Washout Effect Research Articles

Large-scale magnetic fields can explain the baryon asymmetry of the Universe

Helical hypermagnetic fields in the primordial Universe can produce the observed amount of baryon asymmetry through the chiral anomaly without any ingredients beyond the standard model of particle physics. While they generate no $B-L$ asymmetry, the generated baryon asymmetry survives the spharelon washout effect, because the generating process remains active until the electroweak phase transition. Solving the Boltzmann equation numerically and finding an attractor solution, we show that the baryon asymmetry of our Universe can be explained, if the present large-scale magnetic fields indicated by the blazar observations have a negative helicity and existed in the early Universe before the electroweak phase transition. We also derive the upper bound on the strength of the helical magnetic field, which is tighter than the cosmic microwave background constraint, to avoid the overproduction of baryon asymmetry.

Clearance of Stone Fragments and Stone Dust by Continuous Flow Hydrodynamics in Percutaneous Renal Surgery: AnIn VitroStudy

To investigate the capacity of stone clearance in common percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) systems achieved solely by hydrodynamic effects in an in vitro setting. A watertight cylindrical cast with a caliceal void served as an in vitro model. Various instruments for percutaneous renal surgery working with both continuous flow (fCF) and open Rutner sidearm (fCO) were tested. The model was loaded with standardized artificial stone material (2 mm in diameter) to examine stone removal by the vacuum cleaner effect and with sand (0.1-0.5 mm in diameter) to measure the washout effect caused by irrigation backflow. The association between washout of gravel and irrigation pressure was analyzed using ANOVA. Regression analysis was performed to assess the influence of the instruments' hydrodynamic characteristics-effective cross section of the outflow and irrigation flow volume. Provoking the vacuum cleaner effect removal of stones was only effective in fCF but not in fCO instruments. Depending on irrigation pressure, the volumetric flow rate and effective cross section of the outflow clearance of sand could be observed in various medium- and large-sized fCF and fCO instruments, whereas in small-sized systems, clearance effects were negligible. Regression analysis showed clearance of stone dust strongly associated with an instrument's volumetric flow rate. This in vitro study demonstrated that the application of medium- and large-sized fCF PCNL systems removes both "insignificant" stones and dust solely by hydrodynamic effects. Further studies have to show if these effects also occur in the in vivo situation.

Improving Shot Sleeve Life Through Selected Surface Heat Treatment of H13 Steel

A common problem seen in the die-casting aluminum automotive industry is the dissolution of the steel diecasting shot sleeve that holds molten aluminum prior to it being shot into the mold. Dissolution shortens the life of the shot sleeve by changing the geometry of the sleeve due to the washout effect. A solution is needed to retard the dissolution of the steel shot sleeves. The application of non-reactive surface treatments to the sleeve surface is thought to prevent dissolution. This experiment looked at two different methods of coating application: diffusion and layered coatings.

The washout effect during laundry on benzothiazole, benzotriazole, quinoline, and their derivatives in clothing textiles.

In two previous papers, the authors have shown that benzothiazole, benzotriazole, quinoline, and several of their derivatives are widespread in clothing textile articles. A number of these compounds exhibit allergenic and irritating properties and, due to their octanol-water partition coefficient, are prone to be absorbed by the skin. Moreover, they are slightly soluble in water, which could make washing of clothes a route of emission into the environment. In the present study, the washout effect of benzothiazole, benzotriazole, quinoline, and some of their derivatives has been investigated. Twenty-seven textile samples were analyzed before, as well as after five and ten times of washing. The most abundant analyte was found to be benzothiazole, which was detected in 85 % of the samples with an average concentration of 0.53 μg/g (median 0.44 μg/g), followed by quinoline, detected in 81 % of the samples with an average concentration of 2.42 μg/g (median 0.21 μg/g). The average decrease in concentration for benzothiazoles was 50 % after ten times washing, while it was around 20 % for quinolines. The average emission to household wastewater of benzothiazoles and quinolines during one washing (5 kg of clothes made from polyester materials) was calculated to 0.5 and 0.24 g, respectively. These results strongly indicate that laundering of clothing textiles can be an important source of release of these compounds to household wastewater and in the end to aquatic environments. It also demonstrates a potential source of human exposure to these chemicals since considerable amounts of the compounds remain in the clothes even after ten times of washing.

