cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phase Shift Error Reduction for Integrated Field-Based Current Sensing in Ni-Plated SiC Power Modules

The magnitude of the magnetic fields in silicon power modules have been studied to enable the integration of giant magnetoresistive (GMR) detectors for galvanically isolated current sensing. When GMRs are integrated into SiC modules with Ni-plated substrates, phase shifts with regard to the current are observed at several hundred hertz. Such phase shifts of the magnetic field cause phase errors in measuring current. The physics of phase shift caused by the eddy currents is investigated, and the influence of ferromagnetic materials (Ni) on the phase shift is identified. To address phase errors, methodologies for phase shift reduction are proposed. The imaginary flat-bandwidth metric and the eddy current decoupling technique are proposed to quantify and reduce the phase shift. A reduction of phase shift from 10 to 0.5 degree is experimentally achieved in the SiC module. The proposed methodologies can be applied to other field-based sensing in energy conversion applications.
OSTRICH-SWMM: A new multi-objective optimization tool for green infrastructure planning with SWMM

Abstract The installation of Green Infrastructure (GI) can revitalize communities while reducing sewage overflows and improving runoff quality. However, determining the proper GI investment is a challenging management task. Numerical hydrologic models, such as the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM), are the primary design tool for GI. A new open-source multi-objective SWMM optimization tool was developed by connecting SWMM with the existing Optimization Software Toolkit for Research Involving Computational Heuristics (OSTRICH). In contrast to similar tools, it is open-source and has a large selection of parallelized algorithms. A case study of stormwater management in Buffalo, New York, demonstrated how the tool can illuminate trade-offs between the cost of rain barrel placement and the resulting reduction in combined sewer overflows. In the future, this tool could be used to optimize different types of GI features and contribute to a broader decision support framework for urban land use and stormwater management.
Intolerance of uncertainty, social support, and loneliness in relation to anxiety and depressive symptoms among women diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Objective Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is a trait variable that captures an individual's lack of tolerance for unknown outcomes and events. Positive correlations between IU and mental health symptoms have been observed in various populations, while social variables (social support and decreased loneliness) seem to serve as protective factors against psychological distress among individuals with cancer. The present study examined the moderation effect of social support and loneliness in the relationship between IU and mental health symptoms among women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Methods This study was a cross-sectional design involving 131 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer recruited through social media and other online sources. Participants completed questionnaires that assessed their IU (prospective and inhibitory), anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, social support, and loneliness. Moderated regression analyses were applied to test the hypothesis that low social support and high loneliness would exacerbate the relationship between IU and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Results The hypothesized moderation effects (social support × IU, loneliness × IU) were not supported in the anxiety and depressive symptoms models. Post hoc linear regression analyses indicated that IU and loneliness were predictive of depressive and anxiety symptoms. Loneliness was the strongest predictor in both the anxiety and depressive symptoms models, followed by IU. Conclusions The findings indicate that loneliness and IU-particularly inhibitory IU-are important considerations in understanding mental health symptoms among women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Addressing both loneliness and IU may be an important avenue in clinical settings.
How Just Is Justice? Ask a Psycholinguist

You are a member of a jury. After the trial, the judge reads you and your fellow jurors a set of instructions. One of them begins: Failure of recollection is common. Innocent misrecollection is not uncommon… Confused? Now imagine that your native language is not English or that you never finished high school. Or both. Our justice system depends on jurors making informed decisions to reach a verdict, so when jury instructions are too challenging, jurors not only disengage but return misinformed verdicts. Courtroom practices make jurors’ jobs even harder. Many states don’t provide copies of the instructions and some don’t permit jurors to take notes. Can we make instructions easier for jurors, and in so doing, improve justice? In two studies, we show that jury instruction comprehension significantly improves (a) when subjects read the texts of the instructions while listening to them and (b) when the instructions are rewritten in Plain English, minimizing two linguistic factors: passive verbs and unfamiliar legal expressions, or “legalese”. Improvements were even greater for Study 2’s MTurk subjects than Study 1’s undergraduates. Since these new subjects are closer demographically to jurors, this new data provides even more evidence that current jury instructions need to be rewritten. Taken together, the studies lay the groundwork for reform, psycholinguistics providing judiciaries with the evidence that they need to implement change.
Preservation of renal perfusion by hepatorenal and splenorenal bypasses before explantation of an infected abdominal aortic endograft.

Abstract We report the case of an 82-year-old patient with an infected abdominal aortic endograft who presented with a right psoas abscess and lumbar osteomyelitis. The psoas abscess was drained percutaneously. Fluid obtained grew Fusobacterium nucleatum. The patient, an active and highly functional individual, wished to pursue definitive management. The infected endograft was surgically removed, and the aorta was ligated above the renal arteries after staged axillary-bifemoral, hepatorenal, and splenorenal bypasses.
How Metal Ion Lewis Acidity and Steric Properties Influence the Barrier to Dioxygen Binding, Peroxo O-O Bond Cleavage, and Reactivity.

