cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The moderately repetitive DNA sequences of Caenorhabditis elegans do not show short-period interspersion

In these studies we show that the moderately repetitive DNA sequences of Caenorhabditis elegans are not arranged in the characteristic short-period interspersion pattern of most eukaryotes. Rather, the moderately repetitive sequences are arranged in long arrays as in Drosophila and Apis. These findings indicate that this type of arrangement is more phylogenetically diverse and hence less exceptional than previously believed.
Researches on pyrimidines, CLXIV: The synthesis from uracil of pyrimidines related structurally to thiamine

Hydroxymethyl-benzamide and hydroxymethylphthalimide interact with uracil in the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid. Substitution takes place in the 5-position of the uracil molecule giving derivatives of thymine namely: benzoylthyminylamine and 5-phthalimidomethyluracil respectively. These two derivatives of thymine undergo hydrolysis with regeneration of uracil by digestion with acids. Neither of these two acylderivatives of thyminylamine can be recommended as practical intermediates for the synthesis of reduced pyrimidine derivatives related to thiamine (I).
Computations involving differential operators and their actions on functions

The algorithms derived by Grossmann and Larson (1989) are further developed for rewriting expressions involving differential operators. The differential operators involved arise in the local analysis of nonlinear dynamical systems. These algorithms are extended in two different directions: the algorithms are generalized so that they apply to differential operators on groups and the data structures and algorithms are developed to compute symbolically the action of differential operators on functions. Both of these generalizations are needed for applications.
3D non-rigid deformable surface estimation without feature correspondence

We propose an algorithm, that extends our previous work, to estimate the current configuration of a non-rigid object using energy minimization and graph cuts. Our approach removes the need for feature correspondence or texture information and extends the boundary energy term. The object segmentation process is improved by using graph cuts along with a skin detector. We introduce an automatic mesh generator that provides a triangular mesh encapsulating the entire non-rigid object without predefined values. Our approach also handles in-plane rotation by reinitializing the mesh after data has been lost in the image sequence. Results display the proposed algorithm over a dataset consisting of seven shirts, two pairs of shorts, two posters, and a pair of pants.
A feature based shape optimization technique for the configuration and parametric design of flat plates

A new feature based shape optimization technique is presented that is capable of modifying the topology (configuration) and shape to reduce the area of 2-D components based on the stress distribution in the component. Shape optimization attempts to maximize material usage to achieve a uniform stress distribution near the allowable limit of the material. Features can be added to the component, or can be modified, in order to optimize the material usage. By using features as a basis for shape modification, the problem of component connectivity can be handled in a consistent, intelligent manner, and the problem of smoothness is eliminated. A program was written to implement the optimization technique and was applied to two example problems, including one from the literature that used a different modification technique. The other example illustrates shape modification capabilities with more complicated geometry. Results from both examples are compared to results obtained using other topological modification techniques.
Projecting the future size and health status of the US elderly population

Abstract Federal demographic projections are often based on discrete state, discrete time models of population change. Uncertainty is assessed by systematically varying parameters of the projection/state transition matrix and determining the effect on outcomes. The number of covariates that can be represented in such projections is limited by the number of discrete state parameters, produced by stratifying on covariates, that can be reliably estimated. A projection model based on a multivariate continuous state, stochastic process is presented. The model allows multiple time-varying covariates to be used so parameters can be estimated from time series information on health changes and mortality, and their interaction. Health changes are simulated by altering parameters controlling the age trajectory and diffusion of risk factor means, variances, and covariances. This is important in assessing the effects of health interventions and stochasticity on projections. By increasing the information used in projections it may be possible to better (a) anticipate the state of health at extreme ages, (b) forecast changes in health at specific ages over time, (c) stimulate the effects of specific interventions, and (d) determine the sensitivity of outcomes to a range of interventions.
A physiologically based pharmacokinetic model for atrazine and its main metabolites in the adult male C57BL/6 mouse

Atrazine (ATR) is a chlorotriazine herbicide that is widely used and relatively persistent in the environment. In laboratory rodents, excessive exposure to ATR is detrimental to the reproductive, immune, and nervous systems. To better understand the toxicokinetics of ATR and to fill the need for a mouse model, a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for ATR and its main chlorotriazine metabolites (Cl-TRIs) desethyl atrazine (DE), desisopropyl atrazine (DIP), and didealkyl atrazine (DACT) was developed for the adult male C57BL/6 mouse. Taking advantage of all relevant and recently made available mouse-specific data, a flow-limited PBPK model was constructed. The ATR and DACT sub-models included blood, brain, liver, kidney, richly and slowly perfused tissue compartments, as well as plasma protein binding and red blood cell binding, whereas the DE and DIP sub-models were constructed as simple five-compartment models. The model adequately simulated plasma levels of ATR and Cl-TRIs and urinary dosimetry of Cl-TRIs at four single oral dose levels (250, 125, 25, and 5mg/kg). Additionally, the model adequately described the dose dependency of brain and liver ATR and DACT concentrations. Cumulative urinary DACT amounts were accurately predicted across a wide dose range, suggesting the model's potential use for extrapolation to human exposures by performing reverse dosimetry. The model was validated using previously reported data for plasma ATR and DACT in mice and rats. Overall, besides being the first mouse PBPK model for ATR and its Cl-TRIs, this model, by analogy, provides insights into tissue dosimetry for rats. The model could be used in tissue dosimetry prediction and as an aid in the exposure assessment to this widely used herbicide.
Microphysical measurements of fog formed in a turbulent jet

