cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Target Behavior as a Determinant of Aggressor's Behavior in Shock-Induced Attack

Two experiments investigated the effect of target variables upon the behavior of aggressor rats during shock-induced aggression. The first experiment indicated that highly aggressive rat pairs displayed a brief decrement in fighting after they were trained to respond to shock in a manner incompatible with aggression. The incompatible response involved both rats being down on all four paws, remaining relatively immobile, and facing into opposite corners. Exp. 2 was designed to assess whether the transient nature of the cornering in Exp. 1 was due to rapid extinction of the trained response under those stimulus conditions or whether the fighting behavior of the conspecifics disrupted the cornering. These data, combined with those of Exp. 1, indicated that cornering declined most slowly in the absence of a target, more rapidly in the presence of a target also cornering, and most rapidly in the presence of a target not cornering but confined to the opposite corner. The results suggested that the specific beha...
Interferometry of the compound nucleus

We consider interference effects in the inclusive emission of two identical particles from a compound nucleus. Statistical assumptions result in a correlation of the emitted particles that depends upon the coherence properties of the level widths in a form similar to that describing fluctuations in an exclusive cross section. A schematic application to the decay of a rapidly rotating compound nucleus shows that the observed source size can depend upon the kinematics of the measurement.
Structural analysis and electronic properties of a homodinuclear erbium(III) complex bridged by the polyazine ligand 2,2′-bipyrimidine

Abstract Structural analysis of the previously reported homodinuclear complex [Er(tfa)3]2bpm (where tfa = 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(2-furyl)-1,3-butanedione and bpm = 2,2′-bipyrimidine) synthesized by reaction of two equivalents of ErCl3 with six equivalents of tfa and one equivalent of bpm in a basic ethanol solution is presented. X-ray quality crystals were grown by slow evaporation of concentrated methanol solution containing the complex. The complex crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n, with a planar bpm ligand. The erbium…erbium distance is 6.715(5) A. Each erbium center is eight coordinate from six tfa oxygens and two bpm nitrogens. Electronic transitions of concentrated solutions of the complex reveal three sharp lines corresponding to the 4f–4f∗ transitions at 486 nm, 520 nm and 657 nm with the lowest energy transition corresponding to 4I15/2 → 4F9/2.
Rabies in Small Animals

Rabies in small animals has been dramatically reduced in the United States since the introduction of rabies vaccination of domestic animals in the 1940s. As a consequence, the number of human rabies cases has declined to only a couple per year. During the past several years, the dog rabies variant has almost disappeared completely. Rabies in wildlife has skyrocketed, however. Each wildlife species carries its own rabies variant(s). These wildlife epizootics present a constant public health threat in addition to the danger of reintroducing rabies to domestic animals. Vaccination is the key to prevent rabies in small animals and rabies transmission to human beings.
Analysis of closed cell metal composites

Composites of closed metal cells, in which the cells have uniform wall thickness and which confine a fluid in their interior, are modeled using cylindrical cells with square, hexagonal and circular cross sections. The analysis of their predicted mechanical behaviors in compression includes the effects of fluids and pressure in the cell interiors. A specialized finite element program is developed to account for the internal pressure. The finite element calculations predict the compressive stiffness of filled cell composites. Results for elastic and plastic cell wall deformation are also presented. Compared to the ambient air cell structures, the composites of internally pressurized or fluid-filled cells show increased compressive stiffness and delayed onset of plastic yielding.
Increased endoneurial fluid pressure in experimental lead neuropathy

THE endoneurial compartment of peripheral nerve is relatively inaccessible because of its small size and is maintained in a specialised environment by means of a perineurial barrier1, a blood–nerve barrier2 and a cerebrospinal fluid barrier. We have gained access to the endoneurial compartment of mammalian peripheral nerve by means of small polyethylene matrix (PEM) capsules and have recorded endoneurial fluid pressure (EFP) using an active servo null system3. The solid PEM capsules have pores of approximately 60 µm which facilitate entry of fluid into the interstices and connecting polyethylene tubing, but unlike hollow capsules4, are not invaded by connective tissue. We have used PEM capsules to make serial measurements of EFP in control and lead-fed rats and watched the pathological changes. We did this because of the prominence of endoneurial oedema in, for example, inflammatory polyradiculoneuropathy5, diabetic neuropathy6, acromegalic neuropathy7 and experimental lead8 and galactose9,10 neuropathies, and because external pressure causes segmental demyelination and even axonal degeneration of peripheral nerve fibres11. We found that EFP increased progressively in lead-fed rats and preceded the onset of fibre pathology. The time course of the increase and of fibre pathology suggests that increased EFP is a cause of segmental demyelination in lead neuropathy.
The composition of the cuticular lipids from nymphs and exuviae of the Silverleaf Whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii

Abstract The surface lipids of Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) nymphs and exuviae were characterized. The identification and distribution of lipids were determined by capillary gas chromatography (CGC) and CGC-mass spectrometry (CGC-MS). The quantity of lipid from exuviae was 80% greater than that from nymphs. The composition for the lipid classes and the chain-length distribution of each lipid class were similar for both nymphs and exuviae: wax esters (86%), long-chain aldehydes (7%), hydrocarbons (3–4%) and long-chain alcohols (3–4%). The wax esters were composed of even-numbered-carbon compounds ranging from C 38 to C 64 . Structural analyses of the wax esters by CGC-MS with single ion monitoring revealed that the carbon numbers for the major acid and alcohol moieties ranged from C 14 –C 28 and C 24 –C 36 , respectively, and the major wax ester constituents were the C 52 ester, dotriacontanyl icosanoate (27%) and the C 54 ester, tetratriacontanyl icosanoate (14%). The major aldehyde was dotriacontanal (C 32 ), and the major alcohols were near equal amounts of dotriacontan-1-ol (C 32 ) and tetratriacontan-1-ol (C 34 ). The major hydrocarbons for both nymphs and exuviae were odd-carbon-numbered C 25 –C 35 n-alkanes. Lipids extracted from the exuviae from laboratory-reared sweetpotato whiteflies, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), were essentially the same as the lipids from B. argentifolii .
Improved centric phase encoding orders for three-dimensional magnetization-prepared MR angiography

New centric phase encoding orders are introduced for transient state three-dimensional MR imaging. Unlike previous centric orders, these variants are not fixed with respect to differences in the relative y and z fields of view, but are tailored to account for the, differential degrees of gradient dephasing in the Ky and Kz phase encoding directions and thus maintain the highest weighting for the most central k-space values. The new centric orders are compared with previous methods in both simulation and experimental magnetization-prepared MR angiography of the carotid and renal arteries. In comparison with other tested centric orders, the new methods provided better retention of true vessel shape caused by isotropic blurring across the phase encoding plane. In addition, the new methods provided increased contrast, with the degree of improvement over previous methods depending on vessel orientation, size, and degree of inflow.
Cognitive Style and Style of Adaptation.

Understanding of the adaptive significance of styles of cognition has been limited in much of the research on cognitive style and control by a number of features of typical research strategy. First...
Evidence for coherent quantum phase slips across a Josephson junction array

Superconducting order in a sufficiently narrow and infinitely long wire is destroyed at zero temperature by quantum fluctuations, which induce $2\ensuremath{\pi}$ slips of the phase of the order parameter. However, in a finite-length wire, coherent quantum phase slips would manifest themselves simply as shifts of energy levels in the excitation spectrum of an electrical circuit incorporating this wire. The higher the phase slips' probability amplitude, the larger are the shifts. Phase slips occurring at different locations along the wire interfere with each other. Due to the Aharonov-Casher effect, the resulting full amplitude of a phase slip depends on the offset charges surrounding the wire. Slow temporal fluctuations of the offset charges make the phase-slip amplitudes random functions of time, and therefore turn energy level shifts into linewidths. We experimentally observed this effect on a long Josephson junction array acting as a ``slippery'' wire. The slip-induced linewidths, despite being only of order $100\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\mathrm{kHz}$, were resolved from the flux-dependent dephasing of the fluxonium qubit.
Tumor suppressor activity of KLF6 mediated by downregulation of the PTTG1 oncogene

Abstract The tumor suppressor Kruppel-like factor 6 (KLF6) is frequently inactivated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To unearth downstream transcriptional targets of KLF6, cDNA microarray analysis of whole liver was compared between KLF6+/+ and KLF6+/− mice. Pituitary tumor transforming gene 1 (PTTG1), an oncogene, was the most up-regulated transcript in KLF6+/− liver. In human HCCs, KLF6 mRNA was significantly decreased, associated with increased PTTG1. In HepG2, KLF6 transcriptionally repressed PTTG1 by direct promoter interaction. Whereas KLF6 downregulation by siRNA increased HepG2 proliferation, siRNA to PTTG1 was anti-proliferative. PTTG1 downregulation represents a novel tumor suppressor pathway of KLF6.
Synthesis, Structure, and Nucleophile-Induced Rearrangements of Spiroketones

Three tetraketones based on the 2,2‘-spirobiindan-1,1‘,3,3‘-tetraone skeleton were prepared and investigated. All three compounds show spiroconjugation between their perpendicular π-networks. The interaction results in lowering of the energy of the LUMO of the systems by ca. 0.2−0.3 eV as compared to non-spiroconjugated models. The spiroketones are susceptible to nucleophile-induced retro-Claisen condensations that lead to molecular rearrangements destroying spiro connectivity.
How the growth and freeboard of continents may relate to geometric and kinematic parameters of mid-ocean spreading ridges

Abstract If the volume of continents has been growing since 4 Ga then the area of the ocean basins must have been shrinking. Therefore, by inferring a constant continental freeboard, in addition to constant continental crustal thicknesses and seawater volume, it is possible to calculate the necessary combinations of increased ridge lengths and spreading rates required to displace the seawater in the larger oceans of the past in order to maintain the constant freeboard. A reasonable choice from the various possibilities is that at 4 Ga ago, the ridge length and spreading rates were ca. 2.5 times greater than the averages of these parameters during the past 200 Ma. By 2.5 Ga ago the ridge length and spreading rate decreased to about 1.8 times the recent average and by 1 Ga ago these features became reduced to approximately 1.4 times recent averages.
Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction Measurements of Single-Crystal Hydrogen to 26.5 Gigapascals

