Unknown Effect Research Articles

Correction of temperature errors due to the unknown effect of window transmission on ratio pyrometers using an in situ calibration standard

Ratio pyrometers are widely used for non contact temperature measurement in situations where non-blackbody conditions exist. A high temperature fixed-point cell based on rhenium–carbon alloy was used to characterise the effect of window contamination based on the simplest assumption that graybody conditions existed. A visible-near IR spectrometer was used to mimic the behaviour of a ratio pyrometer. The deposition of particulate contamination on clean glass windows was found to substantially change the indicated temperature. This change is liable to be unpredictable. The use of an in-process reference fixed-point cell was tested and found to give potential for significant reduction of errors across a wide temperature range.

Assessment of left and right ventricular diastolic and systolic functions using two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography in patients with coronary slow-flow phenomenon.

ObjectiveCoronary slow-flow phenomenon (CSFP) is an angiographic diagnosis characterised by a low rate of flow of contrast agent in the normal or near-normal epicardial coronary arteries. Many of the patients with CSFP may experience recurrent acute coronary syndromes. However, current clinical practice tends to underestimate the impact of CSFP due to the yet unknown effect on the cardiac function. This study was performed to evaluate left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) diastolic and systolic functions, using two-dimensional (2D) longitudinal strain and strain rate, in patients with CSFP, and to determine the relationships between the thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame count (TFC) and LV and RV diastolic and systolic functions.MethodsSixty-three patients with CSFP and 45 age- and sex-matched controls without CSFP were enrolled in the study. Diagnosis of CSFP was made by TFC. LV and RV diastolic and systolic functions were assessed by 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography.ResultsLV peak early diastolic longitudinal strain rate (LSRe) was lower in patients with CSFP than in controls (P = 0.01). LV peak systolic longitudinal strain (LS) and LV peak systolic longitudinal strain rate (LSRs) were lower in patients with CSFP than in controls (P = 0.004 and P = 0.03, respectively). There was no difference in LV ejection fraction. RV peak early diastolic longitudinal strain rate (RSRe) was lower in patients with CSFP than in controls (P = 0.03). There were no differences in RV peak systolic longitudinal strain (RS), RV peak systolic longitudinal strain rate (RSRs), or RV fractional area change among the groups. The mean TFC correlated negatively with LSRe and RSRe in patients with CSFP (r = −0.26, P = 0.04 and r = −0.32, P = 0.01, respectively).ConclusionsLV diastolic and systolic functions were impaired in patients with CSFP. CSFP also affected RV diastolic function, but not RV systolic function.

Abstract T P193: Neurological Deterioration Within the First 24-hours After Fibrinolysis is Not as Frequent as Previously Reported in Stroke Patients

Background: Studies have reported neurological detoriation at 24 hours in 20- 40% of patients with symptoms of ischemic stroke. Aim: To asses the frequency of neurological deterioration in patients after fibrinolysis. Methods: A prospective single hospital registry was based on 481 unselected consecutive patients admitted from July 2009- December 2011 with symptoms of acute ischemic stroke within 4.5 hours from symptom onset. Patients fulfilling international guidelines were treated with i.v tPA. Clinical status was assessed by National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and Computerized Tomography was conducted at admission in all 481 patients and at 24 hours in patients treated with i.v tPA to assess neurological as well as radiological status. Patients were stratified as having neurological deterioration of 1, 2, 3 or > 3 NIHSS points. Results: Three-hundred and twenty three (67.2%) of the admitted stroke patients were treated with i.v tPA (median NIHSS 7, 1-42). At 24 hours, neurological detoriation was observed in 24 of the treated patients (7.4 %) (ΔNIHSS median +2; 1-9). Eleven patients had ΔNIHSS=+1, 3 patients had ΔNIHSS=+2, 4 patients had ΔNIHSS=+3 and 6 patients had ΔNIHSS>+3.Any degree of haemorrhagic transformation was detected in 28 (8.7 %) of the patients treated with i.v tPA (median ΔNIHSS -1.5; -10 - +4), of which 3 were symptomatic (0.9%) (median ΔNIHSS +2, 1-4). Neurological deterioration occurred significantly more often in patients admitted with moderat-severe stroke (p=0.003) and in patients with large vessel occlusions (p=0.041). Conclusion: The neurological deterioration observed in patients treated with i.v tPA was modest and less frequent than previous reported in patients with symptoms of acute stroke prior to general implementation of thrombolysis. Deteriation due to haemorrhagic transformation was rare and of limited scale in this population. If this phenomena is due to better care, selection of patients for treatment in accordance with international guidelines or due to an unknown effect caused by tPA is uncertain.

