cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Continuous production of ethanol in a two-stage fermentation process using a protein — Phospholipid complex as a protective agent

Abstract A two-stage continuous fermentation process, using a continuous stirred tank fermenter (CSTF) and a tower fermenter (TF) connected in series, has been studied for ethanol production from d -glucose. The addition of a protein-phospholipid complex as a protective agent (PA) in the TF led to a three-fold increase in ethanol productivity and a 23.63% increase in final ethanol concentration in the tower effluent. The results are consistent with our previous findings on a cascade operation of CSTFs, namely, that the addition of PA to the tower increases cell tolerance towards ethanol at ethanol concentrations up to 70 gl −1 . Both studies indicate that beyond this experimentally determined critical ethanol concentration, ethanol production is significantly inhibited. Mathematical modelling of the behaviour of a single flocculated yeast floc suggested that, for yeast flocs up to 1 mm diameter, neither internal nor external diffusion of substrate is limiting. Therefore, a simplified mathematical method was developed for the analysis of the TF system. By plotting the calculated values from the derived performance equation and the experimental values of substrate conversion vs. residence time, good agreement was obtained between these two for the addition of PA. However, a small deviation was observed for the PA-free system.
Assessment of 'active investigation' as a potential measure of female sexual incentive motivation in a preclinical non-contact rodent model: observations with apomorphine.

Clinical studies have suggested therapeutic potential for the non-selective dopamine receptor agonist apomorphine, in treating female sexual dysfunction. However, experimental data suggest apomorphine may inhibit sexual behaviour in female rats. The aims of this study were: evaluate an alternate behavioural endpoint in a conscious, non-contact model of sexual behaviour; and secondly investigate apomorphine in this model. Proceptive behaviour was determined in sexually naive ovariectomised female rats as time spent actively investigating an inaccessible sexual incentive (sexually vigorous intact male rat) relative to time investigating a social incentive (castrated male rat) in an open field arena. Apomorphine (10, 30 and 100 microg/kg SC) induced a dose-related bell-shaped increase in proceptive behaviour, achieving significance (P<0.05) at 30 microg/kg, in females given a low (estrogen 1 microg/rat+progesterone 100 microg/rat) hormonal prime. This was equivalent to proceptive activity displayed by females given a high (estrogen 5 microg/rat+progesterone 250 microg/rat) hormonal prime in full behavioural oestrous. In contrast, in females given the high hormonal prime all doses tended to decrease proceptive activity. This study demonstrates that pro-sexual effects of apomorphine are critically dependent on hormone levels; sexual motivation is enhanced in animals given a low hormonal prime, but attenuated when given to animals in behavioural oestrous.
Experiments and modeling of the hydraulic resistance and heat transfer of in-line square pin fin heat sinks with top by-pass flow

Abstract In pin-fin heat sinks, the flow within the core exhibits separation and hence does not lend itself to simple analytical boundary layer or duct flow analysis of the wall friction. In this paper, we present some findings from an experimental and modeling study aimed at obtaining physical insight into the behavior of square, in-line pin fin heat sinks. In addition to the detailed pressure measurements, the overall thermal resistance was measured as a function of Reynolds number and by-pass height. A “two-branch by-pass model” was developed, in which a one-dimensional difference approach was used to model the fluid flow through the heat sink and its top by-pass duct. Inlet and exit pressure losses were as important as the core pressure drop in establishing the overall flow and pressure drop. Comparisons were made with the data using friction and heat transfer coefficients available in the literature for infinitely long tube bundles of circular cross-section. It was shown that there is a good agreement between the temperature predictions based on the model and the experimental data at high approach velocities for tall heat sinks, however the discrepancy increases as the approach velocity and heat sink height decrease. The validated model was used to identify optimum pin spacing as a function of clearance ratio.
Safety of the process industries in the 21st century: A changing need of process safety management for a changing industry

Over past decades a fundamental need has grown for change regarding safety control in the process industries. Traditionally, strong focus exists on identification and control of potential hazards by materials and conditions in process installations applying tools like HAZOP, FTA, LOPA and installing adequate measures. The majority of the companies use these techniques as basis for process safety management. However, new situations increasingly appear to develop resulting in accidents that cannot be controlled by these basically technical analysis techniques. Current accidents seem almost always the result of a combination of organizational issues, lack of (or weak) competency and technical failures of (ageing) equipment. Contributing aspects of today's situation are increasing turnover with at the same time reduction of labor and staff and a growing complexity of process installations facilitated by continuous (and faster) development of sophisticated designs of process control and safeguarding technology. It is in this perspective where, due to a number of successive changes, a new situation originates. This enhances the need for a new kind of process safety management. The objective of this paper is to underpin observations, illustrate typical characteristics of the current situation and indicate directions that could lead to solving these new process safety problems.
Survival of Brook Trout Embryos in Three Episodically Acidified Streams

