cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of the Hybrid Operating Room in Cardiovascular Medicine

Hybrid cardiovascular interventions, which integrate techniques of interventional cardiology with those of cardiac/vascular surgery, aim to maximize procedural benefits while minimizing invasiveness. Such hybrid procedures include transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), endovascular thoracic (TEVAR) or abdominal (EVAR) aortic repair, and combined percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with structural heart intervention. Some, such as TAVR, TEVAR, and EVAR, have now become the standard of care for selected patient populations. With documented improvements in outcomes, the indications for such hybrid procedures are expanding. Though some of these novel procedures can be done in either a traditional operating suite or interventional suite, neither location is ideally suited to perform many of these hybrid procedures. Proper application of hybrid techniques requires either an operating room (OR) with a high-resolution angiographic capability or an interventional suite with appropriate operating room features—the “hybrid OR.” We aim to review the concept of an integrated heart team as well as the design and implementation of the hybrid OR. Until recently, patients have been managed with a “silo” approach, with each specialty separately evaluating and treating the underlying condition. This has led in some cases to inefficient competing treatment algorithms. The growth of hybrid procedures that cross traditional specialty lines has in turn spawned the development of interdisciplinary teams. Most frequently this has manifested as a heart team to manage complex valvular heart disease as it pertains to TAVR, but the concept has also been applied to other cardiovascular conditions such as acute aortic syndromes or arrhythmias. Although an integrated team approach has long been used in oncology or transplant patients, it is now integral to the care of patients with complex cardiovascular disease. We raise the concept of the team before reviewing the hybrid OR itself because we feel the team approach is more critical to programmatic success. The …
Coping with the problem of the stress-corrosion cracking of structural alloys in sea water

Abstract In the area of developing ocean technology, the focus of concern with respect to corrosion has shifted from general wastage to critically localized corrision. As increasingly stronger alloys are used in sea water, one of the most important forms of critical corrosion is stress-corrosion cracking. Methods for quantifying this property are discused, and the implications of the measured quantities to materials selection are indicated.
Effect of once daily topical 0.3% naltrexone on tear parameters and corneal sensitivity in dogs with uncontrolled keratoconjunctivitis sicca: a double-masked randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Objective To determine the effect of once daily topical 0.3% naltrexone (NTX) on tear production, tear film breakup time (TFBUT), and corneal sensitivity in dogs with uncontrolled keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS). Animals studied Sixteen dogs with uncontrolled KCS. Procedures A randomized placebo-controlled trial was performed in 16 dogs with topical 0.3% NTX once daily or topical saline solution drops once daily. A baseline was obtained at week 0 for tear production (Schirmer tear test 1 and 2—STT1, STT2), TFBUT, and corneal sensitivity. STT1, STT2, and TFBUT were then subsequently measured at weeks 1, 2, and 4 while on NTX or saline drops. Corneal sensitivity measures were repeated at week 4. The drops were subsequently discontinued and all parameters rechecked at week 5. Results There was no statistically significant difference in tear parameters or corneal sensitivity between the NTX-treated and the saline-treated groups. Conclusion Topical 0.3% NTX given as a once daily dose over 4 weeks did not alter tear production, tear film stability, or corneal sensitivity in dogs with uncontrolled KCS.
Automated Stability Analysis of a Vehicle in Combined Pitch and Roll

This paper presents a rigid body modeling approach using ADAMS™ for an overturning stability analysis of a vehicle stopped at an arbitrary heading angle on a steep grade. The vehicle is modeled as a six-degree-of-freedom rigid body with multiple contact forces acting on the ground. A gravity vector bounded by sets of spherical coordinates is applied to the vehicle to represent the physics of a vehicle stopped on a grade with any arbitrary combination of pitch and roll angles. A design of experiments study is performed to locate the overturning stability boundaries within given levels of design parameters. Results are output using two effective graphical means of depicting the stability regions and magnitude of contact forces.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Sequestered: Molecular Physiology of Bacterial Microcompartments

Complex spatial organization is a hallmark of the eukaryotic cell. More recently, it has been shown that prokaryotes possess a similar, yet unique, degree of organization. Striking examples of this include complexes such as bacterial microcompartments and encapsulins, which use protein shells to compartmentalize metabolic function in a manner analogous to classic lipid-based organelles. Although characterized structurally, there is a lack of understanding how micrompartments and encapsulins assemble, carry out their function, and are degraded in the context of a living cell. Here, I will discuss our recent work investigating these themes using the cyanobacterial carboxysome and thermophilic encapsulin as model systems.
Thiolated dendrimers as multi-point binding headgroups for DNA immobilization on gold.

