cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Age-related progression of bone marrow blood vessel ossification in rat and, potentially human, long bone (678.19)

BACKGROUD: Bone perfusion and bone vessel location, density and function are associated with bone mass. We recently demonstrated ossification of bone vessels in rats. The objective of this study was to assess ossification with advancing age and to confirm ossification in human patients. METHODS: Femora from young (n=8) and old (n=8) male Fischer-344 rats were examined to quantify patent vs. ossified and calcified vessels. Femora from additional young (n=5) and old (n=5) rats were analyzed for vessel ossification via µCT. Femoral vessels from a patient with ASVD and from rats were examined via microscopy. RESULTS: Isolated vessels (human and rat) had osteocyte lacunae on the surface. Patent vessel number was reduced (p<0.05) with age (0.47±0.05/mm2 vs. 0.29±0.05/mm2). Higher (p<0.05) volumes of ossified vessels were evident with age (0.01±0.01% vs. 0.49±0.11%). Calcified vessel volume/tissue volume (0.32 ±0.08% vs. 1.16±0.31%) and /patent vessel volume (17.2±5.9% vs. 62.4±15.5%) were augmented (p<0.05) in ...
Classification of Wild Isolate Nematode Strains Using Classical Systematics and Molecular Sequencing

Nematode worms account for the vast majority of the animals in the biosphere. They are critically important to public health and agriculture, reside in virtually all ecosystems, and are extremely diverse. To investigate nematode morphological diversity, three soil nematode species isolated in the wild where characterized (strains EM435, AF8130 and AF7340). These isolates were examined using differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy, fluorescence microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We used both classical systematics of the phenotypic data obtained from microscopy and phylogenetic evidence of ribosomal RNA sequencing data to classify these isolates. Data obtained confirmed strain EM435 to be a member of order Rhabditida, genus Oscheius, evidence was consistent with strain AF8130 belonging to the species Pristionchus pacificus , and the previously unclassified strain AF7340 was found to be a member of order Rhabditida, genus Oscheius .
Design standards for safety warning messages in manuals: increasing design saliency and adapting for a broader range of professional communication settings

Safety warning messages in owner’s manuals act as the visible and text based warning to users to avoid potential harm or injury. These warnings include those for DANGER, WARNING, and CAUTION. Current existing standards and general design principles give recommendations to safety warning message design, but they do not discuss the implications of adapting these recommendations to a broader range of professional communication settings. This thesis focuses on analyzing the salience of safety warning messages in owner’s manuals, and ultimately creating a set of safety warning message design criteria that will be adaptable to a broader range of professional communication settings. This thesis uses two methods to examine the ways in which these warning messages are salient. The first is a literature review of current safety warning message design standards and general design principles. The second is an analysis safety warning messages from a representative sample of owner’s manuals for a high-powered, high-risk product. The results of this study suggest the design features that make safety warning messages salient in owner’s manuals. The results further open future discussions of analyzing design criteria and how to create design criteria that can be adaptable to broader professional communication situations.
A smart broadcast scheme for wireless military networks

Many military networks belong to the scope of mobile ad hoc network (MANET). In these networks, broadcasting is a primary and widely-used communication approach. However, it may lead to severe broadcast storm problem in a shared common channel when used inappropriately. The results of the problem include redundant rebroadcast, contention, collision, extra power consumption, network congestion and etc. Therefore, it is considered a critical problem in the resource-constraint ad hoc networks. This paper proposes a smart broadcast scheme, which is simple, highly efficient and scalable. Most importantly, it is fully distributed and hence requires no global information. It introduces no control overheads and is able to adapt to network density and node movement. The performance of the smart algorithm is examined by OPNET simulation and compared with other existing methods.
Conditions for bubble elongation in cold ice-sheet ice

Highly elongated bubbles are sometimes observed in ice-sheet ice. Elongation is favored by rapid ice deformation, and opposed by diffusive processes. We use simple models to show that vapor transport dominates diffusion except possibly very close to the melting point, and that latent-heat effects are insignificant. Elongation is favored by larger bubbles at pore close-off, but is nearly independent of bubble compression below close-off. The simple presence of highly elongated bubbles indicates only that a critical ice-strain rate has been exceeded for significant time, and provides no information on possible disruption of stratigraphic continuity by ice deformation.
Environmentally conscious finishes: powder coatings on IBM products

An increased emphasis by computer manufacturers on designing for the environment (DFE) is resulting in the development of new products with improved environmental attributes. One area to be considered during the design process that has a significant, although sometimes overlooked, environmental impart on a product is the area of product finishing. In particular, the method by which a metal chassis for a business machine is coated to provide a decorative finish is not only aesthetically pleasing but also capable of meeting the physical requirements necessary in a customer environment. This paper considers the choices a designer has for "finishing" a metal chassis. Most notably, it investigates the advantages provided through the use of decorative powder coatings in place of liquid coatings. Powder coatings provide a high quality finish with a material that is completely recyclable and with virtually no emissions. IBM has increasingly utilized powder coatings in applications across product lines. Most applications have resulted in reduced finishing costs and improved quality performance of the completed parts. As beneficial as powders have been in the finishing requirements of IBM products, obstacles remain which are discussed.
Photoinitiated Polymerization of Biomaterials

