cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A hybrid of vapor permeation and membrane-based absorption-stripping for VOC removal and recovery from gaseous emissions

Abstract A hybrid process that combines a vapor permeation process with a recently developed membrane-based absorption and stripping process using an inert essentially nonvolatile absorbent oil is described here for a very high degree of removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from vented gas streams. The combined and continuous process of this study uses the same utility, a vacuum pump, and achieves a very high level of VOC removal, for example, 99.57–99.97% from a N 2 feed stream containing 6,000 ppmv of methylene chloride. The performance is illustrated here using hollow fiber membrane modules of two kinds: microporous polypropylene hollow fibers having an ultrathin nonporous silicone coating used for vapor permeation first and then later for regenerating the VOC-loaded absorbent by VOC stripping via vacuum; micreoporous polypropylene hollow fibers without any nonporous coating for nondispersive absorption of VOCs from the waste gas stream.
Evaluation of gradients on the boundary using fully regularized hypersingular boundary integral equations

The evaluation of the gradient of the primary variable on the boundary for the Laplace problem, and the stress for the elasticity problem, involves hypersingular boundary integrals (HBIEs). To obtain any meaningful results from these integrals, an appropriate regularization scheme needs to be developed. We present an elegant way of calculation of gradients on the boundary of a body, starting from HBIEs regularized by using “simple solutions” or “modes”. Our method is currently limited to the calculation of gradients at regular points on the boundary at which the gradients of the primary variables are continous. Theiterative scheme developed in this paper is shown to be extremely robust for the calculations of the gradients. The method is tested on two Laplace problems and two problems in linear elasticity. This method does not involve any limiting process and can be easily extended to 3-dimensions. The approach developed in this paper can also be extended to other problems like acoustics and elastodynamics.
Morphologies of branched-chain pyrogallol[4]arenes in the solid state

A suite of branched-chain pyrogallol[4]arene (Pg) macrocycles, most of which show activity in bilayer membranes, has been prepared and studied by X-ray crystallography. The little-known branched side-chain Pgs include 2-propyl, 2-butyl, 2-pentyl, 3-pentyl, 3-heptyl, 4-heptyl, 5-nonyl and cyclohexyl. The Pgs form self-assembled structures having bilayer, capsule or, in one case, a nanotube morphology. The nanotube structure observed for C-(di-n-ethyl)pyrogallol[4]arene was confirmed by X-ray structure analysis and by transmission and scanning electron microscopies.
The efflux of biotin from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PMBCs) are readily available for sampling and are a useful model for studying biotin metabolism in human cells. To better understand biotin handling by PMBCs, we investigated the mechanism(s) and kinetics of biotin efflux from PMBCs. Human PMBCs were incubated with [(3)H]biotin at 475 pmol/L to load the cells. The [(3)H]biotin-loaded cells were then harvested and incubated in [(3)H]biotin-free media for up to 20 hours. At various intervals, aliquots of the PMBC suspensions were collected and analyzed for intracellular [(3)H]biotin. [(3)H]Biotin efflux from cells at 37 degrees C was fast and triphasic; the half-lives for the three elimination phases were 0.2 +/- 0.02 hours, 1.2 +/- 0.1 hours, and 21.9 +/- 13.6 hours. Such a triphasic [(3)H]biotin efflux could reflect (1) rapid efflux of free biotin, (2) slower release of biotin bound to intracellular molecules, and (3) even slower release from carboxylases in cellular organelles. Incubation at 4 degrees C rather than 37 degrees C increased the [(3)H]biotin retained at 20 hours from 27% to 85%. This observation is consistent with transporter-mediated efflux. When cellular glucose utilization was reduced by 2-deoxy-d-glucose and sodium fluoride, [(3)H]biotin efflux was similar to controls, suggesting that biotin efflux does not directly require metabolic energy. When [(3)H]biotin-loaded cells were incubated in external medium containing unlabeled biotin analogs, [(3)H]biotin efflux was accelerated approximately two times compared with incubation in a biotin-free medium. This observation suggests that biotin efflux is mediated by the same transporter that mediates biotin uptake from the extracellular medium (i.e., classic countertransport).
Selective withdrawal of rotating stratified fluid

Abstract A simple theory and some experimental observations are presented of the transient withdrawal of rotating, stratified fluid in a field of gravity. The problem is confined to axisymmetric geometry and negligible viscosity. It is predicted that the withdrawal initially proceeds like non-rotating selective withdrawal, but at a time equal to 3√ 3 2ƒ there is a transition to a rotation-dominated selective withdrawal process which requires that fluid come from distances above and/or below the inlet given by the time-dependent formula (ƒQt/2πr 0 N) 1 2 . Experimental observations are given which are in approximate agreement with the predictions.
Crystal Structure Prediction by Global Optimization as a Tool for Evaluating Potentials: Role of the Dipole Moment Correction Term in Successful Predictions

