cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Purification of lysophosphatidylcholine transacylase from bovine heart muscle microsomes and regulation of activity by lipids and coenzyme A.

Heart muscle microsomes catalyze the transacylation of lyosphosphatidylcholine (lyso PC) to produce phosphatidylcholine (PC). The enzyme which catalyzes this reaction, lyso PC:lyso PC transacylase, has been isolated and characterized from bovine heart muscle microsomes. The purification of the enzyme was achieved by a procedure involving extraction with 3-((3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio)-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS) detergent and chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, Reactive blue agarose, and Matrex gel green A. The purified enzyme was nearly homogeneous and consisted of a single molecular species of 128 kDa as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of dodecyl sulfate. The catalytic activity of the enzyme was dependent on the presence of either CoA or acyl-CoA, both of which maximally stimulated at concentrations of approx. 10 μM. Analysis of the PC produced in the reaction showed that the enzyme catalyzed a transacylation in which both acyl groups arose from lyso PC. Furthermore, the enzyme did not possess acyl-CoA:lyso PC acyltransferase activity, lysophospholipase or acyl-CoA hydrolase activity, nor did it catalyze transacylation from lyso PC to lysophosphatidylethanolamine, lysophosphatidylinositol or lysophosphatidylserine. Although transacylation was highly specific for lyso PC as the substrate, various unsaturated fatty acyl-CoA derivatives served as activators. Palmitoyl-CoA and stearoyl-CoA did not significantly activate, although acetyl-CoA was an effective activator. Further modulation of activity was produced by palmitic acid and PC, both of which further activated the enzyme in the presence of oleoyl-CoA, whereas arachidonic acid, oleic acid, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine had no effect on activity. The high activity of this transacylase and its regulation by lipids suggests an important role for disaturated PC species in membranes and a mechanism for controlling the metabolism of lyso PC.
Carotid Arterial Structure in Patients With Documented Coronary Artery Disease and Disease-Free Control Subjects

Background— Although atherosclerosis often leads to lumen narrowing and symptomatic cardiovascular disease, it is now recognized that arteries have the potential to compensate by enlarging in response to atherosclerosis. We tested the hypotheses that carotid arterial interadventitial (IA) and lumen diameters were related to wall thickness and that carotid arterial diameters of individuals with coronary artery disease (CAD) differed from those of CAD-free controls. Methods and Results— We measured lumen diameter, IA diameter, and intima-media thickness (IMT) using B-mode ultrasound in the common and internal carotid arteries of 141 CAD case patients and 139 disease-free control subjects. Common carotid IA diameter was greater in CAD cases than controls after adjustment for age, height, and sex (P<0.01). Common carotid lumen diameter was marginally larger in individuals with greater IMT (P=0.06) but was not associated with case status. Conversely, mean internal carotid IA and lumen diameters were smaller in...
Commercial digital image libraries, digital images and digital discontent

Publications such as consumer magazines rely heavily on image libraries as sources for the images they use in their issues. Traditionally, magazine editorial staff have discussed their image requirements over the telephone with library staff and the library has conducted the search. Many libraries have now developed Web sites and their customers search them for images themselves. A minority have e-commerce capabilities, and enable customers to purchase and download digital images from their sites. This survey found that magazine staff do not often choose to search digital libraries, preferring instead to continue to contact the library by telephone. Most also choose not to buy the use of digital images, but prefer to continue to work with conventional transparencies and slides. The reasons for these preferences, and the reasons they are unlikely to change in the short term, are explored.
Efficient quantum computing between remote qubits in linear nearest neighbor architectures

We propose a new scheme for implementing gate operations between remote qubits in linear nearest neighbor (LNN) architectures, one that does not require qubits to be adjacent to each other in order to perform a gate operation between them. The key feature of our scheme is a new two-control, one-target controlled-unitary gate operation, which we refer to as the C2(?I) gate. The gate operation can be implemented easily in a single step, requiring only a single control parameter of the system Hamiltonian. Using the C2(?I) gate, we show how to implement CNOT gate operations between remote qubits that do not have any direct coupling between them, along an LNN array. Since this is achieved without requiring swap operations or additional ancilla qubits in the circuit, the quantum cost of our circuit can be more than 50 % lower than those using conventional swap methods. All CNOT gate operations between remote qubits can be achieved with fidelity greater than 99.5 %.
Release of fibrinopeptides by the slow and fast forms of thrombin.

