cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Automated application component placement in data centers using mathematical programming

In this article we address the application component placement (ACP) problem for a data center. The problem is defined as follows: for a given topology of a network consisting of switches, servers and storage devices with varying capabilities, and for a given specification of a component-based distributed application, decide which physical server should be assigned to each application component, such that the application's processing, communication and storage requirements are satisfied without creating bottlenecks in the infrastructure, and that scarce resources are used most efficiently. We explain how the ACP problem differs from traditional task assignment in distributed systems, or existing grid scheduling problems. We describe our approach of formalizing this problem using a mathematical optimization framework and further formulating it as a mixed integer program (MIP). We then present our ACP solver using GAMS and CPLEX to automate the decision-making process. The solver was numerically tested on a number of examples, ranging from a 125-server real data center to a set of hypothetical data centers with increasing size. In all cases the ACP solver found an optimal solution within a reasonably short time. In a numerical simulation comparing our solver to a random selection algorithm, our solver resulted in much more efficient use of scarce network resources and allowed more applications to be placed in the same infrastructure.
SU-E-T-281: Reduction of Treatment Times in CyberKnife Prostate SBRT Using a Water Filled Rectal Balloon

Purpose: To illustrate 25% reduction in CyberKnife prostate SBRT treatment times using a water filled rectal balloon. Methods: We perform prostate SBRT using a 3800cGy in 4 fraction regimen prescribed between 51% 59% iso-dose lines to 95% of PTV using a CyberKnife System. The resultant heterogeneous dosimetry is analogous to HDR dosimetry. Our patients are treated in a feet first supine position to decrease treatment couch sag and also to position the prostate anatomy closer to the robot. CT imaging is performed with a Radiadyne Immobiloc rectal balloon filled with 45-50cc water placed firmly inside the patient's rectum. A treatment plan is developed from this CT study using Multiplan. The patient is treated every other day for 4 days using the rectal balloon for each fraction. Gold fiducials previously implanted inside the prostate are used for tracking by the CyberKnife system. Results: Critical structures comprise the usual GU anatomy of bladder, rectum, urethra, femoral-heads along with emphasis on doses to anterior rectal wall and rectal mucosa. The water filled rectal balloon localizes the rectum, which enables the physician to accurately contour both anterior rectal wall, and rectal mucosa. The balloon also has a gas release valve enabling better patient comfort.more » Rectum localization enables the CyberKnife system to make fewer corrections resulting in fewer treatment interruptions and time lost to re-adjustment for rectal motion, bowel filling and gas creation. Effective treatment times are reduced by 25% to approximately 45 minutes. Adoption of the balloon has required minimal change to our planning strategy and plan evaluation process. Conclusion: Patient follow-up comparisons show no difference in effectiveness of treatment with and without balloons We conclude that rectal balloons enhance patient comfort and decrease effective treatment times.« less
STM-induced enhancement of dynamic dipole moments on crystal surfaces: Theory of the lateral resolution

A scanning tunnel microscope (STM) tip placed over an atom or molecule on a crystal surface can enhance the dynamic dipole moment very substantially, with the consequence that fluorescence intensities, Raman cross sections, and diverse optical interaction cross sections can be enhanced greatly. In this paper, we extend our earlier theory on this phenomenon to the case where the atom or molecule is not directly under the tip, but rather is displaced from this location. We are then able to explore the lateral resolution associated with the enhancement effects, through studies of scans of isolated dipoles, and dipole pairs. The numerical calculations suggest that the lateral resolution is on the scale of ${(\mathrm{RD})}^{1/2},$ with R the radius of curvature of the STM tip, and D its distance from the substrate.
Rapid inactivation of seven Bacillus spp. under simulated Mars UV irradiation

Seven Bacillus spp. were exposed to simulations of Mars-normal UV fluence rates in order to study the effects of UV irradiation on microbial survival. A UV illumination system was calibrated to deliver 9.78 W m −2 (35.2 kJ m −2 h −1 ) of UVC + UVB irradiation (200–320 nm) to microbial samples, thus creating a clear-sky simulation (0.5 optical depth) of equatorial Mars. The Bacillus spp. studied were: B. licheniformis KL-196, B. megaterium KL-197, B. nealsonii FO-092, B. pumilus FO-36B, B. pumilus SAFR-032, B. subtilis 42HS1, and B. subtilis HA101. The bacteria were prepared as thin monolayers of endospores on aluminum coupons in order to simulate contaminated spacecraft surfaces. Bacterial monolayers were exposed to Mars UV irradiation for time-steps of 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 5, 15, 30, 60, 120, or 180 min. The surviving endospores were then assayed with a Most Probable Numbers (MPN) procedure and with a culture-based assay that utilized a bacillus spore germination medium. Results indicated that B. pumilus SAFR-032 was the most resistant, and B. subtilis 42HS-1 and B. megaterium were the most sensitive of the seven strains exposed to martian UV fluence rates. Bacillus subtilis 42HS1 and B. megaterium were inactivated after 30 min exposure to Mars UV, while B. pumilus SAFR-032 required 180 min for full inactivation in both assays. Spores of B. pumilus SAFR-032 exhibited significantly different inactivation kinetics suggesting that this wild type isolate also was more resistant than the standard dosimetric strain, B. subtilis HA101. Although the various Bacillus spp. exhibited diverse levels of UV resistance, none were immune to UV irradiation, and, thus, all species would be expected to be inactivated on Sun-exposed spacecraft surfaces within a few tens-of-minutes to a few hours on sol 1 under clear-sky conditions on equatorial Mars. The inactivation kinetics of all seven Bacillus spp. support the conclusion that significant levels of bioload reductions are possible on Sun-exposed spacecraft surfaces in very short time periods under clear-sky conditions on Mars. However, the presence of UV resistant microbes on spacecraft surfaces rapidly covered in dust during landing operations, and non-Sun-exposed surfaces of spacecraft remain concerns that must continue to be addressed through adequate spacecraft sanitizing procedures prior to launch. © 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Implementation of Low Scattering Microwave Cloaking by All-Dielectric Metamaterials

