cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High Fidelity Aerodynamic Force Estimation for Multirotor Crafts in Free Flight

Aerodynamic investigation of multirotor crafts under non-hover conditions plays a vital role in the development of efficient and stable systems. Non-hover conditions include any flight scenario where the craft is no longer subject to to an infinite, stationary and undisturbed fluid. Examples of non-hover conditions are forward-flight, axial descent, and flying under ground effects. This paper presents the experimental framework for estimating multirotor free-flight forces. The presented method does not require rigid mounting of the craft to a load cell. Instead, the forces on the craft are estimated using two complementary methods-- one based on rigid body dynamics obtained by motion capture measurements and the other inferred from rotor rotational speed measurements. By considering these two independent estimates, with the dynamically-derived forces serving as a continuous reference, we are able to evaluate relative rotor performance, even under conditions where net forces on the craft are fluctuating. In order to map rotor rotational rates to rotor forces, we developed a closed-form expression which incorporates Reynolds number and rotor-rotor interaction effects. Using our free-flight force estimation technique, we accurately estimated rotor performance during various vertical flight conditions (i.e. ascent, descent, and hover with and without ground effects) with a high degree of accuracy.
Correlative ex situ and Liquid-Cell TEM Observation of Bacterial Cell Membrane Damage Induced by Rough Surface Topology.

Background Nanoscale surface roughness has been suggested to have antibacterial and antifouling properties. Several existing models have attempted to explain the antibacterial mechanism of nanoscale rough surfaces without direct observation. Here, conventional and liquid-cell TEM are implemented to observe nanoscale bacteria/surface roughness interaction. The visualization of such interactions enables the inference of possible antibacterial mechanisms. Methods and results Nanotextures are synthesized on biocompatible polymer microparticles (MPs) via plasma etching. Both conventional and liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy observations suggest that these MPs may cause cell lysis via bacterial binding to a single protrusion of the nanotexture. The bacterium/protrusion interaction locally compromises the cell wall, thus causing bacterial death. This study suggests that local mechanical damage and leakage of the cytosol kill the bacteria first, with subsequent degradation of the cell envelope. Conclusion Nanoscale surface roughness may act via a penetrative bactericidal mechanism. This insight suggests that future research may focus on optimizing bacterial binding to individual nanoscale projections in addition to stretching bacteria between nanopillars. Further, antibacterial nanotextures may find use in novel applications employing particles in addition to nanotextures on fibers or films.
Abstract WP485: Racial Differences in the Association Between Central Hemodynamic Parameters and Neuropsychological Assessments

Introduction: Despite a significantly younger at time of stroke, African Americans are at increased risk for post-stroke cognitive impairment compared to whites. Although central arterial stiffness...
Pulmonary Artery Banding for Children With Dilated Cardiomyopathy: US Experience.

Pulmonary artery band placement is a recently described therapeutic strategy for dilated cardiomyopathy with preserved right ventricular function, originally reported from Germany.1 We present the results of the multicenter retrospective study of pulmonary artery band experience in the United States, with comparison to the German experience. Five centers contributed a total 14 patients (median age 5 months, interquartile range 3.5-10). Mechanical ventilation was required in 9/12 (75%) patients and inotropes were used in 13/14 (93%) patients preoperatively. Ultimately, 4 (29%) patients experienced cardiac recovery, 8 (57%) were bridged to cardiac transplantation (6 with ventricular assist device placement), and 2 (14%) died. Although both the US and Germany series demonstrated high prevalence of achieving patients' individual target (either cardiac recovery or transplant), the mode of success was different (recovery rate: 2/3 in Germany). Lower recovery rate may be a reflection of sicker preoperative status, and thereby a more advanced stage of heart failure (preoperative intubation: >2/3 in the United States vs <1/3 in Germany). Further studies would be warranted to gain more insight into patient selection as well as optimal timing for the intervention.
Dataset of active avoidance in Wistar-Kyoto and Sprague Dawley rats: Experimental data and reinforcement learning model code and output

Abstract Data were collected from 40 Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and 40 Sprague Dawley (SD) rats during an active escape-avoidance experiment. Footshock could be avoided by pressing a lever during a danger period prior to onset of shock. If avoidance did not occur, a series of footshocks was administered, and the rat could press a lever to escape (terminate shocks). For each animal, data were simplified to the presence or absence of lever press and stimuli in each 12-second time frame. Using the pre-processed dataset, a reinforcement learning (RL) model, based on an actor-critic architecture, was utilized to estimate several different model parameters that best characterized each rat's behaviour during the experiment. Once individual model parameters were determined for all 80 rats, behavioural recovery simulations were run using the RL model with each animal's “best-fit” parameters; the simulated behaviour generated avoidance data (percent of trials avoided during a given experimental session) that could be compared across simulated rats, as is customarily done with empirical data. The datasets representing both the experimental data and the model-generated data can be interpreted in various ways to gain further insight into rat behaviour during avoidance and escape learning. Furthermore, the estimated parameters for each individual rat can be compared across groups. Thus, possible between-strain differences in model parameters can be detected, which might provide insights into strain differences in learning. The software implementing the RL model can also be applied to or serve as a template for other experiments involving acquisition learning. Reference for Co-Submission: K.M. Spiegler, J. Palmieri, K.C.H. Pang, C.E. Myers, A reinforcement-learning model of active avoidance behavior: Differences between Sprague-Dawley and Wistar-Kyoto rats. Behav. Brain Res. (2020 Jun 22[epub ahead of print]) doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112784
Examining UX Design Principles and Older Adults’ Preference of Online Appointment Scheduling Using a mHealth Application

