cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Waterborne Polyurethanes in Sustainability Development

The strive for more efficient materials, larger production, and diminish of cost along with the increasing environmental and health concerns led the scientific community and industry to shift gears to craft a more sustainable approach for the future. This chapter discusses the importance of waterborne polyurethanes as sustainable polymers that present high mechanical and thermal properties as well as resistance against external agents making them very suitable for applications in biomedical, corrosion and weather protective coatings, adhesives, sensors, electrical, electronics, etc. The use of bio-renewable sources has proven to be a smart way to address the main challenges of the status quo since most of these biomaterials replenish in a short time and can fit in most synthetic routes to acquire the targeted property. Materials such as soybean, corn, canola, castor, jatropha, and linseed oil can be easily converted into polyols to react with diisocyanates using green approaches that use water as the main solvent. The final products are a large number of bio-renewable waterborne polyurethanes with competitive properties and low cost that represent the future of the market.
Herdefiniëring van de relatie met de overledene en focus op huidige relaties

In de rouwgerichte modules moedigt de therapeut het kind voortdurend aan om in gedachten met de overledene te ‘praten’ en zich voor te stellen wat de overledene tegen het kind zou zeggen of zou hebben willen zeggen als die daartoe nog de kans had gehad. Veel kinderen blijven nog lang na het trauma/overlijden op deze manier in gedachten in contact staan met de overledene. Hoewel dit gedrag normaal is, is toch te hopen dat het kind langzaam maar zeker gaat accepteren dat de relatie met de overledene niet een interactie is die in het heden plaatsvindt, maar een relatie van het geheugen is (Wolfelt 1991). Sommige kinderen voelen zich misschien schuldig, alsof ze verraad plegen, als ze zich geleidelijk aanpassen aan een heden en een toekomst zonder de overledene. Maar dit is wel noodzakelijk om weer in huidige relaties te kunnen investeren.
Error Analysis and Equations for the Thermal Conductivity of Composites

The overall effective thermal conductivity (K) of a composite is a function of the thermal conductivities (K1) and volume fractions (ϕi) of each of the constituents. Probable errors (ΔK. and Δϕi) for each of the constituents lead to a probable error (ΔK) in the overall thermal conductivity. For realistic problems, the exact function K(Ki, ϕi) is not known since it depends on the way the constituents are distributed. For this reason equations which describe the bounds on the thermal conductivity, for given Ki and ϕi, are very useful. Using standard calculational techniques, we plot K, K + ΔK, and K − ΔK versus volume fraction of one constituent for several cases of two-phase systems. These include the series and parallel cases as “absolute bounds” and the Maxwell equations which are the bounds for systems which are isotropic and homogeneous. We find, for common values of K1/K2, that the bounding equations overlap when errors are considered. This implies three things: (1) A measurement of thermal conductivity of a composite, when errors are taken into account, may not allow discrimination between cases. (2) For many cases of experimental interest a rough calculation is quite sufficient. (3) The bounds on the thermal conductivity are really not unconditional when errors are taken into account. We also consider two-phase composites where cylinders are embedded in a matrix. Complications in the calculation of the thermal conductivity include the effect of radiation, the effect of moisture and convection, and thermal resistance in the interface between phases.
Specificity through flexibility

The structure of AbrB, a transition state regulator in Bacillus subtilis, reveals a novel mode of DNA recognition and suggests that the protein is able to structurally conform to target DNA, both in terms of its multimeric state and in the positioning of its unique DNA binding domain.
Estimating Urban Trip Production And Attraction

Three methods of estimating zonal values of auto-trip production and attraction for the urban area of Raleigh, N. C. (population 124,000) were tested and evaluated. The methods utilized land-use and socioeconomic data as well as four sets of auto-trip data obtained by interviewing 4,387, 548, 274, and 137 dwelling units (DU). The estimates obtained by each method, using each set of trip data, were judged for accuracy by comparing them with the data from 4,387 DU. It was concluded that small home-interview samples can be used to estimate trips with sufficient accuracy for minor studies.
Asymptotic parachute performance sensitivity

In 2010, the Mars Science Laboratory mission will pioneer the next generation of robotic Entry, Descent, and Landing systems by delivering the largest and most capable rover to date to the surface of Mars. In addition to landing more mass than any other mission to Mars, Mars Science Laboratory will also provide scientists with unprecedented access to regions of Mars that have been previously unreachable. By providing an Entry, Descent, and Landing system capable of landing at altitudes as high as 2 km above the reference gravitational equipotential surface, or areoid, as defined by the Mars Orbiting Laser Altimeter program, Mars Science Laboratory will demonstrate sufficient performance to land on 83% of the planet's surface. By contrast, the highest altitude landing to date on Mars has been the Mars Exploration Rover at 1.3 km below the areoid. The coupling of this improved altitude performance with latitude limits as large as 60 degrees off of the equator and a precise delivery to within 10 km of a surface target, will allow the science community to select the Mars Science Laboratory landing site from thousands of scientifically interesting possibilities. In meeting these requirements, Mars Science Laboratory is extending the limits of the Entry, Descent, and Landing technologies qualified by the Mars Viking, Mars Pathfinder, and Mars Exploration Rover missions. Specifically, the drag deceleration provided by a Viking-heritage 16.15 m supersonic Disk-Gap-Band parachute in the thin atmosphere of Mars is insufficient, at the altitudes and ballistic coefficients under consideration by the Mars Science Laboratory project, to maintain necessary altitude performance and timeline margin. This paper defines and discusses the asymptotic parachute performance observed in Monte Carlo simulation and performance analysis and its effect on the Mars Science Laboratory entry, descent, and landing architecture.
5,6-Dichloro-1-β-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole inhibits transcription elongation by RNA polymerase II in vitro

