cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Role of Solid Support Bound Metal Chelators on System-Dependent Synergy and Antagonism with Nisin.

Active packaging can enhance the performance of natural antimicrobials in controlling food spoilage and waste, while addressing consumer demands for cleaner labels. Yet, synergies are system dependent, with some conditions counterintuitively promoting antagonistic effects. In particular, metal chelators can improve performance of certain natural antimicrobials and have been incorporated in nonmigratory metal chelating active packaging technologies. However, the influence of chelating ligand chemistry on antimicrobial efficacy has not been investigated in microbial spoilage models. The effect of three commercial chelating resins on the growth of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris ATCC 49025, a thermoduric acidophilic spore-former, in growth media and apple juice was investigated. Dowex MAC-3, Chelex 100, and Lewatit TP260 were used as models for metal chelating active packaging containing carboxylic acid (CA), iminodiacetic acid (IDA), and aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) ligands. Diameters (CA = 472.4 ± 117.2 μm, IDA = 132.93 ± 26.71 μm, and AMPA = 498.3 ± 29.24 μm), dissociation kinetics (CA = 6.44 ± 0.109, IDA = -0.977 ± 9.94, AMPA = 7.43 ± 0.193), and metal chelating capacities (CA = 1.16 × 10-4 mol/g, IDA = 1.52 × 10-3 mol/g, and AMPA = 4.67 × 10-4 mol/g) were used to distinguish differences in antimicrobial efficacies. Growth of A. acidoterrestris in acidified Potato Dextrose Broth over 24 hr with chelating resins indicated early death phase for CA and IDA resins and bactericidal for AMPA resin. However, viability in commercial apple juice with the inclusion of nisin and chelating resins was variable, with IDA resin significantly (P < 0.05) increasing viability while the effect of CA and AMPA resins remained elusive. This work emphasizes the importance of biological repeatability and correct statistical modeling in identifying conditions under which the antimicrobial intervention of nisin in real food systems, such as acidic beverages and juices, are synergistic or antagonistic. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: New technologies to control microbial food spoilage and waste need to be explored to address consumers on-going demands for reducing additive use. Solid support bound metal chelators can both promote and control microbial growth when used in conjunction with nisin, a natural antimicrobial. This work explores how system conditions can render a given technology either synergistic or antagonistic, and highlights the importance of sufficient biological replicates in experimental design.
Phosphate depletion and adenine nucleotide metabolism in kidney and liver.

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and other adenine nucleotides are the major energy coupling mechanism between the energy-producing and the energy-consuming systems in the cells. In a variety of diseased states, an altered metabolism of adenine nucleotides has been implicated in their pathogenesis. There are a few experimental model systems in which one can alter adenine nucleotide metabolism through a different mechanism and study the role of adenine nucleotides in cell functions as shown in Table 1 (1). Although studies using the first three models have been extensively performed, effects of phosphate depletion on the metabolism of adenosine triphosphate and other phosphate compounds in various organ systems have been studied rather to a lesser extent except in red cells, leukocytes, and platelets, where the relationship between a fall in plasma inorganic phosphate (Pi), a fall in tissue Pi, a decrease in tissue ATP, and some forms of cellular dysfunction have been demonstrated (2). Since a major portion of ATP is synthesized from ADP and Pi by oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria, a deficiency of Pi will result in an impairment of ATP generation. Thus, various organ dysfunctions described in phosphate depletion have been attributed to a fall in the availability of energy-rich phosphate compounds such as ATP. Nevertheless, data on the changes in levels of adenine nucleotides and Pi in different organ systems are limited.
Self-reported modifying effects of resilience factors on perceptions of workload, patient outcomes, and burnout in physician-attendees of an international emergency medicine conference

Emergency medicine has one of the highest rates of burnout of all medical specialties. Recent research has identified putative sources of burnout in emergency medicine, including stress of overnight shifts, psychological demands of handling emergency patients, and perceived poor departmental support systems. This burnout is detrimental to the quality of patient care, and thus represents an important target to simultaneously improve both physician wellness and patient outcomes. We lack consensus on the best way to combat the impacts of physician burnout in part, because we do not know the protective factors that best enable individuals to manage their burnout and be resilient to its impacts on their patient care. The goal of this study was to identify the resilience factors that have the greatest influence on the relationship between physician burnout symptoms and perceptions of workload impact on patient outcomes. We conducted a cross-sectional web-based anonymous survey of full-time attending emergency medicine physicians and measured self-reported responses about perceived impacts of workload on patient care and symptoms of burnout. Additionally, we measured resilience factor-related items (such as shift length/type, spirituality, home life, etc.), stratified the responses by level of agreement with the statements, and assessed how each impacted the relationship between burnout domains and perceived workload/patient outcomes. The level of agreement with five resilience factor statements influenced the magnitude of correlation between workload's effects on patient outcomes and burnout. These factors included personal spirituality, utility of mindfulness techniques, sleep quality, perceptions of home life, and the presence of institutional debriefing procedures. This work identified five resilience factors that may enable emergency medicine physicians to mitigate the impact of their burnout on their work and patient care. Promoting these resilience factors represent targets for institutional-level interventions to improve both physician wellness and patient outcomes.
Deformation of lamellar FCC-B2 nanostructures containing Kurdjumov-Sachs interfaces: Relation between interfacial structure and plasticity

