cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Large-deformation analysis of nonlinear elastic fluids

Abstract A computational analysis was undertaken of four nonlinear generalizations of the simple Maxwell viscoelastic fluid under conditions of large deformations. The four fluids are named the upper convected Maxwell, lower convected Maxwell, Jaumann and Dong-Skalak-Sung fluids. Each of them is characterized by two material parameters, a shear modulus and a time constant and each reduces to the simple Maxwell fluid in the case of small, slow deformations. The finite element program ADINA was adapted to compute the mechanical responses of these materials to imposed surface displacements of various types. Our algorithm was based on the equality (for an incompressible material) of the components of the second Piola-Kirchhoff stress with respect to material coordinates and those of the Cauchy stress with respect to convected coordinates. After evaluating the algorithm's accuracy with respect to a limited set of available analytic solutions, the responses to indentation by a rigid, sharp-edged cylinder of a half-space composed of each of the four nonlinear fluids were computed. These calculations included a wide range of indentation speeds, covering the spectrum of material behavior from viscous fluid to hyperelastic solid. The computations admitted large indentations—up to six indenter radii in special cases. In contrast to their radically different behaviors when subjected to large homogeneous deformations, all four materials exhibited similar behaviors when subjected to deep indentations. For any specific choice of material and computational parameters, the computation terminated if the indentation became too deep and the magnitude of this maximum achievable indentation depth decreased with increasing mesh refinement.
Itk and Th2 responses: action but no reaction

The Tec family tyrosine kinase, Itk, was initially characterized as a crucial component of T-cell receptor signaling pathways resulting in phospholipase C-γ1 activation and actin polymerization. In 1999, a seminal report by Fowell, Locksley and colleagues demonstrated that, in CD4 + T cells, Itk-dependent signals are differentially required for T-helper (Th)2 versus Th1 differentiation and effector function. These findings launched a series of in vitro and in vivo studies addressing the molecular defects of Itk −/− CD4 + T cells, and the impaired immune responses of intact Itk-deficient mice. While demonstrating a bias against Th2 differentiation, overall these experiments have indicated that the most significant failing is an inability of Itk −/− CD4 + T cells to produce Th2 cytokines in a recall response, rather than an absolute defect in Th2 differentiation by T cells lacking Itk. In this review, we discuss the pathways by which Itk might impact the differentiation of Th cells.
The production and perception of coronal fricatives in Seoul Korean: The case for a fourth laryngeal category

This article presents new data on the contrast between the two voiceless coronal fricatives of Korean, variously described as a lenis/fortis or aspirated/fortis contrast. In utterance-initial position, the fricatives were found to differ in centroid frequency; duration of frication, aspiration, and the following vowel; and several aspects of the following vowel onset, including intensity profile, spectral tilt, and F1 onset. The between-fricative differences varied across vowel contexts, however, and spectral differences in the vowel onset especially were more pronounced for /a/ than for /i, ɯ, u/. This disparity led to the hypothesis that cues in the following vowel onset would exert a weaker influence on perception for high vowels than for low vowels. Perception data provided general support for this hypothesis, indicating that while vowel onset cues had the largest impact on perception for both high- and low-vowel stimuli, this influence was weaker for high vowels. Perception was also strongly influenced by aspiration duration, with modest contributions from frication duration and f0 onset. Taken together, these findings suggest that the ‘non-fortis’ fricative is best characterized not in terms of the lenis or aspirated categories for stops, but in terms of a unique representation that is both lenis and aspirated.
Reflective Interferometric Fourier Transform Spectroscopy: A Self-Compensating Label-Free Immunosensor Using Double-Layers of Porous SiO2

An interferometric biosensor comprised of two layers of porous Si, stacked one on top of the other, is described. A fast Fourier transform (FFT) of the reflectivity spectrum reveals three peaks that correspond to the optical thickness of the top layer, the bottom layer, and both layers together. Binding of immunoglobulin G to a protein A capture probe adsorbed to the surface of the top layer induces changes in reflectivity at the top layer/solution interface. The FFT method allows discrimination of target analyte binding from matrix effects due to nonspecific changes in the analyte solution. The sensor response is shown to be insensitive to the addition of 4000-fold excess sucrose or 80-fold excess bovine serum albumin interferents.
The relationship of body temperatures to the efficacy of chemotherapy against systemic metastases from B16 melanoma

Potential synergy between physiologic levels of heat and chemotherapy was investigated in C57BL/6 mice bearing the B16 melanoma. Low levels of hyperthermia alone had no effect on the growth of the primary tumor but augmented the growth delay induced by cyclophosphamide. Although the addition of hyperthermia to chemotherapy and amputation increased the duration of survival and decreased the number of pulmonary metastases, heat did not increase the cure rate of animals with gross or microscopic pulmonary metastases. The incidence of local recurrence was decreased by hyperthermia in animals treated with chemotherapy and incomplete excision of the primary tumor.
Modularity and Speech Acts

