cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Broadband Dielectric Metasurfaces Using Ceramic Stereolithography

A broadband half-wave plate is demonstrated based on cascaded alumina/air subwavelength gratings. Stacked subwavelength gratings can be well-approximated by homogeneous anistropic layers, permitting analysis by plane wave transfer matrix techniques and rapid design optimization. The example waveplate, fabricated using ceramic stereolithography, shows broadband phase performance and low loss over the K a frequency band (26.5 – 40 GHz). Analytic calculations show excellent agreement with measured reflection coefficients, validating the design approach.
Membrane directed expression in Escherichia coli of BBA57 and other virulence factors from the Lyme disease agent Borrelia burgdorferi

Membrane-embedded proteins are critical to the establishment, survival and persistence in the host of the Lyme disease bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), but to date, there are no solved structures of transmembrane proteins representing these attractive therapeutic targets. All available structures from the genus Borrelia represent proteins expressed without a membrane-targeting signal peptide, thus avoiding conserved pathways that modify, fold and assemble membrane protein complexes. Towards elucidating structure and function of these critical proteins, we directed translocation of eleven expression-optimized Bb virulence factors, including the signal sequence, to the Escherichia coli membrane, of which five, BBA57, HtrA, BB0238, BB0323, and DipA, were expressed with C-terminal His-tags. P66 was also expressed using the PelB signal sequence fused to maltose binding protein. Membrane-associated BBA57 lipoprotein was solubilized by non-ionic and zwitterionic detergents. We show BBA57 translocation to the outer membrane, purification at a level sufficient for structural studies, and evidence for an α-helical multimer. Previous studies showed multiple critical roles of BBA57 in transmission, joint arthritis, carditis, weakening immune responses, and regulating other Bb outer surface proteins. In describing the first purification of membrane-translocated BBA57, this work will support subsequent studies that reveal the precise mechanisms of this important Lyme disease virulence factor.
Learning Multi-Modal Biomarker Representations via Globally Aligned Longitudinal Enrichments

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that severely impacts patients' thinking, memory and behavior. To aid automatic AD diagnoses, many longitudinal learning models have been proposed to predict clinical outcomes and/or disease status, which, though, often fail to consider missing temporal phenotypic records of the patients that can convey valuable information of AD progressions. Another challenge in AD studies is how to integrate heterogeneous genotypic and phenotypic biomarkers to improve diagnosis prediction. To cope with these challenges, in this paper we propose a longitudinal multi-modal method to learn enriched genotypic and phenotypic biomarker representations in the format of fixed-length vectors that can simultaneously capture the baseline neuroimaging measurements of the entire dataset and progressive variations of the varied counts of follow-up measurements over time of every participant from different biomarker sources. The learned global and local projections are aligned by a soft constraint and the structured-sparsity norm is used to uncover the multi-modal structure of heterogeneous biomarker measurements. While the proposed objective is clearly motivated to characterize the progressive information of AD developments, it is a nonsmooth objective that is difficult to efficiently optimize in general. Thus, we derive an efficient iterative algorithm, whose convergence is rigorously guaranteed in mathematics. We have conducted extensive experiments on the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) data using one genotypic and two phenotypic biomarkers. Empirical results have demonstrated that the learned enriched biomarker representations are more effective in predicting the outcomes of various cognitive assessments. Moreover, our model has successfully identified disease-relevant biomarkers supported by existing medical findings that additionally warrant the correctness of our method from the clinical perspective.
Optimum Cell Pathlength or Volume for Absorbance Detection in Liquid Chromatography: Transforming Longer Cell Results to Virtual Shorter Cells

The cell volume permissible for a specified degree of loss of efficiency can be computed from response volume considerations. For an open tubular column, the permissible illuminated length can be c...
CHAPTER 21 – MATRIX ELEMENTS

Publisher Summary Electrons with parallel spin avoid each other, whereas electrons of opposite spin do not; therefore, the Coulomb repulsion energy is different in the two cases—higher for singlet states and lower for triplet states. The effect of the Coulomb repulsion is to shift the multiplet energy upward and to split the multiplet into terms of different energy. Hund's rules for a two-electron system states that the triplet states lie lower than singlets, and it is because of the Pauli principle that the electron distribution in a triplet state results in a lower Coulomb repulsion energy as compared with the singlet state. The second part of Hund's rule stems from the fact that electrons in states with high orbital angular momentum tend to be further apart relative to states with lower angular momentum.
Anaerobic Infections in Children with Neurological Impairments.

Les enfants ayant des troubles neurologiques sont susceptibles de developper des infections serieuses causees par des bacteries anaerobiques. Ces enfants ont une predisposition a developper les infections dues a leur propre flore bacterienne. Cette derniere resulte de la deterioration des defenses mecaniques et immunitaires, des changements dans la flore buccale causes par un manque d'hygiene et des delais dans l'identification d'une infection aigue. Les infections anaerobiques les plus communes sont les ulceres decubitus, les infections au site des gastrectomies, les infections pulmonaires (aspiration pneumonique, abces pulmonaires et tracheites) et les otites mediales suppurantes chroniques. La microbiologie particuliere a chaque type d'infections et les interventions medicales et chirurgicales sont discutees dans cette recension
Hippotherapy Practice and Safety Patterns in the United States: A Descriptive Survey Study.

