cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Time-Resolved Simultaneous Measurements of Flow Field and Surface Deformation of Turbulent Channel Flow Over a Compliant Wall

As an initial step in our effort to investigate the interaction of a turbulent channel flow with a compliant wall, this paper focuses on the measurement techniques. Two noninvasive optical techniques, namely tomographic PIV (TPIV) and Mach-Zehnder Interferometry (MZI), are integrated to simultaneously measure the time-resolved, wall-normal deformation of the compliant transparent wall and the 3D velocity field of a turbulent channel flow above it. The two systems utilize the same laser, but different cameras. The paper provides a description of the optical setup, detailed information about calibration of the MZI system, as well as sample combined 3D velocity distributions and wall deformations. The measured wall deformation can be decomposed into low frequency structure modes, and higher frequency features that appear to advect with the flow.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Microtexture and grain boundary evolution during microstructural refinement processes in SUPRAL 2004

Electron backscatter pattern (EBSP) analysis of as-processed, processed and annealed, and superplastically deformed specimens of commercially processed SUPRAL 2004 material has been employed to reveal the boundary misorientation distribution and evolution. Earlier studies using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy on this alloy have attributed the transition to microstructures capable of supporting extensive superplastic flow to continuous recrystallization occurring early in the deformation process. The micro- and mesotextural data of the present study show that the deformation texture evident in the as-processed material persists without the formation of recrystallization texture components and remains up to the apparent onset of the grain boundary sliding (GBS) regime. Comparison of the correlated and uncorrelated boundary misorientation data illustrates that the development of boundaries misoriented by ∼5 to 15 deg is not random in nature. There is no evidence of recrystallization involving the formation and migration of high-angle boundaries during the refinement process. Microtextural and boundary data from this study provide evidence that the microstructural transition enabling superplastic mechanical behavior of SUPRAL 2004 may be described by a recovery-dominated, continuous process involving the development of moderately misoriented boundaries and leading to a refined microstructure with a boundary distribution of low interfacial energy character.
Modification of probe for use as a crown remover.

Crown removers can have many shapes and be used for multiple functions.1-3 A simple procedure can be used to modify a number 54 probe (Henry Schein; Southall, Middlesex, United Kingdom) for use as a crown remover. Use 2 orthodontic contouring pliers (Johnson and Gordon pliers; Rocky Mountain Orthodontics, Denver, Colo.) to bend the probe (Fig. 1). Mount a separating disk (Neolay Products Inc, Posen, Ill.) on a straight handpiece (Henry Schein), and use it to finish the tip of the instrument to make the hook for the grip action. This type of crown remover may be helpful when temporary crowns are removed and may be less damaging to crown margins.
Mass transfer behavior of a modified austenitic stainless steel in lithium

An austenitic stainless steel that was developed to resist neutron damage was exposed to lithium in the high-temperature part of a thermal convection loop for 6700 h. Specimens of this Prime Candidate Alloy (PCA) composed of 65.0 Fe-15.9 Ni-14.0 Cr-1.9 Mo-1.9 Mn-0.4 Si-0.3 Ti-0.05 C (wt %) were exposed at 600 and 570°C in both solution annealed and cold worked forms. The dissolution process was found to be similar to other austenitic alloys in flowing lithium: weight losses of PCA eventually became linearly proportional to exposure time with the specimen surfaces exhibiting porous layers depleted in nickel and chromium. However, the measured weight losses and dissolution rates of these PCA specimens were higher than those of type 316 stainless steel exposed under similar conditions and can be attributed to the higher nickel concentration of the former alloy. The effect of cold work on dissolution rates was less definitive, particularly at 570°C. At longer exposure times, the annealed PCA specimen exposed at 600°C suffered greater dissolution than the cold worked material, while no effect of prior deformation was observed by analysis of the respective surfaces.
A Simple Proof of the Upper Bound Theorem

Let c i ( n, d ) be the number of i -dimensional faces of a cyclic d -polytope on n vertices. We present a simple new proof of the upper bound theorem for convex polytopes, which asserts that the number of i -dimensional faces of any d -polytope on n vertices is at most c i ( n, d ). Our proof applies for arbitrary shellable triangulations of ( d −1) spheres. Our method provides also a simple proof of the upper bound theorem for d -representable complexes.
Interspecific variation in the defence secretions of Nasutitermes soldiers

Abstract Termite soldiers of the genus Nasutitermes (Isoptera, Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae) eject a viscous, sticky defense secretion composed of non-polar monoterpene hydrocarbons and polyoxygenated diterpenes from the frontal gland. Chemical compositions are described in detail for the East African species, N. kempae and N. infuscatus , and for the Neotropical species N. ephratae . Additional comparisons with the new world species N. costalis, N. rippertii and N. octopilis are presented. The structure of a new monohydroxykempene from N. ephratae is described, and a physicochemical model for the stickiness of the glue is presented. Although the structures of the individual secretion components vary within the genus, the glue-like nature of the secretion remains essentially unchanged. Chemical analysis of soldier defense secretions may be useful in studying the systematic biology of termites.
The Design and Implementation of a Signal Source for EIT System Using DSP Builder