Effects of body region and time on hair cortisol concentrations in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

Hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) are increasingly recognized as an integrated measure of the systemic cortisol secretion. Yet, we still know very little about confounding effects on HCC in animals. The present study therefore used hair from semi-wild and zoo living chimpanzees to investigate (1) intra-individual variability of HCC (body-region effect), and (2) the stability of HCC along the hair shaft (traditionally called the washout effect). Our results indicate that absolute HCC varied substantially between certain body regions, but a factor analysis revealed that these HCC differences were mainly attributable to one common source of variance. Thus, hair from all body regions provides similar biological signals and can be mixed, albeit at the cost of a lower signal-to-noise ratio. With regard to potential underlying mechanisms, we studied skin blood flow, as observed through thermal images from one chimpanzee. We found the general HCC pattern was reflected in differences in surface body temperature observed in this individual in three out of four body regions. In a separate set of samples, we found first evidence to suggest that the systematic cortisol decrease along the hair shaft, as observed in humans, is also present in chimpanzee hair. The effect was more pronounced in semi-wild than in zoo chimpanzees presumably due to more exposure to ambient weather conditions.

The impact of occupational socialization on physical education pre-service teachers’ beliefs about four important curricular outcomes

Most national Physical Education (PE) curriculums worldwide are based on a variety of outcome goals. The most important are physical activity and fitness, self-actualization, motor skill development and social development. Capturing PE Teacher Education pre-service teachers’ beliefs toward these outcomes may offer a useful insight into the process of identifying and understanding prospective teachers’ decisions and actions. The aim of the current study was to compare PE pre-service teachers’ beliefs regarding four important outcome goals, according to year in university, athletic background and occupational orientation. A total of 483 undergraduate pre-service teachers from a Greek faculty of PE completed a previously validated four factor instrument. Significant differences were observed in the four outcome goals beliefs between pre-service teachers in different years of studies and between teaching and coaching oriented pre-service teachers. No differences were found between pre-service teachers with different athletic backgrounds. Findings suggested that sport participation per se did not affect outcome beliefs toward a specific direction and all pre-service teachers rated higher the physical activity and fitness goal. Participants with a teaching orientation rated higher three of the four outcome goals than their coaching oriented counterparts. Furthermore, third year field-based experiences had a positive impact on pre-service teachers’ beliefs, while the fourth year of studies and the coaching specializations contributed to a beliefs ‘washout effect’. Recommendations arise from previous and present findings regarding the faculty's undergraduate programme and we propose that future studies build on this research by continuing to examine PE students’ and teachers’ beliefs more thoroughly.

The effects of lung recruitment maneuvers on exhaled breath condensate pH

Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) pH serves as a surrogate marker of airway lining fluid (ALF) pH and can be used to evaluate airway acidification (AA). AA is known to be present in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and can be evaluated via continuous EBC pH measurement during mechanical ventilation. Lung recruitment maneuvers (LRMs) are utilized in the treatment of ARDS, however, their impact on EBC pH has never been explored. Here we described the acute effects of two commonly used LRMs on EBC pH. In a prospective, non-randomized, serial exposure study, 10 intubated pediatric subjects with acute respiratory distress syndrome sequentially underwent: a period of baseline ventilation, sustained inflation (SI) maneuver of 40 cm H2O for 40 s, open lung ventilation, staircase recruitment strategy (SRS) (which involves a systematic ramping of plateau pressures in 5 cm H2O increments, starting at 30 cm H2O), and PEEP titration. Maximum lung recruitment during the SRS is defined as a PaO2 + PaCO2 of >400 mmHg. Following lung recruitment, PEEP titration was conducted from 20 cm H2O in 2 cm H2O decrements until a PaO2 + PaCO2 was <380 and then increased by 2 cm H2O. EBC pH, arterial blood gases, lung mechanics, hemodynamics, and function residual capacity were obtained following each phase of the LRM and observational period. Seven out of 10 patients were able to reach maximum lung recruitment. Baseline EBC pH (6.38 ± 0.37) did not correlate with disease severity defined by PaO2/FiO2 ratio or oxygenation index (OI). Average EBC pH differed between phases and decreased after LRM (p = 0.001). EBC pH is affected by LRMs. EBC acidification following LRMs may represent a washout effect of opening acidic lung units and ventilating them or acute AA resulting from LRM.

