cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Does anybody really know what time it is? : From biological age to biological time.

During his celebrated 1922 debate with Bergson, Einstein famously proclaimed: “the time of the philosopher does not exist, there remains only a psychological time that differs from the physicist’s.” Einstein’s dictum, I maintain, has been metabolized by the natural sciences, which typically presuppose, more or less explicitly, the existence of a single, univocal, temporal substratum, ultimately determined by physics. This reductionistic assumption pervades much biological and biomedical practice. The chronological age allotted to individuals is conceived as an objective quantity, allowing one to straightforwardly assign and compare the biological age of organisms. This essay argues that the standard practice of assessing the age and aging of organisms against the backdrop of a physical conception of time is problematic. This becomes especially evident in light of recent discoveries of various levels of senescence underlying the development of individual organisms—a phenomenon known as ‘age mosaicism.’ The bottom line is that the study of age and aging requires a biological conception of time, as opposed to a physical one. Einstein clearly wasn’t wrong about his operationalization of time in relativity theory. Still time may be less monolithic than he surmised.
Sleep characteristics of U.S. adults before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract Rationale Understanding how health has changed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic is critical to recovering from the pandemic. Objective This study focused on how sleep characteristics in the United States may be different from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods To this end, the sleep characteristics of a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults collected before the COVID-19 outbreak (i.e., 2018 National Health Interview Survey, n = 19,433) were compared to the sleep characteristics of a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults recruited via Luc.id, an online survey sampling company, during the COVID-19 outbreak (i.e., 2020 Luc.id, n = 2059). Results While average sleep duration did not change between 2018 and 2020, the prevalence of both shorter and longer than recommended sleep duration were greater in 2020. Moreover, the number of days with difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, and not feeling rested was greater in 2020 than 2018. Adults younger than 60 had larger differences than those 60 or older. Conclusions Sleep health in U.S. adults was worse in 2020 than in 2018, particularly in adults younger than 60. Findings highlight sleep as target in future research and interventions seeking to understand and reduce the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mechanical Turk and the “Don’t Know” Option

Luskin and Bullock’s (2011) randomized experiment on live-interview respondents found no evidence that American National Election Studies and Time-Sharing Experiments for the Social Sciences respondents hide knowledge behind the “don’t know” (DK) option. We successfully replicated their finding using two online platforms, the Cooperative Congressional Election Study and Google Surveys. However, we obtained different results on Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk). We attribute this difference to MTurkers’ experience with attention checks and other quality-control mechanisms, which condition them to avoid errors. This conditioning leads MTurkers to hide knowledge behind DK in ways not observed on other platforms. Researchers conducting political knowledge experiments or piloting surveys on MTurk should be aware of these differences.
Stress Testing with Market Data

A stress test assesses the value of a firm or asset in the future under an adverse counterfactual scenario. The critical points of stress tests are the valuation model and the scenario. This paper describes some of the difficulties in generating appropriate scenarios and valuing firms under these scenarios. In most cases, these difficulties can be solved if the regulator is better informed than the market. However, if this is not correct at all times and settings, then it is also sensible to carry out stress tests with market scenarios and market data. When these stress tests agree, the results gain added credibility. When they disagree, the parties can discuss whether the market has missed signals, or whether the regulators’ models are wrong or have been politically impacted. Detailed analysis of SRISK, a market based stress test, is presented from an economic, econometric and historical point of view. This is compared with alternative measures such as SES and CoVaR and with regulatory stress tests.
Health and sleep nursing assistant for real-time, contactless, and non-invasive monitoring

Abstract In this paper, we introduce a novel health and sleep nursing assistant called “Helena” for real-time, contactless, and non-invasive monitoring that can be mounted on a bed frame to continuously monitor sleep activities (entry/exit of bed, movement, and posture changes), vital signs (heart rate and respiration rate), and falls from bed in a pervasive computing manner. The smart sensor senses bed vibrations generated by body movements to characterize sleep activities and vital signs based on advanced signal processing and machine learning methods. The device can provide information about sleep patterns, generate real-time results, and support continuous sleep assessment and health tracking. The novel method for detecting falls from bed has not been attempted before and represents a life-changing for high-risk communities, such as seniors. Comprehensive tests and validations were conducted to evaluate system performances using FDA approved and wearable devices. Our system has an accuracy of 99.5% detecting on-bed (entries), 99.73% detecting off-bed (exits), 97.92% detecting movements on the bed, 92.08% detecting posture changes, and 97% detecting falls from bed. The system estimation of heart rate (HR) ranged ± 2.41 beats-per-minute compared to Apple Watch Series 4, while the respiration rate (RR) ranged ± 0.89 respiration-per-minute compared to an FDA (Food and Drug Administration) oximeter and a metronome.
Domains of Ongoing Communication Between Former Spouses: Associations With Parenting Stress and Children’s Post-Divorce Well-Being:

Using data from 708 divorced parents (52.4% mothers), we examined how ongoing communication (i.e., topics and frequency of communication) with former spouses was associated with parenting stress an...
Review: Applications of infrared thermography for studying flows with participating media

Abstract Infrared thermography can be used to provide useful insights into the characteristics of flows containing participating media (e.g., CO2, H2O vapor, CO, CH4, etc.). What can make this technique advantageous when compared to many other non-intrusive methods is that the measurements are quantitative, can often be readily implemented (e.g., hours), and can be applied to environments where other measurement approaches may not be practical or feasible (e.g., study wildfires, exhaust plumes, etc.). The objective of this article is threefold: 1) illustrate how infrared thermography can be applied to study the behavior of flows with participating media in fundamental or more practical applications, 2) articulate limitations and advantages of the technique, and 3) consider potential applications. Infrared thermography can be used to study flows with size characteristics ranging from millimeter to meters, and concentrations and temperatures ranging from room to peak combustion values. Both quantitative and qualitative insights into flow characteristics can be obtained from the measurements of radiation intensities. Scalar values (e.g., temperature, species concentrations) and their distribution within flows can be determined through application of inverse and deconvolution techniques. Values derived using infrared thermography tend to have lower spatial and scalar resolution than values determined using laser diagnostics, however, infrared thermography often can be applied more readily. The reduced resolution for infrared thermography results from the line-of-sight nature of the measurements and the indirect nature of determining scalar values. The quantitative nature of infrared thermography allows it to be applied to directly evaluate CFD simulations. Using infrared thermography to evaluate simulations can be particularly valuable when the scale or location of the experiments limit the application of other techniques (e.g., large exhaust plumes). Care should be exercised in evaluating CFD simulations using radiation intensity measurements because multiple solutions of scalar values can provide agreement with measured values. Infrared thermography can be applied to study high temperature and highly transient environments within or from more practical devices (e.g., combustor). The application of infrared thermography to study flows with participating media is expected to expand because of the unique capabilities compared to other passive imaging techniques.
Capacitive-Thermometry Characteristics of a Titanate Glass-Ceramic at Low Temperatures

Cryogenic thermometry below about 20°K is complicated by several factors such as self-heating, mathematical representability, reduced sensitivity, etc., and in the presence of magnetic fields the use of resistance thermometry is seriously limited by the magnetoresistance (Hall) effect [1].
Power Issues in Biomedical Telemetry

While the energy-harvesting devices do not have the energy density of batteries, their potentially endless supply coupled with smart embedded control of the application-specific operating duty cycle do make them useful for a number of biomedical applications. This chapter presents an advanced human-step-powered energy-harvesting mechanism to power a commercial wireless transmitter that can be used for motion-powered radio frequency identification (RFID)-based patient tracking applications. Near-field magnetic coupling has been in use to noninvasively charge up implanted pacemakers. The chapter describes a new conformal SCMR method, that is, CSCMR that achieves high efficiency and minimizes the volume of wireless powering systems. High efficiency enables CSCMR to deliver a significant amount of power to IMDs without excessive transmitter power. The chapter presents a number of batteryless ways to power biomedical sensors.
Human Fetal Hemoglobin F1 ACETYLATION STATUS

Abstract The γ chains of human fetal hemoglobin occur in both acetylated and nonacetylated state in vivo. The acetylated fetal hemoglobin F1 has been suggested to be α2γγacetyl (Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 63, 532 (1962)). The development of an electrophoretic assay capable of separating the α, β, γ, and γacetyl polypeptide chains in hemoglobins allowed us to show that highly purified hemoglobin F1 contained nearly equal quantities of α chains and a polypeptide chain migrating more slowly than the γ chain, and only trace quantities of γ chain. NH2-terminal and acetyl group analyses of globin prepared from hemoglobin F1 indicated the presence of 2 NH2-terminal valine residues, 0.4 NH2-terminal glycine residue, and 1.6 N-acetyl groups per mole of hemoglobin (molecular weight of 66,000). The acetylated polypeptide chain was isolated from carboxymethyl cellulose columns in the presence of 8 m urea and shown to have a blocked NH2 terminus, to contain 0.76 mole of N-acetyl residue per polypeptide chain (molecular weight of 16,500), and to migrate identically with the slow moving polypeptide chain of hemoglobin F1 in the electrophoretic assay. The acetylated NH2-terminal peptide was isolated from both F1 globin and the isolated γacetyl chain, and shown to be N-acetylglycylhistidine. This structure is consistent with the NH2-terminal sequence of the γ chain. These data indicate human fetal hemoglobin F1 should be designated α2γ2acetyl.
Turnover and the Enforcement of International Investment Agreements