The release of fibrinopeptides A and B by the slow and fast forms of thrombin was studied over the temperature range from 5 to 45 °C and the salt concentration range from 100 to 800 mM. The sequent...
Topographic Rectification of Tidal Currents

Abstract The rectification of oscillatory tidal currents on the sloping sides of a low submarine bank is discussed using the moment method. This method has been previously used in shear dispersion studies where it is used to analyze the advection-diffusion equation. In the present problem it is applied to the barotropic potential vorticity equation linearized about an oscillatory, spatially uniform tidal velocity. To apply the method it is necessary to assume that the topography produces only a small change in depth. The method economically provides the most important qualitative properties (e.g., transport, location and width) of the time averaged current. These results are obtained without making an harmonic truncation. They can then be used to assess the accuracy of the harmonic truncation approximation used by other authors. It is shown that harmonic truncation correctly predicts the transport and location of the rectified current when the bank is low. However if the width of the bank is much less tha...
Antidepressant-like effects of trazodone on a behavioral screen are mediated by trazodone, not the metabolite m-chlorophenylpiperazine.

Trazodone is an atypical antidepressant drug (i.e. blocks neither monoamine uptake nor monoamine oxidase) which tests as an antidepressant drug on the differential-reinforcement-of-low-rate 72-s (DRL 72-s) schedule of reinforcement by increasing the reinforcement rate and decreasing the response rate. m-Chlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP) is a 5-HT1B and 5-HT1C agonist, weak 5-HT2 antagonist, and trazodone metabolite. It has been suggested that formation of m-CPP is responsible for the antidepressant action of trazodone. Administration of m-CPP (1-10 mg/kg i.p.) 60, 30 or 10 min before the behavioral session did not mimic the reinforcement rate-increasing effects of trazodone (10-20 mg/kg i.p.) on rats performing under the DRL 72-s schedule of water reinforcement. Pretreatment with proadifen (50 mg/kg i.p.), an inhibitor of trazodone metabolism, caused a greater than 30-fold leftward shift in the dose-response curve for both the reinforcement rate and the response rate. These results suggest that the parent compound and not the trazodone metabolite m-CPP, mediates the antidepressant-like effects of trazodone on DRL 72-s behavior.
Optimization of L-Lactic Acid Production from Glucose by Rhizopus oryzae ATCC 52311

The effect of nutrients on L(+)-lactic acid production from glucose was investigated using Rhizopus oryzae ATCC 52311. From the shake-flask experiments, the optimal medium composition was defined for improved lactic-acid production. In order to enhance lactic-acid production rate and product yield, controlled aeration in a bubble column was conducted under optimal conditions. Results showed a maximum lactic-acid production rate of 2.58 g/L/h was obtained with an initial glucose concentration of 94 g/L. Final lactic-acid concentration of83g/Lwas achieved after 32 h of fermentation with a weight of 0.88 g lactic acid/g glucose consumed.
The cruel blow to the biomedical paradigm not based on systems sciences and cybernetics

Systems‐Specific Technology can detect, identify, evaluate and represent previously unknown patterns of multi‐dimensional networks which underline clinically significant metabolic disorders not identifiable by currently available diagnostic modalities.
Satellite magnetic resonances of a bound pair of half-quantum vortices in rotating superfluid A 3

The transverse magnetic resonance satellite frequency and intensity associated with a bound pair of half quantum vortices in a thin slab of /sup 3/He-A, rotating about the slab normal and subject to a magnetic field applied at an angle theta with the slab normal, is recalculated in a variational approach. This approach takes properly into account the azimuthal symmetry of the spin wave function and therefore corrects a previous prediction by Salomaa and Volovik. The corresponding quantities for the longitudinal resonance are also calculated. In addition, a general criterion is given for determining the physical transverse-resonance wave function in a large magnetic field in the presence of any distribution of spin disgyrations of any kinds, whether with integer or fractional Frank indices.
Optimization of silicon microstrip detector design for CLEO III

Abstract We present measurements from prototype silicon microstrip detectors for the CLEO III silicon vertex detector. Noise and capacitance optimization is discussed. We also present a design to achieve 10 pF total capacitance on a double sided, double metal silicon detector.
Dose and Dose Rate Dependence of 8080a Microprocessor Failures

The occurrence of transient upset and catastrophic failure in 8080A microprocessors was investigated over a dose-rate range of 6 × 10-4 to 3 × 10+10 rads/sec. The transient upset and catastrophic failure levels depended on both dose and dose-rate. For example, the dose at which catastrophic failure occurs is 10 times greater at the highest dose-rates investigated than at the lowest. Irradiation was performed using both low energy (45 kV x-ray tube, 200 kV flash x-ray source) and high energy (Co 60, Linac) sources. The observed transient upset and catastrophic failure levels were significantly higher for low energy irradiation than for high energy irradiation. These results have important implications for models of ionizing radiation effects in MOS devices.
Protein-enhanced photoreactivity––dye promoted polymerization of acrylates