An Application of a Physical Vegetation Model to Estimate Climate Change Impacts on Rice Leaf Wetness

AbstractA physical vegetation model [the Two-Layer Model (2LM)] was applied to estimate the climate change impacts on rice leaf wetness (LW) as a potential indicator of rice blast occurrence. Japan was used as an example. Dynamically downscaled data at 20-km-mesh resolution from three global climate models (CCSM4, MIROC5, and MRI-CGCM3) were utilized for present (1981–2000) and future (2081–2100) climates under the representative concentration pathway 4.5 scenario. To evaluate the performance of the 2LM, the LW and other meteorological variables were observed for 108 days during the summer of 2013 at three sites on the Pacific Ocean side of Japan. The derived correct estimation rate was 77.4%, which is similar to that observed in previous studies. Using the downscaled dataset, the changes in several precipitation indices were calculated. The regionally averaged ensemble mean precipitation increased by 6%, although large intermodel differences were found. By defining a wet day as any day in which the daily precipitation was ≥ 1 mm day−1, it was found that the precipitation frequency decreased by 6% and the precipitation intensity increased by 11% for the entire area. The leaf surface environment was estimated to be dry; leaf wetness, wet frequency, and wet times all decreased. It was found that a decrease in water trap opportunities due to reduced precipitation frequency was the primary contributor to the LW decrease. For blast fungus, an increased precipitation intensity was expected to enhance the washout effect on the leaf surface. In the present case, the infection risk was estimated to decrease for Japan.

Clinical trials supported by the Tinnitus Research Consortium: Lessons learned, the Southern Illinois University experience

The Tinnitus Research Consortium funded three clinical trials investigating treatments for chronic bothersome tinnitus at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. The trials were designed to measure the subjective changes in tinnitus distress using standardized questionnaires and objective changes in tinnitus loudness using psychophysical matching procedures. The results of the first two trials have been published and are summarized here. The first trial investigated the effect of gabapentin on the loudness and annoyance of tinnitus in adults with chronic bothersome tinnitus with and without a history of acoustic trauma. A small but significant number of subjects reported decreased tinnitus annoyance that corresponded with a decrease in objective measures of tinnitus loudness during active drug treatment with a washout effect during placebo treatment. The second trial compared the effect of tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) on adults with normal to near-normal hearing and chronic bothersome tinnitus to treatment with general counseling without acoustic enrichment. Significant improvements in tinnitus severity, but not in objective psychometric measures of tinnitus loudness, occurred in both treatment groups, however a greater effect was observed in the TRT group compared with the control group. The third trial is nearing completion and investigates the long-term results of tinnitus retraining therapy on chronic bothersome tinnitus in adults with hearing loss. Significant lessons and observations on conducting tinnitus clinical trials were learned from these three trials. The challenges of recruiting and retaining study participants is discussed. More importantly, the reliability and stability of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) over long intervals is presented. The implications of this variability for the design and interpretation of future tinnitus studies is discussed.This article is part of a Special Issue entitled <Tinnitus>.

