cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Removal of Pax6 Partially Rescues the Loss of Ventral Structures in Shh Null Mice

Pax6 and Gli3 are dorsally expressed genes that are known to antagonize sonic hedgehog (Shh) activity. We have previously shown that dorsoventral patterning defects seen in Shh(-/-) mutants are rescued in Shh(-/-);Gli3(-/-) compound mutants. Here we investigate if the loss of Pax6 can also ameliorate defects seen in Shh(-/-) mutants. In support of this notion, we observe that the fusion of the cerebral vesicles seen in Shh(-/-) mutants is partially corrected in E12.5 Shh(-/-);Pax6(-/-) compound mutants. Investigation of pan-ventral markers such as Dlx2 also shows that, unlike Shh(-/-), a broad domain of expression of this gene is observed in Shh(-/-);Pax6(-/-) mice. Interestingly, we observe that while the expression of ER81 in the ventral telencephalon is expanded, the expression of Ebf1 is lost. This suggests that the rescued ventral domain observed in Shh(-/-);Pax6(-/-) mice is the dorsal lateral ganglionic eminence region. With regard to dorsal telencephalic patterning, we also observe rescue of the pallial-subpallial boundary, as well as a partial rescue of the dorsal midline. Together, our findings are consistent with Pax6 function being required for aspects of Gli3-mediated telencephalic patterning.
Using or abusing: viruses and the cellular DNA damage response.

During infection, viruses attempt to hijack the cell while the host responds with various defense systems. Traditional defenses include the interferon response and apoptosis, but recent work suggests that this antiviral arsenal also includes the cellular DNA damage response machinery. The observation of interactions between viruses and cellular DNA repair proteins has not only uncovered new complexities of the virus–host interaction but is also reinforcing the view that viruses can reveal key regulators of cellular pathways through the proteins they target.
The Instructions of the East India Company to Lord Macartney on His Embassy to China and His Reports to the Company, 1792–4. Part I: Instructions from the Company

From 1600 until 1833 the East India Company held a monopoly of all British trade with China. Private individuals, licensed by the Company to reside and trade in India, were permitted to carry on the so-called “Country” trade between India and China, and the commanders and officers of the Company's ships were permitted to carry on “Private” trade in minor articles and to a limited extent in tea and raw silk directly between England and China. With these exceptions British trade was a closed monopoly, but despite this favourable situation the Company found much to complain of because the Chinese had their own ideas of monopoly and of how foreign trade should be carried on.
On nonparametric maximum likelihood estimation with interval censoring and left truncation

Summary. A graph theoretical approach is employed to describe the support set of the nonparametric maximum likelihood estimator for the cumulative distribution function given interval-censored and left-truncated data. A necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of a nonparametric maximum likelihood estimator is then derived. Two previously analysed data sets are revisited.
Single particle dynamics and control in a sliding nanocluster system

We discuss single particle stability in a sliding nanocluster system represented by the Frenkel-Kontorova model. Both open-loop and closed-loop stability is studied using Lyapunov theory based methods. The systems are used to describe the frictional dynamics of a one-dimensional particle array sliding on a surface, which is subject to two potentials, namely, the substrate-particle and the inter-particle potentials. Average control can be applied to the system to control frictional properties in a desired way. We reveal that single particles are locally stable in the open-loop system without external forces. We also derive sufficient conditions so that the system under the average control law can be asymptotically stabilized. Simulation results are shown to verify the theoretical claims.
5-V tolerant fail-safe ESD solutions for 0.18µm logic CMOS process

Failsafe, high voltage tolerant, low capacitive ESD solutions are implemented in a 0.18 mum dual- gate advanced CMOS technology. This technology features a drain-extended transistor with BVdss of 13 V. Protection of drain extended transistors that allow up to 7V drain operating voltage using 70Aringring oxide is investigated with the integration of a special ldquoself-alignedrdquo STI-blocked SCR structure. Excellent HBM and CDM performance for the I/O applications with this approach are demonstrated.
A strong maximum principle for systems of differential inclusions

We present a version of the finite-dimensional maximum principle for systems of differential inclusions, that contains as particular cases of previous versions for control systems as well as for a single differential inclusion. The result incorporates high-order point variations and is valid under minimal technical assumptions, weaker than those of most classical and nonsmooth versions. The proof follows the classical idea of using needle variations and applying an appropriate open mapping theorem to a multiparameter variation, whose effect is computed in terms of those of the needle variations by means of the chain rule. However, this has to be carried out in a new setting, namely, the class of "semidifferentiable maps", that contains all maps arising in the optimal control problem and has a concept of generalized differential with all the right properties. We reduce the differential inclusions case to the vector field system case. The key technical tool enabling us to carry out the reduction which is a generalization of a selection theorem due to Bressan (1988).
Evaluation of the potential for interference by dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in drug detection in racing animals.