Objective: The use of equine movement as a therapy tool in a plan of care, or hippotherapy, has grown considerably over the past three decades. However, there is little evidence of safety rates and related practice patterns to guide key stakeholders such as clients, therapists, the health care team, and third-party payers. The purpose of this article is to describe the safety and practice patterns of contemporary use of hippotherapy. Design: A survey was distributed to occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), and speech-language pathology clinicians who incorporate hippotherapy into their practice. The survey included questions about clinicians' practice patterns, safety procedures, and rates of safety incidents. Results: Results indicate that hippotherapy is most often used by PT and OT clinicians for pediatric clients. Use of hippotherapy varies by geographic location, and frequency and duration vary widely. Clinicians most often contract their services to a program that provides a facility and horses. Recommended safety practices are widely adopted, and rates of safety incidents requiring basic first aid (0.05% of sessions) or off-site care (0.01% of sessions) are low. Emergency dismounts are frequently practiced and often effective in preventing an incident. Conclusions: Although there are inherent risks to incorporating horses into a therapeutic plan of care, these risks appear to be well managed by recommended safety practices. Results of this study can (1) help clinicians to make informed decisions regarding practice and safety procedures, (2) provide evidence of safety practices and incident rates to clients, members of the health care team, and third-party payers, and (3) maximize safety for clients who participate in hippotherapy.
Sensitivity Analysis for Pretreatment Confounding with Multiple Mediators.

The causal mediation literature has developed techniques to assess the sensitivity of an inference to pretreatment confounding, but these techniques are limited to the case of a single mediator. In...
Sharing Knowledge, Building Knowledge: The Journal as a Community of Practice

Communities of practice have long been recognized as a vehicle for building and sharing knowledge and skills. With advances in technology, communities of practice are not limited by geographic proximity but now extend globally. This article describes how the Journal of Mental Health Counseling is a community of practice and suggests new uses of technology to enhance its impact on the mental health counseling profession.
Impaired Hepcidin Metabolism Promotes Hemolysis Induced Hepatobiliary Injury in Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an autosomal-recessive-genetic disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. Although hepatic crisis affects 10-40% of hospitalized SCD patients and can progress to fatal liver failure, the current treatment is primarily supportive and the molecular pathophysiology remains largely unknown. We found that transgenic, humanized SCD mice developed liver injury with age, manifested by increased inflammation, necrosis and hepatic iron accumulation. The presence of iron particles in SCD liver was confirmed by transmission electron micrograph (TEM) analysis and prussian blue staining which revealed increased iron accumulation in the central and midzonal region of the SCD liver tissue. An increase in aggregates of iron pigment reminiscent of hemosiderin-laden macrophages was also observed in SCD liver tissue. Interestingly, the SCD mice also showed significant enrichment of both hepatic (p=0.02) and serum iron (p=0.04) compared to control AS mice. We determined the expression level of genes commonly involved in iron homeostasis by RT-PCR. Interestingly, a significantly lower expression level of hepcidin transcripts was observed in the hepatocytes of SCD mice compared to control mice (AS) (p=0.01). In order to define the pathways controllinghepcidintranscription in SCD, we performed an RNA-seq analysis in the liver of SCD mice. Remarkably, our data showed significant misexpression of BMP signaling pathways. Further analysis revealed a significant misexpression in BMP2 and 6 levels in the liver of SCD mice by western blot. Reduced levels of hepcidin were also confirmed in serum samples from SCD patients compared to controls. Work is currently underway to understand how BMP2/6 might hypothetically regulate hepcidin expression in the liver. In summary, our results reveal a significant defect in iron homeostasis in the liver of SCD mice, suggesting that impaired iron homeostasis may contribute to hepatobiliary injury in SCD independent of blood transfusions. Our study also highlights the importance of hepcidin as potential therapeutic target in regulation of hepatic injury in SCD. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Stability of Entropic Optimal Transport and Schr\"odinger Bridges

We establish the stability of solutions to the entropically regularized optimal transport problem with respect to the marginals and the cost function. The result is based on the geometric notion of cyclical invariance and inspired by the use of $c$-cyclical monotonicity in classical optimal transport. As a consequence of stability, we obtain the wellposedness of the solution in this geometric sense, even when all transports have infinite cost. More generally, our results apply to a class of static Schrodinger bridge problems including entropic optimal transport.
Surface modification strategies to improve titanium hemocompatibility: a comprehensive review.

