cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Carvedilol prevents cardiac hypertrophy and overexpression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor in pressure-overloaded rat heart

The use of β-blockers has emerged as a beneficial treatment for cardiac hypertrophy. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is tightly regulated in the ventricular myocardium. However, the expression of HIF-1α in cardiac hypertrophy due to pressure overload and after treatment with β-blocker is little known. To evaluate the effect of carvedilol on both myocardial HIF-1α expression and cardiac hypertrophy, infra-renal aortic banding was performed for 4 weeks in adult Sprague-Dawley rats to induce cardiac hypertrophy. Carvedilol at 50 mg/kg body weight per day after surgery was given. Heart weight and the ratio of heart weight and body weight increased significantly after aortic banding for 4 weeks in the absence of drug treatment. Mean arterial pressure increased from 80 ± 9 mmHg in the sham group to 94 ±5 mmHg (p < 0.001) in the banding group. Echocardiography showed concentric hypertrophy after aortic banding. Mean arterial pressure decreased after treatment with carvedilol. The increased wall thickness and heart weight was reversed to normal by carvedilol. Western blot showed that HIF-1α, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) proteins were up-regulated and nerve growth factor-β (NGF-β) down-regulated in the banding group. Treatment with valsartan, doxazosin, or N-acetylcysteine did not significantly affect HIF-1α and VEGF proteins expression in the banding groups. Real-time polymerase chain reaction showed that mRNA of HIF-1α, VEGF and BNP increased and mRNA of NGF-β decreased in the banding group. Treatment with carvedilol reversed both protein and mRNA of HIF-1α, VEGF, BNP, and NGF-β to the baseline values. Increased immunohistochemical labeling of HIF-1α, VEGF, and BNP in the ventricular myocardium was observed in the banding group and carvedilol again normalized the labeling. In conclusion, HIF-1α, VEGF, and BNP mRNA and protein expression were up-regulated, while NGF-β mRNA and protein was downregulated in the rat model of pressure-overloaded cardiac hypertrophy. Treatment with carvedilol is associated with a reversal of abnormal regulation of HIF-1α,VEGF, BNP, and NGF-β in the hypertrophic myocardium.
Vitamin K2 Takes Charge

Mitochondria are dynamic organelles that play central roles in eukaryotic cellular energy metabolism. They harbor an electron transport chain (ETC) that couples electron transfer to the movement of protons across the mitochondrial inner membrane, forming an electrochemical gradient that captures chemical energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The biochemical and biophysical properties of the ETC have been studied in detail ( 1 ). On page 1306 of this issue, Vos et al. ( 2 ) report a new constituent of this chain. The authors show that vitamin K2 is an electron carrier, suggesting this small organic molecule as a possible treatment for mitochondrial pathologies such as Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
[Comment on “Planetary research loses” by Clark Chapman] R&A in space physics

The recent letter from Clark Chapman in the April 3, 1990, issue of Eos (p. 376), concerning planetary research supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration struck a resonance that warrants airing in view of the analogous situation that prevails in Space Physics research. The situation for Research and Analysis (R&A) and Data Analysis programs in Space Physics has a more complicated history in view of the fact that only recently has the Space Physics discipline been given its own division within NASA (with thanks to the particular efforts of Lennard Fisk and Stanley Shawhan). For many years, Space Physics research was spread among several divisions at NASA headquarters. Now, magnetospheric, cosmic ray and heliospheric, upper atmospheric and ionospheric, and solar physics have been gathered together under the umbrella of the Space Physics division. It was hoped that this highly desired and much heralded merger would give these related scientific subdisciplines greater coherence and greater visibility, and hence make them better able to compete for needed resources. However, even in the years before the Challenger disaster, it became clear that the issue is no longer simply one of competition between the research divisions within NASA. Across all disciplines, the struggle for survival by research groups outside of NASA centers has become crippling.
Overcoming Resistance to Targeted Anticancer Drugs

More than a decade ago, imatinib, an agent that has a specific inhibitory interaction with the BCR-ABL fusion protein, was introduced for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). The introduction of this agent dramatically changed researchers' understanding not only of the role of tyrosine kinases as targets for oncology drugs (despite the conserved status of protein kinase domains in nature), but also their ability to conceptualize and test novel molecular mechanisms of action and drug resistance in solid tumors such as adenocarcinoma of the lung as well as in hematopoietic cancers.1,2 The underlying genetic instability of most cancers . . .
Pharmacodynamics of antibacterial drugs.

