Ideal Window Research Articles

Testing of Water Flow Glazing in Shallow Geothermal Systems

The glazed façade of a building is the part that produces the greatest energy losses and gains. The need to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions was one of the reasons that gave rise to dynamic windows.The ideal window would be one with optical properties that could readily adapt in response to changing climatic conditions or occupant preferences. The emerging concept of “dynamic window” is more as a multifunctional envelope that produces and manages energy rather than simply a static piece of coated glass. These facade systems include switchable windows and shading systems such as motorized shades, switchable electrochromic or gas chromic window coatings, Suspended Particle Device (SPD) Windows and double-envelope window-wall systems that have variable optical and thermal properties that can be changed in response to climate and building system requirements. Water flow glazing is a different concept of “dynamic window”. Water flow glazing provides control over the thermal load striking the surface, without compromising on transparency. The circulating water through the chamber both absorbs infrared radiation and reduces the temperature of the interior glass pane. Alongside, it provides thermal inertia to the window and a great potential to absorb and transport energy.

A spectroscopic survey of Herbig Ae/Be stars with X-shooter – I. Stellar parameters and accretion rates

Herbig Ae/Be stars span a key mass range that links low and high mass stars, and thus provide an ideal window from which to explore their formation. This paper presents VLT/X-Shooter spectra of 91 Herbig Ae/Be stars, HAeBes; the largest spectroscopic study of HAeBe accretion to date. A homogeneous approach to determining stellar parameters is undertaken for the majority of the sample. Measurements of the ultra-violet (UV) are modelled within the context of magnetospheric accretion, allowing a direct determination of mass accretion rates. Multiple correlations are observed across the sample between accretion and stellar properties: the youngest and often most massive stars are the strongest accretors, and there is an almost 1:1 relationship between the accretion luminosity and stellar luminosity. Despite these overall trends of increased accretion rates in HAeBes when compared to classical T Tauri stars, we also find noticeable differences in correlations when considering the Herbig Ae and Herbig Be subsets. This, combined with the difficulty in applying a magnetospheric accretion model to some of the Herbig Be stars, could suggest that another form of accretion may be occurring within the Herbig Be mass range.

“Take it outside!” National identity contestation in the foreign policy arena

Turkey’s Islamist-rooted Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi (Justice and Development Party) aggressively pursued European Union accession as a primary pillar of foreign policy, only to swing sharply away from the West in subsequent years. Actor- and party-based Islamist identity approaches cannot account for Turkey’s initial European Union-centric orientation, while domestic politics and economic arguments fail to explain the timing of the shift eastward and its domestic repercussions. Examining the advantages that foreign policy offers as an alternative arena in which elites can politicize identity debates helps to distill this complexity. This article argues that elites choose to take their national identity contests to the foreign policy arena when identity gambits at the domestic level are blocked. By taking its pursuit of hegemony for Ottoman Islamism “outside” through aggressive European Union accession measures, the Justice and Development Party could weaken domestic challengers supporting a competing, Republican Nationalist proposal for identity, and broaden support for Ottoman Islamism at home. The theory of identity hegemony developed here thus explains the counter-intuitive finding that Turkey’s European Union-oriented policy helped make possible the rise of Ottoman Islamism. Turkey offers an ideal empirical window onto these dynamics because of recent and dramatic shifts in the dynamics of its public identity debates, and because Turkey’s identity is implicated in multiple international roles, such as North Atlantic Treaty Organization ally, European Union candidate country, Organization of Islamic Cooperation member, and aspirant regional power broker. The framework developed fills a gap in existing scholarship by closing the identity–foreign policy circle, analytically linking the spillover of national identity debates into foreign policy with the changes in the contours of these debates produced by their contestation in this alternative arena.

