cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Decision Support Tool for Enhancing Supply Chain Management in Disaster Relief Operations

A United States (US) government agency is charged with delivering US assistance to foreign countries in the aftermath of sudden onset disasters. A major element of this mission is the strategic storage of six critical commodities located at warehouses across the globe. A rapid needs assessment is necessary for determining the commodity types and amounts, which the agency then transports to the disaster location to be distributed to the affected population by partner organizations on the ground. Currently, the entire commodity shipment is sent via a chartered aircraft, obtained through an emergency bid process, to a target airfield for transfer to the distributing organization. Incremental commodity delivery is a potential strategy that would support decision efficiency. Based on the demand on the ground, shipments can be scheduled and sent when they are truly needed, using a variety of transport modes. The agency can reduce financial cost (transportation expenses) and carbon cost (environmental impact) while decreasing port inventory saturation that occurs when the number of commodities delivered exceeds the partner organizations’ distribution capacity. The incremental approach requires complex decision-making to assess available transport options and their financial and carbon efficiencies while meeting target arrival dates/times for each shipment. This project produced a decision support tool that uses historical and GIS data to project sequences of commodity increments and shipment alternatives that meet target arrival times. Users can then conduct informed tradeoff and scenario analyses during their decision process for specific disaster relief operations. The tool presents alternatives based upon four categories of constraints: delivery timing, cost efficiency, carbon efficiency, and the inventory capacity of the arrival port. User inputs include the commodity types and amounts to be delivered, the timeline within which they must arrive, and the target arrival port. The model utilizes multi-objective network optimization to present the potential tradeoffs between the current delivery strategy and the method of incremental shipments timed to meet commodity distribution rates. The tool may identify options that are more functionally and financially beneficial to the agency, its beneficiaries (i.e., more commodities can be provided if transportation costs decrease), and the distributing partners. It can also support an increase in environmentally conscious decisions, which is a growing priority in the humanitarian emergency community. The tool can also be adapted to meet the needs of similar organizations to support their decision-making pertaining to disaster supply chain management.
Diagnosis, Clinical Features, and Management of Patients With Granulomatous Cheilitis.

This case series study of patients with granulomatous cheilitis at a tertiary referral center seeks to better describe the demographic characteristics, presenting features, associated disorders, and response to treatment of granulomatous cheilitis.
The relation of velopharyngeal coupling area to the identification of stop versus nasal consonants in North American English based on speech generated by acoustically driven vocal tract modulations.

The purpose of this study was to determine the threshold of velopharyngeal coupling area at which listeners switch from identifying a consonant as a stop to a nasal in North American English, based on V1CV2 stimuli generated with a speech production model that encodes phonetic segments as relative acoustic targets. Each V1CV2 was synthesized with a set of velopharyngeal coupling functions whose area ranged from 0 to 0.1 cm2. Results show that consonants were identified by listeners as a stop when the coupling area was less than 0.035–0.057 cm2, depending on place of articulation and final vowel. The smallest coupling area (0.035 cm2) at which the stop-to-nasal switch occurred was found for an alveolar consonant in the /ɑCi/ context, whereas the largest (0.057 cm2) was for a bilabial in /ɑCɑ/. For each stimulus, the balance of oral versus nasal acoustic energy was characterized by the peak nasalance during the consonant. Stimuli with peak nasalance below 40% were mostly identified by listeners as stops, whereas those above 40% were identified as nasals. This study was intended to be a precursor to further investigations using the same model but scaled to represent the developing speech production system of male and female talkers.
The fine structure of insect sense organs.

Publisher Summary The body wall of an insect serves as its skeleton and is composed in large part of hard and impermeable cuticle. The sense organs that form a part of the body wall consist of same elements: (1) specialized cuticle—which may take the form of a hair, peg, plate, tympanum, and cornea—produced by ( 2 ) specialized epidermal cells; (3) from one to many bipolar sensory neurons, which arise from other epidermal cells; and (4) the fibers of uncertain origin. Because the cellular parts of many sense organs lie, either entirely or in part, within cavities in the cuticle, the penetration of fixative to them is hindered. The cuticle is extremely difficult to section in paraffin and during fixation, dehydration, and embedding procedures, it shrinks little, if at all, while the delicate cellular elements that are attached to it tend to shrink and pull away. Many of the hairs present on the body surface of insects represent the cuticular component of tactile sense organs.
Labor intensity, employment growth and technical change: An Example from Starch Processing in Indonesia

Abstract Advocates of ‘appropriate’ technology in LDCs often argue for encouraging very labor-intensive production methods to generate more employment. The paper demonstrates that it is theoretically possible for a relatively capital-intensive new technique to increase employment and presents empirical evidence of such an occurrence. It also points out the importance to employment generation of disaggregating the production technique to allow the development of enterprises that exploit subprocess economies of scale.
The enteric toxins of Clostridium perfringens.

