cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Production line calibration for sensors on actively controlled bullets

A simple testing device is presented that simultaneously calibrates all dominant error sources for accelerometers and gyroscopes found in typical microelectromechanical inertial measurement units on smart projectiles, including bias, scale factor, cross axis sensitivity/misalignment, and misposition. The device consists of a table which rotates about a gimbal joint and is supported on the corners by elastic and damping elements. Using dynamic simulation it is shown that motion created by free vibration of the testing platform suitably excites sensors on projectiles so calibration can be performed. Calibration parameters are estimated using an extended Kalman filter. Platform support stiffness and damping characteristics significantly alter the time required to identify calibration parameters by shaping platform motion. A critical level of initial motion of the testing platform is required for adequate prediction of calibration parameters.
Angioplasty Guidewire Velocity: A New Simple Method to Calculate Absolute Coronary Blood Velocity and Flow

The Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) frame count is a relative index of coronary flow that measures time by counting the number of frames required for dye to travel from the ostium to a standardized coronary landmark in a cineangiogram filmed at a known speed (frames/s). We describe a new method to measure distance along arteries so that absolute velocity (length divided by time) and absolute flow (area x velocity) may be calculated in patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angiography (PTCA). After PTCA, the guidewire tip is placed at the coronary landmark and a Kelly clamp is placed on the guidewire where it exits the Y-adapter. The guidewire tip is then withdrawn to the catheter tip and a second Kelly clamp is placed on the wire where it exits the Y-adapter. The distance between the 2 Kelly clamps outside the body is the distance between the catheter tip and the anatomic landmark inside the body. Velocity (cm/s) may be calculated as this distance (cm) divided by TIMI frame count (frames) x film frame speed (frames/s). Flow (ml/s) may be calculated by multiplying this velocity (cm/s) and the mean cross-sectional lumen area (cm2) along the length of the artery to the TIMI landmark. In 30 patients, velocity increased from 13.9 +/- 8.5 cm/s before to 22.8 +/- 9.3 cm/s after PTCA (p <0.001). Despite TIMI grade 3 flow both before and after PTCA in 18 patients, velocity actually increased 38%, from 17.0 +/- 5.4 to 23.5 +/- 9.0 cm/s (p = 0.01). For all 30 patients, flow doubled from 0.6 +/- 0.4 ml/s before to 1.2 +/- 0.6 ml/s after PTCA (p <0.001). In the 18 patients with TIMI grade 3 flow both before and after PTCA, flow increased 86%, from 0.7 +/- 0.3 to 1.3 +/- 0.6 ml/s (p = 0.001). Distance along coronary arteries (length) can be simply measured using a PTCA guidewire. This length may be combined with the TIMI frame count to calculate measures of absolute velocity and flow that are sensitive to changes in perfusion. TIMI grade 3 flow is composed of a range of velocities and flows.
Chiral and electrokinetic separation of amino acids using polypyrrole-coated adsorbents

Abstract An optically active and electroconductive polymeric adsorbent has been developed for the use in chromatographic resolution of nonderivatized amino acids. The chiral selectivity of the adsorbent is based upon ligand exchange of coordinated copper(II) complexes of d or l -amino acids and a molecular imprinting technique by modifying the resin surface with polypyrrole coating. Applying a potential difference of ±1.5 V to the chiral and conductive column, racemic amino acids are separated according to their charge characteristics, and simultaneously resolved with respect to their optical isomerisms. A pH-controlled mixture of d , l -lysine and d , l -aspartic acid is resolved displaying enantioselectivity values of 1.19 and 2.08, respectively, and a baseline separation of the two amino acids is accomplished by alternating the polarity of the electric field. The synthesized adsorbent also exhibits size exclusion factor discriminating amino acids with larger side chains.
A variation on a theme of Vasconcelos

A classical result of W. Vasconcelos (1967, J. Algebra 6, 309–316) and D. Ferrand (1967, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris 264, 427–428) provides necessary and sufficient conditions for an ideal to be generated by a regular sequence. In this paper, we provide generally more accessible conditions guaranteeing this property, as well as some examples indicating that our hypotheses cannot be significantly weakened. The key step in our development is the use of lifting, as presented by M. Auslander, et al. (1993, J. Algebra 156, 273–317).
BEHAVIORAL RESPONSES OF THE SMALLER EUROPEAN ELM BARK BEETLE, SCOLYTUS MULTISTRIATUS, TO EXTRACTS OF NON‐HOST TREE TISSUES1)

