cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regulation of the atrial natriuretic peptide receptor by heat shock protein 90 complexes.

Heat shock protein 90 (hsp90) is a chaperone required for the proper folding and trafficking of many proteins involved in signal transduction. We tested whether hsp90 plays a role as a chaperone for GC-A, the membrane guanylate cyclase that acts as a receptor for atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). When cultured cells expressing recombinant GC-A were treated with geldanamycin, an inhibitor of hsp90 function, the ANP-stimulated production of cyclic GMP was inhibited. This suggested that hsp90 was required for GC-A processing and/or stability. A physical association between hsp90 and GC-A was demonstrated in coimmunoprecipitation experiments. Treatment with geldanamycin disrupted this association and led to the accumulation of complexes containing GC-A and heat shock protein 70 (hsp70). Protein folding pathways involving hsp70 and hsp90 include several pathway-specific co-chaperones. Complexes between GC-A and hsp90 contained the co-chaperone p50(cdc37), typically found associated with protein kinase.hsp90 heterocomplexes. GC-A immunoprecipitates did not contain detectable amounts of Hop, FKBP51, FKBP52, PP5, or p23, all co-chaperones found in hsp90 complexes with other signaling proteins. The association of hsp90 and p50(cdc37) with GC-A was dependent on the kinase homology domain of this receptor but not on its ANP-binding, transmembrane, or guanylate cyclase domains. The data suggest that GC-A is regulated by hsp90 complexes similar to those involved in the maturation of protein kinases.
The olivocerebellar projection in normal (+/+), heterozygous weaver (wv/+), and homozygous weaver (wv/wv) mutant mice: comparison of terminal pattern and topographic organization.

Olivocerebellar organization and topography were analyzed in adult normal (+ / +), heterozygous weaver (wv/+), and homozygous weaver (wv/wv) mutant mice. The two genotypes (wv/+ and wv/wv) of the weaver mutant present a gradation of abnormal cerebellar morphology. Purkinje cell (PC) ectopia ranges from mild (wv/+) to moderate (wv/wv), and regional PC loss is also graded in the two types. To determine olivocerebellar organization and topography, tritiated amino acids were placed into different regions of the inferior olivary complex (IO) in normal, heterozygous, and homozygous weaver mice. Despite some PC loss and ectopia, olivocerebellar fiber (OCF) terminals in both homozygous and heterozygous weaver mice have an orthogonal distribution and topography similar to that seen in normal mice. Differences in OCF termination, such as an increased density of OCF terminal label in the lower portion of the molecular layer, the PC, and granule cell layers, are seen in homozygous weaver mice. In some heterozygous weaver and normal cases, multiple injections labeling most IO cells on one side of the IO resulted in continuous OCF terminal labeling in many regions of the contralateral cerebellar cortex, suggesting that all PCs receive OCF input. Retrograde analysis involving injections of horseradish peroxidase conjugated to wheat germ agglutinin into different mediolateral cerebellar regions in homozygous weaver mice further demonstrates a generally normal olivocerebellar topography.
Developing Dixie: Modernization in a Traditional Society

Preface Part I. Southern Historians: Personal Reflections on Two Careers Part II. Southern Race Relations: Continuing Complexities of the "Central Theme" Part III. Southern Economic Development: Case Studies of Unbalanced Growth Part IV. Southern Politics: Varieties of Liberal Reform Part V. Southern Women: Traditional Means to Modern Ends Part VI. Southern Folk and Country Music: Changing Images for Changing Times Part VII. Southern Identity: Popular Perceptions of Dixie Bibliographical Essay Notes on the Contributors
Historical fragments and social constructions in Northern Zambia: A personal journey

This essay explores the relation of authority to legitimacy through the social construction of local histories that validate claims to 'authentic' rulership. Using the historical example of the Chiefdom of Uyombe in northern Zambia, I intend to argue that the construction of these local histories has been a crucial element in the process of domination, subjugation, resistance and collaboration between rulers and those they would rule. Exploring specific Gramscian concepts, I will also argue that historical narratives contain hegemonic and ideological components that are critical to relating authority to legitimacy in an active manner. These narratives contain African voices, which express varied local interests. Through the narratives, Africans may be seen as active agents in contributing to the making of their own local histories of rulership. Thus, authority and legitimacy are conjoined through the fabrication, inscription and recitation of historical narratives and are an essential part of governance.
Impact of investors’ status on their evaluation of positive and negative, and past and future information

This paper examines the effect of investors’ status (current and prospective) on their evaluation of information varying in valence (negative and positive) and temporality (past and future). Master of Business Administration graduates, proxying for current or prospective investors, rated the relevance of negative, positive, past, and future Management Discussion and Analysis information. Investors’ relevance ratings of information resulted in the following ranking (from highest to lowest): negative-future, negative-past, positive-future, and positive-past information. Furthermore, prospective investors (relative to current) rated positive and future information as more relevant and negative information as less relevant. Implications for effective disclosure strategies and policies are discussed.
Detection of benzoylecgonine in human urine