Is multidimensional treatment foster care (MTFC) more effective than treatment as usual in a three-year follow-up? Results from MTFC in a Swedish setting

This study examines three-year post-baseline outcomes for a randomized controlled trial of Swedish antisocial youths who received either multidimensional treatment foster care (MTFC) or treatment as usual (TAU). Several studies in our literature review indicated that MTFC intervention is preferred to the alternative (TAU) in the USA during follow-up. Two studies (one conducted in the UK and one in Sweden) have shown indications of a washout effect between the intervention alternatives during follow-up. However, this study showed few but positive significant outcomes at follow-up for the MTFC programme in comparison to TAU. Juveniles who participated in MTFC spent fewer days in locked settings and had committed fewer violent crimes, according to the social case records. Two key features of the MTFC programme certainly merit use in general social service—namely, reducing exposure to deviant peers and increasing school participation.

Back to the Future – Has Medical Treatment of Glaucoma Improved?

These proceedings are based on a symposium that were presented at the European Society of Ophthalmology 2015 Congress in Vienna, Austria on 8 June 2015. The symposium was arranged to bring together leaders in ophthalmology to explore advances in the medical treatment of glaucoma. Many patients with glaucoma require combination therapy. Fixed-dose combinations represent a significant improvement in the medical treatment of glaucoma, being advantageous in terms of their association with good compliance and elimination of the wash-out effect. While preservatives are a historic necessity, their use is associated with increased ocular surface disease and higher indirect cost. The novel preservative-free tafluprost/timolol fixed-dose combination provides mean diurnal intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering of up to 40 % from baseline and demonstrates similar efficacy with other prostaglandin/timolol fixed-dose combinations, is superior to its individual components and non-inferior to its individual components given concomitantly. The tafluprost/timolol fixed-dose combination is well-tolerated with low prevalence of hyperaemia. It is generally accepted that function loss follows structural damage and that normal-pressure glaucoma (NPG) and high-pressure glaucoma (HPG) represent that same disease, separated by an arbitrary pressure level. However, functional damage (pattern electroretinogram) is detectable prior to structural damage and NPG patients show less retinal nerve fibre layer and visual field loss compared with the same optic nerve head morphology HPG patients. NPG patients seem to lose connective tissue first whereas, in HPG, patients seem to lose retinal nerve fibres first. Thus, whether NPG and HPG are the same disease is an open question.

CPAP washout prior to reevaluation polysomnography: a sleep surgeon’s perspective

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by repetitive upper airway collapse during sleep, leading to decreased oxygen blood levels and arousal from sleep. The gold standard treatment option for moderate to severe OSA is considered continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). In case primary treatment with CPAP fails, a reevaluation of disease severity [by means of the apnea/hypopnea-index (AHI)] can be required. A subset of patients that prefer a CPAP alternative is still using CPAP until the reevaluation polysomnography (PSG), and a so-called washout effect is not ruled out. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the evidence on the existence and duration of this washout effect and its clinical relevance for current practice. To identify papers for this review, an extensive literature search was run electronically through MEDLINE and EMBASE databases. An overview of currently available literature on this washout effect and the findings of 13 studies on this topic are discussed. There is some evidence that CPAP washout exists in patients with a stable BMI throughout the follow-up period. However, the intensity and duration of this effect remains unclear. Within the limitations of the present study, it seems reasonable to maintain a washout period of 1week, in case alternative treatments options are considered and especially when a baseline PSG (and subsequent repeat PSG after treatment) is needed in case of clinical trials.

Temporary sacral nerve stimulation in patients with fecal incontinence owing to rectal hyposensitivity: A prospective, double-blind study

Rectal hyposensitivity (RH) can lead to fecal incontinence (FI). Sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) is known to modulate rectal sensation, but no data about affecting FI owing to RH are available. This prospective study aimed to assess the therapeutic effect of temporary SNS on patients with FI owing to RH. Twenty-four patients with FI owing to RH had temporary SNS (4 weeks on followed by 1 week off). Before SNS (baseline), after 4 weeks of stimulation (on), and at the end of the off week we recorded first constant sensation (FCS), defecatory desire volume (DDV), maximum tolerated volume (MTV), anal pressures, bowel diaries, Wexner incontinence score, and FI quality-of-life score (FIQOL). There were significant decreases in DDV and MTV during the on-treatment period (P < .0001); this decrease was not significant during the off period. FCS was not significantly affected by SNS. FI episodes significantly improved during the on period in 22 patients (from 5.3 to 1.1 per week; P < .0001) and mean Wexner incontinence score improved from 13.3 to 1.7 (P < .0001). Anal pressures (resting and squeeze) significantly increased during the on period but not during the off period. There was significant improvement in FIQOL during the on period only. SNS can be effective in restoring continence and improving QOL in patients with FI owing to RH. Improved continence might be related to improvement of rectal sensation and/or increased anal pressure. The washout effect of SNS on the continence score, DDV, and MTV after cessation of stimulation needs to be explained.

