cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vertical field switching for blue-phase liquid crystal devices

A low-voltage ( 80%), submillisecond-response, and hysteresis-free polymer-stabilized blue-phase liquid crystal (BPLC) device with vertical field switching (VFS) and oblique incident light are demonstrated experimentally. Unlike the commonly employed in-plane switching in which the electric field is primarily in lateral direction and not uniform spatially, the VFS mode has uniform longitudinal field. As a result, the operating voltage is reduced by ∼ 3.2 × which in turn helps to eliminate hysteresis. The VFS mode is a promising candidate for the emerging BPLC display and photonic devices.
Antimalarials—Are They Safe to Use in Children?

From 1963 to the present, many reviews of antimalarials for use in dermatology have mentioned the special sensitivity of children to these drugs. Fatal reactions have been limited to accidental or intentional overdosage and two instances of IM injection. While 1 gm of chloroquine can produce fatal reaction in very young children, analysis of published and unpublished cases show that adults exhibit a similar sensitivity when compared on a mg/kg basis. This information should encourage a physician to use antimalarials where appropriate, but special precaution should be taken to prevent poisoning.
Pedicled pericardial patch repair of a carinal bronchogenic cyst

Bronchogenic cysts should be completely removed. Small communications with the tracheobronchial tree occur, but extensive involvement is rare. A case of bronchogenic cyst replacing the carina and the medial wall of the right and left main bronchi is presented. Resection and reconstruction was accomplished by using a pedicled pericardial patch to close the defect created by removal of the bronchogenic cyst. Follow-up at 2 years shows an excellent result.
Operational planning in district combined heat and power systems by mixed–integer nonlinear programming models

A mixed–integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) model is presented for operational planning problems arising in district combined heat and power (CHP) systems. Annual operations data from a district CHP system having a total electric capacity of 16 MW and heat capacity of 182 MW is used for the analysis. Two important features of fossil–fuel equipment incorporated in the model are the nonlinear change in efficiency of boilers with operating load and the nonlinear change in nominal output and efficiency of gas turbines with ambient temperature and operating load. The resulting nonlinear model is solved in MATLAB using the TOMLAB/MINLP solver. The research results show that the proposed methodology can produce meaningful reductions in system running costs and is viable to implement in real–life scenarios.
Enzymatic Formation of Indole-3-Carboxaldehyde from Indole-3-Acetic Acid.

It was first suggested by Tang and Bonner (14) that indole-3-carboxaldehyde is the product of the oxidative degradation of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) by crude enzyme preparations from etiolated pea seedlings. Using the more active bean root enzyme, Wagenknecht and Burris (15) attempted without success to obtain the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone of the aldehyde. On the basis of chromatographic data, Racusen (9) reports that the pea enzyme forms small amounts of the aldehyde. More recently, Wagenknecht (personal communication) has made similar observations with the bean root system. Ray and Thimann (10) and Ray (11) have recently reported that the enzyme from Omphalia fiavida is unable to form the aldehyde. The recent work of Maclachlan and Waygood (6) likewise has left unsettled the nature of the end product. Manning and Galston (7) have reported the formation in the pea system of two products having high Rf values and giving qualitative color tests which indicate a similarity to our products # 4 and #5 (see below). They were unable to demonstrate the formation of indole-3-carboxaldehyde, and also ruled out orifto-formamidoacetophenone, ori/io-aminoacetophenone, and 4-hydroxyquinoline as major end products, although they believe that the indole ring is ruptured. Chromatographic separation and spectrophotometric examination of the products of the IAA oxidase-peroxidase system from Lupinus albus L. (13) gave no indication that the aldehyde was formed; likewise, the results obtained when the chromatograms were tested with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine hydrochloride, modified Salkowski (3), and Ehrlich reagent suggested the absence of the aldehyde. In view of the conflicting results, attempts were made to suplement the purified IAA oxidase with the auxiliary enzyme systems presumed to be present in the crude enzyme preparations employed in the early investigations. The present report is concerned with the coupling of the oxidase system to the cytochrome oxidase system. Under these conditions the formation of indole-3-carboxaldehyde as a major reaction product was observed.
Social and Individual Behaviors in Captive Slow Lorises

Two groups of wild-born slow lorises were housed together in a semi-natural laboratory environment for 20 weeks. The animals are nocturnal and were observed under dim red illumination by means of a low-light TV camera. The behavior of each animal was videotaped for 5 consecutive minutes 3 times a week. Then, written records were obtained of everything that the animal did or had done to it, moment by moment, as well as the time spent on each activity. Analyses were carried out to determine: which behaviors accounted for the majority of time and frequency scores, how behavior changed over time, and what were the dynamics of within-group interaction. The most striking finding was the degree of sociability found to exist among adult slow lorises. Once they had become familiar with one another, they approached each other often but seldom left during an ongoing interaction, spent much time sitting in proximity to one or more others or in passive contact, social groomed and play-fought. Agonistic behavior was infrequent and did not have serious consequences. The tendency to interact in predominantly friendly ways with others was true of all individuals in a group. These findings were surprising because nocturnal prosimians once were believed to be relatively solitary. However, the present results are in keeping with those of recent field reports on other, related species. It is apparent that the old view of nocturnal prosimians is in need of some revision.
Martingale-based residuals for survival models