Abstract Dual-phase lamellar microstructures containing alternating regions of plastically soft and hard phases are known to produce alloys with exceptional combination of strength and ductility. Here, by coupling high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we have investigated the deformation mechanisms prevalent in lamellar microstructures with soft fcc and harder bcc-ordered intermetallic B2 whose interfaces follow the Kurdjumov-Sachs (KS) orientation relationship. We have identified two key structural features at such an fcc/B2 KS interface. The mating KS-fcc (111) interfacial plane contains periodically arranged 1/6 fcc predominantly screw partial dislocations that are separated by extended dislocation “core-overlap” regions. The KS interface also contained steps and ledges with several steps exhibiting fcc-B2 lattice continuity between the {111}fcc and {011}B2. The effects of such interfaces on the uniaxial deformation of fcc-B2 multicrystal nanostructures, as a function of lamellae thickness, were studied using MD simulations. We observed that the screw-like interfacial partials facilitated the KS interfacial sliding and strain accumulation at the interphase interfaces, and reduced the yield strength of the composite material compared to a pure-fcc reference material. Deformation character depends on lamellae thickness. Thin B2 lamellae (~4 A) sheared via twinning to drastically lowered flow stress such that the flow-strength was comparable to the pure fcc constituent phase. In contrast, thicker B2 lamellae (~12 A) sheared via a slip-transfer mechanism, which allowed the fcc-B2 composite to maintain its flow-strength. Thus, the atomic structure of fcc/B2 KS interfaces was directly linked to dominant operative plastic deformation mechanisms.
Youth engagement: A mixed method investigation of adult and youth perceptions of community resources in rural America

This mixed methods study examined how societal perceptions of community resources influence youth leadership development and health promotion. Sixteen community leaders were interviewed, and 31 you...
Touring the land of romance: transnational Korean television drama consumption from online desires to offline intimacy

Beginning in the twenty-first century, Korean television dramas became a transnational media phenomenon called Hallyu (also known as the Korean Wave, Han’ryu, Hanliu). Some Hallyu fans not only wat...
Microwave Modeling and Characterization of Superconductive Circuits for Quantum Voltage Standard Applications at 4 K

In this article, we characterize the microwave behavior of superconductive circuits for quantum voltage standard applications at 4 K. For that, we develop a cryogenic multiline thru-reflect-line (TRL) calibration procedure to calibrate the microwave measurements at the 4 K on-wafer reference plane. We model superconductive circuits, including a Josephson array transmission line, compare simulated to TRL-calibrated measured results, and find excellent agreement up to 50 GHz.
Decomposing Differences in Poor Self-rated Health between Those in Agriculture and Natural Resource Occupations and the Rest of the Labor Force

Objective: Occupations in agriculture and natural resources persistently have some of the highest rates of injury and illness. Additionally, these fields are dominated by segments of the population...
Machine learning algorithms to predict financial toxicity associated with breast cancer treatment.

2047Background: Financial burden caused by cancer treatment is associated with material loss, distress, and poorer outcomes. Financial resources exist to support patients but objective identificati...
Tempestad: una cartografía corporal de la violencia

Este articulo parte de una critica sobre la violencia y su relacion con el arte y examina como Tatiana Huezo en su ultima pelicula documental, Tempestad (2016), crea una estetica que funciona como una respuesta a los modos contemporaneos de produccion y socializacion de la violencia visual, asi como a la deshumanizacion de las victimas en la realidad de la violencia del Mexico del siglo XXI, derivada del poder militarizado de sus fronteras y la denominada “guerra contra el narcotrafico”. Huezo se centra especificamente en la desechabilidad biopolitica de los cuerpos de las mujeres, sujetas a la precarizacion de la justicia, cuyo sintoma es la impunidad creada por la negligencia sistemica del Estado.
Kidney tissue engineering for precision medicine.

The drug development pipeline for kidney diseases is plagued with challenges ranging from an insufficient understanding of disease mechanisms to a lack of robust preclinical models. Bioengineering approaches have the potential to streamline preclinical drug discovery efforts and improve the success of clinical trials for kidney disease.
CNN based Mechanical Fault Diagnosis of High Voltage Circuit Breaker using Sound and Current Signal

High voltage circuit breaker is a critical equipment of power system. It is very important to ensure the circuit breaker to operate in a normal state. According to statistics, most defect and fault of high voltage circuit breaker is caused by mechanical faults. In this research, the sound and current signals were collected in the simulation experiment of typical mechanical faults, namely iron core jam, two kinds of tripping mechanism faults, and spring fatigue. Then the signals were down sampled, flipped and stacked to fit deep learning model. A convolution neural network (CNN) model consisting eight layers was developed to extract features and categorize faults from the pre-processed signals. The results indicate that the mechanical fault diagnosis accuracy rate is up to 94%, higher than conventional methods using sound or current signal.
The Impact of Advertising on Media Bias

