cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Plasma renin levels and renin–blood pressure relationship in normal-weight and overweight children with obstructive sleep apnea and matched controls

Abstract Background Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been increasingly linked to elevated blood pressure (BP) and hypertension. Repeated night-time hypoxia in OSA is associated with activation of two critical mechanisms of BP control: the autonomic nervous system and the renin–angiotensin system (RAS). The effects of OSA on the RAS are not well understood, especially in children. We hypothesized that children with OSA have elevated renin levels and abnormal relationships between BP and renin. Methods Polysomnography was conducted in 173 children to diagnose OSA (apnea–hypopnea index [AHI] >1 event/h) and control (AHI ≤1 event/h) groups. Age- and gender-specific z -scores for body mass index (BMI) were calculated to divide subjects into obese (BMI ≥95%), overweight (BMI ≥85% and Results Plasma renin levels were not significantly different in all four groups after adjustment of age, gender, and race. Significantly negative associations between renin and BP were present only in the normal-weight control group and were absent in the other three groups. Conclusion Plasma renin levels were not significantly increased in children with OSA compared to controls for both normal-weight and overweight subjects. The absence of normal, negative renin–BP relationships in both overweight and OSA children suggests a dysfunction of the RAS, which could be a mechanism for increased BP and the development of hypertension.
The hard-won benefits of familiarity in visual search: naturally familiar brand logos are found faster

Familiar items are found faster than unfamiliar ones in visual search tasks. This effect has important implications for cognitive theory, because it may reveal how mental representations of commonly encountered items are changed by experience to optimize performance. It remains unknown, however, whether everyday items with moderate levels of exposure would show benefits in visual search, and if so, what kind of experience would be required to produce them. Here, we tested whether familiar product logos were searched for faster than unfamiliar ones, and also familiarized subjects with previously unfamiliar logos. Subjects searched for preexperimentally familiar and unfamiliar logos, half of which were familiarized in the laboratory, amongst other, unfamiliar distractor logos. In three experiments, we used an N-back-like familiarization task, and in four others we used a task that asked detailed questions about the perceptual aspects of the logos. The number of familiarization exposures ranged from 30 to 84 per logo across experiments, with two experiments involving across-day familiarization. Preexperimentally familiar target logos were searched for faster than were unfamiliar, nonfamiliarized logos, by 8 % on average. This difference was reliable in all seven experiments. However, familiarization had little or no effect on search speeds; its average effect was to improve search times by 0.7 %, and its effect was significant in only one of the seven experiments. If priming, mere exposure, episodic memory, or relatively modest familiarity were responsible for familiarity’s effects on search, then performance should have improved following familiarization. Our results suggest that the search-related advantage of familiar logos does not develop easily or rapidly.
Numerical solution of the atmospheric diffusion equation for chemically reacting flows

A comprehensive study of numerical techniques for solving the atmospheric diffusion equation is reported. Operator splitting methods are examined in which the three-dimensional problem is converted into a sequence of one-dimensional problems. A Galerkin, linear finite element scheme with a nonlinear filter is found to be computationally superior to the other methods tested for the advection-diffusion components. The chemical reaction dynamics component, treated within the splitting scheme, is generally highly stiff. A second-order predictor, iterated corrector technique, in combination with an asymptotic treatment of the stiff components, is found to be computationally superior for the chemical kinetics. The validity of the pseudo steady state approximation for certain reactive species is also investigated.
Relationship of soil ergosterol concentration and fungal biomass

We studied the relationship between amounts of fungi and ergosterol in soil to further evaluate the use of ergosterol as an indicator of soil fungal biomass. Soils from seven sites in central Iowa were analyzed for soil ergosterol content, total fungal hyphal length (living and non-living, using calcofluor as stain), and living fungal hyphal length (using fluorescein diacetate as stain) to: 1) determine how soil ergosterol concentration correlates with total fungal hyphal length and living fungal hyphal length; and 2) determine an approximate value for ergosterol concentration in living fungal biomass present in soil. Correlation significance tests and analysis of variance indicated highly significant positive correlation between soil ergosterol content and both measures of hyphal length, but regression analysis demonstrated only a moderate degree of linear correlation between these variables (coefficients of linear correlation, r = 0.638 to 0.874). Calculated values for ergosterol concentration in living fungal biomass present in the soils examined ranged from 5 to 31 mg ergosterol g−1 living fungal biomass. Data indicate that the wide range in specific ergosterol content of living fungal biomass in soils is related to the total amount of fungal hyphae (living and non-living) in a soil. We propose a method to estimate living fungal biomass from soil ergosterol content which compensates for the variability in fungal ergosterol concentrations by accounting for this relationship. A preliminary evaluation of this approach using independent data from the literature provides support for this method, in that a high correlation (r2 = 0.999) between predicted and measured living fungal biomass was observed.
Limitations of Slitlamp Microscopy of the Living Eye and the Possibility of Overcoming them