The photoinduced polymerization of acrylic monomers using dyes in a protein-restricted medium is reported. We studied dyes of different families as potential polymerization catalysts, exploiting the observation that the photophysical properties of some dyes are altered when bound to biopolymers. The light induced polymerization of acrylic monomers in the presence of bovine serum albumin or gelatin using triphenylmethane and azo dyes proceeded smoothly. Using GE Miser 120 W spotlights as a convenient illumination source, we found polymerization could be achieved in some cases within 60 min of irradiation. The polymerization rates were found to be dependent on the concentrations of the dye and the protein. In the absence of protein or dye polymerization was virtually non-existent. When the reaction mixture was blanketed with nitrogen, polymerization was observed to be faster than that that in air equilibrated samples. We believe these photopolymerizations may proceed via a free-radical pathway. Our results suggest the possible role of some of these dyes as polymerization catalysts, though they had previously seemed inert in fluid solutions.
B(C6F5)3-Promoted Tandem Silylation and Intramolecular Hydrosilylation: Diastereoselective Synthesis of Oxasilinanes and Oxasilepanes

B(C6F5)3 promotes regio- and stereoselective cyclizations of unsaturated alkoxysilanes to generate oxasilinanes and oxasilepanes. The same products are available directly from alkenols via tandem silylation and hydrosilylation.
Prosthetic valve replacement in children. Results in 44 patients.

Abstract This report presents an experience with 44 children, including 9 less than 5 years of age, who were operated upon for replacement of a cardiac valve. Our early operative mortality was 60%, whereas in the past 4 years it has been only 30%. We have operated only on significantly symptomatic children for whom no other therapy was available. From our experience, we cannot judge the necessity of anticoagulants. No patients have required a second operation because the valve has been outgrown, although several patients who underwent mitral valve replacement have had postoperative gradients across the prosthesis.
Effects of opioid receptor activation on cardiovascular responses and extracellular monoamines within the rostral ventrolateral medulla during static contraction of skeletal muscle

During static muscle contraction, activation of opioid receptors alters the extracellular glutamate concentrations within the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM). In addition, microdialysis of glutamate in the ventrolateral medulla (VLM) increases the release of norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), and serotonin (5-HT). Therefore, we hypothesized that extracellular concentrations of these monoamines as well as cardiovascular responses during static skeletal muscle contraction would be modulated following administration of [D-Ala(2)]methionine enkephalinamide (DAME), an opioid receptor agonist, into the RVLM. Microdialysis of 100 microM DAME into the RVLM of 10 rats significantly (P<0.01) decreased extracellular levels (in pg/10 microl) of NE (from 3.3+/-0.3 to 1.9+/-0.3), DA (from 5.5+/-0.2 to 3.7+/-0.3), and 5-HT (from 6.1+/-0.8 to 3.6+/-0.2) during static exercise. After microdialysis of DAME, the exercise pressor reflex also significantly (P<0.01) decreased mean arterial pressure (MAP) by 13+/-3 mmHg and heart rate (HR) by 16+/-6 bpm, compared with control (MAP=22+/-4 mmHg and HR=31+/-7 bpm). Subsequently, after 30 min microdialysis of naloxone, an opioid receptor antagonist, muscle contraction increased the extracellular monoamine levels (in pg/10 microl, 3.8+/-0.3 NE; 5.2+/-0.3 DA; and 5.5+/-0.4 5-HT) similar to the control groups and evoked a reversal of cardiovascular responses. Similarly, 30 min of microdialyzing naloxone, added to the perfusing medium containing DAME, reversed the attenuating effects of DAME on monoamines, MAP, and HR during a muscle contraction. Furthermore, microdialysis of 100 microM naloxone alone for 30 min potentiated cardiovascular responses and monoamine levels during a muscle contraction. In summary, the present data demonstrates that microdialysis of DAME into RVLM attenuates the exercise pressor reflex mediated increases in MAP, HR and extracellular levels of biogenic monoamines. A subsequent microdialysis of naloxone reversed the effects suggesting that an opioidergic mechanism within RVLM modulates the exercise pressor reflex. Overall, the present study provides further insights into the opioidergic modulation of the exercise pressor reflex.
Interpreting Central Surface Brightness and Color Profiles in Elliptical Galaxies

Hubble Space Telescope imagery has revealed dust features in the central regions of many (50%-80%) nearby bright elliptical galaxies. If these features are an indication of an underlying smooth diffuse dust distribution, then the interpretation of central surface brightness and color profiles in elliptical galaxies becomes significantly more difficult. In this Letter, diagnostics for constraining the presence of such an underlying central dust distribution are presented. We show that easily detectable central color gradients and flattened central surface brightness profiles can be induced by even small amounts of smoothly distributed dust (~100 M☉). Conversely, combinations of flat surface brightness profiles and flat color gradients or steep surface brightness profiles and steep color gradients are unlikely to be caused by dust. Taken as a whole, these results provide a simple observational tautology for constraining the existence of smooth diffuse dust distributions in the central regions of elliptical galaxies.
New model for end stage liver disease improves prognostic capability after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt.