The goal of antimicrobial therapy is to clear the tissues of the infecting organisms. This requires that (1) the organism be susceptible to concentrations of the antimicrobial agent at the site of infection, (2) the dose and route of administration of the drug result in adequate drug levels at the site of infection for a sufficient period before the next dose is given, (3) local factors at the site of infection do not interfere with the activity of the antimicrobial agent, (4) host defenses be present that aid microbial clearance, and (5) adjunctive therapies such as drainage of abscesses or relief of obstructed excretory sites be used when necessary.
Effect of Random Fluctuations on Synchrotron Phase Motion

Previous treatment of this subject has been given by Hereward and Johnsen. In this note a unified presentation is made of the growth of longitudinal phase area occupied by the beam due to random fluctuations of the magnetic field, radio frequency, and cavity voltage. The description is characterized by a linear treatment of the synchrotron motion, introduction of an envelope function similar to that used in betatron motion, and the use of Nyquist's theorem to obtain power spectra. Application is made to the NAL booster.
Solvent-Induced Infrared Frequency Shifts in Aromatic Nitriles Are Quantitatively Described by the Vibrational Stark Effect

The physical properties of solvents strongly affect the spectra of dissolved solutes, and this phenomenon can be exploited to gain insight into the solvent–solute interaction. The large solvatochromic shifts observed for many dye molecules in polar solvents are due to variations in the solvent reaction field, and these shifts are widely used to estimate the change in the dye’s dipole moment upon photoexcitation, which is typically on the order of ∼1–10 D. In contrast, the change in dipole moment for vibrational transitions is approximately 2 orders of magnitude smaller. Nonetheless, vibrational chromophores display significant solvatochromism, and the relative contributions of specific chemical interactions and electrostatic interactions are debated, complicating the interpretation of vibrational frequency shifts in complex systems such as proteins. Here we present a series of substituted benzonitriles that display widely varying degrees of vibrational solvatochromism. In most cases, this variation can be...
A Simple Method to Estimate the Influence of the Sending-End HVDC System on the Stability of the AC System

In this paper, a supplementary index, Equal Area Stability Margin (EASM), is proposed to evaluate the system strength for ac-dc interconnected system at sending end. This index can reflect the dynamic characteristic of the interconnected system. Therefore, EASM can be an effective supplement to SCR to evaluate the system strength for ac-dc interconnected system at sending end. Moreover, the solution method of EASM is also analyzed in this paper. Case study indicates the validity of this index.
Energy and the use of conservation tillage in US agriculture

Abstract The effect of energy on the use of conservation tillage is of special importance in addressing concerns about the impact of agricultural production on the environment in the United States. After establishing that a relationship exists between the price of energy and the use of conservation tillage via Granger causality, the relationship is quantified. It is shown that while the real price of energy does not affect the rate of adoption of conservation tillage, it does impact the extent to which it is used. Finally, there is no structural instability in the relationship between the relative use of conservation tillage and the real price of energy over the period 1963–1997.
Spontaneous regression of thoracic malignancies.

Summary Background Clinicians are frequently questioned by patients about the possibility of spontaneous regression of tumors. Although there are many reports and a few case series documenting spontaneous regression, there is concern that these cases may not represent true regression. Using specific criteria, we attempted to determine the incidence and types of thoracic malignancy most likely to regress spontaneously. Methods We used a PubMed search of the phrase “spontaneous regression of thoracic lesions” reported from 1951 to December 2008. Using a modified Everson and Cole criterion we developed to define spontaneous regression, this search was refined for true spontaneous regression of primary and metastatic thoracic malignancies. Results Only 5 cases in the literature involved spontaneous regression of a primary thoracic malignancy. These include pleural mesothelioma, primary lung cancer and adenoid cystic carcinoma. 71 cases involved true spontaneous regression of metastatic thoracic neoplasms, of which 5 cases showed regression of the primary extrapulmonary tumors along with the pulmonary metastasis. Thoracic metastasis from renal cell carcinoma was the most common malignancy found to regress spontaneously. Conclusion Spontaneous regression of primary thoracic malignancy is rare. Renal cell carcinoma accounts for most reported cases.
Rational solutions of certain matrix equations

Abstract A sign pattern is a matrix whose entries are from the set { + , - , 0 } . For a real matrix B, sgn ( B ) is the sign pattern obtained by replacing each positive (respectively, negative, zero) entry of B by + (respectively, - , 0). For a sign pattern A, the sign pattern class of A, denoted Q ( A ) , is defined as { B : sgn ( B ) = A } . The purpose of this note is to prove the following theorem: Let A, B, and C be real matrices such that AB = C . Suppose that the zero bipartite graph of C (this is the same as the complement of the bipartite graph of C) is a forest. Then there exist rational perturbations A ∼ , B ∼ and C ∼ of A , B , and C, respectively, in the same corresponding sign pattern classes, such that A ∼ B ∼ = C ∼ .
Impact of aggregate packing on dynamic modulus of hot mix asphalt mixtures using three-dimensional discrete element method

