cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stability assessment of slopes in rock governed by the Hoek-Brown strength criterion

Abstract Instabilities in rock slopes are often triggered along planar joints with weakened shear strength, inducing translational failures. In intact rocks, however, the kinematics of failure may exhibit rotation, which is a more common occurrence also in soil slopes. A slope instability in a geomaterial governed by the Hoek-Brown failure criterion is analyzed, and two measures of the slope safety are considered: the stability number and the factor of safety . A consistent method is developed to arrive at the factor of safety for geomaterials with nonlinear strength envelopes. An argument is presented to justify the application of plasticity theorems in rocks, and a collapse mechanism is developed consistent with the Hoek-Brown failure criterion and the normality flow rule. Not surprisingly, the kinematic approach of limit analysis indicates that the safety measures for slopes are greatly dependent on the Geological Strength Index of the rock. Although the limit analysis used in the paper does not allow calculation of the true stress distribution in the rock, the method allows approximately estimating the stress vector on the rupture surface. It appears that for gentle slopes the stress vector is predominantly in the compression regime, but with an increase in the slope inclination the range of the rupture surface with tensile stress increases. This may very well be the chief reason why steeper slopes are more prone to failures. Results of calculations presented in the paper indicate that the stability numbers based on the proposed method are generally higher compared to those from the limit equilibrium and finite element methods , and the factors of safety are lower. Considering that the method used yields a strict upper bound to the factor of safety and lower bound to the stability number, this observation imparts confidence in the method of analysis presented in the paper.
Vascular repairs in gynecologic operations are uncommon but predict major morbidity and mortality.

Abstract Objective Gynecologic surgery has potential for adjunct vascular interventions, given the proximity of major intra-abdominal and pelvic blood vessels. Our goal was to determine contemporary incidence, associations, and outcomes of vascular repairs in gynecologic operations. Methods The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (2005-2017) was queried for patients undergoing elective gynecologic operations. Vascular repairs were performed concurrently or during reoperation. Univariable and multivariable analyses evaluated associations with vascular repairs and 30-day morbidity. Results A total of 201,224 gynecologic operations were identified: hysterectomy (88.3%), myomectomy (5.9%), adnexal surgery (3.5%), vulvovaginectomy/other (1.1%), nonadnexal tumor or cyst excision (0.5%), ectopic pregnancy treatment (0.4%), and pelvic lymphadenectomy (0.3%). There were 187 vascular repairs in 176 (0.09%) patients. Repairs were typically concurrent (89.8%) and most commonly included open abdominal blood vessel repair (51.8%), major abdominal artery ligation (25%), vena cava reconstruction/ligation (6%), common iliac vein ligation (4.2%), and aorta/great vessel repair (4.2%). A minority were performed endovascularly (1.7%). Patients undergoing vascular repairs were older (56 vs 46 years), were more likely to have an open vs minimally invasive/vaginal operation (71.6% vs 28.4%), and were more likely to have a hysterectomy (85.2%; P Conclusions Whereas vascular repairs during gynecologic operations are rare, they are associated with morbidity and mortality. These findings provide an evidence base for risk assessment and informed consent.
Hiring Retiring-Age CEOs

More than 10% of the S&P 1500 companies have hired a CEO who starts the job near or above the conventional retirement age of 65 years old. This phenomenon exists among all industries and persists over time. Firms are more likely to hire retiring CEOs when the CEO job risk is high and when the firm is in distress. Retiring CEOs receive lower total compensation, the compensation structure puts a higher weight on nonequity‐based compensation, and have a shorter tenure. Retiring CEOs can be beneficial to shareholders when they are hired for the right purpose.
Do dendritic cells hold the key to regulating cancer antitumor immunity

PD-L1 blockage on dendritic cells, but not macrophages, may enhance antitumor or CD8+ T cell responses leading to greater tumor growth inhibition.
A Binuclear CuA Center Designed in an All α-Helical Protein Scaffold.

The primary and secondary coordination spheres of metal binding sites in metalloproteins have been investigated extensively, leading to the creation of high-performing functional metalloproteins; however, the impact of the overall structure of the protein scaffold on the unique properties of metalloproteins has rarely been studied. A primary example is the binuclear CuA center, an electron transfer cupredoxin domain of photosynthetic and respiratory complexes and, recently, a protein coregulated with particulate methane and ammonia monooxygenases. The redox potential, Cu-Cu spectroscopic features, and a valence delocalized state of CuA are difficult to reproduce in synthetic models, and every artificial protein CuA center to-date has used a modified cupredoxin. Here, we present a fully functional CuA center designed in a structurally nonhomologous protein, cytochrome c peroxidase (CcP), by only two mutations (CuACcP). We demonstrate with UV-visible absorption, resonance Raman, and magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy that CuACcP is valence delocalized. Continuous wave and pulsed (HYSCORE) X-band EPR show it has a highly compact gz area and small Az hyperfine principal value with g and A tensors that resemble axially perturbed CuA. Stopped-flow kinetics found that CuA formation proceeds through a single T2Cu intermediate. The reduction potential of CuACcP is comparable to native CuA and can transfer electrons to a physiological redox partner. We built a structural model of the designed Cu binding site from extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy and validated it by mutation of coordinating Cys and His residues, revealing that a triad of residues (R48C, W51C, and His52) rigidly arranged on one α-helix is responsible for chelating the first Cu(II) and that His175 stabilizes the binuclear complex by rearrangement of the CcP heme-coordinating helix. This design is a demonstration that a highly conserved protein fold is not uniquely necessary to induce certain characteristic physical and chemical properties in a metal redox center.
Higher-order mesh generation using CISAMR: A case study on bias in presentation and interpretation of results