Titanium and its alloys are widely used in different biomaterial applications due to their remarkable mechanical properties and bio-inertness. However, titanium-based materials still face some challenges, with an emphasis on hemocompatibility. Blood-contacting devices such as stents, heart valves, and circulatory devices are prone to thrombus formation, restenosis, and inflammation due to inappropriate blood–implant surface interactions. After implantation, when blood encounters these implant surfaces, a series of reactions takes place, such as protein adsorption, platelet adhesion and activation, and white blood cell complex formation as a defense mechanism. Currently, patients are prescribed anticoagulant drugs to prevent blood clotting, but these drugs can weaken their immune system and cause profound bleeding during injury. Extensive research has been done to modify the surface properties of titanium to enhance its hemocompatibility. Results have shown that the modification of surface morphology, roughness, and chemistry has been effective in reducing thrombus formation. The main focus of this review is to analyze and understand the different modification techniques on titanium-based surfaces to enhance hemocompatibility and, consequently, recognize the unresolved challenges and propose scopes for future research.
Panel: Physical Design And Synthesis: Merge Or Die

As IC fabrication capabilities extend down to sub-halfmicron, the signi cance of interconnect delay and power dissipation can no longer be ignored. Existing enhancements to synthesis and physical design tools (such as nonlinear delay modeling, custom wire load models, back annotation of calculated delays, early oorplanning, post-layout re-mapping and resizing) have not been able to solve the problem. It thus remains that tradeo s in logical and physical domains must be addressed in an integrated fashion. Huge business opportunities will be lost unless more revolutionary changes to design ow are made. This panel of experts will address the current split between logic synthesis and physical design and its e ect on the design ow. It will then discuss possibilities for merging the two, or at least bringing them closer together. In particular, issues such as consistent wire load and timing models and algorithms which must be employed across the design ow, EDA standards and common databases to support the integration of layout and synthesis tools, evolving structured design styles that o er lower wiring overhead, interconnect-driven logic synthesis, and timingdriven physical design will be discussed. Finally, the panel will seek to highlight challenges and potential pitfalls that lie ahead.
Racial and Sex Differences in Prevalence of Hypothyroidism in Patients With Cardiomyopathies Enrolled into a Heart Failure Disease Management Program

Congest Heart Fail. 2011;17:133–139. ©2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. The authors evaluated the prevalence of hypothyroidism in patients with heart failure (HF) to determine whether there are racial and sex differences and to determine the number of new cases of hypothyroidism. The study included 194 patients in an HF disease management program (HFDMP) in South Florida. Patients were interviewed for a history of hypothyroidism and referred for measurement of thyrotropin. The prevalence of hypothyroidism was calculated by race and sex. The prevalence of hypothyroidism was 18% for all patients with HF and 23% among Hispanics; however, this trend was not statistically significant ( P=.06). More men than women had hypothyroidism ( P=.04). Patients with hypothyroidism had higher mean lipid profiles ( P<.01) and lower mean heart rates ( P=.03) than healthy patients. Hypothyroidism is prevalent among HF patients, especially men. Hispanics with HF may have a higher prevalence of hypothyroidism. The standardized protocol of the HFDMP helped identify new cases of hypothyroidism.
A survey of numerical techniques for modeling the massloading effects in SAW devices

Past efforts for modeling the massloading effects in surface acoustic wave devices may be classified in five groups: (i) models based on the perturbation theory, (ii) mode matching techniques, (iii) methods employing the finite element method, (iv) hybrid techniques which combine the boundary element method with the finite element method, and finally, (v) methods relying on an eigenform formulation involving coordinate-dependent coefficients. In this paper we review some of these techniques and briefly discuss our recent progress in analyzing the massloading effects in surface acoustic wave devices.
Adeno‐associated virus serotype 9 administered systemically after reperfusion preferentially targets cardiomyocytes in the infarct border zone with pharmacodynamics suitable for the attenuation of left ventricular remodeling

Background Adeno-associated virus serotype 9 (AAV9) vectors provide efficient and uniform gene expression to normal myocardium following systemic administration, with kinetics that approach steady-state within 2–3 weeks. However, as a result of the delayed onset of gene expression, AAV vectors have not previously been administered intravenously after reperfusion for post-infarct gene therapy applications. The present study evaluated the therapeutic potential of post-myocardial infarction gene delivery using intravenous AAV9. Methods AAV9 vectors expressing firefly luciferase, enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) or extracellular superoxide dismutase genes from the cardiac troponin-T (cTnT) promoter (AcTnTLuc, AcTnTeGFP, AcTnTEcSOD) were employed. AcTnTLuc was administered intravenously at 10 min and at 1, 2 and 3 days post-ischemia/reperfusion (IR), and the kinetics of luciferase expression were assessed with bioluminescence imaging. AcTnTeGFP was used to evaluate the distribution of eGFP expression. High-resolution echocardiography was used to evaluate the effects of AcTnTEcSOD on left ventricular (LV) remodeling when injected 10 min post-IR. Results Compared to sham animals, luciferase expression at 2 days after vector administration was elevated by four-, 24-, 210- and 213-fold in groups injected at 10 min, 1 day, 2 days and 3 days post-IR, respectively. The expression of cTnT-driven eGFP was strongest in cardiomyocytes bordering the infarct zone. In the efficacy study of EcSOD, post-infarct LV end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes at days 14 and 28 were significantly smaller in the EcSOD group compared to the control. Conclusions Systemic administration of AAV9 vectors after IR both elevates and accelerates gene expression that preferentially targets cardiomyocytes in the border zone with pharmacodynamics suitable for the attenuation of LV remodeling. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Retinoid Target Gene Activation during Induced Tumor Cell Differentiation: Human Embryonal Carcinoma as a Model