Abstract Aggregates are the major component of hot mix asphalt (HMA) mixtures. The properties of aggregates and the way of aggregate packing have important influence on the performance of HMA mixtures. Because the dynamic modulus is considered as the most important HMA property influencing the field fatigue and rutting performance of a flexible pavement and are used in the mechanistic-empirical pavement design guide for determining the stress–strain responses of the pavements, a study of the impact of aggregate packing on dynamic modulus will provide insight on the HMA mix design and the material performance evaluation. This paper studies the effect of aggregate size distribution and angularity distribution on dynamic modulus using a 3D discrete element method (DEM). Angular particles are generated using an image-based ball-clumping approach which requires significantly reduced number of balls and is capable of capturing the particle shape and angularity effect. These particles are assigned to the DEM dynamic modulus specimen based on the angularity distributions of the actual experimental specimen. A 3D DEM dynamic modulus model is thus established and calibrated using experimental data. This calibrated model is further used to evaluate how the different aggregate packing due to the change of the proportions of aggregate particles and the change of aggregate angularities can result in the change of dynamic modulus.
Aggressive diuresis for severe heart failure in the elderly.

Study objectives: To determine the efficacy, safety, and economic benefit of continuous IV infusion of furosemide as a treatmentmodality for elderly patients with class IV heart failure. Design: Prospective trial of consecutively admitted elderlypatients > 65 years old with class IV heart failure. Settings: A single cardiovascular service in a universitymedical center. Patients: Seventeen male and femalepatients > 65 years old consecutively admitted to a cardiovascularservice. Results: High-dose, continuous IV infusion of furosemide was successful in providing a 9- to 20-L diuresis in anaverage of 3.5 days with out causing clinical complications oraberrations in blood chemistry. The length of stay was 2.3 days shorterthan a contemporary group of class III and class IV elderlypatients with heart failure managed on other medical services. The Medicare reimbursement for heart failure was $6,047. Patients receivingIV bolus diuretic therapy incurred billing charges of $10,193, or aloss of $4,146 per patient to the hospital. Patients receiving diureticinfusion therapy incurred billing charges of $4,944. This was adifference of $5,249 per patient treated by continuous IV infusioncompared to bolus therapy and a profit per Medicare patient of $1,103. Therefore, a $4,146 billing loss was converted to $1,103 profit. Conclusion: IV furosemide infusion therapy for class IVheart failure in the elderly is a safe, effective, and economic mode of therapy.
A 10 Gb/s coherent detection system with feed-forward equalizers for optical duobinary transmission

This paper presents a 10-Gb/s coherent detection system incorporating feed-forward equalizers (FFEs) and an optical duobinary modulation scheme in order to increase the transmission distance limited by chromatic dispersion in standard single-mode fibers up to 400-km without signal regeneration and optical dispersion compensation. The FFE structure is based on a finite impulse response (FIR) filter with 9 taps and 100-ps tap spacing. The FFE employs capacitor-degenerated differential pairs for the delay block implementation in order to meet the system bandwidth requirement. The coherent system also incorporates a squarer for phase-diversity detection. Both the FFE and squaring circuits are fabricated in 0.18-µm CMOS technology.
Effects of anisotropy in the ultrasonic attenuation of tissue on computed tomography.

Abstract We examine the consequences of anisotropy in the ultrasonic attenuation on computed tomography. A phenomenological model for anisotropy in the ultrasonic attenuation of soft, inhomogeneous, tissue-like media is presented. Based upon the model, the effects of anisotropy on transmission tomography are investigated analytically and by computer simulation for simple geometries. Sources of apparent anisotropy in ultrasonic measurements made on intrinsically isotropic media are also discussed. Results of simulations are compared with tomograms of tissue studied in vitro . In particular, reconstruction of a simulated anisotropic heart showed good agreement with the reconstruction of an actual heart.
Error-Resilient Transmission for 3D DCT Coded Video

Two key challenges in video communications for both wired and wireless environments are efficient compression and effective error protection against channel errors. We consider the problem of error protection for transmitting compressed video data. Specifically, we consider unequal error protection when compression is based on the three dimensional discrete cosine transform, and devise specially tailored protection schemes suitable for video transformed using the 3D DCT. Based on the statistical and structural properties of 3D DCT coefficients, we propose different data partitioning schemes for their unequal error protection. Armed with the data partitions, we propose techniques for redundancy distribution among the data groups in a given 3D volume. Experiments are performed on transmission of real video data over AWGN channels with soft decoding. The results show the improved performance of the proposed schemes over unencoded transmission, or transmission with equal error protection. Comparative results with other proposed methods are included.
Defining Acceptable Levels for Ecological Indicators: An Approach for Considering Social Values