Crude benzene extracts of 6 non-host trees alone did not stimulate feeding responses by adults of Scolytus multistriatus (Marsh.). When combined equally with a stimulatory extract from Ulmus americana L., all of the crude non-host extracts reduced the amount of feeding which otherwise occurred. At least two of the non-hosts (Populus deltoides Bartr. and Aesculus octandra Marsh) contained positive short-range orientational stimuli, but their induction of a positive response by the insect was prevented in most treatments by associated deterrent chemicals. Thus, stimuli (deterrents and repellents) played the dominant role in eliciting the rejection of crude non-host extracts by the beetles. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG VERHALTENSREAKTIONEN DES KLEINEN ULMENSPLINTKAFERS, SCOLYTUS MULTISTRIATUS, GEGENUBER EXTRAKTEN AUS GEWEBEN VON NICHT-WIRTSBAUMEN Benzol-Rohextrakte von 6 Nicht-Wirtsbaumen riefen allein bei erwachsenen Scolylus multistriatus (Marsh.) keine Frasreaktionen hervor. Wurden sie zu gleichen Teilen mit einem stimulierenden Extrakt von Ulmus americanus L. kombiniert, so setzten alle Rohextrakte aus Nicht-Wirten die Frasmenge herab, die sonst auftritt. Wenigstens zwei der Nicht-Wirte (Populus deltoides Bartr. und Aesculus octandra Marsh.) enthielten auf kurze Entfernung wirkende positive Reize, aber ihr Einflus auf eine positive Reaktion des Insekts wurde bei den meisten Behandlungen durch Verbindung mit abweisenden (deterrent) Stoffen verhindert. So spielen bei der Auslosung der Ablehnung von Rohextrakten der Nicht-Wirte durch die Kafer Deterrent- und Repellent-Reize die Hauptrolle.
In vitro interactions of the histone-like protein IHF with the algD promoter, a critical site for control of mucoidy in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The ability of the histone-like element Integration Host Factor (IHF) to interact with the algD promoter was investigated. IHF from Escherichia coli was found to bind to the algD promoter and to form multiple protein-DNA complexes in gel mobility shift DNA binding assay. The highest affinity binding site for IHF was mapped by DNaseI footprinting analysis. This site spanned nucleotides -50 to -85 relative to the algD mRNA start site and overlapped a sequence matching the IHF consensus sequence WATCAANNNNTTR in 12 out of 13 base pairs. Previous studies have shown that deletion of sequences including a portion of this site adversely affects algD promoter activity. IHF binding to the algD promoter induced DNA bending. Western blot analysis with antibodies against E. coli IHF detected a cross-reactive protein of a similar molecular mass in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, suggesting the presence of an analogous factor in this organism.
Hierarchical linear models for energy prediction using inertial sensors: a comparative study for treadmill walking

Walking is a commonly available activity to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Accurately tracking and measuring calories expended during walking can improve user feedback and intervention measures. Inertial sensors are a promising measurement tool to achieve this purpose. An important aspect in mapping inertial sensor data to energy expenditure is the question of normalizing across physiological parameters. Common approaches such as weight scaling require validation for each new population. An alternative is to use a hierarchical approach to model subject-specific parameters at one level and cross-subject parameters connected by physiological variables at a higher level. In this paper, we evaluate an inertial sensor-based hierarchical model to measure energy expenditure across a target population. We first determine the optimal movement and physiological features set to represent data. Periodicity based features are more accurate (p < 0.1 per subject) when generalizing across populations. Weight is the most accurate parameter (p < 0.1 per subject) measured as percentage prediction error. We also compare the hierarchical model with a subject-specific regression model and weight exponent scaled models. Subject-specific models perform significantly better (p < 0.1 per subject) than weight exponent scaled models at all exponent scales whereas the hierarchical model performed worse than both. However, using an informed prior from the hierarchical model produces similar errors to using a subject-specific model with large amounts of training data (p < 0.1 per subject). The results provide evidence that hierarchical modeling is a promising technique for generalized prediction energy expenditure prediction across a target population in a clinical setting.
Testing the Performance of an SSAS Cube Using VSTS

SQL server analysis services (SSAS) is a popular technology, which has been deployed more and more by various BI (Business Intelligence) projects. For a newly designed data warehouse with dimension, cell, and cube, as well as MDX as a query language, it is crucial to benchmark and measure the cube performance. This article will present a method to test the performance of a SSAS cube. Visual Studio Team System (VSTS) will be used as a test platform. A unit test as well as some load and stress tests measure the cube performance under load and stress to ensure a high quality.
Use of Digital Potential Field, Geologic, and Remote Sensing Data in Studies of Structure of the Mid-Continent: ABSTRACT