Craig, A.M., Blythe, L.L., Appell. L.H. & Slizeski, M.L. Evaluation of the potential for interference by dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in drug detection in racing animals. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap.10, 298–304. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) had been postulated to be a ‘masking agent’ when used concurrently with therapeutic or prohibited drugs in racing animals. Eight drugs (flunixin, furosemide, caffeine, apomorphine, phenylbutazone, lidocaine, cocaine, and acepromazine maleate) were administered to six horses singly and with concurrent intravenous DMSO. Urine samples were analyzed for the presence of the drugs and/or their metabolites by thin layer chromatography. Direct comparison of thin layer chromatograms of extracts of positive urine samples with and without DMSO verified that DMSO did not interfere with the detection of these drugs.
Quantum 1/f Biochemical Detection Limits in THz Signatures Revealed by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Currents

It may be possible to amplify the characteristic THz frequency oscillations of chemical and biological agents that contaminate surfaces or samples examined with the scanning tunneling microscope (STM). This THz spectral signature of the biochemical molecules competes with the frequency fluctuations introduced as phase noise close to the examined THz frequency by the 1/f fluctuations of the tunneling resistance, of the resistance of the STM tip, and of the spreading resistance in the sample. Indeed, as we show below, the achievable spectral sensing resolution is Deltaomega/omega = [2 C ln 2rceil1/2 = [2 ln 2(fSR/R2)/4Qt 4rceil1/2 = [1.66 ldr 10-12rceil1/2 = 1.3 ldr 10-6. Therefore, we have calculated the quantum 1/f noise of STMs for the first time, also determining the STM image resolution limits, including both the conventional and coherent quantum 1/f (Q1/f) effects. The main contributions are found to be quantum 1/f tunneling current noise, and quantum 1/f effect in the piezoelectric transducers in the feedback loop that controls the position of the needle above the sample. The results are compared with experimental data on STM resolution.
Fault Management Using the CONMan Abstraction

Fault management in networks is difficult. We argue that a major contributor to the difficulty of debugging network faults is the sheer volume of semantically anemic details exposed by protocols. Unlike past approaches that try to cope with the deluge of information exposed, in this paper we explore how to reduce and structure the management information exposed by data-plane protocols and devices to make them more amenable to fault management. To this effect, we delineate two conditions that the management interface of data-plane protocols should satisfy: it should provide a structured description of protocol reality and it should support what we call a "conservation of bytes" invariant. Based on this, we propose an architecture wherein data- plane protocols expose management information satisfying these conditions. This allows management applications to detect, localize and (possibly) resolve faults in a structured fashion. We discuss the detection of a representative set of real-world faults to illustrate our approach. We implemented these fault management features into three protocols and built a management application that uses the features to debug faults. Apart from serving as a proof of concept, this exercise indicates that our proposal does indeed simplify debugging of a large fraction of network faults.
Average Passage Flow Field and Deterministic Stresses in the Tip and Hub Regions of a Multistage Turbomachine

This paper continues our effort to study the dynamics of deterministic stresses in a multistage turbomachine using experimental data. Here we focus on the tip and hub regions and compare them to mid span data obtained in previous studies. The analysis is based on data obtained in PIV measurements performed in the second stage of a two-stage turbomachine. A complete data set is obtained using blades and fluid with matched optical index of refraction. Previous measurements at mid span have shown that at mid span and close to design conditions, the deterministic kinetic energy is smaller than the turbulent kinetic energy. The primary contributor to the deterministic stresses at mid span is the interaction of a blade with the upstream wakes. Conversely, we find that the tip vortex is the dominant source of phasedependent unsteadiness and deterministic stresses in the tip region. Along the trajectory of the tip vortex, the deterministic kinetic energy levels are more than one order of magnitude higher than the levels measured in the hub and mid-span, and are of the same order of magnitude as the turbulent kinetic energy levels. Reasons for this trend are explained using a sample distribution of phase-averaged flow variables. Outside of the region affected by tip vortex transport, within the rotorstator gap and within the stator passages, the turbulent kinetic energy is still 3-4 times higher than the deterministic kinetic energy. The deterministic and turbulent shear stress levels are comparable in all spanwise locations, except for the wakes of the stator blades, where the turbulent stresses are higher. However, along the direction of tip vortex transport, the deterministic shear stresses are about an order of magnitude higher than the turbulent shear stresses. The decay rates of deterministic kinetic energy in the hub and mid-span regions are comparable to each other, whereas at the tip, the decay rate is higher. The decay rates of turbulent kinetic energy are much smaller than those of the deterministic kinetic energy. The paper also examines terms in the deterministic kinetic energy transport equation. The data indicate that “Deterministic Production” and a new term, called here “Dissipation due to Turbulence” are the dominant source/sink terms. Regions with alternating signs of Deterministic Production indicate that the energy transfer between the phase-averaged and average-passage flow fields can occur in both directions. The divergence of the PressureVelocity correlation, obtained from a balance of all the other terms, is dominant and appears to be much larger than the deterministic production (source/sink) term. This trend indicates that there are substantial deterministic pressure fluctuations in the flow field, especially within the rotor-stator gap and within the stator passage.
Detection of two intermixed invasive woody species using color infrared aerial imagery and the support vector machine classifier

