cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Management of Presumed Acute Kidney Injury during Hypertensive Therapy: Stay Calm and Carry on?

Background Recent studies have demonstrated that intensive blood pressure control is associated with improved cardiovascular outcomes. Acute kidney injury (AKI), however, was more common in the intensive treatment group prompting concern in the nephrology community. Summary Clinical trials on hypertension control have traditionally defined AKI by changes in serum creatinine. However, serum creatinine has several inherent limitations as a marker of kidney injury, with various factors influencing its production, secretion, and elimination. Urinary biomarkers of kidney injury and repair have the potential to provide insight on the presence and phenotype of kidney injury. In both the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial and the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes study, urinary biomarkers have suggested that the increased risk of AKI associated with intensive treatment was due to hemodynamic changes rather than structural kidney injury. As such, clinicians who encounter rises in serum creatinine during intensification of hypertension therapy should "stay calm and carry on." Alternative explanations for serum creatinine elevation should be considered and addressed if appropriate. When the rise in serum creatinine is limited, particularly if albuminuria is stable or improving, intensive blood pressure control should be continued for its potential long-term benefits. Key Messages: Increases in serum creatinine during intensification of blood pressure control may not necessarily reflect kidney injury. Clinicians should evaluate for other contributing factors before stopping therapy. Urinary biomarkers may address limitations of serum creatinine as a marker of kidney injury.
Biological basis for CA and MA

Abstract The physiological basis by which controlled and modified atmospheres (CA and MA) prolong the storage life and maintain the quality of harvested fruits, vegetables, and ornamentals is examined. The beneficial and detrimental effects of reduced oxygen and elevated carbon dioxide atmospheres on the postharvest life of commodities are enumerated. The fundamental physical laws governing gases are reviewed with respect to their contribution to the physiological basis for CA and MA storage. It is emphasized that besides the concentration of gases established external to a commodity in a CA or MA environment, the internal physiologically active concentration of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and ethylene are influenced by a number of factors which include the physical shape of the commodity, the diffusivity of the epidermis and intervening tissue, the metabolic activity of the intervening tissue, and the susceptibility and tolerance of the tissue to these internal concentrations of gases.
New AJCC: How does it impact oral cancers?

Abstract Purpose of review The objective of this article is to critically review the rationale for the changes in the staging of the oral cavity cancers. Recent findings After reviewing many recent studies about oral cancer and analyzing multi-institutional data for outcomes, the staging system was updated to include new knowledge of the disease and its biological behavior. Summary This article reviews the changes in the staging of oral cavity cancers published in the 8th edition of the AJCC/UICC TNM cancer staging manual and discusses future directions.
Testing query execution engines with mutations

Query optimizer engine plays an important role in modern database systems. However, due to the complex nature of query optimizers, validating the correctness of a query execution engine is inherently challenging. In particular, the high cost of testing query execution engines often prevents developers from making fast iteration during the development process, which can increase the development cycle or lead to production-level bugs. To address this challenge, we propose a tool, MutaSQL, that can quickly discover correctness bugs in SQL execution engines. MutaSQL generates test cases by mutating a query Q over database D into a query Q′ that should evaluate to the same result as Q on D. MutaSQL then checks the execution results of Q′ and Q on the tested engine. We evaluated MutaSQL on previous SQLite versions with known bugs as well as the newest SQLite release. The result shows that MutaSQL can effectively reproduce 34 bugs in previous versions and discover a new bug in the current SQLite release.
Toward Genuine Robot Teammates: Improving Human-Robot Team Performance Using Robot Shared Mental Models

Effective coordination is a critical requirement for human teaming, and is increasingly needed in teams of humans and robots. Building on decades of work in the behavioral literature, we have implemented a computational framework for coordination based on Shared Mental Models (SMMs) in which robots use a distributed knowledge base to coordinate activity. We also built a novel system connecting the robotic architecture, DIARC, to the 3D simulation environment, Unity, to serve as an evaluation platform for the framework implementation, and also for more general explorations of teaming with autonomous robots. Using this platform, we ran a user study to evaluate the framework by comparing performance of teams in which the robots used SMMs with those that did not. We found that teams in which the robots used SMMs significantly outperformed those without SMMs. This represents the first empirical demonstration that SMMs can be successfully used by fully autonomous robots interacting in natural language to improve team performance, bringing robots a step closer to genuine teammates.
The deception faucet: A metaphor to conceptualize deception and its detection

Abstract Why are there few reliable deception cues and why is deception detection a challenge? These questions are related and have puzzled social scientists, leading to few universal truths about the relationship between deception and communication behavior. This article reviews existing theories to suggest how deceptive discourse production actually occurs, which can lead to a better understanding of deception production and detection processes. Crucial components of a deception — lie-truth base-rates, deception expectations, and goals — are largely overlooked in most theories and primary studies, but are integrated in this paper through a deception faucet metaphor. The metaphor describes deceptive discourse production as violations of conversational maxims (Quantity, Quality, Manner, Relation) and reflected by characteristics that change across deceptions. Considerations for theory and application are suggested.
Depsipeptide nucleic acids: prebiotic formation, oligomerization, and self-assembly of a new candidate proto-nucleic acid

