Applications of CCSDS recommendations to Integrated Ground Data Systems (IGDS)

This paper describes an application of the CCSDS Principle Network (CPH) service model to communications network elements of a postulated Integrated Ground Data System (IGDS). Functions are drawn principally from COSMICS (Cosmic Information and Control System), an integrated space control infrastructure, and the Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) Core System (ECS). From functional requirements, this paper derives a set of five communications network partitions which, taken together, support proposed space control infrastructures and data distribution systems. Our functional analysis indicates that the five network partitions derived in this paper should effectively interconnect the users, centers, processors, and other architectural elements of an IGDS. This paper illustrates a useful application of the CCSDS (Consultive Committee for Space Data Systems) Recommendations to ground data system development

Functional analysis of block 5, one of the highly conserved amino acid sequences in the 130-kDa CryIVA protein produced by Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis

AbstractThere are five amino acid sequences highly conserved among Bacillus thuringiensis δ-endotoxins. We have changed the amino acid residues in block 5, one of the conserved sequences, of CryIVA. When the amino acid residues with charged side chains were replaced by others, the amount of production of the altered CryIVA protein was markedly decreased. It is suggested that the decrease is caused by the unstable conformation of the altered CryIVA protein molecule, as judged by digestion with trypsin and thermolysin. On the other hand, the substitution of amino acid residues in block 5 did not affect the insecticidal activity of CryIVA. These results strongly suggest that block 5 of CryIVA is one of the stability-determining elements of the protoxin molecule

Texture Indices of 18F-FDG PET/CT for Differentiating Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma of the Oropharynx

We assessed the role of 18F-FDG PET/CT texture indices for the differentiation of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) in the oropharynx. 18F-FDG PET/CT data for 27 patients with SCC and 25 patients with NHL in the oropharynx were investigated. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG), and six texture indices (homogeneity, entropy, short-run emphasis, long-run emphasis, low gray-level zone emphasis [LGZE], and high graylevel zone emphasis [HGZE]) were derived from PET images. PET/CT parameters of the SCC patients were compared with those of the NHL patients. The diagnostic accuracy of the indices for differentiating SCC from NHL was calculated by a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. 18F-FDG uptake in the oropharynx was observed in all of the patients. The SUVmax, MTV, and TLG did not differ significantly between the SCC and NHL groups, but two of the six texture indices (LGZE [p=0.004] and HGZE [p=0.03]) showed significant differences between the groups. LGZE was the best discriminative index for the differentiation of SCC and NHL (55.6% sensitivity, 88.0% specificity). The LGZE and HGZE texture indices derived from 18F-FDG PET/CT images may be useful in differentiating SCC and NHL in the oropharynx

Urinary excretion of biopyrrin in unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia

We determined the urinary excretion of biopyrrin, an oxidative metabolite of bilirubin, in three jaundiced subjects with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia and in eight normal controls. We used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and an anti-bilirubin monoclonal antibody, 24G7 (Shino-Test Corporation, Kanagawa, Japan). The biopyrrin excretions, expressed as the ratio in urine of biopyrrin to creatinine, were measured in random urine specimens from jaundiced adults and were compared to the same in random urine specimens from normal adults. The central 95% of the distribution range, defined by us as the reference range for the urinary biopyrrin/creatinine excretion, was 0.5 -3.3 mol/g in presumably healthy adults. The biopyrrin/creatinine excretions from the jaundiced adults were significantly higher than the reference range (p<0.05). We found that for the 24-hr biopyrrin excretion from normal subjects, and that the central 95% of the data was 0.9 -1.5 mol/day; the amounts in the jaundiced adults were significantly higher than the reference range (p<0.05). Our observations suggest that there is an enhanced bilirubin catabolism to biopyrrin in subjects with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia. Bilirubin, Jaundice, Gilbert syndrome, Random and 24-hr urine, Biopyrrin, Hyperbilirubinemi

Diagnosing nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy: A case study of two children

