cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prostacyclin and beta-adrenergic catecholamines inhibit arachidonate release and PGI2 synthesis by vascular endothelium

We have investigated the mechanism by which cyclic AMP inhibits PGI2 synthesis in cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells. Inhibition of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity by 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) blocks calcium ionophore-induced PGI2 production by 62%. The addition of 3 mM dibutyryl cyclic AMP, alone with IBMX, increases the inhibition to 96%. Release o 3H-arachidonate from membrane phospholipids was inhibited 25% by dibutyryl cyclic AMP, 48% by IBMX, and 76% by isoproterenol plus IBMX. Inhibition by isoproterenol was reversed by 10 micro M propranolol. Release of 3H-arachidonate was also reduced 75% by a combination of 10 micro M PGI2 and 3 mM IBMX. We conclude that hormones like isoproterenol and PGI2 may regulate endothelial cell PGI2 biosynthesis by increasing intracellular cyclic AMP, which then inhibits release of endogenous arachidonate from membrane phospholipids.
Intraductal Salivary Gland Infusion With Botulinum Toxin

Background Administration of botulinum toxin through intraductal salivary infusion may decrease the risks of percutaneous needle injection and improve delivery to permeate the entire gland parenchyma. Methods The safety of intraductal salivary gland infusion was tested with prospective evaluation of two patients using interviews, clinical examination, and pressure measurement during infusion. Retrospective chart review of two subsequently treated patients assessed treatment of a parotid-cutaneous fistula and sialorrhea. Results No complications were identified in the safety study. Pressure changes during infusion supported the concept of botulinum neurotoxin delivery to permeate the gland. Patient-assessed success was subjectively reported as a reduction in the parotid-cutaneous output "by 95%" and the sialorrhea "by 90%" at 2-week follow-up. Conclusions The intraductal route of botulinum toxin delivery to salivary glands was without complication and was effective in two patients treated therapeutically. Pressure measurements during infusion may be helpful to direct treatment. Level of evidence 4.
Plant Community Composition in Two Human-Modified Landscapes, a Powerline Corridor and an Old Field

Human landscape modification elicits changes in plant community composition due to altered microclimate conditions. We asked the question whether floristic composition, abundance, species richness, and diversity differ between habitat types in two human-modified landscapes, with contrasting management regimes. We measured species richness and cover of all vascular plants in forest, edge, and corridor habitats of a powerline easement, as well as in a nearby old field. Powerline corridor habitat had 21% more species than adjoining forest habitat and was dominated by shrub and herbaceous species. We also found that soil pH and litter depth are significant predictors of species richness along powerline corridor edges and in open old-field habitat. Particularly, we observed maximum species richness in plots with moderately high soil pH of between 5 and 5.5 along powerline corridor edges and in open old-field habitat. Powerline corridor plots with less surface litter also had higher species richness. Invasive species such as Microstegium vimineum and Rosa multiflora were more abundant in the open old-field habitat maintained annually by mowing than in powerline corridor habitat maintained usually every five years by herbicide spraying and selective removal of trees. Our findings indicate that the diverse floristic composition of powerline corridors support organisms at higher trophic levels and hence provide opportunity for conserving biodiversity within human-modified landscapes.
Significance of autoantibody seropositivity in children with obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background Autoantibodies are frequently positive in adults with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) without concurrent autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). The clinical significance of this is unknown in children. Objective To determine the prevalence of autoantibody positivity in pediatric NAFLD and to evaluate its association with disease severity. Methods Multicenter, retrospective study of patients ≤18 years of age with biopsy-confirmed NAFLD. Descriptive statistics were used and groups were compared using Wilcoxon-Mann Whitney or χ2 testing, and multivariable logistic regression was used for binary or ordinal outcomes. Results One hundred and thirty six patients with a median age of 14 years were included. The median body mass index Z-score was 2.5 (interquartile range 2.2, 2.6). Positive antinuclear antibody (ANA), anti-smooth muscle antibody (ASMA), anti-liver-kidney microsomal antibody, or any combination of autoantibodies were observed in 22%, 14%, 0%, and 33% of patients, respectively. The proportion of patients with a steatosis score ≥2 was significantly higher in those with positive ANA (P = .045). In the multivariable regression analysis, positive ANA was associated with increased odds of steatosis score ≥2 (odds ratio, 5.91; 95% confidential interval, 1.50-23.26), after controlling for potential confounders. No other significant histology differences were seen between the groups. Conclusions Positive ANA and ASMA are common in children with NAFLD; however, anti-LKM positivity is not. ANA positivity is associated with more severe steatosis.
Parliamentary Debate as a Driver of Military Justice Reform in Canada