In this study, the authors investigate the role of advertising in affecting the extent of bias in the media. When making advertising choices, advertisers evaluate both the size and the composition of the readership of the different outlets. The profile of the readers matters since advertisers wish to target readers who are likely to be receptive to their advertising messages. It is demonstrated that when advertising supplements subscription fees, it may serve as a polarizing or moderating force, contingent upon the extent of heterogeneity among advertisers. When heterogeneity is large, each advertiser chooses a single outlet for placing ads (Single-Homing), and greater polarization arises in comparison to the case that media relies on subscription fees only for revenues. In contrast, when heterogeneity is small, each advertiser chooses to place ads in multiple outlets (Multi-Homing), and reduced polarization results. For intermediate levels of heterogeneity, some advertisers choose to Single-Home and others choose to Multi-Home.
Team performance in a series of regional and national US cybersecurity defense competitions: Generalizable effects of training and functional role specialization

Abstract A critical component to any modern cybersecurity endeavor is effective use of its human resources to secure networks, maintain services and mitigate adversarial events. Despite the importance of the human cyber- analyst and operator to cybersecurity, there has not been a corresponding rise in data-driven analytical approaches for understanding, evaluating, and improving the effectiveness of cybersecurity teams as a whole. Fortunately, cyber defense competitions are well-established and provide a critical window into what makes a cybersecurity team more or less effective. We examined data collected at the national finals and four regional events of the Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition and posited that experience, access to simulation-based training, and functional role composition by the teams would predict team performance on four scoring dimensions relevant to the application of information assurance skills and defensive cyber operations: (a) maintaining services, (b) help-desk customer support, (c) handling scenario injects, and (d) mitigating red team attacks. Bayesian analysis highlighted that experience was a strong predictor of service availability, scenario injects, and red team defense. Simulation training was also associated with good performance along these scoring dimensions. High-performing and experienced teams clustered with one another based on the functional role composition of team skills. These results are discussed within the context of stages of team development, the efficacy of challenge-based learning events, and reinforce previous analytical results from cyber competitions.
Fighting and doping: Professional mixed martial artists experience and exposure to performance-enhancing substances and supplements

Abstract In the last few decades, mixed martial arts (MMA) has grown to become a mainstream sport, broadcasted worldwide. The increased commercialization, structure, and physical requirements of the sport arguably make the use of performance-enhancing drugs (PED) attractive to MMA fighters. In contrast, cultural aspects within MMA and diverse expressions of masculinity may temper PED use. Yet, the sport has received little empirical inquiry. This exploratory study sought to understand MMA fighters’ experience and exposure to PED and sport supplements. Specifically, how fighters learn about, use, and rationalize the use of these substances was explored, along with cultural aspects of the sport that may influence use. Furthermore, given the rapid rise of this sport, generational differences between veterans and early-career fighters were examined. Seventeen semi-structured interviews with professional MMA fighters were conducted and analyzed using a two-cycle coding method. The presentation of results was organized into four categories: learning and conversing, supplement and PED use, rationalization of use, and MMA contextual factors. Multiple misconceptions existed and the use of both supplements and performance-enhancing substances followed similar justifications linked to recovery, performance enhancement, and deficiency correction. Marijuana emerged as a debated performance-enhancing substance. Experimentation was common and knowledge acquisition strategies differed based on career stage and standing within the fighting and doping community. Fighters acknowledged the pressure to dope. However, cultural aspects of the sport and a purity perspective provide deterrents to both supplement and PED use. The implications of these findings, along with recommendations for future research are discussed.
Hierarchical and mediated relations between internalizing symptoms, alcohol and cannabis co-use, and AUD

Alcohol and cannabis co-use is associated with negative alcohol consequences and alcohol use disorder. However, mediating and distal effects remain largely unstudied. Co-use is associated with alco...
Core Melt Catastrophe and Due Process

Despite more than three decades of government-subsidized promotion and regulation of nuclear fission technology, a number of questions remain problematic. Some of these are economic, a few are purely scientific, while others are largely political. Nearly all of them raise troubling ethical considerations. From a philosophical point of view, one of the most interesting of these questions is whether the US government ought to continue to protect the nuclear industry by imposing a limit on liability in the event of a catastrophic reactor accident. Answering this query demands, not only that one analyze the ethical presuppositions underlying assessment and regulation of nuclear technology, but also that, in general, one evaluate government guardianship of the utility industry. This latter task was urged long ago by Juvenal, when he pondered: “Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?” (“Who shall guard the guardians themselves?”).1
Computational Fluid Dynamics Models of Ventricular Assist Devices