The synthesis of multithiolated DNA molecules that can be used to produce self-assembled monolayers of single-stranded DNA oligonucleotides on gold substrates is described. Generation 3 polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers were conjugated to DNA oligomers and functionalized with ∼30 protected thiol groups. The protected thiol groups—thioacetate groups—allowed the dendrimer–DNA constructs to be stored in a buffer solution for at least 2 months before deprotection without any observable decrease in their ability to assemble into functional layers. The monolayers formed using these multithiolated DNA probe strands demonstrate target capture efficiencies comparable to those of analogous monolayers assembled with DNA functionalized with single thiol groups. A functional advantage of using dendrimer headgroups is the resistance to probe strand loss in prolonged exposure to buffer solutions at a high temperature (95 °C).
Colonic resection in trauma: colostomy versus anastomosis.

Objectives: The management of colonic trauma is well established for simple injuries with primary repair, and ileocolostomy for right-sided injuries that undergo colonic resection. Segmental colon resection for injuries to the left colon can be managed with either an end colostomy or primary anastomosis. A retrospective review was performed to evaluate the outcome and complications associated with colonic resection for trauma to determine the risk factors associated with anastomotic leakage. Methods: A retrospective review included patients undergoing colonic resection for trauma. The patients were stratified into colostomy, ileocolostomy, and colocolostomy groups. Patient demographics and colon-related complications were collected. Comparison between the colostomy and colocolostomy groups was performed to determine the difference in outcome. The outcome of right-sided colon injuries managed by either an ileocolonic or colocolonic anastomosis was compared. Analysis was performed to identify the factors associated with an increased risk of anastomotic leakage. Results: One hundred forty patients over a 66-month period were included in the analysis. Overall, 41% (57 of 140) of patients developed a colon-related complication; 28% (39 of 140) of patients developed an abscess. Overall, the anastomotic leak rate was 13% (7 of 56) in the colocolostomy group, 4% (2 of 56) in the ileocolostomy group. Right-sided colon injuries managed with a colocolonic anastomosis had a higher incidence of anastomotic leakage than ileocolonic anastomosis, i.e., 14 versus 4% respectively. Of the seven patients who developed a leak from a colocolonic anastomosis, two patients died (29% ). Univariate analysis identified an Abdominal Trauma Index Score ≥25 (p = 0.03) or hypotension in the emergency department (p = 0.001) to be associated with increased risk of developing an anastomotic leak from a colocolonic anastomosis. Conclusion: Colonic injuries that are managed with resection are associated with a high complication rate regardless of whether an anastomosis or colostomy is performed. Colonic resection and anastomosis can be performed safely in the majority of patients with severe colonic injury, including injuries to the left colon. For injuries of the right colon, an ileocolostomy has a lower incidence of leakage than a colocolonic anastomosis. For injuries to the left colon, there remains a role for colostomy specifically in the subgroups of patients with a high ATI or hypotension, because these patients are at greater risk for an anastomotic leak. The role of resection and primary anastomosis versus colostomy in colonic trauma requires further investigation.
ECOM: A fast and accurate solver for toroidal axisymmetric MHD equilibria

Abstract We present ECOM (Equilibrium solver via COnformal Mapping), a fast and accurate fixed boundary solver for toroidally axisymmetric magnetohydrodynamic equilibria with or without a toroidal flow. ECOM combines conformal mapping and Fourier and integral equation methods on the unit disk to achieve exponential convergence for the poloidal flux function as well as its first and second partial derivatives. As a consequence of its high order accuracy, for dense grids and elongations comparable to or smaller than the elongation of ITER, ECOM computes key quantities such as the safety factor and the magnetic shear with higher accuracy than the finite element based code CHEASE (Lutjens et al., 1996) at equal run time. ECOM has been developed to provide equilibrium quantities and details of the flux contour geometry as inputs to stability, wave propagation and transport codes.
Characterization of the DNA damage-inducible helicase DinG from Escherichia coli.

The dinG promoter was first isolated in a genetic screen scoring for damage-inducible loci in Escherichia coli (Lewis, L. K., Jenkins, M. E., and Mount, D. W. (1992) J. Bacteriol. 174, 3377–3385). Sequence analysis suggests that the dinG gene encodes a putative helicase related to a group of eukaryotic helicases that includes mammalian XPD (Koonin, E. V. (1993) Nucleic Acids Res. 21, 1497), an enzyme involved in transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair and basal transcription. We have characterized the dinG gene product from E. coli using genetic and biochemical approaches. Deletion of dinG has no severe phenotype, indicating that it is non-essential for cell viability. Both dinG deletion and over-expression of the DinG protein from a multicopy plasmid result in a slight reduction of UV resistance. DinG, purified as a fusion protein from E. coli cells, behaves as a monomer in solution, as judged from gel filtration experiments. DinG is an ATP-hydrolyzing enzyme; single-stranded (ss) DNA stimulates the ATPase activity 15-fold. Kinetic data yield a Hill coefficient of 1, consistent with one ATP-hydrolyzing site per DinG molecule. DinG possesses a DNA helicase activity; it translocates along ssDNA in a 5′ → 3′ direction, as revealed in experiments with substrates containing non-natural 5′–5′ and 3′–3′ linkages. The ATP-dependent DNA helicase activity of DinG requires divalent cations (Mg2+, Ca2+, and Mn2+) but is not observed in the presence of Zn2+. The DinG helicase does not discriminate between ribonucleotide and deoxyribonucleotide triphosphates, and it unwinds duplex DNA with similar efficiency in the presence of ATP or dATP. We discuss the possible involvement of the DinG helicase in DNA replication and repair processes.
Coverage-Dependent CO Adsorption Energy from First-Principles Calculations