Herein we quantitatively investigate how metal ion Lewis acidity and steric properties influence the kinetics and thermodynamics of dioxygen binding versus release from structurally analogous Mn–O2...
Poorer Physical and Mental Health Status Are Associated with Subsequent Opioid Prescriptions: a U.S. National Study.

How physical and mental health status relate to receipt of opioid prescription remains unclear, creating uncertainty in minimizing opioid harms while avoiding pain under-treatment. To examine the associations of physical and mental health status with subsequent opioid prescriptions. Observational study of 2005–2015 United States (U.S.) Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data. Adult respondents (N = 78,563) participating for 2 years. The analyses focused on respondents reporting no opioid prescriptions in year 1 (N = 65,249). In the primary analysis, a negative binomial regression yielding adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRRs), the dependent variable was the number of opioid prescriptions in year 2. In two secondary analyses, both logistic regressions yielding adjusted odds ratios (ORs), the dependent variables were receipt of any opioid prescription (versus none) and receipt of ≥ 6 opioid prescriptions (versus 0–5) in year 2. The key independent variables in all analyses were the SF-12 Physical and Mental Component Summary scores (PCS-12 and MCS-12, respectively; higher scores = better health status). All models adjusted for socio-demographics, health-related variables, and year. Primary analysis. With each 10-point decrement in year 1 PCS-12 or MCS-12 score, there were more opioid prescriptions received in year 2 (adjusted IRRs [95% CIs] 1.45 [1.39–1.52] and 1.22 [1.16–1.27], respectively). Secondary analyses. With each 10-point decrement in year 1 PCS-12 or MCS-12 score, there were higher odds in year 2 both of receiving any opioid prescription (adjusted ORs 1.23 [1.19–1.28] and 1.11 [1.08–1.15], respectively) and of receiving ≥ 6 opioid prescriptions (adjusted ORs 1.96 [1.75–2.17] and 1.37 [1.23–1.54], respectively). In a nationally representative U.S. sample, both poorer physical and mental health status independently predicted receiving more opioid prescriptions received in a subsequent year, as well as receiving ≥ 6 prescriptions during the year. Our findings may contribute to a more nuanced picture of the drivers of opioid prescription.
CHAMPVis: Comparative Hierarchical Analysis of Microarchitectural Performance

Performance analysis and optimization are essential tasks for hardware and software engineers. In the age of datacenter-scale computing, it is particularly important to conduct comparative performance analysis to understand discrepancies and limitations among different hardware systems and applications. However, there is a distinct lack of productive visualization tools for these comparisons. We present CHAMPVis, a web-based, interactive visualization tool that leverages the hierarchical organization of hardware systems to enable productive performance analysis. With CHAMPVis, users can make definitive performance comparisons across applications or hardware platforms. In addition, CHAMPVis provides methods to rank and cluster based on performance metrics to identify common optimization opportunities. Our thorough task analysis reveals three types of datacenter-scale performance analysis tasks: summarization, detailed comparative analysis, and interactive performance bottleneck identification. We propose techniques for each class of tasks including (1) 1-D feature space projection for similarity analysis; (2) Hierarchical parallel co-ordinates for comparative analysis; and (3) User interactions for rapid diagnostic queries to identify optimization targets. We evaluate CHAMPVis by analyzing standard datacenter applications and machine learning benchmarks in two different case studies.
Functional Outcomes Not Significantly Impacted by Hemocompatibility-Related Adverse Event Burden among Different Devices

Purpose Landmark work has demonstrated that the hemocompatibility-related adverse event (HRAE) burden is significantly lower with the newest centrifugal flow pump; however, no study has specifically examined this HRAE burden on the prior commercially available pumps and the impact on functional outcomes. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of HRAE (non-surgical bleeding, thrombo-embolic event, pump thrombosis, or neurological event) burden in patients following surgical implantation of Heart-Mate II (HMII) or Heart-Ware (HW) devices through 1 year of clinical follow-up. An HRAE were categorized by the type and severity of an adverse event and then assigned a net Hemocompatibility Score (HCS) of 0 through 4 for no HRAE through life-ending or disabling HRAE. Statistical analysis included comparison of net HCS using proportional regression, as well as impact on functional outcomes [NYHA class, dyspnea score, 6-minute walk, and peak venous oxygen consumption (VO2)] Results The study cohort included a total of 331 patients, with 268 patients (81%) in the HMII group and 63 patients (19%) in HW group. The overall median age was 62.2 years; patients receiving HMII were older (median 63.5 versus 58.1years, p Conclusion Burden of HRAE does not adversely affect measures of functional capacity after device implantation. Furthermore, this did not differ with the use of prior commercially-available devices. These findings indicate that overall functional quality of life may not be significantly impacted by burden of HRAE regardless of pump technology.
What Are the Unique Mentorship Needs of Fourth-Year Medical Students Applying to Pediatrics Residency?

