cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Perinatal Mental Health; The Role and the Effect of the Partner: A Systematic Review.

Pregnancy is a transitional period involving the most complex experiences in a woman’s life, during which the woman’s psychological status can be affected by a wide range of psychosocial variables. However, positive interpersonal relationships appear to constitute a supportive network that significantly influences perinatal mental health. Therefore, the presence of a supportive partner works psycho-protectively against the difficulties and pressures created by the transition to maternity. The aim of this study was to review systematically the influence of the partner on the woman’s psychology during the perinatal period. Fourteen research articles from PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar and PsycINFO were included in the review from a total of 1846 articles. Most studies have shown a correlation between the support from the partner and prenatal depression and anxiety. Support from the spouse during childbirth is related to the extent to which women feel safe during labor as well as the stress during childbirth. The role of the partner is very important in the occurrence of perinatal mental disorders in women. Of course, more research needs to be done in the field of perinatal mental health. The risk factors that lead to mental disorders need to be clarified and the role of the partner in the perinatal period requires reinforcement and needs to be given the necessary importance.
Can Compact Currents Be Uniquely Determined

The EEG/MEG inverse problem is ill-posed and its solutions have two independent sources of non-uniqueness. The problem is ill-posed by the nature of the physics because infinitely many different current configurations can give rise to the same electro-magnetic fields. It is also mathematically underdetermined because the number of available mathematically independent data points is less than the dimension of the Solution space.
Numerical Regularization of the Lagrange Planetary Equations

The use of regularization in the numerical integration of Lagrange’s Planetary Equations for a specific set of orbit elements is discussed. Comparisons between the integration of the position and velocity with the integration of the orbital elements for various dynamical systems are made on the basis of the speed and accuracy of the integrations. In general it is recommended that singularities appearing in the zeroth order terms be removed with a time transformation to improve the accuracy of numerical integrations.
A Review of “Gary Berntsen and Ralph Pezzullo, Jawbreaker: The Attack on Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda: A Personal Account by the CIA's Key Field Commander”

Jawbreaker is a fast-paced, blow-by-blow account of the CIA's war against Al Qaeda as told by one of the CIA field officers, Gary Berntsen, who spearheaded the Agency's efforts in Afghanistan. Bern...
On Transitory Queueing

We introduce a framework and develop a theory of transitory queueing models. These are models that are not only non-stationary and time-varying but also have other features such as the queueing system operates over finite time, or only a finite population arrives. Such models are relevant in many real-world settings, from queues at post-offces, DMV, concert halls and stadia to out-patient departments at hospitals. We develop fluid and diffusion limits for a large class of transitory queueing models. We then introduce three specific models that fit within this framework, namely, the Delta(i)/GI/1 model, the conditioned G/GI/1 model, and an arrival model of scheduled traffic with epoch uncertainty. We show that asymptotically these models are distributionally equivalent, i.e., they have the same fluid and diffusion limits. We note that our framework provides the first ever way of analyzing the standard G/GI/1 model when we condition on the number of arrivals. In obtaining these results, we provide generalizations and extensions of the Glivenko-Cantelli and Donskers Theorem for empirical processes with triangular arrays. Our analysis uses the population acceleration technique that we introduce and develop. This may be useful in analysis of other non-stationary and non-ergodic queuing models.
Medical Emergency Team Response Processes for Behavioral Health Inpatient Units: Implications for Nursing Education

Following a literature review of nurses' attitudes and perceived barriers regarding the utilization of medical emergency teams (METs) and completing key informant interviews with psychiatric nurses, a questionnaire developed by the researcher was administered to inpatient psychiatric nurses to further examine their attitudes and perceived barriers about MET utilization. Using a 23-item questionnaire, the psychiatric nurses were asked to rate each item using a 5-point Likert scale. Results indicated that nurses did not have a clear understanding of the criteria for calling a MET and also tended to seek out other staff personnel and/or a physician consultation prior to initiating a MET call. Results of this descriptive, quality improvement project were then used to revise and refine nursing education and practice regarding MET utilization.
Dose titration of the clinical efficacy of intravenously administered flunixin meglumine in a reversible model of equine foot lameness.

