cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Outcomes For Hand Burns Treated With Autologous Skin Cell Suspension In 20% Tbsa And Smaller Injuries

In order to address the confounder of TBSA on burn outcomes, we sought to analyze our experience with the use of autologous skin cell suspensions (ASCS) in a cohort of subjects with hand burns whose TBSA totaled 20% or less. We hypothesized that the use of ASCS in conjunction with 2:1 meshed autograft for the treatment of hand burn injuries would provide comparable outcomes to hand burns treated with sheet or minimally meshed autograft alone. A retrospective review was conducted for all deep partial and full-thickness hand burns treated with split-thickness autograft (STAG) at our urban verified burn center between April 2018 and September 2020. The exclusion criterion was a TBSA greater than 20%. The cohorts were those subjects treated with ASCS in combination with STAG (ASCS(+)) vs those treated with STAG alone (ASCS(-)). All ASCS(+) subjects were treated with 2:1 meshed STAG and ASCS overspray while all ASCS(-) subjects had 1:1, piecrust, or unmeshed sheet graft alone. Outcomes measured included demographics, time to wound closure, proportion returning to work (RTW), and length of time to RTW. Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparisons of continuous variables and Fisher's exact test for categorical variables. Values are reported as medians and 25th and 75th interquartile ranges. Fifty-one subjects fit the study criteria (ASCS(+) n = 31, ASCS(-) n = 20). The ASCS(+) group was significantly older than the ASCS(-) cohort (44 [32-54] vs 32 years [27.5-37], P = .009) with larger %TBSA burns (15% [9.5-17] vs 2% [1-4], P < .0001) and larger size hand burns (190 [120-349.5] vs 126 cm2 [73.5-182], P = .015). Comparable results were seen between ASCS(+) and ASCS(-), respectively, for time to wound closure (9 [7-13] vs 11.5 days [6.75-14], P = .63), proportion RTW (61% vs 70%, P = .56), and days for RTW among those returning (35 [28.5-57] vs 33 [20.25-59], P = .52). The ASCS(+) group had two graft infections with no reoperations, while ASCS(-) had one infection with one reoperation. No subjects in either group had a dermal substitute placed. Despite being significantly older, having larger hand wounds, and larger overall wounds within the parameters of the study criteria, patients with 20% TBSA burns or smaller whose hand burns were treated with 2:1 mesh and ASCS overspray had comparable time to wound closure, proportion of RTW, and time to return to work as subjects treated with 1:1 or piecrust meshed STAG. Our group plans to follow this work with scar assessments for a more granular picture of pliability and reconstructive needs.
Approximate maximum likelihood estimators for linear regression with design matrix uncertainty.

In this paper we consider regression problems subject to arbitrary noise in the operator or design matrix. This characterization appropriately models many physical phenomena with uncertainty in the regressors. Although the problem has been studied extensively for ordinary/total least squares, and via models that implicitly or explicitly assume Gaussianity, less attention has been paid to improving estimation for regression problems under general uncertainty in the design matrix. To address difficulties encountered when dealing with distributions of sums of random variables, we rely on the saddle point method to estimate densities and form an approximate log-likelihood to maximize. We show that the proposed method performs favorably against other classical methods.
Media Capture and Bias in the Market for News

We analyze a model of media bias under government capture and a free press. The government wants citizens to invest in a project. Citizens gain from investing only if the state of the economy is good. The state is unobserved. The media firm receives a noisy signal about the actual state and makes a report about whether or not the state of the economy is good. Citizens read the report and decide whether or not to invest. In this context, we show that media bias under government capture may be smaller (greater) than that under free press if the cost of investment is sufficiently high (low) provided that the signal noise is below a certain threshold. Finally, we show that the difference between the bias under government capture and free press diverges (converges) when the cost of investment is sufficiently high (low) in response to a reduction in noise.
Free Vibration analysis of Curvilinearly Stiffened Composite plates with an arbitrarily shaped cutout using Isogeometric Analysis.

This paper focuses on the isogeometric vibration analysis of curvilinearly stiffened composite panels. The stiffness matrices and the mass matrices are derived using the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT). The present method models the plate and the stiffener separately, which allows the stiffener element nodes to not coincide with the plate shell-element nodes. The stiffness and mass matrices of a stiffener are transformed to those of the plate through the displacement compatibility conditions at the plate/stiffener interface by interpolation using NURBS basis functions. Cutouts are modeled using a single NURBS patch generated by creating a ruled surface between two curves. The proposed formulation is first validated by comparing it with available literature. The effects of width-to-thickness ratio, fiber orientation, ply layups, shape and size of the cutouts and the boundary conditions on the response of stiffened composite plates are then analyzed and the numerical results are used to derive useful conclusions.
Abstract T P106: Sedentary Time During the Acute Hospital Stay is Associated With Functional Performance