The Gram-positive pathogenClostridium perfringens is a major cause of human and veterinary enteric disease largely because this bacterium can produce several toxins when present inside the gastrointestinal tract. The enteric toxins of C. perfringens share two common features: (1) they are all single polypeptides of modest (~25—35 kDa) size, although lacking in sequence homology, and (2) they generally act by forming pores or channels in plasma membranes of host cells. These enteric toxins include C. perfringens enterotoxin (CPE), which is responsible for the symptoms of a common human food poisoning and acts by forming pores after interacting with intestinal tight junction proteins. Two other C. perfringens enteric toxins, ɛ-toxin (a bioterrorism select agent) and β-toxin, cause veterinary enterotoxemias when absorbed from the intestines; β- and ɛ-toxins then apparently act by forming oligomeric pores in intestinal or extra-intestinal target tissues. The action of a newly discovered C. perfringens enteric toxin, β2 toxin, has not yet been defined but precedent suggests it might also be a pore-former. Experience with other clostridial toxins certainly warrants continued research on these C. perfringens enteric toxins to develop their potential as therapeutic agents and tools for cellular biology.
The life-history ofLobelia trigona Roxb. with special reference to the nutrition of the embryo-sac

Since the extensive work of Balicka-Iwanowska (1899), considerable attention has been paid to the nutritive mechanism of the embryo-sac in several families of the sympetalae. In the literature on this subject, the family campanulaceae finds a well-merited place.
Insensitivity of Bacteria to Proposed Antimetabolites of d-Alanyl-d-Alanine

Abstract α-Aminoisobutyryl-d-alanine, d-alanyl-α-aminoisobutyric acid, and α-amino-isobutyryl-α-aminoisobutyric acid, proposed as antimetabolites of d-alanyl-d-alanine in bacterial cell wall synthesis, failed to inhibit bacterial growth.
Transforming Financial Risk Management - Roadmap, Theory, and Computer Applications

The 2008 financial and economic crisis results from many drivers such as the collapse of investor confidence, credit risk on sub-prime mortgage, equity risk of stock volatility, and the lack of comprehensive data sets for algorithmic trading computer applications (Greenspan 2008). This calls for transforming financial risk management that includes empirical and evidence-based investor confidence assessment and management. This paper proposes a theoretical framework to derive an investor confidence indicator as investor decision criterion from the Black-Scholes Model and a well-respected decision theory, namely the signal detection theory. The implementation of the framework is demonstrated as computer applications at www.yeswici.com as the Investor Confidence Indicator (an iGoogle gadget), and the visualFundsRT (a Rich Internet Application (RIA) and a desktop application).
Conjugated Linoleic Acid Reduces Body Fat Accretion and Lipogenic Gene Expression in Neonatal Pigs Fed Low-or High-Fat Formulas

Childhood obesity is an increasing problem and may predispose children to adult obesity. Weight gain during infancy has been linked to excessive weight later in life. Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) have been shown to reduce fat gain and body fat mass in animal models and in humans. The effects of CLA in a piglet model of human infancy have not been determined. The objective of this experiment was to examine the regulation of body composition and lipid metabolism in pigs fed low- and high-fat milk formulas supplemented with CLA. Twenty-four piglets were fed low- (3%) or high-fat (25%) diets with or without 1% CLA in a 2 x 2 factorial design. Formulas were fed for 16-17 d. Piglet body weight gains did not differ, although pigs fed the low-fat diets consumed greater amounts of diet. Piglets fed the high-fat formula accreted 50% more body fat during the feeding period than low-fat fed piglets and CLA reduced body fat accretion regardless of dietary fat content. Liver and muscle in vitro oxidation of palmitate was not influenced by dietary treatments. Adipose tissue expression of acetyl-CoA carboxylase-alpha and lipoprotein lipase were significantly reduced by CLA treatment. Overall, CLA reduced body fat accretion without influencing daily gain in a piglet model of human infancy. Results indicate that inhibition of fatty acid uptake and synthesis by adipose tissue, and not increased fatty acid oxidation in liver or muscle, were involved in reducing body fat gain.
Extensible indexing: a framework for integrating domain-specific indexing schemes into Oracle8i

Extensible indexing is a SQL-based framework that allows users to define domain-specific indexing schemes, and integrate them into the Oracle8i server. Users register a new indexing scheme, the set of related operators, and additional properties through SQL data definition language extensions. The implementation for an indexing scheme is provided as a set of Oracle Data Cartridge Interface (ODCIIndex) routines for index-definition, index-maintenance, and index-scan operations. An index created using the new indexing scheme, referred to as domain index, behaves and performs analogous to those built natively by the database system. The Oracle8i server implicitly invokes user-supplied index implementation code when domain index operations are performed, and executes user-supplied index scan routines for efficient evaluation of domain-specific operators. This paper provides an overview of the framework and describes the steps needed to implement an indexing scheme. The paper also presents a case study of Oracle Cartridges (intermedia text, spatial, and visual information retrieval), and Daylight (Chemical compound searching) Cartridge, which have implemented new indexing schemes using this framework and discusses the benefits and limitations.
Predicted and Experienced Affective Responses to the Outcome of the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election

