cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Two circuits to convert short-term memory into long-term memory

According to a brain model, encoding synapses record presynaptic axonal 'on-off' patterns as memory, and modulating synapses convert short-term memory into long-term memory by helping encoding synapses develop long-term potentiation and depression. Sensory organs conduct sounds and images as series of axonal 'on-off' patterns to encoding synapses of perceptive cortices where the patterns are recorded, computed, and rerouted to mesotemporal lobes, hippocampal formations and higher cortical centers. Mesotemporal lobes and hippocampal formations compute and convey the 'on-off' patterns to dorsomedial thalamic nuclei (circuit A), septal nuclei and mammillary bodies (circuit B), where the patterns are computed and conveyed to prefrontal lobes (circuit A) and anterior thalamic nuclei (circuit B) respectively. Anterior thalamic nuclei project axonal 'on-off' patterns to cingulate gyri that compute and convey the patterns to prefrontal lobes. Finally, prefrontal lobes send modulating axons to encoding synapses of perceptive cortices. Amnesia of Korsakoff's syndrome results from unilateral dysfunction of circuit A and contralateral dysfunction of circuit B, or bilateral dysfunction of either. The fact that there is more severe memory deficit in Alzheimer's disease than in Korsakoff's syndrome suggests that the former has a wider spread of failing synapses besides circuit A and circuit B.
Preemptive strikes and the war on Iraq: a critique of Bush administration unilateralism and militarism

Bush administration foreign policy has exhibited a marked unilateralism and militarism in which US military power is used to advance US interests and geopolitical hegemony. The policy was first evident in the Afghanistan intervention following the September 11, 2001 terror attacks, and informed the 2003 war against Iraq. In From 9/11 to Terror War, I sketched out the genesis and origins of Bush administration foreign policy and its application in Afghanistan and the build‐up to the Iraq war. In this study, I update and develop my critique of the Bush doctrine of preemptive strikes and its application in the 2003 Iraq invasion, concluding with a critique of unilateralism and militarism, and defense of multilateral and global solutions to problems such as terrorism, so‐called “weapons of mass destruction,” and “rogue regimes.”
A pediatric brain structure atlas from T1-weighted MR images

In this paper, we have developed a digital atlas of the pediatric human brain. Human brain atlases, used to visualize spatially complex structures of the brain, are indispensable tools in model-based segmentation and quantitative analysis of brain structures. However, adult brain atlases do not adequately represent the normal maturational patterns of the pediatric brain, and the use of an adult model in pediatric studies may introduce substantial bias. Therefore, we proposed to develop a digital atlas of the pediatric human brain in this study. The atlas was constructed from T1 weighted MR data set of a 9 year old, right-handed girl. Furthermore, we extracted and simplified boundary surfaces of 25 manually defined brain structures (cortical and subcortical) based on surface curvature. Higher curvature surfaces were simplified with more reference points; lower curvature surfaces, with fewer. We constructed a 3D triangular mesh model for each structure by triangulation of the structure's reference points. Kappa statistics (cortical, 0.97; subcortical, 0.91) indicated substantial similarities between the mesh-defined and the original volumes. Our brain atlas and structural mesh models (www.stjude.org/BrainAtlas) can be used to plan treatment, to conduct knowledge and modeldriven segmentation, and to analyze the shapes of brain structures in pediatric patients.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN UNCERTAINTY AND VERTICAL INTEGRATION

This paper shows that uncertainty is a multidimensional theoretical concept, which has empirical implications for the relationship with vertical integration. In a survey of empirical work that tests the relation between uncertainty and vertical integration, this paper demonstrates that performance ambiguity and general measures of uncertainty are positively related with vertical integration, technological uncertainty is negatively related, while market uncertainty and complexity are not systematically related to vertical integration.
Development of a diagnostic/prognostic system (DPS) for monitoring the performance of repaired composite military bridges

Composite bridges offer many advantages compared to current steel and aluminum bridges including their lightweight and superior corrosion resistance properties. This paper presents the results of a comprehensive on-going research program to develop innovative field repair techniques for composite bridges. In this study, an innovative Diagnostic/Prognostic System (DPS) for monitoring the performance and reliability of a smart repair kit (SRK) for composite military bridges has been developed. The DPS system is founded on three technologies, namely; optical fiber sensing, remote data transmission and virtual testing. In developing this system, both laboratory and virtual tests simulating the different potential damage scenarios. In order to minimize the number of expensive full-scale tests, virtual testing technique using an advanced progressive failure simulator code (GENOA) was utilized. The results of the pre-simulated damage scenarios are stored in a secure database. Different composite patches with optical fiber sensors are being developed for different damage types. These smart patches act as health-monitoring devices for different parts of the composite bridge, especially areas surrounding the repaired portions of the bridge. In the event of local damage such as debonding of any patch due to excessive loading or lower application quality, for example, the stress distribution will change.
Hybrid insulin genes reveal a developmental lineage for pancreatic endocrine cells and imply a relationship with neurons

Insulin appears in the developing mouse pancreas at embryonic day 12 (e12). Transgenic mice harboring three distinct hybrid genes utilizing insulin gene regulatory information first express the transgene product two days earlier, at e10, in a few cells of the pancreatic bud. Throughout development and postnatal life, all of the insulin-producing (beta) cells coexpress the hybrid insulin gene. In addition, islet cells containing glucagon, somatostatin, pancreatic polypeptide, and the neuronal enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase coexpress the transgene when they first arise. Similarly, coexpression of these normally distinct islet cell markers occurs during differentiation of the four endocrine cell types. The transgene product also appears transiently during embryogenesis in cells of the neural tube and in neural crest. The results suggest a common precursor for the endocrine cells of the pancreas. Moreover, they imply a relationship between neural and pancreatic endocrine tissue.
p53 inhibits mRNA 3' processing through its interaction with the CstF/BARD1 complex.

