cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evolution of general surgical problems in patients with left ventricular assist devices.

Background Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are increasingly used to treat patients with end-stage heart failure. These patients may develop acute noncardiac surgical problems around the time of LVAD implantation or, as survival continues to improve, chronic surgical problems as ambulatory patients remote from the LVAD implant. Previous reports of noncardiac surgical problems in LVAD patients included patients with older, first-generation devices and do not address newer, second-generation devices. We describe the frequency and management of noncardiac surgical problems encountered during LVAD support with these newer-generation devices to assist noncardiac surgeons involved in the care of patients with LVADs. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of consecutive patients receiving LVADs at our institution. We collected data for any consultation by noncardiac surgeons within the scope of general surgery during LVAD support and subsequent treatment. Results Ninety-nine patients received implantable LVADs between 2003 and 2009 (first-generation, n = 19; second-generation, n = 80). Excluding intestinal hemorrhage, general surgical opinions were rendered for 34 patients with 49 problems, mostly in the acute recovery phase after LVAD implantation. Of those, 27 patients underwent 28 operations. Respiratory failure and intra-abdominal pathologies were the most common problems addressed, and LVAD rarely precluded operation. Patients with second-generation LVADs were more likely to survive hospitalization ( P = .04) and develop chronic, rather than emergent, surgical problems. Conclusion Patients with LVADs frequently require consultation from noncardiac surgeons within the scope of general surgeons and often require operation. Patients with second-generation LVADs are more likely to become outpatients and develop more elective surgical problems. Noncardiac surgeons will be increasingly involved in caring for patients with LVADs and should anticipate the problems unique to this patient population.
SWICH: A Prototype for Efficient Cache-Level Checkpointing and Rollback

Existing cache-level checkpointing schemes do not continuously support a large rollback window. Immediately after a checkpoint, the number of instructions that the processor can undo falls to zero. To address this problem, we introduce Swich, an FPGA-based prototype of a new cache-level scheme that keeps two live checkpoints at all times, forming a sliding rollback window that maintains a large minimum and average length
Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modeling of corticosterone suppression and lymphocytopenia by methylprednisolone in rats

Adrenal suppression and lymphocytopenia are commonly monitored pharmacological responses during systemic exposure to exogenously administered corticosteroids. The pharmacodynamics of plasma corticosterone (CS) and blood lymphocytes were investigated in 60 normal rats which received either 50 mg/kg methylprednisolone (MPL) or vehicle intramuscularly. Blood samples were collected between 0.5 and 96 h following treatment. Plasma CS displayed a transient suppression with re-establishment of a normal circadian rhythm 24 h following drug treatment. An indirect response model with suppression of production well captured plasma CS profiles. An early stress-induced rise in CS was also factored into the model. Blood lymphocyte numbers exhibited a sharp decline and then returned to a new circadian rhythm which was half of the original baseline level. An integrated pharmacodynamic (PD) model with inhibition of lymphocyte trafficking from tissue to blood by both MPL and CS and induction of cell apoptosis by MPL reasonably captured this lymphocytopenia. Rats and humans differ in lymphocyte responses with humans showing full recovery of baselines. Modeling provides a valuable tool in quantitative assessment of dual, complex drug responses.
Ryanodine receptor type III (Ry3R) identification in mouse parotid acini. Properties and modulation of [3H]ryanodine-binding sites.

Abstract Immunoblot analysis and [3H]ryanodine binding were used to characterize and identify ryanodine receptors (RyRs) in nonexcitable mouse parotid acini. Western analysis revealed ryanodine receptor type III (Ry3R) to be the only detectable isoform in parotid microsomal membranes. Binding of [3H]ryanodine to microsomal fractions was dependent on Ca2+, salt, pH, and temperature. At 23 °C, and in the presence of 0.5 m KCl and 100 μm Ca2+, [3H]ryanodine bound specifically to membranes with high affinity (K d = 6 nm); maximum binding capacity (B max) was 275 fmol/mg protein. Mg2+ and ruthenium red inhibited [3H]ryanodine binding (IC50 = 1.4 mm and 0.5 μm, respectively). 4-Chloro-3-ethylphenol enhanced the binding of [3H]ryanodine 2.5-fold; whereas ATP and caffeine were much less efficacious toward activating Ry3R (56% and 18% maximal enhancement, respectively). Bastadin, a novel modulator of the 12-kDa FK506 binding protein·RyR complex, increased [3H]ryanodine binding 3–4-fold by enhancingK d. The immunosuppressant FK506 enhanced [3H]ryanodine receptor occupancy at >100 μm and antagonized the action of bastadin, suggesting that an immunophilin modulates Ry3R in parotid acini. These results suggest that Ry3R may play an important role in Ca2+ homeostasis in mouse parotid acini.
Temperature-dependent models of European corn borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) development in North Carolina.