A ventricular assist device (VAD) is a pump surgically connected to the heart and aorta in order to boost systemic blood flow in heart failure patients. The design of these devices has evolved over the past 30 years, with improvements and innovations enabled through the synergistic use of experimental research, clinical studies, and computational models. The application of computational fluid dynamics models has allowed the design of VADs to shift from large, bulky devices designed for patients with severe cardiac failure to a variety of smaller devices designed for a range of patients and cardiovascular conditions.
Retention of NO3/- in an upland stream environment: A mass balance approach

Models of the effects of atmosphericN deposition in forested watersheds have notadequately accounted for the effects of aquatic andnear-stream processes on the concentrations and loadsof NO $$_3^ - $$ in surface waters. This studycompared the relative effects of aquatic andnear-stream processes with those from the terrestrialecosystem on the retention and transport ofNO $$_3^ - $$ in two contrasting stream reaches ofthe Neversink River, a forested watershed in theCatskill Mountains of New York that receives among thehighest load of atmospheric N deposition in thenortheastern United States. Stream water samples werecollected every two hours and ground-water andtributary samples were collected daily at base flowconditions during four 48-hour periods from April toOctober 1992, and NO $$_3^ - $$ mass balances werecalculated for each site. Results indicated diurnalvariations in stream NO $$_3^ - $$ concentrations inboth reaches during all four sampling periods; this isconsistent with uptake of NO $$_3^ - $$ byphotoautotrophs during daylight hours. Mass-balanceresults revealed significant stream reach losses ofNO $$_3^ - $$ at both sites during all samplingperiods. The diurnal variations in NO $$_3^ - $$ concentrations and the retention of NO $$_3^ - $$ relative to terrestrial contributions to the streamreaches were greater downstream than upstream becausephysical factors such as the head gradients ofinflowing ground water and the organic matter contentof sediment are more favorable to uptake anddenitrification downstream. The mass retention ofNO $$_3^ - $$ increased as the mean 48-hr streamdischarge increased at each site, indicating that theresponsible processes are dependent onNO $$_3^ - $$ supply. Low stream temperatures duringthe April sampling period, however, probably reducedthe rate of retention processes, resulting in smallerlosses of NO $$_3^ - $$ than predicted from streamdischarge alone. Water samples collected from thestream, the hyporheic zone, and the alluvial groundwater at sites in both reaches indicated that the neteffect of hyporheic processes on downstreamNO $$_3^ - $$ transport ranged from conservativemixing to complete removal by denitrification. Therelative effects of biological uptake anddenitrification as retention mechanisms could not bequantified, but the results indicate that bothprocesses are significant. These results generallyconfirm that aquatic and near-stream processes causesignificant losses of NO $$_3^ - $$ in the NeversinkRiver, and that the losses by these processes atdownstream locations can exceed the NO $$_3^ - $$ contributions to the stream from the terrestrialenvironment during summer and fall base-flowconditions. Failure to consider these aquatic andnear-stream processes in models of watershed responseto atmospheric N deposition could result inunderestimates of the amount of NO $$_3^ - $$ leaching from forested ecosystems and to an inabilityto unequivocally relate geographic differences inNO $$_3^ - $$ concentrations of stream waters tocorresponding differences in terrestrial processes.
Awake craniotomy - Utility, seizures, after-discharges and tolerance (P4.217)

Objective: Awake craniotomies have been used for language localization and motor mapping for over 50 years. We evaluated our center’s success with language and motor mapping, complications and tolerance to this procedure. We hypothesized that risk of intra-operative seizures were higher in the setting of prior history of seizures and in patients with after-discharges. Background: A literature review revealed no studies correlating after-discharges to intra-operative seizures with awake craniotomies. Therefore, the goal of this analysis was to identify potential factors that contribute to increased intra-operative seizure risk and tolerance. Method: Retrospective analysis of 61 consecutive patients who underwent awake craniotomy for language localization and motor mapping. Results: The most common pathological diagnoses were glioblastoma (N=25), cavernous malformation (N=12) and oligodendroglioma (N=10). Language localization was successful in 43 of 59 patients (73[percnt]), motor mapping in 42 (71[percnt]) and central sulcus localization by phase reversal technique in 32 patients (66[percnt]). Intraoperative simple partial seizures were seen in 9 of 58 (15[percnt]) patients; 3 (33[percnt]) patients had history of seizures. Six of 20 (30[percnt]) patients with after-discharges developed intra-operative seizures. Four of 58 (6[percnt]) patients developed aphasia and/or hemiparesis during the procedure. Most patients tolerated the procedure well (54/61- 88.5[percnt]). Intolerance (N=7, Male 2, Female 5) was primarily due to drowsiness that interfered with language assessment. Sensitivity for identifying new post-operative deficits was 100[percnt], specificity 86.2[percnt], negative predictive value 100[percnt] and positive predictive value 33[percnt]. The decrease in specificity and positive predictive value is likely explained by early intervention upon assessing a deficit and preventing postoperative neurologic deficits. Discussion: Awake craniotomy is a well-tolerated procedure, men> women. Previous history of seizures did not affect tolerance to this procedure. After-discharges and prior history of seizures have slightly increased susceptibility (one-third) to intra-operative seizures. Hence, lower threshold for stimulation should be considered in these patients. Disclosure: Dr. Lakshminarayan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lopez has received research support from Earlogic/The Good Ear Company.
Privatization and Corporate Governance: Strategy for a Unified Korea

