cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Unnecessary antibiotic prescribing in pediatric ambulatory care visits for bronchitis and bronchiolitis in the United States, 2006-2015

Antibiotics are not indicated for the treatment of bronchitis and bronchiolitis. Using a nationally representative database from 2006-2015, we found that antibiotics were prescribed in 58% of outpatient visits for bronchitis and bronchiolitis in children, serving as a possible baseline for the expanded HEDIS 2020 measure regarding antibiotic prescribing for bronchitis.
Approaches to Integrate Virtual Reality into K-16 Lesson Plans: an Introduction for Teachers

This discourse presents TPACK as a conceptual framework for thinking about the integration of Virtual Reality into the classroom. This content introduces the concept of immersion, explores of the possibilities of VR technology, including the hardware, software, and potential classroom uses. This review also provides heuristics for deciding VR’s fit with the learning objectives. Readers also will learn processes for finding resources, overcoming challenges, and addressing tradeoffs to K16 teachers implementing VR. The methodological approach provides a guide to practitioners for supporting both course learning objectives and student engagement. The TPACK framework, considerations of levels of immersion afforded by different hardware, and access to technology frame the planning and analysis of integration of VR technology. The article closes with content to introduce practitioners and administrators to the range of virtual reality (VR) technology and facilitate decisions on integration of VR into classrooms in order to improve the technological competency of K16 teachers and empower them to integrate VR content into their classrooms effectively.
A Review of Alternative Controls for House Flies.

House flies are the most prevalent synanthropic pest worldwide. Although they seldom reproduce in homes, they invade buildings, cause annoyance, and carry pathogens. Urban pest management personnel are limited in their ability to locate and manage larval habitats, so most house fly management in urban settings focuses on adult fly suppression. Sanitation is probably the most critical component, eliminating odors that attract flies. Source reduction applies where larval habitats can be identified and eliminated. Exclusion involves keeping flies out of structures. Despite all efforts, flies will manage to enter the human environment, so exclusion includes air curtains, fans, screened windows, and doors. Ultraviolet light traps attract and immobilize, while window traps entice flies into devices that entrap them. Sticky tubes and ribbons rely on flies’ inclination to land on vertical lines to entangle them in glue. Even low-tech fly swatters can play significant roles in eliminating individual flies. Timed-release aerosol pyrethrin dispensers can be effective against flies confined in enclosed spaces. Toxic baits have limited use in urban settings. Chemical suppression remains a critical component of fly IPM, essential in situations requiring immediate fly elimination.
Female Sexual Offenders in Child Sexual Abuse Cases: National Trends Associated with Child Protective Services System Entry, Exit, Utilization, and Socioeconomics

Up to 20% of child sexual abuse cases in the United States involve a female perpetrator in a primary role. However, less than 1% of incarcerated sex offenders in the United States are female. Female offenders appear to be systematically moving on different consequential trajectories than men when it comes to sexual offenses. This project assesses gendered disparities in the ways substantiated child sexual offenders experience the U.S. public child welfare system through an investigation of virtually every substantiated child sexual abuse case in the nation as documented by state level child protective services for 1 year (N = 66,765). Findings detail how during the time substantiated female sexual offenders are involved with child welfare agencies, they receive higher levels of mental health, substance abuse, family centered, and economic based services than comparable male sex offenders. Additional findings and implications are also discussed; including observed differential pathways for child welfare sy...
Secure information flow for distributed systems

We present an abstract language for distributed systems of processes with local memory and private communication channels. Communication between processes is done via messaging. The language has high and low data and is limited only by the Denning restrictions; this is a significant relaxation as compared to previous languages for concurrency. We argue that distributed systems in the abstract language are observationally deterministic, and use this result to show that well-typed systems satisfy termination-insensitive noninterference; our proof is based on concepts of stripping and fast simulation, which are a valuable alternative to bisimulation. We then informally explore approaches to implement this language concretely, in the context of a wireless network where there is a risk of eavesdropping of network messages. We consider how asymmetric cryptography could be used to realize the confidentiality of the abstract language.
Product Uncertainty in Online Marketplaces in China: An Econometric Model

Most studies on online marketplaces focus on seller uncertainty and rely on data from online marketplaces in the U.S. This paper extends this literature by focusing on product uncertainty and defining its two dimensions - description uncertainty (identifying the product‘s characteristics) and fit uncertainty (matching product characteristics with the buyer’s needs). It also examines the distinction, relationship, and relative effects of the two dimensions of product uncertainty on actual product returns, and how online marketplaces can use IT-enabled mechanisms to mitigate product uncertainty.The proposed hypotheses are tested with data from 144 buyers in Taobao’s online marketplace in China using an econometric model. The results stress the role of product presentations in reducing description uncertainty and of online communication, both between the buyer and the seller and also among buyers, in reducing fit uncertainty. The paper draws implications for reducing product uncertainty in online marketplaces with the aid of IT.
Refined Comparativism in Constitutional Law