The development rates of nondiapausing European corn borer (ECB), Oslrinia nubilalis (Hubner) eggs, larvae, and pupae were determined at the following constant temperatures: 15, 18, 20, 25, 30, 32, and 35°C. In each case, artificial diet, cornstalk sections, and snap bean pods were examined as larval hosts. Development rate vs. temperature curves were established for each host. Curves for artificial diet and snap bean pods were similar; the curve for corn indicated significantly slower ECB development, especially at higher temperatures. These curves were used in predictive models of ECB development. The models were validated by comparison with field cage studies of ECB development on corn, Irish potatoes, and curly dock. Models based on development data using artificial diet and snap bean pods as hosts closely tracked the actual ECB adult emergence from potatoes and dock, but ran fast when compared with ECB adult emergence from corn. Models based on development data using corn as a host ran slow compared with ECB adult emergence on all hosts. These host differences in development rate may have been due to the limiting effects of low moisture content in the corn plant tissues employed in the tests.
A survey of named entity recognition and classification

This survey covers fifteen years of research in the Named Entity Recognition and Classification (NERC) field, from 1991 to 2006. We report observations about languages, named entity types, domains and textual genres studied in the literature. From the start, NERC systems have been developed using hand-made rules, but now machine learning techniques are widely used. These techniques are surveyed along with other critical aspects of NERC such as features and evaluation methods. Features are word-level, dictionary-level and corpus-level representations of words in a document. Evaluation techniques, ranging from intuitive exact match to very complex matching techniques with adjustable cost of errors, are an indisputable key to progress.
Application of optically reconfigurable interconnects to the dataflow parallel computing paradigm

Convolution of long sequences of data is often needed for various sensing, signal processing, and pattern recognition applications. In this paper, massively parallel opto-electronic interconnect schemes are proposed to solve the problem of real-time convolution of long (104 - 106) data systems. Based on the Chinese remainder theorem, a 1D data sequence of length N (N equals r1r2, where r1 and r2 are mutually prime to each other) may be permuted into a 2D array of a size r1 by r2. A convolution of the two 1D data sequences each of N points is therefore converted into a convolution of the two corresponding 2D arrays each of a size r1 X r2. A standard 2D optical image convolver sandwiched between an input and an output opto-electronic data permutation devices (interconnect networks) can thus perform the required convolution. Two video rate opto- electronic data permutation schemes which are based on: (1) the use of a modified cathode ray tube (CRT) and (2) a combination of a standard CRT and an optical geometric transformer, respectively, are described. The permuted 2D data are subject to a standard free-space optical convolution before a 2D to 1D inverse permutation to generate the final 1D convolution result. Computer simulation for the entire three-stage algorithm and their results are discussed. Technical problems and fundamental limitations of the proposed schemes are also discussed.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A yeast surface display system for the discovery of ligands that trigger cell activation

Opposing cells often communicate signalling events using multivalent interactions between receptors present on their cell surface. For example, T cells are typically activated when the T cell receptor (TCR) and its associated costimulatory molecules are multivalently engaged by the appropriate ligands present on an antigen presenting cell. In this report, yeast expressing high cell-surface levels of a TCR ligand (a recombinant antibody to the TCR Vbeta domain) were shown to act as 'pseudo' antigen presenting cells and induce T cell activation as monitored by increased levels of CD25 and CD69 and by downregulation of cell surface TCR. Similar levels of T cell activation could occur even when a 30-fold excess of irrelevant yeast was present, suggesting that such a yeast display system, by virtue of its ability to present ligands multivalently, may be used in highly sensitive procedures to identify novel polypeptides that interact multivalently with cell surface receptors and thereby trigger specific cellular responses.
Perturbation theory for viscoelastic fluids between eccentric rotating cylinders

Abstract The circumferential and radial profiles of velocity, pressure and stress are derived for the flow of model viscoelastic liquids between two slightly eccentric cylinders with the inner one rotating. Singular perturbation methods are used to derive expansions valid for small gaps between the cylinders, but for all Deborah numbers. Results for Newtonian, second-order, Criminale-Ericksen-Filbey, upper-convected Maxwell, and White-Metzner constitutive equation separate the effects of elasticity, memory, and shear thinning on the development of the large stress gradients that hinder numerical solutions with these models in more complicated geometries. The effect of the constitutive equation on the critical Deborah number for flow separation is presented.
THEORY OF DESORPTION INDUCED BY ELECTRONIC TRANSITIONS : A TIME-INDEPENDENT QUANTUM MECHANICAL APPROACH

A new method is developed for study of photon- or electron-stimulated desorption from noninsulator surfaces. Concise and physically transparent, closed form expressions for the observables in a desorption experiment are given in terms of matrix elements of the interaction in stationary bases. The method is nonperturbative and spans the limits of weak to strong substrate–adsorbate interactions. We propose the possibility of relaxing several approximations frequently adopted in theoretical studies of desorption induced by electronic transitions. In particular, continuous decay of the transient electronic excitation produced by hot substrate carriers and the possibility of multiple electronic transitions follow naturally from the formulation and need not be introduced ad hoc. The description of time-delayed desorption, resulting from occurrence of predesorption resonances, entails neither conceptual nor computational difficulty and vibrational relaxation is consistently accounted for. The method is tested by application to an empirical model of the NH3/Cu photodesorption dynamics.
An examination of factors influencing black fertility decline in the Mississippi Delta, 1880–1930