Purpose: A few studies have been conducted during in-patient rehabilitation to describe physical activity (PA) levels. Most have been observational and conducted at various time intervals during the day. These studies have shown that during in-patient rehabilitation, stroke survivors participate in minimal therapy as well as spend the majority of their day sedentary. To our knowledge no studies have characterized PA during the acute hospital stay. The purpose of this study was to objectively assess PA levels using tri-axial accelerometers during the acute hospital stay. We will determine whether the duration of sedentary bouts are associated with functional performance at discharge. We hypothesized that shorter bouts of sedentary time will moderately associated with greater performance on walking and functional ability at discharge. Methods: Twenty-nine individuals (14 males; average age of 59.17 ± 11.6 years) were enrolled into the study within 48 hours of hospital admission with acute stroke. Tri-axial accelerometers were placed bilaterally on the ankles to monitor activity 24 hours per day. Functional assessments were conducted at baseline and prior to discharge. Walking was assessed using the Timed-Up and Go (TUG) and Six Minute Walk Test (6MWT). Activities of daily living (ADLs) were assessed using the Physical Performance Test (PPT). Results: During the acute hospital stay, the average percent time spent in sedentary, light, moderate and vigorous activities was 94.8 ± 3.2%, 4.4 ± 2.1%, 0.5 ± 0.5%, and 0.1 ± 0.3%, respectively. For individuals with functional testing at baseline and discharge (n = 17), average length of sedentary bouts per day was significantly related to 6MWT (r = -0.61, p < 0.006) and PPT (r = -0.76, p < 0.001) at discharge, but not TUG (r = 0.24, p < 0.37) even when controlling for baseline performance. Conclusion: Stroke patients spend the majority of the stroke hospital stay sedentary. Stroke patients who had shorter bouts of sedentary time during the hospital stay showed greater performance in the 6-MWT and PPT. Acute stroke patients would benefit from decreasing sedentary time during the acute hospital stay.
Cutaneous metabolism of nitroglycerin in vitro. I. Homogenized versus intact skin.

The metabolism of nitroglycerin (GTN) to 1,2- and 1,3-glyceryl dinitrate (GDN) by hairless mouse skin in vitro has been measured. In the first set of experiments, GTN was incubated with the 9000g supernatant of fresh, homogenized tissue in the presence and absence of glutathione (GSH), a cofactor for glutathione-S-transferase. After 2 hr of incubation with GSH, 30% of the initially present GTN had been converted to 1,2- and 1,3-GDN; without GSH, less than 5% of the GTN was metabolized. The ratio of 1,2-GDN to 1,3-GDN produced by the homogenate was 1.8– 2.1. In the second series of studies, GTN was administered topically to freshly excised, intact hairless mouse skin in conventional in vitro diffusion cells. The concurrent transport and metabolism of GTN was then monitored by sequential analysis of the receptor phase perfusing the dermal side of the tissue. Three topical formulations were used: a low concentration (1 mg/ml) aqueous solution, a 2% ointment, and a transder-mal delivery system. Delivery of total nitrates (GTN + 1,2-GDN + 1,3-GDN) into the receptor phase was similar for ointment and patch formulations and much greater than that from the solution. The percentage metabolites formed, however, was greatest for the solution (61% and 2 hr, compared to 49% for the patch and 35% for the ointment). As has been noted before, therefore, the relative level of skin metabolism is likely to be greatest when the transepidermal flux is small. Distinct from the homogenate experiments, the 1,2/1,3-GDN ratios in the penetration studies were in the range 0.7– 0.9. It would appear that homogenization of the skin permits GTN to be exposed to a different distribution of enzymes than that encountered during passive skin permeation.
The Ticket to Increasing Students' Concept Retention

Classroom assessment techniques have been used by college professors for over 20 years. The authors of this paper developed a new teaching technique, the ticket to retention (TtR) , which changes classroom assessment techniques from focusing on evaluating instruction to emphasizing students’ long-term retention of concepts. The results of this mixed methods study include the students’ perspective of the TtR and confirm that students who used the TtR scored higher on short answer questions than those who did not.
Realization and input/output relations: the analytic case

A Fliess operator (or I/O mapping) is an operator described by a convergent generating series. This is a very general kind of I/O causal operator, and it includes a large variety of nonlinear systems. Previous results relating algebraic I/O equations to internal realizability are extended to analytic I/O equations and local internal realizability. >
A Π-Adduct of Chromocene: (η5-C5H5)2Cr(η2-C4F6)

Abstract Chromocene and hexafluorobut-2-yne react in hydrocarbon solvents at temperatures below -30® to give a green, diamagnetic φ-complex, (η5-C5H5)2Cr(η2-C4F6). At higher temperatures a purple paramagnetic complex, of empirical formula CrC14H10F6, is formed.
Volcano Seismology and Monitoring for Eruptions

