cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Correlation of the Maximum Heat Flux and Temperature Difference in the Nucleate Boiling of Corresponding States Liquids

Technologically, the most important point on the boiling curve is the maximum point in the nucleate boiling region (the burnout point). In the nucleate boiling region, heat transfer coefficients of several thousand Btu/hr-ft2 are not uncommon; however, upon entry into the film boiling region the heat transfer coefficient may drop by a factor of one hundred or more. In addition to the undesirable heat transfer which is common to the film boiling region, the heat transfer surface can be melted because of the high resistance to heat transfer away from the heat transfer surface. Because of these factors, a reliable equation which can be used to predict the heat flux at the burnout point is of primary interest to investigators studying boiling heat transfer. At present, there is no general equation which will predict the heat flux at the burnout point. One of the probable reasons that the correlation of the critical heat flux has not yielded to analysis is that there is no method, as yet, of measuring all the variables which affect the burnout point. In fact, at present, the exact effect of several variables which may be important is not understood. Therefore, a method of eliminating these variables which are not understood is needed in order to compare data obtained under different conditions.
Parent proxy assessment of sibling quality of life following pediatric hematopoietic cell transplantation.

When a child undergoes hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), the impact extends to the entire family, including siblings. Assessment of the quality of life (QoL) of siblings is challenged by their general lack of availability for regular assessment by clinical providers. Thus, the use of parent proxy reporting may be useful. Our aim was to describe the QoL of siblings of HCT survivors, as reported by their parents, as well as to identify parent and family factors associated with lower sibling QoL. A cross-sectional study was utilized to assess parent-reported QoL of the HCT recipient’s sibling (Short Form (SF)-10 Health Survey for Children and the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC)-17). Parent QoL was assessed using the SF-12. Multivariable linear regression was used to explore hypothesized predictors of sibling QoL, including parent QoL, family impact/function (Impact on Family Scale, Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales, IV, and a question asking about financial problems) while adjusting for demographic and HCT characteristics. Ninety-seven siblings (55% males) with a mean age of 12 years (standard deviation [SD] 4 years) were assessed, representing HCT survivors, who were an average of 5 years (SD 4 years) post-HCT. Neither sibling psychosocial (mean 49.84, SD 10.70, p = 0.87) nor physical health scores (mean 51.54, SD 8.42, p = 0.08) differed from norms. Parent proxies reported behavioral/emotional problems (PSC-17 total score > 15) in 24% of siblings. While parental ratings of their own physical health (SF-12 were higher than norms (mean 53.04, SD 8.17, p = 0.0005), mental health scores were lower (mean 45.48, SD 10.45, p < 0.0001). In multivariable analysis, lower parent emotional functioning and adverse family function were associated with lower sibling QoL, as reported by parents. While proxy-reported QoL of siblings did not differ significantly from normative data, both parent QoL and family function were associated with sibling QoL. Future research is needed to understand how siblings themselves perceive their QoL following HCT.
Review of jet impingement in high-energy piping systems

Abstract This study performs a literature review on jet impingement in high-energy piping systems as in nuclear power plants. The major contribution of the current work is to assess existing models through a comprehensive literature review on the blast wave, jet plume expansion and zone of influence, distribution of pressure within the jet plume, and jet dynamic loading. Important jet impingement phenomena, experimental studies in jet impingement, as well as modeling and CFD simulations of jet impingement are reviewed. Both single-phase (non-flashing water and steam) and two-phase mixture (steam-water) jets are covered in the current work. It is identified that pipe whip, jet expansion, jet impingement and critical flow are the key phenomena that should be investigated. While most of these phenomena have been modeled in the existing studies, the jet dynamic loading and blast wave phenomena were not considered in the jet impingement models. It is found that there has been limited study investigating these effects on jet impingement in nuclear power plants. As such, special attention needs to be paid when extending the current studies of jet dynamic loading and blast wave for model improvement. To provide experimental databases for these key phenomena, publicly available experimental studies on jet impingement are also reviewed. Most of the existing work have investigated the pressure distribution, thrust force, and impingement force. Considering that jet impingement is a complicated phenomenon that is affected by various factors, the initial flow conditions, break conditions, and target conditions in each experimental study are carefully reviewed. Finally, the existing models and CFD simulations on jet impingement are reviewed. Those include the models in ANSI/ANS-58.2 (1988) appendices, two-phase jet load model NUREG/CR-2913, the one-dimensional jet load model by Moody (1969) and a recent analytical model by Luxat (2017). The CFD simulation by Morita et al. (2018) correlates the jet geometry on jet properties at the exit plane such as density and static pressure, which can be used to improve the jet geometry modeling in future.
Revisiting I/O behavior in large-scale storage systems: the expected and the unexpected

