1987-01-01
The authors computed the specific heat of directed lattice animals using a Monte Carlo method for various animals sizes N, with N up to 100 on the square and N up to 125 on the simple cubic lattices. The specific heat as a function of the temperature for various animal sizes exhibits peaks which seem to approach a collapse transition temperature monotonically from below with increasing N. A least square fit together with finite-size scaling then gives both the transition temperature T/sub c/ and the specific heat exponent α for these lattices. The cyclomatic number distributions for the number of animals with fixed animal size N are also calculated and these seem to obey a scaling law for large N
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Jones, T.D.; Morris, M.D.; Wells, S.M.; Young, R.W.
1986-12-01
Studies conducted during the 1950s and 1960s of radiation-induced mortality to diverse animal species under various exposure protocols were compiled into a mortality data base. Some 24 variables were extracted and recomputed from each of the published studies, which were collected from a variety of available sources, primarily journal articles. Two features of this compilation effort are (1) an attempt to give an estimate of the uniform dose received by the bone marrow in each treatment so that interspecies differences due to body size were minimized and (2) a recomputation of the LD/sub 50/ where sufficient experimental data are available. Exposure rates varied in magnitude from about 10/sup -2/ to 10/sup 3/ R/min. This report describes the data base, the sources of data, and the data-handling techniques; presents a bibliography of studies compiled; and tabulates data from each study. 103 refs., 44 tabs.
Sub-Patch Roughness in Earthquake Rupture Investigations
Zielke, Olaf; Mai, Paul Martin
2016-01-01
Fault geometric complexities exhibit fractal characteristics over a wide range of spatial scales (<µm to >km) and strongly affect the rupture process at corresponding scales. Numerical rupture simulations provide a framework to quantitatively investigate the relationship between a fault's roughness and its seismic characteristics. Fault discretization however introduces an artificial lower limit to roughness. Individual fault patches are planar and sub-patch roughness –roughness at spatial scales below fault-patch size– is not incorporated. Does negligence of sub-patch roughness measurably affect the outcome of earthquake rupture simulations? We approach this question with a numerical parameter space investigation and demonstrate that sub-patch roughness significantly modifies the slip-strain relationship –a fundamental aspect of dislocation theory. Faults with sub-patch roughness induce less strain than their planar-fault equivalents at distances beyond the length of a slipping fault. We further provide regression functions that characterize the stochastic effect sub-patch roughness.
Sub-Patch Roughness in Earthquake Rupture Investigations
Zielke, Olaf
2016-02-13
Fault geometric complexities exhibit fractal characteristics over a wide range of spatial scales (<µm to >km) and strongly affect the rupture process at corresponding scales. Numerical rupture simulations provide a framework to quantitatively investigate the relationship between a fault\\'s roughness and its seismic characteristics. Fault discretization however introduces an artificial lower limit to roughness. Individual fault patches are planar and sub-patch roughness –roughness at spatial scales below fault-patch size– is not incorporated. Does negligence of sub-patch roughness measurably affect the outcome of earthquake rupture simulations? We approach this question with a numerical parameter space investigation and demonstrate that sub-patch roughness significantly modifies the slip-strain relationship –a fundamental aspect of dislocation theory. Faults with sub-patch roughness induce less strain than their planar-fault equivalents at distances beyond the length of a slipping fault. We further provide regression functions that characterize the stochastic effect sub-patch roughness.
Genomic Tools and Animal Health.
Zanella, Ricardo
2016-09-07
Animals have been selected to improve their productivity in order to increase the profitability to the producer. In this scenario, not much attention was given to health traits. As a consequence of that, selection was made for animals with higher production and a shortened productive life. In addition to that, the intense production system used in livestock has forced animals to be exposed to higher pathogen loads, therefore predisposing them to infections. Infectious diseases are known to be caused by micro-organisms that are able to infect and colonize the host, affecting their physiological functions and causing problems in their production and on animal welfare. Even with the best management practices, diseases are still the most important cause of economic losses in the animal industry. In this review article we have addressed the new tools that could be used to select animals to better cope with diseases and pathogens.
Cystic echinococcosis in sub-Saharan Africa
Wahlers, Kerstin; Menezes, Colin N.; Wong, Michelle L.; Zeyhle, Eberhard; Ahmed, Mohammed E.; Ocaido, Michael; Stijnis, Cornelis; Romig, Thomas; Kern, Peter; Grobusch, Martin P.
2012-01-01
Cystic echinococcosis is regarded as endemic in sub-Saharan Africa; however, for most countries only scarce data, if any, exist. For most of the continent, information about burden of disease is not available; neither are data for the animal hosts involved in the lifecycle of the parasite, thus
A Study on Impact of Informatization on Tourist Behavior : Analysis of Anime Pilgrimage
岡本, 健
2009-01-01
This paper shows impact of informatization on tourist behavior in Japan. This research adopts analysis of "Anime Pilgrimage" in order to accomplish the above mentioned objective. Recently, in Japan, some of anime fans make "Anime Pilgrimage" which is a kind of tourist behavior. It would appear that this behavior was affected by informatization strongly. As a result, it was found that "Anime Pilgrim" was affected by informatization not only before "Anime Pilgrimage" but also throughout "Anime ...
International Nuclear Information System (INIS)
Bestgen, H.; Chaim, R.; Heuer, A.H.
1988-01-01
Tetragonal zirconia (t-ZrO/sub 2/) grains in an annealed ZrO/sub 2/-8 wt% Y/sub 2/O/sub 3/ alloy transformed to orthorhombic (o) or mono-clinic (m) symmetry by stresses induced by localized electron beam heating in the transmission electron microscope. Different transformation mechanisms were observed, depending on foil thickness and orientation of individual grains. In thicker grains (≥150 nm), the transformation proceeded by a burst-like growth of m laths, and this is believed to approximate bulk behavior. In thinner grains near the edge of the foil, usually those with a [100]/sub t/ orientation perpendicular to the thin-foil surface, continuous growth of an o or m phase with an antiphase-boundary-containing microstructure was observed. The o phase is believed to be a high-pressure polymorph of ZrO/sub 2/, which forms (paradoxically) as a thin-foil artifact because it is less dense than t-ZrO/sub 2/, but more dense than m-ZrO/sub 2/. In some very thin grains, the t → m transformation was thermoelastic. Furthermore, a mottled structure often occurred just before the t → m or t → o transformation, which is attributed to surface transformation. Aside from the lath formation, the observed transformation modes are a result of the reduced constraints in thin foils
Neutralising the meat paradox: Cognitive dissonance, gender, and eating animals.
Dowsett, Elisha; Semmler, Carolyn; Bray, Heather; Ankeny, Rachel A; Chur-Hansen, Anna
2018-04-01
Meat eating is a common behaviour, despite many people claiming to like, love, and care about animals. The apparent disconnection between not wanting animals to suffer, yet killing them for food, has been termed the 'meat paradox.' In this experimental study (N = 460), participants completed pre-affect, post-affect, meat attachment, and attitude towards animals questionnaires, under two conditions: exposure to the life of an Australian meat lamb, and information about the nutritional benefits of meat. A factorial MANOVA revealed that negative affect was significantly greater when participants were exposed to the meat-animal connection; however, more entrenched attitudes towards animals and attachment to meat remained unaffected. Significant gender effects were found across all variables: most notably, meat attachment differed according to gender, decreasing in women and increasing in men when exposed to the meat-animal condition. Open-ended responses were subjected to content analysis to understand participants' future meat-consumption preferences and accompanying reasoning strategies. Findings from the present study contribute to understanding how cognitive dissonance and inconsistencies are rationalised by meat consumers. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
CO<sub>2sub> capture from IGCC gas streams using the AC-ABC process
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Nagar, Anoop [SRI International, Menlo Park, CA (United States); McLaughlin, Elisabeth [SRI International, Menlo Park, CA (United States); Hornbostel, Marc [SRI International, Menlo Park, CA (United States); Krishnan, Gopala [SRI International, Menlo Park, CA (United States); Jayaweera, Indira [SRI International, Menlo Park, CA (United States)
2017-02-16
The objective of this project was to develop a novel, low-cost CO<sub>2sub> capture process from pre-combustion gas streams. The bench-scale work was conducted at the SRI International. A 0.15-MWe integrated pilot plant was constructed and operated for over 700 hours at the National Carbon Capture Center, Wilsonville, AL. The AC-ABC (ammonium carbonate-ammonium bicarbonate) process for capture of CO<sub>2sub> and H<sub>2sub>S from the pre-combustion gas stream offers many advantages over Selexol-based technology. The process relies on the simple chemistry of the NH<sub>3sub>-CO>2sub>-H>2sub>O-H>2sub>S system and on the ability of the aqueous ammoniated solution to absorb CO<sub>2sub> at near ambient temperatures and to release it as a high-purity, high-pressure gas at a moderately elevated regeneration temperature. It is estimated the increase in cost of electricity (COE) with the AC-ABC process will be ~ 30%, and the cost of CO<sub>2sub> captured is projected to be less than $27/metric ton of CO<sub>2sub> while meeting 90% CO<sub>2sub> capture goal. The Bechtel Pressure Swing Claus (BPSC) is a complementary technology offered by Bechtel Hydrocarbon Technology Solutions, Inc. BPSC is a high-pressure, sub-dew-point Claus process that allows for nearly complete removal of H<sub>2sub>S from a gas stream. It operates at gasifier pressures and moderate temperatures and does not affect CO<sub>2sub> content. When coupled with AC-ABC, the combined technologies allow a nearly pure CO<sub>2sub> stream to be captured at high pressure, something which Selexol and other solvent-based technologies cannot achieve.
Rate of hydrogen motion in Ni-substituted LaNi{sub 5}H{sub x} from NMR
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Mendenhall, Michael P. [Washington University, Department of Physics, Saint Louis, MO 63130 (United States); Bowman, Robert C. [Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Mail Stop 79-24, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 (United States); Ivancic, Timothy M. [Washington University, Department of Physics, Saint Louis, MO 63130 (United States); Conradi, Mark S. [Washington University, Department of Physics, Saint Louis, MO 63130 (United States)], E-mail: msc@wuphys.wustl.edu
2007-10-31
Partial substitution of Sn, Ge, or Si for Ni in LaNi{sub 5}H{sub x} greatly enhances the stability under repeated hydrogen-cycling. Proton NMR relaxation measurements are reported here to determine the rates of H hopping in the substituted metals LaNi{sub 4.6}M{sub 0.4}H{sub x} with M = Sn, Ge, and Si, for comparison to bare LaNi{sub 5}H{sub x}. The relaxation times T{sub 2}{sup *} (FID), T{sub 2} (Hahn echo), T{sub 2}-CPMG, T{sub 1}, and T{sub 1{rho}} were determined from 130 to 375 K. The three substituents result in only small increases in the average rate of motion at a given temperature but with a broader distribution of rates over the many inequivalent H sites and hopping paths. Evidently, the average energy barriers along the paths for H motion are only little affected by these substituents. Changes of H content x produce only minor changes in the relaxation times.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Gao, Pengfei [Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Processing of Materials (Ministry of Education), Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819 (China); Liu, Tie, E-mail: liutie@epm.neu.edu.cn [Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Processing of Materials (Ministry of Education), Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819 (China); Dong, Meng [Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Processing of Materials (Ministry of Education), Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819 (China); Yuan, Yi [School of Materials and Metallurgy, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819 (China); Wang, Qiang [Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Processing of Materials (Ministry of Education), Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819 (China)
2016-03-01
In this paper, we studied how applying a high magnetic field during solidification of Tb{sub 0.27}Dy{sub 0.73}Fe{sub 1.95} alloys affected their magnetic domain structure, crystal orientation, and magnetostriction. We observed the morphology of the magnetic domain during solidification, finding it change with the applied field: from fiber like (0 T) to dot like and closure mixed (4.4 T) to fiber like (8.8 T) to fishbone like (11.5 T). The alloy solidified at 4.4 T showed the best contrast of light and dark in its domain image, widest magnetic domain, fastest magnetization, and highest magnetostriction; this alloy is followed in descending order by the alloys solidified at 11.5 T, 8.8 T, and 0 T. The orientation of the (Tb, Dy)Fe{sub 2} phase changed with magnetic field from random (0 T) to 〈111〉 (4.4 T) to 〈113〉 (8.8 T) to 〈110〉 (11.5 T). The improvement in magnetostriction was likely caused by modification of both the magnetization process and the alloy microstructure. - Highlights: • We present how magnetic field affects magnetic domain structure of Tb{sub 0.27}Dy{sub 0.73}Fe{sub 1.95}. • Morphology and width of magnetic domain change with increasing magnetic field. • Magnetization and magnetostriction of alloy change with increasing magnetic field. • A transformation of random–〈111〉–〈113〉–〈110〉 for (Tb, Dy)Fe{sub 2} orientation forms.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Kannapiran, Nagarajan [PG and Research Department of Chemistry, Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore 641020, Tamil Nadu (India); Muthusamy, Athianna, E-mail: muthusrkv@gmail.com [PG and Research Department of Chemistry, Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore 641020, Tamil Nadu (India); Chitra, Palanisamy [PG and Research Department of Chemistry, Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore 641020, Tamil Nadu (India)
2016-03-01
Poly o-phenylenediamine (PoPD)/MnCuFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} nanocomposites with three different ratios of MnCuFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} (10%, 20%, 30% w/w) were synthesized by in-situ oxidative chemical polymerization method ammonium persulphate used as oxidant, while MnCuFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} nanoparticles was prepared by auto-combustion method. The structure, morphology and magnetic properties of synthesized PoPD/MnCuFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} nanocomposites were characterized by FT-IR, UV–visible absorption spectra, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). FTIR spectra and XRD were confirmed the formation of the PoPD/MnCuFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} nanocomposites. The morphology of PoPD/MnCuFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} nanocomposites is visualized through SEM and TEM. The spherical morphology of the PoPD was confirmed using SEM analysis. Dielectric properties of PoPD/MnCuFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} nanocomposites at different temperatures have been performed in the frequency range of 50 Hz–5 MHz. The optical absorption experiments of PoPD/MnCuFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} nanocomposites reveal that the direct transition with an energy band gap is around 2 eV. - Highlights: • Green synthesis of PoPD (the polymerization carried out only in aqueous medium) by in-situ chemical polymerization method. • For the first time, PoPD incorporated with MnCuFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} with lesser particle size. • The auto combustion reaction, support to achieve less particle size. • Ferrite content affects the magnetic properties of the nanocomposites.