CO saturation coverage on Pt(111) is crucially important in diesel oxidation catalysis. We systematically studied coverage-dependent CO adsorption on the Pt(111) surface using density functional theory (DFT) calculations and classical Monte-Carlo (MC) simulations. The zero-coverage-limit CO-adsorption energies at different binding sites are almost degenerate at the revised Perdew−Burke−Erzernhof functional (RPBE) level. As the CO coverage increases, strong through-space repulsion and substrate-mediated metal-sharing effects tend to dominate the stability of adsorbates and alter their binding preferences. The calculated differential binding energy curve and adsorption patterns compare well with experiments.
Immunocytochemistry of neurofibrillary tangles with antibodies to subregions of tau protein: identification of hidden and cleaved tau epitopes and a new phosphorylation site

Antibodies to multiple epitopes spanning the length of the tau molecule were used to study Alzheimer neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) using immunocytochemical methods and several differnt methods of fixation and tissue processing, including staining of vibratome sections, hydrated autoclaving of paraffin sections and immunofluorescence of NFT isolated from fresh brain tissue. Smears and sections were pretreated with trypsin and/or phosphatase to further characterize antibody binding. In tissue fixed briefly in periodate-lysine-paraformaldehyde, tau immunoreactivity was detected in astrocytes, but only a few tau epitopes were detected in NFT with this fixation method. In contrast, all tau epitopes were detected in NFT in tissue fixed in formaldehyde for prolonged periods of time. In the hippocampus, the number of NFT detected in the dentate fascia was in proportion to the duration of dementia, as we previously noted. Dentate fascia NFT were intracellular (i-NFT) and were reactive with antibodies recognizing epitopes in both the carboxy- and amino-terminal regions of tau, but not the microtubule-binding domain of tau, suggesting that microtubule-binding domain epitopes are hidden in i-NFT. In contrast, NFT in the subiculum and layer II of the parahippocampal cortex were mostly extracellular (e-NFT), especially in severe cases of long duration, e-NFT were immunoreactive with antibodies to the microtubule-binding domain, but only weakly reactive with antibodies to carboxy- or amino-terminal epitopes, suggesting that e-NFT may contain fragments of tau. In both isolated NFT and NFT in sections, amino-terminal epitopes, including the Alz-50 epitope, were sensitive to trypsin proteolysis, which suggests that the lack of staining of e-NFT by antibodies to the amino-terminal regions of tau is due to proteolysis. Antibodies reactive with amino-terminal epitopes also stained fewer NFT following hydrated autoclaving, while those reacting with the carboxy half of tau stained more NFT after hydrated autoclaving. Thus, although carboxy-terminal regions are not detected in e-NFT, they are probably masked, rather than proteolytically cleaved, since they can be revealed by hydrated autoclaving. Finally, phosphatase treatment of isolated NFT revealed enhanced immunostaining not only with Tau-1, as in previous studies demonstrating abnormal phosphorylation of tau proteins in NFT, but also with an antibody to exon 2, which reveals yet another phosphorylation site in tau of NFT.
Viral Ancestors of Antiviral Systems

All life must survive their corresponding viruses. Thus antiviral systems are essential in all living organisms. Remnants of virus derived information are also found in all life forms but have historically been considered mostly as junk DNA. However, such virus derived information can strongly affect host susceptibility to viruses. In this review, I evaluate the role viruses have had in the origin and evolution of host antiviral systems. From Archaea through bacteria and from simple to complex eukaryotes I trace the viral components that became essential elements of antiviral immunity. I conclude with a reexamination of the 'Big Bang' theory for the emergence of the adaptive immune system in vertebrates by horizontal transfer and note how viruses could have and did provide crucial and coordinated features.
The different roles of serum and calcium in the control of proliferation of balb/c 3t3 mouse cells.

Proliferatively inactive BALB/c 3T3 mouse cells in dense cultures initiate a growth-division cycle upon exposure to fresh calf serum in a low-calcium (0.01 µM) medium. If these calcium-deprived cells are not supplied with calcium sometime during the first 10 hours after serum stimulation, they will rapidly return to a proliferatively inactive state without initiating DNA synthesis. The prereplicative development of such stimulated calcium-deprived cells appears to stop at an advanced stage, because addition of calcium as late as 10 hours after serum exposure rapidly initiates DNA synthesis, and enables the culture’s DNA-synthetic activity subsequently to reach its peak value at the same time as in control cultures.
Human autonomic responses to actual and simulated weightlessness.