A recently proposed method for surmounting the multiple-minima problem in protein folding is applied here to the prediction of crystal structures by global optimization of a potential energy function. The method, self-consistent basin-to-deformed-basin mapping, locates a group of large basins (regions of attraction of single minima) containing low-energy minima in the original energy surface, by coupling these groups of minima in the original surface to basins in a highly deformed energy surface, which contains a significantly reduced number of minima. The experimental crystal structures of formamide, imidazole, and maleic and succinic anhydrides were predicted as the global minima of the AMBER potential and were found among the lowest-energy minima for the DISCOVER potential. The results of the predictions serve as tests for evaluating the two potentials and may serve as a guide for potential refinements. Another important goal of this study was to clarify the role of the dipole moment contribution in ca...
Megestrol acetate increases short-term food intake in zinc-deficient rats

Abstract Rats offered a zinc-deficient (−Zn) diet voluntarily reduce their food intake within 3–4 days. Megestrol acetate (MA) is an appetite-stimulating drug used to treat cachexia of chronic diseases. In previous work, we found MA administration to male rats increased consumption of a −Zn diet. This approach would provide a useful tool for nutritional studies in which nutrient intake, except for zinc, would be maintained. The present study further examined the use of MA to increase consumption of a −Zn diet over a longer time period in both male and female rats. Rats were fed either a −Zn or a zinc-adequate (+Zn) diet. In Experiment 1, rats were treated orally with 0, 20, 50 or 100 mg MA/kg BW in corn oil for 21 days. MA stimulated intake of the −Zn diet in a linear manner. In Experiments 2 and 3, male and female rats, respectively, were fed the −Zn or +Zn diets and treated with 100 mg MA/kg BW for 21 days. In both experiments, MA administration increased intake of the −Zn diet to levels similar to the +Zn diet through Day 14. MA increased the hypothalamic neuropeptide Y (NPY) concentration in male rats, but did not affect serum IGF-I. MA administration improved growth of female but not male rats fed the −Zn diet. In females, serum IGF-I was not lower in zinc-deficient rats, which may have allowed the improved growth response with MA. Hence, MA administration may be a useful tool to increase consumption of a −Zn diet in short-term studies.
Reduced intensity allogeneic transplantation: updated results using alternative regimens

The use of reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) regimens for hematologic malignancies and solid tumors has been designed to reduce treatment-related mortality (TRM) and provide a platform of durable donor engraftment in order to exploit a graft-versus-tumor effect. First-generation regimens were
Relationship between cAMP production and protein secretion in rat submandibular acini: Evidence for loss of reserve capacity with age

Abstract We assessed isoproterenol and forskolin-stimulated cAMP production and protein secretion in submandibular salivary glands from young (4–7 mo) and old (25 mo) male F-344 rats. In senescent acini, the maximum amount of cAMP produced was three-fold less and the protein secreted was one-third less in response to the highest dose of isoproterenol (100 μM). Following isoproterenol stimulation, the young acini were more sensitive than the old for protein secretion than for cAMP production. Post-receptor stimulation (by forskolin) of cAMP production and protein secretion were less in the senescent rats. This report demonstrates the validity of an in vitro model for simultaneous assessment of biochemical and functional correlates. Furthermore, the observations suggest that both receptor and post-receptor stimulation of cAMP production and protein secretion diminish with age. Moreover, there is a reserve capacity for cAMP production with respect to protein secretion in the young that is diminished or even absent in the old rats.
Intelligence for Counter‐Terrorism: Technology and Methods

ABSTRACT In recent years, access to new information, communications and weapons technologies has enabled criminal and terrorist operations on a scale previously unobtainable. While the number of terrorists and terrorist organizations has increased, the nature of their operations has changed dramatically as well. Understanding and countering modern terrorist operations poses a significant challenge for law enforcement and security services. In many cases technologies open to terrorist abuse have evolved far more rapidly than the technologies and methods needed to counter them effectively, even in the most advanced nations, which are at least a generation behind the terrorists in some areas. In countering terrorism, police and intelligence services need timely and effective access to terrorist communications, as well as the ability to interdict weapons shipments and other logistics. Given the nature of the new technologies, these have become very difficult tasks. As terrorists have become increasingly sophi...
Some Comparisons of Sorghum Grain and Corn Proteins in Various Combinations with Soybean Meal Protein in Laying Diets

Abstract THE substitution of sorghum grains for corn in laying diets has been investigated by many workers, including Payne (1934), Adolph and Grau (1956), Berry (1958) and Malik and Quisenberry (1963). Diets containing at least 15 percent protein have been used by most investigators. No appreciable or consistent effect upon the performance of laying pullets has been observed under these conditions. The small effects that have been reported are difficult to interpret in that they may be attributable to any of a number of factors including amino acid balance, acceptability of the diets, or unknown factors. In the following experiments diets made up of various combinations of sorghum grains, corn, and soybean meal were fed at the 8.5 percent protein level to high producing young pullets. This technique made it possible to critically compare the supplemental nature of soybean meal protein with sorghum grain and corn proteins. EXPERIMENTAL White Leghorn pullets…
Partitioning of phosphorus between particles and water in a river outflow

