Room temperature magnetic entropy change and magnetoresistance in La_{0.70}(Ca_{0.30-x}Sr_x)MnO_3:Ag 10% (x = 0.0-0.10)

The magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of polycrystalline La0.70(Ca0.30-xSrx)MnO3:Ag 10% manganite have been investigated. All the compositions are crystallized in single phase orthorhombic Pbnm space group. Both, the Insulator-Metal transition temperature (TIM) and Curie temperature (Tc) are observed at 298 K for x = 0.10 composition. Though both TIM and Tc are nearly unchanged with Ag addition, the MR is slightly improved. The MR at 300 K is found to be as large as 31% with magnetic field change of 1Tesla, whereas it reaches up to 49% at magnetic field of 3Tesla for La0.70Ca0.20Sr0.10MnO3:Ag0.10 sample. The maximum entropy change (\DeltaSMmax) is 7.6 J.Kg-1.K-1 upon the magnetic field change of 5Tesla, near its Tc (300.5 K). The La0.70Ca0.20Sr0.10MnO3:Ag0.10 sample having good MR (31%1Tesla, 49%3Tesla) and reasonable change in magnetic entropy (7.6 J.Kg-1.K-1, 5 Tesla) at 300 K can be a potential magnetic refrigerant material at ambient temperatures.Comment: 11 pages text + Figs comments/suggestions ([email protected]

LeakWatch: Estimating Information Leakage from Java Programs

Abstract. Programs that process secret data may inadvertently reveal information about those secrets in their publicly-observable output. This paper presents LeakWatch, a quantitative information leakage analysis tool for the Java programming language; it is based on a flexible “point-to-point ” information leakage model, where secret and publiclyobservable data may occur at any time during a program’s execution. LeakWatch repeatedly executes a Java program containing both secret and publicly-observable data and uses robust statistical techniques to provide estimates, with confidence intervals, for min-entropy leakage (using a new theoretical result presented in this paper) and mutual information. We demonstrate how LeakWatch can be used to estimate the size of information leaks in a range of real-world Java programs

A respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine based on parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5)

AbstractHuman respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of severe respiratory disease and hospitalizations in infants and young children. It also causes significant morbidity and mortality in elderly and immune compromised individuals. No licensed vaccine currently exists. Parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5) is a paramyxovirus that causes no known human illness and has been used as a platform for vector-based vaccine development. To evaluate the efficacy of PIV5 as a RSV vaccine vector, we generated two recombinant PIV5 viruses – one expressing the fusion (F) protein and the other expressing the attachment glycoprotein (G) of RSV strain A2 (RSV A2). The vaccine strains were used separately for single-dose vaccinations in BALB/c mice. The results showed that both vaccines induced RSV antigen-specific antibody responses, with IgG2a/IgG1 ratios similar to those seen in wild-type RSV A2 infection. After challenging the vaccinated mice with RSV A2, histopathology of lung sections showed that the vaccines did not exacerbate lung lesions relative to RSV A2-immunized mice. Importantly, both F and G vaccines induced protective immunity. Therefore, PIV5 presents an attractive platform for vector-based vaccines against RSV infection

Affinity maturation of antibodies requires integrity of the adult thymus

The generation of B‐cell responses to proteins requires a functional thymus to produce CD4 + T cells which helps in the activation and differentiation of B cells. Because the mature T‐cell repertoire has abundant cells with the helper phenotype, one might predict that in mature individuals, the generation of B‐cell memory would proceed independently of the thymus. Contrary to that prediction, we show here that the removal of the thymus after the establishment of the T‐cell compartment or sham surgery without removal of the thymus impairs the affinity maturation of antibodies. Because removal or manipulation of the thymus did not decrease the frequency of mutation of the Ig variable heavy chain exons encoding antigen‐specific antibodies, we conclude that the thymus controls affinity maturation of antibodies in the mature individual by facilitating the selection of B cells with high‐affinity antibodies.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90153/1/eji_201141889_sm_SupplInfo.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90153/2/500_ftp.pd

What influences parental engagement in early intervention? Parent, program and community predictors of enrolment, retention and involvement

Poor participant engagement undermines individual and public health benefits of early intervention programs. This study assessed the extent to which three types of engagement (participant enrolment, retention and involvement) were influenced by individual, program and contextual factors. Data were from a cluster randomised controlled trial (N = 1447) of a community-based parenting program, delivered at two levels of intensity (group sessions with and without individualised home coaching) conducted in Victoria, Australia. Individual (parent and family) factors and program factors were assessed by parent report and administrative records, and contextual factors by area-level population statistics. Data were analysed using multilevel logistic or linear regression models. Individual and contextual factors predicted enrolment, while family and program factors were more influential on program retention and parents’ active involvement. Provision of individualised support was important to all forms of engagement, particularly for families experiencing the greatest barriers to participation. These findings indicate that different strategies are required to effectively support families in the processes of enrolling, continuing to attend and actively participating in early intervention program

Early Home Learning Study: Overview and outcomes. Final Report to the Victorian Government Department of Education and Early Child Development

