cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Temperature dependence of high field 13C dynamic nuclear polarization processes with trityl radicals below 35 Kelvin.

In order to facilitate versatile applications with high field dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP), it is important to be able to optimize the DNP performance, i.e. reach high nuclear hyperpolarization within a short signal build up time. Given that the solid-state DNP process is strongly temperature-dependent, it is important to benchmark the temperature dependence of various DNP and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) parameters that can then be used to test and develop theories and models for high field DNP mechanisms. However, DNP and EPR experiments at high fields and cryogenic temperatures below 20 Kelvin usually require home built instrumentation, and therefore even basic experimental observations are lacking in the literature. DNP and EPR experiments at 7 T (197 GHz) and 8.5 T (240 GHz), respectively, were conducted at temperatures between 35 K and 3.7 K where the electron thermal polarization changes from 13.4% to 85.6%, respectively. The samples are frozen solutions of 15 mM OX063Me trityl radicals in various mixtures of [1-13C]pyruvic acid, glycerol, and Gd3+-chelates. For all sample mixtures, the trityl EPR lines are found to be inhomogeneously broadened and the dominant DNP mechanism is shown to be the cross effect (CE). A 20%, 11%, and 6.77% 13C polarization is achieved at 3.7 K with a [1-13C]pyruvic–glycerol–H2O sample, the addition of 2 mM of Gd3+-chelates, and pure [1-13C]pyruvic acid, respectively. When T1n is sufficiently long, our results seem to suggest T1e is a key variable in the DNP process, where longer T1e values correlate with larger DNP enhancements (eDNP). The experimental data reported here on the temperature dependence of T1n, T1e, Tm (electron phase memory time), the EPR linewidth, TDNP and eDNP at high fields will be helpful for testing the mechanism and theory of DNP processes.
Giant Planet Formation by Gravitational Instability

The recent discoveries of extrasolar giant planets, coupled with refined models of the compositions of Jupiter and Saturn, prompt a reexamination of theories of giant planet formation. An alternative to the favored core accretion hypothesis is examined here; gravitational instability in the outer solar nebula leading to giant planet formation. Three-dimensional hydrodynamic calculations of protoplanetary disks show that giant gaseous protoplanets can form with locally isothermal or adiabatic disk thermodynamics. Gravitational instability appears to be capable of forming giant planets with modest cores of ice and rock faster than the core accretion mechanism can.
Organizational Change in Theological Schools: Dilemmas of Ideology and Resources

Schools of theological education face a series of organizational dilemmas, arising both from their institutional contexts and their multiple constituencies and missions. This article explores these dilemmas and some of the ways in which theological schools have attempted to meet them.
High-strength high-conductivity Cu-Nb microcomposite sheet fabricated via multiple roll bonding

Copper-niobium microcomposites are a new class of high-strength high-conductivity materials that have attractive properties for room- and elevated-temperature applications. Since Nb has little solid solubility in Cu, addition of Nb to Cu does not affect its conductivity. Copper-niobium microcomposites are melted and cast so that the microstructure of cast Cu-Nb ingots consists of 1-to 10μm Nb dendrites uniformly distributed within the copper matrix. Extensive wire drawing with a true processing strain (η > 12) of Cu-Nb alloy leads to refinement and elongation of Nb dendrites into 1-to 10 nm-thick filaments. The presence of such fine Nb filaments causes a significant increase in the strength of Cu-Nb wires. The tensile strength of heavily drawn Cu-Nb wires was determined to be significantly higher than the values predicted by the rule of mixtures. This article reports the fabrication of high-strength Cu-Nb micro-composite sheet by multiple roll bonding. It is difficult and impractical to attain high processing strains (η > 3) by simple cold rolling. In most practical cold-rolling operation, the thickness reduction does not exceed 90 pct (η ≅ 2). Therefore, innovative processing is required to generate high strength in Cu-Nb microcomposite sheet. Multiple roll bonding of Cu-Nb has been utilized to store high processing strain (η > 10) in the material and refine the Nb particle size within the copper matrix. This article describes the microstructure, mechanical properties, and thermal stability of roll-bonded Cu-Nb microcomposite sheet.
Gastroesophageal reflux causing respiratory distress and apnea in newborn infants

Respiratory distress, apnea, and chronic pulmonary disease since birth were identified in 14 infants who also had symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux. Birth weights varied from 760 to 4,540 gm. All infants had radiographic changes similar to those in bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Cessation of apnea and improvement of pulmonary disease occurred only after medical (8) or surgical (6) control of gastroesophageal reflux. Simultaneous tracings of esophageal pH, heart rate, impedance pneumography, and nasal air flow in five infants demonstrated that reflux preceded apnea. Apnea could be induced by instillation of dilute acid, but not water or formula, into the esophagus. Prolonged monitoring of esophageal pH more than two hours after feeding in 14 other infants less than 6 weeks of age (birth weight 780 to 3,350 gm) without a history of recent vomiting indicated that reflux was not greater than in normal older children.
Identification of an essential lysine residue in the β subunit of the F1-ATPase from the thermophilic bacterium, PS3, using 7-chloro-4-nitro[14C]benzofurazan