Orthostatic dysfunction occurs after exposure to microgravity, and is not completely understood. The authors developed a device for stimulating carotid baroreceptors to test the hypothesis that exposure to microgravity leads to impairment of arterial baroreflex mechanisms. Data obtained before and after two head-down bedrest studies and before and after brief Space Shuttle missions indicate that baroreceptor-cardiac reflex control is impaired by simulated or actual weightlessness. The authors speculate that arterial baroreflex derangements combine with blood volume reductions and increased venous compliance to provoke orthostatic hypotension after microgravity exposure. Altered baroreflex function after missions may result from autonomic neuronal plasticity that develops during missions secondary to changes of cardiopulmonary and arterial dimensions and consequent changes of autonomic sensory input proxies.
Abstract LB-245: The EGRF receptor inhibitor Erlotinib, alone or in combination with the rexinoid LG100268, is effective for prevention in mouse models of lung and pancreatic cancer with Kras mutations

Lung cancer and pancreatic cancer are leading causes of cancer deaths, with extremely poor 5 year survival rates for both types of cancer. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and its ligands regulate cell growth, and EGFR expression is frequently elevated in lung and pancreatic cancer. Tumors with activating mutations in EGFR are treated clinically with drugs such as erlotinib, a tyrosine kinase EGFR inhibitor. Up to 90% of pancreatic cancers and 35% of lung cancers contain activating mutations in Kras, but tumors with Kras mutations are usually resistant to EGRF inhibitors. Erlotinib is an approved drug for treating pancreatic cancer, but it only extends survival by a few weeks. We have previously shown that the rexinoid LG100268 (268) is effective for prevention of experimental lung and pancreatic cancers with Kras mutations, and a recent clinical trial suggests that the combination of a rexinoid and erlotinib might be useful for treating lung cancer, even in tumors with Kras mutations. In order to test whether this combination of drugs might be useful for prevention of lung cancer, female A/J mice were injected i.p. with vinyl carbamate (16 mg/kg) once a week for two weeks. The carcinogen induces Kras mutations and microscopic adenocarcinomas in the lungs within 4-6 weeks. Starting one week after the last injection of carcinogen, the mice were fed the rexinoid 268 (40 mg/kg diet), erlotinib (150 mg/kg diet) or the combination for 16 weeks. All 3 groups significantly (P Citation Format: Karen T. Liby, Charlotte R. Williams, Renee Risingsong, Michael B. Sporn, Ryan M. Collins, Darlene B. Royce. The EGRF receptor inhibitor Erlotinib, alone or in combination with the rexinoid LG100268, is effective for prevention in mouse models of lung and pancreatic cancer with Kras mutations. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-245. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-LB-245
Initialization of warfarin dosages using computer modeling

Abstract Objective: Software incorporating warfarin pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, as well as a Bayesian regression method, was evaluated for accuracy in predicting steady-state dosages of warfarin during initialization of anticoagulation therapy. Design: A cohort study was used to compare computer predictions with physician-determined doses during a retrospective chart review of 42 patients. Patients: Forty-two patient charts were selected for monitoring anticoagulation initialization therapy. Of the 42 patients reviewed, 22 were excluded on the following bases: uncontrolled congestive heart failure; ongoing treatment with medications that interfered with warfarin metabolism or displaced warfarin from protein binding sites; recent treatment with fresh frozen plasma or vitamin K; or any bleeding disorders, sepsis, malabsorption or significant changes in liver and/or renal function. Main Outcome Measures: Using physician-determined International Normalized Ratios (INRs) as target levels for the software, the number of INR feedbacks needed to stabilize blood drug levels during initialization were compared between physicians and computer forecasting. Population parameters and sequentially measured INRs were used for evaluation. Results: Current oral anticoagulation protocols require significantly more measured INRs than computer forecasting to achieve steady-state dosages (9.5 v 4.4, respectively, p v 1.7 subtherapeutic INRs, respectively, p Conclusions: Computer modeling provides a reliable means of predicting initialization dosages for warfarin anticoagulation therapy with five INR inputs and therefore has merit in the clinical setting if used with sound clinical judgment.
Correlation between brain adenyl cyclase activity and spontaneous motor activity in rats after chronic reserpine treatment.

Reserpine (0.5 mg/kg) was administered daily to rats for a period of 8–12 days. Motor activity was measured 23–24 h after each injection. Twenty-four hours subsequent to the last reserpine injection, animals were sacrificed for determination of whole brain catecholamine concentration and adenyl cyclase activity. Rats which had shown a depression of motor activity after 3 days of treatment were hyperactive after 8–12 days. Brain norepinephrine concentrations in reserpine-treated animals ranged from 5 to 11% of control levels. In brain preparations from reserpine-treated rats, basal adenyl cyclase activity was unchanged from control, but the stimulation of cyclase activity produced by 10−4M norepinephrine was more than twice as great as that seen in controls. There was a strong positive correlation between the change in motor activity and the response of adenyl cyclase to norepinephrine, suggesting that the change in adenyl cyclase responsiveness may account for some of the increase in spontaneous activity occurring in rats after chronic reserpine treatment.
Measurement of interfacial debonding and sliding resistance in fiber reinforced intermetallics