Seismology is considered one of the most useful tools for eruption forecasting and monitoring. Volcanoes are the sources of a great variety of seismic signals that behave differently than those from events on earthquake faults. Every recorded volcanic eruption is preceded by an increase in earthquake activity beneath or near the volcano and accompanied and followed by varying levels of seismicity. This chapter reviews some of the developments in volcano seismology that have led to an improved understanding of volcanoes and the volcanic processes that cause earthquakes and other seismicity. It also describes patterns and relationships in volcano seismology that form the physical basis of contemporary monitoring and forecasting. The key developments in volcano seismology are often driven by different types of seismic events that volcanoes produce. Some of the significant characteristics explored by volcano seismology include: (1) tomography and b value anomalies, which have identified large magmatic or near-magmatic structures, while low frequency events and volcanic tremor are associated with small scale movement of magma or water, (2) normal earthquake activity at volcanoes varies widely with a number of systematic trends, and (3) understanding and modeling of physical processes and study of many case histories helps to know about the next happening.
Simplified Method for Purification of Clostridium perfringens Type A Enterotoxin

Purification of Clostridium perfringens type A enterotoxin from sporulated cells was simplified. The method consisted of precipitation of the enterotoxin from the extract of sonically treated cells at 40% saturation of ammonium sulfate at pH 7, differential solubilization in 0.02 M phosphate buffer, pH 6.7, and repeated gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. The purified enterotoxin was at least 98% pure in ultracentrifugation, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and agar gel double diffusion. Recovery was over 74% from the sporulated cell extract. The toxin had biological activities of at least 4,700 mouse intravenous minimal lethal doses/mg of N, 3,900 capillary permeability-increasing U/mg of N in the guinea pig skin, and 210 rabbit intestinal loop distension U/mg of N. The toxin, containing no hexose, lipid, or nucleic acid, appeared to be identical in sedimentation constant, isoelectric point, and ultraviolet absorption spectrum to the toxin purified previously by different procedures.
TEACHING SOCIAL LANGUAGE TO MODERATELY HANDICAPPED STUDENTS

Three students with moderate handicaps were taught to initiate and expand on conversational topics. The teaching procedure used stimuli generated from actual conversations with nonhandicapped peers. Generalization was assessed by audiotaping conversations between the handicapped students and their peers in natural school contexts without adult supervision. Results indicated that training generalized to natural contexts. These results were socially validated by undergraduate special education students, who rated tapes of two of the students' conversations during training phases as more socially competent than during baseline. Results are discussed in terms of the evaluation of complex social behavior as multioperant behaviors.
Childhood Obesity: Update on Predisposing Factors and Prevention Strategies

Obesity is a global epidemic and children are affected in increasing numbers. Overweight children are at increased risk of becoming overweight adults with associated chronic diseases. In this update, we present key findings from a review of the current literature focused on potential causes and strategies for preventing childhood obesity. We highlight recent evidence regarding the role of genetics, maternal body mass index, postnatal influences, and environmental effects throughout childhood in predicting overweight. We also summarize the results of new research that examined the effectiveness of intervention strategies implemented in a variety of settings: home, school, community, and health care system. Statements recently released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Department of Health and Human Services emphasize the need for effective policy and environmental change to promote healthy lifestyle change at the individual and population levels.
Modeling aerodynamically generated sound of helicopter rotors

A great deal of progress has been made in the modeling of aerodynamically generated sound of rotors over the past decade. Although the modeling effort has focused on helicopter main rotors, the theory is generally valid for a wide range of rotor configurations. The Ffowcs Williams Hawkings (FW-H) equation has been the foundation for much of the development. The monopole and dipole source terms of the FW-H equation account for the thickness and loading noise, respectively. Bladevortex-interaction noise and broadband noise are important types of loading noise, hence much research has been directed toward the accurate modeling of these noise mechanisms. Both subsonic and supersonic quadrupole noise formulations have been developed for the prediction of high-speed impulsive noise. In an effort to eliminate the need to compute the quadrupole contribution, the FW-H equation has also been utilized on permeable surfaces surrounding all physical noise sources. Comparisons of the Kirchhoff formulation for moving surfaces with the FW-H equation have shown that the Kirchhoff formulation for moving surfaces can give erroneous results for aeroacoustic problems. Finally, significant progress has been made incorporating the rotor noise models into full vehicle noise prediction tools.
[35S]cysteamine: Facile synthesis, in vivo biokinetics, and subcellular distribution

Abstract Whereas chemical radioprotection against external beams of ionizing radiation is well studied in radiobiology, the aspects relating to tissue incorporated radionuclides have received little attention. The increased use of radionuclides in diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine, as well as the presence of both manmade and natural radioactivity in the environment, indeed call for such investigations. Our ongoing work on a variety of radioprotectors has revealed that cysteamine (MEA), S-2-aminoethylisothio uroniumbromide hydrobromide (AET), and others (e.g. ascorbic acid), protect spermatogonial cells in mouse testis from the effects of chronic irradiation with intratesticularly localized radionuclides. In these experiments, dose modification factors ranging from 2 to 4 and 10 to 14 were obtained using spermhead survival and induction of spermhead abnormalities, respectively, as the biological end points. Similar experiments were carried out by changing the mode of administration of cysteamine to oral intubation. In these studies a dose modification factor of ~3 was observed in the spermhead survival assay. In an effort to understand the protection offered by MEA, the present work describes a one-pot synthesis of high specific activity [ 35 S]cysteamine from elemental [ 35 S]sulphur and its use in determining the biokinetics and biodistribution of MEA following intratesticular (i.t.) or oral administration in mice.
The in vivo autoradiographic measurement of regional cerebral blood flow using stable xenon and computerized tomography: The effect of tissue heterogeneity and computerized tomography noise

