cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Alloantibody Reduction in Pediatric Heart Transplant Recipients

Purpose Reduction in circulating alloantibodies is a common goal in treating antibody mediated rejection (AMR) and in desensitization of highly sensitized transplant recipients. There are limited data about safety and efficacy of these treatments in children. We report our experience using combined therapy with rituximab, plasmapheresis (PP), and bortezomib to reduce anti-HLA antibodies (Abs) in AMR and desensitization in pediatric heart transplantation (HT). Methods There were 16 treatment courses for desensitization or AMR at our institution from 5/2012-3/2018: 4 for desensitization and 12 for AMR. A typical cycle consists of PP followed by rituximab (375mg/m2) with 4 subsequent PP cycles, each followed by bortezomib (1.3mg/m2), over 21 days. Cycles may be repeated based on response. AlloAb burden was quantified using the OPTN cPRA calculator for Abs ≥4000 MFI to capture clinically relevant Abs. cPRA prior to treatment and at 3 and 12 months after therapy completion were analyzed. Results Median patient age was 12.6 (2.9-20.4) years. All 4 desensitized candidates achieved HT (3 with negative cytotoxicity crossmatch), with median wait time of 166 (68-412) days from therapy initiation. All are alive and free from >pAMR1 at 341.5 (119-904) days from HT. Of the 12 treated for AMR, 10 are alive and 4 had coronary allograft vasculopathy during median follow-up of 948.5 (40-1483) days from AMR diagnosis. Mean class I and II cPRAs were 28.5% and 51.4%, decreasing to 16.4% (p=0.29) and 20.1% (p bacteremia , 2 with peripheral neuropathy , and one with stroke. Conclusion Combined therapy with rituximab, PP, and bortezomib reduced circulating Abs, both in desensitization and treatment of AMR, in our small pediatric HT series. Survival to HT (for desensitization) and after HT (for AMR) also appear reassuring, with some risk of complications. More detailed and regimented multicenter studies are warranted.
Effective use of analytic DSS and job performance: Looking beyond technology acceptance

This study extends and test the work done on effective use of information systems (IS) by developing measures for this construct which expands the conceptualization of use beyond the popular techno...
Autogenic Erosional Surfaces in Fluvio-deltaic Stratigraphy from Floods, Avulsions, and Backwater Hydrodynamics

Abstract Erosional surfaces set the architecture of fluvio-deltaic stratigraphy, and they have classically been interpreted in terms of changes in boundary conditions such as climate, tectonics, and base level (allogenic forces). Intrinsic dynamics of sedimentary systems (autogenic dynamics) can also create a rich stratigraphic architecture, and a major knowledge gap exists in parsing the relative roles of autogenic versus allogenic processes. Emerging theoretical and experimental work suggests that backwater hydrodynamics play an important role in driving transient channel incision in river deltas, even those experiencing net aggradation. Here, we identify and quantify two autogenic mechanisms that produce broad erosional surfaces in fluvio-deltaic stratigraphy, namely, floods and avulsions. Using a simple mass-balance model for single-threaded delta channel systems, we show that flood-induced scours begin near the shoreline, and avulsion-induced scours begin at the avulsion site, and both propagate upstream over a distance that scales with the backwater length, bed slope, and bed grain size. We also develop scaling relationships for the maximum scour depths arising from these mechanisms, which are functions of characteristic flow depth and formative flood variability. We test our theoretical predictions using a flume experiment of river delta evolution governed by persistent backwater hydrodynamics under constant relative sea level. Results indicate that autogenic dynamics of backwater-mediated deltas under conditions of constant base level can result in stratigraphic surfaces and shoreline trajectories similar to those often interpreted to represent multiple sea-level cycles. Our work provides a quantitative framework to decouple autogenic and allogenic controls on erosional surfaces preserved in fluvio-deltaic stratigraphy.
Latinx faculty representation and resource allocation at Hispanic Serving Institutions

Early advocates for Hispanic-Serving Institutions argued that HSIs should require ‘significant Hispanic staffing patterns at the faculty … level’ and ‘serious commitment to the needs of Hispanic le...
Prognostic Utility of Whole-Genome Sequencing and Polymerase Chain Reaction Tests of Ocular Fluids in Postprocedural Endophthalmitis.

Purpose To associate detection of potential pathogen DNA in endophthalmitis with clinical outcomes. Design Prospective cohort study. Methods Patients in whom endophthalmitis was diagnosed following an intraocular procedure were recruited. Clinical outcome data from baseline, week-1, month-1, and month-3 visits were collected. Intraocular biopsy samples were cultured by standard methods. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was performed for specific pathogens and whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Results A total of 50 patients (mean age 72 years old; 52% male) were enrolled. Twenty-four cases were culture-positive and 26 were culture-negative. WGS identified the cultured organism in 76% of culture-positive cases and identified potential pathogens in 33% of culture-negative cases. Month-1 and -3 visual acuities did not vary by pathogen-positive versus pathogen-negative cases as detected by either culture or WGS. Visual outcomes of Staphylococcus epidermidis endophthalmitis were no different than those of pathogen-negative cases, whereas the patients infected with other pathogens showed worse outcome. Higher baseline bacterial DNA loads of bacteria other than those of S epidermidis detected by WGS were associated with worse month-1 and -3 visual acuity, whereas the S epidermidis loads did not appear to influence outcomes. Torque teno virus (TTV) and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV) were detected by qPCR in 49% and 19% of cases, respectively. Presence of TTV at presentation was associated with a higher rate of secondary pars plana vitrectomy (P = .009) and retinal detachment (P = .022). Conclusions The presence and higher load of bacteria other than S epidermidis detected by WGS or DNA from TTV by qPCR in ocular fluids is associated with worse outcomes in post-procedure endophthalmitis.
Overview of assets 2019: 25 years of assets!

