cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chapter VIII – Disturbed Endocrine Interrelationships correlated to the Oral Tissues

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on endocrinology including an analysis of the new concepts of endocrine interrelationships correlated with the oral manifestations of disturbed endocrine physiology. All of the endocrine glands are interrelated and interdependent. One endocrine gland should be considered as a unit of the total endocrine system. For instance, during hyperthyroidism the body requires more insulin. During the absence of or atrophy of the pituitary gland, the body requires less insulin. The pituitary gland is a central gland in the endocrine system which controls the functions of the other endocrine glands. It does not possess absolute control because it is likewise influenced by the activity of other endocrine glands by the means of a feedback mechanism. Neural relationships are intimately associated with the anterior pituitary. The hypothalamus and the posterior pituitary influence the release of ACTH by two mechanisms. Epinephrine released from the medulla, direct neural connexion and the central nervous system neurohumorals, all impinge upon the hypothalamus and posterior pituitary. The portal circulation carries the humoral agents from the hypothalamus and posterior pituitary to the anterior pituitary. There is an immediate effect upon stress because of the output of ACTH. There are specific factors for controlling the release of ACTH. The two mechanisms act together to control the release of ACTH. A neural mechanism exists for the release of epinephrine by way of the hypothalamus. Epinephrine acts directly upon the anterior pituitary. The anterior pituitary acts directly upon the adrenal cortex. The second controlling factor is the feedback or servo-mechanism. An elevation of steroids causes a drop in ACTH by way of the servo-mechanism. When the steroids are depressed in the blood, ACTH production takes place.
POLYTYPIC TRANSFORMATION AND SINTERING BEHAVIOR IN SILICON CARBIDE MATERIALS

The influence of starting powder morphology and composition, nature of the additives and the sintering process on microstructures of sintered bodies of silicon carbide will be discussed. The phase distribution of the starting powder is determined using pulsed, solid state 29Si magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and x-ray diffraction (XRD); and phase transformation and microstructural development are studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Pure 6H lamellae in β SiC powder have distinctive effect on lamellar formation when alumina is introduced as an additive. Growth of the lamellae is observed on relatively pure 6H grain with a thin alumina layer at the tip to enhance liquid phase grain growth. Polytypic transformation to 4H, 15R and others in the sintered bodies is dependent on the diffusion mechanism of the additive elements into α lamellae during the sintering process. The diffusion of the elements occurs simultaneously and most effectively with partial dislocation propagation to form stacking faults during β-α phase transformation in SiC materials. In order to optimize the microstructure of SiC for various applications, detailed analysis of the β-SiC starting powder is essential. Polytype distribution by TEM, XRD and NMR is a good indicator of impurity elements distribution and final microstructure.
STEAM-ing Up the Science Fair

My teaching partner Greg and I sat at a long mahogany table in the center of a paneled conference room adjacent to the office of the headmaster. The room was once the grand dining room of a home built in the early part of the 19th century. What began as a farm eventually became the campus of our private day school in upstate New York. It was late August and an imprint of moisture collected on the high gloss surface whenever I placed my folded hands on the table. A few days before, the recently hired head of lower school informed us that the newly appointed headmaster had requested a meeting to discuss the upcoming school year. The heavy Italianate doors that separated the conference room from the headmaster's office opened and the headmaster arrived followed by the head of lower school.
Spirituality and Publicity in Barcelona, 1929: Performing Citizenship between Tradition and Avant-Garde

The 1929 International Exposition of Barcelona had a dual, paradoxical agenda perfectly represented by the two most successful projects of the Exposition: the Poble Espanyol, a staged ideal Spanish village reproducing traditional buildings from all over Spain, and Mies Van der Rohe’s Barcelona Pavillion, one of the most emblematic masterpieces of modern architecture, commissioned by Germany, still coping with its postwar dark image. This article develops a dialectic between counterpoint and complicity in the symbolic and spatial juxtaposition of both projects, built around different but related conceptions of religion, spirituality, and ascetism as the essence of both Primo’s nationalist project and the promotion of a new, introverted and “converted” Germany. This dialogue illuminates the uses of spirituality as a privileged commodity in projects of national self-promotion.
Workplace bullying in the United States: An analysis of state court cases

AbstractWorkplace bullying detrimentally impacts the bullied worker, co-workers, and potentially the entirety of the organization in which it takes place. Many nations, other than the United States, have long since recognized this impact and have implemented laws which provide injured parties a means to seek redress of their situations. Since there are no specific independent causes of action to address bullying in the workplace at either the Federal or State level, affected employees in the US face significant legal hurdles when seeking remedies to their situations. However, as evidenced by recent laws enacted by legislatures in Utah, Tennessee, and California and an employment policy enacted by a county in Georgia, a changing tide may be occurring. Court cases referencing workplace bullying have been analyzed in prior research, but there appears to be a gap in the analysis of United States’ State court cases consisting of those reported between January 2009 and 31 December 2015. Content analysis was uti...
Utility of Interphase FISH To Stratify Patients into Cytogenetic Risk Categories at Diagnosis of AML in an ECOG Clinical Trial (E1900).