Both the evergreen redberry juniper (Juniperus pinchotii Sudw.) and deciduous honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa Torr.) are destructive and aggressive invaders that affect rangelands and grasslands of the southern Great Plains of the United States. However, their current spatial extent and future expansion trends are unknown. This study was aimed at: (1) exploring the utility of aerial imagery for detecting and mapping intermixed redberry juniper and honey mesquite while both are in full foliage using the support vector machine classifier at two sites in north central Texas and, (2) assessing and comparing the mapping accuracies between sites. Accuracy assessments revealed that the overall accuracies were 90% with the associated kappa coefficient of 0.86% and 89% with the associated kappa coefficient of 0.85 for sites 1 and 2, respectively. Z -statistics (0.102<1.96 ) used to compare the classification results for both sites indicated an insignificant difference between classifications at 95% probability level. In most instances, juniper and mesquite were identified correctly with <7% being mistaken for the other woody species. These results indicated that assessment of the current infestation extent and severity of these two woody species in a spatial context is possible using aerial remote sensing imagery.
Evaluating Heuristic Optimization Phase Order Search Algorithms

Program-specific or function-specific optimization phase sequences are universally accepted to achieve better overall performance than any fixed optimization phase ordering. A number of heuristic phase order space search algorithms have been devised to find customized phase orderings achieving high performance for each function. However, to make this approach of iterative compilation more widely accepted and deployed in mainstream compilers, it is essential to modify existing algorithms, or develop new ones that find near-optimal solutions quickly. As a step in this direction, in this paper we attempt to identify and understand the important properties of some commonly employed heuristic search methods by using information collected during an exhaustive exploration of the phase order search space. We compare the performance obtained by each algorithm with all others, as well as with the optimal phase ordering performance. Finally, we show how we can use the features of the phase order space to improve existing algorithms as well as devise new, and better performing search algorithms.
Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Activates the Inflammasome via NLRP3- and Caspase-2-Driven Mitochondrial Damage

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is observed in many human diseases, often associated with inflammation. ER stress can trigger inflammation through nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat containing (NLRP3) inflammasome, which might stimulate inflammasome formation by association with damaged mitochondria. How ER stress triggers mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammasome activation is ill defined. Here we have used an infection model to show that the IRE1α ER stress sensor regulates regulated mitochondrial dysfunction through an NLRP3-mediated feed-forward loop, independently of ASC. IRE1α activation increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, promoting NLRP3 association with mitochondria. NLRP3 was required for ER stress-induced cleavage of caspase-2 and the pro-apoptotic factor, Bid, leading to subsequent release of mitochondrial contents. Caspase-2 and Bid were necessary for activation of the canonical inflammasome by infection-associated or general ER stress. These data identify an NLRP3-caspase-2-dependent mechanism that relays ER stress to the mitochondria to promote inflammation, integrating cellular stress and innate immunity.
Particle growth in urban and industrial plumes in Texas

[1] Particle size distributions and gas-phase particle precursors and tracer species were measured aboard an aircraft in the plumes downwind from industrial and urban sources in the vicinity of Houston, TX during the daytime in late August and early September 2000. Plumes originating from the Parish gas-fired and coal-fired power plant, petrochemical industries along the Houston ship channel, the petrochemical facilities near the Gulf coast, and the urban center of Houston were studied. Most of the particle mass flux advected downwind of Houston came from the industries and electrical utilities at the periphery of the city rather than from sources in the urban core. In SO2-rich plumes that did not contain elevated concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particle volume increased with increasing plume oxidation (age) at a rate consistent with condensation and neutralization of the gas-phase oxidation products of SO2. In plumes that were rich in both SO2 and VOCs, observed particle growth greatly exceeded that expected from SO2 oxidation, indicating the formation of organic particulate mass. In plumes that were enhanced in VOCs but not in SO2, and in the plume of the Houston urban center, no particle volume growth with increasing plume oxidation was detected. Since substantial particle volume growth was associated only with SO2-rich plumes, these results suggest that photochemical oxidation of SO2 is the key process regulating particle mass growth in all the studied plumes in this region. However, uptake of organic matter probably contributes substantially to particle mass in petrochemical plumes rich in both SO2 and VOCs. Quantitative studies of particle formation and growth in photochemical systems containing nitrogen oxides (NOx = NO + NO2), VOCs, and SO2 are recommended to extend those previously made in NOx–VOC systems.
The M-wave and CNV in the squirrel monkey: generality of cue modality and of reward.