Abstract Objective The qualities of good medical school mentors have been well-described. However, there is little written about the mentoring needs of medical students applying to pediatrics residency. Methods In order to characterize pediatrics interns’ perspectives on the mentorship needs of fourth year medical students applying to residency, the authors conducted an IRB-approved, qualitative modified grounded-theory study using a brief survey and semi-structured focus groups of pediatric interns in January and February 2018. Two investigators independently coded the focus group transcripts and reconciled codes to develop categories and themes using constant comparison, which were then reviewed by the third author for validation. To further ensure trustworthiness of analysis, participants were asked to comment on the themes’ accuracy. Results Eighteen pediatrics interns participated, representing 15 medical schools. Four major themes emerged: 1) Effective mentors guide medical students to self-reflect and find their own answers about what is important to them in a residency program; 2) Multiple mentors are helpful during the residency application process; 3) Several key components of advising are often missing during the residency application process; 4) Students find it difficult to be honest with their mentors if there is a perceived conflict of interest. Conclusions Medical students applying for pediatrics residency have specific mentorship needs and cite opportunities to improve this area of mentorship. Several key recommendations include utilizing multiple mentors and providing emotional support during the residency application process. In addition, near-peer mentorship is important for medical students applying to residency and should be facilitated by medical schools.
Effect of Amaranth and Quinoa Flours on Exopolysaccharide Production and Protein Profile of Liquid Sourdough Fermented by Weissella cibaria and Lactobacillus plantarum.

Exopolysaccharides (EPS) are known for their positive contribute to the technological properties of many foods, including bakery products. These molecules can be obtained performing piloted fermentation with lactic acid bacteria (LAB). In order to select strains able to produce EPS, a screening test in agar medium containing sucrose, fructose or glucose as carbohydrate source was performed on 21 LAB strains. Results allowed to select 8 Weissella cibaria, 2 Weissella confusa and 2 Leuconostoc spp. strains as EPS producers only in the presence of sucrose. A further screening in liquid medium enriched with sucrose (10%) (mMRS_S) indicated the W. cibaria strain C43-11 as the higher EPS producer. The selected strain was used to develop liquid sourdoughs (LSs) with dough yield (DY) 500, fermented for 15 h and based on wheat flour and wheat gluten or pseudocereals (quinoa or amaranth) in ratio 1:1, in the presence or not of sucrose at 3% (w/w, LS weight), in comparison to Lactobacillus plantarum ITM21B, a strain not producing EPS in mMRS_S. Results indicated that the use of pseudocereals favored the EPS production. Formulations were optimized by modifying DY (500 or 250), sucrose concentration (3 or 6%) and flour ratio. LSs were characterized for the content of organic acids (lactic, acetic, phenyllactic, OH-phenyllactic), pH, TTA, EPS, viscosity, total protein degradation and protein pattern. The highest EPS production (20.79 g/Kg) and viscosity (1168 mPa s) were obtained in LS (DY 250, sucrose 6%) based on quinoa flour and started with C43-11 strain. The LS was characterized by the presence of phenyllactic and OH-phenyllactic acids, protein degradation by 51.7% and proteins in the range 14-80 kDa. In these conditions, also strain ITM21B was able to produce EPS at level of 4.61 g/Kg and to degrade proteins by 53.8% in LS based on wheat and quinoa flours (1:1) (DY250 and sucrose 3%). Therefore, results demonstrated that the use of selected conditions (flour type, DY, sucrose) can stimulate specific attributes of strains making them suitable for production of short fermented (15h) liquid sourdoughs which can be used as bread improvers.
Hydrogen movements in the oxidative half-reaction of kynurenine 3-monooxygenase from Pseudomonas fluorescens reveal the mechanism of hydroxylation.

Abstract Kynurenine 3-monoxygenase (KMO) catalyzes the conversion of l -kynurenine (L-Kyn) to 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-OHKyn) in the pathway for tryptophan catabolism. We have investigated the effects of pH and deuterium substitution on the oxidative half-reaction of KMO from P. fluorescens (PfKMO). The three phases observed during the oxidative half reaction are formation of the hydroperoxyflavin, hydroxylation and product release. The measured rate constants for these phases proved largely unchanging with pH, suggesting that the KMO active site is insulated from exchange with solvent during catalysis. A solvent inventory study indicated that a solvent isotope effect of 2–3 is observed for the hydroxylation phase and that two or more protons are in flight during this step. An inverse isotope effect of 0.84 ± 0.01 on the rate constant for the hydroxylation step with ring perdeutero-L-Kyn as a substrate indicates a shift from sp2 to sp3 hybridization in the transition state leading to the formation of a non-aromatic intermediate. The pH dependence of transient state data collected for the substrate analog meta-nitrobenzoylalanine indicate that groups proximal to the hydroperoxyflavin are titrated in the range pH 5–8.5 and can be described by a pKa of 8.8. That higher pH values do not slow the rate of hydroxylation precludes that the pKa measured pertains to the proton of the hydroperoxflavin. Together, these observations indicate that the C4a-hydroperoxyflavin has a pKa ≫ 8.5, that a non-aromatic species is the immediate product of hydroxylation and that at least two solvent derived protons are in-flight during oxygen insertion to the substrate aromatic ring. A unifying mechanistic proposal for these observations is proposed.
Assessing the Predictive Nature of Teacher and Student Writing Self-Regulation Discrepancy