AbstractWe describe two children of nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (NFLE) diagnosed using carefully observed nocturnal sleep EEGs and detailed patient histories.Case #1, a 14-year-old boy, showed repeated generalized tonic convulsions and frequent eyes opening seizures during sleep. Conventional EEGs – done with the patient awake or in sleep stage I – showed no abnormalities, while a nocturnal sleep EEG – done during in sleep stage II – revealed the repeated, sharp wave bursts predominantly in the right frontal lobe characteristic of NFLE. During these wave bursts, we noticed the boy's eyes opening, although his parents had not been aware this NFLE symptom.Case #2, a 12-year-old boy, showed one daytime generalized convulsion. He had also been suffering from repeated paroxysmal episodes similar to parasomnia – waking up, sitting, walking, screaming, and speaking – which always followed the same patterns lasting several minutes. During the nocturnal sleep EEG, episodes occurred twice, showing abnormal epileptic discharges predominantly in the frontal lobe. His parents did not mention the episodes to us until questioned, as they had recognized them as parasomnia. The previous conventional EEG showed abnormal slow waves in the frontal lobe, which led us to suspect frontal lobe epilepsy and to take a detailed patient history.The frequency and stereotypy of their symptoms during sleep caused us to perform nocturnal sleep EEGs and led us NFLE diagnosis. Detailed patient histories including sleep habits and carefully observed nocturnal sleep EEGs enabled us to recognize these NFLE clinical features

Antioxidant α-tocopherol ameliorates glycemic control of GK rats, a model of type 2 diabetes

AbstractWe have shown recently that oxidative stress by chronic hyperglycemia damages the pancreatic β-cells of GK rats, a model of non-obese type 2 diabetes, which may worsen diabetic condition and suggested the administration of antioxidants as a supportive therapy. To determine if natural antioxidant α-tocopherol (vitamin E) has beneficial effects on the glycemic control of type 2 diabetes, GK rats were fed a diet containing 0, 20 or 500 mg/kg diet α-tocopherol. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test revealed a significant increment of insulin secretion at 30 min and a significant decrement of blood glucose levels at 30 and 120 min after glucose loading in the GK rats fed with high α-tocopherol diet. The levels of glycated hemoglobin A1c, an indicator of glycemic control, were also reduced. Vitamin E supplementation clearly ameliorated diabetic control of GK rats, suggesting the importance of not only dietary supplementation of natural antioxidants but also other antioxidative intervention as a supportive therapy of type 2 diabetic patients

X-Ray Measured Dynamics of Tycho's Supernova Remnant

We present X-ray proper-motion measurements of the forward shock and reverse-shocked ejecta in Tycho's supernova remnant, based on three sets of archival Chandra data taken in 2000, 2003, and 2007. We find that the proper motion of the edge of the remnant (i.e., the forward shock and protruding ejecta knots) varies from 0".20 yr^{-1} (expansion index m=0.33, where R = t^m) to 0".40 yr^{-1} (m=0.65) with azimuthal angle in 2000-2007 measurements, and 0".14 yr^{-1} (m=0.26) to 0".40 yr^{-1} (m=0.65) in 2003-2007 measurements. The azimuthal variation of the proper motion and the average expansion index of ~0.5 are consistent with those derived from radio observations. We also find proper motion and expansion index of the reverse-shocked ejecta to be 0".21-0".31 yr^{-1} and 0.43-0.64, respectively. From a comparison of the measured m-value with Type Ia supernova evolutionary models, we find a pre-shock ambient density around the remnant of <~0.2 cm^{-3}

Fetal and Neonatal Goiter in Cynomolgus Monkeys Following Administration of the Antithyroid Drug Thiamazole at High Doses to Dams During Pregnancy

To evaluate morphologic alterations in the thyroid gland in the second generation in cynomolgus monkeys, pregnant dams were exposed to high doses of thiamazole. In Experiment A, dams received thiamazole intragastrically via a nasogastric catheter from gestation day (GD) 50 to GD 150 or on the day before delivery. Initially, the dose level was 20 mg/kg/day (10 mg/kg twice daily); however, the dose level was subsequently decreased to 5 mg/kg/day (2.5 mg/kg twice daily), since deteriorated general conditions were observed in two dams. Six out of seven neonates died on the day of birth. The cause of neonatal death was tracheal compression and suffocation from goiter. The transplacental exposure to thiamazole affected the fetal thyroid glands and induced goiter in all neonates. The surviving neonate was necropsied 767 days after discontinuation of thiamazole exposure and showed reversibility of the induced changes. In Experiment B, dams were intragastrically administered thiamazole at 5 mg/kg/day (2.5 mg/kg twice daily) for treatment periods from GDs 51 to 70, 71 to 90, 91 to 110, 111 to 130 and 131 to 150. All fetuses showed enlarged thyroid glands but were viable. Histopathologically, hypertrophy and/or hyperplastic appearance of the follicular epithelium of the thyroid gland was observed at the end of each treatment period. The most active appearance of the follicular epithelium, consisting of crowded pedunculated structure, was demonstrated at end of the treatment period from GD 131 to 150. This is the first report on the morphology of fetal and neonatal goiter in the cynomolgus monkey