Abstract Typical M-waves and CNVs were produced in squirrel monkey frontal and rostral parietal cortex by light cues, as well as by tone cues. With light cues, M-waves were about 50% as large as with tone cues, whereas CNVs were of about the same magnitude with either type of cue. Typical M-waves and CNVs were also produced when avoidance of tail-shock was substituted for food as a reinforcer. The magnitude of both ERPs appeared to follow an inverted-U function with increasing shock intensity. The use of tail-shock as a reinforcer generated more complexities both in ERP changes and in behavior than did food. In some animals, at high shock intensities, ERPs increased, rather than decreased, as each session progressed. In some animals, a combination of food and avoidance of tail-shock produced a decrease, rather than an increase, in ERPs and did not improve behavioral performance. Furthermore, animals would not perform effectively on a CNV paradigm with punishment for aborting the trial. It was also demonstrated that increased stress (immobilization of head or tail) results in a reduced magnitude of both the M-wave and the CNV. This may account for some of the complexities encountered with avoidance of tail-shock as a reinforcer.
Violence and Coercion in Sri Lanka's Commercial Sex Industry Intersections of Gender, Sexuality, Culture, and the Law

This study examines the local conditions facing commercial sex workers in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Based on findings from a 3-year field comparative field study, the author investigates the widespread nature of violence, coercion, and harassment against women and transgendered/gay men in an illicit sex market whose primary clientele are Sri Lankan men. Specifically, the author examines the relationship between cultural definitions of gender/sexuality and the implementation of existing legal frameworks and its impact on the treatment and experiences of sex workers. The author provides an overview of pathways into the sex industry as well as variations in the nature of coercion, violence, and abuse across industry sectors, focusing specifically on street-level versus “indoor” (i.e., brothels, lodges, massage clinics) sectors of the local sex industry.
The lay resource in health and health care

In our preoccupation with developing professional health care services, we have lost sight of the contribution of lay people to their own health care. Indeed, health care has become synonymous with professional care. Recently, however, studies in Europe and North American suggest that the lay resource in health care constitutes at least 85% of all health care provided. As our knowledge of the world of lay health care expands, there is an emerging appreciation of multiple levels of lay self care, including behaviours relating to promotion, prevention, minor illnesses and injury treatment, chronic disease care, and rehabilitation. These activities appear to derive from an eclectic conceptual base that incorporates both allopathic and non-allopathic values, beliefs, and care-giving approaches. Furthermore, there is evidence of patterns of lay health care where care functions tend to be selectively distributed among discrete elements of the lay health care "system", comprised of individuals, the immediate family, the extended family, friends, mutual aid groups, lay voluntary organizations, and religious organizations. There remain, however, serious conceptual and methodological limitations in defining, observing, evaluating and interpreting the extent, quality and impact of the lay health resource. It is not, by and large, a regulated or officially sanctioned resource, so baseline data are not routinely available. Research methods useful in accounting for the lay system need further development and must be sensitive to often very subtle social and cultural aspects of lay health care. Many questions remain regarding demographic and social variations on the self-care theme.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Single-Neuron Analysis of Human Thalamus in Patients With Intention Tremor and Other Clinical Signs of Cerebellar Disease

Tremor that occurs as a result of a cerebellar lesion, cerebellar tremor, is characteristically an intention tremor. Thalamic activity may be related to cerebellar tremor because transmission of some cerebellar efferent signals occurs via the thalamus and cortex to the periphery. We have now studied thalamic neuronal activity in a cerebellar relay nucleus (ventral intermediate-Vim) and a pallidal relay nucleus (ventralis oral posterior-Vop) during thalamotomy in patients with intention tremor and other clinical signs of cerebellar disease (tremor patients). The activity of single neurons and the simultaneous electromyographic (EMG) activity of the contralateral upper extremity in tremor patients performing a pointing task were analyzed by spectral cross-correlation analysis. EMG spectra during intention tremor often showed peaks of activity in the tremor-frequency range (1.9-5.8 Hz). There were significant differences in thalamic neuronal activity between tremor patients and controls. Neurons in Vim and Vop had significantly lower firing rates in tremor patients than in patients undergoing thalamic surgery for pain (pain controls). Other studies have shown that inputs to Vim from the cerebellum are transmitted through excitatory connections. Therefore the present results suggest that tremor in these tremor patients is associated with deafferentation of the thalamus from cerebellar efferent pathways. The thalamic X EMG cross-correlation functions were studied for cells located in Vim and Vop. Neuronal and EMG activity were as likely to be significantly correlated for cells in Vim as for those in Vop. Cells in Vim were more likely to have a phase lag relative to EMG than were cells in Vop. In monkeys, cells in the cerebellar relay nucleus of the thalamus, corresponding to Vim, are reported to lead movement during active oscillations at the wrist. In view of these monkey studies, the present results suggest that cells in Vim are deafferented and have a phase lag relative to tremor that is not found in normal active oscillations. The difference in phase of thalamic spike X EMG activity between Vim and Vop may contribute to tremor because lesions of pallidum or Vop are reported to relieve cerebellar tremor.
Personality factors associated with methadone maintenance dose.