Amyloid burden is associated with self-reported sleep in nondemented late middle-aged adults

Midlife may be an ideal window for intervention in Alzheimer's disease (AD). To determine whether sleep is associated with early signs of AD neuropathology (amyloid deposition) in late midlife, we imaged brain amyloid deposits using positron emission tomography with [C-11]Pittsburgh Compound B (PiB), and assessed sleep with the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and the Medical Outcomes Study Sleep Scale in 98 cognitively healthy adults (aged 62.4 ± 5.7 years) from the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention. We used multiple regressions to test the extent to which sleep scores predicted regional amyloid burden. Participants reporting less adequate sleep, more sleep problems, and greater somnolence on the Medical Outcomes Study had greater amyloid burden in AD-sensitive brain regions (angular gyrus, frontal medial orbital cortex, cingulate gyrus, and precuneus). Amyloid was not associated with reported sleep amount, symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing, trouble falling asleep, or Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Poor sleep may be a risk factor for AD and a potential early marker of AD or target for preventative interventions in midlife.

Low loss mid-infrared ZBLAN waveguides for future astronomical applications.

Photonic technologies will be at the heart of future terrestrial planet hunting interferometers. In particular the mid-infrared spectral region between 3.5 - 4.2 μm is the ideal window for hunting for young extra-solar planets, since the planet is still hot from its formation and thus offers a favorable contrast with respect to the parent star compared to other spectral regions. This paper demonstrates two basic photonic building blocks of such an instrument, namely single-mode waveguides with propagation losses as low as 0.29±0.03 dB/cm at a wavelength of 4 μm as well as directional couplers with a constant splitting ratio across a broad wavelength band of 500 nm. The devices are based on depressed cladding waveguides inscribed into ZBLAN glass using the femtosecond laser direct-write technique. This demonstration is the first stepping stone towards the realization of a high transmission mid-infrared nulling interferometer.

The multidisciplinary approach to the care of the obese parturient

Maternal obesity in pregnancy is associated with increased maternal and fetal risks. Pregnancy management should include counseling, screening, and optimization of maternal health, increased fetal surveillance, and preparation for parturition. A multidisciplinary approach should be implemented including collaboration from obstetricians, nutritionists, anesthesiologists, social workers, and neonatologists to optimize perinatal outcomes. Pregnancy is an ideal window of opportunity to influence both the patient's long-term health and the health of the offspring.

A combination of neostigmine and anisodamine protects against ischemic stroke by activating α7nAChR.

Increasing endogenous acetylcholine by neostigmine decreased the ischemic cerebral injury. The off-target action on muscarinic receptor produced a variety of adverse effects and limited the clinical application on stroke. We combined neostigmine with anisodamine and investigated the neuroprotection and mechanism. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion. Neuroprotective action of neostigmine in combination with anisodamine at varying ratios was examined to determine the optimal combination as well as ideal therapeutic window. Potential involvement of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor was examined by measuring the infarct size, the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, and the biomarkers of apoptosis in α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor knockout mice. A set of in vitro experiments was conducted in RAW264.7 cells to probe into potential molecular mechanisms. The neostigmine/anisodamine combination conferred neuroprotection. The protection was most potent at a ratio of 1:500. At such a ratio, the combination increased the binding of acetylcholine to α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and reduced proinflammatory cytokines. The neuroprotection was evident only in wild-type and not in α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor knockout mice. The combination significantly decreased the expression of Bad and Bax, and increased Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl in α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor wild-type mice but not in knockout mice. The combination did not affect caspase-8, cleaved caspase-8, or caspase-12. Current study identified the optimal combination of neostigmine and anisodamine against ischemic stroke, and indicated that the acetylcholine-α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is involved in the protective effects.

Long-term functional recovery after facial nerve transection and repair in the rat.

