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1
Al-Shangiti, Ali M., Claire E. Naylor, Sean P. Nair, David C. Briggs, Brian Henderson, and Benjamin M. Chain. "Structural Relationships and Cellular Tropism of Staphylococcal Superantigen-Like Proteins." Infection and Immunity 72, no. 7 (2004): 4261–70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/iai.72.7.4261-4270.2004.
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ABSTRACT The staphylococcal superantigen-like proteins (SSLs) are a family of polymorphic paralogs encoded in the Staphylococcus aureus genome whose function is unknown. The crystal structure of SSL7 was determined and compared to that of SSL5 and that of a classical superantigen, streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin. Although the overall architecture of the superantigen family is retained in both SSL7 and SSL5, there are significant differences in the structures which suggest that the characteristic major histocompatibility complex binding site of superantigens has been lost. To complement these data, the abilities of SSL7 and a closely related paralog, SSL9, to interact with cells of the immune system were investigated. In populations of human white blood cells, both SSLs interacted selectively with monocytes via specific saturable but separate binding sites, which led to rapid uptake of the SSLs. In addition, SSLs were rapidly taken up by dendritic cells, but not by macrophages, into the same endosomal compartment as dextran. The ability of these secreted proteins to target antigen-presenting cells may enhance a misplaced antibody response against the proteins, which may facilitate bacterial colonization rather than contribute to host protection. Like classical superantigens, therefore, SSLs may distract the host's immune system, but they may do so via entirely different molecular mechanisms.
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Koymans, Kirsten J., Oliver Goldmann, Christofer A. Q. Karlsson, et al. "The TLR2 Antagonist Staphylococcal Superantigen-Like Protein 3 Acts as a Virulence Factor to Promote Bacterial Pathogenicity in vivo." Journal of Innate Immunity 9, no. 6 (2017): 561–73. http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000479100.
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Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling is important in the initiation of immune responses and subsequent instigation of adaptive immunity. TLR2 recognizes bacterial lipoproteins and plays a central role in the host defense against bacterial infections, including those caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Many studies have demonstrated the importance of TLR2 in murine S. aureus infection. S. aureus evades TLR2 activation by secreting two proteins, staphylococcal superantigen-like protein 3 (SSL3) and 4 (SSL4). In this study, we demonstrate that antibodies against SSL3 and SSL4 are found in healthy individuals, indicating that humans are exposed to these proteins during S. aureus colonization or infection. To investigate the TLR2-antagonistic properties of SSL3 and SSL4, we compared the infection with wild-type and SSL3/4 knockout S. aureus strains in an intravenous murine infection model. Direct evaluation of the contribution of SSL3/4 to infection pathogenesis was hindered by the fact that the SSLs were not expressed in the murine system. To circumvent this limitation, an SSL3-overproducing strain (pLukM-SSL3) was generated, resulting in constitutive expression of SSL3. pLukM-SSL3 exhibited increased virulence compared to the parental strain in a murine model that was found to be TLR2 dependent. Altogether, these data indicate that SSL3 contributes to S. aureus virulence in vivo.
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Yokoyama, Ryosuke, Saotomo Itoh, Go Kamoshida, et al. "Staphylococcal Superantigen-Like Protein 3 Binds to the Toll-Like Receptor 2 Extracellular Domain and Inhibits Cytokine Production Induced by Staphylococcus aureus, Cell Wall Component, or Lipopeptides in Murine Macrophages." Infection and Immunity 80, no. 8 (2012): 2816–25. http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/iai.00399-12.
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ABSTRACTStaphylococcal superantigen-like proteins (SSLs) are a family of exoproteins sharing structural similarity with superantigens, but no superantigenic activity. Corresponding host target proteins or receptors against a portion of SSLs in the family have been identified. In this study, we show that SSL3 specifically binds to Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and inhibits the stimulation of macrophages by TLR2 ligands. An approximately 100-kDa protein was recovered by using recombinant His-tagged SSL3-conjugated Sepharose from the lysate of porcine spleen, and the protein was identified as porcine TLR2 by peptide mass fingerprinting analysis. The SSL3-conjugated Sepharose recovered human and mouse TLR2 but not TLR4 from human neutrophils and mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells, as well as a recombinant TLR2 extracellular domain chimera protein. The production levels of interleukin 12 (IL-12) from mouse macrophages treated with heat-killedStaphylococcus aureusand of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) from RAW 264.7 cells induced by peptidoglycan or lipopeptide TLR2 ligands were strongly suppressed in the presence of SSL3. The mutation of consensus sialic acid-containing glycan-binding residues in SSL3 did not abrogate the binding ability to TLR2 or inhibitory activity on TLR2, indicating that the interaction of SSL3 with TLR2 was independent of the sialic acid-containing glycan-binding residues. These findings demonstrate that SSL3 is able to bind the extracellular domain of TLR2 and interfere with TLR2 function. The present study provides a novel mechanism of SSL3 in immune evasion ofS. aureusvia interfering with its recognition by innate immune cells.
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Hermans, Stefan J., Heather M. Baker, Richard P. Sequeira, Ries J. Langley, Edward N. Baker, and John D. Fraser. "Structural and Functional Properties of Staphylococcal Superantigen-Like Protein 4." Infection and Immunity 80, no. 11 (2012): 4004–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/iai.00764-12.
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ABSTRACTStaphylococcus aureusis a prevalent and significant human pathogen. Among the repertoire of virulence factors produced by this bacterium are the 14 staphylococcal superantigen-like (SSL) proteins. SSL protein 4 (SSL4) is one member of this family and contains a highly conserved carbohydrate binding site also found in SSL2, SSL3, SSL5, SSL6, and SSL11. Recombinant SSL4t, comprising amino acids 109 to 309 of Newman strain SSL4 (SSL4-Newman), has been shown to bind and be internalized by human granulocytes and macrophages in a sialic-acid (Sia)-dependent manner. SSL4tcan compete with itself for cell binding, indicating that binding is target specific. A 2.5-Å-resolution crystal structure of SSL4tcomplexed with sialyl Lewis X (sLex) [sLex-Neu5Acα2-3Galβ1-4(Fucα1-3)GlcNAc] revealed a similar binding site to SSL5 and SSL11. These data, along with data on SSL4tbinding to a glycan array and biosensor analysis of sLexand sialyllactosamine (sLacNac) binding are compared with those for SSL11. Although these proteins show great similarity in their carbohydrate binding sites, with a root mean square (RMS) difference between main chain atom positions of only 0.34 Å, these proteins differ in detail in their affinity for sLexand sLacNac, as well as their glycan preference. Together with cell binding data, this shows howS. aureusproduces multiple related proteins that target myeloid cells through specific sialyllactosamine-containing glycoproteins.
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Diogoul, Ndague, Patrice Brehmer, Yannick Perrot, et al. "Fine-scale vertical structure of sound-scattering layers over an east border upwelling system and its relationship to pelagic habitat characteristics." Ocean Science 16, no. 1 (2020): 65–81. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/os-16-65-2020.
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Abstract. Understanding the relationship between sound-scattering layers (SSLs) and pelagic habitat characteristics is a substantial step to apprehend ecosystem dynamics. SSLs are detected on echo sounders representing aggregated marine pelagic organisms. In this study, SSL characteristics of zooplankton and micronekton were identified during an upwelling event in two contrasting areas of the Senegalese continental shelf. Here a cold upwelling-influenced inshore area was sharply separated by a strong thermal boundary from a deeper, warmer, stratified offshore area. Mean SSL thickness and SSL vertical depth increased with the shelf depth. The thickest and deepest SSLs were observed in the offshore part of the shelf. Hence, zooplankton and micronekton seem to occur more frequently in stratified water conditions rather than in fresh upwelled water. Diel vertical and horizontal migrations of SSLs were observed in the study area. Diel period and physicochemical water characteristics influenced SSL depth and SSL thickness. Although chlorophyll-a concentration insignificantly affected SSL characteristics, the peak of chlorophyll a was always located above or in the middle of the SSLs, regularly matching with the peak of SSL biomass. Such observations indicate trophic relationships, suggesting SSLs to be mainly composed of phytoplanktivorous zooplankton and micronekton. Despite local hypoxia, below 30 m depth, distribution patterns of SSLs indicate no vertical migration boundary. The results increase the understanding of the spatial organization of mid-trophic species and migration patterns of zooplankton and micronekton, and they will also improve dispersal models for organisms in upwelling regions.
