cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preschool children's retention of rhyming and nonrhyming text: paraphrase and rote recitation measures

Abstract In this study, we sought to clarify the effect that rhyme has on young children's short-term retention of story narratives. Sixty-four preschool children were read rhymed or nonrhyming versions of a short story where the semantic content differed only in the arrangement of lines across test stanzas. For each type of narrative, one half of the subjects attempted rote recitation of exact stody language. The remaining subjects were asked to paraphrase semantic content. Analyses revealed that rhyme enhanced word-for-word recitation in correct sequential order, whereas nonrhyming presentations evoked initial faciliotation of semantic paraphrase. The findings are discussed in terms of transfer-appropriate and levels-of-processing memory models.
Non-Newtonian Study of Blood Flow in a Bifurcation With a Stabilized Finite Element Method

In recent years the methods of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) have been applied to the human cardiovascular system to better understand the relationship between arterial blood flow and the disease process. Obviously, the technical challenges associated with such modeling are formidable. Among the many problems to be addressed, in this paper we add yet another complication — the known non-Newtonian nature of blood. Due to the preliminary nature of the study, we limit ourselves to a generic and idealized geometry — a simple standard bifurcation of a tube with rigid walls. The pulsatile nature of the flow is considered. We use the Carreau-Yasuda model to describe the non-Newtonian viscosity variation. Preliminary results are presented for the Newtonian and non-Newtonian cases, at mean Reynolds number of 340, averaged over the cardiac cycle. The broad fundamental issue we wish to eventually resolve is whether or not non-Newtonian effects in blood flow are sufficiently strong that they must be addressed in meaningful simulations. Interesting differences during the flow cycle shed light on the problem, but further research is needed.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Test patterns for fault-tolerant logic circuits using block design concepts

Fault-tolerant logic circuits have been considered untestable due to the redundancy introduced into the logic circuits to mask faults. Recently, the block design concepts have been used to construct system and gate level fault-tolerant logic circuits and to find a minimal design. Conditions have been established to construct testable fault-tolerant circuits. This paper investigates the use of the block design concepts to generate test patterns for fault-tolerant logic circuits designed according to certain criteria. Algorithms are developed to construct fault-tolerant circuits and to generate minimal test patterns directly from the block design representation of the circuits.
West Indian archaeology. 1. Overview and foragers

Caribbean archaeology is riding the wave of an exponential growth curve. In fact, so much has happened during the past 5 years that it is impossible to review everything in a single article. The present article is written as the first in a series. The first part of the paper provides an archipelagic overview of the regional environmental and cultural diversity in conjunction with references to recent archaeological research. The second part of the present paper focuses on recent research into the preceramic Lithic and Archaic Ages in the West Indies. Alternate theories of population movements and regional differences in artifact assemblages during the preceramic are discussed. The second article in this series will examine the early and middle ceramic periods, while the emergence and florescence of the Tainos must be postponed until the third installment.
ATP-Independent Control of Autotransporter Virulence Protein Transport via the Folding Properties of the Secreted Protein

Autotransporter (AT) proteins are the largest class of extracellular virulence proteins secreted from Gram-negative bacteria. The mechanism by which AT proteins cross the bacterial outer membrane (OM), in the absence of ATP or another external energy source, is unknown. Here we demonstrate a linear correlation between localized regions of stability (ΔGfolding) in the mature virulence protein (the AT “passenger”) and OM secretion efficiency. Destabilizing the C-terminal β-helical domain of a passenger reduced secretion efficiency. In contrast, destabilizing the globular N-terminal domain of a passenger produced a linearly correlated increase in secretion efficiency. Thus, C-terminal passenger stability facilitates OM secretion, whereas N-terminal stability hinders it. The contributions of regional passenger stability to OM secretion demonstrate a crucial role for the passenger itself in directing its secretion, suggesting a novel type of ATP-independent, folding-driven transporter.
Kite-free distance-regular graphs

Abstract Let Γ denote a distance-regular graph with classical parameters ( d , b , α, β). Suppose that the diameter d ≥ 3, and suppose that the parameter b (which is known to be an integer) satisfies b x , y , z and u such that x , y , z are mutually adjacent, and such that u is at distance ∂ ( u , y ) = ∂ ( u , x ) − 1. We conclude that the Hermitean forms graph Her ( d , q ) is uniquely determined by its intersection numbers if d ≥ 3.
A theoretical model for hot plasma flowing to a wall with recycling

Abstract Plasma flow along field lines to material walls is a common property of divertors and limiters where the plasma is neutralized at a target plate. A theoretical model to describe the hot plasma flowing to the wall, where it is neutralized, and the cold plasma produced by ionization of thermal neutrals has been developed. A necessary ingredient in this model is the electrostatic potential, which turns out to be positive near the wall (relative to further in the plasma) before dropping the sheath. The treatment is kinetic rather than fluid-like and largely analytic. The results agree well with a numerical kinetic calculation by Morse and co-workers for a uniform field case. The model is being extended to allow non-uniform magnetic fields, as is appropriate for bundle divertors.
A model for systemic lupus erythematosus based on chromatin disruption by polyamines