Modules, as Marr (1982) and Fodor (1983) conceive of them, lie between sensory and central processes. Modules have the functional property of representing that portion of the world which turns them on, and nine non-functional or structural properties that facilitate carrying out that function. Fodor has proposed that the processing of linguistic information is carried out by a language module (LM), which therefore has the functional and structural features of modules. We argue that the proposed LM does not have the functional property of modules in general (section 2). And we argue that Fodor's candidate for the output of the LM, interpreted syntactic form, does not satisfy important structural properties of modules (section 3). We propose another candidate, speech act potential, and argue that it fits almost all of Fodor's conditions (section 4). We next report on some pilot sentence completion studies suggesting that speech act information can influence the course of a parse and hence are a part of the LM (section 5). Finally, we outline possible experiments to test the modularity of speech act information by online methods of priming (section 6).
Multicategory classification of ground vehicles based on their acoustic emissions

The acoustic emissions of a ground vehicle contain a wealth of information which can be used for vehicle classification, e.g. in the battlefield. However, features that are extracted from the acoustic measurements are time-varying and contain a lot of uncertainties, which makes the classification challenging. Since it is impossible to establish precise mathematical models to describe these variations and uncertainties contained in the features, we have applied fuzzy set and fuzzy logic theories to model and manage them, and have proposed three fuzzy logic rule-based classifier (FL-RBC) architectures -- non-hierarchical, hierarchical in parallel and hierarchical in series -- for the multi-category classification of ground vehicles. These FL-RBC architectures have been implemented based on both type-1 and type-2 fuzzy logic theories. We have also conducted experiments on our proposed FL-RBC architectures as well as on a Bayesian classifier to evaluate their performances. The experiments have shown that for this multi-category classification problem, (1) all FL-RBC architectures perform much better than the Bayesian classifier, (2) the type-2 FL-RBC architectures perform better than their competing type-1 implementations, (3) the type-2 non-hierarchical and hierarchical in series FL-RBC architectures perform the best, and (4) the performance of a classifier can be improved by incorporating decision fusion.
SU-GG-T-475: Introducing and Evaluation of Energy Margin to Minimize the Dose Variation Due to Setup Uncertainty in the Distal Edge Tracking (DET) Based Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy (IMPT)

Purpose: Intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) generates plans with better target conformity and less normal tissue dose. However, the planned dose distribution is subject to degradation due to the presence of setup uncertainty which is acerbated by density heterogeneity in the patient. In this work, we propose the concept of an energy margin (EM) to reduce the dosimetric variation due to the setup uncertainty. Method and Materials: The concept of EM are proposed and successfully implemented in rotational distal edge tracking (DET) based IMPT. The original (ORG) and energy margin (EM) plans are generated on five head and neck cancer patients to evaluate the efficacy of the energy margin. Three beam arrangements are planned with prescription of 60Gy to the PTV: full arc, half arc, and 2 fan beams. The delivery simulation with rigid setup shift is also performed by sampling its value from a Gaussian (σ = 2mm). The dose has been recalculated by Geant4 Monte Carlo code. The normalized total dose for both the CTV and the normal tissue after 30 random shifts are calculated for comparison. Results: Both EM and ORG have the same CTV coverage with higher dose to the normal tissue given by the EM. On average, the delivered ORG plans result in 2Gy underdose to 5% of the CTV volume, whereas EM plans do not underdose the CTV. No significant extra dose to the normal tissue has been observed for both ORG and EM plans after delivery. The differences among the three beam arrangements are not significant. Conclusion: The plans with EM are robust to the setup uncertainty in the head and neck region, but not for the plans without EM. Conflict of Interest: Thomas Mackie has financial interest in TomoTherapy, which may commercialize some aspects of this work.
CHEMICAL INVESTIGATIONS ON THE ACTIVE PRINCIPLES OF THE PHENOMENON OF LOCAL SKIN REACTIVITY TO BACTERIAL FILTRATES : III. APPLICATION OF DIALYSIS TO THE PRODUCTION OF THE ACTIVE PRINCIPLES IN FLUID MEDIA.