Background & aims Cirrhotic patients undergoing transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) for refractory ascites or recurrent variceal bleeding are at risk for decompensation and death. This study examined whether a new model for end stage liver disease (MELD), which incorporates serum sodium (MELDNa), is a better predictor of death or transplant after TIPS than the original MELD. Methods One hundred forty-eight consecutive patients undergoing nonemergent TIPS for refractory ascites or recurrent variceal bleeding from 1997 to 2006 at a single center were evaluated retrospectively. Cox model analysis was performed with death or transplant within 6 months as the end point. The models were compared using the Harrell's C index. Recursive partitioning determined the optimal MELDNa cutoff to maximize the risk:benefit ratio of TIPS. Results The predictive ability of MELDNa was superior to MELD, particularly in patients with low MELD scores. The C indices (95% confidence interval [CI]) for MELDNa and MELD were 0.65 (95% CI, 0.55-0.71) and 0.58 (95% CI, 0.51-0.67) using a cut-off score of 18, and 0.72 (95% CI, 0.60-0.85) and 0.62 (95% CI, 0.49-0.74) using a cut-off score of 15. Using a MELDNa >15, 22% of patients were reclassified to a higher risk with an event rate of 44% compared with 10% when the score was Conclusions MELDNa performed better than MELD in predicting death or transplant after non-emergent TIPS, especially in patients with low MELD scores. A MELD score
Sterol-dependent regulation of sphingolipid metabolism in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

We had previously isolated the temperature-sensitive erg26-1 mutant and characterized the sterol defects in erg26-1 cells (Baudry, K., Swain, E., Rahier, A., Germann, M., Batta, A., Rondet, S., Mandala, S., Henry, K., Tint, G. S., Edlind, T., Kurtz, M., and Nickels, J. T., Jr. (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276, 12702–12711). We have now determined the defects in sphingolipid metabolism inerg26-1 cells, examined their effects on cell growth, and initiated studies designed to elucidate how might changes in sterol levels coordinately regulate sphingolipid metabolism inSaccharomyces cerevisiae. Using [3H]inositol radiolabeling studies, we found that the biosynthetic rate and steady-state levels of specific hydroxylated forms of inositolphosphorylceramides were decreased in erg26-1 cells when compared with wild type cells. [3H]Dihydrosphingosine radiolabeling studies demonstrated that erg26-1 cells had decreased levels of the phytosphingosine-derived ceramides that are the direct precursors of the specific hydroxylated inositol phosphorylceramides found to be lower in these cells. Gene dosage experiments using the sphingolipid long chain sphingoid base (LCB) hydroxylase gene, SUR2, suggest that erg26-1 cells may accumulate LCB, thus placing one point of sterol regulation of sphingolipid synthesis possibly at the level of ceramide metabolism. The results from additional genetic studies using the sphingolipid hydroxylase and copper transporter genes, SCS7 and CCC2, respectively, suggest a second possible point of sterol regulation at the level of complex sphingolipid hydroxylation. In addition, [3H]inositol radiolabeling of sterol biosynthesis inhibitor-treated wild type cells and late sterol pathway mutants showed that additional blocks in sterol biosynthesis have profound effects on sphingolipid metabolism, particularly sphingolipid hydroxylation state. Finally, our genetic studies in erg26-1 cells using the LCB phosphate phosphatase gene, LBP1, suggest that increasing the levels of the LCB sphingoid base phosphate can remediate the temperature-sensitive phenotype of erg26-1cells.
Ensemble-dependent bounds for accessible information in quantum mechanics.

We simplify the derivation of the Holevo upper bound on the maximum information extractable from a quantum communication channel. This simplification leads to upper and lower bounds for binary channels, both of which depend explicitly on the message ensemble.
Ground-State Energy and Excitation Spectrum of a System of Interacting Bosons

In this paper properties of a boson gas at zero temperature are investigated by means of field-theoretic methods. Difficulties arising from the depletion of the ground state are resolved in a simple way by the elimination of the zero-momentum state. The result of this procedure when applied to the calculation of the Green's functions of the system is identical to that of Beliaev. It is then shown generally that for a repulsive interaction the energy $E(\mathrm{k})$ of a phonon of momentum k, which is found as the pole of a one-particle Green's function, approaches zero for zero momentum, which means that the phonon spectrum does not exhibit an energy gap.The Green's function method is applied to the calculation of the properties of a low-density boson gas. The next order term beyond that calculated by Lee and Yang, and Beliaev for the ground-state energy is obtained and the general form of the series expansion is found to be $(\frac{{E}_{0}}{\ensuremath{\Omega}})=\frac{1}{2}{n}^{2}{f}_{0}[1+a{(n{{f}_{0}}^{3})}^{\frac{1}{2}}+b(n{{f}_{0}}^{3})\mathrm{ln}n{{f}_{0}}^{3}+c(n{{f}_{0}}^{3})+d{(n{{f}_{0}}^{3})}^{\frac{3}{2}}\mathrm{ln}(n{{f}_{0}}^{3})+\ensuremath{\cdots}],$ where $n$ is the density and ${f}_{0}$ is the scattering length for the assumed two-body interaction between the bosons. The coefficients $a$ and $b$ are independent of the shape of the interaction, and are the only terms thus far calculated. The coefficient $b$ is in agreement with the hard-sphere gas calculations of Wu and of Sawada.A discussion is given of the intermediate-density calculation of Brueckner and Sawada, and certain possible improvements in the method of summing a selected set of higher-order terms are proposed.
Influence of cross-link structure, density and mechanical properties in the mesoscale deformation mechanisms of collagen fibrils