International Investment Agreements allow foreign investors to enforce their rights in international courts when they are expropriated by host governments. The outcome of these disputes is eventually learned by the community of potential investors. Governments who get shamed in the process receive less investment in the following years. In this reputation game, it is unclear how states who were found guilty can later inform that circumstances have improved. In this article, I propose that new federal governments do not inherit reputation from past governments. Instead, new governments have the opportunity and the challenge to prove that property rights will be protected during its mandate, establishing its own reputation. To send this message, new governments must both reduce expropriation and settle existing disputes, avoiding losing any case in international courts. New governments will pay a higher price than old governments to settle investor-state disputes, and will settle stronger cases with larger probability. Unfortunately for the government, this higher settlement price induces more investors to initiate disputes, as the gain from litigating increases. Comparatively, an old government that is for a long time in power cannot change its reputation easily, so it has little incentive to settle cases, which results in fewer cases being initiated by the investors. Overall, new governments face more investor-state disputes, but win a larger share of the cases that eventually reach trial. The argument is tested using data about all investor-state disputes initiated against democratic countries between 1980 and 2010. The empirical evidence shows that more cases are initiated against new governments, even controlling for government ideology, recent economic performance, stock of Foreign Direct Investment and number of International Investment Agreements. However, omitted variables could explain this phenomenon: for instance, a political or economical crisis could cause both government change and increase the number of disputes. To avoid this omitted variable bias, I run the test in a selection of presidential democracies were the leader won a close election --- that is, countries where the president won by a margin of 7% or less over the second most-voted candidate. Among these 60 presidential terms, the average number of disputes against new governments is thrice as large as the number of cases filed against re-elected governments, as well as statistically significant. To avoid the concern that new governments simply expropriate more, I test the argument again including only disputes that were not caused by the federal government in its current mandate --- disputes caused during previous federal executive mandates and/or by other branches of government. This is possible because of an original dataset with details about the actions leading to the investor-state disputes, dataset developed for this article.
Chapter 19 Relationship between Cell Potassium and Hydrogen Ion in Muscle

Publisher Summary The chapter discusses the methods for measuring muscle cell pH and the limitations of these methods. The different techniques of cell pH measurement may therefore give a different value for cell pH, depending upon the particular portion or portions of the cell being examined. Even a single technique when used to measure cell pH—such as the microelectrode—detects significant pH differences between the surface pH and the deep or bulk cytoplasmic pH. This might be due to the ionic diffusion of molecules, such as carbon dioxide or lactate. Cell pH may be altered acutely by raising carbon dioxide tension, but the equilibrium or steady-state pH may be unchanged due to physical chemical buffering, changes in metabolic acid production, organellar H + translocation, and active transport mechanisms, which restore cell pH toward normal. Changes in cellular buffering and/or the transport of hydrogen (H) and hydroxyl ions could be linked to changes in cellular metabolism. Thus, the equilibrium cell pH value alone is probably insufficient for describing the effect of various pathophysiological conditions—such as potassium depletion or acute potassium (K) loading—upon muscle cell pH.
Effect of nanoscale confinement on the glass transition temperature of free‐standing polymer films: Novel, self‐referencing fluorescence method

The effect of nanoscale confinement on the glass transition temperature, T g , of freely standing polystyrene (PS) films was determined using the temperature dependence of a fluorescence intensity ratio associated with pyrene dye labeled to the polymer. The ratio of the intensity of the third fluorescence peak to that of the first fluorescence peak in 1-pyrenylmethyl methacrylate-labeled PS (MApyrene-labeled PS) decreased with decreasing temperature, and the intersection of the linear temperature dependences in the rubbery and glassy states yielded the measurement of g . The sensitivity of this method to g was also shown in bulk, supported PS and poly(isobutyl methacrylate) films. With free-standing PS films, a strong effect of confinement on g was evident at thicknesses less than 80-90 nm. For MApyrene-labeled PS with M n = 701 kg mol -1 , a 41-nm-thick film exhibited a 47 K reduction in g relative to bulk PS. A strong molecular weight dependence of the g -confinement effect was also observed, with a 65-nm-thick free-standing film exhibiting a reduction in g relative to bulk PS of 19 K with M n = 701 kg mol -1 and 31 K with M n = 1460 kg mol -1 . The data are in reasonable agreement with results of Forrest, Dalnoki-Veress, and Dutcher who performed the seminal studies on g -confinement effects in free-standing PS films. The utility of self-referencing fluorescence for novel studies of confinement effects in free-standing films is discussed.
Joining and integration of ZrB2-based ultra-high temperature ceramic composites using advanced brazing technology