Summary Reasons for performing study There are no refereed controlled documentations of the skeletal analgesic efficacy of different dosages of flunixin meglumine (FM). Objectives The objective of this experiment was to compare the efficacy of various dosages of FM with a negative control. The hypothesis was that higher doses would result in improved efficacy in a dose-dependent manner when tested in a reversible model of foot lameness. Methods Ten horses shod with adjustable heart bar shoes had weekly modified AAEP grade 4.0/5.0 lameness induced by tightening a set screw against the heart bar. Heart rate (HR) and lameness score (LS) were monitored by one double-blinded investigator at rest; every 20 min after lameness induction for 5 h and hourly for another 8 h. One hour after lameness induction, treatments were administered i.v. in a randomised order: negative control (isotonic saline: SAL) or FM at 0.55 (half-dose), 1.1 (single-dose) or 2.2 (double-dose) mg/kg bwt. Results were compared using RM ANOVA and Student–Newman–Keul's test with the level of significance set at P<0.05. Results Compared to SAL, half-dose FM reduced HR at 2.33, 2.67, 4.0–8.0, and 10.0 h and LS at 1.33–12.0 h (P<0.05). Single- and double-dose FM reduced HR from 0.67 to 12.0 h and LS from 1.0 to 12.0 h post administration (P<0.05). Compared with half-dose FM, single- and double-dose LS were further decreased from 1.67 to 12.0 h post administration (P<0.05). Mean peak and decaying plasma FM concentrations were different between dosages in a dose-dependent manner through 6 h post administration (P<0.05). Conclusions Flunixin meglumine administration affected dependent variables in a dose-dependent manner with half-dose FM clinically effective for a shorter period. Higher dosages did not perform differently from one another. Potential relevance Practitioners must be aware that half-doses of FM are less efficacious than single doses but double doses are not more efficacious and yet are potentially more toxic.
When Is an Arms Rivalry a Prisoner's Dilemma?: Richardson's Models and 2 × 2 Games

This article uses the utility functions from Richardson arms rivalry (R-AR) models to help determine the equilibrium outcomes of 2 × 2 game-theory arms rivalry (GT-AR) models. Three different formulations of a R-AR, one general and two specific, are employed. Four different formulations of a GT-AR, a PD arms rivalry (PD-AR), a Chicken arms rivalry (Chicken-AR), a Deadlock arms rivalry (Deadlock-AR), and a Stag Hunt arms rivalry (Stag Hunt-AR), are also used. I first establish the most general possible restrictions on Richardson-type utility functions that determine the four common 2 × 2 arms rivalry games. I then establish two counterintuitive results: One of the specific formulations of a R-AR may help imply the equilibrium outcomes of a PD- or Deadlock-AR but is inconsistent with the equilibrium outcomes of a Chicken- or Stag Hunt-AR; it is impossible for either specific formulation of a R-AR to ever yield the equilibrium outcome of a Stag Hunt-AR.
The flow of thin lubricant films on rotating disks

Abstract In this paper we report a study on the flow of thin viscous lubricant films on the surface of rotating silicon disks. The lubricant studied is a low molecular weight linear-chain perfluoropolyether polymer, Demnum S20, deposited in films 4–25 nm thick. The disks are spun at high speeds and the thickness profiles of the lubricant films are measured as a function of spin time by ellipsometry. Comparison of the measured thickness profiles with the theory of Emslie, Bonner and Peck, ( J. Appl. Phys., 29 (1958) 858) shows that the flow of these thin lubricant films can be modelled as that of a continuum, newtonian liquid with a viscosity 50%–80% higher than that of bulk liquid. The increase above bulk viscosity may be attributed to molecular collective-motion effects or to an immobile molecular monolayer that does not flow with the rest of the film.
Peritoneal dialysate volume determined by indicator dilution measurements

Peritoneal dialysate volume determined by indicator dilution measurements. Dialysate volume was simultaneously determined by two different indicator dilution techniques as a function of dwell time in a rabbit model of peritoneal dialysis using isotonic, hypertonic and hypotonic solutions. After a single injection of a large molecular weight index solute (SIIS) to the dialysis solution at a known concentration, the first indicator dilution technique determined dialysate volume by the change in the index solute concentration. In the second technique, dialysate volume was determined after multiple injections of a different index solute (MIIS) by measuring the change in concentration of the index solute two minutes after its injection into the dialysis solution. The volumes determined by SIIS were similar during isotonic, but larger during both hypertonic and hypotonic exchanges, than those determined by MIIS. Drained volume was dependent upon the peritoneal catheter used, was not different from that determined by MIIS, but was significantly smaller than that determined by SIIS. The present results suggest that systematic errors in volume measurements when using indicator dilution result from the loss of the index solute from the peritoneal cavity and are greater for SIIS than for MIIS. A model for fluid transfer during peritoneal dialysis showed that dialysate volumes determined by SIIS were useful, however, when estimating the rate of fluid movement across the peritoneal membrane.
Intracytoplasmic membrane production inEscherichia coli O111a1: Isolation and lipid characterization of cell membranes

The temperature-sensitive mutantEscherichia coli O111a1 produces intracytoplasmic membrane when grown at temperatures above 37°C. Cytoplasmic and outer membrane were isolated from stationary-phase cells of 30°C- and 42°C-grown cultures ofE. coli O111a1 (temperature-sensitive mutant) andE. coli O111a1∶B4 (control strain). A phospholipid (mg) to protein (mg) ratio of 1.21 was found for the cytoplasmic, including intracytoplasmic, membrane of 42°C-grown mutant cells, in contrast to 0.61 for the control strain. An enrichment of succinate dehydrogenase activity was also observed. The phospholipids were essentially identical (qualitatively and quantitatively) for both cultures at both temperatures.E. coli O111a1 lost the ability to regulate the saturation/unsaturation of 16-carbon fatty acid, and accumulated increased quantities of β-OH myristate at 42°C. The density of the cytoplasmic membrane, including intracytoplasmic membrane, ofE. coli O111a1 was elevated at 42°C to 1.218 g/cm3.
Source sampling for incoherent imaging and spatial filtering