Physical and mineralogical properties of experimentally heated chaff-tempered mud bricks: Implications for reconstruction of environmental factors influencing the appearance of mud bricks in archaeological conflagration events

Sun-dried mud bricks are used around the world and have been found in the Levant and Mesopotamia since the Neolithic period. Their form and composition lend important information pertaining to social and technological meaning in human cultures. Fired mud bricks are well known in the southern Levant, often identified in Bronze and Iron Age strata and used as a marker for destruction by fire (conflagration events). Only a few studies have attempted to reconstruct conflagration conditions from fired mud bricks because many variables impact the formation of the final fired brick. These include brick composition, heat intensity (i.e., maximum temperature), heat duration and firing atmosphere (i.e., oxidizing vs. reducing). The myriad combinations of these factors may result in different appearance of fired bricks. Infrared spectroscopy is one method that has been exploited quite extensively in relation to fired clay-based materials: studies were conducted on powdered sediment samples for a fixed duration and in oxidizing conditions, producing calibration curves that were then utilized for reconstruction of past maximal heat. Here we report on an experimental study of the thermal behavior of mud bricks under differing composition, heat intensity, heat duration and firing atmosphere. We carried out experiments in a furnace oven using micro-thermocouples which allowed us to simultaneously measure heat across bricks, from edge to core. The resulting mud bricks were analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. We identify a previously unknown thermal effect that occurs in bricks tempered with organic material while they are fired; namely a correlation between the amount of organic temper and elevation of temperatures up to 100°C above the oven chamber temperature. We record the color patterns obtained at different temperatures and duration of heating, as well as the colors obtained from heating in different atmospheres. We report that the FTIR spectrum of bricks heated in oxidizing conditions differs from that of bricks heated in reducing conditions at the same temperature. We note that the position of the main clay absorbance band cannot be used alone to infer firing temperature as its shift is not systematic. We show that combining this parameter with the width of the same band in the FTIR spectrum makes it possible to achieve better temperature reconstructions from fired bricks. Lastly, we report a small scale case study in which we tested the applicability of the experimental results to the remains of a mud brick wall unearthed within the largest known destruction event in the ancient city of Megiddo, i.e., Tel Megiddo Stratum VIA. We show that this wall was burnt as one unit, having a reduced core and oxidized outer part, where the core experienced temperatures in the range of 500–600°C and the edge 600–700°C. The detailed analysis of brick compositions carried out in this study further allows us to reconstruct the ancient bricks' preparation recipe. The results of this study bear important implications for future studies of archaeological conflagration events, and the destruction phenomenon in general.

Selection of the treatment effect for sample size determination in a superiority clinical trial using a hybrid classical and Bayesian procedure

Specification of the treatment effect that a clinical trial is designed to detect (θA) plays a critical role in sample size and power calculations. However, no formal method exists for using prior information to guide the choice of θA. This paper presents a hybrid classical and Bayesian procedure for choosing an estimate of the treatment effect to be detected in a clinical trial that formally integrates prior information into this aspect of trial design. The value of θA is found that equates the pre-specified frequentist power and the conditional expected power of the trial. The conditional expected power averages the traditional frequentist power curve using the conditional prior distribution of the true unknown treatment effect θ as the averaging weight. The Bayesian prior distribution summarizes current knowledge of both the magnitude of the treatment effect and the strength of the prior information through the assumed spread of the distribution. By using a hybrid classical and Bayesian approach, we are able to formally integrate prior information on the uncertainty and variability of the treatment effect into the design of the study, mitigating the risk that the power calculation will be overly optimistic while maintaining a frequentist framework for the final analysis. The value of θA found using this method may be written as a function of the prior mean μ0 and standard deviation τ0, with a unique relationship for a given ratio of μ0/τ0. Results are presented for Normal, Uniform, and Gamma priors for θ.