The first article, written by Jeffrey P. Bigham (General Chair), Shiri Azenkot (Program Chair) and Shaun Kane (Program Chair) provides an overview of the ASSETS'19 conference.
Mechanical and Micromechanical Behavior of Bulk Polycrystalline Boron

The room-temperature mechanical and micromechanical behavior of bulk polycrystalline boron was characterized in this study. Material for the test program was produced with a casting technique. It was found that in all cases fracture was initiated at cracks or steps on the sample surfaces. A study of the fracture mode shows that structural features can influence the fracture path. This provides a basis for future improvements of the mechanical properties. The micromechanical behavior of bulk polycrystalline boron shows a completely elastic response to stress at all levels up to fracture.
Timing of Daily Activities over a 24-Hour Period and Affective Status among a National Cohort of Older Dementia Caregivers:

Objective: To examine the allocation of daily activities over a 24-hour period in caregivers (CGs) with and without a probable affective disorder. Methods: Participants were 192 older dementia CGs ...
Lost Maps of the Caliphs: Drawing the World in Eleventh-Century Cairo: By YOSSEF RAPOPORT and EMILIE SAVAGE-SMITH. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2018. 368 pp., notes, bibliographic references, appendix, index, color plates, and halftones, $55.00 hardback. ISBN 978-0-226-54088-7.

This book is, in short, exactly what a history of cartography book should be: a detailed but thoroughly engaging study and extensive analysis of a fascinating primary source, clearly presented and ...
Sound speed gradients in mud

Various methods have been used to estimate sound speed profiles in mud at the New England Mud Patch. Some of these methods show large sound speed gradients of order 10 s−1. New measurements of the seabed reflection coefficient exhibit an angle of intromission over three octaves in frequency; these data constrain the range of possible sound speed gradient values. The data indicate that sound speed gradients must be quite weak, i.e., much smaller than |10 s−1|. This conclusion is supported by core data which indicate nearly constant porosity in most of the mud layer.
Bacterial Immobilization and Toxicity Induced by a Bean Plant Immune System

Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. phaseolicola causes halo blight disease in the common bean Phaseolus vulgaris. The bacterium invades the leaf apoplast and uses a type III secretion system to inject effector proteins into a bean cell to interfere with the bean immune system. Beans counter with resistance proteins that can detect effectors and coordinate effector-triggered immunity responses transduced by salicylic acid, the primary defense hormone. Effector-triggered immunity halts bacterial spread, but its direct effect on the bacterium is not known. In this study, mass spectrometry of bacterial infections from immune and susceptible beans revealed that immune beans inhibited the accumulation of bacterial proteins required for virulence, secretion, motility, chemotaxis, quorum sensing, and alginate production. Sets of genes encoding these proteins appeared to function in operons, which implies that immunity altered the coregulated genes in the bacterium. Immunity also reduced amounts of bacterial methylglyoxal detoxification enzymes and their transcripts. Treatment of bacteria with salicylic acid, the plant hormone produced during immunity, reduced bacterial growth, decreased gene expression for methylglyoxal detoxification enzymes, and increased bacterial methylglyoxal concentrations in vitro. Increased methylglyoxal concentrations reduced bacterial reproduction. These findings support the hypothesis that plant immunity involves the chemical induction of adverse changes to the bacterial proteome to reduce pathogenicity and to cause bacterial self-toxicity.
Emancipatory Data Science: A Liberatory Framework for Mitigating Data Harms and Fostering Social Transformation

The cross-cutting and interdisciplinary nature of data work has created an opportunity to engage more students from diverse backgrounds in data science and has expanded pathways for entry for future data professionals. However, without greater representation of Black, Indigenous, and other marginalized people of color in data science, we risk reinforcing existing systems of differentiated power that oppress as opposed to empower these groups. In this paper, the term emancipatory data science is coined to highlight the unique contributions of individuals who use their expertise to mitigate data harms for minoritized, and marginalized populations and to suggest a way forward for the data science workforce and research community given our increasingly algorithmic society.
Application of Digital Computers to Transformer Design [includes discussion]

Digital computers have been used successfully since May 1953, first in Schenectady, N. Y., and then in Pittsfield, Mass., for transformer design (proposition and requisition) and for various transformer development applications. An iterative procedure, which converges automatically and rapidly to the desired solution, has been developed for designing transformers on digital computers. The application of digital computers allows for the first time in an economical manner the complete optimization of the design. Considerable savings in time and dollars have been achieved as well as more accurate designs, which all follow the same consistent design philosophy.
House Officer Training Programs