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
I. R. Bekus
2017-02-01
Full Text Available Background. Lipid metabolism disorders in the organism affected by environmental pollutants, including poisoning with cadmium and lead salts are of topical matter nowadays. Objective. The study was aimed to examine biochemical features of lipid metabolism in rats subjected to toxic damage by lead and cadmium salts and treated with carnitine chloride and Algigel. Methods. Experiments were carried out on white mature outbred male rats weighing 180-200 g. To cause the toxic damage the animals were administered with aqueous solution of cadmium chloride and lead acetate daily for the period of 30 days using intra-gastric lavage. The indices of lipid metabolism were detected by biochemical methods. Results. In animals treated with cadmium chloride and lead acetate the following changes were observed: HDL-cholesterol concentrations significantly decreased, resulting in 87% of the levels in the intact animals on the third day, 84% on the fifth and 80% on the seventh day. Conversely, concentrations of HDL-cholesterol and VLDL-cholesterol significantly increased during the experiment. Respectively, the ratios for HDL-cholesterol are 240%, 352%, and 388%; and for VLDL-cholesterol 108%, 116%, and 132%. Conclusions. Lipids profile of the rats displayed changes in the levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and lipoproteins of low, high and very low density.
Sabatino, Denise E.; Nichols, Timothy C.; Merricks, Elizabeth; Bellinger, Dwight A.; Herzog, Roland W.; Monahan, Paul E.
2013-01-01
The X-linked bleeding disorder hemophilia is caused by mutations in coagulation factor VIII (hemophilia A) or factor IX (hemophilia B). Unless prophylactic treatment is provided, patients with severe disease (less than 1% clotting activity) typically experience frequent spontaneous bleeds. Current treatment is largely based on intravenous infusion of recombinant or plasma-derived coagulation factor concentrate. More effective factor products are being developed. Moreover, gene therapies for sustained correction of hemophilia are showing much promise in pre-clinical studies and in clinical trials. These advances in molecular medicine heavily depend on availability of well-characterized small and large animal models of hemophilia, primarily hemophilia mice and dogs. Experiments in these animals represent important early and intermediate steps of translational research aimed at development of better and safer treatments for hemophilia, such a protein and gene therapies or immune tolerance protocols. While murine models are excellent for studies of large groups of animals using genetically defined strains, canine models are important for testing scale-up and for longer-term follow-up as well as for studies that require larger blood volumes. PMID:22137432
Animal models of exercise and obesity.
Kasper, Christine E
2013-01-01
Animal models have been invaluable in the conduct of nursing research for the past 40 years. This review will focus on specific animal models that can be used in nursing research to study the physiologic phenomena of exercise and obesity when the use of human subjects is either scientifically premature or inappropriate because of the need for sampling tissue or the conduct of longitudinal studies of aging. There exists an extensive body of literature reporting the experimental use of various animal models, in both exercise science and the study of the mechanisms of obesity. Many of these studies are focused on the molecular and genetic mechanisms of organ system adaptation and plasticity in response to exercise, obesity, or both. However, this review will narrowly focus on the models useful to nursing research in the study of exercise in the clinical context of increasing performance and mobility, atrophy and bedrest, fatigue, and aging. Animal models of obesity focus on those that best approximate clinical pathology.
Stuchlik, Ales; Radostová, Dominika; Hatalova, Hana; Vales, Karel; Nekovarova, Tereza; Koprivova, Jana; Svoboda, Jan; Horacek, Jiri
2016-01-01
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a neuropsychiatric disorder with 1-3% prevalence. OCD is characterized by recurrent thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions). The pathophysiology of OCD remains unclear, stressing the importance of pre-clinical studies. The aim of this article is to critically review a proposed animal model of OCD that is characterized by the induction of compulsive checking and behavioral sensitization to the D2/D3 dopamine agonist quinpirole. Changes in this model have been reported at the level of brain structures, neurotransmitter systems and other neurophysiological aspects. In this review, we consider these alterations in relation to the clinical manifestations in OCD, with the aim to discuss and evaluate axes of validity of this model. Our analysis shows that some axes of validity of quinpirole sensitization model (QSM) are strongly supported by clinical findings, such as behavioral phenomenology or roles of brain structures. Evidence on predictive validity is contradictory and ambiguous. It is concluded that this model is useful in the context of searching for the underlying pathophysiological basis of the disorder because of the relatively strong biological similarities with OCD.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Tan, Lizhi [Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)
2008-08-18
The XRMS experiment on the Gd<sub>5sub>Ge>4sub> system has shown that, below the Neel temperature, T<sub>N> = 127 K, the magnetic unit cells is the same as the chemical unit cell. From azimuth scans and the Q dependence of the magnetic scattering, all three Gd sites in the structure were determined to be in the same magnetic space group Pnma. The magnetic moments are aligned along the c-axis and the c-components of the magnetic moments at the three different sites are equal. The ferromagnetic slabs are stacked antiferromagnetically along the b-direction. They found an unusual order parameter curve in Gd<sub>5sub>Ge>4sub>. A spin-reorientation transition is a possibility in Gd<sub>5sub>Ge>4sub>, which is similar to the Tb<sub>5sub>Ge>4sub> case. Tb<sub>5sub>Ge>4sub> possesses the same Sm<sub>5sub>Ge>4sub>-type crystallographic structure and the same magnetic space group as Gd<sub>5sub>Ge>4sub> does. The difference in magnetic structure is that Tb<sub>5sub>Ge>4sub> has a canted one but Gd<sub>5sub>Ge>4sub> has nearly a collinear one in the low temperature antiferromagnetic phase. The competition between the magneto-crystalline anisotropy and the nearest-neighbor magnetic exchange interactions may allow a 3-dimensional canted antiferromagnetic structure in Tb<sub>5sub>Ge>4sub>. The spin-reorientation transition in both Gd<sub>5sub>Ge>4sub> and Tb<sub>5sub>Ge>4sub> may arise from the competition between the magnetic anisotropy from the spin-orbit coupling of the conduction electrons and the dipolar interactions anisotropy.
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Chung K Marston
Full Text Available To determine potential links between the clinical isolate to animal products and their geographic origin, we genotyped (MLVA-8, MVLA-15, and canSNP analysis 80 environmental and 12 clinical isolates and 2 clinical specimens from five cases of anthrax (California in 1976 [n = 1], New York in 2006 [n = 1], Connecticut in 2007 [n = 2], and New Hampshire in 2009[n = 1] resulting from recreational handling of animal products. For the California case, four clinical isolates were identified as MLVA-8 genotype (GT 76 and in the canSNP A.Br.Vollum lineage, which is consistent with the Pakistani origin of the yarn. Twenty eight of the California isolates were in the A.Br.Vollum canSNP lineage and one isolate was in the A.Br. 003/004 canSNP sub-group. All 52 isolates and both clinical specimens related to the New York and Connecticut cases were MLVA-8 GT 1. The animal products associated with the NY and CT cases were believed to originate from West Africa, but no isolates from this region are available to be genotyped for comparison. All isolates associated with the New Hampshire case were identical and had a new genotype (GT 149. Isolates from the NY, CT and NH cases diverge from the established canSNP phylogeny near the base of the A.Br.011/009. This report illustrates the power of the current genotyping methods and the dramatically different epidemiological conditions that can lead to infections (i.e., contamination by a single genotype versus widespread contamination of numerous genotypes. These cases illustrate the need to acquire and genotype global isolates so that accurate assignments can be made about isolate origins.
Understanding Adolescents' Categorisation of Animal Species.
Connor, Melanie; Lawrence, Alistair B
2017-08-30
Categorisations are a means of investigating cognitive maps. The present study, for the first time, investigates adolescents' spontaneous categorisation of 34 animal species. Furthermore, explicit evaluations of 16 selected animals in terms of their perceived utility and likeability were analysed. 105 British adolescents, 54% female, mean age 14.5 (SD = 1.6) participated in the study. Results of multidimensional scaling (MDS) techniques indicate 3-dimensional data representation regardless of gender or age. Property fittings show that affect and perceived utility of animals explain two of the MDS dimensions, and hence partly explain adolescents' categorisation. Additionally, hierarchical cluster analyses show a differentiation between farm animals, birds, pet animals, and wild animals possibly explaining MDS dimension 3. The results suggest that utility perceptions predominantly underlie adolescents' categorisations and become even more dominant in older adolescents, which potentially has an influence on attitudes to animals with implications for animal welfare, conservation, and education.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Zhai, Jiali; Yu, Hongwen, E-mail: yuhw@iga.ac.cn; Li, Haiyan; Sun, Lei; Zhang, Kexin; Yang, Hongjun
2015-07-30
Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • GO/Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} are readily fabricated by facile bubbling pretreatment and freeze drying. • GO/Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} possess excellent photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation. • The visible light activity of GO/Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} is affected by the amount of GO. • The photostablity of GO is due to the photo-generated electrons transfer to Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6}. - Abstract: A facile approach of fabricating homogeneous graphene oxide (GO)-wrapped Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} microspheres (GO/Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6}) is developed. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results show that a heterojunction interface between GO and Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6}. The UV–vis diffuse reflection spectra (DRS) reveal that the as-prepared GO/Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} composites own more intensive absorption in the visible light range compared with pure Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6}. These characteristic structural and optical properties endow GO/Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} composites with enhanced photocatalytic activity. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of the GO/Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} is attributed predominantly to the synergetic effect between GO and Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6}, causing rapid generation and separation of photo-generated charge carriers.
Rapid preparation of ultrafine BaSO{sub 3} by SO{sub 2} storage material
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Zhang, Fei; Sha, Feng; Qiao, Xian Shu; Zhao, Tian Xiang; Guo, Bo; Zhang, Jian Bin [College of Chemical Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Huhhot (Korea, Republic of)
2017-01-15
In this work, a green and efficient process was developed for the preparation of ultrafine BaSO{sub 3} with layered nanostructure surface via the reaction of BaCl{sub 2} with a SO{sub 2} storage material (SO{sub 2}SM) at room temperature. The absorption of SO{sub 2} with equimolar ethylenediamine (EDA) and ethylene glycol (EG) afforded SO{sub 2}SM, which not only offered alkyl sulfite but also released EDA and EG that served as efficient surfactants to promote the formation of BaSO{sub 3} with spherical morphology and porous structure in the process of synthesis of ultrafine BaSO{sub 3}. The factors affecting the morphology and size of BaSO{sub 3} particle were assessed by investigating the effects of SO{sub 2}SM concentration, BaCl{sub 2} concentration, stirring time and speed. It was found that a higher SO{sub 2}SM concentration led to a higher degree of supersaturation, and the particle size of BaSO{sub 3} could be reduced by increasing SO{sub 2}SM concentration. Moreover, under the identified optimal reaction conditions, ultrafine BaSO{sub 3} was obtained with an average diameter of 450 nm. In addition, a plausible formation process of BaSO{sub 3} was proposed to explain the observed reaction results. Overall, the developed process in this work provides an efficient method for the capture, utilization, and conversion of SO{sub 2} into a valuable chemical.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Berschneider, F.; Hess, M.; Neuffer, K.; Willer, S.
1976-07-01
LC/sub 50/24 hr/ was established in the first of a series of experiments on 72 rabbits for orally applied sodium selenite. The dosage was 8.62 mg/kg live weight, the confidence interval being (1 - ..cap alpha.. = 0.95) +/- 0.13 mg/kg. The value was four times as high following intravenous application. Complete lethality was recorded from 15 mg Na/sub 2/SeO/sub 3//kg live weight within 21 hours. Thirty-six animals were involved in the second experiment of the series. They had 50 or 100 percent Ursoselevit-Praemix (30 ppm Se) in their rations. Body mass development of the test animals was superior to that recorded from the controls in the first 50 days, after which limit the former declined strongly in a few days. Their general condition worsened. Postmortem finding, following slaughter, included catarrhal enteritis, toxic liver dystrophy, scattered pulpous tumors in the spleen, and interstitial nephritis. In the third experiment (50 percent Ursoselevit-Praemix with 60 ppm Se in the rations), the test animals developed better than the controls during the first two months, after which point they exhibited the same clinical symptoms as those observed in the second experiment, stopped putting on weight, and eventually turned cachectic. The pathomorphological findings were identical with those obtained from the second experiment. The selenium concentrations in the organs of the test animals all were much higher than those of the controls. Their amounts in excess to base values were up to eleven times in the blood, nine times in the liver, twelve times in the kidneys, and 13 times in the muscles. 11 references, 2 figures, 2 tables.