When the F1-ATPase from the thermophilic bacterium, PS3, was inactivated by 90% with 7-chloro-4-nitro[14C]benzofurazan ([14C]Nbf-Cl) at pH 7.3 and then gel-filtered, 1.25 mols of [14C]Nbf-O-Tyr and less than 0.1 mol of Nbf-N-Lys were formed per mol of enzyme. After adjusting the pH of the gel-filtered, modified enzyme to 9.0 and incubating it for 14 hrs. at 23 degrees C to promote O----N migration, 0.68 mol of Nbf-N-Lys were formed per mol of enzyme while about 16% of the original activity reappeared. Isolation of the subunits after the O----N migration showed that 90% of the incorporated 14C was present in the beta subunit, which contained 0.21 mols of [14C]Nbf-N-Lys per mol. A tryptic peptide which contained the majority of the 14C incorporated into the beta subunit was isolated and subjected to automatic amino acid sequence analysis contained 38 residues. The amino acid sequence immediately around the lysine residue labeled with [14C]Nbf-, K*, was found to be: ...I-G-L-F-G-G-A-G-V-G-K*-T-V-L-I-G... .
Inactivation of brucellaphages by chemical fractions of Brucella.

IN order to examine the inactivation of phages the following Brucella substrates were used: (a) Acetone-killed bacteria of Brucella melitensis strain 16 M, suis 1330 and abortus strain 12, according to Olitzki1; (b) protein, polysaccharide and nucleoprotein fractions of Brucella melitensis strain 16 M obtained by extraction with phenol-water, according to Westphal2.
The Unity of Truth: How a Dominican Center of Distinction Fosters Integration and Transformation

In 2003, Dominican University launched a new venture with an explicitly ecclesial purpose, aimed not strictly at the education of its own students but also toward the continuing education of its neighboring community. The mission of the St. Catherine of Siena Center is to engage faith and scholarship with the critical issues of church and society for the benefi t of the university community, professional ministers, and the wider community of faith. Through a review of three of the Siena Center’s programming series, this article will explore the Center’s unique voice in the university and the local Church. Assessing its impact on both constituencies reveals two ways the Center contributes to the deepening of Catholic identity: (1) new collaborative possibilities for research and curricular developments; and (2) the integration of prayer and study.
Incomplete Information and Informative Pricing: Theory and Application

This paper studies the information contained in the equilibrium aggregate price level of an economy where firms make output price decisions faced with incomplete information about economy-wide disturbances. It is shown that when heterogeneously informed firms are allowed to extract information from the equilibrium aggregate price, the ability of the aggregate price to be a sufficient statistics of the underlying aggregate disturbance depends on the degree of strategic complementarity in firms’ pricing strategy. As the incentive to price similarily increases, aggregate price goes from a perfect to an imperfect signal of changes in the aggregate state of the economy. More generally, this paper contributes to the expanding literature on monetary business cycle and incomplete information initiated by Woodford (2003a) in three directions. First, it proposes a set of techniques in the frequency domain that allow for the explicit derivation of individual heterogeneous expectations in a log-linear framework while preserving the tractability of the equilibrium fixed point condition. Second, it develops and solves a stylized model where aggregate price plays a key informational role for imperfectly informed firms of the type advocated by Hayek. Finally, it presents an application to monetary policy in a setting with a simple feedback rule for the supply of money.
Carbon nanotube-based membranes: a platform for studying nanofluidics

A membrane of multiwalled carbon nanotubes embedded in a silicon nitride matrix was fabricated for use in studying fluid mechanics on the nanometer scale. Characterization by fluorescent tracer diffusion and scanning electron microscopy suggests that the membrane is void-free near the silicon substrate on which it rests, implying that the hollow core of the nanotube is the only conduction path for molecular transport. Nitrogen flow measurements of a nanoporous silicon nitride membrane, fabricated by sacrificial removal of carbon, give a flow rate of 0.086 cc/sec. Calculations of water flow across a nanotube membrane give a rate of 2.1/spl times/10/sup -6/ cc/sec (0.12 /spl mu/L/min).
Transmucosal O2 and CO2 exchange rates for the human middle ear.