SUMMARY Graphical methods based on the analysis of residuals are considered for the setting of the highly-used Cox (1972) regression model and for the Andersen-Gill (1982) generalization of that model. We start with a class of martingale-based residuals as proposed by Barlow & Prentice (1988). These residuals and/or their transforms are useful for investigating the functional form of a covariate, the proportional hazards assumption, the leverage of each subject upon the estimates of 13, and the lack of model fit to a given subject. 1 1. Model Consider a set of n independent subjects such that the counting process Ni {Ni(t), t } O} for the ith subject in the set indicates the number of observed events experienced over time t. The sample paths of the Ni are step functions with jumps of size +1 and with Ni(0) =0. We assume that the intensity function for Ni(t) is given by Yi(t)dA{t, Zi(t)} = Yi(t) eP'Z(t) dAO(t), (1) where Yi(t) is a 0-1 process indicating whether the ith subject is a risk at time t, 13 is a vector of regression coefficients, Zi(t) is a p dimensional vector of covariate processes, and Ao is the baseline cumulative hazard function. Several familar survival models fit into this framework. The Andersen & Gill (1982) generalization of the Cox (1972) model arises when AO(t) is completely unspecified. The further restriction that Yi(t) = 1 until the first event or censoring, and is 0 thereafter yields the Cox model. The parametric form AO(t) = t yields a Poisson model, or an exponential if restricted to a single event per subject, and AO(t) = tP a Weibull model. Our attention will focus primarily on the Andersen-Gill and Cox models; however, the
Global Human Rights and Local Social Movements in a Legally Plural World.

The problem of universalism and relativism in human rights needs to be considered through ethnographic examinations of the mobilization of global human rights in local political struggles. Using the example of a local movement against gender violence in the United States, this article argues that the rights approach provides important resources for local movements but contains particular Western concepts and categories of subjectivity. Given the extent to which legal strategies are subverted within and outside the legal system, here the rights strategy creates new cultural spaces far more than it produces coercive intervention. A framework of legal pluralism and local mobilization provides a perspective which moves beyond the dichotomies of the universalism/relativism debate.
Stakeholder assessments as a predictor of high potential and promotion to partner in professional service firms

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to examine multisource feedback from a stakeholder perspective, arguing that select competency assessments that different rater groups provide are valid predictors of the “partner” potential and advancement of senior professional service professionals (PSPs).Design/methodology/approach – A 360‐degree assessment tool for PSPs, the Relationship Management Survey (RMS), was administered to 391 principals as part of their professional development. Six RMS dimensions (clusters of competencies) were used to predict a principal's high‐potential promise and promotion to partner three to five years later.Findings – The results support hypotheses detailing how different rater groups assess PSPs differently, and how these differences are relevant to PSP promotion to partner. The predictability of becoming partner increased by 50 percent compared to partner‐only assessments through the use of direct report assessments of the principals' leadership and coaching, peer assessmen...
Beyond Freedom and Slavery: Autonomy, Virtue, and Resistance in Early American Political Discourse

“Our old friend Samuel Adams used to say ‘nations were as free as they deserved to be,’” Benjamin Rush recalled in 1812, musing on the history of the American Revolution and on the ensuing decline in public virtue, as he saw it. John Adams, his correspondent, agreed. “Sam’s doctrine . . . is true,” he wrote, “and has a good tendency to excite vigilance and energy in defense of freedom.” It may seem odd that Benjamin Rush, John Adams, and Samuel Adams, signers of the Declaration of Independence all, could agree on this view of freedom. “Sam’s doctrine,” as Adams called it, the idea that nations are only as free as they deserve to be, is a far cry from the Declaration of Independence’s more memorable formulation: All men created equal, endowed with inalienable rights, including life, the pursuit of happiness—and liberty. If it seems odd, that may be because scholars have been apt to associate the meaning of American freedom with the declaration. Few would deny that the declaration has profoundly influenced the course of American history, providing a universalizing, rights-
Anatomy of a government massacre: Abuses of hostage‐barricade protocols during the Waco standoff

A systematic evaluation of the FBI's crisis negotiations with the Branch Davidians during a 51‐day standoff in 1993 is conducted. The analysis uncovers extensive violations of basic hostage‐barricade standards and protocols. The violations appear shortly after negotiations began indicating a premature disregard for the publicly declared goal of a peaceful resolution. Failed negotiations subsequently were cited by FBI officials as a rationale for organizing a violent and dangerous CS gas assault on the barricaded group, resulting in the destruction of the religious community and the deaths of 74 people. The violations do not appear to be random, incidental, or the result of disorganization, as officials claim. The data indicate that the FBI's on‐scene commanders and tactical component of the Hostage‐Rescue Team (HRT) contributed largely to the failed negotiations through methods of increased tactical pressure and psychological warfare providing justification for the high‐risk assault. The thesis is advance...
POLYETHYLENE-FERROUS-ION DOSIMETER FOR HYDROCARBON SYSTEMS IN RADIATION CHEMISTRY

