cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Contribution of Hardiness and School Climate to Alienation Experienced by Student Teachers

Abstract Teacher alienation has been related to job satisfaction, student learning, and burnout. Evidence suggests that the hardiness personality trait could moderate against the negative effects of work conditions that lead to alienation. A multiple regression model using hardiness, school climate, and their product interaction term accounted for 30% of the variance in the alienation scores of 106 student teachers (F = 14.09, p < .0001). Individuals indicating higher levels of hardiness had significantly lower alienation scores across all school climate conditions than their less hardy counterparts did. Data indicate that as the school climate becomes more supportive, student teachers who have high levels of hardiness become progressively less alienated. For those low in the hardiness construct, alienation may actually increase as climate conditions become more supportive.
A Simulation Study of the Influence of Pressure and Temperature on the Viscosity of Polymer Modified Lubricating Oils at High Shear Rates

The effects of high pressure, high temperature and high shear rate on the viscosity of VI improved oils are simulated in a series of high-shear experiments by either lowering the experimental temperature or increasing the molecular weight of the base oil. This study clearly demonstrates that there is no significant difference between the two methods for simulating the high temperature and high pressure conditions. Presented as a Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers paper at the STLE/ASME Tribology Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, October 14–16, 1991
Collaborative Exams as Learning Tools

(1996). Collaborative Exams as Learning Tools. College Teaching: Vol. 44, No. 3, pp. 111-112.
Coloplasty in low colorectal anastomosis: manometric and functional comparison with straight and colonic J-pouch anastomosis.

PURPOSE: After resection of the distal rectum with a straight reanastomosis, poor bowel function can occur. This is felt to be because of the loss of the rectal reservoir. To overcome this, a neoreservoir using a colonic J-pouch has been advocated in low colorectal and coloanal anastomosis. However, difficulties in reach, inability to fit the pouch into a narrow pelvis, and postoperative evacuation problems can make the colonic J-pouch problematic. Coloplasty is a new technique that may overcome the poor bowel function seen in the straight anastomosis and the problems of the colonic J-pouch. The purpose of this study was to compare the functional results after a low colorectal anastomosis among patients receiving a coloplasty, colonic J-pouch, or straight anastomosis. METHODS: Twenty patients underwent construction of a coloplasty with a low colorectal anastomosis. Postoperative manometry and functional outcome of these patients was compared with a matched group of 16 patients who had a colonic J-pouch and low colorectal anastomosis and 17 patients who had a straight low colorectal anastomosis. RESULTS: Maximum tolerated volume was significantly favorable in the coloplasty (mean, 116.9 ml) and colonic J-pouch group (mean, 150 ml)vs. the straight anastomosis group (mean, 83.3;P<0.05) The compliance was also significantly favorable for the coloplasty (mean, 4.9 ml/mmHg) and the colonic J-pouch group (mean, 6.1 ml/mmHg)vs. the straight anastomosis group (mean, 3.2 ml/mmHg;P<0.05) The coloplasty (mean, 2.6; range, 1–5) and colonic J-pouch (mean, 3.1; range, 2–6) had significantly fewer bowel movements per day than the straight anastomosis group (mean, 4.5; range, 1–8;P<0.05). Similar complication rates were noted in the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with a coloplasty and low colorectal anastomosis seem to have similar functional outcome along with similar pouch compliance compared with patients with colonic J-pouch and low colorectal anastomosis. However, the coloplasty may provide an alternative method to the colonic J-pouch for a neorectal reservoir construction when reach or a narrow pelvis prohibits its formation. Technically it also may be easier to construct.
Functional integrity of endothelium determines Ca2+ channel availability in smooth muscle: involvement of nitric oxide

Endothelium regulates smooth muscle contractility in part via nitric oxide (NO). We tested the hypothesis that endothelial dysfunction, either produced by injury or simulated pharmacologically by reducing the bioavailability of NO, results in elevated Ca2+ channel availability (ngmax=maximum conductance/cell capacitance) in smooth muscle cells isolated from the vessel. Using basilar arteries of normotensive Wistar rats, we measured ngmax in smooth muscle cells from control vessels, from vessels in which endothelium was injured using Na fluoroscene plus light, and from vessels in which the bioavailability of NO was reduced by pretreatment with the NO scavenger 1H-imidazol-1 -yloxy,2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,5-dihydro-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-3-oxide , potassium salt (C-PTIO), or the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) inhibitor N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). Values of ngmax in these four groups of cells were 0.28+/-0.02 nS/pF (n=22), 0.51+/-0.05 nS/pF (n=15), 0.430+/-.03 nS/pF (n=12), and 0.47+/-0.04 nS/pF (n=14) (P<0.05, ANOVA), respectively. To determine whether larger currents associated with endothelial dysfunction exhibit altered sensitivity to exogenous NO, we quantified the response to various concentrations of NO donor, Na nitroprusside (SNP), in 37 cells from control vessels and 33 cells from vessels pretreated with L-NAME. SNP exhibited identical potency (half-maximum values, 18.7 and 21.1 nM) but greater apparent efficacy (maximum fractional block, 0.82 versus 0.63) in down-regulating Ca2+ channel currents in cells isolated from vessels with dysfunctional endothelium. Our results are consistent with a direct influence of endogenous NO on Ca2+ channel availability in smooth muscle cells, and indicate that Ca2+ channel availability in isolated smooth muscle cells may be a sensitive measure of the functional integrity of the endothelium in the parent vessel.
A TEMPO‐mediated “living” free‐radical approach to ABA triblock dendritic linear hybrid copolymers