This pre-pilot planning and assessment discusses preliminary research that targeted older adults’ preferences for scheduling a doctor's appointment. Fifty total respondents between the ages of 21-61+ completed a twelve-question Qualtrics survey; twenty-one participants’ responses were analyzed. Results showed no correlation between participants who used a smartphone and their preference for scheduling an appointment via a mobile application. This assessment suggests additional research is necessary to determine if information design could influence older adults’ preference for scheduling a doctor's appointment using a mHealth app.
PURIFICATION, CHARACTERIZATION AND EXPRESSION, OF RECOMBINANT OUTER MEMBRANE PROTEIN A (OMP A) OF ACINETOBACTER BAUMANNII LI311

Acinetobacter baumannii is a known hospital aquired pathogenic bacterium that increasingly resists antibiotics treatment. In order to characterize and produce a soluble OmpA protein that can be used to develop Acinetobacter vaccine, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to produce the ompA gene, of A. baumannii strain LI311, which was cloned into the histidin taged pET19b expression plasmid. Immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) was utilized to purify the recombinant protein, and amino acid sequences for OmpA protein homologs were attained from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) protein resource then analyzed using the blast tool and Jalview program. Protein topology prediction was done using NCBI tools and PRED-TMBB2. Analysis of amino acid sequence of OmpA of A. baumannii strain LI311 showed that it has homologies to other clinical Acinetobacter spices , including: A. pittii , A.nosocomialis , A.seifertii, A. calcoaceticus, and A. ursingii with identity percentages of 100%, 100%, 96%, 92%, and 91%. Protein topology prediction revealed two conserved domains belonging to OmpA family protein ,which are beta-barrel domain outer membrane protein (OMP_b-brl) and OmpA-C-like domain, and it is a 10-βeta -stranded transmembrane Outer Membrane Protein with a signal peptide at residues 1–22A. A recombinant Histidine tagged- OmpA (39.31kDa )was successfully expressed and purified in this study. In conclusion, OmpA protein of A.baumannii strain LI31 is highly conserved across clinical species of Acinetobacter, and the soluble recombinant OmpA created in this study can be used to develop a putative vaccine that may prevent infections caused by the clinical species of Acinetobacter.
O ensino na era do COVID-19: desafios, promessas e progressos

The coronavirus pandemic that landed among us has created unparalleled consequences to every sector of society. From equity-minded student services, online class delivery, professional workshops for instructors, to basic needs, and psychological services, academia is facing several challenges that will forever impact its structure and ways to approach education. Considering that digital equity means that students should have access to technology and receive technological knowledge to participate successfully and contribute to the virtual space, there is a call for alternatives under this new scenario. Thus, a project was created to promote language skills practice in Portuguese between two universities in the United States. Applying Blooms’ Taxonomy to prepare Course-Level Outcomes and the Quality Learning and Teaching (QLT) Instrument, instructors prepared a Course Map using backward design as guideline and as means to establish well-aligned learning outcomes with tools, strategies of delivery, and assessment to provide quality for teaching and learning experience. Partner Language Exchange Project consists of a series of interactions among students to interview each other based on pre-set topics and to relate them to the COVID-19 impact on daily routines. Students were in charge of preparing and answering questions, creating paragraphs, and setting their own Zoom meetings. As an ongoing project with few data are available so far, the scope of this study is to delineate its structure and objectives.
A non-contact, quantitative dosimetry calibration using CT radiodensity and Cherenkov imaging

Cherenkov light is emitted in response to therapeutic x-ray beam delivery for the treatment of breast cancer, and serves as a passive, non-contact approach for measuring optical signal that is intrinsically linear with dose. However, the intensity of emitted light is attenuated due to absorbers in the tissue (blood, pigment, radiodensity, etc.). If correction for this attenuation were possible, then absolute dose imaging would be feasible. In this study, the planning CT scan was spatially sampled over the area emitting Cherenkov, and the attenuation of the signal was corrected for, using CT radiodensity. There was a linear correlation between presence of fibroglandular (high HU) versus adipose (low HU) and the emitted Cherenkov light. This relationship was used to generate scale factors to normalize out existing tissue variability in images recorded during fractionated radiotherapy, which reduced patient-to-patient variability to under 10%.
On the Role of the Electron-Dipole Interaction in Photodetachment Angular Distributions