B. coli, meningococcus, and B. typhosus have been cultivated in a diffused broth medium, prepared by immersing cellophane bags containing saline into nutrient broth. An abundant growth occurred inside the bags, while the outside broth remained sterile. Under these conditions, the production of the active principles of the phenomenon of local skin reactivity to bacterial filtrates has been consistent. When the culture filtrates so obtained were redialyzed against saline, active preparations were obtained which were practically free from non-specific ingredients.
Low complexity FIR filters using factorization of perturbed coefficients

This paper presents a factorization based technique to reduce the computational complexity of implementing Finite Impulse Response (FIR) digital filters. It is possible to design FIR filters in which all of the filter coefficients are products of the first seven prime numbers. For such filters, factorization of the filter coefficients allows the reuse of intermediate results among computations involving common factors. Since the coefficients are products of only small prime numbers, it is also possible to generate each of the partial products with a single shift and add operation. Compared to a traditional implementation, this results in a 35-50% reduction in computational complexity, which is shown to translate into lower power consumption.
Real-time Power-Aware Routing in Sensor Networks

Many wireless sensor network applications must resolve the inherent conflict between energy efficient communication and the need to achieve desired quality of service such as end-to-end communication delay. To address this challenge, we propose the Real-time Power-Aware Routing (RPAR) protocol, which achieves application-specified communication delays at low energy cost by dynamically adapting transmission power and routing decisions. RPAR features a power-aware forwarding policy and an efficient neighborhood manager that are optimized for resource-constrained wireless sensors. Moreover, RPAR addresses important practical issues in wireless sensor networks, including lossy links, scalability, and severe memory and bandwidth constraints. Simulations based on a realistic radio model of MICA2 motes show that RPAR significantly reduces the number of deadlines missed and energy consumption compared to existing real-time and energy-efficient routing protocols.
Evaluation of quasi periodicity in cardiac rhythm

Variability of cardiac activity reflected in electrocardiograms has been of considerable interest and the subject of different studies [1–3]. In particular, the presented project included development of a scheme for presentation of cardiac activity and a comparative evaluation of heart rate variability. The graphical representation of cardiac rhythm variability is demonstrated in a form of circular displays, which could be easily used in a clinical setting.
Do depressed patients with higher pretreatment stress levels respond better to cognitive therapy than imipramine

Forty-eight unipolar depressed patients were randomly assigned to 12 weeks of treatment with either imipramine (IMI) (n = 32) or cognitive therapy (CT) (n = 16). Prior to treatment assignment, all patients were rated for severity of a variety of psychosocial stressors. The interaction effect between pretreatment stress and type of treatment, CT or IMI, on symptom improvement was evaluated. We hypothesized that patients with greater pretreatment stress would respond better to cognitive therapy. Patients treated with either CT or IMI showed equivalent reductions of depressive symptoms. There was no interaction effect between pretreatment stress and type of treatment on improvement of depressive symptoms. Based on this preliminary study it does not appear that depressed patients with higher pretreatment levels of stress respond better to cognitive therapy than they do to imipramine.
Hip hop to rap: Some implications of an historically situated approach to performance

Contemporary approaches to music criticism tend to operate at and fluctuate between two poles‐the micro‐level analysis of song lyrics and music textures and/or the broad‐brushed interrogation of macro‐level historical and political contexts and currents. What is missing, this essay argues, is a treatment of musical and performative processes that pays careful attention to the historical evolution of concrete contexts of production and consumption. Drawing on (among others) de Certeau's notion of practices as “enunciations” imbricated in “contexts of use,” I attempt to develop such an approach by interrogating one defining historical transition in hip hop history (circa 1983)‐the moment when the popular imperatives of commodity culture largely eclipsed the art's roots in localized performance.
Reducing work-in-process inventory in certain classes of flexible manufacturing systems

Abstract In this paper, we establish that maintaining a balanced workload on each machine over time stochastically minimizes the work-in-process inventory in certain types of flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs) with finite or infinite common input buffer storage and an ample buffer et each machine. The results obtained here complement those obtained by Stecke and Morin (1985) , in which it is established that balancing workloads maximizes expected production, again for the. same, particular types of FMSs. Stecke and Morin (1985) treats a static FMS loading problem, while this paper addresses a dynamic problem which considers three strategies to control the release of parts into the system.
On Being Authentic: A Response to "No thank you, not today": Supporting Ethical and Professional Relationships in Large Qualitative Studies

Als Entgegnung auf die ethischen und professionellen Uberlegungen im Zusammenhang mit der Durchfuhrung einer grosen qualitativen Studie (BLODGETT, BOYER & TURK, 2005) weise ich hin auf die Wichtigkeit von Authentizitat im Forschungskontext, auf die fur die Forschung wertvollen Interaktionen und auf die ethischen Charakteristika der Studie. Ich schlage einige alternative Standpunkte vor, was spezifische Aspekte der Untersuchung angeht, wie etwa die Konstruktion von Wissen durch Forschung, das "in den Schuhen anderer gehen", den Umgang mit vulnerablen Bevolkerungsgruppen und mit Insider-Outsider-Interaktionen. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0503382
Theory-based policy development for HIV prevention in racial/ethnic minority midlife and older women

In 2008, there were more than a million persons with HIV/AIDS in the United States. The CDC (2007) estimates that 15% of persons with HIV/AIDS are over age 50. At greater risk are women of color. Most intervention efforts have focused on intrapersonal aspects of an individual and his or her sexual-risk behaviors, with little or no attention directed toward interpersonal and socioenvironmental considerations of risk and prevention. This paper considers the limitations of current national policies relating to HIV prevention in minority populations, especially among midlife and older women of color. In particular, this paper examines risk and prevention policies in light of ecological perspectives, social capital, and dialogical theories.
Human evolution: taxonomy and paleobiology