Solidarity charge - a new non-tax levy

The Government on September 3, 2015 adopted a Regulation on Amendments to the Energy Act and a Regulation on the Criteria for Granting the Status of Vulnerable Consumer of Electricity from the Energy Grid, with a view to basing its welfare policy on subsidizing electricity costs rather than providing social transfers. The use of electricity price for welfare policy purposes is a classic example of the government's quasi-fiscal activity, with an unknown financial effect and no accurate information on the number of potential beneficiaries of such a welfare measure. However, as of October 2015, the so-called „solidarity charge“ will be added to the Government's hidden levies list.

The distorting effect of varying diets on fecal glucocorticoid measurements as indicators of stress: A cautionary demonstration using laboratory mice

The physiological stress response is frequently gauged in animals, non-invasively, through measuring glucocorticoids in excreta. A concern with this method is, however, the unknown effect of variations in diets on the measurements. With an energy dense diet, leading to reduced defecation, will low concentrations of glucocorticoids be artificially inflated? Can this effect be overcome by measuring the total output of glucocorticoids in excreta? In a controlled laboratory setting we explored the effect in mice. When standard mouse chow – high in dietary fiber – was replaced with a 17% more energy-dense diet, fecal mass was significantly reduced. As circulating levels of corticosterone and the total output of corticosterone metabolites over time remained unaffected, the result was an overestimation – more than a doubling – of the corticosterone metabolite excretion if expressed as concentrations. Similar results were obtained for testosterone metabolites. Although measuring the total output is not feasible in, for example, wildlife studies, the present findings highlight the perilousness of relying on concentrations of hormones in excreta with no associated information of the dietary intake as even moderate changes can exert a great influence.

Study of cycle life of a material in conditions of low-cycle fatigue and long-term strength

Experimental studies shows that the main parts - the shaft and the disks of gas turbine engines, working in the conditions of low-cycle fatigue and durability, have a durability far exceeding the resource identified by calculation based on the hypothesis of linear summation of damage. Therefore, further clarification is needed calculation methods, allowing greater use of the reserves of strength parts. The performed research studies the influence on the durability of the increasing duration of zero cycle of loading samples with a period of T=200 s. and the restraint at the maximum and minimum levels: Dtmax=120 s. and Dtmin=60 s. The studies were performed on a standard round specimens with the diameter of the working area of 7.5mm. Shown that when you restrain a loading there is in the material proceeds relaxation process, combined with a deforming cyclic hardening and increasing of the plastic deformation. It was found that the hypothesis of a linear summation of static and cyclic components of the damage in the conditions of low-cycle fatigue and long-term strength is not confirmed. The increasing of the restraint in the loading cycle under the load to Dtmax=20 s. or more leads to a significant increase - up to 94 % of the static component of damage. The research results obtained during cyclic and repeated static loading, helped to confirm and substantiate the existence of a previously unknown Effect of cyclic hardening materials, due to the duration of the maximum load in the cycle of loading.

JQ 1, a Selective Bromodomain Inhibitor, Decreased the Expression of the Tolerogenic Molecule PDL1 in Antigen-Presenting Cells (APCs) and Restores the Responsiveness of Anergic CD4+ T Cells

Bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) is a protein domain that recognizes acetylated lysine residues such as those on the N-terminal tails of histones. This recognition is often a prerequisite for protein-histone association, chromatin remodeling and gene transcription. The role of BET proteins in regulating the response of inflammatory cytokine genes through translation of histone marks is poorly understood.Given that the inflammatory status of the APC is critical in determining T-cell activation versus T-cell tolerance and that epigenetic modifications of specific genes in the APC play a key role in this process, we recently determined the functional consequences of inhibiting BET in APCs.First, we evaluated the effects of JQ 1, a selective small-molecule BET bromodomain inhibitor on APC’s function and its regulation of antigen-specific CD4+ T-cells response. In vitro treatment of peritoneal elicited macrophages (PEM) or bone marrow derived dendritic cells (DCs) with increasing concentrations of JQ 1 resulted in decreased expression and protein production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and IL-6 in response to LPS stimulation. At the concentration used, JQ 1 did not affect the viability of treated APCs. Second, analysis of the expression of MHC class molecules and co-stimulatory molecules revealed a decreased expression of the tolerogenic PDL1 molecule in JQ 1- treated APCs as compared to untreated APCs. Third, we evaluated the ability of JQ 1 treated APCs to present cognate antigen to naïve or tolerant antigen-specific CD4+ T-cells. We found that treatment of either PEM or DC with JQ 1 enhanced their antigen-presenting capabilities leading to effective priming of naïve CD4+ T-cells confirmed by their increased production of IL-2 and IFN-gamma in response to cognate antigen. More importantly, JQ 1- treated APCs were able to restore the responsiveness of tolerant CD4+ T-cells isolated from lymphoma bearing hosts.Taken together, we have found that APCs treated with the Bromodomain specific inhibitor JQ 1 are more inflammatory, display lower expression of the immunosuppressive molecule PDL1 and more importantly, are capable of restoring the responsiveness of tolerant T-cells. Our studies therefore have unveiled a previously unknown immunological effect of BET inhibitors and have broadened their clinical scope as promising adjuvants in cancer immunotherapy. DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

The use of prostaglandin E1 in peripartum patients with asthma

Prostaglandin E₁ (PGE₁) is commonly used in obstetric practice for labor induction and cervical ripening and in treating postpartum hemorrhage; however, its use in pregnant asthmatic patients has not been studied to date. The package insert states there is an unknown causal side effect for dyspnea and bronchospasm. Other pharmacological publications have stated that bronchoconstriction may occur with the use of PGE₁. The study objective was to examine peripartum pregnant asthmatic patients who received prostaglandin E₁. Every patient who was administered PGE₁ from January 2010 through December 2013 was prospectively recorded. The charts were retrospectively reviewed. Peripartum patients with asthma were identified and further analyzed for any evidence of an asthma exacerbation following administration of the drug. A total of 234 of 2629 patients (8.9%) who received PGE₁ were identified as having asthma. None of the patients had any evidence of an asthma exacerbation (0 of 234; 95% confidence interval, 0-0.017). Of the 234 patients, 104 (44%) had active asthma and were receiving daily medication, and the remaining 130 patients had a medical history of asthma for which they used an inhaler on an as-needed basis. A total of 98 patients (42%) received greater than 400 μg of total dose. A post hoc statistical assessment was performed, and the study was sufficiently powered to detect any clinically meaningful increase in asthma exacerbation with PGE₁ usage, if such a risk existed. Based on the 95% confidence interval of these data, the maximum risk for an asthma exacerbation following the use of prostaglandin E₁ is less than 2%. Although all medications administered to asthmatic patients in the peripartum period should be carefully selected, this information supports the use of prostaglandin E₁ in obstetric patients with asthma, if clinically indicated.

Motion blur disturbs – the influence of motion‐blurred images in photogrammetry

AbstractUnmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have become an interesting and active research topic for photogrammetry. Current research is based on images acquired by UAVs which have a high ground resolution and good spectral resolution due to low flight altitudes combined with a high‐resolution camera. One of the main problems preventing full automation of data processing of UAV imagery is the unknown degradation effect of blur caused by camera movement during image acquisition. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the influence of blur on photogrammetric image processing. Images with precisely known motion blur were produced to determine the effect. It was found that even small blurs affect normal photogrammetric processes significantly. Although operator intervention might be time consuming, it can ensure that the results are still of acceptable accuracy.