Abstract A modified version of the Conforming to Interface Structured Adaptive Mesh Refinement (CISAMR) algorithm is presented for the construction of higher-order Lagrangian and NURBS-enhanced (NE) finite element meshes. CISAMR non-iteratively transforms a structured grid into a conforming mesh with an upper bound of three on elements aspect ratio. In this work, we introduce new algorithmic aspects for generating higher-order Lagrangian and NE meshes using CISAMR. For each type of element, a comprehensive study is then provided on the performance of first, second, and third-order meshes for solving linear elastic problems with smooth and oscillatory curvilinear edges. Local gradient recovery error and computational cost are used as performance metrics in these examples. Outcomes are then used as a case study to elucidate common sources of bias in presenting and interpreting results. In particular, we show how bias, whether purposeful or not, could lead to misleading conclusions regarding the performance of a method.
A tale of two genera: the revival of Hoplodoris (Nudibranchia: Discodorididae) with the description of new species of Hoplodoris and Asteronotus.

Nudibranchs in the family Discodorididae are generally medium (~30mm) to large (> 50mm) in size, sometimes cryptic, and are found in almost every marine ecosystem around the world. The diversity and systematics of the genera within Discodorididae are poorly understood and have led to numerous taxonomic changes. Hoplodoris Bergh, 1880 has recently been considered a synonym of Asteronotus Ehrenberg, 1831; however, morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses reveal a distinct separation between these two genera. Here we provide a re-description of the type species Hoplodoris desmoparypha as well as descriptions of four undescribed species of Asteronotus and Hoplodoris. Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood analyses of two mitochondrial and two nuclear genes were used to evaluate the phylogenetic positions of the new species and clarify the relationships between Asteronotus and Hoplodoris to the rest of the Discodorididae. Based on our results, Hoplodoris is removed from synonymy with Asteronotus. Descriptions for Asteronotus markaensis sp. nov., and Asteronotus namuro sp. nov. from the Red Sea, as well as Hoplodoris balbon sp. nov. and Hoplodoris rosans sp. nov. from the western Pacific are provided.
Depolarizing GABAA current in the prefrontal cortex is linked with cognitive impairment in a mouse model relevant for schizophrenia.

Cognitive impairment in schizophrenia (CIAS) is the most critical predictor of functional outcome. Limited understanding of the cellular mechanisms of CIAS hampers development of more effective treatments. We found that in subchronic phencyclidine (scPCP)–treated mice, an animal model that mimics CIAS, the reversal potential of GABAA currents in pyramidal neurons of the infralimbic prefrontal cortex (ILC) shifts from hyperpolarizing to depolarizing, the result of increased expression of the chloride transporter NKCC1. Further, we found that in scPCP mice, the NKCC1 antagonist bumetanide normalizes GABAA current polarity ex vivo and improves performance in multiple cognitive tasks in vivo. This behavioral effect was mimicked by selective, bilateral, NKCC1 knockdown in the ILC. Thus, we show that depolarizing GABAA currents in the ILC contributes to cognitive impairments in scPCP mice and suggest that bumetanide, an FDA-approved drug, has potential to treat or prevent CIAS and other components of the schizophrenia syndrome.
Rapid qPCR-Based Water Quality Monitoring in New York State Recreational Waters

Public swimming beaches often rely on culture-based methods to determine if fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) levels are greater than health risk-based beach action values (BAV). The slow turnaround time of culture-based assays can prevent effective beach closure and reopening decisions. Faster on-site testing methods are needed. Additionally, beach closures are currently based on high FIB levels, but at-present there are no tools to examine the health risks to bathers from myriad pathogens (e.g., bacteria, viruses, protozoa) that may be present in recreational waters. Twelve New York State beaches (n=9 freshwater and n=3 marine) were monitored over the course of summer 2018, and two of the freshwater beaches were monitored in fall 2017 as part of a preliminary study. A rapid, in-field workflow for detecting fecal enterococci in water samples was tested using four assays on two Biomeme handheld devices. All Biomeme-based workflows involved in-field DNA extractions and qPCR using portable devices. Beach water samples were also analyzed using EPA-approved or EPA-based qPCR methods: two culture-based methods, Enterolert (targeting enterococci at freshwater and marine beaches) and Colilert (targeting E. coli at freshwater beaches); and one qPCR method based on EPA 1611.1. For low abundance pathogen quantification, nanoscale-qPCR was conducted in 2018 using the Pathogen Panel which targeted 12 viral, bacterial, and protozoal pathogens. In fall 2017, the qPCR-based methods performed similarly to Enterolert (r2 from 0.537 to 0.687) and correctly classified 62.5-75.0% of water samples for a BAV of 104 MPN per 100 ml. In summer 2018, the correlation between Enterococcus levels based on Biomeme qPCR and Enterolert varied substantially between the 12 beaches. Inclusion of diverse regions and beach types may have confounded the Biomeme qPCR results. The EPA 1611.1-based method showed a weak, significant correlation (r2 = 0.317, p = 0.00012) with Enterolert. Nanoscale-qPCR showed low-levels of pathogens present at all beach sites; but only 3 showed up with any substantial frequency, E. coli eae (25% of samples), norovirus (31.4%), and Giardia lamblia (11.4%). Preliminary studies to establish beach-specific correlation curves between rapid qPCR and Enterolert methods are needed before any qPCR assay is used to inform beach decisions.
Indiana's Constitution and the Problem of Admission to the Bar