The mechanisms involved in the p53-dependent control of gene expression following DNA damage have not been completely elucidated. Here, we show that the p53 C terminus associates with factors that are required for the ultraviolet (UV)-induced inhibition of the mRNA 3′ cleavage step of the polyadenylation reaction, such as the tumor suppressor BARD1 and the 3′ processing factor cleavage-stimulation factor 1 (CstF1). We found that p53 can coexist in complexes with CstF and BARD1 in extracts of UV-treated cells, suggesting a role for p53 in mRNA 3′ cleavage following DNA damage. Consistent with this, we found that p53 inhibits 3′ cleavage in vitro and that there is a reverse correlation between the levels of p53 expression and the levels of mRNA 3′ cleavage under different cellular conditions. Supporting these results, a tumor-associated mutation in p53 not only decreases the interaction with BARD1 and CstF, but also decreases the UV-induced inhibition of 3′ processing, all of which is restored by wild-type-p53 expression. We also found that p53 expression levels affect the polyadenylation levels of housekeeping genes, but not of p21 and c-fos genes, which are involved in the DNA damage response (DDR). Here, we identify a novel 3′ RNA processing inhibitory function of p53, adding a new level of complexity to the DDR by linking RNA processing to the p53 network.
Free Energies for Degradation Reactions of 1,2,3-Trichloropropane from ab Initio Electronic Structure Theory

Electronic structure methods were used to calculate the gas and aqueous phase reaction energies for reductive dechlorination (i.e., hydrogenolysis), reductive β-elimination, dehydrochlorination, and nucleophilic substitution by OH− of 1,2,3-trichloropropane. The thermochemical properties ΔHf°(298.15 K), S°(298.15 K, 1 bar), and ΔGS(298.15 K, 1 bar) were calculated by using ab initio electronic structure calculations, isodesmic reactions schemes, gas-phase entropy estimates, and continuum solvation models for 1,2,3-trichloropropane and several likely degradation products: CH3−CHCl−CH2Cl, CH2Cl−CH2−CH2Cl, C•H2−CHCl−CH2Cl, CH2Cl−C•H−CH2Cl, CH2═CCl−CH2Cl, cis-CHCl═CH−CH2Cl, trans-CHCl═CH−CH2Cl, CH2═CH−CH2Cl, CH2Cl−CHCl−CH2OH, CH2Cl−CHOH−CH2Cl, CH2═CCl−CH2OH, CH2═COH−CH2Cl, cis-CHOH═CH−CH2Cl, trans-CHOH═CH−CH2Cl, CH(═O)−CH2−CH2Cl, and CH3−C(═O)−CH2Cl. On the basis of these thermochemical estimates, together with a Fe(II)/Fe(III) chemical equilibrium model for natural reducing environments, all of the reactions...
The influence of phenolphthalein on the liver

The effect of the ingestion of phenolphthalein in therapeutic doses on the liver was investigated. (a) The study of the history of 300 cases of jaundice failed to show an etiologic role of phenolphthalein. (b) The administration of phenolphthalein to 120 jaundiced patients did not change the clinical picture and did not interfere with recovery. (c) Phenolphthalein administered to 425 non-jaundiced patients did not produce jaundice. (d) Periodic liver function tests on 12 patients with chronic constipation, taking 0.30 Gm. of white or 0.12 Gm. of yellow phenolphthalein, daily, for months, did not reveal signs of liver damage.
N-cadherin Cell-Cell Adhesion Complexes Are Regulated by Fibronectin Matrix Assembly

Fibronectin is a principal component of the extracellular matrix. Soluble fibronectin molecules are assembled into the extracellular matrix as insoluble, fibrillar strands via a cell-dependent process. In turn, the interaction of cells with the extracellular matrix form of fibronectin stimulates cell functions critical for tissue repair. Cross-talk between cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix adhesion complexes is essential for the organization of cells into complex, functional tissue during embryonic development and tissue remodeling. Here, we demonstrate that fibronectin matrix assembly affects the organization, composition, and function of N-cadherin-based adherens junctions. Using fibronectin-null mouse embryonic myofibroblasts, we identified a novel quaternary complex composed of N-cadherin, β-catenin, tensin, and actin that exists in the absence of a fibronectin matrix. In the absence of fibronectin, homophilic N-cadherin ligation recruited both tensin and α5β1 integrins into nascent cell-cell adhesions. Initiation of fibronectin matrix assembly disrupted the association of tensin and actin with N-cadherin, released α5β1 integrins and tensin from cell-cell contacts, stimulated N-cadherin reorganization into thin cellular protrusions, and decreased N-cadherin adhesion. Fibronectin matrix assembly has been shown to recruit α5β1 integrins and tensin into fibrillar adhesions. Taken together, these studies suggest that tensin serves as a common cytoskeletal link for integrin- and cadherin-based adhesions and that the translocation of α5β1 integrins from cell-cell contacts into fibrillar adhesions during fibronectin matrix assembly is a novel mechanism by which cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesions are coordinated.
Restructuring School and Curriculum for a Global, Technological Society