The Impact of Subtidal Circulation on Internal-Tide-Induced Mixing in the Philippine Sea

Abstract This study uses a primitive equation model to estimate the time-varying M2 internal tide dissipation in the Philippine Sea in the presence of the subtidal circulation. The time-mean diapycnal diffusivity due to the M2 internal tide is estimated to be 4.0–4.8 × 10−4 m2 s−1 at the Luzon Strait and 2–9 × 10−5 m2 s−1 in the Philippine Sea basin. The variability in internal tides and their interactions with the subtidal ocean circulation results in significant spatial and temporal variability in the energy available for mixing. The subtidal circulation influences internal-tide-induced mixing in two ways: by introducing variability in internal tide generation and by increased dissipation of baroclinic energy associated with greater velocity shear. Close to the generation site, mixing is dominated by high-mode internal tide dissipation, while in the far field the influence of the mesoscale energy on internal tide dissipation is significant, resulting in increased dissipation. This study presents model-based estimates of the important and relatively unknown effect of mesoscale circulation on internal-tide-induced mixing away from internal tide generation sites in a region of high eddy kinetic energy.

Algorithm development for the application of ground-penetrating radar on asphalt pavement compaction monitoring

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is a promising non-destructive technique to be applied on monitoring the density change during asphalt pavement compaction. The utmost challenge of this application is the unknown effect of surface moisture, sprayed by the compactor during compaction, on GPR signals. To extract density information without the effect of surface moisture, a correction algorithm based on reference scan approach was developed. To evaluate the performance of the algorithm, a full-scale test site was constructed with compaction pass number from 0 to 10, and a large amount of GPR data were collected from the pavement with different surface moisture contents. A total of 22 cores were extracted for validation purposes. After applying the algorithm, it was found that the average density prediction error was reduced significantly. By using correction algorithm together with the density model, the density of asphalt pavement was obtained with high accuracy.

Size-Dependent Silicon Epitaxy at Mesoscale Dimensions

New discoveries on collective processes in materials fabrication and performance are emerging in the mesoscopic size regime between the nanoscale, where atomistic effects dominate, and the macroscale, where bulk-like behavior rules. For semiconductor electronics and photonics, dimensional control of the architecture in this regime is the limiting factor for device performance. Epitaxial crystal growth is the major tool enabling simultaneous control of the dimensions and properties of such architectures. Although size-dependent effects have been studied for many small-scale systems, they have not been reported for the epitaxial growth of Si crystalline surfaces. Here, we show a strong dependence of epitaxial growth rates on size for nano to microscale radial wires and planar stripes. A model for this unexpected size-dependent vapor phase epitaxy behavior at small dimensions suggests that these effects are universal and result from an enhanced surface desorption of the silane (SiH4) growth precursor near facet edges. Introducing phosphorus or boron dopants during the silicon epitaxy further decreases the growth rates and, for phosphorus, gives rise to a critical layer thickness for single crystalline epitaxial growth. This previously unknown mesoscopic size-dependent growth effect at mesoscopic dimensions points to a new mechanism in vapor phase growth and promises greater control of advanced device geometries.

Short call abstracts.

Short call abstracts.

Interference effects of aircraft on earth's electromagnetic response at very low frequency and low frequency

ABSTRACTOver the last few decades, very low frequency electromagnetics has been widely and successfully applied in mineral exploration and groundwater exploration. Many radio transmitters with strong signal‐to‐noise ratios are scattered in the very low frequency band and low frequency band. Based on experiences gained from ground measurements with the radio‐magnetotelluric technique operating in the frequency interval 1–250 kHz, broadband magnetometers have been used to cover both very low frequency (3–30 kHz) and low frequency (30–300 kHz) bands to increase the resolution of the near‐surface structure. The metallic aircraft as a conductive body will distort the magnetic signal to some extent, and thus it is important to investigate aircraft interference on the electromagnetic signal. We studied noise caused by rotation of an aircraft and the aircraft itself as a metallic conductive body with three methods: 3D wave polarization, determination of transmitter direction and full tipper estimation. Both very low frequency and low frequency bands were investigated. The results show that the magnetic field is independent of the aircraft at low frequencies in the very low frequency band and part of the low frequency band (below 100 kHz). At high frequencies (above 100 kHz), the signals are more greatly influenced by the aircraft, and the wave polarization directions are more scattered, as observed when the aircraft turned. Some aircraft generated noise mixed with radio transmitter signals, detected as ‘dummy’ signals by the 3D wave polarization method. The estimated scalar magnetic transfer functions are dependent on the aircraft flight directions at high frequencies, because of aircraft interference. The aircraft eigenresponse in the transfer functions (tippers) between vertical and horizontal magnetic field components was compensated for in the real part of the estimated tippers, but some unknown effect was still observed in the imaginary parts.