Abstract We evaluated, for brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis in three streams that undergo episodic acidification during critical periods of embryo development, survival of embryos from egg deposition to preemergence in natural redds and survival of sac fry in toxicity tests done in situ. Twenty-five natural redds were used for comparisons among streams. Median survival to preemergence (range, 16–68%) was different (P ≤ 0.05) among streams and was inversely related to stream concentration of inorganic monomeric Al. Survival to preemergence was not related to intragravel dissolved oxygen concentration, gravel quality, or depth or velocity of stream water at redd sites. Median survival of sac fry exposed to stream water for 39 d was different among streams (range, 51–95%) and was inversely related to stream concentration of inorganic monomeric Al. Episodic acidification could lead to declines in populations of brook trout by causing decreased survival of early life stages.
Non-Euclidean diffusion and Fermat photons in turbid media

A comprehensive derivation of a Fokker-Planck-type equation for the photon distribution function in a highly forward scattering medium and its exact path integral solution are presented. The solution describes the transition from the ballistic propagation regime to the diffusion-like behavior and leads to a Generalized Fermat Principle (GFP) governing the most favorable photon paths (Sigma) along and near by which the most of photons ('Fermat' photons) propagate. Examples of temporal intensity profile and 'Fermat' photons paths are presented, discussed and compared with the results of standard diffusion model.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Social Capital and Vulnerability from the Family, Neighborhood, School, and Community Perspectives.

This article reviews research and offers program examples for developing social capital in youth with a range of vulnerabilities: emotional, physical, social, and developmental. Protective factors provided by developing social capital at the individual level include access to support networks, transition to employment, and community connectedness. The authors feature approaches from the cooperative extension system, which links university and community resources, and identify exemplary programs that support social capital development by intervening with families, schools, neighborhoods, and communities.
The actin cross-linking domain of the vibrio cholerae RTX toxin directly catalyzes the covalent cross-linking of actin

Vibrio cholerae is a Gram-negative bacterial pathogen that exports enterotoxins to alter host cells and to elicit diarrheal disease. Among the secreted toxins is the multifunctional RTX toxin, which causes cell rounding and actin depolymerization by covalently cross-linking actin monomers into dimers, trimers, and higher multimers. The region of the toxin responsible for cross-linking activity is the actin cross-linking domain (ACD). In this study, we further investigated the role of the ACD in the actin cross-linking reaction. We show that the RTX toxin cross-links actin independently of tissue transglutaminase, thus eliminating an indirect model of ACD activity. We demonstrate that a fusion protein of the ACD and the N-terminal portion of lethal factor from Bacillus anthracis (LFNACD) has cross-linking activity in vivo and in crude cell extracts. Furthermore, we determined that LFNACD directly catalyzes the formation of covalent linkages between actin molecules in vitro and that Mg2+ and ATP are essential cofactors for the cross-linking reaction. In addition, G-actin is proposed as a cytoskeletal substrate of the RTX toxin in vivo. Future studies of the in vitro cross-linking reaction will facilitate characterization of the enzymatic properties of the ACD and contribute to our knowledge of the novel mechanism of covalent actin cross-linking.
The relation of the light-induced increase in absorbance at 518 nm to photophosphorylation in digitonin subchloroplast particles

Received 16 February 1970 1. Introduction A proton translocating system is closely associated with energy conservation during electron transport in chloroplasts [ 11, mitochondria [2] and bacterial chro- matophores [3] . Mitchell ([4] , cf. also [5]) has pointed out that these H+ movements might create not only a H+ concentration gradient, but also a membrane poten- tial across the coupling membrane, and that the sum of both represents the high energy state with drives phosphorylation. Whereas H+ movements can be de- tected as a change in the pH of the suspending medium, the measurement of a membrane potential is more difficult. However, Witt and collaborators (cf. [5]) proposed that the light-induced increase in absorbance at 5 18 nm reflects an electric potential across the chlo- roplast membrane. A similar correlation has been estab- lished for the light-induced “carotenoid shift” in chro- matophores [7,8]. In subchloroplast particles prepared by sonication (SCP), photophosphorylation can occur even when the light-induced H+ uptake is completely inhibited by NH&l or amines [9] . Moreover, valinomycin enhances the uncoupling of phosphorylation in SCP by NH&l [lo], and ethylamine partially reverses this effect. Since the combination of valinomycin and Nq would be expected to dissipate a membrane potential, it was concluded that ethylamine, which interferes with N&i
Application-level voltage and frequency tuning of multi-phase program on the SCC

With the technology advancement, we are quickly progressing towards the many-core era. Corresponding to this shift, techniques on how we program such chip are beginning to change. The Single-Chip Cloud Computer (SCC) is an experimental processor created by Intel Labs. When programmer is given direct control over the frequency and voltage of the cores, ideally we want to identify the phases of the program based on their computation intensity and associate frequency and voltage configuration correspondingly. In order to achieve power and energy saving in this way, however, we need to search through the entire domain of various voltage and frequency combinations supported by the chip, which is a daunting task. In this study, we propose to employ two popular optimization algorithms, i.e., Differential Evolution and Nelder-Mead Simplex, to help identifying the best configuration corresponding to various metrics, i.e., execution time, power, energy, and energy-delay product (EDP). Our experimental evaluation shows that, with a large search space of possible combinations, we can identify the configuration that provides the best result for each specific metric, which aids the tuning for individual phases.
LBP proteins modulate SF1-independent expression of P450scc in human placental JEG-3 cells.

The cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme, P450scc, initiates biosynthesis of all steroid hormones. Adrenal and gonadal P450scc expression requires steroidogenic factor-1 (SF1), but P450scc expression in human placental JEG-3 cells utilizes an SF1-independent element at −155/−131 that is inactive in adrenals and gonads. We previously cloned two transcription factors, long terminal repeat binding protein (LBP)-1b and LBP-9, from JEG-3 cells. In transient transfection assays, LBP-1b activated the −155/−131 element whereas LBP-9 suppressed its LBP-1b-stimulated expression. To assess the roles of these factors on the intact P450scc gene, we stably expressed LBP-1b or LBP-9 in JEG-3 cells. All cell lines stably expressing a fusion protein of LBP-1b and enhanced green fluorescent protein increased P450scc expression, but cell lines stably expressing LBP-9 fused to enhanced green fluorescent protein either increased or decreased P450scc expression. 8-Br-cAMP induced endogenous LBP-9, but not LBP-1b expression. ...
The collarless metal-ceramic crown

A technique has been developed whereby collarless metal-ceramic crowns can be fabricated by spot-welding the platinum-foil matrix to the casting after it has been contoured for porcelain application. The main advantage of this procedure over previously reported techniques is that it produces well fitted restorations while requiring a lesser degree of technical skill.
Enhancement of in vitro immune responses of murine Peyer's patch cultures by concanavalin A, muramyl dipeptide and lipopolysaccharide.

Immunofluorcscent and esterase staining of Peyer's patch (PP) cell preparations from six mouse strains showed that each strain possessed approximately eqtial numbers of T and B cells but less than 1% esterase-positive cells (macrophages; Mψ). The addition of concanavalin A (Con A) to either lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-responsive C3H/HeN or LPS-non-responsive C3H/Hej PP cultures immunized with sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) resulted in good anti-SRBC plaque-forming cell responses, whereas the addition of Con A to PP cultures from SRBC orally primed C3H/HeJ mice resulted in significantly higher in vitro responses to trinitrophenyl-conjugated SRBC than similarly treated cultures from C3H/HeN mice. On the other hand, muramyl dipeptide (MDP) promoted higher responses in PP cultures derived from either normal or carrier-primed LPS-rcsponsive (C3H/HeN) mice than were observed with C3H/HeJ PP cultures. A similar pattern of responsiveness was seen when LPS prepared by a phenol-water extraction procedure (LPS(Ph)) was added to PP cultures. When LPS prepared by a bntanol-water extraction method was used, PP cultures from both C3H/HeN and C3H/HeJ mice were enhanced; however, the response of C3H/HeN PP cultures was significantly greater than that seen with C3H/HeJ PP cultures. The enhanced responsiveness of C3H/HeN PP cultures to MDP was probably due to an effect on the Mψ, since addition of MDP to either C3H/HeN or C3H/HeJ PP cultures containing C3H/HeN splenic adherent cells resulted in significantly enhanced immune responses. C3H/HeJ splenic Mψ did not promote adjuvant responses. LPS(Ph) augmentation of immune responses required that Mψ (spleen) and PP cultures be derived from LPS-re-sponsive C3H/HeN mice. These results demonstrated that Con A, MDP, and LPS promoted immune responses of PP cultures to the T-dependent antigen, SRBC. Evidence is presented that Con A enhanced T-helper-cell activity, whereas MDP and LPS required the presence of LPS-responsive Mψ for augmentation of immune responses.
Early prediction of pharmaceutical oxidation pathways by computational chemistry and forced degradation.

Purpose. To show, using a model study, how electronic structure theory can be applied in combination with LC/UV/MS/MS for the prediction and identification of oxidative degradants.
Top-Down Approach for a Linguistic Fuzzy Logic Model

A top-down approach is introduced for processing nonlinear linguistic fuzzy logic within the Mamdani model itself in order to reduce the computational efforts. The top-down approach is composed of three steps: 1 directly obtain the best set of linguistic terms, 2 find the matching rule antecedents and their output values, and 3 visit the neighbor terms. A numerical example is provided along with detailed analysis of the approach. In addition, the approach is applied to a simplified aircraft conflict detection task. The results show that the top-down approach is effective at reducing the amount of computation compared to the classical search approach.
Effect of External or Internal Fecal Contamination on Numbers of Bacteria on Prechilled Broiler Carcasses

