cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nuclear Data Sheets for A = 100

The 1960 version of the Nuclear Data Sheets for A = 100 was revised on the basis of experimental data received prior to December 1, 1973. Information from approximately 100 papers and communications was included. Data on nine A = 100 nuclei are presented. The assignment of a 7.1-s activity to the decay of the /sup 100/ Sr ground state and the assignment of 1.5-s and 3.1-s activities to the decay of sup 100/Nb isomers adopted by the compilers differ from assignments proposed in the published literature. The decay scheme for /sup 100/Zr is not known, and the separate decay schemes for the two /sup 100/Nb isomers have not yet been determined. Many spin assignments have been made for the stable nuclei / sup 100/Mo and /sup 100/Ru. The decay scheme for /sup 100/Tc is well established, but no excited levels in this nucleus are known. The decay of /sup 100/Rh has been extensively studied. From an evaluation of all data, the compilers propose decay branching ratios to low-lying levels in /sup 100/Ru which differ somewhat from those given in the literature. The spins of a few low-lying levels in /sup 100/Rh are known. Details of the /sup 100/Pd decaymore » scheme are uncertain since the decay energy and the decay branching ratio to the /sup 100/Rh ground state have not been measured and relative photon intensities for some transitions in the decay are not accurately known. The first level scheme for /sup 100/Pd, which has recently been proposed, is presented. The assignment of a 2.3-m activity to /sup 100/Ag decay appears well established, but the compilers regard the assignment of an 8-m activity to /sup 100/Ag decay as uncertain. The half-life of the /sup 100/Cd ground state has been measured, but no decay scheme has been proposed. (auth)« less
Cross-Polar Aircraft Trajectory Optimization and Potential Climate Impact

Cross-Polar routes offer new opportunities for air travel markets. Transpolar flights reduce travel times, fuel burns, and associated environmental emissions by flying direct paths between many North American and Asian cities. This study evaluates the potential benefits of flying wind-optimal polar routes and assessed their potential impact on climate change. An optimization algorithm is developed for transpolar flights to generate wind-optimal trajectories that minimize climate impact of aircraft, in terms of global warming potentials (relative to warming by one kg of CO 2 ) of several types of emissions, while avoiding regions of airspace that facilitate persistent contrail formation. Estimations of global warming potential are incorporated into the objective function of the optimization algorithm to assess the climate impact of aircraft emissions discharged at a given location and altitude. The regions of airspace with very low ambient temperature and areas favorable to persistent contrail formation are modeled as undesirable regions that aircraft should avoid and are formulated as soft state constraints. The fuel burn and climate impact of cross-polar air traffic flying various types of trajectory including flight plan, great circle, wind-optimal, and contrail-avoidance are computed for 15 origin-destination pairs between major international airports in the U.S. and Asia. Wind-optimal routes reduce average fuel burn of flight plan routes by 4.4% on December 4, 2010 and 8.0% on August 7, 2010, respectively. The tradeoff between persistent contrail formation and additional global warming potential of aircraft emissions is investigated with and without altitude optimization. Without altitude optimization, the reduction in contrail travel times is gradual with increase in total fuel consumption. When altitude is optimized, a one percent increase in additional global warming potential, a climate impact equivalent to that of 4070kg and 4220kg CO 2 emission, reduces 135 and 105 minutes persistent contrail formation per flight during a day with medium and high contrail formation, respectively.
Power-aware predictive models of hybrid (MPI/OpenMP) scientific applications on multicore systems

Predictive models enable a better understanding of the performance characteristics of applications on multicore systems. Previous work has utilized performance counters in a system-centered approach to model power consumption for the system, CPU, and memory components. Often, these approaches use the same group of counters across different applications. In contrast, we develop application-centric models (based upon performance counters) for the runtime and power consumption of the system, CPU, and memory components. Our work analyzes four Hybrid (MPI/OpenMP) applications: the NAS Parallel Multizone Benchmarks (BT-MZ, SP-MZ, LU-MZ) and a Gyrokinetic Toroidal Code, GTC. Our models show that cache utilization (L1/L2), branch instructions, TLB data misses, and system resource stalls affect the performance of each application and performance component differently. We show that the L2 total cache hits counter affects performance across all applications. The models are validated for the system and component power measurements with an error rate less than 3%.
Smart altera firmware for DSP with FPGAs

Design of current DSP applications using state-of-the art multi-million gates devices requires a broad foundation of engineering skills ranging from knowledge of hardware-efficient DSP algorithms to CAD design tools. The requirement of short time-to-market, however, requires to replace the traditional HDL based designs by a MatLab/Simulink-based design flow. This not only allows the over 1 million MatLab users to design with FPGAs but also to by-pass the hardware design engineer and leads therefore to shorter development time. We have evaluated the Altera/Simulink tool flow used for a University design environment and present design experience of a semester course at FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. We discuss the required background knowledge, key target smart firmware for FPGAs and possible advanced designs, e.g. FFT and multirate filter banks and wavelets designed by students with only basic logic experience.
Kidney-specific chromosome transfer in genetic hypertension: the Dahl hypothesis revisited.