A great deal of digital potential field, geologic, and remote sensing data exists for the Mid-Continent region of the United States. These data sets are fundamental to the understanding of the End_Page 1168------------------------------ structure of the crust. As the data are geographically oriented and in digital format, standard image-processing and analysis techniques can be applied. For instance, we have used a spatial filtering technique to interpolate between station locations of gravity and magnetic data to produce gray or color-coded images with continuous coverage throughout the Mid-Continent. The images contain more information than found in standard contour maps, because they can have many more contour intervals, and because they preserve local details of anomaly patterns. As an example of applicability of these techniques, gravity images registered and overlayed with magnetic, geologic, and remote sensing data lead to the identification of a Precambrian rift structure that begins at a break in the Mid-Continent gravity high in southeast Nebraska, extends across Missouri in a northwest-southeast direction, and intersects the Mississippi Valley graben. The rift structure is about 435 mi (700 km) long and 75 to 100 mi (120 to 160 km) wide. It is expressed in gravity images as a low with a Bouguer amplitude of about -34 milligals below regional values. Some of the discrete positive magnetic anomalies in Missouri are located along the borders of the gravity low. The gravity feature cuts across a major age boundary within the Precambrian basement. Finally, digitally enhanced thermal infrared images show a distinct alignment of linear structures with the gravity feature. The linears in some places correspond to mapped high-angle normal faults, to drape folds over relief within the Precambrian basement, and in some places, to extensions of mapped structures. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1169------------
Delayed epistaxis resulting from external carotid artery injury requiring embolization: a rare complication of transsphenoidal surgery: case report.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Delayed epistaxis resulting from trauma to branches of the external carotid artery is an infrequent but potentially serious complication of transsphenoidal surgery. We report two cases of severe, delayed epistaxis in patients who had undergone transsphenoidal surgery. In both cases, noninvasive treatment failed, necessitating endovascular intervention. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: The first patient, a 52-year-old woman with a prolactinoma, underwent a second transsphenoidal resection 18 months after the first surgery. She was readmitted on postoperative Day 15 with massive epistaxis. The second patient, a 40-year-old woman, had undergone two transsphenoidal surgeries, 14 years apart, for an adrenocorticotropic hormone-secreting adenoma. She was readmitted with massive epistaxis on postoperative Day 17. INTERVENTION: Both patients were initially treated with nasal balloon packing but experienced recurrent hemorrhage when the balloon was deflated, necessitating referral to the interventional radiology department for embolization. At arteriography, the first patient was found to have a pseudoaneurysm of the medial branch of the left internal maxillary artery, which was subsequently embolized. Arteriography in the second patient revealed an abnormally dilated midline branch of the right internal maxillary artery in the nasal septum; this vessel was occluded at arteriography. CONCLUSION: Delayed massive epistaxis is a rare but significant complication of transsphenoidal surgery. Injury to branches of the external carotid artery, along with injury to the internal carotid artery, should be suspected in patients who present with delayed epistaxis after transsphenoidal surgery. Angiography performed in patients with refractory bleeding should include selective external carotid injections. Epistaxis that is refractory to anterior and posterior nasal packing may be effectively treated with endovascular embolization.
Subventricular zone neural progenitors from rapid brain autopsies of elderly subjects with and without neurodegenerative disease.

In mice and in young adult humans, the subventricular zone (SVZ) contains multipotent, dividing astrocytes, some of which, when cultured, produce neurospheres that differentiate into neurons and glia. It is unknown whether the SVZ of very old humans has this capacity. Here, we report that neural stem/progenitor cells can also be cultured from rapid autopsy samples of SVZ from elderly human subjects, including patients with age-related neurologic disorders. Histological sections of SVZ from these cases showed a glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive ribbon of astrocytes similar to the astrocyte ribbon in human periventricular white matter biopsies that is reported to be a rich source of neural progenitors. Cultures of the SVZ contained 1) neurospheres with a core of Musashi-1-, nestin-, and nucleostemin-immunopositive cells as well as more differentiated GFAP-positive astrocytes; 2) SMI-311-, MAP2a/b-, and β-tubulin(III)-positive neurons; and 3) galactocerebroside-positive oligodendrocytes. Neurospheres continued to generate differentiated progeny for months after primary culturing, in some cases nearly 2 years postinitial plating. Patch clamp studies of differentiated SVZ cells expressing neuron-specific antigens revealed voltage-dependent, tetrodotoxin-sensitive, inward Na+ currents and voltage-dependent, delayed, slowly inactivating K+ currents, electrophysiologic characteristics of neurons. A subpopulation of these cells also exhibited responses consistent with the kinetics and pharmacology of the h-current. However, although these cells displayed some aspects of neuronal function, they remained immature, insofar as they did not fire action potentials. These studies suggest that human neural progenitor activity may remain viable throughout much of the life span, even in the face of severe neurodegenerative disease. J. Comp. Neurol. 515:269–294, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Les taux de complications sont équivalents chez les malades symptomatiques ou asymptomatiques soumis à une angioplastie carotidienne avec stent