Werner et al9s recent article (Pediatrics 63:491, 1979) on pediatric intern attitudes and interpersonal skills comes at a most fortuitous time for pediatrics. It raises an educational point worth special attention, particularly in light of the report of the Task Force on Pediatric Education.1 Within the last two years, several articles and commentaries have attempted to review the efforts of pediatric educators in the biobehavioral sphere. Anders9 survey of pediatric training programs2 has revealed widespread interest in the topic, and yet disappointment with the actual incorporation of behavioral and developmental knowledge in house officer education.
X-ray shapes of distant clusters and blue galaxy fractions

Based on ROSAT PSPC pointed observations, we have determined the aggregate X-ray shapes of 10 distant (z = 0.17-0.54) rich clusters: A2397, A222, A520, A1689, A223B, A1758, A2218, A2111, A2125, and CL0016+16. Four of the clusters have global X-ray ellipticities greater than 0.2, as measured on a scale of diameter 3 h_{50}^{-1} Mpc. These strongly elongated clusters tend to show substantial amounts of substructure, indicating that they are dynamically young systems. Most interestingly, the global X-ray ellipticities of the clusters correlate well with their blue galaxy fractions; the correlation coefficient is 0.75 with a 90% confidence range of 0.44-0.92. This correlation suggests that blue cluster galaxies originate in the process of cluster formation, and that the blue galaxy proportion of a cluster decreases as the intracluster medium relaxes onto equipotential surfaces.
Ultrafast Relaxation of Excited Dirac Fermions in Epitaxial Graphene

Nondegenerate ultrafast pump-probe spectroscopy of epitaxial graphene is used to study hot electron relaxation and interlayer thermal coupling. The DT spectra are understood in terms of hot thermal carrier distributions with no electron-hole interaction.
Postoperative tricuspid regurgitation after adult congenital heart surgery is associated with adverse clinical outcomes

Abstract Objective Many patients with adult congenital heart disease will require cardiac surgery during their lifetime, and some will have concomitant tricuspid regurgitation. However, the optimal management of significant tricuspid regurgitation at the time of cardiac surgery remains unclear. We assessed the determinants of adverse outcomes in patients with adult congenital heart disease and moderate or greater tricuspid regurgitation undergoing cardiac surgery for non–tricuspid regurgitation-related indications. Methods All adult patients with congenital heart disease and greater than moderate tricuspid regurgitation who underwent cardiac surgery for non–tricuspid regurgitation-related indications were included in a retrospective study at the Schneeweiss Adult Congenital Heart Center. Cohorts were defined by the type of tricuspid valve intervention at the time of surgery. The primary end point of interest was a composite of death, heart transplantation, and reoperation on the tricuspid valve. Results A total of 107 patients met inclusion criteria, and 17 patients (17%) reached the primary end point. A total of 68 patients (64%) underwent tricuspid valve repair, 8 patients (7%) underwent tricuspid valve replacement, and 31 patients (29%) did not have a tricuspid valve intervention. By multivariate analysis, moderate or greater postoperative tricuspid regurgitation was associated with a hazard ratio of 6.12 (1.84-20.3) for the primary end point ( P = .003). In addition, failure to perform a tricuspid valve intervention at the time of surgery was associated with an odds ratio of 4.17 (1.26-14.3) for moderate or greater postoperative tricuspid regurgitation ( P = .02). Conclusions Moderate or greater postoperative tricuspid regurgitation was associated with an increased risk of death, transplant, or reoperation in adult patients with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiac surgery for non–tricuspid regurgitation-related indications. Concomitant tricuspid valve intervention at the time of cardiac surgery should be considered in patients with adult congenital heart disease with moderate or greater preoperative tricuspid regurgitation.
Marked hepatic congestion caused by a thoracoabdominal aneurysm

Abstract A 70-yr-old man with a large thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm developed marked congestive hepatomegaly. Evaluation by arteriography, venography, and computed tomography revealed compression and venous obstruction at the confluence of the hepatic veins and inferior vena cava. Although obstruction of the inferior vena cava caused by rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm is known to occur, obstruction without rupture and involving the hepatic veins has not been previously reported.
Penalty and Barrier Methods

Penalty and barrier methods solve a constrained optimization problem via a sequence of unconstrained problems. Under appropriate assumptions, the solutions of the unconstrained problems are guaranteed to converge to the solution of the original constrained problem. However, to obtain an accurate solution, the unconstrained problems will typically become ever more ill-conditioned, and special algorithmic techniques are needed to ensure good performance. Penalty and barrier methods were important during the 1960s, but lost favor because of the difficulties associated with ill-conditioning (even though remedies were known at that time). However, interest in barrier methods revived in the 1980s in connection with the development of interior-point methods for linear programming. Penalty and barrier methods are useful methods in their own right, but they also form the theoretical and practical underpinning to other important and widely used methods. They can be grouped together under the label of penalization methods. Penalty methods impose a penalty for violating a constraint, and barrier methods impose a penalty for approaching the boundary of an inequality constraint. Keywords: penalty method; barrier method; sequential unconstrained minimization techniques; quadratic-loss function; interior-point methods
Virtual Data Language: A Typed Workflow Notation for Diversely Structured Scientific Data