Ecological indicators can facilitate an adaptive management approach, but only if acceptable levels for those indicators have been defined so that the data collected can be interpreted. Because acceptable levels are an expression of the desired state of the ecosystem, the process of establishing acceptable levels should incorporate not just ecological understanding but also societal values. The goal of this research was to explore an approach for defining acceptable levels of ecological indicators that explicitly considers social perspectives and values. We used a set of eight indicators that were related to issues of concern in the Lake Champlain Basin. Our approach was based on normative theory. Using a stakeholder survey, we measured respondent normative evaluations of varying levels of our indicators. Aggregated social norm curves were used to determine the level at which indicator values shifted from acceptable to unacceptable conditions. For seven of the eight indicators, clear preferences were interpretable from these norm curves. For example, closures of public beaches because of bacterial contamination and days of intense algae bloom went from acceptable to unacceptable at 7-10 days in a summer season. Survey respondents also indicated that the number of fish caught from Lake Champlain that could be safely consumed each month was unacceptably low and the number of streams draining into the lake that were impaired by storm water was unacceptably high. If indicators that translate ecological conditions into social consequences are carefully selected, we believe the normative approach has considerable merit for defining acceptable levels of valued ecological system components.
Material and electrical characterization of stackable planar polysilicon TFT flash memory cell with metal nanocrystals and high-k dielectrics

We have characterized the metal-NC high-k-dielectric flash memories on low-temperature UTB-TFTs. Combined with the advantage of low-voltage operations, the reported planar process is expected to be applicable for 3D integration to meet high-density flash memory requirements. Carrier transport was also confirmed to be Frenkle-Poole emission in (Ti,Dy)O and direct tunneling in Al2O3 due to the different trap densities, which helps the retention time in the Al2O3/Au/(Ti,Dy)O memory devices.
The Effect of Interface on the Structure of Interaction in Computer-Mediated Small-Group Discussion

In the traditional classroom, talk is usually considered noise that must be controlled, but there is mounting evidence that talk is vital to learning and education. Implementing a change from the traditional classroom to one that values talk is not a simple matter. Computer technology may provide a solution. However, our understanding of how computer-mediated communication systems affect patterns of interaction is severely limited. Research into the nature of interaction demonstrates that interaction does not normally consist of a succession of disconnected remarks but is a collaborative effort. Consequently, it is important for participants to be able to identify not only for whom a message was intended but also the position of that message in an ongoing sequence of messages. A major disadvantage of current CMC design is that it can be structurally difficult to relate previous messages. Therefore, the primary purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a redesigned user interface on the struct...
Possibilities and the arguments for origin essentialism

In this paper, I examine the case that has been made for origin essentialism and find it wanting. I focus on the arguments of Nathan Salmon and Graeme Forbes. Like most origin essentialists, Salmon and Forbes have been concerned to respect the intuition that slight variation in the origin of an artifact or organism is possible. But, I argue, both oftheir arguments fail to respect this intuition. Salmon's argument depends on a sufficiency principle for crossworld identity, which should be rejected, if-as Salmon concedes-a given artifact might have been originally made from slightly different material. Similarly, Forbes's argument succeeds only if essentially the same argument can be used to establish a claim that-by his own admission-is too strong, namely that no variation, however slight, in an organism's origin is possible.
Dendritic cells in cancer immunotherapy: vaccines and combination immunotherapies.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are specialized immunostimulatory cells involved in the induction and regulation of immune responses. The feasibility of large-scale ex vivo generation of DCs from patients’ monocytes allows for therapeutic application of ex vivo-cultured DCs to bypass the dysfunction of endogenous DCs, restore immune surveillance, induce cancer regression or stabilization or delay or prevent its recurrence. While the most common paradigm of the therapeutic application of DCs reflects their use as cancer ‘vaccines’, additional and potentially more effective possibilities include the use of patients’ autologous DCs as parts of more comprehensive therapies involving in vivo or ex vivo induction of tumor-reactive T cells and the measures to counteract systemic and local immunosuppression in tumor-bearing hosts. Ex vivo-cultured DCs can be instructed to acquire distinct functions relevant for the induction of effective cancer immunity (DC polarization), such as the induction of different effector functions or different homing properties of tumor-specific T cells (delivery of ‘signal 3’ and ‘signal 4’). These considerations highlight the importance of the application of optimized conditions for the ex vivo culture of DCs and the potential combination of DC therapies with additional immune interventions to facilitate the entry of DC-induced T cells to tumor tissues and their local antitumor functions.
The Betrayal of a Myth: National Socialism and the Financing of Middle-Class Socialism in the Sudetenland

One of the ideological appeals which the Nazis used to capture the petit-bourgeois and peasant vote in Germany was that of “middle-class socialism.” In this catchall term, the alienated “little man” in modern German industrial society saw an expression of both his strong anticapitalist feelings and his yearnings for economic independence. The concept also reflected a romantic proclivity for a preindustrial artisan economy. In directing themselves to these people who felt most ill at ease in modern industrial society, the Nazis promised low interest rates, curbs on big business, benefits to the small entrepreneur, and a return to a society free of large industry, department stores, and a vocal proletariat. The Nazis made this appeal partly for reasons of political expediency, partly because many of Hitler's followers took the tenets of middle-class socialism quite seriously. Several years in power, however, indicated to the more realistic Nazi leaders that it was quite impossible to reincarnate a utopian past in highly industrialized society gearing for war. As a result, after abortive attempts at realizing some of the ideas embodied in middle-class socialism, the Nazi regime made the necessary compromises with big business, and middle-class socialism became pretty much a dead letter. What is seldom realized, however, is that the Nazi regime betrayed middle-class socialism not once, but twice: initially, to economic exigency in the Reich, and then, once again, to political expansion among German ethnic groups outside Germany's borders.
Potential direct and indirect effects of climate change on a shallow natural lake fish assemblage