Abstract A thin-layer chromatography (TLC) method is described that can be used to detect benzolyecgonine (BE), a metabolite of cocaine, in human urine. It is a two-part procedure that can be integrated intoa rapid screening program for drug abuse. The first part of the method utilizes two TLC solvent systems to identify a variety of drugs, including BE. The second part is specific for the cocaine metabolite and can be used as a confirmation method. The procedure is sensitive to3–4 μ/ml of BE in urine.
Mode-1 internal tides in the western North Atlantic Ocean

Abstract Mode-1 internal tides were observed the western North Atlantic using an ocean acoustic tomography array deployed in 1991–1992 centered on 25°N, 66°W. The pentagonal array, 700-km across, acted as an antenna for mode-1 internal-tides. Coherent internal-tide waves with O (1 m) displacements were observed traveling in several directions. Although the internal tides of the region were relatively quiescent, they were essentially phase locked over the 200–300 day data record lengths. Both semidiurnal and diurnal internal waves were detected, with wavenumbers consistent with those calculated from hydrographic data. The M 2 internal-tide energy flux was estimated to be about 70 W m −1 , suggesting that mode-1 waves radiate 0.2 GW of energy, with large uncertainty, from the Caribbean island chain at this frequency. A global tidal model (TPXO 5) suggested that 1–2 GW is lost from the M 2 barotropic tide over this region, but the precise value was uncertain because the complicated topography makes the calculation problematic. In any case, significant conversion of barotropic to baroclinic tidal energy does not occur in the western North Atlantic basin. It is apparent, however, that mode-1 internal tides have very weak decay and retain their coherence over great distances, so that ocean basins may be filled up with such waves. Observed diurnal amplitudes were an order of magnitude larger than expected. The amplitude and phase variations of the K 1 and O 1 constituents observed over the tomography array were consistent with the theoretical solutions for standing internal waves near their turning latitude. The energy densities of the resonant diurnal internal waves were roughly twice those of the barotropic tide at those frequencies.
Modeled inherent scattering properties of small light-limited phytoplankton: implications for deep phytoplankton size class distributions

Small phytoplankton, ubiquitous throughout the world's oceans, numerically dominate many open ocean ecosystems with increasing importance towards the base of the euphotic zone. As an example, light-limited deep secondary chlorophyll maxima are usually dominated by small phytoplankton species. Theoretical models describing light-particle interactions predict that small particles scatter light less efficiently than their larger counterparts. To investigate a possible relationship between the dominance of small phytoplankton in light-limited situations and efficiency predictions, a light scattering efficiency model based on Mie theory as approximated by Van de Hulst is used to determine scattering efficiency as a function of size. This scattering efficiency model, which approximates light-phytoplankton interactions by considering phytoplankton as homogeneous spheres, is driven by the spectral light field from an observed deep phytoplankton population dominated by small phytoplankton. This deep secondary chlorophyll maximum is discussed as an example of a highly efficient small phytoplankton population at the threshold of the euphotic zone which could benefit as a result of its size distribution.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Legitimacy and efficacy: The blackout of Wikipedia

The hallmark of the successful online protest against SOPA was the blackout of Wikipedia for a day. This paper tracks the internal dynamics that led to Wikipedia’s blackout and focuses on the place that legitimacy and authority had in crafting the debate.
A review of radio observations of planetary nebulae

The observational data for planetary nebulae in the radio region of the spectrum is reviewed and summarized. The methods of determining interstellar extinction, electron temperatures and turnover points in the spectrum from these observations are given, as are the tests for the recombination theory and a discussion of the validity of several models of these objects.
Voltage-dependent interaction of barium and cesium with the potassium conductance of the cortical collecting duct apical cell membrane.