An investigation of fog formation in the flow field of a turbulent jet was conducted in order to determine the processes responsible for the microscopic and macroscopic behavior of the fog. Profiles of number density, mean droplet diameter, and size distribution were measured by using a Phase Doppler Particle Analyzer, for two different conditions of the jet effluent saturated at 62° C and 85° C. The data allow the behavior of the jet to be characterized by the competing mechanisms of heterogeneous nucleation on entrained nuclei, growth of droplets, and turbulent diffusion. At the higher jet temperature, the competing mechanisms result in bimodal size distributions. This behavior was shown by a simple model in which condensation occurs simultaneously with entrainment and mixing. Microscopic measurements were also taken for vapor-air jets in which a water aerosol was added to the jet effluent. A comparison of this seeded condition with the latter condition shows that seeding moves the condensation towards ...
Effects of nerve stimulation on the uptake of norepinephrine by the perfused spleen of the cat.

Abstract 3 H-norepinephrine ( 3 H-NE) was infused intra-arterially at a constant rate of 1, 5 or 50 ng/min into the cat spleen, perfused with Krebs-bicarbonate solution. In the course of 3 H-NE infusion, splenic nerves were stimulated at frequencies of 5 and 30 sec −1 for 1 min and total norepinephrine (NE), as well as 3 H-NE of the perfusate collected during stimulation, was measured; nerves were also stimulated after infusion of 3 H-NE. During infusion at different rates, 55% of the infused radioactivity was recovered in the venous perfusate. Of the radioactivity so recovered, about 70% was due to NE. Perfusing the spleen at varying flow rates (2–13 ml/min) did not appreciably affect recoveries. During stimulation at a frequency of 30 sec −1 , there was a net increase in 3 H-NE output over the background level. In spleens perfused with either low calcium or high magnesium Krebs solution, the increase in 3 H-NE outflow in response to nerve stimulation during 3 H-NE infusion was considerably reduced, but the specific activity of the released amine was not appreciably altered. Specific activities of NE released by nerve stimulation during infusion of 3 H-NE were comparable or only slightly higher than those obtained after stopping the infusion of the amine. Retention of 3 H-NE during its infusion was also not significantly different in stimulated and non-stimulated portions of the same spleen. It is concluded that increase in 3 H-NE outflow during stimulation is probably due to enhanced release and that nerve stimulation does not appreciably affect the uptake of infused 3 H-NE.
Assessing the impact of life-style modification education on knowledge and behavior changes in gastroesophageal reflux disease patients on proton pump inhibitors

Abstract Objectives To assess patients' knowledge of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) lifestyle modifications and to identify patients' behaviors associated with GERD management before and after an educational intervention. Methods The study was conducted at five indigent health centers in Columbus, OH, from January to May 2007. A total of 30 adult patients with GERD receiving proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy were assessed. In both the control and intervention groups, a pretest consisting of 23 questions assessed patients' knowledge regarding GERD and lifestyle modifications. A presurvey consisting of eight questions assessed patients' current behaviors associated with GERD management using both lifestyle modifications and PPIs. The intervention group also received approximately 10 minutes of education on lifestyle modifications. A posttest and postsurvey were given 8 to 12 weeks after the initial session to both groups. Main outcome measures included change in test score for patients in the control versus intervention groups. Outcomes measured on the pre- and postsurvey included source of heartburn information/education, smoking status, trigger foods eaten weekly, frequency of monthly heartburn episodes, and PPI adherence. Results The average change in test scores was 1.33 and 2.73 in the control and intervention groups, respectively ( P = 0.11; two-sample t test). The frequency of monthly heartburn episodes increased postsurvey in the control group; however, the frequency of monthly episodes decreased in the intervention group. For the presurvey, no patients reported ever having received GERD education from a pharmacist. For the postsurvey, all 15 patients in the intervention group stated that they had received education from a pharmacist. Conclusion The intervention group patients had higher mean change in test scores compared with the control group, although this difference did not reach statistical significance. The failure to achieve statistical significance may have resulted from the small sample size. The pharmacist-patient interaction improved patient knowledge and some behaviors made in GERD management and symptom reduction.
A stakeholder model of business intelligence