Dumbbell-shaped ABA triblock copolymers composed of benzyl ether dendrons and polystyrene as the A and B blocks, respectively, were prepared using 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-1-oxy (TEMPO) -mediated living free-radical polymerization. A new bis-dendritic unimolecular initiator, compound 3, was employed to study the efficiency of ABA triblock formation under standard TEMPO-mediated polymerization conditions. By this design, the central B block of the ABA triblock copolymer was grown into the bis-dendritic unimolecular initiator. The ABA triblock copolymer products were separated from their by-products, AB diblock copolymers, by column chromatography on silica gel. The isolated copolymers were characterized using gel permeation chromatography and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy as complimentary techniques. That the dendritic-linear AB diblock copolymer was obtained in a mixture with ABA triblock material indicates that TEMPO-terminated dendron counter-radical 5 is an imperfect mediator of this free-radical polymerization.
Isotopic and chemical variation of organic nanoglobules in primitive meteorites

Organic nanoglobules are microscopic spherical carbon-rich objects present in chondritic meteorites and other astromaterials. We performed a survey of the morphology, organic functional chemistry, and isotopic composition of 184 nanoglobules in insoluble organic matter (IOM) residues from seven primitive carbonaceous chondrites. Hollow and solid nanoglobules occur in each IOM residue, as well as globules with unusual shapes and structures. Most nanoglobules have an organic functional chemistry similar to, but slightly more carboxyl-rich than, the surrounding IOM, while a subset of nanoglobules have a distinct, highly aromatic functionality. The range of nanoglobule N isotopic compositions was similar to that of nonglobular 15N-rich hotspots in each IOM residue, but nanoglobules account for only about one third of the total 15N-rich hotspots in each sample. Furthermore, many nanoglobules in each residue contained no 15N enrichment above that of bulk IOM. No morphological indicators were found to robustly distinguish the highly aromatic nanoglobules from those that have a more IOM-like functional chemistry, or to distinguish 15N-rich nanoglobules from those that are isotopically normal. The relative abundance of aromatic nanoglobules was lower, and nanoglobule diameters were greater, in more altered meteorites, suggesting the creation/modification of IOM-like nanoglobules during parent-body processing. However, 15N-rich nanoglobules, including many with highly aromatic functional chemistry, likely reflect preaccretionary isotopic fractionation in cold molecular cloud or protostellar environments. These data indicate that no single formation mechanism can explain all of the observed characteristics of nanoglobules, and their properties are likely a result of multiple processes occurring in a variety of environments.
EFFECT OF NORMAL-FLUID MOTION ON THIRD SOUND IN LIQUID-HELIUM FILMS

Some theoretical consequences are derived of a proposed viscous force on the normal-fluid component of the He II film. In contrast with earlier calculations, in which the normal fluid was assumed to be immobile, this new assumption allows large energy attenuations, such as have recently been observed in third sound in He II films and in a wave mode of He II partially clamped in narrow channels. Atkins's three equations describing third sound are modified to take account of energy and entropy transfer associated with normalfluid motion, and wave modes are obtained which simultaneously satisfy these equations and the normalfluid equation of motion with a viscous force $\ensuremath{-}R{v}_{n}$. The four wave variables are: $\ensuremath{\zeta}$ and ${T}^{\ensuremath{'}}$, respectively, the local fluctuations in film thickness and temperature, and ${v}_{s}$ and ${v}_{n}$, the superfluid and normal-fluid velocities. Attenuation and velocity of the wave mode corresponding to third sound are calculated at temperatures from 1.2\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K through ${T}_{\ensuremath{\lambda}}$ for all values of the dimensionless viscosity coefficient ($\frac{R}{\ensuremath{\omega}\ensuremath{\rho}}$). The maximum calculated attenuation varies from 0.47 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ at 1.2\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K to 17.3 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ at 2.1\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K; at the lower temperature the observed attenuation is about 2 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. However, the anomalously rapid decrease in velocity of third sound observed by Everitt et al. could not be explained in this manner. Evidence for normal-fluid motion in the film is presented, and some feasible experiments for detecting it are described.
Acute and chronic desensitization of penicillin-allergic patients using oral penicillin