A signal source for EIT system is designed and realized in this paper .Firstly, a brief introduction and some theoretical analysis are made about the basic principles of Direct Digital Synthesizer, DDS. Then a DDS module based on DSP Builder is built, according to the performance requirement of the hardware circuit of EIT system. Simulations and verification of the built DDS module is carried out and results shows that the performance of the DDS signal source is in the accord with the actual requirement of EIT system. The DDS error is also analyzed to assure the correctness of the design. Finally, the method of realizing the signal source is given to accomplish DDS on the EP2C35F672C6, one of the cyclone series FPGA chips supplied by Altera Corporation.)
Local Refractive Index Measurement on a Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Using the Surface Plasmon Technique

Abstract The surface plasmon technique is used to measure the local refractive indices in the quasi-nematic layers of a cholesteric liquid crystal with an accuracy of about 10−4. The local linear birefringence reflecting the orientational order of molecules in the quasi-nematic layers shows a temperature dependence characteristic of a nematic and in good agreement with the theory of nematic ordering.
Mass graves gone missing: Producing knowledge in a world of absence

On May 1 st , 2014 members of the historical memory team from the Aranzadi Sciences Society arrived in Oropesa de Toledo. The objective: to locate two mass graves containing the remains of Republicans killed in the weeks after Franco’s troops entered the town in 1936. Despite evidence regarding the mass graves’ existence, they were never found. Drawing on empirical, ethnographic data collected in the town of Oropesa in the months following this “unsuccessful” exhumation, this paper narrates the curious story of two graves that have “gone missing.” It considers the intellectual labor exerted to produce historical knowledge in a context where municipal archives remain inaccessible and family histories are marked by silence and dis-information. The author suggests that the absence of information –the dearth of historical, narrative evidence– regarding the lives of the defeated makes the production of historical and forensic knowledge a complicated affair. It tracks how kin-based knowledge and scarce archival documents are gathered and animated in order to make exhumations possible. Considering the forms of knowledge that are needed in order to engage techno-scientific expertise in meaningful ways, the paper attends to the important role that kin-based knowledge and seemingly “unimportant” documents play in processes of historical enunciation.
Simulation of a squegging oscillator

This paper presents an analog-computer simulation of a circuit familiar to many radio and electronics engineers — the squegging oscillator. A relatively simple model of a nonlinear transistor is shown to be sufficient to investigate stability conditions associated with the oscillator and to accurately duplicate the phenomenon of squegging. The success of the transistor model in this application also suggests its use in other simulations involving transistors.
Mastitis control measures used on some Minnesota dairy farms

Abstract Proven mastitis control procedures are available, but few studies have documented their rates of use on commercial dairy farms. This paper presents the results of a mail questionnaire on the use of mastitis control procedures and sources of information on mastitis control, which were administered in December 1981 and again in February 1984 to 213 Minnesota dairy farmers. Sources of information about mastitis control were also determined for the surveyed farms. Response rates to the questionnaire were 56.8% in 1981 and 51.2% in 1984. Herd average milk and butterfat production were higher and somatic cell counts lower on responder's farms than non-responders'. Teat dipping was practiced by approximately 75% of farmers responding to the questionnaire in both years. However, only about one third of respondents used teat dips containing effective disinfectants. Approximately 93% of respondents used dry period therapy (DPT) but less than one half of them treated all quarters of all cows at drying off and approximately one third of them complied with the recommended infusion practices. A combination of effective DPT and teat disinfection practices was used by approximately 15% of respondents in both years of the survey. Segregation of mastitic cows occurred on approximately 40% of respondent farms and milking machine function was checked at least annually on 50%. Participation in routine veterinary reproductive health programs was 51.2% in 1981 and 61.5% in 1984. In contrast, regular veterinary input for mastitis control was received by
Tropical land use change and soil emissions of nitrogen oxides

. Increases in the emissions of globally important nitrogen (N) oxide gases have coincided with significant changes in land use in the tropics. Clearing of tropical forests and savannas for agriculture currently represents the most extensive alteration of land cover on the planet. Over the last several decades, N fertilizer use has increased globally, and in China and the developing world, use has recently surpassed that in the developed world. The potential contribution of land-use change in the tropics to the increase in N oxides is great, yet only a few studies have measured N oxide emissions after tropical land conversion. Our summary of available research shows some conversions to pastures and a few management practices, especially those using N fertilizers, increase emissions beyond those found in undisturbed ecosystems. However, not all studies show unequivocal increases in emissions. Accordingly, we call for a mechanistic understanding of the processes controlling trace gas fluxes to adequately predict under what conditions increased emissions may occur. More measurements are needed to build and test models that may improve management of N fertilizer use in tropical agricultural systems. Given the expected expansion of agriculture and increased use of N fertilizers in the tropics, increased emissions of N oxides from the tropics are likely.
SU-C-500-06: Development of a Hybrid Stochastic-Deterministic Method for Dose Calculation in Radiotherapy