Many agents that exhibit chemopreventive activity are able to mediate a differentiation response in premalignant and malignant tissues. One of the most widely studied classes of tumor differentiation agents is the retinoids. There is rapidly evolving evidence for beneficial retinoid actions in the prevention or treatment of clinical tumors. However, the use of retinoids in the clinic is limited by acquired resistance and toxicity, especially when administered chronically in preventive strategies. Although retinoids are known to regulate gene transcription by activating retinoid receptors, the identity of the target genes that mediate the beneficial effects of retinoids are largely unknown. Here we review a useful model of retinoid-induced tumor cell differentiation: human embryonal carcinoma. The pluripotent nature and ease of use make human embryonal carcinoma cells a valuable and practical complement to human embryonic stem cells as an in vitro model of early human development. In addition, retinoid treatment of human embryonal carcinoma is an important model of induced tumor cell differentiation because retinoids cause the reversal of the malignant phenotype coincident with terminal neuronal differentiation. We have used both de novo and candidate approaches with this system in an effort to uncover critical downstream targets of retinoid receptors during differentiation induction.
Cytosolic calcium transients in myocytes isolated from rats with ischemic heart failure

Mechanical performance and cytosolic Ca2+ dynamics were characterized in myocytes isolated from left and right ventricles of rats with ischemic heart failure. Seven days after coronary artery narrowing (CAN) in rats filling pressures were elevated, whereas systolic pressures and ejection of blood were depressed. Left ventricular myocytes increased 18% in length and 19% in width, whereas right myocytes expanded longitudinally by 23% and transversely by 24%. Contractile behavior of myocytes displayed reductions in myocyte shortening and velocity of shortening, despite prolongation of time to peak shortening. Diastolic Ca2+ increased by 32 and 39% in left and right myocytes of CAN animals, whereas peak systolic Ca2+ in left ventricular myocytes was depressed (22%). Time to peak Ca2+ was prolonged by 68% in left myocytes. Moreover, time required for peak Ca2+ to return to diastolic levels was prolonged in left myocytes. Regression analysis revealed correlations between end-diastolic pressure and diastolic Ca2+ and peak developed pressure and systolic Ca2+. Thus ischemic heart failure finds its cellular basis in a depression in myocyte contractility that may in turn be due to alterations in cytosolic Ca2+ handling.
Development of Macrocytic Erythrocytes in Leukemic Subjects Receiving Folic Acid Antagonist, 4-Aminopteroylglutamic Acid (Aminopterin)

ConclusionsIn 7 of 25 human subjects with acute leukemia treated with the folic acid antagonist 4-aminopteroylglutamic acid (aminopterin) morphologic changes developed in the circulating red blood cells consisting of a macrocytosis and anisocytosis.
Studies on the Gibbsite to Boehmite Transition

Abstract The transition of gibbsite to boehmite is of interest with regard to high level waste processing associated with the Hanford and Savannah River sites. Both materials have been observed in core samples. From the temperature histories of the waste, it is possible that some fraction of gibbsite has been converted to boehmite. This paper describes thermal gravimetric analysis studies of products resulting from controlled temperature measurements of pure gibbsite in NaOH. Results indicate that the gibbsite to boehmite transformation can take place at temperatures as low as 100°C. This information, along with available data on waste inventories and temperature histories, may be used to estimate the fractions of gibbsite and of boehmite in a given waste tank. Site engineers can then tailor the sludge leaching process for a particular tank to account for the delayed dissolution of boehmite, allowing separation of the aluminum and processing as a low activity waste.
Root-Knot Nematode Resistance of F2 Cotton Hybrids from Crosses of Resistant Germplasm and Commercial Cultivars

The southern root-knot nematode (RKN), Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Chitwood, is a major pest of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). A high level of resistance has been identified in eight germplasm lines; however, these lines are not as productive in yield as current cultivars. This study was conducted to determine the possibility of using F 2 populations from crosses of these RKN resistant germplasm lines with five current cultivars as a means of combining RKN resistance with high yield potential. Two F 2 populations were evaluated for their level of nematode resistance. Resistance in these F 2 populations was greater than the cultivar parents but less than the RKN resistant germplasm parents. The resistance level of the F 2 population, however, was nearer the germplasm parent than the cultivar parent, indicating that the F 2 hybrids possess a useful level of resistance. Yield and fiber properties among the F 2 hybrids indicated that by careful selection of parents, F 2 populations that were equal in yield and fiber quality to the best of the cultivar parents could be produced. Results of this study indicate that F 2 populations may provide a rapid way to combine high levels of RKN resistance with the higher yield and superior fiber properties of current cultivars.
How to pick out the integers in the rationals: an application of number theory to logic

STAN WAGON received his Ph.D. from Dartmouth College under the direction of James E. Baumgartner and taught at Smith College from 1975 to 1990, with visits to Carleton College, the University of Colorado, the University of California at Berkeley, and the University of Washington. His introduction to the area of Diophantine definitions came in a memorable course taught by Julia Robinson at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1975.
Prediction of the zeolite crystal size distribution in batchwise hydrothermal synthesis