The influence of Ba++ and Cs+ on the K+ conductive properties of the rabbit isolated perfused cortical collecting tubule were assessed using electrophysiological methods. As before, elevation of K+ from 5 to 25 or 50mm (choline+ for K+ substitution) in the luminal perfusate, caused a marked hyperpolarization (lumen negative) of the transepithelial voltage,V te, and increase in the transepithelial conductance,G te-indicative of a high luminal (apical) K+ conductance-where-as a similar elevation of K+ in the bath caused only minor changes inV te andG te. In the presence of 5mm K+ in perfusate and bath, addition of 5mm Ba++ to the perfusate causedG te to decrease from 16.1 to 7.4 mScm−2 (10mm Cs+ had qualitatively similar effects) and greatly diminished the response ofV te andG te to K+ elevation in the lumen, reflecting a decrease in the apical membrane K+ conducatance. In contrast, a similar addition of 5mm Ba++ to the bath caused only a modest reduction inG te of 0.4 mScm−2, consistent with a relatively low K+ conductance of the basolateral membrane and tight junction. In other studies the effects of luminal addition of Ba++ and amiloride were found to be relatively independent, with the magnitude of the Ba++-sensitiveG te (8.7 mScm−2) being several-fold greater than the amiloride-sensitiveG te (1.4 mScm−1), indicative of a dominat K+ conductance at that border which is spatially distinct from the Na+ conductance. Furthermore, from the input current-voltage relation of the tubule, the effects of Ba++ (0.1–5mm) and Cs+ (10mm) at the luminal border on tissue conductance were found to be highly voltage-dependent — the effects on conductance being diminished with lumennegative voltages and more pronounced, approaching a maximum, with lumen-positive voltages. It is concluded that the apical (luminal) cell membrane contains a dominant K+ conductive pathway that is blocked by luminal addition of Ba++ and Cs+. The voltage-dependent nature of the block is consistent with a K+ conductive pathway which has a binding site for Ba++ and Cs+, and presumably K+, located deep within the channel.
Numerical MC SCF and CI calculations of the ground-state potential energy curve of N2

Abstract The numerical procedure of McCullough is used in calculations of Hartree-Fock and MC SCF wavefunctions for ground state of N 2 . The latter are derived using the complete set of 18 spin and symmetry adapted configurations in the space of MOs that arise from 2p atomic orbitals. An increase in dissociation energy of 0.17 eV is observed when compared to MC SCF calculations in a large basis of Slater-type functions and the same set of configurations. Integrals involving the numerical MC SCF MOs are used in CI calculations in which substitutions involving the 1s and 2s electrons are included. The increase in dissociation energy due to numerical versus basis set valence CI is 0.08 eV. Spectroscopic constants and molecular quadrupole moments are reported.
When Real seems mediated: inverse presence

As our lives become increasingly dominated by mediated experiences, presence scholars have noted that an increasing number of these mediated experiences evoke (tele)-presence, perceptions that ignore or misconstrue the role of the medium in the experience. In this paper we explore an interesting countertrend that seems to be occurring as well. In a variety of contexts, people are experiencing not an illusion that a mediated experience is in fact nonmediated, but the illusion that a nonmediated "real" experience is mediated. Drawing on news reports and an online survey, we identify 3 categories of this "illusion of mediation": positive (when people perceive natural beauty as mediated), negative (when people perceive a disaster, crime, or other tragedy such as the events of September 11, 2001, as mediated), and unusual (when close connections between people's "real life" activities and mediated experiences lead them to confuse the former with the latter). We label this phenomenon inverse presence and consider its place and value in a comprehensive theory of presence, its possible antecedents and consequences, and what it suggests about the nature of our lives in the 21st century.
VENTURIA INAEQUALIS. XV. HISTOLOGY OF INFECTIONS BY BIOCHEMICAL MUTANTS

characteristic subcuticular position without an additional source of their required substances from outside the host. Those mutants that were fully as pathogenic as the wild type developed in vivo comparably to it, but those that were nonpathogenic made very limited growth and, with the exception of 1 requiring choline, failed to develop sufficiently to sporulate. However, the nonpathogenic mutants, with the exception of 1 requiring adenine, grew and sporulated in vivo when their required substances were applied to the surface of the inoculated leaves.
Hidden Costs Associated with Stakeholders in Supply Management

Many businesses fail to recognize the strategic importance of sourcing decisions. Companies often focus on the price and quality of goods provided to them, but it is easy to overlook the social and environmental standards of suppliers. Those who do may find themselves on the receiving end of aggressive attacks from a range of stakeholders, from customers and shareholders to the news media. Indeed, the business practices of Georgia Pacific, a hardwood plywood supplier, were at the heart of actions by the Rainforest Action Network aimed at disrupting operations at Home Depot; the practices of tomato growers that supplied Taco Bell restaurants were behind boycotts of the fast food giant; and fishing practices that endangered dolphins were the source of discontent with the tuna industry. Clearly the business practices of key suppliers can readily tarnish a corporate reputation, and the strategic impact—potentially including business disruption, business interruption, and even business failure—of neglecting th...
Juvenile cystic kidneys (jck): A new mouse mutation which causes polycystic kidneys

Juvenile cystic kidneys ( jck ): A new mouse mutation which causes polycystic kidneys. We have characterized a new recessive mutation in the mouse which predisposes to the development of polycystic kidney disease. This mutation, called juvenile cystic kidneys ( jck ), arose in a transgenic line of mice, but appears unrelated to the transgene since it segregates freely from it. While focal cysts are evident in affected animals as early as three days of life and the disease is progressive, the mice are fertile and generally survive to four or more months of age. Complementation analysis indicates that the jck mutation is not allelic with three other known recessive polycystic kidney mutations ( cpk and two as yet unnamed mutations), and linkage studies demonstrate it is unlikely to be allelic with a fourth ( pcy ). The study of these five mutations and their interactions should prove useful for understanding the mechanisms required to maintain the normal integrity of renal tubules.
The topography of intimal thickening and associated remodeling pattern of early transplant coronary disease: influence of pre-existent donor atherosclerosis.