Abstract Background : Cytogenetic risk categories based on conventional chromosome studies are widely used in clinical practice to make treatment decisions for AML. We evaluated the efficacy of interphase FISH to detect chromosome anomalies in the workup of young ( Methods : Study subjects were enrolled in E1900, a front-line Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) clinical trial for AML. This is an on-going Phase III clinical trial with Daunorubicin dose-intensification ± Gemtuzumab-Ozogamicin consolidation therapy prior to stem cell transplant. This trial opened December 2002; as of February 2005, 223 patients were enrolled. The protocol was designed to collect bone marrow for both cytogenetic and FISH studies at study entry (diagnosis). Cytogenetic studies were done by local laboratories with results reviewed centrally by the ECOG Cytogenetics Committee. Each case was classified as acceptable or unacceptable based on predefined ECOG cytogenetic criteria. FISH for each patient was performed in the ECOG FISH laboratory at Mayo Clinic and utilized eight probe sets to detect t(8;21), t(9;22), t(11;var), t(15;17), inv(16), +8, −5/5q, and −7/7q (Vysis, Downer Grove, IL). Results : 64 (29%) of 223 specimens had incomplete cytogenetic and/or FISH results. We analyzed the remaining 159 (71%) specimens with complete cytogenetic and FISH results. Results for each specimen were classified by probe set into one of the following categories: Normal cytogenetics and normal FISH; Abnormal cytogenetics and abnormal FISH for the anomaly the probe was designed to detect; Abnormal cytogenetics and abnormal FISH for an anomaly the probe was not primarily designed to detect; Normal cytogenetics and abnormal FISH; Abnormal cytogenetics and normal FISH; or Abnormal cytogenetics and abnormal FISH that further defined the karyotype. Download : Download high-res image (165KB) Download : Download full-size image The concordance rate between cytogenetic and FISH results ranged from 97 to 100% for all probe sets and kappa analysis for concordance had a p value of Conclusions : The high level of agreement between cytogenetics and FISH demonstrates the accuracy of a panel of 8 FISH probe sets for the detection of significant abnormalities in AML. The data from this investigation support the use of FISH as an adjunct in cases of failed cytogenetic analyses to increase the yield of useful cytogenetic results in large cooperative trials. Furthermore, because of the strong correlation between cytogenetics and FISH, our results demonstrate the potential of FISH as a follow-up study of minimal residual disease in ECOG trials.
Gamming Chairs and Gimballed Beds: Seafaring Women on Board Nineteenth-Century Ships

During the nineteenth century, many captains’ wives from New England took up residence on the ships their husbands commanded. This article focuses on how those women at sea attempted to use material culture to domesticate their voyaging space. While writing in their journals, they referred to not only the small personal things such as books and knitting needles that they brought in their trunks, but also large items, built for and used by women, such as gamming chairs, deckhouses, parlor organs, sewing machines, and gimballed beds. Mary Brewster attempted to retreat from the ship’s officers in her small deckhouse, Annie Brassey slept in the gimballed bed, and Lucy Lord Howes disembarked in a gamming chair when captured by Confederates during the Civil War. Evidence of these artifacts found during shipwreck archaeology could be used to further what is known of the culture aboard ships on which women lived. Analysis of the material culture reveals how a captain’s wife domesticated space, altered her environment, and made a home on the ship for her family.
Mouse Monoclonal Antibodies Generated from Full Length Human Cereblon: Detection of Cereblon Protein in Patients with Multiple Myeloma.

Immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) are profoundly active compounds in the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma (MM). However, despite the fact that treatment with IMiDs has dramatically improved survival for patients with MM, the majority of MM patients develop IMiDs resistance over time. We have found that expression of functional cereblon is required for IMiDs′ action. In addition, it has been reported that cells expressing high levels of cereblon are resistant to proteasome inhibitor, implying that patients with high levels of cereblon should be resistant to proteasome inhibitor. If the above conclusions are correct, cereblon could be considered as a biomarker to determine which standard regimens should be used to treat patients with MM. Unfortunately, the conclusions mentioned above have not been clinically confirmed. In order to confirm these conclusions, we have generated three highly specific mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against full-length human cereblon. These mAbs can be used to do western blot, immunoprecipitation and immunohistochemistry staining. In addition, their epitopes have been precisely determined and the peptides covering their epitopes completely blocked the antibody binding to cereblon in western blot analysis or in immunohistochemistry staining of MM patients′ specimens.
Lack of BACE1 S-palmitoylation reduces amyloid burden and mitigates memory deficits in transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder characterized by pathological brain lesions and a decline in cognitive function. β-Amyloid peptides (Aβ), derived from proteolytic processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP), play a central role in AD pathogenesis. β-Site APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), the transmembrane aspartyl protease which initiates Aβ production, is axonally transported in neurons and accumulates in dystrophic neurites near cerebral amyloid deposits in AD. BACE1 is modified by S-palmitoylation at four juxtamembrane cysteine residues. S-palmitoylation is a dynamic posttranslational modification that is important for trafficking and function of several synaptic proteins. Here, we investigated the in vivo significance of BACE1 S-palmitoylation through the analysis of knock-in mice with cysteine-to-alanine substitution at the palmitoylated residues (4CA mice). BACE1 expression, as well as processing of APP and other neuronal substrates, was unaltered in 4CA mice despite the lack of BACE1 S-palmitoylation and reduced lipid raft association. Whereas steady-state Aβ levels were similar, synaptic activity-induced endogenous Aβ production was not observed in 4CA mice. Furthermore, we report a significant reduction of cerebral amyloid burden and BACE1 accumulation in dystrophic neurites in the absence of BACE1 S-palmitoylation in mouse models of AD amyloidosis. Studies in cultured neurons suggest that S-palmitoylation is required for dendritic spine localization and axonal targeting of BACE1. Finally, the lack of BACE1 S-palmitoylation mitigates cognitive deficits in 5XFAD mice. Using transgenic mouse models, these results demonstrate that intrinsic posttranslational S-palmitoylation of BACE1 has a significant impact on amyloid pathogenesis and the consequent cognitive decline.
Challenges in technology adoption in Indian public distribution system: a quality management approach

