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A series of in vitro studies were carried out to determine i) the effects of enzyme and formaldehyde treatment on the degradation characteristics of carbohydrate and protein sources and on the synchronicity of these processes, and ii) the effects of synchronizing carbohydrate and protein supply on rumen fermentation and microbial protein synthesis (MPS) in in vitro experiments. Untreated corn (C) and enzyme-treated corn (EC) were combined with soy bean meal with (ES) and without (S) enzyme treatment or formaldehyde treatment (FS). Six experimental feeds (CS, CES, CFS, ECS, ECES and ECFS) with different synchrony indices were prepared. Highly synchronous diets had the greatest dry matter (DM) digestibility when untreated corn was used. However, the degree of synchronicity did not influence DM digestibility when EC was mixed with various soybean meals. At time points of 12 h and 24 h of incubation, EC-containing diets showed lower ammonia-N concentrations than those of C-containing diets, irrespective of the degree of synchronicity, indicating that more efficient utilization of ammonia-N for MPS was achieved by ruminal microorganisms when EC was offered as a carbohydrate source. Within C-containing treatments, the purine base concentration increased as the diets were more synchronized. This effect was not observed when EC was offered. There were significant effects on VFA concentration of both C and S treatments and their interactions. Similar to purine concentrations, total VFA production and individual VFA concentration in the groups containing EC as an energy source was higher than those of other groups (CS, CES and CFS). The results of the present study suggested that the availability of energy or the protein source are the most limiting factors for rumen fermentation and MPS, rather than the degree of synchronicity.

The accurate classification of aerosol types injected into the stratosphere is important to properly characterize their chemical and radiative impacts within the Earth climate system. The updated stratospheric aerosol subtyping algorithm used in the version 4.5 (V4.5) release of the Cloud Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) level 2 data products now delivers more comprehensive and accurate classifications than its predecessor. The original algorithm identified four aerosol subtypes for layers detected above the tropopause: volcanic ash, smoke, sulfate/other, and polar stratospheric aerosol (PSA). In the revised algorithm, sulfates are separately identified as a distinct, homogeneous subtype, and the diffuse, weakly scattering layers previously assigned to the sulfate/other class are recategorized as a fifth “unclassified” subtype. By making two structural changes to the algorithm and revising two thresholds, the V4.5 algorithm improves the ability to discriminate between volcanic ash and smoke from pyrocumulonimbus injections, improves the fidelity of the sulfate subtype, and more accurately reflects the uncertainties inherent in the classification process. The 532 nm lidar ratio for volcanic ash was also revised to a value more consistent with the current state of knowledge. This paper briefly reviews the previous version of the algorithm (V4.1 and V4.2) then fully details the rationale and impact of the V4.5 changes on subtype classification frequency for specific events where the dominant aerosol type is known based on the literature. Classification accuracy is best for volcanic ash due to its characteristically high depolarization ratio. Smoke layers in the stratosphere are also classified with reasonable accuracy, though during the daytime a substantial fraction are misclassified as ash. It is also possible for mixtures of ash and sulfate to be misclassified as smoke. The V4.5 sulfate subtype accuracy is less than that for ash or smoke, with sulfates being misclassified as smoke about one-third of the time. However, because exceptionally tenuous layers are now assigned to the unclassified subtype and the revised algorithm levies more stringent criteria for identifying an aerosol as sulfate, it is more likely that layers labeled as this subtype are in fact sulfate compared to those assigned the sulfate/other classification in the previous data release.

The Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) version 4.10 (V4) level 2 aerosol data products, released in November 2016, include substantial improvements to the aerosol subtyping and lidar ratio selection algorithms. These improvements are described along with resulting changes in aerosol optical depth (AOD). The most fundamental change in the V4 level 2 aerosol products is a new algorithm to identify aerosol subtypes in the stratosphere. Four aerosol subtypes are introduced for stratospheric aerosols: polar stratospheric aerosol (PSA), volcanic ash, sulfate/other, and smoke. The tropospheric aerosol subtyping algorithm was also improved by adding the following enhancements: (1) all aerosol subtypes are now allowed over polar regions, whereas the version 3 (V3) algorithm allowed only clean continental and polluted continental aerosols; (2) a new dusty marine aerosol subtype is introduced, representing mixtures of dust and marine aerosols near the ocean surface; and (3) the polluted continental and smoke subtypes have been renamed polluted continental/smoke and elevated smoke, respectively. V4 also revises the lidar ratios for clean marine, dust, clean continental, and elevated smoke subtypes. As a consequence of the V4 updates, the mean 532 nm AOD retrieved by CALIOP has increased by 0.044 (0.036) or 52 % (40 %) for nighttime (daytime). Lidar ratio revisions are the most influential factor for AOD changes from V3 to V4, especially for cloud-free skies. Preliminary validation studies show that the AOD discrepancies between CALIOP and AERONET–MODIS (ocean) are reduced in V4 compared to V3.

Total number concentrations of particles having a diameter larger than 10 nm (NCN), cloud condensation nuclei at several supersaturation (S) values (NCCN) and number size distributions of particles with 10–414 nm diameter were measured in Seoul between 2004 and 2010. Overall average values of NCN and geometric mean diameter were 17 811 ± 5581 cm−3 and 48 ± 6 nm. Average NCCN at 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8% S were 4145 ± 2016, 5323 ± 2453 and 6067 ± 2780 cm−3 and corresponding NCCN / NCN were 0.26 ± 0.11, 0.33 ± 0.11 and 0.37 ± 0.12. There is a clear seasonal variation in aerosol concentration, which seems to be due to the monsoon. NCN and NCCN are also found to depend on the volume of traffic and the height of the planetary boundary layer, respectively. During aircraft campaigns in 2009 and 2011, NCN and NCCN at 0.6% S (N0.6%) were measured in and around the Korean Peninsula. During the 2011 campaign, the aerosol scattering coefficient was also measured. NCN and N0.6% in the lower altitudes were generally higher than at higher altitudes, except for cases when particle formation and growth events were thought to occur at higher altitudes. NCN and N0.6% generally show a positive correlation with aerosol scattering coefficients but this correspondence tends to vary with altitude. Occasional instances of low (< 0.3) N0.6% / NCN in the boundary layer are demonstrated to be associated with particle formation and growth events. With the support of ground measurements, it is confirmed that a particle formation and growth event did indeed occur over the Yellow Sea on a flight day, and the areal extent of this event is estimated to be greater than 100 km × 450 km. With the combination of the current and several relevant previous studies, a composite map of NCN and NCCN in and around the Korean Peninsula is produced. Overall, the exhibited concentrations are typical of values measured over polluted regions elsewhere on the globe. Moreover, there is a generally decreasing trend from west to east over the region, implying that the region is constantly under the dominant influence of continental outflow.

Rats were fasted or fasted and refed simple purified diets so the effects of individual carbohydrates or fats could be studied. Freshly isolated hepatocytes from these animals were used to measure both apoE synthesis and mRNA levels so any changes in apoE synthesis that might occur without changes in its mRNA could be detected. Some of these experiments were done with both sexes. Both fasting and fasting and refeeding a 60% glucose fat-free diet significantly increased spoE synthesis. However, cyclic AMP is not likely to rapidly mediate the effect of fasting since dibutyryl cAMP slightly lowered (rather than increased) apoE synthesis and mRNA when injected into rats for 4.5 h. Dietary fat had no effect either in the absence of carbohydrate or when consumption of carbohydrate was constant in pair-fed rats. ApoE mRNA levels remained normal for 4 days in primary hepatocytes cultured in medium that had only amino acids as an energy source. Added hormones or fructose had no significant effect. Thus, only fasting and fasting and refeeding glucose were able to significantly change apoE synthesis or mRNA levels. Synthesis of apoE may be regulated to increase when apoE is secreted with very low density lipoprotein or when apoE in secreted high density lipoprotein is needed to acquire cholesteryl esters for the synthesis of bile salts and acids by liver.