Here it is hypothesized that some autoimmune disorders, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, result in part from overexpression of polyamines which leads to disruption of chromatin structure. Disruption of inactive chromatin, such as the inactive X chromosome, exposes sites of unrepaired DNA damage. Repair is then hampered by the polyamines. Disruption also facilitates transcription at previously sequestered sites. Especially interesting are RNA polymerase III sites in highly repeated sequences such as the Alu sequence. Transcription and translation from these sites could create RNA and polypeptides not normally expressed. These could be antigenic either individually or in association with other cellular components. Interactions of polyamines in the nucleus and with the membrane could also lead to polyamine facilitated apoptosis.
Nenosecond electroluminescence (EL) spikes at the voltage turn-off from a small molecular organic light-emitting device (OLED)

Nanosecond EL spikes observed when multilayer blue 4,4'-bis(2,2'-diphenyl vinyl)-1,1-biphenyl (DPVBi)/AlO x /Al-based OLEDs are excited by rectangular voltage pulses are described. The spikes occur at the voltage tum-off and exceed the cw brightness by up to x10, Time-resolved CCD images show that the uniform emission from most of the OLED surface decays with a single constant τ 1 = 13 ± 3 ns. In the brighter areas of increased electron injection such as cathode edges and morphological defects, a second slower decay time 20 ns < τ 2 < 1 μs is observed, apparently due to release of carriers from localized trap states in the organic/cathode interface. At a bias of 10 V the amplitude of the spike is found to peak at a pulse duration of -20 μs.
Correlates of subjective and objective binge eating in binge-purge syndromes.

Objective Research has begun to challenge the idea that a large amount of food is a diagnostically relevant distinction in classifying binge eating. This study examined the relationship between both objective and subjective (i.e., feeling out of control while eating an appropriate amount of food) binge eating frequency and factor analytically derived measures of dieting and psychopathology. Method Participants were 40 women who were admitted for inpatient treatment for bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, binge-purge type, or eating disorder not otherwise specified with binge-purge symptoms. Results Controlling for subjective binge frequency, neither the psychopathology nor the dieting factors were related to objective binge frequency. Controlling for objective binge frequency, dieting, but not psychopathology, was related to subjective binge frequency. There was no correlation between frequency of subjective and objective binge eating. Discussion The results are discussed in light of research on restrained eating. Implications for diagnosis and the role of loss of control in defining binge behavior are also discussed. © 2002 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 31: 220–228, 2002; DOI 10.1002/eat.10026
Increased skin permeability in preterm infants.

Skin permeability in preterm infants was evaluated by observing the blanching response to topically applied 10 per cent Neo-Synephrine. The response consisted of speckles or islands of blanching which gradually coalesced to form a homogeneous pale area. Infants 28 to 34 weeks' gestational age had a rapid response lasting from 30 minutes to 6 to 8 hours. A response was no longer apparent by 21 days of postnatal life. Infants 35 to 37 weeks' responded less dramatically and had a longer lag period. Infants 38 to 42 weeks in most instances failed to exhibit blanching. Surface temperatures on strongly blanched and contiguous unblanched skin were identical. These data suggest immature barrier function in the epidermis of the preterm infant.
Calcium regulation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors

Ca2+ exerts both a stimulatory and inhibitory effect on type-I IP3R channel activity. However, the structural determinants of Ca2+ sensing in IP3Rs are not fully understood. Previous studies by others have identified eight domains of the type-I IP3R that bind 45Ca2+ when expressed as GST-fusion proteins. We have mutated six highly conserved acidic residues within the second of these domains (aa378-450) in the full-length IP3R and measured the Ca2+ regulation of IP3-mediated Ca2+ release in COS-7 cells. 45Ca2+ flux assays measured with a maximal [IP3] (1 microM) indicate that one of the mutants retained a Ca2+ sensitivity that was not significantly different from control (E411Q), three of the mutants show an enhanced Ca2+ inhibition (D426N, E428Q and E439Q) and two of the mutants were relatively insensitive to Ca2+ inhibition (D442N and D444N). IP3 dose-response relationships indicated that the sensitivity to Ca2+ inhibition and affinity for IP3 were correlated for three of the constructs. Other mutants with enhanced IP3 sensitivity (e.g. R441Q and a type-II/I IP3R chimera) were also less sensitive to Ca2+ inhibition. We conclude that the acidic residues within the aa378-450 segment are unlikely to represent a single functional Ca2+ binding domain and do not contribute to Ca2+ activation of the receptor. The different effects of the mutations may be related to their location within two clusters of acidic residues identified in the crystal structure of the ligand-binding domain [I. Bosanac, J.R. Alattia, T.K. Mal, et al., Structure of the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor binding core in complex with its ligand, Nature 420 (2002) 696-700]. The data support the view that all IP3R isoforms may display a range of Ca2+ sensitivities that are determined by multiple sites within the protein and markedly influenced by the affinity of the receptor for IP3.
Race- and gender-related variation in natural killer p46 expression associated with differential anti-hepatitis C virus immunity.