Zirconium diboride–SiC (ZS) particulate ceramic-matrix composites containing either carbon powder (termed ZSC composite) or SCS-9a silicon carbide fibers (termed ZSS composite) were joined to titanium and Inconel 625 using Pd-base brazes, Palco and Palni (T L ~ 1492–1513 K). The joints exhibited intimate contact and evidence of interdiffusion of Zr, Si, Pd, and Co, with the Palni joints exhibiting most extensive chemical interaction, greater propensity toward cracking, and partial melting of the Inconel substrate. The joint region comprised of braze-plus-interaction zone exhibited comparable Knoop hardness in Palni and Palco joints. The fully dense ZS had the highest (2000–2600 HK200) and ZSC the lowest (300–750 HK200) Knoop hardness. The ZSS composites displayed a large dispersion in hardness because of incomplete densification (~30% porosity) and transversal cracking from the CTE mismatch between SCS-9a fibers and the ZS matrix. Steady-state thermal calculations reveal that for joined assemblies (~0.51 cm total thickness in the study), joining Ti or Inconel to ZS shall decrease the thermal resistance by nearly 33–43% relative to the metal substrate, thus enhancing the heat dissipation capability in advanced components made using such joints.
Intermediate-range order in water ices: Nonresonant inelastic x-ray scattering measurements and real-space full multiple scattering calculations

We report measurements of the nonresonant inelastic x-ray scattering (NRIXS) from the $\text{O}\text{ }1s$ orbitals in ice Ih, and also report calculations of the corresponding spectra for ice Ih and several other phases of water ice. We find that the intermediate-energy fine structure may be calculated well using an ab initio real-space full multiple scattering approach and that it provides a strong fingerprint of the intermediate-range order for some ice phases. Both experiment and theory find that the intermediate-range fine structure, unlike the near-edge structure, is independent of momentum transfer $(q)$ to very high $q$. These results have important consequences for future NRIXS measurements of high-pressure phases of ice.
A MICRO METHOD FOR THE SEPARATION OF 17-KETOSTEROIDS INTO ALPHA AND BETA FRACTIONS

LITTLE is known about the ratios of urinary alpha and beta1 17- ketosteroids in normal and diseased states (Baumann and Metzger, 1940; Talbot and his coworkers, 1942; Rhoads, Dobriner and their collaborators, 1942b; Conference on Ketosteroids, 1942). That such determinations may be of clinical importance is suggested by the reports that relatively large amounts of the beta form are present in cases of adrenal cortical carcinoma (Crooke and Callow, 1939; Talbot and his coworkers, 1942). Scott and Vermeulen (1942) have reported a difference in the relative amounts of alpha and beta fractions in patients with prostatic carcinoma before and after castration. The different workers have based their separation into alpha and beta ketosteroid fractions on the observation that steroids present in the beta fraction are precipitated by digitonin, but different procedures have been followed so that the results are not comparable.
Update on Current Trends in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology

The classification system for odontogenic cysts tends to be quite complex, which can create confusion for the both the clinician and pathologist alike. Traditionally, these cysts have been divided into two major groups based on whether the lesion arises de novo or develops secondary to an inflammatory process (Table 1). This discussion will update the clinical and pathologic features of several of the more interesting developmental odontogenic cysts.
A method for determining optimal EBG reflection phase for low profile antennas

A novel analytical method for determining the optimal reflection phase of an electromagnetic band gap (EBG) ground plane to match a low profile antenna is introduced. Image theory is used to incorporate the near field coupling between a dipole antenna and the ground plane. The optimal EBG reflection phase is obtained over a frequency band of interest and is related to the antenna's return loss for a given antenna height above the EBG. The resulting reflection phase can be used as a reference for designing an EBG ground plane that is well matched to the antenna without time consuming iterative full wave numerical simulations. Numerical modeling results are compared to the optimal return loss derived from the analytical method to validate the design process.
Non-invasive transabdominal uterine electromyography correlates with the strength of intrauterine pressure and is predictive of labor and delivery

Objective: The study was conducted to investigate whether the strength of uterine contractions monitored invasively by intrauterine pressure catheter could be determined from transabdominal electromyography (EMG) and to estimate whether EMG is a better predictor of true labor compared to tocodynamometry (TOCO).Study design: Uterine EMG was recorded from the abdominal surface in laboring patients simultaneously monitored with an intrauterine pressure catheter (n = 13) or TOCO (n = 24). Three to five contractions per patient and corresponding electrical bursts were randomly selected and analyzed (integral of intrauterine pressure; integral, frequency, amplitude of contraction curve on TOCO; burst energy for EMG). The Mann–Whitney test, Spearman correlation and receiver operator characteristics (ROC) analysis were used as appropriate (significance was assumed at a value of p < 0.05).Results: EMG correlated strongly with intrauterine pressure (r = 0.764; p = 0.002). EMG burst energy levels were significantly ...
Colorectal cancer in 2012: Revisiting landmark trials and identifying new therapies.