This Article considers the possible uses of comparative constitutional law in American constitutional interpretation. Surveying the debates about the uses of comparative constitutional law at the Founding, and tracing these debates to contemporary times by looking at the role of comparative constitutional law in the history of the U.S. Supreme Court, David Fontana suggests that a moderate, workable practice of using comparative constitutional law is consistent with the original intention of the Founders and has some precedent in the case law of the U.S. Supreme Court. This Article lays out a "refined comparativist" approach, whereby a court would consider comparative constitutional law only when faced with a "hard case," the comparative constitutional law can add something distinctive to American constitutional interpretation, and the contextual differences between the United States and the country the American court is considering borrowing from are slight. This Article then defends this refined comparativist model, paying particular attention to several strands of contemporary constitutional scholarship, before applying refined comparativism to address the constitutionality of hate speech.
Contribution of platelet microparticle formation and granule secretion to the transmembrane migration of phosphatidylserine.

Activation of human platelets by complement proteins, C5b-9, thrombin plus collagen, or a Ca2+ ionophore results in surface exposure of phosphatidylserine (PS), accompanied by the expression of membrane catalytic activity for the tenase (VIIaIXa) and prothrombinase (VaXa) coagulation enzyme complexes. The mechanism underlying this surface exposure of PS upon platelet activation remains unresolved. Using fluorescent derivatives of PS (NBD-PS), we have investigated how the transmembrane migration of PS is related to microvesiculation of the platelet plasma membrane and to fusion of storage granules with the plasma membrane. Gel-filtered platelets were incubated with NBD-PS, allowing 90 +/- 10% of the incorporated NBD-PS to accumulate into the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane. Migration of NBD-PS from the inner leaflet to the plasma membrane surface was monitored by time-based flow cytometry, and correlated with the appearance of platelet microparticles and alpha-granule secretion. Platelet activation by C5b-9 or the Ca2+ ionophore, A23187, increased surface exposure of NBD-PS, due to acceleration of the apparent rate of migration from inner to outer plasma membrane leaflets. The onset of this accelerated migration of NBD-PS to the surface coincided with the onset of plasma membrane vesiculation, and the NBD-PS that partitioned into the membrane of the shed microparticle was also rapidly exposed to the surface (t1/2
A detailed analytical model of a solid state transformer

This paper presents a detailed analytical model of the Gen-II solid state transformer (SST) being developed at Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management (FREEDM) Center. This work is a first step to develop control oriented models of SST for supporting system level stability studies and distributed control designs. A complete analytical SST model including power stage and closed loop controls have been derived. The model is useful since it is represented as differential and algebraic equations which can be easily simulated and analyzed. The validity of the model has been verified through time domain simulation and comparison with detailed switching model of SST in Simulink/MATLAB.
In vitro bacterial isolate susceptibility to empirically selected antimicrobials in 111 dogs with bacterial pneumonia.

Objectives To determine the proportion of airway bacterial isolates resistant to both empirically selected and recently administered antimicrobials, and to assess the impact of inappropriate initial empiric antimicrobials selection on length of hospital stay and survival to discharge in dogs with bacterial pneumonia. Design Retrospective study. Setting University veterinary teaching hospital. Animals One hundred and eleven dogs with a clinical diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia that had aerobic bacterial culture and susceptibility testing performed from a tracheal wash sample. Intervention None. Measurements and Main Results Overall, 26% (29/111) of the dogs had at least 1 bacterial isolate that was resistant to empirically selected antimicrobials. In dogs with a history of antimicrobial administration within the preceding 4 weeks, a high incidence (57.4%, 31/54) of in vitro bacterial resistance to those antimicrobials was found: 64.7% (11/17) in the community-acquired pneumonia group, 55.2% (16/29) in the aspiration pneumonia group, and 50.0% (4/8) in the other causes of bacterial pneumonia group. No statistically significant association was found between bacterial isolate resistance to empirically selected antimicrobials and length of hospital stay or mortality. Conclusions The high proportion of in vitro airway bacterial resistance to empiric antimicrobials would suggest that airway sampling for bacterial culture and susceptibility testing may be helpful in guiding antimicrobial therapy and recently administered antimicrobials should be avoided when empirically selecting antimicrobials. Although no relationship was found between inappropriate initial empiric antimicrobial selection and length of hospital stay or mortality, future prospective studies using standardized airway-sampling techniques, treatment modalities, and stratification of disease severity based on objective values, such as arterial blood gas analysis in all dogs with pneumonia, would be needed to determine if a clinical effect of in vitro bacterial resistance to empirically administered antimicrobials truly exists or not.
Geochemical variations in late-stage growth of volcanic phenocrysts revealed by SIMS depth-profiling

