cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Miniature, metal 3D-printed, multiplexed electrohydrodynamic gas pumps

We report the design, fabrication, and experimental characterization of the first additively manufactured, miniature, metal multi-needle ionic wind pumps in the literature. The pumps are needle-ring corona diodes composed of a monolithic inkjet binder-printed active electrode, made in stainless steel 316L, with five sharp, conical needles, and a thin plate counter-electrode, made in copper, with electrochemically etched apertures aligned to the needle array; by applying a large bias voltage across the diode, electrohydrodynamically driven airflow is produced. The influence of tip multiplexing and tip sharpening on the ion current, airflow velocity, volumetric flow rate, and kinetic conversion efficiency of the pumps was characterized under different interelectrode separations, counter-electrode aperture diameters, and applied bias voltages, while triggering a negative corona discharge. At the optimal operating bias voltage (7.4 kV), the as-printed five-needle ionic wind pumps eject air at 2.66 m s−1 and at a volumetric flow rate of 316 cm3 s−1 –a twofold larger than the flow rate of an as-printed single-needle device and with 35% higher efficiency (i.e. 0.27%). Using a two-step electropolishing procedure, the needles of the active electrode can be uniformly sharpened down to 83.4 μm average tip diameter, i.e. about one quarter of their as-printed dimension (~300 μm). Operated under the same conditions, the electropolished five-needle pumps eject air at 3.25 m s−1, i.e. 22% higher speed compared to the as-printed devices, with the same kinetic conversion efficiency. A two-module model was built in COMSOL Multiphysics, consisting of a three-species corona discharge module and a gas dynamics module, to gain insights into the operation of the pumps and to determine trends for increasing device performance. The electrohydrodynamic (EHD) body force calculated using this model has the same periodic behaviour of the Trichel pulse current. A time-dependent EHD body force analysis was performed, and the stabilized forces averaged over a multiple of the Trichel pulse period were used to predict the large-timescale airflow. The EHD force from the corona simulation can be rescaled to calculate the flow at different bias voltages, greatly reducing the simulation time, and making possible to systematically study the relevant parameters and optimize the design of the air pump. The experimental data agree with the simulation results and the reduced-order modelling.
Inconsistent reporting of drug-drug interactions for hormonal contraception and antiepileptic drugs - Implications for reproductive health for women with epilepsy.

Abstract Drug compendia are the source of safety prescribing information. We assessed the reporting concordance of drug–drug interactions between hormonal contraception and antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) among eight leading international drug compendia. Antiepileptic drugs reported to interact with ≥1 form of hormonal contraception were reviewed. Scaled concordance was quantified using linearly weighted percent agreement (wPA). Differences in interaction severity rankings between hormonal contraception forms were evaluated using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. There was high agreement among compendia for interactions of combined hormonal contraception interactions with AEDs (wPA = 0.82–0.84), especially potent enzyme-inducing AEDs (wPA = 0.89). However, concordance was reduced for AED interactions with progestin-only contraception (wPA = 0.69–0.81). Extreme interaction reporting discrepancies were found for less potent enzyme-inducing AEDs. The greatest variability in interaction reporting was observed for injectable and intrauterine contraception (wPA = 0.69 and 0.70, respectively), which are the only hormonal contraception options currently classified as not interacting with enzyme-inducing AEDs. Drug–drug interaction reporting variability can have major clinical implications and highlights critical knowledge gaps in the care of women with epilepsy of childbearing age. Further research on AED–contraceptive interactions is needed to standardize compendia reporting and enhance evidence-based clinical guidelines for women with epilepsy.
Metaphors of Change: Navigating a Revolution in Engineering Education

Engineering education is often decontextualized, even as it is suffused with metaphoric language and sociocultural norms and beliefs. Efforts to embed social context and sociotechnical content in e...
Massive hemoperitoneum without peritoneal signs: An unusual presentation of omental ectopic rupture. A case report.

Abstract Background Extrauterine ectopic pregnancy is a rare form of ectopic pregnancy, accounting for roughly 1:10,000–30,000 of all pregnancies. Primary omental pregnancy is the least common form of abdominal ectopic pregnancies, making it extremely rare. Typical presentation includes pelvic pain, secondary amenorrhea, with or without vaginal bleeding. Atypical presentations range from nonspecific pain to asymptomatic. Case A 19-year-old woman presented to the emergency department after several syncopal episodes. She had a positive urine pregnancy test (serum hCG 446 IU/L). Her hemoglobin level was 10.6 g/dL. Due to lack of pain or bleeding, abdominal imaging was not indicated. A head CT scan rendered negative results. She was subsequently diagnosed with idiopathic headaches and anemia and was discharged. She returned to hospital 48 h later with vaginal bleeding and additional syncopal episodes. She was not experiencing any abdominal pain or discomfort. Her anemia worsened (hemoglobin 7.5 g/dL). For this reason, imaging was performed. It was significant for massive hemoperitoneum. Due to the imaging findings and worsening anemia, diagnostic exploratory laparoscopy was recommended to evaluate for ruptured ectopic pregnancy. Laparoscopic findings revealed large hemoperitoneum and a 10-week gestational sac attached to the greater omentum near the transverse colon. This exceedingly rare presentation of extrauterine ectopic pregnancy offered few clinical clues other than worsening anemia until imaging later revealed the abnormality. Ruptured ectopic pregnancy, a potentially fatal complication of pregnancy, should be included into the differential diagnosis of any gravid patient with syncope and anemia unexplained by extensive diagnostic workup.
In-House Fabrication of Solenoid Inductor and Multilayer Metal Core Using 3D Printing, Selective Electroless Plating, Electroplating, and Pressing