Although the fertility decline in the black population in the Mississippi Delta between the late 1870's and early 1930's closely paralleled that of the national black population, it rose much more dramatically in the 1940's and 1950's to almost 1880 levels. Given the especially rural and oppressed conditions of blacks there, the initial decline seems puzzling. Low fertility rates in the 1930's reflected a large proportion of childless females. Investigations of changing contraceptive usage and mate exposure suggest both were minor components at most. Several physiological impairments were investigated including dietary deficiences, malaria, tuberculosis, and sexually transmitted diseases (STD). Evidence suggests STD played the major role, facilitated by nutritional and other health problems. Models relying heavily on those developed by McFalls and McFalls (1984) suggest 50-80 percent of the decline could have been due to the spread of STD. Age-specific birth rates for different periods and post-World-War-II fertility increases seem consistent with this finding.
Photoaffinity Cross-Linking of Alzheimer's Disease Amyloid Fibrils Reveals Interstrand Contact Regions between Assembled β-Amyloid Peptide Subunits†

The assembly of the β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) into amyloid fibrils is essential to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Detailed structural information about fibrillogenesis has remained elusive due to the highly insoluble, noncrystalline nature of the assembled peptide. X-ray fiber diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, and solid-state NMR studies performed on fibrils composed of Aβ peptides have led to conflicting models of the intermolecular alignment of β-strands. We demonstrate here the use of photoaffinity cross-linking to determine high-resolution structural constraints on Aβ monomers within amyloid fibrils. A photoreactive Aβ1-40 ligand was synthesized by substituting l-p-benzoylphenylalanine (Bpa) for phenylalanine at position 4 (Aβ1-40 F4Bpa). This peptide was incorporated into synthetic amyloid fibrils and irradiated with near-UV light. SDS−PAGE of dissolved fibrils revealed the light-dependent formation of a covalent Aβ dimer. Enzymatic cleavage followed by mass spectrometric analysis demonstrat...
Band Structure of Gallium Phosphide from Optical Experiments at High Pressure

The effect of hydrostatic pressure on the following optical properties of GaP has been measured at room temperature: the fundamental absorption edge region from 2.2 to 2.7 eV, an infrared absorption band appearing in $n$-type material at 0.3-0.5 eV, peaks in the reflectivity spectrum at 2.8 and 3.7 eV, and recombination radiation in forward-biased $p\ensuremath{-}n$ junctions at 1.7-2.3 eV. The results have been interpreted by means of a proposed energy band structure in which the conduction band states ${{X}_{1}}^{c}$, ${{X}_{3}}^{c}$, ${{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{1}}^{c}$, ${{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{15}}^{c}$ are located at energies of 2.2, 2.5, 2.8, 3.7 eV, respectively, above the valence band maximum at ${{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{15}}^{v}$. The following pressure coefficients have been measured (the transition involved is given in parenthesis), where energy is expressed in eV and pressure in ${10}^{6}$ bars: ${E}_{G}({{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{15}}^{v}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{{X}_{1}}^{c})=2.22\ensuremath{-}1.1P$; ${E}_{0}({{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{15}}^{v}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{1}}^{c})=2.78+10.7P$; ${{E}_{0}}^{\ensuremath{'}}({{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{15}}^{v}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{15}}^{c})=3.71+5.8P$; $\ensuremath{\Delta}{E}_{2}({{X}_{1}}^{c}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{{X}_{3}}^{c})=0.3+1P$. The coefficients of ${E}_{G}$ and ${{E}_{0}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ are close to those for the corresponding transitions in Si; that of ${E}_{0}$ is close to the corresponding coefficient in Ge. The weak reflectivity peak at 2.8 eV, the direct gap, shifts with temperature at a rate of about -4.6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$ eV/\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, compared to a value of about -5.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$ eV/\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K for the 2.2 eV indirect gap.
Microassay of tyrosine-amino transferase and p-hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid oxidase in mammalian liver and patients with hereditary tyrosinemia

Abstract An enzymatic microassay method for tyrosine aminotransferase and p-hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid oxidase is described which can detect as low as 0.25 μmoles of tyrosine metabolized per hour per gram wet weight of liver and 0.125 μmoles of p-hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid metabolized per hour per gram wet weight of liver. The assay is applicable to 0.5 mg wet weight of liver sample. In addition, stability studies with liver tissue under various conditions of preservation are given. Comparative studies are presented dealing with tyrosine aminotransferase and p-hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid oxidase activities obtained under macro- and microassay conditions in guinea pig and human liver specimens. Properties of tyrosine aminotransferase and p-hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid oxidase such as temperature coefficient and apparent Michaelis-Menten affinity constants in guinea pig and human liver have been determined. Tyrosine aminotransferase and p-hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid oxidase activities in two postmortem liver samples from patients with “hereditary tyrosinemia” have been determined using microassay conditions.
A Primate Model of Human Postmenopausal Hot Flushes