Abstract During processing, fecal material may contact broiler carcasses externally or internally. A study was conducted to determine the effect of external vs. internal fecal contamination on numbers of bacteria on broiler carcasses. In each of 3 trials, 12 carcasses just prior to evisceration were obtained from a commercial processing plant, placed on a shackle line, and eviscerated with commercial equipment in a pilot scale processing plant. Also, approximately 20 intestinal tracts were collected from the processing plant; then cecal contents were collected and pooled. One gram of cecal content was placed on the exterior breast skin (external), inside the carcass cavity (internal), or not applied (control). All carcasses were held 10 min, then placed on the shackle line and passed through a commercial inside-outside bird washer set at 552 kPa, 5 s dwell time, using approximately 189 L per min of tap water at ambient temperature. After a 1-min drip, whole carcass rinses were conducted on each carcass, and coliforms, Escherichia coli, and Campylobacter counts were determined and reported as log cfu/mL of rinse. External carcass contamination resulted in significantly higher (P
Development of crystalline order during hot-drawing of poly(ethylene terephthalate) film: influence of strain rate

Abstract We have studied the evolution of crystalline order during drawing of poly(ethylene terephthalate) at 90°C and at strain rates in the range 0.01–2.1 s −1 . The onset of crystallization always occurs at the inflection point in the stress-strain relationship, which shifts to higher strain levels and lower stress levels as strain rate decreases. Crystallinity develops in two regimes: in the low stress regime (regime 1) crystallinity increases more rapidly than in the high stress regime (regime 2). The onset of regime 2 occurs in the region of the sharp upturn in the stress-strain relationship, which shifts to higher strain levels as strain rate decreases, and at a characteristic level of crystallinity, which is independent of strain rate. We suggest that regime 1 involves the formation of a crystallite network which, at the characteristic level of crystallinity, has sufficiently crosslinked and reinforced the polymer that further deformation generates large stresses. WAXS determinations of lateral crystallite dimensions, normal to the 010 and 100 planes, reveal that crystallization in regime 2 involves modest growth of small crystallites (∼2.5−3.5 nm), with preferential growth occurring normal to 010. A preliminary investigation of the influence of molecular weight indicates that a lower rate of molecular relaxation at higher molecular weight reduces the strain-rate dependent shift in the onset of crystallization.
Characterizing Surface Roughness of Thin Films by Polarized Light Scattering

The polarization of light scattered by the surface of a material contains information that can be used to identify the sources of that scatter. In this paper, first order vector perturbation theory for light scattering from interfacial roughness of a dielectric layer is reviewed. In addition, methods for calculating the Stokes vector for scatter from multiple sources and for decomposing a Stokes vector into contributions from two non-depolarizing scattering sources are provided. The polarization of light scattered from interfacial roughness depends upon the relative roughness of the two interfaces and the degree of phase correlation between the two interfaces. Experimental results are presented for three cases: a nominally conformal film, a nominally anticonformal film, and a lateral offset roughness film. The method works well for the nearly conformal film. Difficulties that arise for the other two cases are discussed.
Influence of Protein Intake, Fasting and Refeeding on Liver Size and Composition in Chicks

Abstract MANY of the metabolic functions involving the liver can he accentuated or depressed by dietary changes indicating the labile nature of the liver. Alterations in feed consumption, changes in organ size and composition and changes in enzyme activities have been observed in animals subjected to dietary changes. Studies by Harrison and Long (1945) demonstrated that fasting rats for a period of 48 hours resulted in a loss of liver glycogen, protein and water. Refeeding of a 40% casein or lactalbumin diet resulted in a return of the liver protein to control levels but liver weight was still lower than those of the control animals fed ad libitum. Tepperman and Tepperman (1958) observed that the changes in liver weight of rats during fasting-refeeding experiments were due to deglycogenation followed by extensive glycogen deposition. Freedland and Harper (1957) found that liver glycogen decreased when rats were fed a high protein diet. Featherston…
The influence of logo design on country image and willingness to visit: A study of country logos for tourism

Abstract This study examines the influence of tourism logo design on people's country image and their intention to visit the country being promoted. In an online survey, undergraduate students were exposed to the tourism logos of Australia, Kenya, and Malawi. The results show that students’ evaluations of a country's logo significantly affected their image of the country and their willingness to visit it after controlling for pre-existing knowledge and attitude toward the object country.
Computing minimal generators of integer matrix sequences (abstract only)

We describe a fraction free matrix Berlekamp/Massey algorithm. The algorithm behaves like a scalar algorithm by performing block eliminations through multiplication by adjoint matrices. The adjoints are computed using fraction free diagonalization. We also describe an interesting classification of the unique minimal generators of a linearly generated scalar integer sequence. A counter example to the scalar theorem is given for linearly generated integer matrix sequences.
Shock structure in jets of arbitrary exit geometry

The shock structure and hydrodynamic stability of single and twin jets with arbitrary exit geometry are studied. Both vortex sheets and realistic mean profiles are considered for the jet shear layer. The boundary element method is used to predict the shock spacing and screech tones in a vortex sheet model of a single jet. Results are given for circular, elliptic and rectangular jets and the results compared with analysis and experiment. A finite difference technique is used to examine the effect of finite mixing layer thickness for a single jet. The hydrodynamic stability of twin circular jets is also considered. The variation of the stability characteristics are presented for the vortex sheet case for several separation distances. The formulation of the problem to account for finite thickness effects is also given.
Effect of Cross-Linked Resistant Starch on Wheat Tortilla Quality.