Les malades ayant des symptomes neurologiques soumis a une endarteriectomie carotidienne (EC) ont une incidence plus elevee d'accident vasculaire cerebral (AVC) et de deces post-operatoire que ceux ayant des lesions carotidiennes asymptomatiques. Cette etude examine les resultats des malades symptomatiques et asymptomatiques ayant eu un stenting de l'artere carotide (SAC). De 2002 a 2006, 201 SAC ont ete realises chez 193 malades (117 hommes, âge moyen 73 ± 10 ans) dont 142 pour des lesions asymptomatiques (AS) et 59 pour des lesions symptomatiques (S). Les symptomes neurologiques pre-operatoires comportaient un accident vasculaire cerebral (AVC) recent homolateral (28%), un accident ischemique transitoire (AIT) (50%) et une amaurose fugace (22%). Il y a eu 201 stents carotidiens mis en place (107 Acculink, 43 Wallstent, 23 Precise, 21 NexStent, 3 Exponent, 3 Xact, 1 Herculink) et 198 dispositifs de protection utilisees (79 Accunet, 53 EPI Filterwire, 43 PercuSurge, 20 Angiogard, 3 EmboShield). Le suivi moyen a ete de 41 semaines. Les groupes ont ete apparies en terme de demographie et comorbidite (lesions carotidiennes, hypertension arterielle, hyperlipidemie, diabete, arteriopathie obliterante des membres inferieurs, tabagisme et bronchopneumopathie chronique obstructive; p = non significatif (NS). Il n'y avait pas de difference significative dans les facteurs de risque anatomiques (irradiation cervicale, S 3%, AS 6%; antecedent d'EC, S 14%, AS 14%; crosse aortique bovine S 22%, AS 16%, p = NS) et les types de dispositif de protection embolique et de stents utilises etaient semblables entre les groupes. Le pourcentage moyen de stenose carotidienne avant intervention etait egal (S 88%, AS 88%) et le taux de succes technique a ete de 99%. Les incidences d'AVC (S 3,4%, AS 1,4%), d'infarctus du myocarde (S 1,7%, AS 1,4%) et de deces (S 0, AS 0,7%) etaient equivalentes entre les groupes (p = NS). Le SAC avec protection cerebral peut etre realise en toute securite aussi bien chez des malades symptomatiques qu'asymptomatiques. La presence de symptomes neurologiques pre-operatoires n'augmente pas de facon significative le risque de complications dans la periode post-operatoire dans notre etude.
Coronary Air Embolism and Cardiogenic Shock During Computed Tomography-Guided Needle Biopsy of the Lung

In a 77-year-old man with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, a pulmonary nodule in the right middle lobe was incidentally detected on a chest computed tomography (CT), which was performed for screening purposes of the interstitial pneumonia as a side effect of amiodarone. To establish the diagnosis of lung cancer, the patient was admitted to undergo a CT-guided transthoratic needle biopsy of the lung. The procedure was performed by an experienced pulmonologist using the 18-gauge outer coaxial needle of a disposable core biopsy instrument under CT guidance. The patient was placed in a supine position for the procedure. The biopsy needle was advanced into the lesion, and a specimen was successfully obtained (Figure 1A). Immediately after removing the biopsy needle followed by a postprocedure CT, the patient coughed, discharged a small amount of bloody phlegm, and developed chest pain. Then, he lost consciousness and developed shock with severe hypotension and decreased oxygen saturation. After he was administered 100% oxygen through a mask and received a large quantity of hydration, a chest CT was obtained again for suspected pulmonary hemorrhage …
Utilizing in vivo nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to study sublethal stress in aquatic organisms

In vivo nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) is a powerful technique for characterizing the sublethal actions of physical and chemical stressors in live, intact organisms. In particular, 31P NMR is ideal for observing perturbations to cellular energetics since critical metabolite concentrations, including phosphagens, ATP and inorganic phosphate (Pi), can be measured non-invasively and in real time. This technique's versatility is demonstrated not only in the diversity of organisms that can be studied, but also in its broad-ranging applicability to environmental research. Illustrative studies include the actions of copper in adult red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) and changes in energetically important metabolites in developing medaka embryos (Oryzias latipes). Advantages and disadvantages of in vivo NMR will be discussed.
Differential Localization and Independent Acquisition of the H3K9me2 and H3K9me3 Chromatin Modifications in the Caenorhabditis elegans Adult Germ Line

Histone methylation is a prominent feature of eukaryotic chromatin that modulates multiple aspects of chromosome function. Methyl modification can occur on several different amino acid residues and in distinct mono-, di-, and tri-methyl states. However, the interplay among these distinct modification states is not well understood. Here we investigate the relationships between dimethyl and trimethyl modifications on lysine 9 of histone H3 (H3K9me2 and H3K9me3) in the adult Caenorhabditis elegans germ line. Simultaneous immunofluorescence reveals very different temporal/spatial localization patterns for H3K9me2 and H3K9me3. While H3K9me2 is enriched on unpaired sex chromosomes and undergoes dynamic changes as germ cells progress through meiotic prophase, we demonstrate here that H3K9me3 is not enriched on unpaired sex chromosomes and localizes to all chromosomes in all germ cells in adult hermaphrodites and until the primary spermatocyte stage in males. Moreover, high-copy transgene arrays carrying somatic-cell specific promoters are highly enriched for H3K9me3 (but not H3K9me2) and correlate with DAPI-faint chromatin domains. We further demonstrate that the H3K9me2 and H3K9me3 marks are acquired independently. MET-2, a member of the SETDB histone methyltransferase (HMTase) family, is required for all detectable germline H3K9me2 but is dispensable for H3K9me3 in adult germ cells. Conversely, we show that the HMTase MES-2, an E(z) homolog responsible for H3K27 methylation in adult germ cells, is required for much of the germline H3K9me3 but is dispensable for H3K9me2. Phenotypic analysis of met-2 mutants indicates that MET-2 is nonessential for fertility but inhibits ectopic germ cell proliferation and contributes to the fidelity of chromosome inheritance. Our demonstration of the differential localization and independent acquisition of H3K9me2 and H3K9me3 implies that the trimethyl modification of H3K9 is not built upon the dimethyl modification in this context. Further, these and other data support a model in which these two modifications function independently in adult C. elegans germ cells.
Transcatheter closure of a calcified patent ductus arteriosus in an elderly man