Objective Estimate the transmucosal CO2 and O2 rate-constants for adult middle ears (MEs).
Helpful and Hindering Multicultural Events in Group Supervision Climate and Multicultural Competence

This study examines the relationship between multicultural events in group supervision, group climate, and supervisee multicultural competence using a mixed qualitative/quantitative design. The discovery-oriented approach yielded 196 helpful and hindering multicultural events among 136 participants. The most common events included multicultural learning and peer vicarious learning. Supervisees suggested improving their group supervision through better integration of multicultural issues and more supervisor involvement. Regarding group climate, supervisees reporting peer vicarious learning or multicultural learning experienced higher group engagement, whereas misapplications of multicultural theory related to higher reports of group conflict. Increased multicultural learning and extra-group multicultural events positively related to supervisees' multicultural competence whereas multicultural conflicts with supervisors, misapplication of multicultural theory, and the absence of multicultural events negative...
Spinal cord NR1 serine phosphorylation and NR2B subunit suppression following peripheral inflammation

Background: Spinal cord N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are intimately involved in the development and maintenance of central sensitization. However, the mechanisms mediating the altered function of the NMDA receptors are not well understood. In this study the role of phosphorylation of NR1 splice variants and NR2 subunits was examined following hind paw inflammation in rats. We further examined the level of expression of these proteins following the injury. Results: Lumbar spinal cord NR1 subunits were found to be phosphorylated on serine residues within two hours of the induction of hind paw inflammation with carrageenan. The enhanced NR1 serine phosphorylation reversed within six hours. No phosphorylation on NR1 threonine or tyrosine residues was observed. Likewise, no NR2 subunit phosphorylation was observed on serine, threonine or tyrosine residues. An analysis of NR1 and NR2 protein expression demonstrated no change in the levels of NR1 splice variants or NR2A following the inflammation. However, spinal cord NR2B expression was depressed by the hind paw inflammation. The expression of NR2B remained depressed for more than one week following initiation of the inflammation. Conclusion: These data suggest that NR1 serine phosphorylation leads to an initial increase in NMDA receptor activity in the spinal cord following peripheral injury. The suppression of NR2B expression suggests compensation for the enhanced nociceptive activity. These data indicate that spinal cord NMDA receptors are highly dynamic in the development, maintenance and recovery from central sensitization following an injury. Thus, chronic pain therapies targeted to NMDA receptors should be designed for the exact configuration of NMDA receptor subunits and posttranslational modifications present during specific stages of the disease.
A 36Gb/s ACCI Multi-Channel Bus using a Fully Differential Pulse Receiver

A new differential pulse receiver is demonstrated for AC coupled interconnect (ACCI), which enables the highest data rate, at 6Gb/s/channel (36Gb/s aggregate), for capacitively coupled systems using pulse signaling. The system works across FR4 printed circuit board (PCB) interconnect lengths of up to 30cm with coupling capacitors from 95fF to 165fF, while dissipating only 1.97mW/Gbps for the entire differential transceiver (0.83pJ/bit for the transmitter and 1.23pJ/bit for the receiver)
Comparison of Seismic and Geodetic Scalar Moment Rates across the Basin and Range Province

Scalar moment rates estimated from a 146-year seismicity catalog agree, within uncertainties, with the deformation rate of the Basin and Range province determined by using space geodesy. Seismic-moment rates have been estimated from a new catalog of earthquakes complete for M ≥ 5. The catalog was compiled from 15 preexisting catalogs, supplemented by the review of 44 journal articles. Throughout the catalog compilation, care was taken to obtain the moment magnitude or a reasonable, and not inflated, equivalent. Seventy-six percent of the moment release occurred during 10 earthquakes of magnitude M W ≥ 6.79. The spatial distribution of earthquakes and their moment release matches the geodetic pattern of deformation. All three are concentrated in a ∼200-km-wide zone along the western boundary of the Great Basin, with this zone widening to the north. Several techniques, ultimately traceable to Kostrov and Brune, are used to translate the geodetic strain rates into rates of seismic-moment release. The agreement between geodetic and seismic- moment rate suggests that, within uncertainties, the rate of historic earthquakes within the Basin and Range province, taken as a whole, provides a reasonable estimate for the future rate of seismicity. These results support the hypothesis that even a few years of detailed geodetic monitoring can provide a good constraint on earthquake occurrence rate estimates for large-enough regions.
Transient Stability Simulation by Waveform Relaxation Methods

In this paper, a new methodology for power system dynamic response calculations is presented. The technique known as the waveform relaxation has been extensively used in transient analysis of VLSI circuits and it can take advantage of new architectures in computer systems such as parallel processors. The application in this paper is limited to swing equations of a large power system. Computational results are presented.
Fabrication techniques for long range surface plasmon waveguides

We present different techniques for fabricating long-range plasmonic waveguides. Due to the requirement of symmetric cladding, fabrication is highly dependent on the material system used. Results are given for materials such as SU8 and polydimethylsiloxane.
An extension to Norton's equivalent

The aggregation method for queueing networks known as the Norton's equivalent is interpreted as a conditional estimate of the intensities of associated point processes. For multi-class Markovian queueing networks, it is shown that a first-order equivalent system of an isolated station can be obtained via the conditional estimates of intensities of the arrival and departure processes to and from that station. Based on these conditional estimates, separation results for optimal flow control problems in queueing networks can be obtained. Several examples which illustrate these concepts are given. The results obtained here generalize those which require the “product form” networks.
An evaluation of management procedures for implementing a precautionary approach in the ICES context for North Sea plaice (Pleuronectes platessa L.)