IT would seem that the necessity of an adequate legal education as a prerequisite for admission to the Bar should have become an accepted stand ard of individual and public conduct. It would seem that to defend or expound the validity of such a standard ought to be "wasted energy": that one ought to be able to assert that "the proposition is so well settled that the court does not feel called upon to cite authority to sustain it." The truth is, however, that there is respectable (but in all kindness, mistaken) opinion to the con trary. Each attempt to amend the Indiana Consti tution to specifically allow the use of such a stand ard in passing on applications for admission to the Bar has disclosed some persons actively opposed to the proposed change "upon principle." The present time is no exception, and we find some lawyers, judges and laymen more or less actively opposed to any amendment to the constitution or any legis lation or judicial action looking to such a change. It has, therefore, been thought desirable to re examine the proposition, with the hope of convinc ing both those who are opposed, or uninterested, and to place the argument and data for the affirma tive of the proposition before the lawyers and citi zens of the State. So far as I know no one has been officially appointed to reply to these arguments. It is neces sary, therefore, for me to state the views of the opposition. But I hasten to asure you that I have no illusion that I have thereby any real advantage. I appreciate that this is a gathering of free Amer ican Lawyers, enslaved with the idea that nobody shall be permitted to get away with anything, nor shall he be permitted to do all of the talking, es pecially for both sides. But so far as I have been able to discover the arguments against an adequate legal education as a requirement for admission to the Bar are these: 1. We have got along without it for more than a hundred years: why change? 2. It was unneeded eighty years ago: there fore it is unneeded now. 3. It necessarily fails to take care of the ex ceptional individual who might become a valued lawyer and citizen were he permitted to pursue his ambitions unhindered by such a requirement. 4. It creates a monopoly. 5. Upon principle it is fundamentally wrong. When this subject was assigned to me last winter it was assumed that the citizens of the state
Endurance exercise training in older patients with heart failure: results from a randomized, controlled, single-blind trial.

Exercise intolerance is the primary symptom in patients with chronic heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), is a major contributor to their severely reduced health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and often persists even after full guidelines-based pharmacological therapy is implemented. A number of studies have suggested that endurance exercise training (ET) can improve important outcomes in patients with HFrEF.1–3 A small study,3 a meta-analysis,4 and now a randomized, controlled trial5 suggest that ET may also reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with HFrEF. In contradiction to these “positive” ET studies, there are also several published reports6,7 suggesting that a significant percentage of patients with HFrEF do not respond favorably to ET. The large Heart Failure: A Controlled Trial Investigating Outcomes of Exercise Training (HF ACTION) trial demonstrated that 3 months of supervised ET resulted in a modest, albeit statistically significant, 4% improvement in exercise capacity in well-managed patients with HFrEF.5 An important limitation of currently published studies is that few have included significant proportions of elderly patients with HFrEF, even though elderly people constitute the majority of the population with HFrEF. This limits the generalizability of the currently available studies, including the HF ACTION study, in which the median age of subjects was just 59. Furthermore, uncertainty regarding the effect of ET in older persons with heart failure has contributed to the lack of Medicare reimbursement for medically supervised ET in this population. Therefore, the primary objective of the present study was to perform an adequately powered, randomized, controlled, single-blind trial to test the hypothesis that ET improves exercise capacity and HRQOL in older persons with HFrEF. Four domains pivotal to the pathophysiology of the HF syndrome were assessed before and after the 16-week ET intervention: exercise performance, left ventricular (LV) structure and function, neuroendocrine activation, and HRQOL.
Do Prescription Drug Ads Tell Consumers Enough About Benefits and Side Effects? Results From the Health Information National Trends Survey, Fourth Administration

Direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising (DTCA) is a major source of consumer information about prescription drugs. The present study updates 2002 U.S. Food and Drug Administration phone survey questions that found that 44% and 61% of consumers thought that DTCA did not include enough information about benefits and risks, respectively. The present study was administered by mail using a nationally representative sample, and provides a more in-depth understanding of how these beliefs relate to demographic and health characteristics. Data collected from 3,959 respondents to the National Cancer Institute's 2011 Health Information National Trends Survey find results similar to the 2002 survey: 46% and 52% of respondents thought that DCTA did not include enough information about benefits and risks, respectively. Respondents fell into four groups: 23% agreed that DTCA tells enough about drug benefits and risks, 41% disagreed, 18% expressed no opinion, and 18% had discordant beliefs. DTCA attitudes were n...
Fe-ZSM-5 for Selective Catalytic Reduction of NO with NH3: A Comparative Study of Different Preparation Techniques