▪ Abstract Photoinitiated polymerization and polymer crosslinking are viable strategies for biomaterial synthesis because of the mild temperatures and neutral pH environments in which these reactions typically take place. This review summarizes the relevant theories as well as current status of photoinitiated polymerizations in biomaterials. Photoinitiation, photoinitiated polymerization, and photoinitiators are discussed with consideration toward the biological nature of the intended application. Recent investigations into biomaterials, including hydrogels, biodegradable materials, and hard tissue resorbable scaffolds are presented. Lastly, studies of cell interactions with photoinitiated biomaterials are discussed. The work herein illustrates the potential use of photoinitiated polymerization in the development of novel biomaterials for tissue engineering.
White matter MR hyperintensities in adult patients with congenital rubella.

PURPOSE To observe and quantify white matter hyperintensities on MR images in adults with schizophrenialike symptoms who had had congenital rubella, in order to elucidate the neuropathologic sequelae of this perinatal viral infection and to explore the potential relationship of these lesions to schizophrenia. METHODS Eleven deaf adult patients with documented prenatal rubella virus infection and schizophrenialike symptoms were compared with 19 age-matched patients with early-onset schizophrenia who did not have congenital rubella and with 18 age-matched control subjects. All MR images (obtained at 1.5 T) were evaluated by a neuroradiologist who was blinded to diagnosis and were rated for white matter lesions on a five-point scale: 0 = no lesions; 1 = 1 lesion less than 1 mm in diameter; 2 = 1 to 4 lesions 1 mm or greater; 3 = 5 to 10 lesions; 4 = more than 10 lesions or a single lesion more than 1 cm in diameter. In addition, the white matter hyperintensities were volumed objectively with a manual threshold technique. RESULTS Ratings of white matter lesions were significantly higher in the rubella patients than in the control subjects: 6 of the 11 patients had ratings greater than 1 compared with 1 of the 18 control subjects and none of the 19 schizophrenic patients. Also, MR images in five rubella patients received ratings at the highest end of the scale of abnormality (3 or 4). The white matter hyperintensities were characterized as bilateral T2 signal hyperintensities in periventricular and subcortical regions, punctate or linear in shape; they were observed predominantly in parietal lobes. CONCLUSION This quantitative MR study of adult rubella patients disclosed abnormal white matter lesions that may correspond to neurovascular lesions known neuropathologically. They do not appear to be directly related to schizophrenialike symptoms.
A Case of 5-Fluorouracil-Induced Cardiac Arrest.

Abstract Background Coronary artery vasospasm after administration of fluorouracil (5-FU) is a rare complication. Commonly presenting as chest pain during or shortly after 5-FU infusions, vasospasm can place patients at risk for ventricular dysrhythmia, myocardial ischemia, and infarction. Although not fully understood, any 5-FU cardiotoxicity seems to be multifactorial, and patients with coronary artery disease and renal dysfunction may be at particular risk. Case Report A 46-year-old woman with no prior cardiovascular disease history presented with sudden-onset chest pain after initial administration of 5-FU continuous infusion therapy. The patient subsequently developed ventricular fibrillation arrest and underwent successful electrocardioversion. Coronary angiography was unremarkable for coronary stenosis or vasospasm. The presumed etiology was secondary to 5-FU cardiac toxicity. The patient was re-challenged with 5-FU therapy and developed repeat chest pain. The 5-FU was completely stopped and the patient's symptoms resolved, with no further dysrhythmic events 9 months after initial presentation. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? Patients who develop chest pain during or after 5-FU infusion should warrant strong consideration for admission and continuous cardiac monitoring for potential ventricular dysrhythmias and cardiac ischemia.
The History and Dynamics of Comet 9P/Tempel 1

Since its discovery in 1867, periodic comet 9P/Tempel 1 has been observed at 10 returns to perihelion, including all its returns since 1967. The observations for the seven apparitions beginning in 1967 have been fit with an orbit that includes only radial and transverse nongravitational accelerations that model the rocket-like thrusting introduced by the outgassing of the cometary nucleus. The successful nongravitational acceleration model did not assume any change in the comet’s ability to outgas from one apparition to the next and the outgassing was assumed to reach a maximum at perihelion. The success of this model over the 1967–2003 interval suggests that the comet’s spin axis is currently stable. Rough calculations suggest that the collision of the impactor released by the Deep Impact spacecraft will not provide a noticeable perturbation on the comet’s orbit nor will any new vent that is opened as a result of the impact provide a noticeable change in the comet’s nongravitational acceleration history. The observing geometries prior to, and during, the impact will allow extensive Earth based observations to complement the in situ observations from the impactor and flyby spacecraft.
Homogeneous nucleation in the presence of an aerosol

Abstract The explicit dependence of the homogeneous nucleation rate on the surface area concentration of preexisting free molecule particles is obtained by solving the Zeldovich-Frenkel-Becker-Doring equation modified to account for cluster scavenging. The present analytical solution is found to be in full agreement with numerical results.
Development of MEG sleep patterns and magnetic auditory evoked responses during early infancy.