A number of management procedures are investigated using a simulation model of the North Sea plaice stock and its fisheries. An operating model represents reality, a perception of which is gained using an assessment based on data sampled from an operating model. The model structure includes sampling, process, and implementation errors, as well as the effect of feedback from management controls to the operating model. Management procedures incorporating either annual or multi-annual (3-year, 5-year) assessments, and alternative control rules, are evaluated. The main evaluation criterion is whether the stock remains within, or recovers to, the precautionary region defined by ICES. The robustness of management procedures to differences between the operating and assessment models is investigated. Implications for the provision of management advice from ICES are considered and discussed.
A PHASE 2 STUDY OF RADIO FREQUENCY INTERSTITIAL TISSUE ABLATION OF LOCALIZED RENAL TUMORS

Purpose: Small renal tumors are frequently detected during the screening of patients with a hereditary type of renal cancer. The development of nonsurgical treatment modalities would greatly improve quality of life in these patients. We present our experience with radio frequency interstitial tissue ablation, a heating device approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating soft tissue tumors. Materials and Methods: Patients underwent radio frequency interstitial tissue ablation of small renal tumors just before surgical excision. Pathological examination of the renal tumors was done to evaluate the treatment effect. Computerized tomography and renal function testing were performed before and after therapy to evaluate toxicity. Results: Four patients underwent treatment of a total of 14 tumors with the radio frequency interstitial tissue ablation device just before surgical removal of the tumors. All lesions were brown after ablation, in contrast to the normal pink appearance of untreated lesions that were resected. On color Doppler ultrasound blood flow to each tumor evident before was not visualized after treatment. The Wilcoxon rank sum test demonstrated no difference preoperatively and postoperatively in blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, creatinine clearance or differential renal function. We identified no toxicity associated with radio frequency interstitial tissue ablation. Of the excised tumors 11 were renal cell carcinoma and 3 fibrotic hemorrhagic cysts. For renal cell carcinoma the treatment effect involved the loss of nuclear detail and nonvisualization of nucleoli. These changes were not observed in any tumors resected without radio frequency interstitial tissue ablation. The treatment effect was noted in 10 of the 11 lesions, and in 1 case the treatment effect involved 35% of the tumor. Conclusions: No toxicity was associated with radio frequency interstitial tissue ablation. Percutaneous treatment of renal tumors is planned to evaluate the treatment effect better and further evaluate toxicity.
Improved Tank Car Design Development: Ongoing Studies on Sandwich Structures

The Government and industry have a common interest in improving the safety performance of railroad tank cars carrying hazardous materials. Research is ongoing to develop strategies to maintain the structural integrity of railroad tank cars carrying hazardous materials (hazmat) during collisions. This paper describes engineering studies on improved tank car concepts. The process used to formulate these concepts is based on a traditional mechanical engineering design approach. This approach includes initially defining the desired performance, developing strategies that are effective in meeting this performance, and developing the tactics for implementing the strategies. The tactics are embodied in the concept. The tactics and concept evolve through engineering design studies, until a design satisfying all of the design requirements is developed. Design requirements include service, manufacturing, maintenance, repair, and inspection requirements, as well as crashworthiness performance requirements. One of the concepts under development encases the pressurized commodity-carrying tank in a separate carbody. Moreover, this improved tank car concept treats the pressurized commodity-carrying tank as a protected entity. Welded steel sandwich structures are examined as a means to offer protection of the commodity tank against penetrations from impacting objects in the event of a collision. Sandwich structures can provide greater strength than solid plates of equal weight. Protection of the tank is realized through blunting of the impacting object and absorption of the collision energy. Blunting distributes impact loads over a larger area of the tank. Energy absorption reduces the demands on the commodity tank in the event of an impact. In addition, the exterior carbody structure made from sandwich panels is designed to take all of the in-service loads, removing the commodity tank from the load path during normal operations. Design studies described in this paper focus on the protection aspect of using sandwich structures. Studies are conducted to investigate the influence of different parameters, such as sandwich height and core geometry, on the forcedeformation behavior of sandwich structures. Calculations are carried out numerically using nonlinear finite element analysis. These analyses are used to examine the crashworthiness performance of the conceptual design under generalized impact scenarios.
BAT3 and SET1A Form a Complex with CTCFL/BORIS To Modulate H3K4 Histone Dimethylation and Gene Expression

Chromatin status is characterized in part by covalent posttranslational modifications of histones that regulate chromatin dynamics and direct gene expression. BORIS (brother of the regulator of imprinted sites) is an insulator DNA-binding protein that is thought to play a role in chromatin organization and gene expression. BORIS is a cancer-germ line gene; these are genes normally present in male germ cells (testis) that are also expressed in cancer cell lines as well as primary tumors. This work identifies SET1A, an H3K4 methyltransferase, and BAT3, a cochaperone recruiter, as binding partners for BORIS, and these proteins bind to the upstream promoter regions of two well-characterized procarcinogenic genes, Myc and BRCA1. RNA interference (RNAi) knockdown of BAT3, as well as SET1A, decreased Myc and BRCA1 gene expression but did not affect the binding properties of BORIS, but RNAi knockdown of BORIS prevented the assembly of BAT3 and SET1A at the Myc and BRCA1 promoters. Finally, chromatin analysis suggested that BORIS and BAT3 exert their effects on gene expression by recruiting proteins such as SET1A that are linked to changes in H3K4 dimethylation. Thus, we propose that BORIS acts as a platform upon which BAT3 and SET1A assemble and exert effects upon chromatin structure and gene expression.
The Response of the Magnetosphere to the Solar Wind

