cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Geography of Affluence in the United States at the Spatial Scale of the County

The most affluent counties in 1980, 1990, 2000, and 2010 are identified. This chapter includes details concerning the spatial aspects of affluence, and the changes in affluence over the 30-year study period. Tables that detail the most affluent 50, 100, and 157 (5%) of counties are provided for each study year. The most affluent 5% of counties are mapped for 1980, 1990, 2000, and 2010.
Bacterial AA10 Lytic Polysaccharide Monooxygenases Enhance the Hydrolytic Degradation of Recalcitrant Substrates

Abstract Auxiliary activity (AA) enzymes are produced by numerous bacterial and fungal species to assist in degrading biomass substrates. Although abundant, these enzymes have not been fully explored. The recently characterized AA10 family of bacterial lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) performs oxidative cleavage of crystalline polysaccharide substrates. This oxidative activity synergistically enhances hydrolytic attack on crystalline material without change to soluble substrates, suggesting changes to insoluble substrate recalcitrance. The crystal structures of multiple bacterial AA10 LPMOs have been solved showing a surface-exposed metal ion binding site. This conserved structural feature agrees with data showing a bound copper ion is responsible for mediating oxidative activity.
Understanding Jacob's Ladder through The Tibetan Book of the Dead

Abstract: This article examines the correlations between the movie Jacob's Ladder and The Great Book of Natural Liberation through Understanding in the Between, or what is most often referred to as The Tibetan Book of the Dead. Directed by Adrian Lyne and starring Timothy Robbins, Jacob's Ladder confused audiences and critics alike upon its release in 1990. While it may be possible to interpret the movie from a biblical angle, given the title and names of some of the characters, we believe Jacob's Ladder is better understood using The Tibetan Book of the Dead as a guide. The film addresses death, coming to terms with its inevitability, and the need to see through the trappings of the ego, all of which serve as the basis behind the imagery and teachings of The Tibetan Book of the Dead.
The gene family of EF-hand calcium-binding proteins from the flagellum of Trypanosoma brucei.

Abstract The flagellum of Trypanosoma brucei contains calmodulin, and a separate family of antigenically related EF-hand calcium-binding proteins which we call calflagins. The following study evaluates the structure and genomic organization of the calflagin family. Genomic Southern blots indicated that multiple copies of calflagin genes occurred in T. brucei, and that all of these copies were contained in a single 23 kb XhoI-XhoI fragment on chromosomes 15 and 16 mRNAs of 1.2 and 1.6 kb were identified in bloodstream and procyclic life-cycle stages. Genomic fragments of 2.5 and 1.7 kb were cloned that encoded calflagin sequences. The calflagin genes were arranged tandemly along the genomic fragments. Three new members of the calflagin family were sequenced from a cDNA clone and the two genomic clones. Two unrelated families of 3' flanking sequences were downstream from the calflagin genes. An open reading frame that was unrelated to any calflagin sequence was at the 5' end of the 2.5 kb genomic fragment. The deduced amino acid sequences of the genomic clones (called Tb-24 and Tb-1.7g) were similar to the previously described Tb-17. Each encoded an approximately 24 kDa protein which contained three EF-hand calcium-binding motifs and one degenerate EF-hand motif. The cDNA encoded a protein (called Tb-44A) which was approximately twice as large as the other calflagins. The large size resulted from a nearly direct repeat of 186 amino acids. In general, variability among the T. brucei calflagins was greater than observed for related proteins from Trypanosoma cruzi. We demonstrate that this variability resulted from amino acid substitutions at the N-terminus, C-terminal extensions, and duplication of internal segments.
IFN-β Provides Immuno-Protection in the Retina by Inhibiting ICAM-1 and CXCL9 in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

The retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell is a potent regulatory cell that facilitates normal physiologic processes and plays a critical role in a variety of retinal diseases. We evaluated IFN-β production in human RPE cells through TLR signaling and investigated the effects of IFN-β on RPE cells. RPE cells treated with poly(I:C) or infected with an RNA virus produce IFN-β. Kinetic studies revealed that IFN-β levels continue to increase over a 48-h period and this was associated with the up-regulation of IRF-7 gene expression, a known positive feedback molecule for IFN-β production. Microarray analysis revealed that in IFN-β treated cells, 480 genes of 22,283 genes were up or down-regulated by >2-fold. We hypothesize that IFN-β induction during TLR signaling in the retina is an immunosuppressive factor produced to limit immunopathologic damage. Cytokine activation of RPE cells results in the production of the chemokines, CXCL9 and CXCL10, and the adhesion molecule, ICAM-1. Pretreatment of RPE cells with IFN-β resulted in inhibition of ICAM-1 production and elimination of CXCL9 production. This treatment did not alter CXCL10 production. Anti-IFN-β Ab blocked the inhibitory action of IFN-β. Real time PCR analysis revealed that IFN-β treatment inhibited gene expression of sICAM-1 and CXCL9. The results indicate a critical role for RPE cell derived IFN-β in the down-regulation of CXCL9 and ICAM-1 expression in the retina and suggest that the inhibition of CXCL9 is an immuno-suppressive mechanism that protects the retina from excessive inflammation.
Functional significance of the covariance between protein energy malnutrition and iron deficiency anemia