The purposes of education are to enhance mental and moral growth and to prepare our young people to improve the environment, quality of life, and the future for themselves and generations to come, says this writer. To meet these challenges, he says, our education system must undergo some structural changes that will prepare the leaders of tomorrow to meet the needs of the emerging technological and global society.
Religious place attachment, squatting, and “qualitative” research: A commentary

Abstract Religious place attachment (Mazumdar & Mazumdar, 1993, in press) can lead people to long for particular places, go on pilgrimage, develop preferences regarding where to live, and take actions related to places. This commentary points out how the religious basis for place attachment can be identified, and how the actions people take to settle in specific places, as well as emergence of conflict among groups, though not inevitable, can be understood. Finally, it describes how “qualitative” methods, if done well, can be useful in answering questions dealing with understanding place attachment and place loss.
Use of inductance to control low current switching of avalanche diodes

Abstract The switching of avalanche diodes at low currents can be controlled using a series inductive load. A sufficiently large inductor causes the circuit to operate in a bistable manner exhibiting a current-voltage characteristic with hysteresis. Circuit TURN-OFF voltage is determined by the diode breakdown while TURN-ON voltage is determined by circuit inductance and capacitance. The diode switching behavior and circuit waveforms are described using the Haitz equivalent circuit for a microplasma. With the diode biased slightly above breakdown the average current is very low because the voltage induced across the inductor forces the avalanche to turn off momentarily after avalanche turn on. Higher bias voltages eventually cause the circuit to switch to a steady state ON condition. Data on both silicon uniform breakdown and microplasma breakdown diodes are compared with this model.
Impact of Various Levels of Late-Season Spider Mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) Feeding Damage on Almond Growth and Yield

The effects of four levels of mite-days, an estimate of mite feeding damage, on almond tree growth and yield were investigated to obtain data necessary for the determination of spray thresholds. The current year's almond growth or yield was not significantly influenced by spider mite infestations. However, significant reductions in development, growth, and yield were observed one season after an infestation. Terminal shoot extension and mean leaf size were significantly reduced by 300 and 424 mite-days, respectively ( P < 0.05). Similarly, the increase in yield from 1979 through 1980 was significantly reduced by 424 mite-days. This reduction appeared to be the result of reduced fruit set ( P < 0.05), whereas floral initiation was not significantly affected.
Portable Helix Mixer for Urethane Foam

A urethane foam mixer newly developed by Du Pont is light and compact, has no moving parts, yet blends urethane foam feed streams thoroughly as the mixture flows through a spiral chamber. The "helix" mixer has been used to process rigid and flexible urethane foams by both conventional and froth meth ods. It is easily adapted to existing foam me tering systems for factory or field application. It produces foams with cell structure and physical properties equivalent to those ob tained with heavy duty, agitator-type mixers. The helix mixer has been adapted and used for the trigger controlled on-off dis charge of mixed foam materials. The varia bles which affect helix mixer output and mix ing efficiency have been investigated, which will permit mixer scale up to outputs of sev eral hundred pounds per minute.
Investigating chemical process accidents: Examples of good practices

The accident investigation process, rooted in the scientific method, relies heavily on the use of evidence. This paper reviews aspects of the investigation process for three large-scale chemical process unit accidents (explosions or fires) with a focus on evidence: its collection, handling, use, and analysis. Real incidents provide challenges to the investigation process; some of these challenges involve questions surrounding evidence, such as when is evidence collection complete and how do we know that certain nonphysical evidence (such as witness statements) is reliable? These case studies provide practical examples of the importance of following good engineering practices throughout the life cycle of the investigation with respect to evidence. The objective of an accident investigation is to determine what happened so that a recurrence of the accident can be prevented. The investigator of a chemical plant accident is confronted with numerous challenges to the fact-finding process because the accident has destroyed or altered significant sources of evidence such as the physical equipment and the process data. The investigator must often cope with incomplete or contradictory data. The best strategy for dealing with these difficulties is the scientific method: gather facts from numerous independent sources, develop and test alternative hypotheses, and evaluate potential causal factors using sound engineering and scientific principles. The ability to ultimately identify the root causes of a complex chemical plant accident depends heavily on the quality and comprehensiveness of the fact-finding process. © 2006 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog, 2006
Cognitive Testing and the Validity of Child-Report Data from the Elementary School Success Profile