In June 2019, the Supreme Court of Canada pronounced judgment in the case of R v Stillman, upholding the military justice system’s ability to try serious civil offences. The Stillman decision highlighted one key mechanism of military justice reform: court judgments. This article argues, however, that military legal experts have overlooked Parliamentary debate as a key driver of military reform. By drawing on analysis of Hansard from past decades, this article argues that the Canadian Parliament has historically pushed for radical reform to the military justice system. This reformist consensus continues to shape Parliamentary discussions on military justice in the twenty-first century.
Alex, the toolmaker: Tool-and-result activity in the L2 learning context

Abstract The L2 field has seen recurrent calls for pedagogical approaches that, on the one hand, emphasize learner communicative needs as a starting point, and that, on the other hand, reexamine the importance of dialogic support offered to learners as they employ instructional materials during authentic tasks. Particular attention has been paid to overcoming this methodological gap within the L2 Vygotskian tradition, particularly through concept-based approaches. More recently, Poehner & Infante, 2015 , Poehner & Infante, 2017 have proposed Mediated Development (MD), a framework for guiding dialogic interaction with learners intended to render concept-based instructional materials as cognitive tools to regulate learner L2 use. The present paper extends this work by examining a particular aspect of learner development: self-generated representations of an abstract linguistic concept. Analysis of recorded and transcribed interactions between a mediator and secondary school and university ESL learners reveals how modeling and controlled practice activities of the instructional materials, informed by the MD framework, were critical to participant ability to create original conceptual representations of the English tense-aspect system that elaborated the concepts presented by the mediator. We discuss this finding in relation to Newman and Holzman's (1993) proposal of tool-and-result as a Vygotskian methodology.
Modifiable risk factors for burnout in vascular surgery trainees.

Abstract Objective Burnout is prevalent among vascular surgery trainees. Here we aim to identify modifiable risk factors for burnout in vascular surgery training, to facilitate the development of programs to enhance and sustain trainee well-being. Methods The Association of Program Directors in Vascular Surgery issued the Annual Training survey in the fall of 2018 to all trainees. The survey contained items to assess frequency of burnout, as well as mentorship, training environment, and stress coping mechanisms using an abbreviated COPE (Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced) inventory. Results Of 628 surveys issued, the response rate was 30% (n = 188). Respondents indicated that the majority of programs offer mentorship opportunities (n = 150 [83%]) that are longitudinal throughout the duration of training (n = 140 [77%]). Fifty-eight percent (n = 109) indicated there was an appropriate balance between learning and productivity in their program, with more respondents leaning toward too much clinical productivity (n = 57) and fewer toward too much learning (n = 19). Forty-five percent of respondents indicated feeling burnout at least weekly (n = 81). The burnout group was less likely to report an appropriate balance between clinical productivity and learning (49.4% vs 67.7%; P Conclusions The protective effect against vascular surgery trainee burnout conferred by the availability of mentorship suggests that an expansion and emphasis on mentorship in training may help to mitigate trainee burnout. Mentorship may also be a suitable channel to assess for an appropriate level of challenge, as well as for an appropriate balance between clinical productivity and learning that, when present, are also protective against burnout. Furthermore, the correlation between the frequent use of certain coping skills and burnout highlight this as an area for intervention, potentially through a combination of mentor modeling and formal training on healthy stress-related coping strategies.
Stephen Greenblatt, The Rise and Fall of Adam and Eve

Stephen Greenblatt, The Rise and Fall of Adam and Eve (New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 2017), 432 pp., $27.95, ISBN: 9780393240801.
Complications After Complex Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery: Benefits and Costs Associated with Inter-hospital Transfer Among Medicare Beneficiaries

Inter-hospital transfer (IHT) may help reduce failure-to-rescue (FTR) by transferring patients to centers with a higher level of expertise than the index hospital. We sought to identify factors associated with an IHT and examine if IHT was associated with improved outcomes after complex gastrointestinal cancer surgery. Medicare Inpatient Standard Analytic Files were utilized to identify patients with >1 postoperative complication following resection for esophageal, pancreatic, liver, or colorectal cancer between 2013 and 2017. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the association of different factors with the chance of IHT, as well as the impact of IHT on failure-to-rescue (FTR) and expenditures. Among 39,973 patients with >1 postoperative complications, 3090 (7.7%) patients were transferred to a secondary hospital. The median LOS at the index hospital prior to IHT was 10 days (IQR, 6–17 days). Patients who underwent IHT more often had experienced multiple complications at the index hospital compared with non-IHT patients (57.7% vs. 38.9%) (p<0.001). Transferred patients more commonly had undergone surgery at a low-volume index hospital (n=218, 60.2%) compared with non-IHT (n=10,351, 25.9%) patients (p<0.001). On multivariate analysis, hospital volume remained strongly associated with transfer to an acute care hospital (ACH) (OR 5.53; 95% CI 3.91–7.84; p<0.001), as did multiple complications (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.56–2.57). The incidence of FTR was much higher among IHT-ACH patients (20.2%) versus non-IHT patients (11.5%) (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.11–2.05) (p<0.001). Medicare expenditures were higher among patients who had IHT-ACH ($72.1k USD; IQR, $48.1k–$116.7k) versus non-IHT ($38.5k USD; IQR, $28.1k–$59.2k USD) (p<0.001). Approximately 1 in 13 patients had an IHT after complex gastrointestinal cancer surgery. IHT was associated with high rates of FTR, which was more pronounced among patients who underwent surgery at an index low-volume hospital. IHT was associated with higher overall CMS expenditures.
Encoding Time-Series Ground Motions as Images for Convolutional Neural Networks-Based Seismic Damage Evaluation