Collagen is a ubiquitous protein with remarkable mechanical properties. It is highly elastic, shows large fracture strength and enables substantial energy dissipation during deformation. Most of the connective tissue in humans consists of collagen fibrils composed of a staggered array of tropocollagen molecules, which are connected by intermolecular cross-links. In this study, we report a three-dimensional coarse-grained model of collagen and analyze the influence of enzymatic cross-links on the mechanics of collagen fibrils. Two representatives immature and mature cross-links are implemented in the mesoscale model using a bottom-up approach. By varying the number, type and mechanical properties of cross-links in the fibrils and performing tensile test on the models, we systematically investigate the deformation mechanisms of cross-linked collagen fibrils. We find that cross-linked fibrils exhibit a three phase behavior, which agrees closer with experimental results than what was obtained using previous models. The fibril mechanical response is characterized by: (i) an initial elastic deformation corresponding to the collagen molecule uncoiling, (ii) a linear regime dominated by molecule sliding and (iii) the second stiffer elastic regime related to the stretching of the backbone of the tropocollagen molecules until the fibril ruptures. Our results suggest that both cross-link density and type dictate the stiffness of large deformation regime by increasing the number of interconnected molecules while cross-links mechanical properties determine the failure strain and strength of the fibril. These findings reveal that cross-links play an essential role in creating an interconnected fibrillar material of tunable toughness and strength.
Improved elliptical trainer biomechanics using a modified cardan gear

Although many different kinematic structures have been employed in the design of elliptical machines for exercise and fitness, these devices in general do not produce pedal paths that promote lower extremity kinematics similar to overground gait. This is unfortunate given the growing interest in using these devices as a gait rehabilitation tool. In this paper, we present a novel design strategy for elliptical machines intended to create a movement profile that more closely simulates the lower extremity kinematics of gait. This involves replacement of the typical crank link with a modified Cardan gear system. Simulations of typical rear-drive (crank-rocker) and front-drive (crank-slider) elliptical designs validate the improvement in lower limb hip and knee kinematics using this approach, suggesting that assistive elliptical rehabilitation systems can be more optimally designed to promote normal lower extremity gait kinematics compared to currently available devices.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Falls from heights

Falls from heights are most commonly due to accidents in children and suicide, accident, and crime-related incidents in adults. Two types of injury result from falls from heights: injury resulting from direct impact and deceleration-type injury. The injuries resulting from direct impact are mostly fractures. The body position at impact is crucial. The deceleration forces immediately post-impact result primarlly in visceral and internal injury, including cranial injury. There is a lack of correlation between os calcis fractures and vertebral fractures. Spinal cord injury is infrequent. Survival figures are higher than usually assumed.
Comparative acute systemic toxicity of sodium arsenite and dichloro(2-chlorovinyl)arsine in rabbits.

The acute intravenous toxicity of sodium arsenite and dichloro(2-chlorovinyl)arsine (lewisite) has been compared in rabbits to provide a quantitative and qualitative model for future assessment of treatments of lewisite poisoning. The LD50 of sodium arsenite was 7.6 mg · kg−1; that for lewisite was 1.8 mg · kg−1. On the basis of arsenic content the former was 6.5 times less toxic than the latter. Significant differences in tissue arsenic content and pathology were found between the 2 materials. Histologically, changes were observed in the lungs and gall bladder after lewisite injection but not after sodium arsenite. It was concluded that use of sodium arsenite is not a suitable substitute model for lewisite poisoning.
Tele-operation Training: The Effect of Exploration on Driveability Judgments

Successful tele-operation during Urban Search and Rescue requires tele-operators to make accurate driveability judgments, that is, judgments about whether they can drive a robot through an aperture. No research has yet examined which factors during training are responsible for improvements in driveability judgments. We hypothesized that a condition with exploration during training would lead to higher judgment accuracy than one without. For exploratory purposes, we also included a condition with exploration and feedback, which replicated the procedure of previous tele-operation studies. Participants made driveability judgments in 1 of 3 conditions, which varied participants’ training: Exploration and Feedback, Exploration and No Feedback, and No Exploration and No Feedback. Accuracy in the Exploration and No Feedback condition was higher than in the No Exploration and No Feedback control, and was not different from accuracy in the Exploration and Feedback condition. The results imply that
Changes in Positive Quality of Life over the Course of Psychotherapy