The hot flush is the only symptom specifically attributable to the menopause. Hot flushes appear to represent an episodic derangement of thermoregulation as a result of estrogen deficiency but the underlying physiological mechanisms are unknown. We have developed an animal model for the study of hot flushes. Two female monkeys (Macaca arctoides) were trained to accept monitoring of scalp cutaneous temperatures. After baseline temperature recordings were obtained both monkeys were ovariectomized. A few days after operation the previously stable scalp temperature changed to an undulating pattern with cycles lasting approximately 40-50 min. Ethinyl estradiol (20 micrograms orally or im) and (7 alpha,17 alpha)-17-hydroxy-7-methyl-19-nor-pregn-5(10)-en-20-yn-3-one (2.5 mg orally), a steroid with weak estrogenic, progestogenic, and androgenic properties, suppressed the characteristic undulating temperature pattern; this returned after withdrawal of replacement therapy. Clonidine (0.15 mg twice a day) suppressed the cyclic changes for 2 to 3 h. Domperidone and naloxone had no significant effect. This animal model may be useful for the investigation of alternative therapy for the management of menopausal flushes.
Skew-symmetric couple-stress fluid mechanics

There can be no doubt as to the importance of vortical motion in fluid mechanics. Yet, very little attention is given typically to the balance law of angular momentum and to its role in defining the fundamental character of stress, which as a result is usually assumed as a symmetric tensor. Here, we allow for the possibility of couple-stresses, along with general non-symmetric force–stresses, and develop a self-consistent size-dependent theory within the context of classical continuum mechanics. This development relies upon the identification of the following key components for the dynamic response of three-dimensional fluid continua: (i) fundamental, uniquely defined kinematical measures of flow, (ii) an independent set of energy conjugate variables, (iii) the corresponding permissible natural and essential boundary conditions, and (iv) a non-redundant set of body-force and inertial contributions. Based upon this formulation, one can recognize that the previous couple-stress theory for fluids suffers from some inconsistencies, which may have restricted its applicability in the study of viscous flows. After presenting the general formulation of the new consistent theory, we specialize for incompressible viscous flow and consider the problem of generalized Poiseuille flow within this size-dependent fluid mechanics. Finally, we conclude that the theory presented here may provide a basis for a broad range of fluid mechanics applications and for fundamental studies of flows at the finest scales for which a continuum representation is valid.
The peritoneal equilibration test in children.

Eight children, aged 15 months to 17 years 9 months, maintained by continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)/continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis and nine adults, aged 20–59 years, managed by CAPD were compared using a standardized peritoneal dialysis protocol, the peritoneal equilibration test (PET). The peritoncal glucose concentration tended to equilibrate with the serum glucose more rapidly in children, but the percentage of the glucose load absorbed was not different between the two age groups. There was an inverse trend between the percentage of glucose absorbed and age in children. Peritoneal creatinine clearance scaled to surface area in children was significantly less than that of the adults; however, the clearances became similar when adjusted for body weight. Peritoneal creatinine clearace scaled to surface area bore a positive and significant relationship to age which, when expressed per kilogram body weight, disappeared. Children had a significantly higher dialysate/plasma (D.P) creatinine ratio after the first 2 h of the PET, but this ratio approached unity by 4 and was not different from adults. The fractional change in the creatinine D/P ratio during the PET was not different between the two age groups. Drain volume adjusted to surface area was significantly less in children than adults. This difference was reversed when drain volume was factored by weight. Similarly drain volume scaled to surface area demonstrated a significant and positive relationship to age, which disappeared when drain volume was expressed per kilogram body weight. Ultrafiltration, whether factored by weight or scaled to surface area, did not differ between the two groups. The post-PEt residual volume corrected for body weight was significantly larger in the children, but bore no relationship to age. It is possible that this larger residual volume in children functions as a tidal volume enhancing solute equilibration.
Multi-Period Planning for Electric Car Charging Station Locations: A Case of Korean Expressways

Abstract One of the most critical barriers to widespread adoption of electric cars is the lack of charging station infrastructure. Although it is expected that a sufficient number of charging stations will be constructed eventually, due to various practical reasons they may have to be introduced gradually over time. In this paper, we formulate a multi-period optimization model based on a flow-refueling location model for strategic charging station location planning. We also propose two myopic methods and develop a case study based on the real traffic flow data of the Korean Expressway network in 2011. We discuss the performance of the three proposed methods.
Optimal electric power load-dispatching

Abstract An electric power load-dispatching model was developed for Du Pont's Savannah River Plant. This model economically optimizes the distribution of load simultaneously supplied by power produced at each of the three area generation stations and the amount of power purchased from South Carolina Electric and Gas Company. An iterative, mixed-integer linear programming technique is used to find the “optimal” solution.
“10 Tips To Prevent Infection”: An Interactive Tutorial for Preventing Infections