Incoherent imaging and spatial filtering systems may use illumination sources that are effectively periodic and discrete spatially (e.g., light-emitting-diode arrays or cathode-ray-tube rasters). We show that, despite the noncontinuous nature of such sources, linear-in-intensity imaging can, under certain conditions, be obtained. We model the source as a sampled continuous distribution and use Fourier optics methods to obtain a sampling condition that specifies the minimum permissible spacing between source points. This minimum spacing depends on the reciprocal of the smaller of the width of the object and the width of the imaging system’s coherent point-spread function. Relatively coarse sampling in the source plane is permitted in many cases of practical interest. We provide additional physical insight by examining the distributions (wave-amplitude distributions and transmittance function) in the pupil plane of the system.
The Role of Trust in Low-Income Mothers' Intimate Unions

Recent scholarship concerning low rates of marriage among low-income mothers emphasizes generalized gender distrust as a major impediment in forming sustainable intimate unions. Guided by symbolic interaction theory and longitudinal ethnographic data on 256 low-income mothers from the Three-City Study, we argue that generalized gender distrust may not be as influential in shaping mothers' unions as some researchers suggest. Grounded theory analysis revealed that 96% of the mothers voiced a general distrust of men, yet that distrust did not deter them from involvement in intimate unions. Rather, the pivotal ways mothers enacted trust in their partners were demonstrated by 4 emergent forms of interpersonal trust that we labeled as suspended, compartmentalized, misplaced, and integrated. Implications for future research are discussed.
Lorenzo’s Oil as a Vehicle for Teaching Chemistry Content, Processes of Science, and Sociology of Science in a General Education Chemistry Classroom

The film Lorenzo’s Oil depicts the challenges faced by the parents of a child with adrenoleukodystrophy, a neurological disorder that, they were told, was certainly fatal. The film contains a significant amount of chemistry, including concepts of fatty acid metabolism, enzyme inhibition, and the purification of substances. The film also raises important issues associated with “who does science?” and “who decides what science is done?” Those sociological issues are important in engaging nonscience majors in the learning of science and the film has been used for several years at the beginning of a course for elementary education majors. A thematically similar film, Extraordinary Measures, is also discussed.
Characteristics of nanoscale composites by THz spectroscopy

We have conducted visible pump-THz probe experiments on single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) deposited on quartz substrates. Our results suggest that the photoexcited nanotubes exhibit localized transport due to Lorentz-type photo-induced localized states. These experiments were repeated for ion-implanted, 3-4nm Si nanoclusters in quartz for which a similar behavior was observed.
Identifying Challenges and Opportunities for Earth System reanalyses

[1] Evaluation of Reanalyses—Developing an Integrated Earth System Analysis (IESA) Capability; Baltimore, Maryland, 1–3 November 2010; Understanding how Earth system components and their interactions are changing over time is crucial to developing national strategies for managing climate risk. Despite vast improvements in observational capabilities, observations alone are, and will continue to be, insufficient to fully determine the present state of the atmosphere, much less quantify the states of other components of the Earth system such as the ocean, land surface, cryosphere, and biosphere. Thus, a fundamental scientific challenge remains: obtaining optimal estimates of past and present climate and, more generally, of the full Earth system. This will help researchers to determine how and why changes are occurring and to assess the associated impacts.
Synthesis and characterization of a novel manganese-carbene metalloporphyrin: a model for cytochrome P-450

Abstract The reaction of [Mn(TPP)Cl], where TPP=5, 10, 15, 20-tetraphenylporphyrinato dianion, and CCl 4 in CH 2 Cl 2 with excess iron powder or sodium borohydride (NaBH 4 ), resulted in the formation of the new complex, [Mn(TPP)(CCl 2 )]. The manganese-carbene metalloporphyrin displayed a broad 13 C NMR resonance at 264.5 ppm, attributable to the carbene carbon. All skeletal porphyrin carbons resonated between 120 and 150 ppm in the 13 C NMR spectrum. Confirmation of the 264.5 ppm 13 C NMR resonance as due to the carbene carbon was made by synthesizing the metalloporphyrin carbene in 95% enriched 13 CCl 4 . The 13 C NMR spectrum of the enriched carbene showed an enhanced signal, centered at 264 ppm. Elemental analysis (C, H, N, Cl, Mn and Fe) of the Mn-carbene porphyrin agreed to within ±0.30% of theoretical values. The five-coordinate Mn-carbene could bind axial ligands, such as H 2 O and n-butanethiol, as demonstrated by 13 C NMR and UVVis absorption studies.
FATIGUE DESIGN AND RETROFIT OF STEEL BRIDGES