Purpose: To develop a hybrid stochastic‐deterministic method, COMET‐PE, for dose calculation in external beam photon radiotherapy. Methods: To calculate dose, COMET‐PE solves the coupled Boltzmann Transport Equations for photons and electrons. The method uses a deterministic iteration to compose response functions that are pre‐computed using Monte Carlo. Thus, COMET‐PE takes advantage of Monte Carlo physics without incurring the computational costs typically required for statistical convergence. Dose distributions are calculated for a heterogeneous benchmark problem using both COMET‐PE and DOSXYZnrc (Monte Carlo) methods. The benchmark consists of a CT‐based lung phantom, composed of air, lung, soft tissue, and bone, irradiated by a 2 cm × 2 cm photon field. The 6 MV source spectrum comes from Monte Carlo simulation of a Varian Clinac 2100. The COMET‐PE solution is computed at resolution of 1 mm (27,648,000 voxels) before being reduced to a resolution of 5 mm (221,184 voxels) for compatibility with the DOSXYZnrc reference solution. Results: The agreement between dose distributions calculated with COMET‐PE and Monte Carlo is excellent. Of voxels receiving greater than 10% of the maximum dose, 98.73% pass the 2% (point‐wise relative difference) or 2 mm (distance‐to‐agreement) criterion and 99.38% pass the 3% / 3 mm criterion. Localized discrepancies are observed at the beam corners; these are caused by the difficulty of using a continuous representation for the discontinuous primary fluence. Most of the failures, however, occur where the beam exits the phantom and where Monte Carlo uncertainties are the highest. The COMET‐PE calculation is over 10 times faster than the Monte Carlo reference solution. Conclusion: The COMET‐PE method calculates dose with accuracy comparable to Monte Carlo while using only a fraction of the time and providing a solution with orders of magnitude more detail.
On demand platform for online games

A shared infrastructure, based on emerging on demand computing models, that supports multiple games offers an attractive option for large-scale multiplayer online game providers who want to avoid the risk of investing in dedicated resources. In this paper, we describe a prototype implementation of a service platform for online games. The platform design follows the on demand computing paradigm. It offers integration using open standards and off-the-shelf software and embraces virtualization and simplification to enable sharing resources across games. We describe our experience with identifying appropriate performance metrics for provisioning game servers and with implementing reusable platform components that provide useful functionality for a variety of games.
Sleep apnea in patients with chronic kidney disease: a single center experience

AbstractPurpose: The primary objective of this cross-sectional study was to test factors associated with sleep apnea in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The prevalence of sleep apnea was also assessed. Methods: We recruited patients with CKD Stage 3–5 who lived in the St. John’s area from September 2012 to December 2012. The Berlin Questionnaire and Short Form 36 Quality of Life Health Survey Questions (SF-36) were administered to all participants. Results: We recruited 303 patients (41% female). A total of 157 (51.8%) patients had a high risk for sleep apnea. Higher body mass index and young age were correlated with sleep apnea. Physical component score of SF-36 (PCS) tested as a continuous variable indicated a significant association with the risk for sleep apnea (OR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.94–0.99, p = 0.03). The association implies 3% change per one point increase in PCS. We categorized mental component score of SF-36 (MCS) into four quartiles, as the linearity assumption was violated. There was a...
High-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection and ultra-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of indoleamine neurotransmitters and their metabolites in sea lamprey plasma

We present a comparison of two sensitive methods, HPLC with fluorescence detector (HPLC/FLD) and UPLC with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS/MS), for the determination of indoleamine neurotransmitters (NTs) and their metabolites in sea lamprey plasma samples. Liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) and solid-phase extraction (SPE) were also tested for recovery and matrix effect. The recoveries of SPE determined by HPLC/FLD and UPLC/MS/MS ranged from 75 to 123% and 78 to 105%, respectively, while the recoveries of LLE ranged from 45 to 73% and 48 to 75%, respectively. SPE combined with HPLC/FLD and UPLC/MS/MS to determine the target analytes in plasma samples were validated of the sensitivity, reproducibility, accuracy and precision. Both methods exhibited excellent linearity in the range of 0.2-50 ng mL(-1) for all analytes. The limits of detection (LOD) varied from 0.04 ng mL(-1) to 0.13 ng mL(-1) for HPLC/FLD method and 0.003 ng mL(-1) to 0.02 ng mL(-1) for UPLC/MS/MS method. The inter-day accuracy ranged from 82.5 to 127.0% for HPLC/FLD and 93.0 to 113.0% for UPLC/MS/MS. The inter-day precision ranged from 9.9 to 32.3% for HPLC/FLD and 5.4 to 13.2% for UPLC/MS/MS. These results demonstrated that the values obtained by both methods were within the satisfactory range and the UPLC/MS/MS method provided more accurate and precise measurements than HPLC/FLD method. The comparison is of great importance to determine the available detectors, considering the complexity and expensiveness versus quality parameters. These two methods were applied to the analysis of four important indoleamine neurotransmitter analytes (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid, tryptamine and melatonin) in sea lamprey plasma samples.
A Contribution to the stability of stiffened plates under uniform compression