This paper presents a simple in-house fabrication of a solenoid inductor using 3D printing, selective electroless plating, and electroplating for the inductor, and pressing for a highly laminated metal core. The frame of the solenoid inductor was 3D printed, where the design of the frame has a solenoid trench and ridge for wiring and insulator, respectively. The ridge of the frame was selectively coated with a novolac resin by dipping and rolling. The unique selective electroless plating showed the direct patterning to form a solenoid conductive path that came from the different surface activation. Electroplating to thicken the solenoid wire completes the inductor fabrication. A pressing and stacking of a nickel film form the highly laminated magnetic core for the inductor. A 10-turn solenoid inductor with a wire thickness of was successfully fabricated. An average inductance of 133 nH was measured in air-core condition. A 120 nickel layer cores were integrated into the inductor and showed the boosted inductance of 252 nH. The proposed simple fabrication has a great potential for various RF passive 3D devices including antennas, filters, and waveguides.
Exponential separations between learning with and without quantum memory

We study the power of quantum memory for learning properties of quantum systems and dynamics, which is of great importance in physics and chemistry. Many state-of-the-art learning algorithms require access to an additional external quantum memory. While such a quantum memory is not required a priori, in many cases, algorithms that do not utilize quantum memory require much more data than those which do. We show that this trade-off is inherent in a wide range of learning problems. Our results include the following: (1) We show that to perform shadow tomography on an $n$-qubit state rho with $M$ observables, any algorithm without quantum memory requires $\Omega(\min(M, 2^n))$ samples of rho in the worst case. Up to logarithmic factors, this matches the upper bound of [HKP20] and completely resolves an open question in [Aar18, AR19]. (2) We establish exponential separations between algorithms with and without quantum memory for purity testing, distinguishing scrambling and depolarizing evolutions, as well as uncovering symmetry in physical dynamics. Our separations improve and generalize prior work of [ACQ21] by allowing for a broader class of algorithms without quantum memory. (3) We give the first tradeoff between quantum memory and sample complexity. We prove that to estimate absolute values of all $n$-qubit Pauli observables, algorithms with $k < n$ qubits of quantum memory require at least $\Omega(2^{(n-k)/3})$ samples, but there is an algorithm using $n$-qubit quantum memory which only requires $O(n)$ samples. The separations we show are sufficiently large and could already be evident, for instance, with tens of qubits. This provides a concrete path towards demonstrating real-world advantage for learning algorithms with quantum memory.
Accuracy of a Tablet Audiometer for Measuring Behavioral Hearing Thresholds in a Clinical Population.

ObjectiveTo examine the validity of a tablet computer–based audiometer for measuring hearing thresholds in a moderately noisy environment.Study DesignA prospective single-cohort repeated measures s...
Somatosensory encoding with cuneate nucleus microstimulation: Effects on downstream cortical activity

High-performance neuroprostheses designed to reanimate a paralyzed limb following spinal cord injury must restore both movement and sensation. For the latter goal, we are developing a novel strategy focused on encode sensations using microstimulation of the cuneate nucleus (CN) of the brainstem. Here, we characterized the temporal dynamics of downstream cortical excitation and inhibition in response to CN microstimulation in a macaque. A single CN stimulus pulse evoked a fast (7 ms) excitatory response in primary somatosensory cortex (S1) followed by an inhibitory period lasting until 50 ms. The S1 response to a second CN pulse within this inhibitory period was drastically attenuated. Following the inhibition, S1 unit activity rebounded with a prolonged excitatory phase lasting until 800 ms. Within this second excitatory phase were rhythmic peaks of increased unit activity with an alpha-band frequency (8–14 Hz). The rhythmic excitation was specific for perigranular laminae and was stimulus-amplitude dependent. The results show a complex cortical response to CN stimuli and can guide future design of CN stimulus patterns to evoke salient percepts.
Waiting periods versus early innervation: the development of axonal connections in the zebra finch song system

This study examines the development of two neural pathways within the zebra finch forebrain that function respectively in the juvenile acquisition and the adult production of learned song. In the adult male zebra finch forebrain, the song nuclei L-MAN and HVc both innervate nucleus RA; L-MAN plays a crucial role in juvenile song acquisition but, unlike HVc and RA, is not essential for adult song production. Previous studies have shown that HVc axons arrive at the dorsal border of RA as early as posthatch day 15 (day 15), and only enter the male RA after days 25-30, but never enter the female RA. The present study examines the development of axonal projections from L-MAN to RA and finds that, in contrast to HVc axons, L-MAN terminals are present within the male and female RA by day 15, and persist there throughout adult life. Unlike RA-projecting HVc neurons, HVc neurons projecting to area X innervate this target by day 20. Like L-MAN, area X plays a transient role in song acquisition. These results suggest that in the zebra finch forebrain, neural pathways essential to juvenile song learning develop before those needed for adult song production.
An Examination of the Adult age Differences on the Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices

The purpose of the current project was to examine the nature of the age-related differences on the Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices (APM). Three components were hypothesized to be involved in correctly solving the APM problems. These included a rule-identification component, a rule-application component (involving a one-rule spatial transformation), and a rule-coordination component. The project was designed to examine the influence of each of the hypothesized components on the age-related variance on the APM. Two tests presumed to measure each hypothesized component were presented to 183 adults between the ages of 21 and 83. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that although all of the hypothesized components accounted for a significant amount of the variance on the APM (approximately 50% each), only performance on the tasks measuring rule application accounted for a unique proportion of the age-related variance on the APM. Implications of the results in regards to following symbolic instructi...
Patterns of hydrological drought indicators in major U.S. River basins

Climate non-stationarity, changes in land use and water management practices affect regional hydrological extremes. This research considers extreme low streamflow (“low flow” henceforth) and flow deficit characteristics, which are important indicators of water scarcity within the broader context of droughts. The results indicate that the number of stations with positive significant trends in low flows is generally higher than the number of stations with negative significant trends; however, the fraction of total number of stations with negative trends has been increasing in the last four decades while the fraction of total number of stations with positive trends have been decreasing, making a gradual reduction in the wetting tendency in low flows in the conterminous U.S. Regional differences in low flow trends are notable, which echo the local climatic changes and soil moisture trends documented in the recent National Climate Assessment (NCA), as well as the changes in cropping and irrigation practices, and creation of forest plantations. A reversal of trend is seen for some northern regions since 1980s. Patterns in return periods and corresponding return values of low flows are also examined, which suggests changing risk conditions that are important for water-resources decision-making. Persistent low flow conditions in a river can lead to chronic water scarcity—a main driver of societal and cross-boundary conflicts. Thus, this research identifies “hotspot” locations where suitable adaptive management measures are most needed.
Physical and social environmental characteristics of physical activity for Mexican-origin children: examining differences between school year and summer perceptions

Colonias are substandard residential areas along the U.S.-Mexico border. Families of Mexican-origin living in colonias face health burdens characterized by environmental and socioeconomic hardships. Mexican Americans and low-income families, including colonias children, do not frequently participate in physical activity despite the known link to disease risk reduction. For colonias children, schools are the most commonly reported location for physical activity. School closures and extreme temperatures during summer months create a need to explore seasonal differences in environmental supports and barriers in this population. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of seasonality on perceived environmental barriers, opportunities, and social support for physical activity among colonias children. As a secondary aim, mother-child discordance for each factor was analyzed. Promotora-researchers recruited mother-child dyads (n=101 dyads, n=202 participants) from colonias in Hidalgo County, Texas. Mothers and children were separately administered surveys at two time points to capture perceived barriers, opportunities, and social support for physical activity (school-year: February-May; summertime: July-August). Summative scores for each outcome were calculated and three multilevel longitudinal models for continuous outcomes were examined; children were nested within households. Mother-child discordance was measured using Cohen’s Kappa statistic. Physical activity barriers and environmental opportunities (household and neighborhood) increased from school-year to summer by 1.16 and 2.83 points respectively (p≤0.01), after adjusting for covariates. Significant predictors of increased barriers included household income of >$900/month and having more household members. Children of mothers with significant others who were employed part-time or full-time saw significant decreases in barriers. Mother-child agreement of barriers, environmental opportunities, and social support across seasons was slight to fair (range: median κ=0.047 to κ=0.262). These results suggest a complex relationship between dimensions of economic hardship (employment status, household income, etc…) and perceived opportunities and barriers of children’s physical activity engagement during the school-year and summer. In this study, both barriers and opportunities increased from school-year to summer, further demonstrating that interactions among these characteristics need to be better understood and addressed when considering physical activity initiatives for colonias and other Mexican-American children, specifically during summer when school-based physical activity resources are unavailable.
Modeling and direct adaptive control of utility-scale wind turbines for both onshore and offshore operation

A direct adaptive control theory to control the onshore wind turbine in partial loading operation and offshore wind turbine in full loading operation is presented in this paper. Adaptive controllers are designed based on the proposed theory and then implemented to 5 MW FAST wind turbine models.
Experimental modal analysis of the spatiotemporal dynamics of a linear photorefractive phase-conjugate resonator

An experimental modal analysis is performed on the transverse patterns of a photorefractive phase-conjugate resonator with a Karhunen–Loeve decomposition from which the most significant eigenvectors of the covariance matrix or the cross-spectral density matrix of the intensity fluctuations are defined and interpreted as the active eigenmodes of the resonator. The dynamics are studied as a function of the cavity Fresnel number and the angular tilt between the external pump beams (Bragg mismatch). As the Fresnel number is varied it is shown that states with the same modal decomposition may be temporally periodic or aperiodic. The Bragg mismatch is shown to be responsible for breaking the rotational symmetry of the system, changing the spatial complexity of the patterns, and changing the characteristic speed of the nonstationary patterns.
Assembly and characterization of 8-arm and 12-arm DNA branched junctions.