Kidney-specific chromosome transfer in genetic hypertension: The Dahl hypothesis revisited. Background A central dogma in the field of essential hypertension research is that the genetic transmission of increased blood pressure is determined solely by the genotype of the kidney. This concept is based in large part on studies in experimental rat models of spontaneous hypertension in which transplantation of a kidney from a hypertensive strain into a normotensive strain was reported to increase blood pressure, and transplantation of a kidney from a normotensive strain into a hypertensive strain was reported to decrease blood pressure. The enduring interpretation of these now classic experiments remains virtually unchanged from the view originally espoused a quarter century ago by Lewis Dahl, one of the founding fathers of the field of genetic hypertension research: "Blood pressure is determined by the genotype of the donor kidney and not the genotype of the recipient." Methods To test the Dahl hypothesis, we determined the blood pressure effects of selective intrarenal versus extrarenal exchange of single chromosome regions between the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and the normotensive Brown Norway (BN) rat. Results The replacement of a defined segment of chromosome 1 in the SHR with the corresponding chromosome region of the BN rat was sufficient to attenuate hypertension when selectively achieved either inside the kidney or outside the kidney. Conclusions The current finding ( 1 ) demonstrates that naturally occurring genetic variants exist that can regulate blood pressure when selectively expressed outside the kidney as well as inside the kidney, and ( 2 ) compels reconsideration of the long-held view that in essential hypertension, the genetic transmission of increased blood pressure is determined solely by the genotype of the kidney.
INSTABILITY WAVE ANALYSIS OF CONFINED SUPERSONIC JETS USING THE FINITE ELEMENT METHOD

Abstract In this paper, a finite element numerical approach to the solution of linear stability problems is described. The perturbation equation governing the linear instability waves in confined supersonic jets is evaluated using a global scheme instead of the traditional shooting method. Typical global schemes such as the finite difference method and the boundary element method have been applied previously to solve related problems for circular and elliptic jets. To improve the robustness of the calculation for more complex jet exit geometries, the present study makes use of the finite element method (FEM). Additional accuracy for the calculations is achieved through grid refinement by re-generating the FEM grid manually. A local iterative method is then used to obtain refined eigensolutions. Favorable agreement between the FEM and semi-analytical results is achieved. The effects of variations of the shroud geometry on the instability wave characteristics of confined circular and elliptic jets are also analyzed. In the case of a circular jet in a non-circular duct, a decrease in the growth rate of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability wave is observed. It is proposed that such a decrease in growth rate is due to the decrease in the perturbation pressure gradient inside the mixing layer. For confined elliptic jets, the effects of confinement on the different classes of instability modes are documented. The mode that “flaps” about the jet major axis is found to be less influenced by the presence of a shroud than the “varicose” mode that is even about both the jet major and minor axes.
Use of the Ki67 Promoter to Label Cell Cycle Entry in Living Cells

Genetic based reporters have distinct advantages over classical immunocytochemical techniques for probing cellular functions. Most importantly, they enable dynamic real-time visualization and quantification of cellular processes in living cells and tissue. This study was conducted to generate a genetic based reporter to label cells that transitioned from the G(0) to G(1)/S phases of the cell cycle, hypothesizing that the proximal promoter of the Ki67 (Ki67p) gene, a commonly used cytology marker induced during this transition, would contain the suitable regulatory elements to drive marker gene expression. This study reports the cloning and characterization of the 1.5 kb proximal promoter (Ki67p) of the human Ki67 gene. Ki67p driven GFP expression colocalizes in cells with endogenous Ki67 expression and is correlated with cells transitioning through S/G(2)/M phases of the cell cycle. Treatment Ki67p-GFP expressing HT1080 cells with mitomycin C, an antineoplastic agent, induces P21 and P27 expression, G(1)/S/G(2)M block and attenuates Ki67p activity. Attenuation of the Ki67p also occurs during cell-density induced cell cycle arrest. Taken together, these results indicate that the Ki67p can be used to identify proliferating subpopulations of live cells in intact complex three-dimensional cellular aggregates, such as embryoid bodies, thus providing some unique advantages over conventional immunohistochemical approaches.
General anesthesia for cesarean delivery at a tertiary care hospital from 2000 to 2005: a retrospective analysis and 10-year update

Abstract Background Complications from general anesthesia for cesarean delivery are a leading cause of anesthesia-related mortality. As a consequence, the overall use of general anesthesia in this setting is becoming less common. The impact and implications of this trend are considered in relation to a similar study performed at our institution 10 years ago. Methods The hospital database for all cesarean deliveries performed during six calendar years (January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2005) was reviewed. The medical records of all parturients who received general anesthesia were examined to collect personal details and data pertinent to the indications for cesarean delivery and general anesthesia, mode of airway management and associated anesthetic complications. Results Cesarean deliveries accounted for 23.65% to 31.51% of an annual total ranging from 8543 to 10091 deliveries. The percentage of cases performed under general anesthesia ranged from 0.5% to 1%. A perceived lack of time for neuraxial anesthesia accounted for more than half of the general anesthesia cases each year, with maternal factors accounting for 11.1% to 42.9%. Failures of neuraxial techniques accounted for less than 4% of the general anesthesia cases. There was only one case of difficult intubation and no anesthesia-related mortality was recorded. Conclusion The use of general anesthesia for cesarean delivery is low and declining. These trends may reflect the early and increasing use of neuraxial techniques, particularly in parturients with co-existing morbidities. A significant reduction in exposure of trainees to obstetric general anesthesia has been observed.
Antiproliferative effect of pHLIP-amanitin.