Jones, Kelly; Case, J Brad; Evans, Brian; Monnet, Eric
2017-04-01
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the economic and clinical feasibility of introducing rigid endoscopy and laparoscopy to a small animal general practice. DESIGN Prospective study. SAMPLE A single 2-veterinarian small animal practice in southern California. PROCEDURES In early 2012, endoscopic equipment was purchased, and both veterinarians in the practice undertook training in rigid endoscopic and laparoscopic procedures. Subsequently, information for client-owned animals that underwent endoscopic and laparoscopic procedures during a 12-month period (2012 to 2013) was collected. Cost of equipment and training, revenue generated, specific procedures performed, surgery time, complications, and client satisfaction were evaluated. RESULTS 78 endoscopic procedures were performed in 73 patients, including 71 dogs, 1 cat, and 1 rabbit. Cost of endoscopic and laparoscopic equipment and training in the first year was $14,809.71; most equipment was financed through a 5-year lease at a total cost of $57,507.70 ($ 10,675.20/y). Total revenue generated in the first year was $50,423.63. The most common procedures performed were ovariectomy (OVE; n = 49), prophylactic gastropexy (6), and video otoscopy (12). Mean ± SD surgery times for OVE (n = 44) and for OVE with gastropexy (5) were 63.7 ± 19.7 minutes and 73.0 ± 33.5 minutes; respectively. Twelve of 54 patients undergoing laparoscopic procedures experienced minor intraoperative complications. Conversion to laparotomy was not required in any patient. There were no major complications. All 49 clients available for follow-up were satisfied. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE With appropriate training and equipment, incorporation of basic rigid endoscopy and laparoscopy may be feasible in small animal general practice. However, results of the present study are not applicable to all veterinarians and practice settings, and patient safety considerations should always be paramount.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Al-Resheedi, Ajayb Saud; Alhokbany, Norah Saad [Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, KSU, (Saudi Arabia); Mahfouz, Refaat Mohammed, E-mail: rmhfouz@science.au.edu.eg [Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, AUN, (Egypt)
2015-09-15
Pure cubic phase, In{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles with porous structure were synthesized by solid state thermal oxidation of un-irradiated and γ-irradiated indium acetyl acetonate in presence and absence of sodium dodecyl sulphate as surfactant. The as- synthesized In{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transition electron microscopy (TEM) and thermogravimetry (TG). The shapes and morphologies of as- synthesized In{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles were highly affected by γ-irradiation of indium acetyl acetonate precursor and by addition of sodium dodecyl sulphate as surfactant. Calcination of un-irradiated indium acetyl acetonate precursor to 4 hours of 600 °C leads to the formation of spherical- shaped accumulative and merged In{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles with porous structure, whereas irregular porous architectures composed of pure In{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles were obtained by using γ-irradiated indium acetylacetonate precursor. The as- prepared In{sub 2}O{sub 3} nano products exhibit photoluminescence emission (PL) property and display thermal stability in a wide range of temperature (25-800 °C) which suggest possible applications in nanoscale optoelectronic devices. (author)
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Zhang, Yalin; Chen, Qingming; Jin, Fei; Chen, Xiaohui; Li, Zhiyu; Li, Di; Zhang, Hui [Kunming University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Kunming (China)
2017-09-15
La{sub 0.67}Ca{sub 0.33}MnO{sub 3} (LCMO):Ag{sub 0.2} films were grown on LaAlO{sub 3} (LAO) substrates (100) by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique with various incident laser energies. The surface morphologies and the thicknesses of the films were studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The crystal structures were analyzed by X-ray, diffraction (XRD), and the temperature dependence of the resistivity (ρ-T) of the films was studied by the standard four-probe method. It can be found that the crystal quality, surface morphology, metal-insulator transition temperature (T{sub p}), and temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of the LCMO:Ag{sub 0.2} films are changed with various laser energy. The highest T{sub p} 287 K is obtained with 300 mJ laser energy; meanwhile, the optimal TCR 13.5% K{sup -1} is achieved. The results suggest that the electrical transport properties of LCMO:Ag{sub 0.2} films are affected by the interface-induced compressive stress, the oxygen balance, and the double exchange between Mn{sup 3+}-O-Mn{sup 4+}. (orig.)
Animal production and health newsletter. No. 36
International Nuclear Information System (INIS)
2002-07-01
This issue of the Newsletter highlights the importance of Information and Communication technologies (ICTs) in improving all aspects of human social, economic and cultural life and the role played by the IAEA's Animal Production and Health Sub-programme, in using these technologies to undertake training programmes in Africa. Coordinated research programmes, training and other events are also announced
Animal production and health newsletter. No. 36
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
NONE
2002-07-01
This issue of the Newsletter highlights the importance of Information and Communication technologies (ICTs) in improving all aspects of human social, economic and cultural life and the role played by the IAEA's Animal Production and Health Sub-programme, in using these technologies to undertake training programmes in Africa. Coordinated research programmes, training and other events are also announced.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Liu, Xing, E-mail: liuxing0108@mail.sdu.edu.cn [Civil Engineer Department, Qingdao Technological University (Linyi), Easter Outer Ring Road 1, Linyi, 273400 (China); Cheng, Bin [Civil Engineer Department, Qingdao Technological University (Linyi), Easter Outer Ring Road 1, Linyi, 273400 (China); Hu, Jifan; Qin, Hongwei [State Key Laboratory of Crystal Material, Department of Physics, Shandong University, Hongjialou 5, Jinan, 250100 (China)
2012-09-01
Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Mg-doping can change the electronic properties of LaFeO{sub 3} (0 1 0) surface by decreasing the band gap. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The position and content of Mg-doping can both affect the ability to adsorb O{sub 2}. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The strong hybridization between O{sub 2} p and Fe d orbital is the origin of binding mechanism. - Abstract: The adsorption of O{sub 2} on the clean and Mg doped LaFeO{sub 3} (0 1 0) surface has been investigated using the density functional theory (DFT) method. Calculation results show that Mg-doping can change the electronic properties of LaFeO{sub 3} (0 1 0) surface by decreasing the band gap. When Mg ions were not on the first layer of the surface, with increasing Mg content the adsorption of O{sub 2} was enhanced. When Mg ions were on the first layer, the adsorption of O{sub 2} was weakened with the increase of Mg content. The analysis results of the DOS indicated that the Mg ion and adsorbed O{sub 2} had no strong hybridization, and the bonding mechanism was originated from the strong hybridization between the O p and Fe d orbital. Referring to all the calculation results, it was found that except for the increase of stability of oxygen adsorption, the Mg doping could not improve the sensitivity to O{sub 2}.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Wang, Qizhao, E-mail: wangqizhao@163.com [College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwest Normal University, Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment-Related Polymer Materials, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Gansu Polymer Materials, Lanzhou 730070 (China); Zheng, Longhui; Chen, Yutao; Fan, Jiafeng [College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwest Normal University, Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment-Related Polymer Materials, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Gansu Polymer Materials, Lanzhou 730070 (China); Huang, Haohao, E-mail: scuthhh@hotmail.com [College of Materials Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640 (China); Su, Bitao [College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwest Normal University, Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment-Related Polymer Materials, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Gansu Polymer Materials, Lanzhou 730070 (China)
2015-07-15
Highlights: • A new photocatalyst PPy/Bi{sub 2}O{sub 2}CO{sub 3} was synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. • The PPy/Bi{sub 2}O{sub 2}CO{sub 3} photocatalyst shows enhanced degradation activity of RhB under UV light irradiation. • A photocatalytic mechanism is proposed based on the synergistic effect of PPy and Bi{sub 2}O{sub 2}CO{sub 3}. - Abstract: Photocatalyst Bi{sub 2}O{sub 2}CO{sub 3} modified by polypyrrole (PPy) was synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method. As-prepared PPy/Bi{sub 2}O{sub 2}CO{sub 3} composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). Presence of PPy did not affect the crystal structure, but exerted great influence on the photocatalytic activity of Bi{sub 2}O{sub 2}CO{sub 3} and enhanced absorption band of pure Bi{sub 2}O{sub 2}CO{sub 3}. The photocatalytic activities of the PPy/Bi{sub 2}O{sub 2}CO{sub 3} samples were determined by photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine-B (RhB) under ultra violet (UV) irradiation and 0.75 wt.% PPy/Bi{sub 2}O{sub 2}CO{sub 3} composite showed the highest photocatalytic activity. The enhanced photocatalytic performance could be attributed to the synergistic effect of PPy and Bi{sub 2}O{sub 2}CO{sub 3}. A possible photocatalytic mechanism of the PPy/Bi{sub 2}O{sub 2}CO{sub 3} photocatalysts was proposed in order to guide the further improvement of its photocatalytic performance.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Shen, Chen; Mei, Dajiang; Sun, Chuanling; Liu, Yunsheng; Wu, Yuandong [College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science (China)
2017-09-04
The selenites, Na{sub 2}Be{sub 3}(SeO{sub 3}){sub 4}.H{sub 2}O and Cs{sub 2}[Mg(H{sub 2}O){sub 6}]{sub 3}(SeO{sub 3}){sub 4}, were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. The crystal structures of Na{sub 2}Be{sub 3}(SeO{sub 3}){sub 4}.H{sub 2}O and Cs{sub 2}[Mg(H{sub 2}O){sub 6}]{sub 3}(SeO{sub 3}){sub 4} were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffractions. Na{sub 2}Be{sub 3}(SeO{sub 3}){sub 4}.H{sub 2}O crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1 (no. 2) with unit cell parameters a = 4.8493(9), b = 12.013(2), c = 12.077(2) Aa, and Z = 2, whereas Cs{sub 2}[Mg(H{sub 2}O){sub 6}]{sub 3}(SeO{sub 3}){sub 4} crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/m (no. 12) with lattice cell parameters a = 12.596(6), b = 7.297(4), c = 16.914(8) Aa, and Z = 2. Na{sub 2}Be{sub 3}(SeO{sub 3}){sub 4}.H{sub 2}O features a three-dimensional open framework structure formed by BeO{sub 4} tetrahedra and SeO{sub 3} trigonal pyramids. Na cations and H{sub 2}O molecules are located in different tunnels. Cs{sub 2}[Mg(H{sub 2}O){sub 6}]{sub 3}(SeO{sub 3}){sub 4} has a structure composed of isolated [Mg(H{sub 2}O){sub 6}] octahedra and SeO{sub 3} trigonal pyramids interacted by hydrogen bonds, and Cs cations are resided in-between. Both compounds were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis and FT-IR spectroscopy. (copyright 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Two-temperature transport coefficients of SF{sub 6}–N{sub 2} plasma
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Yang, Fei; Chen, Zhexin; Wu, Yi, E-mail: wuyic51@mail.xjtu.edu.cn; Rong, Mingzhe; Wang, Chunlin [State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Power Equipment, School of Electrical Engineering, Xi' an Jiaotong University, Xi' an 710049 (China); Guo, Anxiang; Liu, Zirui [Electric Power Research Institute of State Grid Shaanxi Electric Power Company, Xian (China)
2015-10-15
Sulfur hexafluoride (SF{sub 6}) is widely adopted in electric power industry, especially in high-voltage circuit breakers and gas-insulated switchgear. However, the use of SF{sub 6} is limited by its high liquidation temperature and high global warming potential. Recently, research shows SF{sub 6}–N{sub 2} mixture, which shows environmental friendliness and good electrical properties, may be a feasible substitute for pure SF{sub 6}. This paper is devoted to the calculation of and transport coefficients of SF{sub 6}–N{sub 2} mixture under both LTE (local thermodynamic equilibrium) and non-LTE condition. The two–temperature mass action law was used to determine the composition. The transport coefficients were calculated by classical Chapman–Enskog method simplified by Devoto. The thermophysical properties are presented for electron temperatures of 300–40 000 K, ratios of electron to heavy species temperature of 1–10 and N{sub 2} mole fraction of 0%–100% at atmospheric pressure. The ionization processes under both LTE and non-LTE have been discussed. The results show that deviations from local thermodynamic equilibrium significantly affect the properties of SF{sub 6}–N{sub 2} plasma, especially before the plasma is fully ionized. The different influence of N{sub 2} on properties for SF{sub 6}–N{sub 2} plasma in and out of LTE has been found. The results will serve as reliable reference data for computational simulation of the behavior of SF{sub 6}–N{sub 2} plasmas.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Ebrahimi Fard, Ali, E-mail: a.ebrahimi2008@yahoo.com [Department of Medical Physics, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan 81746-73461 (Iran, Islamic Republic of); Zarepour, Atefeh [Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technologies, University of Isfahan, Isfahan 81746-73441 (Iran, Islamic Republic of); Zarrabi, Ali, E-mail: a.zarrabi@ast.ui.ac.ir [Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technologies, University of Isfahan, Isfahan 81746-73441 (Iran, Islamic Republic of); Shanei, Ahmad [Department of Medical Physics, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan 81746-73461 (Iran, Islamic Republic of); Salehi, Hossein [Department of Anatomy, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan 81746-73461 (Iran, Islamic Republic of)
2015-11-15
Cancer is a group of disease characterized by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells in the body. The clinical treatments for cancer include surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Currently, employing new approaches for treatment has attracted more attentions. One of these approaches is sonodynamic therapy, which is an analogous approach based on the synergistic effect of ultrasound and a chemical component referred to as sonosensitizer. Recent years applications of nanotechnology have witnessed a tremendous expansion of research in medicine especially in treatment of cancers. The combination of sonodynamic therapy and nanotechnology can introduce a new way for cancer therapy. In this study, we used therapeutic ultrasonic waves with intensity of 1 MHz and different concentrations of Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanoparticles, as sonosensitizer, to investigate their combination effect on MCF-7 cell line. Briefly, we divided cells into four different groups; control, cells which got in touch with nanoparticles, cells that with exposure to ultrasound waves and cells which were influenced with combination of nanoparticles and ultrasonic waves. Finally, cell viability assay was used for detection of cytotoxicity effects. Experimental results revealed a significant decrease in viability of cells, which were affected by the combined action of ultrasound field and Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanoparticles, compared to the separate exposure of Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanoparticles or ultrasonic field. The synergic effect of ultrasound waves and Fe ions might be due to the production of toxic free radicals. - Highlights: • We examined the combination effect of Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanoparticles and ultrasound wave on MCF7. • The combination effect featured significant cytotoxic effects. • The cytotoxic effect is due to the production of reactive oxygen species.