Summary: We have studied the effect of brain tissue (gray matter-white matter) heterogeneity and computerized tomography (CT) noise on the ac-curacy of xenon CT measurements of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) based upon “autoradiographic” and multiple-scan washin protocols. The re-sults of our mathematical analysis indicate that both protocols are associated with a variety of measurement errors that lead to unacceptable and, to a large extent, unpredictable uncertainties in calculated values of rCBF. Brain tissue heterogeneity and high Volumetrie flow rates may—even in the absence of movement artifact and CT noise—lead to measurement errors in excess of 20%. Moreover, CT noise is additive in regard to these errors, and constitutes the most confounding variable of all.
Alveolar macrophage-environmental particle interaction: analysis by flow cytometry.

Inhaled particulates such as pollutant particles, allergens, and microorganisms are rapidly cleared by alveolar macrophages (AMs). Methods for analysis of AM-particle interaction have been hindered by the lack of a convenient assay. Flow cytometry offers rapid, sensitive, and reproducible measurements of single cells in suspension. Multiple parameters can be measured in real time. Here we will review the application of flow cytometry to the study and characterization of AM receptors for unopsonized environmental particles. We will discuss the role of this technique in identifying a key AM receptor system involved in lung defense. Multiparametric flow cytometry to analyze intracellular functional parameters, though a powerful and unique tool, needs to be interpreted with caution. We will also discuss the advantages and limitations of flow cytometry in analysis of AM-particle interaction.
Three-dimensional visualization of nanoscale structure and deformation

A straightforward approach allowing three-dimensional (3D) visualization of subsurface deformation beneath nanoindents using reconstructed cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) data is demonstrated. This approach relies on generating an array of nanoindents, extracting a thin (<200 nm) cross section using a focused ion beam (FIB) and imaging with a transmission electron microscope. By rotating the orientation of the FIB cross section with respect to the array of nanoindents at the optimal angle, it is guaranteed that a different section of each nanoindent’s subsurface plastic zone is contained within the final cross section. Subsequently, TEM images corresponding to different sections are reconstructed into a 3D image of a representative nanoindentation plastic zone. This approach can be extended to any array of nominally identical features that can be patterned with regular spacing and included in a single FIB cross section. It was also found to significantly enhance the throughput of preparing routine site-specific TEM samples, even when 3D visualization is not necessary. In this article, the approach is applied to visualize the plastic zones beneath nanoindents in GaAs (001), for loads of 50-1000 ώN.
Arsenite‐BAL as an Inhibitor of Germination

Imbibition of light-sensitive lettuce seeds in mixed solutions of sodium arsenite and 2,3-dimercaptopropanol (BAL) inhibits light-induced germination more potently than does arsenite alone, particularly at higher temperatures. There is limited reversal of the enhanced inhibition at high BAL/arsenite ratios. The complex is also more inhibitory than arsenite after shorter periods of imbibition. Monothiol compounds do not give the increased inhibition, nor do combinations of BAL with other thiol group reagents. Greater penetrability, possibly into some internal compartment of the cell, is suggested as the cause of the enhancement. Induction of germination by gibberellic acid or low temperature is equally sensitive to arsenite-BAL. The extent of the inhibition of germination of 9 other species by arsenite-BAL is not clearly related to their light-sensitivity.
Somatization, distress and chronic pain.

The two defining features of somatization are numerous self-reported physical symptoms and excessive health care seeking. This may be due to a lowered perceptual threshold for perceiving and reporting bodily symptoms, amplification or misinterpretation of those symptoms, or underlying psychiatric disturbance. Recurrent pain is the most common somatic symptom reported. True somatization disorder is very rare (<1%) and requires a DSM-III-R diagnosis of at least 13 different physical symptoms which cannot be explained by, or are in gross excess of physical findings, and have caused the patients to seek health care or alter their lifestyles. However, researchers have argued that a spectrum of severity for somatization exists, and this is supported by epidemiological research. Available data also indicate that behavioural interventions may show long-term cost-effectiveness in the management of chronic pain. Chronic pain dysfunction appears to place a disproportionate burden on overall health care expenditure for chronic pain patients.
Tensioned Pullout Test Used to Investigate Wire Splitting Propensity in Concrete Railroad Ties