The mixing zone between Cayuga Lake, N.Y. and one of its tributaries, Salmon Creek, was studied to determine effects of physical processes such as adsorption, precipitation or sedimentation on phosphorus discharged by the Creek. A high sodium concentration in the lake served as a natural tracer, by which proportions of Creek and Lake water were determined at any point in the mixing zone. Proportions of Creek and Lake water were used to predict amounts of P that would be expected on the basis of mixing alone. Differences between predicted and observed concentrations were attributed to local physical processes. This analysis showed that, in several of the six plumes surveyed, there was substantial loss of P due to sedimentation. The P-distribution in all plumes showed evidence of exchanges between particles and the medium, as a result of which soluble reactive-P usually decreased and soluble unreactive-P usually increased. The nature and magnitude of these local processes were such that they could have significant effects on the fate of stream-P discharged into the lake.
Information Cost and Innovation Adoption Policies

A firm's manager must decide whether to adopt an innovation of uncertain profitability or to obtain some information and then decide to adopt or reject the innovation. Obtaining information can involve either waiting to receive some costless information or buying some additional information as well. The optimal policy for this decision problem may not have a reservation property. That is as the probability of success rises from 0 to 1, the optimal policy may be: wait, buy, wait, buy, and adopt. This suggests a complexity in managerial decision-making regarding innovations of uncertain profitability when there are both costless and costly information sources available to the manager.
Interactions among phosphate amendments, microbes and uranium mobility in contaminated sediments.

The use of sequestering agents for the transformation of radionuclides in low concentrations in contaminated soils/sediments offers considerable potential for long-term environmental cleanup. This study evaluated the influence of four phosphate amendments and two microbial amendments on U availability. The synchrotron X-ray fluorescence mapping of the untreated U-contaminated sediment showed that U was closely associated with Mn. All tested phosphate amendments reduced aqueous U concentration more than 90%, likely due to formation of insoluble phosphate precipitates. The addition of A. piechaudii and P. putida alone were found to reduce U concentrations 63% and 31% respectively. Uranium sorption in phosphate treatments was significantly reduced in the presence of microbes. However, increased microbial activity in the treated sediment led to reduction of phosphate effectiveness. The average U concentration in 1 M MgCl{sub 2} extract from U amended sediment was 437 {micro}g/kg, but in the same sediment without microbes (autoclaved sediment), the extractable U concentration was only 103 {micro}g/kg. When the autoclaved amended sediment was treated with autoclaved biological apatite, U concentration in the 1 M MgCl{sub 2} extract was {approx}0 {micro}g/kg. Together these tests suggest that microbes may enhance U leaching and reduce phosphate amendment remedial effectiveness.
A Flux Voltmeter for Magnetic Tests

A voltmeter is described for a-c. circuits the voltage indications of which are directly proportional to the maximum flux density, regardless of the wave shape of the voltage. While the instrument is suitable for many varieties of magnetic tests, its most important application is to the reduction of transformer coreloss measurements to sine-wave basis. Test data indicate excellent accuracy for the meter in this application in comparison with other schemes or outfits used at the present time for that purpose. Losses determined by this new meter are, in general, appreciably larger than those determined by the older methods. The new meter makes it unnecessary to use, for reliable results, large generators to reduce the wave distortion caused by transformer excitation loads, and permits the use of any generator that will carry the load thermally.
Pyruvate dehydrogenase inactivity is not responsible for sepsis-induced insulin resistance.

Objective To determine whether activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase with dichloroacetate can reverse sepsis-induced insulin resistance in humans or rats. Design Prospective, controlled study. Setting Intensive care unit (ICU) and laboratory at a university medical center. Subjects Nine patients were admitted to the ICU with Gramnegative sepsis, confirmed by cultures. In addition, chronically instrumented, Sprague-Dawley rats, either controls or with live Escherichia coli-induced sepsis. Interventions Hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp, with or without coadministration of dichloroacetate. Measurements and Main Results In humans, a primed, constant infusion of [6,6-sup 2 H2]glucose was used to determine endogenous glucose production and whole-body glucose disposal. Septic humans exhibited impaired maximal insulin-stimulated glucose utilization (39.5 plus minus 2.7 micro mol/kg/min), despite complete suppression of endogenous glucose production. In rats, a primed, constant infusion of [3-sup 3 H]glucose was used to determine endogenous glucose production and whole-body glucose disposal. Tissue glucose uptake in vivo was determined by [sup 14 C]-2-deoxyglucose uptake. Maximal, whole-body, insulin-stimulated glucose utilization was 205 plus minus 11 and 146 plus minus 9 micro mol/kg/min in control and septic rats, respectively. The defect was specific to skeletal muscle and heart. Stimulation of pyruvate dehydrogenase with dichloroacetate caused a 50% decrease in plasma lactate concentration but failed to improve whole-body insulin-stimulated glucose utilization in either the septic human or rat. Dichloroacetate reversed the impairment of insulin-stimulated myocardial glucose uptake in septic rats, but did not influence skeletal muscle glucose uptake either under basal conditions or during insulin stimulation. Conclusions Activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase with dichloroacetate does not ameliorate the impairment of whole-body, insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in septic humans or rats, or reverse the specific defect in insulin-mediated skeletal muscle glucose uptake by septic rats. Therefore, the decreased pyruvate dehydrogenase activity associated with sepsis does not appear to mediate sepsis-induced insulin resistance during insulin-stimulated glucose uptake at either the whole-body or tissue level.
Unexpected Toxicity of Monolayer Protected Gold Clusters Eliminated by PEG-Thiol Place Exchange Reactions