The purine nucleoside analog 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole (DRB) is a selective inhibitor of transcription by RNA polymerase II. Although a wealth of in vivo studies have suggested that DRB inhibits transcription by enhancing the premature termination of elongating polymerase molecules, in vitro studies to date have been interpreted to suggest that DRB acts at the level of transcription initiation. We have analyzed the mechanism of DRB-mediated transcription inhibition in vitro both in HeLa whole cell extracts and in a partially purified transcription system. The results indicate that the extent to which DRB inhibits the synthesis of a RNA transcript is directly proportional to its length. For example, DRB was found to preferentially inhibit transcription in vitro of promoter-distal relative to promoter-proximal portions of the adenovirus major late transcription unit. A factor potentially involved in mediating this inhibitory effect is identified. We conclude that the mechanism of DRB inhibition of transcription in vivo and in vitro are similar.
Automated Support for the Development of Formal Object-Oriented Requirements Specifications

The creation of a requirements specification document for systems development has always been a difficult problem and continues to be a problem in the object-oriented software development paradigm. The problem persists because there is a paucity of formal, object-oriented specification models that are seamlessly integrated into the development cycle and that are supported by automated tools. Here, we present a formal object-oriented specification model (OSS), which is a seamless extension of an object-oriented analysis model (OSA), and which is supported by a tool (IPOST) that automatically generates a prototype from an OSA model instance, lets the user execute the prototype, and permits the user to refine the OSA model instance to generate a requirements specification. This approach leverages the benefits of a formal model, an object-oriented model, a seamless model, a graphical diagrammatic model, incremental development, and CASE tool support.
Coxsackie virus myopericarditis. A microbiological and clinical review.

Abstract Coxsackie viruses belong to a large group of viruses called picornaviruses. This group of viruses contains a ribonucleic acid (RNA) core; the nucleocapsid has cubic symmetry; the virion has no envelope; and infectivity is resistant to lipid solvents such as ether and chloroform. Coxsackie viruses are divided into two groups based on their pathogenicity in suckling mice; group A contains 24 types and group B 6 types. Numerous reports of Coxsackie virus B outbreaks involving adults have established the considerable importance of these viruses as a cause of acute pericarditis and myocarditis. The diagnosis is based on viral isolation and serologic techniques. Coxsackie virus heart disease usually is observed during epidemics Involving several diseases including Bornholm disease or cardlorespiratory tract syndromes. The treatment of acute myopericarditis is mainly supportive.
Complexity reduction in multiplexing nonlinear diffraction tomography

It has been well known that nonlinear diffraction tomography (inverse scattering imaging) needs a long CPU run time and large memory requirements. Recently, multiplexing schemes have been introduced to reduce the computational complexity of the nonlinear inverse scattering algorithms by a factor proportional to the number of the transmitters used in the imaging system. However, the results came with some errors from the Frechet transposed operator due to the non-optimal orthogonal codes used in the transmitters. This paper presents a multiplexing scheme to the Frechet transposed operator in time-domain distorted Born iterative method without introducing errors to the Frechet transposed operator. The comparison study between the original non-multiplexing DBIM and the new proposed multiplexing DBIM will be presented.
An expert system using simulation measures of effectiveness

Real-time environments require that decisions be made in time-constrained situations. Traditional deliberation methods which are performed regardless of time considerations are not adequate to meet the demand of this type of environment. Anytime algorithms provide a method for modeling the explicit control of real-time computations. This paper discusses the incorporation of an anytime algorithm to simulation model measures of effectiveness (MOEs). The simulation model was used by an expert system to optimize the selection of an automated guided vehicle (AGV) strategy employed in a manufacturing environment. The problems encountered during the incorporation of an anytime algorithm to the decision-making process are presented, along with the solutions which were developed. >
Surprising simplification of the Jacobian of diode switching circuits

The authors study a general RLC circuit with ideal diodes and periodic sources by computing the Jacobian of the Poincare/spl acute/ map. These circuits are nonlinear but have special structure allowing the Jacobian to be reduced to a simple and useful expression. The Jacobian computation is illustrated with a diode bridge rectifier circuit. >
Dextromethorphan Abuse: A Literature Review