Large-scale applications typically spend a large fraction of their execution time performing I/O to a parallel storage system. However, with rapid progress in compute and storage system stack of large-scale systems, it is critical to investigate and update our understanding of the I/O behavior of large-scale applications. Toward that end, in this work, we monitor, collect and analyze a year worth of storage system data from a large-scale production parallel storage system. We perform temporal, spatial and correlative analysis of the system and uncover surprising patterns which defy existing assumptions and have important implications for future systems.
Observational constraints on the thermal and compositional structure of the earth

Abstract This chapter summarizes diverse observations pertaining to heat flow inside the Earth. Information on temperatures, flux, various material properties, heat sources, internal layering, and lateral differences are summarized because they pertain to the boundary and initial conditions used to construct thermal models of planets. We show how the presence and location of molten layers constrain both temperatures and flux, and discuss the implications for Earth’s thermal structure and evolution. Problems in assuming adiabatic gradients and internal homogeneity are discussed. Energy sources in addition to radionuclide decay are covered: we show that an important gravitational source, dissipation of spin via friction during differential rotation, has been overlooked. Spin exerts crucial control on plate tectonics, as proved by abundant evidence reviewed here.
The EEG Cookbook: A Practical Guide to Neuroergonomics Research

Conducting an EEG-based neuroergonomics experiment can be a daunting task for novice researchers. This chapter provides an overview of three aspects of EEG research which we hope will help novice researchers efficiently produce meaningful and replicable results: power analysis, data preprocessing, and reporting. We explain why power analysis and sample size estimation are critical yet often overlooked aspects of experimental research and describe the most common measures of effect size likely to be encountered, Cohen’s d and eta-squared. We also provide a list of powerful (and free) power analysis tools to facilitate the actual calculations. We also provide step-by-step instructions for data preprocessing with EEGLAB which can be used in preparation for subsequent ERP or connectivity analyses. This includes filtering, artifact removal and correction, independent component analysis, and source localization. Finally, we condense EEG reporting guidelines into a checklist which can be used to ensure that your manuscript draft follows best practices.
A comparison of existing risk prediction models in patients undergoing venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Abstract Background Patients undergoing consideration for venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) require an immediate risk profile assessment in the setting of incomplete information. A number of survival prediction models for critically ill patients and patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery or institution of VA-ECMO support have been designed. We assess the ability of these models to predict outcomes in a cohort of patients undergoing institution of VA-ECMO for cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest. Methods Fifty-one patients undergoing institution of VA-ECMO support were retrospectively analyzed. APACHE II, SOFA, SAPS II, Encourage, SAVE, and ACEF scores were calculated. Their ability to predict outcomes were assessed. Results Indications for ECMO support included postcardiotomy shock (25%), ischemic etiologies (39%), and other etiologies (36%). Pre-ECMO arrest occurred in 73% and 41% of patients underwent cannulation during arrest. Survival to discharge was 39%. Three survival prediction model scores were significantly higher in nonsurvivors to discharge than surivors; the Encourage score (25.4 vs 20; p = .04), the APACHE II score (23.6 vs 19.2; p = .05), and the ACEF score (3.1 vs 1.8; p = .03). In ROC analysis, the ACEF score demonstrated the greatest predictive ability with an AUC of 0.7. Conclusions A variety of survival prediction model scores designed for critically ill ICU and VA-ECMO patients demonstrated modest discriminatory ability in the current cohort of patients. The ACEF score, while not designed to predict survival in critically ill patients, demonstrated the best discriminatory ability. Furthermore, it is the simplest to calculate, an advantage in the emergent setting.
Transgender youth and oral health: a qualitative study

Transgender youth face several comorbidities with oral health implications, including depression, harmful eating behaviors, and pharmaceutical side-effects. No information exists on how transgender...
Sport mega-event complexity and reputation: development of a model

Sport mega-events (SMEs) are highly complex undertakings that have important social, political, and economic ramifications. The purpose of this paper is to propose a three-dimensional model that examines the inherent complexity unique to SMEs. Complexity theory is used as a lens to further explain three important types of complexity (i.e., structural, behavioural, and cognitive) which are embedded within three divisions (algorithmic, deterministic, aggregate) of complexity. Taking into account classifications (e.g., first, second, and third order) of SMEs, the model suggests that higher order (e.g., first-order) SMEs will exhibit greater complexity and higher level of reputation than lower level (e.g., third-order) SMEs based on the types and divisions of complexity.
Automated Semantic Grading of Programs

We present a new method for automatically grading introductory programming assignments. In order to use this method, instructors provide a reference implementation of the assignment, and an error model consisting of potential corrections to errors that students might make. Using this information, the system automatically derives minimal corrections to student’s incorrect solutions, providing them with a quantifiable measure of exactly how incorrect a given solution was, as well as feedback about what they did wrong. We introduce a simple language for describing error models in terms of correction rules, and formally define a rule-directed translation strategy that reduces the problem of finding minimal corrections in an incorrect program to the problem of synthesizing a correct program from a sketch. We have evaluated our system on over 1000 solution attempts by real beginner programmers. Our results show that relatively simple error models can correct on average 73% of fixable fraction of submissions with non-trivial errors. We also show that the error models generalize across different problems from the same category, and our technique scales well for more complex error models and programming assignments such as those found in AP level computer science final examinations.
The Relationships Between Diabetes Self-Care, Diabetes Time Management, and Diabetes Distress in Women With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between and among diabetes self-care, diabetes time management, and diabetes distress in women with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)...
Exploring Neural Mechanisms Related to Cognitive Control, Reward, and Affect in Eating Disorders: A Narrative Review of FMRI Studies

Studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have contributed to our understanding of possible neural abnormalities among individuals with eating disorders. Many of these studies have focused on three domains: 1) cognitive control, 2) reward processing, and 3) affective processing. This review attempts to summarize the recent fMRI findings across these domains among the most well-characterized eating disorders: anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge eating disorder (BED). Though the literature is a bit murky, a few major themes have emerged. Cognitive control systems are affected among individuals across eating disorder diagnoses, but effects seem least pronounced in AN. Specifically, individuals with all eating disorders appear to show decreased prefrontal activation during cognitive control, but there is less evidence in AN linking decreased prefrontal activation with behavior. There is some evidence that the reinforcing value of food is reduced in AN, but individuals with BN and BED show hyperactivation to rewarding food-related stimuli, suggesting the reinforcing value of food may be enhanced. However, more complex reward processing paradigms show that individuals with BN and BED exhibit hypoactivation to reward anticipation and provide mixed results with regards to reward receipt. There are fewer neuroimaging findings related to affective processing, yet behavioral findings suggest affective processing is important in understanding eating disorders. Though the extant literature is complicated, these studies represent a foundation from which to build and provide insight into potential neurobiological mechanisms that may contribute to the pathophysiology of eating disorders.
Promotion and Protection of the Right to Health by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Since 1994, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has taken a lead role in promoting human rights around the globe. This article examines the work of the OHCHR on the right to health. Based on the annual reports of the High Commissioners for Human Rights on the activities of the OHCHR and the archival records of OHCHR initiatives related to health, the article first outlines the evolution of the right to health at the OHCHR. Then, drawing on interviews with OHCHR staff and external experts on the right to health, the article adds to this portrait by identifying key factors that have facilitated and inhibited the evolution of the right to health at the OHCHR.
Escape of Fast Radio Bursts from magnetars' magnetospheres.

We discuss dissipative processes occurring during production and escape of Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) from magnetars' magnetospheres, the presumed loci of FRBs. High magnetic fields are required in the emission region, both to account for the overall energetics of FRBs, and in order to suppress ``normal'' (non-coherent) radiative losses of radio emitting particles; this limits the emission radii to $\leq {\rm few} \times 10 R_{NS}$. Radiative losses by particles in the strong FRB pulse may occur in the outer regions of the magnetosphere for longer rotation periods, $P\geq 1$ second. These losses are suppressed by several effects: (i) the ponderomotive pre-acceleration of background plasma along the direction of wave propagation (losses reduced approximately as $\gamma_\parallel^{3}$: smaller frequency, $ \propto \gamma_\parallel^2$ in power, and times scales stretched, $ \propto \gamma_\parallel$); this acceleration is non-dissipative and is reversed on the declining part of the pulse; (ii) Landau-Pomeranchuk-Migdal effects (long radiation formation length and ensuing destructive interference of scattered waves). In some cases an FRB pulse may be dissipated on external perturbations (e.g., an incoming pulse of Alfven waves): this may produce a pulse of UV/soft X-rays, a swan song of an FRB, possibly detectable by Chandra.
The treatment of bacteriemias with sulfanilamide

Abstract 1. 1. Puerperal bacteriemia is more common than generally recognized. 2. 2. During the period of this study 1927 to 1937, 15,000 patients were delivered. 3. 3. There were 54 patients with positive blood stream infection, an average of 3.5 per cent per 1,000. 4. 4. Hemolytic streptococcus accounted for 34 out of 54 organisms isolated. 5. 5. There were 24 deaths out of 54 cases, mortality 44.4 per cent. 6. 6. This study indicates that there has been a gradual, if not actual, reduction in ratio for type of therapy. 7. 7. Sulfanilamide alone or with transfusion seemed to offer a sense of security, which otherwise has been absent; in that among the last 9 patients treated with this drug, there were no deaths.
VECTOR-MESON DOMINANCE AND PION PHOTOPRODUCTION.

We consider the vector-dominance model applied to single-pion photoproduction. Dispersion relations are written for a set of invariant amplitudes. Particular attention is paid to the problems of gauge invariance and kinematic singularities. At high energies our results coincide, to leading order only, with the use ofs-channel helicity amplitudes. We argue that the use of the Donohue-Hogaasen frame is meaningless. Finally we discuss the ambiguity in the choice of best extrapolation path.
Granulomatous slack skin

Granulomatous slack skin is a form of cutaneous lymphoma with an indolent but relentless course. It is characterized by circumscribed areas of pendulous lax skin that contain clonal infiltrates of helper T-cells, which infiltrate the epidermis in a manner similar to that of mycosis fungoides and attract a granulomatous component that mediates massive dermal elastolysis. The evolution of Hodgkin's disease occurs in some cases. There is no known curative treatment, but surgery, radiation therapy, systemic corticosteroids, and chemotherapy have slowed the progression of some lesions.
Growth and Division of Filamentous Forms of Escherichia coli.