Ozone is produced efficiently in arrays of low-temperature, linear microplasmas having a trapezoidal or parabolic cross-sectional profile and generated within nanoporous alumina (Al2O3) microchannels. Fabricated from aluminum foil by wet chemical processing, micropowder ablation, and one photolithographic step, arrays of microchannel plasma devices 3 cm in length and 250µm in width at the aperture of the channel produce spatially uniform glow discharges in O2 feedstock gas at a pressure of 1 atm and flow rates of 0.25-2.5 standard litres per minute. Several device and array structures, incorporating embedded electrodes and Al/Al2O3 or glass channels, have been fabricated and tested extensively. A design based solely on microchannels fabricated in nanoporous alumina, flanked by Al electrodes buried in the channel wall, is found to be superior in performance to other materials and geometries. Altering the electric field profile inside the microchannels (by means of the electrode geometry) is found to have a significant impact on the reactor efficiency. Ozone output is observed to scale linearly with the number of microchannels in the array and the feedstock gas flow rate. Efficiencies and O3 concentrations surpassing 85 g kWh-1 and 17 gm-3, respectively, have been measured, and arrays as large as 120 microchannels have been realized to date. The results presented here suggest a new approach to plasma-chemical reactors, one in which 'massively parallel' processing of one or more gases in non-streamer (glow) discharges efficiently produces products of commercial value in thousands of micropores or microchannels fabricated in recyclable and inexpensive materials. Reductions of an order of magnitude in the weight and volume of microplasma-based O3 reactors, relative to conventional dielectric barrier discharge technology, appear to be feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of partial substitution of soybean meal (SBM) with fermented SBM (FSBM) on immunophysiological and stress-related parameters in Holstein calves after weaning. Eighteen Holstein calves were randomly assigned to receive either SBM or FSBM (5% of SBM was replaced with FSBM) calf starter and calves were weaned at 42 d of age. It was noted that FSBM contained a lower content of trypsin inhibitor but higher crude protein, amino acids, and small-sized peptides than those of SBM. The group fed FSBM calf starter significantly increased body weight gain and intakes of both feed and milk, when compared with those fed SBM calf starter at 4 wk of age. Calves fed the FSBM calf starter had significantly lower fecal scores than those fed the SBM calf starter during both pre- and postweaning periods. Calves also had better health scores when fed the FSBM calf starter than those fed SBM during the preweaning period. Weaning challenge significantly increased proinflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels at 1 d postweaning (DPW). The TNF-α and IL-6 levels of the SBM group were significantly higher compared with those of the FSBM group at 3 DPW. Acute phase proteins (serum amyloid A and haptoglobin) in the serum were increased after weaning. Concentrations of serum amyloid A and haptoglobin in calves fed FSBM calf starter were significantly lower than those fed the SBM calf starter at 3 and 5 DPW, respectively. The concentration of cortisol was significantly lower in the FSBM group than that of the SBM group at 3 DPW. Weaning stress did not cause drastic changes in the total serum immunoglobulin levels and composition of peripheral lymphocytes. Our results indicate that FSBM may not only improve growth performance, feed intake, and health conditions during the preweaning period, but also alleviate stress responses, which was indicated by reduced induction of stress hormone, proinflammatory cytokines, and acute phase proteins in Holstein calves after weaning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interfacial debonding at the fibre/matrix interface is known to cause the critical fracture of fibre-reinforced polymer composites (FRPs). Especially in a marine environment, the bonding between fibre and matrix is easily weakened by moisture absorption. In this study, a basalt woven fabric was surface-treated by atmospheric oxygen plasma to improve adhesive force at the fibre/matrix interface and its effects on the wear properties of a basalt/epoxy woven composite in a marine environment were investigated. Ball-on-disk wear tests were performed and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to analyze the wear track. The results indicated that oxygen plasma treatment