Information and communication technologies are being used by various countries to provide faster and transparent services to their citizens through e-government initiatives. A large population in developing countries remain deprived of these services due to lack of skills, training and infrastructure. Local community intermediaries with necessary skills are employed to provide these services to beneficiaries. The purpose of this study was to identify and prioritise the challenges faced by intermediaries in adopting e-government technology. Quality management tools of list reduction, affinity diagram and Pareto chart were used for this purpose. Utilising quality management tools is an unconventional approach to problem solving in public administration sector. The six identified priority areas were lack of infrastructure, device hardware design, process design, sales people errors, government support and software design. This research will help policy makers and government agencies to improve technology dissemination for easier adoption of existing as well as new e-government initiatives.
Submission to Senate Finance Committee - Taxation of Accumulated Deferred Foreign Income

International tax reform proposals all suggest some transition from the present deferral system to some other system. As an integral part of that transition, it is expected as well that there will be some taxation on all “accumulated deferred foreign income” existing as of the transition date. This submission suggests two administratively workable mechanisms by which a favorable lower-then-35% tax rate can be appropriately applied to accumulated deferred foreign income that was earned through real business activities conducted outside the U.S., consistent with the Congressional intent of the current deferral tax system. On the other hand, any such accumulated deferred foreign income that has resulted from profit shifting activities should be taxed at the full 35%, including an interest charge.
Brain Metastases in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Assessment of Molecular Genotype-Phenotype Features-An Entity With an Increasing Incidence?

Abstract Purpose To assess clinical characteristics of patients with metastatic pancreas ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and brain metastases (BM), and to assess somatic and germ-line molecular profiles where performed. Patients and Methods Patients with PDAC and BM between January 1990 and January 2016 were identified. Molecular characteristics of somatic and germ-line testing where performed in the subset of patients who had provided informed consent. Somatic alterations were assessed by either MSK-IMPACT testing (>340 key cancer genes) or Sequenom testing (8-gene panel). Overall survival was calculated from date of diagnosis to either date of last follow-up or death. Survival after BM was calculated from date of diagnosis of BM by radiology or pathology to either date of last follow-up or death. Results From a total of 5824 patients with PDAC identified from January 2000 to January 2016, twenty-five patients (0.4%) had BM. Median age at PDAC diagnosis was 58 years. Median time to the development of BM from initial PDAC diagnosis was 17 months (range, 0-79 months). Median overall survival after BM diagnosis was 1.5 months (range, 1-31 months). Overall survival for patients who had craniotomy (n = 4) was 11 months (range, 1-31 months), with 2 long-term survivors at 21 and 31 months, respectively. Four patients had leptomeningeal disease. Six of 25 patients had germ-line testing, and 3 had BRCA mutations (2 BRCA1 and 1 BRCA2). Somatic profiling identified KRAS mutations in 100% (4 G12D, 2 G12V, and 1 Q61K). Conclusion BM from PDAC is a rare event. We identified a speculative association of germ-line BRCA1/2 alterations with BM in PDAC, which requires corroboration. Survival after BM development is poor; prolonged survival occurred in selected patients via a multidisciplinary approach.
3D printing high density ceramics using binder jetting with nanoparticle densifiers

Abstract This study examines the effects of nanoparticle densifiers added to printing liquid on the mechanical performance and manufacturability of ceramics made using binder jetting. “Green” alumina samples were synthesized with filler particles of average particle size 40 μm embedded with nanoparticles of average size of 50 nm suspended in the printing liquid with varying concentration of 0–15 wt%. Samples were characterized for density, porosity, compressive strength, and printing liquid penetration depth in the filler powder layer assessed using surface tension testing. Results showed that the presence of the nanoparticle had a marked effect on the physical and mechanical properties of the samples whose relative density increased by about 30%. MicroCT imaging of the samples showed a decrease in interparticle pores with an addition of 15 wt% alumina nanoparticles. Compressive strength improved by 743%, from 76 kPa to 641 kPa as the densifier content was increased from 0 to 15 wt%. Surface tension of the printing liquid decreased from 44 mN/m to 23 mN/m with increasing densifier concentration from 0 to 15 wt% indicating that the penetration depth of the printing liquid would decrease with increasing densifier content. Implications of this approach on high density ceramic part printing efficiency are discussed in detail.
Brigatinib in Patients With Alectinib-Refractory ALK-Positive NSCLC

