cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Acceptance Screening of Turbopump Gears Using the Cepstrum Method

Vibration measurements are used to assess the health of components in rotating equipment across a wide range of industries. The typical practice in most machinery analysis is to establish a baseline for a specific machineand subsequently implement a regular monitoring schedule. In a process known as trend analysis, changes in relevant parameters are then tracked over the life of the machine. In some cases the comparison of measurements between different machines is not recommended because of variability in transmission path effects caused by either manufacturing tolerances or differences in the instrumentation setup. Although these concerns are valid, the constraints imposed by the particular application to acceptance screening of rocket engine turbomachinery make a comparison between engines useful. It is suggested that engine-to-engine comparisons of vibration-related parameters can be used to provide information on abnormal gear behavior. Support for this proposal is presented in the context of parameters developed from a cepstrum analysis of gearbox vibration data acquired during actual ground-test acceptance firings of a rocket engine. The results obtained are also used to verify the ability of the cepstrum method to diagnose gear tooth damage in turbopumps. In this application the cepstrum is defined as the inverse discrete Fourier transform of the log of the two-sided autospectral density.
Experimental study on solid particle dynamics in shear flow

Abstract Uniform shear flow of suspensions is generated between two vertical parallel belts with adjustable speeds. Two cameras at right angles are used to track the three-dimensional motion of solid particles. The experiments were carried out with three particle sizes, four carrier fluids and five shear rates. The experiments are illustrated for suspensions of spheres of 12.6-mm dia, with a relative density in fluid ϱ S /ϱ F = 1.166, and concentration α S = 5 vol.%. Opaque particles are introduced in the optically transparent mixture of particles having the same refractive index as the carrying fluid. The paper presents the apparatus, the high-speed video recording of the interior of the flow field, and the image analysis. The recorded data provide the necessary information to identify the flow regime, to determine single particle dynamics, the inertial shear stresses and kinetic energy, to measure the density distribution functions for parameters attached to neighboring particles, as well as to find significant correlations for the assembly of particles within a control volume. The results will be used to better understand the transport processes at particle scale and improve the macroscopic modeling.
Morphine coupling to invertebrate immunocyte nitric oxide release is dependent on intracellular calcium transients.

Abstract Morphine signiﬁcantly stimulated invertebrate immunocyte intracellular calcium level increases in a concentration-dependentmanner in cells preloaded with Fura™ 2:AM. Morphine’s action was blocked by prior exposure of the cells to the opiate receptorantagonist naloxone. Various opioid peptides did not exhibit this ability, indicating a morphine-m 3 mediated process. In comparingthe sequence of events concerning morphine’s action in stimulating both [Ca 2˙ ] i and NO production in these cells, we found thatthe ﬁrst event precedes the second by 4297 s. The opiate stimulation of [Ca 2˙ ] i was attenuated in cells leached of calcium,strongly suggesting that intracellular calcium levels regulate cNOS activity in invertebrate immunocytes. © 1999 Elsevier ScienceInc. All rights reserved. Keywords :Calcium transients; Immunocytes; Invertebrates; Morphine; Opioid; Opiate; m 3 -Receptor; Nitric oxide; Naloxone; cNOS 1. Introduction It is becoming evident that morphine represents an-other evolutionarily conserved signaling system since itcan be found in vertebrates and invertebrates[3,8,9,17,22,26,28,31] Furthermore, morphine can stim-ulate constitutive nitric oxide synthase (cNOS) in di-verse tissues and animals [18,22,25,28].Complementing the presence of morphine as a signal-ing molecule is our ﬁnding of a novel opiate receptorsubtype, designated m
Designed inputs for detection and isolation of failures in the state transition matrices of dynamic systems

A new failure detection and isolation algorithm is presented for linear time-invariant deterministic systems. In particular, the technique exploits the system inputs to distinguish between a change in the state transition matrix and actuator failures, including output equivalent events. It is assumed that a failure has been detected previously by some other method, such as by a failure detection filter. Previous methods that attempted to isolate changes in the state transition matrix did not use the input in any way and required explicit knowledge of the changed parameter values (e.g., the multiple model method). The designed input method presented in this paper requires only the knowledge of the null spaces of the changed parameter matrices, not of the explicit values of the changed parameters. This feature allows the failure detection and isolation (FDI) algorithm based on designed inputs to isolate partially unknown changes in the state transition matrix, a distinct advantage over other methods in terms of computational efficiency. Detailed design procedures are accompanied by an example that illustrates the input design method. The example uses designed inputs to distinguish between changes in the state transition parameters of an AFTI/F-16 model from nearly output equivalent actuator calibration errors.
Probing Voltage Sensors In Nonphospholipid Bilayers