This review begins by setting out the context and the scope of human evolution. Several classes of evidence, morphological, molecular, and genetic, support a particularly close relationship between modern humans and the species within the genus Pan, the chimpanzee. Thus human evolution is the study of the lineage, or clade, comprising species more closely related to modern humans than to chimpanzees. Its stem species is the so-called ‘common hominin ancestor’, and its only extant member is Homo sapiens. This clade contains all the species more closely-related to modern humans than to any other living primate. Until recently, these species were all subsumed into a family, Hominidae, but this group is now more usually recognised as a tribe, the Hominini. The rest of the review sets out the formal nomenclature, history of discovery, and information about the characteristic morphology, and its behavioural implications, of the species presently included in the human clade. The taxa are considered within their assigned genera, beginning with the most primitive and finishing with Homo. Within genera, species are presented in order of geological age. The entries conclude with a list of the more important items of fossil evidence, and a summary of relevant taxonomic issues.
Haptic Interactions Using Virtual Manipulator Coupling With Applications to Underactuated Systems

Haptic interactions have become increasingly important as an interface to computer-generated simulations in virtual-reality (VR) applications. Many haptic devices are designed to be used as a force feedback mouse, where the user's hand is in contact with the haptic device while the object contact and force generation occur on a computer screen. In this paper, we present an approach using a “virtual probe” to interact with the environment and introduce a new method to generate impedance-based haptic forces based on the use of a virtual manipulator. The virtual probe is connected directly to the haptic device and is projected from the hand to the environment, much like a scalpel or sword. As the probe comes in contact with the environment, the haptic device generates appropriate forces on the hand. We extend this approach to include underactuated haptic devices, which do not have fully powered joints. We show that the approach compensates for missing joint actuation in the underactuated haptic devices. We show experimental results for a simple case of haptic interaction; we also present an experimental implementation in six degrees of freedom (DOF) using one of the most popular devices: the PHANTOM.
Interstitial cells of Cajal at the clinical and scientific interface

Considerable work over the past two decades has determined that interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) serve as pacemaker cells, conduits for active transmission of electrical slow waves, sites of innervation by peripheral motor neurons, and mechanotransducers. While most of the physiology of ICC has been learned from studies of the cells within the gastrointestinal tract, ICC are found in a variety of smooth muscle tissues and may have analogous or novel physiological functions in those organs. Clinical investigations of muscles from patients with a variety of gastrointestinal motility disorders have raised the exciting possibility that loss of ICC may be responsible for the development of motor dysfunction. This review discusses the development of ICC, the kinds of human disorders in which ICC loss may be important, what factors regulate the ICC phenotype, and what therapeutic approaches might be utilized to restore or regenerate ICC. This field is primed for translational discoveries. ICC are responsible for critical physiological functions in smooth muscle tissues, they are lost in pathophysiological conditions, and it will be important now to decipher the conditions that are responsible for ICC loss and develop new therapies to relieve patients of this problem. Success in this endeavour might improve the quality of life for millions of patients.
Verification of Plans and Procedures

Procedures and plans are used across NASA missions. For example, astronaut activities on the International Space Station are regulated by procedures which are uploaded from the ground. It is critical that these procedures are verified and validated before being executed by astronauts. This paper describes how we are applying advanced formal verification techniques, such as model checking, to plans and procedures expressed in semantically well-defined languages such as PRL and PLEXIL.
Fatal traumatic brain injuries in the construction industry, 2003−2010

BACKGROUND: Research on fatal work-related traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) is limited. This study describes fatal TBIs in the US construction industry. METHODS: Fatal TBIs were extracted from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. RESULTS: From 2003 to 2010, 2,210 fatal TBIs occurred in construction at a rate of 2.6 per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers. Workers aged 65 years and older had the highest fatal TBI rates among all workers (7.9 per 100,000 FTE workers). Falls were the most frequent injury event (n = 1,269, 57%). Structural iron and steel workers and roofers had the highest fatal TBI rate per 100,000 FTE workers (13.7 and 11.2, respectively). Fall-related TBIs were the leading cause of death in these occupations. CONCLUSIONS: A large percentage of TBIs in the construction industry were due to falls. Emphasis on safety interventions is needed to reduce these fall-related TBIs, especially among vulnerable workers. Am. J. Ind. Med. Published 2015. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Language: en
Scalable Single Photon Detector for Terahertz and Infrared Applications