ABSTRACT Resistant starch (RS) ingredients are an attractive option to increase dietary fiber in baked products. This study determined the effect of two forms of cross-linked and pregelatinized cross-linked RS, Fibersym-RW (Fsym) or FiberRite-RW (FRite), respectively, from wheat on dough and tortilla quality and acceptability. Refined wheat tortillas with 0% (control) to 15% RS (flour basis) were made using a standard baking process. Tortillas with 100% whole white wheat were also made. Physical and rheological properties of dough and tortillas, and sensory profile of tortillas were evaluated. Dough with whole wheat and 15% FRite were significantly harder and less extensible than the control dough; this was related to high water absorption of these doughs. Tortillas with whole wheat and 10–15% FRite were less puffed and denser than the control; however these levels of FRite significantly increased tortilla weight (by up to 6.2%). Dough and tortillas with Fsym were comparable to the control. Dietary fiber ...
Q 2 evolution of multihadron fragmentation functions

In order to characterize jet structure more completely than is possible with the single-hadron fragmentation functions of partons, we deduce the evolution (in Q/sup 2/) equations for the fragmentation functions of a parton to fragment into an arbitrary number N of hadrons. The solution to the evolution equations is explicitly displayed in terms of multiple moments for the N-hadron fragmentation functions. Our procedure is simpler than using the rules of the jet calculus. We also show how the Q/sup 2/ dependence of these fragmentation functions can be understood in a recursive cascade-model framework in which both the momentum and the amount by which a parton is off its energy shell (as measured by Q/sup 2/) are reduced at each branching step during jet formation. This reformulation suggests an alternative way for solving the evolution equations in which moment inversion is not required.
The N-Terminal Transmembrane Domain of λ S Is Required for Holin but Not Antiholin Function

The λ S gene encodes a holin, S105, and an antiholin, S107, which differs by its Met-Lys N-terminal extension. The model for the lysis-defective character of S107 stipulates that the additional N-terminal basic residue keeps S107 from assuming the topology of S105, which is N-out, C-in, with three transmembrane domains (TMDs). Here we show that the N terminus of S105 retains its fMet residue but that the N terminus of S107 is fully deformylated. This supports the model that in S105, TMD1 inserts into the membrane very rapidly but that in S107, it is retained in the cytoplasm. Further, it reveals that, compared to S105, S107 has two extra positively charged moieties, Lys2 and the free N-terminal amino group, to hinder its penetration into an energized membrane. Moreover, an allele, S105ΔTMD1, with TMD1 deleted, was found to be defective in lysis, insensitive to membrane depolarization, and dominant to the wild-type allele, indicating that the lysis-defective, antiholin character of S107 is due to the absence of TMD1 from the bilayer rather than to its ectopic localization at the inner face of the cytoplasmic membrane. Finally, the antiholin function of the deletion protein was compromised by the substitution of early-lysis missense mutations in either the deletion protein or parental S105 but restored when both S105ΔTMD1 and holin carried the substitution.
Vascular perfusion with fluorescent labeled lectin to study ovarian functions

The aim of this study was to optimize a method to visualize tissue vascularity by perfusing the local vascular bed with a fluorescently labeled lectin, combined with immunofluorescent labeling of selected vascular/tissue markers. Ovaries with the pedicle were obtained from adult non-pregnant ewes. Immediately after collection, the ovarian artery was perfused with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) to remove blood cells, followed by perfusion with PBS containing fluorescently labeled Griffonia (Bandeiraea) simplicifolia (BS1) lectin. Then, half of ovary was fixed in formalin and another half in Carnoy's fixative. BS1 was detected in blood vessels in ovaries fixed in formalin, but not in Carnoy's fixative. Formalin fixed tissue was used for immunofluorescence staining of two markers of tissue function and/or structure, Ki67 and smooth muscle cell actin (SMCA). Ki67 was detected in granulosa and theca cells, luteal and stromal tissue, and a portion of Ki67 staining was co-localized with blood vessels. SMCA was detected in pericytes within the capillary system, in blood vessels in all ovarian compartments, and in the stroma. Thus, blood vessel perfusion with fluorescently labeled lectin combined with immunohistochemistry, microscopy, and imaging techniques provide an excellent tool to study angiogenesis, vascular architecture, and organ structures and function in physiological and pathological conditions.
Modelling of infrared bandpass filters using three-dimensional FDTD method

A three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain algorithm was developed to model the spectral behaviour of infrared bandpass filters consisting of plus-shaped openings in a thin gold film. This algorithm incorporates the Lorentz-Drude model to accurately describe the frequency-dependent permittivity of the gold at IR frequencies. The computed transmission spectrum is compared with measured data and excellent agreement between the two results is observed.
Outcomes of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass stratified by a body mass index of 70 kg/m2: a comparative analysis of 825 procedures.