Much uncertainty exists around how fish communities in shallow lakes will respond to climate change. In this study, we modelled the effects of increased water temperatures on consumption and growth rates of two piscivores (northern pike [Esox lucius] and largemouth bass [Micropterus salmoides]) and examined relative effects of consumption by these predators on two prey species (bluegill [Lepomis macrochirus] and yellow perch [Perca flavescens]). Bioenergetics models were used to simulate the effects of climate change on growth and food consumption using predicted 2040 and 2060 temperatures in a shallow Nebraska Sandhill lake, USA. The patterns and magnitude of daily and cumulative consumption during the growing season (April–October) were generally similar between the two predators. However, growth of northern pike was always reduced (−3 to −45% change) compared to largemouth bass that experienced subtle changes (4 to −6% change) in weight by the end of the growing season. Assuming similar population size structure and numbers of predators in 2040–2060, future consumption of bluegill and yellow perch by northern pike and largemouth bass will likely increase (range: 3–24%), necessitating greater prey biomass to meet future energy demands. The timing of increased predator consumption will likely shift towards spring and fall (compared to summer), when prey species may not be available in the quantities required. Our findings suggest that increased water temperatures may affect species at the edge of their native range (i.e. northern pike) and a potential mismatch between predator and prey could exist.
Batterer intervention program: the victim's hope in ending the abuse and maintaining the relationship

In this existential-phenomenological investigation, women whose partners were mandated to attend a batterers' intervention program (BIP) were interviewed about their experiences before their partner attended his first class. The goal of this study was to gain an understanding of the woman's expectations of the BIP in the aftermath of her experience of abuse and her reasons for maintaining the relationship. Women described their experience as one of living in a dangerous environment that keeps them nervous, confused, fearful, and feeling bad about themselves, but yet hopeful that the abuse will stop now that their partner is being sent to treatment. BIP was, in fact, the "last hope," an optimism unsupported by current research data.
CLAM: Coupled Localization and Mapping with Efficient Outlier Handling

We describe a method to efficiently generate a model (map) of small-scale objects from video. The map encodes sparse geometry as well as coarse photometry, and could be used to initialize dense reconstruction schemes as well as to support recognition and localization of three-dimensional objects. Self-occlusions and the predominance of outliers present a challenge to existing online Structure From Motion and Simultaneous Localization and Mapping systems. We propose a unified inference criterion that encompasses map building and localization (object detection) relative to the map in a coupled fashion. We establish correspondence in a computationally efficient way without resorting to combinatorial matching or random-sampling techniques. Instead, we use a simpler M-estimator that exploits putative correspondence from tracking after photometric and topological validation. We have collected a new dataset to benchmark model building in the small scale, which we test our algorithm on in comparison to others. Although our system is significantly leaner than previous ones, it compares favorably to the state of the art in terms of accuracy and robustness.
In Vivo Imaging of Proteolytic Activity in Atherosclerosis

Background— Atherosclerotic plaque rupture, the most important cause of acute cardiovascular incidents, has been strongly associated with vascular inflammation. On the basis of the hypothesis that the inflammatory response and proteolysis lead to plaque rupture, we have examined the role of cathepsin B as a model proteolytic enzyme. Methods and Results— Using western-type diet–fed apoE and apoE/endothelial NO synthase double knockout mice as models of atherosclerosis, we show (1) that cathepsin B is upregulated in atherosclerotic lesions characterized by high degrees of inflammation compared with normal aorta or silent lesions,(2) that intravenously injectable novel cathepsin B imaging beacons are highly activated within active atherosclerotic lesions and colocalize with cathepsin B immunoreactivity, and(3) that cathepsin B activity in atherosclerotic lesions can be imaged in whole animals by using a novel near-infrared tomographic imaging system. Conclusions— These studies indicate that cathepsin B, and ...
The relaxant effect of adrenergic compounds on isolated gravid human myometrium