The Elementary School Success Profile (ESSP, N. K. Bowen, Bowen, & Woolley, 2004) is an online ecological assessment tool designed to help school-based practitioners identify social environmental influences related to school success among 3rd through 5th graders. The ESSP provides practitioners with information on a range of social environmental factors that are known to influence developmental outcomes, including social behavior and academic performance. Instead of simply describing problematic behavior or performance like many school assessment tools, the ESSP provides insights into potential causes of those problems. ESSP results help practitioners identify appropriate social environmental intervention targets at both the individual and group levels. The ESSP is also unique among elementary school assessments in terms of how it was developed. This article focuses on how cognitive testing with children was used to promote the validity of ESSP data collected from children. The article describes how cognitive testing was conducted, what problems it revealed, how those problems were addressed, and how cognitive testing increased the confidence practitioners can have in the validity of ESSP data. Recommendations on how to conduct cognitive testing are presented for researchers developing new instruments for children.
Changes in mass and nutrient content of wood during decomposition in a south Florida mangrove forest

Summary 1 Large pools of dead wood in mangrove forests following disturbances such as hurricanes may influence nutrient fluxes. We hypothesized that decomposition of wood of mangroves from Florida, USA ( Avicennia germinans , Laguncularia racemosa and Rhizophora mangle ), and the consequent nutrient dynamics, would depend on species, location in the forest relative to freshwater and marine influences and whether the wood was standing, lying on the sediment surface or buried. 2 Wood disks (8‐10 cm diameter, 1 cm thick) from each species were set to decompose at sites along the Shark River, either buried in the sediment, on the soil surface or in the air (above both the soil surface and high tide elevation). 3 A simple exponential model described the decay of wood in the air, and neither species nor site had any effect on the decay coefficient during the first 13 months of decomposition. 4 Over 28 months of decomposition, buried and surface disks decomposed following a two-component model, with labile and refractory components. Avicennia germinans had the largest labile component (18 ± 2% of dry weight), while Laguncularia racemosa had the lowest (10 ± 2%). Labile components decayed at rates of 0.37‐23.71% month − 1 , while refractory components decayed at rates of 0.001‐0.033% month − 1 . Disks decomposing on the soil surface had higher decay rates than buried disks, but both were higher than disks in the air. All species had similar decay rates of the labile and refractory components, but A. germinans exhibited faster overall decay because of a higher proportion of labile components. 5 Nitrogen content generally increased in buried and surface disks, but there was little change in N content of disks in the air over the 2-year study. Between 17% and 68% of total phosphorus in wood leached out during the first 2 months of decomposition, with buried disks having the greater losses, P remaining constant or increasing slightly thereafter. 6 Newly deposited wood from living trees was a short-term source of N for the ecosystem but, by the end of 2 years, had become a net sink. Wood, however, remained a source of P for the ecosystem. 7 As in other forested ecosystems, coarse woody debris can have a significant impact on carbon and nutrient dynamics in mangrove forests. The prevalence of disturbances, such as hurricanes, that can deposit large amounts of wood on the forest floor accentuates the importance of downed wood in these forests.
Rescue Microlaryngoscopy: A Protocol for Utilization of Four Techniques in Overcoming Challenging Exposures in Microlaryngeal Surgery

Summary Objective To discuss four techniques used to overcome the problem of difficult exposure during operative microlaryngoscopy (microdirect laryngoscopy [MDL]). The protocol uses four techniques in escalating fashion. These techniques are: high-frequency jet ventilation (high-frequency positive pressure ventilation [HFPPV]), using a narrow-bore diagnostic laryngoscope (Holinger) with suspension, using the 30° and 70° telescopes with angled instruments, and using a flexible laryngoscope through a laryngeal mask anesthesia (LMA) device. Methods From 1996 to 2010, endoscopy photographs from 1840 cases of MDL were reviewed. There were 12 cases used with HFPPV. Ten cases were done with the small-bore Holinger laryngoscope. Two cases were done using telescopes, and one case necessitated the use of a therapeutic flexible laryngoscope through the LMA device. Only one case was aborted because of poor ventilation. These 26 cases are reviewed. Results Most microlaryngoscopy procedures (98.5%) were able to be performed with standard operating laryngoscopes using the microscope. Risk factors that contributed to difficulty in exposure included two cases of prior radiation therapy, one case of morbid obesity, and one case of Pierre Robin anomaly. The rest was unexpected. Switching from endotracheal intubation to HFPPV allowed adequate exposure in 12 patients while preserving magnification and bimanual instrumentation. Ten cases were able to be done with MDL using a diagnostic narrow-bore diagnostic (Holinger) laryngoscope. When the above approaches fail, an angled telescope with an angled cup forceps was able to reach the lesion in two cases. Finally, one patient who could not be intubated was managed with a flexible laryngoscope through the LMA device. Conclusion Difficult exposure during MDL is unusual but not rare. It is often unanticipated. A proposal for graded use of the four techniques preserves some advantages of MDL. With each escalation, there is a degradation of the advantages afforded by traditional MDL. These include minor increase in movement with HFPPV, loss of binocular visualization with diagnostic laryngoscopes, loss of bimanual instrument manipulation with the telescopes, and loss of stability with flexible laryngoscopy. Having an understanding of each technique and the need for escalation will allow the surgeon to perform rescue laryngoscopy and complete the surgery.
Aerosol measurements at the South Pole