ISSUE: Providing education to healthcare workers is an essential part of the Infection Control Program. New and innovative ways of presenting infection control information was explored during 2003. The goal was to utilize an educational aproach that could reach a large number of staff at any given time without requiring an instructor and to make it fun. PROJECT: The concept of an interactive educational tool was discussed and a mini-grant for integrating and evaluating innovative educational technology was obtained. Development of a computer-based education tool was accomplished in collaboration with the local university and the Infection Control Department. The title, “Ten Tips to Prevent Infection,” was designed to remind staff about the cornerstone of all infection controll programs: hand hygiene. The first screen is two hands facing the viewer. The word “PROTECTION” appears above each finger and is used to guide the user to a different screen for each important infection control concept. For example the “N” in protection is used to reinforce the concept that no articficial nails are to be worn by healthcare providers. Each screen is a different game. RESULTS: The CD was completed in 2004 and was trialed in the new employee orientation that is conducted at the hospital weekly. The “10 Tips to Prevent Infection” CD is shown to the new hires with the new employee facilitator running the program. Since the program was instituted in September, 2004, the infection control portion of new orientation has received excellent evaluations! The CD is also used for the orientation of all new nursing staff. The format includes the facilitator guiding the new employees throught the program. The program has been well received by the nursing staff as well. The game was also placed on a website and is available for anyone to use. LESSONS LEARNED: Supplying educational information to healhtcare workers can be a challenge; however, by utilizing an interactive computer program it can become fun for the student. Barriers to implementing this program for hospital-wide annual review included incompatitibility of computer hardware and IT restrictions. Difficulty making the CD available to other institutions due to marketing issues also became an unforeseen barrier.
Microbial RNA and DNA synthesis in marine sediments

A technique for measuring rates of RNA and DNA synthesis in sedimentary microbial communities has been adapted from methods developed for marine and freshwater microplankton research. The procedure measures the uptake, incorporation and turnover of exogenous [2, 3H]-adenine by benthic microbial populations. With minor modification, it is applicable to a wide range of sediment types. Measurement of nucleic acid synthesis rates are reported from selected benthic marine environments, including coral reef sediments (Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii), intertidal beach sands (Oahu and southern California) and California borderland basin sediment (San Pedro Basin), and comparisons are made to selected water-column microbial communities. Biomass-specific rates of nucleic acid synthesis in sediment microbial communities were comparable to those observed in water-column assemblages (i.e., 0.02 to 2.0 pmol deoxyadenine incorporated into DNA [ng ATP]-1 h-1 and 0.2 to 8.9 pmol adenine incorporated into RNA [ng ATP]-1 h-1). DNA synthesis rates were used to calculate carbon production estimates ranging from 2 μg C cm-3 h-1 in San Pedro Basin sediment (880 m water depth) to 807 μg C cm-3 h-1 in coral reef sediment from the Kaneohe Bay. Microbial community specific growth rate, μ(d-1), estimated from DNA synthesis rates in surface sediments ranged from 0.1 in San Pedro Basin to 4.2 in Scripps Beach (La Jolla, California) intertidal sand.
SOLUTION-PHASE EPR STUDIES OF SINGLE-WALLED CARBON NANOTUBES

Abstract We report EPR studies on pristine, purified, shortened and soluble SWNTs in various solution phases. Some of these samples give rise to strong, sharp EPR signals, and this technique is useful for monitoring the presence of SWNTs in aqueous and organic solvents. The soluble SWNTs carry about 1 unpaired electron per 10000 carbon atoms and give a free electron g-value.
Reviews: Politics, Islam and Culture

Berna Turam, Palo Alto, CA, Stanford University Press, 2007, 240 pp. The explosion of studies that aim to understand the nature and the goals, as well as the inner workings of Islamist movements ha...
Single facility scheduling with dual criteria: minimizing maximum tardiness subject to minimum number of tardy jobs

Abstract This paper considers the static single machine scheduling problem with the objective of minimizing the maximum tardiness of any job subject to the constraint that the total number of lardy jobs is minimum. Based on simple dominance conditions an o(n2) heuristic algorithm is proposed to find an approximate solution to this problem. The effectiveness of the proposed heuristic algorithm is empirically evaluated by solving a large number of problems and comparing them to the optimal solutions obtained through the branch and bound algorithm.
Multiscale modeling using goal-oriented adaptivity and numerical homogenization. Part II: Algorithms for the Moore-Penrose pseudoinverse

This paper is the second in this series to develop a numerical homogenization method for heterogeneous media and integrate it with goal-oriented finite element mesh adaptivity. The first paper developed the mathematical formulation of local homogenization. This was done using an appropriate averaging of the Moore–Penrose pseudoinverse of the element stiffness matrix. We also presented numerical verification of this approach and other numerical results. In the current paper, we present four algorithms to compute the Moore–Penrose pseudoinverse that also exploit the sparsity. These are based on QR factorization, a priori knowledge of the null-space, a regularization based characterization, and lastly an iterative algorithm based on proper splittings of matrices. We analyze some of these algorithms in detail for homogenizing hexahedral elements in the molecular base model of densification in Step and Flash Imprint Lithography.
Heat transfer of evaporating droplets in low pressure systems

Analytical study for evaporation from superheated water droplets in low pressure systems is presented for application to Open-Cycle Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion. The droplet size is considered to be approximately constant and sensible heat is the only source of energy for evaporation. Comparison between the experimental data and present prediction of the evaporator effectiveness are also provided.
Nonimmune Hydrops Fetalis in the Liveborn: Series of 32 Autopsies