The importance of including long-range electron-molecule interactions in treatments of photodetachment/photoionization is demonstrated. A combined experimental and computational study of CN− detachment is presented in which near threshold anisotropy parameters (β) are measured via photoelectron imaging. Calculated β values, based on an EOM-IP-CCSD/aug-cc-pVTZ Dyson orbital, are obtained using free particle and point dipole models. The results demonstrate the influence of the molecular dipole moment in the detachment process, and provide an explanation of the near threshold behavior of the overall photodetachment cross section in CN− detachment [J. Chem. Phys. 2020, 153, 184309]
The Representation of Tones and Combination Tones in Spike Discharge Patterns of Single Cochlear Nerve Fibers

Considerable emphasis has been recently placed on nonlinear characteristics of the peripheral auditory system in psychophysical, electrophysiological, and mechanical studies. Frequently, comparisons are attempted between results that derive from experimental conditions that are too restrictive or not really comparable. We report here some results from response patterns of single cochlear nerve fibers in response to two-tone stimuli that may help to bridge some discrepancies between reported properties of cochlear microphonics, psychophysical responses, and spike discharges of single cochlear nerve fibers. In particular, we pay attention to the magnitude and phase of distortion products in these response patterns.
Profiling differentially secreted biomarkers in the MCF10 isogenic breast cancer cell lines for biomarker discovery

607 Secreted proteins (the secretome) have high potential use as sources of biomarkers of cancer. An optimized method for isolating the secreted proteome of an isogenic series of breast cancer cell lines varying from the non-tumorigenic and non-metastatic MCF10A to the metastatic MCF10CA cl. d has been developed. Cells are grown in serum free media which is harvested and partially fractionated using a tC2 SepPak cartridge. The fractions are then digested and analyzed using LC-MS/MS (peptide sequence based analyses). Repeatable protein profiles were obtained from 3 separate preparations of each cell line, and from duplicate analyses of the same line. The combined data from all fractions and analyses of each cell line were searched against the NCBI reference sequence database using a Mascot search engine. There were significant changes observed between the secreted proteomes of the cell lines. The most significant changes occurred with alpha-1-antichymotrypsin and galectin-3-binding protein which were highly secreted from the MCF10 DCIS.com and MCF10A cl. d, but undetected in MCF10A and MCF10AT cell lines. These proteins were also secreted from unrelated metastatic cell lines in our earlier research (Mbeunkui, et al. , J. Prot. Res. 2006, 5, 899-906). Other proteins showing increasing abundance in the more aggressive cell lines included alpha-1-antitrypsin, cathepsin D and quiescin Q6. The S100 proteins, associated with aggressive cancers, showed variable changes in abundance. Secretion of proteins often believed to be strictly cytosolic, such as annexin A2, was observed. These proteins are all predicted to undergo non-classical secretion (SecretomeIP, Center for Biological Sequence Analysis). The results were validated for five selected proteins by western blot analysis. The comparison of the secretome of an isogenic series of cell lines reveals proteins related to cancer aggressiveness/progression, and proteins which are potentially highly specific markers for the early detection of cancer. This research was partially supported by grants from the National Cancer Institute (5R21CA116070 to LKP) and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (BCTR0402317 to LAS).
Heterogeneous Beliefs and Inefficient Markets

This chapter primarily describes alternative notions of market efficiency, and then identifies one that is best suited to the ideas developed. Subsequently, it develops necessary and sufficient conditions for prices to be efficient according to the definition adopted. It defines market efficiency as state prices correctly reflecting investors' preferences and the true stochastic process underlying aggregate consumption growth. The key result revealed here is a necessary and sufficient condition for market efficiency in a log-utility framework. The condition implies that the market is efficient when investors' errors are nonsystematic and the error–wealth covariance is zero at all times. Market prices are often described as efficient when they fully reflect available information. This description is vague, in that the notion of reflection can be very weak. For example, reflection can be understood to mean that prices do not ignore information, but little more than that. A major source of confusion in the debate between proponents of market efficiency and proponents of behavioral finance has been the definition of market efficiency. Proponents of efficient market theory have tended to focus on definitions based on the absence of arbitrage. Proponents of behavioral finance have tended to define market efficiency in terms of objectively correct prices, rather than the absence of arbitrage profits. The definition of market efficiency in terms of zero riskless arbitrage profits is weak. A stronger definition is to assume that there are no nonzero profits to be earned from risky arbitrage.
Cis and trans internucleosomal interactions of H3 and H4 tails in tetranucleosomes.