In the past year, long-term follow-up of trials have confirmed and disproved paradigms in the treatment of colorectal cancer, and identified a chemoprevention agent. In metastatic disease, chemotherapy in unresected primary tumours was studied, and randomized phase III trials introduced new therapy options. Molecular characterization of colon and rectal tumours offers new drug targets.
Redshift spherical shell energy in isotropic universes

We introduce the redshift spherical shell energy, which can be used to test in the redshift space the radial inhomogeneity of an isotropic universe, providing additional constraints for Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi models, and a more general test of cosmic homogeneity.
Melt flow of polyethylene at high rates

The flow of high-density polyethylene at high shear rates in round dies in laboratory instruments and in extruders depends in an unusual way on capillary diameter. With small diameters this dependence can be explained in terms of slippage of the melt at the wall of the capillary; with large diameters, in terms of temperature increases developed through viscous flow. A rapid increase in slip velocity appears to be responsible for a discontinuity in the flow curve determined in laboratory instruments. Recurring transitions between the two branches of the flow curve are responsible for the oscillating flow observed in equipment operating at constant or nearly constant throughput rate. The energy stroage capability of the over-all system, apparatus plus melt, controls the dynamic aspects of flow in the vicinity of the discontinuity.
K+ influx components in ascites cells: the effects of agents interacting with the (Na+ + K+)-pump.

Several agents known to interact with the (Na++K+)-pump were tested for their effects on the components of steady-state K+ flux in ascites cells.86Rb+ was used as a tracer for K+, and influx was differentiated into a ouabain-inhibitable “pump” component, a Cl−-dependent and furosemide-sensitive “exchange” component, and a residual “leak” flux. All agents tested (ouabain, quercetin, oligomycin, phosphate) affected both the “pump” flux and the Cl−-linked flux. These findings suggest a linkage between the activity of the Na/K ATPase and the Cl−-dependent K+ exchange flux. In the discussion we point out that the mechanism of this linkage could be direct; e.g., Cl−-dependent exchange may represent a mode of operation of the Na/K ATPase. However, data from this and other systems tend to suggest an indirect linkage between the Na+ pump and a KCl symporter, perhaps via a change in the level of intracellular ATP.
Hot Electron Induced Retention Time Degradation in MOS Dynamic RAMs

Hot electron induced MOSFET instabilities have been found to significantly degrade the retention time of dynamic RAMs. Failure is due to the effect of increased subthreshold leakage on balanced sense nodes. Plasma nitride passivations greatly increase the degradation rate. The complex synergism between device degradation and DRAM parametric shift demonstrates the necessity of accelerated stress of functional modules.
K-Ar geochronology of Oligocene volcanic rocks, Davis and Barrilla Mountains, Texas

Volcanic rocks of the Davis and Barrilla Mountains constitute the largest contiguous segment of the mid-Cenozoic volcanic field of Trans-Pecos Texas. Salic volcanic rocks form a silica-oversaturated series ranging in composition from trachyte to peralkalic rhyolite. Mafic lavas are subordinate in volume to the salic, silica-oversaturated series. Stratigraphic relations and K-Ar age determinations allow a reconstruction of the evolution of the area. Major volcanic activity occurred in a period of about 3 m.y. in early Oligocene time (38 to 35 m.y. B.P.), during which several large lava shields were constructed and major ash-flow sheets emplaced. A late episode of mafic lava extrusion and intrusion of phonolite bodies remains undated, but may have occurred later than 31.5 m.y. ago. The silica-oversaturated volcanic rocks are the eruptive products of a group of highly evolved magmas emplaced into high crustal levels during early Oligocene time. In rapid succession, plutons vented to the surface, forming as many as five different eruptive centers, each of which was active for a period not exceeding 1 m.y. The eruptive centers are marked by concentrations of salic lava flows, dike swarms, intrusive masses, and at least one caldera.
On the stability properties of quadruped creeping gaits

Abstract While the total number of theoretically possible quadruped gaits is quite large, only six gaits have the property that they can be executed while keeping at least three feet on the ground at all times. These gaits, called creeping gaits, seem to be well suited for low-speed locomotion since they permit a quadruped to remain statically stable during most of a locomotion cycle. A mathematical analysis shows, however, that for only three of the six creeping gaits it is possible to place the feet of an animal or machine so that it is statically stable at all times. Furthermore, among these three, there exists a unique optimum gait that maximizes static stability. This gait corresponds to the normal quadruped crawl favored by most animals for very low-speed locomotion.
Forensic pollen geolocation techniques used to identify the origin of boll weevil re-infestation

Abstract The boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis, entered the United States of America in the early twentieth century and became a major pest in cotton, Gossypium spp. Shortly after the passage of Tropical Storm Erin on 16 August 2007 through the South Texas/Winter Garden boll weevil eradication zone, over 150 boll weevils were captured in the Southern Rolling Plains (SRP) eradication zone that was essentially weevil-free since 2003. Pollen analyses were made of the SRP weevils and weevils collected in two suspected source zones, Cameron (Southern Blacklands eradication zone) and Uvalde (Winter Garden eradication zone). An additional examination of the palynological evidence and examination of additional pollen residue shed new light on this event and strengthens the conclusion that the Uvalde area was the source of the SRP weevils. A total of 192 pollen grains from 39 taxa were found in the SRP weevils: 1904 pollen grains from ten taxa from the Cameron weevils and 148 grains from 28 taxa in the Uvalde weevil...
A Formal Theory of the Rule of Law