of a basalt fibre reduced moisture diffusion in basalt/epoxy woven composites; while an untreated specimen took 30 days to reach maximum moisture content, similar moisture content was only observed in the oxygen plasma treated specimen after 40 days. In addition, oxygen plasma treatment of a basalt fibre improved the wear properties of the basalt/epoxy woven composite, and the wear volume of the basalt/epoxy woven composite (prior to moisture absorption) was reduced from 2.95 mm³ to 0.65 mm³. The surface treatment also appeared to cause an increase in the interfacial adhesion between the fibre and resin, thus reducing the debonding of basalt fibres on the wear surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Only a few clinical trials have been conducted in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer after failure of first-line gemcitabine-based chemotherapy. Therefore, there is no current consensus on the treatment of these patients. We conducted a randomised phase II study of the modified FOLFIRI.3 (mFOLFIRI.3; a regimen combining 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), folinic acid, and irinotecan) and modified FOLFOX (mFOLFOX; a regimen combining folinic acid, 5-FU, and oxaliplatin) regimens as second-line treatments in patients with gemcitabine-refractory pancreatic cancer.Methods: The primary end point was the 6-month overall survival rate. The mFOlFIRI.3 regimen consisted of irinotecan (70 mg m(-2); days 1 and 3), leucovorin (400 mg m(-2); day 1), and 5-FU (2000 mg m(-2); days 1 and 2) every 2 weeks. The mFOLFOX regimen was composed of oxaliplatin (85 mg m(-2); day 1), leucovorin (400 mg m(-2); day 1), and 5-FU (2000 mg m(-2); days 1 and 2) every 2 weeks.Results: Sixty-one patients were randomised to mFOLFIRI.3 (n=31) or mFOLFOX (n=30) regimen. The six-month survival rates were 27% (95% confidence interval (CI)=13-46%) and 30% (95% CI=15-49%), respectively. The median overall survival periods were 16.6 and 14.9 weeks, respectively. Disease control was achieved in 23% (95% CI=10-42%) and 17% patients (95% CI=6-35%), respectively. The number of patients with at least one grade 3/4 toxicity was identical (11 patients, 38%) in both groups: neutropenia (7 patients under mFOLFIRI.3 regimen vs 6 patients under mFOLFOX regimen), asthaenia (1 vs 4), vomiting (3 in both), diarrhoea (2 vs 0), and mucositis (1 vs 2).Conclusion: Both mFOLFIRI.3 and mFOLFOX regimens were tolerated with manageable toxicity, offering modest activities as second-line treatments for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, previously treated with gemcitabine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACTBackground:Atrial fibrillation (AF) is prevalent and has a high cost burden. Among the main drivers of cost is inpatient care; however, little is known about patterns of hospital readmissions for AF.Objective:To evaluate the incidence and temporal pattern of readmission in AF patients.Methods:This retrospective, cohort analysis used claims data from the Integrated Healthcare Information Systems National Managed Care Benchmark Database for 2002–2006. Patients hospitalized for AF (primary discharge diagnosis) were identified. Data on the first readmission for AF over 1 year following an index hospitalization were analyzed for chronic AF (any AF-related claims in 1 year before index hospitalization) and newly-diagnosed AF patients (no prior AF-related claims).Results:Overall, 4174 patients hospitalized with primary AF were identified; 1637 had chronic AF and 2537 newly-diagnosed AF. Mean age of chronic AF patients was 62.4 years and 61.2 were male; for newly-diagnosed AF, mean age was 61.4 years and 57.8 were male. In the year following index hospitalization, 12.5 of chronic AF patients were readmitted for AF, with a mean time to readmission of 142.5 days (median 108 days). Among newly-diagnosed AF patients, 10.1 were readmitted for AF, with a mean time to readmission of 133.8 days (median 112 days). For chronic AF, 17.6, 43.4, and 65.8 of readmissions occurred within 1, 3, and 6 months, respectively, versus 22.7, 44.5, and 67.2, respectively, for newly-diagnosed AF.Limitations:Limited data were available on patients’ clinical profile, treatment patterns, or the reasons for hospitalization/readmission. The term chronic AF only captured patients with a history of AF and data were not available to classify patients according to the presence of paroxysmal, permanent, or persistent AF.Conclusions:Patients with newly-diagnosed or chronic AF are often readmitted in the year following hospitalization with most readmissions occurring within 