Chromatin structure and the transcriptional state of a gene can be modulated by modifications made on H3 and H4 tails of histones. Elucidating the internucleosomal interactions of these tails is vital to understanding epigenetic regulation. Differentiation between cis (intra-nucleosomal) and trans (inter-nucleosomal) interactions is often difficult with conventional techniques since H3 and H4 tails are flexible. The distinction, however, is important because these interactions model short- and long-range chromatin interactions respectively and have different bearings in biological processes. Combining FCS and PCH analysis, we can decouple the contribution of histone tails to cis and trans effects. A Mg2+ gradient was employed to facilitate compaction and oligomerization of tetranucleosomes with H3 and/or H4 tail truncations. H3 tails were found to play a multifunctional role and exhibit the ability to partake in both attractive cis and trans interactions simultaneously. H4 tails partake in attractive cis and repulsive trans interactions at low [Mg2+]. These interactions are diminished at higher [Mg2+]. Simultaneous H3 and H4 tail truncation inhibited array oligomerization but maintained local array compaction at relatively high [Mg2+]. The established experimental approach can be extended to study the detailed molecular interactions mediated by epigenetic modification of flexible histone tails. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 103: 33–40, 2015.
Broken Symmetry States of Iron—Sulfur Clusters

After presenting a general introduction to the structures and physical properties of dinuclear and polynuclear iron sulfur clusters, we discuss the relationship between the broken symmetry model within density functional theory (DFT), and the energies and properties of related pure spin states. The methodology for calculating and the physical significance of Heisenberg coupling parameters (J) and spin-dependent delocalization parameters (B) are developed. The interaction energy of the active site quantum cluster with the protein and solvent environment is treated with a single step procedure based on the classical Poisson–Boltzmann (PB equation). Redox potentials of various high-potential 4Fe4S and ferredoxin proteins are calculated with DFT/PB methods. The electronic and spin-coupling structure of oxidized high-potential (HIPIP) proteins is examined, and it is shown that two distinct electronic structures are possible. These contrasting electronic structures may have implications for the structural stability of oxidized HIPIP. For the Fe protein of nitrogenase, the redox potential and spin state of the super-reduced form are calculated, and it is argued that this all-ferrous state is probably not physiologically accessible. The redox potential and electronic structure of the FeMo cofactor of the MoFe protein of nitrogenase are examined for the “resting” state. A very small spin density at the central atom is very feasible. The central atom could be XC, N, O, but C, N are most probable, despite the absence of an observable ENDOR signal for the central atom. The spin-density for a central atom should be much higher for the 2e-reduced FeMo cofactor when a ligand is bound, and we have tested this for bound allylic alcohol. Three different ligand-cluster binding structures are characterized by geometry, energy, and spin distribution. Keywords: iron–sulfur proteins; ferredoxins; nitrogenase; DFT; spin coupling; spin-dependent delocalization; redox potentials; broken symmetry; electrostatics; ENDOR; hyperfine; Heisenberg coupling parameter
Poland's Diplomatic Misadventure in Iraq: WITH US OR AGAINST US

(2004). Poland's Diplomatic Misadventure in Iraq: WITH US OR AGAINST US. Problems of Post-Communism: Vol. 51, No. 1, pp. 3-17.
Swirl, Squish and Turbulence in Stratified-Charge Engines: Laser-Velocimetry Measurements and Implications for Combustion

Laser-Doppler velocimetry has been used to investigate the effects of piston-bowl geometry (cylindrical and reentrant) and intake-swirl ratio (4.5 and 6.5) on the structure and evolution of the turbulent flow field in a motored engine (compression ratio: 10,6, speed: 600 r/min). High-shear regions and associated turbulence production are observed just inside the bowl entrance around TDC of compression. Before TDC, these regions are created in both geometries by the opposing effects of swirl and squish. As the piston passes through TDC and the bulk squish flow reverses, the high-shear, turbulence-producing region inside the rim of the cylindrical bowl disappears, but it persists within the reentrant bowl as a direct consequence of the geometry.
A New Wrinkle: What I Learned from Older People Who Never Acted Their Age, by E. Z. Shapira

A New Wrinkle: What I Learned From Older People Who Never Acted Their Age provides views into the joys and challenges that may occur and what individuals and families may experience as they age. Th...
Autonomic and Hemodynamic Origins of Pre-Hypertension: Central Role of Heredity

Objectives The purpose of this study is to better understand the origins and progression of pre-hypertension. Background Pre-hypertension is a risk factor for progression to hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and increased mortality. We used a cross-sectional twin study design to examine the role of heredity in likely pathophysiological events (autonomic or hemodynamic) in pre-hypertension. Methods Eight hundred twelve individuals (337 normotensive, 340 pre-hypertensive, 135 hypertensive) were evaluated in a sample of twin pairs, their siblings, and other family members. They underwent noninvasive hemodynamic, autonomic, and biochemical testing, as well as estimates of trait heritability (the percentage of trait variance accounted for by heredity) and pleiotropy (the genetic covariance or shared genetic determination of traits) by variance components. Results In the hemodynamic realm, an elevation of cardiac contractility prompted increased stroke volume, in turn increasing cardiac output, which elevated blood pressure into the pre-hypertension range. Autonomic monitoring detected an elevation of norepinephrine secretion plus a decline in cardiac parasympathetic tone. Twin pair variance components documented substantial heritability as well as joint genetic determination for blood pressure and the contributory autonomic and hemodynamic traits. Genetic variation at a pathway locus also indicated pleiotropic effects on contractility and blood pressure. Conclusions Elevated blood pressure in pre-hypertension results from increased cardiac output, driven by contractility as well as heart rate, which may reflect both diminished parasympathetic and increased sympathetic tone. In the face of increased cardiac output, systemic vascular resistance fails to decline homeostatically. Such traits display substantial heritability and shared genetic determination, although by loci not yet elucidated. These findings clarify the role of heredity in the origin of pre-hypertension and its autonomic and hemodynamic pathogenesis. The results also establish pathways that suggest new therapeutic targets for pre-hypertension, or approaches to its prevention.
Proteomics and the analysis of proteomic data: an overview of current protein-profiling technologies.