Objectives: Methadone is the most frequently prescribed medication for the treatment of opioid dependence in the U.S., and questions relating to appropriate dosing of methadone remain an important issue. Given accumulating evidence suggesting an elevated prevalence of personality pathology in opioid dependent populations, as well as evidence of an association between Cluster B characteristics and substance use severity, we hypothesized that patients with such pathology would have elevated methadone dose prescriptions. Methods: Participants were 54 opioid dependent individuals recruited from a methadone maintenance clinic. Results: Results indicated that participants with symptoms consistent with Cluster B pathology had a significantly higher mean prescribed methadone dose relative to participants without Cluster B pathology. Conclusion: The presence of personality traits appears to influence methadone maintenance. Implications of this finding are discussed.
Diuretic-Induced Hypokalemia in Uncomplicated Systemic Hypertension: Effect of Plasma Potassium Correction on Cardiac Arrhythmias

Sixteen patients with diuretic-induced hypokalemia underwent 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring during and after correction of hypokalemia. Plasma potassium averaged 2.83 +/- 0.08 mEq/liter before and 3.73 +/- 0.06 mEq/liter after correction with potassium chloride, triamterene or both. Premature atrial contractions decreased in 6 patients, increased in 6 and remained unchanged in 4. There was no improvement in ventricular ectopic activity after plasma potassium correction. Ventricular ectopic activity improved in 5 patients, worsened in 10 and remained unchanged in 1. Ventricular tachycardia was not observed in either phase. Plasma magnesium remained normal throughout. The investigators conclude that in patients with uncomplicated hypertension, correction of diuretic-induced hypokalemia does not significantly reduce the occurrence of spontaneous atrial or ventricular ectopic activity.
Penicillin-Enhanced Chemiluminescence of the Luminol-H202-Co2+ System

Abstract The luminol-H 2 0 2 -Co 2+ system has been widely used in chemical and biological analysis. We report here an investigation of the observation that penicillins have the ability to prolong and enhance the intensity of chemiluminescence from luminol. The basis of this phenomenon appears, as revealed by difference spectroscopy, to be the formation of a complex between the β-lactam and the superoxide ion. The latter is the oxidizing species responsible for the oxidation of luminol in alkaline solution and has a mean lifetime, in solution, of milliseconds. The stabilization of the superoxide ion by penicillin complexation extends the effective lifetime of the superoxide ion by a few orders of magnitude and thereby allows for more efficient oxidation of the β-lactam. Several penicillins were determined by their enhancement of luminol chemiluminescence. A detection limit of 100 ng mL was obtained for penicillin G with a less-than-ideal detection system.
Using a capstone cultural diversity paper for program outcomes evaluation.

Abstract The need to evaluate program outcomes is a task facing many nurse faculty. This three-part capstone paper is used to evaluate the baccalaureate program outcomes of critical thinking, written communication, and therapeutic interventions. First, students interview clients from other cultures, religions, or sexual orientations. Second, students analyze the interview data and compare their findings with the literature. Third, students reflect on their own cultural beliefs and values and discuss their influence on future nursing practice. The development of a grading rubric, levels of achievement, outcomes, program revisions, and student comments are discussed.
Calculation of Combination Coefficient and Drag Coefficient for the Throwing Materials of Inertial Rotary Vibrating Screen

The structural characteristics and the working principle of inertial rotary vibrating screen are introduced in this paper. The inertial rotary vibrating screen is a kind of high efficient equipment for the screening classification of dry and wet fine materials. It has the features of simple and compact structure, convenient installation and disassembly, stable work operation, no sieve pore blocking, high screening efficiency, and the whole machine closure without polluting environment. The nonlinear vibration equations of inertial rotary vibrating screen are established, considering the nonlinear forces of materials. An approximate solution and the material combination coefficient and drag coefficient for the vibration equations are solved by equivalent linearization method of nonlinear theory. A calculation example is also given in this paper.
Nickel–Gallium-Catalyzed Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 to Highly Reduced Products at Low Overpotentials