In the petrologic and geochemical study of volcanic rocks, microlites have become an important tool with which to determine magma decompression rate and ascent path prior to eruption. However, studies in experimental petrology and kinetic modeling indicate that growth of pre-existing phenocrysts will occur over a much wider range of decompression-induced undercoolings than microlite nucleation. Consequently, we have developed a method using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) depth profiling to measure geochemical trends recorded during the final stage of phenocryst growth. To test and demonstrate the new method, we examined explosive and effusive eruptive products collected from Soufriere Hills volcano, Montserrat. Plagioclase feldspar crystals were removed from clasts of pyroclastic deposits. Phenocrysts were individually selected on the basis of euhedral morphology and a relatively homogeneous distribution of surface contamination, such as volcanic glass. Crystals were cleaned, embedded in In, and analyzed by SIMS in depth-profiling mode. We used an O+2 primary ion beam, which provides a faster sputtering rate than the typically utilized O− primary beam. A normal-incidence electron gun is used for charge compensation. Ten isotopes were examined over 2–10 h periods and the resulting crater depth was determined. Data show variable trends in An, K, and Fe that we interpret to represent late-stage physical variations within the magma prior to eruption. The continuous chronology of geochemical data obtained from the SIMS analyses presented here provide information with unprecedented (~0.1 μm) resolution, allowing researchers to determine physical conduit conditions during magma ascent from the chamber to eruption at the surface.
Comments on “Pore‐Scale Visualization of Colloid Transport and Retention in Partly Saturated Porous Media”

Recent studies by [Crist et al. (2004)][1]([2005][2]) attempted to provide pore-scale insights into mechanisms responsible for controlling colloid transport in unsaturated porous media. However, their key observation of colloids being trapped at air–water–solid (AWS) contact lines relied on
The quasi-ballistic model of electron mobility in liquid hydrocarbons : Effect of an external electric field

The quasi-ballistic model of electron transport in liquid hydrocarbons, introduced earlier by the author [A. Mozumder, Chem. Phys. Lett. 207 (1993) 245], has been extended to the field dependence of mobility, when the zero-field mobility is low. A sinh-type dependence is obtained, due mainly to the random direction of detrapping relative to the field. The length parameter is interpreted as the trap radius1, in contradistinction to the jump length of the hopping model. Experimental data have been examined for six liquid hydrocarbons and a speculation is offered regarding the nature of the electron trap.
CTLA-4 on alloreactive CD4 T cells interacts with recipient CD80/86 to promote tolerance.

Although the inhibitory receptor CTLA-4 (CD152) has been implicated in peripheral CD4 T-cell tolerance, its mechanism of action remains poorly defined. We analyzed mechanisms of CD4 cell tolerance in a model of tolerance induction involving establishment of mixed hematopoietic chimerism in recipients of fully MHC-mismatched allogeneic bone marrow cells with anti-CD154 mAb. Animals lacking CD80 and CD86 failed to achieve chimerism. We detected no T cell–intrinsic requirement for CD28 for chimerism induction. However, a CD4 T cell–intrinsic signal through CTLA-4 was shown to be essential within the first 48 hours of exposure to alloantigen for the establishment of tolerance and mixed chimerism. This signal must be provided by a recipient CD80/86+ non–T-cell population. Donor CD80/86 expression was insufficient to achieve tolerance. Together, our findings demonstrate a surprising role for interactions of CTLA-4 expressed by alloreactive peripheral CD4 T cells with CD80/86 on recipient antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in the induction of early tolerance, suggesting a 3-cell tolerance model involving directly alloreactive CD4 cells, donor antigen-expressing bone marrow cells, and recipient antigen-presenting cells. This tolerance is independent of regulatory T cells and culminates in the deletion of directly alloreactive CD4 T cells.
Spin relaxation of conduction electrons in bulk III-V semiconductors

The spin relaxation time of conduction electrons through the Elliot-Yafet, D'yakonov-Perel, and Bir-Aronov-Pikus mechanisms is calculated theoretically for bulk GaAs, GaSb, InAs, and InSb of both n and p type. The relative importance of each spin relaxation mechanism is compared, and diagrams showing the dominant mechanism are constructed as a function of the temperature and impurity concentration. Our approach is based upon theoretical calculations of the momentum relaxation rate, and allows one to understand the interplay between various factors affecting the spin relaxation over a broad range of temperature and impurity concentration.
An Analysis of NCEP Tropical Cyclone Vitals and Potential Effects on Forecasting Models

AbstractThis study analyzes the Tropical Cyclone Vitals Database (TCVitals), which contains cyclone location, intensity, and structure information, generated in real time by forecasters. These data are used to initialize cyclones in several NCEP operational forecasting models via bogusing and vortex relocation methods. In many situations, time is of the essence and the TCVitals database represents the best real-time estimate of the cyclone state possible in real time, given the limitations of available data and time constraints inherent in real-time forecasting. NCEP and other users of TCVitals have a responsibility to work around the inevitable limitations of what forecasters can do for TCVitals in real time. With ensemble systems becoming available, a way to do that will soon be available. However, the TCVitals’ limitations must first be quantitatively understood so that model developers can take them into account. That is the motivation for the present study, which compares the TCVitals storm location ...
The effect of indomethacin and prostacyclin agonists on blood pressure in a rat model of preeclampsia.