Mass spectrometry has become a major tool in the study of proteomes. The analysis of proteolytic peptides and their fragment ions by this technique enables the identification and quantitation of the precursor proteins in a mixture. However, deducing chemical structures and then protein sequences from mass-to-charge ratios is a challenging computational task. Software tools incorporating powerful algorithms and statistical methods improved our ability to process the large quantities of proteomics data. Repositories of spectral data make both data analysis and experimental design more efficient. New approaches in quantitative and statistical proteomics make possible a greater coverage of the proteome, the identification of more post-translational modifications, and a greater sensitivity in the quantitation of targeted proteins.
Bitz, Ginoux, Jacobson, Nizkorodov, and Yang Receive 2013 Atmospheric Sciences Ascent Awards: Response

Thank you, Atmospheric Sciences section of AGU for bestowing this humbling honor on me. Thank you, Dr. Ramanathan, for your gracious nomination. Thank you to all my mentors, colleagues, students, special friends, parents, children, and even critics, over the years who supported my pushing the envelope to better understand the impacts of black carbon on climate and air pollution health through numerical modeling.
Association between participant‐identified problems and depression severity in problem‐solving therapy for low‐income homebound older adults

Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the severity of baseline depressive symptoms and the problems that low-income homebound older adults (n = 66) identified in their problem-solving therapy (PST) sessions.
Tumor-Specific PAX3-FKHR Transcription Factor, but Not PAX3, Activates the Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Alpha Receptor

The t(2;13) chromosomal translocation occurs at a high frequency in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a common pediatric tumor of muscle. This translocation results in the production of a chimeric fusion protein derived from two developmentally regulated transcription factors, PAX3 and FKHR. The two DNA binding modules, the paired domain and the homeodomain, of PAX3 are fused in frame to the transactivation domain of FKHR. Previously, tumor-specific PAX3-FKHR has been shown to bind to DNA sequences normally recognized by wild-type PAX3 and to exhibit relatively enhanced transcriptional activity. The DNA binding sites used to demonstrate that PAX3-FKHR is a more potent transcriptional activator than PAX3 have included recognition sequences for the paired domain of PAX3. In this report, we demonstrate the ability of PAX3-FKHR to activate the product of a growth control gene, platelet-derived growth factor alpha receptor (PDGFαR), by recognizing a paired-type homeodomain binding site located in the PDGFαR promoter. PAX3 alone cannot mediate transcriptional activation of this promoter under the conditions tested. This provides the first evidence that chromosomal translocation results in altered target gene specificity of PAX3-FKHR and suggests a transcriptional target that may play a significant role in oncogenic activity and rhabdomyosarcoma development.
A unifying concept of the TMJ pain-dysfunction syndrome.

Pain, muscle tenderness, clicking, or alteration of mandibular movement are cardinal symptoms of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain-dysfunction syndrome (PDS). Controversy still exists over the origin of the syndrome and what is the best treatment for it. One group holds that occlusion is the major etiologic factor; another that psychological and muscle factors are of the greatest etiologic importance. A number of investigators now hold that occlusal and psychologic factors operate together to produce the PDS. A theory is offered here that muscle hyperactivity associated with PDS is not a generalized hyperactivity but one in which activity of certain motor units is increased disproportionately. Treatment should combine psychologic and physiologic modalities. Pain and tension should be controlled, and spasm eliminated. However, if symptoms continue, occlusal treatment should be instituted. A full-coverage splint may serve either as the sole occlusal treatment or as a preliminary to equilibration or restorative procedures.
Clinical Controversies in Vitamin D: 25(OH)D Measurement, Target Concentration, and Supplementation

Despite a plethora of recent research and systematic reviews of available data, controversy continues to surround the definition of optimal vitamin D status, the daily intake needed, and the potential adverse health consequences of "insufficiency." Efforts to standardize vitamin D measurement and improve understanding of the physiologic consequences of other vitamin D metabolites such as 3-epi and 24,25(OH)2D (and potentially other vitamin D compounds) are needed. Currently, measurement of circulating 25(OH)D is accepted as the approach to define an individual's vitamin D status. However, existing 25(OH)D assays may include other vitamin D metabolites such as the 3-epimer of 25(OH)D and 24,25(OH)2D. It seems unlikely that the controversy will soon be resolved.
Mechanical behaviour of carbon-carbon composites made with cold plasma treated carbon fibres

