United States Department of the Army

About: United States Department of the Army is a government organization based out in Arlington, Virginia, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Poison control & Population. The organization has 32668 authors who have published 42453 publications receiving 947075 citations. The organization is also known as: DA & U.S. Department of the Army.

Rapid identification of bacteria by direct matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric analysis of whole cells.

Abstract: Several characteristic ions were observed during the direct analysis of a variety of both gram-negative and gram-positive intact bacterial cells by the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) technique. The entire process, involving absolutely no sample processing, could be completed in less than ten minutes. A number of specific biomarkers, generated reproducibly for each type of cell from the corresponding mass spectrum, permitted the identification, as well as the distinction, of pathogenic bacteria from their non-pathogenic counterparts. In addition, individual strains of a specific organism could also be differentiated easily. Some of these biomarkers correspond to those observed earlier during the MALDI-MS analysis of protein extracts of the same bacteria. This approach, which can yield valuable data for rapid classification and detection of microorganisms, represents a substantial breakthrough for rapid screening of environmental as well as biological samples

Effect of injury and infection on visceral metabolism and circulation.

Abstract: To characterize the role of the liver and kidney in the metabolic response to injury and infection, selective catheterization of the hepatic (42 veins) and renal veins (21 veins) was performed in 31 burn patients (mean burn size: 51% TBS), studied 4-129 days postinjury. Blood flow was determined by standard clearance techniques (ICG and PAH), and simultaneous arterial and hepatic and/or renal vein blood was obtained for oxygen, glucose, lactate, pyruvate, and amino acids. Patients studied in the first to third weeks postinjury were classified as noninfected (8 studies), bacteremic (8 studies), or bacteremic with complications (5 studies). There was no difference in age, weight, mean burn size, pulse rate, blood pressure, rectal temperature, total body oxygen consumption, or cardiac index among these groups. Estimated hepatic blood flow (EHBF) and hepatic substrate balance of these patients were compared with postabsorptive normal subjects in the literature (mean +/- SEM or range). :Formula: (See Text) Thermal injury alone resulted in marked increases in EHBF, hepatic oxygen uptake, and glucogenesis. The added insult of bacteremia significantly increased hepatic glucose output; as clinical sepsis progressed, glucose output decreased sharply. The kidney consistently demonstrated a net uptake of glucose in all studies. The changes in hepatic glucose output in bacteremic patients occurred without significant differences in EHBF, oxygen utilization or lactate uptake, but were associated with marked alterations in amino acid uptake.

FDA-ARGOS is a database with public quality-controlled reference genomes for diagnostic use and regulatory science

Abstract: FDA proactively invests in tools to support innovation of emerging technologies, such as infectious disease next generation sequencing (ID-NGS). Here, we introduce FDA-ARGOS quality-controlled reference genomes as a public database for diagnostic purposes and demonstrate its utility on the example of two use cases. We provide quality control metrics for the FDA-ARGOS genomic database resource and outline the need for genome quality gap filling in the public domain. In the first use case, we show more accurate microbial identification of Enterococcus avium from metagenomic samples with FDA-ARGOS reference genomes compared to non-curated GenBank genomes. In the second use case, we demonstrate the utility of FDA-ARGOS reference genomes for Ebola virus target sequence comparison as part of a composite validation strategy for ID-NGS diagnostic tests. The use of FDA-ARGOS as an in silico target sequence comparator tool combined with representative clinical testing could reduce the burden for completing ID-NGS clinical trials. To be able to use infectious disease next generation sequencing as a diagnostic tool, appropriate reference datasets are required. Here, Sichtig et al. describe FDA-ARGOS, a reference database for high-quality microbial reference genomes, and demonstrate its utility on the example of two use cases.

Multiple knife-edge diffraction of microwaves

Abstract: The paper discusses a simplified solution to the problem of multiple diffraction of microwaves over knife-edge obstacles. The path loss is obtained directly and quickly by alignment of distances and heights, adequately selected from a path profile. A theoretical study shows good agreement between the simplified approach and a complete mathematical analysis made by G. Millington in 1962. When the diffraction loss reaches a maximum which might be in excess of 50 dB, the approximate value exceeds the theoretical one by 2 to 5 dB. Predictions are in good agreement, too, with the results of experiments conducted both in France and in the United States. Out of ten examples reported in the paper, nine indicate an error equal or smaller than 3 dB.

The design and use of animal models for translational research in bone tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Abstract: This review provides an overview of animal models for the evaluation, comparison, and systematic optimization of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine strategies related to bone tissue. This review includes an overview of major factors that influence the rational design and selection of an animal model. A comparison is provided of the 10 mammalian species that are most commonly used in bone research, and existing guidelines and standards are discussed. This review also identifies gaps in the availability of animal models: (1) the need for assessment of the predictive value of preclinical models for relative clinical efficacy, (2) the need for models that more effectively mimic the wound healing environment and mass transport conditions in the most challenging clinical settings (e.g., bone repair involving large bone and soft tissue defects and sites of prior surgery), and (3) the need for models that allow more effective measurement and detection of cell trafficking events and ultimate cell fate du...