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Zhou, You Ya, Hui Yan Zhou, Yan Dong Tang, et al. "Development of Soil Screening Levels for Contaminated Sites Assessment in Beijing." Applied Mechanics and Materials 209-211 (October 2012): 1100–1105. http://dx.doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.209-211.1100.
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The Risk Based Corrective Action (RBCA) Tool Kit for Chemical Releases was used to develop Soil Screening Levels (SSLs) for contaminated sites assessment in Beijing. A total 88 contaminants, including inorganic compounds, volatile organic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, pesticides, polybrominated biphenyls and others, were identified as the priority compounds of concern, and a range of exposure parameters, toxicological data and site factors based on the environmental monitoring data from several contaminated sites in Beijing, were used as model inputs to derive SSLs. The proposed SSLs were evaluated and validated by comparing with corresponding values in some other countries/regions. The present study has an important guiding significance for the development of risk-based SSLs in other provinces/cities of China.
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Vishnu Prasanth, P., S. Sridharan, Y. Bhavani Kumar, and D. Narayana Rao. "Lidar observations of sporadic Na layers over Gadanki (13.5° N, 79.2° E)." Annales Geophysicae 25, no. 8 (2007): 1759–66. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/angeo-25-1759-2007.
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Abstract. We studied the characteristics of sporadic sodium layers (SSLs) observed with the sodium (Na) resonance scattering lidar at Gadanki (13.5° N, 79.2° E). The SSLs were observed on a total of 63 occasions during 464 h of Na lidar observations from January 2005 to February 2006. The observations showed that one SSL event occurred, on average, every 7 h. The most prominent sporadic layer, which formed on 12 February 2005, exhibited a peak density of 60 722 Na atoms/cm³ around 92 km and it was nearly twice the peak density reported from elsewhere using ground-based observations. In general, the SSLs exhibited the following characteristics: (1) they developed at heights between 88 and 98 km with an average height around 94 km; (2) maximum density occurred during the early morning hours between 02:00 and 05:00 IST; (3) the ratio of the maximum peak Na density to the average density was normally around 3 to 5 and it exceeded even 10 in some cases; (4) the events lasted from a few minutes to several hours. The formation period of the SSLs was longer compared to the decay period of the SSLs. Most of the SSL events showed downward motions.
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Macarie, Melania, Simona Bataga, Simona Mocan, et al. "Correlation of Metabolic Risk Factors with Sessile Serrated Lesions." Journal of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases 29, no. 2 (2020): 175–79. http://dx.doi.org/10.15403/jgld-507.
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Background and Aims: The importance of sessile serrated lesions (SSLs) in the pathogenesis of colorectal carcinoma has been recently established. These are supposed to cause the so-called “interval cancer”, having a rapidly progressive growth and being difficult to detect and to obtain an endoscopic complete resection. We aimed to establish the most important metabolic risk factors for sessile serrated lesions.
 Methods: We performed a retrospective case-control study, on a series of 2918 consecutive patients who underwent colonoscopy in Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, County Clinical Emergency Hospital, Târgu-Mureș, Romania between 1 st of January 2015-31 th of December 2017. In order to evaluate the metabolic risk factors for polyps’ development, enrolled participants were stratified in two groups, a study group, 33 patients with SSLs lesions, and a control group, 138 patients with adenomatous polyps, selected by systematic sampling for age and anatomical site. Independent variables investigated were: gender, smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, arterial hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperuricemia, nonalcoholic liver disease.
 Results: For SSLs the most common encountered localization was the right colon in 30.55% of cases. By comparative bivariate analysis between SSLs group and control group, it was observed that hypertension (p=0.03, OR 2.33, 95 %CI 1.03-5.24), obesity (p=0.03, OR 2.61, 95 %CI 1.08-6.30), hyperuricemia (p=0.04, OR 2.72, 95 %CI 1.28-7.55), high cholesterol (p=0.002, OR 3.42; 95 %CI 1.48-7.87), and high triglycerides level (p=0.0006, OR 5.75; 95 %CI 1.92-17.2) were statistically associated with SSLs development. By multivariate analysis hypertension and hypertriglyceridemia retained statistical significance.
 Conclusions: Our study showed that the highest prevalence of SSLs was in the right colon and hypertension and increased triglycerides levels were associated with the risk of SSLs development. These risk factors are easy to detect in clinical practice and may help identifying groups with high risk for colorectal cancer, where screening is recommended.
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Yang, S. L., R. Sandven, and L. Grande. "Steady-state lines of sand–silt mixtures." Canadian Geotechnical Journal 43, no. 11 (2006): 1213–19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/t06-069.
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The steady-state lines (SSLs) for sand–silt mixtures with various fines contents (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 30%, 50%, 70%, and 94%) were studied. It was indicated that the location of the SSL in the e–p′ space is different for each mixture, but the SSLs are parallel. In the e – ln p′ plot, the SSLs are similar for the mixtures with a fines content of less than the transitional fines content (TFC) when tested under drained and undrained conditions and the intergranular and interfine void ratios are used. The data diverge when the fines contents are equal to or greater than the TFC, even though the interfine void ratios are used. The results of the tests conducted under drained and undrained conditions produced a unique SSL in the p′–q space for each material. Different SSLs in the p′–q space were observed for the studied materials, and the friction angle at steady state varied in the range of 37.3°–42.2°. The study showed that the SSLs can be represented by one line in tests under drained conditions if the fines contents are less (0%–30%) than the TFC and the corrected intergranular void ratios are used. The lines can also be represented by one line for sand–silt mixtures with high fines contents (50%–94%) if the corrected interfine void ratios are used instead of void ratios. Key words: steady-state line, sand–silt mixtures, transitional fines content, drained and undrained triaxial tests.
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Li, Jie, Hiroaki Okamoto, Chunyue Yin, et al. "Proteomic characterization of primary diffuse large B-cell lymphomas in the central nervous system." Journal of Neurosurgery 109, no. 3 (2008): 536–46. http://dx.doi.org/10.3171/jns/2008/109/9/0536.
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Object The lack of primary lymphoid tissue within the central nervous system (CNS) confounds our understanding of the pathogenesis of primary CNS lymphomas (PCNSLs). Comparing the protein expression of PCNSLs and sporadic systemic lymphomas (SSLs) provides a useful strategy for identifying a molecular signature that characterizes disease-associated features and provides information regarding tumor initiation and progression. Methods Seven diffuse large B-cell PCNSLs were selected to undergo 2D gel electrophoresis, and profiled proteomes from these PCNSLs were compared with those from 7 diffuse large B-cell SSLs. Distinguishing proteins were sequenced using mass spectrometry. Results Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis identified an average of 706 proteins from each specimen. Computerized gel analysis and manual reconfirmation revealed a 96% similarity in the proteomes of PCNSLs and SSLs. Comparative analysis identified 9 proteins significantly overexpressed (p < 0.05) and 16 proteins downregulated in PCNSLs. The proteomic findings were further validated using Western blot and immunohistochemical staining. Conclusions The similarities in proteomic patterns between PCNSLs and SSLs suggest that these tumor types share structural similarities, acquired during differentiation. The ultimate fate of lymphomatous cells (CNS vs systemic) may be related to differentially expressed proteins, which function in homing and host processing. Elucidating the roles of these differentially expressed proteins will prove valuable in understanding the pathogenesis of PCNSL.
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Moser, H. O., B. D. F. Casse, E. P. Chew, et al. "Status of and materials research at SSLS." Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms 238, no. 1-4 (2005): 83–86. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2005.06.022.