Abstract A procedure for accurately determining the total energy input into an organic system has been evaluated. The study was performed in the low-energy region of the X-ray spectrum (below 50 keV). This method eliminates the uncertainties encountered in the use of electron density ratios.
Advances in parameter estimation from event count data

In modeling a system, identifying the times at which the state of the system changes is important. In particular, the probability distributions of the interevent times (time lengths between consecutive events) of each process (such as interarrival times) are required in a simulation model. Often information characterizing the interevent times may be unavailable or difficult to obtain. On the other hand, the number of event per unit time is simple and economical to collect.In the last few years, there has been much research in stochastic modeling using point processes by a varied group of researchers. Despite this extensive and diverse research effort, little attention has been given to estimation techniques based on event count data rather than event time data. This paper discusses recent advances (in the last year) in estimation based on event count data.
Abstract 2091: Nitrooleic acids induce localization of heat shock protein 70 in PAM212 keratinocyte caveolae

Keratinocytes can be stimulated to express inducible nitric oxide synthase and generate nitric oxide by proinflammatory mediators including γ-interferon and lipopolysaccharide. Once formed, nitric oxide and its oxidation products form signaling molecules via redox mediated nitration reactions. Important targets for nitration in mammalian cells are unsaturated fatty acids. This can result in the production of reactive electrophilic species including 9-nitrooleate (9-NO) and 10-nitrooleate (10-NO). Oxidative stress is known to upregulate expression of heat shock proteins which are important chaperones functioning in protein-protein interactions including folding and trafficking. In the present studies we characterized nitro-fatty acid-induced expression of heat shock protein 70 (hsp70) in PAM212 mouse keratinocytes. Western blot analysis showed low constitutive levels of hsp70. Treatment of keratinocytes with 5-25 μM 9-NO or 10-NO for 6 hr markedly increased hsp70 expression. 10-NO was more active than 9-NO. Constitutive hsp70 was found to be localized in cytosolic fractions of keratinocytes, 9- or 10-NO did not alter constitutive cytosolic hsp70. In contrast, following treatment of keratinocytes with the nitro-fatty acids, hsp70 was selectively upregulated in lipid raft membrane fractions. Both hsp70 and caveolin-1 were co-localized in the lipid raft fractions of the membranes demonstrating that the lipid rafts are caveolae. In mouse keratinocytes, nitro-fatty acids readily stimulate MAP kinase signaling including JNK and p38 MAP kinases. Inhibitors of JNK (SP600125, 20 μM) or p38 (SB203580, 10 μM) had no effect on induction of hsp70 or its localization in caveolae indicating that nitro-fatty acid-induced expression of this protein was MAP kinase-independent. Taken together these data demonstrate that nitro-fatty acids are important in the control of heat shock protein expression. Moreover, selective localization of hsp70 in caveolae suggests that it functions in protecting caveolar proteins from cellular stress. Supported by CA132624, ES004738, ES005022, GM034310 and AR055073. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2091. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-2091
NMR spin relaxation methods for characterization of disorder and folding in proteins.

Abstract The flexibility and dynamics of proteins directly influence the processes of protein folding, recognition, and function. NMR spin relaxation methods are used to assess the dynamics and mobility of proteins, for fast ps and ns motions as well as slower μs and ms events. The degree of protein flexibility and disorder as well as the changes in protein flexibility can be assessed by NMR spin relaxation methods at individual residues within the protein. In addition to probing protein dynamics, the changes in the NMR-derived order parameters can be used to estimate the entropic contributions of order–disorder transitions. Furthermore, kinetic processes in the ms time regime may be directly investigated to extract the rates of conformational interconversion, ligand binding, and protein folding processes. We show how a variety of dynamical information can be obtained from NMR relaxation measurements. We present examples that illustrate the use of NMR spin relaxation analysis for investigation of folding and disorder in proteins. © 2001 by Elsevier Science Inc.
Acetylene adsorption to Fe(100), (110), and (111) surfaces; structures and reactions

Abstract We have made full structure determinations for acetylene on small and large cluster models of Fe(100), (110), and (111) surfaces using the atom superposition and electron delocalization molecular orbital theory. Four-fold sites are found favored on the (100) and (110) surfaces and the di-σ bridging site is favored on Fe(111). We calculate carbon bond stretches of 0.36, 0.30, and 0.26 A, CH bending angles away from the surfaces of 65°, 60°, and 65°, decreasing adsorption energies, and increasing carbon bond scission energies for Fe(100), (110), and (111), respectively. The bonding in chemisorbed acetylene is compared with the ethylene molecule. Conditions for twisting of the acetylene molecule are discussed, but no twisting is observed at the most stable chemisorption sites on these surfaces. The relative activities of these surfaces toward acetylene are analyzed and a relationship is found between surface atom density and activity, such that the (110) and (111) surfaces are less active than the (100) surface because of their respective higher and lower surface iron atom packing densities. Finally, probable surface coverages and structures are discussed on the basis .of calculated interactions between two adsorbed acetylene molecules and adsorbed acetylene and a CH fragment on the large clusters.
Heart-Reactive Antibody: An Index of Cardiac Rejection in Human Heart Transplantation