The mechanism by which genetic polymers spontaneously formed on the early Earth is currently unknown. The RNA World hypothesis implies that RNA oligomers were produced prebiotically, but the demonstration of this process has proven challenging. Alternatively, RNA may be the product of evolution and some, or all, of its chemical components may have been preceded by functionally analogous moieties that were more readily accessible under plausible early-Earth conditions. We report a new class of nucleic acid analog, depsipeptide nucleic acid, which displays several properties that make it an attractive candidate for the first informational polymer to arise on the Earth. The monomers of depsipeptide nucleic acids can form under plausibly prebiotic conditions. These monomers oligomerize spontaneously when dried from aqueous solutions to form nucleobase-functionalized depsipeptides. Once formed, these depsipeptide nucleic acid oligomers are capable of complementary self-assembly, and are resistant to hydrolysis in the assembled state. These results suggest that the initial formation of primitive, self-assembling, informational polymers may have been relatively facile.
The Western Equine Encephalitis Lyophilized, Inactivated Vaccine: An Update on Safety and Immunogenicity.

Background Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE) is a naturally acquired infection and potentially devastating bioweapon, with no specific human countermeasures. An experimental inactivated Western Equine Encephalitis Vaccine (WEEV; WEE TSI-GSD 210) has been used under an IND (investigational New Drug) protocol at the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) since 1976. Methods Over 24 years from 1987 to 2011, 876 subjects received 3 primary vaccine doses under 3 studies with 1,537 booster doses administered (FY87-8, phase 2, laboratory workers, vaccine lots 1-81-1, 1-81-2, and 2-1-91; FY99-12, phase 2 laboratory workers, lot 2-1-91; and FY09-02, phase 1 healthy volunteer, lot 3-1-92). Post-vaccination safety and immunogenicity [plaque reduction neutralization test 80% (PRNT80) > 1:40] were analyzed. Results Overall PRNT80 response to the primary series in FY87-8 was 42% (326/770) but dropped to 16% (14/87) in FY99-12, prompting study FY09-02, which achieved 89% (17/19). The first booster response rate was 68% (814/1194) in FY87-8, 53% (171/324) in FY99-12, and 100% (10/10) in FY09-02. The majority of definitely related adverse reactions (AEs) were mild and local with no definitely related serious AEs. No laboratory acquired WEE infection was documented during this period despite 4 reported exposures in vaccinated subjects. Conclusion The TSI-GSD 210 WEE vaccine was immunogenic, safe and well tolerated. Use of this vaccine could be considered in an emergency setting. Despite decades of safe and effective use under IND, full licensure is not planned due to manufacturing constraints, and a strategic decision to develop alternatives. Clinical trial registration https://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier NCT01159561.
Mapping different L1 dialects to L2 words

Abstract We ask how dialect experience affects the perception of modified L2 words by speakers of different L1 dialects. Colombian Spanish speakers from Barranquilla (s-aspirating dialect) and Bogota (non-s-aspirating dialect) carried out cross-dialect phonological priming experiments in Spanish and L2 English. For Spanish, primes and targets were counterbalanced across dialect features. For English, half the primes and targets exhibited the /s/-aspiration of the Barranquilla dialect. Results showed an interaction between trial type and group for the s-aspirated forms. The Barranquilla group showed a significant priming effect in Spanish and also for the nonword /s/-aspirated forms in English. Further analysis revealed that the priming effect for English /s/-aspirated forms was attenuated in Barranquilla listeners with greater English proficiency. These results show that second language listeners transfer abstract native language dialect knowledge to L2 input even when this knowledge is not directly part of the L2 input, providing evidence for the transfer of abstract, socially-indexed knowledge to the processing of L2.
T2R bitter taste receptors regulate apoptosis and may be associated with survival in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract Better management of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) requires a clearer understanding of tumor biology and disease risk. Bitter taste receptors (T2Rs) have been studied in several cancers, including thyroid, salivary, and GI, but their role in HNSCC has not been explored. We found that HNSCC patient samples and cell lines expressed functional T2Rs on both the cell and nuclear membranes. Bitter compounds, including bacterial metabolites, activated T2R-mediated nuclear Ca2+ responses leading to mitochondrial depolarization, caspase activation and ultimately apoptosis. Buffering nuclear Ca2+ elevation blocked caspase activation. Furthermore, increased expression of T2Rs in HNSCCs from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) is associated with improved overall survival. This work suggests that T2Rs are potential biomarkers to predict outcomes and guide treatment selection, may be leveraged as therapeutic targets to stimulate tumor apoptosis, and may mediate tumor-microbiome crosstalk in HNSCC.
Models of increased latent HIV reservoir turnover prior to cART initiation imply novel clearance strategies