Abstract Adler, Howard I. (Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tenn.), and Alice A. Hardigree. Growth and division of filamentous forms of Escherichia coli. J. Bacteriol. 90:223–226. 1965.—Cells of certain mutant strains of Escherichia coli grow into long multinucleate filaments after exposure to radiation. Deoxyribonucleic acid, ribonucleic acid, and protein synthesis proceed, but cytokinesis does not occur. Cytokinesis (cross-septation) can be initiated by exposure of the filaments to pantoyl lactone or a temperature of 42 C. If growing filaments are treated with mitomycin C, nuclear division does not occur, and nuclear material is confined to the central region of the filament. Cytokinesis cannot be induced in mitomycin C-treated filaments by pantoyl lactone or treatment at 42 C.
Serious Infection Risk and Immune Recovery after Double-Unit Cord Blood Transplantation Without Antithymocyte Globulin

Factors contributing to infection risk after cord blood transplantation (CBT) include the use of anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG), prolonged neutropenia, and failure to transfer immunity. In the present study, we investigated the potential of double-unit CBT without ATG to reduce the risk of infection and evaluated the nature of serious infections in the first year after CBT using this approach. Seventy-two predominantly adult patients underwent CBT for hematologic malignancies; of these, 52 patients received myeloablative conditioning, and 20 received nonmyeloablative conditioning. The peak incidences of bacterial infections (32%), fungal infections (14%), and bacterial/fungal pneumonias (10%) occurred in the first 30 days posttransplantation. Three such infections contributed to early mortality. The peak incidence of viral infections was 31-60 days posttransplantation, affecting 30% of patients. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) was the most common viral infection. CMV infections occurring before day 120 (n = 23) had no relationship with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), whereas CMV infections occurring after day 120 (n = 5), along with all cases of Epstein-Barr virus viremia (n = 5) and adenoviral enteritis (n = 2), occurred exclusively in the context of GVHD therapy or corticosteroid use for another indication. Viral infections had the highest lethality: 2 were a direct cause of death, and 3 contributed to death. Patients exhibited steady immune recovery, achieving a median CD3+4+ T cell count >200 cells/μL by day 120 post-CBT, and no infection-related deaths occurred after day 120. Our results suggest that double-unit CBT without ATG is associated with prompt T cell recovery, and, unlike in CBT incorporating ATG, infection is rarely a primary cause of death. However, CBT without ATG is associated with a significant risk of GVHD, and serious infections remain a challenge, especially in the setting of GVHD. New strategies are needed to further reduce infectious complications after CBT; these will require earlier neutrophil recovery and more effective prevention of GVHD, ideally without the profound T cell depletion associated with ATG therapy.
Recent penetration depth measurements of the high-Tc superconductors and their implications

Abstract We report recent measurements of the temperature dependence of the superconducting penetration depth of the high-T c superconductors YBCO and 2212 BSCCO. Both superconductors show a non-BCS T 2 temperature dependence at low temperatures. At the lowest temperatures, sample-dependent deviations from this T 2 dependence are seen for YBCO but not for BSCCO at least down to 5 K. We discuss the implications of these results.
Surface-wave delay lines with near-octave bandwidth

Efficient operation of lithium-niobate delay lines over bandwidths approaching one octave is reported. The transducers are of a 3-electrode (N = 1) interdigital design. Broad bandwidth to the series-resonant transducer is obtained by the use of a lumped-element impedance invertor coupling network. A 9.1 ?s delay line is described, which gives 55% 3 dB bandwidth centred at 235 MHz with 25 dB minimum loss and over 50 dB minimum triple-transit suppression.
Application of mercury penetration to materials analysis

Abstract The technique and apparatus for determining the void spaces and pores in a porous material by use of a penetration porosimeter are described. From the volume of mercury penetrating the porous material as a function of pressure, other characteristics, such as the particle size distribution and specific surface, can be determined. In addition, information regarding the shape and structure of pores can be obtained from the volume of mercury expelled from the pores as a function of decreasing pressure.
The Relationship between the Transilient Matrix and the Green’s Function for the Advection-Diffusion Equation

Abstract The Green’s function (or propagator) of the advection-diffusion equation is used to link the transilient matrix to the advection-diffusion equation. The Green’s function framework allows one to construct more rigorous and general derivations of various mixing properties of the transilient matrix. Unlike the transilient matrix or one-dimensional convective parameterizations, the Green’s function satisfies a composition property that allows a long-time propagator to be constructed from a series of short-time propagators.
Intraobserver and interobserver measurements of the anorectal angle and perineal descent in defecography.