Traditional methods for seismic damage evaluation require manual extractions of intensity measures (IMs) to properly represent the record-to-record variation of ground motions. Contemporary methods such as Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) for time series classification and seismic damage evaluation face a challenge in training due to a huge task of ground-motion image encoding. Presently, no consensus has been reached on the understanding of the most suitable encoding technique and image size (width × height × channel) for CNN-based seismic damage evaluation. In this study, we propose and develop a new image encoding technique based on Time-series Segmentation (TS) to transform acceleration (A), velocity (V), and displacement (D) ground motion records into a three-channel AVD image of the ground motion event with a pre-defined size of width × height. The proposed TS technique is compared with two time-series image encoding techniques, namely Recurrence Plot (RP) and Wavelet Transform (WT). The CNN trained through the TS technique is also compared with the IM-based machine learning approach. The CNN-based feature extraction has comparable classification performance to the IM-based approach. WT 1000×100 results in the highest 79.5% accuracy in classification while TS 100×100 with a classification accuracy of 76.8% is most computationally efficient. Both the WT 1000×100 and TS 100×100 three-channel AVD image encoding methods are promising for future studies of CNN-based seismic damage evaluation.
Assessment of small mechanical wastewater treatment plants: Relative life cycle environmental impacts of construction and operations.

Abstract Many slow growing and shrinking rural communities struggle with aging or inadequate wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), and face challenges in constructing and operating such facilities. Although existing literature has provided insight into the environmental sustainability of large facilities, including both the construction and operational phases, these studies have not examined small, rural facilities treating less than 7000 m3/d (1.8 MGD) of wastewater in adequate depth and breadth. In this study, a detailed inventory of the construction and operational data for 16 case studies of small WWTPs was developed to elucidate their environmental life cycle impacts. An attributional LCA framework was followed. The results show that the environmental impacts of both the construction and operational phases are considerable. Energy use was the dominant contributor to the operational environmental impact, and improving energy efficiency of a plant may reduce the environmental impacts of a small WWTP. Construction impacts can vary considerably between facilities (e.g., coefficient of variation for the construction impacts ranged from 60% to 78% depending on the impact category). Process-related factors (e.g., concrete and reinforcing steel used in basins) are typically sized using the design flow; thus, much of the variability in construction impacts among plants stems from the non-process related infrastructure. Multiple regression analysis was used as an exploratory tool to identify which non-process related plant aspects contribute to the variable environmental impact of small WWTPs. These factors include aluminum, cast iron, and the capacity utilization ratio (defined as the ratio of average flow to design flow). Thus, industry practitioners should consider these factors when aiming to reduce the environmental impacts of a small WWTP related to construction. Scenario sensitivity analyses found that the environmental impact of construction became smaller with longer design life, and the end-of-life consideration does not heavily influence the environmental sustainability of a WWTP.
Examining Economic Development Trends in Kenya

This brief paper provides a snapshot of Kenya's economic development and perspectives on its developmental policies, including visualization comparisons with member states of the East African Community.
Personal regulome navigation of cancer.

A systematic approach to understanding the noncoding genome in cancer promises to improve cancer diagnosis and therapy. Tracking the landscape of gene control in individual patients and single cells yields many insights for inherited and somatic mutations in cancer, extrachromosomal oncogene amplifications and cancer immunotherapy. New technologies and bold therapeutic approaches are paving the way to truly envisage personalized cancer medicine in the future. A systematic approach to understanding the noncoding genome in cancer promises to improve cancer diagnosis and therapy. New technologies and bold therapeutic approaches are paving the way to truly envisage personalized cancer medicine in the future.
Surviving or thriving? Trade-offs between growth, defense, and reproduction in a native versus an invasive Rubus

Little is known about limits to reproduction in plants, especially as to how their other life history functions (growth and defense) may constrain reproductive investment. Understanding these const...
The Cryogenic System for the ASTROMAG Test Coil

This paper describes an all helium, low heat leak cryogenic system for the testing of a superconducting magnet coil for the ASTROMAG particle astrophysics experiment. The superconducting coil, which is projected to have a stored magnetic energy of 4 to 7 MJ, will be cooled by pumped helium from a liquid helium storage tank using a fountain effect helium II pump. The pumping system can be used to cool the cryogenic system down as well as keep the coil cold during its superconducting operation. The integration of retractable 900 A gas-cooled electrical leads with the intermediate shields and intercepts is discussed.
Empowering patient through personal healthcare system using interoperable electronic health record