Abstract A technique is described for measuring fiber debonding and sliding characteristics in intermetallic matrix composites. The method involves pulling a single fiber that protrudes from the composite, while measuring the applied force and relative displacements of the fiber and matrix. High resolution displacement mapping methods are used to obtain data during initial loading, where sliding progresses only partly along the fiber. Measurements from a Ti3Al/SiC composite are interpreted using the analysis of the companion paper. The results indicate a strong effect of constraint on the sliding response and provide quantitative measurements of sliding resistance, residual stresses, and debond energy. Preliminary measurements of changes in sliding resistance with cyclic loading are presented.
Modulation-doped (Al,Ga)As/GaAs FETs with high transconductance and electron velocity

High-performance normally-off and normally-on field-effect transistors have been fabricated from modulation-doped (Al,Ga)As/GaAs heterostructures grown by molecular-beam epitaxy. At 300 K, transconductances of 210 and 240 mS/mm were obtained, respectively, for normally-off and normally-on transistors with a 1 ?m gate length. The mode of operation was determined by the depth to which the gate was recessed into the doped (Al,Ga)As. Although the total (Al,Ga)As thickness between the gate and the conduction path in the GaAs is greater for normally-on devices, larger transconductances were obtained. This is a direct result of the smaller source resistance in the normally-on device. Using a model developed particularly for modulation-doped transistors, electron saturation velocities of about 1.7×107 cm/s are inferred. These velocities and the transconductance values are the largest reported to date.
A procedure for determining particle dynamics from time dependent multiple scattering with applications to ordered and disordered polystyrene solutions

Abstract The homodyne correlation function of multiple scattered light from solutions of random and ordered polystyrene spheres is examined as a function of concentration, scattering angle, and cell geometry. It is shown that a satisfactory method of extrapolating away the effects of multiple scattering is to carry out the observations in a series of cylindrical cells with decreasing diameter, or in a single truncated conical cell.
On the relative roles of higher-order nonlinearity and ionization in ultrafast light-matter interactions

Far off-resonant ultrafast and nonlinear light-matter interactions are studied using a one-dimensional atomic model. Results from a pump-probe diagnostic reveal that any higher-order nonlinear refraction is masked by ionization-induced defocusing before it becomes significant. On the other hand, we show that signatures of a higher-order nonlinearity may still be manifest via low-order harmonics of the pump center frequency. Implications for filamentation of femtosecond pulses are pointed out.
A mathematical programming approach for determining workcentre lotsizes in a just-in-time system with signal Kanbans

SUMMARY An essential condition necessary for the implementation of the Japanese just-in-time (JIT) technique with Kanbans is Small setup times relative to processing times. Without this condition bottlenecks occur at workcentres which delay production. However, the Japanese have developed a variation of the strict JIT technique that employs a special type of Kanban, referred to as a ‘signal Kanban’, at workcentres with relatively high setup times. While a normal Kanban triggers the production of larger than normal lots this altered version of the JIT technique provides an alternative approach for firms that desire to use the JIT technique, but are unable to reduce setup times at all workstations. The purpose of this paper is to describe the signal Kanban technique and demonstrate two versions of an integer mathematical programming approach for determining the optimal lotsizes to be used in conjunction with signal Kanbans. A simulation model is subsequently employed to test the effectiveness of the integer...
Panoramic radiography does not accurately predict inferior alveolar nerve dysesthesia or sensory deficit following mandibular third molar extraction.

Article Title and Bibliographic Information Sensitivity and specificity of pantomography to predict inferior alveolar nerve damage during extraction of impacted lower third molars. Gomes AC, Vasconcelos BC, Silva ED, Caldas Ade F Jr, Pita Neto IC. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2008;66(2):256-9. Reviewer S. Thomas Deahl II, DMD PhD Purpose/Question Does panoramic radiographic evidence of close proximity of impacted mandibular third molar roots to the inferior alveolar canal predict postextraction inferior alveolar nerve sensory deficit or dysesthesia? Source of Funding Information not available. Type of Study/Design Case series Level of Evidence Level 2: Limited-quality, patient-oriented evidence Strength of Recommendation Grade Not applicable
Glenoid Exposure: Tricks of the Trade

Achieving sufficient exposure of the glenoid is one of the most demanding aspects of shoulder arthroplasty surgery. Beginning with the positioning of patient and ending with the final placement and adjustment of retractors, multiple maneuvers must be taken at each step of the procedure to ultimately allow for adequate glenoid visualization. With thoughtful planning, patience, and attention to detail, the glenoid can be reliably and reproducibly exposed to allow for a successful reconstruction. This article outlines the key technical steps and pearls for successful glenoid exposure.
Factors affecting the damping capacity of cast aluminium-matrix composites