Abstract Introduction The second-generation anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor alectinib recently showed superior efficacy compared to the first-generation ALK inhibitor crizotinib in advanced ALK-rearranged NSCLC, establishing alectinib as the new standard first-line therapy. Brigatinib, another second-generation ALK inhibitor, has shown substantial activity in patients with crizotinib-refractory ALK-positive NSCLC; however, its activity in the alectinib-refractory setting is unknown. Methods A multicenter, retrospective study was performed at three institutions. Patients were eligible if they had advanced, alectinib-refractory ALK-positive NSCLC and were treated with brigatinib. Medical records were reviewed to determine clinical outcomes. Results Twenty-two patients were eligible for this study. Confirmed objective responses to brigatinib were observed in 3 of 18 patients (17%) with measurable disease. Nine patients (50%) had stable disease on brigatinib. The median progression-free survival was 4.4 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.8–5.6 months) with a median duration of treatment of 5.7 months (95% CI: 1.8–6.2 months). Among 9 patients in this study who underwent post-alectinib/pre-brigatinib biopsies, 5 had an ALK I1171X or V1180L resistance mutation; of these, 1 had a confirmed partial response and 3 had stable disease on brigatinib. One patient had an ALK G1202R mutation in a post-alectinib/pre-brigatinib biopsy, and had progressive disease as the best overall response to brigatinib. Conclusions Brigatinib has limited clinical activity in alectinib-refractory ALK-positive NSCLC. Additional studies are needed to establish biomarkers of response to brigatinib and to identify effective therapeutic options for alectinib-resistant ALK-positive NSCLC patients.
Marijuana, Receptors and Immunomodulation

It is now widely accepted that drugs of abuse, such as opiates, cocaine and marijuana, as well as other abuse drugs, both recreational and psychoactive, are potent immunomodulators, suppressing and sometimes enhancing the immune response. A wide variety of models have been used both in vivo and in vitro to demonstrate the immunomodulatory properties of such drugs and the mechanisms involved (Bacynsky et al., 1983a, b, Cushman, and Khurana, 1976, Friedman et al., 1991, 1994, Hollister, 1988, Petersen, 1976, Zimmerman, et al., 1977). In recent years it has been shown in various studies that morphine, cocaine, marijuana and also alcohol have marked effects on various parameters of immunity, including those mediated by T cells, i.e., cell mediated immunity, B cells, i.e., humoral immunity such as antibody formation, as well as natural killer cells, macrophages and PMN cell mediated killing of microbes like bacteria, viruses and fungi. For example, recent studies in this laboratory have shown that marijuana and its components are markedly immunomodulatory (Blanchard et al., 1986, Djeu et al., 1991, Kawakami, 1988 a, b, Klein et al., 1985, 1987, 1993, 1994, Lopez-Cepero, et al., 1986, Pross et al., 1990, 1992, Shivers et al., 1994, Zhu et al., 1993, 1994).
PATHOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE OF THE HOST TO SIMIAN MALARIAS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses a study analyzing the pathological and physiological response of the host to simian malarias. Five Macaca mulatta were inoculated with sporozoites of Plasmodium cynomolgi; two had been splenectomized 36 days prior to inoculation. All of the monkeys showed a significant fall in platelets from normal of 320,000 to 520,000 per cmm to 24,000 to 60,000 per cmm, occurring approximately coincidentally with maximum parasitemias. There were no differences between the intact and splenectomized monkeys, with the exception of a more severe infection and a later development of antibody in the latter. First significant FA response appeared on the 5th to 7th day of patency in the intact animals and on the 16th day in the splenectomized. Platelet counts in all animals returned to normal after 2 to 6 days in the absence of specific or nonspecific treatment and in the face of continuing parasitemias of 10 to 50 thousand per cm.
Scattering Probes of Microemulsion Structure

Small-angle neutron (SANS) and quasielastic light scattering (QLS) techniques have been used to study a family of microemulsions formed in a salinity scan with sodium 4-(1’-heptylnonyl benzene sulfonate) (SHBS), iso-butanol, NaCl brines and dodecane. The growth of microemulsion “droplets” and the evolution of bicontinuous structures have been examined, and a model of the dynamics of microemulsions that contain comparable amounts of both water and oil is reviewed. SANS measurements reveal the decrease in surfactant head group area from ca.200 A2 to 125 A2 as the salinity increases and the composition varies from oil-in-water to water-in-oil.
Characteristics of Intestinal Myoelectrical and Motor Activities in Diet-Induced Obese Rats: Obesity and Motility