Toxins could be effective anticancer drugs, if their selective delivery into cancer cells could be achieved. We have shown that the energy of membrane-associated folding of water-soluble membrane peptides of the pHLIP (pH low insertion peptide) family could be used to move cell-impermeable cargo across the lipid bilayer into the cytoplasm of cancer cells. Here we present the results of a study of pHLIP-mediated cellular delivery of a polar cell-impermeable toxin, α-amanitin, an inhibitor of RNA polymerase II. We show that pHLIP can deliver α-amanitin into cells in a pH-dependent fashion and induce cell death within 48 h. Translocation capability could be tuned by conjugating amanitin to the C-terminus of pHLIP via linkers of different hydrophobicities that could be cleaved in the cytoplasm. pHLIP-SPDP-amanitin, which exhibits 4–5 times higher antiproliferative ability at pH 6 than at pH 7.4, was selected as the best construct. The major mechanism of amanitin delivery is direct translocation (flip) across ...
Not Excluded From Analyses: Ethnic and Racial Meanings and Identification Among Multiethnic/Racial Early Adolescents

Because research on ethnic-racial identity development largely excludes multiethno-racial youth, we used a mixed-methods approach to examine ethno-racial meanings and identification among 102 early adolescents (M = 11.45, SD = 0.70 years) with multiethno-racial (n = 45), mono-majority (i.e., European American; n = 29), or mono-minority (e.g., Latino, African American; n = 28) heritage. Results indicated more similarity than difference between multiethno-racial and mono-minority youth—most understood their heritage through tangible connections (e.g., language). Social (e.g., stereotypes) and individual (e.g., pride) meanings of ethno-racial heritage were also discussed. Last, we observed that most multiethno-racial youth identified with either one (53.3%) or all components of their heritage (35.6%), and these identification choices were linked to tangible experiences (e.g., travel or language proficiency). Developmental and contextual reasons for these findings are discussed.
Characteristics of agonist displacement of [3H]ketanserin binding to platelet 5-HT2A receptors: implications for psychiatric research

Abstract Brain 5-HT 2A receptors exist in two agonist affinity states as a function of their coupling to G q protein. This has not yet been shown in platelets. We examined [ 3 H]ketanserin's saturable binding to platelet 5-HT 2A receptors and characteristics of agonist displacement curves of [ 3 H]ketanserin binding in healthy control subjects. [ 3 H]ketanserin saturation curves showed a trend for a two-site model, reflecting two independent binding sites. At low [ 3 H]ketanserin concentrations, agonist displacement curves were flat and best fit a two-site model, indicating the existence of two agonist affinity states. Guanylyl 5′-imidotriphosphate [Gpp(NH)p] induced a significant rightward shift in agonist displacement curves to fit a one-site model. Platelet membrane 5-HT 2A receptors exist in two agonist affinity states that are regulated by G q protein. Platelet 5-HT 2A receptors provide an accessible model for examining possible dysregulation in the agonist affinity or coupling efficiency to the phosphoinositide system in psychiatric disorders and their modulation by psychotropic medications.
Chromium nitride coatings produced by ion beam assisted deposition

Chromium nitride is a candidate material for the replacement of electroplated chromium as a tribological coating in a number of Army applications. In this study, ion beam assisted deposition has been used to deposit chromium nitride coatings onto a variety of substrates, including carbon foil, silicon, and steel, using 1200 eV nitrogen ions from an r.f.-type ion source and thermally evaporated chromium. The ion/atom arrival ratio R was varied from zero to approximately 8 and was found to have a strong effect on the film composition, film growth rate and stress state. At a constant background pressure of nitrogen, the nitrogen content of the coatings increased from 0 to 44 at.% with increasing R, indicating the ion assist was necessary for the incorporation of nitrogen into the coatings. The increased R also resulted in a reduced deposition rate due to ion sputtering effects, however, so the formation of stoichiometric CrN films may be not be possible under these deposition conditions (room temperature substrate and a background nitrogen partial pressure of 1.8 × 10−2 Pa). The microstructure and stress of the coatings varied from columnar and tensile (evaporated Cr with no ion assist) to impact and highly compressive (deposition with ion assist). The fracture behavior of the films was examined using an automated scratch tester and scanning electron microscopy; tensilely stressed Cr films showed a tendency to crack and delaminate from silicon substrates, while compressively stressed CrxNy films did not crack easily and were more adherent.
Self-Narratives and Editorial Marks: Inventing Hettie Jones