Monolayer protected clusters (MPCs) are small, metal nanoparticles capped with thiolate ligands that have been widely studied for their size-dependent properties and for their ability to be functionalized for biological applications. Common water-soluble MPCs, functionalized by N-(2-Mercaptopropionyl)-glycine (tiopronin) or glutathione, have been used previously to interface with biological systems. These MPCs are ideal for biological applications not only due to their water-solubility but also their small size (<5 nm). These characteristics are expected to enable easy biodistribution and clearance. In this article, we show an unexpected toxicity is associated with the tiopronin monolayer protected cluster (TMPC), making it incompatible for potential in vivo applications. This toxicity is linked to significant histological damage to the renal tubules, causing mortality at concentrations above 20 μM. We further show how the incorporation of poly ethylene glycol (PEG) by a simple place-exchange reaction eli...
Policing mentally disordered suspects: a reexamination of the criminalization hypothesis

The criminalization hypothesis is based on the assumption that police inappropriately use arrest to resolve encounters with mentally disordered suspects. The current study uses data collected from two large-scale, multisite field studies of police behavior-the Project on Policing Neighborhoods (POPN) conducted in 1996–1997 and the Police Services Study (PSS) conducted in 1977-to examine the relationship between suspect mental health and use of arrest by police. Multivariate results show that police are not more likely to arrest mentally disordered suspects. Implications for future research on the criminalization hypothesis are discussed.
Theories of Culture and Communication

In this chapter, Bradford ‘J’ Hall compares three theoretical perspectives on culture and communication that have been predominant since the 1980s: (1) the traditional postpositivist paradigm, (2) the Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM) paradigm, and (3) the Ethnography of Communication paradigm. He elaborates on the conceptualizations of culture and communication and clarifies the research goals from these paradigmatic perspectives, paying particular attention to how each research tradition conceives the forms, functions, and locus of culture and communication. He also characterizes the relationship between culture and communication in the three approaches as synecdoche, irony, and metaphor. Hall finally explores practical implications of the postpositivist, CMM, and Ethnography of Communication paradigms for understanding and analyzing communication competence and acculturation.
Parameter Estimation for Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation of Food Waste Into Ethanol Using Matlab Simulink

The increase in waste disposal and energy costs has provided an incentive to convert carbohydrate-rich food waste streams into fuel. For example, dining halls and restaurants discard foods that require tipping fees for removal. An effective use of food waste may be the enzymatic hydrolysis of the waste to simple sugars and fermentation of the sugars to ethanol. As these wastes have complex compositions which may change day-to-day, experiments were carried out to test fermentability of two different types of food waste at 27° C using Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast (ATCC4124) and Genencor’s STARGEN™ enzyme in batch simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) experiments. A mathematical model of SSF based on experimentally matched rate equations for enzyme hydrolysis and yeast fermentation was developed in Matlab Simulink®. Using Simulink® parameter estimation 1.1.3, parameters for hydrolysis and fermentation were estimated through modified Michaelis–Menten and Monod-type equations with the aim of predicting changes in the levels of ethanol and glycerol from different initial concentrations of glucose, fructose, maltose, and starch. The model predictions and experimental observations agree reasonably well for the two food waste streams and a third validation dataset. The approach of using Simulink® as a dynamic visual model for SSF represents a simple method which can be applied to a variety of biological pathways and may be very useful for systems approaches in metabolic engineering in the future.
Endoscopic Sedation of Patients with Chronic Liver Disease

Endoscopic procedures are often necessary in patients with chronic liver disease. The preprocedure evaluation of such patients should include an assessment of hepatic synthetic function and identification of neuropsychiatric findings suggestive of hepatic encephalopathy. It may be possible, in some cases, to perform diagnostic esophagogastroduodenoscopy without administration of sedation; this is desirable to eliminate the risks of sedation, especially encephalopathy. Nonetheless, most patients undergoing upper and lower endoscopy require sedation. Currently, the use of propofol is preferred to benzodiazepines and opioids for endoscopic sedation of patients with advanced liver disease due to its short biologic half-life and low risk of provoking hepatic encephalopathy. In appropriately selected patients, gastroenterologist-directed propofol administration seems safe.
ANI1: A Sex Pheromone–Induced Gene in Ceratopteris Gametophytes and Its Possible Role in Sex Determination