Recent studies have identified that the phosphodiester groups in phospholipid bilayers play a critical role in the voltage-dependent gating of voltage-gated potassium channels. The nature of such lipid-protein interaction is still not well understood. We have developed assays to check the conformational state of the voltage sensor domain in a voltage-gated channel reconstituted in lipid bilayers without the phosphate groups. Using cysteine accessibility assay we are examing the state of both the voltage sensor domain and the pore domain in such membranes. We also are investigating whether the phosphate groups are mainly for interacting with the first two arginine residues on the S4 of the voltage sensor and supporting the voltage sensor function.
A kinetic study of partial oxidation of methane with nitrous oxide on a molybdena-silica catalyst

Silica-supported molybdena has been found to catalyze the partial oxidation of methane to methanol and formaldehyde. Nitrous oxide as the oxidizing agent and the presence of water vapor in the reactant gas stream were necessary to carry out this reaction at the temperature range of 480–590 °C and a total pressure of 1 atm. Highest turnover rates of methanol and formaldehyde were, respectively, 2.24 × 10−4 and 6.25 × 10−4 molec · s−1 · site−1 at 590 °C. The rate of methanol formation was first order with respect to methane and water, and zero order with respect to nitrous oxide; whereas the rate of formaldehyde formation was zero order with respect to all reactants. From activation energy measurements it was possible to identify a low- and a high-temperature mechanism of formaldehyde formation. Predominant at temperatures below 540 °C were the processes leading to parallel formations of methanol (Ea = 41 kcal/mole) and formaldehyde (Ea = 82 kcal/mole) from the same intermediate, while at higher temperatures only the consecutive oxidation processes leading to formaldehyde via methanol with an overall Ea of 40 kcal/mole was the major route.
The Neighborhood Club: A Supportive Intervention Group for Children Exposed to Urban Violence

This paper describes a short-term, supportive intervention group, the “Neighborhood Club,” designed to assist children with the psychological impact of exposure to urban violence. It addresses the void of therapeutic work attending to poor children's chronic exposure to community violence. Theoretical and clinical rationales for this intervention are discussed, and illustrations from ten school-based groups are offered.
Gene Loss and Parallel Evolution Contribute to Species Difference in Flower Color

Although the importance of regulatory and functional sequence evolution in generating species differences has been studied to some extent, much less is known about the role of other types of genomic changes, such as fluctuation in gene copy number. Here, we apply analyses of gene function and expression of anthocyanin pigment pathway genes, as well as cosegregation analyses in backcross populations, to examine the genetic changes involved in the shift from blue to red flowers in Andean Iochroma (Solanaceae). We demonstrate that deletion of a gene coding for an anthocyanin pathway enzyme was necessary for the transition to red floral pigmentation. The downregulation of a second pathway gene was also necessary for the novel flower color, and this regulatory pattern parallels the genetic change in the two other red-flowered species in the sister family Convolvulaceae in which flower color change has been examined genetically. Finally, we document a shift in enzymatic function at a third locus, but the importance of this change in the transition to red flowers depends on the exact order with which the three changes occurred. This study shows that gene inactivation or loss can be involved in the origin of phenotypic differences between species, thereby restricting the possibility of reversion to the ancestral state. It also demonstrates that parallel evolution of red flowers in three different species occurs via a common developmental/regulatory change but by mutations in different genes.
Rat strain differences in gluconeogenesis by isolated hepatocytes.

AbstractAn investigation of the glucose production by isolated hepatocytes from lipemic BHE and nonlipemic Wistar rats was conducted. Hepatocytes were isolated from 40-hr starved young rats. Glucose, β-hydroxybutyrate, and acetoacetate production and ATP content of the cells after 60 min incubation with a variety of substrates were determined. BHE hepatocytes produced more glucose and β-hydroxybutyrate than Wistar hepatocytes. No strain differences in ATP content were observed. It is suggested that, in part, the hyperglycemia observed in the mature BHE rat may have its origins in the increased hepatic gluconeogenic capacity of this strain.
Number Versus Contour Length in Infants' Discrimination of Small Visual Sets

This study examined infants' use of contour length in num- ber discrimination tasks. We systematically varied number and con- tour length in a visual habituation experiment in order to separate these two variables. Sixteen 6- to 8-month-old infants were habituated to displays of either two or three black squares on a page. They were then tested with alternating displays of either a familiar number of squares with a novel contour length or a novel number of squares with a familiar contour length. Infants dishabituated to the display that changed in contour length, but not to the display that changed in num- ber. We conclude that infants base their discriminations on contour length or some other continuous variable that correlates with it, rather than on number.
Acute myocardial infarction: thrombolysis