In 1999, writer Hettie Jones published an essay titled “Babes in Boyland,” in which she reflected on what it meant to be a woman during the 1950s' Beat movement in New York City: Sex of course—let'...
Johnson Noise Thermometry near the Zinc Freezing Point Using Resistance-Based Scaling

Johnson noise thermometry (JNT) is a primary method of measuring temperature which can be applied over wide ranges. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is currently using JNT to determine the deviations of the International Temperature Scale of 1990 (ITS-90) from the thermodynamic temperature in the range of 505–933 K, overlapping the ranges of both acoustic gas-based and radiation-based thermometry. Advances in digital electronics have now made viable the computationally intensive and data-volume-intensive processing required for JNT using noise-voltage correlation in the frequency domain. The spectral noise power, and consequently the thermodynamic temperature T, of a high-temperature JNT probe is determined relative to a known reference spectrum using a switched-input digital noise-voltage correlator and simple resistance-scaling relationships. Comparison of the JNT results with standard platinum resistance thermometers calibrated on the ITS-90 gives the deviation of the thermodynamic temperature from the temperature on the ITS-90, T − T 90. Statistical uncertainties under 50 μK·K−1 are achievable in less than 1 day of integration by fitting the effects of transmission-line time constants over bandwidths of 450 kHz. The methods and results in a 3 K interval near the zinc freezing point (T 90-ZnFP ≡ 692.677 K) are described. Preliminary results show agreement between the JNT-derived temperatures and the ITS-90.
Age group differences in diet and physical activity-related behaviors among rural men and women.

Objectives: Age group variations in dietary intake and physical activity have been noted in large epidemiologic studies. In this study, specific measures of behavioral strategies add depth to our understanding of these variations and can contribute to the design of effective behavioral interventions.Design: Cross-sectional, behavioral epidemiologic study.Setting: Rural Midwestern US.Participants: 407 adults.Measurements: Measures included dietary intake, physical activity, body mass index (BMI), and specific behavioral strategies related to diet and physical activity.Results: Use of most strategies related to diet increased across age groups, which was consistent with declining caloric intake and a decline in the proportion of total caloric intake from fat. The same patterns were not found with regard to physical activity. Greater use of diet-related strategies was noted in the oldest age groups compared to the others even though BMI was lower.Conclusions: In the oldest age group at least, strategy use may be more related to attempts to control health conditions than body weight. The findings provide a unique perspective on age group differences in diet and physical activity behavior. Longitudinal tracking of these specific behaviors and their measurement in other populations is warranted.
Interplay between Intra- and Intermolecular Excited-State Single- and Double-Proton-Transfer Processes in the Biaxially Symmetric Molecule 3,7-Dihydroxy-4H,6H-pyrano(3,2-g)-chromene-4,6-dione †

The molecule 2,8-diphenyl-3,7-dihydroxy-4H,6H-pyrano[3,2-g]-chromene-4,6-dione (D3HF, diflavonol) has been synthesized. This molecule contains two mutually symmetric and identical intramolecular hydrogen-bond systems. D3HF exhibits diverse excited-state proton-transfer processes, which transform it in a novel molecule in proton-transfer spectroscopy. Ultraviolet−visible absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy have been applied to D3HF in hydrocarbon, dioxane, and protic solvents from 295 to 77 K, together with fluorescence quenching experiments. The interplay between intramolecular single-proton-transfer and intermolecular double-proton-transfer processes has been demonstrated in protic solvents. Density functional calculations (DFT) in the ground state (DFT-B3LYP) and in the singlet excited states (time-dependent DFT) have been executed for D3HF and for 3-hydroxiflavone (3HF). The theoretical calculations confirm the experimental photophysical evidence. The role of the phenyl torsion on the proton-trans...
Cardiomyocyte regeneration following angioblast-dependent neovascularization of ischemic myocardium

Abstract In the adult, new blood vessel formation can occur either through angiogenesis from pre-existing mature endothelium or vasculogenesis mediated by bone marrow-derived endothelial precursors. We recently isolated endothelial progenitor cells, or angioblasts, in human adult bone marrow, which have selective migratory properties for ischemic tissues, including myocardium, to where they home and induce vasculogenesis. Angioblast trafficking to the infarct zone enables development of progressively larger-sized capillaries. Here, we show that this results in sustained improvement in cardiac function by mechanisms involving induction of proliferation/regeneration of endogenous cardiomyocytes.
Experiments to ensure Space Station fire safety - A challenge

Three experiments have been formulated in order to address prominent fire safety requirements aboard the NASA Space Shuttle; these experiments are to be conducted as part of a Space Station-based Technology Development Mission for the growth phase of Space Station construction and operation. The experiments are: (1) an investigation of the flame-spread rate and combustion-product evolution in the burning of typical spacecraft materials in low gravity; (2) an evaluation of the interaction of fires and candidate fire extinguishers in low gravity; and (3) an investigation of the persistence and propagation of smoldering and deep-seated combustion in low gravity.
RADIOTHERAPY FOR HEAD AND NECK CANCER. TEAMWORK: PROBLEMS COMMON TO PHYSICIAN AND DENTIST.