We present a cylindrical microwave cloak, which provides low total scattering cross width (TSCW) for cloaked objects larger than the wavelength. The cloak is composed of identical dielectric resonators, while different air fractions are employed to realize the spatial dispersion of the cloak medium effective permeability required by the transformation optics relations. The cloak performance is investigated by simulating the true multi-resonator cloak structure and by experiments. The results of simulations and measurements are in good agreement and confirm the existence of the cloaking band, in which the TSCW of the cloaked target decreases below that of the bare target.
Differential response of cull cow muscles to the hypertrophic actions of ractopamine-hydrogen chloride.

Ractopamine-HCl (RAC) is a beta-adrenergic agonist with variable effects on cattle performance and carcass variables. Cull cows fed RAC (200 mg . head(-1) . d(-1)) demonstrate an increased size of type I and II muscle fibers that does not translate into a larger ribeye area. The objective of this study was to examine the dose-dependent effects of RAC on cull cow muscle morphometrics. Eighty-eight cull beef cows representing 2 breed types (n = 44 each) were fed 0, 100, 200, and 300 mg . head(-1) . d(-1) of RAC for the last 28 d of a 54-d feeding period. On d 54, cows were slaughtered, and samples of the LM and semimembranosus muscle (SM) from 16 randomly selected carcasses (n = 4 per treatment) were taken for measurement of beta (2)-adrenergic receptors and type I, IIA, and IIX myosin heavy chain (MyHC) gene expression. Twenty-four hours postmortem, LM, SM, infraspinatus (INF), and vastus lateralis samples from 40 randomly selected carcasses (n = 10 per treatment) were obtained and frozen for immunohistochemical analysis. Muscle fiber cross-sectional area and diameter, MyHC isoform expression, and fiber-associated nuclei numbers were measured. Ractopamine dosage exhibited differential effects on muscle morphometrics and MyHC gene expression. Muscle fiber cross-sectional area and diameter were increased (P 0.05) MyHC or beta-adrenergic receptor expression. These results indicate that cull cow feeding programs may consider supplementing RAC as a means of adding value to cuts within the chuck, such as the INF.
Molecular Modeling and Deletion Mutagenesis Implicate the Nuclear Translocation Sequence in Structural Integrity of Fibroblast Growth Factor-1

The sequence NYKKPKL in the NH2 terminus of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-1 has been proposed to affect the long term activities of FGF-1 through its function as a nuclear translocation signal or its role in stabilization of the structure required to sustain binding and activation of the transmembrane receptor kinase. A dynamic molecular model of FGF-1 docked into a duplex of the FGF receptor ectodomain and a hexadecameric heparin chain suggests that the NYKKPKL sequence does not directly interact with heparin or the receptor, but rather the lysine-leucine residues within the sequence indirectly stabilize a major receptor-binding domain. Concurrent with a marked increase in dependence on exogenous heparin for optimal activity, sequential deletion of residues in the NYKKPKL sequence in FGF-1 resulted in a progressive loss of thermal stability, resistance to protease, mitogenic activity, and affinity for the transmembrane receptor. The largest change resulted from deletion of the entire sequence through the lysine-leucine residues. In the presence of sufficiently high concentrations of heparin, the deletion mutants exhibited mitogenic activity equal to wild-type FGF-1. The results confirm that a primary role of the NYKKPKL sequence domain is to maintain the structural integrity of FGF-1 required for optimal binding to and activation of the heparan sulfate-transmembrane receptor complex.
Energy and angular distributions of 60Co gamma rays penetrating a concrete shield

Abstract The energy and angular spectra of gamma radiation penetrating a 48 ± 1 psf vertical slab bounding a simulated semi-infinite plane radiation source were measured. Representative results are given for the gamma-ray flux density Φ ( E, cos θ, φ ) which is differential with respect to energy and direction, in units (cm−2 sec−1 sr−1 keV−1) normalized to a 60Co source strength of 1 Ci/ft2. The exposure angular distribution, D (θ, φ) in units (R hr−1 sr−1) normalized to a 60Co source strength of 1 Ci/ft2 for each of 40 directions is also given. All measurements were made at a height of 3 ft above grade.
Self-assembly and hydrogelation promoted by F5-phenylalanine