Fe-ZSM-5 are prepared by using four different techniques: conventional aqueous ion-exchange (CA), improved aqueous ion-exchange (IA), solid-state ion-exchange (SS) and chemical vapor ion-exchange (CV). All of the catalysts show very high activities for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO with ammonia. However, the activities are different and follow the sequence of Fe-ZSM-5 (IA) > Fe-ZSM-5 (CA), Fe-ZSM-5 (SS) > Fe-ZSM-5 (CV). ESR results indicate that Fe3+ ions with tetrahedral coordination are the active sites for the SCR reaction.
Designing rhythmic motions using neural oscillators

Neural oscillators offer simple and robust solutions to problems such as locomotion and dynamic manipulation. However, the parameters of these systems are notoriously difficult to tune. This paper presents an analysis technique which alleviates the difficulty of tuning. The method is based on describing function analysis, and can predict the steady state motion of the system, analyze stability, and be used to determine robustness to system changes. The method is illustrated using a number of design examples including an implementation of juggling on a real robot.
The Deep Grammar of Distribution: A Meta-Theory of Justice

Justice is the soul of the law, and, happily for lawyers, the past forty years have been particularly fertile where justice theorizing is concerned. The period in question has been so very rich in competing theories, however, that the non-specialist lawyer is apt all too easily to lose sight of the forest for the particular trees. This article aims to bring order to the wide array of justice theories on offer by means of a theory of theories - a 'metatheory' - of justice. It does so by reference to the fundamental structure that all such theories must share. This structure is helpfully elaborated by reference to the case grammar of 'to distribute' and cognate infinitives - 'to allocate,' 'to apportion,' 'to mete out,' etc. Pursuant to that grammar, all complete accounts of justice must say something about who they take to be distributing, what they are distributing, to whom they are distributing it, pursuant to what pattern they are distributing it, and, if the theory purports to have practical import, by what means or mechanisms they do the distributing. Comparing competing accounts of justice along these several axes facilitates critique and selection, not to mention improvement. It also reveals that some theorists who take themselves to be in disagreement actually talk past one another, for differences along one axis often are cancelled out by compensatingly varying differences along other axes. The metatheory here offered thus offers us means of finding our way about the forest of justice theories in a manner that ultimately illuminates the nature of justice itself.
Basic Statistical Tools for Improving Quality

Preface. 1 The Importance of Quality Improvement. 1.1 Introduction. 1.2 What is Statistical Process Control? 1.3 The Birth of Quality Control. 1.4 What is a Process? 1.5 Examples of Processes from Daily Life. 1.6 Implementing the Tools and Techniques. 1.7 Continuous Process Improvement. 1.8 The Goal of Statistical Process Control. 1.9 The Eight Dimensions of Quality for Manufacturing & Service. 1.10 The Cost of (Poor) Quality). 1.11 What Did We Learn? 1.12 Test Your Knowledge. 2 Graphical Display of Data. 2.1 Introduction to eZ SPC. 2.2 Qualitative and Quantitative Data. 2.3 Bar Graph. 2.4 Pie Chart. 2.5 Pareto Chart. 2.6 Radar Chart. 2.7 Histogram. 2.8 Box Plot. 2.9 Scatter Plot. 2.10 Cause and E(R)ect Diagram. 2.11 What Did We Learn? 2.12 Test Your Knowledge. Exercises. 3 Summarizing Data. 3.1 Central Tendency. 3.2 Variability. 3.3 Statistical Distributions. 3.4 Distributions in eZ SPC. 3.5 What Did We Learn? 3.6 Test Your Knowledge. Exercises. 4 Analyzing Data. 4.1 Confidence Intervals. 4.2 Test of Hypothesis. 4.3 The p value. 4.4 Probability Plots. 4.5 What Did We Learn? 4.6 Test Your Knowledge. Exercises. 5 Shewhart Control Charts. 5.1 The Concepts of a Control Chart. 5.2 Managing the Process with Control Charts. 5.3 Variable Control Charts. 5.4 Attribute Control Charts. 5.5 Deciding Which Chart to Use. 5.6 What Did We Learn? 5.7 Test Your Knowledge. Exercises. 6 Advanced Control Charts. 6.1 CUSUM Control Chart. 6.2 EWMA Control Charts. 6.3 CV Control Chart. 6.4 Nonparametric Control Charts. 6.5 Process Capability. 6.6 Gage R & R. 6.7 What Did We Learn? 6.8 Test Your Knowledge. Exercises. 7 Process Improvement. 7.1 Correlation Analysis. 7.2 Regression Analysis. 7.3 Experimental Design. 7.4 Overview of Experimental Design. 7.5 Principles of Experimentation. 7.6 One-Way Analysis of Variance . 7.7 Two Way Analysis of Variance. 7.8 Two-level Factorial Design Analysis. 7.9 What Did We Learn? 7.10 Test Your Knowledge. Exercises. 8 End Material. 8.1 Final Exam. 8.2 Final Exam Solutions. 8.3 Test Your Knowledge: Answers. References. Glossary. Subject Index.
Diversity of Wolbachia pipientis Strain wPip in a Genetically Admixtured, Above-Ground Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae) Population: Association with form Molestus Ancestry and Host Selection Patterns

