2,041 research outputs found
Probing cis-trans isomerization in the S1 state of C2H2 via H-atom action and hot band-pumped IR-UV double resonance spectroscopies
We report novel experimental strategies that should prove instrumental in extending the vibrational and rotational assignments of the S1 state of acetylene, C[subscript 2]H[subscript 2], in the region of the cis-trans isomerization barrier. At present, the assignments are essentially complete up to âŒ500 cm[superscript â1] below the barrier. Two difficulties arise when the assignments are continued to higher energies. One is that predissociation into C[subscript 2]H + H sets in roughly 1100 cm[superscript â1] below the barrier; the resulting quenching of laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) reduces its value for recording spectra in this region. The other difficulty is that tunneling through the barrier causes a staggering in the K-rotational structure of isomerizing vibrational levels. The assignment of these levels requires data for K values up to at least 3. Given the rotational selection rule K' â â" = ± 1, such data must be obtained via excited vibrational levels of the ground state with â" > 0. In this paper, high resolution H-atom resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization spectra are demonstrated to contain predissociated bands which are almost invisible in LIF spectra, while preliminary data using a hyperthermal pulsed nozzle show that â" = 2 states can be selectively populated in a jet, giving access to K' = 3 states in IR-UV double resonance.United States. Department of Energy (Grant No. DE-FG0287ER13671)Chinese Academy of Sciences (Distinguished Visiting Professorship)Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC
A Novel Real-Time Non-invasive Hemoglobin Level Detection Using Video Images from Smartphone Camera
Hemoglobin level detection is necessary for evaluating health condition in the human. In the laboratory setting, it is detected by shining light through a small volume of blood and using a colorimetric electronic particle counting algorithm. This invasive process requires time, blood specimens, laboratory equipment, and facilities. There are also many studies on non-invasive hemoglobin level detection. Existing solutions are expensive and require buying additional devices. In this paper, we present a smartphone-based non-invasive hemoglobin detection method. It uses the video images collected from the fingertip of a person. We hypothesized that there is a significant relation between the fingertip mini-video images and the hemoglobin level by laboratory gold standard. We also discussed other non-invasive methods and compared with our model. Finally, we described our findings and discussed future works
Successful orthotopic liver transplantation in an adult patient with sickle cell disease and review of the literature
Sickle cell disease can lead to hepatic complications ranging from acute hepatic crises to chronic liver disease including intrahepatic cholestasis, and iron overload. Although uncommon, intrahepatic cholestasis may be severe and medical treatment of this complication is often ineffective. We report a case of a 37 year-old male patient with sickle cell anemia, who developed liver failure and underwent successful orthotopic liver transplantation. Both pre and post-operatively, he was maintained on red cell transfusions. He remains stable with improved liver function 42 months post transplant. The role for orthotopic liver transplantation is not well defined in patients with sickle cell disease, and the experience remains limited. Although considerable challenges of post-transplant graft complications remain, orthotopic liver transplantation should be considered as a treatment option for sickle cell disease patients with end-stage liver disease who have progressed despite conventional medical therapy. An extended period of red cell transfusion support may lessen the post-operative complications
''My Father's Name'': the significance and impetus of the Divine Name in the Fourth Gospel.
One of the distinctive features of the Fourth Gospel is the emphasis placed on the divine name
(áœÎœÎżÎŒÎ±). The name occurs eight times (5.43; 10.25; 12.13, 28; 17.6, 11-12, 26), in key passages and in
striking expressions such as âI have made known your nameâ (17.6) and âyour name, which you
gave meâ (17.11). This thesis uses historical-critical methodology in a close reading of the Fourth
Gospel to determine why John is so attracted to the name category. It is argued that, for John, the
divine name was fundamentally an eschatological category with a built-in duality or âassociativeâ
significance, which he derives primarily from his reading of Isaiah.
It is plausible that Isaiah was the primary impetus for Johnâs interest in the divine name,
because name language is bound up with the âI amâ expression and glory language in Isaiahâ
both of which more clearly underlie Johnâs âI amâ sayings and glory motif. Furthermore, the
significance of the name in Isaiah as the object of eschatological expectation (Isa 52.6), and as a
concept by which God is associated with his Servant, attracted John to the name category as ideal
for his nuanced presentation of Jesus.
In Johnâs use of the name category, it is possible to distinguish the question of
significance from that of referent, meaning, and function. This, in turn, facilitates a clear
evaluation of possible catalysts for Johnâs name concept. It is demonstrated that a variety of
Jewish and Christian background influences contributed to Johnâs name concept at the level of
referent, meaning, and function. However, the eschatological and associative significance of the
name in the Fourth Gospel is particularly indebted to the name concept in Isaiah.
This is significant, in part, because Isaiah places such emphasis on the exclusivity of God.