Successful transcatheter closure of a calcified patent ductus arteriosus was performed in a symptomatic 78 year old man. Cardiac catheterization revealed a left to right shunt across the patent ductus arteriosus with a pulmonary to systemic flow ratio of 2.8:1. Calcification of the ductus and severe lung disease increased the risk of surgical patent ductus arteriosus closure. A 17 mm Rashkind double umbrella was positioned in the ductus percutaneously by way of the femoral vein. After closure of the ductus there was marked hemodynamic improvement and the patient was discharged with improved exercise tolerance. Transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus may be a viable option for the elderly patient too sick to withstand cardiovascular surgery.
Optical and electrical Barkhausen noise induced by recording ferroelectric domain holograms

Ferroelectric domain gratings with periods of the order of an optical wavelength are induced in strontium barium niobate by photorefractive space-charge fields. We measure the Barkhausen noise in current and diffraction efficiency while optically recording domain gratings and show that the two are strongly correlated in time. Significant random depolarization occurs under high-intensity illumination. We deduce the kinetics of the domain inversion process from the shape of the current transients.
Increased activity of in situ catalysts for alkyne metathesis.

Reaction of an enyne (1,1-diphenyl-pent-1-ene-3-yne) with a preheated mixture of Mo(CO)6/4-chlorophenol/3-hexyne at 130 °C furnished 1,1,6,6-tetraphenylhex-1,5-diene-3-yne in an 80% yield. If the starting material was heated with a mixture of Mo(CO)6 and 4-chlorophenol under identical conditions, no reaction was observed.
Hexamethylmelamine/Altretamine as Second-Line Therapy for Epithelial Ovarian Carcinoma

The purpose of this report was to review second-line hexamethylmelamine (HMM) chemotherapy of epithelial ovarian cancer to determine if HMM was active in cisplatin-resistant disease. Forty-four women with measurable disease received 100-300 mg/day HMM for 14 days, courses repeated every 4 weeks. There were 6 complete and 3 partial responses for an objective response rate of 20%. Among responding patients disease-free survival was 55% and overall survival was 88% at 3 years. Five of the 6 patients with a complete response remained disease-free at 10-117 months. Only 7/35 (20%) nonresponding patients were alive with mean follow-up of 16 months, and all had persistent cancer. Five women manifesting disease progression during cisplatin or carboplatin were subsequently treated with HMM, and none responded. Seventeen patients developing progressive cancer while receiving HMM were subsequently treated with cisplatin or carboplatin and objective responses occurred in 5 (29%). HMM was an active drug against epithelial ovarian cancer previously treated with cisplatin, but further study is needed to determine its activity against cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer.
Staphylococcus lugdunensis - Not the Average Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcus Species

Staphylococcus lugdunensis is an unusually virulent coagulase-negative staphylococcal species with unique clinical and microbiological properties. S. lugdunensis is a skin commensal, as well as a pathogen with a propensity to cause highly aggressive and destructive infections that clinically resemble those caused by Staphylococcus aureus, including native valve endocarditis. Aside from endocarditis, S. lugdunensis infections include skin and soft tissue infection and prosthetic joint infection. Some isolates produce a membrane-bound form of coagulase that may result in misidentification of S. lugdunensis as S. aureus in the clinical laboratory. Unlike other coagulase-negative staphylococci, S. lugdunensis is usually susceptible to most antimicrobial agents, lacks mecA, and shares CLSI antimicrobial susceptibility breakpoints for oxacillin with S. aureus. The virulence factors that contribute to the heightened pathogenicity of S. lugdunensis remain largely undetermined. Recent studies indicate that S. lugdunensis can bind to host tissues or prosthetic surfaces and form biofilms.
Effect of Dissolved Oxygen on Oxic/Anoxic Diauxic Lag of P. denitrificans

Nitrogen is removed in suspended growth wastewater treatment systems by passing mixed liquor from an aerobic zone in which nitrification takes place to an anoxic zone in which denitrification takes place. Following the switch from oxygen to nitrate as terminal electron acceptor, a diauxic lag may occur. The present study tested the hypothesis that lower dissolved oxygen concentrations in the aerobic phase lead to shorter diauxic lags. Bacterial cultures exposed to low dissolved oxygen concentrations (<0.70 mg/L) during the aerobic growth phase had significantly shorter diauxic lags than cultures grown at air saturation. Furthermore, these cultures generally grew faster during the anoxic phase. These results indicate that the effect of dissolved oxygen concentration in aerobic reactors on diauxic lags and anoxic growth rates in anoxic reactors should be considered in the design and operation of nitrogen-removing, suspended growth biological treatment processes.
Osmolytes modulate conformational exchange in solvent-exposed regions of membrane proteins.