Abstract Several ways of characterizing the crystal size distribution during batchwise hydrothermal synthesis of molecular sieve zeolites are shown. In particular, we show how the crystal size distribution function can be predicted once the transient birth rate and growth rate functions have been determined, and how average size, standard deviation, and skewness can be used to characterize the size distribution. Simulation results are presented which show the effect of manipulating several key parameters in the synthesis system (e.g. initial reagent concentration and nucleation rate). It is shown how one might change the operating policy of the batch crystallizer to obtain larger particle sizes and/or narrower crystal size distribution.
USF2/FIP Associates with the b-Zip Transcription Factor, c-Maf, via Its bHLH Domain and Inhibits c-Maf DNA Binding Activity

In screening for proteins that interact with the basic zipper (bZip) transcription factor, c-Maf, we isolated USF2/FIP. USF2 is a member of the bHLH-Zip protein family, possessing a basic (b) DNA binding region, a helix-loop-helix (HLH) motif, and a leucine zipper (Zip) structure. Mutants of USF2 that lacked a Zip formed heterodimers with c-Maf, but did not homodimerize. Deletion of the USF2 basic region or mutation of its helices abrogated its binding to c-Maf, but had no effect on homodimerization. A functional c-Maf bZip motif was necessary for both homodimerization and heterodimerization with USF2. These data suggest a tetrameric configuration for Maf-USF2 complexes. In the presence of USF2, the DNA binding activity of c-Maf was markedly reduced. Therefore, USF2 and c-Maf may interact to regulate gene expression.
The multiple roles of Bub1 in chromosome segregation during mitosis and meiosis

Aneuploidy, any deviation from an exact multiple of the haploid number of chromosomes, is a common occurrence in cancer and represents the most frequent chromosomal disorder in newborns. Eukaryotes have evolved mechanisms to assure the fidelity of chromosome segregation during cell division that include a multiplicity of checks and controls. One of the main cell division control mechanisms is the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) that monitors the proper attachment of chromosomes to spindle fibers and prevents anaphase until all kinetochores are properly attached. The mammalian SAC is composed of at least 14 evolutionary-conserved proteins that work in a coordinated fashion to monitor the establishment of amphitelic attachment of all chromosomes before allowing cell division to occur. Among the SAC proteins, the budding uninhibited by benzimidazole protein 1 (Bub1), is a highly conserved protein of prominent importance for the proper functioning of the SAC. Studies have revealed many roles for Bub1 in both mitosis and meiosis, including the localization of other SAC proteins to the kinetochore, SAC signaling, metaphase congression and the protection of sister chromatid cohesion. Recent data show striking sex specific differences in the response of germ cells to alterations in Bub1 activity. Proper Bub1 functioning is particularly important during oogenesis in preventing the generation of aneuploid gametes that can have detrimental effects on the health status of the fetus and the newborn. These data suggest that Bub1 is a master regulator of SAC and chromosomal segregation in both mitosis and meiosis. Elucidating its many essential functions in regulating proper chromosome segregation can have important consequences for preventing tumorigenesis and developmental abnormalities.
Lack of effect of extremely low frequency electric and magnetic fields on roots of Vicia faba

Abstract Roots of Vicia faba were exposed for up to six days to 75 Hz magnetic fields up to 17 gauss and to 75 Hz electric fields of 10V/m. These fields are approximately 85 times and 100 times, respectively, the fields which would result from a buried extra low frequency antenna of the design proposed for the Navy's Project Sanguine. No differences in growth or mitotic index were observed between control and exposed roots. Also, no chromosomal anomalies were observed.
A study of EM failure in a micro-scale Pb-free solder joint using a custom lab-scale x-ray computed tomography system

The three-dimensional (3D) microstuructural evolution in a Pb-free solder system undergoing accelerated electromigration (EM) testing is characterized using a custom, lab-scale, cone-beam, micro x-ray computed tomography (μXCT) instrument. A micro-scale Sn-0.7Cu butt -joint was subjected to a current density of 104A/cm2 at 100°C. The experimentation was enabled by the design of a miniature fixture for in situ imaging under accelerating EM testing conditions. The fixture is friendly to surface imaging and μXCT scanning. The migrating species, copper and tin, are observed volumetrically through substrate dissolution, solder build-up, and the formation of reaction products in the solder joint by μXCT imaging. The migration of the copper substrate and the formation of copper-tin reaction products is quantified.
An Expansion of System Wide Trust Theory Using In-Vehicle Automation

The tasks involved in driving (for example, reading directions, looking at a map, or searching for the proper street to turn down while simultaneously trying to avoid a child playing in the street) create high cognitive de-mands on the driver. These demands can result in de-creased efficiency and safety (Maltz & Shinar, 2003; Sheridan, 1997; Wickens & Dixon, 2007). Due to the high cognitive demands from multiple tasks, automation has been increasingly implemented in order to assist the driver. Automation assists by reducing a portion of the operator’s workload, and as a result, can increase safety and efficiency. One familiar example of in-vehicle au-tomation is the cruise control system that is often used to increase the vehicle’s efficiency and decrease driver fa-tigue.
Diagnostic Computation of Moisture Budgets in the ERA-Interim Reanalysis with Reference to Analysis of CMIP-Archived Atmospheric Model Data