Abstract Objective To follow the development of MEG sleep patterns and auditory evoked responses (AERs) during the first six months of life. Methods The subjects were 18 neonates, born at conceptional age (CA) 36–42 weeks, following uncomplicated pregnancies. During each session, several 10-min MEG recordings were acquired in the presence of auditory stimulation. The recordings were classified into three distinct MEG patterns—low amplitude irregular; high-amplitude slow; and mixed—based largely on MEG amplitude and frequency. Averaged AERs were computed for the entire recording and for each MEG pattern within the recording. The results were based on analysis of 61 recording sessions of the 10 subjects who yielded three or more sessions of usable data. Results Developmental changes in the MEG sleep patterns were most pronounced at the earliest ages. By CA 48 weeks the patterns had progressed to a more mature form, characterized by the prevalence of delta wave sleep, absence of discontinuity, and development of spindling and higher amplitude delta rhythms. In contrast to the MEG patterns, the AERs did not change markedly during the first 8 weeks (CA 40–48 weeks) and showed a simple morphology, consisting of a prominent deflection at 250 ms (P250m) and a more diffuse one at around 750 ms (N750m). During the period CA 48–54 weeks, however, a relatively abrupt transition occurred to a more complex morphology, characterized by a double peak with peak latencies 150 ms (P150m) and 350 ms (P350m). Beyond this period the AERs continued to evolve, showing biphasic complexes and the emergence of late components arising from outside the auditory cortex. Conclusions Over the age range of this study the MEG sleep patterns and AER developed in succession, rather than concurrently; i.e. development of the sleep patterns was most rapid during the first 8 weeks (CA 40–48 weeks) while major development of the AERs commenced after this time. Significance This finding suggests that the brain must achieve a certain level of overall maturity, reflected in the character of the MEG sleep patterns at CA 48 weeks, before the cortex enters a phase of significant functional development, reflected in the more rapid evolution of the AER after CA 48 weeks. The results of this study affirm the efficacy of MEG for spatiotemporal characterization of neonatal brain activity.
International evidence on output persistence from postwar data

Abstract This paper reports some international evidence on output persistence based on postwar data. Using fractional differencing analysis, we find evidence of fractional integration in output for the U.S. and U.K. but not for the other G-7 countries, implying that these two countries show much less persistence in output fluctuations than the others.
Multiprocessor Static State Estimation

Two classes of distributed processor algorithms are proposed. One class is based on weighted least square methods and the second class is based on relaxation methods. Analytical and simulation data are given to illustrate the computational properties of both algorithms.
Mechanical properties of xerogel silica films derived from stress versus temperature and cracking experiments

The biaxial modulus, coefficient of thermal expansion, and crack energy release rate of sol–gel derived silica, xerogel, films are presented. Using stress versus temperature measurements for xerogel on Si and quartz substrates, the biaxial modulus and linear thermal expansion coefficient of the film were determined. The film thickness at the onset of cracking and the corresponding stress were also found. For the critical thickness sample, the cracks initiated in the xerogel film and propagated into the Si substrate. The depth of the cracks in the substrate was roughly equal to the thickness of the film. From these data, the crack energy release rate for steady state channeling in the film was estimated; it was found to be roughly five times 2γs, where γs is the reported surface energy of the film. This is an indication of a plastic zone at the crack tip.
INJECTION LOCKING OF HIGH POWER BROAD AREA DIODE LASERS

Injection locking is one of the few approaches available for simultaneously controlling the far field emission and spectral characteristics of high power laser diode arrays1–4. Previous investigators have obtained narrow far field emission lobes with nearly single mode, narrow line operation. Steering of the far field emission angle is possible by varying the injection frequency or array bias2–4.
Noonan Syndrome-associated SHP-2/Ptpn11 Mutants Enhance SIRPα and PZR Tyrosyl Phosphorylation and Promote Adhesion-mediated ERK Activation

Noonan syndrome (NS) is an autosomal dominant disorder that is associated with multiple developmental abnormalities. Activated mutations of the protein-tyrosine phosphatase, SHP-2/PTPN11, have been reported in ∼50% of NS cases. Despite being activated, NS-associated SHP-2 mutants require plasma membrane proximity to evoke disease-associated signaling. Here we show that NS-associated SHP-2 mutants induce hypertyrosyl phosphorylation of the transmembrane glycoproteins, SIRPα (signal-regulatory protein α) and PZR (protein zero-related), resulting in their increased association with NS-associated SHP-2 mutants. NS-associated SHP-2 mutants enhanced SIRPα and PZR tyrosyl phosphorylation either by impairing SIRPα dephosphorylation or by promoting PZR tyrosyl phosphorylation. Importantly, during embryogenesis in a mouse model of NS, SIRPα and PZR were hypertyrosyl-phosphorylated and bound increased levels of the NS-associated SHP-2 mutant. SIRPα and PZR have been implicated in extracellular matrix-dependent signaling. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts derived from a mouse model of NS displayed enhanced ERK activation in response to fibronectin plating. Knockdown of SIRPα and PZR in these cells attenuated the enhanced activation of ERK following fibronectin plating. Thus, SIRPα and PZR serve as scaffolds that facilitate plasma membrane recruitment and signaling of NS-associated SHP-2 mutants.
The carboxyl terminal segment of the c-Ki-rask 2 gene product mediates insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of calmodulin and stimulates insulin-independent autophosphorylation of the insulin receptor