In this study, we examine the extent to which the discrepancy between teacher-reported and student-reported self-regulatory behaviours during writing were associated with students’ end-of-year writing grades after controlling for student writing ability and other demographic characteristics. Results of our study, conducted with a sample of 201 middle grades students enrolled in a large, comprehensive suburban school district in the Mid-Atlantic U.S., suggest a significant and positive relationship between teacher discrepancy and grades, after controlling for writing ability, student self-regulation, gender, race/ethnicity, and SES. This has clear implications for the classroom, as it suggests that even after accounting for student difference in terms of ability background, and demographics, the effort that teachers perceive their students making in the fall are still associated with students’ year-end performance in their class. This represents some of the first frontline evidence of the predictive relationship between self-regulation discrepancy and student achievement in writing.
Management of valvular heart disease in the pregnant patient.

Among cardiovascular disease in pregnancy, valvular heart disease remains a prevalent cause of maternal and fetal morbidity. The physiological changes of pregnancy can lead to decompensation of kno...
S-Connect Fan-out Interposer For Next Gen Heterogeneous Integration

Semiconductor products used in high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI) applications require higher memory bandwidth, greater input/output (I/O) count, better power delivery network (PDN) performance and improved heat dissipation characteristics. To meet these requirements, a 2.5D package architecture with a Through Silicon Via (TSV)-bearing silicon (Si) interposer is mainly used in volume production. However, a redistribution layer (RDL) interposer is emerging as a cost effective and higher performance alternative. To implement an improved high-performance, multifunctional interposer, S-Connect technology has been developed that uses a multi-chip, fan-out interposer with various functionalities, such as a die-to-die (D2D) connection, where integrated passive devices (IPDs) and active devices can be integrated. If active devices are included in the interposer, S-Connect technology enables a 3D system where multiple active chips are vertically integrated. In this paper, the S-Connect design differences from the existing 2.5D package using Si interposer with TSVs and its fabrication process flow are explained. S-Connect technology provides manufacturing flexibility to apply various types of interconnects. Two different connect features will be discussed. Firstly, a Si connect will be explored having a back end of line (BEOL) and TSV approach that can provide the same die-to-die routing with smaller than $1-\mu \mathrm{m}$ line/space (L/S) and vertical connections as a Si interposer. The second option uses a multilayer RDL, which can be fabricated on Si, glass and even on the epoxy mold compound (EMC). The RDL can also provide vertical interconnects such as TSVs in Si. For demonstration, a test vehicle (TV) with one logic chip and two memory chips mounted on a multi-chip, fan-out interposer with an area approximately 1.5 times larger than the reticle was used. The interposer consists of two connect chips with $2-\mu \mathrm{m}$ L/S RDL and 6 mechanical IPDs located under the logic die. Two types of the connect chips were used - RDL on Si wafer and RDL on EMC having TMVs. The top die to interposer joints were made using $\mu$ -bumps with $25-\mu \mathrm{m}$ size on a $45-\mu \mathrm{m}$ pitch in the logic and $25-\mu \mathrm{m}$ size on a $55-\mu \mathrm{m}$ pitch in the memory die. Both the top and bottom sides of the fan-out interposer have a single layer of RDL. To interconnect the bottom side of the interposer and the package substrate, copper (Cu) pillar C4 bumps at $150-\mu \mathrm{m}$ pitch were formed. Once the top die and interposer assembly is complete, the subsequent processes are standard flip chip ball grid array (FCBGA) process flows. Moisture sensitivity and long-term reliability test results will be presented as well as warpage behavior, which is critical for the large body packages. Lastly, the advantages of the S-Connect package will be compared to other 2.5D and flip chip solutions in terms of manufacturability, ability to integrate multiple functionalities and cost.
Pesticides and Metabolites

Aldrin, dieldrin, and chlordane are the compounds included in this category. Many additional pesticides and metabolites are included elsewhere.
Prenatal Gonadal Influences on Mouse Sociosexual Behaviours

A basic assumption in research on sexual differentiation has been that after differentiation of the gonads, testosterone (or its intracellular metabolites: 17s-oestradiol and 5α-dihydrotestosterone) mediates the process of masculinization (the induction of species-specific masculine characteristics). Active defeminization (the loss of species-specific feminine characteristics) is proposed to occur in male rodents (but not primates, see e.g. Karsch & al., 1973) as a result of intracellular conversion of testosterone to oestradiol within specific areas of the brain. Examples of defeminization of specific traits in response to testosterone secretion by the male testes during early life in mice and rats are: the loss of the capacity to respond to elevated oestradiol by exhibiting a surge in LH or the sexually-receptive posture (lordosis) when mounted by a stud male (Gorski, 1979). A second hormone secreted by the foetal testes, Mullerian inhibiting hormone, is also reguired for active degeneration (defeminization) of the derivatives of the Mullerian ducts (fallopian tubes, uterus, and upper part of the vagina; Jost, 1972).
CoBase: A Cooperative Query Answering Facility for Database Systems