An experimental program was done at Kansas State University to investigate the possibility of splitting caused by different wire indent patterns used in concrete railroad ties. 5.32-mm-diameter pre-stressing wires with chevron, dot, or spiral indent patterns were tested along with a smooth wire. The wires were tested using a tensioned pullout test setup that was developed to simulate the transfer length bond area interaction between the wire and the concrete. The wires were tensioned to 75% of their ultimate capacity before the concrete specimens were cast around the wire.Various diameter concrete specimens were tested to determine the amount of cover needed to prevent splitting. The wire was de-tensioned when the concrete had reached 4,500 psi, during which time wire slip and force were measured on each side of the specimen. The spitting behavior found during this testing was used to determine the probability of a wire to cause potential splitting in a concrete railroad tie. Indent geometry data was also compared with this test data to determine a method for predicting the splitting potential based on indent geometry.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Measurement scheduling for recursive team estimation

We consider a decentralized LQG measurement scheduling problem in which every measurement is costly, no communication between observers is permitted, and the observers' estimation errors are coupled quadratically. This setup, motivated by considerations from organization theory, models measurement scheduling problems in which cost, bandwidth, or security constraints necessitate that estimates be decentralized, although their errors are coupled. We show that, unlike the centralized case, in the decentralized case the problem of optimizing the time integral of the measurement cost and the quadratic estimation error is fundamentally stochastic, and we characterize the E-optimal open-loop schedules as chattering solutions of a deterministic Lagrange optimal control problem. Using a numerical example, we describe also how this deterministic optimal control problem can be solved by non- linear programming.
Structure and Functional Characterization of the RNA-Binding Element of the NLRX1 Innate Immune Modulator

Mitochondrial NLRX1 is a member of the family of nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich-repeat-containing proteins (NLRs) that mediate host innate immunity as intracellular surveillance sensors against common molecular patterns of invading pathogens. NLRX1 functions in antiviral immunity, but the molecular mechanism of its ligand-induced activation is largely unknown. The crystal structure of the C-terminal fragment (residues 629-975) of human NLRX1 (cNLRX1) at 2.65 A resolution reveals that cNLRX1 consists of an N-terminal helical (LRRNT) domain, central leucine-rich repeat modules (LRRM), and a C-terminal three-helix bundle (LRRCT). cNLRX1 assembles into a compact hexameric architecture that is stabilized by intersubunit and interdomain interactions of LRRNT and LRRCT in the trimer and dimer components of the hexamer, respectively. Furthermore, we find that cNLRX1 interacts directly with RNA and supports a role for NLRX1 in recognition of intracellular viral RNA in antiviral immunity.
Electronic States in Magnetic Quantum Wells

We have searched for the electronic states that mediate oscillatory magnetic cou¬pling in superlattices, and have found strong evidence that these are quantum well states, which are created by quantizing the momentum of s,p-band states perpen¬dicular to the interfaces. The quantum well picture also explains how quantum well states in noble metals become spin-polarized, due to a spin-dependent electron reflectivity at the interface with the ferromagnet. The resulting implications for magnetoresistance are discussed.
Glucocorticoid-mediated alterations in fluidity of rabbit cardiac muscle microvessel endothelial cell membranes : influences on eicosanoid release

Experiments were conducted to determine effects of the synthetic glucocorticoid, dexamethasone, on the lipid fluidity of cultured rabbit cardiac muscle microvessel endothelial cells and the possible role(s) for altered fluidity in the steroid inhibition of cellular eicosanoid production. Following a sixteen hour exposure to 10(-7) M dexamethasone, membranes prepared from treated cells exhibited a decreased fluidity compared to their control counterparts, as assessed by steady-state fluorescence polarization techniques using 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH). Examination of the effects of temperature on the anisotropy values of DPH using Arrhenius plots revealed consistent differences in the steroid treated cells over the entire temperature range (40-5 degrees C). These dexamethasone-dependent fluidity changes were associated with increases in the cholesterol/phospholipid ratio of membrane lipids. Restoration of membrane fluidity to control values with the fluidizing agent, 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl-8-(cis- 2-n-octylcyclopropyl)octanoate (A2C), partially reversed dexamethasone induced inhibition of A23187-stimulated eicosanoid release. These observations suggest that at least part of dexamethasone's inhibitory actions on eicosanoid generation in microvessel endothelial cells are mediated by alterations in membrane composition and fluidity.
Graphical assessment of the prediction capability of response surface designs

Measures of the quality of prediction at locations on the surface of a hyperspherc are presented. These measures are used to form a graphical method of assessing the overall prediction capability of an experimental design throughout the region of interest. A plot of the spherical variance and the maximum and minimum prediction variances for locations on a sphere against the radius of the sphere. a vuriance dispersion graph. is used to give a comprehensive picture of the behavior of the prediction variances throughout a region and hence of the quality of the predicted responses obtained with a particular design. Such plots are used to investigate and compare the prediction capabilities of certain response surface designs currently available to the researcher.
The origins of Olmec civilization.