Indirect immunofluorescent techniques used for detection of heart-reactive antibody have been used in both human and experimental cardiac transplantation. Definite evidence is presented which demonstrates the presence of circulating heart-reactive antibody preceding clinical or laboratory evidence of cardiac rejection. In all patients who lived longer than one week and died of cardiac rejection, an increase in titers of heart-reactive antibody were present prior to obvious signs of rejection and death. Immunosuppressive therapy, both experimentally and clinically, has been demonstrated to alter the titer of circulating heart-reactive antibody. Much work is needed to clarify the significance of this heart-reactive antibody in the mechanism of rejection. However, the presence of heart-reactive antibody in patients after cardiac transplantation appears to be a valuable aid in monitoring cardiac rejection.
Optimizing performance of a thermal energy storage system

We consider the problem of electricity demand shifting for the cooling needs of a large institution using a thermal energy storage (TES) tank. The system is comprised of a number electric chillers and a tank that can store enough energy for the cooling demand of most days, but not all. The approach outlined here selects the number of chillers, and their time of operation, to minimize the costs, primarily by shifting the demand to the overnight period for which the electricity costs are lower and, due to lower ambient temperatures, the chillers are more efficient. The main goal is to develop a reliable and fast algorithm that can be used for planning and updating the chillers operations.
Continuous infusion of endotoxin depresses splenic blastogenesis.

AbstractContinuous infusion of a sublethal dose of bacterial endotoxin into rats via an implanted osmotic pump markedly affected the blastogenic responsiveness of spleen cells to specific endotoxin as well as to the nonspecific mitogens Con A, PHA or PWM. There was also a marked alteration in lymphoid cell type and number in the spleen of the rats after continuous infusion of endotoxin, with a marked increase in plasma cell infiltration and germinal center formation. There was no significant alteration in glucocorticoid steroid levels. Control rats given saline only for a period of seven days via an implanted pump showed no or minimal effect for the first 5 days and then a delayed depression of blastogenic responses to LPS and to Con A, but this time lag contrasted markedly to the much earlier unresponsiveness of splenocytes from rats infused with endotoxin. Only a slight to moderate cellular infiltration occurred in the spleen of control rats implanted with a pump infusing saline only or an empty pump. T...
Studies on the enzymatic hydrolysis of peptide-bound iodoamino acids.

The present investigation was undertaken to determine the relative rates of enzymatic liberation of iodoamino acids from peptide linkage in thyroglobulin and other proteins. Thyroglobolin was labeled with radioiodine in vivo under different conditions of iodine supply so as to give iodine-rich and iodine-poor thyroglobulin with correspondingly low or high MIT/DIT and T3/T4 ratios. Graded concentrations of various proteolytic enzymes (Pancreatin, Pronase, trypsin, chymotrypsin or thyroid protease) from 0.0003 to 2% were incubated with labeled thyroglobulin in 0.02M methimazole for 5 min to 24 hr. MIT was liberated much more rapidly than DIT by all proteolytic enzymes regardless of the degree of iodination of the thyroglobulin. Iodothyronine bonds were more resistant to hydrolysis than was that of DIT. There was no evidence of deiodination of DIT to form MIT during digestion. Denaturation of thyroglobulin by urea, mercaptoethanol, or freezing accentuated the preferential enzymatic release of MIT. Preferenti...
Understanding the risks of child neglect: an exploration of poverty and parenting characteristics

A strong association between poverty and child neglect has been established, but the mechanisms that explain this relationship have not been clearly articulated. This research takes advantage of survey and child maltreatment administrative data about families with young children and assesses the influence of poverty and parenting characteristics on subsequent child neglect. The authors find that indicators of poverty, such as perceived material hardship and infrequent employment, and parenting characteristics, such as low parental warmth, use of physical discipline, and allowing a child to engage in frequent television viewing, are predictive of child neglect. Parenting characteristics do not appear to mediate the link between perceived hardship and neglect, although they suppress the link between employment and neglect. Results from this study provide information that is highly relevant to the approach and design of child maltreatment prevention and intervention strategies.
Focus reflex modulation of electron guns

High resolution and low drive features have been successfully combined in a new type of electron gun for cathode-ray tubes. The gun has a spot-defining aperture of 0.007 inch upon which emission from a large cathode area is concentrated by a retarding electron lens. This unit modulates the beam by electron reflection, while focusing it upon the aperture ("Focus Reflex Modulation"). Immediately ahead of the aperture, a modulated virtual cathode is formed with an emission capability of over four amperes per square centimeter. A 1000-\micro a beam with a 6° divergence is controlled by a signal of 12 volts centered at ground potential. Highlight brigntness of 250 foot lamberts was read at 17,500 volts, while more than 500 lines were resolved on a television test pattern. In more recent forms of the FRM gun, 1600 \micro a are measured in the screen return, out of 1800-\micro a cathode current. This is 88 per cent over-all transmission, using the same defining aperture (0.007 inch). 18 volts of drive signal will completely modulate the above current.
Glutamate Modulation of Dopamine Measured in Vivo with Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and 11C-Raclopride in Normal Human Subjects