When constructing workflows that operate on large and complex data sets, the ability to describe the types of both data sets and workflow procedures can be invaluable, enabling discovery of data sets and procedures, type checking and composition of procedure calls, and iteration over composite data sets.
THE DESCENDING PATHWAYS TO THE SPINAL CORD, THEIR ANATOMY AND FUNCTION.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the descending pathways to the spinal cord. These pathways can be grouped according to their origin into two categories: (1) those coming from the cerebral cortex and (2) those coming from the brain stem. The cortico-spinal fibers appeared to be derived primarily from the pericruciate cortex in the cat and from the pericentral cortex in the Rhesus monkey. Ablation-degeneration studies in both animals demonstrated that the cortico-spinal fibers are distributed to the nuclei cuneatus and gracilis and to the spinal gray matter. In regard to the latter distribution, the cortical fibers in the cat terminate, primarily, in the nucleus proprius of the dorsal horn, and the intermediate zone. Only a few fibers spill over into the territory of the ventral horn and none are distributed to the motoneuronal cell groups. In the lower brain stem system of fibers that descended throughout the spinal cord via the lateral funiculus, distributed among to the lateral reticular formation and to some cranial motor nuclei. In the spinal cord, the bulk of this system appeared to be directed to the cervical segments, as only few fibers were found in the lumbo-sacral segments despite the damage to the rubro spinal tract.
A Conceptual Model of Preschool Assessment.

An ecologically-based model is offered to guide the assessment activities of school psychologists at the preschool level. The uniqueness of the preschool population, the multidimensional structure ...
In Vivo Plasminogen Deficiency Reduces Fat Accumulation

Obesity and non-insulin dependent diabetes are associated with a decrease in fibrinolysis, which is mediated by the plasminogen system. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the role of the plasminogen system in the reduced body weight of the plasminogen deficient (Plg-/-) mice. In this study we have found that the reduced body weight in Plg-/- mice is due to a reduced rate of the adipose tissue (25% less) and whole body fat (30% less) accumulation during growth in Plg-/- compared to wild-type (WT) littermates. When the mice are fed a high fat-lipogenic diet, adipose tissue accumulation increases in the Plg-/- mice indicating that the capacity for lipid filling of cells was not blocked. In addition, glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase, a marker of late differentiation, was not different in the depots from WT and Plg-/- mice. The number of stromal cells (number 10 5 /g adipose tissue), isolated from inguinal (Plg-/- 3.4 ± 1.2, n = 6; WT 0.17 ± 0.07, n = 7, p < 0.02) and gonadal (Plg-/- 11.0 ± 0.4, n = 6; WT 3.1 ± 0.7, n = 7, p < 0.05) fat depots, was markedly higher in the depots from the Plg-/- mice than WT mice. Differentiation of stromal cells in culture from the Plg-/- mice was reduced compared to cells from WT mice. These results suggest that differences in the stromal cell population are responsible for the reduced adipose tissue accumulation in the Plg-/- mice, and that the plasminogen system plays an important role in adipose tissue accumulation.
Do rational demand functions differ from irrational ones? Evidence from an induced budget experiment

Various studies (e.g. Becker, 1962; Ariely et al., 2003) have noted anomalies concerning the relationship between observed demand and the preferences presumed to motivate it. We re-examine these findings using experimental choice data. After separating our subjects’ choices into rational and irrational subsets based on consistency with the axioms of revealed preference, we estimate and compare demand coefficients. Mirroring Ariely et al.'s ‘coherently arbitrary’ choice, both rational and irrational demand estimates exhibit negative price and positive endowment coefficients. However, a comparison of the full set of demand coefficients indicates significant differences between the two, yielding an observable artefact of the preference hypothesis. Relaxing the goodness-of-fit of the revealed preference test (Afriat, 1987; Varian, 1994) does not alter our findings.
Structural characterisation of partially glycosylated whey protein as influenced by pH and heat using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Abstract Maillard-induced glycosylation of whey protein improves solubility and thermal stability over a wide pH range. However, the relationship between structural changes and functional enhancement upon glycosylation is not well-characterized. Therefore, our objective was to characterise these structural changes and determine the protein conformation at various pH and thermal treatments, using surface-enhanced Raman-spectroscopy. The spectra of glycosylated protein revealed a new peak at 983 cm−1 that can be used as a Raman marker for the early stage glycosylation. Upon glycosylation, structural variations were significant at the disulfide, hydrophobic, amide III, amide II, and amide I regions. Ionisation of carboxyl groups at all tested pH values, and increased β-sheet configuration were also observed. The noted structural modifications imparted molecular rigidity and a consequent resistance to denaturation upon thermal treatment over a wide pH range. These findings can be used to explain various functional enhancements of whey protein upon glycosylation.
Simulation of a North American Monsoon Gulf Surge Event and Comparison to Observations