The objective of this study was to examine patients' reports of positive quality of life over the course of multiple forms of psychotherapy and disorders. Data from five studies using a common assessment battery were pooled to evaluate the magnitude of change in positive quality of life and explore the relation of change in positive quality of life to change in symptoms, and how these relations vary by disorder. Positive quality of life was measured at intake, termination, and during two post-treatment visits 6 and 12 months following termination. Results revealed that positive quality of life improves moderately over the course of psychotherapy and sustains the improvement through follow-up. Levels of positive quality of life and the degree of change in positive quality of life varied considerably by disorder. There also were moderate sized correlations between changes in positive quality of life and changes in symptomatic response and interpersonal functioning from intake to termination. Implications of the findings for clinical practice and future research are discussed.
Extension-twist coupling of composite circular tubes with application to tilt rotor blade design

This investigation was conducted to determine if twist deformation required for the design of full-scale extension-twist-coupled tilt-rotor blades can be achieved within material design limit loads, and to demonstrate the accuracy of a coupled-beam analysis in predicting twist deformations. Two extension-twist-coupled tilt-rotor blade designs were developed based on theoretically optimum aerodynamic twist distributions. The designs indicated a twist rate requirement of between .216 and .333 deg/in. Agreement between axial tests and analytical predictions was within 10 percent at design limit loads. Agreement between the torsion tests and predictions was within 11 percent.
The Peter Effect in Early Experimental Education Research.

One of the signatures of scientific writing is its ability to present the claims of science as if they were untouched by human hands. In the early years of experimental education, researchers achieved this by adopting a citational practice that led to the sedimentation of their cardinal method, the analysis of variance, and their standard for statistical significance, 0.05. This essentially divorces their statistical framework from its historical conditions of production. Researchers suppressed their own agency through the use of passive voice and nominalization. With their own agency out of the way, they imbued the methods, results, and presentational devices themselves with the active agency of the situation through the use of personification. Such a depiction creates the impression that the researchers and audience stand on equal epistemic ground as interested witnesses to the autonomous activity of a third party, the method, which churns out the brute facts of science.
Attitudinal commitment: A three-dimensional construct

This study argues that underlying the breadth of research on attitudinal organizational commitment are three dimensions: positive affect for the organization, identification with the organization and a willingness to exert effort on behalf of the organization. Results of confirmatory factor analyses using three different samples support a three-dimensional model as a superior fit to the data when compared with one- or two-dimensional models of attitudinal commitment.
Effect of Chemistry and Structure on Voltage of Li Intercalation Oxides

With the aid of today's powerful computers, quantum mechanical methods are becoming accurate enough to determine the properties of materials before going into laborious and expensive synthesis processes. These “computer experiments” do not require any input other than the atomic numbers of the constituent species. In addition, they allow full control over the “experimental” parameters. In this way the effect of any parameter on the materials properties can be investigated, which is usually not possible in traditional experiments. We used the ab initio pseudopotential method to study the effects of chemistry and structure on the voltage obtained from intercalating Li ions into transition metal oxides. The effect of transition metal and anion chemistry was systematically studied by changing M in LiMO2, (M=Ti, V, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn) and X in LiCoX2 (X=Se, S and O), keeping the structure fixed at α-NaFeO2 layered structure. In addition, the effect of structure was studied by performing computer experiments on LiCoO2 and LiMnO2 in α-NaFeO2, LiScO2 and Al2MgO4(spinel) structures. The computed voltages are in good agreement with experimental values. We found that, the electronic band structure and the extent of charge transfer between Li and O ions is correlated to the output voltage. We will explain how the output voltage is affected by the chemistry of the transition metal.
“None but Himself”: “Tibbald”, Theobald, and The Dunciad Variorum

This article proposes that Lewis Theobald's writings are engaged in the text of Alexander Pope's Dunciad Variorum to an extent which has been inadequately recognised in previous scholarship and criticism, and in ways which can be of assistance to a reader considering the meaning of Pope's central, if elusive and ambiguous, concepts of Dulness and the dunce. I argue that elaborating on the intense particularity of Pope's satire in the poem should not be thought to inhibit but rather to enable and increase a reader's sense of the forceful immediacy, in Theobald's terms the “virulence” and “beauty”, of The Dunciad Variorum.
Electromagnetic fields in curved spaces: A constructive procedure

A new procedure for computing electromagnetic fields in curved space-times is presented. With this procedure, the problem is reduced to solving one complex linear scalar wave equation. Many space-times of astrophysical importance may be treated in this manner, including black-hole and neutron-star spaces and cosmological models.
Synthesis and Imaging Validation of [18F]MDL100907 Enabled by Ni-Mediated Fluorination