Understanding the Realities of Teaching: A Seminar Series Focused on Induction

The role of school teachers is becoming increasingly complex. This complexity may be even more pronounced for physical education teachers, who must often cope with additional challenges stemming from marginalization, isolation, and teacher/coach role conflict. Physical education teachers must also manage relationships with colleagues, administrators, parents, and students who may have varying perceptions of and expectations for physical education. As a result, physical education teacher education programs should include focused coursework to prepare preservice teachers for the realities of school life and their first teaching position. Doing so may reduce the reality shock and the washout effect experienced by some beginning physical education teachers by helping to bridge the transition from student to teacher. Toward this end, this article presents an example of a teacher education seminar series that includes strategies focused on inducting preservice teachers by teaching them about the realities of working in schools.

0232. Evaluation of HFNC'S wash out effect; a comparison of open- and closed-mouth models

Although clinical studies of the high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) and its effect on positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) have been performed, the mechanism of the washout effect and its relation with HFNC flow have not been well evaluated. Therefore, we made a respiratory model that can exhale with controllable end-tidal PCO2 (PETCO2) to evaluate the washout effect of HFNC.Objective. To evaluate the quantitative results of HFNC's washout effect comparing open- and closed-mouth models.

Compartmental analysis of washout effect in rat brain: in-beam OpenPET measurement using a 11C beam

In-beam positron emission tomography (PET) is expected to enable visualization of a dose verification using positron emitters (β+ decay). For accurate dose verification, correction of the washout of the positron emitters should be made. In addition, the quantitative washout rate has a potential usefulness as a diagnostic index, but modeling for this has not been studied yet. In this paper, therefore, we applied compartment analyses to in-beam PET data acquired by our small OpenPET prototype, which has a physically opened field-of-view (FOV) between two detector rings. A rat brain was located at the FOV and was irradiated by a 11C beam. Time activity curves of the irradiated field were measured immediately after the irradiations, and the washout rate was obtained based on two models: the two-washout model (medium decay, k2m; slow decay, k2s) developed in a study of rabbit irradiation; and the two-compartment model used in nuclear medicine, where efflux from tissue to blood (k2), influx (k3) and efflux (k4) from the first to second compartments in tissue were evaluated. The observed k2m and k2s were 0.34 and 0.005 min−1, respectively, which was consistent with the rabbit study. Also k2m was close to the washout rate in cerebral blood flow (CBF) measurements by dynamic PET with 15O-water, while, k2, k3, and k4 were 0.16, 0.15 and 0.007 min−1. Our present work suggested the dynamics of 11C might be relevant to CBF or permeability of a molecule containing 11C atoms might be regulated by a transporter because the k2 was relatively low compared with a simple diffusion tracer.

New indices for wet scavenging of air pollutants (O3, CO, NO2, SO2, and PM10) by summertime rain

The washout effect of summertime rain on surface air pollutants (O3, CO, NO2, SO2, and PM10) has been investigated over South Korea during 2002–2012 using routinely available air-monitored and meteorological data. Three new washout indices for PM10, SO2, NO2, and CO are developed to express the effect of precipitation scavenging on these pollutants. All of these pollutants show statistically significant negative correlations between their concentrations and rain intensity due to washout or convection. The washout effect is estimated for precipitation episodes classified by rain intensity (one set included all episodes and another included a subset of moderate intensity episodes that exclude Changma and typhoons), based on the log-transformed hourly data. The most sensitive air pollutant to the rain onset among these five air pollutants is PM10. The relative effect of the rainfall washout on the air pollutant concentrations is estimated to be: PM10 > SO2 > NO2 > CO > O3, indicating that PM10 is most effectively scavenged by rainfall. The analysis suggests that the O3 concentrations may increase due to vertical mixing leading to its downward transport from the lower stratosphere/upper troposphere. The concentrations of CO are reduced, probably due to both the washout and convection. The concentrations of NO2 are affected by the opposing influences of lightning-generation and washout and this are discussed as well.