The magnifying power of the double microscope objective is limited by the distance it must be kept in front of the eye and the need of getting as large an aperture as possible. Higher power oculars make the image larger but do not help definiteness or resolution of detail. Transillumination cannot be so perfect as with the microscopic slide. Optical defects of the surfaces and media of the eye cannot be overcome. The physiologic oscillation of the eye makes useless higher powers than those now employed. However, the field for this instrument may be extended by using polarized light, the illumination for ultramicroscopy, the working out of diffraction phenomena in the living tissues, studies of fluorescence by ultraviolet light and spectroscopy. An address delivered before the Cincinnati Ophthalmological Club May, 1925.
Fuse: a reproducible, extendable, internet-scale corpus of spreadsheets

Spreadsheets are perhaps the most ubiquitous form of end-user programming software. This paper describes a corpus, called Fuse, containing 2,127,284 URLs that return spreadsheets (and their HTTP server responses), and 249,376 unique spreadsheets, contained within a public web archive of over 26.83 billion pages. Obtained using nearly 60,000 hours of computation, the resulting corpus exhibits several useful properties over prior spreadsheet corpora, including reproducibility and extendability. Our corpus is unencumbered by any license agreements, available to all, and intended for wide usage by end-user software engineering researchers. In this paper, we detail the data and the spreadsheet extraction process, describe the data schema, and discuss the trade-offs of Fuse with other corpora.
New structural approach for reducing punchthrough current in deep submicrometre MOSFETs and extending MOSFET scaling

A heterojunction MOSFET structure is proposed in which the energy band offset of a heterojunction provides an additional potential energy barrier at the source in order to improve the turn-off characteristics in extremely small MOSFETs. Initial numerical simulations of this device show that the heterojunction MOSFET yields a substantial improvement in off-state leakage current compared to a conventional all-Si (homojunction) MOSFET. An additional design technique such as this is believed to be able to allow devices to be scaled more effectively to x 0.1 μm technology.
Enterovirus Type 71 Infections: A Varied Clinical Pattern Sometimes Mimicking Paralytic Poliomyelitis

Not all poliomyelitis-like paralytic illnesses can be attributed to polioviruses. Among the most recently recognized agents able to cause severe central nervous system disease with persistent flaccid paralysis is enterovirus type 71. In the 1969-1973 California outbreaks during which strains of this type were first reported, meningitis predominated, but cases of encephalitis were also seen. Outbreaks in different regions of the world followed. In some, hand-foot-and-mouth syndrome predominated; in others, meningitis; and in some, the clinical patterns were mixed. In the 1975 Bulgarian outbreak of greater than 705 cases, 149 patients developed paralysis and 44 others died. Enterovirus 71 was incriminated as the cause of the epidemic, in which infants and young children were the chief victims. The 1978 Hungarian epidemic of central nervous system disease was mixed, involving a tick-borne encephalitis virus among adults and enterovirus 71 among children. This newly recognized enterovirus is also significant in relation to polio vaccines. At some time, vaccine inevitably will be given to persons already incubating enterovirus 71 infection, who then may present with the paralytic syndrome due to the wild enterovirus. Such cases could be mistakenly designated as related to polio vaccine, particularly since many enterovirus 71 strains are difficult to isolate under conditions that would readily yield poliovirus isolates from the vaccine.
Diagnosis and repair of a morgagni hernia with video-assisted thoracic surgery

Foramen of Morgagni hernias have traditionally been repaired by either an abdominal or a transthoracic approach. We describe a case in which a Morgagni hernia that presented as a gradually enlarging right anterior pericardiophrenic mass was both diagnosed and repaired using video-assisted thoracic surgery. The procedure went without incident, and the patient had an uneventful postoperative course. The video-assisted thoracic surgical repair can be a safe and effective way to fix a Morgagni hernia.
Positive observer design for fractional order systems

This paper initially starts with an overview of fractional order representation of linear continuous-time systems and their stability analysis. The design of fractional order observers for fractional order system (FOS) is considered with the purpose of estimating the system states in feedback implementation. Using the stability conditions for FOS, design procedures for both fractional order observer of proportional and proportional integral types (Pα-Observer and PIα-Observer) are given with the aim of generalizing the conventional P- and PI-Observers. Finally, the problem of positive Pα-Observer design for positive FOS is formulated and solved using linear programming. The possibility of incorporating Pα-Observer and state feedback control law is also addressed for stabilization of FOS.
The Geographic Distribution of Potential Risks Posed by Industrial Toxic Emissions in the U.S

The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), compiled annually by the EPA, has emerged as the most comprehensive database on industrial toxic emissions in the U.S. While various risk indicators and pollutant weighting methods have been developed to compare TRI emissions, these measures are rarely used to examine the geography of potential risks posed by toxic emissions at the national scale. This article provides a geographic perspective on the evaluation of industrial pollution by exploring the spatial distribution of the potential health and environmental impacts of TRI emissions across the U.S. Six indicators of potential risk based on the impact benchmarking concept are used to characterize specific human health and environmental concerns: carcinogenic toxicity, noncarcinogenic toxicity, ozone depletion, global warming, smog formation and acid rain formation. Air emission data from the 2000 TRI are used to analyze the six potential impacts at the state level. The objectives are to: (a) examine and compare spatial variations in the distribution of these adverse impacts across the U.S.: and (b) identify the states facing the highest health and environmental risk from industrial toxic releases. The effect of differences in state area and population size on the distribution of the six potential impacts and state rankings for each category are also investigated. While Ohio and Texas receive the highest ranks in all risk categories, Louisiana and West Virginia represent the most "hazardous" states when emissions are weighted by state area and population. The results demonstrate the need to examine the geographic variability of different risk indicators that are used to evaluate TRI emissions, at multiple scales.
Brain morphology and response to nortriptyline in geriatric depression.