Analysis of molecular genetic diversity in nine marker regions of five genes within the bacteriophage WO genomic region revealed high diversity of the Wolbachia pipentis strain wPip in a population of Culex pipiens L. sampled in metropolitan Chicago, IL. From 166 blood fed females, 50 distinct genetic profiles of wPip were identified. Rarefaction analysis suggested a maximum of 110 profiles out of a possible 512 predicted by combinations of the nine markers. A rank-abundance curve showed that few strains were common and most were rare. Multiple regression showed that markers associated with gene Gp2d, encoding a partial putative capsid protein, were significantly associated with ancestry of individuals either to form molestus or form pipiens, as determined by prior microsatellite allele frequency analysis. None of the other eight markers was associated with ancestry to either form, nor to ancestry to Cx. quinquefasciatus Say. Logistic regression of host choice (mammal vs. avian) as determined by bloodmeal analysis revealed that significantly fewer individuals that had fed on mammals had the Gp9a genetic marker (58.5%) compared with avian-fed individuals (88.1%). These data suggest that certain wPip molecular genetic types are associated with genetic admixturing in the Cx. pipiens complex of metropolitan Chicago, IL, and that the association extends to phenotypic variation related to host preference.
Structure, Dynamics, and Receptor Binding of Opa Proteins

Opacity associated (Opa) outer membrane proteins are eight-stranded β-barrels from the bacteria Neisseriae that induce engulfment of the bacterium in non-phagocytic host cells by binding to host receptors. To determine high-resolution structures of Opa proteins and Opa-receptor complexes, the selection of the membrane mimic is important in capturing the complex. Mimic selection is largely empirical, and only a select few detergents and nanodiscs have led to the six published solution NMR β-barrel membrane protein structures. NMR spectra of membrane proteins are extremely variable in quality in different detergents and often do not lead to structure determination. Using two eight stranded β-barrel model systems, Opa50 and Opa60 from Neisseria gonorrhoeae, solution conditions that influence the NMR spectra were systematically investigated in order to gain an understanding of the interactions between the bilayer mimic and membrane protein that stabilize a fold for structural and functional investigations. Ionic strength had a significant impact on the quality of NMR spectra for Opa50 and relaxation data indicate that observed spectral line broadening is due to interactions between the extracellular loops within a monomeric protein-detergent complex. To determine if this effect was due solely to detergent interactions, phospholipid nanodiscs were used to examine Opa50 and Opa60 structure and receptor binding. We have found that the reconstituted Opa-nanodiscs retain a fold similar to that in dodecylphosphocholine detergent, which provides a more suitable environment for investigating Opa proteins with the cognate soluble receptor in ITC and fluorescence polarization assays.
A wald test for the multivariate analysis of variance:small sample critical values

The Wald test can be applied to test all standard hypotheses in the univariate and multivariate ANOVA models, linear and log-linear multinomial models, linear and nonlinear regression models, and many other models by making minor changes to the test statistic. Because of its simplicity and generality, the Wald test has great practical and pedagogical appeal. However, in a number of cases including the multivariate analysis of variance model (MANOVA), the Wald test can only be used with very large samples because its exact distribution is unknown and approximations are highly inaccurate in the multivariate case. The Bartlett-Nanda-Pallai Trace (BNPT), Lawley-Hotelling Trace (LHT), Wilk's Lambda (WL), and Roy's Maximum Root (RMR) also can be used to test hypotheses in the MANOVA model. But unlike the multivariate Wald test tables of critical values have been developed for these statistics so they can be used in small samples, A table of critical values for the multivariate Wald test is introduced here that ...
The Use of Imagined Interactions to Manage Relational Uncertainty

The specific processes through which people manage relational uncertainty are not fully understood. Imagined interactions were hypothesized as a cognitive process associated with experiencing relational uncertainty following a conversation with the partner. An online survey of 177 undergraduates examined the association between three types of relational uncertainty (self, partner, and relationship) and the attributes and functions of imagined interactions. Results revealed negative associations between relationship uncertainty and the valence attribute and the catharsis function, as well as a positive association between self-uncertainty and the conflict management function. Canonical correlation analyses revealed relational uncertainty was associated with the functions of conflict management, catharsis, relational maintenance, and compensation. Implications, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.
Texture and structure of gelatin/pectin-based gummy confections

Abstract The texture of gelatin:high-methoxyl pectin gummy gels was quantified by instrumental and sensory techniques and their microstrucuture examined by light and transmission electron microscopy. Gelatin:HM pectin confectionery gels (33.4% sucrose and 29.8% 42 DE corn syrup solids) with 3.0, 4.5, or 6.0% gelatin and 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, or 1.5% HM pectin were formed into oval-shaped samples and fractured in tension. Descriptive sensory evaluation was done on seven of these gels in duplicate by 10 experienced panelists using free choice profiling. The addition of pectin reduced the strain at fracture of gelatin gels. Stress at fracture could be described by upper and lower bound behavior. Microstructural analysis suggested that at high total polymer or pectin concentration, increased phase viscosity and rate of gelation influenced structure by preventing coalescence of the dispersed gelatin-rich phase. Micrographs suggested that gelatin in the pectin-rich phase was concentrated enough to gel and contributed to mixed gel properties. Gels were described variously as soft to firm and brittle to rubbery. Mixed gels were more fruity, sweet, and tart than pure gelatin gels. Gels with a high degree of coalescence of the dispersed phase were described as pulpy. Sensory texture first principal component values correlated with strain at fracture (r=0.90), log [stress at fracture] (r=0.87), and flavor first principal component values (r=0.83).
Practical tolerancing and performance implications for XUV projection lithography reduction systems (Poster Paper)