The Geophysical Monitoring for Climatic Change (GMCC) program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) operates an atmospheric monitoring observatory at Amundsen-Scott Station, South Pole. Long-term measurements of carbon dioxide, ozone, aerosols, and other background pollutants are obtained to understand their possible effects on the earth's climate. The aerosol measurement program consists of the continuous measurement of condensation nuclei (CN) concentration and aerosol scattering extinction coefficient (σ Sp ) During 1982, Nuclepore-filter aerosol samples were taken for subsequent analysis by the proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) technique with 8-h time resolution. A time series of sodium, chlorine, and sulfur concentrations shows that the sulfur and CN records are similar and that the sodium, chlorine, and σ Sp records are similar. Large episodes of sodium are measured at the ground in the austral winter and are apparently caused by large-scale transport from coastal regions and vertical transport to the surface during times of surface warming and weakening of the surface temperature inversion. These episodes are characterized by increases in sodium concentration, Cl/Na ratio, σ Sp , and particle size, and decreases in non-sea-salt sulfur concentration, suggesting a decrease in atmospheric acidity and a displacement of sulfuric acid aerosol. An analysis of back trajectories suggests transport times of several days from the Antarctic coast. A nearly continuous record of South Pole CN measurements from 1974 to the present, and σ Sp , measurements from 1979 to the present, has now been accumulated. The CN data show an annual cycle with a maximum exceeding 100 cm -3 in the austral summer and a minimum of about 10 cm -3 in the winter. The σ Sp data show an annual cycle markedly different from that of CN with a maximum in late winter, a secondary maximum in summer, and a minimum in May. Angstrom exponents calculated from the multiwavelength σ Sp data show a strong annual cycle suggesting larger particles in the winter than in the summer. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0889.1986.tb00189.x
Seismic event interpretation using self-organizing neural networks

In the computer interpretation of seismic data, the critical first step is to identify the general class of an unknown event. For example, the classification might be: teleseismic, regional, local, vehicular, or noise. We have studied self organizing neural networks (SONNs) for classifying such events. Both Kohonen and Adaptive Resonance Theory (ART) SONNs were developed and tested with a moderately large set of real seismic events. Given the detection of a seismic event and the corresponding signal, we compute the time-frequency distribution, its binary representation, and finally a shift-invariant representation, which is the magnitude of the two-dimensional Fourier transform (2-D FFT) of the binary time-frequency distribution. This preprocessed input is fed into the SONNs. The overall results based on 111 events (43 training and 68 test events) show that SONNs are able to group events that `look' similar. The Kohonen algorithm has the advantage of being able to develop a higher resolution set of clusters. We also find that the ART algorithm has the advantage of being able to develop a higher resolution set of clusters. We also find that the ART algorithm has an advantage in that the number of cluster groups do not need to be predefined. When a net type of event is detected, the ART network is able to handle the event rather gracefully. A modified Kohonen algorithm is developed to exploit each algorithm. The results from the SONNs together with an expert seismologist's classification are then used to derive fuzzy event classifications. The integration of the SONN into the Network Seismic Event Analyzer (NetSEA) expert system is described and a strategy to integrate the fuzzy classifications into the inference engine is also proposed.
Temporally resolved imaging of ice nucleation and growth in highly supercooled water

Damage to cryopreserved cells is dependent on the kinetics and morphology of ice formation in supercooled thermodynamic states. To gain a better understanding of ice crystallization phenomena under such non-equilibrium conditions, we undertook an investigation of crystal growth in highly supercooled water droplets in the range of −28°C to −38°C. Microscale droplets of distilled water were frozen, and the ice crystal growth process was recorded using a high-speed imaging system. Crystal growth velocities were found to range from 245 mm/s to 470 mm/s, and were significantly lower than growth velocities predicted by the Langer Muller-Krumbhaar theory, suggesting a crossover from a diffusion-limited regime to a kinetic-limited regime at high supercooling.
INTERACTIONS OF DIISOPROPYL PHENOL (ICI 35 868) WITH SUXAMETHONIUM,VECURONIUM AND PANCURONIUM IN VITRO

In vitro studies were performed using the rat phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragm preparation to investigate possible interactions between diisopropyl phenol and its solvent, cremophor, with three neuromuscular blocking drugs. Cumulative concentration curves were constructed for the neuromuscular blockers and linear regression analyses performed. Differences in the calculated effective concentration to produce a 50% decrease in twitch height (EC50) and slope showed that diisopropyl phenol potentiated the action of suxamethonium, vecuronium (Org NC 45) and pancuronium. Cremophor potentiated the action of suxamethonium but antagonized the action of the non-depolarizing neuromuscular blockers. The possible mechanisms of action are discussed.
Chrono::Render: A Graphical Visualization Pipeline for Multibody Dynamics Simulations