Most of the correlational and experimental studies that have tested the hypothesis that mild-to-moderate protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) has an adverse effect on cognitive development disregarded the potential confounder effect of micronutrients. This omission may have been a critical flaw in study design because it is now recognized that iron deficiency increases the probability of deviations in the trajectory of children's motor and mental development from a normal developmental path. This paper discusses two frequently cited studies on the effects of PEM on neurointegrative and cognitive development and proposes that neither study can discard the hypothesis that effects attributed to protein and energy deficiency are, instead, determined by iron deficiency.
Macroevolutionary persistence of heritable endosymbionts: acquisition, retention and expression of adaptive phenotypes in Spiroplasma

The phylogenetic incongruence between insects and their facultative maternally transmitted endosymbionts indicates that these infections are generally short-lived evolutionarily. Therefore, long-term persistence of many endosymbionts must depend on their ability to colonize and spread within new host species. At least 17 species of Drosophila are infected with endosymbiotic Spiroplasma that have various phenotypic effects. We transinfected five strains of Spiroplasma from three divergent clades into Drosophila neotestacea to test their capacity to spread in a novel host. A strain that causes male killing in Drosophila melanogaster (its native host) also does so in D. neotestacea, even though these host species diverged 40-60 mya. A strain native to D. neotestacea (designated sNeo) and the two other strains of the poulsonii clade of Spiroplasma confer resistance to wasp parasitism, suggesting that this trait may be ancestral within this clade of Spiroplasma. Conversely, no strain other than sNeo conferred resistance to the sterilizing effects of nematode parasitism, suggesting that nematode resistance is a recently derived condition. The apparent addition of nematode resistance to a Spiroplasma lineage that already confers resistance to wasp parasitism suggests endosymbionts can increase the repertoire of traits conducive to their spread. The capacity of an endosymbiont to undergo maternal transmission and express adaptive phenotypes in novel hosts, without requiring a period of host-symbiont co-evolution, enables the spread of such symbionts immediately after the colonization of a new host. This could be critical for the macroevolutionary persistence of facultative endosymbionts whose sojourn times within individual host species are relatively brief.
A novel biometric system based on palm vein image

Vein pattern recognition is one of the newest biometric techniques researched today. In this paper, one of the reliable and robust personal identification authentication approaches using palm vein patterns is presented. We consider the palm vein as a piece of texture and apply texture-based feature extraction techniques to palm vein authentication in our work. A 2-D Gabor filter provides the optimized resolution in both the spatial and frequency domains, thus it is a basis for extracting local features in the palm vein recognition. In order to obtain effective pattern of palm vascular, we proposed an innovative and robust directional coding technique to encode the palm vein features in bit string representation. The bit string representation, called VeinCode, offers speedy template matching and enables more effective template storage and retrieval. The similarity of two VeinCodes is measured by normalized hamming distance. A total of 4140 palm vein images were collected form 207 persons to verify the validity of the proposed palm vein recognition approach. High accuracy has been obtained by the proposed method and the speed of the method is rapid enough for real-time palm vein recognition. Experimental results demonstrate that our proposed approach is feasible and effective for palm vein recognition.
Looking at Receptors: What Have Fluorescent Receptors and Channels Told Us?:

The receptors and channels that reside on the surface of a neuron enable it to respond to and integrate a wide variety of signals. Electrophysiology has made it possible to study the behavior of these channels in remarkable detail. For instance, patch-clamp recording has made it possible in many instances to actually resolve the opening and closing of individual channels. Similarly, immuncytochemistry has provided us with static images of where these proteins are in a neuron. Nevertheless, we know remarkably little about how these proteins are actually used by living cells. Fundamental questions concerning how long they are at the surface, how localized they are, how quickly they are internalized in response to activation, or how free they are to move about on the surface remain to be addressed. One way to answer such questions is to fluorescently label these proteins and image them in living cells. The discovery of the jellyfish green fluorescent protein has recently made this feasible, and the new views...
Fabrication using ‘programmed’ reactions

Various types of micro- and nanoarchitectures can be spontaneously fabricated using chemical reactions initiated by wet stamping (WETS) and propelled by diffusive transport of participating reagents. Desired small-scale structures emerge as a result of complex sequences of reaction-diffusion events. These events are encoded in the chemical kinetics and transport properties of the system's components, and in the system's geometry. With various types of chemistries and initial conditions imposed by WETS, it is possible to ‘program’ different fabrication tasks and make technologically useful structures, such as microlens arrays, microfluidic systems, diffractive elements, and supports for cell studies.
Using computer simulations to assesss hands-on science learning