Abstract Background: With native coronary disease, intimal plaque initially accumulates at focal areas in the artery, often accompanied by compensatory vessel enlargement. With transplant coronary disease, the topography of intimal thickening and associated remodeling pattern are less studied. Methods: We studied 72 prospectively recruited transplant patients with serial intravascular ultrasound using 4.3F catheters at baseline and at 1-year follow up. We considered 175 ultrasound-recorded segments (mean, 2.4 ± 1.1 segments per patient) exactly matched on the serial studies by both angiographic criteria and ultrasound criteria, using arterial and venous branch points, pericardium, and sinuses as anatomic landmarks. Results: Eighty-eight segments had no donor disease, and 87 had donor disease (80 eccentric and 7 concentric intimal thickening). Progressive intimal thickening occurred in 48 segments without (55%) and 43 segments with donor disease (48%, p = NS). Thickening from segments without donor disease was mainly eccentric (81%). Thickening from segments with donor eccentric plaque was also mainly eccentric (67%, p = NS compared with segments without donor disease), with further thickening superimposed on the original plaque. Concentric intimal thickening was uncommon. Of the 58 patients who had >1 segment matched, intimal changes were discordant in 34 (59%), with progression in some and lack of progression in other segments. Total vessel area change correlated with intimal area change ( r = 0.37 with a slope of 0.79, p r = 0.39; slope, 0.69) and segments without ( r = 0.37; slope, 1.16) donor disease. Conclusion: The intimal thickening of early transplant coronary disease is mainly eccentric and often discordant within each individual patient. Donor eccentric plaque often serves as a nidus for further intimal growth. The topography of intimal thickening in transplant coronary disease resembles that of native coronary disease, but the presence of a pre-existent donor plaque may impede compensatory remodeling as further intimal thickening occurs after transplantation.
Spatial Control of Entangled Two-Photon Absorption with Organic Chromophores

Entangled photons generated by spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) have been used to investigate entangled two-photon absorption (ETPA) in multiannulene systems. The ETPA characteristics are shown to depend on the spatial orientation of the SPDC emission pattern. The expected dependence of the absorption rate on input flux is seen for emission patterns that exhibit spatial indistinguishability between the signal and idler photons, while no absorption is observed for a spatially distinguishable emission pattern. The amount of absorption of entangled photons is also seen to depend on the degree of overlap of the entangled photons for the indistinguishable conditions. Tunability of the entangled photon absorption can thus be achieved by utilizing the spatial characteristics of the entangled photon pairs.
Expression and purification of active receptor interacting protein 1 kinase using a baculovirus system

Receptor Interacting Protein 1 (RIP1) kinase is one of the key mediators of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) signaling and is critical for activation of necroptotic cell death. We developed a method for expression of recombinant kinase, utilizing baculovirus co-infection of Cdc37, an Hsp90 co-chaperone, and RIP1-His, followed by a two-step purification scheme. After optimization, 1-3mg of highly purified RIP1 kinase was typically obtained from a 1L of Sf9 cells. The recombinant protein displayed kinase activity that was blocked by RIP1 inhibitors, necrostatins. The purified protein was used to develop a simple and robust thermal shift assay for further assessment of RIP1 inhibitors.
Food insufficiency among HIV-infected crack-cocaine users in Atlanta and Miami

Objective—To measure the occurrence and correlates of food insufficiency among HIV-infected crack-cocaine users in Atlanta and Miami, USA. Design—Non-probability cross-sectional sample. Setting—Inner-city hospitals in Atlanta and Miami. Subjects—Two hundred and eighty-seven HIV-infected crack users. Results—One-third (34 %) of respondents experienced food insufficiency within 30 d of interview. Increased odds of food insufficiency was associated with current homelessness (adjusted OR = 3·78, 95% CI 1·70, 8·41), living alone (adjusted OR = 2·85, 95% CI 1·36, 5·98), religious service attendance (adjusted OR = 2·34, 95% CI 1·02, 5·38) and presence of health insurance (adjusted OR = 2·41, 95% CI 1·06, 5·54). Monthly income greater than $US 600 (adjusted OR = 0·19, 95% CI 0·06, 0·58) was associated with decreased odds of food insufficiency, and less than weekly crack use was marginally associated with decreased odds of food insufficiency (adjusted OR = 0·39, 95 % CI 0·13, 1·08). Conclusions—Food insufficiency is very prevalent among HIV-infected urban crack-cocaine users in Atlanta and Miami. Correlates of food insufficiency confirm the social vulnerability of these individuals. Routine assessment for food insecurity should become a routine component of treatment and prevention programmes in at-risk populations.
Behavior of intrinsic polymer optical fiber sensor for large-strain applications