We compared the safety, excess weight loss (EWL), and improvement in comorbidities after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) in morbidly obese and superobese patients (body mass index, or=70 kg/m2). Of 825 patients who underwent RYGB by our group between 1995 and 2003, 79 (9.6%) were superobese (group A) and 746 were morbidly obese (group B). There were significant differences in age (A, 40.8 years; B, 43.2 years; P=0.01), gender (males: A, 40.5%; B, 17.6%; P<0.0001), and type of access (laparoscopic RYGB: A, 4.1%; B, 34.2%; P<0.0001). Sleep apnea (A, 57%; B, 31.4%; P<0.0001) and venous insufficiency (A, 16.5%; B, 2.4%; P<0.0001) were more common in superobese patients. Hospital stay was similar (A, 6.3 days; B, 5.3 days) with adjustment for differences in type of access. Although morbidity was comparable, mortality was higher in the superobese group (A, 2.5%; B, 0.5%; P<0.05). At a comparable follow-up (A, 17.7 months; B, 18.25 months), percent EWL at 1 year was lower in the superobese group (A, 54.6%; B, 64.3%; P<0.0001), but it became similar at 3 years (A, 66.5%; B, 60.7%). Postoperative improvement of comorbidities was equally dramatic in both groups with the exception of venous insufficiency. In conclusion, complications are not increased in the superobese, but they are more often fatal. Superobese patients achieve their maximum weight loss in a longer period of time and reach their nadir at year 3.
A rivalry of foulness: Official and unofficial investigations of the London cholera epidemic of 1854

Contemporaneous with John Snow's famous study of the 1854 London cholera epidemic were 2 other investigations: a local study of the Broad Street outbreak and an investigation of the entire epidemic, undertaken by England's General Board of Health. More than a quarter-century prior to Koch's description of Vibrio comma, a Board of Health investigator saw microscopic "vibriones" in the rice-water stools of cholera patients that, in his later life, he concluded had been cholera bacilli. Although this finding was potential evidence for Snow's view that cholera was due to a contagious and probably live agent transmitted in the water supply, the Board of Health rejected Snow's conclusions. The Board of Health amassed a huge amount of information which it interpreted as supportive of its conclusion that the epidemic was attributable not so much to water as to air. Snow, by contrast, systematically tested his hypothesis that cholera was water-borne by exploring evidence that at first glance ran contrary to his ex...
A Novel empirical mode decomposition based system for medical image enhancement

In this paper, we introduce a system for enhancing medical images. The proposed system utilizes Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition (EEMD) to decompose the signal into distinct frequency components called intrinsic mode functions (IMFs). These components will be enhanced individually and then recombined to construct the enhanced image. The novelty of the proposed approach is in the method of enhancement and combination of the IMFs. The experimental results demonstrate the performance of the proposed algorithm in visualizing many details that are hidden in the original image. Compared with some existing methods, such as Histogram Equalization, LSD ACE, cascaded unsharp masking and tile-based local enhancement, the new method shows to be more effective in enhancing the images that consist of varying illumination in several regions.
Efficient Gabor filter design for texture segmentation

Gabor filters have been successfully applied to a broad range of image processing tasks. The present paper considers the design of a single filter to segment a two-texture image. A new efficient algorithm for Gabor-filter design is presented, along with methods for estimating filter output statistics. The algorithm draws upon previous results that showed that the output of a Gabor-filtered texture is modeled well by a Rician distribution. A measure of the total output power is used to select the center frequency of the filter and is used to estimate the Rician statistics of the Gabor-filtered image. The method is further generalized to include the statistics of postfiltered outputs that are generated by a Gaussian filtering operation following the Gabor filter. The new method typically requires an order of magnitude less computation to design a filter than a previously proposed method. Experimental results demonstrate the efficacy of the method.
Neointimal Hyperplasia in Early Arteriovenous Fistula Failure

Background Hemodialysis vascular access dysfunction currently is a huge clinical problem. Although arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are the preferred form of permanent dialysis access, they continue to have significant problems with early AVF failure. Although inadequate dilatation of the venous segment was believed to have a role in early AVF failure, the exact pathogenesis of early AVF failure is unknown despite the magnitude of the clinical problem. Study Design Case series. Setting & Participants Hemodialysis patients. Outcomes & Measurements Stenotic venous segments from 4 patients with early AVF failure were subjected to a detailed histological, morphometric, and immunohistochemical analysis. Results All 4 patients had significant luminal stenosis, primarily as a result of eccentric neointimal hyperplasia. This was confirmed through morphometric analysis, which documented intima-media area and thickness ratios that were greater than unity. Cellular phenotyping studies showed that the majority of cells within the region of neointimal hyperplasia were myofibroblasts, with smaller numbers of contractile smooth muscle cells. Limitations We described only a limited number of specimens. Conclusions We show for the first time that aggressive neointimal hyperplasia is present in venous segment specimens from patients with early AVF failure. Future therapies to address this problem will need to target this pathogenetic pathway.
The Effect of Race on Decisions by Judges and Other Officers of the Court1