Two methods of assessing student learning of a hands-on instructional unit are compared. One method involves manipulation of concrete materials, and the other method involves manipulation of icons on a computer to solve an electric circuits problem. Sixth-grade students in an inquiry-based science program completed both assessments separated by three weeks. Results indicated that although mean performance was the same for each method, individual student performance varied considerably. Implications for use of computer simulations as an alternative to hands-on assessment are discussed.
Novel hardening methods of DUV chemically amplified photoresist by ion implantation and its application to new organic ARC material and bilayer process

In the experiment, various ion species are implanted to the developed images to improve etching and thermal flow resistance of Deep UV chemically amplified resists. Among various ion species, it is found that Argon ion did not affect the photoresist thickness and critical dimension after ion implantation. Much improved results could be obtained. Untreated contact hole patterns start flowing on 120 degrees C and finally are filled up on 130 degrees C with noticeable film shrinkage. On the other hand, Argon implanted contact hole patterns are standing still up to 170 degrees C without any thickness shrinkage and CD variation. Application of higher temperature results in the protrusions at the bottom of the resist profiles. Pattern deformation after dry etching process can be prevented. Cross-sectional SEM micrographs of the ion implanted contact hole patterns show clear interface between the hardened and the unhardened. SIMS analysis of the ion implanted photoresists reveal the presence of the ions at the surface of the substrate, not in the resist. Detailed mechanistic study will be discussed. Application of this process to bilayer resist process and a new antireflective layer has been tried and evaluated. And also the effects of accelerating energy and ion dose on reflective index of carbonized layer have been investigated. RI analysis shows the change of n and k value according to energy and ion dose. It can be speculated that the transparent matrix resin changed to highly absorbing amorphous carbon based materials. It is quite sure for that the n and k value can be controlled for the application of bottom antireflective layer. This new ARC material is very compatible to resist and est to strip, compared to conventional Organic Bottom ARC material. Thickness optimization for the ARC, application to real device and etching characteristics are under development in our lab.
Ligand linked assembly of Scapharca dimeric hemoglobin

The assembly of Scapharca dimeric hemoglobin as a function of ligation has been explored by analytical gel chromatography, sedimentation equilibrium, and oxygen binding experiments to test the proposal that its cooperativity is based on quaternary enhancement. This hypothesis predicts that the liganded form would be assembled more tightly into a dimer than the unliganded form and that dissociation would lead to lower oxygen affinity. Our experiments demonstrate that although the dimeric interface is quite tight in this hemoglobin, dissociation can be clearly detected in the liganded states with monomer to dimer association constants in the range of 10(8) M-1 for the CO-liganded state and lower association constants measured in the oxygenated state. In contrast, the deoxy dimer shows no detectable dissociation by analytical ultracentrifugation. Thus, the more highly hydrated deoxy interface of this dimer is also the more tightly assembled. Equilibrium oxygen binding experiments reveal an increase in oxygen affinity and decrease in cooperativity as the concentration is lowered (in the muM range). These experiments unambiguously refute the hypothesis of quaternary enhancement and indicate that, as in the case of human hemoglobin and other allosteric proteins, quaternary constraint underlies cooperativity in Scapharca dimeric hemoglobin.
On the Generation of Mesoscale Eddies and their Contribution to the OceanicGeneral Circulation. II. A Parameter Study

Abstract In this investigation the wind-driven ocean circulation theories are extended to include mesoscale eddiesas an integral part of the general circulation of the ocean. A two-layer numerical model of ocean circulationin a simple, rectangular basin driven by a steady wind stress is used for this purpose. The equations ofmotion are integrated as an initial value problem until the solutions reach either a steady state or, in thecase of an ocean in which eddies have appeared spontaneously as a result of baroclinic instability, a statistically steady state. Part I of this study discussed the formulation of the numerical model and presented results from a preliminary numerical experiment. Energetic analyses showed that eddies result from baroclinic instability during the spin-up of the ocean from rest and that, in the final statistically steady state, the eddy momentum and buoyancy fluxes played an important role in establishing the mean circulation. In the particular caseexamined there, the region of edd...
Evidence for complex subleading exponents from the high-temperature expansion of Dyson's hierarchical ising model.

Using a renormalization group method, we calculate 800 high-temperature coefficients of the magnetic susceptibility of the hierarchical Ising model. The conventional quantities obtained from differences of ratios of coefficients show unexpected smooth oscillations with a period growing logarithmically and can be fitted assuming corrections to the scaling laws with complex exponents.
Sources of Sediment in Lake Pepin on the Upper Mississippi River in Response to Holocene Climatic Changes

Sediments from Lake Pepin on the Mississippi River, southeastern Minnesota, are used as provenance tracers to assess variations in hydrology and sediment-transport during the middle Holocene. Three rivers contribute sediment to Lake Pepin, and each catchment is characterized by a distinctly different geologic terrain. The geochemical fingerprint for each drainage basin was determined from the elemental composition of heavy minerals in the silt-sized fraction of modern sediment samples. Down-core elemental abundances were compared with these fingerprints by use of a chemical-mass-balance model that apportions sediment to the source areas. We observed a decreased contribution from the Minnesota River during the interval ~6700–5500 14C yr BP, which we attribute to decreased discharge of the Minnesota River, likely controlled by a combination of precipitation, snow melt, and groundwater input to the river. This hydrologic condition coincides with the mid-Holocene prairie period recorded by fossil pollen data. The occurrence of this feature in a proxy record for hydrologic variations supports the hypothesis that the mid-Holocene prairie period reflects drier conditions than before or after in midwestern North America.
Electromigration and the local transport field in mesoscopic systems.