Since 1215 in England, and in ensuing centuries in most of the countries that England has influenced, we have witnessed more or less continuous progress toward government under the rule of law. England’s own earliest major advance was King John’s acquiescence in the Magna Carta in June of 1215. 1 The final revision of this great charter occurred in 1225, and it was confirmed in 1297 by Edward I and placed on the first or ’great’ roll of English statutes. One of its original clauses (ch. 39) captures a major feature of the relatively formal theory of the rule of law that I conceptualize and argue for here: No free man shall be seized or imprisoned, or stripped of his rights or possessions, or outlawed or exiled, or deprived of his standing in any other way, nor will we proceed with force against him, or send others to do so, except by the lawful judgement of his equals or by the law of the land.2
The Effects of Directionality of Blunt Impacts on Mechanical Response of the Brain

The intrinsic complexity of the human head and brain lies within the non-uniformity of their constitutive components in terms of shape, material, function, and tolerance. Due to this complexity, the directionality of impact, when the head is exposed to an assault, is a major concern as different responses are anticipated based on the location of impact. The main objective of the study was to show that while most studies propose the injury criteria as based on the kinematical parameters, the tissue-level brain features are more substantiated injury indicators. Accordingly, a finite element (FE) approach was employed to elucidate the injury-related behavior of the head for front, back, and side impacts against a rigid wall. To this end, a 50th percentile FE head-neck model, including most anatomical features, was used. The kinematics of the head in terms of the linear acceleration, as well as the biomechanical response of the brain at the tissue level in terms of intracranial pressure (ICP) and maximum local shear stress, were evaluated as the main injury criteria. Ls-Dyna, a transient, nonlinear, and explicit FE code, was employed to carry out all the simulations. To verify the influence of impact directionality, identical boundary conditions were enforced in all impact scenarios. While brain responses showed similar patterns in all three directions, different peak values were predicted. The highest peak values for the local shear stress, ICP gradient, and the center mass linear acceleration of brain were observed for the frontal impact. These threshold values are of great significance in predicting injuries such as diffuse axonal injury (DAI) resulting from the shear deformation of brain axons. It is believed that directionality considerations could greatly help to improve the design of protective headgears which are considered to be the most effective tools in mitigating a TBI.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Survival and resource utilization in liver transplant recipients: the impact of admission to the intensive care unit.

The organ allocation system for liver transplantation was recently changed to address criticisms that it was too subjective and relied too heavily on total waiting time. The new system, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease and Pediatric Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD/PELD), stratifies patients based on the risk of 3-month pretransplant mortality, allocating livers thereby. There is concern that such a scheme gives priority to the sickest patients, who may not enjoy good posttransplant outcomes. The aim of the present study was to compare the outcomes of liver transplant recipients who had been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) to those who had not. Admission to the ICU is considered here to be another indicator of the severity of illness. Patients who underwent liver transplantation at the Cleveland Clinic between January 1, 1993 and October 31, 1998 and were at least 18 years of age were coded for liver transplantation as status 2, 2A, and 2B (n = 112). These patients fell into three groups: those who had been admitted to an ICU before transplantation (group A, n = 16), those who had been admitted to the hospital but not to an ICU (group B, n = 63), and those who were living at home and had undergone an elective transplant (group C, n = 33). Clinical and demographic information (age, sex, race, disease severity, disease etiology, and cold ischemia time) were associated with patient survival, patient/graft survival, and posttransplant resource utilization (hospital length of stay and hospital charges). Age, sex, race, etiology of disease, and cold ischemia time were similar among the three groups. Patient survival, patient/graft survival, and hospital charges were not statistically different between the three groups. The median length of stay was statistically different only between groups B and C (P = .006). Our data support the idea that if severely ill patients with end-stage liver disease are selected appropriately, liver transplant outcomes are similar to those observed among subjects who are less ill and are transplanted electively from home.
Influence of reproductive activity, sex steroids, and seasonality on epigonal organ cellular proliferation in the skate (Leucoraja erinacea).

Abstract In elasmobranchs, the epigonal organ, a unique leukopoietic immune tissue, is associated with the gonads. As the ovaries increase in size during reproductive activity, the overall mass of the epigonal organ does not change. However, immunohistochemistry (proliferating cell nuclear antigen Ab) demonstrated more proliferative activity and extravasation of epigonal leukocytes from blood vessels in reproductively active (RA) skates ( Leucoraja erinacea ) than in non-reproductively active (NRA) skates. In addition, [ 3 H]thymidine incorporation was greater in epigonal leukocytes from RA skates than in leukocytes from NRA skates. Plasma from RA skates, but not from NRA skates, increased proliferation of epigonal leukocytes in vitro , an effect that was not seen using steroid-free plasma. In contrast to the stimulatory effect of plasma on leukocyte proliferation, addition of steroids (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and dexamethasone) in vitro decreased [ 3 H]thymidine incorporation. While the inhibitory response to steroids was seasonally variable, 3 [H]thymidine incorporation was always highest in RA animals, in which plasma steroid levels were also consistently highest. These studies suggest functional interactions between reproductive and immune tissues in the skate, and that cellular turnover in epigonal tissue may be influenced by gonadal activity.
Immunoreactive calcitonin in cerebrospinal fluid of man.