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Nogueira da Cunha, Beatriz; Gonçalves, Alécia Maria; Gomes da Silveira, Rafael [Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Goiás, C. Postal 131, CEP 74001-970 Goiânia, GO (Brazil); Urquieta-González, Ernesto A. [Laboratory of Applied Catalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of Sao Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luis Km 235, C. Postal 676, CEP 13565-905 São Carlos, SP (Brazil); Magalhães Nunes, Liliane, E-mail: lilianemnunes@gmail.com [Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Goiás, C. Postal 131, CEP 74001-970 Goiânia, GO (Brazil)
2015-01-15
Highlights: • Potassium ions significantly affected the SCR. • The introduction of silica in the catalyst promotes the NH{sub 3}-SCR reaction. • The catalysts activities were not significantly influenced by SO{sub 2} addition. - Abstract: Silica-pillared layered titanate (SiO{sub 2}–Ti{sub 4}O{sub 9}) was prepared by intercalating organosilanes into the interlayers of a layered K{sub 2}Ti{sub 4}O{sub 9} followed by calcination at 500 °C. The lamellar titanates produced were used as a support to prepare vanadium catalysts (1 and 2 wt%) through wet impregnation for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO. The catalysts were characterized using nitrogen adsorption (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature programmed reduction (H{sub 2}-TPR), nuclear magnetic resonance ({sup 29}Si NMR), and infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Reduction of NO by NH{sub 3} was studied in a fixed-bed reactor packed with the catalysts and fed a mixture comprising 1% NH{sub 3}, 1% NO, 10% O{sub 2}, and 34 ppm SO{sub 2} (when used) in helium. The results demonstrate that activity is correlated with the support, i.e., with acidic strength of catalysts. The potassium in the support, K{sub 2}Ti{sub 4}O{sub 9}, significantly affected the reaction and level of vanadium species reduction. The catalyst (1VSiT) with 1 wt% vanadium impregnated on the SiO{sub 2}–Ti{sub 4}O{sub 9} support reduced ∼80% of the NO. Approximately the same conversion rate was generated on the catalyst (2VSiT) with 2 wt% vanadium using the same support. The increased NH{sub 3} adsorption demonstrate that introduction of silica in the catalyst promotes the NH{sub 3}-SCR reaction. More importantly, 2VSiT and 1VSiT were strongly resistant to SO{sub 2} poisoning.
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Efe Egharevba
2016-08-01
More discussion around corruption with all relevant stakeholders is required in order for progress to be made and to enable greater involvement of sub-Saharan African countries in the conduct of industry sponsored clinical trials.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Ugurlu, Ozan [Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)
2006-01-01
Magnetic refrigeration is a promising technology that offers a potential for high energy efficiency. The giant magnetocaloric effect of the R<sub>5sub>(Six>, Ge<sub>1-xsub>)>4sub> alloys (where R=rare-earth and O ≤ x ≤ 1), which was discovered in 1997, make them perfect candidates for magnetic refrigeration applications. In this study the microstructures of Gd<sub>5sub>(Six>, Ge<sub>1-xsub>)>4sub> alloys have been characterized using electron microscopy techniques, with the focus being on distinctive linear features first examined in 1999. These linear features have been observed in R<sub>5sub>(Six>, Ge<sub>1-xsub>)>4sub> alloys prepared from different rare-earths (Gd, Tb, Dy and Er) with different crystal structures (Gd<sub>5sub>Si>4sub>-type orthorhombic, monoclinic and Gd<sub>5sub>Ge>4sub>-type orthorhombic). Systematic scanning electron microscope studies revealed that these linear features are actually thin-plates, which grow along specific directions in the matrix material. The crystal structure of the thin-plates has been determined as hexagonal with lattice parameters a=b=8.53 Å and c=6.40 Å using selected area diffraction (SAD). Energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis, carried out in both scanning and transmission electron microscopes, showed that the features have a composition approximating to R<sub>5sub>Six,Ge>1-xsub>)>3sub>.phase. Orientation relationship between the matrix and the thin-plates has been calculated as [- 1010](1-211)<sub>p>//[010](10-2)<sub>m>. The growth direction of the thin plates are calculated as (22 0 19) and (-22 0 19) by applying the Ag approach of Zhang and Purdy to the SAD patterns of this system. High Resolution TEM images of the Gd<sub>5sub>Ge>4sub> were used to study the crystallographic relationship. A terrace-ledge structure was observed at the interface and a 7° rotation of the reciprocal lattices
High Throughput Screen for Novel Antimicrobials using a Whole Animal Infection Model
Moy, Terence I.; Conery, Annie L.; Larkins-Ford, Jonah; Wu, Gang; Mazitschek, Ralph; Casadei, Gabriele; Lewis, Kim; Carpenter, Anne E.; Ausubel, Frederick M.
2009-01-01
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a unique whole animal model system for identifying small molecules with in vivo anti-infective properties. C. elegans can be infected with a broad range of human pathogens, including Enterococcus faecalis, an important human nosocomial pathogen with a mortality rate of up to 37% that is increasingly acquiring resistance to antibiotics. Here, we describe an automated, high throughput screen of 37,200 compounds and natural product extracts for those that enhance survival of C. elegans infected with E. faecalis. The screen uses a robot to accurately dispense live, infected animals into 384-well plates, and automated microscopy and image analysis to generate quantitative, high content data. We identified 28 compounds and extracts that were not previously reported to have antimicrobial properties, including 6 structural classes that cure infected C. elegans animals but do not affect the growth of the pathogen in vitro, thus acting by a mechanism of action distinct from antibiotics currently in clinical use. Our versatile and robust screening system can be easily adapted for other whole animal assays to probe a broad range of biological processes. PMID:19572548
Prokhorov, V G; Kaminsky, G G; Svetchnikov, V L; Zandbergen, H W; Lee, Y P; Park, J S; Kim, K W
2003-01-01
The magnetic and transport properties of La sub 0 sub . sub 7 Ca sub 0 sub . sub 3 MnO sub 3 sub - sub d elta films with an oxygen deficiency (delta approx 0.1) and a La sub 0 sub . sub 9 Ca sub 0 sub . sub 1 MnO sub 3 film with the stoichiometric oxygen content are investigated in a wide temperature range. It is shown that the charge-ordered insulating (COI) state is observed for a La sub 0 sub . sub 7 Ca sub 0 sub . sub 3 MnO sub 2 sub . sub 9 film with thickness d <= 30 nm, which manifests mainly a cubic crystal structure with an anomalously small lattice parameter for this composition. An increase in the film thickness (d approx 60 nm) leads to a structural transition from the lattice-strained cubic to the relaxed rhombohedral phase, is accompanied by a shift of the Curie point (T sub C) to lower temperature and a frustration of the COI state. The magnetic and transport properties of the La sub 0 sub . sub 7 Ca sub 0 sub . sub 3 MnO sub 2 sub . sub 9 film with d approx 60 nm are similar to those exhibi...
Panova, G K; Chernoplekov, N A; Emelchenko, G A; Malyuk, A N; Lin, S T
2002-01-01
The anisotropy of the superconducting properties of the Nd sub 1 sub . sub 8 sub 5 Ce sub 0 sub . sub 1 sub 5 CuO sub 4 monocrystal is studied by resistance within the temperature range of 2-30 K in the 0, 1, 2, 4, 6 Tl magnetic fields in the a-b plane. The T sub c (H) and H sub c sub 2 (T) strong anisotropy was observed by the magnetic field different orientation in the a-b plane. The zero direction in the gap of the order parameter is determined. The analysis of the experimental data shows, that such a result may be related to the change in the symmetry in the copper atoms surrounding, leading to its reduction from the tetragonal to orthorhombic one in the low-temperature area. The comparison with the La sub 1 sub . sub 8 sub 5 Sr sub 0 sub . sub 1 sub 5 CuO sub 4 gives all grounds to suppose, that the superconductivity mechanism in the electron- and hole-doped superconductor is similar and the observed difference is connected with the structure peculiarities
Pathological anxiety in animals
Ohl, F.; Arndt, S.S.; Staay, van der F.J.
2008-01-01
selective breeding programmes in domestic and laboratory animals generally focus on physiological and/or anatomical characteristics. However, selection may have an (unintended) impact on other characteristics and may lead to dysfunctional behaviour that can affect biological functioning and, as a
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Winarsih, Suci; Kurniawan, Budhy, E-mail: bkuru07@gmail.com; Manaf, Azwar [Physics Department, Universitas Indonesia, Depok 16424 (Indonesia); Nanto, Dwi [Department of Physics Education, Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah, Jakarta 15412 (Indonesia); Imaduddin, Agung; Hendrik [Metallurgical Research Center, Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia, Puspiptek-Serpong 15314 (Indonesia); Saptari, Sitti Ahmiatri [Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah, Jakarta 15412 (Indonesia)
2016-06-17
In this paper, we explored structural and electrical properties of La{sub 0.7}(Ba{sub 1-x}Ca{sub x}){sub 0.3}MnO{sub 3} (x = 0; 0.03; and 0.05) compounds. The general structure of perovskite manganites is AMnO{sub 3} (A= trivalent rare earth with divalent ion-doped). Average A-site cation size, external pressure, and the variance of the cation size σ{sup 2} are one of many factors that affected to magneto-transport properties of manganites as reported by others. In this work we focus only on the electrical properties in La{sub 0.7}Ba{sub 0.3}MnO{sub 3} Ca-doped compound which may influence crystal structure resulting resistivity phenomena under magnetic field influence. All samples were synthesized by sol-gel method from which fine powders were obtained. The X-ray powder diffraction pattern of powder materials shows that all samples are fully crystalline with a rhombohedral structure. Rietveld refinement shows that the presence of calcium has changed some crystal structural parameters such lattice parameter, Mn–O bond length, and Mn–O–Mn angles. The electrical resistivity of all synthesized materials investigated by four point probe method using Cryogenic Magnet in the temperature range of 50-300 K under influence a magnetic field shows resistivity temperature dependent. In fact presence of calcium has reduced the resistivity. It might occure because it has made an enhancement in the mobility of hopping electrons. The magnetic external field causes the resistivity decreased for all samples because host spin align by delocalizing the charge carries so electron itinerant through the lattice suggested by other authors. Both calcium dopant concentration and the applied external magnetic field shows strong correlation in reduction of resistivity.
Medication of Production Animals – Cure of Malfunctioning Animals or Production Systems?
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Chrièl Mariann
2003-03-01
Full Text Available Medication is used in all intensive animal productions. However, the increasing problems with resistant bacteria in all animal productions and in humans are supported by a number of reports. Special attention is given to the risk for transmitting food-borne (multi resistant zoonotic agents to humans due to failure in antibiotic treatment resulting in lower cure rates or higher case fatality rates. The use of medication in humans per se is capable of selecting for resistance in human pathogens. Nevertheless, the amount of used medication/antimicrobials in treatment of Danish production animals goes far beyond the amount used for human consumption. The increase in consumption has not been followed by a similarly increased mortality, e.g. illustrated by the number of rendered animals, increased use of injection medicine for veterinary treatments of diseased animals, or increased number of remarks on the carcasses from the slaughterhouses. Medication in animal production is facing its limits and relevant economic alternatives have to be developed. The strategy for the future must concentrate on using medication only for clinically diseased animals and not as a strategic treatment of the whole herd in order to maximise growth and camouflage of suboptimal production systems and insufficient management.