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Zhou, Lihong, Yaqian Song, and Tong Zhou. "Underutilisation of self-service libraries in Chinese cities." Library Hi Tech 34, no. 3 (2016): 521–38. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/lht-05-2016-0054.
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Purpose Self-service libraries (SSLs) have been regarded as an effective approach to provide convenient book services to the enormously large populations of China’s cities. These SSLs are in fact automatic book service machines, which provide a combination of services, including reading card issuing, book lending and returning, and book reservations and collection. However, despite acclaimed success, SSL services are not well received by patrons and are underutilised. The purpose of this paper is to identify and understand the causes of the underutilisation of SSL services in Chinese cities. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted an inductive approach and a case study research design. The SSL services in Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei Province, were adopted as the case study, in which 20 public librarians, SSL workers and managers, and library patrons were approached and interviewed using semi-structured question scripts. The interview data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach. Findings The analysis pointed to 13 causes in three main themes: management problems, service limitations, and the implicit role of government. Further conceptualisation of the findings revealed that the underutilisation of SSL services has resulted from the absence of a patron-centric perspective and the negligence of patrons’ needs and requirements. Therefore, to increase the popularity and usage of SSLs, it is necessary to develop patron-centric management mechanisms through which patrons’ needs and requirements can be effectively understood and responded to. Originality/value This study aims to develop specific suggestions to improve the usage of SSLs. Furthermore, although this study focuses on SSL development in China, this research can provide useful suggestions and implications that can be shared across international borders.
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Tambunan, Tulus. "Long-term Development of Small-scale Industries in Relation to Economic Development: Looking for General Propositions." Pakistan Development Review 33, no. 2 (1994): 165–90. http://dx.doi.org/10.30541/v33i2pp.165-190.
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The growing attention, in literature on economic development, towards the role of Small-scale Industries (SSls) within the economy of the less developed countries (LDCs), is strongly associated with the recognised current economic and social problems of continuing imbalance in the labour market leading to high unemployment rates, the persistence of large intra- and inter-regional socio-economic inequalities; and the consolidation of extremely concentrated patterns of urbanisation, facing these countries. On the other hand, there is the notion stating that the importance of SSls decreases with the course of economic development. The available empirical evidence on this issue diverges significantly from the afore-mentioned notion. In the background of this contradictory evidence, the paper aimed to discuss this issue and arrive at some general conclusions which would help in deriving a pattern from the available studies and evidence on the issue under reference. The conclusion of the paper suggests that no matter how far a country has developed, but as long as domestic problems of high rates of unemployment, mass poverty or unequal distribution of income exist, SSls will continue to play an important role as a 'last resort' for the poor of the country.
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Dutta, Debabrata, Anirudha Dutta, Atanu Bhattacharjee, Amit Basak, and Amit Kumar Das. "Cloning, expression, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of staphylococcal superantigen-like protein 1 (SSL1)." Acta Crystallographica Section F Structural Biology Communications 70, no. 5 (2014): 600–603. http://dx.doi.org/10.1107/s2053230x14006967.
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Staphylococcus aureusproduces a family of exotoxins which are structural homologues of superantigens and thus are called staphylococcal superantigen-like proteins (SSLs). Amongst the 14 SSL genes,ssl1(SAOUHSC_00383) has been cloned in the pQE30 expression vector, overexpressed inEscherichia coliM15 (pREP4) cells and the protein purified to homogeneity. The protein was crystallized using 6% Tacsimate pH 6.0, 0.1 MMES pH 6.0, 25%(w/v) polyethylene glycol 3350, 100 mMNDSB 256 at 298 K by the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method. The crystals belonged to space groupP21, with unit-cell parametersa= 77.9,b= 70.5,c= 126.5 Å, β = 106.2°. X-ray diffraction data were collected and processed to a maximum resolution of 2.5 Å. The crystal contains six molecules in the asymmetric unit.
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Kibble, Natalie A. J., M. Mehdi Sohani, Neil Shirley, et al. "Phylogenetic analysis and functional characterisation of strictosidine synthase-like genes in Arabidopsis thaliana." Functional Plant Biology 36, no. 12 (2009): 1098. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/fp09104.
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Monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (MIA) are a diverse class of secondary metabolites important for plant protection and are drugs for treating human diseases. Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) is not known to produce MIAs, yet its genome has 15 genes with similarity to the periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don) strictosidine synthase (STR) gene. Phylogenetic analysis of strictosidine synthase-like (SSL) proteins reveals four well supported classes of SSLs in Arabidopsis. To determine if Arabidopsis produces active strictosidine synthase, Arabidopsis protein extracts were assayed for enzymatic activity and cDNAs were expressed in Escherichia coli. Arabidopsis protein extracts from leaves and hairy roots do not make strictosidine at levels comparable to C. roseus, but they metabolise one substrate, secologanin, a precursor of strictosidine in other plant species, and produce an ‘unknown’ compound proposed to be a dimer of secologanic acid. Recombinant Arabidopsis proteins expressed in E. coli were not active STRs. Quantitative PCR analysis was performed on class A Ssls and showed they are upregulated by salt, ultraviolet light and salicylic acid treatment. RNAi mutants of Arabidopsis with reduced expression of all four class A Ssls, suggest that class A SSL proteins can modify secologanin. Gene expression and metabolomics data suggests that class A Ssl genes may have a role in plant protection.
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Tan, Yi Yuan, Gary Sei Kiat Tay, Yu Jun Wong, et al. "Clinical Features and Predictors of Dysplasia in Proximal Sessile Serrated Lesions." Clinical Endoscopy 54, no. 4 (2021): 578–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.5946/ce.2020.198.
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Background/Aims: Proximal colorectal cancers (CRCs) account for up to half of CRCs. Sessile serrated lesions (SSLs) are precursors to CRC. Proximal location and presence of dysplasia in SSLs predict higher risks of progression to cancer. The prevalence of dysplasia in proximal SSLs (pSSLs) and clinical characteristics of dysplastic pSSLs are not well studied.Methods: Endoscopically resected colonic polyps at our center between January 2016 and December 2017 were screened for pSSLs. Data of patients with at least one pSSL were retrieved and clinicopathological features of pSSLs were analysed. pSSLs with and without dysplasia were compared for associations.Results: Ninety pSSLs were identified, 45 of which had dysplasia giving a prevalence of 50.0%. Older age (65.9 years vs. 60.1 years, p=0.034) was associated with the presence of dysplasia. Twelve pSSLs were 10 mm or larger. After adjusting for age, pSSLs ≥10 mm had an adjusted odds ratio of 5.98 (95% confidence interval, 1.21–29.6) of having dysplasia compared with smaller pSSLs.Conclusions: In our cohort of pSSLs, the prevalence of dysplasia is high at 50.0% and is associated with lesion size ≥10 mm. Endoscopic resection for all proximal serrated lesions should be en-bloc to facilitate accurate histopathological examination for dysplasia as its presence warrants shorter surveillance intervals.
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Itoh, Saotomo, Eri Hamada, Go Kamoshida, Kana Takeshita, Teruaki Oku, and Tsutomu Tsuji. "Staphylococcal Superantigen-Like Protein 5 Inhibits Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 from Human Neutrophils." Infection and Immunity 78, no. 7 (2010): 3298–305. http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/iai.00178-10.
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ABSTRACT Staphylococcal superantigen-like proteins (SSLs) constitute a family of exoproteins exhibiting structural similarities to superantigens and enterotoxins but no superantigenic activity. In this article, we present evidence that SSL5 specifically binds to matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and inhibits its enzymatic activity. When human neutrophil cell lysate was applied to recombinant His-tagged SSL5 conjugated to Sepharose, the bound fraction gave a major band of approximately 100 kDa in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This protein was identified as the proform of MMP-9 (proMMP-9) by peptide mass fingerprinting analysis. The recombinant SSL5-Sepharose also bound to proMMP-9 secreted by interleukin 8 (IL-8)-stimulated neutrophils and HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells. Surface plasmon resonance analysis revealed that recombinant SSL5 bound to proMMP-9 with rather high affinity (dissociation constant [K D] = 1.9 nM). Recombinant SSL5 was found to effectively inhibit MMP-9-catalyzed hydrolysis of gelatin and a synthetic fluorogenic peptide in a noncompetitive manner (K i = 0.097 nM), as assessed by zymography and the fluorescence quenching method. Finally, the transmigration of neutrophils across Matrigel basement membranes in response to N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) was suppressed by the presence of recombinant SSL5. We discuss possible roles that SSL5 may play in immune evasion of staphylococci by inhibiting MMP and interfering with leukocyte trafficking.