Abstract The efficacy, safety, and mechanisms of penicillin desensitization were studied in 24 adults and two children with serious infections that required therapy with a β-lactam drug. Indications for desensitization included debilitating as well as life-endangering infections. Increasing oral doses of phenoxymethyl penicillin were administered at 15-minute intervals to a cumulative dose of 1.3 million units. Parenteral therapy with the β-lactam drug of choice was instituted at that point. Immunologic complications of desensitization or therapy, ranging from pruritus to serum sickness, occurred in 12 patients. The appearance of gradually worsening wheezing led to abandonment of the procedure in one subject with cystic fibrosis and severe pulmonary disease. The remaining 25 patients were successfully desensitized and received full-dose parenteral therapy. Chronic desensitization was maintained in seven individuals with twice daily oral penicillins for 3 weeks to more than 2 years. No allergic complications of chronic desensitization or recurrent full-dose parenteral therapy were detected. Skin test reactions to one or all penicillin determinants became negative in 11 of the 15 patients retested after acute desensitization. Two desensitized patients became skin test negative, remained skin test negative after cessation of desensitization, and tolerated subsequent β-lactam therapy without allergic reactions or resensitization. The results of this study provide new evidence that acute and chronic penicillin desensitization is useful and an acceptably safe approach and suggest that antigen-specific mast cell desensitization contributes to the protection against anaphylaxis.
Defective nonoxidative leucine degradation and endogenous leucine flux in cirrhosis during an amino acid infusion

The metabolic fate of leucine's first and second carbon may be different depending on the tissue in which leucine is metabolized, as well as the prevailing hormonal milieu of that tissue. However, previous studies of leucine kinetics in humans have used only leucine labeled (as tracer) at the first carbon position. Because cirrhosis is associated with factors (such as insulin resistance and altered fuel substrate utilization) that may influence how leucine is degraded, the kinetics of leucine's first and second carbon using a simultaneous infusion of [1-14C] leucine and [2-13C] leucine were studied in the postabsorptive state and during an amino acid infusion in 6 stable cirrhotic patients and 6 matched controls. The data were normalized for different body compartments that were quantified from the dilution of H2 [180] and bromide. The body cell mass, but not body weight or fat-free body mass, was decreased in cirrhosis (P < .001). In response to the amino acid infusion, total leucine appearance from proteolysis and leucine's incorporation into protein increased significantly in both groups, but were higher in cirrhotic patients. Endogenous protein breakdown decreased in normals but remained unchanged in cirrhosis. These alterations in leucine metabolism became more prominent when data were expressed based on the body cell mass rather than on body weight. The oxidation of leucine's first carbon (C1) was decreased in cirrhosis, but the oxidation of leucine's second carbon (C2) did not differ between groups during both the postabsorptive period and the amino acid infusion, while nonoxidative leucine degradation [the difference between the oxidation of leucine's (C1) and (C2)] was also decreased in cirrhosis. In addition, there was a positive correlation between nonoxidative leucine degradation (which represents leucine incorporation into fat), and the respiratory quotient obtained from indirect calorimetry (r = .87; P < .001). These data suggest that the extent of leucine carbon oxidation is dependent on whether fat or carbohydrate is the prevailing fuel substrate. In addition, cirrhotic patients have decreased nonoxidative leucine degradation and are unable to suppress endogenous protein breakdown normally in response to amino acid administration. These abnormalities may contribute to the diminished fat stores and body cell mass commonly observed in cirrhosis.
Problematic Phrases in the Conclusions of Published Outcome Studies: Implications for Evidence-Based Practice

Objective: This study examined the extent to which conclusions of published outcome studies contain phrases that could be misconstrued as implying more empirical support than is warranted. Methods: All articles (N = 138) reporting outcome studies from 2000 to 2005 in two social work research journals and two topical database searches were assessed regarding research design, findings, and wording of conclusions. Substantial interrater agreement was indicated by kappa values of .95 for research design, 1.00 for nature of findings, and .70 for wording of conclusions. Results: Of the articles, 70% used designs that do not warrant making conclusive causal inferences, and 60% of articles with those designs contained phrases that could be misconstrued or exploited as implying an inflated evidence-based status. Conclusion: To prevent evidence-based practice from becoming a meaningless shibboleth, authors, reviewers, and editors should become vigilant in avoiding wording that could be misconstrued as implying more empirical support than is warranted.
High-performance liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric method for the determination of ethionamide in human plasma, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and alveolar cells

Abstract We have developed and validated an accurate, sensitive, and rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic–tandem mass spectrometric method (HPLC–MS–MS) for the determination of ethionamide in plasma, bronchoalveolar fluid (BAL) and alveolar cells (AC). The retention times for ethionamide, clemastine fumarate (internal standard for plasma), promethazine (internal standard for plasma) and propranolol (internal standard for BAL and AC) were approximately 2.62, 1.21, 2.14, and 2.22 min, respectively, with a total run time of 3.2 min. Ethionamide detection for plasma was carried out on a PE Sciex API III (Perkin-Elmer, Foster City, CA, USA). BAL and cell pellets and some plasma specimens were analyzed on a Micromass Quattro LC (Micromass Co., Manchester, UK). The detection limits for ethionamide were 0.05 μg/ml for plasma, and 0.005 μg/ml for BAL supernatants and alveolar cell suspensions.
Cell patterning chip for controlling the stem cell microenvironment