CD4+ T cells with a naive or memory phenotype carrying a replication-competent HIV provirus are recognized as the major component of the persistent HIV reservoir. These cells only mini- mally express viral protein, reducing viral cytotoxicity effects and making them difficult targets for immune responses as well as every available antiretroviral drug. In patients on suppressive antiretroviral therapy, the half-life of these cells is approximately 4-5 years, balanced by clonal expansion of the cells resulting in an overall reservoir half-life in excess of 40 years. A recent study has shown that prior to the initiation of antiretroviral therapy, the half-life of these cells is instead on the order of two weeks. We present two models explaining the wide disparity in the on- and off-treatment half-lives of the quiescent infected T cells. In the first model, generalized (antigen non-specific) immune activation due to the high HIV viral loads explains the high latent reservoir turnover rates in the absence of treatment. If this mechanism dominates, we demon- strate that reduction of the latent reservoir size is possible, either through the administration of exogenous antigen or through the use of timed treatment interruptions. In the second model, direct killing of reservoir cells by HIV drives the increased turnover off-treatment. If this mecha- nism dominates, modulation of the reservoir size is not possible by the methods described above. Previously published models of the immune response to HIV show the possibility of inducing post-treatment control by reducing the latent reservoir size; by incorporating the same immune response dynamics in our first model, it is shown that it may be possible to induce post-treatment control using either exogenous antigen administration or timed treatment interruptions.
It's Not Over Till It's Over: A Prospective Cohort Study and Analysis of "Anesthesia Stat!" Emergency Calls in the Pediatric Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU).

Background Emergency "Anesthesia Stat!" (AS!) calls remain a common practice in medical centers even when advanced communication infrastructures are available. We hypothesize that the analysis of post-procedure "AS!" calls will lead to actionable insights which may enhance patient safety. Methods After institutional review board approval, we prospectively collected data from April 2015 through May 2018 on "AS!" calls throughout the pediatric operating rooms (OR), off-site locations, and post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) at a tertiary university medical center. Data recorded included demographic information, location, time of the event, event duration, vital signs, medications, anesthesia staff, attending anesthesiologist, and staff responding to the call. A narrative account of the event was also documented. Results A total of 82 "AS!" calls occurred, with ages ranging from 11 days old to 17 years old. Forty-nine of the 82 calls (60%) occurred at emergence. Seventy-one of the 82 calls (87%) were solely respiratory-related. Thirty-five of 49 emergence calls (71%) occurred in the PACU. Further, 34 of 35 PACU calls (97%) were respiratory-related, with 30 of 35 PACU calls (86%) associated with desaturation requiring intervention by anesthesia staff. Finally, 31 of 35 PACU calls (89%) occurred within 30 minutes of patient arrival to PACU. Conclusion Analysis of "AS!" events from our PACU continues to support the need for the prompt and continuous availability of at least one staff member with advanced airway management skills. Further, pediatric patients undergoing general anesthesia and surgery should likely be monitored for a minimum of 30 minutes following arrival in the PACU.
“Fruity” Smells, City Streets, and the Politics of Sanitation in Colonial Accra

When the British declared Accra the capital of their Gold Coast Colony in the 1870s, they sought to remake the politics of space and the culture of everyday life in the old town, which had long been settled by members of the Ga ethnic group. British efforts concentrated particularly on issues of “sanitation.” While sanitation debates included issues of road drainage, water provision, and rubbish collection, the most animated conversations centered on issues of sewage. What appears on the surface to be a relatively straight-forward conversation about public health highlighted fundamental cultural fissures over relatively mundane issues such as smell, bathing practice, and the organization of the household or compound. In historicizing both the infrastructural politics and sanitary cultures of urban residents and the regulatory and policy strategies of government officials in the context of colonial Accra, this article aims to refocus debates about sustainable development to think more carefully about what a just, inclusive, decolonized, and community-centered approach might look like.
Carbon fiber reinforced plastics with aluminum honeycomb core design methodology for space and surface mining applications