Abstract The use of roentgen and gamma rays in the management of intraoral cancer has improved the result obtained. Irradiation of this area impairs, in many instances, the salivary function, which results in dryness of the mouth and dental caries. Close association with a dentist who is acquainted with these problems is essential. Extraction of the teeth for patients who are selected for radiation therapy or who are undergoing radiotherapy is discussed. Radiation necrosis of the soft parts and bone, and the use of intraoral applicators loaded with radioactive sources, and intraoral plastic devices to protect normal tissue in this region are discussed.
Vascular Spasm During Heparin-Dihydroergotamine Prophylaxis in a Quadriplegic Patient: Case History

Lower extremity ischemia occurred in a quadriplegic patient following dihy droergotamine-heparin prophylaxis. Ergotamine should be used with caution in paralyzed patients.
The Acquisition of Restructured Firms: An Illustration of Market Discipline?

We examine the relationship between chief executive officer (CEO) compensation and acquisition activity subsequent to corporate restructurings in a sample of 152 firms created by a voluntary corporate spin-off. We also investigate the linkage between these relationships and the stock market reaction to the initial restructuring announcements. Surprisingly, CEO wealth in the form of stock and options is strongly related to friendly and hostile acquisition activity, respectively. Moreover, the stock market appears to anticipate this subsequent acquisition activity. These results ask us to rethink our understanding of the motivational properties of equity ownership and the stock market's reaction to voluntary corporate spin-off announcements.
Young Children are not Underconfident With Practice: The Benefit of Ignoring a Fallible Memory Heuristic

In this study the authors investigated whether children demonstrated the underconfidence-with-practice (UWP) effect. This effect is a highly robust metacognitive illusion in which adults become underconfident in their memory performance when asked to predict their memory for the same items across multiple study-test trials. One explanation for such underconfidence is the result of adults basing their predictions of future performance on how well they performed on the immediately previous trial and not adjusting their predictions upward for new learning. By contrast, previous research has demonstrated that young children's predictions are influenced minimally by their past performance. Thus, if using this memory-for-past-test heuristic is a major contributor to the UWP effect, young children may not demonstrate it. In two experiments, children were asked to predict their recall of the same pictures across multiple trials. In Experiments 1A and 1B, kindergarteners did not become underconfident with practice...
Exchange Traded Funds [Wireless Investor]

The use of index mutual funds is not the only way to implement the strategy. Alternative investment vehicles called exchange traded funds (ETFs) have emerged in the past few years and have become very popular. This column looks at how mutual funds and ETFs have evolved and why there is so much interest in ETFs
Hydroxylapatite reconstruction of alveolar ridge deficiency with an open mucosal flap technique

A preliminary report on an open surgical technique for mandibular augmentation with hydroxylapatite has been presented. Twelve patients were evaluated from 2 to 20 months postoperatively. Advantages are thought to include better ridge form, maintenance of vestibular depth, and visualization of the mental nerve. In addition, splints usually are not necessary. Disadvantages include increased surgical time, possible lower lip inversion, and soft-tissue characteristics that may require secondary revisions.
Curtailment Estimation Methods for Demand Response: Lessons Learned by Comparing Apples to Oranges

Accurate estimation and evaluation of consumption reduction achieved by participants during Demand Response is critical to Smart Grids. We perform an in-depth study of popular estimation methods used to determine the extent of consumption shedding during DR, using a real-world Smart Grid dataset from the University of Southern California campus microgrid. We provide insights to the process of selecting a reasonable baseline with respect to potential misinterpretation of the estimation of electricity consumption reduction during DR.
Calcite cement in Permian deep-water sandstones, Delaware Basin, west Texas: Origin, distribution, and effect on reservoir properties

Calcite cement is the dominant control on reservoir quality in turbidite sandstones of the Upper Permian Bell Canyon Formation, Delaware Basin. These well-sorted, very fine-grained arkoses were deposited in a basin-floor setting by channel-levee systems terminating in broad lobes. Calcite cement distribution in the East Ford and Geraldine Ford fields was mapped using core, log, and thin-section data. Calcite is concentrated in tightly cemented zones that are mostly less than 1 ft (0.3 m) thick. Areas that have high percentages of calcite-cemented sandstone (20%) occur along the margins of the sandstone bodies, in overbank and lobe deposits, where sandstone pinches out into siltstone. Areas that have the lowest percentage of calcite-cemented sandstone (10%) occur where the sandstone is thickest, in the channel facies. Isotopic composition of the calcite (13C = 1.8 to 3.0 [relative to the Peedee belemnite, PDB], 18O = 4.6 to 6.3 [PDB]) is consistent with the source of calcium carbonate being from dissolution of detrital carbonate rock fragments and marine skeletal debris. Because internal sources of calcite were apparently insufficient to account for the cement volume, cement components are interpreted as having been transported into the sandstones from organic-rich basinal siltstones and limestones. Feldspars buffered acidic formation waters near where they entered the sandstone, resulting in calcite concentrated near the sandstone margins. The calcite formed near maximum burial depths of 4800 ft (1.5 km) and temperatures of 104F (40C) from marine pore waters with 18O of approximately 0 (relative to standard mean ocean water). Most of the calcite-cemented zones are interpreted as being concretions that extend no more than a few meters laterally. Production data and geophysical log correlations suggest that some cemented zones are laterally continuous at least 1000 ft (300 m) and cause vertical reservoir compartmentalization. Laterally extensive calcite layers may be associated with the base of turbidite deposits.
Differences in the Associations between Gambling Problem Severity and Psychiatric Disorders among Black and White Adults: Findings from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions

We examined differences in the associations of gambling problem severity and psychiatric disorders among a nationally representative sample of 32,316 black and white adults. Black respondents were more likely than white ones to exhibit problem or pathological gambling (PPG) and a stronger relationship between subsyndromal gambling and any mood disorder, hypomania, and any substance use disorder. Differences in the patterns of co-occurring disorders between syndromal and particularly subsyndromal levels of gambling in black and white respondents indicate the importance of considering race-related factors in mental health prevention and treatment strategies.
Work as “disutility” and money as “happiness”: Cultural origins of a basic market error

Abstract The market economists' hedonic equation, namely, money and leisure are the pleasures that reward people for the pain of work, has been shown in recent research to be erroneous. Beyond a decent minimum, increased income contributes little to happiness (subjective well-being) and often a person's actual working activities are enjoyed more than are leisure activities. Achievement at work is a much more important source of happiness than is a high standard of living. But market institutions and market economics cannot accommodate the idea that work is rewarding in itself or that money is not the principal source of utility. The mistaken interpretations of work as pain and money as pleasure do not, however, have their roots in the market economy or in its interpretation by market economists; they have deep historical roots in biblical, classical, medieval, and modern thought. The consequence of this cultural inheritance is that our ambivalence about work and money obstructs the development of a producer economy where work satisfactions may be given priority over consumer satisfactions so as to maximize genuine “utility,” or long term happiness.
Regulation of C-myc protooncogene expression in osteoblastic cells by arachidonic acid metabolites: relationship to proliferation.

Prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene B4 are metabolites of arachidonic acid with well-characterized effects on osteoblastic cells. Prostaglandin E2 has been shown to be a potent bone-resorbing agent and to stimulate as well as inhibit osteoblastic cell proliferation. Leukotriene B4 has also been demonstrated to stimulate or inhibit osteoblastic cell proliferation, depending on the cell type tested. In the present study, the potential relationship of the effects of prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene B4 on osteoblastic cell proliferation to c-myc protooncogene expression was investigated. Prostaglandin E2 has been shown previously to inhibit normal rat osteoblastic cell proliferation. The present studies show that prostaglandin E2 at 10-6 M decreased c-myc expression in these cells. In the human osteoblastic osteosarcoma cell line, G292, prostaglandin E2 increased c-myc expression and inhibited proliferation. In contrast, epidermal growth factor increased DNA synthesis as well as c-myc expression. Prostaglandin E2 also inhibited proliferation of another human osteoblastic osteosarcoma cell line, Saos-2, but it did not produce any changes in c-myc expression. In these cells, epidermal growth factor did not affect either DNA synthesis or c-myc expression. Leukotriene B4 did not show any effects on c-myc expression in any of the osteoblastic cells tested.
Kindlin ignites a new flame

In this issue of Blood , Pluskota et al have defined a completely novel role for Kindlin.[1][1] This protein has been known for decades, but apparently it still has a few new tricks up its sleeve. ![Figure][2] (A) Mutations within all kindlin family members cause pathology in humans and mice
Increase in extracellular serotonin produced by uptake inhibitors is enhanced after chronic treatment with fluoxetine

Abstract The effect of prolonged uptake inhibition with fluoxetine (10 mg/kg/day i.p. × 14 days) on extracellular serotonin (5-HT) in the rat diencephalon was monitored using in vivo microdialysis. The increase in extracellular 5-HT after repeated administration of fluoxetine was significantly greater than the increase produced by a single injection of this uptake blocker. This difference may have been due to a decrease in somatodendritic autoreceptor sensitivity, since the response to a low dose of the 5-HT1A agonist 8-OH-DPAT (25 μg/kg i.v.) was abolished in the chronic rats, while the response to a high dose (100 μg/kg i.v.) was attenuated as compared to animals injected once with fluoxetine.
Implementing real-time grouping for fast egress in emergency