Abstract Cell–cell signaling is an important component of the stem cell microenvironment, affecting both differentiation and self-renewal. However, traditional cell-culture techniques do not provide precise control over cell–cell interactions, while existing cell-patterning technologies are limited when used with proliferating or motile cells. To address these limitations, we created the Bio Flip Chip (BFC), a microfabricated polymer chip containing thousands of microwells, each sized to trap down to a single stem cell. We have demonstrated the functionality of the BFC by patterning a 50×50 grid of murine embryonic stem cells (mESCs), with patterning efficiencies >75%, onto a variety of substrates—a cell-culture dish patterned with gelatin, a 3-D substrate, and even another layer of cells. We also used the BFC to pattern small groups of cells, with and without cell–cell contact, allowing incremental and independent control of contact-mediated signaling. We present quantitative evidence that cell–cell contact plays an important role in depressing mESC colony formation, and show that E-cadherin is involved in this negative regulatory pathway. Thus, by allowing exquisite control of the cellular microenvironment, we provide a technology that enables new applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Transporter‐Mediated Drug–Drug Interactions

Transporters are membrane-bound proteins that control the access of endogenous and xenobiotics (drugs) to various sites in the human body. They influence drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (both benefit and risk) by affecting a drug's absorption, distribution, metabolism (via control of access to metabolizing enzymes), and excretion (ADME) and by controlling drug concentrations at the site of action. Like metabolizing enzymes, transporters have binding sites that are saturable and can be inhibited or induced. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2011) 89 4, 481–484. doi:10.1038/clpt.2010.359
The effects of diabetes and/or peripheral neuropathy in detecting short postural perturbations in mature adults

This study explored the effects of diabetes mellitus (DM) and peripheral neuropathy (PN) on the ability to detect near-threshold postural perturbations. 83 subjects participated; 32 with type II DM (25 with PN and 7 without PN), 19 with PN without DM, and 32 without DM or PN. Peak acceleration thresholds for detecting anterior platform translations of 1 mm, 4 mm, and 16 mm displacements were determined. A 2(DM) × 2(PN) factorial MANCOVA with weight as a covariate was calculated to compare acceleration detection thresholds among subjects who had DM or did not and who had PN or did not. There was a main effect for DM but not for PN. Post hoc analysis revealed that subjects with DM required higher accelerations to detect a 1 mm and 4 mm displacement. Our findings suggest that PN may not be the only cause of impaired balance in people with DM. Clinicians should be aware that diabetes itself might negatively impact the postural control system.
Urban assistance and the material world: learning by doing at the World Bank

SUMMARY: This paper explores the contradictions between the ambition to establish a more effective framework for the development and management of cities, and some of the realities of urban life. It discusses this through the lens of the World Bank’s evolving urban assistance programme during the 1980s and 1990s as it shifted from urban projects to strengthening municipal and metropolitan capacity, and from “supply” to “demand” orientations. The first section sets out the as yet unresolved problems of metropolitan management. The second describes the difficulties and dilemmas that international agencies faced as they developed urban programmes. The third describes the World Bank’s efforts to strengthen urban institutions in different urban and country contexts. The paper concludes by emphasizing the need for more attention to the “material world” ‐ the physical and spatial context of homes and neighbourhoods where urban dwellers spend most of their lives and make most of their investments. To ignore this it to risk cities in the future having even less cohesion than the sprawling metropolises of today.
Aquinas, the a priori/a posteriori distinction, and the Kantian dependency thesis

This article re-examines the applicability of Kant's dependency thesis to Aquinas’ cosmological proofs for the existence of God. The first part of the article provides a summary of Kant's dependency thesis, followed by a review of a defence of Aquinas by J. William Forgie. The second part of the article explains some of the logical apparatus upon which Aquinas’ argument hinges – specifically his understanding of the a priori/a posteriori distinction. I conclude by calling attention to certain distinct metaphysical assumptions within Kant's and Aquinas’ respective logical apparatus that would have to be addressed prior to the more specific question of whether Kant's critique of the cosmological argument is applicable to Aquinas.
Study on the Influence of Air Bleeds on the Behaviour and on the Performance of Gas Turbine Engines

The influence of air system an engine performance and behaviour is considered. A method based on the polytropic efficiency concept has been developed in order to calculate the thermodynamic characteristics of air bleed. This method has been included in the “Design Point” and “Off Design” codes of different configuration engines. The paper shows the wide applications of the programs for several calculations. Moreover the results of the faults of air system are shown by both diagnostic and fault simulation computer programs.Copyright © 1991 by ASME
Reward enhances tic suppression in children within months of tic disorder onset