The crystal structure and equation of state of solid hydrogen have been determined directly to 26.5 gigapascals at room temperature by new synchrotron x-ray diffraction techniques. Solid hydrogen remains in the hexagonal close-packed structure under these pressure-temperature conditions and exhibits increasing structural anisotropy with pressure. The pressure-volume curve determined from the x-ray data represents the most accurate experimental measurement of the equation of state to date in this pressure range. The results remove the discrepancy between earlier indirect determinations and provide a new experimental constraint on the molecular-to-atomic transition predicted at higher pressures.
The effect of preoperative statin therapy on cardiovascular outcomes in patients undergoing infrainguinal vascular surgery.

Abstract Background Patients undergoing vascular surgery are at increased risk for perioperative cardiovascular (CV) complications. Our goal was to determine the effect of preoperative statin therapy on perioperative cardiac and vascular outcomes, and long-term survival in patients undergoing infrainguinal vascular bypass surgery. Methods We retrospectively reviewed consecutive infrainguinal vascular bypass surgeries on 446 patients performed between 1995–2001 at the University of Chicago Medical Center. Information was collected on preoperative statin and beta-blocker use, baseline characteristics, perioperative cardiac and major vascular complications, and length of stay (LOS). Long-term survival was assessed using the Social Security Death Index (SSDI). Results Thirty day perioperative complications included all-cause mortality (2.5%), CV mortality (1.8%), myocardial infarction (MI) (4.7%), stroke (1.1%), and major peripheral vascular complications (12.8%), and the composite of cardiac and vascular complications [combined CV complications] (17.9%). Statin therapy was associated with fewer combined CV complications (6.9% vs 20.1%, p =0.008), and a shorter LOS (6.4 vs 9.7 days, p =0.007). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, adjusting for significant baseline characteristics including beta-blocker use, statin therapy was independently associated fewer combined CV complications (odds ratio (OR) 0.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.14–0.93, p =0.035) and a shorter LOS (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.14–1.95, p =0.003). In a mean follow up period of 5.5 years, 215 deaths (48%) occurred. Statin therapy was independently associated with improved long-term survival (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.32–0.84, p Conclusion Preoperative statin therapy is associated with fewer combined perioperative cardiac and major vascular complications, a shorter length of stay, and improved long-term survival in patients undergoing infrainguinal vascular bypass surgery.
Quality quandaries : The application of principal component analysis for process monitoring

When monitoring industrial processes, it is increasingly common that a large number of process parameters are observed simultaneously over time. In that case, the observations will most likely be correlated with each other (contemporaneously) and in time (temporarily). To gain understanding of the behavior of a system, especially when troubleshooting a process, graphical and statistical tools appropriate for such multivariate situations can be helpful. This column demonstrates a few techniques, mostly graphical, that are useful when dealing with such situations. We focus primarily on contemporaneous correlation. Indeed, one of our goals is to demonstrate principal component analysis (PCA), a method akin to a Pareto analysis. We assume no prior knowledge of PCA, and rather than taking a typical mathematical approach, we focus on the geometry of PCA to enhance intuition.
74 DETECTION OF CONGENITAL HYPOPITUITAEY HYPOTHYROIDISM: 9.5 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THE NORTHWEST REGIONAL SCREENING PROGRAM

74 DETECTION OF CONGENITAL HYPOPITUITAEY HYPOTHYROIDISM: 9.5 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THE NORTHWEST REGIONAL SCREENING PROGRAM
Comments on Some Completeness Theorems of Urquhart and Méndez &; Salto

Urquhart and Mendez and Salto claim to establish completeness theorems for the system C and two of its negation extensions. In this note, we do the following three things: (1) provide a counterexample to all of these alleged completeness theorems, (2) attempt to diagnose the mistakes in the reported completeness proofs, and (3) provide complete axiomatizations of the desired systems.
Mechanics of advancing pin-loaded contacts with friction

Abstract This paper considers finite friction contact problems involving an elastic pin and an infinite elastic plate with a circular hole. Using a suitable class of Green's functions, the singular integral equations governing a very general class of conforming contact problems are formulated. In particular, remote plate stresses, pin loads, moments and distributed loading of the pin by conservative body forces are considered. Numerical solutions are presented for different partial slip load cases. In monotonic loading, the dependence of the tractions on the coefficient of friction is strongest when the contact is highly conforming. For less conforming contacts, the tractions are insensitive to an increase in the value of the friction coefficient above a certain threshold. The contact size and peak pressure in monotonic loading are only weakly dependent on the pin load distribution, with center loads leading to slightly higher peak pressure and lower peak shear than distributed loads. In contrast to half-plane cylinder fretting contacts, fretting behavior is quite different depending on whether or not the pin is allowed to rotate freely. If pin rotation is disallowed, the fretting tractions resemble half-plane fretting tractions in the weakly conforming regime but the contact resists sliding in the strongly conforming regime. If pin rotation is allowed, the shear traction behavior resembles planar rolling contacts in that one slip zone is dominant and the peak shear occurs at its edge. In this case, the effects of material dissimilarity in the strongly conforming regime are only secondary and the contact never goes into sliding. Fretting tractions in the forward and reversed load states show shape asymmetry, which persists with continued load cycling. Finally, the governing integro-differential equation for full sliding is derived; in the limiting case of no friction, the same equation governs contacts with center loading and uniform body force loading, resulting in identical pressures when their resultants are equal.
The young luxury consumers in China