AbstractGulf surges are transient disturbances that propagate along the Gulf of California (GoC) from south to north, transporting cool moist air toward the deserts of northwest Mexico and the southwest United States during the North American monsoon. They have been shown to modulate precipitation and have been linked to severe weather and flooding in northern Mexico and the southwest United States. The general features and progression of surge events are well studied, but their detailed evolution is still unclear. To address this, several convection-permitting simulations are performed over the core monsoon region for the 12–14 July 2004 gulf surge event. This surge event occurred during the North American Monsoon Experiment, which allows for extensive comparison to field observations.A 60-h reference simulation is able to reproduce the surge event, capturing its main characteristics: speed and direction of motion, thermodynamic changes during its passage, and strong northward moisture flux. While the ti...
The role of bio-fuels in satisfying US transportation fuel demands

Abstract In spite of the abundant interest in conversion of agricultural products into useful energy carriers, there have been relatively few studies assessing the magnitude of the impact these fuels can make on satisfying US energy demands. There have been fewer studies of unintended consequences stemming from these enterprises, although several research groups have begun questioning the appropriate levels of subsidies provided to individuals and companies to stimulate production of bio-fuels. In this paper, the production capacities for bio-fuels—ethanol and biodiesel—are evaluated for their potential impact on the US energy market. Several ramifications of these technologies are reviewed. This study concludes that ethanol or biodiesel production do not appear scalable to make a significant difference on the US fossil fuel demand for transportation. Aspects of this study point to systemic changes that may be required in lifestyles and attitudes toward energy consumption. Finally, comments regarding US energy policies are included to stimulate discussion.
Structural and functional-annotation of an equine whole genome oligoarray

Background The horse genome is sequenced, allowing equine researchers to use high-throughput functional genomics platforms such as microarrays; next-generation sequencing for gene expression and proteomics. However, for researchers to derive value from these functional genomics datasets, they must be able to model this data in biologically relevant ways; to do so requires that the equine genome be more fully annotated. There are two interrelated types of genomic annotation: structural and functional. Structural annotation is delineating and demarcating the genomic elements (such as genes, promoters, and regulatory elements). Functional annotation is assigning function to structural elements. The Gene Ontology (GO) is the de facto standard for functional annotation, and is routinely used as a basis for modelling and hypothesis testing, large functional genomics datasets.
BLOOD SUGAR CURVES IN DIABETES INSIPIDUS AND IN HABITUAL AND EXPERIMENTAL EXCESSIVE WATER DRINKTNG

On the basis of Engelbach’s (1) conclusions that hypopituitarism suggests an increased carbohydrate tolerance, John (2) has diagnosed from the blood sugar curve test a co-existing diabetes mellitus or prediabetic state in five women with clinical pituitary dystrophy; characteristic findings were a high renal threshold for glucose. However, Howard (3) has postulated “a decreased sugar tolerance in pituitary disease except in the later stages when the pars intermedia has been destroyed by pressure or invasion when increased sugar tolerance is to be expected.” Janney and Henderson (4) and more recently Major (5) regard an abnormal sugar tolerance curve solely as an indication of endocrine disturbance. Since certified cases of pituitary tumor associated with long continued polyuria show the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland to be invariably involved by the process (Kennaway and Mottram, 6), characteristic disturbances of sugar metabolism might be expected in diabetes insipidus. Accordingly, we have studie...
Monoamine oxidases and alcoholism. II. Studies in alcoholic families

Thirty-five alcoholic families have been studied to investigate the relationship between DNA markers at the monoamine oxidase (MAO) loci and 1) platelet activity levels and 2) alcoholism. A quantitative linkage analysis failed to reveal any evidence that the variation in activity levels cosegregates with the DNA markers. A sib-pair analysis did not reveal a significant excess of MAO haplotype sharing among alcoholic sibs, although the deviation from random sharing was in the direction consistent with an X-linked component. A reanalysis of platelet MAO activity levels in a subset of these families revealed that the lower levels previously found in alcoholics is more likely due to the differences between males and females. Only among males and only when a "broad" definition of alcoholism is used (and MAO activity levels are transformed to normality) does it appear that alcoholics have depressed activities compared to nonalcoholics. Finally, when the confounding due to gender difference is removed, no differences between type I and type II alcoholics are found in these families.
Simulation and Optimization of the Water-Jet Cleaning Process

Mechanical components are cleaned after manufacturing processes like casting and machining using high pressure waterjets that help in both dislodging and removal of contaminants. In order to understand the dynamic relationships that exist in an actual cleaning process, it is essential to visualize the interaction of the water-jet with the part geometry. To aid in this, we have developed a simplified model of the water-mill that simulates the cleaning process on parts represented using standard CAD geometries. Our model of the cleaning process approximates the water-jets in a water-mill as a set of rays originating from the nozzles and evaluates the pressure the water-jet exerts when it hits the surface of the part. This model can be used to understand the effect of kinematic parameters like nozzle diameter and standoff distance on cleaning. Furthermore, this model can be used to optimize these parameters. Any standard optimization technique can be used for this optimization. As proof of concept, we used a Genetic Algorithm (GA) to optimize the process parameters for the simplified cleaning process on a flat plate and a curved surface. Analysis of the results indicates that the obtained solution is theoretically an optimum.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
High Resolution Spectroscopy Of The Earth's Upper Atmosphere From Space