Tic disorders are childhood onset neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by motor and/or vocal tics. Research has demonstrated that children with chronic tics (including Tourette syndrome and Chronic Tic Disorder: TS/CTD) can suppress tics, particularly when an immediate, contingent reward is given for successful tic suppression. As a diagnosis of TS/CTD requires tics to be present for at least one year, children in these tic suppression studies had been living with tics for quite some time. Thus, it is unclear whether the ability to inhibit tics is learned over time or present at tic onset. Resolving that issue would inform theories of how tics develop and how behavior therapy for tics works. We investigated tic suppression in school-age children as close to the time of tic onset as possible, and no later than six months after onset. Children were asked to suppress their tics both in the presence and absence of a contingent reward. Results demonstrated that these children, like children with TS/CTD, have some capacity to suppress tics, and that immediate reward enhances that capacity. These findings demonstrate that the modulating effect of reward on inhibitory control of tics is present within months of tic onset, before tics have become chronic.
A parametric mixture-model for common-cause failure data [of nuclear power plants]

This paper introduces a statistical reliability model for common-cause failure data from the nuclear industry. To achieve target reliability, many components in power plants are placed in parallel systems. The benefits of redundancy can be negated if multiple component failures occur due to a common external event. To model the possibility of multiple failures, a mixture-model based on the binomial failure-rate model is derived using reasonable assumptions of multiple failure events at a nuclear power plant (NPP). In many applications, the original binomial failure-rate model fits failure data poorly, and the model has not typically been applied to probabilistic risk assessments in the nuclear industry. This mixture-model fits better. This paper presents a least-squares solution to the mixture-model parameters and the model fit is investigated. Methods developed here are motivated by, and illustrated with, discrete failure data collected from several US NPP since about 1980.
Transmission of Moloney murine leukemia virus (ts-1) by breast milk.

A murine model has been developed to study maternal transmission of the temperature-sensitive Moloney murine leukemia virus (ts-1). The goal of this study was to confirm early and late mother-to-offspring transmission of the virus and demonstrate transmission via breast milk. A series of six experiments was performed using six groups of BALB/c mice. Group 1 consisted of pups born to ts-1-infected mothers removed at birth to suckle from surrogate uninfected mothers. Groups 2 and 5 consisted of pups born to ts-1-infected mothers that suckled from ts-1-infected mothers (surrogate and biological). Group 3 consisted of non-infected pups removed at birth to suckle from ts-1-infected mothers. Groups 4 and 6 consisted of non-infected pups suckled from non-infected mothers. The combined in utero, intrapartum and breast-milk infection rate was 100 % to the offspring (groups 2 and 5). The in utero to early post-partum group (group 1) had an infection rate of 78 %. Breast milk alone (group 3) resulted in a 97 % infection rate. Control groups (groups 4 and 6) had a 0 % infection rate. The relative frequency of maternal CD4+ cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was consistently lower in infected mothers, whilst offspring did not show a significant decrease in CD4+ frequency. Pups infected via breast milk had a lower CD4+ frequency (group 3) than those infected by the uterine and/or intrapartum route (group 1). Breast milk from ts-1-infected mothers appears to be highly infectious for neonatal BALB/c mice.
Rate control using conditional mean estimator

Summary form only given. This paper presents a simple, fast and accurate rate control algorithm using conditional mean estimator (nonlinear regression) that plays a central role in estimation theory. Central to nonlinear estimation and stochastic control problems is the determination of the probability density function of the state conditioned on the available data. If this a posteriori density function is known, then an estimate of the state for any performance can be determined. The proposed algorithm measures this conditional mean by estimating a joint probability density function (PDF) using Parzen's window by extending it to multivariate case. We use this window function to estimate a joint PDF using long training data. The training data pick up the joint PDF between the quantization parameter (QP) and the bits spent for each macroblock depending on the sum of absolute differences (SAD) value from motion estimation. Since the SAD information is obtained as by-product of motion estimation, the additional complexity is minimal. We increase the accuracy of this joint PDF by clustering the training data depending on the QP values within admissible ranges. This localization helps understand image characteristics more accurately. Then we apply the adaptive vector quantization to simplify the conditional mean estimation of the rate given the SAD and QP values. This information is stored into three look-up tables for I, P and B pictures. They contain the localized R-D function on macroblock basis. We use these tables to find the optimal QP values in least-mean-square (LMS) sense for a given bit budget of the current frame. We compared our proposed algorithm with the MPEG-4-rate control algorithm (Q2). Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms the informative MPEG-4 rate control algorithm in terms of reproduced image quality and coding efficiency while requiring much less implementation complexity.
Rheological Changes During Slow Acid Induced Gelation of Milk by D-glucono-δ-lactone

Alteration in the rheological behavior of milk during acidification were studied. Structure formation during gelling was monitored by a small strain rheological scanner. Dynamic viscoelastic properties were monitored as a function of time and temperature. Time of onset of gelation, rate of network formation and development of the elastic component during acidification were accelerated at higher temperatures (55°C). Addition of calcium (0–40 mM) facilitated gelation. Preheating milk at 90°C for 5 min prior to acidification enhanced gelation and induced protein-protein network formation. The number or strength of elastically effective bonds between protein molecules were reduced and gels of lower firmness were obtained with preheated milk, compared to gels made from unhealed milk.
Multidisciplinary approach for circulatory support in patients with advanced heart failure.