In the 21st century, organizations are evolving into a new-form based on knowledge and networks in response to an environment characterized by indistinct organizational boundaries, information abundance, and fast-paced change. This paper explores the role of business intelligence (BI) in this new-form organization. The author developed a model that positions business intelligence as the primary source of explicit knowledge linking it with human capital (tacit knowledge source) within a stakeholder framework. This model is potentially useful for the design, diagnosis, and enhancement of BI because it looks to integrate stakeholder systems with technical and human knowledge systems for the purpose of improving organizational performance.
Imagining Navajo in the Boarding School: Laura Tohe's No Parole Today and the Intimacy of Language Ideologies

In this article I investigate Navajo poet Laura Tohe's uses of metapragmatic terms in three literary works found in her book No Parole Today. Tohe's book focuses on the boarding school experience and is especially concerned with issues of language use. I argue that Tohe uses metadiscourses that both dramatize language use but also create affectively potent relations between speakers and the languages they use. These metadiscourses are implicit metadiscourses. Rather than explicitly stating that Navajo should be the language of social intimacy for Navajos, Tohe dramatizes such relationships. Such implicit metadiscourses gain added import when understood within the larger social fields of the Navajo Nation and current ideologies about the Navajo language. [Navajo, poetry, metapragmatics, affectivity, metadiscourses, language ideologies]
The calculation of coherent and incoherent scattering cross sections for polarized X-rays into an arbitrarily placed circular aperture

Abstract The cross sections for coherent and incoherent scattering of polarized X-rays by atoms have been integrated over the solid angle of a circular aperture at an arbitrary positio. The specific application of the results to the measurement of mass of thin samples during X-ray fluorescence is discussed. However, the results could be easily used for the analysis of X-ray diffraction intensities and could be used instead of Monte Carlo techniques in predicting the spectra from scattered X-rays. The integrated coherent cross section is in a form simple enough that the cross section can be calculated using only a tabulation of the atomic form factors and a pocket calculator.
Incremental infrastructure transitions towards cities as forces for good in the environment

As source-separation has been proposed as a sustainable alternative to the current wastewater treatment strategy, the improvement in sustainability associated with such transition needs to be evaluated. However, given the difficulties and uncertainty in both technological and social aspects, such transition will most probably be happening gradually, step by step. Here with a computational case study based on the city of Atlanta within the Upper Chattahoochee watershed in the southeastern United States, we simulated three steps of transition, i.e. 50%, 70%, and 100% ANS-separation (Anthropogenic Nutrient Solution) is reached. The economic sustainability of these transition strategies was evaluated with total annual economic cost (TAEC), and the environmental sustainability was evaluated with three indicators, i.e. ecological footprints (EF), flux of materials passing through the city in its context of global material cycles, and pulse rate in terms of the spectrum of disturbance frequency to which the city is subject. The simulation results showed that compared with the current strategy, the ANS-separation has significantly lower TAEC, lower EF, lower pollutant discharge, higher recovery of nutrient and energy, and more beneficial manipulation of perturbation regimes of the city's environment. These advantages increase with the rate of ANS-separation.
Identification of a Conserved Negative Regulatory Sequence That Influences the Leukemogenic Activity of NOTCH1

NOTCH1 is a large type I transmembrane receptor that regulates normal T-cell development via a signaling pathway that relies on regulated proteolysis. Ligand binding induces proteolytic cleavages in NOTCH1 that release its intracellular domain (ICN1), which translocates to the nucleus and activates target genes by forming a short-lived nuclear complex with two other proteins, the DNA-binding factor CSL and a Mastermind-like (MAML) coactivator. Recent work has shown that human T-ALL is frequently associated with C-terminal NOTCH1 truncations, which uniformly remove sequences lying between residues 2524 and 2556. This region includes the highly conserved sequence WSSSSP (S4), which based on its amino acid content appeared to be a likely site for regulatory serine phosphorylation events. We show here that the mutation of the S4 sequence leads to hypophosphorylation of ICN1; increased NOTCH1 signaling; and the stabilization of complexes containing ICN1, CSL, and MAML1. Consistent with these in vitro studies, mutation of the WSSSSP sequence converts nonleukemogenic weak gain-of-function NOTCH1 alleles into alleles that cause aggressive T-ALLs in a murine bone marrow transplant model. These studies indicate that S4 is an important negative regulatory sequence and that the deletion of S4 likely contributes to the development of human T-ALL.
Information quality assurance by lazy exploration of information source combinations space in open multi-agent systems

Information quality assurance under the existence of uncertainty can be investigated in the context of soft security, where an agent maintains trustworthiness evaluations of its information sources to assist in the evaluation of incoming information quality from those sources. Since dependency inherently exists in a system where agents do not have self- sufficient sensing or data collection capabilities, finding an appropriate set of information sources is important for assuring the quality of information and for increasing the agent's goal achievement. This research proposes an approach for selecting information sources as partners. In order to increase the efficiency and the accuracy, we use trustworthiness, information cost and goal coverage as the metrics for information valuation while adopting a lazy exploration of information sources combination space. Experimental results show that the proposed approach increases the efficiency and results in quality information acquisition.
Experimental Investigation of Silicon Surface Migration in Low Pressure Nonreducing Gas Environments