In the U.S., preventable medical errors claim the lives of about 400,000 patients per year. Much of it is blamed for the lack of interoperable medical information at right time. Often times, personal medical information is stored in multiple clinical institutions in non-sharable format such as paper based. To provide effective and continuity of care, personal medical data need to be shared and patients must be in control of their own medical record — no decision about me without me. In this talk, I propose a model that addresses such issues. It allows patients to monitor and control their own health using medical data collection tool, ontological diagnosis support and personalized medical education. It also allows the communication with clinical institutions and physicians using standardized health record format such as HL7 CDA to implement continuity of care.
Unusual Computer Components

In this chapter we shall discuss unusual or unconventional computer components, that is, such components which presently have no wide-spread application, but which offer, at least in some respects, potential advantages over conventional components. In addition, some components will be discussed which almost certainly have no practical value. These are included when their operating principle is theoretically interesting, and when the latter might conceivably be used with novel components.
Differential expression of membrane conductances underlies spontaneous event initiation by rostral midline neurons in the embryonic mouse hindbrain.

Spontaneous activity is expressed in many developing CNS structures and is crucial in correct network development. Previous work using [Ca2+]i imaging showed that in the embryonic mouse hindbrain spontaneous activity is initated by a driver population, the serotonergic neurons of the nascent raphe. Serotonergic neurons derived from former rhombomere 2 drive 90% of all hindbrain events at E11.5. We now demonstrate that the electrical correlate of individual events is a spontaneous depolarization, which originates at the rostral midline and drives events laterally. Midline events have both a rapid spike and a large plateau component, while events in lateral tissue comprise only a smaller amplitude plateau. Lateral cells have a large resting conductance and are highly coupled via neurobiotin-permeant gap junctions, while midline cells are significantly less gap junction-coupled and uniquely express a T-type Ca2+ channel. We propose that the combination of low resting conductance and expression of T-type Ca2+ current is permissive for midline neurons to acquire the initiator or driver phenotype, while cells without these features cannot drive activity. This demonstrates that expression of specific conductances contributes to the ability to drive spontaneous activity in a developing network.
The rights and responsibilities of gay and lesbian parents: Legal developments, psychological research, and policy implications

With the growing number of same-sex unions, the legal system must determine the rights and responsibilities of gay parents who decide to end a relationship. In 2005, the California Supreme Court found that a child’s lesbian caregiver was a legal “parent” despite having no biological or adoptive relationship, while the Massachusetts Supreme Court in 2004 concluded the opposite. Psychologists can inform this debate by presenting research demonstrating that (a) children benefit from contact with two parents, and (b) children’s well-being is unaffected by their parents’ sexual orientation. Psychologists can further assist the legal system by conducting future research. In order for psychologists to impact laws and policies, legal actors must utilize this expertise.
Neuroprotection by caloric restriction is associated with a distinct state of hippocampal energy metabolism linked to PGC-1alpha and GSK3beta

The hippocampus is critical for cognition and memory formation and is vulnerable to age-related atrophy and loss of function. These phenotypes are attenuated by caloric restriction (CR), a dietary intervention that delays aging. Here we show significant effects of aging and CR on hippocampal energy metabolism that implicate metabolic pathways in neuronal protection. Using high-resolution quantitative imaging, we detected significant regional differences in activity of the mitochondrial electron transport system (ETS) in mouse hippocampi. Mitochondrial activity was lower in aged mice, and the impact of age was region specific. Multi-photon laser scanning microscopy revealed age- and region-specific differences within the dentate gyrus (DG), where levels of autofluroescence of NAD derived metabolic cofactors declined and chemical properties were altered. There was a significant regional impact of age to decrease levels of PGC-1alpha, a master regulator of ETS gene expression. Rather than reversing the impact of age, we found CR induced a distinct metabolic state. Fluorescence intensity of NAD(P) H was higher in the DG of CR animals, but CR had no impact on fluorescence decay parameters. Levels of PGC-1alpha were lower with CR, as were levels of GSK3beta, a key regulator of PGC-1alpha turnover and activity, and these differences were conserved in rhesus monkeys. These data reveal significant changes in hippocampal energy metabolism with age and suggest CR’s prevention of age-related functional decline involves extensive metabolic reprogramming.
A randomized study of cellphone technology to reinforce alcohol abstinence in the natural environment