Phenylalanine (Phe)-derived molecules have been exploited as low molecular weight hydrogelators. Perturbing the hydrophobic and π–π interactions that promote self-assembly and hydrogelation of these derivatives will facilitate improved understanding of hydrogelation phenomena and the design of small molecule hydrogelators with novel properties. The efficient self-assembly and hydrogelation of Fmoc-protected pentafluorophenylalanine (Fmoc-F5-Phe) are reported herein. Suspensions of Fmoc-F5-Phe in water undergo rapid self-assembly to entangled fibrillar structures within minutes, giving rise to rigid supramolecular gels. Self-assembly occurs at concentrations as low as 2 mM (0.1 wt%). Variation of the fluorinated aromatic side chain or N-terminal functionalization perturbs hydrogelation, implicating fluorous and π–π interactions as the primary determinants for molecular recognition and self-assembly. The hydrophobic and electronic properties of F5-Phe provide remarkable potential for functional self-assembly in a minimal amino acid scaffold.
Effects of chronic smoking on testosterone metabolism in dogs.

The effects of long-term cigarette smoking on androgen hydroxylases and peripheral hormones were studied in male beagles. In the testis, chronic smoking of high nicotine/tar cigarettes was associated with decreased activity of the 7α-hydroxylase active on testosterone (68% of control, P < 0.05). Testicular 6β and 16α-hydroxylases were not altered. The hepatic androgen 6β-hydroxylase activity in control animals was approximately 6 times the testis levels and was stimulated markedly by smoking. This increase ranged from 221% in the low nicotine/tar group (P < 0.02) to 304% in the high nicotine/tar group (P < 0.006). Serum testosterone levels were reduced to 54% of control (P < 0.02) and prostate size to 44% (P < 0.001) of control with heavy smoking. Serum LH levels were elevated with smoking. These results suggest that chronic cigarette smoking increased hepatic metabolism of testosterone. In addition, serum testosterone levels and prostate size decreased and LH levels increased. Whether the hepatic and the endocrine effects are causally related cannot be determined from this preliminary study.
Costs and benefits of XBRL adoption: early evidence

Financial reporting via XBRL is a low-cost method for increasing transparency and compliance while potentially decreasing a firm's cost of capital.
Identification of Multi-Channel Cardiovascular System Using Dual-Pole Laguerre Basis Functions for Assessment of Aortic Flow and TPR

This paper presents a novel method to identify the multichannel cardiovascular system using two distinct peripheral blood pressure signals. The method can characterize the distinct arterial path dynamics that shape each of the blood pressure signals, and recover the common aortic flow signal fed to them. A Laguerre series data compression technique is used to obtain a compact representation of the cardiovascular system, whose coefficients are identified using the multi-channel blind system identification. A Laguerre model de-convolution algorithm is developed to stably recover the aortic flow signal. Persistent excitation, model identifiability, and asymptotic variance are analyzed to quantify the method’s validity and reliability. From the identified Laguerre series coefficients of the cardiovascular dynamics, mean aortic flow and total peripheral resistance are estimated. Experimental results based on 7,000 data segments obtained from 9 swine models show that the waveform of the aortic flow is stably recovered from peripheral blood pressure signals and that the cardiovascular dynamics can be identified very reliably for all the swine models under diverse physiologic conditions. In addition, the use of the identified cardiovascular dynamics results in the improvement in estimating the mean aortic flow and total peripheral resistance by 60% and 45% in terms of the R2 value, compared to their standard counterparts.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Mechanisms of Myocardial Regeneration

Traditionally, the adult heart has been viewed as a terminally differentiated postmitotic organ in which the number of cardiomyocytes is established at birth and these cells persist throughout the life span of the organ and organism. However, the discovery that cardiac stem cells live in the heart and differentiate into the various cardiac cell lineages has dramatically changed our understanding of myocardial biology. Deciphering the biological processes that lead to myocyte renewal is a challenging task. Cardiac regeneration may be accomplished by (1) commitment of multipotent stem cells that generate all specialized lineages within the parenchyma, (2) activation of unipotent progenitors with restricted differentiation potential, (3) replication of pre-existing differentiated cells, (4) transdifferentiation of exogenous progenitors that undergo plastic conversion into cells different from the organ of origin, and (5) dedifferentiation of cardiomyocytes that re-enter the cell cycle and divide. These multiple mechanisms of cell growth may act in concert to regenerate complex structures and restore the function of the target organ.
Forgotten cases of bilingual aphasics

Abstract This paper attempts to complement M. Paradis' (1977, In Studies in neurolinguistics . New York: Academic Press. Vol. 3) and M. Albert and L. Obler's (1978, The bilingual brain . New York: Academic Press) surveys of polyglot aphasics by describing two cases reported by C. Durieu (1969, La reeducation des aphasiques . Brussels: Dessart).
A 25-year retrospective review of visual complaints and illusions associated with a monocular helmet-mounted display