Branched DNA molecules can be assembled into objects and networks directed by sticky-ended cohesion. The connectivity of these species is limited by the number of arms flanking the branch point. To date, the only branched junctions constructed contain six or fewer arms. We report the construction of DNA branched junctions that contain either 8 or 12 double helical arms surrounding a branch point. The design of the 8-arm junction expoits the limits of a previous approach to thwart branch migration, but the design of the 12-arm junction uses a new to principle achieve this end. The 8-arm junction is stable with 16 nucleotide pairs per arm, but the 12-arm junction has been stabilized by 24 nucleotide pairs per arm. Ferguson analysis of these junctions in combination with three, four, five, and six-arm junctions indicates a linear increase in friction constant as the number of arms increases; the four-arm junction migrates anomalously at 4°C., suggesting stacking of its domains. All strands in both the 8-arm and 12-arm junctions show similar responses to hydroxyl radical autofootprinting analysis, indicating that they lack any dominant stacking structures. The stability of the 12-arm junction demonstrates that the number of arms in a junction is not limited to the case of having adjacent identical base pairs flanking the junction. The ability to construct eight-arm and twelve-arm junctions increases the number of objects, graphs and networks that can be built from branched DNA components. In principle, the stick structure corresponding to cubic close packing is now a possible target for assembly by DNA nanotechnology.
Dietary protein safety and resistance exercise: what do we really know?

Resistance trainers continue to receive mixed messages about the safety of purposely seeking ample dietary protein in their quest for stimulating protein synthesis, improving performance, or maintaining health. Despite protein's lay popularity and the routinely high intakes exhibited by strength athletes, liberal and purposeful protein consumption is often maligned by "experts". University textbooks, instructors, and various forms of literature from personal training groups and athletic organizations continue to use dissuasive language surrounding dietary protein. Due to the widely known health benefits of dietary protein and a growing body of evidence on its safety profile, this is unfortunate. In response, researchers have critiqued unfounded educational messages. As a recent summarizing example, the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) Position Stand: Protein and Exercise reviewed general literature on renal and bone health. The concluding remark that "Concerns that protein intake within this range [1.4 – 2.0 g/kg body weight per day] is unhealthy are unfounded in healthy, exercising individuals." was based largely upon data from non-athletes due to "a lack of scientific evidence". Future studies were deemed necessary. This assessment is not unique in the scientific literature. Investigators continue to cite controversy, debate, and the lack of direct evidence that allows it. This review discusses the few existing safety studies done specific to athletes and calls for protein research specific to resistance trainers. Population-specific, long term data will be necessary for effective education in dietetics textbooks and from sports governing bodies.
An 8GHz first-order frequency synthesizer based on phase interpolation and quadrature frequency detection in 65nm CMOS

A low-power high-speed frequency synthesizer in 65nm CMOS is presented. The design features a novel architecture combining an LC quadrature VCO, two sample-and-holds, a phase interpolator, digital coarse-tuning and a novel quadrature frequency detection technique for fine-tuning. The system works based on injecting the rising edges of reference clock. The architecture has first-order dynamics, eliminating jitter accumulation. Functionality of the frequency synthesizer was validated between 8-9.5GHz, LC VCO's range of operation. The output clock at 8GHz has an integrated rms jitter of 0.5ps and peak-to-peak periodic jitter of 2.9ps. The reference spurs are -64.3dB below the carrier frequency. The system consumes 2.49mW from a 1V supply at 8GHz.
The Ethical Significance of Cost-Benefit Analysis in Business and The Professions

ism, probability assignments are crucial in certain kinds of moral decisions. Utilitarianism also encourages quantification of whatever values are to be promoted, such as human happiness or, on a hedonistic version, pleasure and the reduction of pain. Given its emphasis on quantification, utilitarian ism is sometimes taken to be quantitative rather than qualitative. But the position is not unqualifiedly quantitative, nor is it the only ethical theory that gives probability a major role and attempts, in some way, to quantify value. The view can also be qualitative, as in the case of Mill's version, which distinguishes between pleasures in a way that permits considering some of them intrinsically better than others (Mill, 1957, p. 12). My aim here is to explicate some of the ethical uses of a form of cost benefit analysis, to explore the extent to which it may be employed by moral theories other than utilitarianism, and consider both some points about the nature of intrinsic value and the possibility of treating it quantitatively as well as qualitatively. The results are intended to be of use in moral reflec tion of many kinds and to facilitate reflection in business and professional ethics as well as on matters of ethical theory.
Tetracyclines: Nonantibiotic properties and their clinical implications