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MOSER, H. O., and C. Z. DIAO. "TOWARDS LIGHT SOURCES FEATURING SUPERCONDUCTING MINIUNDULATORS." International Journal of Modern Physics B 21, no. 03n04 (2007): 508–12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/s0217979207042306.
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Besides the exploitation of the Helios 2 superconducting compact storage ring for user operations and for its own R&D work, SSLS envisions a 4th generation synchrotron light source to complement and, eventually, replace the current facility. This vision includes an accelerator system based on a superconducting linear accelerator with up to 5 recirculation loops for energy multiplication and recovery with the distinguishing feature that the light would be generated by superconducting mini- and micro-undulators. Under this programme, SSLS is pursuing the development of superconducting miniundulators including a proof-of-technology electron beam experiment in co-operation with the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics and the analytical and numerical study of the fabrication tolerances of superconducting miniundulators with respect to their finite length field errors and mechanical errors.
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Sharma, Kaushal, Harinder P. Singh, Ranjan Gupta, et al. "Stellar spectral interpolation using machine learning." Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 496, no. 4 (2020): 5002–16. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/mnras/staa1809.
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ABSTRACT Theoretical stellar spectra rely on model stellar atmospheres computed based on our understanding of the physical laws at play in the stellar interiors. These models, coupled with atomic and molecular line databases, are used to generate theoretical stellar spectral libraries (SSLs) comprising of stellar spectra over a regular grid of atmospheric parameters (temperature, surface gravity, abundances) at any desired resolution. Another class of SSLs is referred to as empirical spectral libraries; these contain observed spectra at limited resolution. SSLs play an essential role in deriving the properties of stars and stellar populations. Both theoretical and empirical libraries suffer from limited coverage over the parameter space. This limitation is overcome to some extent by generating spectra for specific sets of atmospheric parameters by interpolating within the grid of available parameter space. In this work, we present a method for spectral interpolation in the optical region using machine learning algorithms that are generic, easily adaptable for any SSL without much change in the model parameters, and computationally inexpensive. We use two machine learning techniques, Random Forest (RF) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), and train the models on the MILES library. We apply the trained models to spectra from the CFLIB for testing and show that the performance of the two models is comparable. We show that both the models achieve better accuracy than the existing methods of polynomial based interpolation and the Gaussian radial basis function (RBF) interpolation.
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IONESCU, Olivia, Nicolae BACALBASA, Nahedd SABA, and Gabriel BANCEANU. "SACROSPINOUS LIGAMENT FIXATION FOR APICAL PROLAPSE REPAIR COMPARED TO OTHER VAGINAL PROCEDURES." Romanian Journal of Medical Practice 12, no. 4 (2017): 208–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.37897/rjmp.2017.4.6.
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The vaginal procedures for uterine prolapse and/or vaginal vault prolapse are based on the attachment of the vaginal apex at the sacrospinous ligament (SL), the uterosacral ligaments (USL) or the iliococcygeus fascia. The fixation at the sacrospinous ligament (SSL) known as sacrospinous ligament fixation (SSLF) is the most studied and performed method for apical prolapse repair. Generally, it is preferred for cases of vaginal vault prolapse post-hysterectomy compared with the suspension at the uterosacral ligament (USLS) that it is usually performed at the time of uterus removal. Due to its associated high rate of recurrence, especially prolapse of the anterior vaginal wall, SSLS has been progressively abandoned in the favor of other modern vaginal procedures such as the Saba Nahedd technique. However, the frequently reported esh associated complications, there are still logical reasons to continue the performance and development of the SSLF technique. In order to assess the current frequency of application and effectiveness of SSLF we have made a review on the recently published literature on the SSLF technique focusing on the rate of success and recurrence, the peri-and postoperative complications, its impact on the daily activities and sexual function. We have selected systhematic reviews, follow-up and retrospective studies as well as metanalyses which have been published in the last 10 years in the german or english language. The aim of this article is to describe the SSLF technique and its advantages in the treatment of sever uterovaginal or vaginal vault prolapse.
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McGillion, Michael, Adam Dubrowski, Robyn Stremler, et al. "The Postoperative Pain Assessment Skills Pilot Trial." Pain Research and Management 16, no. 6 (2011): 433–39. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/278397.
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BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Pain-related misbeliefs among health care professionals (HCPs) are common and contribute to ineffective postoperative pain assessment. While standardized patients (SPs) have been effectively used to improve HCPs’ assessment skills, not all centres have SP programs. The present equivalence randomized controlled pilot trial examined the efficacy of an alternative simulation method – deteriorating patient-based simulation (DPS) – versus SPs for improving HCPs’ pain knowledge and assessment skills.METHODS: Seventy-two HCPs were randomly assigned to a 3 h SP or DPS simulation intervention. Measures were recorded at baseline, immediate postintervention and two months postintervention. The primary outcome was HCPs’ pain assessment performance as measured by the postoperative Pain Assessment Skills Tool (PAST). Secondary outcomes included HCPs knowledge of pain-related misbeliefs, and perceived satisfaction and quality of the simulation. These outcomes were measured by the Pain Beliefs Scale (PBS), the Satisfaction with Simulated Learning Scale (SSLS) and the Simulation Design Scale (SDS), respectively. Student’sttests were used to test for overall group differences in postintervention PAST, SSLS and SDS scores. One-way analysis of covariance tested for overall group differences in PBS scores.RESULTS: DPS and SP groups did not differ on post-test PAST, SSLS or SDS scores. Knowledge of pain-related misbeliefs was also similar between groups.CONCLUSIONS: These pilot data suggest that DPS is an effective simulation alternative for HCPs’ education on postoperative pain assessment, with improvements in performance and knowledge comparable with SP-based simulation. An equivalence trial to examine the effectiveness of deteriorating patient-based simulation versus standardized patients is warranted.
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Rahman, M. M., K. Kurumatani, H. Matada, T. Tambo, and C. Tatsuyama. "MBE grown short-period (Sim/Gen)N superlattices (SSLs) and its effect on the growth of uniform Si0.75Ge0.25/(SSLs)/Si(001) systems." Materials Science and Engineering: B 89, no. 1-3 (2002): 252–56. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0921-5107(01)00796-6.
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Dvořáková, Michaela. "Využití samoobslužných pokladen v maloobchodě: jejich vliv na zákaznickou spokojenost a vývoj těchto technologií na českém trhu." Trendy v podnikání 11, no. 1 (2021): 3–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.24132/jbt.2021.11.1.3_10.
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During the last few years consumer behavior has significantly changed. Implementation of self- service technologies (SSLs) has influenced interactions between consumer and retailer. Thanks to current situation, where social contacts are being restricted, the use of SSLs is growing. Due to this trend, there is a greater need to evaluate the impact of those technology on consumer behavior. Objective of this article is to review available research on consumer satisfaction at Self-service checkout and to asses situation at the Czech retail market. Result of literature review is not explicit and shows significant potential for further research. Analyses of Czech retail market were done in cooperation with Bizerba Czech & Slovakia organization by secondary research and telephone interviews with selected retailer organizations. Research results point out that the Czech retail market is below the level of European market Self-service checkout technology implementation. Even greater gap is between international retailers and national local retail organizations where implementation of those Self-service technologies is close to zero.
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Li, Hongyang, Shengyao Jia, and Zichun Le. "Prediction of Soil Organic Carbon in a New Target Area by Near-Infrared Spectroscopy: Comparison of the Effects of Spiking in Different Scale Soil Spectral Libraries." Sensors 20, no. 16 (2020): 4357. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/s20164357.