Practical considerations that will strongly affect the imaging capabilities of reflecting systems for extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) projection lithography include manufacturing tolerances and thermal distortion of the mirror surfaces due to absorption of a fraction of the incident radiation beam. We have analyzed the potential magnitudes of these effects for two types of reflective projection optical designs. We find that concentric, symmetric two-mirror systems are less sensitive to manufacturing errors and thermal distortion than off-axis, four-mirror systems.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Hemolysis in Different Centrifugal Pumps

Abstract: Different types of centrifugal pumps cause different amounts of hemolysis based on shear stress and blood exposure time. However, the hemolytic characteristics of centrifugal pumps in each clinical condition are not always clear. We compared the hemolytic characteristics of one cone-type centrifugal pump (Medtronic Bio-Medicus BP-80) and 2 impeller-type centrifugal pumps (Nikkiso HMS-12 and Terumo Capiox) under experimental conditions simulating their use in cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS) as well as their use as left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). The normalized indexes of hemolysis (NIHs; grams free plasma hemoglobin per 100 L blood pumped) during use as LVADs were not significantly different among the 3 pumps. The BP-80 pump produced almost 3–fold more hemolysis than the HMS-12 and Capiox pumps during CPB, 3– to 4–fold more hemolysis during ECMO, and 5.5–fold more hemolysis during PCPS. The 2 impeller-type centrifugal pumps will therefore cause less hemolysis under high flow, high pressure difference (as in CPB) and low flow, high pressure difference (as in ECMO and PCPS) conditions than the cone-type pump.
Accurate Staging of Carcinoma of the Penis in Men with Nonpalpable Inguinal Lymph Nodes by Modified Inguinal Lymphadenectomy

AbstractPurpose: The accuracy and safety of a modified inguinal lymphadenectomy in the staging of penile cancer cases with nonpalpable groin nodes were assessed.Materials and Methods: A modified inguinal lymph node dissection in which the saphenous vein is preserved together with reduction of the lateral, distal and proximal margins of dissection was performed on 12 consecutive men with invasive squamous carcinoma of the penis and negative inguinal nodes.Results: Five patients were identified with nodal metastasis. The sites of inguinal node involvement were localized within the boundaries of the dissection in all patients. No major complications occurred, and no permanent lymphedema or flap necrosis was encountered. With a followup of 14 to 72 months no patient has had recurrent disease.Conclusions: The modified inguinal dissection is a reliable staging technique that also provides therapeutic benefit to patients with penile cancer and clinically negative nodes.
Presence Revisited: Imagination, Competence, and Activity in Text-Based Virtual Worlds

Presence is the sense of being caught up in the representations of virtual worlds. Drawing on social and literary theories and on ethnographic fieldwork, this paper examines the ways in which imagination, competence, and activity promote or undermine a sense of presence in online text-based environments known as MOOs. These factors vary for newbies, socials, and techies, categories that reflect differences in length of experience in participating in these worlds, in comfort and/or competence in the use of commands for navigation and communication, and in the interests and/or degree of participation in socializing or programming.
Estimates of New and Total Productivity in Central Long Island Sound from In Situ Measurements of Nitrate and Dissolved Oxygen

Biogeochemical cycles in estuaries are regulated by a diverse set of physical and biological variables that operate over a variety of time scales. Using in situ optical sensors, we conducted a high-frequency time-series study of several biogeochemical parameters at a mooring in central Long Island Sound from May to August 2010. During this period, we documented well-defined diel cycles in nitrate concentration that were correlated to dissolved oxygen, wind stress, tidal mixing, and irradiance. By filtering the data to separate the nitrate time series into various signal components, we estimated the amount of variation that could be ascribed to each process. Primary production and surface wind stress explained 59 and 19 %, respectively, of the variation in nitrate concentrations. Less frequent physical forcings, including large-magnitude wind events and spring tides, served to decouple the relationship between oxygen, nitrate, and sunlight on about one quarter of study days. Daytime nitrate minima and dissolved oxygen maxima occurred nearly simultaneously on the majority (>80 %) of days during the study period; both were strongly correlated with the daily peak in irradiance. Nighttime nitrate maxima reflected a pattern in which surface-layer stocks were depleted each afternoon and recharged the following night. Changes in nitrate concentrations were used to generate daily estimates of new primary production (182 ± 37 mg C m−2 day−1) and the f ratio (0.25), i.e., the ratio of production based on nitrate to total production. These estimates, the first of their kind in Long Island Sound, were compared to values of community respiration, primary productivity, and net ecosystem metabolism, which were derived from in situ measurements of oxygen concentration. Daily averages of the three metabolic parameters were 1,660 ± 431, 2,080 ± 419, and 429 ± 203 mg C m−2 day−1, respectively. While the system remained weakly autotrophic over the duration of the study period, we observed very large day-to-day differences in the f ratio and in the various metabolic parameters.
Dendritic cells get VIP treatment

Comment on Fujita et al, page [3656][1], Gonzalez-Rey et al, page [3632][2], and Chorny et al, page [3787][3] Three manuscripts in this issue of Blood describe induction of immune tolerance by dendritic cells (DCs) generated in vitro in the presence of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) or IL-
Information-theoretic uncertainty of SCFG-modeled folding space of the non-coding RNA.