Gastrointestinal motility has been reported to be altered in obesity. However, it is unknown whether intestinal myoelectrical activity (IMA) is also changed in obesity. The aim of this study was to characterize intestinal myoelectrical and motility activities in the fasting state, during feeding, and postprandial state after various test meals in diet-induced obese (DIO) rats in comparison with regular rats. IMA was recorded in the fasting, feeding, and postprandial states in DIO and regular rats. Regular laboratory chow, high-fat solid food, and high-fat liquid food were used to test IMA responses to different meals. (1) The intestinal slow waves in the DIO rats were not different from those in normal rats in the fasting or postprandial state. Neither intestinal transit nor the number of intestinal contractions per minute was altered in DIO rats although gastric emptying was accelerated. (2) Both DIO rats and normal rats showed altered IMA during the first minute of feeding (cephalic stimulation). (3) The intestinal slow waves in both DIO rats and regular rats were impaired slightly but significantly after intake of a high-fat meal. Our study demonstrates that intestinal myoelectrical activity is not altered in DIO rats and its postprandial responses to various meals are not altered either. High-fat meals induce intestinal dysrhythmia but do not have a chronic impact on intestinal slow waves in DIO rats.
Run-Time Deep Learning Enhanced Fast Coding Unit Decision for High Efficiency Video Coding

The state-of-the-art high efficiency video coding (HEVC/H.265) adopts the hierarchical quadtree-structured coding unit (CU) to enhance the coding efficiency. However, the computational complexity s...
Candida albicans rvs161 Δ and rvs167 Δ Endocytosis Mutants Are Defective in Invasion into the Oral Cavity

Invasive growth in tissues by the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans is promoted by a switch from budding to hyphal morphogenesis that is stimulated by multiple environmental factors that can vary at different sites of infection. To identify genes that promote invasive growth in the oral cavity to cause oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC), we first identified C. albicans mutants that failed to invade agar medium. Analysis of nine severely defective mutants in a mouse model of OPC revealed that the strongest defects were seen for the rvs161Δ and rvs167Δ mutants, which lack amphiphysin proteins needed for endocytosis. The rvsΔ mutants initially adhered to the tongue but failed to invade efficiently and were lost from the oral cavity. Previous studies indicated that rvsΔ mutants formed filamentous hyphae in the kidney albeit with morphological abnormalities, suggesting that the rvsΔ mutants were influenced by factors that vary at different sites of infection. Consistent with this, increasing concentrations of CO2, an inducer of hyphal growth that is more abundant in internal organs than air, partially rescued the invasive-growth defects of the rvsΔ mutants in vitro Interestingly, preinduction of the rvsΔ mutants to form hyphae prior to introduction into the oral cavity restored their ability to cause OPC, identifying a key role for endocytosis in initiating invasive hyphal growth. These results highlight the influence of distinct environmental factors in promoting invasive hyphal growth in the oral cavity and indicate that blocking endocytosis could have therapeutic value in preventing the initiation of OPC.IMPORTANCE Oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) is a common fungal infection that is associated with severe morbidity. Another concern is that patients at risk for developing OPC often take long courses of antifungal drugs, which can lead to the emergence of drug-resistant C. albicans strains. We therefore identified nine mutants with defects in undergoing invasive hyphal growth in the oral cavity, increasing the number of genes known to be involved in OPC by more than 30%. The two strongest mutants, rvs161Δ and rvs167Δ, have defects in endocytosis. The rvsΔ mutants appear to have a specific defect in initiating invasive growth, as preinducing the cells to form hyphae prior to infection restored their ability to cause OPC. These results indicate that blocking endocytosis could have therapeutic value in preventing the initiation of OPC without leading to development of resistance against drugs currently used to treat fungal infections.
Therapist Reported Reasons for Client Termination: A Content Analysis of Termination Reports

AbstractClient termination is prevalent yet not fully understood. Research has provided some reasons, but more information is needed to fully grasp the subject. The authors of this study sought to ...
INFLUENCE DES TEMPERATURES OPERATIONNELLES SUR LA PERFORMANCE D’UN REFRIGERATEUR SOLAIRE A ADSORPTION QUI FONCTIONNE AVEC LE COUPLE CHARBON ACTIF-METHANOL

Le sechage des produits alimentaires au soleil est un moyen efficace, facile et economique pour conserver les aliments, en particulier les fruits. Le sechoir solaire est l'equipement le plus populaire pour le sechage des fruits. En raison de la nature intermittente de l'energie solaire, le stockage de l'energie thermique est necessaire pour assurer un fonctionnement prolonge du sechoir. L'objectif principal de cette etude est d'evaluer l'efficacite du sechoir solaire integre avec un lit en gravier comme stockage thermique. L’air dans ce sechoir est suce naturellement grâce a la chemine solaire le sechage. Le cabinet de sechage est envisage theoriquement (CFD).La distribution de la vitesse et de la temperature de l'air a travers le sechoir solaire ont ete presentes durant une journee d’Aout et sous les conditions climatiques de Tlemcen (Algerie). L’effet de la presence d'un stockage thermique sur la distribution de la vitesse et de la temperature du flux d'air et de la temperature des figues ont ete analyses. Les resultats montrent que la conception du sechoir solaire, comportant un stockage thermique augmente les capacites et le rendement du sechoir solaire, par l’augmentation du temps de sechage.
Should We Treat Sepsis-Induced DIC With Anticoagulants?