A new generation of database that integrates knowledge base technology with database systems is presented for providing cooperative (approximate and conceptual) query answering. Based on the database schema and application characteristics, data are organized into type abstraction hierarchies. The higher levels of the hierarchy provide a more abstract data representation than the lower levels. Generalization (moving up in the hierarchy), specialization (moving down in the hierarchy) and association (moving between hierarchies) are the three key operations in deriving cooperative query answers. A relaxation manager is included to provide control for query relaxations. An Explanation System is also included to describe the relaxation process and provide the nearness of the approximate answer. We have demonstrated the feasibility and functionality of CoBase on top of a transportation relational database. The CoBase methodology has also been adopted in the knowledge based multimedia medical distributed database project [5] at UCLA.
Implementation and outcomes of an online English-Portuguese tandem language exchange program delivered jointly across a U.S.-Brazilian university partnership: A case study

IMPLEMENTATION AND OUTCOMES OF AN ONLINE ENGLISH-PORTUGUESE TANDEM LANGUAGE EXCHANGE PROGRAM DELIVERED JOINTLY ACROSS A U.S.-BRAZILIAN UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP: A CASE STUDY By Anton T. Brinckwirth, Ph.D. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2012 Dissertation Director: Jonathan Becker, J.D., Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Leadership School of Education The purpose of this study was to investigate a class-to-class online English-Portuguese “Teletandem” program that was conceived, negotiated, and implemented cross-collaboratively between the foreign language faculty and language resource center (LRC) staff at two large state universities—one in the United States and the other in Brazil. Ten English language students in Brazil were paired with 10 Portuguese language students in the U.S. for a 10-week Skype®based tandem language exchange (TLE) project that was jointly delivered online across an international university partnership. A qualitative case study design was used to examine the attitudes, perceptions, views, and behaviors of the teachers, students, and LRC staff who participated in the project. The objective of the study was to shed light on the factors that facilitated and hindered teletandem design, implementation and sustainability. Participant feedback was interpreted and contextualized by the researcher to provide rich descriptions of how Teletandem was optimized and how it impacted student learning. The findings suggest that Teletandem is an innovative, low-cost, high-impact language learning activity with vast pedagogical implications. As a lab supplement to traditional instruction, it enabled students at both sites to accelerate L2 development through authentic immersion and practice while making social connections with native speakers abroad. In addition, the results showed that—for many students—Teletandem heightened intercultural awareness, boosted confidence in the L2, and strengthened fluency skills while rendering a transformational learning experience.
Using green fluorescent protein fusion proteins to quantitate microtubule and spindle dynamics in budding yeast.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on aspects of cloning, with regard to promoter choice for green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion proteins, methods to quantitate the fluorescence signal in single cells, and quantitative solutions to the imaging problem. Examples of cells expressing excess levels of dynein-GFP are provided to illustrate (a) how overexpression is documented and (b) phenotypes resulting from severe protein overexpression. The ability to regulate the quantity of GFP-fusion protein in individual cells is paramount in obtaining an accurate assessment of protein function. Saturation of binding sites by excess levels of the fusion protein may contribute to the background fluorescence or lead to aberrant positioning of the fusion protein in vivo . The level of mRNA transcription, and thus protein level, is greatly influenced by the strength of the promoter. Low-level constitutive promoters, such as the actin promoter, can produce sufficient amounts of protein without the need for induction. The dynein-GFP fusion protein allows to visualize the dynamic behavior of the microtubule cytoskeleton and the spindle poles. Expression of a GFP-tagged dynein within the yeast cell as well as GFP-tagged tubulin, produced the first view of the dynamic and physiological role for astral microtubules in vivo.
Mechanism of cellular effect of phorbol esters on action of arginine vasopressin and angiotensin II on rat vascular smooth muscle cells in culture

The inhibitory effect of phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) on the Ca2+-mobilization mechanisms by arginine vasopressin (AVP) and angiotensin II (AII) was analysed in rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) in culture. PMA inhibited the Ca2+-mobilizing effect of both AVP and AII in a dose-dependent manner, including the rise in cytosolic free Ca2+ ( [Ca2+]i) and Ca2+ efflux. In addition, inositol trisphosphate (IP3) production induced by AVP or AII was more than 50% reduced by PMA. The involvement of protein kinase C was implicated by the diminution of the PMA effect by the specific protein kinase C inhibitor isoquinoline-sulphonyl-O-2-methylpiperazine (H7) and the lack of effect of an inactive phorbol. Thus, these results suggest that there is a blocking site that is common or similar for both AVP and AII signal transduction, and that it is a substrate for protein kinase C. This blocking action of protein kinase C occurred at least in part by inhibition of IP3 production and, subsequently, a reduction in cytosolic Ca2+ release. In the presence of ionomycin, which produces an increase in [Ca2+]i that is not altered by PMA, 45Ca2+ efflux was increased instead of inhibited by PMA, thus suggesting that protein kinase C activation also stimulates a Ca2+-extrusion mechanism in VSMC.
Contrasting population demographics and reproductive investment of white crappie in three eutrophic reservoirs