The rodent model is commonly used to study facial nerve injury. Because of the exceptional regenerative capacity of the rodent facial nerve, it is essential to consider the timing when studying facial nerve regeneration and functional recovery. Short-term functional recovery data following transection and repair of the facial nerve has been documented by our laboratory. However, because of the limitations of the head fixation device, there is a lack of long-term data following facial nerve injury. The objective of this study was to elucidate the long-term time course and functional deficit following facial nerve transection and repair in a rodent model. Adult rats were divided into group 1 (controls) and group 2 (experimental). Group 1 animals underwent head fixation, followed by a facial nerve injury, and functional testing was performed from day 7 to day 70. Group 2 animals underwent facial nerve injury, followed by delayed head fixation, and then underwent functional testing from months 6 to 8. There was no statistical difference between the average whisking amplitudes in group 1 and group 2 animals. Functional whisking recovery 6 months after facial nerve injury is comparable to recovery within 1 to 4 months of transection and repair, thus the ideal window for evaluating facial nerve recovery falls within the 4 months after injury.

Defining the optimal timing of adjuvant therapy for resected pancreatic cancer: A statewide cancer registry analysis.

406 Background: Recent long-term results from the ESPAC-3 trial suggest that while completing adjuvant therapy (AT) is necessary after resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC), early initiation of AT before 8 weeks may not be associated with improved overall survival (OS). The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of early vs. late AT initiation on OS in a statewide population-based analysis. Methods: Among all patients with stage I-III PDAC in the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) - Kentucky Cancer Registry (KCR) from 2004-2012, those undergoing pancreatectomy were stratified by postoperative chemotherapy/radiotherapy delivery and timing. Patients with preoperative therapy, no AT, or postoperative therapy beyond 16 weeks, were excluded. Remaining patients were stratified into 2 groups defined as “early” (<8 weeks) and “late” AT (8-16 weeks). A Cox regression model was created to analyze the impact of AT timing, adjusting for clinicopathologic variables. Results: Of the 4,882 total patients with PDAC, 1,193 (24%) underwent pancreatectomy. Of these, only 364 (30%) received AT within 16 weeks. With median age 65 years (range 20-101), 86% patients were stage II and 76% were node-positive. Median time to AT initiation was 52 days (range 5-111). Timing of AT did not affect OS (median OS: early AT, 19.5 vs. 19.7 mo, late AT, p=0.63). Median OS for stages I, II, and III were 46.1, 19.3, and 8.6 mo, respectively (p<0.001). Poorly/undifferentiated tumors were associated with worse median OS 17.6 vs. 21.3 mo for well/moderately differentiated tumors (p<0.001). Lymph node positivity was associated with worse median OS 18.1 vs. 25.8 mo for node negativity (p<0.001). On multivariate analysis, factors that affected OS included stage (II, HR 2.54, p=0.022; III, HR 5.16, p<0.001), node positivity (HR 1.57, p=0.008), poorly/undifferentiated grade (HR 1.50; p=0.002), but not AT timing. Conclusions: In this SEER-KCR analysis, there was no difference in OS between early and late AT initiation. Despite its proven value, the ideal window for AT initiation remains unknown as tumor biology continues to trump current treatment regimens.

Antibody-targeted vaccination to lung dendritic cells generates tissue-resident memory CD8 T cells that are highly protective against influenza virus infection.

Influenza virus gains entry into the body by inhalation and initiates its replication cycle within the lung. The early stage of infection, while the virus is confined to the lung mucosa, provides the ideal window of opportunity for an effective immune response to control the infection. Tissue-resident memory (Trm) CD8 T cells, located in a variety of tissues including the lung, are ideally situated to act during this window and stall the infection. The factors involved in the differentiation of lung Trm cells remain poorly defined. We demonstrate that recognition of antigen presented locally by dendritic cells (DCs) and transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) signaling are both required. We exploited this knowledge to develop an antibody-targeted vaccination approach to generate lung Trm cells. Delivering antigen exclusively to respiratory DCs results in the development of lung CD8 Trm cells that are highly protective against lethal influenza challenge. Our results describe an effective vaccination strategy that protects against influenza virus infection.