An analysis is presented for the local field and electromigration driving force in mesoscopic systems, i.e., systems in which the dimension along the transport direction is smaller than the electron mean free path due to inelastic scattering. The electromigration driving force is a measure of the microscopic electric field acting on an impurity, and, in general, consists of two contributions, namely, the ``electron-wind force'' and the ``direct force.'' The local transport field also consists of electron-wind and direct contributions. Detailed analyses are presented for the local fields, forces, and resistivities in the following mesoscopic systems: (i) one-dimensional (1D) disordered conductors; (ii) an impurity-layer or grain boundary sandwiched between reservoirs; and (iii) an impurity in the vicinity of a point contact. For the first two systems, the direct force and the associated direct field vanish, whereas in the point-contact system the wind and direct contributions are comparable. The net electromigration force on a 1D conductor is a measure of the true potential drop across the disordered region, and is proportional to the Landauer resistivity. In the case of an isotropically scattering impurity near a point contact, the wind force is proportional to the impurity-induced change in the contact resistivity. Inconsistencies are pointed out in the use of linear-response formalism based upon the existence of an external field in mesoscopic systems.
Chondroitin Sulphate and Collagen in Inherited Skeletal Defects of Chickens

MUTANT chickens and chick embryos with well characterized hereditary defects of the skeleton1,2 were obtained from the breeding flocks of the Agricultural Experimental Station of the University of Connecticut by kind permission of Drs. W. Landauer and L. Pierro.
Stochastic evolutions and hadronization of highly excited hadronic matter

Stochastic ingredients of high energy hadronic collisions are analyzed, with emphasis on multiplicity distributions. The conceptual simplicity of the k-cell negative binomial distribution is related to the evolution of probability distributions via the Fokker-Planck and related equations.The connection to underlying field theory ideas is sketched.
Efficiency and optimal allocation in the staggered entry design

The staggered entry design for survival analysis specifies that r left-truncated samples are to be used in estimation of a population survival function. The ith sample is taken at time τi, from the subpopulation of individuals having survival time exceeding τi. This paper investigates the performance of the staggered entry design relative to the usual design in which all samples have a common time origin. The staggered entry design is shown to be an attractive alternative, even when not necessitated by logistical constraints. The staggered entry design allows for increased precision in estimation of the right tail of the survival function, especially when some of the data may be censored. A trade-off between the range of values for which the increased precision occurs and the magnitude of the increased precision is demonstrated.
Evaluation of the negative cooperativity model for fat cell beta-adrenergic receptors.

Abstract Cooperative site-to-site interactions among beta-adrenergic receptors of fat cell membranes are probed with the potent beta-adrenergic antagonist (−)-[ 3 H]-dihydroalprenolol according to the kinetic method of De Meyts et al. (De Meyts, P., Roth, J., Neville, Jr., D.M., Gavin, III, J.R. and Lesniak, M.A. (1973) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 55, 154–161). Dissociation of specific (−)-[ 3 H]dihydroalprenolol binding from fat cell membranes following a 100-fold dilution was rapid at 37°C; only 40% of the initial equilibrium binding remained 30 s after dilution. Dissociation of (−)-[ 3 H]dihydroalprenolol bound under conditions yielding approximately 20% initial occupancy was performed in the absence and in the presence of a large molar excess of beta-adrenergic agonist ((−)-isoproterenol) or beta-adrenergic antagonist ((−)-alprenolol or(−)-propanalol). Neither agonists nor antagonists influenced the rate of (−)-[ 3 H]dihydroalprenolol dissociation from fat cell membranes performed at 4, 22 or 37°C. Although analysis of the steady-state binding of (−)-[ 3 H]-dihydroalprenolol to fat cell membranes yields Hill coefficients, n H , less than 1.0, the present study indicates that these fat cell beta-adrenergic receptors display no cooperative site-to-site interactions.
Paramedic Attitudes Regarding Prehospital Analgesia

AbstractIntroduction. Although pain is a major reason why patients summon emergency medical services (EMS), prehospital medical providers administer analgesic agents at inappropriately low rates. One possible reason is the role of EMS provider attitudes. Objective. This study was conducted to elicit attitudes that may act as impediments or deterrents to administering analgesia in the prehospital environment. Methods. A qualitative methodology was employed. We recruited experienced paramedics, with at least one year of full-time fieldwork, from a variety of agencies in New England. We sought to include a balance of rural and urban as well as both private and hospital-based agencies. Participants at each site were selected through purposive sampling. A semistructured discussion guide was designed to elicit the paramedics’ past experiences with administering analgesia, as well as reflections on their role in the care of patients in pain. Both interviews and focus groups were conducted. These sessions were re...
Frequency, risk factors, and trends for venous thromboembolism among hospitalized cancer patients.