Despite the efficacy of heart-failure (HF) therapy, patients may still decompensate and require hospitalization. In addition to the gap between guidelines and clinical practice, this highlights the need for a multidisciplinary approach to the management of HF. The third European Mechanical Circulatory Support Summit presented the latest trials and trends in conservative therapy of end-stage HF (ESHF) and the alternative options over a ten-session program. The meeting covered topics such as epidemiological trends, different HF registries and guidelines for ESHF therapy. In addition to databases and HF trials, the presenters discussed the integration of multiple biomarkers in HF stratification, biological solution and embryonic stem cells for HF therapy, up-to-date myocardial recovery and the surgical aspects of ESHF treatment. Therapeutic options following short-term left ventricular support were discussed, such as: which patients should receive a ventricular assist device (VAD) and when; what the perfect ...
Endothelin-1 decreases endothelial NOS expression and activity through ETA receptor-mediated generation of hydrogen peroxide

Similar to infants born with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), there is an increase in circulating endothelin-1 (ET-1) and decreased endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) ...
Overcoming the difficulties in numerical analysis of surface plasmon polaritons on noble metals at nanometer wavelengths

Experiments show that thin metallic (Ag, Au) films with periodic irregularities exhibit super-transmission phenomenon. At optical frequencies these metals have plasma dispersive properties. Resonant excitation of plasma surface waves is known as the surface plasmon polariton (SPP) effect. Even though theoretical formulations for the numerical analysis using periodic Green's functions exist, no rigorous models have been actually used to analyze SPP. Difficulties include: (i) complex permittivity with negative real part make the Green's functions no longer smooth in space; (ii) regular surface and volume equivalence principle schemes require very fine discretization for electrically large 3D structures; (iii) periodic formulation drastically slows down computational efficiency. Integral-equation based schemes with accelerated layered-media, periodic Green's functions, developed in our computational laboratory at Michigan State University promise significant advantage in accurate and efficient numerical analysis.
A current-mode CMOS cellular neural network

A CMOS circuit implementation of a cellular neural network is discussed. The implementation is reminiscent of classical cellular automata and has been designed for image processing. Software has been developed that models cell dynamics directly from state and output equations. To verify the proposed approach, an 8 by 9 prototype network circuit has been implemented for edge detection and sent to MOSIS for fabrication. >
PPARα-Mediated Upregulation of Uncoupling Protein-2 Switches Cyanide-Induced Apoptosis to Necrosis in Primary Cortical Cells

Peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor alpha (PPARa )i s a member of the nuclear factor PPAR family that regulates a variety of cellular functions, including lipid metabolism, cellular oxidative stress defense, and inflammatory responses. Based on the report that Wy14,643, a PPARa agonist, can upregulate uncoupling protein-2 (UCP-2), this study was conducted in primary cortical cells to determine if PPARa activation enhances cyanide-induced neurotoxicity through changes in the level of UCP-2. PCR and Western blot analysis showed that Wy14,643 upregulated UCP-2 transcriptionally over a 12-h period. This response was mediated by PPARa since it was blocked by MK886, a selective PPARa antagonist. The effect of UCP-2 upregulation on the cytotoxic response to cyanide was quantitated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase–mediated dUTP nick end labeling (apoptosis) and propidium iodide staining (necrosis). Wy14,643 switched the mode of cyanide-induced cell death from apoptosis to necrosis. Cell death was preceded by marked mitochondrial dysfunction, as reflected by depletion of ATP and reduction of the mitochondrial membrane potential (DWm). Knock down of UCP-2 expression by RNA interference blocked the Wy14,643-mediated enhancement of cyanide-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and the switch of the cell death mode, thus confirming that the response was mediated by upregulation of UCP-2. This study shows that PPARa activation can upregulate UCP-2 expression, which in turn enhances cyanide-induced necrotic cell death through an increase of mitochondrial dysfunction.
A GPU-accelerated cortical neural network model for visually guided robot navigation

Humans and other terrestrial animals use vision to traverse novel cluttered environments with apparent ease. On one hand, although much is known about the behavioral dynamics of steering in humans, it remains unclear how relevant perceptual variables might be represented in the brain. On the other hand, although a wealth of data exists about the neural circuitry that is concerned with the perception of self-motion variables such as the current direction of travel, little research has been devoted to investigating how this neural circuitry may relate to active steering control. Here we present a cortical neural network model for visually guided navigation that has been embodied on a physical robot exploring a real-world environment. The model includes a rate based motion energy model for area V1, and a spiking neural network model for cortical area MT. The model generates a cortical representation of optic flow, determines the position of objects based on motion discontinuities, and combines these signals with the representation of a goal location to produce motor commands that successfully steer the robot around obstacles toward the goal. The model produces robot trajectories that closely match human behavioral data. This study demonstrates how neural signals in a model of cortical area MT might provide sufficient motion information to steer a physical robot on human-like paths around obstacles in a real-world environment, and exemplifies the importance of embodiment, as behavior is deeply coupled not only with the underlying model of brain function, but also with the anatomical constraints of the physical body it controls.
The Exhibition Catalogue Awards for 1994