In the early 1980s the U.S. Army fielded the first integrated helmet-mounted display (HMD) for use in the AH-64 Apache helicopter. To reduce head-supported weight and minimize center-of-mass offsets, a monocular optical design was selected. Although early design concerns of binocular rivalry and the Pulfrich phenomenon never materialized, user surveys have documented persistent reports of visual complaints and illusions in peacetime training flights. However, a recent evaluation conducted under battle conditions in Operation Iraqi Freedom found statistically lower reports of complaints and illusions. While these reported problems are short-term, questions have been raised regarding potential long-term physiological effects resulting from long-term use of this monocular display. A 10-year longitudinal study, currently underway in the U.K., has been implemented to definitively answer the question of whether long-term exposure produces any degradation in binocular visual function.
Ten-year results of FAC adjuvant chemotherapy trial in breast cancer.

Two hundred twenty-two patients with stage II or III breast cancer were treated in the first adjuvant trial from M.D. Anderson Hospital. At a median follow-up of 133 months, estimated 10-year disease-free survival was 58 and 36% for stage II and III disease, respectively. Estimated 10-year survival was 62% for patients with stage II disease and 40% for those with stage III disease. The fluorouracil, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), and cyclophosphamide (FAC) regimen was effective in improving disease and overall survival regardless of age of the patient, stage of disease, or extent of nodal involvement in comparison with the historical control patients treated with similar local therapy. The treatment was not associated with increased risk of other malignancies, and doxorubicin-related cardiotoxicity was observed in 1% of patients. Long-term follow-up of this study confirms the earlier observation that the FAC regimen is effective in reducing the risk of recurrence and prolonging the survival of high-risk patients.
Simulation of a compact large-area radiometric light source

The performance of a novel compact large-area radiometric light source (CLARLS) has recently been demonstrated by the SeaWiFS (sea-viewing wide field-of-view sensor) quality monitor built for the SeaWiFS calibration and validation program. The SeaWiFS quality monitor (SQM) was successfully used as a calibration source onboard two trans-Atlantic cruises. The success of the CLARLS relies mostly on the uniformity of optical radiance it provides for sensor calibration. A theory to model the uniformity must account for the light scattering inside its light chamber. Here, such a model is proposed and the results of the numerical simulation are discussed.
Respiration of the Pea Plant. Metabolism of Hexose Phosphate and Triose Phosphate by Cell-free Extracts of Pea Roots.

The urge to characterize the carbon transformations in photosynthesis has rapidly resulted in much evidence for the presence of two pathways of carbohydrate metabolism, the Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas and the direct oxidation pathway in the green leaves and seeds of higher plants (2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 24). However, investigations concerning these pathways in other portions of the plant have been limited (6, 7, 12,25). The present investigation was undertaken to establish whether the primary enzymes of the two pathways are present in the roots and, if so, whether the pathways are similar to those in chlorophyll-containing tissue. The pea plant (12 to 15 days) was selected for this study.
Education: the third, but not last, pillar of academic radiation oncology.

The 3 pillars of academic medicine are clinical care, research, and education. Radiation oncology is a leader in supporting the first 2 pillarseclinical care and research. Although radiation oncology prides itself on providing excellent clinical training to medical students and residents regarding appropriate evidence-based treatment, we need to begin to apply the research methods that have driven advances in clinical care and research to education. In this issue of the journal, P’ng et al report an interim analysis of the Excellence in Radiation Research for the 21 st Century (EIRR21) program, a novel educational curriculum designed to “recruit and train innovative interdisciplinary radiation medicine researchers” (1). The EIRR21 curriculum is designed for basic science researchers, but approximately 10% of participants came from clinical training programs. Participants were exposed to fundamentals of business, intellectual property protection, leadership development, grant writing, diversity recruitment, and other subjects useful to launch a successful science career. Among EIRR21 graduates, almost all had first-author publications, more than one-half were investigators on research grants, and one-sixth filed patents. Retention in research was high, with 82% of graduates remaining in academia. Of the graduates, 69% believed that the EIRR21 imparted useful skills to facilitate future research success. By all measures, the curriculum succeeded in its goal of recruiting and training innovative radiation medicine researchers. The cited Canadian Strategic Health Initiative seeks researchers prepared to function at the “convergence of mathematics, humanities, and the physical, social, biological, behavioral and clinical sciences (http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/22174.html). One looks forward to future reports outlining progress in the curriculum development and detailing its interdisciplinary components. Canimproved modelsof teachingradiationoncologytomedical students and residents also be devised? The Carnegie Foundation’s recent report on UnitedStates medical education statesthat thegoal of undergraduate medical education (UME) is to “equip physicians intrainingwiththefoundationalknowledge,skills,andprofessional
Efficient edge domination problems in graphs