Summary We have detecte immunoreactive calcitonin (iCT) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of normal individuals. Using an antibody with midportion recognition, the mean ±S.D. of the cerebrospinal iCT in 27 normal subjects was 28 ± 14pg/ml. The mean serum iCT was 89 ± 68pg/ml, the CSF/serum distribution ratio being 0.31. There were no significant correlations between CSF iCT or serum iCT and the calcium, magnesium, phosphate, sodium, potassium or chloride in the CSF or serum. Although there was a trend for serum iCT values to be related to CSF iCT values, it did not attain statistical significance. The demonstration that the CSF contains iCT may have important physiologic implications, and its measurement offers a useful parameter to study its effects on calcium metabolism and/or other aspects of brain function.
Effect of Forage Quality on Intake and Forage-Concentrate Interactions

Abstract Regulation of intake in ruminants is primarily a function of physical fill for diets that are energetically dilute and less digestible, such as high-forage diets; but intake becomes primarily a function of metabolic control for diets that are energetically dense and highly digestible, such as high-concentrate diets. Physical limitation of all-forage diets fed to growing ruminants is generally considered to be unpassed and undigested residue in the rumen. However, the physical limitation of forage-concentrate diets of low digestibility fed to lactating cows may be undigested residue passing the intestines, as implied by constant fecal production. Cell wall concentration of forage diets is the best single chemical predictor of intake. Gastrointestinal tract fill is important because it can cause a physical, or volume, limitation to intake; a difference in energy concentration of weight gain; and a potential difference in energetic efficiency. Prediction of intake is less precise than the prediction of digestibility or energetic efficiency. Intake of forages fed with concentrates is best considered as a curved response surface that is functionally related to the amount, or ratio, of concentrate fed and is continuous with the intake of forages fed alone. Depression of dry matter digestibility associated with increased intake is less for legumes than for grasses.
I: The English Flood of 1953

The National Research Council's Committee on Disaster Studies sent us to England about two weeks after the North Sea flood of February 1, 1953, to set up a rather extensive comparative study of the flood's effects in several communities. Unfortunately, the larger study did not materialize and we were compelled to learn what we could by ourselves in about two weeks. The following report, therefore, must be regarded as very tentative. It deals with Kimbark1, one of the two flooded communities we were able to study.
Advanced Photocatalysis with Anatase Nano-coated Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes

A novel approach is presented to synergistically enhance photocatalytic activity in a nanocomposite using the high aspect ratio of carbon nanotube (CNT) and their unique electrical properties. Composite nanoparticles were synthesized with sol-gel nano-coating on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). The nanostructure was characterized using SEM, TEM, XRD, Raman, FTIR and UV-VIS spectroscopies. Photocatalytic efficiencies of commercial photocatalysts (Degussa P25) and TiO2 nano-coated MWNTs were evaluated by Azo dye degradation tests. Superior photocatalytic activity was observed for the nanocomposite with UV-A and with visible light only irradiation.
A picture of moduli space

In this paper, we construct an explicit fundamental domain for the action of the Teichm uller modular group on the Teichm uller space of closed surfaces of genus g= 2. Fundamental domains for the modular groups of surfaces of low signature have been obtained by Keen [K], Rosenberger [R] and others, including this author [M1, M2]. Fundamental domains for modular groups of hyperbolic surfaces of nite area with punctures have been obtained by Penner [P]. His technique makes essential use of the punctures, while our technique seems to work only for closed surfaces. There is also a related fundamental domain for closed surfaces of genus 2 obtained by Semmler [S]; his method uses dividing geodesics, while we use non-dividing geodesics. (Throughout this paper, the word “geodesic” refers to a closed geodesic, which we will usually regard as being unoriented.) The author is indebted to the referee for pointing out that there is some related work due to Thurston (unpublished) in which he attempts to give a natural cell decomposition of the Teichm uller space of closed surfaces using “sequences of disjoint shortest geodesics”. There is also some related work by N a at anen and Penner [N-P] attempting to use Dirichlet domains for the same purpose. While we do not know the topology of our fundamental domain, in particular, we do not know if it is a cell, one can regard this work as a step in the direction of nding a cell decomposition of Teichm uller space. Given a discrete group G of isometries on a manifold X , the classical literature regards a fundamental domain D as an object one can integrate over in place of X=G; in particular, D satis es the following three properties: (i) No two points of the interior of D are equivalent under G. (ii) Every point of X is equivalent under G to some point of the closure of D. (iii) The boundary of D has measure zero.
Material properties of Didemnum vexillum and prediction of tendril fragmentation