Abstract Cationic cofactors (e.g., polylysine or histone H2B) are necessary to observe phosphorylation of calmodulin in cell-free systems containing partially purified insulin receptors from a variety of tissues. The highly basic carboxyl terminus of the human c-Ki- ras 2 gene product stimulated both the in vitro phosphorylation of calmodulin and autophosphorylation of the β-subunit of the insulin receptor, independently of insulin. Addition of insulin increased phosphate incorporation into calmodulin 2.5 fold. The K0.5 for insulin was approximately 5 × 10−8 M. Maximal phosphorylation occurred at 120μM c-Ki- ras 2 in the absence of Ca2+ and was inhibited by free Ca2+ concentrations above 0.1μM. These data suggest the c-Ki- ras 2 gene product, an endogenous membrane protein, may play an important role in the cellular mechanism of insulin action.
Monoamine oxidase and mitochondrial respiration

Mitochondrial defects encompassing complexes I-IV of the electron transport chain characterize a relatively large number of neurodegenerative diseases. The relationships between mitochondrial lesions and recently described genetic alterations have not yet been defined. We describe a general mechanism whereby the enzymatic metabolism of neurotransmitters by monoamine oxidase (MAO) damages mitochondria, altering their protein thiol status and suppressing respiration. In these experiments, incubation of rat brain mitochondria with tyramine (a mixed MAO-A/MAO-B substrate) for 15 min at 27 degrees C suppressed state 3 respiration by 32.8% and state 5 respiration by 40.1%. These changes were accompanied by a 10-fold rise in protein-glutathione mixed disulfides. Direct comparison of effects on respiration and MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] dye reduction during electron flow gave similar results. It is suggested that certain mitochondrial lesions may derive from the natural turnover of monoamine neurotransmitters in susceptible individuals.
Liquid Chromatography of Oxidized Sulfanilamide Derivatives

Abstract Chromatographic behavior on reverse phase HPLC is reported for a group of N4− and other oxidized sulfanilamide derivatives of biological interest. 4-Hydroxylaminobenzenesulfonamide decomposes in aqueous solution in a pH-dependent manner. At room temperature at pH 10, it converts almost quantitatively to azoxybenzene-4,4′-disulfonamide and 4-nitrobenzenesulfonamide.
Goal and Personality Trait Development in Emerging Adulthood.

The present research examined continuity and change in the importance of major life goals and the relation between change in goals and change in personality traits over the course of college (N = 298). Participants rated the importance of their life goals 6 times over a 4-year period and completed a measure of the Big Five personality traits at the beginning and end of college. Like personality traits, life goals demonstrated high levels of rank-order stability. Unlike personality traits assessed during the same period and in the same sample, the mean importance of most life goals decreased over time. Moreover, each goal domain was marked by significant individual differences in change, and these individual differences were related to changes in personality traits. These findings provide insights into the relatively unstudied question of how life goals change during emerging adulthood.
Mental models in warnings message design: A review and two case studies

This article examines how people access, evaluate and process information and reviews the psychology of risk perception literature in order to draw out key considerations for effective message design. Two case studies of chemical consumer products illustrate the implementation of the mental models methodology in designing risk communications, combining a quantitative technical assessment of a hazard with qualitative methodologies for assessing beliefs and behaviors that are key determinants of risk. The case studies emphasize the importance of considering not only intrinsic properties of a hazard but also the specific cultural and behavioral decision-making context.
Laser-induced carbon CVD on a moving fused quartz substrate: morphological and oscillatory deposition characteristics

CO2 Laser-induced chemical vapor deposition (LCVD) is being investigated as a possible technique of depositing uniform carbon coatings on moving fused quartz substrates. A CO2 laser is used to locally heat the substrate surface and create a hot spot where pyrolysis of hydrocarbon species occurs and subsequently deposits a layer of carbon film. The results indicate that uniform carbon film stripes can be deposited on moving fused quartz rods using pyrolytic LCVD only under certain deposition conditions, otherwise oscillation of the stripe width or substrate damage by laser radiation will occur. The transition region for oscillation, as well as the period of oscillation, is identified. Substrate damage can be induced by reducing the laser spot size, even when the substrate receives a lower irradiation intensity. Raman spectra of the carbon film stripes indicate that the film consists of disordered graphitic material. The ratio of the D-peak to the G-peak intensity found in the Raman spectrum is used to characterize the degree of disorder for the carbon film. The range of the Raman peak ratios is 0.795–0.935.
An evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy of Pathfinder