AbstractThe diagnostic evaluation of moisture budgets in archived atmosphere model data is examined. Sources of error in diagnostic computation can arise from the use of numerical methods different from those used in the atmosphere model, the time and vertical resolution of the archived data, and data availability. These sources of error are assessed using the climatological moisture balance in the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Interim Re-Analysis (ERA-Interim) that archives vertically integrated moisture fluxes and convergence. The largest single source of error arises from the diagnostic evaluation of divergence. The chosen second-order accurate centered finite difference scheme applied to the actual vertically integrated moisture fluxes leads to significant differences from the ERA-Interim reported moisture convergence. Using daily data, instead of 6-hourly data, leads to an underestimation of the patterns of moisture divergence and convergence by midlatitude transient eddies. A la...
CHLOROPHYLL PHOTOSENSITIZED ELECTRON TRANSFER IN PHOSPHOLIPID BILAYER VESICLE SYSTEMS: CORRELATIONS BETWEEN KINETIC PARAMETERS AND SOLUBILITIES OF VIOLOGEN ACCEPTORS *

Abstract— Twelve viologens (quaternary 4,4′-bipyridinium ions) are investigated as electron acceptors in vesicle suspensions containing chlorophyll-a (Chl) using laser flash photolysis. The structures of the viologens, which determine how they and their reduced radicals partition between the water and bilayer membrane phases, are systematically varied in order to probe the effects of acceptor solubility on the kinetics of photosensitized electron transfer reactions. The effectiveness of the viologens as quenchers of the Chl triplet excited state increases as they become less soluble in water, because the viologens are more likely to be incorporated into the membrane, but the efficiency of radical formation decreases and the rate of the reverse electron transfer reaction increases. The data obtained with a homologous series of di-alkyl viologens are analyzed quantitatively using a kinetic model which includes the partition coefficients of the viologens and their radicals. For the most part, the reactivities of the viologen species are proportional to their concentrations in the membrane phase, but the locations and mobilities of the viologens in the membrane phase also have to be considered. In order for the Chl and viologen radicals to separate efficiently. the viologen radical has to be able to diffuse from the membrane to the water phase at a rate that competes effectively with reverse electron transfer within the radical pair complex (> 105 s−1).
A physiological correlate of disuse-induced sprouting at the neuromuscular junction.

Recent investigations have established that many of the normal properties of muscle fibres are maintained, at least in part, by muscle activity1. Thus, a fall in resting membrane potential2,3, an increase in input resistance4, and spread of acetylcholine receptors to extrajunctional sites4–6 can all be induced by abolishing muscle activity and prevented by direct stimulation of denervated muscle fibres7,8. Muscle activity also exerts a trophic influence on the innervating motoneurones9,10; furthermore it may be a factor in the regulation of sprouting11,12. Brown and Ironton11 found fine, “ultra-terminal sprouts” emanating from the endplates of muscles rendered inactive by chronic conduction block of the muscle nerve. Pestronk and Drachmen12 saw increased branching of the motor nerve terminal and a consequent increase in endplate size in similar conditions. If these sprouts at the endplates of inactive muscles were functional, one might expect more transmitter to be released in response to nerve stimulation13. We report here that both quantum content and spontaneous miniature ehdplate potential (m.e.p.p.) frequency are increased at the terminals of inactive (disused) muscles.
Evidence for a local role of inhibin or inhibin α subunits in compensatory ovarian hypertrophy

The aim of this study was to determine whether immunoneutralization of inhibin altered compensatory ovarian hypertrophy. Crossbred postpubertal gilts actively immunized with a synthetic bovine inhibin peptide fragment (bINH) conjugated to human alpha globulins (HAG, n=4 gilts) or HAG alone (control ; n=5) were unilaterally ovariectomized at mid-cycle. After unilateral ovariectomy, the remaining ovary was removed between day 8 and day 12 of the subsequent oestrous cycle. The number of corpora lutea per ovary was determined at each ovariectomy. Blood samples were collected at frequent intervals beginning I h before and continuing until the first oestrus after unilateral ovariectomy, and serum concentrations of FSH, LH, progesterone and oestradiol were determined. Inhibin antibody titres were estimated from the percentage of 125 I-labelled bINH bound to serum diluted 1 :4000. At unilateral ovariectomy, the number of corpora lutea per ovary was similar for bINH :HAG-immunized and control gilts (8.6 ± 0.7 versus 7.6 ± 0.6). During the next oestrous cycle after unilateral ovariectomy, the number of corpora lutea on each remaining ovary had doubled (P < 0.05) in controls compared with the number of corpora lutea per ovary in the previous cycle. In contrast, the number of corpora lutea remained unchanged in bINH :HAG-immunized gilts. Titre of anti-inhibin antibodies in bINH :HAG-immunized gilts was 9 ±1% at unilateral ovariectomy compared with 0% for controls. Alterations in serum concentrations of hormones after unilateral ovariectomy did not differ between treatment groups. Compensatory ovarian hypertrophy was blocked after unilateral ovariectomy in immunized gilts independent of alterations in serum hormones, duration of oestrous cycle, or normal ovulation rate per ovary. Thus, it is concluded that inhibin or inhibin α subunits are positive local stimulators of compensatory ovarian hypertrophy in postpubertal gilts.
ESR of some transition-metal dicarbide molecules