Abstract Mass events such as the Olympic games or popular entertainment gathering often attract hundreds of thousands of people. If an abrupt event (e.g., fire, bomb threat) prompts people to rush to exits, stampedes may occur, creating secondary damages. Thus quickly dispersing crowd population to safe places in the least time while managing to avoid congestion and/or stampede is an important task with the occurrence of such events. This study presents an optimal evacuation model to meet this goal. By identifying some key themes that contribute to crowd disasters, the model implements a real-time concurrent grouping to ensure at-risk people are guided to safe places in the least time. The underlying rationale of the strategy is to advocate that competition should be replaced with coherence, and people should coordinate and collaborate to move out in an orderly way through scientifically using multiple routes. In doing so, each person receives an equal opportunity to exit the incident site, and the general effectiveness of performing an evacuation is achieved to an optimal level. To verify the proposed method, we conduct a simulation in which we compare our method with two benchmark cases: random self-evacuation and herding behavior. The results demonstrate that the proposed strategy can rescue people at risk much faster and more safely than two benchmark cases. We implement the proposed model through a web-based wireless decision support system, which provides a useful tool to both first responders and people affected for time-based crowd management in response to an ongoing crowd incident.
R&D activities of national and foreign-owned firms in Turkish manufacturing

This paper analyzes, using CHAID (Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detector) and logistic regression, the R&D expenditures of national and foreign-owned establishments in Turkish manufacturing. Most manufacturing industry establishments, which are small-scale, do not conduct any R&D. The larger the foreign ownership percentage share, the larger the employment size, the higher the average wages and salaries, the greater is the likelihood of having R&D expenditures.
Perturbation methods in control of flexible link manipulators

The resolution of the dynamics of flexible manipulators into rigid and flexible modes is considered. The decoupling is established on the single-link case by singular perturbation techniques. The flexural effects of the manipulator on its rigid-body motion are included by using the higher-order terms in the asymptotic expansion. The model used is the integro-partial-differential equation resulting from the extended Hamiltonian principle. Use of this model, rather than a finite-dimensional approximation, yields more insight and a more compact way of obtaining the higher-order terms that represent the coupling between the rigid and the flexure modes. Asymptotic perturbation techniques are utilized to generate a composite control law. >
SEGMENTS: a layered, dual-Kalman filter algorithm for indoor feature extraction

A layered algorithm for extracting features in an indoor environment from planar range data is presented. At the lower (signal processing) level, the SEGMENTS algorithm exploits the speed and accuracy of two extended Kalman filters working in tandem and processes sequentially the distance measurements within each scan. The first Kalman filter is responsible for initiating straight line segments and detecting clutter while the second estimates the parameters of each line segment (such as distance and orientation) and determines when this is interrupted. The dual filter combination is capable of detecting edges and straight line segments within the scene in front of the robot. At the higher (post-processing) level, the identified segments are combined to form more complex features such as extended walls, corners (concave and convex), doors and corridors. During the composition cycle, SEGMENTS makes use of (i) the parametric representation of the straight line segments and (ii) the prespecific topological models of the features this algorithm seeks. A list of the identified features along with their location with respect to the laser sensor is finally available to the user. The cluttered regions in the scene are also marked on a polar representation of the environment. The presented algorithm has been tested on a Pioneer 2 DX mobile robot equipped with a SICK LMS 200 proximity laser scanner performing map-based localization. Low computational requirements, accuracy and robustness to uncertainty and noise characterize the performance of this new method for feature extraction.
Influence of management intensity on the productivity of early successional Acadian stands in eastern Maine

Early successional stands composed of naturally regenerated hardwood and conifer species are abundant in the forests of northeastern North America. Substantial improvements in the composition and growth of these stands may be possible with early management intervention. Unfortunately, stand responses to early management inputs are poorly understood since many of these stands are rarely manipulated. We examined the response of early successional stands to combinations of two management intensities (with and without enrichment planting and different levels of vegetation control) and three compositional objectives (hardwood, mixedwood and conifer). The treatments were designed to represent management options available in the region, including hardwood thinning, conifer release and a combination of treatments to promote hardwood –conifer mixedwood stands. Seven years after treatment, yields of the two hardwood thinning treatments ranged from 43.4 to 56.6 Mg ha 21 , which were similar to the 52.9 Mg ha 21 yield of the untreated control but with 17 and 46% lower densities, respectively. In the conifer release treatments, the removal of hardwoods promoted conifer dominance and resulted in yields between 19.9 and 30.4 Mg ha 21 7 years after treatment. The conifer release treatments will likely be dominated by conifers in the future with varying hardwood densities due to hardwoods establishing in gaps without conifers. After 7 years, yields of the mixedwood treatments were between 19 and 47% greater than the conifer release treatments due to the retention of thinned hardwood stems and represent stands that dominate much of the forestland in the region. Results from this study demonstrated that early successional stands can be effectively managed during early stand development to improve growth and the longer term composition.
A New Variable-Fidelity Optimization Framework Based on Model Fusion and Objective-Oriented Sequential Sampling