Objective:To review dextromethorphan abuse patterns from 2002–2012 and emphasize the pharmacist's role in prevention, education, and sales surveillance.Data Sources:A literature search was conducted through PubMed (2002-November 2012), EMBASE (2002-November 2012), and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (2002-November 2012), using the search term dextromethorphan abuse. The Drug Enforcement Administration and National Association of Boards of Pharmacy websites were searched for dextromethorphan abuse and legislative updates. The search was limited to a 10-year period to identify the most current case reports and studies.Study Selection and Data Extraction:The limits used were studies/case reports evaluating humans and published in the English language. Only studies and case reports that assessed dextromethorphan abuse were included in the review. Eight studies and 9 case reports met the inclusion criteria.Data Synthesis:Case reports and studies demonstrate that there are patterns associated with dextro...
Electrochemical recycling of iron for hydrogen production

Abstract The concept of obtaining hydrogen in commercial quantities using iron as the fuel and water as the oxidant in a fuel cell has been examined. Data on the performance of laboratory cells are given. The calculated net minimum cost of the hydrogen is based on credits derived from the sale of by-product electrical energy. Hydrogen costs, substantially less than the present market price of hydrogen produced from natural gas, are envisaged. Sufficient hydrogen gas could be produced to satisfy 40% of the needs of the ammonia industry, and electrical energy to meet 50% of the electricity requirements of the present residential consumption in a large city like Houston.
Continuous-wave frequency conversion in hydrogenated amorphous silicon waveguides

We demonstrate nonlinear frequency conversion in hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) with conversion efficiency of −13dB at telecommunication data rates. Conversion bandwidths of 150nm are measured in CW regime at telecommunication wavelengths.
Clustering support for automated tracing

Automated trace tools dynamically generate links between various software artifacts such as requirements, design elements, code, test cases, and other less structured supplemental documents. Trace algorithms typically utilize information retrieval methods to compute similarity scores between pairs of artifacts. Results are returned to the user as a ranked set of candidate links, and the user is then required to evaluate the results through performing a top-down search through the list. Although clustering methods have previously been shown to improve the performance of information retrieval algorithms by increasing understandability of the results and minimizing human analysis effort, their usefulness in automated traceability tools has not yet been explored. This paper evaluates and compares the effectiveness of several existing clustering methods to support traceability; describes a technique for incorporating them into the automated traceability process; and proposes new techniques based on the concepts of theme cohesion and coupling to dynamically identify optimal clustering granularity and to detect cross-cutting concerns that would otherwise remain undetected by standard clustering algorithms. The benefits of utilizing clustering in automated trace retrieval are then evaluated through a case study
Palliative arterial repair for transposition, ventricular septal defect, and pulmonary vascular disease.

Abstract Failure to repair transposition of the great arteries and ventricular septal defect in the young infant results in the early development of pulmonary vascular occlusive disease. Complete repair, preferably by an arterial switch procedure and ventricular septal defect closure, may then not be possible. We report a palliative arterial switch procedure in a 5 1 / 2 -year-old patient with transposition, ventricular septal defect, and severe pulmonary vascular obstructive disease in whom progressive hypoxemia and exercise intolerance developed. An arterial repair without ventricular septal defect closure was performed. After the operation, the child's systemic arterial oxygen saturation and exercise tolerance have substantially improved. Although the progression of pulmonary vascular disease may not be altered, arterial repair can provide effective palliation in this subset of patients.
A linear programming fuel management model for the HTGR

Abstract Linear programming was used as the optimization technique to minimize the amount of U-235 used by an example 1160 MWe HTGR during three and six burn periods while simultaneously maximizing the production of U-233. The reactor core was divided into four concentric annular zones; an “out-in” fuel movement technique was used while the fissile loading of the core was held uniform by adjusting the power peaking constraints. The reactor was linearized by holding the neutron flux constant over each of the burn periods. The model was used to consider three cases: Case 1 consisted of three burn periods with no U-233 recycle, Case 2 consisted of six burn periods with no U-233 recycle, and Case 3 consisted of six burn periods with U-233 recycle allowed at the fourth refuelling event. The results indicate that the amount of U-233 produced in the first eight years of operation of the 1160 MWe HTGR will be sufficient to operate the same reactor with no new U-235 fuel for 3 yr hence.
TELEOFUNCTIONALISM AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPLANATION

: Fred Dretske's teleofunctional theory of content aims to simultaneously solve two ground-floor philosophical puzzles about mental content: the problem of naturalism and the problem of epiphenomenalism. It is argued here that his theory fails on the latter score. Indeed, the theory insures that content can have no place in the causal explanation of action at all. The argument for this conclusion depends upon only very weak premises about the nature of causal explanation. The difficulties Dretske's theory encounters indicate the severe challenges involved in arriving at a robust naturalistic understanding of content.
Depression and Costs of Health Care.