It may be that a zeal for Godâs exclusivity had generated accusations against the community of
believers known to John, that, by their allegiance to Jesus, they were guilty of blaspheming the
name in particular. The name was, perhaps, a âflashpointâ for the community, and the text of
Isaiah a key battle-ground for defining fidelity to God, and the identity of the people of God. By
associating Jesus with the divine name, John legitimates the allegiance of believers to Jesus in the
face of Jewish opposition, as well as comforts those who were troubled by the continued absence
of Jesus, with the point that they were yet identified by the divine name (17.11), and that
eschatological revelation of the name promised in Isaiah was extended to their own time as well
(17.26b)
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Phase 2 trial of montelukast for prevention of pain in sickle cell disease.
Cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs) are lipid mediators of inflammation. In patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), levels of CysLTs are increased compared with controls and associated with a higher rate of hospitalization for pain. We tested the hypothesis that administration of the CysLT receptor antagonist montelukast would improve SCD-related comorbidities, including pain, in adolescents and adults with SCD. In a phase 2 randomized trial, we administered montelukast or placebo for 8 weeks. The primary outcome measure was a >30% reduction in soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (sVCAM), a marker of vascular injury. Secondary outcome measures were reduction in daily pain, improvement in pulmonary function, and improvement in microvascular blood flow, as measured by laser Doppler velocimetry. Forty-two participants with SCD were randomized to receive montelukast or placebo for 8 weeks. We found no difference between the montelukast and placebo groups with regard to the levels of sVCAM, reported pain, pulmonary function, or microvascular blood flow. Although montelukast is an effective treatment for asthma, we did not find benefit for SCD-related outcomes. This clinical trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01960413
Social and Psychological Factors Associated with Health Care Transition for Young Adults Living with Sickle Cell Disease
Introduction: Due to advances in disease management, mortality rates in children with sickle cell disease (SCD) have decreased. However, mortality rates for young adults (YA) increased, and understanding of social and psychological factors is critical. The aim of this study was to explore factors associated with health care transition experiences for YA with SCD.
Method: This was a qualitative descriptive study. A 45-minute semistructured interview was conducted with 13 YA (M = 21.5 years, SD = 1.73).
Results: Results suggest that social and psychological factors and self-management experiences influence health care transition. Eight themes emerged: âneed for accessible supportâ; âearly assistance with goal settingâ; âincongruence among expectations, experiences, and preparationâ; âspiritual distressâ; âstigmaâ; âneed for collaborationâ; âappreciation for caring providersâ; and âfeeling isolated.â
Discussion: Consideration of cultural contexts will guide nurses in supporting health care transition. Designing culturally relevant interventions that address unique needs for YA living with SCD is warranted
Communication: Observation of local-bender eigenstates in acetylene
We report the observation of eigenstates that embody large-amplitude, local-bending vibrational motion in acetylene by stimulated emission pumping spectroscopy via vibrational levels of the S1 state involving excitation in the non-totally symmetric bending modes. The N[subscript b] = 14 level, lying at 8971.69 cm[superscript â1] (J = 0), is assigned on the basis of degeneracy due to dynamical symmetry breaking in the local-mode limit. The level pattern for the N[subscript b] = 16 level, lying at 10â218.9 cm[superscriptâ1], is consistent with expectations for increased separation of â = 0 and 2 vibrational angular momentum components. Increasingly poor agreement between our observations and the predicted positions of these levels highlights the failure of currently available normal mode effective Hamiltonian models to extrapolate to regions of the potential energy surface involving large-amplitude displacement along the acetylene â vinylidene isomerization coordinateUnited States. Dept. of Energy. Office of Basic Energy Sciences. Chemical Sciences Geosciences and Biosciences Division (Award No. DE-FG0287ER13671
Edna metabarcoding of avocado flowers: âHassâ it got potential to survey arthropods in food production systems?
In the face of global biodiversity declines, surveys of beneficial and antagonistic arthropod diversity as well as the ecological services that they provide are increasingly important in both natural and agro-ecosystems. Conventional survey methods used to monitor these communities often require extensive taxonomic expertise and are time-intensive, potentially limiting their application in industries such as agriculture, where arthropods often play a critical role in productivity (e.g. pollinators, pests and predators). Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding of a novel substrate, crop flowers, may offer an accurate and high throughput alternative to aid in the detection of these managed and unmanaged taxa. Here, we compared the arthropod communities detected with eDNA metabarcoding of flowers, from an agricultural species (Persea americanaââHassâ avocado), with two conventional survey techniques: digital video recording (DVR) devices and pan traps. In total, 80 eDNA flower samples, 96 h of DVRs and 48 pan trap samples were collected. Across the three methods, 49 arthropod families were identified, of which 12 were unique to the eDNA dataset. Environmental DNA metabarcoding from flowers revealed potential arthropod pollinators, as well as plant pests and parasites. Alpha diversity levels did not differ across the three survey methods although taxonomic composition varied significantly, with only 12% of arthropod families found to be common across all three methods. eDNA metabarcoding of flowers has the potential to revolutionize the way arthropod communities are monitored in natural and agro-ecosystems, potentially detecting the response of pollinators and pests to climate change, diseases, habitat loss and other disturbances
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