I nfarction is the most intensively studied medical intervention in the history of clinical investigation, with more than 200 000 patients enrolled in large scale, worldwide trials. The results of these trials have led to an irrevocably altered approach, with routine use of reperfusion treatment. Streptokinase, tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), and new plasminogen activators have been shown to reduce mortality significantly, and the reduction is inversely proportional to the time that treatment is initiated from symptom onset. For patients treated in the first 60 minutes of symptom onset, the so called “golden hour”, mortality is reduced by more than 50%. Even frank prevention of the event can be assured in many patients treated in this very early time frame. Nevertheless, there are some major obstacles to optimal reperfusion treatment that have been increasingly recognised in recent years, which new directions in this field will hopefully circumvent. This paper will review the substantive progress in the field, including recognition of major pitfalls, and lay the groundwork for future improvements in pharmacologic myocardial reperfusion treatment. With the validation of intravenous thrombolytic treatment versus placebo in the classic GISSI 1 and ISIS 2 trials,1 2 the next step was to determine whether a higher level of early infarct vessel patency would result in improved survival. This was the focus of the GUSTO 1 trial which showed that a significant increase in patency at 90 minutes after treatment was initiated, from 30% with streptokinase to 54% with accelerated t-PA, was associated with a 15% reduction in mortality (fig 1).3 The term “patency” refers to brisk flow and clearance of angiographic contrast dye through the affected epicardial artery. Figure 1 (A) Mortality curves in GUSTO 1 by thrombolytic strategy assignment. For streptokinase (SK) the parentheses indicate the heparin strategy, intravenous (iv) or subcutaneous (sc). (B) …
Task complexity and serial performance under steadily increasing input rates.

Twenty-seven subjects were trained on a multichannel information processing task, under three levels of stimulus complexity, and tested in these conditions in each of three 5-min. sessions of rapidly increasing input rate. Correct responses, errors, and omissions were examined for each condition. During testing, performance decrements which followed initial performance peaks occurred at lower input rates were least severe, and recovery was quickest when stimulus complexity was greatest. Subjects adapted to high input rates by filtering and making omissions rather than incorrect responses. In addition two types of attention strategies were identified, one of which produced superior performance at low input rates, and the other superior performance at high input rates. Error and response rates were positively correlated for all code complexity levels when pooled across subjects. However, at the most complex level this relation only held for one of the two attention strategies when the two sets of data were ...
Mentoring and African-American Political Scientists

One of the main goals of the Committee on the Status of Blacks (CSB) is to assess how well African-American political scientists are faring in the discipline. Given the nature of the academy, we believe an important element for success is effective mentoring. Our position is supported by the American Political Science Association (APSA) which established a Task Force on Mentoring in 2002 to address issues facing underrepresented groups within the profession. One of the initiatives is a Mentor Database designed to connect interested minority graduate students and minority faculty with political scientists who are willing to share their experiences and knowledge and give their advice and council to participants. The Committee is supportive of this initiative whose goal is to help underrepresented groups have satisfying professional careers.
Minireview: Insights into G protein-coupled receptor function using molecular models.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent the largest family of signal-transducing molecules known. They convey signals for light and many extracellular regulatory molecules. GPCRs have been found to be dysfunctional/dysregulated in a growing number of human diseases and have been estimated to be the targets of more than 30% of the drugs used in clinical medicine today. Thus, understanding how GPCRs function at the molecular level is an important goal of biological research. In order to understand function at this level, it is necessary to delineate the 3D structure of these receptors. Recently, the 3D structure of rhodopsin has been resolved, but in the absence of experimentally determined 3D structures of other GPCRs, a powerful approach is to construct a theoretical model for the receptor and refine it based on experimental results. Computer-generated models for many GPCRs have been constructed. In this article, we will review these studies. We will place the greatest emphasis on an iterative, bi-d...
Alternative Treatments for Withdrawing the Long-Term Benzodiazepine User: A Pilot Study

Anxiolytic therapy with benzodiazepines and their potential for dependence are reviewed. Relaxation training and biofeedback have been used for chemically dependent anxious patients. These techniques have been recommended for benzodiazepine-dependent patients, but not investigated. Previous withdrawal studies offer only limited follow-up data. Stress management treatment was based on a successful case study. Recruitment difficulties were encountered. However, seven patients were randomly assigned to stress management or brief psychotherapy. All showed improvement, but three of four patients available for 1 year follow-up had returned to pretreatment dependence. These withdrawal difficulties suggest the need for more effective treatments and more adequate follow-up studies.
Phase transitions in mesophase macromolecules. V. Transitions in poly(oxy‐1,4‐phenylene carbonyl‐co‐oxy‐2,6‐naphthaloyl)