In geriatric patients with major depression (N=15), the authors compared response to treatment with nortriptyline as it relates to brain morphology assessed by computed tomography. There was a significant negative association between ventricle–brain ratio and response to nortriptyline (r s =−0.63; P=0.015).
Muscarinic Receptor Activation of Arachidonate-mediated Ca2+ Entry in HEK293 Cells Is Independent of Phospholipase C

Receptor-enhanced entry of Ca2+ in non-excitable cells is generally ascribed to a capacitative mechanism in which the activation of the entry pathway is specifically dependent on the emptying of agonist-sensitive intracellular Ca2+ stores. Although such entry can be clearly demonstrated under conditions of maximal or near-maximal stimulation, it is uncertain whether such a mechanism can operate during the oscillatory [Ca2+]i signals that are frequently seen following stimulation with low concentrations of agonists. In this study, we report that the stimulation of human m3 muscarinic receptors stably transfected into HEK293 cells results in the appearance of a novel arachidonate-mediated Ca2+ entry pathway. We show that the generation of arachidonic acid and the activation of this pathway are specifically associated with stimulation at the low agonist concentrations that typically give rise to oscillatory [Ca2+]i signals. At such agonist concentrations, however, the generation of arachidonic acid is independent of the simultaneous activation of the phospholipase C-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate pathway. We further show that the arachidonate-mediated Ca2+ entry demonstrates characteristics that distinguish it from the corresponding capacitative pathway in the same cells and therefore is likely to represent an entirely distinct pathway that is specifically responsible for the receptor-enhanced entry of Ca2+ during [Ca2+]i oscillations.
Reactivity and regiochemical behavior in the solvolysis reactions of (2,2-difluorocyclopropyl)methyl tosylates

The rate constants for acetolysis of (2,2-difluorocyclopropyl)methyl tosylate, and (2,2-difluoro-3-methylcyclopropyl)methyl tosylate at 92 °C and of 1-(2,2-difluorocyclopropyl)ethyl tosylate at 42 °C are reported and the reactivities and regiochemistries of ring opening of these systems are discussed and compared with expectations based on computational results. The results are discussed in terms of the use of (2,2-difluorocyclopropyl)methyl systems as mechanistic probes.
The influence of C2C communications in online brand communities on customer purchase behavior

Increasingly, consumers use the internet as a vehicle for pre-purchase information gathering. While technical specifications and potentially biased selling points can be gleaned from corporate web sites, online brand communities are becoming essential conduits for the customer-to-customer (C2C) sharing of product information and experiences. This study develops and tests a model of online C2C communications in developing desirable online brand community outcomes. Two studies were used to test the model. In Study 1, a netnography technique was employed and conversations between brand community members were coded and combined with survey data to test the research model. In Study 2 an experiment was conducted to further test the sequence of events in our base model. Our findings show that online brand communities are effective tools for influencing sales, regardless of whether these communities reside on company-owned or independently-owned websites. In addition, we demonstrate interesting asymmetrical effects, whereby the positive information shared by community members has a stronger moderating influence on purchase behavior than negative information. Further, we find that online brand communities are effective customer retention tools for retaining both experienced and novice customers. These findings highlight the need for all firms to carefully consider their online community strategies.
The Utility of Knowledge in Inductive Learning

In this paper, we demonstrate how different forms of background knowledge can be integrated with an inductive method for generating function-free Horn clause rules. Furthermore, we evaluate, both theoretically and empirically, the effect that these forms of knowledge have on the cost and accuracy of learning. Lastly, we demonstrate that a hybrid explanation-based and inductive learning method can advantageously use an approximate domain theory, even when this theory is incorrect and incomplete.
Introduction: librarians recovering our professional memory: enriching the past, present, and future.