This paper describes a web-enabled tool capable of generating high quality videos and images from multibody dynamics simulation results. This tool, called Chrono::Render, uses the Blender modeling software as the front end with Pixars RenderMan used to create high quality images. Blender is a free and open source tool used to create and visualize 3D content and provides a robust plugin framework which Chrono::Render leverages. To produce the final image, the Blender front end passes data to a RenderMan compliant rendering engine. Along with Pixars PhotoRealistic RenderMan (PRMan), several open source options such as Aqsis, JrMan, or Pixie can be used. Preprocessing is performed on the client side, where the front end generates a work order for the RenderMan compliant rendering engine to process. This work order, which contains several scripts that define the visualization parameters, along with the pre-processed simulation data and other user-defined geometry assets is uploaded to a remote server hosted by the Simulation Based Engineering Lab. This server contains more than a thousand CPU cores used for high performance computing applications, which can be used to render many frames of an animation in parallel. Chrono::Render is free and open source software released under a BSD3 license.© 2014 ASME
Quark mass differences and ρ-ω mixing

The experimental data on $\ensuremath{\rho}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\omega}$ mixing are reanalyzed in order to extract a new value for the ratio ${r}_{\ensuremath{-}}=\frac{({m}_{d}\ensuremath{-}{m}_{u})}{2{m}_{s}}$, where ${m}_{i}$ is the current quark mass of quark $i$. After correcting for the purely electromagnetic contribution to the mixing, one obtains ${r}_{\ensuremath{-}}=0.010\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.002$, which agrees well with the average ${r}_{\ensuremath{-}}=0.014\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.003$ obtained previously from kaon and baryon mass differences and the $\ensuremath{\eta}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}3\ensuremath{\pi}$ decay and disagrees substantially with the value \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}(0.031\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.007) that would be required if ${m}_{u}$ or ${m}_{d}$ were zero. A new determination of the current quark mass ratios, including the effects of $\ensuremath{\rho}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\omega}$ mixing, then yields $\frac{{m}_{u}}{{m}_{d}}=0.47\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.11$ and $\frac{{m}_{d}}{{m}_{s}}=0.042\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.007$.
Effective Concentration of a Multikinase Inhibitor within Bone Marrow Correlates with In Vitro Cell Killing in Therapy-Resistant Chronic Myeloid Leukemia.

Leukemia cells escape BCR-ABL-targeted therapy by developing mutations such as T315I in the p210BCR-ABL fusion protein in Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). While most effort has been focused on development of new tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), enrichment of these small molecule inhibitors in the tumor tissue can also have a profound impact on treatment outcomes. Here, we report that a 2-hour exposure of the T315I mutant CML cells to 10 μM of the multi-kinase inhibitor TG101209 suppressed BCR-ABL-independent signaling and caused cell cycle arrest at G2/M. Further increase in drug concentration to 17.5 μM blocked phosphorylation of the mutant BCR-ABL kinase and its downstream JAK2 and STAT5. The effective dosage to overcome therapy resistance identified in an in vitro setting serves as a guidance to develop the proper drug formulation for in vivo efficacy. A targeted formulation was developed to achieve sustained bone marrow TG101209 concentration at or above 17.5 μM for effective killing of CML cells in vivo. Potent inhibition of leukemia cell growth and extended survival were observed in two murine models of CML treated with 40 mg/kg intravenously administered targeted TG101209, but not with the untargeted drug at the same dosage. Our finding provides a unique approach to develop treatments for therapy-resistant CML.
Redetermination of 2-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)piperazin-1-ium-1-yl]ethanesul-fonate at 100 K.

The crystal structure of the title compound (common name HEPES), C8H18N2O4S, has been redetermined at 100 K in order to properly elucidate the protonation state of the HEPES molecule. The piperazine ring has a chair conformation and one of the N atoms in the ring is protonated, which was not previously reported [Gao, Yin, Yang, & Xue (2004). Acta Cryst. E60, o1328–o1329]. The change of protonation state of the nitrogen atom significantly affects the intermolecular interactions in the HEPES crystal. The structure is stabilized by N—H⋯O and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds and ionic inter­actions, as the title compound in solid state is a zwitterion. HEPES mol­ecules pack in layers that are held together by ionic and weak inter­actions, while a hydrogen-bonded network connects the layers.
Medical Risk Management in the United States

Medical risk management in the United States remains a complicated process which involves not only an understanding of institutional experience but also regional as well as national expectations for outcomes and quality of care. Risk management requires integrated processes involving multiple aspects of institutional efforts including legal (general counsel) quality safety efforts, departmental and institutional leadership, as well as a formalized risk management group. Processes for identifying and analyzing present risk as well as potential future risk should be in place and formalized. These processes should be reproducible and be able to provide repetitive analyses that can be catalogued for purposes of tracking institutional experience and identifying environments within an institution that may be at risk for repetitive errors and/or risk-related activities
Physical Optics Modeling of the Interferometric Radius Measurement

We model the radius measurement to approximate the physical optics model. This identifies the bias in the measurement due to using a simple geometric ray model instead of the more complex physical optics model.
Ultrastucture of the central nervous system after prolonged hypoxia