A state of reversible compensated ventricular dysfunction precedes pathological remodelling in response to cardiomyocyte-specific activity of angiotensin II type-1 receptor in mice.

ABSTRACTCardiac dysfunction is commonly associated with high-blood-pressure-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, in response to aberrant renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activity. Ensuing pathological remodelling promotes cardiomyocyte death and cardiac fibroblast activation, leading to cardiac fibrosis. The initiating cellular mechanisms that underlie this progressive disease are poorly understood. We previously reported a conditional mouse model in which a human angiotensin II type-I receptor transgene (HART) was expressed in differentiated cardiomyocytes after they had fully matured, but not during development. Twelve-month-old HART mice exhibited ventricular dysfunction and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy with interstitial fibrosis following full receptor stimulation, without affecting blood pressure. Here, we show that chronic HART activity in young adult mice causes ventricular dysfunction without hypertrophy, fibrosis or cardiomyocyte death. Dysfunction correlated with reduced expression of pro-hypertrophy markers and increased expression of pro-angiogenic markers in the cardiomyocytes experiencing increased receptor load. This stimulates responsive changes in closely associated non-myocyte cells, including the downregulation of pro-angiogenic genes, a dampened inflammatory response and upregulation of Tgfβ. Importantly, this state of compensated dysfunction was reversible. Furthermore, increased stimulation of the receptors on the cardiomyocytes caused a switch in the secondary response from the non-myocyte cells. Progressive cardiac remodelling was stimulated through hypertrophy and death of individual cardiomyocytes, with infiltration, proliferation and activation of fibroblast and inflammatory cells, leading to increased angiogenic and inflammatory signalling. Together, these data demonstrate that a state of pre-hypertrophic compensated dysfunction can exist in affected individuals before common markers of heart disease are detectable. The data also suggest that there is an initial response from the housekeeping cells of the heart to signals emanating from distressed neighbouring cardiomyocytes to suppress those changes most commonly associated with progressive heart disease. We suggest that the reversible nature of this state of compensated dysfunction presents an ideal window of opportunity for personalised therapeutic intervention.

ATM regulates 3-methylpurine-DNA glycosylase and promotes therapeutic resistance to alkylating agents.

Alkylating agents are a first-line therapy for the treatment of several aggressive cancers, including pediatric glioblastoma, a lethal tumor in children. Unfortunately, many tumors are resistant to this therapy. We sought to identify ways of sensitizing tumor cells to alkylating agents while leaving normal cells unharmed, increasing therapeutic response while minimizing toxicity. Using an siRNA screen targeting over 240 DNA damage response genes, we identified novel sensitizers to alkylating agents. In particular, the base excision repair (BER) pathway, including 3-methylpurine-DNA glycosylase (MPG), as well as ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM), were identified in our screen. Interestingly, we identified MPG as a direct novel substrate of ATM. ATM-mediated phosphorylation of MPG was required for enhanced MPG function. Importantly, combined inhibition or loss of MPG and ATM resulted in increased alkylating agent-induced cytotoxicity in vitro and prolonged survival in vivo. The discovery of the ATM-MPG axis will lead to improved treatment of alkylating agent-resistant tumors. Inhibition of ATM and MPG-mediated BER cooperate to sensitize tumor cells to alkylating agents, impairing tumor growth in vitro and in vivo with no toxicity to normal cells, providing an ideal therapeutic window.

ChemInform Abstract: Nanostructured Electrochromic Smart Windows: Traditional Materials and NIR‐Selective Plasmonic Nanocrystals

AbstractReview: 93 refs.