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Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is widely used to predict soil organic carbon (SOC) because it is rapid and accurate under proper calibration. However, the prediction accuracy of the calibration model may be greatly reduced if the soil characteristics of some new target areas are different from the existing soil spectral library (SSL), which greatly limits the application potential of the technology. We attempted to solve the problem by building a large-scale SSL or using the spiking method. A total of 983 soil samples were collected from Zhejiang Province, and three SSLs were built according to geographic scope, representing the provincial, municipal, and district scales. The partial least squares (PLS) algorithm was applied to establish the calibration models based on the three SSLs, and the models were used to predict the SOC of two target areas in Zhejiang Province. The results show that the prediction accuracy of each model was relatively poor regardless of the scale of the SSL (residual predictive deviation (RPD) < 2.5). Then, the Kennard-Stone (KS) algorithm was applied to select 5 or 10 spiking samples from each target area. According to different SSLs and numbers of spiking samples, different spiked models were established by the PLS. The results show that the predictive ability of each model was improved by the spiking method, and the improvement effect was inversely proportional to the scale of the SSL. The spiked models built by combining the district scale SSL and a few spiking samples achieved good prediction of the SOC of two target areas (RPD = 2.72 and 3.13). Therefore, it is possible to accurately measure the SOC of new target areas by building a small-scale SSL with a few spiking samples.
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Pitcher, Kenneth W., Michael J. Rehberg, Grey W. Pendleton, et al. "Ontogeny of dive performance in pup and juvenile Steller sea lions in Alaska." Canadian Journal of Zoology 83, no. 9 (2005): 1214–31. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z05-098.
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Development of competent diving ability is critical to obtaining nutritional independence in marine mammals such as Steller sea lions (SSLs), Eumetopias jubatus (Schreber, 1776). We studied diving performance in pup (75) and juvenile (36) SSLs using satellite data recorders. In general, dives by SSLs were brief and shallow. Overall, 82.3% of dives were <2 min long and 86.9% of dives were <10 m deep. Long (>5 min) and deep dives (>100 m) constituted only 2.49% and 0.77%, respectively, of total dives. We used linear mixed-effects models to investigate the relationships between the response variables maximum-daily-depth, time-at-depth, mean-dive-duration, dive rate, and time-at-sea and the predictor variables age, sex, population (eastern and western Alaska populations), time-of-day, and month-of-year. All response variables except dive rate were positively related (P < 0.05) to age. Dive rate declined (P < 0.001) with age. Time-of-day, month, population, sex, and some first-order interactions were all significantly (P < 0.05) related to some measure of diving performance. With large samples we were able to identify significant relationships between the response variables and the predictor variables, even though the total amount of variation explained by the models was low, because most dives were short and shallow regardless of age, sex, population, time-of-day, or month-of-year. Depths and durations of dives by juvenile animals increased throughout the range of ages studied and were similar to or greater than those previously reported for juveniles and adult females. We expect maximum depths and durations to continue to increase with age until body mass plateaus at about 10 years of age. Therefore, we expect older animals to be more efficient foragers, as they would have greater aerobic dive limits as well as more experience locating and capturing prey.
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Cumba, Ricardo J., Sunita Radhakrishnan, Nicholas P. Bell, et al. "Reproducibility of Scleral Spur Identification and Angle Measurements Using Fourier Domain Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography." Journal of Ophthalmology 2012 (2012): 1–14. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/487309.
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Purpose. To evaluate intraobserver and interobserver agreement in locating the scleral spur landmark (SSL) and anterior chamber angle measurements obtained using Fourier Domain Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography (ASOCT) images.Methods. Two independent, masked observers (SR and AZC) identified SSLs on ASOCT images from 31 eyes with open and nonopen angles. A third independent reader, NPB, adjudicated SSL placement if identifications differed by more than 80 μm. Nine months later, SR reidentified SSLs. Intraobserver and interobserver agreement in SSL placement, trabecular-iris space area (TISA750), and angle opening distance (AOD750) were calculated.Results. In 84% of quadrants, SR’s SSL placements during 2 sessions were within 80 μm in both theX- andY-axes, and in 77% of quadrants, SR and AZC were within 80 μm in both axes. In adjudicated images, 90% of all quadrants were within 80 μm, 88% in nonopen-angle eyes, and 92% in open-angle eyes. The intraobserver and interobserver correlation coefficients (with and without adjudication) were above 0.9 for TISA750 and AOD750 for all quadrants.Conclusions. Reproducible identification of the SSL from images obtained with FD-ASOCT is possible. The ability to identify the SSL allows reproducible measurement of the anterior chamber angle using TISA750 and AOD750.
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Ganeb, Maribel D., and Darryl Roy T. Montebon. "Student Perception of Science as Influenced by Spark Science Learning System (SSLS)." Acta Didactica Napocensia 11, no. 1 (2018): 87–99. http://dx.doi.org/10.24193/adn.11.1.7.
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Ashraf, Arshad, and Manshad Rustam. "Monitoring Supraglacial lakes Formation and Risk of Outburst Flooding in the Himalayan Cryosphere of Pakistan." International Journal of Environment 9, no. 1 (2020): 52–67. http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ije.v9i1.27587.
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The dramatic rise in warm temperatures in the Himalayan region has caused the formation and expansion of numerous supraglacial lakes, some of which pose a serious flood hazard for the downstream communities. In this study, we have investigated the risk of flood hazards associated with supraglacial lakes in the Hindu Kush, Karakoram and Himalayan ranges of Pakistan using Landsat 8 OLI (Operational Land Imager) data of 2013 and field observations. Among the total of 438 supraglacial lakes, the majority were identified in the Karakoram (378) followed by the Hindu Kush range (39). The concentration of lakes was high within 3500-4000 m elevation (168) followed by 4000-4500 m elevation range (116). The lakes had shown more than a two-fold increase during the 2001-2013 period in the three mountain ranges. The increase in lake number was pronounced over valley glaciers likely due to increasing hydro-glacial activity under changing climate. Two types of supraglacial lakes were identified based on geographic characteristics, for example those rolling over glaciers surface away from the margins (called rolling supraglacial lakes ‘RSLs’) and the lakes found near the margins of glaciers mostly stationary in nature (called static supraglacial lakes ‘SSLs’). Most of the glacial lakes outburst flood (GLOF) events have been observed from SSLs in this region. However, the hydrodynamic process exaggerating the risk of GLOF from supraglacial and englacial lakes needs in-depth research for effective disaster risk reduction in this region in future.
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Wei, Weichen, Bijan Shirinzadeh, Rohan Nowell, Mohammadali Ghafarian, Mohamed M. A. Ammar, and Tianyao Shen. "Enhancing Solid State LiDAR Mapping with a 2D Spinning LiDAR in Urban Scenario SLAM on Ground Vehicles." Sensors 21, no. 5 (2021): 1773. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/s21051773.
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Solid-State LiDAR (SSL) takes an increasing share of the LiDAR market. Compared with traditional spinning LiDAR, SSLs are more compact, energy-efficient and cost-effective. Generally, the current study of SSL mapping is limited to adapting existing SLAM algorithms to an SSL sensor. However, compared with spinning LiDARs, SSLs are different in terms of their irregular scan patterns and limited FOV. Directly applying existing SLAM approaches on them often increase the instability of a mapping process. This study proposes a systematic design, which consists of a dual-LiDAR mapping system and a three DOF interpolated six DOF odometry. For dual-LiDAR mapping, this work uses a 2D LiDAR to enhance a 3D SSL performance on a ground vehicle platform. The proposed system takes a 2D LiDAR to preprocess the scanning field into a number of feature sections according to the curvatures on the 2D fraction. Subsequently, this section information is passed to 3D SSL for direction feature selection. Additionally, this work proposes an odometry interpolation method which uses both LiDARs to generate two separated odometries. The proposed odometry interpolation method selectively determines the appropriate odometry information to update the system state under challenging conditions. Experiments are conducted in different scenarios. The results proves that the proposed approach is able to utilise 12 times more corner features from the environment than the comparied method, thus results in a demonstrable improvement in its absolute position error.