Subanesthetic doses of the noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist ketamine exacerbate psychosis in schizophrenic patients, and ketamine has significant abuse liability. These observations indicate that a secondary effect of ketamine may be to increase dopamine concentrations. The present study was undertaken using positron emission tomography (PET) and the dopamine (D2) radiotracer 11C-raclopride to determine whether ketamine would decrease D2 receptor availability, indicative of an increase in dopamine concentrations. Two scans were performed in seven male control subjects before and after administration of ketamine (0.5 mg/kg, IV infused over 20 min). Ketamine significantly increased cortisol levels and decreased dopamine receptor availability in the striatum (specific binding), but not in the cerebellum (nonspecific binding). In addition, the cerebellar binding subtracted from the striatal binding (to account for changes in nonspecific binding) was significantly decreased after ketamine administration. These results provide in vivo evidence for the ability of ketamine to increase striatal dopamine concentrations, consistent with the role of the NMDA receptor in modulating dopamine function.
Effects of neurotensin on visual neurons in the superficial laminae of the hamster's superior colliculus

Superficial layer superior colliculus (SC) neurons were recorded extracellularly with multibarreled recording/ejecting micropipettes. Angiotensin II was delivered via micropressure ejection during visual stimulation (n = 215 cells), or during electrical stimulation of either the optic chiasm (OX; n = 150 cells) or visual cortex (CTX; n = 42 cells). Application of angiotensin II decreased visual responses of SC cells to 43.8% +/- 30.7% (mean +/- S.D.) and reduced responses to electrical stimulation of the OX and CTX to 58.6% +/- 34.1% and 43.8% +/- 30.7% of control values, respectively. Angiotensin II enhanced responses by at least 30% in only 6 cells (1.5%). Of the 35 neurons tested with both OX and CTX stimulation, the correlation of evoked response suppression by angiotensin II was highly significant (r = 0.69; P < 0.001). This suggests that the suppressive effects of angiotensin II were common to both pathways. To test whether the inhibitory effects of angiotensin II were presynaptic or postsynaptic, Mg2+ ions were ejected iontophoretically to abolish synaptic responses, and the neurons were activated by iontophoresis of glutamate and then tested with angiotensin II. Angiotensin II reduced the glutamate-evoked responses to an average 29.1% +/- 21.1% of control values (n = 9 cells). This suggest that the site of action of angiotensin II is most likely postsynaptic. To identify which receptors were involved in these effects, angiotensin II was ejected concurrently with the AT1 antagonist Losartan (DUP753) or with either of two AT2 antagonists, CGP42112A or PD123177. Losartan antagonized the action of angiotensin II in 65.6% of the cells tested (n = 99) and CGP42112A and PD123177 had antagonistic effects in 58% (n = 65) and 60% (n = 5), respectively. Both classes of antagonists were tested in 29 cells; and there was no significant correlation between their effectiveness. These results suggest that both AT1 and AT2 receptors may independently mediate the suppressive effects of angiotensin II, and that collicular neurons may have either or both receptor subtypes.
Improved analytical delay models for coupled interconnects

With the advance of the process technologies into deep sub-micrometer domain, crosstalk between adjacent wires of global interconnects has become more severe. The delay caused by the crosstalk becomes a bottleneck to system performance, especially those with global interconnects. To alleviate crosstalk delays, accurate delay models are needed. In particular, analytical models are more desirable for their simplicity and transparency to technology, which lead to efficient crosstalk avoidance code (CAC) designs. Currently, most existing CAC designs are based on the analytical model proposed by Sotiriadis et al., which has limited accuracy. In this paper, we propose new analytical delay models, and our extensive simulations show that they have improved accuracy.
A decentralized scheme for spacecraft formation flying via the virtual structure approach

Built on the combined strength of decentralized control and the recently introduced virtual structure approach, a decentralized formation scheme for spacecraft formation ∞ying is presented in this paper. Following a decentralized coordination architecture via the virtual structure approach, decentralized formation control strategies are introduced, which are appropriate when a large number of spacecraft are involved or stringent communication bandwidth limitations are exerted. The efiectiveness of the proposed control strategies is demonstrated through simulation results.
Finite element methods in impedance tomography and microwave imaging

Electrical impedance tomography and microwave imaging methods for monitoring the temperature distribution during hyperthermia treatment is discussed. The numerical models, primarily finite element based, are described for each with attention to the differences in the governing partial differential equations. The reconstruction algorithms for determining the tissue properties are discussed. Finally, preliminary results using electrical impedance tomography to map conductivity changes during hyperthermia are shown. >
High-fidelity simulation of lung isolation with double-lumen endotracheal tubes and bronchial blockers in anesthesiology resident training.