The colonial tunicate Didemnum vexillum has recently invaded the North American coast and has the potential to cause economic and ecological damage. One potential mechanism for adult D. vexillum colonies to disperse is fragmentation and subsequent reattachment to another substrate. To understand the life history and ecology of D. vexillum and obtain a first-order estimate of dispersal potential via fragmentation, (1) the basic material properties of D. vexillum sampled from two locations in southern New England were measured in two growth forms (i.e., encrusting and tendril forms); (2) summer calcium concentration was measured as a proxy for spicule densities; and (3) the environmental stress factor (ESF) of tendrils under various hydrodynamic circumstances (i.e., water velocities from 0.01 to 20 m s−1) was determined. Results show that D. vexillum colonies have high tensile strengths compared to other colonial tunicates. Colonies with higher calcium concentration tended to have greater elastic modulus (resistance to deformation). Calculations of ESF suggest that tidal currents are insufficient to cause fragmentation; however, wave-generated (in rare circumstances) and mechanical forces from vessels and trawl equipment may cause fragmentation.
Abstract LB-454: Genes involved in cell proliferation are down-regulated by dexamethasone in an in vivo model of glioma and predict survival in the TCGA GBM data set

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL High-grade gliomas are among the most malignant and deadly cancer types overall. Most patients will die within the first year of diagnosis despite aggressive therapy. Conventional glioma post-surgical therapy consists of dexamethasone (DEX) for symptomatic relief and radiation and temozolomide for antineoplastic therapy. DEX has been used for decades to treat brain tumor-associated neurological symptoms with most patients experiencing a dramatic improvement in symptoms. Some investigators have suggested that DEX can inhibit tumor growth, however, there have been no definitive studies that explain the mechanism of how DEX can exert this effect. Today, the accepted role of DEX in glioma is in the management of peri-tumoral edema, presumably through its anti-inflammatory properties. We have used a proneural mouse model of glioma to study the mechanism of how DEX effects tumor cells. We treated glioma bearing mice with 10mg/kg/day of DEX for 2-3 days and employed the Illumina Mouse ref8 array to identify the top differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between DEX treated and control RNA samples isolated from whole tumors. We found that the majority of the DEGs were down-regulated by DEX and were involved in cell cycle progression and proliferation. This anti-proliferative phenotype was validated by PCNA immunhistochemistry, which showed greater staining in controls compared to DEX treated tumors; and staining was primarily localized to tumor cells. More interestingly, when these genes were tested against the TCGA GBM data set, we found that high expression of our gene set predicted a significantly longer survival. To determine whether the anti-proliferative phenotype induced by DEX was a cell autonomous effect, we treated primary mouse glioma cultures with escalating concentrations of DEX in vitro. In agreement with other reports, we observed an increased proliferation in glioma cultures suggesting that the anti-proliferative phenotype observed in vivo is induced indirectly through non-neoplastic stromal cells. In summary, our data confirm previous reports of an in vivo growth inhibitory effect of DEX and support the hypothesis that DEX acts indirectly on tumor cells to exert this effect. The TCGA analysis suggests that inhibiting tumor cell growth through the genes identified in this study may adversely impact survival. A concerning possibility is that if DEX decreases tumor cell proliferation it may also decrease the efficacy of antineoplastic therapy that is most toxic to proliferating cells. These data underscore the importance of understanding the mechanism of how DEX affects tumor and stromal cells in glioma. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-454. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-LB-454
Estimating biozone hydraulic conductivity in wastewater soil-infiltration systems using inverse numerical modeling.

Abstract During operation of an onsite wastewater treatment system, a low-permeability biozone develops at the infiltrative surface (IS) during application of wastewater to soil. Inverse numerical-model simulations were used to estimate the biozone saturated hydraulic conductivity ( K biozone ) under variably saturated conditions for 29 wastewater infiltration test cells installed in a sandy loam field soil. Test cells employed two loading rates (4 and 8 cm/day) and 3 IS designs: open chamber, gravel, and synthetic bundles. The ratio of K biozone to the saturated hydraulic conductivity of the natural soil ( K s ) was used to quantify the reductions in the IS hydraulic conductivity. A smaller value of K biozone / K s, reflects a greater reduction in hydraulic conductivity. The IS hydraulic conductivity was reduced by 1–3 orders of magnitude. The reduction in IS hydraulic conductivity was primarily influenced by wastewater loading rate and IS type and not by the K s of the native soil. The higher loading rate yielded greater reductions in IS hydraulic conductivity than the lower loading rate for bundle and gravel cells, but the difference was not statistically significant for chamber cells. Bundle and gravel cells exhibited a greater reduction in IS hydraulic conductivity than chamber cells at the higher loading rates, while the difference between gravel and bundle systems was not statistically significant. At the lower rate, bundle cells exhibited generally lower K biozone / K s values, but not at a statistically significant level, while gravel and chamber cells were statistically similar. Gravel cells exhibited the greatest variability in measured values, which may complicate design efforts based on K biozone evaluations for these systems. These results suggest that chamber systems may provide for a more robust design, particularly for high or variable wastewater infiltration rates.