Tetracyclines are broad-spectrum antibiotics that act as such at the ribosomal level where they interfere with protein synthesis. They were first widely prescribed by dermatologists in the early 1950s when it was discovered that they were effective as a treatment for acne. More recently, biologic actions affecting inflammation, proteolysis, angiogenesis, apoptosis, metal chelation, ionophoresis, and bone metabolism have been researched. The therapeutic effects of tetracycline and its analogues in various diseases have also been investigated. These include rosacea, bullous dermatoses, neutrophilic diseases, pyoderma gangrenosum, sarcoidosis, aortic aneurysms, cancer metastasis, periodontitis, and autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma. We review the nonantibiotic properties of tetracycline and its analogues and their potential for clinical application.
TSV-Aware Interconnect Distribution Models for Prediction of Delay and Power Consumption of 3-D Stacked ICs

3-D integrated circuits (3-D ICs) are expected to have shorter wirelength, better performance, and less power consumption than 2-D ICs. These benefits come from die stacking and use of through-silicon vias (TSVs) fabricated for interconnections across dies. However, the use of TSVs has several negative impacts such as area and capacitance overhead. To predict the quality of 3-D ICs more accurately, TSV-aware 3-D wirelength distribution models considering the negative impacts were developed. In this paper, we apply an optimal buffer insertion algorithm to the TSV-aware 3-D wirelength distribution models and present various prediction results on wirelength, delay, and power consumption of 3-D ICs. We also apply the framework to 2-D and 3-D ICs built with various combinations of process and TSV technologies and predict the quality of today and future 3-D ICs.
Origin of a silica-oversaturated quartz trachyte–rhyolite suite through combined crustal melting, magma mixing, and fractional crystallization: the Leyva Canyon volcano, Trans-Pecos Magmatic Province, Texas

Abstract The Leyva Canyon Member of the Rawls Formation is a sequence of Oligocene (27.3–27.1 Ma) silicic lava, tuff, and volcaniclastic rock that comprise a trachytic shield volcano in the central Bofecillos Mountains of Big Bend Ranch State Park, Texas. This silicic unit developed within a volcanic field that was otherwise dominated by silica-undersaturated, mafic to intermediate lava. Quartz trachyte to low-silica rhyolite of the Leyva Canyon volcano appears to be the result of magma mixing between mantle-derived, alkalic mafic magmas and peraluminous crustal melt (∼40% crustal input), followed by ∼65% fractional crystallization. The parental mafic component was probably similar to silica-undersaturated, mafic lavas of the Rawls Formation. Peraluminous, A-type high-silica rhyolite represents the earliest-erupted lavas of the Leyva Canyon volcano and is unrelated to quartz trachyte and low-silica rhyolite via fractional crystallization. The high-silica rhyolite provides evidence for an episode of crustal melting beneath the Leyva Canyon volcano. Data from the Rawls Formation suggest that silica-undersaturated, alkalic (ne-normative) mafic magmas may evolve via fractional crystallization alone to silica-undersaturated silicic compositions (ne-trachyte), but require magma mixing with crustal-derived silicic magmas coupled with fractional crystallization to produce silica-oversaturated magmas (quartz trachyte–rhyolite). Mixing with a high-Al2O3 crustal component results in silica-oversaturated, mildly peraluminous and metaluminous to mildly peralkalic felsic rocks, rather than the strongly peralkalic rocks more commonly associated with alkalic mafic magmas.
Effect of polymorphic phase transformations in Al2O3 film on oxidation kinetics of aluminum powders

Abstract Thermogravimetry was used to study the oxidation of aluminum powders at elevated temperatures. Aluminum powders of various particle sizes and surface morphologies were heated in oxygen up to 1500 °C at different heating rates. Partially oxidized samples were recovered from selected intermediate temperatures and the oxide phases present were analyzed by X-ray diffraction. The experimental data were related to current information on stabilities and phase changes of Al2O3 polymorphs. Aluminum powders were observed to oxidize in four distinct stages in the temperature range from 300 to 1500 °C. During stage I, from 300 to about 550 °C, the thickness of the natural amorphous alumina layer on the particle surface increases. The rate of this process is controlled by the outward diffusion of Al cations. At about 550 °C, when the oxide layer thickness exceeds the critical thickness of amorphous alumina of about 4 nm, the oxide transforms into γ-Al2O3. The specific volume of γ-Al2O3 is less than that of amorphous alumina; therefore, the newly formed γ-Al2O3 only partially covers the aluminum surface. The oxidation rate increases rapidly at the onset of stage II, but it decreases when the γ-Al2O3 layer becomes continuous. During stage III oxidation, the γ-Al2O3 layer grows and partially transforms into the structurally similar θ-Al2O3 polymorph. Finally, oxidation stage IV is observed after the transition to stable α-Al2O3 results in an abrupt reduction of oxidation rate. Qualitative analysis of the rates of oxidation at the different stages enables one to understand the wide range of aluminum ignition temperatures observed for particles of different sizes.
Genetics and irritable bowel syndrome: from genomics to intermediate phenotype and pharmacogenetics.