Background In spite of its global importance, the interaction between depression and chronic comorbid diseases remains incompletely understood with regard to prevalence, severity of disease, and potential causative factors mediating this interaction. Objective The authors sought to compare overall medical costs in nondepressed and depressed individuals. Method Insurance claims for 618,780 patients were examined for total annual non-mental health cost of care in 11 chronic diseases. In each disease cohort, median annual non-mental health cost was calculated for individuals with and without depression. Results Patients with depression had higher median per-patient annual non-mental health costs than patients without depression in all 11 diseases studied. There was a higher-than-random comorbidity between depression and all 11 chronic comorbid diseases. Conclusion Even when controlling for number of chronic comorbid diseases, depressed patients had significantly higher costs than non-depressed patients, in a magnitude consistent across 11 chronic comorbid diseases.
THE EXPRESSION OF GRANULOCYTE/MACROPHAGE COLONY-STIMULATING FACTOR IN ACTIVATED MOUSE LYMPHOCYTES DECLINES WITH AGE

The expression of granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was studied in spleen lymphocytes isolated from male C57BL/6J mice of 6, 20, and 29 months of age. GM-CSF expression (biological activity and mRNA level) was maximum after culturing the lymphocytes for 45 hr with concanavalin A and phorbol myristate acetate. The induction of both GM-CSF activity and mRNA levels was observed to decline over 60% between 6 and 29 months of age. The age-related decline in the level of GM-CSF paralleled the age-related decline in the mRNA levels of interleukin-2 and interleukin-3.
Identification of structural equation models with latent variables: A review of contributions by Bekker, Merckens, and Wansbeek

Identification, Equivalent Models, and Computer Algebra. Paul A. Bekker, Arjen Merckens, and Tom J. Wansbeek, New York: Academic Press, 1994, 211 pages, $59.95.
Ultrastructure and morphometry of the stomach muscle of Amphiuma tridactylum.

An ultrastructural and stereological examination was performed on stomach smooth muscle of the salamander Amphiuma. This tissue has very large cells, ranging up to 12×1500 μm when relaxed. The extracellular space is 31% of the tissue volume, and the tissue contains 84.6% water. These values are similar to those of other amphibian and mammalian gastrointestinal smooth muscle. The cells possess the usual smooth muscle organelles. Thick, thin and intermediate filaments are present, along with membrane-associated and cytoplasmic dense regions. There is a well-developed sarcoplasmic reticulum and many microtubules. Caveolae are found in rows along the cellular surface; the caveolae increase the cellular surface area by about 70%. The ratio mean volume: surface area of the cells is 1.26 μm. This tissue appears to be typical of gastrointestinal smooth muscle, with the exception of the very large size of the cells.
What's so improper about fractions? Prescriptivism and language socialization at Math Corps

Mathematical prescriptivism is a language ideology found in school mathematics that uses a discourse of rationality to proscribe language forms perceived as illogical or inefficient. The present study is based on a three-year ethnographic investigation of Math Corps, a community of practice in Detroit, Michigan, in which prescriptive language in the classroom is used both to highlight beneficial algorithms and to build social solidarity. Although motivated by the analogy with English orthographic reform, prescriptivism at Math Corps avoids potentially harmful criticism of community members of the sort often experienced by African American students. A playful linguistic frame, the prescriptive melodrama, highlights valued prescriptions, thereby enculturating students into the locally preferred register, the ‘Math Corps way’, which encompasses social, moral, linguistic, and mathematical practices and norms. A sociolinguistic and anthropological perspective on prescriptivism within communities of practice highlights positive alternatives to the universalizing prescriptions found in other English contexts. (Prescriptivism, language ideology, mathematics education, community of practice, Math Corps, linguistic anthropology, language socialization)*
Light deprivation and visual-cliff performance in the adult cat

Eight adult cats were light deprived for 80 days and tested on the visual cliff. No deficit in performance was found on this measure of depth perception. Species differences and implications for explanations in terms of visual activity and critical maturation periods were discussed.
The future of medicine.

Abstract The recent innovation of prediction markets is examined, and their significant applications to the science of medicine are demonstrated. According to one comprehensive study, these markets make "uncannily accurate" predictions of every type of event. In the medical field, being able to predict cures, epidemics, medical discoveries, and myriad other medical variables can greatly further the advances of medical science and its clinical applications.
Stimulation of protein synthesis in cultured skeletal muscle by a trophic protein from sciatic nerves

Abstract A trophic protein purified from chicken sciatic nerves, sciatin , was added to postmitotic myotube cultures of chicken embryonic skeletal muscle to determine sciatin's effect on protein turnover. At a concentration of 20 to 25 μg/culture dish, sciatin selectively stimulated the rate of incorporation of [ 14 C]leucine into muscle protein by as much as 36% without affecting the rate of protein degradation. The increased rate of [ 14 C]leucine incorporation was first order to 8 h after labeling with isotope but became second order during the next 16 h. The stimulatory effect of sciatin on the rate of [ 14 C]leucine incorporation was not due to a differential increase in the intracellular pool of free [ 14 C]leucine because sciatin failed to significantly alter the amount of trichloroacetate-soluble [ 14 C]leucine in treated cultures. Evidence obtained from experiments using the protein synthesis inhibitors actinomycin D and cycloheximide or from labeling experiments with [ 3 H]uridine indicated that sciatin evoked a nonspecific increase in the rate of protein synthesis which involved synthesis of RNA. The presence of tetrodotoxin (0.1 μg/dish), an agent which abolishes spontaneous muscle contractions, had no effect on sciatin-stimulated protein synthesis, suggesting that this action of sciatin did not require muscle activity. Stimulation of protein synthesis by sciatin did not appear to be mediated by the concentration of cyclic nucleotides because neither theophylline (an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase) nor imidazole (an inhibitor of adenyl cyclase) affected its action. These data suggest that the trophic influence mediated by sciatin may be involved in the homeostatic maintenance of protein turnover in skeletal muscle. Futhermore, the model used in the present report provides a means to delineate the respective role of neurally derived trophic influences and muscle activity in the regulation of specific muscle proteins.
Heat shock in Escherichia coli alters the protein-binding properties of the chaperonin groEL by inducing its phosphorylation