This focus issue had its genesis in a white paper compiled by an ad hoc committee formed under the aegis of the Medical Library Association History of the Health Sciences Section, a summary of which appeared in the ‘‘Comment and Opinion’’ section of the Journal of the Medical Library Association (JMLA) last January [1].* While the details need not be recounted here, a few things were apparent to committee members in particular and the section constituency generally that are worth restating: 1. Interest in history and medical humanities has witnessed a steady decline, as seen in the content of the JMLA. 2. The cause of that decline resides not in editorial choice or preference but rather in the submissions offered, thus suggesting a more endemic shift in the profession away from historical interests and concerns. 3. A refocusing of attentions in these areas will provide new leadership opportunities for health sciences librarians in a wide range of areas.
A hierarchical method for stochastic motion planning in uncertain environments

This paper considers the problem of stochastic motion planning in uncertain environments, and extends existing chance constrained optimal control solutions. Due to the imperfect knowledge of the system state caused by motion uncertainty, sensor noise and environment uncertainty, the system constraints cannot be guaranteed to be satisfied and consequently must be considered probabilistically. To account for the uncertainty, the constraints are formulated as convex constraints on a random variable, known as chance constraints, with the violation probability of all the constraints guaranteed to be below a threshold. Standard chance constrained stochastic motion planning methods do not incorporate environmental sensing which typically leads to overly-conservative solutions. To address this, a novel hierarchical framework is proposed that consists of two main steps: an expected shortest path problem on an uncertain graph and a chance constrained motion planning problem. The first successful, real-time experimental demonstration of chance constrained control with uncertain constraint parameters and variables is also presented for a quadrotor equipped with a Kinect sensor navigating through an uncertain, cluttered 3D environment.
Existence of good and best approximations on unbounded domains by exponential sums in several independent variables

Abstract In this paper we consider the problem of using exponential sums to approximate a given complex-valued function f defined on the possibly unbounded domain D in R m. We establish the existence of a best approximation from the set of exponential sums having order at most n and formulate a Weierstrass-type density theorem. In so doing we extend previously known results which apply only in the special cases where D is bounded or where m = 1.
Real-time network in the manufacturing plant: Intelligence, not just a link

Abstract Local area network (LAN) architecture and protocols have been designed mainly for the office environment. Even with controlled accessing methods the delay is sometimes unacceptable for a large class of real-time applications. Moreover, managing the system-wide control of the manufacturing process is limited by partial knowledge of the system's global state, as viewed by every distributed element. The concept advocated in this paper is adding intelligence to the communication sub-system, thereby reducing the complexity of the application-level computers and enabling them to carry out their mission. The paper supports an adaptive and robust protocol on the lower layers by limiting the waiting time and adding a burst-in mechanism to the contention protocol. A specification and conceptual architecture for a distributed operating system is proposed, in order to minimize the uncertainty gap caused by partial knowledge of the system's global state. The operating system responds quickly to new tasks by establishing a “synthetic” view of the system's global state. The paper presents algorithms that overcome incoherent views, and advocates an architecture that separates system management functions into mechanistic and intelligent categories
A new pair potential for sodium vapor for virial coefficient data

Abstract A modification of Harrison's effective ion-ion interaction is proposed here with numerical coefficients which fits the second virial coefficient data for sodium vapor within 2% over the temperature range 1200–1700°K. This potential is significantly different from Johnson and March's potential.
Vibrational spectrum, conformational stability, structural parameters and ab initio calculations of dimethylaminodifluorophosphine

From analysis of the infrared and Raman spectra along with support from the ab initio predictions it is concluded that there is only one stable conformer of dimethylaminodifluorophosphine, (CH(3))(2)NPF(2), in the gaseous and liquid phases which has a planar PNC(2) moiety with C(s) symmetry. The adjusted r(0) structural parameters have been obtained by combining the MP2(full)/6-311+G(d) predicted values with the previous reported rotational constants for four isotopomers obtained from previously reported microwave studies. The difference in the two NC distances is 0.002A whereas, these two parameters were previously assumed to have the same values from the microwave and electron diffraction studies but a reported difference of 0.025A from the structural parameters of the crystal. The adjusted r(0) heavy atom distances and angles are: r(PF)=1.593(3); r(NP)=1.654(3); r(NC(i))=1.455(3); r(NC(o))=1.453(3) A; angleFPF=93.5(5); angleNPF=100.8(5); angleCNC=116.0(5); angleC(i)NP=124.1(5); angleC(o)NP=120.0 degrees . The planar bonding around the nitrogen atom is consistent with the previously reported structural information from the microwave study but differs from the slightly pyramidal bonding obtained in the electron diffraction investigation. To support the vibrational assignment MP2(full) ab initio calculations with the 6-31G(d) basis set were carried out to predict the fundamental vibrational frequencies, infrared intensities, Raman activities, depolarization values, infrared band contours, and centrifugal distortion constants. Vibrational assignments are given for (CH(3))(2)NPF(2) and (CD(3))(2)NPF(2) and comparisons are made with the predicted intensities, frequencies and centrifugal distortion constants. Frequencies of some of the lattice modes are reported from both the infrared and Raman spectra with suggested assignments based on the factor group symmetry of the crystal of D(2h)(16) (Pnma) with four molecules per primitive cell. These results are compared to the corresponding quantities of some similar molecules.
Development and application of a hillslope hydrologic model