We have developed a detector that can detect single photons at terahertz frequencies. The detector is based on quantum dot and single electron transistor technology, and the structure is scalable. One can scale the detector of nearly the same structure to be used for different frequencies. Our numerical calculation, which was performed along with our experimental efforts, indicates that the same detector structure can be used for millimeter-wave and far-infrared frequencies.
Experimental Analysis of Dynamic Deformation and Damage in Composite Sandwich Structures Subjected to Underwater Impulsive Loads

The analysis of dynamic response of sandwich structures is complicated due to material heterogeneity, complex loading conditions and competing failure mechanisms. This investigation focuses on overall structural response, deformation, damage, and energy-absorption in air-backed and water-backed/submerged composite sandwich structures. The damage and failure characteristics of individual components of the sandwich structures are studied using laser-based in-situ diagnostics and postmortem analysis. Simply-supported composite sandwich plates with varying core-densities are subjected to a range of underwater impulsive loads using a novel projectile-impact based impulsive loading facility called the Underwater Shock Loading Simulator (USLS). In-situ high-speed digital imaging and postmortem analysis are used to study the dynamic deformation and failure characteristics of individual components; focusing on the effects of loading rate, core-characteristics and material heterogeneity on structural response. In finite-element simulations, the underwater blast loading intensity is considered using the Mie-Gruneisen equation-of-state of a linear Hugoniot form and core crushing is accounted for through a modified Drucker-Prager model. Results indicate that the core-density has a significant influence on dynamic deformations and failure modes. On a per-weight basis, low-density foam cores consistently outperform high-density foam cores, undergoing lesser deflections and transmitting smaller impulses. Polymeric foams experience considerable rate-effects and exhibit extensive shear cracking and collapse under high-magnitude multi-axial underwater impulsive loads. Calculations reveal a significant difference between the response of air-backed and water-backed/submerged structures. The experiments and computations offer approaches for improving the blast mitigation capabilities of submerged composite sandwich structures in the critical parts of a ship structure like keel, turbine-blades and rudders.
Critical deficiencies of radiopharmaceutical reconstitution and quality control instructions.

2739 Objectives The purpose of this study was to identify deficiencies in package insert instructions for reconstitution and quality control (QC) of radiopharmaceuticals. Focus was placed on deficiencies that would affect the preparation of a safe and quality product. Methods Preparation instructions, including both reconstitution and QC, were evaluated for all commercially available radiopharmaceuticals as of January 2015. Each package insert was evaluated for deficiencies in the following categories: absent, incomplete, inconsistent, and inaccurate information. Analysis was performed by each contributing author, then compiled and evaluated as a group. The evaluation of each package insert was based on the ability for a certified professional end user to satisfactorily prepare a safe and quality radiopharmaceutical when the instructions were strictly followed. For those package inserts that contained deficiency, the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) monograph was reviewed to determine if it could be an alternative resource. Results There were 23 deficiencies identified in 29 analyzed package inserts for a total of 20 different reconstituted radiopharmaceuticals. These deficiencies were as follows: 15 (65.2%) absent instructions, 5 (21.7%) incomplete instructions, 1 (4.4%) inconsistent instructions, and 2 (8.7%) inaccurate instructions. Of the absent and incomplete deficiencies, all but one were pertaining to missing QC information. Though USP monograph provides detailed QC information, some QC attributes are impractical (e.g., time-consuming radiochemical purity procedure, biological distribution, and sterility testing). Conclusions Only six radiopharmaceuticals have the adequate instructions for reconstitution and QC. The majority of package inserts do not have the suitable information which would pose safety and quality concerns to the final products.
Sperm transport and distribution in the reproductive tract of the female rabbit after intraperitoneal insemination.

Both live and dead spermatozoa were used to study the transport and distribution of sperm in the reporductive tract of 3 groups of rabbits. The female rabbits studied were: 1) rabbits in estrus and not treated 2) rabbits injected with 25 IU of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) 12 hours before intraperitoneal insemination and 3) rabbits injected with HCG 96 hours before insemination. Upon autopsy it was found that spermatozoa were transported in an abovarian and adovarian direction in the oviduct. Motile spermatozoa were more consistently recovered from the reproductive tract than immotile. Fewer spermatozoa were recovered from the reproductive tracts of pseudopregnant rabbits than rabbits in estrus or at ovulation. Sperm motility and oviduct contraction affect the pickup of spermatozoa by the fimbriae. Since most of the spermatozoa recovered from the oviduct were found in the ampulla it is suggested that their abundance over those found in the isthmus was due to anatomical barriers in the oviduct created by the isthmus. Oviductal contractility is also seen to affect the distribution of sperm in the oviduct.
DD33: Barfuß zur SZ – das Zeichen des Aufschwungs (Februar 2007)

Fruher hatten wir einen Briefkasten unten am Haus. Da war ich noch jung. Jeden Morgen offnete ich vorsichtig die Tur, nahm wie ein Reh die Witterung auf, horchte in Waldhilsbach hinein – und sturmte schnell im Schlafanzug hinunter, ich raste zum Briefkasten und stibitzte blitzschnell die beiden Zeitungen, die Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung und die Suddeutsche, die ich schon seit meinem 17. Lebensjahr abonniert habe – ich lese sie jeden Morgen genau und hoffe, sie rezensieren einmal Ankhaba.
Coronavirus and ADEM

A boy aged 15 years with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) found to have human coronavirus (HCoV) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and nasopharynx is reported from the Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, SUNY at Buffalo, NY.
Evidence for Non-Syncytial Nature of Cardiac Muscle from Impedance Measurements.