This paper derives the phase response of a single-mode polymer optical fiber (POF) for large-strain applications. The role of the finite deformation of the optical fiber and nonlinear strain optic effects are derived using a second order strain assumption and shown to be important at strain magnitudes as small as 1%. In addition, the role of the core radius change on the propagation constant is derived, however it is shown to be negligible as compared to the previous effects. It is shown that four mechanical and six opto-mechanical parameters must be calibrated to apply the POF sensor under axial loading. The mechanical nonlinearity of a typical single-mode polymer optical fiber is experimentally measured in axial tension and is shown to be more significant than that of their silica counterpart. The mechanical parameters of the single-mode polymer optical fiber are also measured for a variety of strain rates, from which it is demonstrated that the strain rate has a strong influence on yield stress and strain. The calibrated constants themselves are less affected by strain rate.
Structure and stability of weak–heat–release detonations for finite Mach numbers

The stability of an overdriven detonation wave for a one–step Arrhenius reaction in an ideal gas is examined in the limits of a finite detonation Mach number, small modified heat release γ−1)β and large activation energy θ, limits that are relevant to the generation of the regular cellular detonation structures observed experimentally in highly diluted mixtures. Here, γ is the specific heat ratio and β is the formation energy. The limiting case, β = 0, corresponds to a finite Mach number reactionless shock, which in an ideal gas is always stable. Nevertheless, for small but finite values of (γ−1)β, we will show that detonation instabilities can arise when perturbations in the reaction rate generated by a small disturbance at the shock front are sufficient in magnitude to balance the corresponding acoustic fluctuations that are also generated. These acoustic disturbances are also those that govern the stability of a reactionless shock (β = 0). Such reaction–rate perturbations are only generated for sufficiently large activation energies, and it is the precise magnitude of the activation energy that leads to detonation instability that we identify here for various choices of β and γ. In particular, subject to the restriction on the modified heat release (γ−1)β ≪ 1, three new weakly exothermic ordered limits are identified that are relevant to detonation instability: (1) θ(γ−1) = O (1) and (γ−1) = O (1); (2) θ(γ−1) = O (1) and (γ−1) = o (1); and (3) θ(γ−1) ≫ 1 and (γ−1) = o (1).
A Series of Incommensurately Modulated AnBnO3n+2 Phases in the SrTiO3–Sr2Nb2O7 Quasibinary System

Abstract A series of structurally related phases AnBnO3n+2 with A = Sr2+ and B = (Ti4+,Nb5+) have been prepared. Members of the homologous series with n = 4, 5, 6, 7, and noninteger values between 4 and 5 were characterized by high-resolution electron microscopy/transmission electron microscopy, bulk X-ray powder diffraction, and capacitive measurements of relative permittivities and their temperature coefficients. The structures of these compounds feature distorted perovskite-like slabs sliced parallel to the cubic (110) plane. For members of the series found at integral values, n indicates the width of the slabs (in number of [BO6] octahedra). Samples at nonintegral values of n between 4 and 5 exhibited “line structures,” i.e., ordered intergrowths of the n = 4 and n = 5 structures. For these samples, n indicates the average width of the perovskite-like slabs. The compounds share a basic orthorhombic unit cell with a ≈ 3.9 A, c ≈ 5.6 A, and a long b dimension that increases incrementally as the width of the slabs increases. High resolution electron microscopy indicated that all of the compounds are incommensurately modulated along the shortest 3.9 A cell dimension. These effects were not apparent in the bulk X-ray powder diffraction patterns. Experimental X-ray powder patterns indexed with the orthorhombic subcells are given for the new compounds with n = 4.33, 6, and 7, i.e., Sr4.33Ti0.33Nb4O15, Sr6Ti2Nb4O20, and Sr7Ti3Nb4O23. Preliminary capacitive measurements from 100 Hz to 5 MHz of relative permittivities and temperature coefficients indicated little frequency dependence but some unusual differences for successive members of the series, despite their crystal–chemical similarities.
Emotional reactivity in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Objective: This study examined Barkley’s (1997b) theory regarding the emotional regulation of children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).Method: Mothers of children with and with...
Lepidopteran soral crypsis on Caribbean ferns

Insect-fern interactions are not as well characterized as insect-angiosperm interactions. For example, the imitation of unique fern structures by insects has not been observed. On a recent trip to Puerto Rico, we collected ferns that bore small Lepidoptera imitating fern sori. Herbarium specimen searches indicate that these Lepidoptera are restricted to the Caribbean on ferns with highly visible sporangia. A possible selective pressure for the evolution of lepidopteran soral crypsis is wasp parasitism, as evidence of parasitoid wasps was found. However, it is more likely that soral crypsis evolved to avoid visually oriented predators such as birds or lizards.
Test of Recrudescence Hypothesis for Overwintering of West Nile Virus in Gray Catbirds