People typically have intense feelings about politics. Therefore, it was no surprise that the campaign and eventual election of Barack Obama were highly anticipated and emotionally charged events, making it and the emotion experienced afterward a useful situation in which to replicate prior research showing that people typically overestimate the intensity and duration of their future affective states. Consequently, it was expected that Obama supporters and McCain supporters might overestimate the intensity of their affective responses to the outcome of the election. Data showed that while McCain supporters underestimated how happy they would be following the election, Obama supporters accurately predicted how happy they would be following the election. These data provide descriptive information on the accuracy of people's predicted reactions to the 2008 U.S. presidential election. The findings are discussed in the context of the broad literature and this specific and unique event.
Co-rumination Partially Mediates the Relationship between Social Support and Emotional Exhaustion among Graduate Students

Graduate students regularly report high levels of stress and burnout. Many of those same students utilize social support networks, which can act as stress buffers. This study evaluated excessive negative talk about issues (co-rumination) and its effects on that social support-to-burnout (emotional exhaustion) relationship and predicted that co-rumination would act as a suppressor variable. Graduate student volunteers (N = 213) reported their levels of social support, co-rumination, and emotional exhaustion. Data indicated that co-rumination did mediate the social support-to-emotional exhaustion relationship on 2 dimensions. This project purports that, although social support is important, the content of socially supportive interactions may also be important when attempting to intervene in stressful situations, especially when those interactions involve co-ruminative messages.
A review of statistical methods in the analysis of data arising from observer reliability studies (Part II)

Summary This paper reviews research situations in medicine, epidemiology and psychiatry, in psychological measurement and testing, and in sample surveys in which the observer(rater or interviewer) can be an important source of measurement error. Moreover, most of the statistical literature in observer variability is surveyed with attention given to a notational unification of the various models proposed. In the continuous data case, the usual analysis of variance (ANOVA) components of variance models are presented with an emphasis on the intraclass correlation coefficient as a measure of reliability. Other modified ANOVA models, response error models in sample surveys, and related multivariate extensions are also discussed. For the categorical data case, special attention is given to measures of agreement and tests of hypotheses when the data consist of dichotomous responses. In addition, similarities between the dichotomous and continous cases are illustrated in terms of intraclass correlation coefficients. Finally, measures of agreement, such as kappa and weighted-kappa, are discussed in the context of nominal and ordinal data. A proposed unifying framework for the categorical data case is given in the form of concluding remarks.
Environmental Issues and Management Strategies for Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment

Issues surrounding the impact and management of discarded or waste electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE) have received increasing attention in recent years. This attention stems from the growing quantity and diversity of electronic and electrical equipment (EEE) used by modern society, the increasingly rapid turnover of EEE with the accompanying burden on the waste stream, and the occurrence of toxic chemicals in many EEE components that can pose a risk to human and environmental health if improperly managed. In addition, public awareness of the WEEE or "e-waste" dilemma has grown in light of popular press features on events such as the transition to digital television and the exportation of WEEE from the United States and other developed countries to Africa, China, and India, where WEEE has often not been managed in a safe manner (e.g., processed with proper safety precautions, disposed of in a sanitary landfill, combusted with proper air quality procedures). This paper critically reviews current published information on the subject of WEEE. The definition, magnitude, and characteristics of this waste stream are summarized, including a detailed review of the chemicals of concern associated with different components and how this has changed and continues to evolve over time. Current and evolving management practices are described (e.g., reuse, recycling, incineration, landfilling). This review discusses the role of regulation and policies developed by governments, institutions, and product manufacturers and how these initiatives are shaping current and future management practices.
Model Adjustment of Small Rotors for High Speed Gas Turbines

In this paper, we present the studies which are carried out at MICROTURBO relating to rotor-bearing systems mounted in small high speed gas turbines.These studies are based on both theoretical and experimental approaches, and are aimed at providing an improved prediction of the dynamic behaviour of rotors at the design stage, in particular the critical angular velocities and sensitivity to unbalance.Copyright © 1990 by ASME
Optical identification of serendipitous Einstein sources - 19 X-ray-selected active galactic nuclei

The identification of counterparts to 19 serendipitous Einstein Observatory X-ray sources at high galactic latitude is reported. The counterparts are identified as previously uncataloged active galactic nuclei (AGNs) - quasars or Seyfert galaxies - with redshifts varying from z = 0.036 through z = 1.40. The success rate, that is, the fraction of X-ray sources that are identified as AGNs, is approximately 50%, an order of magnitude larger than for traditional ultraviolet surveys. It is expected that this method will produce a large number of X-ray-selected AGNs for statistical studies. For the 19 AGNs in this sample, which is free from the radio selection effects that have complicated previous studies, the X-ray-to-optical-flux slope is found to be 1.30 + or - 0.05.
Signal-averaged electrocardiogram in Ebstein's anomaly.