Aims Contingency management (CM) uses tangible incentives to systematically reinforce abstinence and is among the most efficacious psychosocial substance abuse treatments. This study assessed the feasibility and initial efficacy of a portable CM procedure designed to address technical limitations for detecting drinking that have prevented using CM for alcohol problems. Design Participants received a cellphone, breathalyzer and training on video-recording alcohol breath tests (BrACs) and texting results. For 4 weeks, staff texted participants one to three times daily indicating that a breath alcohol concentration test (BrAC) was due within the hour. Participants were randomized to (1) modest compensation for submitting dated time-stamped BrAC videos regardless of results or (2) the same plus CM with escalating vouchers for on-time alcohol-negative tests (n-BrAC; <02 g/dl). ‘Thank-you’ texts were sent, with CM patients also informed of results-based earnings. Setting Participants' natural environment. Participants Adults (n = 30; ≥ 21 years) who drank frequently but were not physiologically dependent. Measurements Drinking and related problems were assessed at intake and week 4. BrACs and self-reports of drinking were collected throughout. The primary outcome was the percentage of n-BrACs. Other outcomes were the longest duration of consecutive n-BrACs (longest duration of abstinence) and self-reports of drinking. Findings On average, 88.6% (10.4%) of BrACs were submitted on time, without group differences (P = 0.18). The percentage of n-BrACs and LDA were greater with CM, and there was an interaction effect on drinking frequency and negative consequences, with decreases over time with CM (P = 0.00; effect sizes d = 0.52–0.62). Conclusion Cellphone technology may be useful for extending contingency management to treatment for alcohol problems.
Network interface for message-passing parallel computation on a workstation cluster

As commercial microprocessors become increasingly popu- lar in current MPP architectures, high-performance com mercial workstations have also received increased attention as cost-effective building@blo&s for large parallel-processing systems. The Fast User-level Network (FUNet) project (111 is an attempt at constructing an inexpensive workstation based parallel system capable of supporting efficient ex ecution of message-passing parallel programs. Based on MIT's Arctic 15) network technology, FUNet connects stock configured commodity workstations with a high-bandwidth packet-switched routing network. The Past User-level Net work Interface (FUNi) is the custom hardware network interface device that provides access to FUNet for both message passing and remote direct-memory-access (DMA) block transfers between parallel peer processes on FUNet connected workstations. The FUNi hardware mechanisms allow direct low-overhead user-level accesses to FUNet while maintaining secure and transparent sharing of FUNet among multiple parallel applications. FUNi can be realized as SBus peripheral cards to allow compatibility with a variety of workstation platforms. The relaxed clock speed (25MHz max.) of SBus allows FUNi to be inexpensively imple mented using FPGA parts that are synthesized from de sips captured in Verilog Hardware Description Language [15]. SBus's Direct Virtual Memory Access (DVMA)[8J also assists FUNi in overcoming the performance limitations im posed by existing workstation designs. Simulation results have shown that FUNet with FUNi, when coupled with latency-hiding software techniques, is effective in supporting fine-gra@ined parallel processing on a workstation cluster.
The effects of video tape, and of situational and generalized locus of control, upon hypnotic susceptibility.

Abstract This study examined the effects of mode of induction (video tape vs. live), general locus of control, and situational locus of control upon hypnotic susceptibility. A total of 62 student volunteers was hypnotized in eight small groups using the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility. Results confirmed that video taped inductions were as effective as live inductions. None of the other variables, singly or in interaction, significantly affected susceptibility scores. An analysis of variance was also performed upon Ss' subjective ratings of having experienced hypnosis. Results revealed that Ss with an external general locus of control (Rotter's I-E scale) rated themselves as having experienced hypnosis more fully. This was interpreted as a greater response to the demand characteristics of the hypnosis situation by externally controlled subjects. Discussion explores the potential flexibility provided by video tape hypnosis.
A class of genetic algorithms with analytical solution

Abstract We study a class of genetic algorithms (GAs) based on a population of chromosomes with mutation and crossover, as well as fitness. The chromosomes in these algorithms also have another property we call “activity” (which determines how fast a chromosome may mutate or interact with other chromosomes). We show how the algorithms we consider can be represented by a multi-dimensional Markov process. We provide a mathematical representation for these GAs, and a closed-form expression for the probability distribution of the number of chromosomes of each type.
Review of the characteristic effective medium approximation: Fundamentals and use in calculating the optical properties of ultrathin layer structures

Abstract This article presents a review of several aspects of the characteristic effective medium approximation that has been used to calculate the optical properties of ultrathin multilayer systems treated as one uniform layer with a single set of effective optical constants. The method, applied for normal incidence, enables one to represent any layer stack by one characteristic matrix whose elements are functions of the structure effective optical constants, stack thickness, and wavelength of the incident light wave. The error between values of the optical properties of a layer system calculated by the standard characteristic matrix technique and those calculated by the characteristic effective matrix approximation can be used as a criterion for establishing a limit beyond which the validity of the approximation could be compromised. As part of this grand review, calculations of the optical properties for normal incidence for numerous layer systems that were reported earlier in separate communications, are reviewed and analyzed.
Root Locus for Random Reference Tracking in Systems With Saturating Actuators