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a common complication in sepsis because of crosstalk between the immune system and the coagulation system. Several anticoagulant agents have been tested in an attempt to improve the survival of patients with sepsis and sepsis-induced DIC. Here, we discuss the rationale against using anticoagulation therapy in septic DIC. Coagulopathy and DIC are associated with increased mortality in sepsis. Several anticoagulant agents have been tested in an attempt to improve the survival of patients with sepsis and sepsis-induced DIC, but have proven largely ineffective. This is because of two major factors. First, the coagulation system is complex and closely related to the immune system. When we manipulate one of the factors involved in these systems, we may disturb the delicate homeostasis between them. A second factor may be failure to identify patients who will benefit from anticoagulation therapy. This may be attributed partly to the fact that there is no gold standard for the diagnosis of DIC, and there are consequently several diagnostic criteria, none of which are specifically designed for sepsis-induced DIC. Application of precision medicine, of the kind currently being applied in other intensive care fields, may be the key to overcoming these challenges. Until we know the precise target population, we should not use anticoagulation therapy in sepsis-induced DIC outside a research setting. There is no strong evidence to support the effectiveness of routine anticoagulation therapy in sepsis-induced DIC, and it should not be used clinically until more is known regarding the population of patients who may benefit from it.
Picosecond Measurements of Device and Circuit Transient Response with Optoelectric Techniques

In this seminar, I would like to give a tutorial introduction and overview of the recently developed optoelectronic techniques which now permit characterization of electronic device and circuit response with picosecond time resolution. It is appropriate that these techniques be discussed at this study institute, since they present the opportunity to make direct measurements of the response of submicron devices in the time regime where these devices operate.
The effects of food sales taxes on household food spending: An application of a censored cluster model

This study proposes a model of household food spending that accounts for zero censoring and can be applied to data collected through a clustered survey design to investigate the impact of food sales taxes on three groups: households who are eligible for and participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), households who are eligible but do not participate in the program, and households who are not eligible for the program. We find that SNAP participating households are largely insensitive to grocery taxes and respond to restaurant taxes by shifting more of their food dollars towards at‐home foods. Among households who are eligible for SNAP but do not participate in the program, grocery taxes reduce spending on foods purchased for at‐home consumption, and thereby increase the amount of the total food budget allocated to away from home foods. This is concerning from a nutrition and health standpoint since away from home foods tend to be more calorie dense and nutritionally poorer than at home foods.
A high-density electroencephalography study reveals abnormal sleep homeostasis in patients with rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is characterized by disrupting motor enactments during REM sleep, but also cognitive impairments across several domains. In addition to REM sleep abnormalities, we hypothesized that RBD patients may also display EEG abnormalities during NREM sleep. We collected all-night recordings with 256-channel high-density EEG in nine RBD patients, predominantly early-onset medicated individuals, nine sex- and age- matched healthy controls, and nine additional controls with matched medications and comorbidities. Power spectra in delta to gamma frequency bands were compared during both REM and NREM sleep, between phasic and tonic REM sleep, and between the first versus last cycle of NREM sleep. Controls, but not RBD patients, displayed a decrease in beta power during phasic compared to tonic REM sleep. Compared to controls, RBD patients displayed a reduced decline in SWA from early to late NREM sleep. Overnight changes in the distribution of the amplitude of slow waves were also reduced in RBD patients. Without suppression of beta rhythms during phasic REM sleep, RBD patients might demonstrate heightened cortical arousal, favoring the emergence of behavioral episodes. A blunted difference between REM sleep sub-stages may constitute a sensitive biomarker for RBD. Moreover, reduced overnight decline in SWA suggests a reduced capacity for synaptic plasticity in RBD patients, which may favor progression towards neurodegenerative diseases.
Techno-economic analysis of catalytic hydrothermolysis pathway for jet fuel production

Abstract The aviation industry is moving towards increasing the use of renewable fuels to reduce its environmental impact and find alternative supply chains for aviation fuel. Analyzing the technical and economic viability of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) conversion pathways provides critical understanding and new insight toward long-term sustainability and commercialization of SAF. This study reviews the catalytic hydrothermolysis (CH) pathway for sustainable aviation fuel production and conducted a detailed techno-economic analysis to determine the economic viability of SAF production from four selected feedstocks - carinata oil, soybean oil, yellow grease, and brown grease. Economic analyses were performed for ‘nth plant’ (mature technology) to assess process costs and sensitivity on minimum selling price (MSP) of SAF. Without incentives, the MSP of SAF produced from soybean oil, carinata oil, yellow grease, and brown grease are $1.50/L, $1.32/L, $1.19/L for and $1.00/L respectively. Regardless of feedstock, the MSP is shown to be more sensitive to the yield of SAF and feedstock cost, than to capital and supplementary costs. Based on the analysis, the CH process is a promising technology to convert renewable oils to SAF, however the projected MSP requires incentives to achieve parity with petroleum jet fuel.
Heart Retransplantation