Abstract RNA secondary structure ensembles define probability distributions for alternative equilibrium secondary structures of an RNA sequence. Shannon's entropy is a measure for the amount of diversity present in any ensemble. In this work, Shannon's entropy of the SCFG ensemble on an RNA sequence is derived and implemented in polynomial time for both structurally ambiguous and unambiguous grammars. Micro RNA sequences generally have low folding entropy, as previously discovered. Surprisingly, signs of significantly high folding entropy were observed in certain ncRNA families. More effective models coupled with targeted randomization tests can lead to a better insight into folding features of these families. Availability: URL 〈 http://www.plantbio.uga.edu/∼russell/index.php?s=1&n=5&r=0 〉 .
The Big Pharma conspiracy theory

This essay outlines the broad themes of the conspiracy theory that pharmaceutical companies, regulators, politicians, and others are secretly working in consort against the public interest. This so-called Big Pharma conspiracy theory shares a number of features with other conspiracy narratives, but some features make this particular subgenre of conspiracy theory especially intractable and dangerous.
Excitation spectra of structurally dimerized and spin-Peierls chains in a magnetic field

The dynamical spin structure factor and the Raman response are calculated for structurally dimerized and spin-Peierls chains in a magnetic field, using exact diagonalization techniques. In both cases there is a spin liquid phase composed of interacting singlet dimers at small fields $hl{h}_{c1},$ an incommensurate regime ${(h}_{c1}lhl{h}_{c2})$ in which the modulation of the triplet excitation spectra adapts to the applied field, and a fully spin-polarized phase above an upper critical field ${h}_{c2}.$ For structurally dimerized chains, the spin gap closes in the incommensurate phase, whereas spin-Peierls chains remain gapped. In the spin liquid regimes, the dominant feature of the triplet spectra is a one-magnon bound state, separated from a continuum of states at higher energies. There are also indications of a singlet bound state above the one-magnon triplet.
A Method for In Situ Test and Analysis of Nuclear Plant Equipment

Requalification of equipment in operating nuclear power plants to present-day criteria can be an expensive undertaking; however in situ measurements and data analysis procedures can be used to significantly reduce these costs. The procedures necessary to develop a required response spectrum for an instrument located at an elevated position within a base-fixed enclosure from modal analysis parameter measurements on the enclosure while installed in operating nuclear plant is addressed. Several examples are given to demonstate the ability of the procedures to develop the parameters necessary to predict component elevated responses from postulated enclosure base motion without recourse to analytical structural modeling of the base-fixed structure.
Mechanical behavior of zirconium diboride–silicon carbide ceramics at elevated temperature in air

Abstract The mechanical properties of zirconium diboride–silicon carbide (ZrB2–SiC) ceramics were characterized from room temperature up to 1600 °C in air. ZrB2 containing nominally 30 vol% SiC was hot pressed to full density at 1950 °C using B4C as a sintering aid. After hot pressing, the composition was determined to be 68.5 vol% ZrB2, 29.5 vol% SiC, and 2.0 vol% B4C using image analysis. The average ZrB2 grain size was 1.9 μm. The average SiC particles size was 1.2 μm, but the SiC particles formed larger clusters. The room temperature flexural strength was 680 MPa and strength increased to 750 MPa at 800 °C. Strength decreased to ∼360 MPa at 1500 °C and 1600 °C. The elastic modulus at room temperature was 510 GPa. Modulus decreased nearly linearly with temperature to 210 GPa at 1500 °C, with a more rapid decrease to 110 GPa at 1600 °C. The fracture toughness was 3.6 MPa·m½ at room temperature, increased to 4.8 MPa·m½ at 800 °C, and then decreased linearly to 3.3 MPa·m½ at 1600 °C. The strength was controlled by the SiC cluster size up to 1000 °C, and oxidation damage above 1200 °C.
COHORT TRENDS IN ATTITUDES ABOUT LAW AND ORDER: WHO'S LEADING THE CONSERVATIVE WAVE?

Agings is commonly assumed to be associated with the adoption of increasingly conservative social and political attitudes. Empirical tests of this assumption have provided little support, but most analyses have focused on attitude domains where public opinion was shifting in a liberal direction. Using three items about law and order, a domain marked by conservative trends, this paper evaluates the aging-conservatism hypothesis with data drawn from 18 national surveys covering the period 1959-85. Attitude changes in four cohorts are analyzed with Taylor's hierarchical goodness-of-fit procedures for evaluating trends in public opinion. The findings show that each of the cohorts has participated in the shift toward more conservative opinions on law and order issues, and that either constant or zero differences characterize the trends in percentage differences between the oldest and the other cohorts. In the absence of differential rates of change, we conclude that older cohorts are no more likely than younger cohorts to adopt conservative law and order attitudes and that period effects are influencing each of the cohorts equally. Language: en
Mutant allele‐specific imbalance modulates prognostic impact of KRAS mutations in colorectal adenocarcinoma and is associated with worse overall survival