Abstract It has been shown, recently, that resource allocation problems in parallel processing systems can be viewed as edge domination problems in graphs. Other applications of edge domination include encoding theory and network routing problems. While the existence of efficient edge dominating sets in special classes of graphs such as paths and cycles can be determined in polynomial time, the complexity of the problem for general graphs remains open. In a graph G  (V,E) , an edge uv ∈ E is said to dominate itself and any edge ux or vx where x ∈ V . A subset of edges E ′ ⊆ E is called an efficient edge dominating set for the graph G if all edges in E are dominated by exactly one edge of E ′. It is clear that not all graphs have efficient edge dominating sets. In fact, this is not even true for trees. In this paper, we show that the problem of determining if a graph G has an efficient edge dominating set is NP-complete for general graphs as well as for line graphs. However, in the case of series-parallel graphs, we show that the problem is polynomial. In fact, we present a linear-time algorithm for calculating the maximum number of edges that can be efficiently dominated in series-parallel graphs.
Modified hamster atrial cardiac muscle cells isolated in the anterior chamber of the eye

Pieces of atria from young hamsters were transplanted into the anterior chamber of the eye and observed for morphological changes at 5, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 60 days after transplantation. During this period of observation, the transplant was vascularized and the number of myocytes decreased. After 20 days the cardiac muscle cells were usually seen in small clusters in between an increasing amount of connective tissue and fat cells. There was no indication of proliferative activity of myocytes in the grafts. The most striking change in myocyte ultrastructure, beginning at 5 days and continuing throughout to 60 days, was a change in myofibrillar structure and an increase in sarcoplasmic reticulum in many cardiac muscle cells. In these cardiac muscle cells, the Z material was thickened and had attached thin filaments, and often these complexes were scattered at random throughout the cell in association with an accumulation of sarcoplasmic reticulum. These observations are discussed in relation to other reports of similar Z band/thin filament complexes and adjacent sarcoplasmic reticulum.
THE ROLE OF BOLTZMANN FACTORS IN LINE SHAPE

A study is made of the effect of temperature and environment on the absorption spectra of simple systems. In part I the longitudinal and transverse susceptibilities of a two-level system are analyzed in terms of simple stochastic models. Particular attention is paid to the different roles played by the phase-interruption and frequency-modulation mechanisms. A calculation is given of the susceptibility of a harmonic oscillator perturbed by interaction with other oscillators. In part II the same systems are studied using Green's function methods. It is assumed that the two-level system is coupled to a crystal lattice by an isotropic interaction that is linear in the lattice displacement. Expressions are obtained for the longitudinal and transverse susceptibilities and comparison is made with the results of part I. The susceptibility of the harmonic oscillator is calculated and found to be identical to the susceptibility obtained by more elementary methods.
Biotemplating routes to three-dimensional photonic crystals

The strikingly colorful world of insects is in large part the result of light interacting with periodically organized biopolymeric structures incorporated into wings, hairs and exoskeletons. Such structural colors have recently gained tremendous interest as photonic crystals with their ability to control the behavior of light in revolutionary new ways. This highlight article reviews recent developments in employing biological structures as unique templates for the fabrication of inorganic photonic crystals. Different biotemplating methods, including atomic layer deposition, conformal-evaporated-film-by-rotation and sol–gel chemistry, are introduced and discussed. Under optimized conditions these methods produce high-fidelity inorganic replica structures with improved sensing, light emission and photonic band gap properties.
Exon‐skipped dystrophins for treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy: Mass spectrometry mapping of most exons and cooperative domain designs based on single molecule mechanics

Force-bearing linkages between the cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix are clearly important to normal cell viability-as is evident in a disease such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) which arises in the absence of the linkage protein dystrophin. Therapeutic approaches to DMD include antisense-mediated skipping of exons to delete nonsense mutations while maintaining reading frame, but the structure and stability of the resulting proteins are generally unclear. Here we use mass spectrometry to detect most dystrophin exons, and we express and physically characterize dystrophin "nano"-constructs based on multiexon deletions that might find use in a large percentage of DMD patients. The primary structure challenge is addressed first with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) which can detect tryptic peptides from 53 of dystrophin's 79 exons; equivalent information from immunodetection would require 53 different high-specificity antibodies. Folding predictions for the nano-constructs reveal novel helical bundle domains that arise out of exon-deleted "linkers," while secondary structure studies confirm high helicity and also melting temperatures well above physiological. Extensional forces with an atomic force microscope nonetheless unfold the constructs, and the ensemble of unfolding trajectories reveal the number of folded domains, proving consistent with structure predictions. A mechanical cooperativity parameter for unfolding of tandem domains is also introduced as the best predictor of a multiexon deletion that is asymptomatic in humans. The results thereby provide insight and confidence in exon-skipped designs.
Primary prevention of high blood cholesterol concentrations in the United States.