SummaryThe D.C. specific resistances of dog and beef ventricular muscle strips were compared with those of cat intestine circular smooth muscle, which is a non-syncytial tissue, and of frog sartorius muscle where individual cells extend almost the full length of muscle. Resistances were measured in the direction of fiber orientation before and after the interspace ion concentration was reduced by soaking in isotonic 10% Tyrode's-sucrose solution. Cardiac and smooth muscle resistances were much more sensitive to interspace ion depletion than was skeletal muscle resistance. It is suggested that the current flow path through the cells of cardiac muscle is of high resistance due to large number of high resistance cellular membranes involved, as in smooth muscle. It was concluded that cardiac muscle cells are separated from each other by high resistance membranes and do not form a functional syncytium.
The End? Christian Eschatology and the End of the World

Scientific pictures of the world’s future portray a definite endpoint to life as we know it. How do we think about this reality theologically in relation to Christian hope? What do these visions of...
On the Application of Laser Technology for Top of the Rail Lubricity Detection

The application of Laser technology for the top of the rail (TOR) lubricity detection is investigated. A laser-based sensor technology is proposed to detect, measure, and monitor the condition of the TOR lubricants. The optimum configuration of the laser sensor, suitable for effective lubricity measurements, is presented. In the proposed embodiment, the laser head is employed with its beam reflected off of the rail surface. Specular reflection of a lubricated rail is measured and compared with dry condition. A processing technique is developed based on the recorded reflection intensity dissimilarities to identify rail’s lubricity condition. A lubricated rail yields lower reflectivity value, as compared with a dry rail. The TOR detection system is mounted on a hand-operated cart for field testing. The field test results indicate that the proposed technique can successfully assess to what extent TOR lubricants are present on the rail, therefore serve to distinguish between various states of rail lubricity, from completely dry to completely saturated.Copyright © 2016 by ASME
Calcium metabolism and the pathogenesis of dermatologic disease.

Abstract Calcium has a major role in regulating epidermal functions, including cell proliferation, terminal differentiation, and cell-to-cell adhesion. Aberrations in calcium regulation have been noted in psoriasis when levels of the calcium binding protein calmodulin are elevated, and the normal calcium gradient within the epidermis is altered. Calcium may also be important in neoplasia because similar elevations in calmodulin have been noted in transformed cells. The function of calcium in mediating cell-cell adhesion may be important in understanding the acantholysis observed in pemphigus. The pemphigus foliaceus antigen appears to contain a calcium-sensitive epitope, and in pemphigus vulgaris, alteration in the function of calcium-sensitive cadherins may play a role in the production of acantholysis. Further understanding of the function of calcium in these processes may, in the future, allow us to alter calcium metabolism as a therapeutic intervention.
On the applicability of surrogate‐based Markov chain Monte Carlo‐Bayesian inversion to the Community Land Model: Case studies at flux tower sites

The Community Land Model (CLM) has been widely used in climate and Earth system modeling. Accurate estimation of model parameters is needed for reliable model simulations and predictions under current and future conditions, respectively. In our previous work, a subset of hydrological parameters has been identified to have significant impact on surface energy fluxes at selected flux tower sites based on parameter screening and sensitivity analysis, which indicate that the parameters could potentially be estimated from surface flux observations at the towers. To date, such estimates do not exist. In this paper, we assess the feasibility of applying a Bayesian model calibration technique to estimate CLM parameters at selected flux tower sites under various site conditions. The parameters are estimated as a joint probability density function (PDF) that provides estimates of uncertainty of the parameters being inverted, conditional on climatologically-average latent heat fluxes derived from observations. We find that the simulated mean latent heat fluxes from CLM using the calibrated parameters are generally improved at all sites when compared to those obtained with CLM simulations using default parameter sets. Further, our calibration method also results in credibility bounds around the simulated mean fluxes which bracket the measured data. The modesmore » (or maximum a posteriori values) and 95% credibility intervals of the site-specific posterior PDFs are tabulated as suggested parameter values for each site. Lastly, analysis of relationships between the posterior PDFs and site conditions suggests that the parameter values are likely correlated with the plant functional type, which needs to be confirmed in future studies by extending the approach to more sites.« less
OCEAN CIRCULATION | Thermohaline Circulation