Background Major racial and gender differences have been documented in the natural history and treatment responses of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, however, potential mechanisms have remained enigmatic. We hypothesized that racial- and gender-related differences in NK cell populations may explain altered natural history and treatment responses.
Baseball in Cuba

While futbol (soccer) has long been the favorite sport in most of Latin America, baseball holds sway in the circum-Caribbean region in countries such as Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, the Dominican Republic and Cuba. It is perhaps surprising that revolutionary Cuba, with its strong anti-American foreign policy, should continue to hold dear this sport that was born and nurtured in the United States. Yet Fidel Castro himself, who regularly issues anti-Yankee attacks, is also proud of demonstrating his skill with the bat andglove. Eric Wagner gives us a valuable overview of the development of baseball on the island, Cuba's singular success in international competition and the game's role in contemporary Cuba. With this background and analysis, it is easy to see why the revolutionary government has not tampered with a sport that is so firmly rooted as a popular national pastime. Regarding baseball in Cuba after 1959, Wagner discusses how it has become an integral part of the new social system in factories, villages, towns, urban neighborhoods and schools. Competition is fierce on both the local and national levels because of its wide appeal among the popular classes, who brought baseball with them when they assumed power in 1959. It is likely to continue to play an essential role in the country's socioeconomic integration.
The primary structure of p38 gamma: A new member of p38 group of MAP kinases

We have identified a third member of the p38 group of MAP kinase termed p38γ. The cDNA for this MAP kinase encodes an 367 amino acid polypeptide that is slightly greater than 60% identical to p38 and p38β. Expression of its mRNA is primarily in muscle with no detectable expression in Northern blots using RNA from other tissues. In contrast to p38 and p38β, p38γ, fails to phosphorylate ATF-2 or MAPKAP kinase 2 but does like other MAP kinases phosphorylate MBP.In vitrokinase assays using protein extracts from skeletal muscle reveal that a 7-kDa protein is phosphorylated by p38γ but not by other members of this group of kinases. We suggest p38γ may have unique functions when compared with other members of the p38 group due to its restricted tissue expression and apparent substrate preferences.
Risk of Acquisition of Genital Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 in Sex Partners of Persons with Genital Herpes: A Prospective Couple Study

In a prospective study of factors associated with genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 2 transmission in couples in whom 1 partner had clinical genital HSV and the other did not, 11 (19%) of the 57 history-negative partners had HSV-2 antibody by Western blot at entry. In follow-up (mean, 16 months) of 29 HSV-2-seronegative partners, overall 4 (14%) seroconverted compared with 3 (23%) of 13 HSV-1- and -2-seronegative partners and 1 (6%) of 16 HSV-1-seropositive partners. Since all seroconverters were women, the risk of transmission may be higher in HSV-seronegative women. No significant differences were found between HSV-2-seronegative partners and seroconverters regarding duration of relationships, number of partner recurrences, intercourse frequency, or contraceptive method. However, 2 seroconverters were exposed to lesions without barrier contraception. This study suggests that infection is commonly asymptomatic and that although the overall risk of genital HSV transmission in couples is low (10%/year), the risk may be significantly increased in women and in seronegative individuals.
Dark and bright vector spatial solitons in biased photorefractive media.

We show that the vector beam evolution equations in properly oriented biased photorefractive media can exhibit bright-dark soliton pair solutions under steady-state conditions. These wave pairs are obtained perturbatively provided that the intensities of the two optical beams are approximately equal. Our analysis indicates that these bright-dark vector solitons exist irrespective of the polarity of the external bias field. The stability of these vector pairs has been investigated numerically and it has been found that they are stable only in the regime of positive bias polarity. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
The Effect of Surface Protrusions on Self-Sustained Thermal Oscillations during Hydrogen Oxidation on a Nickel Foil,

Abstract The effects of surface pretreatment on ignition instabilities leading to self-sustained oscillations during hydrogen oxidation on a nickel foil are examined. Nickel foil samples were subjected to a series of pretreatments then put in a reactor and run under conditions where oscillations were expected. A rapid ignition to a high-temperature state was observed with some of the catalysts, while under the same conditions others produced oscillations. Some of the oscillations occurred with a regular pattern, while others were chaotic. Examination of the catalysts revealed that in all the cases where oscillations were observed there were protrusions of 5–20 μm on the surface of the catalyst, while no such protrusions were seen for the samples that did not catalyze the osculations. The regular oscillations occurred when the protrusions all looked similar while chaotic oscillations were seen when there were protrusions of many different sizes and shapes. There were no significant differences between the surface compositions of the various catalysts. These results are discussed in the context of the fuzzy wire model of Jensen and Ray (Chem. Eng. Sci. 35, 2439 (1980)).
Second ionization of carbonic acid in NaCl media to 250°C