Abstract The first part of the paper presents an extensive literature review of the research done on stability of stiffened plates under uniform compression. The methods developed to predict the overall buckling load are first presented. The common methods and idealization to predict the local buckling load of stiffened plates are also discussed. The philosophies of the various techniques developed to compute the ultimate strength of the structure are then described. Finally, the optimization approaches developed for minimum weight design of the structure are presented. In the second part of the paper, theoretical formulations for the stability analysis of stiffened plates under uniform compression are presented. As a first stage, the governing differential equations for eccentric stiffening are derived. The transition to the orthotropic plate equation is shown through a simplifying assumption. It will be shown that for eccentric stiffening, three coupled differential equations need to be solved, while for concentric stiffening only Huber differential equation need to be considered. Then, an alternative energy-based approach is described for stability analysis of multi-stiffened plates under uniform compression. The structure is idealized as assembled plate and beam elements and rigidity connected at their junctions. The strain energy components for the plate and the stiffener elements are then derived in terms of the out-of- and in-plane displacement functions and sequential quadratic programming is then used to find the buckling load of the structure for given plate/stiffener geometric proportions. Efficiency of the method is compared with the finite element method. Finally, extensive results are presented to investigate the buckling behavior of multi-stiffened plates. The transition from the various buckling modes is shown by changing the plate/stiffener geometric parameters for various concentric and eccentric stiffening configurations. Influence of stiffener spacing, in-plane boundary condition on the buckling load is also highlighted. Using these results guidelines are proposed for efficient design of stiffened plates.
Emotional expression and psychological symptoms: A comparison of writing and drawing

Abstract The psychological effects of writing versus drawing about a stressful experience were compared. Participants were randomly assigned either into a control group (n = 34), a journaling group (n = 29), or a drawing group (n = 29). A measure of psychological symptoms was completed before and after two 15-min sessions. The results indicated that participants in the journaling group had a significantly greater decrease in their psychological symptoms than those in the drawing group or the control group. Journaling was also found to have a more positive effect for participants who initially had higher levels of psychological distress.
Predictors of psychological distress among Southeast Asian refugees.

Abstract This paper analyzed data from one of the first needs assessment projects on a representative non-clinical population of Southeast Asian refugees in the United States in order to test two hypotheses: (1) whether or not premigration experiences still have an effect on psychological distress beyond the initial resettlement period and (2) whether or not interethnic group differences existed in the predictors of psychological distress between three Southeast Asian refugee groups, the Vietnamese, Cambodians and Lao. The results of the analysis of 2180 subjects supported both hypotheses. Regardless of ethnicity and the number of years in the U.S., premigration trauma events and refugee camp experiences were significant predictors of psychological distress even 5 years or more after migration and significant group differnces in the types of postmigration distress predictors were also found. Acculturation concerns for the Vietnamese and Lao were influenced by both premigration and postmigration variables. In contrast, the primary concerns of the Cambodians were still related to premigration issues. The results also indicated that Vietnamese and Lao women were more likely to experience distress than their male counterparts, but no gender differences emerged for the Cambodians. Age predicted distress for Vietnamese and Cambodians, but not Lao. Similar to previous findings in the literature, Cambodians reported the highest levels of distress, followed by Lao and then Vietnamese. Interpretations of these results for this community sample are proposed.
Tailoring the dynamic characteristics of composite panels using fiber orientation

Abstract One of the advantages of composite structures is the ability to tailor their characteristics by using different lamination schemes. The present paper studies the effects of various lamination schemes on the linear and nonlinear natural frequencies of symmetrically laminated composite panels. The nonlinear equations account for geometric nonlinearities and allow finite displacements and rotations. Numerical studies of a graphite/epoxy panel show that the dominant nonlinearities are cubic and that both the linear and nonlinear natural frequencies of the panel can be altered significantly by changing the orientation of the fiber in the various plies. However, the nonlinear behavior of the panel remains of the hardening type. It is also shown that the strongest nonlinearities are associated with the lowest linear natural frequency whereas the weakest nonlinearities are associated with the largest linear natural frequency.
Critical review of some multivariate procedures in the analysis of geochemical data