Synthesis and Luminescent Properties of Sr{sub 2}SiO{sub 4} Phosphors
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Nishioka, H; Watari, T; Eguchi, T; Yada, M, E-mail: watarit@cc.saga-u.ac.jp [Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saga University, 1 Hojo-Machi, Saga 840-8502 (Japan)
2011-05-15
Sr{sub 2}SiO{sub 4}:Eu{sup 2+} phosphors and Sr{sub 2}SiO{sub 4}:Eu{sup 2+}, Dy{sup 3+} persistent phosphors were synthesized by solid-state reaction method at 1300deg. C using SrCO{sub 3}, SiO{sub 2}(silica: 3 {mu} m and fumed silica: 7nm), Eu{sub 2}O{sub 3}(0.01 to 0.06 mol% Eu) and Dy{sub 2}O{sub 3}(0.005 to 0.02 mol% Dy) powders. The amount of the stable {beta}- Sr{sub 2}SiO{sub 4} phase had decreased and the amount of the {alpha}'-Sr{sub 2}SiO{sub 4} increased with the increase of the Eu content. The solid solution of Eu{sup 2+} ion stabilized {alpha}'-Sr{sub 2}SiO{sub 4} at room temperature. The emission color of the Sr{sub 2}SiO{sub 4}:Eu{sup 2+} products changed from the turquoise blue to yellow with the increase of the Eu content. The maximum emission peak position changed to the higher wavelength with the increase of the Eu content. The emission peak at 490nm(green color) was from {beta}- Sr{sub 2}SiO{sub 4} phase and that at 560nm(yellow color) was from {alpha}'-Sr{sub 2}SiO{sub 4} phase. The change of the phase content in the products affects the color and the emission peak. The emission intensity of the products from fumed silica is stronger than the products from silica. Sr{sub 1.98-x}SiO{sub 4}:Eu{sub 0.02}, Dy{sub x} persistent phosphors products showed the persistent emission for a few minutes with the naked eyes. The behavior was observed from all products. The product from fumed silica at x = 0.01 showed the strong emission for tens of seconds.
Johansen, Anders; Nielsen, Henrik B; Hansen, Christian M; Andreasen, Christian; Carlsgart, Josefine; Hauggard-Nielsen, Henrik; Roepstorff, Allan
2013-04-01
Anaerobic digestion of residual materials from animals and crops offers an opportunity to simultaneously produce bioenergy and plant fertilizers at single farms and in farm communities where input substrate materials and resulting digested residues are shared among member farms. A surplus benefit from this practice may be the suppressing of propagules from harmful biological pests like weeds and animal pathogens (e.g. parasites). In the present work, batch experiments were performed, where survival of seeds of seven species of weeds and non-embryonated eggs of the large roundworm of pigs, Ascaris suum, was assessed under conditions similar to biogas plants managed at meso- (37°C) and thermophilic (55°C) conditions. Cattle manure was used as digestion substrate and experimental units were sampled destructively over time. Regarding weed seeds, the effect of thermophilic conditions (55°C) was very clear as complete mortality, irrespective of weed species, was reached after less than 2 days. At mesophilic conditions, seeds of Avena fatua, Sinapsis arvensis, Solidago canadensis had completely lost germination ability, while Brassica napus, Fallopia convolvulus and Amzinckia micrantha still maintained low levels (~1%) of germination ability after 1 week. Chenopodium album was the only weed species which survived 1 week at substantial levels (7%) although after 11 d germination ability was totally lost. Similarly, at 55°C, no Ascaris eggs survived more than 3h of incubation. Incubation at 37°C did not affect egg survival during the first 48 h and it took up to 10 days before total elimination was reached. In general, anaerobic digestion in biogas plants seems an efficient way (thermophilic more efficient than mesophilic) to treat organic farm wastes in a way that suppresses animal parasites and weeds so that the digestates can be applied without risking spread of these pests. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Retuerto, M.; Li, M.-R.; Go, Y.B. [Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 610 Taylor Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854 (United States); Ignatov, A.; Croft, M. [Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 136 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854 (United States); Ramanujachary, K.V. [Department of Chemistry and Physics, Rowan University, 210 Mullica Hill Road, Glassboro, NJ 08028 (United States); Herber, R.H.; Nowik, I. [Racah Institute of Physics, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, 91904 Israel (Israel); Hodges, J.P. [Spallation Neutron Source, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 (United States); Dachraoui, W.; Hadermann, J. [EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp (Belgium); Greenblatt, M., E-mail: martha@rutchem.rutgers.edu [Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 610 Taylor Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854 (United States)
2012-10-15
A series of perovskites Sr{sub 4-x}La{sub x}Fe{sub 3}ReO{sub 12} (x=0.0, 1.0, 2.0) has been prepared by wet chemistry methods. The structure analyses by powder X-ray and neutron diffraction and electron microscopy show that these compounds adopt simple perovskite structures without cation ordering over the B sites: tetragonal (I4/mcm) for x=0.0 and 1.0 and orthorhombic (Pbmn) for x=2.0. The oxidation states of the cations in the compound with x=0.0 appear to be Fe{sup 3+/4+} and Re{sup 7+} and decrease for both with La substitution as evidenced by X-ray absorption spectroscopy. All the compounds are antiferromagnetically ordered above room temperature, as demonstrated by Moessbauer spectroscopy and the magnetic structures, which were determined by powder neutron diffraction. The substitution of Sr by La strongly affects the magnetic properties with an increase of T{sub N} up to {approx}750 K. - Graphical abstract: High resolution transmission electron microscopy image of Sr{sub 4-x}La{sub x}Fe{sub 3}ReO{sub 12} (x=2.0), showing twin domains. Fourier transforms are given of the areas indicated by the circles. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Sr{sub 4-x}La{sub x}Fe{sub 3}ReO{sub 12} (x=0.0, 1.0, 2.0) perovskites prepared by wet chemistry. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer PXD, PND, ED, indicate no cation ordering, I4/mcm) for x=0.0, 1.0, Pbmn for x=2. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer XAS show oxidation states Fe{sup 3+/4+} and Re{sup 7+}; both decrease with increasing x. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer All order antiferromagnetically above RT, with highest T{sub N} {approx}750 K.
Kim, H J; Yun, H S
2001-01-01
A site preference of niobium atom in Rb sub 2 sub - sub x La sub 2 Ti sub 3 sub - sub x Nb sub x O sub 1 sub 0 (0.0<=x<=1.0) and RbLa sub 2 sub - sub x Ca sub x Ti sub 2 sub - sub x Nb sub 1 sub + sub x O sub 1 sub 0 (0.0<=x<= 2.0), which are the solid-solutions between Rb sub 2 La sub 2 Ti sub 3 O sub 1 sub 0 are RbCa sub 2 Nb sub 3 O sub 1 sub 0 , has been investigated by Raman spectroscopy. The Raman spectra of Rb sub 2 sub - sub x La sub 2 Ti sub 3 sub - sub x Nb sub x O sub 1 sub 0 (0.0<=x<=1.0) gave an evidence that niobium atoms substituted for titanium atoms preferably occupy the highly distorted outer octahedral sites rather than the central ones in triple-octahedral perovskite layers. In contrast, the Raman spectra of RbLa sub 2 sub - sub x Ca sub x Ti sub 2 sub - sub x Nb sub 1 sub + sub x O sub 1 sub 0 (0.0<=x<= 2.0) showed no clear information for the cationic arrangement in perovskite slabs. This difference indicated that a site preference of niobium atoms is observed onl...
Nakajima, Yuka
2017-01-01
An increasing number of teachers are introducing animals into their class so that pupils foster cognitive, physiological, and social skills through their interaction with animals. Along with such an educational style termed animal-assisted education (AAE), Japanese formal education has also utilized animals for education. Japanese animal-rearing education is unique regarding the following two points: (1) it takes the form of "education through assisting animals" rather than "animals assisting education" and (2) animal rearing is embedded in formal education. While conventional AAE expects the benefit from the social support of animals, Japanese animal-rearing education expects benefit from nurturing and caring for animals. The present study aims to identify effective methods for using animals for education by highlighting the benefits of Japanese animal-rearing education. An overview of Japanese animal-rearing education is followed by a critical review of empirical studies of conventional AAE and Japanese animal-rearing education. Despite the differences in the educational styles, it was found that both systems commonly help children adapt to school. Additionally, conventional AAE were effective in enhancing cognitive and athletic ability of students and foster social skills, while Japanese animal-rearing education enhanced academic knowledge and skills and cultivated sympathy for animals and other people. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the experience of raising animals affects children's development for a long time even after children stop raising animals. In order to determine the effect of animal presence at school, however, more empirical studies with various viewpoints are necessary for both styles of education. Concerning Japanese animal-rearing education, the effects of the differences such as the amount of exposure to animals, developmental stage or character of individual children, the types of animals need to be controlled for a more sophisticated
Sub-acute insulin therapy does not affect long-term visiospatial ...
African Journals Online (AJOL)
Insulin is a common hypoglycaemic agent used to treat diabetes, but it has also been reported to exert other effects on the body including modulation cognition. Reported findings on insulin effect on learning and memory are scanty and often conflicting. This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of sub-acute insulin ...
Shivley, Chelsey B; Garry, Franklyn B; Kogan, Lori R; Grandin, Temple
2016-05-15
OBJECTIVE To explore the extent to which veterinary colleges and schools accredited by the AVMA Council on Education (COE) have incorporated specific courses related to animal welfare, behavior, and ethics. DESIGN Survey and curriculum review. SAMPLE All 49 AVMA COE-accredited veterinary colleges and schools (institutions). PROCEDURES The study consisted of 2 parts. In part 1, a survey regarding animal welfare, behavior, and ethics was emailed to the associate dean of academic affairs at all 49 AVMA COE-accredited institutions. In part 2, the curricula for the 30 AVMA COE-accredited institutions in the United States were reviewed for courses on animal behavior, ethics, and welfare. RESULTS Seventeen of 49 (35%) institutions responded to the survey of part 1, of which 10 offered a formal animal welfare course, 9 offered a formal animal behavior course, 8 offered a formal animal ethics course, and 5 offered a combined animal welfare, behavior, and ethics course. The frequency with which courses on animal welfare, behavior, and ethics were offered differed between international and US institutions. Review of the curricula for the 30 AVMA COE-accredited US institutions revealed that 6 offered a formal course on animal welfare, 22 offered a formal course on animal behavior, and 18 offered a formal course on animal ethics. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that AVMA COE-accredited institutions need to provide more formal education on animal welfare, behavior, and ethics so veterinarians can be advocates for animals and assist with behavioral challenges.
Effects of drought on the animal population in Eritrea
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Woldehiwet, Z; Haywood, S; Trafford, J
1985-08-17
Most nomads in Eritrea have lost their animals due to outright starvation or diseases aggravated by malnutrition, resulting in part from drought. Animals surviving the drought itself are succumbing to infectious diseases and ecto- and endoparasites. Affected animals include camels as well as bovine and caprine populations.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Betke, Ulf; Neuschulz, Kai; Wickleder, Mathias S. [Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Institute of Pure and Applied Chemistry (Germany)
2011-11-04
Oxide methanesulfonates of Mo, U, Re, and V have been prepared by reaction of MoO{sub 3}, UO{sub 2}(CH{sub 3}COO){sub 2}.2 H{sub 2}O, Re{sub 2}O{sub 7}(H{sub 2}O){sub 2}, and V{sub 2}O{sub 5} with CH{sub 3}SO{sub 3}H or mixtures thereof with its anhydride. These compounds are the first examples of solvent-free oxide methanesulfonates of these elements. MoO{sub 2}(CH{sub 3}SO{sub 3}){sub 2} (Pbca, a=1487.05(4), b=752.55(2), c=1549.61(5) pm, V=1.73414(9) nm{sup 3}, Z=8) contains [MoO{sub 2}] moieties connected by [CH{sub 3}SO{sub 3}] ions to form layers parallel to (100). UO{sub 2}(CH{sub 3}SO{sub 3}){sub 2} (P2{sub 1}/c, a=1320.4(1), b=1014.41(6), c=1533.7(1) pm, β=112.80(1) {sup circle}, V=1.8937(3) nm{sup 3}, Z=8) consists of linear UO{sub 2}{sup 2+} ions coordinated by five [CH{sub 3}SO{sub 3}] ions, forming a layer structure. VO(CH{sub 3}SO{sub 3}){sub 2} (P2{sub 1}/c, a=1136.5(1), b=869.87(7), c=915.5(1) pm, β=113.66(1) {sup circle}, V=0.8290(2) nm{sup 3}, Z=4) contains [VO] units connected by methanesulfonate anions to form corrugated layers parallel to (100). In ReO{sub 3}(CH{sub 3}SO{sub 3}) (P anti 1, a=574.0(1), b=1279.6(3), c=1641.9(3) pm, α=102.08(2), β=96.11(2), γ=99.04(2) {sup circle}, V=1.1523(4) nm{sup 3}, Z=8) a chain structure exhibiting infinite O-[ReO{sub 2}]-O-[ReO{sub 2}]-O chains is formed. Each [ReO{sub 2}]-O-[ReO{sub 2}] unit is coordinated by two bidentate [CH{sub 3}SO{sub 3}] ions. V{sub 2}O{sub 3}(CH{sub 3}SO{sub 3}){sub 4} (I2/a, a=1645.2(3), b=583.1(1), c=1670.2(3) pm, β=102.58(3), V=1.5637(5) pm{sup 3}, Z=4) adopts a chain structure, too, but contains discrete [VO]-O-[VO] moieties, each coordinated by two bidentate [CH{sub 3}SO{sub 3}] ligands. Additional methanesulfonate ions connect the [V{sub 2}O{sub 3}] groups along [001]. Thermal decomposition of the compounds was monitored under N{sub 2} and O{sub 2} atmosphere by thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis and XRD measurements. Under N{sub 2} the decomposition proceeds
Role of etology in detecting environmental pollutants that affect changes in animal behaviour
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Vučinić Marijana M.