This paper develops a root locus technique for random reference tracking in systems with saturating actuators. This is accomplished by introducing the notion of S-poles, which are the poles of the quasilinear system obtained by applying the method of stochastic linearization to the original system with saturation. The path traced by the S-poles on the complex plane when the gain of the controller changes from 0 to infin is the S-root locus. We show that the S-root locus is a subset of the standard root locus, which may terminate prematurely in the so-called termination points. A method for calculating these points is presented and a number of other, more subtle, differences between the usual and the S-root loci are described. In addition, the issue of amplitude truncation in terms of the S-root locus is investigated. Finally, an application of the S-root locus to hard disk drive controller design is presented.
Microstructured Porous Silica Obtained via Colloidal Crystal Templates

A novel scheme for using modified colloidal crystals as templates for silica polymerization is reported. 3D close-packed crystals of submicrometer latex spheres are assembled on a membrane surface by filtration. To induce silica polymerization, the particles are modified by adsorption of the surfactant hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide. The colloidal crystals are then infused with a silica solution, which polymerizes in the cavities. In the final stage, the latex particles are removed by calcination, leaving behind porous silica of very low density. Scanning electron microscopy images demonstrate that the product has highly uniform and structured pores, representing a negative replica of the original colloidal crystal. The size of the pores can be controlled by changing the size of the latex used, and we were able to obtain samples with pores ranging from 150 to 1000 nm. Thus the method allows one to obtain structured silica materials of which the pore size, shape, and ordering can be controlled in a wid...
A Comparison of Kinetostatic and Multibody Dynamics Models for Simulating Protein Structures

This paper presents an initial comparison of two approaches to energy minimization of protein molecules, namely the Molecular Dynamic Simulation and the Kineto-Static Compliance Method. Both methods are well established and are promising contenders to the seemingly insurmountable task of global optimization in the protein molecules potential energy terrain. The Molecular Dynamic Simulation takes the form of Constrained Multibody Dynamics of interconnected rigid bodies, as implemented at the Virtual Reality Application Center from Iowa State University. The Kineto-Static Compliance Method is implemented in the Protofold Computer package developed in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Connecticut. The simulation results of both methods are compared through the trajectory of potential energy, the Root Mean Square Deviation (RMSD) of the alpha carbons, as well as based on visual observations. The preliminary results indicate that both techniques are very effective in converging the protein structure to a state with significantly less potential energy. At present, the converged solutions for the two methods are, however, different from each other and are very likely different from the global minimum potential energy state.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Characteristics of outer ring (5'- or 3'-) monodeiodination of 3',5'- and 3,3'-diiodothyronine: evidence suggesting one outer ring monodeiodinase for various iodothyronines.

Previous studies revealing marked similarities in the activities of outer ring monodeiodination of T4 and rT3 by liver or kidney have suggested that these processes are mediated by the same enzyme. It is not known, however, whether the same, similar, or different enzyme (s) is involved in the removal of iodine from the outer ring of other iodothyronines. This study examines the processes of extrathyroidal monodeiodination of 3′5′-diiodothyronine (3′,5′-T2) and 3,3′-T2 in the outer ring to 3′- monoiodothyronine (3′-T1) and 3-T1, respectively, and describes their responses to several manipulations. 3′5′-T2 (∼8 × 108 M) or 3,3′-T2 (∼3 × 107 M) was incubated in 0.1 M Tris buffer (pH 7.4) with various rat tissue homogenates (∼0.13 geq) for 3 min (in the case of 3′,5′-T2) or 30 min (in the case of 3,3′-T2) at 37 C, and the amount of T1 generated (3′-T1 from 3′,5′-T2 and 3-T1 from 3,3′-T2) during incubation was quantified by pecific RIA of ethanol extracts of incubation mixtures. The radioactive ligand in the 3′...
Helical computed tomographic angiography: an excellent screening test for blunt cerebrovascular injury.

Background:Blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI) carries a high morbidity and mortality, especially when diagnosis is delayed. Recent studies have shown that increased recognition of these injuries is achieved with prompt screening, allowing for early treatment and better outcome. Controversy still ex
Cloning and expression of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase cDNA from rosa (Rosa x hybrida)

The role of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) synthase in rose flower petal senescence was investigated. A cDNA library from senescing petals of rose (Rosa × hybrid cv. Kardinal) prepared in λcDNA ZAP Express Vector was probed with a rose-specific 400-bp probe, and seven putative positive ACC synthase clones were isolated. Except for differences in length, the sequences of these clones were identical. A full-length clone, RKacc7, 1,750 bp long, coded for an open reading frame of 480 amino acids that contained the 11 conserved amino acid residues, the substrate and pyridoxal 5′-phosphate binding sites, all of which are characteristic of all ACC synthases. The transcripts prepared in vitro from the full-length clone when translated in rabbit reticulocyte lysates exhibited a 55-KDa polypeptide that comigrated with a polypeptide synthesized from a mRNA fraction isolated from senescing petals, and both were immunoselected by anti-ACC synthase antibodies. Reverse transcriptase-PCR-based studies showed that in planta RKacc7 is specifically expressed in rose petals, ovary and sepals. The expression of ACC synthase increased dramatically as the flower matured to senescence and also correlated positively with ethylene levels. The results of genomic Southern blots probed with RKacc7 are consistent with a pattern expected from a multigene family.
Pinching forces in crayfish and fiddler crabs, and comparisons with the closing forces of other animals