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Chang, Kyoungsik, and George Constantinescu. "Numerical investigation of flow and turbulence structure through and around a circular array of rigid cylinders." Journal of Fluid Mechanics 776 (July 6, 2015): 161–99. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2015.321.
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This numerical study investigates flow and turbulence structure through and around a circular array of solid circular cylinders of diameter $d$. The region containing the array of rigid cylinders resembles a porous circular cylinder of diameter $D$. The porous cylinder Reynolds number defined with the steady incoming flow velocity is $\mathit{Re}_{D}=10\,000$. Fully three-dimensional (3D) large eddy simulations (LES) are conducted to study the effects of the volume fraction of solids of the porous cylinder ($0.023<\text{SVF}<0.2$) and $d/D$ on the temporal variation and mean values of the drag/lift forces acting on the solid cylinders and on the porous cylinder. The effects of the bleeding flow through the circular porous cylinder on the wake structure and the influence of the SVF and $d/D$ on the onset of flow three-dimensionality within or downstream of the porous cylinder and transition to turbulence are discussed. Results are compared with experimental data, predictions of theoretical models available in the literature and also with the canonical case of a solid cylinder ($\text{SVF}=1,d/D=1$). Three-dimensional LES predict that large-scale wake billows are shed in the wake of the porous cylinder for $\text{SVF}>0.05$, similar to the von Karman vortex street observed for solid cylinders. As the SVF decreases, the length of the separated shear layers (SSLs) of the porous cylinder and the distance from the back of the porous cylinder at which wake billows form increase. For sufficiently low volume fractions of solids (e.g. $\text{SVF}=0.05$, 0.023), no wake billows are shed and the interactions among the wakes of the solid cylinders are weak. Even for $\text{SVF}=0.023$, SSLs containing large-scale turbulent eddies form on the two sides of the porous cylinder, but their ends cannot interact to generate wake billows. In both regimes, the force acting on some of the solid cylinders within the array is highly unsteady. As opposed to results obtained based on 2D simulations, no intermediate regime in which the force acting on the solid cylinders is close to steady is present. Interestingly, an energetic low frequency corresponding to a Strouhal number defined with the diameter of the porous cylinder of approximately 0.2 is present within the porous cylinder and near-wake regions not only for cases where wake billows are generated but also for cases where no wake billows form. In the latter cases, this frequency is due to an instability acting on the SSLs which induces in-phase large-scale undulatory deformations of the two SSLs. A combined drag parameter for the porous cylinder ${\it\Gamma}_{D}=\overline{C}_{d}\,aD/(1-\text{SVF})$ is introduced, where $aD$ is the non-dimensional frontal area per unit volume of the porous cylinder. This parameter characterizes by how much the velocity of the bleeding flow at the back of the porous cylinder is reduced compared with the incoming flow velocity for a given total drag force acting on the porous cylinder. Results from simulations conducted with different values of the SVF, $d/D$ and mean time-averaged solid cylinder streamwise drag parameter, $\overline{C}_{d}$, show that ${\it\Gamma}_{D}$ increases monotonically with increasing $aD$. Several ways of defining the spatial extent of the wake region in a less ambiguous way are proposed.
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Yu, Xiaojiang, Oliver Wilhelmi, Herbert O. Moser, et al. "New soft X-ray facility SINS for surface and nanoscale science at SSLS." Journal of Electron Spectroscopy and Related Phenomena 144-147 (June 2005): 1031–34. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.elspec.2005.01.256.
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Varga, Zoltán, András Wacha, and Attila Bóta. "Osmotic shrinkage of sterically stabilized liposomes as revealed by time-resolved small-angle X-ray scattering." Journal of Applied Crystallography 47, no. 1 (2014): 35–40. http://dx.doi.org/10.1107/s1600576713030513.
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Time-resolved synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) was used to study the structural changes during the osmotic shrinkage of a pharmacologically relevant liposomal drug delivery system. Sterically stabilized liposomes (SSLs) with a diameter of 100 nm and composed of hydrogenated soy phosphocholine, cholesterol and distearoyl-phosphoethanolamine-PEG 2000 prepared in a salt-free buffer were mixed with a buffered 0.3 MNaCl solution using a stopped flow apparatus. The changes in the liposome size and the bilayer structure were followed by using SAXS with a time resolution of 20 ms. A linear decrease in liposome size is observed during the first ∼4 s of the osmotic shrinkage, which reveals a water permeability value of 0.215 (15) µm s−1. The change in the size of the liposomes upon the osmotic shrinkage is also confirmed by dynamic light scattering. After this initial step, broad correlation peaks appear on the SAXS curves in theqrange of the bilayer form factor, which indicates the formation of bi- or oligolamellar structures. Freeze-fracture combined with transmission electron microscopy revealed that lens-shaped liposomes are formed during the shrinkage, which account for the appearance of the quasi-Bragg peaks superimposed on the bilayer form factor. On the basis of these observations, it is proposed that the osmotic shrinkage of SSLs is a two-step process: in the initial step, the liposome shrinks in size, while the area/lipid adapts to the decreased surface area, which is then followed by the deformation of the spherical liposomes into lens-shaped vesicles.
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CHEN, A., G. LIU, L. K. JIAN, and HERBERT O. MOSER. "SYNCHROTRON-RADIATION-SUPPORTED HIGH-ASPECT-RATIO NANOFABRICATION." COSMOS 03, no. 01 (2007): 79–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/s0219607707000220.
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X-ray lithography with synchrotron radiation is an important nanolithographic tool which has unique advantages in the production of high aspect ratio nanostructures. The optimum synchrotron radiation spectrum for nanometer scale X-ray lithography is normally in the range of 500 eV to 2 keV. In this paper, we present the main methods, equipment, process parameters and preliminary results of nanofabrication by proximity X-ray lithography within the nanomanufacturing program pursued by Singapore Synchrotron Light Source (SSLS). Nanostructures with feature sizes down to 200 nm and an aspect ratio up to 10 have been successfully achieved by this approach.
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MICHAEL-JUBELI, Rime, Ali TFAYLI, Jean BLETON, and Arlette BAILLET-GUFFROY. "Chemometric approach for investigating the skin surface lipids (SSLs) composition: influence of geographical localization." European Journal of Dermatology 21, S1 (2011): 63–71. http://dx.doi.org/10.1684/ejd.2011.1263.
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Lin, Guan-Wei, Hsien-Li Kuo, Chi-Wen Chen, Lun-Wei Wei, and Jia-Ming Zhang. "Using a Tank Model to Determine Hydro-Meteorological Thresholds for Large-Scale Landslides in Taiwan." Water 12, no. 1 (2020): 253. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w12010253.
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Rainfall thresholds for slope failures are essential information for establishing early-warning systems and for disaster risk reduction. Studies on the thresholds for rainfall-induced landslides of different scales have been undertaken in recent decades. This study attempts to establish a warning threshold for large-scale landslides (LSLs), which are defined as landslides with a disturbed area more massive than 0.1 km2. The numerous landslides and extensive rainfall records make Taiwan an appropriate area to investigate the rainfall conditions that can result in LSLs. We used landslide information from multiple sources and rainfall data captured by 594 rain gauges to create a database of 83 rainfall events associated with LSLs in Taiwan between 2001 and 2016. The corresponding rainfall duration, cumulative event rainfall, and rainfall intensity for triggering LSLs were determined. This study adopted the tank model to estimate conceptual water depths (S1, S2, S3) in three-layer tanks and calculated the soil water index (SWI) by summing up the water depths in the three tanks. The empirical SWI and duration (SWI–D) threshold for triggering LSLs occurring during 2001–2013 in Taiwan is determined as SWI = 155.20 − 1.56D and D ≥ 24 h. The SWI–D threshold for LSLs is higher than that for small-scale landslides (SSLs), those with a disturbed area smaller than 0.1 km2. The LSLs that occurred during 2015–2016 support this finding. It is notable that when the SWI and S3 reached high values, the potential of LSLs increased significantly. The rainfall conditions for triggering LSLs gradually descend with increases in antecedent SWI. Unlike the rainfall conditions for triggering SSLs, those for triggering LSLs are related to the long duration–high intensity type of rainfall event.