Abstract Objective: This study was designed to determine the effects of cyclooxygenase inhibition and prostacyclin agonists on the hypertension induced by nitric oxide synthase blockade in a previously characterized rat model of preeclampsia. Study Design: A condition similar to preeclampsia was induced by infusing pregnant rats with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N G -nitro- L -arginine methyl ester through subcutaneously implanted osmotic minipumps. Blood pressure was measured with the tail cuff method. In the first experiment the rats received either vehicle alone (control group), N G -nitro- L -arginine methyl ester (50 mg/d), indomethacin (0.1 mg/d), or N G -nitro- L -arginine methyl ester plus indomethacin beginning on day 17 of pregnancy. In the second experiment the rats received vehicle alone (control group), N G -nitro- L -arginine methyl ester (50 mg/d), or N G -nitro- L -arginine methyl ester plus iloprost (31 μg/d). In a third experiment cicaprost (15 μg/d) was substituted for iloprost. Results: Except for an increase on the day after insertion of the pump indomethacin had no significant effect on the hypertension induced by N G -nitro- L -arginine methyl ester. Both prostacyclin agonists (iloprost and cicaprost), however, attenuated the rise in blood pressure usually seen after N G -nitro- L -arginine methyl ester administration. Conclusions: Nonselective inhibition of the cyclooxygenase enzymatic system does not influence the hypertension seen in the rat preeclampsia model induced by chronic nitric oxide deficiency. The hypertension in this model can be partially reversed with prostacyclin analogs. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1999;180:1191-5.)
Families from spinors

The possible utility of spinor representations of large orthogonal internal-symmetry groups is explored. The repetitive structure of families is incorporated quite naturally, but there is a difficulty with extra ''conjugate'' families having V+A weak currents. Possible methods for removing these conjugate families from the low-energy spectrum are discussed. An SO(18) example is discussed in some detail. An occurrence of spinors as a classification of composite particles is discussed. A long appendix discusses useful techniques for practical calculations involving spinors.
Cyclic AMP-mediated intersubunit disulfide crosslinking of the cyclic AMP receptor protein of Escherichia coli.

Abstract The protomeric form of the cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP) of Escherichia coli is composed of two identical subunits of molecular weight 22,500 and contains two buried and two available cysteine residues. Titration of the two available cysteines with DTNB § eliminates cyclic AMP-dependent DNA binding activity which is regenerated by incubating the modified protein with β-mercaptoethanol. In the absence of cAMP, the formation of the TNB anion from DTNB and the incorporation of [14C]TNB into CRP are approximately stoichiometric. In the presence of cAMP, there is an increase in the rate of formation of the TNB anion while the incorporation of [14C]TNB into CRP is markedly inhibited. These observations are reconciled by the observation that cAMP induces DTNB-mediated disulfide crosslinking of the two available sulfhydryls to produce a species migrating as a 45,000 molecular weight subunit on SDS-polyacrylamide gels. A mechanism is suggested by which an intersubunit, intraprotomer disulfide bond is produced by secondary disulfide interchange after the incorporation of the initial TNB group. Based on the observation of cAMP-mediated disulfide crosslinking, the available cysteines of the DNA binding region are proposed to reside in close proximity as part of an antiparallel β-sheet structure formed by the two carboxyl proximal polypeptides when CRP is in the DNA binding conformation.
Mechanical Modeling and Computer Simulation of Protein Folding

In this activity, science education and modern technology are bridged to teach students at the high school and undergraduate levels about protein folding and to strengthen their model building skills. Students are guided from a textbook picture of a protein as a rigid crystal structure to a more realistic view: proteins are highly dynamic biological molecules in the heterogeneous environment inside the living cell. Simple mechanical models and computer simulations that evolve in their complexity as the instruction progresses are at the core of this lesson. Methods of statistics and physical chemistry (thermodynamics and kinetics) are employed to investigate a flexible version of a peptide that can sample various conformations within the folded ensemble and ultimately unfold into a random coil.
The effect of substituent rotation on aromatic quadrupole moments

We recently reported substituent constants for the accurate prediction of molecular quadrupole moments of mono-, di-, tri- and tetra-substituted aromatics. Four of the substituents in the study, –O...
STELLAR CHROMOSPHERES, CORONAE, AND WINDS (INVITED REVIEW)*