The pinching forces of crustaceans are in many respects analogous to the biting forces of vertebrates. We examined the effects of body size and chelae size and shape, on the closing forces of the fiddler crab, Uca pugilator, and the crayfish, Procambarus clarkii. We hypothesized that the allometric relationships would be similar among species, and comparable to those reported for other decapod crustaceans. We further hypothesized that the scaling of the closing forces of crustaceans, with respect to body size and with the geometry of the pinching or biting structures, would be similar to that of vertebrates. We found that pinching forces increased with body mass, claw dimensions, and claw mass in U. pugilator, but only with claw height and claw mass in P. clarkii. Contraction time increased with body mass for both species combined, whereas contraction speed decreased. Pooled data for these and 17 other species of decapod crustacean revealed a positive correlation between the pinching force and body mass with a scaling exponent of 0.71. These data are remarkably comparable to the values on closing forces of vertebrate jaws, with the pooled data having a scaling exponent of 0.58, slightly below the value of 0.67 predicted for geometric similarity. Maximum closing forces vary tremendously among both crustaceans and animals in general, with body size and food habits being among the most important determining factors.
Reliability analysis of multistorey frames

Abstract The paper presents a parametric study of different independent variables to study their effect on final rotations, sidesway, end moments and reactions. It is found that while there is practically no effect on final end moments and reactions, the displacements varied. Later, the distribution function of different dependent variables; namely rotation, sidesway, end moment and reaction is obtained. The estimation of these dependent variables is also made. It is found that the maximum variation from the mean value is in the case of rotation. The minimum variation is found to be in the case of vertical reactions.
EFFECT OF AGE AND SEX ON SENSITIVITY TO D-TUBOCURARINE IN THE RAT.

SummaryOne- and three-month-old male and female rats were injected intraperito-neally with d-tubocurarine in various doses. These animals were then placed on their sides and their ability to regain the upright position determined. No difference in sensitivity to d-tubocurarine was found to exist between one-month-old females, one-month-old males, and 3-month-old males. The 3-month-old females, however, were significantly more sensitive than any of the other groups. Gonadec-tomy performed at age one week failed to abolish the sex difference in curare sensitivity in animals tested at 3 months of age.We would like to express our appreciation to Dr. A. Varma for statistical analysis of the data, and to Drs. H. Houston Merritt, and L. P. Rowland for review of the manuscript. We would also like to thank Mrs. Arleene Ozerkis, Mr. Robert Rodvien, Mr. Robert Lattes, and Mrs. Barbara Wolf for technical help. We are grateful to E. R. Squibb for supplies of Intocostrin.
Treatment of diffuse poorly differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma an analysis of prognostic variables

Forty patients with diffuse poorly differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma (DPDL) Stages II-IV were treated with three different and successive combination chemotherapy protocols. Seventeen patients were treated with the cyclophosphamide (CTX) L2 protocol which included maintenance chemotherapy for 3 years. Only three patients were treated with the NHL-3 (non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) protocol, and 20 patients received the NHL-5 program. All protocols included radiotherapy (1500-4800 rad) to areas of initial bulky disease or persistent tumor, as well as central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis with intrathecal methotrexate in patients with bone marrow involvement. Seventy-eight percent of local recurrences occurred in previously irradiated areas. Two-year survival rates were 55% and 70% for the CTX-L2 and NHL-5 protocols, respectively. Median disease-free survival for 24 complete response (CR) patients was 16.5 months. Of the 40 patients, 37 were evaluable for response to therapy. The CTX-L2 produced an 80% total response (TR) rate, a 60% CR, and a 20% partial response (PR). The patients on the NHL-5 achieved a TR rate of 95%, 74% CR, and 21% PR. Differences in TR and CR between the two protocols were not significant. Only 1 of 3 patients on the NHL-3 protocol achieved a CR. There was a trend for age greater than 50 years to lessen the chances of CR (P = 0.091); however, sex, symptoms, stage of disease, and LDH level were not significantly related to CR rate. Response to treatment (CR versus PR versus failure) was the most important factor influencing survival (P less than 0.001); age (greater than 50 years) was also significant (P = 0.008). Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was of borderline significance (P = 0.06). Cox regression model showed age (greater than 50 versus less than 50 years, P = 0.001), LDH (greater than 500 versus less than or equal to 500 U/L, P = 0.019) and symptoms (A or B) to be the best predictors of survival.
Stabilizability of linear time-varying and uncertain linear systems