We sought to establish pathogenetic links between electrophysiology, histopathology, and ventricular tachyarrhythmias in patients with Ebstein's anomaly. The atrialized right ventricle (ARV) is the site of mechanically inducible ventricular tachyarrhythmias, but relations between the arrhythmogenic substrate, the type of tachyarrhythmias, and the trigger(s) have not been established. This study comprised 23 patients (10 men and 13 women; aged 18 to 58 years; mean 32 ± 3) who did not undergo surgery and 6 pre- and postoperative patients with Ebstein's anomaly, diagnosed by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography. Twenty-one patients had classic Ebstein's anomaly and 2 had mild forms. Signal-averaged electrocardiograms (SAECGs) identified slow conduction by using 3 time-domain variables calculated by an automated algorithm and inspected visually. Two variables were required to establish the presence of late potentials. SAECGs were repeated in 6 patients after surgical exclusion of the ARV. Five surgical specimens of the ARV and the true right atrium were examined histologically. Mathematic simulations were used to illustrate anchored and unanchored spiral/scroll waves. SAECGs were positive in 21 patients with classic Ebstein's anomaly and were negative postoperatively in the 6 so studied. The ARV was characterized histologically by clusters of cardiomyocytes isolated within a fibrous matrix. We hypothesize that SAECGs identify slow conduction residing in the ARV, and that excitation of this arrhythmogenic substrate provokes spiral/scroll waves that cannot anchor because clusters of cardiomyocytes are isolated within a fibrous matrix. The waves meander erratically as polymorphic ventricular tachycardia or break up into ventricular fibrillation.
Cognitive-Behavioral Family Treatment of Childhood Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Controlled Trial

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the relative efficacy of (1) individual cognitive-behavioral family-based therapy (CBFT); (2) group CBFT; and (3) a waitlist control group in the treatment of childhood obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Method This study, conducted at a university clinic in Brisbane, Australia, involved 77 children and adolescents with OCD who were randomized to individual CBFT, group CBFT, or a 4- to 6-week waitlist control condition. Children were assessed before and after treatment and at 3 months and 6 months following the completion of treatment using diagnostic interviews, symptom severity interviews, and self-report measures. Parental distress, family functioning, sibling distress, and levels of accommodation to OCD demands were also assessed. Active treatment involved a manualized 14-week cognitive-behavioral protocol, with parental and sibling components. Results By an evaluable patient analysis, statistically and clinically significant pretreatment-to-posttreatment change occurred in OCD diagnostic status and severity across both individual and group CBFT, with no significant differences in improvement ratings between these conditions. There were no significant changes across measures for the waitlist condition. Treatment gains were maintained up to 6 months of follow-up. Conclusions Contrary to previous findings and expectations, group CBFT is as effective in reducing OCD symptoms for children and adolescents as individual treatment. Findings support the efficacy and durability of CBFT in treating childhood OCD.
Change in prevalence of chronic conditions between childhood and adolescence among extremely low-birth-weight children.

Context Extremely low-birth-weight (ELBW) children have high rates of chronic conditions during childhood. Information on their trajectory of health during adolescence is needed for health care planning. Objective To examine changes in the rates of chronic conditions between the ages of 8 and 14 years among ELBW children compared with normal-birth-weight (NBW) controls. Design, Setting, and Participants Cohort study conducted from 2004 through 2009 of 181 ELBW children (weight Main Outcome Measures Rates of chronic conditions overall (measured with the revised Questionnaire for Identifying Children With Chronic Conditions) and rates of asthma and obesity. Results The overall rates of chronic conditions did not change significantly between the ages of 8 and 14 years among ELBW children (75% at age 8 years vs 74% at age 14 years) or NBW controls (37% at age 8 years vs 47% at age 14 years). In generalized estimating equations logistic regression adjusting for sociodemographic status, sex, and race, ELBW children continued to have a higher rate of chronic conditions than NBW controls at age 14 years (74% vs 47%, respectively, adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 2.8 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.7 to 4.6]). Rates of asthma requiring medication did not change between the ages of 8 and 14 years among ELBW children (23% at both ages) but increased among NBW controls from 8% at age 8 years to 17% at age 14 years (P = .002). Differences in rates of asthma between ELBW and NBW children were no longer significant at the age of 14 years (23% vs 17%, respectively; AOR, 1.5 [95% CI, 0.8 to 2.8]). Mean z scores for body mass index increased in ELBW children from 0.06 at age 8 years to 0.38 at age 14 years (P Conclusions Among ELBW children, rates of overall chronic conditions and asthma did not change between the ages of 8 and 14 years but the rate of obesity increased. Compared with NBW controls, the rates of chronic conditions were higher but there were no significant differences in the rates of asthma or obesity.
Investigating HIV-1 Polypurine Tract Geometry via Targeted Insertion of Abasic Lesions in the (–)-DNA Template and (+)-RNA Primer *