This paper examines recent work on the fatigue design, inspection, and evaluation of steel bridges. It discusses research studies to evaluate load histories and the influence of cyclic loads on fatigue-critical details, for both road and railway bridge structures. Some innovations in non-destructive testing and evaluation are listed. Retrofit and repair procedures to correct fatigue cracking problems include hole drilling and coring, cover plate installation, and distortion-induced crack repair. Study results are reviewed for fatigue failure of secondary elements, including orthotropic deck panels, modular bridge joints, steel cap girders, anchor bolts, welded wire fabric in bridge decks, post-tensioned steel bridge elements, bare weathering steel, welded shear stud connectors, and cable anchorages. Fatigue design and evaluation methods are discussed; they are usually semi-empirical and the FASTBRID (Fatigue Assessment of STeel BRIDges) expert system. There is a significant need to apply probability principles to fatigue considerations, especially in representative fatigue loading and fatigue crack detection. The considerable research in progress on the fatigue strength of steel bridges emphasises its importance in achieving satisfactory bridge performance.
Interference by bacteriophage T4 in the reproduction of the single-stranded DNA phage M13.

Abstract The single-stranded DNA-containing phage M13 is excluded from producing progeny following mixed infection with T4 (or with T4 am mutants). A single T4 am phage is capable of excluding M13. The synthesis of progeny M13 DNA was examined in Mitomycin C-pretreated cells; presence of T4 am strongly inhibited (if not eliminated) accumulation of progeny M13-DNA. In simultaneous-mixed infection, most of the injected M13 parental DNA is degraded; however, there is some escape synthesis of replicative form (RF), but this is subsequently degraded with time. Chloramphenicol blocks the T4-directed breakdown of parental M13 DNA; under these conditions, parental M13 DNA is converted to RF I (supertwisted, covalently closed, double-stranded ring). Delayed superinfection experiments were started at times when almost all intracellular M13 parental DNA was in the form of RF I. RF I containing parental DNA remained intact for approximately the first 4–5 min after T4 am superinfection. The first breakdown products sediment in the RF II region (open ring with a single chain scission), followed later by more slowly sedimenting structures. In addition, approximately 5 min after T4 am superinfection parental label begins to accumulate in acidsoluble fragments. Addition of chloramphenicol prior to T4 am superinfection completely blocks the breakdown process. Amber mutations in genes 46 and 47 are known to produce a defect in the degradation of host cell DNA. Such mutants were shown, nevertheless, to be effective in directing fragmentation of parental-M13-DNA-containing structures, as well as generation of acid-soluble fragments.
Differential acetylcholinesterase inhibition of chlorpyrifos, diazinon and parathion in larval zebrafish

Zebrafish are increasingly used for developmental neurotoxicity testing because early embryonic events are easy to visualize, exposures are done without affecting the mother and the rapid development of zebrafish allows for high throughput testing. We used zebrafish to examine how exposures to three different organophosphorus pesticides (chlorpyrifos, diazinon and parathion) over the first five days of embryonic and larval development of zebrafish affected their survival, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and behavior. We show that at non-lethal, equimolar concentrations, chlorpyrifos (CPF) is more effective at equimolar concentrations than diazinon (DZN) and parathion (PA) in producing AChE inhibition. As concentrations of DZN and PA are raised, lethality occurs before they can produce the degree of AChE inhibition observed with CPF at 300 nM. Because of its availability outside the mother at the time of fertilization, zebrafish provides a complementary model for studying the neurotoxicity of very early developmental exposures.
Multidisciplinary Conceptual Design Optimization of Space Transportation Systems

This paper presents a recent history of progress both in disciplinary modeling and in optimization methods and frameworks for space transportation systems conceptual design and analysis. The disciplinary models and process typically used for space transportation analyses are identified, including physicsbased and empirical models. The diverse characteristics of these disciplinary models require equally diverse integration and optimization approaches to enable implementation of automated, multidisciplinary design systems. Two general approaches are described for integrating these disciplinary models into computational frameworks for automated vehicle synthesis and optimization. Several optimization approaches are discussed including parameter, gradient-based, stochastic, and collaborative methods. Representative examples are given of multidisciplinary applications of optimization methods to the launch vehicle conceptual design problem. A primary goal for the future is to enable a space transportation design-to-cost capability.
A More Severe Morality: Nietzsche's Affirmative Ethics

A mad dog, foaming at the moustache and snarling at the world; that is how the American artist David Levine portrays Friedrich Nietzsche in his well-known caricature in The New York Review of Books. It is not so different in its malicious intent, nor further wrong in its interpretation of Nietzsche, than a good number of scholarly works. This is indeed the traditional portrait — the unconsummated consummate immoralist, the personally gentle even timid arch-destroyer. Of course, Nietzsche himself made adolescent comments about his own destructiveness not infrequently — throughout the whole of Ecce Homo, for example. Nevertheless, these give a false impression of his intentions as well as of the good philosophical sense to be made of his works.
Crossover Behavior of Variable Range Hopping in Bi-Doped C60