The equilibrium quotients for the first ionization of aqueous carbon dioxide were previously determined at this laboratory. A similar potentiometric technique has now been employed to determine the second ionization quotients in NaCl media to 5m and from 50 to 250°C. The results have been combined with selected information in the literature and modeled to derive thermodynamic parameters including equilibrium constants, activity coefficient quotients, changes in enthalpies and changes in heat capacity along the saturation pressure curve. Approximate values for pressure coefficients were obtained to permit the short extrapolations from experimental conditions to the saturation pressure condition. The results demonstrate that log K2/Kw, when plotted vs. 1/T, gives nearly a straight line as has been observed for a number of other such processes. This provides the best means of extrapolation beyond the temperature of the measurements. The results have been applied to an examination of the solubility of calcite (calcium carbonate) as a function of hydrogen ion molality (in a given NaCl medium) for the condition where the calcium ion molality equals the total carbonate molality (in all forms).
The effects of agglomeration in a continuous stirred tank crystallizer

Abstract Spherical TiO 2 powders were formed by the controlled hydrolysis of ethanol solutions of titanium tetraethoxide in a continuous stirred tank crystallizer. Particle size distributions were evaluated and the results used to determine both nucleation and growth rate as a function of reactant concentration. At high concentration, nucleation and growth were less important than agglomeration. A theoretical model incorporating agglomeration is presented. It predicts the conditions when agglomeration is observed in the continuous stirred tank.
Thixotropic Hydrogel Derived from a Product of an Organic Solid-State Synthesis: Properties and Densities of Metal−Organic Nanoparticles

Metallogels form from Cu(II) ions and tetratopic ligand rctt-1,2-bis(3-pyridyl)-3,4-bis(4-pyridyl)cyclobutane. The tetrapyridyl cyclobutane has been synthesized in the organic solid state. The gel forms with a variety of counteranions and gels water. The hydrogel is thixotropic and is composed of nanoscale metal-organic particles (NMOPs), a high surface area of which likely accounts for the gelation of the polar aqueous medium. A shear stress profile of the thixotropic hydrogel gave a yield value of 8.33 Pa. A novel combination of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) is used to assess the densities of individual NMOPs. A density of 1.37 g/cm(3) has been determined. A single-crystal X-ray diffraction study demonstrates the ability of the unsymmetrical cyclobutane 3,4'-tpcb to self-assemble with Cu(II) ions in [Cu(2)(hfac)(4)(3,4'-tpcb)](∞) (where hfac is hexafluoroacetylacetonate) to form a solvated 1D coordination polymer.
Computation of Electromagnetic Whispering Gallery Mode Field in a Dielectric Microring Fabricated on a Metal Wire

Closed-form formulas to calculate electromagnetic whispering gallery mode laser fields in a circular microring are developed. Such a microring is typically made from an optically active polymer, which is fabricated on a metallic wire. Because of the operation frequency, the microring is modeled as an infinite dielectric cylinder with a metallic inner boundary. Vector potential Green functions, from which the whispering gallery mode fields are computed, are presented, and a simplified method of computing fields is introduced. Computed results show that the whispering gallery mode field in the dielectric cylinder is detached from its inner boundary and the phenomena can be achieved by increasing the thickness of the dielectric layer.
Gas target for production of monoenergetic neutrons

Abstract A new design of gas target cell is described for neutron production. Results are given on effects attributed to diffusion of tritium gas from the cell into the window material.
Robust optimization with simulated annealing

Complex systems can be optimized to improve the performance with respect to desired functionalities. An optimized solution, however, can become suboptimal or even infeasible, when errors in implementation or input data are encountered. We report on a robust simulated annealing algorithm that does not require any knowledge of the problems structure. This is necessary in many engineering applications where solutions are often not explicitly known and have to be obtained by numerical simulations. While this nonconvex and global optimization method improves the performance as well as the robustness, it also warrants for a global optimum which is robust against data and implementation uncertainties. We demonstrate it on a polynomial optimization problem and on a high-dimensional and complex nanophotonic engineering problem and show significant improvements in efficiency as well as in actual optimality.
Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Patients Undergoing Head and Neck Free Flap Reconstruction