PURPOSE: Anorectal angle and perineal descent can be measured either by drawing a line defined by the impression of the puborectalis muscle and the tangential of the posterior rectal wall (Method A) or by drawing a straight line at the level of the posterior rectal wall parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the rectum (Method B). The aim of this study was to assess the reproducibility of measuring anorectal angle and perineal descent by two different methods according to intraobserver and interobserver measurement and to evaluate which method yields more consistent results. METHODS: Five physicians who have had an average of 1.3 years (range, 6 months to 1.5 years) experience in defecographic measurement drew both lines on 63 randomly selected defecographic films and measured anorectal angle and perineal descent by the two methods. The defecographic parameters were measured twice by each observer during a three-week interval. To avoid potential bias, one physician who did not participate in either measurement of perineal descent or anorectal angle performed all data collection. Intraobserver and interobserver agreement was quantified using Shrout and Fleiss intraclass correlation coefficients. RESULTS: The mean and range of intraclass correlation coefficients for intraobserver agreement of measuring anorectal angle and perineal descent by Method A were 0.71 (0.6–0.78) and 0.89 (0.74–0.97), respectively, whereas with Method B the coefficients were 0.81 (0.73–0.89) and 0.93 (0.89–0.99), respectively. Regarding the interobserver agreement of the five observers, the mean coefficients for measurement of both anorectal angle and perineal descent by both methods showed similar agreement levels (0.88 and 0.98 by Method A and 0.89 and 0.97 by Method B). The mean (± standard deviation) values of anorectal angle and perineal descent found by Method B were significantly larger than those found by Method A (103.3°±19.6 and 6.56±3.20 cm and 91.1°±25.6 and 5.64±3.42 cm, respectively;P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Intraobserver and interobserver intraclass correlation coefficients of anorectal angle and perineal descent, which were measured by both methods, were more than 0.60, indicating that both methods are reliable and consistent for measurement of anorectal angle and perineal descent. However, centers should consistently use the same line for measurement of anorectal angle and perineal descent because of the statistically significant differences between the two methods and the possibility of inconsistent results.
Should patients with GERD be screened once at least for Barrett's epithelium? Pro: The need to screen GERD patients for Barrett's esophagus--a greater yield than surveillance.

Should Patients with GERD Be Screened Once at Least for Barrett's Epithelium? PRO: The Need to Screen GERD Patients for Barrett's Esophagus—A Greater Yield than Surveillance
Theory of Ionic Ordering, Crystal Distortion, and Magnetic Exchange Due to Covalent Forces in Spinels

Elastic- and electrostatic-energy considerations are insufficient for an explanation of cation ordering between tetrahedral and octahedral sites in spinels. Tetrahedral, octahedral, and square covalent bonds are also important when cations are to be accommodated in these sites. The square bonds in octahedral sites can cause the tetragonal distortion observed in ${\mathrm{Mn}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-${\mathrm{Mn}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$, Zn${\mathrm{Mn}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$, Cu${\mathrm{Fe}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$, Cu${\mathrm{Cr}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$, Ca${\mathrm{In}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$, Cd${\mathrm{In}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$, and metallic indium. A new magnetic exchange mechanism, "semicovalent exchange," which is consistent with the covalent model, is used to explain the magnetic properties of spinels.
Authentic materials and mexican immersion: a professional development program combining pedagogy, language and culture

The focus on communication and interaction that characterizes foreign language instruction today demands that foreign language teachers be skilled methodologists and possess a high level of language and cultural proficiency. Maintaining these skills is a constant challenge for teachers and requires unique professional development opportunities. The two-week Mexican immersion program for teachers described in this article includes not only language instruction and homestays to enhance language and cultural development but also a course that focuses on the systematic exploration of how to integrate authentic materials into daily instruction. Results of the program suggest that this combination was successful in better preparing the participants to meet the demands of the communicative classroom. The program design, the course outline, examples from the instructional units, the reading list on authentic materials, and recommendations for future programs can serve as a model for both teachers and teacher educators.
Life and Death Decisions: ced-9 and Programmed Cell Death in Caenorhabditis elegans

In his grand prize-winning essay for the Pharmacia Biotech & Science Prize for Young Scientists, M. Hengartner discusses the phenomenon of programmed cell death and the gene ced-9 from C. elegans , a small nematode in which the pattern of cell death during development is completely known. The ced-9 gene seems to keep the cell death program off in cells that are scheduled to live.
Conformal hydrophobic coatings prepared using atomic layer deposition seed layers and non-chlorinated hydrophobic precursors