Abstract: Mott variable-range hopping (VRH) is characterized by an exp [1/T1/4] behavior in the temperature dependence of resistivity and is generally observed near the metal–insulator transition as electron screening increases and the Coulomb gap disappears near the metallic phase, while Efros–Shklovskii VRH, characterized by exp [1/T1/2], is found deeper in the insulating region. We have investigated the transport properties of Bi-doped fullerene C60. Samples were prepared via solid state reaction in a sealed quartz tube near 600°C. The resistivity data can be fit with a single function exp [1/Tυ] (υ=1/4 or 1/2, depending on the Bi concentration) over the entire temperature range below 300 K and over 5–6 orders of magnitude in resistivity. υ changes from 1/4 to 1/2 as the Bi concentration increases, suggesting a crossover from Mott VRH to intergranular tunneling at higher Bi concentration. The thermoelectric Seebeck coefficient was also measured and is about 20 μV/K at room temperature. It decreases with decreasing temperature. The thermal conductivity of the doped samples is extremely low.
Two cases of extramedullary acute promyelocytic leukemia. Cytogenetics, molecular biology, and phenotypic and clinical studies

Background. The extramedullary collection of leukemic cells is an infrequent complication of myeloid leukemias, and extremely uncommon in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Methods. The case reports of two patients with APL who relapsed with extramedullary disease and a review of the literature are presented. Results. Two patients with cytogenetically and molecularly confirmed APL developed extramedullary relapse in skin and lymph nodes after prior treatment with all-trans retinoic acid. A review of the literature revealed only nine cases of APL complicated by extramedullary disease. However, only one of these previously reported patients was shown to have the cytogenetic abnormality characteristic of APL. Conclusions. To the authors' knowledge, These two patients represent the first cases of cytogenetically confirmed APL treated with all-trans retinoic acid who developed extramedullary relapse. These events, which were reported infrequently in patients treated only with cytotoxic therapy, may be more common in patients receiving all-trans retinoic acid. In view of the differentiating activity of all-trans retinoic acid, which may increase the migratory capacity of these malignant cells, it is hypothesized that this agent may predispose some patients to unusual forms of relapse.
Novel biomechanics demonstrate gait dysfunction due to hamstring tightness

Abstract Background . Children with cerebral palsy and hamstring tightness often demonstrate limited terminal swing knee extension. The conventional clinical measure of popliteal angle describes static hamstring tightness, but is not consistent with dynamic limitation. We hypothesize hamstring tightness, determined via modification of the conventional popliteal angle measure, is directly related to decreased terminal swing knee extension in children with cerebral palsy and normal magnitude knee flexion moments. Methods . Six patients with cerebral palsy and six normal subjects were evaluated via physical examination and instrumented gait analysis. Physical examination included popliteal angle measures at first hamstring resistance to passive extension ( R 1 ), and end-range extension ( R 2 ) with the hip in varying degrees of flexion. Passive R 1 data were used to calculate regression equations to predict R 1 during gait, resulting in a novel measure of Available Knee Extension. Hamstring EMG was also compared. Findings. R 1 during physical examination was significantly correlated with Available Knee Extension at terminal swing (Pearson r = −0.7251, P P = 0.0002) and decreased knee extension at terminal swing (25.6 vs. 2.05°, P P = 0.5009), and significantly decreased power absorption (−0.821 vs. −1.43 W/kg, P Interpretation. We believe Available Knee Extension, defined on the basis of clinical measures of first resistance to hamstring stretch, provides a biomechanical link between physical examination findings and dynamic limitations in terminal swing knee extension.
Optimization of protein extraction and solubilization for mature grape berry clusters

Protein extraction from grape berries has been challenging, particularly in mature berries, which can have sugar concentrations as high as 26%. Grape skins and seeds contain large amounts of polyphenols, which can also interfere with efficient protein extraction. In plants, two extraction protocols, TCA/acetone-based and phenol-based methods, have been mainly used to extract proteins from different organs or tissues on many species. However, few results have been reported for grape berry clusters. We wanted to determine which of these protocols was optimal for berry clusters in order to achieve both efficient protein extraction and high spot resolution on 2-D gels. Four protocols, derived from either TCA/acetone or phenol procedures, were tested on mature Cabernet Sauvignon whole berry clusters. The phenol-based protocols were superior to the TCA/acetone methods, showing larger protein yields and greater spot resolution on 2-D gels. One method was clearly superior to the rest, a phenol-based extraction method combined with resuspension in the presence of both urea and thiourea as chaotropes. A total of 81 spots were excised and identified following MALDI-TOF/TOF MS analyses. Their identification helped further characterize the specificity of each extraction procedure.
Neutrino flavor conversion in a neutrino background: Coherent scattering and many body effects

In the early Universe, or near a supernova core, neutrino flavor evolution may be affected by coherent neutrino-neutrino scattering. We present a microscopic description of this phenomenon. We show that coherent scattering does not lead to the formation of entangled states in the neutrino ensemble and therefore the flavor conversion effects on the system can always be described by a set of one-particle equations.
The null set of the Euler-Lagrange operator

The most general element of the null set of the Euler-Lagrange operator is shown to be a polynomial in the derivatives of the independent variables of degree less than or equal to the minimum of the number of independent and dependent variables. The coefficients of such polynomials are solutions to an exhibited system of linear algebraic and first-order partial differential equations. It is then shown that these polynomials may be represented in terms of the divergence of a vector-ordered polynomial, provided similar linear algebraic and differential conditions are satisfied by the coefficients. Thus, an arbitrary divergence is not variationally deletable.
Air washing for the removal of formaldehyde from indoor air