This report presents findings from the Early Home Learning Study (EHLS), a cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT) conducted by the Parenting Research Centre (PRC) between 2009 and 2012. The study was commissioned by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) in recognition that children from families experiencing high levels of disadvantage are vulnerable to poorer developmental outcomes in the early years of life, particularly in relation to language and communication skills. To improve support for these children, the PRC was engaged to design, implement and evaluate a program to enhance children’s early learning at home, with an emphasis on parenting and children’s language and communication skills. The EHLS had three broad goals: 1. To improve the early learning and development foundations of babies (6 to 12 months) and toddlers (12 to 36 months) in vulnerable circumstances in up to 2,000 families. 2. To build the capacity of the existing Victorian service system to support parents in creating positive home learning experiences for their children. 3. In the Victorian context, to develop scientific knowledge of how best to support parents to create enriched home learning environments in the early years. The ‘smalltalk’ programs were community-based programs designed for parents experiencing vulnerable circumstances with children aged 6 months to 3 years. To ensure acceptability and accessibility, and for ease of implementation, smalltalk was developed for two existing service platforms: - a six-week parenting group program delivered in the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) platform for parents of children aged 6 to 12 months, and - a ten-week playgroup and parenting program delivered through the supported playgroup (SPG) platform for parents of children aged 12 to 36 months. Two models of intervention intensity were trialled in each platform: the parent group or supported playgroup alone (‘smalltalk’) or the parent group/supported playgroup supplemented by an additional six home-based, individual coaching sessions (‘smalltalk plus’)

Developing a new Bayesian Risk Index for risk evaluation of soil contamination

Supplementary data associated with this article can befound in the online version, at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.06.068. These data include the Google map of the most important areas described in this article.Industrial and agricultural activities heavily constrain soil quality. Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) are a threat to public health and the environment alike. In this regard, the identification of areas that require remediation is crucial. In the herein research a geochemical dataset (230 samples) comprising 14 elements (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag, Ni, Mn, Fe, As, Cd, V, Cr, Ti, Al and S) was gathered throughout eight different zones distinguished by their main activity, namely, recreational, agriculture/livestock and heavy industry in the Avilés Estuary (North of Spain). Then a stratified systematic sampling method was used at short, medium, and long distances from each zone to obtain a representative picture of the total variability of the selected attributes. The information was then combined in four risk classes (Low, Moderate, High, Remediation) following reference values from several sediment quality guidelines (SQGs). A Bayesian analysis, inferred for each zone, allowed the characterization of PTEs correlations, the unsupervised learning network technique proving to be the best fit. Based on the Bayesian network structure obtained, Pb, As and Mn were selected as key contamination parameters. For these 3 elements, the conditional probability obtained was allocated to each observed point, and a simple, direct index (Bayesian Risk Index-BRI) was constructed as a linear rating of the pre-defined risk classes weighted by the previously obtained probability. Finally, the BRI underwent geostatistical modeling. One hundred Sequential Gaussian Simulations (SGS) were computed. The Mean Image and the Standard Deviation maps were obtained, allowing the definition of High/Low risk clusters (Local G clustering) and the computation of spatial uncertainty. High-risk clusters are mainly distributed within the area with the highest altitude (agriculture/livestock) showing an associated low spatial uncertainty, clearly indicating the need for remediation. Atmospheric emissions, mainly derived from the metallurgical industry, contribute to soil contamination by PTEs.Carlos Sierra obtained a grant from the “Severo Ochoa (BP10-112)” Programme(Ficyt, Asturias,Spain).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Synergisitic role of ADP and Ca2+ in diastolic myocardial stiffness

Heart failure (HF) with diastolic dysfunction has been attributed to increased myocardial stiffness that limits proper filling of the ventricle. Altered cross-bridge interaction may significantly contribute to high diastolic stiffness, but this has not been shown thus far. Cross-bridge interactions are dependent on cytosolic [Ca2+] and the regeneration of ATP from ADP. Depletion of myocardial energy reserve is a hallmark of HF leading to ADP accumulation and disturbed Ca2+-handling. Here, we investigated if ADP elevation in concert with increased diastolic [Ca2+] promotes diastolic cross-bridge formation and force generation and thereby increases diastolic stiffness. ADP dose-dependently increased force production in the absence of Ca2+ in membrane-permeabilized cardiomyocytes from human hearts. Moreover, physiological levels of ADP increased actomyosin force generation in the presence of Ca2+ both in human and rat membrane-permeabilized cardiomyocytes. Diastolic stress measured at physiological lattice spacing and 37°C in the presence of pathologicallevels of ADP and diastolic [Ca2+] revealed a 76±1% contribution of cross-bridge interaction to total diastolic stress in rat membrane-permeabilized cardiomyocytes. Inhibition of creatine kinase (CK), which increases cytosolic ADP, in enzyme-isolated intact rat cardiomyocytes impaired diastolic re-lengthening associated with diastolic Ca2+- overload. In isolated Langendorff-perfused rat hearts, CK-inhibition increased ventricular stiffness only in the presence of diastolic [Ca2+]. We propose that elevations of intracellular ADP in specific types of cardiac disease, including those where myocardial energy reserve is limited, contribute to diastolic dysfunction by recruiting cross-bridges even at low Ca2+ and thereby increase myocardial stiffness