Identifying chemicals that are planetary boundary threats.

Rockström et al. proposed a set of planetary boundaries that delimit a "safe operating space for humanity". Many of the planetary boundaries that have so far been identified are determined by chemical agents. Other chemical pollution-related planetary boundaries likely exist, but are currently unknown. A chemical poses an unknown planetary boundary threat if it simultaneously fulfills three conditions: (1) it has an unknown disruptive effect on a vital Earth system process; (2) the disruptive effect is not discovered until it is a problem at the global scale, and (3) the effect is not readily reversible. In this paper, we outline scenarios in which chemicals could fulfill each of the three conditions, then use the scenarios as the basis to define chemical profiles that fit each scenario. The chemical profiles are defined in terms of the nature of the effect of the chemical and the nature of exposure of the environment to the chemical. Prioritization of chemicals in commerce against some of the profiles appears feasible, but there are considerable uncertainties and scientific challenges that must be addressed. Most challenging is prioritizing chemicals for their potential to have a currently unknown effect on a vital Earth system process. We conclude that the most effective strategy currently available to identify chemicals that are planetary boundary threats is prioritization against profiles defined in terms of environmental exposure combined with monitoring and study of the biogeochemical processes that underlie vital Earth system processes to identify currently unknown disruptive effects.

A Previously Unknown Pro-apoptotic Effect of STAT3 in CLL Cells of High Count CLL

A Previously Unknown Pro-apoptotic Effect of STAT3 in CLL Cells of High Count CLL

Distinct effects of methotrexate and etanercept on the B cell compartment in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

ObjectiveB cells have been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Current treatments include the disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs methotrexate (MTX) and tumor necrosis factor α inhibition with etanercept. This study was undertaken to determine how these drugs influence the B cell compartment in patients with JIA.MethodsB cell subpopulations and follicular helper T (Tfh) cells in the peripheral blood of JIA patients were investigated by multicolor flow cytometry. Serum immunoglobulin and BAFF levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.ResultsThere was a significant decrease in transitional B cells and significantly lower serum immunoglobulin levels in patients receiving MTX than in untreated patients and those receiving etanercept. In contrast, etanercept treatment had no effect on most of the B cell subpopulations, but resulted in significantly lower BAFF levels and increased numbers of Tfh cells. Thus, our findings indicate an unexpected and previously unknown direct effect of low-dose MTX on B cells, whereas etanercept had a more indirect influence.ConclusionOur results contribute to a better understanding of the potency of MTX in autoantibody-mediated autoimmune disease and present a possible mechanism of prevention of the development of drug-induced antibodies to biologic agents. The finding that MTX and etanercept affect the B cell compartment differently supports the notion that combination therapy with etanercept and MTX is more effective than monotherapy.

Randomized, controlled pilot trial of bupropion for pregnant smokers: challenges and future directions.

The aim of the study is to conduct an initial pilot trial evaluating the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of bupropion for smoking cessation in pregnancy. A randomized, double-blind, parallel-group pilot study of bupropion versus placebo with 50 pregnant smokers was planned. Eligibility criteria were restrictive (e.g., 14-26 weeks' gestation; no psychiatric conditions or medications) due to the unknown safety, tolerability, and side effect profile of bupropion in pregnancy. Bayesian analyses were planned to provide probability of benefit. Significant challenges were encountered with regard to trial feasibility. Of 820 women screened, 112 were current smokers, but only 11 women were eligible and consented to participate in the study. Excluded women most often had a psychiatric disorder (23%); were outside the gestational range (14%); or declined to participate (11%). This initial attempt to evaluate bupropion for smoking cessation during pregnancy will inform future trial methodology. Because of the unknown safety profile, conservative eligibility criteria were used and resulted in a large portion of this high-risk, low-income smoker population being excluded from the trial, raising questions regarding broad applicability, and highlighting the need to balance patient safety and trial feasibility. Large multisite studies will likely be needed to conduct definitive pharmacotherapy studies.