Nonimmune hydrops fetalis (NIHF) or generalized soft tissue edema and cavity effusions may be due to cardiovascular diseases, congenital infections, genitourinary malformations, thoracic masses, placental conditions, chromosomal abnormalities, and idiopathic. We report 32 cases of NIHF from among 429 neonates who underwent autopsies (incidence 7.45%). Sixteen cases (50%) had cardiovascular disease; all were due to low output cardiac failure; 7 had structural congenital heart disease. Three of the children with congenital heart disease also had chromosomal abnormalities: 2 had trisomy 18 and 1 had Noonan syndrome. Among myocardial conditions were five subjects with cardiomyopathies (1 of each of the following types): oncocytic, dilated, endocardial fibroelastosis, cardiac glycogenosis, and carnitine deficiency; 3 had myocarditis, and 1 had cardiac rhabdomyomas. Congenital infections were due to cytomegalovirus in 3 cases, bacteria in 2, and parvovirus in 1. The mechanism of NIHF in these cases might be a combination of decreased myocardial contractility due to myocarditis and fetal anemia. Genitourinary diseases were present in 5 newborns: Two had congenital nephrotic syndrome, 1 had VACTER association, 1 had prune-belly syndrome, and 1 had urogenital sinus malformation. Intrathoracic lesions were found in 2 babies (pulmonary sequestration and diaphragmatic hernia). One twin died of volume overload due to twin transfusion syndrome. Only 2 newborns were classified as idiopathic. Our study shows that cardiovascular diseases that lead to heart failure or impaired venous return are more common in the liveborn (50%), whereas congenital infections are more common in the stillborn with NIHF.
Kynurenic acid inhibits synaptic and acidic amino acid-induced responses in the rat hippocampus and spinal cord

Abstract Kynurenic acid, a tryptophan metabolite, inhibits excitatory synaptic transmission in the rat hippocampal slice and the isolated immature rat spinal cord, but does not affect membrane potential or input resistance of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells. Kynurenic acid also antagonizes responses induced in the dentate gyrus by excitatory amino acids, particularly N-methyl- dl -aspartate and the endogenous excitant quinolinic acid. These results indicate that kynurenic acid antagonizes synaptic transmission probably by blocking postsynaptic transmitter receptors at putative amino acid mediated synapses.
Who's afraid of George Kingsley Zipf? Or: Do children and chimps have language?

Every parent hears their child's first words with pride. Phrases like “A doggie” soon follow. Or is it sometimes “The doggie”? The difference sheds light on when children (or chimps) first acquire true language – once we have taken Zipf's law and yodelling turtles into account. Charles Yang explains.
Corbino effect in double- and single-injection structures

The Corbino effect is calculated for concentric cylindrical semiconductor devices which operate-under double- and single-injection. For the two carrier structures, the I−V characteristics are represented by an I∝αV n relationship where α = (1 + μ p μ n B 2 2)/[1 + (μ p B 2 )2][1 + μ n B 2 )2] and n = 2 for the semiconductor regime and n = 3 for the insulator regime. Similar results are obtained for single-injection space-charge limited current where n = 2 and α = [1 + (μB 2 )2]−1.
Comparison of microbial inhibition and enzymatic hydrolysis rates of liquid and solid fractions produced from pretreatment of biomass with carbonic acid and liquid hot water

This research quantified the enzymatic digestibility of the solid component and the microbial inhibition of the liquid component of pretreated aspen wood and corn stover hydrolysates. Products of liquid hot water and carbonic acid pretreatment were compared. Pretreatment temperatures tested ranged from 180 to 220°C, and reaction times were varied between 4 and 64 min. Both microbial inhibition rates and enzymatic hydrolysis rates showed no difference between pretreatments containing carbonic acid and those not containing no carbonic acid. Microbial inhibition increased as the reaction severity increased, but only above a midpoint severity parameter of 200°C for 16 min. Both the rates and yields of enzymatic hydrolysis displayed an increase from the lowest tested reaction severity to the highest tested reaction severity.
New Synthetic Methods Exploiting Vinyl Sulfones Discovered During the Synthesis of a Natural Product

Abstract Observations made during the synthesis of the anticancer agent homoharringtonine 37 have resulted in the development of several new synthetic methods based upon the alkylation and conjugate-addition chemistry of γ-methoxy allylsulfonyl anions. Enones, dienyl ketones, and trienyl ketones are readily constructed. Sultinium ion intermediates facilitate the sulfone to olefin transformation.
Blockade of mast cell histamine secretion in response to neurotensin by SR 48692, a nonpeptide antagonist of the neurotensin brain receptor