BACKGROUND. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) contributes to morbidity and mortality in cancer patients and is a frequent complication of anticancer therapy. In the current study, the frequency, risk factors, and trends associated with VTE were examined among hospitalized cancer patients. METHODS. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the discharge database of the University HealthSystem Consortium. This included 1,824,316 hospitalizations between 1995 and 2003 at 133 U.S. medical centers. RESULTS. Among 1,015,598 cancer patients, 34,357 (3.4%) were diagnosed with deep venous thrombosis and 11,515 with pulmonary embolism (PE) (1.1%) for an overall VTE rate of 4.1%. Subgroups of cancer patients with the highest rates included black ethnicity (5.1% per hospitalization) and those receiving chemotherapy (4.9%). Sites of cancer with the highest rates of VTE included pancreas (8.1%), kidney (5.6%), ovary (5.6%), lung (5.1%), and stomach (4.9%). Among hematologic malignancies, myeloma (5%), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (4.8%), and Hodgkin disease (4.6%) had the highest rates of VTE. The rate of VTE increased by 28%, secondary to a near-doubling of PE rates from 0.8% to 1.5% (P < .0001). Among patients receiving chemotherapy, the rates of VTE rose from 3.9% to 5.7%, an increase of 47% (P < .0001). In multivariate analysis, risk factors associated with VTE included age ≥65 years, female sex, black ethnicity, use of chemotherapy, primary site of cancer, presence of comorbidities, and year of admission. CONCLUSIONS. VTE, particularly PE, is an increasingly frequent complication of hospitalization in cancer patients. Patients with black ethnicity, specific sites of cancer, or those receiving chemotherapy are disproportionately at risk. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Microstructural development in the coarse-grained, heat-affected zone in titanium-vanadium microalloyed HSLA steels

Abstract The development of the microstructure in the coarse-grained, heat-affected zone (CGHAZ) of two medium-strength Ti-V microalloyed steels was examined. Single-pass welding of 19mm-thick plates at 5.5kJ/mm resulted in a smaller austenite grain size and a correspondingly narrower CGHAZ in the low-Ti, high-V steel than in the high-Ti, low-V steel. The observed effect is correlated to the differing stability of microalloy precipitates, TiN/TiCN in the high-Ti, low-V steel and TiVN/TiVCN in the low-Ti, high-V steel, and their differing size distributions in the normalized starting materials. The formation of large TiN inclusions reduces the level of Ti and N available to form fine particle dispersions and may, in part, account for the observed austenite grain growth in the high-Ti, low-V steel.
Fundamentalism and forgiveness

Two studies investigated the associations between religious fundamentalism (RF) and aspects of dispositional forgiveness: pro-forgiveness attitudes and the tendency to forgive others. In Study 1, a direct self-report measure of RF was significantly associated with pro-forgiveness attitudes, but not with the tendency to forgive. In Study 2, we conceptually replicated these results by combining a measure of religiosity and a measure of need for structure, a cognitive style variable related to rigid, categorical thinking. A significant interaction between religiosity and need for structure revealed that the positive association between religiosity and pro-forgiveness attitudes was higher among respondents who were also high in need for structure. As expected, this pattern did not occur with the tendency to forgive, which was positively related to religiosity but negatively related to need for structure.
A comparison of intratracheal and intravenous administration of gentamicin during liquid ventilation

Pulmonary absorption of aminoglycosides is poor with intravenous administration, but may be enhanced by direct intratracheal administration of these drugs using perfluorochemical liquid ventilation (LV). To test this hypothesis, gentamicin sulfate was administered to two groups of newborn lambs during LV. Serum and lung tissue levels of gentamicin were compared after either pulmonary intratracheal (IT) or intravenous (IV) routes of administration. Serial serum levels of gentamicin were obtained every 15 min for the 1st h, every 30 min for the 2nd h, and then hourly until sacrifice (maximum 6 h). At sacrifice, representative samples of each lung lobe were homogenized and analyzed for tissue gentamicin content. At 1 h, serum gentamicin levels were similar in both groups: IT administration levels were 3.7 ± 0.55 SE μg/ml and IV levels were 3.5 ± 0.85 SE μg/ml. The peak serum gentamicin level of 4.8 ± 0.8 SE μg/ml for the pulmonary administration group occurred 1.5 h after administration. Lung tissue levels of gentamicin for IT administration (4.04 ± 0.62 SE μg/g) were significantly greater than for IV administration (1.75 ± 0.33 SE μg/g; P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in interlobar gentamicin distribution for either mode of administration. Conclusion Perfluorochemical can be used as a vehicle for intratracheal delivery of antimicrobials. This route provides equivalent serum levels at 1 h, higher lung tissue levels, and uniform interlobar distribution relative to intravenous administration of gentamicin. We speculate that pulmonary administered gentamicin during LV may provide an effective alternative treatment modality in the management of severe neonatal pneumonia.
Simulation-based training to teach open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair to surgical residents requires dedicated faculty instruction.