Site-directed spin labeling (SDSL) was used to investigate local structure and conformational exchange in two bacterial outer-membrane TonB-dependent transporters, BtuB and FecA. Protecting osmolytes, such as polyethylene glycols (PEGs) are known to modulate a substrate-dependent conformational equilibrium in the energy coupling motif (Ton box) of BtuB. Here, we demonstrate that a segment that is N-terminal to the Ton box in BtuB, is in conformational exchange between ordered and disordered states with or without substrate. Protecting osmolytes shift this equilibrium to favor the more ordered, folded state. However, a segment of BtuB that is C-terminal to the Ton box that is not solvent exposed is insensitive to PEGs. Protecting osmolytes also modulate a conformational equilibrium in the Ton box of FecA, with larger molecular weight PEGs producing the largest shifts in the conformational free energy. These data indicate that solvent-exposed regions of these transporters undergo conformational exchange and that regions of these transporters that are involved in protein–protein interactions sample multiple conformational substates. The sensitivity to solute provides an explanation for differences seen between two high-resolution structures of BtuB, which each likely represent one conformation from a subset of states that are normally sampled by the protein. This work also illustrates how SDSL and osmolytes may be used to characterize and quantitate conformational equilibria in membrane proteins.
Sources of Variability in Phosphorus and Chlorophyll and Their Effects on Use of Lake Survey Data

: Summer lake survey measurements of total phosphorus (TP) and chlorophyll a (CHLa) from 188 reserviors and natural lakes in the midwest were analyzed to determine the magnitude of major sources of variability. Median variance among replicate samples collected at the same location and time was about 7-8 percent of the mean for both TP and CHLa. Median observed temporal variability within summers was 27 percent of the mean for TP and 45 percent of the mean for CHLa. Median values of year-to-year variance in average TP and CHLa were 22 percent and 31 percent of the mean, respectively. A range of approximately two orders of magnitude was observed among individual estimates of variance in each of these categories. The magnitude of observed temporal variability was affected only slightly by variance among replicate samples on individual days and was weakly correlated with the length of time during which samples were collected from individual lakes. Observed temporal variation was similar between reservoirs and natural lakes when variances were calculated with logtransformed data. The magnitude of temporal and year-to-year variance can severely limit the power of statistical comparisons of TP and CHLa means, but has less effect on establishing relative rankings of lake means, Sources and relative magnitude of variability are important in the use of TP and CHLa data in regression models and in the planning of lake surveys and subsequent data analysis.
A Family of Truthful Greedy Mechanisms for Dynamic Virtual Machine Provisioning and Allocation in Clouds

Designing efficient mechanisms for Virtual Machine (VM) provisioning and allocation is a major challenging problem that needs to be solved by cloud providers. We formulate the VM provisioning and allocation problem in clouds as an integer program and design truthful greedy mechanisms that solve it. We show that the proposed mechanisms are truthful, that is, the users do not have incentives to lie about their requested bundles of VM instances and their valuations. We perform extensive experiments in order to investigate the performance of the proposed mechanisms.
A escolha do cônjuge

This article focuses on the topics of courtship and engagement, the age at which persons marry and age differences between spouses. The text briefly describes three long historical periods, namely, the colonial period, from 19th to the late 20th centuries, and the early 21st. The discussion involves a multi-disciplinary analysis from the historical, social, demographic and legal points of view, and deals especially with the developments of these situations, either through persistence or due to change. Also considered are the actors involved and their importance in the choices of their future wife or husband. In the earliest period studied the choice was based on kinship and territory, with special importance given to broad family networks, which participated in facing the difficulties involved in survival. With the advances of industrialization, urbanization, technology and communications, and the greater importance given to the individual, the question of who was to choose the spouses evolved. Dependence on the family structure became less and less important and personal and emotional preferences became more determinant, influenced by various types of social, demographic and legal changes.
The propagation of a vortex ring through multiple liquid interfaces in microgravity

We report experimental observations of the propagation of a vortex ring through two liquid interfaces separating immiscible liquids. The experiments examine the effect of vortex ring strength and the thickness of the middle layer on the evolution of the flow. A wide range of phenomena is observed. In particular, we show that at some conditions the vortex ring enters the top layer without bringing with it fluid from the middle layer. At higher Weber numbers, the vortex ring engulfs fluid from the middle layer and forms a drop of liquid from the lower layer coated with fluid from the middle layer. (Author)
Photoinduced Electron Transfer between C60 and Bis-Diphenylamino (Diphenylpolyenes), Measurement of Intrinsic Quantum Efficiency

Intermolecular photoinduced electron transfer between C60 and two bis-diphenylamino (diphenylpolyenes) in dilute solutions was measured using step-scan Fourier transform spectroscopy which yielded extremely smooth temporal data. A mechanistic model containing a single intermediate and treatment of the kinetics generates a total quantum efficiency for free ions that can be factored into two terms, a quenching efficiency, ΦQ, and an efficiency for formation of free ions out of the intermediate, ΦSI. Two methods for extracting ΦSI are provided and the dependence on solvent polarity and other parameters is investigated.
Frequency Importance Functions for Words, Sentences, and Continuous Discourse

This research determined frequency importance functions (FIFs) for words, sentences, and continuous discourse under comparable conditions so that contextual effects of speech could be isolated. A m...
Endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol protects neurons against β-amyloid insults