Abstract 1. Pretreatment of rat isolated mast cells with SR 48692, a nonpeptide antagonist of the neurotensin (NT) receptor, prevented histamine secretion in response to NT. 2. This inhibition was rapid in onset (approximately 1 min) and dependent upon the concentration of SR 48692 (IC50 approximately 1-10 nM). 3. SR 48692 (1-1000 nM) did not inhibit histamine secretion elicited by substance P, bradykinin or compound 48/80, or by anti-IgE stimulation of sensitized mast cells. 4. When SR 48692 was injected intradermally (5 pmol in 50 microliters) into anaesthetized rats, 15 min before the intradermal injection of NT, it reduced the effect of NT on vascular permeability. 5. When injected intravenously, SR 48692 attenuated the effects of NT on haematocrit and blood stasis. 6. These results demonstrate that SR 48692 selectively antagonizes the actions of NT on rat isolated mast cells as well as mast cells in vivo. Given the demonstrated specific interaction of SR 48692 with receptors for NT in brain, our results suggest the presence of specific NT receptors on mast cells.
Urease activity in sewage sludge-amended soils

Abstract Three diverse field-moist soil samples were treated with five sewage sludges (applied at five loading rates) containing high concentrations of heavy metals. Urease activity was assayed after 0, 3, 7, 14 and 30 days of incubation. Results showed that when soils were treated with the sewage sludges, urease activity was often inhibited at the lower loading rates (2.2 and 8.9mg sludge g−1 soil), but was enhanced substantially with the higher application rates (22.2, 44.4 and 100 mg sludge g−1 soil). Inhibition of urease activity in the sewage sludge amended-soils ranged from 4 to 37% (Domino soil), 8–27% (Hesperia soil), and 3–49% (Ramona soil) at various times of incubation. Inhibition of the enzyme activity was attributed to the presence of heavy metals in the sludges. The increased activity of urease in the sludge-amended soils at the highest application rate (100 mg sludge g−1 soil) ranged from 1.13 to 5.00-fold (Domino soil), 1.20–4.04-fold (Hesperia soil), and 1.13–5.40-fold (Ramona soil). Enhanced urease activity was believed to be due to the additional source of organic matter and nutrients supplied by the sludge which stimulated microbial activity and subsequent urease synthesis.
Production of lipoprotein(a) by primary baboon hepatocytes

Abstract Primary baboon hepatocytes were cultured in a serum-free medium formulation that permitted the analysis of lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) production by the cells. The hepatocytes were determined to synthesize Lp(a) on the basis of the following observations: (1) the culture medium reacted in an ELISA designed for detection of baboon Lp(a) in serum samples; (2) the Lp(a)-specific protein, apo(a), was detected in the culture medium by immunoblotting techniques; (3) the unique protein structure of Lp(a) was demonstrated (i.e., association of apo(a) with apoB via interchain disulfide bonds to form apoLp(a)); and (4) the Lp(a) proteins occurred in the medium at a density of about 1.05 g/ml when subjected to density gradient ultracentrifugation. De novo synthesis of Lp(a) by cultured hepatocytes was demonstrated by incorporation of [ 35 S]cysteine. Lp(a) was produced by the hepatocytes throughout a 20 day culture period. Finally, apo(a) isoform patterns in the hepatocyte culture medium and the hepatocyte donors' serum were indistinguishable.
A novel role for GM-CSF: enhancement of pregnancy specific interferon production, ovine trophoblast protein-1

Transient and massive production of ovine trophoblast protein-1 (oTP-1) by preimplantation conceptuses seems to be a critical event required for the establishment of successful pregnancy. We have previously demonstrated that one of several oTP-1 genes is predominantly expressed between days 13 and 20 of pregnancy and that this oTP-1 gene contains an AP-1 site, a transcription enhancer element, in the 5'-flanking region. We have obtained evidence, indicating a linkage between cytokine granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and conceptus production of the trophoblast interferon (IFN), oTP-1. These are: 1) oTP-1 production (both polypeptide and mRNA) is enhanced by the addition of GM-CSF in vitro and 2) GM-CSF mRNA is localized in the luminal and glandular epithelium of the uterine endometrium. Based on these observations, we propose that the massive amounts of oTP-1 produced during the period of pregnancy establishment is stimulated at least in part by maternal GM-CSF.
Comprehensive evaluation of endoscopic fundoplication using the EsophyXTM device

Background There are limited studies that evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic fundoplication (EF) for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with the EsophyXTM device, especially with the most recent procedural iteration (TIF-2). This study was a prospective evaluation of our early experience with this device and procedure.
A compact recursive trans-impedance Green's function for the inhomogeneous ferrite microwave circulator

A detailed analytical investigation of the circular ferrite circulator is provided in this paper. The ferrite is assumed to be radially inhomogeneous as a result of an azimuthally invariant demagnetization field. The cavity model of Bosma and the stratified ferrite model of Krowne and Neidert are used to construct a compact recursive Green's function in terms of wave impedances and azimuthal modes. The Green's function logarithmic singularity is treated separately and extracted to improve the convergence characteristics of the modal series. The impedance parameters of the circulator are obtained via an integration of the Green's function and its singular term; to obtain the scattering parameters, various matrix manipulations of the impedance parameters are invoked. Data are provided and compared with independent sources to demonstrate the veracity of the Green's function approach. Finally, a circulator design is offered using the Green's function method and scattering-parameter data associated with that design are compared with data from a three-dimensional finite-element electromagnetic simulation of a microstrip circulator. The correlation between both data sets further supports the validity of the inhomogeneous cavity model and the Green's function approach.
Current treatment of otitis media based on pathogenesis studies