Silicon migration in four nonreducing gas ambients of helium, neon, argon, and nitrogen at a low pressure (10 ―3 Torr) and in an ultrahigh vacuum (10 ―9 Torr) is studied by monitoring the effect on microfabricated trench structures after a 5 min anneal at 1000°C in each environment. The measurements of the trench corner curvature are used to extract the relative migration rates for each ambient. The migration rate has no ambient gas dependence for the noble gases at 10- 3 Torr and has pressure dependence in the 10 ―3 ―10 ―9 Torr range.
Measurements of OH radicals in low temperature atmospheric plasmas using pulsed- and cw-CRDS techniques

Summary form only given. OH radicals have electronic transitions in the UV and overtone spectra in the NIR. Absolute number density of OH radicals can be quantified by using high sensitivity pulsed-cavity ringdown spectroscopy (CRDS) and diode laser continuous wave (cw)-CRDS techniques. However, the applicability of these two sets of CRDS techniques to different plasma sources (including discharges) is plasma-type-dependent and has not been fully investigated. We have employed the pulsed- and cw-CRDS techniques to quantify OH radicals created in an atmospheric microwave induced plasma (MIP), an MlP-jet, and an AC discharge. We present the results and discuss for the first time on the topic of the applicability of CRDS to OH measurements in different plasmas.
Laboratory and field measurements and evaluations of vibration at the handles of riveting hammers

The use of riveting hammers can expose workers to harmful levels of hand-transmitted vibration (HTV). As a part of efforts to reduce HTV exposures through tool selection, the primary objective of this study was to evaluate the applicability of a standardized laboratory-based riveting hammer assessment protocol for screening riveting hammers. The second objective was to characterize the vibration emissions of reduced vibration riveting hammers and to make approximations of the HTV exposures of workers operating these tools in actual work tasks. Eight pneumatic riveting hammers were selected for the study. They were first assessed in a laboratory using the standardized method for measuring vibration emissions at the tool handle. The tools were then further assessed under actual working conditions during three aircraft sheet metal riveting tasks. Although the average vibration magnitudes of the riveting hammers measured in the laboratory test were considerably different from those measured in the field study, the rank orders of the tools determined via these tests were fairly consistent, especially for the lower vibration tools. This study identified four tools that consistently exhibited lower frequency-weighted and unweighted accelerations in both the laboratory and workplace evaluations. These observations suggest that the standardized riveting hammer test is acceptable for identifying tools that could be expected to exhibit lower vibrations in workplace environments. However, the large differences between the accelerations measured in the laboratory and field suggest that the standardized laboratory-based tool assessment is not suitable for estimating workplace riveting hammer HTV exposures. Based on the frequency-weighted accelerations measured at the tool handles during the three work tasks, the sheet metal mechanics assigned to these tasks at the studied workplace are unlikely to exceed the daily vibration exposure action value (2.5 m s(-2)) using any of the evaluated riveting hammers.
On Geometric and Photometric Registration of Images

Finding geometric and photometric relation among images is crucial in many computer vision tasks such as panoramic imaging, high dynamic range imaging, stereo imaging, and change detection. Most photometric registration algorithms require accurate geometric registration of images. On the other hand, geometric registration may fail when images are not aligned photometrically. There are two contributions of this paper: (i) A contrast invariant feature detection algorithm is proposed. This would allow geometric registration of images without photometric registration, (ii) A photometric registration algorithm that can handle scene occlusions is presented.
Self-reported and accelerometer-measured physical activity by body mass index in US Hispanic/Latino adults: HCHS/SOL.

The association between obesity and physical activity has not been widely examined in an ethnically diverse sample of Hispanic/Latino adults in the US. A cross-sectional analysis of 16,094 Hispanic/Latino adults 18–74 years was conducted from the multi-site Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL). Body mass index (BMI) was measured and categorized into normal, overweight, and obese; underweight participants were excluded from analyses. Physical activity was measured using the 16-item Global Physical Activity Questionnaire and by an Actical accelerometer. Minutes/day of physical activity and prevalence of engaging in ≥ 150 moderate–vigorous physical activity (MVPA) minutes/week were estimated by BMI group and sex adjusting for covariates. No adjusted differences were observed in self-reported moderate (MPA), vigorous (VPA), or MVPA across BMI groups. Accelerometry-measured MPA, VPA, and MVPA were significantly higher for the normal weight (females: 18.9, 3.8, 22.6 min/day; males: 28.2, 6.1, 34.3 min/day, respectively) compared to the obese group (females: 15.3, 1.5, 16.8 min/day; males: 23.5, 3.6, 27.1 min/day, respectively). The prevalence of engaging in ≥ 150 MVPA minutes/week using accelerometers was lower compared to the self-reported measures. Efforts are needed to reach the Hispanic/Latino population to increase opportunities for an active lifestyle that could reduce obesity in this population at high risk for metabolic disorders.
Effect of endocytosis inhibitors on alveolar clearance of albumin, immunoglobulin G, and SP-A in rabbits