White crappie, Pomoxis annularis Rafinesque, provides important sport fisheries across North America but sometimes exhibits slow growth and fails to reach sizes acceptable to anglers. Three dissimilar white crappie populations were studied to assess whether differences in growth were associated with size and age at maturity and subsequent larval production. Similar to other species, female white crappie matured at younger ages and smaller sizes and contained larger ovaries in the population with the slowest growth; this population also had the lowest annual mortality. Larval production (number m−3) in this population was intermediate to that of the other populations. Attempts to improve growth of white crappie in the slow-growing population will probably be hindered by these individuals’ greater reproductive investment, which reduces the amount of energy available for somatic growth.
The receptor tyrosine kinase Pvr promotes tissue closure by coordinating corpse removal and epidermal zippering

A leading cause of human birth defects is the incomplete fusion of tissues, often manifested in the palate, heart or neural tube. To investigate the molecular control of tissue fusion, embryonic dorsal closure and pupal thorax closure in Drosophila are useful experimental models. We find that Pvr mutants have defects in dorsal midline closure with incomplete amnioserosa internalization and epidermal zippering, as well as cardia bifida. These defects are relatively mild in comparison to those seen with other signaling mutants, such as in the JNK pathway, and we demonstrate that JNK signaling is not perturbed by altering Pvr receptor tyrosine kinase activity. Rather, modulation of Pvr levels in the ectoderm has an impact on PIP3 membrane accumulation, consistent with a link to PI3K signal transduction. Polarized PI3K activity influences protrusive activity from the epidermal leading edge and the protrusion area changes in accord with Pvr signaling intensity, providing a possible mechanism to explain Pvr mutant phenotypes. Tissue-specific rescue experiments indicate a partial requirement in epithelial tissue, but confirm the essential role of Pvr in hemocytes for embryonic survival. Taken together, we argue that inefficient removal of the internalizing amnioserosa tissue by mutant hemocytes coupled with impaired midline zippering of mutant epithelium creates a situation in some embryos whereby dorsal midline closure is incomplete. Based on these observations, we suggest that efferocytosis (corpse clearance) could contribute to proper tissue closure and thus might underlie some congenital birth defects.
Subtle Electrocardiographic Abnormalities.

A 72-year-old diabetic, hypertensive man presents with waxing and waning episodes of sharp chest pain that started 9 hours earlier. The current episode of pain has been ongoing for the past 3 hours. On physical examination, the pain appears to be reproducible with palpation, and the patient does not demonstrate any distress or diaphoresis. The first troponin I level is 0.03 ng/ml. The presenting electrocardiogram (Figure 1) shows sinus rhythm; one aberrantly conducted premature atrial complex; left anterior fascicular block; left ventricular hypertrophy by Cornell criteria; and subtle ST-T signs of inferior, lateral, and posterior injury. The ST-segment depression in leads V1 through V3 implies posterior ST-segment elevation of infarction. Although the ST segment is only slightly elevated in the inferior leads and in leads V5 and V6 (w0.05 mV), it has a convex morphology with a wide, hyperacute T wave, particularly evident on the aberrant complex. This morphology suggests an injury pattern, even if the ST-segment elevation is subtle. Moreover, reciprocal ST-segment depression and T-wave inversion are seen in lead aVL, further confirming that the inferior ST-T changes represent an injury pattern. Once it has been determined that ST-elevation injury is present, the next step is to identify the culprit artery. A left circumflex coronary arterial occlusion is associated with ST-
Bioartificial liver process monitoring and control systems with integrated systems capability.

Monitoring and control of a bioartificial liver (BAL) support system have the potential to allow for maximization of device bioactivity and protection of both patient and device from untoward consequences of a complex hemoperfused fluidic process, such as coagulation, leakage, or decreased metabolic output. In this work, an integrated embedded systems controller and associated experimental platform were developed to allow for simultaneous monitoring and control of the physical environment of the BAL support system to ensure optimal and sustained hepatic metabolic function and to allow for simplified recording of experimental data. The user interface and core embedded system kernel were developed with rapid prototyping software tools and allowed for operation of easily modified user interface panels. BAL environment monitoring consisted of real-time recording of ambient and reactor temperatures, reactor inlet pressure, the presence of bubbles in the prereactor inlet tubing, and aqueous oxygen tension. Envi...
Multiple Image Recognition By Code Division Multiplexed Phase-Only Encoded Filters

A multiobject shift-invariant pattern recognition system using code division multiplexed binary phase-only correlation is presented. The system computes the binary correlation between an input pattern and a generalized set of pattern functions. This technique uses a filter which consists of a set of binary phase-only code division multiplexed reference pattern functions. There are many advantages in binarizing the filter function. Binary spatial light modulators (SLMs) have been developed that work well in a binary phase-only mode and can be used to synthesize the spatial filters of this type. Binarization also permits the recording of filters of images with larger samples on currently available binary SLMs that have a limited number of pixels. The functions in the reference set may correspond to either different objects or different variations of the object under study. Computer simulations of the correlator are used to study the performance of the pattern recognition system. The correlation signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and the ratio of the correlation peak intensity to the maximum correlation sidelobe intensity are evaluated as the criteria for the system performance.
Unconfined aquifer response to infiltration basins and shallow pump tests