Abstract The space mining market is expected to grow in the future with water, gold, and platinum as just a few of the resources that could be accessible in the Moon or in near-Earth asteroids. To achieve this mining capability, sandwich composites offer an optimum structure for space mining vehicles due to their relatively high strength and stiffness compared to their weight. The challenge of designing such structures is often hampered by the lack of design approaches for practicing engineers in the mining industry usually lacking the composite material expertise or access to significant test capabilities. Expanding the use of sandwich composite materials into this industry requires selection charts that fully define the material system for a design engineer. Currently there is no methodology that systematically allows a design engineer to define a material system that uses carbon fiber reinforced plastics with aluminum honeycomb cores. The purpose of this paper is to introduce novel selection charts that allow an engineer to define the number of plies, stacking sequence, core thickness, and core density of a sandwich composite based off the moment carrying capacity. An example implementation of this approach is conducted using a carbon-fiber/epoxy with an aluminum alloy 5052 core. The selection charts developed with this approach are than validated with experimental analysis in accordance with ASTM D7249 (Standard Test Method for Facing Properties of Sandwich Construction by Long Beam Flexure). Experimental results show strong correlation with the selection charts by predicting the available moment and the mode of failure. Such selection charts will help facilitate wider use of these materials into industries that do not currently use them. Additionally, a novel numerical modeling approach for thick section sandwich composites using 3D finite elements is introduced. This approach shows how sandwich composite facesheets can be modeled with standard 3D elements instead of elements that support layers. Such an approach allows access to a wider variety of elements and is conducive to rapid design iterations when topological changes are occurring such as in a research and development environment. It is shown that numerical results correlate well with experimental data when using a linear-elastic isotropic core model with bilinear isotropic plasticity.
Serum neurogranin measurement as a biomarker of acute traumatic brain injury

Abstract Objectives Neurogranin (NRGN) is a small neuronal protein that plays an important role in synaptic signaling by regulating calmodulin (CaM) availability. In this study, we developed an ELISA to measure NRGN quantitatively in serum samples from a cohort of acute traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients and a non-TBI control cohort, and explored the potential value of NRGN as a circulating biomarker for TBI. Design and methods Recombinant His-NRGN protein was used to develop mouse monoclonal capture and rabbit polyclonal detection antibodies, and they were used to develop a sandwich ELISA. After validation, we used this ELISA to measure serum samples from a cohort of typical adult acute TBI patients ( N = 76 TBI cases) and non-TBI control patients ( N = 150 controls). Results The NRGN ELISA lower limit of detection was 0.055 ng/mL, lower limit of quantification was 0.2 ng/mL, and interassay CVs were ≤ 10.7%. The average recovery was 99.9% (range from 97.2–102%). Serum NRGN concentrations in TBI cases were significantly higher than in controls (median values were 0.18 ng/mL vs. 0.02 ng/mL, p p = 0.09). Conclusions We have developed a highly sensitive and reproducible ELISA for measuring circulating NRGN in blood samples. Serum NRGN concentrations in acute TBI patients were significantly higher than in controls, indicating that NRGN could have utility as a circulating biomarker for acute TBI. This report provides evidence to support larger and controlled TBI clinical studies for NRGN validation and prediction of outcomes.
The Zero Locus of the Infinitesimal Invariant

Let \(\nu\) be a normal function on a complex manifold X. The infinitesimal invariant of \(\nu\) has a well-defined zero locus inside the tangent bundle TX. When X is quasi-projective, and \(\nu\) is admissible, we show that this zero locus is constructible in the Zariski topology.
Techniques in Aseptic Rodent Surgery

Performing aseptic survival surgery in rodents can be challenging. This unit describes some basic principles to assist clinicians, researchers, and technicians in becoming proficient in performing aseptic rodent surgery.
the normal curve model

A normal distribution model is a theoretical distribution as its shape is defined by a mathematical equation and it would never be exactly duplicated by empirical data. One frequently used theoretical model is the normal curve. One use of this model is as follows: If it is assumed that raw scores in the population are normally distributed, and that one knows or can estimate the population mean and standard deviation, one can obtain the percent of the population with raw scores above or below or between specified values and/or the raw score that demarcates specified percent in the population. The shape of the normal curve looks like a bell; it is high in the middle and low at either ends or tails. Values in the middle of the curve (close to the mean of the distribution) have a greater probability of occurring than values further away (nearer the tails of the distribution). The normal curve is unimodal, as it has one peak and is symmetrical. The normal curve does not touch the X axis until it reaches (+ and –) infinity. Extreme positive and negative values can occur, but are extremely unlikely.
The role of tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and the sphingosine pathway in sepsis‐induced myocardial dysfunction

Objective: Myocardial dysfunction has been shown to play a major role in the mortality associated with sepsis. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) has been implicated as a key factor in this dysfunction, and the sphingomyelin pathway is a membrane-signaling pathway by which TNF-α exerts many of its negative inotropic effects. The purpose of this manuscript is to review the physiology of TNF-α and sphingosine, etiology of increased levels of myocardial TNF-α and sphingosine, as well as the effects of these increased levels on the myocardium. In addition, both in vivo and in vitro studies looking at the effects of blocking TNF-α will be presented. Data sources: Data sources included scientific reviews and original research publications. Human data synthesis: It is well documented that levels of TNF-α are elevated in many human patients with sepsis. However, clinical trials evaluating the effects of blocking TNF-α have not shown a statistically significant decrease in the mortality of sepsis. Veterinary data synthesis: No clinical research has been performed on TNF-α and myocardial dysfunction in veterinary medicine, although many of the research models may be relevant to our patient population. In these models, myocardial TNF-α and sphingosine are elevated in sepsis. Treatment of experimental animals with TNF-α antibodies has shown variable results, while blockage of sphingosine has been shown to completely reverse the myocardial effects of increased TNF-α. Conclusions: Tumor necrosis factor-α and the sphingomyelin pathway are an important part of the myocardial compromise that accompanies sepsis. Further research into these pathways may provide new understandings and treatment options for veterinary patients.
Anticipating the evolution of undergraduate software engineering curricula