Chronic hypoxia was induced in rats by subjecting them to a low oxygen atmosphere (10% O2 and 90% N2) up to 24 days. Electron microscopy revealed striking alterations in nerve cells of the central nervous system. During the first 4 days, moderate swelling was noted in the Golgi complex in the mitochondria of some neurons. From the 6th to 24th days, alterations of these organelles became more pronounced: Many neurons and their processes exhibited varying degrees of cytoplasmic swelling, and inclusion bodies resembling myelin-figures were found in the perikaryon. Bizarre forms of tubular profiles occurred within the axoplasm of many nerve fibers. The presynaptic terminals became greatly enlarged, containing either unusual multilamellar bodies or clumped vesicles. These results indicated that prolonged hypoxia causes profound changes in the central nervous tissue that do not occur in the acute state.
Effect of serum parathyroid hormone and bone marrow fibrosis on the response to erythropoietin in uremia.

Background and Methods Anemia is common in patients with chronic renal insufficiency and secondary hyperparathyroidism. Erythropoietin therapy is effective, but the dose required varies greatly. One possible determinant of the efficacy of erythropoietin therapy is the extent of marrow fibrosis caused by hyperparathyroidism. We examined the relation between the erythropoietic response to erythropoietin and hyperparathyroidism in a cross-sectional study of 18 patients undergoing hemodialysis who had received erythropoietin therapy for one to three years. In 7 patients (the poor-response group) the dose of intravenous erythropoietin needed to maintain a mean (±SD) target hematocrit of 35 ±3 percent was >100 units per kilogram of body weight three times a week, and in 11 patients (the good-response group) it was ≤ 100 units per kilogram. In all patients, indexes of the adequacy of dialysis and the extent of hyperparathyroidism and aluminum toxicity were determined monthly, and bone histomorphometry was perfor...
Clock-Controlled Regulation of the Acute Effects of Norepinephrine on Chick Pineal Melatonin Rhythms

The chicken pineal gland synthesizes and releases melatonin rhythmically in light/dark (LD) cycles, with high melatonin levels during the dark phase, and in constant darkness (DD) for several cycles before it gradually damps to arrhythmicity in DD. Daily administration of norepinephrine (NE) in vivo and in vitro prevents the damping and restores the melatonin rhythm. To investigate the role of the circadian clock on melatonin rhythm damping and of its restoration by NE, the effects of NE administration at different phases of the melatonin cycle revealed a robust rhythm in NE sensitivity in which NE efficacy in increasing melatonin amplitude peaked in late subjective night and early subjective day, suggesting a clock underlying NE sensitivity. However, NE itself had no effect on circadian phase or period of the melatonin rhythms. Transcriptional analyses indicated that even though the rhythm of melatonin output damped to arrhythmicity, messenger RNA (mRNA) encoding clock genes gper2, gper3, gBmal1, gclock, gcry1, and gcry2; enzymes associated with melatonin biosynthesis; and enzymes involved in cyclic nucleotide signaling remained robustly rhythmic. Of these, only gADCY1 (adenylate cyclase 1) and gPDE4D (cAMP-specific 3',5'-cyclic phosphodiesterase 4D) were affected by NE administration at the mRNA levels, and only ADCY1 was affected at the protein level. The data strongly suggest that damping of the melatonin rhythm in the chick pineal gland occurs at the posttranscriptional level and that a major role of the clock is to regulate pinealocytes' sensitivity to neuronal input from the brain.
Taiwan, still as a baseline case supporting for the differing mandate hypothesis: An analysis of bill sponsorship in the Legislative Yuan (1992–2012)

This research note re-examines the recent debate on mandate divide hypothesis in Taiwan (Batto, 2012; Rich, 2014). Specifically, I focus on bill sponsorship, which is relatively free from party inf...
An effect evaluation of pregnant women obtaining VCT service for AIDS

Objective To evaluate effect of promoting pregnant women to obtain HIV voluntary counseling and testing(VCT),so as to provide scientific basis for developing effectively prevention for mother-to-child transmission(PMTCT) of HIV among pregnant women.Methods Pregnant women in two villages and towns of a county with similar conditions were selected as intervention group and control group,respectively.The intervention study on promoting pregnant women to obtain VCT for AIDS was conducted and effect of the intervention was evaluated.Results Totally,1701 pregnant women were investigated(in the intervention group,n=923;in the control group,n=778).There were no significant differences in informed rate of PMTCT knowledge and policy and VCT services obtained between the two groups before the intervention(both P0.05).After the intervention,the informed rate of PMTCT knowledge and policy of pregnant women in the intervention group was higher than that in the control group(χ2=26.90,P0.001).The increased informed rate of PMTCT changed behaviors of the pregnant women,and the anti-HIV antibodies test rate and anti-HIV antibodies test rate before 28 weeks of gestation were higher in the intervention group than in the control group(χ2=14.02,261.75,respectively,both P0.001).Conclusion The model of promoting community-based VCT services for pregnant women improve the informed rate of PMTCT knowledge and policy and total anti-HIV antibodies test rate and anti-HIV antibodies test rate before 28 weeks of gestation of the pregnant women.
Prothrombin time test of Rattus tanezumi in Nantong urban district

Objective To test the prothrombin time of Rattus tanezumi in Nantong urban district.Methods The PT was tested by instrument way.Results The average value of PT(INR) was 1.04.No significance difference was observed between Rattus tanezumi and white rat(P0.05);some difference was observed between the female and male mouse(P0.05),significance difference was observed between the mouse in Chongchuan and Gangzha district(P0.01).Conclusion PT value scope is 0.73-1.54.PT value is different in two districts and between male and female mouse.
Flash grazing and trampling: effects on infiltration rates and sediment yield on a selected New Mexico range site.