Summary We measure and model the unsteady, axisymmetric response of an unconfined aquifer to delayed, arbitrary recharge. Water table drainage follows the initial elastic aquifer response, as modeled for uniform, instantaneous recharge by Zlotnik and Ledder [Zlotnik, V., Ledder, G., 1992. Groundwater flow in a compressible unconfined aquifer with uniform circular recharge. Water Resources Research 28(6), 1619–1630] and delayed drainage by Moench [Moench, A.F., 1995. Combining the Neuman and Boulton models for flow to a well in an unconfined aquifer. Ground Water 33(3), 378–384]. We extend their analyses with a convolution integral that models the delayed response of an aquifer to infiltration from a circular infiltration basin. The basin routes the hydrograph to the water table with a decay constant dependent on a Brooks and Corey [Brooks, R.H., Corey, A.T., 1966. Properties of porous media affecting fluid flow. Journal of the Irrigation and Drainage Division ASCE 92(2), 61–88] unsaturated permeability exponent. The resulting closed form model approaches Neuman’s [Neuman, S.P., 1972. Theory of flow in unconfined aquifers considering delayed response of the water table. Water Resources Research 8(4), 1031–1045] partially penetrating pump test equation for a small source radius, instantaneous, uniform drainage and a shallow screen section. Irrigation pump data at a well characterized part of the Plymouth-Carver Aquifer in southeastern Massachusetts calibrate the small source model, while infiltration data from the closed drainage system of State Route 25 calibrate the infiltration basin model. The calibrated permeability, elasticity, specific yield, and permeability exponent are plausible and consistent for the pump and infiltration data sets.
Extended trochanteric osteotomy

The use of an extended trochanteric osteotomy can facilitate a successful femoral revision. Indications for its use include removal of well fixed distal cement, concentric reaming in a varus remodeled femur, improved acetabular exposure, and removal of proximally and extensively coated implants. The use of an extended trochanteric osteotomy in these situations will minimize intraoperative complications and will result in predictable healing.
Control and Eradication of Chicken Lice with Lindane

Abstract LICE are a continual source of annoyance to the poultry raiser and it is reasonably safe to say that every poultry flock, either large or small, has been troubled by these pests at some time or another (Bishopp and Wood, 1939). Economic losses may take the form of reduced flesh, reduced egg production and lower resistance to disease (Van Es and Olney, 1941). It has recently been shown (Edgar and King, 1950), that non-infested flocks averaged 11.17 percent greater egg production than flocks moderately infested with lice. There are seven species of lice found on chickens (Bishopp, 1942) but only three of them are of economic importance (Ritcher and Insko, 1948), the body louse, Eomenacanthus stramineus (Nitz.); the shaft louse, Menopon gallinae (L.); and the head louse, Cuclotogaster heterograpkus (Nitz.). The body louse and the shaft louse are serious pests of adult birds while the head louse is more injurious . . .
Wedge stability in the roof of a circular tunnel: Plane strain condition

Recherche des effets des contraintes in situ sur la stabilite des blocs en forme de cone a l'aide d'une solution bidimensionnelle de Bray combinee avec une solution pour des contraintes adjacentes a un cylindre circulaire dans un champ de contrainte hydrostatique plane
Dissecting Systemic RNA Interference in the Red Flour Beetle Tribolium castaneum: Parameters Affecting the Efficiency of RNAi

The phenomenon of RNAi, in which the introduction of dsRNA into a cell triggers the destruction of the corresponding mRNA resulting in a gene silencing effect, is conserved across a wide array of plant and animal phyla. However, the mechanism by which the dsRNA enters a cell, allowing the RNAi effect to occur throughout a multicellular organism (systemic RNAi), has only been studied extensively in certain plants and the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. In recent years, RNAi has become a popular reverse genetic technique for gene silencing in many organisms. Although many RNAi techniques in non-traditional model organisms rely on the systemic nature of RNAi, little has been done to analyze the parameters required to obtain a robust systemic RNAi response. The data provided here show that the concentration and length of dsRNA have profound effects on the efficacy of the RNAi response both in regard to initial efficiency and duration of the effect in Tribolium castaneum. In addition, our analyses using a series of short dsRNAs and chimeric dsRNA provide evidence that dsRNA cellular uptake (and not the RNAi response itself) is the major step affected by dsRNA size in Tribolium. We also demonstrate that competitive inhibition of dsRNA can occur when multiple dsRNAs are injected together, influencing the effectiveness of RNAi. These data provide specific information essential to the design and implementation of RNAi based studies, and may provide insight into the molecular basis of the systemic RNAi response in insects.
Global change at the Paleocene-Eocene boundary: climatic and evolutionary consequences of tectonic events