Studies of pathogenesis of otitis media indicate clear cut categories including POM (acute purulent otitis media), SOM (serous otitis media), MOM (mucoid or secretory otitis media), COM (chronic suppurative otitis media) and sequellae with frequent overlap of types. One type of otitis media can lead to another type along a continuum. In this paper our concepts of treatment based on laboratory studies and clinical observation, both medical and surgical, are documented.
Studies on Left Atrial Automaticity in Dogs

The site of origin and the sequence of atrial activation were studied in 21 open-chested dogs anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital. Bipolar plunge electrodes were used to record atrial electrograms simultaneously with surface lead II and His bundle electrogram. In sinus rhythm the sinus node was activated first, followed sequentially by Bachmann's bundle, right atrial appendix, left atrial appendix, posterior left atrium, and the proximal portion of the coronary sinus. In 15 dogs left atrial beats and rhythms of various rate were recorded, including instances of left atrial exit block and of rapid left atrial rhythms. In such beats one of the left atrial electrodes was activated first and was followed by Bachmann's bundle, sinus node, proximal portion of the coronary sinus, and by right atrial appendix. Left atrial beats were observed occurring (1) spontaneously; (2) as a result of vagal stimulation; (3) after destruction of the sinus node; (4) during ventricular pacing. Left atrial pacing through the e...
Electron transfer to nitrite reductase of Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.3: examination of cytochromes c2 and cY.

The role of cytochrome c 2, encoded by cycA, and cytochrome c Y, encoded by cycY, in electron transfer to the nitrite reductase of Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.3 was investigated using both in vivo and in vitro approaches. Both cycA and cycY were isolated, sequenced and insertionally inactivated in strain 2.4.3. Deletion of either gene alone had no apparent effect on the ability of R. sphaeroides to reduce nitrite. In a cycA–cycY double mutant, nitrite reduction was largely inhibited. However, the expression of the nitrite reductase gene nirK from a heterologous promoter substantially restored nitrite reductase activity in the double mutant. Using purified protein, a turnover number of 5 s−1 was observed for the oxidation of cytochrome c 2 by nitrite reductase. In contrast, oxidation of c Y only resulted in a turnover of ∼0·1 s−1. The turnover experiments indicate that c 2 is a major electron donor to nitrite reductase but c Y is probably not. Taken together, these results suggest that there is likely an unidentified electron donor, in addition to c 2, that transfers electrons to nitrite reductase, and that the decreased nitrite reductase activity observed in the cycA–cycY double mutant probably results from a change in nirK expression.
Psychometric evaluation of a short form of the Inventory of Drinking Situations

The Inventory of Drinking Situations (IDS) was developed to assess the likelihood of alcoholic relapse in eight high-risk situations. Previous research questioned the factor stability of the instrument; therefore, an alternative, short form of the IDS (IDS42) was developed and subjected to preliminary examination. This project reports on the further examination of the psychometric characteristics of the IDS42. The instrument's primary factor stability and higher-order factor structure were examined, and subscale means, standard deviations, alpha coefficients, interscale correlations and independence (unique variance) were determined. Also, the relationships between the IDS42 subscale scores and alcohol dependence, social desirability and demographic characteristics were explored. Results of the principal components analysis support the instrument's primary factor stability and indicate that the scales load onto one higher order dimension. The subscale internal consistency estimates were very high. Significantly high positive correlations were found between the IDS42 subscales and alcohol dependence. The IDS42 is influenced by a socially desirable response set that may result in spuriously low IDS42 scale elevations. The subscales initially demonstrated high interscale correlations; however, estimates of unique variance show that the IDS42 scales have an acceptable level of independence. Except for a significant negative correlation with age for three subscales, demographic characteristics do not appear to influence IDS42 results. These findings support the use of the IDS42 in assessing the extent to which heavy alcohol use has occurred in five situations. With this information, it may be possible to prepare to avoid or cope with these situations in the future and, consequently, to reduce the potential for relapse.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The Effect of Processing Conditions on the Properties of Carbon Fiber-LaRC TPI Composites Made by Suspension Prepregging

Unidirectional carbon fiber-LaRC TPI composites were made by prepreg ging carbon fiber tow with particles of LaRC TPI suspended in aqueous solutions of the ammonium salt of LaRC TPI polyamic acid. The prepregging was followed by drying and consolidation steps designed to facilitate water removal. The effects of processing condi tions on composite properties were investigated. The processing conditions included the degree of overlap of the fiber bundle in the prepreg, the fiber tension during prepregging, and the use of vacuum during the consolidation step. It was found that fiber volume % in creased with increasing fiber tension and that consolidation under vacuum resulted in composites with void content as low as 0.14 volume %. Fourier transform infrared spec troscopy and thermogravimetric analysis coupled with mass spectroscopy established that most of the water was removed from the prepreg and most of the polyamic acid was con verted to polyimide prior to consolidation. The properties of the resulting ...