Simulation experiments have been conducted to examine the potential usefulness of R-mode and Q-mode factor methods in the analysis and interpretation of geochemical data. The R-mode factor analysis experiment consisted of constructing a factor model, using the model to generate a correlation matrix, and attempting to recover the model by R-mode techniques. The techniques were successful in determining the number of factors in the model, but the factor loadings could not be estimated even approximately on the basis of mathematical procedures alone. Q-mode factor methods were successful in recovering all of the properties of a model used to generate hypothetical chemicaldata on olivinesamples, but it was necessary to use a correction previously regarded as unimportant.
Response availability, sex, academic ability, and academic achievement within a college population

Individual differences in response availability and their relationship to measures of intellectual abilities and achievement were studied in 81 college males and 85 college females. For males, response availability appears related to a slight degree to certain verbal skills; for females, there were no significant ability or achievement correlates of response availability.
Formed refractories based on the bauxites of the Severo-Onega deposits

Ladle bricks with good technical properties and high metal and slag resistance were produced from Severo-Onega bauxite containing less than 4% iron oxides. The erosion of these bricks during service in steelcasting ladles is about one-half of that of chamotte bricks.
Presence of nociceptin (orphanin FQ) receptors in rat retina: comparison with receptors in striatum.

Abstract Nociceptin (orphanin FQ), a heptadecapeptide with some sequence homology to dynorphin A, has been proposed as an endogenous ligand for a previously cloned orphan receptor with significant homology to opioid receptors. Utilizing [ 125 I ][Tyr14]nociceptin as ligand, saturable and high affinity nociceptin binding sites were detected and characterized in rat retina and striatum. For retina, Bmax=44.0±4.5 fmol/mg and Kd=32.4±2.7 pM; for striatum, Bmax=51.6±7.7 fmol/mg and Kd=98.6±11.3 pM. In competition studies, nociceptin bound with picomolar affinity, dynorphin A with nanomolar affinity, naloxone and dynorphan A-(1–8) with micromolar affinity, while [des-Tyr1]dynorphin (dynorphin A-(2–17)), several other opioids, morphine and benzomorphans failed to compete for binding at 1–10 μM. Gpp(NH)p plus NaCl markedly decreased binding, consistent with involvement of a G protein-linked receptor. It is concluded that rat retina contains nociceptin receptors similar in concentration to those present in striatum. Properties of both the retinal and the striatal receptors are similar to those previously found for rat hypothalamus.
The challenge of program evaluation: when increasing program participation decreases the relative well-being of participants.

Two goals of food assistance programs are to improve well-being and to increase participation among those in need. Progress in meeting the first goal can be measured by the difference in well-being between participants and eligible non-participants. This gap in well-being though can be affected by progress made toward the second goal of increasing participation rates. In particular, if those with the lowest levels of well-being disproportionately enter the program, the gap can increase. To examine whether this tension between goals exists empirically, we consider the case of the Food Stamp Program and its effect on food insecurity in the United States, using data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP). In particular, we use variation in State policies (the change in administrative error rates and the combined value of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and food stamp benefits) to analyze whether increasing participation rates leads to increases in the difference in food insecurity rates. Controlling for other factors, we find evidence of the tension between these two program goals insofar as States with policies which encourage participation have higher differences in the food insecurity rates of participants and non-participants.
A comparison between the variational iteration method and Adomian decomposition method

In this paper, we present a comparative study between the variational iteration method and Adomian decomposition method. The study outlines the significant features of the two methods. The analysis will be illustrated by investigating the homogeneous and the nonhomogeneous advection problems.
Universal emission intermittency in quantum dots, nanorods and nanowires

Virtually all known fluorophores exhibit mysterious episodes of emission intermittency. A remarkable feature of the phenomenon is a power-law distribution of on- and off-times observed in colloidal semiconductor quantum dots, nanorods, nanowires and some organic dyes. For nanoparticles, the resulting power law extends over an extraordinarily wide dynamic range: nine orders of magnitude in probability density and five to six orders of magnitude in time. Exponents hover about the ubiquitous value of -3/2. Dark states routinely last for tens of seconds—practically forever on quantum mechanical timescales. Despite such infinite states of darkness, the dots miraculously recover and start emitting again. Although the underlying mechanism responsible for this phenomenon remains a mystery and many questions persist, we argue that substantial theoretical progress has been made.
Influence of coarse woody debris on herpetofaunal communities in upland pine stands of the southeastern Coastal Plain