ABSTRACT West Nile virus is a pathogen of concern for both human and wildlife health, Although many aspects of the ecology of West Nile virus are well understood, the mechanisms by which this and similar mosquito-borne viruses overwinter and become reinitiated each spring in temperate regions is not known. A thorough understanding of this mechanism is crucial to risk assessment and development of control strategies. One of the hypotheses to explain the mechanism by which this virus persists from year to year is the spring recrudescence of latent virus in avian reservoir hosts. Stress-related immunosuppression is implicated in the recrudescence of latent viruses in birds. We tested the spring recrudescence hypothesis in a controlled laboratory experiment using hatching-year gray catbirds (Dumatella carolinensis) captured in northern Ohio (July–August 2006), Catbirds (n = 60) were experimentally infected (September 2006) and later examined for the effects of immuno-suppression through exogenous hormones and...
Cobalt(II) complexes of N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis-alkanol-substituted ethylenediamines

Abstract Coordination compounds of cobalt(II) with N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-hydroxypropyl)ethylenediamine (quadrol) and N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine (tetrol) were prepared. Elemental analyses, magnetic moments and IR and electronic spectral data indicate the cobalt(II) ion is in a distorted octahedral environment. The complexes have the general formula CoLX2, or with one alcoholic proton removed the formula is Co(L H)X, where L can be quadrol or tetrol and X = NO3−, Cl−, Br−, or SCN−.
Structural and Secondary Relaxations in Supercooled Di-n-butyl Phthalate and Diisobutyl Phthalate at Elevated Pressure

Broadband dielectric measurements at very large hydrostatic pressures (up to 1.8 GPa) are used to investigate the effect of molecular structure on the dynamical properties of supercooled di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) and its isomer, diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP). At atmospheric pressure, both the shape of the α-relaxation loss peak and the fragility are essentially the same for the two materials, although the behavior of their β-relaxations differs. The activation energy for the β-process in DiBP, which is independent of pressure, is larger than that for DBP, while the activation volume of the former is about an order of magnitude larger. In contrast to the similarities of the α-relaxation at low pressure, distinct differences between the two isomers become evident at elevated pressure. The activation volume for the α-relaxation and the pressure coefficient of the glass transition temperature are significantly larger for DBP than DiBP. On the other hand, the fragility of both liquids is invariant to pressure. ...
Optimal Waveform Design for Improved Indoor Target Detection in Sensing Through-the-Wall Applications

This paper deals with waveform design for improved detection and classification of targets behind walls and enclosed structures. The target impulse response is incorporated in an optimum design of the transmitted waveform which aims at maximizing the signal-to-interference and noise ratio (SINR) at the receiver output. The interference represents signal-dependent clutter which, along with the wall, degrades the receiver performance compared to the free-space and zero-clutter case. Computer simulations show sensitivity of the optimum waveform to target orientation but depict an SINR enhancement over chirped waveform radar emissions at all aspect angles. Numerical electromagnetic modeling is used to provide the impulse response of typical indoor stationary targets, namely, tables, chairs, and humans.
Semianalytical method of lines for solving elliptic partial differential equations

A semianalytical method of lines is presented for solving elliptic partial differential equations, which are often used to describe steady-state mass and energy transport in solids. The method provides a semianalytical solution for linear equations and can be used to obtain explicit symbolic series solutions in one of the independent variables for non-linear equations.
Evaluation and treatment of patients with cardiac disease undergoing bariatric surgery.

Abstract Background Bariatric surgery is a proven tool in reducing the co-morbidities associated with morbid obesity. The aim of the present review was to assess the current data and discuss the strategies for preoperative evaluation, preoperative treatment, and intraoperative management of the obese patient with cardiac disease seeking bariatric surgery, including those who have undergone previous angiographic intervention with coronary stenting and/or antiplatelet therapy. The setting was a university hospital in the United States. Methods A search of the English-language reports using the keywords morbid obesity, bariatric surgery, perioperative risk assessment, coronary artery disease, coronary stents, and antiplatelet therapy was conducted. Results The methods of preoperative cardiac risk assessment found in the published studies included the use of certain criteria, stress echocardiography, and single-photon emission computed tomography. Preoperative medical treatment optimization with β-blockers and statins is recommended. Perioperative antiplatelet therapy in the form of aspirin 81 mg can be safely continued, but clopidogrel should be stopped and reinitiated with caution. Conclusion Preoperative assessment of morbidly obese patients with coexisting cardiac issues presents unique challenges. Safe patient care and good clinical outcomes can be achieved with adherence to evidence-based practice.
Role of dietary proteins and peptides in cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States and most other countries. Therefore, a disease of such wide-ranging impact calls for the development of multiple viable strategies for prevention. Diet plays an important role in the development of the major risk factors of CVD such as low-grade systemic inflammation, hypertension, obesity, diabetes and atherosclerosis, the most significant. Thus, diet-based methods of prevention would not only be more feasible, but ultimately more cost-effective than relying on drugs to combat this condition. In recent years, peptides derived from either animal or plant sources have been found to have various bioactive properties. Nevertheless, their potential impact on inflammation and prevention of atherosclerosis has not been fully explored, particularly at the molecular level. In this review, the most current scientific information from in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies on the role of dietary proteins and peptides on CVD has been summarized and discussed.
Spatial resolution enhancement of Cassini Titan Radar mapper data