Almost seventeen years have elapsed since the first probes were sent into the Earth’s magnetosphere. Since that time, our understanding of the magnetosphere has gradually evolved to the point that now we have a clear, although at times qualitative, understanding of the dominant physical mechanisms at work in the terrestrial magnetosphere. Many of these processes undoubtedly occur in the magnetosphere of Jupiter also. While their relative importance will be altered by the different scales of the parameters in the Jovian magnetosphere, our understanding of Jupiter will be hastened by our experience in studying the Earth.
Multiple mating in female mosquitoes—evidence from a field population of Anopheles freeborni (Diptera: Culicidae)

We determined how frequently multiple mating occurs in a field population of Anopheles freeborni Aitken. We used enzyme electrophoresis to analyse field collected females and their offspring, and determined the parity rates of females mating in swarms. The genotypes of progeny in one of the 36 families examined showed conclusive evidence of two sires. 4·3% (n═93) of females mating in swarms were parous, as opposed to 33·9% of host seeking females (n═103). We conclude that multiple mating in A. freeborni occurs at low frequency in the field, and may be ascribed to incomplete transfer of sperm or male accessory gland substance, rather than to routine renewal of receptivity by females.
Pulse oximetry and transcutaneous oxygen tension for detection of hypoxemia in critically ill infants and children.

Transcutaneous PO2 electrodes are now widely used for monitoring oxygenation1–3. Within the last years pulse oximetry (tcSaO2) has also become available and several studies have demonstrated its reliability between 70 and 100% saturation4–8.
Development of a Dedicated CNG Compact Car

The use of compressed natural gas (CNG) as a fuel for small vehicles presents challenges associated with the vehicle cost, system packaging, and vehicle range. The University of Tennessee with primary support from the Saturn Corporation has adapted a Saturn SL1 to dedicated CNG operation with the objective being to do so with a minimal impact on the production of the base vehicle. The adapted vehicle meets the California ULEV emission values at low mileage, achieves a gasoline equivalent fuel economy of 21 km per liter (49 miles per gallon) at a steady speed of 90 km/hr (55 miles per hour), and has a range (at 90 km/hr) of over 400 km (240 miles) when fueled with an initial tank fill of 24.8 MPa (3,600 psig). As expected, wide-open throttle performance of the adapted vehicle was degraded from the gasoline baseline vehicle. The vehicle design features are compared with two similar pre-production vehicles that have been described in the literature.
The human genome exposed: a glimpse of promise, predicament, and impact on practice.

Purpose/objectives To review basic gene biology, discuss current genetic advances, and project the potential impact of these advances on oncology nursing practice. Data sources Published professional articles, tests, proceedings, governmental and lay publications. Data synthesis The Human Genome Project seeks to better describe the human complement of genes, which may hold the key to further defining the mechanism of carcinogenesis. The identification of genetic defects responsible for cancer will facilitate development of both preventive and therapeutic antitumor strategies. Conclusions The data base emerging from genetic research will result in both promise and predicaments. The promise relates to the discovery of genetic abnormalities that can be used to predict risk for cancer or serve as targets for therapeutic intervention. The predicaments involve the psychosocial, ethical, and legal implications of revealing an individual's genetic profile without knowing the ultimate ramifications of that information. Implications for nursing practice Nurses will be at the forefront of these advances as they describe the effects of genetic advances on the public and on individuals and create innovative strategies to manage negative effects. To take advantage of opportunities presented by the genetic revolution, nurses must develop a knowledge base about gene biology and its relationship to cancer.
Mutant genes that extend life span.

One way to gain an understanding of any biological process is through the use of mutant analysis and selective breeding to generate stocks which have genetic alterations in that process. We have taken just such an approach in the analysis of aging.
Atomic Data for Astrophysics and the Lighting Industry with the NIST 2m FT Spectrometer

The requirements for extensive high-quality atomic data for interpretation of astrophysical spectra have been a driving force for laboratory studies for many years.
Hylobius pales: A Meridic Larval Diet Using Sitosterol

A meridic diet was developed for rearing Hylobius pales (Herbst) from 1st instar to adult. A previously described diet containing wheat germ, wheat germ oil, and the phloem of loblolly pine was modified by substitution of linoleic, linolenic, and palmitic acids, and tocopherol for the first two natural products and of β-sitosterol for phloem. Approximately 25 percent of the newly hatched larvae placed on this diet reached the adult stage in an average time of 68 days, which is within the normal developmental range of the pales weevil. Cholesterol could not be substituted for sitosterol.
Case records of the Massachusetts General Hospital. Case 7-2010. A 49-year-old man with peripheral neuropathy and ascites.