The prognostic impact of distinct KRAS mutations in colorectal carcinomas is not fully characterized. We hypothesized that the prognostic impact of KRAS mutations is modulated by KRAS mutant allele-specific imbalance (MASI). KRAS MASI was assessed by sequencing electropherograms in KRAS-mutated colorectal carcinomas (N = 394, prospectively tested). The mechanism of KRAS MASI was studied by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH; N = 50). FISH showed that KRAS MASI developed by chromosome 12 hyperploidy (9/18, 50%) or KRAS amplification (1/18, 5.5%). KRAS MASI was more common in tumors with KRAS codon 13 than with codon 12 mutations [24/81, 30% vs. 54/313, 17%; odds ratio (OR), 2.0, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.2–3.5; p = 0.01]. KRAS MASI was correlated with overall survival (N = 358, median follow-up = 21 months). In a multivariate analysis, KRAS codon 13 MASI was an independent adverse prognostic factor (compared to codon 13 mutants without MASI combined with all codon 12 mutants; adjusted hazard ratio, 2.2, 95% CI: 1.2–3.9; p = 0.01). KRAS MASI arises through chromosome 12 hyperploidy or KRAS amplification and, when affects KRAS codon 13, is associated with worse overall survival.
Pump-probe laser photolytic fragmentation fluorescence spectrometry of methyl vinyl ketone, methacrolein and crotonaldehyde

Abstract The two-laser “pump-probe” photolytic fragmentation fluorescence spectrometry of methyl vinyl ketone, methacrolein and crotonaldehyde is described. Probe laser induced C2 (C1IIg→A1IIu9 Deslandres-d'Azambuja band system) fluorescence is detected. The relative C2 fluorescence intensity and spectral patterns exhibited by each C4H6O isomer are dependent upon the probe laser wavelength employed. The dependence of the fragment fluorescence signal intensity on the probe laser fluence implies that the “probe” laser induces photofragmentation of intermediate specie(s) produced by the “photolysis” laser. The vinyl radical (C2H3) is believed to be an important intermediate produced from the C4H6O isomers by the photolysis laser, which can subsequently be converted to C2 via the absorption of probe laser photons.
Three-dimensional Reconstructions of Calcium/Calmodulin-dependent (CaM) Kinase IIα and Truncated CaM Kinase IIα Reveal a Unique Organization for Its Structural Core and Functional Domains

Studies of the structural organization of calcium/ calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIalpha (CaM KIIalpha) and truncated CaM KIIalpha by three-dimensional electron microscopy and protein engineering show that the structures consist of 12 subunits that are organized in two stacked hexameric rings with 622 symmetry. The body of CaM KIIalpha is gear-shaped, consisting of six slanted flanges, and has six foot-like processes attached by narrow appendages to both ends of the flanges. Truncated CaM KIIalpha that lacks functional domains has a structure that is very similar to the body of CaM KIIalpha. Thus, the functional domains reside in the foot-like processes, and the association domain comprises the gear-shaped core. The ribbon diagram of the bilobate structure of CaM KI fits nicely in the envelope of the foot-like component and indicates that the crevice between the two lobes comprising the functional domains is near the middle portion of the foot. The clustering of the functional domains provides a favorable arrangement for the autophosphorylation reaction, and the unusual arrangement of the catalytic domain on extended tethers appears to be significant for the remarkable functional diversity of CaM KIIalpha in cellular regulation.
What Can We Learn from “Rivalries”?

Asian Rivalries: Conflict, Escalation, and Limitations on Two-Level Games. Edited by Sumit Ganguly, William R. Thompson. Palo Alto, CA: Stanford University Press, 2011. 272 pp., $24.95 (ISBN-10: 0-08047-7596-6; ISBN-13: 978-0-8047-7596-0). This edited volume gathers seven case studies of rivalries between countries in Asia, including India and Pakistan, China and Taiwan, China and India, China and Taiwan, and China and Vietnam. The United States also figures: most directly in a study of Chinese–US rivalry and also as a patron in the rivalry between the two Koreas and in the China–Taiwan rivalry. The case studies provide a basis for assessing whether and how each country's domestic politics influenced interstate threat perceptions and conflict intensities—particularly in terms of Putnam's concept of “two-level games,” which highlights competition among domestic political elites as a factor in foreign policymaking. The editors of Asian Rivalries stress that the case studies represent only a “preliminary foray” into the causes of rivalry dynamics. However, they conclude that two-level games, and domestic politics more generally, are not a significant factor in these cases. The reasons for this negative finding likely relate to the substantial numbers of authoritarian regimes among the countries that make up the rivalry dyads and the corresponding autonomy of the decision makers concerned, as well as the absence of factionalized competition, outbidding, diversionary tactics, and threat inflation that widen the scope for …
Effects of persistent lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection on cholinergic neurons in the mouse

We have examined the effects of persistent infection with the Armstrong E350 strain of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) on choline acetyltransferase activity in several regions of Balb/c mouse brain. Despite the presence of high titres of virus in brain for as long as 6 months, and a widespread distribution of virus antigen, no decreases in choline acetyltransferase activity could be demonstrated. The enzyme activity was increased in some regions of brain, showing an effect of the persistent virus infection on a differentiated cell function. Although these data do not suggest a role for LCMV in human neurologic disease, similar studies may allow useful animal models to be conveniently and reproducibly generated.