Within the last few years there have been important advances in our understanding of the chromospheres, coronae, and winds of late-type stars. This progress has been the result of ultraviolet and X-ray observations obtained from space with the International Ultraviolet Explorer andEinstein satellites. In addition, ground-based astronomy has contributed much to synoptic studies of stellar activity. In this review I summarize some of the major recent developments in this field.
Foufoula-Geogiou Receives 2007 Hydrologic Sciences Award

It is my great pleasure today to introduce the recipient of the 2007 AGU Hydrologic Sciences Award, Efi Foufoula-Georgiou. Efi took her Ph.D. at the University of Florida (environmental engineering), and she has been at the University of Minnesota for a number of years where she is the McKnight Distinguished Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering. Efi is codirector of NCED, the National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center dealing with Earth-surface dynamics.
An Ultra-High Q Silicon Cantilever Resonator for Thin Film Internal Friction and Young's Modulus Measurements

An audiofrequency (8.5 kHz) cantilever resonator with an extremely low background internal friction (Q-1≈2×10-8) at liquid helium temperatures has been developed. Above 30 K, the Q of the resonator is dominated by thermoelastic loss; Q-1 is nearly exactly described by Zener’s formula for thermoelastic damping. Below 30 K, Q-1 decreases monotonically with decreasing temperature, reaching a typical baseline of Q-1=1.5×10-8 at 400 mK.
The product market opportunity loss of mandated disclosure

Abstract In the interests of protecting decision makers in the financial markets, the Securities and Exchange Commission requires publicly traded companies to publicly disclose certain accounting information. Such disclosure requirements however create a potential opportunity loss. They may destroy firms’ opportunities for implementing an alternative information acquisition and exchange regime – one that would optimize the firms’ product market profits. Nevertheless, we show that despite the previous imposition of an opportunity loss, firms may still favor future increased disclosure requirements. Finally, when information cost declines, although firms’ welfare may decrease, their desire for increased disclosure requirements always strengthens.
Women State Legislators and Representation: The Role of Political Parties and Institutions

Research on women legislators in the U.S. states has made significant progress toward understanding how women legislators affect public policies. We still lack, however, a clear picture of how vari...
Evaluation of experimental plot design for a sloping and eroding site

Abstract Sloping and eroding soils are often avoided by many agronomists when selecting a site for long term crop or soils research due to concerns about the impact of soil variability on experimental results. The extent of soil loss and erosion phase was determined by comparisons of soil properties at the cultivated site with a forest site having similar soil, slope and landscape characteristics. The cultivated site was dominated by the moderately eroded phase of the Grantsburg soil with approximately 7.5 cm of soil (38% of upper 20 cm of original soil) eroded during the previous 80 years. Prior to the establishment of the tillage treatments of no‐tillage (NT); chisel‐plow (CP); and moldboard plow (MP), a number of selected soil property parameters were examined to measure the inherent soil conditions that existed within the experimental area, and to test the precision of the experimental design. An experimental design was selected which fit within the field boundaries, landscape position, soil and slope...
Correlational selection on life history traits in the pitcher-plant mosquito

We examined the short-term effects of genetic architecture on the response to correlational selection in the pitcher-plant mosquito, Wyeomyia smithii. Previously, a positive phenotypic and genetic correlation between development time and propensity to diapause had been identified. Correlational selection consisted of all four combinations of (1) fast and slow development time and (2) propensity to diapause and not diapause, 3 replicates per selection regime, for 1 to 3 generations. Response to selection in the direction of the correlation was rapid and generally consistent with the direction of selection while response orthogonal to the correlation was inconsistent and frequently in a direction opposite to the direction of selection. We conclude that genetic architecture can have a significant, and quite asymmetrical and non-directional, effect on the response to correlational selection.
Minimizing the Number of Dropped Users in MIMO Multicasting Channels

For multicasting applications over multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) channels with certain kind of QoS requirement, it is more suitable to design a strategy that minimizes the number of the dropped users during one multicasting session. The immediate benefit of this strategy would be to effectively improve the outage capacity of each receiver. The major contribution of our paper is a precoded space-time block coding (STBC) strategy that can minimize the number of the dropped users for MIMO multicasting channels. We assume that the MIMO channel is narrow band with flat fading. The transmitter has full knowledge of the channel state information of every subscribed users. By approximating the indicator function with the sigmoid function and employing an iterative procedure, we are able to solve this problem using standard convex optimization techniques. Simulation results shows that this new scheme outperforms all existing methods including the open-loop STBC and beamforming.
Synthesis of polypseudouridylic acid by polynucleotide phosphorylase.