We report the electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to the highly reduced C2 products, ethylene and ethane, as well as to the fully reduced C1 product, methane, on three different phases of nickel–gallium (NiGa, Ni3Ga, and Ni5Ga3) films prepared by drop-casting. In aqueous bicarbonate electrolytes at neutral pH, the onset potential for methane, ethylene, and ethane production on all three phases was found to be −0.48 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), among the lowest onset potentials reported to date for the production of C2 products from CO2. Similar product distributions and onset potentials were observed for all three nickel–gallium stoichiometries tested. The onset potential for the reduction of CO2 to C2 products at low current densities catalyzed by nickel–gallium was >250 mV more positive than that of polycrystalline copper, and approximately equal to that of single crystals of copper, which have some of the lowest overpotentials to date for the reduction of CO2 to C2 products and metha...
EMISSIONLESS AIRCRAFT: REQUIREMENTS AND CHALLENGES

NASA’s Office of Aerospace Technology (OAT) goals for aeronautics include protecting the local environmental quality and the global climate by reducing aircraft noise and emissions . In support of these objectives, the NASA Glenn Research Center has developed an Aeropropulsion Vision, which ultimately results in an emissionless, silent aeropropulsion system. This cleaner, quieter system is envisioned to rely on fuel cells and electromechanical syste ms for primary propulsion. These systems would use hydrogen fuel cells, which produce water vapor instead of CO 2 and NOx in the exhaust. NASA Glenn Research Center has begun investigating the possible technologies required for an emissionless, silent propulsion system at many levels including basic materials and reformer research for fuel cells, systems analysis, and detailed CFD and nodal analysis. Applications have been investigated for General Aviation, Commuters and small Commercial Airliners. This paper summarizes the investigations defining the technology requirements and examining the technology development challenges that NASA will address. Systems analysis has served as an initial investigation into various power and propulsion configurations and approaches. The results of these analyses are used as a basis for generating system and technology requirements. The electric drive propulsion technology requirements and challenges are discussed along with NASA’s current technology activities. Int roduction
Needleless Connectors for IV Catheters

OverviewNeedleless devices for connecting IV catheters, administration sets, and syringes were introduced in the early 1990s for the purpose of reducing the risk of needlestick injuries among health care providers. Although needleless connectors serve that purpose, their use has been associated with
Current state of thyroid function tests

Advances in Immunoassay technology due to development of immunotnetric assay techniques and availabillity of non-lsotop labelled compounds with high specific activity have enabled the accurate measurement of low concentrations of thyrotropin (thyroid-stimulating hormone, TSH) in serum, Whereas in the past, TSH measurements were used for the diagnosis or hypothyroidism, now TSH measurements alone are used for the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism. Suppression of the TSH level has been shown to be highly predictive of a suppressed response to thyrotropin-releesing hormone (TRH) administration, thus obviating need for TRH stimulation tests. TSH assays are also useful to establish adequacy of thyroid hormone therapy for replacement in primary hypo-thyroldism and suppression of thyroid carcinoma or goiter. No longer Is it necessary to use combinations or T4, T3 or free T4 for these conditions. These and other advantages may make TSH assays the single most cost-errectlve screening test for thyroid disease. Although a suppressed or elevated TSH level is usually diagnostic or thyroid dysfunction, this is not always the case. Many hospitalized euthyroid patients have exceedingly low TSH or elevated levels as a result of non-thyroidal Illness. The use or serum TSH to assess thyroid status in acute psychiatric Illness also is problematic. Recently It has been recognized that patients spontaneously recovering from antithyroid drug therapy tor thyrotoxicoses may have serum TSH levels which do not accurately reflect thyroid hormone status. These circumstances still require a variety of repetitive measurements. In most circumstances serum TSH measured by an Immunometric assay has been proved on excellent test of thyroid state in ambulatory patients. In patients who are hospitalized the use of TSH measurements alone still remains problematic.
Microwave Digestion-Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry for the Determination of Lead and Cadmium in Foods

Objective To investigate the microwave digestion-graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry for the determination of lead and cadmium in contaminated foods.Method Using microwave digestion technique,under the conditions of step elevating temperature and heating power,food samples were decomposed completely by nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide;then the lead and cadmium were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.Results There is a good linear relationship at the concentration of 0-20.0 μg /L for lead and at 0-10.0 μg /L for cadmium;the correlation coefficient of lead is 0.999 5 and that of cadmium is 0.999 7;the detection limit is 5.0 μg /kg for lead and is 0.10 μg /kg for cadmium;The relative standard deviation for lead is less than 5.4%,and that for cadmium is less than 7.8%;the recovery for lead is 90.0%-105.0%,and that for cadmium is 90.0%-105.0%.The pass rates for lead in 240 food samples in four categories,including rice (flour),liver (pig kidney),aquatic products and dried mushroom,were 86.5%,77.5%,81.5% and 87.5%,respectively;and that for cadmium were 82.0%,76.5%,90.0% and 88.0%,respectively.Conclusion The method can meet the requirements for the analysis of lead and cadmium in contaminated foods.
Surgical repair of chronic post-traumatic aneurysm of the aortic arch.