Protein in the alveolar space may be cleared by endocytosis and degradation inside alveolar epithelial cells, by transcytosis across the alveolar epithelium, or by restricted diffusion through the epithelium. The relative contributions of these three pathways to clearance of large quantities of protein from the air spaces is not known. This study investigated the effects of monensin and nocodazole, agents which inhibit endocytosis in cell culture, on alveolar epithelial protein transport in anesthetized rabbits. There was evidence that monensin and nocodazole inhibited endocytosis by the alveolar epithelium in vivo. Nocodazole increased the number of vesicles in the alveolar epithelium and capillary endothelium. Monensin increased vesicle density in the endothelium. These results suggested that the inhibitors disrupted microtubules or interrupted cellular membrane traffic in the lung. Both inhibitors decreased lung parenchymal uptake of immunoreactive human albumin from the air spaces. Monensin and nocodazole inhibited albumin uptake in cultured alveolar type II cells. Monensin increased the amount of 125I-labeled surfactant protein A associated with the lungs, compared with the quantity remaining in the air space 2 h after instillation. Although the drugs decreased alveolar epithelial protein uptake, they did not decrease alveolar clearance of 125I-labeled immunoglobulin G or 131I-labeled albumin in anesthetized rabbits. Thus monensin- and nocodazole-sensitive protein-uptake pathways do not account for most alveolar protein clearance when the distal air spaces are filled with a protein solution.
Counting Context: C. E. Kelsey's 1906 Census of Nonreservation Indians in Northern California

C. E. Kelsey's census of nonreservation Indians in Northern California in 1905 to 1906 was the first enumeration of its kind. It counted 11,755 Indians that were not supported by the US government, which was far more than were thought to exist. Intended as the blueprint for implementing Kelsey's proposed policy of providing federal relief through land purchases, the census was later used for population studies. The census lacks explanatory documentation and scholars have introduced errors to the population totals. Using archival sources, this article explores the context and purpose of the census and identifies those subsequent errors.
Effects on standard uptake values due to inaccuracy of height measurements

2428 Objectives Standard Uptake Value (SUV) is a measurement of how metabolically active cells are. The effect that measured height has on this SUV, based on body surface area (SUVbsa), was examined. Methods Data on past 18F FDG PET/CT patients was obtained and analyzed by recording the height given by the patient and then altering the height. The first step was to determine the relationship of the equation used in determining the SUVbsa. After trial and error, it was found that any change in patient height affected the SUVbsa, albeit minimal. It was determined to use three inches (7.62 cm) as the variable for this study because it provided a noticeable change in SUVbsa. This variable was applied to increase and decrease the patient’s height, in turn affecting the SUVbsa. The difference in the SUVbsa was measured. Results 20 cases were examined in which the original SUVbsa was measured, the height of the patient was increased by 7.62 cm as well as decreased by 7.62 cm, and then the SUVbsa was measured again. After adjusting all the heights by 7.62 cm, up and down, it was found that the change in SUVbsa was 3.32% and 3.52% respectively. Conclusions A SUVbsa of ≥ 2.5 is considered metabolically active, and therefore, an accurate measurement is required. Oncologic patients depend on these values as the basis for their treatment; however, each Oncologist uses a different set of guidelines for what they consider to be a significant SUVbsa. A difference of 3.32% or 3.52% in SUVbsa could be enough for the Oncologist to diagnose the cells as not metabolically active when in reality, they may be. For this reason, an accurate height should always been measured for each patient instead of relying on the information given by the patients
Nanowire LEDs grown directly on flexible metal foil

Using molecular beam epitaxy, self-assembled AlGaN nanowires are grown directly on Ta and Ti foils. Scanning electron microscopy shows that the nanowires are locally textured with the underlying metallic grains. Photoluminescence spectra of GaN nanowires grown on metal foils are comparable to GaN nanowires grown on single crystal Si wafers. Similarly, photoluminescence lifetimes do not vary significantly between these samples. Operational AlGaN light emitting diodes are grown directly on flexible Ta foil with an electroluminescence peak emission of ∼350 nm and a turn-on voltage of ∼5 V. These results pave the way for roll-to-roll manufacturing of solid state optoelectronics.
From the Pens of Babes Authentic Audiences for Talented, Young Writers

In this article, we—a former high school language arts instructor and former K-3 gifted resource teacher—reflect on critical experiences with students that, although unique in scope, are bound together through a common concern: How can teachers provide meaningful writing experiences for talented young writers? We advocate for the use of high-end learning theory in developing the talent of young writers, especially as related to the provision of authentic, real-world writing experiences.
Ideas and Counter-measures for Fixed Assets in Higher Vocational Colleges