6 months of the index hospitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction of oblique monochromatic incident waves with horizontal/inclined/dual porous plates is investigated in the context of two-dimensional linear potential theory and Darcy's law (the normal velocity of fluid passing through a thin porous plate is linearly proportional to the pressure difference across it). The developed theory is verified by both small-scale and full-scale experiments. First, matched eigenfunction expansion (MEE) solutions for a horizontal porous plate are obtained. The relationship between the plate porosity and the porous parameter is obtained from systematic model tests by using six porous plates with different sizes and spacing of circular holes. Secondly, a multi-domain boundary-element method (BEM) using simple-sources (second-kind modified Bessel function) is developed to confirm the MEE solutions and to apply to more general cases including inclined or multiple porous plates. The BEM-based inner solutions are matched to the eigenfunction-based outer solutions to satisfy the outgoing radiation condition in the far field. Both analytical and BEM solutions with the developed empirical porous parameter agree with each other and correlate well with both small-scale data from a two-dimensional wave-tank test and full-scale measurement in a large wave basin. Using the developed predictive tools, wave-absorption efficiency is assessed for various combinations of porosity, water depth, submergence depth, wave heading, and plate/wave characteristics. In particular, it is found that the performance can be improved by imposing the proper inclination angle near the free surface. The optimal porosity is near porosity P=0.1 and the optimal inclination angle is around 10? as long as the plate length is greater than 20% of the wavelength. Based on the selected optimal parameters (porosity=0.1 and inclination angle=11.3?), the effective wave-absorption system for MOERI's square basin is designed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Ionic doping effects of various ions in Bi-layered ferroelectric SrBi2Nb2O9 (SBN) ceramics were studied. Un-doped and doped SBN ceramics with Ba2+, Pb2+, Ca2+, Bi3+, La3+, Ti4+, Mo6+, and W6+ ions were made with solid state reactions. Temperature dependent dielectric constants were measured. Ferroelectric transition temperature (TC) decreased with Ba2+ and Pb2+ ions but increased with Ca2+ ion which substitutes the 12-coordinated Sr2+ site. TC increased with Ti4+, Mo6+, and W6+ ions which substitute the 6-coordinated Nb5+ sites. With trivalent Bi3+ and La3+ ions, TC increased with Bi3+ ion but much decreased with La3+ ion. These results showed that the ion size plays an important role in ferroelectricity of SBN ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Nonstoichiometric SrBi2Ta2O9 (SBT) and SrBi2Nb2O9 (SBN) ceramics were prepared by a solid state reaction method. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that single-phase of Bi-layered perovskite was obtained. With different Sr/Bi content ratios of SBT and SBN, Curie temperature (TC), electromechanical factor (Kp) and mechanical quality factor (Qm) were measured. TC of SBN (SBT) rose from 414°C (314°C) to 494°C (426°C) when Sr/Bi content ratio was increased from 0.55/2.3 to 1.2/1.8. In the most Sr-deficient/Bi-excess ratio of 0.55/2.3, the maximum values of Qm were obtained approximately 1013 and 3325 for SBT and SBN, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tangential neutral beam injection in KSTAR low confinement mode plasma is rapidly accompanied by the electromagnetic emissions in radio frequency (RF) range (0.1–1 GHz). The RF emission is initially onset within 1 ms from the beam injection, at discrete frequencies with steadily increasing intensity. The frequency spacing for these discrete emission lines corresponds to the deuteron cyclotron frequency, at a location midway between the magnetic axis and the edge. Further, the observed discrete frequencies lie in the lower hybrid frequency (fLH) range in a broad region on the low field side (LFS). As the initial RF emission becomes saturated, there is another onset of intense RF bursts occurring at discrete frequencies, broadening the emission frequency range further, either at higher or lower frequencies. In some cases, the time interval of the intense RF bursts at the dominant frequency is comparable with the toroidal rotation period at the radial location where fLH ∼ dominant frequency. The rapid rise and saturation of RF emission intensity in a broad frequency range indicate that a small