Importance Evidence supports short courses of perioperative antibiotics for patients receiving minor head and neck procedures. Few studies have addressed antibiotic prophylaxis for patients undergoing free flap reconstruction of head and neck defects. Objective To determine ideal antibiotic prophylaxis in patients undergoing head and neck free flap reconstruction. Design, Setting, and Participants Retrospective cohort study of 427 adults receiving free flap reconstruction of head and neck defects at 2 affiliated tertiary care academic hospitals between January 1, 2006, and January 28, 2013. Exposures Prophylactic antibiotic type and duration were recorded from patient records. Main Outcomes and Measures Outcome data were abstracted from patients’ medical records including infection at the surgical sites and distant nonsurgical sites and flap site complications including flap compromise, dehiscence, or fistula. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the association of risk factors with the primary outcome of any infection within 30 days of surgery. Results Ninety-six patients (22.5%) received prophylactic antibiotics for 24 hours or less, and 331 patients received prolonged courses of prophylactic antibiotics. The majority of patients received ampicillin-sulbactam alone for prophylaxis (53.2%), while 36.5% received clindamycin alone and 10.3% received an alternative regimen. Postoperative infections occurred in 46% of patients, and 22% of patients had an infection at the flap inset site or neck incision. The use of clindamycin (odds ratio [OR], 2.54; 95% CI, 1.25-5.14 [ P = .01]) was associated with an increased risk of postoperative infection; extended duration of antibiotics (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.34-1.19 [ P = .18]) was not associated with increased risk of postoperative infection. By multivariate analysis, use of clindamycin (OR, 6.71; 95% CI, 1.83-24.60 [ P = .004]) and oral tobacco use (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.04-1.39 [ P = .02]), but not extended course of prophylactic antibiotics (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.30-1.86 [ P = .53]), were associated with a higher risk of postoperative flap or neck infections. Conclusions and Relevance The choice of antibiotic appears to affect the rate of all postoperative infections and flap site infections more than the duration of antibiotics following head and neck free flap reconstruction. At our institutions , ampicillin-sulbactam is the preferred prophylactic antibiotic for major clean-contaminated head and neck procedures when possible.
Reading ἔγραψα in 2 Corinthians 2:9 as an Epistolary Aorist

Abstract This article offers a re-reading of ἔγραψα in 2 Cor 2:9. It argues that this verb should be interpreted as an epistolary aorist—thereby indicating a reason for why Paul is presently writing—rather than as a preterit aorist, referring to the “tearful letter.” Reading ἔγραψα as an epistolary aorist in 2:9 resolves tensions with the preceding context produced by the typical interpretation. It also results in a fully coherent reading of 2:5-11, where Paul exhorts the Corinthians to receive back the offender. This study supplements K.L. McKay’s treatment of the epistolary aorist in Novum Testamentum.
Putting the dollar signs on quality: the benefits of service recovery in the hotel industry.

There has been a multitude of research on service r ecovery and various facets of recovery. Some of th is work relates the facets to outcome variables such a s satisfaction and intent to return but no research has been found that quantifies what that impact on satisfaction or intent to return converts to in financial terms. This work presents two formulas for calculating the dollar cost/benefi t of service recovery efforts. The ability to util ize these formulas can help organizations better assess service recove ry initiatives.
Network time slot allocation in an intelligent network

The research area of telecommunications networks and services is rapidly growing, as new technologies emerge. This article proposes a design for a Time Multiplexed Switch that allocates network time slots in a telecommunications architecture. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Use of Narrative Therapy with Clients Diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder

ABSTRACT Clients diagnosed with bipolar disorder often suffer from mood instability, and research suggests that these clients need both counseling services and pharmacotherapy. Narrative therapy is a social constructionist approach grounded on the premise that there is no single “truth”; individuals may create new meanings and retell their stories to overcome the discourses that have oppressed them. This manuscript (a) reviews bipolar disorder and the traditional therapeutic approaches employed to treat the disorder, (b) introduces the theoretical constructs of therapy, and (c) presents a case illustration of the application of narrative therapy with a client diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
An aggressive approach in converting resistant atrial fibrillation

17. Tazelaar HD, Karch SB, Stephens BG, Billingham ME. Cocaine and the heart. Hum Pathol 1987;18:195. 18. Majid PA, Patel B, Kim HS, Zimmerman JL. An angiographic and histologic study of cocaine-induced chest pain. Am J Cardio11990;65:812-4. 19. Togna G, Tempest E, Togna AR, Dolci N, Caprino L. Platelet responsiveness and biosynthesis ofthromboxane and prostacTclin in response to in-vitro cocaine treatment. Haemostasis 1985;15:100-7. 20. Eagle KA, DeSanctis RW. Aortic dissection. Curr Probl Cardiol 1989; 5:225-78.
Mechanisms by which KATP channel openers produce acute and delayed cardioprotection

Mitochondria are being increasingly studied for their critical role in cell survival. Multiple diverse signaling pathways have been shown to converge on the K+-sensitive ATP channels as the effectors of cytoprotection against necrosis and apoptosis. The role of potassium channel openers in regulation and transformation of cell membrane excitability, action potential and electrolyte transfer has been extensively studied. Cardiac mitoK(ATP) channels are the key effectors in cardioprotection during ischemic preconditioning, as yet with an undefined mechanism. They have been hypothesized to couple myocardial metabolism with membrane electrical activity and provide an excellent target for drug therapy. A number of K(ATP) channel openers have been characterized for their beneficial effects on the myocardium against ischemic injury. This review updates recent progress in understanding the physiological role of K(ATP) channels in cardiac protection induced by preconditioning and highlights relevant questions and controversies in the light of published data.
Amine-containing neurons in the brain of Lymnaea stagnalis: distribution and effects of precursors.