The fifth successful repair of a post-traumatic aortic arch aneurysm is reported. The damaged aorta was replaced with a graft via a left thoracotomy approach. Left heart bypass was used with separate perfusion of the carotid arteries. Exposure was facilitated by means of a Carlens tube. Individual mattress sutures backed with Teflon felt pledgets were used to achieve a secure proximal anastomosis.
Detection of HCV RNA in Serum by Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)

In the field of biological science, the development of new techniques (e.g., Southern blotting, molecular cloning, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis) often led to better understanding of fundamental and applied biological problems. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is among the techniques that led to change in the way of detecting viral sequences in minute quantity.
Understanding Rating Scales and Assessment Instruments

The successful integration of screening tests and brief rating scales into clinical practice requires an adequate understanding of a few basic psychometric and statistical concepts. This chapter provides an overview of such concepts as reliability, validity, diagnostic accuracy and sensitivity to change. In addition we attempt to demonstrate how these concepts relate to clinical care. We believe that a solid understanding of these concepts will increase the utility and benefit patients and clinicians obtain through the integration of brief measurement tools into their practice.
Convergent evolution of caffeine in plants by co-option of exapted ancestral enzymes

Convergent evolution is a process that has occurred throughout the tree of life, but the historical genetic and biochemical context promoting the repeated independent origins of a trait is rarely understood. The well-known stimulant caffeine, and its xanthine alkaloid precursors, has evolved multiple times in flowering plant history for various roles in plant defense and pollination. We have shown that convergent caffeine production, surprisingly, has evolved by two previously unknown biochemical pathways in chocolate, citrus, and guarana plants using either caffeine synthase- or xanthine methyltransferase-like enzymes. However, the pathway and enzyme lineage used by any given plant species is not predictable from phylogenetic relatedness alone. Ancestral sequence resurrection reveals that this convergence was facilitated by co-option of genes maintained over 100 million y for alternative biochemical roles. The ancient enzymes of the Citrus lineage were exapted for reactions currently used for various steps of caffeine biosynthesis and required very few mutations to acquire modern-day enzymatic characteristics, allowing for the evolution of a complete pathway. Future studies aimed at manipulating caffeine content of plants will require the use of different approaches given the metabolic and genetic diversity revealed by this study.
Introduction: Mestizo acts

ABSTRACTHow is one to approach mestizaje in a way that is not definitionally predicated on ‘race,’ or at least, on a modernist formulation of race as phenotypically expressed biological difference? The contributors to this volume provide explorations of this question in varied national contexts (Mexico, Guatemala, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru), from the16th century to the present. They treat ‘mestizo acts’ neither as expressions of preexisting social identities, nor as ideologies enforced from above, but as cultural performances enacted in the in-between spaces of social and political life. Moreover, they show how ‘mestizo acts’ not only express or reinforce social hierarchies, but institute or change them – seeking to prove – or to dismantle – genealogies of race, blood, sex, and language in public and political ways.
What do people do at work

This paper describes the survey of Skills, Technology, and Management Practices (STAMP), which emphasizes the use of behaviourally specific questions in order to improve the quality of job measures. Such measures yield better understanding of the absolute levels of job demands compared to items or scales with arbitrary units that lack definite meaning outside the framework of a particular survey. STAMP measures reveal most workers use relatively simple levels of math on their jobs, but there is a bifurcation of jobs in terms of the complexity of reading and especially writing that is required. Aside from managerial and professional occupations, the absolute level of academic skills required on most jobs does not appear to be very high. Likewise, computer use is widespread but most people use computers for fairly mundane office duties rather than more complex tasks; few workers use any kind of automated production equipment on their jobs. Well-developed employee involvement practices, such as self-directed teams, cover about one-fifth to one-quarter of the workforce. Very few workers report being affected by outsourcing and the numbers affected by technological displacement are almost imperceptible.
Ideology and Knowledge-How: A Rylean Perspective

In work culminating in Know How (2009), Jason Stanley argues, against Gilbert Ryle, that knowledge-how is a species of knowledge-that. In How Propaganda Works (2015), Stanley portrays this work as undermining a "flawed ideology" supporting elitist valuations of intellectual work and workers. However, the link between Stanley's two philosophical projects is weak. Ryle's distinction between knowledge-how and knowledge-that lacks the political consequences foreseen by Stanley. Versions of "intellectualism" have as much potential to align with hierarchical political systems as do versions of "anti-intellectualism." Consequently, the debate about knowledge-how and knowledge-that comes apart from Stanley's more recent concerns about flawed ideologies.
Width-Partitioned Load Value Predictors.