Objectives Demonstrate the feasibility of using the AirSim Bronchi airway simulator to teach residents how to manage lung isolation with double-lumen endotracheal tubes and bronchial blockers and evaluate their performance with a detailed checklist. Design Prospective observational study. Setting University anesthesiology residency training program. Participants Anesthesiology residents taking a cardiothoracic anesthesiology rotation. Interventions Residents were instructed in 7 tasks using the AirSim Bronchi: The use of the fiberoptic bronchoscope, methods for placing left and right double-lumen endotracheal tubes and 3 bronchial blockers (Univent, Arndt, and Cohen), and application of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to the unventilated lung. Two to 3 weeks later, checklists and a detailed scoring system were used to assess performance. Residents rated the curriculum and their own confidence in performing the tasks using a 5-point Likert scale. Measurements and Main Results Thirteen residents completed the curriculum. Their median Likert scale ratings of the curriculum based on a questionnaire with 6 items ranged from 4 to 5 of 5. Resident confidence scores for each lung isolation technique improved after the simulation training, with the median gain ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 Likert levels depending on the task. The largest improvement occurred with the bronchial blockers (p Conclusions The authors used the AirSim Bronchi simulator in a novel simulation curriculum to teach lung-isolation techniques to anesthesiology residents and evaluated performance using a detailed checklist scoring system. This curriculum is a promising educational tool.
Roles of the P1, P2, and P3 Residues in Determining Inhibitory Specificity of Kallistatin toward Human Tissue Kallikrein

Kallistatin is a serpin with a unique P1 Phe, which confers an excellent inhibitory specificity toward tissue kallikrein. In this study, we investigated the P3-P2-P1 residues (residues 386–388) of human kallistatin in determining inhibitory specificity toward human tissue kallikrein by site-directed mutagenesis and molecular modeling. Human kallistatin mutants with 19 different amino acid substitutions at each P1, P2, or P3 residue were created and purified to compare their kallikrein binding activity. Complex formation assay showed that P1 Arg, P1 Phe (wild type), P1 Lys, P1 Tyr, P1 Met, and P1 Leu display significant binding activity with tissue kallikrein among the P1 variants. Kinetic analysis showed the inhibitory activities of the P1 mutants toward tissue kallikrein in the order of P1 Arg > P1 Phe > P1 Lys ≥ P1 Tyr > P1 Leu ≥ P1 Met. P1 Phe displays a better selectivity for human tissue kallikrein than P1 Arg, since P1 Arg also inhibits several other serine proteinases. Heparin distinguishes the inhibitory specificity of kallistatin toward kallikrein versus chymotrypsin. For the P2 and P3 variants, the mutants with hydrophobic and bulky amino acids at P2 and basic amino acids at P3 display better binding activity with tissue kallikrein. The inhibitory activities of these mutants toward tissue kallikrein are in the order of P2 Phe (wild type) > P2 Leu > P2 Trp > P2 Met and P3 Arg > P3 Lys (wild type). Molecular modeling of the reactive center loop of kallistatin bound to the reactive crevice of tissue kallikrein indicated that the P2 residue required a long and bulky hydrophobic side chain to reach and fill the hydrophobic S2 cleft generated by Tyr99 and Trp219 of tissue kallikrein. Basic amino acids at P3 could stabilize complex formation by forming electrostatic interaction with Asp98J and hydrogen bond with Gln174 of tissue kallikrein. Our results indicate that tissue kallikrein is a specific target proteinase for kallistatin.
THE DEATH OF AN AGENCY

The pluralistic logic of American government facilitates the creation of new agencies while posing obstacles to their elimination, making the outright closure of an agency an unusual event. The Republican majority elected to Congress in 1994 announced a priority of attempting that feat. This article examines the first of its few successes, the termination of the Office of Technology Assessment, and it considers whether this case is an exception to the rule of agency resiliency. I show that Congress targeted this agency because of its tiny budget, low political visibility, and absent constituency. This event was an exercise in budget symbolism, and is consistent with what one would predict of a legislature seeking to position itself as fiscally responsible yet restrained from making serious changes to the bureaucracy by powerful constituency interests.
The hippopotamus conveyor belt: vectors of carbon and nutrients from terrestrial grasslands to aquatic systems in sub-Saharan Africa