Abstract A variety of biochemical and structural studies indicate that two regions of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) polypurine tract (PPT)-containing RNA/DNA hybrid deviate from standard Watson-Crick geometry. However, it is unclear whether and how these regions cooperate to ensure PPT primer selection by reverse transcriptase-associated ribonuclease H and subsequent removal from nascent (+)-DNA. To address these issues, we synthesized oligonucleotides containing abasic lesions in either the PPT (+)-RNA primer or (–)-DNA template to locally remove nucleobases, although retaining the sugar-phosphate backbone. KMnO4 footprinting indicates such lesions locally alter duplex structure, whereas thermal melting studies show significantly reduced stability when lesions are positioned around the scissile bond. Substituting the (–)-DNA template between positions –15 and –13 altered cleavage specificity, whereas equivalent substitutions of the (+)-RNA had almost no effect. The unpaired base of the DNA template observed crystallographically (–11C) could also be removed without significant loss of cleavage specificity. With respect to the scissile –1/+1 phosphodiester bond, template nucleobases could be removed without loss of cleavage specificity, whereas equivalent lesions in the RNA primer were inhibitory. Our data suggest an interaction between the p66 thumb subdomain of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, and the DNA template in the “unzipped” portion of the RNA/DNA hybrid could aid in positioning the ribonuclease H catalytic center at the PPT/U3 junction and also provides insights into nucleic acid geometry around the scissile bond required for hydrolysis.
Heat Pipe Combustor Cooling

The general approach which has been taken toward cooling aircraft turbine combustor liners is to utilize a portion of incoming combustor air for film-cooling. In this paper an alternate cooling method is considered, which is referred to as Heat Pipe Combustor Cooling. The conventional film-cooled combustor liner is replaced by a thin, metallic heat pipe liner. Incident heat is transported upstream, and then into to an adjacent compressor discharge air stream. After first acting as a heat sink to cool the liner, the compressor discharge air stream enters the combustor and serves as a supplementary combustion air supply/combustion gas diluent. This dual-use capability effectively doubles the available air supply for liner cooling, extending the turbine inlet temperature range for which metallic construction of the combustor liner is feasible.Copyright © 1998 by ASME
Secondary testicular tumors

Secondary testicular neoplasms are rare. Review of approximately 24,000 autopsies done at Hines Veterans Administration Hospital revealed 15 cases of metastatic involvement of the testes for an incidence of 0.06%. Histologic appearance of the metastatic tumors was identical to the primary sites and involved the testicle either as nodules or diffuse infiltration or both. By far, the most common primary site in our series was the lung; this spread to the testes in seven cases (47%). In contrast, review of the literature since the last extensive review39 revealed the prostate as the most common source. Although more frequent in the elderly, secondary testicular tumor from stomach and small bowel sources have a peak incidence at age 31, which places them in the age group of primary testicular neoplasms and should be considered in the differential diagnosis.
Maturation rate and gene expression analysis of goat oocytes selected by follicle size andBrilliant Cresyl Blue staining

Oocyte quality plays a critical role in determining the success of embryo development. Studies on cattle and goats indicate that oocytes derived from large follicles (LFO) have greater developmental competence than those derived from small follicles (SFO). Brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) staining determines the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and is a commonly used noninvasive marker of oocyte competence. Studies in pigs, goats, cows, mice, and dogs showed that the maturation and blastocyst developmental rate of BCB+ oocytes is significantly higher than BCB– oocytes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the maturation rate of goat oocytes selected based on follicular size and BCB staining and compare their relative patterns of gene expression. Maturation rate and gene expression profile were expected to be different in these oocyte groups. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were recovered from abattoir-derived ovaries using a slicing technique. Eleven rounds of oocyte maturation and 4 rounds of BCB staining were carried out. During each replicate, oocytes from large (≥3 mm) and small (<3 mm) follicles were collected separately from the same group of ovaries. Oocyte maturation rates were 54.3 ± 5.4% for LFO (n = 378) and only 33.5 ± 3.7% for SFO (n = 981; P < 0.01). The BCB+ (n = 223) oocytes yielded a significantly higher maturation rate than the BCB– (n = 194) oocytes (56.1 ± 1.8 v. 20.6 ± 3.8%, respectively; P < 0.001). Gene expression analysis was conducted on individual MII oocytes (21 oocytes per group). Specific target amplification was performed on a single oocyte directly by using the CellsDirect One-Step qRT–PCR Kit (Invitrogen). Quantitative real-time PCR was then performed using the 48.48 BioMark platform from Fluidigm. Forty two genes were selected from the following categories: growth factors, transcription factors, metabolism, pluripotency, cell cycle, apoptosis, and oocyte-specific genes. Relative expression values were calculated using the ΔΔCT (fold change) method and analysed by ANOVA. The significance was assigned at P < 0.05. The relative expression of CCNA2, CDK2, CCNB1, POU5F1, SOX2, EGF, FGF2, GDF9, ZP3, BCL2, GJA1, DDR1, PFKFB3, IGF2R, and GRB10 was significantly greater (P < 0.05) in both LFO and BCB+ oocytes compared to SFO and BCB– oocytes, respectively. The proapoptotic gene BAX, the ACSL3 gene involved in fatty acid oxidation, and the growth factor IGF1 were expressed significantly higher (P < 0.05) in SFO compared to LFO. By investigating these differentially expressed transcripts, we will better understand pathways involved in oocyte developmental competence and potentially use them as markers of oocyte quality. We expect that the ability to select oocytes of better quality based on BCB staining will improve outcomes of IVF and SCNT.
Recombinant Cardiac ATP-Sensitive K+ Channel Subunits Confer Resistance To Chemical Hypoxia-Reoxygenation Injury