Value prediction has been proposed for breaking data-dependencies and increasing instruction level parallelism. One of the drawbacks of many of the proposed techniques is that the value predictors require very large hardware structures which use up many transistors and can consume a large amount of energy. In this study, we use data-widths to partition the value prediction structures into multiple smaller structures, and then use data-width prediction to select from these tables. A width-partitioned value predictor requires less space because small bit-width values get allocated to smaller storage locations instead of using a full 64 bits. The total energy consumption of the predictor is also reduced because only a single smaller predictor table needs to be accessed. Width-partitioning provides a 25.7-46.5% reduction in energy consumption for last value predictors and finite context matching (FCM) predictors. For FCM predictors, width partitioning allows the total size of the second-level tables to be reduced by 75% while still maintaining the same prediction rates of a conventional FCM predictor. Our performance studies indicate that width partitioning does not degrade the geometric mean IPC on the SPEC2000 integer benchmarks, thus showing that width partitioning is an effective technique to reduce the size and energy requirements of value predictors.
Rise of the thought leader.

The Ideas Industry , by Daniel Drezner, is a book about how modern Amer­ica produces and interacts with the marketplace of ideas. Although ideas are ubiquitous, manifesting in think pieces, TED talks, and all manner of conventional wisdom, we rarely take the time to examine the people and insti­tutions that give rise to them. Because we have paid this important phenome­non little heed, Drezner maintains that we have missed an "industrial revolu­tion in the public sphere." Below the surface of his analysis lie the questions "How did we get here?" and "What did we get wrong?" that so many of us are grappling with these days.
Health insurance coverage and routine health care use among children by family immigration status

Abstract This study utilizes Los Angeles Family and Neighborhood Survey data to investigate children's (17 years and younger) health insurance coverage and routine medical and dental care visits by family immigration status (N = 2846). We use a combination of nativity (U.S. and foreign born) and legal status (authorized and unauthorized) of mothers and their children to categorize family immigration status (citizen mother-citizen child; authorized mother-citizen/authorized child; unauthorized mother-citizen/authorized child; unauthorized mother-unauthorized child). Health care use is measured by routine medical visits and dental visits. We find that health insurance coverage and dental visits are lowest for the children of unauthorized mothers but gaps are most pronounced for unauthorized mother–unauthorized child pairs. Policy implications, in light of recent health and immigration-related legislation, are discussed.
Light and Particle Manipulation Based on Optothermal Surface Bubbles

We demonstrate the manipulation of light and particles with optothermal surface bubbles (OSB). An OSB refers to a micro/nano sized bubble that is formed on a liquid-solid surface and can be controlled with continuous-wave lasers.
The Chinese Nation and Nationalities as a Process of Collaborative Knowledge Production

The introductory essay presents the main theoretical assumption of the book, which is to understand the Chinese national question in the context of the state’s assertion of political, and quest for national, integration in the twentieth century. The state produced valid knowledge and hegemonic discourse about the legitimacy of a unified, multi-nationality China, yet the process required the active collaboration of historians, anthropologists, and ethnologists who engaged modern theories and methodologies and shared the political vision of a modern Chinese nation. The cultural production, which was fraught with internal disputes, was also a process in that the intellectuals claimed their own position as the producer of knowledge and researcher/investigator of non-Han minority peoples, and sometimes challengers of the state discourse. This process is more complicated than a one-directional “civilizing project.”
Catchment Hydrological Modeling with Soil Thermal Dynamics during Seasonal Freeze-Thaw Cycles

To account for the seasonal changes in the soil thermal and hydrological dynamics, the soil moisture state physical process defined by the Richards Equation is integrated with the soil thermal state defined by the numerical model of phase change based on the quasi-linear heat conductive equation. The numerical model of phase change is used to compute a vertical soil temperature profile using the soil moisture information from the Richards solver; the soil moisture numerical model, in turn, uses this temperature and phase, information to update hydraulic conductivities in the vertical soil moisture profile. Long-term simulation results from the test case, a head water sub-catchment at the peak of the Caribou Poker Creek Research Watershed, representing the Alaskan permafrost active region, indicated that freezing temperatures decreases infiltration, increases overland flow and peak discharges by increasing the soil ice content and decaying the soil hydraulic conductivity exponentially. Available observed and the simulated soil temperature comparison analysis showed that the root mean square error for the daily maximum soil temperature at 10-cm depth was 4.7 °C, and that for the hourly soil temperature at 90-cm and 300-cm was 0.17 °C and 0.14 °C, respectively.