Some thoughts on initial development of undergraduate software engineering degree programs are presented. Included are trends in computer science curricula, the importance of clearly defined educational objectives, and the pragmatics of the evolution of new programs.
Examination of ligand-induced conformational changes in the beta 2-adrenergic receptor by fluorescence spectroscopy.

Publisher Summary Till date, the conformational state of G-protein-coupled receptors has only been inferred indirectly from the activity of the G-protein or the effector enzyme modulated by the G-protein. Fluorescence spectroscopy is used to directly monitor structural changes in the β 2 -adrenergic receptor. The emission from many fluorescent molecules is strongly dependent on the polarity of the environment in which they are located. Thus, incorporation of fluorescent labels into proteins can be used as sensitive indicators of conformational changes and protein–protein interactions that cause changes in polarity of the environment surrounding the probe. Several β -adrenergic receptor compounds are examined and the effect of these ligands are compared on the fluorescence emission of nitrobenzdioxazol iodoacetamide (IANBD)-labeled β 2 receptor with their effect on adenylyl cyclase activity in membranes from SF-9 cells expressing β 2 receptors. These studies represent the first direct examination of conformational changes in a G-protein-coupled receptor following ligand binding and the first attempt to correlate the functional properties of different receptor ligands with their effect on the conformational state of a purified, solubilized G-protein-coupled receptor. To gain further insight into the mechanism of receptor activation, another technique is used for directly monitoring receptor structure to investigate a constitutively active receptor. Studies described in this chapter delineate two novel properties of a constitutively activated receptor: structural instability and an exaggerated conformational response to drug binding. These findings, in particular the larger changes in fluorescence observed with constitutively activated mutant (CAM) in response to agonists, are unexpected.
Design and Performance of a Laboratory Pneumatic Gun for Soil Ballistic Applications

A laboratory gun that uses compressed gas as its propellant was designed and tested for the study of small projectiles traveling in soils with initial velocities ranging from 50 to 200 m/s. The gun employed the use of air or helium with an electrically triggered, pneumatically piloted, solenoid valve. The triggering system was designed to provide remote activation. A photo gate speedometer was utilized to measure the exit velocity of each projectile. Details of the electro-pneumatic control system are presented in this paper along with the design of the gun assembly and its subsystems. The effects of different design parameters, including muzzle length, projectile mass, propellant type, and volume of compressed gas utilized, on projectile velocity were investigated. Statistical analysis of the gun performance is presented. The gun is currently being used to visualize the fundamental physics of rapid earth penetration in soils, using transparent soils.
Measurement and analysis of atmospheric concentrations of isoprene and its reaction products in central Texas

A "eld experiment was conducted in August 1998 to investigate the concentrations of isoprene and isoprene reaction products in the surface and mixed layers of the atmosphere in Central Texas. Measured near ground-level concentrations of isoprene ranged from 0.3 (lower limit of detection } LLD) to 10.2 ppbv in rural regions and from 0.3 to 6.0 ppbv in the Austin urban area. Rural ambient formaldehyde levels ranged from 0.4 ppbv (LLD) to 20.0 ppbv for 160 rural samples collected, while the observed range was smaller at Austin (0.4}3.4 ppbv) for a smaller set of samples (37 urban samples collected). Methacrolein levels did not vary as widely, with rural measurements from 0.1 ppbv (LLD) to 3.7 ppbv and urban concentrations varying between 0.2 and 5.7 ppbv. Isoprene #ux measurements, calculated using a simple box model and measured mixed-layer isoprene concentrations, were in reasonable agreement with emission estimates based on local ground cover data. Ozone formation attributable to biogenic hydrocarbon oxidation was also calculated. The calculations indicated that if the ozone formation occurred at low VOC/NO x ratios, up to 20 ppbv of ozone formed could be attributable to biogenic photooxidation. In contrast, if the biogenic hydrocarbon reaction products were formed under low NO x conditions, ozone production attributable to biogenics oxidation would be as low as 1 ppbv. This variability in ozone formation potentials implies that biogenic emissions in rural areas will not lead to peak ozone levels in the absence of transport of NO x from urban centers or large rural NO x sources. ( 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Size and Geometry Effects on Flow Stress in Bioinspired de novo Metal‐matrix Nanocomposites