Retransplants comprise only a small minority (3–4%) of heart transplants, however outcome following retransplantation is compromised. Risk factors for a poor outcome following retransplantation include retransplantation early (<6 months) after primary transplant, retransplantation for acute rejection or early allograft failure, and retransplantation in an earlier era. The incidence of rejection and infection is similar following primary transplant and retransplantation. The compromised outcomes and risk factors for a poor outcome are similar in adult and pediatric heart retransplantation. However, due to the short half-life of the transplanted heart, it is an expectation that patients transplanted in childhood may require retransplantation. Based on the data available and the opinion of the working group, indications for heart retransplantation are (i) chronic severe cardiac allograft vasculopathy with symptoms of ischemia or heart failure (should be considered) or asymptomatic moderate or severe left ventricular dysfunction (may be considered) or (ii) chronic graft dysfunction with symptoms of progressive heart failure in the absence of active rejection. Patients with graft failure due to acute rejection with hemodynamic compromise, especially <6 months post-transplant, are inappropriate candidates for retransplantation. In addition, guidelines established for primary transplant candidacy should be strictly followed.
Minimum in-situ stress measurement using temperature signatures

Abstract This study proposes a method to determine the temperature signature that can delineate the closure of a fracture, and infer closure stress from the bottomhole pressure that coincides with this signature. After shut-in, the fluid leaks off into the formation through an effective matrix comprised of native permeability and flow through natural or induced fractures. This flow from a conceptualized main fracture is accompanied by advective heat transfer away from the wellbore and advective movement of cooler fluid from the wellbore into the fracture. Considering the analog situation for pressure, the G function (a function defined by pumping and shut-in time) with temperature history has been used to account for the shut-in period. The change of temperature before and after fracture closure results in characteristic inflection points on a plot of G d T / d G vs G , suggesting closure of the primary fracture and providing an indication of the total stress normal to that fracture. Bottomhole temperature and pressure data were collected from a stress measurement program carried out in support of the Department of Energy's FORGE (Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy) program. Eight cycles of injection were carried out in the barefoot section of well 58-32, a 2294 m deep vertical wellbore with a bottomhole static temperature of ∼199 °C. We compare the closure stresses inferred by temperature signatures with those determined from pressure signatures and find that these two sets of interpretations are close to each other. We also find that the temperature signatures are phenomenological and are less ambiguous than the pressure-G function signatures, making a temperature-G function analysis a valuable method for inferring the minimum in-situ stress.
Structural changes in glutaraldehyde-treated porcine heterografts used as substitute cardiac valves: Transmission and scanning electron microscopic observations in 12 patients

Abstract Scanning and transmission electron microscopic studies were made of (1) 12 glutaraldehyde-treated porcine valvular heterografts that had been implanted in patients for 2 days to 76 months; (2) 3 unimplanted commercially processed porcine aortic valves; and (3) 1 unprocessed porcine aortic valve. Comparison of unprocessed porcine valves and unimplanted commercially processed valves showed loss of endothelium and acid mucopolysaccharides during preimplantation processing. Short-term (less than 2 months) changes after implantation consisted of insudation of plasma proteins, penetration of erythrocytes into surface crevices, formation of a thin surface layer of fibrin, and deposition of macrophages, giant cells and a few platelets. Longer-term (more than 2 months) changes were proportional to the time interval after implantation and consisted of progressive disruption of collagen, erosion of the valve surfaces, formation of aggregates of platelets and accumulation of lipid. The surfaces of the leaflets did not become covered with endothelium or with a fibrous sheath. Calcific deposits were found in one valve and bacterial organisms in another. Thus, progressive breakdown of collagen appears to be a critical factor in determining the long-term durability of glutaraldehydetreated porcine valvular heterografts.
Geography's Human Resources over the Past Half-Century*

Abstract This article examines trends over the past five decades in three human resource issues in geography: the production of new geographers; the size and diversity of the membership of the Association of American Geographers (AAG); and the topical specializations of geographers. The number of geography degrees awarded increased rapidly in the 1950s and 1960s, followed by a modest decline as baby boomers exited their college years. The number surged again in the 1990s, however, and it seems to have stabilized in recent years. AAG membership trends followed a similar trajectory and membership is currently poised to set a new record. The participation of women in the discipline has increased steadily over the past half-century, but geography still lags the social and physical sciences in the share of women receiving bachelor's degrees. The participation of geographers from ethnic minority groups continues to be very low. The number of AAG specialty groups has doubled since their inception in 1978, and ge...
ATP-dependent and NAD-dependent modification of glutamine synthetase from Rhodospirillum rubrum in vitro