2005-01-01
Full Text Available A large number of chemical pollutants originating from industrial agricultural and urban through the direct or indirect disruption of endocrine gland and hormone function. That is why these pollutants are known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC. By disrupting endocrine function, the EDC change certain forms of animal behaviour. This is why a direct link can be established between etology, as a scientific discipline that studied the role, function, ontogenetic and evolutionary development of behaviour from the aspect of the animal's adaption to living conditions, and ecotoxicology. In this mutual connection, the role of etology is to identify changes in animal behaviour which will serve as the first bioindicator of the presence of EDC in a certain environment, and before the occurrence of organic changes that could have lethal consequences.
Reentrant behavior in Cr doped bilayer manganite LaSr{sub 2}Mn{sub 2}O{sub 7}
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Bhatia, S.N., E-mail: snbhatia@phy.iitb.ac.in; Mohapatra, Niharika
2017-07-15
Highlights: • The FM and the AFM states merge into each other thereby creating an inhomogeneous state. • Cr{sup 3+} creates ferromagnetic moments which behave like FM relaxors. • Electric conduction takes via hopping of small polaron and not by variable range hopping of these polarons. - Abstract: We have studied the effect of replacing Mn{sup 3+} by Cr{sup 3+} on the structure, transport and magnetism in the bilayered manganite LaSr{sub 2}Mn{sub 2}O{sub 7}. Although no structural transition was observed in LaSr{sub 2}Mn{sub 2−y}Cr{sub y}O{sub 7} (0.1 ≤ y ≤ 0.6), the electrical transport and the magnetic properties were found to be affected significantly by this substitution. Substitution of Cr{sup 3+} reduces the conductivity by restricting the hopping of small polarons. Magnetization increases with increasing Cr{sup 3+} concentration suggesting that Cr{sup 3+}-ions induce ferromagnetic moments. The ferromagnetic and an antiferromagnetic phase observed above ∼60 K merge into an inhomogeneous phase below this temperature. Thermopower yields an essentially concentration independent charge density nearly equal to its value for chromium free composition inspite of its expected decrease with this substitution suggesting that the small charge density of the insulating AFM phase is supplemented by the free carriers in the FM phase. The inhomogeneous phase shows a relaxor type behavior which contrasts with the spin glass behavior seen in La{sub 0.46}Sr{sub 0.54}Mn{sub 0.98}Cr{sub 0.02}O{sub 3} having an identical AFM magnetic state. The difference is attributed to the non-JT character of Cr-ions which reduce the distortion of the Mn−O octahedra located within the FM domains. With a higher lattice strain in the surrounding AFM matrix the carriers remain confined within the FM domains leading to the relaxor type behavior.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Guttmann, Gilad M. [The Unit of Energy Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva (Israel); Dadon, David [Department of Materials Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva (Israel); Gelbstein, Yaniv [The Unit of Energy Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva (Israel); Department of Materials Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva (Israel)
2015-08-14
The recent energy demands affected by the dilution of conventional energy resources and the growing awareness of environmental considerations had motivated many researchers to seek for novel renewable energy conversion methods. Thermoelectric direct conversion of thermal into electrical energies is such a method, in which common compositions include IV-VI semiconducting compounds (e.g., PbTe and SnTe) and their alloys. For approaching practical thermoelectric devices, the current research is focused on electronic optimization of off-stoichiometric p-type Pb{sub x}Sn{sub 1−x}Te alloys by tuning of Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3} doping and/or SnTe alloying levels, while avoiding the less mechanically favorable Na dopant. It was shown that upon such doping/alloying, higher ZTs, compared to those of previously reported undoped Pb{sub 0.5}Sn{sub 0.5}Te alloy, were obtained at temperatures lower than 210–340 °C, depending of the exact doping/alloying level. It was demonstrated that upon optimal grading of the carrier concentration, a maximal thermoelectric efficiency enhancement of ∼38%, compared to that of an undoped material, is expected.
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Yuka Nakajima
2017-06-01
Full Text Available An increasing number of teachers are introducing animals into their class so that pupils foster cognitive, physiological, and social skills through their interaction with animals. Along with such an educational style termed animal-assisted education (AAE, Japanese formal education has also utilized animals for education. Japanese animal-rearing education is unique regarding the following two points: (1 it takes the form of “education through assisting animals” rather than “animals assisting education” and (2 animal rearing is embedded in formal education. While conventional AAE expects the benefit from the social support of animals, Japanese animal-rearing education expects benefit from nurturing and caring for animals. The present study aims to identify effective methods for using animals for education by highlighting the benefits of Japanese animal-rearing education. An overview of Japanese animal-rearing education is followed by a critical review of empirical studies of conventional AAE and Japanese animal-rearing education. Despite the differences in the educational styles, it was found that both systems commonly help children adapt to school. Additionally, conventional AAE were effective in enhancing cognitive and athletic ability of students and foster social skills, while Japanese animal-rearing education enhanced academic knowledge and skills and cultivated sympathy for animals and other people. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the experience of raising animals affects children’s development for a long time even after children stop raising animals. In order to determine the effect of animal presence at school, however, more empirical studies with various viewpoints are necessary for both styles of education. Concerning Japanese animal-rearing education, the effects of the differences such as the amount of exposure to animals, developmental stage or character of individual children, the types of animals need to be
Low-temperature thermal expansion of pure and inert gas-doped fullerite C sub 6 sub 0
Aleksandrovskii, A N; Eselson, V B; Gavrilko, V G; Manzhelii, V G; Udovidchenko, B G; Bakai, A S; Gadd, G E; Moricca, S; Sundqvist, B
2003-01-01
The low temperature (2-24 K) thermal expansion of pure (single-crystal and polycrystalline) C sub 6 sub 0 and polycrystalline C sub 6 sub 0 intercalated with He, Ne, Ar, and Kr has been investigated using the high-resolution capacitance dilatometer. The investigation of the time dependence of the sample length variations DELTA L(t) on heating by DELTA T shows that the thermal expansion is determined by the sum of positive and negative contributions, which have different relaxation times. The negative thermal expansion usually prevails at helium temperatures. The positive expansion is connected with the phonon thermalization of the system. The negative expansion is caused by reorientation of the C sub 6 sub 0 molecules. It is assumed that the reorientation is of a quantum character. The inert gas impurities affect the reorientation of the C6 sub sub 0 molecules very strongly, especially at liquid helium temperatures. A temperature hysteresis of the thermal expansion coefficient of Kr- and He-C sub 6 sub 0 solu...
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Rafaela Alves Dias
2015-06-01
Full Text Available ABSTRACT. Dias R.A., Souza A.P. & Garino Júnior F. [Assessment of bacterial contamination in the sectors of Clinical Medicine and Surgery Small Animal Veterinary Hospital, UFCG, PB.] Avaliação da contaminação bacteriana nos setores de Clínica e Cirurgia de Pequenos Animais do Hospital Veterinário da UFCG, PB. Revista Brasileira de Medicina Veterinária, 37(2:173-177, 2015. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Av. Universitária, s/n, Bairro Santa Cecília, Patos, PB 58708-110, Brasil. E-mail: rafa.ad@hotmail.com With this study aimed to evaluate bacterial contamination sectors Clinic and Surgery Small Animal Veterinary Hospital UFCG, in order to prevent infections in patients attending hospital. An assessment of the environmental contamination of sectors before and after disinfection, where was collected samples of air, surfaces and hands of people who deal directly with the animals. Then the test was made of the effectiveness of disinfectants used. Of the 40 samples collected, was identified in 5 of them (12.5% Enterobacteria such as Escherichia coli and Klebisiella pneumoniae and in 22 samples (55% was identified Staphylococcus coagulase negative and positive. Was seen in the quantitative analysis that the number of cfu in some sample was above the indicated. The test showed that the disinfectant solution was effective against all micro-organisms found in the environments. The results indicate that more attention to procedures performed in the disinfection of areas evaluated, and also include measures to prevent contamination at these sites.
Aslam, A; Zubair, M; Akhtar, M J; Nadeem, M
2002-01-01
We report measurements of the thermoelectric power (TEP) on the La sub 0 sub . sub 6 sub 5 Ca sub 0 sub . sub 3 sub 5 Mn sub 1 sub - sub x Fe sub x O sub 3 system for 0.00 <= x <= 0.07. The ferromagnetic and metallic transition temperatures are lowered and the TEP shows an increasingly positive trend with the addition of Fe. We also observe a clear magnetic contribution that manifests itself as a peak in the TEP close to the critical temperature. The activation energies determined from the TEP are seen to be insensitive to the Fe content. The data are interpreted firstly as showing a decrease in the density of active holes, i.e. holes that can participate in the hopping process, with increasing Fe content. Secondly the data suggest the role of magnetic scattering due to the clusters formed by the antiferromagnetically coupled Fe. Abrupt changes in the variation of the TEP are observed at the concentration region x approx 0.04 consistent with the hole density variation and with previously reported transp...
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Cai, C.Z., E-mail: caiczh@gmail.com [Department of Applied Physics, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331 (China); Xiao, T.T. [Department of Applied Physics, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331 (China); Science and Technology on Plasma Physics Laboratory, Research Center of Laser Fusion, CAEP, P.O. Box 919-988, Mianyang 621900 (China); Tang, J.L.; Huang, S.J. [Department of Applied Physics, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331 (China)
2013-10-15
Highlights: • Proposed new ideas and strategies to improve energy storage density for SMES system. • One is to increase the effective current density in the superconducting coils. • Another is to optimize the configuration of the SMES coil. • A new conceive of energy compression is also proposed. -- Abstract: There are several process parameters in the growth of YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7} superconducting films by using pulsed laser deposition (PLD). The relationship between the response and process parameters is highly nonlinear and quite complicated. It is very valuable to quantitatively estimate the response under different deposition parameters. In this study, according to an experimental data set on the superconducting transition temperature (T{sub c}) and relative resistance ratio (r{sub R}) of 17 samples of YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7} films deposited under various parameters, the support vector regression (SVR) combined with particle swarm optimization (PSO), was proposed to predict the T{sub c} and r{sub R} for YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7} films. The prediction performance of SVR was compared with that of multiple regression analysis (MRA) models. The results strongly support that the generalization ability of SVR model consistently surpasses that of MRA via leave-one-out cross validation (LOOCV). The mean absolute percentage errors for T{sub c} and r{sub R} are 0.37% and 1.51% respectively via LOOCV test of SVR. Sensitivity analysis discovered the most sensitive parameters affecting the T{sub c} and r{sub R}. This study suggests that the established SVR model can be used to accurately foresee the T{sub c} and r{sub R}. And it can be used to optimizing the deposition parameters in the development of YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7} films via PLD.
Childhood animal cruelty and interpersonal violence.
Miller, C
2001-07-01
Conduct disorder (CD) affects 2-9% of children in this country and has been found to be relatively stable through childhood, adolescence, and into adulthood. Although many behaviors that comprise CD have been studied, there has been a lack of research on cruelty to animals. It has been suggested that animal cruelty may be exhibited by 25% of CD children and that animal abuse may be the earliest symptom evident in CD children. In addition, several studies have found a significant relationship between childhood cruelty to animals and violence toward people. Available research is reviewed in this report, including early studies on the relationship between animal cruelty and interpersonal violence, recent assessment attempts, and intervention techniques. Future research needs are also outlined and discussed.
SO/sub 2/ and particles--synergistic effects on guinea pig lungs
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Rylander, R; Ohrstrom, M; Hellstrom, P A; Bergstrom, R
1971-01-01
Damage from SO/sub 2/ (5 ppM) and/or MnO/sub 2/ (5.9 mg/m/sup 3/, 90% < 0.5 ..mu..m) to guinea pigs was assessed by a phagocytosis-clearance model. The clearance of viable and killed nonpathogenic bacteria was determined in animals exposed to pollutants 6 hr/day, 5 day/wk, for 4 wk. Percent killed and viable E. coli remaining in lung after 3 hr averaged 75 and 16 for control, 79 and 19 for MnO/sub 2/, 88 and 10 for SO/sub 2/, and 118 and 28 for SO/sub 2/ plus MnO/sub 2/ (significant vs control). Synergism was thus demonstrated.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Boukherroub, N. [UR-MPE, M' hamed Bougara University, Boumerdes 35000 (Algeria); Guittoum, A., E-mail: aguittoum@gmail.com [Nuclear Research Centre of Algiers, 02 Bd Frantz Fanon, BP 399 Alger-Gare, Algiers (Algeria); Laggoun, A. [UR-MPE, M' hamed Bougara University, Boumerdes 35000 (Algeria); Hemmous, M. [Nuclear Research Centre of Algiers, 02 Bd Frantz Fanon, BP 399 Alger-Gare, Algiers (Algeria); Martínez-Blanco, D. [SCTs, University of Oviedo, EPM, 33600 Mieres (Spain); Blanco, J.A. [Department of Physics, University of Oviedo, Calvo Sotelo St., 33007 Oviedo (Spain); Souami, N. [Nuclear Research Centre of Algiers, 02 Bd Frantz Fanon, BP 399 Alger-Gare, Algiers (Algeria); Gorria, P. [Department of Physics and IUTA, EPI, University of Oviedo, 33203 Gijón (Spain); Bourzami, A. [Laboratoire d' Etudes des Surfaces et Interfaces des Matériaux Solides (LESIMS), Université Sétif1, 19000 Sétif (Algeria); Lenoble, O. [Institut Jean Lamour, CNRS-Université de Lorraine, Boulevard des aiguillettes, BP 70239, F-54506 Vandoeuvre lès Nancy (France)
2015-07-01
We report on how the microstructure and the silicon content of nanocrystalline ternary (Fe{sub 0.8}Al{sub 0.2}){sub 100–x}Si{sub x} powders (x=0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 at%) elaborated by high energy ball milling affect the magnetic properties of these alloys. The formation of a single-phase alloy with body centred cubic (bcc) crystal structure is completed after 72 h of milling time for all the compositions. This bcc phase is in fact a disordered Fe(Al,Si) solid solution with a lattice parameter that reduces its value almost linearly as the Si content is increased, from about 2.9 Å in the binary Fe{sub 80}Al{sub 20} alloy to 2.85 Å in the powder with x=20. The average nanocrystalline grain size also decreases linearly down to 10 nm for x=20, being roughly half of the value for the binary alloy, while the microstrain is somewhat enlarged. Mössbauer spectra show a sextet thus suggesting that the disordered Fe(Al,Si) solid solution is ferromagnetic at room temperature. However, the average hyperfine field diminishes from 27 T (x=0) to 16 T (x=20), and a paramagnetic doublet is observed for the powders with higher Si content. These results together with the evolution of both the saturation magnetization and the coercive field are discussed in terms of intrinsic and extrinsic properties. - Highlights: • Single-phase nanocrystalline (Fe{sub 0.8}Al{sub 0.2}){sub 100–x}Si{sub x} (x=0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 at%) powders were successfully fabricated by mechanical alloying for a milling time of 72 h. • The insertion of Si atoms leads to a unit-cell contraction and a decrease in the average crystallite size. • The hyperfine and magnetic properties of (Fe{sub 0.8}Al{sub 0.2}){sub 100–x}Si{sub x} were influenced by the Si content.