Abstract Coarse woody debris (CWD) is thought to benefit herpetofauna in a variety of ways including serving as feeding sites, providing a moist environment, and providing protection from temperature extremes. We investigated the importance of CWD to amphibian and reptile communities in managed upland pine stands in the southeastern United States Coastal Plain during years 6 and 7 of a long-term study. Using a randomized complete block design, 1 of the following treatments was assigned to 9.3-ha plots: removal (n = 3; all downed CWD ≥10 cm in diameter and ≥60 cm long removed), downed addition (n = 3; five-fold increase in volume of down CWD), snag (n = 3; 10-fold increase in volume of standing dead CWD), and control (n = 3; unmanipulated). Herpetofauna were captured seasonally using drift-fence pitfall trapping arrays within treatment plots. We compared abundance, diversity, and richness of anurans, salamanders, lizards, and snakes using analysis of covariance with topographic variables (slope, elevation, aspect, and distance to nearest stream) included as covariates. We captured 355 amphibians and 668 reptiles seasonally from January 2007 to August 2008. Abundance, species richness, and species diversity were similar among treatments for anurans, salamanders, and lizards. Snake abundance, species richness, and diversity were higher in removal than downed addition plots. Anuran abundance increased as distance to nearest stream decreased. The majority of species captured during this study are adept at burrowing into the sandy soils of the region. Lack of reliance on CWD may be the result of herpetofaunal adaptation to the longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) ecosystem that historically dominated the upland areas of the study area.
Travel-time simulation to locate and staff temporary facilities under changing construction demand

Temporary facilities on construction sites are needed to support the labor force during the course of their work. Rules of thumb have traditionally been used to decide on the location and capacity of those facilities, but the demand for support is project-dependent and changes as the construction progresses at a rate specific to each trade discipline. This paper presents a more systematic method for facility location and capacity sizing based on travel-time simulation. Actual site circumstances, including the location of a temporary facility relative to the location of the workers, as well as workers' needs, travel times and service times are taken into account. The objective is to identify the best on-site location for temporary facilities on a project-by-project basis. When real-time data becomes available as the construction progresses, it can be incorporated in the model to generate even more realistic output. Tool-room location is used as an illustration. The presented simulation model yields data to assess how much traveling and waiting time is tolerable compared to the cost of increasing the capacity of the support facility or providing services at additional locations.
Combination Suicide and Cytokine Gene Therapy for Hepatic Metastases of Colon Carcinoma: Sustained Antitumor Immunity Prolongs Animal Survival

The effectiveness of combination therapy using a suicide gene and cytokine genes for the treatment of metastatic colon carcinoma in the mouse liver was investigated. Pre-established hepatic tumors treated with a recombinant adenoviral vector containing the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene(tk) exhibited substantial regression, although all treated animals suffered from subsequent relapses. Although cotreatment with a mouse interleukin 2 (mIL-2)-containing adenoviral vector induced an effective antitumor immune response, the immunity waned with time, and the treated animals eventually succumbed to hepatic tumor relapse or distant metastases. In this study, mouse granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (mGM-CSF) gene was tested for its ability to further enhance and prolong the antitumoral cellular immunity. A fraction of the animals treated with tk + mIL-2 + mGM-CSF developed long-term antitumor immunity and survived for more than 4 months without recurrence. This long-term antitumor immunity could be enhanced further by subsequent "vaccination" with mIL-2-expressing parental tumor cells. The results indicate that local expression of GM-CSF in the hepatic tumors and prolonged mIL-2 expression are necessary to generate persistent antitumor immunity that is essential for the prevention of tumor recurrence and long-term animal survival.
Understanding Cardiac Calcium Channelopathies

Timothy syndrome is a rare genetic disorder characterized by QT prolongation (designated LQT8), arrhythmias and sudden death, structural heart disease, cognitive defects with autism, syndactyly (webbed fingers and toes), hypoglycemia, and immune deficiencies.1,2 A single mutation (G406R) in exon 8a of the cardiac L-type calcium channel ( CACNA1C , Cav1.2, α1c) was shown to cause Timothy syndrome in multiple unrelated subjects, whereas mutations (G406R, G402S) in the alternatively spliced exon 8 (which is expressed at ≈3-fold–higher levels than exon 8a) cause a similar syndrome lacking syndactyly.3,4 These 3 mutations decrease voltage-dependent inactivation of Cav1.2, which is predicted to slow the inactivation of ICa,L during each action potential, prolong action potential and QT interval duration, increase the amplitude and duration of Ca2+ transients, and predispose to afterdepolarizations and arrhythmias.3–5 Article p 2225 Calcium/calmodulin–dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is a part of a family of serine/threonine kinases regulated by calcium bound to calmodulin and is encoded by 4 genes (α, β, γ, δ).6,7 Six to 12 subunits homo- or heteromultimerize to form the active enzyme. Each subunit contains an N-terminal catalytic domain that binds ATP and substrate, a regulatory domain that includes an autoinhibitory domain, and a Ca/Calmodulin–binding domain, a C-terminal multimerization domain, and in some cases a nuclear localization signal.8 CaMKII functions as a local calcium sensor in the heart. In the absence of elevated intracellular Ca2+, the autoinhibitory domain prevents substrate binding to the enzyme. During each heartbeat, intracellular Ca2+ rises because of transmembrane influx through L-type Ca2+ channels or …
Momentum-space reservoir for enhancement of intersubband second-harmonic generation