Purpose – The luxury market in China has grown significantly in recent years. One unique characteristic of luxury consumers in China is their youth. While exploratory in nature, this study aims to identify and offer a meaningful understanding of different segments of young luxury consumers in China.Design/methodology/approach – The data were obtained from personal interviews with 28 respondents between 20 and 25 years of age who were recruited via a mall‐interception method in three different high‐end department stores in Shanghai, China.Findings – Based on key values, motivations, and behavior patterns toward luxury consumption, the authors identify four distinct segments of young luxury consumers: the overseas pack; the self‐established cool; the luxury followers; and the spirituals.Research limitations/implications – The study is based on a small sample consisting of 28 individuals.Practical implications – While Chinese youth may share some traits as a collective group, they also have diverse reasons a...
Crustal structure of northern and southern Tibet from surface wave dispersion analysis

[1] Group and phase velocities of fundamental mode Rayleigh waves, in the period range of 10 to 70 s, are obtained for southern and northern Tibet. Significant variations in crustal velocity structure are found. The group velocity minimum for Tibet occurs at � 33 s and the minimum is � 0.12 km/s lower for southern Tibet than for northern Tibet. At periods greater than 50 s, however, group velocities are up to 0.2 km/s faster in southern Tibet. The group and phase velocities are inverted for layered S wave models. The dispersion observations in southern Tibet can only be fit with a low-velocity layer in the middle crust. In contrast, the velocity models for northern Tibet do not require any lowvelocity zone in the crust. The S wave velocity of the lower crust of southern Tibet is � 0.2 km/s faster than the lower crust of northern Tibet. In southern Tibet the sub-Moho velocity increases with a positive gradient that is similar to a shield, while there is no velocity gradient beneath northern Tibet. The high-velocity lower crust of southern Tibet is consistent with the underthrusting of Indian continental lithosphere. The most plausible explanation of the mid-crustal low velocity zone is the presence of crustal melt resulting from H2O-saturated melting of the interplate shear zone between the underthrusting Indian crust and overflowing Asian crust. The lack of a pronounced crustal low-velocity zone in northern Tibet is an indication of a relatively dry crust. The low S wave velocity in the lower crust of northern Tibet is interpreted to be due to a combination of compositional differences, high temperatures, presumably caused by a high mantle heat flux, and possibly small amounts of partial melt. Combined with all available observations in Tibet, the new surface wave results are consistent with a hot and weak upper mantle beneath northern Tibet. INDEX TERMS: 7205 Seismology: Continental crust (1242); 7218 Seismology: Lithosphere and upper mantle; 7255 Seismology: Surface waves and free oscillations; 8102 Tectonophysics: Continental contractional orogenic belts; KEYWORDS: Tibet, crustal velocity structure, surface wave, Rayleigh waves, continental collision
Purification of Polyphosphate and ATP Glucose Phosphotransferase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra: Evidence That Poly(P) and ATP Glucokinase Activities Are Catalyzed by the Same Enzyme

Polyphosphate [poly(P)n]:D-(+)-glucose-6-phosphotransferase (EC 2.7.1.63) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra was purified to homogeneity using an improved method which yielded a 634-fold purification with higher recovery. The purified enzyme migrated as a single band with M(r) 33 kDa on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The native enzyme was shown to be a dimer by gel filtration using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The purified enzyme fractionated as a single peak on a C8 reverse-phase HPLC column and was found to display both polyphosphate- and ATP-dependent glucokinase activities. Further evidence that a single protein was responsible for both activities was shown by nondenaturing PAGE, in which the two activities (as determined by an activity stain in dual experiments) were found to comigrate. The C-terminal analysis yielded a single sequence while the N-terminus which was blocked also yielded a single sequence after deblocking. The two activities were found to have the same temperature optimum of 50 degrees C. The pH optima were 9.5 and 8.6-9.5 with poly(P)32 and ATP as the phosphoryl donors, respectively. The apparent Km for poly(P)32 was 18.4 microM while the Km for ATP was 1.46 mM. In addition, the nucleotide analogue, Reactive Blue 4, was found to be a competitive inhibitor with ATP in the ATP-dependent glucokinase reaction, while it displayed noncompetitive inhibition patterns with poly(P) in the poly(P)-dependent glucokinase reaction. It is concluded that the poly(P) and ATP glucokinase activities are catalyzed by the same enzyme but that the two substrates may have different binding sites.
Cooperative spectrum sensing in cognitive radio networks: A survey