Abstract ESR spectra attributed to the dicarbide molecules ScC2(2Σ), VC2(4Σ) and CoC2(2Σ), were observed in solid argon matrices at 4 K. In each case, the metal nuclei 45Sc, 51V and 59Co produced hyperfine splittings, but 13C substitution, in contrast to the monocarbides, showed no discernible effects. These ground states are analogous to those of the corresponding transition-metal diatomic oxides, and it is inferred that the molecules have a linear unsymmetrical structure MCC.
Adolescent patients' treatment motivation and satisfaction with orthodontic treatment. Do possible selves matter?

Abstract Objective: To determine whether adolescents' satisfaction with orthodontic treatment outcomes is correlated with the degree to which (1) the adolescents focused on and (2) were energized by imagining their posttreatment possible selves before the treatment, and whether parents' assessments of their children's pretreatment motivation would correlate with their children's posttreatment satisfaction. Methods: Data were collected from 75 former adolescent orthodontic patients (28 male, 47 female; 60 European American, 14 other) and from 72 parents (59 female, 12 male, 1 missing) with mailed questionnaires. Satisfaction with the treatment outcome was assessed with a revised version of Kiyak's Post-Surgical Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire. Results: The more the patients had focused on the posttreatment esthetics and functioning and the more they were energized by thinking about their posttreatment possible selves before the treatment, the more satisfied they were with the outcomes (r = .337, P = .00...
Purine metabolizing enzymes of Plasmodium lophurae and its host cell, the duckling (Anas domesticus) erythrocyte

Abstract Adenosine kinase, adenosine deaminase, hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase, inosine-nucleoside phosphorylase, 5′-AMP deaminase and 5′-IMP nucleotidase were identified in cell-free extracts of duckling erythrocytes; no evidence for 5′-AMP nucleotidase and xanthine oxidase activity was found. The K m values for the duckling red cell enzymes were similar to those reported for human erythrocytes. Plasmodium lophurae extracts demonstrated similar enzyme activities except for 5′-AMP deaminase and 5′-IMP nucleotidase which were absent. It is proposed that during infection erythrocytic AMP is catabolized to IMP, inosine and hypoxanthine; the hypoxanthine is taken up by the plasmodium, utilized to form IMP, and this in turn is converted into adenine and guanine nucleotides.
An improved all-glass extractor.

AVERSATILE automatic extractor suitable for removing steroids from. urine was devised by Cohen (1) in 1950. The driving force was a mild vacuum (house vacuum or water aspirator) which induced an alternate pressure decrease in the upper chamber, causing urine to be drawn up the delivery tube, to drop through the extractor tube, and to percolate in the form of drops through a comparatively large volume of the lower solvent phase. The extraction was shown to be effective at room temperature; and, under conditions of equilibrium, 90 per cent or more of the total extractable steroids could be found in the solvent phase (chloroform or carbon tetrachloride). The time required depended upon the volume of urine and the rate at which the extraction proceeded. Described in this paper is an all-glass automatic extractor1 that retains Cohen's principle of operation, but which is simpler and easier to employ, and has a greater range of utility (Fig. 1). It consists of four parts: (a) a connection to the source of vacuu...
Medical clinic referrals to psychiatric social work: Review of 100 cases

This study examines 100 consecutive patient referrals from a general medical clinic to psychiatric social work. While much has been written from a theoretical or anecdotal perspective on the contribution of social work to medical care, there have been relatively few attempts to look in detail at actual practices. Of the 100 patients, 52 were referred for "concrete services," 30 for evaluation of a psychiatric disorder (such as depression or somatoform disorder), 20 for counseling, and 11 for assistance for a drug or alcohol problem. Although the most frequent referral to psychiatric social work by the medical clinic staff was for concrete services, half of these cases actually involved overlooked psychiatric problems, and no concrete service of any sort was perceived as necessary by the psychiatric social worker in 30% of these cases. Referring medical staff tended to view patient distress in terms of concrete needs and chose to refer to social work even when significant psychiatric diagnostic problems were identified. Analysis of the differences in reasons for referral versus actual clinical problems has implications not only for the training needs of social work in this setting, but also for the relationship between social work and psychiatry, and for the organizational and educational needs of ambulatory medical services.
Scientific analysis is essential to assess biofuel policy effects: In response to the paper by Kim and Dale on “Indirect land-use change for biofuels: Testing predictions and improving analytical methodologies”