Carbon-carbon (C-C) composites offer unique structural characteristics including low density, high stiffness, high strength and high fracture toughness. Fibre-matrix interactions play a critical role in determining the load transfer between the fibre and matrix in these composites. This paper addresses the role of plasma fibre surface treatments in optimizing the mechanical properties of C-C composites made with surface treated fibres. Very short treatment times (less than 1 min) were found to be beneficial in introducing the desired fibre surface chemistry without degenerating the fibre's strength properties. C-C composites made with 30 s oxygen plasma treated fibres exhibited a 25% increase in flexure strength combined with a shear failure. Morphological and chemical characteristics of surface treated fibres are correlated with the mechanical properties of C-C composites.
Kinetics and Interconversion of Prednisolone and Prednisone Studied with New Radioimmunoassays

To determine the kinetics of metabolism and interconversion of prednisolone and prednisone, the plasma levels of these synthetic glucocorticoids were measured by new radioimmunoassays (RIA) after intravenous (iv) or oral administration to normal humans. Following the iv injection of prednisolone phosphate in 8 normal subjects, the mean half-time of prednisolone was 240+/-20 min (mean+/-SE) and the metabolic clearance rate was 82+/-7.2 1/24 h/m2. Of 10 mg of prednisone given orally to 5 normal subjects, 69+/-5% was absorbed and converted to peripheral plasma prednisolone within 8 h. The data indicate that prednisone is extensively metabolized to prednisolone before it clears the splanchnic circulation and the formation prednisone by oxidation of the 11-hydorxyl group of prednisolone appears to occur mainly in peripheral tissues.
Numerical study of an exhaust heat recovery system using corrugated tube heat exchanger with twisted tape inserts

Abstract The purpose of this work is to investigate gas to liquid heat transfer performance of concentric tube heat exchanger with twisted tape inserted corrugated tube and to evaluate its impact on engine performance and economics through heat recovery from the exhaust of a heavy duty diesel generator (120 ekW rated load). This type of heat exchanger is expected to be inexpensive to install and effective in heat transfer and to have minimal effect on exhaust emissions of diesel engines. This type of heat exchanger has been investigated for liquid to liquid heat transfer at low Reynolds number by few investigators, but not for gas to liquid heat transfer. In this paper, a detail of heat transfer performance is investigated through simulations using computer software. The software is first justified by comparing the simulation results with the developed renowned correlations. Simulations are then conducted for concentric tube heat exchanger with different twisted tape configuration for optimal design. The results show that the enhancement in the rate of heat transfer in annularly corrugated tube heat exchanger with twisted tape is about 235.3% and 67.26% when compared with the plain tube and annularly corrugated tube heat exchangers without twisted tapes respectively. Based on optimal results, for a 120 ekW diesel generator, the application of corrugated tube with twisted tape concentric tube heat exchanger can save 2250 gal of fuel, $11,330 of fuel cost annually and expected payback of 1 month. In addition, saving in heating fuel also reduces in CO 2 emission by 23 metric tons a year.
Analytical model of microfluidic transport of non-magnetic particles in ferrofluids under the influence of a permanent magnet

This study describes an analytical model and experimental verifications of transport of non-magnetic spherical microparticles in ferrofluids in a microfluidic system that consists of a microchannel and a permanent magnet. The permanent magnet produces a spatially non-uniform magnetic field that gives rise to a magnetic buoyancy force on particles within ferrofluid-filled microchannel. We obtained trajectories of particles in the microchannel by (1) calculating magnetic buoyancy force through the use of an analytical expression of magnetic field distributions and a nonlinear magnetization model of ferrofluids, (2) deriving governing equations of motion for particles through the use of analytical expressions of dominant magnetic buoyancy and hydrodynamic viscous drag forces, (3) solving equations of motion for particles in laminar flow conditions. We studied effects of particle size and flow rate in the microchannel on the trajectories of particles. The analysis indicated that particles were increasingly deflected in the direction that was perpendicular to the flow when size of particles increased, or when flow rate in the microchannel decreased. We also studied “wall effect” on the trajectories of particles in the microchannel when surfaces of particles were in contact with channel wall. Experimentally obtained trajectories of particles were used to confirm the validity of our analytical results. We believe this study forms the theoretical foundation for size-based particle (both synthetic and biological) separation in ferrofluids in a microfluidic device. The simplicity and versatility of our analytical model make it useful for quick optimizations of future separation devices as the model takes into account important design parameters including particle size, property of ferrofluids, magnetic field distribution, dimension of microchannel, and fluid flow rate.
Betti numbers of graphs with an application to anomaly detection