The copolymer system HBA (4-hydroxybenzoic acid) and HNA (2,6-hydroxyhaphthoic acid) has been studied mainly by means of differential scanning calorimetry. Heat capacities for the two homopolymers and three copolymers are reported from 175 to 650 K. The heat capacities are additive with composition. The whole copolymer system represents an example of a mesophase intermediate between the liquid-crystalline and the condis-crystalline state with a small amount of crystallinity. The disordering transitions (520–620 K) have a eutecticlike phase diagram. The transitions to the isotropic states occur above the decomposition temperatures (600–700 K). The glass transitions (377–434 K) show normal changes in heat capacity (31–34 J/K mol), but are broadened to as much as 200 K.
Assessing the Quality of Socially Created Metadata to Image Indexing

Deploying photograph collections in existing social tagging communities (e.g., Flickr) to collect large sets of socially created metadata to extend existing controlled vocabularies is a recent activity in building Knowledge Organization Systems. This study evaluates the reuse value of social metadata for image indexing by using a controlled end-user experimental design to elicit a set of quality criteria for index terms from users. The findings indicate that a number of quality criteria of image indexing are different from those of textual document indexing, such as moods, importance, generality, level of detail, and ease of use. This suggests that specific criteria need to be taken into account when integrating socially created metadata with image indexing, and that the two processes can be complementary
Beyond Boston Applying Theory to Understand and Address Sustainability Issues in Focused Deterrence Initiatives for Violence Reduction

Focused deterrence initiatives, including the most famous, Boston’s Operation Ceasefire, have been associated with significant reductions in violence in several U.S. cities. Despite early successes, some cities have experienced long-term sustainability issues. Recent work in Cincinnati, Ohio, has focused on institutionalizing focused deterrence in an attempt to achieve sustainability. Despite these efforts, it became apparent that institutionalization was necessary, but insufficient, to achieve long-term success. This study turns to criminological theory to understand why focused deterrence works and how the model can be improved to maximize crime prevention potential. In doing so, the authors draw from the principles of effective intervention from correctional rehabilitation research and describe how these elements have been integrated into the Cincinnati Initiative to Reduce Violence.
Treatment Adherence Among Low-Income Children With Asthma

Objective: To investigate the adherence behaviors (MDI use, MDI/spacer technique, appointment attendance, smoking in the home) of low-income, urban, primarily African American children with asthma. Method: Participants were 55 children ages 6 to 17 with moderate to severe asthma. Adherence to MDI anti-inflammatory agents was estimated primarily from canister weight at the follow-up appointment. Results: The mean use of MDI medication was 44% of prescribed use, with 27% of subjects demonstrating MDI/spacer technique likely to prevent drug delivery. Almost half reported that household members smoked cigarettes, and 21% missed scheduled follow-up appointments. Conclusions: These findings have implications for how clinicians should assess and improve adherence.
Coupling between the University of California, Davis, Advanced Canopy–Atmosphere–Soil Algorithm (ACASA) and MM5: Preliminary Results for July 1998 for Western North America

Abstract The University of California, Davis, Advanced Canopy–Atmosphere–Soil Algorithm (ACASA) is coupled to the fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Mesoscale Model (MM5) as a land surface scheme. Simulations for July 1998 over western North America show that this coupling, the first between a mesoscale model and a land surface model of this complexity, is successful. Comparisons among model output, National Centers for Environmental Prediction–NCAR reanalysis fields, and station data show that MM5–ACASA generally reproduces near-surface temperature in a realistic fashion, but with a stronger diurnal cycle than observations suggest. A control run using the existing Louis/European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts land surface formulation produces unrealistically low temperatures associated with high latent heating and precipitation amounts over much of the model domain. Simulations of heat and moisture fluxes using the Biosphere–Atmospher...
The Lost Carpetbagger

The following discussion highlights the impact depression and anxiety can have on perceptions of psychological and geographical “place” for a Southern, White male teacher studying racism and prejudice in the predominantly White rural high school community he lives and works. The teacher-researcher utilizes autoethnographical and psychoanalytical techniques of critical reflection and self-applied transportation theory, and arts-based research to unravel these perceptions and to enhance his autobiographical findings of both geographical and psychological place. One intent of the nonnative teacher-researcher was to uncover one predominantly White Texas high school community’s actions and thoughts of racism and prejudice through his own eyes while at times suffering from a relapse of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and anxiety. Another intent was to give the teacher-researcher further perspectives into his biography, his own attitudes of racism, prejudice, and inequality, and further understandings into the underlying causes of depression that bound his experiences in geographical and psychological place. Findings suggest that this teacher-researcher’s use of psychological techniques while suffering from a relapse of MDD and anxiety can negatively impact his ability to locate physical and psychological aspects of place.
Latent activity rhythm disturbance sub-groups and longitudinal change in depression symptoms among older men