Abstract 1. 1. Glyoxylic acid-induced fluorescence in whole-brain preparations of the central nervous system of the freshwater pond snail, Lymnaea stagnalis, was used to map the distribution of serotonin and dopamine-containing neurons. Serotonin and dopamine were easily distinguishable by differences in color of fluorescence. 2. 2. Serotonin-containing neurons were consistently found in the cerebral, pedal, right parietal and visceral ganglia. Dopamine-containing neurons were found in the pedal, and buccal ganglia. 3. 3. Prior incubation of brains in 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), the immediate precursor to serotonin, produced serotonin-like fluoresence in neurons which do not normally fluoresce. These neurons thus probably possess specific uptake mechanisms for 5-HTP. Since 5-HTP itself fluoresces yellow, the glyoxylic arid technique cannot determine if these neurons contain the enzyme aromatic amino acid decarboxylase, which converts 5-HTP to serotonin, or merely fluoresce because of the 5-HTP taken into the cells.
Challenges and Opportunities for Structural Health Monitoring in PVP Applications

This paper discusses the challenges and opportunities of using structural health monitoring (SHM) concepts and technologies in pressure vessels and piping (PVP) applications. The research into monitoring of structural health has experienced a dramatic increase in the last decade due to at least two factors. On the one hand, our industrial installations, aircraft fleets, civil infrastructure, etc. are becoming increasingly aged and require more and more maintenance costly actions and repairs. This process could be greatly improved if scheduled maintenance were augmented or even replaced by continuous monitoring that would limit costly inspections and maintenance actions to being done only when needed; and (b) the advent of advanced technologies, e.g., active materials based sensors, actuators, and transducers as well as advanced data acquisition, data processing, and data mining technologies that enable the practical implementation of the SHM concepts.To date, the SHM research has been mainly performed for the aerospace, defense, and civil infrastructure applications and some interesting proof-of-concept results have been demonstrated. Very little research, if at all, has been done on using the SHM concepts in PVP applications. The reason for this situation may be that PVP applications may be more challenging than the other applications in which SHM concepts have been tried so far. The present paper explores this topic and highlight (a) the challenges that have to be overcome in order to develop SHM for PVP applications; and (b) the opportunities that exist for using SHM in PVP applications. The paper starts with a review of the main SHM concepts and technologies. Then, the paper identifies the challenges that would exist if these SHM concepts and technologies were to be applied the PVP applications. Finally, the paper discusses the opportunities for applying SHM to PVP applications forward. The paper ends with conclusions and suggestions for further work.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Airborne Observations of Fetch-Limited Waves in the Gulf of Tehuantepec

Abstract The authors present airborne observations of fetch-limited waves during strong offshore winds in the Gulf of Tehuantepec. The measurements, collected over a wide range of fetches, include one- and two-dimensional surface wavenumber spectra and turbulent fluxes in winds up to 25 m s−1. The evolution of the wave spectra is in good agreement with the fetch relationships from previous observations. The tails of the observed one-dimensional k1 spectra, in the dominant wave direction, exhibit a power law over a wide range of wavenumbers. The authors present the first quantification of the transition between the equilibrium and saturation ranges for the omnidirectional spectrum in the wavenumber domain. The energy density within the equilibrium range shows a dependence on the wave age. At wavenumbers higher than the spectral peak, the width of the spectrum in the direction orthogonal to the dominant waves is nearly independent of the wave age. However, in the azimuthal direction, the spreading of the sp...
A note on the historical industrial production of carbon dioxide

The historical record of CO2 emissions from industrial activity is reexamined. The overall annual growth rate has been about 3.5% but with wide variations due to economic fluctuations. It is unlikely that the total CO2 production would have been greatly different had the major wars of the Twentieth Century been avoided.
Femoral Fracture Through a Previous Pin Site After Computer-Assisted Total Knee Arthroplasty

Computer-assisted total knee arthroplasty has been gaining popularity given the proposed benefits of increased accuracy of the femoral and tibial cuts, quantitative feedback on soft tissue balancing, and the potential for performing the procedure through smaller incisions with decreased soft tissue trauma. Most navigation systems require femoral and tibial threaded pin insertion for placement of guidance trackers, which when removed leave behind defects in the bone that may act as stress risers. We present 2 cases of a femoral fracture through a previous pin site where a guidance tracker had been placed for computer-assisted total knee arthroplasty. Both patients were informed that data concerning the cases would be submitted for publication. To our knowledge, this complication has not previously been reported for this procedure.
Structural and chemical differences in the cell wall regions in relation to scale firmness of three onion (Allium cepa L.) selections at harvest and during storage