The damping capacity of stir-cast aluminium-matrix composites containing graphite and silicon carbide particles, were studied using a cantilever beam specimen and an HP 5423A Structural Dynamics Analyser. Damping data were determined in the first mode of vibration. Aluminium-matrix composites containing 5–10 vol % graphite particles and 10 vol % silicon carbide particles were prepared by the stir-casting technique and die cast to obtain standard samples (6 mm×25 mm100 mm). Graphite particles were found to be more effective in enhancing the damping capacity of composites compared to silicon carbide particles. The damping capacity of composites increased with the volume percentage of graphite within the range studied. However, no notable improvements in damping capacity were observed by dispersion of silicon carbide in aluminium alloy. The results have been analysed in terms of the effect of size, shape, nature and volume fraction of particles on the damping capacity of the aluminium matrix particulate composites and compared with the damping capacity data available in the literature. The effects of frequency, strain amplitude, temperature and processing on damping capacity of the aluminium matrix composites are reviewed.
Low temperature magnetic specific heat of nickel

Abstract Nickel's magnetic specific heat arising from non-interacting spin waves is calculated and compared with that deduced by Hoffman et al. [1], the calculated specific heat being based upon the spin wave dispersion as given by Thompson and Myers [2]. Substantial agreement is obtained up to 400°K, deviations from the low temperature T 3 2 dependence start becoming appreciable at ≈100°K, and the disagreement between experimental and calculated specific heats above 400°K is indicative of either Stoner excitations or spin wave interaction effects.
Prenatally diagnosed neuroblastoma.

BACKGROUND Prenatally diagnosed neuroblastomas have been reported in increasing numbers over the past several years, and there are now a few reviews based on up to 21 cases. The purpose of this article is to review the clinical and biologic features of prenatally diagnosed neuroblastoma based on a review of 55 cases. METHODS A review was conducted of 3 cases seen at the study institution and 52 other cases reported thus far in the literature. RESULTS Prenatal diagnosis was made usually after 32 weeks of gestation. Approximately 93% of the tumors were adrenal in origin, and 44% of these were cystic. Thirty-seven patients (67%) had Stage I disease, 12 (22%) had Stage IV-S disease, and only 3 (5%) had Stage IV disease. The DNA index was favorable (>1) in 14 of 16 patients studied. None of these 16 patients studied had amplification of the N-myc oncogene. Catecholamines were elevated in only 33% of the patients. The liver was the most common site of dissemination, which was observed in 25% of patients; bone involvement was not observed in any patient. Ultrasonography failed to detect existing hepatic metastasis in three patients. Primary surgical resection was performed in 47 patients (85%). Chemotherapy was given to five patients and radiotherapy to three. Of the 50 patients for whom follow-up information was available, 45 (90%) were alive at a range of 2-120 months from diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS Prenatally diagnosed neuroblastomas are predominantly adrenal in origin and frequently cystic. The liver is the most common site of dissemination and bone involvement is notably absent. The vast majority of these infants have a favorable stage of disease (I, II, and IV-S) and favorable biologic features, and consequently have an excellent prognosis. Although surgery alone is curative for most patients, a period of observation may avoid surgery in some individuals who may achieve spontaneous regression. Cancer 1997; 80:304-10. © 1997 American Cancer Society.
Finite element modeling of electric current-activated sintering: The effect of coupled electrical potential, temperature and stress

A finite element model is developed to simulate three-way coupling of thermal, electrical and mechanical behavior of electric current-activated sintering. In addition to the direct simulation of the evolution of electrical potential and temperature in the system, the model is capable of simultaneously calculating the displacement fields and the stress distributions. Experimentally measured temperatures are found to be in excellent agreement with simulations. The displacement and stress distributions were found to depend on the material properties. In the copper system, owing to its large thermal expansion, the steady-state vertical stress has a gradient of 33% across the sample at a 1000 A current input (∼700 °C); the radial and angular stresses are significant and have larger gradients. The maximum shear stress analysis indicates high stress concentrations at the surfaces at the ends of plungers that are in contact with the spacers.
PCLOS: stress testing CLOS experiencing the metaobject protocol

This paper demonstrates that the CLOS metaobject protocol approach to defining and implementing an object model is very powerful. CLOS is an object-oriented language that is based on Common Lisp and is in the process of being standardized. Implementations of CLOS are themselves object-oriented with all major building blocks of the language being instances of system classes. A metaobject protocol provides a framework for CLOS implementations by specifying the hierarchy of these classes and the order and contents of the communication among their instances. This design has made CLOS both flexible and portable, two design goals that traditionally conflict. In support of this suggestion we present a detailed account of how we added object persistence to CLOS without modifying any of the language's implementation code.
Dietary copper and the net accumulation of liver and lung superoxide dismutase

Abstract The effect of dietary copper deprivation on the net accumulation and functional activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), a copper-containing enzyme, was studied in weanling and young adult Sprague-Dawley rats. Pregnant female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed diets based on spray-dried egg white that were sufficient (25 μg/g) or deficient (
Management science and strategic planning

Abstract This paper describes the main stages involved in developing the strategic plan using the tools of the management science. The author brings out the point that there is a definite similarity between strategic planning in the private sector and in the public sector and that the same broad principles of management science can be applied in both the sectors. Various types of computer models incorporating management science techniques which can be, and have been, successfully applied in this activity are described.
A BASIC Program for Generating Integer Means and Variances