Metal-based nanocomposites provide great potential for applications in high hardness and toughness material design. Potential applications include coatings for friction and wearresistant cutting tools, shock impact-dissipating structures, and other tribological applications where strong functional materials are the key to initiate further technological development. [1–4] Recent advances in the development of nanocomposite materials have suggested that a new paradigm of composite design might be to systematically engineer the nanostructural arrangement of components by designing their properties, interfaces, and geometry to tailor desired macroscopic functional properties. These efforts extend earlier studies of creating nanomaterials out of metallic constituents (e.g. nanowires, thin films) toward bulk materials. [5] However, the optimal choice of nanostructural arrangement of material constituents to maximize performance remains unknown, preventing us from systematically carrying out a bottom-up design approach. A variety of biological structural materials such as bone and nacre are known to feature a common ‘‘brick-and-mortar’’ structural motifs at the nanoscale, composed of material constituents with disparate properties (Fig. 1). [6–10] These universal nanostructures are seen to combine inferior building materials, soft protein, and brittle calcite or hydroxyapatite crystals to obtain structures with high strength and high toughness at biological scales. [11–13] Their improved properties have been attributed to their hierarchical structure, as well as their fundamental structural organization of constituting elements at the nanoscale. [14] The biological role of these materials is strongly related to load carrying and armor protection in nature. Based on their intriguing properties, these materials raise an important question whether their design strategies could provide directions for conventional structural engineering material design. However, for materials development, the use of proteins and platelets is not a viable option, because these materials are rather difficult to synthesize and engineer. Here, we propose an alternative approach, based on using metal–metal nanocomposites that utilize the material concepts identified from biological analogs as guiding principles in the design process. However, despite earlier studies, [15,16] the transferability of designs found in biological structures toward conventional metal and ceramic based composites remains an unresolved question, partly because the fundamental mechanisms of how structure and properties are related have not yet been explored. Specifically, the wide parameter space associated with different platelet shapes and orientations has not been described in the literature.
Transport of Sodium in Plant Tissue

Two mechanisms are implicated in the absorption of alkali cations by barley roots. Mechanism 1 has a high affinity for potassium, but its affinity for sodium is so low that, in the presence of even a low concentration of potassium (1 mM), sodium absorption by this mechanism is all but abolished. Mechanism 2 has a much lower affinity for alkali cations and is not highly selective; it transports sodium as well as potassium.
Descriptions of molecular shape applied in studies of structure/activity and structure/property relationships

Abstract Three-dimensional molecular shape is often an important determinant of the physicochemical properties or biological activities of chemical compounds. A set of six descriptors that code the shapes of molecules by calculating the areas of three orthogonal projections is developed. The descriptors are applied to a series of tests of their applicability on diverse problems in studies of structure/activity and structure/property relationships. Correlation of these descriptors with the physicochemical properties of several sets of compounds, and with biological activity values for several sets of compounds, shows that the indexes contain much information about molecular shape.
Fractional survivable network bandwidth: A comparison of IP over WDM schemes

IP over WDM network schemes are considered that protect a fraction b of the network bandwidth. If b is large then failure detection and fractional bandwidth protection at the optical layer lowers bandwidth costs.
Antitrust Concerns About Evolving Vertical Relationships in Health Care

Abstract The greatest challenges faced by any organization are those generated by a dynamic environment. Health-care organizations have faced, and will continue to face, significant demands imposed by changes in the practice of medicine, technology, markets, and government regulation. Provider responses to these environmental changes range from denial and opposition to the active pursuit of strategies of modification and evolution. Mergers, alliances, and other strategic relationships are being used to gain stronger market presence and both to meet and resist changing market conditions. Because many of these relationships have potential competitive impacts, the level of antitrust surveillance of health-care providers has correspondingly increased. This antitrust surveillance is a source of concern among health-care providers.
Actual and perceived sleep: Associations with daytime functioning among postpartum women

Sleep and wake have a homeostatic relation that influences most aspects of physiology and waking behavior. Sleep disturbance has a detrimental effect on sleepiness and psychomotor vigilance. The purpose of this study was to identify which actual or perceived sleep characteristics accounted for the most variance in daytime functioning among postpartum mothers. Seventy first-time postpartum mothers' actual sleep (actigraphically estimated: total sleep time, number of wake bouts, length of nocturnal wake, and sleep efficiency) and perceived sleep (self-reported: number of awakenings, wake time, and sleep quality) were measured along with their daytime functioning (Stanford Sleepiness Scale [SSS], Epworth Sleepiness Scale [ESS], Visual Analogue of Fatigue Scale [VAFS], and morning Psychomotor Vigilance Test [PVT]). Data were repeatedly collected from the same sample during postpartum weeks 2, 7, and 13. Four stepwise linear regressions were calculated for each postpartum week to examine which objective and/or subjective variable(s) accounted for the most variance in daytime functioning. The SSS and VAFS were both most consistently associated with perceived sleep quality. The ESS was most consistently associated with actual total sleep time. PVT performance was most consistently associated with estimates of actual and perceived sleep efficiency. Actual and perceived sleep profiles were differentially associated with specific daytime functions. These results from postpartum mothers may indicate that populations who experience specific forms of sleep disturbance (e.g. fragmentation and/or deprivation) may also experience specific daytime conditions.
Massively parallel simulations of hemodynamics in the primary large arteries of the human vasculature.