Abstract Five synthetic compounds were studied in vitro on human gravid endometrium alone and following a beta blocking agent. The purpose of this study was to further understand their mode of action and hopefully to use this activity to control the early onset of labor and to prevent prematurity. In mammalian Krebs' solution under standard conditions, 204 strips of muscle were studied from 51 pregnant uteri. Four strips were studied simultaneously from the same uterus, strips 1 and 3 received blocker; 1 and 2 received one compound and 3 and 4 another. Comparative direct and blocking actions were analyzed. The action of isoproterenol and CC-25 was inhibited by the blocker. However, activity of isoxsuprine MJ-1987, and MJ-1991 were not influenced. The latter three compounds may b, used in association with beta blocking agents to reduce cardiovascular effects, without influencing uterin, activity.
Control of Listeria monocytogenes with combined antimicrobials after postprocess contamination and extended storage of frankfurters at 4°C in vacuum packages

Contamination of ready-to-eat foods, such as frankfurters, with Listeria monocytogenes, is a major concern that needs to be addressed in order to enhance the safety of these products. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of combinations of antimicrobials included in the formulation of frankfurters against L. monocytogenes inoculated (103 to 104 CFU/cm2) on their surface after peeling and before vacuum packaging. In addition, the antilisterial effect of immersing the packaged products, prepared with or without antimicrobials, in hot (75 or 80°C) water for 30 to 90 s was evaluated. Samples were stored at 4°C for up to 120 days and periodically analyzed for pH and for microbial growth on tryptic soy agar plus 0.6% yeast extract (TSAYE) and PALCAM agar. Sodium lactate (1.8%; 3% of a 60% commercial solution) used alone inhibited growth of L. monocytogenes for 35 to 50 days, whereas when used in combination with 0.25% sodium acetate, sodium diacetate, or glucono-δ-lactone (GDL), sodium...
Chiral magnetic effect and natural optical activity in metals with or without Weyl points

A recent experimental identification of mono-pnictides (TaAs, TaP, NbP, and others) as Weyl semimetals has triggered an enormous effort to understand the unconventional physical phenomena in these materials. The chiral magnetic effect (CME), i.e., the occurrence of electrical current along the direction of an applied magnetic field, has been a particularly controversial subject, with a number of claims and counter-claims published in the literature. In this work Jing Ma and D. A. Pesin from the University of Utah provide a systematic theory of the CME and the related natural optical activity in these materials. They show that the natural optical activity of metals can be distinguished from well known phenomena in insulators by its singular frequency dependence in the terahertz range.
Off-Road Bicycle Racing Injuries—The Norba Pro/Elite Category: Care and Prevention

Off-road bicycle racing has shown rapid growth in participation during the past 10 years. Although no comprehensive studies have yet been conducted regarding the medical aspects of participation at all levels of the sport, limited data obtained from the Pro/Elite category of NORBA have provided some useful information. The majority of injuries sustained by this group were wounds and contusions. In addition, the lower extremities accounted for a majority of the injuries seen, with the exception of the low back region, which had the highest incidence of injury for the female cyclists in the present study. The absence of catastrophic head/neck-related injuries lends support to the premise that at the Pro/Elite level off-road bicycle racing appears to be a relatively safe sport. More research is needed, particularly that which examines riders in other NORBA categories as well as off-road riders at the recreational level to determine injury patterns. In addition, information needs to be collected at race sites by medically trained personnel in order to collect more precise information regarding the types and severity of injuries. Data from the present study must be treated with caution, because a self-report protocol was used.
Relation of Renin to Human Hypertension with Particular Reference to Eclampsia, Preeclampsia and Acute Glomerulonephritis.

Summary1. Significant amounts of renin have been detected in the blood of 1 patient with eclampsia, 2 with severe preeclampsia, and 1 with fulminating acute glomerulonephritis using a modification of the method of Leloir et al.4 2. No renin has been found in the blood of patients with milder degrees of toxemia of pregnancy and acute glomerulonephritis, nor of patients with chronic hypertension of all degrees of severity. 3. The relation of these observations to those on animals with experimental renal hypertension is discussed.
High Temperature Behavior of Polysilicon

The polysilicon elements of thermal actuators can reach temperatures high enough to cause permanent deformation. A fundamental understanding of the constitutive behavior is necessary for intelligent design and life prediction, but mechanical testing at high temperatures is especially challenging at the micron level. This paper describes techniques for testing freestanding thin-film polysilicon specimens in tension at temperatures up to 700°C. Strain is measured directly on the specimens by laser interferometry from platinum markers. The complete stress-strain curve can be obtained as well as strain versus time for creep tests. Initial results show that polysilicon is ductile at temperatures above 500°C and can have a high creep rate.
The Cultures of Work Organizations

The article reviews the book “The Culture of Work Organizations,” by Harrison M. Trice and Janice M. Beyer.
Modeling administrative outcomes in fever and neutropenia: clinical variables significantly influence length of stay and hospital charges.