Abstract 1. 1. Polypseudouridylic acid was synthesized in good yield from pseudouridine diphosphate by polynucleotide phosphorylase (EC 2.7.7.8) of Micrococcus lysodeikticus. Primer trinucleotide, pApApA markedly increased the synthetic reaction rate but did not affect the [32P]Pi-pseudouridine diphosphate exchange. 2. 2. The rate of polypseudouridylic acid formation was usually 2 to 3 times slower than the rate of synthesis of polyuridylic acid.
Thermal degradation of TiO2 nanotubes on titanium

Abstract The objective of this research was to study thermal degradation behavior of TiO2 nanotubes on titanium (Ti). TiO2 nanotubes were grown via anodization method on commercially pure Ti (Cp-Ti) discs using two different electrolytes, 1 vol. % HF in deionized (DI) water and 1 vol. % HF + 0.5 wt. % NH4F + 10 vol. % DI water in ethylene glycol, to obtain nanotubes with two different lengths, 300 nm and 950 nm keeping the nanotube diameter constant at 100 ± 20 nm. As grown TiO2 nanotubes were subjected to heat treatment to understand thermal degradation as a function of both temperature and hold time. The signs of degradation were observed mainly when amorphous nanotubes started to crystallize, however the crystallization temperature varied based on TiO2 nanotubes length and anodizing condition. Overall, 300 nm nanotubes were thermally stable at least up to 400 °C for 12 h, while the 950 nm long nanotubes show signs of degradation from 400 °C for 6 h only. Clearly, length of nanotubes, heat treatment temperature as well as hold times show influence toward degradation kinetics of TiO2 nanotubes on titanium.
Determination of lethality and processing time in a continuous sterilization system containing particulates

Abstract A finite difference program was used to simulate an aseptic processing of foods containing particulates. The accumulated lethality at the center of the particle moving through the heat/hold/cool sections of the continuous sterilization system and the minimum processing time to destroy 6 D of Clostridium sp. PA3679 and 12 D of peroxidase necessary to prevent regeneration were calculated. Effect of operating conditions and change of thermal properties of particle and fluid on accumulated lethality and required minimum processing time is presented. Results indicated that size, shape, thermal properties, and residence time distributions of the particle within scraped-surface heat exchanger (SSHE) and holding tube greatly influenced the accumulated lethality and, subsequently, the minimum required processing time. In addition, effects of the overall heat transfer coefficient for both heater and holding tube and the particle surface heat transfer coefficient were found to be significant.
God's laboratory: assisted reproduction in the Andes

Reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) are now widely available in many parts of the world and accessible not only to the wealthy but also to those with more limited financi...
A finite element solution of Steckel rolling using measured velocity boundary conditions

A numerical solution for plane strain Steckel rolling using an experimentally determined stress-strain curve and measured roll-work interface velocities is presented. The solution is based on rate formulation of the constitutive equations for an isotropic elastic plastic work hardening material with von Mises yield condition and on an incremental finite element analysis employing constant strain increment triangles. Interfacial velocities are measured and used as prescribed boundary conditions in the numerical model of the deformation process. Some predictions are presented such as distributions of normal pressure in the contact region of the roll and drawing stress. For several reductions, the drawing force compares favorably with experimental values.
Reconceptualizing Pac Formation: It's Not a Collective Action Problem, and It May Be an Arms Race

After criticizing current models of political action committee (PAC) formation as flawed both in the samples used in tests and in the specifications tested, we develop a new explanation of PAC form...
Accurate estimates of microarray target concentration from a simple sequence-independent Langmuir model.

Background Microarray technology is a commonly used tool for assessing global gene expression. Many models for estimation of target concentration based on observed microarray signal have been proposed, but, in general, these models have been complex and platform-dependent. Principal Findings We introduce a universal Langmuir model for estimation of absolute target concentration from microarray experiments. We find that this sequence-independent model, characterized by only three free parameters, yields excellent predictions for four microarray platforms, including Affymetrix, Agilent, Illumina and a custom-printed microarray. The model also accurately predicts concentration for the MAQC data sets. This approach significantly reduces the computational complexity of quantitative target concentration estimates. Conclusions Using a simple form of the Langmuir isotherm model, with a minimum of parameters and assumptions, and without explicit modeling of individual probe properties, we were able to recover absolute transcript concentrations with high R2 on four different array platforms. The results obtained here suggest that with a “spiked-in” concentration series targeting as few as 5–10 genes, reliable estimation of target concentration can be achieved for the entire microarray.
Discrepancy in Initial Pediatric Burn Estimates and Its Impact on Fluid Resuscitation