WHEN bacterial or enkaryotic cells are exposed to high temperatures or other harsh conditions, they respond by synthesis of a specific set of heat-shock proteins1–3 Certain heat-shock proteins such as groEL, called 'chaperonins', can prevent misfolding and promote the refolding and proper assembly of unfolded polypeptides generated under harmful conditions2,4. We report here a new aspect of the heat-shock response in Escherichia coli: at high temperatures a fraction of groEL becomes modified covalently, altering its interaction with unfolded proteins. The heat-modified form can be eluted with ATP from an unfolded protein more easily than normal groEL. The critical heat-induced modification seems to be phosphorylation, which is reversed on return to low temperature. Treatment of the modified groEL with phosphatases caused its apparent size, charge and binding properties to resemble those of the unmodified form. Thus during heat shock some groEL is reversibly phosphorylated, which allows its ATP-dependent release from protein substrates in- the absence of its usual cofactor (groES), and probably promotes the repair of damaged polypeptides.
Interferometric characterization of a sub-wavelength near-infrared negative index metamaterial

Negative phase advance through a single layer of near-IR negative index metamaterial (NIM) is identified through interferometric measurements. The NIM unit cell, sub-wavelength in both the lateral and light propagation directions, is comprised of a pair of Au strips separated by two dielectric and one Au film. Numerical simulations show that the negative phase advance through the single-layer sample is consistent with the negative index exhibited by a bulk material comprised of multiple layers of the same structure. We also numerically demonstrate that the negative index band persists in the lossless limit.
Numerical studies of modal instabilities in high-power fiber amplifiers

We present a detailed time-dependent numerical model of the modal instability phenomenon observed in Yb-doped fiber amplifiers. The thermal effects are captured by solving the heat equation in polar coordinate using a 2D, second-order, time-dependent, alternating direction implicit (ADI) method. The model captures the three power-dependent regions that are characteristic of the transfer of energy between the fundamental mode and the higherorder mode as a function of time. It is also shown that for the fiber configuration investigated, the modal instability threshold scales linearly over a wide range with the seed power. Furthermore, we present numerical results indicating that gain tailoring can increase the threshold. Two different gain-tailored fiber designs are simulated and compared.
Determination of the glycogen synthesis pathway by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance analysis

The level of hepatic glycogen synthesized directly from glucose was measured in rats with [1-13C]glucose. The nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrum of glucose was used to measure the distribution of the 13C label from C1 to the other carbons. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were surgically implanted with catheters in the left carotid artery and the right jugular vein, followed by a 3-day recovery period and a 24-hour fast to deplete liver glycogen. A 2-hour infusion of the fasted animal with [1-13C]glucose was immediately followed by the removal of blood and liver tissue. The liver was divided into the right, left, caudate, and medial lobes, and then freeze-clamped in liquid nitrogen and stored at -80 degrees C. The 13C NMR glucose spectra were obtained from glycogen that was isolated from each liver lobe and hydrolyzed to glucose with amyloglucosidase. Spectra were obtained at 50.3 MHz in a narrow-bore Gemini 200-MHz NMR spectrometer (Varian, Palo Alto, CA). The distribution of 13C onto glucose carbons was measured from these spectra, and the percent direct pathway was calculated to be 29% +/- 2.5%. Metabolic variation for the synthesis of glycogen within the liver was determined by measuring the direct pathway contribution in each of the four liver lobes. Percent direct pathway values were similar (P > .05) in right (35% +/- 4.9%), left (26% +/- 5.1%), medial (25% +/- 4.9%), and caudate (27% +/- 5.6%) lobes. For some of the animals, the direct pathway was determined by infusion with [6-13C]glucose.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
MRI and mechanobiology: new science at the intersection of engineering and medicine