We present an evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy of Pathfinder, an expert system that assists pathologists with the diagnosis of lymph node diseases. We evaluate two versions of the system using both informal and decision-theoretic metrics of performance. In one version of Pathfinder, we assume incorrectly that all observations are conditionally independent. In the other version, we use a belief network to represent accurately the probabilistic dependencies among the observations. In both versions, we make the assumption--reasonable for this domain--that diseases are mutually exclusive and exhaustive. The results of the study show that (1) it is cost effective to represent probabilistic dependencies among observations in the lymph node domain, and (2) the diagnostic accuracy of the more complex version of Pathfinder is at least as good as that of the Pathfinder expert. In addition, the study illustrates how informal and decision-theoretic metrics for performance complement one another.
An actively controlled fuel cell/battery hybrid to meet pulsed power demands

Abstract This paper presents the experimental results of an actively controlled fuel cell/battery hybrid power source topology that can be widely used in many applications, such as portable electronic devices, communication equipment, spacecraft power systems, and electric vehicles, in which the power demand is impulsive rather than constant. A step-down DC/DC power converter is incorporated to actively control the power flow between the fuel cell and the battery to achieve both high power and high energy densities. The results show that the hybrid power source can achieve much greater specific power and power density than the fuel cell alone. This paper first demonstrates that an actively controlled hybrid with a 35 W hydrogen-fueled polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell and a lithium-ion battery pack of six cells yielded a peak power of 100 W, about three times as high as the fuel cell alone can supply, while causing a very limited (10%) weight increase to the whole system. After that, another hybrid source using a different battery array (eight cells) was investigated to further validate the control strategy and to show the flexibility and generality of the hybrid source design. The experimental data show that the hybrid source using an eight-cell battery supplied a peak power of 135 W, about four times that of the fuel cell alone. Finally, three power sources including the fuel cell alone and the two hybrids studied were compared in terms of specific power, power density, volume, weight, etc. The design presented here can be scaled to larger or smaller power capacities for a variety of applications.
Working Towards Greener High Energy Materials. DFT Calculations on Nitrated 3,6-Dihydro-1,2,4,5-tetrazine

Abstract As part of a series of reports of highly nitrated molecules that may serve as new high energy materials, here we report on various nitrated derivatives of 3,6-dihydro-1,2,4,5-tetrazine. The parent molecule is one of the smallest ringed systems with two isolated azo groups (–N N–) as part of the cycle. With only two carbon atoms in the structures, the amount of carbon-containing substances released upon decomposition is minimized, making these compounds more “green”. Density functional theoretical calculations show a decreasing trend in energy of decomposition with increasing nitro group content, although the specific enthalpies of decomposition are commensurate with other currently-used materials.
The Collective Dynamics and the Correlations of Wormholes in Quantum Gravity

Abstract In quantum gravity, euclidean spacetime wormholes induce fluctuations of the spacetime topology. In the present paper, the collective dynamics and the clustering correlations of axionic wormholes is studied extensively. Mean field theory describing both the long range and the short range interactions among the instantons attached to our universe is Coulomb gas type with nonzero pressure due to generic short range repulsive potentials. Implications of the collective dynamics of instantons to the cosmological constant and the “big fix” of low-energy effective coupling constants are also discussed. An energetic tendency of large instanton dissociations into smaller ones is proposed as a resolution to the big wormhole puzzle.
Nuclear relaxation studies of lecithin bilayers.

BILAYER phases of lipids have broad proton magnetic resonance (PMR) spectra, which have been attributed to incomplete averaging of the dipole–dipole interactions between various protons as a result of slow molecular motion1,2. Two pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies, however, have proposed internal magnetic field gradients as the source of spectral broadening. Kaufman et al. concluded that these gradients led to inhomogeneity broadening3, whereas Hansen and Lawson proposed molecular diffusion through them4. These conclusions were based on the apparent dependence of the spectral width on the applied magnetic field5 as well as abrupt changes in transverse relaxation time (T2) without concomitant changes in the longitudinal relaxation time (T1) at the bilayer phase boundaries4,5. The dependence of T2 on pulse spacing in a Carr–Purcell experiment6 has also been taken as evidence for molecular diffusion through internal magnetic field gradients4.
Vertex and edge spread of zero forcing number, maximum nullity, and minimum rank of a graph