Management of fixed assets is an important aspect in college administration, which is comparatively weak at present.Along with the vigorous development of professional colleges in our country, there has been a rapid increase in the size of their fixed assets.In view of the relevant problems, great attention should be paid to its management, thus a practical and effective counter-measure appears especially prominent.
Regulating Molecular Weight of Homopolymer of DMDAAC by Chain-transfer Agent

PDMDAAC was synthesized by aqueous solution polymerization method with industrial DMDAAC as monomer,ammonium persulfate-sodium bisulfite as redox initiator,and sodium formate or methanol as chain-transfer agent.The factors such as monomer mass fraction,polymerizating temperature,polymerizating time,pH value,initiator dosage,reducer agent dosage,chain-transfer agent dosage on the limiting viscosity number of PDMDAAC and monomer conversion were investigated via orthogonal experiment.The controlling process of PDMDAAC's molecular weight by chain-transfer agent was studied.The efficiency of different chain-transfer agents,and the influence of their dosage on the limiting viscosity number of product and monomer conversion were discussed.
Remotely operated compact underwater temporally encoded imager: CUTEI

Remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) typically use traditional optical imaging systems, such as cameras, for high resolution imaging. Cameras are effective in clear water, but have extremely poor performance in degraded visual environments (DVEs) such as turbid coastal waters and harbors. This is due to the multiple scattering of the light from the particulates and organic matter in the water. Laser-based sensors have been developed to enhance optical imaging in DVEs 1,3,4,5,6 . However, since conventional approaches require that the illuminator and receiver be located on the same platform, the size, weight, and power (SWaP) requirements are incompatible with small ROVs. Researchers at NAVAIR have developed a low cost optical imager utilizing a bistatic geometry where the illuminator and receiver are mounted on separate, smaller platforms. The illuminator steers a modulated laser beam with a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) scanner to sequentially illuminate an underwater object. A distant receiver collects the object reflected laser light and reconstructs the imagery. Communications information, including a synchronization sequence, is encoded onto the modulation which is used by the receiver to build the image. The SWaP of the illuminator’s components have been optimized and integrated into a modified version of the OpenROV, a miniature, commercial off-the-shelf ROV. This paper reports on the efforts to reduce the SWaP of the modulated illuminator and the results of testing this system in a laboratory water tank environment.
Group therapy aftercare for alcoholic patients.

ABSTRACTThis paper describes a dynamically oriented group aftercare program for alcoholics and other substance abusers. The chronic nature of alcoholism and the need to insure that initial progress is not followed by regression point to the need for continuity of care, extending beyond the initial detoxification or initial crisis phase. The group-oriented aftercare program at Appleton Outpatient Clinic follows an intensive five-week program in either our outpatient clinic or Appleton's inpatient setting. The preparatory group and educational experiences that patients participate in prior to their entry into a long-term aftercare group are detailed. Finally, special issues that emerge in the long-term groups are discussed including (1) the group contract, (2) alcohol-related group defenses, and (3) management of the patient who drinks.
Ursodeoxycholic acid improves cholestasis in infants with cystic fibrosis.

ObjectiveTo describe two infants with cholestatic jaundice treated with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA).Case SummaryTwo infants with cystic fibrosis (CF)-associated hepatobiliary disease, manifesting a...
Electrically stimulated contraction accelerates protein synthesis rates in adult feline cardiocytes

Cardiocytes were induced to contract via electrical field stimulation with an 8 V/cm electrical square-wave pulse of 5 ms at 0.125-2.0 Hz for up to 6 h. Protein synthesis rates were measured as rate of incorporation of [3H]-phenylalanine into total cell protein. Rates of protein synthesis were accelerated 43 +/- 4%, P < 0.001, by 4 h. The acceleration of total protein synthesis showed a frequency dependence between 0.125 and 0.5 Hz. In addition to accelerating rates of total protein synthesis, electrical stimulation of contraction accelerated fractional rates of synthesis of myosin heavy chain by 42 +/- 8%, P < 0.05. Protein synthesis rates were not accelerated upon electrical stimulation using subthreshold voltages. Addition of 100 ng/ml of actinomycin D had no effect on the ability of electrical stimulation of contraction to accelerate protein synthesis. To uncouple excitation-contraction coupling, 2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM) was used to block actin-myosin cross-bridge interactions. BDM significantly decreased the ability of electrical stimulation to accelerate protein synthesis rates.
Cohort Profile: African Collaborative Center for Microbiome and Genomics Research (ACCME)

Abstract 65Background:Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in Africa. Much remains unknown about the prevalence and pathogenicity of human papillomavirus (HPV) types and the mechanism of disease, and there is a need for new biomarkers for screening programs.Methods:ACCME is a multicenter prospective cohort study of host germline, somatic and HPV genomics and epigenomics, and vaginal microenvironment; and their association with cervical cancer in 10,000 HIV negative women in Nigeria. Data on demographic, lifestyle, medical history, serum, germline DNA, HPV genotype, and vaginal pH are collected at baseline and during follow up visits every 6 months. Samples of exfoliated cervical cells are analyzed for high risk HPV with Roche LINEAR ARRAY and vaginal bacterial composition and abundance are characterized by deep sequencing of barcoded 16S rRNA gene fragments (V4) on a Illumina MiSeq platform. Colposcopies and biopsies are conducted on participants with clinical lesions and those with persistent...
Why does time seem to fly when we're having fun?