Clinical implications of studies with MnDPDP in animal models of hepatic abnormalities
International Nuclear Information System (INIS)
Ni, Y.; Marchal, G.
1997-01-01
Mangafodipir trisodium (manganese dipyridoxal diphosphate or MnDPDP) has been introduced as a hepatobiliary MR contrast agent (Teslascan). It is potential to assist in the characterisation of focal liver lesions, the diagnosis of local and global obstructive cholestasis and the evaluation of hepatic function in diffuse liver diseases has been explored in multiple pre-clinical experiments with appropriate animal models. The prompt negative contrast enhancement and delayed pertumoural rim-enhancement seen after i.v. injection of MnDPDP are 2 typical features of primary and secondary liver tumours with high malignancy, while the persistent positive enhancement is a sign of liver tumours of well preserved hepatocitic nature. Liver with local and total biliary obstruction can be visualized in MnDPDP-enhanced MR images as a region with prolonged signal enhancement. This agent could also be used to non-invasively evaluate diffuse liver diseases of different causes. In the present paper, we review the experimental data in the literature, provide some unpublished results and discuss the potential impact on the clinical use of MnDPDP in the liver. We conclude that MnDPDP is a promising MR liver contrast agent for the detection and characterisation of focal and diffuse liver diseases. (orig.)
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Gross, Peter; Kirchhain, Arno; Hoeppe, Henning A. [Universitaet Augsburg, Institut fuer Physik (Germany)
2016-03-18
K{sub 4}[BS{sub 4}O{sub 15}(OH)], Ba[B{sub 2}S{sub 3}O{sub 13}], and Gd{sub 2}[B{sub 2}S{sub 6}O{sub 24}] were obtained by a new synthetic approach. The strategy involves initially synthesizing the complex acid H[B(HSO{sub 4}){sub 4}] which is subsequently reacted in an open system with anhydrous chlorides of K, Ba, and Gd to the respective borosulfates and a volatile molecule (HCl). Furthermore, protonated borosulfates should be accessible by appropriate stoichiometry of the starting materials, particularly in closed systems, which inhibit deprotonation of H[B(HSO{sub 4}){sub 4}] via condensation and dehydration. This approach led to the successful synthesis of the first divalent and trivalent metal borosulfates (Ba[B{sub 2}S{sub 3}O{sub 13}] with band-silicate topology and Gd{sub 2}[B{sub 2}S{sub 6}O{sub 24}] with cyclosilicate topology) and the first hydrogen borosulfate K{sub 4}[BS{sub 4}O{sub 15}(OH)]. (copyright 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
McWhorter, Sean William [Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)
2006-01-01
In the process of exploring and understanding the influence of crystal structure on the system of compounds with the composition Gd<sub>5sub>(SixGe>1-xsub>)>4sub> several new compounds were synthesized with different crystal structures, but similar structural features. In Gd<sub>5sub>(SixGe>1-xsub>)>4sub>, the main feature of interest is the magnetocaloric effect (MCE), which allows the material to be useful in magnetic refrigeration applications. The MCE is based on the magnetic interactions of the Gd atoms in the crystal structure, which varies with x (the amount of Si in the compound). The crystal structure of Gd<sub>5sub>(SixGe>1-xsub>)>4sub> can be thought of as being formed from two 32434 nets of Gd atoms, with additional Gd atoms in the cubic voids and Si/Ge atoms in the trigonal prismatic voids. Attempts were made to substitute nonmagnetic atoms for magnetic Gd using In, Mg and Al. Gd<sub>2sub>MgGe>2sub> and Gd<sub>2sub>InGe>2sub> both possess the same 32434 nets of Gd atoms as Gd<sub>5sub>(SixGe>1-xsub>)>4sub>, but these nets are connected differently, forming the Mo<sub>2sub>FeB>2sub> crystal structure. A search of the literature revealed that compounds with the composition R<sub>2sub>XM>2sub> (R=Sc, Y, Ti, Zr, Hf, rare earth; X=main group element; M=transition metal, Si, Ge) crystallize in one of four crystal structures: the Mo<sub>2sub>FeB>2sub>, Zr<sub>3sub>Al>2sub>, Mn<sub>2sub>AlB>2sub> and W<sub>2sub>CoB>2sub> crystal structures. These crystal structures are described, and the relationships between them are highlighted. Gd<sub>2sub>AlGe>2sub> forms an entirely new crystal structure, and the details of its synthesis and characterization are given. Electronic structure calculations are performed to understand the nature of bonding in this compound and how
Subclinical Mastitis in Dairy Animals: Incidence, Economics, and Predisposing Factors
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Mukesh Kr. Sinha
2014-01-01
Full Text Available A study was conducted to assess the incidence and economics of subclinical form of bovine mastitis in Central Region of India. Daily milk records of 187 animals during three seasons were collected and subjected to analysis. The economic loss due to reduction in yield, clinical expenses, and additional resources used were quantified and aggregated. The losses due to mastitis in monetary terms were estimated to be INR1390 per lactation, among which around 49% was owing to loss of value from milk and 37% on account of veterinary expenses. Higher losses were observed in crossbred cows due to their high production potential that was affected during mastitis period. The cost of treating an animal was estimated to be INR509 which includes cost of medicine (31.10% and services (5.47%. Inadequate sanitation, hygiene, and veterinary services were the main predisposing factors for incidence and spread of mastitis as perceived by the respondents.
Idemoto, Y; Koura, N; Kamiyama, T; Oikawa, K; Izumi, F
2003-01-01
Tl sub 2 sub - sub x Ba sub 2 Ca sub 2 Cu sub 3 sub + sub z O sub y (Tl-2223 system) superconducting oxides with various Tl contents and Cu contents were prepared. We investigated the relation between crystal structure and superconducting property dependence of Tl and Cu content. First, we obtained an almost single-phase material at a Tl content 2-x = 1.7 and the Tl-2223 phase remained the main phase in the region of 2 - x >= 0.631 of Tl sub 2 sub - sub x Ba sub 2 Ca sub 2 Cu sub 3 O sub y. T sub c was about 120 K for the Tl-2223 in a wide range of 0.631 <= 2 - x <= 1.761. Second, we obtained a single-phase at 2 - x = 1.777 and Cu content 3 + z = 3.284 of Tl sub 2 sub - sub x Ba sub 2 Ca sub 2 Cu sub 3 sub + sub z O sub y. The T sub c (zero) dependence of Cu/Tl ratio, showed a maximum value of 122 K at Cu/Tl ratio = 2.026. Based on results of crystal structure refinements by powder neutron diffraction, it was found that the change in bond length and angle dependence of average Cu valence were similar fo...
The Devil Is in the Details: Incomplete Reporting in Preclinical Animal Research.
Avey, Marc T; Moher, David; Sullivan, Katrina J; Fergusson, Dean; Griffin, Gilly; Grimshaw, Jeremy M; Hutton, Brian; Lalu, Manoj M; Macleod, Malcolm; Marshall, John; Mei, Shirley H J; Rudnicki, Michael; Stewart, Duncan J; Turgeon, Alexis F; McIntyre, Lauralyn
2016-01-01
Incomplete reporting of study methods and results has become a focal point for failures in the reproducibility and translation of findings from preclinical research. Here we demonstrate that incomplete reporting of preclinical research is not limited to a few elements of research design, but rather is a broader problem that extends to the reporting of the methods and results. We evaluated 47 preclinical research studies from a systematic review of acute lung injury that use mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as a treatment. We operationalized the ARRIVE (Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments) reporting guidelines for pre-clinical studies into 109 discrete reporting sub-items and extracted 5,123 data elements. Overall, studies reported less than half (47%) of all sub-items (median 51 items; range 37-64). Across all studies, the Methods Section reported less than half (45%) and the Results Section reported less than a third (29%). There was no association between journal impact factor and completeness of reporting, which suggests that incomplete reporting of preclinical research occurs across all journals regardless of their perceived prestige. Incomplete reporting of methods and results will impede attempts to replicate research findings and maximize the value of preclinical studies.
Pain control in small animalsControle da dor em pequenos animais
Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)
Julia Duarte Penter
2011-12-01
Full Text Available Pain is an unpleasant sensory or emotional experience that follows the application of a noxious stimulus. Can be experienced with or without the concomitant occurrence of physical stress signs, which occurs frequently in animals caused by trauma, systemic disease or surgical procedures. The control depends on length, where there are painful impulses and mental status of the animal. It is an important clinical condition, resulting in suffer that will affect quality life. This paper is a review of pathophysiology and pain control in small animals.A dor é uma experiência sensorial ou emocional desagradável que se segue à aplicação de um estímulo nocivo. Pode ser vivenciada com ou sem o acontecimento concomitante de sinais físicos de estresse, trauma, doença sistêmica ou procedimento cirúrgico. Seu controle depende de sua duração, de onde surgem os impulsos dolorosos e do estado de consciência do animal. É uma condição clinicamente importante, que resulta em sofrimento e afeta a qualidade de vida dos animais. O objetivo deste trabalho é a revisão da fisiopatologia e controle da dor em pequenos animais.
Watanabe, K; Kanadani, C; Taniguchi, T; Kawarazaki, S; Uwatoko, Y; Kadowaki, H
2003-01-01
Neutron diffraction experiments have been carried out to study the nature of the magnetic order of the pseudo-binary alloy system Ce(Ru sub 0 sub . sub 9 sub 0 Rh sub 0 sub . sub 1 sub 0) sub 2 (Si sub 1 sub - sub y Ge sub y) sub 2. Response of the ordered atomic magnetic moment, mu, the transition temperature, T sub N , and the magnitude of the magnetic modulation vector, q, to the chemical pressure and also to the applied hydrostatic pressure, P, were examined at low temperatures. When y changes, all of mu, T sub N and q show a sudden alteration of the manner of the y-dependence at around y - 0.08. The P-dependence of q shows quite different features for different y's of 0.0, 0.2 and 0.25. On the basis of these observations the possibility of a pressure-induced alternation of the magnetic regime of the order is discussed. (author)
Preparing students to be doctors: introduction of a sub-internship program.
LENUS (Irish Health Repository)
Robb, W B
2011-04-05
Preparing graduates for the transformation from medical student to doctor provides medical schools with a real challenge. Medical educators advocate a process of graduated delegation of responsibility in the clinical years of medical school. This is best exemplified in the North American system of sub-internship programmes; an educational approach which European medical schools have been slow to adopt. This study reports on the introduction of an intensive two-week surgical sub-internship for final medical year students. "Sub-interns" were asked to complete pre and post sub-internship online questionnaires assessing their readiness to perform clinical and practical skills, attitudes towards the program, and how well it prepared students for internship. Forty-nine students completed a questionnaire pre sub-internship and 47 completed the post-questionnaire. Student confidence towards practical and clinical skills and their first day at work increased over the two weeks. Mean Iikert scores for all 6 practical and clinical skills improved post sub-internship. The introduction of a surgical sub-internship is timely and welcomed by medical students. Its development helps bridge the gap in responsibilities between medical student and doctor.