This study examined the impact of the ethnic group of defendant and victim on perceptions of a simulated trial. The subjects were judges, prosecuting attorneys, defense attorneys, and probation officers. People of different racial groups are perceived and would be treated differently by the respondents. Most respondents perceived the White defendant as a more serious offender than a minority defendant. However, there was one very important exception—judges. Judges indicated that a minority defendant who victimized a White was more likely to commit future crimes. Minority respondents and different occupational groups responded in diverse ways. Chen's filtering model of case processing in the criminal justice system (1991) is used to explain these results.
Girls' cognitions of hypothetical friends: Are they related to depression, loneliness, social anxiety and perceived similarity?:

We examined in 100 girls whether girls' depression, loneliness, social anxiety, and perceived similarity were related to their cognitions of hypothetical friends (prosocial, withdrawn/ depressed, and aggressive). Depression, loneliness, and social anxiety were each related to various friend-related cognitions, but only social anxiety and loneliness had unique relations when these three internalizing problems were examined simultaneously and with perceived similarity. After accounting for the three internalizing constructs, perceived similarity was related to higher wanting to be friends with and perceived acceptance from all three hypothetical friends, lower not wanting aggressive girls as friends, and lower expected rejection by prosocial girls. Findings highlight the importance of perceived similarity, and the importance of examining depression, loneliness, and social anxiety simultaneously, when assessing girls' friendship-related cognitions.
universals and rule options in kinship terminology: a synthesis of three formal approaches

Extension rules, relational analysis, and componential analysis are integrated into a new generative model of kinship terminology focusing on the universal aspects of kin-term systems. Widely divergent consanguineal systems (Crow-Omaha, Dravidian, Iroquois, and Eskimo) are shown to share a substantial core of rules and to display virtually identical relationships between superordinate categories. Tax's rule of uniform reciprocals applies without exception at the proper level of abstraction. Primary differences between systems, such as cross! parallel phenomena, follow from the interaction of universal rules with a small number of rule options. [kinship terminology, universals, generative model, extension rules, relational analysis, componential analysis]
Clinical Hints and Precipitating Factors in Patients Suffering from Meniere's Disease

Meniere disease is one of the most fascinating and most vexing of all clinical conditions encountered by the otolaryngologist. Operationally speaking, a Meniere ear is a fragile ear. In fact, Meniere disease can and should be redefined as a degenerating inner ear that has impairment of one or more homeostatic systems, resulting in instability of hearing and balance function. This updated definition is a valuable guide to the clinical epidemiology and presentation of Meniere disease and to understanding the effects of conservative treatments. In the absence of a definitive test for Meniere disease, the greatest challenge for the clinician may be differentiating this condition from migraine. Ultimately, Meniere vertigo attacks are controllable in more than 99% of cases, but hearing loss and other auditory symptoms tend to be unresponsive to treatment.
Modified Topographic Amplification Factors for a Single-Faced Slope due to Kinematic Soil-Structure Interaction

In this paper, we evaluate the additive effects of topography, soil nonlinearity, and soil-structure interaction SSI along the crest of an idealized 40 m high cliff-type topographic feature with slope inclination 300, where excessive damage was observed during the Athens 1999 earthquake. The objective of this paper is to investigate the relative contribution of topographic amplification, and kinematic SSI as a function of the incident motion frequency content and geotechnical site conditions for a surface and an embedded structure located at the cliff crest. For this purpose, we perform elastic parametric and nonlinear site-specific two-dimensional finite element simulations using three profiles and six input motions. We illustrate the role of SSI in altering the response at the location of peak topographic amplification potential behind the crest, the effects of incident motion incoherency on the transient structural response, and the beneficial contribution of structural embedment. We finally suggest that empirical models for base-slab averaging of shallow foundations, developed as a function of site conditions, structural dimensions and center line location, could be combined with topographic amplification factors to predict realistic design spectra for structures located on irregular topographic features.
Methods for precise named entity matching in digital collections

In this paper, we describe an interactive system, built within the context of CLiMB project, which permits a user to locate the occurrences of named entities within a given text. The named entity tool was developed to identify references to a single art object (e.g. a particular building) with high precision in text related to images of that object in a digital collection. We start with an authoritative list of art objects, and seek to match variants of these named entities in related text. Our approach is to "decay" entities into progressively more general variants while retaining high precision. As variants become more general, and thus more ambiguous, we propose methods to disambiguate intermediate results. Our results will be used to select records into which automatically generated metadata will be loaded.
Fim/atom Probe Studies of B—doped and Alloyed Ni3Ai