Animals use the neurotransmitter dopamine to encode the relationship between their responses and reward. Reinforcement learning theory ( 1 ) successfully explains the role of phasic bursts of dopamine in terms of future reward maximization. Yet, dopamine clearly plays other roles in shaping behavior that have no obvious relationship to reinforcement learning, including modulating the rate at which our subjective sense of time grows in real time. On page 1273 of this issue, Soares et al. ( 2 ) closely examine the role of dopamine in mice performing a task in which they keep track of the time between two events and make decisions about this temporal duration. The results suggest the need to reassess the leading theory of dopamine function in timing—the dopamine clock hypothesis ( 3 ). They may also help explain empirical phenomena that challenge the reinforcement learning account of dopamine function.
Protection of Alloys from Erosion and Corrosion at Elevated Temperatures

At elevated temperatures degradation of the alloys can occur due to reaction with the gas environment. Such gaseous-induced degradation can be affected by the erosive action of particles in the gas stream. The principal forms of elevated temperature, gaseous-induced corrosion are briefly described and the effects of erosive conditions on these corrosion processes are examined. Procedures that can be used to attempt to inhibit such degradation processes are presented and discussed.
WHAT ARE THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN DEPOSIT INSURANCE AND BANK FAILURES

The purpose of this paper is to examine the historical evidence on commercial bank failures in the United States in order to assess the validity of the widespread belief that deposit insurance has increased bank failures due to the moral hazard that it represents for bank management.1 It seems paradoxical that this belief has passed into the conventional wisdom when little more than a decade ago its opposite was generally accepted. In 1980 it was widely believed that the historically low failure rates enjoyed since the Great Depression were due to the introduction of federal deposit insurance in 1934.2 By the end of the 1980s deposit insurance was considered the major cause of bank failures. Can it be both? The remainder of the introduction describes the essential elements of potentially fruitful approaches to this question followed by an outline of our approach and a preview of our results.
Successful coping, adaptation and resilience in the elderly : An interpretation of epidemiologic data

The elderly are often thought to suffer inevitable declines in functional abilities due to normal aging and concomitant diseases (acute and chronic). This view may be true for many aspects of physical health. However, an abundance of evidence suggests that mental health diverges from physical health in that Coping, Adaptation and Resilience (CAR) functions are surprisingly well-preserved throughout most of the life span. The normal "anatomy" and "physiology" of the CAR construct is described. It's robust relationship with the abnormalities of DSM-IV geriatric mental disorders is illustrated. Opportunities for new approaches to treatment are noted. These insights from the elderly are applicable to all age groups.
Dynamic average consensus in the presence of communication delay over directed graph topologies

This paper analyzes the stability and convergence of a distributed algorithmic solution to dynamic average consensus over strongly connected and weight-balanced digraphs in the presence of communication delay. Our starting point is a distributed coordination strategy that, under continuous-time no-delay communication, achieves practical asymptotic tracking of the dynamic average of the agents' reference signals. For this algorithm, we characterize the admissible communication delay range and study the effect of communication delay on the tracking error bounds. For a given delay value, we use Lambert W function to obtain an estimate on the algorithm's worst rate of convergence. Also, for the strongly connected and weight-balanced digraphs, we establish a relationship between the maximum degree of the network topology and a bound on the size of the delay that the average consensus algorithm can tolerate. Simulations illustrate the results.
Efficient, Verified Checking of Propositional Proofs

Satisfiability (SAT) solvers—and software in general—sometimes have serious bugs. We mitigate these effects by validating the results. Today’s SAT solvers emit proofs that can be checked with reasonable efficiency. However, these checkers are not trivial and can have bugs as well. We propose to check proofs using a formally verified program that adds little overhead to the overall process of proof validation. We have implemented a sequence of increasingly efficient, verified checkers using the ACL2 theorem proving system, and we discuss lessons from this effort. This work is already being used in industry and is slated for use in the next SAT competition.
Regulatory B cells accumulate in tumor-draining lymph nodes and promote tumor growth (TUM9P.1015)