A 49-year-old man was admitted to this hospital because of ascites. During the past 4 years, paresthesias and weakness of the lower legs and hands had developed, followed by difficulty breathing, peripheral edema, and during the past year, blurred vision, optic-disk edema, and ascites. Imaging studies subsequently revealed retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy and lytic lesions in the tibia and sacrum. A diagnostic procedure was performed.
Stillbirth, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and placental pathology

Abstract Introduction Stillbirth, preeclampsia, and gestational hypertension (PE/GH) have similar clinical risk factors and redundant placental pathology. We aim to discern if stillbirth with PE/GH has a particular phenotype by comparing stillbirths with and without PE/GH. Methods Secondary analysis of the Stillbirth Collaborative Research Network, a population-based cohort study of all stillbirths and a sample of live births from 2006 to 2008 in five catchment areas. We compared placental pathology between stillbirths and with and without PE/GH, stratified by term or preterm. We also compared placental pathology between stillbirths and live births with PE/GH. Results 79/518 stillbirths and 140/1200 live births had PE/GH. Amongst preterm stillbirths, there was higher feto-placental ratio in PE/GH pregnancies (OR 1.24 [1.11, 1.37] per unit increase), and there were more parenchymal infarctions (OR 5.77 [3.18, 10.47]). Among PE/GH pregnancies, stillbirths had increased maternal and fetal vascular lesions, including retroplacental hematoma, parenchymal infarction, fibrin deposition, fetal vascular thrombi, and avascular villi. Discussion Stillbirth pregnancies are overwhelmingly associated with placental lesions. Parenchymal infarctions are more common in PE/GH preterm stillbirths, but there is significant overlap in lesions found in stillbirths and PE/GH.
Bladder Cancer Risk in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury

AbstractBladder cancer (BC) is the fourth most common cancer in men. It is associated with several risk factors (RF), of which only a few have been evaluated in previous studies. Models incorporati...
Food habits of some Costa Rican bats.

Dietary habits of 42 species of Costa Rican bats were studied by examination of feces, by stomach analysis and by identification of pollen grains adhering to the fur. Food items were identified to a finer level than offered in previous literature and not merely as "plant material", "insects" or "vertebrate food" . Although the sample size for some species prohibits generalizations, the analysis reveals that many genera, supposed to be nectarivorous, eat only insects, primarily Lepidoptera, during April, May and June and that although there may be some overlap in particular food items in the eliets of closely related bats, the major items sought by each bat are different. Generic competition, and in some cases, specific competition for food is low. Because bats are of considerable usefulness in controlling insects, in pollination, ancl in seed dispersal, a plea is made for bat conservation by using the technique of guano analysis rather than sacrificing bats for stomach analysis. The former technique gives equivalent results and proves easier for the investigator.
Dry Eye Syndrome: Management of Post-LASIK Dry Eye Disease

Laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) has emerged as the standard surgical procedure for the correction of refractive errors [1]. During LASIK procedure, stromal nerves are transected in the flap area. Post-LASIK, the subbasal nerve plexus density decreases more than 80 % [2]. Although nerve regrowth is observed in the flap area at 6 months post-procedure, preoperative levels are not achieved even 5 years after surgery [2–4]. About 50 % patients experience some degree of dry eye symptoms during the initial postoperative period [5]. Besides symptoms of ocular discomfort, which in the most severe form can be debilitating to the patient, it can also compromise visual acuity if the central cornea develops LASIK-induced neurotrophic epitheliopathy (LINE).
Experimental and numerical predictions of the ultimate strength of a low-cost composite transtibial prosthesis

Saito et al. (Modern Plastics 1997;74:175-7) have developed a low-cost transtibial prosthesis made of fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP). The prosthesis is comprised of an aluminum pylon, a cosmetic cover, and a constant cross-section composite foot into which aluminum supports are screwed to increase load-bearing capacity. Replacing these supports with a single integrated FRP stiffener significantly reduced manufacturing cost while providing high strength, great durability, and smooth walking. The optimal location and orientation of the proposed FRP stiffener were determined by finite element (FE) analysis. When a replica of this component was tested according to ISO standard 10328, the experimental prosthesis catastrophically failed under 6,600 N of force. Maximum percent error of strain between experimental and numerical results was 18.6%, showing good correlation between the two data sets. The optimized design provides sufficient strength and reduces the cost of manufacturing and thus can be used to replace the original design.
Trait-Based Profiles of ADHD in Adolescents and Young Adults.

Empirical work has examined the utility of using person-centered statistical approaches emphasizing traits to parsing attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) heterogeneity in preschool and ...
Design flow of vehicle License Plate reader based on RGB color extractor

In the vehicle license plate reader system, the License Plate Recognition (LPR) is designed based on machine vision technology without any direct human intervention. This paper presents an efficient LPR technique based on the RGB color extractor. The proposed method is capable of recognizing alphabets and numeric characters on the license plate in real-time. This technique has been tested with a large number of images in order to analyze its performance. The tested images are captured from the front and rear of the vehicles under different conditions, including different angles, luminance, and weather conditions. With the real-time test results shown in this paper, we obtain 98.5% accuracy for character extraction and 95.1% accuracy for character recognition using this technique.
Falsely elevated troponin: rare occurrence or future problem.