One of the fundamental aspects of initial burn care is the ability to accurately measure the TBSA of injured tissue. Discrepancies between initial estimates of burn size and actual TBSA (determined at the burn unit) have long been reported. These inconsistencies have the potential for unnecessary patient transfer and inappropriate fluid administration which may result in morbidity. In an effort to study these inconsistencies and their impact on initial care, we evaluated the differences between initial TBSA estimates and its impact on fluid resuscitation at an American Burn Association-verified pediatric burn center. A prospective observational study of 50 consecutive burn patients admitted to Shriner's Hospital for Children in Boston, Massachusetts, between October 2011 and April 2012 was performed. Data collected included age, mechanism of burn injury, type of referral center, referring hospital TBSA, and volume of fluid administration as well as admission TBSA and volume of fluid administration. Determination of over or under resuscitation was based on comparing the amount of fluids received at the referral center to that received at the pediatric burn center. A total of 50 patients were admitted during the 7-month study period. The average age was 4.1 years old (25 days-16 years) and the average TBSA was 2.5% (0.25-55%). There were significant differences in the TBSA calculations between referring centers and the pediatric burn center. Overestimation of scald and contact burn size (P < .05) was noted with no difference in flame burn size estimation. Community referrals were more likely than tertiary centers to overestimate TBSA (P < .05 vs P = .29). Overall, 59% of study patients were administered more fluid at the referring hospital than would have been expected by the burn size calculated at our facility. Inconsistencies with the estimation of TBSA burn between referring hospitals and tertiary referral centers remains a problem in pediatric patients and may lead to inappropriate resuscitation. This study highlights the continued need for educational outreach programs and for the provision of novel resources to initial burn providers. Additional support through online resources (eg, Lund-Browder diagram) and remotely assisting providers during their TBSA measurements are potential options which may help to improve the initial care of burn patients.
Therapeutic Elastase Inhibition by Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Gene Transfer Limits Neointima Formation in Normal Rabbits

PURPOSE Alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) is the major circulating elastase inhibitor. Deficiency of elastase inhibition leads to emphysema and vascular abnormalities including accelerated neointima. Because recent evidence suggests that tissue AAT levels determine inhibitory function, the authors hypothesize that local tissue-based expression of AAT limits elastase activity sufficiently to guide arterial response to injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS Rabbit common femoral arteries were injured by mechanical overdilation and treated with buffer, viral control, or an adenovirus expressing AAT (Ad/AAT). After 3 and 28 days, intima-to-media (I/M) ratios were evaluated. Additionally, early changes in elastase inhibition potential (3 d), extracellular elastin and collagen content (3 d), and local macrophage and neutrophil infiltration (7 d) were determined. RESULTS Ad/AAT significantly decreased neointima formation after mechanical dilation injury after 28 days: buffer controls exhibited mean I/M ratios of 0.76 ± 0.06, whereas viral controls reached 0.77 ± 0.09; in contrast, Ad/AAT reduced I/M ratios to 0.44 ± 0.06. Both early elastin and collagen content were preserved in the Ad/AAT group relative to controls. The Ad/AAT group also reversed the local inflammation that characterized viral controls. CONCLUSIONS This strategy demonstrates that local increases in elastase inhibition potential promote a neointimaresistant small-caliber artery, which may offer new promise in management of patients undergoing angioplasty.
An apparatus for measuring the performance of rats on a treadmill

Abstract An apparatus used to study the performance of rats when they are forced to run is described. It consists of a treadmill with 12 individual running compartments, each of which contains a stimulating grid. A rat receives an electrical shock when it does not run and is carried by the treadmill belt into the stimulating grid at the rear of its running compartment and makes contact with two adjacent grid rods. The electrical stimulation is done with 700 V d.c., at a maximum current of 5.8 mA. Each running compartment has two counters to record the number of times the rat is prodded to run. One counter records the number of times the rat touches its grid, and the other counter records how many of these grid touches result in the rat's receiving an electrical shock. This apparatus has been found to be reliable and trouble free.
A stress-function approach to interface and mixed boundary-condition problems (boundary conditions and finite-difference techniques)

Abstract Special conditions which have to be imposed on the stress function for boundaries on which displacements are specified or for an interface separating materials with different elastic properties are derived. The striking similarity of these conditions with those occurring in slabs subject to flexure on lines where a sudden change of thickness occurs is demonstrated. The application of finite-difference techniques and of relaxation methods to problems falling within the above categories is discussed and some details of the finite-difference operators are presented. An example illustrating the application of such techniques is quoted.
Convection and Solidification in Constant and Oscillating Thermal Gradients: Measurements and Simulations

An experimental and numerical study of natural convection and solidification in a two-dimensional cavity driven by constant and oscillating temperature gradients is presented. Finite element models are developed to predict the flowfield, the temperature distribution, and the solid-liquid interphase shapes during solidification. Both the fixed-grid and moving-grid methods are applied in the numerical simulations, using the former to illustrate the oscillating thermal gradient conditions and using the latter to illustrate the constant temperature gradient conditions. An experimental system is set up where succinonitrile is used as a working fluid. The flow pattern, the velocity field, and the solidification interface shape are measured using the laser-based particle-image-velocimetry system. Numerical simulations and experiments are conducted for various configurations and different thermal gradients
Modified gradients for motion suppression: variable echo time and variable bandwidth.