Background —Opening of cardiac ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channels has emerged as a promising but still controversial cardioprotective mechanism. Defining KATP channel function at the level of recombinant channel proteins is a necessary step toward further evaluation of the cardioprotective significance of this ion conductance. Methods and Results —KATP channel–deficient COS-7 cells were found to be vulnerable to chemical hypoxia-reoxygenation injury that induced significant cytosolic Ca2+ loading (from 97±3 to 236±11 nmol/L). In these cells, the potassium channel opener pinacidil (10 μmol/L) did not prevent Ca2+ loading (from 96±3 nmol/L before to 233±12 nmol/L after reoxygenation) or evoked membrane current. Cotransfection with Kir6.2/SUR2A genes, which encode cardiac KATP channel subunits, resulted in a cellular phenotype that, in the presence of pinacidil (10 μmol/L), expressed K+ current and gained resistance to hypoxia-reoxygenation (Ca2+ concentration from 99±7 to 127±11 nmol/L; P >0.05). Both properties were abolished by the KATP channel blocker glyburide (1 μmol/L). In COS-7 cells transfected with individual channel subunits Kir6.2 or SUR2A , which alone do not form functional cardiac KATP channels, pinacidil did not protect against hypoxia-reoxygenation. Conclusions —The fact that transfer of cardiac KATP channel subunits protected natively KATP channel–deficient cells provides direct evidence that the cardiac KATP channel protein complex harbors intrinsic cytoprotective properties. These findings validate the concept that targeting cardiac KATP channels should be considered a valuable approach to protect the myocardium against injury.
A Biological Agent for securing Large Numbers of Amœba proteus

THE role of Oscillatoria for purifying freshwater reservoirs is well known. For some years now, I have been applying successfully this biological agent to ‘cleaning up’ amœba cultures. Ordinary laboratory cultures, unless rigidly controlled, tend to become choked with algae in the course of time. It is a tiresome manipulation to separate out the amœbae in sufficient numbers when it is desirable to make a quantity of stained preparations, or to secure the large numbers of young amœbae which are required when a study of mitosis is being made. If, however, among the algal contents one introduces Oscillatoria, the filaments of this grow over and bind together the wheat grains and the algal contents into a cylindrical mass. The rest of the vesicle is quite free from weed; but young amœbae, some rotifers and small flagellates creep out on to it and multiply, and so a white carpet is formed consisting mainly of amœbae quite free from debris. These can then be pipetted off into the fixative, or used for a study of mitosis.
High efficiency coal-fired power plant of the future

In this work a novel coal fueled power plant, which combines coal gasification and solid oxide fuel cell technology, is presented. The cycle is a modification of an earlier one proposed by the same authors [Lobachyov and Richter, Journal of Energy Resources Technology, 1996, 188]. It retains most of the elements of the previous plant: Conoco CO2 acceptor gasification process, solid oxide fuel cell and state-of-the-art gas turbines. A key difference between the previous and the new cycle is a different heat recovery concept. Instead of using the sensible heat of the cathode exhaust for the coal gasification process, the fuel not oxidized in the fuel cell is burnt to provide this heat. This new concept allows us to simplify the cycle and makes its performance less dependent on the pressure drop in different components of the cycle. Further, it considerably reduces the exergy loss in the gas turbine by eliminating exergetically inefficient turbine blade cooling. The new cycle achieves a gain in the overall efficiency of more than two percentage points under the same operating parameters. At a maximum system pressure of 10 bar and an anticipated solid oxide fuel cell voltage of 0.7 V the overall thermal efficiency is approximately 63%.
Dielectric Probes of Polymer Chain Dynamics

Dielectric measurements have long been a principal means of observing long-chain molecules in motion, whether in dilute or concentrated solutions, or in undiluted rubbery, glassy, or crystalline polymers. Many problems have been solved but many other are still under active investigation. Selected aspects of present understanding, principally of single chains in solution, are reviewed.
Squalene metabolism in the larva of the fly, Sarcophaga bullata

Abstract 14 C-squalene was used as a substrate to probe the mechanism of the inability for sterol biosynthesis in the larva of fly ( Sarcophaga bullata ) tissue homogenates: fat body, gut, and epidermis as well as whole larval homogenates were used as enzyme sources. Numerous incubation regimens have been investigated, with various combinations of cofactors and thiol-reagents. There is no significant sterol biosynthesis from 14 C-squalene in this insect system. When dithiothreitol was used as the thiol-reagent, 14 C-squalene was metabolized to a more polar compound which has the same chromatographic characteristics as squalene-2,3-oxide in four solvent systems. The mechanism of the deletion of sterol biosynthesis in insects through adaptation, evolution, and metabolic regulation is discussed.
Small-x behavior of parton distributions from the observed Froissart energy dependence of the deep-inelastic-scattering cross sections.