Post processing reconstruction and resolution enhancement algorithms can be applied to Cassini Titan Radar Mapper data to improve the image resolution for scatterometermode imagery. Reconstruction algorithms can also yield enhanced resolution images when multiple passes are combined. This paper briefly describes the application of the AVE and the Scatterometer Image Reconstruction (SIR) algorithms to Cassini Radar data. Some sample results are provided. A comparison with the Backus-Gilbert algorithm is also provided.
Electrical stimulation for chronic non-specific low back pain in a working-age population: a 12-week double blinded randomized controlled trial

Non-invasive electrotherapy is commonly used for treatment of chronic low back pain. Evidence for efficacy of most electrotherapy modalities is weak or lacking. This study aims to execute a high-quality, double-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial comparing 1) H-Wave® Device stimulation plus usual care with 2) transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) plus usual care, and 3) Sham electrotherapy plus usual care to determine comparative efficacy for treatment of chronic non-specific low back pain patients. Patients- Chronic non-specific low back pain patients between ages of 18–65 years, with pain of at least 3 months duration and minimal current 5/10 VAS pain. Patients will have no significant signs or symptoms of lumbosacral nerve impingement, malignancy, spinal stenosis, or mood disorders. Study design- Double blind RCT with 3 arms and 38 subjects per arm. Randomization by permuted blocks of random length, stratified by Workers Compensation claim (yes vs. no), and use of opioids. The null hypothesis of this study is that there are no statistically significant differences in functional improvement between treatment types during and at the end of a 12-week week treatment period. Data collection- Subjective data will be collected using Filemaker Pro™ database management collection tools. Objective data will be obtained through functional assessments. Data will be collected at enrollment and at 1, 4, 8, and 12 weeks for each participant by a blinded assessor. Interventions- H-Wave® device stimulation (Intervention A) plus usual care, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) (Intervention B) plus usual care, and sham electrotherapy plus usual care (control). Each treatment arm will have identical numbers of visits (4) and researcher contact time (approximately 15 hours). Outcomes- Primary outcome measure: Oswestry Disability Index. Secondary measures include: Rowland Morris Instrument, VAS pain score, functional evaluation including strength when pushing and pulling, pain free range of motion in flexion and extension. Outcome measures assessed at baseline, 1, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Treatment failure will be defined if patient terminates assigned treatment arm for non-efficacy or undergoes invasive procedure or other excluded cointerventions. Data will be analyzed using intention-to-treat analysis and adjusted for covariates related to LBP (e.g. age) as needed. Study strengths include complex randomization, treatment group allocation concealment, double blinding, controlling for co-interventions, rigorous inclusion criteria, assessment of compliance, plans for limiting dropout, identical assessment methods and timing for each treatment arm, and planned intention-to-treat analyses.
Optimization of a Research Web Environment for Academic Internal Medicine Faculty

Usability evaluations are a powerful tool that can assist developers in their efforts to optimize the quality of their web environment. This underutilized, experimental method can serve to move applications toward true user-centered design. This article describes the usability methodology and illustrates its importance and application by describing a usability study under- taken at the Mayo Clinic for the purpose of improving an academic research web environment. Academic institutions struggling in an era of declining reimbursements are finding it difficult to maintain academic enterprises on the back of clinical revenues. This may result in declining amounts of time that clinical investigators have to spend in non-patient-related activities. For this reason, we have undertaken to design a web environment, which can minimize the time that a cli- nician-investigator needs to spend to accomplish academic instrumental activities of daily living. Usability evaluation is a powerful application of human factors engineering, which can improve the utility of web-based Informatics applications.
Whole-genome profiling highlights the molecular complexity underlying eccentric cardiac hypertrophy:

Objectives:Heart failure is typically preceded by myocardial hypertrophy and remodeling, which can be concentric due to pressure overload (PO), or eccentric because of volume overload (VO). The mol...
Early-onset Escherichia coli sepsis presenting as acute scrotum in preterm infant