Abstract A vertically integrated two-dimensional lateral flow model of soil moisture has been developed. Derivation of the governing equation is based on a physical interpretation of hillslope processes. The lateral subsurface-flow model permits variability of precipitation and evapotranspiration, and allows arbitrary specification of soil-moisture retention properties. Variable slope, soil thickness, and saturation are all accommodated. The numerical solution method, a Crank-Nicolson, finite-difference, upstream-weighted scheme, is simple and robust. A small catchment in northeastern Kansas is the subject of an application of the lateral subsurface-flow model. Calibration of the model using observed discharge provides estimates of the active porosity (0.1 cm 3 /cm 3 ) and of the saturated horizontal hydraulic conductivity (40 cm/hr). The latter figure is at least an order of magnitude greater than the vertical hydraulic conductivity associated with the silty clay loam soil matrix. The large value of hydraulic conductivity derived from the calibration is suggestive of macropore-dominated hillslope drainage. The corresponding value of active porosity agrees well with a published average value of the difference between total porosity and field capacity for a silty clay loam.
Moderate rates of late Quaternary slip along the northwestern margin of the Basin and Range Province, Surprise Valley fault, northeastern California

[1] The 86-km-long Surprise Valley normal fault forms part of the active northwestern margin of the Basin and Range province in northeastern California. We use trench mapping and radiocarbon, luminescence, and tephra dating to estimate displacements and timing of the past five surface-rupturing earthquakes on the central part of the fault near Cedarville. A Bayesian OxCal analysis of timing constraints indicates earthquake times of 18.2 ± 2.6, 10.9 ± 3.2, 8.5 ± 0.5, 5.8 ± 1.5, and 1.2 ± 0.1 ka. These data yield recurrence intervals of 7.3 ± 4.1, 2.5 ± 3.2, 2.7 ± 1.6, and 4.5 ± 1.5 ka and an elapsed time of 1.2 ± 0.1 ka since the latest surface-rupturing earthquake. Our best estimate of latest Quaternary vertical slip rate is 0.6 ± 0.1 mm/a. This late Quaternary rate is remarkably similar to long-term (8–14 Ma) minimum vertical slip rates (>0.4–0.5 ± 0.3 mm/a) calculated from recently acquired seismic reflection and chronologic and structural data in Surprise Valley and the adjacent Warner Mountains. However, our slip rate yields estimates of extension that are lower than recent campaign GPS determinations by factors of 1.5–4 unless the fault has an unusually shallow (30°–35°) dip as suggested by recently acquired seismic reflection data. Coseismic displacements of 2–4.5 ± 1 m documented in the trench and probable rupture lengths of 53–65 km indicate a history of latest Quaternary earthquakes of M 6.8–7.3 on the central part of the Surprise Valley fault.
Susceptibility of Adult Mosquitoes to Insecticides in Aqueous Sucrose Baits

Mosquitoes characteristically feed on plant-derived carbohydrates and honeydew just after emergence and intermittently during their lives. Development of toxic baits focusing on this carbohydrate-seeking behavior may potentially contribute to localized control. In the present study, ten insecticides were fed to female Culex quinquefasciatus, Anopheles quadrimaculatus, and Aedes taeniorhynchus in a 10% sucrose solution. Active ingredients representative of five classes of insecticides (pyrethroids, phenylpyroles, pyrroles, neonicotinoids, and macrocyclic lactones) were selected for comparison with commercial formulations used to facilitate incorporation of active ingredients into aqueous sucrose solutions. Sucrose as a phagostimulant significantly enhanced mortality to toxicants. In general, the most effective active ingredients were fipronil, deltamethrin and imidacloprid, followed by spinosad, thiamethoxam, bifenthrin, permethrin, and cyfluthrin. The least effective ingredients were chlorfenapyr and ivermectin. For some of the ingredients tested, Cx. quinquefasciatus was the least susceptible species. One-day-old male Cx. quinquefasciatus were more susceptible than females; however, no differences existed between one- and seven-day-old mosquitoes. There were no differences in susceptibility between unfed and gravid ten-day-old female Cx. quinquefasciatus to bifenthrin. In conclusion, several pesticides from different classes of compounds have potential for use in development of toxic baits for mosquitoes.
Magnetite biomineralization and geomagnetic sensitivity in higher animals: An update and recommendations for future study

Magnetite, the only known biogenic material with ferromagnetic properties, has been identified as a biochemical precipitate in three of the five kingdoms of living organisms, with a fossil record that now extends back nearly 2 billion years. In the magnetotactic bacteria, protoctists, and fish, single-domain crystals of magnetite are arranged in membrane-bound linear structures called magnetosomes, which function as biological bar magnets. Magnetosomes in all three of these groups bear an overall structural similarity to each other, which includes alignment of the individual crystallographic [111] directions parallel to the long axis. Although the magnetosomes represent only a small volume fraction in higher organisms, enough of these highly energetic structures are present to provide sensitivity to extremely small fluctuations and gradients in the background geomagnetic field. Previous experiments with elasmobranch fish are reexamined to test the hypothesis that gradients played a role in their successful geomagnetic conditioning, and a variety of four-turn coil designs are considered that could be used to test the various hypotheses proposed for them.
Index of the transmissible common liability to addiction: Heritability and prospective associations with substance abuse and related outcomes