While endocannabinoid modulation of both GABAergic and glutamatergic synaptic transmission and plasticity has been extensively investigated, our understanding of the role of endocannabinoids in protecting neurons from harmful insults remains limited. 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), the most abundant endogenous ligand and a full agonist for cannabinoid receptors, exhibits anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects via a CB1 receptor (CB1R)-mediated mechanism. However, it is still not clear whether 2-AG is also able to protect neurons from β-amyloid (Aβ)-induced neurodegeneration. Here, we demonstrate that exogenous application of 2-AG significantly protected hippocampal neurons in culture against Aβ-induced neurodegeneration and apoptosis. This neuroprotective effect was blocked by SR141716 (SR-1), a selective CB1R antagonist, but not by SR144528 (SR-2), a selective CB2R antagonist, or capsazepine (CAP), a selective transient receptor potential cation channels, subfamily V, member 1 (TRPV1) receptor antagonist. To determine whether endogenous 2-AG is capable of protecting neurons from Aβ insults, hippocampal neurons in culture were treated with URB602 or JZL184, selective inhibitors of monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), the enzyme hydrolyzing 2-AG. MAGL inhibition that elevates endogenous levels of 2-AG also significantly reduced Aβ-induced neurodegeneration and apoptosis. The 2-AG-produced neuroprotective effects appear to be mediated via CB1R-dependent suppression of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) phosphorylation and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression. Our results suggest that elevation of endogenous 2-AG by inhibiting its hydrolysis has potential as a novel efficacious therapeutic approach for preventing, ameliorating or treating Alzheimer's disease.
Measurement of pK for weak bases with the aid of sodium ion-selective electrodes

A method for obtaining pKa of weak bases from emf measurements of cells with glass pH electrodes and sodium ion-selective electrodes is described. The Harned-Ehlers method [1] uses hydrogen and Ag/AgCl electrodes; it yields accurate results but requires special apparatus and techniques and numerous data. The present method produces somewhat less accurate data; it retains the advantages of a cell with liquid junction, however, and is both simple and rapid. It is particularly suited to the study of bases where the solubility of AgCl is often of concern. To determine the equilibrium constant Ka for the process BH+ ⇌ B + H+, one measures the emf (E) of cells The emf of this cell is given by where k is the Nernst slope, 2.3026 RT/F. With weak bases (Kb < 10−4) and fixed small molality of Na+ (e.g. 0.01 m), the last term remains constant when the buffer is diluted with NaCl solution. More important, the activity coefficient term is small and varies linearly with ionic strength (I). Thus E is a linear function of I, with a small slope. This is not the case with the Harned method, where this term is log (γBH+γCl-/γB). The value of pKa can be derived from the intercept (E′) at I = O. Similar measurements of E′ for a reference base of known pKa (e.g. tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane [2]) provide the value of E°. Id the buffer ratio and sodium molality are the same for the reference buffer and the unknown buffer, ΔpKa = ΔE′/k. Results are given for several weak bases in water and in 50% methanol/water at temperatures from 15 to 35°C. The responses of the electrodes were in accord with the Nernst slope. Two or three measurement were sufficient to yield values of pKa. The results agreed well with accepted constants from the literature.
Probing the Fetal Cardiac Signal for Antecedents of Brain Injury

Obstetric care providers and researchers have long relied on analysis of the fetal heart rate tracing for insight into the fetal neurologic status. Although a normal fetal heart rate tracing does provide reassurance of intact neurologic function, an abnormal pattern is a very poor predictor of newborn brain injury. Indeed, if the clinical end point of interest is cerebral palsy, a non-reassuring fetal heart rate tracing has a 99% false positive rate. More recent analyses of fetal heart rate variability and fetal ECG waveforms, however, hold promise for improved diagnostic accuracy.
Claiming an Identity Caribbean Women Writers in English

Several English-speaking Caribbean women writers stress the importance of knowing one's history. The interrelationship leads to the formation of female identity. All write about mothers as vehicles of culture and history. Once this function is removed from biological mothers, the daughters become confused about their history and place in it. From the slave narrative to two contemporary novels, we see a slide from the nurturing mother to two surrogate mothers that plummets to an emotionally absent one. This fall results in the need for the daughters to claim and reclaim their historical and cultural identity. In 1831, Mary Prince of Bermuda finished writing The History of Mary Prince, a West Indian Slave, Related by Herself (Prince, 1831/1987). Published simultaneously in London and Edinburgh in 1831, this is the first known book and slave narrative by an English-speaking Caribbean woman writer. Its value lies in the details that it gives of the British-Caribbean slave trade and the rarely documented recollections of an enslaved Caribbean woman. Prince identifies specific roles played by African women both on sugarcane plantations and in the salt fields. She recounts sufferings, humiliations, psychological trauma, and constant physical abuses rained on her by her various European masters and mistresses in their attempts to tame her emergent rebellious nature. Although The History of Mary Prince was structured and edited for use as propaganda for the Anti-Slavery Movement in Britain, Prince attempts to assert herself and to reflect her presence and her place. She speaks the truth about slavery and retraces her plight as
Plasma glucose metabolism during exercise in humans.