population of fast ions is sufficient for the growth of energetic particle driven instabilities on the LFS. The multiple onsets in RF emission and the intense RF burst repetition frequency comparable with toroidal rotation frequency indicate the possibility that reorganization in the anisotropic fast ion population results in localized growth of the above instabilities. A gradual decay of RF emission intensity over few tens of milliseconds indicate that enhanced population of fast ions has damping effect on these instabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Implantation in mammalian species is a complex process that involves embryo apposition and attachment to the apical surface of the uterine epithelium. This process involves a variant of molecules that are not unique in themselves but play unique roles in the process of implantation. Among them, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family, the cytokines, cell adhesion molecules, and calcium-binding proteins appear to be important in embryonic attachment. Amphireguline (Areg), its receptor (EGFR), and calbindin-D9k (CaBP-9k) were highly expressed before implantation. Thus, in the present study, using rodent and porcine models, the expression levels of Areg, EGFR, and CaBP-9k gene were analyzed in the uterus during the estrous cycle and pregnancy by means of RT-PCR to elucidate their roles in implantation. Areg and CaBP-9k were significantly up-regulated at diestrus; however, these transcripts disappeared at proestrus in mice. In addition, EGFR mRNA was primarily observed at diestrus in mice. Although CaBP-9k and EGFR transcripts of rats increased at proestrus, no Areg mRNA was observed in this model. To clarify the regulator of the mouse Areg gene, immature mice were injected with sex steroid hormones. No transcripts of Areg were detected in these models, suggesting that mouse Areg may require other puberty factors. Porcine expressions of uterine Areg, EGFR, and CaBP-9k mRNA fluctuated during pregnancy (Days 12, 15, 30, 60, 90, and 110 of pregnancy). CaBP-9k transcripts were highly expressed on Day 12 and decreased on Days 15 to 90. On Day 110, CaBP-9k mRNA was expressed as well. Areg mRNA increased on Days 12 to 30, and decreased on Days 30 to 110. EGFR transcripts were detected on Day 12 and gradually disappeared till the end of pregnancy. Uterine Areg and CaBP-9k mRNAs were regulated by progesterone (P4) in the mouse model. Areg transcripts of porcine uteri appear to be expressed after implantation, but CaBP-9k mRNA was induced before embryo attachment. Taken together, these results indicate taht uterine Areg, EGFR, and CaBP-9k are differentially regulated during pregnancy in these species, and porcine CaBP-9k could act as an important factor in implantation. A further spatial expression of these genes will contribute to the understanding of their complex molecular actions involved in embryo attachment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The opportunity to integrate clinical decision support systems into clinical practice is limited due to the lack of structured, machine readable data in the current format of the electronic health record. Natural language processing has been designed to convert free text into machine readable data. The aim of the current study was to ascertain the feasibility of using natural language processing to extract clinical information from >76,000 breast pathology reports. Approach and Procedure: Breast pathology reports from three institutions were analyzed using natural language processing software (Clearforest, Waltham, MA) to extract information on a variety of pathologic diagnoses of interest. Data tables were created from the extracted information according to date of surgery, side of surgery, and medical record number. The variety of ways in which each diagnosis could be represented was recorded, as a means of demonstrating the complexity of machine interpretation of free text. Results: There was widespread variation in how pathologists reported common pathologic diagnoses. We report, for example, 124 ways of saying invasive ductal carcinoma and 95 ways of saying invasive lobular carcinoma. There were >4000 ways of saying invasive ductal carcinoma was not present. Natural language processor sensitivity and specificity were 99.1% and 96.5% when compared to expert human coders. Conclusion: We have demonstrated how a large body of free text medical information such as seen in breast pathology reports, can be converted to a machine readable format using natural language processing, and described the inherent complexities of the task.