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Ringena, Okko, Bodo Saake, and Ralph Lehnen. "Isolation and fractionation of lignosulfonates by amine extraction and ultrafiltration: A comparative study." Holzforschung 59, no. 4 (2005): 405–12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/hf.2005.066.
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Abstract Spent sulfite liquors (SSLs) were fractionated by two common separation techniques: amine extraction and ultrafiltration. The lignin fractions obtained were characterized with respect to their elemental composition, functional groups and molecular weight distribution. The results of size exclusion chromatography indicate a broad molecular weight distribution of the lignosulfonates (LS). Irrespective of the separation technique used, a small LS fraction with high molecular mass and low degree of sulfonation was obtained, while most of the lignosulfonates have much lower molar masses and a much higher degree of sulfonation. Both separation methods offer the opportunity to extract high-purity LS fractions; however, compared to amine extraction, ultrafiltration provides additional information about the molecular weight distribution of the SSL components without application of other analytical techniques.
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Draaijers, Lonneke, Robert-Jan Hassing, Menno Kooistra, KoK van Kessel, and Marcel Hovens. "Severe Acquired Coagulopathy During Fulminant Staphylococcus aureus Sepsis Most Likely Caused by S. aureus Exotoxins (SSLs)." European Journal of Case Reports in Internal Medicine 5, no. 12 (2018): 1. http://dx.doi.org/10.12890/2018_001002.
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Cundiff, John S., and Robert D. Grisso. "Load and Unload Technology to Improve Round-Bale Hauling Efficiency." AgriEngineering 3, no. 3 (2021): 584–604. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering3030038.
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There are two key parameters in short-haul truck operations to deliver biomass to a biorefinery: (1) mass of the load and (2) cycle time (load, travel, unload, and return). A plan to optimize both these parameters is outlined in this study. Operation of a logistics system to deliver 20-bale racks to a biorefinery for continuous 24/7 operation, 48 weeks/year is described. Round bales are stored in satellite storage locations (SSLs) by feedstock producers. A truckload consists of two tandem trailers (40, 0.4 Mg bales), a specification that maximizes load mass. Load-out at the SSL (loading bales into racks) is performed by a contractor and paid by the biorefinery. Subsequent hauling (truck tractor to pull the trailers) is also contracted for by the biorefinery. Central control is specified; the “feedstock manager” at the biorefinery decides the order SSLs are loaded out and can route a truck to any SSL where a load is ready. Tandem trailers with empty racks are dropped at the SSL, and the trailers with full racks are towed to the biorefinery. Uncoupling the loading and hauling in this manner reduces the time the truck waits for loading and the SSL load-out waits for a truck; thus, productivity of both operations is increased. At the biorefinery receiving facility, full racks are removed from the trailers and replaced with empty racks. The objective for this transfer is a 10 min unload time, which completes a logistics design that minimizes cycle time. A delivered rack is placed in a rack unloader to supply bales for immediate processing, or it is placed in central storage to supply bales for nighttime and weekend operations. Three biorefinery capacities were studied: 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 bale/min. The analysis shows that rack cost to supply a biorefinery processing a bale/min for 24/7 operation is ~3.00 USD/Mg of annual biorefinery capacity, and the rack trailer cost is ~3.25 USD/Mg. Total delivery cost, beginning with bales in SSL storage and ending with a rack being placed in an unloader to deliver individual bales for processing, is 31.51, 28.42, and 26.92 USD/Mg for a biorefinery processing rates of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 bale/min, respectively.
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Meng, Xiaoqi, Xuedong Wang, and Ying Wang. "Quantifying correlations of metal ionic characters with ecological soil screening levels (Eco-SSLs) of metals using QICAR models." Chemosphere 228 (August 2019): 451–59. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.04.183.
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Bertazzi, F., G. Conte, F. Bonani, S. Donati Guerrieri, and G. Ghione. "An efficient numerical technique for the implementation of SSLS and cyclostationary noise analysis in physics-based device simulators." Journal of Computational Electronics 5, no. 2-3 (2006): 85–89. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10825-006-8824-3.
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Kapustka, Lawrence A. "Establishing Eco-SSLs for PAHs: Lessons Revealed from a Review of Literature on Exposure and Effects to Terrestrial Receptors." Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal 10, no. 2 (2004): 185–205. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10807030490438166.
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Dou, X. K., X. H. Xue, T. D. Chen, et al. "A statistical study of sporadic sodium layer observed by Sodium lidar at Hefei (31.8° N, 117.3° E)." Annales Geophysicae 27, no. 6 (2009): 2247–57. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/angeo-27-2247-2009.
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Abstract. Sodium lidar observations of sporadic sodium layers (SSLs) during the past 3 years at a mid-latitude location (Hefei, China, 31.8° N, 117.3° E) are reported in this paper. From 64 SSL events detected in about 900 h of observation, an SSL occurrence rate of 1 event every 14 h at our location was obtained. This result, combined with previous studies, reveals that the SSL occurrence can be relatively frequent at some mid-latitude locations. Statistical analysis of main parameters for the 64 SSL events was performed. By examining the corresponding data from an ionosonde, a considerable correlation was found with a Pearson coefficient of 0.66 between seasonal variations of SSL and those of sporadic E (Es) during nighttime, which was in line with the research by Nagasawa and Abo (1995). From comparison between observations from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) lidar and from Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics (WIPM) lidar (Wuhan, China, 31° N, 114° E), the minimum horizontal range for some events was estimated to be over 500 km.
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McCollom, Robert A., Dean HT Elbe, and Alec H. Ritchie. "Bupropion-Induced Serum Sickness–Like Reaction." Annals of Pharmacotherapy 34, no. 4 (2000): 471–73. http://dx.doi.org/10.1345/aph.19297.
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OBJECTIVE: To report three cases of serum sickness–like reaction (SSLR) associated with bupropion ingestion. CASE SUMMARY: A 27-year-old woman, a 46-year-old man, and a 43-year-old woman presented to our emergency department within a three-week period with symptoms consistent with SSLR. Symptoms consisted of pruritic skin rash, tongue swelling, and arthralgias. All three patients had initiated bupropion therapy within two to three weeks prior to arrival. DISCUSSION: This is the second published case describing SSLRs associated with bupropion. Reports of urticaria and rash with bupropion use are numerous and the incidence has been estimated at between 1% and 4%. Arthralgia and arthropathy with bupropion use are reported much less commonly. The onset of symptoms of SSLRs typically begins six to 21 days after administration of the causative agent. SSLRs are usually self-limiting, lasting four to 14 days. CONCLUSIONS: SSLRs following bupropion ingestion appear to be rare. However, the fact that this cluster of patients presented to our emergency department within a three-week period suggests that this reaction may be underreported.
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Xia, Yuan, Satonori Nozawa, Jing Jiao, et al. "Statistical study on sporadic sodium layers (SSLs) based on diurnal sodium lidar observations at Beijing, China (40.5 °N, 116 °E)." Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics 212 (January 2021): 105512. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2020.105512.
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FURUKAWA, T. A., D. P. GOLDBERG,, S. RABE-HESKETH, and T. B. ÜSTÜN. "Stratum-specific likelihood ratios of two versions of the General Health Questionnaire." Psychological Medicine 31, no. 3 (2001): 519–29. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0033291701003713.