We fit the reduced cross section for deep-inelastic electron scattering data to a three parameter ln{sup 2}s fit, A+{beta}ln{sup 2}(s/s{sub 0}), where s=(Q{sup 2}/x)(1-x)+m{sup 2}, and Q{sup 2} is the virtuality of the exchanged photon. Over a wide range in Q{sup 2} (0.11{<=}Q{sup 2}{<=}1200 GeV{sup 2}) all of the fits satisfy the logarithmic energy dependence of the Froissart bound. We can use these results to extrapolate to very large energies and hence to very small values of Bjorken x--well beyond the range accessible experimentally. As Q{sup 2}{yields}{infinity}, the structure function F{sub 2}{sup p}(x,Q{sup 2}) exhibits Bjorken scaling, within experimental errors. We obtain new constraints on the behavior of quark and antiquark distribution functions at small x.
Stability of ruby in solid hydrogen at megabar pressures.

High-pressure spectroscopic investigations carried out with diamond-anvil cells demonstrate that solid hydrogen undergoes a phase transition and changes in electronic properties near 150 GPa. An alternative interpretation has been proposed that ruby, which has been used as a pressure calibrant in such studies, is reduced by hydrogen to form aluminum metal and aluminum hydroxide, and that the resulting composite is responsible for the observed changes in optical spectra at these pressures. Direct measurements are performed and analyzed to test this hypothesis. We demonstrate that the hypothesis is inconsistent with the experimental data and that the spectral changes observed at 150 GPa are not associated with aluminum.
Layer Fusion Radio (LFR) for future communication and radar

In this paper, we propose a new class of radio systems: a layer fusion radio (LFR) system that has potential to meet the emerging challenges of wireless communication and radar system. LFR includes three strategies: (i) Cross-layer system design, (ii) Cross-over functional block and iii) IP block sharing for multi-purposes.
Eating disorders in children. Diagnosis and age-specific treatment.

This article presents the common eating disorders seen throughout childhood that come to the attention of child and adolescent psychiatrists. At each developmental transition, the ability of children to feed themselves can founder, leading to the expression of a feeding or eating disorder. This review examines the disorders of emotionally driven alterations in eating that lead to impairment in physical and emotional health and can delay development during infancy, toddlerhood, childhood, and adolescence. At each developmental stage, a new eating or feeding challenge arises, and children may develop an eating disorder. This article describes these eating disorders and the approach to their evaluation and treatment. This article does not cover two disorders of overconsumption of food that affect many children in the United States: obesity and binge-eating disorder. These two disorders have a different underlying psychopathology and are beyond the scope of this article.
Fulminant hepatic failure.

Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) is an acute, catastrophic, rapidly fatal illness that results in severe hepatocyte damage or massive necrosis. 46 Acute liver damage is sufficient to cause the rapid onset of encephalopathy and coagulopathy followed by multi-organ failure. Unlike progressive liver failure from underlying cirrhosis, FHF occurs in previously healthy individuals and carries an 80% mortality rate without liver transplantation. Approximately 2000 cases of FHF are reported annually in the United States, with no identifiable cause found in up to 50% of these cases. 18 The clinical manifestations of this disorder are varied, and treatment is primarily supportive. Fulminant hepatic failure usually is defined as either acute liver disease occurring in the absence of preexisting liver disease leading to encephalopathy within 8 weeks of the onset of symptoms 77 or liver disease leading to encephalopathy within 2 weeks of the onset of jaundice. 7 A new classification of fulminant hepatic failure has been proposed based on the interval from the onset of jaundice to the development of encephalopathy. 59 This new classification provides a better determination of etiology and estimate of prognosis than did previous definitions. Three subgroups of fulminant hepatic failure have been defined as: (1) hyperacute, (2) acute, and (3) subacute. 59 Hyperacute liver failure is encephalopathy that develops within 8 days of the onset of jaundice. The most common etiology is acetaminophen overdose. Occasionally, hepatitis A or B may present in this fashion. Acute liver failure is defined as the onset of encephalopathy 8 to 28 days after the development of jaundice. Viral hepatitis and idiosyncratic drug reactions make up the majority of cases that present in this fashion. Subacute liver failure is defined as the development of encephalopathy 4 to 26 weeks after the onset of jaundice. 27 Patients with non-A non-B non-C hepatitis represent most of these cases. Patients with hyperacute liver failure have a reported survival rate of 36% without liver transplantation; the survival rate of patients with acute and subacute liver failure is reported at 7% and 14%, respectively. 55,59
Relationship of Adult Representations of Childhood Parenting and Personality Tendencies to Adult Stressors and Political Ideology

Undergraduate students in a Southeastern US University (n = 232) responded to an inventory that included retrospective measures of their parents’ style of parenting (authoritarian vs. authoritative) and their own childhood psychological tendencies (insecurity vs. confidence), as well as their adult stressors and political orientation. Authoritative parenting positively correlated with childhood confidence and negatively correlated with both childhood insecurity and adult stressors. Conversely, authoritarian parenting was positively associated with childhood insecurity and adult stressors but was not significantly correlated with childhood confidence. For the most part, parenting styles, early childhood tendencies, and adult stressors were unrelated to adult political ideology, contrary to previous longitudinal research reporting these connections.
Finite approximations to the second-order properties closure in single phase polycrystals