Purpose Familial aggregation and sibling pair studies suggest there is a genetic contribution to the development of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The aim of this study was to review the evidence of genetics in IBS based on genetic epidemiology, studies of association with intermediate phenotypes and pharmacogenetics. Results Genetic association studies with IBS symptom phenotype have generally provided inconsistent results for many candidate genes investigated, such as SLC6A4, GNB3, and IL-10. There have been no genome-wide association studies in IBS to date. Studies of associations of candidate genes with intermediate phenotypes suggest associations with pathophysiological mechanisms of motor and sensory functions; however, these results also require replication. Pharmacogenetics studies illustrate the potential of genetics to impact on response to therapy, as observed with SLC6A4 and responses to the 5-HT3 antagonist alosetron and the 5-HT4 agonist, tegaserod. Conclusions While the heritable component and genetics in the complex disorder of IBS are still poorly understood, studies of the associations of spontaneous genetic variations and altered functions may provide novel insights of the mechanisms contributing to the disease.
A modeling approach for integrating durability engineering and robustness in product design

This paper presents a set of multi-objective non-linear programming models to integrate durability and robustness in product design. A spring design problem is used for illustration.
Effects of protein kinase C dependent phosphorylation and a familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy-related mutation of cardiac troponin I on structural transition of troponin C and myofilament activation.

In experiments reported here, we compared tension and thin filament Ca 2 + signaling in preparations containing either wild-type cardiac troponin I (cTnl) or a mutant cTnl with an R146G mutation [cTnI(146G)] linked to familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Myofilament function is altered in association with cTnI phosphorylation by protein kinase C (PKC), which is activated in hypertrophy. Whether there are differential effects of PKC phosphorylation on cTnl compared to cTnI(146G) remains unknown. We therefore also studied cTnl and cTnI(146G) with PKC sites mutated to Glu, which mimics phosphorylation. Compared to cTnI controls, binary complexes with either cTnI(146G) or cTnI(43E/45E/144E) had a small effect on Ca 2 + -dependent structural opening of the N-terminal regulatory domain of cTnC as measured using Forster resonance energy transfer. However, this structural change was significantly reduced in the cTnC-cTnI(43E/45E/144E/146G) complex. Exchange of cTnl in skinned fiber bundles with cTnI(146G) induced enhanced Ca 2 + sensitivity and an elevated resting tension. Exchange of cTnl with cTnl(43E/ 45E/144E) induced a depression in Ca 2 + sensitivity and maximum tension. However, compared to cTnI(146G), cTnI(43E/45E/144E/146G) had little additional effects on myofilament response to Ca 2 + . By comparing activation of tension to the open state of the N-domain of cTnC with variations in the state of cTnl, we were able to provide data supporting the hypothesis that activation of cardiac myofilaments is tightly coupled to the open state of the N-domain of cTnC. Our data also support the hypothesis that pathological effects of phosphorylation are influenced by mutations in cTnl.
THERMAL SYNTHESIS OF NATURAL AMINO-ACIDS FROM A POSTULATED PRIMITIVE TERRESTRIAL ATMOSPHERE.

Thermal Synthesis of Natural Amino-Acids from a Postulated Primitive Terrestrial Atmosphere
Multiple suction cup dentures.

Patents on suction cup dentures were issued to J. Spyer and R. S. Ingalls in 1885.1, "~ These patents covered multiple projections on the tissue (basal) surface of dentures. A patent was issued in 1907 to G. W. Morgan for suction cavities in a soft rubber sheet. 3 A large number of other devices have been proposed/ but all of them failed to meet the requisites of simplicity, comfort, permanency, tissue tolerability, and practicability. Since 1952 I have experimented with attaching individual suction cups, strips of suction cups, and group sections of cups to dentures. These were made of latex rubber, polyethylene, vinyl polymers, soft methyl methacrylates, mercaptan rubbers, and silicone elastomers. Most of these materials were too hard, or would not remain soft. Latex rubber was quite comfortable to patients, but it quickly deteriorated in the saliva. All of the materials, except the silicones, present difficult technical problems which add excessively to the cost of construction.
The Role of a Hydrogen Bonding Network in the Transmembrane β-Barrel OMPLA

The hydrogen bonding of polar side-chains has emerged as an important theme for membrane protein interactions. The crystal structure of the dimeric state of the transmembrane β-barrel protein outer membrane phospholipase A (OMPLA) revealed an intermolecular hydrogen bond mediated by a highly conserved glutamine side-chain (Q94). It has been shown that the introduction of a polar residue can drive the association of model helices, and by extension it was presumed that the glutamine hydrogen bond played a key role in stabilizing the OMPLA dimer. However, a thermodynamic investigation using sedimentation equilibrium ultracentrifugation in detergent micelles reveals that the hydrogen bond plays only a very modest role in stabilizing the dimer. The Q94 side-chain is hydrogen bonded intramolecularly to residues Y92 and S96, but amino acid substitutions at these positions suggest these intramolecular interactions are not responsible for attenuating the strength of the intermolecular Q94 hydrogen bond. Other substitutions suggested that hydration of the local environment around Q94 may be responsible for the modest strength of the hydrogen bond. Heat inactivation experiments with the variants suggest that the Y92-Q94-S96 network may instead be important for thermal stability of the monomer. These results highlight the context dependence and broad range of interactions that can be mediated by polar residues in membrane proteins.
Traffic sign detection, state estimation, and identification using onboard sensors