Spectrum sensing is a key function of cognitive radio to prevent the harmful interference with licensed users and identify the available spectrum for improving the spectrum's utilization. However, detection performance in practice is often compromised with multipath fading, shadowing and receiver uncertainty issues. To mitigate the impact of these issues, cooperative spectrum sensing has been shown to be an effective method to improve the detection performance by exploiting spatial diversity. While cooperative gain such as improved detection performance and relaxed sensitivity requirement can be obtained, cooperative sensing can incur cooperation overhead. The overhead refers to any extra sensing time, delay, energy, and operations devoted to cooperative sensing and any performance degradation caused by cooperative sensing. In this paper, the state-of-the-art survey of cooperative sensing is provided to address the issues of cooperation method, cooperative gain, and cooperation overhead. Specifically, the cooperation method is analyzed by the fundamental components called the elements of cooperative sensing, including cooperation models, sensing techniques, hypothesis testing, data fusion, control channel and reporting, user selection, and knowledge base. Moreover, the impacting factors of achievable cooperative gain and incurred cooperation overhead are presented. The factors under consideration include sensing time and delay, channel impairments, energy efficiency, cooperation efficiency, mobility, security, and wideband sensing issues. The open research challenges related to each issue in cooperative sensing are also discussed.
Genetic structure in a montane ranid frog: restricted gene flow and nuclear–mitochondrial discordance

There is substantial debate over the criteria that should be used to group populations of a species into distinct units for conservation (e.g. evolutionarily significant units, management units, distinct population segments). However, in practice molecular genetic differentiation is often the only or main criterion used to identify such units. Most genetic studies attempting to define conservation units in animals use a single molecular marker, most often mitochondrial, and use samples from a limited number of populations throughout the species’ range. Although there are many benefits to using mtDNA, certain features can cause it to show patterns of differentiation among populations that do not reflect the history of differentiation at the nuclear genome where loci controlling traits of adaptive significance presumably occur. Here we illustrate an example of such mitochondrial–nuclear discordance in a ranid frog, and show how using mtDNA or nuclear loci alone could have led to very different conservation recommendations. We also found very high genetic differentiation among populations on a local scale, and discuss the conservation implications of our results.
Performance of a Full-Duplex Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) Antenna System in Estuarine Channels

Passive integrated transponder (PIT) technology is rarely utilized in estuaries due to (1) saline water’s attenuation of an antenna’s electromagnetic field, (2) rapidly changing water properties and levels, and (3) the challenges of installing and maintaining antennas in silty, brackish conditions. We present methods for the construction and installation of antennas that can detect 12-mm full-duplex PIT tags in salinities up to 33‰. We evaluated their reading performance under variable water salinities, temperatures, and depths in the upper estuaries of three streams. We found that water depth, salinity, and temperature were all negatively correlated with antenna current, but that the relative importance of these variables varied depending upon aspects of the antenna deployment. Since our antennas held amperage levels adequate for maintenance of a complete electromagnetic field throughout all test conditions, we suggest that successful detection was more dependent upon the antenna system’s coverage of the water column and the swimming path of fish through the antenna system than individual antenna performance. In addition to fish, this technology could be applied to studies of mammals, crustaceans, and particles transported through estuarine channels.
'An amusing account of a cave in Wales': William Buckland (1784-1856) and the Red Lady of Paviland

In 1823 the first Reader of Geology at Oxford University, William Buckland (1784–1856), unearthed the human skeleton known as the ‘Red Lady’ in Paviland cave, south Wales. While the Red Lady is valued today as a central testimony of early Upper Palaeolithic humans in Britain, Buckland considered the skeleton as of postdiluvian age, meaning from after the biblical Deluge. Rather than viewing Buckland as either obscurantist or as having worked entirely within ordinary scientific practice, the paper focuses on how he managed to create an institutional and conceptual space for his geology at one of the centres for the education of the Anglican clergy, and on the impact the sometimes paradoxical demands had on his interpretation of prehistoric human relics, the Red Lady in particular. Buckland was famous if not notorious for his peculiar humour, the distracting and cathartic qualities of which, it will be argued, served as strategy in the advancement of unorthodox ideas or for glossing over inconsistencies.
Experiments on high-power microwave transmission through a belljar

The ability to radiate the microwave pulse generated by a high-power microwave source can be limited by the interface from the vacuum to the ambient atmosphere. We report here on experiments that use geometric changes to control the tangential electric field amplitude applied to the vacuum side of the belljar. These geometric changes have resulted in observed changes in the base vacuum levels obtained with various sized belljars. In addition, the presence of a diffuse discharge on the vacuum surface of the belljar did not alter the magnitude or mode pattern of the measured microwave pulse. This discharge appears to have a resonant nature because it only exists only for a limited range of electric field values due to a limited range of total microwave power generated.
PDK1 in apical signaling endosomes participates in the rescue of the polarity complex atypical PKC by intermediate filaments in intestinal epithelia