Atmospheric spectroscopists have for some time been using FT methods to overcome some of the difficulties involved in making high resolution studies of the upper atmosphere. For limb absorption measurements from balloon platforms, the critical requirement is the need to record the interferogram in short enough time to prevent distortion of the spectrum by the changing line-of-sight air mass. Here, the time available is typically 100 seconds, and current instruments can record the entire near and mid-IR spectrum at about 0.01 cm-1 resolution within this interval. To increase the altitude and latitude coverage of such measurements, however, by making the observations from space platforms, the process must be speeded up by two orders of magnitude. The Atmospheric Trace Molecules Spectroscopy (ATMOS) experiment, which uses a shuttle-borne Connes-type interferometer covering the two to sixteen micron range, is described. The measurements will provide the first opportunity to obtain simultaneously the vertical profiles of all of the infrared active trace constituents with relative concentrations as low as 10-12, throughout the stratosphere and mesosphere. In addition to problems in the instrument design, the experiment presents major challenges in data management.© (1981) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Effect of Random Frequency Modulation on ECG Power Spectra

Electrocardiographic signals are an example of biological signals whose fundamental characteristics may be altered by environmental factors. Frequency modulation due to the influence of respiration and other factors may alter the signals and affect the characteristic power spectrum. Here the effects of random frequency modulation on ECG power spectra are examined in two cases: when there is random phase modulation in the periodic Fourier series model and when the consecutive cycles for a given sequence of beats deviate from periodicity due to random variation in the fundamental frequency about its mean. It is concluded that the differential effects of random frequency modulation on the power spectrum can be detected and its contribution defined. Thus, the underlying power spectrum of identical signals with and without random phase and frequency modulations can be defined.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation: current guidelines

It is critical for health care providers to have the skills and composure required to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) when necessary. Unfortunately, it is easy to postpone updating one's CPR certification when confronted with the demands of leading a practice. New guidelines for CPR have been in effect since 2000. This clinical update provides a brief overview of the new guidelines, some suggestions for incorporating CPR training into the clinician's practice, and clarification for some common legal misconceptions that doctors may have pertaining to administering CPR.
Isozymes of human red cell glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.

Summary With most gel electrophoretic techniques used for genetic studies of human G-6-PD, the activity from hemolysates of males migrates predominantly as a single band. Under two conditions of starch gel electrophoresis, however, dual bands of red cell G-6-PD may be seen. These exceptions are: (a) two prominent bands of G-6-PD that appear after starch-gel electrophoresis in a discontinuous-borate buffer system, and (b) a minor band of red cell G-6-PD that moves about 80 percent as fast as the major band in a number of buffer and gel systems. The faster band of (a) was found to be absent or less prominent in samples that had been incubated under conditions previously shown to cause aggregation of G-6-PD subunits. Electrophoresis in starch gel of various concentrations revealed that the slower component of (a) is of larger molecular size than the faster component. In contrast, the minor component of (b) was found to be similar in molecular size to the major component. The isolated minor component had the electrophoretic mobility of the major band after treatment with β-mercaptoethanol. Reappearance of a minor band was obtained by incubation of major band G-6-PD with another protein fraction from normal red cells, in the absence of β-mercaptoethanol. It is proposed that bands of (a) represent simply the aggregated and disaggregated form of G-6-PD. The minor band of (b) appears to be a complex of a subunit of G-6-PD and another protein.
Reliability of WWW name servers

Abstract A Uniform Resource Name (URN) capability is being developed for the WWW. While this will provide important new capabilities for the WWW, the reliability of name servers in which a URN will be used is questionable. This paper looks at the basis of unreliability for name servers and proposes a scalable-cost solution for addressing the reliability problem.
The single-crystal elastic properties of jadeite

Abstract The single-crystal elastic constants of NaAlSi 2 O 6 , jadeite, have been measured at 1 bar and 20°C by Brillouin spectroscopy techniques. The elastic moduli are (in GPa): C 11 = 274; C 22 = 253, C 33 = 282, C 44 = 88, C 55 = 65, C 66 = 94, C 12 = 94, C 13 = 71, C 23 = 82, C 15 = 4, C 25 = 14, C 35 = 28, C 46 = 13. The compressional and shear acoustic velocities calculated from the single-crystal elastic moduli are comparable in value with those from ultrasonic measurements on polycrystalline aggregate specimens at elevated hydrostatic pressures, but not with the low pressure ultrasonic results owing to the existence of cracks, pores and voids in the polycrystalline samples. Compared to other pyroxenes, the elastic moduli of jadeite are large in magnitude with the exceptions of C 55 and C 13 . The elastic stiffness of the jadeite crystal structure is largely due to the presence of aluminum and sodium in the structure. The values of C 55 and C 13 are similar to those of other pyroxenes as these moduli are most sensitive to structural features that are common to all pyroxenes, regardless of spatial symmetry. The amount of geometrical linkage between the M1 and M2 polyhedra affects the moduli associated with deformation in the (010) direction ( C 44 , C 66 , C 12 , C 23 ).
A diffusion model in population genetics with dynamic fitness