Antheridiogen (A CE ) is a pheromone that is required for the development of male gametophytes in the homosporous fern Ceratopteris richardii . Subtractive hybridization of cDNAs isolated from A CE -treated and non-A CE -treated gametophytes was used to isolate genes that are induced by the pheromone. The expression of one gene, ANI1 (for antheridiogen induced), was induced within 3 hr of A CE treatment, but its expression was transient. Patterns of ANI1 expression in wild-type and mutant gametophytes show that ANI1 expression inversely correlates with the predicted activity of one of the sex-determining genes, TRANSFORMER5 ( TRA5 ). These data suggest that ANI1 transcription or transcript accumulation is directly or indirectly prevented by TRA5 in the absence of A CE and that A CE inactivates the TRA5 gene or its product, leading to the upregulation of ANI1 . Cycloheximide (no A CE ) induced the expression of ANI1 , also indicating that ANI1 expression is subject to negative regulation in the absence of A CE . The sequence and inferred protein structure of ANI1 suggest that it is a novel, extracellular protein. The secreted portion of the ANI1 protein potentially forms a β barrel with superficial similarities to lipocalins, which bind small hydrophobic molecules such as pheromones, steroids, and odorants. ANI1 may be an extracellular carrier of A CE that is required to initiate the male program of development as the sexual fate of the young gametophyte is determined.
THE EFFECT OF VARIATIONS IN TEMPORAL BONE STRUCTURE UPON THE CALORIC RESPONSE

A high degree of inter-subject variability reduces the clinical usefulness of the caloric test. Both anatomical and physiological factors are responsible for this problem, but the proportion of variability caused by either factor has not been determined. This study sets a quantitative estimate on the amount of caloric test variability which can be ascribed to anatomical variations in the study population. Polytome radiographs of 48 ‘normal’ subjects were studied to determine how individual variations in the intensity of caloric-induced nystagmus might be relatd to anatomical features of the temporal bone. A statistical analysis showed that pneumatization in the petrous and ‘buttress’ areas, and the dimensions of the internal auditory canal were significantly correlated with caloric response intensity. Furthermore, about 23% of caloric response variability in this population could be accounted for by a combination of anatomical characteristics. However, neither the extent of mastoid pneumatization nor the ...
Ophthalmologic manifestations of rheumatic diseases.

Abstract Objectives: Detailed review of the manifestations of eye involvement in the context of rheumatic diseases. Methods: An OVID Medline search of the rheumatology and ophthalmology English literature related to the eye manifestations of human rheumatic diseases from 1966 to the present was conducted by the authors. Results: Analysis of 300 recent and consecutive rheumatology consultations from a large Veterans Administration Healthcare System shows that 4% are referred for eye manifestations of suspected rheumatic diseases, most commonly, anterior uveitis and keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS). Ocular involvement is common in the rheumatic diseases but varies among the different disorders. A literature review indicated that the most common ocular manifestations of rheumatic diseases include keratoconjunctivitis sicca, anterior uveitis, and scleritis. The most serious eye complications of the inherited connective tissue disorders are lens involvement with cataract formation or subluxation. The most significant side effects of the drugs used to treat rheumatic diseases are the maculopathy associated with anti-malarial agents and cataracts and glaucoma associated with corticosteroid use. Although many of the eye manifestations are easily recognizable, consultation with an ophthalmologist is usually necessary for optimal treatment and prevention of complications. Conclusions: The rheumatologist, in coordination with the ophthalmologist, can play a major role in detecting and managing the eye involvement in his patients to save this important sense. Understanding the varied manifestations of eye disease will permit the rheumatologist to better evaluate the activity of the rheumatic disease. Semin Arthritis Rheum 30:217-241. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company
Exploring associations between multipollutant day types and asthma morbidity: epidemiologic applications of self-organizing map ambient air quality classifications

Recent interest in the health effects of air pollution focuses on identifying combinations of multiple pollutants that may be associated with adverse health risks. Present a methodology allowing health investigators to explore associations between categories of ambient air quality days (i.e., multipollutant day types) and adverse health. First, we applied a self-organizing map (SOM) to daily air quality data for 10 pollutants collected between January 1999 and December 2008 at a central monitoring location in Atlanta, Georgia to define a collection of multipollutant day types. Next, we conducted an epidemiologic analysis using our categories as a multipollutant metric of ambient air quality and daily counts of emergency department (ED) visits for asthma or wheeze among children aged 5 to 17 as the health endpoint. We estimated rate ratios (RR) for the association of multipollutant day types and pediatric asthma ED visits using a Poisson generalized linear model controlling for long-term, seasonal, and weekday trends and weather. Using a low pollution day type as the reference level, we found significant associations of increased asthma morbidity in three of nine categories suggesting adverse effects when combinations of primary (CO, NO2, NOX, EC, and OC) and/or secondary (O3, NH4, SO4) pollutants exhibited elevated concentrations (typically, occurring on dry days with low wind speed). On days with only NO3 elevated (which tended to be relatively cool) and on days when only SO2 was elevated (which likely reflected plume touchdowns from coal combustion point sources), estimated associations were modestly positive but confidence intervals included the null. We found that ED visits for pediatric asthma in Atlanta were more strongly associated with certain day types defined by multipollutant characteristics than days with low pollution levels; however, findings did not suggest that any specific combinations were more harmful than others. Relative to other health endpoints, asthma exacerbation may be driven more by total ambient pollutant exposure than by composition.
An embedded TCP/IP hard core for Smart Grid information and communication networks