Phosphorylation of the activation domain of protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms is essential to start a conformational change that results in an active catalytic domain. This activation is necessary not only for newly synthesized molecules, but also for kinase molecules that become dephosphorylated and need to be refolded and rephosphorylated. This "rescue" mechanism is responsible for the maintenance of the steady-state levels of atypical PKC (aPKC [PKCι/λ and ζ]) and is blocked in inflammation. Although there is consensus that phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1) is the activating kinase for newly synthesized molecules, it is unclear what kinase performs that function during the rescue and where the rescue takes place. To identify the activating kinase during the rescue mechanism, we inhibited protein synthesis and analyzed the stability of the remaining aPKC pool. PDK1 knockdown and two different PDK1 inhibitors-BX-912 and a specific pseudosubstrate peptide-destabilized PKCι. PDK1 coimmunoprecipitated with PKCι in cells without protein synthesis, confirming that the interaction is direct. In addition, we showed that PDK1 aids the rescue of aPKC in in vitro rephosphorylation assays using immunodepletion and rescue with recombinant protein. Surprisingly, we found that in Caco-2 epithelial cells and intestinal crypt enterocytes PDK1 distributes to an apical membrane compartment comprising plasma membrane and apical endosomes, which, in turn, are in close contact with intermediate filaments. PDK1 comigrated with the Rab11 compartment and, to some extent, with the transferrin compartment in sucrose gradients. PDK1, pT555-aPKC, and pAkt were dependent on dynamin activity. These results highlight a novel signaling function of apical endosomes in polarized cells.
Stiff substrates enhance monocytic cell capture through E-selectin but not P-selectin

The stiffening of blood vessel walls is associated with inflammatory diseases, including atherosclerosis, diabetes, and obesity. These diseases are driven by the excessive recruitment of inflammatory leukocytes out of the bloodstream and into tissues, but whether vascular stiffening plays a direct role in this process is not clear. In this study, we investigated the possibility that leukocyte capture from blood flow is enhanced on stiffer substrates. We modeled blood flow in vitro by perfusing monocytic cells over hydrogels that matched the stiffness of healthy and diseased arteries. The hydrogels were coated with either E-selectin or P-selectin, which are the endothelial adhesion proteins known to mediate immune cell capture from flow. Interestingly, we discovered that cell attachment to P-selectin coated gels was not dependent on substrate stiffness, while attachment through E-selectin was enhanced on stiffer gels. Specifically we found that on E-selectin coated gels, cells attached in greater numbers, remained attached for longer time periods, and rolled more slowly on stiff gels than soft gels. These results suggest that vascular stiffening could promote leukocyte adhesion to vessel walls where E-selectin is expressed, but may have less of an effect when P-selectin is also present.
Shock Risk Assessment of BGA Components: Importance of Physics Based Metrics

This study focuses on the implications that the indiscriminate use of empirical shock metrics can have on shock risk assessment of Ball Grid Array (BGA) components in board level tests. Empirical shock metrics discussed are: 1) shock table applied acceleration, 2) top package acceleration and 3) board strain. Computational modeling and fundamental physics considerations were used to prove that the empirical metrics can lead to wrong conclusions about capability of the BGAs and their performance in the field. These empirical metrics can be considered an indirect indicator of solder joint failure, but because there is no universal (setup independent) correlation to solder joint failure, they are not directly transferable. For a metric to be universal it has to have a unique correlation to solder joint damage, i.e. it has to be based on the physics of failure. For the shock failures, such a metric can be solder joint stress or strain. There are two important implications of this study: 1) when indirect metrics are used, the value determined in the system condition should not be directly used as a test condition requirement and 2) BGA capability when measured by indirect metric will vary as a function of board setup. The indirect metrics can still be used, but they must be scaled to account for structural differences among board setups. For that scaling to be valid, it must be rooted in the knowledge of failure physics and the application of physics based metric. The study provides examples on how empirical metrics scaling should be done and discusses the physics behind it.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Utility of Pediatric Appendicitis Score in Female Adolescent Patients.

OBJECTIVES Acute appendicitis is common in the pediatric population and is difficult to diagnose in adolescent females. The validated Pediatric Appendicitis Score (PAS) has unclear utility in female adolescents. The purpose of this study is to determine the sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), and positive predictive value (PPV) of the PAS for female adolescents compared to all other patients. METHODS This study examined a retrospective observational cohort of patients ages 3 to 21 years in a pediatric emergency department with prospectively assigned PAS from an existing database. We compared the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of the PAS for acute appendicitis among female adolescent patients (13 to 21 years) and all other patients. RESULTS Of the 1,228 patients enrolled, 901 (73.4%) had a complete PAS. Among the 901 patients, 249 (27.6%) had pathology-proven appendicitis, 494 (54.8%) were female, and 272 (30.2%) were adolescent females. At a cutoff of ≥8, the PAS showed a specificity of 89% for adolescent females and 78% for all other patients (p < 0.001), although the specificities did not differ at a cutoff of ≥7. At both cutoffs, the PPVs were poor in both groups. At a cutoff of ≥3, the PAS showed similar sensitivities in both groups. At a cutoff of <3, the NPVs did not significantly differ between groups. CONCLUSION At a cutoff of ≥8 (although not ≥7), the PAS demonstrated a higher specificity among female adolescents compared to all other patients. The PPV for both cutoffs in both groups were poor. At a cutoff of ≥3, sensitivities were equivalent. The NPV for a cutoff of <3 was acceptable but similar in both groups. While sensitivities were similar to previously reported, specificities in both groups were lower. This highlights the need for further investigation of the PAS's performance in specific subpopulations.
Urinary retention and syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) secondary to impacted gravid uterus