Abstract We analyze a degenerate diffusion equation with singular boundary data, modeling the evolution of a polygenic trait under selection and drift. The equation models the contributions of a large but finite number of loci (genes) to the trait and at the same time allows the population trait mean to vary in a way that affects the strength of selection at individual loci; in this respect it differs from other population-genetic models that have been rigorously analyzed. We present existence, uniqueness and stability results for solutions of the system. We also prove that the genetic variance in the system tends to zero in the long time limit, and relate the dynamics of the trait mean to the variance.
Comparing Backup Software

This article reviews the performance of three commercial backup programs, run on two different types of machines. Because the DOS BACKUP command is slow, many PC users with hard disk systems use such programs instead. The programs we tested are:
Displacement of residual nonwetting fluid from porous media

Abstract Percolation theory of transport in random composites is used to explain the correlation between the residual saturation of nonwetting phase in porous media after displacement by a wetting phase and the capillary number, this number being a measure of the ratio of Darcy-law viscous force in the wetting liquid to interfacial tension force in curved menisci between the two phases. Statistical concepts of percolation theory give estimates of the length distribution of blobs created when the nonwetting phase loses continuity because of displacement by the wetting phase. These estimates agree with the few experimental data. Simple blob mobilization theory and experiments establish that the capillary number required to mobilize a blob is inversely proportional to its length in the direction of the Darcy-law pressure gradient; this and the predictions of percolation theory account for the observed capillary number correlation.
Enzymatic Regeneration of 3'-Phosphoadenosine-5'-Phosphosulfate Using Aryl Sulfotransferase for the Preparative Enzymatic Synthesis of Sulfated Carbohydrates.

A cost-efficient preparative enzymatic sulfation of oligosaccharides has been developed. Starting from adenosine 3′5′-diphosphate (PAP), the sulfate donating and highly expensive cofactor 3′-phosphoadenosine-5′-phosphosulfate (PAPS, 1) can be regenerated by using a recombinant aryl sulfotransferase and p-nitrophenyl sulfate. This system averts product inhibition by PAP and can serve as a continuous spectrophotometric assay for the activity of any sulfotransferase enzyme.
NO-cGMP Signaling and Regenerative Medicine Involving Stem Cells

Nitric oxide (NO) is a short lived diatomic free radical species synthesized by nitric oxide synthases (NOS). The physiological roles of NO depend on its local concentrations as well as availability and the nature of downstream target molecules. At low nanomolar concentrations, activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) is the major event initiated by NO. The resulting elevation in the intracellular cyclic GMP (cGMP) levels serves as signals for regulating diverse cellular and physiological processes. The participation of NO and cGMP in diverse physiological processes is made possible through cell type specific spatio-temporal regulation of NO and cGMP synthesis and signal diversity downstream of cGMP achieved through specific target selection. Thus cyclic GMP directly regulates the activities of its downstream effectors such as Protein Kinase G (PKG), Cyclic Nucleotide Gated channels (CNG) and Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases, which in turn regulate the activities of a number of proteins that are involved in regulating diverse cellular and physiological processes. Localization and activity of the NO-cGMP signaling pathway components are regulated by G-protein coupled receptors, receptor and non receptor tyrosine kinases, phosphatases and other signaling molecules. NO also serves as a powerful paracrine factor. At micromolar concentrations, NO reacts with superoxide anion to form reactive peroxinitrite, thereby leading to the oxidation of important cellular proteins. Extensive research efforts over the past two decades have shown that NO is an important modulator of axon outgrowth and guidance, synaptic plasticity, neural precursor proliferation as well as neuronal survival. Excessive NO production as that evoked by inflammatory signals has been identified as one of the major causative reasons for the pathogenesis of a number of neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS, Alzheimers and Parkinson diseases. Regenerative therapies involving transplantation of embryonic stem cells (ES cells) and ES cell derived lineage committed neural precursor cells have recently shown promising results in animal models of Parkinson disease (PD). Recent studies from our laboratory have shown that a functional NO-cGMP signaling system is operative early during the differentiation of embryonic stem cells. The cell type specific, spatio-temporally regulated NO-cGMP signaling pathways are well suited for inductive signals to use them for important cell fate decision making and lineage commitment processes. We believe that manipulating the NO-cGMP signaling system will be an important tool for large scale generation of lineage committed precursor cells to be used for regenerative therapies.
Recovery from liver disease in a Niemann-Pick type C mouse model