The circulation of the ocean is usually divided into two parts, a wind-driven circulation that dominates in the upper few hundred meters, and a density-driven circulation that dominates below. The latter is called the ‘thermohaline’ circulation because of the role of heating, cooling, freshening, and salinification in producing regional density differences within the ocean. The thermohaline circulation, for the most part, is an ‘overturning’ circulation in which warm water flows poleward near the surface and is subsequently converted into cold water that sinks and flows equatorward in the interior. Radiocarbon measurements show that the thermohaline circulation turns over all the deep water in the ocean every 600 years or so.
Infiltration-Inflow Analysis

Presentation of recommended guidelines for establishment of a systematic survey to determine the nature and extent of infiltration and inflow into a sewer system and some important factors that must be considered in preparing an economic analysis for corrective action. Examples of a sewer system economic analysis and evaluation and rehabilitation programs are examined.
Sample and Hold design techniques for Nyquist ADC design

With the continuous reduction in analog supply level of recent CMOS processes, the Sample and Hold (S/H) circuit used in high performance ADC suffers from smaller swing and lower dynamic range. In most high speed (Nyquist) ADCs, the S/H stage is the most crucial circuit affecting distortion and noise. This paper describes 2 techniques which improve the performance of the input sampling switch. The performance of these techniques has been verified and demonstrated through circuit simulations in 0.13 um CMOS process.
A stochastic global identification framework for aerospace structures operating under varying flight states

Abstract In this work, a novel data-based stochastic “global” identification framework is introduced for aerospace structures operating under varying flight states and uncertainty. In this context, the term “global” refers to the identification of a model that is capable of representing the structure under any admissible flight state based on data recorded from a sample of these states. The proposed framework is based on stochastic time-series models for representing the structural dynamics and aeroelastic response under multiple flight states, with each state characterized by several variables, such as the airspeed, angle of attack, altitude and temperature, forming a flight state vector. The method’s cornerstone lies in the new class of Vector-dependent Functionally Pooled (VFP) models which allow the explicit analytical inclusion of the flight state vector into the model parameters and, hence, system dynamics. This is achieved via the use of functional data pooling techniques for optimally treating – as a single entity – the data records corresponding to the various flight states. In this proof-of-concept study the flight state vector is defined by two variables, namely the airspeed and angle of attack of the vehicle. The experimental evaluation and assessment is based on a prototype bio-inspired self-sensing composite wing that is subjected to a series of wind tunnel experiments under multiple flight states. Distributed micro-sensors in the form of stretchable sensor networks are embedded in the composite layup of the wing in order to provide the sensing capabilities. Experimental data collected from piezoelectric sensors are employed for the identification of a stochastic global VFP model via appropriate parameter estimation and model structure selection methods. The estimated VFP model parameters constitute two-dimensional functions of the flight state vector defined by the airspeed and angle of attack. The identified model is able to successfully represent the wing’s aeroelastic response under the admissible flight states via a minimum number of estimated parameters compared to standard identification approaches. The obtained results demonstrate the high accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed global identification framework, thus constituting a first step towards the next generation of “fly-by-feel” aerospace vehicles with state awareness capabilities.
A School Nurse-Delivered Intervention for Anxious Children: An Open Trial.

Anxiety disorders are common in children and severely impair their functioning. Because a hallmark symptom of anxiety is somatic complaints, anxious youth often seek help from their school nurse. Thus, school nurses are in an ideal position to identify anxious children and intervene early. This study assessed the feasibility of a brief nurse-administered intervention (CALM—Child Anxiety Learning Modules) based on cognitive behavioral strategies to reduce anxiety symptoms and improve academic functioning. Nine elementary school nurses completed a one-day training and administered the CALM intervention to 11 children with elevated symptoms of anxiety (M age: 8.09; range 5–11; 54% male; 91% White). Feasibility of the intervention was assessed using several indicators (e.g., training satisfaction, intervention satisfaction/helpfulness). Pre-post intervention child outcomes were collected from evaluators, parents, children, and teachers. Results indicated that the majority of nurses were highly satisfied with the training and reported the intervention was feasible. Paired t tests on pre-post outcome measures revealed significant reductions in anxiety, somatic symptoms, and concentration problems. Nurses (70%), parents (81%), and children (50%) reported that the intervention was either somewhat or very helpful. Preliminary results identified barriers to implementation but also suggest that the intervention is feasible and helpful. A sufficiently powered randomized controlled trial is needed to assess the intervention’s efficacy.
A versatile approach to vacuum injection casting for materials research and development