Embedded system cores for communications networks are becoming much important recently due to the demands placed by Smart Grid, sensor mobile networks, etc. However, embedded system designs have unique metrics such as cost, flexibility, and size. Tuning these metrics during embedded system designs will definitely impact the cost and performance of Smart Grid devices and systems. In this research, we are aiming to achieve secure and high performance network communication platform based on various implementation of the TCP/IP protocol stack. NicheStack TCP/IP is a light weight library written in C. Firstly, we deployed NicheStack TCP/IP for an embedded Web server application. Then, we integrated the ECC (Elliptic Curve Cryptography) C code within the web server source code to achieve a secure communication. Consequently, we showed that the integrated system: the web server, and the ECC program hides information if the secret is not provided. We used an http client to access the web server through the Internet. The client sends an encrypted data securely through the network to the embedded web server application. Secondly, we are in a stage to design a complete open TCP/IP hard core on an FPGA. Preliminary simulation result via ModelSim confirms proper operation of decode instruction module at the hardware level. All Modules will be synchronized to the same clock and reset signals.
Coordinated Regulation of Toll-Like Receptor and NOD2 Signaling by K63-Linked Polyubiquitin Chains

K63 polyubiquitin chains spatially and temporally link innate immune signaling effectors such that cytokine release can be coordinated. Crohn's disease is a prototypical inflammatory disorder in which this process may be faulty as the major Crohn's disease-associated protein, NOD2 (nucleotide oligomerization domain 2), regulates the formation of K63-linked polyubiquitin chains on the I kappa kinase (IKK) scaffolding protein, NEMO (NF-kappaB essential modifier). In this work, we study these K63-linked ubiquitin networks to begin to understand the biochemical basis for the signaling cross talk between extracellular pathogen Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and intracellular pathogen NOD receptors. This work shows that TLR signaling requires the same ubiquitination event on NEMO to properly signal through NF-kappaB. This ubiquitination is partially accomplished through the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRAF6. TRAF6 is activated by NOD2, and this activation is lost with a major Crohn's disease-associated NOD2 allele, L1007insC. We further show that TRAF6 and NOD2/RIP2 share the same biochemical machinery (transforming growth factor beta-activated kinase 1 [TAK1]/TAB/Ubc13) to activate NF-kappaB, allowing TLR signaling and NOD2 signaling to synergistically augment cytokine release. These findings suggest a biochemical mechanism for the faulty cytokine balance seen in Crohn's disease.
Rep-Rate Jitter and Electrode Erosion of a High Pressure Flowing Oil Switch

A repetition rate switch has been developed at the University of Missouri for long service life applications at moderate energy levels. The switch was designed to study the effects of pressure, flow and charge voltage upon the breakdown performance of a synthetic avionics dielectric coolant known as poly-alpha olefin. Experimental results at pressures from 3.45 to 10.34 MPa (500 to 1,500 psig), and flow rates from 18.96 to 41.58 Lmiddotm-1 (5 to 11 gpm), indicate the range of parameters chosen for examination does not limit the switch breakdown performance at a repetition rate of 15 pps. The electrodes were examined at 106 shots in order to estimate an electrode lifetime. The material removed, although significant, was not found to limit the performance of the switch over its test lifetime and with gap-spacing adjustments the switch was found to perform similarly to the performance observed early in the electrode lifetime. The electrodes are expected to last for more than 107 shots
Task-specific demonstration and practiced synergies for writing with the ACT hand

Muscle synergies are hypothesized as a way to reduce the control space of redundant biological neuromuscular control. Robotics researchers are starting to use grasping synergies to simplify the task of coordinating many joints for complex manipulators. This is especially useful for hand movement control as there are many joints and muscles to control to achieve even simple tasks. This paper uses the Anatomically Correct Testbed (ACT) Robotic Hand to understand how task-specific synergies may be formed and used for complex robotic manipulation tasks such as writing. A comparison is made between synergies formed from (1) general hand movements, (2) task-specific demonstration of generic writing, and (3) practice of writing a specific letter. Results showed that performance using task specific demonstration synergies outperforms performance using general-purpose synergies in terms of completion time, energy expenditure, and trajectory error. Performance using practiced synergy outperforms the performance using demonstration synergies in trajectory error, even though there was no statistical difference in completion time and energy expenditure. These results indicate that task specific synergies from demonstration and practice allow a robotic hand to write better than using more generic synergies that may work for other tasks. How general/specific these synergies should be to optimize the performance of different complex tasks without learning too many specific synergies is an interesting topic for the future.
Team Teaching for Higher Level Learning: A Framework of Professional Collaboration:

Management education must develop students who can analyze robustly and think creatively. Team teaching can facilitate such development. This article presents a brief discussion of team teaching, develops a framework to link team teaching to cognitively complex learning objectives, offers insights for team teaching protocols when applying this framework, and discusses faculty and student experiences. Readers experienced in team teaching are offeredways to efficiently explore the boundaries of this pedagogical form. Those new to team teaching will find the framework useful in overcoming difficulties frequently of concern when first participating in a teaching team.
Gender differences in regional fatty acid metabolism before and after meal ingestion.