Tumor metastasis to regional lymph nodes is a reliable marker for determining cancer progression and is associated with poor prognosis. However, mechanisms utilized by the tumor to modify the tumor-draining lymph node (TDLN) to facilitate metastasis remain to be identified. TDLNs from B16-F10 melanoma-bearing mice exhibit considerable B cell accumulation and lymphatic sinus growth (lymphangiogenesis) which precede and predict metastasis of solid tumors. Phenotypic characterization of B cells in mice bearing B16-F10 melanoma in the rear footpad identified preferential accumulation of T2-MZP B cells in the TDLN. Comparison of TDLNs and non-draining LNs of tumor-bearing mice with LNs and spleens from naive mice determined that this pattern of B cell accumulation was restricted to the TDLN. B cell-deficient and immunocompetent mice reconstituted with T2-MZP B cells but not with other B cell subsets displayed accelerated tumor growth, demonstrating that T2-MZP B cells possess regulatory activity. Unlike splenic regulatory B cells, however, TDLN T2-MZP B cells did not exhibit increased IL-10 secretion, nor did they promote the conversion of naive CD4 + T cells to CD4 + Foxp3 + Tregs in the TDLN. These findings demonstrate that tumors initially signal via the lymphatic drainage to stimulate the preferential accumulation of T2-MZP regulatory B cells. This local response may be an early and critical step in generating an immunosuppressive environment to permit tumor growth and metastasis.
Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Exhibiting Clinically Undetected Colistin Heteroresistance Leads to Treatment Failure in a Murine Model of Infection.

ABSTRACT Antibiotic resistance is a growing crisis and a grave threat to human health. It is projected that antibiotic-resistant infections will lead to 10 million annual deaths worldwide by the year 2050. Among the most significant threats are carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), including carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP), which lead to mortality rates as high as 40 to 50%. Few treatment options are available to treat CRKP, and the polymyxin antibiotic colistin is often the “last-line” therapy. However, resistance to colistin is increasing. Here, we identify multidrug-resistant, carbapenemase-positive CRKP isolates that were classified as susceptible to colistin by clinical diagnostics yet harbored a minor subpopulation of phenotypically resistant cells. Within these isolates, the resistant subpopulation became predominant after growth in the presence of colistin but returned to baseline levels after subsequent culture in antibiotic-free media. This indicates that the resistance was phenotypic, rather than due to a genetic mutation, consistent with heteroresistance. Importantly, colistin therapy was unable to rescue mice infected with the heteroresistant strains. These findings demonstrate that colistin heteroresistance may cause in vivo treatment failure during K. pneumoniae infection, threatening the use of colistin as a last-line treatment for CRKP. Furthermore, these data sound the alarm for use of caution in interpreting colistin susceptibility test results, as isolates identified as susceptible may in fact resist antibiotic therapy and lead to unexplained treatment failures. IMPORTANCE This is the first report of colistin-heteroresistant K. pneumoniae in the United States. Two distinct isolates each led to colistin treatment failure in an in vivo model of infection. The data are worrisome, especially since the colistin heteroresistance was not detected by current diagnostic tests. As these isolates were carbapenem resistant, clinicians might turn to colistin as a last-line therapy for infections caused by such strains, not knowing that they in fact harbor a resistant subpopulation of cells, potentially leading to treatment failure. Our findings warn that colistin susceptibility testing results may be unreliable due to undetected heteroresistance and highlight the need for more accurate and sensitive diagnostics.
In-flight speech intelligibility evaluation of a service member with sensorineural hearing loss: case report.

ABSTRACTThis case report describes the in-flight speech intelligibility evaluation of an aircraft crewmember with pure tone audiometric thresholds that exceed the U.S. Army's flight standards. Results of in-flight speech intelligibility testing highlight the inability to predict functional auditory abilities from pure tone audiometry and underscore the importance of conducting validated functional hearing evaluations to determine aviation fitness-for-duty.
Inflammation and Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Inflammation is a process that is involved in several stages of development and malignant progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Tobacco and alcohol, human papillomaviruses (HPV), or Epstein-Barr viruses (EBV) can initiate and establish chronic inflammation through a variety of mechanisms. Genomic alterations or viral oncoproteins that induce signaling via phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) regulate numerous genes that promote survival of cancer cells, while they induce inflammatory myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) and T regulatory (Treg) cell responses that interfere with effector T-cell immunity. Molecular therapies targeting signaling in cancer cells and these deleterious inflammatory cells are being combined with new PD-L1/PD-1 and CTLA-4 immune checkpoint inhibitors to explore better ways to harness the immune system in control of cancer.
Neurostimulation in the Management of Chronic Migraine

Chronic migraine is both a prevalent and disabling neurologic disorder with significant impact on the health-related quality of life and economic well-being of those suffering from the condition. In tertiary headache centers, the use of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions is commonplace. Available pharmacologic treatments with established efficacy in multiple randomized controlled trials are few and include oral topiramate and intramuscular onabotulinumtoxinA injections per the protocol put forth by the PREEMPT studies. Patient preference, treatment response, and treatment tolerability sometimes shift the focus of management to non-pharmacologic strategies. Among these is the emerging field of neurostimulation in the management of migraine. The aim of this chapter is to review the current body of knowledge of neurostimulation techniques including occipital nerve stimulation, transcutaneous supraorbital nerve stimulation, single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation, repetitive-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation, transcranial direct current stimulation, vagus nerve stimulation, and sphenopalatine ganglion stimulation as it pertains to the management of migraine.