In their Research Article “Olmec pottery production and export in ancient Mexico determined through elemental analysis” (18 Feb., p. [1068][1]), J. P. Blomster et al. report that “all nonlocally produced Olmec-style gray pottery samples found outside the Gulf Coast” and all Conejo Orange-on-
Band‐Edge Photoluminescence Recovery from Zinc‐Blende CdSe Nanocrystals Synthesized at Room Temperature

Low-cost, large-scale production of highly photoluminescent semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) is desirable for a variety of applications. In this paper we report the realization of highly photoluminescent zinc-blende CdSe nanocrystals from room-temperature water-phase synthesis, followed by low-temperature (80 ± 5 °C) chemical etching in a solution of 3-amino-1-propanol/H2O (v/v = 10/1). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) data indicate that these CdSe NCs exhibit a cubic, zinc-blende crystal structure. After etching, these CdSe nanocrystals show strong band-edge photoluminescence (with quantum efficiency as high as 50 %) and lack of deep-trap emissions. A high-resolution TEM investigation suggests that this etching not only removes surface irregularities, but also attacks grain boundaries. Moreover, the size distribution reduces upon progressive etching to allow photoluminescence full-width-at-half-maximum (FWHM) values as low as 30 nm.
Conceptual Sea Changes

The reshaping of much scientific research around computational methods is not just a technological curiosity. It results in a significant reshaping of conceptual and representational resources within science in ways with which many traditional philosophical positions are ill-equipped to cope. Some illustrations of this are provided and a consequence for the roles of science and the arts is noted.
Review: periodic health examination increases delivery of some clinical preventive services and reduces patient worry.

Source Citation Boulware LE, Marinopoulos S, Phillips KA, et al. Systematic review: the value of the periodic health evaluation. Ann Intern Med. 2007;146:289-300. 17310053
Valuing money more than people: The effects of materialism on work–family conflict

Can valuing money and material possessions lead to conflict between work and family? In this paper, we build on Carlson and Kacmar's call for more research on personal values in the context of the work–family interface. In a field study, we examined the relationship between materialism and two components of work–family conflict: work interference with family (WIF) and family interference with work (FIW). Results supported our main hypotheses that materialism is associated with both forms of work–family conflict. Further, work overload mediated the relationship between materialism and WIF, while FIW moderated the association between materialism and work overload, thus supporting a model of mediated moderation. By linking materialism to work–family conflict, this study adds to the growing evidence of the deleterious effects of holding materialistic values.
Ethylene in Organic Synthesis. A New Route to Anticholenergic Pyrrolidinoindolines, and Other Molecules with All Carbon-Quaternary Centers via Asymmetric Hydrovinylation

The asymmetric hydrovinylation (1 mol % Ni-cat., 1 atm, ethylene, >98% ee) products from 1-methylenetetralines are readily converted into 3,3-disubstituted oxindoles and subsequently to pyrrolidinoindolines. These hydrovinylation products are also useful for the syntheses of enantiopure benzomorphans.
Application of Near‐Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy to Estimate Chemical Constituents in Broiler Litter

Abstract Near‐infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) has potential to provide rapid estimates of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) concentrations in broiler litter to assist managers in establishing application rates of litter to grazing lands that fall within productive and environmentally safe levels. An experiment was conducted to determine accuracy of NIRS estimates of moisture, P, N, and acid detergent fiber (ADF) concentrations in broiler litter. Broiler litter samples were collected from various farms to develop sample sets that were either with or without bedding material, and each sample set was subdivided into processed (i.e., dried and ground) and unprocessed samples to develop local equations for each constituent. Equations were developed by using all samples from each set and using samples following random removal of 20% of total for equation validation. Moisture was determined to be accurately measured by using NIRS based on a high R2 (≥0.96), low SEC ( 5.0). A...
Master Regulators in Plant Glucose Signaling Networks.

The daily life of photosynthetic plants revolves around sugar production, transport, storage and utilization, and the complex sugar metabolic and signaling networks integrate internal regulators and environmental cues to govern and sustain plant growth and survival. Although diverse sugar signals have emerged as pivotal regulators from embryogenesis to senescence, glucose is the most ancient and conserved regulatory signal that controls gene and protein expression, cell-cycle progression, central and secondary metabolism, as well as growth and developmental programs. Glucose signals are perceived and transduced by two principal mechanisms: direct sensing through glucose sensors and indirect sensing via a variety of energy and metabolite sensors. This review focuses on the comparative and functional analyses of three glucose-modulated master regulators in Arabidopsis thaliana, the hexokinase1 (HXK1) glucose sensor, the energy sensor kinases KIN10/KIN11 inactivated by glucose, and the glucoseactivated target of rapamycin (TOR) kinase. These regulators are evolutionarily conserved, but have evolved universal and unique regulatory wiring and functions in plants and animals. They form protein complexes with multiple partners as regulators or effectors to serve distinct functions in different subcellular locales and organs, and play integrative and complementary roles from cellular signaling and metabolism to development in the plant glucose signaling networks.
Modulation detection, modulation masking, and speech understanding in noise in the elderly.