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Background. In other branches of epidemiology, stratum specific likelihood ratios (SSLRs) have been found to be preferable to fixed best threshold approaches to screening instruments. This paper presents SSLRs of GHQ-12 and GHQ-28 and compares the SSLR method with the traditional optimal threshold approach.Methods. Random effects meta-analysis and meta-regression were used to obtain pooled estimates of SSLRs of the two questionnaires for the 15 centres participating in the WHO study of Psychological Problems in General Health Care. We illustrated the use of SSLRs by applying them to random samples of patients from centres with different backgrounds.Results. For developed and urban centres, the estimates of SSLRs were homogeneous for 10 out of 12 strata of the GHQ-12 and GHQ-28. For other centres, the overall results, which were heterogeneous for six out of 12 strata, were deemed the currently available best estimates. When we applied these results to centres with different prevalences of mental disorders and backgrounds, the estimates matched the actually observed closely. These examples showed how the SSLR approach is more informative than the traditional threshold approach.Conclusions. Those working in developed urban settings can use the corresponding SSLRs with reasonable confidence. Those working in non-urban or developing areas may wish to use the overall results, while acknowledging that they must remain less certain until further research can explicate heterogeneity. These SSLRs have been incorporated into nomograms and spreadsheet programmes so that future researchers can swiftly derive the post-test probability for a patient or a group of patients from a pre-test probability and GHQ score.
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Warfield, Linda, Jie Luo, Jeffrey Ranish, and Steven Hahn. "Function of Conserved Topological Regions within the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Basal Transcription Factor TFIIH." Molecular and Cellular Biology 36, no. 19 (2016): 2464–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/mcb.00182-16.
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TFIIH is a 10-subunit RNA polymerase II basal transcription factor with a dual role in DNA repair. TFIIH contains three enzymatic functions and over 30 conserved subdomains and topological regions. We systematically tested the function of these regions in three TFIIH core module subunits, i.e., Ssl1, Tfb4, and Tfb2, in the DNA translocase subunit Ssl2, and in the kinase module subunit Tfb3. Our results are consistent with previously predicted roles for the Tfb2 Hub, Ssl2 Lock, and Tfb3 Latch regions, with mutations in these elements typically having severe defects in TFIIH subunit association. We also found unexpected roles for other domains whose function had not previously been defined. First, the Ssl1-Tfb4 Ring domains are important for TFIIH assembly. Second, the Tfb2 Hub and HEAT domains have an unexpected role in association with Tfb3. Third, the Tfb3 Ring domain is important for association with many other TFIIH subunits. Fourth, a partial deletion of the Ssl1 N-terminal extension (NTE) domain inhibits TFIIH function without affecting subunit association. Finally, we used site-specific cross-linking to localize the Tfb3-binding surface on the Rad3 Arch domain. Our cross-linking results suggest that Tfb3 and Rad3 have an unusual interface, with Tfb3 binding on two opposite faces of the Arch.
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Kou, Ke, Tianhong Lian, Cuo Wang, and Guanlei Zhang. "Developing open cavity solid-state laser for self-mixing sensor." Sensor Review 39, no. 2 (2019): 252–56. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/sr-12-2017-0263.
Full textAbstract:
PurposeAs an emerging measurement technique with the merit of easy alignment and high sensitivity, laser self-mixing interferometry (SMI) has wide applications in the detection of physical quantities. Considering that the characteristics of lasers have a determining influence on sensors’ performance, the authors have established an open cavity solid-state laser (SSL) with more adjustment flexibility to act as a laser source.Design/methodology/approachThe fundamental structure of a SSL has been presented with an Nd:YAG rod severing as an active material and a birefringent filter inserted in the resonator as a mode selecting element. The power stability has been tested by a power meter, while the mode pattern has been inspected with a scanning Fabry–Perot interferometer, and the linewidth has been observed through a wavelength meter. A loudspeaker driven by a function generator is located in the extracavity to introduce phase modulation for SMI signal observation.FindingsThe established Nd:YAG SSL operates in a single longitudinal mode with the power stability of 0.2 mW and the linewidth less than 10 MHz. The SMI phenomenon occurs in the SSL, and the SMI signal obtained shows a fine signal-to-noise ratio of about 30 dB.Originality/valueTo the authors knowledge, SMI sensors using SSLs, especially in open cavity type, have rarely been reported, and they can find significant applications in designing high performance SMI sensors and instruments.
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Abeyrathna, Kuruge Darshana, Ole-Christoffer Granmo, and Morten Goodwin. "Adaptive Sparse Representation of Continuous Input for Tsetlin Machines Based on Stochastic Searching on the Line." Electronics 10, no. 17 (2021): 2107. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/electronics10172107.
Full textAbstract:
This paper introduces a novel approach to representing continuous inputs in Tsetlin Machines (TMs). Instead of using one Tsetlin Automaton (TA) for every unique threshold found when Booleanizing continuous input, we employ two Stochastic Searching on the Line (SSL) automata to learn discriminative lower and upper bounds. The two resulting Boolean features are adapted to the rest of the clause by equipping each clause with its own team of SSLs, which update the bounds during the learning process. Two standard TAs finally decide whether to include the resulting features as part of the clause. In this way, only four automata altogether represent one continuous feature (instead of potentially hundreds of them). We evaluate the performance of the new scheme empirically using five datasets, along with a study of interpretability. On average, TMs with SSL feature representation use 4.3 times fewer literals than the TM with static threshold-based features. Furthermore, in terms of average memory usage and F1-Score, our approach outperforms simple Multi-Layered Artificial Neural Networks, Decision Trees, Support Vector Machines, K-Nearest Neighbor, Random Forest, Gradient Boosted Trees (XGBoost), and Explainable Boosting Machines (EBMs), as well as the standard and real-value weighted TMs. Our approach further outperforms Neural Additive Models on Fraud Detection and StructureBoost on CA-58 in terms of the Area Under Curve while performing competitively on COMPAS.
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LEWIS, JANE, JONATHAN ROBERTS, and CATHY FINNEGAN. "Making the Transition from Sure Start Local Programmes to Children's Centres, 2003–2008." Journal of Social Policy 40, no. 3 (2010): 595–612. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s004727941000067x.
Full textAbstract:
AbstractSure Start local programmes (SSLPs), an area-based early intervention programme for under fives in England set up in 1998, was replaced by children's centres (CCs), a universal, mainstream service, under the control of local authorities in 2003. This paper uses qualitative data from three urban authorities in an exploratory study that investigates how far CCs differ from SSLPs, and how far they are more recognisably similar to one another than were SSLPs. We explore interviewees’ understandings of the idea of an SSLP and of a CC; differences between the core offers of the two programmes in terms of funding, consistency, local responsiveness and the balance of services; issues arising from making CCs a mainstream service; and changes in governance in terms of information flows, lines of accountability and parent participation. We find that while CCs differ from SSLPs in significant respects, they also differ one from the other, and we offer some reflections on the possible causes of this.
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Blauberger, Patrick, Robert Marzilger, and Martin Lames. "Validation of Player and Ball Tracking with a Local Positioning System." Sensors 21, no. 4 (2021): 1465. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/s21041465.
Full textAbstract:
The aim of this study was the validation of player and ball position measurements of Kinexon’s local positioning system (LPS) in handball and football. Eight athletes conducted a sport-specific course (SSC) and small sided football games (SSG), simultaneously tracked by the LPS and an infrared camera-based motion capture system as reference system. Furthermore, football shots and handball throws were performed to evaluate ball tracking. The position root mean square error (RMSE) for player tracking was 9 cm for SSCs, the instantaneous peak speed showed a percentage deviation from the reference system of 0.7–1.7% for different exercises. The RMSE for SSGs was 8 cm. Covered distance was overestimated by 0.6% in SSCs and 1.0% in SSGs. The 2D RMSE of ball tracking was 15 cm in SSGs, 3D position errors of shot and throw impact locations were 17 cm and 21 cm. The methodology for the validation of a system’s accuracy in sports tracking requires extensive attention, especially in settings covering both, player and ball measurements. Most tracking errors for player tracking were smaller or in line with errors found for comparable systems in the literature. Ball tracking showed a larger error than player tracking. Here, the influence of the positioning of the sensor must be further reviewed. In total, the accuracy of Kinexon’s LPS has proven to represent the current state of the art for player and ball position detection in team sports.