This study evaluated the influence of flash grazing and livestock trampling on selected hydrologic variables on the Rio Bonito watershed in central New Mexico. Terminal infiltration rates were significantly reduced after cattle had grazed within an enclosure for 14 hours. After 110 days, the enclosures’ infiltration rates were one-half that of the pretrampled treatment. Trampling during both sampling periods significantly increased sediment yield and bulk density.
Use of Gene Expression Biomarkers to Predict Suicidality.

Since the tragic accident of Germanwings flight 4U9525, there has been discussion about methods to identify and prevent suicidality in pilots. Neurogenetic scientists claim that biomarker tests for suicidality as part of healthcare assessments may lead to early identification of suicidal behavior. In this commentary the value of these gene expression biomarkers for aeromedical purposes is evaluated based on relevant literature. It is concluded that the currently identified biomarkers for suicidality need thorough validation before they can be used. The aeromedical examiner's most important tool is still an anamnesis, in which warning signs of suicidal behavior can be picked up. Simons R. Use of gene expression biomarkers to predict suicidality. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2016; 87(7):659-660. Language: en
On the Self-Regulation of Behavior: Disengagement: Issues and Comparisons

If I can't win, I won't run. ( Chariots of Fire ) Chapter 10 described a division between two classes of responses to difficulty in moving toward goals. A sense of confidence leads to renewed effort, and a sense of doubt leads to giving up. These classes of response are both integral parts of the system of self-regulation that keeps people adapted to the world. Once again, the conceptualization raises questions and issues. Some of them concern disengagement as an event: what it is, alternative ways to view it, whether in fact disengagement per se actually occurs. Other issues arise in considering how this theory relates to other models of the phenomena under discussion. Another point concerns the fact that issues of engagement and disengagement arise in many literatures, some quite unexpectedly. SCALING BACK GOALS AS LIMITED DISENGAGEMENT By now we've described several variations on the theme of disengagement: diminishing effort, leaving the behavioral context, mental disengagement (daydreaming and off-task thinking), and the bind between having the impetus to disengage and being unable to express it. In this section we consider another potential reflection of disengagement. Sometimes progress toward a goal is going poorly, expectancies of success are dim, and you want to quit. Rather than quit altogether, you trade this goal for a less demanding one – a kind of limited disengagement. You've given up on the first goal at the same time as you're adopting a lesser one (cf. Miller et al., 1960, p. 171).
Beyond Traditional Management: The Use of Medications in the Treatment of Obesity

Medications along with traditional management techniques have been used to treat obesity for years with mixed results and many side effects. It is crucial that providers of care for persons with obesity understand the role of pharmaceuticals, their mechanisms of action, their potential interactions with other drugs, and their side effects. This chapter lists and classifies all the medications prescribed for weight loss, for treating obesity-related diseases, for use in connection with bariatric surgery, and for treating other medical problems in patients with obesity. It details the unique challenges of using prescription medications in patients with obesity and defines the criteria for using pharmacotherapy in the management of weight loss. Finally, this chapter explains the mechanism of action of FDA-approved medications for weight loss. As our understanding of obesity improves and the efficacy of prescription medications evolves our management strategies will improve as well, resulting in a positive and lasting impact on patients with obesity and on the disease itself.
Promoting Optimal Native Outcomes (PONO) by Understanding Women’s Stress Experiences

A growing body of evidence links stress with mental illness and chronic disease. Existing scales of women’s stress fail to capture the daily stressors of low-income, rural women. We explored the psychosocial stressors of local women residing in a rural Hawaii community with a large Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population. We recruited women, aged 18–35 years, at a community health center. We convened four focus groups to elicit information about women’s stress. We identified key themes from the focus group data to generate questions that target concerns raised by participants. These were corroborated by additional focus groups. Thirty-six women participated in the study. Seven stressor themes emerged: intimate relationships—limited partner assistance, gender stereotype; family and home life—feeling like an outsider, lack of respect; childrearing—quality and affordable childcare, conflicting discipline styles; time for self—never-ending duties, being too tired to relax; neighborhood environment—safety concerns, not feeling part of the community; workplace—workload and transportation obstacles; and finances—making ends meet and arguments about money. Women in this study articulated a broad range of daily stressors. Sociocultural factors leading to feeling like an outsider within their own family, intercultural marriage conflicts, and perceptions of community discrimination are not included in other published scales. Our focus group investigations thus provided critical knowledge for developing a community-relevant scale. This is a prerequisite for developing and testing innovative intervention strategies designed to reduce stress in this population. We believe that reducing stress is necessary to mitigate the negative effects of stressors on physical and mental health among women in this rural community.