Traffic signs along the roadways are used to convey important information about the road and the environment to drivers, pedestrians, and possibly many Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) applications. A map of traffic signs provides a priori information to ITS applications, allowing the information to be used in a wide variety of detection, positioning, and vehicle control applications. In this research, a probe vehicle with onboard sensors is utilized to survey traffic signs along the roadways of a test site. A sensor platform equipped with GPS/IMU, 3D LIDAR, and a vision sensor is employed in a traffic sign detection, state estimation, and identification framework to map the state of traffic signs and to identify them from a list of known traffic sign templates. Data collected from the test site is used to test the proposed framework. The mapped traffic signs are verified using the carrier-phase Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) surveyed locations of the sign posts to show that the errors are in the centimeter to decimeter levels.
Guidance of Cell Migration by Substrate Dimension

There is increasing evidence to suggest that physical parameters, including substrate rigidity, topography, and cell geometry, play an important role in cell migration. As there are significant differences in cell behavior when cultured in 1D, 2D, or 3D environments, we hypothesize that migrating cells are also able to sense the dimension of the environment as a guidance cue. NIH 3T3 fibroblasts were cultured on micropatterned substrates where the path of migration alternates between 1D lines and 2D rectangles. We found that 3T3 cells had a clear preference to stay on 2D rather than 1D substrates. Cells on 2D surfaces generated stronger traction stress than did those on 1D surfaces, but inhibition of myosin II caused cells to lose their sensitivity to substrate dimension, suggesting that myosin-II-dependent traction forces are the determining factor for dimension sensing. Furthermore, oncogene-transformed fibroblasts are defective in mechanosensing while generating similar traction forces on 1D and 2D surfaces. Dimension sensing may be involved in guiding cell migration for both physiological functions and tissue engineering, and for maintaining normal cells in their home tissue.
Sensitive Photothermal Deflection Detector for Microbore Liquid Chromatography

A photothermal deflection detector for microbore liquid chromatography is described. The detection limit of the system under isocratic flow conditions is shown to be 8 × 10−8 absorbance units. This corresponds to 500 fg of analyte (acid sulfonate rug dye) injected on the column. The detection system is shown to be amenable to gradient elution and open tubular chromatography.
A plant invasion affects condition but not density or population structure of a vulnerable reptile

By altering ecosystem structure and function, invasions by nonnative plants have the potential to alter the quantity and quality of habitat for animals. We examined effects of buffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare), a nonnative grass that is increasing in distribution markedly throughout the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, on demographic characteristics and condition of Sonoran desert tortoises (Gopherus morafkai). In 2010 and 2011, we established 50 4-ha plots that spanned the gradient of buffelgrass cover in areas with environmental features characteristic of high-quality habitat for tortoises in southern Arizona. We surveyed each plot four times per year to characterize density, population structure, and condition of tortoises. We detected tortoises on 45 of 50 plots (90 %) and ≥1 tortoise during 114 of 200 surveys (57 %). We used a hierarchical model to estimate density of tortoises while accounting for imperfect detection rates. Density of tortoises averaged 0.35 individuals/ha (SE = 0.04) and did not vary appreciably with the amount of buffelgrass cover; similarly, age and sex structure of tortoise populations did not vary with buffelgrass cover. Condition of adult tortoises, however, averaged 10 % lower in areas where cover of buffelgrass was high (>15 %) relative to areas where buffelgrass was absent or cover was low (<1 %). Although the demographic characteristics we measured on this long-lived species did not vary with current levels of buffelgrass cover, reduced condition of tortoises in areas invaded by this nonnative grass could manifest as population-level effects over longer time periods, especially because buffelgrass is predicted to expand its current distribution.
Limits of spatial-frequency discrimination as evidence of neural interpolation

We have studied the ability of observers to discriminate between suprathreshold vertical sinusoidal spatial-frequency gratings on the basis of spatial frequency. The results show that spatial-frequency discrimination is not a smooth function of spatial frequency but instead appears regularly segmented. Similar results were also obtained in an experiment in which observers discriminated between pairs of narrow vertical lines on the basis of their separation. Angular resolutions achieved for both discrimination tasks were less than the spacing between photoreceptors, requiring some type of neural interpolation. The similarity between the two sets of data indicates that discrimination between spatial-frequency gratings is probably based on the separation between two features exactly one cycle apart. We suggest that the segmentation reflects the existence of neural-image representations with discrete levels of spatial accuracy.
The case of letter rhyming: An ERP study