Computational models with variable fidelity have been widely used in engineering design. To alleviate the computational burden, surrogate models are used for optimization without recourse to expensive high-fidelity simulations. In this work, a model fusion technique based on Bayesian Gaussian process modeling is employed to construct cheap, surrogate models to integrate information from both low-fidelity and high-fidelity models, while the interpolation uncertainty of the surrogate model due to the lack of sufficient high-fidelity simulations is quantified. In contrast to space filling, the sequential sampling of a high-fidelity simulation model in our proposed framework is objective-oriented, aiming for improving a design objective. Strategy based on periodical switching criteria is studied which is shown to be effective in guiding the sequential sampling of a high-fidelity model towards improving a design objective as well as reducing the interpolation uncertainty. A design confidence (DC) metric is proposed to serves as the stopping criterion to facilitate design decision making against the interpolation uncertainty. Numerical and engineering examples are provided to demonstrate the benefits of the proposed methodology.
Point source thermal response of five-layer anisotropic plate structures

The transfer function of a five-layer anisotropic composite structure is derived. Using the inverse Fourier transform, the point source thermal response of the structure is obtained. The availability of this point source response simplifies the computation of the parameters of the unit thermal profile for real-time thermal design. For structures having embedded heat sources of arbitrary geometries, the temperature solution can be derived using the inverse Fourier transform method or the convolution method, thus greatly extending the type of electron devices which can be studied using analytical methods. >
Sleep and Circadian Functioning: Critical Mechanisms in the Mood Disorders?

Evidence for the importance of sleep in the mood disorders has mushroomed over the past decade. Among adolescents and adults with a mood disorder, sleep disturbance is a risk factor for episodes, can contribute to relapse, has an adverse impact on emotion regulation, is critical for cognitive functioning, compromises health, and may contribute to substance use comorbidity and suicidality. This evidence has triggered a shift away from viewing sleep disturbance as an epiphenomenon, toward viewing sleep disturbance as an important but under-recognized mechanism in the multifactorial cause and maintenance of the mood disorders. Because the biology underpinning the sleep and circadian system is an open system, readily influenced by inputs from the environment, sleep in the mood disorders represents a unique and exciting domain for interdisciplinary research across behavioral, social, cognitive, and neurobiological levels of explanation. Together, the accumulated evidence has informed a range of novel, powerful, simple, and inexpensive treatments with potential for massive improvements to public health, including improving quality of life, reducing length and severity of episodes, and reducing the risk of subsequent episodes in the large number of individuals who suffer from mood disorders.
Inhibition of sterile danger signals, uric acid and ATP, prevents inflammasome activation and protects from alcoholic steatohepatitis in mice.

Background & Aims The inflammasome is a well-characterized inducer of inflammation in alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH). Inflammasome activation requires two signals for mature interleukin (IL)-1β production. Here we asked whether metabolic danger signals trigger inflammasome activation in ASH. Methods Wild-type mice, ATP receptor 2x7 (P2rx7)-KO mice, or mice overexpressing uricase were fed Lieber-DeCarli ethanol or control diet. We also implemented a pharmacological approach in which mice were treated with probenecid or allopurinol. Results The sterile danger signals, ATP and uric acid, were increased in the serum and liver of alcohol-fed mice. Depletion of uric acid or ATP, or lack of ATP signaling attenuated ASH and prevented inflammasome activation and its major downstream cytokine, IL-1β. Pharmacological depletion of uric acid with allopurinol provided significant protection from alcohol-induced inflammatory response, steatosis and liver damage, and additional protection was achieved in mice treated with probenecid, which depletes uric acid and blocks ATP-induced P2rx7 signaling. We found that alcohol-damaged hepatocytes released uric acid and ATP in vivo and in vitro and that these sterile danger signals activated the inflammasome in LPS-exposed liver mononuclear cells. Conclusions Our data indicate that the second signal in inflammasome activation and IL-1β production in ASH results from the endogenous danger signals, uric acid and ATP. Inhibition of signaling triggered by uric acid and ATP may have therapeutic implications in ASH.
Synthetic LXR agonists increase LDL in CETP species

Liver X receptor (LXR) nuclear receptors regulate the expression of genes involved in whole body cholesterol trafficking, including absorption, excretion, catabolism, and cellular efflux, and possess both anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic actions. Accordingly, LXR is considered an appealing drug target for multiple indications. Synthetic LXR agonists demonstrated inhibition of atherosclerosis progression in murine genetic models; however, these and other studies indicated that their major undesired side effect is an increase of plasma and hepatic triglycerides. A significant impediment to extrapolating results with LXR agonists from mouse to humans is the absence in mice of cholesteryl ester transfer protein, a known LXR target gene, and the upregulation in mice but not humans of cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase. To better predict the human response to LXR agonism, two synthetic LXR agonists were examined in hamsters and cynomolgus monkeys. In contrast to previously published results in mice, neither LXR agonist increased HDL-cholesterol in hamsters, and similar results were obtained in cynomolgus monkeys. Importantly, in both species, LXR agonists increased LDL-cholesterol, an unfavorable effect not apparent from earlier murine studies. These results reveal additional problems associated with current synthetic LXR agonists and emphasize the importance of profiling compounds in preclinical species with a more human-like LXR response and lipoprotein metabolism.