Glutamine synthetase from the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodospirillum rubrum is the target of both ATP- and NAD-dependent modification. Incubation of R. rubrum cell supernatant with [alpha-32P]NAD results in the labeling of glutamine synthetase and two other unidentified proteins. Dinitrogenase reductase ADP-ribosyltransferase does not appear to be responsible for the modification of glutamine synthetase or the unidentified proteins. The [alpha-32P]ATP- and [alpha-32P] NAD-dependent modifications of R. rubrum glutamine synthetase appear to be exclusive and the two forms of modified glutamine synthetase are separable on two-dimensional gels. Loss of enzymatic activity by glutamine synthetase did not correlate with [alpha-32P]NAD labeling. This is in contrast to inactivation by nonphysiological ADP-ribosylation of other glutamine synthetases by an NAD:arginine ADP-ribosyltransferase from turkey erythrocytes (Moss, J., Watkins, P.A., Stanley, S.J., Purnell, M.R., and Kidwell, W.R. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 5100-5104). A 32P-labeled protein spot comigrates with the NAD-treated glutamine synthetase spot when glutamine synthetase purified from H3 32PO4-grown cells is analyzed on two-dimensional gels. The adenylylation site of R. rubrum glutamine synthetase has been determined to be Leu-(Asp)-Tyr-Leu-Pro-Pro-Glu-Glu-Leu-Met; the tyrosine residue is the site of modification.
Nad+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase from Arabidopsis thaliana. Characterization of two closely related subunits

Two cDNA clones which appear to encode different subunits of NAD+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH; EC 1.1.1.41) were identified by homology searches from the Arabidopsis EST database. These cDNA clones were obtained and sequenced; both encoded full-length messages and displayed 82.7% nucleotide sequence identity over the coding region. The deduced amino acid sequences revealed preprotein lengths of 367 residues, with an amino acid identity of 86.1%. Genomic Southern blot analysis showed distinct single-copy genes for both IDH subunits. Both IDH subunits were expressed as recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli, and polyclonal antibodies were raised to each subunit. The Arabidopsis cDNA clones were expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants which were deficient in either one or both of the yeast NAD+-dependent IDH subunits. The Arabidopsis cDNA clones failed to complement the yeast mutations; although both IDH-I and IDH-II were expressed at detectable levels, neither protein was imported into the mitochondria.
Online Real-Time Preemptive Scheduling of Jobs with Deadlines on Multiple Machines ∗

In this paper, we derive bounds on performance guarantees of online algorithms for real-time preemptive scheduling of jobs with deadlines on K machines when jobs are characterized in terms of their minimum stretch factor α (or, equivalently, their maximum execution rate r =1 /α). We consider two well known preemptive models that are of interest from practical applications: the hard real-time scheduling model in which a job must be completed if it was admitted for execution by the online scheduler, and the firm real-time scheduling model in which the scheduler is allowed not to complete a job even if it was admitted for execution by the online scheduler. In both models, the objective is to maximize the sum of execution times of the jobs that were executed to completion, preemption is allowed, and the online scheduler must immediately decide, whenever a job arrives, whether to admit it for execution or reject it. We measure the competitive ratio of any online algorithm as the ratio of the value of the objective function obtained by this algorithm to that of the best possible offline algorithm. We show that no online algorithm can have a competitive ratio greater than 1 − (1/α )+ e for hard real-time scheduling with K ≥ 1 machines and greater than 1 − (3/(4� α� )) + e for firm real-time scheduling on a single machine, where e> 0 may be arbitrarily small, even if the algorithm is allowed to know the value of α in advance. On the other hand, we exhibit a simple online scheduler that achieves a competitive ratio of at least 1 − (1/α) in either of these models with K machines. The performance guarantee of our simple scheduler shows that it is in fact an optimal scheduler for hard real-time scheduling with K machines. We also describe an alternative scheduler for firm real-time scheduling on a single machine in which the competitive ratio does not go to zero as α approaches 1. Both of our schedulers do not know the value of α in advance.
Zur Reaktion von Fluorphosphanen mit Silylaziden

Die Fluorphosphane Ph2PF (1), PhOPF2 (2), C5H10NPF2 (3), (Et2N)PF2 (4) und (Et2N)2PF (5) reagieren mit Me3SiN3 uber die Zwischenstufe der Azidophosphane R3−nP(N3)n zu Oligo- und Polyphosphazenen, (RR′PN)n. (iPr2N)2PF (6) wird dagegen durch Me3SiN3 zum N-silylierten Phosphazen (iPr2N)2PFNSiMe3 (7) oxidiert. tBuPh2SiN3 ist wesentlich weniger reaktiv. Im Gegensatz zu Me3SiN3 oxidiert es aber auch 5 und 1 zu (Et2N)2FPNSiPh2tBu (10) bzw. Ph2FPNSiPh2tBu. On the Reaction of Fluorophosphanes with Silylazides. The fluorophosphanes Ph2PF (1), PhOPF2 (2), C5H10NPF2 (3), (Et2N)PF2 (4), and (Et2N)2PF (5) react with Me3SiN3 via azidophosphanes R3−nP(N3)n to oligo- and polyphosphazenes, (RR′PN)n. (iPr2N)2PF (6), however, is oxidized by Me3SiN3 yielding the N-silylated phosphazene (iPr2N)2PFNSiMe3 (7). tBuPh2SiN3 is considerably less reactive. On contrary to Me3SiN3 it even oxidizes 5 and 1 forming (Et2N)2FPNSiPh2tBu (10) and Ph2FPNSiPh2tBu, resp.