Activity rhythm disturbances and depression often co-occur among older adults. However, little is known about how activity rhythm disturbances themselves co-occur, or how disturbances to multiple aspects of the activity rhythm relate to depression over time. In this study, we performed a Latent Class Analysis to derive sub-groups of older men [total n = 2933, mean age = 76.28, standard deviation (SD) = 5.48] who shared similar patterns of activity rhythm disturbances (defined as extreme values of modeled activity rhythm parameters). We found eight sub-groups with distinct combinations of activity rhythm disturbances: one had all normative activity rhythm parameters (32.09%), one had only lower activity (10.06%), three had earlier activity (totaling 26.96%) and three had later activity (totaling 30.89%). Groups with similar timing were distinguished depending on whether the relative length of the active period was shorter and/or if the activity rhythm had lesser amplitude/robustness. We next examined whether the derived activity rhythm sub-groups were associated with different rates of change in depression symptom levels over an average of 5.5 (0.52 SD) follow-up years. The sub-group with lower activity only had faster increases in depressive symptoms over time (compared with the group with normative rhythm parameters), but this association was accounted for by adjustments for concurrently assessed health status covariates. Independent of these covariates, we found that four activity rhythm disturbance sub-groups experienced faster depressive symptom increases (compared with the normative sub-group): These included all three sub-groups that had later activity timing and one sub-group that had earlier activity timing plus a shorter active period and a dampened rhythm. Low activity rhythm height/robustness with normal timing therefore may mark depression risk that is attributable to co-occurring disease processes; in contrast, having late or combined early/compressed/dampened activity rhythms may independently contribute to depression symptom development. Our findings suggest that activity rhythm-related depression risk is heterogeneous, and may be detected when multiple aspects of rhythm timing are delayed or when early timing is accompanied by compressed/dampened activity rhythms. Future studies should consider how distinct combinations of altered activity rhythm timing and height/robustness develop and conjointly determine health risks. Further research is also needed to determine whether/how activity rhythms can be modified to improve depression outcomes.
Biosynthesis and Applications of Silk‐like and Collagen‐like Proteins

Genetic engineering provides a useful strategy to generate native and designed fibrous proteins, such as silks and collagens, for fundamental and applied studies. Recent studies on biosynthesized spider and silkworm silks, and human collagens, are reviewed with a focus on genes, expression systems and biomaterial applications. Genetically engineered silks and collagens can be exploited for fundamental biophysical studies of the relationships between primary sequence chemistry, self‐assembly and structure, as well as processing into new materials. Insights into these relationships are feasible due to the precision of genetic template control of protein polymer details. In addition, these same proteins can be utilized in biomaterials and tissue engineering due to their novel material features as key structural elements in the human body (collagens) and as external spun fibers in Nature (silks).
‘In the Land of the Blind, the One-eyed is King’: Some Pedagogical Foundations for Deep, Practical Online Student Learning

All those involved in teaching and learning, whether lecturers or their students, are likely to have one or more ‘blind spots’. These blind spots can materialize without warning in areas such as ways of knowing, pedagogical frameworks, or even the types of teaching strategies one selects for face-to-face, blended or online teaching contexts. This article draws examples from online courses designed and taught by the author (principally to RE teachers in primary and secondary schools), and argues that course lecturers and their students alike need to examine and critique certain background assumptions to teaching and learning, their pedagogical models and ways of knowing, along with the practical teaching and learning strategies that they select to support these areas. The two courses referred to are EDUC6043, Religious education: theory and practice, and RELT6016, Spiritualities, practices and values. Two teaching approaches explored in more detail are personal, reflective writing, and project-based learning.
Statistical Mechanics of Inhomogeneous Fluids

While thermodynamics of interfaces provides a theoretical foundation for understanding various interfacial phenomena, its application depends on the availability of the fundamental equation. In the absence of experimental access to this information, this is a task best left to statistical mechanics. In this Chapter, we introduce a powerful method from statistical mechanics that allows us to study interfaces and inhomogeneous systems in general based on underlying molecular level models.
Separation of biospheric and fossil fuel fluxes of CO 2 by atmospheric inversion of CO 2 and 14 CO 2 measurements: Observation System Simulations