Extension of the first-order theory of microstructure design to considerations of morphological texture is addressed in this paper. The main challenges include the r-interdependence of the 2-point correlation functions of lattice orientation, construction of the corresponding microstructure hull, and its corresponding properties closure(s). It is shown that the correlation functions can be expressed in terms of an intermediate construct, called the texture function; the correlation functions have quadratic dependence in the texture functions. A complete (finite) texture hull is readily constructed for the texture functions in Fourier space, and is found to be a convex polytope. Eigen-texture functions occupy its corner (extreme) points. Microstructure design proceeds directly from homogenization relations evaluated at the corner points. This gives rise to (combined) properties closures, from which second-order microstructure design can proceed. This is demonstrated in a brief case study.
Optimizing low loss negative index metamaterial for visible spectrum using differential evolution: comment

In a recent paper, Zhao et al. [Opt. Express 19(12), 11605 (2011)], proposed the use of differential evolution technique to optimize figure of merit of a negative index metamaterial (NIM) for the visible spectrum. In this comment, we argue that certain ambiguities associated with the effective parameter retrieval should be also addressed in the paper for the accurate implementation of the technique for NIMs. Furthermore, the figure of merit reported in the paper is unrealistically large.
Thrombospondin-induced attachment and spreading of human squamous carcinoma cells

Abstract Thrombospondin (TSP) induced the attachment and spreading of human squamous carcinoma cells on plastic culture dishes and dishes coated with type I or type IV collagen. Increased adhesion was detected as early as 15 min after treatment. Dose-response studies indicated that 1–5 μg of TSP per 35 mm (diameter) culture dish was sufficient to induce a response and that a half-maximal response occurred at 10 μg of TSP/dish. The squamous carcinoma cells synthesized TSP as indicated by biosynthetic labeling experiments. TSP was secreted (or shed) into the culture medium by these cells and also became bound to the cell surface. TSP also promoted adhesion of human keratinocytes, fibroblasts and fibrosarcoma cells but did not induce attachment or spreading of human melanoma or glioma cells, although these cells did respond to laminin.
An extended commentary on Stephen E. Nash, editor. 2000. It's About Time: A History of Archaeo­logical Dating in North America, University of Utah Press, Salt Lake City

The It's About Time volume, which focuses upon the issues of historiography and chronology in North American archaeology, is the publication of the papers from a 1997 Society for American Archaeology symposium. The papers are for the most part on the development of various daring techniques (such as archaeomagnetism, dendrochronology, radiocarbon, or thermoluminescence) from an archaeological perspective, but there is one extremely thought-provoking critique by a social philosopher on how archaeologists "do" the history of archaeology, that for many readers may be the single most important paper in the volume.
The 1.8 A crystal structure of the ycaC gene product from Escherichia coli reveals an octameric hydrolase of unknown specificity.

Abstract Background: The ycaC gene comprises a 621 base pair open reading frame in Escherichia coli . The ycaC gene product (ycaCgp) is uncharacterized and has no assigned function. The closest sequence homologs with an assigned function belong to a family of bacterial hydrolases that catalyze isochorismatase-like reactions, but these have only low sequence similarity to ycaCgp (∼20% amino acid identity). The ycaCgp was obtained and identified during crystallization trials of an unrelated E. coli protein with which it co-purified. Results: The 1.8 a crystal structure of ycaCgp reveals an octameric complex comprised of two tetrameric rings. A large three-layer ( α β α ) sandwich domain and a small helical domain form the folded structure of the monomeric unit. Comparisons with sequence and structure databases suggest that ycaCgp belongs to a diverse family of bacterial hydrolases. The most closely related three-dimensional structure is that of the D 2 tetrameric N-carbamoylsarcosine amidohydrolase (CSHase) from an Arthrobacter species. A conspicuous cleft between two ycaCgp subunits contains several conserved residues including Cys118, which we propose to be catalytic. In the active site, a nonprolyl cis peptide bond precedes Val114 and coincides with a cis peptide bond in CSHase in a region of dissimilar sequence. The crystal structure reveals a probable error or mutation relative to the reported genomic sequence. Conclusions: Although the specific function of ycaCgp is not yet known, structural studies solidify the relationship of this protein to other hydrolases and illuminate its active site and key elements of the catalytic mechanism.
Electrochemical reductive coupling of 2-cyclohexen-1-one in a mixture of ionic liquid and water

Abstract The electrochemical reductive coupling of 2-cyclohexen-1-one in a mixture of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid with water afforded the 1,6-diketone (1,1′-bicyclohexyl)-3,3′-dione in 90% yield at room temperature via regioselective coupling at the β-carbon. The addition of water was necessary to increase the conductivity of the ionic liquid. The method provides a green electrolytic medium which avoids the use of volatile organic solvents and supporting electrolytes. The ionic liquid can be recycled and successfully reused for at least seven cycles.