Plasma glucose is an important energy source in exercising humans, supplying between 20 and 50% of the total oxidative energy production and between 25 and 100% of the total carbohydrate oxidised during submaximal exercise. Plasma glucose utilisation increases with the intensity of exercise, due to an increase in glucose utilisation by each active muscle fibre, an increase in the number of active muscle fibres, or both. Plasma glucose utilisation also increases with the duration of exercise, thereby partially compensating for the progressive decrease in muscle glycogen concentration. When compared at the same absolute exercise intensity (i.e. the same VO2), reliance on plasma glucose is also greater during exercise performed with a small muscle mass, i.e. with the arms or just 1 leg. This may be due to differences in the relative exercise intensity (i.e. the %VO2peak), or due to differences between the arms and legs in their fitness for aerobic activity.
Optimal routing of electric vehicles in networks with charging nodes: A dynamic programming approach

Motivated by the significant role of recharging in battery-powered vehicles, we study the routing problem for vehicles with limited energy through a network of charging nodes. We seek to minimize the total elapsed time for vehicles to reach their destinations considering both traveling and recharging times at nodes when the vehicles do not have adequate energy for the entire journey.We have studied the case of homogeneous charging nodes in [1] and generalized it to inhomogeneous charging nodes in [2] by formulating and solving a Mixed Integer Non-Linear Programming problem (MINLP) for a single-vehicle. In this paper, we solve the same problem using Dynamic Programming (DP), resulting in optimal solutions with lower computational complexity compared to [2]. For a multi-vehicle problem, where traffic congestion effects are included, we use a similar approach by grouping vehicles into “subflows” and propose a DP formulation. Our numerical results show that DP becomes prohibitively slow as the number of subflows increases. As in [1] and [2] we resort to an alternative flow optimization formulation leading to a computationally simpler problem solution with minimal loss of accuracy.
BIOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON SHOCK : I. THE METABOLISM OF AMINO ACIDS AND CARBOHYDRATE DURING HEMORRHAGIC SHOCK IN THE RAT

During and following the production of shock by hemorrhage in the normal, suprareno-demedullated, and suprarenalectomized rat, the following significant changes in amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism have been observed. 1. In the intact, suprareno-demedullated, and suprarenalectomized rat there is a progressive rise in the whole blood and plasma amino acid nitrogen levels during and after a fatal, shock-inducing hemorrhage. The rate of rise varies inversely with the survival time. In animals surviving the hemorrhage there is little or no elevation in whole blood amino acid levels during the 8 hours following hemorrhage, and a decrease in 24 hours due to hemodilution. The plasma amino acids, however, rise slightly. 2. The blood amino acid nitrogen elevation occurs only after the blood pressure has fallen to between 85 and 90 mm. of Hg. 3. The blood keto acids, as pyruvate, and the blood lactate become elevated during shock in the normal, suprareno-demedullated and suprarenalectomized rat. 4. In the normal fasted rat with low liver glycogen stores the blood sugar may rise moderately or may not rise at all during hemorrhagic shock. In animals with high liver glycogen levels (fed rats or fasted rats previously fed high protein diets) shock generally induces a marked hyperglycemia. In both groups hypoglycemia may occur terminally. 5. In the suprareno-demedullated and suprarenalectomized rats shock is always accompanied by a fall in the blood sugar. 6. There is no significant difference between the liver glycogen levels of suprareno-demedullated rats fasted 48 hours and those similarly fasted but surviving 24 hours after a hemorrhage. The blood chemical changes have been interpreted as due to a decrease in hepatic function resulting from early anoxia of the liver and to the later effects of anoxia on the peripheral tissues causing an increased rate of protein breakdown and of glucose utilization and an accumulation of lactate and pyruvate in the blood and tissues.
Feminist Beliefs Associated with Young Women's Recovery from Male-Perpetrated Abuse

We identified no empirical investigations of ways in which feminist beliefs might protect women from the effects of male-perpetrated abuse. Thus, we used a qualitative approach to explore this association. We conducted 32 interviews with women who reported prior experiences of male-perpetrated abuse. The results suggest that feminist beliefs have protected these women by (a) decreasing self-blame and shame; (b) promoting a connection to, and support from, other women; (c) recognizing that they are not alone; and (d) enhancing personal agency and power. We discuss the importance of future quantitative research in this area to further inform feminist-inspired interventions.
Blind attraction: the mechanism of an inherited congenital cataract.

Cataract is the leading cause of blindness in the world, and most cataracts are age-related (1). The proteins in the lens degrade with time, and the subsequent aggregation of the modified proteins produces an increase in light scattering, and hence a loss of vision (2). There are cases, however, in which cataract is an inherited single-gene disorder. Currently, around 60 such cataracts have been identified (3). In these cases, the cause of the disease is a mutation in the genes that code for the lens proteins. Unlike age-related cataracts, inherited cataracts occur in children as well as adults (4). In PNAS, Banerjee et al. (5) report a previously undescribed mechanism for an inherited congenital cataract. They carefully examine the delicately balanced interactions among the lens proteins that maintain the proper function of the lens.