Background Substance use disorders (SUDs) are highly comorbid and exhibit a relatively late onset. As such, many behaviors and personality traits present prior to the initiation of substance use can be used to predict later SUDs. The transmissible liability index (TLI) is a quantitative measure of such behaviors that indexes the common liability to SUDs. We examined the predictive utility and heritability of the TLI in a large community twin sample.
Mass spectrometry and ferric chloride oxidation applied to urobilinoid structures

Abstract The mass spectra of a large number of bilirubinoid and urobilinoid substances have been measured. The time-varying intensities in the parent ion regions of these materials have been scrutinized and interpreted in terms of oxidation and reduction reactions taking place prior to volatilization and electron impact. Structural and stereochemical implications of the ferric chloride oxidation method for the urobilinoids are discussed. Correlations of the results of this method with mass spectrometric data provide a basis for the categorization of urobilinoids into three classes: Dipyrrolinone (e.g. d-urobilins, mol wt 588 and 590), pyrrolinone-pyrrolidone (e.g., half-stercobilin mol wt 592), and dipyrrolidone (e.g., stercobilin mol wt 594).
A Reaction between Glucose and Egg White Proteins in Incubated Eggs

RECENT work in this laboratory1 showed that incubation of infertile chicken Eggs or separated chicken egg whites resulted in changes in the starch-gel electrophoretic patterns. We have now obtained results which show: (1) The major deteriorative changes observed on incubation of egg white, as seen in starch-gel electrophoretic patterns, can be prevented by dialysis of the egg white; the changes can be simulated by adding back glucose. (2) Glucose reacts with most of the proteins. (3) The reaction occurs similarly in the egg whites of the three species investigated in addition to chicken egg white.
High-temperature oxygen sorption in a fixed bed packed with perovskite-type ceramic sorbents

Oxygen sorption and desorption on two perovskite-type ceramics, La0.1Sr0.9Co0.5Fe0.5O3-δ and La0.1Sr0.9Co0.9Fe0.1O3-δ, were studied in a fixed-bed system. The perovskite-type ceramic packed fixed bed gives very sharp oxygen sorption breakthrough curves with long breakthrough time in the range of 400−900 °C as a result of a favorable oxygen sorption isotherm, high oxygen sorption capacity, and fast oxygen sorption rate for the sorbents. The perovskite-type ceramic sorbents can be reversibly regenerated and exhibit good structural and chemical stability against sorption and regeneration cycles. These results suggest that the perovskite-type ceramic sorbents can be used in fixed-bed processes for effective removal of oxygen from gas streams using a reducing gas sorbent regeneration. The perovskite-type ceramic sorbents can also adsorb a considerable amount of oxygen in 200−300 °C but at a much slower rate. The desorption breakthrough curves are characterized by long tails due to slower desorption rate consta...
Boosting efficiency of fault detection and recovery throughapplication-specific comparison and checkpointing

While the unending technology scaling has brought reliability to the forefront of concerns of semiconductor industry, fault tolerance techniques are still rarely incorporated into existing designs due to their high overhead. One fault tolerance scheme that receives a lot of research attention is duplication and checkpointing. However, most of the techniques in the category employ a blind strategy to compare instruction results, therefore not only generating large overhead in buffering and verifying these values, but also inducing unnecessary rollbacks to recover faults that will never influence subsequent execution. To tackle these issues, we introduce in this paper an approach that identifies the minimum set of instruction results for fault detection and checkpointing. For a given application, the proposed technique first identifies the control and data flow information of each execution hotspot, and then selects only the instruction results that either influence the final program results or are needed during re-execution as the comparison set. Our experimental studies demonstrate that the proposed hotspot-targeting technique is able to reduce nearly 88% of the comparison overhead and mask over 38% of the total injected faults of all the injected faults while at the same time delivering full fault coverage.
The role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in myocardial ischemia/ reperfusion injury; relationship to ischemic preconditioning

Myocardial mitogen-activated protein kinases can be activated by ischemia and reperfusion, and they may play important roles in the evolution of ischemic injury. Considerable work has been performed to evaluate the role of different MAPK signaling pathways in ischemia/reperfusion injury. The focus of this review is the p38 MAPK pathway, specifically whether activation of the p38 MAPK signaling pathway is beneficial or detrimental. Different studies have come to conflicting conclusions. This review will examine the literature on the role of p38 MAPK in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, highlight areas of controversy and areas of general agreement, examine possible downstream targets of p38 during acute ischemia, and attempt to draw some conclusions.
Detection of γ-rays with a liquid xenon ionization chamber triggered by the primary scintillation light

Abstract A gridded ionization chamber with a drift length of 4.5 cm and a total volume of 3.5 l , was operated with high-purity liquid xenon and extensively tested with γ-rays from 137 Cs , 22 Na and 60 Co radioactive sources. An electron lifetime in excess of 1 ms was inferred from two independent measurements. The electric field dependence of the collected charge and energy resolution was studied in the range 0.1–4 kV / cm , for different γ-ray energies. With an electric field of 4 kV / cm , the spectral performance of the detector is consistent with an energy resolution of 5.9% at 1 MeV, scaling with energy as E−0.5. The chamber was also used to detect the primary scintillation light produced by γ-ray interactions in liquid xenon. The light signal was successfully used to trigger the acquisition of the charge signal with a FADC readout. A trigger efficiency of ∼85% was measured at 662 keV .
Nano-fibrous scaffolding architecture selectively enhances protein adsorption contributing to cell attachment.