Several voids exist in reliable positron emission tomography (PET) radioligands for quantification of the serotonin (5HT) receptor system. Even in cases where 5HT radiotracers exist, challenges remain that have limited the utility of 5HT imaging in clinical research. Herein we address an unmet need in 5HT2a imaging using innovative chemistry. We report a scalable and robust synthesis of [18F]MDL100907, which was enabled by a Ni-mediated oxidative fluorination using [18F]fluoride. This first demonstration of a Ni-mediated fluorination used for PET imaging required development of a new reaction strategy that ultimately provided high specific activity [18F]MDL100907. Using the new synthetic strategy and optimized procedure, [18F]MDL100907 was evaluated against [11C]MDL100907 for reliability to quantify 5HT2a in the nonhuman primate brain and was found to be superior based on a single scan analysis using the same nonhuman primate. The use of this new 5HT2a radiotracer will afford clinical neuroscience researc...
Cone-beam CT from width-truncated projections

In this paper we report cone-beam CT techniques that permit reconstruction from width-truncated projections. These techniques are variants of Feldkamp's filtered backprojection algorithm and assume quasi-redundancy of ray integrals. Two methods are derived and compared. The first method involves the use of preconvolution weighting of the truncated data. The second technique performs post-convolution weighting preceded by non-zero estimation of the missing information. The algorithms were tested using the three-dimensional Shepp-Logan head phantom. The results indicate that given an appropriate amount of overscan, satisfactory reconstruction can be achieved. These techniques can be used to solve the problem of undersized detectors.
Perception of authenticity of tourist art among Native American artists in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

This study investigated the authenticity of tourist art from the perspectives of Native American artists in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In-depth interviews with nine artists revealed that authenticity of art for the artists strongly relates to the traditional manufacturing process. Indeed, the artists alter their art piece's exterior to appeal to tourists while also adhering to the traditional process of manufacture. Rather than connoting a loss of authenticity, they identify the process as an “enlargement” of the culture. The challenge for the artists is to improve understanding of the significance of the manufacturing process among tourists and younger generations of artists. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The serum anion gap is altered in early kidney disease and associates with mortality

It is well known that uremia causes an increase in the serum anion gap (AG); however, whether changes in the AG occur earlier in the course of chronic kidney disease is not known. Here we investigated whether different measures of the AG, as a marker of kidney function, are associated with mortality. To do this, we analyzed the available laboratory data of 11,957 adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2004 to calculate AG using the traditional method, or one that was albumin-adjusted, as well as a full AG reflecting other electrolytes. A significant elevation in the traditional AG was seen only with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 2 , whereas increases in the albumin-adjusted and full AG were found with eGFRs 2 , respectively. Higher levels of each AG were associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality after adjustment for age, gender, race/ethnicity, and eGFR. After adjustment for additional covariates including body mass index and comorbidities, higher levels of the albumin-adjusted and full AG were associated with mortality (relative hazard for the highest compared with the lowest quartile were 1.62 and 1.64, respectively). Thus, higher levels of AG are present in individuals with less advanced kidney disease than previously recognized, and are associated with increased risk of mortality. Further study is needed to identify the unmeasured anions and to determine their physiological significance.
Lateral hypothalamic lesions and activity of the sympathetic nervous system.

Abstract The firing rate of efferent sympathetic nerves to brown adipose tissue was measured on 18 h and 18 d following lateral hypothalamic lesions (LH). Eighteen hours following acute lateral hypothalamic lesions, sympathetic firing rate was significantly increased. Following chronic LH lesions there was a decrease in food intake and a fall in body weight which had stabilized by four days. Eleven days after surgery a group of control animals were food restricted and subsequently pair fed twice daily to maintain a body weight comparable to that of the LH lesioned animals. Food intake was lower in the pair-gained animals on all but one day of the experiment. When studied 18 days following LH lesions, sympathetic firing rates were significantly higher than in either the ad lib or pair-fed controls. Sympathetic firing rate in pair fed rats, on the other hand, was significantly lower than in the sham lesioned rats. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that the LH lesion removes an inhibitory control over sympathetic firing rate both acutely and in chronically lesioned animals and that this increased sympathetic firing rate may play an important role in the maintenance of a lower body weight.
The role of induced pluripotent stem cells in regenerative medicine: neurodegenerative diseases

Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Friedreich's ataxia are the most common human neurodegenerative diseases pathologically characterized by a progressive and specific loss of certain neuronal populations. The exact mechanisms of neuronal cell death in these diseases are unclear, although some forms of the diseases are inherited and genes causing these diseases have been identified. Currently there are no effective clinical therapies for many of these diseases. The recently acquired ability to reprogram human adult somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in culture may provide a powerful tool for in vitro neurodegenerative disease modeling and an unlimited source for cell replacement therapy. In the present review, we summarize recent progress on iPSC generation and differentiation into neuronal cell types and discuss the potential application for in vitro disease mechanism study and in vivo cell replacement therapy.
Ubiquitin as a marker of cell injury in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Ubiquitin (UB), an intracellular protein that binds to other proteins to target them for proteolysis, is associated with Mallory hyalin (MH), which supports a biopsy diagnosis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We analyzed 54 liver biopsy specimens from 49 patients with a clinical diagnosis of NASH for immunoreactive UB and multiple features of necroinflammation, fibrosis, and Prussian blue– positive iron to determine whether the presence of immunoreactive UB increases detection of MH or correlates with other features of cell injury or mutations of the HFE gene. MH and UB were graded. Analysis for HFE gene mutations was performed in 48 patients. Biopsy diagnoses were distributed as follows: NASH, 42; steatosis, 10; and nonspecific changes, 2. UB was present in 20 specimens and MH in 23. Of 31 specimens with 0 MH, 6 had UB; of 14 with 1+ (questionable) MH, 7 had 1+ or 2+ UB. UB correlated positively and significantly with the diagnosis and grade of NASH, presence of MH, cell swelling, lobular inflammation, and fibrosis. Immunostaining for UB may enhance detection of MH in questionable cases, support the diagnosis of NASH, and indicate which patients may be at risk for progression of disease.
Evaluation of Procedures for Urinary Calcium