Field—ion microscopy and atom probe microanalysis have been used to determine thestructure and chemistry of grain boundaries in ductile, recrystallized Ni3Al containing 0.23 at % B (500 wt.ppm). The results indicate that the boron concentration fluctuates along the boundary plane and that the boron enriched zone is wider than expected from equilibrium—type adsorption. It was also found that boron lowers the aluminum concentration of some of the boundary regions.
III-V HBTs for microwave applications: technology status and modeling challenges

This paper provides an overview of GaAs HBT applications to microwave power amplifiers, and discusses associated technology challenges, and modeling issues. On-going research efforts with GaInP-GaAs and GaInNAs-GaAs heterostructures are described. The development of comprehensive large signal models for amplifier design is reviewed; nonlinearity mechanisms, saturation effects, thermal effects, ledge effects, and heterojunction effects are discussed.
Higher Copper Concentrations in Serum Than in Plasma

Serum and plasma were analyzed for copper by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Serum copper values were significantly higher than the corresponding values for plasma. The reasons for this difference are not known.
Microbiota regulate the ability of lung dendritic cells to induce IgA class-switch recombination and generate protective gastrointestinal immune responses

Protective immunoglobulin A (IgA) responses to oral antigens are usually orchestrated by gut dendritic cells (DCs). Here, we show that lung CD103(+) and CD24(+)CD11b(+) DCs induced IgA class-switch recombination (CSR) by activating B cells through T cell-dependent or -independent pathways. Compared with lung DCs (LDC), lung CD64(+) macrophages had decreased expression of B cell activation genes and induced significantly less IgA production. Microbial stimuli, acting through Toll-like receptors, induced transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) production by LDCs and exerted a profound influence on LDC-mediated IgA CSR. After intranasal immunization with inactive cholera toxin (CT), LDCs stimulated retinoic acid-dependent up-regulation of α4β7 and CCR9 gut-homing receptors on local IgA-expressing B cells. Migration of these B cells to the gut resulted in IgA-mediated protection against an oral challenge with active CT. However, in germ-free mice, the levels of LDC-induced, CT-specific IgA in the gut are significantly reduced. Herein, we demonstrate an unexpected role of the microbiota in modulating the protective efficacy of intranasal vaccination through their effect on the IgA class-switching function of LDCs.
Instantaneous Pressure Reconstruction from Measured Pressure Gradient using Rotating Parallel Ray Method

This paper presents a novel pressure reconstruction method featuring rotating parallel ray omni-directional integration. It is an improvement over the circular virtual boundary integration method for non-intrusive instantaneous pressure measurement in incompressible flow field. Unlike the old method, where the integration path is originated from a virtual circular boundary at a finite distance from the integration domain, the new method utilizes parallel rays, which can be viewed as being originated from a distance of infinity, as guidance for integration paths. By rotating the parallel rays, omni-directional paths with equal weights coming from all directions toward the point of interest at any location within the computation domain are generated, thus eliminating the inherent location dependence of the integration weight in the old algorithm. By implementing this new algorithm, the accuracy of the reconstructed pressure for a synthetic rotational flow in terms of r.m.s. error from theoretical values is reduced from 1.03% to 0.30%. Improvement is further demonstrated from the comparison of the reconstructed pressure with the direct numerical simulation generated pressure from the Johns Hopkins University isotropic turbulence database (JHTDB).
Practical Software Engineering Strategies for Scientific Computing

Software engineering is a formal set of tools and procedures for the efficient development of reliable software. Scientific computing software differs from other types of software because the “correct” outputs for a given set of software inputs are generally not known. Since scientific computing relies on approximate numerical solutions to partial differential or integral equations, the answers produced by the software will depend on the mesh employed, the time step chosen, the iterative convergence tolerance used, the number of significant figures used in the floating point computations, etc. The goal of this paper is to provide a broad overview of modern software engineering practices, with a focus on tools and methods that are particularly relevant to scientific computing. Specific topics that are emphasized include software development models, choice of programming language, version control systems, static analysis tools, dynamic testing procedures, and the quantitative assessment of software quality and reliability.
Rapid ampicillin susceptibility testing for Haemophilus influenzae.

Recent isolations of strains of Haemophilus influenzae resistant to ampicillin necessitate the development of a rapid, dependable, reproducible method of determining their antibiotic susceptibility. An agar-dilution method permitting susceptibility determinations on clinical specimens within 6–18 hours of specimen collection was designed. Chocolate agar biplates were made with one side having no additive and the other containing 2 μg/ml ampicillin. Seventy clinical specimens (cerebrospinal fluid, joint fluid, car fluid, pleural fluid, blood culture broth) were streaked directly onto both sides of the plates when received in the laboratory and incubated at 35–37 C in 10% CO2. Reliable, readable results were usually available within 6–18 hours of receipt of the specimen and correlated completely with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) determined by the agar-dilution plate method, although standard disk susceptibilities occasionally indicated false resistance. Susceptible strains (MIC < 2 μ g/ml) grew on the antibiotic-free side of the biplate only. The rapid determination of ampicillin susceptibility allows optimal antibiotic selection for the treatment of Haemophilus influenzae infections with early discontinuation of potentially toxic supplementary drugs.