Abstract The minimum rank of a simple graph G is defined to be the smallest possible rank over all symmetric real matrices whose ijth entry (for i ≠ j ) is nonzero whenever { i , j } is an edge in G and is zero otherwise; maximum nullity is taken over the same set of matrices. The zero forcing number is the minimum size of a zero forcing set of vertices and bounds the maximum nullity from above. The spread of a graph parameter at a vertex v or edge e of G is the difference between the value of the parameter on G and on G - v or G - e . Rank spread (at a vertex) was introduced in [4] . This paper introduces vertex spread of the zero forcing number and edge spreads for minimum rank/maximum nullity and zero forcing number. Properties of the spreads are established and used to determine values of the minimum rank/maximum nullity and zero forcing number for various types of grids with a vertex or edge deleted.
A technique for the assessment of the effects of electrical aversion on human operant behavior: An exploratory study *

A series of single-subject experiments were performed to evaluate the utility of a new technique for assessing the differential effects of electrical aversion on human operant behavior. The subjects were eight college males classified as either high ( N =3) or low ( N =5) in “fear” of physical pain according to their T-scores on Factor 5 ( Tasto, Hickson, & Rubin, 1971 ) of the Fear Survey Schedule ( Wolpe & Lang, 1969 ). Each subject was instructed to press a response key on a differential-reinforcement-of-low-rates (DRL) schedule, while during certain periods electric shock was introduced conjointly on a modified free operant avoidance schedule. The results indicated that whereas 100% of the “high fear” subjects emitted a considerable number of response “bursts” during at least some of the electrical aversion periods, only 20% of the “low fear” subjects showed the effect at the highest shock level (4.5 mA). For those subjects who demonstrated the effect, a positive relationship between shock intensity and frequency of “bursts” was established by means of systematic replications with different levels of shock. The findings suggest that the rate of response “bursts” under the present schedule might serve as an index of the relative aversiveness of electric shock during aversion therapy.
Re-examining the requirements for verification of patient identifiers during medication administration: No wonder it is error-prone

Patient identification errors are one of the major causes of medication errors. Most medication error studies to date have focused on reporting patient misidentification statistics from case studies, on classifying types of patient identification errors, or on evaluating the impact of technology on the patient identification process, but few have proposed specific strategies or guidelines to decrease patient identification errors. Our study makes three key contributions to the patient identification literature. To better understand the verification of patient identifiers (VPI) process, we first formalize the requirements for this process based on the Joint Commission's national patient safety guidelines. Second, we show the implications of these requirements by applying them to artifacts typically used in medication administration (e.g., patient's statements about their identity, patient's identification band, medication label, and medication order). Third, we evaluate whether nurses comply with these req...
Effect of brine disposal cost on hyperfiltration plant optimization

Abstract Parametric studies of hyperfiltration were carried out: (1) to determine optimal flow conditions and relative water costs when waste brine disposal costs are included in the economic model and (2) to further investigate tapered plant geometries. Relative water costs were computed at optimum flow conditions by use of a Fortran computer program (“HYPFIL”) which deals with a single-stage hyperfiltration system with tubular membranes under turbulent conditions. It was found that, for the conditions investigated, the optimum permeability of an ion exchange type membrane which gave the minimum relative water cost decreased with increased brine disposal cost. As expected, the optimum water recovery increased with increased disposal cost. The effect of brine disposal costs on relative water cost for a membrane with a permeability of 0.5 gpd ft -2 atm -1 and the characteristics of cellulose acetate resulted in higher optimum water recoveries as expected and increased the relative cost of water by a much higher percentage when the feed concentration was near the inherent rejection ability of the membrane to produce product with satisfactory salinity.
Changes in the morphology of cast nylon 6 through copolymerization

Correlations were made between several physical and mechanical properties and crystal morphology for copolyamides composed of caprolactam and either capryllactam or laurolactam as a minor comonomer. Incorporating a comonomer into the nylon 6 chain decreases the crystallinity and crystal size and, in addition, depresses the melting point of the polymer much more than predicted by the classical Flory theory on random copolymers. This fact, along with the change in the x-ray diffraction patterns, indicates that small amounts (up to 10 mole-%) of comonomer can enter the polymer crystals without any basic change in the α-form crystal structure. The variation of copolyamide densities with comonomer content also supports this theory. The initial moduli of the copolyamides, when tested above their glass transition temperatures, obey a linear relationship with the reciprocal of the amorphous content of the polymers. The impact strength increases dramatically with decreases in crystallinity and crystal size. Some of these materials have extremely large ultimate elongations and have glass transition temperatures below room temperature.
Track Introduction: Agent Technology, Intelligent Systems and Software Computing in Management Support

This year the Decision Technologies Track has adopted a sharper focus by targeting the emerging area of service sciences, management and engineering (SSME) as its primary application domain. SSME is a new interdisciplinary research area that synthesizes work from the reference disciplines of computer science, information sciences, operations research, industrial engineering, business strategy, management science, and social / cognitive sciences, to develop business applications that meet the challenges raised by a services-led (as opposed to a manufacturing-led) economy. Three thematic streams have been identified and implemented in the following Minitracks:
Genotoxicity of acetaldehyde- and crotonaldehyde-induced 1,N2-propanodeoxyguanosine DNA adducts in human cells.