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
de Martin, B W [Sao Paulo Univ. (Brazil). Faculdade de Medicina Veterinaria e Zootecnia
1975-01-01
Sera of 71 animals, divided in groups of males and females, in repose and after activity were studied. The method to establish the percentage of the /sup 125/I-lyothyronine retention in resin (Test /sup 125/I-T/sub 3/ or T/sub 3/) was modified by the use of 0.2 ml of serum on the resin column, after addition of the marked hormone. This modification served to prove that thoroughbred equines show binding of the I-lyothyronine to the serum four times reduced, indicating, therefore, that these animals have four times more ligation sites of triidothyronin saturation in the serum, when compared with the results obtained from human beings. The variance analysis applied to the T/sub 3/ Test showed no significant results at the 95% level as regards to activity. For the 71 animals, the author has found an average of 50.30% of the /sup 125/I-Lyothyronine in resin retention, being the confidence interval for this group between 48.75% and 51.85% to a 95% confidence coefficient. Evaluating the results of the T/sub 4/ Test by means of the variance analysis, we noticed that the male and female groups in repose differed statistically from the groups after activity to a 95% confidence coefficient. The author has grouped the results of the T/sub 4/ Test of 32 equines, 18 males and 14 females, in repose, obtaining an average of 0.61 mcg and 0.51 mcg and 0.71 mcg T/sub 4//100 ml as confidence interval to a 95% confidence coefficient. We have listed 39 results of T/sub 4/ Test, being 23 males and 61 Females, after activity, obtaining an average of 2.01 mcg of thyroxin by 100 ml of serum and 1.72 mcg and 2.30 T/sub 4//100 ml as confidence interval to a 95% confidence coefficient.
Geographical Assessment of Sacred Groves in Bolpur Sub-division ...
African Journals Online (AJOL)
Dr Osondu
area). Methodology. A total 41 different Sacred Groves in Bolpur sub- division area were randomly ... as breeding sites for some animals and recreational facilities. Groves of Bolpur ..... Cockroach(Periplaneta anericane),Black bee. Reptiles.
Unidirectional spin density wave state in metallic (Sr<sub>1-xsub>Lax)>2sub>IrO>4sub>
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Chen, Xiang; Schmehr, Julian L.; Islam, Zahirul; Porter, Zach; Zoghlin, Eli; Finkelstein, Kenneth; Ruff, Jacob P. C.; Wilson, Stephen D.
2018-01-09
Materials that exhibit both strong spin–orbit coupling and electron correlation effects are predicted to host numerous new electronic states. One prominent example is the J<sub>eff> = 1/2 Mott state in Sr<sub>2sub>IrO>4sub>, where introducing carriers is predicted to manifest high temperature superconductivity analogous to the S=1/2 Mott state of La<sub>2sub>CuO>4sub>. While bulk super- conductivity currently remains elusive, anomalous quasiparticle behaviors paralleling those in the cuprates such as pseudogap formation and the formation of a d-wave gap are observed upon electron-doping Sr<sub>2sub>IrO>4sub>. Here we establish a magnetic parallel between electron-doped Sr<sub>2sub>IrO>4sub> and hole-doped La<sub>2sub>CuO>4sub> by unveiling a spin density wave state in electron-doped Sr<sub>2sub>IrO>4sub>. Our magnetic resonant X-ray scattering data reveal the presence of an incom- mensurate magnetic state reminiscent of the diagonal spin density wave state observed in the monolayer cuprate (La<sub>1-xsub>Srx)>2sub>CuO>4sub>. This link supports the conjecture that the quenched Mott phases in electron-doped Sr<sub>2sub>IrO>4sub> and hole-doped La<sub>2sub>CuO>4sub> support common competing electronic phases.
Factors affecting the adoption of genetically modified animals in the food and pharmaceutical chains
Mora, C.; Menozzi, D.; Kleter, G.A.; Aramyan, L.H.; Valeeva, N.I.; Zimmermann, K.L.; Pakky Reddy, G.
2012-01-01
The production of genetically modified (GM) animals is an emerging technique that could potentially impact the livestock and pharmaceutical industries. Currently, food products derived from GM animals have not yet entered the market whilst two pharmaceutical products have. The objective of this
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Marciniak, L., E-mail: L.Marciniak@int.pan.wroc.pl [Institute for Low Temperature and Structure Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw (Poland); Hreniak, D.; Strek, W. [Institute for Low Temperature and Structure Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw (Poland); Piccinelli, F., E-mail: fabio.piccinelli@univr.it [Laboratorio di Chimica dello Stato Solido, DB, Università di Verona and INSTM, UdR Verona, Strada Le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona (Italy); Speghini, A.; Bettinelli, M. [Laboratorio di Chimica dello Stato Solido, DB, Università di Verona and INSTM, UdR Verona, Strada Le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona (Italy); Miritello, M., E-mail: maria.miritello@ct.infn.it [CNR-IMM MATIS and Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Catania, Via S. Sofia 64, 95123 Catania (Italy); Lo Savio, R.; Cardile, P.; Priolo, F. [CNR-IMM MATIS and Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Catania, Via S. Sofia 64, 95123 Catania (Italy)
2016-02-15
Powders of yttrium disilicate (Y{sub 2}Si{sub 2}O{sub 7}) doped with Er{sup 3+} have been prepared by the sol–gel method. The structure of the obtained powders has been determined. Room temperature emission spectra have been recorded and excited state decay profiles have been analyzed. Differences between the spectroscopic properties of Er{sup 3+} in monoclinic α-Y{sub 2}Si{sub 2}O{sub 7} (space group P-1) and β-Y{sub 2}Si{sub 2}O{sub 7} (space group C2/m) polymorphs have been investigated and shown. The significant broadening of the emission spectra recorded for the α phase compared to the one for the β phase was discussed in terms of higher number of Y{sup 3+} sites (4) present in the α phase with respect to only one Y{sup 3+} site in the case of β phase. The higher value of the luminescence decay time of β phase (11.2 ms) compared to the α phase (8.5 ms) is associated with the higher site symmetry of β-Y{sub 2}Si{sub 2}O{sub 7}. Moreover it was found that Er{sup 3+} concentration affects the shape of the {sup 4}I{sub 13/2}→{sup 4}I{sub 15/2} emission band. It results in changes of the relative emission intensities of peaks localized at 1527 nm and 1532 nm; this indicates changes of the Y{sup 3+} sites occupation on increasing the Er{sup 3+} concentration. The luminescence lifetime was observed to decrease with the increase of Er{sup 3+} concentration. The spectroscopic results have been compared with the ones relative to thin films of Y{sub 2}Si{sub 2}O{sub 7}:Er{sup 3+} with a similar composition. The lower value of the luminescence decay time observed for thin films compared to the powder of α phase was explained with the changes of the particles packing resulting in the change of the effective refractive index.
Leptospirosis in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review.
de Vries, Sophia G; Visser, Benjamin J; Nagel, Ingeborg M; Goris, Marga G A; Hartskeerl, Rudy A; Grobusch, Martin P
2014-11-01
Leptospirosis is an emerging zoonotic infection worldwide, possibly due to climate change and demographic shifts. It is regarded as endemic in Sub-Saharan Africa; however, for most countries scarce epidemiological data, if any, exist. The primary objectives were to describe the prevalence of leptospirosis in countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, and to develop options for prevention and control in the future. A systematic review was conducted to determine the prevalence of leptospirosis in Sub-Saharan Africa; the PRISMA guidelines were followed. Medline/PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, BIOSIS Previews, the African Index Medicus, AJOL, and Google Scholar were searched. Information about the prevalence and incidence of leptospirosis in humans is available, but remains scarce for many countries. Data are unavailable or outdated for many countries, particularly those in Central Africa. Most data are available from animals, probably due to the economic losses caused by leptospirosis in livestock. In humans, leptospirosis is an important cause of febrile illness in Sub-Saharan Africa. It concerns numerous serogroups, harboured by many different animal carriers. A wide variety of data was identified. Prevalence rates vary throughout the continent and more research, especially in humans, is needed to reliably gauge the extent of the problem. Preventive measures need to be reconsidered to control outbreaks in the future.
mHealth for Clinical Decision-Making in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review.
Adepoju, Ibukun-Oluwa Omolade; Albersen, Bregje Joanna Antonia; De Brouwere, Vincent; van Roosmalen, Jos; Zweekhorst, Marjolein
2017-03-23
In a bid to deliver quality health services in resource-poor settings, mobile health (mHealth) is increasingly being adopted. The role of mHealth in facilitating evidence-based clinical decision-making through data collection, decision algorithms, and evidence-based guidelines, for example, is established in resource-rich settings. However, the extent to which mobile clinical decision support systems (mCDSS) have been adopted specifically in resource-poor settings such as Africa and the lessons learned about their use in such settings are yet to be established. The aim of this study was to synthesize evidence on the use of mHealth for point-of-care decision support and improved quality of care by health care workers in Africa. A scoping review of 4 peer-reviewed and 1 grey literature databases was conducted. No date limits were applied, but only articles in English language were selected. Using pre-established criteria, 2 reviewers screened articles and extracted data. Articles were analyzed using Microsoft Excel and MAXQDA. We retained 22 articles representing 11 different studies in 7 sub-Saharan African countries. Interventions were mainly in the domain of maternal health and ranged from simple text messaging (short message service, SMS) to complex multicomponent interventions. Although health workers are generally supportive of mCDSS and perceive them as useful, concerns about increased workload and altered workflow hinder sustainability. Facilitators and barriers to use of mCDSS include technical and infrastructural support, ownership, health system challenges, and training. The use of mCDSS in sub-Saharan Africa is an indication of progress in mHealth, although their effect on quality of service delivery is yet to be fully explored. Lessons learned are useful for informing future research, policy, and practice for technologically supported health care delivery, especially in resource-poor settings. ©Ibukun-Oluwa Omolade Adepoju, Bregje Joanna Antonia
U{sub x}Th{sub 1-x}(C{sub 2}O{sub 4}){sub 2} solide characterisation studies
Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)
Carrigan, C.; Taylor, R.; Sarsfield, M. [National Nuclear Laboratory, Sellafield, Seascale, Cumbria, CA20 1PG (United Kingdom)
2016-07-01
Many advanced reprocessing schemes under development are aimed at co-processing and co-conversion of actinides, unlike current reprocessing plants that produce separate uranium and plutonium products. The most well developed option for the co-conversion stage is probably oxalate co-precipitation, followed by the thermal co-conversion to a mixed oxide product. It is thus envisaged that future processes will avoid separation of plutonium from uranium and instead allow part of the uranium to flow with the plutonium, resulting in co-precipitation as the oxalate, and finally co-conversion to a mixed uranium-plutonium oxide (MOX), which can be fabricated into recycled nuclear fuel for further energy generation. The co-crystallisation of uranium (IV) and plutonium (III) into a single oxalate structure ensures the homogenous distribution of the 2 actinides at the molecular scale. The joint conversion of uranium and plutonium to the oxide form makes it possible to remove the complicated step of blending and grinding the 2 distinct oxide powders, as currently employed for the purposes of MOX fuel fabrication. This concept can also be extended to other actinides, including minor actinides from partitioning processes such as SANEX (Selective Actinide Extraction) and GANEX (Grouped Actinide Extraction) processes or even a thorium containing product from recycle of thorium based fuels. A selection of U{sub x}Th{sub 1-x}(C{sub 2}O{sub 4}){sub 2} solids at varying concentrations of uranium and thorium were prepared by oxalate co-precipitation. Uranium (VI) was conditioned electrochemically at -0.7 V to uranium (IV), in the presence of hydrazine. The reduced uranium (IV) in nitric acid was mixed with thorium nitrate solutions at different concentration ratios with oxalic acid. The mixed tetravalent uranium-thorium oxalate solid products have been characterised by Raman and IR spectroscopies. The influence of thorium substituted into the uranium oxalate structure was evaluated
Mills, Katelyn E; Han, Zetta; Robbins, Jesse; Weary, Daniel M
2018-01-01
The use of animals in research is controversial and often takes place under a veil of secrecy. Lab animal technicians responsible for the care of animals at research institutions are sometimes described as performing 'dirty work' (i.e. professions that are viewed as morally tainted), and may be stigmatized by negative perceptions of their job. This study assessed if transparency affects public perceptions of lab animal technicians and support for animal research. Participants (n = 550) were randomly assigned to one of six scenarios (using a 3x2 design) that described identical research varying only the transparency of the facility (low, high) and the species used (mice, dogs, cows). Participants provided Likert-type and open-ended responses to questions about the personal characteristics (warmth, competence) of a hypothetical lab technician 'Cathy' and their support for the described research. Quantitative analysis showed participants in the low-transparency condition perceived Cathy to be less warm and were less supportive of the research regardless of animal species. Qualitative responses varied greatly, with some participants expressing support for both Cathy and the research. These results suggest that increasing transparency in lab animal institutions could result in a more positive perception of lab animal researchers and the work that they do.
Clinical experience with eslicarbazepine acetate in adults with sub-analysis of elderly
DEFF Research Database (Denmark)
Nielsen, Marianne K; Petrenaite, Vaiva; Andersen, Noémi B
2017-01-01
PURPOSE: Eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) is indicated for treatment of focal epilepsy. Our aim was to evaluate the effect and tolerability of ESL in elderly and younger adults. The primary objective was to measure changes in seizure frequency before and after at least six months of treatment....... Secondary objective was to analyse the safety profile. Sub-analysis was performed in patients previously treated with oxcarbamazepine. METHOD: A single-centre, retrospective study of patients with focal epilepsy treated with ESL. Data were collected by reviewing the clinical and laboratory files. Seventy......-two patients received ESL, of which 14 were ≥60 years old, and were analysed for adverse effects. Fifty-nine patients received treatment for ≥6 months and were included in the evaluation of seizure frequency; in this group 12 were ≥60 years old. RESULTS: Seizure frequency (n=59) was reduced for both young...