BackgroundAdministrative outcomes such as length of stay and charges are used to compare the quality of care across institutions and among individual providers. Clinical variables representing disease severity may explain some of the variability in these outcomes.ObjectiveTo determine the extent to
Effects of Rice Plant Density, Rice Water Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Damage to Rice, and Aquatic Weeds on Aster Leafhopper (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) Density

In California rice fields, high densities of the aster leafhopper, Macrosteles fascifrons Stal, usually are associated with a sparse rice stand, rice plants damaged by the rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel, and abundant aquatic weed growth. Results of field experiments showed that aquatic weeds had a direct impact on aster leafhopper densities. Several of these weeds, particularly Monochoria vaginalis (Bunn. f.) Presl. and Sagittaria montevidensis Cham. and Schlecht., were preferred to rice for oviposition. A sparse rice stand or weevil-damaged plants can indirectly affect aster leafhopper populations by reducing the ability of rice to compete with weeds. The result is increased weed growth which favors the buildup of aster leafhoppers.
Stochastic actor-oriented modeling for studying homophily and social influence in OSS projects

Open Source Software projects are communities in which people "learn the ropes" from each other. The social and technical activities of developers evolve together, and as they link to each other they get organized in a network of changing socio-technical connections. Traces of those activities, or behaviors, are typically visible to all, in project repositories and through communication between them. Thus, in principle it may be possible to study those traces to tell which of the observable socio-technical behaviors of developers in these projects are responsible for the forming of persistent links between them. It may also be possible to tell the extent to which links participate in the spread of potential behavioral influences. Since OSS projects change in both social and technical activity over time, static approaches, that either ignore time or simplify it to a few slices, are frequently inadequate to study these networks. On the other hand, ad-hoc dynamic approaches are often only loosely supported by theory and can yield misleading findings. Here we adapt the stochastic actor-oriented models from social network analysis. These models enable the study of the interplay between behavior, influence and network architecture, for dynamic networks, in a statistically sound way. We apply the stochastic actor-oriented models in case studies of two Apache Software Foundation projects, and study code ownership and developer productivity as behaviors. For those, we find evidence of significant social selection effects (homophily) in both projects, but in different directions. However, we find no evidence for the spread (social influence) of either code ownership or developer productivity behaviors through the networks.
Microbial Contamination in Drinking Water Serving for Students in Minhang District,Shanghai,2012

[Objective]To investigate the microbial contamination situation in drinking water serving for students in Minhang District of Shanghai,and explore appropriate measures of drinking water hygiene management.[Methods]A total of 128 drinking water samples and 128 water tap wipe samples of water dispensers were collected from 36 schools in Minhang District of Shanghai by stratified random sampling to investigate the management of school drinking water.[Results]Of the 353 primary and secondary schools in Minhang District,199 schools(56.37%) provided barreled water.The qualification rate of total bacterial count(TBC) in the school drinking water samples was only 53.91%,and the maximum value was 4480cfu/mL; the qualification rate of TBC for the water tap wipe samples were 47.66%,and the maximum value was 6000cfu/mL.The water taps of water dispensers showing disinfection records in the latest month reported a significantly higher qualification rate of TBC than those none(χ2=5.29,P 0.05).Compared with the samples from the primary and secondary schools,the qualification rate of TBC in the samples from the water taps in kindergartens was significantly higher(χ2=6.18,P0.05),while that in the drinking water samples was significantly lower(χ2=60.27,P0.05).[Conclusion]The findings indicate a serious microbial pollution issue in the drinking water serving schools of Minhang District,Shanghai.Monitoring and management of microbial contamination in school drinking water should be strengthened.
Resource-Advantage Theory and Embeddedness: Explaining R-A Theory’s Explanatory Success

In the mid-1990s, a new theory of competition, labeled “resource-advantage theory,” was proposed in the marketing literature. R-A theory’s explanatory and predictive successes have resulted in its being well received by both marketing and nonmarketing scholars. This article examines the characteristics of resource-advantage theory that have enabled the theory to successfully explain and predict marketing phenomena. Specifically, the thesis that R-A theory is a moderately socialized, embedded theory of competition is explored by focusing on the theory’s ability to provide a theoretical foundation for the frequently made claim that, at least in some circumstances, social structures and trust-based governance can be competition-enhancing.
Embedding Totally Symmetric Quasigroups

Abstract We show here that a totally symmetric quasigroup of order v can be embedded in one of order w > v if and only if w ≥ 2v, w is even if v is, and (v, w) ≠ (6k+5,12k+12)
Predicting network modules of cell cycle regulators using relative protein abundance statistics.