Sixty-five exhibition catalogs were submitted this year for the 1994 Katharine Kyes Leab and Daniel J. Leab American Book Prices Current Exhibition Catalogue Awards. This was the ninth year the awards have been presented. The Exhibition Catalogue Awards Committee spent four and a half hours in deliberations at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Los Angeles. The committee had a difficult task selecting this year’s winners from the vast array of entrants, many of which provided excellent examples of the marriage of form and content. It might prove useful to note a few of the prominent themes appearing in this year’s . . .
Optimizing Vibrational Coordinates To Modulate Intermode Coupling.

The choice of coordinate system strongly affects the convergence properties of vibrational structure computations. Two methods for efficient generation of improved vibrational coordinates are presented and justified by analysis of a model anharmonic two-mode Hessian and numerical computations on polyatomic molecules. To produce optimal coordinates, metrics which quantify off-diagonal couplings over a grid of Hessian matrices are minimized through unitary rotations of the vibrational basis. The first proposed metric minimizes the total squared off-diagonal coupling, and the second minimizes the total squared change in off-diagonal coupling. In this procedure certain anharmonic modes tend to localize, for example X–H stretches. The proposed methods do not rely on prior fitting of the potential energy, vibrational structure computations, or localization metrics, so they are unique from previous vibrational coordinate generation algorithms and are generally applicable to polyatomic molecules. Fitting the pote...
Lyophilization of the Actinoplanaceae

When the Actinoplanaceae were first described (Couch, 1949, 1950) only thirteen isolates were in our collection. Today there are over five hundred and the number is constantly increasing. In addition a stock collection of approximately one hundred closely related organisms is maintained. These organisms are being studied taxonomically and in other ways and it is essential that their viability be maintained. Furthermore, it has been noticed many times that some of the Actinoplanaceae undergo mutations in artificial culture so that it is very difficult to maintain cultures with the characters shown by the original isolates. For example, a considerable number of our collections have apparently lost their ability to form sporangia. The experiences of other workers, Wickerham & Andreasen (1942), Raper & Alexander (1945), Fennell, Raper, & Flickinger (1950) and Haynes, Wickerham, & Hesseltine (1955), with other organisms have shown in many cases that the lyophile process is the most reliable means of culture maintenance. This is a brief report of our experience with lyophilization of the Actinoplanaceae.
Reconstitution of the Core Light-Harvesting Complex of Photosynthetic Bacteria with Selected Polypeptides

It is now possible to reconstitute the core light-harvesting complex, B873, of Rhodospirilium rubrum using the α- and β-polypeptides and bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) a that had been separately isolated and purified (1). This ability to put the components of the complex back together allows us to explore structure-function relationships by modifying the component protein and BChl. In this preliminary report we compare the reconstitutions of the B875 complexes from R. rubrum. Rhodobacter capsulatus MW442 (a B800–850− mutant), and Rhodopseudomonas viridis. Hybrid reconstitutions where the α-polypeptide of one bacterium is mixed with the β-polypeptide of another are also described. For this manuscript, B875 refers to the generic core light-harvesting complex or to the core complex of Rb. capsulatus. B873 refers to the core complex of R. rubrum when carotenoids have been removed (B881 is the wild type), and B1015 refers to the core complex of Rps. viridis. B820 is generic for the structural subunit of the core complex.
CHAPTER III – Laws of Large Numbers

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the laws of large numbers, which provide conditions guaranteeing the stochastic convergence required for consistency results. Because different conditions will apply to different kinds of economic data, particular attention is paid to the kinds of data these conditions allow. Only strong consistency results are stated explicitly as strong consistency implies convergence in probability. The chapter also presents certain theorems by Komolgorov and Holder. It also discusses dependent identically distributed observations, dependent heterogeneously distributed observations, and Martingale difference sequences. It is necessary to provide a more complete background on the properties of conditional expectations to define martingale difference sequences.
Abstract 230: The Impact of Hospital Closures on Outcomes for Myocardial Infarction and Stroke