Influence of thermo-analytical and rheological properties of an epoxy powder coating resin on the quality of coatings on medium density fibreboards (MDF) using in-mould technology

Powder coating of engineered wood panels such as medium density fibreboards (MDF) is gaining industrial interest due to ecological and economic advantages of powder coating technology. For transferring powder coating technology to temperature-sensitive substrates like MDF, a thorough understanding of the melting, flowing and curing behaviour of the used low-bake resins is required. In the present study, thermo-analysis in combination with iso-conversional kinetic data analysis as well as rheometry is applied to characterise the properties of an epoxy-based powder coating. Neat resin and cured powder coating films are examined in order to define an ideal production window within which the resin is preferably applied and processed to yield satisfactory surface performance on the one hand and without exposing the carrier MDF too high a temperature load on the other hand to prevent the panel from deteriorating in mechanical strength. In order to produce powder coated films of high surface gloss – a feature that has not yet successfully been realized on MDF with powder coatings – a new curing technology, in-mould surface finishing, has been applied.

Groundwater, possibly originated from subducted sediments, in Joban and Hamadori areas, southern Tohoku, Japan

We studied the origin of deep groundwater in the Joban and Hamadori areas in southern Tohoku, Japan, based on δD, δ18O, 129I/I, 36Cl/Cl, and 3H concentrations. Deep groundwater was collected from the basement rocks (Cretaceous granite) and from the margin of the Joban sedimentary basin (latest Cretaceous to Quaternary sedimentary rocks deposited on the basement rocks). We sampled groundwater pumped from depths ranging from 350 to 1,600 m in these areas. A hypothetical end-member of deep groundwater was estimated from the relationship between δ18O and Cl concentrations, and our data reveal a much higher iodine concentration and lower Br and Cl concentrations than found in seawater. The iodine ages inferred from 129I/I are quite uniform and are about 40 Ma and 36Cl/Cl almost reached the secular equilibrium. The relationship between iodine and Cl can be explained by mixing a hypothetical end-member with meteoric water or seawater. Moreover, the I/Cl ratio increases linearly with increasing water temperature. The water temperature was high in Joban, with a maximum of 78°C at a depth of 1,100 m. The geothermal gradient in the Joban basin is 18°C km-1, and the temperature even at a depth of 3 km in the basin was not high enough to supply thermal water to the sampling sites. Thus, sedimentary rocks in the Joban basin are unlikely to be the source of iodine in the deep groundwater. Several active faults such as the Futaba Fault are developed in and around the studied areas. The Iwaki earthquake occurred 1 month after the 2011 Tohoku-oki earthquake, and normal-fault type surface ruptures formed and discharged hot groundwater in Joban. The deep groundwater we studied probably came up through the basement rocks from greater depths. There are no sedimentary rocks younger than Tertiary age beneath the pre-Cretaceous basement rocks, and the subducted sediments in the Japan Trench are a possible source of iodine in the groundwater. The Joban and Hamadori areas may be an ideal window to look into the water circulation in the forearc of the Tohoku subduction zone.

The quality of dietary intake in obese pregnant women

Data were collected for 140 women with a BMI ≥35 kg/m 2 and a mean booking in weight of 110·2 kg (SD15·7). Nutrients were measured as a proportion of MJ/d and data shows an increase in mean total energy and fat intakes but a decrease in NSP and micronutrient intakes between visits 1 and 3. This suggests that the quality of dietary intake deteriorated during gestation. Negative correlations between total energy intake at visit 3 and birth weight (r= −0.285, p= 0·014), total fat intakes at visit 3 (r= −0.272, p= 0·020) were also demonstrated. Pregnancy is viewed as an ideal window of opportunity to improve eating behaviours and it may be a pertinent time to remind women that during pregnancy they are ‘eating for two’ when it comes to the quality of dietary intakes, as an energy dense ‘empty calorie’ diet with inadequate nutrient intakes may be an important determinant of future offspring obesity and disease risk.