Land-use change (LUC) estimated by economic models has sparked intense international debate. Models estimate how much LUC might be induced under prescribed scenarios and rely on assumptions to generate LUC values. It is critical to test and validate underlying assumptions with empirical evidence. Furthermore, this modeling approach cannot answer if any specific indirect effects are actually caused by biofuel policy. The best way to resolve questions of causation is via scientific methods. Kim and Dale attempt to address the question of if, rather than how much, market-induced land-use change is currently detectable based on the analysis of historic evidence, and in doing so, explore some modeling assumptions behind the drivers of change. Given that there is no accepted approach to estimate the global effects of biofuel policy on land-use change, it is critical to assess the actual effects of policies through careful analysis and interpretation of empirical data. Decision makers need a valid scientific basis for policy decisions on energy choices.
Hydrogen peroxide production by a marine phytoplankter1

Hymenomonas carterae, a calcified marine phytoplankter, produces hydrogen peroxide extracellularly. Hydrogen peroxide production by a washed cell suspension occurs in the dark and is inhibited by cell-impermeable protein modification reagents. A cell-surface redox enzyme is thus likely responsible for production of H2O2. The physiological function of this potentially toxic compound is unknown. If the production rate of 1–2 × 10−14 mol cell−1 h−1 measured in cultures of H. carterae could be generalized, marine phytoplankton would be an important source of the hydrogen peroxide found in the marine environment.
Wave propagation and vibration analysis in two-dimensional elastic chiral metacomposite

In this work, a new chiral metacomposite is proposed by integrating two-dimensional periodic chiral lattice with elastic metamaterial inclusions for low-frequency wave applications. The plane harmonic wave propagation in the proposed metacomposite is investigated through the finite element technique and Bloch's theorem. From that, band diagrams, dispersion surfaces as well as phase and group velocities are obtained to illustrate wave properties of the chiral metacomposite. Effective dynamic properties of the chiral metacomposite are numerically calculated to explain lowfrequency bandgap behavior in the chiral metacomposite. Specifically, design of a metacomposite beam structure for the broadband low-frequency vibration suppression is demonstrated.
Dorsal nerve of the penis nerve conduction velocity: a new technique

In the evaluation of a possible peripheral neuropathic process as the etiology of erectile dysfunction, studies of the dorsal nerve of the penis may be unique in that they allow examination of the most distal segment of pudendal nerve in isolation. This study describes a new technique using a simple traction device for elongation of the penis to determine the orthodromic nerve conduction of the dorsal nerve of the penis. With stimulation at the glans, and recording at the base of the penis, the value obtained in 20 normal subjects was 36.2 +/- 3.2 m/s with an amplitude of 2.29 +/- 1.08 mV.
The association of pineal calcification with drug-induced dystonic movements.

There is evidence that reduced melatonin secretion is associated with the pathophysiology of neuroleptic-induced movement disorders including tardive dyskinesia and Parkinsonism. It has been recently reported that pinealectomized rats developed increased incidence and severity of spontaneous chewing movements compared to normal controls. Increased chewing movements in rats has been suggested to reflect acute drug-induced dystonias in humans. To investigate the relationship between melatonin secretion and the pathophysiology of neuroleptic-induced dystonic movements, the presence and size of pineal calcification (PC) on CT scan was studied in relation to the severity of dystonic movements in 34 neuroleptic-treated chronic schizophrenic patients. The incidence of pathologically enlarged PC (greater than 1 cm in diameter) in the schizophrenic patients was 8-9 times greater than the incidence reported in the literature among nonpsychiatric patients. In addition, there were significant differences (p less than .0001) between the severity of dystonic movements in patients with no PC and those with pathologically enlarged PC, and between the severity of the dystonic movements in patients with PC of less than 1 cm and those with PC of greater than 1 cm diameter. These findings indicate an association between the pathophysiology of neuroleptic-induced dystonic movements and the presence of enlarged PCs and suggest that disturbances of melatonin secretion is associated with the emergence of neuroleptic-induced dystonic movements in schizophrenic patients. Further studies using direct measurements of plasma melatonin levels are required more precisely to confirm the association between pineal melatonin secretion and the pathophysiology of drug-induced dystonic movement disorders.
Leiomyomata of the esophagus. An analysis of 838 cases

Review of the world literature to the end of 1971 has provided data on 838 cases of esophageal leiomyomata, including our own 19 surgically removed lesions. Although esophageal leiomyoma is the most common of the benign tumors of the esophagus, it is still rare compared with carcinoma. It occurs in more men than women, by a ratio of 1.9 to 1. Over 50% of the patients with leiomyoma of the esophagus are asymptomatic. Dysphagia and vague pain are the most frequent symptoms. Pyrosis is mentioned in the literature as present in 40% of the cases, but it is considered mainly as symptom of coexistent hiatal hernia. Diagnostic problems often arise, as the smooth muscle tumors may mimic mediastinal neoplasms, cysts, or even aneurysms, or complicate coexisting hiatal hernia and esophageal diverticulum. Operative management by transthoracic enucleation is the procedure of choice, although resection of the esophagaus may be required in few cases. Postoperative morbidity is minimal and results are excellent.