Ultrathin and conformal films deposited using atomic layer deposition (ALD) can enhance the reliability and performance of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) devices. Al2O3 ALD films are particularly useful because the Al2O3 ALD surface chemistry is very favorable and amenable to growth on a wide variety of substrates. Al2O3 ALD can be utilized to deposit robust and reliable hydrophobic coatings. A thin Al2O3 ALD film is deposited and is used as a seed layer to prepare and optimize the MEMS surface for the subsequent attachment of the hydrophobic precursors. Once the Al2O3-coated surface is prepared, non-chlorinated alkylsilanes are chemically bonded to the surface hydroxyl groups on the ALD seed layer. The film growth was monitored using an in situ quartz crystal microbalance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ex situ Auger electron spectroscopy. This deposition technique results in a dense and conformal hydrophobic film with a water contact angle of 108 ± 2°. When annealed in air to 300 °C for 10 min, the hydrophobic ALD films remained hydrophobic with a contact angle greater than 90°. Using MEMS cantilever beam arrays, hydrophobic ALD-coated beams were determined to have an adhesion energy of 0.11 ± 0.03 mJ m−2 at 100% humidity as compared with an adhesion energy of 12 ± 1 mJ m−2 for the same beams without any coating.
A Duality for Self-Slender Modules

The constructibility axiom, V = L, is a statement in mathematics that is independent of the ZFC axioms of set theory. One of its consequences is (μ) = measurable cardinals do not exist. We assume (μ). Let R be a ring, and let G be a right R-module. We say that G is slender if for each indexed set {R i | i ∈ ℐ} (of nonmeasurable cardinality) such that R ≅ R i for each i ∈ ℐ, the canonical map is an isomorphism. Reduced countable torsion-free abelian groups are slender groups. Nonzero slender injective right R-modules do not exist. We say that G is self-slender if for each (nonmeasurable) cardinal ℵ, the canonical map is an isomorphism. Reduced countable torsion-free abelian groups G are self-slender. We show in this article that if we assume (μ), then for each self-slender right R-module G there is a category G-coPlex in which G is a slender injective object and such that End(G)-Mod is dual to G-coPlex. Thus there are many nonzero slender injective objects.
Conformational changes at topologically distinct antigenic sites on the influenza A/PR/8/34 virus HA molecule are induced by the binding of monoclonal antibodies

Abstract Four antigenic sites (designated Sa, Sb, Ca, and Cb) have been previously delineated on the hemagglutinin (HA) molecule of influenza A/PR/8/34 virus by means of anti-HA hybridoma antibodies. In the present study we show by radioimmunoassay that the binding of some radiolabeled antibodies to the antigenic site Sa is enhanced by the simultaneous binding of an antibody to the site Ca and, vice versa, the same anti-Sa antibodies enhance the binding of the anti-Ca antibody. The enhancement is maximal if the enhancing antibody saturates the available antigenic sites on the viral immunoadsorbent. One Sa antibody exhibits, under these conditions, a roughly 10-fold higher avidity for the corresponding antigenic site in the presence of enhancing antibody. The synergistic binding of these antibodies is not due to direct antibody-antibody interactions. We conclude, therefore, that the binding of these antibodies induces conformational changes in the HA molecule which result in the increased avidity of the given antibody-HA interactions.
5-Hydroxytryptamine-induced vasoconstriction after cerebral hematoma in piglets

Subarachnoid hematoma produces cerebral vasoconstriction that may lead to death or permanent disability. After hematoma, enhanced pial arteriolar responses to vasoconstrictor agents have been reported in newborn pigs. The present study was designed to address the hypothesis that 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) constricts piglet pial arterioles, and hematoma augments this constriction. Piglets (1-3 d old) anesthetized with ketamine and acepromazine received either 3 mL of artificial cerebrospinal fluid (control) or autologous nonheparinized blood (hematoma) injected onto the cortical surface. Four days after injection, closed cranial windows were implanted over the injected area under alpha-chloralose anesthesia. Vascular reactivity to 5-HT was examined. In control piglets, topical application of 5-HT (10(-9), 10(-7), and 10(-5) M) induced very mild, dose-dependent constriction of pial arterioles (-6 +/- 1, -10 +/- 2, and -12 +/- 4%, respectively). These constrictions were substantially augmented in piglets with hematoma (-12 +/- 2, -19 +/- 1, and -30 +/- 2%, respectively). After topical application of 5-HT, cerebrospinal fluid samples were collected from under the window to determine the effects of 5-HT on the levels of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha and thromboxane B2. The baseline levels of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha and thromboxane B2 before 5-HT were 1791 +/- 387 and 434 +/- 74 pg/mL, respectively, in the control. 5-HT application had no significant effects on these prostanoid levels (levels at the highest concentration of 5-HT had a corresponding value of 1175 +/- 301 and 288 +/- 74 pg/mL for 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha and thromboxane B2, respectively). However, indomethacin (5 mg/kg, i.v.) treatment of the control piglets potentiated the constriction in response to 5-HT (-11 +/- 1, -15 +/- 2, and -24 +/- 3%, respectively) sufficiently to produce constriction similar to that in the hematoma group. 5-HT has little effect on normal pial arterioles of newborn piglets but is a more potent cerebral vasoconstrictor in conjunction with cerebral hematoma.
Liver abscess following superior mesenteric artery revascularization for acute mesenteric ischemia.