Background: Mean concentrations of total cholesterol (TC) among adults have declined in the United States for decades. Whether the decline has been owing to prevention of high TC levels or treatment of high TC levels once present is not known. Objective: To determine whether population-wide influences and/or the high-risk approach have been operating to produce the well-known decline in mean TC concentration in the US population. Methods: We examined changes in the distribution of TC levels across US birth cohorts as sampled in the National Health Examination Survey and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys I, II, and III. We tested the hypotheses that the age-adjusted 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles of TC levels were lower in more recent US birth cohorts than in earlier cohorts. Results: Data were analyzed for 49 536 participants born between 1887 and 1975 and examined at ages 18 through 74 years between 1959 and 1994. The 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles of TC levels (adjusted for age, race, and sex) were estimated to be lower by 3.4, 3.9, 4.7, 5.7, and 7.1 mg/dL (0.09, 0.10, 0.12, 0.15, and 0.18 mmol/L), respectively, for every successive 10 years in date of birth (P<.001 for each estimate). Conclusions: The declines in TC levels associated with successive birth cohorts were greater at the upper aspect of the distribution, probably because of the combination of population influences and treatment effects. The differences seen at the lower percentiles support the contention that a strong prevention effect occurred in the US population from 1959 through 1994. Greater understanding of this dramatic shift in the distribution of TC levels could support future prevention efforts.
Interpersonal Tone Within School-Based Youth Mentoring Relationships:

This prospective, mixed-method study presents an in-depth view of school-based youth mentoring relationships using qualitative data from direct observations, in-depth interviews, and open-ended que...
Potential role of the CD38/cADPR signaling pathway as an underlying mechanism of the effects of medetomidine on insulin and glucose homeostasis.

Abstract Objective To investigate the CD38/cADPR signaling pathway as possible underlying mechanism of the effects of medetomidine on insulin and glucose homeostasis. Animals Thirty–two C57BL/6 mice of both sexes. Methods Wild–type (WT) and CD38–knockout (CD38 −/− ) mice received medetomidine (50 μg kg −1 ) or a similar volume of 0.9% NaCl (control) by intraperitoneal (IP) injection (each group n = 8). The mice were euthanized 45 minutes later with sodium pentobarbital IP and blood was sampled via cardiac puncture. Insulin and glucose concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay and by the oxygen rate method, respectively. Data were analyzed with anova and Bonferroni post hoc (5% significance) and are shown as mean ± SD. Results Plasma insulin and glucose concentrations were similar between WT and CD38 −/− mice under control conditions. As compared to controls, medetomidine administration produced a statistically significant decrease in plasma insulin concentrations in the WT mice whereas the decrease in the CD38 −/− mice was not statistically significant. Correspondingly, medetomidine caused a significantly greater increase in plasma glucose concentrations in the WT than in the CD38 −/− mice. Conclusion The CD38/cADPR signaling pathway may be one underlying mechanism of the glucose and insulin effects of the alpha–2 adrenergic receptor agonist medetomidine and likely other drugs of its’ class.
Glucose metabolism is linked to the inflammatory status of macrophages

Background Macrophages infiltrate adipose tissue at the onset of weight gain and directly contribute to adipose inflammation, insulin resistance, and obesity [1]. The type of fuel substrate utilized by macrophages is central to the formation of obesity, a global epidemic [2]. Our goal is to understand the role of macrophage glucose metabolism in the promotion of inflammation and insulin resistance during high fat diet-induced obesity. We hypothesize that macrophages with blunted or elevated glucose metabolism will display limited or exaggerated immune responses, and modulate susceptibility to insulin resistance and obesity, respectively.
Variations on Ringel's earth-moon problem

Abstract We use current graphs to find decompositions of complete graphs into subgraphs with certain embeddability properties. These decompositions provide solutions to various extensions of Ringel's earth–moon problem to other surfaces and to more than two surfaces. In particular, we find a decomposition of K 6 n +1 into n toroidal graphs, and from this get a decomposition of K 6 n into n projective-plane graphs. We find a decomposition of K 19 into three Klein bottle graphs and for n >3, we also conjecture that there exist decompositions of K 6 n +1 into n Klein bottle graphs. Finally, we find the 3-chromatic number for infinitely many different orientable surfaces.
RELATION OF CERTAIN PERSONALITY VARIABLES TO DECISION MAKING IN PERCEPTION.

tions were quantified in terms of the likelihood of false positive errors and hit rate over false alarm rate. Independently of the behavioral task, all Ss completed two personality inventories designed to assess need for approval and a dimension of internal vs external control of reinforcement. Scholastic Aptitude Test scores and Ss' estimates of the number of circles present in the stimulus set were incorporated as control variables. Results clearly show the effect of personality differences on guessing behavior. Subsequent related studies for psychophysics and juclgmental responses were suggested. Snidents of perception have argued that, when an individual is called upon to give a response, there are certain factors which influence his sensitivity and other factors which influence his judgment. Thac is, there are two aspects to the snldy of perception: determining an individual's decision axis and the relaced rule, and determining his criterion placement or cuc-off. The individual's decision axis is that decision rule which specifies the componencs of the physical objects used by the person to make a judgment. This is a general measure which is relatively independenc of everything other than the anatomical make-up and physiological processes of the individual. The cut-off refers to the individual's strategy, utility, costs, etc., in assigning the scirnulils object into a particular category (Smith & Wilson, 1953).
Mesenchymal stem cells: a new therapeutic tool for AKI