We analyze fundamental limits to the second-harmonic conversion efficiency attainable from semiconductor intersubband devices employing asymmetric stepped and double quantum wells. The coupled propagation equations have been solved numerically, accounting for saturation, absorption, and optical heating. It is found that the key figure of merit is the conversion efficiency at the onset of saturation, which has a remarkably simple form depending only on the ratio of broadening time to intersubband relaxation time and on another ratio involving the optical matrix elements. We show that since there are fundamental limits to the values of these ratios, it is unlikely that conversion efficiencies exceeding /spl ap/10% can be attained in devices of the type considered in the previous literature, and for surface incidence even efficiencies approaching that value will require impractically-thick active regions. While detuning from the double resonance condition is often advantageous, net improvements to the optimum performance are relatively modest. However, these limitations ran be transcended by placing the subband system in contact with an optically-inactive momentum-space reservoir, which shunts the intersubband relaxation and delays saturation by refilling the depleted subband states with electrons from the reservoir. We propose a specific device based on /spl Gamma/-valley active states and L-valley reservoir states in InAs-GaSb-AlSb asymmetric double quantum wells, whose energy levels and optical matrix elements are modeled using an 8-band finite-element calculation. It is predicted that a conversion efficiency of 20% can be achieved in an active-layer thickness of less than 10 /spl mu/m. >
Neutron Crystal Structure of RAS GTPase Puts in Question the Protonation State of the GTP γ-Phosphate

RAS GTPase is a prototype for nucleotide-binding proteins that function by cycling between GTP and GDP, with hydrogen atoms playing an important role in the GTP hydrolysis mechanism. It is one of the most well studied proteins in the superfamily of small GTPases, which has representatives in a wide range of cellular functions. These proteins share a GTP-binding pocket with highly conserved motifs that promote hydrolysis to GDP. The neutron crystal structure of RAS presented here strongly supports a protonated γ-phosphate at physiological pH. This counters the notion that the phosphate groups of GTP are fully deprotonated at the start of the hydrolysis reaction, which has colored the interpretation of experimental and computational data in studies of the hydrolysis mechanism. The neutron crystal structure presented here puts in question our understanding of the pre-catalytic state associated with the hydrolysis reaction central to the function of RAS and other GTPases.
Generalized Shooting Method for Analyzing Compliant Mechanisms

We consider here a class of compliant mechanisms that consist of one or more flexible beams, the manipulation of which relies on the deflection of the flexible beams. As compared with traditional rigid-body mechanisms, compliant mechanisms have the advantages of no relative moving parts and thus involve no wear, backlash, noises and lubrication. In this paper, we present a formulation based on shooting method (SM) along with two numerical solvers to facilitate the analysis and the design process of a compliant mechanism. Unlike finite difference method (FDM) or finite element method (FEM) that offers accurate solutions at discrete nodes, the computed solution of SM, which treats the boundary value problem (BVP) as an initial value problem, is continuous. Three example compliant mechanisms are formulated to illustrate the generalized shooting method and the computed results are validated by comparing those obtained using FEM.
IBMAS: an Internet Based Medical Archive System

Presents IBMAS (Internet-Based Medical Archive System). IBMAS is a prototype system of a proposed research paradigm aiming at building up a distributed archival system over the Internet to facilitate medical practitioners to maintain, share, update, search and process medical information conveniently and consistently. IBMAS differs from existing systems in the sense that it not only offers a full spectrum of online communications, processing and annotation tools, but also provides powerful multi-modal search functionalities to the users. In addition, the database is always kept in a "live" mode such that information contributed by users is periodically indexed. A preliminary version of IBMAS containing over 2,000 medical images in different modalities along with associated annotation text for each of the images has been fully implemented and is under evaluation.
Validation of a multiplex methylation-sensitive PCR assay for the diagnosis of Prader-Willi and Angelman's syndromes.