A case of pyogenic liver abscess following successful mesenteric artery revascularization is described in a patient with acute mesenteric ischemia. Prior to revascularization, arteriography confirmed celiac and superior mesenteric artery occlusion. Occurrence of liver abscess Is explained on the basis of ischemia impairing the barrier function of the intestinal mucosa, contributing to portal bacteremia that seeds Ischemic or necrotic liver. In patients with acute mesenteric ischemia, sequential sonographic examination of the liver following mesenteric revascularization is advocated for early diagnosis of liver abscess if there is clinical evidence of the sepsis.
Role of hydrogen sulfide in skeletal muscle biology and metabolism

Abstract Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a novel endogenous gaseous signal transducer (gasotransmitter). Its emerging role in multiple facets of inter- and intra-cellular signaling as a metabolic, inflammatory, neuro and vascular modulator has been increasingly realized. Although H2S is known for its effects as an anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant molecule, the relevance of these effects in skeletal muscle biology during health and during metabolic syndromes is unclear. H2S has been implicated in vascular relaxation and vessel tone enhancement, which might lead to mitigation of vascular complications caused by the metabolic syndromes. Metabolic complications may also lead to mitochondrial remodeling by interfering with fusion and fission, therefore, leading to mitochondrial mitophagy and skeletal muscle myopathy. Mitochondrial protection by H2S enhancing treatments may mitigate deterioration of muscle function during metabolic syndromes. In addition, H2S might upregulate uncoupling proteins and might also cause browning of white fat, resulting in suppression of imbalanced cytokine signaling caused by abnormal fat accumulation. Likewise, as a source for H+ ions, it has the potential to augment anaerobic ATP synthesis. However, there is a need for studies to test these putative H2S benefits in different patho-physiological scenarios before its full-fledged usage as a therapeutic molecule. The present review highlights current knowledge with regard to exogenous and endogenous H2S roles in skeletal muscle biology, metabolism, exercise physiology and related metabolic disorders, such as diabetes and obesity, and also provides future directions.
Method for determining the amylose content, molecular weights, and weight- and molar-based distributions of degree of polymerization of amylose and fine-structure of amylopectin ☆

Cooked rice texture and other aspects of rice starch functionality are influenced by amylose and amylopectin content and structure. A method is described that uses high performance size exclusion chromatography coupled with multiangle laser light scattering and refractive index detectors to determine amylose content, molecular mass of amylose and the weight- and molar-based distributions of degree of polymerization (DP) of amylose and the fine structure of amylopectin. The method is relatively rapid with the coefficient of variation less than 5% for most aspects of the molecular characterization. It should find utility in research programs studying the association between starch molecular characteristics and functionality, and in starch-related genetics studies of diverse botanical sources.
The effects of intrahippocampal BDNF and NGF on spatial learning in aged Long Evans rats.

Spatial learning rate was compared in cognitively impaired aged rats infused with either brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) or nerve growth factor (NGF). BDNF or NGF was infused into the dorsal hippocampus/third ventricle while animals were being trained on the Morris water maze. Training continued until all rats met a spatial learning criterion. Seven weeks later, they were tested for retention of the task, and sacrificed for assessment of hippocampal high-affinity choline uptake (HACU) or hypothalamic biogenic amine levels. NGF, but not BDNF, improved spatial learning rate in aged rats and increased hippocampal choline uptake weeks after withdrawal of NGF. Although BDNF did not improve, spatial learning, it did induce a partial, long-term normalization of the elevated hypothalamic 5-HT levels observed in our aged rats. These data suggest that (1) intrahippocampal/intraventricular infusion of NGF can improve the learning rate of aged, spatial learning-impaired rats, and that this improvement in acquisition could be associated with increased hippocampal cholinergic activity, and (2) that the BDNF-induced normalization of hypothalamic 5-HT levels in aged rats was not sufficient to improve learning rate in aged, spatial learning-impaired rats.
Genetic analysis of the tryptophan operon regulatory region using site-directed mutagenesis

Abstract The regulatory region of the tryptophan operon of Escherichia coli was subjected to in vitro site-directed mutagenesis using sodium bisulfite as the mutagen. The mutagenized DNA was used to transform cells to drug resistance, and plasmid DNAs from individual transformants were isolated and sequenced. Overall, 22% of the plasmids sequenced contained alterations within the region of interest. Many of the mutants obtained had characteristics that bear on aspects of the alternative secondary structure model of attenuation. Expression analyses with several of the mutants provided evidence suggesting that ribosome dissociation at the leader peptide stop codon may be rapid and that this dissociation is responsible for setting the steady-state level of expression observed in cultures growing in the presence of excess tryptophan. One mutation altered the amino acid composition of the leader peptide without affecting a transcript secondary structure. The behavior of this mutant supports the prediction that the leader peptide per se plays no role in attenuation, rather it is the act of synthesis of the peptide that has regulatory significance. Several of the mutations provide information on the structure of the RNA antiterminator. Additional mutations support the conclusion that the last stem and loop structure in the terminated transcript, structure 3 : 4, is sufficient to cause transcription termination.
The Myc Connection: ES Cells and Cancer