Loss of function of Niemann-Pick C1 (NPC1) leads to lysosomal free cholesterol storage, resulting in the neurodegenerative disease Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC). Significant numbers of patients with NPC also suffer from liver disease. Currently, no treatments exist that alter patient outcome, and it is unknown if recovery from tissue damage can occur even if a treatment were found. Our laboratory developed a strategy to test whether mice can recover from NPC liver disease. We used antisense oligonucleotides to knock down hepatic expression of NPC1 in BALB/C mice for either 9 or 15 weeks. This recapitulated liver disease with hepatomegaly, cell death, and fibrosis. Then, antisense oligonucleotide treatment was halted for an additional 4, 9, or 15 weeks. We report that significant liver recovery occurred even when NPC1 protein expression only partially returned to normal. Several pathological phenotypes were alleviated, including hepatomegaly, cholesterol storage, and liver cell death. Histological examination revealed that foamy cell accumulation was relieved; however, liver fibrosis increased. Additionally, resolution of cholesterol storage and liver cell death took longer in mice with long-term knockdown. Finally, we found that transcription of cholesterol homeostatic genes was significantly disrupted during the recovery phase after long-term knockdown.
The Macrobicyclic Cryptate Effect in the Gas Phase

The alkali cation (Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, and Cs+) binding properties of cryptands [2.1.1], [2.2.1], and [2.2.2] were investigated under solvent-free, gas-phase conditions using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. The alkali cations serve as size probes for the cryptand cavities. All three cryptands readily form 1:1 alkali cation complexes. Ligand−metal (2:1) complexes of [2.1.1] with K+, Rb+, and Cs+, and of [2.2.1] with Rb+ and Cs+ were observed, but no 2:1 complexes of [2.2.2] were seen, consistent with formation of “inclusive” rather than “exclusive” complexes when the binding cavity of the ligand is large enough to accommodate the metal cation. Kinetics for 2:1 ligand−metal complexation, as well as molecular mechanics calculations and cation transfer equilibrium constant measurements, lead to estimates of the radii of the cation binding cavities of the cryptands under gas-phase conditions: [2.1.1], 1.25 A; [2.2.1], 1.50 A; [2.2.2], 1.65 A. Cation transfer equilibrium studies com...
Auger-UPS study of intrinsic and Si-stabilized oxides of palladium

Abstract Three types of oxide were identified that could persist in the subsurface region of Pd and be responsible for the known surface-property modifications that oxygen pretreatments induce in Pt-group metals. The identifications are based on Auger and HeI UPS studies of Pd(100), PdO and Pd 4 Si. In particular, Si-stabilized oxides were detected via Auger spectroscopy for Pd(100) subjected to 800–1000°C in ∼10 −6 Torr O 2 . These observations are similar to those recently reported by Niehus and Comsa, and Bonzel et al. for Pt single crystals. The Si, a bulk impurity, and oxygen were characterized by Auger signals at 78 and 506 eV, respectively, while O bonded to Pd has its Auger signal at 511 eV. Polycrystalline PdO exhibited a 2 eV crystal-field splitting of the O 2p emission, in UPS studies below 600°C, due to the tetragonal structure. Above 600°C this splitting collapsed, due to thermal decomposition and a metastable O-trapped-in-Pd species was observed via UPS below 700°C. At 900°C a residual Si-stabilized oxide strikingly similar to that observed on Pd(100) was isolated. The UPS results for these Si-stabilized oxides and that formed by the room-temperature oxidation of Pd 4 Si are compared. It is speculated that both SiO 2 - and SiO-like speies form at high and room temperature, respectively, for the O 2 Pd(Si) system. The role of oxygen pretreatments in modifying the chemisorption and catalytic properties of Pd are briefly discussed with respect to the three oxide species observed in this study: (i) PdO, (ii) decomposed or “collapsed” PdO, and (iii) Si-stabilized oxides.
Perceived skill underutilization and distributive justice: The role of perceived supervisor support

Based on referent cognition theory (Folger 1986), the present study investigated the effects of perceived skill underutilization on distributive justice or equity, and the effect of perceived supervisor support on this relationship. Data were collected during the summer of 1989 among salaried blue‐collar employees of a unionized manufacturing plant in the southeastern United States. Multiple regression analyses were used to examine the relationships. The results supported the hypothesized negative relationship between perceived skill underutilization and distributive justice or equity. Thus, the greater the perceived skill underutilization, the less the distributive justice or equity. Although the interaction between skill underutilization and supervisor support was not significant, there was a main effect of supervisor support on distributive justice. The greater the supervisor support, the greater the distributive justice or equity. The implications of supervisor support for the distributive‐procedural ...
Is the search for alternative sources of human pluripotent stem cells a mistake

One response to the controversy in the United States over the moral status of the early embryo has been the proposal that scientists search for alternative sources of pluripotent stem cells. Is this a good idea? The present article argues that it is not. Following a brief look at the ethical standing of the four proposals assessed by the President’s Council on Bioethics in 2005, the author addresses the fundamental question of the wisdom of pursuing alternatives to current methods of stem cell derivation. The author concludes that, given the poor prospects for finding alternatives that are both scientifically and ethically sound, and the costs of diverting energy and resources from established embryonic methods, further investment in the search for alternative methods is unwise.