This article describes a BASIC computer program for generating different sets of random numbers that have integer means and variances. The user can select either the biased or unbiased formula for the standard deviation. Suggestions for use and limitations of the program are noted.
EFFECTS OF TRANSLATIONAL DIFFUSION ON NUCLEAR SPIN RELAXATION IN SIMPLE CONDENSED SYSTEMS

The method for finding the relaxation time for a twophase system is reviewed and applied to systems of PdH, TaH, and TiH, Relaxation times are plotted as a function of temperature. (D.E.B.)
The Evolution of a White's Black Consciousness

black cleaning women going out to the Tampa suburbs. I met my first black friend, a maid named Zeena, on this bus. I say dblackd now-at that time in my life I probably would have said dnigrad-the white middle-class Southerner’s way of showing he is above using dnigger,d but too damned good to grace those people with dNegro.d I got from nigra to black through a series of exposures and experiences, complex and still bewildering to me in some ways, that were sometimes sought and sometimes unsought. They define no more than the evolution of one individual’s consciousness, for what it’s worth. My experiences and my expression of them are personal and finite-in no way definitive or capable of extension to generalized truths. My urgency to express them comes not out of what I want to
What Do You Do? I Teach Chemistry!

Championing my profession as a member of the chemistry teaching community is not something I have always done well, but over time, I am recognizing how proud I am to be a part of it. As a new precollege associate editor, this editorial shares a bit of my history as well as my hopes for the Journal and the community JCE serves.
A coordinate frame for helical flows

This note presents a coordinate frame representation for the conservation laws governing fluid motion in a helical configuration as suggested by a single-screw extruder with deep flights and by the Kenics Static Mixer. This example demonstrates the care necessary in dealing with nonorthogonal coordinate systems. The conservation equations are also presented in terms of the proper physical components, as well as the physical components of the rate of deformation tensor. The paper closes with a brief statement of the boundary conditions for flow in a static mixer.
Glycoproteins of Varicella-Zoster Virus and Their Herpes Simplex Virus Homologs

This report describes the glycoproteins of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and their role as immunogens and discusses the relevance of studies of VZV to the selection of a glycoprotein subunit herpes simplex virus (HSV) vaccine. HSV types 1 and 2 and VZV are alpha-herpesviruses, which are characterized by common biologic features such as a relatively short replication cycle and a latent state, often in neurologic tissues. The three viruses also conserve several glycoprotein genes, including gB, gC, gE, gH, and gI. The known properties of the VZV glycoproteins closely resemble those of their homologous HSV counterparts and may provide further insight into biologic functions of the immunogens. In particular, VZV glycoproteins gpII and gpIII closely resemble their HSV homologs gB and gH in that all four harbor complement-independent neutralization epitopes.
Automatic Linear Disturbance Footprint Extraction Based on Dense Time-Series Landsat Imagery

Linear disturbances from the construction of pipelines, roads and seismic lines for oil and gas extraction and mining have caused landscape changes in Western Canada; however these linear features are not well recorded. Inventory maps of pipelines, seismic lines and temporary access routes created by resource exploration are essential to understanding the processes causing ecological changes in order to coordinate resource development, emergency response and wildlife management. Mapping these linear disturbances traditionally relies on manual digitizing from very high resolution remote sensing data, which usually limits results to small operational area. Extending mapping to large areas is challenging due to complexity of image processing and high logistical costs. With increased availability of low cost satellite data, more frequent and regular observations are available and offer potential solutions for extracting information on linear disturbances.This paper proposes a novel approach to incorporate spectral, geometric and temporal information for detecting linear features based on time series data analysis of regularly acquired, and low cost satellite data. This approach involves two steps: multi-scale directional line detection and line updating based on time series analysis. This automatic method can effectively extract very narrow linear features, including seismic lines, roads and pipelines. The proposed method has been tested over three sites in Alberta, Canada by detecting linear disturbances occurring over the period of 1984–2013 using Landsat imagery. It is expected that extracted linear features would be used to facilitate preparation of baseline maps and up-to-date information needed for environmental assessment, especially in extended remote areas.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Theory of capture rate in polymer translocation

The translocation of macromolecules through a nanopore requires the impingement of the molecules at the pore followed by threading through the pore. While most of the discussion on the translocation phenomenon focused so far on the threading process, the phenomenology on the frequency of encounters between the polymer and the pore exhibits diverse features in terms of polymer length, solution conditions, driving force, and pore geometry. We derive a general theory for the capture rate of polyelectrolyte molecules and the probability of successful translocation through a nanopore, under an externally imposed electric field. By considering the roles of entropic barrier at the pore entrance and drift of the polyelectrolyte under the electric field, we delineate two regimes: (a) entropic barrier regime and (b) drift regime. In the first regime dominated by the entropic barrier for the polyelectrolyte, the capture rate is an increasing nonlinear function in the electric field and chain length. In the drift regime, where the electric field dwarfs the role of entropic barriers, the capture rate is independent of chain length and linear in electric field. An analytical formula is derived for the crossover behavior between these regimes, and the general results are consistent with various experimentally observed trends.
STAT3 restrains RANK- and TLR4-mediated signalling by suppressing expression of the E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme Ubc13