Parameter estimation in systems biology is typically done by enforcing experimental observations through an objective function as the parameter space of a model is explored by numerical simulations. Past studies have shown that one usually finds a set of “feasible” parameter vectors that fit the available experimental data equally well, and that these alternative vectors can make different predictions under novel experimental conditions. In this study, we characterize the feasible region of a complex model of the budding yeast cell cycle under a large set of discrete experimental constraints in order to test whether the statistical features of relative protein abundance predictions are influenced by the topology of the cell cycle regulatory network. Using differential evolution, we generate an ensemble of feasible parameter vectors that reproduce the phenotypes (viable or inviable) of wild-type yeast cells and 110 mutant strains. We use this ensemble to predict the phenotypes of 129 mutant strains for which experimental data is not available. We identify 86 novel mutants that are predicted to be viable and then rank the cell cycle proteins in terms of their contributions to cumulative variability of relative protein abundance predictions. Proteins involved in “regulation of cell size” and “regulation of G1/S transition” contribute most to predictive variability, whereas proteins involved in “positive regulation of transcription involved in exit from mitosis,” “mitotic spindle assembly checkpoint” and “negative regulation of cyclin-dependent protein kinase by cyclin degradation” contribute the least. These results suggest that the statistics of these predictions may be generating patterns specific to individual network modules (START, S/G2/M, and EXIT). To test this hypothesis, we develop random forest models for predicting the network modules of cell cycle regulators using relative abundance statistics as model inputs. Predictive performance is assessed by the areas under receiver operating characteristics curves (AUC). Our models generate an AUC range of 0.83-0.87 as opposed to randomized models with AUC values around 0.50. By using differential evolution and random forest modeling, we show that the model prediction statistics generate distinct network module-specific patterns within the cell cycle network.
Re-interpreting ancient Maya mobility: a strontium isotope baseline for Western Honduras

Abstract Isotopic data are regularly employed to investigate and reconstruct migration, diet, and other anthropological questions about the past. Here we present new radiogenic strontium isotope values for western Honduras that have been understudied in relation to mobility among the ancient Maya in Mesoamerica. We employ biologically available isotopic compositions ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr) derived from local fauna and plants to create a baseline for these regions to determine the degree of movement into populations at Late Classic (600–820 CE) Copan, Honduras. Our results demonstrate that while movement certainly occurred within the Maya region, it also may have included areas beyond the perceived physical and cultural boundaries of the Maya world. We focus on the biogeochemical data to highlight how paleomobility ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr) data should be used cautiously to understand mobility across Mesoamerica, and to consider how non-Maya peoples were likely part of Maya communities.
Digital-Elektronik, Mikroprozessoren und Computer

Digitale Schaltkreise bieten einige wichtige Vorteile gegenuber ihren analogen Gegenstucken. So sind digitale Schaltungen z. B. gegenuber Umgebungsrauschen weniger anfallig und digital verschlusselte Signale konnen gewohnlich mit hoherer Signalintegritat vermittelt werden. Weiterhin sind digitale Signale mit digitalen Rechnern kompatibel, was die Moglichkeit eroffnet, die Information chemischer Signale mittels Software zu erfassen.
Estrogen, Interferon-gamma, and Lupus

To maintain immune homeostasis, the immune system must actively and rigorously impose restraints on the induction of damaging immune responses to selfantigens. Under normal circumstances, effective mechanisms exist to either eliminate or silence dangerous autoreactive cells. Failure to do so will likely result in the genesis of autoimmune diseases. To date, the cause(s) of autoimmune diseases is not known, but several key factors have been identified that promote the onset and/or affect the course of autoimmune diseases. These include genetic, infectious, environmental, and hormonal factors. Autoimmune diseases can afflict almost any tissue type, and it is likely that there may be differing or disparate triggering and/or pathologic mechanisms in the induction of autoimmune lesions in diverse tissues. This situation may be comparable to cancer, where oncopathogenic events differ among various types of cancers. Each autoimmune disease ought to be treated independently and generalizations must be treated with caution. Given the diversity of autoimmune diseases, it is not surprising that even though genetic factors are vital for the induction of autoimmune disease, there has been no identification of a genetic defect that is common to all autoimmune diseases. Interestingly, an overwhelmingly common feature of most autoimmune diseases is that women are more susceptible to these disorders compared to men (Ansar Ahmed et al., 1999; Ansar Ahmed, 2000). It is noteworthy that the degree of susceptibility of women to different autoimmune diseases varies. Diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjogren’s syndrome, thyroiditis, and scleroderma principally occur in women and demonstrate a very high female-to-male susceptibility ratio (Whitacre, 2001). Diseases such
Commutators and spectral theory

Let A and B be bounded operators on a Hilbert space and suppose that $$C=AB-BA$$ (2.1.1) Then it is easily shown that ||C|| ≤ 2||A|| ||B|| and, by consideration of simple finite-dimensional examples, that the last inequality can become an equality (with C ≠ 0). Thus, in general, the factor 2 cannot be replaced by a smaller number. In case A and C are self-adjoint and C is semi-definite, the inequality can be refined however. In fact in this case, as will be shown below, $$\left\| C \right\|\le (2\pi )\left\| A \right\|\left\| B \right\|$$ (2.1.2) where the constant 2/π it is optimal. In this chapter, some related inequalities will also be derived. In addition, an investigation of the spectrum of A when A is self-adjoint and C ≥ 0 will be made.