Abstract One potentially suitable control technique for indoor formaldehyde is air washing: the absorption of formaldehyde by a liquid. In this report we present a mathematical model of an air washer, describe tests of two air washers, and compare the energy required for controlling formaldehyde concentrations by ventilation and by air washing. The two experimental air washers tested employed water as the washing liquid and incorporated a refrigeration system to control the humidity of the outlet airstream. Air flow rates through the air washers were 100–160 L/s and inlet formaldehyde concentrations were 80–480 ng/L. The steady-state formaldehyde removal efficiencies of the two designs were 0.36–0.47 and 0.30–0.63 with water consumption rates of 1.7–7.9 and 0.5–2.3 L/h, respectively. The power consumption of an air washer with a 140 L/s air flow rate is estimated to be 1500–1800 W. Results show that an air washer with an acceptable water requirement can effectively remove formaldehyde from indoor air. The net energy required for air washing can be less than for mechanical ventilation with heat recovery when most of the energy consumed by the air washer provides useable space heat.
Understanding the utility of emotional approach coping: evidence from a laboratory stressor and daily life

Background: Dispositional emotional approach coping (EAC) marks an adaptive tendency to process and express emotions. EAC's association with cognitions, affect, and intra- and interindividual characteristics that may account for its utility was examined in response to an acute stressor and in daily life. Design: This study included a laboratory stress task and ecological momentary assessment. Methods: Healthy undergraduate students (n = 124; mean age: 20; women: 56%) completed a laboratory component (baseline survey, speech stress task, pre- and posttask measures) and five subsequent days of surveys via palm pilot (six surveys/day). Results: Controlling for sex, neuroticism, and social support, greater EAC was associated with more positive cognitive appraisals, personal resources, and positive affect and less-negative affect during the lab stressor, and with more perceived control and positive affect in daily life. Significant EAC × sex interactions were found for poststressor affect: men with high EAC re...
Research during Residency Training.

This report describes the experience of one residency program in which completion of a research project is a requirement. Although the goals and structure of the requirement are very specific, residents are free to design and conduct any project of their choice that is original, ethical, and scientifically sound. Over the period of this requirement, more than 300 residents have completed a project. Since inauguration of new guidelines for this requirement in 1985, nearly one third of the projects has been published or presented at a regional or national meeting. The benefits of the requirement on resident education and career development are discussed.
Bias-specified robust design optimizaion and its analytical solutions

Robust design has received consistent attention from researchers and practitioners for years, and a number of methodologies for robust design optimization have been reported in the research community. However, the majority of these existing methodologies ignore the case where the customer may tolerate and specify an upper bound on process bias. This paper proposes a bias-specified robust design method and formulates a nonlinear program that minimizes process variability subject to customer-specified constraints on the process bias using the e-constrained method. This paper then derives the Karush-Khun-Tucker conditions and provides a solution procedure based on the Lagrangean method. A numerical example is provided for illustration.
Repair of complex parastomal hernias

Development of parastomal hernias (PH) is very common after stoma formation and carries a risk of subsequent bowel incarceration, obstruction and strangulation. The management of PH remains a challenge for the colorectal surgeon, and there are currently no standardized guidelines for the treatment of PH. Even more difficult is the management of complex parastomal hernias (CPH). We conducted a review of the literature to identify recent developments in the treatment of CPH, including analysis of the use of synthetic and biologic mesh prostheses, method of mesh placement and surgical approach.
Abstract only: Bitslicing with matrix algorithms oblivious to the data compression

Bitslicing is a data compression technique useful for fast exact linear algebra over finite fields whose elements are significantly smaller than a single machine word. It involves striping the number of bits used to represent field elements over the same number of machine words. Thus, this data layout is maximally storage-efficient. We showcase the computational advantages. We also discuss practical challenges which arise when employing this scheme on large matrices and their sub-matrices over GF(3) with algorithms written to work generically with matrices over GF(q), for any q.
Human P2Y14 Receptor Agonists: Truncation of the Hexose Moiety of Uridine-5′-Diphosphoglucose and its Replacement with Alkyl and Aryl Groups