Abstract. National annual total CO2 emissions from combustion of fossil fuels are likely known to within 5–10 % for most developed countries. However, uncertainties are inevitably larger (by unknown amounts) for emission estimates at regional and monthly scales, or for developing countries. Given recent international efforts to establish emission reduction targets, independent determination and verification of regional and national scale fossil fuel CO2 emissions are likely to become increasingly important. Here, we take advantage of the fact that precise measurements of 14C in CO2 provide a largely unbiased tracer for recently added fossil-fuel-derived CO2 in the atmosphere and present an atmospheric inversion technique to jointly assimilate observations of CO2 and 14CO2 in order to simultaneously estimate fossil fuel emissions and biospheric exchange fluxes of CO2. Using this method in a set of Observation System Simulation Experiments (OSSEs), we show that given the coverage of 14CO2 measurements available in 2010 (969 over North America, 1063 globally), we can recover the US national total fossil fuel emission to better than 1 % for the year and to within 5 % for most months. Increasing the number of 14CO2 observations to ∼ 5000 per year over North America, as recently recommended by the National Academy of Science (NAS) (Pacala et al., 2010), we recover monthly emissions to within 5 % for all months for the US as a whole and also for smaller, highly emissive regions over which the specified data coverage is relatively dense, such as for the New England states or the NY-NJ-PA tri-state area. This result suggests that, given continued improvement in state-of-the art transport models, a measurement program similar in scale to that recommended by the NAS can provide for independent verification of bottom-up inventories of fossil fuel CO2 at the regional and national scale. In addition, we show that the dual tracer inversion framework can detect and minimize biases in estimates of the biospheric flux that would otherwise arise in a traditional CO2-only inversion when prescribing fixed but inaccurate fossil fuel fluxes.
Precision Position Tracking of MR-Compatible Pneumatic Piston-Cylinder Using Sliding Mode Control

This paper presents the nonlinear dynamics and sliding mode control design for a 1-DOF needle insertion robot. The robot actuator is an MR-compatible pneumatic piston-cylinder. A brief review of the dynamics for this type of actuator is provided. The reaction force of tissue on the needle remains an unknown for which our controller compensates. A sliding mode control law is formulated that relies solely on position and pressure measurements (no force sensor). Experimental implementation of the actuator and controller is described. The mean and maximum steady-state position errors for step reference positions were 0.018 mm and 0.028 mm, respectively.© 2011 ASME
Abstract 1193: Prospective validation of multiple biomarkers for improved clinical decision-making in patients with urothelial carcinoma of the bladder

Objectives: To prospectively assess the predictive value of a panel of biomarkers (cyclin E1, p53, p21, p27 and pRB/Ki-67) for staging of patients with urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB). Methods: 174 consecutive patients treated with transurethral resection (TUR) and/or radical cystectomy (RC) for UCB were prospectively included in the study starting in January 2007. Standardized, automated immunohistochemical staining and scoring was performed. A prognostic score (PS; ≤2 altered biomarkers=Favorable; >2 altered biomarkers=Unfavorable) was defined and correlated with clinical and pathological data. Results: The study comprised of 102 RC patients and 72 TURBT cases. Unfavorable PS were noted in 36.3 % of RC cases and 16.6 % of TURBT cases matching the more advanced pathological stages of RC patients. In RC group; an unfavorable PS was significantly associated with advanced tumor stage (p=0.02), the presence of LVI (p=0.017), recurrence (p=0.02) and survival (p=0.048). In the subgroup of patients who had biomarker evaluation at TUR and then underwent RC (n=32), 75 % and 50% of the cases with unfavorable PS showed upstaging and LN involvement at RC versus 25 % and 12.5 % in cases with favorable PS. Unfavorable PS at TUR was associated with the presence of LVI (p=0.001) and LN metastasis (p=0.026). Conclusions: The preliminary analysis of our ongoing prospective trial strongly suggests that a panel of five biomarkers improves the identification of patients at risk of upstaging at RC. An unfavorable PS may identify patients who are most likely to benefit from neo-adjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy combined with RC. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1193.
On the communication complexity of greater-than

We give a simple information theoretic proof that the public-coin randomized communication complexity of the greater-than function is Ω(logn) for bit-strings of length n.
Variation of outdoor illumination as a function of solar elevation and light pollution

The illumination of the environment undergoes both intensity and spectral changes during the 24 h cycle of a day. Daylight spectral power distributions are well described by low-dimensional models such as the CIE (Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage) daylight model, but the performance of this model in non-daylight regimes is not characterised. We measured downwelling spectral irradiance across multiple days in two locations in North America: One rural location (Cherry Springs State Park, PA) with minimal anthropogenic light sources, and one city location (Philadelphia, PA). We characterise the spectral, intensity and colour changes and extend the existing CIE model for daylight to capture twilight components and the spectrum of the night sky.
Relationship of Middle School Student STEM Interest to Career Intent

Understanding middle school students’ perceptions regarding STEM dispositions, and the role attitudes play in establishing STEM career aspirations, is imperative to preparing the STEM workforce of the future. Data were gathered from more than 800 middle school students participating in a hands-on, real world application curriculum to examine the relationship of the students’ interest in STEM and their intentions to pursue a career in a STEM field. Among the middle school students who completed surveys for the MSOSW project, 46.6% expressed a desire to pursue a career in STEM at the time of the post test. Regarding alignment of positive interest in STEM with intent to purse a STEM career, middle school students who have stated that they plan to pursue a career in STEM, also show higher dispositions toward STEM and STEM career measures. Gender differences were also examined, resulting in the finding that middle school males generally have greater intent to pursue a career in STEM, and also show more positive interest in STEM areas. However, females appear to more positively react to the project activities presented in this study than males, so over the course of a project year females tend to “catch up.” This is true regarding assessed STEM interest as well as stated intent to pursue a career in STEM. These findings provide additional contributions to the growing base of knowledge about the importance of middle school aspirations for STEM careers.
Application of resonance Raman spectroscopy for interrogation of cryoradiolytically reduced oxygenated heme proteins