Vacuum injection casting (VIC) is important for research and development (R&D) of materials that are prone to oxidation at high temperatures, particularly metals and metallic alloys (e.g., metallic glasses and high entropy alloys). VIC in R&D laboratories often involves initial melting/alloying in a prior step, transporting the sample to a dedicated vacuum chamber, re-melting the sample in a quartz tube, and finally injecting the melt with an inert gas to a dedicated mold. Here we present a new approach to laboratory VIC that requires no sample transfer (for a variety of materials), no dedicated vacuum chamber/space nor dedicated mold, and hence provides more versatility and higher efficiency and yet lowers the capital equipment cost. Our approach takes advantage of the exceptional portability, thermal and chemical stability, and thermoplastic processability of quartz glass and uses quartz tubes for all the melting, re-melting, injection casting, and molding. In addition, our approach includes oxygen gett...
Genetic and environmental risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis

Multiple genetic and environmental factors have been associated with an increased risk for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Of these, the strongest associations have been seen with female sex, a family history of RA, the genetic factor the "shared epitope," and exposure to tobacco smoke. There is also renewed interest in mucosal inflammation and microbial factors as contributors to the development of RA. However, the identification of a "preclinical" period of RA that can be defined as local or systemic autoimmunity as measured by autoantibodies and other biomarkers prior to the development of clinically apparent synovitis suggests that the risk factors for RA are acting long prior to first clinical evidence of IA. As such, a major challenge to the field will be to investigate the full spectrum of the development of RA, from initiation and propagation of autoimmunity during preclinical RA and transition to clinically apparent synovitis and classifiable RA, to determine which genetic and environmental factors are important at each stage of disease development. Understanding the exact role and timing of action of risk factors for RA is especially important given the advent of prevention trials in RA, and the hope that a full understanding of genetic and environmental factors in RA could lead to effective preventive interventions.
Syndemic indicators predict poor medication adherence and increased healthcare utilization for urban HIV-positive men who have sex with men

Research on men who have sex with men (MSM) has uncovered psychosocial factors (syndemic indicators) that are associated additively with poor health. To test these relations in a sample of HIV-posi...
Multistage Carcinogenesis: Cell and Animal Models

Carcinogenesis is a multistage process that involves numerous etiologies that work at different stages of tumor development. Our ability to dissect oncogenic events is largely dependent on the availability of model systems that recapitulate human carcinogenesis at both the pathological and molecular levels. With progress in molecular and cell biology, studies with cell model systems have produced many important conceptual advances for our understanding of the mechanism of carcinogenesis. In parallel, animal models provide the tissue and the systemic contexts of carcinogenesis and serve to validate molecular predictions and targeting opportunities in cancer prevention and treatment. With the development of genetically engineered mouse models, the functional consequences and tissue dynamics of genetic alterations can be defined at discrete stages of carcinogenesis. The cooperative models that bridge cell culture techniques and corresponding animal models offer simple and quantitative approaches to evaluate the oncogenic potential of carcinogens (chemical, viral, and physical agents), immunity, as well as the roles of discrete candidate cancer genes in carcinogenesis. The choice of a model is of importance and should take into account the cell/tissue type of origin, the complexity of carcinogenesis, the variety of carcinogen and therapeutic reagents to be tested, and the relevance to human cancer.
Competitive docking model for prediction of the human nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α7 binding of tobacco constituents

// Hui Wen Ng 1, * , Carmine Leggett 2, * , Sugunadevi Sakkiah 1, * , Bohu Pan 1 , Hao Ye 1 , Leihong Wu 1 , Chandrabose Selvaraj 1 , Weida Tong 1 and Huixiao Hong 1 1 Division of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, Office of Research, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA 2 Division of Non-clinical Science, Office of Science, Center for Tobacco Products, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA * These authors made equal contributions to the work Correspondence to: Huixiao Hong, email: huixiao.hong@fda.hhs.gov Keywords: prediction; tobacco constituents; addiction; molecular docking; nicotinic acetylcholine receptor Received: August 28, 2017 Accepted: February 01, 2018 Epub: February 08, 2018 Published: March 30, 2018 ABSTRACT The detrimental health effects associated with tobacco use constitute a major public health concern. The addiction associated with nicotine found in tobacco products has led to difficulty in quitting among users. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are the targets of nicotine and are responsible for addiction to tobacco products. However, it is unknown if the other >8000 tobacco constituents are addictive. Since it is time-consuming and costly to experimentally assess addictive potential of such larger number of chemicals, computationally predicting human nAChRs binding is important for in silico evaluation of addiction potential of tobacco constituents and needs structures of human nAChRs. Therefore, we constructed three-dimensional structures of the ligand binding domain of human nAChR α7 subtype and then developed a predictive model based on the constructed structures to predict human nAChR α7 binding activity of tobacco constituents. The predictive model correctly predicted 11 out of 12 test compounds to be binders of nAChR α7. The model is a useful tool for high-throughput screening of potential addictive tobacco constituents. These results could inform regulatory science research by providing a new validated predictive tool using cutting-edge computational methodology to high-throughput screen tobacco additives and constituents for their binding interaction with the human α7 nicotinic receptor. The tool represents a prediction model capable of screening thousands of chemicals found in tobacco products for addiction potential, which improves the understanding of the potential effects of additives.