Uridine-5'-diphosphoglucose (UDPG) activates the P2Y(14) receptor, a neuroimmune system GPCR. P2Y(14) receptor tolerates glucose substitution with small alkyl or aryl groups or its truncation to uridine 5'-diphosphate (UDP), a full agonist at the human P2Y(14) receptor expressed in HEK-293 cells. 2-Thiouracil derivatives displayed selectivity for activation of the human P2Y(14) vs the P2Y(6) receptor, such as 2-thio-UDP 4 (EC(50) = 1.92 nM at P2Y(14), 224-fold selectivity vs P2Y(6)) and its beta-propyloxy ester 18. EC(50) values of the beta-methyl ester of UDP and its 2-thio analogue were 2730 and 56 nM, respectively. beta-tert-Butyl ester of 4 was 11-fold more potent than UDPG, but beta-aryloxy or larger, branched beta-alkyl esters, such as cyclohexyl, were less potent. Ribose replacement of UDP with a rigid North or South methanocarba (bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane) group abolished P2Y(14) receptor agonist activity. alpha,beta-Methylene and difluoromethylene groups were well tolerated at the P2Y(14) receptor and are expected to provide enhanced stability in biological systems. alpha,beta-Methylene-2-thio-UDP 11 (EC(50) = 0.92 nM) was 2160-fold selective versus P2Y(6). Thus, these nucleotides and their congeners may serve as important pharmacological probes for the detection and characterization of the P2Y(14) receptor.
Incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with multiple myeloma undergoing contrast-enhanced CT.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this article is to evaluate the incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) and the effects of associated risk factors in patients with multiple myeloma undergoing contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) with IV administration of nonionic iodinated contrast agent.MATERIALS AND METHODS. This retrospective review of medical records identified patients with a diagnosis of myeloma who underwent a CECT examination of the chest, abdomen, or pelvis between January 1, 2005, and December 1, 2008. Analysis for CIN, as defined by an increase in creatinine level after the CECT examination of 25% or more, or of 0.5 mg/dL, compared with the level before the CECT examination, both within 48 hours and within 7 days, was performed. Statistical correlations between the development of CIN and creatinine level before CECT examination, patient location, type and amount of contrast agent, blood urea nitrogen–creatinine ratio, history of diabetes, hypercalcemia, Bence Jones proteinuria, β2-microglobulin level,...
Relating the performance of time-reversal-based underwater acoustic communications in different shallow water environments.

The performance of underwater acoustic communications, such as the output signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR), is generally dependent on the channel specifics, hence a channel model is normally required as the performance of the channel equalizer depends on the number of tap coefficients used (e.g., a sparse equalizer) which are different for different oceans having different multipath arrivals. This letter presents theoretical arguments, and experimental data from different oceans that suggest that the increase of OSNR with the number of diverse receivers (in terms of the effective number of receivers) and the decrease of OSNR with the channel-estimation error follow a universal relationship using the time-reversal or correlation-based equalizer, despite the fact that the channels have very different properties. The reason is due to the fact that the OSNR is a function of the q function, the auto-correlation of the received impulse responses summed over all receiver channels, and the q function is approximately...
Implementation of a single femtosecond optical frequency comb for rovibrational cooling

We show that a single femtosecond optical frequency comb may be used to induce two-photon transitions between molecular vibrational levels to form ultracold molecules (e.g., KRb). The phase across an individual pulse in the pulse train is sinusoidally modulated with a carefully chosen modulation amplitude and frequency. Piecewise adiabatic population transfer is fulfilled to the final state by each pulse in the applied pulse train, providing a controlled population accumulation in the final state. Detuning the pulse train carrier and modulation frequency from one-photon resonances changes the time scale of molecular dynamics but leads to the same complete population transfer to the ultracold state. A standard optical frequency comb with no modulation is shown to induce similar dynamics, leading to rovibrational cooling.
A linearly coordinated Hg(0) trapped in a gold(I) metallocryptand cage

Hg(0) is effectively encapsulated through strong, closed-shell metallophilic interactions by Au(I)-based metallocryptands using the multidentate P2phen [2,9-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,10-phenanthroline] ligand; synthesis, characterization and X-ray crystallography are presented.
Solvent self‐diffusion in crosslinked polymers

A theory is developed for predicting the solvent self-diffusion coefficient in a crosslinked, amorphous polymer. The theory is based on a modification of the free-volume theory of transport for the presence of crosslinks in the polymer. The general predictions of the theory for the variations of the self-diffusion coefficient with temperature, concentration, degree of crosslinking, and solvent size are compared with general experimental trends.
Differential staining of human αβ and γδ T cells by the fluorescein conjugate of an anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody

The enumeration of total T cells, an important function of the clinical immunology laboratory, utilizes antibodies to CD3, the macromolecular complex associated with the antigen-specific receptors of T cells. We compared the ability of some commonly employed commercial anti-CD3 reagents to stain human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Surprisingly, the fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) conjugate of Coulter clone T3 (FITC-T3) stained most T cells brightly, but selectively stained gamma delta T cells very dimly or not at all. In contrast, the other anti-CD3 reagents studied (FITC-Leu 4, PE-T3, PE-Leu 4, and indirectly labelled T3 and Leu 4) stained all T cells equivalently. Dual-colour flow cytometric analysis with FITC-T3 and PE-Leu 4 readily demonstrated a FITC-T3-/PE-Leu 4+ population of T cells. This unique population stained dimly or not at all with a combination of anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 monoclonal antibodies and positively with the pan-gamma delta T cell antibody TCR delta 1. Moreover, an excellent correlation was found between the number of FITC-T3-/PE-Leu 4+ cells and the number of TCR delta 1+ cells in 32 normal individuals. Thus, the FITC-T3-/PE-Leu 4+ phenotype accurately marks all gamma delta T cells. In contrast to FITC-T3, both PE-conjugated and unconjugated T3 stained gamma delta T cells brightly. Therefore, T3 binds to an epitope present on all T cells, but fluoresceinylation specifically attenuates this antibody's ability to bind to gamma delta T cells. These findings indicate that the use of FITC-T3 can result in a significant and variable underestimation of peripheral blood T cell number and demonstrate further that the CD3 complexes of human alpha beta and gamma delta T cells are significantly different.
Akt/Bad signaling and motor neuron survival after spinal cord injury.