This paper will be part of an interdisciplinary Handbook of Korean Unification designed to provide policy makers with a "blueprint" for a unified Korea. Drawing on lessons from privatization experiences in Germany and Central Europe, the paper outlines a step-by-step approach to the privatization of North Korean state-owned enterprises. The strategy is designed to obtain the corporate governance benefits of a sales-only approach to privatization and the social and political benefits of voucher-based mass privatization programs. A central lesson from past privatization experience is that law matters: simply moving ownership from state to private hands in an institutional vacuum does not ensure that adequate corporate governance and supervisory mechanisms will develop spontaneously. Thus, assuming South Korean economic institutions will serve as the template for a unified Korea, continued reform of South Korean corporate and securities laws is a crucial component of any well-devised privatization strategy.
Rethinking Summary Judgment Empirics: The Life of the Parties

INTRODUCTION 1663 I. LIVE PARTIES AND SUMMARY JUDGMENT STANDARDS 1670 II. JUDGE CHARACTERISTICS AND PARTY BEHAVIOR 1673 III. SUMMARY JUDGMENT MOTION FILINGS AND JUDICIAL CHARACTERISTICS: NEW EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE 1676 A. Data Construction 1676 B. Summary Data on Judge Characteristics 1680 C. Estimation Results 1682 CONCLUSION 1687
On learning and computational complexity of FIR radial basis function networks. Part II. Complexity measures

For pt. I see ibid., vol.II, p.1321-4(2001). Recently, the complexity control of dynamic neural models has gained significant attention from the signal processing community. The performance of such a process depends highly on the applied definition of "model complexity", i.e. complexity models that give simpler networks with better model accuracy and reliability are preferred. The learning theory creates a framework to assess the learning properties of models. These properties include the required size of the training samples as well as the statistical confidence over the model. In this paper, we apply the learning properties of two families of FIR radial basis function networks (RBFN) to introduce new complexity measures that reflect the learning properties of such neural models. Then, based on these complexity terms, we define cost functions, which provide a balance between the training and testing performances of the model, and give desirable levels of accuracy and confidence.
Synthesis of vitamin b6 derivatives. II. 3‐Hydroxy‐4‐hydroxymethyl‐2‐methyl‐5‐pyridine acetic acid and related substances

The syntheses of 3-hydroxy-4-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-5-pyridineacetic and -5-pyridine-propionic acids and several related compounds are described. Although acid hydrolysis of α4,3-O-isopropylidene-5-pyridoxic acid gives 5-pyridoxic acid lactone (α-pyracin), its higher homolog α4,3-O-isopropylidene-pyridoxylformic acid gave a corresponding free alcohol whose carboxylic acid proton was shown to be exchanged rapidly with the 3-phenolic and -4-alcoholic - protons in nuclear magnetic resonance studies. Inter-molecular hydrogen bonding between the side chain carboxylic acid and pyridine nitrogen atoms is suggested in the solid state.
Effects of hydralazine on canine muscarinic ganglion stimulation.

Abstract The effects of hydralazine upon the caudal pressor responses during occlusion of the abdominal aorta and vena cava evoked by: (1) preganglionic electrical stimulation of the lumbar sympathetic chain, (2) neostigmine and (3) McN-A-343 were investigated in the anesthetized dog. Hydralazine (10 μg/kg, i.v.) produced a small but significant reduction of the pressor response to lumbar electrical stimulation prior and following blockade of nicotinic transmission with chlorisondamine (1.0 mg/kg). However, hydralazine was not effective in blocking the pressor responses elicited by neostigmine and McN-A-343. On the other hand, small doses of atropine (20 μg/kg) produced a blockade of residual pressor responses evoked by all three stimuli. On the basis of these findings, the site of action of hydralazine appears to be different from that of atropine. It is proposed that hydralazine affects ganglionic transmission by acting at sites other than muscarinic in nature.
Collard, mustard and turnip greens: Effects of genotypes and leaf position on concentrations of ascorbic acid, folate, β-carotene, lutein and phylloquinone☆