Tissue engineering aims at resolving problems such as donor shortage and immune rejection faced by transplantation. Scaffolds (artificial extracellular matrices) have critical roles in tissue engineering. Recently, we developed nano-fibrous poly(L-lactic acid) scaffolds under the hypothesis that synthetic nano-fibrous scaffolding, mimicking the structure of natural collagen fibers, could create a more favorable microenvironment for cells. This is the first report that the nano-fibrous architecture built in three-dimensional scaffolds improved the features of protein adsorption, which mediates cell interactions with scaffolds. Scaffolds with nano-fibrous pore walls adsorbed four times more serum proteins than scaffolds with solid pore walls. More interestingly, the nano-fibrous architecture selectively enhanced protein adsorption including fibronectin and vitronectin, even though both scaffolds were made from the same poly(L-lactic acid) material. Furthermore, nano-fibrous scaffolds also allowed >1.7 times of osteoblastic cell attachment than scaffolds with solid pore walls. These results demonstrate that the biomimetic nano-fibrous architecture serves as superior scaffolding for tissue engineering.
Novel Fiber Lasers with Advanced Glasses and Fiber Designs

We will discuss recent progress in combining microstructured fiber, highly-doped active glasses, and novel laser cavity designs to enhance the performance of very compact fiber lasers.
Arrhythmia management of patients with Fontan physiology

Abstract Arrhythmia has emerged as a principal long-term complication requiring management in patients who have undergone the Fontan procedure. Surgical and hemodynamic injury to the right atrium result in a notably high prevalence of sinus node dysfunction and reentrant atrial tachycardias. In addition to causing clinical symptoms, these rhythm disorders are associated with elevated risks of thrombosis and death. Management of these arrhythmias is challenging, and has prompted innovation in catheter ablation, cardiac surgical techniques and implantable device therapy. Additional progress in preventing and treating arrhythmia in Fontan patients will require a more complete understanding of the pathogenesis of its myocardial substrate.
Effect of Insecticides on Growth and Zearalenone (F-2) Production by the Fungus, Fusarium graminearum

When added to liquid media, malathion, MGK®264(N-octyl bicycloheptene dicarboximide), and naled, at concentrations of 100μl/l (insecticide:media), completely inhibited the production of zearalenone (F-2) by Fusarium graminearum . F-2 production was completely inhibited in cultures treated with 30 and 10μl/l naled and was reduced by 53% in cultures treated with one μl/l naled. All insecticides except methoxychlor inhibited growth and/or F-2 production by at least 38% at concentrations of 10 and/or 30μl/l. In cultures treated with insecticides at levels of 30–100 μl/l and in those treated with diazinon, naled, dichlorvos, ethion, and pyrethrins at concentrations of 1–10 μl/l, the reduced level of F-2 production was a consequence of reduced mycelial growth. At lower concentrations of one and/or 10 μl/l, azinphosmethyl, malathion, allethrin, Rabon® (2-chloro-1-2,4,5-trichlorophenyl) vinyl dimethyl phosphate), piperonyl butoxide, MGK®264, and mevinphos reduced F-2 production without reducing mycelial growth. Naled was fungicidal at concentrations of 100 μl/l and fungistatic at levels of 1, 10, or 30 μl/l.
Nanostructured Nonprecious Metal Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Platinum-based catalysts represent a state of the art in the electrocatalysis of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) from the point of view of their activity and durability in harnessing the chemical energy via direct electrochemical conversion. However, because platinum is both expensive and scarce, its widespread implementation in such clean energy applications is limited. Recent breakthroughs in the synthesis of high-performance nonprecious metal catalysts (NPMCs) make replacement of Pt in ORR electrocatalysts with earth-abundant elements, such as Fe, Co, N, and C, a realistic possibility. In this Account, we discuss how we can obtain highly promising M–N–C (M: Fe and/or Co) catalysts by simultaneously heat-treating precursors of nitrogen, carbon, and transition metals at 800–1000 °C. The activity and durability of resulting catalysts depend greatly on the selection of precursors and synthesis chemistry. In addition, they correlate quite well with the catalyst nanostructure. While chemists have presented n...
ANTIGENICITY OF VARIOUS GLUTEN FRACTIONS.

The antigenic properties of various wheat-gluten fractions were investigated and compared with their known harmful and nonharmful properties when ingested by patients with nontropical sprue. Gluten fractions were suspended in complete Freund's adjuvant and injected into the foot pads of rabbits on 5 consecutive days. A final intraperitoneal injection was also given. Investigation of antibodies in their serum 3 and 6 weeks thereafter by means of double gel diffusion showed no correlation between the reported harmful and the antigenic properties of some of the fractions. This indicates that the deleterious properties of gluten and its fractions can not be attributed to their antigenicity.
Los destinos traspapelados

Simulacion de un reino. Obra poetica 1966-1995. Alvaro Miranda. Bogota, Thomas de Quincey Editores, 1996, 197 pags.
Percutaneous subxiphoid access to the epicardium using a miniature crawling robotic device.