Urinary retention is an emergency that rarely occurs during pregnancy. Previous case reports have suggested multiple risk factors that can cause the gravid uterus to become impacted in the pelvis leading to lower bladder or urethral compression with subsequent urinary retention. However, no cases of urinary obstruction in a pregnancy that was complicated with severe electrolyte imbalance have been reported. To our knowledge, we report the first case of a 31-year-old woman presenting at 8 weeks' gestation with acute urinary retention caused by a retroflexed, retroverted uterus with a 6-cm posterior uterine fibroid leading to syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion and severe hyponatremia requiring intensive care unit admission. The cornerstones of effective management of urinary retention should include: (i) urgent bladder catheterization; (ii) assessment of sodium levels to rule out syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion, and prompt treatment before neurological damage occurs; (iii) reduction of the impacted uterus; and (iv) monitoring for post-obstructive diuresis.
Implantation and pregnancy rates in relation to oestradiol and progesterone profiles in cycles with and without the use of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist suppression

The oestradiol (E2), progesterone (P4) levels, the corresponding E2/P4 ratios and pregnancy and implantation rates were studied in 565 in-vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles stimulated with gonadotrophins alone and in 320 cycles stimulated with adjunctive treatment of a gonadortrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa, leuprolide). The overall pattern of serum E2 and P4 levels and the E2/P4 ratios were similar in both groups, though significantly higher absolute levels were demonstrated in leuprolide cycles. Similar profiles were observed in conception and nonconception cycles within each group; significantly higher levels were noted in conception cycles starting nine days after embryo transfer. Though the overall pregnancy rate per fresh transfer in leuprolide cycles was significantly higher than in non-leuprolide cycles (32 versus 22%, P less than 0.001), this was largely due to the transfer of more embryos; the implantation rate per embryo transferred did not differ significantly between groups (11.8 versus 10.5%). We conclude that the use of GnRHa in IVF cycles increases the pregnancy rate as a consequence of more embryos being transferred, since implantation rate was unaltered by GnRHa. Further, GnRHa does not alter the basic E2 and P4 progesterone pattern observed in gonadotrophin-stimulated cycles (though the absolute levels are higher); moreover, these patterns could not be used to predict pregnancy outcome.
Right hemisphere structures predict poststroke speech fluency

Objective: We sought to determine via a cross-sectional study the contribution of (1) the right hemisphere9s speech-relevant white matter regions and (2) interhemispheric connectivity to speech fluency in the chronic phase of left hemisphere stroke with aphasia. Methods: Fractional anisotropy (FA) of white matter regions underlying the right middle temporal gyrus (MTG), precentral gyrus (PreCG), pars opercularis (IFGop) and triangularis (IFGtri) of the inferior frontal gyrus, and the corpus callosum (CC) was correlated with speech fluency measures. A region within the superior parietal lobule (SPL) was examined as a control. FA values of regions that significantly predicted speech measures were compared with FA values from healthy age- and sex-matched controls. Results: FA values for the right MTG, PreCG, and IFGop significantly predicted speech fluency, but FA values of the IFGtri and SPL did not. A multiple regression showed that combining FA of the significant right hemisphere regions with the lesion load of the left arcuate fasciculus—a previously identified biomarker of poststroke speech fluency—provided the best model for predicting speech fluency. FA of CC fibers connecting left and right supplementary motor areas (SMA) was also correlated with speech fluency. FA of the right IFGop and PreCG was significantly higher in patients than controls, while FA of a whole CC region of interest (ROI) and the CC-SMA ROI was significantly lower in patients. Conclusions: Right hemisphere white matter integrity is related to speech fluency measures in patients with chronic aphasia. This may indicate premorbid anatomical variability beneficial for recovery or be the result of poststroke remodeling.
Effect of heparin and sulfated polysaccharides on in vitro hepatic phagocytosis.