Introduction : Troponins are known to be released in response to cardiac damage and therefore are the biomarkers of choice for the early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), improving outcome in patients presenting with chest pain. However, false results can occur due to interference from other substances in the blood. Case : A 52-year-old male with a past medical history of alcohol abuse, hypertension, and coronary artery bypass graft at age 34 with normal stress test 2 years before presented to the emergency department (ED) complaining of 1 day of non-exertional chest pain with radiation to the neck and left arm. His troponin was elevated to 5 ng/mL in two samples drawn 12 h apart, with normal CK-MB. Renal function was normal. Electrocardiogram (ECG) showed normal sinus rhythm with no ST elevations or depressions. He underwent cardiac catheterization which showed no obstructive lesions. Five years later, he returned to the ED with abdominal pain and shortness of breath. Troponin was elevated and showed no signs of downtrend on repeat every 6 h. ECG was unchanged from 5 years before. He was discharged with a follow-up cardiac computed tomography (CT). Troponin was measured on the day of his scan and remained elevated; he was asymptomatic. Cardiac CT showed unremarkable coronaries and bypass grafts. Given persistently positive troponin in the setting of minimal to no symptoms, he was thought to have falsely elevated troponins. Centrifugation and 2:1 dilution of the sample resulted in the same general value, respectively. Rheumatoid factor and heterophile antibodies were negative. When his blood sample was sent to a different hospital utilizing a three-site immunoassay method, the value was found zero. Discussion : Cardiac troponins (cTn) are structural proteins unique to the heart, not expressed outside of cardiac tissue and have high sensitivity and specificity for myocardial damage. Therefore, it is the test of choice for the diagnosis of AMI. When an increased troponin value is encountered in the absence of myocardial infarction, other etiologies should be explored, including vasculitis, drug abuse, myocarditis, pulmonary embolism, sepsis, and renal failure. If the clinical picture is not consistent with the elevated lab value, it is necessary to think of other causes, including false-positive results. The prevalence of this type of interference is likely to worsen in the future because of the emergence of immunotherapy in the treatment of a wide range of conditions and the use of radiolabeled antibodies in diagnosis using immunoscintigraphic procedures. Therefore, it is important to consider this as part of the differential. Keywords: troponin; myocardial infarction; false immunoassay; false positive; CK-MB; two-site immunoasay; three-site immunoassay; chest pain (Published: 15 December 2016) Citation: Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives 2016, 6 : 32952 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/jchimp.v6.32952
Effect of Joule heating and current crowding on electromigration in mobile technology

In the present era of big data and internet of things, the use of microelectronic products in all aspects of our life is manifested by the ubiquitous presence of mobile devices as i-phones and wearable i-products. These devices are facing the need for higher power and greater functionality applications such as in i-health, yet they are limited by physical size. At the moment, software (Apps) is much ahead of hardware in mobile technology. To advance hardware, the end of Moore's law in two-dimensional integrated circuits can be extended by three-dimensional integrated circuits (3D ICs). The concept of 3D ICs has been with us for more than ten years. The challenge in 3D IC technology is dense packing by using both vertical and horizontal interconnections. Mass production of 3D IC devices is behind schedule due to cost because of low yield and uncertain reliability. Joule heating is serious in a dense structure because of heat generation and dissipation. A change of reliability paradigm has advanced from fai...
Fine-Grained Comparisons with Attributes

Given two images, we want to predict which exhibits a particular visual attribute more than the other—even when the two images are quite similar. For example, given two beach scenes, which looks more calm? Given two high-heeled shoes, which is more ornate? Existing relative attribute methods rely on global ranking functions. However, rarely will the visual cues relevant to a comparison be constant for all data, nor will humans’ perception of the attribute necessarily permit a global ordering. At the same time, not every image pair is even orderable for a given attribute. Attempting to map relative attribute ranks to “equality” predictions is nontrivial, particularly since the span of indistinguishable pairs in attribute space may vary in different parts of the feature space. To address these issues, we introduce local learning approaches for fine-grained visual comparisons, where a predictive model is trained on the fly using only the data most relevant to the novel input. In particular, given a novel pair of images, we develop local learning methods to (1) infer their relative attribute ordering with a ranking function trained using only analogous labeled image pairs, (2) infer the optimal “neighborhood,” i.e., the subset of the training instances most relevant for training a given local model, and (3) infer whether the pair is even distinguishable, based on a local model for just noticeable differences in attributes. Our methods outperform state-of-the-art methods for relative attribute prediction on challenging datasets, including a large newly curated shoe dataset for fine-grained comparisons. We find that for fine-grained comparisons, more labeled data is not necessarily preferable to isolating the right data.
Quantum state atomic force microscopy