Abstract Reaction of crotonaldehyde or two molecules of acetaldehyde with DNA generates 3-(2′-deoxyribos-1′-yl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-8-hydroxy-6-methylpyrimido[1,2-a]purine-10(3 H )one ( 2 , Scheme 1), which occurs in (6 R , 8 R ) and (6 S , 8 S ) configurations (Fig. 1). These diastereomers were site-specifically incorporated into oligonucleotides, which were then inserted into a double-stranded DNA vector for genotoxicity studies. Modified DNA was introduced into human xeroderma pigmentosum A (XPA) cells to allow replication. Analysis of progeny plasmid revealed that these DNA adducts inhibit DNA synthesis to similar degrees. (6 S , 8 S )- 2 miscodes more frequently than (6 R , 8 R )- 2 : 10% versus 5%. For both adducts, major miscoding events were G → T transversions, but G → A transitions were also observed at a comparable level for (6 R , 8 R )- 2 . G → C transversions were the second most common events for (6 S , 8 S )- 2 . Comparison of these results with those of other 1, N 2 -propanodeoxyguanosine (PdG) adducts, which were evaluated by the same system, indicates that (i) their synthesis inhibiting potencies are stronger than that of the unsubstituted analog, 3-(2′-deoxyribos-1′-yl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-8-hydroxypyrimido[1,2-a]purine-10(3 H )one ( 1 , Scheme 1), but weaker than that of 3-(2′-deoxyribos-1′-yl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-6-hydroxypyrimido[1,2-a]purine-10(3 H )one ( 3 , Scheme 1); (ii) both isomers of 2 are more miscoding than 1 ; (iii) the miscoding potency of (6 S , 8 S )- 2 is comparable to those of 3 and a model PdG 4 lacking a hydroxyl and a methyl group (Fig. 1). Therefore, considering the fact that 2 are formed endogenously as well as exogenously, they may play a significant role in aging and cancer in humans.
Time to make haste

Scientists with a busy schedule must free up time to develop professionally in a fast-moving sector.
Organ donation by suicides: sex and ethnicity.

Summary.—An analysis of 2,034 actual organ donations by suicides for the years 2008–2010 indicated that women were more likely to be donors than were men and Blacks more likely to donate than were Whites. The sex difference was consistent with the responses of men and women to surveys of the general public about their willingness to become organ donors, but the ethnic difference was the reverse of the responses to surveys of the general public about their willingness to be organ donors. Future research should explore the role of the responses, positive vs negative toward organ donation, of the significant others of those dying from different causes of death, and the extent to which people have signed donor cards.
Polymerization of organic compounds in an electrodeless glow discharge. VI. Acetylene with unusual comonomers

Polymerizations of acetylene with nonpolymerizing gases and vapors such as H2O, N2, and CO in a plasma generated by inductive coupling of 13.5 MHz radio frequency are investigated. It is found that acetylene copolymerizes with those comonomers and that properties of copolymers are distinctly different from that of plasma polymer of acetylene. The copolymerization with H2O has a significant effect in reducing the trapped free radicals in the plasma polymer (to a nonexistent level). Infrared and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopies and elemental analysis of polymers are used to investigate the incorporation of H2O, N2, and CO into the plasma polymers.
The effect of phospholipids and mucin on bacterial internalization in an enterocyte-cell culture model.

A primary component of the intestinal mucous layer that functions as a barrier to luminal bacteria is mucin, a high-molecular-weight glucoprotein. In addition, the mucous layer also contains other important elements such as phospholipids (PLs), which may effect bacterial translocation (BTL). It has been reported that mucin inhibits Escherichia coli translocation; however, the effect of PLs on intestinal permeability is still controversial. We have recently reported that the concentration of mucous PLs is higher in neonatal as compared to adult rabbits. The functional significance of these biochemical differences on BTL remains to be determined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of PL and mucin composition on BTL in a human enterocyte-cell culture model. Human enterocyte Caco-2 cells were seeded in 24-well tissue-culture plates and grown for 14 days to confluence. The monolayers were pretreated with phosphate buffered saline as control, 10 mg/ml or 20 mg/ml mucin, 0.5 mM or 1.0 mM PL mixture based on neonatal (NPL) and adult (APL) composition, and 10 mg/ml mucin with 0.5 mM either APL or NPL mixtures 30 min before a 120-min incubation period at 37 °C with 108 colony forming units (CFU) of E. coli C25. Non-internalized bacteria were killed by the addition of gentamicin. Internalized bacteria were quantified by counting CFU from enterocyte-cell lysates grown on MacConkey's agar. Mucin inhibited bacterial internalization, while both compositions of PLs promoted it. Mucin added to the PL solution also diminished the stimulatory effect of PLs on bacterial internalization. These results indicate that the increased concentration of PLs found in the intestinal mucous layer of neonates, and/or the alteration in the balance between PLs and mucin, may play a role in the increased BTL seen in neonates.
The value of vengefulness: Reputational incentives for initiating versus reciprocating aggression:

Why do individuals engage in surprisingly costly aggression? Theory and research suggest that individuals aggress in order to establish a reputation as a strong competitor and thereby deter aggress...
Ultrafast MR imaging of water mobility: Animal models of altered cerebral perfusion