BackgroundTo expand minimally invasive beating-heart surgery, we have developed a miniature 2-footed crawling robot (Heart-Lander) that navigates on the epicardium. This paradigm obviates mechanica...
Objectively measured physical activity trajectories predict adolescent bone strength: Iowa Bone Development Study

Background Physical activity improves bone strength and reduces the risk for osteoporotic fractures. However, there are substantial gaps in our knowledge as to when, how and how much activity is optimal for bone health. Purpose In this cohort study, we examined developmental trajectories of objectively measured physical activity from childhood to adolescence to discern if moderate-and-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) predicts bone strength. Methods Starting at age 5 and continuing at 8, 11, 13, 15 and 17 years, Iowa Bone Development Study participants (n=530) wore an accelerometer for 3–5 days. At age 17, we assessed dual X-ray energy absorptiometry outcomes of mass and estimated geometry (femoral neck cross-sectional area and section modulus). We also assessed geometric properties (bone stress index and polar moment of inertia) of the tibia using peripheral computer quantitative tomography. Latent class modelling was used to construct developmental trajectories of MVPA from childhood to late adolescence. General linear models were used to examine the trajectory groups as predictors of age 17 bone outcomes. Results Girls and boys who accumulated the most MVPA had greater bone mass and better geometry at 17 years when compared to less active peers. The proportion of participants achieving high levels of MVPA throughout childhood was very low ( Conclusions Bone health benefits of physical activity are not being realised due to low levels of activity for most youth, especially in girls.
Laser endoscope in the management of proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

Purpose: To evaluate the ability of the ophthalmic laser microendoscope for improving the outcome of vitrectomy in the management of grade D3 anterior proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Methods: Ten consecutive patients without diabetes who had grade D3 anterior proliferative vitreoretinopathy underwent vitrectomy, lensectomy, membranectomy, gasfluid exchange, and endophotocoagulation. Endoscopically guided portions of the vitrectomy and endophotocoagulation process were assessed, particularly in the region of the pars plana, ciliary body, posterior iris, and internal aspect of sclerotomy sites. Results: Follow-up ranged from 3 months to 1 year (mean, 9.2 months). Six of ten patients maintained total reattachment of the retina throughout the follow-up period. The retinas of the remaining patients redetached. Visual acuity for patients with reattached retinas ranged from 20/80 to hand motions. Conclusion: Because endoscopy enhances the ability of the surgeon to image and dissect gliotic membranes in the regions of the pars plana, ciliary body, and posterior iris, as well as allow complete photocoagulation, a higher probability of anatomic success seems possible.
A global measure of child health-related quality of life: Reliability and validity of the Child Health and Illness Profile - Child Edition (CHIP-CE) global score

SUMMARYAs the treatment of children with medical and psychiatric disorders becomes increasingly reliant on pharmacological agents, it has become critical to assess the overall effects of these interventions on the health and well being of the children. The Child Health and Illness Profile - Child Edition (CHIP-CE) is a validated health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measure with five core domains: Satisfaction, Comfort, Resilience, Risk Avoidance and Achievement. The domain scores are valuable for identifying the area(s) of HRQoL in which children are most affected by an illness and its treatment. For some purposes, however, it would be desirable tomeasure overall HRQoL, as no single domain score effectively describes the whole child. A global score encompassing all domains could provide such a measure of HRQoL and could be an efficient outcome for evaluating the overall effect of an intervention. This article presents the development and validation of a global score for the CHIP-CE based on parents' rep...
Reform Ideals and Teachers' Practical Intentions

Reformers have been trying for decades to alter the fundamental character of classroom instruction in the United States, but have repeatedly been unsuccessful in fostering significant change in teaching practice. Several hypotheses have been put forward to account for this problem–that teachers lack sufficient knowledge (hence we need more professional development), that they lack sufficient will (hence we need accountability systems) or that they disagree with reform ideals or find other agendas to be more compelling in their classrooms. This paper addresses the third hypothesis by trying to ascertain what teachers care about when they respond to specific classroom situations. Numerous authors have suggested that teachers’ beliefs, values, and perceptions influence their practices, but most papers in this area focus on just one teacher or a small handful of teachers and show how these particular teachers’ ideas influence their practice. We still have little idea what kinds of concerns and intentions tend to be pervasive in teachers’ thinking, and how these ideas differ from those embodied in reform ideals. The paper begins by reviewing reform literature and outlining its main themes. It then describes a study of teachers’ interpretations of classroom situations and their intentions for specific things they did in those situations. From teachers’ discussions of their practices, the author identifies the primary areas of concern that dominated teachers’ thinking as they constructed their practices and shows where these concerns are similar to, and different from, reform ideals.