Resonance Raman (rR) spectroscopy is generally useful to interrogate unstable intermediates that arise in the enzymatic cycles of heme enzymes, such as peroxo-, hydroperoxo- and ferryl species. While it is typically difficult to trap these elusive intermediates in solution, the cryoradiolysis approach offers a way to successfully overcome these obstacles. The present work employs modified derivatives of horse heart myoglobin to demonstrate the methodology and utility of a combination of rR and cryoradiolysis for detection and structural characterization of Fe―O―O, Fe―O―O―H and FeO fragments of such reactive species. First, the effect of active site mutations on the Fe―O―O fragments was investigated; specifically, the His64Leu, Val68Ser and Ile107Ala in the distal pocket and Ser92Ala, Ser92Leu and His97Phe on the proximal side. The current work has permitted documentation of the wavenumbers of the ν(Fe―O) stretching modes of the relatively unstable dioxygen adducts of these mutants, some of them previously unreported. Significantly, applying the cryoradiolysis approach has yielded previously unavailable vibrational spectroscopic data for the peroxo-, hydroperoxo and ferryl derivatives of these mutants. Of the six mutations investigated, only two, the H64L and V68S, replacements had a significant effect on the structure and stability of these unstable intermediates. In addition to these manipulations of the heme active site environment, the study of myoglobins bearing modified hemes was also undertaken; namely, myoglobins reconstituted with mesoheme and diformyl deuteroheme. The results show that the heme equatorial electronic effects significantly influence the stability and internal modes of the Fe―O―O and FeO fragments of these unstable oxy intermediates. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bupropion Sustained Release: Side Effect Profile

Bupropion IR (immediate release) has been on the market since 1988 and is an effective and usually well-tolerated antidepressant. In late 1996, a new sustained-release formulation, bupropion SR, was approved and is now available. Compared with the IR formulation, the SR formulation demonstrates similar efficacy and has been found to have similar, but to some degree fewer, side effects. Its efficacy is similar to that of other newer antidepressants. Side effects of bupropion SR are limited and are not dissimilar to those of the serotonergic antidepressants; however, bupropion SR produces neither substantial sexual side effects nor drug interactions. Study data demonstrate that seizure incidence, which is a concern with high-dose IR, is substantially lower with the new SR formulation.
Thermoelectric and thermal transport properties of complex oxide thin films, heterostructures and superlattices

Over the years, the search for high performance thermoelectric materials has been dictated by the “phonon glass and electron crystal (PGEC)” paradigm, which suggests that low band gap semiconductors with high atomic number elements and high carrier mobility are the ideal materials to achieve high thermoelectric figure of merit. Complex oxides provide alternative mechanisms such as large density of states and strong electron correlation for high thermoelectric efficiency, albeit having low carrier mobility. Due to vast structural and chemical flexibility, they provide a fertile playground to design high efficiency thermoelectric materials. Further, developments in oxide thin film growth methods have enabled synthesis of high quality, atomically precise low dimensional structures such as heterostructures and superlattices. These materials and structures act as excellent model systems to explore nanoscale thermal and thermoelectric transport, which will not only expand the frontier of our knowledge, but also continue to enable cutting edge applications.
Stochastic differential equations in a Banach space driven by the cylindrical Wiener process

Abstract Generalized stochastic integral from predictable operator-valued random process with respect to a cylindrical Wiener process in an arbitrary Banach space is defined. The question of existence of the stochastic integral in a Banach space is reduced to the problem of decomposability of the generalized random element. The sufficient condition of existence of the stochastic integral in terms of p -absolutely summing operators is given. The stochastic differential equation for generalized random processes is considered and existence and uniqueness of the solution is developed. As a consequence, the corresponding results of the stochastic differential equations in an arbitrary Banach space are given.
D2-dopamine receptor mRNA in the carotid body and petrosal ganglia in the developing cat.

Dopamine content is elevated in the carotid body of newborn rats and is associated with a blunted chemoreflex during the first few days of life (Hertzberg & Hellstrom, 1990). The purpose of this study was to establish the presence of mRNA coding for the D2-dopamine receptor (D2-R) in the carotid body and petrosal ganglia in the cat, and compare the levels of expression of D2-R mRNA in these tissues at two stages during development. We hypothesized that D2-R mRNA would be present in both the carotid body and petrosal ganglia. Because of the blunted chemoreflex observed at birth, we further hypothesized that there would be a greater expression of the mRNA coding for the D2-R in the petrosal ganglia and less in the carotid body at birth than at 14 weeks postnatal age.
Nasal Alar Schwannoma: An Unusual Case Report.