Abstract These studies were conducted to determine whether men and women differ with regards to their overnight postabsorptive (basal) and postprandial fatty acid kinetics. Systemic oleate turnover ([9,10(3)H]oleate) was measured before and after the consumption of a mixed meal. Leg and splanchnic free fatty acid (FFA) uptake and release were measured, allowing the calculation of upper-body subcutaneous FFA release. RESULTS: basal oleate flux was virtually identical in men and women (3.0 +/- 3 versus 2.9 +/- 0.4 mumol.kg FFM-1.min-1), however, oleate Ra suppressed more in women than in men following meal ingestion (0.5 +/- 0.1 versus 0.8 +/- 0.1 mumol.kg FFM-1.min-1, P < 0.05). The fractional contribution of basal, regional FFA release to total FFA flux was not significantly different between men and women. In contrast, oleate release by upper-body subcutaneous adipose tissue was significantly greater (30 +/- 5 vs 8 +/- 3 mumol/min, respectively, P < 0.01) in men than in women during the meal nadir of FFA flux, whereas splanchnic oleate release was a greater percentage (39 +/- 7% vs 20 +/- 3%, respectively, P < 0.05) of nadir oleate Ra in women than in men. Thus, normal weight men and women differ significantly in the postprandial regulation of adipose tissue lipolysis in that men's upper-body subcutaneous adipose tissue is more resistant to the antilipolytic effects of meal ingestion. Differential regulation of regional adipose tissue lipolysis could contribute to the gender based differences in body fat distribution.
Why is the market for long-term care insurance so small? ☆

Abstract Long-term care represents one of the largest uninsured financial risks facing the elderly in the United States. We present evidence of supply side market failures in the private long-term care insurance market. In particular, the typical policy purchased exhibits premiums marked up substantially above expected benefits. It also provides very limited coverage relative to the total expenditure risk. However, we present additional evidence suggesting that the existence of supply side market failures is unlikely, by itself, to be sufficient to explain the very small size of the private long-term care insurance market. In particular, we find enormous gender differences in pricing that do not translate into differences in coverage, and we show that more comprehensive policies are widely available, if seldom purchased, at similar loads to purchased policies. This suggests that factors limiting demand for insurance are also likely to be important in this market. Our evidence also sheds light on the likely nature of these demand-side factors.
Leukoencephalopathy in patients diagnosed as major depressive.

Bradley et al. (1984) reported that 30% of patients over the age of 60 demonstrate leukoencephalopathy or patchy, deep white matter lesions (PWML) of abnormal signal intensity on T2 weighted images on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These foci, which are not seen in normal individuals below the age of 45 (George et al. 1986b), are believed to be a function of the late stage of the aging process. With MRI, areas of deep white matter foci resemble those seen in known cerebral infarction (Erkinjuntti et al. 1984) and are reported to correspond to areas of moderate to severe arteriolar hyalinization and rarefaction on pathological examination (George et al. 1986a). The overall perspective on the clinical significance of PWML has yet to be determined. In patients with Alzheimer’s disease, the prevalence and severity of PWML is increased (Bent-~wad~i et al. 1985; George et al. 1986b). Prevalence of PWML of 36.67% was found in patients with Alzheimer’s disease at our medical center (mean age 64.3 years) (Heyman et al. 1986). Post (1962) and Roth (1986) suggested that the increased prevalence and severity of depressive illness and suicide in middle and late life is due to subtle cerebral (primarily vascular) changes correlated with aging. As PWML may reflect early and subtle alterations in cerebral function, we decided to assess the relationship, if any, between the occurrence of PWML (leuk~nceph~opa~y) and depression, especially depression in middle and late life. We also examined the relationship between PWML and early-onset affective disorder (i.e., onset of first episode before the age of 45) and affective disorder that first occurs after the age of 45. We used 45 years as the cutoff for the study because of the report that PWML are not seen in normal individuals below the age of 45 (George et al. 1986b). We also examined the hypothesis that the incidence of PWML would be higher in patients with the first episode of affective disorder above age 45 than in those patients above 45 with affective disorder that started before the age of 45. Such a finding would suggest that PWML may be causally related to depression in some of these individuals.
Differential targeting of Tetrahymena ORC to ribosomal DNA and non-rDNA replication origins.