Summary Hippopotami can play a significant role as ecosystem engineers and may play an important role as carbon and nutrient vectors from savanna grasslands to aquatic systems. We coupled the results of a feeding study of captive hippopotami, faeces leaching/mineralisation experiments, hippopotamus consumption estimates and the stoichiometry of savanna grasses to calculate excretion and egestion rates of hippopotami. We then used time budgets and population estimates to calculate nutrient loading by hippopotami in the Mara River, Kenya. In captivity, hippopotami consumed 11.0 g dry matter (DM) kg hippopotamus−1 day−1 (110.6 C; 6.8 N; 1.0 P) and egested 5.3 g DM kg−1 day−1. They excreted or egested 2.72 g C, 0.28 g N and 0.04 g P kg hippopotamus−1 day−1, and urine comprised 12% of C, 70% of N and 33% of P of total excretion and egestion. By integrating data from previously published work on hippopotamus digestion with the data we collected in the field, we estimated an average hippopotamus in the Mara River would excrete or egest 1.93–3.58 g DM, 0.78–1.47 g C, 0.13–0.19 g N and 0.01–0.02 g P kg hippopotamus−1 day−1, and that half of this excretion/egestion would enter the river. The hippopotamus population increased by 1500% inside the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, between 1959 and 2006. We estimate that hippopotami egest 36 200 kg faeces day−1 into the Mara River (wet mass). Daily loading into the river by excretion and egestion equals 8563 kg DM, 3499 kg C, 492 kg N and 48 kg P, which is equivalent to 670% of CPOM, 15% of DOC, 27% of TN and 29% of TP of loading from the upstream catchment. This research provides the first estimates for hippopotamus inputs to rivers that include both excretion and egestion and provides evidence that hippopotami are important resource vectors in sub-Saharan African rivers, even when compared to other sources of carbon and nutrients.
A Framework for Detecting Glaucomatous Progression in the Optic Nerve Head of an Eye Using Proper Orthogonal Decomposition

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. Often, the optic nerve head (ONH) glaucomatous damage and ONH changes occur prior to visual field loss and are observable in vivo. Thus, digital image analysis is a promising choice for detecting the onset and/or progression of glaucoma. In this paper, we present a new framework for detecting glaucomatous changes in the ONH of an eye using the method of proper orthogonal decomposition (POD). A baseline topograph subspace was constructed for each eye to describe the structure of the ONH of the eye at a reference/baseline condition using POD. Any glaucomatous changes in the ONH of the eye present during a follow-up exam were estimated by comparing the follow-up ONH topography with its baseline topograph subspace representation. Image correspondence measures of L 1-norm and L 2-norm, correlation, and image Euclidean distance (IMED) were used to quantify the ONH changes. An ONH topographic library built from the Louisiana State University Experimental Glaucoma study was used to evaluate the performance of the proposed method. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) was used to compare the diagnostic performance of the POD-induced parameters with the parameters of the topographic change analysis (TCA) method. The IMED and L 2-norm parameters in the POD framework provided the highest AUC of 0.94 at 10deg field of imaging and 0.91 at 15deg field of imaging compared to the TCA parameters with an AUC of 0.86 and 0.88, respectively. The proposed POD framework captures the instrument measurement variability and inherent structure variability and shows promise for improving our ability to detect glaucomatous change over time in glaucoma management.
Detecting Wikipedia vandalism with active learning and statistical language models

This paper proposes an active learning approach using language model statistics to detect Wikipedia vandalism. Wikipedia is a popular and influential collaborative information system. The collaborative nature of authoring, as well as the high visibility of its content, have exposed Wikipedia articles to vandalism. Vandalism is defined as malicious editing intended to compromise the integrity of the content of articles. Extensive manual efforts are being made to combat vandalism and an automated approach to alleviate the laborious process is needed.This paper builds statistical language models, constructing distributions of words from the revision history of Wikipedia articles. As vandalism often involves the use of unexpected words to draw attention, the fitness (or lack thereof) of a new edit when compared with language models built from previous versions may well indicate that an edit is a vandalism instance. In addition, the paper adopts an active learning model to solve the problem of noisy and incomplete labeling of Wikipedia vandalism. The Wikipedia domain with its revision histories offers a novel context in which to explore the potential of language models in characterizing author intention. As the experimental results presented in the paper demonstrate, these models hold promise for vandalism detection.
6DOF flight control of fixed-wing aircraft by Trajectory Linearization

In this paper, Trajectory Linearization Control (TLC) is used to design a six degree-of-freedom, autonomous, trajectory-tracking controller for a fixed-wing vehicle dynamics model. TLC combines an open-loop dynamic inverse of the plant dynamics with a closed-loop tracking-error regulator that accounts for model mismatch, disturbances, and excitation of internal dynamics. Feedback gains are obtained symbolically as a function of the nominal trajectory, thus avoiding the use of gain scheduling, and enabling operation across the full flight-envelope without the need for mode-switching. The design method is presented, and trajectory-tracking simulation results are given for a climbing, bank-to-turn maneuver.
A Comparision of Codon Usage Trends in Prokaryotes

Codon usage bias is an effective measure of the differences among organisms at a genomic level. These genomic differences also reflect some differences in the organisms’ lifestyles and physiology. Here we demonstrate that prokaryotic obligate intracellular parasites and symbionts have a codon usage pattern that differs significantly from that of exclusively free-living prokaryotes. This result is valuable in that it suggests that the habitat of an organism may directly influence that organism’s use of synonymous codons, which in turn demonstrates evidence of an evolutionary mechanism that operates at a finer molecular level than that of amino acids and proteins.
Cisplatin and irinotecan (CPT-11) for peritoneal mesothelioma.

Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare malignancy that is seen in patients exposed to asbestos or in young women with no known exposure to asbestos. The clinical features of the disease are similar in these two groups, and include peritoneal carcinomatosis, ascites, thrombocytemia, systemic symptoms (fever and night sweats), and hypercoagulability. There is no known curative therapy for this disease. Cisplatin has activity in 25% of patients. Mesothelial cells are known to contain high levels of carboxylesterase, a key enzyme in the activation of Irinotecan (CPT-11) to SN-38. This retrospective review of our experience in combining cisplatin 50 or 60 mg/m2 i.v. or i.p. on day 1 with CPT-11 50 or 60 mg/m2 i.v. on day 1, 8, and 15. Courses were repeated every 4 weeks x 6. If i.p. administration of cisplatin were feasible, it was the preferred route. Response to treatment was based on RECIST criteria. Fourteen men and 3 women, median age 62 years (35-76 years) and median PS 1 (0-2) were treated. Median number of courses was two for nonresponders and six for responders. The overall response rate was 24%, but 76% of patients improved on treatment. Median survival is not reached. Grade > or = 2 side effects included anemia (n = 6), neutropenia (n = 3), nausea/vomiting (n = 4), and constipation (n = 2). Grade 1 side effects were fatigue, anorexia, weight loss, alopecia, diarrhea, neuropathy, and gastric reflux. There were no grade > or = 3 hematologic toxicities. The combination of cisplatin and CPT-11 is well tolerated and has clinical benefits in patients with peritoneal mesothelioma.
Rheological and heat-transfer considerations for the processing of reactive systems

Thermosetting materials have found widespread use over a broad spectrum of engineering applications due to their intrinsic mechanical strength, thermal and dimensional stability, and other unique properties. Consideration is given to those aspects of reaction kinetics, rheology, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer which are of relevance for the mathematical modeling of reactive polymer processing. Particular emphasis is given to the characterization of reaction kinetics under non-isothermal conditions, the effect of fillers or reinforcing agents on the heat transfer and kinetic behavior, and the complex nature of the interactions brought about by the reactivity of these systems. In addition, the current status of the mathematical simulation of reactive polymer processing is briefly reviewed.
Skin Tumorigenic Potential of Crude and Refined Coal Liquids and Analogous Petroleum Products

The skin tumorigenic potential of seven complex hydrocarbon mixtures was determined: a coal-derived raw blend composed of light and heavy oils, a low- and high-severity hydrotreated product of that blend, and naphthas and fuel oils from the raw blend or from natural petroleum. Male and female C3H/Bdf mice were exposed three times per week to each test mixture by dermal application of 50 microliters of neat, 50, or 25% (w/v) preparations. Room, vehicle, and benzo[alpha]pyrene control groups were run concurrently. The raw blend produced an almost 100% incidence of skin tumors at all three doses while tumorigenicity was considerably decreased by hydrotreating the blend both in terms of incidence and onset. The tumorigenicities of the naphthas and fuel oils derived from the raw blend or from petroleums were low relative to that of the parent mixture. Although tumorigens in the raw blend were much reduced by hydrotreatment, tumorigenicity of the other agents did not parallel the content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons known to be good tumor initiators.
Effects of short-range attraction in unstable metal (110) epitaxial growth: Molecular dynamics simulations for Cu, Ag, and Al

The results of molecular dynamics simulations of the process of adatom deposition near steps for Cu110, Ag110, and Al110 surfaces are presented in order to determine the effects of short-range SR attraction on the surface current and selected mound angle during unstable epitaxial growth. Our results indicate that, in qualitative agreement with previous work on metal 100 and 111 surfaces, for 001 steps the short-range attraction of depositing atoms to step edges can significantly increase the selected mound angle for typical energies used in epitaxial growth. In contrast, for the case of deposition near 11 ¯ 0 steps, due to geometric effects the effects of short-range attraction are significantly weaker. As a result the overall “uphill funneling” probability P av ¯ 0 is essentially the same as in the absence of SR attraction. Predictions for the selected mound angles along 001 and 11 ¯ 0 steps are also presented for the case of irreversible growth with a large EhrlichSchwoebel barrier. Our results are also compared with recent experimental results in which anisotropic hut clusters with 111 and 100 facets have been observed. While our results are in qualitative agreement with experimental observations that the selected mound slopes are typically larger for 001 steps than for 11 ¯ 0 steps, they also indicate that the effects of short-range attraction are not sufficient to explain the large-angle facets observed in Al/Al110 growth at 400 K, thus confirming that in this case other effects such as uphill diffusion at step edges must play an important role.
Dynamic user-level affect analysis in social media: Modeling violence in the Dark Web

Affect represents a person's emotions toward objects, issues or other persons. Recent years have witnessed a surge in studies of users' affect in social media, as marketing literature has shown that users' affect influences decision making. The current literature in this area, however, has largely focused on the message level, using text-based features and various classification approaches. Such analyses not only overlook valuable information about the user who posts the messages, but also fail to consider that users' affect may change over time. To overcome these limitations, we propose a new research design for social media affect analysis by specifically incorporating users' characteristics and the time dimension. We illustrate our research design by applying it to a major Dark Web forum of international Jihadists. Empirical results show that our research design allows us to draw on theories from other disciplines, such as social psychology, to provide useful insights on the dynamic change of users' affect in social media.