SummaryColloidal gold phagocytosis by rat liver slices was slight in oxalated rat plasma or serum; however, heparin addition markedly increased the uptake. Heparin also augmented the hepatic phagocytosis of human serum albumin aggregates from oxalated plasma. Other sulfated polysaccharides either had no effect, or only slightly enhanced, gold uptake. The mechanism of heparin action in promoting phagocytosis may be related to facilitation of opsonin-particle interaction.
Experimental Validation Benchmark Data for Computational Fluid Dynamics of Mixed Convection on a Vertical Flat Plate

Model validation for Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), where experimental data and model outputs are compared, is a key tool for assessing model uncertainty. In this work, mixed convection was studied experimentally for the purpose of providing validation data for CFD models with a high level of completeness. Experiments were performed in a facility built specifically for validation with a vertical, flat, heated wall. Data were acquired for both buoyancy-aided and buoyancy-opposed flows. Measured boundary conditions include as-built geometry, inflow mean and fluctuating velocity profiles, and inflow and wall temperatures. Additionally, room air temperature, pressure, and relative humidity were measured to provide fluid properties. Measured system responses inside the flow domain include mean and fluctuating velocity profiles, temperature profiles, wall heat flux, and wall shear stress. All of these data are described in detail and provided in tabulated format.
Plasma 25-Hydroxyvitamin D, Vitamin D Binding Protein, and Risk of Colorectal Cancer in the Nurses' Health Study

Total circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D)] has been associated with lower risk of colorectal cancer. The physiologic mechanism, however, may be more directly related to the free or bioavailable fraction of 25(OH)D, which is influenced by levels of vitamin D binding protein (VDBP). We assessed the association of prediagnosis total, free, and bioavailable 25(OH)D and VDBP with colorectal cancer risk among predominantly white women in the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) who provided a blood specimen in 1989-1990. We documented 378 cases of colorectal cancer through 2011 and matched them to 689 controls according to age and time of blood draw. We genotyped two common polymorphisms in the gene coding VDBP and calculated free and bioavailable 25(OH)D levels based on total 25(OH)D, VDBP, albumin, and their estimated genotype-specific binding affinities. Total 25(OH)D was associated with lower colorectal cancer risk (P for trend = 0.01). Compared with women in the lowest quintile of total 25(OH)D, those in the highest quintile had a multivariable-adjusted odds ratio (OR) for colorectal cancer of 0.54 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.33-0.87]. Comparing extreme quintiles, we did not find any significant association with risk of colorectal cancer for VDBP (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.65-1.47), free 25(OH)D (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.46-1.10), or bioavailable 25(OH)D (OR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.60-1.42). In conclusion, prediagnosis levels of total, but not free or bioavailable 25(OH)D, were associated with lower colorectal cancer risk. Although our findings support an inverse association of vitamin D with colorectal cancer, this association does not appear to be due to the unbound or bioavailable fraction of circulating vitamin D. Cancer Prev Res; 9(8); 664-72. ©2016 AACR.
3D printing of nano- and micro-structures

Additive manufacturing or 3D printing techniques are being vigorously investigated as a replacement to the traditional and conventional methods in fabrication to bring forth cost and time effective approaches. Introduction of 3D printing has led to printing micro and nanoscale structures including tissues and organelles, bioelectric sensors and devices, artificial bones and transplants, microfluidic devices, batteries and various other biomaterials. Various microfabrication processes have been developed to fabricate micro components and assemblies at lab scale. 3D Fabrication processes that can accommodate the functional and geometrical requirements to realize complicated structures are becoming feasible through advances in additive manufacturing. This advancement could lead to simpler development mechanisms of novel components and devices exhibiting complex features. For instance, development of microstructure electrodes that can penetrate the epidermis of the skin to collect the bio potential signal may prove very effective than the electrodes that measure signal from the skin’s surface. The micro and nanostructures will have to possess extraordinary material and mechanical properties for its dexterity in the applications. A substantial amount of research being pursued on stretchable and flexible devices based on PDMA, textiles, and organic electronics. Despite the numerous advantages these substrates and techniques could solely offer, 3D printing enables a multi-dimensional approach towards finer and complex applications. This review emphasizes the use of 3D printing to fabricate micro and nanostructures for that can be applied for human healthcare.
Competing quantum Hall phases in the second Landau level in low density limit

We present in this Letter the results from two high quality, low density GaAs quantum wells. In sample A of electron density n=5.010 10 cm -2 , anisotropic electronic transport behavior was observed at =7/2 in the second Landau level. We believe that the anisotropy is due to the large Landau level mixing effect in this sample. In sample B of density 4.110 10 cm -2 , strong 8/3, 5/2, and 7/3 fractional quantum Hall states were observed. Furthermore, our energy gap data suggest that, similar to the 8/3 state, the 5/2 state may also be spin unpolarized in the low density limit. The results from both samples show that the strong electron-electron interactions and a large Landau level mixing effect play an import role in the competing ground states in the second landau level.
Global Certificates: Bringing Intentionality and Ownership to Comprehensive Internationalization

For a number of years, Santa Fe College has worked on internationalizing its curriculum as a way to reach all students. In fall 2013, the institution went a step further by launching an International Studies Certificate, a distinction program that combines an internationalized curriculum with experiential learning, career development, and student-centered projects. Although it is too early to evaluate the full impact of this initiative, two years have sufficed to reveal the program’s extraordinary potential to bring cohesion, shared ownership, and intentionality to our comprehensive internationalization efforts. This case study examines the history, current practices, and impact of this program at Santa Fe College.