An Introduction to the Properties of Silica Glass in Ballistic Applications

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this review is to introduce the interested reader to the literature on the use of silica glasses in ballistic applications. These applications include optically transparent windows (where their amorphous nature, appropriate band gap, and cheapness make them ideal window materials) as well as layers in opaque armours designed to be resistant to shaped charges. In the latter application, their increase in volume (bulking) on fracture disrupts the shaped charge jet. Other topics covered in this review include low‐velocity damage by windborne debris, liquid and solid impact, dynamic methods of testing (Hopkinson pressure bar, Taylor impact, and plate impact shock loading), and constitutive models. The use of glass as a shaped charge is also discussed.

Abstract 19140: Prediction of Inotrope Initiation in Patients With Advanced Heart Failure

Introduction: It is now widely accepted that the need for inotropic therapy initiation in advanced heart failure (INTERMACS Class 3) in otherwise suitable patients constitutes the closing point of the ideal time window to initiate long term mechanical circulatory support. In this study, we sought to predict this time point. Hypothesis: Maximal exercise testing in conjunction with echocardiographic parameters can be used to objectively stratify a pts risk for inotrope dependence. Methods: We conducted a prospective study of pts in various stages of HF. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing and echocardiograms were performed at baseline, and the pts were followed for 48 months. The primary endpoint was inotrope initiation; secondary endpoints included LVAD implantation, heart transplantation, and death. Results: One hundred and thirty-five pts were enrolled. The mean pt age was 53 ± 13 years, 74% were male, and 34% had ischemic cardiomyopathy. The cohort was 15%, 40%, 45%, and NYHA Class I, II, and III respectively. Pts were followed for a median duration of 31 months (IQR: 16-46). Since enrollment, 19 pts (14.1%) have been initiated on inotrope therapy. Univariate predictors of inotrope dependence that were entered into the multivariable Cox model are: left ventricular ejection fraction, peak oxygen consumption, and heart rate reserve >45%. The derived score predicts inotrope initiation within one year with a sensitivity of 78.6% and specificity of 73.7% (ROC curve AUC=0.82). Probability of inotrope initiation was well stratified by scoring quartiles. Conclusion: A simple score comprised of left ventricular ejection fraction, peak oxygen consumption, and heart rate reserve >45% can help predict HF deterioration. Validation of a successful model which predicts time to inotrope use would be beneficial for appropriate timing of mechanical circulatory support.

173 Possible HIV exposure: laboratroy workers knowledge attitudes and behaviour

A company wide KAP survey was conducted around HIV, but in this workplace, exposure to HIV through work exposures was also possible. In a high prevalence HIV country workers perceptions...

Glycocapture-Assisted Global Quantitative Proteomics (gagQP) Reveals Multiorgan Responses in Serum Toxicoproteome

Blood is an ideal window for viewing our health and disease status. Because blood circulates throughout the entire body and carries secreted, shed, and excreted signature proteins from every organ and tissue type, it is thus possible to use the blood proteome to achieve a comprehensive assessment of multiple-organ physiology and pathology. To date, the blood proteome has been frequently examined for diseases of individual organs; studies on compound insults impacting multiple organs are, however, elusive. We believe that a characterization of peripheral blood for organ-specific proteins affords a powerful strategy to allow early detection, staging, and monitoring of diseases and their treatments at a whole-body level. In this paper we test this hypothesis by examining a mouse model of acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatic and extra-hepatic toxicity. We used a glycocapture-assisted global quantitative proteomics (gagQP) approach to study serum proteins and validated our results using Western blot. We discovered in mouse sera both hepatic and extra-hepatic organ-specific proteins. From our validation, it was determined that selected organ-specific proteins had changed their blood concentration during the course of toxicity development and recovery. Interestingly, the peak responding time of proteins specific to different organs varied in a time-course study. The collected molecular information shed light on a complex, dynamic, yet interweaving, multiorgan-enrolled APAP toxicity. The developed technique as well as the identified protein markers is translational to human studies. We hope our work can broaden the utility of blood proteomics in diagnosis and research of the whole-body response to pathogenic cues.