Abstract Leaf green Brassica crops: collard (Brassica oleracea L.), mustard (Brassica juncea L.) and turnip (Brassica rapa L.) greens are important commercial and culinary vegetables, especially in the southern United States. However, almost no information on essential human-health vitamins [ascorbic acid (vitamin C), folate (vitamin B9), phylloquinone (vitamin K1) and the carotenoids lutein and β-carotene (provitamin A)] is available. Leafy green Brassicas (15 collard, 2 mustard and 2 turnip greens) were harvested at peak whole-plant maturity, separated into younger (top-canopy) or older (bottom-canopy) leaves and assayed for the aforementioned vitamins and carotenoids. On a 100 g fresh mass basis, percent dry mass (14.7 g versus 13.2 g), total (132.7 mg versus 109.1 mg) and free (58.7 mg versus 52.8 mg) ascorbic acid, folate (183 μg versus 112 μg) and lutein (9790 μg versus 8950 μg) concentrations were significantly higher in younger versus older leaves. Phylloquinone (435 μg versus 459 μg) and β-carotene (11,130 μg versus 11,619 μg) were equally concentrated in younger and older leaves. On a fresh mass basis, all vitamins were found to be highly concentrated in all nineteen leafy green Brassica genotypes, with particular genotypes within each Brassica species having exceptionally high concentrations. Findings from this study revealed that leafy green Brassica genotypes are nutritionally dense in essential human-health vitamins C, B9, K, provitamin A (β-carotene) and lutein. Concentration differences in the examined nutritional components among the genotypes (e.g. significant differences in lutein concentrations from 5120 to 15,360 μg/100 gfm) reveal potential differences that might be exploited in genetic improvement through plant selection and breeding.
Progressive Alterations in Biomechanical Response of a Mouse Model of Aneurysm

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a complex disease that leads to a localized dilation of the infrarenal aorta, the rupture of which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, however the underlying mechanisms by which such changes remains an important unanswered question in the literature. Animal models of AAA can be used to study how changes in the microstructural and biomechanical behavior of aortic tissues develop as disease progresses in these animals. We chose here to investigate changes in mechanical characteristics with time in the established Apolipoprotein E deficient (ApoE−/−) angiotensin II (AngII) infused mouse model of AAA.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Dissociative adsorption of methane on Pd(679) surface

Abstract The reaction of methane with a Pd(679), Pd(S)−[7(111) × (310)], single crystal was studied using a high-pressure cell and Auger electron spectroscopy, low energy electron diffraction, and temperature programmed desorption techniques. Methane was dissociatively chemisorbed at 1 Torr and at surface temperatures of ⩾. 400 K with the formation of surface carbon and hydrogen species. The surface hydrogen also diffused into the bulk of the crystal. The initial dissociative sticking probability of methane on Pd(679) was 10 −9 − 10 −7 with an activation energy of ∼ 10.7 kcal/mol. The extent of CH 4 decomposition was strongly temperature dependent in that the surface carbon formed fractional monolayers (ML) at 400–500 K but produced multilayer coverages, e.g. 10 ML, at 600 K. The multilayer carboneous layers were disordered irrespective of the surface coverage. Oxidative titration cycles that included post-saturation of the carbon- and hydrogen-covered surfaces with oxygen followed by temperature programmed oxidation (TPO) led to the desorption of CO, CO 2 and H 2 . No H 2 O formation was observed in the TPO cycles, and the desorbed H 2 was stoichiometrically equivalent to carbon originating from the methane decomposition. The desorption data, along with CO chemisorption experiments, indicated that carbon species resulting from CH 4 decomposition on Pd(679) formed clusters that were located primarily in the vicinity of stepped and kinked edges and left the majority of the Pd surface bare as further adsorption sites. The overall reaction, albeit stepwise executed, amounted to partial oxidation reactions CH 4 + 1 2 O 2 → CO + 2 H 2 and CH 4 + O 2 → CO 2 + 2H 2 . These reaction stoichiometries indicate that Pd metal possesses the basic chemical properties for low temperature catalytic oxidative reforming of CH 4 to CO, CO 2 , and H 2 .
AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN SENIOR SETTINGS: ON THE NEED FOR EDUCATING GRANDPARENTS

The study reported in this paper examined perception of family relations by African-American elders. Data were collected from 39 participants in senior settings using the Grandparents Strengths and Needs Inventory to identify favorable qualities and areas for further improvement. Participants also were interviewed for common themes. Grandparents rated themselves favorably on satisfaction, overall success, and teaching. They assigned themselves high scores for coping with difficulty and managing frustration and identified information needs as the least favorable rating. Greater satisfaction and ability to manage frustration correlated with a more favorably perceived rating of personal health. Recommendations are given to enhance grandparent influence through educational programs.
Effect of Bacillus thuringiensis on the pink bollworm.

Laboratory tests were made to determine the susceptibility of Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) in Arizona to Biotrol BTB 183, a commercial preparation of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner. Field tests were made to determine if this preparation could be used effectively for earlyseason control of the pink bollworm on cotton. The laboratory tests showed that first-stage pink bollworm larvae were susceptible to Biotrol BTB 183 when fed this material incorporated in artificial medium. Some mortality was obtained by placing first-stage larvae on the leaf surface of treated cotton plants for short periods and then returning them to artificial medium. In the field tests, several application rates of both a wettable powder and a dust were compared, but none of these treatments successfully suppressed the pink bollworm populations.
Towards a quick implementation of assemblers for the proposed IEEE microprocessors assembly language draft standard

Abstract Meta-assemblers are the proper tools for a quick implementation of assemblers for the proposed IEEE Microprocessors Assembly Language Draft Standard. A case study for implementing such an assembler for a specific microprocessor using a specific meta-assembler is described in this paper.
A New Approach to the Synthesis of APTRA Indicators