This article describes an application of research that sits at the intersection of commutative algebra and combinatorics: Betti numbers of graphs. In particular, we describe a correspondence between simple undirected graphs and a class of ideals in a polynomial ring. We then briefly introduce some of the algebraic invariants that can be associated to the ideal and the relation of these invariants to the existence of induced subgraphs in the original graph. We discuss a novel application of the theory to a problem in anomaly detection—detection of a local non-homogeneity in a graph. We describe some variants of these ideas designed to make the computations more tractable. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Statistical Analysis and Data Mining 5: 235–242, 2012 © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Poster: high performance computing reservoir simulation in the oil industry

Large reservoir simulation is computationally challenging. High resolution reservoir models provide necessary realism in heterogeneous reservoirs. Large number of simulations of such models is necessary in reducing uncertainties in reservoir characterizations and creating efficient field development plans. To meet such challenges, Saudi Aramco, the world's leading oil producing company, developed a parallel reservoir simulator, POWERS [1], and built a computing center currently hosting computing power of over 300 teraflops [2]. Both reservoir simulator and computing center are world leaders in the oil industry. In this paper we review some of most innovative HPC works in the oil industry. We review computational characteristics of the POWERS simulator and benchmark results for computations of large reservoir simulation models throughout the past few years. We also share studies to enhance POWERS in various aspects such as GPU usage to solve critical computing blocks, MPI tuning, and reducing the eco footprint of the simulator.
Evaluation Of Graphite And Conventional Radiographic Table Tops And Cassettes Under Clinical Conditions

An evaluation of graphite and conventional radiographic table tops and screen-film system cassettes under clinical conditions is presented in terms of potential radiation dose reduction, cost, and image quality.© (1980) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Understanding Speech Rights: Defensive and Empowering Approaches to the First Amendment

This article draws on liberal democratic theory to provide a philosophical foundation for understanding the relationship between speech rights and democracy. Utilizing the work of key political theorists, such as Mill, Friedman, Hayek, Green, Dewey and Barber, I argue that two conflicting theories of speech rights coexist within liberal democratic thought. I demonstrate how legal interpretations of the First Amendment manifest and reinforce these theories, which I label ‘defensive’ and ‘empowering’. Analysis of two Supreme Court cases widely recognized as pivotal in determining print and broadcast speech regimes, Red Lion Broadcasting v. Federal Communications Commission (1969) and Miami Herald Publishing Co. v. Tornillo (1974), highlights the role these theories play in legal thought. I conclude by arguing that empowering speech rights offer the best foundation for democratic communication, and by proposing a set of legal principles capable of revitalizing the meaning and function of speech rights in the...
Magnetic resonance image-guided trans-septal puncture in a swine heart

Purpose: To test the feasibility of performing magnetic resonance (MR)-guided trans-septal punctures in the swine heart. Materials and Methods: All procedures were performed in a 1.5-T MR scanner. A novel, active MR intravascular needle system was utilized for needle tracking and septal punctures. Trans-septal punctures were performed in five swine using electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated high resolution and non-ECG-gated, real-time MR imaging techniques. The intravascular needle was advanced over a guidewire from the femoral vein. Once the needle was in proper position, transseptal punctures were made. Results: Active tracking of the needle traversing the septum was possible. The location of the catheter tip was confirmed using real time gradient recalled echo (GRE). After a confirmatory ventriculogram with gadoliniumDTPA, a 0.014-inch guidewire was advanced into the left atrium and left ventricle. All punctures were made with no change in cardiac rhythm or rate; postmortem analysis was performed on all animals and demonstrated that 18/19 (95%) punctures were directly through the fossa ovalis. Conclusion: : Using only MR guidance and a novel active intravascular needle system, we were able to repeatedly puncture the fossa ovalis in a swine heart from a transfemoral approach, with direct visualization of all components, including the needle, the atria, the fossa ovalis, and the surrounding vasculature.
Comparative Analysis of Regression and Artificial Neural Network Models for Wind Turbine Power Curve Estimation

This paper examines and compares regression and artificial neural network models used for the estimation of wind turbine power curves. First, characteristics of wind turbine power generation are investigated. Then, models for turbine power curve estimation using both regression and neural network methods are presented and compared. The parameter estimates for the regression model and training of the neural network are completed with the wind farm data, and the performances of the two models are studied. The regression model is shown to be function dependent, and the neural network model obtains its power curve estimation through learning. The neural network model is found to possess better performance than the regression model for turbine power curve estimation under complicated influence factors.
Polymorph Determination for the gp IIb/IIIa Antagonist, Roxifiban, Using a Combination of Electron Diffraction and Synchrotron X-ray Powder Diffraction Techniques

Unit cell parameters of two polymorphs of roxifiban have been determined by a combination of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) single-crystal and synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction techniques. While it was difficult to differentiate the two forms by their standard X-ray diffraction patterns, the high-resolution synchrotron patterns clearly showed striking differences. Unit cells for the two forms required the use of cell parameters derived from TEM diffraction patterns. The two unit cells are, not surprisingly, very similar except for a doubling of one of the axes for form II. The combined use of TEM and synchrotron patterns appears to be a good general approach for characterizing complex (low-symmetry, large unit cell) polymorphs.
Loss and atrophy of layer II entorhinal cortex neurons in elderly people with mild cognitive impairment.