New classical modalities of atomic force microscopy continue to emerge to achieve higher spatial, spectral, and temporal resolution for nanometrology of materials. Here, we introduce the concept of a quantum mechanical modality that capitalizes on squeezed states of probe displacement. We show that such squeezing is enabled nanomechanically when the probe enters the van der Waals regime of interaction with a sample. The effect is studied in the non-contact mode, where we consider the parameter domains characterizing the attractive regime of the probe-sample interaction force.
“Gay” or “Homosexual”? The Implications of Social Category Labels for the Structure of Mass Attitudes:

Multiple identity and identification terms are used in social science research on sexuality, including clinical terms such as “homosexual” and “heterosexual” and more colloquial terms such as “gay” and “straight.” In this article, we show that far from being synonyms, these terms have consequences for attitudes about gay and lesbian rights. We begin by providing a historical overview of the terms “homosexual” and “gay and lesbian,” showing the different connotations that social groups have come to associate with these terms. We then analyze a split-ballot experiment embedded in the 2012 American National Election Study (ANES) and show that group identity and authoritarianism shape attitudes toward “homosexual” rights differently than “gay and lesbian” rights.
β2-Microglobulin Deficient Mice Catabolize IgG More Rapidly Than FcRn-α-Chain Deficient Mice

FcRn, a nonclassical MHC-I protein bound to β2-microglobulin (β2m), diverts IgG and albumin from an intracellular degradative fate, prolonging the half-lives of both. While knockout mouse strains lacking either FcRn-α-chain (AK) or β2m (BK) show much shorter half-lives of IgG and albumin than normal mice, the plasma IgG half-life in the BK and AK strains is different, being shorter in the BK strain. Since β2m does not affect the IgG production rate, we tested whether an additional β2m-associated mechanism protects IgG from catabolism. First, we compared the fractional disappearance rate in plasma of an intravenous dose of radioiodinated IgG in a mouse strain deficient in both FcRn-α-chain and β2m (ABK), in the two parental knockout strains (AK and BK), and in the background wild-type (WT) strain. We found that IgG survived longer in the β2m-expressing AK strain than in the β2m-lacking ABK and BK strains, whereas the IgG half-lives between the ABK and BK strains were identical. Then we compared endogenous ...
Abundance, distribution, and species composition of amphipods associated with macroalgae from shallow waters of the Maryland Coastal Bays, USA

The abundance, species composition, and distribution of amphipods were investigated in the Maryland Coastal Bays (MCBs) using macroinvertebrate and macroalgae samples collected monthly in 2012 with an epibenthic sled at 13 stations. A total of 34,779 amphipods belonging to 35 species were recorded, the most abundant of which was Dulichiella appendiculata that accounted for ~47% of the total number of amphipods collected. Deutella cf. incerta is recorded for the first time in the MCBs. The highest mean abundance of amphipods (34.8 ± 24.7SE ind m−2) and mean weight of macroalgae (12.91 ± 8.33 SE g ww m−2) were found in the northern bays, particularly in Isle of Wight, whereas the lowest mean abundance of amphipods (0.001 ± 0.001 SE ind m−2) and lowest mean weight of macroalgae (0.004 ± 0.002 SE g ww m−2) were found in southern bays especially in Newport and Chincoteague Bays, respectively. In the northern bays, Agardhiella sp. and Gracilaria sp. were the predominant macroalgae, whereas Ceramium sp. was the most abundant macroalgae in the southern bays. Positive correlations were observed between the abundances of amphipods and macroalgae, both spatially (rs = 0.93, p < 0.001) and temporally (rs = 0.82, p < 0.003), but not with other variables (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, water clarity). Dulichiella appendiculata was found primarily in association with Agardhiella sp. and Gracilaria sp., whereas the caprellids, Paracaprella tenuis and Caprella penantis were associated mainly with Ceramium sp. Macroalgae composition and abundance, therefore, seemed to influence the abundance, species composition and distribution of the amphipods.
Elliptically Contoured Distributions

This chapter considers elliptically contoured distributions, including the multivariate normal distribution.
Airway Management in Athletes Wearing Lacrosse Equipment.

Context: Patient ventilation volume and rate have been found to be compromised due to the inability to seal a pocket mask over the chinstrap of football helmets. The effects of supraglottic airway devices such as the King LT and of lacrosse helmets on these measures have not been studied. Objective: To assess the effects of different airway management devices and helmet conditions on producing quality ventilations while performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on simulation manikins. Design: Crossover study. Setting: Simulation laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: Thirty-six athletic trainers (12 men, 24 women) completed this study. Intervention(s): Airway-management device (pocket mask, oral pharyngeal airway, King LT airway [KA]) and helmet condition (no helmet, Cascade helmet, Schutt helmet, Warrior helmet) served as the independent variables. Participant pairs performed 2 minutes of 2-rescuer cardiopulmonary resuscitation under 12 trial conditions. Main Outcome Measure(s): Ventilation vo...