Many disease processes such as cancer cause profound changes in the mechanical properties of tissues. This accounts for the efficacy of palpation for detecting abnormalities and provides motivation for developing practical methods to quantitatively image tissue elasticity. Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE) is an emerging MRI-based technique that can quantitatively image tissue properties such as stiffness, viscosity, attenuation, and anisotropic behavior - providing access to a new range of previously unexplored tissue imaging biomarkers highly relevant in diagnostic medicine and in the emerging field of mechanobiology. Human studies have demonstrated that it is feasible to apply MRE to quantitatively assess skeletal muscle, brain, thyroid, breast, myocardium, kidney, liver, and skin. The first established clinical application of the technology is for detection of hepatic fibrosis, which is a growing health problem and the most important precedent to primary hepatic malignancy. Growing clinical experience indicates that MRE is at least as accurate as liver biopsy for this diagnosis, while also being safer, more comfortable, and less expensive. Preliminary studies suggest that MRE may be helpful in differentiating between benign and malignant neoplasms. New research has also shown that MRE-assessed estimates of tumor stiffness are helpful in the preoperative assessment of patients with brain tumors such as menigiomas.
Prewetting of helium on weak binding substrates

Recent theoretical and experimental work has shown that alkali metal surfaces have extremely weak potentials for physical adsorption, which leads to very unusual thermodynamic properties of adsorbed films. We have used a microbalance adsorption isotherm technique to investigate the phase diagram of He films on cesium. This experimental system has provided the first example of a surface which is not wet by superfluid helium, and the first experimental observation of the prewetting line. Near the wetting temperature Tw ≈ 2 K, we have observed large hysteresis effects associated with the nucleation of the thin phase. At higher temperatures, the prewetting line terminates at a prewetting critical point T ≈ 2.5 K. This system is particularly well suited to surface phase transition studies, since the interaction parameters can be tuned continuously by varying the thickness of the cesium substrate, or by doping the film with 3He.
Multiplexer For Scattering Measurements

Let the wavefront normal (ray) entering a Michelson interferometer make an angle with respect to the perpendiculars to the movable and stationary mirrors of the interferometer. If the movable mirror is displaced along its perpendicular a geometrical distance x, an optical path difference of 2 x cosθ will be generated. A monochromatic line of wavenumber νθ will then be modulated as if it had a wavenumber νθcosθ. When used in this fashion, the interferometer codes the angular data into wavenumber data. Multiplexing for many types of scattering measurements is thus possible. An apparatus to accomplish these measurements is described, and results for a mirror contaminated with a single spherical particle are presented.© (1983) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Effects of Emotion on Perceptual Asymmetry in Adolescent Inpatients with Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract Objective The authors studied the hemispheric functioning of adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in relation to this group's response to positively toned emotional stimuli. Method Dichotic word tests were used to measure perceptual asymmetry in 21 adolescent inpatients and 24 control subjects. Ten patients had ADHD; 11 did not. Subjects were tested under four emotional conditions by using combinations of neutral, positive, and negative words. Results the ADHD group had lower right ear advantage (REA) scores when presented with stimulus pairs containing positive words than when presented with pairs not containing positive words. By comparison, the non-ADHD patient group and the control group had higher REA scores under positive emotional conditions than under non-positive conditions. Conclusions The abnormal response to positive emotional tone supports the reward system dysfunction hypothesis of ADHD and may also have implications for learning problems, behavioral difficulties, and disturbed interpersonal relationships in this population.
Tc-99m-BrIDA hepatobiliary (HIDA) scan has a low sensitivity for detecting biliary complications after orthotopic liver transplantation in patients with hyperbilirubinemia.

Tc-99m-BrIDA hepatobiliary scans are noninvasive tests for detecting biliary leaks and obstructions. However, there is low sensitivity and specificity in patients with hyperbilirubinemia. Biliary complications (BC) are the Achilles heel of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). We questioned whether hyperbilirubinemia in liver transplant recipients rendered HIDA scanning less dependable. HIDA findings were compared to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, laparotomy, and clinical course. Results were categorized as follows: true positive (TP), true negative (TN), false positive (FP), false negative (FN), or nondiagnostic/inconclusive. We searched for variables associated with erroneous or nondiagnostic tests which we defined as all examinations determined to be FP, FN and/or nondiagnostic/inconclusive. Thirty-four patients underwent a HIDA scan. The sensitivity and specificity were 70 and 100%. The sensitivity of HIDA improved to 100% in patients with a total bilirubin (TB) 5 mg/dl. One FN had a TB <5 mg/dl, but was determined inconclusive due to the roux-en-Y. HIDA scans performed when the total bilirubin was <5 mg/dl had a high sensitivity and specificity for detecting biliary complications after OLT. However, when the total bilirubin exceeded 5 mg/dl, the specificity was still 100% but the numbers of nondiagnostic/inconclusive and FN exams were increased.
Nelson's Refuge: Gibraltar in the Age of Napoleon. By Jason R. Musteen. (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2011. Pp. 251. $29.95.)

Gibraltar, at the western entrance to the Mediterranean Sea, has played many roles in history. British, Dutch, and Imperial forces captured the “Rock” in 1704 during the War of the Spanish Successi...
Assessment of circadian function in fibroblasts of patients with bipolar disorder.