The Tetrahymena thermophila origin recognition complex (ORC) contains an integral RNA subunit, 26T RNA, which confers specificity to the amplified ribosomal DNA (rDNA) origin by base pairing with an essential cis-acting replication determinant—the type I element. Using a plasmid maintenance assay, we identified a 6.7 kb non-rDNA fragment containing two closely associated replicators, ARS1-A (0.8 kb) and ARS1-B (1.2 kb). Both replicators lack type I elements and hence complementarity to 26T RNA, suggesting that ORC is recruited to these sites by an RNA-independent mechanism. Consistent with this prediction, although ORC associated exclusively with origin sequences in the 21 kb rDNA minichromosome, the interaction between ORC and the non-rDNA ARS1 chromosome changed across the cell cycle. In G2 phase, ORC bound to all tested sequences in a 60 kb interval spanning ARS1-A/B. Remarkably, ORC and Mcm6 associated with just the ARS1-A replicator in G1 phase when pre-replicative complexes assemble. We propose that ORC is stochastically deposited onto newly replicated non-rDNA chromosomes and subsequently targeted to preferred initiation sites prior to the next S phase.
Claude McKay's HARLEM SHADOWS

Though James Weldon Johnson wrote justly that Claude McKay was “one of the principal forces in bringing about the Negro literary awakening” that came to be called the Harlem Renaissance (Johnson 16...
Revision of the subspecies of the American pika, Ochotona princeps (Lagomorpha: Ochotonidae)

Abstract Historically, a large number of taxonomic forms has been recognized within Nearctic pikas (Lagomorpha: Ochotonidae; Ochotona), including up to 13 species and 37 subspecies. After 1965, 2 species and 37 forms have been recognized: the monotypic O. collaris of Alaska, British Columbia, Yukon, and Northwest Territories, and O. princeps, with 36 subspecies spread throughout western Canada and the western United States. The 36 subspecies of O. princeps have been distinguished by subtle differences, particularly in pelage coloration and body size, within the highly fragmented distribution of the species on isolated “islands” of cool, rocky habitat. However, molecular phylogenetic studies (allozyme electrophoresis and sequencing of both mitochondrial and nuclear genomes) indicate the existence of 5 phylogenetic lineages within O. princeps. The cohesiveness of each lineage has been reinforced during glacial stages by introgressive hybridization among currently isolated populations within each lineage. In...
Radiometric Determination of the Concentration of Amphotericin B in Body Fluids

Abstract A new assay was developed to determine the concentration of amphotericin B in body fluids. The Bactec radiometric system was used to measure CO2 production by a test strain, Candida albicans MDA 448, in the presence of amphotericin B. After 5-h incubation, drug concentrations as low as 0.2 μg/ml could be detected. The results are comparable to those of the commonly used agar diffusion assay with Paecilomyces varioti.
mSIN1 Protein Mediates SGK1 Protein Interaction with mTORC2 Protein Complex and Is Required for Selective Activation of the Epithelial Sodium Channel

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) plays a central role in the regulation of a number of cellular processes including growth, metabolism, and ion transport. mTOR is found in two multiprotein complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2, which phosphorylate distinct substrates and regulate distinct cellular processes. SGK1 is an mTORC2 substrate, which is a key regulator of epithelial Na+ transport mediated by the epithelial sodium channel. Although it is known that SGK1 physically interacts with mTORC2, it is unknown which mTORC2 component mediates this interaction or whether this interaction plays a physiologically relevant role in specific activation of SGK1. Here we identify mSIN1 as the mTORC2 component that mediates interaction with SGK1 and demonstrate that this interaction is required for SGK1 phosphorylation and epithelial sodium channel activation. We used the yeast two-hybrid system coupled with random mutagenesis to identify a mutant mSIN1 (mSIN1/Q68H), which does not interact with SGK1. Expression of this mutant does not restore SGK1 phosphorylation to wild-type levels in mSIN1-deficient murine embryo fibroblasts. Furthermore, in kidney epithelial cells, mSIN1/Q68H has a dominant-negative effect on SGK1 phosphorylation and on SGK1-dependent Na+ transport. Interestingly, this interaction appears to be specific in that another mTORC2 substrate, Akt, does not interact with mSIN1, and its phosphorylation and activity are unaffected by the Q68H mutation. These data support the conclusion that mTORC2 uses distinct strategies to phosphorylate different substrates and suggest a mechanism for mTORC2 specificity in the regulation of diverse cellular processes.
A powerful and efficient set test for genetic markers that handles confounders

Motivation: Approaches for testing sets of variants, such as a set of rare or common variants within a gene or pathway, for association with complex traits are important. In particular, set tests allow for aggregation of weak signal within a set, can capture interplay among variants and reduce the burden of multiple hypothesis testing. Until now, these approaches did not address confounding by family relatedness and population structure, a problem that is becoming more important as larger datasets are used to increase power. Results: We introduce a new approach for set tests that handles confounders. Our model is based on the linear mixed model and uses two random effects—one to capture the set association signal and one to capture confounders. We also introduce a computational speedup for two random-effects models that makes this approach feasible even for extremely large cohorts. Using this model with both the likelihood ratio test and score test, we find that the former yields more power while controlling type I error. Application of our approach to richly structured Genetic Analysis Workshop 14 data demonstrates that our method successfully corrects for population structure and family relatedness, whereas application of our method to a 15 000 individual Crohn’s disease case–control cohort demonstrates that it additionally recovers genes not recoverable by univariate analysis. Availability: A Python-based library implementing our approach is available at http://mscompbio.codeplex.com. Contact:jennl@microsoft.com or lippert@microsoft.com or heckerma@microsoft.com Supplementary information:Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.