The transcriptional regulator STAT3 curbs pro-inflammatory cytokine production mediated by NF-κB signalling in innate immune cells, yet the mechanism by which this occurs has been unclear. Here we identify STAT3 as a pivotal negative regulator of Ubc13, an E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme that facilitates TRAF6 K63-linked ubiquitination and NF-κB activation. Ubc13 accumulates intracellularly in the absence of STAT3. Depletion of Ubc13 in Stat3-deficient macrophages subdues excessive RANKL- or LPS-dependent gene expression, indicating that Ubc13 overexpression mediates enhanced transcriptional responses in the absence of STAT3. In RANKL-activated macrophages, STAT3 is stimulated by autocrine IL-6 and inhibits accrual of Ets-1, Set1 methyltransferase and trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4me3) at the Ube2n (Ubc13) promoter. These results delineate a mechanism by which STAT3 operates as a transcriptional repressor on Ube2n, thus modulating NF-κB activity by regulation of Ubc13 abundance. Our data suggest that this pathway plays important roles in bone homeostasis and restraint of inflammation.
Potential energy barriers for interlayer mass transport in homoepitaxial growth on fcc(111) surfaces: Pt and Ag

Abstract The efficiency of interlayer mass transport determines the growth mode and film quality in molecular beam epitaxy. In this paper we report potential energy barriers (PEB) to interlayer diffusion for Pt and Ag homoepitaxial growth on fcc (111) surfaces, as calculated using the corrected effective medium theory. Various island structures were considered. The island sizes ranged from 3- to about 60-atom islands and to various steps (“infinite” large islands). We found that jumping directly over the island edge has a much higher PEB than does the so-called displacement-exchange mechanism. Exchange at edges with kink sites also had a higher or comparable PEB to those at the straight (perfect) edges, contrary to previous speculations [M. Henzler, T. Schmidt and E.Z. Luo, in: The Structure of Surfaces IV (World Scientific, Signapore, 1994)]. The PEB depended strongly on the local atomic arrangement but was insensitive to the global island size and shape as long as the island edges were at least five atoms long. For the displacement-exchange process, the PEB did not decrease monotonically with decreasing island size over the entire island size range. For very small islands of less than ten atoms the PEB increased abruptly by an order of magnitude. This qualitative behavior was exhibited by both Pt and Ag systems but the two differed quantitatively for island sizes above ten atoms. We discuss the relevance of these results to the experimental observations, i.e., the reentrant growth in Pt [R. Kunkel, B. Poelsema, L.K. Verheij and G. Comsa, Phys. Rev. Lett. 65 (1990) 733], layer-by-layer growth in Ag induced by surfactant [H.A. van der Vegt, H.M. van Pinxteren, M. Lohmerier and E. Vlieg, Phys. Rev. Lett. 68 (1992) 3335] or by high-density of islands [G. Rosenfeld, R. Servaty, C. Teichert, B. Poelsema and G. Comsa, Phys. Rev. Lett. 71 (1993) 895 ], as well as the different growth behaviors found in the two systems.
The five Rs of glucocorticoid action during inflammation: ready, reinforce, repress, resolve, and restore

Glucocorticoids are essential for maintaining homeostasis and regulate a wide variety of physiological processes. Therapeutically, synthetic glucocorticoids are widely prescribed for the treatment of inflammation, autoimmune disorders, and malignancies of lymphoid origin. In this review we examine emerging evidence highlighting both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory actions of glucocorticoids on both the innate and adaptive immune systems. We incorporate these findings into the more traditional anti-inflammatory role attributed to glucocorticoids, and propose how the two seemingly disparate processes seamlessly work together to resolve cellular responses to inflammatory stimuli. These ideas provide a framework by which glucocorticoids ready and reinforce the innate immune system, and repress the adaptive immune system, to help to resolve inflammation and restore homeostasis.
Structural Confinement and Safety Design of a Fast Reactor Core

In certain fast-reactor designs, the core is an assemblage of a large number of containers of long, hexagonal, hollow cylinders mounted vertically. These so-called hex-cans sit individually on coolant nozzles held down by their own weight, and are held as a group laterally at two levels by two constraint rings. In the analysis, it is observed that the large number of hex-cans and the distribution of the temperature field are such that the cross section of the reactor core can be treated as in a locally uniform dilatational field. An approximate equation was developed relating the plane deformation of a hollow hex cylinder to the global lateral pressure. The cylinder constitutive equation is then used to determine an equivalent stiffness for a solid hex cylinder that is to have the same deformation as the given hex-can. The entire planar core region is then analyzed as a homogeneous medium of the equivalent stiffness. The method was applied to the core confinement design for a fast reactor. The thermoelastic solution was then applied to a relatively simpler configuration than the actual case to give a measure of the lateral pressure.