Temporal processing of suprathreshold sounds was examined in a group of young normalhearing subjects (mean age of 26.0 years), and in three groups of older subjects (mean ages of 54.3, 64.8, and 72...
Chaotic behavior and the origin of the 3/1 Kirkwood gap

The sudden eccentricity increases discovered by Wisdom (1982) are reproduced in numerical integrations of the planar ecliptic restricted three-body problem, verifying that this phenomenon is real. Mapping derivations are qualitatively reviewed and the maximum Liapunov characteristic exponent and its importance for determining the character of a trajectory are explained. The results of a number of calculations of this exponent using the differential equations for the unaveraged three-body problem are shown and compared to equivalent calculations using a mapping. In all cases the two approaches agree whether the orbits are chaotic or quasiperiodic. The mappings are used to trace out the chaotic zone near the 3/1 commensurability, both in the planar-ecliptic problem and in the three-dimensional elliptic problem. The outer boundary of the chaotic zone coincides with the boundary of the 3/1 Kirkwood gap in the actual distribution of asteroids within the errors of the asteroid orbital elements.
Freezing resistance in winter flounder Pseudopleuronectes americanus

THE blood serum freezing points of most marine teleosts are within the range of −0.5 to −0.8° C1. As large regions of the oceans have temperatures as much as 1° C below this range2, many marine fish must either increase the osmotic concentrations of their blood or exist in a supercooled state. The latter is unstable and in the presence of ice, supercooled fish will freeze and die.
Intensity of the sulfur dioxide rotational spectrum

Abstract The integral band intensity of the pure rotational absorption of SO2 gas has been determined from far-i.r. spectra. From the curve of growth, the value at 298°K is found to be Sob = 35.2±1.5atm-1 -cm-2. The entire set of experimental data has been analyzed using an absorption band model. The derived intensity agrees with that obtained from the curve of growth to be better than 10%. This result should be of value in connection with atmospheric models of the planet Venus.
BUBL: An effective region labeling tool using a hexagonal lattice

We propose a data labeling tool that permits accurate labeling of images using less time and effort. Our tool, BUBL, uses a hexagonal grid with a variable size tiling for accurate labeling of object contours. The hexagonal lattice is superimposed by a bubble wrap interface in order to make the labeling task enjoyable. The resulting label mask is represented by a Gaussian kernel density estimator which provides accurate bounding contours, even for objects that include hollow regions. Furthermore, multiple annotations from different users are collected for every image, making it possible to “hint” a partial labeling so the user can finish labeling in less time. We show accuracy results by simulating the application of our labeling tool for the MSRC dataset and to a subset data set of Caltech-101.
Nonenzymatic Browning in Model Systems Containing Sucrose

Abstract : Freeze-dried systems containing sucrose and organic acids were found to undergo rapid nonenzymatic browning, even at low relative humidities. Addition of protein reduced the rate of browning, especially at low humidities. It was determined that the browning was due to reducing sugars produced by acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of sucrose. This hydrolysis occurred even when water content was well below 1% and below B.E.T. monolayer coverage (Brunauer-Emmett- Teller method of calculating monolayer values). These findings have important implications for storage stability of dehydrated foods since they point to a new mechanism for initiation of browning in such foods as freeze-dried juices.
968-29 Cytomegalovirus Infection Increases Neointimal Formation in the Rat Model of Balloon Injury

Previous studies have suggested that cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection may playa role in the development of atherosclerosis. A recent study we conducted in patients who developed restenosis following coronary angioplasty suggested that the presence of CMY. an extremely common human pathogen, was a possible contributing cause of restenosis. To determine whether CMV can increase injury-induced neointimal formation in an animal model, we measured the neointimal response to injury of the rat carotid artery following rat CMV (RCMV) infection. Standard left carotid balloon injury was performed on thirty male Spraque-Oawley rats (400–450 g). One day after injury, fifteen olthe balloon injured rats received an intraperitoneal injection of approximately 106 active viral particles/ml of RCMV (Priscott strain), while another fifteen control rats received an intraperitoneal injection of normal saline. Six weeks later, the salivary glands, spleen and left carotid arteries were harvested. To assay for the presence of replicating virus, serial dilution of tissue homogenates were used to inoculate a monolayer of permissive indicator cells (rat embryonic fibroblast) and the presence or absence of cytopathic effect was determined. In infected animals, infectious viral particles could routinely be recovered from both salivary glands and spleen, but only occasionally from vascular tissues. Assessment of the neointimal to medial (N/M) ratio by computerized image analyzer revealed that the neointimal thickness of RCMV infected animals was nearly 40% greater than that of control animals (N/M ratio 1.62 ± 0.56 vs 1.17 ± 0.61; P l 0.05). Conclusion RCMV infection of immunocompetent adult rats increases the neointimal response to vascular injury. This finding provides further evidence suggesting that CMV may playa crucial role in the development of restenosis in patients undergoing angioplasty.
Electrochemical Compaction of the Collagen: Effects on Matrix Mechanics and MSC Response