Epididymitis, or epididymo-orchitis, and infected hydrocele are unusual in the neonatal period. It is critical to differentiate them rapidly from testicular torsion to salvage the affected testis and avoid unnecessary surgical exploration. Escherichia coli is an important gram-negative bacteria causing diverse neonatal infections and is also the common bacteria causing epididymo-orchitis from an ascending route. We report the case of a preterm infant affected with epididymo-orchitis and infected hydrocele caused by early-onset E. coli sepsis. We highlight the importance of sampling proper cultures and using suitable antibiotics after excluding testicular torsion in a neonate with an acute scrotum.
Diabetes Shrinks the Brain

Infamous complications of type 2 diabetes (T2D) include hypertension, nephropathy, and retinopathy, but does this increasingly common disorder also contribute to loss of brain volume and cognitive decline? With more than 1 in 10 adults in the United States with diabetes and our current aging
Models and maps: predicting the distribution of corals and other benthic macro‐invertebrates in shelf habitats

Presence-absence data of benthic macro-invertebrates and associated habitat (i.e., sediment type and depth) were collected using a towed camera sled in selected areas along the coast off southern California. Using this information, we developed generalized linear models (GLMs) to predict the probability of occurrence of five commonly observed taxa (cup corals, hydroids, short and tall sea pens, and brittle stars in the sediment) within the Santa Barbara Channel (SBC). We employed a utility-based approach to validate the models and to identify optimal cutoff thresholds for the GLM predictions, given a relative cost of false negatives and false positives. We present optimal cutoff values under a range of cost ratios. Out-of-sample predictive accuracy, assuming equal costs of false negatives and false positives, ranged from 75% to 89%. Estimated area under the characteristic curve (AUC) in our models ranged from 0.76 for brittle stars in sediment to 0.91 for cup corals. An AUC value above 0.7 is an acceptable level of performance, between 0.8 and 0.9 is excellent, and above 0.9 is outstanding. We developed predictive maps of probability of occurrence using our validated models and a seafloor character map based on fine-scale (2–5 m) data. Cup corals and hydroids had high predicted probabilities of occurrence in areas of hard substrata, while short and tall sea pens were predicted to occur in parts of the SBC that had unconsolidated and mixed sediment. Our model predicted that brittle stars would occur throughout the entire channel on various bottom types. The combination of high-resolution seafloor character maps and predictive models of invertebrate distributions will aid managers in identifying habitats of particular concern and areas with vulnerable, deep-sea corals. Our models will be useful for marine spatial planning and ecosystem-based management, as well as for assessing the effectiveness of essential fish habitat closures and other marine protected areas.
Proposed Design Process for Deep Energy Savings in Commercial Building Retrofit Projects

AbstractExisting buildings, or those constructed before 2000, make up approximately 90% of the commercial building stock in the U.S. Existing buildings represent a large opportunity for reducing energy consumption in the U.S., because they account for approximately 16% of the country’s energy consumption each year. This paper presents a design process, in the form of a set of recommended practices, for achieving successful, deep energy retrofits (those that reduce energy consumption by 30% or more) in commercial buildings. These practices include forming an integrated design team, developing a process map for the design phase of the retrofit project that facilitates collaboration and communication, and routinely evaluating the energy performance of the project. This paper focuses on the predesign, schematic design, design development, and construction documents phases of a retrofit project and proposes tasks required in each of these phases to achieve deep energy savings in a retrofit project.
Performance benefits of monolithically stacked 3D-FPGA

The performance benefits of a monolithically stacked 3D-FPGA, whereby the programming overhead of an FPGA is stacked on top of a standard CMOS layer containing the logic blocks and interconnects, are investigated. A Virtex-II style 2D-FPGA fabric is used as a baseline for quantifying the relative improvements in logic density, delay, and power consumption achieved by such a 3D-FPGA. It is assumed that only the pass-transistor switches and configuration memory cells can be moved to the top layers and that the 3D-FPGA employs the same logic block and programmable interconnect architecture as the baseline 2D-FPGA. Assuming a configuration memory cell that is ≤ 0.7 the area of an SRAM cell and pass-transistor switches having the same characteristics as nMOS devices in the CMOS layer are used, it is shown that a monolithically stacked 3D-FPGA can achieve 3.2 times higher logic density, 1.7 times lower critical path delay, and 1.7 times lower total dynamic power consumption than the baseline 2D-FPGA fabricated in the same 65nm technology node.
Beyond 240 Gb/s per Wavelength Optical Transmission Using Coded Hybrid Subcarrier/Amplitude/Phase/Polarization Modulation

In this letter, we propose a low-density parity-check coded hybrid subcarrier/amplitude/phase/polarization (H-SAPP) modulation scheme suitable to achieve a 240-Gb/s single-channel transmission rate over optical channels. The proposed scheme doubles the aggregate transmission rate achievable by eight-quadrature amplitude modulation while providing 2-dB optical signal-to-noise ratio performance improvement at a bit-error-ratio (BER) of 10-6 . Moreover, H-SAPP can increase the aggregate rate of the hybrid amplitude/phase/polarization scheme while maintaining the BER performance intact.