Abstract The serine–threonine kinase Akt is a cell survival signaling pathway that inactivates the proapoptotic BCL-2 family protein Bad and promotes cell survival in cerebral ischemia. Involvement of the Akt/Bad signaling pathway after spinal cord injury (SCI) is, however, uncertain. Our results showed that phospho-Akt (serine-473) and phospho-Bad (serine-136) were significantly upregulated at 1 day after SCI. In addition, phospho-Akt and phospho-Bad were colocalized in motor neurons that survived SCI and inhibition of PI3-K reduced expression of phospho-Akt and phospho-Bad. Dimerization of Bad with 14-3-3 in the cytosol was increased whereas Bad/Bcl-X L binding in the mitochondria was decreased after SCI. We further found that reduced oxidative stress by SOD1 overexpression in rats enhanced the expression of phospho-Akt, phospho-Bad, Bad/14-3-3 binding and reduced Bad/Bcl-X L binding after SCI, as compared to wild-type rats. We conclude that oxidative stress may play a role in modulating Akt/Bad signaling and subsequent motor neuron survival after SCI.
Globalization,Maquilas, NAFTA, and the State Mexican Labor and ‘The New World Order’

This article examines the latest wave of neoliberalism and globalization through its impact on border regions of the US and Mexico, especially the urban sprawl and squalor that has resulted from the manufacturing centers in Mexico known as maquilas. The maquilas, typically non-Mexican owned, take advantage of cheap Mexican labor and proximity to the US markets to find a niche in the new globalization. However, the pollution, corruption, violence, heavy-handed control of labor, and vulnerability to even cheaper labor in Asia has caused a wide array of very serious problems for the peoples who left their homes in other parts of Mexico and who actually work in the maquilas. These workers in the globalized world live lives quite different from the ‘promised land’ that was supposed to be achieved through further globalization and neoliberalism.
Predictors of marginal ulcers after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

Abstract Background Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) is a highly effective therapy for morbid obesity. As the most common postoperative complication, marginal ulcers (MU) present a significant disease burden. The etiology of marginal ulcers after gastric bypass has not been clearly defined. The purpose of this study was to identify independent risk factors for MU. Methods We performed a retrospective study of a single surgeon's experience performing LRYGB between July 2001 and January 2006 in a United States private practice and university hospital. We investigated patient factors and comorbidities associated with the development of marginal ulcers. The five most common comorbidities were hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease, hyperlipidemia, and obstructive sleep apnea. We analyzed these factors using multivariate logistic regression adjusting for demographics, BMI, and all comorbidities. Results In our 763 patients, 89% were female, 84.7% were African-American, and the mean BMI was 50.2 kg/m2 before surgery. Marginal ulcers occurred in 23 patients (3.01%) over a mean of 64 months. On χ2 analysis, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease, hyperlipidemia, and sleep apnea were significantly correlated with MU. On multivariate analysis, the odds of marginal ulcer formation were 7.84 among hypertensive patients with a 95% confidence interval of 1.75–35.06 (P = 0.007). Hypertension was the only significant predictor of marginal ulcer disease. Conclusion In our study, marginal ulcers occurred more frequently in patients with preoperative hypertension. At higher risk, these patients could be good candidates for extended acid suppression prophylaxis after LRYGB.
Substrate specificity of human carboxypeptidase A6

Carboxypeptidase A6 (CPA6) is an extracellular matrix-bound metallocarboxypeptidase (CP) that has been implicated in Duane syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder in which the lateral rectus extraocular muscle is not properly innervated. Consistent with a role in Duane syndrome, CPA6 is expressed in a number of chondrocytic and nervous tissues during embryogenesis. To better characterize the enzymatic function and specificity of CPA6 and to compare this with other CPs, CPA6 was expressed in HEK293 cells and purified. Kinetic parameters were determined using a panel of synthetic carboxypeptidase substrates, indicating a preference of CPA6 for large hydrophobic C-terminal amino acids and only very weak activity toward small amino acids and histidine. A quantitative peptidomics approach using a mixture of peptides representative of the neuropeptidome allowed the characterization of CPA6 preferences at the P1 substrate position and suggested that small and acidic P1 residues significantly inhibit CPA6 cleavage. Finally, a comparison of available kinetic data for CPA enzymes shows a gradient of specificity across the subfamily, from the very restricted specificity of CPA2 to the very broad activity of CPA4. Structural data and modeling for all CPA/B subfamily members suggests the structural basis for the unique specificities observed for each member of the CPA/B subfamily of metallocarboxypeptidases.