Understanding the Realities of School Life: Recommendations for the Preparation of Physical Education Teachers

While quality physical education teacher education requires recruits to be trained in the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary for effective teaching, research stemming from socialization theory and role theory indicates that this may not be adequate. Pre-service teachers also need to be made aware of organizational challenges they will face when transitioning into their first teaching position. These challenges stem from the ways in which recruits are socialized into physical education, and are related to the complex, sociopolitical structure of schooling. The purpose of this article is to provide a review of the organizational challenges faced by beginning physical education teachers and to present recommendations for how teacher training programs can better prepare pre-service teachers to meet these challenges. The discussion includes both general and specific strategies that can be implemented to provide pre-service teachers with the knowledge and skills necessary to enhance their ability to navigate life in the sociopolitical contexts of schools. Preparing students for the realities of school life should correspond with a decrease in reality shock and the washout effect.

Gender differences in sagittal standing alignment before pubertal peak growth: the importance of subclassification and implications for spinopelvic loading

The aim of this study was to analyze gender differences in sagittal standing alignment at pre-peak height velocity age thereby applying a scientifically sound and practically oriented classification scheme for overall standing balance. The study population consisted of healthy boys (n=639) and girls (n=557) before pubertal peak growth. During subjects' habitual standing, sagittal plane measures of the spine, pelvis and lower limbs were collected using a clinical screening protocol. With each subject classified as one of three postural types (neutral, sway-back, or leaning-forward), differences in sagittal plane alignment were analyzed between sexes. The results revealed clear differences between genders in each of the postural types. Within the neutral and sway-back postural subgroups, boys presented more forward inclination of the trunk, more thoracic kyphosis and more pelvis backtilt compared with girls. Within the leaning-forward category, girls displayed more forward trunk lean, less thoracic kyphosis and more pelvic anteversion. A state of lumbar segmental hyperextension appeared to exist in female leaning-forward subjects. Our results reveal for the first time that sagittal standing alignment is different between prepubescent boys and girls when subjects are appropriately subclassified, and conversely represent a 'wash-out effect' when pooled. When the classification system is applied, gender-specificity in gravity line position is suggested, implying gender-related differences in lever arms and thus load. Present findings may add to our understanding of gender-specific biomechanical challenges posed by habitual posture, and may shed new light on sagittal standing alignment as a possible contributory factor in developmental spinal-pelvic disorders.

Characteristics of novel hair-based biomarker for the activity assessment of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase

BackgroundThe ratio of hair cortisol to cortisone (Rhcc) would be a potential biomarker to assess long-term activity of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD). Hair cortisol concentration in human varied with positions of hair segments in hair shaft, head locations of hair sampling and treatment methods of hair samples. However, currently unknown is whether these factors influence the determination of Rhcc value. MethodsHair strands longer than 4cm in the posterior vertex collected from cohort A were used for segment analysis of Rhcc and the 1-cm hair segments proximal to the scalp in the left section, right section and vertex from cohort B for location analysis and in the posterior vertex from cohort C for the effect of method on Rhcc. Hair cortisol and cortisone concentrations were measured with high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. ResultsRhcc showed no significant differences among different head locations and successive hair segments, but depended on the incubation duration in methanol and the milling step of hair samples. ConclusionsRhcc was not affected by external environmental factors which gave rise to wash-out effect of hair cortisol and cortisone. Rhcc would be a new underlying biomarker to reliably reflect long-term activity of 11β-HSD.