Objective We assessed the impact of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)-specific simulation training on resident performance in simulated open AAA repair (SOAAAR) and determined whether simulation training required dedicated faculty instruction. Methods We randomized 18 residents (postgraduate years 3-5) to an AAA simulation course consisting of two mandatory practice sessions proctored either by a surgical skills lab coordinator (Group A, n = 8) or by a vascular surgery faculty instructor (Group B, n = 10). All residents received a detailed manual and video demonstrating the technique of open AAA repair. Using a validated tool, vascular faculty who were blinded to resident identity, level of training, and randomization status graded SOAAAR performance via videos that were recorded before and after the course. Results Characteristics and baseline scores between Groups A and B were not different. Postcourse, there was a no significant improvement in performance in Group A. Group B performance was improved significantly from baseline with regard to task-specific checklist scores (44.1 ± 6.3 vs 34.9 ± .5; P = .02), global rating scores (28.4 ± .6 vs 25.3 ± 5.0; P = .049), and overall assessment of operative competence ( P = .02). Time to complete SOAAAR improved in both groups ( P = .02). Baseline performance varied significantly with year of training as measured by task-specific checklist scores, global rating scores, final product analysis, time to complete repair, and overall operative competence. Improvement varied inversely with year of training ( P Conclusions An AAA-specific simulation training course improved resident performance in simulated open AAA repair. Dedicated faculty instruction during the simulation training was required for significant improvement in resident performance. The impact of simulation training was greatest in more junior residents. Procedure-specific simulation training with dedicated faculty can be used to effectively teach simulated open AAA repair.
Heat-release actuation for control of mixture-inhomogeneity-driven combustion instability

A low-order heat-release model, which accounts for the impact of flame surface area and the equivalence ratio oscillations, was used in conjunction with system acoustics to design a hierarchy of control strategies designed to mitigate combustion instability. The model assumes premixed combustion which burns a mixture with a temporally dependent equivalence ratio at high Damkohler number and low turbulence intensity (i.e., a wrinkled laminar flame). When the acoustic field is of the Helmholtz-resonator type, the instability is dominated by the ratio of the convective time lag between the primary fuel injection and the burning zone and the time constant of the resonant acoustics. The model was applied to a practical combustor, and the instability condition predicted agreed with the measurements. The model structure was then utilized to design several active control approaches which incorporated periodic fuel injection at an arbitrary location between the primary injector and the burning zone. We showed that by exploiting the instability mechanism, as captured by the model, one can add flexibility and robustness to the control design (e.g., where the injector is located, how much fuel is introduced, the settling time). Several control algorithms, including an integral controller located at the fuel supply, an integral-plus-proportional controller located at the burning zone, and a Posi-Cast controller located at an arbitrary location in between, are proposed. While we find that the secondary injector can be successful in suppressing the instability, irrespective of its location with respect to the flame zone, results show that the control effort and the robustness against uncertainty and changes in operating conditions depend on the delay associated with the combustion of the extra control fuel (i.e., the location of the injector and the control algorithm).
Frequency-dependent sexual selection among wild-type strains ofDrosophila melanogaster

Frequency-dependent sexual selection was studied using three geographically isolated strains ofDrosophila melanogaster. The Oregon-R and Canton-Special wild-type strains were essentially homogeneous, having been maintained in laboratories since 1925; the wild Macomb strain was relatively genetically heterogeneous, having been collected in September 1972, immediately prior to this investigation. All possible double combinations of the three strains were placed in separate chambers of a modified Elens-Wattiaux observation apparatus at ratios of 5∶20, 12∶12, and 20∶5. Allowing 2 hr observation time for each chamber, data were collected to detect mating preference between these strains. There was no sexual isolation between the strains. However, frequency dependence, where rare males have a definite mating advantage in a population, was exhibited by the strains studied. Sexual vigor appeared to be a factor when the heterogeneous Macomb strain was mated to either of the two homogeneous strains in equal numbers.
Cholesteric liquid crystals: properties and applications

Cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) are a fascinating genre from the liquid crystalline material family, due, in large part, to the unique optical properties its mesoscopic helical structure imparts...
THE TOLERANCE OF MALE AND FEMALE MICE RESPECTIVELY TO ESTROGENS AND ANDROGENS1

IT HAS BEEN KNOWN for some time that there is present in both the male and female organism the sex hormones of both sexes (1). These have been recently demonstrated to be true androgens (2, 3) and estrogens (4, 5). The functional reason for the presence or the origin of the sex hormone of one sex in the body of the other has not yet been established. There are available, however, certain facts which suggest that in some instances they act as pace-setters and in other instances as checks through their antagonistic action (1, 6). The estrogens in heavy doses are decidedly toxic and indeed bring about pathological changes (6). The androgens on the other hand, have not shown as yet any toxic or pathological properties in the intact animal. In fact they are known to offset many pathological effects of the estrogens (6).
Production of soluble HLA-class-I molecules by IFN-γ-induced colon-adenocarcinoma cells