Gene profiling experiments have revealed similarities between cancer and embryonic stem (ES) cells. Kim et al. (2010) dissect the gene expression signature of ES cells into three functional modules and find that the Myc module, including genes targeted by Myc-interacting proteins, accounts for most of the similarity between ES and cancer cells.
FUNDAMENTALLY UPDATING FUNDAMENTALS

Recent educational research indicates that the six competencies of the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses initiative are best introduced in early prelicensure clinical courses. Content specific to quality and safety has traditionally been covered in senior level courses. This article illustrates an effective approach to using quality and safety as an organizing framework for any prelicensure fundamentals of nursing course. Providing prelicensure students a strong foundation in quality and safety in an introductory clinical course facilitates early adoption of quality and safety competencies as core practice values.
Reliability-based robust optimization design of automobile components with non-normal distribution parameters

In the reliability designing procedure of the vehicle components, when the distribution styles of the random variables are unknown or non-normal distribution, the result evaluated contains great error or even is wrong if the reliability value R is larger than 1 by using the existent method, in which case the formula is necessary to be revised. This is obviously inconvenient for programming. Combining reliability-based optimization theory, robust designing method and reliability based sensitivity analysis, a new method for reliability robust designing is proposed. Therefore the influence level of the designing parameters’ changing to the reliability of vehicle components can be obtained. The reliability sensitivity with respect to design parameters is viewed as a sub-objective function in the multi-objective optimization problem satisfying reliability constraints. Given the first four moments of basic random variables, a fourth-moment technique and the proposed optimization procedure can obtain reliability-based robust design of automobile components with non-normal distribution parameters accurately and quickly. By using the proposed method, the distribution style of the random parameters is relaxed. Therefore it is much closer to the actual reliability problems. The numerical examples indicate the following: (1) The reliability value obtained by the robust method proposed increases (>0.04%) comparing to the value obtained by the ordinary optimization algorithm; (2) The absolute value of reliability-based sensitivity decreases (>0.01%), and the robustness of the products’ quality is improved accordingly. Utilizing the reliability-based optimization and robust design method in the reliability designing procedure reduces the manufacture cost and provides the theoretical basis for the reliability and robust design of the vehicle components.
Suppression of lithium dendrite growth using cross-linked polyethylene/poly(ethylene oxide) electrolytes: a new approach for practical lithium-metal polymer batteries.

Solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) membranes are a critical component of high specific energy rechargeable Li-metal polymer (LMP) batteries. SPEs exhibit low volatility and thus increase the safety of Li-based batteries compared to current state-of-the-art Li-ion batteries that use flammable small-molecule electrolytes. However, most SPEs exhibit low ionic conductivity at room temperature, and often allow the growth of lithium dendrites that short-circuit the batteries. Both of these deficiencies are significant barriers to the commercialization of LMP batteries. Herein we report a cross-linked polyethylene/poly(ethylene oxide) SPE with both high ionic conductivity (>1.0 × 10–4 S/cm at 25 °C) and excellent resistance to dendrite growth. It has been proposed that SPEs with shear moduli of the same order of magnitude as lithium could be used to suppress dendrite growth, leading to increased lifetime and safety for LMP batteries. In contrast to the theoretical predictions, the low-modulus (G′ ≈ 1.0 × 105 Pa at ...
Probabilistic Phase Unwrapping for Single-Frequency Time-of-Flight Range Cameras

This paper proposes a solution to the 2-D phase unwrapping problem, inherent to time-of-flight range sensing technology due to the cyclic nature of phase. Our method uses a single frequency capture period to improve frame rate and decrease the presence of motion artifacts encountered in multiple frequency solutions. We present a probabilistic framework that considers intensity image in addition to the phase image. The phase unwrapping problem is cast in terms of global optimization of a carefully chosen objective function. Comparative experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Dietary ether lipid incorporation into tissue plasmalogens of humans and rodents

Chronic feeding of 1-O-octadecyl-sn-glycerol (batyl alcohol) to patients suffering from congenital deficiency in tissue ether glycerolipids showed an increase in the plasmalogens content of their erythrocytes. However, nothing is known about the ether lipid content of other tissues in these patients. Feeding 1-O-heptadecyl-sn-glycerol to young rats showed that this uncommon ether lipid was incorporated to a high extent into the plasmalogens of all tissues except brain. Comparative studies with other precursors, such as 3-O-heptadecyl-sn-glycerol, heptadecanol and heptadecanoic acid, indicated a stereospecific incorporation of the dietary 1-O-alkyl-sn-glycerols into tissue plasmalogens without cleavage of the ether bond. Dietary ether lipids were also shown to be transferred from mothers to suckling rats, but not from pregnant rats to fetuses. The implication of these results to possible dietary ether lipid therapy for patients suffering from peroxisomal disorders is discussed.