We have devised a general synthesis of Mg(2+) indicators which is based on the aminophenol triacetic acid (APTRA) structure. The key step is a palladium-catalyzed coupling reaction of a precursor of the APTRA ligand with a fluorescent group. This strategy resulted in new ratioable fluorescent APTRA indicators and the finding that the fluorescence response of these indicators is different for Mg(2+) and Ca(2+) in some cases. We believe that this represents a generally useful approach for combining fluorophore and chelator functionalities.
Inversion of regional Pn1 and surface‐wave data for source parameters of a Borah Peak aftershock

We present results of a comparative source study on one of the largest aftershocks of the Borah Peak, Idaho, earthquake series. The mechanism of this event had been previously studied using first motions and teleseismic p-wave data, and we report here our results from analysis of regional Pn1 and surface waves. The Pn1 waves gave an estimate of the source duration near 5 sec, in agreement with the teleseismic p-waves. Both the source duration and the effect of surface-wave dispersion through laterally heterogeneous crustal structures must be accounted for in the moment-tensor inversions of intermediate period surface waves. All data sources, both long period and short, gave consistent source mechanisms, and the long periods also yield three independent and consistent estimates of the seismic moment. The results demonstrate the promise of formal source-parameter retrieval techniques applied to regional data for the study of earthquakes with magnitudes below the magnitude threshold of teleseismic source determinations.
Diffusion coefficients of xenon in polystyrene determined by xenon-129 NMR spectroscopy

A new experimental approach for measuring diffusion coefficients of sorbed gas in polymers has been developed based on a combination of NMR spectroscopy and the use of polymer microspheres. The system chosen to demonstrate the technique is xenon gas sorbed into polystyrene beads of micron size. Pressures in the range of 10-15 atm are sealed in NMR tubes containing a gram or so of polymer. Chemical shift exchange of the xenon gas is easily monitored in either one or two dimensions through the xenon-129 resonances since well-separated signals are observed for the sorbed and free gas. To quantitatively determine diffusion coefficients, selective saturation of the gas phase resonance is used to reduced that signal to zero. Then the decay of the sorbed signal is monitored as a function of saturation time to determine the rate of diffusion of gas out of the polymer microsphere. Diffusion in this case is simply described mathematically by diffusion out of a sphere. A model has been developed to take into account the effects of diffusion in combination with spin-lattice relaxation of the xenon-129 sorbed in the polymer. The diffusion coefficient of xenon in polystyrene at 25 °C is (1.9 ± 0.4) x 10 -9 cm 2 /s. Measurements were made up to 115 °C and an apparent activation energy of 36 kJ/mol was found for diffusion in glassy polystyrene with a sharp increase in the diffusion coefficient when the glass transition region was reached.
The persistence of psychological refractoriness.

The view that psychological refractoriness is a fundamental characteristic of human performance was supported by its survival of a determined attempt to eliminate it through training. An S was given practice for 87 days on a successive choice-response task with a constant inter-signal interval of 100 msec. Although his performance became better than any exhibited by Ss with more typical practice, he was not able to reduce psychological refractoriness to less than 20 or 25 msec. Moreover, when S was then shifted to variable inter-signal intervals he showed greater than the usual amount of psychological refractoriness at the intervals next longer than 100 msec. This indicated that he had learned a special skill rather than a generally “less refractory” mode of response (or merely better technique on the separate tasks). Training was found to be an effective way of eliminating holding back on the first response.
Effects of Combinations of Irradiation and Chemosterilization on Mating Competitiveness of Culex quinquefasciatus Say

Pupae of Culex quinquefasciatus Say from a laboratory colony were sterilized when 20 to 26 h old by immersion in bisazir [ P, P -bis (l-aziridinyl)- N -methyl phosphinothioic amide] solution, by gamma irradiation, or by combinations of substerilizing treatments of both. Greater than 99% male sterility was achieved when pupae were irradiated at ca. 8 kR or immersed in 1% bisazir solution for 30 min. Combinations of radiation and chemical sterilization, each at substerilizing levels, produced levels of sterility expected for an additive relationship between the two sterilizing agents. The empirical relationship between sterility (S) and the two sterilizing agents was characterized by the formula: S = −7.73 + 9.76 B + 14.36 K −1.44 BK − 0.06 B2 + 0.44 K2, where B = minutes of exposure to bisazir and K = radiation dose in kR. Males sterilized by bisazir were fully (96%) competitive under laboratory conditions, whereas males sterilized by treatments involving irradiation (26%) or a combination of bisazir and irradiation (15%) were less competitive.
Marital distress and the treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