High levels of soluble HLA-class-I molecules (sHLA) were found to be produced in a time- and dose-dependent manner by colon-adenocarcinoma Colo205 cells in response to IFN-gamma stimulation. Among other cytokines tested, only IL-6, TNF, IFN-alpha and IFN-beta showed weak inducibility. IFN-gamma-induced production of sHLA was synergistically enhanced by IL-1 alpha, IL-6 or TNF, and combined treatment with TNF and IL-6 exhibited an additive to synergistic induction. Expression of sHLA is unlikely to result from IFN-gamma-induced enhancement of overall HLA-class-I expression, as at low concentrations IFN-alpha, IFN-beta and IFN-gamma stimulated increased expression of cell membrane HLA-class-I molecules in Colo205 cells with almost equal efficiency, whereas only IFN-gamma induced high level production of sHLA. Immunoblotting with a monoclonal antibody recognizing beta 2-microglobulin-free HLA-class-I heavy chain revealed 3 major forms of sHLA heavy chain, i.e., 45/43-, 37- and 33-kDa molecules, in the culture supernatants of IFN-gamma-induced Colo205 cells. The 45/43-kDa proteins can be partitioned into Triton X-114, representing intact HLA-class-I heavy chains shed from the cell membrane. The hydrophilic 37- and 33-kDa heavy chain, which remained almost exclusively in the aqueous phase after extraction with Triton X-114, could well be due to alternative RNA splicing, with deletion of exon 5 encoding the hydrophobic transmembrane region of membrane-anchored HLA-class-I heavy chain.
Improving reliability in DNA-based computations

DNA computing is an attractive alternative to traditional computing technologies due to DNA's large storage capacity, massive parallelism and energy efficient computation. Massive parallelism, in particular, makes DNA computing attractive for cryptographic applications. But since DNA computing is based on bio-molecular reactions, it is error prone. A main source of errors is hybridizations between unintended sequences during the computation process. To minimize these errors we can design error-resistant DNA sequences. Here we have used simulated annealing (SA) to design such sequences. Our simulations suggest that sequences generated by our approach are superior to sequences generated by all techniques previously reported.
Cost Assessment for Implementation of Embedded Prognostic Health Management for Electronic Systems

Prognostic health management (PHM) is a method for assuring the reliability of a system by monitoring the system in real time as it is used in the field. As the system wears out, but before failure, information that facilitates decision making about the future use of the system is delivered to the user. In this paper, a cost justification has been developed for incorporating the additional circuitry needed to enable prognostics for electrical components directly onto a functional circuit board. Implementing PHM capability for circuit boards will add additional cost to a system, so high reliability systems where the cost of failure is high are easiest to cost justify for prognostics. Aerospace, defense and automotive, applications qualify as high reliability systems. Application domains that require high uptime, minimal amounts of unplanned maintenance, and controllable operating costs can also be cost justified for prognostics since they can benefit from the pro-active management of failures facilitated by PHM. Intangible criteria such as safety or the cost of human life also motivated the need for PHM, so often times projects are labeled strategic, and not subjected to the discipline of a financial analysis. This paper will show rigorous methods for assessing the decision to invest in PHM for electronics. The uncertain nature of research and development (R&D) and difficult to predict future economic conditions is not well captured by traditional discounted cash flow (DCF) methods. An approach known as the Datar-Mathews (DM) method will extend the DCF methods to be equivalent to a real options analysis and the Black-Scholes formula. The DM method is intuitive and uses concepts familiar to most engineers and technical managers.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Globalization and State: Four Paradigmatic Views

Abstract Any adequate analysis of globalization and state necessarily requires fundamental understanding of the worldviews underlying the views expressed with respect to the nature and role of globalization and state. This paper is based on the premise that any worldview can be associated with one of the four basic paradigms: functionalist, interpretive, radical humanist, and radical structuralist. It argues that any view expressed with respect to globalization and state is based on one of the four paradigms or worldviews. It, therefore, discusses four views with respect to the nature and role of globalization and state which correspond to the four broad worldviews. The paper emphasizes that the four views expressed are equally scientific and informative; they look at the nature and role of globalization and state from a certain paradigmatic viewpoint. Emphasizing this example in the area of globalization and state, the paper concludes that there are opportunities for each paradigm to benefit from contrib...
MO-A-303A-01: MR Acceptance Testing and Quality Control: Report of AAPM MR Subcommittee TG1