A linear algebra based derivation is presented to demonstrate that linearly time scaling an entire gradient wave-form by a factor “R” exponentially increases its sensitivity to time derivatives of position by R(i + 1), where i refers to the i-th derivative of position (e.g., i = 1 is velocity). Thus, time scaling will preserve zero valued refocussing moments associated with artifact reduction techniques designed for motion occurring between excitation and detection. Typically, gradient waveforms for artifact reduction techniques are derived for use only at specific echo times. The time scaling described here allows for simple modification of refocussing gradient waveforms for use at variable echo times. Motion sensitivity associated with non-zero moment gradient waveforms can be easily predicted and modified using this technique, with consideration for field of view, resolution, and bandwidth. A clinical example is presented showing the predicted changes in sensitivity to nonrefocussed derivatives of position as the imaging gradients are time scaled. Further, trade-offs and alternatives in sensitivity to motion, slice thickness, image bandwidth, field of view and resolution will be discussed in conjunction with time scaling. This technique will have applicability in many situations involving MRI of moving tissue and a clinical example in cardiac imaging is presented.
MCMC-based feature-guided particle filtering for tracking moving objects from a moving platform

This paper proposes a Markov Chain Monte Carlo based feature-guided particle filtering algorithm to track moving objects observed from a camera on a moving platform. Sudden camera or object motion is the typical problem that causes tracking performance sharply deteriorate. It is inadequate to use classical recursive Bayesian estimation to track moving objects observed by a rapid-moving and unstable camera since the method could not resolve the sudden motion problem. We develop a robust and unconstrained tracking algorithm to overcome the tracking failure issues. Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) technique is adopted to efficiently realize the feature-guided particle filter. Experiment results show that the method demonstrates robust tracking performance without assistance of foreground segmentation and performs accurately in severe tracking environment.
Mitochondria as regulatory forces in oocytes, preimplantation embryos and stem cells

In addition to their role in generating energy (ATP), other possible regulatory functions for mitochondria in the mature oocyte, preimplantation stage embryo and differentiating embryonic stem cell are discussed. The question of the numerical size of a normal mitochondrial complement in the mature oocyte, which has been suggested to be a critical factor in the determination of oocyte and embryo developmental competence, is addressed in the context of mitochondrial DNA copy numbers and the apparent number of organelles detected in living mouse and human blastocysts with mitochondria-specific fluorescent probes. The existence of a spatially stable subplasmalemmal domain of high-polarized mitochondria in the mature oocyte and early embryo is proposed to form a microzone of differential activity that may locally influence the normality of fertilization. High-polarized mitochondria may also influence developmentally significant activities in the peri-implantation blastocyst and differentiating embryonic stem cell. The work discussed indicates that mitochondria may have multiple functions during early development, and specific areas of investigation required to confirm these possibilities are suggested.
DIFFRACTIONAL SCATTERING AT LOW AND HIGH ENERGIES.

Abstract A diffractional model for elastic scattering of strongly absorbed particles is applied in the case of intermediate energy scattering of deuterons, tritons, alpha particles and heavy ions and high energy π−p scattering. Unambiguous parameters of the model are determined by means of which an absorption parameter vα=1.398 fm for nucleus-nucleus scattering, an interaction radius, R − 0.581 fm, for π−p scattering, and qualititive features of nuclear surface thickness are determined.
Fertilization increases the polyphosphoinositide content of sea urchin eggs.

Fertilization of the sea urchin egg stimulates a wave of exocytosis of cortical vesicles1,2, but the mechanism by which fertilization regulates this secretion is not fully understood. We describe here experiments which suggest that polyphosphoinositide metabolism could be a factor in this regulation. We find that the cortical vesicle exocytosis in the egg of Strongylocentrotus purpuratus is preceded by a 40% increase in its content of triphosphoinositide (TPI) and a 22% increase of diphosphoinositide (DPI).
Asymptotic behavior of solutions to a first-order differential equation with variable delays

We find conditions for the solution to a first-order differential equations to be: bounded by an exponential function, uniformly stable, and uniformly asymptotically stable. Estimates are obtained using Liapunov functionals (energy functionals). Our assumptions are weaker than those in the references, and results are extended to systems of equations and to nonlinear equations.
The three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamics of ac helicity injection in the reversed field pinch

ac magnetic helicity injection (also known as oscillating field current drive, OFCD) has been proposed as a technique to sustain the plasma current in a reversed field pinch. The three-dimensional, resistive magnetohydrodynamics computation is employed to examine the full nonlinear dynamics of OFCD, including the behavior of plasma fluctuations and instabilities. The three-dimensional results are also compared with one-dimensional classical and relaxed-state modeling. In OFCD, helicity is injected by oscillating the toroidal and poloidal surface loop voltages. This technique is able to sustain the plasma current, with the edge current mainly driven directly by the OFCD-generated fields, and the core current driven by plasma fluctuations. Fluctuations increase with OFCD, although the increase is concentrated mainly in one global, nearly ideal, mode.