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common clinical complication, associated with poor outcomes and the development of chronic kidney disease. Despite major advances in the understanding of its pathophysiology, available therapies for AKI are only supportive; therefore, adequate functional recovery from AKI must predominantly rely on the kidney's own reparative ability. An extensive body of preclinical data from our own and from other laboratories has shown that administration of adult multipotent marrow stromal cells (commonly referred to as mesenchymal stem cells [MSCs]), effectively ameliorates experimental AKI by exerting paracrine renoprotective effects and by stimulating tissue repair. Based on these findings, a clinical trial has been conducted to investigate the safety and efficacy of MSCs administered to open-heart surgery patients who are at high risk of postoperative AKI. In this Perspectives article, we discuss some of the early data from this trial and describe potential applications for stem cell therapies in other fields of nephrology.
Corrosive wear behavior of 2014 and 6061 aluminum alloy composites

Alloys of 2014 and 6061 aluminum reinforced with 0.1 volume fraction of alumina particles (VFAP) were subjected to impact scratching during a corrosive wear process. The transient currents generated due to the impact were measured in the two composites as well as in their respective monoliths. The effect of solutionizing time on the transient currents was correlated to the near surface microstructures, scratch morphology, concentration of quenched-in vacancies, and changes in grain sizes. It was observed that the transient current values increase with an increase in solutionizing time, indicating that the corrosive wear behavior is not strongly affected by the grain boundaries. However, a combination of pitting and the galvanic corrosion may account for the typical corrosive wear behavior exhibited by the alloys and the composites of this study.
In Situ Study of Nb Oxide and Hydride for SRF Cavity Applications Using Aberration-Corrected STEM and Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy

Nb is the preferred material for superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavities in next-generation particle accelerators, but also exhibits a high solubility for oxygen and hydrogen, especially within the RF-field penetration depth. Using electron diffraction, we observe superlattice reflections near the SRF cavities surface at 300 K and 95 K, which are related to the ordering of oxygen and hydrogen atoms in the niobium crystal. High-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy images allow direct observation of light atoms, such as hydrogen, carbon and oxygen, and combined with EELS, we can reveal the element composition at grain boundaries and precipitates near the cavity surface. These changes in local composition will be related to the different cavity processing methods.
Specifics of risk management in select medical facility

Abstract Risk management in medical facilities within the Czech Republic is one of the important tasks of their management, supported by the Ministry of Health pursuant to the Luxembourg Declaration on Patient Safety. In connection with modern trends in integrated management, risk management should be an integral part of the “whole-hospital” management. The aim of the research realized under the support of IGA MZ CR within the project – Ref. nr. NT 14133 “Advancement of Safety of Nursing Care” has been identification and description of specifics of risk management from the aspect of nurse-managers in selected medical facilities. According to the addressed managers risk management is focused on detection of a risk situation in processes which lead or could lead to errors and mistakes. The aim of risk management in these hospitals has been elimination or reduction of occurrence of these risks which could damage patient's health as well as medical staff's health as well as the whole medical facility generally by its negative effect. Possible risks are actively sought out, identified and then assessed. Risk management has been connected with process management and quality management in examined medical facilities. Just the quality indicators, which have been established and followed by each medical facility, can also significantly influence risk management. Regular quality audits also contribute to detection of potential risk situations. Interconnection of management systems aims at deepening of system approach in management of medical facilities, continual advancement of health service quality, advancement of efficiency process and risk management.
Craze roles in the fatigue of polycarbonate

Unnotched specimens of polycarbonate were deformed to failure in equal tension-compression, under load control. Fracture surfaces exhibited two distinctly different crack propagation regimes. In the first zone, the crack moves forward through an already existing craze. Craze ageing at the crack tip is necessary for propagation and several stress cycles are required before the crack tip can move from arrest site to arrest site. In the second zone, the crack tip must form and age its own craze(s) before moving forward. In the initial stage of Zone 2, the crack mobility is still restricted by the age of the craze. Later in this zone, the crack tip is able to create craze and move through it in the same cycle. Static tensile deformation from 90% to 95% of the yield point produced an increase in the low-load fatigue life. This increase is explained on the basis of the mechanics of coarse crazes.
An infant with trisomy 9 mosaicism presenting as a complete trisomy 9 by amniocentesis.

We present a case in which amniocentesis performed at 33 weeks' gestation because of symmetrical intrauterine growth retardation and decreased amniotic fluid volume led to the prenatal diagnosis of a fetus with a karyotype of 47,XX,+9,t(1;20)(q42;p11.2) pat, i.e., with an extra chromosome 9 and a balanced translocation between chromosomes 1 and 20. At delivery, the baby showed clinical features of trisomy 9, yet chromosome analysis of the cord blood revealed no trisomy 9 cells, a finding confirmed by neonatal blood karyotyping. The balanced translocation was present in all cells. A skin biopsy confirmed trisomy 9 mosaicism with 10 per cent trisomy 9 cells. The baby died at 6 weeks and an autopsy was obtained. Chromosome analysis of different organs demonstrated different frequencies of the mosaicism of trisomy 9. The possible underlying mechanism for the discrepancy between the karyotype results by amniocentesis and those of other tissues is discussed.
Energy-dependent exchange of K+ in heart mitochondria. K+ influx.