BACKGROUND: Firmness in vegetables is an important textural attribute affecting consumer attitudes toward freshness and quality. Firmness, structural carbohydrates, polygalacturonase (PG), and pectin methylesterase (PME) activity were measured in three onion (Allium cepa L.) lines at harvest and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of storage. RESULTS: The high-dry-matter onion, MBL87-WOPL, had the firmest bulbs at harvest and delayed softening during storage. MBL87-WOPL had the thickest cell wall/middle lamella region, and highest levels of dry matter and total uronic acid. Furthermore, MBL87-WOPL had the lowest levels of PG and PME activity during storage. Pegasus, a poor-storing cultivar, had the softest bulbs at harvest, lowest levels of uronic acid, and thinnest cell wall/middle lamella. A good storing, moderately firm onion cultivar (MSU4535B) presented intermediate levels of firmness and total uronic acid content. Differences in uronic acid in water-soluble pectin accounted for much of the difference in total uronic acid among lines. Cellulose concentrations were similar among all lines at harvest. In addition, cellulose concentrations decreased in all lines during storage. Transmission electron microscopy performed on bulbs at harvest and after 12 weeks of storage indicated that degradation of the middle lamella had occurred during storage, leading to cell separation. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that differences in onion scale firmness at harvest may be due to differences in water-soluble pectin uronic acid concentrations. Furthermore, the rate of bulb softening during storage at 6.6 °C was greater in onion lines with higher levels of PME and PG activity in storage. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
A Method of Measuring Garment Movement for Wearable Sensing

This paper presents a novel method for measuring the movement of a garment relative to the body surface. Quantifying this movement affords a measurement of the displacement of a hypothetical body sensor embedded in a garment, which can be expressed as "error" or "movement noise" in some body-sensing applications. We present the method, based on motion-capture of garments worn by an animatronic running mannequin, and the results of two preliminary evaluations measuring the movement of a skin-tight bodysuit and a pair of denim pants.
A sparse representation approach to face matching across plastic surgery

Plastic surgery procedures can significantly alter facial appearance, thereby posing a serious challenge even to the state-of-the-art face matching algorithms. In this paper, we propose a novel approach to address the challenges involved in automatic matching of faces across plastic surgery variations. In the proposed formulation, part-wise facial characterization is combined with the recently popular sparse representation approach to address these challenges. The sparse representation approach requires several images per subject in the gallery to function effectively which is often not available in several use-cases, as in the problem we address in this work. The proposed formulation utilizes images from sequestered non-gallery subjects with similar local facial characteristics to fulfill this requirement. Extensive experiments conducted on a recently introduced plastic surgery database [17] consisting of 900 subjects highlight the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Acoustically monitor physiology during sleep and activity

An acoustic sensor technology has been developed to monitor a person's health and performance. The sensor consists of liquid or gel contained within a small, conformable, rubber bladder or pad that also includes a hydrophone. This enables the collection of high signal-to-noise ratio cardiac, respiratory, voice, and other physiological data. The pad also minimizes interference from ambient noise because it couples poorly with airborne noise. It is low cost and comfortable to wear for extended periods. Data is presented from a sensor pad in contact with a person's neck, providing continuous monitoring. These data can aid in the remote assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiac, respiratory, and sleep disorders, recovery from surgery, as well as provide continuous human stress and performance indicators. Parameters such as heart rate and variability, breath rate, volume, wheeze or cough content, blood pressure, voice, voice stress, and motion indicators can be monitored over extended periods. Data collected during a nights sleep give indications of heart and breath patterns, restfulness of sleep, snoring, and other useful indicators. Other data shows that a neck sensor picks up the wearer's voice in 105 dB C weighted noise with fidelity sufficient to be used for voice communications or commands.
Perfusion MRI with radial acquisition for arterial input function assessment

Quantification of myocardial perfusion critically depends on accurate arterial input function (AIF) and tissue enhancement curves (TECs). Except at low doses, the AIF is inaccurate because of the long saturation recovery time (SRT) of the pulse sequence. The choice of dose and SRT involves a trade-off between the accuracy of the AIF and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the TEC. Recent methods to resolve this trade-off are based on the acquisition of two data sets: one to accurately estimate the AIF, and one to find the high-SNR TEC. With radial k-space sampling, a set of images with varied SRTs can be reconstructed from the same data set, allowing an accurate assessment of the AIF and TECs, and their conversion to contrast agent (CA) concentration. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using a radial acquisition for quantitative myocardial perfusion imaging.
Content of biogenic amines and polyamines in some species of European wild-growing edible mushrooms

The content of eight biologically active biogenic amines and polyamines were determined in fruiting bodies of 17 species of wild-growing edible mushrooms picked during 3 consecutive years. An analytical procedure, using freeze-dried samples, derivatisation with dansyl chloride and HPLC quantification had to be adapted in its extraction step due to the slimy character of the analysed mushrooms. No histamine and cadaverine were determined. Tyramine and tryptamine occurred at very low levels, usually up to 5 mg kg−1 fresh matter, whilst phenylethylamine contents varied widely from an undetectable level to 38 mg kg−1. Putrescine was the amine of the highest content, sometimes exceeding 150 mg kg−1 fresh matter, mainly in species of the family Boletaceae. The contents of spermidine were considerably higher than those of spermine, usually at levels of tens mg kg−1 fresh matter and sporadically above 100 mg kg−1. Thus, mushrooms are raw food materials with very high spermidine content. The highest spermidine levels occurred in spore-forming parts of fruiting bodies. In Xerocomus badius, statistically significant effects of the year of harvest, age and parts of the fruiting body and of their interactions on the contents of phenylethylamine, putrescine and spermidine were found.
Cooperative interactions between TLR4 and TLR9 regulate interleukin 23 and 17 production in a murine model of gram negative bacterial pneumonia.