Previous studies have implicated the circadian system in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder, but conclusive evidence for altered circadian clocks is lacking. Cultured fibroblasts harbor circadian clocks representative of those in the master clock resident in the suprachiasmatic nuclei, providing a new avenue to investigate the core clock machinery in patients with bipolar illness. We examined the rhythmic expression patterns of core clock genes (BMAL1, PER1, PER2, REV-ERBα, DEC2, DBP) in fibroblasts from 12 bipolar patients and 12 healthy controls. Although we did not detect differences in the circadian period between bipolar patients and controls, the amplitude of rhythmic expression for BMAL1, REV-ERBα and DBP, as well as the overall mRNA expression level for DEC2 and DBP was reduced in fibroblasts from bipolar patients. Bonferroni's correction for multiple comparisons still resulted in significantly reduced DBP expression level, and trends toward reduced overall expression level of DEC2 and circadian amplitude of BMAL1, in fibroblasts from bipolar patients. We next examined an expanded cohort of 18 bipolar patients and 35 healthy controls for mRNA expression levels of four kinases (CKIδ, CKIɛ, GSK3α and GSK3β) and the protein and phosphorylation levels of two of them (GSK3α and GSK3β). We did not detect differences in steady-state mRNA levels or protein levels of these kinases between bipolar patients and controls, but the level of GSK3β phosphorylation was significantly reduced in bipolar patients within an Old Order Amish bipolar kindred. Our results suggest that the reduced amplitudes and overall expression levels of circadian genes, and the decreased phosphorylation level of GSK3β may lead to dysregulation of downstream genes, which could explain some pathological features of bipolar disorder.
The role of lysophosphatides in cell injury.

Abstract Septic shock, particularly that resulting from Escherichia coli endotoxemia, has been associated with vascular perfusion abnormalities but also has been associated with organ damage, in particular hepatic, renal, cardiac, and pulmonary dysfunction. These changes and the biochemical finding of uncoupled oxidative phosphorylation in isolated mitochondria have been reported to occur prior to the onset of vascular perfusion abnormalities. This conceivably could be accounted for on the basis of release of phospholipase A and increased fatty acids in that fatty acids are potent uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation. These experiments were done in vivo on rat liver and homogenates as well as extracted mitochondria and microsomes of rats 28 hr after treatment with an LD70–90 dose of endotoxin. Experiments were also conducted with in vitro incubation of rat hepatic lysosomes for various times and various concentrations of endotoxin. The results of these experiments show no significant difference from control values of the various phospholipids analyzed subsequent to endotoxin treatment. It must be concluded on the basis of these experiments that the damage observed biochemically and by electron microscopy is related to some cause other than the membranolytic effect of lysophosphatides.
dc conductance of molecular wires

Inspired by the work of Kamenev and Kohn [Phys. Rev. B 63, 155304 (2001)], we present a general discussion of the two-terminal dc conductance of molecular devices within the framework of time dependent current-density functional theory in the linear response regime. We derive a formally exact expression for the adiabatic conductance. For junctions made of long molecular chains that can be either metallic or insulating, we derive the exact asymptotic behavior of the adiabatic conductance as a function of the chain's length. Our results follow from the analytic structure of the bands of a periodic molecular chain and a compact expression for the Green's functions. In the case of an insulating chain, not only do we obtain the exponentially decaying factors, but we also obtain the corresponding amplitudes, which depend very sensitively on the electronic properties of the contacts. We illustrate the theory by a numerical study of a simple insulating structure connected to two metallic jellium leads.
Why are clinicians not embracing the results from pivotal clinical trials in severe sepsis? A Bayesian analysis

Background Five pivotal clinical trials (Intensive Insulin Therapy; Recombinant Human Activated Protein C [rhAPC]; Low-Tidal Volume; Low-Dose Steroid; Early Goal-Directed Therapy [EGDT]) demonstrated mortality reduction in patients with severe sepsis and expert guidelines have recommended them to clinical practice. Yet, the adoption of these therapies remains low among clinicians. Objectives We selected these five trials and asked: Question 1-What is the current probability that the new therapy is not better than the standard of care in my patient with severe sepsis? Question 2-What is the current probability of reducing the relative risk of death (RRR) of my patient with severe sepsis by meaningful clinical thresholds (RRR >15%; >20%; >25%)? Methods Bayesian methodologies were applied to this study. Odds ratio (OR) was considered for Question 1, and RRR was used for Question 2. We constructed prior distributions (enthusiastic; mild, moderate, and severe skeptic) based on various effective sample sizes of other relevant clinical trials (unfavorable evidence). Posterior distributions were calculated by combining the prior distributions and the data from pivotal trials (favorable evidence). Main Findings Answer 1-The analysis based on mild skeptic prior shows beneficial results with the Intensive Insulin, rhAPC, and Low-Tidal Volume trials, but not with the Low-Dose Steroid and EGDT trials. All trials' results become unacceptable by the analyses using moderate or severe skeptic priors. Answer 2-If we aim for a RRR>15%, the mild skeptic analysis shows that the current probability of reducing death by this clinical threshold is 88% for the Intensive Insulin, 62–65% for the Low-Tidal Volume, rhAPC, EGDT trials, and 17% for the Low-Dose Steroid trial. The moderate and severe skeptic analyses show no clinically meaningful reduction in the risk of death for all trials. If we aim for a RRR >20% or >25%, all probabilities of benefits become lower independent of the degree of skepticism. Conclusions Our clinical threshold analysis offers a new bedside tool to be directly applied to the care of patients with severe sepsis. Our results demonstrate that the strength of evidence (statistical and clinical) is weak for all trials, particularly for the Low-Dose Steroid and EGDT trials. It is essential to replicate the results of each of these five clinical trials in confirmatory studies if we want to provide patient care based on scientifically sound evidence.
Arterial Pco2 in chronic metabolic acidosis