Objective: U.S. hospitals face substantial financial challenges as policymakers try to reduce healthcare spending. As a result, it is likely that hospital closures will accelerate in the coming years. Hospital closures threaten access to care, and may negatively impact patient outcomes by lengthening travel times, particularly for illnesses for which treatment depends heavily on timely receipt of treatment. Therefore, our objective was to assess the impact of hospital closures on patient outcomes for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stroke over the past decade. Methods: We used data from Medicare files as well as the American Hospital Association from 2002 through 2010 to identify hospital closures. For each hospital that closed, we identified Medicare fee-for-service patients that sought care at that hospital for AMI or stroke in the year prior to closure. We then determined the nearest alternative hospital using geocoding for each patient in the sample, and determined the additional travel time associated with this alternative site of care. We compared the characteristics of the closing versus alternative hospitals. We then created multivariate hierarchical logistic regression models in which we reassigned each of the patients at a hospital that closed to the nearest alternative hospital, and compared mortality rates between the closed and alternative facilities. Results: Between 2002 and 2010, we identified 121 hospital closures. There were 1,109 patients that received AMI care and 1,104 patients that received stroke care at a hospital that closed in the subsequent year. The median age was 79 for both conditions; of the AMI patients, 45% were male, and of the stroke patients, 39% were male. Travel time increased by 2.8 minutes for AMI patients and by 1.5 minutes for stroke patients. For AMI patients, the alternative hospital to which they would have traveled was more often large (0% versus 28%, p<0.001), non-profit (63% versus 79%, p<0.001), and teaching (1.1% versus 8.2%, p<0.001) compared with hospitals that closed. Patterns were similar for patients with stroke. For AMI, there was no difference in 30-day risk-adjusted mortality rates for the closed versus alternative hospitals (19.03% versus 19.17%, difference 0.14%, p=0.90). Similarly, for stroke, there was no difference in 30-day risk-adjusted mortality rates (19.57% versus 19.96%, difference 0.39%, p=0.75). Conclusions: We found no evidence that hospital closure was associated with worse clinical outcomes for AMI or stroke for patients. Though there were increased travel times for both conditions, this was likely offset by an increase in hospital quality in the alternative hospitals. These findings should provide some reassurance to those concerned that hospital closures will lead to significantly worse patient outcomes, even for conditions for which timely receipt of treatment is critical.
On the Gaussian Pulse Propagation Through Multilayer Graphene Plasmonic Waveguides—Impact of Electrostatic Screening and Frequency Dispersion on Group Velocity and Pulse Distortion

In this paper, we analytically describe the characteristics of propagating and diffusive plasma waves in multilayer graphene heterostructures targeted toward implementing on-chip interconnects. When the effect of collision-dominated resistance of the graphene sheet is negligible, the plasma waves propagate through the media without pulse reshaping. However, in the presence of electron scatterings due to phonons and charged impurities in the sample, the plasma waves acquire a diffusive character and undergo significant frequency-dependent pulse reshaping. We analytically model the propagation speed and pulse-width distortion of a narrow-band Gaussian signal centered at THz frequencies by accounting for the finite electrostatic screening between the multiple layers of graphene. The consequences of signal distortion and attentuation on limiting the signal bit-rate and the impact on energy dissipation are quantified. A partition length of the plasmonic waveguide that distinguishes between $LC$ - and $RC$ -dominated regimes of signal transport is derived. For on-chip interconnect application, the upper bound on the propagation length of plasma waves is determined by both the energy dissipation and the bit-rate requirement of the interconnect infrastructure. Upon comparison with on-chip electrical interconnects, we identify the energy budget that can be allocated toward plasmonic transceivers, such that the overall plasmonic communication is more energy efficient compared to electrical communication.
Retinal thinning is uniquely associated with medial temporal lobe atrophy in neurologically normal older adults.

Given the converging pathologic and epidemiologic data indicating a relationship between retinal integrity and neurodegeneration, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), we aimed to determine if retinal structure correlates with medial temporal lobe (MTL) structure and function in neurologically normal older adults. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, verbal and visual memory testing, and 3T-magnetic resonance imaging of the brain were performed in 79 neurologically normal adults enrolled in a healthy aging cohort study. Retinal nerve fiber thinning and reduced total macular and macular ganglion cell volumes were each associated with smaller MTL volumes (ps 0.70), or frontal, precuneus, or temporoparietal volumes (regions affected in later AD Braak staging ps > 0.20). Retinal structure was not significantly associated with verbal or visual memory consolidation performances (ps > 0.14). Retinal structure was associated with MTL volumes, but not memory performances, in otherwise neurologically normal older adults. Given that MTL atrophy is a neuropathological hallmark of AD, retinal integrity may be an early marker of ongoing AD-related brain health.
A Suggested Test for Application of the Main Purpose Rule under the Statute of Frauds

A PROMISE OF suretyship or guaranty may be made either at the time the principal debt is contracted and upon the sam consideration of detriment to the creditor by the exte sion of credit, or it may be made subsequent to that time, to answer for the debt of another antece ently contracted. In the latter case, the new promise must, of course, be supported by a separate consideration. A new promise which discharges another's obligation by novation, or o e in which no obligation of a ot er exists or is co templated, is necessarily original since there can be no debt of another. Where, however, the debt of another continues to exist, a new promise by a t ird party to pay it has, from the very beginning, been considered outside the Statute where made under such circumstances as to render the new