Toll like receptors play an important role in lung host defense against bacterial pathogens. In this study, we investigated independent and cooperative functions of TLR4 and TLR9 in microbial clearance and systemic dissemination during Gram-negative bacterial pneumonia. To access these responses, wildtype Balb/c mice, mice with defective TLR4 signaling (TLR4lps-d), mice deficient in TLR9 (TLR9−/−) and TLR4/9 double mutant mice (TLR4lps-d/TLR9−/−) were challenged with K. pneumoniae, then time-dependent lung bacterial clearance and systemic dissemination determined. We found impaired lung bacterial clearance in TLR4 and TLR9 single mutant mice, whereas the greatest impairment in clearance was observed in TLR4lps-d/TLR9−/− double mutant mice. Early lung expression of TNF-α, IL-12, and chemokines was TLR4 dependent, while IFN-γ production and the later expression of TNF-α and IL-12 was dependent on TLR9. Classical activation of lung macrophages and maximal induction of IL-23 and IL-17 required both TLR4 and TLR9. Finally, the i.t. instillation of IL-17 partially restored anti-bacterial immunity in TLR4lps-d/TLR9−/− double mutant mice. In conclusion, our studies indicate that TLR4 and TLR9 have both non-redundant and cooperative roles in lung innate responses during Gram-negative bacterial pneumonia and are both critical for IL-17 driven antibacterial host response.
Genetic instability and hematologic disease risk in Werner syndrome patients and heterozygotes

Werner syndrome (WRN) is an uncommon autosomal recessive disease in which progeroid features are associated with genetic instability and an elevated risk of neoplasia. We have used the glycophorin A (GPA) somatic cell mutation assay to analyze genetic instability in vivo in WRN patients and heterozygotes. GPA variant frequencies were determined for 11 WRN patients and for 10 heterozygous family members who collectively carry 10 different WRN mutations. Genetic instability as measured by GPA O/N allele loss variant frequency was significantly increased, and this increase was strongly age-dependent in WRN patients. GPA O/N allele loss variants were also significantly elevated in heterozygous family members, thus providing the first evidence for in vivo genetic instability in heterozygous carriers in an autosomal recessive genetic instability syndrome. Our results and comparable data on other human genetic instability syndromes allow an estimate of the level of genetic instability that increases the risk of human bone marrow dysfunction or neoplasia.
CURRICULUM TRENDS IN NURSE-MIDWIFERY EDUCATION: Views of Program Directors

Abstract / %The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which nurse-midwifery education programs are addressing the practice competencies that have been recommended by the Pew Health Professions Commission and others as essential for effective practice in the 21st century. This study was part of a larger survey of eleven health professions education programs. The 56 nurse-midwifery program directors whose names and addresses were provided by the American College of Nurse-Midwives were surveyed by mailed questionnaire, with a response rate of 59% (n = 33). The study sought to identify current and ideal emphasis placed on 33 broad topics, most important curriculum topics, and barriers to curriculum change as perceived by respondents. Findings revealed that nurse-midwifery program directors would like to see greater emphasis placed on every topic except one (tertiary/quaternary care). Desired increases ranged from .04 to 1.36. The overall mean rating for all topics was 3.51 for current emphasis (5-point scale) and 4.18 for ideal emphasis, both of which were higher than any other survey group. The greatest desired increases (> 1.00) were for “primary care,” “managed care,” “use of electronic information systems,” and “business management of practice.” Respondents identified “primary care,” “health promotion/disease prevention,” and “accountability for cost-effectiveness and patient outcomes” as the most important topics. The top three barriers to curriculum change were identified as “already crowded curriculum,” “inadequate funding,” and “limited availability of clinical learning sites,” the last being statistically significant compared with other survey groups. Findings indicate that nurse-midwifery program directors perceived that they are adequately addressing most of the curriculum topics, while continuing to focus on the need for curriculum change as the health care environment changes.
Temperature rise measured noninvasively during thermal therapy using backscattered ultrasound

Quantitative knowledge of the spatial distribution of tissue temperature is an essential indicator of thermal therapy progress, and is needed to assure treatment safety and efficacy. Measured changes in ultrasonic travel time from an imaging transducer to backscattering sites in and around the heated region can provide clinically useful temperature estimates from which thermal dose throughout the imaged region can be obtained. Previous studies have noted the difficulty in inverting travel time to obtain temperature, due to lack of sensitivity over a temperature interval often encompassing the therapeutic range. It is shown, through in vitro experiments, that temperature rise can be accurately obtained from ultrasonic measurements during therapy delivery and post-treatment cool down phases, using RF backscatter data, collected by a commercial scanner, and a heat transfer model. The temperature estimation problem is divided into two parts: noninvasive HIFU calibration experiments are conducted prior to therapy to estimate local model-relevant tissue properties; temperature rise is estimated during therapy. Variability in the observed dose response is modeled as a directly related change in the magnitude of the HIFU heat source, while assuming that the acoustic beam pattern is constant.