To present the second known case of nasal alar schwannoma, first since 1973, with important considerations for surgical management. We present the case of a 25-year-old male with a 5-year history of progressively enlarging, non-tender, right alar mass with resultant ipsilateral nasal congestion and dyspnea secondary to nasal valve collapse. The mass was located cephalic to the mid-lateral aspect of the lower lateral crural cartilage, which extended to the pyriform aperture. The mass was removed in an en bloc fashion using an endonasal rhinoplasty approach with placement of an alar batten graft for valve stabilization. The surgical pathology of the mass was consistent with schwannoma. Regardless of the rarity, schwannoma should remain on the list of possible etiologies for a nasal alar mass. Depending on the size and concurrent mass effect, the external nasal valve may be compromised requiring careful evaluation and operative stabilization for optimal postsurgical outcome. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
The effect of aqueous extract of anise seeds. Pimpinella anisum L. effect on body weight, weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion ratio of Japanese quail.

An Experiment has been conducted in research station (the first) of the college of Agriculture / University of Al-Muthanna for the period from 07/22/2015 until 09/5/2015 in order to study the effect of adding aqueous extract of anise seeds recipes on the body weight and feed conversion of Japanese quail.Atotalof 256 of day old quail chicks which are randomly distributed into four treatment groups,64 chicks are per treatment . Chicks in each treatment group have been subdivided into four replicates (16 chicks for each) the aqueous extract of anise seeds has been added to the drinking water at the rate of 25,50,75,0 ml per liter of drinking water for the four treatment groups respectively . The data show that water treatment is significantly (p<0.05) improved live body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion of Japanese quail chicks.
Low Wavenumber Models for Turbulent Boundary Layer Excitation of Structures

When the spatial correlation length of the turbulent boundary layer (TBL) pressure fluctuations is small compared to the structural wavelengths, the vibration response can be determined by forming an equivalent point drive from the effective correlation area. This approach is equivalent to using the zero wavenumber component of the TBL pressure spectrum, so it only works for TBL models that are wavenumber white at low wavenumbers. In this work, a similar simplification is developed for TBL models with a wavenumber-squared dependence, that works for structural modes with a low-pass cutoff wavenumber. This introduces a boundary layer thickness dependence that results in significantly different predictions for structures excited by a developing boundary layer. Based on the analysis, an experimental setup is proposed that may help resolve some of the controversy surrounding the low wavenumber TBL spectrum.
Introduction to Retroperitoneal Tumors

Sarcomas are uncommon malignant tumors and retroperitoneum is the less common site of origin accounting for approximately 10 % of soft tissue sarcomas. Retroperitoneal sarcomas (RPS) present specific therapeutic challenges because of their location and frequent close association with several vital structures in the retroperitoneum. This proximity to major vessels, visceral organs, axial skeleton, and neural structures may significantly impair the ability to perform a margin-negative resection, which is the single potentially curative treatment approach in patients who have localized disease. Even in the setting of a complete resection, local recurrence is common. Because of the typically silent nature of these tumors, most RPS are large when diagnosed(> 6 cm). Approximately two-thirds of cases are of high-grade histology, with liposarcomas and leiomyosarcomas representing the most common histologic findings. The initial diagnostic evaluation of patients who are suspected of having RPS should include a contrast-enhanced CT of the abdomen and pelvis and MRI of the abdomen. The goal of therapy for most patients is surgical resection with negative margins. Rates of resection of visceral organs at the time of resection of RPS vary significantly by series from approximately 34 to 75 %. In most centers, radiotherapy is often reserved for patients who have high-grade lesions or in patients in whom a margin-positive resection is anticipated, whereas the use of adjuvant chemotherapy in the management of sarcomas at any site to reduce the risk for distant disease failure is also controversial.
Meson Exchange Models for Effective Interactions

The spin-isospin degrees of freedom; i.e., the giant Gamow-Teller resonances, are found to fit in well with the Boson exchange model of the nucleon-nucleon interaction. In particular, π- and p-meson exchange play major roles. Connection is made to the Ericson-Ericson-Lorentz-Lorenz correction in pionic atoms. Effects from the exchange of other mesons are discussed.
Eimeria macrotis sp. n. from Vulpes macrotis neomexicanus Merriam, 1902"

Oocysts of Eimeria macrotis sp. n. are described from the kit fox, Vulpes macrotis neomexicanus Merriam, 1902, at White Sands National Monument, Otero County, New Mexico, USA. A comparison between E. macrotis and all other Eimeria spp. from Vulpes spp. is given.