The MR Subcommittee of the AAPM Imaging Physics Committee (IPC) has recently completed a revision of the previous AAPM TG1 and TG6 reports on MR acceptance testing and quality assurance. The report of the MR Subcommittee has been approved by the IPC and will be available electronically (http://www.aapm.org/pubs/reports/). In this session of the MR continuing education course, the contents of the report will be presented. Recommendations regarding testing of magnetic and radiofrequency(RF) shielding will be followed by recommendations on specific acceptance tests of magnetic field homogeneity, the RF subsystem (calibration, stability), the gradient subsystem (calibration,eddy current compensation), combined subsystems (slice thickness and spacing), global system performance (SNR, uniformity, high and low contrast resolution), and advanced tests (MRspectroscopy, echo planar imaging). Objectives: 1. Understand the requirements for MR site and system acceptance tests. 2. Review recommended MR site and system acceptance testing procedures, including phantom selection, data acquisition,data analysis, and reporting. 3. Review recommended action criteria for both standard imaging options and advanced imaging and spectroscopy options.
Substituent Effects on the Kinetics of Bifunctional Styrene SAM Formation on H-Terminated Si

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on metal and semiconductor surfaces are of interest in electronic devices, molecular and biosensors, and nanostructured surface preparation. Bifunctionalized molecules, where one functional group attaches to the surface while the other remains free for further modification, allow for the rational design of multilayer chemisorbed thin films. In this study, substituted styrenes acted as a model system for SAM formation through an alkene moiety. Substituents ranging from activating to strongly deactivating for aromatic reactions were used to probe the effect of the electronic properties of functionalizing molecules on the rate of SAM formation. Substituted styrene SAMs were formed on hydrogen-terminated p-type Si(100) and n-type Si(111) via sonochemical functionalization. Monolayers were characterized via ellipsometry, IR spectroscopy, contact angle goniometry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Initial rates of reaction for molecules that selectively attached throug...
Imaging the Choking Transition in Gas−Solid Risers Using Electrical Capacitance Tomography

Electrical capacitance tomography, based on the neural network multicriteria optimization image reconstruction technique, developed by this research group, is used to examine the column size effect on the real time, cross-sectional flow variation during the choking transition in a circulating fluidized bed. Two sizes of columns, 0.05 and 0.1 m i.d., are employed in this study for two types of particles, sand particles (group B) and fluid catalytic cracking catalysts (group A). For group B particles, the formation of the square-nosed slugs (0.05 m i.d. column) or the wall slugs (0.1 m i.d. column) is observed to occur in the regime transition when the gas velocity Ug is below the transport gas velocity Utr or when the solids circulation rate Gs is below the transport solids velocity Gs,tr. When Ug > Utr or Gs > Gs,tr, the formation of open slugs for both 0.05 and 0.1 m i.d. columns is observed in the regime transition. Clearly, for group B particles, these regime transitions accompanied by a distinct bed s...
Portugal and the Concern with National Identity

National and cultural identity, a rare topic since the Second World War, has suddenly become fashionable in this post-everything age. Books such as Imagined Communities 1 and The Invention of Tradition 2 have become habitues in the footnotes of journal articles, and one can predict that another, just off the press—Jewish Identity 3—will encounter the same fortune, judging from the calibre of its contributors list, which includes Hilary Putnam and Joseph Margolis.4 But there are many other recent reassessments of the issue.5
The control of water and sodium chloride intake by postingestional and orosensory stimulation in water-deprived rats

We investigated the role of oropharyngeal and postingestional stimulation in the control of the intake of water and NaCl solutions by testing water-deprived rats under real- and sham-drinking conditions with water, 0.150, 0.225, and 0.300 M NaCl solutions. A series of real-drinking tests was given until intake stabilized followed by a series of sham-drinking tests with the same solution. When sham intake stabilized the concentration was increased and the series of real- followed by sham-drinking tests was repeated. Intake of water and 0.150 M NaCl in the first sham-drinking test was significantly greater than in the preceding real-drinking test and did not change with real- or sham-drinking experience. In contrast, intake of 0.225 and 0.300 M NaCl in the first sham-drinking test was not significantly greater than in the preceding real-drinking test but increased with sham-drinking experience. Real intake of 0.225 and 0.300 M NaCl following sham-drinking experience with a lower concentration declined significantly with real-drinking experience. These results show that postingestional stimulation plays a direct role in the control of the intake of water and isotonic saline with little or no orosensory contribution. In contrast, conditioned orosensory responsiveness played the central role in the control of the intake of the two hypertonic solutions with little or no direct contribution from postingestional stimulation. Postingestional stimulation, however, played an indirect role by serving as the unconditioned stimulus for the conditioned orosensory control.
Chapter 10: Preservice Teachers' Beliefs about Curriculum Theory

ABSTRACT In early childhood education, curriculum theory does not always have an important place. Typically, preservice teachers are exposed to a technical vision of curriculum that does not allow them to understand the educational practices in which they participate. This chapter emerges from a qualitative case study that takes place in a preschool setting. It is an initial exploration of early childhood preservice teachers' beliefs about curriculum theory and its usefulness in their practice. Findings such as the lack of connection between curriculum theory and practice, the prevalent technical approach to curriculum, and the absence of a comprehensive curriculum theory in the preservice teachers' narratives show that we need to rethink the role of curriculum theory in education as well as the kinds of curriculum discourses that are presented to prospective teachers through the theory offered/enacted in classrooms.