The efflux 42K+ from isolated beef heart mitochondria under conditions of near steadystate K+ is increased by repiration and is sensitive to uncouplers and to exogenous Mg2 The respiration-dependent efflux is strongly activated by inorganic phosphate in the presence of external K+, but not Na+, and is inhibited by oxidative phosphorylation. Low concentrations of mersalyl also activate respiration-dependent efflux of 42K+ in the absence of net alteration in matrix K+. Acetate in the presence of mersalyl brings about net accumulation of K+ with retention of internal 42K+. The results are consistent with a model in which nearly constant matrix K+ is maintained by the regulated interplay between a K+ uniport (which is responsive to membrane potential and which is the pathway for K+ influx) and a K+H+ exchanger (which responds to the transmembrane pH differential and which is the pathway for net K+ efflux).
Adenoviral gene transfer in arteries of hypercholesterolemic nonhuman primates

Arterial gene transfer with adenoviral vectors is a promising approach for the treatment and prevention of vascular disorders. However, in small animals such as rats and rabbits adenoviral vectors can have deleterious effects on the artery wall. The effects of adenovirus in primate arteries have not been studied. AdRSVn-LacZ, a replication-defective adenoviral vector, was delivered to the left brachial arteries of six hypercholesterolemic cynomolgus monkeys; right brachial arteries received vehicle only. Serum was collected before gene transfer and at vessel harvest 9 or 10 days later. Recombinant gene expression was present in occasional endothelial cells of transduced arteries, and all animals generated neutralizing antibodies. In transduced arteries, immunostaining revealed a fourfold increase in intimal and medial macrophage accumulation (p < 0.05); intimal cellularity was also significantly increased (twofold; p < 0.05). T cell density and total cellular proliferation (determined by bromodeoxyuridine labeling) were unaffected. In hypercholesterolemic nonhuman primates, adenoviral vectors increase vessel wall inflammation and promote the progression of early atherosclerotic lesions. The long-term consequences of these observations remain unclear; however, a better understanding of host responses to specific vector systems appears necessary for the development of safe and effective approaches to human vascular gene therapy.
Technological Literacy Classes: The State of the Art

This paper presents information about technological literacy classes (TLCs) for liberal arts majors, emphasizing an engineering-based approach with a strong hands-on component. Engineering-based TLCs can increase technological literacy for liberal arts students and benefit engineering and engineering technology (ET) programs at the same time. The central goal of this paper is to provide resources for engineering and ET faculty interested in developing TLCs, including a summary of successful teaching strategies, an annotated bibliography, and a discussion of differing approaches to technological literacy. The paper proposes a working definition for technological literacy (drawing on “cultural literacy” (Hirsch)). A survey of technological literacy covers C. P. Snow's The Two Cultures, the New Liberal Arts (NLA) Program, and the Science/Technology/Society (STS) movement. The paper suggests formation of an ASEE group to specifically address technological literacy as a liberal art.
Decision theory and health resource allocations.

If it can be agreed that health care resources are finite, it follows that choices between competing needs must be made. Cost utility analysis is an application of decision theory which has been proposed as a strategy for making difficult social decisions about health resource allocations. This method is heavily dependent upon the measurement of social utilities for various health outcomes. Recent work in cognitive psychology suggests that there are important sources of distortion in such measurement. Ethical implications of application of cost utility analysis to health resource allocations are discussed.
Activation of the coagulation system in women with mitral stenosis and sinus rhythm.

Abstract Systemic embolism is a frequent complication in mitral stenosis (MS). 1 Its incidence increases with age and the presence of atrial fibrillation. 2,3 Although patients with MS and sinus rhythm can also develop systemic emboli, the frequency of this event is lower in these patients than in those with atrial fibrillation. 1 Patients with MS and atrial fibrillation are considered at high risk of systemic embolism and require anticoagulant therapy. 4 Because patients with MS and sinus rhythm are considered at low risk for systemic embolism, anticoagulant therapy is not routinely recommended. 4 It is desirable to identify patients with MS in sinus rhythm who are at high risk for systemic embolism. There are no reliable clinical or laboratory parameters available to stratify this risk. Recently developed assays are capable of detecting peptides released during activation of the coagulation cascade and thrombogenesis. 5,6 Measurement of these markers may be used to identify patients at risk for thromboembolism. This study was performed to test the hypothesis that there is activation of coagulation in patients with MS and sinus rhythm. Fibrinolytic activity was assayed by measuring D-dimers that are generated from plasmic degradation of cross-linked fibrin. 5 Thrombin activation was assayed by measuring thrombinantithrombin III complexes. 6
Sudden cardiac death in persons with normal (or near normal) hearts

Summary I have tried to provide a broad overview of the problem of cardiac arrest in the absence of structural heart disease or in the presence of minimal disease, as well as those disease states that are difficult to recognize. Exciting progress in this field has been made in recent years and I anticipate that we will continue to make progress in the future.