The arterial blood partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO 2 ) falls in response to chronic metabolic acidosis, but the magnitude of the decline has differed widely between studies and types of subjects [1–9]. In general, a linear regression has been found between PCO 2 and serum bicarbonate concentration ([HCO 3 - ]), but reported values of the regression slope have varied between 0.9 [9] and 1.5 [1–4] (Table 1). The variation of the slope has never been explained. It has been suggested that the etiology of the acidosis determines the magnitude of respiratory response [8].
Effects of acute and chronic systemic administration of some typical antipsychotic drugs on turnover of dopamine and potassium ion-induced release of dopamine in the striatum of the rat in vivo.

Abstract Chronoamperometry was used to measure the dose dependency of antipsychotic drug (spiperone, haloperidol and chlorpromazine)-induced increases in depolarization-stimulated release of dopamine in the striatum of the rat in vivo . The dose-response curves were found to be at least biphasic (small doses increased release and large doses inhibited release) and different in shape from dose-response curves for increases in the turnover of dopamine, suggesting that the two processes may not be related. The threshold dose to induce increased depolarization-stimulated release of dopamine correlated with the values in the literature for doses required to block stereotype induced by apomorphine and amphetamine and doses sufficient to cause a maximal increase in release correlated with the doses required for the induction of catalepsy. In addition, the ratio of the doses required to obtain half-maximal and maximal increases in stimulated release of dopamine, matched values in the literature of the ratio of doses required to ameliorate psychotic symptoms, whereas the doses required to reverse the increase induced by antipsychotic drugs did not. Chronic administration of haloperidol resulted in alterations in the dose-response curves for both the release and turnover of DA. Chronic administration caused a reversal of the effect of acute administration in the small dose range (inhibition as opposed to enhancement of release), a decrease in the maximum magnitude of release of dopamine obtained and an overall shift to the right of the dose-response curve. Chronic administration of haloperidol decreased turnover, relative to animals receiving the drug acutely and no shift in the position of the dose-response curve was observed.
Study of Component Aerosol Direct Radiative Effect over the Asian Region

Abstract A two-step approach of combing CERES/MODIS shortwave (SW) flux and aerosol optical thickness (AOT) at 0.55μm with the component AOT fractions from a 3-D aerosol model is used to derive top of atmosphere (TOA) component aerosol direct radiative effect (ADRE) over the Asian region for the clear-sky condition. The annual mean values of ADRE for the region are +0.55±0.1W/m2 for black carbon (BC); −1.23±0.39W/m2 for organic carbon (OC); −3.81±0.71W/m2 for sulphate (SU); −3.16±0.45W/m2 for dust (DU); −0.64±0.55W/m2 for sea salt (SS); −3.98±0.57W/m2 for anthropogenic aerosol (AN); −4.37±1.11 W/m2 for natural aerosol (NA); and −8.37±1.69W/m2 for total aerosols (TOT). Both anthropogenic and natural aerosol direct radiative effects in the region are much higher than their global counterparts. Validations have also been performed by comparing our component ADRE computation with the radiative transfer calculations for the AERONET sites and the ACE-Asia field campaign.
Atomic collisions with relativistic heavy ions. IV. Projectile K-shell ionization.

Projectile 1s ionization cross sections are reported for 82- , 140- , and 200-MeV/amu Xe projectiles incident on a variety of thin solid targets between Be and Au. The cross sections were calculated with the plane-wave Born approximation. Possible relativistic wave-function, target-screening, and transverse-excitation effects are discussed. Comparisons of the data with the perturbed-stationary-state theory of Basbas et al. and the Glauber approximation are made. Scaled, interpolated Xe+Xe ionization cross sections agree well with measured p+H ionization cross sections.
An Exploratory Investigation of Heterosexual Licensed Domestic Partners

In-depth telephone interviews were conducted in four cities in an exploratory study of 23 licensed cohabitors to determine why they have chosen to legitimize their intimate unions through domestic partnership ordinances, rather than through legal marriage. The cohabitors in this sample are pursuing these licensed partnerships to obtain an economic benefit (e.g., health insurance coverage for a partner); as a substitute for legal remarriage; to legitimize their unions in a way other than through legal marriage; or as an ideological alternative to legal marriage. Regardless of motivations to pursue domestic partnership certificates, these respondents are divided over whether they should have the same rights and responsibilities as the married.