Background: Prader-Willi (PWS) and Angelman’s (AS) syndromes are two distinct clinical entities caused by alterations in an identical but differentially methylated region of DNA on chromosome 15q. Highly complex laboratory tests are required for diagnosis because the disorders are caused by several genetic mechanisms. Methylation-specific PCR (MSPCR) is a relatively simple alternative method to detect the methylation status of the PWS/AS region.
COPD 2013: An update on treatment and newly approved medications for pharmacists

Objectives To educate pharmacists about the Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (GOLD) guidelines for treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), newly approved medications, and recent developments since the guidelines were published. Summary The evidence-based GOLD guidelines provide recommendations for clinicians managing patients with COPD. These guidelines were revised most recently in 2013. Three new medications (indacaterol maleate, aclidinium bromide, and fluticasone furoate/vilanterol) have been approved in the previous 2 years. Adding to the armamentarium of medications for treating COPD is useful. Studies also have been conducted to determine which inhaled agents are preferred for use when long-acting bronchodilators are needed as mono- and combination therapy. In addition, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors and macrolides are being studied for use in COPD. An extensive COPD pipeline consists of many oral and inhaled medications, including olodaterol and glycopyrronium maleate, which are in Phase III clinical trials. Medication adherence is a very important piece of COPD management. Pharmacists play an integral role in drug selection and patient education to ensure the best possible outcomes. Conclusion The GOLD guidelines represent the standard of care for COPD management. New drug approvals and recent research may affect practitioner choices in managing the disease. Pharmacists can improve medication adherence and selection in order to maximize therapeutic effectiveness and ensure that patients are using inhalation delivery devices optimally.
Factors Affecting Successful In Vitro Fertilization of Bovine Follicular Oocytes

These experiments were designed to define and optimize the efficiency of a system whereby bovine oocytes could be fertilized in vitro. The frequency of ova penetrated and the stage of fertilization were the end points examined. All experiments utilized cumulus-oocyte complexes from 1- to 5-mm follicles which were matured in vitro prior to fertilization. The experiments were designed to examine the effects of the following factors on fertilization: 1) pretreatment of sperm with ionomycin (a Ca++ ionophore), 2) preincubation of sperm at a high concentration and the presence of hypotaurine and epinephrine during fertilization, 3) the use of either follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) or cAMP for the induction of cumulus expansion prior to fertilization, and 4) the need for the presence of cumulus cells during fertilization. Sperm exposure to ionomycin or preincubation at high sperm concentrations was not necessary for fertilization. The presence of hypotaurine and epinephrine during fertilization improved (P less than 0.05) the quality of fertilization (i.e., higher frequencies of oocytes with both female and male pronuclei were observed). However, they did not increase the percentage of ova penetrated (P greater than 0.05). Fertilization frequencies were not different (P greater than 0.05) between oocytes with cumulus expansion induced by FSH or cAMP. However, the use of either treatment resulted in higher fertilization rates when compared to untreated controls (P less than 0.05). Finally, while the presence of cumulus cells was not necessary for penetration of ova, increased frequencies of ova with both male and female pronuclei were found when cumuli were present (P less than 0.05).
Rizatriptan, a novel 5-HT1B/1D agonist for migraine: single- and multiple-dose tolerability and pharmacokinetics in healthy subjects.

Rizatriptan is a novel 5-HT1D/1B agonist for relief of migraine headache. The pharmacokinetics, metabolite profiles, and tolerability of rizatriptan were examined in a multiple-dose study in healthy subjects. Rizatriptan (N = 24) (or placebo, N = 12) was administered as a single 10 mg dose, followed 48 hours later by administration of one 10 mg dose every 2 hours for three doses on 4 consecutive days, corresponding to the maximum daily dose for a migraine attack. The AUC of rizatriptan and its active N-monodesmethyl metabolite after three 10 mg doses was approximately threefold greater than the plasma concentrations following a single 10 mg dose. Metabolite profiles were similar after single and multiple doses. Adverse events during rizatriptan were mild and transient; similar events occurred during placebo, with a somewhat reduced incidence. Diastolic blood pressure tended to increase compared with placebo (approximately 5 mmHg), particularly on the first multiple-dose day (p < .01 vs. placebo). In conclusion, rizatriptan is well tolerated by healthy subjects during multiple-dose administration, with no unexpected accumulation of drug in plasma.
Cell behavior in traveling wave patterns of myxobacteria

Cells in the early stages of starvation-induced fruiting body development migrate in a highly organized periodic pattern of equispaced accumulations that move as traveling waves. Two sets of waves are observed moving in opposite directions with the same wavelength and speed. To learn how the behavior of individual cells contributes to the wave pattern, fluorescent cells were tracked within a rippling population. These cells exhibit at least three types of organized behavior. First, most cell movement occurs along the same axis as the rippling movement. Second, there is a high degree of cell alignment parallel to the direction of rippling, as indicated by the biased movement. Third, by controlling the reversal frequency, cell movement becomes periodic in a rippling field. The periodicity of individual cells matches the period of macroscopic rippling. This last behavior is unique to a rippling population and, on the basis of Myxococcus xanthus genetic data, we conclude that this periodicity is linked to the C signal, a nondiffusible cell contact-mediated signaling molecule. When two cells moving in opposite directions meet end to end, they transmit the C signal to each other and in response reverse their gliding direction. This model of traveling waves represents a new mode of biological pattern formation that depends on cell-contact interactions rather than reaction diffusion.