Layer II of the entorhinal cortex contains the cells of origin for the perforant path, plays a critical role in memory processing, and consistently degenerates in end-stage Alzheimer's disease. The extent to which neuron loss in layer II of entorhinal cortex is related to mild cognitive impairment without dementia has not been extensively investigated. We analyzed 29 participants who came to autopsy from our ongoing longitudinal study of aging and dementia composed of religious clergy (Religious Orders Study). All individuals underwent detailed clinical evaluation within 12 months of death and were categorized as having no cognitive impairment (n = 8), mild cognitive impairment (n = 10), or mild or moderate Alzheimer's disease (n = 11). Sections through the entorhinal cortex were immunoreacted with an antibody directed against a neuron-specific nuclear protein (NeuN). Stereological counts of NeuN-immunoreactive stellate cells, their volume, and the volume of layer II entorhinal cortex were estimated. Cases exhibiting no cognitive impairment averaged 639,625 +/- 184,600 layer II stellate neurons in the right entorhinal cortex. Individuals with mild cognitive impairment (63.5%; p 0.33). There was also significant atrophy of layer II entorhinal cortex neurons in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (24.1%) and Alzheimer's disease (25.1%). The volume of layer II was also reduced in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (26.5%), with a further reduction in those with Alzheimer's disease (46.4%). The loss and atrophy of layer II entorhinal cortex neurons significantly correlated with performance on clinical tests of declarative memory. Atrophy of layer II entorhinal cortex and the neurons within this layer significantly correlated with performance on the Mini Mental Status Examination. These data indicate that atrophy and loss of layer II entorhinal cortex neurons occur in elderly subjects with mild cognitive impairment prior to the onset of dementia and suggests that these changes are not exacerbated in early Alzheimer's disease.
Escaping the Sandbox: Making and Its Future

"Making" has been gaining traction in HCI and related fields both as a community of practice and as a method for creating objects and systems. While making is an important cultural practice, this paper claims that there is a disconnect between the rhetoric of making and "real world" notions of domain relevance and embedded hardware development. In considering how making operates in practice, we offer the metaphor of a sandbox to describe this contradiction. We exemplify the metaphor with a small-scale prototyping platform of our own, and offer visions on how making might progress in the future.
Infection control for the emergency medical technician: developing an educational program.

Most health care providers are routinely educated in the hazards related to the delivery of health care, the infection hazards they impose on patients, and the methods to prevent and control both. However, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), an important group of health care professionals, have not had sufficient opportunity to learn how to protect themselves and their patients from microorganisms. Prevention of nosocomial infections and protection of EMTs from communicable diseases should begin in the pre-hospital phase of health care. There is a slow-moving quest for infection control measures applicable to EMTs. Individual practitioners have educated local EMTs and have conducted traveling workshops.‘, * The emergence of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) sparked attention concerning rescue workers who sought protection with mechanical resuscitators.3 The issue of hepatitis B virus as related to pre-hospital health care providers has also been addressedP Although sporadic infection control lectures may have been offered to EMTs previously, they were not mandated nationally for either newly trained EMTs
Carboxyethylation of cotton by treatment with acrylamide

New methods for the treatment of cotton with acrylamide have been studied which permit the preparation of modified fabrics with relatively high degrees of carboxyethyl substitution. Wet treatment with acrylamide and sodium hydroxide can be used to produce cottons bearing both carboxyethyl and carbamoylethyl ether substituents. Adjustment of reaction conditions controls the amount and ratio of these substituents. The effects of varying the concentrations of the reactants, the time and the temperature of reaction, and the solvent media employed have been determined. Some elucidation of the chemical mechanisms is provided. Previous work has shown that dry heat treatments of cotton impregnated with acrylamide and alkali can be used to produce high carbamoylethyl substitutions with little or no carboxyethyl substitution. The present work provides an extension of the cotton-acrylamide treatment whereby fabrics can be produced with only carboxyethyl or carbamoylethyl groups, or with mixtures of the two.
HCV Therapy in 2011: Development of New Treatment Paradigms for Naïve and Non-Responder Patients

The approval of the first direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drugs for treatment of HCV in 2011 has lead to improved sustained viral response (SVR) rates up to 79% in treatment-naive or relapse genotype 1 (G1) patients, and up to 59% for non-responder G1 patients. This review discusses the clinical skills required for the use of direct-acting anti-viral drugs (DAA), the use of genetic tests and HCV RNA assays, resistance-associated variants (RAV), treatment of special populations, and future directions. The results of the pivotal phase 3 trials with both telaprevir and boceprevir are summarized, including the efficacy, safety and tolerability, drug-drug interactions and management of the most common side-effects. Treatment strategies implemented in order to minimize the development of resistance with these first-generation protease inhibitors are explored. The use of these drugs ushers in a new era for the treatment of HCV but should be done with both care and caution.