Feedback stabilization of linear time-varying and uncertain linear systems is considered. It is proved that given a stabilizing dynamic linear state-feedback controller, one can always construct a stabilizing nondynamic linear state-feedback controller. A similar result is shown for uncertain linear systems. A linear time-varying system can be stabilized by dynamic output feedback if and only if it admits a coprime factorization. >
Empathy in Academe: On the Origins of Pathological Altruism

• Our ability to care for others depends on emotionally-based empathic considerations as well as on rational considerations.
Refractive-index structure parameter in the planetary boundary layer: comparison of measurements taken with a 10.6-µm coherent lidar, a 0.9-µm scintillometer, and in situ sensors

An optical technique is described that determines the path-averaged value of a refractive-index structure parameter at 10.6 µm by use of a pulsed coherent CO2 lidar in direct detection and hard-target returns. The lidar measurements are compared with measurements taken by a 0.9-µm scintillometer and temperature probe (with humidity corrections). The experimental results show good agreement for Cn2 ≥ 10-14 m-2/3. With respect to practical applications the new technique permits Cn2 lidar measurements in a neutral meteorological situation to an unstably stratified convective boundary layer over long ranges (1 km or more).
The Results of a Needs Assessment to Guide a Vascular Surgery Skills Simulation Curriculum

Background In response to economic and societal pressures, a new integrated model of vascular surgery training has emerged that will condense training into 5 years. These new requirements challenge educators to develop innovative training programs that produce competent surgeons despite time constraints. Surgical skills simulation is a proven effective method to teach and evaluate learners in surgery residency programs. Methods To determine which skills are the most important to include in a vascular surgical skills training curriculum, a needs assessment survey was administered to all attending surgeons and fellows at vascular surgery training institutions in Southern California. Participants were asked to rank 52 vascular procedures and skills on a Likert scale (with scores ranging from 1 [not necessary] to 5 [essential]) based on perceived need for simulation training. Results Nineteen (48.7%) surveys were returned (6 fellows [60%], 13 attending surgeons [44.8%]). Carotid artery stenting was ranked by both fellows and attendings as the most essential procedure for simulation, with a mean score of 4.26. This was followed by open repair of ruptured infrarenal aortic aneurysm (R-AAA) (3.79), renal angioplasty/stent (3.68), thoracic endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (3.53), and open repair of juxtarenal/suprarenal aortic aneurysm (3.47). In addition, fellows gave a rank of 4 or higher to R-AAA, thoracic endovascular aortic aneurysm repair, mesenteric artery angioplasty/bypass, renal angioplasty/stent, and intravascular ultrasonography. Attendings did not give a mean rank score of 4 or higher to any procedures other than carotid artery stenting. Conclusions Our needs assessment identified vascular procedures where simulation may be beneficial to improve the skill level of vascular trainees in Southern California. With economic and logistical constraints for simulation at each individual training facility, a potential approach to this educational challenge is a regional Southern California vascular surgery skills simulation center.
Inelastic behaviour of reinforced concrete hyperbolic paraboloid saddle shell

Abstract The ultimate behaviour of a hyperbolic paraboloid (HP) saddle shell under uniformly distributed loading has been examined by a finite element computer program developed on a Cray Y-MP. The mesh convergence is studied using three progressively refined finite element mesh models, 16 × 16, 32 × 32 and 64 × 64, for the elastic and inelastic analyses. It is shown that the 32 × 32 mesh model gives a solution that is very close to that given by the 64 × 64 mesh model, thus showing a convergence. The inelastic analysis shows that the shell has a tremendous capacity to redistribute the stresses. At the ultimate, the concrete cracks and the reinforcement yieldings are spread out all over the shell, indicating that the stress distribution in the shell is approaching that given by the classical membrane theory. The nonlinear analysis shows that the current design method is acceptable and that the lower bound theorem applies to the HP saddle shell design for the problem that was studied.
Dynamic active contours for visual tracking

Visual tracking using active contours is usually set in a static framework. The active contour tracks the object of interest in a given frame of an image sequence. A subsequent prediction step ensures good initial placement for the next frame. This approach is unnatural; the curve evolution gets decoupled from the actual dynamics of the objects to be tracked. True dynamical approaches exist, all being marker particle based and thus prone to the shortcomings of such particle-based implementations. In particular, topological changes are not handled naturally in this framework. The now classical level set approach is tailored for evolutions of manifolds of codimension one. However, dynamic curve evolution is at least a codimension two problem. We propose an efficient, level set based approach for dynamic curve evolution, which addresses the artificial separation of segmentation and prediction while retaining all the desirable properties of the level set formulation. It is based on a new energy minimization functional which, for the first time, puts dynamics into the geodesic active contour framework.