The molecules of the extracellular matrix in connective tissues are densely packed. Biofabrication methods to attain such molecular packing density are limited and electrochemical processing (EP) of monomeric collagen solutions is one of few means to attain molecular packing. During EP, the pH gradient between electrodes drives the electrophoretic mobility of collagen molecules toward the isoelectric point where molecules are compacted. Our earlier work used linear electrodes to fabricate highly aligned crosslinked collagen fibers for tendon tissue engineering [1–4]. Prior work compared electrocompacted-aligned matrices with uncompacted randomly oriented ones. Therefore, the effects of alignment and compaction were compounded in terms of assessing cell response. So as to take the matrix alignment variable out of the picture to investigate matrix compaction effects only, we employed disc shaped electrodes to obtain electrocompacted sheets which lack matrix alignment. The current study investigated: a) the degree of compaction, b) effect of compaction on the mechanical properties of the sheets, and, c) mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) proliferation and morphology on compacted sheets relative to uncompacted collagen gels.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Does tenotomy of skeletal muscle alter Z-line width in older animals?

Results of unilateral achilles tenotomy on older (350–410 g) male rats, showed that the general width of Z-lines in the tenotomized muscles was not significantly altered by this procedure. Streaming of the Z-lines and rod formations was still present, as in younger rats.
How do socio-economic status, perceived economic barriers and nutritional benefits affect quality of dietary intake among US adults?

Socio-economic factors may affect diet quality, perhaps differentially across gender and ethnicity. The mechanism of this association is still largely unknown. We examined the independent effects of socio-economic status (SES), perceived barrier of food price (PBFP) and perceived benefit of diet quality (PBDQ) on diet quality indicators and indices (DQIj,k), across gender and ethnicity. Additionally, we estimated the mediation proportion of the effect of SES on DQIj,k through PBFP and PBDQ. Data from two cross-sectional surveys, the Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII) and Diet and Health Knowledge Survey (DHKS) 1994–96 were used. Our sample consisted of 4356 US adults aged 20–65 years. With principal components analysis, SES (an index) was measured using household income per capita and education, and PBDQ was measured using an 11-item scale. PBFP was defined as the ratio of importance of food price score relative to nutrition. DQIj,k were assessed by a set of indicators and two indices including the Healthy Eating Index. The associations between SES, PBFP, PBDQ and DQIj,k varied significantly across gender and ethnic groups. PBFP acted as a mediator in the association between SES and selected DQIj indicators, namely energy, fat intake, sodium and simple sugar consumption (mediation proportion >10%), but not PBDQ. SES, PBFP and PBDQ all affect dietary intake, and vary by ethnicity and gender. Positive effect of SES on DQIj,k may be mediated by PBFP but not PBDQ which is an independent protective factor. Nutrition education is important to promote healthy eating.
The Escherichia coli primosomal DnaT protein exists in solution as a monomer-trimer equilibrium system.

The oligomerization reaction of the Escherichia coli DnaT protein has been quantitatively examined using fluorescence anisotropy and analytical ultracentrifugation methods. In solution, DnaT exists...
Energy efficiency and capacity retention of Ni–MH batteries for storage applications

Abstract The Ni–MH batteries were tested for battery energy storage characteristics, including the effects of battery charge or discharge at different rates. The battery energy efficiency and capacity retention were evaluated through measuring the charge/discharge capacities and energies during full and partial state-of-charge (SoC) operations. Energy efficiency results were obtained at various charge input levels and different charge and discharge rates. The inefficient charging process started to take place at ca. 90% state-of-recharge (SoR) when charged at no more than 0.2 C rate. For the NiMH-B2 battery after an approximately full charge (∼100% SoC at 120% SoR and a 0.2 C charge/discharge rate), the capacity retention was obtained as 83% after 360 h of storage, and 70% after 1519 h of storage. The energy efficiency was decreased from 74.0% to 50% after 1519 h of storage time. The Coulomb efficiency was initially 83.34%, and was reduced to 57.95% after 1519 h of storage. The battery has relatively higher energy efficiency at approximately 50% SoC. The energy efficiency was calculated to be more than 92% when the NiMH-C3 battery was charged to 30–70% SoC then discharged to 0% SoC at a 0.2 C charge/discharge rate. In consideration of energy efficiency, charge acceptance, capacity retention rate, and power output needs, as well as Nelson’s analysis on HEV power requirements, the Ni–MH battery is appropriate to work at ca. 50 ± 10% SoC with an operating limitation of 50 ± 20% SoC. This work is potentially beneficial for determination of the current SoC level during the battery pack being operated for energy storage applications.
Expatriate motivation in religious and humanitarian non‐profit‐organizations

Purpose – The purpose of this exploratory, empirical study is to identify motivations for expatriation among religious and humanitarian (RH economics; international experience; escapism; altruism; outsider support; family life; and location. Workers in the not‐for‐profit sector are primarily motivated by altruism, and thus integrate organizational mission with personal purpose in their decision to work abroad. Using cluster analysis, four groups of humanitarian and religious workers in the Christian sub‐sector were identified: Caring Missionary; Fo...