Abstract We present a computational model of three-dimensional and unsteady hemodynamics within the primary large arteries in the human on 1,572,864 cores of the IBM Blue Gene/Q. Models of large regions of the circulatory system are needed to study the impact of local factors on global hemodynamics and to inform next generation drug delivery mechanisms. The HARVEY code successfully addresses key challenges that can hinder effective solution of image-based hemodynamics on contemporary supercomputers, such as limited memory capacity and bandwidth, flexible load balancing, and scalability. This work is the first demonstration of large fluid dynamics simulations of the aortofemoral region of the circulatory system at resolutions as small as 10 μm.
The oxidation of uranium-0.75 wt% titanium in environments containing oxygen and/or water vapor at 140°C

Abstract This research addressed the oxidation behavior of uranium-0.75 wt% titanium (U-0.75Ti) in environments containing oxygen and/or water vapor at 140°C and compared it with that of unalloyed uranium. The alloy reacts with water vapor to form uranium dioxide and hydrogen with the reaction kinetics proportional to the water vapor pressure to the 1/2.1 power. U-0.75Ti reacts with oxygen to form uranium dioxide. The reaction rate is linear and independent of the oxygen pressure between 0.067 and 133.3 kPa and it was approximately 3.2 × 10 t mg/cm 2 · h . In a mixed environment of oxygen and water vapor, the alloy reacts preferentially with the oxygen at a linear rate of approximately 3.3 × 10 t mg/cm 2 · h until the oxygen is depleted. After the oxygen is consumed, the reaction and kinetics change to those of the alloy/water reaction. Unalloyed uranium behaves similarly to the alloy in all three environments, however, an initial region of water vapor/uranium reaction was observed in the mixed environment which was not seen in the alloy studies.
Studies on the Spectra of Cu I, Cu II, and Mn II by Means of a Vacuum Tungsten Furnace

New design of a high temperature vacuum tungsten or molybdenum furnace. A high temperature vacuum tungsten furnace for the study of the spectra of elements having high boiling points is described.Absorption spectrum of Cu.---All previously observed absorption lines of Cu in the range of the quartz spectrograph were observed and in addition six new lines from the $3{d}^{9}4s$ levels as follows 2618.381, 2824.375, 2882.81, 2961.177, 3010.840, 3194.103. CuH bands were also observed in absorption.Excitation of Cu I spectrum by resonance absorption.---Light from the furnace walls excited Cu atoms to the $^{2}P$ state with the subsequent emission of 3247, 3274, 5106, 5700, 5782. With the walls somewhat cooler these lines were brought out when the vapor was exposed to intense radiation from the outside.Excitation of Cu II and Mn II spectra by collisions of second kind with rare gas ions.---A-Cu mixtures at 25 volts failed to develop the Cu II spectrum. From Ne-Cu mixtures at 25 volts the lines from the $3{d}^{9}5s$ state were much stronger than those from $3{d}^{9}4p$. Theory shows that in A-Mn, Ne-Mn, and He-Mn mixtures the spectrum of Mn II should be excited to the extent of 64800, 113400 and 138500 wavenumbers respectively. The strong $(3{d}^{5}4p)^{7}P\ensuremath{-}(3{d}^{5}4d)^{7}D$ multiplet should be excited in Ne-Mn mixtures but not in A-Mn. This was verified experimentally. An analysis, similar to that of Russell, of the Mn II spectrum is given.
Management of Embossment Following the Frontal Osteoplastic Operation

The deformity in the bony contour of the forehead following the osteoplastic flap procedure on the frontal sinus, termed embossment, occurs in a small but definite number of cases. This complication arises from the combined processes of resorption and deposition of bone following disturbance of the periosteum in performing the operation. A simple and highly reliable method of cosmetic correction employing acrylic cranioplasty has been successfully utilized in a series of cases without complications. The details of the operative technique will be outlined.
A Genome-wide Association Study of the Human Metabolome in a Community-Based Cohort