Rea, D. K., Zachos, J. C., Owen, R. M. and Gingerich, P. D., 1990. Global change at the Paleocene-Eocene boundary: climatic and evolutionary consequences of tectonic events. Palaeogeogr., Palaeoclimatol., Palaeoecol., 79: 117-128. Events of the Paleocene-Eocene boundary provide the clearest example to date of how a tectonic event may have global climatic consequences. Recent advances permit well-constrained stratigraphic determination of several events that occurred at that boundary, in chron C24R: a many-fold increase in sea-floor hydrothermal activity, a global warming, a reduction in the intensity of atmospheric circulation, a conversion to salinity-driven deep ocean circulation, a marked lightening of oceanic 313C values, extinction and evolution of both benthic foraminifera and land mammals, and important plate-boundary reorganizations including the outpouring of the east Greenland volcanics and the initiation of the oceanic rift between Norway and Greenland. We hypothesize that enhanced sea-floor hydrothermal activity occasioned by global tectonism resulted in a flooding of the atmosphere with COz, causing a reduced pole-to-equator temperature gradient and increased evaporation at low latitudes. Increased formation of warm, salty, probably low-nutrient waters coupled with the warm temperatures at high latitudes occasioned a salinity-driven, rather than temperature-driven, deep-water circulation. This newly-evolved ocean circulation pattern changed the apportionment of global heat transport from the atmosphere to the ocean, with concomitant changes in the circulation intensity of both. Reduced intensity of atmospheric circulation resulted in lower oceanic biological productivity and enhanced seasonality of climate on the continents. A major extinction event among benthic foraminifera was probably a response to the new low-nutrient and chemically changed bottom waters, and endemism following rapid evolution and dispersal of mammalian orders may have been in response to the new continental climate regime.
Accounting for vessel effects when standardizing catch rates from cooperative surveys

Abstract Interpretation of fishery-dependent and independent-survey data requires accounting for changes in the proportion of local individuals that are caught by fishing gear (“catchability”). Catchability may be influenced by measured characteristics of fishing gear, and even standardized fishing techniques may experience changing catchability over time due to changes in fishing vessel characteristics and personnel. The importance of vessel power has long been recognized in the analysis of fishery dependent catch per unit effort data, but less-studied in the analysis of fishery independent data collected by research vessel surveys. Here we demonstrate how differences in catchability among vessels (“vessel effects”), as well as random variation in vessel-specific catchability over time (“vessel-year effects”) can be incorporated into generalized linear mixed models through their treatment as random effects. We apply these methods to data for 28 groundfish species caught in a standardized survey using contracted fishery vessels and personnel in the Northeast Pacific. Model selection shows that vessel, vessel-year, and both effects simultaneously are supported by available data for at least a few species. However, vessel-year effects generally have a larger effect on catch rates than vessel-effects and hence abundance indices estimated using both vessel- and vessel-year effects are generally similar to estimates when using just vessel-year effects. Additionally, models indicate little support for the hypothesis that characteristics such as length and displacement of the contracted vessels used in this survey have a substantial impact on catch rates. Finally, inclusion of vessel- or vessel-year effects generally results in wider estimates of credible intervals for resulting indices of abundance. This increased credible interval width is consistent with statistical theory, because vessel effects will result in non-independence of different sampling occasions, thus decreasing effective sample sizes. For this reason, we advocate that future analyses include vessel- and/or vessel-year effects when standardizing survey data from cooperative research programs.
Ethics at the Interface: A Successful Online Seminar: Commentary on 'Reflections on Teaching Health Care Ethics on the Web'

Virtually all of Toby Schonfeld’s observations apply equally to my own experience, but there are a few key ways in which my experience in online education differs from hers. While in its first three years, the annual seminar, “Scientists and Subjects: An Online Seminar on the Ethics of Research with Human Subjects” (SAS), began with a two-day face-to-face meeting of all seminar members (an extremely expensive component because the grant paid expenses for up to 15 seminar members to travel to Bloomington for the opening retreat); for Years 4-6 (2003-2005) the seminar has been a wholly online experience. I will restrict my comments to these latest three seminars. Perhaps the most important difference between SAS and Schonfeld’s course is that
Incidence of Cell-Saver contamination during cardiopulmonary bypass

During regular bacteriological surveillance of cardiac surgical equipment and patients, the Cell Saver apparatus (CSA) was prospectively evaluated to determine if it represented an additional risk for infection. Nineteen patients were studied. After each operation, the effluent from the CSA was sterilely sealed for subsequent culture. A total of 42 aerobic and 42 anaerobic cultures were made. Postoperatively all patients were evaluated daily for four days and before discharge for clinical evidence of infection. Four patients had positive CSA cultures without evidence of postoperative clinical infection. Five patients in whom postoperative infectious complications developed had negative CSA cultures. Ten patients had negative CSA cultures and no evidence of postoperative infection. We conclude that the CSA does not appear to contribute to the risk of infection in cardiac surgical patients and that it is a safe adjunct to cardiac surgery.