Previous visual event-related potential (ERP) studies using prime-target pairs of word and pseudoword stimuli have reported a robust rhyming effect such that nonrhyming targets elicit a larger N450 than rhyming targets. However, results of similar studies using simpler linguistic stimuli-single letters-are equivocal. We used lowercase and uppercase letter pairs in a simple ERP prime-target rhyming paradigm to further investigate whether single letters could elicit the typical rhyming effect and, if so, whether the rhyming effect was sensitive to physical orthography (which differed between the case conditions). The typical N450 rhyming effect was observed in both the lowercase and uppercase letter pair conditions, with similar amplitude and latency between conditions. This pattern of results suggests that the N450 rhyming effect is not sensitive to physical (case) orthography and likely primarily indexes phonological processing related to the rhyme task.
The First Synthesis of a Member of the Iturin Family, the Antifungal Cyclic Lipopeptide, Iturin-A2

. Crudecyclicproductwasobtainedin91%yield. AnalysisbyHPLCshowedproducttobe73%ofthetotal. Sincethestartingmaterial was only 76% pure, this calculates to anamazing 87% yield for the cyclization reaction. Mostcyclization reactions are performed on the protectedpeptide;however,thenaturalfoldinginherentinthispossiblenativeprecursorpeptidemayhaveenhancedtheyield of cyclization. Purification by HPLC gave theproductin46%yield. Themajorimpuritywascharac-terizedasiturin-A2withaTmob-protectinggroupstillattached. Unfortunately,theTmobcouldnotberemovedfromthisimpuritybytreatmentwithTFA. Theresultsindicatethatproperscavengerswerenotusedforthedeprotectionofthelinearpeptide,resultinginreattach-mentofthecleavedTmob-group. Becausethecyclizationwasperformedoncrudelinearpeptide,thesideproductwasalsocyclized. Thepureproductwascharacterizedbycomigrationwithauthenticiturin-A2onRP-HPLCandbyESMS.Thelipopeptide'sactionon
Blowing in the wind: III. Accretion of dust rims by chondrule-sized particles in a turbulent protoplanetary nebula

Abstract The fabric of primitive meteorites is dominated by small but macroscopic particles—chondrules, refractory mineral inclusions (CAIs), metal grains, and their like. One interesting aspect of these particles is that they are often surrounded by well-attached rims of fine-grained dust which appear to have been “accreted” onto solid mineral cores. The rim thickness varies from one meteorite to another, but there seems to be a proportionality between the thickness of the rim and the size of the core. We make use of recently derived analytical expressions for absolute and relative velocities of chondrule-and-CAI-sized particles in a weakly turbulent nebula (Cuzzi and Hogan, 2003, paper I of this series) to assess the acquisition of fine-grained accretionary dust rims by particles in the chondrule-to-CAI size range. We compare these predictions with meteoritic observations, and show how the existence of fairly compact dust rims on chondrules and similar size objects can be easily understood within the turbulent nebula context. We estimate the time needed to accrete such rims to be in the 10 2 –10 3 year range. More observations of the form of the correlation between rim and core diameter in dust-rimmed chondrules are needed in order to strongly constrain the environment and history of these objects.
Unnatural parity exchange in π+p → (ϱ, ω)Δ++

Abstract The magnitudes and relative phases of the unnatural parity exchange amplitudes in π + p → ( ϱ o , ω ) Δ ++ are determined at 7.1 GeV/ c using a model dependent amplitude analysis technique.
Isolation of a nuclear DNA synthesizing complex from human sperm.

Summary A simplified procedure is described for isolating a human sperm nuclear DNA-synthesizing complex which does not involve the use of detergent or necessitate the prior purification of membrane-free nuclei. Selective disruption of sperm heads is accomplished by the use of dithiothreitol, trypsin, and deoxyribonuclease. The particulate complex is freed of soluble components by sedimentation through a solution of 19% (w/v) Metrizamide and further purified by buoyant density centrifugation. The characteristics of this endogenously templated nuclear DNA polymerase differ from other sperm-associated polymerases that have been reported.
Recent advances on Coherent Anti-Strokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy

Recent advances in CARS microscopy provided exciting possibilities for imaging living cells with high sensitivity, high 3D spatial resolution and chemical specificity based on vibrational spectroscopy. Epi-detection avoids the forward-going water signal and allows imaging of small features inside cells. Polarization-sensitive detection improves the vibrational contrast in CARS microscopy via suppression of the non-resonant background. High-speed CARS imaging of living cells is realized by raster scanning two collinearly overlapped near infrared picosecond laser beams. Vibrational mapping of lipids and proteins inside living cells is achieved. CARS imaging of unstained cells during mitosis and apoptosis is carried out. Incorporation of CARS microscopy with the photon correlation technique allows probing diffusion dynamics of 50-nm beads with chemical selectivity.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Engineering photonic nanostructure profiles using nanosphere lithography and reactive-ion etching

Two-dimensional periodic structures with nanometer feature sizes have been widely used in many photonic devices. The profile and size of the nanostructure elements can greatly affect optical performances. Various practical subwavelength structures working in the visible and near infrared region have been fabricated using electron-beam writing or laser interference techniques. In this paper, we present a new technique which use nanosphere lithography (NSL) and reactive-ion etching to fabricate two-dimensional nanostructures with tunable nanoelement size and profile.