“Single shot” magnetic resonance (MR) diffusion imaging was used to study the details of signal decay curves in experimental perturbations of cerebral perfusion induced by hypercapnia or death. Despite large perfusion increases observed with dynamic susceptibility-contrast MR imaging, no correlation with these changes was seen in either the diffusion coefficient or any other intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) model parameters in dog gray matter as arterial carbon dioxide pressure increased. Non-monoexponential signal decay in cat gray matter was seen both before and after death. In addition, cat gray matter demonstrated a steady decrease in the diffusion coefficient after death. These data are strong evidence that the fast component of the non-monoexponential diffusion-related signal decay is not due solely to perfusion. The authors believe that a second compartment of nonex-changing spins, most likely cerebrospinal fluid, accounts for the non-monoexponential decay.
Inhibition of Flower Initiation in Pharbitis nil by an Inhibitor of Steroid Biosynthesis is Dependent on Seedling Age.

Boniier, Heftmann, anid Zeevaart (1) founld( that Tris(2-diethylaminoethyl) -phosphate hvdrochloride (TDEAP)1, an inhibitor of cholesterol biosynthesis in animals, also inhibits flower initiation in Pharbitis nil when applied to the cotyledons prior to the beginning of the inductive dark period of a short day. Owing to the potential horticultuiral valuie of chemically induced inhibition of flowering, we attempted to repeat and extend the work with TDEAP. The results of a few experiments with Phalrbitis ntil did not reveal TDEAP-induced inhibition. The failures were traced, finally, to the fact that the seedlings used in our experiments were past the period of sensitivity to TDEAP. This paper is a brief description of our research.
Efficacy of oxaliplatin plus pemetrexed in chemotherapy pretreated metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Abstract Background Although new androgen-targeted therapies offer prolonged survival in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), most men still face progressive disease and require additional therapy. Oxaliplatin and pemetrexed have each shown modest activity in the treatment of CRPC. Given their favorable nonoverlapping toxicity profiles, we studied them in combination. Patients and Methods Men with CRPC whose disease had progressed on 1 or 2 previous chemotherapy regimens, including a taxane, were eligible. All participants received oxaliplatin 120 mg/m2 and pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 intravenously every 21 days. The primary end point was response rate; objective responses were determined using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST), version 1.0, criteria and the Prostate Cancer Working Group (1999) criteria. Secondary end points included progression-free survival and OS. Results Forty-seven men received a median of 6 cycles (range, 1-21). The overall response rate was 30% (95% confidence interval [CI], 18%-45%), including 10 men with RECIST responses of the 40 who had measurable disease (25%). Overall, 64% had a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) decline and 74% of men had clinical disease control (partial response or stable disease as their best response). Median progression-free survival was 5.8 months (95% CI, 3.8-7.6), with a median OS of 11.9 months. Six of 15 evaluable patients (40%) experienced a pain response. Nineteen patients (40%) experienced a grade 3 or 4 hematologic toxicity, and 16 (34%) experienced a grade 3 nonhematologic toxicity. One patient died while participating in the study. Conclusion Combination oxaliplatin and pemetrexed (PemOx) is an effective and tolerable second- or third-line treatment for men with CRPC.
Equivalent salinity, a new oceanographic parameter for the study of vertical motion in the sea

Abstract The equivalent salinity of sea water at a particular depth is defined as the salinity, that water at a potential temperature of 0°C would have to have to be neutrally stable with respect to the sea water. The equivalent salinity at a depth of 5 km in the World Ocean decreases northward from the Antartic. Because of the nonlinearity of the equation of state of sea water, water of a given equivalent salinity at the sea surface will attain a variable equivalent salinity as it sinks and will set up a normal potential temperature gradient. As water spills over a sill into a basin, water of equal equivalent salinity at the sill depth will become segregated vertically as it fills the basin with the coldest, least saline water at the bottom. A vertical equivalent salinity section of the Western Atlantic Ocean indicates that bottom waters in the section converge from the Antartic and the Arctic at about 37°N.
Beowulf bootcamp: teaching local high schools about HPC

The Beowulf Bootcamp is an initiative designed to raise the awareness of and interest in high performance computing in the high schools the area of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The goal is to familiarize students with all aspects of a supercomputer, giving them hands-on experience with touching or assembling hardware components.No less significant to the High Performance Computing adventure was an understanding of the software. Students not only installed the operating system and ran benchmarks, but they learned how to program. Our goal for the programming section was ambitious but focused: we sought to give the students a basic understanding of MPI.
The high frequency of congenital heart disease in oculo-auriculo-vertebral dysplasia (Goldenhar's syndrome)

Summary A review of the cardiac findings in patients with oculoauriculo-vertebraldysplasia (Goldenhar's syndrome) revealed a high frequency of congenital heart disease. The individual anatomic lesions and their severity followed the conventional distribution for congenital cardiac lesions in the general population.