This study examined the relationship of marital distress to obsessive compulsive symptoms among 54 married subjects who were treated with exposure and response prevention for severe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Almost 50% of the subjects were maritally distressed prior to treatment. The level of marital distress was not, however, related to the severity of obsessive compulsive symptoms. Marital distress was significantly reduced following the three-week course of behavior therapy for subjects who were distressed initially. Forty-two percent of the individuals who were maritally distressed prior to treatment were no longer distressed following treatment. Subjects who were maritally satisfied prior to treatment showed no significant change in marital distress. All subjects reported a reduction in their level of demandingness and dependency on their spouses. In addition, the maritally distressed subjects reported fewer arguments with their partners following treatment. Changes in marital distress were unrelated to reductions in depression that also were observed following treatment. Initial levels of marital distress and depression were not related to the efficacy of the behavioral treatment for reducing symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
Hybrid scalable video codec for bit-depth scalability

Scalable video coding, which is an extension of H.264/AVC, provides efficient methods for merging 8-bits/pixel sequences and higher bits per pixel sequences into one scalable bitstream. In this work, two types of prediction approaches are supported. One is based on interlayer intraprediction, by which texture residuals between the base layer and the enhancement layer are removed. The interlayer intraprediction is restricted to the enhancement macroblock whose collocated macroblock is intracoded. In this prediction structure, a global look-up table, obtained from an arithmetic average or scale offset pairs of each macroblock, is chosen as an inverse tone-mapping process, depending on rate distortion (RD) performance. The other is based on interlayer motion prediction, where motion compensation is performed in the enhancement layer as well as in the base layer. But motion parameters in the enhancement layer are inferred from the corresponding blocks in the base layer, which minimizes the complexity increase. A coding gain of 0.14 dB or 1.2% reduction in bit rate is obtained for 10 bits/pixel test sequences, while a coding gain of 12 bits/pixel test sequences reaches up to 4.2 dB or 48% reduction in bit rate.
An efficient, reliable approach for hydroacoustical bearings only target motion analysis

The hydroacoustical bearings only target motion analysis (TMA) problem is that of determining target location, heading and velocity from target bearings. It must be solved using noisy data. Also, the hydroacoustical bearing trackers used for the measurements produce poor quality data because of the nature of the ocean medium. Since bearings only TMA is used on submarines for fire control, the performance of the TMA subsystems must be accurate, reliable, and computationally efficient. Historically, this problem has been most effectively solved using plotting boards and extended Kalman filters. Recent work has established the performance superiority of batch estimation techniques. The work presented here is a batch maximum likelihood estimation technique which solves the computational problems associated with batch estimation of the past. In addition, the reliability of the approach given here is appropriate for "hands-off" application in a real time subsystem. The problem is solved using state of the art computational and statistical estimation techniques and a coordinate system differing slightly from those used in the past. The formulation of the technique is a response to the hydroacoustical, computational, and mathematical aspects of the TMA problem, within the constraints of performance requirements and real time implementation considerations. Simulation results are presented which show the performance of the maximum likelihood TMA estimator to be superior to a Kalman TMA estimator.
The Hospital and Comprehensive Health Care

their current hospital survey procedures. The second issue of particular concern to the participants at the institute was the American Dental Association’s request for membership within the corporate structure of the Joint Com­ mission. The board of commissioners of the Joint Commission also chose to postpone action on this request until they had an opportunity to review the entire corporate structure of the Joint Commission. The Association is continuing its negotiations with the Joint Commission on these two important issues directly related to hospital dentistry. Enthusiasm for hospital den­ tistry is strongly in evidence, and dentists have demonstrated their willingness to accept their responsibilities and role in oral health care in hospitals. The institute was open in its attempt to focus on the multiple and vexing problems and to deal with them objectively. The health organizations represented have made significant contributions toward establish­ ing national goals and objectives in the area of hospital dentistry. It is vitally important that dentistry continue and even expand its liaison activity with these health related organizations in a mutual endeavor to establish dental services as an essential component of any hospital health delivery program. The success of the institute is due in part to the staff of the American Hospital Association and the American Dental Association who made the meeting the forum that it was. Several of the papers that helped to define the issues facing the institute are included in the following pages.
Excessive nitric oxide impairs wound collagen accumulation.

Background Nitric oxide (NO) plays a major regulatory role in wound collagen synthesis. We hypothesized that this regulatory role is tightly controlled by the levels of NO in the wound environment and that supranormal wound NO generation impairs wound collagen accumulation.
Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors and Fungal Infections

The number of commercially available tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibitors has been increasing, including two new agents licensed since 2008. In addition to an expanding number of agents, there are also increasing licensed and “off label” clinical applications for the TNF inhibitors for the treatment of a variety of inflammatory or granulomatous disorders. Unfortunately, use of the TNF inhibitors has been associated with a wide variety of opportunistic infections, including fungal infections. Higher rates of morbidity and mortality from fungal infection in TNF inhibitor-treated patients have been observed, likely due to a delay in the diagnosis of invasive fungal infections and a tendency for these patients to develop severe and disseminated disease. Therefore, the US Food and Drug Administration issued a “black box” warning for clinicians in September 2008 to alert providers to the risks of fungal infections in patients treated with TNF-α inhibitors.