Because metabolites are hypothesized to play key roles as markers and effectors of cardiometabolic diseases, recent studies have sought to annotate the genetic determinants of circulating metabolite levels. We report a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 217 plasma metabolites, including >100 not measured in prior GWAS, in 2076 participants of the Framingham Heart Study (FHS). For the majority of analytes, we find that estimated heritability explains >20% of interindividual variation, and that variation attributable to heritable factors is greater than that attributable to clinical factors. Further, we identify 31 genetic loci associated with plasma metabolites, including 23 that have not previously been reported. Importantly, we include GWAS results for all surveyed metabolites and demonstrate how this information highlights a role for AGXT2 in cholesterol ester and triacylglycerol metabolism. Thus, our study outlines the relative contributions of inherited and clinical factors on the plasma metabolome and provides a resource for metabolism research.
Separate and Suspicious: Local Social and Political Context and Ethnic Tolerance in Kenya

Does living in close proximity to members of other ethnic groups make people more or less tolerant of ethnic differences? How does the interaction between local electoral competition and ethnic demography affect tolerance? This article examines these questions by combining survey data with new measures of local ethnic composition and political competition in Kenya. People living in ethnically diverse areas report higher levels of interethnic trust, while residentially segregated people are less trusting of members of other ethnic groups. There is little evidence that local electoral competition decreases tolerance even in ethnically diverse areas. This article has important implications for the study of the political and economic consequences of ethnic diversity and suggests that even in developing countries, where resource conflict, along ethnic lines, is acute and sometimes violent, sharing neighborhoods with members of different ethnic groups may lead to tolerance.
Ground state condensate fraction of liquid 4He

Abstract An optimal Jastrow correlation function with intermediate- and long-range structure gives a larger condensate fraction at equilibrium density than a simple short-range correlation function. The condensate fraction is also sensitive to the potentials used in the calculation.
The Source and Nature of Transient Surges

Sources of transient voltages or surges due to various phenomena normal to the power station environment are described along with typical waveforms and other parameters of the surges coupled into control circuits. The mechanism by which surges are generated by switching of inductive devices in low voltage control circuits is described in detail. The importance of the contact restrike action in creating and coupling very short duration transients onto the control bus is evident. Oscillograms of such a transient generated by operation of a typical auxilary relay circuit are included.
Electromigration-aware redundant via insertion

As the feature size shrinks, electromigration (EM) becomes a more critical reliability issue in IC design. EM around the via structures accounts for much of the reliability problems in ICs, and the insertion of redundant vias can mitigate the adverse effect of EM by reducing current density. In this paper, we model EM reliability of redundant via structures, considering current distribution with different via layouts. Based on our EM model, we choose redundant via layouts that can increase the EM-related lifetime by using integer linear programming (ILP). To overcome the runtime issue of ILP, we also propose speed-up techniques for our EM-aware redundant via insertion. Experimental results show that our scheme brings much more EM-robustness to circuits with the similar number of redundant vias, compared to the conventional redundant via insertion techniques.
New York State's perspective on transportation energy contingency planning

Abstract This discussion assesses the practicality of federal and state transportation energy contingency planning. The behavior of individuals in responding to energy shortfalls in 1973 and 1979 is reviewed and quantified with respect to energy saved and mobility retained. Comparative assessments by demographic groups suggest that most individuals were capable of dealing with energy shortfalls without substantial governmental assistance. Private and personal actions pertaining primarily to vehicle use and ownership accounted for most of the energy saved, leaving very little to transit ridership or carpooling. Government energy contingency plans for state and local governments are reviewed according to their ability to assist consumers in maintaining mobility. The assessment concludes that such plans have been and are likely to be generally irrelevant to consumer direction and incapable of providing significant assistance. It is suggested that the focus of contingency planning should be on internal agency actions necessary to maintain services, rather than on attempts to induce consumers to change their behavior. The recent withdrawal of mandated federal and state contingency planning efforts is therefore not a serious problem.
Sensor fusion for airborne landmine detection

Sensor fusion has become a vital research area for mine detection because of the countermine community's conclusion that no single sensor is capable of detecting mines at the necessary detection and false alarm rates over a wide variety of operating conditions. The U. S. Army Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD) evaluates sensors and algorithms for use in a multi-sensor multi-platform airborne detection modality. A large dataset of hyperspectral and radar imagery exists from the four major data collections performed at U. S. Army temperate and arid testing facilities in Autumn 2002, Spring 2003, Summer 2004, and Summer 2005. There are a number of algorithm developers working on single-sensor algorithms in order to optimize feature and classifier selection for that sensor type. However, a given sensor/algorithm system has an absolute limitation based on the physical phenomena that system is capable of sensing. Therefore, we perform decision-level fusion of the outputs from single-channel algorithms and we choose to combine systems whose information is complementary across operating conditions. That way, the final fused system will be robust to a variety of conditions, which is a critical property of a countermine detection system. In this paper, we present the analysis of fusion algorithms on data from a sensor suite consisting of high frequency radar imagery combined with hyperspectral long-wave infrared sensor imagery. The main type of fusion being considered is Choquet integral fusion. We evaluate performance achieved using the Choquet integral method for sensor fusion versus Boolean and soft "and," "or," mean, or majority voting.