In a comparative study of urinary calcium methods, many of the recently proposed procedures proved either impractical or invalid in our hands. A preliminary isolation of the calcium as the oxalate, followed by perchloric acid oxidation of the oxalate seemed to be the simplest procedure whereby urinary calcium could be put in a state suitable for chelometric titration. The isolated calcium could also be titrated with considerable precision and accuracy by a modified procedure with a derivative automatic titrator which is available commercially. It was suggested from our observations that too little attention has been directed towards the problems imposed by the occurrence of calcium precipitates in urine. An untreated 24-hr. urine specimen is not suitable for direct analysis of calcium by chelometric titration, by colorimetric analysis, by emission flame photometry, or by atomic absorption flame photometry because these methods do not give a true measure of the calcium in the precipitate. Boiling for 5 min. with 1 part concentrated nitric acid to 25 parts urine proved a suitable means for completely dissolving the calcium precipitate.
A Local Control Model for Cardiac Excitation-Contraction Coupling in Rat Ventricular Myocytes: Insights into Dynamic Phenomena involving Calcium Release

In our prior work, we introduced a computationally efficient moment closure approach to modeling local control of calcium-induced calcium release (CICR) in cardiac myocytes. This approach utilizes ordinary differential equations (ODEs) describing the time-evolution of the first and second moments of probability density functions for local calcium (Ca) concentrations jointly distributed with Ca release unit (CaRU) state coupled to ODEs for the bulk myoplasmic and network SR [Ca]. We have shown that this approach allows a deterministic simulation to capture important aspects of local [Ca] in simulated voltage-clamp protocols while dramatically improving computational efficiency over stochastic Monte Carlo simulations. However, previous results were limited to simulated voltage clamp protocols and incorporated only a minimal representation of the L-type channel. Here we present an expanded formulation that incorporates more realistic CICR dynamics coupled to a dynamic model of the rat action potential. The new model includes biophysically accurate models of the ryanodine receptor and L-type Ca channel which have been shown by previous modeling to be important for governing interval-force relations. We investigate how local control of EC coupling in cardiac myocytes influences phenomena depending on the dynamics of pacing and calcium release properties such as the formation of Ca alternans or RyR “autoregulation” that occurs during changes to RyR Ca sensitivity caused by agonists such as caffeine. Results are validated and benchmarked for computational efficiency by comparison to traditional Monte Carlo simulations.
SUSTAINABLE WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

Abstract Defining and measuring sustainability is a major challenge. This article argues these limitations need not stop us from trying to identify and value the possible impacts of what we are doing, or are thinking about doing, over time periods much longer than the lives of our investments, or even of the lives of those of us living today. Sustainability is a relative concept that must be applied in an environment undergoing multiple changes, changes that are occurring over different temporal and spatial scales. We depend on our water resource systems for our survival and welfare. Yet no one expects them to be restored to, or survive in, their most productive pristine states in the face of increasing development pressures for land in their watersheds and for water in their streams, rivers, lakes, and aquifers. A continuing task of water resource planners and managers is to identify the multiple impacts and tradeoffs resulting from what we who are living today may wish to do for ourselves and our immedi...
A robust modification of a new class of adaptive controllers

Recently, a new class of adaptive control schemes, motivated from nonlinear systems theory, has been proposed for minimum phase linear time invariant plants. Under certain assumptions on the plant transfer function, these schemes guarantee uniform signal boundedness and good transient and steady state response for the tracking error provided there are no disturbances and/or un-modeled dynamics. The purpose of this paper is to improve the robustness of this new class of adaptive controllers with respect to unmodeled dynamics and bounded disturbances. As in the case of the traditional adaptive controllers, robustness is guaranteed by modifying the adaptive controllers so that signal signal boundedness and "small" tracking errors are guaranteed in the presence of a general class of dynamic uncertainties and bounded disturbances. While the modification techniques are similar with those used in the more traditional adaptive controllers, the analysis is different due to the highly nonlinear nature of the new class of adaptive controller.